michigandaily.comlarts mae@michigandaily.com RTS 0 5 Author of 'Trainspotting' returns to grand form with 'Porno' By Neal Pais Daily Books Editor Irvine Welsh is up to the same old tricks in his "Porno," the highly anticipated follow-up to "Trainspotting." And this is precisely why we still love him. The frenetic, drug- fueled hijinks of his collection of individually flawed, but lovable characters never seem to get old. Chronicled in Welsh's latest tale, are the latest schemes and scams of one Simon David Williamson, a.k.a "Sick Boy." Ten years after he, Renton, Spud and Begbie parted ways in London, Sick Boy has grown weary of pimping and petty rip-off jobs. Coming into a bit of money, he heads back home to Leith to organize an assortment of entrepreneurial scams that will propel him- self to porn-king status. IRVINE Intricately interwoven into the primary plot line are the "catch-up" stories of a still hero- At Bc in-addicted Spud, the sociopathic, revenge- Tonight driven Begbie and a cleaner, wiser Renton. Fans of last year's "Glue" will also delight in the appearances of charismatic "Juice" Terry Lawson, cool Rab Birrell and a host of other cameos from Welsh's other fine works. The introduction of Nikki Fuller-Smith, a calcu- lating but insecure university student with porn star ambi- tion a la "Boogie Nights," is welcome because of the prominence of a feminine voice in an Irvine Welsh creation. This motley crew of scheming "punters" unflinchingly bounces to and fro, from the sophistry of metro-London to the seedy bars of developing Edinburgh to the 24-hour party of Amsterdam. The voice of "Porno" should not be unfamiliar to anyone who has previously consumed the Scotsman's prior novels. Dialects and locales change, but the voice conceived in the schemes (projects) of Edinburgh is maintained throughout. Short, choppy chapters serve the work well, keeping the story moving as rapidly as the cocaine that drives its players from one misadventure to another. After 10 years, most of the protagonists who appeared in both "Glue" and "Trainspotting" have matured, if not grown up. Perhaps Welsh has, as well. His eagerness to probe emo- tions more deeply is more apparent in his sequel. Where "Trainspotting" was somewhat disjointed when it came to the mental gears of its characters, "Porno" is far more pene- trating, delving far into the pasts of each addict, sex fiend, hustler and street thug. Psychotic Begbie re-emerges as a much more cerebral character, surprisingly tinged with some type of conscious this time around; Nikki's character exposes some of the issues young women everywhere con- front because of our media-driven society. It is easy to see the literary progression of Scotland's man of the hour. Every ounce of profanity has come to be matched by an equal helping of insight. Although unavailable for comment, Welsh has consistent- ly downplayed his current hero status. He has been hailed as "the poet laureate of the chemical generation" and offered invitations to the Queen's birthday parties. Yet the man remains steadfast to his roots in urban Scotland. His spunky style perseveres, unyielding in its ferocity but ultimately in its empathy, as well. Welsh is truly the pub-crawling work- ingman's idol; born and raised in the streets, he remains true to his beginnings ind unpatronizing in his writing. Saying "life in the schemes goes on pretty much the same as always," he represents his city and its people almost loving- ly. Each hard knock his characters receive is meaningful, indicative of sadly misspent youth and lost potential. Welsh's visit to Borders tonight will hopefully allow WELSH orders t, 7 p.m. readers not familiar with his background and style to view more of the writer's influences. The complexity of each story he crafts, cou- pled with a markedly different cultural set- ting, can inspire insatiable curiosity; more often than not, Welsh's writing often func- tions like one the drugs he talks about - addictive, overpowering and awe-inspiring when experienced. Members of the worldwide "Trainspotting" cult will cer- tainly appreciate "Porno." Filled with wicked twists and black humor, "Porno" is classic Welsh yet again. Renton and the boys have grown older, but they haven't lost their flair for trouble. Nor has Irvine Welsh lost his keen sense of realism, either. Courtesy of CBS The cast of "Presidio Med" in medical garb. resido Med' avoi ds becoming a redundant medical drama 'Good Morning, Mlam' is a fine wake-up for NBC.Thursdays By Jim Schiff Daily Arts Writer Medical dramas are in full bloom this season, and CBS is all too eager to plant some seeds. With "ER," "Scrubs," "MDs" and now "Presidio Med," viewers can easily get their fix of white lab coats and disgrun- tled doctors. But aren't all these shows the same? Thankfully, no. While at first glance "Presidio Med" looks like just another hospi- tal program, it introduces enough fresh elements to make it worth watching. The first thing you'll notice about "Presidio