Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 18

Entertainment tl Peoe 18 VaMnesday. November 23, 2006 tlir JnMaiw 6aettt 'Sleeper Cell' set to return Simpson debacle lpft rnom for wr Richards scandal little deeper about a lot more than just terrorism it's more of a cerebral show. It really promotes a lot of thought," says Ealy. who previously starred in the "Barbershop" movies. Fehr, best known as the glamorous warrior in "The Mummy." had hesitated to take on the role of Faris, a character whose actions he deplores.

But he now feels "very strongly that this is a show that is very important for people to see. It's very timely. It creates dialogue and it's really our responsibility as artists to tell these kind of stories." Specifically, scary stories. THE WORD "scary" pops up constantly in the conversation of both producers and stars. But Us important lo all that the scari-ness is firmly tied to reality, not exaggerated Hollywood -style.

"1 think there is an assumption on the pan of people making TV or movies that they always have to enhance the reality, that the real version is going to be boring," said Voris, adding that though they may occasionally "adjust a detail" to avoid being some sort of primer for potential terrorists their aim is to be as truthful as possible. After the 9 1 1 attacks, terrorists disappeared for a while from movies and TV. When, inevitably, they seeped back. Re iff was disappointed to see depiction of "stock character" villains, and determined to create something more complex and truthful. "I know in reality that there arc people, my fellow human beings in this world, who really would like to set off a nuclear device in a major American city, so I thought, 'Couldn't we try to do a show that deals with (On rite Net www.sho.com) ty IMMET IYMK For The Associated Prass BURBANK, Calif.

On a hoc afternoon, amid a crowd streaming into a concert, two men struggle with an ice chest. It could be an innocent tug of TY war over who gets first dibs on the drinks, but it One of the men an undercover FBI agent; the other a terrorist. The ice chest contains explosives. And the scene is unset-tlingly real. THE CAST and crew of "Sleeper Cell: American Terror" were at the Starlight Bowl in Burba nit.

filming the seventh hour of the eight-pan limited series, which airs Dec. 10-1? on Showtime. Last December, when the first edition of "Sleeper Cell" wrapped, the executive producers didn't know for sure whether a second season would be ordered. With their hopes invested in the future they didn't want to paint themselves too conclusively into a tight comer. But they also didn't want to settle for a teaser cliffhanger.

So the season ended with major tragedy averted by the actions of FBI agent Darwyn Al-Sayeed (Michael KaJyl and the arrest of cell leader Faris al-Farik (Oded Fchr). With Faris in custody and two of the original cell members killed off, the creators had some problems to solve. 'What is interesting about the new season, and I think really cool from a viewers' perspective, though very challenging for us as executive producers, is we pick up pretty much exactly where we left off. which means that we follow totally separate pint lines," said co -executive producer AP Television Writer NKW YORK Ihe Fox network let down a lot of people who. having worked themselves into a lather over the () I.

Simpson interview, were about to get even angrier once Fox put it on the air. Then Fox owner News Corp. yielded to the growing uproar and yanked the two-part TV special, "If 1 Did It. Here's How It 1 lappciicd." which had been set for broadcast this week. News -orp.

boss Bupert Murdoch also spiked the accompanying book that likewise promised to describe how Simpson might have committed the two murders for which he was acquitted a decade ago. With this abrupt cancellation, all the condemnation aimed at project mastermind Itidith Regan. Murdoch, Fox and Simpson himself was stranded, prematurely, with no place to But it quickly fuund a convenient new outlet. On the very same day, actor-comedian Michael Richards was swamped in his own scandal alter bring captured on video hurling racist epithets at a comedy club audience. 1 Ic was the ideal diversionary target.

Thus did Kramer take heal for O.J. and Fox. Cranti'd. to relate Richards in most any way to Simpson might seem preposterous. And to lump Richards' bigoted rant with a double homicide is Bui until just days ago, Richards was loved as eccentric neighbor Cosmo Kramer on those runny "Seinfeld" reruns.

Now Richards, scarcely heard from since the show wrapped in IH9B. finds himselt reappraised as a has-been and, worse, a party to the brand of racial divi-siveness that Simpson widely represents. This Simpson-Richards connection was drawn on the Monday. Nov. 20 "late Show with David Ijcuennan." Dave had news of the canceled Simpson interview in his monologue, which segued seamlessly into a joke about Richards' racist rant.

Soon Richards made his painful satellite appearance. I he rambling explanation he gave seemed to boil down to a fit of rage (that his stand-up act had been disrupted by members of the audience) given even freer rein in a desperate bid to shock his audience for comic effect (perhaps to demonstrate "If 1 Was a Racist, Here's What Would More than a week later, Kramer is still running the gantlet of apologies. He's trying to convince the public, and the black community in particular, that he is no racist just someone who made a terrible mistake, is now deeply sorry, and (as he told "late Show" viewers) needs "to do personal work." Nonetheless, the three-time Emmy winner may forever be known for those outbursts caught on a club-goer's cell phone. MICHAEL EALY as Darwyn Al-Sayeed Ethan Beiff. There are essentially three strands to the plot: Darwyn.

a black American of Muslim faith, penetrating a new sleeper cell; Arab extremist Faris, who's in custody while being interrogated by the CIA; and Bosnian terrorist llija konenic (Henri Lubatti). formerly Faris' right-hand man, who's on the run. NEW CELL members include Mina (ThekJa Heuten). a young Dutch woman who has converted to Islam, Benny Velazquez (Kevin Alejandro), a gang member converted in prison, and Salim (Omid Abtahi). an Anglo-Iraqi confused about his cultural and sexual identity.

