Q and A: Week of Dec. 10
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| Mark Deklin, photo by Angelo Kritikos |
A: Mark recently filmed a guest spot on “Castle” (it is episode 10, which is set to air in early January), where he plays a man whose girlfriend is found dead. Later in 2013 (an exact date has not been set yet), you can see Mark on the big screen in a live-action version of “Tarzan.”
Mark told me about the film and his character, John Greystoke: “It’s not the Victorian ’Tarzan’ that we all grew up with. It’s a modern take on it. My character is almost like a Richard Branson type — a wealthy but well-intentioned adventurer and entrepreneur. He discovers there’s a serious energy source — a sort of meteorite, which crashed in Africa — and he wants to find it.
“He brings his family with him, which of course is a stupid decision, but I suppose in the moment it doesn’t seem stupid because he doesn’t go thinking he’s going to die. He ends up unleashing a mystical force that he never could have anticipated, and everything goes south.”
Q: When will “Merlin” return to Syfy? — Felix S., via e-mail
A: Season five of the popular fantasy series, which premieres Friday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy, will be the final season of the show. Executive producers (Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy) promise fans that “Merlin” is “leading to a spectacular finale that draws on the best-known elements of this much-loved story, and brings to a conclusion the battle for Camelot.”
A: David recently made national news when he sent a memo to his employees encouraging them to vote for Mitt Romney in the recent presidential elections. But, politics aside, David was quoted in a Reuters interview this past summer: “We’re the most profitable we’ve ever been.” He also is continuing work on his family’s new home, which is modeled on the Palace of Versailles in France. In fact, just before the movie’s premiere, David filed a defamation suit over the film’s portrayal of his business as failing, asserting that some of the film’s scenes were staged or exaggerated.
Q: Will there be an “Avengers” sequel? — Paul G., Tulsa, Okla.
A: After “The Avengers” smashed all sorts of box-office records this summer, you can bet there will be a sequel. “The Avengers 2” is set to premiere May 1, 2015, with the original cast, as well as some new faces.
Q and A: Week of Dec. 3
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| Rachel Boston |
A: Rachel, 30, most recently starred in the Lifetime original movie “Holiday High School Reunion,” which aired in November (check your local listings for possible re-airings). As I type this, Rachel is shooting something else for Lifetime — this time it’s a pilot for a new show, which will air this summer if the network decides to pick it up for a full-season run. It’s called “Witches of East End,” and Rachel told me about the show when I spoke with her recently.
“I am working with such an amazing group of women! Julia Ormond plays my mom and Jenna Dewan-Tatum plays my sister. When we were born, our mom cast a spell so we wouldn’t know we are witches. Through a chain of events, we discover who we are and how we can help protect each other and our town.”
Go here to read my full interview with Rachel.
Q: Is there a new “Wizard of Oz” coming to theaters? I thought I saw a preview for it online — the special effects looked excellent. — Bret A., Pittsburgh
A: On March 8, 2013, “Oz: The Great and Powerful” will be coming to a theater near you. Here’s the official story line: “Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he’s hit the jackpot — fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes when he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who aren’t convinced he’s the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.”
Q: Do you have any news on “Downton Abbey”? I can’t wait for the new season! — Donna B., Oklahoma City, Okla.
A: While season three has already aired in the U.K., we’ll have to wait until Jan. 6 to see it here in the States. Also, I recently learned that the show’s creator, Julian Fellowes, plans to create a “Downton Abbey” prequel, which will focus on the courtship of Lord Grantham and Cora.
Q: In the 1960s there was a TV show whose characters and story line were similar to the upcoming flick “Django Unchained.” The main character went by the name of Jemal David. What was the show’s name? — Sid D., via e-mail
A: You are thinking of “The Outcasts,” which aired on ABC for one season from 1968-69. “The Outcasts” and “Django Unchained” both were inspired by Sergio Corbucci’s 1966 spaghetti Western, “Django.” “The Outcasts” co-starred Don Murray and Otis Young, and is most notable for being the first television Western with an black co-star, as well as featuring the first biracial Western action team.
Interview: Mark Deklin, Under Suspicion
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| Mark Deklin, photo by Angelo Kritikos |
Celebrity Extra: Without giving too much away, what can you tell me about your episode of “Castle”?
Mark Deklin: You’re absolutely going to hate me, because there’s so very little I can tell you. I feel like almost anything I tell you has the potential to be a spoiler, which tells you that it’s an interesting episode and an interesting character, but I’m afraid of tipping my hand.
CE: I know exactly what you mean, because “Castle” always has you wondering throughout the entire episode, sending you down some wrong paths, before they finally solve the case.
MD: One of the things I like about “Castle” — one of the things I think that makes it smart — is that they don’t throw in a red herring. I’ve been on crime shows before, and I always play the guy where it’s like: “Oh, he’s the jerk. I bet he’s the murderer.” Everybody always sees through that, because it’s so formulaic. The thing I like about “Castle” is that it’s not like that. The twists and turns could take you anywhere. The guy I play could be a good guy or a bad guy or just caught in the middle — there’s no way to know. And I can’t say a whole lot more than that.
CE: You’ve gotta give me a little something.
MD: We first meet him when his girlfriend is found dead. And he’s not a suspect necessarily, he’s just one of the people they are interviewing. This is clearly a guy who’s very saddened by her death. And then, of course, we meet him again later on in the episode …
CE: How was it working with Nathan Fillion?
MD: He’s a funny guy. He’s such a classic Canadian boy. And I mean that in all the best ways. You know, just so nice and personable and welcoming and down to earth — just a cool guy.
CE: How was the rest of the cast and crew to work with? Does the set have a nice working atmosphere?
MD: Everyone was just lovely. I’ve been in this business long enough, and I see how when you go on a different set, there can be good energy or bad energy. And I do sort of think it comes from the top down. I’ve been on sets where you just feel the ickiness in the air. Nobody’s horrible to you, but you can just feel that it’s not a nice place to work. That’s definitely not the case on “Castle.” I was getting texts from various people (who’d worked on the show) saying: “You’re going to love it. It’s such a great set.”
From the minute I walked on set, I felt welcomed. It’s very professional and well run. It all starts with Nathan and Stana (Katic, who plays Det. Kate Beckett), who are both just really chill and cool and laid-back. I had a lot of fun working with them. I worked with Jon (Huertas, Det. Esposito) and Seamus (Dever, Det. Ryan) as well — I actually knew them beforehand — and they were great.
You can tell it’s just a group of people who made a conscious decision to create a nontoxic work environment. It’s really nice when that happens. That was one of the things I really miss about “GCB,” because it was one of those environments. We all loved each other, and I loved going to work every day. And you don’t always have that working in television, so when you find it, you really remember those sets the most.
CE: I know it’s what sets up the whole story of “Tarzan,” but I am bummed that your character has to die in the beginning.
MD: It’s funny that that’s technically a spoiler, which cracks me up, because now everybody goes into the movie knowing that I die. But that’s the story — if the kid isn’t orphaned, then he can’t grow up to be Tarzan. So by definition, to make him an orphan, Mom and Dad have to get offed.
CE: What can you tell me about John Greystoke and his wife? What do we get to learn about them before you get offed?
