FEATURED POST
Comedic actor talks about 'Community,' his guest role on 'Sons of Anarchy' and more
Joel McHale isn't a zombie or vampire. And sometimes he worries that, because of this, he's not cool enough.
Such exaggerated concerns are what make the 40-year-old star of NBC's beloved junior-college comedy, "Community," so funny. The show returns in October. But there's more to McHale than his sharp wit, which he also flexes on "The Soup" on E! Fans will find this out when the Seattle native guest stars on Season 5 of "Sons of Anarchy," which kicks off Tuesday on FX.
Bing: More on Joel McHale | NBC's 'Community' | 'The Soup' on E! | 'Sons of Anarchy'
The husband and father talked about season 4 of "Community" and his upcoming guest appearance on "Sons of Anarchy," a hit motorcycle drama of which McHale has long been a fan, at a Ford's Random Acts of Fusion event Thursday at Hollywood's the Residences at W.
Plus: 10 TV high school cliques we love | Fall TV premiere dates
MSN TV: What can you tell us about the fourth season of "Community"? Is it a different show without Dan Harmon?
Joel McHale: Well, I knew David Guarascio and Moses Port and they're great guys. I did a pilot with them once ("The IT Crowd") so I knew they were funny. It all came down to the scripts and the table reads and both have been great. And a lot of the writers came back for Season 4. There's dancing in Season 4. It's been great.
Are you worried about "Community" airing on Friday nights?
We're just thrilled to be back and I'm just glad we're on the air. There's stiff competition every night but who knows? Maybe we'll be OK. "Grimm" has done great on Friday nights. And I think the promotion is something like "If you love 'Community,' you'll love dudes in masks killing each other." The makeup on that show is very good as are the effects. It's extraordinary. And it's shot in Portland.
CBS is picking up Eddie Murphy's "Beverly Hills Cop" the TV series, and a lot of people are saying Donald Glover would be perfect to play his son. What do you think about that?
He'd be perfect. But he's on "Community" right now. So he can't do that. So, I'm sorry. And no, we can't spare him. I don't think NBC would allow it. I don't think he can. I think Eddie Murphy should do it. I could do it. I could totally play his son. We're casting my dad on the fourth season of "Community" and I've suggested Eddie Murphy.
Tell us more about your guest starring role on "Sons of Anarchy." Is it fun playing a dramatic role?
I play a bad guy named Warren on two episodes. I am a bad conman -- as if there are great ones. But I play not a good person. It was great. I got to shoot guns and crash cars and do all sorts of cool stuff. When anyone puts a gun full of blanks in it, I'm firing that thing off. I did. They gave me a gun and I was like "Blam!" People were like "Hey, fire in the hole." And I was like "Sorry, I was just too excited." That really happened.
Was it hard to juggle that with "Community"?
Nah. I shot it before "Community" started. It was really awesome. It was fun. I got to work with the whole gang. I'm not sure when my episodes are airing but they are an efficient machine. They came on "The Soup." That's how I got offered the role. Katey Sagal is amazing. She should win an Emmy. She is really good on that show. Really good. Like remarkable. She does not get enough credit. That's ridiculous. I can't name another show like that.
What about you? Shouldn't you be nominated for your work on "Community"?
Wait a minute. No, seriously. Look at something like "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia." They deserve to be nominated and they haven't been.
Word on the street is all of your scenes are with Katey Sagal and Jimmy Smits. What was that like?
Jimmy Smits was awesome too. I had never worked with either one of them before other than Katey coming on "The Soup" and she was really funny. But yeah, she is a class act. I am fond of her. And Jimmy Smits? Come on? He smells good. He smells like freedom. I don't know what that means but that's what came into my nose.
