Thinking Happy Thoughts

You know I love my Bolts, but being they're not in the playoffs anymore, I've got to root for somebody. I'm not saying it's the Senators, but the way they light up Broder makes me happy. And hell, they're the same age as the Lightning. (Both born in 1992.) It's like they're our ugly twin sister. Anyway, keep knockin' 'em behind Marty, fellas. It's good work.

By the way, this photo is even sweeter in that in features a dejected Brad Lukowich. I don't like to hold a grudge, but Brad, this is what you get for heading to Long Island for more money. Yeah, Jersey. (And then, he retorts with the fact that at least his team is still in the playoffs. I then say, "not for much longer" and watch him whimper away.)

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 23

It was another night with just a single game. And it spelled very bad news for the New York Rangers. And while it wasn't quite as bad as what happened to the Canucks last night — it wasn't that much better. Hockey happened and I missed all of it.

Sabres 2, Rangers 1, 1OT
Sabres lead series 3-2
Versus had the game, but I unfortunately was unable to watch. So far the home team has won every game in this series. Nothing new tonight. The Rangers thought they had an early goal to get the first lead but it was nixed when a penalty for goalie interference was called. Instead, no scoring happened until the last five minutes of the third period. New York got on the board first and this time it counted. It looked like they had this game in the bag. And then with 7.2 seconds to go, Chris Drury showed why he is captain with a spectacular ditch-effort goal. Buffalo forced overtime and it only required about five minutes for the Sabres to take a 3-2 series lead. One more win and they're off the Eastern Finals. I imagine Sabres fans are pretty stoked.

Photos: ESPN.com

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 22

Just one game tonight. And it was a doozy. The Anaheim Ducks became the first team to advance to the third round of these playoffs by eliminating the Canucks in five games. What's bad for the 'Nucks is great for the Ducks. I'm sad to say I missed the majority of this game. I bet it was a good one.

Ducks 2, Canucks 1, 2OT
Ducks win series 4-1
Wow, five games only. And the Ducks are in the conference finals once again. Anaheim got the first lead of the game 14 seconds into the second period from Samuel Pahlsson. Alex Burrows notced the equalizer halfway into the third. It led to overtime. Then to double-overtime (naturally). It was four-and-a-half minutes into that fifth period that the Ducks stole the series from Canucks. Scott Niedermayer made it happen on a bummer of a play for Vancouver. And now it's over. I watched the extra time on Versus (but not in hi-def, as it was Thursday).

Photos: CBS Sportsline.com

FanFic Caps Unis Making Rounds

First off, of course they're fake. Everybody keeps posing the ridiculous question: Are these real? Are you for real?

As is evidenced by the web address where the images are located, the handiwork comes by way of a graphic artist — from Baltimore, Maryland. (Clearly either a Caps fan, or friends with one.) If he's just hosting it on his site, I'll be very surprised.

Anyway, the design mixes the old with the new in that it keeps the dull (instead of bright) colors and elements of both the old logo and the current one. Note the "Capitals" script with the dome element above it. The grey star beneath it is interesting but it doesn't work on the white jersey. As I've said, I've never been a fan of NHL logos wherein the team name is blatantly spelled out. That's not what a primary logo should be.

That's all for now. Remember, the Washington Capitals unveil their actual new logo and uniforms on June 22.

The 2007 FOX Drama Pilots

A few weeks back I posted my hopes and predictions for the new fall TV lineups from the "big four" networks. I did a few brief write-ups on new pilots I've read about and would like to see on the schedules. Thing is, it was all wishful thinking. I have a better chance of being struck by lightning (twice and in the same place) than being even close to accurate.

Having said that, this week I'm going to go through all the drama pilots in production one by one. Yesterday was CBS. Today, I'll finish the week with FOX.

My source for pilot info is, as ever, the all-powerful futon critic. I'm not going re-hash information that's already available. This is just me talking about what pilots I like the premises/casts/producers of so that when they're picked up I can say "I told you so" or when they're dropped I can eat my words. Words are yummy anyway.

There are 10 FOX drama pilots this year. For each pilot, you got your pitch, your slant, your faces, and your puppetmasters. Try to ignore the weather forecasts that inexplicably accompany each potential show. I don't really know what they mean.

The Apostles
The Pitch
A bunch of cops live on the same suburban street.
The Slant
Ah... but within their walls lie secrets. Naturally.
The Faces
Jessalyn Gilsig ("Nip/Tuck"), Keith Robinson and Leslie Hope ("24") are on board for the pilot. Would be nice if Hope could come back to network TV after her awesome run on the first season of "24" (which seems to be her only claim to fame).
The Puppetmasters
Chuck Pratt (who I've never heard of) is the creator and executive producer. David McNally is directing.
The Forecast
Rainy I'm sorry because I think Gilsig deserves her own series and Hope should be back on TV again, but I don't know the creative team and I'm not impressed with the network release on the premise.

Canterbury's Law
The Pitch
Elizabeth Canterbury is a defense attorney who will go to great lengths to protect the innocent.
The Slant
She and her husband wrestle with the tragedy of their missing son.
The Faces
Julianna Margulies ("ER," duh) toplines this pilot. I hope it works out for her too. A few months ago I watched "The Grid" and she was great. Other cast members include Linus Roache (a Brit), Ben Shenkman, Trieste Dunn, and Jocko Sims.
The Puppetmasters
Denis Leary and Jim Serpico (both behind "Rescue Me") have another pilot lined up for fall contention. The pilot was written by Dave Erickson and directed by Mike Figgis.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I'd like to see it for midseason, but I just can't shake the feeling that it doesn't have enough going for it, despite the great producers and actors involved. We'll just have to see how things turn out.

Company Man
The Pitch
Everyday engineer dude works for a defense contractor and has an average existence.
The Slant
Until he is forced to serve as an unwilling spy for the NSA.
The Faces
Jason Behr was the second to be cast as our main man, Paul Fisher. The network and producers weren't happy with their original choice (or title which was "N.S.A. Innocent"). And there's a bunch of other people I don't know.
The Puppetmasters
The creators are Bob Cochran and David Ehrman of illustrious "24" fame. So for that reason alone you know it has to be a hit. Want another anyway? Jon Cassar is directing (which makes me wonder if that's going to hurt "24" should it get a seventh season). "Twenty-four" execs Joel Surnow and Howard Gordon are also on this project.
The Forecast
Sunny I'm loving it! Send it on over. I was as surprised as anybody that they kept "24" going past season one. I couldn't be more impressed with any creative crew. I'm sure whatever they've come up with is top-notch and I'll be completely shocked if it's not on the fall schedule at FOX.

