Showing posts with label Castle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Castle. Show all posts
Interview: Marshall Hilliard Gets to the Hart of the Matter
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| Marshall Hilliard |
Celebrity Extra: How did you get your start in acting? Was it something that you had always wanted to do?
Marshall Hilliard: I realize now that I’ve always wanted to be an actor, because I used to play — you know, when kids play, they normally play what they want to do, and we would always do acting. We’d do plays and stuff in the tree house, and we’d create dramatic events. I knew I wanted to be an actor at that point. At 19 I moved to New York and lived there for almost a year. I did some off-Broadway theater, got signed with Elite and modeled. And then they sent me to Chicago from ’87 to ’88. And then in January ’88, I moved to L.A., and that’s where everything started happening. So, I went from Elite New York to Elite Chicago, and then I came out here and I just started acting.
I was a co-host on Fox Television’s “Malibu Beach Party.” I did a couple of movies for USA Network, but soaps are where I’ve always wanted to be. And I know that sounds weird, but I used to watch “Guiding Light.” I used to watch “The Young and the Restless,” and I used to envision myself being a soap-opera actor. I know that sounds strange, because most people see themselves as a big, huge movie star. But I think I knew where I wanted to be.
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| Marshall as Hart |
MH: It’s ironic how I got the part in the first place: I campaigned for it myself. I don’t know if you knew that. They were screen-testing guys, so I kept trying to squeeze in for an audition. Betty Rea, the casting director at the time, evidently didn’t see what I thought I had. So I called up production, and I said, “I heard you guys have screen-tested four or five groups already, and you haven’t found anybody you want.” And he said, “It’s true.” And I said: “Will you please fax me the script? I’ll memorize it tonight, and I’ll get my friend to film me, and I’ll overnight it to you for tomorrow morning. Will that be OK?” And they said, “Sure.” So (casting director) Melanie Haseltine is watching my video, and the head writer walks by and says, “Let’s bring this to (producer) Michael Laibson.” So they brought the VHS to Michael, and he said, “Let’s screen-test the guy.” So, that’s how I got it. I negotiated the contract myself.
CE: For me, the heyday of “Guiding Light” was during the late ’80s and into the ’90s — what was it like being on the show during that time?
MH: Yeah, and I would say the heyday for all soaps was when Luke and Laura got married on “General Hospital.” About 30 million people watched that. It’s pretty crazy. But I think in the soaps in the ’90s, they were trying to make them a little more like prime time, which was nice. I really loved “Guiding Light.” I thought it was great. Being on the show in ’95 and ’96 was like a dream. It was really more than a dream; it was more than I could ask for.
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| Hart and Dina |
MH: Working with Michael was probably like how it would be to work with Drew Brees or Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers, because you knew he was going to be prepared. You knew that you had to be prepared. So, therefore, you’re going to have a great father/son scene. What I liked about him was his professionalism and his ability to really, really find this relationship at the priority of what he’d been waiting for for well over two years. He dug into it from day one. He was the captain, and he made sure the ship was going to run smoothly.
CE: When you look back on your time there, what are some of your favorite story lines?
MH: Let’s see. I really only had a couple of story lines, which were finding out that Peter was my son with Bridget, having a relationship with my dad’s wife, and the third story line — which they pulled me out in the middle of — was gas-lighting Roger. I wasn’t crazy about that, because, in my opinion, knowing who Roger Thorpe was, it would be really hard to outsmart that guy. I wasn’t crazy about that. I’m not a writer, so I don’t give opinions on that. But my favorite story line was finding out that I had a son and my relationship with Peter. That was my favorite hands-down. That’s what I would rather do than seduce my father’s wife. I’d rather do that than gas-light my dad. I would rather just stick with really true, wonderful, loving nonvindictive stories.
CE: That was the time when Hart started becoming pretty bad, almost evil.
