Dapper Dan
04-26-2005, 12:33 PM
End Games: Finale Preview
Source: Entertainment Weekly, bought to you by www.screen-gems.net (http://www.screen-gems.net/)
Finale season has sprung — and with it come plot ploys to save those shows that are anxiously awaiting pickup for next year. Case in point: the kissing-cousins, bleached-puppet lunacy unleashed on the recent season (and possibly series) finale of Fox's Arrested Development. Below, a peek at how other shows are making bids at self-preservation:
Charmed (May 22)
The WB witches have lost a bit of their mojo after seven years, summoning an average of 3.6 million viewers each week, down from 5.4 million in 1999. Surefire ratings boost: girls gone wild! This season ends with the trio flirting with black magic after their ancient spell book goes missing. The outcome is ''absolutely a surprise,'' says exec producer Brad Kern. ''I withheld script pages from even the crew. I can say that the Charmed Ones will literally never be the same. Literally.''
Jack & Bobby (May 11)
Voted most likely to succeed during pilot season, The WB's coming-of-age polidrama has seen approval ratings lag (it averages 2.5 million viewers). The exit strategy: finale cameos from Gore Vidal, Norman Lear, and Tim Robbins (in a voiceover); an appearance from the boys' heretofore unseen dad (Lou Diamond Phillips); plus the death of a major character. Says exec producer Greg Berlanti, who's clearly preparing for the worst: ''Our decision was to make the best episodes we can, so there's an amazing boxed set.'' Sniff.
Joan of Arcadia (April 22)
Sinking to an average of 8.1 million viewers after a season 1 high of 10.1 million, CBS' God-is-my-co-pilot drama could use a prayer circle. Instead, it's employing a more mortal tactic — opening up a can of whupass. In the finale, Joan (Amber Tamblyn) faces a sinister figure, and ''her mission is to restrain him,'' explains exec producer Stephen Nathan. ''It's Joan meets Buffy.''
Kevin Hill (May 18)
Hunky Taye Diggs attracted 4 million people to the debut of his single-dad legal drama on UPN, but his megawatt smile has lost some of its luster, and now lures only 2.8 million viewers. So Hill producers have reached out to more pretty people: Toni Braxton, Wayne Brady, and Diggs' real-life wife, Idina Menzel, will star in the final two episodes ''to tee off as potential guests for next year,'' says exec producer Samantha Corbin-Miller. ''We're trying to make the show a little more Practice and a little less Ally McBeal,'' she adds.
Smallville (May 18)
After four seasons, The WB's teenage Superman drama, which pulls in an average of 4.4 million viewers (compared with 5.9 million in 2002), is losing Nielsen strength. Exec producer Al Gough's plan: ''Our biggest finale yet. A catastrophe strikes in the middle of high school graduation, propelling everyone into different directions.'' Also propelled is that sluggish kryptonian-crystal story, plus an explanation for Lana's (Kristin Kreuk) tattoo. Hint: It doesn't involve a drunken night in Tijuana.
Source: Entertainment Weekly, bought to you by www.screen-gems.net (http://www.screen-gems.net/)
Finale season has sprung — and with it come plot ploys to save those shows that are anxiously awaiting pickup for next year. Case in point: the kissing-cousins, bleached-puppet lunacy unleashed on the recent season (and possibly series) finale of Fox's Arrested Development. Below, a peek at how other shows are making bids at self-preservation:
Charmed (May 22)
The WB witches have lost a bit of their mojo after seven years, summoning an average of 3.6 million viewers each week, down from 5.4 million in 1999. Surefire ratings boost: girls gone wild! This season ends with the trio flirting with black magic after their ancient spell book goes missing. The outcome is ''absolutely a surprise,'' says exec producer Brad Kern. ''I withheld script pages from even the crew. I can say that the Charmed Ones will literally never be the same. Literally.''
Jack & Bobby (May 11)
Voted most likely to succeed during pilot season, The WB's coming-of-age polidrama has seen approval ratings lag (it averages 2.5 million viewers). The exit strategy: finale cameos from Gore Vidal, Norman Lear, and Tim Robbins (in a voiceover); an appearance from the boys' heretofore unseen dad (Lou Diamond Phillips); plus the death of a major character. Says exec producer Greg Berlanti, who's clearly preparing for the worst: ''Our decision was to make the best episodes we can, so there's an amazing boxed set.'' Sniff.
Joan of Arcadia (April 22)
Sinking to an average of 8.1 million viewers after a season 1 high of 10.1 million, CBS' God-is-my-co-pilot drama could use a prayer circle. Instead, it's employing a more mortal tactic — opening up a can of whupass. In the finale, Joan (Amber Tamblyn) faces a sinister figure, and ''her mission is to restrain him,'' explains exec producer Stephen Nathan. ''It's Joan meets Buffy.''
Kevin Hill (May 18)
Hunky Taye Diggs attracted 4 million people to the debut of his single-dad legal drama on UPN, but his megawatt smile has lost some of its luster, and now lures only 2.8 million viewers. So Hill producers have reached out to more pretty people: Toni Braxton, Wayne Brady, and Diggs' real-life wife, Idina Menzel, will star in the final two episodes ''to tee off as potential guests for next year,'' says exec producer Samantha Corbin-Miller. ''We're trying to make the show a little more Practice and a little less Ally McBeal,'' she adds.
Smallville (May 18)
After four seasons, The WB's teenage Superman drama, which pulls in an average of 4.4 million viewers (compared with 5.9 million in 2002), is losing Nielsen strength. Exec producer Al Gough's plan: ''Our biggest finale yet. A catastrophe strikes in the middle of high school graduation, propelling everyone into different directions.'' Also propelled is that sluggish kryptonian-crystal story, plus an explanation for Lana's (Kristin Kreuk) tattoo. Hint: It doesn't involve a drunken night in Tijuana.