Hey All,
Here are the news items for today:
TELEVISION
A&E has chosen their new Norman Bates for the new prequel thriller series Bates Motel. The winner is: Freddie Highmore (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Finding Neverland). Additionally, actor Max Thieriot (House at the End of the Street) will play Norman’s older brother. The series will debut next year. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)
Actress Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) will have a recurring role on Smash when it returns mid-season on NBC; but there are no details on what character she will be playing. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Actor turned TV producer/series creator Shaun Cassidy (Invasion) has teamed with Howard Gordon, Executive Producer for Homeland on a pilot for FOX that is being described as an adrenalized, dysfunctional family adventure series, centering on two former CIA operatives — now married with teenagers — who are forced to face their past when their identities are exposed and they’re nearly killed. Now they’ll need to start over, under new cover, this time with their children in on the secret as they tackle cases, come together as a family, and elude those who would rather see them dead. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)
The Lifetime drama pilot Cinnamon Girl, co-created and executive produced by Renee Zellweger, has announced the casting of newcomers Allie MacDonald, Alexis Knapp, Brooke Anne Smith and Jade Bartlett as well Sebastian Piggott (Being Erica and Bomb Girls) as the leads. The pilot is set against the backdrop of the Los Angeles music and movie scenes of the late 1960s/early 1970s, telling the story of four coming-of-age girls — Cassie (MacDonald), Lola (Knapp), Junie (Smith) and Lou (Bartlett) — and explores their lives at the crossroads of the era’s political, artistic, social and sexual rebellions. Meanwhile, Piggott will play Billy, a heartthrob and future superstar who has immediate chemistry with Cassie. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)
Actress Jenna Dewan (The Playboy Club and Step Up) has landed a role in Witches of East End, a new Lifetime pilot. She will play one of Julia Ormond’s secretly supernatural daughters, Freya Beauchamp, a sexy and fearless former wild child who settles down after becoming engaged to fiancé Dash Gardiner, a rich philanthropist. Though not initially aware that she and her sister are their family’s newest generation of witches, a series of events forces Ormond’s Joanna — also a witch — to tell her daughters the truth. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)
Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online and Matt Roush at TV Guide)
Question: Can I please get some scoop on Daniel on Revenge? – Vanessa
Team Watch With Kristin: “At the beginning of the season, we are in a relationship,” Ashley Madekwe told us of Daniel and Ashley at the Nylon magazine and Sony X headphones event for the mag’s annual TV issue. “You’re not really sure what they’re in it for or where it will go.” What does their new relationship mean for Ashley’s friendship with Emily? “They’re not not friends, but they’re definitely not as close as they used to be,” Ashley says.
Question: Dying for some PLL scoop, preferably of the Ezria variety! – Noelle
Team Watch With Kristin: According to Lucy Hale, “What’s so interesting about Aria and Ezra’s relationship is that Ezra up to this point has been flawless, kind of like the perfect boyfriend,” she told us at the Nylon party. “And I think it’s so interesting that now Ezra has this secret and it’s getting deeper. And once we dig in this [season], it gets more intense. Ezra will be gone for a little bit and people are going to be so angry. They’re going to be so mad.”
Question: White Collar has become known for exciting cliffhangers — but with the mid-season finale coming up on Tuesday, there have been few clues as to what to expect. Any inside info? Will we be treated to another exciting, dramatic cliffhanger to keep us in suspense? — Laura
Matt Roush: It’s no secret I’m spoiler-averse, but since I have screened the episode, let me just tease that the show goes on its hiatus with not so much a cliffhanger as it is a reveal that could change everything — about what, I won’t say. But much of the episode, as hinted last week, hinges on the issue of trust. Can Neal ever trust Peter again? Can Peter win back Neal’s confidence and good humor? Can anyone trust Sam? It all sets up the back half of the season (in early 2013) pretty nicely.
Question: I have a couple of questions for you in regards to Army Wives. I’ve heard a couple of rumblings that the season 6 finale was indeed a series finale and not a season finale, but after watching it the other night, it definitely felt like a season finale. If this is what the producers behind the show felt would be a proper way to end a series that I felt by Lifetime standards was actually a very well thought out, provocative series that depicted Army life in a positive manner, then they totally disrespected the loyal viewers by ending with a possible plane crash. Also, what on earth happened to the star Kim Delaney the last several episodes as I was hoping she would re-appear for the finale? Have you heard anything about a season 7? I know the show is still a strong utility player for Lifetime, but I also read that the contracts were up for all the principal actors. Also, what were your thoughts on the finale (if you had a chance to watch it)? — Tom
Matt Roush: My e-mailbag has runneth over for some time with Army Wives questions and concerns, but for now, it’s still wait and see. I only watched the very end of last week’s finale to see if it looked like a wrap-up, which it most definitely did not. And given the show’s importance to the Lifetime brand over the years, I am confident it will get at least another season, and this is one of those cases where when the time comes to call it a day, the network and studio had better be on the same page to give the loyal fans a satisfying ending. A possible plane crash is the very opposite of that scenario. It’s worth noting that just last week, the network’s president was promoted to a new position overseeing all of the A&E Networks (including A&E as well as Lifetime and History), so there was more on their plate than deciding the fate of this one show. It wouldn’t surprise me if some announcement regarding Army Wives is imminent; just can’t say when, or whether it will address the fate of individual cast members, including Delaney, whose recent extended absence on the show has been much remarked by fans but unaddressed as far as I can tell by the show itself, whose response to questions has been “no comment.”
Jackie also wrote in to ask: “Is Sally Pressman (Roxy) really leaving the show? If that’s the case, three of the original five ‘wives’ are now gone, and the show, while still very good, is certainly not the same. The new characters aren’t getting it done for me; if their purpose was to pick up the slack, it didn’t work. I know the show hasn’t yet been renewed for the new season, so maybe these questions are moot, but I do wonder if you have any insight to offer.”
Matt again: The only perspective I can give is that shows like this can be a victim of their own longevity, and when actors decide to move on for whatever reason — for the record, I have no idea who’s returning or not if and when Army Wives is renewed — it does tend to change the dynamic of a show. On a much-larger canvas, I’m always reminded of ER, which by the end was almost unrecognizable character-wise (and to me, quality-wise) from where it started.
That’s it. Enjoy!
Rueben's Ramblings 