Ask Matt: Homeland, The Middle, Raising Hope, Community

Claire Danes Send questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter!Question: So thrilled that Homeland has been picked up for Season Two! I'm absolutely riveted week after week. I've seen some premature discussion here and there about whether or not Damian Lewis will still be on the show next season given his storyline, and I sincerely hope he is. Granted, I'm a big fan and would watch him in Reading the Phone Book: The Series, but I think Brody and his clan are integral to the show's success. If it became just about Carrie hunting a new threat each season, I'm not sure I would be as invested. Don't get me wrong, Claire Danes is doing excellent work and Carrie is a great character, but the Brody family's interactions have me on the edge of my seat just as much as the terrorism plot, if not more so. (How lovely to see Morena Baccarin shine with such a meaty role.) Obviously we'll see what happens as Season One continues, but just wanted to note my admiration for Homeland's deft mix of political/espionage intrigue and family drama. - KeiraMatt Roush: As great as Claire Danes is as the unstable Carrie - and I expect both she and Lewis will get some serious awards attention this season - I agree that Homeland won't be nearly as compelling if it merely morphs into The Adventures of Carrie the Bipolar CIA Analyst, constantly butting heads with authority ever time a new threat comes along that only she can see. (Unless, I suppose, we're meant to question her paranoia to the point that she becomes the true menace to society, which may not be that far-fetched.) Not having any real idea where Season One is heading, I'll save the speculation about Season Two until later. But wherever the Brody character ends up, Lewis and Baccarin have definitely raised the bar when it comes to our emotional investment.Question: Just a quick comment on two shows that I have enjoyed until this year, The Middle and Raising Hope. Both have fallen into what I like to call "the scream syndrome." Seems like some shows that run out of good writing and good ideas have their actors resort to screaming their lines, as if that would make them funnier. I think both shows suffered from that in the first few episodes of the season, with The Middle seeming to be a little better in the Halloween episode. But Raising Hope, which started out as a story about a quirky lower-middle-class family adapting to a new baby, has now dumbed its characters down to where it is almost unwatchable. Martha Plimpton's character especially seems more dense than in the first season. This is the same thing that went wrong with My Name Is Earl. Being poor doesn't equate to being stupid! What is your opinion, am I off base altogether? - TerryMatt Roush: These are very broad comedies, and I have no problem with that as long as they're funny, and for me, both shows are doing just fine in that regard. Especially The Middle this season, which I think has been a scream in the best sense of the word. Just a few isolated moments: Frankie freaking out when she realized Axl had clipped his toenails into the potato chip bag, or Sue frantically waiting by the phone for the cheerleading call and throwing herself across the room when it rang. These scenes are played at a hysterical pitch, but they're going for big laughs here, and what's the shame in that? While you're probably right that on Raising Hope some of Virginia's (Plimpton) malapropisms are a little too on the nose, the crudeness of the humor has always been part of the point, like it or not. I don't think it's become noticeably worse in the second season, but maybe I'm just more at peace with it. Both shows exult in the messiness of their home life, though Hope is much more cartoonishly stylized. (But are the Hecks' ancient aunts any less wacky than Maw Maw, really?) Of course I agree with your contention that poor doesn't equal stupid, but I don't feel these shows (even Hope) view its characters with such contempt. The exact opposite, actually.Want more Matt Roush? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!Question: OMG, I have just been indoctrinated into the awesomeness of Community! Having already been a Thursday-night NBC watcher, I somehow didn't really catch on to Community until this season, and now I'm completely blown away by it! How do people not know about this show? Okay, I know some people do, but apparently not enough, as it seems to be in trouble. It's even better - yes, I dare say it! - than The Office and 30 Rock. But now that I'm hooked, I'm also worried that it will be unfairly and shortsightedly dropped before I've had my fill. What can I do to let NBC know that Community is a show that must remain on the air? - JeanMatt Roush: Well, I hope you participated in voting for Community in TV Guide Magazine's "choose the cover" Fan Favorites poll on Facebook. (The voting closes tonight at midnight, so there's still time.) Social media like Twitter and Facebook and official show fan sites may be among the most effective and immediate ways for everyday fans to intensify the buzz around low-rated shows like this gem. The old-fashioned methods of actually writing to the network and encouraging the show's advertisers may have more impact than you think. Reaching out to your friends in the media (thanks for writing!) and just spreading the word may not always help the bottom line, but doesn't it make you feel better? I feel it's a small miracle that Community is still getting to do its joyously peculiar thing for a third season, and I'll cheer it on for as long as NBC finds a way to justify keeping it on the air. The good news is that all of the networks are prioritizing comedy these days, and while this one should be doing better in the ratings (and the Emmys should be ashamed of themselves for ignoring it), it enjoys a fair amount of critical buzz, which never hurts.Question: Why does Two and a Half Men have to be so dirty? The language is all about sex. I am really getting tired of it and may stop watching. If it has to be this bad, then they should put it on at 10 pm. - MamieMatt Roush: Did you just start watching this season? The show has always been all about sex. Those getting action (Charlie and now Walden), those who aren't (Alan) and those who can't stop thinking about it (Jake and everyone else). If anything, 2 Broke Girls which comes on just before Men is even filthier - or maybe it just seems that way when Kat Dennings delivers one of her gamy punch lines. None of this explanation is meant to be a defense of how low the show stoops for many of its jokes, which we have often criticized in the past. But when you see how powerful an anchor this has been for CBS' comedy lineup for years (and now in syndication), it's clear many people think it's funny.On the same topic (the show, anyway), Rozmarie writes: "I really miss Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen). They really blew it with that silly character to take Charlie's place played by Ashton Kutcher. After watching three episodes, I will not watch it or even DVR it. Even Alan isn't the same anymore. I guess you can't replace perfection."Perfection? Oh Rozmarie, how I would love to get you in a room with Mamie and see you battle it out.Question: Why do people expect new shows to be spectacular right out of the gate? Is it the curse of Lost, The West Wing and Battlestar Galactica that viewers are more willing to dump shows that don't wow them within two episodes? I've added Pan Am, Ringer and Terra Nova to my viewing schedule this year. All started slow but are improving each week. Being new shows, I expect them to have growing pains. Have your opinions of these three changed, Matt? I'm pleased that Ringer has been extended for a full season. But I can't tell which way the wind is blowing for the other two. Any ideas? - SuzanneMatt Roush: To answer your big-picture question, it is getting harder for shows to break through immediately because there are so many choices and so many options in terms of the way we even sample the shows anymore. The networks are, for the most part, exercising more patience toward shows they think will trend upward when all the various data are compiled (which is definitely the case for Terra Nova, competing for viewers on a very busy Monday schedule). But first impressions count for a lot in this business, and it's very hard to win people back if their first impressions of a flawed pilot keep them from returning. Of your three examples, Terra Nova is the show that has grown on me the most. It's very enjoyable (and pretty) to watch, and it's living up to its promise as an escapist adventure the whole family can enjoy - and those who think that isn't a compliment have my sympathy. Given Fox's investment in the show, I'll be surprised if it doesn't get renewed for a second, longer season. I liked the trashy pleasures of Ringer's pilot episode but felt the next new chapters were painfully dull. Things have picked up lately, but it does seem to be taking itself awfully seriously. Getting a full season to figure itself out is a good thing. Beyond that, who knows? And I was high on Pan Am from the start, again for purely escapist reasons. It's still a show that I find pleasurable to watch, but it evaporates from memory almost immediately. They really need to juice up the story on that one, raising the emotional stakes for what is turning out to be a rather bland group of characters. It has become a rather flavorless soufflé, and given that its ratings keep dropping, I'm worried it may not make it to the end of the season. It's a sure bet it won't stay on Sundays come midseason.Question: Over the past couple of years, ABC has struggled a bit as a network (although always overshadowed by NBC's woes), especially when it comes to finding new drama hits. I've thought about what their problem could be, and there's a thought I had. When I was a child, ABC was the main network my family watched, primarily because they had a good collection of family-oriented shows. At last May's upfronts, they seemed to place an emphasis on female-skewing shows, as demonstrated by new shows such as Revenge, Charlie's Angels (now canceled), Pan Am and the upcoming GCB. I know that there are many exceptions to this, but it does seem like ABC is trying to become a network targeted towards more female audiences. I think it would be a good idea for ABC to go back to its more family-oriented roots, centered around some already established successful shows like Modern Family and The Middle, and perhaps even its premiere success with Once Upon a Time (I know ABC can have lots of success