DWTS Lineup Announced
Here is the cast for the new season of Dancing With the Stars, which begins Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.:
We have: singer/songwriter Michael Bolton (not pictured), R-and-B singer/actress Brandy, comedian Margaret Cho, ex-Laker Rick Fox, actress Jennifer Grey, actor/singer David Hasselhoff, actress Florence Henderson, Kyle Massey of the Disney Channel’s Cory in the House, former first daughter of Alaska Brisol Palin, The Hills star Audrina Partridge, reality-show star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (not pictured) and ex-quarterback Kurt Warner.
Given that Jennifer Grey had an excellent dance teacher back in 1987 (the late Patrick Swayze for Dirty Dancing), she might have a leg up on the competition. Of the men, my money is on the Hoff.
Q and A: Week of August 30
Q: I can’t tell you how excited I am that the fall shows are about to start up. Can you give me a little scoop as to what I can expect on my favorite show, “Castle”? — Drew D., via e-mailA: The ABC Monday night comedy/suspense/detective drama returns with a bang on Sept. 20. I spoke recently with Jon Huertas (pictured, left), who plays Detective Javier Esposito, and he gave me a sneak peek at Season Three.
“For my character in particular, I’m going to have a little bit of an onscreen romance with another member of the cast,” he said. “Also, for the first episode, there’s a big surprise. In the murder we are investigating, our first suspect surprises everybody. You also are going to see a lot more fleshing out of the satellite characters — my character, Det. Ryan and Dr. Lanie Parish — there’s going to be a lot more of that.”
Q: I know there is talk that Danny McBride could be coming to “The Office” to fill the void when Steve Carell leaves, and I think that’s a great idea, but I hope it won’t interfere with his hilarious HBO series, “Eastbound and Down.” When does Season Two start, and can you tell me anything about it? — Sam M., Miami
A: Ana de la Reguera, who co-starred with Jack Black in “Nacho Libre,” comes to the show as a series regular (when it returns on Sept. 26) as a lounge singer whom Kenny Powers meets in Mexico. Ana gave me the scoop: “After Kenny leaves April at the gas station, he basically disappears and wants to start over. He wants to go to a new world, so he goes to Mexico. He’s in a completely new culture. His weaknesses are much bigger. I’m a singer, and he thinks we have a connection because I sing Bob Seger songs, covers, but in Spanish the whole time.”
Q: Why didn’t Sylvester Stallone cast Jean-Claude Van Damme in his summer blockbuster, “The Expendables”? He seems like a perfect fit! — Denny J., via e-mail
A: I agree, and so did Sly. However, Jean-Claude did not. According to Sylvester (in an recent interview in Britain’s Sunday Times), he asked Jean-Claude to be in the movie: “I wanted to set Jean-Claude against Jet Li, but he didn’t want to lose to Jet. He didn’t think that was cool. But that’s why it would be cool — to have Jean-Claude beaten by the other man.”
Q: How is Michael Douglas doing? I read he has cancer! — Trudy G., Altoona, Pa.
A: Doctors discovered a tumor in the throat of the 65-year-old actor, for which he’ll have to undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. His doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
Interview: Ric O'Barry's Mission to Save Dolphins
You might recognize the name Ric O'Barry from the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove. Now, Ric and his son Lincoln (pictured left), are continuing the journey they began with The Cove. Animal Planet will premiere Blood Dolphins, a three-part series that goes deep within the world of dolphin trade and slaughter TONIGHT at 11 p.m. ET/PT (at a special time following the two-hour Whale Wars finale).Then, Animal Planet follows Blood Dolphins with basic cable premiere of Academy Award-winning film The Cove on Sunday, August 29, at 9 PM ET/PT.
Blood Dolphins takes Ric and Lincoln further on their mission to expose to the world the atrocities of dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan (also known as the "Cove"), and confront dolphin trade activity and repercussions of trade and captivity in the Solomon Islands.
I had the great honor of speaking with Ric about this very important cause, and believe me, he has quite a lot of important information to give about it.
Celebrity Extra: I know that when you do your work you put yourself, and now your son, because he’s working with you, in great peril. Have you ever considered quitting or does that only add fuel to the fire of wanting to help the animals?
Ric O’Barry: I really don’t think too much about. What we have to do is right in front of us, and we just do it without thinking too much.
CE: I remember when you were talking about how one of the dolphins, I believe it was Cassie, basically committed suicide and died in your arms. Was that the turning point for you in wanting to help free the captive dolphins?
RO: Yeah, that was the turning point or the tipping point I should say. Leading up to that for a few years I was really turned off by the captivity of dolphins. But I didn’t do anything about it until that happened. That was Earth Day 1970 — the first Earth Day.
CE: I know everyone who saw The Cove has been affected by it, and now this has lead to the new show on Animal Planet, Blood Dolphins. How has the public’s knowledge and outrage of this helped further your cause?RO: I can’t really — I don’t hold my finger on the pulse of that, how many people have seen it. But I feel when people see it, or see the TV series, they’re going to think twice before they buy a ticket for a dolphin show. That is the key to solving the problem — the consumers. I don’t know how many people have seen it in theaters. I don’t pay too much attention to that, but the bigger audiences are on television and that is going to happen next month. That is very exciting to me.
CE: Now that you and your son went back to Japan, you saw that the slaughter is still happening, what was your reaction on discovering this?
RO: We were there several times since the film has been released. Last September 1st we were there together. Lincoln did a show around then. That’s the day the dolphin slaughter begins, September 1st and goes through March. Things changed in that during that period, September 1st of last year, the town of Taiji, the mayor and the city council implemented a no-kill policy. In other words, they were bringing dolphins in and they were capturing them for the dolphin swim program, the dolphin captivity industry. But they let about 300 of them go. They still kill pilot whales, or they did after we left, but they stopped killing bottle-nosed dolphins probably thinking, “That will appease them. If we let the bottle-nosed dolphins go, they’ll be all right with it." So, we don’t know what’s going to happen this September 1st. It’s coming soon. The clock is ticking and when it strikes midnight September 1st, and that is when it all begins all over again. We are hoping for major change because of The Cove and the television series Blood Dolphins. They know about it. The Japanese government reads, they know what’s happening. I think we have a chance to stop it — we’ll see.
CE: I know, too, that there had been a battle in Japan about whether they would allow people to see The Cove over there. Do you think it could make a difference if the Japanese were allowed to see this film and see what is happening in their country on their own land?
RO: Absolutely. There are 126 million people in Japan. That’s a lot of people in that country the size of California. And they have 50 dolphinariums in that small space. The key to it is getting it in front of the Japanese people. I just got off of a train [prior to calling you]. I was in Denmark and I just arrived in Hamburg, Germany. I got an e-mail telling me that a Yomirui newspaper, the largest newspaper in Japan, reports that The Cove movie is a surprising success. It’s in theaters now in Tokyo, Osaka and major cities, and apparently it’s doing well. The weekends are packed. That’s very exciting to me. The Japanese people are more concerned about clean, healthy food than we are in the West. If they had any idea, regarding the mercury issue, they simply wouldn’t buy the product. Getting it out in Japan was the only important thing to me. I’m not that concerned with getting it out in America and Europe and anywhere else; it’s all about Japan.
