HOORAY! We have our winners:

Lundon and Kristie! Congrats, Lundon and Kristie, and thanks for entering. Your awesome prizes will be on their way to your mailbox shortly. Enjoy, and thanks again for checking us out at TV Screener.com!

And everyone, stay tuned to TVScreener.com … we’ve got lots more TV goodies coming your way!

It is one of my all-time favorite shows, and, with the third season premiere (Sept. 7, 10PM ET, FX) upon us, TVScreener.com is thrilled that our friends at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment have given us two copies of the Sons of Anarchy season two DVD box set to give away to readers!

From Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment:
Money, power and blood reign supreme when Sons of Anarchy season two roars onto Blu-ray Disc and DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

From the creative mind of Kurt Sutter (The Shield), the adrenalized drama centers on a notorious outlaw motorcycle club intent on protecting their sheltered small town against encroaching drug dealers, corporate developers, and overzealous law officers. The club is equally determined to protect their ruthless and illegally thriving arms business. Charlie Hunnam stars as Jax Teller, a man whose love for the brotherhood is tested by his growing apprehension for its lawlessness. Katey Sagal stars as Gemma Teller Morrow, Jax’s force-of-nature mother, who along with Ron Perlman as Clay Morrow, Jax’s stepfather, have their own darker vision for the club.

With a strong supporting cast including Kim Coates (Prison Break), Tommy Flanagan (Smokin’ Aces), Ryan Hurst (Wanted), Johnny Lewis (The O.C.), William Lucking (The World’s Fastest Indian), Theo Rossi (Cloverfield), Maggie Siff (Mad Men), Adam Arkin (Life), Ally Walker (Profiler) and Henry Rollins (Wrong Turn 2: Dead End), the Sons of Anarchy second season provides a sinister look at SAMCRO’s new businesses including murder, arms trafficking and a brief foray into porn production. The Sons of Anarchy season two Blu-ray and DVD is complete with all 13 episodes as well as a gag reel, deleted scenes, featurettes that take viewers behind-the-scenes on this FX original series and more.

For your chance of winning your own copy of Sons of Anarchy season two on DVD, simply answer the following question:

In the series, who is the president of the Motorcycle Club?

Clay Morrow
Jax Teller
Kurt Sutter

Remember:
– Leave a comment on this post, with the answer to the trivia question, and an e-mail address where you can be reached
– Deadline to enter is September 20 at 8PM ET (according to recorded comment time)
– The winner will be chosen by random, using Random.org’s Random Number Generator
– The winner will be announced on the evening of September 20, as an update to this post

Good luck, TV drama fans!

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• Filed in Sons of Anarchy, TV on DVD, WIN THIS!
• Tags: Sons of Anarchy DVD, Sons of Anarchy season 2

HOORAY! We have our winner:

Ethan! Congrats, Ethan, and thanks for entering. Your awesome Sons of Anarchy box set will be on its way to your mailbox shortly. Enjoy, and thanks again for checking us out at TV Screener.com!

And everyone, keep checking our TVScreener.com Christmas giveaway section … we’ve got lots more TV goodies coming your way!

It’s quite simply the best new show in several seasons, and if you’re not already watching FX’s incredible drama Sons of Anarchy, here’s your chance: TVScreener.com is giving away one season one Blu-ray Sons of Anarchy DVD box set!

The series actually wraps its second season on December 1 – a second season that saw series creator Kurt Sutter and an outstanding, Emmy-worthy cast that includes Katey Sagal (the real-life Mrs. Sutter), Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman not only equal, but surpass the quality premiere season – but it’s not too late to jump in and catch up with the show that has been described as “The Sopranos on motorcycles.” The season one box set includes a making-of season one feature, plus a gag reel, deleted scenes and featurettes on the characters’ tattoos and, of course, the bikes.

