Celebrity Interviews

    Comments

    Mark Burnett on Donald Trump, 'The Voice' & Why 'Survivor' Survives

    by Joel Keller, posted May 20th 2011 2:30PM
    Mark BurnettMark Burnett was in a bit of a feisty mood yesterday. It's understandable, given the combination of controversy and great ratings that have been attached to some of the reality shows he produces lately. He's got three currently on the air.

    First, there's 'The Celebrity Apprentice,' which is steaming towards its live finale (Sunday, May 22, 9PM ET on NBC), with John Rich and Marlee Matlin facing off for the right to be "hired" by Donald Trump. The show has been renewed for a fifth celebrity season; Trump also recently decided not to run for President, but not without leaving months of new material for late night talk shows in his wake.

    Then there's 'The Voice,' which is gaining momentum after a strong start, with the combination of talented singers and red hot judges (Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton) keeping people tuning in.

    But when we spoke, we started with his most venerable show, 'Survivor,' which just ended its 22nd season on Sunday. We talked about the decision to bring back 'Redemption Island' for season 23, then moved on to a question that seemed like it would be innocent. His reaction was anything but ...

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Debi Mazar Talks 'Dancing With the Stars' and the Final Season of 'Entourage'

    by Katy Kroll, posted May 20th 2011 1:00PM
    It seems like Debi Mazar has been around forever, jump-starting her career in the mid-'80s as Madonna's sidekick in such music videos as 'Papa Don't Preach' and 'True Blue.' By the early '90s, she'd found her niche with roles in movies like 'Goodfellas' and 'Jungle Fever' playing the girl with the striking pin-up-style looks and thick Queens accent.

    But Mazar is probably best known as Vincent Chase's sharp-tongued publicist Shauna on 'Entourage' -- and for her short-lived stint on Season 9 of 'Dancing With the Stars.' And her delightful cooking show, 'Extra Virgin,' was just picked up for a second season on the Cooking Channel.

    Here, she dishes on the ups and downs of the three weeks she spent 'Dancing,' how her love of family and Tuscan food blossomed into a new career path and what we can expect from the series finale of 'Entourage.'

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Sebastian Roché Talks 'Supernatural' Season Finale, Fan Encounters & More

    by Laura Prudom, posted May 20th 2011 10:30AM
    Sebastian RochéFrom terrorist on 'General Hospital' to rogue angel on the CW's 'Supernatural,' Sebastian Roché has made a career out of being unpredictable.

    After spending his formative years travelling the world on a sailboat with his family (yes, really), Roché graduated to theater, film and television work, first in his native France, and then on American shores.

    As the charismatic Balthazar on the spooky genre show, Roché has made a habit of popping in to cause mischief and mayhem for the Winchester brothers -- for good and for ill. His allegiances will truly be tested in tonight's two-hour season finale (8PM ET on the CW) when Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) find themselves literally caught between heaven and hell, and Crowley and Castiel's alliance puts Balthazar in a very tenuous situation.

    Join us after the jump to read what Roché had to say about the season finale (not much!), his first experience with the 'Supernatural' fans and how exactly one goes about getting into character to play an angel. Mild spoilers ahead.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    'Parks and Recreation' Boss Mike Schur on the Eventful Finale & Season 4

    by Joel Keller, posted May 20th 2011 10:00AM
    Parks and Recreation cast for season 3Last night's 'Parks and Recreation' season finale was a game-changer for the show. Something big happened to every major character in the last act of the last episode, setting up a Season 4 that will have a lot going on.

    Both in my recap and in my colleague Mo Ryan's assessment, we bring up those changes and speculate what that might mean for the show coming out of a successful third season -- one that placed the series among the best on television.

    Executive producer Mike Schur had a "go big or go home" attitude about the finale, especially because he and his staff wrote it in a vacuum. As most fans know, all 16 episodes were shot before the first one aired, so he had time to perfect them all.

    "I had months to edit the episodes and really hone them. It was like a control freak's dream," he told AOL TV.

    In a wide-ranging interview, Mike talked about the finale, how he plans to address the changes in Season 4, his thoughts on the Ron Swanson turkey burger and his joy at being able to use a former Indiana Pacer as a recurring character.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Mary Hart Talks Oprah, Michael Jackson & Saying Goodbye to 'Entertainment Tonight'

    by Maggie Furlong, posted May 20th 2011 9:00AM
    Mary Hart, 'Entertainment Tonight'After almost 30 years hosting 'Entertainment Tonight,' Mary Hart is signing off for the last time on tonight's show.

    With the show from the very beginning, Hart has had a million adventures and interviews that you could pick her brain about all day long, but one vivid memory from the show's first months is truly hard to believe. "I remember very well traveling from city to city around the country, convincing station managers to keep the show on the air, that we were going to be a ratings winner for them," Hart said. "I mean, it took personal convincing."

    Can you imagine now, in this age of entertainment news at every turn, not having a staple show dedicated to just that? Not to mention the 20 others out there ...