CE: Not only do you face opposition in Japan, but in Blood Dolphins you also explore the trade that is happening in the Solomon Islands. Can you tell me a little about what you encountered when you and Lincoln were in the Solomon Islands?RO: It was very exciting. April 8th they agreed to stop killing dolphins after 400 years. They kill as many there as they do in Taiji, and I didn’t know that. I thought it was a small number but actually it’s about 2,000 a year ,and they’ve stopped. There are two episodes of Blood Dolphins about that, how it came about.
CE: Wow, that is excellent. Now, you’ve longed worked also to encourage the big U.S. parks, the Sea Worlds, Marine Lands and all of that to speak out on the wild dolphin trade. Has the public’s reaction to The Cove had any effect on that or are you hopeful that maybe Blood Diamonds — oops! I mean Blood Dolphins — will also help further the cause?
RO: Well, you made the connection. That's great! I wondered if people were going to make that connection. That’s a good sign. I hope everybody else does that.
No, the captivity industry, this is a multibillion dollar industry. Two billion dollars a year in profit in the U.S. alone, and that industry has the power to not only stop the dolphin slaughter, but to stop the captures, but they don’t do it. They don’t get involved. They just have a politically correct policy but no action. So, I’m not happy with that industry. They could shut this down but they don’t do anything about it. Especially the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). They could get the dolphin trainers out of Taiji and shut down the captures, which would shut down the dolphin slaughter, because it’s the captures that are the economic underpinning to the slaughter.
CE: I was also glad when you spoke out about the incident that occurred right here in Orlando at Sea World, where the killer whale had killed its trainer. That’s a prime example of man trying to tame beast for their own amusement. What did you think when you heard the news that that had happened?
RO: I wasn’t surprised. It happens a lot. You just don’t hear about it because they cover it up. There are lawsuits and those lawsuits are settled out of court. Trainers have been hurt in the past at Sea World and other places, and also in the dolphin swim programs around the world. But the lawsuit is filled and they have a gag order; people are paid and nobody knows about it, especially if it happens in a training area. This happened in front of an audience when people had video cameras, so it’s really hard to cover that up. But a few weeks earlier, another Sea World killer whale killed a trainer in the Canary Islands and nobody heard about that.
CE: No, no this is the first I’ve heard.
RO: It doesn’t work. It’s a failed experiment. Keeping dolphins and other whales in a concrete box doesn’t work. It never worked. That’s why I left the industry.
CE: I know that you give advice on how ordinary folks can help your cause. Here in Florida, specifically, we have a lot of people who are especially interested in ocean conservation issues. I was wondering how you would suggest they get involved to help stop the dolphin slaughter and the trading of wild dolphins?
RO: One of the things — it sounds very simplistic — but the most important thing is: Don’t buy a ticket for a dolphin show. Also, a lot of people buy tickets for dolphin swim programs. The real power is with the consumers. That’s one thing they can do. As far as Japan is concerned they can go to our website savejapandolphins.org and support the campaign to stop this world’s largest dolphin slaughter.
CE: Anything that I didn’t touch on about the new show that you wanted to discuss?
RO: No, I just hope people will watch it. It’s the new activism. This is the activism of the future. The way I did it for the past 40 years was the hard way. My son, Lincoln, who is the executive producer and director of this series, he’s doing it the right way. He’s reaching more people in an hour than I would be able to reach in years.
Interview: CCH Pounder Is Astounded by Avatar
If you haven't seen Avatar yet, I have to assume you've been in a coma or on the International Space Station (although, I'll bet they've seen it up there). The movie has broken box-office records all over the place, and it's gearing up for a limited second run in IMAX 3-D and regular 3-D theaters starting this Friday. (Check your local movie theater listings for details.) This time around, you can expect the story you know and love, as well as new scenes and additional, extended footage. I had the pleasure of speaking with CCH Pounder (pictured left, photo credit Geneva Morgan) about her role in the blockbuster smash: She played Mo'at, the mother of Neytiri and also the spiritual leader of Omaticaya clan of Pandora.
Celebrity Extra: When you first read the part of Mo'at, what did you think of her as a character and did you immediately connect with her?
CCH Pounder: The funny thing is that I hadn’t read anything because it was so top secret so that when we gathered together, we had a false script. We did lots of improv just for the pretending to speak a different language. So immediately I thought, “This is going to be very interesting here.” And I was thinking, “Oh my God, I’m probably going to have to learn Russian or something.” But very quickly I realized they were going to create a language for the film. And I thought, “Create a language? Why can’t we just say uka laka a gaga?” That sounds like a language. And here they got this professor who was going to create a language from scratch with syntax and adverbs and adjectives. I was absolutely blown away at the type of detail that I was going to enter into. From the very beginning, that was the excitement. Then the actual role appeared and we were official — even though you couldn’t say the word Avatar, it was such a hush-hush project.
When we actually started to do the work, it was really exciting to play a sort of Shaman queen, who very much had an equal amount of power over her husband in a specific area. I thought that was kind of a wonderful thing. Obviously my husband, Eytukan, was so much like the warrior man if need be, calling the troops together, keeping the enemy or the strangers or aliens away from territories. That was sort of his command. Mo’at (pictured, credit Twentieth Century Fox) had this spiritual end of it that would investigate and inspect what these people might be like if they happen to come upon their land, which I thought was fairly marvelous.CE: It’s wonderful that both the men and women in the Na’vi clan have an important role to play.
CCH: It also made something work for me in a funny way that we don’t have as earthlings, in that when you’re in that kind of community, everyone has a duty, everyone needs to know how to fight, how to swim, how to survive if you’re lost. It had that feeling of we all have these things we have to do. So when you take a look at other countries and think, “Oh wow. As a woman I’m not allowed to read. I’m not allowed to learn.” Two places, kitchen and bed. And maybe that’s why those countries are lacking in advancement.
CE: What was the filming process like? Did you do all your stuff with a green screen?
CCH: There was no green screen; there was a giant gray box. Those of us in the case, for the most part, everyone seems to have come from the theater, or from a dance background for physicality. So the imagination was really important, because you were working in a giant gray box. We were not in any costumes that told you what you look like, although, you could see it immediately on screen. You could see your Avatar come to life. If you moved, it moved.
But you were working in the giant gray box; you’re basically wearing a silver suit with a helmet with a camera attached to it. So there is a camera about 5 inches from your face, so it captures all of your expressions. Everything is gray, so when the horses come in, they are covered in gray material. When trees are falling, they are gray columns falling. Obviously they are much lighter weight. You’re playing with foosballs basically, and everything is gray. So, it really required your imagination to run the gamut and really, it was like theater play, which was really great. I think that’s why there was such a large theatrical troop used who knew film as well.
CE: Could you have imagined, in your wildest dreams, that Avatar would become the monstrous blockbuster that it is?
CCH: I really was blown away. There are a couple of things that made me really happy. Regardless of the fact that this is a fairly familiar story, it’s a story of our journey. It’s about people. So there was a familiarity about the story itself, but what made me really happy was regardless of this magnificent change James Cameron had done and the world that he had created, the story itself was so strong, and I really appreciated that. The story comes through. And while you are watching the story, you get to see this extraordinary life form all around you: flora, fauna, everything out of his imagination and the artists who helped to create them. And I thought, “That was really fantastic!” I remember John Landau (producer with James Cameron) showing me 45 minutes of footage that was incomplete. Your face wasn’t properly filled in; your fingers weren’t quite right. And I was like, “What’s to complete?” I thought it was already there. So a year and a half later, this huge jump that they did was pretty extraordinary. My only regret now is that they’ve done such a good job that people feel we voiced this as opposed to we physically created those characters, spoke those languages, cried those tears, learned how to walk slightly different. All those things we created as actors. I’m particularly distraught that Zoe Saldana didn’t get acknowledged for her acting as opposed to, “Oh, what great voice acting.” You are attached by wires and plugs, and you have to forget all about that and actually create the character and do the work. I thought it was so wonderful, and I’m just sorry that people didn’t realize that. But it is also testament to what a fantastic job Jim did that people just felt the creatures were created.
