Interview: Everything's Zen with Satisfaction's Tzi Ma

Tzi Ma as Satisfaction's Zen Master

The USA network’s nighttime drama “Satisfaction” has its first season finale tonight at 10/9c, and I had the chance to talk to series co-star Tzi Ma (“24,” “Rush Hour”) about the groundbreaking show. The series, which centers on Neil Truman, a 40-something family man who discovers he and his wife, Grace, aren’t as satisfied in their marriage as they thought they were. When Grace seeks her satisfaction in the arms of another man, Neil gets his own help by becoming a male escort (it’s a long story). He also seeks the advice of a wise and tell-it-like-it-is Zen master, played by Tzi (pronounced “tie”) Ma.

Celebrity Extra: You were working on “24: Live Another Day” when you got the call to come in to work for “Satisfaction.” How did you work that out?

Tzi Ma: It truly was a logistical nightmare. But thank goodness it all worked out, because I tell you, “Satisfaction” was on the brink of replacing me. I was supposed to be in Atlanta by the middle of May, and I was still in England (for “24”). I flew straight from London to Atlanta, and I was still on hold for “24,” just in case we needed to reshoot anything.

I had shot the first episode of “Satisfaction,” but by the time I was done with “24,” they were on the fifth episode. I went and did four episodes in a row. They waited for me. Sean Jablonski, the creator of the show, is so nice. He’s just so generous and so supportive and trusting. It worked out good. I’m so thankful that they waited.

CE: Tell me about the Zen Master.

TM: The one thing I liked about what Sean was, when we talked about the character, we didn’t want this guy to be your stereotypical Zen master who just sits quietly. We’re playing him as a pretty normal guy. And that’s what I appreciate. It’s hard to do these things. Once they say you are the Zen master, you can get stuck. It’s hard to break out of that controlled, stately idea of the character.

You’re supposed to be wise, and you’re supposed to be able to talk in metaphors, and everybody will just say, “Oh my God, this is so crazy and so wonderful.” That’s not how we approached this guy. We approached him as a true practitioner of Zen in that everything’s in the moment. He has no premeditated thoughts about why this guy is coming to him. That’s how we approached the relationship between Neil and the Zen Master. If it were just a regular Zen master, I may not have wanted to play the role.

CE: When you prepared for the role, how did you approach it?

TM: The one thing I asked from our directors was, “If there’s any time that you feel that I’m just reading a line, please let me know, because that’s what I don’t want.” We have wonderful writers on the show, so you don’t want to mess that up. They get paid the big bucks for a reason.

CE: We don’t get to see a lot of the Zen Master, but when we do, his scenes are always important. Will we get to see more of him?

TM: No, I’m never featured heavily. It wouldn’t work that way. It has to be that he’s the guy who comes in and transitions himself out. But there are some little twists in an upcoming episode where it comes out that he is not really using the “Zen” philosophy to talk to Neil about certain things.

CE: When the folks at “24” contacted you about returning to the series in the role of Cheng, what was your reaction?

TM: I was excited. (Writers) Evan (Katz) and Manny (Coto) called, and they talked to me about it. They said, “We’re thinking about doing this, but it’s going to be really intense. And we don’t want to tell you too much. We really want everyone to be surprised.” We didn’t know what the ending was going to be. But given what they told me, I really felt that this character was almost like a new character. The stakes were much higher because he had nobody to answer to, just like Jack Bauer. That parallel is very exciting.

CE: What was the reaction from “24” viewers concerning your return?

TM: The reaction has been great. The one thing about the fans that’s so cool is that they don’t come up to me and spit in my face, like: “Oh, I hate you! You’re against Jack Bauer!” It’s a love/hate relationship. It’s like: “I hate you. Can I take a picture?” I’m a character actor. I try not to be so visible out in public. To be recognized that way in such a consistent manner because of this show, it’s scary for a character actor. But the fans have been great. They’re writing stuff online like: “Oh my God, I can’t believe it! He’s back! Cheng is back!” I’m really enjoying it.

CE: What are your thoughts on Freddie Prinze Jr.’s statement that during his time on “24,” Kiefer Sutherland was unprofessional and difficult to work with?

TM: Look at what Kiefer’s done for “24.” He’s been in practically every scene, from beginning to end, for nine seasons. That should tell you something about this guy’s work ethic. I don’t know any actor who comes to the set more prepared than him. You can’t carry a show like this being an asshole. Everyone has his moments, even me. The fact is, he doesn’t compromise because he is trying to achieve excellence.

CE: Tell me about your new movie, “Million Dollar Arm.”

TM: It’s a simple movie about an American sports agent (played by Jon Hamm) who’s trying to revive his career because it’s going down the toilet. He wants to create a game show; it’s like “American Idol” but with baseball. He travels to India to find his athletes.

CE: You did a few episodes of “Nash Bridges” back in the day, with one of my favorite actors, Don Johnson. What was that experience like?

TM: I shot the 99th and 100th episodes of the show, so it was a big deal. Don is so generous. He took the entire cast and crew to Vegas for the shoot. We shot at the Mirage, the Bellagio — it was a ball. Don came straight up and said, “Brother, I’m so glad you’re on the show.” He’s another guy who’s really intense. Some people think he’s a diva, but he’s not. The guy is serious about what he’s doing. It’s a bum rap that guys like Don and Kiefer get in terms of being divas or being difficult. They’re not; they’re passionate and professional.

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Q and A: Week of Aug. 21

Jamie Gray Hyder

Q: Can you tell me about the actress who plays Lucia on “Graceland”? She looks familiar to me. What else has she been on? — Patrick J., via email

A: Jamie Gray Hyder is perhaps best known for playing Danielle, a werewolf in Alcide’s pack, last season on “True Blood.” After her “TB” stint ended, she went on to co-star on “Graceland” as Lucia Solano, who is just trying to live life on the straight and narrow — unlike her brother, Carlito, and the rest of her family. I spoke with Jamie recently about her new role, as well as what we can expect as “Graceland” wraps up its second season on the USA network.

“Lucia wants to get a real job and be independent and prosperous, in a legal way. She wants to be able to live a normal life and have normal relationships. She doesn’t get to have friends or lovers, because those relationships are constantly ruined by the antics of her brother and the rest of her family. She’s just striving for normalcy and is constantly being dragged through the mud.”

