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John Krasinski Talks JAM, Pranks, and Leatherheads

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 05:30:00 PDT

The cast of "The Office" will start production on the show's fourth season today in Los Angeles, which means it's only a few short weeks now till we find out what will become of our beloved Pam and Jim after the third-season finale. After the hilarious NBC comedy panel at the TCA press tour, I joined a group of reporters chatting with John Krasinski about the Jim and Pam dynamic, as well as his upcoming role in Leatherheads and his favorite Dwight prank. For highlights of what he had to say, read on ...

On where he'd like Jim and Pam to go: "I think that it would be interesting to see - after all that pressure - to see what a relationship would be like. I feel like there would be some sort of awkwardness. ... There's a lot of fun stuff you could do with it - and then there's a lot of fun stuff you could with making people wait a little longer."

On what's up with Karen: "Rashida [Jones] is back, as far as I know. I think she's back for a couple episodes. ... She didn't get to say her piece. I think she'll come and slap everybody in the face and then just walk out. It'll be glorious."

On creating the Jim/Pam dynamic with Jenna Fischer: "I constantly am thinking about Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis [Tim and Dawn from the BBC version of "The Office"] and what they gave to us. It's really a gift; they're so perfect in what they did. So us playing the relationship had to be between Jenna and I, and sort of finding little things that we do. We hang out a lot together on set and we talk a lot about it, and Greg [Daniels, the executive producer] is so nice to let us have a say in it. Working with her has been a real treat. We both sort of understand the awkwardness and where it's going, and we love putting the brakes on."

More JAM from John, so

read more On the rabid fan reaction to Jim and Pam: "There's a real reality thing there. I think you're not dealing with two characters, you're dealing with two people who have insecurities, and they have fears. I know from my point of view, playing this character, it's not easy to tell some girl that you love her after she's been almost married. ... I think we're dealing in some pretty wild, complicated stuff, and so it's not just your regular love story." On whether he'd leave "The Office" for film: "Oh my god, no. I'll be there every single day until Greg thinks he doesn't want to do it. And when Greg doesn't want to do it, maybe then I won't do it. But no, I'll be there till the end, for sure." On his favorite prank Jim's played on Dwight: "I think there are two that stand out. The vending machine, I thought was genius. And then, I think this was a really small one because it was within a bunch of other pranks, but filling the phone with nickels. I wish I could ever claim that I was smart enough to do something like that." On his famous reaction shot: "It's pretty easy when you're dealing with Steve [Carell] and Rainn [Wilson] because their characters are so off the wall that it's very easy to make those looks, because I think that if that person actually existed in my world I'd be hoping that all my friends saw that. ... I think Jim's like, 'Please, America, tell me you saw that.'" On his role in Leatherheads: "I am the jock, the best player in the country ... I played [football] all my life, never organized. [Doing the movie] was kind of a training exercise. The fact that you're doing it on film means that you can't screw up and then do another play, you've got to do that play over and over. So when the play was that I had to run a hundred yards down the whole field, I think George [Clooney] started doing a couple of extra takes just to get some amusement." Source

Hints at What's Next on "Heroes"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:00:00 PDT

The Bennets' new home wasn't the only spot I got to tour on the set of "Heroes" at the TCA press tour. As I wandered through Isaac's studio, Mohinder's apartment, and an Irish pub, cast members - including my tour guides, Hayden Panettiere and Zachary Quinto - delivered a few hints about what's going to happen when season two begins in September. To hear what they had to say,

At the start of the season, there will be two parallel time lines: one four months after the outer space explosion that ended the first season and one 400 years before. According to Masi Oka, Hiro is sent back in time, and his story line for "a handful of episodes" will take place in feudal Japan.
Dania Ramirez is joining the cast as Maya Herrera, who - according to an NBC press release - is "plagued by a threatening ability" that drives both her and her twin brother (played by Shalim Ortiz) to cross from the Dominican Republic to the United States in search of help. When the season begins, Maya's story will be picked up as she's on the run from the cops in Central America.
One of the show's standing sets is an Irish pub, complete with a fire roaring in the hearth and display cases with advertisements for McFarlane ale and McCourt Whiskey. This will most likely tie into the storyline of new cast member Holt McCallany who plays Ricky, the leader of a group of Irish thugs.
Is it true that Ali Larter's character, Niki, won't be conjuring her alter ego by looking in mirrors anymore? "I hear that too," Larter said, "but again, you never know with this show." Last season, she said, "we kind of indulged ourselves in being able to explore those two different characters, and now it's time for me to kind of focus on one and the development of my powers." She said Niki's story would be moving away from her family dynamic and become more linked with the larger plot of the show.
Speaking of Niki, Leonard Roberts, who plays D.L., wasn't on the panel, and his bio wasn't included in the packet NBC gave reporters. Nonetheless, creator Tim Kring said we shouldn't read too much into that and wouldn't say whether Niki would be a widow next season.
Isaac may be dead, but we haven't necessarily seen all we'll see of his artwork. Artist Tim Sale, who created Isaac's paintings, confirmed that he is doing work for season two.
In the four episodes the cast had filmed at the time of the set tour, Mohinder had already been in three countries, Sendhil Ramamurthy said. And presumably, none of them are the United States, as he said he's yet to be in a scene with Hayden Panettiere.
Hayden, meanwhile, was mum on the subject of Claire's new boyfriend, though she did offer that the whole season would be about "what happens when extraordinary people try to be ordinary."
I completely missed this, but some eagle-eyed reporters spotted what looked like a young girl's living space inside the set of Mohinder's apartment. Is that the new home of Molly? Nobody would say for sure.

