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| [(ABC/Rick Rowell) TOP ROW: TATE BERNEY. SARAH GLENDENING, THORSTEN KAYE, MACKENZIE ALADJEM, CHRISTINA BENNETT LIND, DANIELLE PARKER, CAMERON MATHISON FRONT ROW: JAKE VAUGHN, THORSTEN KAYE, ALICIA MINSHEW, ELLAH MILLER, IAN SLATER, SUSAN LUCCI, WALT WILLEY, REBECCA BUDIG] |
Friday, September 23, 2011
Goodbye, All My Children
Friday, September 16, 2011
Interview: Catching Up With Nancy McKeon
Nancy McKeon, while best known for her role of Jo Polniaczek on “The Facts of Life,” actually got her start on daytime television. She appeared on the now-defunct “The Secret Storm” and “Another World” before donning a ponytail and plenty of attitude on the hit ’80s sitcom. Now soap fans and “Facts” fans can watch Nancy this weekend on “Love Begins” on the Hallmark Channel (premieres Sat. Sept. 17 at 9/8c; see local listings for more days and times). I spoke with Nancy about her new movie, as well as her “Facts” family.
Daytime Dial: What was it about the movie and the role of Millie that caught your fancy and made you want to be a part of the production?
Nancy McKeon: I have two little girls, and my primary job is here with them, so when I choose to step away, the timing has to be right, and this was. It was summer, so they could come with me. They don’t really know Mom’s “other” job. They just know my cooking, cleaning and carpooling.
And I love the Hallmark Channel. I’ve done some other things for them, too. I love the stories they tell and this group of people; they were pretty terrific. Right now it is more important, because this way my girls can actually watch the work. There have been some things that I have done that are just too grown up for them to see for a while. So this was a chance for them to make fun of me in funny costumes and funny shoes and funny hair.
DD: There was a real chance that the role of Millie could be seen as a busybody instead of helpful, but she really is a kind and generous soul. Was it written like that, or was it something you brought to the role?
NM: I think a lot of it was there. You could very easily become Mrs. Kravitz if you want to, but it really wasn’t that kind of movie. In my life, I’ve had some really lovely people — teachers, my own mom — who I was able to go to and talk to if I needed a sounding board of any kind. Seeing that and being able to come be in that particular role is just really lovely.
It’s different when you go back and do a period piece. You are able to remember times when people really talked instead of texted or emailed real quickly. You really kind of got to sit down and have a cup of coffee or tea, and talk about life and your desires or expectations and fears. It was interesting being around that group of people, because all of a sudden I find myself the older one on the set. I’ve always been usually the younger one on the set, but now I’ve transitioned into having been around so long.
DD: How was everyone to work with?
NM: They all were great. We had lots of chats about work and school and things that they are interested in. Everybody was just fantastic.
DD: What do you hope viewers take away from the movie?
NM: It’s just nice to be able to sit with the family and watch a story, and maybe remember that talking is worthwhile and sometimes taking a chance is worth it. You do have to be a little fearless, a little vulnerable, but it’s worth it in the end.
DD: Do you still keep in touch with the gals from “The Facts of Life”?
NM: I talk with Lisa (Whelchel, “Blair”) and Charlotte (Rae, “Mrs. Garrett) all the time. Lisa doesn’t live too far from me, so she comes down to the ranch all the time and hangs out. Charlotte has been here. Her sister lives in Dallas, so Texas is a middle point for us all. The others are usually working here, there and everywhere. We just got the award from TV Land, and we all got together for Charlotte because she is an incredible lady. She was an incredible teacher, and I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to work with and learn from her.
I’m privileged and proud to call them my friends. We had a great time when doing that show. It was really great for all of us. We’ve been very lucky and very blessed. It’s nice to be able to be adult friends and enjoy each other’s company.
Friday, September 09, 2011
Interview: 90210's Michael Steger Is Excited About the Future
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| (photo credit Geno Nicholas) |
Daytime Dial: When you first auditioned for the “90210” reboot, did you have any apprehensions or doubts that the show even needed a remake?
Michael Steger: I didn’t think any of the remakes were going to make it. I was very skeptical at first. I started going to more and more auditions for the show, and what got me really interested is when I found out Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah from “Freaks and Geeks” were on board.
