Posted on Mon, Mar. 15, 2004

TV Gal predicts `Idol’ final four

BY AMY AMATANGELO

Zap2it.com

(KRT) - As you may recall, last year I picked all four "American Idol" finalists accurately (oh, that’s so sweet, but there’s really no need to applaud). This year it’s a little trickier since there are not as many breakout stars, and more contestants seem to be crumbling under the pressure.

With that caveat, here are my final four are: Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, George Huff and Diana DeGarmo. Since I’m feeling a little reckless, let’s go ahead and predict who may be the first to get kicked off. I think it’s between Camile Velasco, John Stevens and Leah LaBelle.

PILOTS I HOPE WE SEE NEXT FALL

It’s raining pilots in Hollywood with a chance of actually finding a breakout hit for next fall. Here are the shows I hope make it to the line-up next season.

The ABC drama "Desperate Housewives" stars Felicity Huffman (Dana on "Sports Night"), Jamie Denton (Judge Ripley on "Philly" and seen this season on "Threat Matrix"), Marcia Cross (Kimberly on "Melrose Place" and Linda on "Everwood") and Teri Hatcher (Lois on "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman"). It’s like they took all my favorite actors and put them in one pilot. Who cares what the show is about? I’ll be first in line to watch it.

Milo Ventimiglia and Samaire Armstrong star in ABC’s "Gramercy Park." Jess from "Gilmore Girls" and Anna from "The O.C." in the same series? Hello, sign me up. One caveat: Armstrong simply has to dress better and wear less make-up than she did on "The O.C."

Alyson Hannigan headlines an NBC comedy. What else do you need to know? We so need Hannigan back on TV.

BEST PILOT TRENDS

Fox continues to return to its roots. Peter Facinelli, who you know I loved in "Fastlane," has been cast in a Fox drama about undercover agents in a high school a la "21 Jump Street."

The cast of "Party of Five" returns. Matthew Fox (Charlie) has been cast in the ABC drama "Lost" with Ian Somerhalder (Adam on "Smallville). Scott Wolf (Bailey) is in the ABC drama "Kat + 1." Paula Devicq (Kirsten) can be seen in Lifetime’s "The Coven." And Jennifer Love Hewitt (Sarah) headlines an untitled ABC comedy. Alas, once again, the Giant Owen is ignored.

WHERE HAVE I SEEN THEM BEFORE?

I know you recognized Gina Torres, Jasmine on "Angel," Zoe on "Firefly" and currently Julia on "24" as the warden of the prison on "CSI."

Vanessa Ferlito, Claudia this season on "24," was Adriana’s friend Tina on "The Sopranos."

Joseph Mazzello, the little boy from "Jurassic Park," "The Lost World" and "Radio Flyer," was the drug-addicted son of the missing father on "Without a Trace."

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"I will pay you to re-enter." Simon Cowell to Ruben Studdard after he performed on "American Idol."

"Is this a revenge vote? Hell, yeah." Jerri Manthey as she voted out Colby Donaldson on "Survivor: All-Stars."

"My goal is to make it to the end without ever losing." Amy on "The Apprentice." Can she pull it off?

"Is heaven fabulous? Do they let gay people in? No, wait, I want to be surprised." Jack on "Will & Grace."

"Six months and Bobby still hasn’t found my rosebud." Janice discussing her marriage to Bobby on "The Sopranos" after she had watched "Citizen Kane."

Highlights of the week ahead

All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for March 17 to 21

So many of you wrote to remind me that Amy Poehler, who guest stars as Gob’s new wife on this special edition of "Arrested Development" (Wednesday, Fox, 9:30 p.m.) is Will Arnett’s wife in real life. Now if you still aren’t watching this season’s best new comedy (and the best comedy on network television), you have a chance to catch up when FX airs an "Arrested Development" marathon Sunday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Clare Kramer, Glory on season five of "Buffy," guest stars on "Tru Calling" (Thursday, FOX, 8 p.m.).

Bobby Cannavale - who I loved in "The Station Agent" and, let’s be honest, "Third Watch" was a much better show when he was on it - guest stars on "Will & Grace" (Thursday, NBC, 8:30 p.m.). Also in this episode, Jack thinks Stuart is having an affair. I kind of like that they’ve obviously given up on hiding Debra Messing’s real-life pregnancy. I prefer her stylish muumuus to the alternative of Grace constantly carrying a bag of groceries or holding fabric in front of her stomach. Everyone knows she’s pregnant in real life so why not just let the dream go.

Are you a newcomer to the world according to Trump? Catch up on "The Apprentice" (Thursday, NBC, 9 p.m.) when the Donald and his hair recap the first ten people to leave the game. In the spirit of fearless predictions, I have to think that Kwame or Katrina are the next to go. Katrina’s "don’t think I’m not smart because I’m beautiful" act is so tired and she was first in line to use her looks when she thought it would help her win the task at hand.

Alas, poor Romano. The best villain in the "ER" (Thursday, NBC, 10 p.m.) came to a smashing end in this week’s repeat.

Steven Weber and Bruno Campos star in "The D.A" (premiering Friday at 10 p.m. on ABC). The series follows the Los Angeles District Attorney (Weber) and his staff of deputies - Mark Camacho (Campos), Joe Carter (J.K. Simmons of "Oz") and Lisa Patterson (Sarah Paulson on "Jack & Jill" and "Leap of Faith"). The show, from the executive producer of "Nip/Tuck," will run for four straight weeks. It’s an inside look at the legal system and a show about picking your legal battles. It’s worth checking out.

Have you seen USA’s other defective detective yet? You must tune into "Touching Evil" (Friday, USA, 10 p.m.), the great new series from executive producer Bruce Willis and staring Jeffrey Donovan and Vera Farmiga. I absolutely adored the pilot.

J.C. Chasez of ’N Sync guest stars on "MADtv" (Saturday, Fox, 11 p.m.)

TO THE TV GAL READER BELONGS THE SPOILS

Remember don’t read if you don’t want to know.

By now I’m sure you’ve heard that James Spader, the man who saved "The Practice," will be spinning off into his own series next season and he’s probably taking Jessica Capshaw (Jamie Stringer) and Rhona Mitra (Tara Wilson) with him. To set up that departure, Alan will hire legal hotshot Denny Crane, played by William Shatner and file a wrongful termination suit against the law firm of Young, Frutt and Berluti.

Ah, yes. This is so how they do things on "The O.C." Colin Hanks, Alex on "Roswell," and Paris Hilton guest star on the March 24 episode. Hanks and Hilton will come between Seth and Summer.

Martin Landau will play Anthony LaPaglia’s father on "Without a Trace." Jack’s dad will suffer from Alzheimer’s.

Have you heard that a familiar face will return to "Angel" before the series ends its run? It’s a character whose name begins with a "C" and it’s not Cordelia.

Marc McGraff of Sugar Ray guest stars on an upcoming "Las Vegas." Ed gets jealous of the time McGraff spends with his wife (Cheryl Ladd).