Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Picket Fences


no, no, no..........not *those* picket fences.....[sigh]

these picket fences........


From left to right: the inimitable Fyvush Finkel, Lauren Holly, Zelda Rubinstein (the real comedy!), Costas Mandylor, Justin Shenkarow, Tom Skerritt (be still my aching heart!), Kathy Baker, Adam Wylie (ain't he CUTE??) and Holly Marie Combs.


The place; sleepy small-town America - Rome, Wisconsin, land of picket fences.

WOO HOO!!! Hallmark Channel has purchased one of my all-time favourite series and started it from Episode One! [sets Sky +]
Who killed the Tin Man? Will Dorothy ever stop singing? Will the Brock boys defeat the bullies? Will Jill break patient/doctor confidentiality? and what is Kenny going to do with the whoring singers?
Billed as 'from the man who brought us Ally McBeal' - I prefer to think of David E Kelley as the 'man who brought us Picket Fences'.

Week after week this show tossed out thought provoking questions in all areas of our society - medical, criminal, religious, philosophical - any aspect of our society and lives was fair game. And it wrapped these questions around the lives of a hugely talented cast of fully realized characters. The show also had the courage to not play it safe. It routinely tackled "hot button" issues from abortion, to homosexuality, to belief in God, to constitutional protection of rights. Is there ANY show on TV now that comes close to this??

Tom Skerritt - what to say about Tom..........?
If you've seen Steel Magnolias, it says it all. He is superb as Drum, playing off Shirley MacLaine beautifully and complementing all the female roles (not easy on the same screen as Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts and Olympia Dukakis - the latter possibly one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood...ever).
As Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Fences, he balances running a small town sheriff dept (fighting off the State boys!) and raising a VERY lively family.
I like Tom Skerritt!

This link goes to the list of nominations and awards Picket Fences picked up in only five seasons.

cq

5 comments:

CyberKitten said...

It's that woman from Poltegeist....

"They're Here...................."

craziequeen said...

The Magnificent Zelda? I love her, I think she's fantastic :-)

cq

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I LOVE Tom Skerritt, too! Gorgeous to look at and a nagnificent actor, too! Glad to know that the Hallmark Channel is repeating this wonderful wonderful series....

Do you get "Boston Legal" there??? Another David E. show...creepy and funny and always timely, too...'Denny Crane'...Great cast...

craziequeen said...

OOL: I adore Boston Legal - one of the hottest new shows to hit the wire.
'Denny Crane'

Even more so since Candice Bergen joined the cast - she is possibly one of the best and most righteously cool actresses in the business.....

cq

Cin said...

I remember that show fondly, but never did get to see it in it's entirety. Now I've chosen to be sans cable again, so I've gotta ask - is it available on DVD? It would be lovely to revisit.