Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

The big week is finally here – Comic Con!! I leave bright and early Wednesday morning to head to San Diego for the annual celebration of all things pop culture. It’ll be a whirlwind 5 days, but in the meantime, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Joy Bryant and Tyree Brown – who play Dax Shepard’s onscreen girlfriend Jasmine and son Jabbar respectively – on the NBC series Parenthood have been upgraded to full-fledged series regulars. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

The Spartacus prequel called Gods of the Arena has cast Dustin Clare (Underbelly and McLeod’s Daughters) in the lead as well as Jaime Murray (Dexter) and Marisa Ramirez (Mental) in supporting roles. (The Hollywood Reporter and Zap2It)

Rochelle Aytes (The Forgotten) has booked a recurring role on the upcoming ABC cop drama Detroit 1-8-7, playing Alice Williams, a smart, sexy, ambitious lawyer in the Wayne County prosecutor’s office. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Michael Ealy (FlashForward and Sleeper Cell) is joining the cast of the CBS series The Good Wife as Derrick Bond, the head of the D.C. firm that’s merging with Will and Diane’s cash-strapped outfit. Ealy is set to appear in at least 10 episodes of Good Wife‘s upcoming second season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Gregory Itzin (24) has signed up for a major recurring gig on the new season of Big Love, playing Senator Richard Dwyer, the Republican Majority Leader of the Utah State Senate — of which Bill (Bill Paxton) is now a member. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

TELEVISION OBSERVATION (from Grady Smith at Entertainment Weekly)

NOTE: I slightly edited this article.

Since when were female law enforcement officials the hottest commodity on TV?

American audiences have been taken into custody by a group of no-nonsense, tight-business-suit-wearing females in the justice department. This summer it seems like every channel you flip to features a high-profile show about an impossibly beautiful woman fighting crime. These girls are powerful and well-trained, with an uncanny ability to chase down their foes in heels, and whether they’re cops, spies or detectives these women are taking down criminals — and arresting huge numbers of viewers. Could this be the new television trend? Just take a look at the evidence from the past week:

The season premiere of TNT’s smash hit The Closer, which features Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, found a huge 7.7 million viewers.

Close behind, the series premiere of Rizzoli & Isles earned the best-ever debut for an ad-supported cable show with 7.6 million viewers. The TNT drama stars Angie Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as a medical examiner Maura Isles.

USA’s premiere of Covert Affairs, built solidly upon its lead-in, White Collar, and achieved a terrific 4.9 million viewers. The spy drama features the Coyote-(not)-Ugly actress Piper Perabo as C.I.A. trainee Annie Walker.

ABC picked up their Canadian import, Rookie Blue, which centers around a recent police academy graduate played by Missy Peregrym, for a second season.

As to why these programs are blowing up the summer schedule, I have a few guesses. These shows feature strong and dangerous female protagonists who possess a vulnerable, insecure side as well. In a television landscape that often prefers archetypal tough guys, this kind of dimensionality is refreshing. In a more shallow sense, it doesn’t hurt that the actresses playing these women are beautiful.

But what do you think, PopWatchers? Are you a prisoner of this trend? Should we expect twice as many female crime-fighters on our screens by this time next year? Does this bode well for the CW’s Nikita?

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

The Good Wife

BOX OFFICE

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise) is confirmed to be starring in the movie The Woman In Black. This movie is an adaptation of the gothic supernatural horror novel by Susan Hill, which follows a young solicitor (Radcliffe) who takes up a short residence at Eel Marsh House, a desolate and secluded coastal mansion cut off at high tide from the nearby market town in rural England. Alone and sorting out the affairs of the elderly widow owner who recently died, the lawyer is spooked by unexplained noises and visions of a mysterious woman in black. (Digital Spy and Dark Horizons)

Will Smith has attached himself to star in and produce The Legend Of Cain, a film adaptation of the classic Biblical story. Smith will play crop farmer Cain, no word on who’ll be his younger shepherd brother Abel but the story is said to take a vampiric twist on the tale. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Dark Horizons)

Here are the top 10 movies in the box office from this past weekend compiled by Exhibitor Relations and provided online by E! Entertainment Online:

