Interview: Patrick Fabian Is Your Go-To Guy
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| (Photo by Josh Madson) |
Celebrity Extra: You have such a wide and varied resume of characters that you’ve played. A lot of actors are probably envious of the fact that you are not pigeonholed into any one type of character. How has that given you freedom as an actor?
Patrick Fabian: It’s funny — being the typical actor, I’m like, “Oh, I want somebody else’s resume.” You’re never happy with what you’ve got; you’re always complaining in some respects. I’ve been really fortunate, and I have played a variety of things, and I have been on a lot of cool shows. When I say “cool shows,” it’s not necessarily the most popular. Yes, I’ve been on “Friends” and I’ve been on “Will and Grace,” and those are grade-A caliber shows. But I’ve also been on stuff like “Xena” and “Burn Notice,” which have their pocket of fans, and man, they are fun to be on. I just got offered a job on “Hot in Cleveland” to play half of a pair of Siamese twins. That’s the sort of job you just don’t say no to, because how often does that come around?
CE: You got a lot of notice for your role of Ted Price on “Big Love.” Tell me about that experience.
PF: I always joke that I was playing a “real” Mormon: He loves money first and Jesus second. I don’t think that has disparaged the Mormon faith by any stretch of the imagination, but I think my character was very much a guy about business above all, and he was using his religion as just another tool to get what he wanted financially. The best thing about that was working with Bill Paxton and Jeanne Tripplehorn. They were my main scene partners. They are just consummate pros. They bring their A game to everything, and it was a real treat to go on set and see people who, frankly, could probably put it in coast, but they chose not to.
That was a real lesson to me as an actor, that you never sit on your morals and rest on them. You are always trying get the best out of whatever it is you’re doing, and it was really fun to work with them. I want to be Bill Paxton when I grow up.
I know it’s funny with me being in that series, sort of a religious bent, but I played Reverend Cotton Marcus in “The Last Exorcism” last year, and I was doing religion again (with “Big Love”). A lot of people ask me if I choose my roles according to my religious views, and I tell them, “No, I actually choose them according to who’s offering me my next job!”
CE: For squeamish folks, like myself, who shy away from horror movies because we are wimps, what would you tell us to convince us to give “The Last Exorcism” a try?
PF: (Laughs) I’ll tell you a few things. One, I wouldn’t classify it as a horror movie straight up, because I think that gives the impression of a body count — a lot of blood and arrows in the eyes. I can tell you it was rated PG-13 for a reason. Not because it wasn’t creepy, not because it didn’t get into your spine, but it’s not a graphic gore fest. We like to call it a smart thriller with a horrific ending.
CE: How was the filming experience?
PF: This was a low-budget film. It was roughly $2 million for the budget. We shot on a shoestring for four weeks down in New Orleans. I’d never been to New Orleans. It was really fun, but in terms of creep factor, it was creepy, because the woman I was working with, Ashley Bell (who plays the possessed girl, Nell), is so good at playing both sides of her character’s coin: the sweet and innocent Nell and then the possessed girl. I can be as good as I want as the priest in the “Exorcism,” but if you don’t believe the possessed girl in an exorcism film, then you don’t have a film. And we do have a film, because she’s so good. I promise you, if you watch with the lights on, you will be OK. It won’t keep you up at night. And I think it’s a much smarter film than people give it credit for.
CE: How wonderful was it for you that the movie ended up being such a hit, and you won awards for your performance at a few major film festivals?
PF: Totally unexpected. The movie grossed, I think, like $70 million worldwide, and it had such a strong opening here in America, like a $20 million opening weekend. I got to fly over to London for the premier, and I got to fly to Toronto for the premier. So, after 20 years of kicking around as an actor, it was nice to play movie star for a couple of weeks. In Toronto I got the Best Actor Award in the After Dark Festival. The film got nominated for a Spirit Award and a People’s Choice Award. I won the Best Actor Award at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.
CE: You have so much experience in all different acting genres — is there one you prefer, or do you enjoy mixing it up and keeping yourself on your toes?
PF: I’m kind of like a sled dog in that I’m really happy with where I am at the moment. So, if I’m doing a play, like I was doing last year, it was great, and I do love the theater, very much so. It’s how I was trained, and I really feel at home there. But I also feel at home when we have four-camera sitcoms. I like being on location with films, so I’ve been blessed with a varying degree of work in my career that I haven’t had time to really get burned out on any one genre, which has been nice. Although I used to say, “I’d love nothing more than to run a hundred episodes of something.” But honestly, I don’t know. I wouldn’t know that until I actually did that. What I know is what I know, and that’s being able to pick up and adjust to whatever the situation requires.
