Warner Bros. TV stars gather to celebrate Paley Center exhibit

Joshua Jackson, Patricia Heaton, James Lafferty, Frenchie Davis, Ben McKenzie, Michael Richards: What do they all have in common? They’re all stars of hit Warner Bros.-produced TV shows, and they were all at the Paley Center for Media on Thursday night.

Executives and cast members from more than 30 past and present TV shows gathered at the Beverly Hills museum to celebrate  "Television: Out of the Box," a new exhibition featuring props and costumes from Warner Bros. shows.

Walking a multi-colored carpet resembling TV color bars, the stars talked to reporters before passing a gathering of fans at the end of the press line. Teenage girls in the crowd were fanning themselves after meeting "The Vampire Diaries" star Paul Wesley. But many of the biggest TV fans at the event were the guests of honor themselves, including "The Big Bang Theory" actress Melissa Rauch.

"When I started on the carpet, I saw a 'Family Matters' cast member, and I have to say, I shouted out 'Eddie Winslow!' like a junior high fan girl from the 1990s,” Rauch told Ministry of Gossip at the event.

Rauch, who plays Bernadette on "The Big Bang Theory," was eager to see items in the exhibit from "Friends," "Gilmore Girls" and "Wonder Woman." She was also pleased to hear that a memorable prop from her sitcom made it into the show’s display: the giant portrait Amy gave to Penny (depicting the faces of their real-life counterparts, Mayim Bialik and Kaley Cuoco) earlier this season.

"The three of us –- Kaley, myself and Mayim –- they unveiled it to us at the same time. We could not stop laughing," Rauch said of first seeing the painting on set. "We all wanted copies for our home, so I’m happy it ended up here so we don’t have to do a tug of war over it."

"Southland" actor Dorian Missick said visiting the exhibition was "kind of a throwback to my early days as an actor in the '80s," when he frequently visited the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City.

"I’m excited about [this exhibition] because I'm a fan. I still look at the shows as a fan. I watch our show as a fan," Missick said.

McKenzie, whose shows "The O.C." and "Southland" are represented, looked forward to seeing the display from "The Dukes of Hazzard."

"The Mentalist" actress Amanda Righetti said, "I grew up watching the Looney Tunes. I know it sounds really silly, but I'm really curious to see some of the animation work.” A section devoted to WB cartoons features original animation art.

Items from shows including "Gossip Girl," "ER," "Full House," "Entourage" and "Supernatural" are also on display. As for props that didn't make it up front, fans should rest assured that the Paley Center has plans to routinely rotate in new items from Warner Bros.’ collection.

But of course, there are props that now live in the homes of various actors –- Lafferty told Ministry of Gossip that he has a few Ravens basketball jerseys from "One Tree Hill" mounted on his wall, and Richards said he took home Kramer's shoes from "Seinfeld."

A long timeline now covers one Paley Center wall, tracking the history of Warner Bros.' TV shows. Knowing that "One Tree Hill" has a place there and in WB history, Lafferty said, "there’s a sense of pride that comes with that. … It’s one of those things that you always hope to be a part of."

RELATED:

Kaley Cuoco at People's Choice Awards

'Television: Out of the Box': Saluting nearly 60 years of Warner Bros. TV

'The Vampire Diaries' ' Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder vacation together

— Emily Rome

Photo: "Fringe" star Joshua Jackson, left, Warner Bros. Television President Peter Roth, Warner Bros. Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer, "The Mentalist" star Amanda Righetti and Warner Bros. Television Group President Bruce Rosenblum. Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

'That '70s Show' arrest yields a classic celebrity mug shot

You gotta give Lisa Robin Kelly this much:  When the former "That '70s Show" actress was under arrest, she managed a smile for the camera. 

That's a smile despite what was sure to be a fairly atrocious mug shot -- and, much more seriously, despite her arrest on a felony charge of corporal injury upon a spouse. The actress is shown below in happier (or at least lovelier) times.

Details are sketchy on the incident that led to the arrest Saturday. And the identity of Kelly's spouse is unclear.

PHOTOS: Celebrity mug shots

In 2010, Kelly had another mug-shot photo op after being arrested for driving while intoxicated -- a charge to which she pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a fine, according to TMZ.

