With the first episode of Season Two premiering this week, there’s just enough time for fans of Leverage (the action-filled hit series about a Robin Hood-like team of professional thieves and con artists that devise elaborate schemes to steal from the corrupt rich in order to give millions of dollars they recover back to the bad guys’ victims) to catch up on the do-good crew’s swindling, double-crossing antics and cons from Season One.

On the eve of Season Two, Timothy Hutton talks with Earl Dittman about what he believes made Season One successful. He also explains why an Oscar-winning actor like himself doesn’t mind working on the small screen, confesses if he ever wanted to take revenge on someone in his personal life, and reveals what Leverage aficionados can expect from the upcoming season. Plus: this week’s DVDs and Blu-rays after the jump.

In Leverage, Academy Award-winning actor Timothy Hutton (who took home an Oscar early in his career in 1980 for the Robert Redford-directed Ordinary People) stars as Nate Ford, the leader and mastermind behind a specialized team of thieves, computer experts and con artists who fight corporate and governmental injustices and champion the little guys and the honest citizens. Determined to right all wrongs, Nate sets up the Leverage Corporation and enlists the expert talents of Sophie (Gina Bellman of the British comedy Coupling), a woman of many disguises; the muscle of the group, Elliott (Christian Kane from Angel); the infiltrating, break-in artist Parker (Beth Riesgraf of Alvin and the Chipmunks) and Hardison (Aldis Hodge from Friday Night Lights), the coolest, hippest computer hacker you’ll ever meet.

Is there a lot of Nate in you or a lot of you in Nate? Are you as organized, as punctual, as controlling, as much of a perfectionist as he is or when you go to work on the Leverage set are you putting on a Nate Ford suit?

“I am putting on a Ford suit. And then I am putting on a suit beyond the Ford suit when he plays different parts as part of a con. But no, I am not like him. I mean, he is a pretty exhausting person. I mean, way too in control of everything, and he really thinks he has the answer to everything – but he’s not an open book at all. It is really, really interesting to play him but no, I am different than Ford. There is a different way in which the character communicates and deals with people than myself. I am much more about being with people and talking with people about experiences. I am not as cautious and closed off. Ford is all about the work and wanting to get it done and getting it done a certain way. So, there is definitely a difference.”

Do you think that the success of Leverage is tied – at least a little bit – into what is going on in the real world today? Is it more satisfying to see the big bad CEOs go down today or do you think that we would enjoy the show just as much if the country were riding high and everything were groovy?

“I think there might be an element of that. But I think also that that has also been the case with stories having to do with taking down the hustling and the hustlers and taking down the con artists by being one and helping out people who have been ripped off. And that has always been a theme that people identify with. Probably it resonates more now because some of the stories we are doing are kind of ripped from the headlines. And there is just so much material out there that is actually happening.”

For instance?

“Well, we are doing a show this year about a Bernie Madoff-type character who is under house arrest. And the team needs to get into the guy’s penthouse apartment, and we come to know that the only way that the guy is allowed to leave his apartment during house arrest is if there is a school event at his kid’s school that the kid is participating in. So we kind of take over the school and create an event just to get the guy out of the apartment so that we can get in and get what we need. So, it is shows like that, that people say, ‘Oh, that is just like that guy so and so.’ And that certainly makes the show seem kind of current and fun and a reflection of the unfortunate things that are going on out there.”

In the first season, it’s almost as if the show actually anticipated some of the headlines which was good for Leverage?

“I think so, too. I think that that is absolutely true. I mean, the writers are completely giddy with some of the things they came up with that have turned out to be right on the money.”

Has there ever been a time in your own life where you wish you could have exacted revenge, like your character of Nate? Maybe you wanted to get back at somebody for cutting you off on the road. Anything like that?

“I don’t know. No, I have never really experienced that before. I mean, sure, we have all had people cut us off on the road before, you wondered why it happened and you cannot believe it. It always happens at the worse time, too, when you are late for somewhere. I mean, there have been situations in my life where a family member has been wronged in some way and every avenue is tried and it gets frustrating and you wish there was a Leverage type of team that you could go to. So, yes, I think everyone has experienced that. And I think that is the appeal of the show – that everybody has felt a kind of helplessness, a kind of frustration at getting taken advantage of, getting ripped off, getting schemed and wanting to do something about it. So that is what makes a lot of different possibilities for the writers to come up with these stories.”

The characters on Leverage all have unique talents that they contribute to getting the job done. If you did not play the mastermind, which one of the other’s abilities would you want to portray?

