Chris O'Dowd and Tom Bennett
It can't be easy to learn that one's ancestor is a literal horse's ass. But sad-sack Londoner Tom Chadwick takes such news in stride, again quite literally, as he acquires his great-grandfather's horse costume from a long-ago pantomime show, and after trying the rear end on for size, adds it to his collection of quirky family keepsakes.
HBO's droll-to-the-point-of-precious and occasionally delightful Family Tree (Sunday, 10:30/9:30c) follows Tom on an offbeat personal odyssey into his cloudy lineage. "In our clan, family is what disappears when you're not looking at it," says his retired dad, who keeps busy inventing useless objects like a fan for shoe trees. The dad is played by Michael McKean, who like the rest of the cast often talks directly into the camera, mock-documentary/improvisation style. The casting and the format are two of the more obvious signs that Tree is a Christopher Guest production.
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Sherry Stringfield, D.B. Woodside
ER vet Sherry Stringfield and 24 alum D.B. Woodside (former president Wayne Palmer) have joined the cast of Back, the CBS drama pilot starring Skeet Ulrich as a man who returns home to discover he was reported missing eight years earlier, after 9/11.
Stringfield will play ...
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Sherry Stringfield
Sherry Stringfield is returning to ER, a source close to the deal has confirmed to TVGuide.com.
Stringfield's participation is the latest in a slew of alums who have signed off to send off the show in its final season, a group that already includes Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies and George Clooney.
Stringfield played Dr. Susan Lewis on NBC's medical drama from 1994-1996 and then returned to the show in 2001 for another four seasons. No word on how Dr. Lewis will reappear this time.
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Olivia Wilde (House), Ali Larter (Heroes), Kiefer Sutherland (24
Senior editors Matt Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor and Tim Molloy answer your questions. Drop us a line at mega_scoop@tvguide.com.
House is my favorite show, but I am getting sick of this season's Thirteen-centered storylines. When will we see more of Wilson, who has been woefully underused? — Gillian
MATT: Personally, I'm (Olivia) Wilde for Thirteen, partly because her portrayer gives great quotes on the red carpet (and, ahem, is definitely not chilly). But I hear your woe, and can promise that Robert Sean Leonard has meaty stuff coming up later this season, only some of which has to do with Wilson's long-lost brother. Also, for what it's worth (and as hinted at this week), we'll also be spending a bit more time with Peter Jacobson's Taub.
I hear that either Hayden Panettiere or Ali Larter wants to be released from her Heroes contract. Is this true? — Brian
TIM: One of the key Heroes dies at the end of this volume, so that would be an easy out. But Larter ...
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William Fichtner by Jordan Strauss/ WireImage.com
Prison Break's William Fichtner has broken out into a new role.The actor, who plays Agent Mahone on the Fox series, has landed the lead role in the new TNT drama Night and Day, The Hollywood Reporter reports.Joining him on the series is another TV familiar face: former ER staffer Sherry Stringfield.Described as "fast-paced" and "gritty," Night will explore the life of Fichtner's Dan Hollister, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent who works for a special threat intervention task force. Stringfield will play his stay-at-home wife, Elizabeth.It is unsure how the deal will affect Fichtner's role on Prison Break, but his contract expires after this season.Night will be written and produced by Todd Robinson and 24 mastermind Joel Surnow, who helped Fichtner snag the role of Hollister. — Joyce Eng
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OK, the titles are getting a little too pun-tastic for me now. For those of you who are too young to get the pun (*gasp*), the title refers to arguably, the most famous and most watched episode of TV: The "Who Shot J.R.?" episode of Dallas. Just Google it.Anyhoo, we start out in an art gallery workshop with a couple arguing. Don't know the dude, but the wifey is none other than monotone Sherry Stringfield from ER! I guess her name is Marci, and she yelling at her husband (Jay) to stop seeing his mistress. What a pig. Mr. Sensitivity tells Marci that he will stop, but she's the publicity director for the museum and their paths will cross, so just "grow up." What an ouche-day ag-bay (my attempt at phonetic Pig Latin). Marci shifts gears and asks Jay what he's up to (by boxing up paintings in containers). He says he getting ready to ship some paintings he acquired from a private collection to overseas buyers. Marci asks astutely, "By acquired, you mean stole?" Heh. Atta girl... I can s...
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Sherry Stringfield courtesy United Talent Agency
She isnt doling out tough love as ERs Dr Susan Lewis anymore On In Plain Sight Sundays at 10 pmET USA Sherry Stringfield plays against type as a wife in denial about her shifty art-dealer spouse Our prescription Youve gotta watch GJ DonnellyTV Guide How does your character land in Witness Protection Sherry Stringfield There are these cool art people in New York and she discovers this big scam thats going on and a murder happens She has to go into witness protection because people are making millions off of this Shes very devoted to her husband and its different from what I normally play Shes very na239ve about his behavior and keeps thinking this a great guy and nothings going on in the face of him being basically arrestedTV Guide What attracted you to the showStringfield I think its a cool idea Im surprised no one had done it What does happen to people in the witness protection program I like the style of it I love New Mexico I think
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The couples we've been following so closely went through some changes this week, mostly by their own choosing.Rita is separating from Dan, and it upsets Katie's world. Katie is freaked out that this could be the answer to her marital problems. Even though she is surprised that Katie is surprised at her actions, Rita has proven that having a baby is not a good solution to save a marriage.Unsatisfied with redoing the patio every year, Katie makes changes by seeking a job interview, going clothes shopping and getting a makeup makeover (with "Love Crush" blush). It not only shows Katie asserting herself and elevating her self-esteem but using avoidance tactics and being somewhat irresponsible by dropping her family responsibilities and ditching therapy.Dave, now stranded, goes mano a mano with Dr. May, which was probably the most open and in touch we've seen him yet. He loves Katie but resents her and wants to know if their feelings can come back. We later learn that Dr. May was stumped...
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Becoming a sexual person is a memorable part of growing up, but how many can say that it started when watching the movie Swimfan? Isabella can. She is becoming a young woman, exploring the changes in her body and poses questions about them to her mother. As someone who now wants to avoid talking about sex in therapy, Katie seemed to respond sensitively and was comfortable telling Isabella it's OK to touch herself.Dr. May is two minutes late for their session and Katie is ready to bolt. But therapy must be working because the tables have turned. Dave is now the one who wants to stay and talk. I'm not clear on Katie's about-face regarding therapy. She is probably getting closer to the heart of her problem and is afraid to go there. With Dr. May firing direct questions about orgasms and sexual positions (he likes Katie on top, she prefers the opposite), Katie is out of her comfort zone. I don't think her revelation of wanting to raise another baby will ease the pain — it will only...
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Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner (what, couldn't score a Cleo?) Rita Moreno will guest-star on a May episode of Ugly Betty, playing (along with Six Feet Under's Justina Machado) long-lost Suarez family members. In the same ep, Rebecca Gayheart (Vanished) plays a woman Alex dated before his (her?) faked death. I see a chance here to put Aniston-Cox to shame. In other casting news, Billy Dee Williams is on board for SOAPnet's General Hospital spin-off. See Soaps News for deets.... Jane Lynch returns to Two and a Half Men on April 23.... Joey Lawrence is a serial killer on the April 25 CSI:NY.... ER alum Sherry Stringfield defends a child abductor on Shark April 26.... Joel Murray (Dharma & Greg) hangs with CBS' Men April 30 (in an eppy directed by Jon Cryer), while the hitcom's May 14 season-ender features a visit from Robert Wagner.
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