Geena Davis heads up 'Chief'
09/27/2005 - canoe
But the question of whether U.S. TV is ready for a female president is answered tonight, with the debut of Commander In Chief (CTV, ABC, 8 p.m.). Geena Davis is the president of the United States. And you thought her career was on the rocks! Obviously, if this show seems intriguing to you at all, you probably have watched The West Wing. So how do these two versions of the White House stack up against each other? Well, The West Wing at its best (a few seasons ago) made it feel as if you were eavesdropping on political conversations. Commander In Chief comes across like a soap opera that just happens to be set in Washington, D.C. Davis plays Mackenzie Allen, who is serving as vice-president until President Theodore Roosevelt Bridges -- a Republican -- dies. Allen's main rival is reviled Republican Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton, played by Donald Sutherland. The creators of Commander In Chief chickened out when it came to making Allen a Republican, too. So they dreamed up this implausible scenario: Allen is an independent who was asked by Bridges to be his running mate, basically as a stunt to attract the female vote. Why would Allen agree? Well, as Bridges tells her in a flashback sequence, if his lust for power opens the door for the first female VP, why should she care? The ends justify the means. This mystical election, which Bridges and Allen win, takes place in the post-George W. Bush era. Fast-forward three years and Allen -- whose role as V-P has been almost exclusively ceremonial -- is faced with a tough choice when Bridges suffers a brain aneurysm. The best-case scenario is that the president is going to be incapacitated indefinitely. Allen is being pressured to resign the vice-presidency. That would allow Templeton to ascend to the presidency. There is some fear that as a woman -- and a married mother of three, by the way -- Allen won't be respected by certain Islamic countries. But the main issue is that as an independent she doesn't share the vision of America espoused by Republicans Bridges and Templeton. And after all, the people voted for a Republican president. When Bridges, lying in a hospital bed, bluntly tells Allen, 'I will not resign until you do,' she reluctantly agrees to do so. But then, before she officially quits, Bridges dies. The goofiest scene occurs when Allen and Templeton have a private conversation just before her resignation speech. Sutherland is great at being the bad guy, but the sexist things his character says to Allen -- who at that moment still is the vice-president of the most powerful country in the world -- smash the borders of credulity. And get this -- Allen is so insulted by Templeton's cold chauvinist rant that she decides, on the spot, that she is not going to resign as V-P, but is going to take the oath as president of the United States. Talk about a paradigm shift. Uh, honey, I'm going to be a little late for dinner, because, uh, I'm the president now. Sorry. Toodles. The scene is transparently manipulative, as the devil incarnate drives you into President Allen's matronly arms. Davis and Sutherland are strong actors, so Commander In Chief has a chance to develop into something more substantial, provided viewers have the patience to stick with it. But if subsequent episodes are as hokey as the first one, we're not sure how much hailing we'll be doing to this chief.

Geena Davis to portray president
03/07/2005 - indystar
Davis is returning to ABC four years after 'The Geena Davis Show,' which aired with little success in 2000-01. She joins a cast that includes Kyle Secor ('Homicide') as her husband and Ever Carradine ('Lucky') as her press secretary. Harry J. Lennix ('The Matrix Revolutions') is playing the outgoing president's chief of staff. Davis won her Oscar in 1989 for 'The Accidental Tourist' and was nominated again three years later for 'Thelma & Louise.' Her other credits include 'A League of Their Own,' the 'Stuart Little' movies, 'Beetlejuice' and 'The Long Kiss Goodnight.'

Famous Faces Host Benefit for Facing Forward Foundation
11/05/2004 - yahoo
Children born with severe facial deformities usually don't like to be the center of attention. But thanks to the work of the Facing Forward Foundation at UCLA's Craniofacial Center, more and more of these children are getting the attention they so desperately need in the form of reconstructive surgery and family-support services. The surgeons, healthcare providers and other volunteers who are responsible for this incredible life-changing work will participate in the Facing Forward Foundation's 2nd Annual Benefit Gala, scheduled for Saturday, November 13, at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. UPN Television's Lauren Sanchez and Rick Garcia will host. Actors Geena Davis and Sharon Stone will present some of the Facing Forward children including the recent successes and patients awaiting support for surgery. The evening's festivities will include a gourmet feast by celebrity chef Tom Beres (formally for the Queen of England and the Rainbow Room), select wines and music entertainment by the Matthew Fisher Band and Gavin DeGraw. Dr. Henry Kawamoto, the plastic surgeon who received worldwide recognition for separating the Guatemalan twins joined at the head ('the Two Marias'), is just one of the surgeons who donates his time to the Facing Forward Foundation. He is quick to point out, however, that the surgery is just a first step. 'For each child who receives surgery,' notes Kawamoto, 'funds are needed to provide care and aid in the long journey to healing both the physical and emotional scars for these children. Luckily, continued and growing support for the Foundation has created a global support network. Now, we routinely help children from all around the world.' In addition to assistance for the affected children and their families, funds raised during the Gala event will be used for further research and education in discovering new ways to improve the quality of life for the disfigured. About The Facing Forward Foundation Since 1972, the Facing Forward Foundation has served as a private, not- for-profit volunteer medical organization that provides reconstructive surgery and related services to children born with facial deformities. Based at the UCLA Craniofacial Center, the Foundation helps children from all over the world live free of the physical and emotional disabilities that can result from severe facial deformity. The group consists of physicians, healthcare providers and others who volunteer their time and expertise to this worthy cause. For further information, please visit www.facingforward.org.

