Is the End Truly Near for Alias?
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Has Lost Seen the Last of Shannon?
Nearly three weeks after her tragic death, many fans of ABC's Lost (Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET) still mourn Shannon Rutherford. Sure, Shannon (played by Maggie Grace) was spoiled, emotionally stunted and preoccupied with parading around in bikinis and giving herself pedicures. And yes, she showed questionable judgment when she indulged in an icky precrash hookup with ill-fated stepbrother Boone (Ian Somerhalder). But boy, the girl sure knew how to make an exit. In Lost's Nov. 9 episode, just as viewers started to get a little insight into what made the rich bitch tick — her daddy died, leaving her with an evil stepmom and (the horror!) no trust fund — she was killed by tri
Veronica Mars' Illicit Lovers Bare It All
If things are heating up in Neptune, the fictional seaside town of UPN's Veronica Mars (Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET), blame Jason Dohring and Charisma Carpenter. Dohring's Logan has been hooking up with Kendall, his best friend's sexy step mom (played by Buffy and Angel alum Carpenter), ever since Kristen Bell's Veronica gave him the boot. And in tonight's episode, their on-screen affair tak
Found! Exclusive Lost Spoilers!
It's the finale you've been waiting for. Tonight Lost will conclude its first, whiplash-inducing season with so many twists and turns it'll take two hours to contain them. Here, executive producers Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams give TVGuide.com an exclusive sneak peek: Spoiler No. 1: Look for the castaways to venture inside the Black Rock — that ginormous pirate ship mysteriously landlocked on the island — to retrieve dynamite, in hopes of finally blowing open that damn hatch, where they plan to hide from the Others. Naturally, though, things don't go quite according to plan. "When you put dynamite that's 100 years old out in the middle of the jungle at unstable temperatures, it begins to sweat nitroglycerine," Lindelof says. "So the whole story is about how they get the dynamite from the Black Rock back to the hatch without blowing up. Not to mention that the monster is not really willing to let
Lena Olin's Alias Resurrection
On the Burbank, Calif., set of Alias, a recently rescued prisoner is quietly recounting details of unthinkable torture. Her eyes are hollow with exhaustion. Scars and bruises form grotesque ribbons around both wrists. But while series superspy Sydney Bristow, played by Jennifer Garner, has witnessed this scenario countless times before, she can't help but fight back tears. After all, the broken beauty before her is her mother, Irina Derevko, and until moments ago, Sydney believed she had been offed by her pops (Victor Garber). "But no one really dies on Alias, right?" asks Lena Olin, who's returning as the duplicitous Derevko after a two-year absence from the ABC spy serial. "I am definitely back." And how. Irina may not be, as creator J.J. Abrams cracks, "resurrected from the dead with some kind of Rambaldi serum," but her return will provide a shot of adrenaline to the end of the season. In the May 18 episode, Syd
Survivor's Top Five Alliances
As Survivor fans well know, this game is all about strategizing, backstabbing and forging sneaky alliances. Here's five examples of how choosing the right coconspirator can make one lucky castaway a millionaire.1. Rob and AmbuhSurvivor: All-StarsVictor: Amber (and Rob)Why it worked: Lust. Rob fell for Amber, who rode his coattails.Speed bump: Rob begging Lex to keep Amber in the game (a move that ultimately cost Rob the win).Memorable moment: Rob's early observation that Amber has "a smokin' ass."Jeff Probst's take: "[Their alliance] was strategy. Then they fell in love, and that affected Rob's game. He beat his chest and said, 'I'm runnin' this game with my girl tucked under my arm, and anybody who thinks they're big enough to stop me, bring it.' The only person big enough to stop him was himself." 2. Richard and RudySurvivor: BorneoVictor: Rich
Is Lost Boy Boone Really Dead?
Finally, one of Lost's biggest mysteries has been revealed. After months of warnings from cocreators J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof that a major character on their hit ABC drama would be killed off — and rampant speculation from fans about who it would be — Boone (Ian Somerhalder), the rich boy with the creepy attachment to stepsister Shannon (Maggie Grace), died in the April 6 episode. Somerhalder's exit was necessary because "it kicks off the character conflicts that build all the way into the season finale," Lindelof says. "It had to be him." Here, in an emotional TV Guide interview, Somerhalder speaks out about his departure and — spoiler alert! — reveals that he might not be the only one biting the dust.TV Guide: Did the producers ask you to keep Boone's demise a secret from the rest of the cast?Ian Somerhalder: No. They knew I wouldn't do that. These are my people, you know? There's no way in hell I wasn't
We Spy Alias Scoop!
