Reunion - Reunion News & Appearances #1

Starfield_Scribe · 09-11-2005, 10:07 AM

Any talk show appearances or something?

M.I.S.S.Y · 09-11-2005, 06:27 PM

Here is a review of Reunion, from tv.com

Quote:

Reunion, a prime-time soap about a group of close friends, asks its actors to age from 18 in the first episode to 38 in the season finale, and all that makeup won't even ensure job security. If the show succeeds, viewers will see a mostly new cast next season.

The drama, the latest companion for The O.C. in a tough Thursday time slot, begins in 1986 as the characters don caps and gowns. It jumps forward a year in each episode.

The opener, as well as future episodes, includes present-day scenes, starting with the funeral of one friend, a murder victim. That person's identity isn't revealed until the fifth episode, due in November when Reunion returns from a break for post-season baseball.

The murder mystery, solved in the finale, is a major element of the series, but mixed in are soapy staples: a romantic triangle, an unplanned pregnancy and the jailing of one pal for a crime committed by another.

"So often in episodic drama you struggle to find incidents for your characters," says executive producer Jon Harmon Feldman (Tru Calling).

"When you're essentially telling one or two or three stories every year, you get to sort of mine the big watershed moments: Birth, marriage, divorce, adultery. What I like to think is we're jumping to the most interesting part of these people's lives."

"It reminds me of The Breakfast Club with an action murder mystery," says Will Estes, who plays a pal from the wrong side of the tracks.

Estes is familiar with period pieces: He played the military-bound son in American Dreams.

So is Chyler Leigh, who starred in the short-lived spinoff That '80s Show and dons a wig and wrinkle makeup in Reunion's pilot. To act older, the 23-year-old "changed my posture and lowered my voice," she says.

The cast also includes Amanda Righetti (The O.C.), Sean Faris (Life as We Know It), and Mathew St. Patrick (Six Feet Under), who plays a detective investigating the murder in the present-day scenes, which make up about 20% of each episode.

"There's a lot of manipulation, a lot of betrayal, a lot of lies and cheating," says St. Patrick. "I'm the guy that's knocking on every door, rattling as many cages as possible, figuring out who did it and why."

Fox Entertainment chief Peter Liguori says he'd be happy for the "bold, audacious" show to last long enough to solve his own mystery: how to handle Season 2 after Reunion has already tied up its loose ends.

Feldman has a plan: "Late in Season 1, we'll introduce a character who is significant enough — a wife or a husband of one of the characters — and in Season 2, we'd flash back with that person to 1987, whatever different city they're from, and tell a story with that group of friends over 20 years."

The actors, currently with one-season contracts, say they enjoy the freedom of not being tied down by long-term deals.

But though Feldman says a few might survive for a second season, "shows like Survivor and The Real World have shown that audiences will tune into a new cast if they're intrigued by the concept."

Starfield_Scribe · 09-11-2005, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the article

M.I.S.S.Y · 09-11-2005, 06:33 PM

You're welcome!

Moonlight~Pixie · 09-11-2005, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the article. So looks like they're already looking into ways to make a season 2, lol.

M.I.S.S.Y · 09-11-2005, 10:12 PM

Someone posted on another thread that the season two would follow a new cast of actors in a different location and everything but still use the same premises of the 1986 to 2006, but probably 1987 to 2007 you know..

But I don't know that I like the idea of getting an all new cast. But then I thought about it, and people from the first season may be interlaced by the simple fact that they could be connected to someone in the new season you know.

Jennifer ~*Justified1/2*~ · 09-11-2005, 10:23 PM

They should really go out an promote the show. I'd love to see the cast on TRL or something.

M.I.S.S.Y · 09-11-2005, 10:44 PM

^Ditto, that's a good idea, maybe even on Oprah!..Dreaming I know..lol

**heaven85** · 09-12-2005, 12:31 AM

Tv appearances would be awesome. Thanks for the article Char!!

*Stacy* · 09-12-2005, 12:42 AM

I'm sure tv apprearances will come. No doubt Will will be the first.

-Louise- · 09-12-2005, 02:39 AM

Have you guys seen the My Space thing? Its really cool

---> http://www.myspace.com/26574230 however...

SPOILER IMAGES warning - of them in 2005

*Stacy* · 09-12-2005, 03:03 AM

Here are the ratings from zap2it.com

Quote:

'Reunion' Keeps Hold on 'O.C.' Viewers

(Friday, September 09 03:14 PM)

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) The series premiere of "Reunion" Thursday did a solid job of holding onto the audience from its lead-in, "The O.C.," but its real test is still a couple of weeks away.

"Reunion," a time-tripping drama that will take viewers through 20 years in the lives of six friends over the course of one season, drew about 6.6 million viewers in its debut Thursday (Sept. 8) on FOX. It was preceded by "The O.C.," which began its third year in front of 7.5 million people.

The two shows also performed fairly well among their young-adult target audiences. "The O.C." won its hour among adults 18-49 (3.3 rating) and adults 18-34 (4.4), while "Reunion" was third in adults 18-49 (3.0, behind ABC's NFL opener and CBS' "CSI") and second in the 18-34 demo (3.5, trailing ABC). Among adults 18-49, it was FOX's best 9 p.m. Thursday premiere since "Action" six years ago.

While "The O.C." was down some from its premiere last season (which came in November), it still did better than its 2004-05 season averages in viewers and FOX's key demographics. The network is most pleased, though, with the way "Reunion" held onto those viewers.

"Reunion" held onto 88 percent of its total lead-in audience and better than 90 percent of "The O.C.'s" 18-49 rating. The three shows that aired regularly in the 9 p.m. slot last year -- "North Shore," "Point Pleasant" and "Tru Calling" -- averaged only 4.1 million viewers and a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49.

ABC won the night on all counts with its season-opening NFL game, while CBS got its usual decent showing from "CSI" and Co. "Reunion" will have one more week to hook viewers before original episodes of "CSI" return to CBS and NBC begins a new season of "The Apprentice" on Sept. 22. Things get even more crowded the next week, when ABC debuts "The Night Stalker" and The WB moves "Everwood" to the 9 p.m. spot.

Let's hope the good number continue.

-Louise- · 09-12-2005, 03:43 AM

They are good numbers

On Chyler's fan site you can watch a short video about making the pilot - however you do need to register to view it. http://www.chyler-leigh.net then once you've confirmed via e-mail go to Reunion videos

*Stacy* · 09-12-2005, 04:56 AM

Cool. Thanks for the info.

YellowRose · 09-12-2005, 07:51 AM

First of all, congrats to everyone for getting a board!

Second, this probably isn't news, but the cast is featured in the Fall Preview issue of TV Guide. It's a good picture, except that Chyler is right in the fold. I feel so bad for her! Everyone one is pictured nicely, but her position feel right in the fold.