Hey All,
Welcome to another new week and also let the countdown begin to the 2010 Comic Con, which starts on July 21 with preview night. I’m looking forward to the convention even with the crazy schedule I will have each day in order to make all the panels for which I would like to attend. Fingers are crossed that all works out.
In the meantime, here are the news items for today:
TELEVISION
Taylor Kinney (Trauma) will be seen in the second season of The Vampire Diaries in the recurring role of Mason Lockwood, the younger brother of late Mayor Lockwood. “Uncle Mason” is sexy and athletic and possesses an easygoing charm. Though he has more control than his nephew, he can “flip in an instant” if crossed. Kinney will make his first appearance in Diaries’ second-season premiere on Sept. 9. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)
Michael Gambon and Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins will guest star in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. The story is said to be a spin on “A Christmas Carol” and will be entitled “Father Who?” (The Guardian and Dark Horizons)
Frederic Lehne will reprise his role of the Yellow-Eyed Demon on Supernatural, at least according to what the actor stated at a Supernatural convention in New Jersey this past weekend. (Zap2It)
Andre Royo (The Wire) will guest star in the third season premiere of Fringe, reportedly playing Henry, “a soulful taxi driver who is unexpectedly forced into a tense situation with Olivia (Anna Torv).” (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly and Televisionary)
Despite the fact that the actor options have expired, the CW’s medical drama pilot HMS is said to still be in contention for a series order. “There is still no final word from the CW but I hear producer Warner Bros. TV is not giving up and is still hoping for a series order for the project, written/executive produced by Amy Holden Jones, co-executive produced by Hayden Panettiere and directed by Mark Piznarski. The actors are aware of the studio’s efforts and appear willing to return if there is a pickup soon.” (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)
ABC is renewing its summer drama series Rookie Blue after only three weeks on the air. The series has averaged 7.1 million viewers since its debut. No word yet on when the second season of episodes will be aired, however. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Showtime will bring in the New Year with the premieres of the new drama series Shameless on January 9 at 10 PM; the new comedy series Episodes on January 10 at 10:30 PM and the fourth season premiere of the hit comedy series Californication on January 10 at 10 PM. Shameless is based on the long-running hit UK series with William H. Macy playing a far-from-stellar working class patriarch of an unconventional Chicago brood of six motley kids (headed by eldest sibling Emmy Rossum) who keep the home afloat while he’s out drinking and carousing. Episodes Matt LeBlanc and focuses on a British couple whose hit, erudite UK show is turned into an Americanized sitcom starring LeBlanc (as himself). Californication, of course stars David Duchovny as hedonistic novelist Hank Moody who struggles to raise his teenage daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), with on-again, off-again girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone). (The Futon Critic)
Another long-running CBS procedural has been rocked by a high-profile departure: Melina Kanakaredes is leaving CSI: NY. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES
The first photos have been released for the BBC’s new take on Sherlock Holmes, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Watson respectively. The three 90-minute made-for-TV movies will kick off in the UK in late July/early August. (Digital Spy and Dark Horizons)
FIRST LOOK AT TONIGHT’S TV
THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “RIZZOLI & ISLES” (TNT)
BOX OFFICE
Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) will star opposite Milla Jovovich in the indie drama Bringing Up Bobby. Famke Janssen (X-Men) is making her feature directorial debut working from a script which she also wrote herself. The film tells the story of a European con artist and her 10-year-old son who find themselves in Oklahoma in an effort to escape her past and build a better future. The two move quite successfully through a myriad of adventures until the mother’s criminal past catches up with her. Cross plays a woman who’s able to deal with the loss of her own child by becoming the adoptive mother of the son, and Bill Pullman plays her husband. (Variety and First Showing)
Gillian Anderson will appear as MI7 secret agent Pamela Head in the silly sequel Johnny English Reborn. Rowan Atkinson is returning as the clumsy British spy as he embarks on a search for traitors within Her Majesty’s Secret Service. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and First Showing)
Kathryn Morris (Cold Case) has joined the cast of the box office movie Moneyball, playing second wife to Brad Pitt’s Billy Beane, while Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) has signed on to play ball player Scott Hatteberg. (The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly)
Here is the list of the top 10 movies at the box office for this past weekend courtesy of The Wrap:
1. “Despicable Me” ($60.1 million)
2. “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” ($33.4 million)
3. “Predators” ($25.3 million)
4. “Toy Story 3” ($22.0 million)
5. “The Last Airbender” ($17.2 million)
6. “Grown Ups” ($16.4 million)
7. “Knight and Day” ($7.8 million)
8. “Karate Kid” ($5.7 million)
9. “The A-Team” ($1.8 million)
10. “Cyrus” ($1.4 million)
VOTING
Tater Top Awards: Out With the Old, In With the New
That’s it. Enjoy!
Rueben's Ramblings 
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