Magazines, News, Interviews etc. thread

[Fraz]

WB Asks What 'Jack & Bobby' Can Do for It
(Thursday, May 06 01:56 PM)


LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - The WB is getting a jump on its upfront presentation to advertisers later this month by picking up 13 episodes of the drama "Jack & Bobby."
The series, which comes from "Everwood" creator Greg Berlanti and one of that show's writers, Vanessa Taylor, will chronicle the lives of two teenage brothers, Jack and Bobby McCallister. One of them -- the network isn't saying which one -- is destined to become president by mid-century.

Newcomer Matt Long plays Jack, while Logan Lerman ("The Butterfly Effect") plays Bobby. Christine Lahti ("Chicago Hope") plays Grace, their offbeat single mother; her husband, Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing"), is an executive producer with Berlanti, Taylor and Mickey Liddell.


Jordan Levin, co-CEO of The WB, calls the show "the ultimate aspirational vehicle."
"['Jack & Bobby'] combines the talents of Greg Berlanti and Thomas Schlamme and a great cast starring Christine Lahti, Matt Long and Logan Lerman," Levin says. "Greg's incredible ability to create poignant dramatic storytelling within a youthful dynamic and Thomas' incomparable expertise in translating the political arena to television have made this a very special project."

The show is the first of The WB's drama pilots to get a series order for the 2004-05 season. The network has picked up a sketch-comedy show from Jeff Foxworthy that's likely to premiere during the summer.

"Jack & Bobby" will be primarily set in the present day, with Grace's forceful personality exerting a powerful influence on the brothers. It will also include flash-forward segments that feature interviews with President McCallister's White House staff and his first lady.

John Slattery ("Ed"), Jessica Pare ("Lost and Delirious") and Edwin Hodge ("The Alamo") also star in the series. David Nutter ("The X-Files," "Smallville") directed the pilot.

Another great article.

Originally Posted by Fraz

Berlanti Balances 'Everwood' and 'Jack & Bobby'
(Monday, May 24 05:30 AM)
By Kate O'Hare


LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - With his family drama "Everwood" now going into its third season on Monday night on The WB, executive producer Greg Berlanti is ready for a fresh challenge -- charting the making of a president.
In partnership with his "Everwood" cohort Mickey Liddell and former "The West Wing" executive producer/director Thomas Schlamme, Berlanti starts his WB week on Sunday this fall with "Jack & Bobby," which received its fall pickup before the official schedule announcement on May 18.

Christine Lahti stars as a college professor raising two teen boys, Jack (Matthew Long) and Bobby (Logan Lerman), one of which is destined to be president.


"It's an idea that Tommy Schlamme developed with some writers last year," Berlanti says. "I never saw that script, but I heard what it was about. I definitely sparked to it myself, in terms of the notion, what if you were watching a boy today, that you knew would grow up to be president? To me, it worked on so many different levels.
"There's no greater kind of American story than the making of a president. They're all different, and they all, in many ways, reflect the times. I've heard it said before, I'm not sure where, that we get the president we deserve.

"One of the greater questions of our show is, are we victims of our time or do we actually alter the course of human history? You get me excited about this stuff, and I start wanting to show you how cool the show can be."

The pilot does indicate that, in the years before one of the brothers takes office, there has been a female Chief Executive, but that's not the story Berlanti chose to tell.

"Look, I'm very much an untraditionalist," he says. "You can see that from the way we do things story-wise, but I have to say, the dynamic of these two brothers was, to me, more personally interesting. Putting a show on television about brothers -- I don't think there's really a TV show out there that captures that spirit."

And, of course, the series' title evokes memories of another famous pair of political siblings, John F. and Robert F. Kennedy.

"In the last century," Berlanti says, "they're the most famous American brothers you could imagine, because of the influence they had on one another."

Actually, as the pilot plays out, the brothers' relationship more resembles that of the eldest Kennedy son, Joseph Jr., and younger brother John, than it does John and Robert.

