An Evening With ‘Cougar Town’ at the Paley Festival

Last week I attended the Cougar Town panel at the Paley Festival, a two-week long celebration of television.

After a clip from The Lucy Show from the Paley Center’s archives and a quick introduction by Bill Lawrence, the lights dimmed for a preview of an upcoming episode of Cougar Town, much to the audience’s delight. Not wanting to spoil the episode, suffice it to say, it caused much laughter with references to blumpy blankets, cat fish, gay-traps, and provided a very funny take on whether men and woman can be friends.

Attending the Cougar Town panel were cast members Courtney Cox, Brian Van Holt, Dan Byrd, Josh Hopkins, Ian Gomez, Christa Miller, as well a co-creator/writer Bill Lawrence, co-creator/writer Kevin Biegel, and moderator John Griffiths of US Weekly. Explaining the absence of Busy Philipps, Bill Lawrence humorously said, “It’s a spoiler – but Busy’s been let go!” But before there could be a roar of outrage from the audience, he hastily added that Busy was actually in Hawaii on vacation. Imagine the chaos that would have caused!

As the evening’s moderator John Griffith’s noted, Cougar Town is credited with reinvigorating the story of a single mom raising a teenager – in spite of the show’s outrageous and somewhat misleading name. In an attempt to clarify how the show fits into the television landscape, Kevin Biegel explained that Cougar Town is actually an “adult family show.” It is a successful blend of both family issues and provocative adult situation comedy.

Explaining the genesis of the show and how its lead Courtney Cox came to be involved, Bill Lawrence shared, “The one thing we were afraid about was the show would only work if you can buy into it being completely self-deprecating and have no vanity whatsoever — you will let people see you in your most embarrassing situations right from the start — and I think [Courtney] is the one actress at her level in Hollywood that was immediately like, ‘Yeah, who gives a sh*t.’” She was the perfect choice to cast for the lead of the series as they needed someone who had no vanity and yet had vulnerability. They really wanted Courtney because as Bill noted, “It starts from the top, [Courtney] has allowed the writers to make fun and jokes about anything.” Despite an initial hesitation to tell her the name of the show, it was Courtney’s fearless attitude about portraying a single mom in her 40’s, daring to embrace life to the fullest and on her own terms without regard to what anyone else would think, that was crucial in making the show the success that it is.

As to how they decided to select the venue of the show, because both Bill and Kevin are from Florida they felt it brought a distinct and refreshing venue to portray and explore. Trying to tie in her own southern roots, Courtney volunteered, “My family lives in Florida, but I’m from Alabama,” which prompted Brian Van Holt to happily toss out his own southern ancestry, “I’m from the south as well — Southern California!”

Turning back to the inspiration of the show, because the message of the show is to have fun and make no apologies, Bill admitted that he took the opening scene of the pilot episode right out of his own life after he caught his wife, Christa Miller (Ellie on the show), who had just had their 3rd child standing in front of the bathroom mirror, opening her robe and then exclaiming with a profane expletive. He also emphasized that they did not use a body double for that scene in the pilot. It was all 100% Courteney Cox. He noted that because Courteney is so brave and fearless – she is not just a star, but a true leader of the ensemble. When asked about what it was like to play a woman in her 40’s on television, Courteney optimistically said, “I don’t have that many more good years, but the ones I have I’m pretty psyched about!”

As far as other sources of inspiration, Bill Lawrence apparently has the memory of an elephant and can remember conversations nearly verbatim, which frequently turns up as the inspiration for or storyline fodder in future episodes. For example, Josh shared that one day he was playing his guitar outside of his trailer when Bill was driving by in his golf cart, which promptly came to a screeching halt, and Bill told him, “You know, that’s going to be in the next episode!” and next thing Josh knew, in the very next episode Grayson was playing a guitar. When asked if she contributes to the writing on the show, Christa quickly pointed out, “I don’t come up with ideas, I think that’s why our marriage works.” To which Bill smirked and happily said “I’m so glad you said our marriage works!”

Commenting on whether or not either Christa or Courtney are anything like their characters, Bill said that, while Courtney is nicer than her character, Christa is slightly meaner than her character. To which Christa immediately exclaimed, “I am!” and everyone laughed. This was obviously in a spirit of fun and got laughter all around, also prompting Ian to tell Bill that he is welcome to his couch for the night if he needs it! Commenting further about Christa’s friendship with Courtney, Bill said, “The coolest thing is the way that these two have developed a relationship in real life that we can all kind of feed off of and steal from.”

Turning back to the show which has a rather brash sense of humor, Bill acknowledged that it was a balance of naughtiness with family matters mixed in. He also noted that because it is on at the 9:30 p.m. timeslot they have a bit more freedom. Kevin also added that because of that they could write more freely with the dialogue and that they were “blessed to talk how people actually talk.” Kevin then sheepishly admitted that there has been a bit more Standards & Practices scrutiny because they follow Modern Family. But clarifying that Bill noted, “I love Modern Family Fantastic show. I’m a fan, I watch it — but they can have … two guys’ butts touching, but our show is so policed now because it’s Cougar Town.” From his viewpoint it was absurd that anything on Cougar Town was any more risqué than what was already being shown on Modern Family and he felt that the name Cougar Town tends to garner
more strict scrutiny than the show really warrants.

Bill also emphasized that in creating Cougar Town he felt it was important for the audience to have an “emotional connection” with the characters. He shared how when he called his parents to see if they were going to watch the show, his dad’s response was, “If I’m gonna spend a half an hour watching TV, I want to care about someone.” Thus, in his mind, this is the most important element because if the audience cares about the characters, they will want to spend time with them. Bill also explained, “I see people really responding to characters that they care about. The biggest lie in television comedy is that Seinfeld was a show about nothing, because the reason some people wanted the finale to be different is because they loved all those people.” Therefore, the show must offer characters the viewers will tune in for and will want to spend time with. He also noted that he is always tickled when people say they are touched by the show because it is both sweet and tart.

Bill’s own background was working on Friends and Scrubs, two of the most cherished comedies in recent memory. He shared a funny story about how he first met Courtney Cox: “She walked up to me and she said, ‘You know I know this show is really working right now, and that’s just a great thing for everybody. But I’m one of the first people to tell everybody it’s about the writing first, and I just wanted to tell you it’s a joy to work on this show and thanks so much for your hard work — Chris.’” Chris?! Who was Chris? Courtney tried to defend herself by explaining, “I thought [Bill] was Marta [Kauffman]’s assistant!” Apparently they worked out this embarrassing gaff for after Friends, Courtney appeared on Bill’s new show Scrubs.