    I talked to Hart about those early years, her most cherished interviews, her least favorite part of the job and her quasi-rivalry with another TV personality signing off soon, Oprah Winfrey. "Well, I do have her beat by a few years!," Hart said with a laugh.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rachel Bilson and More CW Stars Preview Their New Shows (VIDEO)

    by Jean Bentley, posted May 19th 2011 5:30PM
    Hart of Dixie cast, CW UpfrontLong known for its soapy teen fare, The CW is taking risks with the three new dramas it's premiering in the fall. Only one of them is set in high school, and another was created with a completely different network in mind.

    AOL TV was excited to learn more about 'Ringer,' 'Hart of Dixie' and 'The Secret Circle' from the stars themselves as they walked the red carpet at The CW's upfront presentation this morning.

    'Ringer,' the new CW-by-way-of-CBS mystery series starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in a dual role, is much more serious and suspenseful than any show the network's aired in the past. Just don't expect any 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'-style ass-kicking. "Let me tell you something -- I'm not 18 anymore," joked Gellar.

    Former 'The O.C.' star Rachel Bilson is also making her triumphant TV return in 'Hart of Dixie' as a big city doctor who inherits a small-town medical practice in the South. "There's a lot of twists in it, and there's humor ... and there's Scott Porter, which doesn't hurt."

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Paul Lieberstein of 'The Office' on Steve Carell's Exit & the Star-Studded Season Finale

    by Joel Keller, posted May 18th 2011 12:00PM
    On the seventh season finale of 'The Office' (Thurs., May 19, 9PM ET on NBC), it feels like everyone on the planet is coming to Dunder Mifflin Scranton to interview for Michael Scott's old job. Jim Carrey, Ray Romano, Warren Buffett, Ricky Gervais, Will Arnett, James Spader and Catherine Tate will all be appearing in the episode as possible replacements.
    'The Office' - 'Search Committee'
    But, as NBC Entertainment president Bob Greenblatt said during the network's upfront presentation, they won't reveal who the new boss is until next season. Still, with the departure of Steve Carell and the guessing game about who might be the new boss, it's been an interesting season for 'The Office,' one that's seen the writers meet the challenge some weeks and miss it others.

    Paul Liberstein, who's best known for playing hapless HR rep Toby, is also the showrunner of 'The Office.' He talked to AOL TV about the challenges of Season 7, Carell's farewell episode and where the show goes from here.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    'Happy Endings' Creator David Caspe Talks Weddings, Gay Characters & His Plans for Season 2

    by Laura Prudom, posted May 18th 2011 10:00AM
    David CaspeWe love stories with 'Happy Endings,' and showrunner David Caspe should be very happy indeed, given that his freshman comedy was officially renewed for a full second season (22 episodes) at ABC's Upfronts presentation yesterday.

    As one of the last comedies standing on what began as a crowded playing field last September, 'Endings' quickly separated itself from the sitcom pack as a midseason replacement, managing to make an impact with only 12 episodes as others fell by the wayside.

    Earlier this week, AOL TV caught up with Caspe to hear his reaction on the renewal, his plans for next season and what fans can expect from the remaining three episodes.

    (Tread carefully, there are vague spoilers for the season finale at the bottom of the interview.)

    Continue reading

    Comments

    EXCLUSIVE: 'American Idol's' James Durbin on Struggles Towards Stardom

    by Hilary Rothing, posted May 18th 2011 6:00AM
    James Durbin may have finished in 4th place, but he won't soon be forgotten -- the rocker put on some of the most memorable 'American Idol' performances of the season.

    And the 22-year-old father has not been shy about sharing some of the personal obstacles he faced in his journey towards capturing America's heart with his in-your-face pro-metal approach to 'Idol.'

    Life & Style sat down with the Santa Cruz native for an exclusive interview -- which they kindly shared exclusively with us -- featuring James speaking candidly about his road to music stardom.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Chris Colfer on 'Glee,' His Many Projects & How His Sister Keeps Him Humble

    by Joel Keller, posted May 17th 2011 10:00AM
    Chris Colfer at the Time 100 galaIf you weren't aware of who Chris Colfer was a year ago, you probably know who he is now. He won a Golden Globe for his role as Kurt Hummel on the smash FOX hit 'Glee,' and Kurt has been featured prominently in a storyline about bullying this season.

    But that's not all; Colfer also signed a deal to write a live-action pilot for the Disney Channel called 'The Little Leftover Witch,' and 'Struck By Lightning,' a movie based on his screenplay, is going into pre-production with Colfer as one of the stars. Oh, and he also made the Time 100 list of most influential people. Again, not a bad year for a guy who won't turn 21 until next week.

