After last night’s very funny season series finale of BACK TO YOU on FOX, am I the only TV Addict who’s somewhat sad that Chuck and Kelly will not be getting another opportunity to ‘do it again?’

Michael Ausiello is reporting that the original bad-girl-turned-good Jennie Garth will be returning to the show that made her famous, signing on to BEVERLY HILLS 90210 Version 2.0 [this show really needs an official title] in a recurring capacity as get this — West Bev’s Guidance Counsellor. And while this TV Addict is thrilled with the news, surely I’m not the only one who finds it hard to believe that Kelly Taylor — the original Queen Bee of Beverly Hills high — is living the life she’s accustom to on a guidance counsellor salary. Unless of course she married rich. Hmmm…. Dylan McKay cameo anyone?

Two rare gems on television, smart shows that actually make this TV Addict laugh — ALIENS IN AMERICA and BACK TO YOU are both said to be on the chopping block this week. And while ALIENS axe comes as no surprise considering the CW put about $5 into marketing the show. BACK TO YOU’s sudden cancellation is quite the shock and disappointment. Especially since FOX is renewing ‘TIL DEATH [as in, what I wish for when when I'm watching the show] for a third season. Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton deserve a far better fate than this and if it helps make my argument, the epicenter of cultural cool [Entertainment Weekly] agrees.

Over on ABC, E!Online’s Kristin is speculating that ELI STONE is a lock for a second season pick-up. And while this TV Addict isn’t one to toot his own horn, I can’t help but think someone at ABC noticed the over a hundred comments and counting left by you — my awesome fellow ELI STONE Addicts — pronouncing your love for the denizens of Weatherby & Posner LLP.

I tuned into FOX’s Back to You when it premiered earlier this TV season to see two classic TV stars interact. What happened after the pilot was that I found myself tuning in to the next few episodes not only because of the chemistry and the talent of the big names, but the supporting players, who, in my humble opinion, continue to steal the show. One of my favorite supporting players on the show is Ryan Church, the sweaty and anxious news director played so well by Josh Gad. Josh took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about his character, about laughing so hard he thought security should show up, and why people with some time on their hands should tune into BACK TO YOU.

I’m so glad to get to talk to you!
I’m so glad that you get to talk to me.

Ha! Just want to start by saying that on your show, you could easily have been one of the characters that gets lost behind Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, but you really stand out. I find myself laughing at your stuff more than others.
Thank you so much, that means the world to me.

Tell me about this role, how did this come to be?
It’s actually a great story. I was filming 21 in Boston at the time and I had auditioned for Back to You probably three months prior. Nothing came of it. I didn’t even test for it. They just wound up going a different way, so I hadn’t thought about it in months. I hadn’t thought about TV, and doing any of that stuff. I got a phone call one day while I’m on the set, and they said, are you near an airport? And I said why? And they said you need to get on a plane in an hour, you were just offered the role of Ryan Church in back to you. My jaw dropped and I’m like “What?” And they said the guy who was playing the role, it wasn’t working out. Mind you, this was 48 hours before they shot the pilot. I’m starting to freak out. I’d never done a sitcom in my life, not a guest star, not anything. I don’t even know what the hell the format is like, so I’m on the plane with the script and it just happened to work out, serendipitously as luck would have it; I had a few days off where I’m not shooting. I get on the plane with the shirt on my back, nothing more, and I head over to LA, had the script in hand. I rehearsed for one day with the cast and then the next day, shot in front of a live audience. Most of the sweat and anxiety that was in the pilot episode? That was real. That was Josh really being frightened by what he was doing. It was pretty magical, it was pretty intense, and it was a wonderful ride and hopefully I settled into it.

I would never have known that you had only that time to prepare. It absolutely came off like you had some time with the role.
Thank you so much. It was great. It was to the point, where I had to look at Jimmy Burrows the director and be like, so is this like theatre where they do it all the way through, or do you actually stop and go? Haha, and he was just laughing at me, the new kid on the block.

