TVSquad

Then summer arrived, TV viewing options started to dwindle, and suddenly Lie to Me became a viable option. I watched the pilot, was mildly amused, and then dropped it for over a month before I looked at another episode. At first, it wasn't that great, and now that I've had the opportunity to speak to Roth about it, it's good to know that I wasn't alone in thinking that.

I just can't get enough of Damages. Season two is right around the corner (it premieres on FX on Wednesday, January 7th at 10PM ET) and to generate some buzz, FX put together a conference call yesterday with Glenn Close, and Executive Producers/Co-Creators Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler, and Daniel Zelman.

After I got off the call, I typed some thoughts while it was still fresh in my mind; there's a lot I want to talk about.

I've already seen the first two episodes (you can check out my early review here) and with that in mind, be aware that what follows after the jump is 100% spoilerish. Though some of it is general, if you don't want to know what happens as season two kicks off - this is your warning.

Denis Leary and Peter Tolan are busy men. As the two executive producers behind FX's phenomenal drama Rescue Me, the two have had their plate full ever since the WGA strike ended. For those that haven't heard, Rescue Me was renewed for a network-length 22 episode season scheduled to air in spring 2009. I had the opportunity to sit in on a conference call with Leary and Tolan earlier today and both pointed out that this is an entirely different animal since they're used to producing 13 episode seasons. Leary was quick to make a sports analogy: they pretty much have been working on season five since last year's football season and they probably won't wrap until next year's basketball playoffs. He also made an alcohol analogy: it's like they're in TV rehab. Coming from the guy who plays Tommy Gavin, I'd say that's fairly appropriate.

FX is either really worried or supremely confident about the final two episodes of Damages. First they offered up a conference call with Tate Donovan last Friday and then over the weekend, I found out that I'd have the same opportunity with Glenn Close. When a network starts offering up press opportunities with its biggest stars, either they're not afraid of what they'll say or it's quite the opposite and they're being offered up because something needs to be said. After speaking with Close yesterday afternoon, I think the former more accurately describes what's going on with Damages. Close is thrilled about working on the show and doesn't seem worried one bit about FX scrapping the drama after only one season.

OK... well not really. But that definitely grabs your attention more than "Conference Call with Tate Donovan," right? Well anyway, now that you're reading this, stick with me.

I was fortunate enough to be selected along with numerous other dignitaries, world leaders, and very famous people (again... not really) to participate in a Q&A with the Damages star earlier today and I must say: I wasn't excited about the last two episodes of the season but I am now. Either Donovan is just as full of it as his character Tom Shayes, or we are in for one hell of an ending.