TRANSPARENT TERRORS! STEPHEN KING's 'UNDER THE DOME'

Together but separated: the nightmare of virtual separation begins in the latest Stephen King TV translation: UNDER THE DOME. Images: AMBLIN.

It doesn't pay to be a character living in small town, especially one located in New England, when you exist within the incomparable mind set imagination of a Stephen King novel. Such types have encountered and fought vampires, voodoo, and all manner of alien invasions. And now comes UNDER THE DOME, the new US series about to make a big impact thud on the UK's CHANNEL 5 starting on Monday, as the small town inhabitants of Chester's Mill wake up one bright morning to discover their entire community mysteriously, inexplicably sealed within a transparent dome, totally isolating them from the outside world, and all they've ever known and loved. As tensions build and their soon rudimentary existences are threatened, the secret underpinnings and inter-relationships of this diverse mix of characters soon become apparent, with greed, paranoia, revenge, murder and dark tragedy thrown into the mix, of which things will never be the same again. Whilst the ultimate background and disturbing revelations of their surrounding bubble await discovery...

The mysterious dome surrounding Chester's Mill.

▶ Under the Dome - Trailer - YouTube

Trials and tribulations ahead for the Chester's Mill residents.

Making critical, sometimes controversial changes to the original 2009 book (in order to transform it to a possible long-term weekly series), UNDER THE DOME, starring Mike Vogel, Natalie Martinez, Jeff Fahey and Samantha Mathis, is claustrophobically adapted for the screen by a production team used to building tension and mystery within a large group of characters: LOST veterans Brian K. Vaughan and talented visualist Jack Bender. Made for Steven Spielberg's AMBLIN, it all looks set to be another intriguing addition to the world of Stephen King making the transfer from page-turning literature to hopefully, equally addictive reality...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK. 'SLEEPER CELL' AND 'HIDDEN's THEKLA REUTEN

Netherlands delight. Sexy actress Thekla Reuten. Image: via ULIKE.

Joining the welcome rising tide of elite international actresses making their notable and striking way into British and American film and TV these past few years, lovely Dutch actress Thekla Reuten has played a series of strong and complex figures, of both good and evil, in hit shows like HIGHLANDER (opposite small screen incarnation Adrian Paul),  LOST (as the doomed Elsa, a shady member of Charles Widmore's business enterprises eventually killed by Iraqi hero Sayid (Naveen Andrews) in a memorable Season Four episode), as the determined and thoroughly deadly terorist convert Mina in the chillingly memorable US series SLEEPER CELL, terrifyingly ending the second and final series with a horrific and despicable self-sacrifice, and, most recently, on the UK's BBC 1, opposite MAD DOGS and LIFE ON MARS star Philip Glenister, as lawyer Gina Hawkes, in the ultimately so-so thriller enlivened by her thoroughly sexy presence- the three-part HIDDEN. On the big screen, she's showed her tough centre as Mathilda, a cold-centered and experienced assassin out to woo then "hit" sex symbol George Clooney, in 2011's understated but stylish thriller set in and out of a small Italian town, THE AMERICAN.

Making a curvaceous appearance as hitwoman Mathilda in the movie THE AMERICAN. Image: FOCUS FEATURES.

Alongside George Clooney in THE AMERICAN. Image: FOCUS FEATURES. 

Helping to unravel a mystery alongside Philip Glenister in HIDDEN. Image: BBC.

Always hard at work on quality projects, Reuten has three European productions in the works, but I'm sure it won't be too long before she once more makes just as welcome and provocative big-league contributions to English-speaking film and TV.

KOOL TV CLASSIC IMAGE: THE DARK SIDE OF PARADISE - 'LOST'

Another side of hell? The survivors of LOST. Image: ABC TV.

It may have sharply divided fans and critics alike with its wrap up finale episode, but the fantasy/drama of the stranded survivors of the doomed Oceanic Flight 815 - LOST - remains one of US TV's greatest achievements-exceptionally well cast (so few modern series ensembles get this crucial factor so right) and inspirationally written (kudos to Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse for surviving the long haul and taking so many spot-on story-telling risks), beautifully made by a dedicated team within the stunning vistas of Hawaii (putting the holiday hotspot back on the map as a place to make Hollywood entertainment). The opening episode's spectacular and frightening plane crash alone remains one of the best and most exciting, edge-of-your-seat sequences achieved in television ever.

And with polar bears, "The Others", the Dharma Initiative, submarines, time-warps, flashbacks and flash forwards, the mysterious Jacob and "Old Smokey" soon becoming a compulsive part of the shows rich tapestry (and a firm fixture capturing modern pop culture), within a place where anything could and did happen-forcing our heroic and vulnerable characters to undergo many critical life-altering decisions, LOST proved itself far and above any previous Robinson Crusoe-ish ideas seen on the big or small screen...

