Party Central: The Latest Buzz from Your Favorite Stars

Fringe, the most buzzed-about show of the Fall, held its premiere party in NYC Monday night in an old loft warehouse. In something straight out of a mystery/thriller, the building was unmarked and security men in dark suits patrolled the front as fashionable guests strutted inside.

Once I made it past check-in, I was escorted around a corner to board a freight elevator that was so — er — (I'm trying to be polite here) rough around the edges, I thought it might take us down to some creepy bat cave instead of a hot premiere party. The space, which was big enough to fit an entire party in itself, went slowly up nine stories... I laughed to myself: “This is so J.J. Abrams to have the premiere of his new show in such a clandestine venue.”

The elevator doors opened to foggy air, blue lights illuminating the seating and Fringe images projected all over the walls. It was kinda like the inside of a spaceship, but with cocktails! There, I met up with our own Mickey O’Connor and we chatted about the cool surroundings, while noting that the party seemed to be a little empty. As a tray of S’mores passed by (oh yes, I had one), someone told us that everyone was on the roof.

Bingo! Up on the roof, the cast and producers, including Anna Torv, Josh Jackson, Mark Valley and J.J. Abrams were enjoying the beautiful view. I admitted to Mark that I had worked with him back on Days of Our Lives 12 years ago. (Suddenly, I heard “Memories” floating through the air as a single tear slid down my cheek). I'm sure he didn't have the same feelings.

Josh Jackson is as charming and funny as you'd think he'd be, and is a self-admitted sci fi nerd to boot... if I wasn't married...

At the end of the night, I chatted with one of the show creators Alex Kurtzman – you may know him and writing partner Roberto Orci from tiny, unknown projects like Transformers and the new Star Trek movie – and he said that shows like Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks were huge influences on him when he was younger. And, the reason they sat down to write this show was because they kept thinking about what they were wanted to see on TV as fans: They felt that procedurals were really “missing strong character development.” Ooh, now I'm really excited to see where they take Fringe.

As I left the party after one last swig of my glowing green cocktail, I passed by J.J. Abrams and nodded my head at him. This guy knows how to create a show... and throw a party. — Erin Fox

The following is a special entry written exclusively by TVGuide.com's teen correspondents, the Santry Sisters. Katie and Karleigh are the creators of JonasBrothersFan.com, the No. 1 Jonas Brothers and Camp Rock fansite.

With flying brothers, objectionable winners, epic dance battles and, of course, awards in the form of surfboards, the 2008 Teen Choice Awards was definitely one to be remembered. From start to finish, it was filled with funny, awkward and crazy moments that made it hard for us to name our favorite — so we thought we'd narrow it down to our top four favorite moments.

4) Miley Cyrus' Performance: The Hannah Montana star pulled double duty this year — hosting the tenth annual event and providing the entertainment as well. Miley kicked off the show with a bang, performing her latest hit, "7 Things," from her No. 1 album, Breakout. The crowd was having a blast, and Miley really got into the song, often popping in on her celebrity friends, including fellow Disney starlet Selena Gomez.

3) High Note: Newlywed Mariah Carey took the stage to belt out her new single, "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time," stunning the crowd with her looks and her vocal ability as she hit her famous high notes.

2) Flying Boy Bands: The Jonas Brothers were flying high during the awards show, converting six of seven nominations into wins, but nobody knew that they'd literally take flight. Responding to an inquiry about his craziest dream during an "Ask the Jonas Brothers" segment, Nick said he once dreamt that he was flying at the awards show, but his flying was powered by the screams of teenage girls. Sure enough, girls screamed — and the boys flew.

1) ACDC vs. M&M Cru Dance-off: So you think you can dance, Miley? The 15-year-old proved she definitely could when the highly publicized — and choreographed — dance battle between Miley and Mandy Jiroux (M&M Cru) and ACDC (Adam/Chu Dance Crew) finally came to an end, with M&M winning the title.

These were our favorite moments. What were yours?

