Blogcritics

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman - Interview With Ousted Bachelorette Blakeney Rowe

TV with MeeVee — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:48:31 EDT

By Tina M. CourtneyIf you missed the premiere of the The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman, you missed a delicious display of desperation, outbursts, and drunken nosedives. The field of 25 beauties was shaved down to 15, and MeeVee had the supreme honor of chatting with one of the more memorable dismissed ladies. Blakeney Rowe, a charming wild child from Alabama, became most noted for her intoxicated antics. In edition to busting out a beat-box jive for her would-be prince, Blakeney also found herself diving off her barstool in a drunken face plant. Following her brush with grace, she also had a verbal showdown with rage-monger Lindsay, another girl who didn’t make the cut.So what was the deal regarding her war with Lindsay? And is she really a woman scorned? Blakeney tells all. All right, first things first – what was the fight with Lindsay all about?She had been really picking on everyone all night long. She was just looking for someone to snap on, I believe. We ended up actually hanging out and talking after we had our words. You know, everyone was looking to get their 60 seconds of fame, and she was really able to zero in on me when I caught my dress on the barstool and hit the floor. So you guys actually made up?Oh, absolutely. There was totally no hard feelings. We were all there just to totally have a good time, and there’s definitely no hard feelings. She was doin’ her thing and I was doin’ mine. What was your honest opinion of Andy?Andy was great. He really is an awesome guy. He’s got a wonderful heart. He just wasn’t a match for me, so there was really no sense in me staying longer anyway. It wouldn’t have been fair to the other girls, since there was a connection between us. Did you feel that right away?I did. After we had been hanging out – you know, that was a very long night, we had been hanging out for many hours. Of course the show didn’t show all of this, but I had time to talk to him and he is a really nice guy, but we had no connection. Will we see you in the limelight someday, or was this your only TV debut?Oh no, I’m just getting started. I’ve got some lessons learned and I know what not to do next time. Last question for you Blakeney – besides The Bachelor what are the other TV shows you’re addicted to?Oh my goodness, do you have time for me to name them all? I love Workout, I love The Bad Girls Club -- The Real Housewives of Orange County would have to be my favorite one. The list goes on and on but those would have to be my favorites!

TV with MeeVee is the irreverent authority on all things TV. From Sci-Fi to sitcoms, Reality Shows to Wrestling, TV with MeeVee not only tells you what to watch, but when it's on.

Trust us. We're just as addicted as you are.

