TVSquad

For some reason, reporters were kicked out of the ballroom so ABC could set up for this press conference. But all I saw when I walked in an hour later was palm trees and 1973-era ABC signs (like in the picture above). Wonder why I had to abandon my laptop for that?

Anyway, because many of the critics were fans of the BBC original, the gathered throng of testy TV watchers were eager to question the panel for ABC's version of Life on Mars. It was a relatively small panel, with executive producers Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, and stars Jason O'Mara and Michael Imperioli. You have to realize that having no pilot to base questions on makes us critics a cranky bunch, and the fact that the show is undergoing a show-runner change (from David E. Kelley to the Applebaum and Nemec), a massive recasting (all of the original pilot's cast, except for O'Mara, is being recast as we speak) and location change (LA to New York) only fuels more questions.

All things considered, the critics took it relatively easy on the panel.

After Jimmy Kimmel left the room, ABC Entertainment Steve McPherson got on with the business of facing the press at his executive session. I kicked it off with a question about Scrubs, following up on what Bill Lawrence told me in May about a possible "next generation" ninth season.

"We do think there's an opportunity after (this eighth season)," said McPherson. "If any or all the cast is a part of that, I think there's a growth (opportunity) there. It's a show that, despite being moved around into like 17 time periods and really never being given the marketing support, has really performed unbelievably well on NBC." He went on to say that they hope "it won't be a one-season situation."

Other than that, most of the conversation revolved around the network's returning shows, which makes sense, since the network is only debuting a few new shows (none of which had pilots that the network thought were suitable for preview) this fall.

Former Sopranos mobster Michael Imperioli is returning to television as a police detective. The actor has been cast in ABC's Life on Mars, an American adaptation of the BBC series. Imperioli landed the role of Detective Ray Carling, one of the lead character's colleagues. Ray is described as "a rough, tough sexist who has never heard of the phrase 'politically correct'."

This cast addition is the latest of many changes made to the drama. David E. Kelley is out as the Life on Mars showrunner, and October Road's Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg have replaced him. Producers also decided to move the show's production and fictional setting from Los Angeles to New York City.

(S04E10) "OK, Jerry, why are you under my desk" - Carl Sack

So as the show begins we see one of Boston Legal's causes of the week. The only saving grace of the environmental storyline is that this week, Crane, Poole & Schmidt are the bad guys. It's almost as if someone held up a mirror to the show and said, "you know, you guys aren't perfect." I just wish it hadn't felt like a leftover from NBC's green week.

Still, we had to have the "other side of the story" shoved down our throats. I've heard all the "data" that Katie was spewing from other sources and, frankly, I think it's crap. Anyone who thinks tap water is just as good as bottled water should move into my building and see how long the can stomach the sewage that comes out of the pipes. Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Boston have an awesome mass transit system? Why would an environmentalist need a car in the first place?

(S04E04) "I pitched a fly rod right in my waders." - Denny Crane

In case you were confused about David E. Kelley's political leanings, the opening scene should have cleared it up for you. Let's see...Bush lied, the military is intolerant of homosexuals, got it. Sounds like a left wing to me. The scene also asks an important question...where the hell has Sam McMurray been? He was my favorite cast member on The Tracy Ullman Show. Unfortunately, he's one of the few who didn't go on to work on The Simpsons and I, for one, think he should be on TV more.

I don't really know what to make of the young matador. David E. Kelley seems to be hell bent on doing two things this season...pissing off the right wingers and pissing off PETA.

It looks like the US version of the BBC's hit sci-fi show Life on Mars is getting off to a good start.

David E. Kelley has drafted in the directing talents of Thomas Schlamme to direct the pilot for his ABC version of the time-travelling cop drama. (If you haven't managed to catch any of the first and second series of Life on Mars, you should -- it's fantastic).

Schlamme previously worked on The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in addition to directing the pilot for Boston Public and some episodes of Ally McBeal and The Practice.

Rachelle LeFevre has already been cast in a female lead role in the remake, but it's not yet known who will take on the Sam Tyler role.

(S03E22) The opening of this episode made me laugh out loud throughout the entire credits. It's things like this that remind me why David E. Kelley is as successful as he is. So brilliant.

The line of the night had to be, "Human rights are so yesterday." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Having Denny and Alan work on this case together was perfect. Without getting on my soapbox, I loved the statement it made about the Iraq war and the current state of the government but more importantly it pointed out that, like Alan & Denny, Americans who have different points of few can all work together for a common goal. As a liberal, who often insists he is right, I consider myself schooled.

(S03E21) James Spader is the luckiest sonofabitch on the planet! But more on that later.

I think David E. Kelley has been monitoring my thoughts. More Gail O' Grady, more Chris Clemenson and less Constance Zimmer, could I ask for anything more? How about Joey Slotnick in the kind of role he was born to play. I really liked seeing Slotnick playing the arrogant loser character that he's played before on shows like Nip/Tuck. Very few people can play those parts as funny and as sensitively as he.