As to how he became involved with the show, Brian Van Holt said that he got the part because he had previously worked with Bill on Spin City. Brian had since been doing a lot of dramatic work and really wanted to take a break from it and decided to pursue comedy roles. So when he ran into Bill and Christa at a charity event, he made sure to let them know that he would love to work with him again, and lo and behold, Bill called him the very next day! He ruefully admitted that he had the worst on-camera audition for the part of Grayson, but then luckily he nailed the part of Bobby. He is clearly fond of his television family as he happily shared, “I think we’re a functioning, dysfunctional crew and band of people.” When asked why Bobby lives on a land-boat, Bill explained, “I thought we were making a joke when we decided to have Brian’s character live in a land boat – but my uncle Bob, who is a great fishing guy, sent me an e-mail saying here are 5 pictures of my friends living in their land boats.” And apparently this little bit of comedy actually touched a nerve of authenticity.

Dan, who plays Courtney and Brian’s son on the show, is the straight man to the crazy antics of the adults on the show and, as Travis, is oftentimes the most sane in an insane world. “Dan as an actor never seems like a victim. Sometimes he seems like the smartest character on the show,” Bill observed prompting Van Holt to proudly shout-out, “that’s my boy!” Dan was also noted to have a kind of “Tom Hanks” kind of vibe with a “Running With Scissors” kind of twist, but with an undercurrent of love and, throughout the zaniness of all these adults rediscovering their youth, it is actually Dan’s character that is the heart of the show.

Also referring to the familial atmosphere, Ian Gomez shared that, “It’s like we’re a bunch of kids.” He also commented that one of things he loves about he and Christa’s characters is, “I’m not just a hen pecked husband and she’s not just a raging bitch” and he feels drawn to the deeper aspects of the relationship between his and Christa’s characters. Ian said, “I like the fact that we have really a sexy relationship on the show –” prompting Christa to yell out, “ — and in real life!” Which prompted a funny mock expression by Ian and a bunch of laughs from the audience. Clearly Ian and Christa have a lot of fun playing their characters and they performed a funny skit on how they get ready for “make out” scenes by pretending to not be able to check with their respective spouses due to various technical difficulties with their email and cell phones. After that humorous re-enactment, Bill noted that Ellie and Andy actually do have the sweetest relationship on the show which is something they purposely cultivate and highlight.

Kevin Biegel, whose background included writing for South Park and Grounded For Life, admitted he has learned a lot from Bill while working with him on both Cougar Town and Scrubs. He described it like a father-son relations – or he hastily amended, an older-brother/younger-brother kind of relationship after he saw Bill’s look of mock-horror. Kevin also shared a funny story about how when he first interviewed with Bill he knew that Bill was a basketball freak, so he naturally told Bill that he could play basketball, but in truth Kevin is the most uncoordinated person – which fortunately, Bill did not find out until after he hired him.

As for the direction of the show, Courtney reiterated that she is game for anything. Bill, however, unequivocally stated that unlike many popular television shows, they will not be dragging out the “will they or wont they” storylines. So as to the future of Jules-Grayson relationship, Bill explained, “I think most shows set up expectations – will they or won’t they, and stuff like that and drag them on forever. I like blowing that stuff up immediately. . . . and so we’re not going to drag that stuff out. So the end of this year it gets naughty and fun for Courtney and Josh.”

As for Josh, it was noted that after Travis’ fake coming-out to Grayson that it seemed like Grayson had become more a part of the family. Bill noted it was by sheer force of Jules’ will that Grayson has become a part of the family. He personally loved the scene which highlighted Grayson’s’ capitulation and acceptance when Jules threw her arms around Grayson in a bear-hug and refused to let go until he relaxed into it and agreed to come to dinner. Just watching Josh initially freeze up and then melt into her arms was relatable to Bill who confided that he hates to be touched and unfortunately Courtney is a toucher. So for him that scene was the epitome of one of Courtney’s key characteristics which he incorporated into Jules.

Finally, when it was his turn to share a bit about his role on the show Josh caught a glimpse of himself on the big screen behind him and exclaimed, “God, I’m good looking! Why didn’t you tell me?” Christa then sweetly said, “But Josh, you make us tell you every single day!” Despite this comedic exchange, Josh was quick to compliment his co-star by saying of Courtney, “It’s like working with a comedy ninja. She’s so good– and quick and funny!”

In summing up, Bill was also generous in noting that, “Great actors in television take possession of their characters quickly” and they “make C+ material A+ material.” And after watching how verbally quick each of them were on stage, it is clear this cast not only has fun working together, they bring their A-game to the show and it shows.

Cougar Town airs on Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

Spotlight On: Psych’s Maggie Lawson

Working steadily since landing her first television appearance in the mid-1990’s, Maggie Lawson has been slyly scene-stealing for the past 15 years. After a string of guest appearances in shows like “Unhappily Ever After,” “Step by Step,” Cybill,” “Boy Meets World,” and “Home Improvement,” she began testing the feature film waters with appearances in the films “I’ve Been Waiting for You” with Sarah Chalke and Markie Post and “Pleasantville” with Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon.

Working around some top notch comedians and drama film stars only continued to shape Maggie into the engaging actress she is today. With a few more quick stops to appear in the cult favorite “Felicity” and the dramatic juggernaut “ER,” Maggie next landed a seven episode arc on the series “Party of Five” starring Matthew Fox (“Lost”) and Scott Wolf (“V”), as well as a role alongside Justin Timberlake in the film “Model Behavior.” With an eye for cool leading men, Maggie continued her lightening streak working on the television series “Inside Schwartz” with Breckin Meyer and a brief appearance in the series “Smallville” with Tom Welling.

Then, in 2002, after landing the lead role in the film “Nancy Drew,” Maggie went on to star in the films “Winter Break” with Milo Ventimiglia, “Spellbound” with Dave Annable and “Love Rules” with Joey Lawrence. She also managed to score the leading role on the comedy series “It’s All Relative.” Then, once it ended, she appeared briefly on the cult series “Tru Calling” which starred Eliza Dushku (“Dollhouse”) and Matt Bomer (“White Collar”), and the series “Crumbs” which starred Fred Savage and Eddie McClintock (“Warehouse 13”).

After her role on “Crumbs” wrapped, Maggie’s career hit the jackpot when she was cast as Detective Juliet O’Hara in the comedy series “Psych” alongside James Roday and Dule Hill. On “Psych,” Maggie constantly walks a tight-rope of playing both straight-guy to James Roday and Dule Hill’s hysterical antics and funny-guy to Omundson’s by-the-book Detective Carlton Lassiter. But it is a role she clearly relishes and plays with aplomb and humor. With “Psych” entering its 5th season, the show continues to dabble with the backstories of the characters and the slow dance to see if Shawn and Juliet will end up together.

