Why Max Greenfield Almost Quit Acting Before Landing On 'New Girl'

April 22, 2014, 10:21 am

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It's hard to imagine life without our favorite douche-jar-filling goofball on "New Girl," but there was a time when Schmidt almost didn't happen.

Max Greenfield recently revealed he had seriously considered giving up acting before landing his breakthrough role on the popular Fox comedy show.

“Right before ‘New Girl’ happened, there were definitely moments of, I probably shouldn't do this anymore,” Greenfield told The Wrap. “I just had a kid and at one point was like, 'At what point does this become selfish'? You don't want to become a dad who is running around and saying, ‘I just got a callback on a guest star on ‘The Middle.'” I just didn't want to be that guy.”

Greenfield is now known for his character on "New Girl" -- some of his more famous lines on the are coined as Schmidt-isms -- but he toiled for 12 years, booking guest spots on shows like "Veronica Mars" and "Ugly Betty" before scoring it big. Chasing that elusive Hollywood dream caused the actor to develop so much self-doubt that, at one point, he actively pursued a career change.

"Just before ‘New Girl,' I called a buddy of mine and asked for a job as a writing assistant,” Greenfield said. "I thought, maybe I'll start at the very lowest point for a writer and see what happens with that, because this doesn't seem to be happening as an actor.”

Thankfully the writing gig didn't work out. After receiving Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his turn on "New Girl," Greenfield is breaking into film with his movie "About Alex," which just premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. He's also slated to star in an upcoming comedy with Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.

Even with all of the success, Greenfield admits he'll probably never feel like he's finally made it.

I don't feel any different," Greenfield said. "It's so funny when you do interviews, people will go, ‘You guys are all established actors …’ and I'm like, ‘Am I? Really?' I don't feel that way and I genuinely don't know that I will ever feel that way."

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Expecting (and Engaged!) Celebrities

April 22, 2014, 10:34 am

≫ Next: Corey Stoll Talks Playing A Former Boxing Champ In 'Glass Chin'

≪ Previous: Why Max Greenfield Almost Quit Acting Before Landing On 'New Girl'

By Lauren Frankfort, Brides

Celebrities rarely follow tradition. The latest trend among Hollywood A-listers? Announcing a pregnancy right after an engagement. Our favorite red carpet regulars are not only brides-to-be but moms-to-be as well, adding an extra bundle of joy to the excitement of the journey towards the altar.

Most recently, Mila Kunis announced there's a bun in her oven just mere weeks after revealing she is engaged to Ashton Kutcher. Other expecting-and-engaged stars include Scarlett Johansson, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ciara, and of course, Olivia Wilde, whose best 2014 Oscar red carpet accessory (besides fiancé Jason Sudeikis!) was her growing baby bump. These stunning ladies prove "first comes love then comes marriage" may no longer ring true in Tinseltown.

Famous faces foregoing standard wedding conventions is nothing new: Jennifer Garner was actually four months pregnant with baby Violet when she and Ben Affleck tied the knot all the way back in 2005.

Here, a master list of blushing celebrity brides-and-mommies-to-be. Although starting a family is no doubt a very personal choice, we must admit these famous and expectant brides have an added glow. (Hellooo, did you see how gorgeous Ciara looked at her baby shower?!) And if you choose to make like Jessica Simpson and postpone the wedding until after the baby is born, that makes for an even more special family-filled ceremony.

Scroll through to see all of the expecting-and-engaged celebrities.

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Corey Stoll Talks Playing A Former Boxing Champ In 'Glass Chin'

April 22, 2014, 10:47 am

≫ Next: See Francis Ford Coppola's Notes For Famous 'Godfather' Scene

≪ Previous: Expecting (and Engaged!) Celebrities

Most of us know Corey Stoll as Peter Russo on "House of Cards," and some may even remember his short portrayal of Ernest Hemingway in "Midnight in Paris." However, Stoll is soon to become a household name with starring roles on both the big and small screens.

Besides appearing in three films coming out this year -- as well as next year's "Ant-Man" -- and starring in FX's new horror series "The Strain," Stoll also made time to play a former boxer in "Glass Chin," which just premiered at Tribeca Film Festival. Stoll's Bud "The Saint" Gordon is a forgotten boxing champ whose career and fame plummeted after throwing a fight years before. He begins training an up-and-coming boxing star, Kid Sunshine, but getting back in the gym isn't enough. Desperate to restore his name, Bud goes into business with crooked entrepreneur JJ (Billy Crudup), only to end up being framed for murder.

HuffPost Entertainment caught up with Stoll during Tribeca to chat about "Glass Chin" and find out what it was like to star in a boxing movie with so little boxing.

What would you say is Bud's driving force in the film?
He's trying to get back to his high-status place, where he was before he took the dive. He's very status obsessed. When you see him at the beginning of the movie he's very bitter and very petty. Everything he does he's trying to sort of leap-frog over the hard work of building himself back up.

