Kelly Bishop appeared in episode 10.08 ‘Persona‘ on November 25th as a defense attorney. She’s there to defend Linnie Malcom (Breanda Blethyn), who is being tried for killing her abusive husband 34 years before. It was tracked back to a more recent case of battery that Linnie was drawn into (though not responsible for). Linnie was ready to admit her guilt all those years ago, but was ashamed to be pregnant by the rape, and ended up eluding custody at the time in order to get her abortion. Even the prosecution wants to back down after that revelation.

Here are the Kelly Bishop scenes from the episode:

Kelly’s character on Law & Order: SVU does remind me a lot of Emily Gilmore. Perhaps it’s just that the outfit & strong-woman persona is similar.

Image: Newscom

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Emily Kuroda stars as one of the mothers, An-Mei Hsu. An-Mei was raised by her grandparents after her mother became a concubine after the death of An-Mei’s father, an act which was considered dishonorable. It comes to pass that An-Mei goes to live with her mother and her new husband only to learn that her mother was raped by him, leaving her no choice but to marry him and become his Fourth Wife. An-Mei’s brother was claimed by Second Wife, and An-Mei’s mother later commits suicide.

After this, An-Mei gets power in the household. She later immigrates to America, marries and has her own children. One of the children drowns accidentally and An-Mei loses her faith in God. Her daughter, Rose, is emotionally abused in her marriage. Given how strong An-Mei grew to be from her own childhood experiences, An-Mei struggles to get Rose to assert herself.

Asia Pacific Arts notes, of Emily Kuroda’s performance:

“Kuroda’s emotional scene where she recalls her lost child is particularly poignant”

Variety.com says the same things of Kuroda during this scene, which they describe as a “highlight” of the play:

“A highlight is the wrenching enactment of the drowning of Rose’s little brother at the beach, wherein Kuroda’s An-Mei ragingly invokes all the traditional powers of her ancestry, imploring that her son be returned”

Just like with Gilmore Girls, “the heart and soul of the story revolves around conflicted mother-daughter relationships.”

Other cast members from the ensemble are Jennifer Chang, Celeste Den, Edward Gunawan, Karen Huie, Elaine Kao, Cici Lau, Katherine Lee, Ben Lin, Deborah Png and David Stanbra.

The Joy Luck Club will continue playing at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center in LA until December 21st.

Photos of Emily Kuroda in “The Joy Luck Club”

Earlier this year, Emily Kuroda took the stage for The Emily Project, which you can read about here and here.

Thanks Regis! ; Images used with permission

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Sam (Christina Applegate), her heart somewhat broken, goes on a family vacation - with Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) and Dena (Melissa McCarthy) in tow - and discovers that the owner of the lodge is an old flame from her forgotten youth. But not wanting to get her heart broken again, she resists the temptation of reconnecting with lodge owner Brad (Teddy Sears ) and then becomes jealous when Andrea makes a move on him.

This is the last episode of “Samantha Who?” to air until January 12th.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• After breaking up with Owen, Sam fell for Mike. And is a complete mess when it doesn’t work out after three weeks.
• Todd (Barry Watson) is not so sympathetic, after giving 4 years to Sam when she gave nothing back. Now that she gives too much, it’s merely ironic.
• Regina (Jean Smart) is taking Howard (Kevin Dunn) on vacation because his blood pressure is too high. Sam latches on the idea of a vacation with her family.
• Sam invites Dena to come along on the vacation with her. Andrea is not invited, because Regina says so. Sam gives her a pity invite, but has to retract it.
• The Pine Knot Lodge is a little more… rustic than Sam was expecting. Dena is freaked out too.
• Sam is greeted warmly by lodge owner Brad… an ex-boyfriend she forgot about. Her first love, apparently. She has to break her amnesia to him.
• Regina gets a surprise of her own - the lodge no longer serves alcohol
• Andrea shows up at the lodge as if she comes there all the time. Andrea immediately crushes on Brad.
• Regina warms up to Andrea, knowing she probably has alcohol
• Brad joins Sam & Dena to play some board games, which freaks Sam out. But Brad drags Sam to look at handprints that they left in the cement together, and they share a moment. Sam pulls away.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below…

