Q and A: Week of March 18

Q: Kirstie Alley: Where is she, and what has she been doing? — George G., Hanover, Wash.

A: Since wowing her fans during two separate runs on “Dancing With the Stars,” Kirstie is taking that momentum to TV Land, where she’ll star in a new sitcom, “Kirstie’s New Show,” beginning this fall. According to the network, the show “revolves around Madison ’Maddie’ Banks (played by Kirstie), a renowned Broadway star who finds her life turned upside down when Arlo, the son she gave up at birth, suddenly appears hoping to connect after his adoptive parents have died.” The show co-stars Kirstie’s fellow “Cheers” alumnus, Rhea Perlman.

Q: I am so happy that my favorite reality/competition show, “Dancing With the Stars,” is back. But why hasn’t my favorite dancer, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, returned? — Hannah Y., via e-mail

A: Right after the season 16 cast was announced last month, the 33-year-old ballroom pro released a statement explaining his absence this season: “I just want to set the record straight to all of my amazing fans that I will, unfortunately, not be returning for this season of ’Dancing with the Stars,’ I’ve been a pro dancer on the show for about seven years now and am eager to explore other opportunities that have been made possible because of ’Dancing with the Stars.’ I’m going to take this time to dive into producing and acting, while fulfilling my sponsorship obligations.”

A representative for the show went on to explain why Maksim — as well as Anna Trebunskaya, Chelsie Hightower and Louis van Amstel — wouldn’t be returning: “We frequently rotate the professional dancers, so it is not unusual for them to rest a cycle. As we consider who will be matched up each season, there are a lot of factors that dictate which couples make the best pairings. We appreciate each of our dancers’ dedication to the show, so this is a very difficult decision.”

Q: I really loved Jane Seymour’s raunchy turn as BJ’s mom on Fox’s “Ben and Kate.” Since that hilarious show has unfortunately been canceled, will we see Jane on anything else soon? I sure do hope so! — Harold W., Roanoke, Va.

A: The gorgeous and talented Brit has signed on to co-star in a yet-untitled pilot for NBC. The show revolves around a character named Karey, “the clean-nosed black sheep in a family of petty thieves, drug addicts and narcissists.” Jane will play Dotty, Karey’s mother, who’s described as “self-centered, theatrical and often inappropriate.”

Q: I have been hearing for a while about a new Aaron Eckhart movie called “Erased.” It is supposed to be in theaters, but I can’t find it anywhere. — Danni R., via e-mail

A: The action thriller was released in Europe at the end of 2012, and will finally be making its way to American theaters come May 10. However, you can see it beginning April 5 on Video on Demand if you can’t wait until May.

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Interview Outtakes

Most of the time when I am conducting an interview with a celebrity, I have more interview material than space for printing the interview. Here are some blurbs from stars that did not make it to the print version of the interview, but were too good not to publish.

Jennie Garth

Jennie Garth (on deciding to compete on “Dancing with the Stars”): I had like a moment of insanity when I said yes to that. I didn’t realize, sometimes you get yourself into things and you are like, “What have I done?” And that was definitely one of those things for me, but once you are in, you can’t get out. I just had to keep moving forward. I had to keep going. It was go-time, and I had to go. It ended up going well — much better than I thought — but every moment, every turn, was unknown to me. I was in unknown territory. But it was fun, and it was exhilarating. It was challenging, and it was kind of freeing in that I really feel that I could do anything.

Jaime Pressly (on doing a wrap-up or reunion show for “My Name Is Earl”): I would be game to go back to that set and work with those people any day, any time. And I think everybody else that was a part of the show would say the same thing. It was the greatest job I’ve ever had and the greatest group of people that you could ever ask to work with. They all hold a very dear place in my heart, and I miss them all terribly.

Erin Karpluk

Erin Karpluk (on similarities between her and her character on “Being Erica”): I like that when life gets her down or she stumbles in life, she is able to pick herself up, dust herself off and keep going. So that is something that I have learned personally from her. I've heard from friends and family that there are certain quirks and mannerisms that are my own that come out in the character. Usually any kind of awkward moments she is having is probably pretty authentically Erin, because I find that I can be awkward in life, and I’m not afraid to make mistakes. That is something of me that I bring to the character. And then on a dramatic level, anything to do with family is something that I can just draw upon from real life. The one thing that Erin and Erica both are is we are very committed and empathetic toward our loved ones. My family and my friends mean more to me than anything. I feel very lucky to have that connection in my own personal life, so I can draw upon that in my acting experiences. The fact that I work with such wonderful cast members, it just makes it so easy for us to have that connection. It’s like a real family I have now when I go back to Toronto to shoot. It’s really lovely to go back to those actors and create those connections.