And to enter for a chance to win the Sons of Anarchy season 1 Blu-ray DVD box set, remember:
– Leave a comment on this post, with your name, your favorite Sons of Anarchy character and an e-mail address where we can reach you
– Deadline to enter to win the Sons of Anarchy season 1 Blu-ray DVD box set is December 1 at 8PM ET (according to recorded comment time)
– The winner will be chosen by random, using Random.org’s Random Number Generator
– The winner will be announced on the evening of December 1, as an update to this post

Good luck, SAMCRO supporters, and stay tuned for the rest of our It’s a Very TVScreener.com Christmas 25-Day Giveaway!

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• Filed in Sons of Anarchy, WIN THIS!
• Tags: Sons of Anarchy, Sons of Anarchy DVD, Sons of Anarchy season 2, Sons of Anarchy season 2 finale

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

– Edward Norton is reportedly such a fan of the new ABC comedy Modern Family that he’s agreed to make a guest appearance on the show, which premieres Sept. 23. It is far and away one of the best new series of the fall season, thanks in no small part to my fellow Ohio University alum, Married … with Children dad Ed O’Neill.

– The number of total viewers for Tuesday night’s Sons of Anarchy season two premiere was up a whopping 94 percent over the average for season one, so if you’re not watching this fantastic show yet, what are you waiting for?

– Susan Boyle will travel to the U.S. to perform on the live America’s Got Talent season finale on Sept. 16.

– VH1 has given the green light to another season of The T.O. Show with Terrell Owens, while CBS has okayed Big Brother‘s 12th season for summer 2010.

– British actor Max Ryan (Death Race) will play the love interest for randy Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) in the Sex and the City movie sequel.

– More TV-to-movie remake news: The A-Team movie may have its Howlin’ Mad Murdock.

– And still more: Johnny Depp as Tonto to Matthew McConaughey‘s Lone Ranger in a big-screen Lone Ranger movie?!?!

– Producers Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) and Bryan Singer (House) are creating a new NBC comedy – SelleVision – about the behind-the-scenes action at a home shopping network. The series is based on Augusten Burroughs‘ novel of the same name.

– Mod Squad star Peggy Lipton will guest star on the second season of Starz’ Crash, which kicks off its second season on Sept. 18.

– And tonight in primetime:

– The Vampire Diaries series premiere hits The CW at 8PM ET
– The final Head of Household competition unfolds on Big Brother 11 (8PM, CBS)
– Supernatural kicks off its fifth season on The CW (9PM)
– New ep of Police Women of Broward County on TLC (9PM)
– Naomi runs for student government on Skins (9PM, BBCA)
– VH1 brings back Behind the Music with a new installment on Lil Wayne (10PM)
– New Project Runway ep on Lifetime (10PM)
– Kim and NeNe record a song with Kandi on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (10PM, Bravo)
– And the Charm City crew makes a Doctor Who cake on Ace of Cakes (10PM, Food Network)

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• Filed in Boob Tube to Big Screen, Sons of Anarchy, TV News
• Tags: Edward Norton Modern Family, Johnny Depp The Lone Ranger, Max Ryan Sex and the City, Sons of Anarchy season 2

WARNING: Minor season one spoilers ahead, in case you haven’t finished that DVD box set yet …

First, a mini review of the Sons of Anarchy season two premiere: six stars on a scale of one to five, an 11 on a scale on one to ten, three thumbs up … you get the picture. For a show that had as great a first season as a show could have, SoA tops itself with tonight’s sophomore season premiere (10PM ET, FX).

The premiere delves right into the action, with Jax (Charlie Hunnam) and Clay (Ron Perlman) butting heads (especially after Jax’s realization about Donna’s murder), just as outsiders threaten the SAMCRO gang. “White separatists” led by guest stars Adam Arkin and Henry Rollins are as evil as they wanna be, and they reveal just how far they’re willing to go to oust the Sons of Anarchy from Charming with a shocking, brutal, heartbreaking move that will set up the rest of the season.

A central figure in the plot: Gemma, “old lady” of Clay, mother of Jax, who’s not only caught in the middle between her hubby and son, but is also thrown into the middle of this new war.

I had the chance to chat with Gemma portrayer Katey Sagal on Friday, just as the cast and crew – including Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, who plays Big Otto on the show and who is married to Sagal in real life – prepare to shoot the season two finale.