The Cure
The Pitch
Personal tragedy strikes a ruthless businessman of a doctor.
The Slant
So he puts together a crack team to research fringe medicine.
The Faces
Oded Fehr plays our lead so you can already count me in. I didn't see a lot of "UC: Undercover" but I liked what little I saw. Joining him are Anson Mount, Esai Morales and Liz Vassey.
The Puppetmasters
Created by John Zinman and Patrick Massett, this pilot is directed by Danny Cannon ("CSI: Miami"). What's really cool is Akiva Goldsman ("The Da Vinci Code") as EP.
The Forecast
Overcast It's like he's SuperHouse. I'm excited about the prospect of a show like this. The cast and creative team thrill me. But I guess I just don't have enough faith in FOX to expect it to actually be on the fall schedule.

K-Ville
The Pitch
Passionate cops keep order in their city.
The Slant
Their city is a post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans.
The Faces
Anthony Anderson heads our cast alongside some great names including John Carroll Lynch ("The Drew Carey Show") and Tawny Cypress (who was recently killed off of "Heroes").
The Puppetmasters
Jonathan Lisco ("The District" and "NYPD Blue") is the creator and Deran Serafian ("House") is directing the pilot.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I'm not sure we should be making shows (read: making profits) off of natural disasters that killed people and turned lives upside-down, but I do like the sound of this story. Call me wishy-washy but I could see it on the schedule.

New Amsterdam
The Pitch
John Amsterdam is a NYC cop who has lived there sicen 1642 when it was a Dutch colony.
The Slant
Yeah, dude's got the eternal life going but it's cool because he can die when he finds his "one true love" according to the Indian girl who did it to him.
The Faces
Nikolaj Coster Waldau (of Danish descent) is John Amsterdam, our main man. I don't know any of the rest of the cast but they are Alexie Gilmore, Stephen Henderson and Zuleikha Robinson.
The Puppetmasters
Allan Loeb and Christian Taylor are the creators/executive producers. (Taylor wrote one of the best episodes of "Lost" ever and a few for "Six Feet Under.") Lasse Hallstrom is the director.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy Sounds like an unbelievably awesome premise to me and I have faith in Taylor's writing. I've never heard of the cast, so that's a drawback. But ultimately, I think it's too far out to actually get picked up and be run on an American network. Give this one to the BBC. They'll kick ass with it.

Nurses
The Pitch
A bunch of nurses serve at the whim of doctors.
The Slant
And one the nurses' daddy works at the hospital.
The Faces
Eliza Dushku appears to be the lead here, the nurse with checkered past and famous father. Other nurses include Drew Sidora, Jaclyn DeSantis, Ramon Rodriuez, Sara Rue, and Margo MacDonald. Yes, it's a very, very pretty cast. What interests me is that IMDb lists Carlos Bernard ("24") as a cast member. Hooray if he's coming back to TV!
The Puppetmasters
Andy Stern and Samantha Goodman are the creators and P.J. Hogan is directing. I don't know anyone on the creative crew.
The Forecast
Overcast I'd only be interested in seeing this show for Carlos Bernard. And even then that's given he's a regular. Otherwise, I couldn't be less interested. On the other hand, I get the feeling it's one of those projects FOX will love.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles
The Pitch
What happens to Sarah Connor and her son after T2?
The Slant
If this show gets picked up, you'll find out.
The Faces
Lena Headey (the queen on "300") plays our title character. Thomas Dekker plays her son and Owain Yeoman and Summer Glau are some of the other cast members.
The Puppetmasters
Josh Friedman ("War Of The Worlds") is the creator of the show and David Nutter is directing. Nutter has directed a ridiculous number of pilots, including "Dark Angel" several years ago. He also directed "Traveler" for ABC which we'll get to see on May 10, finally.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy It sounds like it'll be rather pricey to make though I'm fairly sure FOX will have to pay a rather stiff penalty should they choose not to pick up the series. So I'm guessing it will be on the schedule. But I'm not really that interested in seeing it. Never saw the movies. Probably never will.

Supreme Courtships
The Pitch
It's like "Nurses" only in D.C.
The Slant
Duh, the Supreme Court, how did you not figure that out?
The Faces
Bridget Regan, Camille Guaty and Shane West are among the clerks we'll get to meet. Kate Burton ("Grey's Anatomy") and Kurtwood Smith ("That '70s Show") are a couple of the justices.
The Puppetmasters
Gary Tieche is the writer of this pilot. He wrote "MDs" a few years ago. It wasn't too bad but ABC pulled it pretty quick. Ian Toynton is directing. John Eisendrath and Marty Adelstein are a couple of the big-name EPs.
The Forecast
Overcast First, let me say that on further review, I wouldn't put this on my FOX prediction schedule. Instead, I'd place "The Cure" or "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" but whatever. I don't really see this show getting on the air this fall. But you never know. It would probably cost nowhere near as much as "Sarah Connor."

Them
The Pitch
Extraterrestrials live like a sleeper cell among the human race on Earth.
The Slant
Ah, but they can be tempted by the planet's offerings so one of them has to keep the rest in line.
The Faces
James D'Arcy is our lead and plays alongside Tricia Helfer ("Battlestar Galactica") and Rachel Nichols ("Alias") among others.
The Puppetmasters
Based on a Daniel Berman/Michael Oeming book, the pilot was written by John McNamara and David Eick. Jonathan Mostow is directing.
The Forecast
It's another one of those far-out FOX concepts but I like it. I think it has potential. I'm not sure what I'm basing that on as I don't know anyone on the creative squad. But I like some of the actors and I like offbeat subjects like this for TV shows.

And that will do it for the dramas. I'll post FOX's comedies a week from today. So be sure to check back for that.