She did give me a little tease as to what to expect in the finale: “It’s a two-part finale, and it’s definitely designed to leave everyone wanting more. I just got done shooting it, and it’s all very fresh in my mind. I’ll tell you this, when I read the finale, I was shocked.”

Q: Is it true that there is going to be another “Terminator” movie? — Kalli R., Modesto, Calif.

A: Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back on July 1, 2015 as the aforementioned Terminator in “Terminator: Genisys.” The fifth installment of the futuristic action series also stars Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen of “Game of Thrones”) as Sarah Connor, Jason Clarke (no relation to Emilia) as John Connor, and Jai Courtney (Eric in the “Divergent” trilogy) as Kyle Reese. I am curious as to the timeline of this film, because Emilia and Jai are in their 20s, and Jason, who plays their son, John, is in his 40s. So, I’ll guess that some crisscrossing time-travel component definitely will play a part in this movie (as in all the “Terminator” films).

Q: What has Adrien Brody been doing lately? — Gina T., via email

A: Next up for Adrien is starring as the great magician-showman Henry Houdini in “Houdini,” the History Channel original miniseries, which airs Sept. 1 and 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The miniseries follows the epic tales of Harry Houdini as he emerges as America’s first bona-fide world-renowned superstar. “Houdini” delves deep behind the curtain into his life through his stunts, visions and mastery of illusion.

Q: Will my favorite summer series, “Suits,” be back for another season? — Fallon F., via email

A: USA’s hit legal dramedy, which had its midseason finale Aug. 20, has indeed been renewed for a 16-episode fifth season. Also, look for the second half of season four in spring 2015.

Q: Will my favorite show, “Fargo,” be back for another season? — Paul R., via email

A: You betcha! FX has renewed the critically acclaimed drama — which is based on the Coen brothers’ hit movie of the same name — for a second season, especially after it racked up 18 Emmy nominations! Season two, which will consist of 10 episodes, most likely will air in fall 2015, although no specific date has been set.

Adam Korson, photo by Diana Ragland

Q: I had been watching this new show on the CW network called “Seed,” and I really liked it. Now I can’t find it anywhere. Can you tell me what happened to it? — George S., via email

A: The Canadian comedy (to which the CW bought the rights) is about a 30-something ne’er-do-well — and previous sperm donor — who becomes acquainted with the offspring he never knew he had. It didn’t do so well in the ratings and was canceled after two shows. The CW has said it plans to air the remaining episodes online.

This truly is a shame for American audiences because I had the pleasure of interviewing series star Adam Korson about the show, and he’s truly one of the nicest people you could ever meet. In Adam’s words about the show: “This is a show for those who want a half-hour to laugh and escape from your everyday life. You’re going to watch it, and you’re going to relate to it. I remember as a kid I would tune into ‘Seinfeld’ because I knew for that half-hour, I was going to be laughing and be taken on a crazy journey. I think that’s good television, and that’s what our show is.”

Q: I’ve loved Portia de Rossi ever since “Ally McBeal,” and especially in “Arrested Development,” but I haven’t seen her in anything lately. What can I see her in next? — Kellie Y., Bowling Green, Ohio



A: The gorgeous and talented actress — and wife of Ellen DeGeneres — will be hitting the small screen this fall when she appears in a multi-episode arc of the hit ABC political drama “Scandal.” And what better way to announce your next project than by your wife “accidentally” letting it slip on Twitter? Ellen recently announced to her millions of Twitter followers: “So annoying when people brag on Twitter, and that’s why I’m not tweeting that Portia just signed on to do a top-secret arc on Scandal. Oops.” “Scandal” returns for its fourth season on Sept. 25 at 9/8c. (Note the time change from last season.)

Q: Can you tell me what Naomi Watts has coming up? She is always such a joy to watch. — Nathan H., Fresno, Calif.

A: The versatile and award-winning actress recently started work in a prominent role in ”Insurgent“ and ”Allegiant,“ movies two and three of the ”Divergent“ trilogy. Naomi plays Evelyn, mother of Four and leader of an insurgent rebel group, the Factionless. She’ll also give viewers more of a glimpse into the background of her son, Four (played by Theo James), the restrained and self-contained Dauntless leader. Shooting began this summer in Atlanta, and is scheduled for a March 20, 2015 premiere date.

Q: Is ”Boardwalk Empire“ returning for another season? — Gord, Mission, British Columbia

A: The Emmy Award-winning HBO drama will return for its fifth and final season on Sept. 7. This eight-episode season takes place during the depths of the Depression in 1931, wherein Enoch ”Nucky“ Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi) recalls his Atlantic City roots and plots a post-Prohibition future. Says series creator Terence Winter: ”We look forward to bringing it to a powerful and exciting conclusion.“

Katheryn Winnick

Q: Do you have any news about “Vikings”? — Bob L. in Minnesota

A: I do have some casting news: History announced that for season three of the hit historical drama, Lothaire Bluteau will portray Emperor Charles of France, a powerful man who views battling the Vikings as spiritual and earthly; Kevin Durand will play the Wanderer, a mysterious man who is not what he seems; Morgane Polanski has been cast as Princess Gisla, the elegant, self-possessed daughter of Emperor Charles; and Ben Robson will play Kalf, Lagertha’s (Katheryn Winnick) trusted second in command.

Q: I can’t seem to get enough of “Falling Skies”! Can you tell me if it will be back next summer? — Dean P., via email

A: “Falling Skies” will indeed return to TNT next summer to wrap up its epic story during its fifth (and final) season. Ten new episodes in summer 2015 will tie a pretty (or not-so-pretty) bow on the hit sci-fi drama, and I’m hoping that all of our questions will be answered. But, now that I think about it, I kind of hope all of our questions WON’T be answered so there will be a reason for a future big-screen version of the series (like “Star Trek” and “The X-Files”).

And speaking of hit dramas, TNT also has renewed two more of its chart-topping summer series: Freshman drama “The Last Ship” will be back for a 13-episode season two (up from a 10-episode first season). Courtroom/crime drama “Major Crimes” also has been renewed for a fourth season, with a 15-episode order.

Q: My mom told me that she heard my favorite book, “The Red Tent,” is being made into a movie. Is that true? If so, can you tell me what you know about it? — Jessica G., Reno, Nevada

A: Production began in May in Morocco on Lifetime’s major two-night miniseries “The Red Tent,” which is based on the best-selling novel by Anita Diamant. For those unfamiliar with the book, “The Red Tent” is the sweeping tale of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, who was seen only in small glimpses in the Old Testament. The miniseries will air later this year, and stars Minnie Driver, Morena Baccarin, Rebecca Ferguson (as Dinah), Iain Glen, Will Tudor and Debra Winger.

