Blogging the TCA

The writers strike sliced “Dirty Sexy Money’s” freshman season by half, but, just like executive producer Greg Berlanti’s other show, “Eli Stone,” “Money” has some tricks up its sleeves to bring back viewers.

First, Lucy Liu joins the cast. Liu said she received a call from ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson, asking to keep her within the ABC family beyond “Cashmere Mafia.”

Ms. Liu said she loved “Money,” and after some dealing with the executive producers, she was signed on before her character was created.

But critics said that yesterday Mr. McPherson mentioned he was dissatisfied with the tone of “Money,” to which the executive producers promised this year will bring a lighter tone. Not a radical change in tone, because they don't want to dissuade current viewers, but “it’s more dirty, more sexy and more money than ever before,” creator Craig Wright said.

“If the stories are right, the tones will be right,” Mr. Wright said.

—Andrew Krukowski