Book Reviews: Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart by Michelle Young
Michelle Young's impressive debut novel, Dragonstone, hits all the notes that a fantasy/romance novel should: strong women, gorgeous men, lovely scenery and life-altering adventure. However, this ain't your mother's romance novel. With Dragonstone, Ms. Young has created her own niche in the fantasy genre, imagining a world where "magic rules the land, dragons roam the skies, and everyone has their secrets."The reader is transported to the world of Latharia, where Lady Katerina must fulfill the prophecy of defeating the Black magic that is threatening to overtake her land. Because her magic was "awakened" by an act of violence, her Dragonstone, which holds all of her magic power, turns Black. Not wanting to use her magic because of evilness that controls the Black Dragonstone, she rids herself of her Dragonstone, determined to rely on powers that she can control and develop herself.
After a three-year absence from her kingdom (where Katerina trained and honed her own skills), she returns to Latharia to find that forces with not-so-good intentions do not want her to inherit her rightful place in her kingdom. With the help of a mysterious (and of course, breathtakingly attractive) personal guard, Katerina must retrieve her Dragonstone and defeat the evil forces who would prefer to reign with evil Black magic.
Young’s new novel, The Dragon’s Heart, picks up nearly 25 years later, with Katerina’s daughter, Syrena, fated to continue her mother’s quest to rid Latharia of black magic and defeat the evil Kyron once and for all. In order to fulfill her destiny, she must learn to harness her beast-master magic to help her save her kingdom, all the while trying to gauge if the mysterious Blaze is someone she can trust, or if he has an agenda of his own.
While I normally would not consider myself a fan of the traditional fantasy/romance book, I was pleasantly surprised and captivated by Ms. Young's books. They are fast-paced and intriguing, keeping the reader on the edge of her seat for each book. In fact, this series made me reconsider the entire fantasy/romance genre in general.
Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart is a compelling epic-fantasy series about lies, love and letting go. It's a must-read series, no matter what genre you prefer. And I guarantee that after you read these books, this will be a genre that you will prefer.
Q and A: Week of April 25
Q: I am going through some serious “True Blood” withdrawal! Can you tell me when the show will return? I know it’s usually over the summer, but I haven’t heard a specific date yet. — Ginger F., via e-mailA: HBO just announced that season four of the vampire (and fairy and shifter and witch) drama will begin Sunday, June 26. However, if you need your vampire fix before then, Charlaine Harris will release book 11 of the Southern Vampire Mysteries, “Dead Reckoning” — on which the “True Blood” series is based — on May 3. Also, the “True Blood” season three DVD will be released on May 31.
And, since this is the summer of contests, you have a chance to win a copy of the season three “True Blood” DVD set. Write to me at letters@cindyelavsky.com, or at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, and tell me if you are on Team Bill, Team Eric or Team Alcide. I will randomly draw one lucky winner to receive the “True Blood” season three box set. Deadline is May 31.
Q: Do you know if “In Plain Sight” will be returning on USA? We thoroughly enjoy it and hope it’s not canceled. — Pete and Ann, Venice, Fla.
A: The USA network’s drama starring Mary McCormack will return for its fourth season on Sunday, May 1. The show already has been renewed for it’s fifth season, which is scheduled for a 2012 premiere. So, no worries for your favorite show — you’ll have at least 20-something more episodes on the way.
Q: The other day, my mom was watching “My Girl” on DVD and it got me to wondering what Anna Chlumsky, the actress who played Vada, is doing now. She was so good in the movie! — Paula F., Fresno, Calif.A: Anna’s most recent role is that of Jennifer Mills in the Hallmark Channel original movie “3 Weeks, 3 Kids,” premiering Saturday, May 7. Jennifer is a free spirit who is forced to grow up when her parents hatch a plan for their solo daughter to care for her sister’s rambunctious children. Of taking on this surrogate-mom role, Anna says: “My character has to face her fears of letting the kids down and letting herself down, and in confronting those fears, that’s really where you find your courage.”
Anna, now 30, has guest-starred on “30 Rock” and “Law and Order,” among many other shows. She also just finished shooting “Veep,” a pilot for HBO opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and is in production on the feature film “Sam,” starring opposite Chris Klein.
Q: NCIS is my favorite show. I was told that Mark Harmon is leaving. Is that true? — Linda J., Nokomis, Fla.
