Scott Sartiano and Jamie-Lynn Sigler at the premiere party for 'The Sopranos' final season. (photo: Kevin Mazur/Variety via WireImage.com)

Waking the Dead

Wednesday night, the stage of the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City looked like a ghost town. 'Sopranos' creator David Chase was living out his very own version of Scrooge, being visited by the ghosts of characters past. Steve Buscemi (Tony Blundetto), Drea de Matteo (Adriana), Vincent Pastore (Big Pussy), David Proval (Richie Aprile) and Annabella Sciorra (Gloria Trillo) were on hand to haunt Chase, and to grieve, once again, the fateful phone call where they got the news: they were to be whacked.

"I was really, really sad," said Buscemi. "That's really just about missing the greatest job I've ever had." De Matteo mourned what Ade's murder had done to her career: "They killed me on HBO, and then I went to NBC to commit complete suicide," she said, according to AP. "I can't lie. I was still in love with Adriana." But Chase was immune to appeals: "I begged," said Sciorra. "It's not a big deal to me," Chase told the crowd. "These are not real people." (photo: Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic.com)

[AP via Boston Herald]

Real Woman Throws Curves

When the boys of 'Entourage' return next month, will Vince be able to stay broken up with Ari? The New York Observer muses on the new challenge super-agent Ari faces in the form of Vince's new super-hot agent, Amanda, played by Carla Gugino.

"Women on 'Entourage' have always fallen into two categories: vapid, sweet, gamine types and tough-talking ball-busters," writes the Observer, going on to note: "Amanda, however, is a wholly new model of character, an intriguing hybrid. Maybe one day she'll be another impenetrable Babs Miller, but today she's still got her youth, and the hormones and desires that go with it." Starting April 8th, viewers will be able to find out how the boys respond. (photo: Jeff Kravitz/Variety via FilmMagic.com)

[NY Observer]

Father Knows Best

Bill Paxton may play über-father on 'Big Love' but apparently he learned everything he knows from his own dad. Talking to AP, he explained that one of the lines and roles he's most known for (playing Chet from 'Weird Science') came from his pop: "When we were in high school he knew we'd been out debauching on a Friday or Saturday night and we'd come in all hungover, and he'd say, 'Hey, you guys don't feel like you're doing so hot, you look green around the gills. I've got just the thing for you: How about a nice, greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray?'" (photo: Peter Larsen/WireImage.com)

[Associated Press via Post-Bulletin]

Shooter Jennings and Drea De Matteo at the premiere party for the final season of 'The Sopranos.' (photo: Kevin Mazur/Variety via WireImage.com)

Auteur Auteur!

Kevin Connolly will be walking the red carpet at the Tribeca Film Festival (April 26-May 6) but not as an actor, as a director. During his time off from 'Entourage,' Connolly helmed the film 'Gardener of Eden' which was produced by his pal Leonardo DiCaprio. According to the NY Post, the film, starring Lukas Haas, is about "a nowhere guy living home with his parents until he accidentally apprehends a local rapist and discovers his life's purpose is to protect innocent folk in his innocent town by any un-innocent means necessary." (photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com)

[NY Post]

The Truth Hurts

Saying goodbye to 'The Sopranos'

The cast of 'The Sopranos' gathered Tuesday night at Radio City Music Hall for the New York premiere of the show's final season. Emotions were running high as Aida Turturro reported: "It's very sentimental. We're a family. We get along. I've cried a few times on the red carpet already." La Famiglia is still wrapping up shooting on the final episodes but the end is becoming more real — and Falco found a way to make the truth hurt: "I took home a plaque that was hanging on the kitchen wall that is maybe the most hideous thing I've ever seen, but I've grown deeply fond of it," Falco said. "It's a wall hanging with shells and plastic fish." (photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com)

[USA Today]

Sacha Scissorhands

Sacha Baron Cohen and Johnny Depp are battling it out on the set of the film version of 'Sweeney Todd' in London. According to Variety, Cohen (who is playing barber Adolfo Pirelli) and Depp (playing the title role) are competing to see who can best shave another person with a straight razor. Baron Cohen has put himself through 16 hours of "razor training" under the guiding blade of his own barber.

But the real hurdle seems to be the ability to shave and sing at the same time — a feat required in the film. Baron Cohen had to get special dispensation from director Tim Burton to rap the Sondheim lyrics. Still, he managed to cut his moviestar co-star to the quick when Depp mentioned going to LA: "I have a lot of contacts and I will ask what they can do to help you," he offered. (photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com)

[Variety]

Jeremy Piven and Joanna Krupa backstage at the Monarchy Collection show during LA Fashion Week. (photo: Michael Tran/FilmMagic.com)

Maternal Instinct

Jeane Tripplehorn will be playing mother in a darker world than the one she inhabits with her sister-wives in 'Big Love.' The actress has signed on to the film 'Winged Creatures,' about how the witnesses to a murder-suicide in a fast-food restaurant cope with the aftermath. Tripplehorn joins an all-star cast including Kate Beckinsale, Forest Whitaker, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Jackie Earle Haley and Embeth Davidtz (who will be in HBO's forthcoming series 'In Treatment'). She plays a mother trying to help her young daughter (Fanning) recover from the trauma. (photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic.com)

