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Home Email Scripts		Archive 21 August 04 The OZ Season Four DVD will be released in January 2005. Please note that Tom has no control over this schedule. 12 July 04 The winners for the June 24th The Jury/Oz trivia question are Roxy Leuthard, Tyler Silva and Diva Velez. The correct responses were put in a hat from which Sidney Lumet picked the winning entries. Thank you to all who entered. `George Morfogen.......Bob Rebadow Eamonn Walker.........Kareem Said Betty Buckley.........Suzanne Fitzgerald Scott Winter..........Cyril O'Reily muMs..................Arnold "Poet" Jackson Carlo Alban...........Ricardo J.K. Simmons..........Vern Schillinger Jon Seda..............Dino Ortolani R.E. Rogers...........James Robson Jenna Lamia...........Kerry Schillinger Stephaine Pope........Kina Paite/Nancy Mears Elain Graham..........Lenore Hughes Natascia Diaz.........Margarita` 9 July 04 We have been receiving e-mails from many viewers asking what they can do to help save The Jury. You can contact Fox at: FOX Broadcasting Co. P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213 or askfox@foxinc.com 8 July 04 The Jury is now playing only on Friday evenings at 9:00pm on Fox 24 June 04 The upcoming episode of Tom Fontana's new show, The Jury, airing Tuesday, June 29, at 9pm on FOX, guest stars the following actors who appeared on Oz: George Morfogen, Eamonn Walker, Betty Buckley, Scott William Winters, muMs, Carlo Alban, J.K. Simmons, Jon Seda, R.E. Rodgers, Jenna Lamia, Stephanie Pope, Elain Graham and Natascia Diaz. Can you name the characters they played on Oz? Email jury@tomfontana.com with your answers. The entries will be reviewed after the repeat showing of the episode airs on July 2nd at 9pm on FOX. Three names will be drawn from the correct entries and awarded an Oz prize. 14 May 04 Strip Search will be airing: Friday 5/14 at 10am on HBO2 Sunday 5/16 at 11 on HBO Signature Tuesday 5/18 at 11pm on HBO2 14 May 04 click for The Jury press release click for The Jury Media Alert click for FOX's The Jury site 14 May 04 The Museum of Television and Radio seminar The Jury Is In Premiere of the New Courtroom Drama Thursday, June 3, 2004 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. 11 February 04 Oz Season Three DVD signing will be on Tuesday, February 24th, 2004, from 6-8pm at the Tower Records at 66th and Broadway. Which actors will be there has not been set yet. Eventually, HBO's plan is to release all six seasons, though the schedule has not been determined yet. As far as I know, all the episodes will be on DVD and VHS but that is subject to change. 12 December 03 Updates "Judas", written by Tom Fontana, will air on ABC Monday, March 8, 2004. Filmed in Morocco in the summer of 2001, the film explores Judas Iscariot's search for fulfillment and stars Jonathan Schaech, Jonathan Scarfe, Tim Matheson and Bob Gunton. "The Jury", a pilot for FBC written by Tom Fontana and Jim Yoshimura and directed by Barry Levinson, is currently shooting on location in New York and on the soundstages in Bayonne. The series will examine the judicial system primarily from the jury's point of view. Tom Fontana was recently inducted in the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame, joining such notables as Lucille Ball, Mark Russell, Buffalo Bob Smith, George Abbott, Christine Baranski and Jay Silverheels of "Tonto" fame. 8 September 03 Oz Season 3 is set to release on 2/24/04 and Season 4 will be 10/5/04. 9 September 03 From Keith Gow in Australia: Recently there was a discussion about TV crossovers on alt.tv.homicide and we discovered, to our amazement, that "St. Elsewhere" and "Homicide" (and Tommy Westphall’s mind) connect to 83 other TV shows through detailed references and actual crossover storylines. We were amused to read that you imagined that all of television existed in little Tommy’s mind. It might not be all of television, but it’s pretty extensive. Ranging from "I Love Lucy" through 12 shows that are still on the air. Long-time poster Ashley Crowe and I have put together a crossover grid to really see the extent of this fun. Ashley and I would love it if you would provide a link from your site to ours. Here's the URL: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~kwgow/crossovers.html 24 June 03 TOM FONTANA'S DIARY They say death comes in threes. And so last week we experienced the loss of three famous men: Gregory Peck, David Brinkley and Hume Cronyn. I'd met Gregory Peck once, at the Banff Television Festival, twenty years ago. He was everything you thought he'd be - warm and generous, intelligent and full of wit. When I told him The Keep to the Kingdom was one of my favorite films, he nodded graciously but seemed surprised. I guess people generally talk about his performance in To Kill a Mockingbird. Several years ago, Barbara Kopple did a documentary about Peck. If you can get a copy, you'll see the real man, genuine and gentlemanly. I also met David Brinkley once at some function, probably the Peabodys. He, too, was intelligent and full of wit, genuine and gentlemanly. Though I grew up watching The Huntley-Brinkley Report, Brinkley made Sunday mornings intellectually stimulating and politically charged with This Week. His contribution to public discourse cannot be measured. I worked with Hume Cronyn very early in my career, when he and his wife, Jessica Tandy, did a benefit at the Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo. I kept calling them "Mister Cronyn" and "Miss Tandy" - and they kept yelling at me, "Call me Jessie, call me Hume!" Another intelligent, witty, genuine gentleman. As I got into television, I would run into Mister Cronyn at various awards ceremonies - we both won the Humanitas Prize in 1985. I last saw him at the Writers' Guild of America East reception, where he was very frail, very wispy, the way old people get. We were talking about something that'd happened a few days before and he said: "You know, at my age, I can't remember what I had for breakfast, but I can remember forty years ago perfectly." What a wonderful gift - to remember the past so clearly, so joyously - and to forget the aches of old age. I hope when I'm ninety (if I'm ever ninety) that God grants me the same blessing. So, three wonderful human beings have departed the earth for parts unknown. They went with thousands of others who died last week, most of whom are not famous and will be forgotten in a generation or two. Peck, Brinkley and Cronyn represented those people, spoke for us all in various ways and by various means. The stillness of their voices is really a rallying cry for those of us who remain, to speak the truth, articulately and passionately. That, not fame, is their true and enduring legacy. 27 May 03 Statement on media deregulation before the Senate on May 22nd. 28 May 03 97% OF AMERICANS CAN'T BE WRONG, CAN THEY? In the last two weeks, considerably greater media attention has come to focus on the FCC and its intention to further deregulate media ownership standards... Click on the link above for details 22 May 03 Hear Tom's interview on the NPR show Fresh Air 19 April 03 On June 2, the Federal Communications Commission is planning on authorizing sweeping changes to the American news media. (click on text for more information) 16 April 03 Lee Tergesen can be reached via www.leetergesen.net and Chris Meloni at www.christopher-meloni.com/ 1 April 03 From Script to Screen The Art, Craft and Business of Writing for TV andFilm. Saturday, April 12th - 3:15pm to 4:45pm "Tom Fontana on TV" further info at http://market.ifp.org/newyork/script/ 28 March 03 TOM FONTANA’S DIARY Theatre people have always cast a wary eye at film, fearful that action-packed motion pictures would override the experience of a live performance. In turn, film people have traditionally been suspicious of television, worrying that audiences would hesitate to pay for entertainment when they could get it free, sitting in their living rooms. Television people, meanwhile, feel inferior to both, knowing that, on the tube, art takes a backseat to what’s popular. Sometimes, however, there is cross-pollination, the latest example being Urban Cowboy, a musical which opened March 27th at the Broadhurst Theatre, based on the 1980 feature starring John Travolta. In fact, Broadway shows adapted from movie scripts dominate the litany of