Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 36

TODAY D5 HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN'. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2006 D4 TODAY 'Gilmore': Hit show still seeks Hawaii outlet for newCW season I "'in i a N- fi 7 two-hour premiere of the seventh edition of "America's Next Top Model," a reality-based series that was the UPN's highest-rated show. If no Hawaii broadcast station picks up the CW, how about the state's main cable operator? According to Norman Santos, Oceanic's vice president of operations, it's a possibility. "Since the CW network has announced itself, they have been looking for a local affiliate," he said. "There are some players in the mix, and we are one of them.

We're sort of waiting for the CW to make their choice." Santos said the network would prefer to be carried on a broadcast station for optimum exposure, but considering how cable-saturated our island state is, the CW wouldn't suffer much in terms of a potential audience were it to go with Oceanic. "We would carry their programming in its entirety, if selected," Santos said, "but right now, they're dealing with our corporate office. If we end up being chosen, we will try to get their programming shown at its inception." So there Is a ray of hope for fans like Deb. In three Continued from Dl debuts Sept. 26? "I've been watching 'Gilmore Girls' for several years," Deb wrote, "and have become addicted to the quick wit the characters have.

In addition, with any show that runs for a long period of time, you get to know the characters and start rooting for them in this case, a young single mom and her daughter finding their way in life." If Hawaii loses its "Gilmore" connection, Deb said, "we'll have to arrange for friends and family (living on the mainland) to send weekly tapes so we can at least keep up with the show." Deb and other fans have expressed their concerns to local television and newspaper outlets. She even corresponded with the CW's senior vice president for communications, Paul Mc-Guire. To her surprise, McGuire sent a quick response: "We are still working on getting the CW on the air in your fine state," he e-mailed last month. "Stay tuned. We'll get it done." The CW is set to launch over two weeks beginning Sept.

20, beginning with the it' ABC ABC: Calista Flockhart, left, Rachel Griffiths and Sally Field, the sister stars of "Brothers and Sisters," talked about their show in a press conference, but the pilot episode has not yet been seen by TV critics. The ensemble drama about the relationships among adult siblings debuts Sept. 24. NBC: All Larter stars as Niki Sanders, one of several people around the world who discover they have extraordinary powers and can put them to work for the greater good. "Heroes" debuts Sept.

25. FOX: "Standoff," about partners on a crisis-negotiation team who are also partners in romance, debuts tomorrow. It stars Ron Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt, foreground, and behind them Gina Torres, left, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Raquel Alessi and Michael Cudlitz. CW SHOWS These are the shows that will not be broadcast in Hawaii if no local affiliate signs on with the new CW network: SUNDAY "Everybody Hates Chris" "All of Us" "Girlfriends" "The Game" (new) "America's Next Top Model" MONDAY "7th Heaven" "Runway" (new) TUESDAY "Gilmore Girls" "Veronica Mars" WEDNESDAY "America's Next Top Model" "One Tree Hill" THURSDAY "Smallville" "Supernatural" FRIDAY "Friday Night Smackdown!" weeks' time they could still learn (cue announcer): Will Lorelai give her heart back to Christopher, her first love and her daughter's real father, now that she's broken off the engagement to her best friend, Luke? And are things really over between Rory and bad boy Logan, who was last seen leaving for London to work for his father's newspaper? Stay tuned! COURTESY DISCOVER KIDS New television shows herald the comin of fall The broadcast networks are unveiling their new shows over a period of several weeks Fox began last week; ABC and NBC will stretch their debuts into October. Critics are hailing this new season as one of the best in many years.

Here's what to expect: Corbin Bleu (Nathan) and Hallee second season of "Flight 29 Down." 29 Down': Eating worm just 1 challenge Continued from Dl was the only cast member from the show in attendance. The others busy actors with movies like "High School Musical" and top-ranked television shows such as "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" on their resumes returned to Los Angeles immediately after 52 days of shooting wrapped in March. In the first season, Fuji-moto's character, Abby, felt excluded from the others and frustrated with their complacency. So she snuck off with two other kids and the pilot, then returned later without her companions. In Season 2, flashback scenes will detail what she experienced.

Initially, Abby was sweet and spiritual and "not at all a leader," said executive producer Gina Watumull. This year, however, "Tani Lynn comes back to camp a very changed person. And that one person coming back in really changes the chemistry of the whole group, and that leads to the Season 2 cliffhanger." During filming at Kualoa Ranch, Fujimoto said she ate a worm, even though the shot did not require that she actually swallow. "I did it as a dare," she said. "I just like to try new things." Fujimoto who is half Japanese with a sprinkling of Scottish, German, English, Polish, French and American Indian said she plans to head for Los Angeles to pursue a film career.

