Q and A: Week of May 21

Scott Aukerman

Q: I’m a big fan of Scott Aukerman, and I especially love his podcast, “Comedy Bang! Bang!” I heard that it is going to become a TV series. Is that true? — Jonathan V., via e-mail

A: You heard right! Writer/comedian Scott Aukerman — who is best known for his work with “Mr. Show with Bob and David” and for co-creating “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” — will indeed be bringing his hilarious podcast to the small screen. IFC has picked up “Comedy Bang! Bang!” which premieres Friday, June 8, at 10 p.m.

To gear up for the show — which will feature such big-name stars as Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, Seth Rogan and Elizabeth Banks — go to ifc.com/fix/2012/05/reggie-watts-makes-music to see Jon Hamm show off his freestyle skills on an improvised jam about the classic TV show “Taxi.” And check the website often, as new webisodes will air throughout the season.

Q: I can barely stand the wait — when will “Pretty Little Liars” be back? — Sissy R., via e-mail

A: The third season of the hit ABC Family series “Pretty Little Liars” will be back and raring to go on Tuesday, June 5, at 8 p.m. The series picks up with Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hanna dealing with the fact that Mona is the mysterious “A” who’s been blackmailing them. While the character died in the book series on which the TV series is based, actress Janel Parrish, who plays Mona, has been upgraded to a series regular and will play a bigger role in the upcoming season. However, just because Mona’s been outed as “A,” it doesn’t mean she murdered Allison — that culprit is still on the loose.

Q: My family has been waiting anxiously for the season-three episodes of the “Downton Abbey” series to be aired. Our relatives in Europe have already seen the latest continuing episodes of the popular British series. Can you tell us when we can expect season-three episodes to start here in the U.S.? — Tom S., Hartford County, Conn.

A: Your European relatives might be confusing season two with season three, as season three is still in production. While Europe will get to see the third season before us — it’s scheduled to air on ITV in England in September, and here in America on PBS in January 2013 — I can guarantee you that, as of now, they haven’t seen any more than you have.
 
Q: In my opinion, the fourth season of “Southland” was the best yet. Please tell me it’s been renewed for another season! — Matt F., Sacramento, Calif.

A: It would seem that the powers that be at TNT agree with your assessment of “Southland,” as they have renewed the hit cop series for a 10-episode fifth season, which is scheduled to begin airing in February 2013. As the date gets closer, I’ll be sure to fill my readers in on all the details.

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Q and A: Week of Dec. 12

Lucy Hale

Q: It seems like I’ve been waiting forever for the rest of the second season of “Pretty Little Liars” to air. Please tell me it will be back soon! — Erin H., via e-mail

A: I love to be the bearer of good news. Your favorite bad girls, led by Aria Montgomery (played by Lucy Hale), will be back with new episodes on ABC Family on its new night starting Monday, Jan. 2. Watch as Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer take matters into their own hands to try to finally put a stop to their tormentor, the mysterious “A.”


Also, I spoke with Annabeth Gish recently, who played/plays Dr. Sullivan on the show, and I asked her if she'd be back when the show returned. While she couldn't tell me much, she could say this: "I don’t know if I’m at liberty to say. You will see Dr. Sullivan again. In what way shape or form I cannot say." Don't miss Annabeth on A&E's "Bag of Bones," the second half of which airs tonight at 9/8c, and check out my interview with the talented actress here.

Q: I love watching one of my favorite “classic” TV shows, “Designing Women,” in reruns whenever I get the chance. I’ve decided to ask Santa for the boxed sets on DVD, but can only find seasons one through four. Will season five be out before the holidays? — Jeanne C., Conyers, Ga.

A: You, and the rest of us “Designing Women” fans, are in luck — season five was released on DVD Dec. 6, right in the nick of time for Jolly Ole St. Nick to place a copy in your stocking. Season five begins with Charlene enrolling in college, Suzanne accidentally bidding on a date with Anthony, Mary Jo deciding to want a baby, and Julia secretly moonlighting as a nightclub songstress. The four-disc set includes all 24 original episodes — with all the hairspray and shoulder pads that that entails. This season is also the last to include original cast members Jean Smart and Delta Burke, who left before season six to be replaced by Jan Hooks (who stayed for seasons six and seven) and Julia Duffy (who was in season six only).

