Q and A: Week of April 7

Katherine Heigl

Q: I haven’t seen my favorite actress, Katherine Heigl, in a while. Will she be back on TV soon, or is she a full-fledged movie star now? — Penny T., via email

A: While Katherine is still a big-screen draw — she has four movies coming out within a year of each other — she hasn’t forgotten her small-screen roots. Katherine — who got her big break on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” — is set to return to series television to star in NBC’s “State of Affairs,” a drama about a CIA attache (Katherine) who advises the president on “high-stakes incidents around the world” while trying to manage her complicated personal life. The pilot has been shot, and things are looking good for a series pickup.

Speaking of “Grey’s Anatomy,” Isaiah Washington is set to return to the series as Dr. Preston Burke for an episode in May. The show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes, told “The Wrap” that Isaiah’s character is vital to wrapping up the story of Sandra Oh’s character, Cristina Yang. Shonda revealed: “It's important to me that Cristina’s journey unfolds exactly as it should. Burke is vital to that journey — he gives her story that full-circle moment we need to properly say goodbye to our beloved Cristina Yang.”

Q: Please tell me that the rumors of a Journey reunion with Steve Perry are true! — Samuel D., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A: Not yet … but word is that they are closer than ever to working things out. In a recent interview, Steve said: “We're trying. It’s tough. I’m doing my best in that area, and I can only do so much. The older I get, the more I do realize how important what we all had together and how it worked. … I brought things out of them, and they certainly brought a lot of my vocal stuff out of me — just [lifting] each other to this place that you can’t get to alone. I think that’s probably the biggest chemistry thing I recognize now.”

And Journey’s founder, Neal Schon, wrote on his Facebook page recently: “I hope we can reach out to each other and connect once again. We had amazing chemistry together. I love him with all the love and admiration you could even have. Steve, let’s talk soon.” I have all of my fingers and toes crossed for a reunion!

Q: Can you tell me when “Falling Skies” will return? I can’t wait! — Jimmy F., via email

A: The fourth season of TNT’s hit series “Falling Skies,” which stars Noah Wylie and Will Patton, premieres Sunday, June 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The series is about life and survival in the wake of a catastrophic alien invasion. Before that at 9 p.m., check out the new action series “The Last Ship,” from executive producer Michael Bay and starring Eric Dane. The series is about a Navy vessel that may be humanity’s last hope in the wake of a worldwide catastrophe.

Q: With “Games of Thrones” returning for its fourth season this past Sunday, it got me wondering what Sean Bean is up to. Can you tell me what he’ll be in next? — Alicia W., via email

Sean Bean in TNT's Legends

A: Beginning in August, Sean stars in the new TNT action-thriller series called “Legends,” which is set to premiere Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The story centers on Sean’s character, Martin Odum, who plays a deep-undercover FBI agent who may be losing his grip on reality. Martin has the ability to transform himself into a completely different person for each job, but he begins to question his own identity when a mysterious stranger suggests that Martin isn’t the man he believes himself to be. The series comes from “Homeland” executive producers Howard Gordon and Alexander Cary, and “Fringe” co-executive producer David Wilcox, and co-stars Ali Carter, Morris Chestnut, Amber Valletta, Steve Harris, and Tina Majorino.

Q: I was happy to read in your column that Kiss will be inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame tonight. Will they be touring to support their induction? — Gary T., Cleveland, Ohio

A: Kiss will indeed be embarking on a joint project this summer, co-headlining with hard-rock superstars Def Leppard in a 42-city summer stadium tour, which will run from June 23 to Aug. 31. Def Leppard’s lead singer, Joe Elliott, said that he and Kiss bassist, Gene Simmons, first discussed the idea of the two bands touring together when he and Gene played some South American dates two years ago as part of a rock-and-roll all-stars tour. “It’s finally happened, which is fantastic,” Joe said. Also, a dollar from each ticket sold on the tour will go to the Wounded Warrior Project and other military nonprofits. (Go to livenation.com for ticket info.)

Q: Starz canceled “Magic City” just as season two ended. What a disappointment. The show was never given much publicity, but it was wonderfully done. I love it and miss it so much, and so do my friends. Is there any chance of “Magic City” going to another cable network? — Dale P., Fort Worth, Texas

A: While I never say never (see “Scrubs” and “Cougar Town” for examples), there hasn’t been much talk about the series continuing. Set in 1959 in Miami shortly after the Cuban Revolution, “Magic City” centered on the story of Ike Evans, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who owned Miami’s most glamorous hotel, the Miramar Playa. I do have slightly good news for you, though: The entire 16-episode “Magic City” series will be released by Starz and Anchor Bay on Blu-ray and DVD on May 13, 2014.

