On TV
Reality, Non-Reality and Everything In-Between

Lisa de Moraes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 27, 2007 1:00 PM

Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, July 27, at 1 p.m. ET to examine how Isaiah Washington has caused cross-network trash talking, determine whether "The Price Is Right" bid too low in picking Drew Carey to succeed Bob Barker, and report on the Geico Cavemen's emergence from the Paleolithic era to explain that their show is not about race.

Read the latest TV column: The Press Tour Miniseries: The Final Episodezzz (Post, July 27)

More TV Columns | de Moraes on TV blog | On TV Live Online transcripts.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

The transcript follows.

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Bremerton, Wash.: Pookie, Hope you had a good time at the TCAs. It looks like the TCA Awards went to actors and shows that were more deserving than the tired Emmy Nominations. So what makes you guys so good?

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. ... I do not vote, so I'm not one of "you guys" re: the TCA trophies. And so far as I can tell, virtually every show to win a trophy at the TCA Awards is up for a Primetime Emmy -- with the notable exception of Michael C. Hall, who won the TCA Award for best actor in a drama series for playing a likeable serial killer in Showtime's "Dexter" and who absolutely should have been nominated for an Emmy. Am I right, or am I just suffering Press Tour delirium?

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Washington: Is the funniest and probably most cringe-inducing show on TV, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," going to have it's breakout season this fall?

Lisa de Moraes: I think if it was going to break out it would have by now...

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Washington: I'm a big "Monk" fan but heard recently that Tony Shalhoub has opted not to sign a long-term contract. Is this a sign that this season or next season may be the last?

Lisa de Moraes: I think he's said as much ... though there's always a chance that when a bit of on-air talent gives an interview saying it's time to move on, they're just negotiating with the studio in the press...

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Washington: What is it with you Style writers and "in re"? I feel like you've used it in each of your blog posts, and I just read it in the review of that new Iraq War documentary. Do you all share some editor with a jonesing for that phrase?

washingtonpost.com: 'No End in Sight,' A Direct Hit on Iraq War Makers (Post, July 27)

Lisa de Moraes: I love "in re"... it's so efficient -- so little typing involved. ... Did not realize there was a whole anti-in-re movement going on.

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Denver: What's your opinion on the "Lost" presentation the other day? In my opinion, the critics came off as a bunch of whiners. What is wrong with the producers wanting to give the preview directly to the viewers/fans at Comic Con? The critics always complain that the networks don't have any regard for the viewers, and then when some does show some consideration for the viewers, the critics complain about it.

washingtonpost.com: At 'Lost' Session Critics Ask ABC, What Are We, Chopped Liver? (Post, July 26)

Lisa de Moraes: This one's so simple. Critics were begging ABC Entertainment chief Steve McPherson to give them the announcement because they're worried they are becoming irrelevant. Giving the news directly to geeks (And, in response to some of the letters we've received, can I just say I mean "geeks" in the best possible sense of the word?) with blogs cuts out the middleman -- critics. Like the critics told him, they're having to fight to keep it in their paper's budget to send them to Press Tour for three weeks in the summer and two in the winter. You mistake whining for begging. They are more to be pitied...

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"Singing Bee": C'mon, you know you got into it this week ... how long before the celebrity edition?

Lisa de Moraes: Sadly, I have had no time to watch TV this week, what with the press tour going on -- including important evening parties to attend so as to observe critics dodging personal publicists to get to stars of new series, to collect those important "I love doing [fill in the show name here] because I get to hang out with my friends and play pretend" quotes for their upcoming reviews of said new series. Oh wait, that was said at one of the daytime Q&A sessions. Anyway, the point is, the press tour is a grueling 24/7 ordeal -- Death March With Cocktails, critics call it -- some of them anyway. The rest of them call it The Petting Zoo.

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Philadelphia: Lisa, I can't take the product placement anymore. I think "Top Chef" jumped the shark when they zoomed in the Tundra they took to go to the Fresh Fields store to get their Hefty bag whatever and their McSnotty gin that they have to cook on their Sears stoves. If I wrote to the network saying that I promise never to buy anything promoted on a show, would that help? Would anything?