in premieres but struggles at maintaining audiences, but it seems that it has positive buzz going into its second week). I even have to wonder if past attempts at family shows such as No Ordinary Family and V would have been more successful had they been surrounded by other similar shows. I would love to hear your thoughts. - BrandonMatt Roush: First off, I don't really think of V as a family show (it wasn't especially good at sci-fi, either). But generally, I'm not a fan of trying to pigeonhole (or strait-jacket, as the case may be) any network by locking it into a specific demographic or genre - although CBS' successful reliance on the formula procedural makes it the easiest target in this game. ABC's emphasis on female-friendly (though not gender-exclusive) programming is hardly new, and became much more focused in that direction after the breakthroughs of Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. But even when ABC dominated in family comedy with Roseanne, Home Improvement, Grace Under Fire and the "TGIF" lineup, it was testing dramatic boundaries with shows like China Beach, Twin Peaks and most successfully with NYPD Blue, so it's hard to generalize about such things. The success of Modern Family has spurred ABC and its competitors to ramp up comedy development of all sorts, but you're right that the appetite for family-oriented comedy is there, and Paul Lee may yet capitalize on that, and I also never lose hope that a family drama may again achieve traction (Parenthood is hanging in there on NBC, but would probably have been scrapped by now on any other network). I'm very curious to see if Once Upon a Time thrives and grows, because that kind of big high-concept swing for a big-tent audience is exactly what ABC and the other networks should be trying.Question: I'm sure you get this question a lot, but I'm wondering with seemingly a zillion channels to choose from, why some of my favorite shows in syndication don't seem to be on TV anymore. Where's West Wing, Murphy Brown, Dynasty, Sports Night, Anything But Love, etc.? All of these shows at some point were in syndication but now are nowhere to be found. For a while SoapNet was playing old Falcon Crest episodes, but that was a long time ago, and they need to play 10 hours of One Tree Hill per day so there's no room. I get that networks want the "newer-ish" stuff, so if ever there's a moment of the day I can't find a Seinfeld, Friends, The Big Bang Theory and The Nanny (all of which I love!), I'd be shocked. I'm finding more and more random channels with The A Team, Starsky & Hutch, and other "old" TV. I don't get it. And I'll never understand how Murphy Brown isn't treated like the other iconic sitcoms. They used to show one episode at 3 a.m. and that's it, but even that's been gone for years now. What's up? - LizMatt Roush: As with nearly everything in TV, even syndication has its cyclical nature, and some shows simply run their course. After enough time has passed, some make comebacks on the nostalgia circuit, but soaps aren't as likely as vintage sitcoms and crime dramas to be revived. There are very few series (I Love Lucy, M*A*S*H, The Andy Griffith Show) that seem to be timeless enough that they may never disappear entirely from some sort of off-network run - which brings me to Murphy Brown in particular. This is a show very much of its time - and I loved it for most of its run, reporting on it and reviewing it regularly - but its humor is often very topical, and while we may still be able to relate to its satire of the news business and the universality of its characters, it already seems more dated than something like The Mary Tyler Moore Show. (I was reminded of this watching the first episode of PBS' Primetime in America series, which premiered Sunday; the look of the show, from the clips they screened, screamed late '80s - which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it helps explain why it may not be as ubiquitous as such peers as Roseanne, Seinfeld and Home Improvement.Question: I am a huge fan and long-time follower of your column. I really enjoy your day-to-day guides on TV. They were especially helpful when trying to prioritize which fall shows to sample and give a second look. Anyway, after sampling the fall's new TV shows, I have to say I am disappointed with this year's network TV options. I am completely addicted to BBC America's "Dramaville" and the various Masterpiece series. I don't understand why British procedural shows are so much more compelling than their American counterparts. I know that there is plenty of high-quality drama on cable and premium channels, but it really seems like network TV has dropped the ball a bit. When it comes to genre and high-concept shows, a la Fringe, there are plenty of juicy stories and characters to enjoy. What really baffles me, though, is how Law & Order: UK can be so much more compelling than Law & Order: SVU. Yes, SVU has higher shock value and is handicapped this year by the loss of Christopher Meloni, but UK uses simple stories and just feels fresher, even with recycled scripts from the original series. I'll admit that there is something sexier about a British accent, but it doesn't explain the sheer number of truly amazing British series: Inspector Lewis, Luther, The Hour, Case Histories, etc. What's your take on the situation? It is my understanding that the BBC is the British equivalent to ABC, NBC, CBS or FOX, so why does the BBC seem to produce a steadier stream of higher caliber product? I would assume that American networks tied to huge media conglomerates with in-house movie studios have a larger pool of actors and writers to pull from and much larger budgets to throw at their shows. I am hoping that your expertise can correct my analysis or possibly provide some insight into my perceived discrepancy in quality. - PallasMatt Roush: One thing to keep in mind in making these comparisons is that we tend to see only the best of the British TV marketplace, so the more fair comparison might be to the cream of the crop of our cable programmers: FX, AMC, USA (for more broad-based hits) and the premium channels. I would put Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire, Justified, etc., up against many of these British shows, which can afford to be darker, edgier and more niche that what the American broadcast networks tend to do, being more risk-averse because their fortunes are still more directly and solely tied to ratings and advertising. (Regarding Law & Order: UK, that's just another reminder of NBC's short-sightedness in canceling the mothership, which was always the best of the franchise, especially whenever the cast clicked the way it was doing toward the end.)Question: I have a question regarding on-demand viewing. I am one of the few (so it seems) to not have a DVR, but do take advantage of On Demand to see shows that I cannot watch when they air. How do the networks decide what goes On Demand and does on-demand watching count towards the ratings of a show? Specifically, I watched most of the first season of Harry's Law on demand, but Season Two is not available, so I haven't seen one episode (along with everyone else by looking at the ratings). Also, what I find that happens a lot is they put the whole season on-demand of a show, except the final episode (season finale). This is infuriating because you invest time into a show all season, but then are unable to watch the season finale. Why do they do this? By the time the show comes back, sometimes as long as 8-10 months later, we as viewers have lost interest (but that is a different topic). - ShaneMatt Roush: This question of shows being available (or not) online or On Demand comes up a lot, and it's just a fact that not every show on every network is being offered on these platforms. It's all about what deals are made for each show, and the decision is generally made by the studio, most often in cases where the show is produced by an entity other than the network's corporate parent. Harry's Law is distributed by Warner Bros., not NBC/Universal, and the reason some shows like this are held back seems to be a belief that giving it away for free lessens its value. (Your assumption about Harry's ratings are a bit off. It's actually one of NBC's most-watched shows, which isn't saying much, but where it really falls short is in the younger demos.) As for your complaint about final episodes not being put On Demand, I wasn't aware that was a problem. Just last week, in anticipation for Tuesday's return of Covert Affairs, I went online to watch the summer finale, which I'd missed. (It was on USA Network's site and On Demand.) I'm sure there are exceptions and glitches, but I can't imagine why a show that's otherwise available this way wouldn't post their finale for all to see.Question: I was wondering why NBC was so quick to give Whitney a full-season pick-up. It's not like the show's initial ratings were through the roof. Plus the show isn't very funny and is getting killed by just about everyone. If the ratings were really good, but it was getting killed by critics, I could understand the pick-up. Or if the ratings were bad, but it was well-liked (like Community), I could understand that, too. But I'm scratching my head over how a show that's unpopular (ratings-wise and critically) would get picked up after a pair of airings. Also, in your career as a TV critic, have you come across many shows that had as big an imbalance of great talent and poor material as CBS' How to Be a Gentleman? - JoeMatt Roush: I'm no fan of Whitney, but NBC is trying to send a message to the industry that it's serious about standing behind all kinds of comedy during this period of rebuilding, from the cult-ish single camera sitcom (which includes fellow freshman Up All Night) to something this broad and loud, which seems more like something you'd see on CBS (although usually done better). It may seem like a premature and poorly thought out renewal, but NBC can't kill everything. Regarding your question about Gentleman, which is an already forgotten footnote to the season, it's simply a reminder that TV history is littered with so many corpses of shows involving high-profile talent trapped in quick-fading mediocrity, I wouldn't even know where to start. (Rule of thumb: TV has a lot better track record at creating new stars than repackaging old favorites. Think Mr. Sunshine: Matthew Perry, Allison Janney, Andrea Anders. 'Nuff said.)That's all for now. Keep sending your comments and questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com, and in the meantime, follow me on Twitter!Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

