Make A Difference Day
How do you bring together, for the first time, four of TV's hottest new stars? Give them a chance to talk about this week's hottest topic: volunteering.
Starting Monday, four major broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox -- will slip messages about service into more than 60 of your favorite shows: dramas, comedies and reality alike. It's the centerpiece of I Participate, a multiyear effort to encourage Americans to volunteer led by the Entertainment Industry Foundation -- Hollywood's leading charity.
Millions will turn this TV inspiration into real-life action next Saturday on Make A Difference Day. For nearly two decades, on the fourth Saturday of October, USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day has inspired millions worldwide to feed, clothe, house, teach and soothe their neighbors.
"There's strength in numbers," says actress Eliza Dushku, star of Fox's Dollhouse. "People can band together on Make A Difference Day and say 'together we can.' " She's one of four stars who gathered in Los Angeles to represent their shows, their networks and their own commitment to helping others. Joining her: Nathan Fillion of ABC's "Castle," Hayden Panettiere of NBC's "Heroes" and Hill Harper of "CSI: NY" on CBS.Dushku, 28, is just back from Uganda, where she met with the founder of THARCE-Gulu, a trauma healing and reflection center for former child soldiers. She used Twitter to spread the word about what she was doing there, hoping to get others to help, too.
That embodies the simple, powerful idea behind I Participate and Make A Difference Day: Studies show that nearly half of all people who volunteer started because they were asked to by someone they know.
Source: USA Weekend
Watertown’s Eliza Dushku right at home in Whedon’s ‘Dollhouse’
An extract from an interview with the Boston Herald is posted below; be sure to take the time to read the whole article!
This season Echo will begin searching for her true identity, which Dushku said is a treat for her to explore.
“She’s coming to understand her own ethics and morals. She’s thinking and she’s processing,” she said. “This year . . . there is something going on in Echo that you aren’t seeing on the surface.”
“Dollhouse” teetered on the brink of cancellation last season, but Whedon’s fervent fan base rallied to keep it on air.
“Ratings are obviously important, but . . . having a professor for a mother, she always taught us about qualitative vs. quantitative research,” said Dushku. “I know that we’re making a quality show and that we have quality fans and people that come to experience something different and out of the ordinary. . . . There are so many shows on TV that are instant hits, and we’re not that, but we have a core following.”
The Betty Interview: Eliza Dushku
There's a lovely interview online with Eliza, courtesy of BettyConfidential; my favourite quotes have been posted below, but don't hesitate to read it in full! 
As a former vampire slayer, which blood suckers are you more drawn to: True Blood or Twilight?
I love me some True Blood! I have the Twilight DVD, but I haven’t watched it yet. There must be something behind all the hype, though, right?What’s the one thing that really expresses who you are?
My tattoos. I have six. I have a hymn for my aunt on my hip, an Albanian double-headed eagle on my back (my dad’s Albanian), the word “Grace” on my neck for my grandma, a cross on my ankle for the little religious girl in me (it reminds me to pray), a beautiful feather on my ribs done by Kat Von D. which represents my aunt who was like a mother to me, and a Japanese cherry blossom, which reminds me to live each day to the fullest, because they bloom for such a short time.What motto do you live by?
“Go big or go home” is fundamental Eliza. That has always been my philosophy, and it probably always will.
Get fit with the stars of Dollhouse!
Thanks to Self.com we finally have information on the Eliza-Dichen joint feature in the October issue of Self magazine (Kristen Bell, Kristen Davis and Malin Akerman are on the cover) -- scans shall be added as soon as the magazine reaches my country -- the article & gallery link is posted below, enjoy!
Gallery Link
- From 2009 > Self
Joss Whedon is the TV writer when it comes to dramas that showcase girls kickin' butt (who wasn't motivated to hit the gym after watching Buffy's vampire slaying moves?). So it made sense to call up the actresses of his new series Dollhouse, now in its second season, for SELF's partner workout. Costars Eliza Dushku (a Buffy alum!) and Dichen Lachman toned together to show you how dropping pounds is better with a buddy.
Keep reading for the stars' shape-up secrets, and head over to the Fitness pages for a video demonstration. Don't forget to check out Eliza's and Dichen's moves in SELF's October issue, on newsstands September 22.
A Dollhouse Dream Wedding
There's a new short interview with Eliza by TV Guide Magazine about the season 2 premiere of Dollhouse, including a new episode still. The interview is posted below though be warned as it can be considered spoilery, but if you've already seen the episode stills, there's nothing new. 
When Dollhouse’s second season begins September 25, bells will ring as Battlestar Galactica’s Jamie Bamber guest stars as a wealthy businessman who marries Echo (Eliza Dushku) while she’s on assignment.
“I was really impressed with Jamie,” Dushku tells TV Guide Magazine. “He’s a gorgeous husband with [whom I got] great wedding pictures for my first time down the aisle.”
Despite an intense on-screen fight—“I found myself literally sobbing real tears,” Dushku says—the faux wedding day was not without some lighter moments.
“I took a picture and sent it back to my mom, and she called me, a bit flustered,” Dushku says. “In the past couple years, I’ve been getting the [marriage] question from her more than ever, so it’s nice that I could send her some pictures to tide her over.”
Dollhouse Stars Promise Racier Season 2
A short interview with TV Guide Magazine about what to expect from the upcoming season of Dollhouse -- there are some minor spoilers so beware -- sounds like a lot of fun!
It isn’t playtime in The Dollhouse anymore. Stars Eliza Dushku and Tamoh Penikett are promising that, after some growing pains in the freshman season, Dollhouse is darker, racier and rougher than ever for Season 2.
“I just finished episode 3 and I'm proud of the show already,” Dushku told TVGuideMagazine.com. “It's different, it's racier and it's deeper. We found that rhythm and now we're just blowing it out of the water.
“Everyone is really in their skin and comfortable playing around with the light and the dark,” she explained, noting series creator Joss Whedon nailed the show’s stride in its final first-season episode. “The cast all settled in to their roles, and then in the 13th episode things shot into the future and everyone got an idea where they might go - the dark places – and everyone came back with a confidence.”
That confidence meant a willingness to push the boundaries, action-wise: “I learned how to beat up boys using a private jet as a weapon,” she chuckles. “I beat these guys with a jet. I got married in one of the first episodes. I had beaucoup bruises and bumps and fights already.”
‘Wonder Women’ Panel
Several articles online have posted about the panel and provides some quotes from the Q&A session. An extract featuring Eliza's responses from MTV Movies Blog have been posted below; the other articles include Variety and EW -- which also features a short clip!
Dushku said thatshe and “Dollhouse” creator Joss Whedon have always seen eye to eye on the balance between sex appeal and female empowerment. The actress says it is all very "feminine and empowering, but sex is a part of all our lives. Why run from it?"
Has it gotten any better for women in film and TV?
Dushku name-dropped "Buffy" in her answer, leading to a brief pop from the crowd. She said the lack of strong roles is what drew her back to Whedon’s world, because she knew she could trust him to come up with a juicy opportunity for her.
The last question had to do with Wonder Woman, and why this iconic hero still doesn’t have a feature film! Superman has a movie, and Batman. Even the Green Hornet has a film due out for Pete’s sake. Where’s the love for Diana?
Dushku made a sly reference to several people taking a pass at a Wonder Woman script, but she thinks too many people are simply scared of messing it up.
Source: MTV Movies Blog