Stay Tuned

The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, April 1, 2011 2 coverstory Cracking the code Slater tries to break into prime time Christian Slater stars in “Breaking In” By Kyla Brewer TV Media T elevision audiences welcome some people with open arms, from fresh-faced rookies to has- beens looking for a come- back. But others, though talent- ed, just can’t seem to break through to fickle TV fans. Christian Slater is one of those actors, one whose big- screen success hasn’t trans- lated to prime-time victory. However, the persistent ac- tor is taking a new approach in his latest TV offering. Slater shows off his comedic skills in the new series “Breaking In,” premiering Wednesday, April 6, on Fox. Created by TV in- dustry veterans Adam F. Gold- berg and Seth Gordon, the se- ries features a cast of odd- balls who work for an unorth- odox security firm. Slater headlines the show as Oz, the mysterious and manipulative head honcho of Contra Security. The com- pany has an unusual ap- proach to business, as the team attacks a potential cli- ent’s weaknesses to prove a need for their services. Odette Annable co-stars as sultry lock-picking and safe- cracking expert Melanie, while Alphonso McAuley por- trays fanboy and strategic ge- nius Cash. Bret Harrison plays new recruit Cameron Rice, a computer hacker fresh out of school who struggles to fit in with his eccentric co-workers. The biggest name among the supporting cast, former “Smallville” star Michael Rosenbaum, plays Dutch, who enters the picture as Melanie’s boyfriend. Although Slater was re- portedly among the last cast in the series, he’s certainly the main draw. Producers are likely banking on his star power, while Slater is likely banking on their television expertise. The switch to com- edy could prove to be a smart move for the Holly- wood star, who hasn’t had much luck with prime-time dramas. In 2008, he starred in NBC’s “My Own Worst Enemy,” a series about a secret agent who had been implanted with a chip so his mild-mannered alter ego had no idea who he really was. The convoluted plot was a flop with audienc- es and the show only lasted A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 nine episodes. A year later, he fared a bit better in ABC’s “The Forgot- ten,” about a group of ama- teur detectives who tried to solve John and Jane Doe cases. The alphanetwork aired 17 episodes, but that was it. Television hasn’t been all bad for the actor, whose guest-starring stints on shows such as “My Name is Earl” and “Curb Your Enthu- siasm” have gone over much better with viewers. So per- haps TV audiences have just been waiting for Slater to do a full-time comedy gig. It’s difficult to deny that the actor has talent. He had no problem breaking into show business as a youngster. The alum of New York’s Profes- sional Children’s School made his Broadway debut at the tender age of nine, opposite Dick Van Dyke in “The Music Man.” He went on to light up the Great White Way in such productions as “Oliver,” “Macbeth” and “Merlin.” Slater’s early film career was likewise promising. He made his official big-screen debut in “The Legend of Bil- lie Jean” (1985), and went on to star in “Twisted” and “The Name of the Rose” a year later. Many consider his breakout role to be that of J.D. in the dark comedy “Heathers” (1989), which he quickly followed up with that of loveable rogue Mark Hunter in “Pump Up the Vol- ume” (1990). Chirstopher’s Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: Why is “$#*! My Dad Says” not on anymore? It was more entertaining and certainly funnier than the re- placement. A: The short answer is just that the season has ended. However, devoted fans might have been counting episodes and realized that a “full” season -- which CBS ordered from the show’s creators way back in October -- is usually 22 epi- sodes, while “$#*! My Dad Says” capped off on Feb. 17 with the episode “Who’s Your Daddy,” just the 18th of its inaugural season. There’s no official word on why the show was left four epi- sodes short of a full deck, but the network has certainly shown all sorts of faith in the series. All five of CBS’s new fall series were renewed this year, prompting a self-satisfied Nina Tassler, president of CBS Enter- tainment, to say: “It’s all testimony to the executives in our halls who remain restless for more success, and the amazing creative talent on our sets who continue to deliver the goods.” However, that same executive had a less sunny outlook for her new crop once the next-season pickups and cancelations come down the wire this summer. “Everything’s up for grabs in May,” she told the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour. Have a question? E-mail us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided. A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3

• Cover