Q and A: Week of Oct. 1

Tim Matheson, photo by David Zaugh

Q: I’ve loved Tim Matheson since I first saw him in “Animal House” all those years ago. Can you tell me what he’s doing now? — Tracey P., Allentown, Pa.

A: You and me both, Tracey. Tim is as busy as ever, directing and co-starring in the CW’s “Hart of Dixie” (airing Tuesday nights at 8/7c), and he couldn’t be happier in this latest gig. He told me recently what he likes so much about the show: “We’re this crazy, totally disparate group of people in this small Southern town — kind of a magical town — and despite all our differences and conflicts and strong feelings, we all somehow manage to get along.

“Our characters have tremendous flaws and failings. Nobody’s perfect. But we somehow manage to get through our day — and life — without crashing and burning. That’s what we all kind of hope for, and I think there’s a little bit of those flaws and failings in everyone. And the show takes you someplace that you don’t expect and in ways that you don’t expect. It’s tremendous fun, and it’s very sincere.”

Check back here later this week for the full interview where Tim and I discuss his acting and directing, as well as his memorable roles, past and present.

Q: Is it true that Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green are leaving “The Voice”? — Gian W., via e-mail

A: Yes, but only temporarily. Usher and Shakira are coming to the show this spring as coaches, with Christina and Cee Lo returning next fall. The decision was made to offer contestants varied coaching styles and to accommodate the coaches’ tour schedules.

Q: What’s your favorite new show of the fall so far? — Hillary R., via e-mail

A: Hands-down, my favorite new show is “The Mindy Project,” which airs Tuesday nights at 9:30/8:30c. It’s funny, sweet, quirky and a little bit edgy, like the show’s namesake. However, I have to say that "Ben and Kate" (Fox, Tuesday, 8:30/ 7:30c) is a very very very close second. 

And I know you didn't ask, but my favorite returning shows are "Revenge, " "New Girl" and "Suburgatory" — none of which are suffering from the sophomore slump, I can tell you!

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Q and A: Week of March 12

Q: It’s official: I am hooked on “GCB.” Can you give me any info on the handsome actor who plays Blake? — Trudy F., via e-mail

A: Mark Deklin, 44, along with being a super actor is also a professional fight director, talented musician, smarty-pants English and History degree holder, father, husband, and all-around great guy. I spoke with him recently about his role of in-the-closet Blake (who’s married to Cricket, but it’s OK, because she knows and is fine with it), and he gave me some scoop: “As the season goes on, we explore the dynamic of our marriage. What are the rules? If we’re not jealous of the other’s sexual encounters, what are the things that we ARE jealous of? There are certain guidelines. Being with someone else sexually is not seen as a betrayal in that marriage, but having a best friend outside the marriage IS a betrayal. We’ve had a lot of fun figuring it out together.”

Read my entire interview with Mark here.

Q: I love ABC’s “Suburgatory,” especially Jeremy Sisto. I’ve had a crush on him since “Clueless.” Any chance that one of his former “Clueless” castmates will appear on his new show? — Justine M., via e-mail

A: Not only is there a chance, but it is actually happening: “Clueless” star Alicia Silverstone will join Jeremy on “Suburgatory” for a four-episode story arc at the end of this first season. No word yet on her character, but I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Q: Can you tell me what one of my favorite actresses, Elaine Hendrix, has been up to lately? — Jeff D., Savannah, Ga.

A: Aside from saving animals in her spare time as the founding officer of Animal Rescue Corps, the “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” actress just landed a lead role opposite Judy Greer in the ABC pilot “American Judy.” The comedy centers on Judy, who gets married and moves to the suburbs, juggling stepkids, her mother-in-law and the ex-wife (Elaine) of her husband, who also happens to be the town sheriff.

Q: You always seem to be on top of this, so could you let me know as soon as you find out who the new contestants will be on the next season of “Dancing with the Stars”? — Pauline R., Oxford, Ohio

A: You know I will, Pauline. This season’s contestants are your usual hodgepodge of athletes, singers, entertainment reporters and actors (with the usual soap star thrown in for good measure. The new season, which begins March 19, consists of “Family Matters” actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight, football player Donald Driver (who did very well for me in fantasy football a few years back), “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, “Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert, Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan, tennis player Martina Navratilova, soap star Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy, operatic singer Katherine Jenkins and “Extra” co-host Maria Menounos.

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Q and A: Week of Nov. 14

Q: I really like “Prime Suspect,” especially the actor who plays Detective Blando. Can you tell me a little about him? He looks so familiar. — Gennifer F., Allentown, Pa.

A: Tim Griffin, 42, has starred and guest-starred in countless TV series and big-screen movies, including “Party of Five,” “Charmed,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” “24,” “Iron Man,” “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” and most recently, “Super 8″ and “Abduction.”


I spoke with Tim about his role in the American version of the British cop drama and asked if he had any qualms about trying to “remake” such a popular series. Tim told me: “It wasn’t really until we started doing the initial press work that I realized, ‘OK, this is a sacred institution,’ because I was a huge fan of the British series too. It’s almost like a trial by fire that you have to go through. Can it be envisioned, reimagined with an American voice?


“Our partners are the original producers of the original ‘Prime Suspect,’ Tim said. “So we have that entire cannon of scripts at our disposal, and we have Peter Berg as the executive producer and director. It’s like its own new animal.”

Q: I am loving the new fall season so far — lots of good shows and only a few stinkers in the bunch. Which shows are you digging so far? — Clyde R., via e-mail

A: In the drama category, far and away my favorite show has to be ABC’s “Revenge,” which has injected a much-needed shot of campy, soapy, sexy drama into my Wednesday nights. (If you are on Twitter, you can follow my live-tweeting feeds at twitter.com/celebrity_extra every Wednesday starting at 10 p.m. ET, where all of us “Revenge” fans whoop and holler together.) I haven’t had this much fun watching a nighttime drama — nor have I talked to the TV screen so much — since “Melrose Place.”

On the comedy side, it’s a tie between Zooey Deschanel’s “New Girl” on Fox and ABC’s “Suburgatory,” whose ensemble cast of Jeremy Sisto, Jane Levy, Cheryl Hines, Alan Tudyk and Ana Gasteyer has me wiping tears of laughter from my face every episode.


Q: I love watching “The Talk” every afternoon. What happened to two of the original hostesses, Holly Robinson Peete and Leah Remini? — Joanne M., Fairport, N.Y.

A: Holly’s and Leah’s contracts were not renewed by CBS after the first season. As of Sept. 6 and Oct. 23, respectively, CBS officially replaced them with Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler.

Q: I read somewhere that James Van Der Beek’s wife recently had another baby. Didn’t they just have a daughter? — Barb D., via e-mail

A: You are halfway correct, Barb. James and wife Kimberly have a daughter, Olivia, who recently turned 1, and are expecting their second child next year. James tweeted: “Just when we thought we couldn’t feel any more blessed, it seems the universe has plans to give our daughter a sibling.”

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