Summer Vacay!!
I am on summer vacay until after the Fourth of July weekend. Then I'll be coming back atcha with all the celebrity news and interviews!
Interview: Michael Welch: "Eclipse Is the Best Film Yet!"
Celebrity Extra: “Eclipse” comes out soon, and I have to tell you, as a fan of the book and film series, I couldn’t be more excited.
Michael Welch: I’ll say this, I just saw “Eclipse” myself and it is, in my opinion, the best film in the franchise by far. I’m thrilled about it. The thing that I think is so great is that it contains all the elements of the first two films. You still have that love triangle, and in fact it intensifies quite a bit. The relationship between Edward and Jacob really gets tense and comes to a crescendo by the end of the film. In addition to all that, there is an edge to it. There is a darkness to it that I don’t think was there for the first two films. The first films, there is definitely somewhat of a dark tone, but it gets a little bit more into that in “Eclipse.” I think that is going to attract more of a male audience, but I don’t think we are going to lose any of our female followers. I’m very excited. I think that fans are going to be thrilled about it. It exceeded my expectations. I’m very happy with it.
CE: As long as we have shirtless, good-looking boys, you’re not gonna lose your female audience!
MW: Yeah, they worked really hard on that. I’m good buddies with a lot of the wolf boys. I remember when they went up for that training. They had months and months of training and building up. It’s very cool. They all worked really hard and it paid off. The fighting looks incredible. I wish there was more of it.
CE: Do you sometimes wish your character had more of an action role, so you could be in some of those cool, special-effects scenes?
MW: No, I’m very happy with my role. That stuff is very difficult. I don’t envy people who have to work on fight choreography for months at a time. I’m sure it would be a lot of fun. At the end of the day, I think Mike Newton serves a very specific purpose in this franchise, and it’s been a lot of fun for me to be able to play him. I certainly don’t regret anything.
MW: Yeah that’s exactly it. Most films that you work on, they last about three months. You get really close to people and then unfortunately, more often than not, you never see them again. In this case, over these two years I get to work with – and possibly even two more years depending on how things go – I get to work with the same people as the same characters. It’s really great. We’ve all been on this journey together too. That’s another thing. It’s been quite a bonding experience. None of us were famous coming into this. They intentionally got an unknown cast, which I think was a smart decision on someone’s part because it sort of allowed the audience to believe all of us as these characters. So for “Eclipse,” there wasn’t any particular scene I was excited about filming. Most of my stuff is just in the cafeteria once again. I was just excited to see all my old friends and catch up and make sure everybody’s doing well.
CE: Have you thought about how you’re going to feel when you wrap up that final day of shooting, almost like you’re “graduating” from the series and leaving behind all those friends and memories?
MW: That is the perfect way of putting it. It will be a bittersweet moment on that last day after the last shot when it’s all said and done, and then that’s it. There’s no more for us to milk out of these stories or discover as these characters. That will be the end of the journey. Then we’ll just have our memories about the whole thing. It’s all been very surreal from the very beginning. It still is. It’s never really quite sunk in. But yes, to answer your question, I have thought about that moment. All I can say is that at the end of the day, I’m just very grateful to have gotten to be a part of this. When that moment comes, we will all move on and hopefully have long careers and adventures.
CE: I see you have a few “Twilight” conventions that you’ll be appearing at, including a trip to Paris and an Alaskan cruise. Do you do many, and what do you like about these conventions? The travel certainly must be a bonus.
MW: I do a lot of “Twilight" conventions. They’re a lot of fun. First of all, as you mentioned, you get to travel to all different kinds of places, and I’ve been all across the country. I’ve maybe done, who knows, 20, 25 of these conventions now. What’s great about it is that you really get a sense of not only the cultural impact of this story, but how this franchise affects people on a personal level. You really get a sense of the passion and the joy and the excitement that it brings out of people. And for me to get to experience some of that, to get to be in some ways the vessel in which a lot of these emotions come out is pretty remarkable. I know it’s not because of me, because I’m the same guy as I was before, it’s because of this thing that I’m a part of. And that’s not lost on me because of these conventions. I really get a sense of what (author) Stephenie (Meyer) created here and how much people love it. It’s a lot of fun.
CE: Last we spoke, you had recently wrapped on the film “Unrequited.” Any word on when that is coming out? It looks really good – and intense – from the trailer I saw.
MW: Thank you. The film should be released sometime before the end of this year. I don’t have a release date yet. The film was just a Cannes and there is going to be a premiere coming up in July. So, I think we are going to get it out there and I hope it gets as wide a release as possible. Beyond that, I don’t have any details. I’ll definitely keep everybody updated as soon as I know what the deal is.
Interview: Luke Mably Isn't Your Everyday Vampire
Luke Mably: "The Gates" is primarily a drama with supernatural elements, set in and around a gated community. But as we dig deeper, not everything is as it seems. There’s a mix of strange occurrences, characters not who they appear to be, nonhumans trying their best to blend in, ‘humanize themselves’ if you like. In some ways, the place is a hideaway or retreat, a vessel for them to survive - and yes vampires are a part of that. The majority of the residents have no idea this is going on. As the season unravels, audiences will be in for a few surprises as well. There are secrets and lies and numerous things that you would not expect from such a majestic surroundings. I understand there are a number of vampire shows and films out there at the moment, but vampires will not be the only creatures lurking behind the walls of The Gates.
CE: What drew you to this series, and to the part of Dylan Radcliff?