1. Inception, $60.4 million
2. Despicable Me, $32.7 million
3. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, $17.4 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, $13.5 million
5. Toy Story 3, $11.7 million
6. Grown Ups, $10 million
7. The Last Airbender, $7.5 million
8. Predators, $6.8 million
9. Knight and Day, $3.7 million
10. The Karate Kid, $2.2 million

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Vote for the Season’s Best Shows

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Roush at TV Guide)

Question: Mike O’Malley’s Emmy nod as guest actor in a comedy for Glee is great, but what do you think about mostly dramatic parts being nominated in the comedy categories? — James (from Twitter)

Matt Roush: It’s a good question. Some of the best work in the comedy categories is at least as dramatic as comedic. Mike O’Malley’s poignant work as Kurt’s father is a great performance but is more likely to elicit tears than laughs. He could be eclipsed by the more conventionally funny work being done by his fellow nominees (most notably Neil Patrick Harris from the same show, or Modern Family’s Fred Willard, Jon Hamm’s comic turn on 30 Rock, and so on). At the same time, the meatiness of the dramatic scenes in these comedy-drama hybrids (a list that includes Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara and even Monk) may give actors like O’Malley and especially Edie Falco an advantage at awards time. I’m certainly not opposed to honoring the dramatic highlights from comedy series, but it’s true the line is very blurred in some of these categories.

Question: I thoroughly enjoyed the season 2 premiere of White Collar; however, I noticed a (lens?) distortion every time Tiffani Thiessen was on-screen. Do you know what’s up with that? Also wanted to get your take (and any news, if you please) on the new season of Warehouse 13. — Christen

Matt Roush: In these first episodes of White Collar, they’re shooting around her pregnancy, so that’s what you may have noticed. (Don’t remember a distortion in my advance non-HD screener, but I do remember being aware they were clearly going to extremes to keep her baby bump from showing.) Regarding Warehouse 13, look for two new recurring characters to be introduced in this week’s episode: Paula Garces, as a local veterinarian in “Univille” (the warehouse’s setting) who catches Pete’s eye, and Nolan Gerard Funk as another local who bonds with Claudia. The first week of August features a cross-over with Eureka, as Fargo and Claudia cross-pollinate each other’s shows. And look for more of Jaime Murray as H.G. Wells as the season progresses, along with other guest stars including Lindsay Wagner, Rene Auberjonois and, in another recurring role, Tia Carrere.

Question: I’m sure I’m not alone in extolling the virtues of the wonderfully written, marvelously acted Friday Night Lights. I am in shock that the powers-that-be at NBC actually had the smarts to air the new season after it was on Direct TV. Is there any chance that there will be a new season after this one? — Barbara

Matt Roush: As a matter of fact, Friday Night Lights is just wrapping its fifth and final season, which will begin airing on DirecTV in the fall and will show up at later on NBC. After that, though, it will be time to leave Dillon for good. But we got to stay there much longer than anyone expected. Thanks, DirecTV, for rescuing this gem—and thanks again, Emmy voters, for finally recognizing Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. I’m still happily amazed.

Question: I watched Covert Affairs last night and will watch again. Good cast and GREAT music. Can you give me the names of the songs from the first night show? There are lots of questions posted asking about the great music. — Sandy

Matt Roush: Because the show’s new and there’s so much buzz regarding this year’s new crop of cable series, I looked into this. (For the record, I am not a music expert and am not traditionally the go-to guy for this sort of info.) According to USA, the primary songs from the pilot were “The Dog Days are Over” by Florence and the Machine (from the skydiving sequence) and “Before it Breaks” by Brandi Carlisle at the end of the episode.

Question: I watched and enjoyed the series Merlin when it was on NBC last summer. I was terribly disappointed when I realized it had aired a second season on Syfy. Luckily, I watched an all-day marathon and saw the second season in its entirety. I loved it. Are there plans to bring it back for a third season? — Nellie

Matt Roush: A third season of Merlin is in production, but Syfy has yet to announce a pick-up. I’d be surprised if they pass, though.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s finally Friday. YAY! And, only a few more days until the mass exodus to San Diego for Comic Con. Yes! Yes!

