Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Much more news to share with everyone today so let’s get right into it:

TELEVISION

NBC has confirmed they are pulling new episodes of Law & Order: Los Angeles, beginning February 8. The show will return on “a day to be determined.” Thus hiatus announcement comes after the cast shake-up where Regina Hall, Megan Boone and Skeet Ulrich – three original cast members – left the show. (Jenna Mullins at E! Entertainment Online)

Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) will guest star on No Ordinary Family as a sexy and mysterious woman who, like the Powells, may possess some special powers of her own. She will appear in the show’s 17th episode. (Twitter and TV Line)

Santiago Cabrera (Heroes) has been added as a regular in the upcoming FOX drama pilot Alcatraz from J.J. Abrams, which chronicles the efforts of tenacious cop Rebecca (Sarah Jones) and team of FBI agents tracking down a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who reappear in the present day. Cabrera will play Jimmy, Rebecca’s sweet-natured fiancé, a uniform cop. (Deadline)

Melora Hardin (The Office) will have a recurring role in the TBS pilot called The Wedding Band, which is an hour-long comedy that follows a group of guys performing in a wedding band, anchored by 2 lifelong best friends – perennial bachelor Tommy (Brian Austin Green) and Eddie (Peter Cambor), a married father of two. Hardin will play the sassy, demanding and opinionated president of Rutherford Events who hires the band for her events every week. (Deadline)

Larisa Oleynik (Mad Men and the box office film 10 Things I Hate About You) will appear in Hawaii Five-0 as Jessica Kaye, a highly educated ex-CIA analyst who goes to Hawaii to assist Five-0 in the pursuit of Steve McGarrett’s arch nemesis, Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos). Jessica has a personal stake in the manhunt since Wo Fat was responsible for the murder of her fiancé, a well respected CIA field agent. (Deadline)

Actress Paula Malcomson (Deadwood and Caprica) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Private Practice, playing the wife of a convicted killer on death row who is nearing execution. While Violet (Amy Brenneman) attempts to help her accept her husband’s impending death, Malcomson’s character obsessively seeks a stay of execution. She will appear in Episode 14. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

The proposed Bones spinoff by FOX is starting to take shape with Michael Clarke Duncan being tapped to co-star. He will be introduced in Episode 19. The spinoff, based on The Locator series of books written by Richard Greener, centers on Walter Sherman aka “the Locator” (this role is still being cast), a former military policeman who can find anything. Duncan will play Walter’s partner Leo, a tough, raw-hide cowboy philosopher. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

Viewers of Grey’s Anatomy will find Loretta Divine returning later this year as Adele Webber, Chief Webber’s (James Pickens Jr.) ex-wife. (Jennifer Arrow at E! Entertainment Online)

SPOILER ROOM

A new “lady friend” for Castiel on Supernatural (named Rachel) will be showing up soon. The role has yet to be cast, but Rachel will be a pretty twenty-something angel with a finely tuned BS detector.” Then later Sam and Dean will be traveling back in time (again) this time to meet Samuel Colt, who built the world’s biggest devil’s trap to keep the Devil’s Gate from opening (but Sam and Dean opened it) and he built the gun that can kill anything (except Lucifer and maybe a few other big baddies). (Zap2It)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe), Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica), Danielle Nicolet (The Starter Wife), Gareth David-Lloyd (Torchwood), Tamzin Merchant (The Tudors) and Devon Graye (Dexter) will star in the original Syfy movie called Red Faction: Origins (which is currently the working title). This movie is based on the highly successful video game franchise, which follows the children of rebel hero Alec Mason. The premise of the movie is: Twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason (Robert Patrick) led the Martian Colonies to freedom and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra (Tamzin Merchant), and left a broken hero in their wake. Jake Mason (Brian J. Smith), Alec’s last surviving son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them: a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Jake must now battle the relentless regime and somehow reunite a family torn apart by war. The movie is scheduled for release in May 2011. (The Futon Critic)

