Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Quite a number of items to share with all of you so let’s get right into the entertainment news for today:

TELEVISION

NBC announced their mid-season schedule yesterday and while the programming is a bit confusing even to avid TV followers like me, there are some things for which you should be aware. The new shows The Cape and Harry’s Law have been confirmed for 13 episodes each, but not all of those episodes will air when each debuts in January. The back half of each season will air at a later date. Also, the as-yet-to-be-scheduled shows Love Bites and Friends With Benefits have also received 13 episode orders with The Paul Reiser Show supposedly receiving a 6 episode order. There is no word on when these shows will make it onto the NBC line-up, though. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Mayim Bialik (Blossom) has been promoted to series regular on the CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory. She plays Sheldon’s quasi-girlfriend. (Michael Ausiello via Deadline)

Annette O’Toole will be back in Smallville in early 2011. (Ksitetv.com)

Despite the network not stating the CBS series Medium has been canceled, the writing is on the wall not only due to the series having its episode order reduced but also by its leading lady stating the obvious: “We got canceled,” states Patricia Arquette. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Lindsay Price (Eastwick) will guest star in an episode of CSI: New York in February. She will play Kate, a young woman who experienced a past trauma that she can’t forget. Her character ends up forming a bond with Det. Lindsay Monroe Messer (Anna Belknap) when her past returns to haunt her. (Lynette Rice at Entertainment Weekly)

When Balthazar Getty returns to Brothers & Sisters in January for the show’s 100th episode, his character Tommy won’t be coming home along. His new lady love Rose (Cara Buono from Mad Men) will be joining him. They are expected to appear in at least three episodes this season. (Lynette Rice and Nicholas White at Entertainment Weekly)

TV SCOOP

Sci-fi Preview: Scoop on Smallville, Supernatural, Walking Dead and More!

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Rachael Leigh Cook will star alongside Eric McCormack in the TNT drama pilot Perception, which centers on Dr. Geoffrey Pierce (McCormack), an eccentric, frequently erratic and absolutely brilliant university professor in neuropsychiatry who helps the FBI solve complex cases. Cook will play sexy, sharp-tongued and smart FBI agent Kate Rossi who recruited her former professor Pierce to work for the bureau. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hellboy movie franchise) and David Eick (Battlestar Galactica executive producer) are finalizing a deal to create the new TV series version of The Hulk for ABC. This will be del Toro’s first TV project. Details of the premise are sketchy but rumor has it the project will follow the origin story of physicist Bruce Banner, whose alter ego is the green and raging Hulk. He will be in his mid-twenties, less reactive and more energized as the world is still his oyster. (Deadline)

From a TV Version of True Lies to More Sex and the City Wannabes: The Shows in Development for 2011

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal and Charlie’s Angels) will star in the Lifetime original mini-series called Marry Me. Liu stars as Rae Ann Carter, a single aspiring artist-turned-social worker who always wanted a fairytale romance – to fall madly in love and live happily ever after. But when her two-year relationship falls apart, Rae unexpectedly falls for a new man, Luke (Steve Pasquale from Rescue Me), who asks her to marry her after a few short dates. Just as everything seems to fall into place for Rae, her ex-boyfriend Adam (Bobby Cannavale from Third Watch) suddenly re-emerges into her life with a proposal of his own. Things get even further complicated when a third man (Enrique Murciano from Without a Trace), smitten by Rae, enters the picture and asks for her hand in marriage, as well. With three men after her heart, who will be Rae’s Prince Charming? The movie also co-stars Annie Potts (Designing Women), Vanessa Marano (Dexter), Elizabeth Bogush (The Big Bang Theory) and Danielle Nicolet (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation). (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Three major movie projects have seen their female leads recently depart with two of them finding replacements already. First, the film adaptation of the play Albert Nobbs was to star Amanda Seyfried, but who has been replaced by Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland). Second, Rachel Weisz had been signed to play the female lead in a new untitled comedy from Lynn Shelton. Weisz and Emily Blunt were to play sisters who end up fighting over a man. Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married) is now taking over for Weisz. Lastly, as briefly mentioned in yesterday’s update, Katherine Heigl has dropped out of the box office movie he last Adaline, but no replacement has been cast as yet. (Dark Horizons)

Carey Mulligan (An Education) is confirmed to be playing Daisy Buchanan the upcoming new film adaptation of The Great Gatsby. She will star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, while the role of Nick Carraway is not yet set though will probably go to Tobey Maguire. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) will play a Jersey girl who finds herself trapped in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Brittney will find Gillen playing a high school drama clubber who magically wakes up in 13th century Verona, as the mythical Juliet, surrounded by the characters she knows all too well. The X-Files veteran Gillian Anderson is set to play the dual role of both Juliet’s Nurse and Brittney’s real-world mother. (Deadline and Blastr)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: Long Promo Trailer for ‘Winnie’ Starring Jennifer Hudson

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at Fancast)

Question: Can we expect a really big Tiva moment on ‘NCIS‘? – Michaela

Mitovich: In a word, yes. In 50 words: “Like Tony, ‘Tiva’ fans have been teased by several references this season to a mysterious man Ziva is acquainted with in Miami,” ‘NCIS’ executive producer Shane Brennan tells me. “This ‘Miami Man’ could be Washington-bound before the end of the season, and his arrival is sure to cause a stir for the NCIS team – particularly Tony.”

Question: Can we get some ‘NCIS: LA‘ scoop – specifically in regards to Kensi and Deeks? – Lori

Mitovich: The partners in crime solving (but potentially more) have “some fiery moments” coming up, promises series creator Shane Brennan. For one, “Kensi will reveal a previous relationship that will shock Deeks.” Also, Shane teases, “Watch for a close encounter between the fun pair that crackles with romantic possibilities.”

Question: Any scoop on my favorite new show, FX’s ‘Terriers‘? Britt and Katie broke my heart last week! – Jen

Mitovich: If their break-up wrecked you, wait until you see Katie say goodbye to their dog this Wednesday at 10/9c. (By the way, you don’t really think Britt is going to let the guy his fiancée bedded in a drunken stupor get away unscathed, do you?) The focus of this week’s terrific episode, though, is a flashback to the case that ruined Hank’s career as a cop, as well as crippled his marriage. Donal Logue rocks, that is all.

Question: I vote for some ‘V‘ scoop to help tide us over for the rest for the long wait. – clairethebelle via Twitter

Mitovich: ‘V’s January 4 return still seems an eternity away, right? Remember what I previously Tease’d about Sarah, the love of Hobbes’ life whose vanishing sent him down his dark path? Well, she is what Marcus is using to compel Hobbes to play for both teams. “He’s caught right in the middle,” previews Charles Mesure. “Hobbes wants to be 100-percent behind Erica and the resistance, but Marcus and the Vs have a lot of leverage over him now.”

That’s it. Enjoy!