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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 9 September 2017
Seth MacFarlane takes off on his space odyssey ‘The Orville’

By FRAZIER MOORE ing Sunday before settling to “The Orville.” That would
AP Television Writer into its Thursday berth on be the new “Star Trek” re-
NEW YORK (AP) — “The Or- Sept. 21.) vival premiering on the CBS
ville” could prove doubly Set 400 years in the future, All Access subscription ser-
surprising for viewers. the series travels with the vice on Sept. 24. But Mac-
First, because it’s a lavish U.S.S. Orville, described as Farlane expects “Star Trek:
retro-futuristic sci-fi hour “a mid-level exploratory Discovery” to go boldly in
boasting elements of dra- spaceship,” with MacFar- its own new “Star Trek” di-
ma, comedy, adventure, lane as its captain, Adri- rection, while “The Orville”
even the occasional Big anne Palicki as his first of- will be, in his words, “a little
Thought. Not exactly your ficer (and, awkwardly, his more old school.”
typical TV concoction. adulterous ex-wife), plus One difference for sure:
Second, because it’s the a diverse crew of humans “Discovery” will be the first
brainchild of Seth MacFar- and aliens played by Pen- “Star Trek” to be serialized, Associated Press
lane, who at 43 continues ny Johnson Jerald, Scott while “The Orville” episodes
to be lionized (and scorned Grimes, Peter Macon and will each be self-contained as a kid. I did stand-up for a every day in crippling self-
by some) as the enfant ter- others in a sizable cast. — “a little movie each while. That need, to some doubt. I hide it very well.”
rible behind cheeky hits If all that sounds a bit like week,” MacFarlane says. degree, is in my blood. Right now he owns up to
like Fox’s long-running ani- the original “Star Trek,” so He started writing the sea- “And I also felt like being certain doubts about how
mated sitcom “Family Guy” be it: MacFarlane speaks son’s 13 episodes back in able to walk out on cam- viewers will receive him as
and the two “Ted” stuffed- of watching “Star Trek” as a spring 2016. Filming began era and communicate that a live-action hero on a TV
bear romps. youngster with his dad; he in March and wrapped two I truly love being on the space odyssey:
“I come out of comedy, took a class, “The Philoso- weeks ago. Postproduction bridge of that ship, with a “Are they going to allow this
and this is my first foray into phy of ‘Star Trek,’” in col- continues. Seven days a Julie Andrews degree of ef- kind of a departure from
quote-unquote drama,” lege. And now he’s doing week without a break. fervescence” — the bridge what I’ve done before? Or
MacFarlane allows. it himself, with a series that “You throw yourself into of The Orville is his “Sound is it going to be, ‘No, keep
“But I do feel like I’m very, aims to reinstate some of something like this,” he says of Music” mountaintop — making the cartoons, and
very well-versed in science that bygone sci-fi wonder cheerfully, “and then you “why WOULDN’T I? It’s just we’ll be happy’?” Where
fiction. I’ve been reading it to a genre that now rou- put it out there and you’re too much fun NOT to!” “The Orville” is concerned,
and watching it my whole tinely views the future with just so exposed — and But MacFarlane makes “I feel self-assurance that
life.” a measure of dread. that’s part of the fun of it. clear that this is more I’ve done everything that
And now — as creator, writ- “Can you ‘casualize’ sci- But it takes a strong consti- than a matter of fun-and- I can do, and that what
er, an executive producer ence fiction — that’s the tution.” games. For him, a lot is the show is meant to be, it
and leading man — he’s only word I can come Speaking of exposed, “The riding on this spacecraft is. But I’m a nervous wreck
launching the sci-fi series up with — and still tell a Orville” puts MacFarlane in and he’s not afraid to say about everything else.”
he says he dreamed about meaningful story within the the spotlight every week, so, though with a smile, his “This is arguably the most
even before his breakout genre?” he wonders aloud in contrast to voicing, gleaming smile that seems important thing to me that
success with “Family Guy” during a whirlwind New off-screen, several “Fam- to certify MacFarlane as a I’ve done since I came out
while still in his early 20s. York visit this week. ily Guy” characters and creature of uncanny self- to Hollywood,” he says. “I
A show that HE would want “That’s something I haven’t his many other behind-the- assurance — even when want people to love this
to watch. A show he says seen.” scenes roles. hosting the Oscars or chan- show, because I loved writ-
he sees no one else doing. Of course, neither MacFar- “When it feels right, acting neling Sinatra in concert at ing it, I loved shooting it. I
(“The Orville” will premiere lane nor anyone else has is no different than writing the Hollywood Bowl. loved doing it with all my
on Fox on Sunday at 8 p.m. yet glimpsed the series that or directing to me,” he de- “That,” he laughs, “is a de- heart. And I want to do
Eastern, then air the follow- might claim closest kinship clares. “I did a lot of theater fense mechanism. I spend more.”q

Bannon: ‘Access Hollywood’ tape cost Christie a Cabinet post

NEW YORK (AP) — obtained the 2005 video you’re on the team. Didn’t
A meeting about the fall- that showed Trump talking make the plane.”Days lat-
out to Donald Trump’s pres- with “Access Hollywood” er, Christie appeared on a
idential campaign over host Billy Bush about kissing, New York radio program
the “Access Hollywood” groping and trying to have and denounced Trump’s
tape was a litmus test that sex with women who were comments about women
cost New Jersey Gov. Chris not his wife. on the leaked tape.
Christie a potential Cabinet “Billy Bush Saturday showed “Let’s be really clear. It is
post, according to former me who really had Donald completely indefensible,”
White House chief strategist Trump’s back to play to the Republican governor
Steve Bannon. his better angels,” Bannon said. “I made that very
Bannon, speaking in a “60 said. “All you had to do, clear to Donald on Friday
Minutes” interview that will and what he did, was go when this first came out
air Sunday on CBS, said the out and continue to talk to and, you know, urged him
“Billy Bush Saturday, to me, the American people. Peo- to be contrite and apolo-
is a litmus test.” ple didn’t care. They knew getic because that’s what
Bannon, Christie and then- Donald Trump was just do- In this April 29, 2017, file photo, Steve Bannon, chief White House he needs to be.”
Republican National Com- ing locker room talk with a strategist to President Donald Trump, tours The AMES Compa- Christie, who was among
mittee chairman Reince guy. And they dismissed it.” nies, Inc., with the president in Harrisburg, Pa. Trump’s earliest support-
Priebus met with Trump in It was not clear from the Associated Press ers, was booted as head
October on the weekend video clip what Christie Bannon said he told Chris- 11 o’clock in the morn- of the transition days after
after the Washington Post had advised Trump. But tie, “The plane leaves at ing. If you’re on the plane, Trump’s victory. q