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Oh, I believe in the X-Files. Hundreds of fans filled bleachers and lined Hollywood Blvd. to catch a glimpse of the creators and stars of The X-Files: I Want to Believe at its premiere Wednesday night. Being a huge nerd fan myself, I felt like I had stepped into some alternate dimension X-Files case — it was truly surreal. I walked the red carpet and the fans went crazy as we caught b-roll of people wearing Mulder and Scully t-shirts or waving homemade signs and our own TV Guide cover with Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. My fellow "X-Philes" were thrilled to see a true fan working the carpet, and rewarded me with thunderous applause. I felt like a star myself.

After our crews got in place, fans were treated to a special press conference with Gillian, David, Frank Spotnitz, and Chris Carter, moderated by Entertainment Weekly's Whitney Pastorek (lucky girl!). Fans got to ask questions for 15 minutes, and early birds who had been given a black bracelet in the bleachers were promised a free alien probing (hah!), and admittance into the movie by Carter. You can only imagine the screaming that flooded through the crowd.

I dragged my brother's girlfriend Emily along to get an up close and personal view and watched as her eyes grew huge at the sight of her favorite actors being a stone's throw away. People from Brazil, Holland and Sweden asked questions about the stars' favorite episodes and what it was like to work together again. Meanwhile, Emily and I stared in awe.

As the red carpet started, I began to lose feeling in my hands, and my mouth went dry. I used to get that feeling before acting in plays too. Not fun, especially as Hottie McHottersen Duchovny is standing right next to me. But, luckily for me, the first person I got to talk to was Frank Spotnitz, who has become a friend over the last year. He gave me a huge hug and kiss (swoon!) and suddenly, I was overwhelmed by the entire experience. Holy crap! I'm on the red carpet at the X-Files! It was a super nerdgasm moment.

Next up, Chris Carter came over, followed by David and Gillian. David was quiet and almost shy, while Gillian was very animated and lovely. Somehow, I got through my questions without making a total ass of myself, thank goodness. (See video of all the interviews below!) After a few more interviews, I said goodbye to my awesome crew and took Emily inside the famous Mann's Chinese Theater to our "reserved" seats. Yep, we had better seats than David Foster. Just sayin'. I walked up and down the aisles, spotting celebrities, and taking it all in. As the movie began, fans screamed and cheered, and Emily and I giggled like teenagers. I’m not going to tell you about the movie, but as a fan, I was fulfilled. And if you are a fan, see it with a full audience and enjoy all the special nods that Chris and Frank put in the script.

I'm still processing all that happened that day as I continue to do other red carpet and press events for TCA and Comic-Con. I had an amazing time and will probably bore my friends and family with stories of it for weeks to come. Thanks to TVGuide.com for making a nerd's dream come true! — Erin Fox

Red-carpet Video with Your X-Files Faves:
• David Duchovny Discusses the X-Files Magic
• Gillian Anderson Calls X-Files Reunion a "Real Blessing"
• Chris Carter Talks of the Mulder-Scully Love
• Frank Spotnitz Says X-Files Was "Always a Love Story"
• Is Mitch Pileggi's Skinner in the New X-Files?

Rolling out the red black carpet on Monday night, New York City truly became Gotham as the stars of this summer's most talked-about movie, The Dark Knight, stepped out at the film's world premiere.

Nearly all in attendance were dressed in the same somber tones of the carpet (presumably as a tribute to the late Heath Ledger, whose portrayal of the Joker is the film's biggest buzz-drawer), but there was still plenty of excitement in the air. While Ledger was on the minds and tongues of many, the stars also chose to use the evening to celebrate the film, which has had those lucky enough to screen it early (myself included) gushing for the past couple of weeks.

Michael Caine, who reprises his role as Bruce Wayne's loyal butler Alfred, said the film has an "extraordinary intelligence at work," referring to cowriter/director Christopher Nolan and his epic vision for the sequel to the franchise rebooting Batman Begins. "It's not like the usual cartoon or big blockbuster," Caine said. "All of the characters are beautifully written. So what you get is a film about character, and then you get action, which you wouldn't get in one of those films. And you get both of them at a very high standard."

