Slings & Arrows: Tragedy & Comedy in a Small Town (GIVEAWAY!)

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?

Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1

We’re at the height of the new fall television season, and I’m captivated by a Canadian series that ended three years ago. In my defense, Eastwick star and Nice Boy Paul Gross is the lead in Slings & Arrows, so I claim relevance. Slings & Arrows follows a Shakesperean theatre company in fictional New Burbage as they mount productions of various plays, providing enough backstage drama, comedy and tragedy to keep a playwright in material for years.

Season 1 begins with the debut of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the newly commercialized New Burbage Theatre Festival, juxtaposed with the collapse of an independent theatre house run by Geoffrey Tennant (Paul Gross). Geoffrey was once New Burbage’s shining star, a brilliant actor whose Hamlet is the stuff of legend. Unfortunately, he suffered a mental breakdown during a performance of Hamlet seven years ago and has been on the fringe ever since. His indie endeavor is bankrupt and it appears he’s headed for rock bottom again when Oliver Welles (Stephen Ouimette), New Burbage’s artistic director and Tennant’s former mentor, dies suddenly.

With artistic leadership of the festival up for grabs, the backstage theatrics pale in comparison to what’s happening in the boardroom. Geoffrey’s eventual return to New Burbage as artistic director causes reprecussions for everyone from business director Richard Smith-Jones (Mark McKinney pulling double duty as writer & actor) and his Type A girlfriend, Texan Holly Day (Still Standing’s Jennifer Irwin) to lead actress Ellen Fanshaw (Martha Burns) and too-hip-for-his-own-good director Darren Nichols (Don McKellar).

The first season of Slings & Arrows, which lasts a far too short 6 episodes, focuses on the transition at the festival and Geoffrey’s trials & tribulations of mounting a production of Hamlet. In addition to everything else going on, Geoffrey has inherited a movie star Hamlet who no one thinks has the acting chops for the role; a Gertrude with little respect for her fellow thespians; and an Ophelia whose acting is so terrible it can only be assumed that she’s related to someone on the board of directors. Will he maintain a hold on his sanity long enough to pull off his first production?

Paul Gross won the Gemini (Canada’s Emmy equivalent) three times for his nuanced portrayal of Geoffrey, deftly walking the line between brilliance and insanity. Martha Burns won twice for her acerbic yet vulnerable portrayal of leading lady Ellen; talented and married to Paul Gross (since 1988)? Trying not to be jealous…  Slings & Arrows also features a glowing, Gemini-winning performance by a pre-Notebook Rachel McAdams as the new ingenue at the festival whose talent and nice girl ways win her both friends and enemies. Slings & Arrows is smart, witty, engaging, and poignant with sparkling dialogue and intricate characterizations. I watched season 1 in less than 24 hours, and am now jonesing for seasons 2 and 3. I blame Canada.

Win a Copy of Slings & Arrows

Want to watch the show yourself? We’ve partnered with Acorn Media to give away three (3) copies of Slings & Arrowsseason 1 on DVD to three (3) lucky winners. Here’s how to enter:

• Leave a comment below and tell us the title of your favorite play, Shakespeare or otherwise;
• Be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact the winners;
• Comments must be posted by 11:59PM PT on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 to be eligible;
• Winners will be drawn at random from eligible entries and notified via email.

Good luck! Don’t forget to watch Paul Gross in Eastwick Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

**The contest is over. Thanks for participating!**

Help a Struggling Series

Every TV season, new shows premiere on the major networks; some are watched in droves by the viewing audience while others languish and disappear all too quickly. I think all of us – whether you are an avid TV viewer like us here at NiceGirlsTV or the occasional viewer – have had certain shows over the years that touched a special place in your heart.

For me those shows include Prey, Firefly, Pushing Daisies and Moonlight (just to name a few). These and MANY other shows aired for a very short amount of time; many not even getting a full season order from their respective networks.

This year is no different. There are a number of struggling newcomers out there that are either getting overlooked by the TV audience because they are simply being forgotten (i.e. the ABC series The Forgotten); the competition is too steep in their timeslot (i.e. the CBS medical drama Three Rivers) or, unfortunately, the show just hasn’t garnered the desired response from the viewing public (i.e. the NBC medical drama Trauma).

There is one other new series that is having a hard time keeping eyeballs glued to the screen – for whatever reasons – and that series is: ABC’s Eastwick. This series had been languishing at the network for years with several failed attempts to bring the John Updike novel and box office hit Witches of Eastwick to the small screen. This year finally seemed to be the right time for the show to emerge from the pack of newcomers, but the ratings just have not been there.

