Interview: Brandon Quinn — Keeping It in the Family
Brandon Quinn has played everything from gigolo Spencer Bullitt on “The O.C.” to an eye-candy boyfriend on “Entourage” and even a teen wolf on “Big Wolf on Campus” (way before it was all the rage to be a were/shapeshifter). Now Brandon is playing a role he’s always wanted to play, that of a cop, on the Lifetime Television new original series “Against the Wall,” which premieres tonight, July 31, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Brandon told me all about his new show, and how excited he is to be a part of something of this caliber.Celebrity Extra: Were you as surprised as I was to see that this new show, a police procedural, was for Lifetime Television, as opposed to TNT or FX or another cable network along those lines?
Brandon Quinn: Oh my gosh, big time. The folks at Lifetime are in a position now where they are really trying to re-identify themselves, and this show is definitely unlike anything else they have right now. I really feel like it’s going to put them on the map. I’m really proud of this show. I would stack our show up against any other show in its category on network television right now. Lifetime could potentially have a really big hit on their hands if all goes well. It’s hard to say what people are going to respond to, but I just can’t imagine viewers not responding to the show.
CE: Tell me about the show, and your role of Richie Kowalski.
BQ: It’s a family drama first. It is a police procedural, but it’s a family drama about a family of three generations of Chicago police officers. Dad is a patrol cop, along with my older brother, middle brother, myself and then the youngest sibling, Abby —the only girl in the family — who was a patrol cop and decides to join Internal Affairs. Which if you know anything about cops, it’s cops on one side, Internal Affairs on the other side. They investigate the cops that are considered the traitors. So, it creates a huge upheaval in the family.
I play Richie Kowalski, the youngest of the three brothers. Richie’s a really good guy. He’s got a good sense of humor. He’s an excellent cop. He has a lot of integrity. He takes his job really seriously. Richie and Abby have an extremely close relationship. We have the closest relationship of all the siblings, she and I. I’m her shoulder to cry on, her confidant. I don’t judge her for the decision she made to join Internal Affairs.
CE: How excited were you to play Richie when you first got the script for the pilot?
BQ: I’ve always wanted to play a cop. What kid at some point in his life isn’t obsessed with cops and robbers, if just for a day? For the longest time I actually really wanted to be a cop when I was younger. So, right away I was like, “Awesome. I’ve always wanted to play a cop.” Then once I read the script, I loved the character of Richie. He’s this blue-collar, down-to-earth guy’s guy. He’s a family man. He’s really close with his wife. He’s a really good friend, and he loves football — and these are all traits that I possess. I come from a blue-collar middle-class family that shaped who I am as a person. It’s easy to be Richie, because it isn’t a stretch. I just opened myself up, and the rest was on the paper.
CE: This show has such a great cast — what are they all like to work with?
BQ: It’s such a dream job — you couldn’t ask for a better group of people. From Rachael Carpani all the way down to the guest actors, they’ve all been tremendous, and it’s literally one of those jobs where I keep pinching myself. Content of the show aside, it’s all about the people you go to work with every day who help inspire you. It starts with Kathy Baker and Treat Williams, who are two veterans who have been doing this for years. They really set the tone, and they are both so down-to-earth and great. Kathy is so motherly and a very approachable, sweet woman.
And Treat, he really wants to give us our time in the spotlight. He’s like: “I’ve had my time. This is your guys’ time.” And Rachael is absolutely phenomenal. The show wouldn’t be nearly as great if we didn’t have the cast we did, and we all get along so well. Honestly, there’s not a diva in the bunch.
Interview: Lea Thompson Is Queen of The Cabin
I spoke with Lea recently, who told me all about the movie, as well as her new ABC Family show, "Switched at Birth." We also discussed "Red Dawn," Judd Nelson, Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, John Hughes, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood and "Dancing with the Stars" — so sit back, relax, read and enjoy!
Celebrity Extra: What made you decide to do this movie for the Hallmark Movie Channel?
Lea Thompson: I hadn’t done a romantic-comedy movie in my whole career. I like trying different things and I thought, isn’t this fun that I get to do this kind of family romantic comedy that’s generally kind of reserved for 30 year olds. How nice to do this. I love the whole thing with the Scottish games. I thought that would be really fun. I love to do physical things. The idea that I got to go to Ireland to shoot the movie was really, really, really fun. I just liked the script and I really liked the director, Brian Trenchard-Smith, who’s just so lovely. It was a win-win-win situation.
CE: That must have been a lot of fun to not only get to shoot a cute movie, but to get to travel to Ireland to do it.
LT: I know! It was very exciting and my sisters got to come and visit me. Our mother’s Irish, so that was really fun to spend a week and a half with them in Ireland. I love making movies in these places, because you really get a chance to really know the people and go to places you wouldn’t go if you were just a tourist.
CE: Can you empathize with some of the stuff Lily goes through to try to make this a great vacation for her kids?
