Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

It’s over the hump day and despite the shorter work week because of the Fourth of July holiday; this week seems to be moving along slowly. Or perhaps it’s just me. Anyway, there was a bit more news to cull together for today, including some details about the upcoming Comic Con. So, let’s get started:

COMIC CON DETAILS

Attention Torchwood fans: Make sure you pick up a copy of the new Torchwood comic, which will make its debut at San Diego Comic-Con later this month. The first issue of the monthly will feature a story written by John Barrowman and will be available at the convention exclusively until it hits shelves on August 10th. (Digital Spy and Televisionary)

This Thursday, the first-day schedule for Comic-Con International will be announced, but already all over Los Angeles, studio insiders are playing a game of “show me yours and I’ll show you mine” with their programming plans for film and television. One of the interesting tidbits we keep hearing about is the rumor that Entertainment Weekly is hosting a two-man panel that must come close to the elusive state known as Nerdvana: J. J. Abrams and Joss Whedon! (Geoff Boucher at the LA Times)

TELEVISION

Henry Ian Cusick (Lost) has signed on for at least two fall episodes of Law & Order: SVU, playing a graphic artist named Erik Weber. He may be a love interest for Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay). (William Keck at TV Guide)

Luke Grimes (Brothers & Sisters) and Haley Bennett (Marley & Me) have joined the FX drama pilot Outlaw Country, which will star Mary Steenburgen. The pilot is a crime thriller/family drama set against the backdrop of southern organized crime and Nashville royalty. Grimes will play twentysomething Eli Larkin, a half-cowboy, half-modern guy who tries to get out of the crime ridden life he has grown accustom to in order to help his siblings, however he finds out that it is much harder than he expected. Bennett will play twentysomething Annabel Lee, a gorgeous country singer who is living in the shadow of her overprotective mother (Steenburgen). (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Richard Dreyfuss will be joining the Showtime series Weeds for at least four episodes. He will play “an unexpected character” from the past of “Weeds” protagonist Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker). (The Wrap)

The second season premiere of the FOX series Glee has been set for Tuesday, September 7. (Twitter)

Skeet Ulrich (Jericho) has signed on to play one of the two lead detectives on Law & Order: Los Angeles. His character, Rex Winters, is described as an ex-Marine who possesses the intuition of a natural cop. His experience during the Rodney King Riots — which occurred during his second month on the job — shaped his philosophy on policing. Basically, the world is chaos and people are either good or bad. As an added twist, he’s currently married to his ex-partner. Ulrich is the first actor to sign up for LOLA duty. Five other roles are currently being cast. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Jane Kaczmarek (Raising the Bar) and Kim Dickens (Friday Night Lights and Treme) will appear in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie called Reviving Ophelia, which is based on the non-fiction book by Mary Pipher. They will play sisters who must help one another raise their teenage daughters. Project, written by Teena Booth and directed by Bobby Roth, will air later this year. (Variety and Televisionary)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dollhouse

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dollhouse-Season-2/14016

Ally McBeal

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ally-McBeal-Seasons-3-4-5/14017

BOX OFFICE

Gina Gershon, Danny Glover and Robert Patrick will appear in the independent movie Five Minarets in New York, which follows two police officers from the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakır, sent to New York to bring back a Turkish smuggler who was arrested in the United States and who will be delivered to Turkish authorities by the FBI. Gershon will play the wife of a Turkish scholar arrested by federal authorities after being wrongfully accused of a crime. (Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Christian Bale is apparently set to star in The Last Photograph, which revolves around a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan. (Pajiba and Dark Horizons)

Virginia Madsen will play the mother of Amanda Seyfried in the supernatural thriller Red Riding Hood. Max Irons (Jeremy’s son), Shiloh Fernandez, Lukas Haas, Julie Christie, Gary Oldman and Michael Hogan co-star in the medieval movie, which is set in a village that is being terrorized by a werewolf. Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) directs. The movie is expected to be released on March 11. (The Wrap)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Vote for the Best Bitches and Baddies!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188554_tater_top_awards_vote_best_bitches.html

Q&A SECTION (with the TV Gurus at TV Guide)

Question: Will Bones and Booth really be apart when Bones comes back? — Marta

MICKEY: It’s looking that way, particularly now that we know that Booth will meet his new love interest, a journalist, when she’s embedded with his unit in Afghanistan. In a seemingly Grey’s Anatomy-inspired Teddy-Owen-like twist, she’ll follow Booth back to Washington, where they’ll attempt to be together in the real world. And we all know how that goes. But don’t blame Bones — she’ll be nothing but supportive of the born-under-fire union.

Question: I heard Kevin and Scotty will lose their surrogate when Brothers & Sisters resumes. Please tell me it’s not true! — Brittney

ADAM: Would that I could, Brittney, but it sounds like after all that worrying last season, adopting a baby isn’t in the cards for the couple. Instead, look for the guys to open their home to an underprivileged teen this season.

Question: Have we seen the last of Shelby Corcoran on Glee? — Matty

MICKEY: I have a feeling that Idina Menzel will be back when the plot calls for it, but in the meantime, the writers are turning their attention toward Rachel’s as-yet-unseen two dads. It’s a little suspicious that we haven’t met them yet, but it seems that will change next season. Any casting suggestions? I vote for Taye Diggs and House’s Peter Jacobson.

Question: Any scoop on The Vampire Diaries’ new season? — Lally

MICKEY: The much-teased werewolf storyline will get under way quickly when an estranged relative breezes into Mystic Falls to act as a Mr. Miyagi type to the afflicted party. Apparently, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec didn’t think my idea for a hoops-shooting wolf in the cast was so good (or original).

Question: What can you tell me about the new season of Eureka, particularly about James Callis’ character? — Chris

ADAM: Callis plays Dr. Grant, a brilliant physicist who takes an instant shine to Allison and who butts heads with Sheriff Carter. Despite his brains and his former ties to Eureka, he is a bit … out of place when he turns up on Founder’s Day.

Question: It’s awesome to have Warehouse 13 back on the air. Any hints about what’s ahead? — Trey

ADAM: While Myka and Pete chase down a superhero in Detroit (yes, a missing artifact brings one of Pete’s favorite childhood comic heroes to life), Artie is haunted by the ghost of McPherson in the Warehouse. Also look for Claudia to eventually make peace with Leena, who is still feeling some serious side effects from being manipulated by McPherson’s Pearl of Wisdom.

Question: What can we expect for Season 2 of Life Unexpected? — Liza

MICKEY: Baze will be playing the field a bit this season — both romantically and, well, vocationally. Don’t worry — Open Bar isn’t going anywhere (well, it is, but not right away). But it’s Baze’s unlikely new career that jump-starts his social life. In related news, Open Bar itself will serve as the spark for at least two new love connections, for characters who really deserve them.

That’s it. Enjoy!