Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

HAPPY 1st DAY OF SUMMER!!

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Luke Kleintank (Bones and No Ordinary Family) will appear on Pretty Little Liars later this summer as Travis, a good kid with strong morals who has a secret that may end up helping one of the Pretty Little Liars in a major way. The next new episode of Pretty Little Liars will air on ABC Family on June 25 at 8 PM. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actress Stacy Haiduk (The Young and the Restless) will guest star in at least two upcoming episodes of the new ABC Family drama Twisted, appearing as Marilyn Rossi, a tough but attractive investigator at a private security firm, who is hired by the mayor to help with the investigation of the murder of Regina Crane (SPOILER ALERT: the mean girl at high school killed in the pilot episode). The next new episode of Twisted will air on ABC Family on June 25 at 9 PM. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Tawny Cypress (Heroes and House of Cards) will be a series regular on the returning CBS drama Unforgettable, playing Murray, a former decorated FBI agent who begins work at the Major Cases Section of the NYPD. Unforgettable will be back on CBS starting on July 28. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Zuleikha Robinson (Homeland and Lost) will recur on Covert Affairs, playing Bianca, a D.C. power player who is one of the capitol’s most formidable defense attorneys. With the help of Bianca’s legal acumen, Arthur (series regular Peter Gallagher) plans to combat allegations that could damage the Campbells’ legacy. Covert Affairs will air its season premiere on July 16 at 9 PM on the USA Network. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Jesse Lee Soffer (The Mob Doctor) has joined the cast of the NBC mid-season drama Chicago PD (the spin-off of Chicago Fire). He will play a young police detective who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. In fact, he will be introduced on Chicago Fire along with other characters from the spin-off. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MADE-FOR-TV NEWS

Lifetime is developing a made-for-TV movie from Terry McMillian called A Day Late and a Dollar Short that will star Whoopi Goldberg in 2014. She will play Viola Price, who learns that her next asthma attack could kill her. Emboldened by that knowledge, she sets out to repair her fractured family. (Jethro Nededog at The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Helena Bonham Carter has been cast as the fairy godmother in the upcoming box office adaptation of Cinderella that is set to star Downton Abbey actress Lily James and Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden in the lead roles. (First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Hot Trailer: Ashton Kutcher In ‘JOBS’

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich from TV Line and Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: I’ll take any scoop you have for Castle. — M.F.

Mitovich: In speaking with TVLine about the season-ending proposal, Nathan Fillion said that while he has no idea what’s ahead (and truly, conspiracy theorists, it seems he doesn’t), he “absolutely” is looking forward to what Andrew W. Marlowe has teased is a “complicated” Season 6. “That’s one of the things that Andrew has done very well, in that it’s very realistic that two people who really ought to be together maybe don’t see it. Or the timing isn’t right,” the actor said. “These are things that happen in real life. That life gets complicated. That it can never be easy. This is something, I think, that we can all relate to. It’s a truth that everyone is comfortable with.”

Question: Is Orphan Black‘s Helena really dead? –Jack

Mitovich: Though series lead Tatiana Maslany at first hedged when we brought that burning Q to her, ultimately she opined, “Yeah, I think she is [dead].” And while the actress noted that “in Orphan Black style, it could all change,” for now she is in mourning. “I will miss her entirely…. There’s this emotion in her and this depth of love that she can’t show because she has been conditioned to be aggressive and to kill. For me, finding the humanity in a character like that is really exciting.”

Question: Please give me some Pretty Little Liars scoop on when we will find out the identity of the body found in the woods! And please say it isn’t Jason!!! –Amanda

Mitovich: Oh, you’re going to have to sit tight at least a few episodes longer. And: Jason?! What, a guy can’t go visit relatives without winding up as worm food?

Question: Do you have anything on the Pretty Little Liars spin-off? –Gina

Mitovich: Here’s a curious comment from executive producer I. Marlene King. Explaining the one confirmed cast member crossover, she says, “It was always thought [behind the scenes] that Caleb (played by Tyler Blackburn) would move over to Ravenswood. And when our audience gets to know what Ravenswood is, they’ll understand why it was the right choice for him to take us into that world.”

Question: When Suits returns, is there going to be a huge fallout with Harvey and Jessica? –David

Mitovich: Oh my lord, the way those two go at each other in the season premiere is ferocious and relentless. Suffice to say, the chip on Harvey’s broad shoulders is bigger than ever, and he sees right through most every ploy/bit of underhandedness by Jessica to “smooth things over” — and ends the July 16 premiere by revealing his most audacious move yet. But dare I say, the rift between Harvey and Mike is just as formidable — and might only be mended if the latter succeeds in his plan to literally construct a “time machine.”

Question: I am counting down the days until Suits comes back, I’m so excited about it. Any scoop on what’s in store for Donna this season? Remember, it is Donna, and “she knows everything”! –Jared

Mitovich: Indeed, Donna does — especially when she lays her peepers on Mike after his first (and apparently prolonged) ravaging of Jenny. Alas, that all-knowing quality of hers could stand in the way of Mike getting back in Harvey’s good graces.

Question: Is the final season of Burn Notice being split up or airing all at once? – Drew

Mitovich: Save for a pre-emption on July 4, all 13 episodes will air this summer, with the series finale set for Sept. 12.