Sagal (who should have received an Emmy nomination for Sons of Anarchy‘s first season, and, based on the first five episodes of season two that I’ve seen, has already made her case for one again) talks about Gemma, her relationships with her motorcycle men, the comeback of her other hit series, Futurama, the likelihood of a Married … with Children reunion and whether or not she might be resurrected for the final season of Lost.

One more note: Tune in to TVScreener.com on Wednesday for Sagal’s thoughts on the season two premiere (to share them now would be very, very spoilery).

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat today, Katey. Is it true that your husband wrote the part of Gemma for you?
Yes. He was approached by the Linsons (father and son producers Art and John Linson) about writing a television show about this world, and he started writing it and somewhere in the middle of it he said, ‘I have a part for you,’ and I said, ‘Oh, fantastic.’ And that was the last I heard of it until he gave me the script and it was really fantastic.

That must have been flattering, given how strong of a character that Gemma is, that he wrote her with you in mind.
Oh, yes. Especially considering that I think my husband is an amazing writer. So yes, I was flattered that he would give me that challenge. I don’t think he would have done it if he didn’t think I could pull it off.

What was your reaction the first time you read the script?
I thought it was really amazing. And I hadn’t seen that world explored the way he was exploring it, and I just loved the epic nature of it.

It is, uniquely, a very respectful treatment of this motorcycle club world …
Oh yeah, (Kurt) is treating it very respectfully. And realistically. He pays a lot of attention to detail, which is important to him, and I think it really enhances the storytelling. Sometimes I watch the show, and I think ‘Really?’ You know, like, ‘Really, that just happened?’ And that’s just in the details of the goings-on, the formality of the club, the rules and regulations, the things you’re supposed to do and the things you’re not supposed to do. I think that all contributes to the world that he’s created.

How much research did he or you and the rest of the cast do into this world, this motorcycle club life?
Kurt did a lot. And then he also created an entire mythology for these characters, where they’ve come from, and how they got to where they are. So there’s a lot of backstory that (viewers) may never really hear about, but we did. He researched a lot of the world. I tried to find research on the women (of motorcycle clubs), but there’s very little. You know, it’s really a pretty misogynistic group, so Gemma is a lot of creative license. Gemma has been there since the beginning. She grew up in Charming and kind of ran away from home, hooked up with the motorcycle club and brought them back. So she’s been there since the inception. That’s just part of her history.

How much did you help shape Gemma?
The part that I had a hand in was her physicality. I decided to put those big blond streaks in my hair. I thought she’s a woman who would wear a lot of makeup. She dresses … it was written that she’s a very sexy woman. I think she’s always led with her sexuality. She’s a woman in a very strong man’s world. It’s not a demure world, for sure.

Gemma’s a hot mama.
Yes. She’s a hot mama.

Does Gemma see herself as a mother first or a wife first?
I think as a wife first. But I think that having been there since the inception of the club, she’s always envisioned herself as the mother of these boys.

Just as Gemma is one of the best female characters on TV, her relationship with Clay is also one of the most interesting. It’s nice to see a married couple who isn’t twentysomething, but is still portrayed as very sexual, who basically love each other and aren’t sniping at each other all the time. Did you have chemistry with Ron Perlman right off the bat?
We actually did. We read together and there was a real sort of bond there. And I think Kurt’s intention for that couple is to not show ‘The Bickersons.’ His intention for them is to show that these people like being married to each other. These are people who have fun together. Sex is still good. We’re not gonna have the middle-age crisis of, they’re only together because they have to be. And I think that’s an interesting depiction, too. I mean, in season two, you’re going to see some strains on that relationship based on some of the goings-on, but it’s not for lack of love.

