anthony.layser

The Tonight Show's Mo Rocca Rocks the Super Bowl

Late last week, comic Mo Rocca was dispatched to Florida to capture the true essence of the Super Bowl experience. As a lead-up to the big game, the former Daily Show correspondent will be delivering nightly segments to NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. TVGuide.com spoke with Mocca immediately after his arrival in the Sunshine State. TVGuide.com: So today was your travel day?Mo Rocca: Yeah. I just got into Gainesville at the University of Florida, which is very exciting. I figured I'd begin with the BCS champions and then work my way up to the NFL championship. TVGuide.com: What sort of stories are you looking for amongst all the Super Bowl hoopla?Rocca: We

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

The Tonight Show's Mo Rocca Rocks the Super Bowl

Stan Lee Previews His Latest Work, Plus the New Spider-Man and Fantastic Four!

Having celebrated his 84th birthday on Dec. 28, comic-book legend Stan Lee is still as exuberant and industrious as ever. In 2005, the man responsible for creating or cocreating Spider-Man, X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk and dozens of other Marvel characters formed POW! Entertainment with partners Gill Champion and Arthur Lieberman. The company's first release is the animated tale Mosaic, arriving in stores today on DVD. It's the story of a teenage girl (voiced by Anna Paquin) who's given the responsibility of saving the world after being transformed into a chameleon-like creature. TVGuide.com recently spoke with Lee about his plans for POW! and about the upcoming season of the Sci Fi

Tue, Jan 9, 2007

Stan Lee Previews His Latest Work, Plus the New Spider-Man and Fantastic Four!

Without a Trace's Anthony LaPaglia Sizes Up His Edgy Indie

In October, CBS' Without a Trace (Sundays at 10 pm/ET) notched its 100th episode. Though not as high-profile as the Law & Orders and CSIs of the world, the FBI procedural has earned a loyal audience with solid writing and an engaging ensemble. Leading that cast is veteran actor Anthony LaPaglia. TVGuide.com touched base with LaPaglia as he wrapped up on shooting the series' fifth season and was out promoting The Architect, a gritty indie currently in theaters and on DVD that follows a community activist's struggles to get a dangerous subsidized housing project demolished. TVGuide.com: The Architect tackles some pretty weighty issues, from class struggle to family dysfunction. Did t

Fri, Dec 8, 2006

Without a Trace's Anthony LaPaglia Sizes Up His Edgy Indie

Lorne Michaels Reveals Saturday Night Live's Season 1 Secrets!

On Oct. 11, 1975, only minutes before Saturday Night Live was about to make its debut, an issue concerning wardrobe threatened to derail the entire production. George Carlin, that night's host, refused to wear a suit. It's hard to imagine a time when appearing on network television in a T-shirt could be construed as crass, even lewd, but that's how NBC brass viewed it. Meanwhile, Carlin wasn't budging. "Five minutes before air they were still fighting," Lorne Michaels recalls, during a conversation with TVGuide.com. "At the last moment, the compromise was that he would wear a suit [jacket] with a T-shirt." Thirty-two years and many thousands of wardrobe choices later, SNL (Saturdays at 11:30 pm/ET) is still going strong,

Tue, Dec 5, 2006

Lorne Michaels Reveals Saturday Night Live's Season 1 Secrets!

Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines Goes Back to School

The improv comedy series Campus Ladies is kicking off its sophomore year tonight on the Oxygen network (11pm/EST). Following a widow (Carrie Aizley) and a divorcée (Christen Sussin) as they return to college while in their forties, the show is enrolling some big-name guest stars this semester, including Jason Alexander, Jeff Garlin and Penny Marshall. Executive producer Cheryl Hines, best known for her role as Cheryl David on HBO's

Tue, Dec 5, 2006

Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines Goes Back to School

The Librarian's Bob Newhart Reflects on His Own Recorded History

In 2004, TNT scored big ratings with an original production titled The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, which followed Flynn Carsen, a bookish adventurer (ER alum Noah Wyle) who tracks down lost relics. The network hopes to strike gold again with a sequel, The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines, premiering this Sunday at 8 pm/ET. Among the many riches inhabiting the film is a flesh-and-blood American treasure — comedian Bob Newhart. TVGuide.com recently spoke with the stammering septuagenarian about reprising his role as Judson, the mysterious library curator, and we also got his take on what it's like to look back over his most celebrated career.