LT: You know that idea of really wanting the vacation to go really great, and there’s lots of things that are out of your control? Being a working mom, your time is so precious with your kids that you want things to go perfectly, and they never do, and a lot of times the things that go wrong are the things that are the most special. Like in the movie, the little mistakes that happen end up making the trip even better in some ways — if you can role with the punches. I can definitely relate to that.
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| "The Cabin" cast |
LT: I loved that idea. The world is filled with blended families. There are so many people who get divorced and families getting together, and there are adopted kids and all that. Family is not only the people you are blood related to, but also your extended family, which can be just as important.
CE: I know you are athletic, but just watching you guys preparing for and competing in the games was making me tired!
LT: Yeah, it was exhausting. We didn’t have a lot of time to really train, especially the hammer throw. It was a little bit dangerous every once and awhile. Everyone was really game. It was a great cast. Everyone was really willing to try. Steven Brand (who plays Conor) was unbelievable at all of this stuff. He was so good at all these things, and he had never done it before. He is a really amazing athlete and he kind of led the way. The competition was very real between us. I really love that. It’s really fun in a movie to get out and be outside and do something physical. The crew always appreciates it. When you’re acting, they kind of go to sleep sometimes. When you’re throwing a rock, they wake up.
CE: Your character could have come off as somewhat of a two-dimensional bitch, but she wasn’t. You made her very likable. Was that a conscious choice on your or the director’s part?
LT: I think sometimes when people find those parts they purposely put me in them to try to soften them out a little bit. That’s a very nice compliment. I try to make you see why she is acting like she is. If you can understand why someone is acting defensive, you get to see underneath. You can see she’s just being a good mom and protecting her kids.
It’s my job to make words on a page feel human. I start by falling in love with my character. I fall in love with them so I can see that they’re good people underneath. You need conflict, and you need people in movies to not get along, but you also have to be rooting for her, because she was one of the main characters.
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| Cast of "Switched at Birth" |
LT: I did my nine movies for the Hallmark Channel for “Jane Doe,” so that was kind of like a series, even though it was movies. Regarding “Switched at Birth,” I just really liked the part. I’ve never played this person before. She’s really rich and she’s really uptight, and she’s got her whole life kind of perfectly ordered.
It’s also a really, really smart show. It’s not talking down to teenagers at all. There’s a lot of really great conflict in it. Just the idea that you got to meet your daughter and the woman who raised her after sixteen years, and try to live together.
I really love the opportunity for growth that she has that all of a sudden this kind of bomb goes off in her life and everything that she thought she knew was real is not real. I liked the opportunity for growth, and the writing was really, really good. I have two teenage daughters, and they love ABC Family, so the idea of being on a show that they have a lot of fun watching was really great to me.
CE: I see you are also set to co-star in “J. Edgar” as Lela Rogers this winter. What can you tell me about the movie and your part in it?
LT: I don’t have a huge role that’s for sure. But I play Ginger Rogers’ mother, who was actually a really interesting character. She was an actress and a writer, and she also was an expert witness at the McCarthy hearings. She determined what lines and which movies were Communist propaganda. Yeah, pretty nutty. You don’t get to see that part of her life, but I was fascinated reading about that.
It’s just an amazing movie and it was really an honor to work with Clint Eastwood. He’s kind of like Woody Allen: Whenever he calls, you’re like, “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” So that was really exciting and it’s been a long time since I’ve done a period movie, so it was really fun to be immersed in the ’30s. Leonardo DiCaprio is amazing, he looks amazing, and he sounds amazing. He’s just awesome.
CE: I see that both you and Christopher Lloyd will be at September’s DragonCon sci-fi convention in Atlanta.
LT: Yeah, we have fun doing those things together. We’ll call each other up: “You going? OK, I’ll go.” We both never wanted to do them before, but we did a couple of them, and it was really fun. It’s good PR and it’s really fun.
CE: Do you have any other projects in the works?LT: I have a movie that just came out on DVD that I produced called “Mayor Cupcake.” I produced and starred in it with my daughters. It’s such a cute movie, you’d love it. It’s a great family movie. It’s about a woman who makes cupcakes in this little tiny town. My husband is Judd Nelson. I also have three daughters in the movie with two of them played by my real-life daughters, Madelyn and Zoey Deutch. In the movie, I accidentally get elected mayor of this little town, and of course it’s really corrupt, and I have to clean up the town in my down-home kind of way. It’s just a lovely, funny little movie.
CE: It’ll be great to see you working with Judd Nelson …
LT: This is kind of a convoluted story, but when we were shooting — you remember that Judd Nelson was in “Breakfast Club”? The main song was “Don’t You Forget About Me.”
CE: Of course — that was actually my high-school senior-class song.
LT: Really? Then you’ll definitely appreciate this. My daughter sings it in the movie backed up by a band. My husband, Howard Deutch, and I met on “Some Kind of Wonderful,” a John Hughes movie. Two days before Madelyn had to record the song, John Hughes died. So Madelyn was singing “Don’t You Forget About Me” to Judd Nelson and myself and my husband, and we were all just balling. It was so special, and it was a really amazing moment. Sometimes things like that happen and we were all so sad. My husband loved John Hughes. We all loved him. He was obviously important to us in particular, because we’ve been married for 22 years.
