CBS Buys Adaptation Of Hit Israeli Comedy Existence Is not Everything

CBS has bought Existence Isn’t Everything, a comedy in line with the effective Israeli sitcom of the identical title (Hahaim Ze Lo Hakol in Hebrew). Inside a first to have an adaptation of the Israeli format, the creator from the original series, Daniel Lappin, will engage in the writing from the U.S. version. Lappin will co-write the script for CBS with comedy veteran Mike Sikowitz (Buddies). The new sony Pictures TV, where Sikowitz is under a general deal, will produce with Reshet, the Israeli company whose Funnel 2 broadcasts the initial series. Sikowitz has already been running a business with CBS and The new sony TV – he can serve as a professional producer on Rules Of Engagement. Noa Tishby, who introduced towards the U.S. In Treatment, the Israeli series that sparked U.S. systems’ curiosity about formats in the Middle Eastern country, shepherded Existence Isn’t Everything‘s visit to Hollywood. She's executive creating the project with Sikowitz, Lappin as well as an executive from Reshet. The multi-camera Existence Isn’t Things are in regards to a middle-aged, lately divorced couple who have been bad at marriage and uncover they are really bad at divorce – untidy, can’t help when you are involved with one anothers’ lives, still have sexual intercourse, etc. “It is really a romantic comedy in regards to a couple who're divorced but cant get free from one anothers lives,” Lappin stated. Added Tishby, “you can’t divorce your boyfriend or girlfriend.” She known as the initial a “classic, perfectly written sitcom. There's this type of high divorce rate within the U.S., with no a person in a position to capture the funny side of divorce.” Lappin authored the pilot for that original series in 1997 loosely according to his existence — he was dealing with separation and then divorce. “The show adopted the arc of my existence,” he stated. He authored the very first season by themself, became a member of with a writing staff in the second season on. Existence Isn’t Things are Israel’s most effective sitcom. It created 150 episodes and lately wrapped its ninth and final season on Funnel 2 to large rankings. It's averaged 22 audience share throughout its nine seasons, with 33% of Israeli audiences tuning set for the series finale. Below is really a clip in the show with British subtitles. CAA reps the format, Reshet, Lappin and Tishby. Sikowitz is by using ICM. This is actually the second broadcast project according to an Israeli format this development season together with mystery drama Timrot Ashan, also known as Support beams of Smoke, at NBC. Furthermore, Cinemax is developing an adaptation of some other Israeli mystery drama, The Naked Truth, with Clyde Phillips. During the last couple of years, there has been four U.S. scripted series according to Israeli formats: HBOs In Treatment, CBS The Ex List, Foxs Traffic Light and Showtimes Homeland.

'Boots' takes Friday B.O.

Knowing by early Friday grosses, "Puss in Boots" will need the most effective devote the weekend box office. Experts the Vital-Dreamworks Animation 3d pic should gross inside the mid-thirties. For that way Friday-evening crowds emerge, though, the film frequently see slightly greater earnings near to $38 million. For comparative amounts, "Puss in Boots" was monitoring below DWA's 2010 fall entry "Megamind," which opened up as much as $46 million through the weekend of November. 5. 20th Century Fox's "With Time,Inch by getting an expected three-day perf of $12 million to $13 million, should beat FilmDistrict's "Rum Diary." B.O. experts expect The Actor-kaira Pitt-toplined "Diary" to gross between $6 000 0000 and $8 million -- no surprise due to the film's limited target demo. Some monitoring services in the 2009 week suggested the pic could earn between $8 million and $11 million, good recognition from the Actor-kaira Pitt. Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

City Center to Reopen After $56 Million Spruce-Up

NY (AP) For one of the oldest major performing arts venues in NY one that's hosted many of the world's premier artists for nearly 70 years City Center seems to have had something of a self-esteem problem.It seated over 2,700 people in its main theater, but many of those seats were uncomfortable, the sightlines less than desirable. The lobby felt small and crowded. The beautiful vaulted ceiling in the upstairs lobby was dulled with layers of wear and dust.The distinctive neo-Moorish facade, a city landmark, was barely visible from the street because of dark green awnings in front of it. And you couldn't see the building, located on West 55th Street, from either nearby corner.In short, though it's only a block from the more famous Carnegie Hall, likely no one ever joked, "How do you get to City Center?" (Practice, practice, practice.)But all this is changing.NY City Center, proudly inaugurated by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1943, is being reintroduced this week