Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The USA Network has given a series order to a new sci-fi series called Colony that will be executive produced and written by Carlton Cuse (Lost and Bates Motel) and Ryan Condal (Hercules). The series is set in the near-future of 2015 that follows the residents of Los Angeles, who are living under alien occupation; some collaborate with the alien authorities and benefit from the new order, while others rebel and suffer the consequences. (Zap2It and Blastr)

NBC has given a third season order to Hannibal while they have cancelled Revolution as well as canceling the new dramas Believe and Crisis. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

ABC has renewed the following existing dramas: Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and Castle. The network also gave second season orders to new dramas Resurrection and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The new dramas that have been picked up to series include the following:

American Crime

CAST | Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Timothy Hutton (Leverage), Benito Martinez (Sons of Anarchy), W. Earl Brown (Deadwood), Penelope Ann Miller (Mistresses), Richard Cabral

Set in California’s Central Valley, it centers on a racially charged murder and the subsequent trial, which are examined through the personal lives of the players involved. The case takes on greater meaning in the community, bringing to the forefront America’s hardened views on race, class and gender politics.

Forever

CAST | Ioan Gruffudd (Ringer), Judd Hirsch (Damages, Numb3rs), Alana de la Garza (Law & Order), Joel David Moore (Bones), Barbara Eve Harris, Donnie Keshawarz

Dr. Henry Morgan is New York City’s star medical examiner, but what no one knows is Henry studies the dead for a reason: He is immortal. With the help of detective Jo Martinez, the show peels back the layers of Henry’s colorful and long life through their cases.

How to Get Away With Murder

CAST | Viola Davis, Matt McGorry (Orange Is the New Black), Liza Weil (Scandal, Gilmore Girls), Aja Naomi King (The Black Box), Charlie Weber (90210), Katie Findlay (The Carrie Diaries), Billy Brown (Hostages), Tom Verica (American Dreams), Jack Falahee, Alfred Enoch, Karla Souza

A sexy, suspense-driven legal thriller about a group of ambitious law students and their brilliant, mysterious criminal defense professor who become entangled in a murder plot that will rock the entire university and change the course of their lives.

Marvel’s Agent Carter

CAST | Hayley Atwell

Set in 1946, this drama tells the story of Captain America‘s Peggy Carter, who goes on secret missions for Howard Stark while adjusting to losing the love of her life.

The Whispers

CAST | Lily Rabe (American Horror Story), Barry Sloane (Revenge), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes), Derek Webster, Brianna Brown, Catalina Denis, Kylie Rogers, Kyle Harrison Breitkopf

A drama about an alien invasion, in which earth’s enemies possess children’s bodies to take down humanity.

(Cynthia Littleton at Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and TV Line)

Actors Patrick Fabian (Joan of Arcadia and Veronica Mars) and Michael Mando (Orphan Black) and actress Rhea Seehorn (Franklin & Bash) have joined the cast of the upcoming AMC series Better Call Saul, a prequel to Breaking Bad that will center on criminal lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) before he become Walter White’s lawyer. Full casting details are being kept under wraps. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

TV MINI-SERIES NEWS

HBO has cast actor Casey Affleck (younger brother of Ben) in the six-hour mini-series Lewis And Clark that will tell the story of America’s first contact with the land and native tribes of the country west of the Mississippi River. The mini-series will chronicle the epic journey of the Corps of Discovery and its captains Meriwether Lewis (Affleck) and William Clark traversing uncharted territory on a mission to deliver President Jefferson’s message of sovereignty as they search for his fabled all-water route to the Pacific. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Nikki Reed (the Twilight franchise) will star in the independent film called The Sunday Horse that is based on the true story of Debi Connor, an equestrian rider from the wrong side of the tracks who overcame the odds and a near-fatal accident to win the U.S. championship on a horse saved from slaughter. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

Actress Julia Stiles (the Bourne franchise) has joined the cast of the big screen adaptation of the Katherine Paterson novel The Great Gilly Hopkins that will star Sophia Nelisse (The Book Thief) as Gilly, a young girl who dreams of being reunited one day with her mysterious and exotic mother, who will be played by Stiles. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

As we gear up for upfronts next week (that’s the presentations made by the networks to the advertisers in New York where each network announces their plans for the new TV season, including what shows have been cancelled, renewed and picked up), here are some early announcements:

Fox has cancelled comedies Dads, Enlisted and Surviving Jack and the drama Rake. (Variety and The Hollywood Reporter)

NBC has renewed Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for a 16th season and they have picked up the DC Comics/Warner Bros. TV adaptation of Constantine as well as Mysteries of Laura (that will star Debra Messing). (Entertainment Weekly and Variety)

