Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Jacinda Barrett (Suits and Zero Hour) has landed a recurring role on The Following, which will be back for its second season on FOX starting on January 20. She will play Julia, a very disarming and alluring woman whose mysterious intentions send several main characters in a frightening new direction. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Back in September, it was announced that actress Emily Wickersham was cast on NCIS as a possible successor to the hole left by Cote de Pablo, who played Ziva David. Now comes word that Wickersham has been promoted to series regular status two weeks before her character’s debut on the show. She will play NSA Analyst Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop, a mysterious mixture of analytic brilliance, fierce determination and idealism. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The CW is working with Entertainment One on a new drama project called The Cover that has received a script-to-series order, which means if the bigwigs at the network like the script it will go straight to series. The project centers on a handsome young FBI agent who goes undercover in Boston with orders to infiltrate the Irish mob. Along the way, he develops a relationship with a local girl who has a secret of her own. Soon he doesn’t know who to trust as the investigation goes sideways. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Aaron Stanford (Nikita) and Amanda Schull (Center Stage and Suits) have landed the lead roles in the Syfy drama pilot 12 Monkeys, which is based on the 1995 Terry Gilliam movie that starred Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt. The TV adaptation would follow the journey of Cole (Stanford), a desperate and haunted time traveler from the post-apocalyptic near future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race. Schull will play Cassandra Railly, a brilliant doctor who is forced to choose between her idyllic life or joining Cole’s mission to uncover the dangerous conspiracy. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office films for this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Ender’s Game – $28 million
2. Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa – $20.5 million
3. Last Vegas – $16.5 million
4. Free Birds – $16.2 million
5. Gravity – $13.1 million
6. Captain Phillips – $8.5 million
7. 12 Years a Slave – $4.6 million
8. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 – $4.2 million
9. Carrie – $3.4 million
10. The Counselor – $3.2 million

Q&A SECTION (with TV Scoop Team at E! Online)

Question: I kind of hate King Henry on Reign! I hope he gets what’s coming to him soon! – Grace

TV Scoop Team: When it comes to his three ladies, fans can expect to see him commit to each even further, so tons more drama is coming. But his relationship with Francis will be even more complicated as executive producer Laurie McCarthy explains, “There’s a line that he has later, where the king says he has realized that the best gift he can give his son is his death. It’s a gift (he doesn’t) necessarily want to give, so they have a very layered and intense relationship and it seems as though the king is disdainful of Francis and (yet) he’s not. But he sees him as his usurper, just by nature of the line of succession.”

Question: Scandal is totally killing it this year! Best. Season. Ever. What else is coming up? – Shannon

TV Scoop Team: Scandal’s storylines are super top-secret, but since we love this show somuch (and we know the right people to pester) we’ve managed to get some juicy scoop from one of our favorite gladiators. Darby Stanchfield tells us that it’s finally time to get to know more about the best booty-shaker in OPA. “Harrison gets a turn in the hot water,” she promises. “It’s just the beginning but we get to learn a little bit more about him. It’s so fun what’s coming up!”

Question: I absolutely adored JoAnna Garcia (Swisher) on last night’s Once Upon a Time! Please tell me that we are going to be seeing more of Ariel? – Natalie

TV Scoop Team: You’re in luck fairytale fan! We recently chatted with The Little Mermaid and she promised us that we will definitely be seeing this fin-tastic new character in a few more episodes this season. Also did you know that JoAnna Garcia and Jennifer Morrison are off-screen besties? Emma and Ariel will soon be sharing scenes together as well.

Question: I’m a huge Pretty Little Liars fan and I need to know right away if I should be worried about all my favorite couples. Can you give me a status update? – Becca

TV Scoop Team: We’re going to have executive producer Marlene King help you out with that one. We recently chatted with the pretty little executive producer and she gave us a couple-by-couple update on what we can expect when season four returns this January. “Spoby’s solid for now. Haleb is in flux, but those two love each other,” she says. “It’s been such a roller coaster ride this year for our couples, and for us when we create the show. I love Spoby, I love Haleb, I love Ezria, and when you put these couples in the ringer as we’ve done, it’s painful for us. But If I can make myself cry, if I can give myself goosebumps, then it’s good storytelling and I know it’s effective.” And as for Ezria? Well you’re going to have to watch to find out.

That’s it. Enjoy!