Let’s not waste any time here, Craig. Tell us what we can look forward to in this new season.

Craig: It’s literally hell on earth because the underworld has been opened now and the Keeper, which is Satan, if you will, is sending forth his minions. One thing we gotta watch out for are these things called Banelings, which are kind of like zombies. They’re basically people who get sent to the underworld and come back serving the Keeper, but they look exactly the same so you don’t know who to trust, what to do — how do you kill something that’s already dead.

For Richard’s character, he’s now been thrust into this new kind of world of leadership. You thought being the Seeker was hard enough but now he has to lead his enemies. Some of the Darkens are saying, you are our Lord Rahl, we’re going to follow you, what are you going to do? Now we’re not fighting each other, we’re fighting a bigger enemy; we’re fighting the devil.

I hear you have some great guest stars coming up this season.

Craig: Yes, Amy Teegarden from Friday Night Lights, Jolene Blalock from Star Trek. Oh, and Charisma Carpenter. I’m a massive Buffy and Angel fan so when she came on I was like, ohhh my god, I’ve now merged Buffy and my show together, this is a moment to remember. It’s great having these new flavors to spice things up.

So you a big fantasy fan before you joined the show?

Craig: Oh yeah, big time. I was that kid who everything single day was running around in the backyard pretending I was Ninja Turtle one day or Batman the next day or a Ghostbuster the next day or Kevin from Home Alone setting traps around my house or Luke Sykwalker on a speeder bike while I was on my bicycle. My imagination was absolutely wild. I would watch these films a million times and I would just love it. It’s really kind of crazy; Richard is kind of like that character I was pretending to be all those years ago.

Just when you thought you were too old to be running around with swords it comes right back at you and you get paid to do it.

IN THE MOOD

On the Season One DVD, you take us on a tour of the Legend of the Seeker sets. They’re so realistic, it must be easy to get into the mood of the piece.

Craig: Absolutely. We have a couple of massive studios. One is always a forest. You go in there and it’s literally a forest, you walk in and there’s a bit of work space but most of it is dirt and actual trees and we have to keep swapping them over every month because they die and get bugs. Then, you’re in a bar suddenly with all these extras dressed up in crazy outfits and all the crew is outside the bar and you look around and it’s actually kind of easy to imagine where we are. Then when we go outside and there are the real mountains and amazing lakes and sand dunes — we’re not shooting Jurassic Park 3 here. We can see what’s going on. We’re not talking to tennis balls all the time. Sure you gotta do it where you’ve got green screen you have to play off it, but it’s so much nicer when you’re sitting in the costume on the actual wagon that is made of real wood and brass with all the detail.

Your role is quite physically demanding. How did you take to it when you first began?

Craig: When Bridget and I got to New Zealand, we had about six weeks before we started shooting and in that time we could read the books for character research and we could also go horse riding to touch off on that and I wasn’t really good on a horse, I’d maybe been on a horse a couple of times. But these guys take it through like paint by numbers. Heels down, pull the reigns in and they’ll look at you and point out these tiny things and before you know it you’re riding a horse thanks to these amazing teachers.

The sword thing, as I mentioned, I was using a plastic sword for the first, give or take, ten years of my life and that kind of helped, believe it or not. If I was to step into a battle, I’d probably lose but to be able to make it look big and epic and have a little coordination came relatively easy to me, not to mention we have amazing stunt coordinators who choreograph these wonderful fights.

TAKING LIFE AS IT COMES

What’s been the best part of working on Legend of the Seeker?

Craig: That’s a tough question. I’ve never really been asked that. There’s so many pros. The schedule is incredibly grueling and when you’re tired, you’re tired. You can be a millionaire but when you’re tired that money ain’t gonna help you, you’re tired and you feel bad. But I look around and I go, this is fantastic. These are now my new family and friends. I had to go from Australia to here and we all get along really well. It’s such fast turn around, TV, you can’t spend so much time on things, we have to be moving fast and suddenly you’re doing a big life or death scene and then a fight scene and then go ride horses. It’s incredibly full on but enjoyable.