Fri, Dec 1, 2006

The Librarian's Bob Newhart Reflects on His Own Recorded History

Conan's Jim Gaffigan Is a Pale Force to Be Reckoned With!

If you haven't watched Late Night with Conan O'Brien lately, you might not know that comedian Jim Gaffigan and his brother-in-law, cartoonist Paul Noth, have created a bit of a following with their Pale Force shorts. In fact, the animated adventures of Gaffigan as a pallid superhero and O'Brien as his whining sidekick so impressed NBC that they ordered 20 episodes to air on Late Night before being made downloadable by cell phone on the Peacock's website. TVGuide.com spoke with Gaffigan about the colorless crime fighters as well as his role on the new TBS comedy My Boys. TVGuide.com: Is pale just a skin tone, or is it a state of mind?

Thu, Nov 23, 2006

Conan's Jim Gaffigan Is a Pale Force to Be Reckoned With!

What Brings Patricia Hearst to Veronica Mars' Hearst College?

The CW's Veronica Mars (Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET) is fraught with fictional mystery, intrigue and danger, but tonight's guest star knows all about the real thing. Patricia Hearst, newspaper heiress and victim of one of the most infamous kidnappings in history, has been enlisted by Mars mastermind Rob Thomas to play Selma Hearst, granddaughter of the founder of Hearst College and a member of the school's board of trustees. TVGuide.com discussed the Mars visit with Hearst, and also got her take on why her abduction still holds the public's interest. TVGuide.com: Were you at all reluctant to play a character with a background similar to your own?Patricia Hearst: Yes. I wanted to know exactly what it was about, because I'd n

Tue, Nov 21, 2006

What Brings Patricia Hearst to Veronica Mars' Hearst College?

Alex Borstein (Lois) Laughs at the Once-Dead Family Guy's Longevity

Fox's Family Guy (Sundays at 9 pm/ET), at one time canceled, is now approaching its 100th episode and is releasing its fourth volume of DVDs this week. Count Alex Borstein — writer, producer and the voice of Lois — as one of those who are in disbelief. TVGuide.com spoke with the comedienne about the irreverent show's unlikely run and the intricacies involved in playing the Griffin matriarch. Along the way, we also discovered Borstein's frustration over her ongoing misrepresentation on the Internet. TVGuide.com: So, are you surprised Family Guy has lasted this long?Alex Borstein: I never thought I'd go to my prom, I never thought I'd get married, and I never thought Family Guy would get to 100 episodes. It's kind of incredible. We we

Mon, Nov 13, 2006

Alex Borstein (Lois) Laughs at the Once-Dead Family Guy's Longevity

Hardball's Chris Matthews Takes on Election Day — and SNL

Americans head to the polls today for one of the most anticipated midterm elections in recent memory. A power shift in both the House and Senate appears likely, and the news media has focused in, with predictions, polling and punditry having reached a fever pitch. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball and of the syndicated/NBC News-produced panel program The Chris Matthews Show, is one of those members of the media who believes this election deserves the hype. "I don't think this is a prelude. This is a main event," Matthews attests. "The voters' attitude about Iraq is the big story for the world. No matter how we read the election at home, no matter what the president says or Democrats say afterward, the world press will read t

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Hardball's Chris Matthews Takes on Election Day — and SNL

Andre Benjamin Previews His New 'Toon, Class of 3000

Anyone who's seen the video for "Hey Ya!" knows that Andre "3000" Benjamin is a character. Now, he's an animated character as well. Inspired by the singer's childhood, Cartoon Network's new Class of 3000 is the story of a disillusioned entertainer who spurns superstardom to mentor a class of talented young musicians. In addition to cocreating and producing the show, the Grammy Award winner also composes music for each episode, and voices his alter ego, Sunny Bridges. TVGuide.com recently spoke with the multitalented performer about his new venture, premiering this Friday, Nov. 3, at 8 pm/EST. TVGuide.com: It seems like Class of 3000 is geared towards kids, but there's a lot in there for adults as well.Andre Benjamin: Yeah, I feel like our target audience is kids, but if you're an adult and you love music and cartoons, y

Fri, Nov 3, 2006

Andre Benjamin Previews His New 'Toon, Class of 3000

What Brings Stand-Up Vet Steven Wright Back to TV?