MD: Jaime Ray Newman played my wife, Alice, and she’s great. Our characters kick off the movie. We get a little more action, a little more screen time than the parents in Disney’s “Tarzan” got. You actually get to see us interacting and figuring our stuff out. But it’s not the Victorian “Tarzan” that we all grew up with. It’s a modern take on it. My character is almost like a Richard Branson type — a wealthy but well-intentioned adventurer and entrepreneur. He discovers that there’s a serious energy source — sort of meteorite, which crashed in Africa — and he wants to find it. He brings his family with him, which of course is a stupid decision, but I suppose in the moment it doesn’t seem stupid because he doesn’t go thinking he’s going to die. He just thinks that they are going to be going on a safari. He ends up unleashing a mystical force that he never could have anticipated, and everything kind of goes
CE: Was this a fun movie to shoot?
MD: Yeah, it was really fun. It was cool. It was all CGI work, and I’ve done a lot of that for video games. It was amazing to see how technology has progressed just within the last year or so. My favorite part was watching Peter Elliot, who is based in London. He’s a stunt man, choreographer and also he’s an ape researcher. He worked on “Gorillas in the Mist.” He’s a fascinating guy. It was his job to turn these actors and stunt men into gorillas; how to move and breathe and occupy this gorilla space, and it was pretty amazing. If you watch the making-of trailer, it is pretty fantastic how these guys embodied these great apes, and to hear him talk about these apes with such passion. He was just fascinating to work with.
And Reinhard Klooss — who directed it, from Constantine Films — was a really interesting cat too. It was cool. We shot in Munich — I had lived in Vienna for a little while, and one of my best friends lived in Munich at the same time, so I used to spend a lot of time in Munich. It’s a great city. I hadn’t been back in years, so it was really fun to be back there shooting and to brush up on my German, which is very rusty.
CE: Do you have a release date for “Tarzan” yet?
MD: I know it’s definitely 2013 in Europe. And I know that they want to get a 2013 U.S. release as well, but I don’t know.
Q and A: Week of Nov. 26
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| Tara Summers |
A: Tara Summers, who turns 33 in December, plays Dr. Karen Dunhill on FX’s rough-and-tumble, motorcycle-filled crime drama. Tara is a TV and film vet who’s been in lots of series and feature film, including “Alfie,” “Boston Legal,” “Dirt,” “Factory Girl,” “Damages” and “Ringer.” You can see her this winter in the feature film “Hitchcock,” which stars Anthony Hopkins (as Alfred Hitchcock) and Helen Mirren (as his wife, Alma Reville), with Tara playing Rita Riggs.
Tara told me what it was like working with the two legendary actors: “Helen Mirren … it’s really like her movie. She’s extraordinary. It focuses on the love story between Hitchcock and his wife, and how she was the silent partner in the operation. His wife had a lot more to do with it than we will ever know. And Anthony Hopkins is one of my heroes, and he was so generous and so kind. He’s always in a good mood, and just so amazing to work with and to watch.”
Q: My friend told me that the CW is remaking “Sex and the City.” Is that true? If so, why? It was great as it was on HBO. — Penny W., Seattle
A: The CW is not remaking the hit HBO series, which starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. Rather, they bought the rights to the prequel, “The Carrie Diaries,” based on the book written by “Sex” author Candace Bushnell. “The Carrie Diaries” — set in the 1980s — chronicles Carrie Bradshaw’s (played by AnnaSophia Robb) coming-of-age as she navigates her senior year of high school and discovers the glittering lights of Manhattan, and lots of shoes. “The Carrie Diaries” premieres on the CW on Monday, Jan. 14, at 8/7c, followed by “90210,” which moves to 9/8c.
Q: I was a big fan of “The Cosby Show,” and I wondered whatever happened to the actor who played Rudy’s friend, Stanley, on the show. — Justin W., via e-mail
A: Merlin Santana, who went on to play Ohagi on “Moesha” and Romeo on “The Steve Harvey Show,” died on 2002 at the age of 26. Tragically, he was falsely accused of attempted rape of 15-year-old Monique King, so her boyfriend, Brandon Bynes, shot Merlin six times, killing him. Brandon received three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison, while Monique received eight years in juvenile custody.
Q: When will “Cougar Town” be back? — Jennifer T., Tampa
A: TBS has announced that “Cougar Town” will return for a 15-episode fourth season beginning Tuesday, Jan. 8. So raise a glass (of red wine, of course) to the return of your favorite cul-de-sac gang, as they begin a new era on a new network. I can’t wait!
Interview: Rachel Boston — Coming into Her Power
Last week, I interviewed Rachel Boston for my other King Features column, Daytime Dial (see interview here). We discussed her trip back to high school — via Lifetime’s original movie “Holiday High School Reunion.” In “Holiday,” Rachel starred with such industry vets as Marilu Henner and Harry Hamlin. But Rachel is no stranger to working with Hollywood heavy-hitters. Right now she is shooting a pilot for Lifetime called “Witches of East End,” with Julia Ormond (“Legends of the Fall,” “Sabrina” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Jenna Dewan-Tatum (“Step Up” “American Horror Story” and wife of People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Channing Tatum). When I interviewed Rachel recently, she told me all about her exciting new project, which will hopefully have a long life on Lifetime. Rachel can’t wait for viewers to see her latest project, which is due to premiere next year.
Celebrity Extra: You are working with Lifetime again, shooting a pilot called “Witches of East End.” This intrigues me, as I’ve always been a huge fan of supernatural storytelling. What can you tell me about it?
Rachel Boston: I am working with such an amazing group of women! Julia Ormond plays my mom, and Jenna Dewan-Tatum plays my sister. As the story goes, when we were born, our mom cast a spell so we wouldn’t actually know we are witches, but we can sense that we are different. Through a chain of events, we discover who we are and how we can help protect each other and our town. Maggie Friedman wrote the script and is such an amazing voice for women. It’s also a story about intuition, trust and love, and I pray we get to tell this story for years to come.
CE: Tell me a bit about your character, Ingrid.
RB: I play Ingrid Beauchamp, and I live with my mom and sister in the small town of Fair Haven. Ingrid is a delightful soul but very insecure about certain areas of her life. She works at the library and has been hiding in her books, but she is about to have to step into her power and become the woman she is destined to be.
CE: You’re shooting in Wilmington, N.C. (whose big Hollywood claim to fame is as the location for filming “Dawson’s Creek”), which is gorgeous, especially this time of year. How has the shoot been so far?
RB: I love Wilmington! The people are so kind, and the beaches are gorgeous. We have a wonderful crew.
CE: If the show gets picked up, do you know when it will begin airing?
RB: Summer 2013!
Q and A: Week of Nov. 19
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| Cast of NBC's "Community" |
A: NBC recently announced that “Community” — which stars Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover and Chevy Chase — has ping-ponged back to its original Thursday night at 8/7c time slot, beginning Feb. 7. “Community” takes the place of “30 Rock,” which will have concluded its final season by then. We’ll both have to wait patiently for 13 more episodes of one of the best, and most underrated, comedies on television today.
Q: On your recommendation, I watched Bill Pullman in Scott Turrow’s “Innocent,” which carried on the story of “Presumed Innocent” main character Rusty Sabich 20 years later, where he is accused of murdering his wife. I absolutely loved it, and it got me to thinking that in my opinion, Bill Pullman is underutilized in Hollywood. Can you tell me what I can see him in next? — Virginia F. in Connecticut
A: Beginning Thursday, Jan. 10, at 9:30/8:30c, Bill does a 180 from his “Innocent” role to star as the president of the United States in the NBC comedy “1600 Penn.” The series was co-created by Jason Winder, director for “Modern Family,” so I can only hope that some of that comic genius carries over to this new series. And Bill is no stranger to being the POTUS (see: “Independence Day”), nor is he averse to being funny. In fact, when I spoke with the star of the dark comedy “Mr. Wrong” earlier this year, he told me he was eager to get back into comedy if he got the right script.
