Cannell said having Chris as the new lead was 'cool' and that he (Chris) was going to be 'the next huge star' (I wrote that down immediately so I'd remember the quote.). He also said at the book signing that he thought Chris was a great actor and if Silk Stalkings didn't take off, he was going to put Chris in something else.

At the book signing I asked him to talk about Silk Stalkings, because of all the rumors on the Net. Here's the premise for show. Tom Ryan and Cassie St. John played by Janet Gunn, are homicide detectives. Real hotshot homicide detectives. They close about 80% of their cases. They decide their great teamwork is actually something else and get married. Seven very lustful months later, they're not even talking, though they're still working in the same precinct. And they're divorced. Tom is this great, sweet, romantic guy who still likes Cassie. Cassie is 'Jane Wayne', and has a hard time finding anyone who will work with her. Especially after she turns in her new partner for taking money from a bad guy. (The new partner was a big shot among the other cops.) So Cassie gets the Captain to give her back her ex-husband as a partner. And he's such a good guy, he goes along with it. But he also has a backbone. The first scene of the show, he's getting to work in the morning and walks past his ex-Corvette, which she'd won in the divorce. And painted Candy Apple Red. Fight ensues, though Cannell didn't say anything about it.

He did say that it's a lot funnier than the last incarnation of the show. And Cannell REALLY likes Tom Ryan. He couldn't talk about the character in anything but glowing terms.

The show starts airing in Sept., but I think we knew that. Anyway, I feel a little more confident that I'll be able to watch the show without cringing. I may even be able to tell friends I like it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.