MH: That was another problem I had. It was like, Hart’s a good guy. How evil is he going to become? How bad is he going to become? That’s what I always wanted to know. And I didn’t like that. I didn’t want it, to be honest with you. I wanted Hart to be a good father. I wanted him to do the right thing. But they wanted him darker, and I wanted him nicer. Of course, what the fans want is more important than what I want or what the writers and producers want.
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| The arresting Officer Hilliard |
MH: Oh, I love it. It’s funny because I’ve arrested somebody in Salem, I’ve arrested somebody in Genoa City, and I’ve arrested somebody in Port Charles. You can’t outrun my long arm of the law.
CE: I started watching “Guiding Light” in the early ’80s, and I just had the biggest crush on Leonard Stabb and had always wondered how he’s been doing since his hang-gliding accident back in the early ’90s. (For more on Leonard's tragic accident, read this.)
MH: I know. I’m straight, and I’ll say it: He’s a good-looking dude. I look back and I’m like, “Holy crap. Just look at this dude.” I’ve been watching some of his episodes, and he had that cool and brooding thing down really good.
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| Leonard Stabb (circa 1990) |
MH: Yeah, and now we would know within a matter of seconds.
CE: Tell me about how you met Leonard and why you decided to help raise money for his ongoing medical care.
MH: When I got “Guiding Light,” I could never think about Hart without thinking of Leonard. Every time since when I would think about “Guiding Light,” I’d wonder how Leonard was doing. Every day I think about him. In April 2012, I met my now-publicist Mike Iannarelli, and the first thing he wanted to know was how Leonard was doing.
I told him I didn’t know, and he said that he knew Leonard was out in California. We decided to do some investigating. I called telephone operators for different area codes across California. On the last area code I was going to try, I asked if they had any Leonard Stabbs, and they told me they had 100. So I asked about a Leonard Stabb Jr., and they had one. Boom! That was it. So, I called his grandfather, his grandfather gave me the number, and I talked to Judy (his caretaker). I explained who I was and what I wanted to do, that I wanted to help raise money for Leonard.
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| Marshall (left) and Leonard (center) celebrate the California Tide's victory, 2012. |
When you’re in a hang-gliding accident, and your head hits a tree — wow. To be quite honest with you, we’re really lucky just to have him here with us and alive and healthy. And most important, he’s happy. You should see the smile on his face when he’s with my football team.
CE: So if people want to know more about Leonard and how they can help, where should they go?
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| Len Stabb with college friends, circa 1982 (picture courtesy Lynette Britt) |
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.
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 March 7
Q: I would like to know what my all-time favorite actress, the beautiful Jane Seymour, is doing nowadays. — Leann R., via e-mailA: If you are in the New York area, you can see the beautiful Brit in the flesh on March 26. She will have a booth at Artexpo New York, where she’ll be presenting her “Waves” theme. I spoke with Jane about her artwork, and she is always excited to share her love of art with her fans, especially her new theme, “Waves.”
“Life is kind of like a wave,” Seymour said. “You are on this body of water: You are moving forward, you go to school, you study, and you become the kind of person that you are going to be, and then at some point, this body of water has this moment of crescendo. The wave crashes. There are highs and lows in life, a lot like the wave. When it reaches a high, it continues to move. Like in life, moments don’t stay. They’re just part of a big cycle.”
Ms. Seymour also can be seen on the big screen in “Love, Wedding, Marriage” with James Brolin, Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz, as well as on the small screen in “Castle” (at the end of March). Regarding her “Castle” episode, Jane said: “It was really fun to do. It was just a couple of scenes but really fun — it’s a fun little character.”
Q: I absolutely loved Jeremy Irons’ guest-starring appearance on “Law and Order: SVU.” Any chance he’ll return? — Kylie F., Baton Rouge, La.
A: Your wish (and mine) has been granted. Jeremy has been tapped to return to “SVU” as Dr. Cap Jackson, where he’ll help Benson and Stabler with a case. In this case, a piano teacher (played against type by “V”‘s Elizabeth Mitchell) is suspected of sexually assaulting and murdering one of her students. The episode is scheduled to air March 30.