Q: My roommate told me that there is going to be a new “Battlestar Galactica” movie on the Syfy channel. Is that true? If so, when? — Harold W., Boston
A: “Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome” is set to debut this March on Syfy, and stars Luke Pasqualino and Ben Cotton. According to reps for Syfy, the film “takes place in the midst of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, the sentient robotic Cylons, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, gifted fighter pilot William Adama (Pasqualino), finds himself assigned to one of the most powerful battlestars in the Colonial fleet: the Galactica.
Full of ambition and hungry for action, Adama quickly finds himself at odds with his co-pilot, the battle-weary officer Coker (Cotton).” The film already is airing in weekly seven-to-10-minute segments on the Machinima Prime YouTube channel for those who can’t wait until March, as long as you don’t mind short segments with a week between airings.
Q: I can’t stand the waiting! When will “Smash” be back? —- Eric P., via e-mail
A: You’ll have to wait just a little bit longer. The musical melodrama returns to NBC on Feb. 5.
Q and A: Week of Nov. 12
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| Mary McDonnell of "Major Crimes" |
A: “Major Crimes,” TNT’s “The Closer” spinoff starring Mary McDonnell, was the year’s No. 1 new cable drama, so you can bet it will return for a 15-episode second season (up from a 10-episode first season) in summer 2013. As the premiere gets closer and I learn an exact date, I’ll be sure to let you know so you won’t miss Capt. Sharon Raydor and crew as they solve cases for LAPD’s Major Crimes Division.
Q: When will “In Treatment” be back? I hope soon. — Linda W., via e-mail
A: HBO canceled the Gabriel Byrne-starring drama in spring 2011 after three seasons and more than 100 episodes. At first there was talk of it possibly returning in a new incarnation; however, it would appear those plans have been scrapped.
As I reported a few months back, you can catch Gabriel on television again soon. He’ll be starring in the History Channel original scripted drama “Vikings,” which is slated for a 2013 premiere. Gabriel’s “In Treatment” co-star Dianne Wiest recently co-starred with Jennifer Garner in “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” and Michelle Forbes starred in AMC’s now-defunct “The Killing,” as Rosie Larsen’s mom, Mitch.
Q: What happened to the program “Fairly Legal”? Will it return? — Marilyn S., Webster, N.Y.
A: The USA network’s legal dramedy wrapped its second season this past June 15, with the third season to premiere in spring 2013 (no official date yet). If you are going through “Fairly Legal” withdrawal, season one is now on DVD, and season two is available for streaming purchase through amazon.com. Also, you can go to www.celebrityextraonline.com and search the archives to read my March 16 interview with series co-star Virginia Williams (Lauren Reed).
Q: I am big fan of “Single Ladies,” but somehow I missed a few episodes. Where can I catch up on my viewing? —- Hal W., via e-mail
A: Season two of the hit VH1 original scripted series is now available on DVD as a four-disc set containing all 14 episodes with bonus clips. Also, the show has been renewed for a third season, to premiere summer 2013.
Q: As the end of “The Office” gets closer, I am reminded that Rainn Wilson was supposed to get a spinoff, where I believe we get to see how Dwight and his cousin, Mose, run the beet farm. Is this still happening? — Gennifer T., Allentown, Pa.
A: It appears that plans for the Dwight/Mose spinoff, which was tentatively called “The Farm,” have fallen through. In late October, Rainn tweeted the following message to his millions of Twitter followers: “NBC has passed on moving forward with ‘The Farm’ TV show. Had a blast making the pilot — onwards and upwards!”
Q and A: Week of Nov. 5
Q: The CW’s “90210” is really off to a great start — it seems to be getting back on the right track since its weird derailment of last season. Can you give me any spoilers for season five? — Bridget M. in Georgia A: I spoke with series star Michael Steger, who plays Navid Shirazi, and he told me to look for the darker side of Navid to come out.
“Navid is thrown off-kilter a bit to where his character is tested when he learns Silver has chosen Teddy to be the father of her baby,” he said. “After almost having a one-night stand, he’s really not thinking. It’s completely out of character for him. He’s trying to get back to Silver, so he’s doing as much as he can in that area.”
Michael and the rest of the cast are thrilled to celebrate a show milestone: They just filmed the 100th episode. “I feel like everybody’s in a place of gratitude and surprise that we’ve made it this long, and it’s nice to see. We’re hard at work with this new season, so we hope fans will enjoy it.”
Q: I finally caught up on season one of the new “Dallas,” and I can’t wait to see more! Please tell me it will return for another season. If so, when? — Deena W., via e-mail
A: TNT’s hit reboot of “Dallas” — which stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster and Brenda Strong — definitely will be back for another round of family intrigue, altercations and double-dealings. A 13-episode second season premieres Jan. 28. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what Cliff Barnes and his daughter (!) have planned for JR, Bobby and the rest of the Ewing clan.
Q: One of my favorite actresses is the gorgeous Natasha Henstridge. Can you tell me what I can see her in next? — Dustin R., via e-mail
A: The Canadian beauty can be seen next in the Hallmark Channel original movie “Christmas Song,” which premieres Saturday, Nov. 3, at 8/7c. Natasha plays a music teacher (named Diana Dalton) at a girls’ prep school who must fight for her job when her school merges with the local boys’ school, bringing with it the boys’ choir director. Natasha also co-stars in “The Bronx Bull,” which is a continuation of the story of boxer Jake LaMotta that was first brought to the big screen in 1980’s “Raging Bull.” Look for it in theaters sometime next year.
Q: My husband and I enjoyed “Hatfields and McCoys” on the History Channel, but we missed the third part. How can we see it in its entirety? — Sandy M., Port Charlotte, Fla.
A: The award-winning miniseries — which earned Emmys for Kevin Costner and Tom Berenger, and a nomination for Bill Paxton — is now available on DVD at most major stores and outlets for your viewing pleasure.
A: You’re in luck on both counts. Aside from being able to watch full episodes on hulu.com and mtv.com, seasons one and two are available on DVD. The show has been granted a super-size season three, which will consist of 20 episodes instead of the previous 12 episodes each of the previous two seasons. Look for season three to premiere in summer 2013.
Q: I just heard about the death of one of my favorite directors, Tony Scott. I couldn’t find any information on the definite cause or reason for his death. Do you know what happened? — Felix S., Vancouver, British Columbia
A: The results of Tony’s autopsy were recently released, with the cause of death being multiple blunt-force injuries, which were sustained when he jumped off a Los Angeles bridge on Aug. 19. The official ruling is suicide, as no foul play was suspected or discovered. There was also no evidence of an inoperable brain tumor — as some sources were citing as the reason he killed himself — putting to rest those rumors that his family vehemently denied from the get-go.
Tony, who was 68 at the time of his death, had recently announced his intent to develop a “Top Gun” sequel, and was with Tom Cruise just days prior to his death scouting locations for the movie. There is no word yet on whether the movie will be made without Tony.
Q: “Assassin’s Creed” is one of my favorite video games, and my roommate heard that it’s going to be made into a movie. Is that true? — Douglas W., via e-mail
A: Development of a big-screen version of the popular video game is moving forward, with Michael Fassbender set to star as Desmond Miles, a man who comes from a long line of assassins but tries to lie low and maintain a more common lifestyle as a bartender. Since it’s still early in the development process, there’s no word on co-stars or a release date. However, I can tell you that it will be shot in 3-D.
