michael.ausiello

Curb Star Pumps Up the Volume

If you thought the blowhards on ABC's The Practice engaged in far too many shouting matches, you should check out HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David and his band of grumpy sidekicks do so much screaming that it's amazing they have one voice box left among 'em. (Unlike The Practice, however, Curb isn't all bark and no bite.) This Sunday's Curb episode features several Excedrin moments, the most notable of which involves comedian Wanda Sykes (playing herself) accusing the Seinfeld creator of adding a few extra dollars to a black man's tip  a practice she hysterically dubs "tip profiling." "It's just one of those stereotypes that hangs out there, although I haven't experienced it myself," the Comedy Cen

Fri, Sep 20, 2002

General Hospital Scandal: Why Laura Quit!

General Hospital had divorced them, paired them up with other lovers and even killed them off. Yet it still seemed like Luke and Laura's honeymoon would never really be over  until now, that is. Earlier this month, after acting opposite Anthony Geary off and on for a quarter of a century, leading lady Genie Francis quit in a bitter dispute with her soap's brass over what she considers to be their preferential treatment of her co-star. (According to sources, Geary is allowed to take extended vacations, rewrite dialogue and improvise at the drop of a hat; Francis is not.) In this exclusive interview with TV Guide Online, the 40-year-old veteran of All My Children and Days of Our Lives goes on to reveal that, in fact, she had been debating whether or not to check out of GH for some time  ever since her peers denied her an Emmy nomination for

Wed, Sep 18, 2002

Everwood: Too Gooey for Its Own Good?

Some critics have scolded the WB's new father-son drama Everwood  which debuted last night following the season premiere of 7th Heaven  of pouring on the sugar a little too thick. Monday's mostly positive TV Guide Online review accused the series of being a "bit excessive and sentimental," but USA Today went a step further, saying it features "every sappy TV clich&#233" under the sun (read: ghosts, narrators, eccentric townsfolk  oh my!) Not surprisingly, Everwood's leading man Treat Williams, who plays a big-time doc trying to reconnect with his son, scoffs at the namby-pamby charge. "I've seen some shows on TV that I think are impossible to watch," he tells TV Guide Online. "On the contrary, Everwood allows itself to be e

Tue, Sep 17, 2002

Alyssa Milano Nixes Boss Reunion

The Cosby Show's Lisa Bonet isn't the only '80s sitcom star shunning her TV roots. Alyssa Milano reveals that she has no interest in reprising her role as Tony Danza's precocious daughter Samantha for a Who's the Boss? reunion movie. "We've talked about it, but I'm not doing it," the Charmed actress tells TV Guide Online. "It was perfect for the eight years we did it, and to relive it would... I think everyone would be disappointed. I just decided that I didn't feel comfortable doing it." You'll recall Bonet was the sole Huxtable not to participate in last May's highly-rated Cosby retrospective. Similarly, M

Fri, Sep 13, 2002

Why Bonnie Hunt Nixed Rosie Offer

Bonnie Hunt passed on the chance to enter the chatfest arena as Rosie O'Donnell's successor, but the Second City alum gets an opportunity to talk the talk on her new ABC sitcom Life With Bonnie (debuting Tuesday at 8:30 pm/ET). The series finds Hunt playing a mother of three who spends her days hosting a Chicago morning program. The twist? The show-within-the-show's segments are improvised, and feature real guests. In other words, those Italian chefs in the pilot  they're the real deal. "I love the [talk show] format," Hunt says, "and for me, [Life With Bonnie] is a chance to be able to do something fresh and funny, but not do it every single day  and [not] have people on whose movies I don't really like but pretend I do. That would be painful for

Thu, Sep 12, 2002

Class Dismissed for Tucson Star?

Unlike the rest of Hollywood, actor Julio Oscar Mechoso doesn't retreat to the Hamptons when he has some downtime between gigs; he heads to his local public school. The star of the upcoming WB comedy Greetings from Tucson has for the last 14 years maintained a second career as a substitute teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. "I don't like to sit on a seat and not do anything and just wait for somebody to give me a job," he tells TV Guide Online. "I enjoy [subbing] and helping those kids out." However, if Tucson emerges as a hit  the series premieres Friday, Sept. 20 at 9:30 pm/ET  Mechoso confesses that he'll likely ditch class. "As long as I'm under contract at the WB, I will refrain from substitute teaching," he says. "The minute I don't have a contract or another film, I will go back to subbing."

