I love this!
If you were wondering what Jennifer Hudson would do to follow-up her movie debut - a turn in "Dreamgirls" that won her an Oscar and every other award under the sun - the question has been answered: she will co-star in the "Sex and the City" movie due to start shooting in New York on Sept. 19.
Hudson is in final negotiations to portray the assistant to Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) who must have moved up in the world if she has an employee. The Carrie we knew wasn't exactly lighting candles with $10 bills.
I think it's smart of Hudson, still a rookie actress, to take on a supporting role in something high-profile that doesn't rest on her shoulders. The movie should be a huge hit because God knows devotees of the series will be there opening weekend. I know I'll be.
The series ended its six-year run on HBO in 2004 and a movie was planned but co-star Kim Catrall balked. But now she's on board along with Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristen Davis. Chris Noth is also set to reprise his role as "Mr. Big."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I work from home, one cool thing is that I get to watch "The View" which I'm interested in again with the additions of Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd. Whoopi is gaining control of the "hot topics" portion and is a stabilizing presence in a way that was difficult for Rosie to be - as much as I love her. I see her steering the conversation here or there, cutting people off when need be, and doing what a moderator should do. She's not as much fun as Rosie but that's what they have Sherri for.
Anywho, I can't really hide my contempt for Elisabeth Hasselbeck. It's not that she's a Republican, it's that she's a "I have drunk the Kool-Aid" Republican. She will defend the Bush administration policies no matter how wrong-headed and disastrous they prove to be. If it were a Democratic president in power and screwing up this badly, would Joy Behar be defending him (or her)? No way. She's an intelligent woman with opinions.

