Follow the adventures with me in this Weblog...Walt

July 29, 2002
   So, another fall preview tour is done - my 21st summer in LA with the celebs and critics.

	Robert Redford./Walt Belcher photos

We closed on a high note with Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole, singing selections off her next CD at a PBS party. The same party featured a satellite interview with Willie Nelson from his bus. Old Willy looks great and still plays 200 nights a year on the road. He is the subject of an American Masters special on PBS this fall. Willie told a great story about coming home drunk one night and getting sewed up in a sheet by an ex-wife who beat him with a broomstick.

My last interview before jumping on a plane back to Tampa was with Robert Redford, who has the rights to Tony Hillerman's mystery novels set on a Navajo Indian Reservation. PBS plans to make them into a series. Redford is shorter and more wrinkled than you might expect. But he's still got that movie star charm. Great hair, too.

July 26, 2002
   Touch me. I had lunch with Carson Daly.

If Iyou are a teenage girl, you're saying "No Way" right now. The heart throb host of MTV's video show request show and NBC's late-late-late "Last Call" was hanging around waiting for his news conference and we started talking.

	Carson Daly.

I was invited to lunch with him and his producer and my friend Erik who writes for European and Canadian newspapers.

So we were eatin' salads poolside when I made a major goof. I was drinking Diet Coke and Daly was drinking regular Coke. I wasn't paying attention and I picked up his glass by mistake. I knew by the taste it wasn't diet. But he didn't see me. I wondered if I should say anything. I did.

So we ordered another.

Daly explained the tatoos on his right arm, one is the Corvette logo (his late father sold Corvettes) and he has "NYC" in red, white and blue in honor of 9-11. Daly saw the second plane crash into the World Trade Center from the window of his Manhattan apartment. He'll never forget.

July 25, 2002
   NBC tour days opened with Matthew Perry of "Friends" introducing NBC and GE CEO Robert Wright and then leaving. That makes Perry a $22 million emcee.

We wished Wright had introduced Perry and then left.

Things got slow during the "Crossing Jordan" news conference when there were only 46 critics in the room and 57 publicists (I'm not kidding!).

	Brittany Snow with her parents.

Tampa's Brittany Snow stole the show at the "American Dreams" news conference. (See Friday's TV column in BayLife). Her parents, John and Cyndy have rented an apartment here and will take turns staying with the 16-year-old starlet while she films in Hollywood.

Production started Thursday on a set where the "American Bandstand" stage has been recreated. Brittany says "hi" to all her classmates at Gaither and to her boyfriend who starts HCC soon.

Also saw Bradley Whitford from "The West Wing" at the NBC party. The party was themed around a circus, with clowns, face painting and a dunk tank where critics took real shots at NBC Entertainment Prez Jeff Zucker. NBC covered the outside walls of the hotel with banners. I met the cast of "Scrubs," but that this point I'm interviewed out.

July 24, 2002
   A bowling shirt and blue jean guy like me gets tired of hotel food and California cuisine like calamari salad so I slip away sometimes and eat at places like Pink's, a legendary hot dog stand on LaBrea and Melrose.

	A shot of Pink's./Walt Belcher photos

I tried the new Ozzy Osbourne dog-cheese and jalapenos on a spicy polish sauage guaranteed to give you gas. The chili dog was heaven on a bun for $2.50.

Sure beats Jennifer Lopez's fancy Pasadena restaurant.

Fox held a party at a swanky hotel on Sunset Boulevard in the Sky Bar terrace. Way cool view of LA but it got loud and crowded. They had swimmers in the pool diving for plastic "fortunes." Mine said I would have a close encounter on the full moon.

	Swimmers dive for "fortunes."

Saw Bryan Cranston who plays Hal on "Malcolm in the Middle." He's excited about an Emmy nomination. Also saw pregnant Jane Kaczmarek who plays Mom on "Malcolm." Frankie Muniz wasn't there. Jane is pregnant and expecting in November. She says her character might have a baby so Malcolm won't be in the middle any more.

Bryan told a funny story about a visit to the Kathy Fountain show on WTVT, Channel 13, last year. After he did the show and was preparing to leave, a security guard (he said "a Barney Fife type") came running back and "warned" him that fans were outside the station.

"He had a private conference with the station manager and it looked like all hell was breaking loose," Bryan said. "We gathered up all the photos and called the studio and ordered more for the next stop in Philly."

As they made their way through the maze of halls at Channel 13, he told his publicist to pull him away after 20 minutes so they could catch a plane.