Wed, Sep 11, 2002

Dawson's Creek Star Gets Busy

When Dawson's Creek kicks off its sixth  and likely final  season, viewers will see a new face gracing the opening credits. Freaks and Geeks alum Busy Philipps. And not to be vain, but the actress  who joined the WB sudser last season as Pacey's new flame Audrey  admits she's relishing the added visibility. "I'm so excited because I totally got screwed on Freaks and Geeks," she tells TV Guide Online. "I never got my picture in the opening because they added me later on as a series regular. So, I've never actually had that. And regardless of what people say, that stuff totally matters. "It was a contractual thing," she adds of her well-deserved Creek promotion. "I became a series regular, so they had to put my face up there." And to think, Phillips was only suppo

Mon, Sep 9, 2002

WB Cutie Recalls Childhood Demons

On the WB's new fall comedy Do Over (debuting Sept. 19 at 8:30 pm/ET), Penn Badgley plays a 14-year-old who gets a chance to relive his awkward adolescence. It's a trick the up-and-comer wishes he could pull off in real life. The incident Badgley would like to, um, do over, took place on July 4, 2001, at a minor league baseball game in Washington state. "I was singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and I forgot the words in the middle of it," he recalls to TV Guide Online. "I was up to 'perilous night' and I forgot 'perilous.' I just blanked. I didn't know what to do, so I just stood there and [said] into the microphone, 'Um... ' I turned around and [the audience] was looking at me like, 'Oh my God.' And then finally, everyone was screaming, 'Perilous!' And I was like, 'Oh, thanks.' "At the time I thought it was funny  I didn't eve

Fri, Sep 6, 2002

Alyssa Milano: Splish Splash?

Here's one surefire way to ensure that Charmed's young male fans follow the WB drama to its new home on Sunday nights this fall: Dress up series star Alyssa Milano as a sexy mermaid, as producers did for the show's two-hour season premiere Sept. 22 (8-10 pm/ET). "I have on pasties and a fin," Milano tells TV Guide Online, laughing. "I went for a wardrobe fitting and I was like, 'Where's the seashell top?' They were like, 'It doesn't look good, so we're just going to add scales and paint them on your boobies.'" Not that it makes much difference, but why exactly will Milano's bewitching alter ego, Phoebe, be pulling a Daryl Hannah on viewers? "Why does anything ever happen on Charmed?" she muses, adding, "It's in order to find a sea hag.... obviously."

Thu, Sep 5, 2002

Kelly Headed for a Landslide Victory?

If those popularity polls are any indication, Texas cocktail waitress Kelly Clarkson is the odds-on favorite to win American Idol tonight (live 8-10 pm/ET on Fox). But as host Ryan Seacrest points out, don't underestimate Justin Guarini's core fan base. "You have a lot of teenage girls who watch the TV show but probably don't participate in those online and newspaper polls," he tells TV Guide Online. "And like we've seen in the past with Tamyra [Gray], anything can happen." That's a sentiment shared by Judge Dread Simon Cowell. Although the acid-tongued critic confesses he's personally rooting for Clarkson, he says that her victory is hardly a foregone conclusion. "You've got to remember, every week someone's voted out  so all of those votes have to go to somebody else," he notes. "Also, in this competition, you're judged by [your performance that] night. Anything can happe

Wed, Sep 4, 2002

American Idol Invades the VMAs

The topic du jour on the red carpet at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards was who would emerge the big winner on... American Idol? Yes, Britney's ex wasn't the only Justin in the spotlight this year. "I'm voting for him," confessed best female video nominee Michelle Branch of Justin Guarini, who attended the VMAs alongside Idol rival Kelly Clarkson. "I think he's a star. I love the whole '70s vibe." Survivor: Africa champ Ethan Zohn also was throwing his support behind Guarini  but for strictly superficial reasons. "You know I've got to go with Justin  he's rockin' the afro," laughed the similiarly mop-topped reality star. "Even though I was the one who started that [whole curly hair trend]." Sporting a nea

