Josh Holloway
Must Island Hero
AGE
39
WHY HIM
Thanks to Lost‘s freaky time-travel story line and the love of an awesome woman (R.I.P. Juliet?), Holloway’s Sawyer morphed from an emotionally damaged con man into a true hero.
PLAYING NICE WAS SCARY
”I had gotten comfortable in being a bit of an ass,” laughs Holloway. ”I was nervous about losing the edge of the character, by having a relationship and being a leader.”
SO…IS HE DEAD?
Lost ended its season with a bomb that either changed time…or killed everyone. ”We’ve all talked about it, and we really have no clue. Do you have a clue?”
NEXT
Lost will return on ABC in early 2010.
ON HIS MUST LIST
”Jeremiah Johnson is one of my favorite movies ever. I love Westerns.”
For exclusive bonus video with Josh Holloway, go to ew.com/mustlistvideo
Craig Ferguson
Must Monologuist
AGE
47
WHY HIM
CBS’ Late Late Show host gives the most spontaneous, surprising monologues in late night.
REDEFINING THE BUCKET LIST
”I work out the monologue subjects with the writers, but we don’t write actual jokes. It allows for improvisation. One night recently there was a leak in the studio ceiling, and someone had put a ratty old bucket down to catch the drips. I did 10 minutes on that bucket. The audience loved it, ’cause they knew it was spontaneous. So if I can give any future talk-show host advice, it’s this: Don’t ignore the buckets in life. Speak from your heart about a leaky-ceiling bucket.”
NEXT
His no-holds-barred autobiography (drinking! punk-rock drumming!), titled American on Purpose, will be published in September.
ON HIS MUST LIST
Jeannette Walls’ new book, Half Broke Horses.
EW.COM POLL
What is the Must reality-competition TV show of the summer?
40% So You Think You Can Dance
25% Project Runway
17% Big Brother 11
6% Hell’s Kitchen
6% The Bachelorette
6% America’s Got Talent
Henry Cavill
Must Dashing Duke
AGE
26
WHY HIM
As Charles Brandon on Showtime’s The Tudors, the Brit displays charm, depth, and a killer bod.
NEXT
Cavill falls for Evan Rachel Wood in Woody Allen’s comedy Whatever Works (June 19).
ON HIS MUST LIST
World of Warcraft. ”It’s fairly addictive.”
Alexa Chung
Must MTV Import
AGE
25
WHY HER
Already a popular host in the U.K., Chung invaded U.S. shores with the June 15 premiere of her new live talk show, It’s On With Alexa Chung.
NEXT
It’s On airs Monday through Thursday at noon on MTV.
ON HER MUST LIST
”This new band called the Big Pink. I can’t compare them to anything, and that’s why they’re good.”
Aaron Paul
Must Double Threat
AGE
29
WHY HIM
Because he’s deftly doing double duty in the land of quality dramas. On AMC’s Breaking Bad, he’s Jesse, the somewhat dim meth dealer who’s spiraled deeper into addiction; at the opposite end, over on HBO’s Big Love, he plays Scott, Sarah’s levelheaded fiancé
PLACE THAT FACE
”I get recognized more often for Big Love, because I look more like Scott than Jesse. On Breaking Bad, I’m always in a stocking cap or a hoodie.”
TIPS FOR PLAYING AN ADDICT
Paul offers these instructions for keeping up with the jonesing: ”Don’t shower. Don’t sleep. Scratch your face. And definitely be in your own world.”
NEXT
More Bad, more Love — both returning in early 2010.
ON HIS MUST LIST
Lost. ”Being on that show is a dream of mine. I will fly myself out to Hawaii and put myself up.”