But she remains committed to her education and is passionate about politics and public service. "I think I'm the only 18-year-old who watches C-Span," she laughed. In the meantime she hopes that Hawaii residents support what she describes as "a quality show for kids, which is rare." Last year, "nobody really knew how (the show) was going to do," said executive producer Rann Watumull, "but It has developed a very loyal following." So loyal, in fact, the series finished its first season in 2005 as Discovery Kids' top-ranked show. I 's-S i i ..1 LI The Watumulls, and senior executives of Hawaii Film said they got through second season shoot "on and on budget" despite of interference from weather on their rented parcel at Everything was shot "This is where we give of credit to our crew," Rann Watumull. "There couple of days when see rain, and it's for real." Occasionally, one crew did nothing but hold during the scenes and young actors cover up breaks.

Of 60 crew nearly all were hired locally. At less than $400,000 episode, "we are very lean mean," said Gina This helped create a family on the set, with sometimes home-baked brownies the catering. This season, fans can "much more action and and tension in said Rann That was clear in the episode as Nathan Corbin Bleu) struggles Daley (Hallee Hirsh) much he likes her, while Romance blooms between Hirsh (Daley) in the THURSDAY "Shark" CBS, beginning Sept. 21' Starring: James Woods, Jeri Ryan, Danielle Panabaker, Sam Page, Sophina Brown, Alexis Cruz, Sarah Carter Quick take: Woods is the undisputed focus of the show a high-profile defense attorney who suffers a crisis of conscience and agrees to jump the fence, turning prosecutor. He heads up aunit in the L.A.

District Attorney's office assigned to nail rich defendants with fancy lawyers the sort of lawyer he used, to be. Outlook: Oddly, Wobds dials back his signature hyperactive style, playing cutthroat lawyer Sebastian Stark with a lighter touch than viewers might expect from an attorney nicknamed But high-energy and ever animated, Woods is always, fun to watch. "Til Death" Fox, debuts this wee'tn'rc Starring: Brad Fisher, Eddie Kaye, Kat Foster Quick take: Garrett and Fisher play Eddie and Joy, a battle-weary couple whoiafter 24 years of matrimony, have seen it all. Now they get to see their past replayed for them by their lovey-dovey new neighbors, Jeff and Steph (Kaye and Foster). Eddie sees himself as Jeff's mentor, offering cynical, sarcastic marital advice like, "Men want to have fun, and wives want to' walk that fun deep into the woods and shoot it dead." Outlook: The comedy comes from the fact that Eddie pretty much embraces, his misery with Joy voluntarily and also that his bleak assessments can be right on the mark.

There's tidiness and purity to this sitcom's design. "Happy Hour" Fox, premieres this week. Starring: John SJoart; Lex Medlin, Nat Faxon, Jamie Denbo, Beth Brooke D'Orsay Quick take: Wholesome Henry Beckman (Sloan) has lost his job, his girlfriend and the apartment they shared. He falls in with Larry Coi6 (Medlin), a brash bon vivant who helps land him a job, tries to fix him up with girls and gets him plastered. Outlook: Suffice.it to say, the premise-strained "Happy Hour" signals no revolution in comedy.

"Six Degrees" ABC, beginning Sept: 21' Starring: Dorian Missick, Hope Davis, Erika Christensen, Bridget Moynahan, "Campbell Scott, Jay Hernandez Quick take: A pretty $rl is running from her past. A beautiful career her fiance is cheating. A man has a gambling problenv.A widowed mother grieves for her journalist husband whAwas killed covering the war. In the process, they run Jnto each other because (as a voice-over superfluously tells at any time could be the one that changes yourlife forever." Outlook: The "six degrees of separation" bit makes a dandy narrative gimmick. But the pilot doesn't make clear whether the Intertwining stories will be solid enough as drama, or soapy enough as melodrama, to keep viewers intertwined with the "Ugly Betty" ABC, beginning Sept.

28' Starring: Americalerrera, Eric Mabius, Vanessa Williams, Mark Indelicate, Tony Plana, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Jensen, William Abadie, Alan Dale, Michael Urie, Becki Newton Quick take: Betty Suarez is somewhat oversize but aims to leave Queens and crack Manhattan's fashion industry, where surface beauty reigns and anything less Is taboo. Against all odds, Betty s- sweet, efficient and full of great Ideas proves her mettle to a fashion magazine's brand-new editor, himself a neophyte who desperately needs her help to survive in t(iis Jungle. It will be them against the fashion world. Outlook: "Ugly Betty! is funny and charming, not to mention lacerating (and eyfrpopping) in how it depicts the style obsession. As Bettyvftmerica Ferrera is adorable and a fine comedian.

