rochell.d..thomas

Does Aisha Tyler Have 24 Jobs?

Aisha Tyler is everywhere — and we're impressed. The former Talk Soup host turned a very memorable guest spot on Nip/Tuck into starring roles on two of prime time's smartest shows. Here's how this sexy multitasker pulled it off...TV Guide Online: You've played a paleontologist on Friends, a DNA specialist on CSI and now a data analyst on 24. Have you got a thing for lab coats?Aisha Tyler: Someone asked me the other day, "Are you being typecast as a scientist?" And I was like, "Am I going to complain about being typecast as smart? I don't think so." TVGO: How did you end up on both CSI and 24?Tyler: I did a very intense episode of Nip/Tuck [last] spring. I played a Somali model who was a victim of female genital mutilation. A lot of people saw that, and I got calls from four dramas within a week. TVGO:

Mon, Jan 31, 2005

Inside The O.C.'s Peach Pit

With its alcohol-free policy and lineup of angsty pop-rock bands, the Bait Shop, the new all-ages nightclub on Fox's The O.C., reminds us of another rich kids' hangout — Beverly Hills, 90210's Peach Pit: After Dark. It even has a manager named Nat, just like on 90210. Is that intentional? "Yep," O.C. creator Josh Schwartz says with a laugh. Schwartz admits that one reason he and his staff created the Bait Shop was to have a legitimate excuse to invite their favorite bands to play on the show (not to mention a marketing outlet: Bait Shop merchandise is sold at www.theocinsider.com). Also, he says, "we needed a parent-free place for the kids to hang out. Someplace where the Yoo-hoo flowed all night long."

Thu, Dec 23, 2004

Al Sharpton's New Job

He became a man of God by age 8, was an activist by 16 and hit the road as a tour manager for the "Godfather of Soul" by 18. Next stop for Rev. Al Sharpton... reality TV? Yes, the streetwise politico is the host/life coach of Spike TV's I Hate My Job, a series that offers winners $25,000 and a chance at the career of their dreams. What makes the man once pilloried for his velour sweat suits qualified to tell people how to change their lives? "Because I've done it myself," Sharpton says. "I walked away from a lucrative show-business career to start my civil-rights organization. [Thirty] years later, I was able to run for president."TV Guide Online: In this week's premiere of I Hate My Job, you're kind of hard on the candidates.Al Sharpton: I'm rough on them because life is rough. You should not assume that just because you have a dream, the whole world is going to fold to your dream. TVGO: Ah, so you're just kicking them into gear. Tell us a

Tue, Nov 9, 2004

CSI Star's Death Wish

Rory Cochrane may have shot himself in the foot before thieves put a bullet in his character's chest. Although CSI: Miami producers obliged his request to leave the show, there was a catch: He cannot do "any kind of television work — cable or otherwise" until 2008, he says, because he signed a six-year contract with the show. The 31-year-old actor — who says he "couldn't really handle the grind anymore" — wasn't pleased with the way his character, Tim Speedle, was killed off in last month's season premiere. (He was fatally wounded when his gun malfunctioned during a shootout.) "It was lame," Cochrane says. "He got shot last year because of the same [gun malfunction]. It doesn't make sense. I mean, Speedle knows all these forensics things, and then he doesn't clean his gun?" So has he committed career suicide? "Well, I never did TV before and I survived," says Cochrane, whose films include Dazed and

Wed, Oct 13, 2004

Taye Diggs, Be My Daddy!

Taye Diggs is having a baby! Okay, so maybe it's only on Kevin Hill, his new UPN drama about a hotshot hipster lawyer who inherits a child. But still, babies will be held by the gorgeous guy who helped millions of women (not just Stella!) get their grooves back. Here, we talk to the fine Mr. Diggs about the real and imagined children in his life. TV Guide Online: Is it true what they say — that you should avoid working with kids and animals?Taye Diggs: It was challenging just because they are children. They're finicky and they're twins. But in our case it ended up working out okay because one twin was always asleep and the other was always awake and crying. So we just interchanged them. TVGO: Have you been upstaged by the baby?Diggs: I don't think you can be. I'm of the school where you just let the baby be a baby. However the baby's acting, that's just where the scene goes because chances are, in real life, that's what would happ

Thu, Sep 9, 2004

Pamela Anderson Turns Author

Pamela Anderson has retired. Well, sorta. "No movies. No TV. I'm not doing those anymore," she says. "That's too much work. I'd rather be an author." Yes, that's right. The 37-year-old Playboy cover girl best known for her Baywatch body of work (and tumultuous marriage to M&ouml;tley Cr&uuml;e drummer Tommy Lee) has put her stilettoed heel on literary ground. Her first novel, Star, follows a curvy young blond who goes from beer babe to laddie-mag cover girl to rock-star girlfriend and TV star. Sound familiar? TV Guide Online: Your novel, Star, is in bookstores now. Congratulations.Pamela Anderson: Thank you. I can't believe it. I got a copy the other day, and I had to drive off the road and sit there in front of the ocean and go, "OK, this is really weird. I have a book." TVGO: Did you have help writing it?Anderson: In theory, you're not supposed to tell people you have a ghostwriter. But give