• Howard is very bored and Regina is itching for booze
• Dena is not sure how Sam managed to pull back from the perfection of the moment with Brad. They come up on Andrea giving a sensual massage to Brad. Sam feels betrayed.
• Dena tries to spin the issue, saying perhaps Andrea is doing a favor for Sam by distracting Brad.
• Regina sneaks into Andrea’s room to look for alcohol, finds it stashed in the heating vent
• The whole gang plays charades, with Dena starting off. Regina is drunk and Andrea realizes Regina stole her booze. Sam is fixated on Andrea being “easy” and taking Brad.
• Sam and Andrea discuss the Brad issue - Brad is still taken with Sam, so she had no reason to be jealous. Sam wants to be “dead inside” so she can do what she wants - be with Brad - without getting hurt.
• Dena is worried Sam is going to take her life - because she feels too strongly.
• Howard comes to console Sam - saying that, though she falls hard, she recovers quickly. That being afraid of living is no life.
• Sam goes to apologize to Brad, who accepts her apology. He’s been thinking about her for 20 years. So, Sam falls for Brad. Then it’s over, just as quickly. She cries on the way home.
• Sam realizes that she owes it to herself to fall.

For more Samantha Who? information, visit the Samantha Who? Season 2 summary page.

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Sam (Christina Applegate) tries to make herself appear to be an environmentalist, so Owen (James Tupper) might like her more. Owen comes to meet Sam’s parents. Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) doesn’t fare well when the basketball player, Tony Dane, is looking for a date.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Owen is building a park for kids - Sam is pitching in to help, but hates manual labor. She sounds like she’s getting a little annoyed with his good nature.
• Dena (Melissa McCarthy) complains about Chace thinking she loves her dogs more than him. Andrea is shining after text-dating Tony Dane for two weeks.
• After Sam admits to becoming a vegetarian, Andrea asks if she likes being this person - someone who changes who she is for a man. She hates it but is willing to endure the pain.
• Andrea finally has a real date with Tony - the next night
• Todd (Barry Watson) is not happy with the low-flow shower and re-usable water bottles Sam has in their house - changes she made at Owen’s suggestion
• Sam insists she’s not changing for Owen. Todd points out he never wanted her to change - she’d only end up resenting him.
• Sam ends up taking back her old shower head!! That slope slips to meat and plastic again. So much for saving the world ;)
• Regina (Jean Smart) says Sam is ‘cheating’ on Owen with these choices
• Andrea gets escorted from the club for her date with Tony Dane. She’s all giddy with celebrity fervor. But she’s soon joined in the limo by a whole slew of guests. It’s not a date date.
• At the prospect of spreading manure all day, Sam fakes being ill and lies to Owen.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below…

• Seth (Stephen Rannazzisi) checks up on Andrea after her “date” and she eventually shares her frustration of being one of the “entourage”. But Seth tells Andrea her next “date” is an “inner circle” one, so even closer. She decides to go.
• Sam and Dena run into Willow (Eliza Coupe) out shopping, and Sam worries her cover story of being sick will be blown. Sam tries to lie and say they were charity shopping, but her lie wasn’t very convincing.
• Owen comes over to check on Sam, who proceeds to quickly hide her shopping and jump into bed. But keeping up the farce kills Sam and she goes with honesty about it all (good for her!)
• Owen is surprisingly understanding and tells Sam she doesn’t need to change for his benefit.
• Andrea goes tot he club and finds Seth there - in the VIP room, not the VIP VIP room. Seth suggests she make out with him to make Tony jealous, but Andrea chooses some random guy for the same purpose.
• Owen is being nothing but understanding, and doesn’t care that Sam is eating steak. But she is paranoid he does care.
• Sam tells her mother that being herself around Owen is not making her happy. He’s so perfect she feels like crap around him.
• Regina says that Howard (Kevin Dunn) may not be perfect, but she feels great around him. Sam wants that. So decides to break up with Owen.
• Sam goes to tell Owen the hard truth - he’s there nursing a baby lamb an organization of his rescued. And shows her plans to name the park after her! (Because she’s transformed herself like they did the park!)
• Sam decides to lie and tell Owen that she’s moving, but can’t hold up the lie. She tells him that being with him reminds her that she’s not as good as she wants. Owen admits she’s not the first to have that issue.
• Sam wants to know if she’s better than she used to be, which Dena and Andrea agree to, wholeheartedly
• Dena asks Sam to take care of her dogs for a couple of days so she can go away with Chace and work out their issues.
• Andrea gets a call from Tony Dane, but ignores it! She’s playing hard to get.
• Aw, Owen still names the park after Sam!