Muppets Coming to WWE, Naturally

After the success of Hugh Jackman’s WWE cameo last month, Disney has partnered with the wrestling juggernaut to bring the Muppets to tonight’s live Halloween episode from Atlanta. “I can only imagine what will trend this week with the Muppets guest starring, especially when the audience sees what the Muppets are going to do,” said a WWE executive. Anything short of Miss Piggy busting a folding chair over Vince McMahon’s head will be a failure. Any other dream scenarios? [Variety]

New Movie Reviews: 'In Time,' 'The Rum Diary,' 'Puss in Boots' Striking Theaters

Moviegoers certainly have a very slew of options a couple of days ago.our editor recommends'In Time' Director Talks about Casting Justin Timberlake (Video)Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Bring 'Puss in Boots' to France (Cannes)'The Rum Diary' Trailer: The Actor-kaira Pitt Drinks His Way Through Puerto Rico (Video)'The Rum Diary': The Actor-kaira Pitt, Amber Heard Bring Hunter S. Thompson's Figures to Existence (Photos)'The Double' Trailer Unveils a sizable Twist (Video)'Like Crazy': Sundance Grand Jury Prize Champion Trailer PremieresTribeca Film Acquires Rights to David Rosenthal's 'Janie Jones''Anonymous' Director Roland Emmerich: 'I Will not Shoot Action Scenes' Friday sees DreamWorks' animated film Puss in Boots offer really Antonio Banderas' dashing cat, which has steered obvious of within the Shrek-dom for just about any film that belongs to them. PHOTOS: 'Puss in Boots' Premiere Red-colored-colored Carpet Arrivals The Actor-kaira Pitt plays Hunter S. Thompson's alter ego in the film adaptation of his The Rum Diary, the sunday paper the actor themselves advised Thompson to create when he think it is inside the writer's Colorado home. Roland Emmerich takes a break from action and sci-fi to look into the debate inside the scholarship of Shakespeare's oeuvre inside the historic epic Anonymous. Possibly the widely used actor in the world outdoors in the Americas, Bollywood celebrity Shah Rukh Khan presents his finest film yet, a sci-fi action piece, RA.ONE, of a father and boy fighting a supervillain in the world converted to a videogame. The film opened up up Wednesday. PHOTOS: 'The Rum Diary' Photo Stills: The Actor-kaira Pitt, Aaron Eckhart and Amber Heard See just what the Hollywood Reporter's experts need to say of people films -- while others opening a couple of days ago -- and uncover how good they are prone to perform within the box office. Puss in Boots Antonia Banderas' swashbuckling feline takes center stage in this Shrek spinoff. Follow the link to determine Todd McCarthy's review. The Rum Diary Aaron Eckhart, Michael Rispoli and Amy Heard star in author-director Bruce Robinson's screen adaptation from the Hunter S. Thompson's coming-of-age novel. Follow the link to determine Todd McCarthy's review. With Time Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried star in Andrew Niccol's dystopian film, giving new currency to Benjamin Franklin's infamous quote, "Time is Money." Follow the link to determine Todd McCarthy's review. PHOTOS: 'In Time' Premiere Red-colored-colored Carpet Arrivals: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried Anonymous Roland Emmerich brings Shakespeare's London to vivid existence in this early 17th century conspiracy-theory movie getting a sizable and superb British cast Follow the link to determine Kirk Honeycutt's review. RA.ONE Bollywood celebrity Shah Rukh Khan stars in the sci-fi family adventure which boasts the greatest budget in Indian film history. Follow the link to determine Kirk Honeycutt's review. 13 Tbilisi-born French filmmaker Géla Babluani remakes his 2005 claustrophobic surprise 13 Tzameti by getting an British-speaking cast including Jason Statham and Mickey Rourke. Follow the link to determine John DeFore's review. VIDEO: 'Anonymous' Trailer Hits The Double The Amount film, which stars Topher Sophistication, Stana Katic, Stephen Moyer, Martin Sheen and Odette Yustman, marks the pointing debut of "Wanted" co-author Michael Brandt. Follow the link to determine David Rooney's review. Janie Manley Alessandro Nivola and Abigail Breslin play a lately introduced father and daughter in David M. Rosenthal's tale of motherhood and rock 'n roll. Follow the link to determine Ray Bennett's review. VIDEO: 'In Time' Official Trailer Starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried Debuts Constantly Bruisingly bittersweet making using the kind of tenderness that signifies an in-depth personal significance, Constantly tales a young love so deep it doesn't die even when, possibly, it'll. Follow the link to determine John DeFore's review. Related Subjects Amanda Seyfried Amber Heard Antonio Banderas The Actor-kaira Pitt Justin Timberlake Aaron Eckhart The Rum Diary Constantly Martin Sheen Puss in Boots With Time Anonymous