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Inside the Bennets' Home with HRG

BuzzSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:30:03 PDT

It would have been exciting enough to wander alone through Claire's new home on the "Heroes" set. But it was far better for my tour guide to be Jack Coleman, aka Mr. Bennet, aka HRG. He led a group of reporters through the airy, spacious, well-decorated house during a set visit at the TCA press tour, artfully dodging questions about where exactly we were.

"Let's just say it's not where the old house was," Coleman said.

OK, then. Is it in a different time zone?

"A different time zone is very possible."

A sunny climate?

"You're killing me."

All we know for sure is that the Bennets have indeed relocated since, you know, that whole episode when Ted-the-radioactive-guy kinda ruined the Bennets' Texas home and made Claire's face melt temporarily. The new home, decorated almost entirely in shades of blue, brown and black, has a large triangular window, potted trees in the corners, glass jars of rice and lentils in the kitchen, and a walk-up pathway lined with slightly trampled Astroturf. There are fewer pictures of Mr. Muggles in this house, though Coleman assured us the dog has not been forgotten. And though we're not quite sure what Mr. Bennet's plans are for the season, even Coleman had to admit that the home looks pretty permanent.

One reporter pointed triumphantly at the flowering bougainvillea in the back yard - yes, there was a back yard, complete with patio furniture - as a dead giveaway that the Bennets were in California (and that's what a little bit of casting news indicated to us, too).

"I don't know," Coleman teased back. "We might be in the Mediterranean."

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TCA News Roundup: Isaiah, "Singing Bee," "Bionic"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:41:16 PDT

The attention at the TCA press tour shifts to CBS today, but there are still a few great NBC tidbits to share from the network's two days at the press tour:

"Chuck" star Zachary Levi (above), Pop's new favorite person, took first place in a live version of "The Singing Bee" at NBC's all-star party on Tuesday night, beating out Scott Porter of "Friday Night Lights", an Us Weekly writer, and a tone-deaf TV critic. The highlight: Levi's perfect rendition of the chorus from "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Oh, the mid-'90s. Check out Pop for more great pictures of the party.
"Bionic Woman" producers answered several questions about their casting of Isaiah Washington as a guest star for several episodes early this season. The character existed before Washington was brought on board, but the role was changed slightly to fit the number of episodes Washington was signed for. NBC entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman brought Washington to the producers, rather than the producers going after Washington on their own. And they said they believe in giving Washington a chance to make amends. "Rather than excommunicate someone," executive producer Jason Smilovic said, "we felt that it was better to give him a second chance."

Two more bits, so

The "Bionic" producers also talked a bit about the new role for the main character's little sister, who now will be played by Lucy Hale. To help move the story forward, they've given the sister a background in computer hacking. And the sister is no longer deaf; that, the producers explained, had been a way to get the main character talking in sign language to chimps in a research lab, but when the lab and the chimps were written out of later drafts of the show, there was no reason for the deaf sister to stay.
The "Journeyman" producers shrugged off comparisons between their show and The Time Traveler's Wife, with creator Kevin Falls explaining that he's been writing about time travel for years and knows very little about the book. Star Gretchen Egolf said her friends who loved Time Traveler's Wife actually seem more open to watching the show because of the book.