MeeVee Visits the Set of Supernatural

TV with MeeVee — Tue, 3 Apr 2007 12:54:42 EDT

By Marjorie Kase This weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of touring the set of the CW's fraternal scifi thriller Supernatural in Vancouver, British Columbia. There, my fellow reporters and I had the rare opportunity to speak with several crew members from each department, including props, hair and makeup, wardrobe, special FX, and production as well as skulk around the set. The visit was extra-special, since we were there during the show's last few moments of production on the Season Two finale. Of course, we are not allowed to reveal anything right now (or risk punishment by death), but let's just say that fans will not be disappointed. One of our first stops was a visit with Supernatural's stunt coordinator, Lou Bollo. His incredibly diverse background includes teaching for 10 years, living as a wilderness guide in the Arctic, and building log homes. He also attended the Banff School of Fine Arts as a writer, and eventually wound up doing stunt coordination. He was nothing but complimentary to stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, as was everyone on the set. When asked if the guys actually perform their own stunts, he had this to say:These guys are really intelligent about what they want to do, or what they feel they’re capable of doing. They never brag, "We do all our own stunts," or anything. They look at something, and I’ll say, "Do you feel like doing this?" and they’ll go, "No, this is for a stunt double." They’re not showoffs, these guys. I’ll say that also knowing that these guys are really gifted athletes -- they’re some of the best I’ve ever worked with. Hands down. Fans of the show are taken very seriously on Supernatural - so much so that the production office maintains a full time employee (Lesley DeHaan), who is dedicated to answering letters, emails, and packages. To say that the fans are devoted to the show is an understatement. Upon arriving to the office, we noticed a massive wall plastered with postcards. In addition, there were several interesting cards and packages. One uber fan painstakingly folded paper cranes, which according to Japanese legend affords the artist one wish (perhaps to meet Jared and Jensen?). As regular fans know, the props and sets of Supernatural are just as much characters on the show as the actors. The most obvious example is the Winchesters' Chevy Impala (which by the way is as badass in person as it appears on screen). Upon our inspection of various sets, I found the set designers’ attention to detail to be truly impressive. The set of hunter haven Harvelle’s was chock-full of items that even viewers with 50-inch HD flatscreens wouldn’t be able to make out. Vintage hunter bowling ads, jars of pickled eggs, postcards from disgruntled customers, and more filled out the carefully decorated set. Other highlights included bits and pieces of campy motel sets, graves, tombstones, and mausoleums. Wardrobe was no different. There were several racks of clothing that all seemingly looked the same. As costume designer Diane Widas pointed out, however, costumes -- in addition to contributing to the overall look and feel of the show -- also reflect character development. In the beginning, we had our meetings about who they were. For Sam, he was in university, so he was going a little different route. Dean was more blue collar, so that was the initial template. One is a little harder core, and the other's a little preppier. But they’ve sort of grown together in their costuming. While in the hair and makeup trailer, we got a sneak peek at the final call sheet for Part 2 of the season finale. Of course, we are not allowed to reveal any of the shots right now, but I'll tell you this, they're shockers. We spoke with lead make-up artist, Shannon Coppin about some of her favorite episodes, most recently the one with Tricia Helfer ("Roadkill"), who, as it turns out, really does sport brown hair. She’s fantastic, because we weren’t supposed to make her glamorous. She really is a fantastically down-to-earth person. We were shooting in the snow all the time. She’s such a trouper. She films up here a lot, so she knows what it’s like. To have someone that is so incredibly glamorous that you see them on the cover of magazines, and then you see her on our show. She really did play the no-makeup look. She plays a dead woman who is stuck for most of the time in the pouring rain, so we didn’t really play the rain, but you could tell she was miserable. It was a good episode. She was incredible. VFX Supervisor Ivan Hayden and VFX Producer Grant Lindsay offered us a demo of one of the crew’s most challenging CG shots - the helicopter sequence in Episode 12. The shot, which lasted a total of 30 seconds on screen, took days to render and produce. Using digital photos as reference points, the sequence was completely synthesized - no film was shot at the physical scene, yet it appeared 100% real. Our last stop was the shooting set, where Jensen and Jared were filming one of the key scenes of the series finale. The vibe on set is palpably familial - probably because the show's production schedule is so long and intense. (Lunch is served at 7 p.m.) The fact that the two Texas co-stars get along so well is also a major factor. Jared on their relationship:We definitely know that it's fortunate circumstance to work with someone that you can get along with. We are appreciative of the fact that we get along very well on and off the set. We work well together. We hang out offset sometimes too...It's definitely a big luxury that we don't take for granted. As we talked with several members of the cast and crew including Jared and Jensen, one thing remained clear -- their great sense of passion and dedication to the show. Along with that passion and dedication however, is a feeling of apprehension. Rumors have been afoot as to the fate of the show, since The CW has yet to announce that it’s picking it up for a third season. Director Kim Manners (X-Files) believes it will happen:I think, personally, we’ll be back. I know they’ve been talking to me about two more years. We’re spending a lot of money here. I think if the network knew this show was going to come back, they wouldn’t be letting us spend that much money. So take that for what it’s worth. Consider it money well spent. Are you listening CW?