Q: Can you tell me if one of my favorite shows on TV will return? “The Killing” on AMC was riveting, and the twist at the very end of the last show blindsided me! — Ann in Minnesota

A: I was just thinking about that show the other day, so thank you for reminding me. I too love “The Killing” and was glued to my seat for the entire 13-episode first season. The show will be back for a second season — thank goodness! — most likely in late spring, although an official date has not been set. If you’re not already following me on Twitter (twitter.com/celebrity_extra), you should, because I always post up-to-the-minute news on casting and returning series.

Q: “Downton Abbey” on PBS was one of my favorite shows of 2011. I remember reading in your column that it would be back for a second season. If so, when? — Donna B., Tulsa, Okla.

A: “Downton Abbey” season two returns to PBS’s Masterpiece Classic on Sunday nights beginning Jan. 9 and running through Feb. 19 at 9 p.m. ET. Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Dan Stevens headline the remarkable cast as World War I shakes Downton Abbey to its very foundations.

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Interview: Annabeth Gish Gets Spooky

Annabeth Gish knows spooky. While she may have gotten her big break in the romantic comedy "Mystic Pizza," and has co-starred in "Wyatt Earp," "Double Jeopardy," "West Wing," "FlashForward" and "Pretty Little Liars," she also starred in the eighth and ninth seasons of "The X-Files" as Monica Reyes. So, yeah, Annabeth is familiar with strange and unexplained phenomena.

This Sunday and Monday night at 9/8c on A&E, Annabeth is exploring the unknown again, this time starring in the television miniseries adaption of Stephen King's bestseller "Bag of Bones." This four-hour, two-day event stars Pierce Brosnan as bestselling novelist Mike Noonan, who is unable to stop grieving after the sudden death of his wife Jo (Annabeth). Suffering from writer’s block, a dream inspires him to return to the couple's lakeside retreat in western Maine. While there, Mike befriends an attractive young widow, Mattie (Melissa George) and her daughter Kyra (Caitlin Carmichael), and becomes involved in a custody battle with the child's enormously wealthy grandfather. Though his ability to write suddenly returns, Mike is plagued by ever-escalating nightmares and mysterious ghostly visitations from Sara Tidwell (Anika Rose), a blues singer whose spirit lingers in the house. As he is haunted by the many secrets at the lake, Mike comes to realize that his late wife still has something to tell him.

Celebrity Extra: I just watched the press screener, and I have to tell you, "Bag of Bones" scared the bejeezus out of me!

Annabeth Gish: That's great! It’s that good kind of spooky, isn't it? This is why Stephen King is so prolific and popular, because he gets at the root of horror where it’s not just horror for horror’s sake. It’s horror with heart. His work has real grit and feeling behind it, and particularly "Bag of Bones." That’s why it’s so scary, because there’s so much feeling invested.


My husband has said that he was a bit wary of watching it. He’s a stunt man, but he’s wary of watching horror films. He might be running in and out of the next room (as I watch it Sunday night).

CE: Had you read the book beforehand, or did you want to go into the movie without any preconceptions, since often things have to change from novel to screenplay?

AG: I had not read it and (director) Mick (Garris) said, “Don’t read it until afterward.” So when I finished my work on the movie, I met that tome of a novel.

CE: Did you get to meet Stephen King? Was he on the set at all during filming?

AG: No, and you know, I feel like he’s one of those people who — and I don’t have many — that I want to meet so badly that I almost don’t want to meet them. Do you know that paradox where you love their work so much and you respect them that it kind of exists in this other realm? I still would love to meet him, of course, but I also I kind of feel like I’m psychically linked to him because I’ve now worked in two of his projects (the other being "Desperation"), brought two of his characters to life. It’s been a pleasure to get involved in his universe.

CE: So you've got one degree of separation with Mr. King, his actual books!

AG: Right, exactly! And the best part was when we were shooting some of the promo stuff for "Bag of Bones," the fabulous Dark Score Stories website — oh my God, it’s a treat because it’s just so finely done. Part of the idea behind it was to lace a bunch of Stephen King clues from the entirety of his writings on this website. I got to do this photo shoot, and it’s just me and some crows, which I have a proclivity toward crows. I just respect them so much.

