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!

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Q and A: Week of May 16

Q: I was so excited to watch one of my all-time favorite actors, Ed Asner, co-starring in CMT’s “Working Class.” Now that the show won’t be back for a second season, what are Ed’s plans? — Martha F., Altoona, Pa.

A: The great Ed Asner has just signed on to “Royal Pains” in a multi-episode guest-starring stint. Ed will appear in two episodes as the grandfather of Hank and Evan, played by Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Constanzo, respectively. The 81-year-old iconic sitcom actor will appear in the show’s upcoming third season, which premieres on Wednesday, June 29, on USA.

Q: I was reading that “21 Jump Street” is going to be remade into a feature film. Is that true? If so, will any of the series’ original stars be making a cameo? I am sure Richard Grieco has some time. — Pat R., via e-mail

A: Actually, you might be surprised to learn that Officer Tom Hanson himself, Johnny Depp, plans to make a cameo in the movie adaptation of the TV series that helped launch his stellar Hollywood career. The remake — which will star Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube and Rob Riggle — is due to hit theaters in March 2012. Also, I am sure Richard Grieco will jump on the cameo bandwagon if he’s asked — unless he’s waiting for the big-screen version of “Booker.”



Q: My sister was telling me about a new reality show about “Glee” where they search for the next cast member. Can you tell me more about that and where I can see it when it airs? — Rhonda M., via e-mail

A: Beginning Sunday, June 12, Oxygen will air “The Glee Project.” From Ryan Murphy, the creator and Emmy award-winning executive producer of “Glee,” and executive producer of “Glee” Dante Di Loreto, this 10-episode competition series will find and train a group of 12 singers who will compete against one another to win a seven-episode guest-starring role on “Glee.” Also, a group of “Glee” series regulars will appear as guest mentors in each episode. Fan favorite Darren Criss will make a guest appearance in the series premiere as the first of these mentors. Darren joined the cast last season as Blaine and quickly became a breakout sensation.

Q: I really miss watching one of my favorite political pundits, Keith Olbermann, on MSNBC. Why hasn’t some other cable network snapped him up yet? — Kellie H., Knoxville, Tenn.

A: Cable network Current TV has done the snapping-up honors. The network announced that Keith Olbermann will return to the air June 20, hosting a weeknight news-commentary hour called “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” Keith left MSNBC in January and apparently signed on with Current TV less than a month later. For those unfamiliar with the station, Current TV is the public-affairs channel launched in 2005 by former vice president Al Gore and Joel Hyatt.

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 18

Q: I love Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.” Has it been renewed for another season? — Kelli J., St. Louis

A: I’m happy to report that the unique comedy/drama starring the delightfully talented Brooke Elliott (pictured left) has been renewed for its third season, which is set to premiere its 13 new episodes in 2011.

Q: I really got sucked into “The Gates” this summer, and I was wondering if it will be back for a second season. With all the shows these days that have vampires and werewolves and the like, this one is truly unique, exciting and suspenseful. — Theodore F., via e-mail

A: I have to agree with you — I absolutely love “The Gates.” An ABC representative told me that there is no official word yet as to the show’s fate (as of this writing). I’m hoping it doesn’t go the way of “FlashForward,” another excellent ABC series that was canceled back in May. I just hate to get interested and invested in a series, only to have the rug pulled out from under me when it gets canceled because the network didn’t give it enough of a chance. This need for immediate ratings results really doesn’t do anything to help nourish and grow a new series.