"We did steal more of the dynamic, to be honest," Berlanti says.

But brotherly love isn't all that Berlanti aims to explore. "To be honest, there are a lot of shows on TV, 'Everwood' being one of them, that show single-parent homes.

"But to show the cross-gender difficulties of a mother raising two boys ... as you go through the presidents' moms, you see the similarities that they all had in terms of their own ambitions and their level of intelligence."

"Jack & Bobby" also offers Berlanti the opportunity to forge a new relationship of his own, with Schlamme, whose last producing partner was Aaron Sorkin.

"It's been incredible," Berlanti says. "He truly is one of the best in the business. He holds television to a higher standard than any other producer I've worked with, outside of my business partner, Mickey Liddell.

"He really sees that what we're doing is making 22 incredibly intelligent, thought-provoking, emotionally moving small movies every week -- which is what we try to do on 'Everwood,' which is why he and I just sparked to the notion of working together."

Meanwhile, as "Everwood" came to a close, high-schooler Ephram Brown (Gregory Smith) was off to New York to study piano at a summer program at Juilliard, and to see if he and on-again/off-again love Amy Abbott (Emily VanCamp) work together as a couple.

Back home, Ephram's ex-girlfriend, college-age Madison (Sarah Lancaster, who's in the new CBS series 'dr. vegas') told Ephram's father, Dr. Andy Brown (Treat Williams), that she's pregnant, something Andy is determined Ephram will never know.

"It can play out one of a thousand ways," Berlanti says. "Either way, Sarah won't be a regular on the show next year. But you wonder, has Andy really learned anything? I think the best characters on TV never learn anything.

"Wait till you see what we've got in store for all of them next year. You're not going to believe it -- good stuff."

WB Starts Fall Early
(Wednesday, July 14 01:47 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) The majority of The WB's 2004-05 lineup will be on the air before the traditional start of the fall season, which is coming to mean less and less in the current TV world.
Three of the network's six nights of programming will debut a week before the Nielsen-sanctioned start of the season. Additionally, two of its Thursday shows, "Studio 7" and "Blue Collar TV," will be up and running by the end of July. They'll be joined by "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show" on Sept. 16.

Like its fellow broadcast networks, The WB is looking to cut down on the number of repeats during the season, particularly for serialized dramas. The network plans to give some series a break during the season, replacing them during the down time with short-run unscripted series. (It will also have more episodes of "Summerland" to plug in at midseason.)


Aside from the two Thursday shows, Sunday's lineup -- the revamped "Steve Harvey's Big Time," "Charmed" and "Jack & Bobby" -- will be first out of the gates on Sept. 12 and will not be pre-empted the following week, when the Primetime Emmys air on ABC.
The early opening will give "Jack & Bobby," a family drama about two teenage brothers, one of whom is destined to become president, a chance to draw some viewers before the competition -- NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and CBS' Sunday movie -- kicks in.

The WB's premiere schedule is as follows (all times Eastern, new shows in bold):

Sunday, Sept. 12

7 p.m. "Steve Harvey's Big Time" (new timeslot)
8 p.m. "Charmed"
9 p.m. "Jack & Bobby"

[Fraz]

Sorvino Knows 'Jack' for The WB
(Tuesday, August 17 12:28 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Paul Sorvino, who's played cops and mobsters for much of his acting career, is ascending to the highest TV office in the land.
Sorvino has signed on to guest-star as the president of the United States in The WB's new drama "Jack & Bobby," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The part could become a recurring role on the series.

"Jack & Bobby" takes place mostly in the present day, when it follows brothers Jack and Bobby McCallister (Matt Long and Logan Lerman), one of whom is destined to be elected president in 2040. Christine Lahti ("Chicago Hope") also stars as the boys' mother.