Ross Thomas (on working with Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid on “Soul Surfer”): It was a bit surreal, to be honest. They both are icons in their own right and a pleasure to work with. Helen is an avid surfer — surfing is what really brought us together. Dennis is interested in learning and getting good. At first, he played golf on his days off, but we got him hooked, and he became a surf junkie. I think that really carried over into our performances, that sense of family.

Jane Seymour (by Charles Bush)

Jane Seymour (on her children in the biz): My son, Johnny, one of the twins, is becoming a rock star. He is about to be signed by a major label. He’s writing this amazing music. He’s extraordinary. He’s the lead singer and the lead guitarist. I’m just in awe of his talent. Then my oldest son, Sean Flynn, he’s 25, he does the most extraordinary photographic art. Collectors have already been buying his stuff. He was studying to be a filmmaker and all of a sudden, the next thing I know, he’s doing this really unique, extraordinary photographic art. One of my daughters, Katherine Flynn, is an actress. She also writes great comedy. She ended up staring opposite me in a movie called “Perfectly Prudence” for the Hallmark Channel just recently. She was fantastic in it. She played my daughter. Of course, it wasn’t much of a stretch. But it was fun, because she had a lot of scenes with Joe Lando who, of course, was my “Dr. Quinn” co-star.

Heather Locklear (on flexing her comedy chops on “Saturday Night Live” in the ’90s): That was my favorite! That was my most favorite thing I’ve done where you could see that I’m funny. I had such a great time doing it. And that “Melrose Place” take-off was so funny. So perfectly perfect. I have a meeting coming up for something soon, something funny, so we’ll see.

Mark Pellegrino (by Eric Williams)

Mark Pellegrino (on the variety of the roles he’s played): Well, I’m glad that it is happening that way. Some folks would like to say that I’ve played bad guys. I think if I play the bad guy, I try to — I can never look at myself as a bad guy. I always try to bring out the good and the moral and the right that the person is going for, so hopefully any variety that I’m able to bring to a role just happens because I’m trying to find the human thing and not act in an archetypal way.

Eric Winter (on possibly working with wife, actress Roselyn Sanchez): You know, I don’t know. If the right project ever came up, and it made sense, then sure. I mean, we’re not completely against it, but it’s one of those things that a lot of couples — sometimes you keep it separate, but if the right opportunity presents itself, then who knows?

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Interview: Jane Seymour's Inspiration

The beautiful and multitalented Jane Seymour needs no introduction. Aside from an impressive acting resume (“Somewhere in Time,” “Live and Let Die,” “War and Remembrance,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Smallville” and “Wedding Crashers”), Ms. Seymour is a gifted artist. Perhaps her best-known piece of art is Open Hearts, which was inspired by her mother. Fans can see Jane’s work, as well as the artist herself, this month in New York. I spoke with Jane recently about her artwork and what inspires her.

Celebrity Extra: On March 26, you are participating in Artexpo New York, which is sponsored by Free Arts New York. What can you tell me about that art show?

Jane Seymour: I’ve been participating in it now for a number of years, and I love it. It’s a trade show with dealers from all over the world. The thing that I love about it is walking around to see all of the other exhibits, especially the emerging artists section, which is fantastic. You can discover some great new artists.

CE: Being such a well-known celebrity, you must attract quite a crowd.

JS: I do get quite a crowd, which is really nice. People see me paint the Open Hearts, which is all well and good, but I think they get very surprised when they come to my booth and see that I do figurative art, I do photo realism, I do impressionism, I do sculptures. I have a major range of styles.



CE: How does Free Arts New York figure into this? What does that organization do?

JS: They provide art programs for kids in New York, kids who don’t have means. When I go there, we usually paint a huge mural together. It’s really cool. These kids are just so much fun to paint with. They have great teachers who really inspire the kids to do their best. When I go there and I’m painting with them, it’s one of my favorite things. A child’s artwork is the most exciting, because it’s very free. It comes straight from his or her fantasy, with the child pouring it right out there for all to see.