CE: How was James Cameron to work with?
CCH: He is intense, just like the reputation goes. I think he probably knows all the technical parts of filming. He understands cameras and computers and so on. I keep saying actors are really lucky to get to work with Jim Cameron, because you’re with a very innovative man who has his own sense of film-making. So you are going to be working with sort of a genius-level guy, but he doesn’t know how to act, therefore you’re always in the glory spot. We were very lucky.
CE: Just all the stuff that went on behind the scenes to make this come to fruition — it’s hard to comprehend all the talent and expertise that went into bringing this world to life!
CCH: What’s really difficult is that, even though we worked on it forever — we worked on it for a year and a half — and I walk through the art department and there is some major art work. All I kept saying is: “Oh my gosh! These guys could have exhibitions for days! I wish I could represent one of these artists,” because of the beautiful renderings they have. I’m sure there are going to be a gazillion books come out of this. But when you’re looking on that bare stage, and you’re just creating these characters and you don’t see a complete world, you think, “OK, what we did, I feel it’s good.” And then when, like I said, John Landau showed me that 45 minutes of the movie, it’s skeletal, it’s bare, it’s raw. And I said, “Ooo, but the story is shining through.” So I knew it was going to be good. But the final results, where it went, I was completely clueless. I had no idea that it would do this. I feel like I was in the smallest cult film for Bagdad Café, and I’m in the biggest cult film ever in Avatar. So I’m very, very thrilled that I got to participate.
CE: Your resume is so impressive and extensive — what are some of your favorite roles and why?
CCH: I’ve got several. Definitely Bagdad Café was, is still today my sentimental favorite because that was the film that changed other people’s lives. (Laughs) People are going to think I grew up in a convent; my sense of service is like, “Oh, I did something for other people.” Because I get thousands and thousands of letters and e-mail of when people saw Bagdad Café they decided to take a particular action. The sense of courage and bravery that those two women had in terms of dropping all their superstitions, their stereotypical ideas, dropping all of that away to create a friendship. I was shocked that it related to so many different areas for other people’s lives changed that. So that was really thrilling. And just in terms of performance, I think a very quiet performance of Booker T. Washington’s mother, I don’t know how long ago, still holds up to today in terms of when I look at it I don’t see myself anywhere. I just keep following along with the story of this quest for education. I thought that was really spectacular. In Prizzi’s Honor, I just loved the voice I used, Peaches. It’s no big mark in my life, but I just loved the fact that I get a tickle when I hear that voice. And Avatar has now obviously made its mark. CE: Who would you love to work with?
CCH: Well, my super-idol is still Meryl Streep. She is consistently brilliant and consistently excellent. I guess I have kind of a more European way of thinking, the idea of when you do something well you praise people forever and you hold them up, as opposed to “Give me the next thing. Give me the next thing.” That’s my girl. I have worked with her before, but I’d love to do something on a different caliber. I was lucky enough to do Postcards From the Edge with her, but I think I’ve grown leaps and bound since then.
I have a couple of things I still want to do. I’ve also got a film I’d love to do that just as Mr. Cameron said, “Well, we just couldn’t do it before because technology hasn’t caught up.” I have a very similar story that I want to tell that also came from a dream that I couldn’t do then, but I would love to do now. Technology has caught up with my dream.
Add Back to Bosnia to Your Netflix Queue
Filmmaker Sabina Vajraca documents her Muslim Croat family's return to their home of Banja Luka, Bosnia, to recover their stolen belongings many years after being forced to flee to the United States in this riveting film. In Bosnia, they witness the devastation of the city, visit war crimes sites, and confront the family that has been living in their former apartment -- with all their furnishings -- for a decade.
To add it click on this link, and it will take you straight to the page:
http://movi.es/BVu7W
Martin Short's Wife Dies
(from usmagazine.com)Martin Short's wife of 30 years, former actress Nancy Dolman, has died, the actor's rep tells UsMagazine.com.
She passed away Saturday at the couple's home in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
No other details were released.
Nancy, 58, had been battling cancer since 2007.
The two, who met during the 1972 Toronto production of the musical Godspell, had three children together: Katherine, 26; Oliver, 24; and Henry, 21.
Q and A: Week of August 23
Q: I finally rented “The Cove” and was disgusted and heartbroken to witness the slaughter of those beautiful dolphins. Since the movie came out, have things gotten better over there in Japan? — Julia S., West Palm Beach, Fla.A: I spoke with Ric O’Barry, longtime dolphin activist and subject of the award-winning documentary “The Cove.” He is sad to report that the slaughter and capture of wild dolphins still occurs, albeit on a “lesser” scale.
“The dolphin slaughter begins Sept. 1 and goes through March,” he said. “During that period last year in that the town of Taiji, the mayor and the city council implemented a no-kill policy. They were bringing dolphins in and capturing them for the dolphin swim program — the dolphin-captivity industry. But they let about 300 of them go. They still kill pilot whales, but they stopped killing bottle-nosed dolphins, probably thinking, ‘That will appease them.’ But we don’t know what’s going to happen come this Sept. 1.”
You can track Ric and his son, Lincoln’s, progress on this hot-button issue on Animal Planet’s “Blood Dolphins.” The premiere episode airs Aug. 27 (with an encore Sept. 3), and parts two and three air Sept. 10 and 17, respectively.
Q: Christopher Walken has always been a favorite of mine, and I wonder what is coming up in his future, project-wise? — Elva P., Fort Worth, Texas
A: The versatile 67-year-old actor has many big-screen movie projects in the works, including “The Irishman,” “Life’s a Beach,” “A Girl and a Gun” and “Wild Oats,” the latter of which just started filming and is a comedy co-starring Christina Ricci, Shirley MacLaine and Bill Pullman. While Christopher is an excellent dramatic actor, I love to see him cut-up in a comedy, so “Wild Oats” is one I’m especially looking forward to.
Q: I just saw Natasha Henstridge in the TV movie you recommended, “The Devil’s Teardrop,” and I really liked it. What are some other things I can see her in? — Lindsay D., via e-mail
A: Natasha told me that, while she is mulling over different projects at the moment, the next thing you can see her in is the Aug. 29 episode of Lifetime Television’s hit “Drop Dead Diva.” As Natasha explained: “I get to stir up some trouble. I play Claire Harrison, who is the partner of the law firm with J Parker — Parker & Harrison. So J Parker and Claire Harrison have some history, and I go over there and make some trouble, both businesswise and personally.”
Q: I recently watched a movie called “The Last of the Dogmen,” starring Tom Berenger, and it got me to wondering what he’s been up to lately. — Mary W., Southbury, Conn.
A: Tom can be seen on the big screen — and in 3-D — in the summer blockbuster “Inception.” (FYI: So far, this is my favorite movie of the summer.) His movie “Sinners and Saints” also is touring the festival circuit.
