SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

For years, networks have used the slot after the Super Bowl to pump up ratings for new or fledgling series.

But seldom has a network tried to bump up a series seen primarily as a chick show during the testosterone-charged event. ABC entertainment head Stephen McPherson told critics at the winter press tour that basically he believes the Super Bowl is less about rabid football fans and more about families sitting down to watch TV.

“We chose (‘Grey’s Anatomy’) because it’s one of the best shows on television, and it’s gaining momentum. It’s doing some of the most amazing work in drama that I think is being done anywhere right now. We feel like it’s an asset that is only growing, and we wanted to expose it to a larger audience and keep that momentum growing.

It’s also the first show that’s ever been shown after the Super Bowl in its regular time spot.

Heather Graham went from ubiquitous poster girl for ABC’s “Emily’s Reasons Why Not” to the invisible woman after just one airing of her tepid comedy.

What happened, inquiring critics wanted to know during the ABC executive session with entertainment president Stephen McPherson.

“Well, we had spent the majority of the big long-lead advertising money before we even saw a script. You have to measure your patience based on how you believe in the creative, and there we felt like, unfortunately, it was not going to get better.”

They could have saved a boatload of money if they just listened to the TV critics last summer….

Going from Lucius Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” flicks to the vicious mobster Michael Caffee in the new Showtime series Brotherhood wasn’t much of a stretch for actor Jason Isaacs.

He told critics gathered at the winter press tour in Pasadena that he isn’t often recognized on the streets of Providence, R.I., where the series is shot.

” (Only) if I walk around with a velvet cape and a walking cane and long blond hair, generally — and a
small blue elf,” teased Isaacs

” That owl you always had in your trailer didn’t help matters,” joked co-star Ethan Embry

” What happens is kids don’t recognize me, the parents recognize me. They go, ‘Look, it’s Lucius Malfoy,’ ” Isaacs said. “And the kids look at the parents like they’re insane because what would Lucius Malfoy be doing shopping in a Providence shopping mall?”

The HBO series “Carnivale” may be cancelled, but it’s not forgotten by its loyal fans.

Those fans want to know what another season would have looked like.

And so would “Carnivale” producer Scott Winant, who has moved on to Showtime’s “Huff.”

“If we could have gotten another season, the battle would have started between the good, (Ben Hawkins, played by Nick Stahl) and the evil (Sofie, played by Clea DuVall), says Winant. “I think we were going to have a great season. I still miss that series.”

As do we all.

Hank Azaria arrived from New York to chat with critics gathered at the winter press tour about his Showtime series “Huff.”

He’s currently starring on Broadway in “Spamalot” as Sir Lancelot, which garnered Azaria a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.

But would he want to continue that role when the show opens in Las Vegas?

“When it goes to Vegas, it will be shortened and turned into more than a revue than a play, and that doesn’t interest me as much,” Azaria says.

So he wouldn’t consider it?

“I didn’t say that,” smiled Azaria. “A month in Vegas? And if they backed that money truck up to my door, it would be hard to say no.”

NBC confirms that this will be the last season for “The West Wing.”

Early reports had series creator Aaron Sorkin coming back for the final episodes, but producer John Wells says that won’t happen.

“I’ve always tried to get Aaron back, but he’s been too busy. Right now he’s working on ‘Studio 7’ for NBC, and he just doesn’t have the time,” Wells said.

Wells said series co-star John Spencer, who recently died of a heart attack, had already shot his episodes up to five days before the election storyline featured this season on the show.

Spencer’s character was a staffer turned vice president candidate.

“We knew where we were going when this happened, so it didn’t change much about what we were going to do with the series until the final few epsiodes,” Wells, who had just come from a memorial service for Spencer. “It’s difficult to think of the series and where it is going when you are still grieving for a friend.”

Three comedies won’t be returning to the Fox schedule this fall: “Arrested Development,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and “That ’70s Show.”

The eighth season of “That ’70s Show” ends on May 18, but no word yet as to whether Ashton Kutcher or Topher Grace will return to send off their old show.

And “Malcolm in the Middle” signs off on May 14.

As previously noted, the critical darling “Arrested Development” will have its final airing on Feb. 10 _ opposite the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.

Gee. Thanks Fox.

There’s no hope for the WB series “7th Heaven,” which will be axed this year.

Garth Ancier, chairman of the network, says it all boiled down to dollars and cents.

“This year the show will lose $16 million for the WB and that’s with a license fee reduction from last year,” Ancier says. “At least to us, that’s a big number…As much as we all love the show, you do have to run a business.”

On the other hand, “Everwood” will be back stronger than ever after “Beauty and the Geek” wraps up. The series will have 13 episodes airing without a single repeat.

Country legend Reba McEntire , star of the WB sitcom “Reba,” says she doesn’t really care if they put a pair of $1,250 jeans in her Golden Globes goodie bag.

“That’s nice, but my favorite goodie bag item was from a country music awards program: a $5,000 gift certificate for Tupperware. I was so excited. I called back to make sure I wasn’t reading that wrong,” Reba says. “When I found out it was right, I called everyone in my family and we went shopping!”

New series? We’ve got your new WB series.

Or at least a few proposed series.

Former Jessica Simpson life partner Nick Lachey is set to star in a half-hour comedy created by Danny Jacobson (“Mad About You”).

Matthew Bomer, who was in “Flightplan” with Jodie Foster, has just been cast as the lead in “Cult,” a sci-fi show.

“Cult” is written by Rockne S. O’Bannon, who created “Farscape.”