Jumping the "Shark"
A panel of cast and creators from CBS' new legal drama "Shark" was up next. James Woods plays a high-priced defense attorney who switches sides and joins the DA's office after a client he defends does something that shocks and deflates him. Woods leads a ragtag panel of young lawyers while butting heads with Jeri Ryan, who plays a DA he's long fought with, but now has to work with. One imagines more than a few "Star Trek" geeks will follow the show, at least at first, to see Seven of Nine, Esquire.

Woods was asked why he's willing to do TV, with such an established movie career -- a theme that would return later, most notably with Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen in the "Smith" panel. Woods defended his choice, saying he's not a snob about television. He went on to suggest that "movies seem to be scared" these days, while "television seems to be like a teenager feeling his or her oats." Woods is a fan of "Arrested Development" and "Family Guy," pointing out that some of the lines on the latter  areas "as funny as anything I've seen in movies." (No one asked about the recent "South Park" episode suggesting that "Family Guy" is penned by manatees. I kind of wish they had.)

Another topic that was raised in the "Shark" panel and brought up again at the "Smith" panel kind of mystifies me. Writers seem somewhat fixated on the idea that Woods' "Shark" character isn't that likable, that he is kind of a moral mess and is no Atticus Finch. It was vowed that the "theme of redemption" would be reflected in every character, which is fine so far as it goes, but I for one don't feel our characters need to be sugarcoated in order for us to watch a show. Was J.R. Ewing redeemed? Tony Soprano?

I think I stopped taking notes for this panel when someone asked Jeri Ryan, whose character seems destined to inevitably sleep with Woods' character, if she was afraid of "jumping the Shark." Yikes.

Randomness:

• Woods, fumbling with a microphone that wouldn't stay hooked: "Hard to believe I've done 120 movie, isn't it?
• Drinking game points: I'm betting that Woods, who attended MIT before dropping out to act, is the only actor of the conference who will manage to discuss both "Aristotelian logic" and "moral relativism."
• Jeri Ryan wore an intriguing pair of what looked like beige peep-toe heels with bright red soles. None of the men I mentioned the shoes to had noticed them, but the first woman I mentioned it to brightened up instantly and was willing to animatedly discuss them. By the evening's CBS party, however, she'd changed outfits and shoes, this time to a bright green pair. Seven of Shoes?
• Most popular Web sites being surfed by critics at the "Shark" panel, from my very informal survey: #1: IMDB.com #2: Google. #3: Personal (or work) email.