Kelly, now 42, played Eric Forman's (Topher Grace) sexy blond sister, Laurie, in "That '70s Show." According to IMDb, she left the show in the third season; her character planned "to attend beauty school." 

She was "invited back" by producers at the end of the fifth season and was seen in a few more episodes but was replaced at the beginning of the sixth. Christina Moore then filled the sexy-blond role on the series that starred the likes of Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Wilmer Valderrama.

After her "70s Show" episodes in 2003, Kelly's lone screen credit, according to IMDb, was a short comedic film in 2005, "The Food Chain: A Hollywood Scarytale."

In the video below, Kelly talks boxing with Christina Applegate on "Married With Children."

ALSO:

Adam Levine and Anne V romance is no more

No biggie? Jaleel White (a.k.a. Urkel) downplays 'DWTS' dust-up

'That '70s Show' and Demi Moore alum Ashton Kutcher to portray Steve Jobs

-- Amy Hubbard

Photos, from top: Lisa Robin Kelly in a police booking photo taken Saturday in Los Angeles; Kelly in the 1998 film "Young Hearts Unlimited." Credits: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department / Getty Images; Fox Family Worldwide Inc.

Martina Navratilova on 'DWTS': 'My nerves just got the best of me'

Martina Navratilova on Monday became a member of another elite group, joining Paulina Porizkova, Shannen Doherty, David Hasselhoff and a handful of others in the ranks of the folks first voted off "Dancing With the Stars."

But you won't hear the tennis legend complaining after the fact about her dip into what she called the "challenging sport" of pro dancing, as seen on the ABC show's 13th season.

"I gave it my all, and if I've inspired even one person, then it was all worth it," she told Sports Now on Wednesday after the "DWTS" results show Tuesday night.

She didn't blame a toe injury for her brain hiccup during Monday night's performance. "I think my nerves just got the best of me, and I just blanked for a second. I think I recovered pretty well too; it's just this season's cast is sooooo talented and the competition was fierce!"

"It allowed me to face down one of my biggest fears, and even though I didn't get the votes this week, I still feel like I really accomplished something," she said. "And not just putting on high heels and getting dressed up.

"I really felt like I learned to dance and I can walk away with my head held high knowing that I worked my tail off."

RELATED:

Complete ‘Dancing With the Stars’ coverage on Show Tracker

Perfect 30s for J.R. Martinez? 'Not bad for a guy with a butt graft'

'DWTS' champ J.R. Martinez, Diana Gonzalez-Jones are expecting a baby girl

— Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville
Christie D'Zurilla on Google+

Photo: Martina Navratilova and partner Tony Dovolani perform on "Dancing With the Stars" on Monday. Credit: Adam Taylor / ABC.

Chatting with Nicole Richie, the 'Fashion Star' wild card

Nicole Richie leans over to designer John Varvatos and, surveying a snug pair of pants slinking down a runway, whispers, "it looks like someone's grabbing her in her vagina." 

We missed you on television, Nicole. The mom and designer has moved from her humble days in reality TV to the fashion-competition genre with NBC's big spring hopeful, "Fashion Star." 

Richie has been tapped as a mentor for a slew of up-and-coming designers who pitch garments and accessories each week directly to department store buyers.

The hook: Richie, Varvatos and Jessica Simpson offer feedback to the hopefuls who are ultimately showing off their wares to buyers from H&M, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue. At the end of each presentation, the buyers make cash offers for the goods. Or don't.  

Always a welcome chat here at the Ministry, Richie spoke with us about the innovative sales model, the vibe on set and what her kids think of Mama's new gig. 

Ministry of Gossip: What sets "Fashion Star" apart from other competition shows like "Project Runway"?

Nicole Richie: Well, it's an extremely rare position that these designers have access to major buyers, week after week for 10 weeks. For designers like myself, John and Jessica, we see these buyers once a season. They come to the showroom and they love it or they don't. And success in one season doesn't mean success in the next. So for the designers on our show, it's such an amazing chance to connect with the buyers each week.

MoG: How are you approaching mentorship? Tough love or maternal?

NR: I took the position of being their friend. I mean, we're all in this together. 

MoG: You have a pretty fun panel. How are you all getting along?

NR: Well, we shot the show last summer so we could have time to get the clothes made [all the winning looks from "Fashion Star" hit store floors and online shops right after an episode airs]. But we had a blast. What's the point of doing anything if you're not going to have fun? My dad used to tell me that all the time.