Lisa de Moraes: OMG -- I'm now living for the day some booze maker decides to call their next gin label McSnotty Gin ... that is brilliant (always keeping in mind that I have been completely sleep-deprived for three weeks now). Sadly, the only thing that will work is to turn off the show. I agree that product placement is totally out of hand -- particularly on reality series where it's not only out of hand, it's ham-handed...

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Ashburn, Va.: Was Vittorio there this year?

Lisa de Moraes: Sadly no. PBS had someone entertain us at the start of the press tour, but because this press tour started a million years ago I've forgotten who it was ... I think we can assume Vittorio never ever will be back to press tour, which really is a shame. Watching a naked drunk man throw women into the pool is a welcome relief from the grind of press tour and, if I could, I would have written out a big pledge-drive check to PBS to thank them that year...

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Washington: I have this mental image of Shonda Rhimes as some Jim Jones-like cult leader. She really gives me a the creeps. Am I totally off-base?

Lisa de Moraes: Bull's-eye!

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Hollywoodland: What do you think of Drew Carey succeeding Bob Barker? "The Price Is Right" has been one of my faves since way back in 1972, when it was called "The New Price Is Right" -- I even went to the show once. (Lady next to me got picked -- darn it!) Anyway, I am part devastated/part hopeful by CBS's choice. What say ye?

washingtonpost.com: Drew Carey, Come On Down! (Post, July 24)

Lisa de Moraes: Drew Carey came off at press tour as the nicest guy working in TV. And he seems genuinely to enjoy doing game shows -- at least he did when chatting us up about "Power of 10." Personally, I love the idea, but I loved him on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" even though he wasn't very good at the improv bits ... he's an easy guy to like...

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The Shadoe Knows: I haven't heard Amber Stevens actually speak -- and I don't want to, because I keep hearing that asinine quote of hers with her father's ridiculously upbeat voice. If she really talks that way, the show will be a massive hit.

Lisa de Moraes: In ABC Family's target tweener audience -- you bet. For those of you who have not been keeping up on my press tour coverage -- and shame on you -- she's the one who told critics she loves working on ABC Family's new show "Greek" because she gets to hang out with her friends and play pretend. Which would have been cut if she was eight years old, but, sadly, she's in her 20s. ... Anyway, I made a snippy comment to the head of ABC Family about her comment after the Q&A session, and he assured me -- with a charming smile -- that it was spot-on for their audience...

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Towson, Md.: Pookie: Netflix is offering a free viewing of the pilot of "Californication." I'm not a Duchovny fan, so it's not a natural draw, but I do like the show's name. What say you? Is it good, bad, or -- worst of all -- mediocre? Worth my time?

Lisa de Moraes: Mmmm, it's pretty cute. I'm not a huge Duchovny fan either, but if you think you'd like watching him have sex -- lots and lots of sex -- this is the show for you..

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Boston: Hi Lisa. Can we take a quick break from Paris and Lindsay and Britney for a serious question? Why do the networks continue to hire only conservatives as talk show hosts and anchors? It can't just be about ratings: Glenn Beck gets hardly any ratings at all, for example, but he still has a nightly show on CNN. On the other hand, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, who is about the only liberal or progressive commentator in a prime time shift, has shown impressive ratings growth (proving there is an audience for the progressive viewpoint) ... yet the networks keep on hiring more conservatives. Why do you think that is?

Lisa de Moraes: Conservatives tend to be older people who have more time (retirees) to watch TV, especially shows that aren't really news programs but more resemble talk radio with pretty pictures. The name of the game in TV news networks is to try to find a way, particularly in primetime, to get viewers to stick around longer instead of the dipping-in-and-out viewing pattern during the day -- checking the network for about 10 minutes to see what's going on and then moving on or going back to work at the office. Olbermann's ratings growth has been a very long time coming. It's easier to grab an audience by skewing conservative...

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Fairfax, Va.: Perhaps this is a question for Hax, but I am more interested in your opinion. What is the best way for me to meet a woman with similar interests if my hobbies include watching TV and reading about the TV industry? So far, sitting at home alone has not been working out for me.