"Sons of Anarchy" returns for a fifth season Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX. "The Soup" airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on E! "Community" returns Friday, Oct. 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Billboard Music Awards, blockbuster movies, May sweeps and more
Daytime talk shows promise an A-list lineup the week of Monday, May 20. The Billboard Music Awards and Memorial Day will be hot topics. Blockbuster movie season brings stars from "We're the Millers," "Epic," "Now You See Me," "The Hangover Part III," "Fast and Furious 6," "Before Midnight," "The English Teacher" and "What Maisie Knew." Big screen and TV stars are talking "Behind the Candelabra," "Nashville," "Mad Men," "Criminal Minds," "The Client List," "Save Me," "Arrested Development," "Glee," "Modern Family," "The Middle," "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice," "Shark Tank," The American Baking Competition," "Rock My RV With Bret Michaels" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Bing: More Daytime TV news | "Behind the Candelabra"
Plus: 'Dancing With the Stars' finale preview | 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9
"Anderson Live"
Mon: hidden-camera investigations
Tue: (repeat) Co-host Deborah Norville; daughter of the "Coffee Cup Killer"
Wed: (repeat) Co-hosts Lisa Rinna; Ricky Schroder, Sandra Vergara, strange addictions revealed
Thurs: (repeat) Co-host Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi; The Pregnant Man, Bow Wow
Fri: (repeat) Co-host Judge Marilyn Milian; avoiding money scams, Grumpy Cat
"Ellen"
Mon: Ed Helms, Ellen Here's My Talent winner
Tues: Hayden Panettiere; Sophia Grace and Rosie at the Billboard Music Awards; Ed Sheeran performs
Wed: Co-host Jennifer Aniston; Portia de Rossi, Ludacris
Thurs: Amanda Seyfried, Kevin Nealon; Michael Bolton and Delta Goodrem perform
Fri: Steve Harvey, Dr. Neal Barnard; Grizzly Bear
"Good Morning America"
Mon: Michael Douglas; Julianne Moore and Nathan Lane; BHS at "DWTS" with Cameron Mathison; Billboard Music Awards highlights; Olly Murs performs
Tues: Matt Damon; Helio Castroneves, Louis van Amstel and Chelsie Hightower; Aziz Ansari; Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer; Darius Rucker performs
Wed: "DWTS" final four couples and Tom Bergeron; Pitbull performs
Thurs: "Behind the Candelabra" cast, Jason Sudeikis, Trisha Yearwood; Broadway's "Pippin" performs
Fri: Mariah Carey performs in Central Park's Rumsey Playfield
Want more TV? Find MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter
"Katie"
Mon: Dr. Ian Smith and Sherri Shepherd talk weight loss
Tues: Jenny McCarthy, Jo Frost, Jenna Ushkowitz
Wed: how to save, stretch and make money with Melissa d'Arabian, Andrea Woroch and Daymond John
Thurs: Bob Woodruff; Salute our troops
Fri: TBA
"Live! With Kelly and Michael"
Mon: Colin Farrell, Elisabeth Moss; Candice Glover performs
Tues: "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice" winner; Psy talks and performs; "American Idol" runner-up performs
Wed: Morgan Freeman, the "Dancing with the Stars" winners perform; "American Idol" third place contestant performs
Thurs: Co-host Carson Kressley; Ken Jeong, winner of the National Geographic Spelling Bee; 2nd place "Dancing with the Stars" couple performs
Fri: Ethan Hawke, winner of the MathCounts competition; the third and fourth place "Dancing with the Stars" couples perform; summer-long Truckin' Amazing Cook-Off food truck competition kicks off
"Marie"
Mon: Todd Bridges, chef Alex Hitz, Susan Rizzo Vincent
Tues: Kuk Harrell, Alicia Lagano; Savannah Van Band performs
Wed: Behind the scenes at "Marie"
Thurs: Colin Mochrie, Laura McKenzie; Glennon Doyle Melton
"Rachael Ray Show"
Mon: Co-host Guy Fieri; Wayne Brady; Youngblood Hawke performs
Tues: Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Christine Ha, Justin Tuck
Wed: Totally Awesome '80s with original MTV VJs, Huey Lewis, Colin Quinn
Thurs: Hayden Panettiere
Fri: (repeat) Gwyneth Paltrow
"The Talk"
Mon: Co-host Carnie Wilson; Shemar Moore, Anne Heche
Tues: Jeff Foxworthy, Julie Bowen; chefs Marcela Valladolid and Paul Hollywood
Wed: Patricia Heaton, chef Art Smith
Thurs: Isla Fisher, Carter Oosterhouse
Fri: La Toya Jackson, Linda Daly
"Today"'
* Great American Adventure week takes the hosts on the road
Mon: live from Hawaii; Paul Anka
Tues: live from Yellowstone; Joe Bastianich, Michael Caine
Wed: live from Chicago; SQuire Rushnell
Thurs: live from Orlando; Giada DeLaurentiis, Anne Heche; latest eliminated "The Voice" contestant
Fri: live from the Jersey Shore; Co-host New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Bobby Flay and Giada DeLaurentiis; Fun performs
"The View"
Mon: Co-host Brooke Shields; Michael Caine
Tues: Woody Harrelson, Jane Lynch
Weds: John Malkovich; tour of Harlem; Broadway's "Matilda" performs
Thurs: Co-host Jillian Michaels; Jason Sudeikis; John Fogerty performs
Fri: Co-host Chris O'Donnell; Julianne Moore Dr. Kelly Starrett; peforms
"The Wendy Williams Show"
Mon: Maury Povich
Tues: Ray J; Trace Adkins and Penn Jillette
Wed: Bret Michaels
Thurs: (repeat) Kerry Washington and David Alan Grier
Fri: (repeat) Paris Hilton, DJ Armin van Buuren
Schedules are subject to change.
