Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The Hallmark Channel has given an official order to their first primetime series called Cedar Cove that will star Andie MacDowell (Jane By Design) and Dylan Neal (Blood Ties). A two-hour special preview is expected to air on January 19 with the series premiere set for spring 2013. (Broadcasting & Cable)

NBC has pulled the new comedy Animal Practice and will replace it with – of all things – the comedy Whitney. The fan favorite comedy Community still does not have an airdate. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC has picked up two more dramas projects. The first is a medical drama called Warriors that will follow the best and brightest of active duty military doctors and nurses as they practice trailblazing medicine on critically wounded warriors returning home from Afghanistan, on military families and veterans, as well as administering to Washington’s government elite while juggling their complicated personal lives, and trying to maintain their sense of perspective, humor, and sanity. The second is a legal drama called Grievances that is described as an unvarnished look at a complicated, co-dependent, no regard for boundaries female friendship between a single woman and happily married mother of three, who start their own law firm when they’re screwed over by their male bosses. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Jake T. Austin (The Wizards of Waverly Place) has joined the cast of the ABC Family drama pilot called The Fosters that revolves around Stef (Teri Polo) and Lena Foster (Sherri Saum), a mixed-race lesbian couple who are parents to a biological son Brandon (David Lambert) as well as several adopted children. He will play Jesus Foster, a bilingual fraternal twin who is not as book smart as his sister but is more sensible and pragmatic than she is. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) will star in the TNT drama pilot called Legends that follows Martin Odum (Fraser), a deep-cover operative who has an uncanny ability to transform himself into a different person for each job. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actor Graham Patrick Martin (Major Crimes) has landed the role of Anna Nicole Smith’s son Danny in the Lifetime original movie The Anna Nicole Story, which is based on the true life story of Vickie Lynn Hogan (Agnes Bruckner), a pretty but plain girl growing up in a small Texas town who transforms herself into Anna Nicole Smith — a voluptuous, Marilyn Monroe-esque Playboy pin-up and model. Determined to be noticed for good or ill, Vickie gets her wish, but it comes at a steep price, both for her and her beloved son. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actors David Duchovny (The X-Files) and Timothy Hutton (Leverage) and actress Hope Davis (The Newsroom) will star in the upcoming film called After The Fall that is based on the true story of John and Brenda Fareri, grieving parents who used the unexpected death of their young daughter Maria as the impetus to build a world class state of the art children’s hospital where families are welcomed into the healing process. Duchovny and Davis play the parents, while Hutton plays Komiske, who helped them obtain funds for the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actor Ewan McGregor (Star Wars prequel films) will star in the upcoming romantic comedy called Born To Be King and actress Kate Hudson is in negotiations to star as well. The film has McGregor playing a movie extra who looks almost identical to a big star. Hudson would play a famous Hollywood actress who is battling with her co-star on her latest project but begins to develop feelings for the extra. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online)

Question: Anything on the most adorable couple ever: Zoe-Wade from Hart of Dixie? – Sooriclover

Team Watch with Kristin: Wade and Zoe fans, meet your new enemy: Meatball, a Jack Black-type who is friend of Wade’s and used to be in his band. Why won’t you like him? Well, it seems like he picks on Wade for choosing to hang with Zoe (orange-picking to be precise, which is a very couple-y activity to do, no?) over hanging with the guys. Here’s hoping Wade rises above his bud’s snickering!

Question: Any Pretty Little Liars scoop that’s not about the Halloween special? – Noelle

Team Watch with Kristin: After the Halloween episode, which will reveal the death of one Rosewood local, Ashley Benson teases, “[The] second half of the season is just finding out who the A Team is, and we don’t know who to trust. We don’t even trust each other anymore, because we find out that Toby is working for ‘A.’ It’s just crazy! We don’t know who’s on our side, who’s not. We’re kind of all in danger now, because I’m like, ‘Oh my god! Is Caleb…?!’ We don’t know what the closest ones to us, what they’re doing or what their agenda is.”

Question: Nashville news, if you got it! – Lena

Team Watch with Kristin: Someone else may be after Deacon besides Juliette! Later on in the season, we’ll meet a mega-successful Jon Bon Jovi-esque rocker who is looking for a new guitar player to join his band. That Deacon will be fighting admirers off with a guitar pick!

Question: You’ve been slacking on the Grimm scoop lately. Please share the goods! – Liam

Team Watch with Kristin: Your wish is our command! The NBC show will be introducing a vicious, scorpion-esque creature (called an Istsa Sitan) in the form of Cole, the leader of a lack of troublemakers. Even worse? He’s got a Bonnie to his Clyde, his girlfriend Krystal, who’s also an Istsa Sitan, and helps her love commit robberies.