LM: My agent sent the pilot script to me. I had been reading numerous pilots; it was that time of year. Some are better than others as you can imagine, and ‘The Gates’ definitely stood out as one of the good ones. The concept was interesting to me. It was intriguing. The story made me keen to know more, and that’s always a good thing. Two days later I was in the casting director's office in London, being put on tape. I originally read for Nick Monahan. The producers liked me and asked if I would go on tape again but read for Dylan Radcliff. “What, the vampire?” I thought, “Nice one … I haven’t played one of those before.” Anyway, through a process of tests and trying out different accents – I was thrilled to be offered the role of Dylan.
CE: I like that Dylan isn’t a “cliché” vampire: He is a loyal husband, businessman, and especially a father. Everything he does is for the love of and to protect his daughter. Is that protectiveness and “human”-ness something that appealed to you?
LM: Absolutely. It gives me a very clear overall objective with being Dylan. To protect my family, to protect my child at all cost, unconditional love for another.
CE: How is the cast to work with?
LM: The cast is great, as are all departments on this show. A lot of my scenes are with Frank Grillo, who plays Nick. He is a fantastic actor to work with. We hang out off-set and try to rehearse the material as best we can within the short time period we have. We look out for each other and I like that … sort of like a brother.
CE: I don’t know if this is addressed later on or not, but why does Claire have such trouble with her cravings, more so than Dylan? Is it similar to how alcoholics/drug addicts individually deal with their cravings?
LM: Yes, there are similarities. Dylan has clearly adapted to the lifestyle of The Gates more than Claire. This is a new life that he wants his family to invest in, a safe haven. Again, protecting his daughter is everything to him. If he ever started feeding/killing and going back to his old ways, then there would be dire consequences. They both know this, but evidently Claire’s cravings are taking control of her. In episode one, Dylan says to Claire, “I get us all the blood we need from the lab!” in reference to the biotech company he runs. The idea is, he brings home bags of plasma for them to get their daily hit of blood. So why would Claire feel a need to feed and kill? I think the fresher the blood, the bigger the high.
CE: I think people who know you from “The Prince and Me” are going to be surprised to see you in this role, especially the scene where you had to make that man’s death looked like wolves did it. Are you excited to get fan feedback about this role?
LM: I hope they enjoy the show, yes. You know, when "The Prince and Me" first came out, I was staying in Los Angeles. I remember walking down Sunset Boulevard and someone saying to me, “Hey, you’re that Prince guy!” Then the same week, I remember going into meetings for film roles and when I walked into the room people would go, “Ah ... the prince!” It was nice to get recognition for a role I did, and I know, since then that fans of the film have been very complimentary, which I am forever grateful and sincerely humbled by. But as time went by, and knowing how high-profile "The Prince and Me" was, I thought, I hope I won’t be known only for playing this prince guy. So I was keen to do more diverse work.
I went back to London. One project I am proud of since then is a play I did in London called "Festen." I played a man who was, along with his twin sister, sexually abused by his father and who decides on his father’s birthday to reveal it all to the family. It’s a haunting story and subject matter. It was originally a film, a great film.
Another project I’ve done, which I am keen for people to see, is a movie called "Exam." (It’s being released in the U.S. on July 23, 2010, but you can get it on DVD in the U.K.) It’s set all in one room. The description is: "Eight talented candidates have reached the final stage of selection to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation. Entering a windowless room, they have 80 minutes to answer one simple question. The test supervisor outlines three rules they must obey or be disqualified: Don’t talk to him or the armed guard by the door; don’t spoil their papers; and don’t leave the room. He starts the clock and leaves. The candidates turn over their question papers, only to find they’re completely blank." I play this narcasistioc type who is very loud and brash and ruthless in his intent to win. It was one of those roles that I got very absorbed in. I am always interested in mixing it up. That’s what interests me as an actor.
CE: What attracts you to a role, in general?
LM: Anything that moves me and challenges me. Something I can get excited about.
CE: I read that when you were preparing for “The Prince and Me,” you had mastered a Danish dialect, but then they decided you should just use your own. Have you had the chance yet to show off your Danish accent?
LM: No, I haven’t. There’s a part of me that still wishes I could have done that film with a Danish accent – it would have been more authentic. But on a commercial level I can understand why they didn’t want it.
CE: Also, are you glad you get to use your own dialect for “The Gates,” and not have to do and American one, or do you find it fun to deal in different dialects?
LM: I don’t really have a preference, but if an accent is appropriate, I like to do one – if anything it’s a useful thing to hide behind.
CE: Do you know if “The Gates” is the kind of series where if it does well it could be picked up for the fall, or is this the beginning of a new trend of all-new summer series?
LM: I’m still learning how it all works. Yes I think if it does well, it could be picked up in the fall.
CE: Your introduction to American audiences was in the horror/thriller “28 Days Later.” Being a horror fan as a child, was it fun for you to be in that movie?
LM: I loved doing that movie and being part of that story. Danny Boyle is a very interesting director. He has wonderfully inventive mind.
CE: I rented “Colour Me Kubrick” a few years back and loved it. How was that movie to work on, and to work with the great John Malkovich?
LM: John Malkovich was awesome to work with. He had been an idol of mine while at Drama School. He's an inspiration.
David James Elliott: My Two Dads
David James Elliott (photo credit: Hallmark Channel) played baseball star who was spurned by Paige on “Knots Landing.” Then he played a sex-addict football star on “Melrose Place” who cheated on Allison. Now he is an advertising star who is fired by the company that he helped build on the Hallmark Channel original movie “Dad’s Home.” David plays a widowed father who is suddenly out of a job and thrown into his children’s lives, just in time to heal his almost-broken family.Celebrity Extra: “Dad’s Home” premieres on the Hallmark Channel just in time for Fathers’ Day. When you read the script for the movie, what was is about the movie that made you want to be a part of it?