Q: Can you tell me if “Unforgettable” will be back? — Tom V., The Villages, Fla.

A: The CBS drama series starring Poppy Montgomery as Carrie Wells, a woman with hyperthymesia — a rare medical condition that gives her the ability to visually remember everything — will return with a 13-episode third season beginning in June.

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Interview: Michael O'Neill on Justice and Politics in Sundance Channel's Rectify

Character actor Michael O’Neill is one of those actors I just love to interview. While he certainly knows his way around Hollywood — he’s been in countless daytime and nighttime dramas, comedies and feature films — he still maintains such an affable and approachable manner that I felt like I was talking to an old friend from the moment we began our interview. I spoke with Michael about his latest project, the Sundance Channel’s original drama series called “Rectify,” which airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The action takes place in a small town in Georgia, where one of its residents (Daniel Holden) has just been released from prison after spending 19 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Michael plays Sen. Roland Faulkes, who was the prosecuting attorney at the time who sent Holden to prison.

Celebrity Extra: What can you tell me about the show, in general? From what I’ve read, I really like the premise of the show.

Michael O’Neill: This is what happens to a community, particularly a small community, when prison comes to them. This young man has grown up in prison, and it’s all he’s known for the past 20 years. So when he comes out, it’s a huge stone on the water of this little community. You live in Florida, so you know the little towns of the South. The magnolias bloom, and the dogwoods are out at Easter, and the jonquils come up, but there is also this kind of decay underneath it all that we turn a blind eye to. But you just can’t; you simply can’t. I grew up in the South. I grew up in and among those towns, and there’s a real connectivity. There’s a sense that everybody knows your business. There’s a rhythm to it, and the rhythm of prison is very different. And it unsettles it.

CE: Tell me about your character, a man who basically made his career on a prosecution that ended up being unjust.

MO: Oh, yes, you know, it’s not uncommon. It’s interesting what ambition will do. It always has its own agenda. When I think about that character 20 years ago, I wonder if he realized where his ambition would take him or that he was even that ruthless. There’s always a gray area.

CE: What kind of a man is he? I’m guessing he started out thinking he was doing the right thing for his town.

MO: It’s funny, because what you’re talking about is sort of the same thing I’ve struggled with. On the one hand, it’s so delicious to play a guy who’s Machiavellian, and you want to make him more evil, more manipulative. But I don’t think that that’s true to his character. I do think that when opportunity arose 20 years earlier, it was compelling.

But I do think he feels like he’s been a public servant. He answers to the people. He felt the pulse of the town and what they wanted. They wanted a retribution for the act, so he went about making sure that they were satisfied.

There’s a certain hunger in him to be the top dog, to be able to do the things he wants to do. He knows how to glad-hand, and at the same time, I think there’s a little contempt in him about the fact that they aren’t quite up to his speed. Not unlike a lot of politicians today. They might intend one thing, but at the end of the day, there’s a certain self-serving that takes over.

CE: Just looking at the cast list of “Rectify,” you’ve got a bunch of heavy-hitters working with you: Hal Holbrook, Abigail Spencer and Aden Young, to name a few.

MO: Yeah, you’re talking about some pretty seasoned people there. Young or old, they’re seasoned. They’ve been around the block enough to know what gets them going. And they were all compelled by these characters. They felt like they were in opportunity land. They were getting to do something that just was very rare. Abigail and I had conversations about it — she’s as hot as a $2 pistol right now — and she adores her character, Amantha. She’s exploring something that she doesn’t usually get to explore. I’ve watched Aden work a lot, and as contained as he is, you feel like the fuse has been lit. Like there’s an explosion happening inside that’s been muffled underneath a can.

And Hal, of course, he’s incomparable. There’s nobody like Hal Holbrook. I’ve known him for a number of years, and he’s sort of the gold standard in the character-actor world. When people are around us, I say: “Just pay attention. You’ll see how to work from him.” Even when he’s not shooting, he’s continually exploring. He’s not on his cell phone texting anybody; he’s in that script. He’s in exploration.

CE: Let’s talk about your fan-favorite role on “West Wing.” You were originally supposed to be on for one episode, but they loved you so much, they stretched that role to six seasons.

MO: Thanks; I appreciate your saying that. At that time, we were broke. I had three children. My wife had had twins a matter of weeks before, and I hadn’t worked in a while. I’m thinking: “This is a great show. I don’t want to burn it on one day.” But I went in and the script supervisor came over to me and said: “They like you upstairs. You’ll be back,” And I’m thinking: “Yeah, sure, right. Thanks a lot.” And then they did invite me back. They came up with some great stuff, particularly when Aaron Sorkin was there. I still have Secret Service guys who reach out from time to time. I think they appreciated that there was a little reveal about who they are and how they do what they do. I certainly have a great appreciation for them. They were very helpful to me through that journey.