Are you as adventurous as your character?

Craig: I have a short attention span, if I’m in one place for a long time I have to move. I think, when I’m challenged with something I’ll try and rise to it but sometimes when you’re left on your own accord you could end up staying in one spot. You don’t know what’s out there so you just start assuming there’s nothing out there. Then suddenly someone will thrust you into something and it’s like, wow, I’m so glad I came here. Gosh, I think there’s nothing at all wrong with anyone saying, you know what, these three months I’m not going to work, I’m going to do it really cheap, I’m going to travel, rock up and see what happens. If you rock up with no expectations, you just go, this is life, life is about being here. . .I can’t really ask the world to give me anything, I’m just going to go and see what it is. . maybe things can happen.

Any final words?

Craig: If you can watch Legend of the Seeker, please watch it. We’ve had a fantasy void on our television for too long and I like to think of it as the fantasy void filler. Fantasy is a word that can throw people off. You say fantasy to my mom and she’s like, ‘no, not my thing.’ You say it to other people and they’re like, ‘it’s for dweebs and geeks, I’m not into wizards and dragons and all that stuff.’

But Legend of the Seeker is basically real situations that are set in an ancient time before you had cell phones and electricity.  It’s a world of steel and leather and so we don’t really make it too crazy. Magic only happens every once in awhile; it’s really about these relationships. So don’t be put off by the word fantasy, but at the same token if you do love fantasy, then come on and step inside, you’ll get your fantasy fill.

Legend of the Seeker is a syndicated series from ABC Television. You can find out when and where it airs in your local area by visiting the website: LegendoftheSeeker.com.

Photos:

1) “Legend of the Seeker” stars Bridget Regan and Craig Horner greeted fans in Times Square in New York City as they unveiled the Sword of Truth, a 9 foot custom faux sword protruding from a vehicle emanating smoke. The stars, who shoot the nationally syndicated action-adventure series in New Zealand, were in town promoting the second season.

2) “Legend of the Seeker” hottie Craig Horner who plays “Richard,” the Seeker, on the series, marked his presence during his visit to Times Square today, “slashing” a vehicle in the middle of Military Island with the Sword of Truth, a 9-foot custom faux sword. The actor, who shoots the nationally syndicated action-adventure series in New Zealand, was in town promoting the second season which premieres the weekend of November 7 (check local listings).

Photo credit: Anders Krusberg/ABC Studios

Post from: SF Universe

It’s been a “TV year” since Cassidy Freeman joined Smallville as Tess Mercer, the new editor of the Daily Planet and foil for Clark Kent. But even after all this time, there are still quite a few mysteries surrounding this tough, no-nonsense lady. We know she has ties to Lex Luther (she’s living in his mansion, for heaven’s sake!) and we know she had a steamy romance with Oliver Queen and she seems to have a handle on Clark Kent. But the big question still remains — is Tess only out to save Tess, or is she secretly one of the good guys?

I went right to the source for the answer and here’s what Cassidy Freeman had to say.

Cyn:  So, flat out, is Tess a good guy or a bad guy?

Cassidy: She’s a tricky one, isn’t she? It’s funny because people always ask; is she a hero or is she a villain, and I don’t think that she’s either. I think that she’s passionate; I think that she’s someone that’s driven by what she wants and how she feels. They did such a good job of making her quite ambiguous which makes her very frustrating, but it’s also fun to play.

Cyn: It’s interesting that you say she’s driven by how she feels, because there are times when it seems like she doesn’t feel anything! She’s one tough lady.

Cassidy: I think it’s really cool that they’ve got this hardcore woman that everyone thinks is supposed to be very hard-shelled, very business and actually all of her motives are born out of her emotion. She genuinely wants the best for Clark and I think that kind of tough love is her point. She wants him to be what he’s supposed to be and maybe not for him, maybe for herself, maybe for humanity, but she needs for that to happen. She’s willing to kill people to do it, obviously.

Cyn: We have seen a few glimpses of her softer side, particularly in her relationship to Oliver. Does Tess have an Achilles heel?

