Tonight's episodes of Sons & Daughters [starting at 9 pm/ET on ABC] will tease, titillate, and traumatize you.
First up is "House Party," written by Jordana Arkin and directed by Bob Berlinger. Prepare yourself for some outrageous behavior when Don and Sharon (Alison Quinn) decide to get away from it all by spicing up their love life at a motel. When the cat's away the mice will play, and Jeff takes full advantage of the missing-parent situation to throw himself a little house party that turns big in a hurry. Christine Lakin is back as Sydney, Jeff's attractive yoga-loving girlfriend. Concerned, Carrie (Eden Sher, who gets her braces off this summer) calls her Uncle Cameron (Fred Goss
read more
Well, this blog has taken my celebrity to new heights. I simply didn't anticipate the extraordinary interest millions of readers would take in the random thoughts of me, a modest journeyman-actor-turned-huge-ABC-television-star. It hasn't given me a big head or made me treat people any differently than I did before. Just ask my assistants, Felicia and Maggie, my personal shopper Yvette, or Charles, the English butler who helps me put on my trousers one leg at a time in the morning — I really haven't changed at all. I still try to lead a selfless and simple life. I even hired a Tibetan to read quotes from the Dalai Lama aloud to me as I'm choosing which Hugo Boss suit to wear that day. Me, a simple, hardworking fellow from beautiful Montesano, Washington. Me, who leads a spiritual life and thinks only of his fellow man, even when I'm sailing in the Bahamas, playing blackjack for a thousand dollars a hand in Las Vegas, or waking up with Eva Longoria.
read more
Tonight's episodes of Sons & Daughters (beginning at 9 pm/ET on ABC) are titled "Family Finance" and "Karaoke." What is it about money that brings out the worst in human behavior? My good friend William Shakespeare used to always tell me, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be." Of course, later, when he came crawling to me straight from the pub for a loan, I would throw that quote right back in his face using a phony-sounding British accent. He could write a heck of a play, but he was terrible with money. Anyway, I digress. The first episode, "Family Finance," is one of my favorites. It was written by one of our shining stars in the writers' room, Justin Adler, and directed by David Steinber
read more
We had our big red-carpet premiere last week at Universal Studios in Hollywood. The producers invited the entire cast and crew, and we ate popcorn and watched the first two episodes in a movie theater. It was so great to be together once again with everyone involved in this show. Several cast members of The Office showed up to support us. After the screening we moved to a nearby restaurant for food, drinks and sparkling conversation.
Let me fill you in on what's fappenin' on Sons and Daughters this week. ABC is broadcasting two episodes back-to-back again on Tuesday at 9 pm/ET. The first episode is called "Film Festival." Cameron tries to connect with his son Henry by getting the whole family to attend the screening of one of Henry's short films. Henry is extreme
read more
Question: I was going to give Sons & Daughters a pass. The ads for it did not look too appealing. However, after reading your review I decided to give it a shot. Thanks! It was thoroughly enjoyable, all the way down to the opening music (Grateful Dead's "Althea" — thus stressing the improvisational nature of the show). The question is: Is this too quirky for network TV? My gut says low ratings will lead to a quick cancellation, although I hope I'm wrong. What's your take?
Answer: That is the several-million-dollar question, isn't it? The show doesn't clip or promo well, as you noted. It's going to have to survive, at least at first, on critical buzz and the network's patience. I'll consider it a triumph if ABC just lets it stay on the air for the allotted six weeks until Commander in Chief is scheduled to return to its old time period. The early ratings weren't great, but it put ABC in third place against powerhouse House and the expected strong launch for The Unit behind NCIS (a very
...
read more
