Celebrity Extra

Scott Wolf (photo by Trae Patton/ABC Studios)

Scott Wolf, who is perhaps best known for his role of Bailey Salinger on Fox’s hit series “Party of Five,” is coming back to series television when he makes his debut on the season premiere of TNT’s “Perception.” The crime drama, which stars Eric McCormack (as Dr. Daniel Pierce) and Rachael Leigh Cook (as Special Agent Kate Moretti), returns for its 14-epsiode second season on June 25 at 10/9c.

Scott comes aboard as Donnie Ryan, Kate’s soon-to-be ex-husband, an assistant U.S. Attorney who is transferred back to Chicago, and ends up working with Daniel and Kate on cases. And a little birdie told me he might still be carrying a torch for his estranged wife. I spoke with Scott recently about his new role, and he told me all about life in the world of “Perception.”

Celebrity Extra: Tell me how your latest role came about, how you landed the role of Donnie Ryan.

Scott Wolf: First off, I am a fan of the show, and a big fan of both Eric and Rachael, so when the opportunity came about, I was really excited. Before I was cast, we did a “chemistry meeting” with Eric and Rachael, where I went in and the three of us just read through some of the material. Right from the beginning, there was just something very easy about it. Coming into a situation like that where they have a really great thing going, and they have this great relationship, you want to be respectful of that. And then at the same time, you want to bring something new and be a good addition to everything.

They’re both pretty great people. They’re really talented artists, but they’re really cool people. They could not have been more welcoming and generous and glad to have me join the show. I think the character of Donnie has added a pretty cool, interesting, sometimes disturbing new dynamic to the proceedings. And in a way, I think it’s allowed Daniel and Kate to show sides of themselves that would be difficult to show otherwise.

CE: Tell me about Donnie.

SW: Donnie Ryan is Kate’s estranged husband, soon to be ex-husband, who had a very bad indiscretion in their relationship and caused things to fall apart. He’s been in D.C. working as an assistant U.S. Attorney, and he winds up coming back to Chicago. It doesn’t take very long for him to reveal what his true intentions are. He says he just got transferred back there for work, but it becomes obvious that he’s come back there to be closer to her.

On the professional side, he winds up being integral to a lot of the cases that Daniel and Kate are working on. So, they end up working together a lot. At some point, it becomes clear that Daniel and Kate have feelings for each other, whether they’re romantic or they’re just friendship or whatever they are. That becomes something that Donnie is conscious of, so there’s a little bit of a triangle between the three of them. But the journey that the three of them go on is really interesting because in a sense, they find sides of each other that you wouldn’t expect them to when we see them crossing paths at the beginning of the season.

CE: The ambiguity of Donnie reminds me of another role you played, reporter Chad Decker on “V.” Is it fun to play a character where the audience isn’t quite sure whether to love him or hate him?

SW: It absolutely is. It’s always fun to be cast in a role where the character is a little ambiguous, and you’re not quite sure whether you’re rooting for him or not. And I think it’s fun to play characters like that. I think if you cast a guy who always plays the bad guy, and then he does these awful things, then it’s difficult for an audience to root for him.

It’s hard to even talk about without sounding silly, but you know me — I don’t have a bad-guy face, and I’m not the least-likable guy in the universe. So if you can get past the idea of somebody who’s not the least-likable person in the universe in a role where he’s doing despicable things, it creates this tension. When the season begins, a lot of people will wonder what Kate ever saw in this guy.

Q: One of my favorite movies is “Into the Wild.” Can you tell me what its star, Emile Hirsch, has coming up? — Ronald W., via e-mail

A: For Emile’s latest project, he is taking on the iconic role of Clyde Barrow in the History/Lifetime/A and E joint production of “Bonnie and Clyde.” Holliday Grainger of “The Borgias” has been tapped to play Bonnie Parker, with Holly Hunter, William Hurt, Sarah Hyland, Elizabeth Reaser, Lane Garrison, Austin Hebert and Dale Dickey all set to co-star. The four-hour two-night event miniseries will air simultaneously on History, Lifetime and A and E, and will be directed by Oscar nominee Bruce Beresford.

For those unfamiliar with the real-life events, “Bonnie and Clyde” retells the fascinating tale of the couple whose crime spree enraptured the Depression-era American public. Clyde was always able to stay one step ahead of the law as he and Bonnie escaped capture time and again. His one blind spot was Bonnie, who was intent on becoming famous, fed on the media attention and pushed Clyde to commit riskier and more dangerous crimes to generate bigger headlines, and make them the most famous criminals of the modern era.

“Bonnie and Clyde” will air later this year. I’ll let you know the date as soon as I know.

Q: What has Val Kilmer been up to? I loved him in “MacGruber,” but haven’t seen him in anything lately. — Felicia W., Atlanta

A: Aside from starring in his one-man show that he also wrote and directs called “Citizen Twain,” Val has just signed on to co-star in the IFC satire “The Spoils of Babylon,” which skewers the epic television miniseries in six half-hour episodes to air in early 2014. Produced by Funny or Die, the original comedy also stars Will Farrell, Toby Maguire, Haley Joel Osment, Tim Robbins, Michael Sheen, Kristen Wiig and Jessica Alba.

Jennifer Caserta, president and general manager of IFC, jokingly says of the project: “This amazingly talented cast will give this decadent genre its due respect. Never before has a parody of a miniseries been more poised for showers of accolades.”

Q: I love “Justified.” Is it coming back for another season? — Bobbie B., Richmond, Va.

A: FX has renewed the critically acclaimed crime drama for another season. The show will premiere its fifth season in January 2014. In the meantime, you can catch up on seasons one through three on DVD, and season four on Amazon Instant Video or iTunes.

Q: I thought that “Eastbound and Down” was over, that the third season was its last season. Now I hear there is a new season coming. Is this true? — Larry T., Philadelphia, Pa.

A: Originally, “Eastbound and Down” was supposed to be only three seasons. Danny McBride and company ended the series in a hilarious way that only they could. However, HBO (and perhaps pressure from die-hard fans like us) convinced Danny, Will Farrell and the rest of the crew to return for a fourth season. I, for one, am thrilled, as this has been a highlight of my sitcom-watching career. The fourth — and supposedly final — season of HBO’s “Eastbound and Down” is scheduled to premiere Sept. 29.

Q: Can you tell me how Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard is doing? I heard he has cancer. — Shelley W. in North Carolina

A: According to the axeman himself, the Def Leppard guitarist is doing just fine. He has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which has an 80 percent cure rate, and he is currently undergoing chemotherapy. He plans to continue touring with the band throughout the summer. In his words, he wanted to warn fans about his “new aerodynamic hairstyle (read: no hair) … I don’t want anyone to be so shocked by my new look that they ask for a refund.”

Q: One of my favorite shows is TNT’s “Rizzoli and Isles.” Can you give me any clues as to what to expect this season? — Janet Y., via email

A: I had the chance to speak with series star Sasha Alexander, who plays Dr. Maura Isles, and she gave me a few spoilers about season four, which begins Tuesday, June 25: “We start three months after the end of season three. Maura has anonymously donated her kidney to her sister, Kayleen. Maura is in a funky place. She’s feeling vulnerable and fragile. She’s not her normal, sunny self.”

“It’s fun watching Jane try to lift her spirits. It leads to funny antics with Maura and Jane. It brings Maura and Kayleen together, which leads to a relationship, and more of a family drama.”

In regard to future storylines and guest stars, we can expect great ones this season, starting with Maura’s love life. As Sasha tells me: “Eric Winter (of ’The Mentalist,’ ’Brothers and Sisters’ and ’The Ugly Truth’) is a potential love interest. He’s great — I love him. He plays a bomb-squad tech that Maura is attracted to.”

Because of my affinity for “Dawson’s Creek,” I had to ask her about her time there. “I had a wonderful experience. I love that I went to the prom with Dawson. James (Van Der Beek), Michelle (Williams), Josh (Jackson) and I are still dear friends. We don’t have shows like that anymore. I love the innocence and the beauty of that show. It was a really fun experience for me, and it was a really positive show. I wish there were something like it on the air now.”

Q: I heard that Steve Perry has cancer. Is this true, and if so, how’s he doing? — Wyatt R., Buffalo, N.Y.

A: The former Journey frontman recently revealed on his blog that he did indeed have cancer. In Steve’s words: ”Three weeks ago a routine mole was taken off my face, and the lab report came back melanoma skin cancer. I’ve had two surgeries in two weeks to remove all the cancer cells, and I’ve been told they think they got it all, and no other treatments are required.”

This news comes only six months after Steve lost his girlfriend, Kellie, to breast cancer, which had spread to her lungs, bones and brain.

Q: I am so happy that ”Scandal” was renewed for a third season. Can you give me any hints as to what to expect when it returns? — Justine P., via email

A: One thing you can expect is more Scott Foley. He was recently made a series regular, so it would appear that he is not out of Olivia Pope’s life. It also would seem that he won’t be left indefinitely in the hole his bosses at B613 tossed him in at the end of season two. Here’s hoping he doesn’t come out all grungy and gross like Huck did after his time in the hole.

