GALLERY LINKS:
- Dexter Season 5: Episode Stills
- Dexter Season 5: Trailer #01 Captures
- Dexter Season 5: Promo #01 Captures

GALLERY LINKS:
- Public Events: 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International – “Anti-Heroes” Panel
- Public Events: 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International – Backstage & Interviews
- Public Events: 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International – Dexter Panel
- Public Events: 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International – Dexter Party
- Photoshoots: 2010 – Entertainment Weekly

“I count myself lucky on so many fronts – and certainly in regards to the Hodgkin’s [lymphoma],” a fit-looking Hall, again sporting a full head of hair after his treatments, told People this week at San Diego’s Comic-Con International.

“It’s a real gift to be able to go back to work,” says Hall, 39. “One of the best things about it is that it emerged at a time when we were close to the end of shooting. I was able to treat it over the hiatus and it didn’t interrupt our production schedule, which, obviously, would have its effect on me, but it would have its effect on our cast, our crew, people who count on this family to keep making the show.”

“It was amazing to see the support,” concurred Hall’s wife – and Dexter costar – Jennifer Carpenter, “which he would offer back to any one of them at any second – and does. The cast and crew, we spend a remarkable amount of time together. We do know each other’s business, and there’s a lot of love kicking around that set.”

“Everybody was worried about him and then happy that he’s fine,” added Dexter‘s new executive producer, Chip Johannessen, who noted that Hall “sets the tone of the whole set.”

Costar James Remar, who plays a spectral vision of Hall’s father, said that seeing Hall back at work “makes me the happiest man on the planet. I love him. I’m just thrilled and inspired.”

Source: People

Is Julia Stiles Dex’s post-Rita rebound girl? Dexter leading man Michael C. Hall tackled that dicey season 5 question when he dropped by EW.com’s suite at the Hard Rock yesterday prior to the show’s panel at Comic-Con. The Emmy nominee also opened up about the concerns he had while filming season 4′s climactic bloodbath, previewed life after Rita and Trinity, acknowledged he’s already thinking about the series finale, and offered an update on his health (hint: It’s all good!). The complete interview is after the jump!

Additionally, Showtime premiered an exclusive trailer featuring scenes from season five of Dexter that offered fans in attendance a first look at the series that is currently in production. You can now watch the trailer and an “Anti-Heroes” spot below:

The video will probably be removed pretty quickly since Showtime is not yet releasing the trailer due to still-unresolved music-rights issues. Hopefully a proper HD release will come very soon.

Warning: These next few updates regarding Comic-Con will most likely contain heavy spoilers for the fourth, and upcoming fifth season of Dexter. Please keep this in mind while visiting the site over these next few updates. It is not my wish to spoil anyone. But constantly posting spoiler warnings is a bit daunting so kindly heed this warning!

Showtime brought some fresh Dexter footage to Comic-Con on Thursday with a Season 5 teaser that shows Michael C. Hall’s serial killer brought low. (mild spoilers follow).

This write up from the LA Times. Unfortunately, Showtime is not yet allowing online embeds of the video due to still-unresolved music-rights issues.

“It was me,” Dexter dazedly says at the crime scene, in an open-ended line that summoned plenty of curiosity at the panel devoted to the show. The montage also showed a provocative shot of the couple’s infant Harrison seated and crying in a large pool of blood.

Hall — now greeted at Comic-Con to the rafters-rattling cheers typically reserved for a conquering hero — said the nonstop twists had kept the series from growing stale, although he was disappointed by the exit of costar Julie Benz, who played Rita. “It’s as wide open a feeling and as new as it’s ever been,” the actor said of the show. “It’s a testament to our writing staff.”

Asked to pick a favorite guest star, Hall cited John Lithgow, who won plaudits last season for playing the Trinity Killer. He added jokingly: “I’ve enjoyed all the people I’ve killed.”