David James Elliott: My very good friend Bradford Lake worked on the movie, so right away, I knew that was something I wanted to do. And then we found something that we thought we could jam on, and that is kind of what we did with the movie. It was more of a jam session almost. We would come in and kind of rework the scenes. It was like jamming on a riff. It really felt like we could do something with it.
CE: One aspect of the movie I liked was that it was told from the male perspective. We get a lot of these kinds of movies of the single mom trying to juggle all these things, but I really liked that the single father is the protagonist, having to make family versus career choices. Was that appealing for you?
DJE: Absolutely. It was a scenario that I believed that I could talk to. I have two children of my own — a boy and a girl — so it was very accessible to me. It was easy to get there for me. It’s pretty interesting because, like I said, I have a boy and a girl, and we’re completely different. We’re different animals. I have a friend who’s an indigenous person, North American Indian. He told me that his grandfather said: “A long time ago, there used to be just men on the Earth. We lived on corn and cocaine. One day, women came down in a spaceship. They’re better than we are, but they’re not the same.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that.
CE: How was the cast, especially the actors who played your children, to work with? They are such great young actors!
DJE: Both of the kids were really good, which was great. They were just really available and talented. Madison (Davenport, who plays his daughter) was exactly the right level of precociousness. She was a spunky, smart girl. Confident. Very much like my real one. It’s like talking to an alien sometimes. How do I get in there? What do I have to say that opens the door? Are you listening to what I’m saying to you?
CE: I’ve interviewed Sharon Case (Sharon Newman on “The Young and the Restless”) — who plays your romantic interest — a few times and she is always such a sweetheart. How was she to work with?
DJE: Very nice lady, very professional. She was easy to work with. It was great. We had a good chemistry, I thought. She gets it. She’s been working steady her whole life and has a great career. She’s just a really nice girl.
CE: Tell me about “Scoundrels” and about your character, Wolf West (photo credit: ABC).DJE: This is a dynamite project. It came about in such a funny way. I had just come back from the Amazon, and I got a call, “Hey you want to do this show?” And I said yeah, because I already knew about it — I’d had a meeting about it before. It’s a based on a series that’s been very successful in New Zealand called “Outrageous Fortune.” Great characters. It’s about a family of small-time criminals. That’s how they put food on the table. The first episode opens with what we believe is going to be a short stint in jail for my character. I figure I’ll walk away with four months. That’s OK; I’m setting everything up to exist while I’m gone, and then I end up getting five years. So, the husband is in jail, and the wife is struggling to hold the family together. Virginia Madsen plays my wife.
CE: How is the cast to work with?
DJE: It’s been a lovefest since I got there. Everybody has just been great. Everybody is getting along like a house on fire. It’s just a gas to go to work every day. The scripts are dynamite. I can’t find a thing wrong with it. It’s just bummer when I’m not there.
CE: Because your character is in prison, how/will we still get to see you on the show often?
DJE: Yeah, I’m involved in a lot of ways. He will eventually get out of prison when the show gets picked up.
CE: The show got an eight-episode order for the summer season — if it does well, it is possible it could be picked up for the fall?
DJE: You hear a lot of scenarios and only those guys who wear the suits and work in the big building know. Steve McPherson is the guy who is going to make that decision one day. So anything is possible.
CE: This character seems to be different from the type of character we are used to seeing you portray. Was that part of its appeal to you?
DJE: It would be great for people to see me in another role. I look for things I can embody. This guy, he has a lot of me and he’s got a lot of people that I know in him. It’s just a great opportunity that came along and I’m just happy to be a part of it. He’s completely different from Harmon Rabb (from “JAG”), and that’s dynamite.
Speaking of “JAG,” that was a difficult show to get off the ground, especially when we started. We started under the Clinton administration, when things were going extremely well and there was no thought of war. And to have pulled off what we did and to have lasted as long as we lasted is pretty amazing. The 10th season just came out on DVD, I understand. The timing is all good for me. My stars are aligning — finally. Mercury is leaving retrograde.
Don't miss David in Hallmark Channel's "Dad's Home," airing Sunday night at 9/8c (and repeating throughout this weekend and next), as well as "Scoundrels," which begins this Sunday on ABC at 9/8c.
Interview: Carrie Ann Inaba Wants You to Call Her a "Crazy Cat Lady"
Animal Planet's Housecat Housecall, presented by Purina Cat Chow, kicked off its third season this month, with one of America's most loved judges being "judged" herself. Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba, a lifelong cat lover, will appear in the June 19 episode of hit reality show. Carrie Ann enlisted the help of Dr. Katrina to help integrate her three cats with her boyfriend's two cats to create a happy five-cat household. Carrie Ann was only too happy to share her experience with cats and with Housecat Housecall with me when we spoke the other day.
Celebrity Extra: How long have you been a cat lover?
Carrie Ann Inaba: Oh my whole life. I grew up with cats. In Hawaii when I was growing up, we had two cats and two dogs. When I moved to Japan and I was living alone, I got myself a cat. And then Shadow moved in with me (click here to see Carrie Ann with Shadow for a feature in People Pets). One day I opened my front door, and this beautiful black Sylvester-looking cat with white whiskers and little dot and white feet walked in, and he never left. He’s my oldest cat right now. He’s 19 years old. He’s my guy.
Then I have a little girl cat, Squeeker, who’s also a rescue. Then I had another cat that I got, Taz, was also a rescue. He was actually on a street corner under the wheels of this car. Me and this bike rider jumped in the middle of the street and got Taz. I had always believed that two cats is more than enough. If you have two arms you can only have two cats. So, I was hesitant, but once I saw him up close I was like, oh forget it, I’m hooked. And my boyfriend has two cats, Zeus and Mia. So now we have five cats.