MeeVee Interviews Ugly Betty Creator Silvio Horta

TV with MeeVee — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:18:16 EST

It's hard to believe that Ugly Betty, the winner of two Golden Globes for Best Comedy Series, as well as Best Actress in a Comedy for America Ferrera, barely made it on the air. And yet, that's what happened. The now incredibly successful show based on the Colombian telenovella, Yo Soy Betty la Fea, wasn't the easiest show to market. Its subject matter (an unattractive girl from Queens navigates her way through the shark-infested waters of high fashion) and its star America Ferrara, a relatively unknown actress with only a few credits under her belt, wasn't exactly typical primetime fare. Thanks to the star power of Salma Hayek, however, and some major convincing by dedicated studio execs, Betty did manage to land on ABC's fall schedule. The show's problems were hardly over though. It was originally slated to air on Friday nights. Had it not been for the critics who rallied around the show, forcing ABC to move the show into the primo Thursday night timeslot, Betty surely would have succumbed to TGIF crucifixion. In this interview with the show's creator, Silvio Horta, at the Winter TCA press tour, we learn more about Betty's incredible rags to riches story, Horta's own personal investment in the show, and what TV shows inspired him as a kid. What made you decide to take on Betty?It's one of those things where we just came together. I loved the idea, and the idea loved me. It was just one of those things I felt like I could run with, and make my own, and have fun with it. What inspires you about Betty in particular? Do you identify with any of her or any of the characters on the show? Completely! I identify with everybody on the show. I think especially with Betty. There isn't a single person that doesn't feel like Betty at one time or the other. Everybody, regardless of how you look or how much money you make - there is a little bit of Betty in all of us. I feel that, I think everybody feels that. You can't help but relate to someone like that. What are the differences between Betty and the other telenovela "Bettys"? How did you "Americanize" her? The biggest thing is making her a first-generation Latina-American. I'm first-generation Cuban-American, and I don't think we've seen that story told before. I think this is about the way she looks, but I think it's also about economic disparity, and race issues. It was a story that I understood. [The Columbian version] was specifically about appearance. I think it's obviously an aspect of the show, but we set out to do a lot more. Ignacio, Betty's father, faces problems because of his immigration status. Is that issue one that has affected you personally? Well, just to a little bit of a degree. I have aunts and uncles that came from Cuba that were in Guantanamo for a certain point, and dealt with it. When I wrote the pilot, it wasn't the story I saw for [Ignacio]. But then when I sat down and we started talking, we were like, "This is really interesting and so topical, and it would be interesting to play out. How would a family respond to this? How would Betty respond to this?" It just seemed like an organic way to shape the character. How did you get started writing and producing for television? I got started in features. The first thing I ever did was a movie called Urban Legend. I was right out of college and got into the feature business, and that was the first movie that got made. I sold a few other movies, but none of them got made. Then I sort of shifted to television. I had a couple of series which aired and were very well received, but nobody saw them. The first show was called The Chronicle, which was on the Sci-Fi Channel, and then a show called Jake 2.0 on UPN. Anyways, [they were] shows that I loved and nobody saw. So that was my first TV experience. Then I wanted to shift into stuff that was less "genre-y," with more character and comedy. I did a pilot last year on ABC which we shot, but didn't go forward. And now Betty, which has worked out [laughs]. Has it been a whirlwind for you? You must be pretty exhausted. It's kind of crazy. I've only recently really started to enjoy it, because, you know, it's so hard. I can't even describe the process. It kills you! It's endless and relentless. Even after the show premiered, people would ask, "Aren't you happy?" "Are you excited?" I was like, "We've got a script to do! We have a cut to make! We got a note about this!" Now we are finding our groove, and I think things are just gelling. It's nice. Have any of the notes you've received from the network been especially interesting? Notes can be very good or they can be not so good. Sometimes you get a note and you're like, "That's obvious. Great. Thank you." Sometimes you just go, "Come on!" I had a note at one point [about] Amanda, the receptionist. When we see her in some scenes, directly with other characters, who is answering the phone? [laughs] An intern? I don't know! [laughs] Are you kidding me? Who is thinking that? Then we had to take up screen time to explain: "Oh, they got Julia the intern..." No [viewer] is going to ask that question. Have you ever been asked to change something that you felt really strongly about? Every day! [laughs] No, I think ABC is being really good about that. All the characters have been who they are, and [the network has] always been very supportive. Sometimes we get challenged a lot. We get asked, "Is this too much? Is this too broad? Is this too this and that?" You just sort of have to articulate it. The move from Friday night to Thursday night probably saved the show, by exposing it to a much wider audience. How did that happen? I think the critics responded to the show. You know, you put these things out in a vacuum, and you don't really know what people are going to think. It was really just satisfying and gratifying the audience. So it was us! Yeah, you. Really - it's true! Given the buzz after the TCAs, [ABC] just said, "We're going to move it to Thursdays, and take what is there and save it for later." I was thrilled. It was a much more competitive time slot, but I thought at least we have a real shot, as opposed to Fridays, which are kind of the graveyard of TV. What shows did you watch growing up, that inspired you to get into the business? I watched Dynasty. I watched Three's Company. I watched The Jeffersons and Sanford and Son. I watched Spanish television, that I was forced to watch. You could put all that in a blender, and I think you got [Ugly Betty] [laughs]. Enter MeeVee's "Be Ugly in '07" sweepstakes.

