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The modern American TV family comes in all shapes and sizes – and species.
Six actors gathered for a roundtable recently to discuss the elastic definition of “family” on television. The actors spoke about what drew them to their roles, the identity of their characters in relation to others and how their own lives have been informed by their performances.
Following are edited excerpts – moderated by Los Angeles Times television critic Mary McNamara – with Emmy Rossum (“Shameless“), Katey Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy“), Peter Krause (“Parenthood“), Cloris Leachman (“Raising Hope“) and Jennifer Carpenter (“Dexter“).
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Even one more interview!
The modern American TV family comes in all shapes and sizes – and species. Some hail from biker gangs. Some from traditional families. Others from vampire kingdoms. Some must cope with an alcoholic patriarch or a barely lucid grandmother who parades around in her bra and colorful stretch pants. The really unlucky are unaware that a sibling has a habit of killing people.
With the Emmy race in full swing, six actors gathered for a roundtable recently to discuss the elastic definition of “family” on television – or at least they tried to when panelist and funny woman Cloris Leachman wasn’t interjecting. The actors spoke about what drew them to their roles, the identity of their characters in relation to others and how their own lives have been informed by their performances.
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A new interview with Jen!
The fact that Jennifer Carpenter has yet to garner any Emmy attention for her turn as dirty-mouthed, heart-of-gold, unlucky-in-love detective Debra Morgan on Showtime’s accolade-adorned Dexter is a crime far worse than any committed by the series’ titular character. Will this be the year that the actress’ often arresting performance cops some recognition? One can hope, though Carpenter calls the role itself the best award she could possibly ask for.
TVLINE | Season 5 of Dexter seemed to lift the veil from Deb’s eyes a bit, almost enlightening her about what’s been going on around her for years. On your end, was that a purposeful approach?
It wasn’t a conscious decision. I feel like I’ve requested to know less and less about what’s going to happen during the season so that I don’t start prematurely playing into something instead of letting it unfold naturally. John Lithgow’s year was the season of grieving, and it was really heavy to play and to come home with, so I felt a little release because [Season 5] was a new chapter in a new book. The audience might have gotten a sense of that lightness about Deb. Deb is incredibly insecure — as am I — about her work, but she happens to be very good at it and people are giving her more responsibility. And she’s really adapting well to it.
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I can’t wait for the new season! 
Everyone’s favorite serial killer is back for a new season. Showtime’s award winning TV series, Dexter, is back for its sixth season. Showtime released a teaser, a message from Dexter (Michael C. Hall), saying that he is feeling like his “old self again.”
The 30 second clip is a close up of Dexter’s emotionless face. But as the camera hones in on Dexter’s eyes, we begin to see blood swirling. Dexter’s demons are hungry.
The cast includes returning actresses Jennifer Carpenter as Debra Morgan and Julie Benz as Rita Bennett. Some new faces will include Colin Hanks (The Good Guys) and Molly Parker (Who Loves the Sun). Hanks will be playing the villain (Travis Marshall) and Parker will be in the shoes as Marshall’s sister and as an elementary school teacher.
Showtime has yet to release a premiere date, but we can expect the season to kick off sometime in the fall of 2011. Check out the teaser. Although it’s only 30 seconds, it speaks a lot.
Source: Stars Entertainment
When Jennifer Carpenter learned of how her character was to change so dramatically in the season five finale of “Dexter,” she was not happy. As Detective Debra Morgan, she let the unknown slayers of a serial killer go free. “I had a really hard time with that,” she admitted to Gold Derby, “because it sort of contradicted what I thought was true about what was at the core of Debra: things are right or wrong, and there is not a lot of grey area. She bled blue, and was a cop through and through.”
However, she came to realize the shift in her character’s philosophy was for the good of the series. “The key to moving forward in an episodic television show is connecting on a really personal level, not only for me but also for Debra. She certainly surprised me and surprised herself by the twist at the end when she unknowingly lets Dexter go.” Indeed, she was so pleased with the way the finale turned out that she might submit it if she is nominated for Supporting Drama Actress.