“That is a fun question. I think that the Parker character is a lot of fun. I think Nate is most like the Parker character in many ways. Parker was kind of behind the scenes, a break-in artist, an infiltrator. Parker knows how to get into any kind of situation and out, more importantly. I think that would certainly be a fun part. But they are all fun parts – the [Dee] Hardison, the computer guy, the hacker; Sophie Devereaux is the master grifter and master of disguise; and of course Eliott, the bad-ass muscle, takes care of the security and all that for the team. So, they are all great. But I would probably say Parker would be the most fun, yes.”

You’re an Oscar-winning actor and famous for being in classic films who has come to cable and found a lot of success doing it. From your perspective, is there is no longer a stigma attached to being a film actor who does TV, because so many of you have found real success doing this in really interesting well-written parts being on TV?

“I have never felt any kind of stigma, personally. I remember before I did Ordinary People, I did a television. I did a couple television movies – Friendly Fire, The Best Place to Be and a couple of others – and then I did Ordinary People. When Ordinary People was done, I think a movie I think I was called And Baby Makes Six with Colleen Dewhurst and A Long Way from Home with Brenda Vaccaro and Rosanna Arquette. For me, there was no difference, I mean, obviously, I was aware of the difference in terms of where they would be shown. Ordinary People obviously was in a theater and television movies are at home, but as far as working on them – it was just good material. I have always kind of gone back and forth – done television film or did the Nero Wolfe thing. I did a year on Kidnapped, which as it turned out that is all it was going to be, but I was only ever going to be on it for a year. You just go where the material is. As far as TNT (Leverage’s US network), I think they attract good talent because of their commitment to the material and the way they allow the people that are making the shows to follow through on the vision of the show and not meddle too much. They are very smart about material. So the notes they do have are right on and entirely consistent with the first meetings where the creators of the show and the people on TNT agreed on what the show would be about and what the tone would be. But as far as stigma, I do not know? That seems to have gone away a long time ago. People gravitate towards strong material. And right now some incredibly strong material is being done on cable.”

Since you won an Oscar at such a young age, now that you are older, do you think it affected your career in terms of roles you were offered or even did it maybe even effect how you portrayed the roles that you were given?

“No. I don’t. I mean, for the second part of what you just asked, I really do not think that it affected how roles were played. I did everything to put that experience of the Academy Award and all that behind me and to only associate it with a movie, not a career. I did not feel like I was in any better position of knowing what I was supposed to be doing than I was before all that. I knew that the best way to approach work would be to look at it as the first time, which of course it was. Anytime I stepped into a new role, it was the first time I was doing that role. And anything from the past, any recognition – whether it be in the form of the Academy Award or anything else – really had to be left behind or put somewhere else, and to certainly and surely be enjoyed, but to be put in perspective. In other words, if you are walking around with a toolkit, the toolkit should not change form when you first start out all the way through – 20 years later or 30 years later. And if you win a couple of trophies on the way, you do not keep them in your toolkit because they are not tools. I hope that kind of made sense.”

At the beginning of Season Two, Nate is no longer drinking, he is kind of out of the game and he is minding his own business. Obviously, he gets pulled back in. Can you talk about his journey this season and how we are going to see him change in terms of his sobriety and him wanting to be involved in this because he is reluctant this time?

“Well, he is having a hard time getting back with the team. He is not sure if that is a road he wants to go down again. He has moved back to Boston and quit drinking, and he has got a lot of things behind him. He feels like he has tied up a lot of really important loose ends. That is where you find him in the second season.”

So, how does Nate get back involved again?

“When he finds himself in a situation with the others to do one last job, he realizes he kind of missed them, and he kind of missed the thrill of getting even with some bad, bad guys and hustling the hustlers. As far as the drinking goes, the second season is really all about staying off the bottle. It is hard for him but while drinking used to be something that allowed him to escape and kind of self-medicate, now the idea of drinking represents something terrifying to him and that is the thought of getting lost and getting out of control. So he has replaced what the bottle did for him, what alcohol did for him in the first season where he could sort of tune out and drift away and not have to deal with things. Now the addiction is I need to be in control…almost too much. And as the season goes on, I think it is cause for concern to the rest of the team.”

Nate and Sophie are clearly turned on by each other. Where do you think that might go without giving away too much? Where would you like to see them go, if anywhere?

“At the end of the first season, as far as with Nate and Sophie’s relationship, it became complicated due to the arrival of Nate’s ex-wife. Not because there was still any kind of romantic spark between Nate and his ex-wife, but I think it made Sophie realize that she has invested a lot of time and energy into a man who has a lot of complicated baggage – things that he needs to figure out. And Season Two opens with a woman who perhaps has moved on from Nate – talking about Sophie – she has moved in another, different direction in terms of relationship. This is something that will be part of the first part of the second season, because we are going to be, of course, premiering July 15th and we are going to be showing seven – it will be seven episodes and then there will be a break, and then we will continue with the remaining eight, for a total of 15. So the Nate and Sophie relationship is explored and comes to a very interesting kind of place by episode Seven.”