MeeVee Interviews Jericho Star Skeet Ulrich

TV with MeeVee — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:13:57 EST

In Jericho, Skeet Ulrich plays Jake Green, an unlikely hero with a secret past, attempting to cope with the aftermath of nuclear war in his small hometown. That secret past has kept a lot of fans wondering: Just where has Jake been for the last five years? In this group interview, conducted at the TCA press tour, we attempt to find out. Will we learn where Jake's been for the past five years this season?It becomes clear where he had been, certainly for a portion of that five years. But not unlike Hawkins's backstory, it’s sort of one layer of what’s been going on. You learn in Episode 14 quite a bit more than you do in [Episode] 12. The thing I love about the characters is that you never know what’s true and what’s not. Were you surprised by the secrets in Jake's backstory? No, that I [sort of] knew. I think the deeper stuff that we developed over the past few months is yet to be seen, why these [events] happen. There’s an interim between [Jake's] leaving Jericho, and the last five years. Because you know certain things about your character before the audience does, do you drop clues for yourself as an actor? There are certain physical things that nobody ought to pick up on. I told Jon [Turteltaub, Executive Producer] very early on that I want it in the pilot for people to watch it two years later and go, "Holy shit! I get it!" I think you have to know in advance. Certainly the obvious question is: Is he a soldier, or was he not a soldier? That plays into a lot of different scenes, and a lot of different ways of handling other characters. So you definitely want to know. Obviously, things get altered here and there. So, what's the answer? Was Jake a soldier?I don’t know. [Jon] refuses to tell me what the deal is. So I kind of learn it, not as he learns it, but as the rest of us learn it in reading [the script], but I don’t know beyond what I read. It’s not my choice. I’d love to know. We learn things as we learn them. We don’t see episodes until you guys see them. It’s always a surprise as we read them -- how [the writers are] developing other storylines, in terms of the backstory. Do you fear nuclear war more now? Is that something you think about regularly? Not so much. I read the New York Times about gang violence in L.A. - that affects me, but the show, not necessarily. You learn a lot of stuff. I think the thing that’s most surprising to me is the propaganda of the Cold War, and how it continues to affect people’s idea of what would happen if a nuclear war happened. We have experts at the CDC, who [are] obviously much more well-versed than all of us in the algorithms that they’ve applied in trying to understand what would happen. It’s kind of amazing when I do hear what people think should have happened [on the show]. They say that we’ve overstepped our bounds already - that there would be no fear of fallout whatsoever from that distance. It's shocking to me, given the propaganda we’ve been fed our entire lives. It’s not that it eases your worries, because I think we all cling to that idea that we’ll all be dead in three years should [nuclear war] happen. And I still want at some point for someone in Jericho to run their hands through their head and find a clump of hair. Is that the kind of thing you feared when you were young, and the Cold War was still on?I remember thinking about it quite a bit. I’m not sure why, whether it was on the news or people in my life were talking about it, but I do remember being quite worried about it. Do you let your kids watch the show? No. Why not? It mostly has to do with my extreme dislike of guns, and not wanting my son to grow up playing with toy guns. I don’t allow him to have them. It has more to do with that, because we are all armed most of the time [on the show]. I don’t want him to think of me as someone who carries around a weapon. So I don’t. It’s hard for [kids] to decipher reality and fantasy. How do you justify carrying weapons in the show, if you don’t in real life? I’m not the character. It’s central to the character and the themes. I think it would be harder to justify Jake not going armed into certain scenarios than it would be to justify it. I don’t have on-set romances - I never had. It’s the same question. I don’t need to live my character to understand it and to play it. I think there’s an easy line. Jake is so different from you - do you identify with him?It’s always hard for me to talk about character in sort of concrete terms. I think of him as much as I think of everyday. [The characters] live to me, so it’s an ever-evolving thing. I can understand the guilt. I can understand the ability to take action when no one would expect you to. I think he has more of an anger management problem that I do. The emotions change in every scenario with every new episode. You mentioned your son. How many kids do you have?I have twins - a boy and a girl. They come to the set quite a lot. Fortunately, kindergarten takes up half their day, and so they’re thriving in that.Does the busy life of a TV series star interfere with your family life?It’s great to have three weeks off. You sorta see what I had a year ago or six months ago [before Jericho began], and I pine for it everyday. With the two years off when they were born, and then the year and a half after Into the West, I spent most of their lives on a day-to-day basis with them. It’s heartbreaking to not [be with them]. My daughter lost her first tooth yesterday. Granted, it was at school and I wouldn’t have been there anyway. But it breaks my heart. It’s where I want to be, but I also love what I do. I hope they find that. And I encourage that they find something that they dig, that they don’t label as work. They want to go and do it. I think they see that side of it. And I hope that helps them to seek that out in their lives, when they grow up.

