'V' - Hot Cuppa TV: Morena Baccarin Interview

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)

She Blinks to Conquer -- Morena Baccarin of 'V'



By Kate O'Hare on November 10, 2009

ABC's remake of "V" hit big in the ratings when it premiered [Nov. 3rd] and also stirred up a bit of controversy, with some claiming it's a veiled (or not so veiled, depending whom you ask) criticism of the current administration, and others claiming it's just a show about disguised aliens coming to Earth and promising hope, change and universal healthcare in exchange for unquestioning devotion.

... Whatever you think the show is really about, one thing's for sure -- it's really a TV show, and it got really good ratings, which is really good news for star Morena Baccarin, who plays Anna, the beguiling alien leader.

Here are the highlights of a brief chat we had after the "V" premiere:

Q: What did you think when you realized "V" was a hit?

A: Wow, holy sh-t. I think it's great. It's a little bit surprising, but at the same time not, because people are really excited about it, and we are very excited about it...

Supernatural - Hot Cuppa TV: Jim Beaver Interview

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV blog:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



Jim Beaver Left 'Deadwood' to Explore the 'Supernatural' and 'Harper's Island'

May 07, 2009

Fans of "Deadwood," David Milch's groundbreaking Western series for HBO, know Jim Beaver as Ellsworth, the irascible yet gentlemanly -- in his own profane way, like many folks on the show -- gold prospector who came to an unfortunate end, witnessed by his dog.

But Ellsworth's demise did nothing to slow down Beaver's career, as he can be seen concurrently as demon-hunter Bobby Singer on The CW's "Supernatural," airing Thursdays (the season finale airs next week); and as Sheriff Charlie Mills on the CBS mystery/drama limited series "Harper's Island," airing Saturdays (which, incidentally, also stars Katie Cassidy, who used to play the demon Ruby on "Supernatural" -- not to be confused with Irish actress Elaine Cassidy, who plays Mills' daughter on "Harper's Island).

He's also a screenwriter, a playwright and an author, with a new memoir, "Life's That Way." It's based on a series of e-mails that chronicles Beaver's efforts to deal with his wife Cecily's cancer diagnosis and death, and being a now-single father to their autistic daughter, Maddie.

Born in Wyoming as the son of a minister, Beaver spent much of his childhood and adolesence in Texas. He also volunteered for the Marine Corps and was active in the Marine Reserve until 1976. His acting career involves stage, film and television (including writing episodes for such TV shows as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Tour of Duty").

Since Beaver is a writer, I asked him to pen some answers to questions, which are below. Enjoy.

A brief excerpt:

Q: What’s your relationship like with show stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles? A trio of Texans!

A: I don’t have the same relationship with Jared and Jensen that Bobby has with Sam and Dean. We’re much more on an even level, as far as I’m concerned. There’s no sense that I’m older and wiser, like there is with Bobby, no sense that Jim ever needs to straighten the two youngsters out like there sometimes is with Bobby. We’re three friends and colleagues, and I think there’s a lot of mutual respect that goes along with the friendship. If anything, I come to them for advice. It’s great being a trio of Texans, since it gives us all kind of that feeling of knowing the “secret handshake,” you know?

Hot Cuppa TV: Alex O'Loughlin Audio Interview

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



Alex O'Loughlin Emerges From the 'Moonlight' to Take on 'Criminal Minds'

WARNING: As well-read as he may be, O'Loughlin is a man's man and an Aussie, and the following audio interview contains a few instances of profanity. I'm not technically proficient enough to bleep them, so consider this fair warning to send those of tender age or sensibilities out of the room before hitting the play button -- or just wear headphones.

Among other things, O'Loughlin is discussing his guest role on CBS' "Criminal Minds," executive-produced by feature-film producer Mark Gordon ("Grey's Anatomy"), former Chicago police officer Edward Allen Bernero ("Third Watch"), Deborah Spera, Chris Mundy and O'Loughlin's good friend, Simon Mirren ("Third Watch," "Without a Trace").

