Bill Clinton Gives CNN Guest Host Harvey Weinstein His Obama Reelection Prediction (Video)

Former President Bill Clinton found a friendly face in the interviewers chair during his appearance on CNNs Piers Morgan Tonight Thursday. Producer Harvey Weinstein, a longtime Clinton supporter, took his turn as one of several guest hosts of the CNN show while Piers Morgan is away this week.

The Weinstein Company co-chairman, who supported Hillary Clintons 2000 senate and 2008 presidential campaigns, has become one of President Barack Obamas top New York fundraisers this election cycle. He asked the former Commander in Chief about Obamas reelection prospects.

PHOTOS: 20 Biggest Political Players in Hollywood

"I still think the president will win by five or six points," Clinton said. "I've always thought so. But it's closer than that today."

Clinton touted Obamas record for job creation, and acknowledged some voters may need to be convinced the president deserves a second term.

"I think those of us who support the president have to get out there and explain what he did in rescuing the automobile industry, what he did in raising the mileage standards and the way they created 150,000 jobs, Clinton said.

VIDEO: THR & Google's Pre-White House Correspondents Party in DC: Red Carpet Interviews

Weinstein also asked Clinton about a city-wide ban on the sale of large sodas proposed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which proved controversial. Clinton praised the proposal, citing the growing diabetes rates in the U.S.

"For the first time, Type II Diabetes is showing up in nine-year-olds, and among the baby boomers, who are retiring, Clinton said. "It's basically too much sugar going into the body, we can't process it all.

Watch the videos below.

Read More

Martin Short Accepts Kathie Lee Gifford's Apology For Questions About Late Wife (Video)

NBC

Martin Shortis continuing his off-screen role as the consummate professional.

During an appearance on NBCs Today show Wednesday, co-host Kathie Lee Giffordasked Short about his late wife in a line of questioning that made it clear she was unaware that the comedian's wife was no longer living.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

Gifford complimented Short and his wife for their strong marriage and jokingly asked why the couple were still madly in love after 36 years together. Short responded graciously and waited until after the segment to tell Gifford that his wife, Nancy Dolman, had died of ovarian cancer in 2010.

Asked about his poised response, the Madagascar 3 star said situations like that are just part of the business.

"On live television, people make mistakes. There's no ill will intended," Short said in an interview with E! News. It's nice to aspire to be kind of elegant."

Cannes Day 3: 'Madagascar 3' Premiere, Sean Penn's Haiti Event

After realizing her mistake, Gifford apologizes, telling the Today audience she felt so badly about it, and later tweeting: I send my sincerest apologies to @MartinShort and his family. He handled situation w/enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful.

Watch the videos below.

Read More

'True Blood' Nabs 'Big Love' Alum Tina Majorino

Getty Images

Tina Majorino at the "True Blood" fifth season premiere.

The Vampire Authority has just added a new member for the upcoming season of HBOs True Blood.

PHOTOS: 'True Blood' Season 5 Character Posters

A network spokesperson confirms to The Hollywood Reporter that Tina Majorino is joining the series in a recurring role, as first reported by TVLine. The 27-year-old will play a pivotal member of the groups support staff starting with season fives third episode.

Viewers will remember Majorino from Veronica Mars, in which she played the tech-savvy sidekick, Cindy aka Mac. She also played Heather on HBOs Big Love, currently recurs on Fox's Bones and voiced Deb on the Napoleon Dynamite animated series.

Innovative Artists, Leverage Management and Felker Toczek Gellman Suddleson rep the actress.

True Blood returns Sunday, June 10 at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

Read More

'Boss' Season 2 Trailer: Is it Time to Find New Leadership? (Exclusive Video)

Kelsey Grammer's Golden Globe-winning Chicago mayor is back with a vengeance in the second season of Starz's drama Boss.

In the first full-length trailer for the sophomore drama, exclusive to The Hollywood Reporter, Grammer's Tom Kane is fighting harder against his incurable disease and against the city's corrupt politicians -- within his administration and beyond.

STORY: 'Boss': Farhad Safinia on the Season Finale and What's Ahead

"Nothing empowers him more than having big problems and solving them," Kane's hotshot new young adviser Ian Todd (Glee's Jonathan Groff) tells Kane's imprisoned daughter.

Meanwhile, the duplicitous Kitty (Kathleen Robertson) -- who left Kane's fold in the Season 1 finale -- isn't keeping quiet about the numerous skeletons in her old boss' closet and buddies up to Troy Garity's dedicated reporter.

STORY: Golden Globes 2012: Kelsey Grammer Takes Best Actor for 'Boss'

Check out the clip, above, which premieres Friday during the season finale of Starz period drama Magic City, and hit the comments with your thoughts on how Groff and new co-stars Sanaa Lathan and T.I. fit into the mix.

Boss returns Friday, Aug. 17 in its new time slot at 9 p.m.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Read More

Julianna Margulies Calls 'The Good Wife' Shooting Schedule 'Inhuman' (Video)

Joe Pugliese

Starring in a network drama is exhausting work -- something Julianna Margulies has learned several times over, now heading into the fourth season of CBS' The Good Wife.

The 45-year-old reigning Emmy winner for drama actress, in the company of fellow contenders Claire Danes, Emmy Rossum, January Jones, Kyra Sedgewick and Mireille Enos, spoke about the pressures of her rigorous schedule during The Hollywood Reporter's recent Emmys roundtable.

PHOTOS: THR's Emmy Roundtable: Drama Actresses Portraits

"I shoot 23 episodes a year, and it's all legal dialogue," said Margulies. "It's so inhuman what they want you to do."

Margulies started on the series in 2009 when her son Kiernan was just over a year old. His growing up has only added to her issues.

"There are days when... I had worked until midnight and then I had to go and shoot something else at five in the morning," she said. "I looked at my husband and I was like, 'This is why Judy Garland was on pills. I can't keep this up. I need a pill!'"

The comment got a charge from her peers, as did the suggestion of green tea.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes of THR's Emmy Roundtable: Drama Actresses Cover Shoot

"As much as I'd like to pretend it's an ensemble, it's not," she said. "It's The Good Wife, and if the good wife goes down, there's no show!"

To that end, Marguiles says she's spoken with her "incredibly receptive" showrunners Robert and Michelle King about limiting her time in unnecessary scenes.

"My biggest challenge has been to say, 'Guys, guess what? I can't be in the background of so-and-so's scene,'" said Marguiles. "That would give me two hours with my kid. Or, how about an hour to sleep, go to the gym. Or learn a line or two. I have to prepare and have a life. Sitting in a court scene for 14 hours without a line is craziness. So they're going to work on that."

Watch the uncensored video of Marguiles in THR's roundtable below and read the full cover story here:

Read More

'Bachelorette' Emily Maynard’s $350,000 Wardrobe Show’s Most Expensive Ever

ABC

If being a contestant on TheBachelorette cant guarantee true love, it can at least guarantee a fantastic wardrobe.