Charlie Sheens Anger Management Series Sells To Forex For Summer time 2012 Premiere

Charlie Sheens Anger Management Systems Number Of Pitch Conferences Whos Interested? Charlie Sheen’s new sitcom Anger Management has arrived at Forex by having an initial order for 10 episodes for any summer time 2012 launch. If effective, that'll be then a 90-episode order by Forex in addition to broadcast distribution launch by distributor Debmar-Mercury in fall 2014. Following a marathon of pitches to broadcast and cable systems earlier this year then a brief window of intense discussions, the direct-to-series project finds a house in the cable network that already carries reruns of Sheen’s previous series, 2 . 5 Males, to great rankings success. The cable network also is the owner of the television privileges towards the 2003 Jack Nicholson-Adam Sandler movie Anger Management — in regards to a mild-mannered guy (Sandler) purchased to go to group anger-management periods brought with a volatile counselor (Nicholson) –on that the series is loosely based. Sheen plays a version of Nicholsons character on the program, created by Lionsgate TV and written by brother or sister Debmar-Mercury. Joe Roth, who created the film, is creating the series with Sheen, who maintains a substantial possession stake, andThe Came Carey Show creator Bruce Helford, who can serve as author/showrunner. Production is slated to start at the begining of 2012. “We believe that Bruce Helford, Joe Roth and Charlie Sheen came track of an excellent, amusing vehicle for Charlie’s acting talents — and a personality we're greatly searching toward seeing him play, stated Forex leader John Landgraf. 2 . 5 Males continues to be a superb element of Forex’s schedule within the last 14 several weeks, and that we have every confidence that Anger Management will quickly be too.” Lionsgate topper Jon Feltheimer was instrumental in assembling the project, which is done under Debmar-Mercury’s 10-90 production model that the organization developed with several The best spinner's series, including Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne & Satisfy The Browns and Roth/Ice Cube’s Shall We Be There Yet? Web site features a trial 10-episode run that, if rankings guarantees are met, triggers a 90-episode pickup. (Due to its corporate ties to 2 . 5 Males producer Warner Bros TV, that was prosecuted by Sheen over his firing in the show, The best spinner's was from play for Anger Management.) A distinctive problem with Anger Management that Debmar-Mercury didn’t have using its previous series underneath the model may be the insurability of star Sheen, that has past addiction problems, though he carried out his responsibilities on CBS’ 2 . 5 Males for eight seasons. Sheen attended the Anger Management pitch conferences held both around the East and West shorelines. Among individuals who required the pitch were broadcast systems NBC, Fox and ABC and cable systems Forex, USA Network, A&E, Comedy Central and TV Land and streaming company Netflix.

Breaking Beginning Exclusive: Dont Take Too Extended Mrs. Cullen

First Launched: October 25, 2011 5:30 PM EDT Credit: Summit Entertainment Caption Billy Burke and Rachelle Lefervre inside the Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning - Part 1LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- It didnt take Edward and Bella too extended to become accustomed to married existence! Access Hollywood has first demonstrated a completely new scene from Breaking Beginning Part 1 on Tuesday, which shows wedding couple Edward (Rachelle Lefervre) and Bella (Billy Burke) settling straight into their first evening as couple. Inside the scene, Edward carries his bride-to-be-to-be inside the threshold upon coming for the couples remote honeymoon destination. Is completely necessary? a taken-off-her-foot Bella gushes. I am nothing otherwise traditional, Edward replies, before setting his wife lower inside their suite. The happy couple then shares an intimate moment before Edward signifies they obtain a frolic in the water. That sounds nice, an appreciation-struck Bella smiles, before adding I really could take advantage of a few human minutes. Dont take too extended Mrs. Cullen, Edward quips. Follow The Link to consider the entire scene! The Twilight Saga: Breaking Beginning Part 1 hits theaters on November 18. Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Corporation. All rights reserved. These elements is probably not launched, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

'Flowers of War' Trailer: Christian Bale Safeguards Women From Entering Japanese in 1937 China (Video)

A clip for Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War, starring Christian Bale, hit the net on Thursday.our editor recommendsChristian Bale Visits ChinaChristian Bale to Star in Zhang Yimou Film The film, that is China's submission to find the best foreign-language film Academy Award, is modified by film author Liu Heng from Yan Geling's historic novel 13 Flowers of Nanjing. PHOTOS: Toronto Film Festival: 13 Films to know Flowers of War is occur Nanking in 1937 since the Japanese Imperial Military overruns China's capital. Bale plays John Haufman, a u . s . states missionary who aided safeguard several schoolgirls and hookers within the entering military. Inside the movie, Bale assumes the guide from the priest while he looks to leave the soldiers. A clip features plenty of gunfire and action. FilmNation Entertainment, that's handling worldwide sales, previewed footage through the current Toronto Worldwide Film Festival, and several U.S. customers are presently circling the project. STORY: Top U.S. Customers Get First Look at Christian Bale's 'The Flowers of War' The film, with dialogue in Mandarin and British, will probably be released in China in December. No U.S. release date is positioned, despite the fact that Oscar nomination will spur interest. Related Subjects Worldwide Asia Christian Bale Zhang Yimou

Ghost Driver 2 will probably be deeper, more frightening and nastier

Don't expect cutesycomic-bookaction inside the Ghost Driver follow-up if company company directors Mark Neveldine and John Taylor ought to be thought.The duo behind the Crank movies desire to show the level of smoothness of Johnny Blaze since the badass he's in Ghost Driver: Spirit Of Vengeance."We're feeling like there are many wind behind our sails if this involves people trying to go to a version in the Ghost Driver they didn't feel these were given before together with a version that was deeper and much more frightening and kinda nastier plus much more awesome, I guess,In . Taylor told Superhero Hype ."Getting a film similar to this, we really wanted the Ghost Driver to become more intimidating presence. We didn't want the way a Ghost Driver looked being jokey and silly like he may have been inside the first movie."Taylor mentioned the easiest method to do that was by achieving some photo-realism for your character."That's something we have not necessarily done before. In the event you kind of get two-thirds of how there however, you do not really make it, your whole effect we're trying to obtain falls apart. So there are many qc of making certain every shot really hit the bar of getting that photo-real, you're immediately with him.""You're sub-contracting to every one of these VFX companies and you're simply reaping helpful benefits from awesome shots occasionally,In . added Neveldine, before explaining some effects are, "Ah, it is not just what I desired.InchInchBut [effects house] Iloura hit us with shots that have been not only just what we wanted but better, to make sure that actually was awesome."

