Showing posts with label ABC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ABC. Show all posts
Interview: Nancy Lee Grahn's General Hospital Now! Cohorts Are Here to Entertain
Celebrity Extra: Who’s idea was “General Hospital Now!”?
Nancy Lee Grahn: It was mine. I have a writing partner, Kaore Bonell — we met through mutual friends — and he’s a huge “GH” fan. He’s a sketch writer, and I loathe writing, so we came up with ideas together. We just laughed and had fun and thought this would be fun to do. We pitched it to ABC, and they were receptive.
CE: I had a ball watching the episodes; this idea was long overdue.
NLG: Yes, that’s the thing — people don’t get to see that this is a very fun medium. Everyone works hard, and they take what they do very seriously and they do it really well, but it’s also entertainment. And we laugh a lot. We have a great sense of humor about all kinds of things that we do. And that to me is the fun thing about doing “GH Now!” — I think it’s important to find the humor in everything. So we are finding the humor, and we’re letting the audience know that we know that they know that we know that we know that they know (laughs). You know what I mean? It’s just really good fun, and it’s done out of love, and it’s a wink and a hug to the audience.
CE: You guys look like you’re having so much fun; is that an example of the fun you all have together off-screen?
NLG: Oh, yes, we do. That’s what’s fun about this show is we get to show what we do when the cameras aren’t rolling. We’re having a good time.
CE: Do you do this in front of an audience? I know I heard laughter and audience reactions during the talk-show portions, but I didn’t know if that was live or added later.
NLG: No, there wasn’t an audience for these first six episodes. When you do a pilot, there’s not a template for this kind of thing, so you experiment. When we saw the playback of the talk show, we realized that it sounded too hollow. There’s a reason why talk shows have the formula that they have, because it works.
CE: With the immense “GH” fan base, you should have no trouble scrounging up an audience if you decide to shoot more of these webisodes.
NLG: Oh, yes, if we get the privilege of doing more, that’s something that’s going to be addressed. We did this for a very modest budget. And if we do more, hopefully there will be some advertising money, and we can get a little more luxurious.
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| Nancy with Jackie Kashian, Ian Buchanan (Duke Lavery) and Jen Kober |
NLG: I am very partial to the sketches. I love “The Crying Game” sketch, the gurney race. I like the commercials; I love doing on-the-street stuff. And there’s a funny bit where everyone goes to the bathroom in my dressing room, thinking it’s the bathroom. You know, things you’ve never seen before on “General Hospital.”
CE: How is the shooting process?
NLG: I can tell you there’s never been a moment shooting this that was not fun in some way. There was no fighting. It wasn’t like, “What are we going to do?” It was a good group. Everyone got along. Everyone pitched in. Every day was fun that we worked on the show, and I loved it.
CE: How has the fan feedback about the series been so far?
NLG: I’m knocking on wood, because it’s been very positive, extremely positive. People have been so supportive. I’m overwhelmed by how nice everybody is.
CE: I’ll bet your “GH” die-hard fans have their share of ideas for future shows, don’t they?
NLG: We’re getting all kinds of ideas. People are saying, “How about you do this in the next one?” And the actors are coming up with ideas. It’s really gotten a very wonderful response, and I’m really grateful.
CE: You said earlier that you don’t know yet if you’ll get to do more — it depends on the reception these first six episodes get — but I really hope you get the OK to do more episodes. They really are a pleasure to watch.
NLG: You are so nice; thank you so much. I so want to do more. Kaore (Bonell) and I have so many more ideas. It really is fun. And the actors involved are really good sports, and they are willing to play. Kaore and I are already starting to talk and come up with some stuff, so if we get green-lit for more, we’ll be ready.
CE: How can fans help you get that green light?
NLG: We just need a lot of website clicks, lots of clicks. People can go to abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital, and click on the “General Hospital Now!” link on the right side of the page, and watch the episodes. And share them with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Let’s get the word out!
Charlie Weber: From 90210 to Murder
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| Charlie Weber (photo by Ben Miller) |
Celebrity Extra: “How to Get Away with Murder” is by far the best new show of the 2014-15 television series.
Charlie Weber: I agree. I’ve been on a lot of TV shows, and this is the best one. I mean, it’s so good. They screened the pilot for a few of us. I watched it with Tom Verica and Liza Weil and Karla Souza. And right when it started, I was like, “Oh my God, this is good.” I knew we were shooting a good show, but you never know how it’s going to look or how it’s going to feel. And I couldn’t have been more impressed.
CE: I was impressed that it didn’t lose steam after that brilliant pilot episode.
CW: Right. They give you that shock value to get you in, but it stayed good. The writing is incredible. It’s something that challenges people on every part of our show. Everybody’s so talented. Linda Lowy is truly the master of ensemble casting. And everybody’s so great. We all get along. We are all just good friends, and everyone’s cool. We all love our jobs and love going to work, and it makes the whole thing a lot of fun.
CE: Tell me the cast’s reaction to the winter hiatus cliffhanger, where we find out that Annalise was sitting there in the dark when Wes came back to retrieve the trophy, thus showing that all of her actions after her fight with Sam were orchestrated.
CW: That was a cliff I did not know anything about. We didn’t know that until we all read it at the table read. Prior to that, we all had our theories, but honestly, none of us knew that Wes killed Sam until the table read. Everybody had his own theory. And that’s one of the coolest things about the show, is it could have been any of us. We are all pretty bad people. With the exception of maybe Asher, Matt McGorry’s character, we’re all certainly capable, Frank especially. He made his deal with the devil a long time ago. But now these kids are really in it and having to deal with the moral complications of covering this up and having done it in the first place. They’re all in on it now.
CE: I read that show runner Peter Nowalk wants to veer away from using the flashback storytelling device now that we have caught up in time with the murder.
CW: Yes, we have now caught up to murder night, and now we go forward. There are a couple here and there, mostly to explain a certain situation, but there are going to be only a few. We’ll pop around a little bit, but it’s going to be different; it’s going to be more of a linear, forward-moving way of storytelling from here on out.
CE: Tell me about Frank and how you prepared for the role.
CW: I hung around with lawyers. One is a lawyer who does PI work, and I was really fascinated by that. That’s kind of the avenue it started going down. And I started talking with (show runner) Pete Nowalk about it, and he had this idea that we would find out in episode three that Frank’s not a barred attorney. He’s not a practicing lawyer, despite his intelligence, and I thought that adds to the mystery of who Frank is and what he really does. Because what he really does is plant evidence and whatever it is that needs to be done. I thought it was a brilliant choice. And the PI stuff is fascinating. I love Frank, you know, meeting with Annalise in the shadows and going to do the dirty work.
CE: Frank seemed like a nice guy, but then we find out he has a secret girlfriend while he’s romancing Laurel. What’s up with that?
CW: He’s very complicated and has the ability to justify a lot of things. He doesn’t think that was that big of a deal, because she had a boyfriend too. But she’s like, “But you knew about that.” But that’s not how Frank sees things. He doesn’t understand why that was a big deal. He, as a matter of fact, has genuine feelings for her. That’s why he ended the other relationship. But then again, he’s busy doing so many other things. He is a mystery because he really can’t afford not to be because of what he does for Annalise. He has no choice but to be vague and carry himself with a sense of mystery, because he’s committing felonies at almost every turn at the behest of his boss.
