Celebrities Hit the Red Carpet for Pre-Oscar Party

Movie stars Leonardo Dicaprio, “O.C. Star” Benjamin Mckenzie and actress Kate Bosworth were on-hand for Global Green USA’s 6th Annual Pre-Oscar Party held at Avalon Hollywood.

Ben McKenzie has just been announced to star as “Ben Sherman” in Southland which premieres in the U.S. in April 2009.



Hollywood Treatment Blog Archive Celebrities Hit the Red Carpet for Pre-Oscar Party


Oscar fever

Gavin Rossdale, Neil Patrick Harris and Benjamin McKenzie at Global Green USA's 6th annual Pre-Oscar Party in Hollywood.




Photo Gallery - Oscar fever - Free PeopleSMHLAS images | theage.com.au

Ben at the Global Green Pre-Oscar Party red carpet:

Ben gave a wonderful new interview to the Austin-American Statesman:



Ben McKenzie goes from 'The O.C.' to the P.D.




From Orange County heartthrob to Los Angeles cop, Ben McKenzie is slowly, carefully carving out a serious acting career.

The native Austinite keeps a low profile by Hollywood standards, assiduously avoiding red carpets, bright lights and the kind of wild lifestyle that has gotten many young actors in trouble. Even during his breakout stint on "The O.C.," he was determined to be an actor, not just a celebrity.

"If you pursue the pop-culture thing and indulge yourself in it, go to all the events and get yourself on the cover of Us Weekly every week, that fame is fleeting," McKenzie said by phone from Los Angeles. "It's not a road you can navigate for a long time. People get tired of you and you burn out. I've tried to lay a little low, stay under the radar and keep looking for material so that I can develop a body of work."

In other words, this guy is into acting, and he's in it for the long haul.

Although he could still play a teenager if he wanted to, McKenzie, now 30, is happy to be cast as a grown-up in NBC's upcoming police drama "Southland," created and produced by John Wells, whose credits include "ER," "The West Wing," "China Beach" and "Third Watch."

"I've got great genes," he chuckled. "Thank you, mom (Austin poet-writer Frances Schenkkan) and dad (Austin attorney Pete Schenkkan). I'm very fortunate. But I was looking to get out of the high-school realm. I've always been attracted to material that speaks to me on an artistic level, always chasing this sort of work."

When "Southland" premieres in April, McKenzie will play Ben Sherman, fresh out of the police academy and paired with a tough veteran played by Michael Cudlitz ("A River Runs Through It"). Like all of Wells' series, "Southland" is a true ensemble piece, although the pilot episode (not yet available for preview) focuses on McKenzie and Cudlitz.

The role could be a be a big career-changer for McKenzie. After all, George Clooney, one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood today, burst into a blockbuster movie career after co-starring in Wells' long-running "ER." It's not beyond the realm of possibility that "Southland" could provide the same rocket blast for McKenzie.

"There's only one George Clooney, and I, unfortunately, am not him," McKenzie said. "I do think this show is very good, but it's unfathomable to me that that could happen to me."

Whatever happens, McKenzie seems smart enough and well-grounded enough to handle the outcome. After graduating in 1997 from Austin High, where he played football for the Maroons, he went to the University of Virginia and in 2001 earned a degree in economics and foreign affairs. A dreamed-of New York stage career was cut short by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when productions ground to a halt.

So McKenzie headed West and made a splash as bad boy Ryan Atwood on Fox's teen melodrama "The O.C." He made good use of the exposure and established a reputation as a serious contender. The spotlight from "The O.C." might have been brighter than McKenzie would have liked at first, but he remains grateful for the boost.

"I have absolutely fond memories of it," said the actor, who is still a close friend of co-star Adam Brody. "It was an incredible learning experience for me. ... In a way, it was a very practical graduate school, so this is not as intimidating now as it might have been. I know far more than I did before, so this won't be as daunting."

During his catapult to fame on "The O.C.," McKenzie took a small, barely recognizable turn in the independent feature "Junebug," which premiered at Sundance, played at Cannes and earned an Oscar nomination for co-star Amy Adams. In a cap with a thin mustache and a Carolina drawl, he played a backwoods Southerner who mumbled rather than spoke. He also landed a small role in Al Pacino's big-screen thriller "88 Minutes" and, more recently, earned sterling notices for his one-man performance in a screen adaptation of Dalton Trumbo's "Johnny Got His Gun."