While Carpenter has yet to contend at the Emmys, “Dexter” and her ex, Michael C. Hall, who plays the title character have been nominated for the past three years running. While they went down to defeat to “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston, last year John Lithgow won the Guest Drama Actor award for his multi-episode arc on the Showtime series.
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Always fun with new interviews and Jennifer speaks about Dexter and her work in general!
The fifth season of “Dexter” belonged to Jennifer Carpenter.
Following a fourth season that brought a supporting actor win for John Lithgow and a nomination for star Michael C. Hall (Carpenter’s former husband), Season 5 focused more on Carpenter’s Deborah and her refusal to realize her brother is a serial killer. An Emmy nod this year would be Carpenter’s first.
Carpenter carried all of last season’s angst about the search for a team of men who murder women – and the vigilante duo killing the killers. She tracked down the duo – Dexter and an avenging victim (Julia Stiles), but decided to let them go without seeing their faces. Her decision narrowly prevented her, yet again, from finding out the truth about Dexter.
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Some photos from the set of Dexter, go here to see them!
Some Dexter news!
Showtime’s president David Nevins has dropped some hints about the upcoming sixth season of Dexter.
Speaking to TV Line, Nevins suggested that the relationship between Dexter (Michael C Hall) and his sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) will be explored in more depth when the show returns.
“There will be a microscope on the Deb [and] Dexter relationship this season,” he said. “Over time you’re going to see that relationship evolve and change, no questions about it.”
Nevins also revealed that the show will be going back to its “roots”, saying: “Dexter this season will be in some ways a return to the Dexter that you’ve seen in the early seasons. There’s a really interesting story and journey that he’s going to be on this year. There’s going to be some degree of getting back to his roots.”
He added that Dexter will not be pitted against one “big bad” in the sixth season.
“There’s one interesting story that will move through the season, and it will be cast very interestingly, but it’s not exactly that one person,” he teased.
Dexter, which was renewed for a sixth season last December, is scheduled to return later this year.
Source: Digital Spy
A new interview with Jennifer done by Broadwayworld on February 21, 2011.
This past week actress Jennifer Carpenter sat down with Broadwayworld to discuss her role in the Off-Broadway show, Gruesome Playground Injuries.
Carpenter is best known for her TV portrayal of “Debra Morgan” on Dexter, and has also graced the big screen as “Emily Rose” in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and as “Angela Vidal” in Quarantine.
While these roles are to thank for establishing her career in Hollywood, they have also boxed her into the horror genre. It may be becuase of this that she is lesser known for her numerous turns on the stage, including Broadway’s The Crucible, and work for LCT, Actors Theatre Of Louisville, and The O’Neill Playwrights Conference. But after eight years away from theater, she has returned to play the role of “Kayleen” in Second Stage Theater’s Gruesome Playground Injuries, a choice that allows audiences to see her in a new light.
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A great read and it takes up Jennifer’s upcoming projects!
Jennifer Carpenter is happy: She’s finally been given permission to cry.
The actress, currently starring opposite Pablo Schreiber in the off-Broadway dark romantic play “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” had to stifle her tears on stage while rehearsing the role of Kayleen, a young woman suppressing her inner turmoil.
“There was one rule: It’s that Kayleen doesn’t cry. That’s a lot to swallow all the time. It was actually unhealthy for a while, I think. During one rehearsal, I did cry and I felt so much better. I said, ‘I may need to leave a little on the stage.’”
Director Scott Ellis eventually relented, finally allowing Carpenter to release her pain — but only at the very end of each performance. “I think the journey that she goes through, she looks forward to that moment,” Ellis says.
Carpenter, 31, is flexing her tear ducts and theater muscles for the first time since she made a name for herself on Showtime’s serial killer series “Dexter” and in films such as “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” and “White Chicks.”
“This has been a historic moment in my life. This whole period of my life is going to change the course of everything in a really positive way,” she says during an interview in her dressing room. “I’m at a point in my life where I’m looking to be surprised. I’m looking to do things that I hadn’t expected to do.”
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