There's a clear difference between Bud and Kid Sunshine. Kid wants to win fights for something bigger than himself, but that's not what Bud's goal used to be, was it?
For Bud, it was always in a very small, ego-driven way. It was his way of being a man, being the man. I think it's sort of revelatory to see the Kid who does it for the honor of doing something incredibly well -- that the sweet science of boxing, it as an institution, is worthy of putting all of your sacrificing, all of your blood, sweat, and tears into it in order to create, if not art, then something sort of transcendent.

Do you think that's what draws Bud to Kid and why he enjoys training him?
Yeah. He saw that Kid had a purer set of motives than he did. I think Bud sort of, while he was boxing, assumed everyone was doing it for the same reasons he did. It sort of shocks Bud to see somebody doing this without so much ego.

What is Bud's weakness that makes him susceptible to JJ and leads to the trouble he gets tangled in?
I think he is really susceptible to flattery because he has this sort of grandiose sense of what he's supposed to be. When he was younger he got a taste of being the champ, or being close to being the champ. That people are supposed to treat you a certain way, you're supposed to get the best tables, people are supposed to bow down to you. Billy Crudup's character JJ plays into that and really makes him feel like the man that he was when nobody else does. His girlfriend doesn't do it, people on the street don't do it. He's really been forgotten. The people who do remember, remember him for his downfall. That's really his legacy.

In the film, Bud doesn't have many of his own interests. He listens to his girlfriend's music and sees the movie she picks out. Why is that?
I think for all sorts of athletes, when you're younger and developing your tastes in movies and music, he was just in the gym. JJ calls him a monk [in the film] and there is a sort of a monkish quality to boxer. It just takes so much time and they're so exhausted all the time. It's so all-consuming that I think Bud never really developed certain parts of himself.

There are a few parallels made between boxing and monks in the film, and there's this idea of boxing having a holy quality to it. Do you think Bud ever sees boxing this way?
He didn't, but I think he felt that. There's no way you can work as hard as you have to work in order to become a successful boxer without really feeling that meditation that you get in the gym. But I think Bud from such a young age was just so status obsessed that he didn't give that its due credit.

It's so interesting that you star in the boxing movie where you don't even get to box or fight. Were you ever wishing you'd get to have a fight scene?
Yeah, totally! We spent a few weeks at Gleason's Gym where we shot the gym scenes with Malcolm [Xavier] who plays Kid Sunshine. I was just there training alongside him just to get a sense of the gym and these guys, and to sort of develop my rapport with Malcolm. But yeah, there is something sort of funny about that. The guys in the gym would be like, "Oh you're making a boxing movie." "Aw yeah … sorta." [Laughs] Boxing is the setting, but it's not really a boxing movie.

You have a lot of films coming out this year, but you're still doing TV with the new FX show "The Strain." Is there a difference at all for you between your film roles and your TV ones?
I think sometimes in film there's a little bit more of a need to bring more of your whole self to every scene. Within a movie, this is your only chance to show this particular side of the character. Where in TV sometimes I think you can take your foot off the gas a little bit and every scene doesn't hold the certain responsibility of defining this part of the character. In "House of Cards," I knew I had 11 hours, and in other shows where the character is on-going you have a seemingly infinite amount of time. Even though you're working at this relentless pace in TV, in some ways you can even let the character unfold in its own time and you don't necessarily have to know entirely who he is. That being said, in the day-to-day working of it, they're sort of the same thing. You're trying to fulfill the writers intent and figure out why does this scene exist. That's the same.

"Glass Chin" will be screening at Tribeca Film Festival on April 22 and April 26.

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See Francis Ford Coppola's Notes For Famous 'Godfather' Scene

April 26, 2014, 12:11 pm

≫ Next: Lea Michele & Darren Criss Sing 'Wizard Of Oz' In Black-Tie Outfits

≪ Previous: Corey Stoll Talks Playing A Former Boxing Champ In 'Glass Chin'

Previously pinged around online circles in 2011 and now unearthed again by Reddit user Join_You_In_The_Sun, comes this page of Mario Puzo's famed novel "The Godfather," with Francis Ford Coppola's handwritten notes in the margins. Coppola directed 1972's adaptation of "The Godfather," and he turned Puzo's prose into one of the most acclaimed movies ever made. Below, check out both the page from Puzo's book -- the scene where Michael Corleone shoots Sollozzo and McCluskey -- and the filmed version of the same moment.

