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Jennah on ‘Jeopardy’ … ‘Eli Stone’ arrives
Cross your fingers and cheer for Austin’s own Jennah Durant, who is scheduled to compete on three episodes of “Jeopardy” on Friday, Monday and Tuesday.
Durant, 29, completed her master’s degree last year from the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs and recently accepted a job with the Environmental Protection Agency in Dallas. We were alerted to Jennah’s “Jeopardy” outting, by the way, by her proud mother, Austinite Jane Durant.
Jennah joins the ever-growing list of locals who have appeared on reality shows and game shows such as “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Guess we’re just preternaturally smart and pretty.
“Jeopardy” airs weekdays at 4 and 4:30 on KXAN Channel 36.
‘Eli Stone’ — Not your typical law drama
Like “Boston Legal” and “Ally McBeal” before it, “Eli Stone” is a legal show that’s more fun and fantasy than lawyering. “Eli” isn’t nearly as good as either of those two shows, but the ABC comedy-drama, which debuts tonight at 9, is at least a fresh scripted show (as opposed to a strike-inspired reality show or rerun) and has an endearing cast.
Eli, played by Johnny Miller, is a successful corporate lawyer who begins experiencing visions that compel him to redefine his life. Family, friends and colleagues fear he’s having a mental breakdown, but it turns out Eli s in an altered world (George Michael belts out songs at every turn) because of a brain aneurysm.
This cause-and-effect is just one of two medical leaps made in the pilot. Eli’s brain aneurysm, though life-threatening, turns him into a happy, fantasy-filled fellow. Probably most folks with this dire condition aren’t quite as thrilled.
The other medical stretch in the show, which has stirred up the ire of the medical community, is a legal case Eli takes on of a mother suing a pharmaceutical company. She claims that her son’s vaccinations caused him to develop autism. Medical researchers and doctors see no link between vaccinations and autism, although TV shows have been ruminating on the connection.
But, again, “Eli Stone” is mostly a fantasy, so I doubt anyone will take the story line too seriously.
The supporting cast includes Loretta Devine, who is truly divine in everything she does (“Boston Public,” “Boston Legal,” “Dreamgirls”). The Houston native brings a real sparkle to the show. … Now if they’d just let her sing.
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By Winchester
January 31, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
So how is Eli Stone different from Viva Laughlin?
By Matt
January 31, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Before making statements that this show is dreaming up storylines, I think it would be a healthy for you to research Austism. This story line is far too real. Hopefully it will educate people on how big Pharm companies are brainwashing people into thinking they need this many vaccines. I am glad ABC finally has the nerve to challenge these companies despite all the ad dollars they earm from these Pharm companies.