OUT OF THE UNIT

Woops. An old classmate of Amy Acker’s says that she was cut from the cast of The Unit after the studio people saw the pilot several weeks back.

RE: $30,000 MILLIONAIRES

One last thing. Jay says they start shooting in Dallas in spring 2006. Stay tuned for more details.

RE: $30,000 MILLIONAIRES

Jay responds:

Just to clarify. Yes I did the story. At first I had serious reservations. But management here at CBS 11 found the topic fascinating. They wanted to know why there are so many 30K millionaires in this city and what makes them tick. I agreed to do the story under the condition that in NO WAY would I mention my film script. And if you watched… there was absolutely NO MENTION of my screen play. I was extremely adamant about that. I used facts from credit reporting agencies… banks… and other financial reports. I hope this clears up any confusion.

See, as I told Jay, I would have played it differently. I would have mentioned the screenplay, a) to acknowledge its existence, and b) to emphasize the cultural aspect of it. It’s a trend story, one that’s backed up by facts. But, as I also told Jay, I’m just a hack magazine editor. I wouldn’t know how to do a newscast if you paid me. But if you pay me enough, I’d give it a shot (wink).

WSJ TO GOD: “GO AHEAD AND RAZE DALLAS”

Hot damn, more good PR. The Wall Street Journal has a story today about the glut of office space in the area. You need a paid subscription to read it online, so I’ll just hum a few bars, beginning with the lead:

While many companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are hiring again and the area’s business-friendly environment and low cost of living continue to draw companies and new residents, the region’s office market remains the worst in the country and it isn’t clear that will change any time soon.

The story goes on to talk about how the Dallas central business district’s vacancy rate is almost 30 percent but how that isn’t stopping Hillwood from building Victory or the Billingsley Co. from building One Arts Plaza.

RE: $30,000 MILLIONAIRES

I want to be careful about what I say here, since I once made out with Jay. But I’m confused. So, as I understand it, last night on the news he showed a trailer to his film? Huh.

RE: $30,000 MILLIONAIRES

“Curious production elements, like typewriter-style title sequences”? That is curious indeed. I happen to have a copy of the script to 30,000 Dollar Millionaires that Jay was nice enough to let me read. It’s got some funny bits in it. But that typewriter thing rings a bell. Ah. There it is. Shot directions on page 3:

FREEZE SHOT

The name “BRIAN CLAXTON” prints across the screen with the sound of a typewriter underneath each letter. His name is followed by the words “STARBUCKS GENERAL MANAGER.” Then the word “SALARY” prints across, followed by the number $34,500.

The same thing on page 4 with “TOBIAS GREENLER,” “MIKE MIRIOSKY,” and “FRED OWEN.” And page 5, with “ELROY HUTZ.” All the same FREEZE SHOT with typewriter noises.

RE: $30,000 MILLIONAIRES

Yup. It was Gormley. That’s, um, weird. And now that I think about the report, it did have some, ah, curious production elements, like typewriter-style title sequences between scenes and so forth.

UNIT GOSSIP

By coincidence or design, two actresses who grew up in Dallas — Amy Acker and Regina Taylor — are regulars in next year’s CBS series called The Unit. David Mamet is writing the script, at least for the pilot.

Regina Taylor will be back in town this fall to direct Crowns, her adaptation (lots of awards already) of Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats, at the Dallas Theater Center.

RE: PROGRAMMING NOTE

Our gang of three is on Glenn Mitchell’s show right now. As Glenn was reading their official bios, Tim said that what everyone really wants to know about is Nancy’s unofficial biography. When Glenn said that would be “coming soon,” Nancy quipped, “That will be the title.”

According to Glenn, Adam blushed.

IKEA MAKE YOU CRAZY

A FrontBurnervian with better reporter skills than mine called about the new IKEA store in Frisco, which opens August 3, a week from today.

Just called the store to get information on the grand opening and to find when the line would be forming.

I was shocked to hear that they already have their first camper. And she has been there for two days.

For anyone else contemplating camping, they will have an awning and fans and a TV.

First 100 in line get a POANG armchair. And the girl who has been there for 2 days will win a $2500 IKEA gift card.

So there.

RE: $30,000 MILLIONAIRES

Was the reporter on that story Jay Gormley? I didn’t see it. I’m just guessing, because I know Jay is the co-author of a script for a movie called $30,000 Millionaires. The official site for the project is here.

JESSICA GETS REAL

Jessica Simpson wonders why her variety special with husband Nick didn’t include the harrowing footage they shot of the conditions in Iraq. “”It was unbelievable. They didn’t show a lot of what really went on with the enemy attacks and the shelling. There was so much stuff that went on and somehow the tapes got mysteriously misplaced,” she says here. [Thanks to a sympathetic FrontBurnervian for the link.]