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Lea Michele & Darren Criss Sing 'Wizard Of Oz' In Black-Tie Outfits

April 26, 2014, 12:18 pm

≫ Next: Box Office Update: 'The Other Woman' Topples 'Captain America'

≪ Previous: See Francis Ford Coppola's Notes For Famous 'Godfather' Scene

Lea Michele and Darren Criss took their "Glee" show on the road and to the red carpet of the Jonsson Cancer Center's 19th Annual Taste For A Cure benefit in Beverly Hills, Calif. The co-stars traded in their McKinley High School gear for, respectively, a long, sheer dress and a dapper tux, and performed "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from "The Wizard Of Oz."

lea michele

Michele voices Dorothy in the new animated Oz-inspired movie, "Legends Of Oz: Dorothy's Return," so it's no surprise she chose to channel the iconic character. She posted a snippet of the performance on Instagram and wrote, "And then this happened!" Take a look here:

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Box Office Update: 'The Other Woman' Topples 'Captain America'

April 26, 2014, 1:25 pm

≫ Next: Donald Sterling Controversy: Clippers Issue Statement, NBA Probing Recording

≪ Previous: Lea Michele & Darren Criss Sing 'Wizard Of Oz' In Black-Tie Outfits

In The Other Woman, a man’s wife and his two mistresses join forces to take him down a peg.

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Donald Sterling Controversy: Clippers Issue Statement, NBA Probing Recording

April 26, 2014, 3:56 pm

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≪ Previous: Box Office Update: 'The Other Woman' Topples 'Captain America'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Anger, frustration and calls for action echoed around the NBA on Saturday after an audio recording surfaced of a man identified as Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend not to bring black people to games.

Everybody except for the embattled Clippers owner, who has a decades-long history of discrimination and offensive behavior, seemed to have a response. The league said it was investigating the recording posted on TMZ's website, calling the comments "disturbing and offensive." Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, a target of Sterling's remarks, said he wouldn't attend Clippers' games as long as Sterling was the owner. Miami Heat star LeBron James asked new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to take aggressive measures, saying "there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league."

"Obviously, if the reports are true it's unacceptable in our league," James said. "It doesn't matter, white, black or Hispanic -- all across the races it's unacceptable. As the commissioner of our league they have to make a stand. They have to be very aggressive with it. I don't know what it will be, but we can't have that in our league."

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said players even discussed boycotting Game 4 of their first-round playoff series at Golden State on Sunday during a 45-minute team meeting but quickly decided against it.

"I think the biggest statement we can make as men, not as black men, as men, is to stick together and show how strong we are as a group," Rivers said. "Not splinter. Not walk. It's easy to protest. The protest will be in our play."

Clippers President Andy Roeser said in a statement that the team did not know if the tape is legitimate or has been altered. He said the woman on the tape, identified by TMZ as V. Stiviano, "is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would 'get even.'"

Roeser also said the recording does not reflect Sterling's beliefs. He added that Sterling is "upset and apologizes for sentiments attributed to him" about Johnson, whom he called Sterling's friend.

In the recording posted on TMZ, the man questions his girlfriend's association with minorities. TMZ reported Stiviano, who is of black and Mexican descent, posted a picture of herself with Johnson on Instagram -- which has since been removed.

The man asked Stiviano not to broadcast her association with black people or bring black people to games. The man specifically mentioned Johnson on the recording, saying "don't bring him to my games, OK?"

"I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner," Johnson responded on Twitter. He also said the alleged comments are "a black eye for the NBA" and said he felt bad that friends such as Rivers and Clippers point guard Chris Paul had to work for Sterling.

Paul released a statement through the players union that said "this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively." Paul and Clippers All-Star forward Blake Griffin declined further comment on the issue after the team's practice at the University of San Francisco.

Other players were not made available as Rivers said he would speak for the team.

"A lot of guys voiced their opinions. None of them were happy about it," Rivers said. "This was a situation where we're trying to go after something very important for us, something that we've all dreamed about all our childhoods. Donald or anyone else had nothing to do with that dream, and we're not going to let anything get in the way of those dreams."

Silver was scheduled to address reporters Saturday night in Memphis, Tenn., before the Grizzlies' playoff game against Oklahoma City.

On TNT's halftime studio show Saturday, host Charles Barkley said "this is the first test of Adam Silver." He said Silver had to "suspend him and fine him immediately."

NBA TV analyst and former player Chris Webber said that "the NBA owners need to handle their own."

In Dallas, where the Spurs were getting ready to play the Mavericks, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said: "The comments are obviously disgusting."

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said "I have plenty of opinions, just not going to share them," fending off several inquiries before saying: "Obviously, if any business or entrepreneur says or does things that aren't congruent with what the organization is trying to convey, that's a problem. But it's not my problem."

Warriors coach Mark Jackson, who played for the Clippers from 1992-94, said of Sterling's comments: "My feeling would be the same, no matter if I was coaching, playing or a fan. There's no place for it."

Jacky Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, said the organization planned a protest outside Game 5 of the Clippers-Warriors series Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Sterling, a real estate owner, bought the Clippers in 1981. He is the longest-tenured owner in the NBA since Lakers owner Jerry Buss died last year.

He has been frequently criticized for his frugal operation of the Clippers, although in recent years he has spent heavily to add stars such as Paul and Rivers, who is in his first year as coach. Sterling also has been involved in several lawsuits over the years, including ones with accusations of discrimination.