Q: One show I am delighted to watch again is “Lou Grant,” a spin-off from the old “Mary Tyler Moore Show.” I am enjoying it again but wondered about the actors and what became of them. I know Ed Asner is still active and that Nancy Marchand passed away a few years ago. But what about some of the others? –Dorothy P., via e-mail

A: Linda Kelsey has guest-starred in many TV shows and movies, including “Day by Day,” “Matlock,” “ER” and “Touched By An Angel.” Most recently she co-starred in “Into Temptation” with Jeremy Sisto, Kristin Chenowith and Brian Baumgartner. Robert Walden has been steadily working since “Lou Grant,” starring in “Brothers” and guest-starring on “Melrose Place,” “Judging Amy,” “The West Wing” and “Law and Order: SVU,” among others. Daryl Anderson has done a myriad of different projects, from soaps (”Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and The Restless”) to TV series (”Flipper” and “The A-Team”) to movies (”The Kid” with Bruce Willis and “Human Nature” with Tim Robbins).

Q: The other day when I was listening to the radio, and old favorite song of mine, “If You Leave” by OMD, came on the radio. It made me wonder what the band was doing now and if they’ll be putting out any new material. — Michael D., West Palm Beach, Fla.

A: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD, just released “History of Modern,” its first album of new material in 14 years. I’ve heard a few tracks from the album, and I have to say that it is excellent. The 14-track CD is available in stores and online at omd.com.

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Interview: Can Ana de la Reguera Tame Kenny Powers?

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 she just finished work on one of the most talked about movies for 2011 (Cowboys & Aliens). Currently she co-stars in the funniest show on television today (it's a scientific fact), HBO's Eastbound & Down, which airs Sundays at 10:30 p.m. I got the chance to catch up with Ana a few weeks ago, and we discussed her new life in the Funny Lane.

Celebrity Extra: The other night I rented Cop Out, and I thought it was hilarious. How was it to work with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan?

Ana de la Reguera: It was great. It was a great experience just to watch them work together. They are so different. They come from different schools. They’d improvise a lot. I had a blast. I was a huge fan of Kevin Smith, so for me that was perfect for my career to be close to those people and to learn more about comedy.  I worked in New York for one month last year in the summer, and I had the best time.

CE: What did you like most about working on that movie with them?

Ana: I like the freedom that Kevin gave me. The character was pretty much the girl who was really scared, and they save her and are taking care of her. I just thought it would be more interesting if more than being scared, she was mad and pissed about what was going on in her life, about what was happening to her. My whole part is in Spanish, and they couldn’t understand a word of what I was saying. So, Kevin just had to trust me, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, he doesn’t even know what I’m saying.” For me it was cool, but at the same time I was nervous, because I felt like everything depended on me — what I’m saying or that I’m doing the right thing, because they don’t know. I felt really good that they liked what I did and it worked out really well.

CE: Tell me about filming Nacho Libre with Jack Black where you played Sister Encarnacion. I have to tell you that this movie is one of my favorite comedies of the past 10 years — I laughed so hard in some scenes I was crying.

Ana: Oh, thank you! For me it was a blessing because I’m a nun. (Laughs) I’m kidding. We were in Mexico the whole time in a beautiful town called Oaxaca. So, the whole crew was Mexican. The only Americans were literally Jack, Jared (Hess, writer and director) and Mike White (writer). The rest of us were Mexican folks. It was really nice that they were adapting to us. I think Jared did a great job. He’s fluent in Spanish so he did a great job trying to get on the screen our culture and who were are, and he was very respectful about it. We had the best time.  Oaxaca is one of the best places to eat, and so I gained a lot of weight because Jack is a good eater. He was eating the whole time. 

For me, that movie was my big breakout. I was living in Mexico. I was an actress, of course. I already had a pretty good career there. From that moment I had almost 10 years acting, but I got the part without an agent or anything. I had a plan to go away to American to try to make it in Hollywood, but I couldn’t. I didn’t have the money. But then the movie came to Mexico and I got the part.

CE: That’s great that Hollywood came to you!

Ana: Yeah, but after that movie it’s been pretty hard. It’s really, really hard to keep working. There’s a lot of competition out there. There’s a lot of great Latina actresses out there competing for the same roles. Sometimes I have too much accent or I don’t look Mexican enough or sometimes I don’t have enough accent — it’s weird. I struggle a lot, but now I think I get it. After a couple of years, you learn how L.A. works.