Thu, Aug 12, 2004

Hugh Jackman Toasts Tonys

Some people know him as the hunky X-man Wolverine, others as monster hunter Dr. Gabriel Van Helsing. But on Sunday, Hugh Jackman will just be The Boy from Oz. Nominated for a lead-actor trophy for his portrayal of flamboyant Aussie songwriter Peter Allen in the hit Broadway musical, Jackman will host the 58th Annual Tony Awards. And he promises it will be loads of fun. TV Guide Online: Hosting the Tonys must be like working the room at a really big party. Hugh Jackman: That's a good way to put it. There are 6000 people there. Broadway people. And they're the most lively crowd you've ever seen. TVGO: How do you prepare for a thing like that? Jackman: The only bit I'm doing is to get contact lenses. I didn't think my eyesight was that bad until I tried to read the TelePrompTer at last year's Tonys  and couldn't. Oy. It was like being at the eye doctor and being asked to read that tiny little line  on n

Fri, Jun 4, 2004

Tavis Smiley: Howard Stern with Substance?

He's got shows on radio and TV. He's unafraid of controversy and would love to be the new King of All Media. Just call Tavis Smiley the thinking man's Howard Stern. This year, the author of six books and host of a National Public Radio show has added PBS news talk-show host to his resume. TV Guide Online: You've talked about having "conversations of substance." How are your interviews different from other talk shows?Tavis Smiley: I could ask all the regular pop-culture questions. But I try to stay away from that. For example, I interviewed Anthony Minghella, the director of Cold Mountain, and I asked him how he could do a movie set in the Civil War and walk all around the issue of slavery. He was ecstatic. He said, 'You are the first person to ask why I did not do any scenes about that.' So that's what I mean. It's in [my approach]. But more important, [my shows] are the first on NPR and on PBS to come from the West Coast. TVGO: W

Tue, Mar 23, 2004

Tammy Faye's Surreal Deal

For 35 years, she was the first lady of Christian TV. But in 1989, Tammy Faye Bakker fell from grace when her husband, James, was jailed for misappropriating $158 million from his ministry. But that's the past. It's Tammy Faye Messner now. (She married millionaire church builder Roe Messner in 1993.) And she can be found in the place where has-beens look for celebrity salvation, WB's Surreal Life. For its second season, the reality show put a Baywatch babe, a fallen rap star, a porn star, a Real World grad and CHiPs' Erik Estrada in the same house with the matronly minister and dared them all to make like family. TV Guide Online: How does a televangelist end up living with a porn star?Messner: The producers begged. [Laughs] And we weren't told who was going to be there. I'd alread

Fri, Feb 6, 2004

Jon Cryer Still Thinks Pink

You'd think Jon Cryer would be in a celebratory mood. After starring in four failed sitcoms, he has finally landed a prime-time hit with Two and a Half Men (Mondays at 9:30 pm/ET). But the 38-year-old former brat packer  he was Duckie in Pretty in Pink  won't break out the champagne just yet. Heck, he won't even settle into his trailer. "Let's just say, I don't decorate my dressing rooms," he winks. "Not until the second season." TV Guide Online: Love you on Two & a Half Men. But love you more in Pretty in Pink. It's one of my favorite movies ever! Cryer: Thank you. TVGO: So, I've got to ask. Duckie  a blessing or a curse? Cryer: Oh, definitely a blessing. A lot of people have a lot of affection for him. And his predilection for mismatched prints has allowed me to wear mismatched clothing for the rest of my life and say, "It's an homage!" TVGO: Speaking of clothes, do you st

Wed, Dec 31, 2003

Jon Cryer Still Thinks Pink

You'd think Jon Cryer would be in a celebratory mood. After starring in four failed sitcoms, he has finally landed a prime-time hit with Two and a Half Men (Mondays at 9:30 pm/ET). But the 38-year-old former brat packer  he was Duckie in Pretty in Pink  won't break out the champagne just yet. Heck, he won't even settle into his trailer. "Let's just say, I don't decorate my dressing rooms," he says with a wink. "Not until the second season." TV Guide Online: Love you on Two & a Half Men. But love you more in Pretty in Pink. It's one of my favorite movies ever! Cryer: Thank you. TVGO: So, I've got to ask. Duckie  a blessing or a curse? Cryer: Oh, definitely a blessing. A lot of people have a lot of affection for him. And his predilection for mismatched prints has allowed me to wear mismatched clothing for the rest of my life and say, "It's an homage!" TVGO: Speaking of clothes

