Sadly, Milo Ventimiglia has a lot of free time these days. The Heroes actor used some of it to speak with Entertainment Weekly recently…

Are you just chillin’ now while the strike is on, or are you working on something new?
I’m pretty busy. I’m doing two features before Christmas. One is called Game, and that’s with Gerard Butler and Amber Valletta. It’s written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the same guys who did Pathology, the movie I have coming out in the spring.

Who do you play in Game?
A very interesting futuristic character that’s not necessarily in control of himself.

Tim Kring told us several weeks ago that the ending of Volume 2 was altered due to strike consequences and a desire to reboot the series when it returned. What can you say about the original ending — is it true that the virus was supposed to get out? What ending did you prefer?
It was Tim’s intention, I think, to not make people wait much longer. Due to the writers’ strike, we were in a position where we’re gettin’ cut short like everybody else. I think Tim wanted to give some kind of feeling of Hey, we made it. The End. And I think it was the right thing to do. A good thing to do.

With regards to the virus getting out or not getting out, at this point it doesn’t, so it’s kind of a moot point, which seems like an easy answer for me to give. Now I know we’re taking a direction that is going away from the virus— from what I understand. The best answers are always gonna come out of Tim’s mouth. I mean let’s not kid ourselves: I wear make up and read lines for living.

Have you noticed changes in how Heroes fans approach you on the street this season?
For the most part, people still walk up to you with smiles on their faces saying, ”I love it. I love it. I love it.” Occasionally, you get somebody who kinda looks at you and thinks, Eh, first season was better, but I still watch you guys. You’re doing pretty good.

I think there are a lot of fans that are begrudgingly hanging in there, very patiently waiting for us…. As a person that’s on the show as well as a fan of the show, I always want to get back to the great character moments that drive the series. I’m hoping we get back to the feeling of the first season: that kind of base human emotion, that level where these people that have these abilities are understanding them still.

Read the full interview with Milo now.

You can’t watch Milo Ventigmilia and Kristen Bell on Heroes tonight.

But you can take a look at two American Eagles Outfitters claymation videos featuring the actors.

The first one is a story narrated by - and starring - as he heads home for the Hholidays, but first has to endure a less than ideal plane ride; the second features Bell stealing Christmas gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

With no Heroes episode to preview for Monday, the least we can do is give you a glimpse into one of the show’s most popular stars.

Here are a few interesting tidbits about Milo Ventimiglia:

1. He has a birth defect, which the actor describes as a “crooked” mouth, explained as dead nerves causing his lower lip to lie limp.

“It’s so cute,” Hayden Panettiere one said. “It’s a flaw, and I hate perfection more than anything in the world.”

2. In 2000, Ventimiglia traveled solo through Europe, where he spent his 23rd birthday in the small town of Ventimiglia, Italy. As you can guess, this is where his surname originated.

3. The actor loves punk rock, but has to be sure to watch his face:”I’m literally standing off to the side, freaked out about getting crushed or punched in the face, and having to explain a black eye to a producer or makeup artist at work,” Ventimiglia told the New York Post.

4. Ventimiglia believes he’s still being undermined by his Heroes character’s boyishly long bangs. Show creator Tim Kring commented on it: “We have a disagreement over the hair, but we’re moving toward [a compromise], and it’s really cool.”

5. Of his Heroes character’s occupation as a male hospice worker, Ventimiglia said: “I showed up for the cast photo shoot with scrubs on and Greg Grunberg’s in his cop outfit, standing tall, hand on his gun, and I’m like, ‘Oh man, I’m a murse [''male nurse'']. Not a doctor, a nurse.’”

Now that Milo Ventimiglia - or, well, Peter Petrelli - has helped save the world again, he can focus on the one person he wasn’t able to save: Adrian Pasdar’s character, Nathan.

Ventimiglia told The Associated Press during a telephone interview Wednesday that he hopes Nathan’s death is far from final.

“I really hope he’s not going anywhere,” Ventimiglia said. “That would be really disappointing to me to lose a brother and an amazing scene partner. I’m sure it’s all going to work out the way it’s supposed to.”

Ventimiglia says he didn’t watch the finale - and he wasn’t alone.