Cassidy: Yeah, absolutely. It’s all in the timing – someone has to hit it and she has to be willing to let it be hit, because I think that she is very strong. She’s very in control of herself. She’s able to put up those walls, but I definitely think that someone could hit it, Oliver has hit it. That that’s why he seems to be her Achilles heel and then she has to so tightly grasp it back together because he was a part of her life when she was most vulnerable and being vulnerable is not something that she’s used to being.

Cyn: This season you have the pleasure of being directed by two of your co-stars. Last week Tom Welling directed you in “Injustice.” How was that?

Cassidy: It was a lot of fun. Tom was the only director that actually gave me homework before the episode started – he made me watch a Danny Boyle movie called Sunshine. It’s kind of like a team of people who go out and try to reactivate the sun, it’s a really beautiful movie and I don’t know why it didn’t get more press. He made me watch it, then it got me all excited for the episode and then it was all kind of done so amazing. Tom and I get along very well and being directed by a fellow actor, especially for me who maybe doesn’t know all the directors that well, it was really nice to be directed by someone that I had a relationship with prior to the episode.

Cyn: Earlier this year, Allison Mack directed you in “Power.” Tell me about that.

Cassidy: [Power] was the first one that Allison directed, so everything that she lacked in knowledge of camera, she made up for it by really knowing the motive of the characters and really knowing the story that she wanted to tell, even if she didn’t have the ability or the vocabulary to tell it yet on the technical side. Whereas Tom has directed a bunch of episodes, and he’s also just been there for eight years, he’s super savvy and very quick to know how things are suppose to look.

They are a bit different. Allison likes to dig in there and get into the conflicts, and the motives, and the reasons. Tom’s a little more laid back and very linear about his story telling, which then ends up looking beautiful. Also, Tom does this great thing – I don’t know if he always does this, but he did it – we’ll do some takes, we’ll get the coverage we need and then at the end he’ll go okay this one’s for you, and he’ll let the actors just do one for themselves i.e. go for it. And he said nine times out of ten that’s the take he chooses, which is really cool.

Cyn: Incredibly, it’s been almost a year since you started.

Cassidy: Nine months, it’s my baby.

Cyn: So how have thing changed for you, either on set, off set? It’s got to be a big shift.

Cassidy: It is a big shift and it’s funny that you say shift because it makes me think shifting a car. It’s kind of like, now I’ve shifted into second gear, but I’m also kind of on a plateau. You know when you’re looking for a job and you’re trying to find what the next thing is, you often feel like you’re chugging up a hill. Looking for work is work. So now, I went straight from looking for work, into doing work – really hard work.

The beginning of the season, especially, was pretty rough hours and there was so much change, I almost felt like an athlete training for something. When I wasn’t working, I was sleeping – I was so exhausted – but it was really great conditioning and it totally changes my rhythm of life. Now, if I get a week off, I take it off. I don’t stress about what I could be doing, I do the things I wanted to do that I haven’t been able to do, like paint my bathroom. And now, once in a while, I get recognized which is really cool.

Cyn: Are you anything like Tess Mercer?

Cassidy: No, I’m not. People who meet me, they’re like, ‘wait a second… you’re that evil bitch on television?’ I’m like, ‘yes, yes I am.’  I’m also like 5′10, so I try not to wear heels whenever I don’t have to.

Cyn: Tess is surrounded by superheroes. Who are the superheroes in your life?

Cassidy: That’s such a great question! I just got to spend some time with my mom and grandmother in Tulsa, Oklahoma and they are superheroes in my life. They are just so cool. And you know what else? I come home after nine months of living in Vancouver pretty much the whole time, and I get to sit down with my friends for more that ten minutes . . . I get to hear about all that they have done and all that they are doing, and I’m just so thankful to be surround by them. All my friends, they’re doing so well. It’s all just like more fuel for the fire, I feel like we’re all just standing around a big bonfire and just throwing in our achievements and it’s growing bigger and I’m just so proud of them. I’m proud of the people in my life.