In November 2009, Sterling agreed to pay $2.73 million to settle allegations by the government that he refused to rent apartments to Hispanics and blacks and to families with children. The Justice Department sued Sterling in August 2006 for allegations of housing discrimination in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles.

In March 2011, Sterling won a lawsuit against former Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor when a jury rejected the Hall of Famer's claim of age discrimination and harassment. Baylor, who was 76 at the time, had sought about $2 million after claiming he was forced out of the job he had held for 22 years. The team said Baylor left on his own and a jury awarded him nothing.

Sterling is a courtside fixture at Clippers home games. But he rarely visits the team's locker room at Staples Center, although he made an appearance in December 2012 after they had won their 11th straight game, when he led an awkward locker room cheer.

___

AP Sports Writers Beth Harris in Mesa, Ariz.; Schuyler Dixon in Dallas; Rick Freeman in New York; and Steve Reed in Charlotte, N.C., contributed to this report.

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George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin Are Engaged (REPORT)

April 26, 2014, 4:47 pm

≫ Next: The Stars On This Week's Best & Worst Beauty List Know How To Work With What They've Got

≪ Previous: Donald Sterling Controversy: Clippers Issue Statement, NBA Probing Recording

It looks like Hollywood's serial bachelor is a bachelor no more. George Clooney is engaged to British attorney Amal Alamuddin, People confirms.

Clooney and Alamuddin were first spotted together publicly in October of last year.

"George and Amal are trying to keep things very low-key but they also aren't really trying to hide this, it doesn't seem," a source told People. "I think it's like they want the people they love to know that this is real, that they plan on being together forever."

Clooney reportedly proposed to the 36-year-old beauty after six months of dating and news of the engagement started to make rounds after she was spotted wearing an engagement ring while out to dinner with the couple's friends, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.

Clooney was previously married to Talia Balsam and has since had notable relationships with Sarah Larson, Elisabetta Canalis and Stacy Keibler.

Below, meet Clooney's gorgeous fiancee:
amal alamuddin

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The Stars On This Week's Best & Worst Beauty List Know How To Work With What They've Got

April 27, 2014, 5:41 am

≫ Next: 'Begin Again' Pushes Adam Levine, Keira Knightley Out Of Their Comfort Zones

≪ Previous: George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin Are Engaged (REPORT)

Half the battle of choosing the right hair and makeup is knowing what works for you. It's about enhancing what you've already got rather than being a slave to all the trends. And that's exactly what the stars who served up the week's best beauty moments did.

Kate Upton let her natural beauty shine with a polished old Hollywood look, while Jennifer Hudson struck the perfect balance between edgy and elegant.

On the other hand, the celebs who landed on our worst list managed to mask their true beauty with avoidable makeup and hair mishaps. Sadly Mindy Kaling was the worst of the bunch and a few swipes of powder could have cleared things up.

Check out these eye-catching beauty looks below (plus more standout hair and makeup).

BEST: Kate Upton

This centerfold is transitioning to the silver screen with sophistication and style. Her perfect chignon, subtle smokey eye and soft lip, make her look like a true Hollywood starlet.

BEST: Melonie Diaz

We want whatever Melonie is putting in her hair to make it shine so bright. And the juxtaposition of her matte red lips is perfection.

BEST: Sofia Vergara

Although we've seen the "Modern Family" actress rock a lot of different hair colors, this honey blonde hue is our all-time favorite.

BEST: Darby Stanchfield

What a killer combo: red tousled tresses, lash framed blue eyes and a bright poppy-hued pout. This "Scandal" star definitely knows how to handle a fierce beauty moment.

BEST: Jennifer Hudson

We can't get enough of J.Hud's jet black pixie cut. And although it's definitely an edgy look, the singer balances it out with light brown brows and a matte lip.

WORST: Peta Murgatroyd

There is no way that the Australian actress and dancer should have been able to hit the red carpet looking like this. She's suffering from a mean case of helmet hair and heavy-handed lipstick.

WORST: Katie Holmes

It looks like Katie needs some serious beauty sleep or she should just avoid lining her eyes with unflattering colors. Teaming that purple shadow with a bordeaux colored frock isn't a good look.

WORST: Sophia Bush

Everything about Sophia's look is pretty much flawless, if you can divert your attention from her stenciled eyeliner. While we applaud her doing something a little different, this look is better suited for a fab magazine spread.

WORST: Mindy Kaling

Someone, anyone, get this woman some powder!

WORST: Toni Collette

There is nothing really exciting about this look. We blame Toni's orange tinged hair and overwhelming eye makeup.

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'Begin Again' Pushes Adam Levine, Keira Knightley Out Of Their Comfort Zones

April 27, 2014, 6:06 am

≫ Next: Carrie Preston Explains How Elsbeth Tascioni Became The Most Brilliantly Complex Lawyer On Television

≪ Previous: The Stars On This Week's Best & Worst Beauty List Know How To Work With What They've Got

NEW YORK (AP) — For Keira Knightley and Adam Levine, their movie "Begin Again" was an experience of firsts.