Emily Maynard, who can currently be seen dispensing roses to eligible men on the ABC reality show, reportedly had a wardrobe budget of $350,000 for this seasons filming. The number comes straight from Maynards stylist,Cary Fetman, who revealed the number in an interview with In Touch.

RPHOTOS: Reality TV: THR's 50 Most Powerful

It was bigger than any previous season and we still went over, Fetman said.

The 26-year-old single mother has worn a $40,000 nude Randi Rahm gown and $1,045 Christian Louboutin Straratata heels.

She loves to be a girlie girl. She loves dresses and anything glitzy and sparkly, Fetman said.

PHOTOS: 19 of Hollywood's All-Time Shortest Marriages

This season of The Bachelorette isnt Maynard s first try at finding love in front of a national audience She previously won the heart of Bachelor contestant Brad Womack, but the couple splitin 2011 before tying the knot.

In her early 20s, Maynard was engaged to NASCAR race car driver Ricky Hendrick, who died in a plane crash in 2004.She gave birth to her daughter with Hendrick in 2005, and has said she joined The Bachelorette to find a marriage-minded man and a good father for her daughter.

Read More

Kathie Lee Gifford Apologizes For Asking Martin Short Why He Still Loves His Late Wife (Video)

NBC

A rather charming Today show chat with Martin Short took an awkward turn Wednesday, when co-host Kathie Lee Giffordbegan asking questions about the actors late wife.

Gifford, unaware that Shorts wife, Nancy Dolman,had died of ovarian cancer in 2010, turned to talk of his marriage after discussing his upcoming voice role in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Memorable Mea Culpas

You and Nancy have got one of the greatest marriages of anybody in show business, Gifford said. How many years for you guys?

Short, not correcting the NBC co-host, responded they were married 36 years. Gifford went on to say that the couple were still madly in love, and cheekily asked why?

Short joked it was because he was cute, and then the interview moved on to new material.

After the commercial break, Gifford apologized for the previous segment, telling the audience she felt so badly for the mistake. Short apparently informed her of the mistake back stage.

Cannes Day 3: 'Madagascar 3' Premiere, Sean Penn's Haiti Event

My apologies to him and his family for not realizing that, Gifford said.

Watch the video below. (The questions about Shorts wife begins at the 3:30 mark.)

Read More

Syfy's 'Total Blackout' Finale: A Contestant Fails to Count to 10, Suffers Aftermath (Exclusive Video)

Syfy's game show Total Blackout closes out its first season in style with a complicated task involving sticks, jumping and the dark.

In an exclusive clip from tonight's season finale, two contestants struggle to complete the challenge -- jump over the rotating stick after 10 seconds without getting hit in the shins. How difficult is it to count to 10? Pretty difficult, it turns out.

Though the first contestant is less than one second off with his estimation, the second isn't quite so close. After admitting her fears, she doesn't even try. "You fell asleep there!" host Jaleel White exclaims moments after the stick hits her shins.

The second time around, anxiety may have gotten the best of her.

Watch what happens next in the video above.

Total Blackout finishes out season one Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Syfy.

Read More

'Shameless' Emmy Rossum on Nudity; 'Side-Boob' Contract (Video)

Joe Pugliese

Emmy Rossum sees no problem with showing skin on party girl Fiona Gallagher on Showtime's Shameless.

"I thought it suited the character," the 25-year-old-actress said in THR's Emmy roundtable discussion alongside January Jones, Claire Danes and other TV drama actresses.

"This is a very low-income family, they have very thin walls, they don't have money for entertainment, and this girl likes to have sex," she explained. "For me to glamify her would be not realistic. I have a lot of control over what I want to show, when I want to show it and when I don't want to show it."

PHOTOS: THR's Emmy Roundtable: Drama Actresses Portraits

When asked if she's in constant negotation with showrunner John Wells about nudity issues, Rossum responded: "Not at all. But originally, when they made the contract it was like, 'You will show partial side boob, you will show two cheeks .'"

Rossum, whose acting credits include the films The Phantom of the Opera and The Day After Tomorrow, had never taken her clothes off for the camera before joining William H. Macy's dysfunctional family on Shameless.

"Some days you feel like, 'Oh, God. I wish we were shooting this last week, I felt so skinny,'" she confessed. "So you get comfortable, and your crew is your family. At this point, the camera guy is like, 'Oh, God, not again.'"

Watch Rossum's uncensored Emmy roundtable video.

Read More

TV Ratings: 'America's Got Talent' Hits Season High, 'Cougar Town' Quietly Ends ABC Run

Mark Seliger/NBC

NBC had an easy Tuesday against a slew of encores, making room for America's Got Talent to score its highest rating of the season among adults 18-49. The one-hour broadcast, which aired after a repeat, posted a 3.7 rating in the demo. That's a 12 percent bump from the most recent episode and one tenth of a point higher than the May 14 premiere. After Talent, NBC aired another encore of Grimm, seemingly testing the waters on a few nights and pulling in a solid 1.3 adults rating. The network averaged a 2.3 rating with 18-49-ers and 7.5 million viewers.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012

Encores of NCIS and NCIS: LA led into an episode of 48 Hours Mystery on CBS. The news magazine pulled a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49, helping push the network to that same demo score for the night and 7.6 million viewers.

ABC had the night's only original block with back-to-back episodes of Cougar Town and the ABC News special The Real Queen by Her Own Royal Family. The comedy, now headed to TBS after shrinking ratings over the course of its third season, managed to rebound slightly from its recent season low and earned a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49. The Real Queen earned a 1.3 in the demo, giving the network a 1.3 adults rating for the night and 5.7 million viewers.

New Girl repeats blanketed Fox, each pulling a 1.0 rating among adults 18-49 and giving the network 2.3 million viewers.

The CW premiered The Catalina to a lackluster 0.3 rating with adults 18-49, tying The L.A. Complex.

Read More

Regis Philbin and David Letterman Discuss Returning to TV After Sept. 11 on CNN (Video)

CNN

If CNN is making a play for more viewers in the wake of recent record-low ratings, it may likely win a few extra eyeballs on Tuesday night when Regis Philbin stages a temporary return to hosting after leaving Live back in November 2011.

Vacationing Tonight host Piers Morgan's empty seat is being occupied by a string of guests this week and Tuesday's episode finds Philbin conducting a rare televised sit-down with Late Show host and longtime friend David Letterman.

Among the topics covered by the men -- retirement, fatherhood, Johnny Carson -- Philbin brings up joining Letterman for his solemn first broadcast after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"I remember that night, and I remember not wanting to go back, not feeling ready to go back -- but knowing we had to go back," Letterman tells Philbin. "I was trepidatious about it because I didn't know what to say and didn't know what to do, but I knew if you were there, we could make something of that."