CE: Tell me about Open Hearts.

JS: Open Hearts has become what my mother would have dreamt, which is a universal symbol uniting every belief system. It’s a universal symbol of hope and love. It’s helping people cope with change in their lives. It’s helping people understand relationships in a different way. You can open your heart and let go of things that are said and done, and be in the present moment and reach out to help someone else. By doing that, love comes into your life. Purpose comes into your life.

CE: You have a new art theme, Waves. Can you explain Waves to me?

JS: Years ago, I read a book called “Remarkable Changes,” and it explained that life is kind of like a wave. You are on this body of water that is just moving in the direction that you happen to join it wherever you are in life. You are moving forward — you go to school, you study and you become the kind of person that you are going to be. Then at some point, this wave, this body of water, just picks you up and takes you. There is this moment of crescendo where the sun and the wind and everything sparkles, and it’s just full of this magical energy.

And then that same wave crashes. There are highs and lows in life, a lot like the wave. When it reaches a high, it continues to move. It doesn’t stay there. And like in life, moments don’t stay. They’re part of a big cycle.

CE: Where do you find inspiration for your art?

JS: I find it anywhere and everywhere. I honestly do. And I think once you start painting or drawing, you focus so much on what it is you’re seeing and your response to it that even when you are not painting or drawing, you look at life differently. You look at the world differently. You start seeing amazing patterns and color combinations and textures. It can be clouds. It can be the way the weeds are growing in the middle of a perfect lawn. People go to a museum, look at a piece of artwork and ask themselves, “Is that art?” Art is what you see in it. I think people should give themselves the benefit of the doubt. They need to allow themselves to be transported and raptured by whatever it is they see, allow themselves to go, “Ooooh!” It’s all about the “ooooh!” factor.

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Q and A: Week of March 7

Q: I would like to know what my all-time favorite actress, the beautiful Jane Seymour, is doing nowadays. — Leann R., via e-mail

A: If you are in the New York area, you can see the beautiful Brit in the flesh on March 26. She will have a booth at Artexpo New York, where she’ll be presenting her “Waves” theme. I spoke with Jane about her artwork, and she is always excited to share her love of art with her fans, especially her new theme, “Waves.”


“Life is kind of like a wave,” Seymour said. “You are on this body of water: You are moving forward, you go to school, you study, and you become the kind of person that you are going to be, and then at some point, this body of water has this moment of crescendo. The wave crashes. There are highs and lows in life, a lot like the wave. When it reaches a high, it continues to move. Like in life, moments don’t stay. They’re just part of a big cycle.”


Ms. Seymour also can be seen on the big screen in “Love, Wedding, Marriage” with James Brolin, Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz, as well as on the small screen in “Castle” (at the end of March). Regarding her “Castle” episode, Jane said: “It was really fun to do. It was just a couple of scenes but really fun — it’s a fun little character.”

Q: I absolutely loved Jeremy Irons’ guest-starring appearance on “Law and Order: SVU.” Any chance he’ll return? — Kylie F., Baton Rouge, La.



A: Your wish (and mine) has been granted. Jeremy has been tapped to return to “SVU” as Dr. Cap Jackson, where he’ll help Benson and Stabler with a case. In this case, a piano teacher (played against type by “V”‘s Elizabeth Mitchell) is suspected of sexually assaulting and murdering one of her students. The episode is scheduled to air March 30.

Q: When is “Damages” coming back, and on what station? — C.H., via e-mail

A: “Damages,” which originated on FX, has been picked up for two more seasons by DirecTV to air on the 101 Network (like the beloved “Friday Night Lights”). The legal drama starring Glenn Close, Ted Danson and Rose Byrne is set to return for season four in July 2011.

Q: “Fame” is one of my favorite shows. Are there any plans for it to be shown again on any of the many networks that now exist? — Jerry D., Ocean City, Md.

A: You’re in luck! Starting March 21, Ovation television (check your local cable/satellite provider for channel number) will be airing a “Fame”-athon, featuring 48 episodes of the landmark dance and music drama. Viewers also can win some cool prizes for watching. Register at www.ovationtv.com/Fame.” Then watch every night for two secret clues from each episode, and enter them on the website. The sweepstakes runs from March 21 to April 1.

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