Gemma’s relationship with Tara is another of the show’s most interesting relationships. Do you think they begrudgingly like and respect each other?
I would say, from Gemma’s point of view, she realizes at the end of season one, in that finale when Tara kisses Jax at the funeral, that Tara is going to stick around. And Gemma’s no dummy. The last thing she wants to do is alienate her son. She sees the benefit of having a nurse around for Abel … you know, she quickly goes through the checklist … ‘OK, I see how I can make this work. Better to embrace the situation than to alienate everybody.’ So she makes that adjustment, and then through the goings-on of season two, you do see a very vulnerable Gemma, and Tara steps up and basically takes care of her in a way. So you kind of see that go on, and you see … you know, Gemma is a woman with a big heart, as far as I’m concerned. She’s all about loyalty and family and bonding, and for her to see some of those qualities coming out in Tara makes her feel safe around Tara.

Do you think she sees Tara as being a lot like her?
In some ways. And I think she’s also grooming her a little bit. Tara’s journey is a really interesting one, too, in that she comes from this world, too, but decided to leave. Tara kind of set out on her own, got herself educated, became a doctor, and to have this pull to come back to this world, what does that mean? So, I’m sure Gemma, in her own way, is testing her. It’s like, ‘Look, if you’re going to do this, if you really want to be in this environment, this is the deal. This is what you’re gonna have to do.’ Kind of ‘The Education of Tara.’

Because Gemma has relationships with almost everyone on the show, and her relationship with all of these people is different from what Clay’s is, or what Jax’s is, for instance, with Chief Unser, I think of her as really the center of this whole world … she, in a lot of ways, keeps things going smoothly even when those around her don’t know she’s doing it. What do you think about that?
I think that what she is is the matriarch to sort of the lost boys. If you look at the motorcycle culture as a bunch of displaced souls, in a weird way, who have bonded to form this union … you know, they all need a mom. (Laughing). And in that sense, I think that’s what she provides. She is the … you know, it’s all very sort of tribal. That’s how I sort of look at it. The guys are out doing the hunting and gathering, and the women are keeping the home fires burning. But who’s to say what’s most important, really?

What’s it like on the set as one of the few regular female cast members? Does the on-camera guy bonding continue off camera?
Oh yeah, they’re wild. Not only on the set, but out on the town. They have bonded like a real group of guys. Last week, they all got motorcycles – Harley-Davidson gave them motorcycles, sort of a promotional thing – and they all took off together and spent the day together. They are bonded. And to be around them is really fun.

Do you ride motorcycles now?
I don’t. I will go on the back. But I have three children, so my safety is most important to me.

The show does a great job of mixing the intense drama with comedic moments, especially with the dialogue, and so many of them come from Gemma. Is that harder, that dark comedy, to pull off than a straight sitcom situation?
I don’t really think of it as hard. It’s not like set-up/joke. So really, the dialogue comes out of the character and the circumstance, so you’re not looking for the laugh. And I think that it doesn’t really strike me as difficult, it’s just different.

Do you enjoy those little moments, those little interjections of humor?
You know, I have to tell you, I don’t even know when they’re going to be funny. To me, it’s (Gemma’s) point of view, just how she is. When we were at the premiere, and when Gemma says the line in the premiere, ‘I don’t want to turn him into a little vegan (p-word),’ and there was this big laugh. But when I said it, when we were filming it, I didn’t realize that that was funny. Do you know what I mean?

You were just in the moment of being the character …
Yeah. And she just has a point of view.

You’ve lived with this character, in this world, for more than a year now … are you getting good at anticipating where Kurt is taking the storyline?
Oh no, I’m totally shocked all the time. Wait until you see the season two finale. We just got the script today … it’s like, ‘Huh? What?’ You don’t always see things coming. You kind of think you know, but then something different happens.

So you’re still filming season two?
Yep, we have one more to go. We’re about to start shooting the finale.

Do you and your husband ever disagree about Gemma?
Not so much. You know, I just think he’s amazing. What he writes … amazing. I mean, I’ve had some questions, like in the beginning, about her relationship with Tara, and what am I doing, and he always has a great answer. He’s thought out all these things. So it’s never been, ‘I don’t think (Gemma) would do that,’ it’s more like ‘Why would she do that?’

You’re a musician, have recorded, still do live performances, and the show makes such great use of music … “John the Revelator,” in the first season finale, for instance, was so powerful. Do you have a hand in selecting the music?
Well, I helped hire the great music supervisor we have.