Q: My husband and I are curious as to what happened to Lisa, who was one of the “Ice Road Truckers” on the History Channel last year. We’re hoping she didn’t crash. — Bonnie and George H., via e-mail
A: Lisa Kelly is alive and well, and taking a year off. Producer Thom Beers told a group of reporters: “We offered her a contract to return, and she chose not to. (We’d) love to have her, (but) she’s taking a year off. The thing we liked about her more than anyone else — she’s the one person of them all who showed real fear. I wish her luck, and I wish she was back.”
Q and A: Week of Oct. 22
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| Kali Hawk |
A: I spoke with Kali Hawk — who co-stars as Shelby on Fox’s “New Girl” and also stars in the “In Living Color” reboot — and she’s not sure when it will air either, although she assures me that they shot the pilot episode/special, and it’s hilarious.
“We taped the special, and it was going to be a two-part special to air sometime in the fall,” Kali said. “But I haven’t been told what’s going to happen with it, whether it’s going to air or when, or if it’s not going to air at all. I really don’t know. It’s just crazy because people ask me about it so often. There’s so much excitement about that show, but I don’t have any details that I can give out.”
Working with the show’s creator and first-rate comedian Keenan Ivory Wayans was a highlight for Kali. “It was definitely fun working with Keenan. The man is a legend. The characters from the original installment are still so relevant today. It was really neat to get to work with somebody who created something like that, something that has such long-lasting appeal.”
Check back here later this week for my full interview with this super-nice and down-to-Earth beauty.
Q: I can’t remember which cable network it was on, but I really liked a series with female stand-up comedians hosted by the red-haired actress from “The Office.“ Can you tell me what network it was on and whether it will return for another season? — Karen M., Columbus, Ohio
A: You are thinking of the TV Guide Network’s original comedy series “StandUp in Stilettos,” which is hosted by Kate Flannery. I am happy to report that it will be back for a second season beginning Saturday, Nov. 10, at 11 p.m. ET/PT. As you know, the show features three stand-up comedians per episode, and this season’s scheduled guests include Thea Vidale, Cory Kahaney, Cathy Ladman, Luenell and Laurie Kilmartin.
Q: I am a fan the show “The Finder.” What will happen now that Michael Clarke Duncan has passed away? — Curtis H., via e-mail
A: Fox announced in May that it would not be renewing the freshman series, which aired as a midseason show from January through May 2012. The death of “Finder” co-star Michael Clarke Duncan, 54 — who passed away in September from complications after suffering a heart attack in July — had nothing to do with the show’s cancellation. Michael completed three movies before his death: “The Sibling,” “The Challenger” and “In the Hive,” which will be released posthumously.
Q: Could you please tell me if “Body of Proof” was canceled? — Kathleen E., via e-mail
A: The Dana Delany-starring medical-mystery drama will be back for a 13-episode third season on ABC come midseason — which most likely means January or February 2013, although no official premiere date has been provided as of this writing.
INTERVIEW — Michael Steger: "Navid Explores His Dark Side"
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| Michael Steger, photo by Benny Haddad |
Celebrity Extra: First off, how was your summer vacation?
Michael Steger: Really good. At the beginning, I did a few small vacations. I went to Rosarito, Mexico, and Ensenada and then Chicago. And then I worked on two films in May and June, which was nice. It went by pretty quickly. And then I started back up on “90210” in July. So most of my summer I’ve been working.
CE: For those who might be living under a rock, I also want to point out that “90210” has switched to Monday nights at 8/7c on the CW. I know you are active on Twitter, so how has the fan reaction been for the new season?
MS: Very excited. I’ve been contacted by fans on Twitter: “When is the show starting? When is the show starting?” The energy is very contagious, and the fans have been really great about passing that info along.
CE: Looking back on the previous season, what have been some of your favorite moments?
MS: My favorite moments from season four is getting the chance to work with really cool character actors. I got to work with Anthony Azizi, who played my uncle Amal. And Shaun Duke, who plays my dad, and then of course all the cool recurring cast we have on the show, like Josh Zuckerman. There are so many really good actors coming on board the show. They represent the fresh energy that is so much a part of the show and is always my favorite part.
CE: How’s Navid doing this season?
MS: He starts the season in a bidding war with Liam for Silver, and now Silver has picked Teddy to have a baby with. It’s thrown Navid off-kilter a bit to where his character is tested, and he goes the route of a stranger, in a sense — he does something that’s really out of character.
He has an almost one-night stand, and he’s really not thinking. He’s trying to get back to Silver, so he’s doing as much as he can in that area. It’s completely out of character for him, but he is trying to get the attention with Silver at the end of the day.
CE: I saw some pictures of you and the rest of the guys online dressed as cheerleaders for a powder-puff football game. Was that fun to film?
MS: It’s funny, when you get a group of guys and you dress them up as cheerleaders, you have this feeling of, “OK, we’ve got to represent.” It ended up being a hilarious situation because we were all just making fun of ourselves the entire day. It was really funny. And of course, at the end of the day, we’re all like, “Oh did you guys see the paparazzi over yonder?” We were caught off-guard, but we still had a really good time.
CE: Tell me about Dixon’s recovery from the car accident.
MS: It’s going to take a while. His recovery process is a long one. The execs handled it in a very organic way and very believable. I thought they handled it very nicely.
CE: Can you give me any spoilers for down the road?
MS: I’m really not sure what will happen. Everything’s a surprise. I don’t like to know too much, you know? I just wait until I get the script to be surprised. We’ll find out!
CE: Tell me about the films you’ve been working on.
MS: They’re both in post-production. “Farah Goes Bang” is about three women who are coming into their own. They’re on a road trip to work on the John Kerry campaign during the 2004 Bush/Kerry election. It’s a very great story about these women coming into their womanhood. One is trying to lose her virginity, and they have all of the obstacles along the way. It’s a touching story of that time. I think people are going to enjoy it.
And the other one is “Blowing Vegas Off the Map,” which is a movie for the Syfy network. It has to do with an Egyptian curse, and Las Vegas is being decimated by a horrible storm. I think if you’re into sci-fi, you might enjoy it, but I haven’t seen any cuts, so I have no idea. But I’m sure it’ll be good, explosive fun.
Interview: Kellie Martin Explores New Territory
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| Kellie Martin as Capt. Nicole Galassin (Photo courtesy Lifetime Television/ Army Wives) |
Celebrity Extra: Your role on “Army Wives” is definitely one your fans haven’t seen you play yet. How did the whole thing come about?
Kellie Martin: A friend of mine, a writer friend from “ER,” called me up and said: “Would you be open to playing a lesbian military intelligence officer? We’re going to explore the world after Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And I thought: “Yeah! That sounds really interesting.” I have never played anyone in the military; I’ve never played a lesbian. That’s rare for me to say, since I’ve been doing this 30 years — I’ve played everything. But that is something I’ve never played.
I didn’t know that it was going to be as much of a story line as it turned out to be. I did eight episodes. I really feel like they hit the highlights of this woman’s life and how fast this couple’s world changed after the repeal. The way all of a sudden they were able to have more friends, they got married, they got a baby — it really hit all the high points.
CE: You sound like you really enjoyed playing this character.
KM: Oh yes, I was honored to play this woman. I thought she was so brave and so smart, yet in her personal life, she had to hide. It was really fun to play someone who comes out. And then to have Patti LuPone play my mom again was awesome. That’s the third time Patti’s played my mom on television. And it was just an honor.
