Buzz Interview

Simon Cowell is ready for the Justin Bieber effect to hit The X Factor. We chatted with Simon on the phone this week, and he talked about the current critcism of American Idol judges, what's the status of his judge search, and what he's looking for in a host. While Simon has yet to get involved with the audition process, there's apparently a huge amount of talent in the younger set. Simon credits the popularity of teen sensations like Bieber and YouTube stars for the fresh crop of talent. As for whether or not America will vote for the younger contestants, Simon puts his faith in the viewers — especially since the mentoring aspect of The X Factor will hopefully rule out the terrible song choice that doom promising singers on Idol. Here's what Simon had to say:

Buzz: Have you seen or heard about any promising auditions so far?
Simon Cowell: I keep a distance while they're doing the open calls, so the producers and the guys from Sony get to see everyone. They fill me in on a day-by-day basis, but they're excited. Where they're seeing an awful lot of talent is in the 12-16 range, which we were nervous about, but apparently they're seeing some really really good people in that category. So fingers crossed, I think we're gonna get a good crop.

Buzz: Do you think the younger contestants stand out because they are especially eager or because of pop stars like Justin Bieber who are so popular right now?
SC: I think it's got a lot to do with the latter, yes. I think with the success of Justin it's encouraged people to come along and audition. I also think that they haven't grown up on these shows, they've been more influenced by YouTube or the Internet than they have talent shows. They've worked out how to be themselves, how to be original, how not to become too old fashioned. When I was auditioning on Idol 10 years ago, I used to have kids come along at 15 and sing "On The Good Ship Lollipop," just terrible songs their mom and dad had made them sing. Now they're completely different, they've worked out for themselves who they want to be what they want to sound like. That's why we lowered the age range. I'm optimistic we're going to find someone good in this age range.

Buzz: With the popularity of young stars, do you think the American audiences will skew toward a younger winner?
SC: Maybe. I've always trusted the American public that they do make the right decisions. Where it's gone wrong in the past is when contestants make crazy song choices. On this show, the judges get to mentor three finalists each, so hopefully you don't have the same level of mistakes. I think you find a great 16 or 17-year-old guy or girl they're going to be tough to beat, but talent will always win in the end. I've always been convinced of that.

Buzz: What do you think sets The X Factor apart from the other competition shows out there?
SC: I've gotta be honest with you, it starts and finishes with who the contestants are. That's why we're doing a lot of press and stuff at the moment, to get the word out, because if everyone turns up boring and useless, you just don't have a show. I know what the scale of this show can be like, but we've also got to try and attract a new generation of contestants who aren't the same as you've seen in the past where they all talk the same and behave the same. You want people who can act their age, who are ambitious, who are entertaining, argumentative. That's really what makes the show, so you've gotta be really broad-minded about your attitude and who you put on the panel with you.

Community has been rocking the Thursday night comedy block, and this week's episode should be no different. In "Intro to Political Science," the gang preps for a student body election when they hear that Greendale is expecting a visit from Vice President Joe Biden. The ensemble's stars Alison Brie and Danny Pudi got on the phone with reporters to talk about the episode, which will also feature Annie and Jeff running against each other in the election, and Abed and Troy taking part as news anchors.

Will we see anything happen between Annie and Jeff in the future?
Alison Brie: You know, I still think that Annie holds a little flame for Jeff. We saw [it] in an episode when we first came back and Rich comes on the scene; you can tell that Jeff gets a little bit jealous. I think that there is a bit of a push and pull between the two of them, and actually in this episode that we're talking about, there's a bit of that tension there as well, throughout the election. I think that their bumping heads kind of fuels more of that. I think that anytime they're together, there's a bit of that, because it can't exist, or because it's controversial. I think that makes it dangerous and interesting, and obviously to Annie, it's exciting to have a crush on an older guy, and she continues to try to challenge Jeff in that way. That spark is not totally dead. You may catch glimpses of it in this episode. We shall see . . . we'll have to wait and see if it amounts to anything.

What TV or movie references can we look for in this week's episode?
AB: I felt like we were actually basing it more on real life and coverage of actual political events. There's a bit of Hillary Clinton, I think, for what Annie is doing, and maybe even some Bill Clinton for what Jeff is doing. We tried to keep it pretty political.
DP: And I play Chelsea Clinton.
AB: Which is great because his hair is super curly.

To find out what else Brie and Pudi had to say, just keep reading

What would Grammys weekend be without the infamous Clive Davis party? The shindig is the Grammy go-to bash, and this year, musicians and actors alike came out for the big event. I managed to grab a couple of minutes with cute twosome Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, who walked the carpet together. They shared behind-the-scenes scoop about their guest spot on Hawaii Five-0 (airing this Monday!), revealed what's currently playing on their iPod, and spoke about Valentine's Day plans. The engaged couple looked incredibly happy, and Nick even paid his fiancée a sweet compliment. Just keep reading!

