Hey All,
Here are the news items for today:
TELEVISION
Actor Tate Donovan (Damages and Hostages) has joined the cast of 24: Live Another Day where he will play Mark Boudreau, the White House Chief of Staff. The new version of 24 will debut on FOX on May 5. (The Futon Critic)
Actresses Malese Jow (The Vampire Diaries and the upcoming Star-Crossed) and Hannah Marks (Necessary Roughness) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Castle in a Mean Girls-meets-Cruel Intentions-meets-Firestarter episode that is set to air on February 5. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)
Actor Pedro Pascal (Graceland and Red Widow) will have a recurring role on The Mentalist, playing FBI Special Agent Marcus Pike, who will be a possible love interest for Teresa Lisbon (series regular Robyn Lively). The Mentalist will be back with new episodes starting on March 9. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Actor Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order) will co-star opposite Grant Gustin in The CW’s plot The Flash (the spin-off of Arrow) that will be an origin story about Barry Allen aka The Flash (Gustin), a Central City assistant police forensics investigator who arrives in Starling to look into a series of unexplained robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past. Martin will play Detective West, an honest, blue-collar cop who is a surrogate father to Allen. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)
NBC has decided to nix the Murder, She Wrote reboot that was to star award-winning actress Octavia Spencer. (Chris Harnick at E! Online)
ONLINE SERIES NEWS
Actor Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises) will co-star alongside Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) in the as-yet untitled Netflix 13-episode psychological thriller that will center on a family of adult siblings whose secrets and scars are revealed when the black sheep oldest brother, Danny (Mendesohn), returns home. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)
Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)
Question: Is Quinn really no longer a Gladiator on Scandal? —Jonas
Natalie: Well, for now. But wait until Olivia finds out that Huck ousted her from the group! Prepare for one Huck of a fight! “He doesn’t feel bad about what he did to Quinn,” Guillermo Diaz says. “He only feels bad that Olivia is upset at him for doing what he did. [But] he’s not apologizing for it and he’s standing his ground.”
Question: Is Rumplestiltskin really dead on Once Upon a Time? —Tamryn
Natalie: “He’s definitely dead,” executive producer Edward Kitsis says. But I mean, come on, this is a show about magic! “He went into that knife, it looked like death to me, but he’s the Dark One,” he adds. Sounds like he’s not totally dead just yet.
Question: NCIS scoop, please! I can’t believe Delilah is paralyzed! —Charlie
Natalie: I know, right? Naturally, Delilah’s recovery will strain her relationship with McGee, but executive producer Gary Glasberg promises that they won’t break up. “It’s going to be a bumpy road for them, but I think you’ll see how it brings them closer together,” he says.
Question: Does Skye know she’s an 0-8-4 on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? —Dan
Natalie: Yes! Chloe Bennet tells me that Coulson told Skye the truth about her parents’ deaths and her potential to have special powers. But don’t fit her for a cape yet. “I have no birth certificate,” she reminds me. “I could still be a human. I could be something else.” Get ready for a very dark episode that deals with the fallout from the ultimate reveal.
Question: I’ll take any Nashville scoop you’re willing to throw my way. —Michelle
Ausiello: Another major character — more major than Peggy, I would argue — is about to bite the dust.
Question: Really loved seeing some sparks flying between Rayna and Deacon again on Nashville. Any chance it could lead to something more, or is that just too much to ask? —Sheila
Ausiello: It’s pretty much now or never, says exec producer Dee Johnson. “It’s more possible now than it ever was over the course of the last 20 years,” she notes. “Deacon went through something and came out the other side of it; the [Maddie] secret is now all out in the open; Rayna is not married anymore; they’ve both evolved.” The one fairly substantial hiccup? Neither one of them is single. “As with life, you’re always dating someone when the person you really want is available,” Johnson adds. “It’s all about timing.” For her part, Connie Britton is ready for those two crazy kids to get their crap together. “I’m a big believer in Rayna and Deacon,” she tells me. “I always feel that people can work these things out, which is probably silly and idealistic of me. But I’m a silly and idealistic person.” (And don’t you dare change — not ever!)
Question: I’m officially ready for Angry Closeted Will to start transitioning into Confident Out-and-Proud Will on Nashville. Any idea when I can expect that shift to start? —Danny
Ausiello: I’d love to be able to tell you the metamorphosis begins this week, but that would be a lie. “The struggle will continue for him,” confirms Johnson. “He still has a certain thing in mind for himself in terms of country stardom, and he still doesn’t think it’s possible to embrace himself in that way. He’s going to try very hard to focus on [his career] solely and remove temptation from his life.” However, eventually, “his secret is going to come out,” the EP adds. “That’s not something that can stay underground forever, despite anybody’s best efforts. The question is, How will he handle it? And where will he be in his career path when it does come out?”
Question: I was so happy to see Victor Garber in the Sleepy Hollow finale. Please tell me he’ll be back next season. –Kristin
Ausiello: Garber’s role as Ichabod’s dad “is a crucial part to Crane himself,” says series co-creator/executive producer Len Wiseman. “We’ve talked about how his character works in the second [season].” My interpretation: It’s almost a sure thing the Alias alum will don a powdered wig again. Plus, don’t forget that we can also expect to see John Noble’s Henry (I’m not going to put his other name, out of courtesy for those who haven’t yet seen last night’s episode) when the Fox drama returns in the fall.
Question: Castle is my very favorite show and I would like any information you have for the 2014 season! –Donna
Ausiello: Previewing for Matt Mitovich her Jan. 27 turn on the ABC drama, Titanic mom Frances Fisher says that her ”high-powered” Anna Wintour-like fashion magazine editrix is quite surprised to come face-to-face again with one Kate Beckett, whom she first met years ago as a model. And it’s not the warmest of reunions, either. Teasing how things left off for the two back then, Fisher says, “There was an ‘employment issue,’ where I ended up not very happy about her decision [to quit modeling].”
Question: Any scoop on what’s next for Tony on NCIS? –Laura
Ausiello: If you’re among those concerned that DiNozzo will rush into a grand new romance, with Bishop’s pop culture-savvy NSA pal Sofia Martinez, you needn’t be. “I don’t think his next relationship is going to happen anytime soon,” show boss Gary Glasberg tells us. “Part of letting Tony be Tony and letting him be flirtatious and talk to women is that these women don’t really matter. They’re quick encounters that he’s having; it’s not Ziva. They’re not ones that count. Eventually, will there be another [great love]? Maybe.”
Question: As much as I’m loving Sherlock‘s third season so far, I’m bummed about the lack of Irene Adler. Any chance she’ll resurface in Season 4? —Brandon
Ausiello: “It’s not impossible, because she’s still alive and out there,” responds exec producer Steven Moffat. “But I was really, really pleased with [Season 2’s Irene-centric] ‘A Scandal in Belgravia,’ and that sense of longing between those two characters. The question is, can you do it again without making it less good? Are sequels ever as good? Do you really make more money or do you debase the coinage? If we had as good a story as ‘Scandal’ and somewhere else to take them, we’d do it again. But, in the meantime, we’re thrilled with that episode and wary of touching it again. There are many other stories tell.” Gotta admire his quality control.
That’s it. Enjoy!
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