Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

There is quite a bit of news to share with all of you, including a lengthy Q&A section with the folks at TV Guide and TV Line:

TELEVISION

Actor Christopher Meloni will not be back on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit when it returns for its 13th season this fall. A search for a big name to take his place is reportedly underway. (Matt Mitovich and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

The 4th season of Damages, exclusive to DirecTV users, will debut on July 13 at 10 PM. This season will find Patty (Glenn Close) and Ellen (Rose Byrne) embroiled in a wrongful-death suit against a private military contractor, Howard T. Erickson (John Goodman). Erickson has made a fortune supplying the U.S. Government with security forces in Afghanistan and is protected by his connections within the highest echelons of power in Washington, D.C. Chris Sanchez (Chris Messina), a decorated soldier who now works for the security firm, is drawn into the web of intrigue when Ellen and Patty set their sights on his corrupt employer. Complicating matters is Jerry Boorman (Dylan Baker), a shadowy opportunist with ties to both Erickson and the Middle East who is intimately involved in the conspiracy at the heart of the lawsuit. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Billy Brown (Lights Out) will have a recurring role in Dexter when it returns for its new season this fall. He will play Mike Cutler, a no-nonsense Chicago homicide detective who transfers to Miami Metro, where he immediately ruffles some feathers. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Rockmond Dunbar (Soul Food and Prison Break) has signed on for a multi-episode arc on Sons of Anarchy, playing Eli Roosevelt, the new sheriff in Charming. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The History Channel will air a mini-series about the most infamous family feud between The Hatfields and the McCoys next year that stars actor Kevin Coster as “Devil” Anse Hatfield. The film will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the bloody war between the two clans that has become a popular metaphor for bitterly feuding rivals. The Hatfield-McCoy saga begins with “Devil” Anse Hatfield and Randall McCoy, who were close friends and comrades during the Civil War. They return to their neighboring homes to find increasing tensions, misunderstandings and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between the two families. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

NOTE: Some of the details below are SPOILERISH so please tread lightly!! SPOILER ALERT!!

Question: Why did Bones not show Booth and Brennan’s hookup? Are the writers going to reveal that Brennan actually got pregnant by using Booth’s donated specimen instead? — Melanie

ADAM: Executive producer Stephen Nathan likes your conspiracy theory. “Let’s keep that one alive until next season,” he says with a laugh. “Let’s let people get all upset.” In truth, Nathan says the writers were more concerned with feelings. “Whether or not we see them jumping around in the sack did not seem as important as the emotional acceptance of who they were to each other,” Nathan says. “Moving into Season 7, [the pregnancy] cements their relationship and forces them to accept the fact that they are a couple, they are in love and that they will be moving forward together.”

Question: Got anything on The Closer? — Erica

ADAM: The new season will introduce a new recurring character, a smart, fearless and devious attorney who is suing Brenda and the LAPD on behalf of a slain gang member’s mother. He’s quick on his feet and plays her share of mind games with Brenda, starting with pretending to be a process server. He’ll create a rift when he serves everyone on the squad except Sgt. Gabriel with papers.

Question: I can’t wait for Drop Dead Diva to return. What can you tease? — Leah

NATALIE: When the show returns, Grayson will still be in the hospital after being run down by a car. And sorry, fans, but Grayson will end up in a new body. (Boo! No more sexy Jackson Hurst on the show?) Don’t worry; it’s not permanent — or real! Jane won’t have too much time to ponder that, though. We hear she may be getting fired.

Question: What’s coming up on Rizzoli & Isles? — Shari

NATALIE: Look out, Jane Rizzoli, your brother’s life is about to get very interesting. When the show returns, the love of Frankie Jr.’s life, aka Jane’s nemesis, returns — and she’s bringing some serious baggage.

Question: I read that Fox will launch The Finder in Bones‘ Thursday slot this fall and then Bones will return in the spring, significantly shortening its season. Is this true? —Nancy

Ausiello: Nope, sure isn’t. Bones will launch in the fall, pass the baton to spinoff The Finder in January, and then return to the schedule in the spring. I hear producers may keep the spirit of Bones alive during its three-month, Emily Deschanel baby-fueled midseason hiatus by integrating some of the show’s supporting players into The Finder.

Question: I’m dying for some Hetty scoop after the NCIS: LA finale. Is Linda Hunt on board next season as a series regular? —Daniel

Ausiello: Yes, she’ll be back as a regular. In fact, I predict Hetty will be the last one standing on that show.

Question: Will we ever see Adam again on Supernatural? There could be Smurf paraphernalia in it for you. —Donna

Ausiello: Showrunner Sera Gamble puts the chances of an Adam comeback at a “very strong maybe.”