Catch the epic series now, on the UK incarnation of NETFLIX: Watch Lost Online | Netflix

POWER-PLAYERS! 'REVOLUTION' BEGINS ON UK TV

Children of the REVOLUTION emerge on post-apocalyptic Earth. Image: NBC.

Mankind has seemingly come to the end of the road in its existence and ambition, its power supplies across the planet lost in a sudden, unexplained blackout catastrophe, an event witnessed fleetingly, and teasingly, at the start of the hot new US series from that fantasy factory of J.J. Abrams and BAD ROBOT, teamed with SUPERNATURAL creator Eric Kripke, starting on SKY ONE HD from tonight: REVOLUTION.

Fifteen years on from that fateful night, its huge cities deserted and atrophied, its material-made transport gone the way of the dodo, and its natural resources now coming directly from the land, civilization has to get back-to-basics against a backdrop of unrest from warlords and militias, of which the once innocent Matheson family, possessing a mysterious pendant that may ultimately be the key to unlocking the mystery of what happened all those years earlier, become undeserved fugitives from the powerful antagonist that is Sebastian Monroe (David Lyons), who wants to become the ruling figure of the entire United States and wipe out any and all opposition standing in his way. The idea of a world returned to power that isn't through his hands must never be realised...

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iUH7OuaMYc

With the exception of TWILIGHT's Billy Burke, paying another one those roguish types that have tried to follow in Harrison Ford’s original and weighty footsteps as Han Solo, and LOST/V’s lovely Elizabeth Mitchell, who, early on, appears in flashbacks that prove very LOST-like in their scene-setting (as the wife to one of the key players linked to the event launching Blackout), the show has no other relatively big name stars and is instead much more of a competent ensemble piece. In many ways, this decision, with such a surely expensive series to make, is to Abrams credit, continuing his trend of finding new faces and careers to launch.

Filmed in the forest and wildernesses of picturesque Georgia and North Carolina, directed with quality by feature film helmer Jon Favreau, this western/sci-fi blend aura to the series pilot holds the kind of subtle promise that will surely attract the kind of fan base Joss Whedon’s FIREFLY enjoyed a few years back. Ultimately, what I’ve seen of REVOLUTION so far, which isn’t much, hasn’t totally blown me away, but reviews online States-side have indicated that the series is gaining more story and character momentum, with a few shocks and surprises at the mid-season point, so I’ll see what happens to the Matheson’s and the pursuers for a little while longer. Possibly less convoluted and easier to follow in the long run, the show may perhaps prove long-term to be more relatable to audiences than some of Abrams previous weekly fantasy efforts: the also singular titled ALCATRAZ sadly bombed, despite another promising opener, whilst FRINGE made its five year duration mainly due to international sales success and a small but rabidly devoted fan base.

Check out some intriguing NBC promotional posters for the series, via the Sneak Peek website, here: REVOLUTION - THE TV SERIES

Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/RevolutionTvSeries

Official site: http://www.nbc.com/revolution/

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!

THE NEXT "GOOD GUYS"! 'PERSON OF INTEREST'

Men of Numbers. The intriguing crime-fghting duo of Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson in PERSON OF INTEREST. Images: CBS.

Finally arriving on UK TV screens tonight via those US friendly show buyers at CHANNEL 5 (perhaps someone out there in the world of commercial entertainment suits-dom has finally been reading the KOOL TV site?) is the stylish cyber vigilante crime drama series PERSON OF INTEREST, produced and created by wunderkids of film and TV, LOST and FRINGE's J.J. Abrams and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Jonathan Nolan (brother of director Christopher)-as if you didn't know who they were?!

Title sequence: Person Of Interest Main Title on Vimeo

Receiving critical acclaim for its often ingenious and almost believable blend of sci-fi technology and action drama format storytelling set in a post 9/11 uncomfortable America still slowly and subtly building up its Big Brother is watching you style of surveillance - a trend also pretty much followed by the UK and Europe these days- lead series stars Jim Caviezel and LOST's ex-baddie, the brilliant Michael Emerson (a kind of psychopathic looking, real-life version of big eyed Droopy and a grown up Stewie from FAMILY GUY!), have won plaudits for their on-screen charisma together: a fine duo of action and technology whose characters, soon fugitives themselves by pursuant government and varying law enforcers for their shady but necessary work, right wrongs and stop the innocent becoming victims to crime and violence beyond anything predicted by terrorism. Mixing an overall high concept idea with audience friendly plots- think a bigger and probably more stylish version of THE EQUALIZER, with a hint of INCEPTION and LOST thrown into the cooking pot for good measure- you'll get the picture of what this tantalising main course is all about...

