Many "General Hospital" fans see Dante and Lulu as a match made in heaven, and Dante can't wait to share the news of their secret engagement. Lulu, however, may not be able to get past her fears to make the big announcement, let alone make it to the altar. Julie Berman talks to MSN TV about her character's commitment issues, whether or not Lulu and Dante can get past them and her own dream for a fabulous Port Charles wedding.

Bing: Watch clips and episodes of 'General Hospital'

MSN TV: Sonny's bon voyage dinner for Kristina seems an ideal time for Lulu and Dante to announce their engagement, but Lulu is getting more and more nervous about the whole thing: What's going on with her?

Julie Berman: She loves him, but she's not sure she wants to marry him, because of his career and her fear of completely investing in someone she can lose. Then that falls into her other problem with marriage, as an institution itself. She's grown up with a lot of questions about marriage and whether it's really special, really means anything or is necessary.

Obviously, relationships in Port Charles don't last, so she's right to feel skeptical, but deep down in her heart, she would love to get married and have it last forever. There are a lot of things she needs to accept, including the potential for things to not end happily ever after, and that's hard for her.

Did Lulu's chat with Sonny send her over the edge?

In all honesty, he of all people honed in on what was going on and called her out on it. She spoke with Maxie about her fears, but it was very vague. She didn't want Sonny to be the one to give her advice, but a lot of what he said is exactly what she's thinking. If she's too afraid to get married, she should end this now and not drag it out any longer.

What will it take for her to move forward?

Lulu and Dante have no idea. That's the problem. There's the option that Dante takes a desk job, so she feels he's a bit safer, but Dante might start to resent Lulu for the rest of his life. It's a tricky situation, and it's also not easy to talk about as a couple. The question of "How much do you love me?" comes up, [but] that's not what it's about. Personally, I think it's about accepting that life is going to deal you cards and you've got to let the chips fall where they may, but it takes time to accept something like that, because it's not how she's wired.

The Spencers are, however, wired for addiction, and Lulu has been turning to alcohol a lot lately…

I don't think they've been very subtle with that idea. (laughs) It seems to be an easy check out for her when things get a little overwhelming, especially with all the confusing feelings she has right now over her relationship. The alcohol is just a quick fix. She doesn't think there's a major problem with it, but it's not normal for her, so she's being a little secretive about it.

Which sounds like a problem in the making: How do you feel about possibly playing an alcoholism story down the line?

I always love playing that kind of stuff. The only thing I worry about is how it will be executed. We've seen this alcoholism story many times, with many characters. I would hate for it to be an obvious, repetitive beat. I would love to play it if it was compelling and a little different than what we've seen before.

Would you like to see Lulu overcome her fears and get to the altar?

That would be awesome. I would love to have a huge wedding, because it would be cool to say, "Yep, I had my soap opera wedding." That's a goal I hope I get to attain, but these days, you never know what's going to happen with the future of soap operas. My time might run out.

Does that sentiment change the way you approach story?

No, no. I think about that, but when I go to work, I'm doing the work like every day is my last day, and that's how it's been since I started. There's a big level of commitment to every script I get: whether I feel I have 20 years of two days, I'm committed to making everything wonderful.

What can you tell us about the new rumors about you're leaving the show?

I don't even know how these rumors start. My first thought is, "Who is the person that comes up with this stuff and what joy does it bring to them?" So no, I'm not leaving. I'm still on the show and I'm very happy. I've always enjoyed working on the show, and we have a great cast right now. It makes it fun to go to work.

Back when you first came to "General Hospital," did anyone take you under their wing?

Not really. I was pretty comfortable, right out of the gate. I didn't need a lot of hands on guidance. Some of [the newer cast members] get it and it almost screws them up, so I'm happy I didn't have that. Over time… I do have those kinds of people at my disposal now. I can go to Tony (Geary), Jane (Elliot) and Laura Wright. They have worked in this medium for a long time, and I value their opinions. They're people I love and value a lot in my life.

Before we let you go, fans are dying to know when you and Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) will have an event. Anything on the agenda?

We don't have anything set. We've talked about it, and truly, it's difficult. My lifestyle is becoming a bit more overwhelming and crazy, because I have this job and a [dog bed] side business, as well. It's not as easy as is used to be to pick up and schedule things in advance. I know fans are crazy about it happening, but at this point, I can't guarantee anything. That's just the way life is, unfortunately.

"General Hospital" airs weekdays on ABC.
 

Catching a predator is awesome. Publicly humiliating him may be actionable.

According to this report in The Hollywood Reporter, a federal judge in California has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed against NBC by Anurag Tiwari, a former Sun Microsystems engineer who claims that being ensnared on a 2006 episode of the show violated his rights to privacy and inflicted undue emotional distress.

"To Catch a Predator" traps alleged child molesters by working with members of a watchdog group who -- posing as minors online -- lure suspected pedophiles to a house for sexual activity. Once the suspects arrive, Chris Hansen pokes his head out of a back room to ask what they're doing. Police arrest the suspects as they exit.

NBC claims that these events are news stories, and that the First Amendment allows news stories to be broadcast with impunity.