Q: When is “Damages” coming back, and on what station? — C.H., via e-mail
A: “Damages,” which originated on FX, has been picked up for two more seasons by DirecTV to air on the 101 Network (like the beloved “Friday Night Lights”). The legal drama starring Glenn Close, Ted Danson and Rose Byrne is set to return for season four in July 2011.
Q: “Fame” is one of my favorite shows. Are there any plans for it to be shown again on any of the many networks that now exist? — Jerry D., Ocean City, Md.
A: You’re in luck! Starting March 21, Ovation television (check your local cable/satellite provider for channel number) will be airing a “Fame”-athon, featuring 48 episodes of the landmark dance and music drama. Viewers also can win some cool prizes for watching. Register at www.ovationtv.com/Fame.” Then watch every night for two secret clues from each episode, and enter them on the website. The sweepstakes runs from March 21 to April 1.
Interview: Tamala Jones Keeps the Castle Boys in Line
Tamala Jones is best known to TV audiences as medical examiner Dr. Lanie Parish on ABC's "Castle." So, what's it like to be a part of a show that not only has one of the most talented and fun casts on television, but is also a huge hit with every category of television viewer? I spoke with Tamala recently and asked her just that. Celebrity Extra: First off, let's talk Twitter. Was it Nathan Fillion who got all of you to join, or how did that happen? Because all of a sudden, everybody from "Castle" is on Twitter now.
Tamala Jones: Well, Nathan, he is a gadget man. He is very computer savvy, and when we first started the show, he was like, “You guys need to be on Twitter.” And I think he was a member before "Castle" started, from all of his Sci-Fi things. So he had a bunch of fans already on Twitter, and he’s the one who actually told us about it. He got us tweeting, and we’re all addicted now.
CE: It is so much fun. Also, this season I am happy, as I’m sure you are, that Lanie has been getting more air time. Especially because it’s something the fans have wanted for some time, from what I’ve been reading. I guess the higher-ups were listening.
TJ: They listen to everything that they see on Twitter. They hear everyone’s voice. That’s the one thing that our producers definitely pay attention to — to Twitter, and e-mails they receive about what people want to see. I’m always grateful and thankful to people for writing in and expressing how much they wanted to see more of Lanie. Because they heard them and they made it happen.
CE: That’s really good to hear, because a lot of times the fans feel kind of helpless. Especially when a favorite show gets canceled, unannounced. That’s really good to hear that ABC’s "Castle" was listening like that.
TJ: Even with the whole Lanie and Esposito relationship. Jon (Huertas) started campaigning for this last season. He got all of the Twitter fans to join him and get this thing going. And the producers decided: “Okay, let’s do it. If it’s what they want to see, let’s give it to them.”
CE: I didn’t realize that was his campaigning that got it. I just thought the writers took you there, so you just went.
TJ: Honey, Jon has been campaigning for this every day for the past season. “Let’s get Lanie and Esposito together. It’s gonna work. I’m telling you.” He knew what he was doing, because it drove the fans crazy.
CE: Now, when you finally saw it on paper that they were finally acquiescing, what were your and Jon's reactions to it?
TJ: Well, Jon brought it to me, because he reads everything before anyone else does. So he turns to the page and goes, "Now look at this, Tam." I look and my eyes just roll up into the top of my head, like, “Okay, you got your wish.” I love Jon and it was nice to hear we were getting ready to do it, and he told me even before that: “I hope you’re working out. Cause we’re probably be going to have to take some shirts off.” And I’m like, “No boo-boo. You’re gonna have to take your shirt off, not me!” But, it worked both ways.
CE: He is really good at keeping a secret though because I interviewed him right before the beginning of the season and he hinted a little but he did not tell me. I could not pry it out of him. Speaking of clothes, because it’s nice that we get to see Lanie in something other than her lab coat. And this is kind of a very superficial question, but is that now more fun for you too because you’re not always in lab mode? Your character gets to have more of a personal life now.
