January 13, 2005 |
The O.C.'s Sandy Sings!
Most people know that before Peter Gallagher played The O.C.'s Sandy Cohen, he acted in films (While You Were Sleeping was this reporter's personal fave). They also know he's workin' the bushiest eyebrows on the Fox network. But folks seem to have forgotten the dude can sing, too! (Prior to starring in Broadway's Guys and Dolls, the Tufts University alum sang in a student a capella group called the Beelzebubs.) Tonight at 8 pm/ET, the 50-year-old crooner lends his singing voice to Sandy for a big milestone occasion. TV Guide Online: After much anticipation, we'll finally get to hear Sandy sing.
Peter Gallagher: The O.C. has brought me many wonderful things, but the last thing I expected was the chance to sing a great song with great musicians in front of a lot of people. So it's been an embarrassment of riches so far. TVGO: At least it's not an embarrassment, period. You can sing, but not all TV actors can croon well in Very Special Episodes.
Gallagher: [Laughs)] Whether it's an embarrassment remains to be seen, but either way, I'm very happy. The song I sing is Solomon Burke's "Don't Give Up on Me," which we had in a reconciliation scene between Kirsten and Sandy last year. Kirsten was in the hot tub, as I recall! In this episode, Sandy has completely forgotten about their 20th anniversary, so he's in the doghouse. He can't even remember the correct year, so she's p---ed. My situation is one that every married man will identify with. TVGO: So Sandy sings to smooth things over. But how'd O.C. creator Josh Schwartz convince you to do it?
Gallagher: Josh had seen me sing on Broadway a bunch of times. Last year, I sang at a benefit he attended. The audience responded very favorably, so he made a note to himself that night to get Gallagher to sing on the show. I said, "I'd love to, but boy, we have to find the right circumstance because it could be unbelievably tacky and awful to hear the song stylings of Sandy Cohen." He absolutely agreed. TVGO: This idea works. Plenty of people do karaoke serenades at family parties, right?
Gallagher: I tried to do it a little bit like karaoke, not too slick or confident. I sang it the best I could — we prerecorded that in the studio — but... TVGO: But you didn't want to play it too suave like Dean Martin.
Gallagher: Totally. Meanwhile, Dean Martin is one of the reasons I got into show business. As soon as he slid down that pole on The Dean Martin Show and sang "Everybody Loves Somebody," I knew I'd found a new hero. TVGO: Why doesn't Sandy get a pole?
Gallagher: We've gotta save something for next season! TVGO: But seriously, folks. Kim Delaney's doing five February sweeps episodes as Sandy's ex-flame. What's the scoop there?
Gallagher: Five or six, yeah. This is the season where everyone's relationships will be tested. You can see how strong something is when it doesn't break. Kim plays Sandy's first great love. She was part of his radical past at Berkeley. Such a big part, in fact, that she got herself into a lot of trouble. Her father, who's Sandy's former law professor and mentor, needs him to help her. TVGO: Please don't tell me they had a love child. Seth doesn't need any more surprise Cohen relatives!
Gallagher: At this point, I know of no children. TVGO: How well did Ms. Delaney do on the set?
Gallagher: Kim was absolutely extraordinary to work with. I've been a fan of her work as an actress and I was impressed with her as a person. On her first day, she had to shoot 10 pages and she was word-perfect. She was very generous, and it was really a treat. I'm lovin' this job. A downloadable version of Gallagher's special song is currently available at theocinsider.com. |
Lost in Space?
Since the plane-crash takeoff of ABC's Lost (Wednesdays, 8 P.M./ET), lots of theories have been floated to explain the mysterious occurrences on the survivors' new island home. However, only three are believable enough to fit in our overhead compartments (in other words, our brains). Which one flies with you? At the mid-season mark, we consider the evidence... Everyone's dead.
