TVSquad

Starz, the cable network, is getting into original production and their first project will be based on the 2005 Best Picture Oscar-winning film Crash. Glen Mazzara, whose credits include Life, The Shield, Stand-Off and Nash Bridges, has been named executive producer/showrunner for the drama series. Lionsgate TV will co-produce with Starz, and they've greenlighted 13 episodes.

The controversial film, which dealt with the intersecting lives of a myriad of people living in Los Angeles in just 48 hours, centers on the character of Detective Graham Waters. Waters, a police detective, is struggling with his career, his drug addict mother and a criminal brother. The role was played by Don Cheadle (Picket Fences), who was also one of the film's producers. He is expected to reprise the part in the Starz production and may even direct a few episodes. In addition, director/co-writer/producer Paul Haggis and others from the film are also on board for Starz.

(S04E08) "No one takes Ann Coulter seriously." - Guy Flanders

Just when I thought the Star Trek jokes were through...
Remember the old days when Bill Shatner wanted nothing to do with his Sci-fi past? It's nice to see that a few years and an Emmy will soften even the hardest heart.

I can only guess that Denny's arrest for solicitation is DEK's effort to show "the other side." Is it really that easy for extraordinary bathroom behavior to be mistaken for cruising? I hope not, otherwise I'll have to curtail my mid morning respite/operettas at the office.

(S04E05) "It's not everyday you encounter compelling characters, is it?" - Patrice Kelly

There's been a lot of talk about the rhetoric that Boston Legal has concerned itself with lately. It seems a lot of you have an opinion on the political views taken by the show. In an effort to "reach across the aisle" let me point out something that I'm sure we can all agree on...Boston Legal has some of the most original storylines on TV.

Personally, I am hard pressed to think of any show wherein a character asks one of the stars to advise her on how to be found "not guilty by reason of temporary insanity" before committing the murder. This episode had me on the edge of my seat from the very first scene.

It won Emmys for the best dramatic series, best dramatic actor and best dramatic actress. Right out of the box. In season one.

Nearly 15 years ago.

So how does the first season of the controversial Picket Fences stand up to time, in its new DVD collection? After watching the pilot episode, seeing all those shoulder pads, hearing the heavy-handed background music during some of the scenes and watching "tough" police interrogations in the form of raised voices, my initial thought was, "Picket Fences didn't age well."

Then I watched more episodes. And changed my mind.

New TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

• Animaniacs - Vol. 3
• Daniel Boone - Season 4
• Lovejoy - Season 1
• Perry Mason - Season 2, Vol. 1
• Picket Fences - Season 1
• Pinky and the Brain - Vol. 3
• The Powerpuff Girls - Season 1
• Reno 911: The Movie
• Silver Spoons - Season 1
• Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 3, Vol. 1