Thelma and Louise reunited at lingerie show
10/21/2004 - hellomagazine
Dressed in a striking green dress and lace shawl, Susan was playing host at the Lingerie Art Auction & Fashion Show. Her on-screen partner, who opted for a simple dark brown number, had meanwhile come along to show her support for the fundraising event. And girl power was very much in evidence on the runway, too, as a succession of sultry models showed off lingerie designed by Hollywood stars. Geena, who has recently given birth to twins, contributed a corset designed for nursing mothers, while newly-married pop diva Britney Spears offered a combination entitled 'A Man's Dream'. Susan likewise showed off her design skills with a corset called 'A Prayer For The Heart'. The Oscar-nominated actress is also proving a force to be reckoned with in her latest movie role. In Jude Law's new comedy Alfie she plays Liz, the one woman he can't seem to get the better of.

Developing Situation at CBS for Davis
09/28/2004 - yahoo
Under the pact, the network will develop a series to star Davis, with the aim of going on air next season. The deal marks Davis' first collaboration with CBS. It reunites Davis with CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler, her friend from their days at Boston University. Davis won an Oscar in 1989 for her supporting role in 'The Accidental Tourist' and was nominated in the lead actress category in 1992 for 'Thelma & Louise.' Her feature credits also include the two 'Stuart Little' movies, 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' and 'Beetle Juice.' On the small screen, Davis most recently toplined and co-executive produced the ABC family comedy 'The Geena Davis Show' (2000-01). Her TV credits also include the 1980s series 'Sara' and 'Buffalo Bill.'

New U.S. TV Network Coming to British Screens
08/04/2004 - scotsman
British viewers will be able watch American TV favourites such as daytime soap General Hospital for the first time. The entertainment channel, called ABC1, will be available initially on Freeview. Showing a mix of drama and comedy, it will broadcast between 6am and 6pm. If successful it will expand to a 24 hour schedule. “The launch of the ABC brand signals the Walt Disney Company’s long term commitment to the UK,” said John Hardie, Disney’s head of TV for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “In its first phase, ABC1 will champion an under-served British audience – people who are busy at home during the day. All day long, ABC1 will provide the daytime viewer with well written, high quality entertainment.” Emmy Award-winning soap General Hospital is one of the longest-running shows on US TV and helped launch the careers of stars such as Demi Moore. ABC1 will also screen Sports Night, the critically acclaimed show from the creators of The West Wing, and The Geena Davis Show, the sitcom featuring the star of Thelma and Louise. The channel will launch on September 27 to the four million homes which currently have Freeview.

Geena Davis Gives Birth to Twin Boys
05/17/2004 - yahoo
Kian William and Kaiis Steven, born May 6, are now at home in Los Angeles with their mother. 'Mother and babies are doing beautifully,' Bloch said. These are the second and third children for Davis and her surgeon husband, Reza Jarrahy, 33. The couple, who married in September 2001, already have a 2-year-old daughter, Alizeh Keshvar. 'Alizeh was delighted to have two new baby brothers,' Bloch said. Davis won a supporting-actress Academy Award for playing the kooky dog trainer in 1988's 'The Accidental Tourist' and received an Oscar nomination for best actress for 1991's 'Thelma & Louise.'

