TVSquad

TV Squadder Paul Goebel reviewed the series premiere of the ABC comedy Miss Guided. He wasn't sure what to make of the show after the first airing and I must admit that I also had my doubts about this new comedy. Judy Greer is a joy to watch as guidance counselor Becky Freeley but the comedy was predictable and the cast way too beautiful to portray a real high school. However, I decided to stick with it and ended up enjoying the show's storylines and characters as well as the interview-like tidbits.

The series aired its season finale last week and is now awaiting ABC's upfronts to know if it'll come back next season or have to close the books. To help ABC make its decision, here are some reasons why Miss Guided should be renewed.

*Warning, spoilers from this week's episode.*

This week's scene with 24's Acting President Noah Daniels pawing and kissing his aide Lisa Miller in the Oval Office, was, in a word, creepy. And when I thought about this season's multitude of, shall we say, unusual romantic/couple scenes -- of which there's been an abundance by 24 standards -- there was no question that the Daniels-Miller necking topped my list of the most uncomfortable amorous moments the season.

Other awkward contenders:

So the 24 writers are trying to create an air of mystery around Ricky Schroder's new character . . . er, brawler/tough guy Mike Doyle.

(*Fair warning, spoilers*) Brought into CTU during the 13th episode as the new head of field ops, Doyle wasted no time ruffling feathers, harshly ordering people around and wrenching a staffer by the neck for not working fast enough.

Then there was the Denver comment.

Milo Pressman -- still nursing a bullet wound sustained while saving Marilyn Bauer's bacon several episodes ago -- has decided to take on Doyle instead of constantly harassing Morris "Drill Bit" O'Brian. After Doyle's first abrupt CTU meeting, Milo said that he doesn't like Doyle and that he knows him "from Denver."

I mentioned the other day that Harold Perrineau had joined the CBS pilot Demons. They've now cast the main character, Gus, and the winner is Ron Eldard. If you were paying attention, you might have seen him in the short-lived Men Behaving Badly or Blind Justice. Otherwise, think of him as the paramedic with issues that was dating Carol early in the ER run. It's not the best piece of casting I've ever seen. Eldard has never proven that he can be the dramatic lead for a show, but stranger things have happened.

Meanwhile, over at CBS, Hugh Jackman (Wolverine!) is producing something called Viva Laughlin. Lloyd Owen (Miss Potter) will star as a family man trying to open a casino in Laughlin, NV. Word is that Jackman will appear in the pilot and may have a recurring role on the series. Given just that bit of knowledge, I'm intrigued by the possibilities.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Brooke Shields has signed on to star in the pilot, Lipstick Jungle, for NBC. It's the newest creation based on a Candace Bushnell book- she's the author of the book that sparked Sex and the City. Shields will play one of three "power-hungry professional women". Her character is the president of a movie company, and also a wife and mother of three. So naturally she's going to have plenty of time to dine and shop with her girls.

Also, Eric Balfour has landed a lead role in the CBS drama, Protect and Serve. I bet you can guess what this one is about. Balfour will play an "intense and emotional" LA cop. It's nice to see Balfour land a leading role. He has done great work in 24 and Conviction. Let's hope this opportunity is a good one and we get to see him on CBS in the fall!

What happens when two really big celebrities want to guest star on one of TV's hottest shows?

The show turns them down.

Both Jennifer Aniston and Ben Stiller wanted to appear on FOX's 24, but producer Joel Surnow turned them down because they are "too recognizable. They'll take you out of the reality."

The show has added a lot of new cast members this season, including Rick Schroder, Peter MacNichol, Regina King, Eric Balfour, Powers Boothe, and Michael Angarano, so maybe a big name star (or stars) would put the entire feel of the show out of whack.

Deadwood fans take note! Powers Boothe has joined the cast of 24. He'll play the Vice President. D.B. Woodside's character, Wayne Palmer, is now President.

This is just the latest is a series of big casting moves the hit FOX show has made. We've already heard that Eric Balfour, Peter MacNichol, Regina King, and Michael Angarao will be in the cast this season, which starts in January.