Q: I saw “Man of Steel” over the weekend and loved it. Will there be a sequel? — Johnny S., via email

A: A sequel had been rumored to be in the works, and with the record-breaking opening weekend of “Man of Steel,” you can bet that sequel will become a reality. “Man of Steel” took in $125 million during its opening weekend, bringing in more money than the openings of the previous five “Superman” movies combined. It also was the biggest June opening for a film ever, and it had the second-highest opening of a film so far this year, behind “Iron Man 3.” This gives a great boost to the DC Comics superheroes for their own movies, much like Marvel Comics has done with its characters of Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk and the rest of the Avengers.

The dynamic duo of “Rizzoli and Isles” — played by Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, respectively — is back and better than ever this fourth season of the TNT hit cop-show drama, which airs Tuesday nights at 9/8c. I spoke with the doctor half of the duo, Sasha Alexander, about the new season and what’s in store for chief medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles. And yes, I also asked her about “Dawson’s Creek.” I just couldn’t resist.

Celebrity Extra: Last we saw Maura, she was going to anonymously donate a kidney to her sister. Where does season four pick up?

Sasha Alexander: We start about three months after Maura has donated her kidney to her sister. Like you said, her sister doesn’t know. Maura’s in a funky place, because emotionally I think she is recovering from the surgery, but she’s kind of bummed out that nobody has really reached out and thanked her. Not her mom, not her sister, not anyone. And so she’s just feeling a little bit vulnerable and fragile. And she’s not her normal sunny self, and it’s kind of a bummer for Jane (Rizzoli) and for everyone else, because they are having to tiptoe around her.

But I think it’s funny to see her that way. Watching Jane try to help lift her spirits, it leads to some funny antics. Like, Maura wants to spy on her kidney to make sure that Kayleen’s taking care of it properly. There’s a scene where she spies on her and she’s pumping all this artificial sweetener into her coffee, and she’s like: “That is just not OK. It’s so unhealthy. She’s not treating my kidney well.” It was really funny.

It’s sweet because it brings Maura and Kayleen together. They do end up forming a relationship, which is going to lead to Maura playing big sister to Kayleen. And Kayleen’s going to come to her for help with their mom, Hope, and it leads to a lot more of the family drama. Paddy Doyle is on trial, and we’re going to uncover what really went on with Hope and with Paddy. There’s a lot of cover-up. A lot of secrets. A lot of lies. And it’s going to put Maura in a position of having to choose between these people that she’s just met who she’s related to and her real friends and family, Jane and the Rizzolis.

CE: Your show always has the best guest stars. Who’s on board for this season?

SA: Sharon Lawrence is back as Hope. And John Doman is back as Paddy Doyle. Amaury Nolasco joins us as Lt. Martinez, who is a person from Jane’s past who we’re going to find out about. Eric Winter is a love interest for Maura. He plays a bomb-squad tech who Maura’s attracted to.

CE: Switching gears a bit, I am a huge “Dawson’s Creek” fan, so I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you about your experience on that show.

SA: I had a wonderful experience there, and the thing that always makes me laugh is that I went to prom with Dawson. I remember Katie (Holmes), Michelle (Williams) and I trying on so many dresses over the course of the three months. They were really, really picky about the prom dress. It was a big deal. But I had a wonderful time. All of them were wonderful. James (Van Der Beek), Josh (Jackson) and Michelle are all still dear friends. You know, we don’t have shows like that anymore. I loved the innocence and the beauty of that show. And I just thought it was a really fun experience for me, and I thought it was a really positive show. I wish there was something like it on the air now.

DD: Another big role for you was as Kate Todd on “NCIS” — and boy, what an exit! Her death was so startling.

SA: The reactions were just enormous. I remember I took off for Europe that summer, and when it aired, people just went nuts, and CBS called and was like: “Oh my God! You have to come back. We have to figure out what to do.” And it was wonderful to have such a positive reaction in the sense that people really loved Kate, and they still do. I think it was shocking because nobody saw it coming. I can say that I don’t like it when people walk up to me and re-enact it for me. It’s not an image of oneself that we like to keep reliving. But, it is what it is. It was a good, shocking TV moment.

Aiden Turner

When soap fans last saw Aiden Turner, his “All My Children” character, Aidan Devane, was being carted away to prison. While we’re used to seeing Aiden as a good guy — until those last few months on “AMC” when his character got the “soap treatment” and turned bad — his character in the new Lifetime Movie Network thriller “The Perfect Boyfriend” (airing July 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT) is anything but perfect. I spoke with Aiden recently about his new role, and the chance to sink his teeth into a really bad-guy role.

Celebrity Extra: What was is about this movie, and the role of Jacob, that made you want to be a part of this project?

Aiden Turner: I’ve always played the good guy. I’ve never played a bad guy, I suppose, until the end of “All My Children.” The movie was originally called “Deceit,” but they changed it because of so many other movies called “Deceit” over the past five to 10 years. So now, it being “The Perfect Boyfriend,” it has a very innocent movie title, but then when you watch it, you see that it’s one guy who is very deceitful. It was a very interesting role, and I thought it would be very enjoyable to play. It seemed like a very good script that I could definitely handle and do something different with.

CE: Tell me about working with the cast.

AT: Jen (Jennifer Taylor, “Quinn”) is very professional, and she’s just a delight to work with on-camera and off-camera behind the scenes. She’s very funny and witty. And she’s adorable. She’s very generous as well. She’s a generous actress on the screen. She’s always there. She knows her lines. She’s always prepared, and she takes risks. So, she’s enjoyable to work with.

And then Ashley Scott (“April”), well, she’s done movie after movie after movie. She’s very experienced and very good-looking, but she has a powerful energy. She definitely got my attention on-screen, and she’s a pleasure to look at and to work with. And there were some love scenes. It was the second day of shooting when we did them. We didn’t even have time to really get to know one another. We were thrown into the deep end, but she’s a professional.

Aiden and Jennifer Taylor

CE: With the seriousness of the movie, I hope you were able to have some fun between shots.

AT: Yeah, absolutely. When the cameras weren’t rolling, we were laughing and joking around. There were some days that were 14, 15 hours long, so you need to sort of laugh just to help you get through the day.

CE: What was your reaction when you heard that Prospect Park was resurrecting “All My Children” and “One Life to Live”?

AT: I’m excited for the fans, mainly, and I knew it was a long, hard road for a couple of the producers involved from ABC who also lost their jobs. When it aired on ABC, it had a 2 million to 3 million viewership, and to let that go to earn more profit, it let the fans down. It’s kind of sad. Now that it’s back online, that is very exciting. That first week, it was the No. 1 show downloaded on the Internet, so that made me very happy.

CE: Would you reprise your role of Aidan Devane if you were asked? I think he’s about due to be sprung from prison.

AT: Absolutely. Whether on “All My Children” or “General Hospital” — you know that Finola Hughes is Aidan’s aunt, Anna Devane, on “GH.” Being on one of those shows, or even both, I would definitely be interested. It was so much fun — a big part of my life.

CE: Tell me about the cookbook you were working on last time we spoke. What kinds of foods and recipes will it cover?

AT: Foods from back home in England. Really healthy stuff for breakfast, healthy stuff for dinner. Also a section of food that’s easy to cook that you can cook in under 10 minutes. It will contain recipes to make decent cocktails, summer cocktails or for different events and things like that. And also different kinds of shakes — health shakes and smoothie shakes that you can have for a healthy snack that contain all great nutrients, which not only keep you alive but give you energy and whiten your eyes and just make you feel better every day.

Krysten Ritter

Q: Now that “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt. 23” has been canceled, what are Krysten Ritter’s plans? — Hailey F., via e-mail

A: The hilarious and gorgeous actress is set to reprise her role of Gia Goodman in the “Veronica Mars” movie. Krysten recently tweeted: “Veronica Mars has a special place in my heart because it was my first big acting job, and it was also one of the loveliest on-set experiences you could ever ask for.”

Q: I read about a year ago that TNT was planning a mobster-type series based on the book “L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City” by John Buntin. Is that project still happening, or did it get canceled? — Freddie T., via e-mail

A: “Lost Angels” is indeed going full-steam ahead, with a projected debut on TNT later this year. The cast includes Jon Bernthal, Neal McDonough, Milo Ventimiglia, Jeffrey DeMunn, Jeremy Strong, Alexa Davalos, Thomas Jane, Simon Pegg and, recently announced, Edward Burns. The story centers on the true, decades-long battle between the LAPD — under legendary Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker — and the West Coast gang, led by mob boss Mickey Cohen.

Eric Winter, photo by Gabriel Goldberg

Q: I was glad to read in your column a couple of weeks ago that Eric Winter will be guest starring on “Rizzoli and Isles,” one of my favorite shows. Can you tell me what else he’s up to? — Pam B., New Orleans

A: The handsome actor, who played the duplicitous FBI agent Craig O’Laughlin on CBS’s “The Mentalist,” has a couple of projects in the pipeline. According to Eric, right now he is having a blast working on the set of “Rizzoli and Isles,” calling Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon two of the best ladies in the business.