The broadcast found the duo, joined by Dan Rather, for an uncharacteristically dry episode that found Letterman offering kind words for New York firefighters, police officers and the mayor at the time, Rudy Giuliani.

"There was nothing I initiated," Letterman adds. "It was all me reacting."

The full interview airs at Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, on CNN. Watch the clip below:

Read More

'Private Practice's' Tim Daly Not Returning for Season 6

Karen Neal/ABC

"Private Practice's" Tim Daly

ABC's Private Practice will return for a sixth season but it will be without one of its original cast members.

Co-star Tim Daly will not be returning to the Shonda Rhimes medical drama, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

STORY: ABC Renews 'Private Practice,' 'Scandal,' 'Body of Proof,' 'Apt. 23'; Cancels 4 Freshman Shows

Daly played Pete Wilder on all five seasons of the series, which was considered a bubble show heading into May's upfronts but skirted cancelation with an eleventh-hour renewal.

While the series was renewed, likely for a condensed episode count, sources noted it was unclear whether or not Daly could return to wrap up Pete's story line. In the Season 5 finale, Pete was sent to jail after mercifully killing one of his patients and later freed on bail.

"Wonderful fans of PPP. Shonda informed my agent today that Pete wont be returning for season 6. It was a great 5 yrs. R.I.P. Pete Wilder," Daly wrote on Twitter late Tuesday.

STORY: 'Private Practice's' Shonda Rhimes: Season Finale Will Leave Some Questions Unanswered

Since relocating to the post-Dancing With the Stars time slot on Tuesday nights to make way for Rhimes' freshman drama Scandal, Private Practice has had a mixed run. The Kate Walsh drama lost 19 percent of its viewership in its first week in the new slot, but rebounded afterward -- with Rhimes using spoilers in an active Twitter campaign to raise awareness for the show's new night in its fifth season. With its sixth-season renewal, the ABC Studios series will keep Rhimes busy with three series on ABC's schedule for the second year in a row. Her period drama pilot Gilded Lilys, meanwhile, was passed over at the network.

"I approached [final episode of the season] as if I was writing a season finale, not a series finale," Rhimes told THR earlier this month. "We did leave some questions unanswered and I think that was the only way for me to do it. I refused to go with the idea that this was the end of the show."

The series earlier this month lost writer/exec producer Craig Turk, who departed Private for an overall deal with CBS Television Studios, where he'll join The Good Wife as a consulting producer.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Read More

Kris Allen: I Still Love 'American Idol'

Starburst/VH1 Save The Music Foundation

Kris Allen took to the airwaves this morning to set the record straight: He is still American Idols biggest fan.

Allen was taken off guard at the airport last week by a TMZ camera crew, who asked the singer if he had watched the season 11 finale. Allen, whowas scheduled for a concert in Los Angeles the same night, didnt have time to make both. However, the accompanying story conveyed the message that Allen suggested the show had run its course something he never said.

It was the weirdest thing ever, said Allen during a radio interview on Washington, D.C.s, Hot 99.5. It seems a little fabricated to be honest. It feels like they were putting words in my mouth but they do what they do.

PHOTOS: TV's Priciest Primetime Shows for Advertisers

Allen, whose sophomore album Thank You Camellia is expected to make a top 25 debut on the Billboard 200 on Wednesday, made it clear that he is still loyal to the program that launched his career.

Ive always been a huge fanatic about this show, and its done so many great things for me, said the season eight champion. Its given me amazing opportunities to make music, and I would never, ever, ever, ever say anything that would harm the show.

Allen had a busy Memorial Day weekend, kicking it off with a concert (and asexy cover of Justin Biebers Boyfriend") inOcean City, Maryland.

PHOTOS: An 'American Idol' to 'X Factor' Timeline

The 26-year-old singer, whose father-in-law retired from the Air Force, alsohopped a float for the National Memorial Day Parade on Monday, where he crooned an acoustic version of his single Vision of Love.

Watch Allen's Bieber cover below:

Read More

Arsenio Hall in Early Talks for Syndicated Talk Show

Getty Images

Arsenio Hall

Arsenio Hall wants to go from primetime back to daytime.

The newly crowned Celebrity Apprentice winner is in talks with CBS Television Distribution to launch a syndicated talk show, a source confirms to The Hollywood Reporter.

While talks are in the very early stages, Hall's potential return to the small screen would reteam him with the company that produced his syndicated late-night Arsenio Hall Show: CBS Television Distribution, whose previous incarnation, Paramount Domestic Television, oversaw the 1989-1994 show.

Hall would potentially join a roster at CBSTVD that includes Jeff Probst's upcoming daytime talker, Dr. Phil and The Doctors. CBS Television Distribution declined comment.

Hall, who earlier this month defeated former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken to be crowned the fifth cycle winner of NBC's Donald Trump-hosted Celebrity Apprentice, has been vocal of late with his desire to return to the talk show circuit, telling The View earlier this month that it was like seeing an old girlfriend. Watch the interview, below.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Read More

Newark Mayor Cory Booker's Communications Director Resigns Following 'Meet the Press' Remarks

Getty Images

Cory Booker's communication director, Anne Torres, has resigned after he blasted President Obama's campaign tactics against Mitt Romney on NBC's Meet the Press.

According to Politicker NJ, Torres resigned effective Tuesday. The blog reports that her departure from the Newark mayor's administration came as a result of "internal administration strife in the aftermath of Booker's appearance on Meet the Press."

In a statement to Politico, Torres responds: "Effective today, I am resigning from my position as Communications Director. It has been a pleasure to serve in this Administration for six years, and as a Newarker, there is no greater reward than to work for the city that you love. Ive had the opportunity to work with an amazing team, and wish the Mayor the best."

PHOTOS: 20 Biggest Political Players in Hollywood

Booker drew criticism from the Obama campaign and its supporters following his May 21 appearance, where he complained about negative campaigning on both sides, condemning the president's attack ads on Romney's career at Bain Capital as "nauseating." Making matters even more awkward: Booker is a surrogate for Obama in the 2012 presidential race.

Republicans immediately pounced on Booker's Meet the Press remarks, and the mayor responded with a video on YouTube in which he said it was fair for Obama to single out Romney's private-equity past.

"Sorry I make u sick. And sorry I made a mistake. I'm sorry that 15 seconds on MTP erodes my 20 yrs of work in inner cities around our nation," he said on Twitter in a response to critics.

Read More

'Hemingway & Gellhorn' Director Philip Kaufman Revisits an 'Incredibly Passionate Love Story' (Video)

HBO goes back in time with Hemingway & Gellhorn, about the lives of writer Ernest Hemingway and journalist Martha Gellhorn.

Director Philip Kaufmanrevealed to The Hollywood Reporter how he got involved with the project starring Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman.

