body ‘The champ is here!’ We had a chance to sit in on a conference call with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and the Director of Air Force Services Art Myers where they discussed NBC’s upcoming ‘Tribute to the Troops’ special. ... Read More
bodyA little Paula Abdul drama has never been a bad thing for "American Idol." But have the theatrics gone too far this time?
There have been rumblings that Paula wants off the show, but, depending upon who you believe, she could be up for a fat raise and a contract extension. She just started negotiations.
The fallout from the Paula stalker, Paula Goodspeed, who killed herself near Paula's home a couple of weeks ago, has taken some pretty serious turns.
Everyone knew Goodspeed had auditioned for the show in Season 5. But then Paula went public on Barbara Walters' satellite radio show with her belief that "Idol" producers set her up by including the known stalker in the audition for the sake of what they thought would make good television. Asked why she was still on the show, Paula simply said, "I'm under contract."
TMZ has since reported that "Idol" bosses told Paula to zip it before her appearance this week on "The Late Show with David Letterman," and she complied. When Letterman brought up the incident and said she should sue the show, she changed the subject by asking to watch a video of a monkey sneezing.
Now, Radar reports Paula is looking to double her salary, which is believed to be in the $5 million to $7 million range, and she's likely going to get it.
But MSNBC's Courtney Hazlett says Paula is as good as gone, with an unnamed "Idol" source telling her, "Obviously we have three other judges who can carry the show, and if she leaves before the live shows, the auditions can be edited so that she’s hardly noticed."
*** Click here to comment! What do you think? Should Paula stay or go? Would the show be the same without her?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 12-12-200801:53 PM
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The “Dancing with the Stars” casting rumor mill is off to a wild start.
Music legend Stevie Wonder was on a morning radio show Wednesday, where he addressed rumors that he was in talks to join the cast of the next season of "DWTS."
"It'd be fun," Stevie says. "It's not impossible, but right now it's just a thought."
And Stevie had a quick comeback when asked about his dancing ability.
"Come on," Stevie says. "You've got to think. If I have 7 children, I've got to be able to dance right?"
Previous “DWTS” seasons featured deaf actress Marlee Matlin and amputee Heather Mills.
Earlier this week, gossip columns were tossing around another surprising name: “Jackass” stuntman Stephen “Steve-O” Glover.
Steve-O has had a rough year, including a cocaine possession charge and a psychiatric hospital stay after an alleged suicide attempt in March. Would a spin on the dance floor give him a lift?
The eighth season of “Dancing with the Stars” premieres on March 9.
Click here to comment: What do you think of the possibility of Stevie Wonder competing on “Dancing”? What do you think of this type of stunt casting? And do you think “Jackass” Steve-O belongs on the show?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 12-12-200811:59 AM
body"Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight is negotiating his exit from the show and ABC and "Grey's" creator Shonda Rhimes seem happy to oblige, according to EW.com's Michael Ausiello.
Rumors have been bubbling around the exit of an unnamed "Grey's" star for a couple of weeks, and they were highlighted in a pair of blind items recently posted by Ausiello and E! Online TV writer Kristin Dos Santos. But Ausiello assures readers that Knight was not the subject of his blind item.
Knight's displeasure started all the way back when Isaiah Washington used a gay slur in reference to Knight during an on-set argument, then repeated the word during a press conference just moments after the cast had accepted a Golden Globe Award. But that apparently isn't the reason he's leaving.
"He just feels it's time to move on," Ausiello's source tells him.
There's no word on how Knight's departure will be handled. When Washington was fired, he left Cristina at the altar and was never heard from again. And Brooke Smith, who played Dr. Hahn until recently, just left work one day and never came back.
George O'Malley, Knight's character, has mostly been on the sidelines this season, despite having finally passed his intern exam and becoming a resident. He's had a lingering potential love story with his roommate Lexie Grey, but she ended last week's episode by tossing herself into bed with Dr. Mark Sloan.