    So between the show, whose New York finale just finished shooting last week, the 'Glee' summer tour, the many interviews he's doing, and his multiple projects, you can understand why it might take some time to pin him down. But pin him down we did, for a 20-minute, jam-packed interview about 'Glee,' what keeps him humble, and where he's going to find the time to do all this stuff.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    NBC Stars Preview New Shows at Upfronts 2011 (VIDEO)

    by Chris Harnick, posted May 16th 2011 7:45PM
    SmashNBC wants you, dear readers and viewers, to know that they are different. This is a new NBC, filled with period dramas, concept shows and the return of the multi-camera sitcom.

    AOL TV hit the red carpet of NBC's 2011 Upfront Presentation to get the dish on how these new shows will help shape NBC straight from the stars themselves.

    What's new? More comedies! Edgier dramas! The network is touting brand new shows with fresh concepts and old favorite stars.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    Greg Garcia on the 'Raising Hope' Season Finale & Cloris Leachman's Freakish Strength

    by Joel Keller, posted May 16th 2011 4:00PM
    Between seasons of a television show, most showrunners talk about breaking stories for the following season. Some talk about going on a much-needed vacation. Greg Garcia of 'Raising Hope' does something a little different: He runs contests on his Twitter feed.

    'Raising Hope' - 'Don't Vote for This Episode'
    "I'd done a little bit of the Twittering there once we stopped shooting because I thought well, I'm bored, I'll do it," he told me last week. "I was at a gas station and there was a pay phone, and I thought, well this'll be funny. So I tweeted, 'the first person to call this phone number gets $100.' And immediately, a guy from New Jersey called, and I sent him two fifties in the mail. So I've just been doing it for the last couple weeks. And it's been fun."

    It's easy to be relaxed when your show gets an early renewal from your network; of all of FOX's freshman live-action comedies, 'Hope' was the only one to survive to its sophomore year, and will be airing at 9:30PM on Tuesdays starting in the fall. I spoke to Garcia about the season finale (Tues., May 17, 9PM ET on Fox), the challenges of the first season and why it's not wise to run away from Cloris Leachman.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    'The Good Wife' Star Josh Charles Promises the Season 2 Finale 'Will Get People Talking'

    by Chris Harnick, posted May 16th 2011 10:00AM
    The Good Wife Season 2 FinaleFriendships and relationships have come and gone on 'The Good Wife,' but one thing has remained the same over the last two seasons: Will and Alicia's unresolved feelings.

    Their sexual tension is felt by millions on a weekly basis -- and it could all come to a head in the Season 2 finale (Tues., May 17, 10PM ET on CBS), series star Josh Charles told AOL TV.

    In the episode, Lockhart/Gardner represents a man on trial for murdering a judge. The case is Glenn Childs' (Titus Welliver) final case as State's Attorney, and he's going out with a bang.

    But that's not all that goes down -- Charles, who plays attorney Will Gardner (and one half of the star-crossed lovers opposite Julianna Margulies), says there will be some big changes. Warning! Minor spoilers ahead.

    Continue reading

    Comments

    'How I Met Your Mother' Finale Preview: The Stars Tease Romance & More Mysteries

    by Laura Prudom, posted May 13th 2011 1:00PM
    It's been a season of emotional highs and lows on the CBS comedy 'How I Met Your Mother' -- we started with a wedding, took a tragic pitstop at a funeral and found ourselves inordinately fixated on a dingy old building populated by cockamice, but on Monday (May 16, 8PM ET), it all comes to a head.

    Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor and Neil Patrick Harris

    The season finale will see Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) given a chance to make amends for a mistake he made earlier in the year, relationships will be tested, questionable foods will be eaten and the Arcadian will meet its ultimate fate.

    AOL TV was on set to watch the finale being filmed, and we caught up with Josh Radnor and Cobie Smulders for a few hints on what fans can expect as the season wraps up. (Spoilers ahead)

    Continue reading

    Comments

    'Smallville' Showrunners Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders Weigh In on the Series Finale

    by Laura Prudom, posted May 13th 2011 9:00AM
    Tom WellingIt's the end of an era. A decade-long journey reaches its conclusion tonight, and as one door closes on Clark Kent, farm boy, high schooler, "The Blur," another opens to reveal a much larger destiny: The birth of Superman.

    To say that expectations are high would be an understatement, and executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders seem well aware that they have a lot of fans to please with the 'Smallville' series finale.

    While it's impossible to satisfy everyone, it's clear that no one involved in the creative process of producing 'Smallville' takes this ending lightly, and as emotional as tonight's episode may be, I believe it will also be a fitting climax for one of TV's most enduring genre shows.

    AOL TV caught up with Souders and Peterson this week to discuss the challenges of writing such an eagerly anticipated finale, and what fans can expect from tonight's episode. Because I know that some fans are trying to avoid spoilers and others are desperate for clues, I've split the interview into two parts: spoiler-free at the top, and spoilers at the bottom -- so feel free to join us after the jump to preview the finale!

    Continue reading

    Follow Us

    TV Squad Hot Topics

    All Categories | All Tags | All Shows

    From Our Partners