From StyleBlazer

It’s getting hot in here watching the chemistry between Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on the new cover of TV Guide. The “Scandal” stars posed for the weekly magazine and talked about their roles as Olivia Pope and President Fitzgerald Grant on the hit ABC show.

From their on-screen chemistry to the future of the show, the stars give their opinion on the fan-obsessed drama. “I like that they question what love is, what marriage should be,” Washington said.

Check out more pics and behind the scene video of the photo shoot on StyleBlazer.com.

Source: CBS News

This week’s issue of TV Guide is not the first time cast members of the CBS drama “Person of Interest” graced the cover. It’s just the last time the show was featured, Taraji was not one of those said persons.

If you think back to the end of last September, Taraji wrote a not so nice Facebook post after seeing her co-stars Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson on the cover of TV Guide without her. She wrote:

“WOW!!!! TV Guide is NOT including me on the cover with my cast memebers [sic]……..I am the female lead of a 3 member cast and I’m not included on the cover!!!!!! Do you see the [expletive] I have to deal with in this business…..I cram to understand!!!!”

While Taraji had everyone feeling her omission was a not so subtle instance of racism and possibly even sexism, Debra Birnbaum, the Editor-in Chief of TV Guide Magazine, diverted the situation telling TooFab.com:

“I made an editorial decision to do a story about the relationship between the two male characters on Person of Interest and that’s who I was going to put on the cover. That has been my decision all along, ever since I saw the pilot. We’re certainly fans of Taraji Henson and her storyline on the show was never intended to be the focus of our cover story. I don’t know where there was a misunderstanding about this, but it’s been clear to everyone from the start. I don’t make decisions on who is put and not put on the cover based on race or gender.”

Fast forward to October 10 and there Taraji stands with her co-stars as the “vigilante dream team.” Inside, a feature on the hit series discusses the relationship between the characters each actor plays on-screen with Taraji discussing the relationship between her character, Detective Carter, and John Reese, played by Jim Caviezel.

“The first season, there was so much tension because she didn’t know if she could trust him, but now they’ve become really good friends,” Taraji said. “There’s a definite respect and love for each other.”

It’s good to see TV Guide is showing her some love and respect this year. And I must say that purple dress looks good on her. This issue of TV Guide hits newsstands tomorrow!

Do you think TV Guide is making up for last year’s omission by giving Taraji cover time this year?

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You’d think an Academy Award nomination would open up a lot of doors for a new actress, but Taraji P. Henson says in a lot ways she still can’t catch a break in Hollywood. She covers the February issue of Upscale magazine and talks about her upcoming role in “Think Like a Man,” and being snubbed by TV Guide for their cover featuring her white male costars in the drama “Person of Interest.” She also gives her thoughts on “this Hollywood thing” which she says, “It’s my job…But by no means, defines who I am.”

Here’s a preview of the interview:

On Speaking Up About TV Guide

“I just stated a fact. And the people spoke. And then CBS pulled the whole cover. I get that all the time. Sometimes I admit I feel like, ‘Can I catch a break?’ That wasn’t the first time it’s happened and it won’t be the last. This was just one time I chose to speak on it.”

On Challenges in Hollywood

“Hollywood keeps trying to tell me that black women can’t open a film. I will absolutely prove them wrong before my career is done. I want to stretch my acting muscle and do something completely different. I’d love to play a man. Sounds weird, but I want to do something that will make me work hard. Call me kooky, but I always want to go outside my comfort zone.”

On Playing a New Type of Role in “Think Like a Man”

“You’ve never seen me play this girl. She’s a b****. And she’s the pretty girl in the film. I wanted this role so bad. I told the casting folks,’if you don’t let me get that role, I don’t need to be in this movie at all.’ They were thinking about casting a white girl for the role and I said, ‘No. I can do this.’ And then of course, when it’s time to start filming, I freaked out. I said, wait’ Maybe I should play the baby-momma instead….[LOL] I was scared because it’s so different than anything I’ve ever done.”

Are you a Taraji fan? Do you think she can pull off the bad girl role?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Imagine taking a staff photograph to hang up at your place of work. You immediately start wondering about what you’re going to wear and how you’ll wear your hair when you suddenly get an e-mail from your supervisor. Guess what? You’ve been asked NOT to take part in the photo. Now, make that little old staff photograph the cover of TV Guide, and replace you with Academy Award nominated actress Taraji P. Henson. Ouch.

You see, Taraji is one of the few stars (of three she says) on the new J.J. Abrams produced show “Person of Interest,” debuting on CBS this Thursday. In fact, she’s the show’s leading lady. And while the other two stars of the show (Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson) were asked to grace the cover of everyone’s favorite guide to television, Taraji was given the cold shoulder. And no reason has been made public by TV Guide as of yet. She, like most people shut out of things for random reasons, didn’t take that snub so lightly. She took to her Facebook page to rip SOMEBODY a new one:

“WOW!!!! TV Guide is NOT including me on the cover with my cast members….I am the female lead of a 3 member cast and I’m not included on the cover!!!!!! Do you see the Isht I have to deal with in this business…..I cram to understand!!!!”

This comment seems to have been removed later, and in its place, Henson went the more positive route and thanked her supportive fans:

“I swear you guys keep my spirit lifted cause it ain’t easy AT ALL for a sister in Hollywood. Your love is God sent!!!! Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart. Wanted to tell you all this on live TV at the Emmys (if I’d won) but……oh well. Muah!!!!!”

But I can’t lie, I watch CBS shows a lot and I think I’ve only seen Henson in like one promotion for this show. Mind you, they show about three to five short promos for this series a day. Seriously, for this last month I just assumed she was going to be a guest star. So before she fully shuns TV Guide, she might want to ask the creators of the show (or whoever puts the promotions together) what’s up with that…

Oh, the struggles of a black actress in Hollywood. It never ends.