Is it hard keeping a straight face on that set?
It’s not hard. Only because I’ve chosen not to keep a straight face anymore, because it’s impossible. When I break, I genuinely can’t help myself. I find so many things on the show funny that I just break down and start laughing at my costars while we’re taping. It’s a great environment where all of us just feed on that, feed on making each other laugh. Being able to get through the scene is often difficult. There was one scene I was doing with Ty where I touched his face ever so gently as I say this thing about how scared I am, and the two of us, literally, were crying, we could not stop laughing for what seems like 5 or 6 minutes, to the point where I thought everybody was just going to leave the set, and security was going to escort me out. It’s been a blast; every day that I go to work is a joy.

Tell us what’s coming up on the show in the next few episodes.
I’m not sure how much I’m going to say about some of the changes that have occurred. What I can say, the daughter will soon learn that Chuck is her father. I don’t think that’s giving away anything new that hasn’t been spoken about. And we also have a couple of great ensemble episodes coming up. We go to Marsh’s house for his surprise birthday. There’s an episode where Chuck gets this house of the future and chaos ensues. It’s a lot of brilliant physical comedy with Kelsey kind of reacting to the chaos of this house that is all automated. There’s a lot of tension in the work place. There is a new boss who comes in who right off the bat makes some very dramatic decisions that will change the landscape of the network. It’s a pretty great series of episodes that are coming up and I feel like I can safely say that the show is hitting its stride.

Why should someone who hasn’t watched yet, and has some time, watch the show?
I think it’s like a warm blanket. That’s how it was once described to me by a fan. It’s certainly a throwback. To a lot of people that’s a negative. “I don’t need to see traditional comedy anymore, I don’t need laugh tracks telling people when I should laugh”. For me, and for people who discover the show, not only is it a joy to see that, it really is a format that works so brilliantly when it’s done right that it’s hard to imagine why there aren’t more shows on the air anymore. And I think just the verbal sparring between Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton is reason enough to watch the show, to watch two icons of the medium going at it with each other. There also is an amazing supporting crew that they’ve gotten together to bring out more of the comedy. And you know, the creator and the director are all people who have worked on everything from Cheers to Frasier to The Mary Tyler Moore show, so I think that there is a level of sophistication to the show that you don’t find on a lot of other shows right now.

Switching gears a little bit, who would you like to work with in the future?
I’m a huge, huge fan of Sasha Baron Cohen. I think that he is our generation’s Peter Sellers. I am fascinated by his movies. I love him. I came close to working with Ben Stiller, so I hope to one day work with him in the near future. And the Apatow crew. They’re really creating a new mold in the comedy niche that is so exciting and as a fan of film, I can’t wait to go see the next Apatow film, I’m the first one on the line for those movies. You know, the past year has been so magical, I’ve worked with everyone from Kelsey Grammer to Patricia Heaton to Kevin Spacey and Harrison Ford, Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate. I really don’t know when the ride will end, but I feel like so many of those “God, if only I coulds” have been answered.

How did you get into acting?
It’s one of those things, really truly, as clichéd as it sounds, I knew from the age of three years old that this is what I wanted to do. I remember going to see a show in the Catskills that my parents took me to. Awful, just God awful. Even at three, I think, I had the discretion to know that what I was watching was filthy, but for whatever reason. The entire audience, and my mom remembers this, kept looking back at this little kid because I had this huge laugh, and I would just start guffawing at these jokes, because I was so inspired by the entertainment that I was watching, by the idea of entertaining an audience that it was just a visceral response, even at that age, that I was having. So I pretty much always knew.

Also coming up – you have 21 in theatres right now. Tell me a little bit about your character in that movie?
Miles Connoly is kind of the conscience of the movie. He’s the Jiminy Cricket to Jim Sturgess’ Ben. He’s the backbone in the story of Ben’s dual life. For me, I got to play the comic relief, but I also got to bring, hopefully, a level of pathos that was a nice counterpart to the chaos of Vegas. It was a very fun character to play. This geek who aspires to the cooler lifestyle that his friend has, but also realizes what’s important in his life.