*** Click here to comment! What do you think will happen with George? Would you care if he left the show?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 12-09-200801:33 PM
bodyThe December TV doldrums are here as most of our favorite dramas and comedies taking a break for the holidays. But for those itching to try something new, TNT's "Leverage" is a solid bet. It premieres at 10 p.m. ET/PT Sunday on TNT, before settling into its regular time at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
"Leverage" is sort of "Ocean's Eleven" meets "The Italian Job," and delivers in surprising fashion for a TV show, providing the kinds of stunts, blasts and chases that are usually reserved for big-screen flicks on a weekly basis. It shows more promise than recent TV heist dramas, such as FX's "Thief," CBS's "Smith," and NBC's "Heist," because it doesn't take itself too seriously, and is proud of that fact.
Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton leads a cast of characters, including Christian Kane of "Angel," that brings an array of comedic, action and dramatic talent to the table as a band of thieves in a modern-day, high-tech Robin Hood story. (Click here to meet the cast of "Leverage"!)
Hutton stars as Nate Ford, a former insurance investigator whose job it was to recover millions of dollars for his insurance company. But when the same company screwed him over and refused to pay for Nate's son's cancer treatment and the boy died, Nate's fate was sealed. (Click here to see more from Hutton)
He leads a group of bad guys doing good who come to the rescue of the little guys by blackmailing corporations and forcing them to cough up cash they owe people.
"Like any good Robin Hood myth, you need the band of 'merry men' and you need the rich villains," executive producer and director Dean Devlin ("Independence Day") said in a recent interview. "And we're living in a time when you've just got to open up a window and throw a rock and you hit a rich villain, so we've got a lot to choose from."
"This is going to sound like it's not real at all," Hutton said. "But, literally on page three in the pilot script there was a line that said, 'We're having fun, people. This is fun.' And I put the script down and I made a phone call and I said, 'I want to do this.'"
Executive producer John Rogers ("Transformers") said the point of the show is to entertain and to escape the monotony of today's TV crime shows.
"We know actors in Hollywood who work on these procedurals and it's, walk in, look at the dead body, say something about fingerprints and DNA and walk out," Rogers said. "The entire show is meant to refute the grim, gritty, serialized crime drama. I've got an hour a week to maybe not be so pissed off at the world. I should have some fun and watch ‘Leverage’ take down some of these scumbags I wish had it coming to them."
Kane, who gets to show off some of his martial arts skills as the crew's muscle, brings the same escapist perspective to the new role.
"This is for my old man," Kane said. "He works 9 to 5, you know what I mean? When he puts his butt on that couch at night, he wants to be entertained. He wants to think a little bit, but he also wants to laugh and he wants to relax. We don't want to force-feed you anything. We want you to enjoy it, we want you to become part of the team. So this is for my daddy."
Click on the video below for a sneak peek at "Leverage."
bodyTimothy Hutton burst into the scene in 1983, becoming the youngest person to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for "Ordinary People," and has since filled his filmography with lesser known titles in mostly serious roles.
He took a shot at television last year as the father of a missing boy in NBC's "Kidnapped," which was quickly canceled. But he's back on the small screen this weekend as the star of TNT's "Leverage," where he plays a former insurance investigator who turns on his company and others like it to settle a personal score. "Leverage" premieres at 10 p.m. ET/PT Sunday on TNT.
(Click here to meet the cast of "Leverage")
The day after filming ended on the first season of "Leverage" I talked with Hutton about the new show and where exactly he keeps his Oscar statuette - the answer might surprise you.
Hutton was happy to be free of network constraints after his experience with NBC.
"If this was anywhere else other than Dean (Devlin's production company) or TNT, you'd have a committee saying, 'Oh, no, you can't say that, you can't do that,'" Hutton said.
I asked him to elaborate on the difference between working with TNT on the new show compared to the NBC experience.
"Oh, wow," he said. "Well, I mean... it couldn't... Let's just put it this way: This is a great experience."
Hutton now stars in "Leverage" as Nate Ford, an ex-insurance investigator who was responsible for recovering millions of dollars for the company but left when they refused to cover treatment for his ill son, who eventually died. Grieving and unemployed, Ford embarks on a new life leading a team of thieves who aim to bilk corporations out of big bucks and put the money back in the hands of the everyday folks who need it.
Hutton said he isn't the type of actor who tries to tap into personal experiences to portray a grieving character such as Nate Ford.
"I've never really worked that way," Hutton said. "I think that when the material is very strong, you draw simply from the material and you can well imagine what this person's situation is. As far as introducing personal things into it, it gets messy and it's, I think, self-indulgent."
