Posted on 03/11/2005 1:37:46 PM PST by lainie
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) There was a lot of love in the room at the screening and panel discussion for The WB's "Jack & Bobby," held Wednesday (March 9) as part of the Museum of Television & Radio's annual Paley Television Festival -- but very little of it was directed at moderator Susan Estrich.
The gravel-voiced USC law professor, syndicated columnist and political strategist (she was national campaign manager for Michael Dukakis' 1988 presidential bid) was one of a series of guest moderators for the festival. During her introduction, she quipped that the low-rated Wednesday-night series was "doing as well as some of my candidates."
Present to take questions from Estrich and the audience (which included Peter Roth, president of producing studio Warner Bros. Television) were series executive producers Greg Berlanti, Vanessa Taylor and Mickey Liddell, and stars Matt Long, Logan Lerman, Christine Lahti (who dressed very similarly to Estrich), Jessica Pare, John Slattery, Keri Lynn Pratt and Edwin Hodge. The freshman series focuses on a single college professor (Lahti) raising two teenage sons. Interstitials from a future faux documentary reveal that 16-year-old Jack (Long) dies fairly young, while 13-year-old Bobby (Lerman) goes on to become a U.S. president.
In his introduction to the episode screened, Berlanti said, "We actually have everyone who watches the show right here in this room."
Following the screening, Estrich hammered on the show's low ratings, press coverage and political themes, causing an audience member to holler out, "Talk about the show."
Estrich continued in the same vein, and a man in the audience called out, "There's more to this show than just politics." At this point, the audience -- a healthy but not sold-out crowd -- burst into applause.
"For a political show," Berlanti said, "we aren't that political. We handle these issues from a human perspective."
But when asked if the show's low ratings affected the mood on set, Slattery sniffed theatrically and said, "I'm going to kill myself."
"I don't think we talk about what the ratings were the previous night," Lahti said, causing Long to interject, "Not any more."
When Estrich finally turned the questioning over to the impatient audience, one older woman emphasized the broad reach of the show and The WB, a young man rambled through his unfortunate dot.com experience while wondering if teens just don't care about thoughtful shows -- as a mother, Lahti urged him not to generalize -- while another woman declared that Lahti's character "is becoming a lesbian favorite" (Lahti gave her a big laugh).
Long also visibly blushed when a female questioner told him he was "hot."
Estrich eventually returned to her ratings question -- to groans from the audience -- and Berlanti admitted, "We have a very healthy 1.5 million viewers every week."
Near the end, an audience member stood up and stated, "I've never heard a moderator start out with three questions that are so depressing," which got another huge roar from the crowd.
Despite attendees' lavish praise for the show's writing and themes, its future remains uncertain.
"We're a quiet show," Berlanti said. "You hope you grow, but that this point, we haven't."
He appealed to the audience for ideas on getting folks to tune in, "If anyone can tell us, please let us know."
Susan Estrich has all the charm of a, well, Susan Estrich.
Picture a giant hook dragging Estrich off stage.
"For a political show," Berlanti said, "we aren't that political"
This show is very political, heck they had one of the central characters wearing a kerry button last fall.
The woman tells the truth,and everyone wants to crucify her. Just damn.
I saw Christine Lahti is some medical program a decade ago. Her character was ranting and whining about not getting a promotion and the glass ceiling, yada yada yada. I never watched that program after that.
A few months ago, I happened to watch some program with Christine Lahti; it may have been this new program or another. I had not watched her in anything for a decade. Her character in the new program was ranting and whining about not getting a promotion and the glass ceiling, yada yada yada.
I've never watched this show, but isn't it about a future Dem president? And Christine Lahti's in the cast--that alone says this is a Lib show.
That would be Chicago Hope--a half-decent show until she joined the cast.
If Julia Roberts ever quits her job as a wide-mouth bass, Susan Estrich can fill in.
He appealed to the audience for ideas on getting folks to tune in, "If anyone can tell us, please let us know."
Drop the Lib BS and go hard Right--your ratings will sky-rocket.
Estrich is the kiss of death for anything. Why do people like her keep getting asked to do things? I'd like to never see her or hear that voice again.
Susan Estrich must not own a mirror ... or she would *never* go out in public looking like that!
Kerry stickers were shown in an episode once I heard.
I think naming the two main characters after the Dead Kennedys was a marketing mistake from the gitgo. Turned off half their prospective audience and confused the other half.
They'll never learn will they?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.