That may not be so, according to U.S. District Court judge Edward Chen, who ruled last week that it "was not necessary" for cops to wait until after the Hansen confrontation to arrest Tiwari or to arrest him "in a sensational way," or for NBC to film Tiwari -- who was nabbed in Petaluma, Calif. -- being cuffed and questioned.

If the suit succeeds, it could jeopardize the format of the show.

The judge did, however, reject a portion of Tiwari's suit claiming defamation -- on the grounds that he was engaged in an apparent felony. (Eventually, he was convicted of a misdemeanor, which was reduced to an infraction as part of a plea deal in exchange for dropping his appeal.)

No trial date has been announced.

 

 

"I don't know if I want to live, or if I have to, or if it's just a habit." – Andrea

It's inevitable that in the world of "The Walking Dead", everyone will have to confront the issue not such of whether they want to live, but how they want to live. How many of the rules, ethics, and morals of the old pre-zombie world do you carry over and cling to in the current one? How many of them are even feasible? And most important, which ones are the ones that make us humans worth surviving in the first place?

 

Bing: More about 'The Walking Dead'

 

On Sunday night, Lori grapples with the basic question of why they are fighting to keep their son alive in this environment, as she begs Rick to tell her why it isn't better to let Carl die and be spared whatever fresh horrors are in store for all of them. Meanwhile, Andrea is still struggling to find a reason to keep going after Dale's paternal instincts fail to move her to embrace life. And in the most gut-wrenching decision of the series so far this season, Shane doesn't hesitate to sacrifice Otis in order to escape back to his friends with the medical supplies.

Although it was clear from the first in media res scene with Shane in the bathroom that something unspeakable had taken place back at the high school, it was still pretty shocking to see actual deed, and the subsequent scuffle between the two men as the zombie horde closed in. Of course, the circumstances were heightened by the fact that Shane wasn't just saving himself; he was saving Carl by proxy. But this is obviously going to traumatize him for a while, and probably make him further estranged from all of the others in the group.

Most of those others are slowing making their way back to one cohesive group, with the arrival of Glenn and T-Dog at the farmhouse. The search for Sophia continued out by the traffic jam, with a deepening connection between Andrea and the now strangely charming Darryl. The interplay between these characters is a lot more enjoyable, maybe because they are all just discovering each other and don't have the shared history that Shane, Lori and Rick do. They are in the here and now, not replaying old roles and re-opening old wounds. It's enough for them to just live to see another day, and keep the best parts of themselves alive for an uncertain future.

• Why didn't Shane kill Otis outright instead of wounding him in the leg? It would have been kinder, and I'm pretty sure we've seen zombies gnawing on freshly dead people.
• I'm sure this story doesn't have time for conventional romances, but Glenn and Maggie have some sparks. So do Darryl and Andrea, if they can get past the puking.
• Carl's seizure was pretty disturbing – good job, littlest actor.
• Thanks for reading, y'all.

Are you a fan of "The Walking Dead"?  Sound off on MSN TV Facebook.

 

"The Walking Dead" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.

 

"How Catholic are you?" – Nucky Thompson

Nucky's question to Margaret was meant quite literally, as they both fretted about her first confession in many years, and what various sins she could possibly admit. But taken in the more abstract sense, as the small-c adjective "catholic" which means having a comprehensive and all-encompassing view of things, it was a question that could be put to almost all of the main characters in this very introspective episode. Not surprisingly, those people with the most open-minded views ended up in better shape than the rest.

Number one on that list is Jimmy Darmody, who took to heart the advice given to him in the first few minutes, by one of the Atlantic City power brokers (better know by me as Mutton Chop Uncle Junior).  The older gentleman expresses sincere respect of Nucky's ability to play the long game, to see the bigger picture and set things up to go his way for a long and stable future. Jimmy is a different man than Nucky – more troubled and sullen, and much more comfortable with using physical violence as a solution to problems - but he is trying to learn the subtleties of wielding power. When faced with a long-term plan that entails a small loss now for a big win later, he decides to make it happen. By explicitly teaming up with his generational equals (Lansky and Luciano) to eventually topple the established powers (Rothstein and Thompson), he is thinking about the future, and making the necessary compromises to get there.

Of course, it is still probable that Nucky has some more tricks up his sleeve, but at least for this hour, he was experiencing numerous setbacks to his carefully laid plans. Daughtery, caught up in some plans of his own, is pressured by Nucky's old enemy Senator Edge into appointing a prosecutor for Nucky's case who might actually, you know, prosecute him.  He is continuing to get the cold shoulder from the powerful George Remus, and (unbeknownst to Nucky) his bootlegging muscle men are all either dead or actively working against him. It is more evident all the time that Nucky's enemies are legion and even his allies are not truly friends, only gamblers deciding what horse is the best bet. He could stand to take a broader view of the world in order to see the best course for pulling himself out of his troubles.