recent theatrical successes: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Full Monty, Hairspray, The Producers and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Whereas, once upon a time, Rodgers and Hammerstein would choose a book, say Tales of the South Pacific, as the source of inspiration, everyone except Sondheim seems to be using Blockbuster instead. Movie moguls are no less guilty of pilfering the past, though they tend to use old TV series, Charlie’s Angels, The Fugitive, I Spy, Mission: Impossible and the upcoming SWAT, for example, as the basis of films. Television, which will steal an idea from anywhere, has had less success borrowing from theatre and film. Over a fifty year period, the list of Nielsen grabbers is limited to I Remember Mama, The Odd Couple and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sadly, if this on-going regurgitation continues, Broadway producers will eventually be forced to take TV-film hybrids and set them to music. Here are some possibilities: A Very Brady Musical – Disney presents Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald in a gospel version of the never before told story of how Mike and Carol met at a widow/widower grief counseling session. Songs include: "Braces Are a Girl’s Best Friend" and "Here’s to the Bradys Who Lunch." The Flintstones – Baz Luhrmann reinvents Bedrock with dances by Twyla Tharp and Harvey Fierstein as Wilma. Songs include: "Send in the Claosaurus" and "Yabadaba-do-be-do-be-do." Starsky and Hutch – Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick reunite as two unorthodox cops, who kick ass on the kick line. Songs include: "He Loves Me (But He Doesn’t Know It)" and "Most Happy Felon." Star Trek – Tap-dancing Klingons! Singing Tribbles! Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber creates an out-of-this-world score, where three generations of Enterprise crews come together for the big finale, "(To Beam) The Impossible Beam." The Twilight Zone – Audience members are transported to a fifth dimension, as vast as space and as timeless as a tango. Donny Osmond plays Rod Serling. Songs include "To Serve Man" and "Time Enough at Last." As someone who has conquered all three mediums, Mel Brooks would be the perfect choice to write, produce and star in the musical version of Paddy Chayefsky’s Network. Imagine Mel belting the show stopper "Mad as Hell (And Not Gonna Take It Anymore)!" Imagine a chorus line of network censors dancing to "Springtime for Moonves." Of course, all of this may simply be jealousy on my part. Jerry Herman has not asked to musicalize St. Elsewhere, Homicide or Oz. That’s probably just as well. Basing a musical on a movie doesn’t guarantee a boffo box office. For every Sunset Boulevard, there’s a Saturday Night Fever. And TV shows don’t always translate to the big screen, witness McHale’s Navy and The Coneheads. Actually, given the rate of failure, I am left to wonder why these transformations occur so often. Not because we lack originality. There are plenty of talented lyricists, librettists and screenwriters out there. Rather, I think, we suffer from what could be called "Kellogg’s Syndrome." Producers have convinced themselves in the importance of the brand name to sell tickets. They are willing to exploit an entity, say Sweet Smell of Success or Lost in Space, simply because the audience may remember it from their youths. Or, worse, heard their parents wax nostalgically about it. If the responsibility of theatre, film and television is, in part, to define the times we live in, what good can come from revisiting My Favorite Martian or Debbie Does Dallas? Better use of the time, energy and money would be spent on developing projects dealing with issues that confront us in the 21st century: education, environment, terrorism, health care. There are precedents: Finian’s Rainbow (1947) tackled racism and poverty, while Gentlemen’s Agreement (1935) took on anti-Semitism. Hell, at this point, I’d be happy with a show that examines the inner thoughts of Barney, the Bush dog. So, my advice to the Shuberts and Nederlanders, to Sony and Universal, to NBC and CBS, is this: rather than dig into the archives to find next year’s smash, give writers a chance to do what writers do – create. Who knows, you may get something entertaining and enlightening and fresh. You may even get a whole new brand name, another long-term franchise. If not, after a while, the same old same old will only lead to empty playhouses, bad opening weekends and Joe Millionaire. Meanwhile, Jerry Herman, I’m waiting for your call. # # # 18 March 03 Deleted scenes from OZ added to Scripts OZ - A Rock Opera by Juli Martin 13 March 03 MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB April 28 -- TOM FONTANA -- Testing the Tube --- Stage I The award-winning writer behind such landmark series as Oz, Homicide, and St. Elsewhere talks about his shift from theatre to television, smashes clichés about the medium, and evokes the arduous, maddening ways in which quality drama actually manages (sometimes) to get on the air To order tickets call 1-212-399-3030 25 February 03 Article from Sunday New York Times 31 January 2003 Homicide "Colors" added to Scripts 29 January 2003 OZ: The Musical by Julie Mattes 25 January 2003 Ok, I know I'm no writer, but here's my little ode to Oz. I run Eamonn's website at www.eamonnwalker.com. Stop by anytime! Lori FAREWELL TO OZ With heavy hearts we must say goodbye To shanking, to raping, to pragging, oh my! With one eye open, the other shut tight We watched each week in wait for the fright You made each viewer squeal with horror and fear Their goal to shock us was abundantly clear We savor each episode and analyze each line And didn't hurt a bit that the men were so fine Tom Fontana, the writer, often seen as magician What makes your mind tick is a scary proposition Only you could delight and intrigue us each week You do not write for the wimpish or meek So much thanks to the cast who always entertained You deserve all the praise us fans can maintain A special farewell to my beloved Kareem You spoke to my soul directly it seemed Tom created you beautifully and Eamonn brought you alive I'm praying for a spin off to make you survive! So farewell to Oz, we'll search high and low to catch each rerun on our HBO!! 22 January 2003 *THE LATE GEORGE APLEY* By John P. Marquand and George S. Kaufman Directed by Tom Fontana with Edward Herrmann January 27, 2003 Details here 18 January 2003 Tom Fontana's Diary On Thursday, January 17th, I appeared before the FCC at the Columbia Forum on Media Ownership Rules. Before an intensive question and answer period, each panelist made remarks. Here are mine. For more information, go to www.creativecommunity.us and www.wgae.org. Streaming Video here (Real Player) * * * * * First, I want to thank you for holding these hearings and for inviting me to speak. Second, I want to tell you that, as someone who is usually behind the camera, not in front of it, I am more then a little intimidated. I am not a politician. I am not a businessman. I am not a lobbyist. As you can see, I don't even own a tie. I don't have strong feelings for or against government regulation. More importantly, I am neither a seer nor a prophet, I cannot predict the future. None of us can. So, why am I here? I came today driven by a very basic emotion - fear. Since I started writing and producing twenty-two years ago, I have watched the face of television change drastically. The networks, which were once like mom'n'pop grocery stores, have been devoured by conglomerates. And, in turn, these networks have begun swallowing up each other. CBS owns UPN and MTV. NBC owns PAX and MSNBC. ABC owns ESPN and Lifetime. In a contradiction worthy of Lewis Carroll, there are now more networks than ever and yet there are fewer of them. So what? Eight years ago, after considerable struggle, the Fin-Syn rules were dropped, allowing networks to own programs. At the time, the heads of all the networks assured us that nothing would change. They might as well have offered to sell us the Brooklyn Bridge. I was lucky enough to get my start at one of the best independent production companies ever - MTM. