Boston Legal

Hookup: 20 Admit-Two VIP Passes to Chicago Premiere of TNT Series ‘Trust Me’ With Tom Cavanagh

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:13:35 -0700

CHICAGO – In a special edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV, we have 20 admit-two VIP passes up for grabs to the exclusive Chicago premiere of the new TNT drama “Trust Me” about a Chicago advertising agency. The series stars Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”), Tom Cavanagh (“Scrubs,” “Ed”) and Monica Potter (“Boston Legal,” “Saw,” “Along Came a Spider,” “Patch Adams,” “Con Air”) from the producers of “Nip/Tuck” and “The Closer”.

Potter will be in attendance. You will also be treated to a special advance screening of “Trust Me,” complimentary hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks and prizes. To win your free pass to the VIP “Trust Me” event in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 20 people to submit a comment in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup. That’s it!

The premiere will be held on Jan. 22, 2008 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the “Trust Me” poster below.

“Trust Me” on TNT stars Eric McCormack, Tom Cavanagh and Monica Potter.
Image credit: TNT

Here is the “Trust Me” plot description:

Set against the backdrop of the high-pressure world of advertising, “Trust Me” focuses on Mason (Eric McCormack) and Conner (Tom Cavanagh): a pair of advertising men whose strong creative partnership has served the firm of Rothman Greene & Mohr extremely well over the years.

Mason (an art director) is a responsible, workaholic family man with a beautiful wife, Erin (Sarah Clarke, “24”), two children and an undying loyalty to the brands he helps sell.

By contrast, his writing partner, Conner, is a single, impulsive copywriter with the attention span of a teenager. Their yin-yang relationship is put to the test when Mason is named a creative director of the agency. He becomes Conner’s boss.

The series follows the changing dynamics between the two friends who are better together than they are apart.

To secure your free pass now to the “Trust Me” premiere in Chicago, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required.

Then, add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this question:

What do you do at work and in life to sell yourself and get ahead?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: TV is simple: The first 20 people to comment below win! We will be in touch with the 20 winners via e-mail to distribute your passes. “Trust me” premieres on TNT on Jan. 26, 2009 at 9 p.m. CST.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Interview: Taraji P. Henson of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ on Playing Brad Pitt’s Mother

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:11:14 -0700

CHICAGO – It turns out that skipping a “blowout” garage sale she was planning paid off for up-and-coming actress Taraji P. Henson after all, she told HollywoodChicago.com’s Adam Fendelman in a Chicago interview. Not being there netted an even grander sale for her acting career: Henson was cast as Brad Pitt’s surrogate mother in the Oscar-buzzing film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” star Taraji P. Henson in Chicago on Dec. 5, 2008.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

Rating: 4.0/5.0

The film, which was adapted for the screen by Eric Roth and is based on the 1920s short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, stars Brad Pitt opposite Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. It’s a curious film indeed about Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) who ages backward. He’s born old and grows youthful.

For Henson, auditioning for the part of Queenie (Benjamin Button’s surrogate mother) was as long of a shot for her as the Earth is to Pluto. But prior to the audition, the film’s casting director already had her in mind based on Henson’s 2005 performance in “Hustle & Flow”. That film won her a Black Movie Award for her supporting role as well as a Black Reel Award for the same. She won a BET Award in 2006.

Even if the industry still hasn’t recognized Henson for her “Hustle & Flow” performance, her 18 episodes of “Boston Legal” from 2007 to 2008 as Whitney Rome or her role in 2007’s “Talk to Me” with Don Cheadle, Henson says after this press tour and upon release of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “you will surely know me now” and know how to pronounce her Swahili name, too.

Matthew Henson, by the way, is the co-discoverer of the North Pole and is Taraji P. Henson’s great great cousin. She jested: “That’s where I got my survival skills.” Henson has been talked about as a potential nominee for the upcoming Academy Awards in a relatively weak category for actresses in a supporting role.

Once Henson overcame the incredulity of landing a role she viewed as a moon shot, she describes the adapted script from Eric Roth (who also wrote “Lucky You,” “The Good Shepherd,” “Munich,” “Ali,” “The Horse Whisperer” and “Forrest Gump”) and the direction from David Fincher (“Zodiac,” “Panic Room,” “Fight Club” and “Se7en”) as having come to fruition through “bold choices”.

“It was very bold for Eric Roth to choose to make Queenie an African-American woman who was the surrogate mother to Benjamin Button – a white character – which would have been very unusual at the time with what was happening in the country with race,” Henson said.

Taraji P. Henson (left) stars as Queenie with Brad Pitt (right front) in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

She added: “It was a bold choice for David Fincher, too, as it was something very different from what we’re used to seeing him direct. It was even a very bold choice for Brad Pitt in that it’s a not-so-glamorous role for him (even though some how he pulls it off).”

“That’s what intrigued me most,” Henson said. “I consider myself an artist who takes chances and risks in my work. I like to surround myself with people who do the same. I honestly didn’t think I had a chance to get this film.”

