S. Epatha Merkerson by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
S. Epatha Merkerson will return to Broadway in a Manhattan Theatre Club revival of the William Inge drama Come Back, Little Sheba, previewing Jan. 3, 2008, and then opening Jan. 24. Per the AP, Merkerson will star as lonely housewife Lola, a role that in the original 1950 production garnered Shirley Booth a Tony (and then an Oscar, for the film adaptation).
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Question: I just read an interview with S. Epatha Merkerson in which she was asked about being the senior cast member of Law & Order. Has Sam Waterston been removed? It's bad enough to lose Fred Thompson, but if Sam Waterston goes, I will no longer watch, in spite of the other good cast members. He is the show!
Answer: I don't think she was talking about age. She was referring to the fact that she has the most longevity of any remaining cast regular. She joined L&O a season before Sam Waterston, although I agree it's almost hard (repeats aside) to remember a time when either one wasn't on it. For the record, Waterston is staying on the job, but he's taking over Thompson's DA position. There's more casting to be announced, clearly, but they have time, since the show isn't scheduled to return until after football season is over in January ...
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S. Epatha Merkerson
On Monday at 9 pm/ET, S. Epatha Merkerson costars with Jennie Garth and Andrea Bowen (Julie Mayer on Desperate Housewives) in the Lifetime drama Girl, Positive, about a high-school honor student who contracts HIV. We spoke with the Emmy-winning actress about the TV-movie gig, big changes at Law & Order and her secretive stint on The Closer.
TV Guide: What do you hope viewers will come away with after watching Girl, Positive? S. Epatha Merkerson: Most importantly, the fact that AIDS and HIV are still a part of our lives and young people need to be aware of
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S. Epatha Merkerson by Virginia Sherwood/NBC Photo
There certainly seems to be a "No Shrinking Violets" sign posted outside the TNT studios. During a conference call to tout the June 18 return of The Closer, series star Kyra Sedgwick — herself a Golden Globe winner — told TVGuide.com that in addition to meeting Brenda's father (a role as yet uncast), a doctor for the deputy chief will enter the mix, played by Law & Order vet S. Epatha Merkerson, who grabbed an Emmy for her turn in Lackawanna Blues. "She'll be around for a few episodes," Sedgwick told us. "So that's been really exciting."Having screened the new season's first episode, it's not revealing too much to say that when we revisit Brenda Leigh's world, she is under the gun to streamline her squad by at least one detective. But as for whether that has resulted in any cast changes among the PhDers, she said, "No, not yet."Which returning summer series do you most anxiously await? Vote here (bottom right).
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Currently in the pipeline here and there:ABC: Per Variety, the network is fast-tracking The Great American Dream Vote, an unscripted series in which a group of people share their dreams with a studio audience, and then square off in head-to-head competitions. At the end of each show, viewers vote for which person deserves to have their wish realized.HBO: Kanye West will star in a reality series directed by Borat's Larry Charles, which focuses on a day in the singer's hectic life. Also, Ruben Santiago-Hudson is penning a drama series based on his autobiographical play and film Lackawanna Blues. Per Reuters, Law & Order's S. Epatha Merkerson has not been approached to reprise her role as Nanny.Sci Fi Channel: A green light has been given to Destination Truth, a six-episode, globe-trotting adventure series out to prove or debunk supernatural legends.Disney Channel: A second season of Handy Manny has been ordered. The cabler is also seeking viewer input on High School Musical 2, via...
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S. Epatha Merkerson, Law & Order
S. Epatha Merkerson likely gave fans of NBC's Law & Order (Wednesdays at 10pm/ET) a jolt with her downright giddy acceptance speech at this year's Golden Globes. Far from the levelheaded sobriety of her TV alter ego, Lt. Anita Van Buren, Merkerson let it all hang out. "I feel like I'm 16!" gushed the 53-year-old stage and screen veteran as she accepted the best-actress award for her role in HBO's Lackawanna Blues TV-movie. "And if I wasn't in the middle of a hot flash, I'd believe that."
Merkerson's been feeling a lot of warmth lately. She's not only the longest-running cast member on Law & Order but the "longest-running African-American woman on a television drama." That makes her,
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Screen Actors Guild Awards The night actors pat each other on the back. Much like the Golden Globes, there wasn't a host. There were plenty of awkward moments of presenter chatter, and TelePrompTer problems out the Ziyi Zhang. Everyone was having issues reading the thing, except for the wonder known as Dakota Fanning. I mean, the 11-year-old was unflappable as she introduced Shirley Temple Black's life achievement portion of the evening. I seriously think she's genetically enhanced, like one of those Dark Angel characters. Some other highlights:
- I much appreciated the Peter Graves-Barbara Bain Mission: Impossible reunion, PrompTer issues and all.- I admit it: While I thought the beginning "I'm an actor" monologues were supremely cheesy, I fell for them. - Apparently, if your name's S. Epatha Merkers
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As long as Lost and Brokeback Mountain won the big awards, which they did, anything else that happened at the historically random (and often, randomly hilarious) Golden Globes was gravy to me.
What I love about the Golden Globes as a TV show is the rare opportunity to see movie and TV stars — or, in the case of Felicity Huffman, one and the same — share the spotlight. After all, where would a multinominated movie star and director like George Clooney be without TV having made him what he is? And then there's Geena Davis, resplendent in red and accepting her Commander in Chief Globe with a hilarious mock anecdote of how inspiring her presidential role is to some little girl she made up. She has gone from TV to movies (and an
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Question: Last night the dinner discussion was Pee-wee's Playhouse and we were trying to recall who was who on the show. We remembered that Samuel L. Jackson was the cowboy, but was he also the King of Cartoons? Phil Hartman was the genie, but who made up the rest of the cast? Also, wasn't the show cancelled after Paul Reubens' arrest in Florida? It was a great show (except the cartoons were rather dumb, in our opinion). Thanks.
Answer: One can only hope your food was better than your memory, Laura, for your facts are just slightly off (though I commend you on your taste — the show was indeed great and I'm betting you folks make for an entertaining dining experience).
Since there were way too many characters and cast members for my fingers (and your eyes) to cover in this column, I'll just hit the most recognizable players. First off, you've fallen victim to the same phenomenon that, according to re
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Question: So how did you do on your predictions? Who should win vs who will win vs who did win? I could do the math myself, but perhaps everyone would like to see the results!
Answer: Like many another so-called "expert," I did even worse than usual this year. But honestly, given the results, I'm accepting that as a badge of honor. Of the 17 categories I went on the record to predict, I pegged only eight right: for drama (Lost), lead actor in drama (James Spader), supporting actress in comedy (Doris Roberts), movie (Warm Springs), lead actor in movie (Geoffrey Rush), music/variety/comedy series (The Daily Show), reality program (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which was announced a week earlier) and reality-competition program (The Amazing Race). If you count my "should wins," you can add two more: for miniseries (The Lost Prince) and lead actress in movie (S. Epatha Merkerson). Of all the categories I flubbed altogether, the one I'm most at peace with is Felicity Huffman winning as
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