Lisa de Moraes: I remember listening to Car Talk once -- my favorite radio show -- and hearing a woman ask the Tappet brothers what kind of car she should pretend to be selling in a classified ad in order to attract the sort of guy she was looking to meet and date ... I thought it a brilliant strategy at the time. So, I'd suggest you join online forums for the sort of TV series you think the kind of woman you'd like to meet would watch.

There's a boatload of chick dramas debuting on cable over the summer and on broadcast TV in the fall. For instance, you might go with crime dramas "Saving Grace," "Damages" or "Women's Murder Club" if you're looking for a chick with a dangerous streak. Or, there are the more girlie-type dramas "Cashmere Mafia" and "Lipstick Jungle" if you're looking for something slightly droopier and little-woman-ish ... I really I don't see how it can miss...

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Albertville, Ala.: From your columns it sounds like network executives are treating the "reporters who cover television" like Bush treats the White House press corps. Is this new, or is disdain a perennial part of the package?

Lisa de Moraes: Definitely similarities, though I'd say that's a better description of cable suits than broadcast ones -- and that's the ones who even will speak to the press on the record for the transcripts during the cable days of Press Tour. Many of them won't even get up on stage during a show Q&A or, if they do and you ask them a question, they sometimes will respond "we're not here to talk about that."

Over time, as more and more broadcast suits migrate to cable, that situation is getting better. But the real standout is ABC Entertainment chief Steve McPherson -- who a guy who really speaks his mind. This time, he spoke his mind about the head of NBC, who hired Isaiah Washington to do five episodes of NBC's new "Bionic Woman" and who replaced McPherson pal Kevin Reilly at NBC. ... For which, inexplicably, critics nicked McPherson but good at this year's tour.

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Hollywoodland: Hey, thanks for the response. Any word that CBS will revamp "The Price Is Right"? I'm okay with their adding some new games, but we fans couldn't bear it if they did away with the multi-paneled doors. It was bad enough when those new producers fired Janice after, like, 30 years.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm assuming CBS thinks that when a new host comes on board it's a good time to also freshen-up the show, though I have no details and no inside information...

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Washington: David Duchovny and lots of sex ... wasn't that the "Red Shoe Diaries"?

Lisa de Moraes: He was asked about that. Played dumb...

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Houston: Remember when Prince was at the Super Bowl? That was cool.

Lisa de Moraes: Not sure why you brought it up, but yes, it was very, very cool. ... Also cool when he did the "American Idol" finale.

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Reston, Va.: Do you think the studios coach the actors at all before they go onstage in front of TWRCT? You guys sound like a pretty tough room.

Lisa de Moraes: They are overprepped. In fact, during the Q&A session for the new show "Carpoolers," in response to one critic's question, someone on stage held up a piece of paper and said "wow, that wasn't one of the questions they prepped us for." The questions they'd been prepped for were on the sheet of paper.

You want to know how to piss off a room filled with about 150 TV critics? Flash a sheet of paper with all the questions they're expected to ask. Next critic asked them sarcastically if they could find the answer on the sheet to the following question, and then asked his question. Which begs the question: If you are going up on stage at the press tour, presumably it's because you want to try to get the critics to say nice things about your show, so what exactly is the point of going up on stage if you go out of your way to make them angry?

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Falls Church, Va.: I watched the first two or three episodes of "Hey Paula" with interest. It did seem like she runs a hard schedule and isn't really as cracked out as she seems in "Idol." But last week's episode changed my mind. She is a nut job after all.

Lisa de Moraes: What happened in last week's episode? I watched all the episodes at once and have lost track which episode it's up to...

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Washington: Any idea what that "New Amsterdam" show will be like? I'm a sucker for mystery-type shows, and I'm a New York history buff. Wonder if they'll do anything interesting with the history angle, which shouldn't be hard to do with dozens of real scandals and murders to choose from.

Lisa de Moraes: Precious little history, sorry...

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Vick Trial: When the Vick trial takes place in November, will cameras be allowed in the courtroom?

Lisa de Moraes: I certainly hope so, and I hope the press all bring their dogs..