DD: While I enjoyed the throwback of having some of the original “90210” cast on the show, I was happy when the show began to focus on the new characters and phase out the previous ones — that’s when it really hit its stride and found its focus.
MS: Yeah, the first season it seemed like we had like 50 cast members, which was really ridiculous. Whenever the vets were in the episode, Navid was out. I was like, “Aw, man! What’s going on?” We had to share a lot of screen time with everyone, so it got tricky. But now, the writers are in a place where we are all really enjoying where the stories are going, and they keep on surprising us with both funny and dramatic stuff. It’s good.
DD: What are some story lines you have enjoyed playing?
MS: The whole thing with Navid putting Adrianna through rehab and dealing with that situation. I thought it was a very difficult story line. It was so hard to pull off, and I felt like we told a great story. That was one of my favorites. And his relationship with Silver starting up has been amazing.
DD: It’s been great to be able to see Navid really grow up and mature through the years.
MS: Yes, especially when he finally put his foot down and ended things with Adrianna. He found some backbone and he was like, “You know what, I can’t take any more.” He made a huge change in his life, and I think that change came with a lot of fear. It was the best thing Navid could have ever done. That was the best part about playing the character — the idea of him maturing from a boy to a man.
DD: What can we expect for season four?
MS: We’ve all graduated. Navid is not going to college. In fact, he’s at the helm of the production company. His entire family went to Switzerland because of his father being charged with child pornography. So, Navid ends up moving in with Silver, selling his car and just putting all of his money into his business. Silver becomes his assistant. But he’s still being haunted by his dad’s past. Ex-business partners who happen to be pretty upset start showing up.
DD: What about the rest of the West Bev gang? What are they up to?
MS: Navid is going to be working with Dixon, but he’s no longer working FOR me. Also, my sister ends up not getting on the plane and stays in town, wanting to move in with me and Silver. With Max and Naomi and the whole pregnancy bombshell at last year’s finale, they address that in the first episode. Navid does see Ade again, and it’s a very awkward situation, but they do talk in the first two episodes.
DD: Much like your characters, you must be excited to graduate into the real world of adulthood and the story lines that will bring.
MS: Oh yeah, definitely. I feel like there is so much more you can do outside the high school. There are so many more mature story lines. We’re not confined to the walls of West Beverly, and it feels good. We’re doing a lot more location stuff. The sets look amazing, and we’re at the beach more than usual. I’m excited, because there’s going to be a lot more action going on.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Interview: Days' John and Marlena Return!
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| Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall |
Daytime Dial: Without getting yourself into trouble, you must tell me everything you can about John and Marlena’s return.
Drake Hogestyn: In the time they’ve been gone, John has been working on his recovery. There is an event in Salem, the opening of the Horton Town Square, in honor of Tom and Alice Horton, and John and Marlena make an appearance. John is just starting to get the full capacity of his extremities back. Another event unfolds, and that is that certain authorities have been waiting for John Black to land on American soil, because there are some issues that will create an umbrella story line that defines all the characters.
On Sept. 26, we’re turning a page of “Days of our Lives.” We’re bringing back a lot of fan favorites — when I walked on that show, it took me three hours to get from the parking spot to the dressing room, because I saw cameramen that I haven’t seen in forever; we’re laughing and scratching in the hallway. I walked down the hallway between Studio 2 and 4, and they are breaking for lunch, and out walks Matt Ashford and Christy Clark and Patrick Muldoon, and it’s just this warm, fuzzy feeling of throwback in the history of “Days.” We’re laughing and crying, and the energy that’s going through NBC right now, and “Days” in particular, is just amazing.
What we’re going to do is, we’re going to take the audience back to that period of time when our show was at the apex. When everybody was on board in the late ’80s and early ’90s, when we had engaging stories and compelling actors and very well-defined, character-driven stories. And that’s what we’re doing now.
DD: That’s exactly when I started watching, around 1989 or 1990, and it was, without a doubt, the best soap on television. So I am thrilled you are going back to those roots.