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Nathan Fillion - Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV: Audio Interview

From Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's blog, Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the audio interview.)



A Few With Fillion: 'Castle' Star Speaks

April 06, 2009

Last Friday, I participated in a satellite interview tour with Nathan Fillion, former star of Joss Whedon's first Fox series "Firefly" -- in which he played tortured, sardonic spaceship Capt. Malcolm Reynolds -- and current star of ABC's Monday-night crime caper show, "Castle."

As video of the interview was only available on Beta tape, and that's very difficult to post on the Web with only a laptop and my limited skills, I have only six or so minutes of audio to offer.

But this is Nathan Fillion, who's as quick-witted as any actor I've ever interviewed, so a few minutes counts for a lot.

And so you understand what I'm talking about when I mention the reactions of some folks on Twitter to the initially lukewarm reviews of the show, I've posted some of the tweets below.

I confess to thinking that the concept -- handsome mystery novelist pairs with snarky female cop to chase killer committing murders based on his books -- was not exactly groundbreaking, as I said here...

Battlestar Galactica / Dollhouse - Hot Cuppa TV: Tahmoh Penikett Interview

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's blog, Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



Tamoh Penikett bids farewell to 'Battlestar Galactica' and Grace Park

Tamoh Penikett has come a long way for a boy from Whitehorse in Canada's Yukon Territory.

"Not bad at all for a little boy from the Yukon," Penikett says. "Where my mother was born is the coldest recorded temperature in North America, so I know about cold."

This Friday, March 20, his character on Fox's "Dollhouse," FBI Agent Paul Ballard, has a big episode -- coming face to face with "doll" Echo (Eliza Dushku) for the first time -- but Penikett is also competing with himself, as Sci Fi Channel airs the final two hours of the critically acclaimed "Battlestar Galactica."

In the series' conclusion, "Daybreak, Part II" (Part 1 aired last week and repeats at 8 p.m. EST, right before the finale), members of the Galactica crew embark on a mission to rescue Hera, the half-human/half-Cylon daughter of human pilot Karl "Helo" Agathon and Cylon Sharon "Athena" Agathon (Grace Park), who has been kidnapped and taken to the Cylon colony, which perches on the edge of a black hole ...

Bones - Hot Cuppa TV: Hart Hanson Interview

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's blog, Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



He Knows 'Bones': Executive Producer Hart Hanson speaks

After failing to realize early dreams of being either a heavy-metal guitar god or a physicist, writer/producer Hart Hanson decided to take up writing, and many years later, "Bones" fans are happy he did.

Currently in its fourth season, "Bones," which airs Thursdays on Fox, stars David Boreanaz as FBI Agent Seeley Booth, a man of action who finds himself partnered with cerebral forensic anthropologist -- and successful mystery author -- Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel).

He does people; she does bones; together -- with the help of Brennan's team of scientific "Squints" back at the lab at the fictional Jeffersonian Institution -- they solve crimes.

Their partnership is platonic, but is there sexual tension? Please, this is TV.

Hanson took a few minutes off from working on the season finale script to answer a few questions from yours truly.


A brief excerpt:

Q: We hear that the big consummation moment for Booth and Brennan is coming in the season finale, and perhaps reproduction. I could see Brennan being clinical about it, but Booth? What was your thinking leading up to this?

A: Well, that's totally and completely the story engine driving this entire moment. Brennan is clinical, and Booth is anything but clinical. Merry mix-ups ensue.

But if I tell you the thinking that led to it, I might as well tell you the story, which means I'd be smarter to wait and have you watch it on television.

Can I tell you we thought about it a lot and a lot? That we had buckets and buckets of network and studio input and, despite that, we still got to a story that worked for us?

The general idea is an adage that TV writers and producers ignore at their peril: Give the audience what they expect, in a way they don't expect it.