“I am so happy to be a part of this show,” he told me. “It’s a huge hit on TNT, and it’s such a great cast. I love the dynamic between my character (BT) and Maura. I really hope the fans enjoy it!”

Eric also co-stars with Ellen Page and Willem Dafoe in the PlayStation 3 videogame, “Beyond: Two Souls,” which will be released Oct. 8. For all you nongamers out there, this game is a pretty big deal, with a storyline rivaling a big-screen movie. It will contain extended scenes, bonus scenes and features, and a bunch of other cool stuff for excited “Beyond” fans.

Q: We seem to be inundated with reality TV shows, and I just read about one more being added to the list, called “Summer Camp.” What can you tell me about this show? — Kevin H., Tallahassee, Fla.

A: “Summer Camp” is a new reality competition series from the producers of “Big Brother,” where the cast competes in summer camp-style events to win cold hard cash. The show premieres on the USA network July 11, airing at 8/7c.

Eric Roberts is one of those actors who everyone knows. He’s starred on the big screen, small screen and the stage; he’s been nominated for an Academy Award, an Emmy Award and Golden Globe Awards. He’s been on soap operas, sitcoms, big-screen blockbusters and art-house dramas. This week, he co-stars in the UP TV original movie “The Perfect Summer” (which airs Saturday, July 13 at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. ET, and Sunday, July 14 at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. ET), doing something he’s never done before: He’s playing a grandpa.

“The Perfect Summer” was a family affair for Eric. The movie features original songs by Eric’s stepson, singer-songwriter Keaton Simons, and Jason Castro, who also co-stars in the movie. (Keaton and Jason are also touring together this summer with Ryan Cabrera.) Eric’s wife, Eliza, is Jason’s acting coach. When I spoke with Eric recently, he was excited to tell me about this very different role for him, that of a nurturing grandfather and legendary surf pro.

Celebrity Extra: I have to ask: You play Lou, a surfing legend; can you surf in real life?

Eric Roberts: I do not surf. But I had the No. 3 long-board surfing world champ as my surfing double, so I look like a million bucks.

CE: Tell me about the movie.

ER: It’s a coming-of-age movie. My grandson (played by Adam Horner) and daughter (played by Sydney Penny) come to live with me, and I see he is sticking out like a sore thumb, so I tell him to try surfing. People dig surfers. He tries it out, but complains. I tell him to either do it or don’t, but see how good you can be when you try? I give him hope, and he takes it to the bank. He gets his self-esteem back, feels a sense of accomplishment, and comes out a personal winner. It’s a gentle, sweet story.

CE: You’ve played every type of character I can imagine — what made you want to play Lou?

ER: I haven’t been a grandfather yet. As you know, most roles I’ve played have been anything but normal, and I am not really the grandfather type. I enjoyed playing that. Playing a guy who is normal was fun for me. Grandfathers can be hip!

I’ll tell you, I’m in my early 50s, and I had to be at the beach with all these surfers, so it was double gym time for me. But it was a pleasure to make this movie. This is a story that’s valuable to everybody.

CE: I know you are vegan. What made you decide to adopt that lifestyle?

ER: First of all, it’s really hard when you’re on the road [filming] in the South. But you don’t have to kill animals to eat. I just don’t like the idea that we slaughter so many beasts to eat. So I asked my wife to help me be a vegan. She leads me around by the nose when I am home and keeps me on track. When I’m away, I’m a vegetarian.

Q: What has Dirk Benedict, from the original “A-Team,” been doing lately? — Arlene in Rochester, N.Y.

A: Dirk, who also starred in the original “Battlestar Galactica,” has been embracing his sci-fi roots in recent years. He’s provided his vocal talents for a number of “Battlestar”-related videogames, attended numerous sci-fi conventions and co-starred in the original SyFy channel movie “Earthstorm.” Also, if you saw the 2010 big-screen version of “The A-Team,” then you know he made a cameo appearance, dispensing helpful tanning advice to the new “Face,” Bradley Cooper.

Q: I just read that production on “Hell on Wheels” might be delayed due to flooding in Calgary, where the series is filmed. Do you have any info on that? — Windell S., Port Wentworth, Ga.

A: Production of the Western — which centers on the settlement that accompanied the building of the transcontinental railroad on 1865 — was delayed a bit as rising waters flooded the show’s set. Instead of season three premiering on AMC on Aug. 3, it has been pushed back to Saturday, Aug. 10. The two-hour season premiere begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Q: Please tell me “Monday Mornings” will be back on TV soon. I really have missed that show! — F. Gill, via e-mail

A: I am sorry to have to tell you that the medical drama — which was based on the novel of the same name by CNN’s chief medical correspondent, journalist and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta — has been canceled after only one season on TNT. Even with the star power of Ving Rhames and Alfred Molina, it couldn’t survive its dismal ratings.

CONTEST!

Readers: For most of us, this summer has been a scorcher! And I can tell you that my list of summertime books to read is even hotter than my summer has been. While I can go on and on about my favorite beach reads this year — the list is long and distinguished — there is one that is head and shoulders above the rest: Rainbow Rowell’s “Eleanor and Park.”

I’ve been following Rainbow since her debut novel, “Attachments,” made me late to work a few mornings because I was up too late reading the night before, and her sophomore effort is no different. “Eleanor and Park,” which is set in 1986, is a beautiful story of discovery and first love. (Go to www.celebrityextraonline.com/p/reviews.html to read my review of the book.)

One of my lucky readers will have a chance to win an autographed copy of this book, so you can fall in love for the first time all over again. Entering the contest is simple: Email me at letters@cindyelavsky.com and tell me which book(s) made you fall in love with reading. You can also send me a snail-mail letter — ATTN: Cindy Elavsky, KFWS, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Entries must be received by Aug. 31.

Q: I’ve been rewatching one of my favorite shows, Masterpiece Mystery’s “Sherlock,” and I’m hoping you’ll tell me that it’ll be back for a third series. With Benedict Cumberbatch’s and Martin Freeman’s big-screen careers really taking off, I’m worried they won’t have time for this delightful PBS show. — Darlene W., via e-mail

A: Benedict and Martin are both on board for the third installment of the hit British mystery series — as Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, respectively — with “Sherlock” scheduled to begin airing new episodes in early 2014. You also can see them both together on the big screen (again) in the second and third installments of “The Hobbit” trilogy — as the Necromancer and Bilbo Baggins, respectively — when “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” hits theaters on Dec. 13, 2013, and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” on Dec. 17, 2014.

If you want to see them earlier than this, then I suggest watching (or rewatching) Benedict's outstanding performance in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," alongside the all-star cast of Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and John Hurt. And my all-time favorite Martin project has to be the U.K. version of "The Office." The writing is sharp and witty, the acting is aces, and the chemistry between Martin and series star (and creator) Ricky Gervais is phenomenal.

Q: Is it true that a new “Chucky” horror movie is going to be made? — Freddie H. in Idaho

A: “The Curse of Chucky,” which premiered at Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival earlier this month, will be heading to DVD on Oct. 8. Brad Dourif once again provides the voice for the homicidal doll, while his real-life daughter, Fiona, stars in this sixth movie of the horror franchise.

Q: “Falling Skies” is really outdoing itself this season. Please tell me that it will return next summer with a new season. — Gary T., via e-mail

A: TNT’s execs and fans of the apocalyptic Earth-saving, alien-battling show feel the same way you do. The Noah Wyle-starring series, which wraps up its third season Aug. 4, has been renewed for a 10-episode fourth season to air summer 2014.

Jamie Gray Hyder

Q: I was a little hesitant about watching season six of “True Blood” because, in my opinion, it really jumped the shark last season. But I can say now that I am happy I stuck with it, because this season has been really good so far. Will there be a seventh season? — Anna-Marie P., via e-mail

A: HBO just announced that the vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter/fairy/witch drama will be back for a seventh season, which will premiere summer 2014. I recently spoke with a member of the Shreveport wolf pack — Jamie Gray Hyder, who plays Alcide’s other girlfriend, Danielle — and she too is excited about what the rest of the season has to offer.

“There are some pretty big things that are going to go on that I don’t even know that much about,” Jamie told me. “If it’s a scene I’m not in, I don’t know what happens; I’m watching along with everyone else. But tensions are going to be heightened, and the stakes are going to continue to be raised. We’ve got the vampires versus the government, and now we have this ‘Billith’ creature, and the potential for things to completely implode is very real.

“With the vampires being attacked, we don’t know who’s going to be next … who’s going to be the next target. We’re scrambling just to keep our pack as tight as possible, and look out for our people. I think all of the supes are sort of banding together. It’s very important for all of our survival.”

There are a handful of episodes left of season six of “True Blood,” which airs Sunday nights at 9 ET/PT. And as we discovered last week, I’m sure we’ll all be surprised by who survives to see a seventh season — and who does not. And check back tomorrow for my full interview with this lovely and talented actress, where she also tells me all about starring in the new PS4 videogame "Killzone: Shadow Fall."

Q: With Joy Behar leaving “The View,” who will they get to replace her? — Tina F., Phoenix, Ariz.