CE: I have to ask, how do you feel about the remake of “Red Dawn”? Personally, I have my doubts …
LT: I don’t know. I have my doubts too, clearly, because they haven’t even released it yet, and the fact that they turned the Chinese people into Koreans digitally afterward was kind of interesting. I don’t know. I’ll be really interested to see it. One of the really amazing things about the original “Red Dawn” is that there were no special effects in terms of CGI or any computer-generated effects. Everything that happened really happened, which I think makes it more of a visceral nightmare. Because you never see it, we just talk about what happened in the other cities. But I’m sure in the new version, you’ll get to see a lot of bombs going off and stuff like that. Sometimes some things left to your imagination are actually more haunting.
CE: I also can’t believe that the original movie came out in 1984!
LT: I know. It’s so shocking that Patrick Swayze is gone. And that Charlie Sheen is so crazy. And Jennifer Grey won “Dancing with the Stars.”
CE: I loved her in that! I was voting for her the whole way.
LT: Me too, she was amazing.
CE: Would you ever compete on “DWTS” if they came a’callin’?
LT: Probably. I always do whatever anybody asks me to do. I’m like: “Really? Okay, I’ll do it.” I’m working with Marlee Matlin right now on “Switched at Birth,” and she loved doing “DWTS.” Everyone who does it loves doing it, so it must be great.
Q and A: Week of July 25
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| Russell Ferguso |
A: Since winning the “SYTYCD” title in December 2009, Russell has been busy dancing, teaching and acting. I spoke with him recently, and he gave me the scoop: “Right after (I won “SYTYCD”), I got to perform at the Academy Awards. I’ve been teaching pretty much everywhere around the country: Virginia, Utah, Washington and Cali. I’m in a film called ‘Battlefield America’ that’ll be out probably at the end of next year. It’s definitely the next big dance movie.”
Russell and the rest of America can re-live their favorite “SYTYCD” moments from seasons six through eight starting Friday, Aug. 5 on Ovation. The network is producing original extras featuring the judges, dancers and choreographers as they reveal their favorite moments from the show. Go to ovationtv.com for a complete schedule.
Q: One of my favorite summer movies so far has been “Thor.” Any plans for a sequel? — Ted G., Allentown, Pa.
A: It just so happens that the moneymaking movie about an ax-wielding superhero is prime for a sequel, which Disney and Marvel Studios plan to deliver. Chris Hemsworth will be back to play the title character, and you can expect the sequel to come swinging into theaters in July 2013.
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| Chelsea Rendon |
A: Up-and-comer Chelsea Rendon played Ruthie Valdez, the gang-member girlfriend of Luis. When I spoke with Chelsea, she told me she had always wanted to be an actress or performer, especially after seeing the performance of her idol, Jennifer Lopez, in “Selena.” Chelsea went on to get guest parts in “ER,” “Judging Amy” and “FlashForward,” and she is hoping “A Better Life” will be her break into something even bigger and better.
Working with director Chris Weitz, who also directed “New Moon,” has its fringe benefits, aside from getting to work with a genius. Chelsea told me: “Chris got me tickets to the ‘Eclipse’ premiere. I met Taylor Lautner, and I was so proud of myself for staying calm. I also got to meet Peter Facinelli and everybody else. It was so cool, because these are people that I like and look up to.”
Q: I really love “The Voice.” Will it be back with all four judges for another season? — Stacy S., Atlanta
A: Don’t you worry — Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton will all be back when the musical-competition show resumes midseason on NBC on Monday nights. Be on the lookout in the new year!
Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Gets Food Network Series
(PRESS RELEASE)Award-winning blogger and best-selling cookbook author Ree Drummond brings her signature wit and down-home recipes to an all-new Food Network series. Shot on location at her family’s picturesque Oklahoma ranch, The Pioneer Woman premieres Saturday, August 27th at 11:30AM ET/PT, serving up a slice of frontier life along with the “accidental country girl’s” step-by-step recipes for creating wholesome, hearty family meals and elegant menus for entertaining. Before the on-air premiere, fans will have a chance to get a sneak peek of footage from the premiere episode beginning Monday, August 22th at 9am ET on www.foodnetwork.com/pioneerwoman.
“Ree’s easy-going humor and down-to-earth approach to food and life have won her millions of devoted fans online,” said Bob Tuschman, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Programming and Production for Food Network. “In her new series, she’ll welcome us onto the ranch and into her home to share her secrets for turning simple variations on traditional American fare into memorable mealtimes for family and friends.”