In the meantime, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Casting changes have taken place on the upcoming HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones. Varys, the calculating spymaster for the king of Westeros, will be played by UK actor Conleth Hill and the role of Waymar Royce has been recast due to a scheduling issue. Jamie Campbell-Bower had played the role in the pilot but when the producers decided to do reshoots of his scenes, Campbell-Bower was unavailable. The role of Royce will now be played by Rob Ostlere. (Maureen Ryan at Chicago Tribune and Televisionary)

Tammy Blanchard (Guiding Light) has been cast in a recurring role on The Good Wife, playing a fair-minded assistant state’s attorney who looks more like an indie-band drummer than a lawyer, and who will serve as “one of Glen Childs’ underlings and a confidante to Cary (Matt Czuchry). Meanwhile, Chris Saradon (Judging Amy) has been cast as Judge Goode. He will recur throughout the season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly and Televisionary)

Kirsten Vangsness may pull double-duty and appear on the Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior spinoff in either a regular or recurring capacity, following a similar trend to Rocky Carroll on NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. Vangsness would bring her Penelope Garcia to a cast that also includes Forest Whittaker and Janeane Garofalo. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer for both Stargate Universe and Stargate Atlantis, announced details about an upcoming crossover between the two series. Here is what he had to say:

“With word from producer John G. Lenic that the deals have been closed on those Atlantis alums, we can now move forward on the script, secure in the knowledge that both extra-special guest stars will actually be on hand to say the dialogue written specifically for them. Great news for fans of the old series. There was a reluctance to move ahead with an SGA crossover, particularly on my part, because the feeling was it would step on the timing of the SGA movie, Stargate: Extinction, the events of which directly proceed the Atlantis series finale, Enemy at the Gate. But given the delay on the movie front and the ideal premise pitched out by Remi Aubuchon and Brad Wright, it was decided to go ahead with the crossover.”

No details were revealed as to which Atlantis cast will appear on Universe though. (Blastr – formerly Sci-Fi Wire)

The CW will air the hit Canadian comedy series 18 to Life, which is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, starting on August 3 with back-to-back episodes airing at 9 and 9:30 PM. The network will air all 12 half-hour episodes. The series follows Tom and Jessie – 18-year-old next-door neighbors who have grown up together – who run off and get married, forcing their warring families to become one in this hilarious multi-generational half-hour about relationships, true love, and who takes out the garbage. The series stars Stacey Farber (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Michael Seater (Life With Derek) as the young lovers. (The Futon Critic)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Say Whaaa?! Vote for TV’s Best Quotes

FIRST LOOK AT TV

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “TEEN WOLF” (MTV)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

Men of A Certain Age

BOX OFFICE

Amy Adams (Julie & Julia and Enchanted) is confirmed to play Janis Joplin in a biopic, which will be directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God). (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Zap2It)

Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone and The Burning Plain) has been cast as the mutant Mystique in the box office prequel/reboot X-Men: First Class. Mystique is a shape-shifter who can mimic other people, though she can’t replicate superpowers. The cast includes James MacAvoy as Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Magneto as young men discovering their powers for the first time, and meeting up with other mutants. The movie is expected to be released on June 3, 2011. (Heat Vision and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: Great Official Trailer for Ben Affleck’s The Town

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All

Well, in one week’s time, hundreds of thousands of pop culture fans will be in San Diego for Comic Con (and I will be one of them), navigating the myriad panels and crowds over the course of 4 days.

But, in the meantime, there is news to be shared.

TELEVISION

Illeana Douglas has signed on for a recurring role on Entourage. The veteran actress will portray Ari’s sister-in-aw and debut later this season. She may return for season eight, as well. In recent years, Douglas has guest-starred on episodes of Ugly Betty and Law & Order: SVU, but is better known for big screen roles in films such as Cape Fear and Stir of Echoes. (TV Fanatic)

NBC has announced the premiere dates for their fall season. Chuck, The Event and Chase will air on September 20 at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively. Parenthood will be on at 10 PM on September 21. Undercovers will debut at 8 PM with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Los Angeles on at 9 and 10 PM on September 22. Outlaw will be at 10 PM on September 24. Repeats of Law & Order: Los Angeles, Chase and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will air on Saturday nights at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively. (TV Done Wright)

FX has also set their fall schedule with their dramas to air as follows: Sons of Anarchy premieres on September 7 at 10 PM. And, the new series Terriers – a comedic drama starring Donal Logue (Damages) and Michael Raymond-James (True Blood). The series centers on Hank Dolworth (Logue), an ex-cop who partners with his best friend Britt Pollack (Raymond-James) to launch an unlicensed private investigation business. The duo, both struggling with maturity issues, solve crimes while avoiding danger and responsibility. The debut is set for at 10 PM on September 8. (The Futon Critic)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lie To Me