Part of Nolan's high standard involves doing stunts the old-fashioned way. "Chris loves to do things for real," said Singaporean actor Chin Han. As a Japanese businessman with connections to the Gotham City mobsters, Han got to see just how "real" Nolan wanted things while being roughed up by Christian Bale's Caped Crusader. "I did more stunts for this movie than anything else in my career," Han said. "But I enjoy being beaten up, so it was a great experience."

All of that exciting action is made even bigger and badder thanks to nearly 20 minutes of the movie being shot with IMAX cameras. While there's no doubt it makes the movie more stunning, it also gave Lost's Nestor Carbonell, who plays mayor Anthony Garcia, the willies. "I had to give a speech that I got the morning I flew in from Los Angeles, because it wasn't scripted," Carbonell said. "I had less than an hour to memorize it before I stepped up to the podium and I did my first take. I got through it, but then Aaron Eckhart comes up to me and says, 'You see that camera over there? It's an IMAX camera. Every time you do a take it’s a hundred grand.' I almost killed the guy."

But at the end of the day, a great film always comes down to the performances. Sure, Heath Ledger's unrelenting and feverishly psychotic portrayal of the Joker is already creating (deserved) Oscar buzz, but the cast is brilliant from top to bottom. "[It's tough] doing scenes with actors like Morgan [Freeman], Heath and Christian, who are such forces of nature," Han said. "You don't want to drop the ball when you're acting with these guys. It's like going 12 rounds with Mike Tyson when you're in a scene with them."

Eckhart echoed those thoughts. "Frankly I don't understand why I was chosen, but I'm glad I was," he said. "To be in a Chris Nolan film and be part of the Batman family and to be with Heath Ledger in this movie is a huge honor. I'm just hanging on for dear life."

I'm sure the potentially record-breaking number of viewers lining up to see the two-and-a-half-hour thrill ride this weekend will be as well. — Adam Bryant

It's been over six months since we saw our favorite Heroes on TV, but for the past seven weeks the cast and crew have been hard at work to bring us "Volume III: Villains." Tather than wait patiently until the NBC series' September 22 return, we asked the cast some burning questions. Here's what we found out about the next season.

"It's unbelievable — Season 1 on steroids," says Jack Coleman (aka HRG). "The two things that Heroes does best are adrenalin and mystery, and these episodes have it in spades. You're going to see guest stars and plenty of other characters, but it's focusing on the core group."

Of that core group, HRG is rumored to be working with Sylar in the coming season. "[Zach Quinto] and I have a storyline," shares Coleman, "which kind of brings us into a direct confrontation... and maybe more."

Hiro gets to fight his own villain, but this time it's one with a comedic streak. "He's going to have an arch-nemesis," Masi Oka told us at the premiere of Get Smart. Daphne (played by Brea Grant) is a speedster who will be the Joker to Oka's Batman — "although in my mind it's more of Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner," he says. "You'll find Hiro playing a lot with ACME gadgets and falling flat on his face."

We caught up with Season 2 newbie Dania Ramirez at the Akademiks and BET Luxury Day at the Oasis Spa, where she was taking a short break from playing Maya. "There's a lot of focus on who she is as a person," she tells us about the new season. "Maya is in a different place. She's lost everybody and she's a lot more powerful." Maya is also sultry and deservedly so, "will hook up with a familiar character," Ramirez reveals with a sexy smile.

This could spell trouble... and we can't wait! — Carita Rizzo

Fran Drescher stepped out Saturday, June 21st to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Cancer Schmancer, a charitable organization she started that is dedicated to educating women on the early detection of cancers. Famous friends, family, and cancer survivors alike came out to support Drescher in her celebration of wellness and the fight against the disease.