CE: You played an integral multi-episode role on “Grey’s Anatomy” as distraught widower Gary Clark. Tell me about that experience.

MO: I think one of the reasons (creator/executive producer/writer) Shonda (Rhimes) offered me that role was probably because of that Butterfield character, that archetype of a man who solves problems. Because Gary Clark was the absolute end of the spectrum, just the inability to deal with the loss of his wife and becoming untethered from everyone. Working on “Grey’s” was an extraordinary period of time. It breaks my heart every time I see a similar situation come up in the news. I think one of the things Shonda was saying with that story line is that he wasn’t dealt with well. Somebody needed to help him process out if he could. But maybe he was incapable of it. That was probably the most difficult work I’ve ever had to do.

CE: Personally, I think you’d be a perfect fit for Shonda’s newer series, “Scandal.” We need to put that bug in her ear.

MO: That’s a great idea. Let’s get that thought out there. If I run into Shonda I’ll tell her: “Listen, I just spoke to Cindy, and she had the most remarkable idea. We need to do ‘Scandal’ together.”

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 15

Eric Dane (photo courtesy ABC/Danny Feld)

Q: I watched the season premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy” and saw that Mark Sloan died. Did the person who played him die in real life? I noticed at the end they gave a birth year and a death year. — Wayne M., via e-mail

A: Eric Dane, who played the medical drama’s Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan since the show’s second season, is alive and well, unlike his character. He currently is in preproduction on the feature film “Sweet Spot,” which also stars Salma Hayek and Kurt Russell. The film is about a former New York Yankees pitcher past his prime who tries to revive his career in the Mexican Baseball League, and will be released in 2013.

Q: I am so happy that “Scandal” was renewed and has started its second season. Can you please give me any spoilers for what’s coming up? — Tina A., Hartford, Conn.

A: If you’re familiar with Shonda Rimes’ other shows (“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice”), you know you’re in for drama, for sure. I spoke with series star Bellamy Young (who plays first lady Mellie Grant), and she gave me a little tease of what to expect this year.

“We’ll have government agents gone rogue, college students gone missing and sex scandals. Olivia will get more complicated this season, which is fun to watch because Kerry (Washington) does it so well. And it’s just so human. Mellie will get up to no good at all. But Shonda plays it very close to the vest with the story line. Getting the script for the next episode is a big deal. And we’re all texting each other: 'What page are you on?’ And it’s all so shocking! We all just can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Come back here tomorrow for my full interview with this lovely and engaging actress, who is nothing like her alter ego ... I promise!

Sean Bean (photo courtesy HBO)

Q: I really like Sean Bean, especially in “Troy” and “Game of Thrones.” What else can I see him in? — Helen S., Virginia Beach, Va.

A: The British thespian, 53, first entered my radar when he played Bond bad guy Alec Trevelyan in 1995′s “GoldenEye.” He’s done tons of stuff before and since, but nowadays he is best known as the doomed Eddard Stark. Last season, he co-starred with Ashley Judd in “Missing,” and in 2010 he played Zeus in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” and will reprise that role in next year’s “Sea of Monsters.” From 2008-2010, Sean played the title character in “Crusoe,” he tried to foil Nicolas Cage’s treasure hunt in 2004′s “National Treasure,” and he played Boromir in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The list goes on and on.

Q: I think that Jimmy Kimmel did a bang-up job hosting the Emmy Awards. Any chance he’ll host the next Academy Awards ceremony? — Bob K., via e-mail

A: While Jimmy might have an Oscar-hosting gig in his future, the 85th annual Academy Awards ceremony, which will take place Feb. 24, will be hosted by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane.

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Interview: Kim Raver Breaks the Silence

If you plan to watch the Lifetime original movie, Bond of Silence, tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT, be sure to have a box of tissues handy. This movie, which is based on real-life events that happened to Katy McIntosh and her family, is a real tearjerker — but not in a sentimental or gluttonous way. Its message of love and forgiveness is sure to melt the iciest of hearts.


Kim Raver, of Grey's Anatomy and Lipstick Jungle fame, portrays Katy McIntosh, as the young wife and mother whose husband mysteriously dies while trying to quell a wild teenage house party on New Year’s Eve. Searching for answers about her husband’s death, the teens and their protective parents keep a shroud of secrecy to prevent her from finding out the truth. With the help of a local detective (Greg Grunberg, Heroes and Alias) she tries to break up the bond and uncover the secrets behind what really happened. (All photos credit: Sergei Bachlakov/Lifetime Television)

Celebrity Extra: What was your first reaction when you read the script and you learned about what happened and the character that you were going to be playing?

