WEBSITE: TVLine.com

WRITTEN BY: Matt Webb Mitovich

DIRECT LINK: http://www.tvline.com/2011/02/abcs-v-raises-the-stakes-who-will-die-next/

ABC’s V ( Tuesdays at 9/8c ) last week raised the stakes and drew clear lines in the sand, as the death of Tyler’s dad and several Fifth Column members led Erica to accept Eli Cohen’s challenge and take a much more aggressive stance against the Visitors.. When Ryan emerges from the literal rubble of that explosive incident, will he attempt to rejoin the Fifth Column ranks he betrayed?? Or will he ally himself with his queen, Anna, assuring his ill daughter of unlimited Bliss??

Morris Chestnut, whom you may have thought died a traitor’s death, previews his V‘s difficult road ahead.. Plus: Get his take on the action – packed season finale that will say goodbye to multiple cast members..

TVLine: What goes through your mind as you read a script where Ryan is beaten, bloodied and tied to a chair in a building that blows up??
Morris Chestnut: You mean after I leave the unemployment office or before I go?? [ Laughs ] It’s a scary thing, man – I was like, ” Wow, I guess my character is going out like this!!” – but I think it was good for the story, because you never know who’s going to live, who’s going to die.. Those sorts of unexpected situations keep viewers on their toes..

TVL: And this week, what, Ryan simply rises from the ashes??
MC: Well, the thing about being a V is you can take off the skin and put it on any lizard.. So I don’t know if I’m going to rise from the ashes or what.. I’m going to tune in Tuesday to see exactly!! [ Laughs ]

TVL: Will his next move be to try and make amends with the Fifth Column, or ingratiate himself with Anna and work from inside??
MC: I’m thinking he’ll definitely have to try to work both sides, because right now he has no one.. He did some deeds for Anna, for his baby, and in doing so he betrayed the Fifth Column.. He has to do something to get back in their good graces..

TVL: It could be that even though he’s now the weakest link in the Fifth Column, he’s in fact the greatest threat against Anna..
MC: Yes, he’s a weak link because Anna has leverage [ Against him ], but he also has leverage over her, in terms of being able to gather information.. So as long as I’m in Anna’s good graces and I can run around that ship, I can be of use to the Fifth Column.. If they use him correctly, he could be a great threat..

TVL: I was wondering if he and his daughter will forever be at Anna’s mercy, or might there ultimately be a ” loophole,” some alternate remedy..
MC: Well, considering what happened in the last episode, where Eli ended up dying because of what I did, I think Anna will consider that a pretty good deed..

TVL: Oh, so maybe she’ll give his daughter a ” perma – blast ” of Bliss…?
MC: [ Laughs ] She’ ll never do that, because Anna is a very savvy lizard – woman.. She’ll always keep her options open.. But what Ryan just did gained him  trust in her eyes..

TVL: Executive producer Scott Rosenbaum told TV Guide Magazine that the Season Two finale ( Tentatively set to air March 15 ) may kill off as many as three characters.. I have to think that if Ryan survived this scare, there’s no way he’s in danger next time around..
MC: I would like to think that, but you never know.. The thing with V is no one is safe.. It’s a great, action – packed season finale with a lot of cliff – hangers going on.. I know a lot of people liked the last episode because there was a lot going on, there was a lot at stake, there was action and death.. In the season finale, we ramp that up even more, and there are probably about three more deaths.. It’s on and poppin’.. It’s on and poppin’!!

Posted on - 24-02-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Articles, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Crew, Episode, Interview, Morris Chestnut, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: TVGuide.com

WRITTEN BY: William Keck

DIRECT LINK: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Vs-1029671.aspx

Leapin’ lizards!! V‘s March 15 season finale will kill off up to one – third of its cast!! With only central characters Anna ( Morena Baccarin ) and Erica ( Elizabeth Mitchell ) safe, Executive Producer Scott Rosenbaum says two or ” possibly even three “ of the following actors have been let go: Scott Wolf ( Chad ), Logan Huffman ( Tyler ), Morris Chestnut ( Ryan ), Joel Gretsch ( Father Jack ), Laura Vandervoort ( Lisa ) and Jane Badler ( Diana ).. Hoping the bold move will get him a third – season renewal from ABC, Rosenbaum says he chose his victims based on ” what would be most devastating for the characters I want to continue..”

” People are going to be shocked,” promises Laura, sounding as if she made the cut.. ” When we read the script there was initially shock, then sadness..” So who got the ax?? Considering Laura says the firings were like ” seeing your son go off to college or grandma passing,” I’m guessing college – age Tyler, Granny Diana and underused Chad may not be long for this world..