Med" is that it doesn't take place in PRESIL a hospital; rather, its focus is a medium- Wedne sized clinic adjacent to 10, a hospital. Featuring seven physicians fromC various specialties, the Presidio Medical Group offers both emergency and long-term care. Dr. Harriet Lanning (Blythe Danner, "Meet the Parents"), a veteran OB/GYN, heads the team, which is comprised of young hot-heads and cerebral, reserved types. The clinic is also largely operated by women, a refreshing distinction from the male leads of "MDs" and "Scrubs." The combination of female doc- tors and laid-back atmosphere makes "Presidio Med" more inti- mate than its peers. It plays like "ER" on tranquilizers: Doctors butt heads, conflicts arise, but most of the show's situations are not life and death. Instead, "Presidio Med" stresses the relationships that doc- tors form with patients. In the pilot, for example, Dr. Slingerland (Paul Blackthorne) discovers that his bas- ketball buddy is having chest pains. He coaxes the reluctant man into treatment at Presidio, and after dis- covering high amounts of crystal meth in his system, he encourages him to stop taking drugs. Storylines like these make the doctors of "Presidio Med" seem sympathetic to the viewer: Curing the patient becomes the doctor's personal mission. Knowing this, the show's writers are wise to show acts of heroism, rather than heroic fig- ures. The physicians are flawed, just like the rest of us, and sometimes they cross the line with patients. The younger doctors, particularly IC sd tp. 'Bt plastic surgeon Jackie Colette (Sasha Alexander), take more risks than their older counterparts, and often get in trouble with their supe- riors. This creates an interesting dynamic among the cast: Team lead- ers like Dr. Rae Brennan (Dana Delany, "China Beach"), try to reel in the cockiness of the novices, while the young doctors are quick to suggest new medical techniques to the veterans. As an ensemble, the cast works remarkably well together. The earth- ly sensibility of Danner's and Delany's characters is a nice contrast to flashier personalities like * Blackthorne's Dr. O MED Slingerland. Viewers will wish the uptight lays at Dr. Jules Keating m. (Julianne Nicholson) was given less screen S time, but other, more likable doctors make up for her annoyingness. Sasha Alexander steals every scene she's in as the brazen plastic surgeon. Loudly singing along to Bob Marley while performing liposuction, Alexander plays the dual role of dedicated doctor and office goofball to great effect. Occasionally "Presidio Med" teeters on soap opera territory. Since the show explores the physi- cians' professional and personal lives, we sometimes get an unhealthy dose of relationship the- atrics. Oded Fehr's role as Delany's coworker and love interest feels forced - the two don't have any appreciable chemistry..Hopefully, future episodes will bring the show's focus back to the clinic, where it belongs. For all its strengths, it is unlikely "Presidio Med" will last long. Up against the far funnier "MDs" and ratings juggernaut "Law and Order," the show could struggle to find an audience. But with any luck, CBS will give this promising medical drama a more suitable time slot. By Douglas Wernert Daily Arts Writer Jake Silver has no idea what he's gotten himself into. He's c ing taking on the role of producer for a daytime talk show. He has a pan- icky station manager, a pompous host and a nun for a meteorologist. Try-1 ing to maintain some sense of balance will be a challenge. Luckily, NBC didn't have this problem, as "Good Morning, Miami" is a fine mix of comedy and heart-felt substance. Jake (Matt Feuerstein) ontemplat- GOOD Mc MIA Thursd 9:301 NB this problem? Well, have Jake fall for someone, of course. That "someone" is the show's hairdresser, Dylan (Ash- ley Williams), an attractive, funny, energetic gal that can read Jake like a book. Jake now must choose between a love- at-first sight, or a suc- cessful job, which takes a predictable yet inter- ORNING, esting turn at the end of kMI the first episode. Jake's frisky grand- lays at mother, Claire p.m. (Suzanne Pleshette, 3C "The Bob Newhart Show") and Sister Brenda, a hilarious religiously-motivated weather-nun (Brooke Dillman) give the women a chance to also shine in this comedy. The writing is fast and funny, and the possible romance seems like an afterthought at times, but it always comes back at just the right time to keep you intrigued. The characters are all given ample time to make their presence known, and each has a unique personality. There's at least one character that everyone can call their favorite, and they will only get better as the show develops from week to week. With a great time slot (9:30, as a lead-in to "ER") and a strong cast, "Good Morning, Miami" can develop into being something more than just a blip on the new-series radar. A good evening's worth of entertainment is what you expect, and NBC delivers. 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