Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman was happy to chat about "The Story of God," his National Geographic Channel series in which he visited seven countries to learn more about man's devotion to a higher power.

But he wasn't keen on losing his religion.

Before posing for pictures at a cocktail party Wednesday night -- a bodyguard looming nearby to ward off "Shawshank" fanatics, I suppose -- I made a feeble attempt to get the Oscar-winning actor to at least address his movie career.

"That was very well put," said Freeman after I tried to make a connection between the new documentary project and the fact that he's played The Big Guy on screen on more than one occasion. "But no, it's just a coincidence."

Ummmm, well, did preparation for "Bruce Almighty" inform his approach to the NGC series?

"No, no," said Freeman, who also played a Biblical role in the Guthrie's 1978 production of "The Gospel at Colonus." "Playing God on screen is just a matter of learning the script."

Another impressive dodger: Khloe Kardashian, on hand to promote FYI's new talk show, "Kocktails With Khloe." She was polite, but evasive, when it came to a progress report on husband Lamar Odon who nearly died of an overdose last year. The pair had separated before the incident, but Kardashian was bedside as his life lay in the balance.

"It's not my story to tell," she said. "I try to respect that, and I want him to be able to tell that story. I'm just there to support and care for him. But he's doing amazing and I'm so proud of the strength that he has to fight this battle. And I'm so grateful for everybody's love and concern, because I do think it's coming from a good place."

Leave the juicier conversation to the second-tier stars, specifically Sue Aikens, the star of NGC's "Life Below Zero." The reality queen was happy to share details of her seven-plus surgeries, the latest taking place at the Mayo Clinic, even showing off the scars on her shoulder, the result of a snow-machine accident.

Aikens, who lives 500 miles from the latest city in Alaska, said she wouldn't let doctors work on her back.

"I'm in my 50s and If I can't bend over, I'm never going to land a spouse," she said.

Aikens said she's getting an up close view of climate change from her home, where temperatures have soared over 110 degrees. She said the altered environment is forcing some unusual breeding, saying she's spotted some hybrids of polar and grizzly bears.

Sounds like a great focus for the next National Geographic Channel.

Scheduled to appear Thursday at the TCA: Bryan Cranston, Kerry Washington and Samantha Bee.