Buddy TV just named Leven Rambin one of the sexiest breakout stars of the upcoming TV season. Leven joins our cast this season as new series regular, Riley. Update: AOL sings her praises too.

Have you gotten your DVD set yet? Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles first season is finally released on DVD and Blu-Ray tomorrow!

And of course, don’t forget — we’re fast approaching the premiere of season two. Monday, September 8th at 8:00PM on FOX. Reruns of the first season continue tonight with the episode, Dungeons and Dragons, at 9:00PM.

Remember the scene in Adaptation where Charlie Kaufman goes to the filming of Being John Malkovich and stands around awkwardly with his hands in his pockets and makes uncomfortable chit chat with John Cusack? That’s basically what it’s like for me (I’m Ian Goldberg, staff writer, by the way, hello) on the set of T:SCC - I always worry I’m either going to say something stupid or offensive, and it always feels like I’m in the way. But it’s totally worth it to battle my insecurities and find a place to stand, because the behind-the-scenes moments are just too cool to be missed. For example:

Last week we were shooting my new episode in a bowling alley with a little arcade room in the back. I found Garret Dillahunt (Cromartie) playing a first-person shooter video game, “hunting” with a plastic orange shotgun, taking down digital moose and deer like it was his job. Which, well, I guess it sorta is. I don’t know if Garret’s a method actor, but he didn’t miss a single shot. He was giggling like a schoolboy the entire time, and I could visualize the Terminator laser scope projecting from his eye… it was pretty awesome.

Of course, when I tried my hand at video game hunting, I not only managed to completely SUCK at hitting the targets, I also somehow jacked up the machine so that it was beeping and blooping so loud it impeded the shooting of the next scene! Then again, it’s hard to live up to the Dillahunt, in life, in acting, or in video games. The guy’s just got a style all his own. Us writer types just love watching his dailies in the writer’s room – he has that Christopher Walken thing of emphasizing words in such a way it completely changes the meaning of the line. And usually makes it funnier, or creepier, or both.

So, there you have it. A little insight into my neuroses, a little insight into Garret Dillahunt. As Cromartie would say –

Thank you for your time.

Pink is the New Blog gave us a nice shoutout this morning, more Riddler talk from Brian on Defamer, and our friends at the Sarah Connor Society have got loads of new promotional images for our second season.

Busy Phillips, a new member of our cast best known for her role in Freaks and Geeks, gave birth last night! Congratulations to her and her husband, Marc, on their healthy baby daughter, Birdie Leigh. We can’t wait to meet her!

Busy joins our cast this season in the recurring role of Kacy. Look for her big entrance in episode two!

Summer talks to SFX, TVGuide’s Matt Mitovich wanders into the dark abyss of the possibility of a Derek/Cameron hookup, and the TVAddict talks to Shirley about her love of all things Terminator.

Do you see what I see? Click below to see our season two billboard.

Save the Planet

TheTVAddict takes over our advertising, TechRadar gives us a three word review: “good hot robot,” Brian divulges to MTV his riddlin’ Batman ambitions, and RedOrbit talks to Thomas about his hometown.

Today is a heavy production day for us as we’re shooting two units — one for episode 207 and one for episode 208. 208 was written by Staff Writer Ian Goldberg (What He Beheld) and 207 was written by Supervising Producer John Enbom (Heavy Metal). You may vaguely recognize the space we’re shooting 207 in today — it doubles as a location for another Warner Bros Television series, Pushing Daisies. Meanwhile, we’re beginning preparation on the next episode. Busy, busy around these parts.

WBTV’s new website promoting the first season DVD box set is now live. Meanwhile, here are some highlights from our Comic-Con panel courtesy of FOX.

How cool are Roxy Bisquaint’s custom made action figures? Check out her whole process. Fan-freakin’-tastic.

Don’t forget: FOX began reairing season one last night and continues tonight at 9PM with Gnothi Seauton. Korbi from Zap2it interviews Thomas and Summer about the coming season. And keep an eye out for the electronic billboards promoting the new season, scheduled to hit the streets today in at least New York and LA.

Keep sending us your links and commenting away. We’re with you in anticipating the new season. Less than a month to go…

YOU SUBMITTED YOUR QUESTIONS. SHOWRUNNER JOSH FRIEDMAN ANSWERS THEM.

INTREPID: I read online that a lot of the school related storyline hit the cutting room floor due to time constraints. Is there any chance of a future special edition DVD release with those scenes, and other cut scenes being reconstituted back into the episodes? Other than the one episode mentioned in the current DVD release.

That first season DVD will have the extended version of The Demon Hand, which features Sarah’s Pescadero monologue as well as some additional scenes with John and Cheri Westin. There is also an extended version of the Pilot.

COREY: How many future episodes are we going to see in season 2?

There won’t be any episodes that take place entirely in the future, but we will continue to see flashes of the future as dictated by the stories. Like in the first two films, we purposely use the future flashes sparingly, so that when we do go there it enhances the present day stories. After all, the series is about Sarah Connor raising her son in the present day and too much of a good thing can really turn it sour… But within the first twelve episodes, I’d say we definitely visit the future in at least four episodes.

COREY: In all 3 terminator movies, and season 1 of Sarah Connor Chronicles, we have never seen present day John Connor fire a weapon at a person nor kill a human being. Is he even capable of taking a human life, knowing that one day he is destined to save humanity? Would the act of taking a human life make him a hypocrite?

In order to evolve into the leader he’s destined to be, John must learn how to be both humane and a warrior. How John becomes that man — the experiences that shape him — is what’s compelling in his journey.

THECOLOURS: When can we expect to hear the offical SCC podcast?

Expect it online the day after our second season premiere.

AVERAGEJO: How was the name “Cromartie” chosen? I know about the actual etymology but thought that it might be due to the homonym association with “chrome” - as in a terminator’s endoskeleton.

Huge surprise here for those who know me and my obsession with football — our villain was named after Antonio Cromartie, cornerback for the San Diego Chargers.

KELVYN: Now that Ellison has seen an actual Terminator in action…will he join the Connors and fight? Protect them?

Quite the interesting predicament for a man of faith, don’t you think? Tune in on Monday, September 8th at 8PM to find out what’s next for Ellison.

ANNIE: Derek mentions in What He Beheld that Sarah has never killed anyone before. (I watched the first two films again and realized that it’s true - Sarah is great at squashing Terminators but we never see her actually kill another human being.) What effect do you think that will have on Sarah when/if that happens? Would she think it’s justified if she were to kill another to save John’s life?

You’re right, Sarah hasn’t actually killed anyone. It’s a compelling internal battle, one we saw when she struggled with stopping Andy Goode. She believes that Andy’s technology may become Skynet, but there’s always the chance it won’t. Is the risk too great if she leaves him alive? Interestingly enough with Andy Goode, Sarah chose to end the dream, not the dreamer. But Derek’s seen more and had another opinion…