"Somebody presented me with a very long screenplay [by] Barbara Turner [and Jerry Stahl], which I came to think had some potential," Kaufman says. "We spent about eight years, producer Peter Kaufman and I, trying to develop this project eventually."

As time went on, Kaufman became enthralled by Hemingway and Gellhorn, who were married from 1940-45.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012

"I became more and more interested in the idea of Hemingway and this wife who was a great writer -- the more you read of her, the greater you felt she was as a writer -- but she was almost relegated to being a footnote in history as Hemingway's third wife," Kaufman says. "Yet she was the most beautiful woman he was married to and she was the only woman who left him."

If there was any doubt that the writers took creative license in some of the dialogue, that wasn't the case.

"A lot of the lines that Clive Owen says are in fact Hemingway lines," Kaufman reassured, "and a lot of them are Gellhorn -- her narration, her voiceover, it's taken absolutely right out of her writing."

Kaufman called Hemingway and Gellhorn's relationship "an incredibly passionate love story written beautifully by both of them."

Hemingway & Gellhorn airs Monday at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Read More

Adam Lambert's Memorial Day Weekend Blitz: 'Music Doesn't Have an Orientation'

Kristen Winter for iHeartRadio

Adam Lamberts Memorial Day weekend festivities kicked off on the beach and concluded in Canada as the American Idolseason eight runner-up celebrated theNo.1debut of his sophomore CD, Trespassing.

The glam-rockerbookended the extended weekend with a radio appearance and a Memorial Day television interview for MuchMusics New.Music.Live show in Toronto, Canada, where he praised the unifying power of song.

Music doesnt have an orientation [or]a preference, he said Monday. Music is universal, we all love to dance, we all love to feel, and we all love to sing along to stuff. [It] doesnt matter if youre gay, straight, black, white, girl or boy.

Lambert rocked the seaside with a short but sweet set at Jenkinsons Pavillion in Point Pleasant, N.J. About 1,500 fans were treated to three choice selections from the new record -- including the title track and single, Never Close Our Eyes," and his hit, Whataya Want From Me? Lambert was a featured performer as part of the WPLJ Summer-Blast Off party Friday morning, sharing the bill with San Francisco rockers, Train.

I didnt know we were coming to a beach bar, said the 30-year-old artist, who appeared thrilled as he gazed at the ocean during an on-air interview with hosts Scott Shannon and Todd Pettengill.

This is the real Jersey shore? he asked. Is this happening?

Assured that he was, in fact, at the famed locale sans Snooki, Lambert fielded questions about how he keeps his hair so perfect at an early hour I just slept upside down to his feelings on his triumphant week on the charts.

My fans are unbelievable, said Lambert.

As for Lamberts future plans, the singer is excited to fill in for the late Freddy Mercury with Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen.

These six shows with Queen will be life changing for me, said Lambert of the European summer tour. [Brian May and Roger Taylor] are the coolest dudes. They are so awesome and very kind.

Lamberts immediate plans are focused on Trespassing,an album he feels has plenty of good stuff for the radio, including the Bruno Mars-penned single Never Close Our Eyes.

I want to keep putting out singles for this album, he said.

Lambert continued his weekend Saturday with an appearance -- and a ride on the new coaster, Goliath --atSix Flags New England. The show also featured two champions from NBCs The Voice seasonone winner Javier Colon and seasontwo's Jermaine Paul.

Watch a clip ofLambert grooving to "Shady" below:

Read More

Kevin Costner Reveals What Drew Him to History's 'Hatfields & McCoys' (Video)

Viewers can catch Kevin Costner on the small screen starting Monday at 9 p.m. on the History Channel three-part miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys.

While the project about the storied family feud had been in the works for years and other name stars had become attached and then unattached to the project, Costner says that his love of Americas past as demonstrated with his films Dances With Wolves and Wyatt Earp bonded him with the project.

VIDEO: Red Carpet Interviews at THR & History Channel's 'Hatfields & McCoys' Special Screening

"From the first page I started reading and understanding and I got lodged completely in the story," he told The Hollywood Reporter at its special screening of the series this past week.

"I was thrilled with the history of our country, he continues. Even when it borders on being embarrassing or violent or shameful, I'm still thrilled with the story of our country and the Hatfields and McCoys are part of that DNA."

Costner plays clan leader Devil Anse Hatfield, whose nickname may be the subject of some debate and he is portrayed as a man who reluctantly takes part in the interfamily warfare.

PHOTOS: THR & The History Channel Host a Special Screening of 'Hatfields & McCoys'

It was a nickname and theres a couple schools of thought of where it might of come from, Costner, 57, said of his characters moniker. He hunted bears when he was really young. Another, he was such a clever guy in war. So, where the nickname came from, its not sourced where everyone agrees on, but that was a nickname, Devil Anse.

Watch THR's interview above.

Read More

Adam Lambert Insults Clay Aiken on Bravo's 'Watch What Happens' (Video)

Getty Images

Adam Lambert can't think of anything nice to say about Clay Aiken -- so he says nothing at all.

The American Idol season eight runner-up took a swipe at the season-two runner-up Thursday night during a guest appearance on Bravo's Watch What Happens, smirking at the mere mention of Aiken's name.

Per show tradition, host Andy Cohen asked Lambert play along with "Plead the Fifth," a regular segment where Cohen asks provocative questions of his panelists, for which they have the option to "plead the fifth" on all but one.

VIDEO:Adam Lambert Performs 9-Song Set on 'Trespassing' Release Day

"Say three nice things about Clay Aiken." he requested of Lambert, whose raised-eyebrow reaction drew laughs from the studio audience.

"Can't think of any," he responded, to which Cohen asked: "Want to plead fifth?"

"No, I just can't think of any nice things," said Lambert, laughing.

Besides being runners-up on the Fox competition, Lambert and Aiken also share a penchant for candor -- and, apparently, bad blood on either side. In 2009, Aiken launched a bitter 2009 tirade against Lambert, one of whose TV performances he slammed as "awful," "contrived" and "slightly frightening."

Earlier this week, Lambert's second album, Trespassing, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, besting the likes of Adele, Carrie Underwood and Norah Jones. The record was released on May 15, moving 77,181 copies in its first week out, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

As for Aiken, he returned to reality TV this spring for NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, making it to the top two: he battles Arsenio Hall in Sunday's finale, presided over by Donald Trump.

Watch Lambert's Watch What Happens segment below.

Read More

Piers Morgan to Anchor CNN's Coverage of Queen's Jubilee

AP Photo/Ian West

Piers Morgan, CNNs resident ex-pat, will anchor the networks coverage of Queen Elizabeths Diamond Jubilee, which marks her 60-year reign of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. The coverage will across CNN/U.S. and CNN International.

