Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

So, it seems like the heat wave in Southern California is finally breaking, my cold is (hopefully) on its last legs and there is loads of TV to watch tonight. In the meantime, here are the news items for today:

CONDOLENCES

Legendary actor Tony Curtis (father of Jamie Lee Curtis) passed away Wednesday night at the age of 85. Condolences are extended to his family, friends and fans. (E! Entertainment Online)

TELEVISION

Miranda Cosgrove (Nickelodeon’s iCarly) will guest star as a troubled pop star in need of representation after she’s arrested on a DUI charge on an upcoming episode of The Good Wife. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Parminder Nagra (ER) will guest star in an episode of the ABC legal drama The Whole Truth. She will appear in the 8th episode of the new series as Pilar Shirazeem, who comes to her best pal’s defense when she is charged with killing her husband. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Kyle MacLachlan is set to appear in at least two episodes of the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, as the ex-husband of Zoey (Jennifer Morrison). Morrison’s first episode airs October 18, while MacLachlan is set to debut in early November. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Shelley Conn (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) has been cast as the female lead in FOX’s upcoming prehistoric/futuristic adventure series Terra Nova, which will get a sneak peek in May before launching in Fall 2011. Conn will star opposite Jason O’Mara and Stephen Lang and will play Elizabeth Shannon, the wife of O’Mara’s character, who travels back 85 million years. (Deadline and Televisionary)

First footage from the Doctor Who Christmas Special (and more on BBC America)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Bryan Fuller (the man behind Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies) is working on a modern-day reboot of the classic series The Munsters. So far, NBC has only ordered only a pilot, but since the potential series is being described as “Modern Family meets True Blood,” it could have a shot at succeeding. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

FOX is considering ordering Lawyers for Less, which is to be a workplace comedic drama about two best friends – a white-shoe lawyer coming back from disbarment for mixing business and pleasure and an enterprising black lawyer who takes him in as partner – who run a small storefront law firm specializing in ambulance chasing and defending the defenseless. (Deadline and Televisionary)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES NEWS

Fionnula Flanagan (Lost and Brotherhood) will star in the Hallmark Channel movie Three Wise Woman on December 14 at 8 PM. The movie is a new twist on ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Flanagan stars as Beth, who has a rare opportunity to accompany her guardian angel, Tom (Hugh O’Connor), to visit her past and find out exactly how a single choice can change a life. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Michael Shannon, Benicio Del Toro and James Franco are attached to star in the box office movie Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer, which is based on the true story of Richard “The Ice Man” Kuklinski, a man who for more than 40 years led a double life as both a professional assassin and a doting husband and father in suburban New Jersey. Mickey Rourke was linked to the project earlier this month. (Production Weekly and Dark Horizons)

Sam Raimi (Director of Spider-Man) is in talks to set up an alien invasion movie titled Earth Defense Force, which is being described as a cross between Top Gun, Independence Day and The Last Starfighter. It is based on a reading of Andrew Marlowe’s script, opening with the U.S. and Chinese militaries coming under attack from aliens, who swiftly depart, only to destroy many of the world’s landmarks and military installations before vanishing. It seems they came to test Earth’s defensive capabilities, and we failed miserably. (Vulture and The Wrap)

Legendary actor Christopher Plummer has joined the cast of the American version of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. He will play the wealthy industrialist who hires a disgraced journalist (Daniel Craig) to solve a 40-year unsolved murder. The case uncovers a web of familial corruption. (Heat Vision and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS/POSTERS

Three Dark, Gritty ‘Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows’ Banners

Watch: Second Trailer for ‘Burlesque’ with Christina Aguilera

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

Question: Let’s assume Chord Overstreet’s Sam is not a love interest for Glee’s Kurt, and Darren Criss is. Well, who will Sam be paired with? —Jeff

Ausiello: I’m hearing single mom Quinn. But if you’ve got a better idea, the comments section below has your name written all over it, Jeff.

Question: Is Mike Chang going to get a solo on Glee? I’m swooning over his dancing (and now his abs!), but a solo would just be the icing on the cake. —Kraig

Ausiello: He’ll get the next best thing to a solo in episode 4: a duet with Tina!

Question: Any truth to the rumor that Glee‘s post-Super Bowl tribute episode will be a sequel to Britney/Brittany? —Taylor

Ausiello: If by “any truth” you mean “no truth whatsoever,” yes. Otherwise, not so much.

BREAKING GLEE NEWS: Sources confirm to me exclusively that Charice will reappear in episode 7!

Question: I was hoping that you can give me some Bones scoop. —Ina B

Ausiello: An upcoming episode will be told entirely from Brennan’s point of view. “It’s a very stylized episode where Brennan is investigating a murder of someone who appears to be her,” explains exec producer Stephen Nathan. “It’s sort of Brennan examining her own life while examining the victim. We’ve never done anything this internal. It’s probably the most psychologically oriented episode we’ve ever done.”

Question: Which episode of Bones is Emily Deschanel directing this season? —Frankie

Ausiello: Episode No. 14. And so far, that’s all I know.

Question: Hawaii Five-O scoop? —Johanna

Ausiello: Newly unemployed Lone Star star James Wolk should call his agent, because the CBS reboot is casting the perfect part for him: a possibly two-faced old buddy of McGarrett’s who’s visiting the islands as a bodyguard for a controversial Third World leader.

Question: Got any NCIS: LA scoop? — Justin

Ausiello: The show is on the lookout for a sixtysomething with a slight German accent to play the recurring role of a retiree who, though blind, still sees the fun in manipulating people. And since the character is named Burgess, I’m thinking the show is a fan of the Penguin.

Question: On a scale from 1 to 10, how crazy will the final scene in Smallville‘s 200th episode drive Clois fans? Any chance you can give us a little more on it? — Geff C.

Ausiello: Nine. Can’t say more except that it’ll take your breath away.

Question: Do you have any updates on the possibility of Michael Rosenbaum returning to Smallville? — Denny

Ausiello: I hear episode 10 may be titled “Luthor,” so draw your own conclusions. Actually, let me help you: I’m guessing that ties in with his pa Lionel’s return. But I could be wrong!

Question: Do you have any scoop on why/how Robert Wagner is coming back to NCIS? —Lyss

Ausiello: Tony Sr. gets caught up in a case that requires him to go on a date with (wait for it)
Ziva!

That’s it. Enjoy!