following a renovation to the tune of $56 million. Old layers of paint have been scraped away with razor blades, original color schemes restored. Seats have been ripped out, replaced with plusher, wider models. Better sloping has improved sightlines.Outside, those nondescript green awnings have been removed, replaced by a marquee that shows off the sandstone facade. And hello, self-esteem! illuminated signs are now visible from Sixth and Seventh avenues in Midtown Manhattan."This place has been around a long time, and was truly getting a little dreary," its president and CEO, Arlene Shuler, said in an interview last week as workers around her applied the finishing touches. "People would come here for performances, but not know they were coming to City Center. We felt it was very important to be more competitive in this environment."The building known now as City Center actually began as a home to the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, otherwise known as the Shriners. "They'd been using Carnegie Hall as their meeting house, but Carnegie Hall didn't like all the cigar smoke. So they built their own place a block away," said Duncan Hazard, the chief architect on the job.In 1943, though, the Shriners could no longer keep it and the building was headed for demolition, until LaGuardia and the city council took it over and turned it into an arts center. (It's still owned by the city, which was the major donor to the capital campaign that paid for the renovation.) At the opening, LaGuardia himself took the baton to conduct the NY Philharmonic in the national anthem. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to conduct, as well, at a star-studded reopening Tuesday.City Center was a major home for NY culture for decades early on, as an alternative to Broadway theater, and the original home of NY City Ballet and NY City Opera. When those companies later moved to the newly built Lincoln Center, it became underused. It was refocused as a major dance center, and today is home to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater which recently signed a new 10-year deal and to American Ballet Theatre's fall season. It brings in countless visiting troupes, from the Kirov to flamenco performers to tango groups.It also hosts the extremely popular Fall for Dance Festival, a 10-day smorgasbord of global dance that sold out in five hours this year (it begins later this week) and the equally popular Encores! musical theater series. In a smaller theater, it houses the Manhattan Theater Club.One recent loss was the Paul Taylor Dance Company, which recently announced a move to Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater, newly vacated by NY City Opera.Shuler hopes they will return, and that the renovation will draw others, of course. Leading a reporter around the new digs, she and Hazard began on the stage now refitted with a sprung floor, kinder to dancers' feet. Out in the audience, a worker in a cherry-picker was cleaning the domed ceiling with what looked like a giant mop."Over a few unfortunate restorations, the color had become an unappealing gray-white," Hazard said of the theater's Moorish-style ceiling and walls. "We did some archaeology of the paint finishes, and found out the original 1923 color scheme." Now, there are vivid blues and greens.There's also a spiffy new lighting booth. But the first challenge was to improve those sightlines. Undesirable seats were ripped out, bringing the seat count down to 2,250 from over 2,700. Rows were also resloped, adding to better visibility, and staggered. Seats were widened, too, with better cushioning for the derriere.The renovation, which was completed over two summers to minimize disruption, also focused on the inner and outer lobbies. Patrons now enter from the sides of the auditorium, creating more lobby space and improving audience flow.The outer lobby now has a bar, and paned glass doors so one can see in from the street. And for all the faithful reconstruction, a contemporary touch has found its way in: Large video monitors in the inner lobby, which will host three video installations per year.There are added elevators, and even the restrooms have been redone with an eye to Moorish style. (And cast and crew now have their own restroom on stage level, something they were lacking.)Shuler and Hazard seemed especially proud of the Grand Tier lobby, a level up from the orchestra, with its colorfully painted vaulted ceiling and the desert-themed murals on the walls.Restoring the ceiling, workers with razor blades scraped off layers of paint and shellac for four to five months. "It was a real labor of love," said Shuler.On the other hand, the upstairs lobby floor had been buffed with so much love last week that it was dangerously slippery underfoot. That will be adjusted, Shuler said.Back in the theater, sitting in the best Grand Tier seats, Shuler said she believed they were the best seats in the city, bar none they hang over row H, bringing one close to the stage, yet above it.Hopefully, she said, more people will know about them now."We think people are going to be aware now that they're coming to City Center," Shuler said.