james van der beek

The numbers are in and Super Bowl XLI was huge. Coming in at 93.1 million viewers, it was the third most watched program in history, and the second most watched Super Bowl. Having the lead-in to end all lead-ins also helped Criminal Minds put up the best numbers ever for the series. The special episode following the game averaged 26.2 million viewers.

Is that a disappointment? Last year, the post Super Bowl episode of Grey's Anatomy drew a considerably larger 38.1 million viewers. We can chalk part of that difference up to the fact that Grey's was more of a hit show going in, but I think more of it has to do with the subject matter.

Criminal Minds is never a touchy-feely, happy bunnies on clouds kind of show, but the post Super Bowl episode was dark even by their standards. Come on, Dawson chaining up a woman and setting the dogs loose on her? That's asking a lot from the family friendly Super Bowl audience.

(S02E14) I remember reading an article about a month ago (I forget where) about how CBS had chosen Criminal Minds as the follow-up to last night's Super Bowl. The reason I mention it, is that in the article Edward Allen Bernero (the show's EP) said something along the lines of how they weren't planning on making this episode any different from a normal installment.

Well, I have to disagree. This was episode was spectacular and easily exceeded any expectations I had going in. If this didn't "wow" you, then you haven't been watching Criminal Minds enough. Not only was the case one of the most gruesome things the BAU team has ever tackled, but it's only the third time the series has left us with a "To Be Continued" cliffhanger. All that sounds like a bit more than the average episode to me.

It looks like 2006 will be the year of the Dawson's Creek kids after all. We've already been hearing plenty about Katie Holmes and MIchelle Williams, and, as I was happy to report earlier this month, Joshua Jackson is starring in a legal drama on CBS (hopefully) next fall. Now comes word that James Van Der Beek (aka Dawson) will also be returning to series television, also on CBS. Van Der Beek has been cast in a comedy pilot, Sex, Power, Love & Politics, a comedy that, like Van Der Beek, has too many names in the title. It's about Capitol Hill staffers in their 30s, and that's about all we know. I'm not sure what role he has, but he'll be acting alongside Ally McBeal alum, Jane Krakowski, a role Adam reported on earlier this month.

Joshua Jackson just landed the lead role in a CBS legal drama that, so far, does not have a title. Jackson, also known as Pacey Witter (heart!) from Dawson's Creek, is fresh off the stage in England where he acted with Patrick Stewart in a David Mamet play. He also shot a couple of indie movies last year.

In the new series, Jackson will play a first-year lawyer, badgered by a firm partner, whose career takes an important turn when he is assigned the case of a death row inmate. The series is produced by Carol Mendelsohn, one of the producers of the CSI franchise.

Maybe 2006 is the year of the Dawson's Creek kids? Katie Holmes will allegedly give birth to Tom Cruise's baby later this year and Michelle Williams may or may not win an Oscar for her role in Brokeback Mountain. Now, where on earth is James van der Beek?