Cyn: It’s interesting to note that both Smallville and Supernatural have taken up the question of destiny and if people can be redeemed… what are your thoughts about destiny and whether we can escape our fate?

Cassidy: I think that everything can change, but you have to make it change. You can’t sit back and let things happen.  I attempted to learn to surf a year and a half ago. I was okay…. people always say surfing is life and I’m like you’re on drugs, surfing is not life, surfing is a sport. But if you have a surfboard and you’re out there and you’re paddling against the waves, if you wait for the wave to hit you you’re going to get pummeled every time. You have to charge the wave. That doesn’t mean you have to be crazy aggressive and angry and flailing, but you have to have a steady attack on that wave to get through it and I think that is a metaphor for life. You have to know, you don’t have to charge, you don’t have to be aggressive, but you have to be clear and you have to be focused and specific about what you want. And I think that we can do that in our lives everyday, lots of little things – like doing the dishes. I woke up this morning and I said I have to do my dishes and I did them.

As cheesy as it sounds, I always knew that this is what I wanted to do and there were a lot of times where I didn’t think I could, where I had these belief systems of I’m to old, I’m too tall, I’m too whatever. Whatever people try and make you believe because they believe it of themselves. And you really just have to make your own rules for things and then your fate in inevitable and it’s exactly what you want it to be.

Find out the fate of Davis Bloome, Clark Kent, Tess Mercer and the whole gang when Smallville wraps up another season tonight at 8:00 on The CW.

Credit: The CW ©2008 The CW Network. All Rights Reserved.

Post from: SF Universe

But when the director yells cut, Castiel falls away and in his place stands the witty and charming Misha Collins, fitting in on the Supernatural set as if he’d been there since day one.

Listen in as Misha Collins talks to me about body swaps, the fear of God and his recent dual role as both Castiel and the human vessel he calls home.

Cyn: Last week’s episode “The Rapture,” was a total tour de force for you, wasn’t it? How hard was it to play two different characters in the same episode?

Misha: It was a challenge on a couple of levels. I needed to really flush out a distinct character [for Jimmy] that was going to have different physical, vocal, and personality traits so that there was going to be a clear distinction between him and Castiel. It was a challenge to stay on top of exactly where I was in the story, because there were flashbacks and different arcs for each of the characters, so there was a lot going on that required me to be attentive. It was interesting and I enjoyed it. Maybe next season I could ask Eric to let me play all the characters . . .

Cyn: Well, the fans have been bugging Eric Kripke for a body swap episode. So maybe one of the Winchester boys could change places with Castiel.

Misha: Oh, that would be fun. That would be a great opportunity to mock one another.

Cyn: If you made the switch, which of the boys would be easiest for you to mock. . . or shall we say, imitate?

Misha: (laughs) Jared and Jensen have both given me a lot of material to work with on the mocking, so it’s hard to say, probably a toss up. It would be more absurd for me to play Jared just because he seems so gigantic to me. He’s just so tall that there’s something in that that would be inherently, physically different. So, I think that that would probably be the most fun to do.

Cyn: When Castiel returned from his trip “home” he had some rather biting comments for Dean. What exactly happened up there to make him do such a 180?

Misha: I honestly don’t know that much more than you do about why the change in attitude, except for some things that I do know that you don’t know.

Cyn: Could you vague that up a bit more, Misha?

Misha: I’m guessing when I say, I think that [Castiel] was dragged up to heaven and he was tortured or very sternly rebuked in some way that, pardon the expression, put the fear of God back in him and now he’s back to toeing the party line, which is how he started.

I think that’s where Castiel was in episodes one and four of the season. But I think he started to have a lot of doubt and he started to develop a fondness for the boys and concern for their well being and I think that he was dragged back upstairs and. . . there was something a little bit telling in what Anna says. Something to the effect that it’s really, really bad news to be dragged back upstairs and that, to me, makes it sound like maybe there was some waterboarding that went on up there.

Cyn: That’s a tough concept for me. The fact that there are angels torturing angels in heaven.