The miniseries begins with Dinah’s happy childhood spent inside the red tent, where only the women of her tribe are allowed to gather and share the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood. Told through Dinah’s eyes, the film recounts the story of her mothers Leah (Minnie), Rachel (Morena), Zilpah and Bilhah — the four wives of Jacob (Iain) — and Jacob’s courtship of them. The saga continues as Dinah matures and experiences an intense love that subsequently leads to a devastating loss, changing her and her family’s lives forever. Debra portrays Rebecca, Jacob’s mother, while Will stars as Joseph, Dinah’s brother.

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Interview: Katherine LaNasa, a Woman in Charge

Fans know and love Katherine LaNasa from her role of Sophia on “Deception”; from when she played (and stole every scene as) Will Ferrell’s wife, Rose, in “The Campaign”; and from her various featured roles in shows like “Two and a Half Men,” “Big Love,” “Lie to Me,” “Longmire” and “Judging Amy.” Now we can see the lovely actress weekly in the new USA network drama series “Satisfaction,” which airs Thursdays at 10/9c. Katherine plays Adriana, the hard-edged, high-end madam who lures unhappy husband and father Neil Truman (Matt Passmore) into becoming one of her male escorts. I spoke with Katherine recently about her new role, and she’s thrilled to get to play this interesting and multifaceted character.

Celebrity Extra: Tell me about the character of Adriana, whom I love, and what drew you to her and to “Satisfaction.”

Katherine LaNasa: A lot of my fans from “Deception” will really like Adriana. I think a lot of women really like those types of characters that I play. It was definitely really outside the box, so I liked that about it. I knew how the part read, but I had this feeling that I could really do something different with it. It’s always nice when you take it in a different direction, and they say, “Yes!” When (writer/executive producer) Sean (Jablonski) saw my take, he told me he just knew that I was the person.

CE: Did something similar happen for you with playing Sophia on “Deception”? These types of characters seem like so much fun to play.

KL: Yes, the same thing happened with Sophia. It’s fun in these serial soaps to have a character like Adriana or Sophia, but I think that the writers want there to be something not pushy about them. I seem to be able to manipulate most of these characters in that way. I always feel like I take a nod from the Barbara Stanwycks of the world. I felt like those ladies really knew how to do it. They were complicated, strong and dark characters in the forefront, and it was a lot of fun. I’ve been lucky to get to play those types of characters in these past few series.

CE: Tell me about the differences between Adriana and Sophia. How do you make each of these characters different and your own?

KL: It’s been an interesting balance to play Adriana versus Sophia. For Sophia I came up with that weird accent that she had — it just felt really right to have this fake sort of British accent. Everyone I’ve known who has that accent is from the Midwest. I’ve known three people from Kansas with that accent. I’m like, “That’s what I’m doing, dude.” Like I’m doing it on purpose.

With Adriana, I kind of modeled her after women I met in the art scene, the fancy art and music scene that I was in with (first husband) Dennis Hopper when I was in my 20s back in the late ’80s in New York. Before and after that, I was a professional ballet dancer, and I was traveling the world when I met him. The life I had with him — I give him credit for that — there are things you know because you get to go to those places, which you wouldn’t have known know if you hadn’t gone, if you haven’t been in those social circles. I think I was able to bring that to this character and feel like there’s something about a lot of those ex models. There’s simplicity with their style. Adriana’s a woman who doesn’t try too hard.

CE: How difficult has it been shooting “Satisfaction,” with Grant being busy with “Devious Maids”?

KL: Well, it’s always fun to be in New York and to shoot in New York, but I have had a surprisingly enjoyable and pleasant time here in Atlanta. It’s really nice that Grant’s show, “Devious Maids,” shoots here as well. I have this funny feeling that if our show gets picked up, it might even just shoot at the same time next year, which will be amazing. This year we overlapped [our shooting schedules]; it’s better if they are overlapping — if we’re both out of town together — so we just both work in Atlanta, and then we both go home.

CE: You were about five months pregnant when you shot that love scene in the pilot episode, and, by God, you looked fabulous!

KL: Thank you! I was about four-and-a-half or five months pregnant when I did that love scene. By the time we got to the art-gallery scene, I was about five-and-a-half months pregnant.

CE: I did notice judicious placement of large handbags during the gallery scene.

KL: Those bags are by Hayward Luxury, designed by Dennis Hopper’s daughter, Marin. She’s been working on them for years, but they’re now at this level where they are going to have their own store and everything.

CE: How is it working on the set of “Satisfaction,” and how are the cast and crew?

KL: It’s one of the best sets I’ve been on. It’s really happy, and the people are really nice. Everybody is just really nice and down-to-earth. I’m probably the most “Hollywood” of them all — and half the time I’m either pumping or nursing my baby on the set. It’s a really family-oriented environment. Matt (Passmore, Neil Truman) and I are usually joking around, laughing or talking. He’s a really terrific actor. He’s one of those people where you don’t necessarily see all of what he’s doing when you’re working with him, but when I saw the pilot, I was like: “Wow. This guy’s a really complicated actor.” He has an incredibly rich inner life.

CE: And that’s what made him a fan favorite when he starred in “The Glades” as well.

KL: Exactly. He just plays those characters so well. It’s funny, because Neil Truman is such an everyman, and Adriana’s such a worldly, complicated person. It’s not that he’s stupid, but I don’t think he’s come across a person like Adriana before, and he just really plays it so well. I was watching one of our scenes the other day, and I just thought: “Oh my God. This poor guy.” He does not know what he has gotten himself into. It’s like “Alice in Wonderland” — and I am the Mad Hatter, and he is Alice.

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Q and A: Week of July 29

Jamie Gray Hyder

Q: I was a little hesitant about watching season six of “True Blood” because, in my opinion, it really jumped the shark last season. But I can say now that I am happy I stuck with it, because this season has been really good so far. Will there be a seventh season? — Anna-Marie P., via e-mail

A: HBO just announced that the vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter/fairy/witch drama will be back for a seventh season, which will premiere summer 2014. I recently spoke with a member of the Shreveport wolf pack — Jamie Gray Hyder, who plays Alcide’s other girlfriend, Danielle — and she too is excited about what the rest of the season has to offer.