But her maim physical deficit is a mouth full of braces beyond.that; she isn't ugly. Will the title eventually have to be modified to something like "Not-Bad-Looking Associated Press TUESDAY "Help Me Help You" ABC, beginning Sept. 26 Starring: Ted Danson, Jere Bums, Suzy Nakamura, Jim Rash, Charlie Finn, Darlene Hunt Quick take: Long ago, Bob Newhart conducted sitcom group therapy. Now Ted Danson stars as Dr. Bill Hoffman, a Manhattan psychotherapist who masks his midlife crisis while in the company of clients, then unleashes it once the session is done.

Outlook: It's a funny show. Newhart's Dr. Hartley would approve. "Smith" CBS, beginning Sept. 19 Starring: Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, Simon Baker, Franky Amy Smart, Jonny Lee Miller Quick take: Bobby Stevens (Liotta) is a family man and office drudge but he has a secret life: orchestrating complex, outrageous crimes.

Outlook: The caper captured in the pilot is raggedly conceived. With its intermittently breathless pace and draggy exposition scenes, the same thing could be said for "Smith." "Friday Night Lights" ABC, beginning Oct. 3 Starring: Kyle Chandler, Scott Porter, Gaius Charles, Taylor Kitsch, Connie Britton, Zach Gilford, Minka Kelly, Aimee Teegarden, Adrianne Palicki, Jesse Plemons Quick take: The Panthers are the top-ranked high-school football squad in the nation. And in the small Texas town that the Panthers call home, they believe that everybody, God included, loves football. Outlook: This is the best pilot of the fall season, breathtaking in how it captures ordinary life set against extraordinary passions and world-class skill.

Star Kyle Chandler is so good he can play Coach Taylor as a man who holds back a sea of emotions while, at the same time, Chandler makes sure you share them all. "Standoff" Fox, premieres tomorrow Starring: Ron Livingston, Rosemarie DeWitt, Michael Cudlitz, Gina Torres, Raquel Alessi Quick take: Crisis-negotiation partners Matt and Emily are romantically Involved, putting their job performance in jeopardy. But when they're not bickering or making out, they put their full energy into rescuing hostages and saving lives. Outlook: "Sex and the City" fans know Livingston is tough, adorable and just a little kookie, and, as his brainy, no-nonsense partner, DeWitt is equally appealing. The chemistry between the two characters is indisputable.

Whatever Matt and Emily are doing, they hold you hostage. "Knights of Prosperity" ABC, beginning Oct. 17 Starring: Donal Logue, Lenny Venito, Josh Grisettl, Maz Jobrani, Sofia Vergara, Kevin Michael Richardson Quick take: Eugene Gurkin (Logue) is swabbing office floors on the overnight shift and decides to lift a little wealth off someone so rich he won't even miss it Mick Jagger and recruits an ill-assorted gang to help him. Outlook: This single-camera comedy is goofy and fast-paced. Jagger's cameos are hilarious.

Those would-be Robin Hoods will steal your heart and make you laugh, too. FRIDAY "Men In Trees" ABC, previews Sept. 12; premieres Sept. 15 Starring: Anne Heche, James Tupper, John Amos, Seana Kofoed, Sarah Strange, Emily Bergl, Derek Richardson, Suieka Mathews Quick take: A Manhattan "relationship coach" (Heche) finds herself in a village filled with guys and finds she doesn't know much about men. Arriving in Elmo, a remote burg in Alaska, for a quick visit, she realizes this could be the place that will mend a heart broken by a cheating fiance and decides to stay.

Here, the ratio of men to women is 10-to-l. Outlook: As with "Northern Exposure's" Cicely, Alaska, this is a place viewers might want to form a relationship with. SUNDAY "Brothers Sisters" i4BC, beginning Sept. 24 Starring: Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, John Pyper-Ferguson, Tom Skerritt and Sarah Jane Morris "i Quick take: Conflicted and In-conflict adult siblings populate this family drama. Outlook: An impressive cast and a seriousness of purpose recommend this series.

Behind-the-scenes production turmoil introduces some doubt. All of which is beside the point: It was unavailable for preview. But it is time to let Calista Flockhart move beyond "Ally McBeal." "The Game" CW, Oct. 1 Starring: Pooch Hall, Coby Bell, Tia Mowry, Hosea Chanchez, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Brittany Daniel Quick take: "I can still get cut. I'm a third-string wide receiver," says Derwin (Hall), just starting out with the San Diego Sabers.

