December 19, 2008
I've always been a big fan of Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan, GL) so when I heard the actor, who relocated to Los Angeles earlier this year, was back in New York to star in a stage production of An Evening of Don Nigro (a collection of four one-act plays), I had to get the scoop. Pelphrey dished to me about his performances and why the theater hosting the play is so near and dear to his heart.

Me: Welcome back to New York! How long have you been in town and are you staying — please say yes!
Tom: I got back two days before Thanksgiving. I'll stay here through the run of the show, but then go home for the holidays and back to Los Angeles.
Me: Well, congrats on the play. It sounds interesting.
Tom: I'm really excited, Danielle. It's a good one. Thank you.
Me: You will star in two of the four plays, Fair Rosamund and Her Murderer and Wonders of The Invisible World. Can you tell me a little about it?
Tom: The theater company, Apothecary, it's our first production ever. It's a theater company that was started by 12 of us who all graduated from Rutgers [University]. So Don Nigro is a playwright we're all kind of familiar with because he has a good working relationship with one of our professor's from school, who was kind of our mentor, if you will. The plays are great because they're almost like ghost stories in a way. They're all creepy and sexy as hell and really funny. It almost feels kind of like sitting around with your friends and telling some really good stories. The language is beautiful. It's really kind of firing on all the senses — besides smell! Hopefully it won't smell [laughs]. But it's exciting! It's cool. This is something that has been a dream of all of ours for years and years. It's something we always wanted to do when we were in college and then you get out and life happens and blah, blah, blah. We kind of all made a commitment to each other to actually do it and take advantage of all these talented people. We're all good friends, so everyone's working really hard. I'm really proud of it.
Me: So how are things in L.A.?
Tom: Things are going well. I like living there now more than I did before. Work comes when it comes. Working occasionally is better than not working at all, but things have been slow with the economy and threat of an actors' strike and blah, blah, blah! I did a few TV things but they've already aired and now I'm just so happy as hell to be in New York working on a play with my friends.
Me: Have you called up your GL pals yet?
Tom: I talked to Mr. Ron Raines [Alan] just yesterday and he was in the middle of a radio interview in Texas. You know Ron, he just travels the world bringing joy wherever he goes [laughs]! But Ron is going to come see the show. I talked to Marcy [Rylan, Lizzie] and I asked Kim [Zimmer, Reva], I'm sure she will. Marcy and Kim helped us raise money for this company, actually, by doing a reading with me a few months ago.
Me: What do you think about Grant Aleksander [Phillip] returning to Springfield?
Tom: Oh! I didn't know that! Well, well. That's cool. It seems like they've wanted him back for a while, right [laughs]? That's great.
Me: Well, good luck to you again.
Tom: I appreciate it. Thank you.

The play's run ends tomorrow (12/20), so get thee to the box office now, if you haven't already. For last-minute ticket information, check Digest's calendar page or visit www.apothocarytheatrecompany.org.

December 5, 2008
As I predicted, I'm really enjoying Jeff Branson as the new Shayne on GL. The mystery surrounding Shayne's war experience is intriguing and Branson has done an amazing job of showing his struggle, so I can't wait until more tidbits are revealed. Today, viewers learned that a land mine was responsible for his leg injuries and we go another big hint about his recent past when he mentioned a woman (a love lost in the war, perhaps?). I'm dying to know what else is making this elusive dude so cranky, and can't wait until he returns to Springfield and finally mixes and mingles with the rest of the town. Thus far, the dynamic between Shayne and Dinah is fantastic (how great was it when he said his name was Travis Bickle and Dinah didn't clue in that the name is Robert DeNiro's character in Taxi Driver?!). Their connection in Germany will fuel more close encounters in the near future, and it's certain rustle up new emotions. I'm keeping a close eye on these two. "ShayNah," anyone?