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant, The White Shadow, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere. MTM was an independent not just because it wasn't owned by anyone else, but because Grant Tinker made decisions based on both business savvy and a passion for quality. Because he backed his attitudes with his own money, Grant was fearless when fighting against the dumbing down of his products. His extraordinary vision nurtured several generations of TV's best talent, including many women and minorities. Because Fin-Syn is no more, MTM is no more - sucked into a blackhole at FOX. Sometimes by deregulating a big business, you can choke the life of a small one. Without Fin-Syn, many other fundamental practices in our industry have corroded over time, but in the interest of brevity, I won't go through each point. Except to say that, once again, we are being told that if the Dual Network Rule is abandoned, nothing will change. I hope you can understand why we might be a little doubtful. Now, none of us are naive. We all know that commercial television exists to make money. At its heart, television is capitalism. And to take the thought one step further: Television is democracy. The networks compete for advertising dollars and attractive demographics. And that competition fuels the economy. Television is also democracy because it is our only national town hall. Television is where divergent points of view can be expressed, where conflicting opinions can be argued, not just within one segment of Meet The Press, but from program to program. The brutality of NYPD Blue is balanced by the spirituality of Touched By An Angel. Drew Carey's Cleveland balances Frasier Crane's Seattle. Bill O'Reilly balances Ted Koppel. Yet, NYPD Blue would have never made the CBS schedule. Bill O'Reilly would never be hired at NBC. Certain shows can only happen at certain networks, either because of branding or because of some executive's individual taste. People will say there's diversity simply by the sheer number of networks currently available. But, in truth, many series are now "repurposed" - airing on cable several days after its broadcast premiere. These shows, however, are not offered for sale on the open market as has traditionally been done, but are automatically going to an entity tied corporately to the major network. For example, the ABC series "Life With Bonnie" will be repurposed on the Family Channel because both the broadcast network and the cable network are owned by Disney. This back alley deal diminishes a program's long term value. So much for free enterprise, so much for diversity. By abandoning the current FCC rules, we run the risk of reducing the number of major networks. We run the risk of eliminating small businesses. We run the risk of limiting original thought and the freedom of expression. Like I said, I'm no prophet, but to me these risks are far too great. By changing the rules, television will not necessarily get better. Not for me, as a writer and producer. Not for me, as a viewer. Not for me, as a stockholder. Not for me, as an American. So, I ask you to think long and hard before you rewrite history. And I'd like to leave you with a final thought. There are two countries which each have only one television network: Iraq and North Korea. Thank you for your kind attention. 11 December 2002 Oz Infinitum By Tom Fontana and Lee Tergesen As the last eight episodes approach, viewers have been concerned about what will happen to the characters once Oz is no more. We’re happy to announce the following spin-offs, which will premiere thoughout 2003, on the broadcast TV schedule: Leave it to Beecher - The irascible Toby can’t help getting into trouble, despite his parents’ warnings. Everybody Loves Reimondo - Sister Pete moves across the street from Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle. Hilarity ensues! Welcome Back, Keller - Chris Keller becomes headmaster of an all boys’ prep school. Nudity ensues! Robson - The former Nazi goes to work in Governor Devlin’s mansion. Robert Guillaume co-stars. Three’s Humping Me - Cyril O’Reily pretends to have the mind of a three year old in order to share an apartment with two beautiful women. Suzanne Somers co-stars. Dharma and Kareem - Dharma dumps Greg for a man filled with spiritual enlightenment. Little does she know, Said just likes to sleep with White women. Will and Glynn - Will shares an apartment with the Warden in hopes of meeting men. Vern and Shirley - Schillinger and Bellinger move to Milwaukee and live downstairs from a guy named Squiggy. Morales in the Middle - The Latino gang leader is adopted by a dysfunctional WASP family and fits in immediately. Hill’s Chair Blues - Augustus becomes a cop in a wheelchair. (Hey, it worked for Ironsides!) After Oz - Busmalis, Rebadow and Father Mukada start a half-way house in Missouri. Harry Morgan co-stars. The O’Reily Factor - In this new talk show, Ryan conspires to have political opponents assassinate each other. McManus and Wife - As Corrections Commissioner, Tim and his new bride (Jennifer Garner) solve murder mysteries. She kicks ass, while he ponders the meaning of life. The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Mary Richards returns to WJM, only to find out that her new boss is Omar White All in the Infirmary - Doctor Gloria Nathan works alongside Archie Bunker’s racist grandson at an abortion clinic in Spanish Harlem. Oz, Nevada - The prisoners gang rape Ben Affleck, in order to keep him from producing more TV shows. CSI: Oz - After another rash of murders in Oswald, the authorities decide to open a permanent CSI office inside the prison. Enemies - Each week, Dino Ortolani kills off another cast member of Friends. The Odd Couple - Poet and the Pope star. Of course, since HBO is our home, we wanted to make sure that there were plenty of shows on cable. WWE Smack - Burr Redding referees as wrestlers do massive amounts of steroids and heroin, while making body contact. The Weakest Dick - Hosted by Claire Howell 8 Rules For Raping My Cellmate - Peter Schibetta frets over the dating habits of his attractive, young cellmate. Pecker - Jaz Hoyt wonders why it burns. Ted Danson co-stars. Just Shank Me - An edgier George Segal brings his recently paroled, illegitimate son, Jia Kenmin, to work at his new porno magazine. Fucked by an Angel - The Reverend Cloutier uses his Saintly powers to get laid. Turd Watch - Miguel Alvarez smears excrement on the walls of public institutions. Premiere episode: “Inside the White House”. Boston Pubic - Adebisi gives tips to students on how to wear a hat. Eight Inches is Enough - Betty Buckley gives her husband a penile implant for Christmas. Dick Van Patten co-stars. Jag-Off - Wangler, Pancamo and Groves compete for prizes. Roz - Diane Wittlesey runs a women’s prison. Peri Gilpin and Joan Jett co-star. 27 November 2002* Bruce Paltrow I have been struggling, since Bruce died, to write something about him. I’m struggling – not because I can’t think of what to say, but because I have too much to say, because my sadness grows more acute each day, because the memories keep flooding my brain. His birthday is this week and I feel compelled to get some words down, I want to celebrate the life of the man who changed my life. So, here goes: His mind was fertile and funny. His tongue was sharp and honest. His soul (yes, Bruce, I’m going to get Catholic) was open and free and generous and without prejudice and, well, everything a true soul should be. Bruce never lied to me, not in our professional dealings nor in our personal relationship. That, in this business, is an extraordinary thing. I wish I could say that I never lied to him. Ask anyone who knew the man and they’ll tell you a dozen Bruce stories, all filled with his humor, his warmth, his understanding and his clear-headedness. If you had a complex problem, Bruce would come up with a simple, but unique solution. There isn’t a day, as a writer or a producer, as a mentor or a confidant, that I don’t take a page from the "Book of Paltrow" – he was wise, most of the time, and when he wasn’t wise, he shot straight from the heart. He had a wonderful sense of justice and fair play. I never saw Bruce truly angry, unless some bastard was trying to screw over him or someone he loved. His anger rose, not from ego, but from the shock of a trust broken, of a deceit revealed. He was, at the same moment, both cynical and naïve. He could’ve done anything with his life. But he chose to work in television, film and theatre. And, even in the valleys, between the triumphs, he never lost his passion to create. Cancelled shows, studio interference, cancer, nothing could stop his enthusiasm, his love of the game. Ironically, after years of not working together, Bruce and I were going to co-write a project for HBO, when he got back from Europe. I’m still going to do the script, but it won’t be nearly as much as fun. I can see Bruce now, in Heaven, his pen poised, ready to cut what I’ve written. Not this time, pal. A million words can’t sum you up: husband, father, son, brother, uncle, baby-hugger, producer, director, writer, tennis bum, skier, fisherman, New Yorker, Los Angelino, world traveler, raconteur, art lover, arts contributor, guardian angel, rabbi, pope, partner, boss, teacher, friend… When a personality as large and loud as Bruce Paltrow leaves, the silence echoes. Okay, okay, Bruce, I’ll stop. Except to say that I wish everyone on the planet could live as you did: "Vive Bene, Spesso L’Amore, Di Risata Molto!" And Happy Birthday! 