CE: What kind of help did you need from Dr. Katrina? Were you concerned about all the cats adjusting to each other?
CAI: I was a little concerned — the transition went pretty smoothly moving in the new cats but, Jesse’s cat Zeus is an Alpha male in his household and Shadow is my Alpha male. So we were a little concerned because late at night they would play, and Zeus is 19 pounds and very excitable. Definitely acts kittycat-like. My cats think they are human, so they're like, "Pass me the remote," and Zeus is more like, "Hey, let’s play!" But Shadow is 19, weighs about 6 pounds and is a little frail, and so I was a little concerned because they would keep me up at night by playing, and I was just worried that Shadow was going to get hurt.
So, Dr. Katrina came in and she taught us a little bit about how the cycle of cats work and what their natural cycles are so we could work with them so that we could get them to all go to sleep at about the same time. Basically she taught us that we have to feed them at night and put them through the cycle, which is let them out at night for a little bit, play with them, let them do their little business and let them groom themselves and then they’ll just fall asleep. Now they sleep through the night like we do. I have to tell you that is a huge blessing, because I was getting sleep-deprived and with my schedule, I can’t be sleep-deprived.
CE: Was it a little difficult to take another person's advice about your cats? I know it would be hard for me, because I want to do the best for my pets and would never want to feel like, "Oh no, does this make me a bad mother?"
CAI: Yes! You hit the nail on the head. I’m like, What do you mean? I’m the expert on cats. I have five of them. I love them. I don’t want to be portrayed as somebody who’s crazy and doesn’t know how to take care of their cats. So, actually, I did have trepidations. Once I met Katrina, she’s really wonderful and the tools that she did give me were wonderful and really simple. She just taught me a little bit more about cat’s behaviors and how they work and how their natural cycle is so I could make better decisions. I do consider myself quite savvy about how to take care of cats. I’m the person that all my friends come to take care of cats. I didn’t have anybody to go to and ask these simple questions of. Even though my questions aren’t as powerful, my storyline isn’t as powerful and poignant as some of the other beautiful storylines that they have had throughout the series with other people, it was very helpful to me. I’m really grateful I have to say.
CE: How did this come about? Did you contact Animal Planet, or did they reach out to you?
CAI: They actually reached out to me. They knew, because I’m always talking about my cats in interviews and I’m always doing anything I can to help animals through various charities and organizations. They were just so lovely that it was just a really good experience. I’m happy we did it. You are also letting them come into your home. So, I let the show come into my home and I keep my home pretty hidden from most people. It’s very private. But I wanted to do it, because I thought that if I can help bring awareness to the show and help other people who are cat lovers like myself have access to this resource, I have to do it. It’s kind of my responsibility. I have to do whatever I can to help other people.
CE: What kind of cat awareness do you hope to spread by appearing on the show?
CAI: I think basically spreading the word that June is Adopt a Cat Month. What we are looking for is to help people find forever homes. Because more than just adopting a cat, some people adopt cats and they have major problems or whatever and they think they are disposable. They’re like, “Ah, I don’t want the cat anymore.” What this show really does help with is if you do get a cat and you find that you have some problems with it, maybe you just need to be a little bit more educated about how to take care of them. There are some easy fixes and very friendly tips that Dr. Katrina gives, and you can find these tips on the website housecathousecalls.com. That’s why I wanted to be a part of the show, because I think that’s very important is to help people have these tools so that they don’t get rid of their cats.
It’s a living being that you agreed to take care of for the rest of its life. People tell me, "Hey, I’m going to get a cat." And I tell them that’s great, but you’re going to have to save some money because you’re going to have to pay vet expenses. You have to make sure that you give them the proper nutrition and you’re able to take care of their nutritional needs. You need to make sure that you can give them the right amount of love and do what is necessary to make them have a comfortable life as well. Don’t just do it because it’s cute. Once it’s no longer as cute — although cats are always cute, they’re not as cute as they were when they were kittens — the interest goes away, and you just can’t do that.
CE: And some people don't realize the average lifespan of a cat is slightly longer than a dog; it can be a 20-year commitment.
CA: I know! I hate seeing older cats in the shelter. It just kills me to think that they lived in a home for like 7 years and then they got a new girlfriend and the girlfriend didn’t like the cat and that is why the cat found the shelter. You’re like, “What?” I’m sorry, my priority is, I have to say, Shadow was here first before Jesse. This is my boyfriend. He knows that too. He’s like, “I know.” But he treats Shadow with respect and he’s a cat lover too. I’m so grateful. I’m a cat lover girl who found a cat lover boy. It’s pretty awesome.
CE: Shifting gears a bit here, when it comes to Dancing With the Stars (picture above courtesy ABC), could you have ever imagined in a million years what a HUGE hit it would end up being?
CAI: No. You know, you never know. I’ve been doing television for 20 years and working in it, and reality television especially for awhile now. You never know which show is going to stick and which show is going to actually get into the hearts and souls of people. But I have worked on American Idol, and I knew why that show was successful, and the reason why is it was one concept executed really, really well. That is what Dancing With the Stars is. When they offered me to be on the show, I actually thought it could do well, but you never know. It was one idea executed to its fullest potential. It’s celebrities in a ballroom dance competition. It’s the most bizarre concept in the world, but what we found — and this is something that makes me so happy to be a part of the dance community my whole life and being a dance educator — is that your body doesn’t lie. And when you dance, when you tap into your body knowledge, it’s a beautiful thing. When you learn to be in tune with your body and other people’s bodies, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to share with people. Now I get to be a part of that. On Dancing With the Stars, what we are watching are people getting in tune with their bodies. We are watching them struggle with themselves through dance. We are watching great dance. It’s a dream job.