Are there any plans for you to direct any episodes of Leverage?

“No. It is something that I really, at this point, do not really want to do. I am very happy to be playing the part of Nate and being part of this group, this team. And, the onset relationships and onset dynamics and chemistry between the five of us is really quite solid, and we really enjoy being around each other and being actors in this show. I would feel, I think, at least at this point, until now and beyond until…my feelings change about it, that things would perhaps change and not necessarily in any kind of…I do not mean to suggest a negative way at all. But I do not know that I want to step outside what is feeling so good right now. And we have had such terrific directors. And having done the directing/acting thing in the same piece with Nero Wolfe, it is quite exhausting. I am enjoying just playing Nate right now.”

Leverage: The First Season DVD Bonus Features: Audio commentary; five behind-the-scenes featurettes on the making of the show, the cameras, stunt fighting and the show’s renewal, plus Beth Riesgraf’s Crazy Actress Spoof and deleted scenes.

NEW ON DVD:

The Haunting in Connecticut

Another “based on a true story” ghost story, The Haunting in Connecticut — starring the eternally gorgeous Virginia Madsen – recounts the 1987 events surrounding the demonic possession of a young boy and a family’s encounter with supernatural forces. Problems begin for the Campbell family when they move into a suspiciously cheap Victorian home in upstate Connecticut. It’s not until after the family moves in that they discover the house’s disturbing history as a former funeral home where unspeakable acts took place. As the haunting begins, they also find out that Jonah, the clairvoyant son of the house’s original owner, was a demonic messenger who helped the dead crossover. Hell literally breaks loose when Jonah returns home with a couple of unfriendly spiritual entities. Also starring Martin Donovon (Weeds) and Elias Koteas (Benjamin Button), The Haunting in Connecticut comes on Blu-ray and on a special 2-disc DVD. The bonus features on the unrated version include a documentary of the actual exorcism that took place in the house, three featurettes, audio commentary, deleted scenes and the original theatrical trailer.

Mad Men: Season Two

Never before has the Golden Age of advertising looked as sexy, devious and glamorous as it does on Mad Men, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning drama about the ego-centric men and women who try to survive in the dog-eat-dog 1960’s ad world. With leading man Jon Hamm (as the charismatic and mysterious Don Draper) at the helm, the lines between truth and lies and appearance and reality continue to blur in Season Two. This time around, though, the ad team at Sterling Cooper are having trouble keeping their pace and staying on top. And, with Don’s secret identity now revealed, his private life is becoming more and more complicated. It looks as though his brittle, illusionary world is on the brink of collapse. Timed to coincide with the beginning of Season Three, the Mad Men: Season Two Blu-ray and DVD contain all 13 episodes and extensive commentaries and innovative featurettes. And, for collectors, Season Two is packaged in a limited edition sleek shirt box with a see-thru window.

The State: The Complete Series

A groundbreaking comedy series that originally aired in the 1990s, The State is still one of the most underrated sketch comedy series ever created. Witty and often outrageous, The State was conceived as MTV’s foray in the then untapped comedy genre. Early Generation X’ers were entertained with some of the funniest and most incredible slapstick and sarcastic humour by a young, ensemble cast of 11 comedians that would go on to work on such projects as Reno 911, The Ten and the cult classic movie Wet Hot American Summer. A box set with four discs filled with all of the episodes from The State, commentary, interviews and outtakes, this DVD collection also comes with a fifth bonus disc that includes the pilot episode, 90 minutes of never-before-seen sketches, promos, and special appearances.

The Color of Magic

A film adaptation of the first two books in author Terry Pratchett’s bestselling Discworld series – The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic — this film introduces viewers to a wizardly and whimsical world where nothing is what it seems. Somewhere between Harry Potter, The Lord Of The Rings – with a hint of Monty Python and the Holy Grail – The Colour of Magic tells the story of an incompetent student of wizardry, (David Jason) who is thrown out his magic school in Discworld, and is given the task of helping a naive tourist (Sean Astin) make his way through the city state. When a horrible fire forces the twosome to flee, they begin an enchanting journey across the world (a magical board game played by the Gods). Narrated by Brian Cox, The Colour of Magic also stars Tim Curry and Christopher Lee.