This Saturday night (at 9pm/EST, on Comedy Central), comedian Steven Wright returns to cable television with his first stand-up special in 15 years. Aptly titled for autumn, When the Leaves Blow Away demonstrates that the master of monotone hasn’t lost a step when it comes to walking a thin line between deep philosophical pondering and seemingly muscle-relaxer-induced rambling. TVGuide.com spoke with the Oscar-winning, Grammy-nominated performer to get the scoop on the special, and in the process confirmed that he really does talk like that. TVGuide.com: It’s been 15 years since your last special. How did you know you were ready to take another crack at it?Wright: Well, all comedians notice stuff. That’s how you come up with the comedy, b

Fri, Oct 20, 2006

What Brings Stand-Up Vet Steven Wright Back to TV?

Saxondale: Is this NBC's Next Office-like Hit Import?

In July, British funnyman Steve Coogan signed a deal to have his Baby Cow production company create shows for NBC. One being planned is a remake of his recent BBC2 hit, Saxondale. Following a brash roadie-turned-exterminator, the series debuts stateside tonight on BBC America (11 pm/ET). The project was a welcome change for Coogan, who is best known for playing Alan Partridge in the shows Knowing Me, Knowing You and I'm Alan Partridge. TVGuide.com spoke with the Manchester native about his new creation and about the upcoming film Marie Antoinette, in which he plays Ambassadeur Mercy. TVGuide.com: You had a lot of success with Alan Partridge. Why was it important to play a very different character in Saxondale?Steve Coogan: Well, I wanted it to be di

Fri, Oct 13, 2006

Saxondale: Is this NBC's Next Office-like Hit Import?

L.A. Lawyer Michele Greene Is Glad to Be Part of The Unit

After spending five seasons as L.A. Law's Abby Perkins, Michele Greene went on to guest on such series as Matlock, Stargate SG-1, CSI, Judging Amy, Crossing Jordan and Six Feet Under, to name a few. If that's not enough, she's also released a couple of Latin-folk CDs and recently wrote a mystery novel for teens, Chasing the Jaguar

Tue, Oct 10, 2006

L.A. Lawyer Michele Greene Is Glad to Be Part of The Unit

Penn & Teller's BS. Meter Hits New Heights

In the spirit of Harry Houdini, the legendary illusionist who spent his free time exposing scams, comic magicians Penn &Teller have taken up a similar pastime. With the Showtime series Bulls--t!, the duo touches on a wide array of topics, from circumcision to bottled water to cryptozoology, in an attempt to wipe away the mire of misperception. Because a Q&A with Teller might not be much of a read, TVGuide.com spoke with Penn about Bulls--t!'s third season, which is now out on DVD. TVGuide.com: Why are you and Teller so bent on debunking things?Penn Jillette: What we're really doing is celebrating the principles of science. If you believe in this thing that can't be substantiated, then immediately you cut yourself off from the rest of the world, except for

Thu, Oct 5, 2006

Penn & Teller's BS. Meter Hits New Heights

South Park's New Neighbor Is a Freak

When TVGuide.com spoke with David Cross back in August, he had just begun writing and coproducing a new animated series called Freak Show. Centered on a group of circus freaks who execute low-level missions for the U.S. government, the debut airs tonight on Comedy Central (10:30 pm/ET). Here, the stand-up comedian and star of the cult-hit sketch-comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David was able not only to give us some insights about Freak Show, but also to share a thing or two about why he thinks a certain series he starred in for Fox got the boot. TVGuide.com: Where did the idea for Freak Show come from?David Cross: Um, it's really inspired by a lot of Brueghel and Bosch. I'm a big

Wed, Oct 4, 2006

Stargate Scion Braves World War I

Dean Devlin has written and produced numerous big-budget studio films over the years, from the successful Stargate and Independence Day to the not-so-successful Godzilla. For Flyboys, Devlin left the confines of studio filmmaking to tell the story of the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of American fighter pilots who volunteered their services to battle the Kaiser in World War I. TVGuide.com spoke with the self-confessed sci-fi geek about making the movie, which swoops into theaters this weekend. Plus, a big-screen Stargate-sequel update!