A: With record-setting ratings and being picked up for a ninth season, you can bet Mark won’t be leaving “NCIS” anytime soon.
Interview: Beth Littleford Is Everyone's Favorite Naughty Mom
Now Beth co-stars as RJ Berger’s mom, Suzanne, on MTV’s cult teen hit, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger” (airing Monday nights). However, don’t let the “teen” moniker fool you. In preparing for my interview with Beth, I watched season one of the show online, and it is smart, wickedly funny, well written and well acted. You have time to catch up with the show before its May season-two finale, and I highly suggest you do.
When I chatted with Beth recently, she told me all about this role, as well as her new summer movies coming out: “Crazy, Stupid, Love” with Steve Carell and “Movie 43,” with basically every single A-list actor in Hollywood.
Celebrity Extra: I’ve been a fan of yours for many, many years, starting with “The Daily Show.” Tell me about the early days of being on such a boundary-pushing show.
Beth Littleford: The Daily Show started out with a teeny tiny budget in like a corner of a PBS building. A small corner where no one had their own offices; everyone was in cubicles. You would laugh if I told you how much I got paid, and basically I was in the red spending the money on the suits and the dry cleaning and getting the nails done. CE: I just rewatched your interview with David Cassidy at my desk on my lunch break, and I had to cover my mouth almost the entire time to keep from laughing hysterically and disturbing my co-workers.
BL: Thank you! To me there is no greater compliment than I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud. That’s a fantastic compliment and that is my life goal really, to make people laugh so hard that they have to cover their mouth so milk doesn’t come out or they don’t disturb and upset others.
Most people do remember the David Cassidy interview. They love that. That to me was almost the straw that broke the camel’s back, in terms of I didn’t know if I could do that anymore. I couldn’t be that mean. But basically we were told by his publicist that if anyone deserves it, he does. He’s an unhappy man and he’s not a nice man, but I don’t want to judge anyone, because God knows it’s hard to grow up in this business. I don’t know what he went through and I don’t know his insides. But he certainly kind of asked for it.
I’m much more of like a mushy, soft-underbelly sensitive soul than you would think, especially after having done four years of snarky. But you want to prove you can hang with hard-core comedy, so you’d better cut, and you’d better cut hard.
CE: I noticed you took it a little easier on Jesse Ventura — is that because he’s such a gigantic man, or did you like him?
BL: He is a charmer. You know I love the charmers. I was always charmed by Kato Kaelin. I was charmed by Todd Bridges. I was vaguely charmed by G. Gordon Liddy, which I was as shocked as you are. But most surprisingly, I really adored Jesse the Body. Most of the time, the interviews were a lot of fun: karaoke with Dionne Warwick and dancing with Boy George. Really, most of the time, it was fun, and only occasionally did it turn too cruel for my taste. But that’s the stuff that people remember the most.
CE: On to your current show, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger”: Of course, I had heard of it, but I hadn’t seen any episodes until recently, thinking that because I am 38, it might not appeal to me.
BL: Most people feel that way. But I have to say I think you will be surprised by the second season.
CE: I agree: This show is so smart, funny and well written, it really is for all adult age groups.
BL: Adults like us, I would assume would have no interest in the show. But I have to say, especially this second season, it goes really deep. It continues to push the envelope on a lot of levels, but there is also a lot of really hard, squeezing angst. A lot of no one’s what they appear to be, and life is more complicated. My character continues to be a little bit cartoonish, but then she goes deep. You see the love and you see the heartbreak.
CE: When you were first presented with the show, what did you think about it? Why did you decide to do it?
BL: In high school, either you feel like an outsider, or you’re in a lot of denial or you’re doing a good job pretending. Adolescence is a crazy time for that. So I love anything that explores that and explores that with honesty and depth, and although this continues to be a show about dudes just trying to get laid, it’s also a show about how the things we want maybe aren’t the things we want, and the efforts of just trying to do the right thing and fit in and find love and self-definition.
Because the parents are regular characters this season, I get some juicier story lines. RJ’s dad and I get divorced. Basically, daddy lost his job two years ago but didn’t tell anyone and pretended to be going to work all that time, so he went through our entire life savings. We’ve lost the house, and he’s now in a fleabag motel and we’re in a little apartment. I’m just so angry and betrayed by that. It’s not your typical family, because we are swingers. So it’s not like he had an affair with the secretary kind of betrayal. It’s like, we were so open and so connected, and you have been living a lie for two years and you have driven us into the ground financially. So, we’ll see where that goes! There’s a big cliffhanger at the end of the second season.