“There are some pretty big things that are going to go on that I don’t even know that much about,” Jamie told me. “If it’s a scene I’m not in, I don’t know what happens; I’m watching along with everyone else. But tensions are going to be heightened, and the stakes are going to continue to be raised. We’ve got the vampires versus the government, and now we have this ‘Billith’ creature, and the potential for things to completely implode is very real.

“With the vampires being attacked, we don’t know who’s going to be next … who’s going to be the next target. We’re scrambling just to keep our pack as tight as possible, and look out for our people. I think all of the supes are sort of banding together. It’s very important for all of our survival.”

There are a handful of episodes left of season six of “True Blood,” which airs Sunday nights at 9 ET/PT. And as we discovered last week, I’m sure we’ll all be surprised by who survives to see a seventh season — and who does not. And check back tomorrow for my full interview with this lovely and talented actress, where she also tells me all about starring in the new PS4 videogame "Killzone: Shadow Fall."

Q: With Joy Behar leaving “The View,” who will they get to replace her? — Tina F., Phoenix, Ariz.

A: Barbara Walters, who is the only original panelist left on the show and who plans to retire in 2014, announced that Jenny McCarthy will take over Joy’s empty chair when the show begins its 17th season on Sept. 9. Of Jenny’s hiring, Barbara said: “Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show.” Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg also are expected to return.

Q: Can you tell me what Mira Sorvino has been up to lately? She is one of my favorite actresses. — Heidi R., via e-mail

A: The USA Network just revealed that the Oscar winner has signed on to a multi-episode arc of “Psych,” beginning with the seventh episode of the eighth season (which is rumored to be the show’s final season). She will play the Santa Barbara PD’s newest head detective, Betsy Brannigan, who is being described by USA as “incredibly sweet, adorably reserved and yet certified badass.”

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Q and A: Week of July 8

Krysten Ritter

Q: Now that “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt. 23” has been canceled, what are Krysten Ritter’s plans? — Hailey F., via e-mail

A: The hilarious and gorgeous actress is set to reprise her role of Gia Goodman in the “Veronica Mars” movie. Krysten recently tweeted: “Veronica Mars has a special place in my heart because it was my first big acting job, and it was also one of the loveliest on-set experiences you could ever ask for.”

Q: I read about a year ago that TNT was planning a mobster-type series based on the book “L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City” by John Buntin. Is that project still happening, or did it get canceled? — Freddie T., via e-mail

A: “Lost Angels” is indeed going full-steam ahead, with a projected debut on TNT later this year. The cast includes Jon Bernthal, Neal McDonough, Milo Ventimiglia, Jeffrey DeMunn, Jeremy Strong, Alexa Davalos, Thomas Jane, Simon Pegg and, recently announced, Edward Burns. The story centers on the true, decades-long battle between the LAPD — under legendary Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker — and the West Coast gang, led by mob boss Mickey Cohen.

Eric Winter, photo by Gabriel Goldberg

Q: I was glad to read in your column a couple of weeks ago that Eric Winter will be guest starring on “Rizzoli and Isles,” one of my favorite shows. Can you tell me what else he’s up to? — Pam B., New Orleans

A: The handsome actor, who played the duplicitous FBI agent Craig O’Laughlin on CBS’s “The Mentalist,” has a couple of projects in the pipeline. According to Eric, right now he is having a blast working on the set of “Rizzoli and Isles,” calling Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon two of the best ladies in the business.

“I am so happy to be a part of this show,” he told me. “It’s a huge hit on TNT, and it’s such a great cast. I love the dynamic between my character (BT) and Maura. I really hope the fans enjoy it!”

Eric also co-stars with Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe in the PlayStation 3 videogame, “Beyond: Two Souls,” which will be released Oct. 8. For all you nongamers out there, this game is a pretty big deal, with a storyline rivaling a big-screen movie. It will contain extended scenes, bonus scenes and features, and a bunch of other cool stuff for excited “Beyond” fans.

Q: We seem to be inundated with reality TV shows, and I just read about one more being added to the list, called “Summer Camp.” What can you tell me about this show? — Kevin H., Tallahassee, Fla.

A: “Summer Camp” is a new reality competition series from the producers of “Big Brother,” where the cast competes in summer camp-style events to win cold hard cash. The show premieres on the USA network July 11, airing at 8/7c.

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Q and A: Week of March 26

Jim Caviezel as Reese; photo courtesy CBS

Q: Could you give some information on the two actors who play Finch and Reese on “Person of Interest”? I don’t recall seeing either of them before, but I like them both and find the show exciting. — Karen V., Roanoke, Va.

A: Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel play Harold Finch and John Reese, respectively. Many will remember Michael, 57, from “Lost,” where he played Ben. He’s also made the rounds on the cops-and-lawyers shows like “The Practice,” “The X-Files,” “Without a Trace,” “Law and Order: SVU,” etc. Prior to “Person of Interest,” Jim, 43, was best known for playing Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” You can see Jim on the big screen later this year in “Savannah” and “Bliss!” and next year in “The Tomb” with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Q: I heard that there is going to be another singing-competition show airing this summer, I think on ABC? Can you tell me about it? — Clark F., via e-mail

A: “Duets” is the latest vocal-competition show to hit the small screen, and it is indeed airing on ABC. Currently looking for contestants (abc.com/casting), this show stars Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Nettles, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke, who will travel the country looking for undiscovered talent to be their proteges, as well as duet partners.

Virginia Williams

Q: I am so happy that USA Network’s “Fairly Legal” is finally back for another season. Can you give me any scoop for season two? — Violet F., via e-mail

A: I spoke with “Fairly Legal” co-star Virginia Williams, who plays Lauren Reed on the hit legal drama, and she gave me some spoilers.


“We get to see more facets of Lauren this year, which is great,” Virginia said. “We get to see her at home, for example. Everything still revolves around Reed & Reed, but we do see glimpses of Lauren at home: coming back from a jog, going on a date, having some sort of a life outside work. We get to see her with her hair down, literally and figuratively. She’s still quite guarded and protective and exacting and stylish and brilliant, but she’s a lot more comfortable with her position now.
“Last season was all about Lauren proving to everyone else that she was capable and that she wasn’t just a trophy wife,” she said. “She could get the job done and could lead the firm. This season we see that she not only is extremely capable, but the firm ends up being better off than it was even before Teddy died.”