New mom Angela Kinsey of The Office arrived hand-in-hand with her best friend and fellow actress Rachael Harris. Upon arrival, the two greeted Drescher with warm hugs and stories of how cancer has touched their lives. When asked what event could pull Kinsey away from her new baby, she told TV Guide, "It's a cause that's very close to my heart. My mom is a cancer survivor, so I wanted to come support Fran and as well her fight against cancer." She also took a moment to gush about motherhood, exclaiming, "I love it and it's hard for me to walk out the door. I’m not going to lie. It's just nonstop, I just think about her all the time."

Entourage cast mates Rex Lee and Debbie Mazar were also on hand to support the cause. As Mazar approached the red carpet, Fran yelled "Debbie’s here!", and then bedazzled us all with her signature cackle. The trio, however, have more in common than friendship. Rex Lee divulged to TVG, "Well, one Ms. Fran Drescher will be on the show this season, we are in the same episode!" — Lindsey Jordahl

Use our Online Video Guide to see more of Fran Drescher.

An elegant backyard cocktail party behind a historical manse, young actresses adorning the understated evening, flitting about in simple summer dresses and industry types mingling in small groups with hors d'oeuvres in hand: It was the kind of party that Hank Moody crashes with bravado.

But at Monday's real-life Showtime soiree, which celebrated the Season 1 DVD release of Californication, everyone behaved themselves, including "Hank's" auteur, David Duchovny. Dressed in a Moody-eqsue black-on-black shirt and jacket combo, he reflected on the show's first season, and addressed some of the more serious boundary-pushing he's been doing in it. "We're always pushing it to be funny, in terms of the sex." he said. "So we never try to be sexy. I think that would feel kind of creepy. If we're sexy we're doing it by mistake, but usually, the sex is funny, and that's what our approach to the sex is, it's ridiculous and it's funny."

The "mistake" has clearly not been lost on many of the show's female viewers, who are tuning in in droves, and not only to see Duchovny shirtless (ooh... again?!). Pamela Adlon, who was heating up the scene with her flattering frock and full-throttle energy, knows the ladies are watching. "The women that I run into are just going bananas — the women that I work out with, and the moms at school," she explained. "When I did the pilot, I said to my husband, 'this is a guy's show. This is not going to be for women.' And it's just turned out to be the opposite. Men love it, of course, but it's a show that women really respond to and relate to."

Set against the calm, cool atmosphere of the evening, Adlon was also blunt about the seamy underside of L.A. living that's revealed in each of the show's 30-minute installments — some of which reflects her own world. "Everybody [in the series] has an adult life," she said. "It's not a thing that's like a debased, awful thing. We all have sex, we all drink, we all want to smoke a cigarette, we all want to smoke a joint, or one, or none, but we're all grownups, and we have to live our lives while we're raising our kids. So I just think that the parents who watch this show, they're grateful because they watch that and get off on that and not feel dirty or bad."

Evan Handler, who plays Adlon's husband on the show, has also been embracing its edgier aspects, in a hands-on kind of way. Relaxed and friendly, the actor mused, "Television series aren't really known as the places where actors get challenged, necessarily. But this is like going to work and doing some pretty raw, open private stuff."

The unique challenges and opportunities that the show affords are clear both to the actors and the audience. For Adlon, Californication has been "like a dream come true." She explained, "It's like one of those lightning in a bottle moments. Everyone's like, 'Don't move. Don't ask for any more money. Just keep going.'" With Season 2 production in motion, everyone is already going full steam ahead toward the series' next phase. For one evening, however, most of the cast stayed put at the garden party to enjoy their own adult lives and savor a little success — something even Hank could try. — Anna Dimond

Use our Online Video Guide to see some of Californication.

Hollywood locals need the barest of excuses to throw a party, and midweek is no exception. Stars and wannabes (not to mention a few entertainment editors) sashayed on over to S Bar Wednesday to celebrate the relaunch of Trent Vanegas' gossip blog. (For the uninitiated, Vanegas' PinkIsTheNewBlog.com is the nice-guy antidote to Perez's snark-central.)

