Fall TV Premieres: Sunday, September 26th

Well we've reached the final day of this Fall's TV premiere week, even though this does not mean that all new and returning shows have premiered their new episodes. We still have shows premiering through mid-October. Tonight's premieres include new episodes of Desperate Housewives, Dexter and Brothers & Sisters.

Today's Spotlight: Desperate Housewives

As we are welcomed back to Wisteria Lane for Desperate Housewives' seventh season, the Bolens have moved on, Orson's moving out, and Susan and Mike have already moved, although not far, because they cannot afford Wisteria Lane living.

In tonight's episode, Susan gets a job offer from their landlady (Lainie Kazan) that she really wants to refuse. Meanwhile, Paul Young (Mark Moses) is moving back in, and no one's happy about it. Plus, Lynette's barb-tossing college friend Renee (Vanessa Williams) shows up. She's just visiting, she says, but Williams has joined the regular cast. Where does that leave Gaby and (the clean-shaven) Carlos? Keeping secrets from each other.

It looks like it's going to be a very interesting season on Desperate Housewives.

Tonight's premiere schedule:

7:00 pm
ABC - America's Funniest Home Videos

7:30 pm
CBS - 60 Minutes

8:00 pm
ABC - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
FOX - The Simpsons

8:30 pm
CBS - The Amazing Race
FOX - The Cleveland Show

9:00 pm
ABC - Desperate Housewives
FOX - Family Guy
SHOWTIME - Dexter

10:00 pm
ABC - Brothers & Sisters
CBS - Undercover Boss
HBO - Bored to Death
TLC - Sister Wives

10:30 pm
HBO - Eastbown & Down

All times are based on Eastern Time zone.

Vanessa William Chats with AfterElton.com About Desperate Housewives & Ugly Betty

Want proof that someone over at ABC is really smart? Well, at least one person over there had the foresight to figure out the how the hell the network would keep Vanessa Williams (aka Wilhelmina Slater of Ugly Betty) from running off to another network where she would be the classiest, sexiest and funniest thing there.

How did they do it? By moving her from Manhattan over to Wisteria Lane where she's going to bring New York sophistication to the suburbs as one Renee Perry. Michael Jensen from AfterElton.com got to chat with Vanessa this week and found her to be funny, charming and, yes, snackable!

AfterElton: How long did you make Marc Cherry beg before you agreed to join Desperate Housewives?
Vanessa Williams: [laughs] Oh, I didn't make him beg at all. We had a meeting Thursday and the deal was signed by Monday noontime, so it came so quickly. It's the quickest deal I've ever done, so I think we were both, you know, excited and happy.

AE: I have to tell you, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives are two of my favorite shows, so having you on DH is like putting chocolate and peanut butter together. Wilhemina became such a gay icon — and so did you over the course of Ugly Betty — that she ended up having her own drag impersonators. Gay guys are obviously very into you and the character.
VW: Which my brother played, by the way.

AE: I remember that very well. Now tell me about Renee and what is going to appeal to us gay guys about this character.
VW: Well, I mean, she ain't no Wilhelmina. She's a New Yorker who comes into the lane and comments on the difference between New York and the suburban life often. Her dress is certainly not Wilhelmina as well, but she tries to do her best in terms of bringing style and flair to the lane. And she's a little bit passive-aggressive so she tends to ruffle some feathers.

She's certainly not creating the amount of fear and trepidation and the amount of scheming that Wilhelmina had on a weekly basis, but she's mixin' it up. We've shot... we're on episode seven now, so it's been kind of tasty. I've been able to work with each woman kind of one-on-one for at least an episode or so, so it's kind of nice to delve into each person's world and stir it up.

AE: Now when did you realize that you, Vanessa Williams, had become a gay icon?
VW: The first time was probably when I heard people saying, "Have you seen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert? They sing "Saved the Best for Last" at the end, you gotta see it!"- and that was years ago.

