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The Television Critics Association press tour got off to a juicy start on Wednesday -- from PBS, no less -- as Sir Ian McKellen paid a visit to talk to TV critics from around the country about the upcoming PBS presentation, "Great Performances: King Lear."

The made-for-television version of the stage production will premiere nationally on March 25 on most PBS stations (check your local listings).

It was fantastic to listen to one of the great actors of our time discuss this pivotal role and reflect on his accomplished career. But even a roomful of serious critics could resist getting just a little giggly when the discussion turned to how the public television network would handle the famous full frontal nude scene McKellen performs in the stage version.

"I thought this would come up eventually," McKellen said, prompting a round of laughter before asking for a better look at the writer who asked the question.

McKellen said he's of two minds about whether the nudity should be shown to preserve the story's integrity.

"It doesn't matter," he said. "Every night (on stage), when I pulled off my clothes, do you know what I used to do? Pull in my stomach. What am I doing? I'm an old man!"

"Inevitably, if a man or woman takes his clothes off, the eye is going to go to those parts which normally are hidden. But it's a distraction of that sort. But it's quite clear that Shakespeare intends Lear to at least start removing his clothes. Whether he does or does not do that completely, I think, is not resolved in the TV version."

"I think it's discreetly avoided, the moment at which Lear -- not McKellen, but Lear -- removes his clothes," McKellen said. "Because, there might be some PBS rule that I don't know of, but it may have been thought -- as I thought it was a little bit, often -- distracting."

David Horn, the executive producer of PBS's "Great Performances" series, went on to explain that PBS didn't make the decision. It was made by director Trevor Nunn.

"Like any television video technique, it's clearly suggested, it's obvious that he takes his clothes off. But it's not shown, in its entirety."

McKellen, who played Lear all around the world from March 2007 to January 2008, suggested any kerfuffle over the the nude scene was overblown.

"There were some places, at least Singapore was one, where it was not allowed for me to take off my clothes," McKellen said. "It was alright to have a blinding on the stage, someone's eyes removed. But it was inappropriate to show a penis. I think it's a bit ridiculous, myself."

Beyond the nudity, McKellen said Lear was an incredibly taxing role, and one that holds a special place in his career, despite the fact that he initially didn't really want to play it.

"What's perhaps special about the part of King Lear, as opposed to Hamlet, is that the central part is for an old person," McKellen said. "So, if, like me, you've worked your way through Shakespeare as an actor, waiting up there is King Lear. I'd been in the play twice before as Edgar and as Kent. I've seen what it cost the actors playing King Lear. ... So I hope, it's the challenge, it's the expectation that it would complete your journey through Shakespeare.

McKellen said the story is the culmination of a man to whom he can relate.

"I'm 70 this year, but Lear is over 80 at a time when people died much younger than that," McKellen said. "It's a man retiring, aware of his frailties of mind and body. And at that point, his daughter chooses to rebel and not do what he wants her to do, and perhaps that's never happened to him before in his life. And in rejecting her, he goes on a journey. And it's very moving to me, as I'm facing old age, to think it's not too late to do anything. It's not too late to totally reverse your attitude to life as you've lived it so far, and emerge a better person."

*** Click here to comment! What do you think of Ian McKellen's nude scene in "King Lear"? Should it be shown? Should it be suggested but not shown, as PBS says it will be? Or should it be cut completely?

Comcast.net TV writers Tracy Phillips and Victor Balta are blogging live from the TV Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Hollywood! What do you want to know about your favorite show? E-mail them at tvscoop@comcast.net. Follow us at twitter.com/Seen_On_TV

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Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 01-10-2009 02:22 PM