CE: Coming into the rest of the season, will you continue with the case-of-the-week format, aside from trying to solve Lila’s and Sam’s murders?
CW: Yeah, that has held up. We discussed that. It’s not as much of a focal point, but the interesting thing about continuing with the case of the week is that we’ve got bigger things to worry about than our client. And so everybody’s mind is sort of wandering everywhere as we’re trying to do these cases. And yes, the murders of Sam and Lila Stangard are going to be a little bit more front and center, along with the case-of-the-week stuff.
CE: Because of all that happened, I think that Annalise will need Frank a lot more.
CW: Yes, what he does is going to become an even bigger asset. This is when Frank shines. This is when he does what he does best.
CE: What can we expect as season one comes to a close?
CW: Well, we have six more episodes. As you can imagine, the whole thing busts wide open. Information will be coming out about both murders, and there’s going to be a lot of scrambling to deal with it by everyone. And not that the show isn’t already crazy and exciting already, but it gets more so. There are plenty of twists and turns coming, I can assure you of that.
Renewed or Canceled — Fall 2014/15
Renewed shows for the 2014-2015 television season:
ABC — “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” “The Bachelor,” “Castle,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “The Goldbergs,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “The Middle,” “Modern Family,” “Nashville,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Resurrection,” “Revenge,” “Scandal” and “Shark Tank”
CBS — “2 Broke Girls,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Blue Bloods,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI,” “Elementary,” “The Good Wife,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “The Mentalist,” “Mike and Molly,” “The Millers,” “Mom,” “NCIS,” “NCIS: LA,” “Person of Interest” and “Two and a Half Men”
CW — “Arrow,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hart of Dixie,” “The 100,” “The Originals,” “Reign,” “Supernatural” and “Vampire Diaries”
Fox — “American Idol,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Bones,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Family Guy,” “The Following,” “Glee,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Masterchef Junior,” “The Mindy Project,” “New Girl,” “The Simpsons” and “Sleepy Hollow”
NBC — “Hannibal,” “Parks and Rec,” “Parenthood,” “Grimm,” Chicago PD,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Chicago Fire,” “About a Boy” and “The Blacklist”
Canceled (or ending) shows:
ABC — “The Assets,” “Back in the Game,” “Betrayal,” “Killer Women,” “Lucky 7,” “Mind Games,” “Mixology,” “The Neighbors,” “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” “Suburgatory,” “Super Fun Night” and “Trophy Wife”
CBS — “Bad Teacher,” “The Crazy Ones,” “Friends with Better Lives,” “Hostages,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Intelligence” and “We Are Men”
CW — “The Carrie Diaries,” “Nikita,” “Star-Crossed” and “The Tomorrow People”
Fox — “Almost Human,” “American Dad” (which is moving to TBS), “Dads,” “Enlisted,” “Raising Hope,” “Rake,” “Surviving Jack” and “The X Factor”
NBC — “Welcome to the Family,” “The Michael J. Fox Show,” “Ironside,” “Sean Saves the World,” “Dracula,” “Community,” “Believe,” “Crisis,” “Revolution” and “Growing Up Fisher”
Interview: Elizabeth Perkins on How to Live with Your Parents, and Living with Diabetes
Celebrity Extra: First off, I have to tell you how much I love your new show, and especially your character, Elaine.
Elizabeth Perkins: I seem to really score good roles. I have to be honest: There’s nothing ordinary about Elaine, and I love it. I don’t take ordinary roles. I sort of gravitate toward the odd ducks, and she’s definitely an odd duck. It was really nice to do this after being on "Weeds" for as long as I was, and playing the character I did, because she was so mad and dark and angry and bitter, which was fun, but Elaine is just filled with positive energy and life. For her, the glass is always half-full. There’s always a positive outcome to everything, and she’s completely nuts — and it’s wonderful. I’m having a ball. She doesn’t sensor anything she feels or says. She puts her foot in her mouth, and she’s completely unaware that she has. That’s been a real treat for me.
CE: Like the scene where you're all eating dinner, and she tells the family what part of a male's anatomy tastes good with peanut butter on it?
EP: Yeah, and she doesn’t even think about the fact that her granddaughter is sitting right there. We already filmed all 13 episodes, and we had a lot of fun. I’m just crazy about Brad Garrett, who plays my husband. He and I work together so well. Sarah Chalke, who plays my daughter, it was one of those times where — usually when you do a show, there’s always one person that you kind of go, “Oh God, that’s the one.” And we didn’t have “the one.” We just had a great group of people, and it’s so rare that that happens. Everybody was really positive and really likes the show and was having a really good time. The time just flew by, and that’s very rare. Hopefully it transfers onto the screen.
CE: I've always loved Sarah Chalke's comedic work, especially in "Roseanne" and "Scrubs."
EP: I know; I just love Sarah. She’s such a kind person. She’s very much like her character, Polly. We just get along great as mother and daughter. I’m a little bit too young to play her mother, but we sort of covered that in the show by saying I had her when I was a teenager, which would make sense. It’s just television, so I guess you can get away with it.
CE: What do you like about the show; what sets it apart from other comedies?
EP: What I love about this show is you’ve got three generations of people living in the same household, mostly because of the economy, which is happening all over the country. Children are moving back in with their parents because they can’t afford to live on their own. And what I love about that is it’s wacky in the way that real life is wacky. So many things happen in real life where you say, “Oh God, if you saw that on TV, you’d think ‘That could never happen.’” But it does happen. And it’s naturalistic. It’s not this big style of sitcom acting, which really bothers me too.
It’s funny in a character-y way without being so plot-driven. It’s more about the relationships of these people and what it’s like for the grandparents, the kids and their kids. Polly has a 6-year-old daughter, but she also has an ex-husband who’s always sniffing around, and he’s hysterical, played by the stand-up comedian John Dore. And it’s just very realistic and true to life, and it’s the situations that we find ourselves in that are funny, as opposed to setting up this whole big plot point.
CE: Off the top of your head, what's a funny situation on the show that really had you laughing?
EP: Well, there’s one episode where Brad Garrett accidentally eats something that has drugs in it, which has happened to a member of my family, not knowing that somebody had made a certain kind of brownie. We have a situation like that on one of our episodes, which is just hysterical to me. That’s what happens when you’ve got different generations in the house.
CE: On a personal note, you were diagnosed with diabetes only a few years ago. I know you are very active in getting the word out about diabetes, especially late-onset diabetes, like you had. What made you decide to become so active in promoting diabetes awareness?
EP: I was finally able to open up about it, starting with my family, and it was just a huge weight off my shoulders. Just being able to talk freely about it with the people closest to me really helped me to manage my own feelings about having it, and to learn to manage it better with that kind of support. Once I was able to do that, I realized how important it was to help educate other people.