Q: One of my favorite reality shows is “The Real Housewives” series on Bravo. I especially love Bethenny Frankel on the New York series, and I wondered if that show and/or Bethenny would be back? — Michele M., Bel Air, Md.
A: I spoke with Bethenny recently, and she told me she has no plans to return to the “Real Housewives.” In her words: “I very highly doubt I will go back to ‘Housewives.’ I don’t see any reason or upside for that.” Besides, Bethenny is pretty busy these days as a new mom, a newlywed and promoting her “Body by Bethenny” workout DVD.
And if you are wondering how she shed all that baby weight, it’s simple: “[The weight] came off afterward, because I wasn’t extreme about dieting nor had I binged while pregnant. Just be balanced before, during and after, and treat your diet like a bank account, and you will have no issue.”
Q: I really love the addition of Lindsay Pulsipher on “True Blood,” but this makes me doubt the potential re-emergence of “FlashForward,” since Lindsay played teenaged Charlie in one of the final scenes’ flash-forwards. Should I give up on the dream of “FlashForward” being picked up by another network? — Fred J., via e-mailA: I am sad to report that I think yes, the dream might be over. Many fans, including myself, were drawn into the exciting series and had hoped that maybe TNT or AMC would save it from extinction. When I asked Lindsay about the possibility, she wasn’t super hopeful of a “FlashForward” resurrection.
“There hasn’t been any talk of that, that I know of, unfortunately,” Lindsay tells me. “I know a lot of people really loved that show, and I think it had amazing potential to be really great next season. Unfortunately, I have not heard anything, but you never know — if another cable network wants to pick it up, that would be amazing!”
Q: What happened to the NBC drama series “Trauma”? One week it was on, the next it was gone. Will it be back? — Judy, Waverly, Ohio
A: “Trauma,” a medical drama that centers on a group of paramedics in San Francisco, was officially canceled by the network this past May due to low ratings.
Jennifer Aniston to Guest-Star on Cougar Town
(from the Associated Press)Jennifer Aniston will pay a visit to old "friend" Courteney Cox on the season debut of ABC's Cougar Town next month.
ABC said Monday that Aniston will portray a therapist who is being seen by Cox's character. It's a one-episode visit, scheduled for Sept. 22.
The two actresses starred for many years on NBC's Friends.
Interview: Kim Raver Breaks the Silence
If you plan to watch the Lifetime original movie, Bond of Silence, tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT, be sure to have a box of tissues handy. This movie, which is based on real-life events that happened to Katy McIntosh and her family, is a real tearjerker — but not in a sentimental or gluttonous way. Its message of love and forgiveness is sure to melt the iciest of hearts.Kim Raver, of Grey's Anatomy and Lipstick Jungle fame, portrays Katy McIntosh, as the young wife and mother whose husband mysteriously dies while trying to quell a wild teenage house party on New Year’s Eve. Searching for answers about her husband’s death, the teens and their protective parents keep a shroud of secrecy to prevent her from finding out the truth. With the help of a local detective (Greg Grunberg, Heroes and Alias) she tries to break up the bond and uncover the secrets behind what really happened. (All photos credit: Sergei Bachlakov/Lifetime Television)
Celebrity Extra: What was your first reaction when you read the script and you learned about what happened and the character that you were going to be playing?
Kim Raver: It was devastating and moving and shocking all at the same time. And being a mother, I thought, do I even want to go there? And as an actress, to go through all of that stuff. And at the same time you think, wow this is a great opportunity. And I think also because it was a real story I was moved. And then you’re kind of weighing whether this is a project I want to do. I’m on such a short hiatus. And actually the director sent me Katy’s book. I was really moved by this whole experience. But what motivated me was her forgiveness. Which made me think, wow, this woman is a very interesting woman. How would I handle it if I were walking in her shoes? So that is what led me to do this project.
CE: Katy is such a strong woman — unbelievably strong. What were some other things about her that you could really relate to and that made you really want to do it?
KR: Well, I’m shooting Grey’s Anatomy for 10-and-a-half months out of the year, and there is this small window to find something else that you really want to take that time to do. And this project sort of came along and fit in that time frame. I don’t know, I related to the story of how she was going to move on from this with two children. I was reading the book and it was talking about how she was able to function after this tragedy, for her children. And I thought whether it’s this tragedy or that tragedy or some other life thing for other people, we can relate to that. Her need to know what happened is a very powerful thing about how she went about who she is. I just thought she was a very complicated, interesting, multilayered woman, and I liked that.
CE: You got the chance to meet her in real life. What is she like?
KR: She’s very powerful. She came to one of the rehearsals and the first moment we met … it was just really powerful. She’s a very special woman and to really know all of these personal details after reading her book and then getting to meet her. It was a special time. There are certain people that affect you in your life, and her story is a really interesting story. And I mean, yes, there is a lesson in the drinking and the partying and the responsibility. Maybe because I have kids, it’s interesting in the sense that it reminds people that actions have consequences. But it was bigger for me than that. It was more about the journey of this woman.
CE: When I was reading the In Touch article that Lifetime's PR department sent along, I couldn’t understand how Katy could befriend her husband’s killer. But after seeing the movie, I could understand.
KR: For me, one of the things that’s interesting is, I may have an idea of what I think forgiveness is, but I’m not sure how I would handle that. But after watching this and having that example of someone who was able to take her pain and turn it into a kind of gift, was an amazing illumination on forgiveness. And I find that really interesting. This movie can stimulate conversation and to have people discuss the notion of forgiveness and what we think we could handle and what we don’t.
CE: Your character goes through hell. How does she keep it all going and keep herself together?
KR: That was a real challenge for me, in the script. How in real life it took five years and you could understand that journey, and when it was compressed into six months for the movie, it was really difficult. There is just so much coming at her, that you just kind of handle it and you find a way.
What do we do when we’re hit with a crisis moment? Who do we become, and I think that is an interesting question to ask. She had her children; that helped her. And I think that it was also a defense mechanism of the trying to control everything. I’m talking about the character that I play. I don’t know if that’s true about the real Katy. But with my Katy, I have to go on for my children; I have to go on and keep everything neat and organized and together, that was her way of functioning. When I talked to the real Katy, she said she was able to — as devastating and as painful as it was — make it a gift. And I think that that’s true in my life. There are moments that I find devastating or painful, and hopefully I’ll come out on the other side and find it as a gift.
CE: With such heavy material to play, how was the vibe on the set?
KR: Thank God for Greg Grunberg. I kind of just dove into the role, because it’s a great opportunity. But then it became whatever-number day I had to be in this really dark, horrible place. I kind of like to stay where I’m at, but I couldn’t really do that in this role. It was just too dark and too painful. And Greg has an incredible sense of humor. He’s got a great work ethic, so he got it. Like when things were rolling and we had to go, we went and we were there. But in between — he’s just a sheer joy. He’s hysterically funny. And it was really good for our crew. We had an incredibly dedicated and hardworking crew. We worked some long, long hours. So the set vibe was strangely funny. It was the only way to get through this really heavy, real life drama.
CE: I had a feeling you would say that about Greg, because I thought he would be the one to help keep it light for you guys.
KR: He did. There were a couple times when we couldn’t keep it together because we were laughing so hard while we were shooting it. And you really need that when you’re dealing with this kind of material. Otherwise it’s just a long time of darkness.