___If You Go... NY CITY CENTER: 130 W. 55th St., between Sixth and Seventh Avenues; http://nycitycenter.org or 212-581-1212. Easily reached by subway and bus (directions on the website.)WHAT'S ON: All offerings on City Center's Mainstage and at its two smaller stages are listed on its website. After the Oct. 25 reopening gala, the sold-out Fall for Dance Festival runs Oct. 27-Nov. 6, featuring five wildly diverse dance programs. Other upcoming highlights:American Ballet Theatre, Nov. 8-13."Richard II" from the Pearl Theatre Company, Nov. 8-Dec. 24.Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Nov. 30-Jan. 1.WHERE TO EAT: The City Center website lists 30 restaurants nearby, including Molyvos (Greek), the Russian Tea Room and Osteria del Circo (Italian). For quick snacks, try Dean & Deluca, 156 W. 56th St.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. By Jocelyn Noveck October 24, 2011 PHOTO CREDIT AP Photo/Mark Lennihan NY (AP) For one of the oldest major performing arts venues in NY one that's hosted many of the world's premier artists for nearly 70 years City Center seems to have had something of a self-esteem problem.It seated over 2,700 people in its main theater, but many of those seats were uncomfortable, the sightlines less than desirable. The lobby felt small and crowded. The beautiful vaulted ceiling in the upstairs lobby was dulled with layers of wear and dust.The distinctive neo-Moorish facade, a city landmark, was barely visible from the street because of dark green awnings in front of it. And you couldn't see the building, located on West 55th Street, from either nearby corner.In short, though it's only a block from the more famous Carnegie Hall, likely no one ever joked, "How do you get to City Center?" (Practice, practice, practice.)But all this is changing.NY City Center, proudly inaugurated by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1943, is being reintroduced this week following a renovation to the tune of $56 million. Old layers of paint have been scraped away with razor blades, original color schemes restored. Seats have been ripped out, replaced with plusher, wider models. Better sloping has improved sightlines.Outside, those nondescript green awnings have been removed, replaced by a marquee that shows off the sandstone facade. And hello, self-esteem! illuminated signs are now visible from Sixth and Seventh avenues in Midtown Manhattan."This place has been around a long time, and was truly getting a little dreary," its president and CEO, Arlene Shuler, said in an interview last week as workers around her applied the finishing touches. "People would come here for performances, but not know they were coming to City Center. We felt it was very important to be more competitive in this environment."The building known now as City Center actually began as a home to the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, otherwise known as the Shriners. "They'd been using Carnegie Hall as their meeting house, but Carnegie Hall didn't like all the cigar smoke. So they built their own place a block away," said Duncan Hazard, the chief architect on the job.In 1943, though, the Shriners could no longer keep it and the building was headed for demolition, until LaGuardia and the city council took it over and turned it into an arts center. (It's still owned by the city, which was the major donor to the capital campaign that paid for the renovation.) At the opening, LaGuardia himself took the baton to conduct the NY Philharmonic in the national anthem. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is scheduled to conduct, as well, at a star-studded reopening Tuesday.City Center was a major home for NY culture for decades early on, as an alternative to Broadway theater, and the original home of NY City Ballet and NY City Opera. When those companies later moved to the newly built Lincoln Center, it became underused. It was refocused as a major dance center, and today is home to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater which recently signed a new 10-year deal and to American Ballet Theatre's fall season. It brings in countless visiting troupes, from the Kirov to flamenco performers to tango groups.It also hosts the extremely popular Fall for Dance Festival, a 10-day smorgasbord of global dance that sold out in five hours this year (it begins later this week) and the equally popular Encores! musical theater series. In a smaller theater, it houses the Manhattan Theater Club.One recent loss was the Paul Taylor Dance Company, which recently announced a move to Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater, newly vacated by NY City Opera.Shuler hopes they will return, and that the renovation will draw others, of course. Leading a reporter around the new digs, she and Hazard began on the stage now refitted with a