Third season of HBO’s “True Blood” premieres June 13
"True Blood's" Sam Trammell - HBO Photo
Mark this date on your calendar “True Blood” fans: June 13.
The third season of the HBO series will debut on this night at 8 p.m., according to a press release from the network.
Can’t wait to find out what happened to Bill (Stephen Moyer) – and catch up with my favorite characters Sam (Sam Trammell) and Jason (Ryan Kwanten).
Hope they’ve got some tantalizing story lines coming up!
– Melissa Hayer
"True Blood's" Ryan Kwanten - HBO Photo
ABC producing music videos featuring “Lost” characters
Michael Emerson as Ben on "Lost" - ABC Photo
(From an ABC News Release)
“Lost” fans can get a musical perspective of their favorite characters with videos that can be seen at ABC.com.
ABC is producing these videos featuring different recording artists in celebration of the sixth and final season for “Lost” and is releasing an individual video each week.
The characters chosen for the music clips include Ben, Sawyer, Richard Alpert, Sun & Jin, Desmond, Hurley, Kate, Jack, Sayid and Locke and footage from this season will be shown.
The first music video currently playing in the ABC Music Lounge spotlights Ben and is set to the song “Ben” by Michael Jackson.
“Lost” airs on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Rolling Stones “Exile on Main Street” celebration scheduled on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, right, of the Rolling Stones - AP Photo
(From an NBC press release)
Rolling Stones fans have something to be “Happy” about because “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” will be hosting a weeklong celebration for the re-release of the band’s tenth studio album “Exile on Main Street” beginning May 10.
“We’re very excited that ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ is devoting a special week to ‘Exile on Main Street’ with our new documentary ‘Stones In Exile’ premiering for the first time ever in the U.S. on Friday,” the Rolling Stones said in a press release from NBC.
The week of May 10, the group will perform selected songs from “Exile on Main Street” each night on the show, which airs at 11:37 p.m. weeknights on NBC.
The original 18-track double-album was recorded in various stages at multiple locations, including Olympic Studios in London, Keith Richards’ mansion Nellcote in France, and in Los Angeles where the literal “Main Street” influenced the album title.
The re-release features 10 tracks originally recorded during the “Exile” era and only recently discovered while working on the reissue project. The unearthed tracks which include such titles as “Plundered My Soul,” “Dancing in the Light,” “Following the River” and “Pass The Wine” have undergone a unique evolution, while staying true to the essence of the 1972 album. Alternate versions of “Soul Survivor” and “Loving Cup” are also part of the “Exile” bonus materials.
“Stones in Exile,” a documentary developed to complement the release of “Exile on Main Street,” has just been completed for fans to view on US Network television and through BBC Worldwide internationally. The re-release of “Exile” will be available in the U.S. May 18.
“Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” fans will have the opportunity to screen the movie with Jimmy Fallon during a limited-commercial telecast Friday, May 14.
The documentary features rare, never-before-seen archival film, photos and interviews as well as new conversations with the band and the artists they influence.
“Exile on Main Street is one of the greatest records of all time. I am a huge Rolling Stones fan and it is a dream come true to celebrate the re-release of the album here at Late Night,” Fallon said in the NBC press release.
“Glee Live! In Concert!” tour dates expanded
"Glee" cast - FOX Photo
(From a Fox News Release)
The “Glee Live! In Concert!” tour has been expanded to add four more shows to the four-city tour due to popular demand, Twentieth Century Fox Television and “Glee” co-creator Ryan Murphy have announced in a press release.
The tour starts in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15 and will feature the stars of the hit Fox TV series “Glee” performing some of the show’s most memorable songs.
Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike) and Dijon Talton (Matt) will be performing during the concerts.
The new complete tour schedule is as follows:
2010 Glee Live! In Concert! dates:
May 15 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
May 20 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 21 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 22 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre MATINEE ADDED!
May 22 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre EVENING SHOW ADDED!
May 25 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 26 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 28 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall
May 29 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall MATINEE ADDED!
May 29 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall
May 30 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall EVENING SHOW ADDED!
Select tickets are now available to American Express cardholders in an exclusive pre-sale; tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m. for the concert in Phoenix, and Saturday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m. for the concerts in N.Y.C. and 10:00 a.m. for L.A. and Chicago. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m. and matinees start at 3 p.m.
Tickets will be available via www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at any Ticketmaster Outlet. Tickets will be available at the Dodge Theatre, Gibson Amphitheater and Rosemont Theatre box offices as well. Ticket prices range from $89.50-$39.50.
