Allison Mack, Jared Padalecki, Jonathan Knight has good taste
The CW is firming up their pilots. The network will shoot a pilot based on the “Vampire Diaries” books-maybe because “Twilight” is just too sparkly for them. The publishing company who published the books also published the “Gossip Girl” titles and “How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls” which is what “Privileged” is based on.
They are also changing it up a bit by ordering a pilot for a drama set in Washington, DC titled “The Body Politic”.
“The Vampire Diaries” centers a young woman who’s torn between two vampire brothers-one good and one evil” Seeing as this show will be executive produced and written by Kevin Williamson, just imagine a vampire Dawson and a vampire Pacey and try to rouse yourself to be interested.
"The Body Politic," centers on young group of D.C. staffers - in particular, a young woman who moves to Washington to work for a senator.
While “The Body Politic” is a change for the network, they are still going about the reality show route with a casting for a reality show set in Martha’s Vineyard tentatively titled “The Vineyard”. If S9 of SV isn’t a go, I suggest Tom and Jamie Welling.
~Allison Mack speaks to
Allison Mack: 'Fans Will Be Shocked!'
Posted by Jarett Wieselman at 1:40 PM on February 5, 2009
If you've been watching "Smallville" since day one, then you have seen Chloe Sullivan go from bookish best friend to sexy crime solver. It also means you've witnessed Allison Mack go through a very similar transformation.
Originally viewed as an expendable character by fans -- she's not in the comics! -- Chloe, and by extension Allison, have transformed into fan favorites. And with the departure of Kristin Kreuk last season, the 26-year-old actress watched as her character officially (it's been unofficial in fans' minds for years) became the show's female lead.
Now, Chloe's smack dab in the middle of the season's overarching mystery -- who is Doomsday? But in a few weeks, fans will find themselves asking a whole new question: What is Chloe thinking?
PopWrap: After seven seasons, "Smallville" seems to have found new, creative juice this year -- do you agree?
Allison Mack: Absolutely. I think there's a sense of excitement because we have new actors. Cassidy Freeman (Tess Mercer) and Sam Witwer (Doomsday) have joined the show and are just fabulous. So to have it be their first year definitely gives the show a kick start in one respect.
PW: And the other?
Allison: Well, Tom and I have had a lot of fun getting more creatively involved with the show [both have started directing episodes]. We're looking at "Smallville" from a different perspective now, which is so fun and exciting.
PW: Last week's episode, your directorial debut, was so effects-heavy -- talk about jumping into the deep end!
Allison: Well, I didn't actually have the opportunity to choose. The directors are assigned the scripts -- so I was totally intimidated by it. But I had the most amazing team to work with. It was an absolutely unbelievable life-changing experience.
PW: How so?
Allison: I'm a better person for having done that because I've never viewed film making like I did when I was directing. I have such an increased appreciation for filmmakers that I didn't have before.
PW: I loved the moment in that episode when Lana beat Clark to save the day. Such an unexpected reveal.
Allison: That was originally not in the script. In the beginning, Clark did all the saving and then it was shown Lana had broken out. But I thought it would be so much more interesting for their dynamic if he got to see her save someone. To reveal her as the hero by actually seeing her be super. (dawnybee: Ah, so direct your blame to the right person)
PW: Chloe just got off her own super kick -- what do you think about her path this season?
Allison: It's been nice to have my own storyline. I think Chloe's been a little lost since she left The Daily Planet and I love that they've found a way to flesh out my character in a way that doesn't solely exist to serve the A-storyline.
PW: Like her relationship with Davis/Doomsday -- what twists and turns can we look forward to for them?
Allison: They continue to build their relationship and it ends up going in a direction that's going to be very surprising to fans (dawnybee: I redacted a spoiler spec that was after this sentence)
PW: Do you ever worry that since Chloe Sullivan doesn't exist in the pre-existing Superman mythology that she's still expendable?
Allison: That definitely went through my mind the first few seasons, like, what is my purpose? But I think I've made myself too invaluable to the show at this point. Once Chloe found out Clark's secret I recognized the importance of my character in the show as it was being written now.
PW: Plus, there was a line in the "Legion" episode that implied Chloe may go by a more recognizable pseudonym in the future.