sprung floor, kinder to dancers' feet. Out in the audience, a worker in a cherry-picker was cleaning the domed ceiling with what looked like a giant mop."Over a few unfortunate restorations, the color had become an unappealing gray-white," Hazard said of the theater's Moorish-style ceiling and walls. "We did some archaeology of the paint finishes, and found out the original 1923 color scheme." Now, there are vivid blues and greens.There's also a spiffy new lighting booth. But the first challenge was to improve those sightlines. Undesirable seats were ripped out, bringing the seat count down to 2,250 from over 2,700. Rows were also resloped, adding to better visibility, and staggered. Seats were widened, too, with better cushioning for the derriere.The renovation, which was completed over two summers to minimize disruption, also focused on the inner and outer lobbies. Patrons now enter from the sides of the auditorium, creating more lobby space and improving audience flow.The outer lobby now has a bar, and paned glass doors so one can see in from the street. And for all the faithful reconstruction, a contemporary touch has found its way in: Large video monitors in the inner lobby, which will host three video installations per year.There are added elevators, and even the restrooms have been redone with an eye to Moorish style. (And cast and crew now have their own restroom on stage level, something they were lacking.)Shuler and Hazard seemed especially proud of the Grand Tier lobby, a level up from the orchestra, with its colorfully painted vaulted ceiling and the desert-themed murals on the walls.Restoring the ceiling, workers with razor blades scraped off layers of paint and shellac for four to five months. "It was a real labor of love," said Shuler.On the other hand, the upstairs lobby floor had been buffed with so much love last week that it was dangerously slippery underfoot. That will be adjusted, Shuler said.Back in the theater, sitting in the best Grand Tier seats, Shuler said she believed they were the best seats in the city, bar none they hang over row H, bringing one close to the stage, yet above it.Hopefully, she said, more people will know about them now."We think people are going to be aware now that they're coming to City Center," Shuler said.___If You Go... NY CITY CENTER: 130 W. 55th St., between Sixth and Seventh Avenues; http://nycitycenter.org or 212-581-1212. Easily reached by subway and bus (directions on the website.)WHAT'S ON: All offerings on City Center's Mainstage and at its two smaller stages are listed on its website. After the Oct. 25 reopening gala, the sold-out Fall for Dance Festival runs Oct. 27-Nov. 6, featuring five wildly diverse dance programs. Other upcoming highlights:American Ballet Theatre, Nov. 8-13."Richard II" from the Pearl Theatre Company, Nov. 8-Dec. 24.Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Nov. 30-Jan. 1.WHERE TO EAT: The City Center website lists 30 restaurants nearby, including Molyvos (Greek), the Russian Tea Room and Osteria del Circo (Italian). For quick snacks, try Dean & Deluca, 156 W. 56th St.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Bill Rancic Speaks Out On Giulianas Cancer Battle

First Published: October 20, 2011 3:07 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images NY, N.Y. -- Caption Bill Rancic and Giuliana Rancic attend the 18th Annual QVC FFANY Shoes On Sale at The Waldorf Astoria, NYC, on October 13, 2011Bill Rancic is working hard to keep up the spirits of his wife, E! host Giuliana Rancic, who earlier this week underwent a double lumpectomy, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Shes a trooper, she pulled through it and was kind of relieved to get it over, and get the cancer out and shes doing well at home, recovering, Bill told Anne Curry on Thursdays Today show. Im adding nurse to my resume now. Shes having a lot of fun with it. Bill detailed Giulianas lumpectomy procedure on Today, noting she went through a two-hour-long MRI, followed by a mammogram, and a two-hour surgery. Like many husbands in similar situations, Bill wishes he could do more than just support his wife. Giulianas had a tough year and a half, between the IVF attempts and now this For me, I just wish I could carry some of the load, he said. I wish I could take some of the pain away. Im doing everything I can to support her, he added. Bill said the pair, who is hoping to have a child one day, is thankful they caught Giulianas cancer early. Were viewing this as a gift; it was caught accidentally very, very early, he said. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Gotham crix move vote to 1st position