In the meantime, Maggie has taken the opportunity to use her hiatus breaks to pursue a few film projects and starred in the 2-part Lifetime film series “Killer Hair” and “Hostile Makeover” based on the “Crime of Fashion” mystery books by Ellen Byerrum. Playing fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian with a nose for rooting out murder, Maggie stepped outside the shadow of her comedic co-stars on “Psych” and has shown once again that she can light up the screen with both charm and witty repartee. Maggie is a rare gem that makes any television show or film for which she graces with her presence much more fun and fascinating to watch.

Watch our interview with Maggie at last year’s Comic Con, and catch Maggie in the season finale of “Psych”, tonight at 10/9c on USA Network. (“Psych” returns for its 5th season next summer.)

An Evening with “Modern Family” at the Paley Festival

An evening with the cast and creative team of ABC’s Modern Family produces plenty of laughs.

As one would expect attending an evening with one of the most ridiculously talented bunch of comedians currently on television, the Paley Festival presentation in honor of Modern Family was filled with laughter. Riding high off of their recent wins for Best Episodic Comedy and Best New Series from the Writer’s Guild and for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series from the Director’s Guild, as well as nominations for Outstanding Performance by Ensemble in a Comedy Series by the Screen Actors Guild, Best Television Series – Comedy by the Golden Globes, and Best Comedy by the Writer’s Guild, Modern Family has lived up to its reputation as the best new show on television. Critically lauded as the “must watch” show of the fall season, Modern Family has consistently won its time-slot with viewers and only continues to garner more and more attention, not to mention rave reviews.

Watching a clip from the pilot episode of Married . . . With Children, the show credited with launching the as yet unknown comedy actor Ed O’Neill, it was startling to see how young he looked. But it was also clear where he perfected his comedic skills. With that blast from the past setting up the evening, and after quick introductions by co-creator Steven Levitan, those of us in attendance were lucky enough to see a yet unaired episode of Modern Family entitled, “Fears.” Without spoiling too much, the fears addressed included: buried treasure, roller coasters and a driving test. Trust me when I say, this will all make sense once you have seen the show! As a fan of show, this was a wonderful treat. It was also perhaps the best episode to date and the entire auditorium was soon holding their sides with laughter.

Once the episode ended and the laughter died down, introductions were made and the cast was brought out. Moderating the Q&A portion of the event was Billy Bush from Access Hollywood. Understanding that we were all anxious to see the real stars of the show, he quickly introduced Steven Levitan, Jason Winer, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sofia Vergara, Ed O’Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet. It should be noted that, besides being one of the co-creators of the show, Steven Levitan also wrote the episode “Fears,” and Jason Winer is one of the series’ directors. Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sofia Vergara, Ed O’Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet make up the adult cast members on the show, but, sadly, the younger cast could not attend and were sorely missed.

To start the moderated Q&A portion of the evening, Billy threw out a softball question by asking the cast if any of them do not like seeing themselves on screen. To get things rolling, Ty Burrell volunteered, “I don’t ever like to see my Franken-brow.” His candor and willingness to poke fun at himself earned a round of laughter and, with the ice broken, it became an evening where they tried to one up one another and played to the audience for laughs.

In response to the comment that Modern Family has been called the savior of sitcom, Steven Levitan merely grinned and modestly said that, while a high compliment, he simply had no idea when he was creating the show that it was going to be as big a hit as it is. He added that, while there is no way to gauge what is going to be the next big hit, he is extremely honored by the warm reception and hopes they can live up to the bar now set for themselves. As he said, “This is so far one of those rare cases where it just felt right as soon as we started bringing these people together. It just felt good pretty immediately. And you can’t predict this. It’s impossible. . . .We’re just happy to be happy – we’re so thrilled – we’re so happy to be even in the game that we’re just embracing every minute of it.”

When asked about the genesis of the series, Steven shared that, after their prior television series had been cancelled, Modern Family was born of a sit-down meeting he had with co-creator Christopher Lloyd. They had been sitting around brainstorming ideas for a television show when they discovered that all they wanted to talk about were the funny things going on in their lives –and it was those funny stories that laid the foundation for Modern Family. Steven summed it up with, “I think when you start from a place like that, which is real and honest, good things tend to happen.” And because of the show’s success, Steven admitted that he just keeps pinching himself and now he’s black and blue all over. “We walk around hugging each other, then we’re terrified we can’t keep it up.”

Turning to casting, each cast member shared a bit about how they came to be involved with the show. Ed O’Neill shared that initially he had no intention of ever doing another half-hour comedy after the monumental success and long run of Married . . . With Children, but after reading the script for Modern Family, he immediately thought, “Oh my God, I’ve gotta go back to work.” Plus, he tossed out with aplomb that there was the added bonus of being cast to play the husband of Sofia Vergara. He also shared that, “Then when I started to work with these guys, I thought ‘my god, where did they these find these people’ – I mean it was just joy – it is, I have to pinch myself.”

According to Eric Stonestreet, who plays one half of the married gay couple on the show, he said that this was his dream show with a dream cast and a dream writer. As far as playing a gay character, while he himself is not, he humorously clarified, “I’m appreciative of all my fans, no matter how much hair they have on their back.” Though in his personal life, he admitted, “I have a little bit of a hole to dig myself out of with the ladies.” He also confirmed that, as perhaps a tribute to his own wonderful mother, he incorporates some of his mother’s characteristics when playing Cameron. He explained that, “She’s very passionate. She’s a real person — she’s just excitable.” Eric also shared a bit about the now famous “moon landing” scene and how a friend of his actually flew in to watch the filming just so that he could witness Eric film the “moon landing” with Ed O’Neill. So, as Eric nonchalantly said, “You know, work hard, believe in yourself — and maybe one day you too can touch asses with a television icon.”

The other half of the Cameron-Mitchell couple is played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson who shared from his own personal experience what it was like trying out for the role of Mitchell. While auditioning, Jesse never thought he would actually get the part, but it was in the forefront of his mind that he wanted this role badly: “I got this script and it was just one of those things where it just falls in your lap and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, this is amazing!’” So when he and Eric tested together for the studio to see if they had any chemistry, he threw himself into it with determination and gusto. So much so in fact that he was completely oblivious to the fact that when he and Eric had set up to meet at a nearby coffee shop for a script read through that it was Valentine’s Day. It was a funny moment like their characters would have had and it immediately set the tone for them working together as their characters. Jesse also shared that he loves working with the darling baby who plays Lily, Cam and Mitchell’s adopted daughter – despite the fact it is nearly impossible to make her cry which meant they had to bring in a teenager on the studio lot with the wildest hair just to get her to cry. But other than having a baby that likes to smile more than she likes to cry, Jesse was clearly ecstatic to be a part of both his fictional and real-life studio families.