Question: I was very happy with the new element of Amanda Callaway on White Collar this year, and was wondering if she would be returning? –Erin

Mitovich: If Emily Procter returns — and that’s a huge if — it won’t be anytime soon, and certainly not in the first slew of Season 5 episodes.

Question: I’m happy to see Longmire back on A&E. Any hints on what’s on the horizon for Walt and company? –Jen

Mitovich: I’m a week behind on the series, so forgive me if any of these teasers have reached their expiration date: “Vic’s past starts to catch up with her…. Lizzie returns with a surprise for Walt…. Secrets will be revealed about what happened with Walt and Henry in Denver…. And the election results will soon be in!”

Question: Does NCIS plan on continuing the storyline regarding McGee’s father having Stage 4 cancer? –Jeannie

Mitovich: Show boss Gary Glasberg was “really pleased” with that March episode, “Squall,” and how it built to “an understanding — and a resolution — between the two characters.” That said, and though it’s too soon to tease Season 11, he says the storyline “is certainly something that we’ve left open and that we’d like to revisit, not only dealing with the admiral’s health issues, but in terms of what their relationship is moving forward.”

Question: What happened to the third NCIS spinoff? Are they going to do it, or did it die and nothing has been said? –Lori

Mitovich: NCIS: Red is dead. Granted, we never reported that outright during the madness of Upfronts, but it’d take an epic poem to detail every pilot that does not make the cut.

Question: I love Graceland. Aaron Tviet. YES, PLEASE. Can I have some scoop? — Grace

Gonzalez: Mike really starts to feel the weight of the job in the next episode, titled “The Pizza Box,” when he’s recruited to teach a bunch of thugs working for a Nigerian drug lord how to use guns. It’s one step on a road to a larger goal. And he could end the hour with blood on his hands. Meanwhile, Tuturro gets a little action.

Question: Stana Katic’s answer in last week’s Castle scoop was perfection!!! Any more Castle scoop for the loyal fans? — Morgan H.

Gonzalez: While many of you have theories as to how to interpret Katic’s answer, here’s another hint that could turn your theory upside down. When asked whether she thinks the gang could survive a little time apart — should Beckett take the job in D.C. — the lovely Katic said, “I think it could be a good change of scenery for the audience. And there are ways of bringing it back together. The show has to evolve. The characters have to evolve.” She adds, “There’s ways of drawing these characters together and also giving each character a featured episode. That would be interesting to me. I love learning more about Detective Ryan and Lainie. I think it is interesting to feature them and their lives sometimes. So, you know, it doesn’t have to be the Scooby-Doo gang every episode solving a murder. It is important for a show to grow and blossom.”

Question: Thanks for all the USA shows scoop last week, but you missed White Collar! Anything for me? Even something small? — Lauren

Gonzalez: You may have heard that Americans actress Annet Mahendru is guest starring on the upcoming fifth season as a Russian figure skater. A bonus scooplet? She’s working with Peter and Neal to bring down her bad-guy beau, but in order to do so, she has to get closer to the action than she ever wanted.

Question: NCIS: LA!! — Amy K.

Gonzalez: While we’re in the speculation zone, Brett Foa has some interesting ideas for Eric next season, should the writers desire his input. “I would love to see Eric with a gun,” he says. “I don’t think he would do well with it, but I think it would be funny to see it in his hands. I would also like to see the tech guys save the day maybe instead of the guys with the brawn. That would be fun: brains over brawn.”

Question: Anything on Grimm? — Isa

Gonzalez: Not yet! But next week I’ll have some scoop straight from the EPs. Please email questions to spoilerroom@ew.com by tomorrow noon PT!

Question: This isn’t a spoiler question, but I was wondering if you’ve heard any early buzz on new shows. Any faves? — Dianela

Gonzalez: I’ll give you two of my faves in three different categories: Of the comedies I’ve seen, I found many giggles in The Crazy Ones and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In the Sandra-can’t-stop-watching-the-CW aisle of my TV line-up, I liked Reign and Star-Crossed. And on the Yes, I like cop shows front, I see promise in The Bridge on FX (debuting this summer) and Almost Human, which bows midseason. More info on all of these to come, but thanks for asking. It makes me feel important. (I’m not.)

Question: When are we going to see more of the hand flashback on PLL? — Bree

Gonzalez: “In essence, you revisit it all season because the question of Alison being alive was raised last season,” EP Oliver Goldstick explains, “but as far as that night of that hand coming out of the earth, that will be explained when we get to the end of 4A.” Personally, this season is sort of flying by already. Agree, Bree? (I rhymed!)

Question: Any news from Person of Interest? — Tatiana

Gonzalez: Two things that might be of interest… 1) For all of you who e-mail about wanting to watch previous episodes. CBS announced yesterday that POI is now available for digital download via all the regular means. WOOP! (Summer marathon?) 2) Even though Amy Acker’s Root was last receiving a call from the machine, she has yet to receive word of her official return date. “Nothing is officially in the books,” she says. “I feel like they gotta bring me back. I want to come back. It is a fun character. She’s smart and deliciously evil but with what she feels like are good reasons.” Are you hoping Root makes her return sooner rather than later, gang?

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!