DH: This is exactly what I’m talking about, Cindy. That’s when everybody was on board with the show. We had all that romance; we had action, adventure, intrigue and mystery that “Days” was famous for, and that’s what we’re going back to. With Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas, they know the history of the show. They’ve been there. They came aboard with Jim Riley, even though Jim had some crazy story lines that came out of left field.
As long as the actors played the thread, played the grain of truth in there, the audience would always be on board. The stories are contemporary, and by that I mean they are torn right out of the headlines of the front page of every paper in the nation of what is going on with the economic times, and John is right in the center of all of that right now. These are topics people are going to relate to because it is affecting their lives, and how are we going to play that out on “Days of our Lives”? That is the interesting, organic part of it.
DD: With John Black back in town, I know one person who could really use his guidance: his son, Brady.
DH: We had one scene and almost everyone was there, and Marlena says, “Everybody’s here,” and I said, “Not everybody.” And she knew that I was looking for Brady. After the highlight of the night is over, I do approach him. It goes as John expected. There have been conversations between the two of them while John was away, and John has been disapproving of choices Brady has made in his life. But it looks as though Brady is starting to try to change his life around on his own. We’ll see, but I do think there are some great dynamics there.
DD: Are you looking forward to working with the newer actors, many of whom came aboard while you were gone?
DH: Definitely. I’m looking forward to working with Eric (Martsolf, who plays Brady). Our ships were passing in the night back then. He came on board at the very end of 2008 — I was anchoring my ship somewhere else, and he was setting sail. That’s a very interesting transformation too, and the same thing with Galen Gering. These actors came over from another show (“Passions”), and they were finding their shoes of the characters on “Days of Our Lives,” and it was very established at that time. Now, it’s like I’m entering their show, and you can see how comfortable they are with their characters and the relationship their characters have formed with other characters on the show. Now John and Marlena are entering that orbit. Now we’re finding how to work with these other actors who are now established on the show. This is a really nice dance that is going on. I’m enjoying it a lot.
DD: Are there some quintessential John Black-type scenes you are looking forward to playing?
DH: That’s a really good question. As you get older, you have to change also. You’re not going to be the swashbuckler. Every once in a while, they might throw me a bone like that. But what I wanted to do, what I think is cut out for Deidre (Hall) and myself, is to take that audience back and put them emotionally in that warm and fuzzy, safe place, especially in these troubling economic times where marriages are dissolving left and right over financial ruin. If you stay strong as a couple, and you are holding hands, and you love each other, and you believe that the power of two can get through anything. That is going to be our goal: to keep the audience on board, the ones who got us there for all those years.
And I don’t take anything for granted. You’re only as good as your last show. When I played professional baseball with the Yankees, you were only as good as your last game. So, every day you roll up your sleeves, and you can’t wait to show America what’s on the next page. And right now, with the engaging story we have, everybody is just bringing it with both barrels right now. I think the audience is really going to respond to this in the most favorable way. And when they turn the show back on, and they see some of these old fan favorites engaging again, it’s going to put that audience in that great place.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Interview: Catching Up With Beau Mirchoff
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| Beau Mirchoff/Ron Tom/ABC |
Daytime Dial: As someone in my 30s, I wasn’t expecting to like “Awkward” as much as I do, but I have to tell you, I absolutely love it! It’s smart, funny, well written and well acted.
Beau Mirchoff: I think so too. I think there are diverse characters and that people of all ages can relate to the situation and to the characters. It’s a show about teenagers, but I think there is a little bit of everything for everyone. My mom is in her 50s, and I guarantee you this will be her new favorite show. I’m glad to be on something that people are really talking about.
DD: Tell me about your character, Matty, and the things about him that appealed to you as an actor.
BM: The characteristics that appeal to me are he’s lovable and he’s loving. Matty’s thing is, he wants to be perfect; he wants his family to be perfect, and he doesn’t want anything to look negatively on his family. He constantly wants to be liked and to please people. And does he do that in the wrong way sometimes? Yes, of course. I think most teenagers don’t have a clue how to handle most situations. They might think they do, but they don’t.
DD: While this is told from a girl’s point of view, the writers do a great job of showing how being a teen, whether girl or boy, is just plain difficult.
