OF 'GIRLS' AND 'GRUBBS' FOX TROTS OUT DAVID E. KELLEY'S LATEST LAW SHOW, ALONG WITH A SOUR SITCOM AND JAUNDICED JUDGES.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic PASADENA - FOX'S SUMMER REALITY hit series is titled ``American Idol American Idol is an annual American televised singing competition, which began its first season on June 11, 2002. Part of the Idol franchise, it originated from the British reality program Pop Idol. : The Search for a Superstar.'' In reality, the Fox network's story could be called ``The Search for a Viable Fall Series.'' Fox's second day before the Television Critics Association The Television Critics Association (or TCA) is a group of approximately 200 United States and Canadian journalists and columnists who cover television programming. They meet in the Los Angeles area twice a year, in January and July, in conferences known as Winter and Summer firing squad began promisingly enough, with the contestants, judges, hosts and creators of ``American Idol'' taking the stage and engaging in some lively (and, yes, at times mean) discourse. But boy oh boy, was it downhill from there. ``Idol's'' eight finalists took the stage and harmonized har·mo·nize v. har·mo·nized, har·mo·niz·ing, har·mo·niz·es v.tr. 1. To bring or come into agreement or harmony. See Synonyms at agree. 2. Music To provide harmony for (a melody). pleasantly enough on ``California Dreaming.'' The award for most provocatively clad easily went to Ryan Starr, who wore a top composed of a few small patches of cloth held together, sort of, by strings (she says she designs, if that's the word, her own costumes). For the Fox presentation, Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24 1982) is an American pop rock singer. Clarkson made her debut under RCA Records after she won the highly publicized first season of the television series American Idol in 2002. was downright modestly clad - ``A lot of these girls have a better belly than Kelly,'' she rhymed by way of explanation. ``I don't really care.'' After the song, ``MADtv's'' Michael McDonald Michael McDonald may refer to:
intr.v. cow·ered, cow·er·ing, cow·ers To cringe in fear. [Middle English couren, of Scandinavian origin.] . Though the contestants insisted they like and support one another (don't they understand that's not what reality TV is all about?), Cowell expressed skepticism and demonstrated that he and fellow judges Paula Abdul Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American multi-platinum selling Grammy Award-winning singer, dancer, television personality, jewelry designer, and Emmy Award-winning choreographer. and Randy Jackson don't share the love-fest mentality. Cowell called Jackson Mount Kilimanjaro, made it clear he hopes Abdul never records again and even argued with them onstage about his treatment of an ``Idol'' wanna-be. But Abdul got off a good line, referring to Cowell's dismissive remark that she was only doing the show to meet men. ``He's just mad because 70 men have called me,'' she said, ``and only 23 have called him.'' When Cowell's cattiness cat·ty 1 adj. cat·ti·er, cat·ti·est 1. Subtly cruel or malicious; spiteful: a catty remark. 2. Catlike; stealthy. left the stage, utter lethargy replaced it. David E. Kelley's latest, the coyly titled ``girls club,'' about three very young female attorneys shopping, giggling and objecting - or, at least, being objectified - in San Francisco, doesn't have a completed pilot. But the clips shown featured one of the women falling for a client accused of murder. Kelley said his intent was to make this series more ``realistic'' than his prior law shows - ``Ally McBeal'' and ``The Practice.'' Otherwise, not much transpired. Kelley told an amusing anecdote about his first case as a young lawyer (involving the theft of a bicycle; he didn't get to deliver his assiduously as·sid·u·ous adj. 1. Constant in application or attention; diligent: an assiduous worker who strove for perfection. See Synonyms at busy. 2. practiced closing remarks) and Chyler Leigh, alone among the tepidly enthusiastic cast, showed a little personality. (She's also, at 20, far too young to actually have graduated law school.) Kelley said this show differs from his previous legal dramas because, ``Here, we're not asking the audience to care about the cases at all.'' Looks like they'll succeed. Then came ``The Grubbs,'' a terminal sitcom about a family of self- satisfied underachievers. Few press conferences boast the long stretches of disquieting dis·qui·et tr.v. dis·qui·et·ed, dis·qui·et·ing, dis·qui·ets To deprive of peace or rest; trouble. n. Absence of peace or rest; anxiety. adj. Archaic Uneasy; restless. quietude this one did, but the critics were clearly too flabbergasted flab·ber·gast tr.v. flab·ber·gast·ed, flab·ber·gast·ing, flab·ber·gasts To cause to be overcome with astonishment; astound. See Synonyms at surprise. [Origin unknown. by the show's lowest-common-denominator witlessness to try to conjure pertinent questions. The only entertainment came from watching the smile on star Randy Quaid's face slowly fade as he realized how much of a dud the show was. Of the characters, co-star Carol Kane chirped, ``The more embarrassing, the better.'' Then she'll be very happy. Our TV critic is reviewing the presentations put on by the networks for the Television Critics Association. AMERICAN IDOL PRESS CONFERENCE What: Event publicizing Fox's star search series. Who: Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Justin Guarini, Ryan Starr, Kelly Clarkson, Nikki McKibbin, Christina Christian, A.J. Gil, Tamyra Gray, R.J. Helton, Bryan Dunkleman, Ryan Seacrest, Nigel Lythgoe, Cecile Frot-Coutaz. Entertainment value: Three stars Informational value: Two stars Chances for ongoing success: Three and one half star GIRLS CLUB PRESS CONFERENCE What: Event publicizing Fox's new women lawyers series. Who: David E. Kelley, Gretchen Mol, Chyler Leigh, Kathleen Robertson, Giancarlo Esposito, Jack Bender. Entertainment value: Two stars Informational value: One and one half stars Chances for success: Two stars THE GRUBBS PRESS CONFERENCE What: Event publicizing Fox's new comedy series about slothful sloth·ful adj. Disinclined to work or exertion; lazy. See Synonyms at lazy. sloth  ful·ly adv. family. Who: Randy Quaid, Carol Kane, Michael Cera, Brian Sites, Joshua Sternin, Jeffrey Ventimilia, Ann Johnson. Entertainment value: One star Informational value: One star Chances for success: One star CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Gretchen Mol, left, Kathleen Robertson and Chyler Leigh are young San Francisco lawyers in ``girls club.'' |
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