Tomorrow is my day of rest. On Monday, we start in with the comedies and then the week after that, the real network schedules get announced. And you're crazy if you think I won't be posting them the very second they're made available online.

The information here is accurate only insofar as the futon critic has accurate information. As of this writing, this is what I know. And I only know what they publish. Now get the whole story there.

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 21

The same things that were on the table before last night's games are on the table tonight. With wins, the Senators and Sharks can get within one win of taking their series. The Devils and Red Wings can force at least a sixth game and a potential best-of-three situation. We got one of each last night. Here is tonight's lineup.

Senators 3, Devils 2
Senators lead series 3-1
Daniel Alfredsson scored first to give Ottawa the 1-0 lead just four minutes in. Same time, second period, Brian Gionta nets a point on the power play to even the game. Then Dany Heatley scored one of the craziest goals I have ever seen. I'm not sure how he got it off Brodeur's skate from that angle. Mike Fisher just piled it on in the third period, beating the Devils goalie from the blue line. Brodeur wasn't having a good night. To say the least. Jay Pandolfo put New Jersey back within one, but it wouldn't be enough. Next up: Elimination game for the Devs. Is it over the semis for them again? I missed the Versus HD telecast of this game.

Red Wings 3, Sharks 2, 1OT
Series tied 2-2
On Tuesday, the Sharks nearly blew a two-goal lead. Tonight, they did. Jonathan Cheechoo put the Sharks up first with two minutes left in the first period. Marcel Goc made it 2-0 in the second. That's when Detroit starting scoring goals when they really counted. With 4.3 seconds left in the second, Tomas Holmstrom cut the lead in half by batting the puck out of the air. But it was Robert Lang who scored the Wings' desperation goal with 36 seconds to play in regulation. He forced the overtime and despite having to kill a penalty, the Red Wings held on long enough to get a power play of their own. It was at that point that Mathieu Schneider forced a Game 6. Versus' HD coverage was beautiful as always. I only saw the third period and OT.

Photos: ESPN.com, CBS Sportsline.com

The 2007 CBS Drama Pilots

A few weeks back I posted my hopes and predictions for the new fall TV lineups from the "big four" networks. I did a few brief write-ups on new pilots I've read about and would like to see on the schedules. Thing is, it was all wishful thinking. I have a better chance of being struck by lightning (twice and in the same place) than being even close to accurate.

Having said that, this week I'm going to go through all the drama pilots in production one by one. Yesterday was ABC. Today brings CBS.

My source for pilot info is, as ever, the all-powerful futon critic. I'm not going re-hash information that's already available. This is just me talking about what pilots I like the premises/casts/producers of so that when they're picked up I can say "I told you so" or when they're dropped I can eat my words. Words are yummy anyway.

There are 10 CBS drama pilots this year. For each pilot, you got your pitch, your slant, your faces, and your puppetmasters. Try to ignore the weather forecasts that inexplicably accompany each potential show. I don't really know what they mean.

Babylon Fields
The Pitch
Mom and daughter conspire to kill abusive, alcoholic dad.
The Slant
He comes back to life.
The Faces
Amber Tamblyn and Kathy Baker topline the show so that's not half bad. (I watched the first season of "Joan Of Arcadia.") Jamey Sheridan, Ray Stevenson and Leila Arcieri are also listed as cast members.
The Puppetmasters
I've never heard of Gerald Cuesta or Michael Atkinson, but they are the creators and exec producers of the pilot. Michael Cuesta is directing.
The Forecast
Sunny A bunch of dead people get resurrected and try to resume their old lives. The concept sounds like a riot. And completely out of character for CBS. But then I love "Jericho" so they're heading in the right direction. Whether the net believes it's worthy of their schedule — how would I know?

Demons
The Pitch
An ex-Jesuit priest is also a psychologist.
The Slant
...And an exorcist.
The Faces
Harold Perrineau and Ron Eldard are the only names I recognize. And I'm a fan of both. Well, I was. I'm a little annoyed with Perrineau's decision not to return to "Lost." His character had such an interesting story. Way to be a little girl about it, Harry.
The Puppetmasters
You'll never believe who created this series. Barbara Hall! Yes, the person who last wrote about a teenage girl who sees God. Go figure. But that being said, I'm fascinated. Mick Jackson is listed as the director.
The Forecast
Overcast I would love to see a show on television with the tone a subject like exorcisms would bring. Plus I love Harold Perrineau and Ron Eldard. But seriously, it's not going to happen. No way CBS schedules it. Ever.

Law Dogs
The Pitch
We follow the lives and cases of a team of lawyers.
The Slant
Your guess is as good as mine. Whatever. I don't care.
The Faces
The cast features Janeane Garofalo, Josh Cooke and Mark-Paul Gosselaar so I'm intrigued but only barely.
The Puppetmasters
Barry Schindel is the creator and also an EP on "NUMB3RS." Which brings me to Tony and Ridley Scott. They're executive producers as well. Adam Bernstein is directing.
The Forecast
Severe Thunderstorms I said I don't care. What more do you want? CBS... Stop making procedurals!!!

Los Duques
The Pitch
We follow a multigenerational Latin American family in the rum business.
The Slant
CBS hasn't released a lot of details, I guess. I just don't know.
The Faces
Hector Elizondo, Jimmy Smits ("The West Wing") and Nestor Carbonell ("Lost") seem to jump out at me right away. So we'll see. But I don't know.
The Puppetmasters
Smits is an EP but I don't know anyone else. Cynthia Cidre is the creator and Christian Duguay the director.
The Forecast
Rainy I mean I don't know what is supposed to make this show interesting, so I can't really say whether it should be on the air. But I wouldn't count on it.

The Man
The Pitch
An undercover LAPD cop spends his nights running sting operations.
The Slant
He spends his days raising his three adopted kids.
The Faces
LL Cool J plays "The Man" a.k.a. Manny Baxter. But why wouldn't he play an undercover cop? We'll also get to see Mia Maestro (Syd's long lost sis on "Alias") and Melinda Clarke (Julie from "The O.C."). So it could be a pretty decent project.
The Puppetmasters
Anthony Zuiker made something that doesn't start with CSI! Whaaa?! Yes, for real. The director is Simon West, who I know from his work on "Keen Eddie."
The Forecast
Overcast I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd like to see this pilot. It sounds like it could be pretty good. Zuiker can weave a web of a tale and Simon West did, after all, work on "Keen Eddie" which I absolutely loved.