Check out our earlier feature on the show here: FUTURE CRIME! WATCHING OUT FOR THAT "PERSON OF INTEREST"...

Here's the official page: Person of Interest on CBS.com
and FACEBOOK site: Person of Interest

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: 'HOMELAND's ZULEIKHA ROBINSON

Exotic delight: the lovely Zuleikha Robinson poses for the camera. Image: ULIKE.

From being a mysterious female James Bond industrial spy figure in Chris Carter's comedy drama series spin-off to THE X-FILES, THE LONE GUNMEN, to an ambitious prostitute with her sights on being a mistress of ancient ROME's dark and deadly streets in the adult and high quality HBO mini-series of the same name, making her mark as one of the better supporting characters stranded in island purgatory on LOST-another mysterious femme fatale/bounty hunter action heroine, to now being a middle Eastern journalist with a fiery agenda on the upcoming second season of the hit SHOWTIME suspense drama HOMELAND, lovely British actress Zuleikha Robinson, with her striking and exotic dark looks and admired busty, statuesque physique, has become a popular name in Hollywood, and deservedly so, in her playing of numerous intriguing roles over the last twelve years.

Making a fine entrance with the cast of THE LONE GUNMEN. Image: FOX.

Acquiring the next target: Zuleikha as Yves Adele Harlow in THE LONE GUNMEN. Image: FOX.

Making a striking first impression on viewers as the black leather clad weapons expert, the tough, no nonsense character of 'Yves Adele Harlow" (an anagram of JFK 'assassin' Lee Harvey Oswald-her real name would never be known through the series run), who often acted against her own commercial judgements to help out the three geeky and full of heart Lone Gunmen of the title (played with their own inimitable charm by Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood and Dean Haglund) out to expose the truth behind the various cover ups, conspiracies and technological dangers the modern world is facing, the show may not ultimately have lasted very long-a mere thirteen episodes- as a spin-off to such a popular show like THE X-FILES (perhaps a victim of audiences not quite knowing what to make of it overall)- alongside a wrap-up in it's brother shows  ninth and final season, but other feature film roles were soon around the corner for Robinson such as the mildly successful Joe Johnston directed desert horse racing adventure HIDALGO, and working alongside the iconic Al Pacino in the starry and well-made adaptation of Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, before a return to popular TV in the second and final season of HBO's made for good notices critically and on her career CV, giving an excellent and highly charged performance in the equally excellent and highly charged historical saga that was HBO's ROME, playing another dangerous character-at first a tart with a heart and then going on to become Gaia (a real misinterpretation of the word's meaning: Mother Earth!): an ambitious, sex as a weapon manipulating figure doing her utmost best to control our central heroes Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson. Going from history to fantasy, Robinson would play gutsy and instinctive Eva Marquez alongside GAME OF THRONES star to be Nikolal Coster-Waldau's immortal New York detective John Amsterdam in another short running but liked FOX series, the HIGHLANDER-esque NEW AMSTERDAM, and then onto a much more memorable role in another equally iconic series now approaching its final two seasons: the hit JJ Abrams/ABC TV sci-fi/fantasy that captured and beguiled audiences hearts in equal measure: LOST, and making another exciting impression as the resourceful Ilana Verdansky, who first appeared in the show trapping and then beating into the middle of next Wednesday, our favourite Iraqi hero Sayid (Naveen Andrews) on the orders of the mysterious father-figure like Jacob (Mark Pellegrino), before being just as trapped as the rest of the core players on the constantly moving island as they took on the Black Smoke creature, and certainly coming to an unexpected and literally explosive end!

As the life hardened Gaia in ROME. Image: HBO.

Alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the short-lived NEW AMSTERDAM. Image: FOX.

And back in fantasy as battle hardened Ilana in the final days of LOST. Image: ABC TV.

Miss Robinson's streak for playing know what they want independent women characters continues apace within the next season of the eagerly anticipated and addictive new TV hit, the terrorist thriller/character drama from Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, HOMELAND, where she'll be playing the middle eastern role of Roya Hammad, a journalist who has a connection to the mysterious Al-Qaeda-esque figure of Abu Nazir (Navid Negaban) and whom goes on to deliver an ultimatum to Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), the turned ex-American military man now intent on delivering a terrible death blow to his country's security and its people. How all the new seasons twists and turns will be revealed, and what further involvement Roya will play in the shape of things, remains to be seen, but Miss Robinson's expected presence in the show will certainly be enough to boost male viewers blood pressure a fair few points over the coming months.

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.