The TV Zone

After three weeks of press tour, you pretty much expect a hundred and fifty TV critics and writers to turn into bloodthirsty shutins, but you don't normally expect it from the president of one of the television network’s entertainment divisions.

But Steve McPherson, ABC Entertainment chief – Big Mac - did not disappoint. In the press gaggle at the end of his "executive session" this morning, he expanded on his feelings about the casting of Isaiah Washington on NBC newcomer, "Bionic Woman," next season, calling his counterpart at NBC, Ben Silverman, "either clueless or stupid" if he didn't know about the possible legal consequences of talking to Washington while ABC was in the midst of discussions with him as well. That came up in response to a question about whether Silverman - who got Washington for the role - may have breached contractual agreements when he went after the "I Did Not Say the F-Word" actor for the five-episode role. (Does this mean Big Mac wanted Washington to return to "Grey's Anatomy?" Unclear...) A somewhat tempestuous guy by reputation, McPherson appeared to let it be known that there is certainly no love lost between him and Washington - or apparently Silverman either.

Or maybe he was simply rattled by an intermittently bizarre press session with critics, who blasted the ABC topper when he coyly declined to make a pending announcement about "Lost," insisting that that announcement would instead be made by show runners, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse tomorrow at Comic-Con, the huge convention that's all-things-comic-related and (coincidentally) runs while the TV press tour is on. When pressed, he declared: "I have cast Don Imus in 'Lost'" next season."

A few titters. Some giggles. Mostly silence.

Critics, understandably, usually don't like "coy" and almost none of them like Don Imus jokes anymore so Big Mac caught it with a couple of barrels. "This is a serious question," railed Rick Kushman, the respected TV scribe for the Sacramento Bee, who was actually about to give a serious speech. Newspapers "spend a lot of money to send us out and a lot of us are fighting to stay out here. We write about all you're television shows [so] if you're not going to tell us what [the announcement] is, at least you could tell us why you're not talking about it..."

Big Mac squirmed a bit - hemmed and then hawed - and suddenly, one of ABC's top press people, Hope Hartman, strode out on stage to let McPherson know that he could make the announcement because (as Steve then quipped) Damon’s “heard your fury."

Drum role...the announcement: That Harold Perrineau will return next season.

And that was it! After all the fuss, Harold - AKA Michael - is back! Didn't hardcore fans fully expect this anyway? He sails off into the sunset yet his business is completely unfinished. (Remember how he betrayed everyone to get back Walt?)

Meanwhile, there were some interesting tidbits from the session, and I lay them out for you right now:

"LOST:" We just can't get enough of our favorite show, can we? (And surprisingly, no questions about the most recent Emmy snub.) Says Big Mac, the creative team still hasn't decided whether they'll use "more flash-forwards or flash-backs" in the final three seasons. (As you may recall, Jack starred in several memorable flash-forwards in the season finale.)

"JERICHO:" No surprise, but CBS's show came up in a question about how closely ABC listens to rabid fans. Said Big Mac: "You have to be a little bit careful of that. I for one and am sure [it's true] for the other networks too can get 12,000 emails [on a site] but 12,000 viewers is not going to make a successful show..."

"GREY'S ANATOMY:" This was an interesting exchange too. Someone wondered whether the "GA" spin-off, “Private Practice,” was ABC's idea or creator Shonda Rhimes, to which Big Mac said: "Shonda came to us. She really wanted to tell Addison's" story in a different way and "she felt like she'd run her course on 'Grey's...'"

He then responded to another critic who said he'd gotten chain letters from fans who are so thoroughly disgusted with the creative direction of "Grey's." (I wonder - did I send a letter like this to that critic too?)

Said Big Mac: "Shonda has certainly listened to some of the stuff that people didn't respond to and has changed accordingly..."

"CAVEMEN:" As reported, the expanded GEICO commercial pilot will be held back for later airing. Said Big Mac: "The pilot that you have seen...jumps way too far into the development of those characters and kind of right into the frying pan [Cavemen are at a big party, where they act up, etc.] I think we made a mistake in trying to kind of do too much."

"DANCING WITH THE STARS:" Actually, Big Mac had kinda interesting news on this front. The hit show is working on a spinoff entitled "Dance X" in which "judges have teams of dancers that are basically competing against each other, and within those teams, the dancers get eliminated so that you get down to two teams competing in a choreographed dance."

"DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES:" Dana Delany is definitely joining the show, and so is Nathan Fillion. (He was most recently Alex, in "Drive.") They'll both appear in an arc.

Big Mac Attack