Monday, June 25, 2007

Where Are They Now?

I have done a few updates on the cast since the finale of Alias last year. We’ve seen the faces of our favorite spy friends all over the small screen and a few on the big screen. We all know that Merrin Dungey (Francie) will play side-kick to Kate Walsh’s Addison Montgomery on the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice. Ron Rifkin (Sloane), Patty Wettig (Judy Barnett) and Balthazar Getty (Tom Grace) will appear for another season of Brothers & Sisters, directed by my favorite Alias director, Ken Olin. Greg Grunberg (Weiss) made a smash hit of Heroes, and will now be joined by former Alias castmate, David Anders (Sark). The goofy Amanda Foreman (Carrie Flinkman) will again play goofy Ivy, on JJ’s drama What About Brian? Spydaddy Victor Garber will be back, again, in a courtroom role on Eli Stone and Michael Vartan is finally back on primetime television, starring in Big Shots with the saucy Dylan McDermott. JG, between trips to the park and diaper changes, is busy filling her acting and producing schedule with many a movie coming soon. That’s all well and good, our favs are keeping busy, but…

But what has happened to all the Alias writers- the very brains that come up with the elaborate and complex story that was Alias? I can tell you what they are not doing- feeling sorry for themselves, or apologizing for the last 2 seasons of Alias. They have moved on- some to bigger and better things.

Season 1 had some of the best and brightest writers. They created the Alias world- the characters, the relationships, the storylines. JJ Abrams, who wrote both the pilot and the season 1 finale is now working on three projects- two are untitled and the third- Star Trek- sure to be his next big hit. He’s moved on from Lost, which is noticeable and still manages to dabble in producing on Lost, Six Degrees and What About Brian?

Jesse Alexander, one of my all time favorite Alias writers, is now heading up the writing and producing team over on Heroes. Jeff Pinkner, another amazing Alias writer, moved on with JJ to Lost, and is still there, holding down the fort and the vision. Roberto Orzi and Alex Kurtzman- who wrote several of my favorite episodes over the first 3 years of Alias, are also still with JJ- they will be attacking the Star Trek story. I have no doubt their love for action and drama will combine well for the film and its nice to know JJ is giving work to the people who made him a star in the first place.

So, here is a little challenge for you… track down some of your favorite Alias supporting characters, writers, directors, etc. and tell us what they have been up to. Did Alias do them in, or are they out there, still making a name for themselves?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"What About Brian?" has been cancled. JJ and Amanda are out of a job there.

Girlscout said...

IT WAS??? I thought ABC picked up another season!!! NO WAY! I am sad.

Page48 said...

Speculation was rampant for a while that JG would appear in "Star Trek", but that seems to have had it's basis in wishful thinking rather than contractual agreement. I would love to see JG get off her lovely ass and entertain me and I would be fine seeing her in a Trekkie movie, although I'm hardly a die-hard fan of the franchise. Seems reasonable to assume that Weiss will have a cameo, though.

Supporting characters in "Alias" are a blur to me, except for the high profile guests like Roger "007" Moore. It's like I have tunnel vision and all I can see is Syd and company. I would have to watch the series again to pay closer attention.

During my second viewing of the whole series, a couple of faces jumped out at me as being semi-regulars on "24". Most notable would be Arnold Vosloo, who portrayed the nasty Habib Marwan for a full season of "24" and who is also seen in "The Mummy" movies as well as "Blood Diamond".

I think I will pay more attention the next time through to see if I can see anyone whose career has revved up since appearing on "Alias".

Anonymous said...

The WAB Complete Series DVD is set for release soon, I believe. It's official. And I never heard anything about Jen on 'Star Trek' (Hehehe. I'm a crazy stalker... I check her sites 24/7). I'm pretty sure it was just fan speculation, never an actual possibility. That's one film that I wouldn't even see for Jen.

However, her new film ("The Kingdom", out in September) is getting great early reviews, and according to people at test screenings it is a very good film. The studio moved it back to September where there will be against lot of competition because they have faith in it.

The new trailer is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yavHaoKAJaI

Page48 said...

bristow_24,

Google something like this:

"jennifer garner" "star trek" spock love interest

and see what you've been missing. The air seems to have been let out of this rumour, though.

Girlscout said...

bristow-24, if I remember correctly- aren't you going to have a baby? Or am I thinking of a different blogger.

Anonymous said...

It's me, girlscout. That's why I haven't been around here much. My wife delivered a baby girl on the 11th :)

Girlscout said...

YAHOO!!! Name???? Is it Sydney?? Hahaha! Congrats!! If you have a cute little pic, I can post a little congrats. We love celebrating babies here. This will be Spy baby number 3!!

SRM said...

congratulations bristow!! :)

page, many faces jumped out at me from 24 as well, but not so many as in Charmed. I started watching the TNT repeats of Charmed that are on right when I get home from work, and I'm a total sucker for magic, so I've sort of kept up w/ it. Off the top of my head I've seen the delicious Mr. Sark, lovely but deadly Lauren Reed, the British guy who had a thing for Julia Thorne (can't remember his name), as well as a host of actors that played bad guys on an Alias eppy or two (like the Russian guy from Liberty Village). I don't know how their debuts on Charmed lined up w/ their Alias gigs, but it's always fun to see a familiar face. :)

Anonymous said...

Girlscout... I'm on & off this comp. It's hectic, as you can imagine. If I get a minute within the next few days I'll upload some pics onto my laptop and dig up your email. Oh... and her name is Sophia Isabelle. I was pushing for Sydney ;)

Girlscout said...

Well, Isabelle is close enough!! And Sophia was Nadia's caretaker aka Elena Derevko. Nice, you got Alias in there all right!