Tell me about The Rocker.
The Rocker is an unbelievably funny film. It stars Riann Wilson, Christina Applegate, Emma Stone, and just a supporting cast that would let any comedy person let out a sigh of glory. It’s a story of Rainn’s character, who in 1987 is in a band with Will Arnett, Fred Armisen, and Bradley Cooper, and he’s the drummer. And he gets fired as they explode onto the scene, because their manager at the time feels that he is not the right fit for this band. Cut to 20 years later, he’s out of work, he’s down on his luck, and he comes to live with his sister and brother-in-law, played by Jane Lynch and Jeff Garlin, and his nephew, played by me. I’m his 17 year old nephew, and basically, we lose our drummer for the prom, and I convince him to play this one gig with us. He does so, one thing leads to another, and we start getting all of these opportunities and we start getting record deals and this and that, and we start to blow up, and the story, as it unfolds from there, involves what happens now that we’re all exploding but Rainn is still looked at by some as not being the right fit. It’s a great comedy. It harkens back to the 80s comedies that I love. And it’s going to be great. I saw a rough cut, I loved it.

Josh is an incredibly nice guy, and I absolutely hope that good things keep coming his way. Tune in to all new episodes of Back to You on FOX Wednesdays. Check out 21 in theatres now, and The Rocker, in theatres this summer!

Not only is actor Fred Willard one of the funniest men on both the big and small screens. At age 69, he has more energy than almost anyone I’ve ever met.

For almost five hours in Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, this TV Addict marveled as Willard effortlessly hopped from reporter, to radio station, to blogger, tirelessly promoting his current hit FOX show BACK TO YOU. And when it was finally my turn, Willard not only remembered our previous interview six months prior, but managed to be as kind, classy and funny as ever.

I have to tell you, honestly, this never gets old. Thanks to my web site I’ve had the phenomenal opportunity to interview a lot of actors. But your work in all of the Christopher Guest films is hilarious. So if I’m a little nervous… I hope you’ll understand.
Fred Willard: If you ask the wrong questions, I’ll go off like a firecracker!

How different is working on a movie like FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION versus a sitcom like BACK TO YOU?
For Christopher’s [Guest] movies, all he gives you is an outline of a scene, a fun premise and a great co-star like Eugene Levy or Catherine O’Hara. There’s very little dialogue.

A sitcom like BACK TO YOU is very tightly scripted. People always ask if we’re allowed to improvise and so far we haven’t been able to. But you didn’t miss it because the scripts are great. Of course if we start getting weak scripts by the end of the season I’ll totally lose it!

But at this point, I’m really trying my best to get every line perfect because I’d feel so bad if the writers came up to me and said, “Fred, you’re missing the joke here.”

What was the inspiration for your character in FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION (the clueless Entertainment Tonight style host)?
I’m so fascinated with the guys who cover the Britneys and Jessicas. They’re these older men who get so into. “What’s Britney up to?! Who’s Jessica Dating? How’s Paris?” Why are these guys are so wrapped up in what sixteen year old girls are into.

Due to its improvisational nature, and assuming the WGA strike drags on [TV Addict Note: this interview was conducted in January, prior to the resolution of the WGA strike], could you still film a Christopher Guest movie?
That’s a good question. I think we could, but I don’t know the ramifications. Also, knowing him [Christopher] he wouldn’t do it.

Any talk of another movie?
I’ve heard nothing. But Eugene Levy was out here [LA] a few months ago, so I’m hopeful there’s another movie in the works. Unfortunately, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION didn’t do so well at the box office. I think it was a little too ‘inside Hollywood.’ Same reason 30 ROCK isn’t a huge hit, STUDIO 60 I didn’t really care for, but 30 ROCK makes me laugh and I love every line of it. Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey are so great.

I understand you’re working with Pixar on their next big movie WALL•E?
It’s wonderful, I’m the only live person in the movie. It’s animated but I appear on a television screen. My character works for a large conglomerate that frankly owns the world. I don’t know how much more of the plot they want me to give away [TV Addict Note: Give away.. give away!] But I appear five or six times.

