The TV column: Ricky Gervais, 'V,' Scenery Chewing

Columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. ET to take your questions about the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes.

Take this week's poll, about Ricky Gervais being named as host of the Golden Globes (See a clip of Gervais as a presenter at last year's show.)

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Washington, DC: Lisa,

In your column today you talk about channels that are changing their programming to attract more viewers. I seem to recall you mentioning once that TCM was going to start changing their programming. So far they haven't (Yeah!!), but are they still planning on changing their format?

washingtonpost.com: The ABCs of TLC, GSN and A& E: Niche networks skew younger to avoid ending up MIA

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. It wasn't a format change that was concerning, it was the fact they were airing so much recent filmmaking in primetime -- including movies that I don't think anyone would consider "classic." They're still doing that to varying degrees, depending on the month. But that's offset by the fact they got rid of nitwit Rose McGowan as co-host of "The Essentials" -- Hooray! And, they brought in Alec Baldwin to replace her and he actually knows a thing or two about old movies, which was something no one ever accused McGowan of...

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Alexandria, Va.: You are spot on with your comments about violence against women on TV. One thing I've noticed about sweeps week, year after year, is that the word is apparently synonymous with rape in the writers room -- every drama, cop show, and even the local news -- has to highlight and tout the sexual violence theme that week. Arrgghh.

washingtonpost.com: Is prime-time TV really dangerous territory for women?

Lisa de Moraes: Actually, in my column I mentioned hyow disappointing it is that the organization that put out the study recorded about 4,000 instances of primetime violence on broadcast TV during the February and May sweeps of both 2004 and 2009, but only about 130 of those four thou were crimes against women in 2004, and only about 430 of them were crimes against women in 2009. Meanwhile, women make up slightly more than half the U.S. population in 2008 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. I'm concerned that women are seriously underrepresented when it comes to violence, on broadcast primetime TV. Except, maybe on CBS. While CBS does not do a particularly good job of putting minority actors on their primetime lineup, they seemed, according to the study, to do a far better job than their broadcast counterparts of putting female actors to work as victims of violent crimes.

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Rockville, Md.: Is the new "V" going to be like the old "V," meaning (Ed.: spoiler alert?) some people will sneak onto a space ship and hear the aliens conveniently babbling in English about their sinister plans, thus absurdly uncovering the evil agenda?

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, I love my producer, who is a gentleman AND a scholar, but can I just say here for the record, that the "spoiler alert" was not my doing, because there is no such thing as a "spoiler alert" on a show that is a -- hello -- remake of an 80's miniseries. Besides, I do not believe in "spoiler alerts"...

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You've Just Been Hammered by Rush Limbaugh: During the first hour of his show, in reference to your column about "V."

Congratulations.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm all a'twitter! (Okay, I just made that part up.)

I have not had time to listen to Rush today. Okay, this week. Okay, this month... You'll have to clue me in as to what he said about my column on "V"..

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washingtonpost.com: A Face in the Crowd (wikipedia.com)

Lisa de Moraes: Oh, and here, thanks to my producer -- did I mention he's a gentleman AND a scholar -- is what you need to know about this wonderful, disturbing flick...

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Ankara, Turkey: I recently picked up "A Face in the Crowd" at the library and was amazed by the film's brilliant observations/predictions (made in the 1950's!) about the power of TV. I had never, ever heard of this movie, and to me it seemed so ahead of its time (I'm only 30, so I'm judging by history). I was wondering whether you saw this movie after or before you started writing about TV and whether you had any thoughts. Thanks, Pooks!

Lisa de Moraes: Great question; thank you for submitting it. "Face in the Crowd" does not get the same recognition as Paddy Chayefsky's "Network," but it's Must See viewing for serious students of TV. It's directed by the enormously talented Elia Kazan, who also directed "Streetcar Named Desire," "Gentleman's Agreement," and "On the Waterfront." I absolutely recommend it though, I will warn you, you will never look at "The Andy Griffith Show" the same way again after watching "A Face in the Crowd." And and yes, I did watch it before I started covering TV, as well as "Network." (FYI, Kazan's the guy who caused such a kerfuffle at the Oscars in 1999, when the movie academy gave him an honorary Oscar. A lot of people in the film communty were unhappy becuase he was among the first people who worked in the Hollywood entertainment industry to cooperate with the House UnAmerican Activities Committee in 1952. His cooperation led to the blacklisting of several people working in Hollywood.)

Lisa de Moraes: My bad! I got excited when I saw Paul had posted the Wikipedia entry on "A Face in the Crowd" and hit the "publish" button on it after answering this question -- but I forgot to his "publish" on this one!...

