Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica and Dollhouse) will guest star in at least one episode (if not more) of Arrow. He will play Tom Salvati, the right-hand man to mob boss Frank Bertinelli (Jeffrey Nordling), who is the father to Helena Bertinelli, aka The Huntress. Arrow debuts on October 10 on the CW. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Amanda Tapping (Stargate franchise and Sanctuary) will have a major recurring role on Supernatural, playing Naomi, who is part of a new group of angels never seen before. The show will be back starting on October 3 on The CW. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Actress Laura Prepon (That 70’s Show) will star opposite actress Taylor Schilling (The Lucky One and Mercy) in the Netflix 13-episode hour-long online series called Orange Is The New Black from Jenji Kohan (creator of Weeds). The series is based on the book by Piper Kerman that tells the story of Piper (Schilling) an engaged Brooklynite whose decade-old relationship with a drug-runner (Prepon) in college results in her arrest and multi-year detention in a federal penitentiary. Lacking any real-world experience to deal with this harsh new environment, Piper immerses herself in women’s prison culture. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVEOPMENT NEWS

The CW has teamed with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television to adapt for television the recently published young adult novel Embrace from the book series by Jessica Shirvington. The book centers on twentysomething Violet Eden, who discovers that she is half-angel and the key to a centuries-old war between fallen angels and their earthly protectors. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Executive producer Laurie Zaks (Castle) has set up a drama pilot called Rise & Fall at ABC. The project is a high-concept thriller about the events that precipitate and immediately follow the kidnapping of a wealthy Chicago businesswoman, told from the point of view of her ne’er-do-well son who must unravel the truth about what happened in order to clear his name. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

NBC has closed a deal on a drama pilot from Peter Berg (Battleship and Friday Night Light) based on the Israeli series M.I.C.E. (which is an acronym for Money, Ideology, Coercion and Ego, used to understand the motives of spies in betraying their countries). The project revolves around the Gordin family and centers on Israeli-born Eyal Gordin, a decorated Israeli Air Force officer in a high-security post who loves his country and family. His parents Michael (Miki) and Diana, Grandmother Nina and elder sister Natalia emigrated from the USSR in 1990. Eyal has no idea that his parents were Russian spies. When Miki and Diana’s former handler appears one day, demanding that they recruit their son into espionage activity (watch the scene below with English subtitles), Eyal faces an impossible dilemma: his cooperation with Russian intelligence determines his family’s fate, while his dedication to Israel’s homeland security tests his family allegiance. His country, or his family who will he choose to betray? (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Penn Badgley Carries a Tune in ‘Greetings from Tim Buckley’ Trailer

Q&A SECTION (with Jenna Mullins at E! Online)

Question: I recently watched Scandal now I’m addicted! Any scoop on season two?! – kbenko6

Jenna: According to series lead Kerry Washington, “In the very first episode, you will find out who Quinn Perkins; but typical Scandal style, you’ll also leave with about four more questions.” We only have one question: what’s going on with Olivia and the president?! “At the end of the first season, Olivia really is trying to let go of her relationship with Fitz and not interact at all, but there is a strong pull there, so we’ll see.” We won’t see soon enough! The premiere (Sept. 27) is still too far away.

Question: Can I get just a bit more scoop on the Halloween episode of Pretty Little Liars? – Leslie B.

Jenna: It’s funny you should say “bit,” because Lucy Hale described the episode in just three words. Sort of. “OK, if I can give you three words that will describe the Halloween episode: Adam Lambert, which is two words,” she laughs to us. “So technically I have one more word to fill. OK: Adam Lambert, a box and red lips.”

That’s it. Enjoy!