So, yes …
(Laughing) Well, he’s a collaborator of mine, who produced my last record, and he’s just amazing. Bob Thiele, he’s the music supervisor. And Kurt has a lot of input into the music as well. They kind of work together on that, but no, I actually don’t.

Is this the best role you’ve ever had? Or your favorite role?
Hmm, well … it’s my favorite role for today (laughing). You know, because I love doing comedy, too. I loved being on Married … with Children. That was fantastic. And I’ve played a lot of parts that I’ve really enjoyed. But this is really stretching me in ways that I really wanted to be stretched. I really wanted to be challenged. I had never done an episodic, dramatic show before, where you have a storyline that carries out for 13 episodes. So you’re having to clock where you are. In any given episode, you need to know where you were three episodes ago. It’s a big arc. And you kind of don’t know where you’re going until you get there. So that’s an interesting process. It’s really been fantastic, and I’m having a great time with it.

And you are heading back to work soon, or maybe already are at work, on the new Futurama episodes for Comedy Central?
Oh yes, we started. We’ve already done three episodes so far. It went right into production. We’ve done just the voices so far, I should say. Then they go to the animators. So I’m not sure how long it all takes, but we’re definitely up and running.

Obviously, there’s always been a big fan base for the show, but were you surprised at all at how loyal those fans have remained, to the point where there’s going to be this whole season of new episodes?
Haha, well, I’m never surprised with Futurama anymore, because we’ve ended it so many times. But it really is a tribute to the fanbase, because they’re the ones who keep it alive. So no, I wasn’t totally surprised, because we’ve never really said goodbye to each other.

And would you be happy if Futurama continues on after this new batch of episodes?
Oh yes, absolutely. I love doing that show.

Given the Futurama “reunion,” any chance of a Married … with Children reunion?
I don’t know … we had a little reunion of sorts when David (Faustino) did his Web series (Starved), which was really wrong (laughing). We did all kind of get together for that. And every once in a while someone mentions doing a reunion, and then nothing ever happens. I’m sure we’d all be open to it, but time is moving on. They better get on it fast.

And what about a return to Lost? We think we know that Helen, John Locke’s girlfriend, is dead, but that could change with whatever is still to be revealed in the show’s final season.
Well, I’m holding out hope. I don’t know anything specifically. But you know, with Lost, they call you at the last minute if you’re going to be on the show, so I wonder about that, too. I love Lost. My son and I, my 13-year-old, and I, are just addicted to it. So yes, I’m holding out hope that Helen will be resurrected.

Are you a big TV fan in general? What else do you watch besides Lost?
I watch … I love Nurse Jackie. I like Hung. And I’ve watched Weeds the whole time. Mary-Louise Parker is great. I don’t watch a lot of mainstream, network TV, though I have been watching The Big Bang Theory, and that’s really funny. You know, Kaley (Cuoco) is on it, and I was on 8 Simple Rules with her, so I do like to watch that.

You mentioned Nurse Jackie and Weeds, and those kinds of shows, along with Sons of Anarchy, are really where the great roles are for actresses these days …
Oh, definitely. Thank God for cable. And not just for women, but ‘women of a certain age.’ It’s just awesome.

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• Filed in Interview, Sons of Anarchy
• Tags: Futurama Katey Sagal, Katey Sagal, Lost Katey Sagal, Married ... with Children, Sons of Anarchy, Sons of Anarchy season 2

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

– Despite all the major changes ahead for Scrubs, Neil Flynn – The Janitor – says he may return to help wrap up his character’s story. The awesomely talented Flynn will be a regular presence on ABC this fall anyway, co-starring with Patricia Heaton in the new comedy The Middle.

– ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson confirmed he’s talking to Paula Abdul about a gig on Dancing With the Stars, as a contestant or some sort of judge role, but with all these offers the former American Idol judge claims she’s receiving, I’m betting none of them come even close to netting her the kind of money she rejected as too little to return to AI.