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Arlington, Va.: How is that awful show with Courtney Cox about cougars doing? Not only is it incredibly demeaning to older women, it isn't even close to being funny.

Lisa de Moraes: And yet, I love the show...even though it stars Courteney Cox -- strike one -- and was created by Bill Lawrence of "Scrubs" and "Spin City" fame -- strike two. I think this is a case of a double negative making a positive. Don't get me wrong, it's no"Modern Family" but I will actually stick around to watch "Cougar Town" immediately after, even though I could flip over to Fox because, by 9:30 p.m. the whacky gang in the glee club has usually blown through that week's fake-pregnancy-bulemia-incest-decongestant-addiction storyline and are about to launch into that week's lip-synched production number, which I always enjoy watching -- it's always so "Bye Bye Birdie" retro.I keep waiting for Paul Lynde to break in. Anyway, you had a question, didn't you? Oh yes, "Cougar Town" = demeaning to older women!They're horny, talk about sex obsessively, and they shag younger men. So the demeaning part would be would be? Me, I think it's demeaning to "older" men. Her ex-husband is priceless, but has one brain cell. Ditto the neighbor husband who worships him.

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Glee!: Glee Glee Glee Glee Glee Glee Glee Glee!!!!

Glee? Any news?

(Do you watch this show at all or do you sit back and mock the obsessive fans? Or both?)

Is there any supporting actress out there better than Jane Lynch?

Lisa de Moraes: Well, let's see.... Fox picked it up for a full season -- but that's not actual news. It would have been news had the network NOT picked it up for the season. Also the cast tune "Don't Stop Believin'" has gone gold, with half a million downloads. Which is just another brilliant example of how very much more challenging is the parameter for success on broadcast TV than in any other entertainment genre. One million tune sales takes you platinum and everybodoy writes about what a genius you are. One million viewers gets you cancelled on a broadcast network.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Pookie, My sister lives abroad and really misses TV in English. For her birthday I bought her the first few seasons of "How I Met Your Mother" and "My Name is Earl". She also likes "30 Rock". Any suggestions of what else I could get her for Christmas? New or old series, doesn't matter. She wants light hearted shows she can watch occasionally when her baby is napping. Thanks!

Lisa de Moraes: Sounds like you're looking exclusively for comedy and I'm guessing she used to live in the U.S. so maybe the old comedies won't be so interesting for her -- and besides, when I watch old comedies they seem sooo dated, so I have none to recommend. How about "Big Bang Theory" -- two seasons are available on DVD. And, of course, for comedy there's no beating "CSI:Miami" though, of course, it's unintentional. "Old Christine" is really hit or miss, so maybe not a good idea.You've already mentioned "30 Rock" which I think is brilliant after about the first half of the first season. And, I'm a "Curb" fan, though maybe that's not what you'd call "light hearted" so much as "deliciously mean spirited."

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Today Show Halloween: How lame is the Today Show Halloween costume thing? It's so awkward and boring. They did all Star Wars outfits this year, and Miss Curry was Darth Vader!

Lisa de Moraes: Wow -- so even the "Today" show's annual Halloween-costume gag has been monetized by NBC/Universal. And, it's, on paper, an NBC News show. I will have to take a look -- if only to see Ann Curry as Darth Vadar. Was she a totally stylish Darth Vadar? Was she wearing Manolas under the black shroud?

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Hulu: Are they seriously going to start charging for content? I think this is a very bad idea. Who wants to pay to watch episodes if available elsewhere for free -- or can buy permanently on iTunes...

washingtonpost.com: Will Hulu stop being free? In a word, no. (Entertainment Weekly)

Lisa de Moraes: That's the plan....

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Harrisburg, Pa.: My wife is a fan of "What Not to Wear" but can't find new episodes, or even re-reruns anymore. What happened?

Lisa de Moraes: It's still available weekdays at noon -- I know, how convenient (DVR it) -- and Saturdays at 1 -- again, how convenient. In primetime, your best bet of catching the show's "star" Stacy London is on a Pantene commercial. TLC says "What Not to Wear" is coming back with original episodes -- hopefully in primetime -- in 2010. We'll see.

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(S)Pookie,: Happy Halloween! I absolutely love Big Bang Theory, but lately the laugh track has been driving me to distraction. I really don't need for them to tell me when to laugh and if for some reason you are out of the room, all you hear is the canned laughter coming at you. AAARRRGGHHHH! Tell us All Knowing Pookster, how do we get CBS or Warner or who-the-heck-ever to chill on the laugh track?