But the dubious honor of most solipsistic behavior goes to Van Alden, who breaks down like a guilty child at the first hint that the badly burned Agent Clarkson knows his true nature. Interestingly, it is not clear what he thinks the dying man knows; is it the money skimming, the pay-offs to the bootleggers, the murder of his fellow agent from last year? Whatever it is, he verges on full confession in a telephone call to his long-suffering wife, and spends the entire day glued to Clarkson's hospital bed, while Lucy goes into labor back at their flat. Once it is clear that the dying man is simply delirious, Van Alden snaps back to his rigid self. But it's too late; Mrs. Van Alden has found out everything about the new baby girl, and she is, shall we say, the opposite of understanding about it. Please let this be the beginning of the end for Van Alden; even though Michael Shannon is an imposing and compelling presence, this storyline has become a dead end and a drag on the rest of this complex and mesmerizing show.

• Time is getting shorter for Margaret and Owen to knock boots, although now that she has admitted her attraction to both herself and her priest, she may be better equipped to fight it.
• "Why the f**k would anyone ever go to Cincinnati?"
• At least Nucky's federal prosecutor woes resulted in the abrupt and deserved dismissal of that loathsome defense attorney Chip, green shoes and all.
• I continue to covet every single one of Margaret's hats and dresses, particularly that pink and lavender number she wore in the scene with the priest.
• "Youse are broads now? We gotta walk you home?"
• Somehow, I think Manny's definition of what constitutes "treyf" may be overly broad.

 

"The Voice" doesn't return to NBC until February, but the competition has already begun. With an extended round of blind auditions completed, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are gearing up for the battle round. MSN TV was hoping to find out how the coaches were stepping up their games this second time around, but it turns out it's the contestants who are changing things up this season.

Bing: Watch full episodes and clips of "The Voice"

 

"They've been pretty hard on us, now that they know the game." Christine Aguilera previewed. "They come back at us, when there's multiple button pushes. They're looking at you like, 'What can you do for me?' This undiscovered talent is in front of a panel of experienced, accomplished artists and they know how it works: the ball's in their court."

Some of the season 2 performers are even thinking a few moves ahead. "I had this one guy, I was giving him every reason why I should be his coach and he said, 'I already know you all like me. I want to know which one of you are going to keep me,'" Blake Shelton marveled. "He's already thinking about the battle round. He wants a commitment."

 

"They know our game, so we have to change it," Adam Levine added. "As soon as someone else pushes that button, we have to be in the position to sell ourselves. All the sudden, we're auditioning for them. It's bizarre."

 

Aguilera had to admit it's also a bit "nerve wracking," but all the coaches seem to enjoy the power shift, while Green even contends that in this case, knowledge equals more than just power.

 

"Their attitudes are a lot more open, optimistic and advantageous," Green said of the contestants. "The talent has been tripled and equaled out amongst us all. We all have very strong teams."

 

Which is turn means the coaches will have to step up their own games as they move forward, as well.

 

"We mess around, we have fun up here, but at the end of the day, it's about developing talent," Levine said of the show. "Because it has become something that can be a potential launch pad, that's an exciting prospect -- especially being in a business that's kind of like the Wild West, right now. We're passionate about it and can't wait to make it as good as possible."

 

In that vein, "The Voice" has answered the call of the fans and added "many more weeks" of blind auditions.

 

"This year, the bar's been raised," Christina Aguilera previewed, "We have to choose 12 people on our team, as opposed to last year, which was 8. That's an amazing part of the show. It keeps all of us on our toes, coaches, viewers and vocalists. It does get pretty intense. We're all fighting for that number one artist, and it's an interesting year."

While "The Voice" and the coaches are making adjustments for the new season, the show still prides itself on playing a positive game that features performers with serious skills.  

 

"You're just sitting there wondering, 'Why don't these people have record deals yet?'" Aguilera shared. "We were all pretty much blown away, [and] the talent is very diverse. I have everybody from an incredible opera singer that makes you want to cry to a dynamic, incredible, powerhouse MC. You have your amazing soul singers and your power house vocals."

 

Speaking of power houses vocals, season two of "The Voice" will also see the coaches take the stage together again, with a "truly kickass opening performance" scheduled for after the Super Bowl.

 

Of course, most of us will get to see any of this until after the holiday season… In the meantime, the coaches are all still involved with their heavy hitters from last season and recommend "The Voice" fans keep their eyes out for new music from Javier Colon, Beverly McClellan, Dia Frampton, Sia Furler, Xenia and other players from season one.

 

"The Voice" returns to NBC on Feb. 5, immediately following Super Bowl XLVI

 

 

Conan O'Brien will officiate a gay wedding on his TV talk show next week. 

It's part of a week-long celebration of O'Brien's one-year anniversary at TBS, which will see his shows tape at New York's Beacon Theatre.

 

Bing: More about Conan O'Brien

According to this report from New York Magazine, O'Brien will marry a longtime staffer to his longtime partner. The specific night hasn't been announced. 

New York legalized gay marriage in June.

The last wedding aired in its entirety on late-night TV was that of Tiny Tim to Miss Vicki Budinger on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in 1969, an event watched by a record-shattering 21.4 million viewers.

In related news, the year 2000 has apparently arrived. (Conan fans, please enjoy that joke because no one else knows what it meant.)

 

What do you think of Conan's plans? Connect with fans and sound off on Facebook

"Conan" airs weeknights at 11 p.m. ET/PT on TBS.