Interview: American Idiot’s Trent Saunders Talks Life on the Road, St. Jimmy and Belting Out Green Day Songs

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Trent Saunders, who is currently playing St. Jimmy in the touring production of Green Day’s American Idiot, has the life.

When I talked to him for this interview, it was the middle of the day in Baltimore, MD (my home state!) and he and his cast mates were set to play laser tag right after he got off the phone. He’s traveled to Europe – where he said he had a blast – is criss-crossing America and best of all, he gets to sing Green Day songs every night. Like I said, he’s livin’ the life.

I saw American Idiot when it was on Broadway and liked it a lot. The set and lighting design was amazing and if you’re a fan of Green Day, you’ll absolutely love it.

I talked to Trent about his life on the road, how he got the part and cell phones in the audiences. I haven’t heard how his laser tag expedition went, but if I do, I’ll let you know.

Green Day’s American Idiot comes to San Diego May 28th-June 2nd, followed by San Jose, CA and Las Vegas, NV. For San Diego tickets, click here. For other tour dates and tickets, click here. Read more

Review: ‘What Maisie Knew’

What Maisie Knew is a horrible title for a movie about families and what, ultimately, a family actually is.

Going into the film, I had no idea what the film was about but going from the title, I expected something about a murder and how a child witnessed it.

(Yes, I know this is a modern re-telling of a Henry James story. It’s still a horrible title).

Boy was I wrong but in a pleasantly surprised way. And that’s thanks to an incredible performance by Onata Aprile as Maisie.

Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, Maisie (Aprile) is the child of two of the most self-centered people in the world. Played by Steve Coogan and Julianne Moore, they definitely win the prize for ‘Year’s Worst Parents.’ In a constant state or arguments, Moore’s aging rock star of a mom Susanna, finally decides enough is enough, and kicks him out. This sets off a custody battle where, eventually, Coogan’s Beale wins, taking with him Maisie and the family nanny, Margo (Joanna Vanderham).

Both parents quickly marry; Beale woos the nanny with travel and her love of Maisie and Susanna to a local bartender, Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard). Susanna’s reasoning for the quickie marriage? “I married him for you,” she tells Maisie. So he can watch her during the day. Which is a perfect reason to get married. Read more

Q & A: Anne Heche on Her New Religious-Themed Comedy, ‘Save Me’

After almost choking to death on a sandwich, Anne Heche’s Beth Harper claims she can talk to God in the new NBC comedy, Save Me. When she’s revived, Beth thinks she can see the Big Guy and starts to make amends to everyone she’s every shut out of her life… and it’s a lot of people.

Also starring Madison Davenport (Shameless) as her horrified daughter, Michael Landes as her skeptical husband and Alexandra Breckenridge (American Horror Story) as her husband’s ex-mistress, Beth eventually starts to win people over with her new optimistic views on life.

In this interview, Heche talks about her love of physical comedy, trying to quit acting when she was younger and how we all get “messages” from God.

Save Me airs on Thursdays at 8pm on NBC Read more

Trailer: ‘The Wolverine’ starring Hugh Jackman

The Wolverine: Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamoto, Brian Tee, Will Yun Lee, and Hal Yamanouchi.

Directed by: James Mangold

In Theaters: July 26th Read more

Keep the Drama on the Stage: How to Get Along with Your Fellow Actors

Written by Dallas Travers, CEC

What do you do if your longtime actor friend gets her big break before you do? You’re happy for her, of course, but it might bring up major feelings of “compare and despair” for you at the same time.

Obviously, it’s not always easy being friends or roommates or lovers with another actor. There’s some ego involved. Sure. You’re only human. And this industry has an undercurrent of competition flowing through it.

So how can you turn those debilitating feelings into ones that help you progress both in your relationships and in your career? I’ve got 3 suggestions for you. Read more

Q&A: Scott Foley talks ‘The Goodwin Games’ and Why He Loves Working in Television

Scott Foley stars as Henry, one of three estranged siblings, in the new FOX summer series, The Goodwin Games. When he, his sister (Becki Newton) and brother (T.J. Miller) return home after their fathers death, they unexpectedly find themselves poised to inherit more than $20 million. Trouble is, they can only get the money if -  and only if – they can adhere to their late father’s wishes.

The show is from the executive producers of How I Met Your Mother and Scott, who after graduating high school bought a one-way plane ticket to Los Angeles, said that even though he loved the script, he took the job “because I was available and it was there.”

I met Scott briefly a long time ago and he’s the most down to earth guy. And honest too based on his quote above. I talked to him in a conference call promoting the show and in the interview he talks about the cast, why he loves working in TV over film and theater and how he’s been very “fortunate” in his career.

The Goodwin Games premieres tonight (Monday) at 8:30pm on FOX Read more

Zachary Levi to Make His Broadway Debut Alongside Smash’s Krysta Rodriguez in ‘First Date’

Zachary Levi (Chuck, Thor: The Dark World), will make his Broadway debut in First Date, a new romantic musical comedy.

Smash‘s Krysta Rodriguez (who also starred in The Addams Family on Broadway – I knew I recognized her from somewhere) will also star.

Read more

New ‘Anchorman 2′ Trailer!

Here’s a new teaser trailer for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues!

Starring Will Ferrell, David Koechner, Paul Rudd and Steve Carell, it’s pretty much the same as the first teaser trailer but who cares, right? It’s still funny and it’s just making me wish it were already December.

In theaters on December 20th! Read more

Watch the Trailer for the Final Season of ‘Dexter’

Showtime just released the trailer for the eight and final season of Dexter.

Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) to Dexter (Michael C. Hall): “I shot the wrong person…”

Dexter premieres on Sunday, June 30th on Showtime. Not soon enough for me. Read more

Trailer: ‘Last Vegas’ starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman & Kevin Kline

Last Vegas: Billy (Academy Award®-winner Michael Douglas), Paddy (Academy Award®-winner Robert De Niro), Archie (Academy Award®-winner Morgan Freeman) and Sam (Academy Award®-winner Kevin Kline) have been best friends since childhood. So when Billy, the group’s sworn bachelor, finally proposes to his thirty-something (of course) girlfriend, the four head to Las Vegas with a plan to stop acting their age and relive their glory days. However, upon arriving, the four quickly realize that the decades have transformed Sin City and tested their friendship in ways they never imagined. The Rat Pack may have once played the Sands and Cirque du Soleil may now rule the Strip, but it’s these four who are taking over Vegas.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Written by Dan Fogelman

Starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman & Kevin Kline

In Theaters: November 1st Read more

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