CE: My last question is about Grey’s Anatomy: Can you give me any hints as to what we can expect from the coming season?
KR: I can’t give much, as you know, or I’ll lose my job (laughter). But I will say I’m pretty sure that everything can and will always change. I’m pretty sure that the triangle with Teddy, Owen and Kristina is done. And while I’m sad for Teddy because it’s really hard for her, I’m just happy as a fan. The Owen and Kristina story has so much more to explore. And I think that that’s great. I’m glad not to continue the love triangle, because otherwise it would have become redundant. It was a great way to establish Teddy. And so in the first couple episodes you may actually see Teddy kind of having something romantic with a new person. She’s gonna try.
Interview: How to Get a Body by Bethenny
Many know Bethenny Frankel as one of the stars of The Real Housewives of New York, which developed into her spinoff, Bethenny's Getting Married (both on Bravo). But she is also a natural-food chef, as well as an accomplished author and workout guru. I spoke with her recently about her new workout DVD, Body by Bethenny, which is available in stores and online now at most major retail outlets. But don't worry — I managed to sneak in some Real Housewives questions as well.Celebrity Extra: I saw an “after-baby” picture of you online, and you looked absolutely FAB! A lot of my readers want to know how you lost the baby weight?
Bethenny Frankel: I had no idea what I would be in for after the baby. My gut instinct was to stick by what I preach in Naturally Thin and do my Body by Bethenny DVD when I felt up to it. I gained 35 pounds and gave birth early, but the weight simply came off afterward because I wasn't extreme about dieting nor had I binged while pregnant. Just be balanced before, during and after, and treat your diet like a bank account, and you will have no issue. It's the extremes that kill you.
CE: How did the whole idea for the workout DVD come about?
BF: People think I work out every day and do some psychotic drastic workout. What I do is key yoga moves a few days a week, but I'm consistent. I wanted to show people what I really do and that it doesn't have to be extreme or overwhelming.
CE: Was is it about the DVD that makes the workout right for most women and most fitness levels?
BF: This is yoga but not a spiritual class, and not too easy nor too challenging. It works for all levels and can be toned down or jacked up for each person or your mood that day.
CE: Is this easy to pick up for people who’ve never done yoga?
BF: This is absolutely for beginners and advanced yogis. I've been doing yoga for 20 years, but some days I can't bend over.
CE: How do you motivate yourself to exercise, when you are too busy or too tired, which is a problem for a lot of women, new mothers especially?
BF: I do what I can. Even if I do 15 minutes of the DVD, it's better than nothing and doesn't make me dread it. I also like that you do it at home. Sometimes I do it while my baby is in the bouncy seat next to me.
CE: You are also a natural-food chef — what is a typical day of eating for you?
BF: No two days are the same, which is why I'm "naturally thin." I eat according to my mood, location, the circumstances, etc. This liberating lifestyle makes for no binging.
CE: With the Skinnygirl book series, how did that idea spring to life, and how did it turn into a publishing deal?
BF: Naturally Thin has helped thousands of people to lose incredible amounts of weight. I wrote it because I found the key to unlock people's thinness without ever dieting again — I had to share it. Skinnygirl Dish teaches people how to cook how I do: healthfully and delicious using what I happen to have in my kitchen.
CE: What advice about eating and working out would you give women who work full time (especially in sedentary jobs) and might find it hard to keep a balance?
BF: Don't be stressed or frustrated. Take a moment to plan. Never binge or diet. Understand that being "naturally thin" becomes part of your fiber so you never need to be stressed or overwhelmed. You can only do what you can but make sure you are doing what you can when you can.
CE: Will there be another season of Real Housewives of New York, and if so, will you return to the show?
BF: I very highly doubt I will go back to Housewives. I don't see any reason or upside for that.
CE: I think it is great that you got a spinoff, Bethenny’s Getting Married. How did that deal come about — was it your idea, the producers, or both?
BF: The show was the idea of myself and Bravo. The viewers wanted a closer look at my life. The show is and will always be about exactly what is going on in my life — and that is a lot!
Interview: Lindsay Pulsipher Mingles With Vampires
True Blood, which airs Sunday nights at 9 on HBO, has had everyone talking since the show began in 2008. The Emmy-nominated show, based on the series of best-selling books by Charlaine Harris, is known for its solid pedigree of featured stars and guest stars. New to the show this season is Lindsay Pulsipher (pictured left, photo credit JSquared Photography), who previously co-starred in The Beast with the late Patrick Swayze. Lindsay plays new-girl-in-town Crystal, and she just happens to stir up some trouble.Celebrity Extra: When you came aboard True Blood, it was already a bona fide hit with a solid fan base. Was that intimidating for you, or did it get you excited to tackle this role?
Lindsay Pulsipher: I was over-the-moon excited. I was screaming at the top of my lungs when I got the news I’d been cast. Then once all that settled in, I realized the caliber of the show. I knew I was coming into a huge, huge show with a huge fan base and a big following. So there was a little bit of — panic sets in and then you think, “Oh man, can I pull this off and make people excited about this role?” So I hope that I’ve pulled through.
CE: Had you read any of the books before getting the part?
LP: You know when I got the part; I had not read the books. I made a conscious decision to hold off reading them, because I wanted to look at Crystal through the writers’ eyes on the show. And then once I kind of got a feeling for the character and I kind of knew where they were taking her and everything, I decided to start reading the books. I’m on the third book now, and it’s so good. I can see why people are so into it.
CE: What can you tell me about Crystal?
LP: Well, Crystal is just a really strong and spirited character. And I think that it’s every actor’s dream to kind of play a role that has a little meat to it. And there’s a lot for me to play with, with Crystal. She’s multilayered and she’s complex, and she’s got a lot of issues in her life right now. And she’s a little bit manic and it’s fun to be able to explore all those avenues and she’s definitely not one dimensional which is fun.
CE: What’s the overall atmosphere of the show; how is everyone to work with?
LP: It’s a very light and friendly set. Everybody has an amazing time and you can tell everybody just loves their job. And everybody is so happy to be there, which makes for such a pleasant environment. And that being said though, everybody is very professional and takes their job very seriously. And all the actors on the show are really dedicated to their characters, and they know their characters very well.
CE: Can you give me a tease about what going to come up in the next few episodes?
LP: I can definitely tell you that Crystal causes rifts in BT [Bon Temps], but it’s not just for Jason. She causes some problems for some of the other characters and gets herself into some trouble.
CE: Now, can you tell me if your character will be back in Season 4, or might that give something away?
LP: It’s probably best if I don’t answer that. It could potentially give away some spoilers. So I should probably stay away from that question (laughs).
CE: FlashForward was one of my favorite new shows of last season, and I was surprised to see you pop up in the last moments of the final episode as Teenaged Charlie. Have you heard anything about any possible chance of it being brought back, even if it's to another network?
LP: You know, there hasn’t been any talk of that that I know of unfortunately. I know that a lot of people really loved that show, and I think that it had amazing potential to be really great next season. But unfortunately I have not heard anything. But, that would be really cool if it did because I would really love to work on that show again.
CE: Yeah, I want to start a campaign for TNT to bring it back, or AMC, or any of those cutting-edge cable networks.
LP: Yeah, I know. I have a lot of friends who feel that same way. It had a lot of potential, and it was really different and interesting. I’m kind of sad that it’s not going to come back. But you never know, and if another cable network wants to pick it up, that would be amazing!