For more Samantha Who? information, visit the Samantha Who? Season 2 summary page.

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Sam (Christina Applegate) and Owen (James Tupper) head over to Regina (Jean Smart) and Howard’s (Kevin Dunn) for dinner. Everything is going fine until Owen starts in on the horror of chicken farms, not knowing that Howard owns one. Dena (Melissa McCarthy) oversteps her boundaries, when she undermines Chapman’s authority with his employees. Todd (Barry Watson) enjoys the apartment alone after not telling Sam his mother isn’t coming after all.

I realized I missed this episode, so sorry for the late recap!

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Todd is shocked to find Sam at home… with Owen. So now Sam owes Todd a favor for that awkwardness.
• Todd’s mom is coming in from Canada (he’s Canadian!) and Todd wants her to leave while she’s there. So he doesn’t have to explain living at her place.
• Sam recalls taking Todd to her parents’ house - and Howard walking in on them in bed
• Sam decides to take Owen to meet her parents - to get over her fear of that whole issue (mixing personal life with family life)
• Dena misses Chase, so decides to stop by his office. To mix up his life too.
• Sam, realizing that Owen will get to know her parents, decides to change them up a bit. Put “green” products in their house, give them cue cards.
• Frank (Tim Russ) thinks Todd was lying about his mother coming over in order to get Sam to leave. But what he really wants is to get away from his own in-laws, who are staying with him for two weeks. They go play video games.
• Dena stops by Chace’s office, but stays in there during an office meeting! She laughs at his attempts to be severe to his employees, which discredits him. He kicks her out of the office. But not before people laugh at him.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below…

• Owen touches on a sore point - chickens. Owen doesn’t eat Chicken, while Regina & Howard love chicken. Howard farms chicken.
• Howard gets defensive about global warming and his part in that. It gets so heated that Sam storms out with Owen.
• Andrea gets to hear from both Sam & Dena that mixing only ends in disaster.
• Sam brings Howard a peace offering “World’s Greatest Dad” mug. She apologizes for not knowing he works farming chickens. She asks for a tour.
• Chace is still suffering after the insubordination from Dena. So he uses Andrea to set an example of his will - asking her to stand up and apologize for something. She finishes acting her part, but he keeps it going, so Andrea storms out telling him to fix his issues with Dena. Chace offers bonuses to smooth things over instead.
• Sam is traumatized after the tour of the chicken farm. The slaughter makes her practically speechless. But she tries to tell Howard how much she loved it.
• Howard created a video will when Sam was little - bequeathing her the chicken farm. Now she’s freaked at the prospect of it. Even more so after Howard gives her an axe and tells her she needs to start learning the business now.
• Chace goes to meet Dena at the movie theater, something they’ve never done before. Dena feels neglected, but Chace thinks this stage of their relationship is more real
• Owen sneaks up to Sam’s window while she’s examining the axe. He apologizes for getting competitive with her dad.
• Howard walks in when Owen and Sam are making out. He tries to gloat over Sam taking over the chicken farm, but Sam admits she can’t do it. Howard is heartbroken.
• Sam tells Howard how much she respects him for what he does - doing the vital tasks she’d rather not know about
• Howard takes it well, but admits he wasn’t happy that Owen replaced him as Sam’s hero
• We pan out to Dena & Chace watching Australia… and to Frank & Todd there too!
• Owen and Sam try dinner again with Sam’s parents

For more Samantha Who? information, visit the Samantha Who? Season 2 summary page.

