SMITH

Murray is back on One Tree Hill this week.

Filmmaker Kevin Smith saved up enough cash to buy a comic shop in his hometown of Red Bank, N.J. — the setting of his reality show Comic Book Men, airing Sundays on AMC. He used to keep stacks of comics around his house but now reads everything on his iPad, which pleases his wife and cuts down on clutter. “She was always negative about it when it was in paper form,” says Smith, 41. “But thanks to digital, man, she can’t say anything.”

Wednesday, Chad Michael Murray makes one final appearance on the long-running CW drama One Tree Hill. “The fan outreach is so strong and they asked for it, and I saw so much love pouring in,” says Murray, 30, who’s writing these days. His latest project: the graphic novel Everlast.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Sheree Wylds, Augusta, Ga.

Even at age 12, the youngster has had quite a career, with guest spots on House and CSI: NY, a recurring role on The Wizards of Waverly Place and a major part in the horror flick Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. This year, she joins some rodeo riders in Cowgirls n’ Angels, and she plays Marisa Tomei’s daughter and the granddaughter of Bette Midler and Billy Crystal in the fall comedy Parental Guidance.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Cumberbatch, left, and Freeman

Lindsey Howard, Las Cruces, N.M.

It’s quite elementary: Beginning May 6, PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery! will air the second series of the popular British show Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as a modern version of the quirky detective and Martin Freeman as his trusty confidant, Watson. Like the first series, there will be three movie-length episodes, and the second go-round will feature Lara Pulver as the enigmatic Irene Adler and Andrew Scott as the returning villain, Jim Moriarty. And Sherlockians can rejoice — the show has been tapped for a third series.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

2.19
Benicio Del Toro 45
Smokey Robinson 72

2.20
Rihanna 24
Sidney Poitier 85

2.21
Kelsey Grammer 57
Alan Rickman 66

2.22
Drew Barrymore 37
Thomas Jane 43

2.23
Dakota Fanning 18
Emily Blunt 29

2.24
Edward James Olmos 65
Barry Bostwick 67

2.25
Rashida Jones 36

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Lea Michele and Darren Criss

Helen Cheever, Mesa, Ariz.

Yes, cast members of the hit Fox series do all of their own singing and have taken their voices on the road for Glee concert tours. The actors come from a variety of musical experiences — Kevin McHale (who plays Artie) was in a boy band — and Glee creator Ryan Murphy found three of his actors singing on Broadway: Matthew Morrison (Mr. Schuester), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina) and Lea Michele (Rachel).

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Carol St. John, Addison, Ill.

Brothers & Sisters was canceled in May, so chances are slim you’ll ever see it again other than on DVD. But if you’re a fan of Field, the one-time Gidget and Flying Nun is heading back to the big screen in 2012 for a pair of roles: The two-time Oscar winner plays the beloved Aunt May of Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker in July’s The Amazing Spider-Man, and she stars as Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of Daniel Day-Lewis’ Honest Abe, in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln come December.

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

2.12
Christina Ricci 32
Josh Brolin 44

2.13
Peter Gabriel 62
Stockard Channing 68

2.14
Simon Pegg 42
Florence Henderson 78

2.15
Matt Groening 58
Jane Seymour 61

2.16
Ice-T 54

2.17
Denise Richards 41
Hal Holbrook 87

2.18
Vanna White 55
John Travolta 58

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

Wahlberg hasn’t forgotten the fans.

Blue Bloods star Donnie Wahlberg, a divorced dad of two sons, appreciates that his cast “understands the fan connection” to his recently reunited New Kids on the Block. “They were feeding my kids before I got here, so I got to take pictures with them,” says Wahlberg, 42. “Tom (Selleck) will always stop by and talk to the fans — who tell him ‘My mom loves you.’ ”

LL Cool J

“Going home with a Grammy and giving it to your grandmother is a wonderful thing,” says LL Cool J, 44 — that’s what the first-time host of this Sunday’s awards show (8 p.m. ET, CBS) did with his two Grammys. “It was the best feeling in the world.” The nine-time nominee is “excited” for the opportunity. So are Cool J’s four kids going to get to come with Dad? “I’ll definitely bring my wife, but (with) my kids running around — it might be a bit much,” he says with a laugh. “They may have to sit this one out.

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

Zombies keep Reedus busy for now.

Kelly James, Union, N.J.

Right now, the actor is busy trying to survive a zombie apocalypse as redneck-with-an-attitude Daryl Dixon in the hit AMC series based on the comic book. The show films in Atlanta and returns with new episodes tonight. However, the actor will be starring opposite Naomi Watts in the upcoming drama Sunlight Jr. In the meantime, you can catch up with the fledgling filmmaker and photographer’s other screen roles: Reedus starred in the cult crime movie The Boondock Saints and its sequel, played an assassin in Robert Redford’s The Conspirator, and appeared as a biker in Lady Gaga’s music video for her song Judas.

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

Andrew Patrick, Cincinnati

After nine years at CNBC covering Wall Street and financial affairs, Francis moved to rival Fox Business Network and made her debut on the channel last month as a reporter and anchor. Long before becoming “The Empress of Energy,” the cable-news fixture and Harvard graduate was a child actor who starred in the horror film Bad Dreams, assorted made-for TV movies and on the long-running family series Little House on the Prairie.