What isn't self-indulgent is Hutton's take on his Oscar win from 25 years ago. I couldn't resist asking him where he keeps his Oscar; just on the off chance there was a story.
"In the refrigerator," he said.
Was he serious?
"Yeah," he said. "I just put it there one day and it seemed like the right place for it. So it's sitting there, right next to some beers."
Click on the video below to catch a sneak peek at Hutton in "Leverage."
*** Click here to comment! Are you looking forward to "Leverage"? Do you think Hutton really keeps his Oscar in the fridge?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 12-05-200802:54 PM
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There are dueling blind items floating in the gossip universe, and while I’m often inclined to ignore such things, the fact that two very similar ones emerged on the same day gives me pause to consider it.
Especially since it’s regarding "Grey’s Anatomy," which has become rather notorious for its on-set shake ups.
Recent reports claim that another actor could be on the way out. A certain "Grey’s" character has received noticeably less screen time of late and is being phased out for being unpleasant to work with.
A source close to the show tells Eonline's Kristin Dos Santos, "The reason [the actor] has not been on is because [he or she] has been a pain in the ass lately, trying to change scenes and dialogue, being hard to work with and putting up an attitude. The higher-ups were getting tired of it, so they tweaked [him or her] out of some episodes. That's why you haven't really seen [him or her] lately."
Apparently, a second source seconds that: "[He or she] is not really getting along too well with producers right now."
Meanwhile, EW’s Michael Ausiello reported later the same day that “an original cast member of a hit series” has been “canned” and “they don’t know it yet.”
His blind item claims “budget cuts” and “creative redirection” are to blame for the firing—but that “said performer was never going to win any popularity contests with their costars.”
While many in the blogosphere seem to think it’s George O’Malley (T.R. Knight), he wouldn’t be my first guess. In her post, Kristin chooses the phrases “the truth is a little ugly” and “it's not a pretty tale,” which makes one think immediately of beauty Katherine Heigl, who stirred up controversy this summer when she slammed the show’s writers for giving her a lack of good material, prompting internet rumors that her character Izzie Stevens would be killed off with a brain tumor.
However, Heigl hasn’t received less screen time lately—her silly ghost story with her is-he-or-isn’t-he dead lover Denny has been dominating this season’s arc so far.
So who could be joining the "Grey's Anatomy" axed club?
Isaiah Washington was fired last year after making a homophobic slur against costar T.R. Knight. And just last month Brooke Smith was abruptly fired from her role as Dr. Erica Hahn. Some think it was because her lesbian storyline was too much for the network, but producers claim viewer feedback showed they disliked the character, not the storyline.
"Grey's" hot new doc offers his perspective on the show's behind-the-scenes turmoil here.
Watch a preview of tonight's new episode of 'Grey's Anatomy,' where one of the residents gets some bad news.
Click here to comment: So who do you think it is? Who would you like it to be? What do you make of the backstage drama on this show? Do you still love "Grey’s Anatomy" or are you over it?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 12-04-200812:01 PM
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It's getting closer! The fifth season premiere of "Lost" is approximately seven weeks away (but whose counting) and the Season Four DVD hits stores Tuesday, December 8th. In a conference calls promoting both launches, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse finally started talking about what very patient fans can expect from the DVD set and the new season. Are the Oceanic Six and the island refugees really going to spend a season apart? What exactly did Ben's spin on the frozen donkey wheel do to the island? And are we ever going to get some definitive answers?! Read more... ... Read More
body Oprah Winfrey is addressing rumors that she might take her daytime show and run it right over to her new network.
She spoke to Extra on Tuesday night to clear up the speculation -- sort of.
“I’m a girl that keeps her word. I have a contract till 2011, so right now that’s what I have until someone writes me another one," Oprah told Extra. "I’m going to fulfill my contractual obligations and fulfill them happily.”
That's all well and good, but 2011 isn't too far away. "OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network," a joint venture with Discovery, is slated to launch in the second half of 2009 and will be available in more than 70 million homes. The new network should have worked through its initial growth period when Oprah's current syndication contract expires in two years.