Inside, the room was packed with well-wishers and hangers-on alike, with Trent greeting everyone with equal enthusiasm. The free-flow of adult beverages enhanced the good-natured vibe, especially given that p.i.n.k. vodka was, appropriately, one of the evening's sponsors. Trent's guest list, meanwhile, reflected the all-inclusive attitude, with Heroes baddie Zachary Quinto, Housewives' Joy Lauren and requisite Hills cast members Speidi and Stephanie Pratt (arriving separately) all appearing for the festivities.

Yet, despite the various TV notables present, the most striking attendee stayed out of the spotlight. DJ Samantha Ronson, decked out in her signature hat and tee, was churning out the beats behind the turntables and even working some of her brother's finer tracks into the mix. Conspicuously absent was her main squeeze, Lindsay Lohan.

Lohan's absence, however, shouldn't get the gossip mill going. A source tells TVGuide.com that she's happy, healthy — and working on her spray tan. Yes, the night before Trent's big soiree, Linds dropped by L.A. Sunset Tan to see if she had any sessions left on her account. The casually dressed starlet got her session, but told staff she had mom to thank for this one. (Our moms usually give us socks instead of tans, but this is Hollywood.) While Linds probably won't be appearing on the tanning salon's eponymous E! show anytime soon, it is possible she's also enhancing her look for her upcoming movie role.

It's too bad that LiLo didn't show off her new, summer skin at the pink bash, but there was one "celeb" surprise: Stephanie Pratt added some pink extensions to her blond hair, proving just how devoted to a party she really is. — Anna Dimond

Against the backdrop of Burbank's deep valley, the 2008 MTV Movie Awards attracted some of the biz's hottest stars, from both the establishment and the rising Hollywood set. Just beyond the gold carpet, a huge cloud of black smoke hovered from the fire at Universal Studios, but the incident didn't stop the crush of celebs, press and fans that filled the arrivals area of the Gibson Amphitheater.

Making his way into the event, Best Week Ever's Doug Benson acknowledged the unseemly juxtaposition, joking, "I'm not on fire. It's not hot enough out here as it is. Let's get some soot, difficult breathing conditions. This is perfect!" Fitting the spirit of the awards, Benson sported a '420' tee under his jacket, an oddly prescient choice given Seth Rogen and James Franco's joint-smoking moment during the show.

At any given time, the gold carpet was filled with stars, their entourages, Elle Woods wannabes and production assistants, scurrying back and forth. Among some of the passersby was Will Smith, who, when a reporter started rapping the theme to Fresh Prince, obligingly rapped along with her as he strode by, getting a big cheer. Sarah Jessica Parker dazzled in her sparkly minidress (which we had not seen before), showing off her hot bod that's fresh off the Sex and the City whirlwind. Anne Hathaway, LiLo and Liv Tyler were also sizzling, decked out in shoulder-baring frocks that made them stand out.

Yet, for all the fashion and celebrities swishing by, the focus of the evening was, after all, the year's best movies. Sporting their on-camera unitards (ahem, "fighting suits," as the term was corrected), American Gladiators Wolf and Justice already knew their pick of the night: Iron Man was "off the hook." Was that perhaps because, given their collective girth, they could relate to his Iron Man-ness? Wolf said, "Yeah, because I'm secretly superheroish. Secretly, I'm a billionaire mad scientist, playboy type."

Ultimately, the gladiators got their wish: Iron Man won for "Best Summer Movie So Far," kicking off a season of more hot stars and action-packed movies to come. — Anna Dimond

Use our Online Video Guide to see clips and more of the MTV Movie Awards.

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Romance — both onscreen and off — was the topic of the day at the Chrysalis Awards, held Saturday night at a private estate in Brentwood, Calif. Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller made their first public appearance as husband and wife at the event, which was hosted by their good friends (and matchmakers!) Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy)and Rebecca Gayheart.

Dane was mum on Sheen's ceremony, saying only, "I had a good time." He admitted he hasn't yet bought the newlyweds a present, noting, "You have a whole year to get someone a gift, and we're going to take every inch of it." As far as his own marriage to Gayheart, he said, "It is great. I don't know how I got so lucky." He then added that he and Gayheart are "working on kids."

