Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

More breaking news from the networks on their plans for the fall TV schedule are breaking along with much other news so let’s get into today’s update, shall we:

TELEVISION

Actor Ernie Hudson (of Ghostbusters fame) will play Isaac Jeffries, the loving childhood mentor of Mozzie (Willie Garson) in an upcoming episode of White Collar. The series returns with all new episodes on June 7 at 9 PM on the USA Network. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actor Matt Lauria, whose new show The Chicago Code did not get picked up for a second season by FOX has booked a potentially recurring role on Burn Notice. He will play Ethan, a discharged soldier whose intelligence and tenacity piques the interest of the CIA. Burn Notice will be back starting June 23. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Míriam Colón, (HBO’s How to Make It in America and Guiding Light) will guest star in an upcoming episode of HawthoRNe, appearing as the ailing mother of Marc Anthony’s Detective Nick Renata. The medical drama is back with new episodes on June 14 at 10 PM. (Megan Masters and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Susan Saint James (Kate & Allie) will guest star on the new USA Network series called Suits that stars Gabriel Macht (Behind Enemy Lines) as a top-shelf attorney and Patrick J. Adams (Friday Night Lights) as the young savant/legal whiz who assists him. St. James will play Joy McAfee, the founder of a toy company who, on the cusp of inking a major licensing deal, reconsiders her life priorities upon meeting Adams’ off-beat character. Suits will debut on June 23. (Megan Masters and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Aimee Garcia (Off the Map and Trauma) has joined the cast of Dexter, playing Jamie, the younger sister of Batista (David Zayas) whom Dexter (Michael C. Hall) hires as a nanny for baby Harrison. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide and TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It appears that Syfy is developing a spin-off of its popular Warehouse 13 dramedy series. The project will center on the character of H.G. Wells, putting Wells in a 1890s steam-punk environment (at least right now – that could change, though). As more news breaks on this proposed project, you will see it here. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

UPFRONTS NEWS

Chuck has been renewed for a final season with a 13 episodes order while The Event and Law & Order: Los Angeles have both been canceled. Meanwhile, NBC has picked up the new dramas The Playboy Club, Grimm and “Awake” (formerly known as R.E.M.). And, both Parenthood and Harry’s Law have been renewed. This mean the much-talked-about Wonder Woman pilot is dead as is the 17th Precinct pilot from Ron Moore. (The Futon Critic)

ME: I can personally live without the Wonder Woman pilot, but “boo” on NBC for not moving forward with 17th Precinct.

Meanwhile, word is leaking from ABC that Brothers and Sisters, Off the Map, No Ordinary Family, Detroit 187 as well as V have all been canceled. While new drams Good Christian Bitches, er, I mean Belles (really, that’s the new name) and Charlie’s Angels have been picked up as well as a Pan Am. And, it looks like new shows Once Upon A Time, The River, Revenge and Scandal (formerly Damage Control) have been picked up too. Body of Proof has been picked up too. (Twitter)

ME: Really, Charlie’s Angels and Pan Am are picked up? I’m making the prediction now that Pan Am will crash and burn literally and figuratively. C’mon, ABC. What are you thinking?

JUST BREAKING: CBS has picked up Person of Interest from pilot to series. (Twitter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

French star Dany Boon and actress Diane Kruger have joined the high-concept action-adventure comedy film Fly Me to the Moon. Kruger plays a 30-something woman who has a great career and a loving boyfriend, though her family is plagued with a curse that turns every first marriage into a divorce. So when her boyfriend presses her to get hitched, she embarks on a mission to marry and divorce a stranger before her actual wedding. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Zoe Saldana will join actors Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Irons in the film The Words that tells the story of a writer (Cooper) who discovers the price he must pay for stealing the work of another man (Irons). Actor Dennis Quaid will also star in the film as Clay Hammond, another celebrated writer. (Coming Soon, The Hollywood Reporter and First Showing)

Actor Rob Lowe will star in Knife Fight, a film that deals with the dark side of political operatives. He will play a political crisis specialist who plays hard and tough in dealing with various October campaign surprises. (Deadline and First Showing)

Actor Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries) has joined the cast of the film The Baytown Disco that stars Eva Longoria and Billy Bob Thornton. He will play Anthony Reese, a federal agent who comes into a small Southern town to investigate the Oodies — three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman get her son back from his seemingly abusive father. (The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: Colin Farrell Bares Teeth in First Trailer for ‘Fright Night’

SPOILER ROOM (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

‘WHITE COLLAR’: HOW WILLIE GARSON’S REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE INSPIRED AN EPISODE. PLUS: NEAL SCOOP!

It’s almost time for White Collar, Collars! And if you’re half as excited as I am about what’s in store, here’s a bit of fun news. First, the Mozzi flashback episode creator Jeff Eastin told me about last year is definitely happening/filmed/done/amazing. But here’s what you may not know: Willie Garson (who plays Mozzi) motivated much of the story. “[The episode] was inspired by Willie’s real-life journey to get his son, who he got out of foster care,” Eastin says. “Early on, I sat down with Willie and we talked about that. It was similar to a story I had been working on for him anyway. And after talking to him, we decided to embrace that idea, and we find out Mozzi was an orphan. It’s a pretty cool story.” Also cool? Seeing Mozzi in the different stages of life, “from an infant all the way up to the present day,” Eastin says. Much more White Collar scoop coming your way in the coming weeks. But here’s some bonus Neal news to tide you over: Look for more “library“-esque sexy time, according to Matt Bomer; the gang will face Keller again this season; and look for a not-so-happy Neal in an upcoming episode where the team encounters “the young Neal Caffrey.” Jealousy? I think so.

That’s it. Enjoy!