The ABC drama "Dirty Sexy Money launched in September 2007 to strong reviews and good ratings. The audience was building when the writer's strike came along in December 2007. That meant instead of 22 episodes, 10 were produced. And new shows did not air from mid-December to October.

Excitement started again when ABC renewed "Dirty Sexy Money" for a second season. That joy lasted six months. ABC executives have put a hold on the production of new shows after the current batch runs out in January. It has not been canceled. But the future looks dark.

Gabel, who plays Jeremy Darling, says it all feels like getting a running start in a marathon only to have the race cut short.

"We were ready to do a whole season the first year and they suddenly said 'stop.' That meant we have had to sit back and wait for 10 months," Gabel says during a party in July.

What helped Gabel get through that initial stoppage was his son. He and actress Bryce Dallas Howard became parents in June 2006. His wife, the daughter of Ron Howard, played Gwen Stacy in "Spider-Man 3." She will star in the 2009 summer release "Terminator Salvation."

"It actually ended up being good to have all the time off to spend with him in his formative years," Gabel says.

One of the things Gabel got to share with his son is a passion for astronomy. Gabel became fascinated with the universe when the Mars Pathfinder landed on the red planet in 1997.

This was five years before Gabel landed his first acting role in the film "Tadpole." He describes himself as being just an average teenager growing up in Florida who felt awkward and out of place.

"To see those images of another world got me hooked," Gabel says. "It is awe inspiring."

Because he was only taking standard math classes at the time, Gabel decided it was a little too late for him to chase a career as an astronaut. He decided to stick with acting so that one day he could play an astronaut.

A role among the stars has not happened yet. But he has rolled up a variety of other acting parts in the television shows "Sex and the City," "Nip/Tuck." "CSI" and "The Closer."

And Gabel has not given up the idea that he might still get to actually travel in space. He believes there eventually will be opportunities through private ventures to travel beyond Earth's atmosphere.

"I did realize that if I do that, I will have to wait until my son is older. I just don't want to take any risks. Besides, maybe then he will be up there with me," Gabel says.

Now that ABC has again stopped production on Gabel's series, he will have more time again to be with his son and dream about the stars. He won't push his son to be either an astronaut or an actor. All he cares about is being ready to support him at whatever he wants to do.

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"Dirty Sexy Money," 10 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC

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