Over the past five years, Drummond has chronicled her life as a city-gal-turned-rancher’s-wife on her phenomenally popular food and lifestyle blog, ‘The Pioneer Woman’. With her new Food Network series, Ree invites viewers home to the range to watch and learn as she flips Lemon Blueberry Pancakes for son Todd’s birthday breakfast, achieves a Perfect Pot Roast for Sunday family dinner, and serves up Fig, Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza and Sangria for ladies night in. In between culinary conquests, Ree takes time to wrangle horses, compete in a shooting contest with her husband Ladd (aka “The Marlboro Man”), have fun with her four adorable kids and try to keep Charlie the basset hound out of trouble.
Ree Drummond is a writer, photographer, ranch wife and mother of four. Her blog, ThePioneerWoman.com, attracts over 20 million page views per month and was named Weblog of the Year at the 2011, 2010, and 2009 Bloggie Awards. Drummond is also the author of the #1 best-selling cookbook “The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl” and the 2011 memoir “Black Heels to Tractor Wheels—A Love Story,” which opened at #2 on The New York Times Best Seller list for nonfiction hardcover. Ree’s children’s picture book, “Charlie the Ranch Dog,” which chronicles the adventures of her much-beloved Basset Hound, also premiered at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list. Drummond has appeared on numerous national talk shows including “Good Morning America,” “TODAY,” “The View” and “Fox & Friends.”
For more information, videos and recipes visit: www.foodnetwork.com/the-pioneer-woman and checkout Ree’s blog at http://thepioneerwoman.com/.
Q and A: Week of July 18
Q: I keep reading about there being a remake of “Red Dawn” in the works (with no release date in sight), and I wondered how stars of the original 1984 version felt about this? I have my doubts they’ll be able to pull it off — the original is such a cult classic. — Brandi R., Erie, Pa.A: I spoke with Lea Thompson, who played Erica in the original movie, and she also is a little iffy about the remake.
“I have my doubts, clearly,” she said, “because they haven’t released it yet although it’s supposedly been done for ages. I’ll be really interested to see it. One of the really amazing things about the original ‘Red Dawn’ is that there were no special effects in terms of computer-generated effects. Everything that happened really happened, which makes it more of a visceral nightmare. Sometimes some things left to the imagination are actually more haunting.”
You can catch Lea starting July 30 in Hallmark Movie Channel’s “The Cabin,” where she plays a single mom who brings her kids to Scotland for fun and games, and for her, a little unexpected romance. She also stars in ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth,” and is featured in December’s Oscar contender “J. Edgar,” which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench and Naomi Watts.
Q: I can’t believe Chris Meloni left “Law and Order: SVU”! Who will they get to replace him? — Anna F., Fresno, Calif.
A: “Cold Case” alum Danny Pino is set to fill Detective Stabler’s absence. As “SVU” enters its 13th season, Mariska Hargitay has opted for a reduced role, having signed on for only the first 13 episodes of the new season. So, to help fill that void, actress Kelli Giddish (“Chase” and “Past Life”) has been cast as a new detective as well.
Q: I love "Thw Twilight Saga" and wondered, are there are plans to bring Stephenie Meyers’ sci-fi novel, “The Host,” to the big screen? — Selena F., via e-mail
A: Open Road films announced that the big-screen adaptation of Stephenie’s apocalyptic book will be released March 29, 2013. The movie stars Saoirse Ronan (“The Lovely Bones” and “Atonement”) as Melanie Stryder, and it is scheduled to begin shooting this February in Louisiana and New Mexico.
Q: Who is going to be the new boss on “The Office”? — Janie P., via e-mail
A: James Spader is all set to pick up where Steve Carell left off. This got me to thinking: Who would be a perfect foil to play James’ wife? None other than Beth Littleford. I asked Beth what she thought of the idea, and she is on board, stating: “I’d love to play his wife. I’ve had a thing for James Spader for 25-plus years. Blame ‘Tuff Turf’ (and also Steff, the sexy, arrogant yuppie from “Pretty in Pink”). Then again, I’d happily play Dwight Schrute’s wife, Stanley Hudson’s wife or Phyllis Vance’s life partner.”
Interview: The Magical World of Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery is a familiar face to many TV viewers. She is a veteran of many TV series, most notably CBS’ “Without a Trace,” as well as “Party of Five,” “NYPD Blue,” “Glory Days” and much more. On July 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, you can catch Poppy in Lifetime Television’s original movie “Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story.” I spoke with the gorgeous Aussie recently, and she told me about portraying such a private and interesting woman who created the magical world of Harry Potter.Celebrity Extra: J.K. Rowling is known for being very guarded about her private life and is very reserved. Did you have any reservations about taking this role, especially since Ms. Rowling was not involved in the production?
Poppy Montgomery: I had enormous reservations. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan long before I did this film, and I’ve read all the books and I’ve read them since I was in my 20s. I read the first one right when it came to the States. I didn’t want to do anything in any shape or form that was exploitative or tabloid-y. So, when they sent me the script, I definitely had reservations, because I knew that it was unauthorized. I knew that she wasn’t collaborating on it. It was based on a book that just told the facts, basically, from her childhood through to the present. And when I read the script, I found that it was a love letter to J.K. Rowling, and it really was a story that was inspirational for other people. I didn’t think that there was anything about it that was not good, and so then I changed my mind.