MoG: Speaking of Lionel Richie, how has your family reacted to the show? I know you've got two little critics in Harlow and Sparrow [her kids, 4 and 2, respectively].

NR: Well, my daughter hasn't seen the show. They don't really know what I do.

MoG: It must be hard to keep a secret.

NR: What's funny is we were watching "The Voice" — sometimes they show reruns when [Harlow's] awake — and my dad was on helping Christina Aguilera mentor. And Harlow just looked at me and said, 'Why is pop-pop on TV? That's weird." So I panicked for a second and then said, "Isn't he silly?" 

All in good time, Harlow. Catch "Fashion Star" on NBC at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

RELATED:

Nicole Richie's 30th birthday: 'Classy with a K, but classy!'

Charlotte Ronson toasted by Nicole Richie, sis Samantha Ronson

Joel Madden on music, Nicole Richie and kids: 'I'm the best I've ever been'

— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Nicole Richie strikes a mentor pose for "Fashion Star." Credit: John Russo / NBC.

Oprah courting Maria Shriver to boost OWN ratings?

Oprah Winfrey did her fair share of stories on plastic surgery during her syndicated talk show days, so let's say the mogul knows when it's time for a face-lift. 

That's precisely what reports say she's doing with her floundering OWN television network, which recently laid off 30 staffers and has failed to deliver Winfrey-caliber ratings since launch.

Rumor has it Winfrey is courting journalist and estranged Arnold Schwarzenegger spouse Maria Shriver to climb aboard for her own show. 

"Oprah knows she needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat, literally," RadarOnline cites a source as saying.

"She has been in discussions with Maria for a very long time about doing a news/special interest driven show for OWN. However, Oprah has ramped up the pressure in the past several weeks."

Winfrey and Shriver are longtime pals, prone to power dinners in Beverly Hills and sweet tributes from one iconic femme to the other. The collaboration makes sense and clearly could fetch some dollars from advertisers. 

The catch: Winfrey made a presumably winning bet with Rosie O'Donnell, who returned to television with a chat show for OWN that was canceled last week after poor performance. 

The Radar report goes on to speculate that Shriver is in the perfect place to accept a high-profile offer like this. Her camera-friendly son Patrick is about college age, leaving her with only her youngest, Christopher, to tend to, freeing her schedule for an OWN project. 

RELATED:

Jaycee Dugard steps out publicly for DVF Awards

Oprah Winfrey's 'Favorite Things' reportedly add up to $23.8 million

Oprah's long goodbye: Maria Shriver, Tom Cruise, Tyler Perry pay homage 

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage at the 3rd annual Diane Von Furstenberg awards at the United Nations on March 9 in New York. Credit: Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

 

Lindsay Lohan: 'I'm beginning the process to prove myself'

Lindsay Lohan, a veteran of the sometimes bumpy road to redemption, is once again mounting a journey back to sobriety, accountability and perhaps box-office success.

Sitting down with the "Today" show in an interview that will air Thursday, Lohan discusses efforts in motion aimed at helping the industry and the public forgive her for a marathon of bad behavior.

Her first chance: hosting "Saturday Night Live" on March 3, with musical guest Jack White. 

"Do you think people have gotten back, or can get back to the point where they trust you?" anchor Matt Lauer asked about folks such as "SNL" honcho Lorne Michaels, who will need Lohan on point for the live show.

"I think that takes time," Lohan said, "and I think that it's actions. Because people can say things all they want, but I think I still need to go through the process of proving myself, you know, with 'SNL,' being on time, being, you know, keeping my -- can't say the word, but -- stuff together."

Indeed.

The second opportunity to turn it around: Being cast as Elizabeth Taylor in the forthcoming Lifetime movie "Liz and Dick," which will focus on Taylor's romance with Richard Burton.

"She's always been a fascinating woman to me. So I'm really honored. And I will not let anyone down, especially myself," she said. 

And her third chance? That would be with the law. Lohan is doing well, actually, in clearing up probation debacles from a 2007 DUI and that theft of a necklace last year. Her next hearing is March 29, and if she keeps her community service in order, she could be off the formal-probation hook. 

That road to redemption is much sweeter when you're making good time. 