At an earlier panel (devoted to antiheroes in Showtime series, including Weeds and Nurse Jackie), Hall was asked how he felt about Dexter’s harsh brand of justice, the code that impels him to kill only those he feels deserve it. “If he just put up pictures of people and put a big X on their face, I don’t think it would be as interesting,” Hall said. “He kills arguably horrible people and that’s why we give him a pass.”

The awards will be presented live on NBC on August 29.

Drama series
Breaking Bad
Dexter
The Good Wife
Lost
Mad Men
True Blood

Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie, House
Matthew Fox, Lost
Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Also:
- Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series
- Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series (John Lithgow)
- Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Hello, Dexter Morgan)
- Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Drama Series
- Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series (The Getaway)

View the full list of nominations here.

Edit: Fixed with this year’s release, sorry about the mistake made earlier today. (I was half asleep and didn’t even notice it heh)

ANTI-HEROES OF SHOWTIME® — Our heroes have more fun.
Thursday, July 22 4:45PM – 5:45PM BALLROOM 20

DEXTER — What’s next for America’s Favorite Serial Killer?
Thursday, July 22 6:00PM – 7:00PM BALLROOM 20

There will also be some meet and greets with other Dexter stars at various times tomorrow so be sure to read the website and set your schedule accordingly.

G4 is following the coverage of Dexter on their website.

When Michael C. Hall took to the stage to accept a Golden Globe in January, it represented his first win after four nominations for his role as a serial killer on Showtime’s Dexter. Just a week earlier, with awards season then in full swing and his Globes appearance at the Beverly Hilton Hotel imminent, Hall was compelled to make a startling announcement: He was undergoing a battle with lymphoma. Though he joked backstage that the hat he wore to conceal the hair loss effects of his treatment gave him “a justifiable excuse for accessorizing,” he has kept his battle quiet. His wife and costar, Jennifer Carpenter, recently announced that the 39-year-old actor has “fully recovered.” In April, as Dexter began shooting its fifth season, which will begin airing in September, Hall shared his thoughts about America’s most lovable sociopath.

Why do you think Dexter as a character has connected with audiences, despite his objectionable actions?

I think audiences relish the opportunity to identify with these central, even glaring, flaws. I think all of us have a shadow that we carry around — whether it’s as formidable as one that inspires you to be a serial killer …. But I think there’s something on a metaphorical level that resonates with people.

Aside from the strict code that Dexter lives by, what else keeps him relatable either for you as an actor or for the audience?

For me, it’s always been about what separates him from the rest of the world that makes him interesting: He lacks authenticity. We all struggle with issues of our own relative authenticity or inauthenticity. We all know what it’s like to behave compulsively and just feel like we’re not really in a place of choice when it comes to certain behaviors. The fact that he does take responsibility for his affliction is something that I think is admirable in spite of how it manifests itself.

Is it the moral ambiguity that’s also attractive to the audience?

I think audiences sort of respond to being given more credit than they’re accustomed to when it comes to considering a character who operates in shades of gray, not black and white. That’s how most people experience their life.

Is it difficult to live with that character and his dark passenger when you’re shooting the show?

Toward the end of the season, we’re all kind of running on fumes but that would be the case no matter what the story was. Whatever goes along with it is welcome. It’s an occupational hazard that you take your work home with you to a degree, but I don’t ever get confused. [laughs]

Is there anything that you’re hoping to explore with Dexter in the next season?

Well, I’m certainly interested in going through the aftermath of the enormous mess that has been made of Dexter’s world at the end of the fourth season. And I think the relationship to the code, to the father, what happened at the end of the fourth season is sort of a revamped version of Dexter’s origin story. But in this case, he has some responsibility for what happened. I don’t know if that’s going to lead to his complete mental collapse — doubt it — or rehabilitation — I doubt that too. But how will he move forward? It’s the question that everybody who watches is probably pretty interested in.

The sociopathic side of Dexter seemed to be pretty in check during the last season with his idyllic suburban life. Do you think he’s progressed?

