Rachel's TV Dramas Blog

Over the years, I've been very fortunate to have interviewed some of the nicest and down to earth actors in the business. Sadly, I think there are many fans who think some actors wouldn't give them the time of day, but the truth is that they are all just as normal as you and me.

I had the pleasure of chatting with another incredibly sweet actress named Carrie Preston, who stars in the HBO vampire series True Blood. This southern beauty also happens to be married to Michael Emerson (Ben on Lost), another unbelievably talented actor. Get to know more about this multi-talented star as I chat with her about how she got her start in acting, her role on True Blood and what theories she has about Lost.

• Interview with Carrie Preston
• More About True Blood
• More Celebrity Interviews

^{Photo Credit: Robb Sapp at Dirty Sugar Photography}

The 15th and final season of ER promises to be one of the most exciting in many years as TPTB pull out all the stops to ensure that nobody ever forgets this compelling series. NBC recently announced that Noah Wyle and Shane West would reprise their roles this season, and now comes the shocking news that Anthony Edwards is set to return for one episode this season

When Edwards checked out of ER in 2002, so did his popular character, Dr. Mark Greene, who died from a brain tumor. So, I'll bet many of you are probably wondering how in the world they're going to pull this off.... Flashbacks. That's right -- in an effort to create a backstory for Angela Bassett's character (Dr. Banfield), a series of new footage will be created to explain how she is connected to Dr. Greene and County General. The new footage will also feature scenes with characters from the show's colorful past.

ER's executive producer John Wells fills us in on their plans for the final season:

"We had hoped to bring back some of ER's stars for the final season and think that our loyal fans will enjoy seeing some of the shows most beloved and memorable characters."

The episode titled "Heal Thyself," airs on November 13 on NBC. Now if only they could get George Clooney....

^{NBC Photo: Paul Drinkwater Copyright © 2008 NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.}

As a huge fan of the original Beverly Hills 90210, I was thrilled to learn that not only was the series returning, but also some of the original characters would be returning to my favorite zip code. After spending 10 years watching these characters go from high school through adulthood, I was most anxious to learn how they have fared in the last 8 years and I knew this series would answer some of those questions.

With so much hype surrounding 90210, I was worried that the premiere wouldn't live up to my expectations. In my book, the premiere absolutely was worth the wait -- I loved it!

So, Kelly Taylor has a 4 1/2 year-old son named Sam and we don't know who the father is yet. Any guesses? My money's on Dylan McKay. Apparently Kelly and Brenda reunited a few years ago and had a falling out along the way.... again. Mel cheated on Jackie (again) and now she's fallen off the wagon. Andrea and Jesse's daughter Hannah is a student at West Beverly, could Andrea be the next character to return?

As for the new characters.... Disturbing blog posts, drugs, sex, drinking, excessive cell phone use, plagiarism, etc., if you take the wealth factor out of the equation (especially the private jet date), I think the teens in the series are very similar to the teens of today. I wasn't wildly crazy about the interaction between the teens, it just seems like something was missing.

Harry and Debbie Wilson are a bit too perfect a couple, but they are highly likable and accomplished actors who will find the right footing. Although the teens are the main focus of the show, the adults have a good piece of the action as well.

Would Aaron Spelling have approved? Will the series survive? The ratings were fantastic, but the next several weeks will be the real test. I look forward to seeing how this all plays out over the next nine months. What did you think of 90210? Thoughts, gripes comments?

^{Photo Credit: Michael Desmond/The CW © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.}

Fox's hit forensic drama Bones continues to raise the bar as it enters its fourth season and there are no signs that this fantastic series is slowing down anytime soon.

In the special two-hour season premiere, Brennan and Booth head to London to speak at Oxford University (Brennan) and Scotland Yard (Booth). When a British heiress is murdered, they are asked to assist in the investigation and introduced to the British version of themselves. The deeper they delve into the case, the stranger the circumstances get -- especially when someone from the U.K.’s own investigative team is murdered.

As the Jeffersonian team tries to help from their end, they are distracted by the return of Angela’s long-estranged husband and all of the drama involved in their divorce. Will he give Angela the divorce so she can marry Hodgins? Will Brennan and Booth find the London killer before he/she claims another victim? Tune in and find out....

• Fall Premiere Dates

^{© Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Art Streiber}

The first week of the new television season is now underway and the night many have been waiting for is finally here -- the premiere of 90210 and The Shield.

90210 is easily one of the most anticipated new shows this season. Will it live up to all the hype? Could this be the show that finally puts the CW ahead of the competition? Will we fall in love with the new characters as we did with the original series?

90210 Synopsis: Meet the Wilson family, who has just moved to Beverly Hills from the Midwest. Harry Wilson, the family patriarch, will become the new principal at West Beverly Hills High School. Annie and Dixon Wilson aren't exactly thrilled to begin a new school, and having their father as the principal doesn't make it any easier. Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh from the original series also appear on the series.

