"The Wire" star Robert F. Chew died on Thursday at the age of 52 as a result of cardiovascular disease. The heavyweight actor passed away in his sleep at his home in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was virtually an unknown actor before landing the role as drug kingpin Proposition Joe on the hit HBO drama in 2002. He starred in all five seasons of the series, which was set in Baltimore.

Chew also appeared in "The Corner" and "Homicide: Life on the Street" and HBO film "Something the Lord Made."
 
"The Wire" co-star Jamie Hector Tweeted on Friday: "I didn't want to believe this #RIP Robert F Chew, ...

Actor Michael K. Williams struggled through a major identity crisis after his hit TV drama The Wire wrapped in 2008 because he could no longer separate himself from his character.

The 45 year old portrayed Omar Little, a gang member who robs drug dealers for a living, and he credits the role with pulling him out of a deep depression brought on by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But, while the job gave him a new outlook on life, it led to his eventual downfall.

He tells New York Magazine, "When the character died, I didn't know how to let it go. When people screamed 'Omar' on the street, it ...

Fans just can't get enough of vampires. Today it's "Twilight," but not too long ago it was "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," which tops a new magazine list of the 25 Best Cult TV Shows from the past 25 years.

The Joss Whedon-helmed series ran for 144 episodes between March 1997 and May 2003, and is number one on Entertainment Weekly's new poll. The show was a mixture of drama, comedy, romance, action, and horror.

"Buffy" centered on the exploits of its titular vampire slayer, a mystical "Chosen One" living in Sunnydale, Calif., an idyllic small town situated atop the mouth to hell. Buffy (Sarah...

Ridley Scott’s Prometheus comes out this Friday, reminding us of the buzz that surrounded his original Alien film back in 1979. Much like he did with that film, Scott has cast this science fiction piece with well-established actors including Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, and Michael Fassbender. Fans of the HBO series “The Wire” or the BBC series “Luther” will be pleased to see Idris Elba take on the role as the captain of Prometheus, giving us a good excuse to dig up five fun facts on the sexiest man to ever work at Dunder Mifflin.

1) A working actor since 1999, it was...

The Wire star Dominic West will lead the way at the upcoming BAFTA TV awards after scoring four nominations with his creepy portrayal of British serial killer Fred West.

West's two-part drama Appropriate Adult, a reconstruction of the police investigation into the notorious murderer, has been unveiled as the top contender ahead of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' (BAFTA) TV Awards ceremony next month.

The show scored nods for Best Mini-series, Best Leading Actress for Emily Watson, Best Supporting Actress for Monica Dolan and Best Leading Actor for West, who will compete...

You know him as Mike Ross on USA's new hit original series Suits. As fantastic as he is on that show, that's just one part of what the multitalented Patrick J. Adams is up to. He's currently on stage starring in the Bootleg Theater production of Bill Cain's 9 Circles, extended through November 19.

And in January, you'll see him in an ensemble cast including Dustin Hoffman in the HBO horse-racing drama Luck, written by David Milch (Deadwood) and directed by Michael Mann (Heat).

Whether it's breaking new ground as the star of a TV series, starring and producing in a play, or fitting ...

Last week, I introduced you to Jesse Macht - a talented musician you should be listening to. If you're not convinced yet, I recently sat down with Jesse to get his story in his own words.

I've spent the past year on a journey of musical discovery, and Jesse - not just his music, but who he is as a person - is everything that I've come to love about the art. He's simply great at what he does, relying on hard work and passion rather than a gimmick or a technological advantage. In this world of lip-synched concerts and pyrotechnics, there's something to be commended about a musician comfort...

Take a trip back in time with BBC's The Hour, as the 1950's era news drama has now arrived on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Starring Romola Garai, Dominic West (The Wire) and Ben Wishaw (Brideshead Revisited), The Hour is a period drama following the establishment of a new current affairs program at the venerable broadcaster. A second series has already been ordered.

I must admit that I was not sold on The Hour as were many other critics. Though I had high hopes from the critical buzz, I found the first hour to be slow and muddled, and there was nothing in it that made me want to come back for more....

Clarence Clemons has died at the age of 69.

The world-renowned saxophonist recently suffered a major stroke and had initially reacted well to treatment but sadly passed away on Saturday.

As well as enjoying a successful solo career, Clemons was a regular in Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band and had also tried his hand at acting, appearing in TV drama The Wire.

He recently collaborated with Lady Gaga on the track "The Edge of Glory" from her latest album "Born This Way."

Check out the 'Big Man's' classic sax solo in "Born To Run"

Twilight star Kristen Stewart was the toast of Italy's Milan International Film Festival (MIFF) on Tuesday after winning the coveted Best Actress honor.

The actress, best known for playing Bella Swan in the vampire franchise, was picked for the top MIFF prize for her portrayal of a troubled stripper in Welcome to the Rileys.

The Wire star Aidan Gillen was named Best Actor for his performance in Treacle Jr., while Nadia Tass was voted Best Director for her drama Matching Jack.

Filmmaker Fenton Bailey picked up the Best Documentary accolade for Becoming Chaz, about pop legend Cher's tra...