Q: I still miss seeing Leah Remini on “The Talk.” Any chance she’ll return? — Hazel D., Akron, Ohio

A: Not if Sharon Osbourne has any say, and it appears she does. Leah told fans on Twitter that “Sharon thought me and Holly [Robinson Peete] were ‘ghetto’ (her words), we were not funny, awkward and didn’t know ourselves … She had us fired.”

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Interview: Paul Ben-Victor's Bittersweet Goodbye

Paul Ben-Victor, photo by Fernando Escovar

For me, as an entertainment journalist, it's always a pleasure to interview "that guy from that show." You know who I mean: He's a prolific actor with years of experience and scores of TV shows and movies under his belt, and yet, he hasn't been pigeon-holed into one type of role, and he still is able to maintain a bit of anonymity in his everyday life. In the case of this article, the person to whom I am referring is Paul Ben-Victor. You might not know his name (yet, although you should), but when you see his picture (to the left), you know exactly who he is.

He's the guy who made your favorite show more interesting with his guest-starring story arc; he's the actor whose recurring spot on HBO's top shows is the reason you DVRed certain episodes; and he's the character on the USA Network's hit show "In Plain Sight" who is the perfect and balanced foil for marshals Mary Shannon and Marshall Mann. Paul Ben-Victor's Chief Inspector Stan McQueen and crew are back for their fifth and final eight-episode season (the first episode of which aired last week, so catch up with that before tonight's episode airs at 10/9c), which is gearing up to be a season of can't-miss episodes. With guest stars like tonight's Tia Carrere, along with future guests Josh Hopkins, Stephen Lang, Lesley Ann Warren and many others, "In Plain Sight" is promising to go out with a bang, not a wimper.

I spoke with the ever-charming and talented Paul Ben-Victor recently, and he is eager for fans to see the final season of "In Plain Sight," as well as his new movie, "Should've Been Romeo," which is making the Festival rounds as I type.

Celebrity Extra: Looking at your long, long resume here, I think I can safely assume you've been on every TV show and in every movie since 1987. How do you do it?

Paul Ben-Victor: (Laughs) I do what comes next. Christopher Walken once wrote, “I take what comes next.” And that’s pretty much been my best plan of attack. Whatever the next gig is, I just jump on board for the most part.

CE: Unless is not that good, right?

PBV: If it’s a decent, good job and I know who’s in it, I pretty much just go with. I’ve always liked working. I like the idea of being busy, and I like getting paid (laughs).

CE: And the variety of roles you've been able to take on must be great for you, as an actor.

PBV: It has been. I always felt like I could do characters pretty well, and actually, the first job I got out of college, I played a Puerto Rican guy in a play at a theater in the Lower East Side — and it was Puerto Rican guys who hired me to do it. There are plenty of Latino actors in New York, but for some reason, I got the job. 

I don’t do it consciously, I just say: “Oh, I can do that. I can play a Russian. I can play a Puerto Rican. I can play a Mexican guy. I can play an Italian. I can play whatever you got.” And I’d go in and learn the words, learn the accent, learn the sound, and somehow come out with the job. So I ended up doing all these different characters. I’ve become a character actor, I guess. It’s sort of what I was drawn to.


I’m still trying to learn how to do a lot of stuff. You’re always looking for the next level, as an actor. You want to move on to that next level so you can get to be more choosy, so you can get offered the juicer roles. There’s a lot of stuff I’d like to do and a lot of stuff I’d want to do, but those roles haven’t gone to me. They’ve gone to other actors who are more famous people, bigger names. It’s nice to have my career, but there are a lot of roles I’ve seen out there that I’ve wanted and fought for that I didn’t get, but I still would love to do at some point.

CE: What haven't you done yet that you'd like to get the chance to do?

PBV: I love comedies. One of my fantasies is to just get on a sitcom. I did a pilot once years ago, and I was just crossing my fingers and praying that this thing would go, because that’s a dream job. It’s not as demanding hourly. It’s not as many hours a week. It’s a shorter day and then you get that live audience that comes in at the end of the week, and that’s something that I would love to do. It’s just a blast. You get to put on a little play every week. That’s something I haven’t done but would love to do.


But I do love it all. I used to do a lot of commercials. I loved doing that. I just got chosen as one of the new voices on the Pepperidge Farm campaign. I love doing voice-over work. I also have a play that I wrote and produced a few years back in Los Angeles that I starred in, and that was the most exciting thing to do: to write, direct and produce your own work. I co-wrote that with my mom (Leah Kornfeld).

CE: With "In Plain Sight" drawing to a close, is it an exciting time for you, or are you a little sad about it ending, or a little of both?

PBV: It’s both; it’s sort of bittersweet. There’s definitely a sense of loss and there’s a sadness there. When they announced that this was the last season, I was like: “Oh man, what a great gig. I’m going to miss everybody.” We had become a family and have gotten even closer, especially over this past year. There's a real warmth and love on the set. It’s a real family atmosphere.


The guest stars we’ve been having are great. Mary’s brother’s, Will McCormack, is back this season. Stephen Lang is playing her dad in the last few episodes. I’m really looking forward to this final season, because while playing Stan McQueen has been great, I’m looking forward to spreading my wings, and there are some very exciting opportunities out there that I’m looking forward to.

CE: And I'm sure one of those is shopping around your new movie, "Should Have Been Romeo"?

PBV: We were just officially selected to the Newport Beach Film Festival. It’s in the featured slot on the weekend of the festival. We’re real excited about that. They're sort of focusing the whole event around our movie that first weekend. That’s really exciting.


So, on the heels of this, there’s the last season of "In Plain Sight," which is something that’s going to be really extraordinary. Some of the last few episodes that I’ve read and am now shooting are just phenomenal.

CE: What can you tell me about them, without giving too much away?

PBV: Let's see ... I gave you the clue that Mary’s dad is back. He’s been talked about for five seasons, so let’s just say he shows up and there’s a lot of excitement around his character — a lot of action, a lot of drama and a lot of interesting things. Stephen Lang is just terrific.


This year, Stan has a girlfriend, played by Tia Carrere. She’s absolutely lovely; she plays my dance teacher on the show, that’s how we meet. We do the tango together in (tonight's) episode, so everybody needs to watch out. Definitely don’t miss this episode. I’ve heard it gets pretty steamy.