Geena Davis Doubles Her Pleasure
12/02/2003 - eonline
The 47-year-old Oscar winner and her hubby, 33-year-old Reza Jarrahy, are expecting the double delivery in the spring of 2004, confirmed her publicist. It'll be a second and third child for the couple, who had a daughter, Alizeh Keshvar, about 18 months ago. 'Ms. Davis is in wonderful health and both husband and wife and Baby Alizeh are looking forward to the new additions,'' said the rep. Davis met Jarrahy, a surgeon, through a mutual friend in 1999 and swapped vows two years later. It was the fourth trip down the aisle for the statuesque babe, Accidental Tourist Oscar winner and wannabe Olympic archer. She was hitched to restaurateur Richard Emmolo from 1981-83. Hubby number two was frequent costar Jeff Goldblum. The towering twosome met during the shooting of Transylvania 6-5000 and shared double billing for The Fly and Earth Girls Are Easy before splitting in 1990. Davis also tried coupling with director Renny Harlin, but, like their movies Cutthroat Island and The Long Kiss Goodnight, their four-year union was a flop, and they called it quits in 1998. When not getting knocked up by her hubby, the Thelma and Louise star found time to star in last year's Stuart Little sequel. Davis is also making a special guest appearance on an upcoming episode of NBC's Will & Grace. She'll play a sister to (also preggers) star Debra Messing's character Grace Adler. Davis will star as Janet Adler, Grace's bohemian sibling who's been in rehab. Shooting on the episode takes place next week and it's scheduled to air in early 2004.

Group Pledges National Fight for Title IX
02/05/2003 - yahoo
The campaign, announced Wednesday, comes as Education Secretary Rod Paige prepares a decision on how the sports equity law is enforced among all schools and colleges that receive federal money. A commission Paige appointed has suggested updating the 30-year-old law to ensure fairness to all athletes. Although the panel rejected mandating a virtually equal number of athletic slots for men and women at each school, critics said any tinkering would erode opportunities and progress for women. 'We will fight this as long and as hard as it takes, and Title IX will be a part of the American dream,' Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said at an annual gathering honoring female athletes. Actresses Holly Hunter and Geena Davis and former Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind., a sponsor of the original law, will lead a campaign to educate and rally the public. Bayh said he hopes Paige will be persuaded to padlock the commission's report in a closet forever. As the law stands, colleges may show they comply by having a proportion of male and female athletes that is roughly equal to the number of men and women students. Critics of the law say it forces schools to scrap opportunities for men, but that's never been required or encouraged, Bayh said. Campaign leaders hope to change the debate through lobbying by celebrities, parents and dozens of organizations. Daschle was joined by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska. A bipartisan group of six senators also sent a letter to Paige, encouraging him not undermine the law. 'We're a culture of celebrity, whether it's athletes or actors and actresses,' Hunter said. 'We really pay attention to celebrity, as well as to high-profile politicians. So I want to take a bit of responsibility for my visibility and use it for something I value.' Dozens of female athletes — including winning Olympic soccer team member Julie Foudy — took part in Wednesday's campaign kickoff and spoke of sports as an enormous source of strength, confidence and pride. However, a leader of the effort to change Title IX said his goal was only to revise how the law is interpreted, not to attack its mission. 'What we're looking for is a more fair and reasonable way to protect women without hurting men,' said Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. His group sued the Education Department on grounds that its enforcement of the law forced the elimination of hundreds of men's sports teams. Paige is to receive the report from the Commission on Opportunity in Athletics by month's end. He has set no timetable for deciding what changes, if any, to make in enforcing the law. 'I don't see how any reasonable person who attended (the commission's meetings) could come away thinking the commissioners were out to dismantle Title IX,' said Education Department spokeswoman Susan Aspey. The commission proposed changes on how roster spots, nonscholarship and nontraditional athletes are counted. Most of its recommendations were approved unanimously. However, members deadlocked on the far-reaching plan to set a 50-50 split of sports slots for male and female athletes, with some flexibility built in. That provision, which critics said would weaken the law for women, will be included in the report without recommendation.

Thelma And Louise star still willing to do nude scenes
08/23/2002 - ananova
Geena Davis says she's still willing to strip off on screen. She would agree to nude scenes to show that middle-aged women still have what it takes to be a screen siren. The 46-year-old gave birth to her first child in April this year. The Thelma And Louise star told German magazine Cinema that getting older doesn't bother her at all, and she would be prepared to film nude scenes, if only to prove a point. Davis said: 'I would most likely agree to nude scenes to prove that, at 46, women can have a baby and still take their clothes off in front of the camera.' The actress said such scenes may in any case remain her only option, as good roles for women over 40 are extremely rare in Hollywood. 'Statistics show that only 25% of roles are written for women in the first place and of this, only 18% go to women over the age of 40,' she said.