In 1992, Woody Harrelson, in an expensive celluloid lesson, proved white men can't jump. Fast forward a decade or so and the makers of One Tree Hill, which premieres on Wednesday at 8pm on Star World, are hoping to prove otherwise. In a country where black basketball players dominate all leagues, be it the National Basketball Association, college or even high school teams, One Tree Hill stretches the imagination: the two star players in this teen drama are both white. Even the team's coach goes by the nickname 'Whitey', and the kids play their home games in the Whitey Durham Field House. What are they trying to tell us? Back in the real world, players from around the globe, including China's Yao Ming, are setting the NBA on fire and proving they can take on the Americans at their own game. But this is small town USA; Tree Hill, North Carolina (where the 'One' comes from has yet to be explained), to be exact. And it's unlikely we'll see some cross-cultural competition on the court. Instead, what viewers get is a teen tale with a twist that revolves around basketball. Two hotshot players, one from the wrong side of the tracks, the other your typical nasty rich kid, form the basis of the story. One is driven by his single, hardworking mother; the other by his wealthy car salesman father, who is living his failed basketball dreams through his son. Both boys, however, have one thing in common: the same dad. Despite living in such a small town, it's odd they've only just realised this - especially when they share the same surname and attend the same school. Since making its debut in the United States in September 2003, One Tree Hill has garnered a solid fan base of viewers hoping to venture a little further than other teen offerings such as Dawson's Creek, and older viewers wishing to relive the heyday of Beverly Hills 90210. In fact, you'll probably notice some familiar faces from both shows appearing in One Tree Hill. Which brings us to the cast. Chad Michael Murray (Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls) stars as Lucas Scott, the 'rebel playground' player from the rough end of town. Murray is also starring in the much-vaunted House of Wax, currently screening in Hong Kong cinemas, but has unfortunately been overshadowed by party girl Paris Hilton's debut in the same movie. James Lafferty (Emeril, Boston Public) is Nathan Scott, the hottest player on Tree Hill's basketball team, while their father Dan, a classic basketball dad who sits on the sidelines calling the shots to Nathan, is played by Paul Johansson (90210, Santa Barbara). Moira Kelly (The West Wing) has taken on the role of Luke's mother, Karen, and journeyman actor Barry Corbin (Urban Cowboy, Who's Harry Crumb?) puts in an admirable - and probably the most believable - performance as Coach Whitey Durham (shame about the name, though). The protagonists are supported by Nathan's girlfriend Peyton (Hilarie Burton; a former MTV VJ), Lucas' best friend Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz; Mary and Rhoda), and Uncle Keith (Craig Sheffer; A River Runs Through It), who has helped to raise his brother's son as his own. The boys' worlds collide when Lucas makes it onto the school basketball team, bringing a series of events and emotions to a head and dragging up a past their parents, who were high school sweethearts, were hoping to avoid. While One Tree Hill might be lacking a believable storyline and is confusing with its information overload in the first few episodes, this hasn't deterred viewers. The Warner Brothers show wrapped up its second season last month and its third season will begin in the United States in September, which means a lot of catching up for Hong Kong viewers. From the basketball courts to the horrors of real life, Worst-Case Scenario (Thursday at 9pm on AXN) is based on the survival handbook of the same name by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. It's hard to imagine Hongkongers being caught in any of the scenarios host Mike Rowe and 'gear girl' Danielle Burgio (right) present. From jumping off a burning building to wrestling a crocodile (anybody willing to take on Pui Pui, the crafty croc from Yuen Long?), surviving a bear attack, landing a plane in an emergency or emerging unscathed from sub-zero temperatures, Worst-Case Scenario covers it all. Unfortunately, it doesn't relate to real life, despite its reality TV moniker. From the safety of the 'Worst-Case Institute', Rowe is stern as he warns us 'second chances are not an option', just 'remember to take off your accessories' when you jump from a burning building. Try telling that to a tai-tai sporting the latest offerings from Chanel.