TJ: I love that they are digging into Lanie’s background, her personal life. But me, as Tamala, I love wearing the lab coats because I’m a sweats girl. I love jeans so I’m like: “This is a great job! I get to come to work and comfortable.” But that’s something also that viewers wrote in about. “We want to see her outside of that. We want to see her get dressed up and go somewhere and do something.” That’s the one thing about our writers and producers: They really, really pay attention to and listen to what everybody wants. And they try to make good on it as best they can.
CE: What is the atmosphere on the set? You guys always look like you are having so much fun!
TJ: We’re always laughing on set because of Nathan, and the fact that we’re allowed to play a little bit more onscreen is even better. Nathan does so many things when he’s doing his takes. And you’ve got to hold it in; you can’t crack a smile.
CE: Another aspect of your character that I really like is she’s a medical examiner, but she’s a young vibrant woman, not like a stuffy middle-aged person that other shows often get as their medical examiner. She’s a smart cookie, but she’s young and sexy. What do you like about playing Lanie?
TJ: I love all of what you just said. I love that Lanie is young and vibrant and is smart, but she gives you the sass when she can. But for the most part, to bring down what exactly has gone on with the deceased that’s laying on her slab, she’s down to business. There’s no holding back in what she’s seeing, what she saw and identified on the outside.
And I love the fact that she’s young, because now there are young doctors out there. There are young medical examiners out there. I had food poisoning after New Years, and I had to go to the hospital, and you know, I’m very flirty. And the doctor came in, and he was young and he was cute, and I’m sitting there looking like I’m about to die. I say, “Oh, I thought you were going to be old and crusty, but you’re sexy.” And he said: “Well, thank you. And how are you feeling?” And it’s true. There are younger doctors out there. I look at Lanie as the female Doogie Howser.
CE: And I like her quick wit, especially with Castle. She puts him in his place, a lot.
TJ: And Nathan was the one who campaigned for that. He was like, “You need to get me sometime.” So he talked to the writers and enhanced that part of my character. Which I love him for doing that, because it really does work.
CE: Now, during all the filming, it must start to feel like boys day on the set, because there are so many guys there. How do you and Stana release your womanhood on them, so to speak?
TJ: Well, Stana and I are usually on our own side sitting in our own chairs talking about the latest fashion or who’s cute. Girlie stuff. Now we’re on this new water kick, so we’ve got our water-testing strips, and we’re testing which one has the highest potency, and we’re trying to stay hydrated and keep these guys hydrated. So we’re like the moms on the set, keeping the boys in line.
Q and A: Week of Feb. 7
Q: What can you tell me about my favorite new TV couple: Detective Esposito and Dr. Parrish on “Castle”? I’ve been wanting them together forever, and now that it’s happened, I can hardly believe it! — Suzie W., Conyers, Ga.A: Well, believe it, Suzie! The fans spoke, and the higher-ups actually listened! I chatted recently with Tamala Jones, who portrays the beautiful and slightly sassy medical examiner Dr. Lanie Parrish, and this is what she told me about how it all came about: “Jon (Huertas, Detective Esposito) started campaigning for this last season. He got all of the Twitter fans to join him and get this thing going. And the producers decided: ‘OK, let’s do it. If it’s what they want to see, let’s give it to them.’ That’s the one thing that our producers definitely pay attention to — Twitter and e-mails they receive about what people want to see.”
Q: Can you tell me if “Sanctuary” will be back on TV for another season? I really hope so, because it is one of the most original and interesting dramas on television today. — Jamie J., via e-mail
A: You’re in luck — Syfy has greenlighted a fourth season of “Sanctuary,” which is scheduled to begin production on a 13-episode season this spring in Vancouver, B.C., with an eye toward a fall 2011 premiere. “Sanctuary” follows brilliant scientist Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and her team, who use their unique combination of instinct, medicine and cutting-edge science to find and aid a clandestine population of beings that the world refuses to believe exists.
Q: Did Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have another baby? When did this happen? I’ve seen her at premieres and on awards shows, and she never looked pregnant to me! — Fred D., Tacoma, Wash.