Lisa de Moraes: I will phone them after this chat. Seriously. Promise.

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Washington, DC: Has the Forgotten been ultimately forgotten? I only see one more airing of a new episode and then some sort of abc special and then who knows. Cancelled? I've seen all the episodes (don't ask why) and only one was above average. Meh, I expected more from CSI-creator Jerry Bruckheimer. At least something entertaining.

Lisa de Moraes: ABC has not yet officially pulled the plug on "The Forgotten" but, yes, viewers seem to have forgotten this show. This week's episode only attracted 8 million viewers, while "The Good Wife" got about a million viewers more -- and it was a repeat which means it was a repeat of an episode that had just been on the air since "The Good Wife" only debuted last month. This is a very bad sign for "Forgotten." Anway, it's being pre-empted in two weeks for a Robin Roberts-hosted country music special. And if that sentence isn't gag-inducing I don't know for gag-inducing.

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TCM: Rose McGowan was always so negative on the movies they had just shown. I always wondered why in the world they had her on with Robert Osborne.

Lisa de Moraes: I think they announced her as his co-host -- poor man -- around the time she was starring in a soon-to-be released flick put out by Time Warner, which also owns TCM. The only problem was, then they were stuck with her. The guy who was in charge of that network once told me moves like that were all about trying to attract "the next generation" of viewers for the network...And yes, I struggled to keep a straight face at the time... I wish I could remember which classic movie she and Robert were discussing one week and all she had to contribute to the discussion was that she really really did not like the name they had given to some lead female character in the flick. Anybody out there remember that week in Rose McGowan's reign of terror/unintentional hilarity on "The Essentials"?

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V remake: Does this mean that a whole new generation of children will fear the name Diana and have nightmares about the fate of certain guinea pigs?

Lisa de Moraes: You betcha!

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Mike Donavan: Pookie, Pookie, lend us your comb, err, I mean your fabulous predictive powers! What's the over/under on how many weeks before "V" is canceled? The show's production has been a mess & that usually bodes very badly for a series. And I doubt if there are enough Morena Baccarin fanboys to make this succeed!

Lisa de Moraes: Well, ABC's plan was to air four episodes, then take it off the air -- because they did not think it would survive the Winter Olympic and the launch of the new "American Idol" season -- and bring it back some time in the first quarter of 2010. So I'm guessing they will air the first four episodes for sure....

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Glen Burnie, Md.: I promise not to have seen the Weather Channel's movie schedule. That said, have they thought ahead to schedule "Groundhog Day" in February (featured players include a furry forecaster) so they can play it again and again. Plus, every horror story worth its salt includes lightning. Patton ordered his chaplain to pray for good weather. The campfire scene in "Blazing Saddles" only works because of an atmospheric inversion.

The list of possibilities is so endless that they might have to create a new channel just to show the weather, maybe call it the Weather Channel.

Lisa de Moraes: These are all terrific suggestions and I'm hoping someone from the network notices them on our chat and I look foward to their news release explaining why these flicks are on their lineup....Meanwhile, if you have not voted yet in our poll, this week's we're wondering -- seriously, we are -- whether the announcement that Ricky Gervais is going to host the Golden Globes makes you more likely to watch, less likely to watch, or you have no idea who he is. So far 74 percent of you have said you are more inclined nad 12 percent say you don't know who he is. For those 12 percent, he's the witty Brit comic who created and starred in the original "The Office" -- the funny version -- that aired on BBC -- and BBCAmerica. He also created and starred in "Extras" that aired here on HBO. And, he wrote and stars in the new flick "The Invention of Lying" which, without having yet seen it, I can tell you anyway will be worth seeing if only to see him in action. I'm going to get my producer to post link to his appearance at the last Emmy Awards..

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Spoiler Alert: Hey Lisa, you just gave me a good idea with that remark about V. How about bringing back old series but with a twist. like:

The Fugitive...this time he's guilty. Colombo...an erudite, straight-talking detective solves crimes. Cheers.... this time Sam and Diane don't notice each other and Norm finds sobriety. Friends....this time they're all productive members of society who don't have time for coffee.

Lisa de Moraes: Hey! Great Idea! And while we're at it. Let's re-do "Criminal Minds" with Mandy Patinkin, only he's not nuts! And "Cosby," only with a white family. And "Seinfeld" only it will be about something and will star Jay Mohr! We could go on and on....

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demeaning to older women: No. I'm an older woman and I like sex. It's demeaning to people who like good TV.

Lisa de Moraes: Hmmmmm....