The live simulcast coverage begins Sunday, June 3 at 11 a.m. ET on location at the Tower Bridge for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant where hundreds of boats will sail up the River Thames. Tuesday, June 5 at 9 a.m. ET, CNN will broadcast the Royal Carriage Procession. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry of Wales will depart the Palace of Westminster for Buckingham Palace, travelling along a processional route by horse-drawn carriage. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and members of the Royal Family will appear on Buckingham Palaces balcony for the Royal Air Force fly over and a rifle fire salute from the Queens Royal Guard.

CNN also will have several Royals-themed programs in the run-up to next weeks Jubilee including Kate and Wills: First Anniversary, Saturday, May 26 at 2:30 p.m. ET, and The Diamond Queen, Saturday, June 2 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Read More

Bill Hader Talks Mick Jagger 'SNL' After Party (Video)

Mick Jaggers many musical collaborations got a lot of attention after last weeksSaturday Night Liveseason finale, but the music didnt stop with the closing credits.

SNL castmember Bill Hader stopped by NBCs Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Friday to share what happened after the episode, which featured Jagger performing with Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters and Jeff Beck.

PHOTOS: Scores That Rock: 10 Musicians Who Crossed Over to Movies

Foo Fighters played at the after party, and Jagger unexpectedly performed with them.

He sang live karaoke, Hader said. Suddenly the song Bitch came on and we were like Oh. Thats Mick Jagger singing. Oh my God.

The Jagger-hosted episode also featured an emotional sendoff for Bridesmaids star Kristen Wiig, who will not be returning as anSNL castmember next season. Hader said Wiigs final episode left the cast teary eyed.

That was pretty rough, Hader said. We were doing a sketch before the last one, and suddenly it hits you: This is our last sketch together.

Watch the video below.

Read More

TV Ratings: 'Duets' Premiere Lacks Viewing Partners

ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

On the heels of the American Idol finale, Fox debuted the ninth cycle of So You Think You Can Dance on Thursday night. The first round of auditions pulled a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers over its two-hour broadcast, pushing the network to an easy demo win for the night. The episode marked a 27 percent drop from last summer's premiere, which earned a 3.3 adults rating, but it improved on the finale, climbing nearly half of a point.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012

ABC debuted its foray into singing competitions with a bit of a thud. Duets only managed to earn a 1.7 rating among adults 18-49 after several weeks of heavy promotion. Although it did improve with the demo from the first to the second hour, it lost more than 100,000 viewers at 9 p.m., averaging 6.7 million during the course of the broadcast. The return of Rookie Blue was down just two-tenths of a point from last summer's premiere with a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. ABC averaged a 1.6 rating in the demo with 6.5 million viewers.

Tying ABC's second-place demo finish was CBS with a block of encores that took in the night's most viewers of any network: 7.6 million.

Awake ended its brief run with some good news. Despite two hours' worth of repeats leading into the final broadcast of the NBC drama, the series saw nearly a 30 percent boost from the penultimate episode with a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49.

Perez Hilton All Access debuted on The CW with just a 0.3 adults rating at 8 p.m.

Read More

'Hatfields & McCoys' Star Noel Fisher: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Me

JSquared

Noel Fisher plays Cotton Top Mounts on History Channel's "Hatfields & McCoys."

You probably already know Noel Fisher as Mickey Milkovich, the unpredictable neighborhood bully-turned-undercover lover to Cameron Monaghans Ian Gallagher on Showtimes Shameless. He plays a much more innocent character on Historys three-part miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys, starring Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton and Tom Berenger, premiering at 9 p.m. Monday.

VIDEO: Red Carpet Interviews at THR & History Channel's 'Hatfields & McCoys' Special Screening

Fishers character, Cotton Top Mounts, has the challenge of being an illegitimate member of the Hatfield clan. Add his mental challenges and the sentiments of the time period, and Fishers character becomes one of the miniseries most captivating to watch.

Later this year, the Vancouver native also appears in Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 as the vampire Vladimir of the Romanian coven, and hell return to Shameless as a series regular for season three.

The 28-year-old actor gives The Hollywood Reporters readers a glimpse at what makes him tick with a guest blog. Here are five things you didnt know about Noel Fisher.

1. I have been sponsoring a little girl in Zambia since the first season of The Riches. I went through some tough years when I first moved to Los Angeles, and The Riches was my first major success. After we shot season one, I decided I wanted to share some of that success with whomever I could. I wanted to pay it forward. Sponsoring a child has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. It feeds the soul in a way not much else can, and it requires so little.

2. I missed the final callback for my character on Shameless. I was working on another show, and I couldn't get off set for the very last callback with [executive producer]John Wells. The callback had been on a Friday, and I was told that he was leaving for Chicago first thing on Monday, so I wouldn't be able to audition for him. I wanted the part so badly that I spent all Saturday making this imitation director session and put that on tape. I did each scene three different ways and sent it to casting with a little intro clip asking them to just pretend they were directing me. Monday came, and I got a call that apparently Mr. Wells had not left after all. That day was the last chance. Of course, I was working on that day as well! The show I was working on very graciously moved my schedule around to get me out earlier, and I made it across L.A. in about 20 minutes flat. I remember literally running through the WB lot to get to the meeting in time. After all of that, I finally read for Mr. Wells and I got the call that I had booked the part as I walked off the WB lot. Whew!

PHOTOS: THR & The History Channel Host a Special Screening of 'Hatfields & McCoys'

3. I trained in piano for eight years. When I was a kid, my parents encouraged me to take many different classes. Piano was one that I really fell in love with. In one summer class I had to learn and perform my favorite song at the time, "Please Mr. Postman" by The Beatles. I remember being so nervous that the only way my teacher could convince me to perform was by turning the piano around so that I could play with my back to the audience, staring at a wall.

4. [Director] Kevin Reynolds thought I was wearing white makeup for my Hatfields & McCoys audition. The part of Cotton Top was originally albino. I remember walking into the room with Kevin Reynolds and one of the producers, Darrell Fetty. They are both tremendously kind people and made the audition a really wonderful experience. After the reading, Kevin looked up at me and told me that I had done an amazing job on my makeup for the part. My reply was simple, "No, that's just my face." Darrell laughed and let me know he was about to ask me where I got such a great wig, but now figured I probably wasn't wearing one. I wasn't.

5. I still have my first car. I bought it in 2002 and drive it to this day. I don't think it has a side that doesn't have a massive dent at this point. It's gotten way past the point of "charming" looking. It is just a straight-up beater now. I get asked if I want help fixing the dents for a "really good price" at red lights about once a week. I can't bring myself to sell it, though. I have so many memories in that car. The little beast has taken me back and forth to Vancouver more times than I can remember, I've slept through snowstorms in that car, it's taken me almost everywhere I've gone for over a decade, and it has never let me down. I feel like Pig-Pen in the Peanuts cartoons-- the dirty kid who's always walking around with the beat-up blanket he just can't let go of. My car is totally that blanket.