A: Barbara Walters, who is the only original panelist left on the show and who plans to retire in 2014, announced that Jenny McCarthy will take over Joy’s empty chair when the show begins its 17th season on Sept. 9. Of Jenny’s hiring, Barbara said: “Jenny brings us intelligence as well as warmth and humor. She can be serious and outrageous. She has connected with our audience and offers a fresh point of view. Jenny will be a great addition to the show.” Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg also are expected to return.

Q: Can you tell me what Mira Sorvino has been up to lately? She is one of my favorite actresses. — Heidi R., via e-mail

A: The USA Network just revealed that the Oscar winner has signed on to a multi-episode arc of “Psych,” beginning with the seventh episode of the eighth season (which is rumored to be the show’s final season). She will play the Santa Barbara PD’s newest head detective, Betsy Brannigan, who is being described by USA as “incredibly sweet, adorably reserved and yet certified badass.”

With only a few episodes left in season six, and with the recent news of its season seven renewal, “True Blood” is ramping up for a spectacular cliffhanger (which airs Sunday, Aug. 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT). But, then again, as we die-hard fans know, it wouldn’t be “True Blood” if it didn’t. Last season’s newcomer to the Shreveport wolf pack, Danielle — played by Jamie Gray Hyder— is finding her footing in the wolf hierarchy, and is stepping on a few toes in the process. Namely, her packmaster’s No. 1 gal, Rikki (played by Kelly Overton). I spoke with Jamie recently about her supernatural role, and she’s excited for fans to see what the show has planned for us.

Celebrity Extra: First off, tell me how you got started in the business, and how that led to the role of Danielle on “True Blood.”

Jamie Gray Hyder: I’ve been performing since I was only 2 years old. I’ve been doing stage work since I was really young, and I’m a classically trained vocalist. I started off on stage and performed there, and then went to college and got my degree in theater and film studies. I stayed on the East Coast for a little while, and then I moved out to L.A. four and a half years ago to pursue film and television. I’d been in L.A. probably about three years and done upwards of a hundred auditions. And then “True Blood” came along, and I got the role. I’m super excited.

CE: Had you been a fan prior to landing the part?

JGH: Of course, I knew about the show. I had to watch four seasons of the show in a couple of days because I started working right away. I don’t have a TV, so I’d previously seen only a few episodes of the show with friends. After watching all four seasons, I thought, “Oh my God, what did I get myself into?” (Laughs.)

You know, everyone is so good at their jobs — from the acting to the writing and all the crew — that I thought that if it came down to doing nude scenes, I think that they’ll take care of me. And that’s what happened. I did that love scene with Joe (Manganiello, who plays Alcide) and Kelly, and they make you feel comfortable and make sure you have all the provisions necessary to help you shoot the scene.

CE: From all I’ve heard, it sounds like a really great set to work on.

JGH: It’s great. Everybody is so nice and has a great sense of humor. We’re working long hours in harsh conditions. The fact that everybody gets along and enjoys what they’re doing is huge. And when I first started on the show last season, I was the new person. I walked in and everybody introduced themselves and welcomed me into the club. It’s really a unique atmosphere.

CE: The ladies certainly love Joe Manganiello. How is it working with him?

JGH: Joe is great. He is the ultimate professional. He’s so disciplined both on his work as an actor and on his body. He’s a great example, I think. He was one of the first people to welcome me when I first came to the show. I’m very grateful for that.

CE: As the show kicks into high gear as we finish out the season, can you give me any scoop?

JGH: There are some pretty big things that are going to go on that I don’t even know much about. The few episodes that I’m not in, I don’t see the script for it. I get to watch along with everybody else. The tension is going to continue to be heightened as the season goes on, with the clash between the vampires and the government. And now you have this “Billith” creature. There’s potential for things to just completely implode.

CE: How is the Shreveport wolf pack handling the upheaval?

JGH: I think with the vampires being attacked, we don’t know who the next target is. We’re scrambling just to keep our pack as tight as possible and to look out for our people. I think that all of the supes are doing just that. Everyone is sort of banding together, bearing down for survival.

L to R: Sam Trammell as Sam, Joe Mangeniello as Alcide, Dale Dickey as Martha, Jamie Gray Hyder as Danielle

CE: What does the rest of the season hold for Danielle and the Shreveport pack?

JGH: With everyone struggling a bit throughout the pack and the season, it gets really interesting. I’m looking forward to watching all of that evolve. I’d love to see Danielle step up and be the No. 1 bitch in the pack, but I don’t know if she has it in her.

CE: Alcide’s current No. 1, Rikki, certainly has her opinions about how the pack should be run. In fact, she questions Alcide, your pack leader, a little too much. I think he’d be better with Danielle.

JGH: Yeah, Rikki definitely is stubborn, and definitely questions Alcide a lot. I think we’ll see that continue to play out throughout the season.

CE: How do you feel about the decision earlier in the season to kidnap Emma when Luna died because they wanted to keep Emma with the pack, with “her own kind”?

JGH: If one of us is threatened, then we’re all threatened. For her to be out and exposed like she was, then we’re all outed. To protect her is to protect ourselves. We need to have all of our ducks in a row; we want all of our people on our side.

CE: It seemed kind of desperate and out of character for Alcide to do that (however, he got back into my good graces when he gave Emma to her grandmother, Martha, and let Sam and Nicole escape).

JGH: Yeah, but the stakes are so high, I think that’s why you’re going to see more of these desperate acts. It’s life or death. And it’s causing some people to do some things that are extreme and unusual.

CE: Tell me about your latest project — starring in the PlayStation 4 videogame “Killzone: Shadow Fall,” which will be released in time for Christmas. What was that experience like?

JGH: I did weeks of motion capture and face and body scanning. The renderings of the character look just like me. It’s a new realm to apply my skills to. It was really fun, but it’s a really tedious process. You have to learn really quickly how it works. You’ve got a lot to shoot. We went down to San Diego to Sony Studios, and we shot a few weeks of motion capture. I did a day of voice-over in Los Angeles. We did additional face and body scanning. I had two weeks of fight and weapons training to prepare for all of my motion capture. I was trained in hand-to-hand combat techniques and tactical techniques, and working with handguns and rifles. It has been a really cool project, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.

CE: A lot of actors are getting involved in these videogame projects. Why do you think that is?

JGH: It’s such a unique thing. I think these projects are starting to employ actors more now because videogames are becoming more cinematic, and they’ve got these really involved story lines. The fans are smarter, and they need more than just the action of the game to be involved in.

Q: I am just heartbroken over the death of Cory Monteith; I still find it difficult believe. Do you know what will come of “Glee” in the wake of his death? — Diana P., via e-mail

A: Fox has decided to delay the fall premiere of season five of “Glee” from Sept. 19 to Sept. 26. The show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, has said: “When you’re faced with something so sad and so shocking, what do you do?”

He said that a big part of the decision to go forth with the show’s production came from talking with the show’s star, and Cory’s real-life girlfriend, Lea Michele, saying that Lea felt “the best thing for the cast and crew was to get back to work and be together every day and talk about our memories of him. So we decided to do that with Lea’s blessing, and we’re going to go back to work and have grief counselors on the set for two weeks because people are really hurting.”

“Glee”’s first two episodes already have been planned out as a Beatles’ tribute, and that is still the plan but, of course, they will have to make a few changes. The third episode will be a tribute episode for Cory, and then after that, the show will go on hiatus for a while to regroup.

Ryan revealed there are no plans to recast the role of Finn, saying: “The right thing to do for the show, at least at this point, is to have that character pass. When we do the tribute episode to that character, we’ll have to do it in a way where the cast members will not have to re-create [their own] feelings of grief, but do it in an upbeat way.”

Q: Will Masterpiece Classic’s “Mr. Selfridge” return for another season? — Janet R., Rochester, N.Y.

A: Following its ratings success earlier this year, Masterpiece and PBS have announced that there will indeed be a second season of “Mr. Selfridge” — which stars Jeremy Piven as the flamboyant American entrepreneur who founded the famous Selfridge’s department store — with plans to air in 2014.

Q: Will Jeremy Renner be in the new “Avengers” movie? — James H., via email

A: Director and writer Joss Whedon told convention-goers at Comic-Con that he is looking forward to writing the character of Hawkeye for the sequel, “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Joss said: “He did get possessed pretty early by a bad guy and had to walk around scowl-y for most of the last movie. Now it’s nice to actually have the character there and really see him interact with the other guys.”

Q: Did Penelope Cruz have her baby yet? — Leila W., St. Louis, Mo.

A: Penelope and husband Javier Bardem — who celebrated their third wedding anniversary last month — welcomed a daughter on July 22 in Madrid. She joins big brother Leonardo, who turns 3 in January. The day of her daughter's birth was particularly fortuitous for the notoriously private couple, as a certain prince was born that day as well, which took up all the media's attention.