The original Disney Channel movie Lemonade Mouth has been moved from March 25 to its new debut date of April 15. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Tim Kring (creator of Heroes) has a new pilot that has been picked up by FOX. The pilot called Touch centers on a father who discovers that his autistic, mute son can actually predict events before they happen. (Deadline)

FOX has given the green light to Little in Common, a single-camera comedy from Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) has signed on to join Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the box office thriller called Dibbuk Box, playing a mom whose youngest child becomes strangely attached to an antique wooden box purchased at a yard sale. The girl’s behavior becomes erratic and her divorced parents get the carvings on the box deciphered and find the box contains a spirit bent on devouring its human host. (Deadline)

Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in the third Christopher Nolan Batman film: The Dark Knight Rises. In comic book lore, Kyle is also known as Catwoman. Tom Hardy (Inception) has been set to play Bane. The movie opens nationwide on July 22, 2012. (Hit Fix)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Ewan McGregor & Eva Green in the First Trailer for ‘Perfect Sense’

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie and Adam at TV Guide)

Question: When are Rachel and Finn getting back together on Glee? ¬¬— Harper

NATALIE: You’ll be waiting a while on that one. “We are broken up,” Lea Michele says with finality. “We’re bringing Rachel back to Season 1 a little bit with the yearning for Finn.” So look for more of Rachel trying to get back together with Finn every now and then. And also lots of Michele’s crying face.

Question: I am so excited about the Castle kiss. Tell me it’s not going to be a fake-out. —Leslie

ADAM: I don’t think fake-out is necessarily the right word, but I wouldn’t expect a happily ever after either. That’s because I’m hearing that Victor Webster will return as Beckett’s motorcycle-riding doctor boyfriend in both episodes of February’s two-parter, the second of which dives deeper into their leather-clad affair.

Question: What’s next for the Smallville superheroes after passing out at Hawkman’s funeral? — Josh

NATALIE: Things will not be what they seem once they wake up. “They created an alternate reality for these characters and they don’t know which is the real one and which isn’t,” Erica Durance tells us. “It’s mainly around Clark figuring out what world he’s in and which is the right one. That introduces Chloe back in the whole mishmash, and she ends up actually being a bit of a nemesis to Lois.”

Question: I would love some NCIS intel. — Matthew

ADAM: Sounds like our team will be getting a little backup — even if they don’t want it! I hear the show is looking for a female NCIS agent for a multi-episode arc. Described as a sexy, competitive go-getter with a sense of humor, the character is an ace investigator and thus not shy about sharing her dissenting theories on the team’s big case.

Question: When will Ellie give birth on Chuck? — Howard

NATALIE: Soon! But don’t expect the delivery to go as planned. “Captain Awesome crumbled in the spy world, but when it comes to the baby being delivered, it might make the spy world look kind of easy,” Ryan McPartlin says. “He might be ready to go on a mission after this.”

Question: What’s the scoop on the vampire-werewolf war on Vampire Diaries? — Rachel

NATALIE: The late Mason’s were-buddy Jules (Michaela McManus) is not happy with the Salvatore brothers, and will use the information that Tyler is also a werewolf to her advantage. “The vampire-werewolf conflict is going to go from a simmer to a boil,” executive producer Julie Plec tells us. “Jules is going to try to take Tyler under her wing and start filling his ear with some things.”

Question: You know what would be great? Some Supernatural scoop! — Hannah

ADAM: The show is calling all angels — or at least one more. I hear she’s kind of a badass who doesn’t suffer fools gladly and that she’s extremely loyal to Castiel.

Question: Are we going to learn more about that machine on Fringe? — Dan

NATALIE: The machine that will seemingly destroy one universe over the other continues to be simultaneously built in both realities. “There is an enormous focus on how that thing can be activated and what it will take to do that, how it can be finished, and if it is, what are the implications,” J.J. Abrams tells us. The key element for the machine to work is Peter. “Peter is the only person who can power that machine,” Jasika Nicole says. “That’s really integral into which universe is going to survive. It’s going to rest on Peter’s shoulders.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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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!

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