“Glee Live! In Concert!” has also teamed with I Love All Access to provide a variety of fan ticket packages for the show, including premium seats, parties and more. For more information, please visit “Glee” at www.gleetour2010.com.
“Glee” returns with new episodes beginning April 13 at 8 p.m. on Fox and the cast will begin production on the second season of “Glee” following the tour.
Pictured above, clockwise from left: Jenna Ushkowitz, Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale and Lea Michele. ©2009 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Matthias Clamer/FOX
Mark Valley gives media a “chance” to get some inside information on “Human Target”
"Human Target's" Mark Valley - FOX Photo
The Fox network recently provided a conference call opportunity for media members to speak with its “Human Target” star Mark Valley.
Valley portrays Christopher Chance, a private contractor/security guard, who gets hired to protect all different kinds of people in all different kinds of situations.
Chi McBride as Winston and Jackie Earle Haley as Guerrero assist Chance on his missions.
Here are some of the questions posed to Valley during this conference call, along with his responses:
Valley was asked when he realized there was such a good chemistry between the show’s main characters and he answered:
“I think we all realized that we had something pretty amazing when we were shooting in downtown Vancouver, the pilot scene, I think it was the very end of the episode, it wasn’t the end of shooting but it was the end of the episode, and rarely are the three of us together in any episode, but in this instance we were.
“We were getting ready to set up a shot and we were sitting in the back, all sitting in our chairs, and the three of us started talking as actors do, and just realized, my God, we all come from completely different places in terms of parts of the country and experience in the industry and so forth, and the three of us just kind of clicked.
“The thing that I liked about both of them is that I was just really kind of curious about them and wanted to get to know them better and thought both of them were really kind of interesting. And I think that the three of us sort of had that feeling about each of us, which is kind of cool and rare as well. And I think that kind of shows up on the screen. And maybe viewers will also want to wonder, how did they meet up, or how did they come together, and what was their history?”
When asked how much of a daredevil he is in real life, Valley said:
“I’m a little more into now taking calculated risks. I like to mountain climb and that’s really, the better prepared you are, the safer it is. I don’t just run out and climb a mountain with a T-shirt on, you know? That would be kind of foolhardy. There are some inherent risks, you know, with mountaineering and stuff, but yes, I generally like to be well prepared.
“I have parachuted. I did it in the Army and I also did it trying to get my certification to parachute down in Paris Island. I did it a few times, and that was pretty exciting, but for the most part, I’d say now the biggest risk I take is probably every once in a while I forget to put my seatbelt on. That’s about the limit of it right now.”
When he was then told the producers were probably happy about that because he’d then be uninsurable, his response was:
“Right, or at least I don’t tell them about it.”
Gulf War veteran Valley, who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and began his acting career while serving overseas in the Army, was asked if his military training had been helpful in his acting career, he replied:
“It’s funny, because they lay out all these weapons and they talk about the ammunition and so forth and its effectiveness, and, you know, we worked with weapons obviously in the Army, … but it’s actually something you can pick up pretty quickly. “I’d say there are other aspects of it that are similar. The hand-to-hand fighting, I learned a little bit of that in the Army, and boxing and wrestling and that sort of thing.
“But I think for the most part it’s working as team, working as a team under extraneous circumstances with a limited amount of time to get something done. That’s probably the biggest experience I got from the Army that applies to this job because we’re really making a movie in eight days, and that’s an awful lot of work that has to be done. So, yes, it’s sort of that kind of teamwork and camaraderie that I experienced in the Army that seems to be showing up again here in this show.”
When asked if there was any specific place he’d like to see his character Christopher Chance travel to, he replied:
“I would like to see Chance go to Paris. I’d like to see him go to London. We do go to London in one episode. What else? Africa, I think, would be kind of an interesting place. There’s all kinds of places he could go. Somewhere down south, maybe Texas. I’d love to do an episode that was sort of a quasi-Western in some way. That would be interesting.
“There’s Vietnam and all these other places in Asia that he could go and there’s things going on in China. That would be interesting. You name it. Well, there’s the second season, there.
“And also the cool thing about this cast and the writers we have is, maybe we could even write an episode that takes place inside a contained area, like the airplane episode, for example. We really didn’t go anywhere for that. That all took place inside the fuselage of an airplane, so maybe we’ll be doing something like that as well.
