Who's News this week? William Sanderson, for one
Lorrie's on vacation, but you can still keep up with your favorite celebs by reading her Who's News column in the magazine. This week, you'll find:
• William Sanderson (left), the sheriff on HBO's hit True Blood, gives his opinion on why vampires are so hot these days.
• Angus T. Jones, the 15-year-old star of the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. He tells us about his hobbies and what high school course he'd rather not repeat
• Canadian actor Craig Olejnik of the NBC summer drama The Listener. NBC pulled the show from its Thursday night lineup after this weekend's issue went to press, but fans can still catch all the remaining episodes by visiting the show's site on NBC.com.
Plus more updates on Chris Noth, Patricia Heaton and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Read Lorrie's column here, and if you have a question for her, send one to her here.
Ron Livingston returns to TV in the steamy 'Defying Gravity'
Ron Livingston garnered more than a few female fans after playing Sarah Jessica Parker’s love interest, Jack Berger, on Sex and the City, and he’s back on TV at 9 p.m. EST this Sunday in the steamy new ABC space drama Defying Gravity (check out a preview below). This time, it’s sex and the spaceship as Livingston plays the commander of a vessel who has two ex-girlfriends join his crew. “They call it a relationship drama, but to me you’ve got astronauts for guys, and they’re all hooking up with each other, and you’ve got that for women,” says Livingston, 42, who also co-stars with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in The Time Traveler’s Wife, in theaters Aug. 14. I recently talked with Livingston for an item on Lorrie’s Who’s News page, so click read more for what he has to say about his new series and movie.
Photos courtesy of ABC, New Line Cinema
Rachel McAdams graces our cover this weekend
She probably melted your heart alongside Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, and Rachel McAdams is returning to romance in The Time Traveler's Wife, the adaptation of the popular book by Audrey Niffenegger, Aug. 14. She's our cover girl in the current issue of USA WEEKEND, and we sit down with McAdams to talk about life and love, her Canadian roots and her environmental efforts. In addition to Time Traveler's Wife, in which she co-stars with Eric Bana, the Wedding Crashers and State of Play actress appears in Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law come Christmas Day, and with Patrick Wilson and Harrison Ford in next year's Morning Glory.
Today's birthdays: J.K. Rowling, B.J. Novak
The Half-Blood Prince is topping the box office again, and Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, is even richer today, her 44th birthday. Wesley Snipes, the action star best known as Blade, celebrates his 47th. Watch for his portrayal of soul-legend James Brown in an upcoming James Brown biopic, directed by Spike Lee. B.J. Novak, a writer, producer and star of NBC’s The Office, has accomplished a lot at 30 today. He’s opposite Brad Pitt next in the Inglourious Basterds. Not too shabby.
July 30, 2009
Today's birthdays: A governor and a Fox
Action star-turned-California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, turns 62 today. Did you catch The Governator’s interview with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News last night? Hilary Swank, who may be the hottest woman to ever play a transgender man (in Boys Don’t Cry), celebrates her 35th. She takes on the powerful role of Amelia Earhart next in the fall biographical flick Amelia (check out the trailer here). Vivica A. Fox, a self-described “cougar” who played girlfriend to Will Smith in Independence Day, and rapper 50 Cent in real-life, turns 45. Laurence Fishburne, of the Matrix and now CSI, is 48; and Lisa Kudrow, aka Phoebe on Friends, turns 46.
July 29, 2009
'Funny People' is a little sad
Funny People, the latest from director Judd Apatow and his usual crew, hits theaters Friday, but we got a peek at it Tuesday night (and star Leslie Mann, Apatow's wife, is on the magazine's cover next weekend.) Apatow may be hoping for a summer hit after Year One, which he produced, failed to deliver big numbers (or laughs) at the box office. Whether this will do it for him, is hard to say, because Funny People is both funny and sad, says our Steve Thompson. Click on read more for his take. Or watch the trailer below and judge for yourself.
Today's birthdays include Martina McBride
Country star Martina McBride, the mom of three who wore a bikini with LeAnn Rimes and Julianne Hough for a recent cover of Shape magazine, turns 43 today. Actor Stephen Dorff, now in director Michael Mann’s crime drama Public Enemies, with Johnny Depp, turns 36. Star Trek’s Wil Wheaton is 37, and Boyz II Men’s Wanya Morris turns 36.
July 28, 2009
Kristinia DeBarge on fame and 'Circus' tour
Kristinia DeBarge has found some major success with her girl-power pop anthem Goodbye, built around the 1969 hit by Steam, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye. Our Steve Thompson talked with the singer about that song, which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and her first album Exposed, out today. While DeBarge is starting to be recognized by fans on the streets, she doesn't seem comfortable with the idea of reaching a paparazzi level of fame. “I can’t promise that I would respond all the time. I’d probably smile here and there,” says the 19-year-old. “It would probably get intense with all the flashing lights in your face 24/7.” Maybe she can get a few tips from paparazzi pro Britney Spears. DeBarge will join Spears’ Circus tour when it returns to North America Aug. 20 to Sept. 26, opening for Ciara.
DeBarge has had some practice at fame and touring. Her dad, James DeBarge, was part of the ‘80s group DeBarge. When he heard that his daughter wanted to sing, he took her into a recording studio and practiced until four in the morning. “My dad really didn’t want me to be a singer at first,” DeBarge says. But once he realized she was serious, he took her on tour with him to perform (in front of an undoubtedly different crowd then she'll be in front of for Circus). In 2003, DeBarge was a contestant on American Juniors, but failed to make it into the top 10. “After that I was pretty upset,” she says. “But I took that anger and put it towards my motivation. I worked hard and did everything that I could to make sure that I got here, where I am now.” Where she is now isn’t half bad, but the singer is already looking to the future. She wants to explore new genre’s like jazz and rock, and would love to work with the likes of Ne-Yo and Justin Timberlake.
Today's birthdays: Favorite sitcom stars
Lori Loughlin, Uncle Jesse’s girl on the old family sitcom Full House and now Debbie Wilson on the new 90210, celebrates her 45th birthday today. She’s opposite Robin Williams and John Travolta in the heavily-marketed November comedy, Old Dogs. And Sally Struthers, Gloria on the 70s sitcom All in the Family, turns 61.
July 27, 2009
Christina Moore is 'HawthoRNe' sidekick
Christina Moore stars with Jada Pinkett Smith in the new TNT medical drama HawthoRNe, but you may also see Moore, 36, on CW's 90210 as Tracy Clark (a character who “needs a spanking,” according to Moore). On HawthoRNe, Moore plays Candy Sullivan, a beautiful and quirky nurse. Our Vi-An Nguyen spoke to Moore about playing a sex object and returning to 90210.
Photos courtesy of TNT