Godfrey Gao, photo courtesy Jet Star Entertainment

Q: I’ve read all of “The Mortal Instruments” books by Cassandra Clare, and I can’t wait to see “City of Bones” when it opens Aug. 21. I’m intrigued by Godfrey Gao, who plays my favorite character in the series, Magnus Bane. Can you tell me a little about him? — Gina W., San Francisco

A: Godfrey Gao, who was born in Taiwan and grew up in Vancouver, Canada, is excited to be a part of this movie, although when he was cast, he didn’t know just how big the book series is. When we spoke recently, he told me: “At first I didn’t know what the movie was about, only they were looking for an Asian character. So, I picked up the books myself, and I started reading them. I started reading about my character and it was really, really interesting, and it kept me on my toes the whole time reading it. And now, obviously, I’m a big fan as well. This is my first English feature.”

Preparing for the role of Magnus — the cross-dressing, 800-year-old powerful warlock — was no easy task, as Godfrey revealed: “Preparing for Magnus was pretty stressful for me, because this character is really mysterious. This is definitely an out-of-the-ordinary character for me, where I get to put makeup on, and glitter and nail polish, and wear crazy outfits. When I first got the makeup on, I was just like, ’Man, what have I gotten myself into?’ But at the end of the whole transformation, I felt like I had powers.”

Stop by later this week to read my entire interview with Godfrey, where he tells me more about "City of Bones," working with the cast, and his enlightening experience at this summer's Comic-Con.

Q: I’ve recently started watching the Glenn Close series “Damages,” and I was wondering where I could go to catch up on previous seasons that I missed. — Priscilla J., via e-mail

A: Crackle, the relatively new entertainment network, has added the critically acclaimed legal thriller to its lineup. Through 2014, you can watch the first four seasons at crackle.com/c/damages. Crackle offers hundreds of full-length, unedited, on-demand movies and TV series, and is completely free across multiple platforms and services.

Q: Whatever happened to plans to make a “Beverly Hills Cop” TV series? — Doug F. in Virginia

A: CBS passed on the “Beverly Hills Cop” pilot; however, the interest surrounding the pilot has made Paramount consider a fourth “BHC” movie. According to “Deadline,” Eddie Murphy already is attached to reprise the role of detective Axel Foley, and Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec are writing the script.

Q: Is it true that Johnny Depp is going to retire soon from making movies? What a loss that would be! — Bea W., via e-mail

A: In an interview with the BBC, Johnny told reporter Susanna Reid: “I wouldn’t say I am dropping out any second, but I would say it’s probably not too far away.” In June, he told “Rolling Stone” magazine: “I can’t say that I’d want to be doing this for another 10 years.” Let’s hope he changes his mind as the time gets closer.

Q: Can you tell me what Mary McCormack has been doing since “In Plain Sight” ended? — Paula S., via e-mail

A: You can catch Mary now in the independent film “Escape from Polygamy,” which premieres Saturday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. Beginning Oct. 3, Mary returns to series television in the new NBC single-camera comedy “Welcome to the Family,” which also stars Mike O’Malley (“Glee”), Ella Rae Peck (“Deception”) and Ricardo Chavira (“Desperate Housewives”). “Family” gets a prime spot, airing after NBC comedy mainstay “Parks and Rec,” hopefully helping to fill the void that “The Office” has left in the network’s Thursday night comedy block.

Q: A while back you mentioned “Witches of East End” was going to be a series on Lifetime, and I wondered if you had any more information on it? I loved the book, so I am curious about the series. — Annette D. in Connecticut

A: Lifetime recently announced a premiere date for its newest drama, which features an all-star cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Madchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven. “Witches of East End” will cast its spell beginning Sunday, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Also set to star are Eric Winter, Daniel DiTomasso, Jason George and Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Virginia Madsen.

As you mentioned, the series is inspired by Melissa de la Cruz’s best-selling novel “Witches of East End,” and centers on the mysterious Beauchamp family: Joanna (Ormond) and her two grown daughters: Freya (Dewan Tatum) and Ingrid (Boston), both of whom are unaware that they are witches. Freya is recently engaged to the man of her dreams, wealthy playboy Dash Gardiner (Winter), but when she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Dash’s troubled, enigmatic brother, Killian (DiTomasso), bizarre occurrences begin to manifest in her life. Joanna’s long-estranged sister Wendy (Amick) shows up, forcing Joanna to reveal to her daughters they are immortal witches who possess great untapped powers.

Q: I thought Tom Cruise was passing the “Mission: Impossible” mantle to Jeremy Renner. Now I hear Tom will star in the fifth movie. Is that true? — Gerald L., via e-mail

A: Yes and no. Tom will star in “Mission: Impossible 5,” which is scheduled for a 2015 release (most likely summer). Jeremy will be his co-star, but he was never brought on to replace Tom; he was added to the roster to partner with him. And as long as Tom keeps drinking from the Fountain of Youth, I say they should keep him on as long as they can.

Q: Is “Poltergeist” being remade? — Linley J., Harrisburg, Pa.

A: Details are sketchy about the new project, but I can tell you that an updated “Poltergeist” is in production, with Sam Rockwell in talks to co-star with Rosemarie DeWitt, according to “Variety.”

Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane in "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones"

All that screaming and excitement you heard last night were the frantic cries of YA book lovers everywhere: "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" opened with fanfare. Fans of the book series were thrilled; the critics, not so much. But, you know, they said the same about "The Twilight Saga," and a bajillion dollars and a bajillion fans later, I don't think anyone really cares what the critics say.

If you've read the books by Cassandra Clare, or if you saw the film last night, I think we all can agree on one thing: The 800-year-old powerful warlock Magnus Bane rocks. And so does the actor who portrays him, Godfrey Gao. I spoke with Godfrey by phone last month, which happened to be the weekend of his first Comic-Con ("Comic Con-was crazy," he told me. "I mean, I literally went through like 20 interviews on the red carpet. I about lost my voice by the end of it.") "City of Bones" is Godfrey's first English-language film, and before fans even saw a teaser poster of his Magnus Bane, he'd already gained an additional 20,000 Twitter followers. Ah ... the power of the YA supernatural/thriller/romance/adventure book.

Celebrity Extra: First off, tell me about Comic-Con. That must have been exciting.

Godfrey Gao: It was very exciting. It was my first time at Comic-Con. I saw some cool outfits. One of my favorite outfits was this guy dressed up as Batman, but he was topless. You know the Batman logo? He had that logo on his chest, but it wasn’t a costume; it was shaved into his chest hair. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. There were Ironmans, Supermans and Spider-Mans ...

It was surreal for me because I’ve never seen that before. I’ve heard a lot of stories about Comic-Con, and it was just too bad I didn’t get to step out on the floor and see all these people. I was just there, in and out. I did interviews, did my radio, did my TV, and did my panel. The panel was crazy. There were more than 6,000 people. I was so nervous. I have never spoken in front of 6,000 people before, and that was something surreal.

CE: I saw how fans were lined up for 8 to 10 hours just to see you guys!

GG: I saw people camping outside. It was crazy. The lines were like mountains of people.

CE: Tell me about how you got this coveted role — Magnus is a breakout favorite character for most fans of the book series, myself included.

GG: Oh, I’m blessed and very thankful that I was cast in this role. At first, I didn’t know what "The Mortal Instruments" was until they were looking for an Asian character. So, I picked up the books myself, and I started reading them. I started reading about my character, and it was really, really interesting, and it kept me on my toes the whole time reading it. Obviously I’m a big fan as well. It was crazy how I was cast for the movie: There was a huge list of Asian top-tier celebrities who were trying out for this role, and at the end, I got it.

I’m still blown away by this cast, and it’s a great opportunity for me. I’ve always wanted to come to North America and start something. This is my first English feature. I’m just glad to be on this project with this beautiful cast and director.

CE: Just watching the different trailers for the movie, it looks pretty exciting. And I hear they gave the green light for the second book to be made into a movie.

GG: I can’t wait to see the movie myself. Just by reading the books — I've read the first three books so far — you can see it’s really exciting stuff, and I just can’t wait to hopefully be involved with every movie from now on.

(photo courtesy Jet Star Entertainment)

CE: How did you train for the role?

GG: For Magnus there wasn’t really any training for fight scenes, whereas all the other cast had training to do. Which I was glad because they looked really tired (laughs). They'd have to shoot, and on their weekends, they'd have to go train. Or sometimes even after they shoot, they'd have to go train. It’s pretty crazy. They were just really tired on set.

But I’d love to do some training myself. I love action. I want to do everything myself, as well. Aside from the movements, preparing for Magnus was pretty stressful for me because this character is really mysterious. You don’t really know much about his background, at first. I didn’t even know how to bring this character to life, and that’s a bit strange. I had to talk to Cassie. I had to talk to (director) Harold (Zwart). I had to learn a lot from the fans and the Internet about this character. This is definitely something new for me. I’ve never done this before. I’ve always played the rich, handsome guy that’s from outside of China and has a good family background. He always wears suits. He has a company and stuff like that.

So, this is definitely one of the out-of-the-ordinary characters for me, where I get to put makeup on like glitter, nail polish, eye shadow, and wear crazy outfits. At first when I got the makeup on, I was just like, “Man, what have I gotten myself into?” But it was really enjoyable. At the end of the whole transformation, I felt like I literally had powers. The outfit was so cool; the look was one of a kind.