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Reston, Va: Do you think NBC will keep Leno on for a while longer just because it has nothing else to put in his time slot?

Lisa de Moraes: I think they will keep Jay Leno on for a while because they know the house is for sale so why fix the plumbing problem when you can make it the next owner's issue?

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washingtonpost.com:

Lisa de Moraes: For those 12 percent who are not familiar with Gervais....

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send english speaking comedies: "Extras" (you said English, not American.) Does she like irreverent? "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Lisa de Moraes: Excellent point. I assumed we were looking at the Unites States menu --

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Chubby Little Loser: Any chance we'll get more of that Gervais - Carell interaction..."I made you."

Lisa de Moraes: I am soooo over Carell, but paired with Gervais again, it might work.

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Greater Green Bay WI: Maybe the Weather Channel could switch to music videos - "Stormy Weather," "It's Raining Men" "Rock You Like a Hurricane..."

Lisa de Moraes: This is so helpful!

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Golden Globes: That's the boozy one right? Will Ricky host with a martini in his hand? Can we request that?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, it's the fun, boozy trophy show. My favorite one to cover. I'm hoping he's hammered by the time the broadcast starts. And I'm hoping Jack Nicholson is nominated for something because this show just hasn't been the same since he stopped being seated at the front-center table...

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Alexandria, VA: What will ABC do next week during the "Hank" time slot? Start showing "A Charlie Brown Christmas" already?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes! Did you know that the second consecutive broadcast of the 40-something year old "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" this past Wednesday at 8 -- ABC had also aired it Tuesday at 8 this week -- actually did a better rating than "Hank" in the timeslot? I'm guessing we've about seen the last of "Hank." And I really do like you idea of looping "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the timeslot every week through the end of the calendar year. They can mix it up every week by adding interstitials in which the cast members of ABC's other, successful new Wednesday comedies talk about how much the animated special meant to them growing up. You know, like NBC used to do with the Frank Capra/Jimmy Stewart film classic "It's a Wonderful Life" until they had to stop when they found out people watching it were gouging out their own eyes.

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Des Moines, IA: Lisa de Moraes: "He's the witty Brit comic who created and starred in the original "The Office" -- the funny version..."

Thank you! I'm the only one of my friends and family who ever saw the original British version, and none of them understand why I don't think the American version is nearly as funny.

Lisa de Moraes: Carell is no Gervais, and Rainn Wilson is a talentless hack. there. I've said it. Please direct your hate mail to: TV Column, 2400 Broadway, Suite 530, Santa Monica, California 90404...

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Re-doing old shows: I believe the first joke that Dick Cavett ever told on TV was, "I'm a television writer. My next project will be to develop a comedy version of 'Gilligan's Island.' "

Lisa de Moraes: I just choked on my coffee. Dick Cavett -- some kind of weird guy, but drop-dead hilarious...

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DC: Hi Lisa

Two questions. First, why no picture of you above your column in the new improved Washington Wall Street Journal Post? Second, will you be back on Tony K's show now that he's back on radio?

Lisa de Moraes: I think it's because I get so smany death threats. I'm in witness protection....and,for the record, I'm not giggling over your new name for the paper. I'm doing it off the record. On background. Not for publication...In re Tony's show, he has very nicely had me on a few times and I would, of course, love to be on it again because he's the bee's knees as my mother would say.

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Scenery chewing: Lisa, you often talk about scenery-chewing, like when you were talking about Heather Locklear on Melrose Place. What does that mean? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Lisa de Moraes: Scenery chewing is a term that means chewing the scenery. It's what hams do on stage. Think Jim Carrey. Think Ethel Merman.

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washingtonpost.com: The Tony Kornheiser Show

Lisa de Moraes: For those who were not aware Tony is back on the air -- is there anyone who is not aware Tony is back on the air? Anyway....

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It's a Wonderful LIfe: seems to have been replaced by "A Christmas Story," with Ralphie's bunny pajamas and the leg lamp, as the non-stop repeating movie of the season.

Lisa de Moraes: I have to admit, I really do not like that movie. And there is almost no holiday movie I do not like. I have a library of about 15 of them and, yes, I watch them every Christmas. And NO, it's not as creepy as chicks who re-read all of Jane Austen's novels every Christmas -- you know who you are out there.

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Extras: Definitely recommend. The show was brilliant. Sir Ian McKellen: "How do I act so well?"

Also, Flight of the Conchords.

washingtonpost.com:

Lisa de Moraes: More Ricky Gervais for those not in the know...

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Reston, Va: Instead of looping "Hank" or "A Charlie Brown Christmas", why don't they just loop the breast examination show?