CE: Because “RJ Berger” is on MTV and not on network television, like “The Daily Show,” it must afford you all a lot more leeway as far as what you can explore in the series?
BL: Yes, much like “The Daily Show” indeed. These guys get the creative freedom that they wouldn’t otherwise. Like you said, it’s on MTV, and if they want to push the envelope, they are all just really supportive of this new direction. It’s also the first sitcom ever on MTV. My husband directed the first season of “The Real World” in 1992, and at first, they wanted to do a scripted show. They wanted to do a soap opera, and they ran the numbers and they were like, “We can’t afford to do that.” So that is why they decided to a reality soap opera. They were like, “Well we can’t afford actors, and we can’t afford writers, so let’s have no writers and actors for free!”
CE: Tell me about one of the movies you have coming out this summer, the first being “Crazy, Stupid, Love” with Steve Carell.
BL: I play the nosy, disapproving, neighbor friend of Steve Carell and Julianne Moore. I’ve seen it, and I can promise you that it is a fantastic movie. I laughed, I cried. It’s going to be, I think — please, God — I really think it will be just a beloved movie. I think audiences will love it. Great performances by these fantastic actors: Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon — I’m one degree of Kevin Bacon now! There is a lot of real sweetness, and everything is interwoven and comes back together. It's heart-wrenching and happy, but true betrayals of relationships and marriage and teenage crushes and all kinds of stuff. I can say honestly: Run, don’t walk, when that opens on July 29.
CE: And then you also have “Movie 43” …
BL: Who even knows what that’s going to be? It’s got the biggest cast in the history of Hollywood. It’s all these comedy guys that I know and have worked with and have come up with. And then it’s like Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I can’t wait to see it!
Q and A: Week of April 18
Q: The other day I stumbled across a show on MTV called “The Hard Times of RJ Berger” — I absolutely loved it! The actress who plays RJ’s mom looks very familiar. Can you tell me about her? — Stan R., Nashville, Tenn.A: Actress/comedian Beth Littleford portrays Suzanne Berger, RJ’s unconventional (and always entertaining) mom in the MTV scripted comedy — the first-ever sitcom on MTV. You might remember Beth from her four years on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” I chatted with Beth recently (check back later this week for our full interview), and she told me how excited she is about season two.
“This season goes really deep. It continues to push the envelope on a lot of levels, but there is also a lot of really hard, squeezing angst,” she said. “No one is who they appear to be, and life is more complicated. My character continues to be a little bit cartoonish, but then goes deep. You see the love and you see the heartbreak. And because the parents are regular characters this season, I get some juicier story lines.”
You can catch Beth this summer in the Steve Carell comedy “Crazy Stupid Love,” as well as part of the super-mega-all-star cast of “Movie 43.”
Q: I know this is the final season for “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” but can you tell me when her final show will air? — Annie L., via e-mail
A: Oprah’s Harpo Productions, which produces “Oprah,” confirmed that the final original episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” will air May 25. Oprah tweeted last month that she was “hard at work planning the final shows” of TV’s top-rated talk show for more than 20 years. Check your local listings for time and station — I have a feeling the entire month will be packed with stuff you won’t want to miss!
Q: I heard that because of contract negotiations, “Mad Men” won’t be back for a fifth season. Please tell me this isn’t true! — Heather F., via e-mail
A: Don’t fret. The show is getting a late start because of contract-negotiation specifics with “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, but it will return for its fifth season in early 2012.
READERS: It’s time for our third contest! On Tuesday, May 10, the Ovation network is premiering its original series “In Search of Food.” The program spotlights the popularity and resurgence of the “locavore” movement — cooking with locally sourced ingredients — that has invigorated local growers and farms around the country. Barton travels to Minneapolis, New York and San Francisco, where he meets local farmers, chefs and food craftsmen. “In Search of Food” is hosted by acclaimed chef, author and sustainability advocate Barton Seaver. I have five copies of Barton’s “For Cod and Country,” a beautiful hardcover cookbook highlighting cooking with fish. Write to me at letters@cindyelavsky.com or at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, and tell me how far you have gone in search of good food. Deadline is May 31.
ABC Cancels AMC and OLTL
The network also announced the shows' replacements, which will be The Chew and The Revolution, which are a show about food and a show about dieting.
(Read it all here.)