I have so many people who tweet at me or who just come up to me and say, “You don’t know how this story line has changed my life.” Or, “This is me. This is exactly me. And I’ve been in the closet for years, and I’m in the Navy.” It’s nice to make people feel like they are not alone in this often-challenging world. I feel like Capt. Galassin is the girl next door. Everybody knows someone like her. I’m just very proud of “Army Wives” and Lifetime for following through with the story line like they did.
CE: Like with “ER,” you came onto an established show with established actors in place; did it make you a little nervous? How is the “Army Wives” cast to work with?
KM: It’s funny, because they’re both pretty big ensembles. I found on “ER” and on “Army Wives,” if you weren’t a part of someone else’s story line, you never saw them. The cast was very welcoming, and I was super nervous the first day. I had a ton of things to say. I had to put that uniform on for the first time, and I just fell into the character the second I put it on. So, that was a really big help to me. But the cast is lovely. I had a really, really good time. It wasn’t easy for me to be away on location so much. I was flying way more than I care to mention, because I don’t like to fly, but it was a really good experience.
CE: Do you think Nicole will be back for the seventh season?
KM: I don’t know if Nicole’s back. She was on a plane to Afghanistan at the end of the season, and there was a lot of turbulence …
CE: Yes, but turbulence can go away, and planes can go back the other way, too …
KM: Absolutely! I had a great time, and I never, ever know where my career’s going to head, so it’s always interesting for me to see what happens.
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| Kellie as Jordan (Photo: Copyright 2011 Crown Media Holdings, Inc./ Photographer: Alexx Henry) |
KM: I’ve been working with them since 2003 or 2004, and I’ve really just gotten to love the people over there. I knew the CEO when he wasn’t the CEO, and all the publicity people who’ve been there since I started working with them. It’s really the people who keep me coming back. They just are very good to me, and they let me have a bit of input into the work we do, which I really appreciate.
I really have liked doing romantic comedies — the past two movies that I’ve done for them have been really fun, upbeat and, best of all, I don’t have to cry. I love that, because I’ve spent so much time doing drama that this is a really nice way to lighten things up for me.
CE: What was it about this particular movie, especially the character of Jordan, that caught your attention?
KM: I love the arc she goes through. Jordan starts out as a very tightly wound real estate agent about to get married to a very tightly wound attorney. She has to face who she really is beyond being type A and totally under control. She unravels a bit, and it was really fun to play a character who was unraveling.
CE: How are you and Jordan alike?
KM: Well, unlike Jordan I like to drink. Jordan doesn’t drink. I’m Irish, and I do enjoy a good drink. I did marry an attorney, but unlike Peter (in the movie), my husband is a recovering attorney. Eight months after our daughter was born, he said: “You know what? I don’t think I want to do this anymore. I don’t really like this.” I do like to be in control. I like to know what’s going on. I like routines, especially having a child. I love the ritual, routine nature of a day, because my daughter has a very strict schedule. We have a very rigid schedule, and that’s very much like Jordan.
CE: You had great chemistry with your co-stars, but I especially loved your scenes with Adrienne Frantz. Her character is hilarious, and she did such a great job!
KM: Can you tell we had fun? She’s so much fun.
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| L to R: Daphnee Duplaix, Adrienne Frantz and Kellie Martin (Photo: Copyright 2011 Crown Media Holdings, Inc./Photographer: Alexx Henry) |
KM: I frequently didn’t. There’s one scene I could see how they had to cut around our giggling. When we’re eating pizza, and Adrianne and I are hysterically laughing, and they had to find the little moments where we weren’t laughing because we were total goofballs. But it’s so nice to work with someone like her because she is a pro. She’s so much a pro that she can let loose, and you can allow for those little surprises to happen. It’s just lovely to be in a scene with someone who’s so good at what they do that we know we are going to say our lines and hit our marks, but we’re going to have fun and allow surprises to happen. And that’s what we did. I would love to do a series with that girl. We would have so much fun.
CE: What do you hope viewers take away from the movie after watching it?
KM: I really think it’s good to shake up your life every once in a while. I’m not saying to marry someone who’s not your fiance, but I think it’s good to step back every once in a while and get perspective on your life. Maybe step back and say: “You know what? Let’s do something crazy. Let’s go to Paris next summer,” or “Let’s take off school today and go to the park.
Just shake up your life every once in a while and realize you only live once.
Interview: Bellamy Young, A First Lady Ahead of Her Time
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| Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant, photo courtesy ABC |
Celebrity Extra: When I first heard about “Scandal,” and the fact that it was created by and is written and produced by Shonda Rhimes, I knew I’d be in for a treat. What did you think when you first auditioned for the role?
Bellamy Young: I was overwhelmed. It was probably two years ago, and I was reading all the pilots for that year, and this was fathoms above the others. Shonda just understands people. She just knows how to hook your heart. She gets your brain, but she hooks your heart. She can pull you through a narrative, and this one is so intense. For the audition, I did what I never do, which is I bought an outfit especially for Mellie. I went in and I had two lines, and I was just so happy for them to let me do two lines in this piece that I thought was so beautiful. Then I got the part, and they suddenly just started writing the most incredible story line for my character, and they made me a regular. I just couldn’t be any happier.
CE: How about that Mellie? She is quite a character to play.
BY: And you know what? I don’t think Mellie is necessarily wrong. She’s always got the country’s best interest at heart, and she always has a very strong rationale behind her decisions and her actions. She just isn’t patiently waiting for everyone to catch up to her genius.
CE: Speaking of genius, how is it working with Shonda Rhimes?
BY: Shonda’s awful special because she sees people, not packages. So race and gender and sexuality are all sort of arbitrary to her and to the integrity of the character. Linda Lowy casts everything for Shonda, and there are no words to explain how amazing Linda is at her job. So I knew that they would, from this incredible script, attract the best people in town, and then just keep writing surprising story lines for everyone. For me personally, the office of first lady is so fascinating, and throughout the political history of our country, it’s been where you can see the most visible change, because gender roles have changed so much. I knew it would be a fertile ground to explore if given the chance. And it has proved to be beyond my wildest imagination in that regard.
Every character on the show is so nuanced and complex. No one is all right; no one is all wrong. No one is all good; no one is all bad. Humans are flawed, so it gets interesting when you bump up against other smart, flawed humans.
CE: Does Mellie love Fitz, or is it more of a business arrangement for her?
BY: I do believe they loved each other when they got married. Mellie loves Fitz — she would take a bullet for him, like only if it grazed her ear. I watch the show with my mom. My mom’s been widowed three times, bless her heart, and the third time she got married, I saw her fall in actual love. It looks so different from the other thing she’d been trying. And it wasn’t like she didn’t think she was in love before; it’s just different when it’s real. You don’t know it until you know it. And I sort of feel like that’s poor Fitz’s problem (being in love with Olivia Pope and not his wife, Mellie).
CE: As we saw in the season premiere when Mellie used the announcement of her baby’s sex as a chance to address the nation about genocide, Mellie isn’t afraid to use any circumstance to help further her agenda. Can we expect to see more of that this season?
BY: Oh, positively. Mellie is going to use every moment available to her to forward her agenda. But she really wants to be the president, so she would never be careless with the country. She really always believes she’s doing the right thing in her mind. There will be plenty of little bombshells, little smiling, sparkling bombshells that Mellie will drop along the way. They also give us some true moments of grace and connection, which helps for me because I always feel like I’m just playing Mellie in one moment in time, and it’s usually a bad moment. She’s really hurt. She is not at her best right now. I think that also helps you understand her relationship with Fitz, because there’s not a person alive who can’t empathize with that kind of complex relationship — true love-hate relationship. You never hate the people more than the people you love the most. They can make you the craziest.