The show also flashes ahead to President McCallister's time in the White House, which is where Sorvino will appear. He'll play the president who precedes McCallister in office, and inadvertently helps McCallister win the election.
Sorvino was a regular on "Law & Order" in that show's second and third seasons and also starred in the CBS series "That's Life" from 2000-02. His movie credits include "Goodfellas," "Romeo + Juliet," "Bulworth" and the upcoming "Mr. 3000."

[Fraz]

Former "Alias""Alias" regular Bradley Cooper has landed a new steady TV gig over at the WBthe WB.
Cooper has joined the cast of "Jack & Bobby," which will air opposite "Alias" on Sunday nights once "Alias" returns in January. "Jack and Bobby" preems on the Frog Sept. 12.

Drama concerns two brothers, one of whom is elected president of the United States in 2040.

WBTV is producing along with former "The West Wing""The West Wing" helmer Thomas SchlammeThomas Schlamme's Shoe Money Prods. and "Everwood""Everwood" creator Greg BerlantiGreg Berlanti's Berlanti-Liddell shingleshingle.

Cooper recently wrapped New Line's "The Wedding Crashers."



Keri Lynn Pratt ("The Help") has been added to the cast of WB drama "Jack & Bobby," which preems on the Frog Sept. 12.
"Jack & Bobby" revolves around two brothers, one of whom is elected president of the United States in 2040. Christine Lahti stars as their single mother; Pratt has been cast in the regular role of Jack's ex-girlfriend.

WBTV is producing along with former "The West Wing""The West Wing" helmer Thomas SchlammeThomas Schlamme's Shoe Money Prods. and "Everwood""Everwood" creator Greg BerlantiGreg Berlanti's Berlanti-Liddell shingleshingle.

Pratt recently wrapped "Fat Albert" for Fox.

[DeNnls]

I received my copy of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY today, and inside was a DVD copy of the pilot of Jack and Bobby.. I have seen it and it.. is... no words. Breathtaking. Absoultely the best, even surpasses the pilot of Everwood, which I thought was incredible. There is also a poster inside the magazine, which is featured advertising the show on billboards around the country.

For those interested in buying the mag, it has THE APPRENTICE on the cover, and it is dated Sept. 3, 2004.

Good Luck!

-Dennis

P.S. Watch the pilot closely, as well as the names of EVERY character you see in the pilot, it will surprise you towards the end ;-)

[Fraz]

WB Welcomes Grownups into the Fold
(Wednesday, September 01 12:05 AM)
By Rick Porter
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) One of the hot new stars for The WB this fall is -- wait, can this be right? -- Christine Lahti.
Nothing against Lahti, an Emmy winner for "Chicago Hope" and director of an Oscar-winning short film who stars in the new drama "Jack & Bobby." But she's not quite in The WB's demographic wheelhouse of teenagers and adults under 35.

Nor, for that matter, are the stars of "Blue Collar TV," which recently earned a full-season pickup based on solid ratings for its first few summer episodes.


But the fact that The WB is pushing both Lahti and the "Blue Collar" guys is no accident. The network obviously believes "Blue Collar" and "Jack & Bobby" can deliver ratings for them, but chairman Garth Ancier also says The WB is consciously trying to expand its audience.
"We thought of it as a way to bring more viewers, a broader audience, to our core demographic," Ancier says. "We knew we did well with teenagers. We knew we did well with 18- to 34-year-olds. We wanted to invite more people into the tent."

That's not to say that the network is looking for the next "Murder, She Wrote." "Jack & Bobby," in which Lahti plays the mother of a future U.S. president, also stars Matt Long, Edwin Hodge and Jessica Pare, actors as billboard-friendly as any other young star on the network. And while the stars of "Blue Collar TV" are well north of 30, their show is drawing well among the young-adult viewers The WB sells to advertisers.

Still, bigger total audiences almost always translate into higher ratings for specific demographics. The average "CSI" viewer is probably over 40, but because 25 million people watch it each week, it draws higher ratings among teens and young adults than any show on The WB.