A: Nicole has had a history of difficult pregnancies and miscarriages, so for this baby, the couple decided to use a gestational surrogate. This means that the egg came from Nicole and the sperm from Keith; however, they used a surrogate to carry the baby to term for them. Daughter Faith Margaret was born Dec. 28 in Nashville.
READERS: With the Academy Awards coming up, many readers are asking for my Oscar picks. I’ll give it a go, but let me warn you, I haven’t batted over .500 since the year “Titanic” swept the awards. Here are my main-category picks: Best Picture: “The Social Network”; Best Director: David Fincher (“The Social Network”); Best Actor: Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”); Best Actress: Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”); Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale (“The Fighter”); Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld (“True Grit”); and Best Animated Feature: “Toy Story 3.” Tune into the awards ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 27, to see how many I got right.
Soap Stars Storm the Castle Set
Corbin Bernsen (“The Young and the Restless,” “Psyche”), Rebecca Budig (“All My Children”), Cameron Mathison (“All My Children”) and Jane Seymour (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”) will guest star on “Castle” for a soap opera-themed storyline to air in March (date TBA). “Castle” airs Mondays (10:001-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
In the episode, entitled “One Life to Lose” (series star Nathan Fillion was on the daytime series “One Life to Live” as Joey Buchanan from 1994-1997 and on two episodes in 2007), a murder has been committed on the set of “Temptation Lane,” one of New York’s longest running soap operas. Sarah Cutler, the head writer on the soap, has been killed with a fire axe. Castle and Beckett quickly discover that the behind the scenes drama at “Temptation Lane” is just as scandalous as the fictitious storylines, and just about everyone would kill to get ahead. Ultimately, Castle’s unique skill set as a writer leads to a discovery about the killer and the secret he or she would do anything to protect.
Character teasers: Lance Buchanan (Bernsen), a rugged, self-assured, veteran actor on “Temptation Lane,” has a romantic history with Castle’s mother, Martha Rodgers; Mandy Bronson (Budig) is the young and gorgeous diva lead actress on the soap opera who is very aware of her sexuality and uses it to her advantage any chance she gets; Vince Bowers (Mathison) is the devastated husband of the victim, and as a director on “Temptation Lane” is very involved in the backstage drama; and Gloria Chambers (Seymour), the grieving mother of the murder victim, is revealed in a shocking twist to have a deep, dark secret that she’s desperate to keep.
In the episode, entitled “One Life to Lose” (series star Nathan Fillion was on the daytime series “One Life to Live” as Joey Buchanan from 1994-1997 and on two episodes in 2007), a murder has been committed on the set of “Temptation Lane,” one of New York’s longest running soap operas. Sarah Cutler, the head writer on the soap, has been killed with a fire axe. Castle and Beckett quickly discover that the behind the scenes drama at “Temptation Lane” is just as scandalous as the fictitious storylines, and just about everyone would kill to get ahead. Ultimately, Castle’s unique skill set as a writer leads to a discovery about the killer and the secret he or she would do anything to protect.
Character teasers: Lance Buchanan (Bernsen), a rugged, self-assured, veteran actor on “Temptation Lane,” has a romantic history with Castle’s mother, Martha Rodgers; Mandy Bronson (Budig) is the young and gorgeous diva lead actress on the soap opera who is very aware of her sexuality and uses it to her advantage any chance she gets; Vince Bowers (Mathison) is the devastated husband of the victim, and as a director on “Temptation Lane” is very involved in the backstage drama; and Gloria Chambers (Seymour), the grieving mother of the murder victim, is revealed in a shocking twist to have a deep, dark secret that she’s desperate to keep.