Kellie Martin Joins Forces with Elephants
We opened in the Fall of 2000 with our own line of cotton knit baby clothes in a distinctive color palette with little embroidered elephants along with an eclectic mix of children’s toys, clothing and decorative items from around the world.
Over the years we have established a unique and timeless style inspired by world cultures, vintage classics, and Mother Nature with clothing designed to be simple, comfortable, playful and easy — always keeping in mind the lifestyle of a child.
Green by nature, Entertaining Elephants ethics and aesthetics are perfectly in sync — always favoring natural, vintage and recycled materials and supporting products made from socially and environmentally viable sources.
Q and A: Week of April 11
Q: I’ve had a crush on Justin Bruening since he was on “All My Children” in the mid-2000s. What is he up to lately? — Michelle T., via e-mailA: The former “AMC” and “Knight Rider” star was recently cast in the new “Wonder Woman” reboot, where he’ll serve as a love interest for the superhero herself, played by Adrianne Palicki. Justin, 31, joins one of my crushes, Cary Elwes — who I called dibs on back when he starred as Wesley in “The Princess Bride” — on the new series, which is scheduled to join NBC’s lineup this fall.
Q: I was wondering about actor Jameson Parker, who starred with Gerald McRaney on “Simon and Simon.” What has he been doing lately? I saw a recent picture of him, and he is still blond and gorgeous at 63. — Catherine H., Clinton Township, Mich.
A: Jameson, who played AJ Simon in the hit ’80s series, has been lying pretty low, acting-wise, for a few years. After “Simon and Simon,” Jameson starred in TV movies and guest-starred on many series, including McRaney’s hit sitcom “Major Dad.” He also has written a few books, including an autobiography called “An Accidental Cowboy” and another book titled “To Absent Friends,” which he describes as “a book about dogs we miss.” Back in 1992, Jameson was shot twice during a dispute with his neighbor over dog waste. He was released from the hospital the next day and made a full recovery. The neighbor was charged with attempted murder and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Q: I’ve always liked actress Tea Leoni. Can I see her in anything new soon? – Todd B., via e-mail
A: Tea is joining hubby David Duchovny’s rival network, HBO, for a new comedy called “Spring/Summer.” As I’m sure you know, David stars in the hit Showtime series “Californication,” which recently finished airing its fourth season. But back to Tea … her new show, which is scheduled to begin shooting in June, marks her return to network television. Her most recent TV appearance was as a guest star on David’s show, “The X-Files,” back in 2000.
READERS: Celebrity Extra’s summer of contests continues with your chance to win books: Three sets of “Dragonstone” and its soon-to-be-released sequel, “The Dragon’s Heart,” are up for grabs (Check back later this week for reviews to both books). Written by Michelle Young, these fantasy/historical/romance novels center on the enchanting world of Latharia, where magic rules, dragons fill the skies and everyone has a secret. If you think this kind of book is not your style (as I did before I read them), think again. Three lucky readers have a chance to win an autographed copy of BOTH books. Write to me at letters@cindyelavsky.com, or at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, and tell me why you’d like to be transported the magical world of Latharia this summer. Deadline is May 31.
Interview: Ross Thomas' Inspiring Role
Most of us are familiar with the story of Bethany Hamilton: In 2003, the then-13-year-old was surfing in Kauai, Hawaii, when a tiger shark attacked her and ripped her left arm off just below the shoulder. Less than a month after her accident, sheer will and determination had her back in the water and on her surfboard. She has since gone on to win numerous championships and accolades. Bethany’s story is coming to the big screen on April 8, when “Soul Surfer” opens nationwide. Ross Thomas — who is best known for his roles in "Beyond the Break" and "General Hospital" — co-stars in the film, playing Bethany’s older brother, Noah. Helen Hunt (below) and Dennis Quaid also star as Bethany and Noah’s parents. I spoke with Ross recently, and he told me all about the experience of filming this movie.
Celebrity Extra: I know “Soul Surfer” is about Bethany Hamilton, the shark attack and her inspiring recovery, but what can you tell me about the movie from your perspective?
Ross Thomas: Obviously the story is about Bethany and how she lost her arm in a shark attack, but it’s also the story of how she overcame all of the odds to come back and become a champion surfer. The Hamilton family is such a strong unit; they have a deep set of family values. They are a Christian family with a deep faith, and they rely heavily on that and really promote that. As a family, they have really helped Bethany become who she is, and they’ve always been such a source of support for her. The film kind of spans the early years and how they were as children, all the way up through the attack and then the aftermath of that.