Misha: Right. Well, you know in “On the Head of a Pin” we saw the angels asking Dean to do them a favor and help torture Alistair, so it’s certainly not something that is out of the realm of possibility. It’s something that’s in their toolbox that they would consider doing. It seems like, for angles, sometimes the ends do justify the means, which I think has been a source of a lot of Castiel’s doubt up until this point.

Cyn: Knowing how Supernatural likes to go out with a bang each season, I imagine you’ve had more than your share of hours on set recently.

Misha: The finale itself is a bigger episode than most, so they even added an extra day for the shooting just so they could get it all in. Definitely long hours but it’s a lot of fun.

Cyn: And will we be seeing more of you next season?

Misha: I got a letter, so it’s official and I’m delighted to be part of the show for next year.

Makes me happy, too, but I have to wonder. . . knowing nothing at all about how this season will end, I’m truly boggled by how Castiel will fit into the next season. Then again this is Supernatural, so Misha coming back doesn’t necessarily mean Castiel is coming back. I wouldn’t put it past Kripke to give us someone entirely new riding that talented body.

Don’t miss Supernatural, Thursdays at 9:00 on The CW.

*** Want more Supernatural scoop and a chance to win a prize autographed by Misha? Follow this Twitter: And follow me! * *  *

Photo Credit: The CW (C) The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

Post from: SF Universe

On a recent conference call with journalists, Fringe’s Olivia, Anna Torv was asked if she thought the extended break might drive viewers away. Her response was a bit more positive than mine.

Says Torv, “I really, really hope not. I think we’re kind of lucky in that if you are following it, there are things to follow, but if you are dropping in I still think that you’re going to be able to get your head around it, you’ll be able to grasp where we’re at. That’s always decisions that are way above me. I’ve been on a couple of different shows that have had really big breaks, and they’ve come back, and it hasn’t affected it at all, and some that it has. So I’m really hopeful that people tune back in and finish the journey with us.”

But despite the show’s attempts to write stand-alone plots for each episode, real enjoyment of the series hinges on the serial nature of the underlying mythology; Walter and Bell, the truth behind Massive Dynamic, the Observers, Peter’s past and hints of experimentation done on both him and Olivia as children.

Says Torv, “We’re shooting the finale at the moment, and I’m really excited. I think because we’re gearing for the end of this season, things have started to get a little bit more cemented. We shot an episode, which actually was directed by Akiva Goldsman (Angels & Demons), that pushes us a little bit deeper into some of the things we’ve been touching on. We slowly start to discover some things that happened to [Olivia] when she was really little that she doesn’t really remember. You start to see the stories, or the lives of Peter and Walter and Olivia kind of begin to interlace a little bit. And you sort of see how their paths have crossed before.”

I suppose that, to anyone coming in late, there are still plenty of elements you can enjoy. The action, for instance, which Torv refers to as “the running and gunning” and “the Walter and Peter Show” which is her term for the often comical scenes in the lab.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I realize just how much I’ve missed Fringe; the crazy science, the cool effects, the hidden details and the wacky and wonderful John Noble. And I certainly haven’t seen Joshua Jackson’s Peter used to his full potential. So yes, I’m on board – slightly confused and in need of a serious memory jog, but I’m on board for what I’m sure will be one wowzer of a season ender.

Says Torv, “I think it’s going to be really great.”

Fringe returns on Tuesday, April 7th with an episode titled “Inner Child.”

Just seconds before a building is demolished, a mysterious mute child that has been living alone underground is discovered. When the FBI’s Fringe Division investigates, the boy forms an unspoken connection with Agent Olivia Dunham. Meanwhile, an especially gruesome serial killer resurfaces and showcases his “artistry” by displaying his work publicly. As the boy gradually assimilates into a new environment, Olivia and the team must race against the clock to prevent the mad man from further macabre.

ANNA TORV photographed by George Holz for FOX. ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co.

Episodic photography Barbara Nitke/Craig Blankenhorn/FOX

Post from: SF Universe

You have had an amazing career, Twin Peaks, 24, Charmed, Dallas, Charlie’s Angels and you did A-Team!