CE: Speaking of Tia and Stephen and all the rest, your show does seem to get some excellent guest stars. What do you think it is about the show that attracts them?

PBV: Me! I’m just kidding. No, honestly, it's Mary. I’d say half of the wonderful guest stars we’ve had on have crossed paths with Mary on "The West Wing," i.e., Allison Janney and Richard Schiff — who I’ve also worked with in the past several times and he’s actually an old friend. And then Mary’s reputation — she’s got a strong history, a strong career. I think it’s about the show first and foremost, but people want to work with people they’ve either worked with before or people they admire, and that's Mary.

CE: Let's change gears a bit, and tell me about your movie, "Should've Been Romeo." I've seen the promos online, and I have to tell you, it looks really good!

PBV: Well, it is a labor of love, and it’s been a real family gathering. I wrote the original draft with my mom and with Michael Goldberg, who’s an old friend I went to school with at Carnegie Mellon. He wrote "Cool Runnings" and "Little Giants" and "Snow Dogs." And then another friend of mine, Greg Ferkel — who's cousin to the director, Marc Bennett — he did the last draft with me, so there’s actually four writers on this. So the writers are all friends and family, and then Marc, who I’ve known since I was like 12 or 13, is the director. He’s done documentaries and commercials, and this is his first feature, but he’s been directing for 25 years. Another friend, David Levy, he’s the executive producer, and he helped raise the money. We just kept rewriting it and rewriting it and rewriting it, and finally David said: “I’m ready. Let’s make the movie.”


I called in all my friends. Everybody just came to bat. I’d been talking to Natasha Henstridge and Michael Rapaport about this literally for at least eight years. They both just showed up and gave it their all, and they were phenomenal. They were great.

CE: I love Natasha's scene on the website ... it's so funny!

PBV: She loved it. As you saw, she plays herself in the movie. I wrote that scene a couple of months before we shot it, and I said: “Natasha, check out this new scene. Is this okay?” because it was a real homage to her "Species" character. She called back and said, “I absolutely love it!" She was thrilled with doing it, because it’s a real spoof on that character.


We tested the movie several times, and the audience were people who did not know me personally, and they were cracking up. They were hysterically laughing the whole time, and we said: “Holy sh*t! We think we may have something here.” So it’s a real crowd-pleaser. It’s PG — you can almost say it’s a family movie. It’s real easy to watch, and it’s a lot of fun. We’re looking forward to a successful run.

CE: Gimme a quick summary of the movie, just to whet my readers' appetites for it.

PBV: Ultimately it’s about an actor. That’s sort of the A story. It’s about this kooky actor, almost like a "Tootsie" kind of vibe, if you remember the old movie with Dustin Hoffman. He’s a little delusional, he’s a little nuts, wacky ... but it’s ultimately a family movie about this would-be, possible family coming together — and they're not really a family, but maybe they are? — and we find out what happens.

CE: If all goes well on the festival circuit, does that mean a wider audience will get to see it? Just from the previews, I am very anxious myself to see it.

PBV: It will probably come out next Thanksgiving when it’s family time and folks are looking for a nice fun, family film to go to.

CE: Speaking of family, I was reading about your wife Julie's nonprofit foundation, The Art of Giving. Would you tell me a bit about that?

PBV: Absolutely! It's a new, grass-roots, nonprofit organization made up of all volunteers. She began the foundation in January, and the programs are growing and expanding almost daily. Briefly, the Art of Giving Foundation provides assistance and care to children around the globe who are displaced and/or living in extreme poverty. They assist children in helping other children who are in need through the use of art.


Currently there are programs in Woodland Hills (California) and Santa Monica, which bring free arts and education to children in the programs and communities. Anyone who's interested can go to www.art-of-giving.org. It really is wonderful, so I hope you and your readers will look into it.

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Interview: Virginia Williams Loosens Up on Fairly Legal

The USA Network's hit legal drama "Fairly Legal" is finally back tonight for its second season with 13 all-new episodes. The show centers on the law firm of Reed and Reed, which was founded by Kate Reed's (Sarah Shahi) father, and is now being run by her stepmother, Lauren Reed, after her father's death. Lauren is sharp, shrewd, hard as nails, and is pretty much the same age as Kate ... so, you can see where a lot of the conflict lies.

I spoke with Virginia Williams, who plays Lauren, and she is anxious and energized for fans to finally get to see the show's new season. With almost a full year between seasons one and two, you can bet viewers are more than ready for a new offering of "Fairly Legal," which airs Fridays on USA at 9 p.m. EST.

Celebrity Extra: With such a long hiatus between the seasons, you must be excited to finally be premiering season two!

Virginia Williams: Yeah — and it’s fun to see how excited the fans are getting. I think a lot of people forgot about the show, understandably. What’s great about this season is, as good as last season was, I think this season is going to be just exponentially better. It’s tighter, it’s funnier, it’s wittier, and it’s lighter. It’s just a better show all around.

CE: What can you tell me about season two?

VW: I’m trying to figure out how to phrase it without giving too much away. I think it’s pretty obvious for us to even have a season 2 that Kate has to come back to work at Reed and Reed. With the relationship between the girls, we get to see them come together a lot more. They don’t have such an antagonistic relationship, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily going to see eye to eye. They still are extremely different characters. They’re the odd couple. They’re always going to look at the world through really different lenses. I think one thing that was missing in season 1 that we get to see in season 2 is how much they both respect what the other one does. They both get that they are each great at their jobs, they just do their jobs completely differently.

It’s fun to watch them come together and then grow apart, and come together and then grow apart, but they’re these two women who are essentially two sides of the same coin. They both love justice and in doing the right thing, they just look at it in different ways. Lauren’s lens is always true in the eyes of the law. She truly fights for what she believes in, and she believes that the law is king. Kate believes that since humans made up the laws and humans are flawed, she works to do what she feels is the right thing despite what the law says.

CE: The character of Lauren could easily have been pretty one-dimensional, but with your portrayal of her and with the benefit of an excellent writing staff, you've really brought out her different facets and dimensions.

