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Author: Jennifer Armstrong (1-10 of 173)

Feb 9 2010 04:01 PM ET

Kevin Alejandro talks about going from 'Southland' cop to 'True Blood' vamp

Categories: Television, True Blood, Ugly Betty, Vampires

Where you know Kevin Alejandro from is a kind of Rorschach Test for your TV viewing habits: To you, he may be Hilda’s late husband Santos on Ugly Betty, or Celia’s passive-aggressive Mexican kidnapper on Weeds, or gangland police detective Nate Moretta on Southland. And now he’s juggling two cable favorites with TNT rebooting the formerly-on-NBC Southland and HBO’s True Blood hiring him as a new love interest for blood dealer/short-order cook/male prostitute Lafayette. He called us from the set of the steamy vampire drama — which returns for season 3 this summer — to chat about fighting gang warfare (which comes to a head on tonight’s Southland, at 10 p.m. on TNT) and wooing Bon Temps’ vampiest multitasker.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How has Southland’s switch from NBC to TNT been?
KEVIN ALEJANDRO: We’re finally at a place where everyone understands the show we’re trying to make and we can make it our way. They seem to understand it a little better. They’re a little edgier.

Does that mean more swearing and nudity?
I’m not sure about that. But there will be a lot more rawness. (Read full post)

Feb 8 2010 11:46 AM ET

What are your 'Bachelor' burning questions? Tell us what you want to ask Chris Harrison!

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Reality TV, The Bachelor

Chris-Harrison Image Credit: Craig Sjodin/ABCIf there’s anything this season of The Bachelor has been chock full of, it’s burning-question-worthy moments. Were Ed and Jillian contractually required to show up in that first episode (and look incredibly uncomfortable)? How does a guy eliminate so many women so quickly, yet keep the one who seems to annoy everyone else to their core? (Sorry, Vienna.) Why have so many details of this season leaked out before airing? And why the egregious lack of hot tub action?

We’ll be posing your burning questions to affable host/EW.com blogger Chris Harrison, with the answers to select queries to run in next week’s Entertainment Weekly. So tell us now: What do you most want to know about this most dramatic Bachelor season EVER?

More ‘Bachelor’:
Chris Harrison’s ‘Bachelor’ blog
‘The Bachelor’ recap, Feb. 2, 2010: The Virgin Suicide
‘The Bachelor’: 17 Burning Questions Answered (2009)

Feb 2 2010 11:44 AM ET

'It Takes a Village': ABC welcomes another comedy to its 'Modern Family'

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Advance Advancement, Modern Family, Television

ABC is clearly stoked to finally have found a comedy groove that doesn’t involve the words According to or Jim. The successful launch of its new-take-on-family-comedies block — particularly Modern Family and Cougartown — has prompted the network to revive a comedy pilot from a few years ago about two exes raising their teen son together. Originally called Family Values and focused on one of the partners — a gay dad — it now involves both parents and is called It Takes a Village. Could be promising — kind-of a Will & Grace who used to be married and have a kid. And I salute ABC for not ruling out gay parents now that it has one set on the schedule with Modern Family. Even better, it was written by Casey Johnson and David Windsor, who worked together on the underrated gem What I Like About You. (Bonus: Windsor is, of late, from the zippy writing staff of Greek.)

What do you think, PopWatchers? Could It Takes a Village be the next Modern Family?

Feb 2 2010 11:15 AM ET

'Shutter Island' Super Bowl trailer: Seriously, this movie will be out ANY TIME NOW

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Have You Seen This?, Movies, Muppets, Waiting

There comes a point at which anticipation turns into wariness, and you, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese, are treading dangerously close to it. Shutter Island was apparently bumped from last fall to Feb. 19 because of the bad economy, so we shouldn’t take that as the sign of a bad film. But having seen — and loved — these trailers for months and months now is starting to numb my excitement over a DiCaprio-Scorcese reunion. (On a super-cool-creepy-looking film based on a Dennis Lehane novel, no less! And set in the ’50s! With accents! I love period-Leo-with-accents!)

Nonetheless, the new trailer — set to premiere during the Super Bowl this Sunday — aims to re-stoke our fervor, with a heavy dose of Scorcese emphasis:

I’m still excited, but I almost don’t want to see any more teasers until the movie is out — I’m starting to feel like the joke’s on me and Scorcese actually just made a mighty fine set of trailers called Shutter Island. What do you think, PopWatchers? Are you still psyched about Shutter Island? Does seeing the names of many Scorcese films with percussive emphasis make you moreso?

Feb 2 2010 10:56 AM ET

'30 Rock' previews with Jan Hooks: What other 'SNL' alums would you like to see?

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: 30 Rock, Advance Advancement, Television

Saturday Night Live alum Jan Hooks hits 30 Rock later this week as Jenna’s chain-smoking, pill-popping mom, Verna, who’s in town to throw Jenna a surprise party. (“It’s at a fancy restaurant, so wear something nice, like a pair of white jeans and a Dan Marino jersey.”) And, well, from the clips, it’s just as perfect as you might think, even if the math doesn’t quite work out (Hooks is only 11 years older than Jane Krakowski):

Also, of course, there is singing: (Read full post)

Jan 26 2010 12:06 PM ET

'Greek' premiere: Coming out at the Fairytale Ball and burning down the house

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: About Last Night, Greek, Mini TV Watch, TV Recap, Television

Sure, all kinds of secrets were revealed on Greek’s season premiere Monday, but one trumped all others for me: We got to see the store where they apparently all go to get their constant array of fabulous costumes for various theme parties! (Cappie and Casey went there to discuss their couple costume for the Fairytale Ball. He suggested the Big Bad Wolf and Grandma, causing Casey to scoff, “The whole reason sororities throw parties is so girls can look hot and slutty.” Another secret revealed!)

