Cast of Bravo's "Make Me A Supermodel" Season Two. Photo/BRAVO

Bravo has announced the 16 men and women who will compete in Season Two of “Make Me a Supermodel,” the reality series that pits model against model in an often steamy, and usually drama-filled competition.

Outspoken male supermodel Tyson Beckford will return as the show’s host when the series premieres at 10 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 4, but the show’s panel of judges has been completely retooled with designer Catherine Malandrino, model Jenny Shimizu, photographer Perou and international model-scout Marlon.

Last season’s co-host Niki Taylor has been replaced by Australian-born print and runway supermodel Nicole Trunfio. Trunfio who is currently featured in ads for Guess and BCBG, will serve as a mentor to the female models.

At stake is a $100,000 prize, a contract with New York Model Management, a fashion spread in Cosmopolitan magazine and the title, the “next great supermodel.”

While most of the 16 contestants range in age from 18 to 24, one surprise is the inclusion of a 30 year old Seattle, Wash. native. In an industry that glorifies youth, it will be interesting to see how the modeling world reacts to an older face. Fans can get a sneak peak at the models in Bravo’s behind-the-scenes casting special that will air Saturday, February 7 at 11 p.m. EST.

The 16 contestents are:

Amanda (21; Hometown: Banks, Ore. Resides in Banks, Ore.), Branden (18; Hometown: Lake Tahoe, Nev. Resides in Central Point, Ore.), Chris (22; Hometown: Libertyville, Ill. Resides Chicago, Ill. ), CJ (18; Hometown: San Ramon, Calif. Resides in Danville, Calif. ), Colin (21; Hometown: Charlottesville, Va. Resides in Northfield, Minn. ), Gabriel (22; Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Resides in Nashville, Tenn. ), Jonathan (26; Hometown: Southampton, UK. Resides in Los Angeles, Calif. ), Jordan ( 21; Hometown: San Antonio, Texas. Resides Tucson, Ariz. ), Karen (22; Hometown: Ocean Springs, Miss. Resides in Los Angeles, Calif. ), Ken (24; Hometown: Winterville, N.C. Resides in Nashville, Tenn. ), Kerryn (24; Hometown: Russelville, Ark.. Resides in Memphis, Tenn, ), Laury (23; Hometown: Miami, Fla. Resides in Miami, Fla. ), Mountaha (23; Hometown: Londrina, Brazil. Resides in New York, N.Y. ), Salome (19; Hometown: Altamont, Tenn. Resides in Nashville, Tenn. ), Sandhurst (22; Hometown: Tobago. Resides in Philadelphia, Pa. ), Shawn (30; Hometown: Seattle, Wash. Resides in Pensacola, Fla.).

— KLB

Video: Meet the Models:

Photo/HBO

It came as little surprise that HBO’s epic mini-series “John Adams” and the NBC comedy “30 Rock” dominated their categories during Sunday’s telecast of the “Golden Globe Awards.” What was a surprise, however, is that a couple television newcomers made HBO the channel to beat.

“John Adams,” the spectacular mini-series produced by Tom Hanks for HBO, made a clean sweep. It took home the top honor of Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television as well as Best Actor and Actress in the category for Paul Giamatti’s portrayal as the second president and Laura Linney for her role as his wife Abigail. Tom Wilkinson, who portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the mini-series, also took home a Golden Globe for Supporting Actor in the category.

Meanwhile, “30 Rock” continued to dominate the Globes being named Best Television Series Comedy or Musical with acting trophies also being awarded to Alec Baldwin and creator, writer and star Tina Fey.

AMC’s critical darling “Mad Men” was named Best Television Series, Drama for a second straight year. The series star John Hamm, in one of the few surprises on the night, did not take home top actor in the category. Instead the award went to Gabriel Byrne for his role as a troubled psychotherapist in HBO’s “InTreatment.”

Another television newcomer, Anna Paquin, took home the award for Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama for her portrayal of Sookie Stackhouse in HBO’s freshmen series “True Blood,” and Laura Dern was awarded the Golden Globe in the Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie category for yet another HBO project, “Recount.”