Fri, Aug 30, 2002

VMA Revelers on Battle Guard

Aside from who'll win American Idol, the buzz at the MTV Video Music Awards was all about which feuding celebs would do battle when forced together under one roof at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall. Natch, estranged lovebirds Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears got the most votes. "People have made observations that for the first time in memory, Justin and Britney's seats aren't together," MTV guy John Norris told TV Guide Online on the red carpet. "But I think they're getting along okay today." Of course, seating charts were made to be broken. And who better to pull off such a stunt than Jackass daredevil Johnny Knoxville. "I'll try to get in there early and switch their seats so [Britney and Justin] are seated t

Fri, Aug 30, 2002

90210 Reunion Pic Stalled

Don't hold your breath for that rumored Beverly Hills, 90210 reunion. Although Jennie Garth reveals that Fox is "developing a script" for a TV movie that would bring back together the gang from West Beverly High, a spokeswoman for producer Aaron Spelling insists no such project is afoot. "There is no script, there is nothing," the rep tells TV Guide Online. It's just as well. Many of the show's principal cast members don't seem too anxious to reserve a booth at the Peach Pit. "At this time, it's not right for me," confesses Garth, who's got a new primetime gig (the WB sitcom What I Like About You) as well as a second baby on the way. "I'm certainly not turning my back on it because I would love to do a reunion show. I've just got my h

Thu, Aug 29, 2002

Seven Silly Questions for Chris Kirkpatrick

Since there are no strings attached to 'N Sync, the boy band members are free to go all out in their pursuit of side projects ranging from solo records to space travel. One of the guys is even ditching his homeys to join pop tart Willa Ford as co-host of tonight's Miss Teen USA Pageant (airing live at 9 pm/ET on CBS). "It's gonna be me!" declares the group's elder statesman, Chris Kirkpatrick, 30. Naturally, TV Guide Online couldn't resist lobbing in the teen idol's direction a few questions  and this we promise you, they're gonna be so silly that he might not wait until we're through to tell us bye, bye, bye.TV Guide Online: Aren't you a little old to be flirting with teenage girls? Chris Kirkpatrick: If I were judging that would be different, because I would be looking at the teenagers in a weird way. But I'm just hosting, so I think we'll be safe. TVGO: Lance wants to blast off into outer space. What other sing

Wed, Aug 28, 2002

George Lopez's Seinfeld Connection

Is The George Lopez Show poised to become the next Seinfeld? Well, of course not, but Constance Marie  who plays Lopez matriarch Angie  says her ABC comedy does share one thing in common with the late, great Peacock phenom: Both shows got very little love from critics when they premiered. "Seinfeld supposedly sucked when it came out," she tells TV Guide Online. "Nobody liked it and it got bad reviews." As a result, when Lopez debuted last March to mostly negative notices, Marie hardly saw it as a sign that she should start updating her resum&eacute;. (Neither, apparently did ABC: The show returns for its second season on Oct. 2.) "I've been on shows that the critics loved that tanked and shows that sucked that [did well]  so, who's right?," she muses. "I don't

Tue, Aug 27, 2002

Mummy Hunk: Outnumbered and Loving It!

Not since Charlie's Angels cast David Doyle as a bosom buddy of Farrah, Kate and Jaclyn has an actor been placed in as heavenly a situation as Oded Fehr, the ladies' man among the female docs on the new CBS drama Presidio Med. "I'm outnumbered in a very good way," he tells TV Guide Online, referring to the show's 5-to-1 gals-to-guys ratio. "Working with all these women is just lovely. The set is so relaxed. There's a really great atmosphere." It's certainly a drastic change from Fehr's last TV gig: NBC's short-lived, male-dr

Tue, Aug 27, 2002

JAG Babe Strips and Tells!