– On the other hand, the AI team apparently found out how tough it is to replace Paula, as newbie guest judge Victoria Beckham reportedly came off as “icy and wooden” during her debut.

– The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck gave birth to her third child, son Isaiah Timothy, on Sunday.

– Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter (who’s also married to series star Katey Sagal) says he has seven seasons planned for the FX series, so here’s hoping the network allows him to make all of ’em. Season two guest star Henry Rollins also told critics at the Television Critics Association gathering in L.A. on Friday that his white separatist character is one bad dude, and after watching a preview of the season premiere last week, I will say that that is a major understatement.

– Lost star Elizabeth Mitchell, who also stars in ABC’s upcoming remake of V, confirmed that she will be a part of Lost‘s final season, but wouldn’t say whether or not her Juliet survives that season five finale bomb.

– The summer finale of Burn Notice last Thursday earned 7.6 million viewers, the highest ever for a series on USA Network.

– Comedian Louis C.K. is not only starring in his own autobiographical sitcom on FX, but is guest-starring as a love interest for Amy Poehler‘s character on the new season of Parks & Recreation.

– After their surprise pregnancy in the season finale, Jim and Pam won’t be waiting long to get married on the new season of The Office … in fact, the nuptials are happening in the fourth episode of season six, scheduled to air in October.

– Movieweb.com has an interview with James Michael Tyler, a.k.a. Central Perk’s Gunther from Friends, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the sitcom’s debut. Loooove Gunther.

– The CW is at it again. Following last fall’s OMFG campaign for Gossip Girl, season three’s promos include a WTF! tagline, which the network explains stands for “Watch This Fall.”

– And tonight in primetime:

– VH1’s Lords of the Revolution miniseries premieres (8PM ET), profiling iconic personalities from the 1960s and ’70s, including Muhammad Ali in tonight’s installment
– The Jonas Brothers host the Teen Choice Awards on Fox (8PM)
– For her own selfish reasons, Adrian tries to plot a George and Anne reunion on The Secret Life of an American Teenager (8PM, ABC Family)
– The fams visit Vegas and the Hoover Dam on Great American Road Trip (8PM, NBC)
– More Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with Reeg on ABC (8PM)
– Kyra Sedgwick‘s daughter Sosie (with papa Kevin Bacon, of course) guest stars on The Closer (9PM, TNT)
– New ep of Make It or Break It on ABC Family (9PM)
– HBO’s doc of the week: the Nine Lives of Marion Barry (9PM), about the controversial former Washington, D.C. mayor (and current city councilman)
– More potential blind date hook-ups on Dating in the Dark (9PM, ABC)
– New Real Chance of Love 2 on VH1 (9PM)
– Jon & Kate Plus 8 continue to creep us out (9PM, TLC)
– Heroin addiction is the top on tonight’s Intervention (9PM, A&E)
– Kathy, last night’s Joan Rivers roaster, wraps up a 5th season on Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (10PM, Bravo)
– Terrell tapes a bit for Comedy Central on The T.O. Show (10PM, VH1)
– The contestants have to perform ’80s tunes on Making His Band (10PM, MTV)
– Buddy‘s baking up a Leaning Tower of Pisa cake on Cake Boss (10PM, TLC)
– New Raising the Bar on TNT at 10PM
– Guy goes to a Houston grocery store that serves tasty burgers on Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives (10PM, Food Network)
– Tony‘s sampling San Francisco’s best eats on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (10PM, Travel Channel)
– Dean and Doug plot against Celia on Weeds (10PM, Showtime)
– A&E has the first season finale of Obsessed (10PM)
– History Channel’s Clash of the Gods focuses on Hercules (10PM)
– And Coop and her wedding ring are causing problems for Nurse Jackie (10:30PM, Showtime)

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• Tags: Elisabeth Hasselbeck baby, Elizabeth Mitchell Lost, Gossip Girl WTF, Henry Rollins Sons of Anarchy, Jim and Pam wedding, Louis C.K. FX, Neil Flynn, Paula Abdul Dancing With the Stars, Scrubs, Sons of Anarchy season 2, Victoria Beckham American Idol