What I love about this campaign is I’m partnering with Sanofi US on the Diabetes Co-Stars Campaign (diabetescostars.com). It raises awareness of diabetes and their co-stars, meaning, the people who help and support them on this journey, which can sometimes be really, really overwhelming. When I was first diagnosed, I learned pretty quickly that my husband — who I call my co-star — was vital in helping me to manage it successfully. It became a family effort, and it was a necessity for it to become a family effort. We had to learn to cook differently. I had to learn to exercise more, and to do the right kind of exercise. I have less stress.
I’m insulin-dependent. I had to learn how to manage insulin, to be aware of some of the few serious possible side effects. What I discovered was that it wasn’t something I could do alone. I really tried to do it. I’m a very strong woman and determined to do things on my own. Once I reached out and shared it with my co-workers and my friends, and said, “Hey, I’m struggling here,” I was able to manage it 10 times better.
That’s why joining the Sanofi US on the Diabetes Co-Stars Campaign was really important to me. We’re making a documentary, and we held a nationwide casting call to find other co-stars who are out there helping people with diabetes live better and manage their condition better. This is a celebration of those people. My husband is my co-star, and I’m very proud of him. He’s my best friend. There are 26,000,000 people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, and they need help. It’s not something you have to be doing on your own.
CE: Before your diagnosis, what made you realize something was wrong? What were you physically going through?
EP: Everybody’s symptoms are different; that’s the nature of diabetes. For me, I’d lost a lot of weight; I was fatigued; I was constantly thirsty; I was constantly hungry; I had blurry vision. For a long time, nobody could tell me what was wrong. I have Type 1 diabetes, which is sort of the lesser-known diabetes. It’s what they call Juvenile Diabetes, but I was late-onset, diagnosed in my mid-40s.
They weren’t looking for diabetes. I’d always had fasting blood tests in the morning, so my numbers weren’t high. And it wasn’t until I went in for a late-afternoon blood test after I had eaten my lunch that I presented with very high blood-glucose numbers. So people should get regular blood tests to check for it, because there are close to 7,000,000 people, they estimate, who have undiagnosed diabetes. It’s a silent killer. If you don’t feel well, get a blood test. Like now I think, why didn’t I check for diabetes first, but a lot of doctors will say, “Oh it doesn’t run in your family.” It doesn’t run in mine either. So, it’s something to watch out for, particularly right now with the kind of numbers we’re seeing.
CE: Of course, you want to raise awareness with your campaign and the website (diabetescostars.com); what else do you hope to accomplish?
EP: Well, I think to raise awareness about the amount of numbers we’re seeing of people coming down with diabetes and to educate people about the power of support. Maybe you educate others about diabetes. Or you support a family member or friend who has diabetes. Or you’re living with diabetes and want to thank someone for helping you stay active. For me, the documentary is really about what it’s like living with diabetes, the power of support, and how that can really change your life. It’s not something that you have to be in alone. It’s amazing how many people will reach out once you open that door. Once you say, “I have diabetes, and these are my struggles,” it’s amazing how many people it can touch. That’s really why I became involved.
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 Sept. 17
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| Adam Ant (photo by Hannah Domogala) |
A: Adam does indeed have a new album, “Adam Ant Is the Blueblack Hussar in Marrying the Gunner’s Daughter,” which is due to hit stores this January. For ardent fans like us, though, the big news is that he is touring the U.S. for the first time in 17 years. (Go to adam-ant.net to see when he’s playing near you.)
I spoke with Adam recently, and he is thrilled to play for American audiences again — this time, on HIS terms: “I think 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 working on someone else’s terms, and you don’t enjoy it as much as you should. And you become exhausted, which sort of happened to me. But now I find I really appreciate the fact that there’s the opportunity to do it under my own terms. I do what is right for me and my work. You just want to do a great show and get that high off the audience. Fortunately, that’s the way (the tour’s) been going. But I just go for it. I don’t even think about it; I just get out there and do it.”
For a rare look into the musical genius, check back here later this week to read my full interview with Adam, where he talks about his past successes, his new album, his love of Katy Perry and Pink, and his friendship with Michael Jackson.
Q: I was wondering if the “John Carter” movie you mentioned this spring is based on the science-fiction books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I hope so, because I’ve read them all and believe they could be made into a great series of sci-fi movies. — Paul R., Marion, Indiana
A: The March release of Disney’s “John Carter” is indeed based on Burroughs’ Barsoom book series, which were published in various magazines as a serial from 1912 to 1943. Because of their popularity, they were then published as their own book series from 1917 to 1964. The film, however, didn’t prove to be quite so popular. It was received with mixed reviews and a dismal box-office take. The film was originally planned to be a trilogy, but that plan is on hold because of the film’s poor reception by moviegoers. “John Carter” is available on DVD and Bluray, so you can see for yourself whether it deserves a sequel.
Q: What was Emily VanCamp in before she was on “Revenge”? I recognized her as soon as I saw her, but I cannot remember from what! — Iris V., Suffolk, Va. A: The gorgeous Canadian actress has been in the business since she was 13, making her debut on Nickelodeon’s “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” But before “Revenge,” she was best known for her role on “Everwood,” where she played Amy Abbott. She also had a co-starring role from 2007-2010, playing Rebecca Harper, who initially was thought to be William Walker’s (Tom Skerritt) daughter with longtime mistress Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig). Take note that the second season of “Revenge” begins Sept. 30 on ABC on its new night and time, Sundays at 9/8c.
Q: I am a die-hard “Young and the Restless” fan. I have a question about the actress who plays Katherine Chancellor in the series. I heard that she has sons who are also actors. Could it be the Baldwins? — Janet C., Battle Creek, Mich.
A: Jeanne Cooper, who’s played matriarch Katherine Chancellor on the series since 1973, does indeed have children (two sons, one daughter) who are actors: Corbin, Collin and Caren. The eldest is Corbin Bernsen, who is best known for playing Arnold Becker on “L.A. Law” and Roger Dorn in “Major League.” He plays the recurring role of Father Todd Williams on his mom’s show, and he also is a series regular on the USA’s “Psych.”
Q: When will Syfy’s “Merlin” be back for its fifth season? Please tell me it has not been canceled — Gregory D., via e-mail
A: The British sci-fi/fantasy series will indeed be back for a fifth season, which will consist of 13 all-new episodes. The series began filming in Wales and in France this spring, and if all follows according to previous seasons’ trends, season five should premiere in the U.K. in December, and in the U.S. in late spring/early summer (although no official dates have been released yet).
Q and A: Week of May 14
Q: My husband said he read somewhere that Breckin Meyer is leaving “Franklin & Bash” because he has a new comedy on TBS. Please tell me that isn’t true. — Kellie K., via e-mailA: The only part that is true is that Breckin does indeed have a new comedy called “Men at Work” on TBS, which premieres Thursday, May 25, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The multicamera comedy, which Breckin created, writes and executive produces, stars Danny Masterson, James Lesure, Michael Cassidy and Adam Busch. Breckin told me a bit about his new show when we spoke the other day: “Honestly, it’s a show based on my life and the embarrassing relationships I’ve had. It’s about four guys who are all at different stages of their lives relationship-wise, and they have each other’s backs. It’s based on me and my friends.”
As for Breckin making a cameo, he played coy: “I don’t know — we’ll see. There might be an Alfred Hitchcock-like walkthrough. Hopefully we’ll have some better guest stars than just me.”
