Celeb Q and A: Week of Feb. 11

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Celeb Q and A: Week of Feb. 11

Q: I am so excited that “Dallas” is back on TNT for its second season. I am, however, sad about Larry Hagman’s death; watching his last episodes of “Dallas” are bittersweet, to say the least. How is the cast holding up? — Mary Anne M., via e-mail

A: I spoke with series veteran Linda Gray recently, and while she is, of course, in mourning for her best friend, she shared some fond memories she had with Larry.

“From day one, it was magic to work with him, and it never stopped being magic,” Gray said. “He was a joy to watch, and looking into those baby-blue eyes and go, ‘You little rat, what are you doing now?’

“When Larry and I worked together, it was really like a ping-pong game. It wasn’t a tennis game; it was faster, like ping-pong. It was like, ‘I’m going to throw you something, and I don’t know what you are going to do, but you’re going to give it back to me, and it’s going to be fast and it’s going to be intense, but I’m going to hit it right back to you, so be careful.’

“It was just extraordinary to work with him. And he was a great, generous actor. I remember in 1978, I was coming at him (in a scene between Sue Ellen and J.R.) and just yelling at him or something, and he gently took my shoulders and moved me; I didn’t realize it, but I had gotten out of my light. Now another actor would have thought, ‘Let her bury herself. She’ll be in the dark; I’ll be in the light. Perfect.’ But he wasn’t like that. He was gentle like that. He was gentle with me. It was absolutely an unspoken chemistry that happens so rarely in life, and I was blessed.”

Q: When will “Army Wives” be back? — Bea W., Fort Worth, Texas

A: It’s almost time! The seventh season of Lifetime’s hit drama will return with 13 all-new episodes, beginning Sunday, March 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. This season brings new challenges, including a heartfelt and final goodbye to one of the wives in what is being billed as “one of the series’ most dramatic and pivotal moments.”

Q: I need my Don Draper fix! When will “Mad Men” return? — Diana W. in Tennessee

A: AMC has confirmed that the sixth season of “Mad Men” will premiere April 7 with a two-hour episode, which has been written by series creator Matthew Weiner. Series stars Jon Hamm, January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, John Slattery and Christina Hendricks are all set to return.

Q: Is “Grimm” returning to TV? Most of the other shows have returned from winter hiatus, but “Grimm” has not. I hope it did not get canceled. — Don R., via e-mail

A: Never fear, Don. “Grimm” is just taking a slightly longer break, and will return with all-new episodes on Friday, March 8.

Q and A: Week of Dec. 5

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Q and A: Week of Dec. 5

Ricky Gervais

Q: Now that Eddie Murphy is no longer hosting the Oscars, do you think he’ll host the Golden Globes? — Peggy G., via e-mail

A: That gig has gone to actor/comedian/writer/producer Ricky Gervais, who’s hosted the previous two Golden Globes ceremonies. Most of you know I wholeheartedly approve of this choice, as do many of the Hollywood royalty that Ricky teases. Liam Neeson has voiced his approval of Ricky, saying: “Hollywood needs a shake-up. He’ll be great.” Robert DeNiro showered Ricky with praise after last year’s controversial telecast, telling Ricky he’d be happy to set anyone straight who was offended. Johnny Depp guest-stars on Ricky’s new TV show, “Life’s Too Short,” poking fun of himself and Ricky in a hilarious sketch (Google it and see for yourself). The Golden Globes Awards telecast airs live Sunday, Jan. 15, on NBC.

Q: I really like “Grimm” on NBC. Can you tell me about the actress who plays the beautiful blond Reaper? — David S., via e-mail

A: Claire Coffee plays Reaper assassin Adalind Schade (who also happens to be a lawyer). Claire, 31, also is on TNT’s “Franklin and Bash,” playing Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s ex and James Van Der Beek’s current girlfriend. Claire and I joked about how she is living the fantasy of every girl who grew up watching James and Mark-Paul in the ’90s, including herself: “It’s too bad I didn’t get a job like this when I first came to town — or maybe it’s good thing, because I probably would have lost my mind.”

She’s thrilled about her role on “Grimm,” telling me: “I really wanted this one, because I’ve never gotten to play any sort of supernatural character before. I’ve never played an evil witch who has fight scenes and kills people. I got to put some new special skills on the resume through this job.”

