I'm on Board with "Eli Stone"

Let's play Jeopardy for a bit. The answers are: A) Jonny Lee Miller is so damn sexy. B) Greg Berlanti writes and produces great television. C) The show is quirky, funny, and smart. D) Victor Garber's a part of the cast. E) All of the above. The question: Why am I excited about ABC's new show "Eli Stone" after only two airings?

"Eli Stone" is one of those shows that most viewers will either like right out of the gate, or never really find a reason to watch. A strange mesh of programs like "Ally McBeal" and "Pushing Daisies," it's good, but still a bit precious.

Jonny Lee Miller (remember him as Sick Boy from the movie "Trainspotting"?) plays title character Eli Stone--a corporate lawyer who's brain aneurysm is making him see visions of singer George Michael or hear his pop songs being sung by others. Yeah, that sounds too strange to be on television, but it's true. Eli was on his way to being a senior partner at his fiance's dad's firm, but the visions are distracting him and keeping him aligned with cases that aren't centered on the big bucks. Oh yeah, and one of Eli's friends thinks the visions make Eli a prophet.

I should be honest here: I'm biased about loving one of the show's main writers and producers, Greg Berlanti. "Everwood" and "Brothers & Sisters" are two of my favorite programs of recent years, and both were created by Berlanti. And while "Eli Stone" still needs to find its footing and go for a deeper level of character development, the show seems well on its way. Jonny Lee Miller does a good job balancing the mania and confusion of the title character while still leaving room for viewers to care.

The show's writing is still a bit uneven too, but it will get better as the cast and the characters come together. And what a cast. The show's supporting players include Victor Garber, Natasha Henstridge, and Loretta Devine.

So I'm on board for at least a little while. Take a peek at "Eli Stone" and see if you can relate.

Image courtesy ABC

Comments

[Danny]

A television show that is very much based on Catholic principles and beliefs should not be featured on gay.com. Especially when those very beliefs contribute to such a large percetage of the reason why people would be biased against this site in the first place. Did News Corp. buy planetout now?