But in terms of Wilhelmina and Ugly Betty and that persona, I don't know. The thing about my career is, I've done so many things in terms of my recording career and Broadway, you know, I've performed in tons of different venues, doing "Running Back to You" at the AIDS Dance-A-Thon back in the day. I don't think there was one pivotal moment where I said, you know, I've made it as a gay icon. [laughs]

AE: It just sort of gradually dawned on you.
VW: Yeah.

AE: I've talked with Michael Urie quite a few times, and he tells a great story about how at the beginning of Ugly Betty he gives you credit for recognizing that Marc was going to be a great foil for Wilhelmina and you sort of said to the writers "We should beef this part up and bring Marc more into the story". Is that how you remember it?
VW: It was completely organic. It was our first conference room scene, and walking around the table and I was supposed to do the whole bit with Daniel and his whole crystal inscription mistake on his award, so I added the whole beckoning for Marc and he jumped to attention. You know, Michael and I had such a ... like, a symbiotic physical thing.

I remember another time where I was kind of defeated at the end of something at the conference table and I kind of sunk into my chair and Michael mirrored the exact same way I sunk into my chair, and I said wow. This guy is a fantastic actor 'cause he's aware, and he is like a part of me.

Then we did the Botox scene – that was the first thing we did that I was really thoroughly impressed with his joy and his energy and he just hit it. The [producers] said they wanted Wilhelmina to have a different assistant every week and she'd fire them, and I said "This guy is really, really good..."

Then I heard he was from Juilliard and I said okay. Not only is he fantastic, but he's got the training. I think we should definitely keep him on. He worked so well in the pilot, absolutely great, and there Michael Urie became the Marc that everybody knew and loved and we'd never get rid of, ever.

AE: It seemed like the last season of Ugly Betty really humanized Willie. How did you see that happening, if you saw it that way, and how did you feel about where Willie wound up?
VW: The fact that she got it all and the guy was wonderful. She didn't have it quite all because she didn't get her daughter back, but, you know. Unfortunately we had to wrap everything up within a few weeks after we got the notice that we were cancelled, so that was kind of unfortunate.

Especially unfortunate for the writers who have to scramble and wrap it all up in a few episodes. Again, it's one of those opportunities where if they called and said "Guess what? The gang's back on, we're all here and we're doing it again!" or "We're doing the movie!", I would jump to it in a second.

Desperate Housewives airs Sunday nights at 9:00 pm (ET) on ABC.

Desperate Housewives Scoop:Vanessa Williams is Moving to Wisteria Lane

There goes the neighborhood! An ABC rep confirms that when Desperate Housewives returns next season, its cast will include — as a series regular, no less — Vanessa Williams!

Series creator Marc Cherry said previously that he was looking for a new troublemaker to fill the void left by the demise of Nicollette Sheridan’s Edie. And seriously, could he — or anyone — do any better than the actress formerly known as Ugly Betty‘s queen of mean, Wilhelmina? I don't think so.

Though other deets are at the moment scarce, TV Guide Magazine has reported that her conniving character won’t be at the center of next season’s big mystery.

It will be great to have Vanessa back on TV!

Vanessa Williams Wants Ugly Betty Movie

Ugly Betty actress Vanessa Williams has joined her former co-stars America Ferrera and Ana Ortiz on a crusade to bring the cancelled TV series to the big screen.

Williams gave her final performance as fashion boss Wilhelmina Slater in the April 14th series finale, and bid farewell to her castmates of four years.

She says, "We did not want to leave. Our last week, none of us wanted to leave the table. None of us wanted to finish the words we were saying."

Ortiz recently admitted she and America Ferrera are "open" to the idea of making an Ugly Betty film, and Williams is keen to join the pair's campaign.

She adds, "It was an extraordinary group of people, the ensemble was great, the directors were great - the writers - the whole team. It was unique. Yes, an Ugly Betty movie, absolutely."