Tue, Dec 30, 2003

Vanessa Williams' Boomtown Farewell

Apparently, NBC has saved the best for last. This weekend, the Peacock network will air the final four episodes of Boomtown, its critically acclaimed but prematurely canceled cop drama. (Three episodes air on Saturday, 8-11 pm/ET; one on Sunday at 10 pm/ET). Each features Vanessa Williams, who plays Det. Katherine Pierce. We interviewed the former Miss America, before Boomtown was officially axed earlier this year, to ask all about her eclectic life. TV Guide Online: For Detective Pierce's first episode, you had to chase a perp up two flights of stairs, down a hall and up more stairs. How hard was it to shoot that scene, take after take? Williams: It wasn't too bad. I'm in good shape for a 40-year-old woman, fortunately. So I didn't get too winded. TVGO: When you say you're in shape, how many flights

Tue, Dec 30, 2003

Jon Cryer Still Thinks Pink

You'd think Jon Cryer would be in a celebratory mood. After starring in four failed sitcoms, he has finally landed a prime-time hit with Two and a Half Men (Mondays at 9:30 pm/ET). But the 38-year-old former brat packer  he was Duckie in Pretty in Pink  won't break out the champagne just yet. Heck, he won't even settle into his trailer. "Let's just say, I don't decorate my dressing rooms," he says with a wink. "Not until the second season." TV Guide Online: Love you on Two & a Half Men. But love you more in Pretty in Pink. It's one of my favorite movies ever! Cryer: Thank you. TVGO: So, I've got to ask. Duckie  a blessing or a curse? Cryer: Oh, definitely a blessing. A lot of people have a lot of affection for him. And his predilection fo

Mon, Dec 29, 2003

Vanessa Williams' Boomtown Farewell

Apparently, NBC has saved the best for last. This weekend, the Peacock network will air the final four episodes of Boomtown, its critically acclaimed but prematurely cancelled cop drama. (Three episodes air on Saturday, 8-11 pm/ET; one on Sunday at 10 pm/ET). Each features Vanessa Williams, who plays Det. Katherine Pierce. We interviewed the former Miss America, before Boomtown was officially axed earlier this year, to ask all about her eclectic life. TV Guide Online: For Detective Pierce's first episode, you had to chase a perp up two flights of stairs, down a hall and up more stairs. How hard was it to shoot that scene, take after take? Williams: It wasn't too bad. I'm in good shape for a 40-year-old woman, fortunately. So I didn't get too winded. TVGO: When you say you're in shape, how many flights

Mon, Dec 29, 2003

Vanessa Williams' Boomtown Farewell

Apparently, NBC has saved the best for last. This weekend, the Peacock network will air the final four episodes of Boomtown, its critically acclaimed but prematurely cancelled cop drama. (Three episodes air on Saturday, 8-11 pm/ET; one on Sunday at 10 pm/ET). Each features Vanessa Williams, who plays Det. Katherine Pierce. We interviewed the former Miss America, before Boomtown was officially axed earlier this year, to ask all about her eclectic life.TV Guide Online: For Detective Pierce's first episode, you had to chase a perp up two flights of stairs, down a hall and up more stairs. How hard was it to shoot that scene, take after take? Williams: It wasn't too bad. I'm in good shape for a 40-year-old woman, fortunately. So I didn't get too winded. TVGO: When you say you're in shape, how many flights could you do before you pass out? W

Fri, Dec 26, 2003

Telma Hopkins's Unsolved Mysteries

You may know her as bitter divorc&eacute;e Phyllis Thorne on UPN's Half & Half, or as Nell Carter's skinny sidekick on Gimme a Break, but way back in the day, Telma Hopkins was also one-third of the music group Tony Orlando & Dawn ("Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree"). Remember the "Shaft" theme song? And the part where the girls go, "Shut yo' mouth"? Yep, that's her, too. We took a walk down memory lane with the actress who slipped into our pop culture lexicon without us even knowing it.TV Guide Online: So, do you work a sassy "shut yo' mouth" into casual conversation? Telma Hopkins: Uh, no. But it was one of the coolest singing jobs ever. I sang it with two other girls. But somehow or another I get all the credit. TVGO: What about the hit "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree"  which came firs