Fri, Sep 22, 2006

Breakup Guru Is the New Talk of Daytime TV

First, he was a stand-up comic. Then he became a best-selling author to boot, with the books He's Just Not That Into You and It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken. Now, the gregarious Greg Behrendt has added talk-show host to his résumé, dispensing relationship advice in the matter-of-fact manner that has become his trademark style. Recently, the San Francisco native took time out of his hectic shooting schedule to speak with TV Guide.com about his new syndicated daytime venture, The Greg Behrendt Show. TV Guide.com: Is your new show more about Greg Behrendt, the author of He's Just Not That Into You, or Greg Behrendt, stand-up?Greg Behrendt: Both, if you consider that a perfect blend in the context of the book. Our show's motto is, "Change lives or go home," but

Sat, Sep 16, 2006

Breakup Guru Is the New Talk of Daytime TV

Stella Fella Teases a Wet Hot Follow-up

In 1993, MTV gave 11 recent NYU grads with virtually no entertainment-industry experience their own show. The result was an irreverent sketch-comedy concoction called The State. Those grads have gone on to do numerous series and movies since, including Viva Variety, Reno 911!, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Wet Hot American Summer. In 2005, Comedy Central tapped Statesmen David Wain, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black to bring their stage a

Tue, Sep 12, 2006

Possibly the Best. Simpsons. Q&A. Ever.

Boasting a portly figure and a relentlessly critical eye, Comic Book Guy is one of Springfield's favorite sons. As the owner of the Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, the ponytailed collector extraordinaire first appeared on The Simpsons back in 1991, tempting Bart and Millhouse with a copy of "Radioactive Man #1." For the occasion of the Fox series' 18th season premiere (airing Sunday at 8 pm/ET), TVGuide.com spoke with Comic Book Guy, if only because we lied to him that we were from Fangoria. For that fib, we say, "maH 'oH QoS," which is Klingon for, "We are sorry." TVGuide.com: Over the summer, audiences got to see two highly anticipated comic-book films in X-Men: The Last Stand and

Fri, Sep 8, 2006

Kightlinger Hopes for a Minor Success

Laura Kightlinger knows Hollywood. Over the last 20 years, she has racked up writing and acting credits on shows ranging from Roseanne to Saturday Night Live to Will & Grace. Now her sights are set on spoofing Tinseltown (and her own self-confessed laziness) in IFC’s new series The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, premiering tonight at 11 pm/ET. A perfect vehicle for Kightlinger’s brand of dry, irreverent wit, this anti-Entourage revolves around two best friends navigating the lower levels of the entertainment biz. TVGuide.co

Fri, Aug 4, 2006

Police Drummer Gets Turned Inside Out

A quarter century after writing the song “Does Everyone Stare” for the 1979 album Regatta de Blanc, Police drummer Stewart Copeland began cobbling together Super-8 film footage he shot while touring with the band for a documentary titled Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. The film went on to premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and will make its network debut Sunday night on Showtime. Recently, Copeland spoke with TVGuide.com about the project, his work as a television and film composer, and his post-rock star wardrobe choices. TVGuide.com: Everyone Stares is such an intimate portrait of the band. Why did it seem like the right time to compile all your footage and tell the story?Stewart Copeland: Well, I had 50 hours of film sitting in shoeboxes for 20 years. When I got the computer program Final Cut Pro, I started playing around with it. Suddenly, I thought, “S--t, I’ve got something here.” About a year an

Fri, Aug 4, 2006