– JDB

James Roday and Dulé Hill star in USA's original series "Psych." Photo/USA

By Jeremy D. Bonfiglio
MyTVHatesMe.com

“Psych” stars James Roday and Dulé Hill are happy for Simon Baker and his hit series “The Mentalist.” No, they are. Really.

“I’ve seen the show and I don’t see anything similar about it,” Hill says, referring to CBS’ successful copycat drama that stars Baker as a former TV “psychic” who uses his observational powers to solve crimes. “I think it’s completely innovative.”

Roday’s laughter spoils Hill’s perfect straight-man delivery.

“Look, the fact that someone saw something in our show that was worth reproducing on a much larger scale — I don’t know, I think it’s kind of cool,” Roday says. “I mean there’s no point in trying to pretend like (“The Mentalist”) wasn’t influenced by us. But look at every show on television. It’s derivative of another show that came before it. It was only a matter of time. So all you ‘Mentalist’ fans, it’s OK. Have fun watching your show, but don’t be in denial.”

Roday plays Shawn Spencer, TV’s original fake psychic, on USA’s cult comedy series, “Psych,” which continues its third season Friday, Jan. 9 (10 p.m. EST). Shawn’s gift for noticing the tiniest of details has made him the Santa Barbara, Calif., police department’s resident crime-solving guru alongside Hill’s Burton “Gus” Guster, Shawn’s best friend and reluctant partner.

Despite the similarity in premise, “Psych’s” appeal is based largely on what “The Mentalist” is not. The storylines are not all that complicated and there’s nothing edgy or dark about USA’s police procedural. That simplicity paired with superior writing and a cast that also includes Corbin Bernsen as Shawn’s retired cop father Henry, Maggie Lawson as Det. Juliet O’Hara and Timothy Omundson as Det. Carlton Lassiter, has made “Psych” the cable network’s most-watched series.

Unlike many shows that seem to lose momentum as time goes on, “Psych’s” third season has been widely touted as its best to date.

“I think as the seasons have gone on more and more we just find our footing,” Hill says. “And after trying things and seeing what works and doesn’t work, we’ve kind of fallen more into our groove. … The longer you do it the more you can kind of refine a process.”

Roday credits the writing team, which he is also a part of, for giving Shawn’s character a little more substance this season, including storylines about his mother (guest star Cybil Shepherd) and a past indiscretion with his best friend’s sister.

“I think we sort of gave ourselves a mandate of ‘Hey, let’s see if we can start earning our comedy a little bit more,’” Roday says. “That means giving each episode more of an emotional spine, mixing in some drama, giving our actors and our cast the opportunity to flex some different muscles.”

That doesn’t mean “Psych” is about to turn into a drama anytime soon (The Friday, Jan. 9 episode has Shawn and Gus investigating the possible murder of Shabby the Sea Lion). It does, however, open the possibility of a more serious romantic entanglement for Shawn as the series continues. Roday says Rachael Leigh Cook has signed on to reprise her role as Shawn’s former love interest, and the on-screen romantic chemistry between Shawn and Juliet will continue. He adds that if he made a list of Shawn’s Top 5 prospects they would both “be in there.”

“We might throw you a couple of curveballs along the way, too,” he says. “You know, we want Shawn to be as Greg Brady-ish as humanly possible.”

The one thing “Psych” fans can continue to count on as the series returns are the pop culture riffs that have become a show staple, thanks in part to Roday and creator Steve Franks’ obsession with all things ’80s.

“It’s basically just a free-for-all,” Roday says. “Like what’s the most obscure thing you can come up with that you can remember that was cool for two seconds and put it out there.”

“I would say like 83.2 percent of the time I have no idea what he’s talking about,” Hill adds. “I have to get the explanation afterwards. But on scene I act like I know exactly what he’s talking about.”