There is some sort of undeniable development or progression toward humanity, but I think that every step he’s taken on that front has been a pragmatic step, one that he needed to make in order to continue to live a life that allowed him to indulge in his primary compulsion. Yes, I think undeniably Dexter is someone who has taken unique responsibility for his darker impulses, not killing indiscriminately. And does experience what seems to be a genuine connection to at least the children in his world. It has so much to do with the way Dexter frames it. He has to frame that progression and that learning and those different kinds of behaviors within a context that allows him to continue to do what he does without ending up in an insane asylum.

Source: LA Times

Also, Jonny Lee Miller will join the sho next season for six episodes. Showtime said Miller will plays “a mysterious man who is intricately involved in the storyline with Julia Stiles’ character.” April Lee Hernandez and Maria Doyle have also joined the show for next season.

Michael and the beautiful wifey Jennifer Carpenter attended the South Pacific premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre a few days back. They really look great and I’m so beyond happy to see Michael out and looking good! Unfortunately I only managed to swipe a two small pictures, but maybe more will surface one day.

Lastly, some news regarding Dexter. It’s now been confirmed that Julia Stiles will join the fifth season. Also joining the new season is Shawn Hatosy who is coming in for a multi-episode arc. Entertainment Weekly adds that he will be playing “a bad guy”.

Sources confirm to me exclusively that Julia Stiles is in advanced talks to play a major, top-secret role in the show’s upcoming fifth season.

What role, you ask? No idea. But based on what new showrunner Chip Johannessen told me a few weeks back, it’s safe to say Stiles won’t be following in the footsteps of last season’s very scary guest star, John Lithgow.

“We’re not going to have a single Big Bad this season,” revealed Johannessen. “We don’t want to try and top John Lithgow, so we’re going to change up the forces that Dexter’s going to be dealing with.”

For more speculation about who she might play (with some spoilers!) read here at Entertainment Weekly.

There is still no confirmed date for when season 5 will begin, but I’m betting that come late next month we will be getting flooded with news because hopefully Dexter will get it’s regular panel at Comic-Con. And all past years have even debuted trailers for the upcoming season – so maybe that will even happen again!

The wife of Michael C. Hall says the Dexter star is “fully recovered” from cancer and has returned to work.

Jennifer Carpenter said Friday that Hall was “incredibly brave” when he announced in January that he was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymph nodes.

The 38-year-old Hall went into remission and continued treatment at a health facility near Los Angeles.

Source: The Associated Press

As you will notice he is wearing a wig to hide his hairloss from cancer treatment for the filming. The wig is a hi-tech $10,000 (£6,250). The wig is made entirely of human hair strands that have been sewn separately into the wig base. The whole thing is the best that money can buy and cost around $10,000, so producers have assigned specific crew members to look after the wig and keep it groomed between shots.”

East Fifth Bliss is about a guy in his mid-thirties watches as his life comically unravels after he enters into a relationship with the daughter of a former high school classmate.

GALLERY LINKS:
- East Fifth Bliss: On Set – April 19, 2010

Talk about guys we all know! As David Fisher, the repressed gay undertaker at the center of Alan Ball’s landmark series Six Feet Under, actor Michael C. Hall created a character that made us all nod in recognition. But the most interesting part of the character wasn’t where he started – it was where he ended up, and the journey he made getting there. The things he experienced, both alone and later with his partner Keith, made David easily among the most realistic, complicated, and satisfying gay television characters ever.

I also admit, in writing posting this news, I wanted an excuse for posting this clip, which is one of my favorites – in a list of many! (Uploaded by ‘jamminjer25′) Enjoy!

A lot of us are wondering what Dexter’s mindset will be at the beginning of Season 5. Will he be extra cautious or extra reckless? Hall joked around by saying “I was talking this morning to Sara (Colleton) and said ‘I don’t know, maybe Dexter should be in an insane asylum.’ But then I thought ‘No, Deb should be in the insane asylum.’ From all the trauma.”

Read the entire article here with lots of great insight into the next season and some quotes from Michael about his co-star John Lithgow.