So if you see a WB billboard or promo spot that features someone old enough to rent a car on her own, it's no accident. Ancier says the network's bigger-tent approach was motivated by a feeling that "we were getting a little too derivative in making shows that were cloning each other."

"It's a very conscious decision," Ancier says. "Instead of seeing all faces in the teens and early 20s who all sort of look alike, you're seeing a lot more of our adult actors and actresses -- like Jeff Foxworthy and Christine Lahti -- along with the Chad Michael Murrays who are our young, hot stars.

"And I think to the degree that we have presented ourselves as just a teenage network, that's a very large mistake on our part."

[Fraz]

There is a file now like they have had for Everwood and THE OC now for teachers to use and the class watches the show.

http://www.youthmedia.com/pdf/JandB.pdf

[Fraz]

Burbank, CA - September 13, 2004
YOUNG WOMEN ELECT "JACK & BOBBY"
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW DRAMA SCORES BEST EVER TIME PERIOD FALL PREMIERE IN WOMEN 18-34 AND WOMEN 12-34 AND SECOND-BEST-EVER IN FEMALE TEENS AND WOMEN 18-49

IN ADDITION, "JACK & BOBBY" ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST RATINGS FOR A SUNDAY FALL SERIES DEBUT IN ANY TIME PERIOD AMONG WOMEN 18-34, WOMEN 12-34 AND WOMEN 18-49

"JACK & BOBBY" SCORES +50% IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST SEASON'S TIME PERIOD PREMIERE IN WOMEN 12-34 AND +174% IN FEMALE TEENS

The WB's JACK & BOBBY scored a Presidential-sized victory among young women in its premiere. The critically acclaimed drama achieved a NEW ALL-TIME RECORD for a fall premiere on The WB in its time period (Sunday 9:00 pm) among women 12-34 (3.3) and women 18-34 (2.6). Additionally, JACK & BOBBY achieved The WB's BEST RATINGS EVER for a Sunday fall series debut in any time period among women 12-34 (3.3), women 18-34 (2.6) and women 18-49 (2.5) and the second highest ever in female teens (5.2).

"This is an outstanding debut for what is the most critically acclaimed new series of the fall," said Garth Ancier, Chairman of The WB. "A strong showing amongst young women is always a leading indicator of whether a show can be a hit for The WB and to achieve all-time records in these demos is a great start in establishing our next big hit."

JACK & BOBBY, which stars Christine Lahti, Matt Long and Logan Lerman, also scored the network's second-best-ever ratings for a Sunday 9:00 p.m. ET fall premiere among female teens (5.2) and women 18-49 (2.5).

JACK & BOBBY improved over last season's time period premiere in six key demos, including all female demos. The show posted +50% growth in women 12-34 (3.3), +174% in female teens (5.2), +13% in women 18-34 (2.6), +19% in women 18-49 (2.5), +5% in persons 12-34 (2.3) and +32% in teens (3.3).

The premiere of JACK & BOBBY, which is from Warner Bros. Television and executive produced by Thomas Schlamme, Greg Berlanti and Mickey Liddell, will air again on The WB Thursday night at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET.

[Shirphie]

Matthew Long and Jessica Paré are in the October issue of Teen People. They look great

[FaithGirl16]

I think Matthew Long and Jessica Pare are also in the October issue of Cosmogirl magazine.

[Fraz]

JACK & BOBBY" RECEIVES FULL SEASON PICK-UP FROM THE WB NETWORK

Burbank, CA - September 29, 2004
"JACK & BOBBY" RECEIVES FULL SEASON PICK-UP FROM THE WB NETWORK
THE WB STEPS UP TO REWARD THE QUALITY DRAMA FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS GREG BERLANTI, MICKEY LIDDELL AND THOMAS SCHLAMME

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW DRAMA ALSO WINS THE POPULAR VOTE IN UPSCALE HOUSEHOLDS Â

The WB has made a full-season 22-episode commitment to its highly acclaimed new drama JACK & BOBBY, making it the first new fall series from any network to be picked up for the full season. The announcement was made today by David Janollari, The WB's President, Entertainment.Â

"Great television doesn't come along every day, and that's why we're picking up 'Jack and Bobby,'" said Janollari. "It's a beautifully written, sophisticated show guided by Greg Berlanti, Mickey Liddell, Thomas Schlamme and Vanessa Taylor, with superb performances by an elegant cast led by the incomparable Christine Lahti and two of the most exciting young actors to come along in years, Logan Lerman and Matt Long. We are so proud to give the entire cast and crew a full-season pick-up, and the fact that it's quickly become an upscale program for advertisers is a huge positive for us."