New Season 8 trailer suggests the serial killer's sister gets chatty
Season 7 of Showtime's hit serial-killer drama, "Dexter," ended with Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) making a horrible choice. It's a choice that changed her life and the way she looked at her brother, Dexter (Michael C. Hall), forever.
Plus: 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office'
When the beloved series returns in June, for its eighth and final season, Deb's decision continues to haunt her as her life takes a downward spiral. But what will Deb do? Will she confess and turn in herself and Dexter, too? That's certainly what the show's newly released trailer suggests. Check it out:
"Dexter" Season 8 debuts Sunday, June 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.
Juicy conclusion and spoilers for next season dominate Twitter and the web
SPOILER ALERT: This post includes plot points from the Season 2 finale of "Scandal."
To call "Scandal" a guilty pleasure after Thursday night's delicious Season 2 finale would be a misnomer. After all, why should anyone feel guilty for watching what was arguably one of TV's most gratifying and twist-filled closers this year?
Not only did fans see mole Billy Chambers get his comeuppance but the rise and painful fall of Olivia (Kerry Washington) and Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) once again. This, after Olivia devised such an awe-inspiring divorce package for Fitz and Mellie (Bellamy Young). The bit on Mellie being labeled a racist was a thing of beauty in and of itself. But the best part was when viewers learned that Rowan (Joe Morton), the underhanded CIA-B613 boss, is none other than Olivia's dad. Whaaaaat!
This revelation and all the other juicy twists and turns -- including Quinn's (Katie Lowes) penchant for torture and Cyrus' (Jeff Perry ) heart attack and break-up abilities -- captured the attention of 9.1 million viewers. Many of these same viewers flocked to Twitter, GetGlue and the web to give voice to their shocks and delights.
Plus: 'Felicity': Where are they now? | 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office'
"Exhausted after the #Scandal finale," tweeted fan Mona Scott-Young. "I feel like I've been 'fixing,' drilling & went into cardiac arrest my damn self! #Wow!!" Meanwhile, Lena Dunham got in on the action, too. Not one to be excluded from a good time she tweeted, "Not leaving the house this weekend until I'm caught up on Scandal. I feel left behind & left out like the last girl to get my period."
And if you think the Season 2 finale was a head-spinner, creator and executive producer, Shonda Rhimes, promises a Season 3 filled with more suspense and intrigue, especially when it comes to Rowan and Olivia's troubled father-daughter relationship.
"At the very least, Rowan was trying to get Jake (Scott Foley) to have sex with her and then make a tape of it, which seems creepy on many levels, right?" Rhimes told reporters at a "Scandal" event the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences held Thursday night. "I don't know if they were trying to kill her. That's up to interpretation."
Rhimes also said she and the writers considered an ending where Olivia and Fitz spooned in bed and ended up together but, ultimately, they wanted Olivia to have clean hands. "It was charming, adorable and really, really sexy and I love the scene and maybe one day someone will get to see it," Rhimes said. "But the problem with it was that Olivia put the white hat back on and emotionally you felt like she had found her inner core after losing it so badly. It felt like a cheat -- that we were cheating her out of trying to do something good."
"Scandal" Season 3 kicks off this fall on ABC.
Network says comic-book drama remains in the works
Wonder Woman could get another shot in primetime.
"Amazon," the CW's prequel starring the beloved comic-book hero, is in development still, even though it didn't land on the network's fall schedule. "It's being redeveloped," said Mark Pedowitz, the CW's president, following an upfronts presentation Thursday. "We don't want to produce something (inferior). It's the trickiest of all the DC characters."
