Usually during a press tour all-star party, there's one or two unexpectedly popular stars who just seem to attract throngs and throngs of reporters for the entire night. A couple of years ago, it was George Takei right after he started on 'Heroes.' This year, the NBC star attracting the attention at their all-star party in Pasadena last month was Alison Brie.

Why? Well, besides being cute and chatty, having significant supporting roles in two critically-acclaimed shows probably helped. Brie not only plays the uptight and naïve Annie on the comedy 'Community,' but she also plays Trudy, the hard-driving wife of Pete Campbell (played by Vincent Kartheiser) on 'Mad Men.'

I managed to wait out the crowds and get a few solo minutes with Brie. We talked about how she shifts between the high comedy of 'Community' and the intense drama of 'Men,' and if her presence in 'Men's' finale means she'll be back for season four.

When shows go off the air in between seasons, the actors use this long break to do some profound beard growing. The actresses might do the same thing, but I've never seen a picture of them in the papers to prove it.

The entire male cast of 'Mad Men' did the same thing and cast member MIchael Gladis gave his review of all of his co-workers' "break beards".

[via Pop Candy]

(S35E13) The first time Jon Hamm hosted Saturday Night LIve, back in 2008, it was before I had seen his work on Mad Men and 30 Rock (the latter was due to the fact his guest appearances didn't exist at the time). I was super-excited that the seemingly perpetually serious Hamm actually turned out to be hilarious, and his performance led to one of the best episodes of the entire season. Taking all this into consideration, I was walking on dangerous ground as I prepared to watch Hamm's return to the SNL stage.

Were my expectations too high to be met? Did Hamm's pre-SNL beard somehow take funny away from him (I've heard beards can sometimes do that)? As it turned out, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Hamm did yet another stellar job as host, bringing a level of charm and commitment that made just about every sketch work.

Highlights from last night's 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards included wins for 'Inglorious Basterds,' 'Glee,' 'Mad Men,' Julianna Margulies, Michael C. Hall, Mo'Nique and others, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award for the always-entertaining Betty White.

Sandra Bullock, who picked up a leading actor trophy for her performance in 'The Blind Side,' presented the award to White and took an affectionate dig at the 88-year-old actress. "I know that a lot of people really find Betty White inspiring," Bullock said. "Me, I find Betty White annoying. I'm sorry. It's true."

Watch the video after the jump.

If you've been feeling a little peckish on the can recently, then you're in luck, because NBC is about to provide America with a fresh shipment of John Ham.

Yes, according to Entertainment Weekly the network has officially announced that 'Mad Men''s Jon Hamm will be hosting 'Saturday Night Live' next week. The January 30 episode will mark a return engagement for Hamm, who drew rave reviews for his hosting duties back in 2008, meaning it was only a matter of when, not if, he would return.

Did your favorite actors and TV shows score Golden Globe awards tonight? Let's take a look at how things shook out in the TV categories at the 67th Annual Golden Globes.

Mad Men, Best Television Series - Drama. With competition from Big Love, Dexter, House, and True Blood, I'm really glad I wasn't picking the winner here. They're all fantastic. I wouldn't say that True Blood delivered its best episodes last season, so I don't have a problem with that one not winning (though I'm a big fan of the show). Mad Men is definitely deserving (especially the "lawn mower" episode), although Dexter and Big Love both had great seasons.

Oh, dear Betty, where is the love? I'm speaking of ABC's Ugly Betty, naturally. Despite the braces, the red glasses and the questionable fashion sense, the vivacious Betty Suarez remains a popular date. I can think of only one time this past season when she was dancing with herself, and that was by choice.

Well, after Betty's on-again, off-again thing with Matt turned into a very much an "on" thing -- and a clingy one at that -- last week saw Matt making a decision that definitely puts the romance on hold.

What's next for Betty? Apparently one of the Mad Men. In March, Mad Men actor Rich Sommer will appear on Ugly Betty in a guest role. He'll be playing a Seth Rogen type -- that's code for schlubby, nice guy -- who asks Betty out.