Protect & Serve
The Pitch
L.A. cops deal with the stress of life on and off the job...
The Slant
...Because they live in the 'burbs. Or something.
The Faces
Steve Harris ("The Practice"), Monica Potter ("Boston Legal"), Eric Balfour (Milo on "24"), and Dean Cain seem to be at the top of the list. So that's a pretty awesome cast.
The Puppetmasters
Mark Gibson and Philip Halprin are listed as the creators but I've never heard of them. What concerns me is that Gary Scott Thompson is an EP and because of him, I was completely disappointed by "Las Vegas" back when it premiered a few years ago. I also don't know the director, listed as Sergio Mimica-Gezzan.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I put this show on my fall schedule (well, as a midseason series), but I'm not sure I should have. On the other hand, it does seem to have the sort of feel the networks generally tend to go with when choosing new shows.

Skip Tracer
The Pitch
It's called a drama about a charming rogue with a heart of gold.
The Slant
But he's got a knack for finding missing people in L.A.
The Faces
Stephen Dorff plays the title character. Diedrich Bader ("The Drew Carey Show") and Beverly D'Angelo are involved.
The Puppetmasters
Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green are the creators and I've never heard of them. I've also never heard of Stephen Frears, who is the director.
The Forecast
Rainy You'll notice I didn't really have any comments to make in the other sections. I still don't. Are we done yet?

Swingtown
The Pitch
It's a period drama set in the 1970s that follows a group of married couples.
The Slant
Ah, but they're swingers, you see.
The Faces
Grant Show, Molly Parker ("Deadwood"), Josh Hopkins, Miriam Shor, and Lana Parrilla are the only people that I know on the cast. And I loved Parker in "Deadwood." But then I just loved "Deadwood."
The Puppetmasters
Mike Kelley is the creator. He was a producer on "Jericho" and "The O.C." so I have faith. Alan Poul is directing and you know him from "Six Feet Under." (Getting all the HBO folk involved over at The Eye.)
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I'm intrigued by both the cast and producers even if I can't quite put my finger on why I don't think the premise has a big future. If I were to go back to my CBS schedule prediction and replace "Protect & Serve," I'd probably use this pilot in its place.

Twilight
The Pitch
It's about a private investigator who struggles with the repercussions of immortality.
The Slant
Oh, he's a vampire, that's why.
The Faces
Rade Sherbedgia (the evil Russian on "24") is apparently our vampire lead. Shannon Lucio ("The O.C.") also figures in somehow.
The Puppetmasters
Ron Koslow and Trevor Munson wrote the pilot and like most everyone else on this list — never heard of them. Rod Holcomb is directing and I actually do know of him.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy It's on my schedule for midseason. It sounds like a pretty cool premise (read: unique) so I doubt it has a real chance. Plus Sherbedgia as a series lead would be awesome. I'm all for it. Even though I don't know anything about the writers.

Viva Laughlin!
The Pitch
A family tries to run a casino in Laughlin, Nevada.
The Slant
The title has an exclamation point because it's a musical!
The Faces
Hugh Jackman makes an appearance in the pilot but Lloyd Owen is the lead. Like I said, I've always like Brits on American TV shows. The cast features some other impressive names, such as DB Woodside ("24"), Carter Jenkins ("Surface") and Madchen Amick (ha, she was on "Joey").
The Puppetmasters
Jackman is also an EP and that will be his primary post on this series. (Come on, he is a movie star. Can't be seen on a weekly TV series.) Peter Bowker created the U.K. version and Bob Lowry has converted it for Yank telly. Gabriele Muccino directs but has mostly Italian work under his belt.
The Forecast
Sunny Aside from the fact that I think it would be cool to see a musical series on TV, Hugh Jackman makes this show an easy sell to advertisers and viewers alike. I'm not sure I can envision a CBS schedule without it.

Whew! Is that all? I plan on posting CBS's comedies a week from today. So be sure to check back then for that.

Tomorrow is FOX and that'll do it for the week. Next week is the comedies and then the week after that, the real network schedules get announced. And you're crazy if you think I won't be posting them the very second they're made available online.

The information here is accurate only insofar as the futon critic has accurate information. As of this writing, this is what I know. And I only know what they publish. Now get the whole story there.

I'm Hired!

Okay, just a few quick notes before the night's out (it's actually probably closer to morning at this point). I have a new job as of tomorrow which means I'll no longer be able to watch games every single night. That makes me sad, but getting money outweighs that sadness. I'll still write every day. I'll still cover the playoffs. The game recaps will probably come a little after the fact instead of during games. But the job is part time so I'll have three nights off every week and that means this isn't totally over.

Also, tomorrow night's games are the last of the Game 4s in this round so you can expect a prediction update Thursday afternoon at some point. Probably just something brief on how things are going in the series with regard to my predictions. Here's a little preview: So far, so good.

As for other hockey content aside from the nightly recaps, the Times published an interesting article about the Lightning's season. I'm going to look up some stuff and post it here (probably tomorrow). I was intrigued. Also, a lot of bloggers have been talking about who's staying and who's going for the Bolts. I'll put up a summary of what I've read on that as well.

And lastly, for you TV people, I hope you're enjoying the pilot write-ups. As I've mentioned, I'll get to the comedies next week. The upfronts are coming up very soon. Less than two weeks now! I'm on pins and needles. You know you are too. That reminds me, the weekend before the upfronts I'm going to post my revisions to the schedules I predicted. Knowing what I know now. Things I've heard and read. I kind of what to change my mind a little bit. But after the new schedules do come out, I'll compare both predicitions. If that makes any sense to anyone.

All right then. Now if you get a chance, stop by FOX 4.

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 20

It was three weeks ago tonight that 16 teams began their quests. Half have been eliminated. The other half are just trying to stay alive. With ever series at 2-1 when the night began, the stakes were high in Game 4. The Rangers evened their series with the Sabres tonight. A veritable best-of-three now. And the Ducks scored a quick OT goal to put a stranglehold on their series. They're now in prime position to eliminate the Canucks on Thursday night.

