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.”
True Blood's Kristin Bauer Launches Campaign to Protect Chimpanzees
(PRESS RELEASE) Kristin Bauer and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine launch campaign on Change.org asking U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to extend endangered species protections to captive chimpanzees.
WASHINGTON, DC – Actress Kristin Bauer, who plays Pam on HBO's True Blood, has launched a campaign on Change.org with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect captive chimpanzees.
Bauer’s online campaign asks the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to extend the endangered species protections currently given to wild chimpanzees to captive chimpanzees used in experiments and the entertainment industry and kept as pets in United States.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the incredible intelligence and rich, complex social lives of chimpanzees,” said Bauer. “It would be shameful to see them go extinct in the wild as we continue to exploit them here in the U.S. in invasive experiments, entertainment and as pets.”
Bauer cites studies demonstrating that when people see chimpanzees used in commercials and interacting with humans in the media, they are more likely to believe that chimpanzees not only make good pets, but that they are not endangered in the wild.
“The Endangered Species Act should protect all chimpanzees, including those being used in laboratory experiments,” said John Pippin, M.D., F.A.C.C., of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “No other developed countries allow invasive research on chimpanzees because of ethical and scientific problems with such experiments. The U.S. must do more to protect humankind’s closest genetic relatives.”
Bauer’s campaign is likely to draw national attention to the lack of protections for captive chimpanzees. The actress is encouraging True Blood fans to sign her online petition campaign on Change.org, the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change.
“It’s really impressive to see Kristin Bauer rally her fans around giving chimpanzees a voice,” said Change.org Director of Organizing Stephanie Feldstein. “Through her campaign on Change.org, Kristin’s fans can take action on a cause that’s important to them. Change.org empowers anyone, anywhere to start a campaign on issues that matter to them, and it’s been incredible to watch this campaign take off.”
A proposal to extend protections to captive chimpanzees is currently under consideration by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The public comment period for the proposal ends October 31.
Live signature totals from Kristin Bauer’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/petitions/us-fish-wildlife-service-protect-all-chimpanzees
Q and A: Week of Oct. 17
 |
| Josh Holloway (you're welcome) |
A: The handsome Josh Holloway, 42, has been keeping pretty busy since ‘Lost’ ended last year. You can see him again soon on the big screen in ‘Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol.’ In the movie, which hits theaters on Dec. 21, Josh plays Trevor Hanaway, a member of Ethan Hunt’s (played by Tom Cruise) Mission Impossible force, along with Ving Rhames and Academy Award-nominee Jeremy Renner.
Q: I am heartbroken that Fox has canceled ‘America’s Most Wanted.’ I’ve watched the show since the beginning, and I am so proud of all the good John Walsh and his crew have done to ‘get those dirtbags off the streets’! Is there an address for Fox that we can write to, hopefully to change their minds? — Gertrude T., via e-mail
A: I have good news for you, Gertrude. Lifetime Television recently announced that it has picked up John Walsh’s top crime-fighting show, which will return for its 25th season later this year. While there is not an exact airdate scheduled as of this writing, keep an eye on this column for updates as I get them. Also, check back here as December gets closer for my exclusive interview with John Walsh about the resurrection of ‘AMW’ on Lifetime. I’m sure we’ll also talk about all those ‘creeps’ and ‘slimeballs’ that John will be trying to capture this upcoming season.
Q: I really liked your idea a few months back of having Beth Littleford (of ‘Crazy Stupid Love’) playing James Spader’s wife in ‘The Office’ this season, but now I hear Maura Tierney has been tapped for the part. Is that true? If so, what do you think about that? — Holly T., via e-mail
A: While Maura is no stranger to comedy — she co-starred on ‘News Radio’ from 1995-99 — she usually plays the straight (wo)man, which is exactly what James Spader needs, now that we are getting a better idea of what his character, Robert California, is like. So now I make this modest proposal: How about we cast Beth as Robert’s Scranton mistress? Her offbeat and hilarious sense of humor, along with her improv skills and deadpan humor, would make her the perfect ‘secret lover’ for the new boss, as well as an excellent foil for the rest of the cast. Are you listening, Paul Lieberstein and crew?
Q: I really like the reality/survival series, ‘The Colony,’ on the Discovery Channel. When will the third season start? — Jane R., Philadelphia
A: According to a Discovery Channel representative, currently there are no plans to bring ‘The Colony’ back in 2011. I’ll keep checking and keep you posted as I learn any more details for 2012.