*** Click here to comment. What do you think? Should Oprah take her show to her OWN network when her contract is up? Would you follow her there?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 12-03-200803:41 PM
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Marg Helgenberger and her husband Alan Rosenberg, who is president of the Screen Actors Guild, have announced they are separating after nearly 20 years of marriage, according to Extra.
A rep says in a statement, "After 19 years of marriage, Marg and Alan have decided to take some time apart. They love and respect each other and remain committed to their family."
The couple has an 18-year-old son, Hugh.
Marg, who recently turned 50, “hasn’t been happy for a long time,” according to a report in the National Enquirer, which stated, “as 50 approached, she finally told Alan she wanted to start the second half of her life alone."
Helgenberger, who plays Catherine Willows on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," is also losing her on-screen partner.
It was announced this summer that William Petersen, the procedural's figurehead, is leaving the show in January.
Laurence Fishburne joins the cast on Thursday, December 11th, to help fill the void--but outraged fans say there's no replacing Gil Grissom.
In this article from the original announcement, you can find out the unusual "hook" to Fishburne's criminal pathologist Dr. Raymond Langston, as well as how negative fan reaction has been.
Get a first look at Fishburne in character and on set by clicking here or on the image below.
Click here to comment on the split, both on screen and off.
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 12-04-200801:17 PM
bodyIt's only December, more than a month before the premiere of the eighth season of "American Idol," and folks are already starting with the talk of the show's demise. It's the kind of talk the show, which premieres on Jan. 13 on Fox, has faced since it became a sensation in its second season, but could the naysayers be on to something this year?
The first batch of the eighth season's promos include a clip of a bikini-clad cutie wailing away before getting into a bit of a clash with new judge Kara DioGuardi. Some bloggers are crying desperation, saying "Idol's" audition process has been less than fruitful and suggesting the commercial is a last-ditch ploy to bring in viewers.
The criticism is nothing new. The reports of "Idol's" death have been greatly exaggerated for about five years, since the show shot to the top of the Nielsen ratings, where it has remained for five years. Since the show's second season, when it averaged 26.5 million viewers a week and pulled in more than 34 million for the season finale, the audience grew each year until Season 7, when the average audience slipped from 37.7 million to 33.4 million.
For most shows, a loss of 4 million viewers from one season to the next means cancellation. For "Idol," it meant another year as the No. 1 and 2 shows on TV (performance and results show) and just a slightly smaller lead over its competitors than in previous years.
These aren't the ramblings of an "Idol" apologist. It's just a dose of reality about the show NBC executive Jeff Zucker last year told The New York Times was "the most impactful show in the history of television."
"Idol" will eventually fall from greatness, and some of the signs are certainly there. Some viewers already think the addition of a fourth judge is the kind of tinkering that happens when a show is past its prime. Could the bikini-clad singer in the commercials be the next sign? Maybe. Could the fact that she apparently gets a ticket to Hollywood seal it? Check out the video below and let us know what you think.
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 12-01-200801:17 PM
bodyDavid Archuleta has a hit debut album out and Thursday morning will face the surreal prospect of singing on a float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, which airs on ABC and other networks at 9 a.m. ET Thursday.
I recently chatted with Archuleta and Robin Hall, executive director of the parade, about what folks can expect on Thursday, what Archuleta thinks of "American Idol" champ David Cook, and whether he'll be doing a duet with ... Kermit the Frog?
Victor Balta: Right off the top, Robin, could you talk a bit about getting David Archuleta for this year's parade and some of the other folks people can expect to see Thursday morning? Robin Hall: We have 10 great marching bands, we have a whole bunch of performing groups, and we have some of the hottest talent in America. We also have some of the great classic talents -- everybody from Andy Williams to James Taylor. David Archuleta, Miley Cyrus, Trace Adkins is in the parade this year, Kermit the Frog is going to be making an appearance in this year's parade. We have a long relationship with "American Idol" and we're very proud to continue with David.
VB: David, tell us about being a part of all this. Did you watch the parade as a kid? David Archuleta: Yeah, it's really fun to be a part of it because it is something I grew up watching and trying to remember to be up on time to see the whole thing. And it's just crazy to think you're going to be in it after watching it for so long. It's just a really cool thing that families come to watch together and really enjoy.
VB: What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions? DA: We watch the parade and we usually just went to my grandparents' house to have Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family and have the turkey and the mashed potatoes and really just spend quality time together. I think that's a really important part of this.