Knightley, an accomplished actress, sings in the movie, whereas Levine, frontman of the band Maroon 5, acts. The two admitted that leaving their comfort zones made them uneasy but that they related to each other's nerves.

"I kept telling her she was great and she wouldn't believe me, and she told me that I wasn't bad at acting either but I didn't believe her, so it was perfect," Levine said Saturday as the film closed the Tribeca Film Festival.

"I was completely terrified," Knightley, 29, emphasized of her singing.

"I didn't anticipate being as frightened as I was. I said yes to doing it and I was, 'Oh, it's gonna be fine, it's gonna be fine,' and then suddenly I found myself in a studio with real people who did it for a living and I was like, 'I don't know what I'm doing. I'm pretending.'"

To walk a red carpet for his first acting role, Levine, 35, said he was "blown away."

Levine says he enjoyed the experience so much he might have caught the acting bug.

"My experience was so much fun," he said. "It made me kind of start to like it a little bit, but I don't know. I don't think you can really make those bold declarations, but we'll see."

So how did the two grade each other?

Knightley called Levine a "natural entertainer" who was "sensational in this film."

Levine, who serves as a judge and mentor on NBC's singing competition show "The Voice," said that if Knightley were to audition he would want her on his team.

"Begin Again," is directed by John Carney, who also was behind the successful musical drama "Once." It also stars Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld and Catherine Keener. CeeLo Green also has a small role.

The movie opens in the U.S. in July.

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Follow Alicia Rancilio at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar

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Online:

http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival/

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Carrie Preston Explains How Elsbeth Tascioni Became The Most Brilliantly Complex Lawyer On Television

April 27, 2014, 6:21 am

≫ Next: Here Are Nude Paintings Of Seth Rogen By James Franco

≪ Previous: 'Begin Again' Pushes Adam Levine, Keira Knightley Out Of Their Comfort Zones

There are plenty of lawyers on TV, though most of them are not secret geniuses, that obsess over bears and struggle to pass psych evaluations. Enter: Elsbeth Tascioni, Carrie Preston's recurring "Good Wife" role, which was intended as comic relief and has ended up with a five season arc. Huff Post TV spoke with Preston about what went into crafting the fantastically quirky Elsbeth (and why she definitely deserves an Emmy this year).

Given Elsbeth's dialogue, the character could have easily played in any number of ways. What kind of direction did Michelle and Robert King give you to start?
So, I had one conversation with Robert King, in which he suggested that she was a Colombo-type character. So, I was like, "Okay, I've never watched Colombo, [Laughs] but I think that just means that she is somebody who comes at things in an unorthodox way." And I said to him, it feels to me that she is somebody who is highly capable of thinking about 500 things at the same time, and her brain is working a lot faster than her mouth is. So, the mouth's trying to keep up with the brain, that's juggling the 500 things equally well. And he said, "Yes, that's a good way to think about it." I went into, you know, the first episode that I did, which was at the end of Season 1, with that in mind.

1120carrie3

There are definitely gaps that you had to fill in, just given the length of time between appearances. How did you set about giving her a solid back story?
You know, it always starts with the writing. In theater, they say, "if it ain't on the page it ain't on the stage." And, that's the same with television, too. You know, it's gotta be on the page first, and then the actor can really pave that and elevate it and make it into something unique, and different, and specific and singular. So, you know, on the page, she was obviously very bright, and then they would just write in little things, like her getting fascinated by a bookshelf or something, and I was, like, that is a gift to an actor. You can get really specific about what that means, and why she's getting fascinated by someone's blouse and how that informs how her brain works.

And how did that approach develop from the end of Season 1 to these more recent episodes of 4 and 5, in which Elsbeth plays a key role in defending Will?
I think once the writers started seeing my take on that mercurial way of thinking, then they started writing to that. And then I started trying to not play the same thing each episode. Okay, now they know that I know how to do things where I get fascinated by somebody's brooch, but I have to make that different each time and each episode, to continue to make her a real human being and not just somebody who is quirky for quirky's sake.

Right, I think the character was almost automatically going to be comic relief, but it has become something much deeper. There's been a noticeable arc for her.
Yes, definitely. I was very, very pleased to see that, you know? I think that means the chemistry between the writing and what they're envisioning, and the actor and what I'm envisioning, was a good alchemy. That's not always the case, but in this case it was, so I really do owe it to them for continuing to allow me to develop her with these little gifts.