Interview: Eileen Davidson's Fourth Book Is a Page-Turner
Most of daytime fans know Eileen Davidson as Ashley Abbott, whom she’s portrayed on “The Young and the Restless” off and on since 1982. But many might not know that she is also an accomplished author. Along with co-writer Robert Randisi, she has penned four “Soap Opera Mystery” novels, the latest installment being “Swingin’ in the Rain.” In “Swingin’,” Eileen explores the world of swingers’ clubs as a backdrop to murder. Celebrity Extra: Here’s a question I am sure is on everyone’s minds: What made you decide to set your new book in the world of swingers?
Eileen Davidson: I had heard about different people living in Malibu who were into it. And I was like, “You’re kidding!” It was just really shocking, and it seemed like a great backdrop for a murder mystery. After I did some research, I discovered how prevalent it is in society. I’m fascinated that so many people are into it, that it’s kind of a very well-kept secret. And I’m wondering if they ever run into each other at the dry cleaners or in the carpool line.
CE: How did you research it?
ED: This is a true story. I was at Scott Baio’s birthday party, and a woman came up to me and said she was a big fan of my books and asked when I was going to write the next one. And I said, “Well, I’m kind of in the middle of writing it now.” And she asked, “What’s the premise?” And I told her, and she goes, “You’re not going to believe this, but one of my good friends was the manager for one of the top swingers clubs in L.A. for 10 years.” So I gave her friend a call, and we spoke for an hour, and she gave me so much information. She told me everything, and everything she told me I put in the book: game rooms and the dark room, where everybody denies going into, but it’s always full.
The club she managed is closed now, but she said: “I know of someone who is running another one. And if you want to go, I can get you in there.” And I was thinking I should go there for research, but then I thought, Do I really want to do that? So I told her that maybe someday I’ll check it out. But I don’t know.
CE: In theory, it seems like a good idea, but then when it gets down to it ...ED: Exactly! Exactly! I guess my Catholic upbringing is alive and well.
CE: I like that you incorporated Alex’s fears now that we’re down to four network soaps. What are some other bits of soap business that you bring to your books?
ED: The opening scene of the book actually happened to me in the ’80s while I was filming a scene for “YR.” We were filming the scene at a park in the pouring rain, and I had a crewmember underneath me trying to push me up this steep, muddy hill that I needed to get up, and I kept sliding down. So, I have some guy under me, not in the shot, trying to get me up there, and I keep falling down. We laughed so hard, because I could not get up that friggin’ hill.
CE: I am really enjoying the slow development of Alex and Jakes’ relationship. It’s realistic, and it’s getting better and stronger. Do you purposely keep her relationship with Jakes grounded so that Alex herself does not go crazy?
ED: That’s a good way of putting it, actually, because there is so much crazy stuff going on around her that there has to be something that is a grounding force besides her daughter. So, it’s just kind of the way the relationship evolves. When he was first introduced it was not supposed to be like a love interest, but it evolved that way in the first book. It was just sort of this natural evolution.
If you want to get in on the mystery, buy Eileen’s book “Swingin’ in the Rain” on amazon.com, or wherever books are sold. And check out her first three books while you’re at it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
You might be used to seeing Brooke Burns cast as, in her words, “the apple-pie, blond-haired, blue-eyed, all-American girl.” Her various ro... -
If you don't yet know who Ana de la Reguera is, you soon will. She has starred opposite some of the hottest A-listers in Hollywood, and... -
When I think of Beth Littleford , the first thing that comes to my mind are those hilarious mockumentary-type interviews she did with celebr... -
Courtney Thorne-Smith is no stranger to comedy. While she may have had her big break starring as Allison Parker on nighttime soap “Melrose ... -
After finishing up seven seasons of one of Lifetime Television’s highest rated, most critically acclaimed nighttime dramas, “Army Wives,” Ca... -
Jim Carrey , 48, and Jenny McCarthy , 37, (pictured left, at Jim's Yes Man premiere) have taken to Twitter to announce their breakup. T... -
(ABC/RICHARD FOREMAN) MIRIAM SHOR, MARK DEKLIN Touted as “Dallas” meets “Desperate Housewives” meets awesome, ABC’s newest nighttime drama, ... -
To most of her fans, Rachel Fine is known as the co-host of the weekly comedy news series “The Bonus Show” for Howard TV on Demand, the cab... -
Melora Hardin (photo credit: Kirstin Knufmann) has come a long way from ABC Afterschool Specials and the nighttime dramas Once and Again ... -
Annie Potts, photo by Bob D'Amico/ABC Unless you've been living under a rock these past few weeks, you know that ABC's new hour-...