You're both guest star on Hawaii Five-0 this week. What was it like filming together?
Vanessa Minnillo: It was weird. They said you need to be this way toward him at this point, and I literally caught myself in giggle moments. I don't know how people do it in relationships, acting together. I couldn't do it.

Hawaii Five-0 is such an action-packed show. Will we see you doing any action scenes?
Nick Lachey: There was a little action. I campaigned to be able to do some of my own stunts, and I was happy the production let me do some of that.
VM: He got a bruise on his elbow.
NL: I was limping for a couple of days, but I was a real warrior at the end. It was a lot of fun, great cast, great group; the whole experience was a blast.

And Vanessa, you're coming off of your guest spot on 30 Rock. Did you enjoy doing comedy?
VM: That was amazing. You know, when you're working beside Tina Fey and Elizabeth Banks, it can only make you better as an actor. But the script is so well written. Honestly, I'm grateful that people are giving me accolades for it, but it's such a great show, and it's just so well written, and the actors are so great that they made it better for me.

So can we expect more TV appearances from you guys?
VM: Yeah, it's pilot season right now.
NL: She was born to be on TV. It's her destiny.

Since this is the Grammys, what are you listening to right now?
VM: You know, on the way here we were listening to Daft Punk, the Tron soundtrack.
NL: I'm addicted to the Tron soundtrack.
VM: We're obsessed with it! Oh my god, if you don't have it, get it, drive with it. It's addicting. I clean the house to it; it's amazing.
NL: It's like going into battle. If you're trying to get fired up for something . . .
VM: "Arena" — that's the song that will get you going.

Any big Valentine's Day plans?
VM: Watching Hawaii Five-0! Is that really corny? We're going to dinner and then watching ourselves on TV.
NL: It happens to air on Valentine's Day.
VM: And then we'll criticize each other, and who knows?

Alia Shawkat swung through NYC this week on a busy press tour for her new movie Cedar Rapids, which we previewed last month at Sundance. She plays Bree, a prostitute who enjoys a sordid entanglement with Ed Helms's straight-laced insurance salesman character, in the film directed by Youth in Revolt's Miguel Arteta. Shawkat talked about getting up close and personal with Helms and also addressed the long-running rumors about an Arrested Development movie that have regained steam after the series' creator, Mitch Hurwitz, confirmed his involvement. She also had some interesting ideas for her character, Maeby. Check it out.

BuzzSugar: In this film, you're playing a prostitute, which is new territory for you. What drew you to this role?
Alia Shawkat: "I got a call from [Miguel, the director] and he was like, 'Alia, I want you to play a prostitute!' And I was like, 'Ok!' And it kind of went from there. . . She’s a hooker with a heart of gold so it was fun. I got to do some research — not go out on the street! — but watch films with hookers with hearts of gold. And I got to say some weird dirty things.

BS: You also got to do some crazy things. Was that another perk to this role?
AS: Doing the meth and dancing, and doing real meth — no we didn’t do that! It was really fun. That’s what’s so cool about being an actor, you get to live so many different lives. This one upped every character I’ve ever played.

BS: You and Anne Heche were pretty much the main ladies in the film. Did you two take on the boys comedian club together?
AS: I’m used to being around a lot of male comedians, so it is kind of like a boys club in that you have to sort of earn your say. But after they started hanging out with us for a little while and they see we aren’t just like, 'Oh, tee hee that’s funny!' that we’re funnier than them sometimes, then they start to respect us. They’re all very sweet guys, most comedians are. They’re just a little pervvy.

BS: And of course, the leading man was Ed Helms. How was it working with him?
AS: I was expecting Ed to be a lot dirtier in comparison to some of the other comedians I’ve worked with, that are usually pretty dirty. But he’s such a gentleman, an old Southern boy. He's very polite and respectful with women.

To find out who's on Shawkat's list of dream costars and what she'd like to see happen for Maeby, just read more

When I visited last week's Winter TCA, I got to hear some details about new CBS series Mad Love starring Jason Biggs, Judy Greer, and Sarah Chalke. After the panel, I sat down for a few minutes to chat with Greer about the sitcom, her role as Connie, and we even talked about the much-anticipated Arrested Development movie and her appearance in Love and Other Drugs, where she got to work with Jack Gyllenhaal. Check it out!

At last week's Winter TCA, I checked out the panel for Shonda Rhimes's latest series Off the Map, about a group of young doctors who try to save lives in the South American rain forest. Afterward, I sat down with Friday Night Lights alum Zach Gilford, who plays one of the eager physicians, Tommy, a role that's a pretty far cry from football star Matt Saracen. We chatted about his new TV series vs. his old one, living in paradise to shoot Off the Map, and naturally, how often he'll be shirtless.

Last week's Winter TCA not only had some interesting panels on new and returning TV shows, it also gave me the chance to talk to some of my favorite TV stars. Check out all the interviews from the press tour that you may have missed!