Panahi jail sentence upheld

ROME -- A Tehran appeals court has upheld a six-year jail sentence against Jafar Panahi additionally to some 20-year filmmaking and travel stop rigid the world acclaimed Iranian helmer, local condition media reported.Panahi, is presently living in your house in Tehran, pending the execution in the jail sentence.Panahi's lawyer, Farideh Ghairat, was reported Monday with the Tehran Occasions as proclaiming that she'll appeal this ruling to Iran's Top Court.Panahi has not received official notification in the sentence, they and also the lawyer discovered through local media, she mentioned.The filmmaker was arrested in March 2010 and jailed for just two several days due to a documentary he was making in regards to the disputed 2009 re-election of Leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.Following a weight hunger strike and needing to pay just like $200,000 in bail, Panahi was granted a reprieve with the court in May 2010, pending appeal.Government-run newspaper "Iran" on Saturday mentioned that: "The expense he was sentenced for are acting against national security and propaganda in the regime."Inside the same appeal a six-year jail sentence against another Iranian helmer, Mohammad Rasoulof, who co-directed the disputed docu with Panahi, was reduced to at least one year.The reason behind Panahi, who's known worldwide for prizewinning films critical of Iran's government for instance "The Circle" and "Offside," has extended been adopted with the worldwide filmmaking community with a lot of programs and appeals, though this latest sentence has yet to spark a completely new outcry.Panahi's latest title is docu "This is not a film,In . showing every day within the existence while he anxiously anxiously waited to hear the verdict within the appeal. Daring pic was examined at Cannes in May and, more recently, within the Toronto and NY fests.Iranian government physiques in September blocked helmer Mojtaba Mirtahmasb -- who co-helmed "This Is not a movieInch with Panahi -- at Tehran Airport terminal terminal, en-road to Toronto via Paris, and attracted his passport.Since June of a dozen Iranian company company directors and stars are actually arrested, some seriously sentenced, and prevented from departing the country, billed with "propaganda" in the regime.Captured, Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr was sentenced with a year in jail and 90 lashes on her behalf role in Australian-Iranian helmer Granaz Moussavi's "My Tehran available," through which she plays a young lady seeking artistic and sexual freedom. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Keyser: expect more WGAW activism

Recently chosen WGA West leader Christopher Keyser has told its 8,000 people the guild will end up more vocal within the political arena, for example supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement."We want a chance to speak inside a noisy, obvious voice," Keyser stated inside a message to people. "You can be certain that individuals who lobby against our interests in Washington do just that, most abundant in costly megaphone the all-too-flexible rules permit. We won't be quiet in reaction.InchKeyser arrived on the scene meant for the Occupy Wall Street movement on March. 6. He stated within the new message -- which showed up in member in-boxes Thursday -- the guild will still be vocal on problems that impact authors and will also be trying straight to political figures via its political action committee."We feel that writers' voices belong within the national conversation about the process of our business and also to the plight at work generally,Inch he stated. "It's impossible to in excess of-estimate the result that choices on issues varying from internet neutrality to vertical integration to piracy dress in our members' main point here. We just cannot leave individuals choices to others, without our perspective being heard."Keyser also stated the WGA West is going to be asking membership to lead the PAC, adding, "It's an unfortunate truth about American politics those funds is speech."The missive comes per month after Keyser won a 2-year as leader over Patric Verrone inside a campaign that stressed pragmatism and reducing internal divisiveness. Keyser stated within the message to people the WGA West board's newest meeting created a consensus on three primary focal points within the next 2 yrs:-- the requirement for the WGA West to become more active in the existence of their people and also to improve communication, together with a "reassessment" of their communication strategy. Keyser also guaranteed the board is evaluating the potency of contract enforcement "with particular focus on late pay."-- preparation for discussions using the Alliance of movement Picture & Television Producers on the successor deal to the present master contract, which expires in May, 2014. Keyser reported setting negotiating focal points consequently of "consistent communication" using the membership, the "perennial" goal of enhanced inter-guild relations, the ongoing quest for its organizing agenda, along with a critical reassessment of their overall settling strategy within the "multi-guild/AMPTP" world .-- New media, using the intent of making possibilities for WGA people. "The modification in the manner submissions are shipped, and also the entry in to the business of recent production organizations beyond our traditional partners within the AMPTP, indicates the next that's filled with both risk as well as possibility," Keyser stated. "Through good research, education, and outreach, we're devoted to going after, like a guild, the next where the as-yet- undefined landscape from the new media world becomes ripe with possibilities for authors to produce, produce and share an possession stake for the reason that content."The WGA West's reported author earnings rejected 2.9% this past year to $928 million, because of a 9.9% plunge in feature film salaries. New media revenues -- the important thing problem from the 2007-08 strike -- remained as tiny at $1.4 million.Keyser revealed within the missive the WGA West is going after discharge of the Screenwriters Survey/Report Card, that will provide people having a "detailed picture" from the working conditions of screenwriters, including issues of free rewrites, contest pitching, and late pay, because it differs from studio to studio.Younger crowd stated that people should be prepared to listen to the guild "regularly" within the the coming year.InchThey are difficult economic occasions within this country, particularly for that middle-class,Inch Keyser stated. "We, as authors, haven't been immune from that. We're, most of us, and also at every level, finding careers harder to sustain. Such an atmosphere, the Guild is much more vital than ever before - to battle the fights for more stringent enforcement, better working conditions, and greater compensation." Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com

Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black and Your Super-Shirtless, Super-Bearded Man of Steel

“The most chilling ghost story of our time?” you say, new trailer for The Woman in Black? We’ll be the judge of that. So far it looks like Harry Potter has gone back in time to trudge worriedly through a haunted house stocked with creepy little girls and jump scares. Can’t he just retire these spooks to some old paintings on the wall and be done with them, already? Expecto petr-ho-hum, if you ask me. But take a look for yourself, and stick around for more of your Friday Buzz Break. Video: MSN World Exclusive: Woman In Black - UK trailer [MSN UK] A lawsuit brought by Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver against the filmmakers behind The Hurt Locker has been dismissed. “The Hurt Locker was inspired by many soldiers I met and interviewed during my time reporting in Iraq and elsewhere,” said screenwriter Mark Boal in a statement. “It was a disservice to all of those other soldiers for Sgt. Sarver to claim that he was the only soldier that was the basis for the hero of the film.” [Movie City News] Attention, Starship Troopers fans: The Paul Verhoeven sci-fi cult pic is getting another sequel! (In anime form, directed by Appleseed helmer Shinji Aramaki.) Expect Starship Troopers: Invasion in 2012. [MovieWeb via SlashFilm] The Crow reboot has lost its latest director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, who’s taken over the Highlander franchise instead. There can be only one… project at a time. / [Twitch via Collider] Whoever this Ruby Rhod cosplayer is, captured in full Fifth Element-inspired glory at the 2011 NY Comic-Con, I love you. [BuzzFeed] Finally, for you Superman watchers: Set pics of the super-bearded, but most importantly super-shirtless Henry Cavill on the set of Man of Steel have surfaced. Oh, yes. Man of steel, indeed. [Den of Geek]