By Noel Fisher

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

Read More

'TRON: Uprising' Star Elijah Wood Moves From 'Rings' to Discs (Video)

After playing Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings films, Elijah Wood is no stranger to playing characters who struggle to deal with a destiny thats larger than themselves. Wood revisits that territory again on the small screen in TRON: Uprising, an animated series in which he plays Beck, a humble mechanic enlisted by Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) to lead a revolution after an act of civil disobedience puts him in the crosshairs of the authorities.

PHOTOS: First Look: Costumes of 'Tron'

Wood tells THR that its less his past experience as Frodo than the familiarity of the heros journey that primed him for what his character does in the series. I think its a relatively familiar archetype, he said. A hero construct of an everyman individual thats faced with extraordinary consequences and ultimately takes the mantle and responsibility of something he never thought was possible.

Although Wood admits that he came to TRON late, he says that jumping into the show, which takes place between the 1982 TRON and its 2010 sequel TRON: Legacy, excited him because of its mix of old and new mythmaking. This was exciting to me not because it was familiar, but because it existed within the world of TRON, he said.

I was thrilled that they were making an animated series that not only dealt with the mythology and universe that had already been established, but they were also going to tell stories that existed chronologically between the first and second film."

Watch the video above for more details about his character, and his preparation for TRON: Uprising. The show premieres on Disney XD on June 7, 2012.

Read More

Alison Brie Addresses Her Nudist College Experience on Conan O'Brien's Show (Video)

Alison Brie is known for playing prudish characters on TV, but in real life, she's far more adventurous.

The actress, who stars on NBC's Community and AMC's Mad Men, revealed her exhibitionist past during her appearance Thursday on Conan O'Brien's talk show. Brie attended the California Institute of the Arts, which has had a lax attitude toward public nudity.

"It's wonderful, I got a great education there. It's also very liberal -- and the time that I was there it was especially liberal, in ways like, clothing is optional everywhere except the cafeteria," she said. "Which I think is a really good policy. Because the last thing you want at the salad bar is, like, testicles."

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes of THR's Conan O'Brien Cover Shoot

While O'Brien recoiled at the idea of taking his clothes off, Brie said she embraced it as an undergrad.

"Every now and then I would just throw on my tennies and take a jaunt ... not all the time, just once in a while, to exercise my right!" she declared.

Brie added: "If my roommate was having a bad day and I wanted to make her laugh to feel better, I would sort of pretend like I was going to go take a shower but then I would sneak outside and hang from the tree outside our window. Like a monkey. Like a naked monkey."

(For more of Brie's amusing college stories, check out a 2010 column she wrote for Nerve where she talks about a sexual experience with her gay friend.)

Watch her revealing Conan interview below.

Read More

Jimmy Fallon Drops 'Downton Abbey' Spoof Sequel on 'Late Night' (Video)

Jimmy Fallon brought back his surprisingly well-executed Downton Abbey spoof, Downton Sixbey, during Thursday's Late Night, featuring returning cameos from Carson Daly, Fred Armisen and a silent Brooke Shields.

Also making the trip to Studio 6B -- Sixbey, get it? -- are Whoopi Goldberg and Questlove as the distant relatives named heirs to the Rock Center offices after Daly was felled by a hot air balloon accident. Pearl inlay afro picks, The View jokes and awkward references to racial slurs ensue.

Armisen shines in the short, once again defaulting to drag as unfortunate middle daughter "Hedith" while showing off his very real drum skills.

Watch the video below:

Read More

TBS' 'Men at Work' Averages 2.5 Million Viewers in Debut

Doug Hyun

"Men at Work"

TBS' rookie comedy Men at Work launched with back-to-back episodes Thursday evening, averaging 2.5 million total viewers for the 10 p.m. hour.

For the premiere, Men at Work drew 2.65 million viewers with 1.63 million in the ad-coveted 18-49 demo and 851,000 in the younger 18-34 demo. At 10:30 p.m., the half-hour sitcom drew 2.29 million viewers with 1.43 million in 18-49 and 778,000 in 18-34.

Created by Breckin Meyer (TNT's Franklin & Bash), the sitcom starring Danny Masterson, James Lesure, Michael Cassidy and Adam Busch is down from the recent comedy debut of Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse in November 2011 and on par with the season two premiere of Are We There Yet? last January.

Men at Work, from Sony TV and Fanfare, centers on four friends who work together at a magazine. Meyer, Jamie Tarses and Julia Franz are executive producers.

TBS continues to expand its comedy slate, recently snagging ABC's Cougar Town for an early 2013 premiere for the series' fourth season.

Read More

'Burn Notice': Michael Goes the Distance to Save Fiona in New Promos (Exclusive Videos)

Get ready for an explosive new season of Burn Notice.

With Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) behind bars, expect Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) to enlist his colleagues in his attempt to right a wrong.

USA Network will debut the two new promos this weekend but if you're as impatient as we are for new footage, The Hollywood Reporter has them exclusively.

One of the promos dramatically touts, "the stakes are higher than ever," while the other -- featuring music by the band Cake -- focuses on Michael's desperation in a more light-hearted manner.

What are you most excited to see in the new season?

Burn Notice premieres Thursday, June 14 at 9 p.m. on USA.

Read More

'Real Housewives of O.C.'s' Heather Dubrow Rates Her First Season (Exclusive Video)

Being the new gal on any Real Housewives franchise has got to be a scary proposition, but its especially harrowing to join The Real Housewives of Orange County.The turnover on that series, especially for its brunettes, is high. But, Heather Dubrow may be able to stick it out.

PHOTOS: The 'Ex-Real Housewives' Club

I was completely terrified coming into this situation, Dubrow, an actress who has starred on Thats Life, Stark Raving Mad and Jenny, tells NBCUniversal Direct while in New York City recently.

I come from scripted television, she adds. Had no idea what doing something like this would be like. So, its been fun and interesting and scary and crazy. You know, quite a ride.

Clearly, the 43-year-old plastic surgeons wife and mother of four feels she has gotten through her first season relatively unscathed. I think I did OK, she says.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: 'Summer by Bravo' Starts Off With a Bang

I thought it was interesting, she continues. I never saw the show before I joined the cast, so I really did come in completely blind and I think Ive been most surprised by how much I really genuinely like most of the ladies and Ive developed really nice friendships with them. And I think it might have been a fun ride. I know my husband is having a good time.

Dubrow also teases a lot of drama, and a lot of craziness for the remainder of the season and describes what she likes to do when shes in New York City.

Watch the video above.

The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

Read More

First Look: Watch Trailers for All of CBS' New Series (Video)

"Elementary"

With six new series joining CBS' lineup for the 2012-13 broadcast season, the network on Friday released the first trailers for four of its freshman series.

STORY: CBS' 2012-13 Schedule

Coming a week and a half after the network debuted behind-the-scenes footage for the four first-year shows, the trailers offer a better look at the network's offerings, which include period drama Vegas, a modern take on Sherlock Holmes and a buddy comedy from the creators of Will & Grace. Check out the trailers below. (Friend Me and Golden Boy are being held for midseason.)