Several Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice stars — Kate Walsh and Tim Daly included — showed to support Dane. Katherine Heigl had momentarily misplaced her man, Josh Kelley, joking, "[Married life] is great, except that I've lost my husband, so it could be over now, I guess!" If she can't keep tabs on her mate, she is managing to juggle working on a hit show and a busy movie schedule: "It's a real blessing because I love both and so I can do them both and not be completely ready to blow my brains out."

T.R. Knight and boyfriend Mark Cornelsen were all smiles, saying their relationship is "good, so far," but even with same-sex marriage now an option, they're not about to tie the knot anytime soon themselves. Asked whether he'd want George, to come out as well, he replied, "Oh, that's not who he is. That's not how I've been playing him! That would be a different character!"

As far as romance on Grey's, Knight was as surprised as anyone by George's kiss with Lexie at the end of the finale. "What was up with that?" he asked, saying he has no idea if a bona fide romance will follow. "But I love working with Chyler [Leigh]. She's really funny and it's really fun to work with her. I like the dorky actor 'craft' part of it, where you discuss the scene and so does she. She's a cool person."

Knight also seemed confused about the the controversial — and now ended — George/Izzie affair, saying, "It kind of died quickly, didn't it? They had them fall in love really quickly and then tore them apart really quickly. It just seemed to be such a weird, fast event."

James Pickens was delighted to be reunited in the Grey's finale with his TV wife, Adele, played by Loretta Devine. "Yeah, we got him some action for a change," he crowed. "He got a chance to get some, so that's all good!" He joked that his character's marital status depends on the availability of Devine, who also stars in Eli Stone.

As for what's going on next season, Pickens said, "I think we're doing 26 episodes. The network's got to get back what they lost during the strike."

Pickens is off to D.C. for a jazz festival and Heigl planned to hit Cabo before the Grey's cast is due back for their first table read June 19. — Sharon Knolle

The Academy of Country Music Awards opened with a fitting song, Carrie Underwood's Vegas-inspired hit about a drunken night's nuptials, "Last Name."

Underwood would go on to win Top Female Artist at the 43rd installment of the ACMAs at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 18 in Las Vegas. Before the show, stars walked the orange carpet, many making a trip to a crowd of fans who waited hours in the record 104-degree heat to get an autograph. Kellie Pickler signed a copy of an American Idol CD given to her by a fan, laughing and holding it up for photographers. "I love what American Idol did for me," Pickler said. "But it goes fast."

The very pregnant Nicole Kidman made a surprise appearance with her husband Keith Urban. The pair spent the most time with the fans, shaking hands and offering thanks to all those that were shouting their congratulations on her pregnancy. "Thank you, I feel good," Kidman told one well-wisher as she made her way from one side of the 20-foot, roped-off fan area to the other. They quickly walked the orange carpet, posing for photographs before taking their seats moments before the show went live on the East Coast.

Taylor Swift was a favorite, taking home the Top New Female Artist award. Swift performed her hit "Should Have Said No" under a torrent of water that fell from above and soaked her clingy black dress. "This makes missing prom so OK," she gushed of her award on stage. Backstage was buzzing with winners, who held their awards aloft and congratulated each other. Other winners included Rascal Flatts for Top Vocal Group, who also took home Humanitarian of the Year, Brooks & Dunn for Top Vocal Duo, Brad Paisley for Top Male Vocalist and Lady Antebellum for Top New Vocal Duo or Group.

Fan favorite Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, tying him with previous winner Garth Brooks, who was the first to win the newly created Crystal Milestone lifetime award from the academy this year. This year was also a first for a somewhat controversial style of choosing the Entertainer of the Year Award, in which fans voted.