There's been so much action going on with the TCA and the midseason returns and what-not that we sort of missed the announcement for the DGA Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television nominations for 2009. It's quite an interesting bunch, as much for what and who's included and who and what were left out.

Since the DGA noms come from the directors themselves, these awards are indicative of what the professionals really think of their peers. Very illuminating, if you ask me. Check it out, category by category, and feel free to comment on my comments.

Friday morning the Director's Guild of America announced their picks for the best directed cable and network TV shows in 2009.

Among the list there were several surprises, including nominations for many newcomers to the '09 TV schedule, namely 'Modern Family' and 'Glee'. We're also glad to see many prominent critical faves like 'Mad Men' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' well-represented on the list again for stellar seasons.

NBC's quality comedy programming was clearly snubbed, though, taking home nilch for such Awards-show staples as '30 Rock' and 'The Office'; even a greatly improved 'Parks and Recreation' got no love.

After the jump you'll find the list of the TV DGA nominations.

More of our best of the decade coverage, which started on Tuesday. You can read the other posts at the link above. Here, we talk about the best dramatic actors of the decade. And, boy, was it a tough choice.

From a meth-making chemistry teacher to a damaged 1960s ad exec, the guys populating the dramatic actor category in our best of the decade are nothing short of brilliant.

It's hard to choose favorites when you're dealing with the likes of Jon Hamm, Bryan Cranston, Mark Harmon, James Gandolfini, and many others, but the TV Squad team has spoken.

Did your favorites make our list? If not, feel free to add them in the comments below.

When we last saw Betty Draper, she was on a plane to Reno with Henry Francis by her side. Was that the end of her story, especially since Don Draper's undoubtedly going to go on without her? Well, Matthew Weiner doesn't like to give away much about the future, but January Jones has renewed her contract with Mad Men.

Weiner confirmed it and spoke about some other bits and pieces from the Mad Men finale. He was in a giving mood. It wasn't just the holiday season, either. Mad Men had a great week in award nominations -- Golden Globes, Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild.

Despite the mainstream audience acceptance of such openly gay performers as Neil Patrick Harris, Ian McKellen, and Ellen DeGeneres, some Hollywood power brokers still feel that TV and movie audiences won't accept gay performers in straight roles.

That was made clear on Wednesday when 'Mad Men' creator Matthew Weiner, speaking on a Hollywood panel, said, "Let's not pretend" that gay actors who come out of the closet aren't risking a future of gay typecasting, according to Greg in Hollywood blogger Greg Hernandez.

On the eighth day of Festivus, TV gave to me ... eight stars a shinin'!

There are a lot more than eight wonderful stars shining in the TV pantheon for 2009, but these eight are a remarkable bunch who have been exemplary this past year. They've left us with memories that'll last long after this Festivus has ended. So, in no special order, here are the eight stars a shining from the year gone by.

1. Jane Lynch. If the Emmy doesn't already have Jane Lynch's name engraved in a statuette for Glee, it will by the time the awards are handed out. Lynch has been the perfect villain, the villain you love to hate. But if she were just a one-note nasty, it wouldn't work. Lynch has shown the other side of Sue Sylvester. Her "swing" date showed Sue in love, and her visit to her sister Jean was a soft earthquake emotion. Jane delivers week in and week out. Her star is glowing.

Round up the usual suspects. That would seem to be the appropriate line when you look at the nominees for the 2010 Writers Guild Awards. That doesn't mean that all these nominees are not worthy; they are some of the best 2009 television for sure. It's just that inevitably some shows are left out in favor of the tried old faves.

For instance, in the comedy category, can you really put Modern Family in and completely diss The Big Bang Theory? I can't. I'm not even happy about the annual goopfest for 30 Rock, a sitcom that I've grown tired of -- but that's just me. I'd prefer How I Met Your Mother to get some time, or United States of Tara or Nurse Jackie or The Middle. All four of those show have been superior to 30 Rock -- to me.