"Ahhhh, baby," coos his girlfriend, Melanie (Mowry), "you're at least second string to me." Cue the laugh track. OutlookThe Game" is straight from the sitcom play-book. It's an excuse to display dishy people both glammed up and undressed especially the men. CBS CBS: The ever-manic James Woods tones it down just a bit to play a defense attorney-turned-prosecutor in "Shark," debuting Sept. 21.

HMlm 1 III I WEDNESDAY "Jericho" CBS, beginning Sept. 20 Starring: Skeet Ulrich, Gerald McRaney, Ashley Scott, Sprague Grayden, Kenneth Mitchell, Lennie James, Michael Gaston, Erik Knudsen, Pamela Reed Quick take: Jake Green (Ulrich) is a prodigal son returning to his rural hometown hoping to score some cash and beat a hasty retreat. But when a mushroom-shaped cloud rises over the horizon, the town is left Isolated no TV reception, no radio, no phones, no electricity and rumors suggest that not only nearby Denver might have been wiped out, but Atlanta, too. Outlook: "Jericho" depicts an innocent town faced with a fall from grace. Will that be sufficiently interesting (and not too grim) to keep viewers coming back every week? "Kidnapped" NBC, beginning Sept.

20 Starring: Dana Delany, Timothy Hutton, Jeremy Sisto, Carmen Ejogo, Will Denton, Delroy Undo Quick take: The Cain family of Manhattan is so wealthy the kids are driven to school with bodyguards still, 15-year-old Leopold is kidnapped in a bloody shootout. The Cains enlist a specialist whose blunt style inspires Mrs. Cain to observe, "You're not very good with people, are you?" "No," he replies, "but I'm good at finding them." Outlook: Solving this case is meant to last the season. Then, if "Kidnapped" is renewed, next fall will bring another disappearance. In the meantime, could they maybe take a few lessons from the more satisfyingly soapy "30 Rock" ABC beginning Oct.

11 Starring: Tina Fey, a recent "Saturday Night Light" grad, created this show and stars in it. Alec Baldwin and "SNL" alum Tracy Morgan co-star. Quick take: Fey's character is the anxious straight gal, surrounded by loons like Baldwin's meddling boss. It is he who insists on hiring Tracy Morgan's character, a certifiably insane comedian, as the needed ingredient for a show he describes as "missing that third kind of heat." Outlook: Remarkably, refreshingly screwball as it renders moot any initial misgivings. As a send-up of the silliness of network TV behind the scenes, "30 Rock" is sure to cook.

"Twenty Good Years" NBC, beginning Oct. 11 Starring: John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor Quick take: Imagine "The Odd Couple" rejiggered for Lithgow and Tambor. The stars play mismatched, often squabbling friends for life which they realize might not be all that much longer. "Seize the day" could be their new motto. Outook: "Seize the remote" might be more appropriate.

Surely there's something funnier to switch to than this warmed-over shtick. "Justice" Fox, premiered last week Starring: Victor Garber, Kerr Smith, Eamonn Walker, Rebecca Mader Quick take: Here's a souped-up show about souped-up Justice. Ron Trott (Garber) heads up an LA law firm that bows to no one In its use of every tool available for its rich, high-profile clients jury consultants, focus groups, mock jury, simulations. They're all part of trial preparation, and rivetingly woven into the story. Outlook: From producer Jerry Bruckheimer, "Justice" has the same slick, fast-paced production values that distinguish his "CSI" trio, and It portrays the legal process In a way no series has before: as expensive, carefully plotted theater.

"The Nine" ABC, beginning Oct. 4 Starring: Tim Daly, Scott Wolf, Chi McBride, Lourdes Benedicto, Camille Guaty, Jessica Collins, Kim Raver, John Billingsley, Dana Davis, Owain Yeoman Quick take: This handful of strangers just happened to be at a Los Angeles bank branch when two holdup men took it over. Some 48 hours later, the gunmen were overpowered and 10 hostages released. One dies. Nine live.

"The Nine" tracks the aftereffects on those who were there (including the perpetrators). Outlook: The series that follows the pilot means to map how their lives will remain intertwined and how the rest of the world could be excluded. By Frazier Moore MONDAY "The Class" CBS, beginning Sept. 18 Starring: Jason Ritter, Heather Goldenhersh, Jon Bern-thai, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lizzy Caplan, Sean Maguire, Lucy Punch, Andrea Anders Quick take: A couple of decades later, eight former third-grade classmates reunite, thanks to Ethan Haas (Ritter), who invites them all to his reunion party. All have problems, but they are clearly fated to be congregating for laughs and romance.