22 November 2002 Benefit performances coming up in December Times article 24 September 2002 The second season DVD of OZ will be available sometime in January of 2003. To find out when the other seasons will appaear, you can contact HBO. OZ@HBO.COM 23 August 2002 Goodbye to Oz by Lisa H. (to the tune of Seasons in the Sun) Goodbye to Oz it's hard to die Why do you have to leave us why oh why Other TV can't quite compare Cheap laugh tracks are everywhere Network honchos just don't care. Goodbye Tom F. a heart felt sigh Good luck with your new project Baseball Wives We'll look for shows with great care Like Homicide and St. Elsewhere When we see them you'll be there. We had joy we had fun We had shanks and Clayton's gun And the people that died well they sometimes Made us cry. Goodbye to Oz, oh please don't go You were the black sheep of ol' HBO We tried to tell them you're the best Too much gory violence? They didn't treat you like the rest. We had joy we had fun We had Miguel on the run But the hacks and the cons like six seasons Are almost gone. Goodbye to Toby and to Chris You gave us angst and more than one great kiss And every time that you were down We would pray you'd come around Back to the love that you had found. We had joy we had fun We had Irish and Muslims We had Bikers we had Gays We had messed up Aryan ways. We had joy we had fun We had scenes that left us stunned But on all those Sunday nights Only Oz was in our sights. We had joy we had fun We can't believe it's almost done Goodbye to cast and crew We owe so much to you. -the end- 24 June 2002 Tattinger's Episode Seven "Broken Windows" added to scripts 19 April 2002 I’m very grateful for the numerous e-mails I’ve been receiving since we opened this website last December. I’ve noticed some of the same questions get repeated often, so, in an effort to save my writing hand, I’m going to let you in on the following: 1. The first season DVD of Oz came out in March and sold, in its first week, more copies then Sopranos or Sex in the City during their first weeks. 2. HBO tells me the second season DVD will be out in January, 2003. 3. There are no plans for a Homicide DVD (except for the "movie" finale which is already available) or for any more Homicide tapes, as far as I know. If you want them, badger NBC, which owns the rights. 4. The truth about what happened to the Reverend Cloutier will be revealed next season. 5. The truth about what happened the night Chris Keller killed Brice Tibbets will be revealed next season. Since we begin shooting April 22, 2002, I will have less time to respond directly to your e-mails, though I will try my damndest (can I say damndest on the Internet?). Please be patient, as it may take me months to answer, but I really do appreciate your continued interest in the series. And in my other work. Peace Tom Fontana 18 April 2002 PLEASE NOTE: I’m very grateful for all of the e-mails and I will try to respond to them in a timely manner, but I’m in the midst of writing the next batch of Oz episodes. We go back into production April 22nd, so my time is getting more and more limited. Thanks, Tom 4 April 2002 "The Fourth Wiseman" video available from: Gateway Films/Vision Video P.O. Box 540 Worcester, PA 19490 ISBN 1-56364-085-X 26 March 2002 Oz the musical (continued) I received this song parody via e-mail from Amanda. I think it's pretty funny. Sing along with the music from Don McLean's "American Pie". A long long time ago I can still remember how Chris Keller made poor Beecher smile And i knew season 5's the time, For Tom to make the lovers pine, but I thought they'd be happy for a while But February made me curse With every plot turn for the worst Bad news on my T.V. Why would Fontana tease me? I hope he knows i'll whine and cry If he tries to bid our Chris goodbye And I might pistol-whip the guy, If he lets Chris Keller die.. (Chorus) So c'mon, Tom, keep Chris Keller alive, Without his frequent nudity, your ratings will dive This whole 'everyone's on death row' thing it really don't jive, Please don't leave us Keller-deprived, Please don't leave us Keller-deprived. Did you think this season through? And do you have faith we'll make it to Next January for your show? Do you believe we're not upset? Oh yeah, do you care to place a bet? 'Cause we've got words for the guys at HBO. Well I know you love Meloni too, 'Cause you stole him back from SVU Ice-T just can't compare With Toby (though, cut his hair) But Keller's lonely in his cage With only Claire to pass the days That C.O. fills me up with rage, Please, Tom, don't let Chris die. (Chorus) Now for 5 years, we've defended you, Through aging drugs, immigrants and McClain too, Though our patience is wearing thin. When the inmates sang their songs we thought Here's another chance for a B/K spot But Toby sang with Vern and not with him When you're off writing season six, Could you add some fodder for fan fics? We're not asking for much Just a little slap and touch. If you don't start to change your tune, If B/K scenes don't make us swoon Then we'll be on your doorstep soon If you don't keep Chris alive. And we'll be singin' C'mon, Tom, keep Chris Keller alive, Without his frequent nudity, your ratings will dive This whole 'everyone's on death row' thing it really don't jive, Please don't leave us Keller-deprived, Please don't leave us Keller-deprived. 20 March 2002 Patriotism VS. Dissent: Free Speech During Wartime 1 March 2002 St. Elsewhere honored as part of William S. Paley Television Festival 15 February 2002 Advance screening of "Judas" Diary entry 19 December 2001 I don't own a computer. And so, all this website business is strange and bewildering. But a friend bought me this site as a birthday present, so I said "What the f --" (Hey, can you swear on the Internet?) From time to time, I will write about what’s going on -- in my corner of the world -- and, if you have any thoughts or questions, I'll try to resond (though not instantly). I also plan to publish scripts that I have written, of which I am particularly proud. Hell, I'll even publish some of which I'm not proud. The first will be the first script I ever wrote for television, which was the third episode of St. Elsewhere, entitled "Down's Syndrome" -- You can tell by the title, it's a laugh riot. In other news, I just returned from Miami, Florida, where we are filming Baseball Wives, a pilot for an HBO series, written by Julie Martin and directed by Steve Buscemi. The show is about, you guessed it, the lives of the women behind the men who play a game for a living. Starting January 6th, eight new episodes of Oz air on HBO, Sundays at 10pm. We shot these episodes at our new soundstages in Bayonne, New Jersey, so some of the sets -- particularly the cafeteria and the gym -- will look very different. The cast will be pretty much the same, even Luke Perry and Chris Meloni make return visits. Meanwhile, I'm starting to write the next bunch of Oz episodes, which we'll shoot starting in April and which will air in January 2003! So, happy holidays, no matter which God you subscribe to. And here's to a New Year filled with love and joy and peace. Diary entry 1 October 2001 writing for the telethon Diary entry 10 September 2001 " The Press Secretary" New documentary on PBS Article in Sunday New York Times - 23 September 2001
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Archive