Debuting on September 23, Eastwick garnered a fairly respectable 8.5 million viewers; however, one week later it dropped down to 6.6 million and the following week the series got only 5.28 million viewers. Its fourth and fifth episodes received a dismal 5.09 and 4.93 million viewers, respectively. This progressive decline is not good for any new show and admittedly the network will probably quietly cancel this show simply because the viewership is too low.

Therefore, I would like to make an open plea to all the women out there: Please watch Eastwick tomorrow night on ABC at 10 PM. Tell your friends, family members and co-workers about this show that has been called a cross between Desperate Housewives and Charmed. It really is a delightfully funny and wickedly smart series with plenty of eye candy for both men and women. As everyone knows from the advertising, Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price and Jaime Ray Newman star as the witches of Eastwick.  These lovely ladies are surrounded by Paul Gross (Due South), Matt Dallas (Kyle XY), Johann Urb (Dirt) and Jack Huston (TV’s Spartacus).  The storylines are witty and never cookie cutter.  There is much more to the show than just witches romping around in the town’s fountain.  Give it a try and you just might like it.

Nice Boy of the Week: Paul Gross

When I saw the screening of the Eastwick pilot at Comic Con, I knew we would be in for a treat. But when Canadian actor, Paul Gross, appeared on the screen as Darryl Van Horne, I knew I had found my new TV boyfriend. Then I got to talk with him in the press room and I immediately wrote in my notebook, in big, fat capitol letter, NICE BOY. It was kismet. He was funny, he was sweet, he was humble, he was gushing over his leading ladies from the show, he’s dark-haired and blue-eyed; I was enchanted.

Most people knew Paul from his role on Due South, as Constable Benton Fraser. In fact he won two Gemini Awards for Best Actor and one for his writing on the series. Paul has won numerous awards for his acting and writing skills, and his list of film and television credits is extensive. They include television movies such as Murder Most Likely, Getting Married in Buffalo Jump, Buried on Sunday, the miniseries Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City and Chasing Rainbows, and feature films, such as “Wilby Wonderful,” “Aspen Extreme,” “Cold Comfort,” “Paint Cans,” “Whale Music” and “Married to It.”

Paul is the honorary chair of the National Screen Institute and a spokesperson for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He recently received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

He’s charming, he’s handsome (did I mention his blue eyes?), he’s this week’s choice for our Nice Boys Wall of Fame.

Sneak Peek: “Eastwick”, What Do You Wish For?

This week is the premiere of the ABC series Eastwick, starring Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price, Jamie Ray Newman and Paul Gross. Here is the official synopsis:

Have you ever discovered a wealth of inner power that you never knew you had, and it could change the world as you knew it if unleashed? Yeah, neither have we. Eastwick, based on John Updike’s best-selling novel and the popular movie, offers that ultimate wish-fulfillment fantasy.

Joanna (Lindsay Price)—the overly shy local reporter, Kat (Jamie Ray Newman)—the swamped wife and mom, and Roxie (Rebecca Romijn)—the eccentric artist are three very different women living in the New England hamlet of Eastwick. Because of catty gossip and preconceived judgments, they didn’t really like each other that much. But after a bizarre encounter at the local park and one too many martinis, this trio not only become BFFs but begin discovering some bewitching talents they never knew they had.

But these three fast friends aren’t just drawing each other closer…

Something wicked is coming their way, and his name is Daryl Van Horne (Paul Gross)—an irresistible combination of wealth, charisma and bad boy sex appeal that turns the town upside-down. The closer these ladies are drawn into Daryl’s wicked web, the more of their unique powers he unleashes—which we can only imagine will spell trouble with a capital T.

As these enchanting women grow into their newfound talents, Eastwick will never be the same. And while that might be ill-fated for a few locals, it’s still the best thing to happen to this small seaside community in centuries.

As I mentioned back in August, this show was well received by the audience at Comic Con, and I feel sure that it will be a hit with you as well. Tune in this Wednesday night, Sept. 23rd, at 10/9 central, for the premiere of this delightful new ABC series. What do I wish for? Paul Gross on a silver platter, thank you very much.

Devils with Pretty Faces

As I was watching last week’s premiere of The Vampire Diaries, I got to thinking about all the good looking men that are on television today playing villains. I felt that a convenient list might be a good idea to serve as a reminder that although they make us a tad warm under the collar, they are playing really bad guys.