"I think it's a complete disrespect to the artist," Chesney said after the show, however he originally thanked fans on stage. "You don't stand up here because you pushed somebody's buttons on the Internet, you earn it." — Kim McGee

Grant Show, along with castmates Jack Davenport, Miriam Shor, Molly Parker and Josh Hopkins, partied like it was 1976 Tuesday night at the CBS Lot in Studio City. The "Swingtown Block Party" served up plenty of disco, cheese fondue and high-cholesterol foods like doughnuts and french fries.

The ex-Melrose Place hunk is eager for his CBS series to premiere, so he can finally tell people why he's grown a 'stache worthy of Burt Reynolds. "I can't wait for this to come out so people know why I have this thing on my face!" he laughs. "It's kinda not cool in this era." On the series, Show plays an airline pilot who's one half of the swingingest couple among a set of sexy Chicago-suburb swingers.

Show is digging the vintage duds, but says, "I've spent more time in [this] wardrobe than the rest of my career, put together! At the end of the day, that stuff is like taking off ski boots. It's so friggin' tight. And back then, people were smaller, so it fits me in the waist, but it doesn't fit me anywhere else."

Fortunately for Show, they've started to fashion custom-made '70s clothes for the series. "I'm not really a clotheshorse. But this stuff is so beautiful. And what they're making for me fits so well, I feel like, 'Hey, here I am! Mustache and all!'"

Lana Parilla, who plays Show's wife, says, "We get to wear the most incredible outfits — though Trina, most of the time, is barely wearing anything. It's a challenge at times. But we just don't eat pizza!"

Show pooh-poohed the idea that his real wife might have a problem with the drama's swinging stories: "She's a very confident woman. She's fine. This is a job. I don't swing in real life."

Kate Norby (formerly of Boston Public) however, admitted to some friction with her aerospace engineer fiancé. "He doesn't really like that I have make-out scenes. I tell him, 'Then I gave him a massage... and then I had to grab him...,' but I'm just telling him what I'm doing at work!"

A drama about wife-swapping is an unusual thing to be debuting on CBS but co-star Davenport (of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and the UK series Coupling) says, "The network is finally trying to make a show that operates in a complicated emotional environment that people might assume is more the natural preserve of the cable networks. But I think people can handle it." — Sharon Knolle

A TV series cancellation is enough to bum anybody out, but Shark's Sarah Carter can't fret over such things.

The alum of the newly axed CBS law drama, Carter, 27, was all Zen and smiles during Thursday night's Climb Against the Odds fundraiser in Santa Monica, Calif. "It was a wonderful experience but I always get excited when I experience change in this business because it's always positive," she said of the cancellation. The series finale airs May 20. "I really look forward to my future. Who knows?"

Carter hosted the event to promote her climb up California's Mt. Shasta in June. The climb is a part of the Breast Cancer Fund's awareness campaign.

Emmy-winning actress Jaime Pressly, of My Name is Earl fame, came out to support Carter and serve as the evening's featured guest speaker. "I'm here to support my really dear friend Sarah," said Pressly, "I can't really turn down anything to do with women's charities and causes," Pressly, 30, said. "Sarah always supports me in everything I do so when she asked I said, 'Absolutely.'"

Dressed in pink for the cause, Cobie Smulders of How I Met Your Mother also lent her support. "The fight against breast cancer is a huge cause of mine and any money that goes towards breast cancer is a good start," Smulders, 26, said.

In addition to Pressly and Smulders, the star-studded guest list included A.J. Cook of Criminal Minds, Sarah Jane Morris of Brothers & Sisters and David Sutcliffe of Private Practice. Proceeds from the party and the climb will benefit the Breast Cancer Fund, a non-profit that targets the environmental causes of the disease, a subject that hits home for Carter.

"My mom was diagnosed when I was 19," Carter said. "She had a double mastectomy. But what's interesting about the Breast Cancer Fund is that they point out only one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer actually have a genetic predisposition. "I don't like to involve myself with things that are negative and I really believe in this organization’s positive attitude for change." — Mekeisha Madden

Ashlee wasn't the only famous Simpson celebrating last Saturday in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. The yellow cartoon clan, its creators, and celebrity fans like Lisa Kudrow, Hannah Montana's Mitchell Musso and director Kevin Smith were having a big day of their own at the grand opening of The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios.