Question: Any NCIS spoilers? – Christina

Team Watch with Kristin: The show will be introducing a secret service special agent who is beautiful and tough, pretty and professional. She’s an expert in currency-related crimes and viewers may just see her pop up throughout the season.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor James Read (Charmed) will guest star in an upcoming episode of CSI: NY as the dad of Lindsay Messer (Anna Belknap). He will first appear in mid-November. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

TNT has given a 6-episode series order to the Frank Darabont period crime drama previously called L.A. Noir that revolves around the decades-long conflict between the LAPD, under the leadership of chief William Parker, and ruthless criminal elements led by Mickey Cohen, a one-time boxer who became the city’s top mob boss. Actor Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) will play an ex-Marine working as a cop who is dealing with corruption in his own ranks. Other cast members include Neal McDonough (Justified), Milo Ventimigila (Heroes) and Jeffrey DeMunn (The Walking Dead). (Stuart Levine at Variety)

Actor Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) will guest star in an episode of the upcoming new Syfy series Defiance that is set to debut in April of next year. Smith will play Gordon McClintock, a NASA hero from the pre-Arkfall days who was presumed dead following a space station catastrophe; but he is discovered to still be alive when he is revived from an induced sleep, and is overcome with shock and disbelief at the dangerous new world of Defiance. The series is set in the near future and introduces an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Universal Television has set up a new drama project with ABC. It is called Beneath from writers Dan Dworkin and Jay Beattie (The Event and Revenge). The project is being described as a supernatural drama about the unusual changes that befall a town after an energy company comes drilling for natural gas and unleashes something far more powerful. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Tom Lenk (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) has landed a recurring role on the Lifetime pilot Witches of East End that revolves around Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond) and her two adult daughters Freya (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) and Ingrid (Rachel Boston), both of whom have no idea that they’re the family’s next generation of witches. They lead uneventful lives in a quiet secluded Long Island town of North Hampton but when Freya becomes engaged to a newcomer Dash Gardner (Patrick Heusinger) a series of events prompt Joanna to admit that her daughters are both powerful and immortal witches. Lenk will play Hudson Rafferty, Ingrid’s fellow librarian and gay best friend who helps her cast a fertility spell on one of their pals. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

NBC has given a script order to a new drama called Maddox that is being described as a high-concept family drama about a family that moves into an idyllic community where medicine and technology are the closest thing to Utopia — until they suspect that something darker might be afoot. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

TNT is developing a drama series based on the five Frankenstein novels by legendary author Dean Koontz. The project will be set in present-day New Orleans, following Victor Helios (Frankenstein) and his creation 200 years after they thought they killed each other in a battle in the Arctic. The creature has survived and Victor has used science to keep himself alive — and they’re now in the same city unbeknownst to each other. Victor has engineered a new race of bizarre beings who answer to him, and when the creature learns that Victor is alive, an epic war ensues built on 200 years of pent-up rage, with New Orleans caught in the middle. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) and actress Brit Marling (Another Earth) will star in the upcoming film called Posthumous. Huston will star as struggling artist whose artwork skyrockets in value when he is mistakenly thought to have killed himself. The artist decides to keep up the charade by pretending to be his own brother, but the entire plan is put in jeopardy when he befriends an enthusiastic reporter (Marling) who begins to show him the real value of life and art. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actor Matthew Goode (Watchmen) and Paul Bettany (Priest) will star in the upcoming period piece film called Destroyer, which is based on a true story. The film will follow British Navy Captain David Hart Dyke, whose ship is led into a tense situation during the Falklands Conflict in 1982 and is bombed by the Argentine Air Force. (First Showing and Moviehole)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online, Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Dying for some Revenge scoop on Nolan! – brittneyh10

Team Watch with Kristin: The new guy Aiden? Yeah, Nolan is not a fan and Gabriel Mann says we may see the two men vie for Emily’s attention. “He’s so suave in a way that I think drives Nolan absolutely nuts because it’s everything Nolan wishes he actually were,” Gabriel explains. “And he has a certain connection to Emily that he continues to search for that happens a little bit more organically between the two of them. I would say there could be some interesting dynamics between Emily, Aiden and Nolan. Actually I’m going to guarantee it.”

Question: Need my Scandal fix now! – Jessica

Team Watch with Kristin: Kate Burton is coming back as Vice President Sally Langston, y’all! In episode 11, we’ll meet her secretary, which could turn into a possibly recurring character. (Here’s hoping this one turns out better than former chief of staff Billy!). In the same hour, we’ll be introduced to the Head of the FBI. Uh-oh, seems like trouble is brewing on Scandal and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Question: Revolution is getting so good! Any scoop on what’s ahead? – Derek

Team Watch with Kristin: Prepare to meet more members of the rebel army, including McClusky, one of the gang’s leaders who is iron-tough and has a kind but commanding presence. We’ll also meet Sanborn, a tense scientist who loves to build intricate weaponry. Hmmm, these two roles have our minds reeling as they are set to make their first appearances in episode 11, which follows a can’t-miss episode 10. Creator Eric Kripke teases that Charlie and the gang will catch up to Danny in that episode, and Miles and Monroe will finally come face-to-face. “They still really love each other. When they see each other, they’re not really sure if they’re going to kill each other or hug each other,” Kripke teases, describing their history as “very tragic, emotional and Cain-and-Abel.”