No one can accuse JAG star Catherine Bell of not doing her part to support America's war on terrorism. It's safe to say that the 34-year-old actress's steamy spread in July's FHM did more to boost military morale than all of Bob Hope's USO tours combined! (No offense, Mr. Hope, but she's a work of art!) That said, Bell confesses that it wasn't patriotism that motivated her to bare (almost) all in the men's monthly. "I wanted to show people that I'm not just the conservative character I play on JAG," she tells TV Guide Online, referring to her alter ego, Marine Lt. Col. Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie. "I wanted to get a different side of me out there. And it worked. People are finally going, 'Oh, we didn't know you looked like that.'" Our nation's troops aside, not everyone e

Mon, Aug 26, 2002

Idol Host's Secret Past Exposed!

Before he was tapped as Ryan Seacrest's second banana on American Idol, Brian Dunkleman was just another struggling actor waiting for Hollywood to hand him his big break. In other words, the 30-year-old doesn't need Simon Cowell to tell him how nasty and dehumanizing the entertainment biz can be. "Three months ago, I went to a commercial audition for a fast food chain  let's just say it rhymes with 'Surger Ding,'" he recalls TV Guide Online. "There was a sign saying, 'Everyone will be clucking like a chicken.' And there were other actors actually practicing. I looked at them and thought, 'Do any of you people have souls?'" Dunkleman made a beeline for the exit and never looked back. Nowadays, he's too busy to let casting directors humiliate him. "I have no time to go on any auditions," he says. "I'm actually turning stuff down now, which is fantastic! I did stand-up the ot

Fri, Aug 23, 2002

Curses! The WB Mouths Off Again!

Felicity may be dead and buried, but one of the show's favorite swear words lives on at the WB. During the premiere episode of the network's new fall drama Everwood  which airs Sept. 16 at 9 pm/ET  a pivotal father-son confrontation turns ugly when Gregory Smith's teenage alter ego calls TV pop Treat Williams "a dick." For a show being billed as the perfect Monday night companion to 7th Heaven, the expletive is sure to have some viewers  read: parents  reaching for their Dial. "Within the context of the episode, we determined that it was appropriate to use," WB spokesman Paul McGuire tells TV Guide Online, ac

Wed, Aug 21, 2002

Seven Silly Questions with Michael Vartan

When last we saw Michael Vartan, his Alias alter ego was submerged in a tidal wave of trouble on the show's season finale. But in real life, the 33-year-old French hottie  who finds himself being stalked by Robin Williams in the new indie thriller One Hour Photo (opening Wednesday)  was alive and well enough to dive head-first into our Seven Silly Questions.TV Guide Online: What was it like being naked in front of Robin Williams for One Hour Photo's climax? Did he behave himself? Michael Vartan: There were a lot of air conditioning jokes made  even though it was 150 degrees in the room. But that's Robin for you. I grew up in France and played sports all of my life, and not to sound weird or anything, but you see guys naked in the locker room a

Mon, Aug 19, 2002

Paltrow & Eckhart: Trouble in Paradise?

Turns out, all that talk of on-set friction between Possession co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart was much ado about... something. Although director Neil LaBute says tabloid reports "widely exaggerated" the duo's feuding, he doesn't deny that they had their differences. "If there was any tension, it came from what you would call [their contrasting] working styles," he explains. "Gwyneth is very quick to get where she wants to go in the first couple of takes, and Aaron [requires] multiple takes to get to a place. So, to find that place where both of them are at their emotional pitch is trying." For LaBute, a longtime Eckhart pal and collaborator (In the Company of Men

Fri, Aug 16, 2002

R.I.P., Dawson's Creek?

We're always thanking God for small favors, so how about we give him props for a really big one: Chances are, this will be the final season of Dawson's Creek. Hallelujah! "People are saying it's the last year," series star James Van Der Beek confirms to TV Guide Online. "It's been a great run. I'm grateful. Six years? I'll take it." Personally, we would have been happy had Dawson and Co. paddled their way off the TV landscape following graduation day at Capeside High, but that's just us. On second thought, maybe it's not. "It's kind of nice to see light at the end of the tunnel," admits Van Der Beek, who has been holed up with Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and

Wed, Aug 14, 2002