CE: Just watching the movie was so inspiring; I couldn’t wait to be creative once I was finished.
PM: Right? You just feel so inspired by her, which is exactly what I loved about it and why I wanted to do it. And that inspires you to be better, because she was so driven. The fact that the first Harry Potter book was written basically in one of the darkest times of her life and she pushed through, and as a single mother with very little money, this extraordinary book was born. I just think it’s incredibly inspiring.
CE: What were some things about J.K. that you hadn’t known prior to filming this, and that had perhaps surprised you?
PM: I didn’t know that her mother had been ill for so much of her life, and that must have deeply affected her, because I’m really close to my mother. I didn’t realize really how bleak and difficult things were for her. I’m a mother of a 3-year-old, so to be alone at the age that she was in her 20s with a baby and having left the marriage that wasn’t working, and being so poor, and still being able to have this enormous creativity and write this book under those circumstances. The power of her spirit is something that I wasn’t as aware of until we did this movie, and I just thought it was extraordinary.
CE: I was very happy to see that it was, like you said earlier, a love letter of sorts to the elusive author …
PM: Me too. Like I said, when I was sent the script and I knew that she wasn’t involved directly, I had strong reservations. But the script told such a beautiful story. Her books have affected millions and millions of children and adults all over the world. It’s magic — she’s been responsible for getting kids to read books again. And I just think it’s a story that everybody can relate to and hopefully be inspired by, and that was what drew me to it.
CE: What were some things about J.K. that you could relate to and you found enjoyable to portray?
PM: Her tenaciousness, her drive, her never-quit attitude were all things that I really dug into and loved. In fact, it made me a better person, made me work harder and want to be better. I love the way her mind works, her funny, irreverent, unusual, magical mind. I found that to be fascinating. To try to even get inside that for a minute was really intriguing to me.
CE: Tell me a bit about your role on this fall's new CBS series, “Unforgettable,” and the role of Carrie Wells.PM: I play a woman who has hyperthymesia, or total recall. It’s a person who can remember every moment, in vivid detail, of her life as though it happened five minutes ago. You could ask: “What happened on June 20, 1984?” and she could tell you every single thing — what she was wearing, what she had for lunch, if she had a fight with her boyfriend. It’s extraordinary. It’s a blessing and a curse, because you can forget nothing, and sometimes there are things that we need to forget.
My character is an ex-cop who couldn’t be a cop anymore, because the condition obviously didn’t allow her to forget any of the hideous things she saw. It’s also what made her an extraordinary cop, and basically she’s pulled back into the cop world through a number of circumstances, as well as her ex-lover, played by Dylan Walsh.
It’s a love story, it’s a mystery, and it’s a cop show. There are so many elements going on that it’s almost impossible to describe. It’s very compelling — and it’s directed by Niels Arden Oplev, who directed “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” He’s just a genius. The writers are amazing. Ed Redlich wrote it, and I did “Without a Trace” with him the first couple of years. It’s a fantastic group, and it’s on CBS, and they do amazing shows.
CE: How were they able to lure you back to network series television?
PM: The script was amazing. I’m obsessed with Niels and had been long before I ever met him, because I’ve seen “Dragon Tattoo” maybe 30 times. I’ve worked with CBS since I was a baby, so it’s like coming home again. CBS is like my family. It’s such a great place for me to work, and I feel like they support their shows so wholly and completely that it is just a joy. Everything about it lined up for me.
To see a strong female character leading a show is very exciting. Now that my son, Jackson, is 3, and I spent two years after “Trace” really just being with him and being a mommy, I felt really ready to go back to work. I’m very proud of the show. I think it’s quite extraordinary and really good.
CE: I know fans will be glad to see Dylan Walsh regularly again. What is he like to work with?
PM: My darling Dylan — I love that man. He’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life. We’re on set and he just makes me laugh. I’m like, “You have to stop making me laugh so I can shoot the scene.” It was like that with all my co-stars on “Trace” too. Anthony LaPaglia is Jackson’s godfather; Roselyn Sanchez is my best friend. We’re all still very, very close. And I never thought that could happen again, and it did with Dylan and the cast on this show. We all instantly just bonded and became friends, and everyone is amazing. So — knock on wood — that’s a huge blessing as well.