CE: Did Bethany and/or the family come to the set while you filmed?
RT: Yes. It was really kind of neat because the family was with us the whole time that we were filming, which, I have to admit, was kind of intimidating at first, because I haven’t worked on a set where the real-life person I’m playing is right there. They were really respectful of the process. There was never any stepping on anyone’s toes.
When we first got to the North Shore of Hawaii, we got to spend some time with the family. We had a week or so of rehearsal and preparation before having to go into principle photography. One of the ways we really bonded, right off the bat, was to go surfing together. That’s such an awesome experience to go out and surf with Bethany Hamilton and with Noah and the whole family. That’s how we all bonded and became friends. I got to learn a lot about who Bethany is from sort of an inside view and get to know her. She is such an incredible woman.
CE: Tell me about Noah.RT: Noah is the oldest of the three kids. He’s the quintessential big-brother figure. He was actively involved from the get-go with pushing Bethany to be the best that she could be and to dominate as a professional female surfer. When the accident happened, Noah was crushed to see her hopes and dreams come crashing down with such an unfortunate incident.
However, that bond of the family and the strength of the family coming together really helped inspire Bethany to get back out on the board. About a month’s time from losing her arm, she was already back out in the water learning how to surf again with one arm. Noah and Timmy and Sherry and Tom were all a part of that, and they were all out in the water together working on different ways to help her relearn how she’d be able to do what she loves again.
CE: This is such a great role in such an inspiring movie!
RT: Yeah, it really is. I’ve been following her story since it happened, and then all of these years later getting the opportunity to be a part of making her movie is so amazing. Bethany is such a source of inspiration to millions all over the world — her story of determination and faith and hope. It was such a pleasure making this film.
Q and A: Week of April 4
Q: I love it that a lot of networks are now airing new programming over the summer. At first it was only the cable networks, but now it seems the basic cable networks are getting in on the act. Can you tell me what to expect from my favorite network of the Big Four (that being NBC)? — Fred F., Lansing, Mich.A: NBC recently announced it does indeed have new programming planned for the summer. “America’s Got Talent” returns on Tuesday, May 31. Howie Mandel, Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan all will be back as judges, with Nick Cannon again hosting. “The Marriage Ref” returns on Sunday, June 26, while “Law and Order: Los Angeles” continues with new episodes on Mondays. Speaking of “Law and Order,” “Criminal Intent” begins its final season May 30. Also, the final season of “Friday Night Lights” continues well into the summer. New shows include a vocal talent show called “The Voice,” the game show “Still Standing” and an adventure-dating series called “Love in the Wild” — all premiere in June.
Q: I really enjoyed Jason Dohring in “Veronica Mars” and “Moonlight.” What is he up to now? — Mary A., in Oklahoma
A: Jason, 29, has been pretty busy since “Moonlight” ended, guest-starring in “Party Down,” “CSI” and “Lie to Me.” He recently completed filming on the movie “Searching for Sonny,” which also stars one of the newest “Charlie’s Angels,” Minka Kelly. The story follows three friends who return home for their high-school reunion and get sucked into a small-town murder mystery.
Q: My wife and I love “Law and Order,” and we were sad when S. Epatha Merkerson left the show last year. We know she had to leave because she had cancer, so we would like to know her condition. — Harry T., Essex Junction, Vt.
A: Don’t fret — S. Epatha does NOT have cancer; her character on the show, Lt. Van Buren, had cancer. S. Epatha has said she had a wonderful 16 years on the show, but it was time for her to move on. She recently wrapped filming on the movie “We the Peeples” with Kerry Washington and Craig Robinson.
READERS: This summer is the summer of contests! First contest: Rachel Fine (pictured, above left) is not only the gorgeous co-host of the weekly comedy news series “The Bonus Show” for Howard (Stern) TV on Demand, but she also is an accomplished singer. She recently released her first CD of original music, all of which she co-wrote with Timothy Schletter, called “Own Your Own” (left) I’ll be giving away five autographed copies of the CD — all you have to do is write to me at letters@cindyelavsky.com or at King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, and tell me what you like most about discovering new musical talent. I’ll pick my five favorite entries to win the CDs, and I’ll even print some of the best answers. Deadline is May 15.
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It's up to Natasha Henstridge to save our country's capital — well, for a movie, anyway. Natasha stars as Special Agent Margaret Lu... -
When I think of Beth Littleford , the first thing that comes to my mind are those hilarious mockumentary-type interviews she did with celebr...