Taraji P. Henson stars as Queenie in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

Her “serious” garage sale had jewelry and racks of clothes with hangars she bought to hang up the garments. Henson even turned her tae bo kickboxing bag into a mannequin. While she initially was upset about having to stop what she was doing to audition for a role she thought she’d never get, after the audition Henson learned the film’s casting director had her in mind for this character from the beginning.

Still, she thought Fincher wouldn’t take her seriously, and even if he did, the studio certainly wouldn’t and would want a “bigger star”. Henson describes the all-too-common situation of a film and its studio seeking choices that’d most likely lead to financial gain for the picture rather than riskier choices that can help to assure a quality film.

“I’ve been in this game for a minute now. I’ve been down this road before. Big feature film. Big names. Big director. They want big names all across the name. They think I don’t have an audience because I haven’t been in a big blockbuster film. There are people in the industry who aren’t so creative. They’re number crunchers.”

She added: “You have not-so-creative people making creative decisions. I didn’t think I had a chance because I know the industry doesn’t consider me to be a name and I don’t have box-office draw.”

In describing the work ethic of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and her conversations with them between takes, Henson said she didn’t talk much with them about work. She added: “We’re all parents and we live in between takes. We talked about normal stuff then like kids and life. We didn’t talk about our acting processes.”

In terms of Henson’s preparation for her role, she said she didn’t do much research.

“I already am a mother and have always been a nurturer. Even when I was a child, I never played with Barbie. I couldn’t stand Barbie because she had too much,” Henson said. “But I liked playing with the baby dolls and being the mother. The animatronic baby I’m acting with in the beginning of the film was right up my alley because I was doing that as a little girl. It took three puppeteers to operate it.”

RELATED SLIDESHOW
27-image slideshow for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

RELATED READING
More writing from critic Adam Fendelman.

In terms of why we’re seeing so many adapted movie scripts these days based on beloved stories and fewer original screenplays, Henson again tags the reason as one that’s “safer” financially.

“They feel safer with best-selling books – like ‘Twilight’ and the Harry Potter films – because they already have an audience. They’re already seeing audience money. It’s harder for an original idea,” she said.

Henson added: “They don’t see money because it hasn’t been done before. You have to go in the back door and be the little engine that could to prove it – like ‘Hustle & Flow’.”

In retrospect, the opportunity cost of Henson’s audition paid off in spades. She concluded: “Thank god I canceled that garage sale.”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which is directed by David Fincher and was adapted for the screen by Eric Roth based on the 1920s short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. The film opens on Dec. 25, 2008.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Fall TV Critic’s Picks: ‘Heroes,’ ‘Desperate Housewives,’ ‘Dirty Sexy Money,’ ‘30 Rock’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:27:00 -0600

Join HollywoodChicago.com television critic Evan O’Donnell for
what’s hot and what’s not across ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC television.
CHICAGO – Once again, it’s that magical time of year when kids return to school, leaves start to change and we’re obliged to cease all human communications and glue ourselves in front of the tube for eight months to enjoy other people doing things.

Yes, it’s time for the new television season to start, but with so many choices on what to watch, how will you ever know what’s worth watching and what’s worth TiVoing (and forgetting about a week later)? Let’s take this day by day. Off we go.

Sunday

The big battle on this night will be between NBC’s Sunday Night Football and ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”. In 2006, NBC pulled in a 6.4 rating and a 16 share with its gridiron coverage.

Editor’s note: The rating is the percentage of all people within a given universe that are watching a show. For example, if a show has a 6.4 rating, that means 6 percent of all the people in the 18 to 49 demographic are watching that show.

The share is the percentage of people who are watching TV at that time and watching that show. If a show has a 20 share, that means 20 percent of all the people in a demographic who are watching TV are watching that show.

ABC pulled in almost identical but slightly higher numbers with “Desperate Housewives”.

The bread of the housewives sandwich, however, lagged behind football considerably. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “Brothers & Sisters” only pulled in a 4.9 and 4.3 rating respectively.

FOX is countering with its two-hour block of animation that was popular 10 years ago.

While “The Simpsons” (4.1 rating), “King of the Hill” (2.6), “Family Guy” (4.1) and “American Dad” (3.5) all have a loyal audience, they won’t be able to make up the viewers to compete with ABC or NBC.

CBS is the only network that has a new show on Sunday: “Viva Laughlin”. Though other Sunday shows from CBS are consistent performers, they will still be battling for third behind ABC and NBC.

Can’t Miss: “Desperate Housewives”
Even though the show has gone downhill over the past few seasons, the ladies of Wisteria Lane (especially Felicity Huffman) still make you want to hate yourself for loving it.

Can’t Hit: “King of the Hill”
It seems the only reason this show is back is because FOX has a compulsion to only airing cartoons during prime time on Sundays. Like “The Simpsons,” this show stopped being funny five years ago. Unlike “The Simpsons,” it doesn’t have the cult following.

Monday

CBS is trying to turn the clock back to the days before reality television by showing a two-hour block of sitcoms. “How I Met Your Mother” (3.2), “Two and a Half Men” (4.7) and “Rules of Engagement” (4.5) are all steady performers.

New CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” is scheduled between “How I Met Your Mother” and “Two and a Half Men” in an attempt to exploit some momentum and build a following.