The multicultural nature of the terrorists, the producers say, reflects reality. Beiff ai so emphasizes (hat the show is as much about character as action. "This is much more about who homelessness. drug addiction and terrorist violence continually interrupted and affected their work. Although "St.

Elsewhere" could not escape from the medical-drama formula wherein its cast of doctors dealt in every episode with various guest stars with different maladies, at least it did so with some of the finest writing and acting on television at the time. "St. Elsewhere" may be best remembered these days for introducing Dcnzel Washington (as resident Dr. Philip Chandler) to the public at least, that's probably why Washington's photograph Looms largest on the DVD jacket cover. But as good as Washington was, he was hardly the star of the as farts al-Farik these people are and how they are going about day to day, whether as terrorists or FBI agents, and human beings in genera).

And then we just have splashes when some kind of disturbing violence blows on the scene, and I think in a way that kind of makes it more scary, because in a way it's more realistic." "WE COULDN'T repeat the exact sort of structure and format of the first season. It would be just sort of ridiculous." says co-executive producer Cyrus Voris. "If the show had any traction at all it was because it felt somewhat realistic and we knew if we just went down sort of the standard television road of all the terrorists slaying together, and they have another mission or another adventure, ti would jump the shark instantly. It would be, 'Well, this isn't "This show makes you think a show. Neither were comic-lurned-game-show host Howie Mandel or character actor Ed Be-gley both of whom had their breakthroughs in "St.

Elsewhere." The real stars were Ed Flanders, who won the best-actor Emmy this first season for his sensitive portrayal of the hospital's chief of staff. Dr. Donald Westphall, and David Morse, whose character, resident Dr. lack Morrison, served as the show's conscience and central figure. And they were abetted by a fine group of fellow actors, including William Daniels as the talented but blustering head of surgery, Christina Pickles as the wise and efficient head nurse and Norman Lloyd as a kindly veteran doctor.

First season of 'St Elsewhere' out on DVD 1 Want ls98B My Twe mom siats Don't miss this opportunity to get trio perfect gift for that "person who has everything!" SSSJ NCK Entertainment -Professional DJ Services WEDDINGS 1 Private Parties 522 rift i mju riiiuucipnia ByMUCEUUKK Sacramento See From the very first scenes in its debut episode in fall 1982. "St. Elsewhere" made it clear that it wouldn't be an ordinary television medical drama. First, the cam- era leisurely fol- DVD lowed an order- ly pushing his cleaning cart through the long hallways of an old hospital. Then it focused on a young resident.

Dr. lack Morrison (David Morse), as he hit the wall of tiredness and realized he still had another 24 hours to go on his shift. Arriving between the heroic doctor dramas of the 1960s like "Dr. Kildare" and "Ben Casey" and the hyped-up urgency of 1990s series such as "ER" and "Chicago Hope," NBC's "St. Elsewhere" dared to go where no other medical drama had gone before.

Its attention to realism, both in the issues it considered and the people it portrayed, as well as its use of an ensemble cast of actors involved in multiple story lines, gave "St. Elsewhere" a resemblance to "Hill Street Blues." Also like the much-admired police show, it repeatedly used humor to offset the life-and-death stories it was telling. "St. risewhere: Season One." out on DVD this week (four discs. Fox Home Entertainment, $39.91.

not rated), finally brings to home viewers one of the lop dramatic series of the 1980s. Set in St. Bigius. an old. underfunded teaching hospital in Boston, the series examined an American health-care system that was far from perfect The individuals portrayed each week the head doctors, the young residents and the nurses had to deal not only with medical illnesses, but with societal ills as well, as issues such as Auttman Vol.

Fire Dept.B 0 BINGO Every Thursday Doors Ooeo 5 00. Early Birds 6 30 jfe Regular Games 6 45 JACKPOT sso PTst5i LUCKY NUMBER: 57 CASH BALL: 504 8 CALLER'S CHOtCE: FREE MACOWmOMD SMOKE -CATERS 724-388-4281 The series made other innovations as well. Walking-and-talking scenes, where the camera follows the actors in king takes that pass off one scene to another, were used here extensively by executive producer Bruce Paltrow, co-creatorswriters Joshua Brand and John Falscy and frequent director Mark Tinker years before the technique became famous in Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing." BINGO Indiana Eagles Club EVERY THURSDAY Early Birds 6:30 P.M. Regular Bingo 6:45 P.M. LUCKY NUMBER: 300 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! iuss, Jr.

Mantel I Tan-IWeel, bawdy, and delightful little ramie jung in English. Wednesday-Saturday Nov.29-Dec.2,8p.m. Wafer Hall Mwtttage, (UP TciroaitierialieyUrwfi Biaiu-ricwtswmajncgscfflatie door 46mm. before ojrtamCa1 (724) 357-2547 for more ffAvmanon Newly irwallctl anti Money back guannux E-mail Food Rfrehments Available byJohaMSb Dire IMtdn RflrV FunoM aaft (a a IkfcttoforALL ffLMHaflalHlatWt I 49VaWtilri nMfit are 0NSALEN0W1 3fV Special Occassitms Cllaxs Rt'uniftfls 2 r. vJT i mrcci THE CONEY 19 3i kz nn rice Any Dinner Entree I Try Our New Wnw vaf Dinner ChorsJ tirJan "Dinner EAT-M ONLY AFTER 4 PM SUN WED a On coupon portable Moot pi oaanr coupon Pivot TO tmtmkty.

I hoi oa in comoMujnon win any omar tmt a CcaaMaapawNoanbar2.2Cua Indiana County's Premier Internet Service virusanti snam sofiu.ri' 724 463 0105 Locally imncd rnr home inMalkuiim.