MeeVee TV Interviews Jason Ritter and Lizzy Caplan of The Class

TV with MeeVee — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:07:56 EST

I talked with Jason Ritter and Lizzy Caplan of The Class, whose increasing screen sexual tension on the show may soon be coming to a forefront (fingers crossed). In this interview we got to chatting about onscreen make-out sessions, gossip blogs, and Jason's unique brush with death. How has the show -- or your experience on the show -- changed since we last spoke a couple of months ago? Jason: Well, I think they've really started to consolidate the storylines. Instead of three or four storyline, you're only watching two or three. Different cast members have had a lot more scenes with some of the [ones] that [they] haven't had a chance to have a scene with. Kat had a scene with Yonk, which is unusual. There seems to be a lot of making out in this episode. What’s your modus operandi when it comes to onscreen kissing - Tongue or no tongue? Jason: One of the first things I ever did - this girl [and I] were about to do this kissing scene, and she vehemently told me, "No tongue," right before we were going to do it. It really made me nervous. I realized -- even though I wasn't even planning on doing that - that's not something a lot of people like. Or you have to agree on it before. But it also kind of looks gross, like in movies when I see a tongue coming around. I would never slip the tongue. Lizzy: He's such a gentleman. I always slip. Not really in this [show], because it seems weird, with the half-hour. Yeah, but normally, I go for it hardcore. I also rehearse a lot in the trailer, beforehand. Why not? Most of the time it's very good-looking people. You have to fake that you really love them. The Brangelina effect? Lizzy: Kind of. You spend so much time trying to convince yourself that you're in love with this person, and they're doing the same thing. It's never real, but you can fake it, and then sort of convince yourself for half a day. [To Jason] Not with you. Are you a fan of blogs? Lizzy: I do look at blogs sometimes. I think The Superficial.com is so funny. I don't know who writes that, but that guy is really funny. And Perez Hilton is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I like to look at celebrity's boobies popping out of their dresses. Jason: I go to Television Without Pity. Lizzy: Jason checks his message boards every day. Do you ever read about yourselves online? Jason: I did read that I died a couple days ago. Lizzy: I read that too. It was very sad. Jason: It said Jason Ritter died yesterday. There was a moment there where I was scared I was going to reach down to click the mouse, and my hand would pass right through it. Lizzy: I try not to [read about myself online]. Sometimes I do, though, and I always, always regret it. No matter what, ten people say that you looked pretty or something, and one person says that you look ugly. There's only so many times you can read how ugly you are and how much people hate you. Jason: Yeah, the bad ones stick a lot longer than the good ones -- someone who's like, "I'm so angry about this thing and I got to get it off my chest." I think that a lot of times people that have positive things to say won't necessarily go onto the forums. They'll just read it. Lizzy: It's true. People feel the need to go on and smear your name, and talk shit about the show. It's very threatening. Jason: But it's also very gratifying if someone goes to defend you. Lizzy: Yeah, right. Jason goes and defends himself under a pseudonym. Jason: Go, Unicorn219! Woo hoo! Marjorie: Do you guys have any new favorite shows?Lizzy: Extras is coming back. Fantastic. Did you see the David Bowie clip on YouTube? Lizzy: NoJason: It's brilliant. He [Bowie] has an idea for a song [inspired by David]. Everyone gathers around the piano and starts singing, “Little fat man…” Jason: “Pathetic little fat man with a pug nose…” It's so funny. I love him. Any other favorites? Lizzy: I'm really happy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, that's coming back.Jason: I've never seen that. Anyone who likes Arrested Development will like that show. It's just about bad people. It's worse than Curb Your Enthusiasm. I think they're meaner. Lizzy: Although it's funny. In the second season, they got so absurd; they took it so far that it's like cartoonish. It's so good.Jason: I need to see it.Lizzy: Jason, you'll die.