PHOTOS: CBS' New Series for the 2012-2013 Season

Elementary is a modern take on the cases of Sherlock Holmes, with the famed detective (Jonny Lee Miller) now living in New York City. Lucy Liu co-stars as Watson. Airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. following Person of Interest.

Partners, from Will & Grace's Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, is described as a personal story of two lifelong friends and their business partners. Architects Charlie (David Krumholtz) and Louis' (Michael Urie) friendship has lasted longer than either of their romantic relationships and almost seems like a weird marriage. When Charlie decides to propose to his girlfriend, Louis' neurotic attempts to be supportive nearly result in the breakup of his own relationship. Sophia Bush and Brandon Routh co-star in the comedy. James Burrows directed the pilot. Airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. after How I Met Your Mother.

Vegas is a period drama set in the 1960s and based on the true story of Ralph Lamb (Dennis Quaid) -- a rodeo cowboy-turned-longtime Sheriff of Las Vegas. Michael Chiklis, Jason O'Mara and Carrie-Anne Moss round out the cast of the drama from Nicholas Pileggi (GoodFellas), Greg Walker (Without a Trace) and James Mangold (Walk the Line). Airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. after NCIS: Los Angeles.

Made in Jersey is a legal drama that centers on a working-class woman (Janet Montgomery) who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a top New York law firm. Airs Fridays at 9 p.m. following CSI: NY in its new time slot.

Which will you be checking out? Hit the comments with your thoughts.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Read More

TV Ratings: 'Duets' Premiere Finds Few Viewing Partners

ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

On the heels of the American Idol finale, Fox debuted the ninth cycle of So You Think You Can Dance on Thursday night. The first round of auditions pulled a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 6.2 million viewers over its two-hour broadcast, pushing the network to an easy demo win for the night. The episode marked a 27 drop from last summer's premiere, which earned a 3.3 adults rating, but it improved on the finale, climbing nearly half of a point.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012

ABC debuted its foray into singing competitions with a bit of a thud. Duets only managed to earn a 1.7 rating among adults 18-49 after several weeks of heavy promotion. Though it did improve with the demo from the the first to the second hour, it lost more than 100,000 viewers at 9 p.m., averaging 6.7 million over the course of the broadcast. The return of Rookie Blue was down just two tenths of a point from last summer's premiere with a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. ABC averaged a 1.6 rating in the demo with 6.5 million viewers.

Tying ABC's second place demo finish was CBS with a block of encores that took in the night's most viewers of any network: 7.6 million.

Awake ended its brief run with some good news. Despite two-hours' worth of repeats leading into the final broadcast of the NBC drama, the series saw nearly a 30 percent boost from the penultimate episode with a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49.

Perez Hilton All Access debuted on The CW with just a 0.3 adults rating at 8 p.m.

Read More

'American Idol' Champion Phillip Phillips Had 8 Surgeries During Season 11

Frank Micelotta/FOX/PictureGroup

The music world knowsPhillip Phillips as its newest American Idol champion, but it may not have seen him at the top of his game.

The 21-year-olds father revealed Thursday that the singer has undergone eight surgeries since his run for the Idol crown began in January.

PHOTOS: 'American Idol' Season 11 Finale: Jessica Sanchez vs. Phillip Phillips

"He's been doing [well], but it's just grueling hours and it's just amazing what he's done through the journey," Phillip Phillips, father of the Idol champion, told People.

The younger Phillips suffered from a buildup of kidney stones and had surgeries to remove them. He has another surgery scheduled for sometime in the next few weeks, which his father said would not interfere with his participation in the Idolsummer tour.

"They've just seen a glimpse of what Phillip can do, the elder Phillips said. We can't wait to get him well and 100 percent and really see how he can perform."

The Idol winner acknowledged his health complications had made getting through the season tough, and praised those who supported him.

I had great doctors and great people surrounding me [who] really helped out, so it's just a blessing to be here, he said after his win Wednesday.

PHOTOS: 'American Idol' Season 11 Finalists' Hometown Visits

Phillipsmay have a lot on his plate, but he isnt resting on his laurels. He taped an appearance Thursday for NBCs Tonight Show, which he took to Twitter to promote.

So cool to be on @jayleno, Phillips tweeted. Such a cool guy and got to meet the amazing Glenn Close! Never thought i would ever be on a late night show haha.

The Idols Live Tour kicks off July 6 in Detroit.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Read More

'X Factor': First Official Look at Britney Spears and Demi Lovato at the Judges' Table (Photo)

Between leaked audio of new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato offering clashing commentary to an aspiring singer, grainy cell phone photos and a smattering of video of the panel at work, The X Factor's first day of auditions was the talk of the Twitterverse for a good portion of Thursday.

Now comes the first official photo of season 2 judges, with Spears seated snugly to Simon Cowell's right and Lovato to L.A. Reid's left. According to reports from inside Austin'sFrank Erwin Center on the University of Texas campus, the 19-year-old Lovato exhibited plenty of spunk for her first day on the job, while Spears reportedly said no to only two hopefuls and left the judges' table early.

An insider tells The Hollywood Reporter reports of her "walking off" the set caused plenty of drama behind-the-scenes, but were ultimately acknowledged to be "B.S."

Sears herself later tweeted, "Britneywalksoff??? LOL was just taking a little break people. I am having the BEST time!!!"

Read More

'Rookie Blue': Missy Peregrym on Andy and Sam's Reunion, Luke's Return and Family Conflict

Caitlin Cronenberg/ABC

"Rookie Blue"

Cop drama Rookie Blue returns with some heavy hitters.

William Shatner starts season three off on the right foot, playing a drunk driver searching for something -- or rather, someone. As Rookie Blue star Missy Peregrym tells The Hollywood Reporter, Shatner won't be the only person creating a ruckus: Andy's estranged mother also comes back into the fray.

"With Andy seeing her mother for the first time, thats not something I've ever experienced in my life so I didnt really know what was going to happen in that moment," Peregrym says. "Barbara [Williams] was amazing in it and as soon as we went to camera, it just took off. I found myself more emotional than I thought I was going to be in that moment."

PHOTOS: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows for 2012-13 Season

"That whole episode was such an interesting arc because it was something that happened as you were exploring it in the moment and thats always the scariest but most exciting to see," she adds.

When Rookie Blue picks back up, Andy will have been off the force for several months serving out her suspension. The premiere will also include the first meeting between Andy and Swarek (Ben Bass) since then, and as Peregrym teases, things don't play out exactly how she'd expect.

"Andy comes back with a very different impression of Sam," she says. "Andy thinks she's gonna come back and get her job back and it's going to be great. Hes upset with me, obviously because he feels hurt that Andy chose work over him. He didnt think it was necessary to go away for three months, but it was a very logical thing to do. Already were thrown through a loop just having this miscommunication."