Also premiering tonight is The Shield and it's the beginning of the end for this intense series as it heads into the final season. How will it all end? Will Vic and the guys from the strike team ultimately pay for the life of crime they've led? How will Vic exact his revenge on Shane for murdering Lem? Will they all live happily ever after? Well, probably not, but all those burning questions will indeed be answered in just a few short months. Until then, just sit back and enjoy the ride!

• Fall Premiere Schedule

^{Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels/The CW © The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.}

After the writers strike ended, most television series returned in April, but Prison Break fans were dealt a major blow when Fox decided not to bring the show back until fall. Luckily, what would become the season three finale wrapped up some major storylines and ended in typical Prison Break fashion. The excruciating wait is finally over and our favorite convicts are back!

I had the fortunate opportunity to watch the two-hour season four premiere and I can tell you with confidence that not only is the show back, I think it's better than ever. For three years, Michael and the gang have been breaking out of prisons and running from the law, but this season it's all about breaking in and taking down The Company once and for all.

Will Michael and Lincoln get their revenge on the people who have made their lives hell for the last few years? How will Michael react when he learns that Sara is alive? Who will die in the premiere? Get the scoop on what will happen in the season four premiere and where the show is headed this year -- but don't look unless you really want to know....

• Prison Break Season Four Premiere Spoilers
• Photos of the Season Four Cast

^{©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Gayne}

Last season, the nerds took over the airwaves in a big way and we loved every single minute of it. Although Chuck wasn't exactly a huge ratings champ for NBC, the series earned a second season. The initial order was for 12 episodes and if the series held its own in the ratings, the network would then pick up the back nine. Chuck is still weeks away from the premiere, but NBC has decided that the contents in Chuck's brain are worth keeping it around for a full 22-episode season!

The announcement came from Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President of NBC Entertainment, who weighed in on NBC's decision:

"We couldn't be more excited with the creative direction Josh (Schwartz) and his team are executing on Chuck," said Weinberg. "This show has really hit its stride and deserves a full-season commitment to carry out the producers' vision for this unique series."

Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly reports that Jordana Brewster will appear in several episodes as Chuck's former college girlfriend. He also said that we're finally going to meet the parents of Captain Awesome and they'll arrive in the form of Morgan Fairchild and Bruce Boxleitner.

Will Chuck's Nerd Herd buddies finally learn his big secret? Will Chuck and Sarah make a go of their relationship or will Brewster's character put a major glitch in their path? Stay tuned for another hilariously exciting season when it returns on September 29.

^{Copyright © NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. Photo: Chris Haston}

The fall season begins in less than a week and I can't wait to see how the new dramas fare with both the viewers and in the ratings war. The first shows to premiere this Monday are Prison Break, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill.

The much-anticipated premiere of 90210 airs on Tuesday with a special two-hour episode. Will all of us die hard original 90210 fans finally get the scoop on Donna, David, Brandon, Dylan and Steve? Will Brenda and Kelly put the Dylan issue to rest and become friends again?

In the weeks ahead, all ten new fall dramas will head to a living room near you. Confused about what to watch? No worries, we've put together a photo tour and synopsis for all ten shows to help get you better acquainted with the characters. Stay tuned; a fabulous fall is headed your way!

• Photo Synopsis Tour
• The Best New Fall Dramas
• Fall Premiere Schedule
• New Sci-Fi Shows

^{Photo Credit: Joseph Viles/The CW © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.}

Each fall, a whole new crop of stars enters our living rooms. Some are completely new to acting, and in recent years, many new faces are major film stars looking to broaden their horizons.

From Christian Slater and Jon Voight to Janeane Garofalo and Laurence Fishburne, this season brings more talented movie stars to television than in any other season to date -- has television become the new big screen? Is this the shape of things to come? Perhaps one day Brad and Angelina will join the ranks of movie stars who have crossed over to the fun side!

Take a peek at some of the hottest faces coming to television this fall.... and stay tuned for another exciting season.

Fall Preview

• The Hottest Faces of Fall
• Photo Tour of All the New Fall Dramas
• What to Watch This Fall

^{NBC Photo: Byron Cohen Copyright © 2008 NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.}

They might hold a spot on Nielsen's top 20 list each week, but let's face it, not everyone watches American Idol, Desperate Housewives, Heroes or CSI. We all have our own opinions on what makes a television show worth our precious viewing time. However, no matter what series we've watched over the years, everyone has at least one television moment they'll never forget.

To celebrate 60 years of recognizing the best of the best on the small screen, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is asking viewers to vote for their favorite moments in both comedy and drama.

Voters can choose from twenty scenes in both categories. To help refresh your memory, video clips from each nominated scene are right at your fingertips. Some of the dramatic moments include scenes from Moonlighting, Little House on the Prairie, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy. Comedic moments include scenes from I Love Lucy, Mork and Mindy, Friends and Seinfeld.

The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards airs September 21 on ABC.

• Vote for Your Favorite Television Moments
• Primetime Emmy Nominees

^{© Fox Broadcasting Co.}