Wed, Nov 12, 2003

Peter Gallagher Raises an Eyebrow

This week, The O.C.'s Peter Gallagher moonlights as the lead in Oxygen's A Tale of Two Wives, a made-for-cable comedy about a psychiatrist living life as a bigamist. "That, to me, is unfathomable," says Gallagher, who has been married to his college sweetheart, Paula, for 20 years. "It's a lot of work to be married to one person and have a family," he adds. "I can't imagine what it would be like doing double duty." He also can't imagine life without his infamous eyebrows. And don't laugh. We actually asked.TV Guide Online: OK, so you've never tried to date two women at once? Gallagher: Two women? God, man. (Laughs) Well, I'm still living. So, clearly I must've gotten away with it, when I did do it. But I don't think it's time to blow my cover now. TVGO: Ah, 'cause you're happily married. Gallagher: Right. TVGO: And you've got two kids [Jamey, 13 and Kathryn, 10]. Are you the cool dad now that yo

Tue, Oct 7, 2003

Charlize Theron's Girlish Memories

When she was just a farmer's daughter in Benoni, South Africa, Charlize Theron dreamed of coming to America. "Not to any particular city," she says. Just 'America.' It always seemed like a place where everything is possible." Two decades later, anything is possible for Theron. The woman who left home as a dancer became a model and successful actress. Those early days are on her mind this month as she narrates When I Was a Girl, WE's series about the childhoods of famous women. Here, we grill the 28-year-old on some of her youthful indiscretions.TV Guide Online: When you were a girl did you ever dream that you'd grow up to be a famous actress who gets paid to kiss Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves... Theron: Well... (Fake laughs) TVGO: ...Tobey McGuire, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and Ben Affleck? Theron: You are so funny. But, no. I grew up on a little farm in South Africa. I never knew anything about acting. In m

Fri, Sep 5, 2003

Chris Rock's New VMA Threat

When Chris Rock reports to his dressing room next Thursday for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, the show's host had better find the following things: cold Mountain Dew, a CD/DVD player, the local papers and Flintstones vitamins. Kiddie chewables? "Yeah," says the 38-year-old comic. "Regular vitamins mess with your stomach." Maybe America's favorite angry black man isn't so tough after all.TV Guide: How did MTV convince you to host a third time? Chris Rock: They ask every year. I just don't like doing it every year because music doesn't change that much. So I wait it out. OK, there's no more 'N Sync jokes to tell, no more Backstreet Boys jokes... TVG: Excuse me for saying this, but you're way out of the MTV demographic. How long do you think they're going to keep calling? Rock: I'm sure Arsenio was older than me when he hosted it. And Dennis Miller. Age doesn't really matter. They call because I'm a person w

Wed, Aug 20, 2003

Will 24's Loon-a-chick Return?

Laura Harris has the look of an angel and a knack for devilish roles. Remember The Faculty? That was Harris as the teen-killing alien. And 24's good girl gone bad  the one who tried to nuke Los Angeles? Yep, that was Harris, too. These days, the 26-year-old Canadian transplant to L.A. shines as a sex-obsessed grim reaper on Dead Like Me, Showtime's odd new dramedy (Fridays at 10 pm/ET). Welcome to her dark side.TV Guide Online: What's up with you and these sinister parts? Harris: I think [casting agents] love the surprise factor. Whenever I read for parts, they bring in all these blond, innocent-looking creatures. Then they ask us to be evil. TVGO: So you're a good bad girl? Harris: I guess so. TVGO: What's the last law you broke? Harris: (Long pau

Thu, Jul 31, 2003

Soul Kudos for James Brown

Everybody knows the Godfather of Soul. Since the 1950s, he has released more than 80 albums, had 17 No. 1 R&#038B hits and been honored more times than Gandhi. At the 3rd Annual BET Awards (airing June 24 at 9 pm/ET), he'll add another feather to his cap: BET's Lifetime Achievement award. So what's James Brown, now 70, doing talking to a misguided reporter who just loves him for singing "Living in America" in Rocky IV? We're still trying to figure that one out. TV Guide Online: Mr. Brown, if you're the Godfather of Soul, who are your godchildren? Brown: (Laughs) Well, first I've got to name Hammer. I'm sorry he quit. I wish he'd come back. And you gotta get a word from Prince and

Wed, Jun 18, 2003

Slay What?! Joss Whedon on Life After Buffy

With the clock ticking until Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar tapes her final appearance as the Chosen One, series creator Joss Whedon is running short on time. Not only does the Hollywood wunderkind have to outline the cult hit's last three episodes, but he also must consider his spinoff options, mull over possible feature projects and, in his free moments, play house with wife Kai Cole and their 4-month-old son. Yet, somehow, he manages to spare a few minutes for TV Guide Online.TV Guide Online: Now that you've had some time for reality to sink in, how do you feel about Sarah's decision to leave? Joss Whedon: Like it's time. It's a decision I support and respect and, in fact, imitate. It's been seven years 

Wed, Mar 19, 2003