MeeVee Interviews Lost Star Josh Holloway

TV with MeeVee — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:39:58 EST

Josh Holloway clearly has one of the most challenging roles on Lost. As the unpredictable, mostly shady con artist Sawyer, Josh balances his role as the cast's rebellious provocateur with sarcastic wit and likable Southern charm. In our latest exclusive interview, the ever-charming Josh discusses the surprising developments in his character over the show's three seasons, including his screen-igniting love scenes with costar Evangeline Lilly. Do the books you read on the show hold any significance in terms of the overall plot?I was trying to read into that a little bit. They do the types of books -- Watership Down, The Fountainhead -- that are all kind of posing philosophical questions. So I think it will tie in in the end. Were you surprised by some of the flashbacks, in particular the one about the suicide note?I was shocked with every one of them. In reality, Damon came to me in the pouring rain in a yellow slicker -- like one of those cloak and dagger guys during the pilot -- and said, "By the way, that letter is a suicide note you’re leaving to someone. You’re killing yourself. You’re offing yourself." But they changed it as it went on. Yeah, so that’s what they told me, and said, "Don’t tell a soul." Was it hard to keep that a secret?Well, when they take your name and tell you not to [reveal spoilers], it’s pretty easy. You and Evangeline have really worked closely together. Has your relationship changed since the show began? Sure, our friendship deepened. When you’re working on that level, and trying to work honestly and do that best you can, it’s natural that you become closer as friends. We have a very good friendship; a great friendship. She has a great friendship with my wife. How awkward was it then filming those steamy sex scenes with her?It’s definitely not a sexy thing when you have 80 people [watching]... well, some people might like that. It’s just that you get used to it. It’s a choreographed dance, if you will. Especially when you're throwing each other into bars and stuff. I was like, "I’m sorry." She’s like, "No, go for it. Throw me into the bars." Little warrior -- I like that.

