Search

Can Steven Bochco Raise the Bar for Legal Dramas?

Mark Paul Gosselaar and Jay August Richards by Karen Neal/TNT, Steven Bochco by Jordan Strauss/WireImage.com

The man who gave TV such memorable dramas as Hill Street Blues and LA Law has a new story to tell It involves a group of stalwart public defenders led by Mark-Paul Gosselaar Saved By the Bell and Gloria Rueben ER and the other legal types including Malcolm mom Jane Kaczmarek as a judge to be reckoned with who inhabit their world Does TNTs Raising the Bar premiering tonight at 10 pmET fill a need that TV viewers may not realize they have TVGuidecom invited Steven Bochco to preview his new drama Matt MitovichTVGuidecom Whenever the idea for a new legal drama pops into your head and I have to imagine that happens every now and again do you ever think Does TV really need another one Is there anything new we can do here stillSteven Bochco Absolutely First of all I dont think that there are a lot of legal dramas on television A lot of what passes these days for legal drama and historically what has passed for le read more

The President's Daughter, Pregnant with Demon Baby, Visits Shark!

Caitlin Wachs in Masters of Horror

How is that for a headline? And it's actually kinda sorta true. Caitlin Wachs, who played first daughter to Geena Davis' Mackenzie Allen on ABC's Commander in Chief, has a flurry of fun gigs coming up, roles that find her, at separate times, expectant with Satan's offspring, and channeling a teen Great Gatsby. First up, though, is a guest spot on tonight's episode of Shark (10 pm/ET on CBS). The in-demand ingenue gave TVGuide.com a call to preview her varied ventures. TVGuide.com: Hey, guess what. You, little miss Boston Legal fan, are being recorded on the same tape as William Shatner read more

Is there any news on the ...

Question: Is there any news on the Commander in Chief movie?
Answer: I have it on excellent authority that this project is no longer in the works ... read more

At the Emmys: All the Backstage Buzz!

Jeremy Piven, Entourage

Where do the winners go after accepting their Emmys? Backstage to the (overly air-conditioned, brrrr) press room! Here is your minute-by-minute guide to who said what about their most memorable night. 8:06: Show's just starting, and we're watching it back here like the rest of ya. Host Conan O'Brien's pretaped opening says it all: NBC (and The Office) gets second billing in a funny bit that leads off instead with rival ABC's Lost. 8:18: Alan Alda wins, giving The West Wing its 26th Emmy ev read more

24 Alum Eyes a New Runaway Hit

Leslie Hope, Runaway

Leslie Hope and Elisha Cuthbert were two of the first actors I interviewed for TVGuide.com, back in 2002, during the debut season of a little-show-that-could called 24. Coincidentally, I was slated to talk with each of the "Bauer women" again this week, but one of them "politely passed" at the last minute. The actress I now like a bit more is Ms. Hope, who called me from the set of Runaway, a CW drama debuting Sept. 25, and concerning a family that assumes a new id read more

It seems to me that every ...

Question: It seems to me that every time a network suit has the bright idea to boost ratings for a show, he or she ends up driving away millions of viewers instead. Do you think the Commander in Chief fiasco will discourage networks from meddling with successful shows in the future?
Answer: Thanks for giving me a much-needed laugh. The networks don't know how not to meddle. There may have been major upheavals in the way we record, watch (and even download) TV these days, but some things will never change ... read more

Did you speak to Greg ...

Question: Did you speak to Greg Berlanti regarding Brothers & Sisters?


Answer: As a matter of fact I did. For the six of you who didn't hear, Greg has replaced Marti Noxon as Brothers & Sisters' show runner — and I was the first reporter he called about it. (All that good Everwood karma paid off!) He was mostly looking to quell the bad buzz that's been dogging the show these past few months. Despite the multiple cast changes and backstage tumult, he insists B&S is not on track to become the next Commander in Chief. "The rumors are greatly exaggerated," he assures me. "It is in incredible, inc read more

Could you please give us some ...

Question: Could you please give us some One Tree Hill spoilers for Season 4?


Answer: Matt Barr (Commander in Chief) has been cast in a pivotal role that will shake Peyton's tree. Speaking of Peyton, I hear she'll be undergoing a makeover (new hair, new clothes) by Episode 3 that will signal a return to her darker roots.

read more

Any word on the proposed ...

Question: Any word on the proposed Commander in Chief movie?


Answer: In this instance, no news is bad news.

read more

What in the world is ...

Question: What in the world is happening on the set of Brothers & Sisters? It seems they can't get anything done. At least Commander in Chief got a few episodes done before all the changes. Brothers & Sisters can't even complete their own pilot. Is this show done before it even begins? Answer: Fair question, but isn't it better for a show to retool on the front end instead of midstream? I wasn't that concerned by the early recastings, especially when one resulted in bringing Sally Field into the cast (as much as I'm a fan of Betty Buckley, who originally played the mother). Still, it is troublesome to read that former Buffy exec Marti Noxon has already left as show-runner, reportedly after clashing with the untested creator, playwright Jon Robin Baitz. There's no question the show will premiere under a cloud of turmoil and skepticism, but all that really matters is how it looks on screen. And I won't be able to comment on that until ABC actually delivers a finished episode. (Hint, hint ... read more

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ... | 11 Older »
Advertisement
Premiered: September 27, 2005, on ABC
Rating: None
User Rating: (6 ratings)
Add Your Rating: 1 stars2 stars3 stars4 stars5 stars
Premise: Geena Davis stars as America's first female president, and an independent to boot. A former vice-president, Mackenzie Allen takes office when her Republican predecessor dies. This does not sit well with GOP panjandrums, especially conniving House Speaker Nathan Templeton, who tries to thwart her at every turn. Rod Lurie, who wrote the 2001 political thriller 'The Contender,' created this ABC hit but Steven Bochco took over as showrunner soon after its debut.

Cast
Commander in Chief - The Inaugural Edition, Part 2 (Episodes 11-18)
Buy Commander in Chief - The Inaugural Edition, Part 2 (Episodes 11-18) from Amazon.com
From Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone (DVD)
Average Customer Review: nostarnostarnostarnostarhalfstar
Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy New: $18.49 (as of 11/20/09 3:07 PM EST - more info)

more Commander in Chief products

Advertisement