Battlestar Galactica - Hot Cuppa TV: Edward James Olmos Interview

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's blog, Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



'Battlestar's' Olmos Bids Farewell to Galactica

Edward James Olmos, who plays Admiral William Adama on Sci Fi Channel's space epic "Battlestar Galactica," which has its big finale (That is, if you don't count an upcoming TV-movie, directed by Olmos, the "Caprica" prequel or rumors of a possible feature film, but why quibble?) on Friday, March 20, has seen the end.

And he liked it.

"I've been privileged enough to be able to see it," Olmos says, "and I've got to tell you, I'm very, very happy with what it ends up doing for the show and for the viewers who've given it five years of their lives, watching the story unfold.

"This is the best usage of episodic television that I've ever seen in my life. I don't even think anything gets close."

Battlestar Galactica - Kate O'Hares Hot Cuppa TV: Mary McDonnell Q & A

At Zap2It's Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



President Roslin Speaks -- Q&A With 'Battlestar Galactica's' Mary McDonnell

February 23, 2009

With only a few episodes left of Sci Fi Channel's "Battlestar Galactica," airing Fridays, fans will soon know the ultimate fates of all the characters -- and one of the most interesting is likely to be that of President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell).

Simultaneously battling breast cancer, leading her people on a flight across space from implacable enemies and acting as an agent of religious prophecy -- and, of late, carrying on a torrid, possibly doomed, romance with Adm. William Adama (Edward James Olmos) -- Roslin is the textbook definition of a well-rounded character.

McDonnell was gracious enough to answer some email questions about the show and her character. Enjoy.

A brief excerpt:

Q: There are not many TV romances between mature people. Roslin and Adama – what have you enjoyed most about playing this relationship?

A: One of the reasons that I enjoyed Adama/ Roslin so very much was the utter compatibility between Eddie and myself. There was never really a question of how do we do this. Sometimes you get lucky in your work. Ed and I had an instant and deep respect for each other that naturally grew into a fondness. I think that is what mature relationships are made of.

They are completely authentic and earned through an experience of other as partner and soul mate. The audience (both the younger and more mature) LOVED this relationship because it created hope and because it was based on total acceptance of the other person regardless of differences.

Supernatural - Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV - Misha Collins Interview

At Kate O'Hare's Hot Cuppa TV:

(Please follow the link for the complete interview.)



Misha Collins Is 'Supernatural's' Dark (But Very Handy) Angel

Today's cuppa: awesome hazelnut coffee from the gas-station convenience store

Earlier this week, I put up a story at the "From Inside the Box" blog at Zap2it about "Supernatural" guest star Misha Collins, who plays the angel Castiel.

... As the Zap story mentions, Collins has a big episode airing tonight on The CW, called "Heaven and Hell." But just for my loyal Cuppers, here's a bit more of our conversation, which took place over lunch at the Buffalo Club in Santa Monica, Calif.

Collins is good friends with actor Zeljko Ivanek, who played his brother in the first season of "24," and they spend time together making furniture, as mentioned in the Zap story. We also talked about shows that Collins likes to watch, which include "Damages" (which guest-starred Ivanek), "Flight of the Conchords," "Weeds" and "Dirty Jobs."

I mentioned to him that "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe gives talks about our current anti-work culture, in which some folks don't invest that much into their jobs and are instead just working for the weekend.

"I'm lucky," Collins said, "that I've never had a job where I'm waiting for the weekend. I always work really hard at what I'm doing, because it's always what I really want to do."

And this includes the work he does with his hands.

"There is really something inherently satisfying," he said, "in actually building something or actually seeing something repaired with your own hands.

"Most of the men I know these days, they don't know how to fix things, and it's really sad. I'm very glad I'm not one of them. There are plenty of things I don't know how to do, but I'm glad that when the washing machine breaks, I can fix it. That's a nice feeling..."