Question: I was hoping for a scoop from any one of the many USA shows. Psych, Burn Notice, White Collar, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains… I’m not picky! — Elizabeth

Ausiello: In that case, the third episode of Royal Pains, titled “Rash Talk,” will feature not one, not two but three notable guest stars. Shiri Appleby (Life Unexpected) plays a flibbertigibbet whose business plan doesn’t account for a health crisis, and Tony winner Joanna Gleason (seen last on The Good Wife) and David “Sledge Hammer” Rasche play a hoity-toity couple who — what a coincidence! — also require medical attention.

Question: I’m in serious need of some Psych info! Are you getting any vibes? —JessLayne

Ausiello: Not only vibes but tingles. After a hot hippie chick witnesses a murder, Gus thinks he’s died and gone to heaven. But there’s more a foot than romance. There actually is a crime to investigate in this upcoming episode, as well as the likelihood of a “name” guest star to play the leader of the commune where the aforementioned hot hippie lives.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The news is rather short for today, but there are still some interesting items to share with everyone:

TELEVISION

Actor Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) has joined the cast of Dexter, playing a brilliant, charismatic professor of religious studies. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Jane Lynch is said to be the top choice for host of the 2011 Emmy Awards since the awards show will air on FOX. No confirmation of who the host will be has been made yet, though. (Twitter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FX and Fox International Channels announced that it will partner with Graham King’s GK-TV and Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment on a new one-hour drama Port Royale that will be set in 17th century Jamaica and will chronicle the country’s development into a safe haven for piracy. The series is based on the original idea by Hurd. (The Wrap)

Meanwhile, FX’s corporate cousin Fox is in talks to acquire Pyrates a new series from Ridley and Tony Scott’s Free Productions and Ensemble Entertainment. No deal is in place, but if picked up, this series would likely have a 10- to 13-episode limited run in the summer of 2012. (The Wrap)

MGM has teamed up the masterminds behind The Tudors and Camelot – Michael Hirst and Morgan O’Sullivan – for Vikings (the current working title), a drama series about the famous Scandinavian warriors. The series is eyed to begin production on a 10-episode first season next year would chronicle the Vikings’ exploits as warriors, explorers, builders, merchants, pirates and mercenaries through what is known as the Viking Age of Scandinavian, British and Irish history from the late-8th to the mid-11th century. It will center on Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the most popular Viking heroes, a great commander who briefly ruled Denmark and Sweden and was linked to two shield maidens and a queen. No specific network is attached to this project, though. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor-rocker Lenny Kravitz and veteran actor Toby Jones have joined the cast of the film adaptation of the best-selling novel The Hunger Games. Kravitz will play the role of Cinna, the assigned fashion stylist for lead heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) while Jones will play legendary arenas announcer Claudius Templesmith. (Dark Horizons)

Actors Brett Cullen (Lost) and Chris Ellis (Transformers) have signed on for roles in the box office film The Dark Knight Rises. Cullen will appear as a judge and Ellis will appear as a priest. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Monday, Everybody! Hope the start of your work (or school) week is going smoothly. There wasn’t too much news today, but there are still some interesting items to share:

TELEVISION

Much to the disappointment of many a fan, Actor Misha Collins will not be a series regular on Supernatural when it returns with new episodes in the fall. (TV Line)

Showtime announced today that they renewed new drama The Borgias and comedy series Nurse Jackie for new seasons; but comedy series The United States of Tara has been canceled. (Variety and Twitter)

Actress Andrea Parker (The Pretender and Less Than Perfect) will appear as Allison’s mother, Jessica DiLaurentis, on Pretty Little Liars. She is expected to appear in the 6th episode of the second season, which starts on June 14. (TV Line)

Actor Rod Hallett (The Tudors) has landed the new series regular role on the upcoming fall drama Terra Nova for FOX. On the fantasy drama, an ordinary family — Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara), his wife Elisabeth (Shelley Conn) and their kids — go on a journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. Hallett will play the charming and confident Dr. Malcolm Wallace, who becomes Jim’s nemesis as they rival for Elisabeth’s affection. (Deadline)

TELEVISION TRAILER

First Look: Torchwood: Miracle Day Trailer

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the results of the top 10 box office movies for the past weekend according to Exhibitors Relations:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, $90.1 million
2. Bridesmaids, $21.1 million
3. Thor, $15.5 million
4. Fast Five, $10.6 million
5. Rio, $4.7 million
6. Priest, $4.6 million
7. Jumping the Broom, $3.7 million
8. Something Borrowed, $3.4 million
9. Water for Elephants, $2.2 million
10. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family, $990,000

Tom Cruise will star in an adaptation of the graphic novel Oblivion that is set in an apocalyptic future where the earth has been nearly wiped out by alien scavengers. Humanity has retreated to a space station and the planet is inhabited by aliens. Cruise’s character, Jak, is a human who goes to earth to hunt down the aliens. (The Wrap)

Actors Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Tom Conti (Derailed) have both joined the cast of The Dark Knight Rises, but their roles are currently unknown. (First Showing)

Actor Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) will play Tybalt in a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that stars Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit). (Variety and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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