Outlook: Coming from "Friends" writer-producer David Crane, maybe this sitcom will turn out to be Judging from its pilot, "The Class" could make the grade. "Heroes" NBC, beginning Sept. 25 Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Milo Ven-timiglia, Hayden Panettiere, Alt Larter, Noah Gray-Cabey, Leonard Roberts, Santiago Cabrera, Tawny Cypress, Greg Grunberg, Masi Oka Quick take: A mind-expanding drama about ordinary people who are discovering they were born with extraordinary abilities that the world desperately needs. Though none of them knows one another at the outset, their paths begin to cross. (And cross bad guys are pursuing them.) Outlook: This is a meditative thrill ride, its many pieces unified by its exhilarating idea.

This potential breakout series could be NBC's "Lost," with the island in this case planet Earth. "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" NBC, beginning Sept. 18 Starring: Creator Aaron Sorkin follows up his presidential masterpiece "The West Wing" by casting "West Wing" alum Bradley Whitford and "West Wing" guest star Matthew Perry (better known from to head a large ensemble cast. Quick take: Whitford and Perry play comedy writers hired as replacement producers for a late-night sketch-comedy series. Outlook: This series risks paling in comparison to Sorkin's prior effort, but never underestimate the brilliantly literate, inventive writer.

Besides, the chemistry between Perry and Whitford is obvious. This combination might suffice even without the Oval Office. "Vanished" Fox, premiered Aug. 21 Starring: Gale Harold, Ming-Na, John Allen Nelson, Joanne Kelly, Rebecca Gayheart, Margarita Levieva, John Patrick Amedori, Chris Egan, Robert Hoffman Quick take: A senator's lovely young wife disappears. Who took her? Is she in on the crime? Outlook: Al-Qaida might even be part of the plot! This show has so many soaplike turns it makes "Dynasty" look like "Seventh Heaven." "Runaway" CW, beginning Sept.

25 Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Leslie Hope, Dustin Milligan, Sarah Ramos, Nathan Gamble, Susan Floyd, Karen LeBIanc Quick take: A high-priced lawyer has an extramarital affair. Then the girlfriend turns up dead. He is framed, and convicted, for the murder. He takes flight with his wife and three children, desperate to puzzle out who's behind the crime. Outlook: Unlike "The Fugitive," which it so closely resembles, the man In "The Runaway" has more at stake than his freedom.

He could lose his family. co-founders Honolulu-based Partners, the time plenty the 26-acre Mokuleia. outdoors. a lot said are a you do member jackets help the during members, per and Watumull. atmosphere Watumull bringing to supplement expect adventure the romance," Watumull.

first (actor to tell how she works to establish herself as an effective leader of the often fractious group. "Flight 29 Down" is making an impact beyond the United States. Episodes from the first season will be broadcast in Europe, Australia, Israel and Latin America. "It's more than a business to us," said Gina Watumull. "We're here, we're trying to build in Hawaii a television and film industry that doesn't Just pack up and go when they're finished shooting.

We're trying to change the whole paradigm." Added Rann Watumull, "Otherwise, we are at the beck and call of outside forces in Hollywood." At the end of one of the new episodes, 10-year-old Lex, the youngest and smartest of the survivors, proudly shows his new vegetable garden to his fellow castaways. "The good news is we'll have a decent food supply in a couple of months," said one character. Another quickly responded, "The bad news is we might be here to eat it." If the second season maintains the ratings of the first year, there might be time to plant several gardens. and their hips to be restored, and leave science to the rest of us. As Scrooge said, let them die and reduce the surplus population.

In return, we can offer them a reduction in the estate tax. All in favor, blow your nose. Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" can be heard at 6 p.m. Saturdays on KHPR 88. 1 and at the same time Sundays on KIPO 89.3.

Old Scout: Government debt impedes the future tional debt now exceeds all government welfare programs combined. We'll be in Iraq for years to come. Hard choices need to be made, and given the situation we're in, 1 think we must bite the bullet and say no more health care for the people who got us into this mess. It just doesn't make sense to invest in longevity for people who don't believe in the future. Let them try faith-based medicine, let them pray for their arteries to be reamed Continued from Dl which they feel entitled to but our children aren't entitled to a damn thing.

Any goombah with a Ph.D. in education can strip away French and German, music, art, dumb down the social sciences, offer Britney Spears instead of Shakespeare, and there is nothing the kid can do except hang out in the library, which is being cut back, too. Annual Interest on the na.