At the event, Entertainment Weekly got the exclusive dish on season five of the series. Now some pretty heavy season 4 & 5 spoilers are discussed, but I decided to go ahead and read it myself as I would like to know the direction the show might take after the big big from the last episode of season 4. It answered my questions and I can definitely say I’m looking forward to the fifth season more than any of the past years! If you would like to get a peek into whats to come then check out the article here! If you wish to remain spoiler free, then avoid.

They also spoke a bit about Michael’s recovery and said:

“Michael’s in full remission. I just had a three-hour breakfast with him this morning. He’s in great shape and is getting his energy back. We are all very excited to get back to work. The guy is incredibly courageous and worked hard all through last season despite being sick. He’s an amazing human being and actor. It was scary, but the show will go on. We start shooting in late April or May, which is usual. We will not have to stall production.”

Finally, you can view the first photos I’ve found in the gallery. Everyone looks so great! Jennifer looks adorable in the photos too.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Public Events: The PaleyFest 2010 Presents Dexter

Hall will portray a 35-year-old whose static life comically unravels when he embarks on an awkward relationship with Larson’s character, the 18-year-old daughter of a former high school classmate. Liu plays an unhappily married neighbor.

Michael Knowles is directing. He adapted the script with Douglas Light from Light’s novel of the same title, which received the 2007 Benjamin Franklin Award for Fiction.

John Ramos and Knowles are producing for 7A Prods., and John Will is producing for Torn Sky Entertainment. Susan Leber also produces. Lensing is set to start in April in New York.

Knowles directed and wrote One Night, starring Melissa Leo.

Hall’s set to return to production for the fifth season of Dexter following completion of East Fifth Bliss. Larson co-stars on Showtime’s The United States of Tara, and her film credits include Greenberg and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Liu will make her Broadway debut in God of Carnage on March 2, starring with Dylan Baker, Janet McTeer and Jeff Daniels.

Source: Variety

Benz, who stars alongside Hall in Dexter, told Radar Online that the actor had initially decided to keep the news private because he didn’t want people to worry about him.

Speaking about Hall and his wife Jennifer Carpenter, she said: “It was caught very early and they didn’t want to make a big deal about it. They didn’t want people to worry about them.

“I think it’s a testament to their love that they lean on each other for support and they don’t need to lean on others.”

Benz added that Hall is improving, explaining: “He is doing fantastic, and I think it goes to show you that if you catch cancer early enough you can kick its ass and that’s exactly what he did.

“I do believe that with great healthcare and early detection that we can put an end to cancer. I think that’s why he came out and wanted to talk about it, because it really is about detecting it early.”

Source: Showbiz Spy

How about celebrating the day on his behalf by watching your MCH favorite performances. Perhaps a favorite episode of Six Feet Under or Dexter.

Lionsgate typically saves some of its moderately successful theatricals for January and February DVD and Blu-ray Disc releases, when major-studio menus are light. As a result, the mini-major is able to dominate the charts in those months, racking up significant sales and rentals.

Gamer debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart for the week, with the previous bestseller, Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself, another Lionsgate release, falling all the way down to No. 8.

Gamer also was the top-selling Blu-ray Disc release of the week, with Nielsen research showing that 31% of the title’s total first-week sales were on the Blu-ray Disc format.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

A couple of my favorite excerpts:

As for the folks back home in North Carolina.
“They like the show — at least that’s what my Mom tells me. I think it’s fun for them to see me. Honestly, I think some of my family members of a certain generation were more skittish about me playing a gay character on Six Feet Under than watching me play a killer. Now what does that say about the culture we live in that we can relate more to a murderous rage?”

He’d like to thank his mom.
“By the time I had decided to pursue acting, my father had passed away. But, my mother, thankfully, was by no means like a stage mom. She just basically said, ‘Okay. You do that.’ I’m sure she was biting her tongue thinking, ‘How are you going to pull it off? I mean the odds are so against you. Anyway, she gave me some good advice growing up like, ‘Showing up is 95% but don’t overstay your welcome,’ ‘Try not to be a burden on anybody,’ and ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’”