CE: Plus it just make you feel good that the art form you are most passionate about has been given a whole new life because of the show, with millions of people developing an interest in dancing, taking dance classes and just loving the show!
CAI: Definitely. Dance class enrollment is way up, and I am very grateful for that. What’s wonderful is all of my friends are working. Some of my friends, who we were dancers our whole lives together, they are all household names now. It’s really exciting to see the world get to know the community that I have always loved and grown up in. It’s an art form. It’s such a great art form. It’s such a wonderful tool for young kids to express themselves. It’s such a wonderful tool for older couples to socialize and keep themselves healthy. It’s also a great way to exercise your brain, because when you learn choreography, they say it helps with Alzheimer’s and sending off signs of Alzheimer’s. It keeps you fit. You’ve seen all the transformations of the bodies that have been on our show. It’s so nice and I’m really happy.
CE: Do you have any "wish list" celebrities that you'd love to have the show?
CAI: I would love to see Lindsay Lohan come on our show. I think it would be a really great opportunity for her to turn her life around. She’s been going through some hard times. I know that she is a talented young actress and she’s a very sexy girl, and I’m very curious to see, I think she would do very well on our show.
I would also like to see somebody like Craig Ferguson. I’m a huge fan of his. He’s sort of tall and debonair and dashing and funny and self-deprecating, and I think that he could do very well on our show. We’ve had a lot of comedians on our show like Cloris Leachman, as I'm sure you recall. She made the show so much fun.
I would also love someone like Roger Federer. He’d be wonderful. Somebody like that. But I don’t know. It’s dangerous, so I don’t want to see any professional athletes come on our show and get hurt and ruin their other career. I worry about that. Those are just a few of the people that I’d love to see on our show.
Don't miss Carrie Ann on Housecat Housecall on Animal Planet this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (and rerunning throughout the month).
Interview: Kate Levering Shines on Drop Dead Diva
Lifetime's breakout hit Drop Dead Diva returned this past Sunday for its second season with a definitely BANG! It premiered to record ratings and has no intention of slowing down. I talked to Kate Levering (pictured left, credit Lifetime Television), who plays bitch-on-wheels lawyer Kim Kaswell, and she gave me the scoop on her character as well as what we can expect in Season 2.Celebrity Extra: Whenever I talk to someone who plays a bitch on TV or in a movie, they almost always say it is so much fun, because they get to do and say things they normally wouldn’t. So, I am thinking it must be fun to play Kim, because she is a major meanie!
Kate Levering: So true. And that’s very funny, because I say the same thing. I say that it’s really fun to do and say things that you would normally never do in a million years.
CE: And the writers give you such wonderful things to say.
KL: Yes, the writers really have found her voice. I think that it doesn’t always happen for a group of writers to really collectively find a voice of a character. They have done a great job with Kim.
CE: When you were first auditioning or reading for this role, what about it appealed to you and made you want to get it?
KL: First of all, I worked with the producers Neil Meron and Craig Zedan in the past. That’s kind of a no-brainer. Everyone always wants to be associated with anything they’re doing. They’re award-winning producers. They have a great track record, where everything they touch kind of turns to gold. So that was a no-brainer. Drop Dead Diva is a new story that we haven’t seen on television. This is a show that is dealing with issues that haven’t been dealt with. I think that from this show we are going to see more, I think there already are, two new shows that are kind of touching on the issues that we are touching on. But I like that we were the first people to kind of put this out there.
CE: I love the concept of the show — it’s so outlandish, yet believable at the same time. Is that something that appealed to you?
KL: I think that obviously you have to be able to suspend reality. That’s with any of our favorite shows: Lost and Heroes and Twilight and Vampire Diaries. Television asks you to be able to suspend your belief in some way. So obviously it’s not completely reality-based, but the message is what’s most important. I think that’s what a viewer looks for. This is a show that is creating dialogue. It’s creating dialogue between mothers and daughters and girlfriends. It’s kind of creating this water-cooler-type dialogue with women, especially dealing with discrimination in the new way and really looking at what it means to be discriminated against as an overweight person and our society’s obsession with weight.
CE: I know you aren’t mean in real life, so how do you go about playing someone as sassy as Kim? What or who do you draw on for inspiration?
KL: I don’t think that there is anybody in particular that I draw on to play the role. I’ve played these types of roles before, which is kind of funny because they think I do a great job of playing these types of roles. I hope I’m not like any of these characters in person. People don’t say that I am unless they’re all lying to me. I think you just kind of draw from that place. I say things that I would never ever be able to say, and you just kind of have to go for it.
CE: This show is so much fun to watch, I can only assume the vibe on the set is fun too; is it?
KL: We have the best time. I love going to work. I get off on spending obscenely long amounts of time on set. I love it so much. For some reason — and I don’t think it happens very often — but for some reason, our synergy and the way that we gelled, personalitywise, has just been incredible. We love each other. And we are dysfunctional in every way like a family. We go to dinner with each other. We spend weekends with each other. A group of us recently flew to New York for Ben Feldman’s 30th birthday party. We embrace each other: partners and spouses and children. Part of it is because we are on location in Atlanta shooting, so we are away from everything that is familiar. In a way, all we have is each other. So we were kind of forced into this. Not forced meaning it wouldn’t happen otherwise, but it helped us create a very fast bond — a very strong bond.
CE: And knowing during the first season that you were renewed for a second season, when so many new shows aren’t, that must have made it even easier for you guys to bond and relax more in your roles.