Speaking of guest stars, as “Franklin & Bash” gears up for its second season — premiering Tuesday, June 5, on TNT — Breckin revealed: “We have an unbelievable line of guest stars this season. Sean Astin plays a superhero. Seth Green and Eric Mabius come on as the ‘Bizarro’ Franklin and Bash. Cybill Shepherd guest-stars. And we actually get to meet Mark Paul Gosselaar’s mom this time around, who’s played by Jane Seymour.”
Check back next week for my full interview with Breckin about the new season of "Franklin & Bash" and his new show, "Men at Work."
Q: When will my favorite show, “Rookie Blue,” be returning for another season? Please say it hasn’t been canceled! — Olaf D., St. Paul, Minn.
A: “Rookie Blue” will indeed be back for its third season on Thursday, May 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. Now entering their third year on the job, our five rookie cops have learned to overcome the sophomore curse — knowing a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Having seen the premiere episode, I can tell you that it is indeed one that fans won’t want to miss!
Q: I love everything that the talented Sarah Chalke does. When will she get her own show? — Jason R., via e-mail
A: Sarah is slated to star in the new ABC comedy called “How to Live with Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life,” in which Brad Garrett and Elizabeth Perkins play the aforementioned parents. Sarah plays Polly, a recently divorced single mom who moves in with her eccentric parents, Elaine and Max. The show is set to premiere this fall.
Q: I am hooked on “Once Upon a Time.” Will it be back for a second season? — David T., St. Louis
A: While the official word will come from ABC tomorrow, you can bet the farm that the top-rated drama series, which has smashed viewing records each week, definitely will be back for another season.
Interview: Tony Goldwyn's Scandalous New Gig
In its bid to take over network-television dramas completely, a few weeks ago ABC debuted yet another new kick-ass series (joining the likes of "Revenge" and "GCB") called "Scandal," which airs Thursday nights at 10/9c. In case you are unfamiliar with the show, it centers on a "fixer" named Olivia Pope (played by the exquisite Kerry Washington), who has dedicated her life to protecting and defending the public images of the nation's elite and keeping those secrets under wraps. One of those elite just happens to be the President of the United States, Fitzgerald Grant, played by Tony Goldwyn. I recently had the chance to speak to the Prez about his latest role, one that was able to coax him back to series television. Celebrity Extra: "Scandal" is definitely at the top of my favorites list for new shows this year, and I can certainly understand why you'd want to be a member of this creative team. For you, what were some deciding factors that made you want to be a part of this show?
Tony Goldwyn: Well, a couple of things. Number one was Shonda Rhimes. I’d worked with Shonda as a director on "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Private Practice," and have so much admiration for her and know what great rich characters she writes, so that was number one. The second part was Kerry Washington, who is one of my favorite actresses. I think that she’s one of our best young film actresses, and every time I see Kerry in a movie, I am just knocked out by it, so that excited me a lot.
And turning down the President of the United States is difficult. That’s going to be an interesting character anyway, but particularly I knew that Shonda Rhimes writing a president, he’d be a pretty interesting president. Then there was the script, which just a great recipe for really good storytelling.
CE: You know it's going to be good with Shonda involved, and looking at "Grey's" and "Private Practice" ...
TG: Yeah, that’s the whole thing. I was constantly surprised in the best way as the scripts kept coming in. [The character of Fitz] just keeps getting better and better and better as these scripts go along, and more complicated and interesting. As an actor, I feel like these gifts keep being dropped in my lap. I’m really grateful to Shonda for involving me, because it’s just literally every episode, I can’t believe the stuff that I am getting to do. By the end of the season it gets really interesting. It’s just been a really, really exciting thing to be a part of.
CE: What do you like best about playing Fitz?
TG: Well, there are two things really. Fitz is a guy — for better or for worse — who leads with his heart, and in a very committed way he does that. Sometimes that gets him into terrible situations, but it ultimately gives him a sense of purpose, and I think maybe I’m biased, but a goodness because he leads really with his humanity. I think it’s what gives him great strength as a leader because he’s ultimately uncompromising in that way. Sometimes his heart gets him into real messes as well. But he’s an open-hearted man in a very dangerous world, and he has the courage to be that way. I find that a really admirable quality. All of his feelings admit it.
CE: And even though the president definitely has his faults, he's not a "bad guy," because he has redeeming qualities and you can see where he is coming from.
TG: I think that’s right. Maybe that’s why I love playing villains, because I like to find the humanity in villainous characters. Shonda has this ability to find actors who have an intuitive understanding of what lies beneath that actor, like what their potential and complexities are. You’ll see as you get to know the characters better that Shonda digs things out of actors that are just amazing. There are people that she’ll hire not knowing how much they are going to be in the series, and she’ll just sense something about them and start to write for that person, unearthing aspects that that actor has to offer that a lot of them have never seen before.
Shonda just has this instinct about people. It’s a beautiful thing as an actor to feel that you’re seen by a writer. That’s a very rare thing. I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced it. I’ve been cast in roles that I was very right for, but one of the great things about television is the writing continues constantly, so Shonda intuits things and then she writes to the show. So many decisions won’t be made until she sees what’s happening on screen, and then she’ll start to write to that. We were constantly surprised by where the show was going. Every week we had no idea what was going to happen, and neither did Shonda sometimes. I’d say, “What’s up with Amanda Tanner?” and she’s like, “I don’t know yet!” It was great.
CE: Speaking of casting, the chemistry between you and Kerry is just sizzling. I love Fitz and Olivia when they are in the same room together.
TG: It’s like it’s magical. As I mentioned, I have so much respect for Kerry as an actress — we knew each other socially and we’re both really involved politically, so we have always kind of hit it off personally. I just have tremendous respect for her on many different fronts, and she’s a stunningly beautiful woman. So, I don’t know, chemistry is such a funny thing. There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s either there or it’s not. Our acting styles seem to mesh, you know, our way of working, and I think we have a mutual respect for each other. Then there’s physical chemistry, which is something, like I said, you can’t manufacture. We find that we work really well together, and it’s easy to fall in love with her.
CE: And you really feel bad for Fitz, still being in love with Olivia, even though he's married and it's really not something he should be feeling.
TG: It’s impossible. It’s an impossible situation, and that’s what makes it great and that’s what people will have to see. One of the great things about it is Shonda puts us in extreme conflict with one another. So, you have those two opposite forces constantly battling each other, and there’s so much that happens. All Fitz wants to do is have Olivia talk to him and be able to have her see him and understand the truth of his situation, and her unwillingness to do that and the assumptions that she makes make it really, really difficult. That thing — that opposition and that undeniable kind of magnet that thing that they have together — just constantly plays out in different ways, and creates more and more problems.
CE: As we get into the home stretch of this first season, can you give me any hints or spoilers?
TG: I don’t want to give anything away but I can say that, in my opinion, every episode gets better than the last one. Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong. It gets really complicated. The last couple of episodes, particularly, just rock. They’re like a roller-coaster ride. It’s really fun.