Andy and Swarek share a moment at the end of the episode that serves as a starting point in this new direction they are headed. Instead of external forces causing conflict between them, it will be internal strife.

PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview 2012

"I think its really about Andy and Swarek making a decision. It wasnt really possible for us to be together [in the past]," she says. "This third season, we can actually [be together] now and its starting to hit us with what this really means. We have to figure out what that is, which I think is very complicated. Sam gets extremely overprotective, which is irritating. Hes having a hard time doing his job because hes allowing himself to be more vulnerable because hes not the guy whos by himself."

Though things ended on a weary note with Luke (Eric Johnson), Peregrym promises that he will return but the possibility of reigniting the flame will no longer be there. (After all, Luke did cheat on Andy.)

"[Luke's absence] solidifies that this [relationship] is over," she says. "Luke comes back in later in the season [and] its tough. Theres so much else thats happening that its a non-issue. Its not like Andy thinking, 'Did I make a mistake by not being with him?' No, he cheated on her. The dynamic changes. Hes now my advocate. Hes the one whos supportive of Andy in the job, whereas Sam used to be that."

A new rookie, Nick (Peter Mooney), is also put into the mix, with personal ties to one of their own officers.

"As the season goes on, that changes the dynamic for Gail (Charlotte Sullivan)," teases Peregrym, who revealed that Andy has more scenes with Nick "than anybody really this season." "She had a history with him that complicates things with Chris (Travis Milne), because Chris is going through stuff and is not sure how he feels."

Rookie Blue premieres Thursday on ABC at 10 p.m.

Read More

'Top Chef Masters' Season 4 Premiere Date and Contestants Revealed (Video)

Bravo

"Top Chef Masters" judge James Oseland, host Curtis Stone and judge Ruth Reichl.

If you enjoy watching already established and award-winning chefs going at each other for a reality TV prize on Bravos Top Chef Masters, this news should thrill you. On Thursday, the network revealed the next batch of cheftestants and the shows fourth season return date.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes of the 'Top Chef: Texas' Finale

Starting Wednesday, July 25 at 10 p.m. 12 accomplished chefs will begin the culinary journey which ends with one standing and $100,000 to the charity of their choosing. Along the way, chefs will win $5,000 for winning quickfires and $10,000 for winning elimination challenges to benefit their charities.

The Magical Elves production brings back host Curtis Stone and judges James Oseland and Ruth Reichl with a couple new faces at the chefs table: Food and travel journalist Krista Simmons and Gilt Taste features editor, Francis Lam. Theyll be joined by an array of celebrity guest judges including Sugar Ray Leonard, Indigo Girls, Dita Von Teese, The B-52s, Brian Boitano and Holly Madison.

PHOTOS: The 'Ex-Real Housewives' Club

And now, what youre really all waiting for: Is the chef from your favorite eatery grabbing their knives and putting their reputation on the line?

See below for a list of next seasons cheftestants and a sneak peek at the action.

Chris Cosentino Chef/ Partner Incanto Restaurant, San Francisco; Competing for Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research

Clark Frasier Owner of Arrows; Competing for Outright Lewiston/Auburn

Mark Gaier - Owner of Arrows; Competing for Equality Maine Foundation

Lorena Garcia - Owner of Lorena Garcia Cocina Restaurant; Competing for Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Inc

Debbie Gold Executive Chef of Kansas Citys The American Restaurant; Competing for Childrens TLC

Kerry Heffernan NYC Chef; Competing for City Harvest

Thierry Rautureau Chef/owner: Rovers and Luc; Competing for Food Lifeline

Missy Robbins Executive Chef: A Voce Madison & A Voce Columbus; Competing for Grow to Learn NYC

Art Smith - Executive Chef and co-owner: LYFE Kitchen and Southern Art Restaurants; Competing for Common Threads

Sue Torres - Chef/Owner: Sueos; Competing for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Takashi Yagihashi Owner: Takashi Restaurant and Slurping Turtle; Competing for the American Red Cross, benefitting the Japanese Tsunami Disaster Relief

Patricia Yeo Om Restaurant & Lounge/ Moksa Pan Asian Izakaya; Competing for Heifer Project International

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

Read More

'American Idol' Champ Phillip Phillips on 'Home': 'I Told Them It's Not My Single' (Video)

Michael Becker/FOX

Some of the words American Idol champion Phillip Phillips used to describe his victory: "numb," "unreal," crazy and "overwhelming."

"I never expected any of this," the 21-year-old Leesburg, Georgia looker toldThe Hollywood Reporter moments after he was named season 11 winner. "It hasn't sunk in yet. It's such a blessing ... I'm kind of ready to try and comprehend it all."

But when it comes to Phillips' coronation song "Home," he's still coming to terms with its status as his first commercial single. I dont write songs like that, he told reporters of the Greg Holden-Drew Pearson-penned track. Its a very good song and Im glad people enjoyed it, but Im itching to do my own stuff.

VIDEO:'American Idol's' Jessica Sanchez on Coming in Second: 'I'm Relieved That This Whole Thing is Over'

Later on, he went one step further, telling THR's special correspondent (and Idol alum) Didi Benami, "The song that I did tonight that supposedly is my single, it's not really my single, I told them it's not my single." Phillips explained that his passion for lyrics and music trumps even the best pitched pop song. "I have my own stories to tell," he said, "[But]I couldn't do my song [on the finale]; we just didn't have enough time."

Not that he takes issue with the public's response to the Mumford-esque track. "I'm really glad people like the song," said Phillips. "It's a great song but I'm still ready to do my own thing." His upcoming album, Phillips revealed, would be a mix of "some acoustic stuff" with a "jazz and rock alternative sound; not really rock-rock -- pretty different."

Addressing the press after the show, Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine said that he was anticipating a singer-songwriter album from Phillips that would be supervised by one producer. "Home," he added, only came to his attention "three days ago."

Phillips' teary end to Wednesday's finale was perhaps the best moment of the night, and he was still emotional speaking to reporters backstage afterwards, noting that he would probably "cry some more"as the evening wore on.

STORY:'American Idol' Anoints Phillip Phillips Season 11 Winner

Another quotable moment came when Phillips blurted, "I have no shame in saying it Im not a great singer." Rather, he added, "I just love having fun on stage jamming with the guys and playing good music and getting the crowd into it.

Indeed, there was one moment during Tuesday's show when Phillips took a moment to let the view sink in. "When Ryan was talking, I was just looking around, taking it all in looking at all the people there," he told THR. "It was very surreal."

Equally hard to register: that Phillips will have to undergo surgery in the coming weeks as he prepares for the Idol summer tour. Then again, Phillips says music is part of the healing process. "Musics fun," he said. "It takes away a lot of pain that is going around."

Watch THR's post-finale interview with Phillips below.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Read More