The NY Film Critics Circle announced Wednesday that they will hold their annual vote on Nov. 28, leapfrogging it ahead of two other orgs to become the first critics group to announce its picture of the year during the fourth-quarter awards frenzy. Not only does the change knock the National Board of Review to second place in the critics queue, but it places NYFCC's 2011 Film Critics Circle Awards a day ahead of the Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations. The Los Angeles critics traditionally weigh in around mid-December. "As the nations pre-eminent critic's group, we are excited about kicking off the annual end-of-year discussion with our new early voting date," chairman John Anderson said in a statement. Most awards prognosticators look to the various critics groups for some indication of a film's Oscar potential, despite a history of divergent opinions -- most notably last year, when "The King's Speech" won best picture after "The Social Network" was a resounding winner among critics. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com

Grand 'Nuit' for Vancouver

EmondVancouver -- The 30th Vancouver Film Festival wrapped Friday, supplying best Canadian feature honors to Anne Emond on her behalf directorial debut, "Nuit #1," about sex and 30somethings, before screening closer "The Child Getting a bicycleInch by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.One of the current debate inside the arrest of numerous Iranian filmmakers, the People Choice Award visited Iranian helmer Asghar Farhadi's "A Separation." The film follows a couple of that has tochoose between departing Iran to supply the kid a far greater to be able to stay and take proper proper care of a dad or mom battling with Alzheimer's.The most used nonfiction film award visited Susanne Rostock's "Sing Your Song," about Harry Belafonte. The most used Canadian film award was taken by Ken Scott's comedy, "Starbuck."The NFB most broadly used Canadian documentary award visited Charles Wilkinson's "Peace Out" because the audience award for atmosphere visited Joel Heath's "People from the Feather."Everyone Else Choice Honours were selected within the fest's 375 films in a number of genres.The fest also formerly introduced the $10,000 Dragons & Tigers Award for Youthful Cinema, which visited Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal for "The Sun's Sun rays-Beaten Path." Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com

Ask Matt: Homeland, Revenge, Dancing, Prime Suspect, and More!

Damien Lewis, Claire Danes Send questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter!Question: Homeland is excellent! Absolutely loved the first episode! I love the drama, storyline and just how it was set up for the entire season. My question to you is if this show is supposed to be only one season or depending on the ratings may extend to another season? ­- MikeMatt Roush: Isn't it great! Let's hope Homeland runs for as many seasons as the story allows. You always have to figure shows like these are intended to run beyond a single season. (If not, we'd be calling it a miniseries.) But I do understand the question, because the initial premise of the show - is Brody a sleeper agent, or is Carrie crazier than she seems? - makes you wonder where the story will go once we get to the root of what happened during Brody's captivity and whether that figures into a larger terrorist conspiracy. Preferring to go on the ride without knowing where it's heading (no spoilers here, obviously), I'm basically looking on this season as the first chapter in what is promising to be an emotionally compelling thrill ride.Question: For the first time in years, I am finding myself really enjoying many new fall shows. What are your thoughts on Revenge? I have really enjoyed the episodes so far. The cast is stellar and the story leaves enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. But I am concerned about the sustainability and longevity of the show. I know producers have promised to run a couple of "revenge" stories per year, but so far it seems like everything is leading up to an "end." What do you think about its chances for long-term success? - RobMatt Roush: Hard to say. I wasn't sold on this one initially, though I do understand its appeal as a melodramatic guilty pleasure with a healthy dose - maybe overdose - of class warfare wish fulfillment. (A pox on those hateful rich-bitch Hamptonites!) My problem as I've watched the successive episodes so far is that it keeps hitting the same beats rather slavishly - Emily certainly makes her payback schemes look ridiculously easy - and even the overripe showdowns between Emily and queen bee Victoria feel repetitive to me. (Plus, when the focus shifts to blah subplots like the Romeo and Juliet relationship of Declan and Charlotte, I feel I'm trapped in ABC Family hell.) But if the producers stick to their guns and move the story forward in presumably surprising ways after this initial arc of Emily's cross-off-the-next-victim game plan, that could make for a more interesting show. Revenge opened strong but has lost ground a bit, though it's still doing considerably better than any other drama ABC has tried in that tough time period in recent seasons. So I can't imagine we won't get a full season of this show, and what happens in the back half will determine whether this really is worth watching for the long haul.Want more Matt Roush? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!Question: I enjoy reading critical opinion about TV, especially yours, but sometimes I feel like TV critics get stuck on an idea and echo-chamber something into the ground. I definitely feel that way about critical response to Free Agents, but I'm writing particularly about Prime Suspect. I know critics watched, and loved, the Helen Mirren version, but I feel like it's blinded you to how good the Bello show is, just because it's called the same thing. Critics appear to have gotten stuck on the Prime Suspect title and decided that the show could only be a pale imitation. I've seen some of the Mirren Prime Suspect and found it excellent, but I can divorce that from what Maria Bello and co. are quietly and competently (dare I say more than competently) doing over on NBC. I think that thanks to critical drubbing, this show is on the cancellation track when the elements are all there for success. I definitely disagreed with critics about what they considered to be the weaknesses of the pilot. I think it's telling that most of the critics complaining about the "cartoonish" sexism were men, because I'm a woman in a heavily male work environment and I can tell you they didn't go far enough and obvious enough. I acknowledge the hat and Jane's rough edges are a stylistic choice that may not be to everyone's taste (though I like them), but nobody can deny that you can look at this character and tell exactly who she is. I just feel like this show was judged and found wanting without a fair trial, and I'm sorry that it's probably going to be canceled, because it's a great show, with some amazing talent doing better-than-solid work in front and behind the camera. - NikaMatt Roush: Don't give up on this one yet. I haven't. Although I'm also not going to apologize for comparing it unfavorably to the British series - they asked for it, after all, by naming it Prime Suspect (a title that doesn't really even apply to this more generic series) - or for criticizing the over-the-top portrayal of the "beef trust" in the pilot episode. Which seems to have been scaled back since, as promised. I liked Bello's portrayal from the start, but wish they'd toughened the character even more. (Case in point: Substituting Jane Tennison's self-destructive alcoholism for the new Jane's nicotine habit, played for laughs, feels like such a "network" sort of compromise.) NBC is probably going to be patient with this one as best it can - giving it some additional exposure the next few Mondays (in the Playboy Club slot) is a good start - but if it fails, it won't be a result of critical derision but because it didn't stand out enough from the oversaturated field of police dramas. And with this pedigree, it should have.Question: I am looking for a positive spin on CW's Nikita ratings. Do you have one to offer? The show is phenomenally good and I hate that all the press right now is coming down to ratings. - SabrinaMatt Roush: The best way to spin those numbers is to put them in context. We're talking the CW here, and Friday night TV, so figure that expectations are low. I can't imagine the CW expected Nikita to do much better than it's doing in this lousy Friday time period, where it has to be a self-starter. In the bigger picture, Nikita is the kind of slick action thriller that can sell well internationally, so it may be in the best corporate interest (of Warner Bros., the "W" in the "CW" equation) to keep the show going regardless of its ratings. I'm enjoying the rogue nature of Nikita this season, but its dense mythology probably doesn't help when it comes to attracting new viewers, even if the show hadn't switched nights.Question: I am watching Dancing with the Stars for the first time this season. I read in TV Guide Magazine this week that ratings have dropped 18 percent mainly due to the "lackluster cast." Well, it's the cast that drew me to watch the first week and to continue watching. It's a mix of people I have liked for years (Ricki, Chynna, David, Carson), people that I wanted to see a different side of (Nancy, Chaz), and people I only vaguely recognized but was curious about (Hope, Rob, J.R.). It's the first time in ages that I knew who most of the "stars" were. Approaching week 4, I'm running into two obstacles to enjoyment: two-hour episodes plus an hourlong results show, and fans voting off superior performers. Although I wasn't crying in my beer when Ron/Metta, Elisabetta and Kristen were eliminated, it didn't seem right for them to be sent off when they had done so well by the judges' scores. Still, someone must go every week and the heavy weighting of the fan votes keeps the competition interesting for them.The long episodes in the early weeks are justified because we see the hard work in rehearsals and the developing chemistry (or not) of the stars with their pro partners. I have watched episodes both live and recorded and can't