CE: Besides the fact that the material is just exceptional, what were some other reasons behind your wanting to take on the role of Jo Noonan?

AG: There are so many elements. The fact that Mick Garris was directing it — who I have worked with before and who I think is wonderful — he brings Stephen King’s books to the screen so well and so masterfully. He himself is a master of horror. So having known Mick and the chance to work with him again, that was an instant yes for me.

And Pierce Brosnan of course. The opportunity to work with Pierce, and also just the script. I felt like, especially with Jo — comprehensively it wasn’t that I just fell in love with Jo Noonan — I fell in love with the entire cast of characters. Sarah Tidwell and her mystery, and Mike Noonan and Mattie and Kyra — the script as a whole was one of the best things I’ve read in a long time.

To be honest, one of the highlights of this experience for me was working with Pierce, because he invested so much in this material that he raised it to an operatic level. He doesn’t play small, and he brought something new to every take. It was very inspiring. He might just be one of the most impeccable men I’ve ever worked with.

CE: He seems like he is such a gentleman as well.

AG: Yeah, a complete gentleman and yet this driven, hungry artist. It was definitely a highlight to work with and get to know him on a personal level.

CE: Have you been able to watch your character's death scene yet?

AG: What is so weird is that I couldn’t watch it. I don’t know what it is, I just, I’m afraid to watch that part. I think for Pierce that scene was really profound as well, because you’re dealing with death and loss and reliving all that, that scene was really emotional to shoot.

CE: Pierce dealing with your character's death was just so heart-wrenching to watch ...

AG: To be honest, those are the scenes that I watched. I don’t really like watching myself, so I kind of fast-forward through my stuff and watch everybody else’s scenes. But his scenes I definitely watched.

CE: Are you going to be watching on Sunday night with the rest of America?

AG: Yes, I will be. But I am also truly so very excited for people to watch this because I think they're going to be powerfully affected. It’s not just a horror movie; it’s not just a mystery. It’s like a horror show, a mystery and a deep love story, and that’s why I think it’s going to appeal to a lot of people.

CE: Another one of your roles that I really enjoyed watching was when you played Monica Reyes on "The X-Files," one of my all-time favorite television shows. What was that working experience like?

AG: It was superlative. I had such a great time on that show. I adore Robert Patrick, and Gillian (Anderson, Dana Scully), David (Duchovny, Fox Mulder), Chris (Carter) and Frank (Spotnitz), and the entire machinery that was "X-Files" was divine. I really look back with deep fondness on the entire experience, and with a bit of sadness too. Although we couldn’t ever reach the level of Mulder and Scully — they were legendary, so we couldn’t quite ascertain that level.

But I do miss Doggett and Reyes. I miss their storyline that I feel sort of had to abruptly end. But my gosh, I have nothing but deep fondness for that experience for two years. And I met my husband on that show, so I have wonderful, wonderful gratitude for that time. And for all the fans — no one was cruel toward me. I think there was just this loyalty to Mulder and Scully, which you could understand.

CE: What can you tell me about "Pretty Little Liars"? Will we be seeing Dr. Sullivan when the second part of the second season premieres on Jan. 2 on ABC Family?

AG: I don’t know if I’m at liberty to say ... You will see Dr. Sullivan again. In what way shape or form, I cannot say.

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Interview: Laura Leighton on Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars, a new teen suspense drama from ABC Family, premieres tonight at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Melrose Place alum Laura Leighton is just one of the main familiar faces involved with the new show, and was my main reason for tuning in. I spoke with her yesterday about the new show, and about "the old days" at Melrose Place.

Celebrity Extra: What was it about the show and the character of Ashley that made you want to be a part of it?

Laura Leighton: The script came out when pilot season was casting, and it was definitely one of those scripts that everybody wanted to be a part of. It was talked about. The casting process was exciting. The script was a terrific read. The thing with the show, it makes you want to see what’s going to happen next. You want to have the next episode. It’s the same in the script. You just kept turning the page. It’s fun; it’s suspenseful; it’s a huge cast of characters. I feel lucky that there was a part in there for me. I think the character of Ashley, it’s always fun to play somebody who’s got a bit of, two sides. On one hand she’s trying to do her best, and on the other she’s got a little something a dark going on. It’s fun to play those characters. I’m just so lucky that it worked out.