The script for "Southland" came to McKenzie at a time when he wasn't looking for another TV series. But he was drawn to it, met with producers and offered to audition for the part of Ben Sherman — which, of course, sounds strikingly like his real name (Ben Schenkkan).

"It was the best script I read all year, features or TV," McKenzie said. "It really fits me quite well. I've seen the pilot, and it's very, very good. There are so many other cop shows, but this is different from procedural shows. Crimes do occur and people at various levels respond, but it's more about how what they see affects them on a personal level."

"The Shield" also was an L.A.-based cop show that dealt with personal relationships, but McKenzie said "Southland" doesn't focus on corruption. And he says the hand-held camera style employed is "not as frenetic" as some other reality-style cop shows. He says the new NBC show is striving more for a "Hill Street Blues" feel.

"My character is a rookie who's only been out on the streets for about a month, so we see this world through fresh eyes," McKenzie said. "He's getting a hard look at the challenges facing him if he chooses this life. And you either pick the life, commit to it and die while serving — or not."

To prepare for his first fictional cop gig, McKenzie and other cast members went to boot camp with a former SWAT team member to learn routines such as slapping handcuffs on a suspect and shooting a 9 mm handgun. McKenzie had some experience with shotguns, but handguns were a whole new experience. And to soak up the personalities, he rode along with cops on six- to eight-hour shifts, learning a lot without asking much.

"When you spend that much time in a car with someone, you get to know them without even having to push," McKenzie said. "They get into storytelling pretty quick. Most of them are really good people, but they get put through the ringer every day. And that takes a human toll."

NBC has ordered only six episodes of "Southland," but if the ratings look promising, the show could be picked up for a full season starting in the fall.

"I'd like to do this as long as I can," McKenzie said. "It's one of best working experiences I've ever had. And if it does well, then maybe people will come to me a little more, instead of me waiting around for someone to approve of me."

After "ER," George Clooney never had to audition again. McKenzie could be heading in that direction.

Ben McKenzie goes from 'The O.C.' to the P.D.



Also from zap2it TVGal


I was excited to see a promo for a new show with Ben McKenzie - is there any scoop on it? The promos for Kings also look kinda interesting - any word on it? Thanks. Katie

The new series is called Southland and it premieres Thursday, April 9 on NBC – one week after ER has its series finale. It’s about a police unit in LA and is from executive producer John Wells. The cast is really intriguing. In addition to our friend from The O.C., the series also stars Tom Everett Scott, Regina King, Kevin Alejandro and Shawn Hatosy. NBC hasn’t sent out a review DVD yet but I’ll keep you posted. Kings premieres March 15. Ian McShane stars as the monarch of a fictional country. The series is a version of the classic David vs. Goliath story. I will have a review of this show next week.

It's Been a Privilege - TV Gal - Zap2it

Ben is aging well

Southland set to join CTV


CTV will trade the emergency room for the squad room, announcing on Thursday that new crime series Southland will replace ER on Thursdays when the venerable medical drama bows out with its final episode on April 2.

Both series are from veteran US television producer and Emmy winner John Wells, who also created The West Wing. Southland will air in simulcast with NBC, where programmers have scheduled the cop drama for the Thursday 10 pm slot, though it had initially been reserved for the new Ian McShane-starrer Kings, now moved to Sundays.

Southland follows the goings-on at a police unit in downtown Los Angeles, and stars Tom Everett Scott (Law & Order), Benjamin McKenzie (The O.C.) and Regina King (Jerry Maguire).

Southland continues to "uphold the excellence in television that ER has demonstrated for the past decade and a half," said CTV programming boss Susanne Boyce in a release. It debuts April 9 on CTV.

ER's final episodes will feature guest appearances by notable alumni Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards, while George Clooney and Julianna Margulies will reportedly appear in the March 12 episode.

Southland set to join CTV

On the Set of Southland

Here’s a great video that give us a look inside Ben’s upcoming new show, “Southland”. The clip include pictures from the set and interviews with Ben, his co-stars and John Wells, the creater of the show.



You can also find the video here: Spoiler TV: Southland - On the Set Video




“Southland,” will debut at 10 p.m. ET Thursday, April 9, taking over for “ER” after it ends its 15-year run on April 2.

The show was also recently got picked up by the Canadian, CTV channel and will begin airing in Canada on Thursdays at 10 p.m. in CTV’s All-Star Thursday Night Line Up.