No less delighted to be working on the show, Sofia Vergara was beaming with pride and happiness as well. When asked what drew her to the show, Sofia slyly announced, “I never thought I would be married to Al Bundy!” Stemming from her deeply rooted admiration for Ed, Sofia also loves working with him because they have the same work ethic and tend to work the same way. Their motto is, “Let’s do this fast and then go home.” While they love working together, they also value their time with their families. Sofia also commented that as far as the relationship between Gloria and Jay, “You start understanding perfectly why they are perfect for each other because they do get something out of each other — I mean, it’s obvious what he gets from me!” Then as if that comment was not outrageous enough, Ed shared a story how on the Ellen Show when Sofia was asked the question of when she learned she was beautiful, she responded with a mischievous glint in her eye, “I always knew it!” Sofia summed up her happiness with the the show by saying, “I love the character. It’s fantastic. . . I have so much fun on the set. . . It’s a pleasure. I love everybody on the show and we really like each other, so I think it is like a dream come true to be part of something that everybody loves.”

Next, sharing from his own experience, Ty Burrell said as far as his character Phil is concerned, it is like he is playing a happy puppy dog and it feels like a nice vacation from his own neurotic life. For Phil is one of those people who wears you down with his relentless, militant positive attitude. He explained that Phil may not appeal to people who meet him just once, but those kind of people will eventually worm their way into your good graces. “They annoy the crap out of you, but they wear you down.” Plus, as Steven pointed out, he based Phil upon himself and, as a result, “I have a warm place in my heart for the dorky dad who scores a hot wife.” (Steven made sure to point out his own very lovely wife as he said this and he is clearly a very happily married man who scored his own hot wife!) When asked about what it is like to now be recognized everywhere he goes, Ty shared an anecdotal story about a homeless guy in Central Park who
stopped him to talk to him about the show — clearly, you know you have made it when the homeless have seen your show! He also said it is the biggest compliment when people stop to tell him that they love to watch the show as a family.

As for Julie Bowen, she was simply astonished to hear that during this current pilot season she is the most requested type during auditions, for apparently all the casting directors want a “Julie Bowen” for their show. But, as for how she came to be attached to Modern Family, she shared that for her the primary appeal was the fact that the show was a half-hour comedy. Coming off of working on hour-long dramas like Ed and Boston Legal, she was ready for an easier work day – particularly as at the time they filmed the pilot episode, she was nine months pregnant. In fact, in order to hide her pregnancy, they worked really hard to use all the kids to the best strategic advantage and that the actor who plays Claire’s son, Luke, was just the right height to help conceal her baby-bump. Another key factor for Julie is that working on a fast-paced show makes her performance fresher and more interesting, “You don’t get to the end of the day feeling you’ve beaten the scene to death, looking for the jokes over and over again. . . [On Modern Family] we just find it very quickly and we’re done. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had.” So Julie likes both the freedom and refreshing change of pace. Then, responding to the question as to why women are not perceived as funny and before Julie could respond, Sofia laughed and said, “I think it’s important not to be afraid to look like a fool,” prompting Julie to look at her incredulously and retort, “When do mean ‘you look like a fool?’ Does ‘fool’ in English mean the same thing in Spanish? [Mimicking Sofia’s accent] ‘Fool’ is a beautiful lady!” As the laughter subsided, Julie Bowen also let it slip that in one of the upcoming episodes her character has an all-out brawl with a security guard, which she had enormous fun filming. It was a chance to just go all out and she just loved it.

Shedding some light on the character of Claire, Steven noted that Claire needs Phil to balance out her wild-side. As for the kids on the show, Julie shared that they are constantly full of surprises and are a delight to them all, for the kids are a very “gifty” bunch and are constantly making gifts for everyone. Thus, it is especially fun to have them all together, which is rare, like at table reads. Because they are so happy to see each other and because of the familial atmosphere, it makes it such a joy to be there.

When asked how much of the show really is based on experiences in his own life, Steven shared that like in a prior episode, he one day came home to find the television remote in a million pieces by the front door and that one time he walked into his daughter’s room in his underwear while she was on a video conference with friends on her computer. He also shared that Barkley the Dog Butler has been relocated into their writing offices and it is constantly scaring or startling people who are not aware that it is there or who have forgotten about it. He also sheepishly confessed to writing the lyrics to the infamous “I just want to do you” song that the character Dylan sang on the show. He explained that he felt the lyrics needed to be shocking yet believable as it had to be something that Dylan felt was okay in his mind. He also noted that Reed, who plays Dylan, wrote the music for the song.

Steven also made sure to emphasize that all the jokes in each episode are actually written into each script. “It’s 100% the script. We start with nice solid script and then we start playing with it and fortunately we’ve cast people who are very smart and very funny. Your worst nightmare as a writer is ‘let’s improv a little bit’ and then you watch what they do and then it’s ‘let’s go back to the script.’ Instead, what we have here are people making things funnier and quite often we get in a situation where that doesn’t quite work, we’ll just start playing, and they do – and they make it better and we discover moments – and I think we have a lot of fun doing it.” Jason Winer said that, while they do have some improvisation, he feels that greater improv comes from knowing the characters better, particularly as the show is still so new. However, they did like the one scene in which Jay apologized for running his model airplane into Phil’s face and Julie Bowen instinctively kissed Ed on the top of the head at the end of the episode and said, “Thanks, Dad,” which surprised Ed greatly as it was not in the script. But it felt so natural. One reason the show is written with such a fast pace is to keep the scenes moving quickly so that everyone is not so exhausted and helps keep the viewer engaged.

Steven also clarified that Modern Family is a family show told documentary-style, rather than a show that is pretending to be a real documentary. Levitan said, “The simple reason is that I love these characters. I’m very protective of these characters and, if these characters allowed cameras into their homes and into their children’s rooms and into their bathroom, I wouldn’t like them.” As for the role of the camera on Modern Family, Ty Burrell said “I like that we don’t explain it.” He noted that only the family typically acknowledges the camera, so this is like inviting the audience to be a family member – more intimate that way. And what a marvelous family it is to be a part of – it shines like a beacon on Wednesday nights and it is a joy to tune-in and share in their exuberant antics for awhile.

Modern Family airs on Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Spotlight On: Ana Ortiz

Seemingly coming out of nowhere in the early 2000’s, Ana Ortiz was soon outshining her bigger name co-stars, Kristin Chenoweth (“Pushing Daisies”) and Jon Tenny (“The Closer”) in the television series “Kristin.” It was quickly apparent that the theatrically trained starlet was bound and determined to make a name for herself in television, particularly after her initial attempts to make an entrance only landed a few nameless roles in shows such as “Condition Red” and “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.” So when the opportunity arose to demonstrate her comedic chops and screen presence, Ana rose to the occasion. While the role on “Kristin” was short-lived because the series lasted only 11 episodes, Ana was off and running, and quickly moved on to a series of guest appearances on shows like “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Greetings from Tucson,” “NYPD Blue” “Strong Medicine,” “ER,” “A.U.S.A.,” “North Shore,” “Blind Justice,” and “Freddie.” Along the way she also took the time to appear in the films “Mr. St. Nick” with Kelsey Grammer and “Carolina” with Julia Stiles and Shirley MacLaine.