Vanessa Williams 'Devastated' by Ugly Betty Axe

Vanessa Williams is angry at TV bosses for axing her hit comedy Ugly Betty, insisting the cast is "devastated" by the news.

The U.S. version of the series turned Emmy winner America Ferrera into a household name after it debuted in 2006.

But ABC executives announced last month the series' current fourth season will be its last.

And Williams is outraged programming bosses have scrapped the show just a year after uprooting the cast and crew from Los Angeles to film in New York.

She also blames them for failing to give the show a regular time slot for fans to follow.

Williams explains, "I gotta be honest, we're devastated. We're sad, we're not ready for it to end. We just moved to New York. We just got on a roll. Our season this year has been the best we've ever had. But numbers and ratings (were a concern). A lot of people couldn't even find us. We switched - we were put on Thursday then taken off then (we were on) Fridays, now we're finally on Wednesday nights. But we're sad."

The Ugly Betty season finale is set to air in April.

"Ugly Betty" Cast May Not Be Jobless For Long

The news of the cancellation of ABC's "Ugly Betty" had barely hit the Internet on Wednesday when the phones of the representatives of star Eric Mabius started ringing off the hook.

With broadcast casting executives again in the hunt for good-looking thirtysomething leading men for pilots, Mabius' sudden availability made him instantly a hot commodity.

The early cancellation of "Betty" was done mostly to help the show's producers give it a proper ending, but the timing of the announcement also releases into the pilot talent pool a strong cast just as networks are starting to assemble this year's crop of series hopefuls.

"Betty" co-star Becki Newton, also in a sought-after category of beautiful 30-year-old comedic actresses, has additionally been inundated with calls, and Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie and Ana Ortiz also are in demand. It is not clear whether star America Ferrera would be open to another series as she is considering focusing on features full time.

To accommodate the "Betty" cast, which collectively landed two best ensemble SAG nominations, the producers of the show are trying to wrap production before the previously scheduled March 25 date so the actors can do pilots. Broadcast pilots generally film from the beginning of March through the end of April.

The "Betty" cast is among a couple of dozen actors from recently canceled and on-the-fence series that have development executives salivating.

"The networks and casting directors in Hollywood are looking very closely at the casts that have or will become available on shows like 'Dollhouse,' 'Ugly Betty,' 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Three Rivers' and 'Lost' and bubble shows like 'Scrubs' and 'Better Off Ted' to cherry-pick actors," said casting executive Marc Hirschfeld, famed for his work on "Seinfeld."

Networks often cast actors from bubble shows -- those whose future is iffy -- on pilots in second position, betting that those series won't return.

Expected to be in demand in second position are Jay Harrington, Portia de Rossi and Andrea Anders from "Ted," Eliza Coupe from "Scrubs" and Matt Long from "The Deep End."

Meanwhile, Sarah Chalke of the original "Scrubs" cast already is fielding multiple offers, as are three other lead actors from shows that recently wrapped their runs: Michael Chiklis from "The Shield," Christina Applegate from "Samantha Who?" and "Battlestar Galactica" alumna Katee Sackhoff, who is co-starring this season on Fox's "24."

Speaking of "24," the prospect of the real-time drama coming to an end is intriguing to casting execs.

"I'll put Mary Lynn Rajskub in a comedy in a heartbeat," a casting director said of the cult "24" co-star who recently showed off her comedic side on John Oliver's stand-up series on Comedy Central.

Alex O'Loughlin of the now-defunct "Rivers" is already being courted for new shows. But getting actors from ABC's "Lost," which is ending in the spring, could prove problematic. The hit show doesn't wrap production on its final season until April, making actors largely unavailable for pilots to the disappointment of network executives who would love to get Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway or Terry O'Quinn for a project.

Star Sighting: Pretty "Ugly" Cast

What a glam bunch! Days before their ABC show returns for its fourth season, the cast of Ugly Betty – Vanessa Williams, America Ferrera, Michael Urie and Becki Newton – band together for a chatty evening at the New York Times TimesTalks series Monday in New York. Ugly Betty returns this Friday, October 16th.