But V isn’t waiting until the big deaths to amp up the drama.. The show is about to revive the original ’80s miniseries’ parallels to Nazi Germany.. In the March 1 episode, Anna unveils a machine that extracts Earthlings’ most attractive DNA traits ( Beauty, fertility, immunity, strength, intelligence ) as part of her plan to breed an interplanetary Master Race, while annihilating those she deems inferior.. ” There is obviously a comparison to Hitler,” says Laura.. ” I think it makes for good television, but I don’t know how I feel about it.. It’s a good thing to remember the past, but it’s creepy and not easy to think about..”

Posted on - 22-02-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Articles, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Crew, Episode, Interview, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: AssignmentX.com

WRITTEN BY: Abbie Bernstein

DIRECT LINK: http://www.assignmentx.com/2011/exclusive-interview-v-star-joel-gretsch-doesnt-let-those-lizards-get-under-his-collar/

In Season Two of V, it’s become pretty clear that the alien Visitors, lead by Morena Baccarin’s stern Anna, do not have the best interests of humanity at heart.. What the Vs do have is an enormous amount of high – tech weaponry.. Standing against them are a small group of mixed humans and Vs known as the Fifth Column.. Joel Gretsch plays Father Jack Landry, a key member of the Fifth Column whose faith is powerfully tested by both the existence and actions of the Visitors..

Gretsch is something of a genre veteran – he was in the extraterrestrial miniseries TAKEN and on The 4400 from 2004 through 2007 – but playing a man of the cloth calls for a new perspective, he says at a party thrown by ABC at the Pasadena Langham Hotel for the Television Critics Association.. Here’s what he has to say about the evolution of Season Two..

Assignment X: Did you do any research into either priests or freedom fighters to play this role??
Joel Gretsch: I actually did a lot.. I thought it was very fascinating how someone becomes a priest, because it’s not easy to become a priest.. They [ People in the Church hierarchy ] question you a lot, if you’re ready for this commitment, and that goes on for some time, and to devote yourself to a belief of a higher power and the question of faith is such an intangible thing.. I remember saying a long time ago to my mother, ” Mom, I’d have more faith if I would see more evidence..” And she’s like, ” Well, that’s the opposite of faith – faith is having it without having the evidence..” And it’s so hard to do that..

AX: How does Father Jack view the Visitors in terms of proof of God?? Are they a big test of faith??
JG: That was the question that was proposed in the pilot for Father Jack.. Becoming a priest, there’s a lot of research.. There’s a lot of studying you do of the Bible and there’s a lot of research.. And so the Vatican is telling him that every creature is God’s creature.. Well, okay, [ The Visitors are ] not in the Scriptures.. This is not what I’ve ever read about.. So this is a departure.. You’re just telling me this.. And then the reveal, the first time out that they’re not here with good intentions – everything gets thrown.. Jack’s world is upside – down..

Everything that Jack thought was one way is the opposite way now.. And it’s challenging.. It’s also, for someone who has devoted himself his whole life to the Church, now he has to go against the Church, because of all the information that’s been [ Discovered ], and also the circumstances.. The circumstances are huge.. The obstacles are huge.. Anna’s here for bad reasons and the demise of mankind.. Jack has to do something about it.. He has to be a fighter..

AX: At this point, does Jack think he’s fighting for God, or does he think God has stepped away, or is  this a challenge to his faith altogether??
JG: I don’t know.. I show up, I hit my mark – no, I’m kidding.. There’s so much going on in this season that there isn’t a lot of time to question those things.. Every episode has so many things getting tossed everybody’s way, and I’m part of the Fifth Column.. We’ve got to figure out what we have to do to stop Anna.. Now, his belief in what God [ Wants ] is more of a private moment, but I think Jack’s working that out as we go..

AX: How does Father Jack reconcile his beliefs with the increasingly violent actions taken by some of the Fifth Column??
JG: Well, what was revealed about Father Jack in the first season was that I’ve done two tours of Iraq, so I’ve been around war before.. I’ve seen casualties.. We’re at war again with Anna.. And there are going to be casualties.. We don’t want to be flippant about it.. I think Jack’s caution to the Fifth Column has always been, ” Wait, we have to look at what we’re doing.. We don’t want innocents to be killed in this..” And unfortunately, through this season, there are going to be casualties that are unavoidable.. And that is the dilemma that Jack has to reconcile with.. It’s not easy.. It’s a very difficult thing to reconcile..

AX: There’s also a question being raised on the show about whether the Visitors have souls …
JG: [ Whether one is ] religious or not religious, if you’ve ever seen somebody or had somebody die, a loved one – my grandfather passed away – you could tell that something left.. Now, that comes in question with Anna.. The Vs are different than humans.. That’s a wonderful thing that the writers kind of wove into this season, that aspect of it.. Not just from a religious standpoint – it’s kind of innately I think who we all are as humans..

AX: What would you say Father’s Jack role is within the Fifth Column??
JG: I’m an integral part of the Fifth Column, and everybody that we have in the Fifth Column, even though we’re a small group, we’re all very important and we need each other to do what we have to do and we’re trying to expand and get more people, but Jack keeps everybody grounded..