Courteney Cox on Cougar Town	David Duchovny on Californication	Candice Accola on The Vampire Diaries
Cory Monteith on Glee	Mindy Kaling on The Office and No Strings Attached	Elijah Wood on Wilfred and The Hobbit
Jason Segel on How I Met Your Mother and The Muppets	Aziz Ansari on Parks and Recreation	Dan Byrd on Cougar Town

David Duchovny and his Californication castmates gave the Winter TCA some great quotes today, but Duchovny also took a minute to chat about the Showtime series with some reporters. He talked about how he keeps Hank Moody interesting, the heart of the show, and joked about adding in his own bits to episodes.

How do you keep it interesting when you play the same character for years?
David Duchovny: In a way you keep discovering the character. You just kind of remain open to wherever the new storylines are taking you. I'm lucky enough to have really good actors to play along with, not just people who are there every year like Evan and Natasha (McElhone) and Pam (Adlon) and Madeleine (Martin), but people like Carla (Gugino), people like Rob (Lowe), or Kathleen Turner. Actors push one another around into different places. It's kind of an unconscious thing, kind of an instinctual thing. There's a joy in television that's greater than film. It's closer to stagework. In doing something over and over you get to different levels than you would if you had just moved on.

Would you say that Hank is detached?
DD: He is kind of detached. Hank is a guy who doesn't say no, be it drugs, or sex, or experience. What's interesting about him is that he doesn't seek many things out, he's just a magnet that things come to. And in terms of detachment, I think it's true; it's detachment, but an objectivity.

To find out what else Duchovny had to say about the show, and when he has improved a line, just read more

Candice Accola, who plays Caroline on The Vampire Diaries, made a stop at the Winter TCA to talk about her role on the Buzz reader favorite. She touched on how her character Caroline has transitioned into the life of a new vampire and what's next for her romantically. We talked about all her potential love interests — yes, even Stefan!

Buzz: Were you shocked when you first found out that Caroline was going to be a vampire?
Candice Accola: It had been hinted. I guess I was shocked at the extreme at which she kicked ass so much within that episode too; it wasn't a slow build. And the fact that they gave her the opportunity to catch on and to be very dominant in the sense that she killed people. When the people you work with on a day-to-day basis look at the blood on your face and have to turn away . . . it was pretty graphic. I'm glad that they allowed the character who's so perky and vain to just get dirty.

Buzz: When did you find out?
CA: I was very happy to get a phone call from Kevin [Williamson] before we went back for season two, so I did know that it was going to happen, but things do get brought up and changed. It wasn't until I saw it on the paper that it was like, this is real, this is happening.

Buzz: You and Michael Trevino (Tyler) recently had a very moving scene when Tyler transitioned to a werewolf for the first time.
CA: It was moving just to be in the room. It was a smaller set and a smaller crew and it was shot over two 12- to 14-hour days, and it was really hard to watch. Trevino obviously wasn't wearing very many clothes, the chains he had on in the episode, they were real chains. He was bawling his eyes out. It was really tough to watch. You know, Trevino is a dude, he is a full-on, very masculine man and so to watch him get so vulnerable, it definitely created a very open space in which [I was] able to feel what was going on.

To find out what Accola had to say about potential romance between Caroline and Stefan, just read more

Mindy Kaling may be most recognizable for her role as Kelly on The Office, but she's also one of the show's writers and has so much more in the works. Kaling is working on a book, writing a romantic comedy, and she's also appearing on the big screen alongside Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher in No Strings Attached. I caught up with her at the Winter TCA to talk about everything that's on her plate, including the return of her girl group, Subtle Sexuality!

What's coming for Kelly during the rest of the season on The Office?
Mindy Kaling: It's funny because Kelly appears in episodes at the last minute to tell a funny joke. She doesn't have arcs or anything really. She'll get in a few good jokes but in a lot of ways, she's like a Simpsons cartoon. Not a lot of things happen to her — maybe one or two things in the season. I don't know though. She might get promoted but we're still not sure. That'd be kind of funny.

How was it working with Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher on No Strings Attached?
MK: Well, I only had that one scene with Ashton, but every day on set people would say, "Ashton got a masseuse for everyone on set!" or "Ashton got a juice truck for the cast and crew today!" And even though Natalie has been acting since she was like 10, in her heart, she's just a nice Jewish girl from Long Island whose dad is a doctor and went to Harvard. She just felt like someone I grew up with. She's so East Coast. Her parents really emphasized her education. I got along with her really well. She's completely an unpretentious kind of girl.

Was it fun to film?
MK: Yeah, you know, all of my scenes were with Greta Gerwig and Natalie, which was amazing because I love those girls. It was just a dream.

To find out about Kaling's book, the movie she wrote, and when Subtle Sexuality's next hit will emerge, just read more