Vanessa Williams Thankful For Ugly Betty Move

Vanessa Williams is relieved the Ugly Betty set has relocated to New York from Los Angeles - because she can spend more time with her family.

The first two seasons of the hit show were filmed in L.A. before shooting relocated to Manhattan last year.

And Williams, who plays Wilhelmina Slater, is thankful she can now live in her native city, because she found it unbearable spending so much time away from her four children.

She says, "I benefit too because all my kids are in New York. My two older girls (Melanie, 22, and Jillian, 20) are at college there, my son (Devin, 16) is in high school and Sasha is in third grade. So now I'm up in the morning and driving my kids to school. I pick them up in the evening and I can bring them home and cook for them.

"I've always wanted to have my children around. And if I'm not there in person, I'm constantly talking to them on my BlackBerry... My kids still sleep in my bed when they're scared and they want a snuggle. I love the closeness that I have with all my children."

Vanessa Williams' Beauty Secret: Botox

Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams has just released a new album, The Real Thing, which must be why the singer seems committed to keeping it real in promotional interviews. When asked by Essence about her beauty and skincare regimen, Williams was strikingly honest:

"Twice a year I receive Botox injections from a doctor whom I trust very much. I also have some favorite beauty products that I use on a daily basis - Perfekt's Skin perfection Gel and Mila Moursi's moisturizing oil."

Looks like her contract with skincare line ProActiv is up, eh?

But Williams has been candid about her love of Botox before. She once said, "I did after I turned 40. But I told the doctor, 'My face has got to move. I am not looking for perfection, I am looking for refreshment.'"

Plenty of other celebrities have been open about their use of Botox, including Jenny McCarthy, Jennie Garth, Linda Evangelista, David Hasselhoff, Janice Dickinson, and Lori Laughlin.

Vanessa Williams: The Real Thing

Though fans of Ugly Betty know Vanessa Williams best as scheming fashion mag beauty Wilhelmina Slater, the 16-time Grammy nominee's smooth vocals have also sound-tracked the past 20 years with songs like "Dreaming," "Save The Best For Last," "Love Is" and "Colors Of The Wind."

To spice things up a bit, Williams turned to her past collaborators Keith Thomas, Babyface and Rob Mathes - "My good friends who are producers that I've worked with before," the singer/actress says-to craft her eighth studio album The Real Thing.



Below is Vanessa's recent interview with Robbie Daw at www.GayWired.com:

GayWired: Good morning, Vanessa! How did you decide to go with a Latin jazz vibe for The Real Thing ?

Vanessa Williams: I think I was on stage and my manager kept hearing me say I want to do a Brazilian album, because I do a couple of songs in a Brazilian feel in my act.

The idea was to actually go to Brazil, use the real guys and do an entire Brazilian album. Then it kind of morphed into, well, how about some smooth jazz Brazilian and some diva-sounding music to continue with the Wilhelmina Slater vibe that I'm on TV with weekly.

It basically is a combination.

GW: It's been four years since your last album. Did you find you miss recording or are you just too busy with Ugly Betty to notice?

VW: It's been busy. And I do pickup dates, so I'll do Vegas. I'll do Foxwoods. I'll do Atlantic City. But, after doing the same show for the past four years, it was wonderful to open the Tropicana last week with new material.

It just renews us all because the band's eager to do new stuff. And we have new outfits!

GW: Do you remember where you were the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio?

VW: Well, the first time I heard myself on the radio I was driving north on La Brea in L.A.

I had sung on a George Clinton record-one song was called "Hey Good Lookin'" and one song was called "Do Fries Go With That Shake?" I had just done an off-Broadway show in New York and the musical director, Deborah Barsha, and I both moved out to L.A. at the same time. She was a musician and a background singer, and she said, 'I got this call from this guy named George Clinton. I'm singing background. Do you wanna come in and sing with me?'

