Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

FX has given their new drama Fargo a 10-episode second season renewal. This new story will feature different characters, a new time period and a different “true crime” story. (Whitney Friedlander at Variety)

Actor Brian Hallisay (The Client List) will have a heavily recurring role on ABC’s Revenge this fall, playing Ben, a local cop and a new friend of Jack (series regular Nick Wechsler) who is fun-loving, easygoing and drawn to Jack’s world and especially to the people in it. It is possible that Hallisay’s character is being eyed as a potential new love interest for Emily Thorne (series lead Emily Van Camp). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

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

1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – 36 million
2. The Purge: Anarchy – 28.4 million
3. Planes: Fire & Rescue – 18 million
4. Sex Tape – 15 million
5. Transformers: Age of Extinction – 10 million
6. Tammy – 7.6 million
7. 22 Jump Street – 4.7 million
8. How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 3.8 million
9. Maleficent – 3.3 million
10. Earth to Echo – 3.2 million

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Roush at TV Guide)

Question: What are your thoughts on the direction Falling Skies has taken? The writing of the show this season has been so far-fetched it is bordering on ridiculous. What made my husband and I fans of the show in the beginning was the fact that it seemed as though what was happening would really happen if aliens took over the planet. They told the story from the human perspective. Now we have alien/human hybrids and aliens that squeeze dirt and speak to each other in English on their own planet. I read somewhere that Steven Spielberg stepped back and let someone else take over. Do you think there is any hope that he will come back and save the show? The last season of True Blood is a testament to the fact you cannot separate most of the core cast members and expect the show to last. The show keeps telling us that they are all going to be together soon, but that cannot happen quickly enough. Am I missing something here? Are you enjoying the show this season? I try to suspend my disbelief as much as possible when watching this type of show, but it has gone from plausibly realistic to campy in one season and I miss having the cast together. — Susan

Matt Roush: I’ve received several comments like this about the current season, which I’ll admit I haven’t been following. (Too much new summer TV, and something’s gotta give.) From what I remember from where I left off with this show, it did seem like something was lost when the characters began to scatter, and maybe it’s the best thing for everyone that next season will be the last. [Note: I’m told next Sunday’s episode does a great deal to bring many of the characters together, so stay tuned.] Stories like this aren’t meant to go on indefinitely, and perhaps by working toward a definite end point, the producers will find a way to give loyal and even lapsed fans a satisfying finish.

Question: Is it too soon to know if Continuum will get a fourth season? It’s a great show with a terrific cast that really holds your attention. They recently ended their third season with a big cliffhanger, so I was wondering about their renewal chances. Your thoughts? — Tony

Matt Roush: That decision will be made not by Syfy but by the Canadian broadcaster from which Syfy acquires the show. As far as I can tell, a decision is imminent later this summer, and I’d be surprised if a fourth season isn’t produced. And if it is, I imagine Syfy will carry it.

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: I am leaving for Comic Con tomorrow so my daily updates will be on hold until next week!