Rangers 2, Sabres 1
Series tied 2-2
The Sabres got screwed out of yet another goal that would have made a huge difference. Now this series is going into a best-of-three back in Buffalo. Jaromir Jagr scored 45 seconds into the second period on a leftover power play to give the Rangers the first lead of the game. Brendan Shanahan then gave New York a 2-0 lead in the third with the man advantage. Ales Kotalik followed up with a goal to cut that lead in half. Then with 13.4 seconds left in regulation, Daniel Briere scored, but because you could actually see the puck cross the line, the goal was disallowed and the series is now tied. HD coverage on Versus.

Ducks 3, Canucks 2, 1OT
Ducks lead series 3-1
I'm a little disappointed. We hardly got two minutes of overtime tonight. Travis Moen notched the winner at 2:07 of OT to win it for the Ducks. The first goal of the night came by way of Markus Naslund's stick during the first period. Then in the final minutes of the second period, the Canucks took a 2-0 lead. I looked out the window to check if pigs were flying. (They weren't.) Chris Pronger cut the lead in half just four minutes into the third and gave Anaheim a little boost. But it was as the clock ticked down in period three that spelled real trouble for Vancouver. Teemu Selanne got his first shot on goal in two games. It resulted in the equalizer for the Ducks, forcing overtime. This was the tenth time a game has gone to overtime. Vancouver has played in half of them. Very indecisive during regulation when it comes to finals with the Canucks. Versus has the CBC telecast.

Photos: CBS Sportsline.com

And I Smile

Hockey is awesome. Goals against Brodeur are awesomer. I think this is the fifth in my series. I'm thinking of publishing a book.

The 2007 ABC Drama Pilots

A few weeks back I posted my hopes and predictions for the new fall TV lineups from the "big four" networks. I did a few brief write-ups on new pilots I've read about and would like to see on the schedules. Thing is, it was all wishful thinking. I have a better chance of being struck by lightning (twice and in the same place) than being even close to accurate.

Having said that, this week I'm going to go through all the drama pilots in production one by one. Yesterday was NBC. Today brings ABC.

My source for pilot info is, as ever, the all-powerful futon critic. I'm not going re-hash information that's already available. This is just me talking about what pilots I like the premises/casts/producers of so that when they're picked up I can say "I told you so" or when they're dropped I can eat my words. Words are yummy anyway.

There are 15 ABC drama pilots this year. That annoys me because I had only eight yesterday for the Peacock. Anyway, for each pilot, you got your pitch, your slant, your faces, and your puppetmasters. Try to ignore the weather forecasts that inexplicably accompany each potential show. I don't really know what they mean.

All Fall Down
The Pitch
Big-city lawyer girl joins daddy's practice.
The Slant
Daddy's practice is in small town with nutty family.
The Faces
Alyssa Milano is probably the lead even though the release doesn't say so specifically. The cast includes James Brolin and Mary Steenburgen, a pair I rather like. It also features Anna Camp, Ian Kahn and Misha Collins, who I last saw on "24" playing a terrorist in the first season.
The Puppetmasters
Rina Mimoun was most recently a writer for "Gilmore Girls" and "Everwood," according to IMDb which seems to suggest the title of this pilot is "Reinventing The Wheelers." It makes sense since most of the characters are named Wheeler. Lawrence Trilling is directing. We know him from "Alias" and the like.
The Forecast
Rainy Hasn't this been done under only slightly varied circumstances? The big-city lawyer moves back home to small town and comedy (or attempted comedy) ensues. "Ed," anyone? Damn that was a good show. When is it coming out on DVD?

Cashmere Mafia
The Pitch
Group of smart, executive women use each other for support.
The Slant
Hey, doesn't this sound a lot like the "Lipstick Jungle" pilot from yesterday? It does.
The Faces
I'm sorry about the premise of this show because there are some pretty good actresses on board. You've got Bonnie Somerville, Lourdes Benedicto, Frances O'Connor and Lucy Liu among others. Shame.
The Puppetmasters
Kevin Wade is listed as the creator. It's his first television effort if IMDb is any indication. But you want to know why this scenario sounds so much like "Sex And The City"? Darren Star is an exec producer. Ah, and it clicks. Peyton Reed is directing but it doesn't matter because I'm not watching it.
The Forecast
Severe Thunderstorms I hate the title so how can I not hate the premise? What is the point? This show has been made. Note to the nets and Star: please, please stop making it over again. Let it rest in peace.

Correspondents
The Pitch
Four female journalists from different media travel the country.
The Slant
I don't know, it doesn't say.
The Faces
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the only one listed and you'll understand why if you keep reading.
The Puppetmasters
The pilot was created by Shonda Rhimes. She of "Grey's Anatomy" fame. She killed Morgan's much-beloved character of Denny and now I guess feels behooved to make it up to him. But dude, this show is so not getting made. The premise is four women journalist and the only cast member is a fella. Peter Horton is directing.
The Forecast
Severe Thunderstorms It's not that I don't appreciate Rhimes' work or the idea of this show (the little that we know of), but it doesn't seem like they're anywhere on it. It's all right, though, because ABC has 14 others to choose from.

Dirty Sexy Money
The Pitch
Rich, Kennedy-esque family is always getting in trouble.
The Slant
They blackmail Nate Fisher into helping them get out.
The Faces
Peter Krause, obviously. Plus, there's Donald Sutherland, Jill Clayburgh, Samaire Armstrong, and William Baldwin, among others rounding out the cast. I like most of those guys.
The Puppetmasters
Creator Craig Wright most recently wrote episodes of "Brothers & Sisters," "Lost" and, naturally, "Six Feet Under." That explains Krause. Greg Berlanti is listed as an EP and Peter Horton has yet another pilot to direct. This one probably has a better shot of making it.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy Could be an interesting story if handled correctly. Either way, it sounds like just the sort of stuff that might fascinate an American TV audience. Only May will tell if this one was meant to be. But I'm on board.