Universal's Wizarding World Surprise
Universal Orlando Resort surprised guests who attended the midnight film screening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” at AMC Universal Cineplex 20 with something they could only have dreamed of – exclusive, complimentary access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Immediately following the film, these select guests had The Wizarding World of Harry Potter all to themselves from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Moviegoers were notified of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity following the film. After celebrating in the theaters, more than 3,000 excited guests walked a red carpet to the place where the wonder, excitement and adventure of the Harry Potter films will live on. During their visit, guests experienced the wand choosing them at Ollivanders, tasted Butterbeer, toured Hogwarts castle and enjoyed many other experiences found only at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Interview: Keeping Up With Thad Luckinbill
Fans of “The Young and the Restless” know Thad Luckinbill from the 11 years he portrayed J.T. Hellstrom. It was there that he met his wife, Amelia Heinle, who plays J.T.’s now ex-wife, Victoria Newman. But Thad has been keeping busy with other projects before, during and after his tenure on “YR,” most recently on The CW hit, "Nikita." This weekend you can catch him in the Hallmark Channel original movie “Keeping Up With the Randalls,” which premieres July 16 at 9/8c. I spoke with Thad recently about the movie, as well as some other projects.Celebrity Extra: One of the things I liked about “Keeping Up With the Randalls” is that although it’s a family film, it also has some sassiness to it. What were some things for you that initially drew you to the movie and to the character of Will?
Thad Luckinbill: First off, I’ve known Kayla (Ewell, who plays Alicia) for a while, and I’ve always wanted to work with her, so that was a draw for me. Also, I like a lot of who Will is — in a big stretch of imagination it is kind of how I grew up and a little bit of my background in a way. I grew up in a small town with a lot of the focus on family, and playing sports was something I grew up with. I’m an outdoorsy guy, so all of that was just really fun, to be honest with you. When we were doing that stuff, I didn’t feel like we were working at all. There was a big, fun element to doing that, and also getting to work with Roma Downey and Marion Ross and everyone else was just a treat.
CE: Were the rest of the actors excited to play all those sports and get to mess around outside a lot, or were some a little hesitant, like Kayla’s character, Alicia?
TL: Everybody had a good time with the sports and the games. I had a blast the day we got to kayak on the lake. That kind of stuff is fun. Everybody just seemed like they were having a lot of fun doing it. It was a great cast. That whole cast got along so well. Hallmark does such a great job of getting people together and making it easy. It was just an easy shoot, and everybody got along really well and had a lot of fun together.
CE: What are some qualities that Will possesses that you both have in common?
TL: Obviously, the physical aspect. I grew up in a really loving family; my parents are still together. It’s kind of a small-knit community, so I brought a lot of that personal experience into that role because it just matched up so well. Will’s determination was something I decided to try to bring out, because I really do think he loves Alicia, and he really wants to make it work. That determination is definitely something that he and I share.
CE: I was thrilled to see you featured last season on “Nikita” on the CW. Will we see your character, Nathan, next season? It was left kind of open for his return.
TL: I think that’s yet to be determined. They were honest about it and told me that they weren’t sure exactly what to do with it, so that is why they left it open. It’s like anything, I think if the story’s right and it matches up to bring him back, then that would be great. I would love it. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I think it would be a good twist if they decided to bring him back. It was really a fun group to work with and a really cool show. I love how stylized that show is. I think that was what I was most impressed with. Not just the way they shoot, but the way it looks. It’s just a really pretty show.
CE: I remember you had a pretty long run on the sitcom “8 Simple Rules.” What was it like working with a comic genius like the late John Ritter?
TL: I know you shouldn’t say this, but that was my favorite job I ever had. Just because of John. I love sitcom work anyway, but to be able to work with that guy was pretty magical. He just had a way about him of making everybody feel good. He would come in the morning and just make everybody laugh. We’d be sitting down at the table waiting to read or start rehearsing, but he’d be talking to all the crew guys and the camera guys and the craft service guys, and making them laugh. He used his gift to make people feel good about themselves, and he was such a likable guy and so good at what he did. I’m sure when I look back at my career as I get toward the end of it, I’ll still have that at the top, because it was such a neat experience to work with him.
2011 Emmy Nominations!
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| Alec Baldwin is nominated for 30 Rock |
Best comedy series: Modern Family, 30 Rock, Glee, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation.
Drama actress: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU; Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights and Mireille Enos, The Killing.
Comedy actor: Steve Carell, The Office; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Louis C.K., Louie; Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory.
Drama actor: Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified.
Comedy actress: Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation; Laura Linney, The Big C; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope; Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly.
Supporting drama actor: Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age; John Slattery, Mad Men; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones; Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Walton Goggins, Justified.
Supporting comedy actor: Ty Burrell, Modern Family; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family; Ed O’Neill, Modern Family; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men; Chris Colfer, Glee.
Supporting comedy actress: Julie Bowen, Modern Family; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family; Jane Lynch, Glee; Betty White, Hot in Cleveland; Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live; Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock.
Supporting drama actress: Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife; Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire; Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Michelle Forbes, The Killing; Margo Martindale, Justified; Christina Hendricks, Mad Men.
Reality competition: So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway.
Reality host: Jeff Probst, Survivor; Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance; Phil Keoghan, Amazing Race; Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars; Ryan Seacrest, American Idol.
