Cast of ABC's 'Eli Stone' has to face the music every week

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - "Eli Stone" _ the ABC comedy/drama/fantasy/musical _ returns Tuesday for a second season.

Last year's midseason series about a lawyer who has musical visions ended with a cliffhanger questioning whether the visions were real or the result of a brain tumor. Surgery to remove the tumor at the end of the season would suggest the series creators will need to make a decision about the source of Stone's gift.

One thing is certain: If the visions go away there will be a lot less singing and dancing for the cast. Stone's visions can range from solo performances by rocker George Michael to elaborate production numbers by the entire cast.

Some of the show's cast members came to the series better equipped than others to handle the musical numbers. Jonny Lee Miller, who plays Eli Stone, didn't have to do much singing or dancing in the films "Trainspotting" or "Aeon Flux." And Natasha Henstridge never broke into song in either "Species" or "Species II."

The producers were just looking for good actors. It was a bonus that cast members like Loretta Devine, who appeared on stage in "Dreamgirls," could carry a tune.

Victor Garber might be best known to television viewers for his work on "Alias," but he's a seasoned veteran of musical theater. When he was cast, the producers told him there might be a chance later in the season to use his musical skills.

"Then, cut to second episode. I was singing a George Michael song," Garber says during an interview at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

But the musical elements were not the main appeal for Garber. He was attracted to the series because there was a positive feeling about the character of Eli Stone. He was touched by that.

Once filming started, the cast realized the demands that are created doing a weekly series with so many musical numbers. There aren't weeks to practice dance moves or prepare for the vocals.

Garber panicked when he learned he had to sing the George Michael version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me." He spent nine hours with the show's musical director, Blake Neely, working on the song one line at a time.

"On television, you have to work fast. The choreography, you just have to sort of go by the seat of your pants," Garber says.

All that song and dance jazz has not been a problem for Devine. She says she has not seen the show as hard work but more as a fun way to make a living.

"When I auditioned, they didn't tell me I'd be singing. So it was like a wonderful surprise to be a part of this. So I really love it. I'm begging for more," Devine says.

Sam Jaeger, whose resume includes roles on non-musical TV shows such as "ER, "CSI" and "NYPD Blue," has a positive outlook when it comes to having to stretch himself for the musical numbers.

"Any job is wonderful. But I'm thankful I'm not on a crime show just lifting up evidence and putting it back down 40 times. Every week is a new challenge, a new experience for us as actors, and we're all really thankful for that," Jaeger says.

Henstridge adds, "We can barely carry a tune, but it gets us by."

No one escapes the musical numbers. Katie Holmes is scheduled to guest-star this season, and Mrs. Tom Cruise will be tapping and crooning with the rest of the cast.

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ELI STONE

10 p.m. Oct. 14

ABC

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© 2008, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.).