A PROPERTY TO DIE FOR! '666 PARK AVENUE'

Elegant devilry by the Dorans (Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams-left) reaches out to the young cast of the new supernatural/drama hybrid 666 PARK AVENUE. Image: ABC TV. 

I think that scientist have been lying to us. I think that the first human clone has been achieved and it's Terry O'Quinn! He just seems to be everywhere these days, and in all the top US TV shows, from HAWAII FIVE-O to FALLING SKIES. But, the good thing is that O'Quinn is also a terrific character actor and his performances in these shows, and past classics like MILLENNIUM and LOST, have always helped to elevate the quality level, something which I hope he, along with lovely co-star Vanessa Williams (playing his glamorous on-screen wife), will bring to the DEVIL'S ADVOCATE inspired television remake, with probably a lot of glossy, soapy DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES incident and beautiful people thrown in for good measure: 666 PARK AVENUE, from ABC TV, and coming soon to UK TV. Carrying on the dark and naughty tradition established by Al Pacino as the Devil, or someone/something very near him/it, is always going to be a hard act to follow, but O'Quinn, as super smart and immensely wealthy businessman Gavin Doran, can do mercurial evil very nicely-remember his final seasons turn as the Smoke Monster/the alternate John Locke in LOST?

Trailer: 666 Park Avenue On ABC (Trailer-3D) - YouTube

Created by Gabriella Pierce, and from her original popular book, the series involves a young well-to-do pairing (re: annoyingly attractive and body toned than you average normal human beings!)- Rachael Tayor as Jane Van Veen and Dave Annable as Henry Martin- soon discovering things going bump in the night beyond the bedroom, and their noisy and varied residents, when they take managership of a desirable Manhattan apartment building-the Drake- that just might be under the control of a mysterious supernatural force, courtesy of its owners, the Dorans. Bad enough that such on-screen stereotyped rich people can be so influential, evil and cruel, but giving them dark powers, too? Well, that's the end of the world in my book, baby!

Also starring Erik Palladino, Robert Buckley, Samantha Logan, Mercedes Masohn and TV baddie veteran Nick Chinlund, so memorable as death fetishist Donny Pfaster in an early episode of THE X-FILES, expect mild scares, occasional sexiness-the best that you'll get on network TV anyway, political and society in-fighting, and the odd bit of feminine super-bitchiness from the New York elite, alongside no doubt multiple character plot strands that may be the hit-or-miss mark on the shows future beyond seven (so far) episodes. Still, whatever happens, I'll be at least watching the pilot episode to see O'Quinn enjoying himself!

MEN OF HONOUR FACING A 'LAST RESORT'

US submarine fugitives make a stand at the LAST RESORT. Images: ABC TV/SONY.

Looking set to combine the claustrophobic edge of your seat drama of CRIMSON TIDE, as well as shades of Nevile Shute's classic Nuclear War novel ON THE BEACH and probably a little bit of LOST's lush island visuals thrown in, the upcoming submersive drama THE LAST RESORT, created by THE SHIELD's Shawn Ryan and Karl Gajdusek, promises much in its premiere series ambitions, starting on the UK's SKY ONE HD channel at the end of the month (30th October).

Trailer: Last Resort ABC Trailer (HD) - YouTube

On the bridge of the Colorado, Robert Patrick and Andre Braugher face a nuclear catastrophe.

Finally getting away from lots of supporting roles on film and TV, though staying within the realm of  normally playing stern or gruff military men or authority figures which I've always known him for, experienced character actor Andre Braugher gets a chance to take series centre lead as Captain Marcus Chaplin, captain of the US nuclear submarine Colorado, who questions a vital order from his superiors to fire nuclear missiles on Pakistan. Its a decisive action against his superiors that soon leads him and his loyal crew into becoming pursued fugitives from their homeland. Arriving and commandeering a NATO listening station far out in an undesignated spot in the Pacific Ocean, the shows conspiracy thriller roots are explored as the crew try to find out what has lead them to this scenario. Other sub-plots and story directions ripe for exploration include the Captain and his command crew overcoming internal dissent, trying to get along with the island's already fractious established natives, and taking on a dangerous drug cartel.

Islanders and command staff mix in the opening episode. But will they get along?

Executive produced and directed by top New Zealand action director, and helmer of two of the best modern James Bond films- GoldenEye and Casino Royale, Martin Campbell will surely add style and gloss to the opening pilot episode, whilst a solid supporting cast includes Bruce Davison, DOLLHOUSE's Dichen Lachman and THE UNIT's always great Robert Patrick. It's been a long time since there's been a series like this on the small screen, surely a bold and expensive gamble by ABC TV, and as a huge fan of the edge of your seat submarine thriller sub genre I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing how this format crossing series will pan out. Currently getting respectable ratings in its US timeslot, lets hope that LAST RESORT gets a chance to show future episodes rise to the surface rather than dive, dive, dive down the Nielsens.

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...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'FRINGE's REBECCA MADER

The lovely British actress Rebecca Mader, as seen in the 2011 comedy series WORK IT. Image: ABC TV. 

Her fiery, often shady time-travelling architect character of Charlotte Lewis in the hit adventure/drama LOST may, ultimately, and sadly, have been unintentionally shortchanged in the final year of her two season stint on the series-ultimately due to an already creaking the floorboards major ensemble cast with multiple plot strands to be sorted out by the shows writers as it reached its finale), but that hasn't stopped the spirited and lovely British actress Rebecca Mader making a fine career for herself in American television, with guest star roles in other hit, well-known shows like ALPHAS (playing a deadly assassin with an ability to render herself invisible to the human eye), NO ORDINARY FAMILY, COVERT AFFAIRS and LAW AND ORDER to name but a few. Sci-fans who love the J.J. Abrams stable of sci-fi, including the aforementioned LOST, will be pleased to hear that she'll soon be playing another strong character role in the upcoming fourth season (series?) finale episodes of the mind-bending, mind-busting FRINGE (currently showing in the UK on the SKY ONE HD channel), playing Jessica, a potential new love interest (?) for the amiable scientist/ lead Peter Bishop, as played by Joshua Jackson. Jessica will become involved in the FRINGE division's desperate search for the renegade, parallel world traversing, terrorist super baddie David Robert Jones (as played with a high intelligence, supercilious nature by the excellent Jared Harris). KOOL TV looks forward to seeing Miss Mader in the series and what developments her appearance will bring...

Rebecca poses for another weird and wonderful LOST promotional shoot.

Getting down and dirty in the jungles of LOST, with Jeremy Davies and Josh Holloway.