"This might be better than winning an Emmy because lots of shows win Emmys every year but not many can say they have a ride based on their show," series creator Matt Groening told TV Guide just after taking the day's first spin with Kudrow, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Kelsey Grammer. "This ride is the culmination of 20 years of The Simpsons and it has a little bit of everything. It will make you scream. It will make you laugh. It will make you gargle. Even if you have a short attention span, and whether you have never seen the show or you are a fanatic, you will be rewarded on this. "

The event began with a yellow carpet, donuts with pink frosting and sprinkles served by ladies in tall blue "Marge" wigs, speeches and a human cannonball. Then VIP guests, including Holly Robinson Peete and her brood color-coordinated in signature Simpsons yellow, walked along Krusty The Clown's squishy tongue and into the mouth of his 32-foot-tall head that serves as the attraction's entrance. The six-minute-long simulator, which replaced the Back to the Future ride, features the world's first animated corkscrew. The premise is that Springfield's greedy clown has opened an amusement park and invited the Simpson family to be among the first riders of a new coaster. Unbeknownst to them, Sideshow Bob (voiced by Grammer) has escaped from prison, taken over the park and intends to hunt down Homer, Marge and the kids as well as his former employer.

"It captures the Simpsons world brilliantly. It is like being in the cartoon," Grammer said. "It is very dense experience, just like watching a Simpsons episode. I think you will notice different jokes or images every time you go on it. It's the ride that keeps on giving."

Grammer, who started his week out with news of the cancellation of his Fox show Back to You, was in a better place thanks to the event. "Coming out and seeing my work as Sideshow Bob immortalized on a theme park ride for millions to enjoy did make me feel a little better about myself."

In spite of record-breaking temperatures and a few intermittent ride malfunctions, most guests enjoyed being among the first folks to journey to Krustyland (It opens to the public officially May 19). Except The Office's Melora Hardin, who feels parents of tiny tykes should be warned. "I took my 6 year old on and I covered her eyes the whole time. It is scary and violent and they didn't warn me at all. It is not appropriate for anyone under 12. But there was face painting to make up for it. My kids have probably forgotten all about it now that they have cats and butterflies all over their faces." — Carrie Bell

More than 50,000 men, women and children woke up at the break of dawn Saturday to raise funds and awareness for women's cancers at the annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women. Among these early risers was Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who, despite feeling under the weather, was determined to walk. "I really just wanted to be a part of the event," the cohost of the morning told TV Guide. "I mean, don't you feel it? There's all this energy here. It doesn't feel like it's 6 o'clock in the morning."

Also walking, along with her puppy, was My Name is Earl star Nadine Velasquez, who fresh off the finale was looking forward to another Earl event. "We're going to be on Family Feud on June 1st. It's Celebrity Family Feud; the cast of My Name is Earl vs. the Camdenites." It looks like Family Feud is just the beginning for the recurring characters of Camden as Vasquez promises there will be more story lines featuring the townies on Season 4. "I feel like it's really been established as a little town, and more and more people really want to see everybody together. For me it's more fun when we're all together and we're all in a bunch of mess.”

DWTS' Karina Smirnoff may have missed the walk due to heavy traffic, but once she did arrive she was eager to set straight rumors about her and all the Marios in her life. "I'm taking it as a compliment," Smirnoff told TV Guide about romance rumors surrounding her and dance partner Mario Barrett. "We do have great chemistry together, we do get along but there's nothing but a professional relationship there. And we do try to act out, portray romance on the dance floor so when people take it past the dance floor it means we're doing a really good job."

In the meantime, she's enjoying her two-year relationship with Mario Lopez, but don’t ask Smirnoff if the couple is talking diamond shapes and sizes — she's simply not there yet. "I am a commitment freak so I'm not talking anything. Just enjoying the time, enjoying his company. He’s a great guy." — Carita Rizzo