The New Season: Geez, Zach, lighten up! And Tina, meet Alec

If you ever run into “Scrubs” star Zach Braff and feel tempted to ask him a question about his personal possessions, please control yourself.

Braff was part of a press tour comedy panel on Monday at the Beverly Hilton that included the show-runners and other stars of NBC’s “Thursday Night Done Right” lineup. After the panel, a gaggle of reporters followed Braff to ask about the last season of his comedy and other matters.

When one reporter said, “I saw the nice car you drove in. What was your first car?”  Braff responded like someone had just crossed a dangerous boundary: “I’m not going to answer that.”  A beat later, he added, “On that note, I’m going this way,” heading away from the gaggle and into the safety net of backstage.

Just a few minutes earlier on the panel, “30 Rock” creator and star Tina Fey and executive producer Lorne Michaels were asked if they had to talk Alec Baldwin into returning to the show for a second season. “No, I’ve never even met Alec Baldwin,” Fey quipped.

Michaels: “I have. He’s such an important part of the show and he loves the show … . There was no one moment where we made eye contact and discussed his coming back to the show. I think he’s brilliant on the show and he’s just absolutely essential to the show and he’s proud of the show.”

“I have a feeling the show will take a big leap this season,”  Michaels said.

“One way or the other,” Fey added.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

(Photo: Peter Kramer / Getty Images)