British actor Idris Elba is planning to open a healthcare clinic in Sierra Leone to provide support for sick families in his father's homeland.

The Wire star was born in England to African parents and admits he's "embarrassed" he's never visited his dad's birthplace or his mother's home town in Ghana.

So he's putting together plans to boost healthcare in Sierra Leone by teaming up with a cousin to fund a medical unit in the country - and he's even considering helping the region's arts industry.

Elba tells Britain's Observer Magazine, "It's embarrassing. I have to go. There are plans, ...

"The Wire" actress Felicia Pearson has been denied bail following her drug bust on Thursday.

The star, who played narcotics dealer Snoop in the hit TV series, was arrested along with 37 other suspects during a raid by police in Baltimore, Maryland on an alleged drug ring.

During a hearing on Friday, a Baltimore Circuit Court judge ordered she be held without bail on charges of conspiring to sell heroin, in addition to counts of aiding and abetting.

Pearson is one of 22 suspects facing state charges following the raid.

The news comes hours after The Wire creator David Simon spoke out in ...

Idris Elba is bidding to replace Wesley Snipes in a fourth Blade movie.

The Wire star recently signed to star alongside Kenneth Branagh and Anthony Hopkins in Thor, the first film in a multi-picture deal with comic book movie makers Marvel.

Brit Elba is refusing to reveal the details of his agreement with Marvel bosses, but hints he's in line to land his own comic book adventure - and the Marvel-owned Blade is top of his list.

He tells Total Film, "I wouldn't mind having a crack at bringing Blade back, personally. But there's a couple of things there that they have... Luke Cage is... ...

Actor Dominic West has wed his college sweetheart in a romantic ceremony in Ireland.

The Wire star married Catherine Fitzgerald in front of their loved ones at Glin Castle, the bride's family home in Limerick, Ireland, on Saturday. Prior to the wedding, West said, "I'm so nervous I can barely speak," while Fitzgerald told reporters outside the ceremony: "I feel so excited, really happy, really thrilled. It's a fairytale."

The happy couple was also joined by West's co-stars from the hit cop show, Wendell Pierce, Andre Royo, Sonja Sohn and Doug Olear. Sohn says, "We had to be here for thi...

Dominic West dreads filming sex scenes - because he is frequently "star-struck" by his beautiful female co-stars. The Wire actor struggles with nerves before disrobing in front of his leading ladies, admitting he lacks the confidence to strut onto the set naked.

He tells Britain's Reveal magazine, "I felt self-conscious. Whenever I have a love scene with a beautiful woman, it is always me who's naked. I did it with Calista Flockhart in Midsummer Night's Dream and I was the idiot in Mona Lisa Smile, surrounded by all these gorgeous women such as Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal."

"I ha...

While ABC’s claim that Sunday’s LOST finale is “the Television Event of the Decade” may be a bit hyperbolic, there’s no denying the excitement... and anxiety… that surrounds the final episode of a beloved TV show. Rabid fans of any series demand not just closure, but emotional resonance. After all, we’re saying goodbye to good friends here, not just clearing space off the DVR schedule. With that in mind, here’s our list of the Six Most Satisfying TV Finales of All Time.

SEINFELD “The Finale” (1998)

Granted, the much-maligned two-part ending to the legendary show about nothing is not the f...

Apparently I was very grumpy last night, because even though the judges were mostly blown away by the talent pool in Dallas, I found the whole lot a bit lackluster.

That isn't to say there weren't a few diamonds in the Southwester rough, but mostly this was an audition show that had you wondering if any of the highlights would even move on past Hollywood Week.

Luckily, even when the auditions were lacking, we were treated to a heavy does of Neil Patrick Harris as judge. He did such a good job, that the producers only tacked on two commercial breaks worth of Joe Jonas.

Thanks goodn...

This week, we've brought you the Ten Greatest TV Shows, Songs, Albums and Movies of the Decade. Now it's time to roll it all into one with the Ten Greatest Entertainers of the Decade.

This was a decade where entertainment became increasingly fractured. With 500 channels 500 bazillion websites and every medium on-demand, bringing together any significant chunk of people to one thing was a true sign of greatness. In an era when nobody had to agree - making them agree took something beyond the level of entertainer we saw in the past.

With that in mind, here are the Ten Greatest Entert...

As the decade reaches its conclusion, you'll undoubtedly come across many lists. Lists that purport to tell you the best, the top, the cream of the decade as they relate to pop culture. You're also certain to come across many lists that claim to rank the "greatest" of the ten year period from 2000-2009. But what does that really mean?

"Greatest" should be something entirely different from what we usually associate with these lists. Mostly, these lists claim to rank the best - something that is only truly possible were a listmaker to, say, see every single movie in a given decade. If...

Since CNN has such a blast creating a report card to track the Presidency, we decided to have some fun with television. Which networks come out strong and which ones need to do better homework?

MAJOR NETWORKS

ABC: B

The Good: The dramas are what keep us coming back to ABC. Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, FlashForward, and V are worth looking forward to. The one comedy that stands out and may hold itself against NBC's stellar comedies, Modern Family, is worth a few episodes past the pilot.

