Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

How is everyone doing this day before Thanksgiving? I hope everyone is well and that you’re all prepared for the big day.

To get you up-to-date on the news before the big holiday weekend, here are the items I found today:

TELEVISION

Actress Jenny Gago (24, The Closer, Lost and The West Wing) has joined the cast of the TNT series Southland, recurring as Detective Josie Ochoa, a take-charge investigator partnered with Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King). She’s been shot in the line of duty and is a tough mother of several sons. Josie’s Latina culture gives her a unique perspective on cases that changes the way Lydia thinks about her work. The series will be back with new episodes starting on January 4 at 10 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

The annual holiday episode of Psych will air on the USA Network on December 15 at 10 PM. The episode is called “The Polarizing Express” and is described as:

Shawn’s (James Roday) antics cause evidence to be thrown out in the high profile prosecution of a known crime lord named Czarsky, resulting in the dismissal of the entire case and the firings of not only the Psych agency but also of Henry as their liaison. After Henry wonders to Shawn what life would have been like in Santa Barbara if he had never returned, Shawn travels through a series of dreams which answer that question and aid him in discovering a new way to bust Czarsky for good. The episode includes guest stars Tony Cox and Keshia Knight Pulliam. The USA Network will also run a full 24-hour marathon of episodes of House on December 31, starting at 6 AM. Mark your calendars. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Helen Slater (Supergirl herself – and who has also been seen in Smallville and Greek) has been cast as an upper-crust mom in the ABC Family pilot called The Lying Game. She will play Kristen Mercer, the wealthy adopted mother of a teen girl named Sutton. The pilot is based on the book by author Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars). The story revolves around Sutton and her long-lost twin, Emma, reuniting to find their birth mother — until Sutton goes mysteriously missing. (Jennifer Armstrong at Entertainment Weekly)

NOTE: I wonder if this role will, in any way, conflict with Helen’s recurring role in the Teen Nick series Gigantic. Hmmm??

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor William Sadler (best known for his role in Roswell, but also seen in the pilot of the Hawaii Five-O reboot, starring as McGarrett’s dad) has joined the cast of the new box office movie Man on a Ledge that stars Edward Norton and Sam Worthington. The film tells of an ex-cop turned con who threatens to jump to his death from a Manhattan hotel rooftop. The NYPD dispatch a female police psychologist to talk him down. However, unbeknownst to the police on the scene, the suicide attempt is a cover for the biggest diamond heist ever pulled. The film also stars Elizabeth Banks, Ed Harris, Jamie Bell, Edward Burns and Kyra Sedgwick. (Movie Hole)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CSI creator Anthony Zuiker is heading out of the crime lab and into the Wild West for his next project. The writer and producer is developing a modern-day Western crime drama, Desperado, for CBS. Not unlike FX’s Justified, Desperado will blend modern crimes with outlaw justice, focusing on a group of San Antonio policemen who clean up the streets cowboy-style. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

NOTE: I wonder if this project is being done in an attempt to compete against the proposed Wild, Wild West reboot for which uber-producer Ron Moore (the man behind Battlestar Galactica and Caprica) is to be working on. But, maybe that’s just me…

Additionally, CBS is also developing a legal drama called Knife Fight, which based on a short story by crime novelist Joel Goldman that revolves around a female public defender who becomes a prosecutor in order to pursue the truth. (Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day) has been as the character Grey in the ABC Family drama pilot What Would Jane Do, which follows Jane (to be played by The Lake‘s Erica Dasher), a 16-year-old who goes to work for a cutting edge fashion company after the people there mistake her for an adult. MacDowell’s Grey is the hard-nosed, tough-as-nails boss that Jane goes to work for. (Tanner Stransky at Entertainment Weekly)

Q&A SECTION (with Adam at TV Guide)

Question: I am dying for some Vampire Diaries scoop. Can you help? — Valerie

ADAM: Klaus is comin’ to town. The oft-mentioned member of the Originals is described as handsome, charming, and 1,000 years old. We sense a Klaus-Damon snark-off coming. Klaus’ immediate plans will involve Alaric, whom Klaus *SPOILER ALERT* will force to work for him when he kidnaps and feasts on Jenna. (Can’t that girl ever catch a break?)

Question: Got any new details on NCIS? — Bradley

ADAM: Thomas Calabro has one of the hardest-working agents in town: The former Melrose Place star, who recently signed on to play a murder suspect on Castle, will also appear in a January episode of NCIS. He’ll play Sam Feeney, a charismatic businessman who runs a high-end billiards club. A former military officer, he’s also tough enough to deal with unruly regulars when they get out of hand.

Question: When are we going to get some more Castle-Beckett goodness on Castle? — Samantha

ADAM: After the winter break, you’re definitely going to see the duo go at it — just not in the way you might want. When one of Castle’s old friends from prep school is suspected in his wife’s murder, Castle and Beckett’s friendly partnership is put to the test. “Beckett is convinced that Castle’s friend is guilty of this crime, and Castle, who’s known this guy and really looked up to him, can’t conceive that he was the murderer,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe tells us. “We uncover some secrets about the guy’s past and challenge Castle’s point of view, but you get to see Beckett and Castle on completely opposite sides of an investigation.”

That’s it. Enjoy!