Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for the past week:

TELEVISION

Actress Allison Mack (Smallville) has landed a recurring role on the upcoming NBC drama American Odyssey that will star Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Sergeant Odelle Ballard, an American soldier who, in the midst of a SEAL Team Six-like takedown of an Al Qaeda leader, stumbles across enormously volatile intel. Soon afterwards, private military contractors arrive to take out Odelle’s entire unit, though she miraculously, secretly survives. As the rumor that Sgt. Ballard is alive starts spreading — yet is dismissed as “propaganda” by nefarious members of the military brass — corporate litigator Peter Decker (Nurse Jackie‘s Peter Facinelli) and activist Harrison Walters (Jake Robinson, The Carrie Diaries) get pulled into the deadly conspiracy. Mack will play Julia, an intelligent and empathetic stranger who befriends Odelle’s daughter Suzanne in a bookstore — though all is perhaps not as it seems. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

It looks like FOX is gearing up for a six-episode limited series of The X-Files, reuniting Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. This revival will be much like the return of 24 to the network. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

Showtime has ordered the high-finance drama Billions that will star Damian Lewis (Homeland) and Paul Giamatti (Sideways). The series will revolve around politics and power in the world of Wall Street and New York investment firms. (Cynthia Littleton at Variety)

It has finally been confirmed that the upcoming sixth season of Downton Abbey will be its last. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

The History Channel series Vikings has been renewed for a fourth season. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor William Petersen (CSI) has joined the upcoming WGN America drama Manhattan that will return for a second season later this year. Petersen will play Colonel Emmett Darrow, the enigmatic new ranking military officer at Los Alamos, a deeply religious and patriotic man who feels called by God to usher in the atomic future and to spread American values across the globe. (Press Release)

Actor Oded Fehr (Covert Affairs) will have a recurring role in the upcoming ABC Family drama Stitchers that follows a young woman (Emma Ishta from Manhattan Love Story), who is recruited into a secret government agency to be “stitched” into the minds of the recently deceased, using their memories to investigate murders and help solve mysteries before they go to the grave. Fehr will play Leslie Turner, the enigmatic head of the covert stitchers program. The cast also includes Kyle Harris (The Carrie Diaries), Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13) and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Eureka). (Elizabeth Wagmeister at Variety)

Actor Masi Oka (Hawaii Five-0) will reprise his role of Hiro Nakamura in the reboot of the once-popular NBC drama Heroes renamed as Heroes Reborn. (Whitney Friedlander at Variety)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Hulu has ordered its first drama series The Way, giving it a 10-episode straight-to-series order. The series comes from Jason Katims’ True Jack Productions and will examine a family at the center of a controversial faith–based movement struggling with relationships, marriage and power. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The History Channel is developing a scripted drama Knightfall that will chronicle the actual events leading up to and following the persecution, downfall and burning at the stake of the Knights Templar on Friday the 13th in 1307. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

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

1. The Divergent Series: Insurgent – 52.3 million
2. Cinderella – 35 million
3. Run All Night – 5.032 million
4. The Gunman – 5.028
5. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 4.6 million
6. Do You Believe? – 3.6 million
7. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – 3.5 million
8. Focus – 3.2 million
9. Chappie – 2.7 million
10. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – 2.4 million

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

Question: Is there a significance to the different colors of The Flash‘s “speed streak”? It seems it is yellow when he is not suited up and red when he is. The opposite seems true for Reverse Flash. Does this mean something? —BG

Ausiello: That question is above my pay grade. Or below it. Either way, I have no earthly idea. I can tell you that the mystery of who feeds the metahumans will be addressed, as will the more complex issue of whether it’s ethically copacetic for Flash’s foes to be locked up in S.T.A.R. Labs to begin with. “There’s a long discussion [in Episode 22] about the moral implications of the pipeline and what keeping them there means. Do they have that right?,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg previews. “All the characters get to chime in on how they feel about it. That’s exciting because — beyond everybody always asking how do they go to the bathroom and where do they get their food from — some of them are super dangerous. So, how do you let them out into the world?”

Question: As we’re moving quickly toward May, do you have any scoop on where NCIS is headed for their Season 12 finale? Are we getting a cliffhanger this year? –Joni

Ausiello: Sort of…? Coming off of last spring’s decidedly quiet finale, showrunner Gary Glasberg told Matt Mitovich that while Season 12 will end with “not your typical cliffhanger,” viewers can for certain expect “shocking surprises that will leave everyone speechless.”

Question: Daenerys-related Game of Thrones intel, please. — Randee

Ausiello: In the new season’s second episode, one of the Mother of Dragons’ advisors will tempt her. Kim Roots would be very happy if that advisor were Daario — played by Michiel Huisman — and if said tempting took place while he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Or pants. (Dear Universe: Please give Kim what she wants. She really, really needs this.) On a more serious note, those two crazy kids, as you are well aware, already connected carnally; if Daario is the consigliere, we’re betting he’s appealing to Dany’s quest to take the Iron Throne.

Question: I would love some scoop about Orphan Black. What will the new season bring? —Jack

Ausiello: It’ll bring a moment in the opening seconds of the April 18 premiere that will feel too good to be true. You can also expect an onslaught of creepy Castor clones; more than one heartbreaking falling out; a scene-stealing turn from a scorpion; and a surprising new business venture for Alison and Donnie.

Question: What is going to be the future for The 100’s Clarke and Bellamy. Will fans have to wait another season for at least a kiss?! — Liza

Ausiello: Let’s back up a little, Liza. Before we start talking about what Clarke and Bellamy’s future will be like, let’s ask ourselves this: Will they even have a future? When prodded about Clarke’s parting words to Bellamy (“May we meet again”), executive producer Jason Rothenberg has only this to say: “I hope they do meet again.” Don’t forget, it’s a big, post-apocalyptic world out there.

Question: How long is Grimm going to keep Adalind’s pregnancy a secret from Nick and his friends? —Erin

Ausiello: Nick and the gang will find out about the upcoming “cursed” event in Episode 19, which is slated to air in April.

Question: Is Abigail dead on Forever? I can’t seem to find a straight answer anywhere. —Sheri

Ausiello: The fate of Henry’s beloved — yet absent — wife will come up in next week’s episode, and will continue to be revealed as the season draws to a close, series creator Matt Miller tells TV Line. A bonus piece of information that probably will only confuse you more: Henry’s assistant, Lucas, becomes heavily involved in that storyline.

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: Have a great weekend!

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