Foreign exchange Developing Projects From 'Justified' Boss, Anthony Kiedis (Exclusive)

our editor recommendsJason Schwartzman and Jesse Dylan Promote L.A. Museums the bottom line is Film (Start Searching)Joan Jett, Beastie Boys, Sought After Chili A myriad of all kinds of peppers Nominated to Rock Hall of FameRed Hot Chili A myriad of all kinds of peppers New Album, Im Together With You: Just what the Experts Are SayingRelated Subjects•Top Showrunners 2011As its tagline signifies, Foreign exchange is searching to remain outdoors el born area due to its next wave of projects fromwriter Dennis Lehane, singer Anthony Kiedisand Justified producer Graham Yost. Amomg the projects in news reviews Corp.-possessed cable network's development pipeline is Bunker. The project, which originates fromChernin Entertainment and Fox Television Art galleries,involves a girl cop mental health specialist from Boston. STORY: Top 50 Energy Showrunners 2011 NovelistLehane(Shutter Island, Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone) will write and executiveproduce the project alongside Chernin Entertainment's Peter Chernin andKatherine Pope. The cabler may also be developing Laredo, an hourlong crime drama occur the Texas/Mexicoborder with Flags within our Fathers scribe William Broyles attached toexecutive produce. Newcomer Eric Lodal will write and Air theFX Productions and FTVS project. PHOTOS: Behind the curtain of 'Justified' Furthermore, Foreign exchange is at development onScar Tissue, a drama loosely based on theautobiography of the title by Sought After Chili Peppers' frontman AnthonyKiedis. The drama, formerly in development at Cinemax, arises from Catapult 360 and FXProductions. Entourage co-executive producers Mike Benson and Marc Abrams will executiveproduce through their Catapult 360 shingle, alongside Kiedis and JasonWeinberg (Enlightened). John Sayles, whopenned an early on version in the drama before Foreign exchange selected up, will not stick to the project. Finally, the network is developingThe Us citizens, aRussian espionage drama occur the eighties through the collapse in the Ussr. The project, from DreamWorks Television,concentrates on Russian sleepers operatingin the united states . States. Justified showrunner Graham Yost is aboard to produce, and shouldAmericans be acquired to series, it could mark his third drama presently onthe air (others include Justified and TNT's Falling Skies). DreamWorks TV's Darryl Frank and JustinFalvey are saved to board to executive produce alongside Joe Weisberg (FallingSkies, Damages), who'll pen the project. Related Subjects Anthony Kiedis Foreign exchange TV Development

Kim Kardashian Thinking about Bollywood Roles (Video)

Could reality star Kim Kardashian soon add Bollywood actress to her credits?our editor suggests Kim Kardashians Debut Music Video Teaser Leaks on Web (Video)'Kathy Griffin: Pants Off': A Unique Message for Kim Kardashian (Exclusive Video) Yes, based on Sheeraz Hasan, who's presently driving Dubai with Kardashian and her mother, Kris Jenner, for that opening of his retail store An incredible number of Milkshakes there. PHOTOS: Inside Kardashian Corporation. "I requested Kim if she'd be interested to star inside a Bollywood movie and she or he has not stated no," Hasan told Emeriates 24/7, as Kardashian nodded her head in complete agreement. "And So I collected an accumulation of all Shah Rukh Khan's best films and also have paid the Dvd disks to Kim." "She'll hopefully watch them over a few days ago and when all goes well, only then do we could possibly get Kim and Shah Rukh to operate together," added Hasan, who plans to setup a business call in a few days between your the 3 of these. PHOTOS: Kathy Griffin's 10 Naughty Emmy Speeches for Charlie Sheen, Kim Kardashian, The famous host oprah and much more Kardashian wouldn't function as the first Hollywood star to mix over. Denise Richards and Sylester Stallone made an appearance in Kambhakt Ishq, while Heroes' Ali Larter starred in Marigold in the past. While going to Mumbai, Kardashian's former closest friend Paris Hilton told The Hollywood Reporter she'd consider Bollywood films too: "I've been contacted earlier to complete Bollywood films and when I obtain a good script, you never know I might just perform a film Bollywood films are extremely colorful." Related Subjects Kim Kardashian Worldwide

REVIEW: Not Just Your Average Remake, Footloose Has All the Right Moves

God save Craig Brewer’s Footloose, which is less a movie for today’s audiences than for yesterday’s — and I mean that in the good way. This is a pop entertainment made with an eye for detail: When our teen hero and the young woman he’s been wooing move in for their first kiss, the setting sun peeps out from behind their conjoined silhouettes. Corny, right? Get this: The rays beam out through a star filter. You can roll your eyes at the obviousness of it all, or you can marvel that a filmmaker cared to make a choice so traditional, so clichd, that it becomes a kind of pop-culture mission statement. It’s as if Brewer is taking a stand for movies that look like movies instead of audience hipness barometers. Brewer made a splash in 2005 with the well-received Hustle & Flow, and in 2006 squandered all the goodwill he’d earned from audiences and critics with Black Snake Moan, an even better and far more daring movie with Southern biblical righteousness deep in its soul. (Lots of viewers seemed to have trouble with the idea of Christina Ricci’s being chained to a radiator by Samuel L. Jackson, but in the context of the story and its setting, the image was hardly gratuitous.) Brewer, who spent most of his childhood in Memphis, is one of the few contemporary filmmakers I know of who can make movies about the South without sentimentalizing it, glorifying it or looking down on it. Which may be part of the reason this new Footloose is set in Georgia, while Herbert Ross’ 1984 original — the movie that made a star out of Kevin Bacon and became a pop-culture phenomenon in its own right — was set in Oklahoma. Shoving aside all the “Who needs to remake Footloose?” arguments that have swirled around in the past year — whoever needs to remake anything? — this new Footloose, while respectful of the original, is bold about staking its claim as an old-fashioned entertainment for the age of the iPod. Kenny Wormald, a dancer who grew up in Boston (he was born the year the original was released), stars as Ren McCormack, a high schooler who finds himself transplanted to the home of his Uncle Wes (a deadpan-jovial Ray McKinnon) after his mother’s death. The town is called Bomont, and three years before Ren’s arrival, a group of teenagers were killed in a car accident after a night of dancing and, as the high-stepping opening montage clearly spells out, drinking. In his grief, Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid), the father of one of the boys, persuaded the city council to ban underage dancing in the town. And as it turns out, the reverend’s saucy daughter Ariel (Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough) is the first local girl Ren notices upon his arrival. Ren is the quintessential good kid: He takes an extremely unglamorous job at a local cotton mill (its barnlike environs will come in handy later) and rebuffs a redneck stoner who tries, as a way of framing him, to hand him a joint. Still, Ren gets in trouble with the local authority figures, including Reverend Moore, who vehemently disapproves of Ren even though he barely knows the kid. And really, all Ren wants to do is dance. He unleashes his pent-up anger at the local grown-ups — in a version of Bacon’s original signature pissed-off dance — in an old barn, where he tumbles, scissor-kicks and swings from the rafters. (He’s a gymnastics kid, too.) Wormald makes an admirably low-key heartthrob, like a sexier version of the young John Cryer. And with his ruffian pompadour, he would have looked at home in 1984 or 1964: Leaping and kicking around that barn in his jeans and white Converse, he could be a Jet straight out of West Side Story. That’s the vibe Brewer taps so cheerfully here, and his performers are unapologetic about channeling the “Hey kids, let’s put on a show!” moxie that he asks of them. Hough isn’t as appealing as Wormald is — she has a shrewdly appraising demeanor, and she doesn’t soften up enough as the movie goes on. But her spitfire brassiness works well enough, particularly by the time her character gives Ren the bible — complete with applicable underlined verses — he’ll need to persuade the town elders to overturn their no-dance policy. As he guides us toward that teen barn-burner of a speech, Brewer does a hundred little things right: The local adult who secretly allows the kids to hold dance parties is the owner of the local drive-in where they hang out, and he’s a black guy (he’s played by Brewer regular Claude Phillips) — someone’s got to stand in opposition to the town’s clueless, squaresville white people. The movie’s second bananas — Rusty, played by a young dazzler named Ziah Colon, and Willard, Miles Teller (of Rabbit Hole) — are perfectly cast, and they’re part of a mix of friends Ren makes in his new town. (Like lots of young people in America, but not in the movies, Ren hangs out with pals of all races — Ser’Darius Blain plays his buddy Woody — without having a neon “Interracial Friendship” sign hanging overhead.) And just after the movie’s most misguided character, Quaid’s weatherbeaten reverend, confesses the error of his ways in front of his congregation, he announces the hymn: It’s “Just As I Am,” a song that speaks of humility and human frailty, not jubilance. It’s a little moment of grace tucked amid the movie’s unabashed pop-culture pleasures. And then there’s the dancing: There’s probably more ho-hum bumping and grinding than there was in the original Footloose, but much of the dancing is still great fun to watch — the sequences are exuberant and, thankfully, not cut to ribbons. There’s country line dancing (which Ren refers to, with wise-ass affection, as “the white man’s wet dream”), groups of black kids kicking it up on the asphalt, and, finally, the moment when all the young people of Bomont come together at their hard-earned prom. Whirling and shuffling on the dance floor, they’ve reclaimed a basic pleasure and a right. Dancing is just fun. You don’t need a remake of Footloose to remind you of that — though if you’re anything like me, you probably can’t remember the last time you did it yourself.