CE: This is being called a cross between Desperate Housewives and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Would you agree? If not, how would you describe it?

LL: I do agree with that. I think it’s an apt description. I also think there’s a little bit of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in there. These four girls are sort of brought together by this common mystery they share. They’ve all got secrets, and one of them is a big secret that they all share together. Their friendship, I think, is a very important element of the show. One other description that I heard that I think is a really great is “teen noir.” It’s got a little bit of a dark quality to it. At the same time it’s every bit of a teen show with beautiful girls and the storyline is about that time in their lives. So I like the idea of calling it teen noir.

CE: That is great! I wish I had thought of that.

LL: I wish I had too, but I didn’t. I stole it from somebody. One of our directors called it that and now I’m using it.

CE: This is a pretty risky teen drama, dealing with murder, affairs with teachers, blackmail, etc. — how has the reaction been to it so far from people who’ve seen the first episode?

LL: My experience of people’s reactions is it’s unanimous. They are excited to see it and they are excited by the possibility of the next episodes as the storyline keep building. Who doesn’t like a good story with colorful drama, with mystery and suspense and all of that fun stuff? I just think it’s going to be a really fun show for ABC Family.

(Photo: ABC Family)

CE: You are working with an excellent cast — all of the teen girls are excellent (Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell), as well as the parents: you, Chad Lowe, Holly Marie Combs, Nia Peeples. How is the cast to work with, and in later episodes will we get to see Ashley interact more with the other parents?

LL: So far I think they are really establishing the girls together and their relationship, their friendship with one another and then catching a glimpse of their home life with their parents. So far we’ve mostly focused on developing those stories. But I’m sure in the community of Rosewood, every now and then the parents are going to cross paths. There’s a reason for the people in the neighborhood to interact with each other. We haven’t developed those story lines yet where the families meet and cross paths. I look forward to having scenes with Chad and Holly and Nia, and I’m sure that that will happen in the future. But right now they are just getting their relationships launched and really established.

CE: I am excited to see a Melrose Place reunion of sorts wih you and Chad together onscreen again.

LL: We are definitely excited to work together again.

CE: On a side note, I always liked Sydney (Laura’s character on Melrose) with Carter (Chad’s character) best, and was sad when it didn’t work out with them.


LL: I did too. It’s funny — I remember back then in interviews, people would ask, “Who do you think was the real love of Sydney’s life?” And I always thought that there was maybe a part of her that felt it was probably Carter. He was kind of eccentric and perfect for her. He left her on the tarmac, and that was just so romantic.

CE: Back to Pretty Little Liars, Ashley is different from the other moms in that now she is a single mom. How has her husband leaving her affected her as a wife and as a mom?


LL: I think that it’s left her pretty vulnerable and slightly desperate to make it work. I think the idea of a failed marriage, feeling like she has failed as a wife — she doesn’t want to fail as a mother. So she’s making choices to just try to make everything OK. She's not necessarily seeing clearly what the right thing to do is. But I think in her vulnerability and sort of desperation, what’s driving her is to make everything OK for her daughter. It’s definitely, I think, going to keep unfolding what’s going on in that family as a result of being a single-parent household.

(Photo: ABC Family)

CE: She has a line where she tells her daughter, “I buy you everything you need to be popular, so why do you have to steal?” And she sleeps with the detective to get her daughter off for shoplifting. Is there nothing Ashley wouldn’t do for Hanna?

LL: Well, we’ll see. I think that right now we are seeing that she’s making a pretty drastic choice to try to cover up Hanna’s misdemeanor. We’ll see what sort of repercussions that has. I think it’s going to unravel in a way that I don’t know yet. It hasn’t unfolded yet. The stories are still developing. But I definitely think that there will be some sort of either conclusion or unraveling to that choice. 