VB: So, being in New York this year, what are you going to try to do to maintain some of that family connection? DA: My mom's here with me, so I'll be able to spend time with her for Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure what we'll be doing. But the parade is a really big thing that we've never done before. RH: He's going to be making 40 million people happy on Thanksgiving. That's the gift he's giving to all of us.
VB: So, David, I know you've recently talked about wanting to collaborate with Jordin Sparks and Taylor Swift. Any chance of doing something with Kermit the Frog since he's going to be there? DA: [Laughs] Ha, Kermit. That'd be a fun one, too. He has that old song, [singing] 'It's not that easy being green!' Yeah, maybe. Who knows?
VB: How has maintaining your music career after "American Idol" been different for you from being on the show? DA: It's been pretty hectic, you know, a lot's been going on. It has really stopped since the beginning of this year, with the beginning of the show. But it's really been a blessing to have so much going on, and to have an album coming out and being able to perform in things like the Macy's parade. It's huge. Things I never thought I'd have a chance to be able to do and here they are, coming to life, the things I used to dream about.
VB: So, it looks like you might have edged out David Cook in sales of your debut album. Did you guys have a little side bet going or anything like that? DA: No, not really. I think it's been made out to be like we were in a competition, but we were never really competitive with each other. We've just been really supportive of each other and he has a great album that's out right now and he's always checking on me and making sure things are going well and he's always there whenever I need his help. He's always been like a big brother and it's really cool to have someone like that who's there and understand what you've gone through and to be able to share that with someone like him.
*** Click here to comment! Are you looking forward to watching David in the parade? Did you buy his debut album? Are you looking forward to the upcoming season of "American Idol"?
Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 11-26-200808:02 PM
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Another season of “Dancing with the Stars” is behind us,
and no one can argue that this year's winner Brooke Burke was the best overall dancer.
But each season fans complain that the show is a popularity contest rather than a dance contest, and that the judges manipulate the scores to direct the course of the show.
It's just a reality show, a hugely entertaining one that draws around 20 million viewers a week, but I decided to get to the bottom of the conspiracy talk.
I chatted with “Dancing” judge Carrie Ann Inaba to get the perspective from the other side of the judges' table.
Tracy Phillips: There’s been some criticism from the fans this season for inconsistent judging, uneven scores and playing favorites. What do you say to that?
Carrie Ann Inaba: “I never know what’s going on, I don’t watch TV while the show’s going on, so I don’t get tainted by other peoples’ opinions. I try to remain very neutral.
What I can say about the judging is that we all speak from our hearts. We all come from dance backgrounds, we all have a lot of compassion for these people, but our job is to give critiques on what we see.
So I’m not exactly sure what the feedback has been, but that’s what is great about our show is that we encourage people to do that, we encourage people to have their own thoughts. People get a little heated at times, but even though I’m giving my opinion, or Len is giving his, we’re not saying our opinion is the only one.
We give America their chance to vote. So it’s really a democracy, they get their own say and that is what’s fun about it."
TP: Tom, Len and Bruno said you have a crush on Warren Sapp. Is it hard to judge if you have a favorite contestant?
CAI: “I know they think it’s so easy, everyone teases me, ‘He winked at you and you gave him a good score”…but Ooohh Noooo, it takes more than a wink to get a good score out of me!”
TP: What do you think of the news that Julianne Hough isn’t coming back next year? CAI: “I just heard that. I would be sad, because I think she’s an amazing dancer. And she’s such a great coach. But at same time, I’m really happy for her, because she’s a dancer who is moving into new areas, and I’m sure she’s going to go on and do even more.”
TP: Would you like to see a “Dancing with the Stars: All-Star Edition,” where the previous winners and some of the should-have-wons come back and compete against each other?
CAI: “I would love to see that! But even more so, I’d like to see the ones who got cut on the first week come back and battle it out to see who can last more than one week.
You know, Kenny Mayne, Tucker Carlson, the kind of quirky people who didn’t really get a chance to shine, and who we didn’t get to know, I’d like to see them have a second chance.”
Carrie Ann must have seen our list of the “Top 10 Worst Dancing Contestants of All Time” Gallery! Check it out by clicking here or on the image below.