VW: Thank you. I’ve worked very hard as an actress to bring dimensionality to her. She absolutely could be played extremely one dimensionally, and on paper she can look like a trophy wife who’s money-grubbing and in it for the wrong reasons. I do feel that season 1 sometimes wrote to that, but a lot of the time, it was my own personal struggle when trying to bring that. The writers have written to her facets more, which is really great. We get to see Lauren at home for example. Everything still revolves around Reed and Reed — the show is about the law firm — but we do see glimpses of Lauren at home: coming back from a jog, going on a date, having a resemblance of a life outside of work. We get to see her with her hair down, literally and figuratively. Those are things I’m really excited about, and this next season we get to see some of the little colors of her.

The most fun characters to play as an actor are the ones who hold their cards really close to the vest, and we only get to see little glimmers of their fears and insecurities. That is really what I love about her. I was really drawn to this character because I thought, “How fun would it be to constantly pile on the layers?” Which is what I find I do with her. I just constantly try to pile on the layers, and if two or three of them come through and the audience sees them, great! Then you’ve done your job well. But I wanted to play someone who is very guarded, and can only show little bits and pieces. I think it’s a really fun thing to play. She’s like a volcano always ready to explode. At least through season 1 that was kind of how I played it, with all the pressure that was on her.

Through season 2, she’s still quite guarded and protective and exacting and stylish and brilliant and all these great things that I love about her, but she’s a lot more comfortable with her position. This allows me some flexibility as an actress and how I play her, which I’m really happy for. I think last season was about Lauren proving to everyone else that she was capable and that she wasn’t just a trophy wife — she could get the job done and could lead the firm. This season we see that she not only is extremely capable, but the firm ends up being better off than it was even before Teddy died. She comes into her own a bit, and the confidence that comes with that allows her to loosen up just a little bit.

CE: You shoot the series in Vancouver — how do you like it up there?

VW: I love shooting there in the summer. We shot the first season through the summer, and Vancouver became one of my top-three favorite cities in the world. Absolutely love it. But (laughs), as a Southern girl, I’m not so fond of shooting there in the winter.

CE: What else does this season have in store for Lauren?

VW: We get to see Lauren moving on from the death of her husband, which is nice. As early as episode three we see Lauren going on a date, and by the end of the season, we have a bit of a cliffhanger story line — a love story line. This season Justin and Lauren get to work together a lot, which is really fun. And there’s definitely a love-triangle story line with Kate and Justin and Ben.

CE: I read that Meatloaf is a guest star this season. How great is that?

VW: Yes! Unfortunately I didn’t have any scenes with him, so I didn’t actually get to work with him. I’ve been singing "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" for well over a month. We have some really, really great guest stars this year: Mark Margolis and Betsy Brandt, who are on "Breaking Bad," will be on the show. I get a lot of really good stuff with Mark Margolis. He’s just outstanding and mortifying and scary as hell, which is great to work with. I know all of production has been very pleased with who we’ve had and what they’ve brought to the table. It’s going to be a great season!

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 31

Q: When will Tori Spelling’s reality show return to Oxygen? It’s one of my guilty pleasures, and I have to admit that I miss it! — Patty T., via e-mail

A: Tori and husband Dean McDermott will return for the sixth season of “Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood” on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Originally named “Tori and Dean: Inn Love” — where the couple opened a B-and-B while Tori was eight months pregnant with their first child — the new season will welcome the couple’s third child together, Hattie Margaret, who was born in October. Hattie joins siblings Liam and Stella, as well as Dean’s son, Jack, from a previous marriage.

Q: Will “Swamp Wars” be back on Animal Planet anytime soon? — Fred R., Baton Rouge, La.

A: Animal Planet will be bringing back “Swamp Wars” for more drama as the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom One unit carries on its battle against the lethal animals that threaten South Florida. A 12-episode second season begins on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, starting with six all-new episodes and another set of six episodes slated to air in 2012.


This season has our heroes facing a Tegu lizard outbreak as well as Nile monitors and Burmese pythons — you know, just the usual deadly invasive creatures. They also battle venomous lionfish, which are proliferating the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and have no known aquatic enemies.

Q: I read and enjoy your articles that appear in our newspaper every Sunday. I bet you can answer this: Will “Covert Affairs” on the USA channel be back? — Virginia G., Webster, N.Y.

A: “Covert Affairs” begins airing the second half of its second season on Nov. 1, with six episodes left to round out the season. And I have even more good news for you, Virginia: USA has renewed “Covert Affairs” for a 16-episode third season, to begin airing summer 2012. In fact, all of USA’s original summer programming has been renewed, including “Royal Pains” and “Necessary Roughness.”


USA co-presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel said in a statement: “USA’s original programming blew through all expectations this summer. It’s a rare and wonderful thing to announce the pick-up of our entire summer of programming.”

Q: I remember reading in previous columns that you are a big fan of Syfy’s “Being Human,” so I figure you can tell me if/when it’ll be back for a second season? — Johnny T., via e-mail

A: I am, and I can. The werewolf/vampire/ghost paranormal drama will return for its second season on Monday, Jan. 16. As you’ll recall, last season saw the demise of Bishop at the hands of Aidan, with Aidan becoming the new leader of Boston’s vampires; Nora learned Josh is a werewolf, not revealing to him that he scratched her while he was in werewolf form; and Sally missed her window to the Great Beyond to help save Aidan.

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Interview: Edi Gathegi Is First Class

Edi Gathegi, photo by Tyler Shields

"X-Men: First Class" opens nationwide tomorrow to excellent reviews, and I am sure, an excellent box office as well. I recently spoke with Edi Gathegi — perhaps best known for his portrayal of Laurent in "Twilight" and "New Moon" — who plays Darwin in this latest superhero incarnation. You can bet he's got me itching to see this thinking-man's action movie.

Celebrity Extra: My first major exposure to you as an actor was in the "Twilight" series. When you were filming "Twilight," at the time it was a smallish movie that not a lot of people knew about. And then it just exploded, I think a lot with the help of MTV and the Internet. Could you have ever guessed that it would morph into such a mega enterprise that it’s become?

Edi Gathegi: Well, a couple of things happened, I went through different generations of emotional feelings about it. I thought when I first booked it, knowing the book series, I immediately thought I would be a part of a trilogy. They were making the first movie of a three-book series ("Breaking Dawn" had not been published). I thought, This is it; this is the major franchise. And the reality of it is, people have to actually go to the movie in order for them to want to make the sequel. So, my expectations had dropped, and my hopes and dreams were dashed. 