Kim Raver: It was devastating and moving and shocking all at the same time. And being a mother, I thought, do I even want to go there? And as an actress, to go through all of that stuff. And at the same time you think, wow this is a great opportunity. And I think also because it was a real story I was moved. And then you’re kind of weighing whether this is a project I want to do. I’m on such a short hiatus. And actually the director sent me Katy’s book. I was really moved by this whole experience. But what motivated me was her forgiveness. Which made me think, wow, this woman is a very interesting woman. How would I handle it if I were walking in her shoes? So that is what led me to do this project.

CE: Katy is such a strong woman — unbelievably strong. What were some other things about her that you could really relate to and that made you really want to do it?

KR: Well, I’m shooting Grey’s Anatomy for 10-and-a-half months out of the year, and there is this small window to find something else that you really want to take that time to do. And this project sort of came along and fit in that time frame. I don’t know, I related to the story of how she was going to move on from this with two children. I was reading the book and it was talking about how she was able to function after this tragedy, for her children. And I thought whether it’s this tragedy or that tragedy or some other life thing for other people, we can relate to that. Her need to know what happened is a very powerful thing about how she went about who she is. I just thought she was a very complicated, interesting, multilayered woman, and I liked that.

CE: You got the chance to meet her in real life. What is she like?

KR: She’s very powerful. She came to one of the rehearsals and the first moment we met … it was just really powerful. She’s a very special woman and to really know all of these personal details after reading her book and then getting to meet her. It was a special time. There are certain people that affect you in your life, and her story is a really interesting story. And I mean, yes, there is a lesson in the drinking and the partying and the responsibility. Maybe because I have kids, it’s interesting in the sense that it reminds people that actions have consequences. But it was bigger for me than that. It was more about the journey of this woman.

CE: When I was reading the In Touch article that Lifetime's PR department sent along, I couldn’t understand how Katy could befriend her husband’s killer. But after seeing the movie, I could understand.

KR: For me, one of the things that’s interesting is, I may have an idea of what I think forgiveness is, but I’m not sure how I would handle that. But after watching this and having that example of someone who was able to take her pain and turn it into a kind of gift, was an amazing illumination on forgiveness. And I find that really interesting. This movie can stimulate conversation and to have people discuss the notion of forgiveness and what we think we could handle and what we don’t.

CE: Your character goes through hell. How does she keep it all going and keep herself together?

KR: That was a real challenge for me, in the script. How in real life it took five years and you could understand that journey, and when it was compressed into six months for the movie, it was really difficult. There is just so much coming at her, that you just kind of handle it and you find a way.


What do we do when we’re hit with a crisis moment? Who do we become, and I think that is an interesting question to ask. She had her children; that helped her. And I think that it was also a defense mechanism of the trying to control everything. I’m talking about the character that I play. I don’t know if that’s true about the real Katy. But with my Katy, I have to go on for my children; I have to go on and keep everything neat and organized and together, that was her way of functioning. When I talked to the real Katy, she said she was able to — as devastating and as painful as it was — make it a gift. And I think that that’s true in my life. There are moments that I find devastating or painful, and hopefully I’ll come out on the other side and find it as a gift.

CE: With such heavy material to play, how was the vibe on the set?

KR: Thank God for Greg Grunberg. I kind of just dove into the role, because it’s a great opportunity. But then it became whatever-number day I had to be in this really dark, horrible place. I kind of like to stay where I’m at, but I couldn’t really do that in this role. It was just too dark and too painful. And Greg has an incredible sense of humor. He’s got a great work ethic, so he got it. Like when things were rolling and we had to go, we went and we were there. But in between — he’s just a sheer joy. He’s hysterically funny. And it was really good for our crew. We had an incredibly dedicated and hardworking crew. We worked some long, long hours. So the set vibe was strangely funny. It was the only way to get through this really heavy, real life drama.

CE: I had a feeling you would say that about Greg, because I thought he would be the one to help keep it light for you guys.

KR: He did. There were a couple times when we couldn’t keep it together because we were laughing so hard while we were shooting it. And you really need that when you’re dealing with this kind of material. Otherwise it’s just a long time of darkness.

CE: My last question is about Grey’s Anatomy: Can you give me any hints as to what we can expect from the coming season?

KR: I can’t give much, as you know, or I’ll lose my job (laughter). But I will say I’m pretty sure that everything can and will always change. I’m pretty sure that the triangle with Teddy, Owen and Kristina is done. And while I’m sad for Teddy because it’s really hard for her, I’m just happy as a fan. The Owen and Kristina story has so much more to explore. And I think that that’s great. I’m glad not to continue the love triangle, because otherwise it would have become redundant. It was a great way to establish Teddy. And so in the first couple episodes you may actually see Teddy kind of having something romantic with a new person. She’s gonna try.

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