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The Best Duchovny: Was his recurring role as himself on "The Larry Sanders Show" -- where he seemed to have a crush on Larry. I loved that show.

Lisa de Moraes: That was terrific...

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Baltimore: Original programming on cable: In the past week, I have seen both USA's "Burn Notice" and AMC's "Madmen" for the first time. And I have to say, I found them both superior to the vast majority of stuff on the broadcast networks. Why are basic cable channels investing so much in original programming -- especially something like "Madmen," which is a limited-run series on a channel that normally restricts itself to showing "Goodfellas" in severely edited form about six times a day? "Madmen" has superb production values, so it can't be cheap to shoot, even without big-name stars. What is the payoff for AMC? Simply prestige? Thanks. Enjoy decompressing from the press tour.

Lisa de Moraes: Don't know all the particulars of the financing, but overseas sales have become hugely important to making drama series work financially. AMC has been broadening its brand for the past few years, producing original programming, etc. But, I simply do not buy into the "better than broadcast" blather. They're completely different animals. So interesting how the slew of British actors cast on new broadcast series for the upcoming season say they're doing it because the scripts are so fantastic, while American viewers -- and critics -- continue to dismiss broadcast fare as dreck. ... I think it's just become fashionable to sneer at broadcast TV ... sign you're too hip to live. ... Not for me, thanks very much.

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Dateline: Arlington, Va.: Lisa, do you love the Dateline: "To Catch a Predator" shows as much as I do? I love how the producers get bored and start making the pervs do more and more outlandish stuff. "O, i cant wate to meet u--bring me a live chicken, tho ok??" I cannot get enough of that. But now they've moved on to African identity thieves! Booooring! Bring back the sex predators I say! What are your thoughts, Lisa?

Lisa de Moraes: I wonder if they've run of predators. Surely not? I too love the pervy episodes ... for purely professional, I-cover-TV-for-a-living reasons, of course...

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Reston, Va.: Is ABC going to revamp the whole "Caveman" series, or are they just reshooting the pilot? It sounds like the show is dead on arrival.

Lisa de Moraes: They've recast one of the leads and totally are redoing the pilot. They say the episode that had been the pilot -- the one and only episode critics have seen so far -- will be episode six or seven or something like that, though conventional wisdom at the press tour is that viewers never will see the episode we have -- and that, if there's a god in heaven, the show will be cancelled by episode six or seven...

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Columbia, S.C.: In reference to TCA vs. Emmy Awards, "Friday Night Lights" essentially was shut out of the Emmys, nominated only in several technical categories.

Lisa de Moraes: Oh, that's right. ... But you're mistaking me for someone who cares about that snub...

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"Women's Murder Club": Is that going to be any good, Pookie? I've read the books. Patterson writes with lots of action, so I can see it translating well to the screen. But I'm also wondering how faithful they'll be to the books. One of the club members gets killed off pretty early in the series, the second or third book, I think. Who's in it, anyway?

Lisa de Moraes: We were told yesterday, I think, that the would not be taken from any of the books because the books were read by 300 billion people -- or maybe it was just several million. Anyway, it's not faithful to the books in terms of storylines. ... It stars Angie Harmon, who continues not to be able to act, but who looks hotter than ever...

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Arlington, Va.: But aren't we all guilty of playing a little "let's pretend" from time to time?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, but the rest of the population isn't being paid $6,000 or $10,000 or whatever she's getting a pop. ... In fact, I think a lot of men playing make-believe actually are paying for the privilege. ... About $100 bucks a pop, right?

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"House": Pookie, any word on whether "House" is getting a new batch of interns to torment? Or are the old ones still in the show?

Lisa de Moraes: Old ones are going to return in dribs and drabs in the course of next season, we cleverly figured out when the Q&A session started and we saw that the entire cast from previous seasons was up on stage -- which we took as a sign they weren't really written out of the show, as last season's finale had suggested...

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Washington: Can I plug the USA Network show "Psych?" It's incredibly funny, fluffy popcorn television. It never takes itself too seriously, but the writing and acting are always top-notch. It seems like very few people are watching this show, though, which is a shame.

Lisa de Moraes: Plug away, because I know you can't be a network publicist -- they totally are not promoting this show ... which is a shame..

