Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Thank God it’s Friday, right?! I don’t know about all of you, but I’m really looking forward to this weekend specifically so I can catch up on all the shows I had to DVR this week and to get some much needed writing done. Whatever you have planned for this weekend, have a great time.

Meanwhile, please read on for today’s news:

TELEVISION

Actress Arlene Tur (Crash) is joining the 4th season of Torchwood as recurring character Vera Juarez, a surgeon. Enver Gjokai (Dollhouse) and Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) had been circling the new male role — a sharp-as-nails, funny-as-hell, tough-as-rawhide CIA agent — but producers ultimately deemed neither to be a good fit. Meanwhile Amber Stevens (Greek) had been circling the female part — a CIA Watch Analyst who possesses an unshakable faith in human nature. (Deadline)

Jason Wiles (Third Watch and Persons Unknown) will appear in No Ordinary Family as Mike Powell, the brother of Jim (Michael Chiklis). He is signed for just one episode. (Matt Mitovich at Fancast)

Legendary actor/comedian Bob Newhart will guest star on NCIS as a medical-examiner, who will be working closely with Ducky (David McCallum). His episode is scheduled to air in January. (TV Done Wright)

Parenthood is recasting Sarah’s (Lauren Graham) ex-hubby and the father to Amber and Drew. Darin Heames (Sons of Anarchy) played the role of Seth in the show’s pilot. This character will appear in multiple episodes. (Michael Ausiello)

Drea de Matteo (Sopranos and Desperate Housewives) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing a pregnant, battered wife. The episode will air in early 2011. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

FOX has pulled its new comedy Running Wilde from its Tuesday lineup for the remainder of the November sweeps period (October 28-November 24). Repeats of Raising Hope will fill the Tuesday time slot for the next two weeks. (The Futon Critic)

Alanna Ubach (Legally Blonde and Hung) will play Michelle, a possible love interest for Joe (Ray Romano) in five episodes of Men of a Certain Age, which returns to TNT on December 6. (Lynette Rice from Entertainment Weekly)

It would seem the folks behind The Event are pursuing actress Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) for a major recurring role in the series. No word yet on if she has accepted let alone is considering the offer. (Michael Ausiello via Deadline)

Actress Courtney Ford (Dexter and Mrs. Brandon Routh [of Superman Returns]) will appear in the next season of True Blood, playing Andy’s sister Portia Bellefleur, who is an attorney. Some TV viewers may have also seen her in recent episodes of NCIS and The Vampire Diaries. (Deadline and Gina DiNunno at TV Guide)

There is a boatload of guest stars lined up for the next season of the popular TV Land comedy Hot in Cleveland, including Bonnie Franklin (One Day At a Time), Melanie Griffith, Illeana Douglas, Wayne Knight (Seinfeld), John Schneider, Sherri Shepherd (The View) and Jack Wagner (The Bold and the Beautiful). (Matt Mitovich at Fancast)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Tisha Campbell-Martin and Chris Payne Gilbert (10 Items or Less) are set as leads opposite Ally Walker in the Lifetime drama pilot Exit 19, which follows single mother Gloria Shepherd (Walker) as she juggles her demanding personal and professional lives raising two children while working as a New York Police Department homicide detective. Campbell-Martin will play Gloria’s smart and vivacious partner. Gilbert will play Gloria’s younger brother, a recovering alcoholic, with whom she shares the house the two co-own. (Deadline)

Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, the executive producers of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess as well as Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus: Blood and Sand, are working on a possible new series for Starz based on a 2001 anime called Nori, which is about female assassins. (Darren Franich at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Lots of people are getting involved in the new Muppets movie that is to star Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother). Paul Rudd will provide the voice of Walter, a new, hip, young Muppet named Walter. Jane Lynch (Glee), Danny Trejo (Machete) and Donald Glover (Community) will also show up in the film. Glover’s role isn’t known as of yet, but Lynch will play a prison guard while Trejo will play her prisoner. Zach Galifianakis will make a cameo as a character called Hobo Jo. The cast already includes Chris Cooper (The Town), Amy Adams (Enchanted) and Rashida Jones (Parks & Recreation). Rumor also has it that singer Lady Gaga may somehow be involved and her entourage is reportedly going to be made up of John Krasinski (The Office), Ed Helms (The Hangover) and Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family). And topping off the new additions is Jack Black in an unspecified role. The film will have Segel and new Muppet Walter attempting to save a failing theater by showcasing the talents of Kermit the Frog and the rest of the gang. (First Showing)

Actor Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man and the original The Big Valley) has been tapped to play his old character’s father, Tom Barkley, in a 2011 big-screen remake. The movie has been delayed in filming for various reasons, which could cost the movie Stephen Moyer (True Blood), who was to play Tom’s son Jarrod who will need to film his TV series and that will probably conflict with the movie’s filming so he will probably have to drop out. However, that has not been confirmed as of yet. (William Keck at TV Guide)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!