My first day on set, we shot the scenes where I was pantless. I was just wearing underwear. It was pretty crazy. I guess Magnus wore a lot of costumes when he partied so much, and when people arrived at his party, he didn’t care what he was wearing. He forgot to put his pants on to greet people. So the first day on set, I was in my underwear in front of like a hundred people. It was pretty exciting, but it was also very cold because we were shooting at night and we were shooting outside.

CE: This movie could be a wonderful jumping-off point for you to really make a name for yourself in Western movies. What opportunities do you hope this movie brings for you?

GG: Oh, man. I don’t even know what’s going to happen. I’m just enjoying myself. And I’m just very grateful that there are so many supporters and so many people who love this character. This is just the first one for me and hopefully there will be more — maybe more movies or other roles to come. You never know. This is just a first step. As this door opens, there are more opportunities for me, and I’m just really glad there is because I love to learn, and I’d love to move here.

I’d also love to go back to Asia and do another movie. Hopefully an East/West joint movie with a Hollywood actor and an Asian actor. I’m just excited. The industry is getting bigger and bigger, and the Chinese market is huge. A lot of production companies want to shoot in China as well. I just can’t wait to have a joint project like that. And hopefully there will be the next Chinese superhero, like a Chinese Superman, or something like that. I just can’t wait for that day to happen.

CE: What do you know about the sequel, "City of Ashes"?

GG: I believe they are starting to shoot at the end of the year. I don’t know if I’m going to be in it because we haven’t really signed anything yet. But they’re really interested, I guess, just by the Comic-Con response, how the fans reacted. I guess I’ll be in the second one. I would love to shoot some more. I believe the second movie has a lot of Magnus stuff in it, as did the second book. I’m just looking forward to it, and hopefully I can be on set and be reunited with all the cast again, because they are really fun to work with.

CE: If you hadn't been cast as Magnus Bane, which other character would you have liked to have played?

GG: Honestly, for me, if I had to choose another character to play, I’d choose Valentine. He’s a bad-ass.

Q: I think I’ve finally dealt with the death of Matthew Crawley on “Downton Abbey” and am now eager for more upstairs/downstairs drama. Can you tell me when new episodes will begin airing? — Frannie P., via e-mail

A: Series four of “Downton Abbey,” which pick up in winter 1922, is scheduled to premiere Jan. 4, 2014, on PBS. Michelle Dockery, who plays the newly widowed Mary, assured fans at the Television Critics Association panel this year that as far as she knows, no other major characters are set to exit this season (referring to last season’s deaths of Matthew and Lady Sybil).

Michelle told the TCA panel: “As much as I think it was sad to see Dan (Stevens, who played Matthew) go, it opens up an opportunity for Julian (Fellowes, “Downton Abbey’s creator and head writer) to take the character in all new directions. The fourth (season) is about recovery. She’s starting a new life. There are various suitors who are being thrown in her direction. But she’s very reluctant to go through with any of it because she can’t stop thinking about Matthew.”

Q: I thought Jay Leno was going to retire and hand “The Tonight Show” reins over to Jimmy Fallon. Is that ever going to happen? — Brendan W., Spokane, Wash.

A: NBC officially announced that Jay Leno’s last day will be Feb. 6, 2014, with his staff of 170 getting paid through September as part of the agreement. Jimmy Fallon will take over hosting duties on Feb. 24, after the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. “The Tonight Show” will relocate to New York City from Los Angeles for Jimmy’s tenure as host. Seth Meyers — writer, comedian and “Weekend Update” anchor on “Saturday Night Live” — will take over Jimmy’s position at “The Late Show.”

Q: Is it true that Lea Michele and Kate Hudson of “Glee” do not get along off-screen? — Bridget L., via e-mail

A: Chalk that rumor up to good acting — just because their characters didn’t get along doesn’t mean the actresses behind the characters don’t. In fact, Kate offered up her Los Angeles home to Lea so she could hide out for a few weeks after the death of her beau, Cory Monteith.

In other “Glee” news, NeNe Leakes is set to return for multiple episodes this season as Coach Roz. This makes me happy, because even though I love Coach Sylvester, there is always room for the hilarious Roz.

Q: I loved Showtime’s series “The Borgias” and was so bummed when it was canceled without a resolution. Any chance it’ll come back as a movie or something to wrap things up? — Jerry T., Montgomery, Ala.

A: The Jeremy Irons-starring period drama, which ended its third season this past June, has gotten a wrap-up — in e-book form. Mid-August saw the release of “The Borgia Apocalypse,” a book based on the intended two-hour series finale that never came to fruition.

Rebecca Wisocky as Evelyn Powell on Lifetime's Devious Maids

Q: I am obsessed with Lifetime’s “Devious Maids.” Such a great cast and wonderful story lines that I am just devouring. Please tell me the show will be back for another season! — Nina W., Van Nuys, Calif.

A: I am also obsessed with the show, so I am happy to report that Lifetime has renewed “Devious Maids” — the network’s fastest-growing drama ever — for an even more devious second season. The Marc Cherry/Eva Longoria-produced mystery/comedy/serial drama, inspired by the hit telenovela “Ellas Son la Alegria del Hogar,” will have a 13-episode second season in 2014. And along those lines, read on:

Q: So far, my favorite new show of 2013 is “Devious Maids.” Can you give me any clues as to what to expect for the rest of the season, especially for my favorite character, Evelyn Powell? — Kimberly T., St. Louis, Mo.

A: You’re not alone, Kimberly. The Lifetime network show is breaking records and taking names; since its debut in June, each week has seen a steady increase in viewers, myself being one of them. And I also can’t get enough of Evelyn Powell, and especially her scenes with husband Adrian. That’s due in no small part to the fabulous writing and the breathtaking acting by Rebecca Wisocky and Thomas Irwin.

I spoke with Rebecca recently about all things “Maids” (and a little about her stint on another fave of mine, “True Blood”) and she had lots to say. About what to expect for the season finale: “A lot of things come to a head between her and Adrian. I will say that the season opens with a great big chaotic, glamorous party at the Powell house, of which there are many. And the season also closes with a big, large, gorgeous, chaotic party at the Powell house. And equally dramatic things transpire.

“There are a lot of things going on; by the end of the season, the question, ‘Who killed Flora?’ will be answered. But 10 more questions will rear their heads in its place. And pretty significant questions, actually. There are a lot of things in the balance.”

As for Evelyn’s future in season two, Rebecca is content to leave everything in Marc Cherry’s very capable hands: “I’m sure Marc probably has a lot of ideas. I imagine that I’ll hear some of them soon. And from my perspective, whatever he writes for me is going to be gold. I think he has a love for this character, and I’m very grateful for that. Whatever direction he decides to go, I’m on board.”

Check back tomorrow for my FULL interview with Rebecca.

Q: Is it true that Courteney Cox is dating her on-screen love, Josh Hopkins, in real life? — Janie P., via e-mail

A: The 49-year-old star of “Cougar Town” — which has been renewed by TBS for a fifth season — IS dating one of her co-stars, however, it isn’t Josh. Courteney and Brian Van Holt (who plays her ex-husband, Bobby) are the real-life couple. In fact, they recently vacationed with Courteney’s daughter (with ex-husband David Arquette), Coco, in Cancun, Mexico. They had to cut their vacation short, however, when Courteney fell and broke her wrist, leading them all to head back to the States so she could be treated by her own physician.

Q: I read somewhere that “A Young Doctor’s Notebook,” starring Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe, has been renewed for a second season, however, I am not sure where to find the first season. The show looks incredibly interesting, so I’d like to get caught up. — Patrick S., via e-mail

A: You’re in luck, Patrick, because Ovation has acquired the first season of “The Young Doctor’s Notebook,” and will begin airing it in October. Based on Russian writer and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov's book, “A Young Doctor's Notebook” is a darkly humorous account of the turbulent experiences of a newly graduated young doctor (Daniel Radcliffe), artfully told through the eyes of his older, opiate-addicted self (Jon Hamm). The young doctor lands a post at a small hospital in a remote village during the Russian Revolution, where the patients, staff and extreme medical maladies cause him to doubt his own competence.

Q: I loved John Stamos on “Glee,” and wondered where else I can see him now that his run on that show is done. — Patty R., Omaha, Neb.

A: The 50-year-old actor/musician/singer/songwriter co-stars as Connor McClane on USA’s “Necessary Roughness,” which just wrapped its third season at the end of August. He also stars in the Yahoo! Screen (screen.yahoo.com) original show “Losing It with John Stamos.” From executive producers Morgan Spurlock (“Super Size Me”) and John Stamos, the show takes a hilarious look back at celebrities’ first times. With the help of some artistic re-imagining, viewers learn that the entertainers we know and love lived the same awkward, embarrassing years we all did. Featured guests include Michael Ian Black, Alan Cumming, Olivia Munn, Michael Rapaport, Bob Saget, Matt Stone, Casey Wilson and more.

Since its debut in June, each week “Devious Maids” — Lifetime Television’s original Sunday-night drama created and written by Marc Cherry, of “Desperate Housewives” fame — has seen a steady and record-breaking increase in viewers, myself being one of them. While I love all of the characters, I can’t get enough of Evelyn Powell, played by the exquisite Rebecca Wisocky. Her scenes with Thomas Irwin — who plays her husband, Adrian — are heartbreaking and breathtaking. And the rest of the cast ain’t so bad, either! I was thrilled to speak with Rebecca recently, and we talked all things “Devious” — and also a bit about her previous stint on another favorite of mine, “True Blood.”