Finally after four years of persistence, Ana’s unique ability to bring a light comedic touch to dramatic roles landed her a seven episode arc on the Iraq war drama “Over There” alongside Sprague Grayden (known for her roles in cult favorites “John Doe” and “Jericho”) and Luke MacFarlane (who now plays Scotty on “Brothers & Sisters”). Once her story arc concluded, Ana quickly snagged a plum guest appearance role
as a tenacious ADA on the David E. Kelley legal drama, “Boston Legal.”

But these were but stepping stones to the role of a lifetime as immediately afterward Ana landed the role of Hilda Suarez, Betty’s sister in the ABC fashion sensation “Ugly Betty.” Playing a young mother struggling to provide for her precocious son, Ana’s natural grace and razor-sharp delivery of side-splitting one-liners was
captivating. She managed to bring warmth and poignancy to a role that could have easily been a caricature. Instead she brought to life a character that many young women could identify with and even aspire to.

During “Ugly Betty’s” four year run, Ana also found the time to work on a few film projects as well, such as “Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story” with A. Martinez and “Labor Pains” with Lindsay Lohan. Clearly, Ana is not one to sit still and moves with apparent effortless ease between comedy and drama.

It has been a privilege to watch Ana blossom into the captivating actress she is today and we can only hope to see her in other such unique and inspiring roles in the future.

“Ugly Betty” airs Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Kathryn Bigelow: From TV to Oscar-Nominated Director

Kathryn Bigelow is perhaps best known for her theatrical film work, but she has also dabbled from time to time on the small screen. In her quest to work on projects that make a difference and have something to say, Kathryn directed several episodes of the ground-breaking television series Homicide: Life on the Street (multiple Peabody Award winner and Television Critics Association honoree). So in honor of a film director who brought her unique talents and perspective to television before it became a trendy thing to do, I chose to share a bit about Kathryn’s latest passion project – the film and Best Picture Oscar nominee, The Hurt Locker.

On February 24, 2010, the Truman National Security Project hosted a special presentation and screening with a select panel of guests to discuss the significance and impact of the film The Hurt Locker. Attending the panel were: Kathryn Bigelow; Mark Boal, screenwriter of The Hurt Locker; Christine Pelosi, member of the Democratic National Committee; Paul Clark, retired Air Force officer and former White House representative; Drew Sloan, member of the Truman National Security Project and retired U.S. Army Captain who fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan; Jim O’Neil, Executive Director of the EOD memorial and former demolitions technician; and Frank McAdams, also a war veteran and current USC faculty member.

With such an extensive panel of vastly different perspectives and experience, it was intriguing to find out not only about the genesis of the film, but also how it sheds light on the lives of the individuals that the film so vividly and humanely portrays.

When asked how the story was initially conceived, Kathryn Bigelow credited the story as originating with Mark Boal, a writer who had been a journalist embedded with an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) unit in Iraq during the winter of 2004. As the audience looked in askance at him, Mark Boal humorously quipped, “Everyone has their own version of how they broke into Hollywood, I had to go to a f***ing war zone!”

After the laughter died down, and on a more serious note, Mark explained that while he was embedded in Iraq with an EOD unit, that a typical 3-men bomb squad had an average of 10-15 IED (improvised explosive device) calls in a 24 hour period. He said, “Just the sheer number of bombs. . . these were incredibly gutsy guys, highly trained, into their jobs, wanting to do the very best they could – yet there are just so many bombs. The war had boiled down to running around the city trying to find all the IEDs. I hadn’t quite realized until I got there that this was the subject of the war: it was a war of bombs and this war did not have a frontline tactically. So these bombs increasingly became with methodology of terror and bomb disarmament became the key tactical response. I was really struck just by how totally overwhelming it was.” And because the Iraq war has become the “war of bombs,” demolition squads were thrust to the forefront of this
particular war.

When asked about the significance of wanting to illuminate the “human cost” of the war, Kathryn said, “I thought it was interesting. The fact that these men arguably have the most dangerous job in the world — and it is an extremely challenged situation. From my perspective as a film maker and looking at this particular conflict in terms of the human cost — that was very, very moving to me.” Because it is the most dangerous job in the world, it is in one word: hellish. Kathryn further shared that she just wanted to try to capture the chaos and tragedy of the conflict, as well as promote and engage in a meaningful debate regarding this unpopular war.

Looking at how The Hurt Locker depicted this new battlefield technique and how it matched up with the reality of demolition work in Iraq, retired Air Force officer Paul Clark stated that because IEDs are so readily available that this has become the signature weapon of the war. There are literally hundreds of unexploded artillery that has been simply left in Iraq. Because of its ready availability, the abandoned weaponry is harvested for terrorist campaigns; thus forcing the U.S. military to develop a counter-insurgency campaign that consists of bomb squads working to prevent deaths. Mr. Clark also explained that, “We came to the conclusion that the military system as a whole had to have that resolution — that we should protect the civilian population. That is the primary goal and that’s what we see now in Iraq — and the same idea is now in Afghanistan where IEDs are showing up.” Thus, because so much undetonated artillery has been left behind, those unexploded bombs have become the key weapons of the war after the war and the U.S. military’s role is focused on counter-insurgency work in order to protect civilian lives.

When asked what it was like in the mind of somebody who has done this type of demolition work, Jim O’Neil shared from his own personal experience that “these guys all have something in common: it’s a commitment to a mission and purpose. It’s a passion for the job and it’s the compassion that is required for a guy or a woman to put on that bomb suit and willingly walk that line towards an uncertain future – and probably a future that is either going to result in death or a very serious injury. To me, that takes a very special person. It is a little bit different than being in the regular military, as the EOD guy knows what is waiting for him, even though he doesn’t know how it’s going to be built, he doesn’t know how many of them there are, and he doesn’t know the exact scenario – so it takes a person who is exceptional. There is no greater love than what is inside a EOD tech because he or she is willing to take that walk and
sacrifice theirself to save another person.”

Mr. O’Neil further shared that when he watched the film The Hurt Locker,  “one of the elements that really struck me in the movie was that war is a drug. Think about it in terms of when you’re over there you actually feel like you’re making a difference. One of things I noticed about this movie is there are really no politics involved in this movie. This is simply a movie about soldiers doing a soldier’s job – and it is amazingly sensitive. The purpose you have when you’re the ‘tip of the spear’ — when you’re in Afghanistan or Iraq — you believe in what you’re doing, even if people back home don’t quite understand. You feel like you really matter.”