The WB has long been synonymous with nurturing quality dramas, such as 7th HEAVEN, GILMORE GIRLS, ONE TREE HILL and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. JACK & BOBBY, from Warner Bros. Television, has received universal acclaim from the nation's top television critics and according to Nielsen Media Research, JACK & BOBBY has attracted an overwhelming concentration of upscale viewers with incomes over $100,000, making it a big hit with advertisers.Â

JACK & BOBBY has proven to be an upscale property for The WB, as the show¿s premiere delivered viewers in homes with household incomes of $100,000+ (143 index), viewers in homes with household incomes of $75,000+ (130 index), including adults 18-34 in those households (111 index), according to data from Nielsen Media Research. The strong upscale performance of the JACK & BOBBY premiere puts it in the company of other notable fall premieres with an the upscale skew (HHI $75,000+), including the premieres of Law & Order (123), C.S.I. (122 index) and C.S.I.: Miami (123 index).            Â

  JACK & BOBBY stars Christine Lahti ("Chicago Hope") as an eccentric college professor and single mother to two boys - Jack (newcomer Matthew Long) and Bobby (Logan Lerman, "The Butterfly Effect"), one of whom grows up to be President of the United States in the year 2040. Set in the fictional town of Hart, Missouri, the series details the relationship and the people who shape their values and personalities as Bobby grows to become one of the greatest visionary Presidents in history.  The most dominant force in their lives is their mother, Grace, who drives her younger son to his date with greatness. Â

Created by Berlanti & Vanessa Taylor and Steve Cohen & Brad Meltzer, JACK & BOBBY is executive produced by Berlanti, Mickey Liddell and Schlamme. Taylor and Andrew Ackerman ("Everwood") serve as co-executive producers

[FaithGirl16]

I'm so glad Jack & Bobby has been picked up for a full season! The WB must really like it! Next can we expect a season two perhaps?!

[Emma]

New guy comes to "Jack & Bobby"; KATE O'HARE; Zap2it.com
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 10-07-2004

New guy comes to "Jack & Bobby"
Byline: KATE O'HARE; Zap2it.com
Edition: Five Star Late Lift
Section: Everyday

"He may be a warlock," quips Bradley Cooper about his role on the WB's Sunday-night freshman drama "Jack & Bobby." "Depending how the ratings go, and if we want to be more like 'Charmed.' You never know with TV."

The second WB show from "Everwood" creator Greg Berlanti (in partnership with Tommy Schlamme of "The West Wing") stars Christine Lahti ("Chicago Hope") as Grace McCallister, a politically liberal, single college professor in Missouri raising two teenage sons, Jack (Matt Long) and Bobby (Logan Lerman). What the audience knows but the McCallisters don't is that Bobby goes on to become president.
Cooper recently joined the cast as Tom Wexler Graham, a doctoral candidate working as Grace's new teaching assistant.

"He represents everything that she despises," Cooper says. "He's white, he's male, he's privileged. He comes from a really prestigious family, like his grandfather owned half of Rhode Island. There are lots of things she doesn't despise -- we just haven't seen them yet. She doesn't despise sexy, funny guys, you know what I'm saying?"

Tom is hired because Grace's previous assistant -- a woman less qualified than Tom -- was fired for plagiarism.

"I'm the guy she never wanted to hire," Cooper says. "She also doesn't know who I am initially, because I didn't tell her. I tried to change my name, because I don't like growing up under this shadow."