The CW has canceled dramas The Carrie Diaries and the new dramas Star-Crossed and The Tomorrow People but renewed Beauty And the Beast and Hart of Dixie. They have picked up the new dramas The Flash, Jane the Virgin, Zombie, and The Messengers, but the Supernatural spin-off is NOT happening. (Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Christian Cooke (the short-lived BBC supernatural drama Demons) has joined the cast of Witches of East End, which will start its second season on Lifetime on July 6. He will a stranger who arrives in town. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

TV TRAILER

Extant

TV MINI-SERIES NEWS

Lifetime is jumping on the bandwagon of bible-themed projects with a small screen adaptation of The Red Tent, which is based on the best-selling novel by Anita Diamant. The two-night mini-series will tell the story of Dinah (Rebecca Ferguson from The White Queen), the daughter of Leah and Jacob, who is only briefly referenced in the Old Testament. The cast will also include Mini Driver (About a Boy), Morena Baccarin (Homeland and Firefly) and Debra Winger. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Luke Kleintank (Bone and Pretty Little Liars) has joined the upcoming family adventure film called Max that will follow a Belgian Shepherd Malinois military dog who returns from Afghanistan traumatized by his handler’s death. Adopted by the soldier’s family, he bonds with his fallen partner’s 14-year-old brother. Kleintank will play a returning vet who worked with Max. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Please, any scoop about Revenge? —Julien

Ausiello: Sunday’s season finale isn’t just gonna be nuts, it’s gonna be an entire display case of Payday bars. We’re talking handcuffs for one major character, toe tags for two others, the emergence of a new scheme team and a scene that’s so horrifying, it’ll make Pascal’s death-by-helicopter-blade seem mercifully tame by comparison.

Question: Is there any hope for Bash and Mary on Reign? —Sara

Ausiello: Don’t shoot the messenger, Sara, but star Toby Regbo tells TVLine that Reign‘s original love triangle is no more. “The writers might come back and turn it on its head, but for the most part, the show has entered a different [chapter],” he explains. “I don’t think people expected things to settle down that quickly; Francis and Mary were married by Episode 13. So this whole Team Bash/Team Francis thing they set up … that part of the show has shifted.”

Question: I love Major Crimes and I can’t wait to watch it again! Do you have some spoilers or info for us? –Luana

Ausiello: Jon Tenney will reprise his role as G-man Fritz in at least one early episode of Season 3, which opens June 9. Alas, still no signs of wife Brenda Leigh!

Question: Are we going to meet Will’s “friend” from Texas on Nashville this season? They keep alluding to him. —Kelly

Ausiello: We put that question to series creator Callie Khouri and here’s what she said: “Not this season.” (I’ll take that to mean we’ll be meeting him next season. Or never.)

Question: I know it’s probably early yet, but anything on the huge, final season of Haven? –Amy

Ausiello: Could the Syfy series possibly end with the titular town cured of all its troubles? That’s something to ponder as the show sets out to cast the recurring role of a military vet/doctor who comes to suspect that science might be able to snuff the supernatural.

Question: Even with addition of the Knave next season on Once Upon a Time, is there any chance Robin Hood could become a series regular? I love him and Regina together! —Robyn

Ausiello: Even though series co-creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis are both fans of Sean Maguire’s work as the Prince of Thieves, “It’s too soon to say,” Kitsis answered when we ran your Q by them. “I would wait and see.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The cable network WGN America has renewed their new thriller, period piece drama Salem for a 13-episode second season that will air in 2015. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Sleepy Hollow has been given at least a 15 episode order for its returning second season and there is a possibility it will have as many as 18 episodes. The show’s first season was only 13 episodes. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Daniel Sharman (Teen Wolf) will have a major role on The Originals for the show’s second season. He will play Kaleb, the handsome, devilish and charming new witch in the French Quarter’s coven. (Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The annual upfront presentations by the major networks will officially take place next week, but a few announcements on new pilots that have been picked up to series are already been made, including the following:

Odyssey on NBC is a Traffic-like action drama, which centers on what happens when three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide: a female soldier, a corporate lawyer and a political activist. The cast includes Peter Facinelli (Nurse Jackie), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) and Adewale Akinnouoye-Agbaje (Lost) [among others].

Red Band Society on FOX will focus on a diverse group of teenagers who become unlikely allies and friends in the pediatric wing of a hospital. The cast includes Oscar winner Octavia Spencer.

Empire on FOX will be set in the world of a hip-hop empire that will feature both original and current music. The cast includes Terrence Howard (Iron Man) and Taraji P. Henson (Person of Interest).