get through the recordings in less than 95 minutes because I like to run a couple of the dance routines back and watch them again. I only watched one of the results shows all the way through and liked it OK, but a whole hour seems unnecessary. As much as I am enjoying this season so far, I can't justify devoting three hours a week to it, so I'm not. This is a beautifully produced show, so should I feel guilty about enjoying it on my own terms? Is there any realistic solution to the time problem? - FrankMatt Roush: I'm always interested in someone's first-time take on a long-running phenom. Your learning curve is, I'm betting, not that much different than how the rest of us have adjusted to watching Dancing over time. In other words, NEVER IN REAL TIME. The padding of these two-hour performance shows and especially the hourlong results shows are excruciating to watch in anything but fast-forward mode. Like you, I have replayed some of my favorite (or most indelibly train-wreck) performances along the way, and I figure there are many fans who regard the results show, with the guest performers and dancers, as a throwback of sorts to the old-fashioned variety show. But three hours of this, and four hours of The X Factor some weeks, is just too much. I certainly don't have the time or inclination in a brand-new season to spend infinite hours with these shows, but at the same time, if you enjoy the rehearsal footage and production values, there's nothing to be guilty about, however you choose to indulge. As we recently reported in the same issue you referred to, these super-sized reality shows aren't going to shrink anytime soon, even as their ratings have gone down noticeably this fall. Regarding Dancing's numbers and the current cast, I'll be curious if the ratings start improving, now that they've shed most of the "who-are-these-people" contestants. But in analyzing the Dancing numbers, it's not just about the show but about the environment, and Mondays are much more competitive this fall, with bigger-than-usual numbers for the CBS comedies plus fresh meat like Terra Nova.Question: If Whitney is supposed to be "taped before a live audience," then why the annoying laugh track?? Oh yeah, I know - because it is NOT funny. - RJMatt Roush: Whitney is a very grating show, which makes the pumped-up laughter that much more irritating, but as I've said before, I don't buy into the snobbery concerning the classic sitcom format. My advice is to get used to it. And not just because Whitney got a full-season pickup. (Sigh.) Especially with the mega-ratings for CBS' traditionally filmed comedies (Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory and even the resurgent How I Met Your Mother, which employs a laugh track without benefit of a studio audience), I'm betting you'll see a higher percentage of shows in the pipeline embracing the old format, which includes actual laughter from the studio audience, though often sweetened in the final mix. If the show is funny, like Big Bang, I don't mind it. And the brilliance and success of Modern Family aside, many of TV's most enduring and successful comedy hits have come accompanied with the sound of unseen people's laughter.Question: While I enjoyed the previous season of Harry's Law, the new season is even better. Gone is the fluffy romance of Jenna and Malcolm from the first season (In fact, Aml Ameen is nowhere to be seen). In contrast, the new season has a tougher edge, with Jean Smart's bitchy DA Remmick as the perfect foil for Harry. Also, Alfred Molina has been superb as the dangerously disturbed murder suspect Eric Sanders. If this first three-episode arc is any indication of what we will be treated to this year, Harry's Law may become something NBC hasn't seen since their Law & Order heyday: a hit drama. Your thoughts? - CarlMatt Roush: I wasn't shy about sharing my feelings about Harry's Law last season, so it's probably not a surprise that in my estimation, the show had only one way to go, and that's up. So yes, I'm on board with the changes, including the addition of the always-welcome Mark Valley, and even when I'm not a fan, I can appreciate that David E. Kelley shows have always been strong in the guest-casting department, and that's been the case in the first arc this season, especially watching Jean Smart go head-to-head against Kathy Bates. Even so, classifying this show as a hit is a stretch. It skews very old (which isn't a negative in my eyes, but I'm not an advertiser) and is in a terrible time period, where it's being outpaced by bigger hits like Modern Family, Criminal Minds and The X Factor. It's lucky to be on NBC, where so much of the schedule is in tatters that it's likely to be left alone for a while.Question: I know it's a bit early to be thinking about this, but given the larger-than-usual number of strong pilots for midseason and obviously limited shelf space on the networks, what do you think the chances are of fall series being picked up for a full season this year? Fox