Eli Stone
The Pitch
Soulless shark of a lawyer starts to care about a case.
The Slant
He starts having prophetic visions.
The Faces
Jonny Lee Miller (the failed "Smith" from last fall) is the title character in a cast that features Loretta Devine ("Boston Public"), Natasha Henstridge and Victor Garber (Spydaddy on "Alias"). I like Garber but "Justice" was a stupid choice for him last year. It's cancellation shouldn't come as a big shock to anyone.
The Puppetmasters
The folks behind "Brothers & Sisters" (which I watched only the pilot of last year) are all over this one. Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim are the creators and Ken Olin is directing.
The Forecast
Sunny This was one of the projects I heard about in the early days of pilot season. I liked the sound of it then and still do. I expect to see it on the schedule.

Football Wives
The Pitch
It's hard being the wives of famous football players.
The Slant
I think it's just "Desperate Housewives" if the women were married to athletes.
The Faces
Gabrielle Union, Lucy Lawless and Kiele Sanchez, I imagine, are the wives. Sanchez is fresh on the heels of a short run on "Lost" which ended with her character being buried alive. James Van Der Beek, Eddie Cibrian and Ving Rhames are also members of the rather impressive cast.
The Puppetmasters
Marco Pennette, who wrote "Ugly Betty," is in charge of this sucker. EPs Bert Salke and Chris Brancato were producers on "North Shore," so I'm not really holding out much hope for creativity on this show. Bryan Singer is directing, so I'm a little confused.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I haven't seen the ITV version, but I've been meaning to. I hope it doesn't end up on the schedule, but knowing ABC, I can't imagine we won't be seeing it.

Judy's Got A Gun
The Pitch
Woman returns to work as a cop.
The Slant
She's a single mother trying to cure the world of its insanity and make her co-workers see her as more than just a mom.
The Faces
Louise Lombard is Judy Lemen. Other than that, I don't know anyone else on the cast, aside from Colm Feore (Anthony Heald's bro on "Boston Public").
The Puppetmasters
Robert and Michelle King created "In Justice" last year and that didn't pan out. So they're trying again. Someone called Sheree Folkson is the director.
The Forecast
Rainy I don't know, what's the point? Unless the writing is especially out of this world, I can't imagine being interested in a show like this. But as we know, I am not a good barometer when it comes to television viewers as a whole.

Life On Mars
The Pitch
Regular cop in big-time car wreck.
The Slant
He wakes up as a cop in the '70s.
The Faces
The puppetmasters have been finding it difficult to locate a good lead. Or other members of the cast.
The Puppetmasters
Matthew Graham, Ashley Pharoah and Tony Jordan created the original British series. David E. Kelley is adapting it for American TV. Dwight Little, who directs many DEK projects, will be directing this one as well.
The Forecast
Sunny Development has been pushed to midseason while they wait for a better lead actor to become available but I'm dying to see what Kelley comes up with. The BBC version was awesome and I've only seen two episodes of it at this pint. I can't wait to see the rest. Plus, I'm a fan of most of what DEK comes up with anyway.

Marlowe
The Pitch
Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe solves cases in a new City of Angels.
The Slant
Created in the style of classic Hollywood film noir.
The Faces
Jason O'Mara is Philip Marlowe. His cohorts include Amanda Righetti, Adam Goldberg and Sherman Augustus.
The Puppetmasters
Greg Pruss and Carol Wolper are the creators/EPs. I've never heard of them so I hope they don't screw it up too badly. Rob Bowman is directing.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I didn't put it on my schedule predictions, but I really like the sound of this show. I think NBC meant to make "Raines" a little more like what this show should be. It would definitely be a unique perspective to see on the tube every week. I'm pulling for it.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith
The Pitch
Husband-and-wife are top-secret, super spies.
The Slant
Neither knows who the other really is.
The Faces
Jordana Brewster and Martin Henderson take the title roles, replacing Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
The Puppetmasters
The guys behind the movie are helming the series, which is good news from a creative standpoint. Simon Kinberg is the creator and Doug Liman is directing.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy This is just one of those silly ideas I'm fascinated by. I've only seen parts of the movie, but I like spy shows. "Alias" was one of my favorites ever. My only question is how long they can sustain a series of this nature.

Perfect Gentlemen
The Pitch
A foursome of male CEOs lean on each other.
The Slant
Um, isn't ABC making the female version of this show?
The Faces
Well the cast is the best part about this project. Dylan McDermott, Michael Vartan, Christopher Titus, and Joshua Malina co-star. Nia Long and Paige Turco join them.
The Puppetmasters
Jon Harmon Feldman, who last wrote "Reunion" for FOX, is creating this pilot. For what it's worth, I thought "Reunion" was a cool idea, but horribly executed. Charles McDougall is directing.
The Forecast
Overcast I'll watch for the cast, but I'm not sure I'll be able to stand the writing. But we'll see. I hate to pass such harsh judgement so soon.

Private Practice
The Pitch
Hey, let's make a spin-off of "Grey's Anatomy."
The Slant
Okay, should we center it around Addison?
The Faces
Sure. Kate Walsh will take the lead should this back-door pilot go to series. We'll get a sneak-peek when it airs as a part of this season of "Grey's" probably in May.
The Puppetmasters
Naturally, the folks (specifically, Shonda Rhimes) behind "Grey's" have this one covered. Michael Grossman will direct the episode.
The Forecast
Sunny Come on, it's "Grey's Anatomy" without the whininess of Meredith. I have little doubt ABC will pass on this one for the fall. But stranger things have happened.

Pushing Daisies
The Pitch
Ned has the power to briefly resurrect the dead with a mere touch.
The Slant
He brought back his childhood sweetheart, but if he touches her again, she's a goner.
The Faces
Lee Pace will play Ned. I can hardly contain myself. Chi McBride ("The Nine"), Kristin Chenoweth ("The West Wing") and Swoosie Kurtz (Locke's momma on "Lost") also star.
The Puppetmasters
Bryan Fuller is the creator! He's responsible for three of my favorite shows: "Heroes," "Dead Like Me" and "Wonderfalls" (which Lee Pace starred in). That's awesome! Barry Sonnenfeld ("Men In Black") is directing.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy This pilot sounds so cool! If it sounds like I'm just discovering it, I kind of am. I must've somehow skipped it when making my schedule predictions or else I would have definitely considered it for a fall timeslot.

