TVSquad

I think HBO is getting turned on by tackling sex in unconventional ways. They've found recent success with Thomas Jane's male gigolo in Hung. And now HBO's nabbed the venerable Diane Keaton to star in an as-yet-untitled series about a feminist icon who tries to light a fire under the movement by launching a dirty magazine for women.

Hell, the idea of a dirty magazine for women is taboo enough for a TV show. Aren't we led to believe that women are above all that; that only men are depraved enough to prop up that entire industry? Suddenly, in two different half-hour comedies, HBO is taking a long hard look at female sexuality in a way that's even more scrutinizing than Sex and the City.

The original idea was to have a young feminist work at an existing porn magazine. Thank god creators Marti Noxon and Dawn Parouse changed their minds. It's much more intriguing to consider an older woman spearheading such an enterprise. I am interested in what name they ultimately come up with for the show. What would you call it?

The N just picked up Gigantic, a half-hour series from former Buffy the Vampire Slayer exec. producer Marti Noxon and Dawn Prouse (Tru Calling, Prison Break). Gigantic is a "dramedy" that skewers the lives of Hollywood kids whose parents are A-list celebs.

Normally, I'd say this premise makes Gigantic sound like another brain dead tween show. You know, the kind that might end up launching the next big bubblegum pop star like Miley Cyrus. But I expect more from Noxon, Prouse and The N.

I'm combining Sunday's panel reports because neither the Women in Sci-Fi panel nor The 4400 panel was brimming with revelations unless you count as a revelation the fact that Lucy Lawless' fans bear a striking resemblance to the core audience of the WNBA, but you shouldn't.

There are just some shows that get in creative troubles from day one; look at what happened last year with Commander in Chief. Well, it looks like another ABC show is having some problems right out of the gate. Marti Noxon, the executive producer and show runner for Brothers & Sisters, a new show starring Calista Flockhart, has left the show, reportedly over conflicts with the show's creator. The show, which is set to air Sundays at 10, is reported to still be in production, though a new show runner hasn't been named.

Remember, a couple of casting changes have already been announced for this show, including the casting of Sally Field as the mother of those brothers and sisters in the title. She replaced Betty Buckley, who played the role in the pilot.

Not a good sign for a show in such a high profile slot, is it?