has already said that Terra Nova won't have a back-nine order due to its long turnaround time, but what about other shows? I know ABC has to be looking for a new hit to replace Desperate Housewives next year, and if the subsequent episodes stay as fun as the pilot was, I'd be pretty okay with Pan Am moving up an hour to do that. But will they even give it a full season to grow, with shows like Good Christian Belles and The River waiting in the wings? Is it possible that some of the fall shows could be expected to return next fall, without back-nine orders? Such a long hiatus (albeit for strike-induced reasons) ultimately doomed Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money, which started off strong pre-strike, and obviously Terra Nova will have the same problem if it launches again next fall. I just hope that all the good stuff this fall gets to stick around long enough to stay visible. - JakeMatt Roush: I'm sorry to say that it's not looking as if Pan Am has the lift to fill Desperate Housewives' pumps after all. Although I'll be surprised if it doesn't get a full-season pickup to prove its case. Maybe GCB will have better luck at midseason. And don't rule out Once Upon a Time as a sleeper contender. I just watched a second (actually the third) episode, and I'm now on board with this fanciful series in a way I wasn't after my first look at the overstuffed pilot. To answer your actual question, I don't think any successful first-year show except Terra Nova (which has a limited first season for logistical reason) will be denied a full-season pickup because of midseason replacement needs. There's ample time to rest shows in the spring to give midseason hopefuls a tryout and then bring them back (when warranted) to finish the season. You're right that benching shows too early makes it more difficult to relaunch them the next year. But I don't see that affecting any of the breakout shows this season.Question: Maybe I'm a huge dork, but I love the show Parenthood. There never seems to be any buzz about it at all. Don't get me wrong. I'm in love with The Good Wife, one of the absolute best shows on TV now and maybe ever. I've adored Julianna Margulies since ER, ditto with Josh Charles since Sports Night. The writing, the acting, everything is impeccable. Desperate Housewives needs to go from Sundays immediately. So stupid and badly written and acted at this point. But Parenthood is an extremely moving show. Is it only on the air because NBC has crap programming? Does it get any ratings at all since it's up against Body of Proof? Can't tell you how tired I am of shows about a medical examiner who goes everywhere when the real ones do post-mortems in the lab and visit crime scenes. Only. Parenthood is the only "family" show that I'm interested in. Are there any others at this point? I hate how they just stop story lines, although many shows seem to do this. The Lauren Graham character was becoming a successful playwright and it was cool. Now she's back to having no direction and her only activities are bugging her daughter and dating the teacher. It's all pathetic and ridiculous. This is the star of Gilmore Girls, after all. She's a phenomenon, for goodness sake. But I love the new venture with Colby and Adam and the Julia thing with the coffee girl and her baby. Yes, the parents are meddlesome. This is not uncommon. The Asperger's thing is done really well, I think, having known a few people with this condition. I'm just curious if it has any future and if I'm the only one watching it. - TeddyMatt Roush: Parenthood is a rarity on TV, dealing with multigenerational family issues in a more-or-less realistic manner, with humor and warmth (and at times maybe a bit too much hysteria). I'm kind of glad they dialed back on Sarah-as-budding-playwright, because I like that the Bravermans for the most part aren't living a heightened-for-TV lifestyle. And the Asperger's storyline for Max has always been the most moving and successful aspect of this series. The fact that NBC recently increased the show's order this season from 16 to 18 episodes is a welcome sign of support on behalf of a network that has very few bright spots. Parenthood isn't what you'd call a hit, but its concentration of younger viewers makes it more competitive than most dramas on the NBC schedule. I've always been struck by how people say they want to see shows like this on TV, and then tend to ignore them when they're on, in favor of the kind of formula TV (like Body of Proof and, even worse, Unforgettable) you can watch virtually any hour of the week. Parenthood's future is directly tied to NBC's fortunes - if the network starts doing better, it will begin to shed its more marginal players - but I sense NBC really believes in this show and isn't looking to dump it.That's all for now. Keep sending your comments and questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com, and in the meantime, follow me on Twitter!Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!