State of Affairs on NBC is the new drama starring Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) as a CIA agent, who is tasked with briefing the president on the most vital security issues facing the nation. Other cast members include Alfre Woodard, Leslie Odom, Jr. (Smash and Person of Interest) and Adam Kaufman.

Gotham on FOX is the origins story of young James Gordon (aka Commissioner Gordon from the world of Batman). The cast includes Ben McKenzie (Southland), Donal Logue (Vikings) and Jada Pinkett Smith (the Matrix franchise).

Also in the mix are the following new TNT pilots that have been picked up to series:

Proof, which will star Jennifer Beals (The Chicago Code) as a surgeon who investigates reincarnation with the help of funding from a billionaire.

Public Morals, which is a detective drama set in 1967 New York City that will star Ed Burns as a vice cop struggling to stay honest.

(Cynthia Littleton at Variety, Whitney Friedlander at Variety and The Futon Critic)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Actor Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises and No Ordinary Family) will star opposite Mena Suvari in the Amazon Studios drama pilot Hysteria that centers on Dr. Logan Harlow (Suvari), an exceptionally bright but socially awkward neurologist/psychiatrist at the University of Texas Medical School who travels to her hometown of Austin to investigate a mysterious epidemic among high school girls that might be spreading through technology. Stewart will play a local man who is trying to reconnect with his family after he had an affair with the family babysitter and now finds the girl not wanting to let go. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE NEWS

Actor Johnathon Schaech (currently recurring on Star-Crossed) has joined the cast of the upcoming History Channel mini-series Texas Rising that details the Texas Revolution against Mexico and the rise of the legendary Texas Rangers. Schaech will play Colonel Sherman, the blustering Kentucky aristocrat who thinks Sam Houston (Bill Paxton) is a disastrous commander and challenges his orders at every opportunity. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Laura Linney (The Big C) will appear in the upcoming film A Slight Trick of the Mind that will star Ian McKellen as an aging Sherlock Holmes, playing Holmes’ housekeeper Mrs. Munro. (Nicole Sperling at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect) will star in the planned reboot of the 1980 comedy film Private Benjamin that will follow a redneck (Wilson) and a rich city girl who get more than they bargained for when they enlist in the Marines to escape their present situations. (Tracking Board and The Wrap)

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and TV Scoop Team at E! Online)

Question: I’m so glad 24 is back. What’s coming up? — Casey

Natalie: Though it was fun to see Jack and Chloe at odds in the premiere, the ice between the two will thaw a little when Chloe fills Jack in on the last four years of her life — including a particularly heartbreaking story about some of Chloe’s loved ones. (Suddenly, Chloe’s Girl with the Dragon Tattoo get-up will make much more sense.) Unfortunately, whatever progress the former partners make will go out the window when a member of Chloe’s team tries to double-cross Jack.

Question: I want Deacon and Rayna to end up together on Nashville! — Jessie

Natalie: Don’t we all. Unfortunately, you may have to wait a little longer. In fact, I hear that after Luke professes his love for Rayna on Wednesday’s episode, he will make an even bigger play for Rayna’s heart in the finale. Though it’s safe to assume Deacon won’t be pleased by that particular development, his reaction will surprise everyone.

Question: Anything on Under the Dome would be great. — Marciella

Natalie: Julia will take on a leadership role in Chester’s Mill in Season 2 — and that won’t sit well with Big Jim’s supporters. However, Julia’s initiative will backfire in a big way when one of her big ideas for the town goes awry in explosive fashion. The question is: Was she set up?

Question: Revenge has me hooked once again. Please tell me the finale won’t disappoint! – Meggy

TV Scoop Team: Um, it won’t. Seriously, you need to watch this finale live as more than one major death goes down by episode’s end. Plus, Emily will receive both the best and worst news of her life, while Victoria will make her biggest move against Emily yet. And if that’s not enough, the show will manage to pull off its most shocking twist ever.

Question: Holy crap, The Blacklist is insane right now! What can we expect next?! – Seth

TV Scoop Team: Tom’s true feelings for Liz to be revealed, an intense showdown between Red and Berlin…and the death of a major player on the team. Break out the tissues, y’all!

Question: I can’t wait for my favorite summer show Under the Dome to return! What can you tell me about season two? – Kevin

TV Scoop Team: Expect to learn a whole lot more about Barbie’s past…and to meet someone very close to him midway through the season.

Question: Holy crap, I can’t believe Leith is coming back on Reign! Please tell me there’s hope for him and Greer? – Nellie

TV Scoop Team: What was the French Court’s version of Facebook because things are complicated between the duo. “It will change everything when Leith comes back [to French Court]. He’s a different person,” Laurie McCarthy previewed for us. “He has different opportunities and different ambitions, we’ll come to find out as well.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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