I mean, Elizabeth Mitchell’s character is being challenged with her son and how he’s started to go over to the Vs.. Now, if it’s hard not to react from a human standpoint when someone you love is being pulled away like that.. Jack has to go, ” Whoa, whoa, whoa, we can’t be flippant about this..” But she’s going, ” They took my son!!” And she’s reacting [ As ] a mother who would do anything for her son.. But I’ve got to look at the whole scope of who else is involved.. It’s a very complex, wonderful conflict that we have in the show, where we’re working as a group, but when it becomes personal, it’s hard not to be reactive from a personal standpoint..

AX: We know Marc Singer, a veteran of the original V series, is coming on this season as a freedom fighter.. Given that the two of you look somewhat similar, are your characters going to be related in some way??
JG: Stay tuned.. I don’t know.. I mean, it’s great.. When I saw Marc on the set, I made a beeline to him.. I wanted to talk to him and say, ” How does it feel to be here??” He was so great.. He seemed proud of the fact that [ He was part of ] the V from the past and now being there and excited about going to the set and do the scene and he was wonderful.. I can see why [ Original V creator ] Kenneth Johnson, what he did a long time ago, was genius.. When the cogs in the wheel all fit and they all work, from Jane Badler [ Diana on the original series, Anna’s mother in this version ] to [ Marc Singer ] – it was a great group of people who did the show together back then and it all worked.. And he was a wonderful peer and I really enjoyed talking with him and being with him..

AX: Do you have a favorite scene or episode you’ve gotten to do in the two seasons so far??
JG: Yeah.. I love working with Elizabeth Mitchell [ As Erica Evans ] and Charles Mesure [ As Kyle Hobbes ].. Morris Chestnut [ As Ryan Nichols ] is just a fantastic guy.. I think a lot of the Fifth Column stuff has been great to work on in that capacity.. But I’ve got to tell you, my favorite scenes are really with Chad Decker, [ Played by ] Scott Wolf, in the church.. Scott Wolf is intensely intelligent and he’s got a mercurial, passioante kind of mind.. We talk about scenes before we do them.. We’re very methodical, we have the same kind of take on things and it’s fun to be able to be that creative with him when we get to do a scene.. So all that stuff in the church, when he comes to me, I love those scenes..

AX: Since the show runners are down here in Los Angeles and the series is filmed in Canada, when the actors want to communicate with the show runners, when they want to communicate with you, how is that actually done??
JG: Thank goodness for modern technology.. When you email [ Show runner ] Scott Rosenbaum, he emails you immediately back.. So there’s never a time when you’re waiting without information.. That’s been great.. It’s just great seeing him because I like him, he’s a good guy and to be able to email..

AX: Do you have any other projects going on that we should know about??
JG: Yes.. I was actually putting something together just before the holidays.. It’s a wonderful independent film – some friends of mine are putting together a story that I’ve believed in a long time.. So we’ll see where it goes..

AX: Is this something that you’ll star in??
JG: Yes. And direct, actually.. All of us actors have a part of us that wants to direct..

Posted on - 09-02-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Articles, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Crew, Episode, Interview, Joel Gretsch, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Posted on - 06-02-2011
Categories: ABC, Actor / Actress, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Crew, Episode, Interview, PodCast, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series, Video - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Jane Badler ( Diana ) recently headed over to Spain, to promote Season Two of V..

Posted on - 29-01-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Cast, Character, Event, Jane Badler, Pics, Season Two, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Posted on - 29-01-2011
Categories: ABC, Actor / Actress, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Crew, Episode, Interview, PodCast, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series, Video - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: TeenTelevision.com

WRITTEN BY: Lynn Barker

DIRECT LINK: http://www.teentelevision.com/2011/01/12/morena-baccarin-vs-evil-alien-queen

This new season, original 1980’s evil ” V “ commander Diana played by the still stunning Jane Badler, returns as Anna’s mom.. We had to know about their relationship, the addition of original ” V “ star Marc Singer to the cast, Morena’s continuing encounters with fans of Firefly and we asked if she is trying to put a little ” humanity ” into Anna.. Picture the actress in a gorgeous black cocktail dress..

TeenTelevision: How has it been to work with Jane Badler as Anna’s mom??
Morena Baccarin: She’s really awesome.. We went out a few times in Vancouver together.. She’s really sweet.. We had dinner and hung out.. I met her husband, who’s really awesome.. It’s been fun to have her around..

TT: How much more intense will their relationship get this season??
MB: It gets pretty intense.. Even lizards get annoyed by their moms.. She does a really good job of pushing my buttons.. We have an intense relationship and it gets pretty fueled up.. At the end, in the season finale, they really go head – to – head..

