Patricia Arquette Keeps Her Cool

Patricia Arquette is taking it in stride that her "Medium" supernatural drama series is returning to the NBC lineup Nov. 15, rather than in January as initially expected. She also seems to have taken it in stride that the series was held for a midseason return in the first place. As she puts it, "I was the one trying to talk everyone else off the ledge."
 
She notes, "I knew what the network's plan was -- that if other shows weren't working, they were using us as an ace-in-the-hole kind of thing. Other people on the show were worried that it was a vote of no confidence -- even though our show had good numbers." ("Medium" is replacing the not-so-well-received "Kidnapped," which is heading to the Saturday night wasteland.)
 
Patricia says that a special two-part story -- in which her real-life husband, Thomas Jane, plays her character's ex-boyfriend -- will probably serve as "Medium's" new season launch, if the special effects work is done in time.
 
"He's such a spectacular actor, so charismatic," she coos. "You never know how it's going to be working with someone you know so well. It could be really awkward and uncomfortable. But it was really easy between the two of us. It's always been that way. I'm exactly the same when he's around as when he's not on the set; I'm never inhibited from being me. And it's the same for him."
 
Patricia admits her time with their daughter, Harlow, now 3, is scarce. "What I know now is, it's not a great show for a mom. I wouldn't recommend it. Then again, actors aren't usually in the pickiest position."
 
Patricia especially enjoyed restoring her energy and getting family time over hiatus, she says. "We went to Europe and it was really romantic. It was great to be with the baby every day -- a beautiful, beautiful time. And we ended up getting married," in Venice, Italy, in June.
 
FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT:

Former model Tyra Banks, who retired from the business last year, admits she was never as into it as it appeared. "I haven't missed modeling at all. Toward the end of my career, it was something that I did, but I didn't get a lot of pleasure out of it. I don't think I ever got a lot of pleasure out of it," she claims. "I saw it as a job where you go to work and go home. I got the most pleasure on the runway. I always say that I enjoy having modeled rather than actually modeling. Meaning that if I did a photo shoot and the picture came out great then I'd be like, 'Wow, that's great' rather than actually enjoying the process of taking the picture."
 
Banks certainly has a lot of other things keeping her busy these days with her daytime talk show and "America's Next Top Model." And that's not all. She has a children's movie in the works that she'll co-produce -- with Wendy Finerman, for Nickelodeon Films -- and in which she'll star. "I don't necessarily want to be an actor, but I do want to act sometimes," she says.
 
DOWN THE DRAIN:

Kate Winslet and Hugh Jackman provide the starring voices for the very fun animated "Flushed Away," due Nov. 3 -- so what's the craziest thing Kate's ever flushed away? "When I was 10 my older sister had been given makeup for her birthday, and I was jealous," admits Kate. "I wanted the pink lipstick, and she wouldn't let me borrow it … I took the pink lipstick, used it, and hid it by flushing it down the toilet … So there you go!"
 
OFF THE WALL:

Ronnie James Dio, voice of the multi-platinum-selling hard rock band Dio and one-time Black Sabbath lead singer, says he had a great time filming his movie debut in the Nov. 17 release "Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny'" with Jack Black. "I happen to be the poster on the back of the door, and he's talking to me, and then I come alive," says the recording star, who sings his part in the comedy with Black. "The whole scope of it is, even within the song, Jack throws some epithets at his father in a plaintive mood. It's very funny."
 
Black and Kyle Gass wrote the bit especially for Dio. They're fans who first met the singer three years ago when he invited them to appear in their Tenacious D personas for his "Push" song video. Dio, who recently performed throughout Russia, then traveled to Japan for Tokyo and Osaka concerts, and will next journey to India to play, laughs when asked about acting aspirations. "I'm sure after this stunning performance, I'll be inundated with calls to star in movies like 'East of Eden,'" he jokes. "No. I respect actors so much. I don't want to be like some ball player who wants to sing. I take it seriously. What actors go through in terms of training and rejection -- so much goes into being an actor that's so hard to take. I'm sure I'd be shouting back at people." As for himself, "I've got songs to sing, albums to write."

(With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster)