By Susan Hornik

DUCHOVNY’S PEN
He’s a two-time Golden Globe winner, a Princeton and Yale graduate, and a New York Times bestselling author. Is it any wonder David Duchovny is widely considered a Renaissance man?

The X Files alum has portrayed a wide range of thespian roles over the years, but the native New Yorker noted it’s writing that intrigues him the most. Duchovny has already penned five books, including his latest, an urban fiction novel titled The Reservoir

“Writing is the one place in all my art where I get to do it all by myself,” he told INDUSTRY on the eve of his panel at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival. “When I write, I’m like a soldier. It’s always the same; I’ll get up close to dawn, before the sun rises and I’ll drink coffee, which gives me a false sense of being really smart. I just go. And then I write for about five hours, to noonish. And then I’m done. And it feels really good. I really love that existence. Because when noon rolls around, I just feel complete and happy. Like I just did my work for the day.”

COUPLE’S CAMP
Showtime’s mega-hit Couples Therapy is back for a third season, bringing audiences into intimate therapy sessions with compassionate psychoanalyst Dr. Orna Guralnik. Her spot-on advice helps struggling couples navigate their communication issues.

“I learned a lot from doing the show,” Guralnik said at the Television Critics Press Tour. “I think I’m a better therapist having done this, seeing myself, seeing what works and what doesn’t, and kind of revisiting these sessions and thinking about them. But maybe even more so by talking about it so much with the directors. We have very, very deep conversations about the process…it made me much more accountable to myself.”

Guralnik said the most difficult aspect of being on the documentary series has been navigating the impact it has on her private-practice patients who have not consented to working with an analyst who is suddenly a public person. “This has burdened some and has been a complicated aspect of the work,” she acknowledged.

BRING YOUR APPETITES
Padma Lakshmi leads one hectic schedule. The Emmy nominated food expert, television producer, host, and New York Times best-selling author is the creator of the fascinating Hulu series, Taste the Nation, which is now in its second season and won a Critics Choice award last year. “I don’t want to divulge much (about season two), but I will say I am really excited for the stories and communities that will be featured,” she told INDUSTRY.

While she started as a fashion model, Lakshmi is obsessed with food. For the past 18 seasons, she has also hosted and executive produced Bravo’s globally recognized, two-time Emmy-winning cooking competition, Top Chef.

“We film Top Chef in a new city every season which helps a lot,” she noted. “We always think about regional specialties and local chefs when planning our challenges to make the season specific to where we are.”

CHEF’S TWIST
Chef Ludo Lefebvre has been having a blast co-hosting/ judging his new TBS show, Rat in the Kitchen. The series follows a mix of professional chefs and home cooks as they compete in creative cooking challenges for a cash prize.

But there’s a twist: the contestants have to avert the meddling of an undercover “rat,” who is determined to sabotage the dishes and undermine their victory.

“It’s such a fun show; I have loved meeting everyone, giving them advice, and of course, trying out some great food with my co-host, Natasha Leggero!” enthused Lefebvre. “It has been a great experience.”

When the passionate French chef is not working on his show, Lefebvre is frequenting his local farmers markets, buying fresh vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, and chicken. “That’s really where I get my inspiration from,” he added. “It’s really all about finding the freshest ingredients so you can make great meals.”

ZELLWEGER COMES TO TV
There’s little doubt in any critic’s mind that Renée Zellweger is headed for an Emmy nomination for her riveting role as Pam Hupp in NBC’s new true crime series, The Thing About Pam.

Primarily a film actress, Zellweger appreciated being involved in a television project.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” she said. “I think it suits me. I like the pace. I love that it’s quick, and you have to think fast on your feet. It’s not so different from making independent films. You’ve got to make the most of the little bit of time that you have. So, it’s good training.”

The series is based on the 2011 murder of Betsy Faria, which resulted in her husband Russ’s conviction, although he insisted he didn’t kill her. He was later exonerated. The brutal crime set off an unbelievable chain of events that would ultimately expose a murderous scheme created by Hupp.

“This is one of those stories that you couldn’t make up!” noted Zellweger. “It just felt like it would be something really interesting to explore further.”