BM: I think they are often very similar, emotionally. Guys put on the façade that everything is cool, but deep down I think they have some of the similar problems with image, popularity and fitting in — finding a girl and being loved and all those types of problems.
DD: This seems like it would be a fun set to work on.
BM: It was awesome; it was fun; it was happy! Everyone was great and supportive. We always would run lines and talk about our scenes and our characters, trying to find new things in scenes that we hadn’t found before. We’d come up with new, creative ideas and run them by Lauren (Iungerich, executive producer/creator/writer). Every once in a while, I’d come up with a really good idea and it would work. Life on the set was creative and fun.
DD: Another fun and creative set you worked on was with the folks at “Desperate Housewives.” What was that experience like?
BM: Educational. I learned so much from all the people on that set with all those actors and actresses. They are pros and they know what they’re doing. I was very grateful to get that job. Not just for the recognition and whatnot, but to grow as an actor. You can only learn so much in acting class, but when you’re on set, it’s a whole different thing. I learned a lot from Jeffrey Nordling, who played my father, and Drea de Matteo, who was my mother. A majority of my scenes were with them. You learn a lot from just watching them work, and you see how they do it. That was what was most beneficial from that.
DD: I am a big “Sopranos” fan, and was so happy to see Drea on the show. How cool was it that she played your mom?
BM: Yeah, I had a big crush on Drea. I hope it didn’t read on camera. That would have been creepy, since she was my mom, but it probably came out. It’s inevitable. She’s quite attractive and so great at what she does.
Friday, August 05, 2011
Interview: Catching Up With Nicollette Sheridan
You can’t mention Nicollette Sheridan without thinking of her most recent alter ego, Edie Britt of “Desperate Housewives.” However, when you watch Nicollette in her new Hallmark Channel movie, “Honeymoon for One” — which premieres Saturday, Aug. 13 at 9/8c — Edie will be the furthest thing from your mind. In “Honeymoon,” Nicollette plays Eve Parker, a woman scorned who decides to travel to Ireland on what would have been her honeymoon. Along the way, she discovers love in the form of the breathtaking countryside, a sweet preteen named Kathleen, and a handsome (and irksome) outdoorsman named Sean.
Daytime Dial: What brought you to the Hallmark Channel, and to this movie in particular, “Honeymoon for One”?
Nicollette Sheridan: First of all, I really liked the character and I liked the movie. Hallmark is making beautiful movies that everyone can watch. And at times, they are dealing with slightly edgy material, so Hallmark has come a long way. And I do love that their movies are something the whole family can watch.
DD: Tell me about your character, Eve.
NS: Eve is hiding from herself and her intimate relationship by immersing herself in her work. I think a lot of people are guilty of that, and when something traumatic happens, she is forced to look at her life and make huge changes. And as we know, your career doesn’t wrap itself around you at night, and keep you safe and sound. Being present and being aware, and having a life filled with love, friendship and trust does. When you reach outside yourself and you do for others, it enriches many more lives, including your own. And that’s what I really liked about her journey.
DD: What were some of the aspects of her character that you could relate to or that you were really proud of?
NS: Well, she’s a very kind person, and she means well. Then again, she really needs to pull her head out of the sand and see what’s going on around her. And she’s a strong character. I like that she’s not a victim. It’s very difficult to go through a relationship breakup. Especially when somebody cheats on you, and though these things are very painful in her life, the outcome is a much better path.
DD: It’s very exciting and brave of her to go off on her own to a foreign country to clear her head and decide what she wants to do with her life.
NS: And it’s very out of character for her to do something like that, but her friends urge her to go. When she does, it’s very awkward at first, but she transcends all of that.
DD: What was Greg Wise, who played Sean, like to work with?
NS: Greg is a fantastic actor, and he’s very playful. We had a lot of fun shooting this film.
DD: And the location was just gorgeous! Where did you film, and what was the actual filming like?
NS: It was just stunning. We were in the most beautiful places. And I’d never been to Ireland, and coming from England myself, you have that expansive countryside, but it’s a much wilder feel in Ireland. I loved it over there. And of course I’ve been riding since I was a tiny little thing, and so for me to be out there and belting across the countryside on that white horse was heaven for me. It was just breathtaking over there. People are so nice and warm and friendly, and I’m looking forward to going back when I don’t have to work so I can really explore the country.