21 August 04

The OZ Season Four DVD will be released in January 2005.
Please note that Tom has no control over this schedule.

12 July 04

The winners for the June 24th The Jury/Oz trivia question are Roxy Leuthard, Tyler Silva and Diva Velez. The correct responses were put in a hat from which Sidney Lumet picked the winning entries. Thank you to all who entered.

George Morfogen.......Bob Rebadow Eamonn Walker.........Kareem Said Betty Buckley.........Suzanne Fitzgerald Scott Winter..........Cyril O'Reily muMs..................Arnold "Poet" Jackson Carlo Alban...........Ricardo J.K. Simmons..........Vern Schillinger Jon Seda..............Dino Ortolani R.E. Rogers...........James Robson Jenna Lamia...........Kerry Schillinger Stephaine Pope........Kina Paite/Nancy Mears Elain Graham..........Lenore Hughes Natascia Diaz.........Margarita

9 July 04

We have been receiving e-mails from many viewers asking what they can do to help save The Jury.

You can contact Fox at:

FOX Broadcasting Co.
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213

              or

askfox@foxinc.com

8 July 04

The Jury is now playing only on Friday evenings at 9:00pm on Fox

24 June 04

The upcoming episode of Tom Fontana's new show, The Jury, airing Tuesday, June 29, at 9pm on FOX, guest stars the following actors who appeared on Oz: George Morfogen, Eamonn Walker, Betty Buckley, Scott William Winters, muMs, Carlo Alban, J.K. Simmons, Jon Seda, R.E. Rodgers, Jenna Lamia, Stephanie Pope, Elain Graham and Natascia Diaz.

Can you name the characters they played on Oz?

Email jury@tomfontana.com with your answers. The entries will be reviewed after the repeat showing of the episode airs on July 2nd at 9pm on FOX. Three names will be drawn from the correct entries and awarded an Oz prize.

14 May 04

Strip Search will be airing:

Friday 5/14 at 10am on HBO2
Sunday 5/16 at 11 on HBO Signature
Tuesday 5/18 at 11pm on HBO2

14 May 04

click for The Jury press release

click for The Jury Media Alert

click for FOX's The Jury site

14 May 04

The Museum of Television and Radio seminar

The Jury Is In
Premiere of the New Courtroom Drama
Thursday, June 3, 2004
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

11 February 04

Oz Season Three DVD signing will be on Tuesday, February 24th, 2004, from 6-8pm at the Tower Records at 66th and Broadway. Which actors will be there has not been set yet.

Eventually, HBO's plan is to release all six seasons, though the schedule has not been determined yet. As far as I know, all the episodes will be on DVD and VHS but that is subject to change.

12 December 03

Updates

"Judas", written by Tom Fontana, will air on ABC Monday, March 8, 2004. Filmed in Morocco in the summer of 2001, the film explores Judas Iscariot's search for fulfillment and stars Jonathan Schaech, Jonathan Scarfe, Tim Matheson and Bob Gunton.

"The Jury", a pilot for FBC written by Tom Fontana and Jim Yoshimura and directed by Barry Levinson, is currently shooting on location in New York and on the soundstages in Bayonne. The series will examine the judicial system primarily from the jury's point of view.

Tom Fontana was recently inducted in the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame, joining such notables as Lucille Ball, Mark Russell, Buffalo Bob Smith, George Abbott, Christine Baranski and Jay Silverheels of "Tonto" fame.

8 September 03

Oz Season 3 is set to release on 2/24/04 and Season 4 will be 10/5/04.

9 September 03

From Keith Gow in Australia:

Recently there was a discussion about TV crossovers on alt.tv.homicide and we discovered, to our amazement, that "St. Elsewhere" and "Homicide" (and Tommy Westphall’s mind) connect to 83 other TV shows through detailed references and
actual crossover storylines.

We were amused to read that you imagined that all of television existed in little Tommy’s mind. It might not be all of television, but it’s pretty extensive. Ranging from "I Love Lucy" through 12 shows that are still on the air.

Long-time poster Ashley Crowe and I have put together a crossover grid to really see the extent of this fun.

Ashley and I would love it if you would provide a link from your site to ours. Here's the URL:

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~kwgow/crossovers.html

24 June 03

TOM FONTANA'S DIARY

They say death comes in threes. And so last week we experienced the loss of three famous men: Gregory Peck, David Brinkley and Hume Cronyn.

I'd met Gregory Peck once, at the Banff Television Festival, twenty years ago. He was everything you thought he'd be - warm and generous, intelligent and full of wit. When I told him The Keep to the Kingdom was one of my favorite films, he nodded graciously but seemed surprised. I guess people generally talk about his performance in To Kill a Mockingbird. Several years ago, Barbara Kopple did a documentary about Peck. If you can get a copy, you'll see the real man, genuine and gentlemanly.

I also met David Brinkley once at some function, probably the Peabodys. He, too, was intelligent and full of wit, genuine and gentlemanly. Though I grew up watching The Huntley-Brinkley Report, Brinkley made Sunday mornings intellectually stimulating and politically charged with This Week. His contribution to public discourse cannot be measured.

I worked with Hume Cronyn very early in my career, when he and his wife, Jessica Tandy, did a benefit at the Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo. I kept calling them "Mister Cronyn" and "Miss Tandy" - and they kept yelling at me, "Call me Jessie, call me Hume!" Another intelligent, witty, genuine gentleman. As I got into television, I would run into Mister Cronyn at various awards ceremonies - we both won the Humanitas Prize in 1985.
I last saw him at the Writers' Guild of America East reception, where he was very frail, very wispy, the way old people get. We were talking about something that'd happened a few days before and he said: "You know, at my age, I can't remember what I had for breakfast, but I can remember forty years ago perfectly."

What a wonderful gift - to remember the past so clearly, so joyously - and to forget the aches of old age. I hope when I'm ninety (if I'm ever ninety) that God grants me the same blessing.

So, three wonderful human beings have departed the earth for parts unknown. They went with thousands of others who died last week, most of whom are not famous and will be forgotten in a generation or two. Peck, Brinkley and Cronyn represented those people, spoke for us all in various ways and by various means. The stillness of their voices is really a rallying cry for those of us who remain, to speak the truth, articulately and passionately. That, not fame, is their true and enduring legacy.

27 May 03

Statement on media deregulation before the Senate on May 22nd.

28 May 03

97% OF AMERICANS CAN'T BE WRONG, CAN THEY?

In the last two weeks, considerably greater media attention has come to focus on the FCC and its intention to further deregulate media ownership standards... Click on the link above for details

22 May 03

Hear Tom's interview on the NPR show Fresh Air

19 April 03

On June 2, the Federal Communications Commission is planning on authorizing sweeping changes to the American news media.

(click on text for more information)

16 April 03

Lee Tergesen can be reached via www.leetergesen.net
and Chris Meloni at www.christopher-meloni.com/

1 April 03

From Script to Screen

The Art, Craft and Business of Writing for TV andFilm.
Saturday, April 12th - 3:15pm to 4:45pm
"Tom Fontana on TV"

further info at http://market.ifp.org/newyork/script/

28 March 03

TOM FONTANA’S DIARY

    Theatre people have always cast a wary eye at film, fearful that action-packed motion pictures would override the experience of a live performance.

    In turn, film people have traditionally been suspicious of television, worrying that audiences would hesitate to pay for entertainment when they could get it free, sitting in their living rooms.

    Television people, meanwhile, feel inferior to both, knowing that, on the tube, art takes a backseat to what’s popular.

    Sometimes, however, there is cross-pollination, the latest example being Urban Cowboy, a musical which opened March 27th at the Broadhurst Theatre, based on the 1980 feature starring John Travolta.

    In fact, Broadway shows adapted from movie scripts dominate the litany of recent theatrical successes: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Full Monty, Hairspray, The Producers and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

    Whereas, once upon a time, Rodgers and Hammerstein would choose a book, say Tales of the South Pacific, as the source of inspiration, everyone except Sondheim seems to be using Blockbuster instead.

