TVSquad

I have to tell you, the CW had some pretty lively sessions today at the press tour. The session for the Pussycat Dolls series devolved into a women's lib argument as I walked into it, and both Supernatural and Hidden Palms had their moments. Most were helped along by the comic stylings of Paul McGuire, the network's head of communications, who would come to the podium usually toting a funny line or two. "Even Jean-Paul Satre was a freak in his day," he quipped after the spirited debate over use of the word in the Pussycat Dolls' hit "Don't Cha."

But not even a funny executive could hold a candle to Chris Rock.

Rock joined Ali LeRoi, his fellow executive producer on Everybody Hates Chris, along with cast members Tichina Arnold, Terry Crews, and Tyler James Williams on stage, not long after receiving the happy news that their show will be renewed for a third season. Since LeRoi is the show-runner, he did most of the talking, but that didn't keep Rock -- who is still heavily involved in the show -- from chiming in frequently.

About being able to relax after the renewal:
LeRoi: "We never relax. We put pen to paper the time we shoot the last frame on set."
Rock: "I don't relax. We're already on the CW. What's next? BET?"

About being moved from Sundays to Mondays so quickly:
Crews: "Give it up to the CW about that; the show was moved so quickly. Give it up to them for recognizing (the performance) and making the change very fast to get in on a good night."
Rock: "My TiVo wouldn't even watch the show on Sundays. Every week, 60 Minutes. Damn!"

About getting the show more attention:
Rock: "In about a week I'm going to have Terry (Crews) run through a club screaming "nigg*r"... generate some buzz."
Arnold: "And he'll do it too!"

About getting guest stars:
Rock: "We called Julia Roberts. She won't come."

About giving young Williams, as young Chris, some meatier teenage stories:
LeRoi: "At some point, there's got to be some kiss from a girl."
Rock: "And drug abuse. But then rehab. It goes full circle. It doesn't just stop. Its positive."

About the Michael Richards incident and black comics' use of the n-word:
Rock: "I just told my broker to buy me 80 shares of 'coon.'"
Crews: "Get Michael Richards as a guest star. If he's really sorry he should come on our show."
Rock: "He's busy working on Apocalypto 2."

On the possibility of asking Richards to guest on the show:
Rock: "Would I offer a job to Michael Richards? Probably. I'd have to make sure all the other non-nigg*r-screaming people didn't need jobs first. Once they were all working, I guess I'd have to give him a job."

Despite the fact that Rock looked pretty tired, and likely was about to head to a plane to go back to his family in New Jersey, he was in pretty fine form. What else did we find out about the show? The filming of all the season's episodes have already finished (Kelsey Grammer directed the season finale). Because of limited funds, they work on an efficient schedule. "It wears you out," said LeRoi. "I'm still tired," chimed in Crews.

The show does well internationally, as Rock found out when she traveled with Oprah Winfrey in South Africa. "Everybody loves the show," he said. As far as what it is about his story that people find so appealing, he tried to downplay the singularity of his own story. "It's not that original a story. It's in the tradition of Charlie Brown, a kid who gets beat up a lot, but wins every now and then."