Source

"Friday Night Lights" Stars Reveal What's Next

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:26:45 PDT

Sure, the Panthers have won State, but that doesn't mean things are going to be easy in Dillon when "Friday Night Lights" starts again this fall. During and after their presentation at the TCA press tour, the cast and crew spilled some secrets about the show's upcoming second season premiere, which is scheduled for Oct. 5. If you don't want to know what happens with Coach Taylor's job, Tami's baby, or Matt and Julie's relationship, stop reading now. But if you want some delicious teasers for the stories coming up this season,

Tami Taylor gives birth in the first scene of the season premiere. That will bring Coach Taylor back to Dillon from Austin, where he's been coaching at TMU. The two of them will then have a multi-episode arc debating whether they should continue their long-distance relationship or whether being apart is the worst mistake they've ever made. Julie also struggles with the idea of not being an only child any more. "Julie goes through a lot of rebellion," Aimee Teegarden said, trying to get some attention back on her.
If Coach Taylor is in Austin, that means the Panthers must get a new coach. The role is currently being cast, but Scott Porter (Jason Street) described him as a three-time state championship winner from Tennessee.
Speaking of Jason, he's gotten his GED and is now a full-fledged assistant coach. That creates some tension between Jason and the rest of his former teammates as he struggles with whether to be their coach or their friend.
Jason will also regain the use of one of his hands, and that will lead him to think about walking again. He'll investigate experimental treatments and, in the process, he'll reconnect with Lyla and Riggins.
Matt and Julie are still together, but their relationship will become strained when Julie develops a crush on a guy who works at the local pool. Julie loves Matt, Teegarden said, but she also wants to know what else is out there. Zach Gilford, who plays Matt, said he's not surprised Julie will be the first to look elsewhere for romance. "I actually was always hoping that she would cheat on me," he said. "I just thought that was more realistic."
In the first episode, the guy who tried to rape Tyra returns to Dillon, and something will happen to draw her and Landry closer together.
We'll meet Landry's dad in the first episode, and - largely in an effort to impress his father, a former Panther - Landry will try out for the football team. "Landry's always been kind of anti all of that," actor Jesse Plemons said, but he's looking for a way to connect with his dad.
Matt will struggle with the new coach, who has a game plan of always running the ball. He starts to feel underused, Gilford said, and he's also missing Coach Taylor, who was really the reason Matt was able to hold things together last season.
One of the characters will find religion.
Several new characters will be introduced in addition to the new coach, executive producer Jason Katims said, including a Guatemalan woman who comes in to take care of Matt's grandma. In all, there will be "five or six pretty significant new recurring characters that we're going to meet," Katims said.

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Gettin' Geeky with Joshua Gomez of "Chuck"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:30:00 PDT

Forget about Chuck and Larry - one of this year's greatest duos is Chuck and Morgan, the two geeky Nerd Herd employees on NBC's spy dramedy "Chuck." At the TCA press tour on Tuesday, I chatted with Joshua Gomez, who plays Chuck's sidekick Morgan, about the show's inherent nerdiness and the appeal of going on a secret mission.

Between your character and Chuck's, who's the bigger nerd? Who thinks he's cooler?
I definitely think I'm cooler. Chuck would probably even say he's the bigger nerd, you know, like he would admit it. Morgan is sort of the - you know, he's not as smart as Chuck. So he's a little more of the instigator, the wise guy. But I don't think I'm quite the geek and full-on nerd that he is. Getting there, maybe.

Is there a sense that you guys are doing this show that people like you would watch?
That's an interesting dynamic through all of us, except maybe for Yvonne (Strzechowski) and Sarah (Lancaster) - oh, the beautiful ones. We all grew up with very similar experiences, you know, not the high school football star. I grew up playing video games and on early commodore 64s and sort of "what is this Internet thing I've heard about?" That's what's cool about Chuck. He's different than Spider Man. He cannot lift up a car, and he can't do superhero things. He's still just Chuck the nerd who just happens to be really, really important.

Do you end up finding out about Chuck's new spy abilities?
At this moment, I think he wants to keep both worlds separate. Chuck wants to keep his family and his friends safe, so in order to do that they mustn't find out. I would assume at some point one of us would find out, maybe - me being the snoopy best friend, I would hopefully get a whiff of what's going on. I don't know at this point, but I hope so. ... [Maybe then] I'd get to tag along on a secret mission - maybe just, like, carry stuff.

NBC's Thursday Comedy Stars Bring the Funny

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 09:29:12 PDT

Frankly, it would have been sad if a panel full of stars and producers from NBC's four acclaimed Thursday comedies hadn't gotten laughs during the TCA press tour on Monday. So I'm pleased to report that the panel, which included Zach Braff, Jason Lee, John Krasinski, Tina Fey, and the executive producers of their shows, was appropriately hilarious. A few favorite moments:

Bill Lawrence, "Scrubs" executive producer, on his show's ratings:
"I think this is the year that "Scrubs" really becomes a big hit. We always kind of geared our plan towards peaking in the seventh year."

Tina Fey, on whether she had to convince Alec Baldwin to come back to the show:
"I've never even met Alec."