TT: When did you know that she would be playing your mother??
MB: I had been told that they were looking for somebody, right before we started shooting last year.. And then, we found out that she was one of the top contenders..

TT: Had you seen her in the role of Diana on the original TV show??
MB: Of course.. Who can forget?? She gave me goosebumps growing up.. I think I spent many sleepless nights because of her..

TT: Your character Anna has a bit more of an emotional side this season.. How do you find that balance??
MB: I’m trying.. I think it’s important to humanize her because that is the interesting struggle for this character; to have her not be human, but struggling with human things.. Just like any creature coming into a new environment, you have all these outside forces that influence you..

TT: Who would you love to see as a guest star on the show??
MB: A lot of us on the show are obsessed with ” Modern Family “ and we think there should be a switch.. The whole family can come aboard the mothership, and then maybe we can come over for dinner or something..

TT: That would be hilarious.. Is there anything you can hint at, as far as what’s coming up on the show??
MB: Marc Singer [ Original 1980’s " V " star ] is going to be on the show in the season finale, so that’s really fun.. It’s a great reveal..

TT: Are his pants going to be as tight as they were in the ‘80’s?? That was legendary at the time..
MB: [ Laughs ] I hope so!!  He’s playing one of the leaders of a different branch of the Fifth Column [ Resistance ].. I won’t reveal exactly what it is, but it’s a much bigger Fifth Column than exists right now..

TT: Will you have any scenes with him??
MB: I don’t have any scenes with him, no.. Not yet..

TT: Is it something that will continue to Season Three, if there is one??
MB: Yes, definitely.. He would be on the show.. He’s essentially joining the show, if we get another season..

TT: How will the relationship between Anna and her daughter Lisa continue to develop??
MB: We have an interesting dynamic.. She’s actually becoming a little more human and going more towards Erica’s ( Elizabeth Mitchell ) section [ Of the Resistance ] than mine.. I’m still breeding her to be Queen and wanting her to have that hardness that I have, but I start to see that she maybe doesn’t have that in her..

This hybrid baby plays a big role, as something that gets between our relationship, because I start to develop feelings for this little baby..

TT: What was your reaction the first time you saw the effects that they did with your character, especially when her mouth really grows and she has scary teeth??
MB: It is totally bizarre.. I’m so glad that I rely on amazing people to make me look like that ‘cause it could go terribly wrong.. But, it’s weird.. It’s awkward shooting it.. You have to pretend that you’re doing it, and then you’re not really doing it.. But then I saw it and I think they did such a phenomenal job with that.. It’s so weird..

TT: Are you able to give a lot of input into your character??
MB: Not as much as I would like to.. I have some ideas and I would like to get them pushed through, but there’s a network and studios and a lot of people to okay anything.. I definitely get stuff out there and talk with the writers and producers.. Scott Rosenbaum is really sweet and will listen to whatever I say.. It’s been fun to create this character..

TT: Do people still ask you about ” Firefly”  and your work on that show??
MB: They do, all the time.. People come up to me and say, ” I love V, but by the way, I’m a big ” Firefly ” fan..” It’s always what they say..

TT: Do you ever talk to Joss Whedon about working together again, either on another ” Firefly ” movie or something else??
MB: I would say that project is probably dead, but I keep in touch with him.. I’m just looking for an opportunity to work with him again.. He’s so great..

Posted on - 25-01-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Articles, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Episode, Interview, Morena Baccarin, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Posted on - 21-01-2011
Categories: ABC, Actor / Actress, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Crew, Episode, Interview, PodCast, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series, Video - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

WEBSITE: Ign.com

WRITTEN BY: Eric Goldman

DIRECT LINK: http://au.tv.ign.com/articles/114/1143874p1.html

We’re about to meet a much more radical faction of the Fifth Column on V, as Eli Cohn, referenced in the most recent episode, makes his debut in the fourth episode of Season Two..

A former Mossad agent, Cohn and his followers are willing to go to lengths Erica ( Elizabeth Mitchell ) and her allies have not up until now, in order to stop the Visitors.. IGN has your first look at Cohn, as played by Oded Fehr ( The Mummy ).. Check out our exclusive image of Fehr and Elizabeth Mitchell, from the episode ” Unholy Alliance,” airing February 1st on ABC..

Posted on - 15-01-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Articles, Behind the Scenes, Cast, Character, Episode, Oded Fehr, Pics, Season Two, Spoilers, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -

Joel Gretsch ( Father Jack Landry ), Laura Vandervoort ( Lisa ) and Morena Baccarin ( Anna ) recently attended the Disney / ABC Winter Press Tour..

Posted on - 15-01-2011
Categories: Actor / Actress, Cast, Character, Event, Joel Gretsch, Laura Vandervoort, Morena Baccarin, Pics, V: The New Series - Author: madbeeotch - Comments: Leave a Comment -