CE: Prior to this, you co-starred in The Beast with Patrick Swayze. Can you tell me what he was like as a person, and how he was to work with?
LP: Patrick is — was — such an amazing person and I can’t say enough things about him. He was sweet, kind, generous and had an amazingly dirty sense of humor. He was such a jokester. You know, always joking and making things so pleasant and light. Oh, he was such an inspiration. I can’t say enough good things about him. [Going through cancer treatment while shooting the show] really put things into perspective for me. Like if I was kind of tired or my call time was at an ungodly hour, it made me think twice of even complaining inside my head because I knew what he was going through. Never once did he come to work unprepared. He was always in top-notch form. And it was so inspiring to see.
CE: Tell me about the feature film you star in, The Oregonian.
LP: The film is amazing. It’s kind of an art horror film, if you will. My character is this girl who’s leaving home and, without giving too much away, she’s gets into a car accident. And she kind of wakes up and doesn’t know if she’s alive or dead or in purgatory somewhere. And it’s her journey discovering that. And she encounters a lot crazy things along the way, and it’s really different. I’ve never done anything like it. It’s really different and bizarre, and I’m really excited about it.
Q and A: Week of August 9
Q: Can you tell me if Timothy Hutton (pictured left, photo credit Darren Michaels, TNT) is the son of Jim Hutton of the “Ellery Queen” TV mystery series of old? — Rae S., via e-mailA: Film and television star Jim Hutton is indeed the father of “Leverage” star Timothy Hutton. Jim gained fame on projects such as “The Green Berets,” “Hellfighters,” “Walk, Don’t Run” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” In 1975, Jim landed the role he is perhaps best-known for, that of the titular character in “Ellery Queen.” He passed away of liver cancer in 1979 at the age of 45.
Q: I just finished reading the book “One Day” by David Nicholls and absolutely loved it. Is it being made into a movie? — Darla E., via e-mail
A: I loved the book as well and am happy to report that the movie adaptation is currently filming in England. Anne Hathaway stars as Emma, and Jim Sturgess is Dexter. The film will follow the story of Dex and Em, two university classmates who meet on graduation night in 1988, and fall in and out of each other’s life over the next two decades. In a clever storytelling convention, each chapter lets the reader explore the protagonists’ lives on July 15 of each year, beginning on that fateful day after graduation.
Q: Dustin Hoffman has always been one of my favorite actors. What does he have coming up? — Julie F., Denver
A: HBO landed the award-winning actor for its new series, “Luck,” which is about the horse-racing world: the owners, jockeys and gamblers. Filming begins this fall, and the show co-stars Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte. The pilot episode will be directed by Michael Mann, of “Miami Vice,” “Heat” and “Public Enemies” fame.
Q: I have a question that I have been wondering about for two years. Why was “Boston Legal” canceled? I have heard it was due to low ratings, which I have a hard time believing since so many people watched and enjoyed it. I have to wonder if some of the storylines were too controversial and ruffled some feathers? – Monnie F., via e-mail
A: Writer and creator David E. Kelley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in December 2008: “ABC didn’t want us back. We had to fight to get back on with 13 [episodes]. It’s not a product they care to market. Five years into the show, if anyone has ever seen the show at ABC, they’ve yet to bring it to my attention,” he said.
David speculated the lack of promotion had to do with the fact that 20th Century Fox produced the show, not ABC itself, so ABC didn’t share in the profits. “Even though our numbers are solid, not huge, I think the conventional wisdom at ABC, and I don’t know this, but I’m guessing they continue to believe they can develop their own product and get that [rating] number, and then also share in the profits.”
Interview: Natasha Henstridge Will Save Us All!
It's up to Natasha Henstridge to save our country's capital — well, for a movie, anyway. Natasha stars as Special Agent Margaret Lucas, an FBI agent tasked with finding a deranged serial killer who’s left dozens dead and only a ransom note demanding $20 million or more people will die. The movie is called The Devil’s Teardrop, and it based on the book by best-selling author Jeffery Deaver (whose book The Bone Collector made it to the big screen starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie). The Devil's Teardrop airs on the Lifetime Movie Network on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.I caught up with Natasha recently to discuss the movie, as well as her upcoming appearance on Drop Dead Diva and her breakout role in 1995's Species.
Celebrity Extra: I watched the movie over the weekend, and what I liked best was that your character, Special Agent Margaret Lucas is tough, but she’s a real person underneath. She’s not a two-dimension hard-ass type character; you can really see her levels. Was that one of the things that drew you to this project and this character?
Natasha Henstridge: That was definitely one of the appealing things about playing that character. I mean, I read it and she was compassionate and human, and also strong and ballsy. I’m really glad that came across. So, was the movie okay? Was it fun to watch? Entertaining?
CE: Oh yes, it was everything. Although I thought they should have released it around Fourth of July weekend, what with all the action in the movie taking place around then.
NH: I know. Initially in the book, in Jeffery Deaver’s book it was actually New Year’s Eve. And they switched it to the Fourth of July, and I can’t quite remember why that was, but they did make that switch.
CE: Speaking of Jeffery Deaver, had you read any of his books prior to this?
NH: I’d never read any of his books to be honest with you. It’s terrible to say, but I’ve never even seen The Bone Collector. I’ve heard good things about it. And people that I mention the book to or talk to about it just really, really respond to him as a writer. And I thought, we’ll that’s a good sign. You know, people who have nothing to gain at all by saying they really liked his work were impressed with him. In fact I was working with my acting coach on it and she said, “Wait a second, I know this book! I know this story!” And it was really helpful, because she really liked the book and knew the story. He’s got a lot of fans, Jeffery Deaver. He’s definitely got a huge fan base, which is great.
CE: When you got this part, did you read the book the story was based on, or did you want to go into it without preconceptions?
NH: Often times I think that is a better option because you’re not necessarily, when you have the information at hand in the script you’re going to be performing, you’re sort of better off using what’s on that page as opposed to when they adapt it from a screenplay to a book. They are making changes, so if you get too attached to the book ... We could say that, or we could say it was just laziness and getting hired at the last minute as well. Whatever you want to with is fine… (laughter).
CE: How did you train for this? Did you get weapons’ training, work with real FBI agents?
NH: I’ve done stuff before so I had some concept, but those things change all the time, you know. The rules and the way to clear rooms and the way they communicate to each other. There were people there to give us advice on guns, a couple of cops nearby that we spoke to. Also, Tom Everett Scott is on a show called Southland and he plays a police officer in that, so he had some good advice to give.
CE: You all looked good holding your guns — while I was watching, I wasn’t think, “Oh, how cute – look at those actors holding guns!”
NH: That is such a nice compliment, because there were cops actually on the set that were hired to keep the location secure. And then there were some that were gun trainee’s and they said, “Gosh, you really are comfortable with a gun, and you really know what you’re doing.” So, it was really a compliment. Because often times, you’re a girl and people are looking for you to fail or not to look as natural coming from you. And I feel like it’s such a great compliment when people believe it and buy it.
CE: A really compelling aspect of this scenario is how possible this is — stuff like this could really happen!