NBC is trying out two new shows on Mondays with “Chuck” and “Journeyman” as the bookends for “Heroes” (6.4). The peacock is hoping the same demographic that made “Heroes” a hit will buy into the storylines of the new hour-long serials.

The big winner of the night will be ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” (5.8 rating). This was the No. 2 show in 2006 and it doesn’t look like it will let up at all this time around.

Can’t Miss: “Heroes”
This show is simply gripping and will continue to gain fans as it matures.

Can’t Hit: “Two and a Half Men”
When describing this show, I use this old line: “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.”

Tuesday

With “American Idol” not yet in play, this day is a free for all for all four major networks. ABC has what might be the most talked-about new show with “Cavemen” but has also the most mocked new show with “Cavemen”.

I see this show as having huge numbers the first week (there is no such thing as bad publicity) but falling off sharply when people realize you can’t make a 30-second commercial into a 22-minute sitcom.

The alphabet network’s other new show, “Carpoolers,” will suffer the same slow and painful death. However, they do have the “Dancing With the Stars” result show to pull themselves up.

CBS is still playing the “people older than 60 love our shows” card and it is evident on Tuesdays.

“NCIS” (3.5) and “The Unit” (3.2) will pull in respectable numbers for the network as they try for a younger audience with their new show “Cane”. Starring Jimmy Smits, this show focuses on a South Florida family and its rum and sugar business.

Even though they don’t have a new “American Idol” to start the season, don’t start shedding tears for FOX quite yet. While “Bones” (3.2) pulls in respectable numbers, “House M.D.” pulls in a breathtaking 19.4 million viewers.

This is the highest-rated show on FOX that’s not called “American Idol”.

Can’t Miss: “Boston Legal”
This show has a smart cast, funny dialogue and Bill Shatner. There are all good things here.

Can’t Hit: “The Biggest Loser”
If I wanted to watch people lose weight, I would watch “Celebrity Fit Club” on VH1. At least then I would be able to see Screech.

Wednesday

Like all networks, ABC has completely revamped its lineup for Wednesday night.

The alphabet network is debuting three new shows including “Private Practice,” which is the new “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff. “Dirty Sexy Money,” which is the new drama starring Peter Krauss, will try to recapture a feeling that hasn’t been around since “Dynasty”.

CBS is countering with the most-hyped new reality show of the season: “Kid Nation”.

The show debuted last week to mediocre ratings and doesn’t look to be the breakout success that the Columbian Broadcast System hoped. They still have, however, “Criminal Minds” (3.9) and “CSI: NY” (4.3) to make CBS a contender on Wednesdays.

FOX’s only attempt at the traditional sitcom comes on Wednesday nights with the “Everybody Loves Raymond”-inspired hour of the new Patricia Heaton vehicle “Back to You” and the painful return of Brad Garret’s “’Til Death” (2.9).

Their only hope on Wednesday is the Gordon Ramsey kitchen reality show “Kitchen Nightmares”.

NBC is placing all its hopes on the new “Bionic Woman” and the new drama “Life”. The good news for the peacock is that Americans are still eager enough to sit mindlessly through “Deal or No Deal”. There’s nothing quite like cashing in on the lowest-common denominator.

Can’t Miss: “Dirty Sexy Money”
Peter Krauss has the charm. The plotlines have the trash to make this another compelling show that makes us feel like we have to shower afterward.

Can’t Hit: “Deal or No Deal”
Come on, people. Pre-screened “contestants” are randomly picking numbered briefcases. We can do better than this.

Thursday

All the networks are sticking to their guns on Thursday with only ABC trotting out a new show called “Big Shots”. This is the story of entitled people who have entitled problems.

ABC is trying to corner the “dramedy” market with the show premiering after the ratings cows of “Ugly Betty” (3.7) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (8.1).

CBS has the venerable “Survivor” kicking off its Thursday night.

The rest of the CBS lineup consists of “CSI” (6.6) (or what I like to call “Law & Order: CBS”) and finishes off the night with “Without a Trace” (4.1). Though the lineup is nothing new or sexy, it will still make the eye network competitive.

NBC is in the odd position of having the best shows and the fewest viewers. The two-hour sitcom block consists of “My Name is Earl” (3.8), “30 Rock” (2.7), “The Office” (4.1) and “Scrubs” (3.2).

The peacock is hoping the buzz around these legitimately funny shows will continue to grow and will soon bring the audience the talent deserves.

Can’t Miss: “30 Rock”
This is an uproarious show. It will be a shame if it goes the way of “Arrested Development” or “Sports Night”.

Can’t Hit: “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”
This is a show that’s only slightly more tolerable than “Deal or No Deal” and that isn’t saying much.

The Verdict

While every network is unveiling some exciting programming, there really doesn’t seem to be a breakout show that will compete with the established forces in prime-time network TV.

ABC looks like it will hold the top network spot, but if people start to tune into NBC on Thursday like they should, there is no stopping them.

After all is said and done, you should cancel all your appointments, lose all your friends and sit yourself down in front of the glorious light box for next eight months.

By Evan O’Donnell
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com