KL: I’ve never been on a cable show before. I’ve only ever been on one of the “Big 3,” as they say. That has been so nice to just have a sense that Lifetime believes in us, Sony believes in us. They are willing to let their shows build with the audience. They are not yanking you off the air after three episodes because you didn’t get 13 million viewers. And that, I think, for the actors and for the crew and everyone involved with the production is so refreshing to feel supported, like your studio and your network are behind you. They believe in the show. That’s a very different feeling. And as an actor, you never really feel like you have job security. But this is kind of the most job security I’ve ever felt, which as an actor, and I think I can speak for the other actors and say that, it’s such a wonderful feeling to feel supported by Lifetime and Sony.
CE: What can fans expect for season 2, especially from your character, and the show in general?
KL: My character, right off the bat, has a new look. We gave Kim a kind of a little makeover this season, which I think everybody is very happy with. I’m certainly very happy with it. I think the producers are very happy with it. They hope that the audience will be too. That’s been really fun. I think it’s really helped define her character. Just because I get to pop off the screen a little bit more than I did. She’s not a blend-in kind of girl. So this is really helpful in terms of character definement and refinement. And I have a new love interest. We’ll see some of the fallout with her last relationship last season with Grayson, as well as she enters into a new relationship that creates some scandal. And that’s been really fun. That storyline for me has been just really cool. There will be more interesting, quirky court cases and great dream sequences with really exciting talent. So much talent. We are really lucky with the people that come to our show. We feel so blessed.
CE: The show certainly has attracted some killer guest stars, like Rosie O’Donnell, Paula Abdul, Liza Minelli — any Season 2 guest stars you can tell me about?
KL: Of course, Rosie comes back, Paula comes back. Faith Prince, a wonderful Broadway star comes back. Sharon Lawrence comes back. On top of that we have Cybill Shepherd. We have Leelee Sobieski. We have Chad Lowe. We have Natasha Henstridge. We have Candace Cane. We also have Robin Givens and Vivica Fox. We have a chimpanzee. We have so many amazing guests, I mean every week. I’m always shocked. I go into work, and in the wardrobe department they always have headshots of who’s coming in for the next episode, and a lot of times we are so busy we don’t even really know who’s playing which role for the next episode. So sometimes I’ll go into that wardrobe room and just be blown away by who is coming in the following week for the next episode. Then I have to make a call and be like well, “Who am I working with? Which person do I get to act with?”
Don't miss Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime Television, Sunday nights at 9 ET/PT.
Interview: Laura Leighton on Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars, a new teen suspense drama from ABC Family, premieres tonight at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Melrose Place alum Laura Leighton is just one of the main familiar faces involved with the new show, and was my main reason for tuning in. I spoke with her yesterday about the new show, and about "the old days" at Melrose Place.Celebrity Extra: What was it about the show and the character of Ashley that made you want to be a part of it?
Laura Leighton: The script came out when pilot season was casting, and it was definitely one of those scripts that everybody wanted to be a part of. It was talked about. The casting process was exciting. The script was a terrific read. The thing with the show, it makes you want to see what’s going to happen next. You want to have the next episode. It’s the same in the script. You just kept turning the page. It’s fun; it’s suspenseful; it’s a huge cast of characters. I feel lucky that there was a part in there for me. I think the character of Ashley, it’s always fun to play somebody who’s got a bit of, two sides. On one hand she’s trying to do her best, and on the other she’s got a little something a dark going on. It’s fun to play those characters. I’m just so lucky that it worked out.
CE: This is being called a cross between Desperate Housewives and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Would you agree? If not, how would you describe it?
LL: I do agree with that. I think it’s an apt description. I also think there’s a little bit of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in there. These four girls are sort of brought together by this common mystery they share. They’ve all got secrets, and one of them is a big secret that they all share together. Their friendship, I think, is a very important element of the show. One other description that I heard that I think is a really great is “teen noir.” It’s got a little bit of a dark quality to it. At the same time it’s every bit of a teen show with beautiful girls and the storyline is about that time in their lives. So I like the idea of calling it teen noir.
CE: That is great! I wish I had thought of that.
LL: I wish I had too, but I didn’t. I stole it from somebody. One of our directors called it that and now I’m using it.
CE: This is a pretty risky teen drama, dealing with murder, affairs with teachers, blackmail, etc. — how has the reaction been to it so far from people who’ve seen the first episode?
LL: My experience of people’s reactions is it’s unanimous. They are excited to see it and they are excited by the possibility of the next episodes as the storyline keep building. Who doesn’t like a good story with colorful drama, with mystery and suspense and all of that fun stuff? I just think it’s going to be a really fun show for ABC Family.
(Photo: ABC Family)
CE: You are working with an excellent cast — all of the teen girls are excellent (Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell), as well as the parents: you, Chad Lowe, Holly Marie Combs, Nia Peeples. How is the cast to work with, and in later episodes will we get to see Ashley interact more with the other parents?
LL: So far I think they are really establishing the girls together and their relationship, their friendship with one another and then catching a glimpse of their home life with their parents. So far we’ve mostly focused on developing those stories. But I’m sure in the community of Rosewood, every now and then the parents are going to cross paths. There’s a reason for the people in the neighborhood to interact with each other. We haven’t developed those story lines yet where the families meet and cross paths. I look forward to having scenes with Chad and Holly and Nia, and I’m sure that that will happen in the future. But right now they are just getting their relationships launched and really established.
CE: I am excited to see a Melrose Place reunion of sorts wih you and Chad together onscreen again.
LL: We are definitely excited to work together again.