Allison: I think it's really cool that Chloe's destiny isn't determined -- we're creating her life and journey as a team together. I love the idea that we can stick Chloe in anywhere depending on the direction the show goes, because my journey has changed and shifted as the direction of the show has changed and shifted.
PW: With the exception of you and Tom Welling, the cast has also continually changed -- what's it like to be one of the only two people who've been there all along?
Allison: It's amazing and I think you can see it on-screen as well. Tom and I have earned that relationship and I think you can see it in our camaraderie. A lot of it comes from the fact that we've really grown up together. It's funny, for someone that I spend very little personal time with, I know him so well. And him, me.
PW: Similarly, I know you and Kristin Kreuk are very close -- how great was it to have the episode you directed focus on her character?
Allison: It was spectacular. Not only is she an incredible actress, but such a grounded woman. To have her energy on set was so solidifying for me -- her support, ideas and openness to help me was so soothing. It kept the experience from being too stressful -- she's the kind of friend you want to have with you everywhere, so the fact that she was such a integral part of my episode was such a treat.
PW: The cast has a pretty high turnover rate, was it difficult to say good-bye when she left last season?
Allison: Absolutely. It's like when someone moves out. But on the other hand, there is such a genuine sense of love, we want everyone who leaves to go on and do well. Plus, every person who has left "Smallville" has done so by choice.
PW: Is it surprising to you that the show is still so strong 8 years in?
Allison: I'd been acting for 18 years when I started on "Smallville" and you always hope for success, but I've worked on many different shows that didn't. So when everyone was saying that this should would go on forever, I was like, "uh-huh." And now here we are eight years later, holy s***!
PW: There's been some debate as to whether there will be a ninth season -- do you want to come back?
Allison: I have no idea [if we will do another season]. I'm contracted to do nine, so if the network wants it, great! And if not, that's ok too.
~Jensen’s roommate ::wink, wink:: Jared talks to Sci-Fi Wire about
Friday the 13th's Jared Padalecki: Not a D-bag
Jared Padalecki, who plays a new character named Clay in the upcoming reboot of Friday the 13th, told reporters that he's happy to play practically the only male character who's neither a hockey-masked serial killer nor a douchebag.
"I like to think that it was just me not being a douchebag, yeah," Padalecki said with tongue in cheek in a group interview in Beverly Hills, Calif., over the weekend. "No, it was nice. ... I've been the kind of douchey character, so it was nice to have a little vacation from it."
Padalecki plays a man who searches for his sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti), in the small town of Crystal Lake. Whitney went camping with some friends six weeks earlier and hasn't been seen or heard from since. Padalecki finds himself on the run from the resident psycho who lives in the woods: Jason Voorhees, played by Derek Mears.
Following is an edited version of our interview with Padalecki, who was charming, self-effacing and cheerful despite our rude questions. Friday the 13th opens Feb. 13. (Possible spoilers ahead!)
We were on set watching you get your face smashed into the bus glass. Was that you?
Padalecki: Yeah. Do you know that really cut me up?
Really?
Padalecki: It was my forehead. That was actually funny, because they were doing that head-through-the-bus-window thing, and I was, like, how is this staying? And they're like, "Well, there's ... an inch of clear plastic or whatever [underneath]. ... So make sure you don't hit it." I was like, "OK." And so we kind of did it, and I hit it, and ... I knew my face was going to smash the glass. It was candy glass or whatever. Everybody did it before me to appease me and ease my concerns. But then we did it, and I was like, "I think [touches his forehead for blood] ... " And ... they ... looked at me. I had fake blood all over me anyway, and they're like, "No, no, no, you're good." And I was like, "You're sure? ... OK, whatever." And sure enough, we go back and wash, and I have like a little gash on my forehead. Yeah. So I cried and, you know, I sued, I sued for a sequel. Saturday the 14th? Comes out next year [laughs].
Did you do a lot of your own stunts?
Padalecki: I didn't. And that wasn't even so much a stunt. That was just sort of stage fighting. My stunt guy, Chris Gant, is just awesome, and he did the stuff that really required guts and know-how. ... To steal from, I think Harrison Ford, "I run, jump and fall." You know what I mean? Like, I'll turn my head, but getting thrown around and smashing through this and getting thrown into that, that they have paid guys for that are a lot tougher than I am. ...