NH: When you have a story like this it’s always gripping when there’s a time element to the story, and you’re trying to solve a case to save other people’s lives and to prevent any further attacks. So, I thought that was really gripping, but more than anything, whenever you have stories like that, what makes it most interesting is the human being behind the cop. She had an amazing story because she’s lost her son and her husband, and she put everything into her work and sort of had a one-track mind. And through the show she comes full circle back to life, to real life.
And for Tom’s character, it was sort of the opposite. I mean, he went from being nothing but a professional and focusing entirely on his career to pulling out of the FBI altogether and focusing completely on his children. And I thought it was a neat thing to see. It’s an unusual character to be written for a male, I thought that was nice to show that other side as well. The contrast of those two characters and where they were coming from and where they were going, I thought that was really interesting.
CE: And you mentioned that just now of her husband and her son dying in the plane crash, I was heartbroken when she revealed that. What was your reaction when you read that part and had to play that scene?
NH: It’s amazing. When you read things like that, if you have any sort of feelings at all, you’re going to have a reaction and compassion. It definitely makes you feel something. And the other side of that is what you draw and what techniques you use as an actor. It can be painful to do scenes like that, which is always a challenge because it’s where you put yourself. What are you falling back on, what are you depending on? It’s sad. And to play it sad takes energy, and then you want to do justice, you don’t just want to slip over it like nothing. Because you want to do justice for anyone who’s ever been through anything remotely like that. So, it’s a lot of pressure in that way as well.
CE: And even though this is a serial killer thriller, there is also a great message of love and family. Was that an appealing aspect for you?
NH: It was. Like I said, it’s showing that human side to every situation. You’ve got this great story that you’re trying to figure out and unravel as the movie goes on. And then of course, the very human aspect of what was happening as well was appealing.
CE: How was the cast to work with, especially Tom Everett Scott?
NH: Tom was amazing. Real kidder, real lovely guy. Doesn’t’ take himself too seriously and really good at what he does. I thought he was perfectly cast to play this role, of a man who cares more about protecting his children and making sure they’re completely secure in their lives — even over his own job. And I think that’s a rare thing to find in a script for men. He was a really great choice for that. He was lovely. Lovely to work with, really sweet, really funny. Great guy!
CE: Now I know you have done a lot of work in Hollywood, but you are definitely best known to a lot of fans for your breakout role in Species. How does it feel to know you’ve created such an iconic memory for a generation of fans?NH: It’s such a compliment. I do feel this sense that I’m disappointing people when they now meet me and it’s been 15 years and they go, “Oh, you’re that girl from Species — you don’t really look like that anymore… (laughter)” No. It’s cool. I guess, it really made an impact, because no matter where I go in the world, people remember that film. It’s amazing. It’s amazing that only through time do you realize the impact that a film had on someone. That it was this classic moment and really impacted people and such. It’s amazing that as time goes on and the more and more people you meet, that they still remember certain moments or certain scenes from a film. It’s great.
CE: Now you have an upcoming appearance on Drop Dead Diva (Aug. 29)— can you tell me about your role?
NH: Well I go in, in what seems to be “Natasha” fashion, and get to stir up some trouble over there. I play Claire Harrison, who is the partner of the law firm with J Parker. J Parker and Claire have some history, and I get to cause some trouble, both businesswise and personally.
Q and A: Week of August 2
A: Star Dylan McDermott (pictured, photo credit Richard Foreman) told me: “We looked at the first season to see what worked and what didn’t work. We decided to make the show a little lighter in tone, added more humor, and the introduction of Alex Rice as my love interest. We’ve opened it up to a wider audience. It’s still gritty and dark, but adding and making changes opened up the show a lot.” (Read my entire interview here.)
Q: I can’t believe Melina Kanakaredes is leaving my favorite show, “CSI: NY.” Who will they get to replace her? — Maggie F., Portland, Maine
A: After six years, Melina is hanging up her handcuffs, and television vet Sela Ward is stepping in to take her place. “We are delighted to have Sela joining ‘CSI: NY,’” ’showrunner’ Pam Veasey announced in July. Ward will play an “experienced investigator from Washington, D.C., whose work is driven by her empathy for the victim.”
Q: Is it true that Steve Carell is leaving “The Office”? Why? The office will be so empty without him! — David G. in Pennsylvania
A: It’s sad, but true. Everyone’s favorite worst boss will be leaving the show when his contract expires in May 2011. He explained to E! Online that he just felt it was time. But don’t worry, as Steve explains: “It certainly doesn’t mean the end of the show. I think it’s just a dynamic change, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy. I see it as a positive in general for the show.”
Some good news on the casting front, though, is the return of Amy Ryan as Holly for eight episodes, as well as Melora Hardin as Jan (no word as of yet on how many episodes). I can’t wait to see how Michael handles this one!
Q: I have been a fan of Natasha Henstridge since “Species” (who could forget that role?), and really liked her on the now-canceled “Eli Stone.” What does she have coming up? — Greg D., via e-mailA: Natasha has been pretty busy since playing Taylor Wethersby on “Eli Stone.” The beautiful blonde, who turns 36 on Aug. 15, recently starred in “You Lucky Dog” opposite Harry Hamlin (who I’ve redeveloped my crush on since watching “Clash of the Titans” again). She also starred in the film “The Perfect Student” and starred in the TV miniseries “Impact” with David James Elliott ("Scoundrels”).
You can catch her on Sunday, Aug. 8, in the Lifetime Original Movie “The Devil’s Teardrop,” a mystery/thriller based on the best-selling book by Jeffery Deaver. She plays a special agent assigned to catch a serial killer who’s on the rampage in Washington, D.C. Natasha co-stars with Tom Everett Scott ("That Thing You Do”) and Rena Sofer ("Just Shoot Me!”). Stay tuned — my full interview with Natasha is coming soon!
Q: Does Jeanne Cooper, who plays Katherine Chancellor on “The Young and The Restless,” have a son or two in show business? If so, who are they? — Janet C., Battle Creek, Mich.
A: The Grand Dame of daytime television does indeed have children who are actors: daughter Caren, son Collin and, most famous, son Corbin Bernsen (of “L.A. Law,” “Major League” and “Psych” fame). Jeanne’s husband (now deceased) was TV producer Harry Bernsen Jr. They divorced after 23 years of marriage, but reportedly remained best friends until his death in 2008. Corbin, 55, plays the recurring part of Father Todd Williams on his mom’s show, and he directed Jeanne, 81, in the films “Carpool Guy” and “Donna on Demand,” as well as many other projects.
Q: I watched “Stargate: Atlantis” from the beginning, and really like one character who wasn’t in the show for the entire run of the series. Can you give me more information on Rainbow Francks? Also, is he related to Canadian actor Don Francks? — June J., Holberg, B.C., Canada
A: Rainbow Sun Francks, 30, is indeed the son of Don Francks, as well as the brother of actress Cree Summer (who is best known for her role in “A Different World”). You can catch him this summer in the CBS police drama “The Bridge,” which airs Saturdays. He guest-stars in the ninth episode of this first season. The show, which originated in Canada, already aired his episode (titled “Never Let Me Down Again”) in April, but you might be able to catch it online or in reruns.
Q: Can you tell me if Jill from “Wipeout” is the same girl on the Mercury car commercials? — Burton L. in N.Y.
A: “Wipeout” co-host Jill Wagner is indeed known as the “Mercury Chick” for her commercial and print ads for Lincoln-Mercury (since 2005). The 31-year-old North Carolina native also has appeared on “Blade: The Series,” “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Bones.”