Suspect
The Pitch
It's an ensemble procedural set in Chicago...
The Slant
...set to Guy Ritchie's hand-held, rollicking style of filmmaking.
The Faces
Carrie-Anne Moss ("Memento"), Erik Palladino ("ER") and Charles S. Dutton are featured in this cast. I don't recognize the other names.
The Puppetmasters
Ed Zuckerman (who wrote the "Runaway" and "Killer Instinct" pilots last year) is writing this one. As mentioned, Guy Ritchie is directing. So that could be cool.
The Forecast
Overcast Still, I'm not quite sure it would have a place on ABC, though I'd certainly love to see it have a shot. I didn't put it on my predicted schedule for that reason. I wouldn't mind watching it myself, though.

Women's Murder Club
The Pitch
Chick cop solves crimes quickly but is annoyed at how long they take to prosecute.
The Slant
So she hires a bunch of women in various fields of work to help her circumvent the law. Which sounds wrong to me.
The Faces
Angie Harmon is the lead, named Boxer. Laura Harris, Rob Benedict and Tyrees Allen also star. There are a number of other folks who I am not interested in learning the names of.
The Puppetmasters
The series is based on a James Patterson book. Sarah Fain and Elizabeth Craft are the creators and Scott Winant is directing. It might also be worth mentioning that Brett Ratner is an executive producer.
The Forecast
Severe Thunderstorms No, no, no, no, no! Come on! Don't start with me! I don't want it. It's not worth talking about. Don't pick up this show! (Now watch ABC pick up this show.)

Are we finally finished? Geez. That certainly took long enough. And I'm plenty pissy, thank you very much. That was a lot of work. I think we'll be lucky if two of those actually get picked up despite there being plenty others more deserving.

I plan to be posting ABC's comedies a week from today. So be sure to check back.

Tomorrow is CBS so that's sure to be anything other than exciting. Please join me!

The information here is accurate only insofar as the futon critic has accurate information. As of this writing, this is what I know. And I only know what they publish. Now get the whole story there.

Stanley Cup Playoffs, Night 19

We managed to avoid double-overtime tonight to break the streak. In fact, we didn't even get any overtime. Though both games were very close tonight. As of now, all four playoff series are 2-1. And the teams I like to win each of them have the lead. Get a quick recap of tonight's action here.

Senators 2, Devils 0
Senators lead series 2-1
After going two full periods without scoring (an excellent display of the talents of Brodeur and Emery both), the Sens finally nabbed the lead early in the third. Tom Preissing put Ottawa on the board at 4:46. That would end up being the winner. The other goal was scored by Jason Spezza with 56 seconds to go in the game and Brodeur on the bench. Empty-netters are sweet. I missed most of this game despite it being televised. I've tried not to miss many games this postseason. Regardless, Versus had it in HD.

Sharks 2, Red Wings 1
Sharks lead series 2-1
On the Red Wings killer power play, Nicklas Lidstrom gave Detroit the first lead of the night halfway through period one. Ryan Clowe notched the equalizer in the second period. I briefly wondered if we were destined for another night of overtime. That was until Kris Draper took a penalty with eight minutes to play. Jonathan Cheechoo scored an amazing goal worthy only of being a game-winner. Wish I could show it to you. Clowe earned an assist for a two-point night, by the way. So the Sharks are up. We got to watch TSN's coverage of the game on Versus.

Photos: CBS Sportsline.com

The 2007 NBC Drama Pilots

Okay, I promised I'd get to it in the future and friends, the future is now. (Oh, he did not just say that.)

Now then, a few weeks back I posted my hopes and predictions for the new fall TV lineups from the "big four" networks. I did a few brief write-ups on new pilots I've read about and would like to see on the schedules. Thing is, it was all wishful thinking. I have a better chance of being struck by lightning (twice and in the same place) than being even close to accurate.

Having said that, this week I'm going to go through all the drama pilots in production one by one. We'll kick it off with NBC, again following the order of the upfronts which begin, as you know, on May 14.

My source for pilot info is, as ever, the all-powerful futon critic. I'm not going re-hash information that's already available. This is just me talking about what pilots I like the premises/casts/producers of so that when they're picked up I can say "I told you so" or when they're dropped I can eat my words. Words are yummy anyway.

There are eight drama pilots from NBC. For each, you got your pitch, your slant, your faces, and your puppetmasters. Try to ignore the weather forecasts that inexplicably accompany each potential show. I don't really know what they mean.

The Bionic Woman
The Pitch
Woman barkeep playing substitute mom to kid sister gets injured in devestating car wreck.
The Slant
Über-cool, out-of-this-world tech gives her superpowers and another shot at life — at a price.
The Faces
Michelle Ryan leads this crack team which also includes Mae Whitman (Egg on "Arrested Development"), Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan"), Molly Price ("Third Watch"), Katee Sackhoff, Chris Bowers, and Will Yun Lee.
The Puppetmasters
The creators are Laeta Kalogridis and David Eick, the latter of which some may know from "Battlestar Galactica." Personally, I have yet to see the Sci-Fi series which I have heard only raves about. Their cohorts include Bruno Heller, who last wrote "unknown episodes" of the "Brilliant But Cancelled" USA network series "Touching Evil," according to IMDb. The director is Michael Dinner, who has been a part of "North Shore," "Mister Sterling," "Karen Sisco," and "Invasion." Damn, where are all those shows? (I jest, of course. Except that I actually liked and watched "Mister Sterling." Oh, shut up.)
The Forecast
Overcast I have to say I've always been fascinated by remakes but by and large, they don't often have the ring of success associated with them. Still, I'm fascinated.

Chuck
The Pitch
Joe Blow nerdy-guy gets strange email from old friend.
The Slant
Old friend happens to be spy and now Joe Blow has big secrets in his brain.
The Faces
Zachary Levi or somebody plays the title character who, oddly enough, happens to be named Chuck. He plays with Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, Yvonne Strzechowski, Sarah Lancaster, Natalie Martinez, who some people think is hot. Can we get on with it already?
The Puppetmasters
Well Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak are the co-creators. Schwartz created "The O.C." and to my joy, killed Marissa Cooper. Fedak has done nothing that neither I nor the venerable IMDb are aware of. Serving in capacity of EP/director is McG.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy I like the idea. I like Schwartz. "The O.C." was never better than when solely in his hands.