CE: What kind of a mom is Mellie?
BY: I think Mellie is a very devoted mom. Bottom line, she is fiercely loyal. So, is she warm? I don’t think so. But she is fiercely supportive of and instills in her children that they can be anything they want to be in this world; they just have to believe in themselves. But she is also a working mom. She has a lot of help during the day while she’s off trying to make the country better. I think she struggles like so many women do with balancing the domestic with the professional.
BY: That’s the thing — I don’t really know the answer. But I do know I’d do this job forever. The show gives such wish fulfillment for the audience and the actors, but it also has a conscience. That’s part of that battle for Mellie: Once you get to your end game, is it fulfilling? I think personally the answer is that love has to be the most fulfilling thing, and Mellie is falling at a deficit right now. And you try anything you can to fill that hole when you don’t have love. It will be pretty darn interesting to see the way Mellie flails around for a while.
CE: How is it working with Tony Goldwyn as your husband?
BY: Heaven. There’s no other way to describe it. Tony is the kindest human being and the most devoted person — personally to his children and his wife, but also as an actor. His generosity is unreal. And also his acting is so organic that it’s just quietly dumbfounding. You know, you just watch him and it’s just truth happening. There’s no artifice. He’s really living what’s happening, and it just raises your game. It’s so inspiring. I can’t say enough great things about him.
CE: In general, it sounds like a great show to work on.
BY: It’s unbelievable, across the board. The cast, crew, writers, the production office — everyone is at the top of their game. Everyone is kind, and everyone feels lucky to be there. We know how lucky we are to be working on a project this good with people who love it. And then (writer-creator) Shonda (Rhimes) — man, she’s just a gracious, brilliant, big-hearted woman.
CE: Any teasers for what’s coming up?
BY: Shonda plays it all very close to the vest, so I really don’t know much. Let’s see ... we have college students gone missing and sex scandals. Of course, more sex scandals. God, there’s always so much sex. Everyone loves sex. That’s the fun part. And Olivia Pope (played by Kerry Washington) will get more complicated this season, so that’s fun to watch, because Kerry does it so well, and it’s just so human. Of course, Mellie will be up to no good at all. Just smile and rub her pregnant belly the whole time.
Q and A: Week of Oct. 15
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| Eric Dane (photo courtesy ABC/Danny Feld) |
A: Eric Dane, who played the medical drama’s Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan since the show’s second season, is alive and well, unlike his character. He currently is in preproduction on the feature film “Sweet Spot,” which also stars Salma Hayek and Kurt Russell. The film is about a former New York Yankees pitcher past his prime who tries to revive his career in the Mexican Baseball League, and will be released in 2013.
Q: I am so happy that “Scandal” was renewed and has started its second season. Can you please give me any spoilers for what’s coming up? — Tina A., Hartford, Conn.
A: If you’re familiar with Shonda Rimes’ other shows (“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice”), you know you’re in for drama, for sure. I spoke with series star Bellamy Young (who plays first lady Mellie Grant), and she gave me a little tease of what to expect this year.
“We’ll have government agents gone rogue, college students gone missing and sex scandals. Olivia will get more complicated this season, which is fun to watch because Kerry (Washington) does it so well. And it’s just so human. Mellie will get up to no good at all. But Shonda plays it very close to the vest with the story line. Getting the script for the next episode is a big deal. And we’re all texting each other: 'What page are you on?’ And it’s all so shocking! We all just can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Come back here tomorrow for my full interview with this lovely and engaging actress, who is nothing like her alter ego ... I promise!
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| Sean Bean (photo courtesy HBO) |
A: The British thespian, 53, first entered my radar when he played Bond bad guy Alec Trevelyan in 1995′s “GoldenEye.” He’s done tons of stuff before and since, but nowadays he is best known as the doomed Eddard Stark. Last season, he co-starred with Ashley Judd in “Missing,” and in 2010 he played Zeus in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” and will reprise that role in next year’s “Sea of Monsters.” From 2008-2010, Sean played the title character in “Crusoe,” he tried to foil Nicolas Cage’s treasure hunt in 2004′s “National Treasure,” and he played Boromir in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The list goes on and on.
Q: I think that Jimmy Kimmel did a bang-up job hosting the Emmy Awards. Any chance he’ll host the next Academy Awards ceremony? — Bob K., via e-mail
A: While Jimmy might have an Oscar-hosting gig in his future, the 85th annual Academy Awards ceremony, which will take place Feb. 24, will be hosted by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane.
Q and A: Week of Oct. 8
Q: I am so happy to hear that “Army Wives” has been renewed for another season. Will all the stars be back for the new season? — Fiona W., via e-mail A: Lifetime has indeed ordered 13 more episodes of the hit military drama for a 2013 seventh season. However, not all the details of who will be returning have been worked out. Catherine Bell appears to be a yes, while Kim Delany is most likely a no. Kelli Wilson, who plays Jackie Clark, seems a likely candidate to slip into a more prominent role. And don’t count out newcomer Kellie Martin, who plays Capt. Nicole Galassini. She told me recently that she’d be up for another tour of duty with “Wives.”
“I was honored to play this woman,” Kellie said. “I thought she was so brave and so smart, yet in her personal life she had to hide, and it was really fun to play someone who comes out. I feel like Capt. Galassin is the girl next door. Everybody knows someone like her. I’m just very proud of “Army Wives” and Lifetime for following through with the storyline that they did.
“Last we saw Nicole, she was on a plane to Afghanistan at the season end, and there was a lot of turbulence … but I had a great time and I never ever know where my career’s going to head, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens.”
In the meantime, you can catch Kellie in the Hallmark Channel original movie “I Married Who?” airing Saturday, Oct. 20, at 9/8c. Check back here for my full interview with Kellie next week.
Q: What has happened to “CSI: Miami”? Has it been canceled? — Bill V., via e-mail
A: CBS opted back in May not to renew the David Caruso-starring crime drama after 10 seasons and 232 episodes. However, you can still whet your “CSI” appetite with the original “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” on Wednesday nights with Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue, and “CSI: NY” with Gary Sinise and Sela Ward on Friday nights.
Q: Will “Finding Bigfoot” be back? It’s one of my favorite shows. — Eddie S. in Oregon
A: As one of Animal Planet’s top-performing series ever, you can bet your sweet bippy that it’ll be back for a third season. Prepare yourself for 20 informative and somewhat-scary episodes beginning Sunday, Nov. 11, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. This season the team of investigators will travel worldwide in search of the ever-elusive sasquatch, heading to Australia to investigate the phenomenon known as “yowies” and to Indonesia to scout out the “orang-pendek” creature.
Q: I was wondering if two of my favorite reality shows will be back: “L.A. Ink” and “Gene Simmons Family Jewels.” — N.P. in Kentucky
A: I hate to have to deliver this double-whammy of bad news for you, but neither “L.A. Ink” nor “Family Jewels” has been renewed for a new season, and therefore won’t be returning to TLC and A and E, respectively.
INTERVIEW: Adam Ant Is Retaking America by Storm
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| Adam Ant, photo by Robert Kenney Images |
This past weekend, I got to see Adam (with his many Ant People in attendance) at the Orlando Hard Rock Live venue as he thrilled and energized the nearly sold-out crowd with a retrospective of his work from inception to date. With the energy and dance moves of a man half his age, Adam certainly delivered. Living up to the hype of all the glowing concert reviews that he's been leaving in his wake, Adam has shown that he is in top vocal form, with all the theater, pomp and circumstance that fans come to expect.