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Washington: Lisa: So do you get a two-week vacation after the summer network tour? Do you have large sweet drinks with little straw umbrellas in your future? Hope you can enjoy some of the summer.

Lisa de Moraes: I am planning to sit in a nice chaise in a backyard in Colorado next week with my book, my umbrella-ed drink, and my dog...

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Pittsburgh: Any sign of Heather Locklear on this press junket? I recall that she's a fave of TRWCT.

Lisa de Moraes: They love her but I don't think she's been cast in anything. I'm sure someone will slap her into a troubled series before the end of the calendar year...

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"New Amsterdam"...: But Nikolaj Coster-Waldau! Eye candy for sure.

Lisa de Moraes: No kidding!

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Network Programming Office, Undisclosed network: Here's my latest idea I want to put before you and your readers: a reality show where celebrities book themselves into rehab. The celebrity who can stay sober or not get arrested the longest wins.

Lisa de Moraes: We already have that show. It's on TMZ...

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Washington: Did you see the first episode of "Damages" this week? Really great and over the top!

Lisa de Moraes: Much scenery-chewing being done on that episode, but I love watching Glenn Close anyway...

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Minneapolis: Hi Lisa -- I watched "Mad Men" for the first time last night and was hooked. The one thing I took out of it was I will never cringe if I'm ever called a "feminist." We were right all along and today's generation needs to watch it for, if nothing else, a history lesson.

Lisa de Moraes: Yeah, good luck on that line of reasoning to convince a teenager to change the channel over from VH1 ... golly, could I sound any more like my mother?

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Anonymous: Lisa, have you seen previews of the "Car Talk" animated PBS show yet? I can't decide whether it sounds interesting or Geico caveman-ish, and I'm wondering what a Click and Clack fan thinks of the idea.

Lisa de Moraes: I hate the idea. I want to see Click and Clack on the air -- themselves -- doing their radio show. They can do it for Imus, they can do it for Stern, but not for Click and Clack? It' a shame and a sin, that's what I say...

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The Geico Gecko: Where's my show? Aren't I more lovable?

Lisa de Moraes: The "Cavemen" guys were asked if gecko was going to do a guest gig on their new ABC series -- they were not amused. Which may explain why their new show is so bad -- no sense of humor...

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Washington: Your thoughts on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"? I've been getting the old shows from Netflix. What a hoot!

Lisa de Moraes: The new season is great...

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Baltimore: Re: British actors doing American broadcast TV because the "scripts are so fantastic." Call me cynical, but I can't help but believe those actors consider Hugh Laurie's experience on "House" and say, "hmmmmm...American TV makes it possible to get very much richer than one could working for the BBC or Channel 4." If "fantastic scripts" are the principal criterion, they could sign on for the Royal Shakespeare Company or the Stratford Festival, no?

Lisa de Moraes: No, not enough work to go around ... and why this year, why not 2006, why not eight years ago...

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Hollywoodland: Okay, totally different question now. We all know that Universal uses its Colonial Street "houses" for "Desperate Housewives." I speak for millions when I say that we vintage TV lovers were incredibly upset when "The Munsters" house was altered so as to be unrecognizable. I know that studio back lots aren't museums, but don't you think they should put the set back the way it was after "Housewives"? "The Munsters" is a classic, "Desperate Housewives" never will be.

Lisa de Moraes: You know, I truthfully can say I had given this absolutely no thought, and I thank you for bringing it to my attention.. Which "Housewives" house became the Munster house (and pardon my ignorance)?

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Washington: How big of a smack in the face to the Food Network was the season finale of "The Next Food Network Star"? After booting off one contestant, one of the remaining finalists withdrew/got kicked off when it turned out he'd lied about his credentials. Booted contestant returns, viewers vote for her. I realize it's reality television and not exactly big deal, but I found this crazy on several points. It seemed like Food Network may be out of touch with their audience, they didn't do their homework on their contestants, and hugely insulted the contestant who, by some logic, should have won. Somehow this all seemed a little different than the usual "drama train wreck equals good television."