When asked how The Hurt Locker got past the war-fatigue or clutter of all the other war films that are out there, Kathryn explained that from her point of view, “We certainly were not going to wait until the war ended because that could have been several lifetimes. I think we [she and Mark] both felt so strongly about this project and we basically were undeterred by the other films. Quite honestly, I felt that there was something so specific about this movie being the ‘tip of the spear’ — that EOD was at the heart of this particular conflict. There were very specific assumptions that we were exploring and examining and that it really separated this particular project from anything that I was aware of, and also just to the general public. Certainly, speaking for myself, nobody understood that this conflict has no front — no rear. So being able to kind of examine it through the eyes of this particular solider — looking at this conflict
as a character study became very, very important to distinguish it from whatever was out – from the Iraq-fatigue, whatever you call it. And, I was determined.” Kathryn felt strongly that focusing on the ‘tip of the spear’ story was inherently compelling — and she really wanted to address the issue of: what does victory mean in this particular conflict?

Screenwriter Mark Boal also explained that, “The notion that people don’t care about the war is totally very, very wrong. I think people really do care. But there’s a difference between caring about it and convincing a studio to market a film. It was the film critics that pushed the movie out into the culture and, without the support of those people, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Mark too shared Kathryn’s compulsion to emphasize the importance of separating the story of the warrior from the story of the war.

Trying to tie the film back to whether it was an accurate portrayal of what a soldier would go through, Drew Sloan volunteered, “I think one thing that the movie captured very well was the sheer intensity of moments of combat. Most tours are a year long, during which time probably only 1-5% of that time is like ‘game on.’ The rest of the time is you’re just kind of hanging out. I thought the movie did a very nice job of really being realistic. The way the streets look and the trash — how that made my heart palpitate a little bit, because trash over there, it hides so much. And that really is what an IED is all about. An IED is all about being hidden so people who are superior to you in terms of technology don’t see it and then all of the sudden – bam! And there’s nobody there to fight against. There’s nobody there. It’s what really kind of makes the Iraq war and the war in Afghanistan so awful in a lot of ways. You can see the long
term effects of that: a year of not knowing when you’re going to get attacked. And I think that right there is what this movie did. It captured the sheer intensity of moments.”

Also nicely captured and portrayed in the film was the unspoken emotion. Mark Boal explained that in writing the screenplay, he felt that action provokes emotion. Thus, it was a deliberate attempt to be naturalistic — to make dialogue as real as possible. Kathryn also shared that in producing and directing the film, she looked at it as, “I just came to realize how inherently dramatic just a day in the life of a bomb tech was. And realizing that the silence was almost as profound as the detonation and those sequences really required a kind of cadence and a kind of resonance. There was a tremendous amount of anticipation once you went through that opening sequence which was almost designed so that it educated the audience. That was the method by which you would understand what a day in the life of a bomb tech really was. And I think the silence is something so critical in this profession. I mean, these are individuals who have only seconds to make a tremendous amount of decisions under extreme pressure – at any moment someone could call in a sniper’s strike. So it is not just the problem in front of them in the ground. I was just trying to give the audience that kind of understanding. That was beautifully crafted in the screenplay – the rhythm and cadence. The silence became as important as the sound.”

Kathryn further elaborated, that the film was “an opportunity to use film as social commentary — an opportunity to explore this conflict — to look at it through the eyes of the character, through experiences of the soldiers, to invite the audience into a day over there, to try to bring the war home. I think that was something that we both felt very strongly about.”

Mark also stated that, when comparing a journalist’s perspective to a soldier’s perspective of the war, it was impossible to portray. He could not even begin to describe it as it would be a pale imitation. Thus, The Hurt Locker was intended to be an exploration of what makes the EOD team tick and to make them as humanistic as possible.

Finally, in response to the question whether the film should be viewed as a political-film, Mark explained that The Hurt Locker is first and foremost a work of art. But he acknowledged that the film is clearly political because it deals with a political subject – just not with a capital “P.” He also explained that because of the events of 9/11, he is much more attuned to the people involved – the “human cost.” Thus, when he wrote The Hurt Locker and because modern day news is such a black-hole, the film was to be a way to show people what it is really like over there. The film would take on the role that journalism used to serve. Kathryn added that it was not their intent to use the film strictly as social commentary, but really it was intended to bring the war home on a human level. Drew Sloane interjected that it was key to remember that this is not just a movie; that there are soldiers going through this right now. To which Jim
O’Niel shared that, in 2009 alone, 16 bomb technicians lost their lives serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are true “warriors” — they are doing something they feel that matters. And Kathryn summed it all up with that it was her intent that The Hurt Locker invite a debate and dialogue and a quest for resolution to this conflict so that it is never abandoned. Thus, the purpose of the film was not to emphasize polar opposite viewpoints, but to bridge the gap with understanding of the people who do volunteer for this heroic work – to serve and protect in other nations. It is not about who is right or not, but focuses on service to help others at personal risk and cost – it is perhaps the perfect example of pure altruism.

After hearing all these remarkable viewpoints on a film that is credited with reawakening the movie-going and television audiences to the plight of those still suffering in the war zones, it is a privilege to honor and showcase Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s astounding film The Hurt Locker. May it inspire another generation of film and television writers to share more of these extraordinary stories of the men and women to voluntarily serve our nation and the entire global community in order to make the world a little safer for us all.

The Hurt Locker is nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow) and Best Screenplay (Mark Boal). If Ms. Bigelow wins, she will be the first female director honored with an Oscar. The awards ceremony will air on ABC on Sunday, March 7 at 8/7c.

Spotlight On: Tiffani Thiessen

Celebrating a long, successful television career spanning two decades, Tiffani Amber Thiessen first arrived on the television landscape after landing a major television role that would keep her steadily employed for 5 years playing the vivacious Kelly on the teen series Saved by the Bell. During that same period she also made guest appearances on family sitcoms: Charles in Charge, Married With Children, Valerie, Step by Step, and Blossom. As she advanced into her teenage years, she also made appearances in more dramatic made-for-television films such as A Killer Among Friends, The Stranger Beside Me, She Fought Alone, Sweet Dreams and Buried Secrets. But perhaps wishing to meld her innate talent for comedy with more light-weight dramatic television, she went directly from Saved by the Bell to starring in the hot teenage phenomenon, Beverly Hills, 90210. So for the better part of a decade, Tiffani was best known as either the lively Kelly from Saved by the Bell or as conniving Valerie on 90210.

Then, in 2000, when 90210 finally wrapped its final season, Tiffani continued to work steadily appearing in an eight episode arc on Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place appearing opposite Ryan Reynolds, Traylor Howard and a little known actor at the time, Nathan Fillion (who now stars in the ABC series Castle). She also appeared in three episodes of the comedy series Just Shoot Me which starred Laura San Giacomo and Enrico Colantoni. Then she took a quick detour to dabble in the Woody Allen theatrical film Hollywood Ending which starred Tea Leoni, Debra Messing and Treat Williams.