    Movie moguls are no less guilty of pilfering the past, though they tend to use old TV series, Charlie’s Angels, The Fugitive, I Spy, Mission: Impossible and the upcoming SWAT, for example, as the basis of films.

    Television, which will steal an idea from anywhere, has had less success borrowing from theatre and film. Over a fifty year period, the list of Nielsen grabbers is limited to I Remember Mama, The Odd Couple and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

    Sadly, if this on-going regurgitation continues, Broadway producers will eventually be forced to take TV-film hybrids and set them to music. Here are some possibilities:

A Very Brady Musical – Disney presents Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald in a gospel version of the never before told story of how Mike and Carol met at a widow/widower grief counseling session. Songs include: "Braces Are a Girl’s Best Friend" and "Here’s to the Bradys Who Lunch."

The Flintstones – Baz Luhrmann reinvents Bedrock with dances by Twyla Tharp and Harvey Fierstein as Wilma. Songs include: "Send in the Claosaurus" and "Yabadaba-do-be-do-be-do."

Starsky and Hutch – Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick reunite as two unorthodox cops, who kick ass on the kick line. Songs include: "He Loves Me (But He Doesn’t Know It)" and "Most Happy Felon."

Star Trek – Tap-dancing Klingons! Singing Tribbles! Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber creates an out-of-this-world score, where three generations of Enterprise crews come together for the big finale, "(To Beam) The Impossible Beam."

The Twilight Zone – Audience members are transported to a fifth dimension, as vast as space and as timeless as a tango. Donny Osmond plays Rod Serling. Songs include "To Serve Man" and "Time Enough at Last."

    As someone who has conquered all three mediums, Mel Brooks would be the perfect choice to write, produce and star in the musical version of Paddy Chayefsky’s Network. Imagine Mel belting the show stopper "Mad as Hell (And Not Gonna Take It Anymore)!" Imagine a chorus line of network censors dancing to "Springtime for Moonves."

    Of course, all of this may simply be jealousy on my part. Jerry Herman has not asked to musicalize St. Elsewhere, Homicide or Oz.

    That’s probably just as well. Basing a musical on a movie doesn’t guarantee a boffo box office. For every Sunset Boulevard, there’s a Saturday Night Fever. And TV shows don’t always translate to the big screen, witness McHale’s Navy and The Coneheads.

    Actually, given the rate of failure, I am left to wonder why these transformations occur so often. Not because we lack originality. There are plenty of talented lyricists, librettists and screenwriters out there.

    Rather, I think, we suffer from what could be called "Kellogg’s Syndrome." Producers have convinced themselves in the importance of the brand name to sell tickets. They are willing to exploit an entity, say Sweet Smell of Success or Lost in Space, simply because the audience may remember it from their youths. Or, worse, heard their parents wax nostalgically about it.

    If the responsibility of theatre, film and television is, in part, to define the times we live in, what good can come from revisiting My Favorite Martian or Debbie Does Dallas? Better use of the time, energy and money would be spent on developing projects dealing with issues that confront us in the 21st century: education, environment, terrorism, health care. There are precedents: Finian’s Rainbow (1947) tackled racism and poverty, while Gentlemen’s Agreement (1935) took on anti-Semitism. Hell, at this point, I’d be happy with a show that examines the inner thoughts of Barney, the Bush dog.

    So, my advice to the Shuberts and Nederlanders, to Sony and Universal, to NBC and CBS, is this: rather than dig into the archives to find next year’s smash, give writers a chance to do what writers do – create. Who knows, you may get something entertaining and enlightening and fresh. You may even get a whole new brand name, another long-term franchise.

    If not, after a while, the same old same old will only lead to empty playhouses, bad opening weekends and Joe Millionaire.

    Meanwhile, Jerry Herman, I’m waiting for your call.

# # #

18 March 03

Deleted scenes from OZ added to Scripts

OZ - A Rock Opera by Juli Martin

13 March 03
MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB
April 28 -- TOM FONTANA -- Testing the Tube --- Stage I

The award-winning writer behind such landmark series as Oz, Homicide, and St. Elsewhere talks about his shift from theatre to television, smashes clichés about the medium, and evokes the arduous, maddening ways in which quality drama actually manages (sometimes) to get on the air

To order tickets call 1-212-399-3030

25 February 03

Article from Sunday New York Times

31 January 2003

Homicide "Colors" added to Scripts

29 January 2003

OZ: The Musical by Julie Mattes

25 January 2003

Ok, I know I'm no writer, but here's my little ode to Oz. I run
Eamonn's website at www.eamonnwalker.com. Stop by anytime!

Lori

FAREWELL TO OZ

With heavy hearts we must say goodbye
To shanking, to raping, to pragging, oh my!

With one eye open, the other shut tight
We watched each week in wait for the fright

You made each viewer squeal with horror and fear
Their goal to shock us was abundantly clear

We savor each episode and analyze each line
And didn't hurt a bit that the men were so fine

Tom Fontana, the writer, often seen as magician
What makes your mind tick is a scary proposition

Only you could delight and intrigue us each week
You do not write for the wimpish or meek

So much thanks to the cast who always entertained
You deserve all the praise us fans can maintain

A special farewell to my beloved Kareem
You spoke to my soul directly it seemed

Tom created you beautifully and Eamonn brought you alive
I'm praying for a spin off to make you survive!

So farewell to Oz, we'll search high and low
to catch each rerun on our HBO!!

22 January 2003

THE LATE GEORGE APLEY
By John P. Marquand and George S. Kaufman
Directed by Tom Fontana
with Edward Herrmann
January 27, 2003

Details here

18 January 2003

Tom Fontana's Diary

On Thursday, January 17th, I appeared before the FCC at the Columbia Forum on Media Ownership Rules.

Before an intensive question and answer period, each panelist made remarks. Here are mine. For more information, go to www.creativecommunity.us and www.wgae.org. Streaming Video here (Real Player)

* * * * *

First, I want to thank you for holding these hearings and for inviting me to speak.

Second, I want to tell you that, as someone who is usually behind the camera, not in front of it, I am more then a little intimidated.

I am not a politician. I am not a businessman. I am not a lobbyist. As you can see, I don't even own a tie. I don't have strong feelings for or against government regulation. More importantly, I am neither a seer nor a prophet, I cannot predict the future. None of us can.

So, why am I here?

I came today driven by a very basic emotion - fear.

Since I started writing and producing twenty-two years ago, I have watched the face of television change drastically. The networks, which were once like mom'n'pop grocery stores, have been devoured by conglomerates. And, in turn, these networks have begun swallowing up each other. CBS owns UPN and MTV. NBC owns PAX and MSNBC. ABC owns ESPN and Lifetime. In a contradiction worthy of Lewis Carroll, there are now more networks than ever and yet there are fewer of them.

So what?

Eight years ago, after considerable struggle, the Fin-Syn rules were dropped, allowing networks to own programs. At the time, the heads of all the networks assured us that nothing would change. They might as well have offered to sell us the Brooklyn Bridge.

I was lucky enough to get my start at one of the best independent production companies ever - MTM. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant, The White Shadow, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere. MTM was an independent not just because it wasn't owned by anyone else, but because Grant Tinker made decisions based on both business savvy and a passion for quality. Because he backed his attitudes with his own money, Grant was fearless when fighting against the dumbing down of his products. His extraordinary vision nurtured several generations of TV's best talent, including many women and minorities. Because Fin-Syn is no more, MTM is no more - sucked into a blackhole at FOX. Sometimes by deregulating a big business, you can choke the life of a small one.