CE: Now fans can catch you in HBO’s outrageous and HILARIOUS comedy, Eastbound & Down, which is hands-down one of my favorite shows out right now. What can you tell me about the part you play, Vida, as well as any plot points you can divulge?

Ana: Well, you know that Kenny leaves April at the gas station. So, he basically disappears and wants to start over and wants to go to a new world, so he goes to Mexico. When he comes, I think it’s going to be really, really fun because his character is not that smart. I think he’s pretty ignorant. He’s in a completely new culture. His weaknesses are much bigger. He meets me there and I’m a singer. He thinks we have a connection because I sing Bob Segar songs, covers, but in Spanish the whole time. It was a lot of fun to record those songs. But I can’t tell you much; I don’t want to ruin the story.

CE: How on Earth do you keep a straight face playing opposite Danny McBride?

Ana: Oh my gosh. It is really, really hard. What helps me is I just block my mind, and I’m not listening to him. Because if not, there have been times when the crew couldn’t even work because they were laughing. The camera guy was laughing, and the camera moved because he was laughing. Those guys are really sweet and we improvised a lot. The way they work is we did the scene as it was written like two or three times, and then they just let us free. They let us do whatever we wanted and say whatever we wanted, and we just improvised over and over. I think that’s really a smart thing to do in a comedy show. Those were the hardest moments, because you didn’t expect what somebody was going to say or do. I had the best time. The people from HBO are the sweetest people. They were so nice to me. I couldn’t ask for more. Literally I had the best time of my life.

CE: All the comedic geniuses you’ve worked with, and you can keep a straight face. Directors should pay heed!

Ana: Yeah, I’m really good at it. You know why? Because what happened to me when I did Nacho Libre is — what I am used to is usually when you film in Mexico, the actual film is so expensive that you are not allowed to be laughing like we were doing (on Nacho Libre). How I am used to working is not being able to do very many takes because it’s so expensive, and we don’t have the budget to ruin the scene just because we were laughing. In Mexico, that would be so bad for the director that you are ruining the film, because we don’t have that much money to spend. For me, doing that is disrespectful to the crew. So, that’s why even though I know that I’m allowed to do it, I’m just trained that way not to laugh. I just try to keep a straight face all the time and then laugh after.

CE: I’ve read that although Danny plays a lot of asshole characters that he is really a nice person to work with.

Ana: Yes he is. He and the directors, the writers and the producers were the nicest people, and they are all friends from college. The atmosphere on set was like you were just with friends all the time, and everything was really relaxed. He is the nicest most humble guy and so talented. Like really — he is really, really talented. I would love to work with him again. He’s pretty hot. He’s really smart and educated. He’s really different.

CE: What other projects do you have coming up?

Ana: I do a lot of dramas in Mexico. I have another HBO show; it’s for HBO Latin America that I did for a season two years ago. It’s going to be funny because I’m going to be on HBO in America and HBO in Latin America with different shows. It’s a show called Capadocia. It’s really dark. It’s a big drama. 

And I just finished up a movie called Cowboys & Aliens with Jon Favreau directing, and starring Daniel Craig, Sam Rockwell and Harrison Ford. It’s an action adventure film that is really more unusual for me. I have this love story with Sam. It’s a very, very pretty role.

(pictures 2 and 3: Credit HBO/Fred Norris)

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Interview: Lindsay Pulsipher Mingles With Vampires

True Blood, which airs Sunday nights at 9 on HBO, has had everyone talking since the show began in 2008. The Emmy-nominated show, based on the series of best-selling books by Charlaine Harris, is known for its solid pedigree of featured stars and guest stars. New to the show this season is Lindsay Pulsipher (pictured left, photo credit JSquared Photography), who previously co-starred in The Beast with the late Patrick Swayze. Lindsay plays new-girl-in-town Crystal, and she just happens to stir up some trouble.

