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George Michael guest stars alongside Jonny Lee Miller in new SCI FI channel series, Eli Stone. Real.com reviews the first episode, before the show airs exclusively in the UK on the SCI FI channel, every Monday at 9pm from 6th October:
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Real Review:
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With the makers of Dirty, Sexy Money behind the latest US export, you’d be right in thinking that Eli Stone is smart, slick and thought-provoking, expertly mixing humour and tragedy. Picture Jonny Lee Miller as the new ‘male Ally McBeal of the Noughties’ with similar personal problems, self doubts, hallucinations and that whiff of corporate power, and you’re on the right track. And just like McBeal, Eli is also prone (unintentionally) to making a twit of himself in public. But these moments are the oh-so-creative and genuinely funny parts that form the basis of his visions - and usually include the appearance of superstar George Michael. Yes, in a rather refreshing mickey take, the star hip-swings with full enthusiasm and mockery into his role, with a particularly hilarious moment played out on Eli’s home coffee table.
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Miller, brilliantly cast, is rather endearing and quite hilarious as metrosexual, modern-man Eli, not afraid to shed a tear or boogie with the best. From the first episode, we get a satisfactory character introduction of what to expect in coming episodes that makes for a rather multi-dimensional character - with more than a little intrigue thrown in to keep us wanting to find out more and tune in next time. Apart from the visions, some distressing news shatters Eli’s comfortable existence and this will be at the heart of the new series as things develop.
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Exciting, witty and totally engaging, there’s now something on Mondays worth putting in the TV diary. Here’s predicting as much of a cult following as with Heroes.
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By Lisa Keddie
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About Eli Stone:
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Super-star George Michael is making his acting debut on British TV screens with a cameo role alongside series star Jonny Lee Miller in comical legal fantasy Eli Stone, premiering exclusively in the UK on the SCI FI channel this autumn. The gifted singer has a recurring role in the critically acclaimed American series, which has recently been commissioned for a second season in the USA.
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Eli Stone stars fellow Brit Jonny Lee Miller as the titular hero - an ambitious lawyer whose life is completely transformed by a series of strange hallucinations. The predictive visions are seemingly steered by the song lyrics or appearance of George Michael, taking Eli on an emotional and comical path of discovery, both personally and professionally. While medical science blames an inoperable brain aneurysm, Eli’s acupuncturist Dr. Chen (James Saito) has a different explanation… Eli is a prophet!
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The quirky show, licensed from Disney-ABC-ESPN Television, is produced by ABC Studios and created by duo Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, producers of the award-winning Brothers & Sisters and Dirty Sexy Money, aired on Channel 4. Each Season 1 episode is named after a popular George Michael hit, with the pilot appropriately named ‘Faith’. Other episodes include ‘Freedom’, ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ and ‘I Want Your Sex’.
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The ‘dramedy’ has attracted a slew of other guest stars in the USA, with actress Katie Holmes already drawing world-wide headlines after recording a guest-spot for Season 2.
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The show’s regular cast includes Natasha Henstridge (Species) as Eli’s fiancée, Victor Garber (Alias) as his boss and future father-in-law, Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy) as his quick-witted assistant, Julie Gonzalo (Veronica Mars) as an up-and-coming lawyer and Matt Letscher (The New Adventures of Old Christine) as Eli’s brother and physician.
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Jon Farrar, Programming Director for NBC Universal Global Networks, today said, “It’s a real coup to bring Eli Stone - and superstar George Michael’s first ever drama performance - to the UK. We’re especially thrilled that it’s in such an inventive and uplifting fantasy that fits in so perfectly with our channel brand. SCI FI was the first to bring the critically acclaimed Heroes and Tin Man to the UK and Eli Stone has that same ‘event’ feel of being something special. We expect it to bring in a huge mainstream audience who will find its mix of celebrity, comedy, emotion and drama especially endearing.”
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Catherine Powell, Disney-ABC-ESPN Television’s SVP, Programme Distribution, EMEA (North) said: “At a time where many US series have performed strongly in international markets, Eli Stone has been much talked about right from the start. It’s a unique and compelling series, and we’re delighted to be working with SCI FI to launch it to UK viewers.”
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The series is coming to UK television screens exclusively on the SCI FI channel, available on Sky, Virgin Media, Tiscali and Top Up TV.
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Video on Real.com
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TWO CLIPS from Season 1:
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