Media Scribbler

There have been several shows that have ended up revamping their shows between the pilot and the premiere this year. Three of them — “My Own Worst Enemy”, “Kath & Kim” and “Life On Mars” — will be debuting within the next week.

The promotional campaigns for each show are different, and probably highlight some of the major changes that the shows have undergone and how much their networks are still banking on them. This goes especially for the first two shows.

Other than a bunch of promos during the Olympics (which weren’t even for the show we’ll see, since they were in the middle of the revamp) I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of “Kath & Kim”. Either NBC expects it to be DOA or hope that it’ll be one of those shows that has enough of a fan base for the original Aussie show that they can build something organically, like “The Office”. The latter is evidence my continued belief in optimism when there’s no good cause, or maybe the fact I like Selma Blair and Molly Shannon and want them to get a fair chance. Every other critic’s giving it about five eps, at most.

But NBC has not given up on “My Own Worst Enemy”, premiering Oct. 13, which has some major star power in Christian Slater to work with. And in another hat-tip to “The Office”, which built an audience by pulling people to the Web, they’ve got a Webisode.

The ep linked here features characters who won’t be in the actual premiere (I wonder if it’s salvaged clips from the scrapped pilot?) but that give clues that impact the storyline. Yes, “Lost” fans, something new to obsess about. And if anyone wants to email that Gmail address at the end of the clip and see what you get back, please let us know. We’re intrigued, but not enough to get spammed in response.

In addition, there is a real Web site for AJ Sun Consulting, the firm that Slater’s character Henry Spivey works as a VP.  It’s a good way to get a sense of who the characters are in their “real” lives. And are all consulting firms using the same shiny, scary template these days?Finally, Slater himself talks about the show, which he described as a cross between “The Bourne Identity” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, in an interview available on the site.

Next post will be about “Life On Mars”, which has had such a convoluted trip to rebirth that it needs to have its own post. And if the “Kath & Kim” folks want to somehow convince me that they do have some sort of plan beyond holding the promotion completely and then (if the rumors are true) firing your NBC Universal prez the second it tanks, be my guest. My e-mail’s on the site.

(NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth)

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