DANGEROUS GAMES! 'SCANDAL' AT 1600

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington, centre) and her team (including THE WEST WING's Joshua Malina, far left) are an altogether different kind of Presidential Protection Team in the new drama series SCANDAL. Images: ABC TV.

Described in some circles as "the anti WEST WING", Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of the soapy States-side hit medical show GREY'S ANATOMY, brings us SCANDAL, creates a new and apparently gritty drama series for ABC TV that's hopefully far removed from the previous soapy hospital environs of emotional and physical trauma that, whilst still popular, has seemingly passed its genre sell by date. Seemingly re-vitalising the small screen realisation of modern-day political and relationships intrigue set within the upper echelons of power that is the Oval Office, SCANDAL is, by its nature and description, exactly what the series is about, through the eyes and work of a powerful and influential damage control liaison and political fixer, Olivia Pope (played by the lovely actress Kerry Washington, best known for her film work in the likes of recent hits THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, and the two fun MARVEL comic blockbusters about THE FANTASTIC FOUR and the upcoming Quentin Tarantino western epic DJANGO UNCHAINED), apparently based on a real-life member of the George Bush administration, who's smart and savvy enough to know what's right and wrong for the people of America through their POTUS (that's the President, for all of us not in the know with all the behind the scenes lingo!). Having been a former communications director to President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), Pope and her well chosen and accomplished team of heavy-hitters (described as "Gladiators in suits'!) know how to make the most of, avoid or limit the daily problems and/or complex challenges facing and surrounding their boss and paymaster in his actions as the most powerful and recognised leader of the Western World, knowing when and where best to play to his greatest of strengths and personal charisma in the position. The very fact that she knows him beyond the job and her earlier political position-that she was and may soon continue to be his secret mistress- also puts her in a candid and unique position and perspective in which to influence his life and career, in ways that Martin Sheen never had with Allison Janney!

Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant.

Washington has the ability to be tough and tender in her new series role, capable of locking horns and verbal interplay with the President's most powerful players inside and out of the Oval Office (including Jeff Perry as the powerful bull-in-a-china shop figure of White House Chief of Staff, Cyrus Beene) and looks set to continue the trend for strong female lead roles in prime time series, what with the recent success of Julianna Margulies in THE GOOD WIFE, Anna Torv in FRINGE, and Maria Bello in the controversial US remake of the hit UK police drama PRIME SUSPECT.

Trailer: Scandal New ABC Series Official Trailer (Premier 2011 Fall) - YouTube

The Season One key art for SCANDAL. 

I'd hardly put the aforementioned GREY'S ANATOMY in my definition of KOOL TV, but from this new series trailer, its solid cast (including Guillermo Diaz as Olivia's top investigator, Huck, LOST's Henry Ian Cusick and THE WEST WING's Rob Lowe replacement, Joshua Malina), guest stars like MILLENNIUM's Megan Gallagher and Kate Burton (playing the Vice President), backed up with overall interesting plot synopsis for year one- and a second season on the way- which show a mystery/political thriller emphasis to them in certain developing areas, SCANDAL could be sufficiently intriguing enough for me to sample it when it eventually arrives in Blighty...

NORMAL SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN RESUMED! INSIDE 'THE NEWSROOM'

The world according to Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) in THE NEWSROOM. Images: HBO.

With his meteoric rise as one of Hollywood's most talented and accomplished screenwriters, with the likes of his charting the clash of kings birth of Facebook in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, Brad Pitt starring baseball drama MONEYBALL and the upcoming eventual Steve Jobs biography movie alll gaining plaudits, plus the occasional odd Academy Award lying about the place (which I'm sure makes for a wonderful bookcase primer!), it's nice to know that Aaron Sorkin hasn't yet abandoned his fondness for creating American weekly dramatic television series. Life and power as seen with the quirky and sophisticated case of THE WEST WING may yet be his most well-known accomplishment for the small screen, with his successive STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP vehicle for Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry not quite finding its hoped-for anticipated audience, but this new show for HBO, THE NEWSROOM, shows heaps of promise and a major return to sharp and involving form. There's nothing new at all about the format setting: the newsroom, an environment for comedy and drama mined in movies like the recentish MORNING GLORY (starring Harrison Ford and Rachel McAdams) or the critically acclaimed eighties movie BROADCAST NEWS (starring Holly Hunter, James L. Brooks and a noteworthy William Hurt). Heck, Sorkin has even previously done a comedy set in the world of a TV sports desk with the acclaimed, if short lived, SPORTS NIGHT (starring a pre- DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Felicity Huffman). But here, judging from the first trailer for the ten episode series (which airs States-side from June 24th), it looks like Sorkin has been digging deep into the kind of dark, thought-provoking part of his psyche that we haven't seen in a while, within territory that hasn't been mined quite so well since the mid-seventies black comedy NETWORK (staring Peter Finch and Faye Dunaway), as the uber-writer breathes life and debate back to TV with his transferred analysis of the troubles plaguing American society, and the world, alongside the biting intelligence and razor sharp humour we're always hungry to savour, of which no one else in the current screenwriting world seems able to compete with or emulate.