I'm like, 'Do you know who George Clinton is?' and I had to school her briefly. We ended up going to the studio and he was a riot.

GW: Looking back, can you believe we've come to the point where people now listen to music on tiny computer speakers?

VW: Technology is amazing. You can listen to everything and have it all in your pocket. I think what I enjoy, or what was a big difference for me as a singer...obviously you can hear the real drastic Auto Tune, like when T-Pain will sing or Jamie Foxx will sing through the Auto Tune.

But when all these acts are coming out and you hear them and they all sound the same, people get used to that. They all sound the same because they're being run through the same machine.

But when you actually get to hear the voice, unobstructed, people are always taken aback. I'd rather be like, 'Let's do that phrase again,' as opposed to 'We'll fix it in Auto Tune.'

You've got a seamless performance, but it sounds real. I think that kind of separates the singers from the manufactured pop products they're cranking out.

GW: It really is amazing how there's almost a whole Auto Tune genre now.

VW: Back in the '70s when you had [Kraftwerk's] "Computer Love," and Rick James did it a little bit, it was tasty. But it wasn't to disguise a lack of talent.

GW: Last year you were given the Ally For Equality award from the Human Rights Campaign for supporting gay rights. How did you come to be so outspoken on social issues?

VW: Going back to when I won Miss America in 1983, I remember in one of my first press conferences I was asked about how I felt about ERA. I said I was pro-ERA, everyone should get paid equally for what they do, especially women.

I was also pro-choice back in the time when people were not used to hearing a Miss America talk about her personal feelings.

The lucky thing was that there was no platform or agenda [where someone told me], 'Okay, this is what we want you to say,' because I don't think I could have done that.

So I've never really shied away from what my personal beliefs are. My mom had gay friends who were an integral part of my life growing up. And my father was completely supportive and comfortable with my mom's friends. So I never had any kind of issues. It was in my own house.

And, of course, I've danced my entire life and I went into musical theater...! [Laughs]

Thank God, I think it's all exploding now-there's more dialogue, more protests. It's a hot button issue, and it's fantastic. With dialogue comes change. And obviously in Iowa we've just seen a gigantic change. It's making a difference.

The time is here.

GW: President Obama even got caught in a bit of pro-choice controversy recently, with the protesters during his commencement speech at Notre Dame.

VW: The bottom line is, what your beliefs are, are your beliefs. And God bless you, if those are your beliefs, you can feel your beliefs. And I tolerate that. But you should tolerate other people's beliefs, too.

I'm a Catholic, and even though I'm a Catholic and my kids have been confirmed-and [my youngest daughter] Sasha just had her First Communion last year-I'm not gonna tell someone else that they don't have the right to do what they choose. That has nothing to do with my religion. It has to do with being tolerant of other people's beliefs and their particular rights.

So religion, I think, is how you approach it. I think Obama was completely eloquent. [He] did not shy away from it, and dug right into it. I applaud him. And the students applauded.

GW: What can viewers expect from Wilhelmina Slater on the fourth season of Ugly Betty ?

VW: We don't know! It's not even like I'm holding anything back. There are so many changes that happen within the storylines.

Writers can come up with something but then the network can also put the kibosh on it, as well.

So we never know what we're gonna get until we actually get to the read-through that day. And usually our read-through is the day we start the episode, so we're equally as shocked as everyone else! [Laughs]

GW: Any predictions?

VW: I'm sure [Wilhelmina] is anxious to get Connor back and we'll see whether that happens. It was such a great love interest for her, because he was strong and sexy and, really, her equal. I think the casting was brilliant. I don't know if they're gonna get much better than that. It'll be different, but I don't know if it'll be as good.

I honestly don't know what's in store. But it'll be more fabulous outfits by Pat Fields and more fantastic lines from Silvio Horta and our writers.

Courtesy of: www.GayWired.com