Alias creator J.J. Abrams is even busier than a jet-setting CIA operative these days. Besides launching the ABC hit Lost, he's preparing to direct The World's Biggest Box-Office Star (that would be Tom Cruise) in Mission Impossible 3 next summer. But never fear, Sydney Bristow fans: Abrams remains committed to his wildly entertaining spy drama, whose fourth season begins in January, partly because of his jam-packed schedule. "When I went away to [direct the pilot episode of] Lost," he says, "I got away from Alias enough to look at it in a way that was surprising again." So what's coming up for Syd? Here, we attempt to pry a few top-secret details out of the notoriously tight-lipped writer. TV Guide Online: Many fans were thrilled when Vaughn (Michael Vartan) shot his wicked wife Lauren (Melissa George) in last May's finale. Is she really dead?J.J. Abrams: Melissa is not coming back at the moment. I know some fans
Tyra's Top Model Tattle
When America's Next Top Model returns tonight (8 pm/ET on UPN), expect a bevy of very diverse beauties. Among the 14 aspiring catwalkers vying for the show's title: Yaya, a 21-year-old graduate of Brown University who majored in African studies and speaks three languages; Toccara, a 22-year-old, 5-foot-9-inch, 180-lb. diva from New Jersey who's intent on becoming the first plus-size supermodel; Julie, a 19-year-old student from Kent, Wash., who hopes to change the image of East Indian women; and Nicole, a 21-year-old ex-punk rocker. Then there's this year's Shandi: 19-year-old Norelle, a 5-foot-10 1/2, 118-lb. sales associate from Costa Mesa, Calif., who's rocking a set of braces. "It's not like we had this kind of girl before and we want it again," says host and executive producer Tyra Banks. "That's when you get bad casting because you're trying to top yourself. You just try to think new. We were wip
One Tree Hill Scoop!
WB's One Tree Hill ended its first season with one soapy twist after another: Nathan and Haley got married, Lucas left town, Deb had an affair and Dan had a heart attack. Here, executive producer Mark Schwann gives TV Guide Online the scoop on what we can expect in Season 2. And we're not just talking about Chad Michael Murray's cute new buzz cut!TV Guide Online: Nathan and Haley getting married was quite a shock. Where do you go from there?Mark Schwann: I think the audience wants to know how Nathan and Haley's marriage is possible and what the decision-making [process] was. We'll meet her family in the first episode. Her father will be played by Huey Lewis. I think the audience loves Nathan and Haley, and wants to make sure [their marriage] is not being used as an excuse to cause friction in their relationship or break them up. TVGO: Well, is it?Schwann: I've said all along, I'm a fan of the relationship. I think they're really
Big Changes on The O.C.
When Fox's The O.C. wrapped its first season last May, Julie and Caleb tied the knot, and Ryan packed up his wife-beater tees and moved back to Chino with his knocked-up lover, Teresa, prompting his distraught adopted bro, Seth, to set sail for Tahiti in the Summer Breeze. Here, series creator Josh Schwartz previews what's in store for the teen soap's second season, which kicks off in November. TV Guide Online: How will you resolve those cliffhangers? We know Ryan can't really stay in Chino with Teresa....Josh Schwartz: Teresa's gonna be in the show when we come back. Ryan's still trying to do the responsible thing [where she's concerned], but it hasn't been easy. It's been a long summer between them. He's trying to make the best of it, but it's kind of grim. Seth has not returned. His parents know where he is, but he's decided he ain't coming back. Sandy and Kirsten have not had a good summer living in this empty house without the kids. It
PO5 Hottie Gets Lost
He battled Hodgkin's disease on Party of Five and death itself on UPN's short-lived supernatural drama Haunted. But Matthew Fox may face his biggest challenge yet on Lost, the new ABC thriller from Alias creator J.J. Abrams. He plays Jack, a surgeon who survives a plane crash, only to be stranded on a remote island that is also home to a mysteriously lethal (and unseen) creature.TV Guide Online: How did you get involved in Lost?Matthew Fox: I came in and [auditioned]. At that point, the script was very confidential. Nobody was really getting a chance to read it. I don't usually go into auditions or meetings until I've read the material, but my agents and managers said, "This is really gonna be a big one. It's J.J. Abrams." So I went in, and J.J. took me to an office and gave me the script. I sat down to read it, but he kept running into the room every 20 minutes going, "What do you think?" I was like, "You gotta give me a
This Soap Star Is Desperate!