Did you see the original Friday the 13th?
Padalecki: I did. I saw the original, actually, when I was in middle school. A buddy of mine who, we sort of liked to camp and liked scary stories. It was kind of a group of like three or four of us. Like trying to scare each other. It was kind of the time of life, you know, you're in middle school, and you're like, "Yeah, like, let's tell scary stories," and stuff like that. Um, and we actually watched that and The Exorcist in one night, so, yeah. ...
I guess what sort of excited me about trying to scare myself back then is kind of what excites me about seeing a scary movie now. It's just that really quick instant where you know you're safe, but it's kind of fun to entertain the idea of, you know, of being in grave danger. ...
There's a question in the film of ultimately who lives and who dies.
Padalecki: Yeah, yeah, see, that's good. I like that it kind of kept everybody guessing. We were just talking about that. You know, when it kind of gets down to the core of people that are left, and ... who's going to live, who's going to die, you're not really sure, and I like that.
I like that, because this movie's been done so many times. Not just Friday the 13th, but horror movies in general with a scary killer like Jason Voorhees, but it's easy to go like [points], "OK, gone, goner, goner. Maybe, going to live for sure. His name's above the title, he's going to live, or whatever. George Clooney, he's going to live." But, no, ... I like the level of [actors] that they used. ... We've all worked, and ... we know our way in front of a camera, but it's not like, oh, well, you know, Jake Gyllenhaal's in it, he's going to live. Yeah. ...
Working with the director, Marcus Nispel?
Padalecki: He has to be the cop, he has to be the cop, and he works hard, I guess is what it is. It's like, "Slow down. I want to take it easy a little bit." But he's a hard worker, and ... you almost lose yourself for a second, but yeah, the three of them [Nispel and producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form] really were a joy to work with. That sounds like such a cheesy [thing], like, "They were a joy to work with," but they were really fun. It was fun to go out drinking, and it was fun to ... be there. ...
Did any of your ideas make it into the film?
Padalecki: [Joking] No, they were all shot down. No. Probably. Even little things, like blocking changes. Like, "Well, what if I'm not here right there, because I'm doing this?" Or ... "Why would I say this when ... ?" But, yeah, ... it was just minor changes. ...
One of the ideas with horror movies, and movies in general, you have these red herrings. ... "What is this?" Like, "Why would I pick up a dead fox? Can't I just look at the dead ... ?" You know? It's like, let's not do that. ... And the writers were great, and they were like, "All right, well, give us a chance to think," and voila! They'd come back, and you're like, "Perfect, let's do it." So it was a really fun process. ...
What was it like to act in such an iconic movie?
Padalecki: It was great. It was fun, when you think about it, but essentially no different. ... When I go to work, I try to just do my work, you know? ...
Ultimately, as exciting as it is to be a part of an icon of a franchise, it's also really frustrating [that] there are people that are just going to not like it for the sake of not liking it. ... There are people that are just going to be so loyal to ... the original, they're going to be like, "I don't want to see that, bulls--t, Michael Bay and Jared, and he's a pretty boy with blah, blah, blah." (dawnybee: It’s so adorable that Jared thinks people refer to him as a pretty boy when in actuality they were probably saying “I don’t want to see that bullshit movie with someone from the CW”) So whatever. Like, I try to take the good with the bad, and I do my work, and I just hope it turns out well.
~Sam Witwer and the ashy angel, Misha Collins, talk to CW Connect.
Part One
Sam Part 2
Misha
~The cast of “Leverage” gets the news about their
~My NKOTB crush Jonathan Knight was outed from the glass closet he was in by his ex-boyfriend. Jon being gay isn’t shocking at all, because he was never in the closet post-NKOTB. It was well known that he was gay, it’s the fact that he pulled a Brazilian model. A model? Brazilian? Oh, Jonathan got mad game to land
Because Jonathan is the unnecessary band member. I say this with much love. But he's Marlon Jackson, Joey Fatone (you thought I was going to say Chris Fitzpatrick, didn't you? At least Chris has a good falsetto), Jon is Howie Dorough of Backstreet Boys. So the fact that he is in a tabloid thrills me.