Where but in heaven could wheelchair-bound Locke take a hike? And hello?! Jack's late dad looked pretty spry for a dead guy. What's more, the prominence of black and white rocks is likely a Biblical reference, to Urim and Thummim, holy stones that turned any day into one of the judgment variety. Then again, why were unlucky stiffs "Adam and Eve" rotting while everyone else is merely tanning? And if she'd already croaked, how did that woman we never met manage to drown? Perhaps this island of lost souls isn't the end of the line but rather a rest-stop purgatory on which sinners like prodigal son Jack are sent to mend fences with the Almighty before passing through His pearly gates — or die (again) trying. It's a government conspiracy.
The fact that Lost is the brainchild of Alias creator J.J. Abrams makes this hypothesis almost too obvious. However, if the multitasking TV mogul isn't planning a crossover in which we learn that the supposedly defunct SD-6 is to blame for that fateful plane crash (and every shocking incident that has followed), some country still could have elected to turn our heroes into its own personal ant farm. Think about it: Every conceivable need can be met by a member of this "random" group. Doctor? Yep. Hunter? Yep. Mr. Fix-It-type electronics whiz? Yep. Coincidence? No way! Plus, the sabotage of Sayid's attempt to track the distress signal means that someone (read: Big Brother) wants the gang to remain stranded. They're on Mars.
Before scoffing, remember that Abrams ended Felicity with a plot involving both time travel and witchcraft. Besides, only in a galaxy far, far away could an airliner's nosedive inflict so many minor boo-boos. And even in the cosmos, a nonfatal touchdown would require a tractor beam so powerful, it would be the envy of Vulcan. (Keep in mind: The plane fell so fast, passengers hit the roof — literally; that ain't normal.) In addition, the polar bear and mystery monster scream "ETs playing Mother Nature" — and taking miscues from the comic book found in the wreckage. Therefore, it follows that the whispers Sayid heard that drove Frenchwoman Danielle nuts were being made by little green men. Forget Alias' Sloan; this is the handiwork of The Simpsons' Kang and Kodos! |
TV Shows Hit Big Screen!
Hollywood is currently crazy for adapting cult-classic television series into movies. Here's the scoop on a few small-screen favorites bound for the big screen in the near future. The Honeymooners
In theaters: Cedric the Entertainer as Ralph Kramden and Mike Epps as his pal Norton. What to expect: It's an ethnic twist on the classic comedy, but we're holding out for at least one commemorative "Hamina, hamina, hamina!" In theaters: Spring 2005 Bewitched
Stars: Nicole Kidman as Samantha, Will Ferrell as hubby Darrin and Shirley MacLaine as Endora. What to expect: Utter zaniness when a real nose-twitching witch is hired to play Samantha in a movie adaptation of Bewitched. It's a show within a movie about a show (got that?) in Nora Ephron's take on the hit series. In theaters: July 8, 2005 The Dukes of Hazzard
Stars: Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville as Bo and Luke Duke, Jessica Simpson as their hottie cousin Daisy, and Willie Nelson as Uncle Jesse. What to expect: It's been 20 years since the series ended, so the General Lee better jump even higher and Daisy's shorts better be even shorter if they plan on pulling in a new generation. In theaters: July 29, 2005 Serenity
Stars: The cast of the short-lived Fox series Firefly — including Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres — returns for this space Western. What to expect: With Buffy creator Joss Whedon writing and directing, this could be a fun ride. In theaters: September 30, 2005 Get Smart
Stars: The Daily Show's Steve Carell as secret agent man Maxwell Smart. What to expect: It'll be tough to top Don Adams, but Carell has the klutzy charisma to make this update, cowritten by Mel Brooks, appropriately stupid. In theaters: Late 2005 Aeon Flux
Stars: Charlize Theron as a live-action version of the butt-kicking heroine from MTV's animated series. What to expect: Thousands of teenage boys begging for a grudge match between Theron's Flux and Angelina Jolie's Lara Croft. In theaters: 2005 Miami Vice
Stars: It's looking like Colin Farrell as Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Tubbs. What to expect: Sexy cops who don't wear socks but do seem manly in pastel colors? We can't wait! Plus, Michael Mann is set to write and direct. In theaters: 2006 To learn about more TV faves headed for the big screen, read the new issue of TV Guide on newsstands now. |
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