And then we made the movie, and we experienced a common occurrence where a lot of the fans camped out overnight just to see us. The increase of the book sales was astronomical after we did the movie. So, that restored my confidence that this could be major, and then it did become major. But then my character didn’t survive past the second movie. (Laughter) It was up and down, up and down, but nevertheless, it’s still a great thing to be a part of.



CE: Were you disappointed to be killed off in "New Moon"?

EG: No, there is a reason for everything. I was definitely disappointed, but at the same time if I hadn’t had gotten “fired” from the team at "House," and if I wouldn’t have gotten "fired" from "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn," then I wouldn’t have gotten to do "X-Men: First Class." And "X-Men" honesty is like a dream of mine, because I was an excellent fan growing up, and I love the first two movies that they did. And to be a part of the "X-Men" franchise is such an honor, in any capacity.

CE: What can you tell me about your character and his place in the movie, without giving away too much, because I like to remain spoiler-free.

EG: Good, that’s a good way to go into it. I’m the same way. So, I don’t know anything about my character to that effect. (Laughter) Just kidding. My character, his name is Darwin. He’s named after Charles Darwin, because his mutation is reaction adaptation. Which basically means he’s in a constant state of evolution. Like if the house fills up in flames, he becomes fireproof. If he gets thrown into the ocean, he grows gills. If he gets capitulated into outer space for some bizarre reason, he doesn’t need oxygen to breathe. He will adapt to any environment to keep himself alive.

CE: Wow, that’s the best superpower!

EG: You know what? I think so too! Darwin is a relatively new mutant introduced into the franchise. But if he was around when I was a kid, it would be all about Darwin. As it was, I was all about Wolverine. That’s who I loved. But if Darwin were there, I would have been a Darwin geek.

CE: You also have a lot of kick-ass actors in the movie with you. Like, James McAvoy and Kevin Bacon. How were they to work with and how was the cast in general?

EG: Goodness gracious — they assembled a fiercely talented cast. Kevin Bacon: He’s Hollywood royalty. He’s an old-school brilliant actor, and he’s like the nicest guy. He’s the most noncelebrity celebrity you’ll ever meet. Super down-to-earth, super funny, super nice and smart — I’m a huge fan of Kevin Bacon, can you tell? 

And then James McAvoy, he’s just got crazy skill. We did a read-through on one of the first days, and I was just in awe of him. I said, “If he does his performance just like he did this first read-through, he’s gonna slay it!" Michael Fassbender: He’s a real actor; he’s a man’s man. He’s got a lot of talent. Across the board, they just hired talented people.

CE: What I really love about the "X-Men" franchise is that they hire actors first. It’s not that they’re hiring action stars, they hire actors first. I think that’s what makes them a step above many of the other action franchises.

EG: I think what makes a good movie is story and characters; "X-Men" is going to have the strength of a blockbuster movie, and it's also about character and story. It's definitely the thinking-man’s action movie. Which in my opinion makes the best kind of action movie. 

CE: I guess you’re accustomed to it because of "Twilight," but are you ready for the fanboys and fangirls craziness when this comes out?
EG: I think so. I think I’ve been through the rodeo once or twice before, and I think instead of the girls screaming, it will be the guys being shy. Because guys try to play it cool: “Hey, you’re in 'X-Men'! That’s cool, man. Good luck.”

CE: What can you tell me about the pilot for USA network, in which you're slated to star?

EG: The pilot is called "Wild Card," and it’s about Vegas law. Basically, when people go to Vegas and they have the saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” But only if you happen to get a lawyer. Let’s say someone gets thrown in jail for partying too hard or doing whatever. Our job is to get him out of jail before the sun comes up. So, it’s like a 12-hour nighttime procedural with a comic twist. Quirky characters, fun scenarios and I play the detective to the lawyers.

CE: I really like that premise. I would watch that.

EG: Well, you should! It’s probably going to be picked up. It’s a great script, I met Ben (Lawson) yesterday at a barbecue, and I think he’s just a great actor. He’s going to do so well on the show. And the script is solid. I love my character. I cannot wait to play it. Hopefully people respond to it and it has a chance to be on the air.

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Q and A: Week of May 9

Q: I read somewhere that my all-time favorite band, KISS, is back in the studio working on a new album. Is that true? If so, when can we expect some new material from them? — Rodney G., via e-mail

A: It’s true: KISS is working on a new studio album. The band began recording in April, and lead singer/songwriter Paul Stanley told me that they expect to release the album in late fall or early 2012, depending on how things go. He said: “So far, it sounds phenomenal. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise.”


In the meantime, Paul also is working with the House Research Institute to help bring awareness to teen hearing loss. Having been born deaf in one ear as well as being a mega rock star, Paul knows all about protecting his hearing, and he wants to help spread the word any way he can. “Hearing loss affects kids, it affects teens, and it affects adults. I tell people, ‘If you won’t listen to somebody in a white coat, maybe you’ll listen to somebody in black leather.’”

For more info on how you can protect your hearing, go to earbud.org, and to learn more about Sound Rules! visit soundrules.org. Go here for my full interview with Paul.

Q: Will “Memphis Beat” and “Rizzoli and Isles” be back on TV? I’m already getting tired of all the summer reality shows! — Glenda F., via e-mail

A: “Memphis” and “Rizzoli” will be back this summer on TNT, starting June 14 and July 11, respectively. In fact, TNT recently announced its all-new summer programming slate, which includes two new series, “Franklin and Bash” with Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer, and “Falling Skies” with Noah Wylie. Other returning series include “Men of a Certain Age” on June 1, “HawthoRNe” on June 14, “Leverage” on June 26 and “The Closer” on July 11. So get ready for some summertime drama, because TNT is filled to the brim with it!

Q: The Season 1 cliffhanger for Syfy’s “Being Human” had me on the edge of my seat. Please tell me it has been renewed for another season — I can’t wait to see what they come up with next! — Jackie H. in Montana

A: The vampire/werewolf/ghost fantasy-drama has been renewed for a second season by the Syfy network. In fact, the Season 1 finale shattered ratings records for the network. Although no official Season 2 premiere date has been given, I would assume to look for it come January 2012.

Q: I was happy to read in your column that “In Plain Sight” would be back on USA for a fourth and fifth season, but I read that star Mary McCormack is pregnant in real life. How will they handle it on the show? — Colleen V., Las Vegas

A: Mary and hubby Michael Morris are expecting their third child together. Mary told People magazine that her pregnancy will be written into the show, so it will be interesting to see what this means for her character, Mary Shannon.

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