Q and A: Week of March 26
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| Jim Caviezel as Reese; photo courtesy CBS |
A: Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel play Harold Finch and John Reese, respectively. Many will remember Michael, 57, from “Lost,” where he played Ben. He’s also made the rounds on the cops-and-lawyers shows like “The Practice,” “The X-Files,” “Without a Trace,” “Law and Order: SVU,” etc. Prior to “Person of Interest,” Jim, 43, was best known for playing Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” You can see Jim on the big screen later this year in “Savannah” and “Bliss!” and next year in “The Tomb” with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Q: I heard that there is going to be another singing-competition show airing this summer, I think on ABC? Can you tell me about it? — Clark F., via e-mail
A: “Duets” is the latest vocal-competition show to hit the small screen, and it is indeed airing on ABC. Currently looking for contestants (abc.com/casting), this show stars Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke, who will travel the country looking for undiscovered talent to be their proteges, as well as duet partners.
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| Virginia Williams |
A: I spoke with “Fairly Legal” co-star Virginia Williams, who plays Lauren Reed on the hit legal drama, and she gave me some spoilers.
“We get to see more facets of Lauren this year, which is great,” Virginia said. “We get to see her at home, for example. Everything still revolves around Reed & Reed, but we do see glimpses of Lauren at home: coming back from a jog, going on a date, having some sort of a life outside work. We get to see her with her hair down, literally and figuratively. She’s still quite guarded and protective and exacting and stylish and brilliant, but she’s a lot more comfortable with her position now.
“Last season was all about Lauren proving to everyone else that she was capable and that she wasn’t just a trophy wife,” she said. “She could get the job done and could lead the firm. This season we see that she not only is extremely capable, but the firm ends up being better off than it was even before Teddy died.”
Q: I still miss seeing Leah Remini on “The Talk.” Any chance she’ll return? — Hazel D., Akron, Ohio
A: Not if Sharon Osbourne has any say, and it appears she does. Leah told fans on Twitter that “Sharon thought me and Holly [Robinson Peete] were ‘ghetto’ (her words), we were not funny, awkward and didn’t know ourselves … She had us fired.”
Interview: Annie Potts Is a Good Christian B—
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| Annie Potts, photo by Bob D'Amico/ABC |
Celebrity Extra: I got to watch the press screener of "GCB" last summer when the network was promoting its new shows, and this show — along with ABC's "Revenge" — was my favorite of all the new series. Now, at long last, "GCB" is finally premiering. Has the wait been hell on you?
Annie Potts: I know! Well, I think that was as much agony as it was, it was a real compliment to us, because I think they’ve been saving us to put us in at just the right moment in time to ensure our success. I think that they think that we are great. They just have a lot of faith and hope in us.
CE: Plus, it's not like it's standard protocol to premiere new shows only in the fall. We now have summer premieres, spring premieres, etc., which really benefits the viewer with more choices. I love that!
AP: Me too. It's different now, like you said, especially with cable and stuff, with things coming out all the time. I just started watching HBO's "Luck," which is fantastic, and PBS's "Downton Abbey." It's so last century to let everything premier in the same two weeks in September. It's nuts! It’s like the old-style warfare, where it’s like "Charge!" and the first 400 people in line are going to be massacred. There’s a better way to plan this. So, we think it’s a better mousetrap and hopefully will be a big success.
CE: After seeing the show, I cannot picture anyone else in the role of Gigi than you — it seems tailor-made for you and your talents.
AP: Thank you. I appreciate it. I felt the same way when I read it. It was like, “Oh, this is so my role.” Oh come on. Come on. Bobby Harling is an old friend of mine who wrote it — not that he wrote for me. I don’t mean to suggest that. He and I kind of came up around the same people, and he had, I think from the start, enormous confidence that I was going to be able to pull off Gigi in a way that was aligned with his vision of her. It has been really fun.
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| "GCB" stars Miriam Shor as Cricket Caruth-Reilly, Mark Deklin as Blake Reilly, Jennifer Aspen as Sharon Peacham, Leslie Bibb as Amanda Vaughn, Annie Potts as Gigi Stopper, Brad Beyer as Zack Peacham, David James Elliott as Ripp Cockburn, Kristin Chenoweth as Carlene Cockburn and Marisol Nichols as Heather Cruz. (ABC/BOB D'AMICO) |
AP: Well, that’s kind of come out in the doing of her. I’m a mother myself, and sometimes mothers get a bad rap just because they’ve tried to do their job. Some people have more of a knack for it than others do, but almost all of it falls to, “My mother’s suffocating me.” Whatever. Its like: “Buck up. I’m the one who wiped your behind and put your meals on the table so I’m going to have a say about your life. Accept it.”
CE: What do you like about Gigi, and how do you relate to her as a mom?
AP: I love her great zest for life. She’s been alone for 18 years. But she hasn’t felt sorry for herself. Bobby Harling specializes in writing women who have tremendous depth — I mean, he is the "Steel Magnolias" guy! Gigi just has a real knack for life.
I have lovingly borrowed from book of Dixie Carter for this. If she were she still alive, the role would have been hers and should have been, but since she took the early leave I just decided to play it like her. I think that she would approve. Dixie was sensationally beautiful, religious, Republican, conservative and had two daughters whom she worshipped. She always had stockings on, and she was just immaculately groomed all the time. Even if I went over to her house early in the morning, she always looked good — and she was always in the pew on Sunday. I think that’s the way Gigi is.
CE: While "GCB" is hilarious and fun, hour-long escape, I do love that it talks about hypocrisy of certain people, especially those who claim to be Christian but then don't act very Christianly toward their neighbor.
AP: It’s a great format to talk about hypocrisy. It’s tailor-made for that. Just the idea of Texas is an iconic one all over the world. They think Texas is synonymous with America. We’re big, we’re garish; it’s a cock-of-the-walk kind of thing. Texas has always represented America.
Somebody was saying the other day that there was a migrant pygmy tribe in Africa that waited for its annual migration an extra two or three days so they could find out who shot J.R.
Of course, it’s always fun when the rich get made fun of. Most of us think, “If we just had money, everything would be great.” And this proves, well, maybe not. And that makes everybody feel better. And that’s what entertainment is supposed to be — this is just flat-out entertaining.
CE: What is it like working with all those great people you have on the show?
AP: Everybody on the show is so talented and so relatable, and of course Kristin Chenoweth is a national treasure. Kristin has turned me on to "Toddlers and Tiaras." I watch it for acting tips — I like the women’s devotion to their daughters. It’s going to come out later that my character has been someone who trained people for pageants. So I have watched that to just see what happens in that world. And now, I am devoted to "Toddlers and Tiaras."
My hairdresser the other day asked me, “Oh, have you seen 'Revenge'?” and I said, “I haven’t seen that yet.” And she said: “Honey, it’s like peanut butter. It’s delicious.” And I believe that our show will thought to be delicious too. But maybe something more on the lines of peach cobbler.
Q and A: Week of Nov. 14
Q: I really like “Prime Suspect,” especially the actor who plays Detective Blando. Can you tell me a little about him? He looks so familiar. — Gennifer F., Allentown, Pa.A: Tim Griffin, 42, has starred and guest-starred in countless TV series and big-screen movies, including “Party of Five,” “Charmed,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “24,” “Iron Man,” “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” and most recently, “Super 8″ and “Abduction.”