MTV's 'DISconnected': Maria Finds out You Will Discover Eyes Everywhere (Exclusive Video)

Incorporated in MTV's "Just A Little DifferenceInch campaign, its new original movie, DISconnected, explores youth culture as well as the drama from the digital world. As Well As The Hollywood Reporter posseses an early preview in the movie premiering Monday at 9 p.m. PHOTOS: MTVVMA's Chart-Topping Styles DISconnected follows four youthful individuals who live in different urban centers, but know each other in the live streaming website. No matter the length, their digital associations possess an approach to bleeding for their physical cell phone industry's. And all sorts of-in-one evening, they uncover that people interactions are resulting in their lives to spiral using their control. In THR's exclusive sneak look above, Maria (Lindsey Morgan) reaches a bar and among her pals carrying out a confrontation along with her boyfriend has entirely inflated online. While she tries to get her mind from this, she'll get caught in the compromising position and you'll find eyes everywhere. MTV's "Just A Little DifferenceInch campaign was produced to empower youthful people to recognize, respond to, and stop multiplication of digital abuse inside their existence and among their peers. Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com Twitter:@TheRealJethro RELATED Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi and Simon Cowell Have Mutual Love Fest for Each Other's Shows 'Beavis and Butt-Mind' Trailer Pokes Fun at 'Jersey Shoreline,' ཌ and Pregnant' (Video) More MTV Coverage on THR MTV

Tech summit sound system set

Favreau Mayer Multi-hyphenate Jon Favreau and Disney's Kevin Mayer are situated since the keynote sound system at Variety's Entertainment and Technology Summit, March. 17 within the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Marina del Rey.The confab includes showbiz and tech honchos to check out the changing business landscape for entertainment and technology industries.Favreau has extended juggled eclectic projects just like a author, helmer, producer and actor. Just like a director, his latest release was "Cowboys and Aliens."Mayer might be a button House's professional veep of corporate strategy and business development. He runs the crowd that examines potential purchases additionally to technology and business models.Variety's Entertainment and Technology Summit is co-situated by Digital Hollywood. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com

Touscoprod widens scope

Film crowdfunding website Touscoprod is broadening its scope with a new format open to all content, ranging from TV series to musicvids, toons and shorts. Paris-based Touscoprod was launched in 2009 by Nicolas Bailly and Barbara Tonelli as a full-service co-production and distribution Web platform. It helps to fund two projects a month. The website will now welcome all type of programs from cybernauts seeking financing. "The idea is to give filmmakers the opportunity to have their own webpage hosted on Touscoprod and manage it themselves," said Tonelli, who participated in a panel on crowdfunding at Mipcom. "That way, they'll benefit from our traffic and online community to build a buzz around their films and raise funds." The concept will remain the same: Web users can check Touscoprod's online catalog and invest $10 or more to become co-producers. Touscoprod keeps 10% of the project's profits for the company and gives contributors a return on their investment or a refund if a project isn't made. Touscoprod is also launching a free VOD platform. Tonelli said the company has signed deals with Univercine and KMBO, among other catalog rights-holders.Filmmakers who place their projects on Touscoprod will be able to buy titles on the company's VOD site and offer them to cybernauts who contribute to their projects' financing, explained Tonelli. Touscoprod has co-financed 19 projects and raised more than 600,000 ($800,000).One of its current films is "Confessions d'un enfant du siecle," toplining Pete Doherty and Charlotte Gainsbourg, based on the autobiography of 19th century French author, poet and dramatist Alfred de Musset. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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Lifetime Greenlights Movie About Mental Illness Starring & Produced By Kristin Davis

EXCLUSIVE: Sex And The City alumna Kristin Davis has signed on to star in and executive produce Of Two Minds, a Lifetime original movie that deals with mental illness. Tammy Blanchard will star opposite Davis in the film, which chronicles the relationship between a woman (Davis) and her younger sister (Blanchard), who has schizophrenia. British director Jim OHanlon (The Deep) will direct from a script by Richard Friedenberg (The 19th Wife). Also producing the movie are Frank Konigsberg and Daniel Ostroff. Filming is slated to begin in mid-November in Los Angeles. Davis, repped by UTA and Mosaic, will next be seen in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. ICM-repped Blanchard is currently seen in Moneyball.