DD: A movie of yours that I absolutely loved you in was “Noises Off!” Do you hope to do some slapstick comedy like that again? Everyone in that movie was absolutely brilliant and I know you’re good at comedy. You’re good at the romance and the drama, but I just loved you in the slapstick, physical comedy.
NS: Thank you. That was a very special movie. It had an incredible cast, and we would all convene at a roundtable in the morning, and everybody would tell stories and just share in a way that I’d never experienced on a set before. Basically we rehearsed it as a play. And then when we were ready to start shooting, we would shoot eight pages at a time, all in one shot. It was pretty demanding, physically, because as you remember, we were up and down the stairs and all the backstage business. The outtakes from that film were hilarious. I do love physical comedy as well as drama, so hopefully there will be a bit of everything to come.
DD: What are your thoughts on all these remakes that seem to be happening? I know TNT is doing a remake of “Dallas.”
NS: I know! I just saw an ad for it. It looked exciting. There was a nostalgia that came with seeing the ad for the show, and I think the music and those faces that are so familiar to so many people … I think there is something comforting about it. And it looks exciting! You’ve got all those colorful characters, and I’m sure they are all going to do an incredible job with it.
Larry Hagman looked great and Patrick Duffy, and I noticed that Brenda Strong, who was Mary Alice on “Housewives,” is in it. I’m thrilled for her, because she’s a beautiful actress and one of the loveliest human beings that I know.
DD: If they decided to do a “Knots Landing” remake, would you be on board, or would you say, “Good luck, but my time on ‘Knots Landing’ has passed”?
NS: I haven’t heard about anyone speaking of doing that. I think that “Dallas” was a lot flashier than “Knots Landing.” “Knots Landing” was really the down-home, simpler, more-pained version. Just very real people going through real situations, but I haven’t heard if they are interested in remaking that.
DD: I know you’re involved with a lot of charities, especially animal charities. Can you tell me a bit about them?
NS: It’s always wonderful to place animals in homes, because there are so many unwanted furry friends that need a beautiful family to go to. So, that’s something that I like to help with. Also, I got involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind. It is such a wonderful gift to be able to pair up somebody in need with a set of eyes and a companion. That was a very fulfilling thing to be a part of.
Recently, there is this charity called Ride On that is with horses. It’s for the disabled — both physically and mentally, adults and children — and just through the love that you get through working with and riding horses. It’s an incredibly healing experience and gives them a sense of accomplishment to be able to ride and to be able to bond in that fashion. I’m going to have a little bit more free time coming up, so I’m actually going to get to be more hands-on with the people and the horses. Animals are such a gift.
Monday, August 01, 2011
Interview: Catching Up With Brandon Quinn
Brandon Quinn has played everything from gigolo Spencer Bullitt on “The O.C.” to an eye-candy boyfriend on “Entourage” and even a teen wolf on “Big Wolf on Campus” (way before it was all the rage to be a shapeshifter). Now Brandon is playing a role he’s always wanted to play, that of a cop, on the Lifetime Television new original series “Against the Wall,” which premieres Sunday night, July 31, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Brandon told me all about his new show, and how excited he is to be a part of something of this caliber.
Daytime Dial: Were you as surprised as I was to see that this new show, a police procedural, was for Lifetime Television, as opposed to TNT or FX or another cable network along those lines?
Brandon Quinn: Oh my gosh, big time. The folks at Lifetime are in a position now where they are really trying to re-identify themselves, and this show is definitely unlike anything else they have right now. I really feel like it’s going to put them on the map. I’m really proud of this show. I would stack our show up against any other show in its category on network television right now. Lifetime could potentially have a really big hit on their hands if all goes well. It’s hard to say what people are going to respond to, but I just can’t imagine viewers not responding to the show.
DD: Tell me about the show, and your role of Richie Kowalski.
BQ: It’s a family drama first. It is a police procedural, but it’s a family drama about a family of three generations of Chicago police officers. Dad is a patrol cop, along with my older brother, middle brother, myself and then the youngest sibling, Abby —the only girl in the family — who was a patrol cop and decides to join Internal Affairs. Which if you know anything about cops, it’s cops on one side, Internal Affairs on the other side. They investigate the cops that are considered the traitors. So, it creates a huge upheaval in the family.