Lisa de Moraes: Excellent -- and educational. In case you missed it, Washington's ABC station, which I hasten to mention is NOT owned by ABC or its parent Disney, is running a two part special in its newscast, showing women how to examine their breasts using an, um, actual breast. The station's general manager insists it's a public service and it's just one of those INCREDIBLE coincidences that the start of the special coincided with the star of the November sweep ratings race. Is it any wonder why I love covering television....

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Golden Globes: Do you think Gervais will be hamstrung by being host, or do you think the producers know what they've signed on for? I'm so looking forward to this, and will be disappointed if he's "proper" rather than freewheeling and subversive.

Lisa de Moraes: I think he's going to get bored about half way through and leave. That would be totally in character. Anything less and I'll be disappointed...

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scenery chewing again: So do you like the scenery chewing?

Lisa de Moraes: Love it!

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Philaelphia, Pa.: Your comment on "V" makes me ask a question I asked as a kid watching science fiction in the 1960s: how did English become the universal language?

Lisa de Moraes: And, while we're on this subject of language how did a Proper British Accent become the "language" of ancient Rome?

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washingtonpost.com: Scenery chewing: Endless Caruso One Liners

Lisa de Moraes: Golly, how could I have forgotten to mention The Great Caruso?!

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Scenery Chewing: Think of Jim Carrey performing a musical tribute to Ethel Merman!

Lisa de Moraes: I would pay good money to see that. Seriously.

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DC: Re Rose McGowan: I just pictured her saying "Sophie's Choice? That's dumb. I hate the name Sophie. I like Brittany's choice. I'm calling it Brittany's choice." And Robert Osborne just staring like a deer in headlights.

Lisa de Moraes: I am speechless..you are brilliant...

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Buying NBC: So, you're saying that when someone purchases NBC, they'll hire a home inspector who will report on NBC having a leaky Leno ? Getting that fixed might be part of the contract.

Lisa de Moraes: If the buyer only notices Leno and not the gaping ratings holes in the rest of NBC's primetime slate -- and now, late night as well -- NBC/Universal will be lucky...

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Alexandria, VA: Robert Osborne's intros aren't closed captioned ...the station told me that's "too expensive." Wha? And how much is that station raking in, exactly?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm very sorry to hear that because nearly every time I listen to an Osbourne intro, I actually learn something I did not know about the movie, or the actor, or the director, or the studio -- whatever. As oppostd to their "other" host, Ben Mankiewicz who I think just lifts his intros from "Movies for Dummies"...You know Mankiewicz -- he was recently let go from the syndicated show "At the Movies." I'm not sure this network really does rake in big bucks, because its audience has to skew very old and advertisers discriminate on the basis of viewer age...

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Dancing Shows: Has "Dancing with the Stars" jumped the shark (or whatever the new term for jumping the shark is)? It was never an A-list celebrity show anyway, but now I'm wondering what level of "celebrity" they have! How does it do in the ratings, particularly against "So You Think You Can Dance"?

Lisa de Moraes: It outperforms "So You Think YOu Can Dance" and is doing okay in the ratings -- more than 17 million viewers this past Monday -- since Tom DeLay left the competition...

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DVD Comedy Seri,ES: Buy your sis "Sports Night," "The Job," and "Wonderfalls."

washingtonpost.com: "Arrested Development."

Lisa de Moraes: All great suggestions. Especially the short-lived but brilliant "The Job."

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Sunny Arizona: Hello Lisa! Happy Halloween!

I love, love, love "Modern Family". Always makes me laugh out loud.

Do you like "Lie to Me"? I enjoy watching it, although lately it's become way more about "Lightman in danger" than the geeky analysis of facial expressions. Boo.

Lisa de Moraes: I have not enjoyed "Lie to Me" since Shawn Ryan, who used to be the show runner on FX's "The Shield," became the show runner on this Fox series. Why the Face was Fox thinking of, putting him on this show? Yes, it has turned into "Lightman in Danger" and that's why.Stupid move.

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Downtown DC: Dame Lisa: I think Glee is all over the place, but I love it for Jane Lynch (the Cheerio's coach) alone. No character like this on primetime, and she's hilarious. She makes the show in my opinion.

Lisa de Moraes: Absolutely preaching to the choir. Speaking of scenery chewing -- her character is so deliciously over the top. Primetime needs more over-the-top...

And, despite our best efforts, there are now 15 percent of you who say you do not know who Ricky Gervais is! Will those of you who do know please vote in our poll? We'll leave it up for a while. Thanks for joining me. Bye.

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