Variety, music or comedy series: The Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live, Conan, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
The Primetime Emmys will air live on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Q and A: Week of July 11
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| Thad Luckinbill |
A: Thad, who you also can see this month in Hallmark Channel’s “Keeping Up With the Randalls,” gave me the scoop: “I think that’s yet to be determined. They were honest about it and told me that they weren’t sure exactly what to do with it, so that is why they left it open. It’s like anything, I think if the story’s right and it matches up to bring him back, then that would be great. I would love it. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
“I think it would be a good twist if they decided to bring him back. It was really a fun group to work with and a really cool show. I love how stylized that show is. I think that was what I was most impressed with. Not just the way they shoot, but the way it looks. It’s just a really pretty show.”
Q: I am so happy “Hardcore Pawn” has returned for a fourth season. Will it be back for a fifth, or is it too early to tell? — Dirk S., via e-mail
A: TruTV’s breakout hit, which centers on one of the world’s largest pawn shops, had such terrific premiere ratings for Season Four that the network has already renewed it for another 13-episode season, which is slated to begin later this year.
Q: I recently found out that Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz were dating, and now I hear they’ve married! Is that true? — Hannah D., Detroit
A: That sound you just heard was the collective sigh of millions of women worldwide who wouldn’t have minded becoming Mrs. James Bond themselves one day. It is true: Daniel and Rachel married in a super-secret ceremony (befitting a superspy and his lady love) in New York on June 22. A source close to the couple told “News of the World”: “They are madly in love, and couldn’t wait to be husband and wife — but they wanted minimum fuss. They had a couple of friends as witnesses and their children from previous relationships, and that was it.”
Q: I can’t wait for Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” to hit the theaters, especially after seeing some first-look pictures in “Entertainment Weekly.” Can you tell me which actors from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy will be back for “The Hobbit”? — Patrick L., Akron, Ohio
A: So far, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellan, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Ian Holm and Hugo Weaving are set to return to Middle Earth. Liv Tyler, who played Arwen in the trilogy, is keen to make a cameo in the latest films, however, as of this writing, there are no plans to resurrect her character.
Q and A: Week of July 4
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| Poppy Montgomery, courtesy Lifetime Television |
A: I spoke with Poppy recently, and I asked her just that, and it basically boiled down to many elements coming together at the perfect time. Poppy told me: “The script was amazing. I’m obsessed with Niels (Arden Oplav), the director, and had been long before I ever met him. I’ve seen ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ maybe 30 times.
“I’ve worked with CBS since I was a baby,” she said. “So it’s like coming home again. It’s such a great place for me to work, and I feel like they support their shows so wholly and completely. Everything about it lined up for me. And I want to see a strong female character leading an exciting show.”
Speaking of strong female characters, Poppy portrays “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling in Lifetime’s original movie, “Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story,” which airs Monday, July 18. Of playing the famously reclusive author, Poppy told me: “When they sent me the script I definitely had reservations, because I knew that J.K. Rowling wasn’t collaborating on it. But when I read the script, I found that it was a beautiful, inspiring story and a love letter to an extraordinary woman.”
Q: What has my favorite “Friend,” Lisa Kudrow, been up to lately? — Tina D., Seattle
A: Since “Friends” ended in 2004, Lisa — who turns 48 on July 30 — has starred in “Happy Endings,” “P.S. I Love You,” “Bandslam” and “Easy A.” She currently stars in “Web Therapy,” which initially was a Web-exclusive series where Lisa portrays a psychiatrist who dispenses not-so-great advice to an array of eclectic clients. The show was picked up by Showtime, and it premieres Tuesday, July 19, at 11 p.m. “Web Therapy” co-stars Victor Garber and Lily Tomlin, and guest stars include Courteney Cox, Meryl Streep, Alan Cumming, Selma Blair, Jane Lynch, Molly Shannon and many more.
Q: While I was on vacation last month, I got totally hooked on “Storage Wars” on A&E. When does a new season premiere? — Doug F., via e-mail
A: “Storage Wars” — which follows a group of auction hunters who bid on forfeited storage lockers in the hopes of finding hidden treasures that they can sell for profit — makes its second-season premiere on Wednesday night, July 20.
Q: Is it true that actor Sean Bean was stabbed in a bar fight in London? Is he OK? — Emily H. in Pennsylvania
A: The “Game of Thrones” star was superficially cut in the arm with broken glass after chasing down a rude bar-goer who made lewd comments to his girlfriend. After the incident, Sean returned to the bar, used its first-aid kit on his arm and had another drink.
Interview: Justified's Joseph Lyle Taylor
Character actor Joseph Lyle Taylor has honed his acting skills in starring and guest-starring roles on many popular TV series and movies, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Contender,” “100 Centre Street,” “Law and Order,” “Dexter” and, most recently, the FX hit show “Justified.” I caught up with Joseph to discuss playing Timothy Olyphant’s nemesis, Doyle Bennett, this past season, as well as his new movie due to hit theaters in August.Celebrity Extra: Before getting the role of Doyle Bennett on “Justified,” were you already a fan of the show?
