The New Green Arrow!

I loved me some Justin Hartley, but Canadian actor Stephen Amell is certainly not a disappointment donning Oliver Queens's green leather suit! Executive producer David Nutter says not to expect another Smallville, and says this Arrow is a different show, darker and harder-edged. Some of you might remember Stephen from his recent role on Hung and his breakout role in Dante's Cove (see below).



Stephen from Dante's Cove

Red-Handed: Jesse Hutch in Once Upon A Time

'The better to eat you with'.
The Brothers Grimm



Fairy Tales are all the rage on television and on film these days but I had yet to run into the forest until this past Sunday's episode, Red-Handed of Once Upon A Time. I enjoyed the shows pilot, then watched sporadically until this week. This weeks episode, which delved into Red Ridinghood's back story was my favorite outing of the series thus far.



Sadly, the show repeated again it's pattern of killing off (usually savagely) it's hottest of hunks! I was instantly taken with Peter, actor Jesse Hutch who paid dearly for loving, and trusting in Red.



The Canadian born Hutch looked familiar, but I could not quite place him until I hit IMDB. There I saw his credits, and like most young Canadian actors, Hutch spent a fair amount of time on US shows filmed in Canada Kyle XY, Smallville and The 4400) and many horror flicks (Freddy & Jason) which for financial reasons, often get shot north of the border.



Jesse Hutch: One To Watch!

Sophia's Bush

I remember back in 2003 watching the first few episodes of One Tree Hill. The net was buzzing with shirtless shots of Chad Michael Murray, especially of the scene, early in the first season, where he was wearing only a couple of basketballs. I quickly lost interest however and stopped watching at about the forth or fifth episode.



Series regular Sophia Bush obviously never heard of the saying 'don't dip your pen in the company ink'. I was surprised recently, reading an article about the shows final season, that Sophia's Bush has been dipped by three of her co-stars. I knew she was married to Chad Michael Murray early in the shows run but did not know she also dated the incredibly hot James Lafferty as well as actor Austin Nichols. According to the article Bush and Nichols recently broke up leaving three of her ex's able to share war stories while hanging out on set.



I have only had one relationship with someone I worked with and the aftermath was not pretty. It was not so much awkward with the person themselves, it was more the fall out amongst our co-workers who were friends with us both. Who you hang out with, support and trust at work can be crucial and break-ups tend to send alignments out of wack. I found it hard to wade through certain relationships (staff meetings were the worst) and it took awhile for things to get back to normal.

Austin Nichols in The Informers


If I were a producer Bush's triple co-star hattrick would certainly cause me to pause before hiring her. Not only did she date three of her co-stars, she married one and not one of the relationships lasted very long. Although I can appreciate her taste in men, I suggest Bush expand her dating pool beyond the men who are on salary to spend their days with her.

Chad Michael Murray


James Lafferty

Thanks to Superherofan for many of the caps!

Just Because: Tim Chiou

Don't ask me why I had 2 Broke Girls on last night. I am not really a fan. The shows racial stereotyping is off the charts and it's wasting the talents of the incredible Jennifer Coolidge are just the beginning of reasons not to watch. Star Kat Dennings Max has to be one of the most unlikable characters ever to grace a sit-com.



But...as it played in the background last night as I was worked away on my taxes. something, well...someone, had me dropping my receipts and taking notice. I was not sure it was possible to actually enjoy an episode of the series, but actor Tim Chiou succeeded in ensuring just that. The 32 year old had me paying attention and I hope to see more of his work. Tim has appeared on Parenthood, House, CSI NY, Dollhouse, Grey's Anatomy and Southland. Check out more of Tim at his official site HERE:

While You Were Sleeping...

As I was not blogging the past couple of weeks, thought I would catch up on a few interesting television developments.

Thomas Howes


My obsession with Downton Abbey is a deep one and I could not possibly wait for the PBS airings any longer. Of course I picked up the Season 2 DVD's this week (having already spoiled the ending by watching the Christmas episode...over Christmas). I was disappointed the show chose to kill off my beloved William. I love me some Thomas Howes, and the short term emotional impact the characters death may have provided does not equal the long term benefits I think keeping the beautifully written and depicted character could have brought.




Grant Gustin


Grant Gustin's turn as Glee's Sebastian Smythe has been a highlight in an otherwise lack luster season. I know the Kurt/Blaine fans are all in a tizzy, but to me Gustin is far more interesting to watch than Kurt and Blaine's relationship. Hope to see more of him in future episodes. BTW Glee, your treatment of the character of Tina is on the brink of television role abuse....





Steve Jones


I has zero intention of watching next seasons X Factor. The first season was an over produced manipulative mess. I barely watch much of season 1 without a furiously pushing the >> button. I am disappointed the show decided to use Steve Jones as one of the many scapegoats for the mess it was. Jones was hot, likable and more than qualified to ringlead Cowell's circus. I predict unless the show fixed is actual problem (it's redundancy), with our without Jones it will remain a hot mess.




Vampire Diaries:


The Vampire Diaries isn't a show I watch on a weekly basis. Usually I await the DVD release and watch it all in a week or two. Entertainment Weekly's cover shoot has me awaiting anxiously the season 3 release...

Kudos to Amy Farrah Fowler

Like many of you i bet, I re-watched Mayim Bialik's 'Glory Of Love' number more than a few times on the old VHS copy of Beaches we rented back in the early 90's. I truly hated the movie but that few minutes of the movie unveiled a true talent. For some reason though I had little to no interest in following Bialik in any of the projects that came after. Not sure why, but even Joey Lawrence could not get me to watch the annoying half hour that was Blossom.



I did however maintain my respect for Bialik. When I would see her on talk shows, I loved her attitude and intelligence. Sometimes it takes just the right character to allow an actor to truly shine. Big Bang Theory does just that with Amy Farrah Fowler. I have loved Bialik's Amy since her first episode but the last two seasons she has been providing some of the shows biggest laughs.



The scene a couple of weeks ago when Sheldon presented Amy with a tiara was one of the most hilarious scenes I have seen on a sit-com (especially an American one) in awhile. The brilliance came stemmed yes from the writing but mostly from how Bialik nails Amy with every word and line put in front of her. Amy reminds me a bit of a Muppet. Even without dialogue, Bialik uses her characters limited range of emotions, to create, like a Muppet, hilarious over the top facial expressions.

Just Because: Manu Bennett

Ok all you FH blog readers...



There are thousands of you who check in each day and I really should not forgive you... Usually I depend on readers to e-mail me about hunks to keep an eye on and why is it no one let me know about actor Manu Bennett and his ummm part in Spartacus?



Soooo...fill me in, worth a look? (yeah I know from the caps yes, but any quality, spill?)