Bunheads Sneak Preview

For my ABC family fans who are looking for a replacement for the recently ended series, Make It Or Break It, check out a sneak peek of the pilot, Bunheads, starring Broadway darling, Sutton Foster.  The series is written by one of my favorite TV writers, Amy Sherman-Palladino, of Gilmore Girls fame.  I watched the pilot which I think has potential once the cast and writers get their rhythm going and the creepy (meaning creepy/weird) premise of getting a city gal into a country setting washes away.  (You will see what I mean once you watch the show.)  As a Gilmore Girls geek, I was thrilled to see Kelly Bishop back on my TV screen. It's genius that Sherman-Palladino cast two Tony Award winners, Foster and Bishop:  the former hot off of Anything Goes and the latter a part of the legendary cast of A Chorus Line.

The link to the pilot was provided to me by The Hollywood Reporter.  Password is THRBunheads and it is case sensitive.  There are only a limited number of views left, so check it out and let me know what you think. Do you think the show has potential?  Or do you think the icky start to the relationship is a little odd?

Go, watch, comment below or here or here.

Bunheads premieres on ABC Family on June 11th.

Shonda Rhimes' Scandal

Cast members of Scandal:  Darby Stanchfield, Columbus Short, Katie Lowes, Guillermo Diaz.

When Shonda Rhimes calls and offers you a role in her latest series, Scandal, you immediately accept, but not without some trepidation.  For cast members like Columbus Short, that dialogue she has written for you can be a bit "daunting" because of the rapid pace it's meant to be spoken.  It's very similar to the other masters of dialogue like Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) or Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls).  If you can master this patter, you realize that "the story is more important than you" as an actor, says Katie Lowes.  There is no ad-libbing on set per an email via Rhimes before production began on the series, but the show creator is adamant that she doesn't care how you say the words, just say what is written.  It's this execution of the words and the story that has the cast singing the praises of Rhimes who is well known for her successful series, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.  

Actor Columbus Short

I had the opportunity to meet some of the cast at Disney Studios for Red Carpet Report earlier last week and it was interesting to hear how they had to make adjustments as actors to accommodate the series.  Guest stars who came on set to work for an episode often had a hard time with the rhythm of the dialogue and even the cast members often found themselves having to slow down when they worked on other sets outside of Scandal.  The most revealing thing for Darby Stanchfield was that fact that "each character who you think they are in the pilot, they are not the same character by the end (of the season)".  She says, it truly was a "supreme experience in TV" and that she really connected to the role.  She even got emotional and shared that it is the "biggest gift to feel fulfilled [as an actor]."

While the show takes place in the trenches of Washington, DC, the cast found themselves shooting in Pasadena in 90-degree weather.  The looks were created by The West Wing costume designer, Lyn Paolo,   which helps give the feel to a series that "pushes the envelope like a cable network", reveals Short. "It's unlike anything you have seen on network television."  Rhimes created characters that are complex, flawed heroes who are lead by a black woman, Kerry Washington. The series is shot with a dark,cinematic feel to it and it involves storylines that viewers don't often see on television. Stanchfield advised us Thursdays will be a great time to "Get your moody on".  

To "get your moody on", watch Scandal on ABC at 10PM beginning April 5th.  

In a fun aside, fellow Scandal cast member, Josh Malina, tweeted me in response to my call for questions for the cast.  Josh was relieved to know that his cast thought he was "super sexy".  I guess that makes working together on Season 2 much, much easier.  

The Magic Castle

The crew before dinner.  Someone is mugging for the camera.

Last night, I had the opportunity to go visit The Magic Castle in Hollywood.  The Magic Castle is a private club for magicians that requires an invite from a member to go for dinner, drinks, and to attend the multiple shows that happen inside the club.  I had been once four years ago when a pal of mine worked as a server there, but last night, I was invited by Lee Allport of My Sentiment ExactLee (I appeared on her show post-Oscars/Tonys.)  She is in town from the East Coast covering Hollywood events, so I was happy to tag along for this part of her adventure.



Once you are invited to the Castle, there are several strict rules.  First, men must wear a suit and tie and ladies must wear cocktail attire. I happen to love this rule because it is rare to see a man in a suit in LA unless he's an agent (Think Ari Gold on Entourage.) or attending an awards ceremony. The other rule is NO photos inside the Castle. I think it adds to the mystery and allure to the club.  We were able to grab a photo inside the lobby, but once you go behind the walls, my camera stayed in my clutch.

The club is hidden behind the bookcase. "Open sesame!"

After a delicious dinner of Lobster Mac and Cheese! and a Sweet Tea Martini (I should have grown up in the South because I love Sweet Tea, but alas, I'm a Yankee.), we headed to the Close-Up Magic Theatre where Adam Wylie was performing.  Adam is familiar to TV audiences from his years on Picket Fences and Gilmore Girls and to theatre audiences who are fans of Into the Woods and Wicked.  The Close-Up Magic room is always my favorite because all the magic is done.....er, close-up. I love the sleight of hand and how it fools the brain into thinking that cards have moved or disappeared.  I sat directly in front of his table and I still didn't catch the tricks.  I tried especially when he used me for a few of the card tricks.  Last night, I proved that I am no David Copperfield.

My special card from the Close-Up Magic Theatre.

Either way, The Magic Castle is a great night out in LA and don't forget to say "Hi" to Irma on the piano. She's the life of the party by the downstairs bar.  If you can get yourself an invite, make sure to accept and enjoy a night of magic in the club hidden behind the bookcase!

 You've seen this dress here.  

Dress:  Laundry (from 1998)

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Cardigan: Victoria's Secret (from 2003)

Mad Men Delayed

Photo courtesy of AMC.

It's very rare that I love a show to its core:  Sex and the City (SATC), Gilmore Girls (GG), and Mad Men. While I can watch SATC and GG in its entirety in reruns and from my DVD collection, I am left hanging from Season 4's finale with Mad Men. Yesterday, AMC and Matt Weiner announced that I have to wait until 2012. The rumor I heard from an inside source is that March 2012 is the earliest we will see the show.  So, they are telling me it's okay for fans to have to wait 12 months until a new episode is revealed and the answers to my questions are resolved.  Is anyone else worried about Don Draper?  He was in the middle of an alcoholic breakdown!  What about Peggy?  She's so strong, yet so secretly fragile.  And Sally Draper needs some guidance!  Heck, by the time they start filming Mad Men again, Kiernan Shipka (Sally) will have grown six inches. So, in the meantime, I am in mourning.  I guess I will Netflix Seasons 1-4 and milk every episode until Don Draper pours another drink and enters my living room with a swagger.

Here are a few Mad Men posts to tide you over until 2012....yeah, right.
1. Mad Men Withdrawal--you are going to suffering through a lot of this in 2011.

2. Mad Men Monday--some fun places you can find little Mad Men nuggets of information from QVC to my interview with Kiernan Shipka at the Saturn Awards.

3. Emmys, Part 2:  Photos with my favorite gal, Kiernan Shipka, at the Emmys gifting suite.  Maybe I will run into her again during the Kids' Choice Awards gifting suite?  I will keep you posted on any Mad Men sightings.

Now the big question is:  What are you going to do with your Sunday nights this summer/fall?