Ray: Yeah, I got punched out by Mr. T on that show. And at the time I was, of course, much younger and I think I could have taken him but the script said that I had to fall down.

Looking at your resume, you don’t do a lot of comedy and yet here you are on Reaper.

Ray: No, I’m not known as being a comic actor, but obviously I have it in me. I’m enjoying the whole humorous aspect of it and playing the kind of a devil character that I play, you know? It’s not the stereotypical kind of devil. I sort of liken him to a cross between a good used car salesman and a game show host, with a touch of Carrie Grant thrown in. He’s sartorially resplendent and he takes obviously good personal care of himself. The body that he’s chosen to use while he’s interacting with the humans here on earth is one I think that he likes very much.

What I find really interesting is that even though the devil is the villain of the piece, we like him. He seems like a real fun guy!

Ray: I think that would be the ultimate devil, the guy who makes you feel good when you’re around him. He would be able to make you feel confidence not only in yourself, but in him.

Is any of that in your personally? Are you a good salesman yourself?

Ray: Well, I’ve been selling myself for about forty years now, so I guess you’d have to say that I am.

Has there been anything that really surprised you when you saw it on the page?

Ray: Yeah, all the time. Our writers are very clever and they write great dialogue and it’s never the obvious, it’s always something different and even strange sometimes, and I enjoy that.

And as evil as they want us to believe the devil is, it does seem that he is genuinely proud of his son, Sam.

Ray: Absolutely, yes. He loves mixing it up with the humans here on earth. That’s his realm that was giving to him by God. The devil is the lord of air and he’s in control here on this planet. And then there’s the fact that Sam is doing a good job here on earth. He’s trying to capture those bad souls that escaped from hell and put them back where they belong and that’s a good thing.

And that’s what’s funny about the plot from the beginning… Sam’s working for the devil, but in the long run he’s making the world a safer place.

Ray: Absolutely. It’s given him a purpose, he’s not longer a slacker, and he’s doing good.

Would you give me your thoughts on his bumbling sidekicks, Sock and Ben?

Ray: I love those guys. It’s just as fun for the devil to watch them as it is for the audience to watch them. They’re just a hoot. They’re young, they’re inexperienced in the ways of the world and just to watch them operate is hilarious.

Reaper is back for its second season. So what’s new?

Ray: This season is revelatory! We’re getting away from the escaped soul of the week and new characters come into the mix [including] demon gargoyles. You’re going to see more of how the devil operates and relates to a number of characters that come into the story.

You know, we wondered if we’d come back at all and to be able to do the thirteen new episodes was certainly a gift and we took full advantage of it. They ratcheted up the level of the writing considerably with some new great ideas and for my money our second season is far superior to the first season and I liked the first season a lot so I think the viewers are in for a real treat.

Now that you’re finished filming, what are you doing with your days?

Ray: I just hang out in my backyard and pick oranges. (Laugh) I’m just waiting to see how well Reaper does because I would really like to continue playing this character for a while if that’s possible. It’s really a good one and you hate to let go of those good ones.

Ray Wise’s devil — definitely one of the good ones.

Watch Reaper every Tuesday at 8:00 on The CW.

Photos:  Eric Ogden/Jack Rowand/Sergei Bachlakov/The CW

(C)2007 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

Post from: SF Universe

Bridget plays Kahlan, a “Confessor” who wields her magic as well as she wields a sword.  Together with the wizard Zed (Bruce Spence) and the Richard Cypher, the Seeker (Craig Horner) she sets out to stop the invasion of the evil Darken Rahl.

The series is filmed in a studio in New Zealand, but Bridget and her cast-mates spend plenty of time trekking through the incredible forests of the area. When I caught up with her she wasn’t running from the dastardly Rahl, but running to the wardrobe trailer for a fitting.

This definitely isn’t Law & Order.

Bridget: Yeah, it’s quite the opposite of what I was doing around this time last year but it’s pretty amazing. The physical challenges, emotional challenges, they’re not for the faint of heart. I feel quite proud of myself that I’ve been up for it and been quite blessed to be challenged as much as I have been. All the wonderful teachers that I have out here, the directors, horse wranglers and stunt coordinators and everyone are just amazing, and I feel quite lucky to work with such talent.

