July 12, 2007

Blogging TCA: Thanks for Sharing

Seth Arenstein, at the TV Critics Association summer press tour, probes Lifetime's "State of Mind"

THANKS FOR SHARING: Lili Taylor in Lifetime's State of Mind.

To plug its upcoming series Side Order Of Life (July 15), Lifetime gave critics four ramekins featuring the show’s title. To tout its series about a group of psychiatrists and therapists, State of Mind (also premiering July 15 — click here for our review), it gave critics a rubber couch with the show's name on it. It also gave out assorted sticky notes labeled (drum roll, please) "Freudian Slips."

But why not a Barry White disc? A young white lawyer in the show is named Barry White. Creator Amy Bloom, herself a therapist, says she knew the late singer and discussed naming a character after him with him. "I love being immortalized," he told her.

And don't you love TCA's cathartic qualities? Lili Taylor, who stars as Side Order’s lead shrink, revealed to critics during Lifetime's session that she's been in therapy.

We had to ask. Why did Bloom name Taylor's character Ann Bellowes, ie Dr. Bellowes ... as in I Dream of Jeannie's perpetually confused nemesis?

"It's the maiden name of my literary agent," she tells us. "I was determined to go through with that name. I want to create names that are fun and entertaining but are not over the top. And really, on television, you rarely see the last names anyhow."

For the record, Dr. Alfred Bellows spelled it without the 'e.'

• EARLIER: Blogging TCA: Be Careful What You Ask For