Michael Cudlitz

Q: When is my favorite show, “Southland,” coming back to TNT? — Johnny C. in New Hampshire

A: You don’t have to wait much longer for the season four premiere on Jan. 17. This season will feature returning stars Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King and Ben McKenzie, and will guest-star Lucy Liu. This season will also reunite Regina King with her “227″ co-star Marla Gibbs, who guest-stars as a family member of a suspect that Detective Lydia Adams (Regina) is investigating for murder.

Q: How is Demi Moore doing? Will she divorce Ashton Kutcher for his alleged infidelity? — Renee R., Clearwater, Fla.

A: Demi recently announced her decision to file for divorce from Ashton, stating: “It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton. As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life.”

Interview: Claire Coffee Is a Killer Lawyer

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Interview: Claire Coffee Is a Killer Lawyer

Claire Coffee, Photo by Whit Anderson

Claire Coffee is living the Hollywood dream: After already having worked on shows like "The West Wing," "General Hospital," "Cold Case," "Bones," "CSI," "NCIS," and many others, she is now gainfully employed — twice. Claire is pulling double lawyer duty: as a demon lawyer on NBC’s “Grimm” and a regular lawyer on TNT’s “Franklin and Bash.” I spoke with her recently about her roles, and the vast difference between the two.

Celebrity Extra: “Grimm,” which is a modern-day retelling of “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” is very inventive and super scary. What about the show caught your attention and made you really want the part of reaper/assassin/lawyer Adalind Schade?

Claire Coffee: I think the look of the show is so neat. They combined a lot of elements that people are familiar with, but it’s also kind of police procedural with fairy-tale elements. I just really like the whole idea of the show. I like the genre of television in terms of what I want to watch myself. As for my character, I really wanted this one because I’ve never gotten to play any sort of supernatural character before. I’ve played lawyers before, and she’s a lawyer, but I’ve never played an evil witch who has fight scenes and kills people. I got to put some new special skills on my resume through this job.

CE: What’s good about this concept is you have so many Grimm’s tales to choose from — conceivably, the show could go on for decades!

CC: That’s what’s so great. I’ve been reading a lot of the “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” and I think the ones that we are all familiar with are certainly the best of the bunch, but there are hundreds. They are all very moralistic tales. In the morals of the stories, the characters die or get killed or eaten constantly. It’s not for the Disney Channel — that’s for sure.

CE: Can you give me some clues as to what is coming up later in the season?

CC: The show’s going to be exploring this new world that Nick (Burkhardt, played by David Giuntoli) is coming to and the politics of this magical realm — who’s good and who’s bad — and the unpredictability of not knowing where people stand.

CE: Now, what about “Franklin and Bash”? I know you recently started shooting for the second season.

CC: I do know a little bit about what’s going to happen. Fun times ahead; that’s all I can say.

CE: You play lawyer Janie Ross in “FB,” but I’d say she’s a different kind of lawyer altogether from your “Grimm” character.

CC: Oh yeah — I wear similar suits, but the bad guys are VERY different.

CE: It must be fun for you to get to play two completely different characters like this, at the same time.

CC: It’s really fun. It’s fun to have two jobs, first and foremost. I’m very grateful for that. I feel very lucky that both sets are so pleasant to work on, with people who are really cooperative and have a great sense of humor. That’s a plus.

CE: You are living the dream of almost every girl who grew up in the ’90s by starring with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and James Van Der Beek.

CC: Including myself! It’s too bad I didn’t get a job like this when I first came to town — or maybe it’s a good thing, because I probably would have lost my mind. Mark-Paul and James are similar in that they’re total pros. They know how to work, but they also know that it’s all about the team, and they are very good at being helpful. It’s funny, they get mistaken for each other a lot. We did a joke about that on one of the episodes.

CE: What are some funny moments on the set?

CC: There was one scene where my character and James’ character, who plays my boyfriend, get in a fight, and I run off and the camera holds on James. He says: “Can we please just not hold on this tight angle of me watching a girl walk away?” Because all of “Dawson’s Creek” you could make a montage of Dawson looking, weeping, watching a girl walk away. That was pretty funny.