Talk to me about filming in New Zealand.

Bridget: The thing about New Zealand is they have a real respect for nature. We film on Maori land and everybody really respects it and keeps it with a lot of reverence, which is so cool. On our first day of shooting, we had a blessing from a local Maori elder – it was just amazing. I don’t think the show would work anywhere else. It’s the Midlands. It can’t look like Los Angeles. It has to look like uncharted territory and we have to make the audience believe in this world, otherwise they really won’t come along the journey with us. The art department is incredible and every prop, every piece of the set, the beautiful greenery and the backdrops that we work up against, they’re all just gorgeous.

The series is based on the books of Terry Goodkind. Were you familiar with them before you started filming?

Bridget: No, no, not at all. I actually wasn’t really a huge fantasy fan but now I love it all. I think the characters are exquisite and beautiful and complex and I have fallen head over heels in love with Kahlan and that’s what makes the job so good, it’s such a great role.

Does the fact that it comes from a set of books that people really love make it harder to play the role?

Bridget: The fans of the books feel that they know these characters and they want to protect them, so at first, I was a bit intimidated and scared. Don’t do this, do what they want, give them what they want to see and then, you know, after a while, I said, I know this woman. I know her and I’m going to stop wasting energy and not worry about whether it’s going to be right or not. It’s going to be okay, you are here today, go for it.

Do you reference the book for backstory on your character?

Bridget: I do. I have the book with me a lot of the times at work and I open it up and I’m reminded of who she is. As an actor, I couldn’t ask for anything better.

So what’s the biggest challenge that you face every day working on the show?

Bridget: I think its battling exhaustion. It’s not like I don’t love work. I love everyone on the set. I love the story that we’re telling and what we’re doing and everything but you know, I usually get up in the dark every day and do go to work in it every day and you work like a dog, but it’s glorious, even when it’s miserable. I know that years from now, I’m going to look back on this and be very proud and feel very blessed just doing what I do. But Craig (Horner) and I sometimes look at each other. It’s just like our eyes are crossing cause he’s in every scene. I get occasional early afternoons off but we do need stamina to keep going.

Have you had a chance to see the finished product at all?

Bridget: Yeah, it’s pretty funny because it’s been selling in so many different countries which is so exciting but it doesn’t air in New Zealand yet but I – this is so embarrassing – I buy it on ITunes.

So are you headed home to the US soon?

Bridget: Yes, my sister is getting married. I always had like this ticking clock of, Bridget has to leave, so I’m actually heading out a few days early to go and be my sister’s maid of honor.

Maybe while you’re home we’ll get to see you at Comic Con. We missed you last year.

Bridget: I would love to go to Comic Con, mostly because that’s where I grew up, in San Diego.  My mom and dad and sister went. I was already in New Zealand and they went and had a good time. My mom was up there shaking their hands with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert and everyone. It was pretty comical ’cause I hadn’t even been with them yet.

I heard that you guys got a pickup for a second season? Is that up for sure?

Bridget: Yes, yes, that’s how things work right now. I mean, sometimes I’m a bit of a skeptic and we’re like, ‘what if something doesn’t happen,’ but yes, looks like it. I’ve been really happy and positive and excited and grateful. . . all good things.

To find out when you can watch Legend of the Seeker in your area, visit the official website.

Photos courtesy of Bridget Regan and ABC Studios

Post from: SF Universe

What’s something you’ve done that there’s no way you’re ever doing that again?

Jonathan: (Laughs) That’s a great question. Hmm, get into a semi, hitchhiking, in the dead of winter, at night. I ended up crossing over two highways in upstate New York, in the 70s this was, so I think I’ve learned – I don’t hitchhike anymore and I certainly wouldn’t get in with a crazy truck driver.

That sounds like the start of a horror movie.

Jonathan: Well, it just about was. It was also just about the end of my life. It’s just something I’m not going to do again. I’m glad you asked, though.

