Traditions, Adventure and Empires: The 2009 NBC TCA Winter Press Tour - Part II

The thing about NBC is also about diversification. With the changing face of late night and the inclusion of elements like mini-series, the landscape continues to change.

The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon Jumping over with the reigns in NY as Conan moves to LA, Fallon is ready to go. Although obviously enthusiastic, his format still needs to be proven. But as Craig Ferguson had said the day before, one should give him a chance before writing reviews. Fallon, who came out in a suit, said that the show will be "pretty traditional" and that they are in Studio 6B which is where Jack Parr started from. His angle is to be interactive: "I am interested in tech and gadgets and talking about the new inventions." He also concedes that "listening is the most important thing to being a talk show host." He provides clarity: "I know what it is like to be on the other side. It is up to the host to make me look good." In reference to Ferguson's kind words, Fallon responds jokingly: "I am up against a classy guy. I sent him a basket of Sean Connery movies and some Jagermeister." In terms of bringing the show to the 21st century, Fallon says: "We are going to go tape less (meaning all digital). We will go out and shoot (like that) as often as we can [and make] things as topical as possible." He also says that "making New York as centric as we can" is very important. He also announced that The Roots are going to be the house band saying they are "totally game for it". Another element he wanted besides a giant flat screen TV behind him was to have the fans come in to watch the bands saying that during the performances he wants them up on stage with the performers. Fallon also mentioned that he has been doing stand-up again taking a page out of the Jay Leno handbook. He addresses the fact that he took a spot that normally would have gone to Carson Daly, saying: "Carson and I are pals. I think we will have a good block of late night fun." In conclusion Fallon points out: "What is fun about 12:30 is that you can be looser. If it is not funny, we will try it again...and again...and again". Point taken.

The Last Templar The epic miniseries which has always been a stalwart of produce Robert Haimi returns with this adaptation starring Mira Sorvino, Scott Foley and Victor Garber (of "Alias" and "Eli Stone" fame). Sorvino addresses her return to TV: "For me it was the totality of the character. I had never played a role that was this deep. She has a scholarly side [but also an action side]. That is actually me in the subway scene doing all of the fighting. It was a very well rounded female character. I would play her again. She has fun and is a little geeky, not unlike myself." Halmi follows up saying that you need these kind of mini-series on TV. He would like to do a sequel for sure. The selling of the miniseries has done well around the world so in terms of financial stability, it is there. When asked about the role, Foley reacts with a bit of tongue-in-cheek interest: "I am the Karen Allen...the love interest" making reference to "Raiders Of The Lost Ark". He follows this saying: "This is a romp [but] there are serious religious issues. I related it to 'Jewel Of The Nile' with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner...just don't ask me which one I am."Mira also offered an interesting anecdotal tidbit on the making of this large scale production: "We were doing the boat scene at the end of the second episode. The boat was on a gimbal and would literally pitch [back and forth] with a machine of water [dumping on you]. Foley is fighting with the bad guy and I come down to help. I grab a hook off the wall. Then this big wave comes up and washes the contacts out of my eyes. I see the hand held camera guy start sliding. The hook [gets stuck above me then comes up) and slams into my teeth. They run in with non-stitch stitches. At this point our wonderful director decides that [Foley and I] should have a wonderful kiss. I am kind of mangled looking and think I am going to get Scott sick [because I have a cold]. At the end of it, Scott ends up in bed for two weeks." Victor Garber in his usual deadpan comments: "Who knew this was going on? I was in the hotel drinking."

Southland This new cop drama set in Los Angeles and made by the producer of "ER" [John Wells] wants to bring the day-to-day of the cops in the City Of Angels to the core of its narrative. Wells discusses making the show while also tackling the end of "ER" (including the three additional episodes NBC President Angela Bromstad ordered): "It was a quite an activity how we would [accomplish] that. The most difficult thing was the "ER" of it all. We knew it would take a certain amount of time to get 'Southland' up [and running]. I was halfway through writing the finale of 'ER' [when I got word]. The real scramble will be in the next couple weeks." Series Creator Ann Biderman says about "Southland": "When you see the number of police to citizens in Los Angeles, it was interesting because the city is so spread out." Wells follows up on the structure: "The emphasis is not on solving the cases that happen (although that does occur at times). It is about the emotional lives of these officers. The series has more of a narrative feeling that the procedural drama. The intention is be in the perspective [of these officers] at all times and how [they] see the world." In reference to how the Jay Leno move would affect this series as it would usually be at 10pm but now  is scheduled to be at 9, Wells responds: "The whole network and cable world is changing substantially. We believe this is a show that would be a 10 o'clock drama but can work at 9. [The question will be] will people allow us to do this show? [The network] bought [the series] off the spec script and didn't ask us to change the content. I took [that] to heart." Ben McKenzie, who plays one of the newest and youngest members on the force, explains his perception as one of the cops: "This is a way of being. It is a tribe. You are going to be doing this the rest of your life or you will die doing it. You don't see that much anymore. It is very brutal what they see every day".