Cooper hopes the interaction between Tom and Grace softens the audience's view of Grace, who usually comes across as strident and opinionated.

"They desperately need to show a different side of her," he says, "and that's what my character does. . . . Once she's human, and once she's vulnerable, and once she's funny and likeable, then you're willing to put up with and even enjoy the other side of her."

"Jack & Bobby"

When: 8 p.m. Sundays

[DeNnls]

From THEWB.COM

"JACK & BOBBY" AND "THE MOUNTAIN" TO FLIP TIME PERIODS
Burbank, CA (October 20, 2004) - The WB's critically acclaimed drama, JACK & BOBBY, which has already been picked up for a full season of episodes, will move to a new time period on Wednesday, October 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET). THE MOUNTAIN will complete the schedule change by moving to Sundays (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), beginning October 31. Additionally, the network has ordered four additional scripts of THE MOUNTAIN. The announcements were made today by David Janollari, President, Entertainment, The WB.

"'Jack & Bobby' is a smart family drama with an inherently youthful storyline, and that's been reflected in its consistent retention of teens and female teens out of 'Charmed,'" said Janollari. "Patient nurturing has long presaged success for WB dramas, and by pairing 'Smallville' with 'Jack & Bobby' we think we have two powerful shows with dual audience entry points and strong upscale appeal."

"I'm also pleased to announce that we have ordered additional scripts of 'The Mountain,' a show that has evolved into a sexy, adult serial with juicy plotlines and a gorgeous cast. We believe this show will prove more compatible with a fun show like like 'Charmed,' which continues to be a major player for the network. Taken together, we believe this change gives both these new dramas their best chance to succeed on our schedule."

An original episode of THE MOUNTAIN will air October 20, while a repeat of the JACK & BOBBY episode, "Better Days," will air Sunday, October 24. An all-new JACK & BOBBY episode, "Valentino," will air during the show's new time period premiere, October 27. An all-new episode of THE MOUNTAIN, "Best Laid Plans," will launch the show into its new time period October 31.

Created by Greg Berlanti & Vanessa Taylor and Steve Cohen & Brad Meltzer, JACK & BOBBY is executive produced by Berlanti, Mickey Liddell and Thomas Schlamme. Taylor and Andrew Ackerman ("Everwood") serve as co-executive producers. THE MOUNTAIN is a production of Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. Executive producers are McG ("The O.C," and the "Charlie's Angels" blockbusters) Stephanie Savage ("The O.C.") and Shaun Cassidy ("American Gothic").

[allyluvya]

This article is about the same thing about ^^^ about the moving but i thought i will just feel free to post it.

WB Shuffles Jack & Bobby, The Mountain
October 20, 2004
By John Consoli


Ratings-challenged freshman WB drama Jack & Bobby will move from its current Sunday, 9 p.m., time period to Wednesdays at 9 p.m., switching with another viewer-challenged freshman drama, The Mountain.

Jack & Bobby will begin airing in its new timeslot on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and The Mountain will first air in its new time period on Sunday, Oct. 31. The WB has also ordered four additional scripts of The Mountain, bringing its season order to 17 episodes.


Jack & Bobby, although critically-acclaimed, was losing a huge portion of audience from its Charmed lead-in on Sundays.

"We believe [The Mountain] will prove more compatible with a fun show like Charmed, which continues to be a major player for the network," said David Janollari, WB entertainment president. WB execs also said they believe Jack & Bobby will work better leading out of Smallville's audience.

"By pairing Smallville with Jack & Bobby, we think we have two powerful shows with dual audience entry points and strong upscale appeal," Janollari said.

Source: http://www.mediaweek.com/mediaweek/h..._id=1000680893

[MidnightShadows]

Wow! This is the first I heard of this! I'm sooo happy! I was very worried about Jack and Bobby while in the Sunday timeslot. I'm so glad they're moving it! I had hoped they would.