Q and A: Week of Dec. 27
Q: When will “Southland” be back? I was so happy when TNT picked it up from NBC, and have been eagerly awaiting its return. — George F., via e-mailA: The cutting-edge drama will be back on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 10 p.m. on TNT. Series star Benjamin McKenzie (pictured left; photo credit: Doug Hyun) gave me the scoop: “It’s going to be the same show you’ve seen before, it’s just going to be more focused on the four principle characters left: Ben, Lydia, Sammy and John. It’s a pretty aggressive show; this season it’s really going to double-down on the aggressiveness. It’s fast, hard-hitting and uncompromising.
“With my character and John, the dynamic has changed yet again. It’s more of a peer-to-peer relationship than it has been in the past. Although Ben will still mess up and John will criticize him brutally for it, he’s got a little more freedom to do a little more of his own work. The end of the season will mark the end of his probationary period.”
Q: I love the Syfy show “Merlin.” I haven’t seen new episodes on the schedule for a while, and I’m afraid it has been canceled. Please tell me it hasn’t! — Mark T. in Vermont
A: Don’t worry, Mark. The magical Syfy series will indeed be back for a third season beginning Friday, Jan. 7, at 10 p.m. Season three finds the young Merlin (played by Colin Morgan) in increasingly more dangerous and dark battles in his secret quest to protect Prince Arthur (Bradley James) in the fabled kingdom of Camelot, where magic is forbidden by King Uther (Anthony Head). They rejoin Morgana (Katie McGrath) — who has a dark destiny of her own — with Angel Coulby as her loyal maid Gwen, and Richard Wilson as wise court physician Gaius. John Hurt returns as the voice of the Great Dragon.
Q: Is Jillian Michaels really leaving “The Biggest Loser”? I can’t imagine the show without her! — Tawny D., via e-mail
A: Well, start imagining it, because Jillian is outta there. After this season, which begins Jan. 4, her contract is up, and she is leaving the show. Jillian explained her decision: “I want to take a year off TV and focus on becoming a mommy and doing more charity work. Shooting ‘Losing It’ also had a big impact on me. Living with kids, I saw firsthand what I was missing.”
Q: How is Vanessa Williams fitting in as the newest cast member of “Desperate Housewives”? — Sandi S., Lousiville, Ky.
A: Vanessa is doing great, at least according to co-star Joshua Moore, who plays Parker Scavo. When we spoke about the show’s return from winter break on Jan. 2, he told me: “She’s just great to work with. 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. She definitely has to flip that switch on to be mean (like her character, Renee).”
Q: I was so happy when I heard that Nancy O’Dell would be replacing Mary Hart as co-anchor on “Entertainment Tonight” when Mary retires in 2011. It will be nice to see Nancy’s lovely face on TV again! What is she up to in the meantime? — Jillian F., Fort Worth, TexasA: Nancy is thrilled by her latest career move. She told me: “It is such an honor (to be chosen to replace Mary Hart). Mary is such a TV icon. I remember watching it when it first debuted and thinking, ‘Oh my God, that would be such a cool show to work for.’ And here I am, working for it! It is very exciting.”
Nancy also has teamed up with Florida Orange Juice on a promotion to help make mornings special for families. She explained: “It’s so difficult for people to make their mornings meaningful with their families, as they are being pulled in so many directions. But all you need is 15 minutes, whether it’s over a glass of orange juice or over breakfast, to just sit down and talk with your family.” So Nancy is helping launch the Florida Orange Juice Morning Squeeze contest, with the grand prize being a family trip to Florida. To enter, go to www.FloridaJuice.com/Morning_Squeeze.php.
Q: Will “Army Wives” be back anytime soon for a new season? — William S., via e-mail
A: Rest assured, Lifetime Television’s perennial hit drama “Army Wives” will be back for a fifth season with 13 all-new episodes. “Army Wives” is Lifetime’s most successful series in the 26-year-history of the network, so I’d say the show has quite a bit of life left in it. It will be back in 2011, however the exact date has not been announced. If previous seasons are any indication, it should be back by late spring to early summer.
