Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Craig Frank (the short-lived comedy Mixology and the Emmy-winning web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) has been promoted to series regular on the upcoming mid-season thriller The Messengers that will air on The CW sometime during the 2014-2015 TV season. The series is what happens when a mysterious object crashes down to earth and how a group of seemingly unconnected strangers die from the energy pulse, but then awaken to learn that they have been deemed responsible for preventing the impending Apocalypse. Frank will play Alan, a likable techie who works with Vera (series lead Shantel VanSanten) at the NDSA – National Deep Space Agency. (The Deadline Team)

Actor J. August Richards (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Angel) has joined Bravo’s first scripted series called Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce that will follow Abby (Lisa Edelstein from House), the author of a self-help book series who’s hiding her separation from her husband from the public. Starting her life over again as a single woman in her 40s, she finds that advice from divorced friends leads to startling new adventures. Richards will play Ford, who is married to Max (Patrick Heusinger). The series is set for a 2015 debut. (Jethro Nededog at The Wrap)

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

Question: Any scoop on Revenge’s Jack now that he’s in jail? — Megan

Natalie: Jack will quickly be forced to choose whether he’ll snitch on someone else to set himself free. “He did something wrong, but there are three other people involved,” executive producer Aaron Harberts says. “How far will Jack go to protect Emily and her relationship with Charlotte?” According to Nick Wechsler, pretty far — even to his own detriment. “He’s crazy about [Emily] and wants to see justice be done,” he says. “His feelings for her will draw him into some morally complex situations.”

Question: Covert Affairs scoop, please! — Christine

Natalie: Season 5 picks up four months later, but Annie has not been back at the DPD during that whole time. When she finally does return to work in the premiere, she’ll tell Auggie and Calder where she was, but not what she was doing. Also, be on the lookout for an old face from Season 3 to resurface.

Question: Got any scoop for season 2 of Reign? —Nicole

Ausiello: French Court is going to be visited by four new faces in Season 2, including Princess Claude, the never-before-seen daughter of Catherine and Henry. The “very sexually advanced” young lady will get herself into plenty of mischief, perhaps even more than Narcisse, another (much older) new face who will serve as a sparring partner for her mother. Then there’s Conde, known as the “Prince of the Blood,” who will strike up an unusual friendship with Francis, as well as Prince Thomas, who “may be the next king of France sooner than he’d imagined.” If that last line has you shaking in your boots, you have a very healthy sense of fear.

Question: You mentioned last week in Ask Ausiello that Revenge is adding a new love interest for Emily — anything else you can share about the new guy? —Janet

Ausiello: He’s a childhood friend of Jack’s who has a touch of PTSD from his military days. He decides to make his short-term visit to the Hamptons permanent after something life-changing happens to Jack, then makes fast friends with a number of the locals — including Emily.

Question: I am super excited that Meagan Tandy is returning to Teen Wolf this season as Braeden. Any scoop on what she is up to in Beacon Hills? – Gyll

Ausiello: You’re not the only person excited, Gyll. Executive producer Jeff Davis is thrilled to have Tandy back on the show for Season 4 — this time, in an increased capacity. “She’s in nine of the 12 episodes,” Davis tells us. “She’s someone who’s kind of on the moral fence … and she’s actually hired by Peter and Derek to find Kate.”

Question: Any scoop on Nashville‘s upcoming season? –Sharon

Ausiello: While Hayden Panettiere tells us she enjoys opening her script and being “as shocked as everyone else is,” her gut is telling her that the forecast for Juliette and Avery will remain stormy heading into Season 3 — despite her character’s tear-streaked explanation/apology for cheating with smarmy record exec Jeff Fordham. “I don’t think any route is going to be simple, because that just wouldn’t be interesting,” Panettiere speculates. “At the end of the day, though, when you lose trust in someone in a relationship, that’s a very difficult thing to get back in a way that doesn’t cause incredible conflict, insecurity and jealousy. I can’t imagine Avery being the kind of person that just forgives and forgets.”

Question: Marlene King recently said she wants to do a “Ravenswood episode” on Pretty Little Liars this season. Anything more you can tell me? I miss that spin-off. — Claire

Ausiello: Plans for a Ravenswood-centric episode are indeed underway, but King tells me nothing has been finalized. “I stay in touch with all of those people, both the kids and the adults,” she says. “They know we’d love to — I don’t want to say ‘tie up’ the story — but at least give it some closure. More than we were allowed to, anyway. We were heading somewhere with that story and we want to let the fans know where that was.”

Question: I’m glad Lincoln and Octavia both survived The 100 finale. Please tell me they’ll stay together next season. — Dahlia

Ausiello: Nothing is set in stone for Season 2 just yet, Dahlia, but feel free to interpret executive producer Jason Rothenberg’s words as you will: “Lincoln and Octavia have a genuine romance, and to me, that’s the romantic heart of the show. It’s a union between the Grounders and the people from the Ark, which is really where we’re going next season.”

That’s it. Enjoy!