Without Fin-Syn, many other fundamental practices in our industry have corroded over time, but in the interest of brevity, I won't go through each point. Except to say that, once again, we are being told that if the Dual Network Rule is abandoned, nothing will change. I hope you can understand why we might be a little doubtful.

Now, none of us are naive. We all know that commercial television exists to make money. At its heart, television is capitalism. And to take the thought one step further: Television is democracy.

The networks compete for advertising dollars and attractive demographics. And that competition fuels the economy.

Television is also democracy because it is our only national town hall. Television is where divergent points of view can be expressed, where conflicting opinions can be argued, not just within one segment of Meet The Press, but from program to program. The brutality of NYPD Blue is balanced by the spirituality of Touched By An Angel. Drew Carey's Cleveland balances Frasier Crane's Seattle. Bill O'Reilly balances Ted Koppel. Yet, NYPD Blue would have never made the CBS schedule. Bill O'Reilly would never be hired at NBC. Certain shows can only happen at certain networks, either because of branding or because of some executive's individual taste.

People will say there's diversity simply by the sheer number of networks currently available. But, in truth, many series are now "repurposed" - airing on cable several days after its broadcast premiere. These shows, however, are not offered for sale on the open market as has traditionally been done, but are automatically going to an entity tied corporately to the major network. For example, the ABC series "Life With Bonnie" will be repurposed on the Family Channel because both the broadcast network and the cable network are owned by Disney. This back alley deal diminishes a program's long term value. So much for free enterprise, so much for diversity.

By abandoning the current FCC rules, we run the risk of reducing the number of major networks. We run the risk of eliminating small businesses. We run the risk of limiting original thought and the freedom of expression. Like I said, I'm no prophet, but to me these risks are far too great.

By changing the rules, television will not necessarily get better. Not for me, as a writer and producer. Not for me, as a viewer. Not for me, as a stockholder. Not for me, as an American.

So, I ask you to think long and hard before you rewrite history.

And I'd like to leave you with a final thought. There are two countries which each have only one television network: Iraq and North Korea.

Thank you for your kind attention.

11 December 2002

Oz Infinitum
By Tom Fontana and Lee Tergesen

As the last eight episodes approach, viewers have been concerned about what will happen to the characters once Oz is no more.

We’re happy to announce the following spin-offs, which will premiere thoughout 2003, on the broadcast TV schedule:

Leave it to Beecher - The irascible Toby can’t help getting into trouble, despite his parents’ warnings.

Everybody Loves Reimondo - Sister Pete moves across the street from Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle. Hilarity ensues!

Welcome Back, Keller - Chris Keller becomes headmaster of an all boys’ prep school. Nudity ensues!

Robson - The former Nazi goes to work in Governor Devlin’s mansion. Robert Guillaume co-stars.

Three’s Humping Me - Cyril O’Reily pretends to have the mind of a three year old in order to share an apartment with two beautiful women. Suzanne Somers co-stars.

Dharma and Kareem - Dharma dumps Greg for a man filled with spiritual enlightenment. Little does she know, Said just likes to sleep with White women.

Will and Glynn - Will shares an apartment with the Warden in hopes of meeting men.

Vern and Shirley - Schillinger and Bellinger move to Milwaukee and live downstairs from a guy named Squiggy.

Morales in the Middle - The Latino gang leader is adopted by a dysfunctional WASP family and fits in immediately.

Hill’s Chair Blues - Augustus becomes a cop in a wheelchair. (Hey, it worked for Ironsides!)

After O*z - Busmalis, Rebadow and Father Mukada start a half-way house in Missouri. Harry Morgan co-stars.

The O’Reily Factor - In this new talk show, Ryan conspires to have political opponents assassinate each other.

McManus and Wife - As Corrections Commissioner, Tim and his new bride (Jennifer Garner) solve murder mysteries. She kicks ass, while he ponders the meaning of life.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show - Mary Richards returns to WJM, only to find out that her new boss is Omar White

All in the Infirmary - Doctor Gloria Nathan works alongside Archie Bunker’s racist grandson at an abortion clinic in Spanish Harlem.

Oz, Nevada - The prisoners gang rape Ben Affleck, in order to keep him from producing more TV shows.

CSI: Oz - After another rash of murders in Oswald, the authorities decide to open a permanent CSI office inside the prison.

Enemies - Each week, Dino Ortolani kills off another cast member of Friends.

The Odd Couple - Poet and the Pope star.

Of course, since HBO is our home, we wanted to make sure that there were plenty of shows on cable.

WWE Smack - Burr Redding referees as wrestlers do massive amounts of steroids and heroin, while making body contact.

The Weakest Dick - Hosted by Claire Howell

8 Rules For Raping My Cellmate - Peter Schibetta frets over the dating habits of his attractive, young cellmate.

Pecker - Jaz Hoyt wonders why it burns. Ted Danson co-stars.

Just Shank Me - An edgier George Segal brings his recently paroled, illegitimate son, Jia Kenmin, to work at his new porno magazine.

Fucked by an Angel - The Reverend Cloutier uses his Saintly powers to get laid.

Turd Watch - Miguel Alvarez smears excrement on the walls of public institutions. Premiere episode: “Inside the White House”.

Boston Pubic - Adebisi gives tips to students on how to wear a hat.

Eight Inches is Enough - Betty Buckley gives her husband a penile implant for Christmas. Dick Van Patten co-stars.

Jag-Off - Wangler, Pancamo and Groves compete for prizes.

Roz - Diane Wittlesey runs a women’s prison. Peri Gilpin and Joan Jett co-star.

27 November 2002

Bruce Paltrow

   I have been struggling, since Bruce died, to write something about him. I’m struggling – not because I can’t think of what to say, but because I have too much to say, because my sadness grows more acute each day, because the memories keep flooding my brain.

   His birthday is this week and I feel compelled to get some words down, I want to celebrate the life of the man who changed my life. So, here goes:

   His mind was fertile and funny. His tongue was sharp and honest. His soul (yes, Bruce, I’m going to get Catholic) was open and free and generous and without prejudice and, well, everything a true soul should be.

   Bruce never lied to me, not in our professional dealings nor in our personal relationship. That, in this business, is an extraordinary thing. I wish I could say that I never lied to him.

   Ask anyone who knew the man and they’ll tell you a dozen Bruce stories, all filled with his humor, his warmth, his understanding and his clear-headedness. If you had a complex problem, Bruce would come up with a simple, but unique solution.

   There isn’t a day, as a writer or a producer, as a mentor or a confidant, that I don’t take a page from the "Book of Paltrow" – he was wise, most of the time, and when he wasn’t wise, he shot straight from the heart.

   He had a wonderful sense of justice and fair play. I never saw Bruce truly angry, unless some bastard was trying to screw over him or someone he loved. His anger rose, not from ego, but from the shock of a trust broken, of a deceit revealed. He was, at the same moment, both cynical and naïve.

   He could’ve done anything with his life. But he chose to work in television, film and theatre. And, even in the valleys, between the triumphs, he never lost his passion to create. Cancelled shows, studio interference, cancer, nothing could stop his enthusiasm, his love of the game.

   Ironically, after years of not working together, Bruce and I were going to co-write a project for HBO, when he got back from Europe. I’m still going to do the script, but it won’t be nearly as much as fun.