Dollhouse

Bones

BOX OFFICE

Disney is developing a new Tinkerbell live-action romantic comedy called Tink that has Elizabeth Banks set to star. There is no clue as to how soon this movie could move into production, but Banks’ schedule isn’t too packed, so it could happen anytime in the next few years. (Variety and First Showing)

Julie Bowen (Modern Family) will play Kevin Spacey’s wife in the star-packed comedy Horrible Bosses, which also features Jason Bateman, Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, and Jason Sudeikis. She will then take on the role of “a high-strung wedding planner” in Jumping the Broom, which revolves around “two black families from opposite ends of the socio-economic spectrum meeting for the first time during a weekend wedding in Martha’s Vineyard.” That ensemble includes Paula Patton (Precious) and Laz Alonso (Avatar) as the happy couple, and Angela Bassett as the mother of the bride. (Variety and Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

INTERVIEW

A Candid Conversation with Joanna Garcia

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: I love True Blood. I love Eric. Scoop, please. —Angi

Ausiello: Is it too soon to be talking about the finale? No? Cool. Exec producer Alan Ball tells me that there will be a “lot of Bill-Sookie-Eric stuff” in the season 3 finale. “It involves blood, it involves trust, and it does not go where we expect it to go.”

Question: I’m just going to keeping asking for some Leverage scoop until you answer me. —Matt

Ausiello: This Sunday’s Leverage finds the gang heading to Nashville to take down a corrupt record producer. Eliot is forced to play the role of a country-music singer-songwriter — and man, the big lug can actually sing!

Question: Supernatural spoilers seem to be few and far between. Any chance you have any new ones to share with us? —Judy

Ausiello: Season 6 will revolve around Dean’s new life as loving husband to Lisa and doting father to Ben. I kid! I made a funny! Here’s the real answer to your question: Despite the domestic situation Dean found himself in at the end of last season, exec producer Eric Kripke assures me that Supernatural will continue to be about the Winchester brothers “on the road together.” That said, Kripke confirms that “Dean’s situation creates all sorts of angst and conflict. The question [we’ll be] exploring is, How can you be a hunter when there are actually people that you care about? I think we will mine it for all of the emotional angst and conflict that we can. But [Lisa] is not — nor is anyone — going to be riding in the backseat of the Impala with Sam or Dean.”

Question: Thanks for all the Good Wife spoilers earlier this week. Got anything else about my fave character Kalinda? —Joel

Ausiello: Major drama! “Kalinda [Emmy nominee Archie Panjabi] always seems to be on top of her game,” says exec producer Robert King. “We are going to throw [her] off her game a little bit in the second season. Her past comes back to haunt her, and she also finds some competition.”

Question: Any more scoop on Charice’s role on Glee? —Kelly

Ausiello: Why, yes, as a matter of fact. Though Ryan Murphy says the hitmaker “comes on in a very sort of minor part,” it obviously grows, and fast, because, notes Lea Michele, while “the rivalry [between our characters] is going to be what everyone will pin it as, you know Ryan — it’s never going to be what you think it’s going to be.”

Question: Any whisperings on the new Torchwood you’d care to share? — Nicky

Ausiello: Among the casting intel I’ve gathered on the new season (airing on my new favorite cable network, Starz), the show is out to cast a new series regular — Rex Matheson, a wickedly funny (operative word: wicked) CIA agent born to make waves. Almost as key to the new season are recurring characters Esther Katusi, a CIA grunt in her early 20s who learns what she’s really made of only when she’s forced to, and Oswald Jones, a convicted murderer and pedophile who will be as shocked as anyone to learn how easily infamy and fame can be exchanged for one another.

Question: Scoop on The Closer will earn you my eternal thanks. —Sasha

Ausiello: FYI: Cold hard cash is the new eternal thanks. Just something to think about moving forward. Regarding The Closer, in the second episode, airing July 19, Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell) returns and is initially thought to be doing a background check on Chief Pope. But there’s more to the story. And apparently it’s VERY top secret because the screener TNT sent us left out the final scene. Bastards. It’s not like I was going to spoil it or anything.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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