Joseph Lyle Taylor: I was a huge fan of “Justified.” I thought it was just fantastic the first season. I couldn’t believe they were doing it. I thought it was just great. I’m a real fan of Tim’s (Olyphant) from “Deadwood.”
CE: What’s great about being on a series on a cable network like FX is you explore more areas that you might not be able to on network television.
JLT: Oh yeah; it’s really fantastic. The network shows have gotten so, how do you say this? Systematically, they’re so formulaic. It’s really hard to get on a network show. Everybody looks like gods, they’re all so beautiful. So, thank God for cable. Otherwise, what would we do?
You get into cable shows like those on TNT, AMC and FX, and you say: “Oh, I see. These guys are like me.” And there are definitely some really great cable shows on. “Breaking Bad” is just really a phenomenal show, and Bryan Cranston is really excellent. I really like “Breaking Bad,” “Justified” and “Mad Men.”
CE: How did this opportunity on “Justified” come about for you?
JLT: The audition process was pretty interesting. Cami Patton, the casting director, and my agents were really trying to get me in. They were casting both the characters, Dickie and Doyle. You never really get much opportunity to play these kinds of characters, these Southern bad guys. I’m originally from Texas, and throughout my career I’ve spent a lot of time and money getting rid of my accent. When you get to jump back into that, not only the accent, but there’s a certain feeling and attitude that these Southern tough guys have that’s just a lot of fun.
When I was reading the breakdown for it, I was very excited to go in. I actually read for Dickie, which Jeremy Davies plays. I got a really good response, and they called and were like: “Listen, we love him, but Jeremy Davies is going to play that role. We wonder if Joseph would come back for Doyle.” And I’m like, “Yeah I’ll come back for Doyle.”
CE: What do you like about playing Doyle?
JLT: By the time I got to episode three, I had sort of figured out Doyle was really cool. He wasn’t a loud screaming bad guy. He was just very quiet. He would observe and then do whatever business he had to do. He’s sort of quiet, funny and efficient — just get the job done.
If you watch the first episode of season two, where I go in with Jeremy and we put Chris Mulkey’s leg in that bear trap, you can see I’m sort of playing him as a tough guy, but by the time I got to the third episode, I realized he’s not quite like that. He’s much more of a quiet guy, behind the scenes. He’s sort of the Dick Cheney of the Bennett family.
JLT: It’s really a heartfelt movie about this kid who’s trying to find himself, played by Lucas Black. The character’s Texan, and I play his father. The movie goes back and forth, and so my character ages like 15 years throughout the movie, which is really interesting to do. I had never really done anything that aged me as much. The movie is such a pretty script.
The movie itself is really pretty too. They got a lot of rain in west Texas. We shot just west of Austin up in the hill country, which is a really beautiful part of Texas, and we had a rainy winter, so everything was really, really green and lush. Of course, we spent a lot of time on the golf course. The story line is that I really ride my kid hard in golf and make him practice and this and that. And then he gets his first real shot at a pro tour, and I end up giving him some bad advice, and he ends up not winning the tournament.
He takes off, and that is where he meets Robert Duvall’s character, Johnny Crawford, out in Utopia. He learns lessons on life, and it’s really quite touching.
CE: Do we get to see you on the golf course?
JLT: No, I don’t get to really golf. I get to hit the ball with Lucas. Getting cast in this movie came down to my swing. If my swing was good enough to pass the PGA tour guys who are like, “Well, if your swing’s not good enough then it’s going to look weird.” So, I had to go out to Griffin Park, set up my video camera, video my golf swing and send it in. I guess it passed muster.
CE: It must be nice for you as an actor to be able to work in all kinds of acting genres: TV, film, stage.
JLT: I do like to mix it up. I really enjoy all three of them.
CE: Plus, you got to work with the late, great Sidney Lumet on “100 Centre Street.” As a director, what was he like to work with and to learn from?
JLT: It was amazing to work with him. I trailed him on a lot of episodes that I wasn’t in, because I’m interested in directing too, and I had a great opportunity to watch him work, and see how you break down scripts and how he set up his shots. The one thing he said to me that really hit home was, “Joe, darling, shoot what you like.” And it’s like, of course. Shoot what I like, because we all have the experience of life. You’ve experienced things, I’ve experienced things, and all those things speak to our art, to what we do.
Sidney was amazing, and he was a real sweetheart and genius. I was just so fortunate to be able to spend two years working with him. It’s something that I thought that really mattered. I would have loved to have hung out with him all the time. He was a real mentor and a real inspiration. Look at his movies — his movies are so amazing: “Network,” “The Verdict,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “The Hill.” He’s got like 40 movies, and they are amazing. “12 Angry Men” was his first feature. Can you believe that? That’s all shot in one room. There are no locations. There’s no crane shot. There’s no CGI. It’s just fascinating to watch.
I wish we would have gone five years like they were planning (with “100 Centre Street”), but I’m so grateful that he cast me in that show. It was an amazing experience.
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