Comic-Con vs. TCA: ABC's McPherson Caught in Cross-Fire

Actually, it was ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson who took the brunt of the critic-quake that rumbled through the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the site these last three weeks of what had been a relatively turmoil-free press tour for the Television Critics Association. The trouble began during McPherson's press conference, which opened ABC's two-day portion of the tour, when one critic asked him if he would like to share with members of the TCA details of the eagerly anticipated announcement about Lost that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, the executive producers of that ABC series, had planned to make today during the first full day of the annual Comic-Con extravaganza in San Diego. (It seems all of Hollywood is suddenly obsessed with Comic-Con. Virtually every network and studio is presenting Con panels today, tomorrow and Saturday for shows with heavy science-fiction or action elements, from established series Smallville, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, Jericho, Eureka, Kyle XY and 24 to fall freshmen Chuck, Moonlight and Pushing Daisies and many more.)

"Would you like to tell us today what that might be?" the critic asked of the Lost news?

"Yeah, let me give those announcements now," McPherson quipped.

Then he added, "Of course I don't."

"Oh, come on," the critic pleaded.

"[Lindelof and Cuse] do have some announcements that they are going to be making that I think everyone will be pretty excited about," McPherson explained.

"Well, can you tell us?" the critic persisted.

"No," McPherson said.

The critic wasn't going to let it go. "Do you want us to go to Comic-Con tomorrow instead of the [ABC] sessions?" she asked.

"Let's go now!" McPherson replied.

"Sure!" the critic continued.

"You and me, we'll just go on a little road trip down to Comic-Con," McPherson teased.

Unbeknownst to McPherson, this exchange had tapped into an underlying issue that has been a huge concern for many members of the TCA: Mounting pressure from the editors of their newspapers to continue justifying the expense of attending this twice-yearly tour. Happily for the organization, despite some turnover the number of TCA members has remained consistent during recent years. Still, for many individuals this is serious business.

Minutes later, another critic reignited the issue. "I don't think my editor is going to be very happy when she reads on a blog later this afternoon that Steve McPherson promised that the biggest news regarding one of the highest-rated shows on [his] network would be coming at a fan convention the next day," the critic explained, as many of his fellow TCA members cheered.

Moments later another critic was heard from. "Not to be a crybaby, but what's the point of having 150 reporters with access to millions of readers sitting here? You have the announcements. You can give them out. Instead, you are going to hold them to give to people who have to pay to get into a convention!"

"Okay, I'll give you the announcement," McPherson said. Then he fanned the flames. "I started talking to him before he was available. I don't know what went on there, but I cast Don Imus on Lost."

That critic was quieted, but many were fuming, and minutes later one of them made his feelings known. "This is a serious question," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "A lot of newspapers spend a lot of money to get us out here. A lot of us are fighting to stay out here. We write about all of your television shows. If you are not going to tell us what it is, you can at least tell us what [the announcement] is. You can at least tell us why you are not talking to us.

"Are we not important enough for you?" the critic continued. "Or do you just not want to talk to us?"

Lost has had a presence at Comic-Con for a long time, McPherson calmly explained. "They have an announcement that Damon and Carlton wanted to make at [the convention]. That decision was made. [The announcement] is not earth-shattering. It doesn't change the face of television. Sometimes announcements are made here. Sometimes announcements are made to the press."

At that point, a publicity executive approached McPherson and whispered to him. As it happens, someone from the network had hurriedly phoned Lindelof once the critics had become agitated. Lindelof, who appeared with Cuse at the January TCA to address issues about the poorly received six-episode run of Lost last October and November and to promote the spring season of the show, had given his blessing. It was okay to tell the critics the big news that would have been shared with the fan-boys in San Diego the following day.

"It is going to be announced that Harold Perrineau is returning to the show," McPherson revealed.

More than one critic quietly mumbled, "That's it"? (Perrineau left the show at the end of season two after his character, Michael Dawson, murdered two women in cold blood in a frantic effort to rescue his son Walt, who had been kidnapped by The Others at the end of season one. Michael and Walt were allowed to leave the island in a small boat and weren't around during season three.)

On the downside, this exchange will do little to encourage network entertainment presidents to continue holding press conferences during TCA tours, something they have expressed a desire to cut back on.

On the upside, the flap over this announcement has generated more news coverage about Perrineau's return than would have come about by a simple revelation at Comic-Con. And ABC should be pleased to know that critics and their bosses still consider Lost an important show.

The critics also took McPherson to task over the perception that ABC this fall will be top-heavy with series about wealthy or well-off people, including the returning Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal and incoming freshmen Cashmere Mafia, Dirty Sexy Money, Big Shots and Private Practice.

"Is there room for a show like Roseanne or Sanford and Son?" one critic asked. "I mean, Private Practice… what about HMO? Michael Moore would be happy.

"I'm serious!" the critic continued as the room filled with laughter. "Come on! Let's see some poor people on TV!"

McPherson said that there is room for such shows "without question" and reminded the critic that his network's Ugly Betty and NBC's My Name is Earl feature characters who do not have much money. So does NBC's Friday Night Lights, the drama critics honored as the Outstanding New Program of the 2006-07 season at the annual TCA Awards ceremony last weekend.