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Exclusive: Debbi Morgan Finally Talks About Her Hush-Hush Role on The Young and the Restless

Debbi Morgan There will soon be a lot of Harmony in Genoa City... and some folks won't like it one bit. Emmy-winning phenom Debbi Morgan - formerly Dr. Angie Hubbard on All My Children - will join The Young and the Restless on Friday, October 7 as the ne'er-do-well, drug-addict mother of Devon Hamilton (Bryton James). Fans are already familiar with Morgan's character, who was previously known as Yolanda when the role was played by Chene Lawson (2005-06). These days, Yolanda has gotten off the crack, named herself Harmony and has started a new life as a waitress in a Milwaukee diner. TV Guide Magazine went down to the Y&R set to chat with Morgan about her hot new gig and, of course, to fire off the million-dollar question: Will she and Peter Bergman (Jack) finally get around to that interracial love affair they weren't allowed to have 22 years ago on AMC?TV Guide Magazine: You've always been a big Y&R nut, right?Morgan: I have always loved Y&R! [Laughs] I always use to say to Victoria Rowell, "I hate you, Vicky! I wish they'd get rid of you so I could come on that show because you know they'd never have two black divas on at the same time! Or maybe you should go do Angie and I'll do Drucilla!" We used to laugh about that all the time. Who'd have ever thunk?TV Guide Magazine: Tell us about Harmony.Morgan: It's so nice to step into a new pair of shoes. From the moment you see Harmony she's 180 degrees away from Angie. Angie was the earth mother. Harmony has a real edge to her and, unlike Angie, she is not an educated woman. She had no relationship with Devon from the time he was born. She was an addict who gave her child to the grandmother to take care of, and when the grandmother died, the boy fell into the foster care system. Now she's got her act together, or at least she's trying.TV Guide Magazine: What brings her back to Genoa City? Morgan: She has no idea what's been happening with Devon - that his father, Tucker [Stephen Nichols], is the son of Katherine Chancellor [Jeanne Cooper]. In fact, that's still a big secret in Genoa City until Phyllis [Michelle Stafford] puts the story on the Internet. Harmony sees the news on a customer's laptop while working at the diner and makes a beeline to Genoa City to reconnect with Devon. Needless to say, she doesn't get a warm reception. Devon's furious that she abandoned him and doesn't want anything to do with her.TV Guide Magazine: What's Tucker's reaction?Morgan: It's revealed that Devon was the result of a one-night stand between Harmony and Tucker. That night meant the world to her - Tucker was the love of her life - but it meant so little to him that he doesn't even recognize Harmony when they meet again. Not a clue! It's like a dagger through her heart.TV Guide Magazine: And Mrs. Chancellor?Morgan: [Laughs] Oh, she wants Harmony to stay in Genoa City for her own selfish reasons. She and Tucker are at odds and she wants to stick it to him! Ulterior motives, baby! And Harmony knows it. She's not that stupid! I just love that Jeanne Cooper. What a hoot.TV Guide Magazine: How long has Harmony been sober? Does her druggie past remain a big issue here? Morgan: I would say she's been clean for the last year or so and you see her on the phone, checking in with her sponsor. There are always those emotional triggers that are a danger when you're an addict and the rejection from Devon is a big one. But she's holding on and keeping strong. When you feel you're alone and have no love in your life you can so easily relapse, so this is harder than she could ever imagine. But she's determined to stay and keep fighting in hopes her son will someday accept her.TV Guide Magazine: What's with your character's name change?Morgan: [Executive producer-head writer] Maria Bell told me she just hated the name Yolanda! And so, because Yolanda and Tucker both used to be in the music business, Maria came up with the name Harmony. The back story is that Tucker managed a rock band in the '80s and Yolanda was a groupie who followed the band around from city to city. She got pregnant by him and was afraid to tell him, so she went instead to the road manager who wound up offering her money to get an abortion. She was just livid! When she meets up with Tucker in Genoa City, he claims he had no idea the manager did that. She's not sure whether to believe him or not. She wants to believe she's not just a piece of something on the bottom of Tucker's shoe, but then he really goes after her, telling her she's a no-good mother.TV Guide Magazine: So I guess we won't see Harmony and Tucker resuming any kind of love affair... or will we?Morgan: Well, through all his anger she does find a moment of hope here or there, hope that maybe she did mean something to him. She thinks he protests too much! So I'm hoping we get to play with that a little bit more.TV Guide Magazine: What about Harmony and Jack Abbott? When you and Peter Bergman tried a romance back on AMC there were so many complaints from the audience that Bergman wound up getting fired.Morgan: Who knows? [Laughs] Maybe Harmony will turn out to be the black Erica Kane! People have already been connecting the dots and are assuming that Harmony will wind up with Neil [Kristoff St. John]. It'd be really great if we went somewhere unexpected. That was such a thing with Peter back in the day! AMC was getting all that hate mail and we knew they'd have to break up Cliff and Angie and that one of us would be out of a job. I just assumed it would be me, but it was Peter! He had just bought an apartment in NY. His wife was pregnant. I was so shocked they did that to him. But then one day Peter calls me from Los Angeles and says he's going to an audition to be Terry Lester's replacement on Y&R and I said, "Peter, do not walk to that audition. F--king run! It will be the role of a lifetime!" [Laughs] He tells that story to this day!TV Guide Magazine: Why did you jump to another soap so quickly? You are one of the rare few in daytime who has also juggled major films and primetime, too. Why not see what else is out there?Morgan: Being a woman in this business, being of a certain age group, being an African American, the jobs just aren't there for me in big numbers. Although right after I signed a two-year deal with Y&R, my manager got a call that there was interest to have me play opposite Denzel Washington in the movie Flight, which is shooting from October to December. [Laughs] The timing could not have been worse! But you know what? I'm OK with it, because I wasn't going to turn down a part like this on the No. 1 soap! Maybe if I was in my twenties or my thirties I might have held out. But not now. I took this job before it was announced that AMC was going to the Internet and now people ask me if I regret not staying there. Absolutely not! This is business.TV Guide Magazine: And, as you know, these shows would drop you like a hot potato if it suited them!Morgan: [Laughs] Ain't that the truth! On my first day at Y&R, I ran into Jacob Young in the hallway at CBS. We'd done AMC together and he just went to The Bold and the Beautiful. I jumped up into his arms and we just howled and howled with laughter at the craziness of it all!Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

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First Look: Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman Team Up on The Brave and the Bold

Batman We sure are gonna miss Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Only a handful of episodes remain of the exuberant Cartoon Network series, and clearly there's no been no slacking off in the writers' room. This week's installment, "Triumvirate of Terror" (airing Friday, October 7 at 6/5c), is a charming and lighthearted tribute to the "Big 3" of DC Comics, with Superman and Wonder Woman teaming up with the Dark Knight. The trio meets at a diner for a meal of bacon cheeseburgers, fries and shakes while discussing what items to leave in a superhero time capsule. The fun doesn't last for long when their archenemies - the Joker, Lex Luthor and Cheetah - plan a team-up of their own. After years of futility they decide to switch adversaries: Luthor takes on Batman, Joker goes after Wonder Woman and Cheetah faces Superman.As always, the guest casting is superb, including The Cleveland Show's Kevin Michael Richardson as Lex Luthor, V vet Morena Baccarin voicing Cheetah and Hitchcock icon Tippi Hedren as Wonder Woman's mother, Queen Hippolyta.Also showcasing the series' whimsical tone is the episode's hilarious opening segment, featuring a baseball game between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom which includes a comically endearing pep talk from Batman: "Even in baseball, good always triumphs over evil."Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

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