But the lure of television was too tempting and she returned in 2002 to star in the television series Fastlane opposite Peter Facinelli (who stars as Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight films) and Bill Bellamy, which ran for two seasons. After playing the enigmatic Billie Chambers in Fastlane, Tiffani returned to her comedic roots to play Victoria Hill in the comedy series Good Morning, Miami which starred Mark Feuerstein (best known now for his work on Royal Pains). She also appeared for a brief five episode arc in the dramedy series What About Brian with Barry Watson, Matt Davis (who plays Alaric on Vampire Diaries) and Sarah Lancaster (best known as Ellie on Chuck).

However, in 2009, in a stroke of good fortune, Tiffani secured the coveted role of Elizabeth Burke in the red-hot series White Collar. Playing along side Tim DeKay and Matthew Bomer, Tiffani is the heart of the show. She plays Peter’s loving yet insightful wife who helps keep the balance between the naturally friction-filled relationship of Peter, the FBI agent, and Neal, the reformed con man. It is Tiffani’s own warm personality and inquisitive nature that shine brightly through her character. In what could be just another clever police procedural, Tiffani helps keep the series firmly grounded in the solid interpersonal relationships amongst the characters. Portraying Elizabeth, a strong woman who owns an event planning business, her unwavering love and support of Peter reminds the audience that behind every good man stands an even better woman. Tiffani is a rare find in Hollywood: a woman with a heart of gold.

White Collar airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on USA Network.

Spotlight On: Magda Apanowicz

From an early age, Magda Apanowicz knew she wanted to be an actress and, once that decision was made, she made a rapid ascent and took the television world by storm. As a teenager, she first appeared in an episode of the post-apocalyptic series Jeremiah along side Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. She then did a series of other brief appearances in the sci-fi series John Doe, which starred Dominic Purcell and Sprague Grayden, and the films Sweet Lullaby, Riverburn, and The Butterfly Effect, the latter of which starred Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart and Eric Stoltz (her future co-star in the television series Caprica).

She then appeared in a three episode arc in the television series Cold Squad, which starred Tahmoh Penikett and Julie Stewart. With astonishing ease, Magda continued to secure work and worked next on the series The L Word, which starred Jennifer Beals and Mia Kirshner, and the short-lived Bionic Woman, which starred Michelle Ryan and Katee Sackoff, while simultaneously working on the films Holiday Wishes, along side Amber Benson, and Devil’s Diary with Brian Krause.

Then, in 2006, Magda landed her first regular television series playing the role of Alex Young in Renegadepress.com. The show focused on the trials and tribulations of teenagers today and starred Ksenia Solo (who currently plays Natasha on the CW series Life Unexpected).

Moving on quickly, Magda immediately scored a plum role on the teenage sci-fi series Kyle XY, which starred Matt Dallas, Marguerite MacIntyre, and Bruce Thomas. Playing the quirky, but lovable Andy, Magda’s performance as a teenager living with cancer was touching and insightful. She showed with ease the duality of a young girl wanting to live her life carefree and to the fullest, yet burdened by a debilitating disease. Perhaps it was her graceful and gracious portrayal with a hint of mischievous and playfulness that captured the eye of the casting directors for Caprica.

As is evident from her career, the sci-fi realm beckoned early on and made Magda one of its rising stars. While her Caprica co-stars Alessandra Torresani, Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales are more recognizable from the splashy advertising campaign, it is actually Magda portraying Lacy Rand that the viewers closely identify with. Lacy was, after all, the sensible one who did not go through with the plan to escape to Gemenon and then watched in anguish as her best friend died in a terrorist bombing. The audience watched with equal parts horror and fascination when Lacy got that fateful call from her dead best friend – whose persona had been implanted in a first generation Cylon. It is the unique friendship that develops between Lacy and the Cylon version of her friend that captivates and enthralls. It is a credit to Magda that she brings us into a wondrous world of discovery, acceptance and secrecy. Her portrayal is poignant, conflicted and ultimately intriguing — and we cannot stop watching.

Caprica airs Fridays at 10/9c on Syfy.

Spotlight On: Sofia Vergara

For anyone who has been watching the new ABC comedy sensation Modern Family, the name Sofía Vergara is already well known to you. Sofía plays the luminous Gloria Delgardo-Pritchett.

However, before crossing over to American television, in the 1990’s, Sofía was a reality television star in the Columbian travel series Fuera de Serie. Then, after a successful 4 year stint traveling all around the world to the most exotic locales, she appeared briefly hosting a reality series A que no te atreves. But as her fun-loving personality and stunning looks had begun to garner lots of attention, Sofía was quickly offered a number of film roles.

Beginning in 2002, she worked on the film Big Trouble co-starring Tim Allen, Rene Russo and Stanley Tucci, which was followed by her ground-breaking role in the film Chasing Papi. Chasing Papi was produced by Forest Whitaker with brief appearances by D.L. Hughley and Ian Gomez (a Felicity alum who now works on Cougar Town). With her career moving rapidly ahead, Sofía then filmed in quick succession the films: The 24th Day which co-starred James Marsden and Scott Speedman (another Felicity alum); Soul Plane co-starring Tom Arnold, Method Man and D.L. Hughley; Lords of Dogtown with Heath Ledger; and Four Brothers with Mark Wahlberg.

With barely a pause, Sofía then turned her sights on American television and nabbed a role on the ABC series Hot Properties, which co-starred Gail O’Grady and Stephen Dunham. Alas, the series ran only 13 episodes and Sofía returned to Columbia television in Amas de casa desesperades (the Columbian version of Desperate Housewives with Sofía playing the Mary-Alice role for that series). Simultaneously, she also worked on the ABC series The Knights of Prosperity, which co-starred Donal Logue. Once those roles concluded in 2007, she appeared briefly on the series Dirty Sexy Money as Jeremy Darling’s girlfriend and in the Mexican telenova Fuego En La Sandgre.

Then in 2008 and 2009, after Terry Perry discovered the Columbian comedic dynamo, Sofía appeared in his films Meet the Browns and Madea Goes to Jail. But because ABC was certain that Sofía was the magical ingredient for yet another comedy series, Sofía was cast as Gloria in Modern Family. The third time was the charm and Modern Family has not only become a break-out hit comedy series for ABC, it also won the Director’s Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Comedy Series, as well as receiving Golden Globe, Screen Actor’s Guild and Writer’s Guild nominations for best comedy series.

