News Round-up: Bowen, Pelphrey, Daytime Emmys

INTERVIEW: DH's Andrea Bowen (Julie)
"[DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES Creator] Marc Cherry explained to me after the five-year jump that he needed my character to go away for a while so that we could miss her and then come back with a big splash. He reminded me of that two days ago when he called to touch base about my overall story line this year. This is the first time Julie’s had a solid story arc, which is pretty cool. I have to keep things quiet, because a lot of what has to do with me this year is saucier. Basically, I’m not the same character who left. I come back a different person. Julie has gone through a lot and comes back…different. She’s not the same girl everyone watched grow up."

DESPERATE books Nordling, Mirchoff
Wisteria Lane's newest resident, Drea DeMatteo, has found her family. Jeffrey Nordling and Beau Mirchoff have joined the cast of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES as regulars next season. Nordling will be playing a New York landscape designer who moves to Wisteria Lane with his wife (DeMatteo) and their tightly wound, sexy and intense son (Mirchoff).

TV producer attacks BBC 'junk food' drama
Tony Garnett, the veteran producer who brought Ken Loach's CATHY COME HOME to television audiences and has worked with the BBC over four decades, yesterday launched a stinging attack on the corporation over what he called its "systemic" failure to commission quality drama.

In his diatribe, he complains about the length of time BBC executives take from when a writer pitches an idea, to its eventual fruition, and the criteria they seek to fulfil, such as young characters, and he likened much of the drama on the BBC today to "junk food."

"Over the last decade or so the BBC, in perhaps its worst public service dereliction, has skewed its money and airtime decisively to wards high volume junk food which runs across the year. In addition to EASTENDERS and CASUALTY, it now has HOLBY CITY and numerous other lengthy series. There are very few single pieces or mini series, the kind of original writers' work which a voice can communicate directly with an audience," he writes.

Pelphrey back for limited engagement of "My Italy Story)
Coming off a successful two-week run, Mile Square Theatre's production of "My Italy Story" returns by popular demand, in conjunction with St. Ann's Feast, Hoboken'sannual Italian-American festival, presented by St. Ann's Parish. The limited engagement will run July 22 through July 26, Wednesday through Sunday @ 8pm, 3pm matinee on July 26.

INTERVIEW: Daytime Emmy Producer Jim Romanovich
"I could care less who wins and who is nominated. To me they’re all talented and they all deserve it. I know a lot of people were upset with THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS not being a part of the best show category. I just want to make this a great show for all the soaps."

Ross Seeks Support For Television Freedom Act Bill
Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) has revived his push for a bill that would allow satellite and cable companies to import adjacent-market local TV network affiliate stations into so-called split markets, though only to the “orphan” counties within those markets, and only where retransmission consent was obtained, where possible.