Question: Stefan and Elena seem like they’re in a good place on The Vampire Diaries. Will they stay that way? —Farrah

NATALIE: Those two are definitely in it for the long haul. But while they had some meaningful conversations about their future in the premiere, this week’s episode will bring trouble to paradise. Expect Elena and Stefan to clash after a particular “interaction” between Elena and Damon. “It’s something unintentionally hurtful she does to Stefan that she has to then deal with the repercussions of,” executive producer Julie Plec says.

Question: Last Resort’s heating up! What’s coming next? — Brad

ADAM: A good portion of the men under Chaplin’s command are becoming a bit antsy about their current assignment. How antsy? Chaplin will have to stave off not one, but two assassination attempts by his own men. These brushes with death will force Chaplin to consider letting some of the crew leave the island and head home.

Question: So we’ve all heard it’s the “Year of Tiva” on NCIS, but what about my other favorite duo, Abby and McGee? Anything new on them? —Alyssa

Ausiello: McGee’s gonna have some explaining to do when he’s caught in a compromising situation with (drumroll please… ) Diane Sterling, aka the communal ex-wife of both Gibbs and Fornell! As exec producer Gary Glasberg explains, Melinda McGraw will reprise her role in December, and “this time she not only has to work undercover with them, she has to spend the night with Special Agent Tim McGee as well. Amidst the chaos, Gibbs and Fornell find their ex asleep on the sofa with Tim. In the words of one of my favorite films, ‘Ex Mrs. Boss, are you trying to seduce me?!’ You’ll have to wait and see what McGee has gotten himself into.”

Question: Thank you for recommending Connie Britton’s Nashville! I loved it, although the political storyline seems tacked on. Tell me I’m wrong? –Amy

Ausiello: What I can tell you is that while the mayoral campaign story is ostensibly about Teddy, it’ll be as much about his wife. Actually, I’ll let Ms. Britton tell you. “Rayna’s a self-made woman who has been basically supporting their family for most of their adult lives — and now, suddenly, she’s going to some degree be playing ‘the politician’s wife,’ and that’s going to be a really interesting conflict for her, and for them,” says TV’s erstwhile Mrs. Coach. “He doesn’t need to [run for office], and she’s also conflicted about her father being involved in it… But she also has a strong sense of allegiance and loyalty to her husband. That’s what’s interesting about playing a Southern woman — there’s always that underlying feeling of, ‘Stand by your man.’”

Question: I’ve just discovered Switched at Birth and I love it (because I am apparently a 14-year-old trapped in a 35-year-old’s body.) Any scoop? —Megan

Ausiello: Things are going to get very complicated for Daphne and Chef Jeff in next Monday’s finale. “As the season sort of winds down, the parents get more and more involved in both of the girls’ choices – and maybe they’re not the best choices,” Katie Leclerc told TVLine at the 2012 Media Access Awards. So how will the family react when the controversial relationship is exposed? “It’s a bombshell,” added Leclerc. “It’s a big blow up. Everyone wants to be a hero in this situation, so the adults have to figure out who that’s going to be and how that’s going to work out.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items, few though they may be, for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Vik Sahay (Chuck) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Bones, playing Akshay Mirza, the eco-hip head of a funeral home that provides holistic, coffin-free burials; but when his business partner and former lover is murdered, he becomes a prime suspect in the case. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Ron Eldard (ER) will have a recurring role in Justified when it returns in early 2013 for its fourth season. He will play Colt, a violent, dark-humored and rule-bending sergeant with the military police; a veteran of Desert Storm, as well as the Iraq and Afghan wars, Colt jailed Boyd (Walton Goggins) several times during Boyd’s stint in Kuwait, and they became friends. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CBS is developing the drama project called Last Stop Savannah, which will be written by Randy Brown (who wrote the recent box office film Trouble With the Curve). The project will center on a high-profile Chicago attorney who suffers a fall from grace and loses his Illinois license. He returns to his hometown of Savannah for a job at his old college roommate’s firm where his daughter works as a newly minted partner. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

ABC is developing an as-yet titled drama project from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (Gossip Girl) and writer Karen Croner. It is being described as a contemporary dramedy soap about a woman returning with her teenage son to live with her rock-n-roll family in Laurel Canyon. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Rhona Mitra (Strike Back) has landed the female lead opposite actor Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) in the TNT action drama pilot called The Last Ship (that is coming from Michael Bay. The project centers on the crew of a naval destroyer who, after a global catastrophe decimates the Earth’s population, are forced to confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they are among the only survivors. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy) has joined the cast of the TNT drama pilot called King & Maxwell that will follow private eyes Sean King (Jon Tenney) and Michelle Maxwell (this role has yet to be filled), who both are former secret service agents. Hurst will play Edgar, a suspected serial killer in prison. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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