[via TV Tattle]

Chad Lowe is the latest newcomer to sign on to season six of mega-hit 24. He'll play "savvy politico" Reed Pollock... and that's all FOX is saying about his character. It's great to see Lowe back on television. That really is the medium where he shines. Not only was his role as 'Jesse' on Life Goes On a classic, he also played one of the freakiest criminals ever on Law & Order: SVU.

Other notable actors joining the cast this season include Peter MacNicol, Regina King, and James Cromwell. Steamy Eric Balfour will also return this season. FOX is going to post a first look at season six online later this month, we'll let you know when that happens.

Eric Balfour was the only good thing about Conviction, NBC's short-lived prosecutor drama. Luckily, he'll be back on television in the winter to reprise his role as CTU independent contractor Milo Pressman on 24. I honestly can't remember what happened to his character ar the end of the season but apparently he didn't die.

According to Michael Aussiello over at TV Guide, Balfour has signed on to a role as a 'series regular', which means we'll see him for more than one episode. Maybe he'll replace poor, sweet Edgar Stiles (Louis Lombardi)?

I have one word for this piece of news: YUM.

Ahead of today's Upfronts, The Futon Critic is reporting that NBC is not renewing Conviction or Teachers for the fall. Neither of these cancelations comes as a surprise, really. The storytelling style on Conviction was so complicated that it was virtually impossible to feel anything for any of the characters (although, I'm going to miss Julianne Nicholson and Eric Balfour). And, Teachers? Why was that even on television?

Also, ABC had reportedly decided not to renew Invasion, Freddie and Hope & Faith. Also not major surprises-- and Invasion might end up on The CW. What will Kelly Ripa do with all her extra time?

Stick around... Bob will be covering NBC's Upfronts later today.

(S01E11) Didn't Stephanie March have shorter hair last week?

This week we have another instance of Nick Potter (Jordan Bridges) wrestling with his demons. He's trying to save a reformed gang member from jail and he goes over ADA Jessica Rossi's (Milena Govich) head to Bureau Chief Alexandra Cabot (March), who recommends a lesser sentence. I thought we got over Nick's psychological problems with his mugging last week, but this episode may be out of order. On a side note, we get to see very little of Rossi this week. Her only storyline is to establish that she's not a high-class gal because she doesn't know what 'Cocktail Attire' means or what Foie Gras is.

(S01E10)  I really wanted to like this show, but I just don't. I'm going to finish out the season (please, God make it end soon) and then it's being deleted from my TiVo Season Pass. I don't like it because of the multiple storylines in each episode. It goes from story to story so quickly that I still don't feel invested in any of the characters. Plus, it's hard to follow the stories when they're so fragmented and there are so many of them.

(S01E09)  I totally hated the judge on ADA Steele's case. He made my blood boil as he kept ruling against Steele and pushing for a lesser charge against a high school kid who killed a classmate. I know I wouldn't have kept my cool the way Steele did. But, was he right to continue with the murder charges? The judge's original offer for a lesser charge was for 1-3 years in jail. Steele refused to reduce the charge, got his conviction (no thanks to the judge), and then the judge reduced the charge anyway and put the kid on probation. Steele had to know that the judge had the ability to do this. He had to see it coming, right? Or is he just so stubborn and self-absorbed that he can't see past his own nose? He didn't seem to be fighting for the victim, rather for himself.

(S01E08) So... the beginning of Conviction was cut off here in Portland because the Trailblazers/Lakers game ran long (Surprise, surprise: the Blazers lost 99-110). If there were any good, steamy sex scenes to kick off the episode like there were last week, I missed 'em.

Let me just say outright, what I don't like about this show is the way that Alexandra Cabot has become such a bitch. While on SVU, she was unorthodox, but passionate. Now her priorities are her career and she seems to have forgotten what it was like to live and breathe for a victim.

(S01E07) Surpise! Did everybody's TiVos or DVRs catch Conviction last night? Mine didn't! Luckily, I was flipping through the channels and I saw that it was on. TiVo is currently in a time out.

So, NBC put Conviction on a Tuesday night where Law & Order: SVU usually airs. This is obviously a ploy to get the SVU crowd interested in Dick Wolf's new ADA lovefest (seriously, the guy is in love with prosecuting attorneys). The problem is, it's very different than the procedural drama that we know as Law & Order. Could you imagine tuning in last night for the first time and wondering who on earth all these people are? Sheesh.