A love triangle, a hidden pregnancy, Josh Charles, and a quickened plot is what awaits viewers who tune in to Six Degrees when it returns tonight on ABC at 9 pm. The series was pulled from the scheduled way back in November when it wasn't holding on to the Grey's Anatomy audience on Thursday nights. Created by J.J. Abrams, the drama is about six New Yorkers and how their lives intersect. The ensemble cast includes Bridget Moynahan, Campbell Scott, and Erika Christenson.
Only, in my opinion, it was slow. And boring. And apparently ABC thought so too, because it gave the executive producers a few mandates for the next seven episodes.
In this interview with TV Guide, the producers for Six Degrees, Stuart Zicherman and Raven Metzner, talk about some of the changes they've worked into the show at ABC's behest. First of all, they've made it more "ABC friendly". That means a love triangle involving Campbell Scott, a new character played by Sports Night's Josh Charles, and a third unnamed actor (possibly Moynahan, whose real-life pregnancy will not be written into the show).
Also, they've identified their "McDreamy", as all ABC shows need to do these days, as Campbell Scott. "McSteamy", then, must be Josh Charles. And they've taken away the criminal storyline from Damian (Dorian Missick), because ABC didn't like it, and have sent him down a different path in search of Mae (Christensen). Mae's story is also changing, and her mysterious past and the person hunting her down is going to fade away.
It's a little sad, really, that the network is meddling so much in the direction of the show. But, at the same time, it was a very, very weak show. It just sounds like ABC has turned it into another one of its ensemble dramas. In the interview, the producers hold out hope that their show can be unique.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-23-2007 @ 2:49PM
David said...
They make it into a "ABC systel show" and then what it to be "unique".
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3-23-2007 @ 3:11PM
Steve said...
i liked it the way it was. As a NYCer, I thought it had a good NYC feel to it.
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3-23-2007 @ 3:15PM
pgwp said...
How sad is it if you yourself thought the show was boring in the first place?
I actually like the show, but personally I always felt that it WAS a traditional soap all along, and ABC mucked it up by letting people think of it as "serial drama," which is code for a show that is difficult to get into mid-stream, a la Lost or Heroes.
I was also finding the Damian/Mae/Jay Hernandez characters the most interesting--while at the same time feeling like the shooting thing was put into the pilot and then never convincingly made a part of Damian's character, and the Mae-on-the-run thing HAS felt a little tired. Action doesn't suit this show very well.
So I for one think the suits made good calls, at least in theory (need to see the shows first).
Is this show's fate sealed, though? Ultimately, who cares what plotlines get killed or reimagined if it's condemned to Friday nights after a five-month hiatus. Is ABC actually clinging to the possibility that this show could still show some spark?
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3-23-2007 @ 3:56PM
Bill said...
Just a minor correction, J.J. Abrams is an executive producer and I think the show's under the Bad Robot production company, but Metzner and Zicherman are the creators.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com/
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3-23-2007 @ 4:16PM
MissPinkKate said...
Too little, too late- people already don't care. I watched an episode or two, but I'm not going back after all these months.
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3-23-2007 @ 4:17PM
TVSeriesFinale.com said...
It's amazing that the show has survived to return after almost five months off the air. How many others were yanked and never heard from again this season?
Will anyone even remember what the show was about. I'm betting tonight's show will start off with a really long "Previously on Six Degrees...."
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3-23-2007 @ 4:21PM
BigTed said...
I thought the whole point of this show was to combine indie film actors with complex story lines to create a more-realistic-than-usual approach to life in New York.
I agree that the result was a little dull. But I can't see how they're going to save it with less realistic stories and soapy love triangles -- or by making a "McDreamy" out of Campbell Scott's depressive photographer. All they're going to end up with is a middle-aged version of "What About Brian."
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3-23-2007 @ 5:20PM
RedStarRevolution said...
I didn't mind the show when it was on, didn't love it, didn't hate it.
They better be running some kind of recap show because I have no idea where this all left off.
But knowing ABC that shouldn't be a problem, they love the clip shows.
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3-23-2007 @ 9:19PM
Anthony said...
So, I guess this mean when (and if) THE NINE returns we'll be dropping the whole "bank hostages" thing.
Tony
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3-23-2007 @ 9:35PM
Katherine said...
WHY did they cut Six Degrees again?? I was looking forward to it but all thats on is some stupid show with an old man sitting on a pilar. So boring.
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3-23-2007 @ 10:25PM
joe said...
jj did not create this crap, only is a producer, get your facts strait
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3-30-2007 @ 12:59AM
Lynne said...
I'm a little fuzzy, but I recall a different theme song. Can someone confirm? Also, if it is a different one, can someone provide the name of it? Thanks!
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3-31-2007 @ 2:13AM
Lynne said...
I'm a little fuzzy, but I recall a different theme song. Can someone confirm? Also, if it is a different one, can someone provide the name of it? Thanks!
Reply