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{ T V } Arrested Development { By Jessica Jones }

After an untimely cancellation, the critically acclaimed Southland got a new life on a new net- work. Star Ben McKenzie talks about the show’s best season yet and the upsides of playing a police officer on TV.

aa.COM/AMERICANWAY january 15, 2011 13 ITINERARY Pocketing Ace

The 10th and final season of the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes starts this month. Now how will you ever satisfy your appetite for sweets-based TV? hen NBC can- “Being on cable really frees us fun to hear from people who (Other than by watching celed Southland up to go for broke.” aren’t typically fans of his Cake Boss, Ultimate Cake- in 2009 to make While the show’s storylines work — people like the security Off, Amazing Wedding roomW for its (short-lived) are often harrowing, the mood guards at the theater where Cakes, DC Cupcakes or prime-time Jay Leno experi- behind the scenes is anything he performed in The Glass Top Chef: Just Desserts.) ment, the backlash was im- but. McKenzie even admits to Menagerie last fall. “I don’t Allow us to suggest a few mediate. But Ben McKenzie, filming one driving scene, when think they’ve seen The Glass replacements: who plays LAPD rookie Ben actors are only shown from the Menagerie — I don’t think they Sherman on the gritty cop waist up, sans pants. “I didn’t have all that much interest in drama that debuted its third plan it very well,” the former it,” he jokes. “But they’re big Two Minutes season earlier this month, let O.C. star remembers. “The box- fans of Southland.” for Icing: Wayne his Halloween costume do the ers I was wearing were bright Though McKenzie describes talking for him. red, and I have pale, pale legs. It his off-camera life as “pretty Gretzky’s Sugar “I found a Jay Leno mask, was pretty striking.” quiet” — he likes to read, watch Cookie Spectacular which wasn’t a perfect likeness, Despite the on-set antics, college football and hike with but they got the chin right,” the cast is serious about get- his dog — he admits that his he says. “When people didn’t ting the details of police work affiliation with the show could The Fabulous Baker think I was Richard Nixon, right. They go through intense come in handy should he ever Boys: In the Kitchen they got the joke.” training and use members of find himself on the wrong side with Beau and Jeff Luckily, the Southland saga the LAPD as extras, who are of the law. ended happily when it was happy to speak up if some- “Thankfully, I haven’t Bridges picked up by TNT. “There was thing’s amiss. “Yeah, the needed it,” he says. “But I’ve always tension between the feedback loop’s pretty tight,” certainly kept a lot of business General Custard: show we wanted to make and McKenzie laughs. “They are cards should a situation arise. the show NBC was comfortable not shy about it.” They’re my get-out-of-jail-free Gelatinous Goodies airing,” says McKenzie, 32. But McKenzie says it’s been cards — literally.” with Colin Powell

Hometown Haunts Ben McKenzie hails from Austin, Texas, which he describes as “kinda like heaven — when it’s not 100 degrees.” Here’s where you’ll find him chowing down when he visits. — J.J.

The Salt Lick (multiple locations), www.saltlickbbq.com / Iron Works BBQ, (800) 669-3602, www.ironworksbbq.com / Guero’s Taco Bar, (512) 447-7688, www.guerostacobar.com

14 JANUARY 15, 2011 aa.COM/AMERICANWAY