I play Richie Kowalski, the youngest of the three brothers. Richie’s a really good guy. He’s got a good sense of humor. He’s an excellent cop. He has a lot of integrity. He takes his job really seriously. Richie and Abby have an extremely close relationship. We have the closest relationship of all the siblings, she and I. I’m her shoulder to cry on, her confidant. I don’t judge her for the decision she made to join Internal Affairs.
DD: How excited were you to play Richie when you first got the script for the pilot?
BQ: I’ve always wanted to play a cop. What kid at some point in his life isn’t obsessed with cops and robbers, if just for a day? For the longest time I actually really wanted to be a cop when I was younger. So, right away I was like, “Awesome. I’ve always wanted to play a cop.” Then once I read the script, I loved the character of Richie. He’s this blue-collar, down-to-earth guy’s guy. He’s a family man. He’s really close with his wife. He’s a really good friend, and he loves football — and these are all traits that I possess. I come from a blue-collar middle-class family that shaped who I am as a person. It’s easy to be Richie, because it isn’t a stretch. I just opened myself up, and the rest was on the paper.
DD: This show has such a great cast — what are they all like to work with?
BQ: It’s such a dream job — you couldn’t ask for a better group of people. From Rachael Carpani all the way down to the guest actors, they’ve all been tremendous, and it’s literally one of those jobs where I keep pinching myself. Content of the show aside, it’s all about the people you go to work with every day who help inspire you. It starts with Kathy Baker and Treat Williams, who are two veterans who have been doing this for years. They really set the tone, and they are both so down-to-earth and great. Kathy is so motherly and a very approachable, sweet woman.
And Treat, he really wants to give us our time in the spotlight. He’s like: “I’ve had my time. This is your guys’ time.” And Rachael is absolutely phenomenal. The show wouldn’t be nearly as great if we didn’t have the cast we did, and we all get along so well. Honestly, there’s not a diva in the bunch.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Bill & Susan Hayes Appearance
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Interview: Catching Up With Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery is a familiar face to many TV viewers. She is a veteran of many TV series, most notably CBS’ “Without a Trace,” as well as “Party of Five,” “NYPD Blue,” “Glory Days” and much more. On July 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, you can catch Poppy in Lifetime Television’s original movie “Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story.” I spoke with the gorgeous Aussie recently, and she told me about portraying such a private and interesting woman who created the magical world of Harry Potter.
Daytime Dial: J.K. Rowling is known for being very guarded about her private life and is very reserved. Did you have any reservations about taking this role, especially since Ms. Rowling was not involved in the production?
Poppy Montgomery: I had enormous reservations. I’ve been a Harry Potter fan long before I did this film, and I’ve read all the books and I’ve read them since I was in my 20s. I read the first one right when it came to the States. I didn’t want to do anything in any shape or form that was exploitive or tabloid-y. So, when they sent me the script, I definitely had reservations, because I knew that it was unauthorized. I knew that she wasn’t collaborating on it. It was based on a book that just told the facts, basically, from her childhood through to the present. And when I read the script, I found that it was a love letter to J.K. Rowling, and it really was a story that was inspirational for other people. I didn’t think that there was anything about it that was not good, and so then I changed my mind.
DD: Just watching the movie was so inspiring; I couldn’t wait to be creative once I was finished.
PM: Right? You just feel so inspired by her, which is exactly what I loved about it and why I wanted to do it. And that inspires you to be better, because she was so driven. The fact that the first Harry Potter book was written basically in one of the darkest times of her life and she pushed through, and as a single mother with very little money, this extraordinary book was born. I just think it’s incredibly inspiring.
DD: What were some things about J.K. that you hadn’t known prior to filming this, and that had perhaps surprised you?
PM: I didn’t know that her mother had been ill for so much of her life, and that must have deeply affected her, because I’m really close to my mother. I didn’t realize really how bleak and difficult things were for her. I’m a mother of a 3-year-old, so to be alone at the age that she was in her 20s with a baby and having left the marriage that wasn’t working, and being so poor, and still being able to have this enormous creativity and write this book under those circumstances. The power of her spirit is something that I wasn’t as aware of until we did this movie, and I just thought it was extraordinary.