Celebrity Extra: When you first read the script and got the call to audition, what made you want to be part of “Devious Maids,” and especially to play the delicious part of Evelyn?

Rebecca Wisocky: Everything. I respect Marc as a storyteller and as a writer a great deal. I know Evelyn is the kind of character that he excels at writing, and it’s just so, so juicy and delicious to play. I had just played a small part in a flashback in the final scene of “Desperate Housewives,” and had such a great time. I couldn’t imagine my good fortune that he chose me to do this. But it also felt like the perfect fit, to be honest. I’ve played a lot of bitches, and I try to lend some complexity and vulnerability to them when I can — and this was that, and so much more. It’s the kind of woman that I find desperately interesting.

CE: This might be impossible to answer, but what is your favorite thing about being on “Devious Maids”?

RW: Oh, I can’t choose one. I can give you a long list of things, but I really can’t choose just one. I love my primary scene partner, Tom Irwin — just in love with him. Love the whole cast. Love Marc Cherry. I love Evelyn. She’s allowed to be flawed and dangerous and vulnerable and wickedly funny and blind and still be likable. And I love her clothes. I love shooting in Atlanta. I’m having a blast.

CE: The revelation about their son who was killed as a child is riveting, and has me glued to my TV watching them deal with their still-raw emotions. What else about Evelyn and Adrian’s relationship is so compelling for the audience?

RW: Well, they’re sick and twisted, and the stakes are very, very high and very dark. But I think there’s something about that relationship that people can relate to. They’re in it together, for better or for worse. I’m hearing that a lot, and I’m very pleasantly surprised and interested in how much people seem to be feeling for Evelyn and rooting for her. Because let’s not forget she’s an evil bitch. She does and says things that are morally reprehensible. Yet Marc has allowed us to show this side of her in which she’s this very vulnerable, complex woman who’s endured a tremendous amount of pain. And I think it’s interesting to play on that. This is not a person you are supposed to like, and yet I think the way that she’s been painted in the places I’ve been allowed to go with her have made her a little bit likable. And that’s nice for me. I play bitches a lot, so it’s nice to play one who people love.

CE: You have to give me just a teensy bit of info on what fans can expect as the first season of “Devious Maids” draws to a close.

RW: I will say this: You’ve seen a lot of Evelyn and her story line lately, but for the next few episodes, she takes a little break. But for the final two episodes (airing Sept. 15 and 22), she comes back in full force, and a lot of things come to a head between her and Adrian. I will say that the season opened with a great big, chaotic, glamorous party at the Powell house, of which there are many. And the season also closes with a big, gorgeous, chaotic party at the Powell house — and similarly dramatic things transpire.

CE: Can you tell me how any of this will segue into season two?

RW: I’m not sure it’s there to know yet. I’m sure Marc has a lot of ideas, and I imagine that I’ll hear some of them soon. From my perspective, whatever he writes for me is going to be gold. I think he has a love for this character, and I’m very grateful for that. Whatever direction he decides to take this character in, I’m on board. I’m excited to see what happens with other people, too. By the end of the season, the question “Who killed Flora?” will be answered. But 10 more questions will rear their heads in its place — pretty significant questions. There are a lot of things in the balance.

CE: You have a devoted fan base on Twitter who call themselves the Devious Army. How great is it that they support your show and the actors in this way?

RW: That’s truly a testament to the fans who have come together for the show. There was an article — I think it might have been a blog on the Huffington Post — but it really draws attention to the fact that we’re live-tweeting and having this interaction with the fans of the show, and how it has really increased viewership. Our numbers have grown considerably since our premiere. I’m grateful and really tickled by all of the response that’s been so enthusiastic and so kind. I’m genuinely surprised, delighted and really touched that people love Evelyn.

CE: Another show that has a crazy-devoted fan base is “True Blood,” and a couple of seasons back, you got to play the cool part of the fairy queen, Mab. Tell me about that experience.

RW: It was so much fun. I mean, first of all, I’m a big geek for prosthetics and things like that. The makeup team over there on “True Blood” are such artists. I loved the process of being transformed into a gorgon. I loved it. We shot out in the high desert, and we’re running around like “Land of the Lost” extras. It was fun. I was bummed because I don’t think the fans really rallied around that story line, but I loved playing that character. Everyone on the set and in that crew and in that company was super nice to me.

CE: Your resume is so diverse: comedy, drama, film, TV and plays. Do you like mixing it up like that to keep you on your toes, or do you prefer one genre to another?

RW: I love all of it. I’m a character actor; I really genuinely feel very, very lucky to be working. I would love to do another play soon. That’s been a while. I’d love to do more movies. But again, I feel grateful. I feel like the right thing has kind of come to me at the right time. I feel that I’ve been allowed to play a wide range of characters, which is not always the case in Hollywood. As long as some of that continues, I’m pretty happy.

Readers: Our summer reading contest has come to a close, and I want to thank you all for entering. One winner, drawn at random, won an autographed copy of Rainbow Rowell’s critically acclaimed sophomore effort “Eleanor and Park.” And that winner is Linda R. of The Villages, Florida.

If you read my review of “Eleanor and Park,” then you know that I love the book, and why. I spoke with Rainbow about her feelings while writing it, and she told me: “With this book, I do remember saying that I wanted people to feel in their stomach that feeling of being in love for the first time. When you’re at that age where even if you’re not actually in love, you feel those feelings so deeply. I honestly think you have the capacity to feel love and infatuation and all of those feelings to a much greater capacity when you’re that age — that intense first love, like every cell in your body is part of it.”

And if you want to explore more of Rainbow’s writings, her third book, “Fangirl,” was just released yesterday (check back here soon for my review, as well as my entire interview with Rainbow). And while I don’t like to play favorites, I think I might like “Fangirl” even more than “Eleanor and Park.”

Q: I think I’ve read this question in your column before, but I can’t remember your answer. Will “China Beach” ever be released on DVD? I loved that series, and I wish I could watch it again. — Beverly W., via e-mail

A: I’ve gotten scores of letters asking that same question, and I finally have a definitive answer for you: On Oct. 1, fans can finally own the critically acclaimed, Dana Delany-starring hit series. For the show’s 25th anniversary, the complete series will be available in a 21-disc collector’s set in stores and online. You can also buy them one season at a time, if you prefer, but the collector’s set is way cool.

Q: With Halloween approaching, it got me to wondering if Catherine Bell will be in another “Good Witch” movie on the Hallmark Channel? Those are my favorite. — Betty S., Tulsa, Okla.

A: Catherine and company will return to the Hallmark Channel on Oct. 26 with “The Good Witch’s Destiny.” In this sixth installment of the series, all Cassie Nightingale (Catherine) wants for her birthday is for her family and friends to be together. As her special day approaches, Lori discovers signs of a curse looming over Cassie. Check back in October for my exclusive interview with Catherine where I'll get all the details!

Q: You mentioned a show set in the 1940s about the mafia that was supposed to air on TNT called “Lost Angels,” but I can’t find mention of it anywhere. Can you help? — Douglas B. in Ohio

A: The latest TNT drama has been renamed “Mob City” and is set to premiere Dec. 4. The show centers on the epic battle between a determined police chief and a dangerous mobster that inflames 1940s Los Angeles, and stars Jon Bernthal, Neal McDonough and Ed Burns.

Q: Can you tell me what to look forward to in the next season of “The Mindy Project”? Will she still be with Casey? — Deanna W., via e-mail

A: Well, it looks as if Mindy and Casey might be kaput after returning from their yearlong good-will trip to Haiti. “Justified” star Timothy Olyphant has signed on to guest star as a love interest of Mindy. Viewers will note that this isn’t Timothy’s first foray into sitcoms — he guest-starred on two episodes of “The Office” back in 2010.

Head over to Hulu to get a sneak peek at the entire first episode of the season, which returns to Fox on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 9:30/8:30c.

Q: You mentioned a while back that “Eastbound and Down” had been resurrected for a fourth season. Can you tell me when it’ll premiere? — Donnie R., via e-mail

A: Danny McBride and his glorious mullet will be back for eight new raucous episodes beginning Sept. 29 on HBO for its “epic final season.” Lindsay Lohan is set to make a cameo (as who, I won’t say, so as not to spoil it for you).

Julie Benz

Julie Benz is known for the variety of roles she’s played — from the sweet and unsuspecting Rita on “Dexter” to the lesbian stripper who turns Katherine’s head on “Desperate Housewives” to a tough and determined mayor in the near-future apocalyptic city-state of “Defiance.” But this weekend on Lifetime Television, Julie plays a tough New York City detective who will stop at nothing to save her daughter in the original movie “Taken: The Search for Sophie Parker” (premieres Saturday, Sept. 21 and re-airs throughout the weekend; check your local listings).

I spoke with Julie recently, and she was excited to tell me about this new sort of role for her, and she also spilled a few secrets about season two of her hit Syfy drama “Defiance.”

