Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

We are back in business now with the news back to its normal insane level. I think I’m the only person who loves having too much news, right?!

Anyway, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The CBS drama pilot Backstrom is actually getting a chance at being a series thanks to the 13-episode order made by the folks over at FOX. The series, from creator Hart Hanson (the guy behind Bones), is about Detective Everett Backstrom (to be played by Rainn Wilson of The Office fame), an offensive, irascible detective who tries and fails to change his self-destructive behavior. Throughout the series, Backstrom leads his team, the Serious Crimes Unit, as they navigate Portland’s most sensitive cases. (AJ Marechal at Variety)

Before the new season of Game of Thrones even happens, recurring actor Michiel Huisman (Nashville) is getting a promotion to series regular status. He will play Daario Naharis, the new love interest of Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Netflix has given the greenlight to a new sci-fi drama from Andy and Lana Wachowski (the siblings behind the Matrix franchise). The series is called Sense8 and each episode (in the 10-episode order) will focus on eight people scattered around the globe who are connected by a shared — violent — vision. (Michael Ausiello and Andy Patrick at TV Line)

Actress Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) will star in the NBC drama pilot called Odyssey alongside actor Jake Robinson (The Carrie Diaries) in a story that centers on three families who are torn apart when a stranded female soldier, a disillusioned corporate attorney and a disrespected political activist are pulled into the same shocking international military conspiracy. Friel will play Sgt. Odelle Ballard, a fierce leader who left her husband and child at home and is the only woman in the squad. Robinson will play Harrison Wolcott, a member of a group of protesters against the G8 summit in New York. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Are we going to meet Monroe’s son on Revolution soon? — Trina

Natalie: Yes, but first they need to save Miles’ life. Beware! The primitive course of treatment they employ will have you reaching for the barf bags. Once you recover, you’ll see Sebastian’s relentless pursuit of his son Connor (Mat Vairo), which will lead him south of the border. In a nifty reversal of fortune, Mexico is actually quite prosperous… for one person in particular. Let’s just say that the manzana doesn’t fall far from the arbol.

Question: Got any juicy Justified tidbits? — Martin

Natalie: Boyd is pretty lonely this season. Ava’s in jail and most of his former allies are gone. Couple that with the unexpected trickiness of running his new heroin empire, and you have a Boyd on the edge. “He’s just barely treading water,” Walton Goggins says. “He’s kind of a dog wagging his tail; he’s just chasing it around and around. It’s a very dangerous place for a person like Boyd to be.” That will become even truer when he learns that someone very close to him has betrayed him.

Question: Will we find out what happened to Barry Allen when Arrow returns? — Jonah

Natalie: Yes, and Oliver won’t be too happy about the repercussions of Barry’s accident, since they will draw Felicity out of Starling City when he needs her the most. Olicity fans, brace yourself for a devastating lovers’ quarrel. (Fine, I know they’re not lovers, but a girl can dream.)

Question: Any scoop on Pretty Little Liars? — Kelli

Natalie: Yes, and it’s straight from the mouth of the recently-revealed-to-be-alive Alison! “There are a few key things you see this season that really scar you,” Sasha Pieterse says. “It’s really disturbing the way the night of Ali’s disappearance went down.” Pieterse also teases that this season’s finale will also include “a very specific thing that happens that’s scary,” but it will be the perfect way to cap off the season. Too bad we have months to wait!

Question: I really want some scoop on Queen Mary’s lady-in-waiting Greer and kitchen boy Leith from Reign. —Vroni

Ausiello: Remember how Greer essentially said, “Aw, screw it” and decided to be with her lowborn hottie — Easy, right? Not so fast, says EP Brad Silberling. “She’s now going to still have to answer this challenge of, ‘Do I pick what is real love or do I essentially try to forward my family’s fortune?’ and that’s going to come into play with some interesting consequences, midway through the back half [of the season].” And those consequences just may involve another possible suitor, he adds. “You’ll see the two of them — and a potential triangle — begin to play out.”

Question: Is there anything that you can tease about upcoming episodes of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that may have some comic-book feeling to it? —Andy B.

Ausiello: Well, short of setting foot at the Avengers Academy, the ABC drama next week will pay its first visit to S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy (which, of course, we first told you about back in November). Describing the training facility, Clark Gregg told Matt Mitovich, “It’s almost as magical as Tahiti, like Hogwarts for young S.H.I.E.L.D. padawan.” Wait, did he just magnificently merge three geek universes?

Question: Under the Dome Season 2 scoop? —Jim

Ausiello: This may strike you as odd, but the population of Chester’s Mill is about to spike. Season 2 will introduce three new characters, including Sam, a rugged gent better known to the locals as “the crazy drunk who lives alone in the woods” — and who harbors a family tie to a familiar face; Rebecca, a teacher in her 30s whom Big Jim beseeches to start back up the school, though not with the noblest of agendas; and, most curiously, a “new girl” in town (?!) who takes an avid interest in both Joe and Norrie.

That’s it. Enjoy!