Click here to comment: What did you think of the judging this season? Would you like to see the best of the best compete? Or the worst of the worst?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 11-26-200807:37 PM
body"Private Practice" is getting just the jolt it needs: a bona fide hunk!
Grant Show joins the cast, beginning tonight, and he stirs up trouble at Oceanside Wellness. Sure, Taye Diggs and Tim Daly are no slackers in the hottie department, but there's nothing like a charming bad boy to stoke the fires--especially one that might be a sex addict.
The "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off hasn't reached its potential yet, but in addition to Show joining the cast, there are other things to come that bode well for the series. This winter, "Practice" will move to Thursday nights at 10 p.m., airing behind its predecessor "Grey's." It's such a logical move one wonders why they didn't do it sooner. You can also look forward to some "Grey's"-"Practice" crossovers during February sweeps.
I recently got some "Private" time with Grant Show, where he opened up about his sexed-up new role, the fate of "Swingtown" and his thoughts on the new "Melrose Place." (He changes his mind during our conversation, so when Grant shows up on the new "Melrose," send your thank you cards to me!)
Tracy Phillips: You’re playing Archer Montgomery, Addison’s little brother?
Grant Show: “Big brother. It was supposed to be a little brother when they cast me, but then they changed it.”
TP: Well, it’s sure not because you look older. GS: [laughs] “Well, thank you.”
TP: Where did Archer come from all of the sudden? GS: “We are from New York, we’re a wealthy family, and that’s our home and then Addison moved out to Seattle. But I come out to California because I miss her and I want her back home where she belongs. Archer thinks this whole California thing is beneath her.”
TP: So what’s your backstory, what’s the catalyst for this visit?
GS: “There is, well they are wanting me to keep tight-lipped about it, but there’s a little something going on in Archer’s life that prompts it.”
TP: What’s Archer like?
GS: “My character’s a real cad, he’s a rake. Archer is
also a surgeon, and he's smooth and a sharp dresser. And he’s just out
there 'doing it' all the time—and there’s a question as to whether he’s
a sex addict or not.”
TP: Whoa, sounds like Naomi’s in for a good time then! Because I hear you're involved with Audra McDonald's character. GS: “Yeah, there’s something up with me and Naomi. We have a
little thing turns into a real romance. And this whole thing that’s
going on with him, he starts changing and I think he does fall in love
with Naomi, and she definitely falls in love with him.” TP: How does Sam take that?
GS: “Sam doesn’t take it too well, he’s not very happy
about it. You find out in the first episode just how unhappy he is.
There are fists involved.”
TP: How many episodes can we look forward to with you? GS: “So far, seven or eight, it’s the last half of the season just about. I do this first episode, then I leave for about five episodes, and then I come back for six or so more.”
TP: What’s the relationship between Addison and Archer like and how has it been working with Kate Walsh?
GS: “Kate is terrific to work with, and we’ve created this great sibling dynamic; we really love each other but bicker all the time. We’re like two little kids in the back seat of the car.”
TP: Will you be fulfilling your big brother protector duties, like does Archer approve of Addison’s new boyfriend (David Sutcliffe)?
GS: “No, not at all, I mean he’s a cop…he’s beneath her. Addison Montgomery doesn’t date a cop, come on.” [Editor’s note: If you’ve seen tonight’s promo, then you know something bad happens to Officer Kevin. Uh oh.]
TP: So you’re playing a sex addict on "Private Practice," you were a swinger on “Swingtown,” and a closted action star on “Dirt.” What’s with all the sexy roles?
GS: “I don’t know, maybe I feel the need to show off because I’m getting older [laughs], I’m still hanging on to my youth. Pretty much throughout my career there’s been some kind of sexuality, especially on ‘Melrose,’ ‘Melrose’ was all sex. But maybe I’m just pushing it a bit more now, being a little more over the top…and having a lot more fun.”
TP: Do you miss your porn 'stache?
GS: “Not at all. I had that thing for a year and a half, it was time to go. But anytime I want to see it--I lost my drivers license during the show--so anytime I want to see my “Swingtown” mustache, I just have to pull out my wallet and there he is.”
TP: Awesome, have you been pulled over and had to flash that bad boy yet?
GS: “I haven’t been pulled over, but sometimes I’ve had to show my ID at the bank or something and people look at it, do a double take and are like, ‘Yeaaahhh.’”
