The TV Zone

Bless - or curse - those rascally creators of "Damages" who weren't above (or below) fooling with the heads of assorted TV writers here in BH this morning. The question, as inevitably it must, came up a few times about whether Arthur Frobisher survived the bullet that felled him at the end of last season. As richly deserved as the lead may have been, fans might have a hard time envisioning this splendid show without Ted Danson's well-turned modern-day Machiavelli/Marquis de Sade. Of course, Danson is back next season (launches sometime in January) but is he still alive? As co-creator Todd Kessler told us this ayem, "just because he's back doesn't mean he survived."

Whaaa? Reason is of course obvious: Like "Lost," "Damages" plays with time like a slide rule, pushing viewers ahead of the action on occasion so that they are more omniscient than the characters, and pushing 'em back too. So...Frobisher may only exist next season in flashbacks...Says Kessler, "we have a lot more material...and [Frobisher] is a great union of character and actor that has inspired us to delve further..."

Even if he's dead.

Danson was asked, too, about his survival. Quick answer: Hell if he knew. And asked about "Curb," which he'll also probably be back on (very much alive.) Has Larry called yet? "It's Larry's world and he just assumes when he picks up the phone [and calls] you'll come. It's as simple as that. The phone rings and I'm available - it's as sad as that" too.

(Above, well, is the bastard dead or alive? Photo courtesy FX.)