The original "Wonder Woman" with Lynda Carter aired on ABC from 1975-79. David E. Kelley and NBC attempted to reboot the series, starring Adrianne Palicki in the iconic title role (pictured), for the 2011-12 season but the project died on the vine. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. TV sent out a casting call for a young woman, 5'8" or above, for a series about "the teenage years of the heroine who will become Wonder Woman," EW.com reports.
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
The description of the show also included details about the heroine hailing from a "secluded country where she was raised as a solider in a brutal environment. Now a stranger in a strange modern big city, she's a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic and she will fight to the death to make the world safe."
Pedowitz said the "basics" were all there, but the execution needed work. Producers and networks don't usually cast series until a pilot is ordered, but a project like "Amazon" cannot succeed without the right woman in the lead role.
Soap reboot experience remains a work in progress
"All My Children" and "One Life to Live" have remained in the top 10 on Hulu since premiering on April 29, but the online soap reboots are reducing the number of episodes released per week. Viewing patterns indicated the shows were producing too much content for many viewers to consume, so fans can expect two episodes of each show to air each week, starting Monday, May 20.
Bing: More about "All My Children" | "One Life to Live"
New episodes of "All My Children" will now be released Mondays and Wednesdays, with fresh episodes of "One Life to Live" posted Tuesdays and Thursdays. The behind the scenes series "More" will run as a single show on Fridays.
"When it comes to online, as with all new technology, it's adapt or fail," Prospect Park explained in a news release. "We feel fortunate to be an online company and to have such an opportunity to adapt. Of course, we will continue to evaluate all the data that comes in and will be vigilant about revising our strategy as needed."
The change stems from viewing patterns that have emerged during the first month of streaming. First, fans have been binge viewing or watching on demand, usually during the weekend: That means many fans have been trying to cram five hours of soaps into their weekend. On ABC, fans watched episodes close to their airdate, so they didn't fall as far behind. They also tended to watch only two to three episodes a week. But with the action-packed reboots, it's not as easy to follow when you've missed episodes. Plus, Prospect Park clearly doesn't want fans skipping episodes.
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
Another interesting shift in viewing was that fans aren't watching both shows. On television, maintaining audience is a key factor, with fans often watching whatever airs next. That doesn't apply on the Internet. Prospect Park likely hopes that, with less to consume, fans will go back to watching both series.
While the shows will release fewer episodes at a time, production will continue at the same pace through mid-June. Prospect Park will focus on editing while productions halts in July, with production resuming in August.
Want more TV? Find MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter
Hulu will continue to stream all current episodes for free so that viewers who've fallen behind can catch up. There is no mention in the release about how this affects iTunes or how the show is performing there.
"All My Children" and "One Life to Live" can be streamed via Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes.
New 'Late Night' host says the new 'Tonight Show' star paved the way
Seth Meyers is sending a lot of love and gratitude Jimmy Fallon's way.
Meyers said he wouldn't have been promoted to his new "Late Night" hosting gig if Fallon hadn't proved that anchoring "Weekend Update" is the perfect training ground. Fallon will take the lead on "The Tonight Show" in February 2014. And Meyers will step into his new job around the same time, NBC announced this week.
Bing: More on 'The Tonight Show' | Jimmy Fallon | Seth Meyers
"I think I owe a debt of gratitude to Jimmy for having gone from 'Update' to 'Late Night' and shown that it's a nice progression," Meyers said on the 'Today' show Thursday. "So I'm very happy to be doing it. But, I mean, I think if you sit at that 'Update' desk, you learn how to talk about topical stories and certainly with the guests, you learn to talk to crazy people. Although, if you do late night there are real crazy people as opposed to Bill Hader pretending to be one."
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
Hosting "Late Night with Seth Meyers" wasn't his only option. ESPN had been courting Meyers to helm a new late-night sports talk show. Meyers impressed ESPN executives when he twice hosted the ESPY Awards. But in the end, Meyers wanted to keep working with his "SNL" boss, Lorne Michaels, and opted to stay at NBC. Meyers, who is the head writer for "Saturday Night Live," will continue working on the show through the fall.