Celebrity Extra: When you came aboard True Blood, it was already a bona fide hit with a solid fan base. Was that intimidating for you, or did it get you excited to tackle this role?

Lindsay Pulsipher: I was over-the-moon excited. I was screaming at the top of my lungs when I got the news I’d been cast. Then once all that settled in, I realized the caliber of the show. I knew I was coming into a huge, huge show with a huge fan base and a big following. So there was a little bit of — panic sets in and then you think, “Oh man, can I pull this off and make people excited about this role?” So I hope that I’ve pulled through.

CE: Had you read any of the books before getting the part?

LP: You know when I got the part; I had not read the books. I made a conscious decision to hold off reading them, because I wanted to look at Crystal through the writers’ eyes on the show. And then once I kind of got a feeling for the character and I kind of knew where they were taking her and everything, I decided to start reading the books. I’m on the third book now, and it’s so good. I can see why people are so into it.

CE: What can you tell me about Crystal?

LP: Well, Crystal is just a really strong and spirited character. And I think that it’s every actor’s dream to kind of play a role that has a little meat to it. And there’s a lot for me to play with, with Crystal. She’s multilayered and she’s complex, and she’s got a lot of issues in her life right now. And she’s a little bit manic and it’s fun to be able to explore all those avenues and she’s definitely not one dimensional which is fun.

CE: What’s the overall atmosphere of the show; how is everyone to work with?

LP: It’s a very light and friendly set. Everybody has an amazing time and you can tell everybody just loves their job. And everybody is so happy to be there, which makes for such a pleasant environment. And that being said though, everybody is very professional and takes their job very seriously. And all the actors on the show are really dedicated to their characters, and they know their characters very well.

CE: Can you give me a tease about what going to come up in the next few episodes?

LP: I can definitely tell you that Crystal causes rifts in BT [Bon Temps], but it’s not just for Jason. She causes some problems for some of the other characters and gets herself into some trouble.

CE: Now, can you tell me if your character will be back in Season 4, or might that give something away?

LP: It’s probably best if I don’t answer that. It could potentially give away some spoilers. So I should probably stay away from that question (laughs).

CE: FlashForward was one of my favorite new shows of last season, and I was surprised to see you pop up in the last moments of the final episode as Teenaged Charlie. Have you heard anything about any possible chance of it being brought back, even if it's to another network?

LP: You know, there hasn’t been any talk of that that I know of unfortunately. I know that a lot of people really loved that show, and I think that it had amazing potential to be really great next season. But unfortunately I have not heard anything. But, that would be really cool if it did because I would really love to work on that show again.

CE: Yeah, I want to start a campaign for TNT to bring it back, or AMC, or any of those cutting-edge cable networks.

LP: Yeah, I know. I have a lot of friends who feel that same way. It had a lot of potential, and it was really different and interesting. I’m kind of sad that it’s not going to come back. But you never know, and if another cable network wants to pick it up, that would be amazing!

CE: Prior to this, you co-starred in The Beast with Patrick Swayze. Can you tell me what he was like as a person, and how he was to work with?

LP: Patrick is — was — such an amazing person and I can’t say enough things about him. He was sweet, kind, generous and had an amazingly dirty sense of humor. He was such a jokester. You know, always joking and making things so pleasant and light. Oh, he was such an inspiration. I can’t say enough good things about him. [Going through cancer treatment while shooting the show] really put things into perspective for me. Like if I was kind of tired or my call time was at an ungodly hour, it made me think twice of even complaining inside my head because I knew what he was going through. Never once did he come to work unprepared. He was always in top-notch form. And it was so inspiring to see.

CE: Tell me about the feature film you star in, The Oregonian.

LP: The film is amazing. It’s kind of an art horror film, if you will. My character is this girl who’s leaving home and, without giving too much away, she’s gets into a car accident. And she kind of wakes up and doesn’t know if she’s alive or dead or in purgatory somewhere. And it’s her journey discovering that. And she encounters a lot crazy things along the way, and it’s really different. I’ve never done anything like it. It’s really different and bizarre, and I’m really excited about it.