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• Cuts and Bruises 11 - 2% of all votes
• Sores and Boils 493 - 90% of all votes
• Boils and Bruises 30 - 5% of all votes
• Sores and Bruises 13 - 2% of all votes
  Total Votes: 547

The majority are correct! The street name that Taylor had dug up was Sores and Boils Alley. The other options were also not feasible: Constabulary Road (which had a duplicate), Chergogagog Manchogagog Cherbonagongamog, or Crusty Bulge.

And now onto our next trivia question, from Jennifer:

If you have a trivia question you’d like featured, send it to me by email (arieanna@b5media.com) along with some fun answer options.

And just a reminder, Kelly Bishop will appear on Law & Order: SVU on December 2nd!

Image: Amazon.com

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• The official Guys and Dolls website is up, sure to be updated soon. Advance ticket sales now available. [Learn more about Lauren’s role in Guys and Dolls here and here]
• The Dream of the Romans will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January
• Kristin of E! Online wishes Lauren Graham would apply for the “hot teacher” role on Gossip Girl
• Laureh Graham was photographed by Timothy White for his Hollywood Pinups book

Thanks Regis! ; Image: Newscom

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ABC is giving us a treat this week by airing two new episodes back to back tonight!

In “The Park“, Sam tries to make herself appear to be an environmentalist, so Owen might like her more. Andrea doesn’t fare well when the basketball player, Tony Dane, is looking for a date.

In the next episode, “The Family Vacation“, it’s clear things don’t go quite as planned with Owen. Sam, he heart broken, goes on a family vacation - with Andrea and Dena in tow - and discovers that the owner of the lodge is an old flame from her forgotten youth. But not wanting to get her heart broken again, she resists the temptation of reconnecting with lodge owner Brad and then becomes jealous when Andrea makes a move on him.

For more Samantha Who? information, visit the Samantha Who? Season 2 summary page.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

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Xbox Live sponsors recently deemed that the show was a little too horror, not enough comedy. In the series, Humanzee likes to kill women and eat babies. So yes, it’s a little “out there”. Instead, Humanzee will be moved somewhere else (James Gunn writes). James Gunn is creating a different story for XBox Live, called Sparky and Mikaela, in which Sean Gunn will also be a part! It will begin shooting this month. Meanwhile, here is the completed trailer for Humanzee:

Sean Gunn also worked with brother James on PG-Porn and on Scream Queens.

Images: The Good Boys / James Gunn

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Written by Brad Tiemann, directed by Michael W. Watkins (Prison Break, 2005) and produced by Luke Daniels, Circle stars Silas Weir Mitchell (Prison Break) as James Bennett, a sociopath serial killer who escaped from captivity. The FBI team up with US Marshals to follow the clues and hunt down Bennett to stop his meticulously planned killing spree.

Michael DeLuise stars in Circle as one of the US Marshal investigators, Bill, working the case. The film takes us through the history of James Bennett, showing us how he justifies his crimes with Greek philosophies. Meanwhile, six graduate students studying Bennett’s surroundings could be his next victims, because Bennett is going home… (official movie synopsis here)

Also co-starring in the film are Jason Thompson (General Hospital), Gail O’Grady (Desperate Housewives, 2008), Peter Onorati (Desperate Housewives, 2008), Erin Reese (Buried Alive), and Erin Foster (who appeared as Zack’s groupie in this episode of Gilmore Girls).

“Circle” Movie Trailer

Redwire Pictures Presents CIRCLE from timpedersen on Vimeo.

“Circle” Production Stills

Images provided by Redwire Pictures

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