Seriously, though, my real favorite revelation had to be Calvin and Grant coming out at the Fairytale Ball. Does it get any better than two hot princes starting the slow dancing among the twinkly lights and wishing wells? Makes that whole roommate situation easier, too, even with frat brothers now leaving pairs of tiaras at their door. (Read full post)

Jan 26 2010 11:23 AM ET

ABC Family's (almost) new show 'Huge': 'Ugly Betty' meets 'Glee' meets weight-loss camp

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Glee, Gossip Girl, Pilot Season, ShePop, Television, The Vampire Diaries, Ugly Betty

betty-huge-glee Image Credit: Patrick Harbron/ABC; Colfer: Carin Baer/FoxABC Family is apparently thisclose to greenlighting a series based on Sasha Paley’s young adult novel Huge, about two roommates at a weight-loss camp who fall for the same guy. It’s being described as “Glee meets Ugly Betty.” And yes, there really will be a musical component to the proceedings, an ABC Family source tells me, and this show has plenty of other things going for it besides that: First, it’s based on a book from Alloy Entertainment, the same people who brought us Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, and the late, great Privileged. Second, the pilot script was written by My So-Called Life creator Winnie Holzman and her daughter, Savannah Dooley. Third, among its producers is Robin Schiff of ABC Family’s delightful TV take on 10 Things I Hate About You. And fourth — yes, fourth! — it has the opportunity to tackle body-image issues, a la Drop Dead Diva, for young girls.

But what do you think, PopWatchers? Could Huge be a hit?

Jan 26 2010 10:00 AM ET

Josh Schwartz and 'Chuck' EP launching CBS comedy: New 'HIMYM' companion perhaps?

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Advance Advancement, Chuck, Gossip Girl, Television

josh-schwartz Image Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PR PhotosJosh Schwartz will continue his quest for total televisual dominance with CBS’ recent pick-up of his half-hour comedy pilot Hitched. He cowrote the script — about a “twentysomething newlywed couple who is still learning about each other, according to The Hollywood Reporter — with Chuck exec producer Matt Miller. Sounds like it could be a solid How I Met Your Mother companion (you know, with the mother already having been met in this case) — not to mention that Chuck really is quite funny (and even Gossip Girl and The O.C. have strong humor elements).

What do you think, PopWatchers? Are you excited for another Josh Schwartz show?

More Josh Schwartz:
Music Mix: Josh Schwartz’s take on the albums that defined the decade
Can Josh Schwartz bring ‘Gossip Girl’ pizazz to the lawyer dramedy genre?

Jan 25 2010 04:46 PM ET

'Greek' returns tonight! It's time to save our favorite campus comedy from cancellation

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Greek, Television

greek Image Credit: Elisabeth Caren/ABC FamilyGreek returns to ABC Family tonight, and having already sneaked a peek at the season premiere, I can tell you that it’s worth tuning in. The not-so-guilty pleasure is in fine, frothy form, with its uncanny ability to wring genuine tension and high emotion from what sounds like so much fraternity/sorority silliness. In this case, that’s the aftermath of last season’s finale cliffhanger in which a joint frat prank went so wrong it got a few Kappa Taus expelled and wrecked Cappie and Evan’s fledgling friendship; and an attempt to prove cheating at Song Fest resulted in the accidental burning of Gamma Psi, with the ZBZ girls possibly responsible. All this, plus Cappie and Casey finally together!

Not only is it good, sunny fun (seriously, why is the weather always so nice on this Midwestern campus?), but it’s also in some danger of being canceled. (My sources at the show, in fact, tell me they’ve shot two season-enders just in case.) Viewers are starting a red-cup campaign to let ABC Family know how much they love the show. Of course, if you’ve ever loved the show, now is the time to tune in — and to get psyched for tonight’s premiere, check out their “cram session” video to catch up on all of last season’s action.

And note to ABC Family: Consider this post my red cup.

Thanks. Love, Jennifer.

Will you watch tonight, PopWatchers? Will you rally to save Greek?

Jan 22 2010 06:51 PM ET

'Spartacus' premiere: Will sexy gladiators lure you in?

by Jennifer Armstrong

Categories: Spartacus, Television

After an inescapable marketing blitz full of bare pecs and rippling abs, Starz is premiering its loincloth-tastic, 300-esque television series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand tonight. It’s the kind of show that’s easy to promote: You get it, there’s lots of near-nakedness (and, in fact, full-frontal nudity), and it’s about the famous Roman slave. There will be gladiatorial fights and Roman debauchery. And in case it wasn’t clear enough, there will be blood in addition to sand. Having been privy to a screening of it earlier this week, I can tell you that it is also fun. Yes, there’s tons of nudity and sex, and lots of blood-spattering violence (not to mention a lot of people indicating they are ancient Romans by speaking in the third person). But it’s also tightly plotted in a way that lures you in even if you’re the kind of person who prefers her dramas blood-free and present-day (that is, if you’re me).

Starz is even showing the first episode of Spartacus free online to seduce would-be subscribers to the pay channel, a smart move.

So what do you say, PopWatchers: Have you watched online, or are you watching tonight?