THE FBI RAID THAT WASN’T

A DeSoto-living FrontBurnervian shares this bizarre twist in the City Hall scandal. The home of Darren Reagan, a subject of the FBI investigation, was invaded by three men who claimed to be working for the sheriff’s office. The real police are investigating. But our friendly FrontBurnervian is a tad suspicious:

This is a really good way to get rid of evidence before the real search warrant comes, don’tcha think?

RE: RAZE THE CITY

An FoF points out that God is a bad negotiator. In the case of Sodom, at least, He initially wanted 50 good men. He got talked down to 10. Let’s hope Dallas can find equally able representation.

TIME TO RAZE THE CITY AND START OVER

So I’m watching the news last night on Channel 11. You know, because we’re in bed with them and I’m not allowed to watch another station. And what’s the lead story? More apparent corruption downtown. Egads. Then came a story about “$30,000 Millionaires,” telling us how Dallas leads the nation in foreclosures and has the worst credit scores in the country. God wants to know: are there 10 good men in this town? Or is it time for him to raze it?

AL BIERNAT’S AT THE CENTER OF SCANDAL

Speaking of Robert Riggs, he and producer Todd Bensman ran a piece last night involving possible impropriety at the Dallas Fire Department. Where did one of the alleged ethics violations take place? Al’s, one of D’s favorite spots.

Riggs pointed out:

The celebratory dinner attended by the three officials took place at the posh Al Biernat’s in Oak Lawn where a Kobe/Angus filet mignon steak costs $69.

Which reminds me, I never ordered the Kobe/Angus filet mignon steak when Wick was paying. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

OBSERVER TAKES MONEY FROM WHORES

Hey, I’m not making the claim. Just repeating what they said. We’re a little tardy in pointing out this item, wherein they thank us–but not really–for naming Jim Schutze “Best Muckraker” in our Best of Big D issue. Maybe we can talk about this when we’re on The Glenn Mitchell Show at noon.

(Now we rejoin The Adam Show, already in progress.)

DOES DON HILL LIKE BAGELS?

Does it count as eavesdropping when you can’t hear what’s being said? A bagel-shopping FrontBurnervian shares this encounter:

Stopped off at Einstein’s Bagels in Preston Center this morning. As I was about to take a seat, the body language of the men at the table next to me indicated they needed a little privacy. I naively obliged and sat down a couple of tables away with my back facing their table. Shortly thereafter, they were apparently joined by another guy and the conversation level elevated to where I could hear them talking but didn’t pay attention to their conversation. Damnit!!! When I got up to leave, I re-filled my drink. The third guy was Don Hill. Then, as I was walking out the door, in walks Robert Riggs. Double Damnit!!! Oh how I wish it was a coincidence, but I really think it wasn’t.

Hmm. Hmmmmmmm.

RE: JESSICA

Remember when I said, “That’s all I got”? Well, I got a little more, thanks as always to the kindness of the FB Nation:

on my way to work this morning..crowds of people flocked the front of Hotel ZaZa. I’m guess to catch a glimpse of ms. simpson who’ll be entertaining troops at fort hood today.
they’re holding a special screening of Dukes for soldiers and the cast is supposed to be there.

MORE HOCKEY BLOGS

A Stars-enthusiastic FrontBurnervian alerts us to the Dallas Stars Blog, blogged by the brilliance that is Daryl Razor Reaugh.

JESSICA, CALL ME NEXT TIME

A Kidd Kraddick-listening FrontBurnervian says Jessica Simpson talked to KISS-FM about her night last night. Apparently, she was (and presumably still is) in town. She went to Chuy’s then Dragonfly. That’s all I got.

RE: SINGLE AND THE CITY

A poll-finding FrontBurnervian passes along Forbes‘ list of the Best Cities For Singles. Dallas-Fort Worth is 20th this year. Last year, it was 12th. Why the decline? October 2, 2004, my wedding date. I can see no other reason.

RE: HECK NO, MO WON’T GO

The Zany Sports Lady tells us the Save Modano and its creator are the subject of on article on Hockeyology.com. She’s right.

RE: JACK RADIO OFF HIGHS

You want to know what people like to talk about? Radio. Its influence as a medium is dwindling, yet its prominence as a discussion topic keeps going up, up, and up. Maybe the first point has something to do with the latter: when the pie is smaller, people are more inclined to fight for a slice. Case and point, more Jack FM-related e-mails, like the one that follows.
(more…)

PROGRAMMING NOTE

Today at noon, Nancy, Adam, and I will be on the Glenn Mitchell Show to talk hard about The Best of Big D. Listen for sexual tension between Nancy and Adam.