Rza and Idris Elba attend the 17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar party in West Hollywood. (photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com)

He Slays It

James Gandolfini begged to be in the New York production of Yasmina Reza's play 'God of Carnage' after seeing it in London. His wish was granted and the play is now in previews on Broadway. But don't let the title scare you away. "Sometimes you see a play and there'll be people coming out like, 'Phew, I'm glad [that's over]; that was a long time,'" said Gandolfini. "But with this play, they were really energized." (photo: Getty Images/MLS/Getty Images)

[NYDailyNews.com]

Filmmaker Elvis Mitchell, actress and film subject Maya Rudolph, and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders attend the HBO Documentary Screening of 'The Black List, Vol 2' at The Apollo Theater in New York City. (photo: Michael Loccisano/WireImage.com)

Money in the Bank

In times of recession, it's good to have a stockpile of resources to draw on and Bill Paxton is glad he has three wives. "It's become a strange time in the movie business," he says. "There are many independent films being made, with so much financing falling through, and when 'Big Love' came along — I had never played a recurrent role — I wasn't reading parts as good in feature films." Knowing where his bread is buttered, Paxton is diplomatic about his stance on polygamy. "The fact is I'm not really approving per se, but for me to say someone's lifestyle is right or wrong, well, we live in a country that professes freedom, and I'm not a liberal, I just believe in human decency. I believe in live and let live. Whether you're into a heterosexual marriage, a same sex marriage or polygamy, it is not our right to judge." (photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImage.com)

[NationalLedger.com]

A Man on the Verge

Since 'The Wire' wrapped, Lance Reddick has made splashes playing a harbinger of doom on 'Lost' and a shady federal agent on 'Fringe,' but neither character is wound as tightly as Lt. Cedric Daniels of the Baltimore PD. "He was a real challenge," Reddick says. "He was very self-contained and analytical, but he also had a lot of rage. I wanted to show a guy who looked like he could go off at any moment." And just like Daniels found out, Reddick understands his recent success climbing the Hollywood ladder doesn't exactly guarantee future security. "As I watch the industry and see what it took me to get where I am," he says, "I am more aware how precarious my position is. There's no such thing as a holding pattern." (photo: Jemal Countess/WireImage.com)

[LA Times]

Amanda Seyfried arrives at the 17th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Award® Viewing Party in Hollywood. (photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com)

A Bloody Year

Alexander Skarsgard blew audiences away as Sgt. Brad Colbert in 'Generation Kill,' but the role wasn't exactly a 9-to-5 gig. "It was basically like, 'Well, boot camp starts tomorrow so you have to fly to Namibia now,'" he says. "So I didn't even have time to go back home to say goodbye to my mom and my dad and my siblings so it was tough to be away for that long. But it was also good in a way because it's about this platoon and in a way they're very isolated. So I think it helped that us, as actors, lived together and spent 24/7 together for seven months." The actor's part on 'True Blood,' however, isn't nearly as regimented. "It gives me a lot of freedom," he says. "I can do whatever I want because who's going to tell me what a 1,000 year old vampire Viking is like?" (photo: George Pimentel/WireImage.com)

[About.com]

Sarah Jessica Parker arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards® in Hollywood. (photo: John Shearer/WireImage.com)

Big Love for 'Milk'

Dustin Lance Black is a writer who has been able to not only write what he knows, but to write for the causes he believes in. The 'Big Love' scribe who was raised in a Mormon home just won the best original screenplay Oscar® for 'Milk.' Accepting the award, Black explained that learning about Harvey Milk when he was younger was inspirational. "It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married." (photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com)

[LA Times]

Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez attend the Barneys New York and Jennifer Lopez Celebrate Andrea Lieberman event in Beverly Hills. (photo: Donato Sardella/WireImage.com)

Mixed Message

For insult comic Lisa Lampanelli, just being compared to eminent master Don Rickles is a sign of her career 's success. Not that she has anything nice to say about him, of course. "I went to his book signing and he recognized me and was like, 'Oh my God!' But also I'm a little mad at him because he refuses to die. Eighty-four years old; it's about time I'm the only Insult Comic left in the world. So "Die, Jew, Die!" is what I have to say to him." While that may sound a little harsh, it actually translates roughly to: "You're my hero; I hope you live forever." (photo: Bill McCay/WireImage.com)

[Riverfront Times]