Ian Somerhalder – “Damon” on The Vampire Diaries: our Nice Boy of the week is not so nice on the show. He’s clearly devious and sinister and just up to no good. Difficult as this may be, we’ll have to keep an eye on this one.

Alexander Skarsgard – “Eric Northman” on True Blood: this one is not so clearly a bad boy. However, he is conniving, sneaky and enjoys when a good pair of pumps is ruined while doing a job that he delegated. In our world, that is cruelty in the extreme. it would be wise not to turn one’s back to him.

Paul Gross – “Darryl” on Eastwick: or “Devil” when you really get to know him. He’s the really dangerous kind, because he covers his evilness with layers of charm, cool and drop dead gorgeous. You’s want to meet him in a dark alley, but you’d be sorry.

Eric Dane – “Dr. Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan” on Grey’s Anatomy: let’s call him what he is; a man-slut. Sure, he’ll make you fall for him like U.S. dollar, but he’ll do a tap dance on your heart and walk off without a care in the world. Pure evil.

Zachary Quinto – “Sylar” on Heroes: he’s evil, cold-hearted and twisted, and has serious parental issues. And give him a sharp metal object? Well, don’t get me started.

Matthew Bomer – “Neal Caffrey” on White Collar: sure, he’s just a thief, but stealing is still bad, right? Even if his crystal blue eyes can turn a woman to slush in a New York minute, hold on to your jewelry, ladies.

There are more, I’m sure, and by the end of the fall television season, I’m sure even more pretty bad boys will surface. Until then, who is not on this list but most definitely should be?

Comic Con: “Eastwick”

“Eastwick is not Charmed.” Words spoken by Producer/Director, David Nutter. After viewing the pilot episode at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, I have to agree. The only things the two shows have in common are there are three girls and they are witches. After that, it’s something entirely different, fresh, exciting, funny, dramatic, and really sexy.

I have not seen the original movie, The Witches of Eastwick, nor had I read the book, So I didn’t know what to expect at all. I was drawn to it when I heard that Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price and Jamie Ray Newman were set to star, and that Nutter was going to produce and direct. David Nutter has helmed many of the television shows I have been a fan of over the years; most recently, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Mentalist and The X Files: Revelations. So when it was announced that Eastwick was going to Comic Con, I knew I had to be in on that panel.

The Eastwick panel included Aimee Friedman (Exec. Prod.), David Nutter, Jaime Ray Newman, Rebecca Romijn, Paul Gross and Lindsay Price. Michael Logan, of TV Guide Magazine, moderated. Before the question and answer session, David Nutter came out to introduce the pilot episode of Eastwick, and for the next 40 minutes, or so, we were delightfully entertained. The crowd reaction to the screening was over the moon. Since I had no idea what to expect, I was completely surprised, and thoroughly sucked in to this new series.

The pilot, basically, introduces us to the three women, Kat, Roxie and Joanna, who live in a small town in which everyone knows everyone, and your business is not your own. The three women know of each other, but they don’t really like each other. However, as fate would have it, the three share a common link which they soon begin to discover, with the help of a tall, dark and handsome stranger who arrives in Eastwick, seemingly out of nowhere. The ladies meet by chance while making wishes at a fountain in the center of town. Suddenly, their wishes start to come true.

As the story begins to unfold, we find out that the mysterious stranger is Darryl Van Horne (Gross), a

very wealthy, and quite sexy, guy who is buying up Eastwick, business by business. Van Horne begins to shadow the women, encouraging them to explore their unique gifts. Meanwhile, the towns matriarch, Bun, played by Veronica Cartwright, who was also in the original movie, has been attacked by red ants while reading a story to the town’s children. When one of the girls goes to visit her, she frantically tries to warn them that “he” is dangerous and must be avoided.

Other supporting cast include Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect), who plays Joanna’s friend, Penny, and Matt Dallas (Kyle XY), who plays Roxie’s lover, Chad.

After the screening, the panel was introduced by Michael Logan. Already pumped up from watching the pilot, the crowd was very excited to let the cast know just how much we enjoyed it. When asked to describe Eastwick, Aimee Friedman replies, “It’s a show about women’s lives and friendships, and also sex and magic and, we’ve got it all.”

Some highlights:
Special guest stars will include Sybil Sheperd and Martin Mull.
Series begins with Darryl Van Horne seducing all three women.
As series develops, the women begin to turn on Van Horne.

Eastwick premiere’s Sept. 23 at 10/9 central, on ABC. Bookmark us as the show airs throughout the season, and we’ll keep you recapped! Have I mentioned that Paul Gross is absolutely my new TV BF?