In weeks prior to the concert, I had the honor of interviewing this new-wave, post-punk, new-romantic rock legend, and he told me all about the new tour and album, his connection with Michael Jackson, and his desire to collaborate with Pink and Katy Perry.
Celebrity Extra: Your fans are thrilled that you're touring the U.S. after a 17-year absence, and so far you've been wowing the crowds at every tour stop. What made you decide that the time was right to play for us here in the States?
Adam Ant: Well first, the new double album "Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter" is finished, and I’ve recruited a new band — The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Posse — that I’ve been playing with for about a year. You know when it’s right, and now the time is right. I want to do my own tour with the new record, and it’s the right time to do it.
CE: Your music has been classified as pop, post-punk, new romantic, and others ... how would you classify your music?
AA: I think it’s very difficult to bracket things, but obviously for convenience's sake, the history books have to put you in a category. If anything, I consider myself to be thought more of a punk rocker than a post-punk-rock thing, because it started in 1977, and that was my inspiration; that was my catalyst. So I consider it to have started then, but then it kind of evolved into something else. I don’t think anybody else out there does what I do, and I don’t do anything that they do, so when you’re doing that, you’re always going to be open to various classifications. I just think it’s best to just come and see it, and see what you think.
CE: As you've said, you've been in the business a while now, but you still look like you're in your 30s, and sound like you're in your 20s. How do you maintain that energy and the youthful vibe that you project through your work and your music?
AA: I think that when you are able to do something that you’re getting paid for, it only becomes a job when it’s work. When you’re doing an album, you’re kind of working because it's on someone else’s terms, and you don’t enjoy it as much as you should. And you become exhausted, which certainly happened with me. That’s why I took eight years out to do some acting, which is creatively something that fulfilled me at that time.
I find now that I really appreciate the fact that there’s the opportunity to do it under my own terms. I don’t do what I don’t think is right for me or my work. Everything I do is very objective. I work with a small team of people, so everything’s out on the table. With every concert you do, you know why you’re doing it. With that, it gives you this kind of freedom to stay out there and blow, and not have to worry about the economic considerations of the record label or worry about the charts. There’s not a chart in it — you just go out there every night and just blow. You just want to do a great show. You just want to really get that high off the audience, and fortunately that’s the way it’s been going. People are responding to that. The energy is coming back from the audience — what you're putting out, it's coming back. I just go for it. I don't think about it, I just get out there and do it.
CE: Regarding the current state of music, in "Interview" magazine you said: "There's a need for a little bit of rock-n-roll. There's too much sampling and karaoke going on. Not that it bothers me if people can get away with it, but I just want to do it 100 percent live." What current bands or artists do you feel are bringing that component to music today?
AA: There’s an American band called The Ganglians that I like, sort of a West Coast band. They sound like the Beach Boys' grandkids. They sing in perfect harmony. They did a song called "Valiant Brave," which is really the only record that I pick out and say, “I wish I’d have written that.”
CE: Which artists would you like to collaborate with?
AA: I like Katy Perry. I think she’s quite an interesting artist. Pink, I think is good; k.d. lang is good. There are very few other bands I’d want to collaborate with. There are very few people out there — I'd like to work with Brian Eno, and that’s about it, really.
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| Photo compilation by The Daily Mail (U.K.) |
AA: I think the basic thing about Michael Jackson that I like was that he was a very nice chap. I spent a little bit of time with him, and he was always very gracious — a very shy, unassuming guy. I think that people just forget what a great musician and dancer he was. Great musician and a fantastic performer. It’s as simple as that. And it sadly seems to be the last thing under consideration — like everybody in the world knows Michael Jackson as they do Elvis — but his work, it’s fantastic.
He didn’t need all the rest of the stuff that was surrounding it all — the gimmick-y stuff — because if you just look at his "Off the Wall" record, what he did on that musically was years ahead of his time. I was lucky enough to observed him from 10 feet away when he debuted the Moonwalk on the "Motown 25" that I did. I got to observe musical history. But really, just the raw talent of the man, that sometimes gets overlooked.
For more info on Adam's tour — as well as his new single, album and tour merchandise — head over to adam-ant.net for all the latest news and updates.
Q and A: Week of Oct. 1
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| Tim Matheson, photo by David Zaugh |
A: You and me both, Tracey. Tim is as busy as ever, directing and co-starring in the CW’s “Hart of Dixie” (airing Tuesday nights at 8/7c), and he couldn’t be happier in this latest gig. He told me recently what he likes so much about the show: “We’re this crazy, totally disparate group of people in this small Southern town — kind of a magical town — and despite all our differences and conflicts and strong feelings, we all somehow manage to get along.
“Our characters have tremendous flaws and failings. Nobody’s perfect. But we somehow manage to get through our day — and life — without crashing and burning. That’s what we all kind of hope for, and I think there’s a little bit of those flaws and failings in everyone. And the show takes you someplace that you don’t expect and in ways that you don’t expect. It’s tremendous fun, and it’s very sincere.”
Check back here later this week for the full interview where Tim and I discuss his acting and directing, as well as his memorable roles, past and present.
Q: Is it true that Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green are leaving “The Voice”? — Gian W., via e-mail
A: Yes, but only temporarily. Usher and Shakira are coming to the show this spring as coaches, with Christina and Cee Lo returning next fall. The decision was made to offer contestants varied coaching styles and to accommodate the coaches’ tour schedules.
Q: What’s your favorite new show of the fall so far? — Hillary R., via e-mail
A: Hands-down, my favorite new show is “The Mindy Project,” which airs Tuesday nights at 9:30/8:30c. It’s funny, sweet, quirky and a little bit edgy, like the show’s namesake. However, I have to say that "Ben and Kate" (Fox, Tuesday, 8:30/ 7:30c) is a very very very close second.
And I know you didn't ask, but my favorite returning shows are "Revenge, " "New Girl" and "Suburgatory" — none of which are suffering from the sophomore slump, I can tell you!
Q and A: Week of Sept. 24
Q: I saw a video on CMT by Shooter Jennings, and he sounds and looks so familiar. Is he related to the late Waylon Jennings? — Travis R., via e-mail A: Shooter is the country-music star’s son with wife (and fellow country singer) Jessi Colter. Shooter grew up surrounded by legends: Waylon, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. You can catch Shooter beginning Sunday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. EST on Ovation, where he participates in the six-part documentary series, “Johnny Cash: Song by Song,” sharing his recollections of the Man in Black.
Shooter shared some memories of Cash with me when we spoke recently: “One of the first things I think that has not been documented very well about Johnny Cash is how funny and goofy and charming he was. He wasn’t a brooding, dark, stoic character. He’d play jokes on people and do things to make little kids laugh. He was like a big kid. My dad was like that too. That’s the way they were together too.”
If you want to read more about Shooter, Waylon and Cash, as well as how Shooter has carved his own niche in the country-music world, check back next week to read my extended interview with the lovely and personable singer.
Q: What can I see Jennifer Garner in next? — Vivianne A., via e-mail
A: Jennifer stars in a new movie called “Butter,” which hits theaters Oct. 7. I’m not only eager to see Jen, but check out this cast: Alicia Silverstone, Rob Corddry, Ty Burrell and Hugh Jackman. I can’t begin to explain the movie (which is about a butter-sculpting competition) — you’ll just have to see it for yourself. Or watch the trailer here to get an idea.