And it’s interesting, I think, with the relationship with a teenage girl and especially a single mother. I think that there’s a really interesting color: They have things in common. Sometimes the parent is just as vulnerable as the child, and sometimes the child can relate to the parent in ways that she was never able to when she was younger. I think they become a lot closer when the children are that age. You find that you have a lot more in common. You can see your parent as human. You can see your parent as flawed. And sometimes the parent can even look to the child for advice or support. So I think it’s a really interesting relationship to have a single mother and a teenage daughter just kind of going at it together. Trying to find their way and figure it out.

CE: The look on Ashley’s face when she looked back her daughter while going up to bed with the detective was just devastating. What was going through her mind at that point?

LL: Well, I think the idea is that nobody wanted it to come to this. She wants her daughter to be clear that I’m doing this for you— for us. This is because of what you did, but I’m doing this for you. It wasn’t a decision made without regret or remorse. So there is definitely anger and sort of desperate love for her daughter too.

CE: I like that this is based on a book series — anything to get kids to read! Have you read the books to prepare for the role?

LL: Well, the pilot script was the first I’d read, and after we shot the pilot I was interested. I was intrigued. I wanted to peek ahead a bit, so I did read a couple of the books. But I stopped because I decided I wanted to be surprised. As much as it was fun to see where it was going, I also wanted to be surprised. So much of the first book is in the pilot, so there is so much yet to come. Sara Shepard’s eighth book in the series, Wanted, is coming out at the same time we are premiering the television show (today). In a perfect world, the show will go for a long time and they’ll run out of books for material, and they’ll go off in their own direction. I think that’s really exciting. There’s a lot of material left to explore and then there’s a lot left for the imagination. The series is going to be appealing to people who have read the books and are dying to see it come to life. And then for people who have never read the books, it’s a brand new series that has exciting episodes.

CE: I don’t know if this a question you can answer, but this first season has 10 episodes to air throughout the summer. If it does well, is this the kind of things that can transfer to the fall, or is this meant to be a summer series?

LL: I’m not sure if I’m able to answer that; if I really know. I know that ABC Family runs their programming a little bit different than some of the other networks. I think that’s a good thing. They structure 10 episodes and then a bit of a break. It’s great for the crew and for the writers. I think that they are like any other network where they are going to wait to see how it does on the air before speculating on how to proceed.

CE: It’s great with the new trend of having original shows airing in the summertime — now we always have something new to watch and entertain us!

LL: And I think ABC Family definitely has their finger on that pulse. People don’t just want to watch television at certain times of the year. There is definitely a year-round appetite for it. I think it’s a perfect summer series, but it does take place in a school year beginning in the fall, so why shouldn’t it air in the fall as well?

CE: I was so excited when they announced the Melrose revamp, but angry that Sydney was killed off in the first episode (yet relieved that she still showed up in flashbacks). What were your thoughts when they presented this idea to you?

LL: You take a bit of a leap of faith and think, “Well, they must know what they are doing!” You do sort of wonder whether or not you entirely agree with that vision you think, “Well, somebody must know what they are doing.” You just try to go with it. I certainly knew what I was signing on for, and I thought it was an interesting way to approach it and have to tell the story in flashbacks, approaching it from the end and looking back. You never know how things are going to end up. It was just one of those things where I was excited to go back and play the character and completely willing to try it.

(Heather Locklear as Amanda, Laura Leighton as Sydney in Melrose Place on The CW. Photo: Michael Desmond/The CW ©2010 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

CE: Was it fun to work with and see your old Melrose Place castmates again?

LL: It was great fun. As much as I love the new cast and it was really great to get to know them and work with them and stuff, it was also particularly rewarding to get to catch up with the old cast members. That was our favorite part.

(Pictured: Daphne Zuniga as Jo Reynolds, Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward, Thomas Calabro as Dr. Michael Mancini, Josie Bissett as Jane Andrews. Photo Credit: ©The CW/ Michael Desmond (C) 2010 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.)

CE: I absolutely loved that scene, even though Sydney didn’t get to be in it, where they were all at a party at the apartments, and there was Jane, Jo, Michael and Amanda all hanging out together, remarking on how weirdly familiar it felt. That was a great treat for us old-school Melrose fans.

LL: I do think that what’s the old Melrose audience was interested in. I think that was a great thing to do, to get them all together, and it was a bummer to not get to be there that day.

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