Greg Daniels, executive producer of "The Office," on those Jim-and-Pam-heavy promos:
"I always felt jealous on these Thursday-night promos because everybody else had these really funny clips on, and then, you know, ours was like, 'Do I still love you?'"

Fey on the differences between herself and her character, Liz Lemon:
"The biggest difference is that my character is not married. And also, apparently her jugs were bigger."

Lorne Michaels, "30 Rock" executive producer, on DVD commentaries:
"I was thinking it might be time to buy a DVD player."

John Krasinski on DVD commentaries:
"Tell you what, when I was doing a comment about DVD commentaries, what I was really thinking about was ..."

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TCA News Roundup: NBC Shuffles Shows, Adds Trump

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:54:06 PDT

In addition to all-fantasy Mondays, NBC announced a few more changes to its schedule during Monday's TCA presentation. On Tuesday nights, "The Singing Bee" will lead in to a 90-minute edition of "The Biggest Loser." "Friday Night Lights" will shift to 9 p.m. on Fridays instead of 10 p.m., with "Deal or No Deal" as a lead-in and "Las Vegas" following it at 10.
It's official: "The Apprentice" is back with a special celebrity edition. The idea is for celebrities who have a business focus to duke it out, and apparently Donald Trump is encouraging Rosie O'Donnell to sign up. The involved celebrities will be raising money for charity, so at least there's something redeeming about this project.
Jerry Seinfeld will star as himself in the season premiere of "30 Rock," going toe-to-toe with Alec Baldwin's character, the bullish Jack Donaghy. Seinfeld's quip in NBC's statement: "I think it's going to be so refreshing for me to be playing myself in a show that has nothing to do with neurotic, dysfunctional New York characters." Tina Fey, meanwhile, said she was happy to have Seinfeld drop by so the rest of America would learn that "30 Rock" exists.
NBC entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman believes the network has "the next great reality format" in "Phenomenon," which will feature Uri Geller and Criss Angel searching for the next great mentalist. Geller and Angel will judge contestants' abilities in weekly challenges, with viewers at home voting for the ultimate winner.
Norman Lear, the mind behind "All in the Family" and other classic sitcoms, will be returning to TV, working as a producer on a one-hour comedy focused on a single mother battling sexism on Wall Street.

Isaiah Washington to join "Bionic Woman"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:15:10 PDT

One story that got the room buzzing this morning at the TCA press tour was the news that Isaiah Washington will be joining the cast of "Bionic Woman," appearing in five of the show's early episodes.

NBC entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman said NBC had been talking to Washington even before he was ousted from "Grey's Anatomy." Despite the controversy that has surrounded him, Silverman said he wasn't worried about alienating part of "Bionic Woman"'s potential audience. "The bottom line is he's a wonderful actor," Silverman said. "We think, inside 'Bionic Woman,' the character that's been created for him is very strong and one that he'll do a great job at." According to USA Today, Washington will "play an outsider with a mysterious agenda" who will either help the main character or try to undermine her.

Whatever the circumstances surrounding Washington's firing by ABC, I'm glad that he's moving on - and maybe now we can all focus on his acting again. What do you think? Will you be able to watch him without thinking about the "Grey's" mess?

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NBC Lines Up Three Sci-Fi Shows for Monday Nights

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:58:54 PDT

NBC is bringing sci fi back to broadcast TV - big time. As the network kicked off its presentations at the TCA press tour today, network entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman said the fall schedule would be shifted around to surround breakout hit "Heroes" with two other fantasy shows: "Chuck," about a 20-something slacker who gets spy secrets implanted into his brain, and "Journeyman," which focuses on a reporter who finds himself traveling through time.

When NBC first announced its schedule in May, "Deal or No Deal" was slotted for the 8 p.m. spot that now will be occupied by "Chuck." But Silverman said he expects these three shows will make a strong lineup because they are built on character, not just fantasy. "Chuck has a bit of the quarter-life [crisis] going on," Silverman said. With his terrible job at a big-box electronics store and his woes with women, "he could just as easily be appearing in a Judd Apatow movie." "Journeyman," on the other hand, "is basically a love story with time travel underneath it," Silverman said.

I'm still a little surprised that "Bionic Woman" isn't in that lineup, but I see what Silverman's saying about the character-driven elements of these three shows. When I recently watched the "Chuck" pilot, I wouldn't have necessarily thought to call it sci fi; it was more about Chuck and his goofy friends. Plus, I could see "Chuck" drawing a young audience (thanks to "OC" creator Josh Schwartz's involvement), with "Journeyman" skewing older and "Heroes" somewhere in between. Silverman said we can expect to see a lot of advertising for the three shows during NBC's Sunday night football programming come fall.

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