Will breaks the chains and shocks America.

The main cast of THE NEWSROOM.

As his character of news anchorman Will McAvoy breaks out of years of restraint and audience/press criticisms-let loose the Kraken!- to post his aggressive, sometimes shocking, always intelligent views on whats gone wrong with the American way, and beyond, of which an opportunity soon beckons for his networks ailing news channel to reap the rewards of the new whirlwind and regain a superior ratings foothold over its rivals, series star Jeff Daniels, always an actor whom I felt had a dark edge to him beyond the kind of zany comedy he showed in the likes of THE CABLE GUY, or in certain previous roles as a unique type of trodden on hero or second lead, might just have one of the best roles of his career here, working alongside a very high calibre cast of newsroom associates and bosses including Brit star Emily Mortimer and Sam Waterston (getting away from the corridors of power and legality seen during his long running stint on LAW AND ORDER), all of whom look well-cast, and will, I confidently predict, have some terrific Sorkin dialogue and character arcs to become involved in and enthusiastically run with. Such an ambitious and smartly outspoken series as this is even powerful enough to lure that still stunning film icon, eighties keep fit guru, and all-round smart lady, Jane Fonda, into making a cameo appearance as an equally biting and realist news company boss- a performance which we can't wait to see.

Trailer: The Newsroom Season 1: Trailer #1 - YouTube
Behind the scenes: The Newsroom Season 1: Making The Newsroom Promo - YouTube

Look out for more on THE NEWSROOM on KOOL TV in the not too distant future.

KOOL TV WANTS ON BLU-RAY: 'THE WEST WING'

We the People. The wonderful cast of THE WEST WING. Images: WARNER BROTHERS.

As American presidential electoral fever escalates and the candidates and their gleaming beautiful smiling wives (plus their legions of Spin Doctors and Lobbyists) begin making the rounds of promises, shaking hands and kissing babies, I thought it'd might be nice to tribute the event with a classic picture of the main cast of the wonderful political fantasy drama THE WEST WING, created by the talented Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin back in 1999. Lasting seven quality seasons up to 2006 and consistently displaying the finest writing/producing in Hollywood TV, realised by a wonderful cast bringing us a winning and sophisticated mixture of politics and heart-of fascinating if sometime flawed White House crew trying to do the right things in the face of so many of the worlds many problems- it's a show that I think many of today politicians could still learn a lot from in the ideals and trust department. Surely, even now and for the most part, Martin Sheen's charismatic, determined and quirky President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlett remains the ultimate romanticised political hero/safe pair of hands vision of the iconic position that the world, not just America, would like to have as its commander-in-chief.

Title sequence: The West Wing - Opening Titles in High Definition - YouTube

A man to trust. Martin Sheen as President Bartlett.

OK, so you can get the entire series in very cheap collection sets these days, but what about a Blu-ray release (not just in HD online, as it is in the US)? And, having not been seen on terrestrial or digital UK television in a while now, I think the show is deserving of a complete re-run regardless- which I'm sure new audiences will surely enjoy. How about it, SKY ATLANTIC or MORE4?

Join the FACEBOOK petition to get the series on Blu-ray: I want 'The West Wing' on Blu-ray

The entire seven seasons of THE WEST WING are available from WARNER BROTHERS DVD.

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "WEEDS" MARY-LOUISE PARKER

Lucky spider! Mary-Louise Parker in promo art for WEEDS. Image: SHOWTIME.

As Nancy Botwin in the popular seven seasons (so far) black comedy/drama series from SHOWTIME, WEEDS, sexy film/TV actress Mary-Louise Parker is certainly the most attractive dope dealer I've ever seen. Previously showing her Southern born beauty, fiery intelligence and razor sharp wit as Bradley Whitford's dominant girlfriend/political activist turned White House Chief of Staff to the First Lady, Amy Gardner, in various episodes of Aaron Sorkin's THE WEST WING, Parker's following role in WEEDS, as a widowed mother trying to survive life so as to support her family, would see all those fine qualities used for further enjoyable comedic and dramatic effect, as the adaptable Nancy has to deal with all the entailing complexities that comes with selling her marijuana, as well as dealing with the various people from numerous walks of society- good, bad and indifferent-whom she regularly comes into contact with. The show and her lead character, almost an anti-hero, seem a perfect match for Miss Parker, who has won numerous awards and acclaim for the project.

Long may her selling rein continue...

The first four seasons of WEEDS are now available on DVD in the UK.