1120elsbeth

Looking specifically to "Je Ne Sais What?," there's an awesome scene in which Elsbeth fails a psych evaluation. Are we to assume that she is dealing with a legitimate condition or was that just a situation in which she became extremely flustered?
Right, well, I like to always leave a little mystery, with all the characters that I play, because I think that's what makes them watchable and interesting. I have my own ideas about it, but I don't think it's a specific label that I'm putting on her ... And in that shrink scene, I always like to find a character's vulnerability, and where they feel out of control or off their game, and that just makes the stakes higher, when you're playing a scene. I decided that she has this real fear that she is abnormal, and that makes her feel very vulnerable and scared ... [For example], when she asks Alicia, "Do I talk too much?," that was a real, true moment for her of feeling like, "Oh god, once again I'm not sure how I present in the world." We all feel insecure about how we're being perceived by others, and I think someone as brilliant as Elsbeth, that gets magnified by a million and then you sit her down with a shrink? Oh my god, she's gonna crack!

Any insight on what went in to writing that scene?
With that scene, they called my agent and said, "Okay, we've written Carrie her Emmy episode." Now, I was like, "Oh my god! No pressure there." But they were really, really, sort of hell bent on getting me an Emmy nomination, because the previous year I hadn't got one, and they were, like, "Okay, we're gonna write a great episode for her." And boy did they! That episode was just chock full of material.

I really like that she is able to have that kind of curveball quirkiness to her, that does present a vulnerability, without debilitating her (as we see with a character like Carrie from "Homeland"). If anything, that aspect of the character is a strength, in that it puts her opponents off guard.
Yes, that's what makes the character, like you said, so different from most of women characters that you see. Although, I don't think that she is manipulative or Machiavellian at all. I think she is able to accept a moment immediately and use it to her advantage, but it's not like she's pre planning anything.

Where we last left Elsbeth, she had joined a partnership set on wooing Alicia. Are we going see you maybe in competition with Florrick Agos or Diane's firm in the future?
No one has mentioned anything to me, but they did go to those lengths to have Elsbeth be the one that wins this lawyer that everyone was wooing. I don't think they would set something up like that so blatantly, with no intention of following up with it next season. And I am finishing up "True Blood," which has been, you know, my main gig here for seven years, so, I'm hoping now that I'm a little freer, they will find more stories for me next season. But, no one really has specifically said anything to me just yet.

1120carrie2

If you were able to decide what path she took next season, is there anything specific you'd like to explore further?
Yeah, it would be wonderful to work again with Kyle [MacLachlan, who plays Josh Perotti] ... and that weird dating ritual between the quirky and the genius. They wanted to actually bring him in for one of the episodes that I did this season, but he was unavailable, so it wasn't a lack of them wanting to do that, it was a logistical reason that it couldn't happen. So, I'm hoping that we get to see a little more about that ... I [also] think it would be fun to join Alicia's firm or something like that would be cool. But I'll take anything! I trust those guys and they continue to write for me, and obviously it's a coveted guest situation and it would be more coveted to be a regular there.

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Here Are Nude Paintings Of Seth Rogen By James Franco

April 27, 2014, 7:25 am

≫ Next: Love Barbs and the Royals

≪ Previous: Carrie Preston Explains How Elsbeth Tascioni Became The Most Brilliantly Complex Lawyer On Television

This week in things you never ever wanted to see, we bring you nude paintings of Seth Rogen. Based on their stylistic tonality (and the fact that they were posted on his Instagram), art experts have determined that these renderings of raw nakedness can be attributed to artist, teacher, student, lover and general visionary James Franco.

There is an innocence and purity in Rogen's submissive posturing, coupled with a contradictory sexuality. Almost as violently clashing as the reds and blues, we see an unconstrained duality of power and weakness pictured here. There is a blaring shame, cleverly juxtaposed with pride.

"Sleepy bear," Franco writes, drawing attention to the subdued animalism of his intimate depictions (read: while continuing to engage in blatant homophobia, because comedy).

According to the caption, these paintings will be available for viewing across various galleries in New York and Los Angeles. And, apparently, there are more Rogen paintings to come. In the mean time, be sure to enroll in Franco's acting classes, for the low, low price of $300 a month!

MORE SETH ROGEN PAINTINGS - they're COMING!!

PACE GALLERY - NYC
OHWOW GALLERY - LOS ANGELES http://t.co/eJ2h1xhAKT
— James Franco (@JamesFrancoTV) April 27, 2014

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Love Barbs and the Royals

April 27, 2014, 7:43 am

≫ Next: Justin Bieber Releases New Song 'Hard 2 Face Reality'

≪ Previous: Here Are Nude Paintings Of Seth Rogen By James Franco

You may not have the 24/7 schedules or the non-stop press scrutiny that the royals do, but every couple gets to the point when the stress and tension of everyday life turn those funny quips turn into sharp barbs that hook under the skin. It may be during one of those endless work weeks everyone has, or perhaps when family and friends descend during the holidays. Don't worry, it happens to everyone -- yes, even to Kate Middleton and Prince William.

It's not a sign that your relationship or friendship is going south. It certainly in not for Kate and William. It's just a reminder that we all need a breather every now and then to redraw the lines.

It often starts off as a friendly back and forth. But when the stress and strain of everyday life pushes too hard, they can quickly escalate from a friendly exchange to a hurtful back and forth. Even when done with a smile.

