Denise Faye (far left) and me from our 1992 B'way production of Guys & Dolls

I just finished shooting BURLESQUE, where I played Cher’s ex-husband and business partner. Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell, Julianne Hough, and the best dancers in the business make up this great cast.

Cher and I worked together in Robert Altman’s movie THE PLAYER almost 20 years ago. She had a great cameo as my date and the only woman in a red dress at the big Hollywood opening. She looks amazing and we had a great time. The musical numbers look really exciting too.

Denise Faye (NINE, CHICAGO) and former Hot Box Girl from GUYS AND DOLLS, choreographs. Steven Antin directs for Screen Gems and I can ‘t wait to see it.

I could say all the same things about my pal Denis Leary’s great show on FX, RESCUE ME. I had about as much fun as you’re allowed to have at work while working with Denis and his company. He and Evan Reilly wrote one of the best parts I’ve ever had – Father Phil, a Catholic priest – hope I didn’t screw it up!

BETTY ANN WATERS, a film starring Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell and directed by another talented pal, Tony Goldwyn, will be released this year by Fox Searchlight who did such a good job on ADAM last year. BETTY ANN WATERS is a powerful, true story about the lengths a sister went to free her innocent brother. I play Innocence Project founder and a hero of mine, Barry Scheck. Juliette Lewis, Melissa Leo and Minnie Driver also star. I saw a lot of amazing work on this one from everyone. Tony and I have been friends since the early ‘80s where we were on stage in Pride and Prejudice (with Jane Kaczmarek) and then  started our families at the same time while living across the street from each other. He’s a really talented actor and a wonderful director too.

Also just found out that the pilot I did about the CIA in September, COVERT AFFAIRS for The USA Network, got picked up. It also stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Kari Matchett. We begin shooting again in April. Dave Bartis and Doug Liman, who I met during the first season of THE OC, are producing and bringing together some terrific and terrifically talented people – it’s a group you’re happy to be part of.

I don’t think there’s anything better in my line of work than good work with good people – probably not too much different from any other line of work.

Adam

I had high hopes for this little movie after seeing it last month. It’s an exciting thing when a wonderful script becomes a wonderful movie and especially exciting when it has a chance to find an audience. Fox Searchlight, the best in the Indie business with films like THE WRESTLER, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, JUNO, SIDEWAYS and others has picked up worldwide rights to ADAM and will distribute it theatrically in 2009. In what seems to be a continuing theme of revisiting places and people. At dinner during the festival, I had the great, good fortune to be seated near some of my film family from over the years: Claire Danes and Rose Byrne have been my daughters, Jon Tenney, a cousin. The beautiful and talented Erica Alexander whom I’ve known since she was a beautiful and talented little girl. Charlyane Woodard, an extraordinary solo theatre artist, and I made our Broadway debut together in HAIR. If I go on anymore, it’ll sound odd. Suffice to say, it was a small world in Sundance.

Speaking of film family: also at Sundance was a special 20th anniversary screening of “sex, lies & videotape” which Andie McDowell, Laura San Giacomo, Steven Soderbergh and myself attended. Everybody looked great and the movie really held up with time – although tame in comparison to what is available to all on the net.

After seeing the movie again for the first time in 20 years I realize better than ever why so many people thought I was such an asshole – it was a great part to play. After the film was released, my wife and I were having dinner in LA right next to Sean Penn who graciously congratulated me on my performance and said “I wanted to meet the only other guy in Hollywood hated more than me.” I was in good company.