Interesting…. so you’re an genuine live-action person? Not animated. I would think that’s a Pixar first?
Yup, you’ll recognize me and actually see me on screen. Pixar treated us very nicely. They invited me and my wife to San Francisco for two days of recording and the first night I mentioned that it was my Wedding Anniversary. Pixar got us reservations for a great restaurant on the Wharf and when the meal was over, the waiter said Pixar was taking care of the dinner. The next day, they said, “We don’t pay much, but we treat our people very well.” And it’s true. I wasn’t paid much, but you know there’s talk of money on the back-end…. a few hundred dollars I think!

Back to BACK TO YOU, you play a sportscaster. What’s the reaction been like from real life sportscasters?
It’s been great. FOX takes me to everything to promote the show. The SuperBowl, The last game of the world series.

So what you’re saying is you’ve got a tough job?
Yeah, it’s tough…

But somebody’s got to do it!

You can catch Fred Willard along with hilarious co-stars Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton in an all new episode of BACK TO YOU following AMERICAN IDOL tonight. (9:30PM FOX, Global TV in Canada)

In celebration of BACK TO YOU’s highly anticipated return to the airwaves tonight on FOX (Global TV in Canada), this TV Addict will be running interviews with series stars Patricia Heaton, Fred Willard, Josh Gad and Ty Burrell all week long.

First up, Patricia Heaton, who had a lot to say about what it takes to succeed in Hollywood, the perils of child acting and the possibility of a crossover with former EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND co-star Brad Garrett.

I’m not sure if you know this, but in Toronto [the TV Addict's hometown] you’re huge. Both yours and Kelsey’s [Grammer] heads were absolutely everywhere when the show premiered. Buses, Billboards, did you ever imagine your career would turn out how it did?
Patricia Heaton: I didn’t know if it would happen, but I always thought it should! [laughs] And I think you kind of have to have that ego as an actor, to suffer for the fifteen years where I didn’t have any work at all, watched all of my friends get married, buy houses, children. All the while I’m sharing an apartment with two other strangers in Hell’s Kitchen and waitressing and summarizing depositions from midnight to 8AM.

Was there a point in time when you were ready to give up?
Yes. I was in New York for nine years which I absolutely love and hope to retire to. But after nine years of banging my head against the wall, I couldn’t handle the pressure of the city.

I was given an opportunity to go to LA and I thought, why not give LA two years. If nothing breaks I’ll just go back to school and get a real job. I had no money and quite literally two dollars in my chequing account. To this day, whenever I fill up the car with a tank of gas I get this immense sense of relief because I remember moving to LA and never being able to afford to fill up the car. It was either eight dollars of gas or food for the day.

So things were going okay in LA, I brought a play over from New York that I wrote and produced and was slowly getting notice. I had one audition for THIRTYSOMETHING that I felt went really bad, but I ended up getting the role, was on for seven episodes. Little by little I won roles which was enough encouragement to see this through.

With all the tabloid madness surrounding the Lindsey and Britneys of the world, was there something beneficial about becoming famous at a more adult stage in your life?
Oh yes. I don’t think any eighteen year old is supposed to have ten million dollars. There are just too many people around who will just say ‘yes’ to you. There are too many drugs, alcohol, all kinds of stuff to get into it when you’re young. The reason I didn’t go down that road is because I had no money. I probably would have done all the things you see these kids doing. But thank God I wasn’t successful when I was younger. I got into enough trouble, I can’t imagine if people gave me free reign and let me loose in Hollywood.

Would you ever let your kids get into acting?
If they want to be actors that’s fine. But they need to finish high school first and then do some studying. Of course, when you’re Dakota Fanning or Hayley Joel Osment it’s hard to say no, as these kids are uniquely talented. But most of the kids on TV are weird little puppets who are behaving in strange little ways. It has nothing to do with acting. They’re really learning bad habits that will almost be impossible to grow out of.

With both yourself and former EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND co-star Brad Garrett on FOX, has there ever been any talk of a BACK TO YOU/’TIL DEATH crossover?
Since our show takes place in Pittsburgh, I would say the odds are slim.