Q: I caught the tail end of what looked like a really good documentary on Animal Planet about men diving with Nile crocodiles. Can you tell me what it was called and when/if I can see it again? — Sam M., via e-mail
A: The show is called “Into the Dragon’s Lair,” which documents wildlife photographer Roger Horrocks and world-renowned underwater cameraman Didier Noiret as they travel to Botswana’s Okavango Delta to capture never-before-seen behaviors to help broaden the world’s scientific understanding of these fearsome creatures. It is definitely a don’t-miss show, and you can see it again Thursday night, Jan. 20.
Q: How much do reality-television stars, people like Kim Kardashian, make? — Frankie F., Washington, D.C.
A: It depends on the star’s popularity, as well as extracurricular activities, like perfume and clothing lines, books, etc. Kim, for instance, is the highest-paid reality star, raking in $6 million in 2010. Lauren Conrad is close behind, banking $5 million in 2010.
Q: I was so sad to hear that one of my favorite comedic actors, Leslie Nielsen, had passed away recently. Did he film anything before he died, to be released posthumously? — Jeff D., via e-mail
A: The great Leslie Nielsen, 84, who began his acting career back in 1950, passed away in November after a short battle with pneumonia. For his final movie, he voiced a character in the animated comedy “The Waterman Movie,” which is scheduled for release some time next year.
Q: What has happened to Rich Fields, the announcer for “The Price Is Right”? They keep having “guest” announcers. Will he return sometime soon? — Donna C. in New York
A: Rich Fields, 50, who came aboard “The Price Is Right” after the death of longtime announcer Rod Roddy in 2004, is no longer the announcer of the perennial game show. Before the start of the 2010 season, Rich was informed that the producers wanted to go a different way with the show, which included a new announcer with improvisation-comedy background. For now, the show is employing a series of guest announcers, but hopefully the producers will settle on one announcer soon, instead of continuing this game of announcer musical chairs. Currently, Rich is a part-time meteorologist in Los Angeles.
Q: Watching older movies with George Clooney, and comparing how he looked then with now, it looks like he has had a little tightening done to his face? Has he? To me, he seems like the last person on Earth who would undergo plastic surgery. — Hannah F., via e-mailA: Actually, the 49-year-old star confessed to Oprah Winfrey back in 2007 that he had had some excess skin under his eyes removed. As he said: “It’s important to look awake.” If you check out some before and after pictures online, you can see that the result is subtle and natural-looking, unlike some other pulled-tight celebs who shall remain nameless.
Q: Why did the ABC/Disney-produced “Legend of the Seeker” get canceled? There is a worldwide fan campaign (saveourseeker.com) that is working hard to get this beloved, high-fantasy show back for a third season. Have you heard anything about the show coming back? — Shirley T., Derby, Conn.
A: The Internet is exploding with campaigns to save the show, as well as some well-placed rumors that the show might not be finished. Back in October, “Seeker” stars Craig Parker and Bruce Spence hinted at the fan gathering RingCon 2010 that the show might not be over, yet. Bruce stated, “I know that a lot of people think it’s dead, but it’s not.”
While he might just be employing positive thinking, rumor has it that many alternative stations have been approached about picking up the show for its third season, including SyFy and BBC (both of which reportedly passed). For some fan-made videos, as well as other links to help save the show, check out craighorner.com (a fansite for the “Seeker” star).
Q: I really miss “Parks and Recreation” — it is by far my favorite comedy on TV, along with “The Office.” When will it return? I can’t take much more of “Outsourced.” — Samuel F., via e-mail
A: You will be happy to hear, as I was, that “Parks and Rec” (as many of us lovingly refer to it) will be back on NBC on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 9:30/8:30c after “The Office,” where it belongs. I also was getting a little nervous that the mediocre comedy, “Outsourced,” was going to usurp Leslie Knope and company from their rightful spot on must-see Thursday night TV. I am not sure what this means for “Outsourced,” but I don’t really care. It is difficult for me to get behind a show that makes light of a real problem in America nowadays: high unemployment and jobs being shipped overseas. Aside from that, it just ain’t funny!