   I can see Bruce now, in Heaven, his pen poised, ready to cut what I’ve written. Not this time, pal. A million words can’t sum you up: husband, father, son, brother, uncle, baby-hugger, producer, director, writer, tennis bum, skier, fisherman, New Yorker, Los Angelino, world traveler, raconteur, art lover, arts contributor, guardian angel, rabbi, pope, partner, boss, teacher, friend…

   When a personality as large and loud as Bruce Paltrow leaves, the silence echoes.

   Okay, okay, Bruce, I’ll stop.

   Except to say that I wish everyone on the planet could live as you did: "Vive Bene, Spesso L’Amore, Di Risata Molto!" And Happy Birthday!

22 November 2002

Benefit performances coming up in December

Times article

24 September 2002

The second season DVD of OZ will be available sometime in January of 2003. To find out when the other seasons will appaear, you can contact HBO.    OZ@HBO.COM

23 August 2002

Goodbye to Oz
by Lisa H.
(to the tune of Seasons in the Sun)

Goodbye to Oz it's hard to die
Why do you have to leave us why oh why
Other TV can't quite compare
Cheap laugh tracks are everywhere
Network honchos just don't care.

Goodbye Tom F. a heart felt sigh
Good luck with your new project Baseball Wives
We'll look for shows with great care
Like Homicide and St. Elsewhere
When we see them you'll be there.

We had joy we had fun
We had shanks and Clayton's gun
And the people that died well they sometimes
Made us cry.

Goodbye to Oz, oh please don't go
You were the black sheep of ol' HBO
We tried to tell them you're the best
Too much gory violence?
They didn't treat you like the rest.

We had joy we had fun
We had Miguel on the run
But the hacks and the cons like six seasons
Are almost gone.

Goodbye to Toby and to Chris
You gave us angst and more than one great kiss
And every time that you were down
We would pray you'd come around
Back to the love that you had found.

We had joy we had fun
We had Irish and Muslims
We had Bikers we had Gays
We had messed up Aryan ways.

We had joy we had fun
We had scenes that left us stunned
But on all those Sunday nights
Only Oz was in our sights.

We had joy we had fun
We can't believe it's almost done
Goodbye to cast and crew
We owe so much to you.

-the end-

24 June 2002

Tattinger's Episode Seven "Broken Windows" added to scripts

19 April 2002

I’m very grateful for the numerous e-mails I’ve been receiving since we opened this website last December.

I’ve noticed some of the same questions get repeated often, so, in an effort to save my writing hand, I’m going to let you in on the following:

1. The first season DVD of Oz came out in March and sold, in its first week, more copies then Sopranos or Sex in the City during their first weeks.

2. HBO tells me the second season DVD will be out in January, 2003.

3. There are no plans for a Homicide DVD (except for the "movie" finale which is already available) or for any more Homicide tapes, as far as I know. If you want them, badger NBC, which owns the rights.

4. The truth about what happened to the Reverend Cloutier will be revealed next season.

5. The truth about what happened the night Chris Keller killed Brice Tibbets will be revealed next season.

Since we begin shooting April 22, 2002, I will have less time to respond directly to your e-mails, though I will try my damndest (can I say damndest on the Internet?). Please be patient, as it may take me months to answer, but I really do appreciate your continued interest in the series. And in my other work.

Peace

Tom Fontana

18 April 2002

PLEASE NOTE:

I’m very grateful for all of the e-mails and I will try to respond to them in a timely manner, but I’m in the midst of writing the next batch of Oz episodes. We go back into production April 22nd, so my time is getting more and more limited. Thanks, Tom

4 April 2002

"The Fourth Wiseman" video available from:

Gateway Films/Vision Video
P.O. Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490
ISBN 1-56364-085-X

26 March 2002

Oz the musical (continued)
I received this song parody via e-mail from Amanda. I think it's pretty funny. Sing along with the music from Don McLean's "American Pie".

A long long time ago
I can still remember how Chris Keller made poor Beecher smile
And i knew season 5's the time,
For Tom to make the lovers pine,
but I thought they'd be happy for a while
But February made me curse
With every plot turn for the worst
Bad news on my T.V.
Why would Fontana tease me?
I hope he knows i'll whine and cry
If he tries to bid our Chris goodbye
And I might pistol-whip the guy,
If he lets Chris Keller die..

  (Chorus)
So c'mon, Tom, keep Chris Keller alive,
Without his frequent nudity, your ratings will dive
This whole 'everyone's on death row' thing it really don't jive,
Please don't leave us Keller-deprived,
Please don't leave us Keller-deprived.

Did you think this season through?
And do you have faith we'll make it to
Next January for your show?
Do you believe we're not upset?
Oh yeah, do you care to place a bet?
'Cause we've got words for the guys at HBO.
Well I know you love Meloni too,
'Cause you stole him back from SVU
Ice-T just can't compare
With Toby (though, cut his hair)
But Keller's lonely in his cage
With only Claire to pass the days
That C.O. fills me up with rage,
Please, Tom, don't let Chris die.

(Chorus)

Now for 5 years, we've defended you,
Through aging drugs, immigrants and McClain too,
Though our patience is wearing thin.
When the inmates sang their songs we thought
Here's another chance for a B/K spot
But Toby sang with Vern and not with him
When you're off writing season six,
Could you add some fodder for fan fics?
We're not asking for much
Just a little slap and touch.
If you don't start to change your tune,
If B/K scenes don't make us swoon
Then we'll be on your doorstep soon
If you don't keep Chris alive.

And we'll be singin'
C'mon, Tom, keep Chris Keller alive,
Without his frequent nudity, your ratings will dive
This whole 'everyone's on death row' thing it really
don't jive,
Please don't leave us Keller-deprived,
Please don't leave us Keller-deprived.

20 March 2002

Patriotism VS. Dissent:
Free Speech During Wartime

1 March 2002

St. Elsewhere honored as part of
William S. Paley Television Festival

15 February 2002

Advance screening of "Judas"

Diary entry 19 December 2001
I don't own a computer.

And so, all this website business is strange and bewildering.

But a friend bought me this site as a birthday present, so I said "What the f --" (Hey, can you swear on the Internet?)

From time to time, I will write about what’s going on -- in my corner of the world -- and, if you have any thoughts or questions, I'll try to resond (though not instantly).

I also plan to publish scripts that I have written, of which I am particularly proud. Hell, I'll even publish some of which I'm not proud.

The first will be the first script I ever wrote for television, which was the third episode of St. Elsewhere, entitled "Down's Syndrome" -- You can tell by the title, it's a laugh riot.

In other news, I just returned from Miami, Florida, where we are filming Baseball Wives, a pilot for an HBO series, written by Julie Martin and directed by Steve Buscemi. The show is about, you guessed it, the lives of the women behind the men who play a game for a living.

Starting January 6th, eight new episodes of Oz air on HBO, Sundays at 10pm. We shot these episodes at our new soundstages in Bayonne, New Jersey, so some of the sets -- particularly the cafeteria and the gym -- will look very different. The cast will be pretty much the same, even Luke Perry and Chris Meloni make return visits.

Meanwhile, I'm starting to write the next bunch of Oz episodes, which we'll shoot starting in April and which will air in January 2003!
So, happy holidays, no matter which God you subscribe to. And here's to a New Year filled with love and joy and peace.

Diary entry 1 October 2001
writing for the telethon

Diary entry 10 September 2001
" The Press Secretary" New documentary on PBS
Article in Sunday New York Times - 23 September 2001

The Jury Is In Premiere of the New Courtroom Drama

The Jury Is In
Premiere of the New Courtroom Drama