~I have to give it to Andy Samberg, he writes good songs. Ridiculous, but good.
They are also changing it up a bit by ordering a pilot for a drama set in Washington, DC titled “The Body Politic”.
“The Vampire Diaries” centers a young woman who’s torn between two vampire brothers-one good and one evil” Seeing as this show will be executive produced and written by Kevin Williamson, just imagine a vampire Dawson and a vampire Pacey and try to rouse yourself to be interested.
"The Body Politic," centers on young group of D.C. staffers - in particular, a young woman who moves to Washington to work for a senator.
While “The Body Politic” is a change for the network, they are still going about the reality show route with a casting for a reality show set in Martha’s Vineyard tentatively titled “The Vineyard”. If S9 of SV isn’t a go, I suggest Tom and Jamie Welling.
~Allison Mack speaks to
Allison Mack: 'Fans Will Be Shocked!'
Posted by Jarett Wieselman at 1:40 PM on February 5, 2009
If you've been watching "Smallville" since day one, then you have seen Chloe Sullivan go from bookish best friend to sexy crime solver. It also means you've witnessed Allison Mack go through a very similar transformation.
Originally viewed as an expendable character by fans -- she's not in the comics! -- Chloe, and by extension Allison, have transformed into fan favorites. And with the departure of Kristin Kreuk last season, the 26-year-old actress watched as her character officially (it's been unofficial in fans' minds for years) became the show's female lead.
Now, Chloe's smack dab in the middle of the season's overarching mystery -- who is Doomsday? But in a few weeks, fans will find themselves asking a whole new question: What is Chloe thinking?
PopWrap: After seven seasons, "Smallville" seems to have found new, creative juice this year -- do you agree?
Allison Mack: Absolutely. I think there's a sense of excitement because we have new actors. Cassidy Freeman (Tess Mercer) and Sam Witwer (Doomsday) have joined the show and are just fabulous. So to have it be their first year definitely gives the show a kick start in one respect.
PW: And the other?
Allison: Well, Tom and I have had a lot of fun getting more creatively involved with the show [both have started directing episodes]. We're looking at "Smallville" from a different perspective now, which is so fun and exciting.
PW: Last week's episode, your directorial debut, was so effects-heavy -- talk about jumping into the deep end!
Allison: Well, I didn't actually have the opportunity to choose. The directors are assigned the scripts -- so I was totally intimidated by it. But I had the most amazing team to work with. It was an absolutely unbelievable life-changing experience.
PW: How so?
Allison: I'm a better person for having done that because I've never viewed film making like I did when I was directing. I have such an increased appreciation for filmmakers that I didn't have before.
PW: I loved the moment in that episode when Lana beat Clark to save the day. Such an unexpected reveal.
Allison: That was originally not in the script. In the beginning, Clark did all the saving and then it was shown Lana had broken out. But I thought it would be so much more interesting for their dynamic if he got to see her save someone. To reveal her as the hero by actually seeing her be super. (dawnybee: Ah, so direct your blame to the right person)
PW: Chloe just got off her own super kick -- what do you think about her path this season?
Allison: It's been nice to have my own storyline. I think Chloe's been a little lost since she left The Daily Planet and I love that they've found a way to flesh out my character in a way that doesn't solely exist to serve the A-storyline.
PW: Like her relationship with Davis/Doomsday -- what twists and turns can we look forward to for them?
Allison: They continue to build their relationship and it ends up going in a direction that's going to be very surprising to fans (dawnybee: I redacted a spoiler spec that was after this sentence)
PW: Do you ever worry that since Chloe Sullivan doesn't exist in the pre-existing Superman mythology that she's still expendable?
Allison: That definitely went through my mind the first few seasons, like, what is my purpose? But I think I've made myself too invaluable to the show at this point. Once Chloe found out Clark's secret I recognized the importance of my character in the show as it was being written now.
PW: Plus, there was a line in the "Legion" episode that implied Chloe may go by a more recognizable pseudonym in the future.
Allison: I think it's really cool that Chloe's destiny isn't determined -- we're creating her life and journey as a team together. I love the idea that we can stick Chloe in anywhere depending on the direction the show goes, because my journey has changed and shifted as the direction of the show has changed and shifted.
