Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the entertainment news items for this Monday afternoon:

TELEVISION

Actor Charles Mesure (V) is joining Desperate Housewives as a series regular this fall, playing Ben, a sexy, charming, and occasionally ruthless contractor who has the kind of grit and drive that comes from being a self-made man. He’s also the new love interest for Vanessa Williams’ Renee. The show kicks off its eighth season on September 25. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Jewel Staite (Firefly and Stargate Atlantis) will appear on Supernatural, as a childhood friend of Sam’s (Jared Padalecki) who he encounters on a hunt. The story will involve flashbacks and is being directed by series star Jensen Ackles. (Zap2It)

Broadway actress Karen Olivo has been added as a regular to the NBC legal drama Harry’s Law. She will play a new hotshot lawyer. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Jennifer Finnigan (Close to Home) and actor Jason Priestley (90210) will guest star on Psych, playing Barbie, a comely con woman who with partner in crime Clive (Priestley) set their sights on a spa resort, the same one where Shawn and Juliet are enjoying a weekend getaway. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

CONDOLENCES

Betty Ford, wife of former President Gerald Ford and founder of the drug and alcohol center in her name, passed away. She was 93. (TV Guide)

ME: RIP, Mrs. Ford. Sympathies are extended to her family and friends.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Harry Lennix (Dollhouse) has closed a deal to play General Swanwick in the box office film Man of Steel (the Superman reboot). (Showblitz)

Actress Elizabeth Banks has joined the likes of Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Chris Rock, Matthew Morrison and Rodrigo Santoro in the upcoming box office film What To Expect When You’re Expecting, which is the film adaptation of the pregnancy self-help book by Heidi Murkoff. The film’s story follows four couples on the path to having a baby. Banks will play a baby-crazy children’s book author and owner of The Breast Choice boutique who thinks she knows what all the ingredients are in being a perfect Mom—until she becomes pregnant with her first child. (Twitter and Dark Horizons)

Here are the top 10 box office films for this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations and E! Online:

1. Transformers: Dark of the Moon, $47 million
2. Horrible Bosses, $28.1 million
3. Zookeeper, $21 million
4. Cars 2, $15.2 million
5. Bad Teacher, $9 million
6. Larry Crowne, $6.3 million
7. Super 8, $4.8 million
8. Monte Carlo, $3.8 million
9. Green Lantern, $3.1 million
10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, $2.9 million

That’s it. Enjoy!