When the usually lighthearted quips between Kate and William start to get an edge, the world notices. Believe it or not the same thing happens to you just on a much more private level. Either way, it's a signal to stop and remind each other why you're together in the first place, and redraw the boundaries a bit. For the royals the stress of their travel turns their usually adorable quips into humor that is a a bit more pointed.

William made a few asides about Kate's outfit, calling one "too bright" and another "banana"-esque. They were nothing overtly harsh and were still in the realm of joking humor, but still not the nicest assessment of an outfit. Kate came back later on when a tour guide showed the couple a tuft of alpaca wool that was vaguely the color of Prince William's hair, with a comment and a toupee reference.

Again, neither comment was overtly bitter and each could be taken with a shrug and a chuckle, but the truth is, each probably struck just a little too close to home to be truly funny.

They are the kind of comments that after time can erode even the healthiest of relationships. Instead of doing one's marital duty" and shrugging it off, use these barbs as a signal to stop, to slow down, to breathe air into whatever is going on. This doesn't have to lead to some deep discussion. Instead, do what we do in modern meditation.

When your partner or friend makes a comment that is little too sharp, stop. Take a few deep breathes to reduce the immediate anger you might be feeling. Acknowledge whatever it is that was just said. Let it go.

All you have to say is, "Ouch, that was a little sharp," or "Honey, that wasn't nice," or "That didn't make me feel good." If they come back and try to laugh it off with a comment like "Oh, relax," or "Don't take it so seriously," or some other lighthearted comment designed to reduce the tension while still remaining on top, let them know it's not okay. Or, as Ellen DeGeneres once said, ""You don't know how to kid properly. Because we should both be laughing."

Instead of allowing these barbs take hold and fester deep inside, use them as a way to strengthen your relationship. Use them as a way to remind each other to stay above it all and to not sink into that morass that even the most loving relationships can unknowingly drop into.

Life is too short to allow these little barbs to undermine it. So stop yourself from playing the game of who can keep it light but hurtful the best. Let the other person know that even the toughest soldier can be a little sensitive at times.

Yes, it may be a little embarrassing when you first let the other person know you're not as hard as a rock. But if you can't be sensitive with the people you love, who can you be sensitive with? Besides, knowing each other's soft spots can actually take your relationship to the next level - whether you're just friends or growing something larger.

As for Kate and William, they're fine. They're just on one heck of a journey.

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Justin Bieber Releases New Song 'Hard 2 Face Reality'

April 27, 2014, 7:48 am

≫ Next: Lauren Conrad's New Puppy Is Going To Have A Prettier Life Than You

≪ Previous: Love Barbs and the Royals

On Saturday, April 26, Justin Bieber dropped a new song titled "Hard 2 Face Reality." Bizzle teams up with singer/songwriter Poo Bear for a guitar-driven R&B track, crooning about the difficulties of a relationship. Give the quick, two-minute song a listen below.

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Lauren Conrad's New Puppy Is Going To Have A Prettier Life Than You

April 27, 2014, 8:21 am

≫ Next: Lily Allen Mocks Beyonce, Has A Bucket Of Water Thrown At Her During 'Drunk In Love'

≪ Previous: Justin Bieber Releases New Song 'Hard 2 Face Reality'

Former reality star and eternal Queen of Instagram Lauren Conrad has adopted a puppy. It appears to be adorable and perfect, because it has been run through multiple filters, and also because it is a puppy.

Just to be clear, this puppy's life will include artisanal lemonade ...

... hand-painted floral dinnerware ...

... hand-painted balloons ...

... hand-painted useless glass things ...

... assorted Pinterest-inspired pastries ...

... literally all of the nail polish ...

... and midi rings.

The "newest member of the Conrad clan," will join Conrad's other pets -- Chloe, Fitz and this random baby bird -- who also have prettier lives than you.

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Lily Allen Mocks Beyonce, Has A Bucket Of Water Thrown At Her During 'Drunk In Love'

April 27, 2014, 9:54 am

≫ Next: Sarah Jessica Parker Drinks Tequila For The First Time At Age 49 (REPORT)

≪ Previous: Lauren Conrad's New Puppy Is Going To Have A Prettier Life Than You

Shortly after discussing the way media pits women against each other, Lily Allen pit herself against Beyonce, performing a parodic version of "Drunk In Love" at London club G-A-Y on Saturday, April 26. The recreation of Bey's Grammy opener includes an entire bucket of water, but is noticeably missing Jay Z, a delightfully sensuous chair dance and any sense of respect of Beyonce. Watch the video below (and then please raise your hand if you have ever been personally victimized by Lily Allen).

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Sarah Jessica Parker Drinks Tequila For The First Time At Age 49 (REPORT)

April 27, 2014, 10:53 am

≫ Next: Gloria Estefan Is Getting A Broadway Musical In 2015

≪ Previous: Lily Allen Mocks Beyonce, Has A Bucket Of Water Thrown At Her During 'Drunk In Love'

According to Page Six, Sarah Jessica Parker tried tequila for the very first time on Saturday, April 26.