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Q and A: Week of August 9

Q: Can you tell me if Timothy Hutton (pictured left, photo credit Darren Michaels, TNT) is the son of Jim Hutton of the “Ellery Queen” TV mystery series of old? — Rae S., via e-mail

A: Film and television star Jim Hutton is indeed the father of “Leverage” star Timothy Hutton. Jim gained fame on projects such as “The Green Berets,” “Hellfighters,” “Walk, Don’t Run” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” In 1975, Jim landed the role he is perhaps best-known for, that of the titular character in “Ellery Queen.” He passed away of liver cancer in 1979 at the age of 45.

Q: I just finished reading the book “One Day” by David Nicholls and absolutely loved it. Is it being made into a movie? — Darla E., via e-mail

A: I loved the book as well and am happy to report that the movie adaptation is currently filming in England. Anne Hathaway stars as Emma, and Jim Sturgess is Dexter. The film will follow the story of Dex and Em, two university classmates who meet on graduation night in 1988, and fall in and out of each other’s life over the next two decades. In a clever storytelling convention, each chapter lets the reader explore the protagonists’ lives on July 15 of each year, beginning on that fateful day after graduation.

Q: Dustin Hoffman has always been one of my favorite actors. What does he have coming up? — Julie F., Denver

A: HBO landed the award-winning actor for its new series, “Luck,” which is about the horse-racing world: the owners, jockeys and gamblers. Filming begins this fall, and the show co-stars Dennis Farina and Nick Nolte. The pilot episode will be directed by Michael Mann, of “Miami Vice,” “Heat” and “Public Enemies” fame.

Q: I have a question that I have been wondering about for two years. Why was “Boston Legal” canceled? I have heard it was due to low ratings, which I have a hard time believing since so many people watched and enjoyed it. I have to wonder if some of the storylines were too controversial and ruffled some feathers? – Monnie F., via e-mail

A: Writer and creator David E. Kelley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in December 2008: “ABC didn’t want us back. We had to fight to get back on with 13 [episodes]. It’s not a product they care to market. Five years into the show, if anyone has ever seen the show at ABC, they’ve yet to bring it to my attention,” he said.


David speculated the lack of promotion had to do with the fact that 20th Century Fox produced the show, not ABC itself, so ABC didn’t share in the profits. “Even though our numbers are solid, not huge, I think the conventional wisdom at ABC, and I don’t know this, but I’m guessing they continue to believe they can develop their own product and get that [rating] number, and then also share in the profits.”

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Q and A: Week of July 9

Q: I am so excited that Lifetime Television’s “Drop Dead Diva” is back for another season. Can you give me any teasers on what to expect? — Kimberly T., St. Louis

A: Well, first off, you can expect guest stars a-plenty: Cybill Shepherd, Natasha Henstridge, Vivica Fox, Leelee Sobieski and more. Also, “Diva” star Kate Levering (pictured, left), who plays rival lawyer Kim Kaswell, dished a little with me and let me know that Kim gets a new love interest. Kate says: “We’ll see some of the fallout with her last relationship last season with Grayson, and she’ll enter into a new relationship that creates some scandal. That storyline for me has been really cool. And there will be more interesting, quirky court cases and great dream sequences with really exciting talent.”

Q: I read somewhere that a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” is in the works. Is that true? — Daniel F., via e-mail

A: Director Sam Raimi of “Spider-Man” fame is in contention to direct the “Oz” prequel, which is called “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” As of this writing, Disney had not confirmed the news, as they are still in the negotiation stage. Robert Downey Jr. has been linked to the lead role. Sam himself is a very busy man — he has dozens of films in production, either as a writer, director and/or producer. He is producing and writing “Evil Dead IV,” producing “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” directing “No Man’s Land” and many others. 