Ratings for Monday’s episode were down from the previous week, and the conclusion of Volume Two was the lowest-rated finale episode for the show yet, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Meanwhile, the actor doesn’t know anything about future scripts in light of the writers’ strike: “We ran out of stuff to shoot. That’s basically what it boils down to.”

Ventimiglia says he’ll appear in the upcoming films Game and The Chaos Theory.

“I try and take a break and take a vacation,” he said. “But I keep getting wrapped up in jobs.”

We try to refrain from spreading too much Heroes gossip around here - preferring to stick to spoilers, episode guides and general series discussions - but we know some fans enjoy the following kinds of rumors.

According to In Touch Weekly, Milo Ventimiglia has purchased a gold Tiffany’s ring for his alleged girlfriend… Hayden Panettiere.

An insider at the shady magazine says Milo gave Hayden an 18-karat yellow-gold ring - worth $1,950 - from the famed jewelers as a belated birthday present. She did turn 18 in late August, after all.

Reportedly, the ring is called Somerset Heart, features a woven band and a heart and is inscribed, “Sweet like Hayden.”

Honestly, if these two are dating, we’re gonna give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the age difference is not as sordid as some might think.

Do you agree? Discuss now in our Heroes forum.

Milo Ventimiglia is making the rounds these days.

Aside from being seen quite often in public with Hayden Panettiere - and causing a stir among celebrity gossip outlets - the Heroes star is on the cover of Prestige magazine.

Take a look:

This is one for the ladies. They’ve been clamoring for a look at Milo Ventimiglia shirtless - and, really, who are we to deny Heroes fans of any wishes?

Regarding his physique, the actor recently said:

“I get beat up, I’m bloodied, I’m in a flying harness, I’m knocked down. I’ve definitely had a lot of bumps and bruises. I’ve got to keep myself strong and flexible and in the right state of body to do a lot of those things.”

Don’t worry, guys. We’ve got pictures of Ali Larter nude for you to drool over. Everyone happy now?

Masi Oka isn’t the only Heroes star to pose for a series of humorous, provocative pictures.

In the most recent issue of Best Life Magazine, Milo Ventimiglia talks about his upcoming movie and fashion sense… before striking a few sexy poses.

First, the actor talks about Pathology, a hospital thriller in which he plays an intern caught up in a game of “sex, drugs, and murder.”

To prepare for the role, Ventimiglia hung out with morticians and murder victims at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. And you thought life on Heroes was dark and gloomy.

“It was a life-changing experience,” Milo said of his time spent with the deceased. “I’ll probably be doing the speed limit from now on.”

In other news, the actor also commented on his wardrobe choices. Safety plays a role in that department, too, it sounds like.

“I know what I like, and I only invest in items I’ll still be able to wear in five or 10 years.”

How does Heroes stand out from other popular shows on TV? Zachary Quinto - who was mostly absent from last night’s season two premiere - says that his series focuses on broad, important issu

“It’s not just that people like to talk about our show, it’s the themes of the show,” Quinto said. “The show is about saving the world. The show is about people waking up to their own power to make a difference.

“It’s not like the entire world is talking about the sex scene in the shower at the hospital with the doctors, or the lawyers in the bathroom, or whatever.”

“There always is going to be pressure, no matter whether it’s the first, second, third, fourth or fifth season,” Ventimiglia said.

“I think you have to strive to better yourself and better your characters. But this show always is going to be a big one to make. So I think, if anything, it reminds us not to slow down and not to slack off, to do better and to grow.”

For the most part, we try to stick with Heroes news or Heroes spoilers on this site.

We leave the gossip to Perez Hilton, TheHollywoodGossip.com and other outlets.

But we came across the video below recently and figured it would be of interest to readers.

At a post-Emmy Awards party Sunday night, Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia were dancing rather closely. And he leans in a couple times to whisper in her ear… or even kiss his co-star, perhaps.

Judge for yourself:

Rumors have been swirling that these actors are dating, especially after Panettiere broke up with longtime boyfriend Stephen Colletti. Of course, she’s only 18. He’s 30. So it’s understandable why the pair has been denying anything more than a friendship.

Then again, if Hayden and Mio were a couple, we could nickname them “Halo.” That almost makes it worthwhile.