"Then we went into this huge lobby and there was one lonely guy sitting there," he said. "He waved and I smiled and looked around for the crowd. He was it. So I signed an autograph. Things like that really bring you back to earth."

July 22, 2002
   As the tour enters its third week, the critics are cranky and tired.

Many are over 40 and not easily impressed with programming aimed at the younger less-demanding audiences. As network news conferences go, Fox tries to have more fun than CBS, NBC and ABC.

Backed by a gospel choir, comic Cedric the Entertainer opened Fox's presentation on Sunday appearing as a preacher who lectured us on the sins of television. Cute. Funny.

Later, Fox set up a minature race track in the lobby where game-challenged critics crashed radio controlled cars in mock races. That was to call attention to "Fastlane," a hip-hop detective series with fast cars and faster women.

Fox gave out candy all day long. Giving the crowd a sugar-high helps keep them awake through the long afternoon. Cedric, who has a new Fox show, brought in non-alcoholic martinis served by waitresses in hot pants and black fishnet hose. Even that didn't perk up this zombie-like group. The numbers slowly dwindled and by 5 p.m. they could have held the session in a telephone booth.

The poor cast of a sitcom "Oliver Beene," that looks like a copy of "Malcolm in the Middle," must be worried over the obvious lack of interest.

On Saturday night we had our own party. TV critics handed out awards to shows we like best.

	"24" co-star Penny Johnson Jerald.

This event started 18 years ago and has grown from a cheese, crackers and beer party, which no stars attended, to a gala with real food, booze, fancy dress and a handful of stars who come over to spend time with us.

Michael Chiklis, who is much shorter and not so menacing in person as he is on FX's "The Shield," was the hit of the party. TV columnists flocked around him.

Also there was Peter Krause, who was cool on ABC's "Sports Night" and is even better on HBO's "Six Feet Under."

We picked Chiklis as best drama star and "Six Feet Under" as best drama. ""24" was our choice for best new show, but only the show's producers were there. Kiefer Sutherland was a no-show. Bummer. But he came to the Fox party on Sunday night to schmooze with critics.

The critics all love "24" and Bernie Mac, who is off in Baltimore making a movie. Mac garnerd a comedy show award and an honor for individual achievement.

Good ol' Bob Newhart was our host after Bill Maher backed out. He was funny, telling stories about ancient days of Ed Sullivan. Also met Tom Kenny who is voice of Spongebob Squarepants. He was excited as a kid to be in the room.

July 20, 2002
    On Friday we visited Fox Studios, which is about 20 miles from Pasadena over near Beverly Hills. Fox took a bus load to the set of "Firefly," a new science fiction drama set 500 years in the future.

It's called "Firefly" because the tail end of the spaceship lights up the sky. Created by Joss Whedon, the guy who did "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," this is about a small crew struggling to get by in a future world that is in decay. The set is all top-secret so no cameras were allowed.

The inside of the Serenity spacecraft looks something like the rugged inside of an old freighter cargo boat. The future is much like the past and what Whedon really wants to do is a Western. The characters are like cowboys drifting from town to town.

Also at Fox we had lunch with the cast of "Reba," who told us the WB show is going to be more adult this season. Saw Tampa native JoAnna Garcia again. She plays Reba's daughter on the series.

You may wonder why Fox is making a series for The WB. The TV business can be confusing. Fox Studios makes movies for the big screen as well as TV series that it tries to sell to all networks, including the Fox network. Paramount, Universal and Disney's Touchstone do the same. Studios make series that they lease to networks and then later sell in syndication.

Fox Studios has a lot of history going all the way back to the silent era. From the outside, it looks like a lot of warehouses and old military barracks. Inside each warehouse are sets where movie magic is made. Giant murals on the outside wall celebrate the studio's history - Henry Fonda, Marilyn Monroe, Goldie Hawn and The Simpsons tower 20 feet high.

July 19, 2002
   On Day 11 of the TV Critic's movable feast, ABC throws a bash at a palace in Pasadena that is home to the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl headquarters.

	Tournament of Roses Headquarters

The inside of the house is a museum to the history of the parade. The outside rose garden was the setting for the party. ABC stars had to walk down a yellow carpet (ABC's color) to face paparazzi who hang outside in batches like poor waifs waiting for crumbs. They are not allowed inside to mingle because that priviledge is reserved for TV columnists, publicists, agents and stars.