CE: On a side note, I always liked Sydney (Laura’s character on Melrose) with Carter (Chad’s character) best, and was sad when it didn’t work out with them.
LL: I did too. It’s funny — I remember back then in interviews, people would ask, “Who do you think was the real love of Sydney’s life?” And I always thought that there was maybe a part of her that felt it was probably Carter. He was kind of eccentric and perfect for her. He left her on the tarmac, and that was just so romantic.
CE: Back to Pretty Little Liars, Ashley is different from the other moms in that now she is a single mom. How has her husband leaving her affected her as a wife and as a mom?
LL: I think that it’s left her pretty vulnerable and slightly desperate to make it work. I think the idea of a failed marriage, feeling like she has failed as a wife — she doesn’t want to fail as a mother. So she’s making choices to just try to make everything OK. She's not necessarily seeing clearly what the right thing to do is. But I think in her vulnerability and sort of desperation, what’s driving her is to make everything OK for her daughter. It’s definitely, I think, going to keep unfolding what’s going on in that family as a result of being a single-parent household.
(Photo: ABC Family)
CE: She has a line where she tells her daughter, “I buy you everything you need to be popular, so why do you have to steal?” And she sleeps with the detective to get her daughter off for shoplifting. Is there nothing Ashley wouldn’t do for Hanna?
LL: Well, we’ll see. I think that right now we are seeing that she’s making a pretty drastic choice to try to cover up Hanna’s misdemeanor. We’ll see what sort of repercussions that has. I think it’s going to unravel in a way that I don’t know yet. It hasn’t unfolded yet. The stories are still developing. But I definitely think that there will be some sort of either conclusion or unraveling to that choice.
And it’s interesting, I think, with the relationship with a teenage girl and especially a single mother. I think that there’s a really interesting color: They have things in common. Sometimes the parent is just as vulnerable as the child, and sometimes the child can relate to the parent in ways that she was never able to when she was younger. I think they become a lot closer when the children are that age. You find that you have a lot more in common. You can see your parent as human. You can see your parent as flawed. And sometimes the parent can even look to the child for advice or support. So I think it’s a really interesting relationship to have a single mother and a teenage daughter just kind of going at it together. Trying to find their way and figure it out.
CE: The look on Ashley’s face when she looked back her daughter while going up to bed with the detective was just devastating. What was going through her mind at that point?
LL: Well, I think the idea is that nobody wanted it to come to this. She wants her daughter to be clear that I’m doing this for you— for us. This is because of what you did, but I’m doing this for you. It wasn’t a decision made without regret or remorse. So there is definitely anger and sort of desperate love for her daughter too.
CE: I like that this is based on a book series — anything to get kids to read! Have you read the books to prepare for the role?LL: Well, the pilot script was the first I’d read, and after we shot the pilot I was interested. I was intrigued. I wanted to peek ahead a bit, so I did read a couple of the books. But I stopped because I decided I wanted to be surprised. As much as it was fun to see where it was going, I also wanted to be surprised. So much of the first book is in the pilot, so there is so much yet to come. Sara Shepard’s eighth book in the series, Wanted, is coming out at the same time we are premiering the television show (today). In a perfect world, the show will go for a long time and they’ll run out of books for material, and they’ll go off in their own direction. I think that’s really exciting. There’s a lot of material left to explore and then there’s a lot left for the imagination. The series is going to be appealing to people who have read the books and are dying to see it come to life. And then for people who have never read the books, it’s a brand new series that has exciting episodes.
CE: I don’t know if this a question you can answer, but this first season has 10 episodes to air throughout the summer. If it does well, is this the kind of things that can transfer to the fall, or is this meant to be a summer series?
LL: I’m not sure if I’m able to answer that; if I really know. I know that ABC Family runs their programming a little bit different than some of the other networks. I think that’s a good thing. They structure 10 episodes and then a bit of a break. It’s great for the crew and for the writers. I think that they are like any other network where they are going to wait to see how it does on the air before speculating on how to proceed.
CE: It’s great with the new trend of having original shows airing in the summertime — now we always have something new to watch and entertain us!
LL: And I think ABC Family definitely has their finger on that pulse. People don’t just want to watch television at certain times of the year. There is definitely a year-round appetite for it. I think it’s a perfect summer series, but it does take place in a school year beginning in the fall, so why shouldn’t it air in the fall as well?
CE: I was so excited when they announced the Melrose revamp, but angry that Sydney was killed off in the first episode (yet relieved that she still showed up in flashbacks). What were your thoughts when they presented this idea to you?
LL: You take a bit of a leap of faith and think, “Well, they must know what they are doing!” You do sort of wonder whether or not you entirely agree with that vision you think, “Well, somebody must know what they are doing.” You just try to go with it. I certainly knew what I was signing on for, and I thought it was an interesting way to approach it and have to tell the story in flashbacks, approaching it from the end and looking back. You never know how things are going to end up. It was just one of those things where I was excited to go back and play the character and completely willing to try it.
(Heather Locklear as Amanda, Laura Leighton as Sydney in Melrose Place on The CW. Photo: Michael Desmond/The CW ©2010 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)
CE: Was it fun to work with and see your old Melrose Place castmates again?
LL: It was great fun. As much as I love the new cast and it was really great to get to know them and work with them and stuff, it was also particularly rewarding to get to catch up with the old cast members. That was our favorite part.
(Pictured: Daphne Zuniga as Jo Reynolds, Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward, Thomas Calabro as Dr. Michael Mancini, Josie Bissett as Jane Andrews. Photo Credit: ©The CW/ Michael Desmond (C) 2010 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.)