Apparently, she was out in the Meatpacking District for some sort of fancily exclusive book club, and a source overheard overheard SJP say that she had never “tried tequila and wanted to try it for the first time."

How someone could have existed for nearly five decades and not, say, had a margarita once or twice seems implausible. We'll still continue to love and actively conflate her with Carrie Bradshaw, but there are a lot of questions here. Was part of her "Sex And The City" contract that she could ONLY drink Cosmos? What could she have possibly been drinking on Cinco de Mayo? Did Matthew Broderick know about this?

Anyway, rest assured that now, after 49 years of living on the planet Earth, Sarah Jessica Parker has finally gotten around to trying tequila.

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Gloria Estefan Is Getting A Broadway Musical In 2015

April 27, 2014, 12:02 pm

≫ Next: "Wheel Of Fortune" Hit 6,000 Episodes This Week And This Is How We're Celebrating

≪ Previous: Sarah Jessica Parker Drinks Tequila For The First Time At Age 49 (REPORT)

Finally fulfilling her prophecy that the rhythm is going to get us, Gloria Estefan has confirmed that her highly anticipated musical "On Your Feet" will officially get its Broadway debut in 2015.

According to the New York Daily News, the musical will be bilingual, covering Estefan's dance music career, beginning with her early years in Miami, as well as her traumatic tour bus accident of 1990.

The Daily News also reports that "On Your Feet" will be accompanied by an anticipatory reality show, in which Estefan and fellow judges will find talent to play teen Gloria and 20-something Gloria.

“It’s going to be daunting," she said, "But I have no doubt whatsoever that we are going to be able to do it and so much fun to be a part of the process."

Gloria and Emilio Estefan announced plans to turn their story in a musical back in February of 2013. Teaming up with the Nederlander Organization, they released a statement saying they were "very excited to share this story, which is based on hope, determination and the belief that with hard work and passion."

Also, apparently, William Levy is dying to play Emilio, so maybe someone will let him do that.

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"Wheel Of Fortune" Hit 6,000 Episodes This Week And This Is How We're Celebrating

April 28, 2014, 9:35 am

≫ Next: Did Chelsea Handler Just Sign A Deal For A New Show On Netflix?

≪ Previous: Gloria Estefan Is Getting A Broadway Musical In 2015

"Wheel of Fortune" is celebrating it's 6,000th episode this week.

The game show that will probably outlive us all first aired in 1975 on daytime TV before switching over to nightly syndication. Hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White have been turning letters and announcing prizes for almost three decades. While we're still not sure how White never seems to age -- she's 57 by now and still looks the same as she did when she joined the show in 1982 -- she did offer some interesting facts about one of the longest running game shows on TV.

The show may be marking a historic record this week by offering $6,000 prizes, but did you know White had set a Guinness World Record over a decade ago -- for clapping. It's estimated White cheers on contestants by clapping over 100,000 times per season which equals 3.5 million claps throughout her career. She has a special technique she's honed to make sure all of that jubilation doesn't rough up one of her most prized attributes. "[My hands] are kind of cupped,” she said. “And I will point out that I have no callouses from all the clapping I’ve done over the years."

Another thing White is known for on the show: her incredible outfits. The woman who wears evening gowns and brought shoulder pads back into style has never repeated an outfit in her career. Every few weeks, she has a fitting where she tries on 50 to 60 loaner dresses sent by designers and picks her favorite dozen.

And while she's known for elegantly manning the puzzle board, White hasn't actually turned a letter since 1997 when the show switched from manual to computerized. Initially the puzzle board was covered between every round while the letters were swapped; now the program that operates the 52 touch-screen monitors is easily changed. That’s saved hours of production time, meaning that they can tape a week’s worth of shows in one day.

For old times' sake, here’s White turning her first letter in 1982:

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Did Chelsea Handler Just Sign A Deal For A New Show On Netflix?

April 28, 2014, 9:51 am

≫ Next: This New App Will Solve Your Netflix Problem

≪ Previous: "Wheel Of Fortune" Hit 6,000 Episodes This Week And This Is How We're Celebrating

The comedian is slated to leave her late night talk show on E! after her contract expires this year, and while she was once rumored as a replacement candidate for David Letterman's old job, she's since shot down rumors of ever appearing on network television. But would a series on Netflix be more her style?

The New York Post is reporting that Handler has reached a deal with the subscription-video service. While it isn't clear what the format of a Chelsea Handler/Netflix collaboration would be, it's hard to imagine Handler would choose to go back to her roots as a talk show host. Netflix has been focusing more on series programming that can be viewed in binge-able batches and has yet to release any kind of talk show formatted program.

For her part, Handler has expressed interest in the past when it comes teaming up with the online streaming service. She stopped by Howard Stern’s Sirius XM show in March and revealed that after she leaves E! she would be interested in coming to an outlet like Netflix.

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