DD: I was very happy to see that it was, like you said earlier, a love letter of sorts to the elusive author …
PM: Me too. Like I said, when I was sent the script and I knew that she wasn’t involved directly, I had strong reservations. But the script told such a beautiful story. Her books have affected millions and millions of children and adults all over the world. It’s magic — she’s been responsible for getting kids to read books again. And I just think it’s a story that everybody can relate to and hopefully be inspired by, and that was what drew me to it.
DD: What were some things about J.K. that you could relate to and you found enjoyable to portray?
PM: Her tenaciousness, her drive, her never-quit attitude were all things that I really dug into and loved. In fact, it made me a better person, made me work harder and want to be better. I love the way her mind works, her funny, irreverent, unusual, magical mind. I found that to be fascinating. To try to even get inside that for a minute was really intriguing to me.
DD: Tell me a bit about your role on this fall's new CBS series, “Unforgettable,” and the role of Carrie Wells.
PM: I play a woman who has hyperthymesia, or total recall. It’s a person who can remember every moment, in vivid detail, of her life as though it happened five minutes ago. You could ask: “What happened on June 20, 1984?” and she could tell you every single thing — what she was wearing, what she had for lunch, if she had a fight with her boyfriend. It’s extraordinary. It’s a blessing and a curse, because you can forget nothing, and sometimes there are things that we need to forget.
My character is an ex-cop who couldn’t be a cop anymore, because the condition obviously didn’t allow her to forget any of the hideous things she saw. It’s also what made her an extraordinary cop, and basically she’s pulled back into the cop world through a number of circumstances, as well as her ex-lover, played by Dylan Walsh.
It’s a love story, it’s a mystery, and it’s a cop show. There are so many elements going on that it’s almost impossible to describe. It’s very compelling — and it’s directed by Niels Arden Oplev, who directed “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” He’s just a genius. The writers are amazing. Ed Redlich wrote it, and I did “Without a Trace” with him the first couple of years. It’s a fantastic group, and it’s on CBS, and they do amazing shows.
DD: How were they able to lure you back to network series television?
PM: The script was amazing. I’m obsessed with Niels and had been long before I ever met him, because I’ve seen “Dragon Tattoo” maybe 30 times. I’ve worked with CBS since I was a baby, so it’s like coming home again. CBS is like my family. It’s such a great place for me to work, and I feel like they support their shows so wholly and completely that it is just a joy. Everything about it lined up for me.
To see a strong female character leading a show is very exciting. Now that my son, Jackson, is 3, and I spent two years after “Trace” really just being with him and being a mommy, I felt really ready to go back to work. I’m very proud of the show. I think it’s quite extraordinary and really good.
DD: I know fans will be glad to see Dylan Walsh regularly again. What is he like to work with?
PM: My darling Dylan — I love that man. He’s one of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life. We’re on set and he just makes me laugh. I’m like, “You have to stop making me laugh so I can shoot the scene.” It was like that with all my co-stars on “Trace” too. Anthony LaPaglia is Jackson’s godfather; Roselyn Sanchez is my best friend. We’re all still very, very close. And I never thought that could happen again, and it did with Dylan and the cast on this show. We all instantly just bonded and became friends, and everyone is amazing. So — knock on wood — that’s a huge blessing as well.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Drake and Deidre Are Back on Days!
Day's supercouple is finally reuniting! Days of Our Lives made it official today by announcing that Drake Hogestyn will reprise his role as John Black on Sept. 26. He joins Deidre Hall, who will also return to the NBC sudser to resume her role as Marlena Evans. The two are expected to begin production this week.
“We are thrilled that Deidre and Drake are rejoining the show, said Executive Producer Ken Corday in a statement. “I know their return will excite loyal fans and intrigue new viewers. We are gearing up for some amazing cast surprises and guest stars visiting Salem in the fall, launching a grand event airing on September 26.”
Patrick Muldoon and Christie Clark (Austin and Carrie) are heading back in September as well. Yay!
Read the rest here.
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