TP: Is the party definitely over for “Swingtown”?
GS: “I think so. You know, it’s such a good show, and the people that liked it, really liked it, you can never say for sure, because those kinds of things can sometimes get another breath of life, but it looks pretty bad.”
TP: So “Melrose Place” is getting a do over like the new "90210." Are you in? GS: “I haven’t been officially asked. I was playing golf and a CW exec was on the 9th green and I was on the 18th green, and he yells over, ‘Hey you want to do ‘Melrose Place?’ and I said, ‘How much money you got?’ And that’s about as far as we got.”
TP: If the price was right, would you be interested? And have you talked with the other original cast members about it?
GS: “I haven’t talked to anybody yet, but I don’t think it’s for me. But I can’t really say no, first because they haven’t officially asked me, and also because I don’t know what the extent of it would be. But I really don’t want to be the old guy on some show about a bunch of kids.”
TP: Well, Brenda and Kelly are the best part of the new "90210." No one cares about the new kids. I'm sure that will be the case with "Melrose"--the fans would go crazy and they want the originals back, not a bunch of new nobodies. GS: “Well, that's exactly it: if the fans are into it..that's why I can't say no to it. So if it's something interesting, sure.”
TP: Two of your “Melrose” alums live on Wisteria Lane now [Marcia Cross and Doug Savant]. Have you ever talked about guest starring on “Desperate Housewives”?
GS: “It also has Chuck Pratt, one of our head writers from 'Melrose.' And I don’t think Chuck likes me very much, [laughs], so there’s been no discussion of that. I wasn’t the nicest guy in the world on ‘Melrose Place,’ to be honest with you.”
TP: You had a bit of a reputation, did ya?
GS: “Well, I wasn’t terrible, but I wasn’t the nicest guy. I just saw things my way and was somewhat inflexible. I was young, angry, full of testosterone…I wanted the whole world, you know what I mean?”
TP: So has that changed with age and wisdom?
GS: “I think I’m a joy to work with now, [laughs] I’m a much easier going person. I’m not so bull headed--although my friends would still say I am.”
Click here to comment: Are you excited to see Grant Show on "Private Practice"? Do you think he'll add some excitement to the show? Do you miss "Swingtown"? And are you up for the new "Melrose Place"?
Message Edited by Tracy_Phillips on 11-26-200803:39 PM
bodyFor seven years, Walton Goggins has made a name for himself on the small screen as Vic Mackey's underling, Shane Vendrell, on FX's groundbreaking drama, "The Shield." The L.A. based show came to an end Tuesday night with a special, 90-minute finale packed with intensity, emotion and a real payoff for fans who have followed it for seven seasons. By now, fans know that Shane took his own life and his family's, rather than face a future that could have seen him and his wife serving prison terms and their children being put into foster care.
This one's for "The Shield" fans. I watched the finale over the weekend and spoke with Goggins Monday, the day before the final episode aired, with the agreement that we would hold the interview until after the finale so as to not spoil anything for the fans. Goggins planned to watch it with the cast and production staff, along with more than 400 fans of the show, at a Los Angeles theater, where they would "say goodbye to this thing holding hands and just celebrating this journey that we've all been on for the last seven years."
Keep reading to see why Goggins still gets emotional about his character's end, what he thinks of Vic Mackey's future, and what the future holds for Goggins, who is eyeing a new series on AMC. ... Read More
body
After dominating for 10 weeks with her natural ability and impressive technique, Brooke Burke and her partner Derek Hough were crowned the winners of Season 7 of "Dancing with the Stars."
Brooke and Derek beat out charasmatic NFL star Warren Sapp and his partner Kym Johnson in the finals.
The 37-year-old model-actress and mother of four said the win felt "unbelievable," while Derek grabbed the mirror ball trophy he longed for (his sister Julianne has two and his friend and band mate Mark Ballas has one).
Brooke and Derek scored three 10's Monday night for their freestyle routine, which Carrie Ann--and even Len--said was the best freestyle they had ever seen.
In Tuesday's finale, Brooke and Derek performed the Viennese Waltz to John Mayer's "Daughters," which ended with Brooke kissing her two little girls in the audience. Their last dance got them another perfect score of 30...and choked up judge Carrie Ann, and brought Brooke's longtime love David Charvet to tears.