In addition to the usual repartee, the second half of the season also will include a Roday-penned homage to ’80s slasher films titled “Tuesday the 17th.” It’s just another example of how unique “Psych’s” blend of mystery, banter, wit and nostalgia is to television. It’s something, Roday says, that has been reinforced by fans who comment on the show, even if they still only refer to him as “Shawn” when they stop him.

“You just realize ‘Wow, you don’t just exist in a bubble up there,’” Roday says. “It’s actually reaching someone and they don’t think you totally suck.”

Matt Smith will be the next "Doctor Who." Photo/BBC

The next Doctor is in. Well, he will be in 2010 anyway.

BBC announced Saturday that the relatively unknown 26-year-old Matt Smith will be the actor who will replace David Tennant in the title role of its popular science fiction series “Doctor Who.”

Smith, who is the youngest actor to take on the role, will first appear on TV screens as the 11th Doctor in 2010 when he joins the series’ new creative team led by executive producers Steven Moffat and Piers Wenger.

Smith was born in Northampton in 1982 and studied drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia.

Smith’s stage work has included stints with theater companies such as the Royal Court and National Theatre. His West End debut was in “Swimming With Sharks” opposite Christian Slater.

Smith’s TV debut was in the 2006 adaptation of Philip Pullman’s “The Ruby in the Smoke,” which starred former “Doctor Who” companion Billie Piper as Sally Lockhart.

He has also acted opposite Piper in the follow-up, “The Shadow in the North” and “Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” In 2007, he had a leading role in BBC Two’s political drama “Party Animals,” in which he played a parliamentary researcher, and he has also appeared in an episode of ABC’s “Boston Legal.”

Smith was named as Tennant’s replacement in Saturday’s edition of “Doctor Who Confidential” on BBC One. Tennant said in October that he would stand down from the show after filming four special episodes in 2009.

“Doctor Who” began in 1963, and seven actors played the Doctor before the show was dropped in 1989. After a TV movie in 1996 starring Paul McGann the TV series returned in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston in the lead role. Tennant took over the same year. Smith was cast over Christmas and will begin filming the fifth season of the latest “Doctor Who” incarnation this summer.

— JDB

Glenn Close stars as Patty Hewes on the season premiere of “Damages.” Andrew McPherson/FX

‘Damages’
Episode 201
Wednesday, Jan. 7
10 p.m. EST, FX

Grade: A-

FX’s serial suspense thriller “Damages” opens its second season with the same brand of flash-forward storytelling and dark, emotional twists that made this series a must watch.

Glenn Close returns as fiendishly brilliant lawyer Patty Hewes, still basking in the limelight from her latest triumph.

As this season’s legal conundrum unfolds, Close will be paired with her former “Big Chill” co-star William Hurt who portrays Daniel Purcell, a scientist with a conscience.

It’s established early in the first episode that the two characters have a past whose details we can assume will surface as the season progresses. It’s only after someone close to Daniel is murdered, however, that Patty becomes interested in taking him on as a client.

Patty’s protégée, Ellen (Rose Byrne), meanwhile, is now working undercover with the FBI to take down her boss after Patty tried to have her killed. Last season’s villain, billionaire CEO Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), also has proven to be tough to gun down, although it remains to be seen exactly how he fits into the new plot.

“Deadwood’s” Timothy Olyphant, and Marcia Gay Harden — who shows up in the second episode as a cutthroat corporate lawyer who can’t wait to do battle with Patty — also join the already remarkable cast.

Olyphant portrays a member of Ellen’s grief-counseling group who may appear to be a peripheral character, but we know better.

The additions of Hurt, Olyphant and Harden are brilliant casting choices. They also reflect the commitment to quality we’ve come to expect from creators Glenn and Todd A. Kessler and Daniel Zelman.

The trio make it clear from the first episode that they plan to continue to push the boundaries by providing more plot twists in an hour than some dramas offer in a season.

If we learned anything from the fantastic first season it’s that in the brutal world of “Damages,” you have to think five steps ahead. We wouldn’t want it any other way.

— JDB