United States of Tara

Well, this is a bit surprising: Showtime is pulling the plug on United States of Tara. The third season of the Toni Collette comedy, which is currently airing on the network, will be its last. Meanwhile, Nurse Jackie has been renewed for a fourth season, along with freshman series The Borgias. United States of Tara earned good ratings and critical acclaim out of the gate (not to mention award season love), but audiences have been dropping off since season two. Will you miss Tara and her wacky slew of personalities?

Photo courtesy of Showtime

When United States of Tara returns on March 28 for season three, we'll see something even more unusual than we're used to on the quirky show: Tara's personalities are actually getting organized. This sneak peek reveals that Tara may finally have a handle on Buck, Alice, and the rest of the identities, as she journeys back to school under the tutelage of guest star Eddie Izzard. Though if I had to guess, this new-found control won't last for long. But it's not just all about Tara; pregnant Charmaine looks ready to pop, Max begins his new job (I'm digging the glasses, John Corbett), and Kate finally gets a healthy relationship with a new guy. Take a look!

Talking to actor John Corbett on the phone is like talking to Aidan Shaw himself. He's charming and laid back, and when I sat down for a chat with him recently, I couldn't help but feel a little smitten. Perhaps I'm officially Team Aidan now?

But Sex and the City 2 isn't the only project on the actor's lineup: tonight is the season finale of United States of Tara where he plays another character I love to love, Max. I asked Corbett what we can expect from the show, as well as his thoughts on SATC — the future of Carrie and Aidan, those rumors about a third film, and a possible prequel. Check it out, and note his use of the word "pepperoni."

• So, all of the SATC ladies got to ride camels. Did you take one for a spin?
  I didn't get on a camel. You know I ride horses where I live — I have three or four horses — and I didn't get to get up on a camel, which I kind of wanted to do. I pet one, I looked at one, I talked to one, but I didn't get to get on it.
• Did you get to spend any time with Sarah Jessica and the girls during your down time off set?
  Oh yeah, every day — that's where I went for my free lunch! They had these great amazing lunches on these sets, so I'd go watch scenes and hang out. The number one thing was the paparazzi were not out the entire time I was there. We were close to France and Madrid, and nobody got on a plane with their 3-foot long camera lenses and came to shoot the girls.

For more with John Corbett, including if we'll ever see Aidan return read more

Just when you thought United States of Tara couldn't get any more complicated — one woman, four different personas — one of her alter-egos is getting a love interest. To give the quick rundown, there's T, the bratty overtly sexual teenager; Alice, the goody-goody 1950s housewife; Buck, a beer-swilling dude; and appearing briefly last season Gimme, an animalistic (urinating) embodiment of the id. And there's Tara, the woman with dissociative identity disorder at the middle of it.

So who finds love? From the looks of it, Buck is smitten with a bartender (played by Joey Lauren Adams!). Just one problem — Buck is actually Tara...who's actually married...to a man. Another unusual twist: Tara's gay son Marshall (aka "Moosh") is apparently trying to be straight. Really.

I'm pumped to see all the regular players return here — Rosemarie DeWitt as Tara's sister Charmaine, John Corbett as her husband Max, and of course, Toni Collette, who won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal. Add that to writer Diablo Cody's quirky brand of humor (and the introduction of a brand-new alter named Shoshanna), and this is sure to be yet another stellar — albeit, twisted — season. The premiere is March 22, but check out the trailer when you read more

At this year's Golden Globes, Toni Collette received a statue to match her dress for her work in the Showtime series United States of Tara. Although some people questioned her victory, I was stoked. I've loved Toni since seeing her way back when in Muriel's Wedding, a role that she gained 40 pounds for.

I'm not going to lie — when I first saw Toni at the Golden Globes, I was a bit concerned. Her collar bones looked really prominent, and I was worried that she might be too skinny. Not so! After looking at old pics of Toni, it seems that regardless of her weight, Toni's trapezius muscles have always looked tight. If you check out the rest of Toni's body, she's looking fit and healthy. I wonder if she knows that the simple action of relaxing her shoulders will help this — something I Iearned in Pilates.

To hear about Toni's diet and fitness regimen,  read more

The 2010 Winter TCA is in full swing in Pasadena, CA, and now that I've brought you some highlights from Peter Facinelli and an update on the NBC shakeup, let's talk about what else has been going down for CBS and Showtime.

• As far as programming is concerned, CBS has confirmed the cancellation of Three Rivers, and we got sneak peeks at two new shows: Miami Medical and Undercover Boss.Miami Medical looks a bit like a knockoff of Grey's Anatomy, except we're at a trauma hospital instead of a surgical wing, and most of the patients are in the midst of a sunny vacation gone awry.
• At the Showtime panel, I got my first taste of Laura Linney in The Big C. I was happy to see that the promo had me intrigued, and there seem to be even more laughs than heartbreaking moments (though, given the subject matter, I'm sure that will change a bit). Bonus: even just a few seconds of Gabourey Sidibe outside of her Precious role was enough to make me giddy.
• With The Tudors on the way out, the Showtime execs also announced a new period drama called The Borgias. Starring Jeremy Irons, the show will chronicle the infamous family during the Italian Renaissance. It will be added to Showtime's lineup Spring 2011.

For more about Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara, just read more