CE: I absolutely loved that scene, even though Sydney didn’t get to be in it, where they were all at a party at the apartments, and there was Jane, Jo, Michael and Amanda all hanging out together, remarking on how weirdly familiar it felt. That was a great treat for us old-school Melrose fans.
LL: I do think that what’s the old Melrose audience was interested in. I think that was a great thing to do, to get them all together, and it was a bummer to not get to be there that day.
Rue McClanahan Dies at 76
Golden Girl Rue McClanahan has died at the age of 76."She passed away at 1 a.m. this morning," her manager, Barbara Lawrence, said. "She had a massive stroke."
Rue, who played man-happy Blanche Devereaux on the still-popular '80s sitcom Golden Girls, had suffered a minor stroke earlier this year while recovering from bypass surgery. Lawrence adds that at the time of her death Thursday, Rue “had her family with her. She went in peace.”
(read the entire story here)
Current TV's "Vanguard" Explores Rape on the Reservation
Current TV’s Vanguard continues its fourth season with Rape on the Reservation, premiering TONIGHT, June 2 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Correspondent Mariana van Zeller visits the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota to explore the persistent instances of abuse and rape of Native women. The documentary delves into the harrowing stories of women victimized on the reservation, as well as the difficulties they face attempting to seek justice.
Van Zeller goes in-depth with the mother of 19-year-old “Marquita,” who was raped and beaten to death in an abandoned house on the reservation in 2009, and “Donna,” who reveals the frightening retaliation she faced from her accused rapists’ family after pressing charges.
Van Zeller also gets law enforcement’s point of view; during a ride-along with tribal police, an officer admits that the police force is too understaffed to handle the number of calls that come in – many for sexual assault. The victims, their families, and the community also address how perception of women fuels the cycle of violence.
Difficulties exist on a federal level, as well: sexual assaults and homicides on a reservation fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government. In 2006, the government declined to prosecute 65% of all major crime cases on reservations.
A 2007 Amnesty International study cites the following statistics:
* One in three Native American women will be raped in her lifetime.
* Native American women are 2.5 times more likely to be the victim of a sexual assault than any other woman in the United States.
This is absolutely must-see TV. Often difficult and painful to watch, it's definitely an eye-opener into the secrets of life on the reservations. Current TV's Vanguard is bringing to light these atrocities against women, which can no longer be ignored or swept under the carpet.
Tune in tonight and discover this heartbreaking truth at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Van Zeller goes in-depth with the mother of 19-year-old “Marquita,” who was raped and beaten to death in an abandoned house on the reservation in 2009, and “Donna,” who reveals the frightening retaliation she faced from her accused rapists’ family after pressing charges.
Van Zeller also gets law enforcement’s point of view; during a ride-along with tribal police, an officer admits that the police force is too understaffed to handle the number of calls that come in – many for sexual assault. The victims, their families, and the community also address how perception of women fuels the cycle of violence.
Difficulties exist on a federal level, as well: sexual assaults and homicides on a reservation fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government. In 2006, the government declined to prosecute 65% of all major crime cases on reservations.
A 2007 Amnesty International study cites the following statistics:
* One in three Native American women will be raped in her lifetime.
* Native American women are 2.5 times more likely to be the victim of a sexual assault than any other woman in the United States.
This is absolutely must-see TV. Often difficult and painful to watch, it's definitely an eye-opener into the secrets of life on the reservations. Current TV's Vanguard is bringing to light these atrocities against women, which can no longer be ignored or swept under the carpet.
Tune in tonight and discover this heartbreaking truth at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
CONTEST: Autographed Mariette Hartley Autobiography
Q: My mother and I are having a disagreement. We both can remember this series of Polaroid commercials from the early 1980s that featured Mariette Hartley and another actor, and they played a cute, bickering husband-and-wife team. My mother insists the actor was Rock Hudson, but I say no. However, I can’t remember who it was. Can you help? — Genie W., via e-mailA: I can, Genie, I can. But I also see this as a perfect opportunity to have another contest. Readers, here’s your chance to win an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Mariette Hartley’s autobiography, “Breaking the Silence.” Can you tell Genie who that actor was who co-starred with Mariette in those cute ’80s Polaroid commercials? E-mail your answer (with your name and address) to letters(at)cindyelavsky.com Entries must be received (or postmarked) by July 31. Five winners will be chosen and announced in a future column.
KISS and Guitar Center give 22 unsigned bands a chance to open for KISS
PRESS RELEASE:
(Westlake Village, CA) June 1, 2010 – Continuing its ongoing support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center (www.guitarcenter.com), the world’s largest musical instrument retailer, today announced that it has teamed up with rock and roll icons KISS (www.KISSonline.com), and leading digital media company for entertainment, Eventful, for a revolutionary music program: Guitar Center On-Stage, a competition that provides unsigned bands and artists the career-altering opportunity to open for KISS on their upcoming North American tour, The Hottest Show on Earth.
One band from each of twenty-two markets across the United States will be chosen to play at a KISS show. At the conclusion of the tour, KISS will choose the best of the twenty-two bands to receive the grand prize that includes a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree. Now through September 1, 2010, bands across the country are invited to register at GCOnstage.com.
"With Guitar Center On-Stage, we are giving bands across the country the mind-blowing chance to open for one of the greatest rock groups on the planet when KISS comes to their town,” said KISS. “A lot of rock's greatest bands got their start opening for KISS including AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Rush, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe among many others. Thirty-seven years ago someone gave KISS the opportunity to become the Hottest Band on Earth. Now, KISS and Guitar Center are returning the favor by offering unsigned bands the opportunity to open for KISS on The Hottest Show on Earth."
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