Captain Kirk versus Captain Jack Sparrow (First time I’ve asked this of a Star Trek star)

Jonathan: Oh, not that I don’t love Bill Shatner, but I love Keith Richards more!

Did you miss part one where Jonathan talks about Leverage and his new series? No problem. Just click here for Jonathan Frakes Talks Leverage

Photo: TNT/Alan Markfield – Jonathan Frakes (right) with Brent Spiner and Lauren Holly on the set of Leverage

Post from: SF Universe

Tonight, Star Trek: The Next Generation Star Jonathan Frakes, exerts his own kind of leverage when he takes over the helm of the TNT series. The episode is called “The Juror No 6 Job” and features a few Frakes friends that any good scifi fan should recognize – Brent Spiner and Armin Shimerman.

Leverage and Star Trek stars — that’s a combo I couldn’t pass up, so I got Jonathan on the last call of the day just as he was headed out to do the DVD commentary for the Leverage DVD.

Every TV show has its own style and pace, so what makes Leverage Leverage?

Jonathan: The heist! We all love heist movies and I’ve been looking for a heist movie to do for many years. So when Dean sold this series it was a great opportunity to make a little mini movie every week and also, it doesn’t hurt that this cast is so fabulous.

When you say, I want this to look like a movie, how dowse that translate to your role as a director?

Jonathan: We’ve got a wonderful DP named Dave Connell, who’s been my personal favorite. He did the Librarian movies with us and he’s maintained a look and we have a real strong philosophy about moving the camera and also the writing, John Rodgers and Chris Downey and the writing staff, you know, there are sometimes 90 scenes in these shows so it’s not sit down and two guys talking in a room very often.

I was particularly impressed with Aldis Hodge (Jake from Supernatural), in this episode. He blows me away.

Jonathan: He’s wonderful in the last act, isn’t he? Because you’re so used to him being a wise ass, when he pulls out the serious card, especially for fans of the show, it’s going to be a wonderful revelation to see him play that particular emotion.

Did you have to really pull that from him or did he go right there? Cause he seems like more of a comedy guy, to me.

Jonathan: He is more of a comedy guy. It took more than one take, but it was clearly a club that he had in his bag and I just had to provide an atmosphere that he was comfortable in and trust that he could do that. So, I think it was good for both of us.

I heard that you were in on the casting a little bit with Brent and Armin?

Jonathan: I did a little plug for the casting. When I read the script, I said this would be a great part for Brent. Dean was also a fan of Brent from having used him in Independence Day. So we got Brent on board. Then, in the casting session I’m thinking, we don’t have to read people for this corrupt juror – what about Armin Shimerman? They said, oh, we love Armin. I said, let’s use Armin and wait a minute, his wife, Kitty – I want to use a female judge, let’s use Kitty, let’s offer it to both of them. So then everybody’s life became easier. I got friends on the set who I knew were going to be great in the parts and now, fast forward another couple of month and we’ve got a win win.

Do we have more episodes of Leverage coming up from you?

Jonathan: Yes, they just got picked up for next season and Dean’s asked me to do a few for him, so I’m really thrilled to be back.

And we saw you in a little cameo too, did we not? A week ago?

Jonathan: I did get pulled out of the office when I was prepping. He said, “come here, come here, sit down, sit next to Tim, I need somebody to do this little bit.” So, that’s a perfect example of the way Electric Entertainment works.

Other projects you’ve got coming up?

Jonathan:  I’m leaving on Wednesday to go down [to Mexico] to do a series called Persons Unknown, which is a psychological drama. Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie) did the pilot.

It’s loosely based on The Prisoner, that old English series, and Lost, people who get kidnapped and brought into this 1950s B.F. Skinner behavioral town. They’re trying to figure out why they’re there, who they are, and there are surveillance cameras in every room . . .it’s like a horror movie.

We’re doing 12 or 13 of them for Fox Television but we’re still waiting on an air date.

Watch Leverage tonight and every Tuesday night at 10:00 on TNT and come back tomorrow when Jonathan answers two of my favorite random questions.

Photo: TNT/Alan Markfield

Post from: SF Universe