I spoke with Tim about his role in the American version of the British cop drama and asked if he had any qualms about trying to “remake” such a popular series. Tim told me: “It wasn’t really until we started doing the initial press work that I realized, ‘OK, this is a sacred institution,’ because I was a huge fan of the British series too. It’s almost like a trial by fire that you have to go through. Can it be envisioned, reimagined with an American voice?
“Our partners are the original producers of the original ‘Prime Suspect,’ Tim said. “So we have that entire cannon of scripts at our disposal, and we have Peter Berg as the executive producer and director. It’s like its own new animal.”
Q: I am loving the new fall season so far — lots of good shows and only a few stinkers in the bunch. Which shows are you digging so far? — Clyde R., via e-mail
A: In the drama category, far and away my favorite show has to be ABC’s “Revenge,” which has injected a much-needed shot of campy, soapy, sexy drama into my Wednesday nights. (If you are on Twitter, you can follow my live-tweeting feeds at twitter.com/celebrity_extra every Wednesday starting at 10 p.m. ET, where all of us “Revenge” fans whoop and holler together.) I haven’t had this much fun watching a nighttime drama — nor have I talked to the TV screen so much — since “Melrose Place.”
On the comedy side, it’s a tie between Zooey Deschanel’s “New Girl” on Fox and ABC’s “Suburgatory,” whose ensemble cast of Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines, Alan Tudyk and Ana Gasteyer has me wiping tears of laughter from my face every episode.
Q: I love watching “The Talk” every afternoon. What happened to two of the original hostesses, Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini? — Joanne M., Fairport, N.Y.
A: Holly’s and Leah’s contracts were not renewed by CBS after the first season. As of Sept. 6 and Oct. 23, respectively, CBS officially replaced them with Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler.
Q: I read somewhere that James Van Der Beek’s wife recently had another baby. Didn’t they just have a daughter? — Barb D., via e-mail
A: You are halfway correct, Barb. James and wife Kimberly have a daughter, Olivia, who recently turned 1, and are expecting their second child next year. James tweeted: “Just when we thought we couldn’t feel any more blessed, it seems the universe has plans to give our daughter a sibling.”
Q and A: Week of Oct. 24
Q: Who was the actor who played the younger Riggins brother on “Friday Night Lights”? What is he doing now? — Sherry R., via e-mailA: Taylor Kitsch played Tim Riggins, the troubled, womanizing former fullback/running back of the Dillon Panthers who turned himself in to police for running a chop shop with his brother, Billy. Since “FNL” ended, Taylor, 30, has been super busy. He stars in a handful of movies coming out soon and/or in production, including playing the title character in “John Carter”; Alex Hopper in “Battleship,” a feature-film adaption of the popular kids’ board game; and “Savages,” a crime drama directed by Oliver Stone.
Q: I was really getting into “The Playboy Club” when it was suddenly dropped from the TV schedule. Is it on hiatus, or has it been canceled? — George F., Harrisburg, Pa.
A: It would seem that NBC’s much-ballyhooed crime drama couldn’t hold an audience’s attention as well as the Playboy Bunnies themselves could back in the time this show was set (1961). On Oct. 3, NBC aired the third and final episode of “The Playboy Club” (with two episodes going unaired), making it the first casualty of the fall 2011 TV season. Series creator Chad Hodge and Playboy Enterprises CCO Hugh Hefner are hoping to sell the series to Bravo, where it will air all five episodes and hopefully be called upon to make more.
If you’re keeping score, NBC’s “Free Agents,” starring Hank Azaria, was canceled soon after “Playboy.” As of Oct. 14, ABC's “Charlie’s Angels” has been canceled, along with the CW's "H8R."
Q: Can you tell me if two of my favorite comedies, IFC’s “Portlandia” and “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” with be back for new seasons? Please say yes! — Jennifer G., via e-mail
A: Yes, both show will be back for their respective second season on IFC this January. Regarding “Portlandia,” stars Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel will be back, along with a slew of new characters and notable guest stars. And “Todd Margaret” will feature the return of David Cross, Will Arnett (who will be pulling double-duty, since his NBC show “Up All Night” has been picked up for a full season), Sharon Horgan and Blake Harrison, with Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”) making a guest-starring appearance.
Q: “Drop Dead Diva” just finished up the season, and the ending gives the impression that it’s over. Will it be returning? — Joan D., via e-mail
A: Don’t you worry. Nancy Dubuc, president and general manager of Lifetime Networks, announced recently that “DDD” would be back for a 13-episode fourth season in summer 2012, stating: “‘Drop Dead Diva’ is a signature series for Lifetime that continues to resonate with audiences with its heart and humor. We are thrilled to bring it back for another season.”
ABC Cancels AMC and OLTL
The network also announced the shows' replacements, which will be The Chew and The Revolution, which are a show about food and a show about dieting.
(Read it all here.)
Interview: Joshua Moore on Growing Up With Desperate Housewives
Joshua Moore (pictured, left; photo credit: Nathaniel Taylor) has played Parker Scavo on “Desperate Housewives” since 2008, portraying one of Felicity Huffman and Doug Savant’s children in their ever-expanding brood. While he is thrilled to be working with the high caliber of stars to come and go on Wisteria Lane, Joshua’s first major role in Hollywood had him working with the legendary Clint Eastwood when he was cast as an abducted child in 2008’s “Changeling.”Celebrity Extra: One of your first roles was in “Changeling.” What was it like to be directed by Clint Eastwood?
Joshua Moore: It really was an amazing experience, because it was one of the first big film projects that I had a role in. And working with Clint Eastwood was just amazing, because he’s so laid back. He just runs the set and knows exactly how to get people to do what he wants. He’s an amazing director -- one of the best directors I’ve ever worked with. And at the same time, you’re just in awe of him because it’s Clint Eastwood!
CE: Speaking of being in awe, there have been some huge, high-profile guest stars on “Desperate Housewives.” Has there ever been a time when you’ve been nervous to work with someone?
JM: I’m never usually nervous working with somebody, but my mom -- it’s really funny, but John Schneider just came on the show, and my mom used to watch “Dukes of Hazzard” religiously, so she freaked when he came on set. And when I heard Vanessa Williams was coming on the show, I was really excited, because I’m always impressed by her work.
CE: How is she to work with?
JM: She’s just great to work with. She’s one of the coolest people on set. I think she’s a really good actress, and she’s great in her role. She’s just a very cool person to talk to and hang out with.
CE: Of course things are never quiet on “Desperate Housewives.” What have been some of the crazier experiences for your character?
JM: Well, one of the crazier things that happened was when we were all on the street for the Christmas community street meeting, and they wrecked the plane through the street. That was probably one of the largest-scale crazy things that my character was involved in. What they actually did was they attached the plane to a rope, and they just pulled it through really fast. It was really cool to get to see them demolish the set like that.
CE: You work very closely with Felicity Huffman — she must be a wealth of information for you regarding acting and technique and such.
JM: You can learn a lot just by watching, but do I ask for help from her. She’s one of the most helpful people I’ve ever worked with, just in terms of giving advice or just helping you along to where you need to be with the scene. She’s amazing to work with.
CE: What are some of your favorite moments on the set, whether acting-wise or personal?
JM: Aside from the plane crash, I would say when we have a church scene. Whenever anybody gets married and everybody has to go down to that church, the whole cast goes. It’s always cool, because everybody is just hanging out and having fun.
CE: Do you have any hopes for the direction Parker will take? Do you have an ideal story line?
JM: I don’t have an ideal story line. Any story line is good as long as you’re a main part of the story line. That’s all that really matters, no matter what the content is. I’m just hoping that he gets some more forefront, focus parts where he’s a big part of the situation.
CE: I think in a couple of years he should start dating Susan (played by Teri Hatcher) to shake things up a bit.
JM: That’s not even that farfetched for “Desperate Housewives,” I’m sure.
Q and A: Week of Nov. 8
Q: I think I’ve missed a couple of episodes of “Lone Star” on Fox. Is it coming back on? — Mike M., Newark, OhioQ: I fell in love with the ABC summer series “The Gates.” Do you have any idea if it will be brought back, maybe as a midseason replacement? I really need to know what happens! — Karen D. in Virginia
A: “Lone Star” was the first casualty of the fall 2010 season. Despite rave reviews and being the critics’ darling, low ratings forced Fox to pull the series after only two episodes.
And the same fate seems to have befallen the summer series “The Gates” (which was one of my favorite shows of the year) and “Scoundrels.” On Oct. 15, “The Gates” star Frank Grillo (pictured) tweeted: “Don’t shoot the messenger … “The Gates” is officially canceled. I knew my source was right. Thanks to all of you for supporting us.”
As of this writing, ABC’s “My Generation” and NBC’s “Outlaw” (starring Jimmy Smits) also are kaput. One the cusp of cancellation — however, they still could be saved — are “Undercovers” and “Running Wilde.”
Q: Last season on “The Mentalist,” there was an actor on one of the episodes playing the role of a billionaire who really resembles Kevin Spacey. Who is he, and what else can I see him in? — Jay F., via e-mail
A: You’re thinking of 43-year-old Canadian actor Currie Graham. Most recently he co-starred with Jaime Pressly in “Smoke Screen,” a made-for-TV movie based on the Sandra Brown novel. The movie premieres Sunday night, Nov. 21, on the Lifetime Movie Network.
Q: Sean Murray of “NCIS” sure has lost a lot of weight. Is he ill or on some sort of a diet? — Mrs. G., Venice, Fla.
A: Sean, who turns 33 on Nov. 15, explained via his Twitter account that his weight loss came from “14 months of no alcohol and almost no sugar. Ate strictly organic. … You can actually see me gradually lose the weight over the 24 (episodes) of Season 7; a pound every week or two.”
Q: I enjoy watching classic black-and-white movies on television. What does “RKO” stand for in the RKO Pictures logo? — Tashi G., Dearborn, Mich.
A: RKO stands for “Radio-Keith-Orpheum.” RKO was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) theater chains brought together under the control of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) back in 1928.
READERS: A few weeks back, a reader asked when TNT’s “Men of a Certain Age” would be back for its second season, and I answered that it would be Nov. 29. The network has since pushed that date back to Monday, Dec. 6, so re-mark your calendars!
Q and A: Week of Oct. 18
Q: I love Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.” Has it been renewed for another season? — Kelli J., St. LouisA: I’m happy to report that the unique comedy/drama starring the delightfully talented Brooke Elliott (pictured left) has been renewed for its third season, which is set to premiere its 13 new episodes in 2011.
Q: I really got sucked into “The Gates” this summer, and I was wondering if it will be back for a second season. With all the shows these days that have vampires and werewolves and the like, this one is truly unique, exciting and suspenseful. — Theodore F., via e-mail
A: I have to agree with you — I absolutely love “The Gates.” An ABC representative told me that there is no official word yet as to the show’s fate (as of this writing). I’m hoping it doesn’t go the way of “FlashForward,” another excellent ABC series that was canceled back in May. I just hate to get interested and invested in a series, only to have the rug pulled out from under me when it gets canceled because the network didn’t give it enough of a chance. This need for immediate ratings results really doesn’t do anything to help nourish and grow a new series.
Q: One show I am delighted to watch again is “Lou Grant,” a spin-off from the old “Mary Tyler Moore Show.” I am enjoying it again but wondered about the actors and what became of them. I know Ed Asner is still active and that Nancy Marchand passed away a few years ago. But what about some of the others? –Dorothy P., via e-mail
A: Linda Kelsey has guest-starred in many TV shows and movies, including “Day by Day,” “Matlock,” “ER” and “Touched By An Angel.” Most recently she co-starred in “Into Temptation” with Jeremy Sisto, Kristin Chenowith and Brian Baumgartner. Robert Walden has been steadily working since “Lou Grant,” starring in “Brothers” and guest-starring on “Melrose Place,” “Judging Amy,” “The West Wing” and “Law and Order: SVU,” among others. Daryl Anderson has done a myriad of different projects, from soaps (”Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and The Restless”) to TV series (”Flipper” and “The A-Team”) to movies (”The Kid” with Bruce Willis and “Human Nature” with Tim Robbins).
Q: The other day when I was listening to the radio, and old favorite song of mine, “If You Leave” by OMD, came on the radio. It made me wonder what the band was doing now and if they’ll be putting out any new material. — Michael D., West Palm Beach, Fla.
A: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD, just released “History of Modern,” its first album of new material in 14 years. I’ve heard a few tracks from the album, and I have to say that it is excellent. The 14-track CD is available in stores and online at omd.com.
Jon Huertas: "Nathan Fillion Is Our Spanky"
Jon Huertas is one busy man. Aside from his busy schedule as Det. Javier Esposito on ABC's hit crime drama Castle, he is also quite a presence in Twitter-verse. He is auctioning himself off, so to speak, for TwitChange, the charity that is "changing the world, one tweet at a time." You can find Jon's auction here, where if you win the auction, Jon will follow you on Twitter, retweet at least one of your tweets to his followers and last, but certainly not least, he will invite the winner to the Castle set as his personal guest. His auction, along with the auctions of hundreds of other celebs, ends Sept. 25, so get on over there and help make a change!In the meantime, I had the chance to catch up with Jon and tried to get him to spill some details on the upcoming season of Castle, which returns for its third season Monday night, Sept. 20, 10/9c.
Celebrity Extra: You are most well known for your present role of Det. Esposito on Castle, although I know you've had other great roles previously. How did the role of Esposito come about for you?
Jon Huertas: I was in Africa for about eight months shooting that HBO miniseries Generation Kill, and I had just finished that. That was the first time I had played a character who was more like me. We were so much alike, me and my character in Generation Kill, that I wanted to do more of that. I wanted to be able to bring my own experiences in life to a role. Javier Esposito is kind of like a blank canvas. I went in and had my own take on it. Andrew Marlowe, the creator of Castle, responded to that. I was allowed to help create the character of Esposito, help create his back story. Javier has a formal military background. It was really an amazing process that a lot of actors don’t get to experience. I thought it was just an opportunity to be an artist in this industry as an actor.