	Jeffrey Tambor and John Ritter

Among those at the party was Jimmy Kimmel, former Tampa radio personality and soon to star in his own late-night talk show. Jeffrey Tambor ("Hey Now" Hank from "The Larry Sanders Show") and John Ritter who is returning to TV as a sitcom dad. He mugged at the camera for me.

I also saw Drew Carey, Lara Flynn Boyle (she's camera shy) and Trista Rehn, star of the upcoming "Bachelorette."

July 18, 2002
   Here's a picture of where all this is happening - the Ritz Cartlon Hotel nestled in a residential area of Pasadena.

	Ritz Carlton/Walt Belcher photos

Limos pull up out front and the celebs have to pass a battery of photographers to get inside the ballroom that has been converted into a large news conference area.

Inside the ballroom, television critics spend hours listening to a line-up of stars, such as the cast and producers of ABC's "The George Lopez Show." In the center is Hispanic comic George Lopez and producer Sandra Bullock.

	Cast of "The George Lopez Show."

Bullock is not only a movie star, she's running a production company. Her team discovered Lopez at a comedy club. The group fielded questions from about 100 media in the room. Check out the new ABC logo. At least it isn't a pair of Mickey Mouse ears.

If I don't cut class, I sit through about a half dozen of these sessions per day.

July 17, 2002
   The eighth day of the fall preview tour found us in the Horseshoe Gardens of the Ritz Cartlon for a CBS party themed around their new shows: Philly steaks for "Hack," about a cab driver/crime fighter in Philadelphia; rum drinks for ""CSI: Miami"; Mexican food for "Robbery Homicide Division" set in LA; pizza for a sitcom set in Chicago; and so on.

These are WORKING parties, which means that I walk around with a tape recorder while one publicist after another lines up actors and producers for brief chats.

	Eric Close/Walt Belcher photos

Every network does this. Stars of all series, new and old, are invited, but not everyone shows up. Facing the 170 odd (and I do mean ODD) TV critics here can be daunting.

I spotted Della Reese from ""Touched by an Angel" and Catherine Bell from "JAG."

"Judging Amy" star Amy Brenneman was there along with late-night guy Craig Kilborn, a couple of the "Amazing Race" winners, the last ""Survivor" winner Vecepia Towery, and the producer of "Big Brother."

Henry ""The Fonz" Winkler, now producer of ""Hollywood Squares," worked the crowd. The cast of "Yes, Dear" showed up, but there was no one from "Everybody Loves Raymond" (after six seasons, they've all been interviewed many times at previous events like this).

	Catherine Bell

Getting a lot of attention was Simon Baker, hunk star of "The Guardian." Before my tape ran out, I talked to David Caruso, of ""CSI: Miami"; David Morse, who stars in ""Hack;" and Nancy Travis, who is joining ""Becker"; also Eric Close, of the FBI missing persons drama "Without a Trace," coming in the fall and Aussie Poppy Montgomery, predicted to be a rising star on "Without a Trace."

July 15, 2002
   Caught up with Tampa native JoAnna Garcia at The WB party in Hollywood where the "Reba" co-star was with her boyfriend Jaron Lowenstein of the brother singing duo, Evan and Jaron ("Crazy for This Girl").

He shocked her recently by getting his hair clipped short.

	JoAnna Garcia

Life is good for the Tampa Catholic grad who is coming off her first season on The WB's top-rated comedy. "I think we surprised a lot of people, even ourselves over the success," she said.

JoAnna is happy to shed that fake pregnancy padding that she wore most of the season. Her character, Cheyenne, gave birth and is headed to the University of Houston as the mother of an infant.

She said Cheyenne and hubby Van (Steve Howey) will grow and get a little smarter this coming season. "We're going to be better than ever," she said.

JoAnna, who has been in Hollywood less than four years, gushed over star Reba McEntire who plays her TV mom. "I call her Mom sometimes because this cast has really bonded," she said.

	Clare Kramer

I know it may seem like one big party...but I also went to the UPN party at the set of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in Santa Monica.

No Buffy sighting.

But I saw her evil nemesis, Glory (Clare Kramer). Also walked the streets of mythical Sunnydale and went in Buffy's house and Spike's tomb.

	Mythical Sunnydale

July 12, 2002
   Another night, another martini. This time it was shaken, not stirred at the HGTV party.

Martini bars are the rage here, like cigar bars were a couple of years ago. But this round was in honor of ""Zip Code 007," a HGTV special coming in November about homes of people who were in James Bond movies. Sean Connery was a no-show. Ditto for Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton. In fact, I only spotted Tanya Roberts (""A View to a Kill") and Richard Kiel (Jaws in "The Spy Who Loved Me"). Even though he's walking with a cane these days, Kiel still looks menancing.