PW: With the exception of you and Tom Welling, the cast has also continually changed -- what's it like to be one of the only two people who've been there all along?
Allison: It's amazing and I think you can see it on-screen as well. Tom and I have earned that relationship and I think you can see it in our camaraderie. A lot of it comes from the fact that we've really grown up together. It's funny, for someone that I spend very little personal time with, I know him so well. And him, me.
PW: Similarly, I know you and Kristin Kreuk are very close -- how great was it to have the episode you directed focus on her character?
Allison: It was spectacular. Not only is she an incredible actress, but such a grounded woman. To have her energy on set was so solidifying for me -- her support, ideas and openness to help me was so soothing. It kept the experience from being too stressful -- she's the kind of friend you want to have with you everywhere, so the fact that she was such a integral part of my episode was such a treat.
PW: The cast has a pretty high turnover rate, was it difficult to say good-bye when she left last season?
Allison: Absolutely. It's like when someone moves out. But on the other hand, there is such a genuine sense of love, we want everyone who leaves to go on and do well. Plus, every person who has left "Smallville" has done so by choice.
PW: Is it surprising to you that the show is still so strong 8 years in?
Allison: I'd been acting for 18 years when I started on "Smallville" and you always hope for success, but I've worked on many different shows that didn't. So when everyone was saying that this should would go on forever, I was like, "uh-huh." And now here we are eight years later, holy s***!
PW: There's been some debate as to whether there will be a ninth season -- do you want to come back?
Allison: I have no idea [if we will do another season]. I'm contracted to do nine, so if the network wants it, great! And if not, that's ok too.
~Jensen’s roommate ::wink, wink:: Jared talks to Sci-Fi Wire about
Friday the 13th's Jared Padalecki: Not a D-bag
Jared Padalecki, who plays a new character named Clay in the upcoming reboot of Friday the 13th, told reporters that he's happy to play practically the only male character who's neither a hockey-masked serial killer nor a douchebag.
"I like to think that it was just me not being a douchebag, yeah," Padalecki said with tongue in cheek in a group interview in Beverly Hills, Calif., over the weekend. "No, it was nice. ... I've been the kind of douchey character, so it was nice to have a little vacation from it."
Padalecki plays a man who searches for his sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti), in the small town of Crystal Lake. Whitney went camping with some friends six weeks earlier and hasn't been seen or heard from since. Padalecki finds himself on the run from the resident psycho who lives in the woods: Jason Voorhees, played by Derek Mears.
Following is an edited version of our interview with Padalecki, who was charming, self-effacing and cheerful despite our rude questions. Friday the 13th opens Feb. 13. (Possible spoilers ahead!)
We were on set watching you get your face smashed into the bus glass. Was that you?
Padalecki: Yeah. Do you know that really cut me up?
Really?
Padalecki: It was my forehead. That was actually funny, because they were doing that head-through-the-bus-window thing, and I was, like, how is this staying? And they're like, "Well, there's ... an inch of clear plastic or whatever [underneath]. ... So make sure you don't hit it." I was like, "OK." And so we kind of did it, and I hit it, and ... I knew my face was going to smash the glass. It was candy glass or whatever. Everybody did it before me to appease me and ease my concerns. But then we did it, and I was like, "I think [touches his forehead for blood] ... " And ... they ... looked at me. I had fake blood all over me anyway, and they're like, "No, no, no, you're good." And I was like, "You're sure? ... OK, whatever." And sure enough, we go back and wash, and I have like a little gash on my forehead. Yeah. So I cried and, you know, I sued, I sued for a sequel. Saturday the 14th? Comes out next year [laughs].
Did you do a lot of your own stunts?
Padalecki: I didn't. And that wasn't even so much a stunt. That was just sort of stage fighting. My stunt guy, Chris Gant, is just awesome, and he did the stuff that really required guts and know-how. ... To steal from, I think Harrison Ford, "I run, jump and fall." You know what I mean? Like, I'll turn my head, but getting thrown around and smashing through this and getting thrown into that, that they have paid guys for that are a lot tougher than I am. ...
Did you see the original Friday the 13th?