Valley was asked about upcoming guest stars on “Human Target” and he responded:
“Well, we’re going to see – I’m pretty excited about Lee Majors – but you’re going to see Armand Assante. He comes on as my old boss, that one that Chance is talking about – you never met my old boss. So, I finally met my old boss which was fascinating. He’s an interesting guy, a wonderful actor and I’m just really excited that he’s on the show.
“And then there’s this litany of beautiful, talented women that have come on the show. Amy Ackers in the finale – she plays this really pivotal character in Chance’s life. Grace Park is in an episode called “Corner Man.”
“Moon Bloodgood is in one – I forget the name of the episode, they changed it. But Moon Bloodgood is showing up. Leonor Varela is in “Sanctuary,” a beautiful and talented Chilean actress who really, just kind of, made this one episode look and feel like a movie. She just came in and completely took on this character of this ex-revolutionary who lives down in South America, an ex-lover of Chance. She was just fabulous.
“Lenny James from “Jericho” has come on and he’s playing Chance’s nemesis named Baptiste, who is probably the most talented assassin who’s still out there working for hire, and he and Chance come to blows in the episode called “Baptiste” and also in the finale.
“And of course, Emmanuelle Vaugier comes back in another episode that I don’t think you’ve seen yet. She’s in the episode “Baptiste.” She’s still an FBI agent and Chance and Chi and Jackie kind of figure out a way to enlist her help. Also, Autumn Reeser comes back as well. She sort of has a recurring role on our show, and she was in the show about the building that blew up, I think, the kind of Die Hard-esque episode.
When asked about what acting challenges he found in the Christopher Chance role, his reply was:
“It’s funny, when I first read the script, it is based on a comic book character, and there are certain things that comic book characters can get away with that regular actors can’t really do that’s that believable. One is to hold a pose for a long period of time. Like, to look concerned like you’re in a comic book. So, there was that. It sort of had a feel of a comic book so there was a challenge of trying to find a way to bring a real person into this.
“It wasn’t written in any sort of hyper reality. I mean, John’s writing is very, sort of, there is like a kind of casual thing that can exist in it, so it’s not that hard to kind of do it, it’s not complete melodrama or anything. That was the biggest challenge. Reading it and enjoying it like it could have been a comic book and then thinking, okay, wait a second, this is me now. How am I going to do this? It’s kind of hard to explain but that was the biggest one. And maybe picturing all the other people who could do better at it and thinking, okay, I’m going to do this? Wait a second.”
When Valley was asked how he balanced comedy and drama on the show, he replied:
“That’s something that I really love to do is to find the light moments. A lot of it depends on the scene and the person you’re working with and where the jokes can come in or where it seems appropriate, where it doesn’t seem appropriate. There’s a few elements that come into that. And, of course, there’s the way the scene is written as well.
“I generally prefer to – maybe it’s my background on a soap opera where there were no jokes at all. It was all just complete melodrama and I wanted parts of it to be funny so I just remember searching and combing through it and saying, “well, there’s this moment or that moment.” It might have been my experience on a soap where I was just so hungry for something to be funny that I developed, maybe, a perceptive eye for it.”
On how he’s seen the character grow so far, Valley said: “Well, personally, just me, the way I’ve grown is that I’ve become much more comfortable with some of the action and fighting scenes and the way Chance’s relationship with the other characters is starting to become a little bit more clear. His relationship with Jackie and with Chi is becoming a little big more clear to me.
“The way Chance is developing? I’d say that he is starting to come to terms with his past. He made a big change in his life about 6-8 years prior to the present that we have now on the show. And I think the reality of why he made that choice and the repercussions that it’s going to have is starting to come back to him, so essentially his baggage is starting to arrive.”
To see how Chance handles this baggage, and his upcoming adventures, tune in to Fox on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.
– Melissa Hayer
“Fringe” gets third season renewal from Fox
L-R: Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv and John Noble of "Fringe" - Fox Photo
“Fringe” fans rejoice!
Fox has renewed “Fringe” for its third season, according to a press release.
This is a super-cool series that keeps getting better. The acting and the stories are intriguing – and that’s without even mentioning the show’s alternate universe theme.
I just love the character of Walter, too, played by John Noble - he’s so endearing.
The second part of this season’s “Fringe” will begin April 1 at 8 p.m. on Fox, and will consist of 8 all-new episodes shown without interruption.
The countdown to April 1 is on – and I’m sure there’ll be more to look forward to next year!