Having finally secured a television series worthy of showcasing both her precision comedic skills and her radiant beauty, Sofía continues to shine. Her portrayal of Gloria is finely-nuanced so that the audience never forgets that she is a mother first and foremost; in fact, some of the best comedy has been in the tender moments between Rico Rodriguez II, who plays her precocious son Manny, and Sofía. Sofía is a lightening rod as the wicked combo of ravishing beauty combined with meticulous comedic timing electrifies any scene in which she appears. As Modern Family continues to earn raves and critical acclaim, Sofía will continue to dazzle us all.

Modern Family airs on Wednesday nights at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.

Spotlight On: Alicia Witt

At the tender age of 8, Alicia Witt became a world-renown film actress after David Lynch cast her to co-star in the sci-fi film Dune along side Kyle McLaughlin. She played the iconic role of Alia, the younger sister of Paul Atreides. With such an auspicious start to her career, it helped launch her into an exclusive arena of acting professionals. Fortunately, she took a break to focus on school and did not return to regular acting work until she was 14, when David Lynch gave her a small role in the cult TV series Twin Peaks (also starring Kyle McLaughlin). In Twin Peaks she played Gersten Hayward, the piano-playing child extraordinaire. This brief appearance was a great way to showcase Alicia’s own piano prowess and afterward she played professionally at the famed Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel for a period.

During the next 5 years, Alicia appeared in numerous films, fine-tuning her acting skills in such projects as Bodies, Rest & Motion with Phoebe Cates and Bridget Fonda, Fun with Leslie Hope, Four Rooms playing Madonna’s daughter, Mr. Holland’s Opus with Richard Dreyfuss, and Citizen Ruth with Laura Dern and Swoosie Kurtz. Never one to shy away from controversial roles or an opportunity to stretch the boundaries of character portrayals, Alicia played an array of challenging roles. Then, in a complete change of pace, Alicia took on a major role in the television series Cybill playing Cybill Shepherd’s daughter, Zoey. It was a light-weight, fun comedy series that ran for four seasons, reintroducing Alicia to mainstream American audiences.

After Cybill ended, Alicia returned to making brief appearances on shows like Ally McBeal and The Sopranos, and then went onto pursue the stage. She appeared briefly in the musical The Gift but then quickly moved on to feature film roles, with bit parts in Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, Two Weeks Notice with Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock, and The Upside of Anger with Kevin Costner and Joan Allen. She also moved abroad for a number of years, during which she wrote and produced two short films, Girl’s Lunch and Belinda’s Swan Song.

Finally, after tackling both film and theater work abroad in the UK and South Africa, Alicia returned to the United States in 2007 and promptly landed a multi-episode arc on the Dick Wolf series Law & Order: Criminal Intent (filling in for Julianne Nicholson who was on maternity leave). She also made a pivotal guest appearance in the hit drama The Mentalist playing Rosalind Harker, the blind-fiancée of the infamous Red John.

Most recently, Alicia has been appearing in the critically-adored television series Friday Night Lights as Cheryl, the amorous bartender/landlord of Tim Riggins and mother of beauty pageant-aspiring Becky. In a role that many other actresses would naturally shy away from due to its sensitive nature, Alicia has embraced the tough role and made it relatable and sympathetic for viewers.

Additionally, while on hiatus, Alicia has worked on a few independent films, including Peep World with Michael C. Hall, Kate Mara and Judy Greer; The Pond with David Morse; and Backyard Wedding with Frances Fisher.

Clearly, Alicia is a determined young woman who seeks out roles that will expand and enhance her acting experience. She seems to relish the taboo and does not hesitate if the subject matter is unusual. No matter how risqué or thought-provoking the role, from the first moment she lit up the movie screen, Alicia has been mesmerizing to watch. It will be a pleasure to see what she does next and how she shapes yet another piece of Hollywood history.

Friday Night Lights currently airs on DirecTV on Wednesday nights and will begin the rebroadcast of its 4th season on Friday nights starting April 30th on NBC.

Spotlight On: Rose Byrne

Landing her first feature film role at the age of 12, Rose Byrne had the immediate good fortune to be working with the notorious Sandra Bernhard; for surely, working along side such a distinct and strong actress taught her how to make her presence felt. For the next 8 years Rose would then work steadily in a variety of film and television roles learning the craft. She even worked with Heath Ledger during the same year he starred in the indie film “10 Things I Hate About You.” Unlike Heath who began a super streak readily visible to every one, Rose pursued a determined path as she set out to conquer both television and film.

Then, in 2002, Rose scored a minor but significant role in the sci-fi film Star Wars: Episode II playing Dorme, the handmaiden to Natalie Portman’s character, Padme. This role was pivotal in introducing her to Sofia Coppola, who would later cast her in the film Marie Antoinette. But before Sofia Coppola could showcase her remarkable talents, Rose continued her astute journey towards leading film roles working along side Matt Dillon in City of Ghosts, co-starring with Marc Blucas and Bill Nighy in I Capture the Castle, and best of all, scoring the memorable role of Briseis in the epic film Troy, the priestess rescued by Brad Pitt’s character, Achilles, who captured his heart.

Tackling next a darker role, Rose played Alex in the wicked love triangle in the film Wicker Park with Josh Hartnett and Diane Kruger (who she had co-starred in Troy, with Diane playing the infamous Helen of Troy). Rose then moved on to a three episode arc in the British television series Casanova, which starred Peter O’Toole and David Tennant (of Doctor Who fame).

Just as her career was really beginning to build momentum, Rose took on the industrious task of starring in seven films in a 4 year period. She co-starred in Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst, she played a fellow scientist alongside Cillian Murphy in the sci-fi indie Sunshine, scored the key role of Scarlet in 28 Weeks Later (the sequel to the film that made Cillian Murphy famous), and also played the romantic love interest of Hugh Dancy in the film Adam. She also managed to find the time to work with Nicolas Cage in the film Knowing.

Astoundingly, right in the midst of all these films, Rose simultaneously landed the role for which she would become known around the globe: the eager young, and naïve attorney Ellen Parsons on Damages. Playing against Glenn Close, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan and Zeljko Ivanek, Rose had the role of a lifetime. It was the image of her running out of a hotel clutching a blood stained dress that caught the imagination of the television audience. Rose’s portrayal of Ellen Parsons was mesmerizing. Her wide-eyed innocence belied a heart of steel and a mind of razor-sharp edge that was able to weave through the tangled web of deceit that Patty Hewes had created.

For anyone who has seen Rose in any of the many amazing roles she has portrayed, you remember one thing: her. She is simply riveting. Her luminous dark eyes draw you in and make you want to be a part of the world she inhabits for a while. She also radiates such goodness that it is always shocking to find that her characters are not always the embodiment of goodness. This duality allows her a wider range of roles and challenges the audience as we are never sure who she is and what she is up to. Hence, we simply cannot get enough of watching Rose as she dances across the screen, television or film. May she continue to entrance us all.

Damages airs Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. on FX and returns on January 25, 2010.

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