Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Today’s news isn’t too voluminous, but there are still a few interesting things to share. Let’s get started:

TELEVISION

Actor Lee Majors (from The Six Million Dollar Man) will appear on the CBS sitcom $#*! My Dad Says, playing an arrogant millionaire who competes against Ed (Shatner) for Rosemary (Jean Smart). The episode will air February 3. (The Hollywood Reporter, Robyn Ross at TV Guide and Twitter)

Two more villains have been added to recurring status on the new NBC series The Cape. Actor Michael Irby (The Unit) will be introduced in the 9th episode, playing a high-level associate of Scales (Vinnie Jones) called Pokerface. Additionally, actor-rapper Romeo Miller (formerly known as Lil’ Romeo) will play Lil’ Z, a baby “gangsta” and a mean, smack-talking chatterbox who works for Pokerface. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

Syfy has renewed Sanctuary for a 4th season, giving the series a 13-episode order and a presumed fall 2011 premiere. (The Futon Critic)

The premiere date for the new A&E series Breakout Kings has been changed to March 6 at 10 PM. The drama follows an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run. The series stars Laz Alonso, Domenick Lombardozzi, Jimmi Simpson, Malcolm Goodwin, Serinda Swan and Brooke Nevin. (The Futon Critic)

Mark your calendar for January 22! Oxygen will air a Buffy the Vampire Slayer marathon from 10 AM to 8 PM. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Bill Sadler (Roswell, Wonderfalls and more recently Hawaii Five-0) will appear as William Frost, the father of lead character Annie Frost in the NBC drama Chase. He will appear in episodes to air in March. Chase returns tomorrow (Jan. 19) at 9 PM. (William Keck at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Josh Lucas will play the infamous aviator Charles Lindbergh in the upcoming biopic J. Edgar, which stars Leonadro DiCaprio as the titular FBI director. (Deadline and First Showing)

Anthony LaPaglia, Vera Farmiga, Mia Wasikowska, Sam Neill and Sebastian Stan will appear in the adaptation of the 1955 Arthur Miller play A View from the Bridge. The story follows Eddie Carbone (LaPaglia), who agrees to shelter his wife’s (Farmiga) cousins who are seeking refuge in New York as illegal immigrants, but trouble begins when his wife’s niece (Wasikowska), who they have raised since childhood, is attracted to Eddie’s younger brother. Eddie’s jealousy and obsession become the big turning point in a story that has a tragic end. (Variety and First Showing)

CONDOLENCES

Music mogul Don Kirshner passed away yesterday at the age of 76. He was instrumental in shepherding the work of monstrously talented young songwriters to the top of the pop charts in the 1960s, launched the career of The Monkees, and then made his face familiar to millions of rock fans as impresario of his late-night live-music TV series in the 1970s. (The LA Times)

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

Question: If it wasn’t for your mention of Downton Abbey in your recent TV Guide column, I would have missed it completely. I watched the first episode and am completely hooked, one of the most interesting and beautifully photographed shows in a long time. Thank you for bringing it to everyone’s attention! When I first was able to receive the cable channel BBC America, I was so excited because I thought it would be 24 hours of things like Downton Abbey, but instead it is 24 hours of Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, Top Gear, etc. What a disappointment. Again, thanks for mentioning this really wonderful Masterpiece Classic production. — Audrey

Matt Roush: No question, Downton Abbey is the standout for me so far in this young TV calendar year. It’s everything I want from a smart, classy, wonderfully produced, acted and written entertainment. It stays entertaining through the end, which comes much too soon (the finale is Jan. 30). Which is why I’m thrilled there will be another series of episodes, presumably to air roughly a year from now. And I get what you’re saying about BBC America, but that’s the difference between an operation that’s a slave to ratings and public TV, which isn’t. Reality shows (many of which began overseas and then invaded our shores; e.g., American Idol) drive bigger numbers, clearly, and a franchise like Top Gear no doubt has better, younger (and male) demos to boot. I too initially thought more of BBCA’s schedule would be devoted to classic and contemporary drama and mystery, but the audience didn’t show up for those programs the way they do for the reality fare—and, thankfully, for sci-fi/supernatural shows like Doctor Who, the current Primeval and the soon-to-return (but not soon enough) original Being Human.

That’s it. Enjoy!