MeeVee Interview with Lost Star Daniel Dae Kim

TV with MeeVee — Fri, 9 Feb 2007 10:56:56 EST

Daniel Dae Kim boasts an impressive television resume, including appearances on 24, CSI, Seinfeld, and ER, just to name a few shows. Now, Daniel’s role as Jin on the ABC hit Lost has made him a household name. As Jin, Daniel is more than simply a plane crash survivor on a mysterious island. He's also become a symbol for change in network television. As one of the first Asian American male prime time leads, Daniel has paved the way for other Asian American actors to star in leading roles like Masi Oka on Heroes. He's also proved to network execs that Americans are willing to read subtitles - not an easy feat. In this exclusive interview, Daniel talks with MeeVee about vanishing stereotypes of Asian Americans in the media, the value of hard work, and his philosophy of acting as storytelling. Yul Kwon, this season's Survivor winner stated that his overall goal for the season was to improve the image of Asian Americans on television. Do you think it's changing for the better?I think it is changing for the better. I think the fact that someone like Masi Oka has been nominated for a Golden Globe this year is a huge positive step. It validates Damon and J.J.’s [Abrams] choice to have characters speaking another language other than English. It’s nice to know that someone of Asian decent speaking a non-English language can be recognized for their work. What inspired you to become an actor?I think there’s been a love of storytelling in my family, and a need for expression. I think actors - without sounding too self-important - they do play an important role in our society. We’re the storytellers of our time, and the artists are the ones that really reflect our culture back to us. What do you think has driven you to your current level of success?I don’t know. I think it’s a combination of hard work, positive thinking, and preparation, and some luck. In this business, there is no formula for success. It happens individually and specifically for each person. I just feel very lucky that it happened at all. When Lost began, did you ever think it would be this big?Ah, no. There are a lot of obstacles to any show being successful. There are a lot of obstacles to any show actually making it on the air to begin with, from being a pilot. I just feel very glad to be on one that is successful. Aside from Lost, what are your favorite TV shows?I like Entourage. I like Friday Night Lights. I like The Office.

MeeVee Interviews Ashton Kutcher

TV with MeeVee — Thu, 8 Feb 2007 14:37:09 EST

Whether you’re a fan of That '70s Show and Punk'd -- or you've nursed an unrequited crush on Demi Moore since her Brat Pack days -- you've heard of Ashton Kutcher. The handsome star has covered the gambit in TV and film as an actor, comedian, and most recently, producer of the hit CW series, Beauty and the Geek. MeeVee's resident geek Steve Czarnecki recently spent five whirlwind minutes with Ashton, who dished the behind-the-scenes 411 about his popular show. Where do you find most of the geeks for the show?We go all over to find people, but we do find a lot from the Bay Area, Berkeley, Cal Tech, MIT... When true romance breaks out on the show, is that the best test for the formula?In your mind as a producer, you really actually hope for conflict, more than having a romance break out. We’re not trying to instigate conflict, but conflict is more entertaining to watch. But when you have that happen -- the romance -- it’s more a gift for them than it is for me, and that makes me happy. It’s a pleasant, wonderful surprise. You must get thousands of submissions at the casting calls. At what point do you come in as producer, after they are whittled down?I jump in when it's about 50 girls and 50 guys. And yeah, the casting calls are big. I feel bad that we have to put them all through the casting calls, but we want authentic people. We want people who have a little ways to go, but can get there. Someone who has a desire to get there, and change who they are... or, not really change who they are, but to become a better person. It’s a rigorous project. They go through intellect tests, social skills, and then it comes down to the final tests -- which, frankly, our President can pass. You'd say, then, that casting is the most crucial element in the show's success?As crucial as it is to any reality show, it's the most crucial element to our show. I could take the people we're casting and just put them in a little room and watch them all day, voyeuristically. It's more fun than producing the show. They are so entertaining. It's not about the party you're at, it's about who's at the party!