The party was held at the Paramour Estate, a 1920s mansion styled like an Italian villa. It was built for silent film star Antonio Moreno and his wife, a wealthy society babe. After she died when her limo went off a cliff, the house became a Catholic home for wayward girls. Now it's an historic landmark and available for rent for parties, movie and music video shoots and so on. HGTV will feature it on ""Homes That Made Hollywood" in September.

They had the weirdest entertainment so far on this trip - a team of sychronized swimmers in dayglow green swimsuits performed water ballet in the mansion's massive pool while a jazz band played themes from TV shows and Bond films. I was told Garbo, Clara Bow, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks and others once sat around that same pool. Cool.

July 11, 2002
    Went to the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. ESPN bused about a dozen of us over to Hollywood where a handful of celebrities turned out.

No red carpet for us.

We went in the backdoor and to the nosebleed seats in the fourth floor balcony. We were surrounded by kids who hooted and hollered. Show dragged along. It opened with Santana and closed with Snoop Dogg but they were just so-so. Samuel L. Jackson was funny in a bunch of pre-taped gags where he was edited into sports-themed movies. Skater Sarah Hughes was cute in red. Brooke Shields is wearing multiple coats of makeup these days. Matthew Perry is getting chubby. Tim Allen looks as if he's hungover. Half the audience were paid seat fillers who were bused in.

Meanwhile, the interviews are piling up. Talked to Burt Reynolds who plays a bad guy in an upcoming Hallmark Channel movie, ""The Johnson County Wars.'' His face has been stretched tight by cosmetic surgery and his current wig is silver. He looks like a corpse.

Also talked to Candice Bergen. The ""Murphy Brown'' star still looks great. She has a show on Oxygen where she goes out and follows unusual women around.

One person she followed was Sonja, the new Animal Planet Pet Psychic. Candice, along with her two dogs and the psychic, totally blew it. They said one dog hated to ride the car (dog loves car travel) said the other dog loved the groomer (dog hates grooming).

July 10, 2002
    The Anna Nicole Smith road show gave us something to write home about.

There were a dozen news conferences Tuesday where people talked about series coming to various cable networks. But Anna Nicole, all dolled up in a black gown and plied with several coats of makeup, created the most buzz amongst the television critics.

You live for news conferences like this.

Anna, famous for being famous, travels around clutching a Prozac-drugged toy poodle, Sugar Pie, and has about a dozen people following her to make sure she gets where she's going, looking like a macbre Lane Bryant Barbie. E! thinks she could be TV's next Ozzy Osbourne so the network is tracking her every move for a TV show coming in August. The poor Babe was like a deer caught in the headlights when she faced a roomfull of snarling, cynical TV columnists. One critic asked her about how large her breasts are after implants.

But poor Nicole couldn't answer any questions, coming off as more befuddled (or just plain dumb) than old Oz. You can read more about this encounter in my Thursday TV column. Like I always say: Bad TV makes for good copy.

July 9, 2002
    First night in Pasadena and there's Natasha Henstridge, all blonde, lean and lovely, dressed in tight black leather pants sipping a raspberry martini at the "She Spies" informal "media party."

She's getting all the attention in the bar at the Ritz Carlton - cameras flashing, an Extra film crew stalking her, tape recorders in her face - while her co-stars, unknowns Kristen Miller and Natashia Williams, are gathering more dust than the Maytag Repairman.

Media scribes juggle "She Spies" martini glasses, finger foods and notebooks while searching for something to ask the stars of this kick-butt series about three ex-cons who become undercover agents. It debuts Saturday on NBC for a summer run before going into syndication where it will play on weekends like "Xena," "Sheena," "VIP" or any of those female action hero epics that do so well in foreign markets.

Henstridge is the attraction here because of her past roles in horror flicks "Species I & II."

But what's to ask? We know ""She Spies" won't be Emmy material. I corner her on the bar's outside terrace and a dozen other scribes flock over to hear her insights. She calls the new show a campy version of "Charlie's Angels." I ask her if there are any parallels to the "Powerpuff Girls" and she says, "We are the live versions of the Powerpuff Girls." But she can't say which one her character is most like. "Is one named Bubbles and is she the aggressive one, or is it Buttercup?" she ponders. "Or maybe I'm more like Blossom. I guess I'm all of them."

I decide to call it a night. I know that I may never actually see a compete episode of "She Spies."