– Melissa Hayer
NBC renews Thursday comedies “The Office, “30 Rock,” and “Community”
L-R: John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson and Steve Carell of "The Office" - NBC Photo
(From an NBC News Release)
NBC has announced in a press release that “The Office,” “30 Rock” and “Community” have been renewed for the 2010-2011 season,.
NBC has already announced the renewal of another Thursday night comedy, “Parks and Recreation.”
“The Office” is currently in its sixth season, “30 Rock” is in its fourth season and this is “Community’s” first year on the air.
NBC’s Thursday night comedy lineup is:
7 p.m. “Community”
7:30 p.m. “Parks and Recreation”
8 p.m. “The Office”
8:30 p.m. “30 Rock”
Front left, Tina Fey and front right, Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock" - NBC Photo
Brooke Burke joins “Dancing With the Stars” as co-host
Brooke Burke - AP Photo
(From an ABC News Release)
Brooke Burke will be joining Tom Bergeron as co-host for the spring 2010 season of “Dancing With the Stars,” according to an ABC press release.
Burke was the show’s season 7 winner, along with her partner Derek Hough.
Burke has recently worked as the host of TV Land’s reality series “She’s Got the Look,” and is the “Mommy Correspondent” on the nationally syndicated talk show “The Doctors.”
The premiere of the upcoming “Dancing With the Stars” season is March 22 and it will air from 7 to 9:02 p.m. There will be no eliminations the first week.
But after another two-hour show of competition on March 29 starting at 7 p.m.. the first couple will be sent home after getting the lowest combined judges’ scores and public votes for both performances on the next night (March 30) on the “Dancing With the Stars the Results Show.”
Evan Lysacek, Shannen Doherty, Pamela Anderson and Kate Gosselin among upcoming “Dancing With the Stars’ cast
Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Evan Lysacek - AP Photo
Well “Dancing With the Stars” fans, brace yourselves, because the rumors are true:
Pamela Anderson and Kate Gosselin are going to be cast members of the upcoming “Dancing With the Stars” installment beginning Monday, March 22. This premiere airs from 7 to 9 p.m. on ABC.
Other cast members are astronaut Buzz Aldrin, sports reporter Erin Andrews, actress Shannen Doherty, Olympic figure skater Evan Lysacek, host/producer/actress Niecy Nash, NFL football player Chad Ochocinco, “Bachelor” Jake Pavelka, singer Nicole Scherzinger, and actor Aiden Turner.
I’m going to make Evan Lysacek my early pick to win the disco ball trophy this time and I think Kate Gosselin will be the first to go – who are your picks?
– Melissa Hayer
Four-city “Glee” concert tour announced
The cast of "Glee" - Fox Photo
(From a Fox News Release)
Gleeks will be able to get a special treat if they are going to be in or near Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York in May.
According to a press release, Twentieth Century Fox Television and “Glee” co-creator Ryan Murphy are bringing “Glee” to concert stages this spring.
“Glee” stars Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer, (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike) and Dijon Talton (Matt) will perform in concert on the start of the “Glee” tour at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona on May 18.
“Glee Live! In Concert!” will include live performances of some of the show’s most memorable musical numbers including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Sombody To Love,” “Jump,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “Sweet Caroline.”
2010 Glee Live! In Concert! dates:
May 18 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre
May 20 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 21 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
May 25 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 26 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
May 28 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall
May 29 New York City, NY Radio City Music Hall
Select tickets will be available to American Express cardholders in an exclusive pre-sale beginning March 5; tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, March 12 at 10 a.m. for the concert in Phoenix, and Saturday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m. for the concerts in N.Y.C. and 10:00 a.m.for L.A. and Chicago.
Tickets will be available via www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> or by phone at (800) 745-3000 or at any Ticketmaster Outlet. Tickets will be available at the Dodge Theatre, Gibson Amphitheater and Rosemont Horizon Theatre box offices as well.
Ticket prices range from $89.50-$39.50. “Glee Live! In Concert!” has also teamed with I Love All Access to provide a variety of fan ticket packages for the show, including premium seats, parties and more.
For more information, please visit “Glee” at www.gleetour2010.com <http://www.gleetour2010.com/>
“Glee” returns with a host of new episodes on Tuesday, April 13 at 8 p.m. on Fox and the cast will begin production on the second season of “Glee” following the tour.
The “Glee” cast is pictured above, from left: Mark Salling, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Jenna Ushkowitz. ©2010 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Patrick Ecclesine/FOX