MeeVee Interviews The Office's Melora Hardin

TV with MeeVee — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:17:56 EST

Perhaps one of the most dysfunctional, and yet endearing romances on television, the relationship between Jan and Michael on The Office remains an enigma to many fans, including us here at MeeVee. I talked with Melora Hardin who plays Jan at the TCA Press Tour this month, where she reveals the who, what, where, and why Jan continues to submit herself to Michael’s constant boorish behavior. What do you think Jan sees in Michael? Here’s a man who adores her, loves her, wants her, is like a bull in a china shop who comes barreling through all her defenses, and I think that’s irresistible to her. And I also think it’s appealing to her that there’s somebody so wrong for her - I think that just makes for a chemical attraction. I think she is a really isolated woman. What do you think made her that way? I think, in general, she’s been a woman fighting in a corporate world. She’s become very good at becoming a man in a man’s world. I think she’s lost a part of herself because of that. [But] she’s a very sexual woman, and she’s a very soft woman. That’s how I like to describe her. What does Michael see in her?Many men are intimidated by her. Michael is not. [Jan's] a hard woman on the outside, but she’s got a soft, gooey center. That’s what he wants and that’s what he goes for. What's next for them? Well, they’re officially dating. I think it’s going to be a rocky road. It’s going to be a little more of them being out of step with each other, and how they deal with that now that they’re in an intimate relationship, and actually making that public, saying, "We’re an item." I thought Corporate was against interoffice romance... Yeah, I think they are, unless you disclose it. So now it’s been disclosed. Well, it’s going to be [addressed] anyway, any minute. You guys don’t know that, but it will be. Now we know! Yeah, it will get disclosed. It has to. And we just go from there. I think it’s going to be really exciting to see all of [Jan and Michael's] imperfections surfacing. Like when she finds out about the poster? Oh, I think she will be furious -- but also, somewhere inside, secretly flattered. She’ll never show that, but I would say that she likes it that he wants her so bad. "Jam" or "Kam"? She’d probably lean towards liking Karen, because Karen is a little harder, a little tougher. But I think that in her heart of hearts, she’s much more drawn to Pam, because I think she feels that Pam and Jim have the most potential of anyone in that office, to actually do great things. Although, I think she also recognizes their limitations and their passive natures. Let's talk TV. What are some of your favorite shows? Oh, my -- The Office. You’re the only person who can say that where I actually believe you [laughter]. I actually mean that. I mean, I really don’t watch any TV. We turned our TV off when my five-year-old was born. [But] I think House is pretty awesome. Hugh Laurie is pretty amazing. I think Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock is fantastic. So I guess I watch performances more than I watch shows, because I never can hang in with a show. I thought 24 was pretty amazing when it came on, and I still enjoy it sometimes.

MeeVee Interviews The Office's Ed Helms

TV with MeeVee — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:29:34 EST

Despite his various onscreen personas, Ed Helms is, in reality, a very nice guy. The one-time Daily Show correspondent has successfully made the transition from ersatz pundit to sitcom actor with his brilliant and somewhat maddening portrayal of oblivious sycophant, Andy Bernard on The Office. We caught up with Ed this month at the 2007 Golden Globes. Who came up with "Big Tuna"? I wish I could take credit for it, but Greg Daniels [wrote it], in the first episode of the season. I’m very happy about it, because it automatically puts me in character.You know only Andy would be like, "T'sup, Big Tuna?" It totally puts me there. How have The Office fans been treating you? What, you mean since Andy turned evil? What do you mean turned evil?He's always been kind of a douchebag, but a likable douchebag. I’ve just gotten such a warm response from so many people, across the board. When is he going to get his ass kicked? Let’s just say, karma does not elude Andy. I want to get into Andy’s head for a bit. What would you say are his favorite TV shows? Andy loves 24 and MythBusters. Greatest role model? Jeremy Piven [Ari Gold] on Entourage. If Andy were an animal, what would he be and why? A peacock, because peacocks are really brave birds, and they have a lot of dignity and grace. They have a beautiful song, and he’s a good singer. Now I want to get into your head for a bit. You were a correspondent on The Daily Show for a while. What was your transition like into sitcoms? It was actually a lot smoother and easier than I thought, because this was such an easy cast to kind of walk in and join. They’re just so welcoming and fun and cool. And for me, I felt ready to spread my wings and do something a little different. I had been on The Daily Show for five years. If you had to spend the night with one of the following Ralphs, who would it be and why? A. Ralph WiggumB. Ralph MacchioC. Ralph NaderWell, what are we doing? Are we having sex? Spend the night; you can do it any way you want. Ralph Wiggum is an animated picture. So I would just be sitting there. That wouldn’t be a lot of fun. Ralph Macchio, I’d love to pick his brain about a lot of his movies. He was really a hero of mine as a kid. But it’s really a no-brainer. Ralph Nader - crusader, consumer advocate, and pretty fresh political thinker. That would be a really fun discourse. How have you fared on the internet? Well, I missed EdHelms.com. You should check that one out. Porn site? Better.