Lisa de Moraes: It may seem that way now, but a month from now no one will remember it. That's the beauty of reality TV. This past season there was no reference to Paula Abdul's extracurricular activity with one of the contestants on "American Idol" -- which, by all rights, should have brought that show down...

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To the "Monk" Superfan: What would more seasons of "Monk" give you that it hasn't given you already? Sometimes it's just time to say goodbye.

Lisa de Moraes: Sometimes people watch TV shows because the characters have become like old friends. Yes, you may be repeating yourself when you get together with that friend, but it's still nice to see the friend every week. ... Too treacly an explanation?

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Washington: Is "Traveler" finished? I have to admit to making a point of watching that show. Last week's episode seems like it could have been the end of the show. Am I correct that the network never intended for that show to last into the fall? What about "Men In Trees" -- will that be back in the fall?

Lisa de Moraes: "Men in Trees" is coming back -- ABC had a Q&A session for the show yesterday. "Traveler" was going to be on ABC's schedule during the "official" TV schedule but got taken off and burned off during the summer. Not sure why, can only assume execs at ABC weren't happy with where the show was going creatively in the episodes and got nervous when so many serialized dramas failed in the fall, and decided not to put this one on during the season lest ABC fall to fourth place among young viewers, behind even NBC -- something like that...

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Towson, Md., again: Re: Californication -- do any cute women have sex -- lots and lots of sex -- with anyone else besides Duchovny? I don't think I can stomach watching him have sex with anybody.

Lisa de Moraes: Not that I can remember in the pilot. For that, you'll need to watch HBO's "Tell Me You Love Me" -- but a word of caution on that one: You're going to see the former head of the NEA having sex ... which is kind of like walking in on your parents. ... Can I say that on a Washington Post chat? Let's find out, shall we?

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Silver Spring, Md.: Why do some shows survive for decades in syndication, and others don't? I'm thinking specifically here of "Family Ties" versus "Full House." I'm not going to go over-the-top on "Family Ties," but it was a nice show. "Full House" is on 12 times a day for some reason. What gives?

Lisa de Moraes: Probably because "Full House" continues to pop a number and "Family Ties" doesn't...

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Nikolaj Coster-Waldau?: That's not a name. That's just a bunch of letters.

Lisa de Moraes: No kidding. ... See, that's my answer for all Nikolaj Coster-Waldau comments. Almost as useful and efficient as "in re."

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Morristown, N.J.: I don't think the "Desperate Housewives" lot is where "The Munsters" was filmed. The "Housewives" lot is where "Leave It to Beaver" was filmed...

Lisa de Moraes: Now that I knew. ... .I saw the house at an ABC party that was held on the street a couple of years back. It was a lot of fun, though the houses look more like billboards -- pretty front but nothing behind them -- in some cases, which was just sad if you had fond memories of the shows that used the houses...

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Nikolaj Coster-Waldau: It's his birthday today, and mine!

Lisa de Moraes: No kidding...

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Hollywoodland: "The Munsters" house is blue and sits directly to the right of Eva Longoria's house, which was altered too, and is best known from the Don Knotts movie, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." But I digress. Anyway, while it still looked like "The Munsters" home, Oprah's character lived in it when she was in one of the episodes. They used the house as it was for the first season or two, then that Mark Cherry had to go and ruin it. (Marcia Cross's home is a replica of the "Leave It To Beaver" home, the original of which is rather dilapidated and sits on a far-off corner of the back lot.) Anyway, it is such a shame to lose a piece of TV history like "The Munsters" house. I am a veritable font of vintage TV knowledge, yes?

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, if Oprah used it they need to torch it to rid it of the evil spell...

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Bravo TV: Does anything happen anywhere but L.A.? All of Bravo's "Out" shows take place in Los Angeles. Can't they have a "Chill Out" that takes place in Iowa where you just watch corn grow or something?

Lisa de Moraes: That would be like one of my fave British shows, "One Man and His Dog" ... or the Christmas Yule Log show. ... I love the idea...

I'm out of time. Bye...

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washingtonpost.com: Upcoming Discussion: Jen Chaney on "The Simpsons" (washingtonpost.com, 2 p.m. ET today)

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