Q: I watched the “Price Is Right” 40th birthday show, and was dismayed to see that Bob Barker wasn’t there to celebrate. Was he not invited, or was he unable to attend? I can tell you his presence was definitely missed! — Ada E. in Arkansas
A: Bob Barker, the original emcee for the long-running game show, was not invited to the birthday bash, which came as a shock to many longtime viewers, and to the man himself. Bob told “TV Guide Magazine”: “I don’t know why I wasn’t asked to take part in some way. But I do know I am ashamed of the show and surprised at their complete disregard for the welfare of animals. (When I was there,) we never did anything that condoned animal cruelty. Apparently, things have changed.”
Q: What does Patrick Wilson have planned since CBS’s “A Gifted Man” was canceled? — Nicki C., via e-mail
A: Patrick’s next role is opposite Alec Baldwin in the big-screen thriller “Caught Stealing.” Alec plays a sadistic cop to Patrick’s down-on-his-luck former hot shot who gets caught up in a web of very bad things. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Charlie Huston, which is the first installment of the “Hank Thompson Trilogy.”
64th Annual Primetime Emmy Winners
Here's a list of winners at Sunday's 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:— Drama Series: "Homeland," Showtime.
— Actress, Drama Series: Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime.
— Actor, Drama Series: Damian Lewis, "Homeland," Showtime.
— Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad," AMC.
— Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey," PBS.
— Writing, Drama Series: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff, "Homeland," Showtime.
— Directing, Drama Series: Tim Van Patten, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO.
— Comedy Series: "Modern Family," ABC.
— Actor, Comedy Series: Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," CBS.
— Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO.
— Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," ABC.
— Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family," ABC.
— Writing, Comedy Series: Louis C.K, "Louie," FX Networks.
— Directing, Comedy Series: Steven Levitan, "Modern Family," ABC.
— Miniseries or Movie: "Game Change," HBO.
— Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, "Game Change," HBO.
— Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys," History.
— Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story," FX Networks.
— Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Berenger, "Hatfields & McCoys," History.
— Directing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Jay Roach, "Game Change," HBO.
— Writing, Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Danny Strong, "Game Change," HBO.
— Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS.
— Host, Reality-Competition Program: Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With the Stars," ABC.
— Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central.
— Writing for a Variety Special: Louis C.K., "Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theatre," FX Networks.
— Directing, Variety, Music or Comedy Special: Glenn Weiss, 65th Annual Tony Awards, CBS.
INTERVIEW: Trisha Goddard, Ready for the Challenge
Trisha Goddard is a (mostly) new voice entering the daytime-television arena; although she has served as a guest host and conflict-resolution expert for “The Maury Povich Show,” beginning today, Trisha has a show all her own. While hosting her own show isn’t a new thing for her — she’s hosted and won awards for several talk shows in Australia and the U.K. — for American audiences, it will be a new thing for us. I had the pleasure of speaking with this quick-witted, humble and lovely lady about her new show (which airs in syndication, so check your local listings), and she can’t wait for you to welcome her into your living room each weekday. Celebrity Extra: For those not familiar with your work, how did you get started in the business?
Trisha Goddard: Well, I actually started in news and current events. I’ve done a lot of other jobs, too — I was in a band; I was an air stewardess based in the Middle East; I worked in public relations. But as I worked other jobs, I took journalism courses, and I started in television in Australia. I started in news and current affairs, and quickly realized that health and social welfare areas — which were kind of new in those days — were where I wanted to be.
My first presenting job came about when the presenter of a show I reported for went on maternity leave, and they asked me to fill in. Apparently the viewers took to me, so I was offered my own show by another network. The press was very quick to point out that I was Australia’s first person of color ever to become an anchorwoman, which shocked me. I said, “Oh, it didn’t say that on the form when I was applying for the job.” But that was back in 1987.
CE: I know you also had your own talk shows in England, and then you came to the U.S. and started working with Maury Povich. What was that experience like?
TG: It was great. It was a really easy fit. Maury was very gracious. It was very lovely of him to have me on the show and hand over segments. That’s what I’ve been doing on and off for the past two years. Time flies when you’re having fun.
CE: And now you have your own daytime talk show, “Trisha Goddard.” Tell me about it.
TG: The topics will cover all of life’s dramas — happy, sad, humor — the whole gamut of relationships. It can be parent and child, relatives, what have you. What we did on my show in England was there are a lot of older people who want to know, as an adult: “Is this my sister; is this my cousin?” or “Is this really my parent?” Obviously, there’s a lot invested in that, if you’ve been brought up one way or to believe that somebody was your parent and isn’t. They’re more complex. A lot of these stories have layer upon layer, but they are the universal issues that everyone has: trust, betrayal, happiness, joy and identity. I’ll deal with all of those things, but in my very own way.
CE: Will you host celebrity guests, too?
TG: Yes, absolutely. A celebrity will be there for what they’re going through and what experience they can bring to the show rather than “I have a new book” or “I have a new movie” to promote for the celebrity’s sake. These celebrities will absolutely hold their own, and be willing to be honest and talk about whatever issue it is they went through that they have in common with the guest. It catches on with the celebrities who are interested in being real. We give them the opportunity to talk about something other than their new movie or their new book or what have you. But the focus of our show is on ordinary, everyday people.
CE: Since “Trisha Goddard” is a five-days-a-week show, covering most of the year, do you ever worry you’ll run out of topics to discuss?
TG: Oh no, no. That’s never a worry. You could do a show on divorce 300 times, and every single situation will be different. The ages, the people, different situations — you can never exhaust a subject, because there are different nuances in every single case. You never think, “Oh, I’ve done this story before.” You might have up until a point, and then it goes off on a completely different track.
CE: That’s true; you just read any newspaper, magazine or website, and there are human-interest stories galore out there.
TG: Oh, yes. And I read the newspapers all the time. Back home in England, I probably read four newspapers a day. Here I’m reading the websites and what have you. I’m always looking for ideas; I’m going to start getting local newspapers in different areas, because you start asking, what are the concerns on the ground? I want to get a feel for the issues at the local level and how I can bring that to the screen. It’s always exciting. There’s always a challenge.
CE: I know you are very involved in mental well-being issues and treatment — will you bring those topics to your show?
TG: Oh, yes. Collectively, mental health, mental well-being and mental illness is the entire spectrum. You’ll very rarely talk to people or about people without some part of that spectrum coming into it. It’s not always mental illness. It can be a lack of mental wellness, if you see what I mean. I can’t divorce myself from that; it’s what I’m passionate about. There are always people thinking that mad equals bad, and all those sorts of things. It’s one area that really needs to be de-stigmatized.
CE: I read that you’ve done your share of acting as well … I bet the “Doctor Who” fans are the most rabid.
TG: “Doctor Who” fans are very … everywhere I go, there’s some “Doctor Who” fan who jumps out and tells me exactly what episode I was in. That was fun. I did “Little Britain” as well, which is an English show. There was another show called “Fat Friends,” which was about a whole group of friends in a slimming club, and I filmed about three or four episodes with them. I was really, really flattered to be included. My one show that I’d like to be included in here in the U.S. — I will have died and gone to heaven if I did a cameo on “Modern Family.”
CE: How do you fit it all in: hosting your show here, your advocacy and charity work, maintaining a home here and across the Pond?
TG: When I was coming over to tape “Maury,” I would do the show and work intensely for a week, and then go home and do unpaid work as a mother, dog walker, wife, etc., so that was OK. At the moment people ask how it’s going to work out, and the answer is, I don’t know. It’ll be tough, but I don’t want to prescribe how things are going to work out, because part of life is just going with the flow and muddling through, and then when people ask you in hindsight, it sounds like you had this marvelous plan to make it all work. But it’s not like that. It’s interesting, but it’s scary.
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