Fort Pit
The Pitch
Fuck-up NYPD cops get dumped in pathetic Brooklyn precinct.
The Slant
Precinct big-wig hires "talented rookies" to upend slacker attitudes.
The Faces
Viola Davis ("Century City") plays the big-wig and aside from James Badge Dale ("24") the cast rounds out with a bunch of folks I've never heard of. Some of which include Elias Koteas, Michael Rispoli, David Call, Cornell Womack, and Dania Ramirez.
The Puppetmasters
Denis Leary and Jim Serpico (both of "Rescue Me" fame) are EPing. Michael Chernuchin ("Third Watch") and Peter Tolan (also "Rescue Me") are the creators and also executive producers. Tolan is even directing.
The Forecast
Overcast I never watched "Rescue Me" but I've heard it's very good. NBC says the pilot is a "dark comedy that's so satirical, it has to be called a drama." Unfortunately, the vast majority of what would be considered Americans are generally not fans of satire as many don't understand it and the rest believe they are being talked down to. Goddamn, when is "Studio 60" coming back on the air already?!

Journeyman
The Pitch
Regular fella has normal, happy life.
The Slant
But he travels into the past to change things up — and possibly save an ex-fiancée. Dan Vassar, you naughty, naughty boy.
The Faces
Kevin McKidd, Lucius of "Rome," plays the lead. Gretchen Egolf is his wife and Moon Bloodgood is his dead almost-wife. Other cast members include Reed Diamond and Brian Howe.
The Puppetmasters
Kevin Falls and Alex Graves, both of "West Wing" fame, shall serve as EPs. Falls is also the creator while Graves will direct the pilot. Graves also directed more than his share of "West Wing" shows, especially in the post-Sorkin days.
The Forecast
Sunny I don't know how he does it but it sounds pretty fucking cool. And I like Brits on American TV. I hope they don't make him change his accent a la Hugh Laurie. Dude, but I love "House."

Life
The Pitch
Cop with zen-like approach gets jaded partner.
The Slant
Cop got his "zen-like approach" after spending years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
The Faces
Damian Lewis plays our hero, Detective Charlie Crews. His "jaded" partner was Bradley Cooper's sexy assistant on "Alias," Sarah Shahi. Adam Arkin (from just about anything produced by David E. Kelley) and Robin Weigert (Calamity Jane on "Deadwood") round out the group.
The Puppetmasters
Rand Ravich serves as creator. He wrote the pilot in '05 about cops from the '70s. The nets just don't like period pieces anymore I guess. The pilot is helmed by David Semel who has directed only some of the best shows on TV. Ravich and Semel are both listed as executive producers.
The Forecast
Partly Cloudy Despite NBC's press release suggesting that Crews "offers up unique insights into each crime" and "reminds us of all the little things we take for granted," I'm tempted to thing it won't be too cheesy. So I'd watch.

Lipstick Jungle
The Pitch
Three ambitious women from NYC support each other.
The Slant
Not sure, it basically sounds like "Sex And The City II."
The Faces
Brooke Shields, Lindsay Price (the failed U.S. version of "Coupling") and Kim Raver (Jack's Audrey on "24"), I imagine are the three leads. Although Kim Raver's character appears to be naemd Nico O'Neilly. Say that out loud. David Noroña, Julian Sands, David Alan Basche and Christopher Wiehl round out the cast. (Which explains why Roger was banished from the post-apocalyptic town of Jericho.)
The Puppetmasters
I've never heard of DeAnn Heline or Eileen Heisler but IMDb tells me they're the creative force behind "How I Met Your Mother" and "Murphy Brown." Never watched either. The show is based on a Candace Bushnell book and directed by Gary Winick.
The Forecast
Rainy Not interested. I don't have much more to say on the subject. Except that I hope this doesn't mean Audrey Raines bites it at the end of this season. And I hope the success of Darren Star's show doesn't lead NBC to think this show would do the same.

M.O.N.Y.
The Pitch
Kid from "old neighborhood" elected to fight city hall.
The Slant
Mayor slips into a coma and the kid has to take his place.
The Faces
Bobby Cannavale is the only name I recognize. His cohorts include Amy Ryan, Aria Moayed and Carmen Ejogo.
The Puppetmasters
Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson ("The Jury") are the creators behind this one. And get this: Spike Lee is directing the pilot. What a crazy world.
The Forecast
Rainy So I'm guessing M.O.N.Y. stands for "mayor of New York" but that's pure speculation. Seriously. Okay, and did I mention I'm not interested? But my interests don't seem to mesh with the general television audience. I can't work out how "CSI" is the highest rated show on TV.

Winters
The Pitch
Tough-as-nails chick cop gets partnered with God-fearing man-of-faith cop.
The Slant
What if Greg House was that chick cop?
The Faces
The illustrious Famke Janssen is House, er, Winters. Her partner is Dorian Missick, fresh on the heels of the failed "Six Degrees." Barry Shabaka Henley, Sarah Clarke and Xander Berkeley round out the awesome cast. (We know the excellent husband-and-wife team of Berkeley and Clarke from "24," of course.)
The Puppetmasters
David Shore and Peter Blake are the EPs and creators. Ah, now you understand all the "House" references. The director is Tony Goldwyn (who's also directed episodes of "House" if I'm not mistaken).
The Forecast
Sunny I like house so this is sounding rather interesting to me. Oh, Nina Myers and George Mason are going to be so cool in this show. I can't even imagine. And before you ask why I think this pilot's going to be like "House," aside from the producers, NBC says "everybody lies" in their press release. So there.

That's a wrap for NBC's drama pilots. If all goes as planned, you can expect comedy pilots a week from today.

And for tomorrow... ABC's drama pilots. You know you want it.

The information here is accurate only insofar as the futon critic has accurate information. As of this writing, this is what I know. And I only know what they publish. Now get the whole story there.