One of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles is take the Studio Tour at Universal Studios, Hollywood. I don’t know whether it is simply reminiscing on memories of my youth - I remember all the way back to when the tram used to stop half way through and you could pick up giant, Styrofoam rocks and pretend to be “The Bionic Man“ - or is it simply the fact that I get to pass by JAWS as he jumps out of the water. I find it fascinating that they’ve added the little bit about parking the tram by a bunch of barrels on the dock marked explosives. ’Look at the pretty fire folks… look at it… look at it… oh my God it’s a shark!’ The poor shark Bruce was getting too obvious so the fire is a perfect distraction. I guess it must work, people really do scream. Anyway… I digress… The thing is, I’ve been on this tour so many times I could probably give it myself. But I happened to find something even more exciting than going on the tour, and that was stepping inside Soundstage 27 in June of 2008.

First of all, I have to describe the almost ALIEN-esque world created there with a prehistoric tone. It was the largest production ever filmed on the Universal lot and it was astounding. We stepped inside The Temple of Skulls which housed a gigantic UFO-like incinerator next to an ancient amphitheatre, but it was clear there were no games going on. The steps that lead down deep inside were large so that a certain species could easily maneuver up and down since they have large, webbed feet. The walls surrounding the amphitheatre contained what seemed to be hundreds of egg shaped chairs so that someone, or something, could watch whatever took place deep inside this brilliant set design. It looked liked some dark and tribal Opera House as the rows of chairs piled high up into the rafters.

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Bryan Fuller, creator of ABC’s canceled fantasy series Pushing Daisies, gave SCI FI Wire a preview of the last three episodes and added that the story may continue in a comic-book series from Marvel.

The series, which charmed critics and fans alike, will also be showcased at the 2009 Paley Festival in Hollywood on Sunday.

We spoke exclusively with Fuller about Daisies’ early demise and its continuing adventures. The following Q&A is an edited version of our interview. The show’s final episodes will air on three consecutive Saturdays, starting May 30, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It will land on DVD on July 21.

Initially, Pushing Daisies was this critically hailed, Emmy-nominated series with strong ratings. A year later, the series didn’t even get a full season. What went wrong?

Fuller: The writers’ strike is the big bully to blame for the plummeting ratings. There was a writers’ strike in 1988, and television shows lost around 30 percent of their audiences. During this one, shows lost 20 percent of their audiences. It was a combination of the writers’ strike and being off the air for 10 months.

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Ray Winstone, David Thewlis and Anna Friel are set to join Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell in “London Boulevard.”

William Monahan directs the crime drama this summer in London, with financing coming from Graham King’s GK Films (Daily Variety, Jan. 22).

Drama revolves around a freshly paroled London criminal who becomes involved with a reclusive young actress.

Winstone will play a former crime boss.

Thewlis will play the reclusive actress’ agoraphobic business manager, while Friel will portray the criminal’s sister.

more details:
Based on the novel by Ken Bruen, the story revolves around a newly paroled criminal (Colin Farrell) who gets a job as a handyman for a reclusive actress (Keira Knightley).

William Monaghan, who won an Oscar in 2007 for writing The Departed, will make his directorial debut on the project, which is slated to begin filming this summer.

Just added a gorgeous and sexy photoshoot to our gallery.

Gallery Links
• Photoshoots - 2009 #02

Theatermania.com states that the final 3 episodes of Pushing Daisies will be screened at the PaleyFest in Los Angeles, on April 19th.

The most dazzling flower blooming in the TV-on-DVD landscape this summer promises to be Pushing Daisies, whose second season is set for release July 21, 2009 on both DVD and Blu-ray™ hi-def from Warner Home Video (WHV). Titled Pushing Daisies: The Complete Second Season, this Emmy® Award-winning series follows the unusual story of Ned, a young pie maker who’s able to revive the dead. This DVD will feature all 13 delightful episodes from this clever and imaginative show, as well as a generous helping of never-before-seen bonus features. This release will retail for $39.98 SRP (standard DVD) and $49.99 SRP (Blu-ray).

The plot thickens with a delicious mix of secrets and mysteries in Season Two of Pushing Daisies. Olive Snook (Tony® Award winner Kristin Chenoweth) joins a convent in order to keep Lily’s (Emmy® winner Swoosie Kurtz) secret about Chuck’s (Anna Friel) real birth mother. Chuck becomes more independent and moves out of Ned’s (Lee Pace) apartment. Ned learns he has identical twin half-brothers and also receives news of his estranged father. Detective Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) secretly yearns for his long lost daughter. Chuck does her best to dodge her aunts, Lily and Vivian (Tony® Award nominee Ellen Greene), who don’t know she’s alive. Meanwhile, Lily and Vivian wrangle over a mystery man.

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UK audiences will get to see the final episodes of Pushing Daisies before US viewers, following a decision by ITV to air the full series of the axed ABC drama.

Pushing Daisies, starring Anna Friel, was cancelled by US broadcaster ABC after the tenth episode of the final 13-part series was aired.

But an ITV spokesman said the broadcaster will continue to air the series, meaning UK audiences will be able to watch the final three episodes ahead of American fans.

Anna Friel has turned down three US shows following her success in Pushing Daisies.

The English actress was offered three pilots after she impressed American audiences with her role in the kooky drama but she has said no to all of them, according to The Daily Express.

Ex-Brookside actress Anna, 32, said: “I was incredibly honoured and flattered this year because of Pushing Daisies. It’s really propelled my career in America and to be considered for anything is lovely. But I’ve just finished two years on Pushing Daisies and I’ve decided that to go and sign another six-year contract isn’t the right thing to do a the minute.”

Instead Anna will focus her attention on the big screen.

She said: “I’m going to wait. And I’ve got two nice movies that I’m going to do this year, so we’ll see.”

Do you remember that stunning pictures Anna did to Esquire UK? We had some pictures in our gallery already, but I found 36 more, and for sure is my favorite Anna shoot.

Unfortunally they’re not HQ, but hopefully we can replace it some day.

Enjoy it!

MTV’s “Spoilers” has revealed a hilarious new clip from Universal Pictures’ Land of the Lost, a film adaptation of the 1970’s TV series. The Brad Silberling-directed comedy adventure stars Will Ferrell, Danny R. McBride, Anna Friel and Jorma Taccone. Land of the Lost hits theaters on June 5th.