I write of this because Susan Sarandon was one of today's guests and it wasn't hard to see that this outspoken actress/activist could not stand a lightweight like Hasslebeck. Sarandon, promoting her film "In the Valley of Elah," seemed annoyed with anything Elisabeth had to say even if it was complimentary. It seemed painful for her to even be in the same studio as Hasslebeck. It made perfect sense to me though. Sarandon is a passionate woman, someone who has lived long and seen a lot and wants to make our country better. She's been on the front lines speaking out for a long time.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck was on "Survivor."
In "Elah," Sarandon plays a woman whose two sons are killed in the Iraq war. It's based on a true story and the Oscar winner wanted to do it to shed light on the "55 soldiers a day who are killed, injured or sick" and who she says are not being taken care of by the government.
Sarandon says there is a "disconnect" between that reality and what is being addressed by the government and the people of this country.
"[The film] is just saying, 'Let's get real about this war...they come back and see us acting like nothing is going on."
Sarandon was asked if she was still not a fan of Sen. Hillary Clinton. She's still not. As for who she is supporting for the Democratic nomination, she said: "I like Edwards and I'm waiting to see what Obama says."
We know who Elisabeth will support: Any moron of a nominee they put in front of her who shares her "values."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Christopher Gorham, who plays Henry on "Ugly Betty," has been a favorite of mine ever since he was on the cult hit "Popular" on the old WB. I saw him at the Sunday night pre-Emmy party which he attended with his lovely wife, Anel. He told me that he and series star America Fererra started filming some scenes at the Pantages Theatre in Holywood because their characters, who are romantically involved on the show, are going to a Broadway production of "Wicked." The Pantages will double for a Broadway theatre.
"We're working with the two leads of 'Wicked.' It's going to be great."
Gorham is confident that Fererra will win an Emmy on Sunday to go along with her Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards.
"She's going to win as far as I'm concerned. She's the first latina to be nominated in her category and is going to be the first latina to win the category. I'm married to a latina so this is a topic that's close to my heart. We couldn't be more excited."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I'm still churning out interviews from parties in recent days before I head out to another one this evening (hey, it's a living). I was so excited to see Annie Potts on Sunday night at the pre-Emmy party for producers. Annie, star of the television classics "Designing Women" and "Any Day Now," is a former Emmy nominee. But this year, it's her director-husband James Hayman whose show "Ugly Betty" nominated for many awards, including outstanding comedy.
Says Potts: "It's easy to get jaded about these things. I've got to get dressed up and worry about what to wear. I mean, everybody should have these problems. I'm just there in support so it's easy for me. It's [James] who has to bite his fingernails down to the knuckle."
I asked her what was she is up to these days.
"I am working at home. The little one is 11 now. I'd love to do a series. I love that work you know. I did it for a long time but I needed to take a break because I did 17 years straight and I was tired. But, I'm rested now and ready to go again. You know, there's not a lot of roles for women over 40 and I am definitely over 40. Of the 120 pilots that were done last year, there were only 10 roles for women over 40. I got one of them. It didn't go. Considering that there are so many boomers in this age bracket, there's very little product out there and I think it's a missed market. So, I'm hoping that something will come up."
I had asked Potts' former "Designing Women" co-star in July about her interest in doing a Broadway version of the sitcom that had been written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. Smart isn't interested in reprising her role but Potts seemed somewhat open: "I wanted to see the script. I'd love to work for Harry [Thomason] and Linda again, she's a brilliant writer."
Then I had to know: which of all her roles is her very favorite. It's gotta be the spunky Mary Jo on "Designing Women" right? Or the secretary on "Ghostbusters"? Maybe the high school teacher on the television version of "Dangerous Minds."
Nope. Her favorite, and I can completely understand why, was on "Any Day Now," the Lifetime channel drama that ran four glorious seasons. "It's my very, very favorite. Ever. Ever. It was dear to my heart. I mean, 'Designing Women' was a classic and cult thing but it's 'Any Day Now."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These are some awfully good pics of Brady Quinn that I found on my pal's Kennethinthe212 blog. Had to share...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now, you didn't expect Kathy Griffin to win and Emmy and not do something outrageous did you?
Some people are up in arms over what she said in her speech: "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus...Suck it, Jesus. This award is my God now."
Wow. Tell us what ya really think Kathy!
Well, the TV Academy and E! announced today that they would not air Kathy's remarks, made after winning the Emmy for Best Reality Program. Catholic League President Bill Donohue called on the TV academy to "denounce Griffin's obscene and blasphemous comment" and is still demanding that Griffin apologize.
Hmmmm. Ever heard of free speech Donohue? I think the Catholic church has bigger problems right now.
Anyway, the controversy was among the hot topics discussed today on "The View" with Elisabeth Hasslebeck, predictably, incensed by Griffin's remarks with Sherri Shepherd also taken aback: "I was trying to text her to say, 'Girl, you know you shouldn't be saying that.'"
But Whoopi and Joy Behar think it's much ado about nothing.
Said Woopi: "[God] knew she was gonna make the joke and said, 'You kill me' and kissed her on the head."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Here's the thing about being a print/online reporter at a red carpet event. You are usually placed near the end of the press line and don't get the stars until they have been thoroughly worn out by a slew of questions from the likes of "Entertainment Tonight," "Access Hollywood" etc.
I tell you this because at the DVD party for "Brothers & Sisters," I was dead last on the red carpet. It didn't really matter for the most part because the cast members I interviewed were all gracious with their time and answered every question as if I was their first interview.
Ron Rifkin, on the other hand, seemed spent. So I got just a little from him which was a disappointment because his character of Uncle Saul appears to be a closeted gay man who had previously been involved with a character portrayed in the season finale by Michael Nouri.
Rifkin is quite happy to see his character take a dramatic turn and have this mysterious past. But it's not clear how or if Saul will come out of the closet: "So far we don't know. Saul is being very elusive about it. He's very private. But Milo (Michael Nouri) has been on the show so I suspect this will role out over the year."
We did have a good laugh when I asked him if he gets recognized a lot for the episode of "Sex and the City" that he did where he is an editor at Vogue who mentors Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) then pulls his pants down to show her his underwear.
Says Rifkin: "It's so crazy. I'll be on the siubway in New York and I'll get: 'I saw your underpants!' It's embarrassing."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Luke and Noah storyline continues to progress. Maddie is putting two and two together and in this clip, asks Luke is something is going on between he and Noah. When he says "I can't answer," she knows all she needs to know.
Take a look:

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When Rosie O'Donnell goofed on Donald Trump last year on "The View," he went on a rampage, going on various shows to call her fat and to say Barbara Walters wants her off the show etc. In my opinion, he made a big jackass of himself.
Rosie writes about it some in her forthcoming memoir "Celebrity Detox" ...
"It is Trump's falseness that angers me more than anything . . . I spoke my mind. People found it funny. I honestly did not anticipate the malice of his response...I assumed Donald believed he had money. I did not assume Donald believed he was money. But apparently he does...The stuffing of his self spilled out - think of a torn scarecrow, only instead of hay, it's crisp $100 bills blowing through the cornfields."
Rosie also said Trump reminds her of "garden slugs. I could write one small comment on my blog, and Donald would predictably distend, flowing forth with a torrent of insults...Then he'd appear on some talk show looking wrinkled, old and empty, with a Jell-O orange combover. I did not anticipate that he would be cruel enough to do what he did to Barbara [Walters - whom he called a liar]. She should have been left alone."

Well put.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)