Bewitched: The Complete Eighth and Final Season

One of the most beloved sitcoms in television history, Bewitched (which first aired in 1964, and lasted for eight seasons and a total of 256 episodes) would transform Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha), Dick Sargent (Darrin #2), Agnes Moorehead (Endora) and David White (Larry Tate) into cultural icons. In it’s final magical season, which featured guest appearances from Alice Ghostley, Melissa Sue Anderson and Julie Newmar, the Stephens family headed to Europe where they met up with Henry VIII, the Loch Ness Monster, and Punch and Judy. Darrin ends up at the top of the Eiffel Tower, while Endora confesses that it was her, in a fit of rage, who caused the tower of Pisa to lean. Nominated for 22 Emmy Awards (winning three), Bewitched was not only a ratings hit but also a favourite with the critics.

Grey Gardens

When documentary filmmakers Albert and David Maysles told the original story of “Little Edie” and “Big Edie” Beale, two charming eccentric relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in their 1975 documentary Grey Gardens, the two women – a mother and daughter who lived in squalor and near isolation in their decaying 28-room Hamptons mansion – rose from virtual obscurity to become cult icons. Earlier this year, 35 years after the release of the original documentary, Drew Barrymore and two-time Academy Award winner Jessica Lange brought the two Edies back to life for the dramatic film Grey Gardens, a heartbreaking story about their early lives together and the filming of the original documentary. Spanning four decades, and using the documentary as a framework, Grey Gardens chronicles the downward spiral of Big and Little Edie – from rich socialites in the ‘30s to their descent into poverty and possible madness in ‘70s – and not least, their rescue by their relative Jackie O. The DVD includes an audio commentary and a featurette comparing and contrasting the film with the original 1975 documentary.

Beach Kings

A pure, sun-baked dose of adrenaline, Beach Kings is a revealing peek inside the hard-hitting world of professional beach volleyball. In Beach Kings, David Charvet portrays a former college basketball star whose glory days may be behind him, unless he can snag a spot on a pro volleyball tour. Still a gifted, top-notch athlete, he’s hungry to play again and he’s ready to become romantically involved with a smart and charming beach beauty. However, his mysterious past continues to hold him back. Featuring cameo performances from real-life volleyball superstars Mike Lambert, Stein Metzger, Misty May-Treanor, Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, Beach Kings is a fast-paced drama spiced with both action and humour.

ER: The Complete Ninth Season

Created by the late, bestselling author Michael Crichton, the 11th season of ER continues to explore the turmoil of Chicago’s public hospital emergency room and the lives of its devoted doctors who must make split-second decisions that determine life or death. The hard-working staff finds themselves in the throes of love affairs, promotions and oversea assignments. This riveting season introduces audiences to new staff member Dr. Ray Bennett (Shane West) and waves goodbye to ER mainstay Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) as he decides to leave County General to pursue professional opportunities in Africa. In addition to watching the County General doctors and nurses struggle to find balance as they tackle the demands of their jobs and personal lives, viewers are treated to bonus features including “Outpatient Outtakes” and unaired scenes.

NBA Champions 2008-2009 LA Lakers vs Orlando Magic

With Kobe Bryant leading the team this year, the LA Lakers franchise scored their 13th NBA title. With words of wisdom from coach Phil Jackson and a championship season filled with great plays from Paul Gosol, Lamr Odom and Andrew Bynum, this DVD takes fans courtside to relive all the excitement of an unforgettable season. Also filled with interviews, highlights, and insights, NBA Champions 2008-2009 LA Lakers vs Orlando Magic is an must-have addition to any basketball lover’s DVD collection.

NOW ON BLU-RAY:

The Towering Inferno

Filmed at the height of the disaster film craze in the early ’70s, The Towering Inferno is a wild action/adventure tale of a group of celebrities – Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, O.J. Simpson and Fred Astaire – who are stuck in a fire 170 stories from the ground, in a dangerously ill-designed skyscraper. Another classic in the vein of The Poseidon Adventure and Earthquake, the disc’s special features boasts seven new behind-the-scenes featurettes.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon • Curse of the Golden Flower • House of Flying Daggers

A well thought-out martial arts must-own triple feature, this amazing Blu-ray package includes director Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning adventure/romance Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and two visually dazzling tales from Hero director Zhang Yimou: Curse of the Golden Flower and House of Flying Daggers. Special Features: Three featurettes; bonus footage from the Los Angeles Premiere, and storyboard comparison.

I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
One of the few sequels that surpasses the original, this teen-angst killer-thriller starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Brandy, Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Mekhi Phifer, will have you screaming like a school girl at every twist and turn. Is the fisherman in the slicker (with that handy hook) really back? Or is someone closer doing the slicing and dicing? Special Features: A making-of featurette; Jennifer Love Hewitt’s music video for “How Do I Deal?”, and the original theatrical trailer.