[Backstage]

Safe Sex in the City

Cynthia Nixon headed to Albany on Monday to join a pro-choice rally at the state capitol in favor of the Healthy Teens Act, a bill that provides funding for safe sex programs in public schools. Nixon spoke in support of sex education saying, "I think some misguided people have a sense that if we just don't talk about sex it will go away, and I think exactly the opposite is true." (photo: Robin Platzer/FilmMagic.com)

[Capitalnews9.com]

Carla Gugino attends the LA premiere of 'The Lookout.' (photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage.com)

Kissing Cugines

Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Steve Buscemi showed up last night to help out 'Sopranos' cugine Michael Imperioli at a benefit reading for his NYC theater Studio Dante (which he founded with wife and co-artistic director Victoria Imperioli). The event, 'First Readings,' was held at the New York Historical Society where other film and TV luminaries including Jon Bon Jovi, Sam Rockwell, Aidan Quinn, Jena Malone and Julianna Margulies gathered to pay tribute to Jon Voight, as well as perform readings of two short plays by Mike Dowling & Adam Szymkowicz.

The Buzz snagged Imperioli briefly before last night's festivities to ask what he found most gratifying about having his own theater. "Creating new works and actually having people see them — we fill almost all the seats for every performance, which is amazing for a new theater — is probably the most gratifying thing," he said. As for what he hopes the benefit yields: "Tonight at the fundraiser the goal is specifically to raise enough money to put on the next three productions, and beyond the financial support, to raise awareness in my community and the theater community about what we're doing at Studio Dante."

You can catch Imperioli and 'Sopranos' co-star Sharon Angela (Rosalie Aprile) onstage at Studio Dante in 'Chicken' through April 7th. (photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage.com)

[BroadwayWorld.com]

[Studio Dante]

Who's the Boss?

Damian Lewis (aka Major Winters from 'Band of Brothers') will now be taking orders from Robin Weigert (aka Calamity Jane of 'Deadwood'). The thesps are currently shooting the pilot of a new cop drama, 'Life,' for NBC. Weigert will play Lt. Davis, boss to Damian Lewis — a detective who returns to the force after having been wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. Weigert, who recently filmed 'Things We Lost in the Fire' with Benicio del Toro, Halle Berry and David Duchovny, will be charged with keeping him in line. (photo: Jesse Grant/WireImage.com)

[Variety]

Yul Vasquez, Steven Sawalich, Melissa George and Ron Livingston at the opening night gala for 'Music Within' at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival. (photo: Peter Larsen/WireImage.com)

Ruff Writer

Kyle MacLachlan blogs his dogs

What does Kyle MacLachlan do on his time off from acting? He and his wife, publicist Desiree Gruber are hopelessly devoted to their two dogs, Mookie (a Jack Russell terrier) and Sam (an "exotic mix of Yorkie and Chihuahua"). They have a website to chronicle the adventures of Mookie and Sam — with pictures, news updates bios, and even youtube movies, including the recent 'Mookie and Sam's Valentine's Day.' Read Mookie's move to the Big Apple: "At first the city was overwhelming, but I soon got my paw-ing." Or Sam's favorite travel hot-spots: "I love to travel and have been to some exciting places like Texas, Miami, and of course, the Hampton's." Apparently the rents have to deal with some sibling rivalry: "I'm actually the cute one even though I'd never say that to Mookie's face." (photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com)

[MookieandSam.com]

[The Electric New Paper]

Movie Idols

What will the acting audition version of "it's a little pitchy" be? Cara Buono (Christopher's new bride on 'The Sopranos') and John Leguizamo switched sides in their latest project — judging which actors should win roles in the thriller 'Live Mansion: The Movie.' LiveMansion.com is a social network and community members will be able to cast their votes to decide who gets cast. Buono, Leguizamo and Michael Rapaport were the Simon, Paula and Randy of the finals last week, critiquing the finalist's screen tests in front of a live audience. Is Lequizamo the judging panel's Paula? "When I was asked to participate in this event, I thought it would be a great opportunity to help actors that are trying to make it in this industry. LiveMansion is a unique platform for actors to show their talent," said Leguizamo.

Meanwhile, Spike Lee served as judge of the short film submissions of director candidates and community members will be able to vote for their favorite directing finalists starting today. Get involved enough in the voting process, and you can earn a producing credit. (photo: Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic.com)

[Comingsoon.net]

[LiveMansion.com]

Where Art Thou?

After having her first child in January, Lauren Ambrose will be returning to the stage to play the balcony scene under the stars in Central Park this summer. The actress, who tread the boards in the award-winning 'Awake and Sing' last year, has been cast as the leading lass in 'Romeo and Juliet' in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production at the Delacorte Theater. Oscar Isaac will be playing Romeo and Michael Greif ('Grey Gardens,' 'Rent') is directing. The free performances will run June 5-July 8. (photo: Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage.com )

[Broadway.com]