Goodbye ER and Hello SOUTHLAND: CTV Shifts Spotlight to New John Wells Cop Series, April 9


– Highly anticipated crime drama replaces ER on Thursdays at 10 p.m.
in CTV’s All-Star Thursday Night Line Up –
–Former O.C. heartthrob Benjamin Mckenzie plays a young rookie cop –
- SOUTHLAND cast also includes Regina King (Ray) –

As viewers and Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer John Wells (ER, THE WEST WING) say a tearful goodbye to long-standing hit series ER, viewers are invited into the world of his next great project, SOUTHLAND. CTV announced today that it has landed Wells’ highly-anticipated new series and will add it to its line up on television’s biggest night. A raw, gritty, and authentic look at a police unit in downtown Los Angeles, the new, high-intensity drama, co-starring former O.C. heartthrob Benjamin McKenzie, takes over ER’s longstanding Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET timeslot when it premieres April 9 on CTV (visit CTV.ca to confirm local broadcast times). SOUTHLAND will also air Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET, beginning April 15 on Bravo!

“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with John Wells,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “With a fabulous ensemble cast and a rock solid creative team, SOUTHLAND continues to uphold the excellence in television that ER has demonstrated for the past decade and a half.”

Still a Top 20 performer and timeslot winner after 15 seasons of heart-stopping, tear-jerking medical drama, ER’s historical last shift culminates in the two-hour series finale on Thursday, April 2 at 9 p.m. ET on CTV. In the home stretch to the finale, the series has already racked up guest appearances by notable ER alumni such as Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, Alex Kingston, and Gloria Reuben. Meanwhile, John Wells recently told People that George Clooney and co-star Julianna Margulies will reunite on the upcoming March 12 episode. “I want their story to be very fulfilling in the end,” he said. “If you are a fan of ER, you won’t want to miss this one.”

The following week, on Thursday, April 9 at 10 p.m. ET, viewers are transported from the Chicago’s ER to the beaches of Malibu and the streets of East Los Angeles in the premiere of SOUTHLAND. The fast-moving drama takes viewers inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims, and their families. John Cooper, (Michael Cudlitz, A River Runs Through It) is a seasoned Los Angeles cop assigned to train young rookie Ben Sherman (Benjamin McKenzie, THE O.C.). Cooper’s honest, no-nonsense approach to the job leaves Sherman questioning whether or not he has what it takes to become a police officer.

Cudlitz and McKenzie are joined by an accomplished ensemble cast of characters. Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King, Ray, Jerry Maguire) lives with and is the primary caregiver of her mother. Her partner, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, Boiler Room), is an unhappily married father of three. Detective Daniel ‘Sal’ Salinger (Michael McGrady, The Thin Red Line) oversees fellow gang detectives Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro, UGLY BETTY) and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy, Alpha Dog). Chickie Brown (Arija Bareikis, Crossing Jordan) is a patrol officer and single mom who dreams of being the first woman accepted into SWAT.

SOUTHLAND is a John Wells Production in association with Warner Bros. Television. Garnering worldwide acclaim for his work on both stage and screen, Wells has received several awards, including six Emmy Awards for his work on THE WEST WING and ER combined. Wells, Ann Biderman (NYPD Blue) and Chris Chulack (ER, THIRD WATCH) serve as executive producers. Biderman is the creator and Chulack will also serve as director of the series.

CTV picks up Southland - Viewers.ca Discussion Forums

New promo:


Behind the Badge

It's not about the uniform or the badge, it's about who gets the job done. Southland premieres April 9.




The promo on the nbc site: NBC Video Library - Behind the Badge - Video - NBC.com

Ben in a Short Film

Credit: posted by finlee on ben_support

Ben is in a short film called "Eighth Percent" which is at the Tribeca Film Festival's Delta's Fly in Movies Competition. You can view the film on the site as well as vote for it.

To see the film go to: https://www.delta.com/marketing/flyinmovies/index.jsp

Or activate the link from Tribeca Blog where they announce the competition, the author writes:
"We've seen them all, and there are some fabulous surprises: one features the excellent Benjamin Mckenzie (The O.C., Junebug), and we several will pull at your heartstrings"

Tribeca Film - Blogs - Rate: Delta's Fly-In Movies Competition







Go vote for Ben's movie you guys!

Word of advice when voting - make sure to vote for the other videos as well. We don't know how they are determining who wins - it may not be the number of votes but the average. You may not be able to vote again for Ben's film, but you will be able to vote for the ones you left blank.

Thanks for that!
I hope we get new candids soon. hihihi