The Bad: Dancing With The Stars is extremely popular, however sometimes too much of a ...

Lance Reddick stars in the hit FOX series Fringe as Agent Phillip Broyles who is the special agent in charge of the Fringe Division. Fringe is the arm of the government responsible for investigating crimes and science that the average agent or scientist wouldn't be able to grasp. Along the way they uncover things that seem out of this world, spectacular and intriguing beyond a doubt. Lance is not only an extremely talented actor who has been on some of the best television shows of the past decade in the form of The Wire, Oz, Lost and now Fringe, but he is also someone who can keep secret...

It's interesting, on the surface, that Fox Searchlight has released two films within two weeks of each other -- "(500) Days of Summer" and, now, "Adam" -- with the similar theme of "boy meets girl." Again, perhaps, on the surface. In reality, these films could not be more different. While "(500) Days of Summer" tugs at the emotions that everyone has felt at some point, "Adam" shows us what it's like to observe a relationship where one party does not quite even understand human emotion.

Adam (played by a pretty fantastic Hugh Dancy) has Asperger's Syndrome. A condition that's a form of Au...

Kiefer Sutherland's TV action/drama 24 is the most addictive series of all time, according to a new online poll.

More than 3,000 film and TV fans have placed 24, which stars Sutherland as federal agent Jack Bauer, at the top of a list of the most compelling shows ever, including Lost and Friends.

The program, which has been running since 2001, took the title of 'Most Addictive' with 19 per cent of the votes in the survey by LOVEFiLM.com.

The top 10 is as follows:

1. 24 - 19 %

2. Lost - 17 %

3. Friends - 10%

4. Heroes - 9%

5. The Wire - 7%

6. Doctor Who - 6 %

7. CSI - ...

The 2009 Emmy nominees will be announced Thursday morning and despite recent changes to the voting system, Emmy voters just can't seem to stray away from the same old outcome. Sure, 30 Rock gets showered with love, but how many more times does Mariska Hargitay need to make the cut?

Here are some names we'd like to see on the roster this year (in alphabetical order):

Big Love (HBO) - Ok Emmy voters, it's been three seasons. It's time to get over your aversion to the icky polygamy premise and embrace the TV bliss that is "Big Love." After a two year break (damn writers' strike!) the sh...

James Roday -- who plays Shawn Spencer on "Psych" -- joins us to discuss the upcoming fourth season (premiering August 7 on USA). Every so often we put a request on Twitter for reader questions for upcoming interviews, no one has come close to the amount of responses that James received. So, considering the circumstances, we asked James if he would like to answer a plethora of questions directly from his fans... a request he eagerly accepted where we, among other things, finally get down to what those pineapples are about.

Mike: Hey James.

James Roday: Hey, Mike, what's up, dude!

M...

Nominations for the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced Thursday, July 16. The Emmy Awards are a bit like the Gold Glove Award in baseball: There's no apparent reason behind the process of selecting recipients, and once you make the short list you're virtually guaranteed a spot for life.

Many blame the Television Academy's awkward way of determining television's best for the pallid variance between what's actually good and what the nomination list purports. Academy members (terribly busy producers, writers, directors and actors) are sent scant screeners by agents representin...

In the past few seasons for network TV, there have been a few shows that were destined for greatness from their very first pilot episodes: Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Lost and The Office.

That's it, that's the list. And of those six shows, one was cancelled due to low ratings ("Arrested Development"), one is on life-support ("Friday Night Lights"), and two were in danger after having lost their way - no pun intended, but "Lost" managed to find its way back while "Heroes" is struggling. "Housewives" still has its foundation of viewers but is...

Danny Boyle has scooped the top accolade at the Directors Guild of America Awards for his hit film Slumdog Millionaire.

Boyle beat out competition from Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Gus Van Sant (Milk) and Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The Best Director nod is a key indicator of possible Oscar success for Boyle later this month, who is up for the same nod, while the movie will compete in nine other categories.

Accepting his award onstage from directors Joel and Ethan Coen,...

Spike Lee and Tyler Perry are among the directors nominated at the upcoming NAACP Image Awards. The civil rights organization announced the nominations in three directing categories on Tuesday, with Lee and Tyler leading the pack.

Lee received a nod for best motion picture director with Miracle of St. Anna and will compete against Perry (The Family That Preys), Darnell Martin (Cadillac Records), Gina Prince Bythewood (The Secret Life of Bees) and Patrik Ian Polk (Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom).

In the TV comedy category, Kevin Sullivan was nominated for his work on hit series 30...

All this year we've used this space to chronicle the annals of pop culture. Specifically, whether or not certain members of this all-encompassing umbrella term are overrated or underrated.

The time has come to focus our microscope a little more sharply and turn our critical eye on the year that was.

So, here they are, the first annual All Overrated/Underrated Awards in the fields of music, television and film.

MUSIC

The "'Everywhere' by Michelle Branch" Award for Most Underrated Record of the Year:

The Winner is: "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) by Gnarls Barkley

...