Q: Last I heard, “V” was coming back to ABC in November, but November came and went, and no “V.” Please don’t tell me that it has been canceled. After the cancelation of “FlashForward” and “The Gates,” I don’t think I can take another early cancelation! — Theresa R., Baltimore
A: Don’t you worry, Theresa. “V” will make its highly anticipated season premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 9/8c. Season two will feature more character and lizard revelations, more details about the V’s mythology, as well as even more action and more plot twists. As my favorite new show of the 2009 season, I can’t wait to see what develops.
Q: I loved Laura Prepon on “October Road,” and was sad when it went off the air. Can you tell me what else I can see her in? — Danni J. in GeorgiaA: Laura, 30, has been busy since “October Road” was canceled in 2008. She guest-starred on “In Plain Sight,” “Medium,” “House M.D.” and “How I Met Your Mother.” In January, Laura plays Natalie Gray, the actress who portrays Nicki Heat in the movie adaptation of Richard Castle’s best-selling mystery book “Nicki Heat” on ABC’s “Castle.”
Q: I have loved all of the “Glee” cameos as of late, especially Britney Spears and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now I hear that Anne Hathaway might be on the show? Is that true? — Denny T., via e-mail
A: While there are no immediate plans for Anne Hathaway to guest-star on the popular Fox musical/comedy, if Anne gets her way, you just might see her walking down the halls of McKinley High. She recently revealed: “In my head, I’ve cast myself, and I know what song I’m going to sing! I would want to play Kurt’s long-lost aunt’s mother’s sister, who is also gay and comes back to help him deal with his sexuality, and I would sing ‘You Are Not Alone’ from Steven Sondheim’s epic show ‘Into the Woods.’”
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.
Q and A: Week of August 30
Q: I can’t tell you how excited I am that the fall shows are about to start up. Can you give me a little scoop as to what I can expect on my favorite show, “Castle”? — Drew D., via e-mailA: The ABC Monday night comedy/suspense/detective drama returns with a bang on Sept. 20. I spoke recently with Jon Huertas (pictured, left), who plays Detective Javier Esposito, and he gave me a sneak peek at Season Three.
“For my character in particular, I’m going to have a little bit of an onscreen romance with another member of the cast,” he said. “Also, for the first episode, there’s a big surprise. In the murder we are investigating, our first suspect surprises everybody. You also are going to see a lot more fleshing out of the satellite characters — my character, Det. Ryan and Dr. Lanie Parish — there’s going to be a lot more of that.”
Q: I know there is talk that Danny McBride could be coming to “The Office” to fill the void when Steve Carell leaves, and I think that’s a great idea, but I hope it won’t interfere with his hilarious HBO series, “Eastbound and Down.” When does Season Two start, and can you tell me anything about it? — Sam M., Miami
A: Ana de la Reguera, who co-starred with Jack Black in “Nacho Libre,” comes to the show as a series regular (when it returns on Sept. 26) as a lounge singer whom Kenny Powers meets in Mexico. Ana gave me the scoop: “After Kenny leaves April at the gas station, he basically disappears and wants to start over. He wants to go to a new world, so he goes to Mexico. He’s in a completely new culture. His weaknesses are much bigger. I’m a singer, and he thinks we have a connection because I sing Bob Seger songs, covers, but in Spanish the whole time.”
Q: Why didn’t Sylvester Stallone cast Jean-Claude Van Damme in his summer blockbuster, “The Expendables”? He seems like a perfect fit! — Denny J., via e-mail
A: I agree, and so did Sly. However, Jean-Claude did not. According to Sylvester (in an recent interview in Britain’s Sunday Times), he asked Jean-Claude to be in the movie: “I wanted to set Jean-Claude against Jet Li, but he didn’t want to lose to Jet. He didn’t think that was cool. But that’s why it would be cool — to have Jean-Claude beaten by the other man.”
Q: How is Michael Douglas doing? I read he has cancer! — Trudy G., Altoona, Pa.
A: Doctors discovered a tumor in the throat of the 65-year-old actor, for which he’ll have to undergo eight weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. His doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
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