On newsstands November 8, 2017
Mark Harmon

The Biggest Show in the World: ‘NCIS’ is Going Strong After 15 Years

He’s the No. 1 star on the world’s No. 1 drama on TV’s No. 1 network. But you’d be hard-pressed to find anything showboat-y about Mark Harmon.

The veteran actor, currently in his 15th season as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on CBS’s NCIS, settles down for a chat at a mom-and-pop diner not far from his home in Los Angeles. This is one of Harmon’s longtime hangouts, and it’s due to go out of business soon—yet another victim of an unaffordable rent hike. That looming event has him feeling nostalgic and a bit melancholy. Like Gibbs, the 66-year-old Harmon is a guy who radiates old-school decency and honesty. He deflects praise. He dodges any talk of status or power. His modesty would be maddening if it weren’t so refreshing. Is it possible for a TV superstar to actually be normal? Probably not. But Harmon comes damn close.

Also in this issue:

  • Fall Streaming Preview: Westerns are back! Inside Godless and the return of Longmire; Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It adaptation; Marvel’s The Punisher; and three things to know about The Crown‘s second season. Spoiler alert: There’s a major royal scandal ahead.
  • The Good Doctor: Freddie Highmore brings TV’s latest hero to life on ABC’s breakout hit of the season.
  • Plus: Outlander‘s big outbreak, Mindy Kaling picks her favorite The Mindy Project episodes, Bull celebrates Turkey Day and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.
On newsstands October 25, 2017
Michelle Dockery

TV’s Hottest Couples: Letty and Javier of ‘Good Behavior’ Come Clean

Good Behavior opened its second season with a toe-curling scene steamy enough to warrant a title change for TNT’s sexy crime caper. We’re thinking Smoking Hot Behavior.

There’s no question the couple at the center of the lusty action—Letty Raines (Michelle Dockery) and Javier Pereira (Juan Diego Botto)—are the hottest con woman–hit man pairing in TV history. “At their first read together, the chemistry was so obvious and instant,” executive producer Chad Hodge recalls. The choice to hire Botto, a little-known Madrid-based actor, was “a no-brainer,” he says. Dockery, whose last role had been as Downton Abbey’s decidedly more upper-crust Lady Mary, echoes that notion. “Our connection was clear as soon as Juan walked into the room.”

Their characters’ first encounter was not nearly as promising. Interrupted while robbing a hotel room, Letty hid in a closet and overheard Javier finalizing a deal to murder a client’s no-good wife. After she tried to warn the victim, the contract killer with a conscience took Letty captive. Twists, turns and a few power struggles later, the outlaws gave into their mutual attraction.

Also in this issue:

  • Outlander: Time-crossed lovers Jamie and Claire set sail on an adventure at sea.
  • TV’s Hottest Couples: This Is Us, Game of Thrones (Yep, we went there!), The Walking Dead, Riverdale and more steamy twosomes fogging up our screens.
  • Blue Bloods: Donnie Wahlberg opens up about why the drama killed off the show’s matriarch Linda.
  • Shameless: Frank Gallagher, a sober man? William H. Macy explains this new turn for his Showtime character.
  • S.W.A.T.: Behind the scenes scoop on the high-octane stunts of CBS’s big reboot.
  • Plus: What’ll happen to HGTV after Fixer Upper ends, The Brave‘s Anne Heche dissects her life on TV, Matt Roush reviews Stranger Things Season 2 and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.

 

On newsstands October 11, 2017
Sela Ward

From ‘Sisters’ to ‘CSI: NY’ — Sela Ward Returns to TV With Epix’s ‘Graves’

On a soundstage in Albuquerque, Sela Ward is lying in bed with costar Nick Nolte as they shoot an emotional moment for the second season of Epix’s political dramedy Graves. In the scene, Ward’s Margaret Graves—usually a rock for her husband, former President Richard Graves (Nolte)—is in need of support while she juggles running for Senate and a brewing scandal that could destroy her family. Can her husband deliver?

One thing we do know: Ward can deliver. The actress stepped into the role of the dutiful first lady when Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon left the politically charged series early on due to artistic differences. “I had four days to prep before I started!” Ward recalls. Nolte, though, had no concerns about his new TV wife. “I knew right away that they had cast the right person,” he says. “She is a formidable actor and human being. She keeps me from getting into trouble, or at least she tries to!”

Creator Joshua Michael Stern agrees. “The show wouldn’t be anything close to what it is without her,” he says. “Sela is really the light and heart and soul of Graves.” That’s evident on set when, during a break in filming, the cast and crew surprise the 61-year-old actress with a cake and a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

The moment of levity is much needed, because things in Season 2 of Graves get, well, grave. Ward fills us in.

Also in this issue:

  • Halloween Preview: See your favorite series dressing up, trick-or-treating and conjuring up some spooks. Includes: black-ish, MacGyver, The Simpsons and Superstore.
  • The Walking Dead: The gang prepares for a major face-off against Negan when Season 8 premieres.
  • Stranger Things: The boys are back… but where’s Eleven? Everything you need to know about the new season of Netflix’s buzzy hit.
  • Plus: NCIS star Pauley Perrette makes her shocking exit after 15 seasons, this fall’s breakout winners and losers, This Is Us executive producer Ken Olin pens a guest column about making TV viewers reach for the tissue box, scoop on Outlander‘s steamy reunion and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.
On newsstands September 27, 2017

Must-See TV: Our No. 1 Fall Pick ‘Will & Grace’ Returns to NBC After 11 Years Off the Air

The cast of Will & Grace is downright giddy about reviving the seminal NBC sitcom. And so, it seems, is the studio audience filling Stage 22 in Burbank. “It was like Oprah!” Megan Mullally says of the first taping in 11 years. “You’d think we’d given them cars!” Eric McCormack adds.

The excitement is no surprise. Will & Grace 2.0 is easily the most hotly anticipated show on the fall schedule. So how did this dream team get back together? Last September, the cast of the Emmy-winning hit—which explored the friendship between gay lawyer Will Truman (McCormack), his straight interior designer roommate, Grace Adler (Messing), and their pals Karen Walker (Mullally) and Jack McFarland (Hayes)—reprised their roles in a video encouraging Americans to vote. The clip went viral (it currently has more than 7.5 million views on YouTube) and, according to series creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the pieces fell quickly into place for a revival. “It really feels like we took a month off and then just started again,” Mutchnick marvels.

But what to do about that 2006 finale in which Will and Grace became estranged for 20 years? Well, it’s scrapped. “We never would have gone in that direction if we weren’t ending the show,” Mutchnick told critics in August. That means no time apart, no spouses and no kids. Will and Grace’s apartment has had only a minor facelift, and Jack still regularly bursts in from across the hall, leaving things much the same as in the first 194 episodes (now streaming on Hulu).

Back in Burbank, the foursome are still on a high after filming their first episode, which reveals how the besties end up living together again. Messing, McCormack, Mullally and Hayes sat down to give us the scoop. Oh, honey, it’s good.

Also in this issue:

  • The Orville: Step inside the huge ship in Seth MacFarlane’s intergalactic hit.
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm: Larry David chats about his return to the HBO series, talking dirty and how he reacted to his show being leaked online earlier this year.
  • Great News: Executive producer Tina Fey joins the NBC workplace comedy for an arc as the CEO of cable news network MMN’s parent company.
  • Plus: SEAL Team star David Boreanaz looks back on his 20 consecutive years in primetime television in our guest column, the secrets behind 60 Minutes as the series turns 50, Madam Secretary delves into Elizabeth’s home life, a Real Housewives star is welcomed on The Middle, Crown Media launches a third Hallmark channel and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.