RELATED:

Lindsay Lohan nude spread for Playboy is leaked

Lindsay Lohan signs on to host 'Saturday Night Live'

Lindsay Lohan in the probation 'home stretch,' judge says

-- Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Lindsay Lohan attends Domingo Zapata's Oscar Art Show in Beverly Hills on Feb. 22. Credit: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

Happy birthday, Harry Styles. Who are you?

Harry Styles, One Direction heartthrob, is turning 18 today, and our hats are off to the young man with the apparently healthy libido.

One Direction is a British-Irish boy band that came in third place in the U.K. "X Factor" series in 2010. To the jaundiced -- aged -- eye, the group's members might all look a little like Justin Bieber, but Styles is the one with the curls ... and the one who just broke up with his 32-year-old girlfriend. 

Last week (Styles was still 17 at that point), he tweeted that he had not dumped Caroline Flack, but that breaking it off was a "mutual decision." We can assume it didn't have anything to do with the fact that 32 minus 17 is 15.

Flack is an English TV presenter who is host for, most recently, the interestingly named "Survivor"-type show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here Now!" and the interestingly named "The Xtra Factor."

Styles & Co. (not including Flack, of course) are making themselves known in the U.S. They will play themselves in an episode of "iCarly." MTV reported last week that they would appear during the fifth season of the show and had this synopsis:

Carly returns home sick after a trip and discovers that One Direction has accepted an invitation to perform on their web show. Not long after arriving, bandmate Harry becomes sick and we see Carly doting over him.

Styles, newly single and 18, might just make an impression on U.S. girls. And some thirtysomethings.

ALSO:

Kate Middleton: Hat person of the year? Not.

Neil Patrick Harris signs "more," "done" -- but not "dirty diaper"

Matthew Broderick on his Ferris Bueller ad: "I'm part of a virus"

-- Amy Hubbard

Photo: Harry Styles of One Direction performs at the BBC Teen Awards at London's Wembley Arena in October 2011. Credit: Dave Hogan / Getty Images

James Farentino dead at 73; Tina Sinatra woes hurt long TV career

James Farentino, a veteran TV actor whose career was undone a bit at the end by his personal life, is dead at age 73.

Farentino, who was one of Universal Studios' last contract players in the 1960s and notched nearly 100 TV roles, including recurring appearances in series such as "Police Story," "Dynasty" and the original "Melrose Place," was married four times. He played George Clooney's character's estranged father on "ER," and was also known for the fallout from a turbulent relationship with Frank Sinatra's youngest daughter, Tina.

After a five-year, on-and-off relationship with Tina Sinatra, Farentino in 1994 pleaded no contest to stalking her after being charged with 24 misdemeanor counts of stalking, making harassing phone calls and violating a restraining order.

PHOTOS: Notable deaths of 2011

"My behavior was appalling — feeling so hurt and rejected that I was the victim when I really wasn't," he told The Times in a 2003 interview. "So you inflict your pain on someone else to make them identify with you."

Sentenced to 36 months' probation plus psychological and alcohol counseling, Farentino said some in the industry treated him differently after the incident.

Farentino died Tuesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after a long illness, his family's spokesman told The Times. He is survived by his fourth wife, Stella, whom he married in 1994, and sons David and Saverio. Actress Michelle Lee is David's mother.

ALSO:

James Farentino's 5 most recognizable roles

Etta James: Beyonce, Roseanne Barr and more celebs note her passing

Elizabeth Taylor's legendary jewelry fetches a record $115 million at auction

-- Christie D'Zurilla
Twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: James Farentino at home in 2003, when he was starring in "Boy Gets Girl" at the Geffen Playhouse. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times.

 

Jaime Pressly juggles her young son, 'Teenage Daughter'

After an Emmy-winning turn on "My Name Is Earl," actress Jaime Pressly returned to television this fall with "I Hate My Teenage Daughter."

With the advent of holiday break, the Ministry chatted with the star about her experience returning to work as the centerpiece of an ensemble comedy and raising her 4-year-old, Dezi.

"You know, in a lot of ways a multi-camera sitcom is amazing for a working mom," Pressly told us recently via phone, "I'm picking him up and dropping him off, present with him. It's amazing."

"Tuesdays we tape 'Teenage Daughter' in front of the live audience, and that's when Dezi sees his dad, so it runs very smoothly. I'm really lucky."

