Inside the Steamy Second Season of Starz’s Outlander

When Outlander returns on Saturday, April 9 fans will find themselves a long way from 18th century Scotland, the setting for (most of) Season 1. “It’s a completely different show in look and feel,” executive producer Ronald D. Moore says of the sophomore season. “We’re in Paris, with gilded candelabras, tapestries, the French aristocracy, the court of Louis the XV in Versailles. And there are lots of dark forces [at work].” Starz’s romantic time-traveling drama will still feature its trademark action, romance and intrigue, but the show’s swoon-worthy lead characters, Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) will face new challenges both political and personal. “The plotting [to provoke historical change] doesn’t bring out the best sides of Claire and Jamie,” Balfe says. “They are playing duplicitous roles, befriending people and using that information. Their honeymoon is over.”

Also in this issue:

• TV’s Hottest Couples: Claire and Jamie aren’t the only dynamic duos steaming up TV. From The Walking Dead’s #Richonne to Arrow’s #Olicity, there’s plenty to keep our pulses racing.

• Garry Shandling: Senior critic Matt Roush pays tribute to the groundbreaking comedian.

• American Idol: As the iconic reality competition gets ready to sing its final note, we look back on 15 seasons of a TV phenomenon.

• Confirmation: Kerry Washington—who knows a thing or two about scandal—stars as Anita Hill in HBO’s dramatization of the 1991 Senate battle over Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

• Madam Secretary: Erich Bergen and Patina Miller take us on a behind-the-scenes tour of their CBS Beltway drama.

• The Real Housewives of Dallas: Meet the larger-than-life cast of Bravo’s newest edition to the reality franchise.

• Plus: Fear the Walking Dead, Little Big Shots, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., House of Lies, General Hospital’s Jane Elliot and more.

Hugh Laurie Returns: The House Star is Back on TV in a Big Way

Four years after House delivered its final diagnosis, Hugh Laurie is back on TV—in a big way. His new AMC series, The Night Manager, premieres April 19, plus he returns to HBO’s Veep later this spring, and he’ll also headline the upcoming Hulu series Chance. Laurie admits that the grueling House schedule and his commitment to perfection didn’t bring out the best in him. “I used to think that if a thing isn’t painful, then you’re not doing it right,” he says. “That is such a pain in the ass for everybody else. I’m sure I was an absolutely horrible person to work with. Grumpy. Obsessive. Mildly paranoid.” But he felt compelled by the challenge of The Night Manager, a miniseries adaptation of John le Carré’s novel, playing Richard Roper, a morally bankrupt arms dealer opposite Thor star Tom Hiddleston. “Villainy is a well-trodden path,” Laurie says. “So what would the ‘worst man’ look like? How would you represent that? I thought it was an interesting challenge.”g

Also in this issue:

• Spring Preview: A look at some of the best new shows coming, including ABC’s latest TGIT drama The Catch; Aaron Paul’s Hulu thriller The Path; the Netflix comedy The Ranch, which reunited That ’70s Show alums Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson; and more.

• The Walking Dead: What to expect as Season 6 comes to a close.

• Plus: Dancing With the Stars, Quantico’s Marcia Cross, the Supergirl/The Flash crossover event; Empire’s return and more.

NCIS: 300 Episodes and Counting

What began as a risky JAG spinoff that didn’t want to be confused with CSI has grown into one of TV’s most formidable franchises. CBS’s NCIS—now in its 14th season and closing in on its its 300th episode (airing Tuesday, March 15)—is the most-watched drama on U.S. television, a cable rerun blockbuster and an international hit (airing in 200 markets). To mark the milestone, we talked to stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauly Perrette, their castmates and executive producers about the show’s unlikely road into TV history.
Also in this issue:

• The X-Files: Exec producer Chris Carter breaks down that cliffhanger finale and talks about what might be next for Mulder and Scully.

• Dowton Abbey: Ahead of the series finale, the stars of the British hit look back at six seasons of upstairs and downstairs drama.

• The Passion: On the scene in New Orleans as Fox preps its next musical, a star-packed take on the greatest story ever told.

• The Americans: Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell and Holly Taylor reveal top-secret intel on FX’s twisty ’80s espionage thriller ahead of Season 4.

• T.R. Knight: The Grey’s Anatomy alum opens up about his dark new role in Hulu’s time-traveling adventure 11.22.63.

• Grimm: In honor of the supernatural series’ 100th episode, star David Giuntoli borrowed our camera for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

• Plus: Bates Motel, Nashville, Marvel’s Daredevil, Castle‘s Toks Olagundoye, The Young and the Restless‘ Eric Braeden, March Madness, the season finale of How to Get Away With Murder and more.

The ’80s Issue: The Goldbergs Go Dirty Dancing

Nobody puts The Goldbergs in the corner. The 1980s set ABC sitcom is having the time of its life with this year’s big movie homage, Dirty Dancing. “My whole childhood was filtered through movies,” says series creator Adam F. Goldberg (who has based the show on his own rambunctious family). “That’s how I related to the world. For this episode, I looked to my mom. This was her movie. My memories of Dirty Dancing are me being dragged to it and her watching it over and over.”

Also in this issue, our celebration of all things ’80s:

• Soaps Hunks Everlasting: We gathered six suds stars for a candid conversation about their ’80s stardom and how they’ve managed to survive—and thrive—after all these years: Doug Davidson (The Young and the Restless), Don Diamont (The Bold and the Beautiful), Michael E. Knight (The Young and the Restless), A Martinez (Days of Our Lives), Stephen Nichols (Days of Our Lives) and Kin Shriner (General Hospital).

• John Stamos: The Grandfathered star revisits at the shows that led him to TV stardom, including General Hospital and Full House.

• Fashion Rewind: From Miami Vice to Dynasty, a look back at the iconic looks from the era of excess.

• The Ultimate ’80s TV Quiz: Never mind who shot J.R.—how many people watched the biggest Dallas episode ever?!

• Plus: Fuller House, The Walking Dead, Blindspot, Rosewood, Once Upon a Time and more.