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

2.5
Laura Linney 48
Hank Aaron 78

2.6
Alice Eve 30
Axl Rose 50

2.7
Ashton Kutcher 34
Chris Rock 47
Garth Brooks 50
James Spader 52

2.8
Seth Green 38
John Williams 80

2.9
Amber Valleta 38
Mia Farrow 67
Joe Pesci 69

2.10
Laura Dern 45
Roberta Flack 75

2.11
Jennifer Aniston 43
Sheryl Crow 50
Burt Reynolds 76

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Duncan is “busting my butt” to slim down.

Hulking movie star Michael Clarke Duncan has slimmed down a bit for his first regular TV gig on the new Fox series The Finder. To stay in shape, he lifts weights and does reps on a dip machine daily on set. “Every week, you’re in somebody’s living room or dorm room or bedroom,” says the 6-foot-5 Duncan, 54. “It’s very important for me that my fans understand I’m busting my butt every day in the gym trying to make The Finder look excellent and trying to make myself look excellent.”

Dasher has designs on fashion.

Although she’s in her early 20s and just out of college, Erica Dasher revisits her high school days to play a student who winds up with an accidental fashion career in her new ABC Family series, Jane by Design. While it’s “surreal” to roam those halls again, “I’m much better dressed this time, but still awkward with boys, so that has not changed,” says the Texas native and burgeoning fashionista. “I’ve always admired fashion from afar, but it’s been fun to immerse myself in this world.”

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Hannah Selleck

Bob Coram, Indianapolis

The Blue Bloods star’s 22-year-old daughter, Hannah Selleck, is entertaining, but in a way much different from her father. She’s a star in the horse-riding arena, and in December, she represented the USA at the Gucci Masters, an international equestrian competition in Paris. Hannah Selleck began riding at her parents’ ranch at 3, and her father was a pretty talented sportsman back in his day, too. A rider himself, Tom Selleck played college basketball and volleyball at USC.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Judith Constantino, Amsterdam, N.Y.

After playing a not-so-good guy in 2009’s Watchmen and the object of Amy Adams’ affections in 2010’s Leap Year, Goode has focused on smaller indie roles. He co-starred with Ricky Gervais in Gervais’ English drama Cemetery Junction and had a part in the Australian drama Burning Man, which played at this year’s Toronto Film Festival. Next up for Goode, who has a 2-year-old daughter with his wife, Sophie Dymoke: the big-screen drama Stoker, which was written by former Prison Break star Wentworth Miller.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

McIntyre’s No. 1 fan: his mom.

The new season of Starz’s Spartacus: Vengeance just premiered, and newcomer Liam McIntyre— who replaced the late Andy Whitfield — says the show already has its biggest fan: his mother. “You have no idea. She’s just that kind of mom,” says the Australian actor, 29, an only child. “That picture of me as Spartacus on the Internet — she’s learned how to use the Internet because of it — she’s sending it to all her friends.” His next dream gig? “All my friends used to say, ‘I’ll bet you’ll play James Bond one day.’ I guess I’m another step closer.”

Holden-Ried

Kris Holden-Ried, 38, is playing two notable, werewolf-y characters in the new Syfy series Lost Girl and opposite Kate Beckinsale in the film Underworld: Awakening. A former member of the Canadian national pentathlon team, he says he trained hard as an athlete, “but I really didn’t know my body.” His secret to playing action-packed supernatural roles in later years has been “energy work” with disciplines like tai chi and yoga. “I was all of a sudden able to bring those different energy levels to the characters. That’s been a fantastic tool.”

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

Shue

Jacki Bork, Phoenix

Yes, Helgenberger, who has been on the show since its premiere, has left the show. (She had wanted to depart after last season, but producers talked her into sticking around.) This past week’s episode was the actress’s last as Catherine Willows, but her spot is being filled quickly: New series regular Elisabeth Shue makes her debut as Julie Finlay, an investigator fresh out of anger-management classes, in an episode Feb. 15 also featuring pop star Jesse McCartney.

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

Larry Arbogast, Orange, Va.

Great memory! Garrett Morris was one of the original cast members of the long-running late-night sketch show with John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner; he starred on SNL from 1975 to 1980. Recently seen in commercials and a small role on Showtime’s Shameless, the New Orleans native, 74, is still hard at work doing comedy in 2 Broke Girls as the cashier at the Brooklyn diner where Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs) work.

Who’s News Column Contributors: Gayle Jo Carter, Brian Truitt

1.22
Diane Lane 47
John Hurt 72

1.23
Mariska Hargitay 48

1.24
Neil Diamond 71

1.25
Alicia Keys 32

1.26
Ellen DeGeneres 54

1.27
Patton Oswalt 43

1.28
Alan Alda 7

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Renner

Tom Pientka, Antioch, Ill.

Based on Robert Ludlum’s popular spy novels, the movie series is still going strong, although without Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. The Bourne Legacy, directed by Tony Gilroy, is slated for release Aug. 3 and stars Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner as a new secret agent operating in the same world as Damon’s three Bourne flicks. Renner co-starred with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, and he puts on superhero garb as ace archer Hawkeye in The Avengers, out May 4.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt

Britain’s Sophie Winkleman has gained an American following.

Gabe Renzo, Dearborn Heights, Mich.

The Londoner has been in mostly British TV and movie projects since 2002 until she starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom 100 Questions and recently guested on Two and a Half Men as a love interest for Ashton Kutcher’s character. The 31-year-old actress, who’s filming a new Titanic miniseries, also is part of English royalty: In 2009, she married Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Who’s News Column Contributor: Brian Truitt