Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 15
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
‘Hellboy’ Ron Perlman on TV, ‘Damages’ preps for return
He’s currently starring in the box office smash “Hellboy II,” but Ron Perlman doesn’t have to worry about being recognized when he’s out and about in Hollywood.
Without his red rubber face, sawed off horns and huge fake jaw, he more or less blends in with regular folk.
The same was true when he starred in the cult favorite “Beauty and the Beast” on TV years ago. As the beast, he worked beneath many layers of fur and makeup, so nobody recognized the actor.
Now, starring in FX’s new drama “Sons of Anarchy,” Perlman is makeup-free, showing off his regular mug and feeling free at last.
“It’s a relief for me, but I don’t know about the rest of American society,” he quipped this morning.
In the new FX drama, Perlman plays the leader of a notorious motorcycle club in California. The series seeks to explore the subculture that began when disenchanted veterans came home from Vietnam and subsequently became known for their outlaw ways.
“I’m still learning how to ride,” Perlman said. “It’s not going very well, and basically I’m terrified. The bike is 1,000 pounds with no small amount of torque, and I’m the biggest tin horn.”
“Sons of Anarchy” premieres Sept. 3. But before he hits the small screen, Perlman just might get the call for more big screen action.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a sequel to ‘Hellboy,’ “ he said. “But I’m just spit-balling. I’m not privy to those conversations.”
Sneak peek at ‘Damages’
FX’s mystery thriller “Damages” doesn’t return until January, but we’re already getting a hint of things to come.
For one thing, UT grad Marcia Gay Harden will join the cast as a worthy legal adversary to powerhouse attorney Patty Hewes, played by Glenn Close.
Also we know that evil corporate jerk Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson) didn’t die after he was shot at the end of last season … at least we think we know that. Danson is still in the cast, but hinted this morning that he might be seen mostly in flashbacks. I’m guessing he’s being less than truthful, however, because spies have said several scenes have been shot with Frobisher in a hospital.
Patty’s young protege Ellen (Rose Byrne), who was betrayed by her boss and framed for the murder of her fiance last season, will be cooperating with the feds in an investigation of Patty’s law firm. Byrne says Ellen becomes “a warrior” in the new episodes, no doubt out for revenge on several levels. No more quivering and crying.
“Patty is going through her own post-traumatic stress disorder now,” Close said. “She’s fragile and loses control, so she’s going to be dealing with a lot of unresolved issues.”
Close says she’s happy to be working in TV these days.
“I think we are pioneering a new art form with these serialized stories,” she said. “This is sort of another golden age of drama on television. You don’t get this kind of writing in feature films.”
Later today I’ll be checking out some hints about the final season of “The Shield,” which begins Sept. 2. … Now I’m going to see what Bonnie Hunt has to say about her new daytime talk show, which will air on KNVA in Austin come September.
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‘24’ prequel, Karl Rove, Mike Judge and other Foxy stuff
It’s been a long, long haul since “24” fans got their weekly dose of blood-pumping thrills, but the end is in sight … or at least it’s out there in the distance with a Nov. 23 date on it.
That’s when we’ll get a little two-hour tease to the seventh season, dubbed “Day 7,” which will debut in January.
The fall prequel, “24: Exile,” just wrapped production after filming in South Africa and Washington, D.C., and judging from the clips screened for critics Monday, the appetizer movie should be a humdinger.
The real-time action will find Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) in the throes of an international crisis in Africa on the day the U.S. is celebrating the inauguration of its first female president (played by Cherry Jones).
At the time the script was written, before the writers’ strike, it must have seemed all but certain that Hillary Clinton would be our real first lady prez, but now the plot line is pure fiction.
In the midst of a crush of reporters poking tape recorders in his mouth and firing off flashbulbs inches from his eyes, Sutherland talked about the new season and said the prequel plot represents the beginning of last the new season that had to be scrapped last January after the strike.
“We all loved that story, but time-wise it didn’t make sense to start the new season after an 18-month gap, so this way we get to use it as our prequel,” Sutherland said.
When the full 24-episode season begins in January, Jack will be in Washington D.C., The action also will set up the regular 24-episode season beginning in January, by which time Jack will be back in Washington.
Fox News touts Karl Rove
It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, although I can’t imagine why, when Fox News decided to trot out former Bush Administration biggie Karl Rove for a gaggle of the nation’s TV critics.
Rove joined Fox News as an analyst during the primary season in early spring - not long before he was subpoenaed to testify before Congress on the White House’s role in firing federal prosecutors with perceived Democratic leanings.
Not surprisingly, the questions came fast and furiously about whether Rove’ decision to ignore the subpoena might adversely affect his credibility as a political analyst just a teensy bit. Not to mention the fact that Rove is a financial contributor and occasional consultant on Sen. John McCain’s Republican campaign.
“A lot of people beat up on me,” Rove said calmly. “I’m not the myth I’ve been developed into … But this is not between me and Congress. I have not asserted any personal privilege. This is between the White House and Congress and centers on the ability of the president to receive advice from senior advisers and for those advisers not to be at the back-and-call of Congress for testimony.”
John Moody, Fox News’ chief executive, energetically defended his guy: “Karl Rove is a certified authority on politics. His current difference of opinion with Congress is between him and Congress.”
Fox anchor Chris Wallace hastily suggested TV writers live by a biased double-standard when it comes to Fox News and insisted we would never ask anyone on MSNBC about credibility or liberal leanings. Wallace was not amused by the grilling of Rove, but Rove seemed unfazed.
“For details, you’ll have to wait until January ’09, when my book comes out,” Rove said with a sly smile. “You can pre-order it on Amazon for $29.95.”
More Fox tidbits
Lena Headey, the slender Brit who plays Sarah in Fox’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” says she was briefly rattled last season by all the “terrible comments” made by fans of the movies.
Apparently those folks are die-hard fans of the original Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton and her bulging biceps. These people couldn’t see how a slim, elegant-looking Brit could possible take over this iconic role. Headey has her well-manicured fingers crossed that fans will change their minds when the show returns for a full season in September.
By the way, Summer Glau, who plays a “good robot” on “Terminator,” says she’s often recognized in her native San Antonio now.
“I am surprised and thrilled how many people watch our show, but they always recognize me in the pharmacy, produce section of the grocery store or in an airport,” Glau said. “It’s strange.”
Finally, Austin’s own Mike Judge, creator of “King of the Hill” and voice of Hank and Boomhauer, says he’ll “keep doing the show as long as it’s still good.”
Fox has canceled or threatened to cancel the show many times in its long history, but the upcoming 13th season will be a full batch of episodes.
At a panel devoted to Fox’s popular Sunday night animation lineup, Judge also said he prefers “doing realistic stuff. I would have considered doing this as a live-action comedy, but Fox wanted me to do an animated comedy to go with ‘The Simpsons’ on Sunday nights.”
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