This fall on ABC's Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria plays Gabrielle, an unhappy young trophy wife who's steaming up the sheets with her teenaged pool boy. But the 29-year-old actress — best known as jealous schemer Isabella on The Young and the Restless — feels anything but desperate these days. As part of an ensemble that includes Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross, Longoria says, "I love going to work. I pinch myself every day." Here, the ex-soap starlet talks about taking her shot at the big leagues. TV Guide Online: Were you intimidated to suddenly find yourself working with those famous prime-time actresses?Eva Longoria: I was terrified coming in! These women have been in prime time for a long time. Everybody knows Marcia's [Melrose Place] character, everybody knows Teri's [Lois & Clark] character. Everybody knows Felicity is a talented, talented actress [from Sports Night
Paris and Nicole Feuding?
When it comes to Paris Hilton, nothing is simple. Take the conference-call interview she's scheduled to do with Nicole Richie to promote The Simple Life 2 (debuting Wednesday on Fox). The L.A.-based Richie has agreed to talk with TV Guide Online at 10 pm — in order to accommodate Hilton, who's on a 17-hour time difference in Australia. But when the hotel heiress gets on the line, she puts her stiletto down. "I want to do the interview by myself," Hilton pouts. "My publicist didn't tell you? I want to do it separately." Hmm... Is Hilton just being difficult — or could rumors of a rift between these two pampered party girls be true? For the record, both say their friendship is just fine, thanks. The gossip "is just people trying to make things up," Hilton huffs. Regardless of whether they have, at least momentarily, grown sick of each other, the question remains: Are viewers over them? Last winter's first installment was a hit
A Comeback for Spike?
In next week's Angel series finale, Spike wonders how to spend what could potentially be the last day of his undead life. So the platinum-topped vamp Spike chooses to spout poetry at a seedy bar. For his portrayer, James Marsters, playing live music would more likely top the final to-do list. The California-bred actor moonlights as lead singer of his rock band, Ghost of the Robot. On the final night of his Angel duties, he happily previewed two new tracks for us in his trailer. "I think this is the best song I've written so far," he said proudly of one acoustic ballad. Soon, he'll embark on a European tour with the group, but don't fret, Spike fans: Unlike co-star David Boreanaz, he's not ready to stake his signature role just yet. TV Guide Online: How does it feel to shoot the last day on a series?James Marsters: Good. Television often is an exercise
Boreanaz Bids Angel Adieu
Angel may be a tortured 245-year-old vampire with a soul, but his portrayer, David Boreanaz, is about as angst-free as actors come. As series creator Joss Whedon once told TV Guide, "David takes things in stride, and those of us who don't know how to stride are confused." During a break in shooting Angel's series finale (airing May 19 at 9 pm/ET), the ever-cool 33-year-old actor discussed why he's relieved to see his 5-year-old WB drama bite it, how he feels about star-crossed love Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) absence, and the chance he'll resurrect Angel for those rumored TV or DVD movies. TV Guide Online: How did you get the cancellation news?David Boreanaz: Joss came to set and told me. I said, "OK, fine." There were no tears. There was just a moment of congratulating him on a successful run of five seasons. TVGO: You weren't at all upset?Boreanaz: I don't wanna sound like I was cheering, but when Joss
Jessica's Sis Gets Real
Brace yourselves: Another Simpson is about to get the MTV-reality treatment. As previously reported, Jessica's 19-year-old actress sis, Ashlee — who plays Cecilia on WB's 7th Heaven — has landed a six-episode series that will chronicle the writing and recording of her as-yet-untitled debut rock album. Premiering in June, Ashlee was pitched to MTV by manager dad Joe Simpson, who saw it as an opportunity for the actress-singer to break out of her famous older sister's shadow. "I knew people were going to say she got her record deal just because she's Jessica's sister," he says. "I wanted people to see Ashlee's the real deal." While the cable network bit, Ashlee herself proved a tougher sell. "I was sort of anti-reality because my sister has her show," the younger Simpson admits. "But it's cool because it's the first time people will really get to see the real me."