Q: I know you’re a big fan of “Dancing With the Stars,” so I was wondering who you’d like to see compete on the show. — Renee, B., via e-mail

A: Thank you for asking! I think former 98 Degrees singer Jeff Timmons would do very well — and get a lot of the ladies’ votes! And funnyman cutie-pie David Blue of “Ugly Betty” and “Stargate Universe” fame would do very well, especially given his musical theater background.


I spoke with “DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba in June (as she was helping to bring awareness to Cat Adoption Month), and she told me one of her dream guests: “I would love to see Lindsay Lohan come on our show. I think it would be a really good opportunity for her to sort of turn her life around, as she’s been going through some hard times. She is a talented young actress, and she’s a very sexy girl. I’m very curious to see that — I think she’d do very well on our show.”

Q: Since her departure from “NCIS,” I haven’t heard anything from Sasha Alexander. What’s she up to? — Art U., Johnson City, Tenn.

A: Since leaving “NCIS,” Sasha, 37, has appeared the feature films “Yes Man,” “Love Happens” and “He’s Just Not That Into You,” as well as many guest spots on various TV series. She is currently wrapping production on the film “Coming and Going,” which should be released later this year. Beginning July 12, she can be seen with Angie Harmon in the TNT original program called “Rizzoli and Isles,” which airs on Mondays at 10/9c.

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David James Elliott: My Two Dads

David James Elliott (photo credit: Hallmark Channel) played baseball star who was spurned by Paige on “Knots Landing.” Then he played a sex-addict football star on “Melrose Place” who cheated on Allison. Now he is an advertising star who is fired by the company that he helped build on the Hallmark Channel original movie “Dad’s Home.” David plays a widowed father who is suddenly out of a job and thrown into his children’s lives, just in time to heal his almost-broken family.

Celebrity Extra: “Dad’s Home” premieres on the Hallmark Channel just in time for Fathers’ Day. When you read the script for the movie, what was is about the movie that made you want to be a part of it?

David James Elliott: My very good friend Bradford Lake worked on the movie, so right away, I knew that was something I wanted to do. And then we found something that we thought we could jam on, and that is kind of what we did with the movie. It was more of a jam session almost. We would come in and kind of rework the scenes. It was like jamming on a riff. It really felt like we could do something with it.

CE: One aspect of the movie I liked was that it was told from the male perspective. We get a lot of these kinds of movies of the single mom trying to juggle all these things, but I really liked that the single father is the protagonist, having to make family versus career choices. Was that appealing for you?

DJE: Absolutely. It was a scenario that I believed that I could talk to. I have two children of my own — a boy and a girl — so it was very accessible to me. It was easy to get there for me. It’s pretty interesting because, like I said, I have a boy and a girl, and we’re completely different. We’re different animals. I have a friend who’s an indigenous person, North American Indian. He told me that his grandfather said: “A long time ago, there used to be just men on the Earth. We lived on corn and cocaine. One day, women came down in a spaceship. They’re better than we are, but they’re not the same.” There’s a lot of wisdom in that.

CE: How was the cast, especially the actors who played your children, to work with? They are such great young actors!

DJE: Both of the kids were really good, which was great. They were just really available and talented. Madison (Davenport, who plays his daughter) was exactly the right level of precociousness. She was a spunky, smart girl. Confident. Very much like my real one. It’s like talking to an alien sometimes. How do I get in there? What do I have to say that opens the door? Are you listening to what I’m saying to you?

CE: I’ve interviewed Sharon Case (Sharon Newman on “The Young and the Restless”) — who plays your romantic interest — a few times and she is always such a sweetheart. How was she to work with?

DJE: Very nice lady, very professional. She was easy to work with. It was great. We had a good chemistry, I thought. She gets it. She’s been working steady her whole life and has a great career. She’s just a really nice girl.

CE: Tell me about “Scoundrels” and about your character, Wolf West (photo credit: ABC).