Celebrity Extra: Tell me about your character, Stevie.

Julie Benz: Stevie is a very tough NYPD detective. She’s a widow, and she will do anything for her daughter. When Sophie gets kidnapped (in Russia) and is sold into sex slavery, Stevie jumps into action to rescue her. Stevie’s husband was also a cop and had died in the line of duty. She’s put her life on hold to raise her daughter so she wouldn’t feel the absence of a parent.

CE: Aside from getting to play a kick-ass NYC cop, what else about the script and Stevie made you want to be a part of this project?

JB: There are a couple of things that I really loved about the script when I read it. One was that it was a woman in power versus a woman in peril. It really appeals to me. At this point in my career, I try to find very strong female characters to play. It’s very important to me to make a conscious decision about that.

And then obviously the subject matter is important. I don’t think you can be a woman and not be affected somehow emotionally by the idea of human sex trafficking and violence against women. And this movie deals with both of those issues. It’s just something that as a woman I’m very emotionally connected to, and felt that it was a good story to tell.

CE: It seems like it’s only been in recent years that the public has really been made aware of what a catastrophic problem human trafficking has become.

JB: The sad fact is that thousands of girls go missing every year. I’m sure hundreds of thousands of girls go missing every year. A large part of them are sold into sex slavery or either beaten or drugged or they are held captive and they can’t get away. And it goes on in the United States as well; it goes on all over the world, including our own country. I have some statistics in front of me: $23 billion is generated annually from human trafficking, with $15.5 billion made in industrialized nations, including the U.S. It’s the fastest growing crime worldwide. It’s the third largest crime worldwide behind drug trading and arms dealing.

CE: Was the filming demanding on you, whether physically or emotionally?

JB: It’s overwhelming to look at those statistics. It’s a harsh reality. Part of what I loved about playing in the film was you see Stevie’s strengths of being able to jump into action and not let anybody get in her way or slow her down. It’s kind of a fantasy of what I think we would all hope we would do if we were put in the situation. Physically, it was a lot of running around. I love that stuff though. I love action movies. I love playing very strong women. It feeds into my competitive nature and my athleticism.

CE: How were the cast and crew to work with?

JB: We had such a great group. I feel so blessed. We all became so close because we were on location in Bulgaria filming. A lot of the actors came out of England. We had so much fun filming. You have to have a certain amount of fun in between shots and a certain amount of levity to take away the darkness of the subject. We all were very supportive of each other through the whole process.

Julie Benz and her "Braid of Justice" in Defiance

CE: So how is season two of “Defiance” going so far, and what can you tell me about what to expect this coming season?

JB: It’s going really great. Season two is really intense. I can just say — the great thing about doing a science-fiction-genre show is that you have the ability to reset the world anytime you want. The great thing about what happened with “Defiance” in the finale is we basically hit the reset button, so we start season two in a whole different place. Every character is in a different place from where they were during season one. Creatively it is so much fun to play characters who can grow and change exponentially each season, and that is what you are going to see in season two of “Defiance.” It’s a much darker “Defiance” this season, especially my character.

CE: You must tell me: Will the “Braid of Justice” return in season two?

JB: (Laughs) Everyone loves that side braid. You know that I was nervous about the braid. I’ll be completely honest about the braid: The braid was inspired by Katniss of “The Hunger Games.” I’m a little lazy when it comes to wanting to be in hair and makeup. I didn’t want to have to sit in hair and makeup for long, so I thought, “If I wear my hair in a braid, then I don’t have to.” So, that’s where the braid came from. I didn’t realize it was going to be so popular. I don’t know if we’ll see the “Braid of Justice” this season. Amanda’s look has changed, as well as the world of Defiance. As we left season one, the Earth Republic was moving in. So, the world of Defiance has changed, and with that, so does the look of the show. We do see a much darker Amanda this season. She’s having a very hard time. Her ex-husband was killed during season one; she lost her job, which that is truly how she defined herself; and her sister has gone missing. She’s really in a bad place when season two opens.

CE: A lot of fans love and remember you for “turning Katherine’s head” on “Desperate Housewives.” Tell me about your time on that show.

JB: When people ask me what my favorite role has been so far, that is one of the standouts for me. I was a huge fan of “Desperate Housewives” from its inception and never thought in a million years that I would ever be a part of the mythology of the show. I was so shocked when they called and asked me if I would play Robin. I had so much fun with her. I got offered the role literally the day after the “Dexter” season four finale aired. It was a great place for me to go and kind of heal from that. Rita was the furthest thing away from Robin. I got to go into something completely opposite and work with a group of women who inspired me over the years, who I’d admired for so long, and admired their work for so long.

I geeked out on set, running up and down Wisteria Lane my first day, freaking out that I was there. I had moments where I would forget I was actually shooting, and instead I would be watching the rest of the cast, and I would forget that it was my line next. I’d be like: “Oh my goodness. I’m just sitting on my couch watching you guys on TV in my head. This is so surreal for me to be here.” It really was a very welcoming and warm place for me to go and to do something completely different from what I had been doing. I had a blast.

CE: I love to hear stories about stars “geeking out” when they meet other stars who they love and look up to.

JB: My Sunday night for years was to sit down and watch” Desperate Housewives.” I just couldn’t believe it when I was cast. The women (in the cast) and everyone (on the crew) were just so wonderful and so welcoming. It was amazing to see their work ethic and how committed they were to their work, and the tremendous amount of thought and detail that each actress put into her character. It just blew me away.

For those keeping score, for those who missed it, and for those who might have fallen asleep before it ended, here's a complete list of the nominees and winners from last night's 65th Annual Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

(WINNER) Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"
Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

(WINNER) Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, "30 Rock"
Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock, "30 Rock"
Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon, "Louie"
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, "Episodes"
Greg Daniels, "The Office"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

(WINNER) Tony Hale, "Veep"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Adam Driver, "Girls"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

(WINNER) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

(WINNER) Gail Mancuso, "Modern Family"
Paris Barclay, "Glee"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Beth McCarthy-Miller, "30 Rock"

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

(WINNER) Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

(WINNER) Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"
Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

(WINNER) Henry Bromell, "Homeland"
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, "Game of Thrones"
Julian Fellowes, "Downton Abbey"
George Mastras, "Breaking Bad"
Thomas Schnauz, "Breaking Bad"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

(WINNER) Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

(WINNER) Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

(WINNER) Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Hugh Bonneville,"Downton Abbey"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

(WINNER) Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

(WINNER) David Fincher, "House of Cards"
Tim Van Patten, "Boardwalk Empire"
Michelle MacLaren, "Breaking Bad"
Jeremy Webb, "Downton Abbey"
Lesli Linka Glatter, "Homeland"

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series

(WINNER) Don Roy King, "Saturday Night Live"
Andy Fisher, "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
Jerry Foley, "Late Show With David Letterman"
Jonathan Krisel, "Portlandia"
James Hoskinson, "The Colbert Report"
Chuck O'Neil, "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"

Choreography

(WINNER) Derek Hough, "Dancing With the Stars"
Derek Hough & Allison Holker, "Dancing With the Stars"
Warren Carlyle, "Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel (Live From Lincoln Center)"
Sonya Tayeh, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Mandy Jo Moore, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Travis Wall, "So You Think You Can Dance"

Outstanding Variety Series

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

(WINNER) Abi Morgan, "The Hour"
Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, "Top of the Lake"
Richard LaGravenese, "Behind the Candelabra"
David Mamet, "Phil Spector"
Tom Stoppard, "Parade's End"

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

(WINNER) James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Scott Bakula, "Behind the Candelabra"
Peter Mullan, "Top of the Lake"
Zachary Quinto, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
John Benjamin Hickey, "The Big C: Hereafter"

Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

(WINNER) Steven Soderbergh, "Behind the Candelabra"
Allison Anders, "Ring of Fire"
Jane Campion and Garth Davis, "Top of the Lake"
Julian Jarrold, "The Girl"
David Mamet, "Phil Spector"

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

(WINNER) Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"
Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Charlotte Rampling, "Restless"
Imelda Staunton, "The Girl"
Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias"

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

(WINNER) Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"
Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
Toby Jones, "The Girl"
Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

Outstanding Comedy Series

Outstanding Drama Series

Interview: Scott Wolf — The Likable Bad Guy

Q and A: Week of July 1

Interview: Sasha Alexander, "Maura Is in a Funky Place"

Interview: Aiden Turner Is The Perfect Boyfriend

Q and A: Week of July 8

Interview: Eric Roberts Tries Out a New Role

Q and A: Week of July 15

CONTEST!

Q and A: Week of July 22

Q and A: Week of July 29

Interview: Jamie Gray Hyder's Life-or-Death Stakes

Q and A: Week of Aug. 5

Q and A: Week of Aug. 12

Q and A: Week of Aug. 19

Interview: Godfrey Gao, Thankful for His Breakout Role

Q and A: Week of Aug. 26

Q and A: Week of Sept. 2

Interview — Rebecca Wisocky: From Fairy Queen to Ice Queen

Q and A: Week of Sept. 9

Interview: Julie Benz Is Kick-Ass

2013 Emmy WINNERS