Bruno said she truly was "the jewel in the crown of the grand finale."
Warren Sapp gave us a final wink and a smile, saying his time on the show
was "absolutely wonderful" and he was "glad he didn't disrespect any of
the football guys."
Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer were eliminated earlier in the night, coming in third place.
Lance said the experience was the "most fun I've ever had in my entire life...but Joey will never let me live it down that I came in third." Lance's former N-Sync mate Joey Fatone came in second place on Season 4.
The two-hour finale featured the return of the all the eliminated contestants, who each performed a dance (save for the recovering Misty May-Treanor and Toni Braxton, who is also now recovering from a mystery "minor surgery.")
There were two unecessary performances from Alicia Keyes and Miley Cyrus, who was wearing a red four-fingered, half-glove thing on one hand. It was the stupidest thing I've ever seen.
Better filler included a rather adorable segment with Cloris Leachman interviewing people on the street on who they voted for ("Warren's my dawg." "Warren's a what?") Then the three finalists were roasted by Jeffrey Ross, who was eliminated in Week 1, and he took some bold swipes at Warren and Lance, though Brooke went pretty unscathed, another indication that she would come out victorious.
‘The champ is here!’ We had a chance to sit in on a conference call with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and the Director of Air Force Services Art Myers where they discussed NBC’s upcoming ‘Tribute to the Troops’ special. 
A little Paula Abdul drama has never been a bad thing for "American Idol." But have the theatrics gone too far this time? 
The “Dancing with the Stars” casting rumor mill is off to a wild start.
"Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight is negotiating his exit from the show and ABC and "Grey's" creator Shonda Rhimes seem happy to oblige, according to 
The December TV doldrums are here as most of our favorite dramas and comedies taking a break for the holidays. But for those itching to try something new, TNT's "Leverage" is a solid bet. It premieres at 10 p.m. ET/PT Sunday on TNT, before settling into its regular time at 10 p.m. Tuesday. 
Timothy Hutton burst into the scene in 1983, becoming the youngest person to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for "Ordinary People," and has since filled his filmography with lesser known titles in mostly serious roles.
There are dueling blind items floating in the gossip universe, and while I’m often inclined to ignore such things, the fact that two very similar ones emerged on the same day gives me pause to consider it.
It's getting closer! The fifth season premiere of "Lost" is approximately seven weeks away (but whose counting) and the Season Four DVD hits stores Tuesday, December 8th. In a conference calls promoting both launches, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse finally started talking about what very patient fans can expect from the DVD set and the new season. Are the Oceanic Six and the island refugees really going to spend a season apart? What exactly did Ben's spin on the frozen donkey wheel do to the island? And are we ever going to get some definitive answers?! Read more... 
Oprah Winfrey is addressing rumors that she might take her daytime show and run it right over to her new network.
Marg Helgenberger and her husband Alan Rosenberg, who is president of the Screen Actors Guild, have announced they are separating after nearly 20 years of marriage, according to 
It's only December, more than a month before the premiere of the eighth season of "American Idol," and folks are already starting with the talk of the show's demise. It's the kind of talk the show, which premieres on Jan. 13 on Fox, has faced since it became a sensation in its second season, but could the naysayers be on to something this year?
David Archuleta has a hit debut album out and Thursday morning will face the surreal prospect of singing on a float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, which airs on ABC and other networks at 
Another season of “Dancing with the Stars” is behind us,
and no one can argue that this year's winner Brooke Burke was the best overall dancer. 
"Private Practice" is getting just the jolt it needs: a bona fide hunk! 
For seven years, Walton Goggins has made a name for himself on the small screen as Vic Mackey's underling, Shane Vendrell, on FX's groundbreaking drama, "The Shield." The L.A. based show came to an end Tuesday night with a special, 90-minute finale packed with intensity, emotion and a real payoff for fans who have followed it for seven seasons. By now, fans know that Shane took his own life and his family's, rather than face a future that could have seen him and his wife serving prison terms and their children being put into foster care.
After dominating for 10 weeks with her natural ability and impressive technique, Brooke Burke and her partner Derek Hough were crowned the winners of Season 7 of "Dancing with the Stars."