"I'm nowhere near emotionally ready for Saturday to be my last show -- I wouldn't be able to handle that," Meyers said of the "SNL" season finale, which airs May 18. "It's very strange to get a job that doesn't start for eight, nine months. So I think we'll do a lot of talking about it. But I think it'll be one of those things where the first show you do you're gonna learn 1,000 things you didn't know yet."
The "Saturday Night Live" Season 38 finale airs Saturday, May 18, at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights at 12:35 a.m. ET/PT on NBC.
Would the Dowager Countess approve?
By Michelle Strub
MSN TV
So many questions! Sean "Diddy" Combs tweeted Wednesday afternoon that he's joining the cast of "Downton Abbey." Right now it's unclear if this is real, a publicity stunt, he's having a public meltdown, or if the rapper-turned-sometimes-actor has been hacked.
Bing: Sean "Diddy" Combs | 'Downton Abbey'
"Downton" producers previously announced that they're adding the show's first black character in Season 4, but named Gary Carr as the actor to play the part.
More: 'Downton Abbey' Season 4 gets January 2014 date in U.S.
We're sure we'll know soon whether this is actually happening -- thank you, Internet sleuths (and/or hopefully a statement from PBS)! Until then, we'll just sit here pondering all the ways this could go wrong ... or right?
What do you think the Dowager Countess would say about all of this? Tell us at MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter.
UPDATE [3:08 p.m. PT]: According to the Sun-Times, a spokeswoman for WGBH, the Boston public TV station that brings the British series to America, has said this is untrue -- Diddy is NOT joining the cast.
UPDATE [3:32 p.m. PT]: Diddy continues to tweet as if it's true and has Instagrammed a photo from the set as "proof."
More: Most shocking moments of 'Downton' Season 3
Update [5:18 p.m. PT]: Diddy posted yet another photo supposedly from the set of "Downton." That facial hair doesn't really seem to match the era in which the show takes place, right? Looks like we'll be anxiously awaiting midnight to see what it is he's pulling. That Diddy!
UPDATE [12 a.m. PT]: Well, Diddy wasn't kidding after all. Downton Diddy he is.
Barbara Walters, Shaquille O'Neal, Katie Couric, Selena Gomez, Honey Boo Boo and more
Daytime hosts, notable athletes, sports newsman and reality TV stars turned out to help "Maury" celebrate its 2500th episode, airing Friday, May 17. The landmark episode also caught up with memorable first guests and featured a few surprises for Maury Povich, including his wife Connie Chung jumping out of a cake!
Bing: More about "Maury" | Watch clips and episodes of "Maury"
The guest list for the big "Maury" episode featured Barbara Walters, Shaquille O'Neal, Katie Couric, the ladies of "The Talk," Donald Trump, Joan Rivers, Kathy Griffin, NeNe Leakes, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, Jack Hanna, Billy Bush and Kit Hoover, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, "Pardon the Interruption" hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon and fellow NBC Universal talk show hosts Jerry Springer, Steve Wilkos and Trisha Goddard.
Plus: 'The Bachelorette' Season 9 | What we learned from 'The Office' | 10 reasons to love 'The Mindy Project'
Selena Gomez and Honey Boo Boo also got involved in the celebration via video messages. Gomez had a surprise for a returning guest, while Honey Boo Boo let Povich know that he's not the father. Phew!
"Maury" will also catch up with the guests who started it all, including the guests who took the very first paternity and lie detector tests and the show's first out of control teen.
Want more TV? Find MSN TV on Facebook and Twitter
Povich has more than 2500 reasons to celebrate. "Maury" goes into its landmark episode with 100 consecutive weeks as the #1 syndicated talk show among Women 18-34, Adults 18-34 and Adults 18-49.
"Maury" airs weekdays in syndication.
primetime tonight
tv news
- Charlie Rose turns weekend warrior with new PBS show
- 'Chuck' and 'Smash' stars head to Broadway
- Derek Hough wants to expand career beyond 'Stars'
- Jon Stewart's humor a hit with millions of Chinese
- Actress in classic 'Twilight Zone' episode dies
- Ben Affleck jokes about that Oscars marriage speech on 'SNL'
- Kelly Rowland rumored to be joining 'X Factor'
- 'Idol' winner Candice Glover: 'It feels amazing'
- NBC's 'The Voice' confirms Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton returning
- Bill Hader on leaving 'SNL': Don't expect a Stefon movie
meet the bloggers
Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