Kelley Defends The Practice
When The Practice creator David E. Kelley acted as judge and jury last spring, firing much of the Emmy-winning drama's cast, it shocked Hollywood. But this took a personal toll on the veteran producer, who says he endured several sleepless nights struggling with his decision. "It was very tough on a human level," he says. "I was kinda wishing that the show had been cancelled, rather than have to do that." Instead, faced with ABC's decision to cut the show's $6.5 million-an-episode budget by half, Kelley ultimately decided to ax many of the series' most popular stars, including Dylan McDermott and Lara Flynn Boyle. With the exception of McDermott — whose $300,000-per-episode fee proved too rich a deal for the newly cash-strapped series — Kelley kept the actors whose characters he felt had the most storyline potential going into the series' eighth season. The lucky survivors: Camryn Manheim, Steve Harris, Michael Bada
Sebastian Bach: Wilder Than Ozzy?
His VH1 show Forever Wild may have quietly gotten the ax in April, but former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach is already back on TV. This time around, the 34-year-old rocker narrates The Learning Channel's The New Sideshow (airing tonight at 10 pm/ET), a not-for-the-weak-of-heart documentary on today's more outrageous carnival acts — including human pin cushion The Impaler. "This is what you watch if you want to take reality TV one level heavier than The Osbournes," Bach tells TV Guide Online with a laugh. "If you want to see somebody dangle a brick by their genitals, this is the show for you." While Bach split acrimoniously with his bandmates in 1996 — and has since found success starring on Broadway in Jekyll & Hyde and The Rocky Horror Show — his life hit the skids again in
ET Critic's Next Hot Ticket
With weary Americans returning to their local multiplex in droves (last weekend's box-office receipts were up 50 percent compared to the prior weekend), longtime Entertainment Tonight film critic Leonard Maltin has reason to be hopeful that his new syndicated series Hot Ticket (check local listings) will find an audience. The show is basically him, E!'s Todd Newton and a revolving door of celeb guests debating the merits of new film releases. "Everybody likes to talk about the movies," Maltin tells TV Guide Online. "It's a chance to escape, and I think that will appeal to a lot of people [right now]." Certainly, Ticket's Odd Couple-esque pairing of Maltin and co-host Newton is worth the price of admission. Laughs Maltin: "Todd likes to say, 'Leonard's interested in things like plot development, and I'm interested in fast cars and pretty girls.' We couldn't be more different." Still, it appe
Oscar Winners Sound Off Backstage
Julia Roberts: You've just won an Academy Award for your gutsy performance as the title crusader in Erin Brockovich — now what are you going to do? No, she's not headed to Disney World, silly. She's going to the press room to answer questions from hundreds of anxious reporters from around the world. And she wasn't alone. Here is TV Guide Online's who's who of who said what mere moments — or in Russell Crowe's case, many, many moments — after striking gold. Pollock's supporting actress winner Marcia Gay Harden revealed that her nominated leading man (and Pollock director), Ed Harris, had tried to prepare her for the agony of defeat. "A couple days ago, he said, 'Just practice saying, And the winner is... everyone else's name, and you'll be fine.' [So] when [I heard] my name, all I could think was, 'Oh my gosh.'" Overwhelmed, Harden — who told TV Guide Online that she had just signed to
Bon Jovi Still Rocks
These days, Jon Bon Jovi is hardly livin' on a prayer. He's got a new movie, Pay It Forward with Kevin Spacey, due in theaters Oct. 20, and his band's first album in five years, Crush, has spawned the hit single "It's My Life." The song's video recently cracked MTV's viewer-voted countdown Total Request Live, a playground usually reserved for such kiddie pop stars as Britney and 'N Sync. "Not bad for an old man, huh?" laughs Bon Jovi, 38. "Especially one that doesn't dance or sing to tape." All joking aside, the veteran rocker isn't quick to write off teen acts: "Will any of those guys be around [in] ten years? Who knows? But once upon a time, people thought we were a fluke, too." Indeed, despite changing musical tastes, the band Bon Jovi has remained wanted, dead or alive, long after many of its fellow '80s acts became punchlines (remember Warrant?). Bon Jovi thinks he knows why. "One thing we learned after the