Padalecki: I did. I saw the original, actually, when I was in middle school. A buddy of mine who, we sort of liked to camp and liked scary stories. It was kind of a group of like three or four of us. Like trying to scare each other. It was kind of the time of life, you know, you're in middle school, and you're like, "Yeah, like, let's tell scary stories," and stuff like that. Um, and we actually watched that and The Exorcist in one night, so, yeah. ...
I guess what sort of excited me about trying to scare myself back then is kind of what excites me about seeing a scary movie now. It's just that really quick instant where you know you're safe, but it's kind of fun to entertain the idea of, you know, of being in grave danger. ...
There's a question in the film of ultimately who lives and who dies.
Padalecki: Yeah, yeah, see, that's good. I like that it kind of kept everybody guessing. We were just talking about that. You know, when it kind of gets down to the core of people that are left, and ... who's going to live, who's going to die, you're not really sure, and I like that.
I like that, because this movie's been done so many times. Not just Friday the 13th, but horror movies in general with a scary killer like Jason Voorhees, but it's easy to go like [points], "OK, gone, goner, goner. Maybe, going to live for sure. His name's above the title, he's going to live, or whatever. George Clooney, he's going to live." But, no, ... I like the level of [actors] that they used. ... We've all worked, and ... we know our way in front of a camera, but it's not like, oh, well, you know, Jake Gyllenhaal's in it, he's going to live. Yeah. ...
Working with the director, Marcus Nispel?
Padalecki: He has to be the cop, he has to be the cop, and he works hard, I guess is what it is. It's like, "Slow down. I want to take it easy a little bit." But he's a hard worker, and ... you almost lose yourself for a second, but yeah, the three of them [Nispel and producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form] really were a joy to work with. That sounds like such a cheesy [thing], like, "They were a joy to work with," but they were really fun. It was fun to go out drinking, and it was fun to ... be there. ...
Did any of your ideas make it into the film?
Padalecki: [Joking] No, they were all shot down. No. Probably. Even little things, like blocking changes. Like, "Well, what if I'm not here right there, because I'm doing this?" Or ... "Why would I say this when ... ?" But, yeah, ... it was just minor changes. ...
One of the ideas with horror movies, and movies in general, you have these red herrings. ... "What is this?" Like, "Why would I pick up a dead fox? Can't I just look at the dead ... ?" You know? It's like, let's not do that. ... And the writers were great, and they were like, "All right, well, give us a chance to think," and voila! They'd come back, and you're like, "Perfect, let's do it." So it was a really fun process. ...
What was it like to act in such an iconic movie?
Padalecki: It was great. It was fun, when you think about it, but essentially no different. ... When I go to work, I try to just do my work, you know? ...
Ultimately, as exciting as it is to be a part of an icon of a franchise, it's also really frustrating [that] there are people that are just going to not like it for the sake of not liking it. ... There are people that are just going to be so loyal to ... the original, they're going to be like, "I don't want to see that, bulls--t, Michael Bay and Jared, and he's a pretty boy with blah, blah, blah." (dawnybee: It’s so adorable that Jared thinks people refer to him as a pretty boy when in actuality they were probably saying “I don’t want to see that bullshit movie with someone from the CW”) So whatever. Like, I try to take the good with the bad, and I do my work, and I just hope it turns out well.
~Sam Witwer and the ashy angel, Misha Collins, talk to CW Connect.
Part One
Click to viewSam Part 2
Misha
~The cast of “Leverage” gets the news about their
~My NKOTB crush Jonathan Knight was outed from the glass closet he was in by his ex-boyfriend. Jon being gay isn’t shocking at all, because he was never in the closet post-NKOTB. It was well known that he was gay, it’s the fact that he pulled a Brazilian model. A model? Brazilian? Oh, Jonathan got mad game to land
Because Jonathan is the unnecessary band member. I say this with much love. But he's Marlon Jackson, Joey Fatone (you thought I was going to say Chris Fitzpatrick, didn't you? At least Chris has a good falsetto), Jon is Howie Dorough of Backstreet Boys. So the fact that he is in a tabloid thrills me.
~I have to give it to Andy Samberg, he writes good songs. Ridiculous, but good.