CE: For me, the writing for Castle is just some of the best in the industry today, with each character being just as important as the "lead" characters.
JH: Oh absolutely. I’ve never been on a show that had such tremendous writing. I think Andrew came from the world of feature films, and in the features world you flesh out and develop characters, and you have only two hours to tell a story. In television, you have a ton of time to develop and play with characters. I think that’s Andrew’s whole vibe. I think he hires writers who kind of have the same mind-set. That’s why I think a lot of people fall in love with all of the characters of the show.
CE: One of my favorite episodes of last season was the one that focused on Esposito and his former partner, whom he thought was dead. You must have been excited when you got the script and saw the meaty part you had in it.
JH: Yes, definitely. When I read that script, people had been throwing hints at me on previous episodes: You’ve got a great script coming up; you’ve got a great script coming up. When I read it, I was just like, “Wow.” Will Beall, the writer who wrote that episode, is actually a former homicide detective. He and I have a lot in common. Me being former military; him being a former homicide detective. We kind of have the regiment — like it’s a regiment of life you have to live by, so we have that in common. We’ve always kind of bonded, and I think he really got me and got my character, and it was such a great experience to just be able to go a little deeper. I got to go a lot deeper in that episode.
CE: Aside from a lot of the serious subject matter of the show, you guys look like you have a lot of fun on the set.
JH: We have fun all the time. We’re like a bunch of kids who have been given the greatest gift in the world, and that’s basically recess and playtime all day long. We take advantage of it. Nathan and I and Seamus really, I think, we’re the three who are the biggest kids on set, and each kid is different, of course. We laugh so much on set, and we get along so well with the crew. The crew is also an amazing crew, and I think it’s because when we did the pilot, we all came together — the actors, producers Rob Bowman, Andrew Marlowe — and we said, "Let’s establish a no-asshole policy on the set." So nobody can be an asshole on the set. If they are, they get called on it and are told they better stop or they’re hitting the road, so nobody’s ever an asshole. Why wouldn’t you want to keep working on Castle?
CE: When I spoke with Nathan last year, he said that you and Seamus were his Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. What would you call Nathan?
J: Let me think. That’s funny, Nathan. I think I would call Nathan our Spanky from The Little Rascals. Yes — Nathan, he’s our Spanky.
CE: Give me a little tease; what can we expect for season 3?
JH: Well, for season 3 you can expect, from my character in particular, I’m going to have a little bit of an on-screen romance with another member of the cast, female member. A lot of people, I think, have been rooting for that. I’ve been told this happens for sure. Also, for the first episode, there’s a big surprise. Our first suspect in the murder that we are investigating, our first suspect surprises everybody. Other than that I think you are going to see a lot more fleshing out of the satellite characters — Seamus’ character, my character, Tamala’s character. There’s going to be a lot more of that.
CE: Can you tell me a bit about the charity you are involved with, Puppies Behind Bars?
JH: Puppies Behind Bars, I sit on the Board of Directors for that charity. It’s a charity that we train puppies from the age of six weeks to 18 months behind bars, in prison. Our inmates who are in this program, I think, are the best-trained dog trainers in the world. We have dog trainers who are world-renowned dog trainers who go into the prison and teach these guys how to train puppies. We give the puppies to servicemen who have suffered from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, even physical injury. These animals are amazing. They not only rehabilitate the veterans who get these dogs and help them through life on a daily basis, they also rehabilitate the inmates who are training them. These inmates now feel like they have purpose; they have a reason to be. They’ve been taken away from society for so long that they are finally able to give back to society.
DWTS Lineup Announced
Here is the cast for the new season of Dancing With the Stars, which begins Monday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m.:
We have: singer/songwriter Michael Bolton (not pictured), R-and-B singer/actress Brandy, comedian Margaret Cho, ex-Laker Rick Fox, actress Jennifer Grey, actor/singer David Hasselhoff, actress Florence Henderson, Kyle Massey of the Disney Channel’s Cory in the House, former first daughter of Alaska Brisol Palin, The Hills star Audrina Partridge, reality-show star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (not pictured) and ex-quarterback Kurt Warner.
Given that Jennifer Grey had an excellent dance teacher back in 1987 (the late Patrick Swayze for Dirty Dancing), she might have a leg up on the competition. Of the men, my money is on the Hoff.
Jennifer Aniston to Guest-Star on Cougar Town
(from the Associated Press)Jennifer Aniston will pay a visit to old "friend" Courteney Cox on the season debut of ABC's Cougar Town next month.
ABC said Monday that Aniston will portray a therapist who is being seen by Cox's character. It's a one-episode visit, scheduled for Sept. 22.
The two actresses starred for many years on NBC's Friends.
Q and A: Week of August 9
Q: Can you tell me if Timothy Hutton (pictured left, photo credit Darren Michaels, TNT) is the son of Jim Hutton of the “Ellery Queen” TV mystery series of old? — Rae S., via e-mailA: Film and television star Jim Hutton is indeed the father of “Leverage” star Timothy Hutton. Jim gained fame on projects such as “The Green Berets,” “Hellfighters,” “Walk, Don’t Run” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” In 1975, Jim landed the role he is perhaps best-known for, that of the titular character in “Ellery Queen.” He passed away of liver cancer in 1979 at the age of 45.
Q: I just finished reading the book “One Day” by David Nicholls and absolutely loved it. Is it being made into a movie? — Darla E., via e-mail
A: I loved the book as well and am happy to report that the movie adaptation is currently filming in England. Anne Hathaway stars as Emma, and Jim Sturgess is Dexter. The film will follow the story of Dex and Em, two university classmates who meet on graduation night in 1988, and fall in and out of each other’s life over the next two decades. In a clever storytelling convention, each chapter lets the reader explore the protagonists’ lives on July 15 of each year, beginning on that fateful day after graduation.
Q: Dustin Hoffman has always been one of my favorite actors. What does he have coming up? — Julie F., Denver
A: HBO landed the award-winning actor for its new series, “Luck,” which is about the horse-racing world: the owners, jockeys and gamblers. Filming begins this fall, and the show co-stars Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte. The pilot episode will be directed by Michael Mann, of “Miami Vice,” “Heat” and “Public Enemies” fame.
Q: I have a question that I have been wondering about for two years. Why was “Boston Legal” canceled? I have heard it was due to low ratings, which I have a hard time believing since so many people watched and enjoyed it. I have to wonder if some of the storylines were too controversial and ruffled some feathers? – Monnie F., via e-mail
A: Writer and creator David E. Kelley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in December 2008: “ABC didn’t want us back. We had to fight to get back on with 13 [episodes]. It’s not a product they care to market. Five years into the show, if anyone has ever seen the show at ABC, they’ve yet to bring it to my attention,” he said.
David speculated the lack of promotion had to do with the fact that 20th Century Fox produced the show, not ABC itself, so ABC didn’t share in the profits. “Even though our numbers are solid, not huge, I think the conventional wisdom at ABC, and I don’t know this, but I’m guessing they continue to believe they can develop their own product and get that [rating] number, and then also share in the profits.”
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