David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. The Paley TV Festival Strikes Back
How do you get your show in The Museum of Television & Radio’s annual William S. Paley Television Festival? It’s quite simple, it seems: Don’t get cancelled.
Five of the 12 events will offer series stars and showrunners reflecting on getting full pickups for but one season of action. Two more have run all of two seasons. The only veterans are shows that have been honored with similar evenings before – “The Simpsons� and “American Idol.� No other old classic shows are slated to bathe in the warm wash of nostalgia.
One evening is even given over to a filmmaker, not a TV personality, unless you count �The Star Wars Holiday Special,� which its creator most decidedly does not.
Here’s the schedule (unless otherwise specified, all events begin at 7 p.m.):
Thursday, March 1: “American Idol� judges and producers debate whether they are too mean (last week) or too nice (this week). 8 p.m.
Friday, March 2: “The Office’s� brain trust and stars offer more tips on how to watch their show while looking busy at work, which is what initially kept them on the air.
Saturday, March 3: An Evening with George Lucas, which you’ll likely want to avoid unless you have a high tolerance for geeks in “Star Wars� costumes.
Monday, March 5: “Brothers & Sisters� producers and stars explain how they pulled themselves from their initial creative tailspin and, after some coaxing, Calista Flockhart will mimic her character by saying something mean about liberals.
Tuesday, March 6: “The Closer’s� Kyra Sedgwick interrogates fans, who tearfully confess they love the show. 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 7: Chic serial killer series “Dexter� offers Michael C. Hall in character; mysteriously, the first 15 rows will remain empty during the presentation.
Thursday, March 8: “Nip/Tuck� talent explain whether or not they truly buy into the show's beauty-is-only-skin-deep notion.
Friday, March 9: “Prison Break� stars and producers unveil the show's new title for season three, when the convicts will have been out of prison longer than they were in it.
Saturday, March 10: “Heroes�’ creator and stars shock the crowd by revealing all sorts of spoilers for the rest of the season, such as it’s Hiro cheating during a checkers game with Peter that makes Peter go nuclear on New York.
Monday, March 12: “Ugly Betty� stars discuss whether or not they really buy into the show’s ugliness-is-only-skin-deep notion.
Tuesday, March 13: “Jericho� cast members and producers wonder why “24� got so much attention for merely nuking Valencia when they went to the trouble of blowing up half the country.
Thursday, March 15: Creators of “The Simpsons� commemorate its 18th season and upcoming 400th episode by revealing the show has been recycling old animation for the past seven seasons.
All sessions take place at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd. Tickets – ranging from $50-$25 for museum members and $60-$30 for non-members – go on sale Feb. 1 for members (phone 619-220-TIXS) and Feb. 4 for non-members at ticketmaster.com.
Comments
No 30 Rock? Ha-RUMPH!
Posted by: MoroccoMole | January 26, 2007 4:38 PM