Frances Conroy

Jeers: Three More's a Crowd on Housewives

• Nov 3, 2008 09:56 AM ET
• by Bruce Fretts
• 12 Comments

Gail O’Grady, Frances Conroy and Lily Tomlin

Jeers to Desperate Housewives for squandering three terrific actresses in one-dimensional parts. Read, discuss and vote on this complete Jeer after the jump. read more

As the Day She Was Born

• Apr 18, 2008 03:41 AM ET
• by Trish Wethman

While much of the focus tonight was on Neela, it seemed like almost everyone at County was dealing with some sort of personal or professional crisis. Let’s start with Neela walking around the ER naked. No great surprise that this was a dream that reflected her own insecurities about her birthday, her decisions and her life in general. Unfortunately, both Harold and Tony were on the receiving end of her bad day. When Harold came clean about his decision to change specialties, Neela went straight from surprised to unsupportive to downright bullying the poor kid. Next up for a haranguing was Tony. While she did make some valid points about his tendency to jump from relationship to relationship, she was pretty tough on him and somewhat hypocritical given her personal track record with men. I loved that Dubenko was the one who set her straight in the end, reminding her of the unique talents she possesses and offering the saddest (and most inedible) birthday confection I've ever seen... read more

Pilot News: Six Feet Under's Mom Joins Journal

• Apr 14, 2008 05:15 PM ET
• by TV Guide News

Frances Conroy by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage.com

Frances Conroy has been tapped to join CBS' Mike Birbiglia's Secret Public Journal.The new CBS comedy is based on comedian Mike Birbiglia's weekly life-chronicling blog of the same name. The sitcom will star Birbiglia as — you guessed it — an immature stand-up comedian living with his girlfriend in Brooklyn. Conroy, known best for playing Ruth Fisher in HBO's Six Feet Under, will play Birbiglia's mother. — Adam Bryant read more

"Coming Home"

• Nov 16, 2007 05:09 AM ET
• by Trish Wethman

I don’t know about all of you, but as tonight’s episode started, I was still reeling from last week’s gut-wrenching exploration of Abby’s dark night of the soul. So, when I saw Luka come around that corner, I practically cried tears of joy. But my happiness, like Abby’s, was short-lived as it became obvious that the repercussions of her drunken mistake have yet to fully play out. I agree with those of you who continue to post about Maura Tierney’s amazing, consistently compelling performance. After watching her give another bravura turn tonight (under the direction of ER vet Laura Innes) I have to say that it would be criminal for her to be overlooked again come awards time. Unfortunately, it seems that the show’s buzz-worthiness has long since worn off, a fact that keeps it off the radar of most Emmy voters. (Though, it should be noted, guest stars are regularly rewarded for their ER efforts, so it appears someone is taking notice.) Back to the ac... read more

Movie News: Rock's New Role

• Nov 6, 2007 02:04 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson by John Shearer/WireImage.com

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has confirmed for SCI FI Wire that in the upcoming Shazam! movie, he's going to play the villainous Black Adam rather than the heroic Captain Marvel because that's what fans told him they wanted him to do. I had no idea you guys were so powerful. Can you please make sure there won't be a "Game Plan 2"? Please?.... Jennifer Connelly has signed on to star opposite Keanu Reeves in a remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still.... Jeanne Tripplehorn has landed the part of Jackie O in the Drew Barrymore/Jessica Lange adaptation of the docu-turned-Broadway hit Grey Gardens.... Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Will Patton (No Way Out) have been cast as the parents of Disturbia hottie Sarah Roemer in the thriller Waking Madison, about a nutjob who locks herself in her apartment for 30 days to cure her mental illness. Taryn Manning has also signed on to play a fellow loony. —Ben Katner read more

New Fox Shingle Slots a Fantastical Four

• May 17, 2007 02:20 PM ET
• by Matt Mitovich

Twentieth Century Fox's Fox Walden banner has set four films' release dates:• The Dark Is Rising (Oct. 5), about a young man who learns he is the last in a line of mythical warriors. Stars Ian McShane, Frances Conroy, Christopher Eccleston and Jonathan Jackson.• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Nov. 16), a family fantasy starring Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman.• Nim's Island (April 25, 2008), featuring Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin.• City of Ember (Columbus Day '08), a sci-fi adventure helmed by Monster House's Gil Kenan. read more

My Emmy Predictions!

• Aug 24, 2006 05:53 PM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Yes, this year's Emmy nominations make about as much sense as Desperate Housewives' Betty Applegate mystery. Chris Meloni instead of Hugh Laurie? Allison Janney instead of Edie Falco? Stockard Channing instead of Lauren Graham? Alfre Woodard instead of... anyone? But a funny thing happened after I worked through my anger, frustration and general sense of hopelessness: I took another look at the list and discovered, much to my surprise, that members of the blue-ribbon panel weren't completely stoned when they made their selections. Lost amid all the head-scratchers are some truly worthy nominees. In other words, this year's race is salvageable — provided, of course, that the right people win. Who are these "right people" I speak of? They're listed below, followed by my predictions for who will take home the gold on Aug. 27. Feel free to crib the info for your office pool. Not to boast, but history has proven that I'm usually spot-on about this stuff.OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES Grey... read more

Just in time for Halloween, FX...

• Oct 26, 2005 04:00 AM ET
• by TV Guide News

Just in time for Halloween, FX gives us a creepfest that made the "normal" episodes tame in comparison. I really have to remember not to be eating while watching this show. It was creepy enough that the dude was assembling a body made of the corpses of various women, but finding out the head was his sister's? How pleasant. Speaking of the head, did you not think that it looked like Ruth Fisher from Six Feet Under? I was actually looking for Frances Conroy's name in the closing credits as "Laura's head." Yikes. While we're talkin' creepy, or rather, sleazy, how about Gina giving sexual favors to the construction workers in order to get discounts on their service? And inside the port-a-potties! Starting a business is hard work, but come on. Glad Julia wasn't havin' it. Now that Jessalyn Gilsig is in the opening credits, we'll be seeing more of Gina's sleaziness. Thanks for all the Carver prediction feedback I got last week. Lots of you think it may be read more

Any thoughts on the final ...

• Aug 17, 2005 04:00 AM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Question: Any thoughts on the final episodes of Six Feet Under?

Answer: If I say I'm really enjoying them, does that make me a masochist? 'Cause as depressing as these final hours have been, I can't deny the fact that I've been moved to tears on more than one occasion (Brenda's breakdown in her brother's arms last week being one prime example). As much as I want to hate the Fishers for being so whiny and selfish, I find myself caring more about them with each passing meltdown — Michael C. Hall's David being the sole exception; he's just plain irritating. And whatever Alan Ball is paying Frances Conroy, it's not enough. It's almost inhumane how much anguish and despair this poor woman has been asked to tap into these last few weeks. And having already seen this Sunday's finale, I can tell you Ruth's suffering gets worse before it gets better. Speaking of the finale, I'm anxious to read more