Of course, it’s surprising what network execs can cook up in the name of ratings.
Anything is possible. But we’re just thrilled to finally be back on the air.

Brand new episodes of BACK TO YOU can be seen both tonight and Wednesday following AMERICAN IDOL at 9:30PM (est)

Yup, taking my television addiction to new heights, this TV Addict has travelled from Toronto to Los Angeles today to attend the FOX January Launch celebrating TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. Yes clearly, the TV Addict has a problem.

That said, I can’t wait to provide you all with all the scoop that’s fit to print. Not only will I be attending the TERMINATOR launch tonight, I’ll be spending tomorrow interviewing some of the stars of your favorite FOX shows. So if you’ve got a question for the cast of TERMINATOR, BACK TO YOU’s Patricia Heaton and Fred Willard, UNHITCHED’s Craig Bierko, PRISON BREAK’s Amaury Nolasco, Dominic Purcell and if we’re very very lucky BONES’ David Boreanaz — post away in the comments below.

You can also follow the TV Addict’s Hollywood adventure by becoming my friend on twitter, or simply checking out the twitter badge below.

Recently, the TV Addict was thrilled to have the opportunity to sit down and talk with BACK TO YOU star Ayda Field. Field plays meteorologist Montana Diaz Herrera on the hit Fox Comedy BACK TO YOU and was kind enough to spend a few minutes reveling in our mutual adoration of Kelsey Grammer and the short-lived, yet brilliant STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP

The TV Addict: Are you as happy as I am that Kelsey Grammer is back on television?

Ayda Field: Absolutely! When FRASIER ended I was so sad. I loved the show and everyone on it. In fact, a few nights ago, I was watching an old episode and Frasier was talking to Daphne… It was so trippy — because I was thinking. That’s me! I get to do that. I just worked with him that afternoon. It’s such a great feeling to work with people who you look up to and admire. You don’t get over that.

Any talk of FRASIER alumni visiting BACK TO YOU?

Oh I’m sure. One of the creators of the show and a bunch of the writers were on FRASIER. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see if it happened.

Last season you starred on one of my favorite shows, STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP. What happened?

I think it was a combination of a very expensive show and a ratings system that doesn’t work. Personally, everyone I knew TiVo’d the show, so I don’t think the ratings were really reflective of how many people watched the show.

I also think audiences expected the show to be funnier — like 30 ROCK. STUDIO 60 was a very smart show. Some people called it self-congratulatory while others loved it. Whatever you felt about it — it was an intelligent show and great to work on. Matthew Perry, Aaron Sorkin, Tommy Schlamme were amazing.

The pilot gave me chills. One of the strongest premieres ever.

I know, the pilot was amazing. I remember when they were originally casting, I couldn’t get in to meet Aaron [Sorkin] or Tommy [Schlamme] for the Sarah Paulson character. But I thought I was perfect for the show. When they added me to the second episode, I remember being so nervous I was crying. I feel blessed to have been a part of the show.

You play a weather-girl — sorry, meteorologist on BACK TO YOU. Have you gotten any feedback from professional meteorologists?

They’ve been spitting on me gently! [laughs]

I have yet to meet one actually. I’d love to see what they think, but no one has said anything to me. Though I do find watching the news far more fun now. Sort of like character research.

Thus far, your character Montana Diaz Herrera is somewhat of shall we say, a stereotypical TV weather-girl. What can fans can expect in terms of character development?

You mean is she a slut? Yes, in the pilot Montana comes across as very stereotypical. But what fans might not realize is that I joined the show at the last minute. As the writers get to better my own style, I’d like to think that the character will shift away from the stereotype. I like to think of her as having more of a Wendy Malick [JUST SHOOT ME] sensibility.

Because of her looks, people overlook the fact that Montana is strong, not afraid and unapologetic about who she is. You’ve got to love a girl who demands to be called a meteorologist because it makes her seem like more of a professional.

Don’t miss a brand new episode of BACK TO YOU tonight at 8PM on FOX.