DJE: This is a dynamite project. It came about in such a funny way. I had just come back from the Amazon, and I got a call, “Hey you want to do this show?” And I said yeah, because I already knew about it — I’d had a meeting about it before. It’s a based on a series that’s been very successful in New Zealand called “Outrageous Fortune.” Great characters. It’s about a family of small-time criminals. That’s how they put food on the table. The first episode opens with what we believe is going to be a short stint in jail for my character. I figure I’ll walk away with four months. That’s OK; I’m setting everything up to exist while I’m gone, and then I end up getting five years. So, the husband is in jail, and the wife is struggling to hold the family together. Virginia Madsen plays my wife.

CE: How is the cast to work with?

DJE: It’s been a lovefest since I got there. Everybody has just been great. Everybody is getting along like a house on fire. It’s just a gas to go to work every day. The scripts are dynamite. I can’t find a thing wrong with it. It’s just bummer when I’m not there.

CE: Because your character is in prison, how/will we still get to see you on the show often?

DJE: Yeah, I’m involved in a lot of ways. He will eventually get out of prison when the show gets picked up.

CE: The show got an eight-episode order for the summer season — if it does well, it is possible it could be picked up for the fall?

DJE: You hear a lot of scenarios and only those guys who wear the suits and work in the big building know. Steve McPherson is the guy who is going to make that decision one day. So anything is possible.

CE: This character seems to be different from the type of character we are used to seeing you portray. Was that part of its appeal to you?

DJE: It would be great for people to see me in another role. I look for things I can embody. This guy, he has a lot of me and he’s got a lot of people that I know in him. It’s just a great opportunity that came along and I’m just happy to be a part of it. He’s completely different from Harmon Rabb (from “JAG”), and that’s dynamite.

Speaking of “JAG,” that was a difficult show to get off the ground, especially when we started. We started under the Clinton administration, when things were going extremely well and there was no thought of war. And to have pulled off what we did and to have lasted as long as we lasted is pretty amazing. The 10th season just came out on DVD, I understand. The timing is all good for me. My stars are aligning — finally. Mercury is leaving retrograde.

Don't miss David in Hallmark Channel's "Dad's Home," airing Sunday night at 9/8c (and repeating throughout this weekend and next), as well as "Scoundrels," which begins this Sunday on ABC at 9/8c.

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Saving Grace Nears the End of the Road

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Current TV's "Vanguard" Explores Rape on the Reservation

Current TV’s Vanguard continues its fourth season with Rape on the Reservation, premiering TONIGHT, June 2 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Correspondent Mariana van Zeller visits the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota to explore the persistent instances of abuse and rape of Native women. The documentary delves into the harrowing stories of women victimized on the reservation, as well as the difficulties they face attempting to seek justice.



Van Zeller goes in-depth with the mother of 19-year-old “Marquita,” who was raped and beaten to death in an abandoned house on the reservation in 2009, and “Donna,” who reveals the frightening retaliation she faced from her accused rapists’ family after pressing charges.

Van Zeller also gets law enforcement’s point of view; during a ride-along with tribal police, an officer admits that the police force is too understaffed to handle the number of calls that come in – many for sexual assault. The victims, their families, and the community also address how perception of women fuels the cycle of violence.

Difficulties exist on a federal level, as well: sexual assaults and homicides on a reservation fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government. In 2006, the government declined to prosecute 65% of all major crime cases on reservations.

A 2007 Amnesty International study cites the following statistics:
* One in three Native American women will be raped in her lifetime.
* Native American women are 2.5 times more likely to be the victim of a sexual assault than any other woman in the United States.

This is absolutely must-see TV. Often difficult and painful to watch, it's definitely an eye-opener into the secrets of life on the reservations. Current TV's Vanguard is bringing to light these atrocities against women, which can no longer be ignored or swept under the carpet.

Tune in tonight and discover this heartbreaking truth at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

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