Pressly said coming back to TV, especially after a cult favorite like "Earl," wasn't an easy decision.

"So many people loved Joy [her 'Earl' character], so I really needed something that was the right fit. And I'm so thrilled to say that, honestly, everyone on this show is incredibly talented and so down to earth. People say you become a family, but that's what we are," said Pressly.

As Annie Watson on "Daughter," Pressly inhabits the shoes of a woman with an ultra-conservative upbringing dealing with her own free-spirited daughter. The Ministry wondered how much reflecting Pressly did of her own teen years.

"I was so strong willed and very driven," Pressly reflected, "I started in the business so young, I was modeling at 15 and had to be emancipated from my parents so I could travel to Japan and work ... but I'm grateful for that experience."  

Speaking of experience, she can compare notes with her costar Katie Finneran, who just announced her second pregnancy. 

"Daughter" airs at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox.

RELATED:

Will 'American Horror Story' be cursed at the Emmys?

Television review: 'I Hate My Teenage Daughter' on Fox

Cleaning up 'American Horror Story' with Alexandra Breckenridge

— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Jaime Pressly, right, and Katie Finneran on "I Hate My Teenage Daughter." Credit: Fox.

Cleaning up 'American Horror Story' with Alexandra Breckenridge

"American Horror Story" had its season finale Wednesday, and any fan of the show knows the bodies tend to pile up in the crazy house that Ryan Murphy built.

So who better to tidy up an insane first season than the sexy resident maid, Alexandra Breckenridge? Playing the youthful version of Moira the housekeeper (her more mature incarnation is played by Frances Conroy), Breckenridge talks her obscene work uniform, music that gets her in the mood and the stunt that sent her screaming. 

Ministry of Gossip: We need to start with that uniform. [For those who haven't caught the show, think garter belts and stockings, super low-cut, lacy French sexy time.]

Alexandra Breckenridge: [Laughs.] Now that the season is over, let's just say I've been eating a lot more lately. 

MoG: It's so crazy! It's overtly fetishistic. But aside from the costume, did you have any idea how sexual this part would become over time?

AB: I mean, I knew how sexual Moira was from what was on the page, but it was great sort of developing her from that. There's a motive beyond sex; She's a soul trying to free herself from the house. 

MoG: A lot of your scene work this year was trying to trap Dylan McDermott in the boudoir. How do you get to that place?

AB: The thing about Moira is that she's not necessarily seducing Ben [Harmon, McDermott's character]. She's got a very slow, deadpan vibe but is totally free with her body. So I've got some dirty rap songs ... I love "Down On Me" by Jeremih and 50 Cent. 

MoG: You share this character with Frances Conroy. Most of the residents see Moira as an older, world-weary woman taking care of the house for years. But some, like Dylan, see your sexpot. Do you and Frances coordinate at all?

AB: Not really, because it's like a different lens to see her through. We did get to work together a few times though, as different Moiras in the same scene. We also get our hair colored together, which is a really fun time. She's got a great sense of humor, we'd go to the salon every six weeks and just hang out.

MoG: That show loves its redheads.

AB: Yeah, I never learned why, but [Murphy] has a thing for redheads. It's a vampy red, like Jessica Rabbit. Andy Lecompte did the color for both me and Frances, and it's gorgeous. 

MoG: At one point in the season, a businessman threatens to buy the house from the occupants and level it to make apartment units. The ghosts conspire to stop him, so Moira steps in and — there's no other way to say it — bites off his penis during oral sex.

AB: I screamed. I actually screamed when I read that in the script. I didn't get the pages until we were on set, and someone drops it into my lap. But I thought it was so funny. Not during, obviously. Putting your head repeatedly in someone's crotch for hours isn't pleasant.

MoG: In regard to Moira's other skill set, cleaning, are you better at keeping up your own house now?

AB: Well, I'm doing my laundry right now. I think I personally clean my house better than Moira cleans on the show. I think Frances is the side of Moira that's meticulous.

RELATED:

Stacy Keibler hits Spike's Video Game Awards (sans Clooney)

Kate Mara on the Rooney Mara rivalry and her work on 'American Horror Story'

Paula Patton: 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' star says she blends in with Canadians

— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Alexandra Breckenridge in character as Moira on "American Horror Story." Credit: FX.