Q: I would love to know what my favorite ’90s star, Jason Priestley, has been up to lately. The most recent thing I’ve seen him on is “Side Order of Life.” — Trisha J., via e-mailA: Jason, who turns 41 in August, still acts here and there, but he has really turned his attention to directing. He caught the directing bug while working on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and has since directed shows such as “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “The Lake” and the new “90210.” Currently he is guest-starring on the new ABC series, “Scoundrels,” which airs Sunday nights.
I spoke with series star Leven Rambin recently (see the interview here), and she told me she was thrilled to work with Jason. “He was so fun. He just came in and really embraced it and really got the joke of the character. The character is like an ’80s washed-up TV star who is now doing a reality-hosting type of show. He came in and was such a pro, and I got along with him really well.”
Q: After Farrah Fawcett passed away, I was watching an interview with her best friend, Alana Stewart, and she mentioned their shared Texas ties. Where is she from? — Janice, Fort Worth, Texas
A: Farrah hailed from Corpus Christi, Texas, which is in the southern portion of the state along the Gulf of Mexico. Alana is from Nacogdoches, Texas, which is toward the east and closer to the Louisiana border.
Q: I absolutely adore the “Harry Potter” series and am so sad to see it come to an end. What do the stars of the series have planned for the future? — George K., Casper, Wyo.
A: I had the chance to speak with the stars when they were in Orlando for the opening of Universal Studio’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe will be starring on Broadway in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and he hopes to continue to hone his singing and dancing skills. Rupert Grint is going the indie route: His new film, “Wild Target,” recently opened, and he’s in preproduction for “Eddie the Eagle.”
Tom Felton might have a bit of revenge in his future. When I asked him about his speech being interrupted at the MTV Movie Awards by Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell, he joked: “I just wanted to thank my mum — it took me four tries to get it out! Hopefully one day Will Ferrell will have a big lifetime acceptance speech, and I can swing down from the rafters and mess his speech up.”
Interview: Dylan McDermott and Dark Blue Kick Ass and Take Names
Let me be blunt: If you aren't watching Dark Blue, you should be. This ain't your average cop show, and the star ain't your average cop. I caught up with Dark Blue's star, Dylan McDermott, the other day to talk about Season 2 of Dark Blue, and I have to say — what a difference a season makes! Dark Blue is back, and it's ready to suck you in. So, get ready — the first episode airs tomorrow night at 9/8c on TNT. (All photos courtesy TNT.)Celebrity Extra: Dark Blue is back for a second season, starting tomorrow, August 4. And aside from being introduced to the new character of Agent Rice, how have things changed and how have they stayed the same since the end of the first season?
Dylan McDermott: Well, I think we looked at the first season and we figured out what worked and what didn’t work, and we decided to make the show a little bit lighter in tone, with more humor. And then there is the introduction of Alex Rice as my love interest on the show. And I think those components really changed the landscape of the show. And now we have a show that I think is much more attractive to a wider audience. And although the show is gritty and still dark, I think that just adding and making changes will open up the show a lot. Especially for my character, because I think you forgive my character a lot more by all the things he does when he has a love interest.
CE: I have to watch a lot of shows for my job of course. And so I watched this last night with the intention of watching only the first episode since I had other screeners to watch. But, I was so drawn in that I ended up watching all three episodes that were on the press screener, because I really wanted to see what happened.
DM: Wow. That’s good.
CE: What do you think it is about the show that draws people in and sets it apart from other police dramas?
DM: Ultimately, I’d have to say the characters. The characters are really fascinating. I think the cast is dynamic the way we interact with each other. And the relationships that we have — I think that really sets us apart from all the other shows. The show looks like a movie. And the grittiness of the show. You know a lot of times these cop shows are a lot lighter in tone. They try to make it just easy-breezy, and our show is not that way at all. And I like that because this is more real than the other cop shows, I would have to say.
CE: How was it working with new cast member, Tricia Helfer, and what does she bring to the ensemble? DM: Yeah, I think that Tricia just brings so much to the table, and she’s beautiful and she’s talented. And I think my character, Carter Shaw, really needed to have this to open him up. I think that he was really closed down in the first season. You know, he was really mourning his ex-wife and was much more brooding. And then, as with anybody when love comes into your life, you change, and you open up and you become more hopeful. And I think that happens to Carter, and it kind of catches him by surprise. In the first show we see him in the garden, and it’s really a metaphor for him — he’s evolving and changing. And he wants to change; I don’t think he wants to remain the same person, because it’s just not working.
CE: I also love the dynamic between Carter and Agent Rice because they don’t know she’s going to end up being his boss but then she is. How is he going to deal with this throughout the season?
DM: Well, at first I think he’s so pissed off that he has a boss and that someone is coming in and usurping his power. And I think that’s not something he wants, and then he ends up falling for her and there was a lot more at risk for him. I think the whole thing catches him by surprise. He was not expecting any of this. He wasn’t expecting a boss; he wasn’t expecting to fall in love; he wasn’t expecting to care for someone and to be at risk. And all these things happen, and I think it’s something that was so needed for him and welcomed at the same time. But at first he’s really hesitant about this as something he never thought about or wanted.
CE: I know TNT’s motto is “We Know Drama” and I don’t mean to sound corny, but in the past few years, it really has been shaping up to give us really kick-ass drama. I mean, we have your show, The Closer, Leverage and all of that. Because it’s on cable, do you think that’s what grants you more freedom to explore things you might not otherwise be able to on a network-type show?
DM: Yeah, TNT really gives shows chances to, you know — I think with network television, if you don’t get a rating right away, they’re going to pull you. And I think TNT hangs in there with their shows because they believe in them. And that’s something you just don’t get on network television. And of course you can get away with a lot more on cable than you can on network. And that’s why network television is struggling, because they have to deal more with story and on cable we get to deal more with character. And character is kind of a dirty word on network television. So, I think that cable for actors is really the place to be right now. Because in the movie world, they’re making less and less of them, and they are all comic books and sequels. And network television is kind of trying to find its voice again, and they’re struggling. With cable, the characters and acting on cable is maybe the best there is out there.
CE: I agree. You touched on this earlier, but just the film quality itself is so much better. Each episode I watched last night, they all looked like mini movies, because the quality is so good.
DM: Yeah, that does, it does. We have a great DP and he’s really developed the look of the show to make it look like a movie each week. Which is so hard to do in seven days, but somehow he’s figured out how to do that.
CE: And I love the use of light, the sunlight when it would stream through little parts of the blinds … I love it. Just the whole look — I love it.
DM: Thanks so much!
CE: You're welcome. After you did The Practice, you did some movies, and then you did Big Shots. How was TNT able to lure you over to do Dark Blue with them?
DM: Well, I had done a miniseries for them with Julianna Margulies years ago called The Grid, which was sort of ahead of its time. It was about the FBI and terrorism. I think it could have been a series, but people were just not ready for that. And they still might not be ready for it. But anyway, I did those six episodes for them, and we developed a relationship then. And then Jerry Bruckheimer came to me with Dark Blue. And I was just lucky I’m in, because I like them and obviously Jerry has a tremendous record. So it was an easy yes for me.
CE: For your fans who aren’t yet watching Dark Blue, what would you tell them to entice them to watch the show?
DM: Well, if you like action and you like great characters and kick-ass drama and a little bit of romance, then Dark Blue is right up your alley.
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