Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The drama series Common Law, which debuted back in May, has not been picked up for a second season by the USA Network. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actor Michael Madsen and actress Jennifer Beals will both appear in upcoming episodes of the new FOX drama The Mob Doctor (yes, FOX has not yet cancelled this series). Madsen will appear in two episodes, playing Russell King, a veteran criminal whose crimes require a certain flair and professional expertise. On the night of a big job, King has a flare-up of back pain and discovers he requires immediate surgery. Beals, on the other hand, is expected to appear in at least three episodes, playing Celeste LaPree, a former call girl-turned-high-class madam who used to date Constantine Alexander (William Forsythe) before he went to prison. Celeste is now married to a mafia boss who runs Chicago’s North Side. The Mob Doctor will be back on FOX on November 5. (Liz Raftery at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC is developing another soap opera/mystery series called Hollywood & Vines in which an A-list actress’s body is discovered lifeless in her pool, sending three sisters from a dynastic Hollywood family into panic mode as each discovers how their lives are connected to and affected by the actress’s death. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

FOX is developing a new drama called Olympus from writer-director (and former actor) Peter Berg that will center on a decorated soldier-turned-spy who finds out he actually is descended from the Greek Gods and may just be humanity’s last hope. FOX also has another Greek mythology series in the works called Athena, which is based on the graphic novel by Lisa Joy, and will follow the coming-of-age story about a 23-year-old woman who discovers she’s Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Jennifer Garner is in talks to star in the long-in-the-works drama called Dallas Buyers Club where she would star alongside Matthew McConaughey. The fill would center on a man who was given six months to live after contracting AIDS in 1986; he lived another six years by illegally smuggling medicine into the U.S., making sure a lot of other sufferers got them too. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at TV Line and Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online)

Question: What’s going to happen with Auggie and Annie on Covert Affairs? —Alex

Ausiello: Chris Gorham recently told TVLine that Auggie and Annie are going to have that conversation — and now I can tell you when: the Nov. 20 season finale. It’s “a real game-changer” for the pair, Gorham teases, and “it changes everything.” And if you enjoyed the increase in serialized storylines this season, you’re in luck. ”That’s definitely going to continue,” he promises. “This season, it ended up being an 11-episode arc, and then a five-episode arc. Next season, what they’re talking about is having one long arc for the entire season.”

Question: Anything on my new obsession, Elementary? —Dave

Ausiello: The upcoming two-part November sweeps episode will feature what show runner Rob Doherty calls “a more proper story” for Aidan Quinn’s Captain Gregson. “We had an opportunity to pair Sherlock with Gregson in a really interesting way,” teases the EP. “It was a different kind of story for us.”

Question: Any idea on when we are going to meet Peter Pan and Tinkerbell on Once Upon a Time? – Beth

Team Watch with Kristin: Sadly, it seems like it might be a while as Colin O’Donoghue (Captain Hook) tells us he has yet to film any Neverland scenes (they are currently filming episode 11). In fact, he hasn’t even been told if they are definitely introducing Peter, though he’s hoping OUAT decides to—we hope so too!

Question: Do you have any scoop on Hart of Dixie? Just finished the first season and I’m dying to know what’s next. – Emma

Team Watch with Kristin: We hope you’re caught up on this season because it’s a good one, especially with all the George versus Wade stuff coming up. For the record, Rachel Bilson is a fan of both men for Zoe. “I am totally neutral. The love triangle takes a few different formations, a few different shapes,” she tells us. “There might be a square, because of the love interest for George. There’s a lot to play with.” Bonus scoop: Wilson Bethel will continue to be shirtless. “I think that his costume always is basically half naked,” Bilson laughs. “They really don’t give him clothing anymore.”

That’s it. Enjoy!