Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Elias Koteas (the short-lived Combat Hospital) will guest star in the season finale of Unforgettable, playing the man Carrie Wells (Poppy Montgomery) believes is the person who killer her sister. The season finale is set to air on May 8. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actor Ian Gomez (Cougar Town) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Touch, playing Wade, a tsunami survivor who becomes obsessed with digging up objects from debris and returning them to their owners. The episode is set to air in May. (Vulture)

Actor Jordan Belfi (Entourage and Moonlight) will guest star in a two-episode May sweeps arc, playing a patient named Ryan. The episodes are expected to air on May 3 and 10. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Rachael Harris (New Girl) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Suits when it returns with new episodes this summer. She will play a representative from Harvard Law whom Louis (Rick Hoffman) must dissuade from rescinding law firm Pearson Hardman’s recruiting privileges. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

FOX has renewed Bones for an eighth season. (Twitter)

Actress Danielle Alonso (One Tree Hill) had landed a recurring role on Covert Affairs, playing a therapist for the CIA. (Matt Mitovich at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Rosario Dawson is teaming with producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead) to bring her graphic novel to the cable network A&E. The drama project, O.C.T. – an acronym for the NYPD’s Occult Crimes Taskforce –is being developed with both women attached as executive producers. The project is still in its early stages, but is being considered as a star vehicle for Dawson. The scripted drama would explore the inner workings of the task force, which was established after the Civil War to make the New York City streets safe from practitioners of black magic, demons from another dimension and all manner of supernatural malcontents. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Julianne Moore is in negotiations to co-star in the as-yet untitled film to be the directorial debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who will play a modern day Don Juan, setting out to become a less selfish person. Moore would play an unlikely mentor to his character. Scarlett Johansson also stars in the film which Gordon-Levitt wrote. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor Stanley Tucci is expected to star alongside Harry Potter franchise actress Emma Watson in the David Yates-directed film Your Voice in My Head, which is an adaptation of the Emma Forrest memoir. The film isn’t anticipated for release until 2013, but will chronicle the crumbling relationship of a nationally respected journalist, her subsequent suicide attempt, and the hope bestowed in her by a terminally ill psychiatrist. (Variety and First Showing)

Actor Ben Affleck is attached to star in the political comedy called Nathan Decker that is about a politician who is caught in an affair and then returns to his hometown to confront his past. Tom Cruise was previously linked as the lead but has since dropped off. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Watch: Alex Kurtzman’s Directorial Debut ‘People Like Us’ First Trailer

First Trailer for Charming Time Travel Indie ‘Safety Not Guaranteed’

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The news is rather short for today, but there were still a few items of interest:

TELEVISION

Actor Roger Bart (The Event, Revenge and Desperate Housewives) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Grimm where he will play a Wildermann, a bearded, “Grizzly Adams-type” character. He will appear in the episode that tackles the legend of Big Foot that will star Kenneth Mitchell (Jericho) as the legendary creature. (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

In an upcoming episode of The Vampire Diaries not only will viewers get to see the oft-discussed but never-seen-before parents of Elena Gilbert in a flashback episode that will also feature a return visit of Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning) again via flashbacks. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide and Megan Masters at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor turned director Kenneth Branagh will be the new director for the next Jack Ryan movie that will now feature Chris Pine in the lead role. (Cinema Blend)

Actress Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice) and actor Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) will star in the upcoming drama film called Rememory that will revolve around a brilliant professor who mysteriously dies on the eve of releasing his life-changing invention. His wife, Carolyn (O’Hara), discovers the device which records and plays memories. With an unlikely friend (Dinklage), she uses the invention to get to the bottom of the mystery. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Young actress Chloe Moretz (Kick Ass and the upcoming Dark Shadows) has landed the lead role in yet another remake of the Stephen King classic horror tale Carrie. (Twitter)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Eddie Cibrian (Third Watch) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Rizzoli & Isles when it returns to the TNT line up this summer. He will play Dennis Rockmond, a handsome motivational speaker who meets medical examiner Isles (Sasha Alexander) in an unusual way. The series will air its 3rd season premiere on June 5 at 9 PM. (Alyse Whitney at TV Line)

Actress Whoopi Goldberg will appear in a pivotal multi-episode arc in Glee, playing Carmen Tibideaux, a theatrical grande dame and a professor at New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts (NYADA) who travels to Ohio to preside over Kurt and Rachel’s auditions. She will first appear in the episode set to air on May 1. The show’s finale will air on May 22. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Fans of Terra Nova will have to give up hope as Netflix has been unable to “come to terms with 20th Century Fox to continue the show. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Kenneth Mitchell (Jericho) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Grimm, playing Wildermann, a beast that resembles the infamous urban legend: Sasquatch. In the real world, his alter ego, Larry, struggles with self control issues, which causes him to be stuck between his human self and his creature self. Not helping matters is the pain from the device inserted into his neck that leads to his mental breakdown. This episode is slated to air during May sweeps. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actor Jamie Dornan (Once Upon a Time) and actress Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) will appear in the new BBC drama series called The Fall. Dornan will play serial killer Paul Sector, who stalks his victims in and around Belfast. Anderson will play talented Detective Superintendent Gibson, who is brought in to catch him. The series’ five episodes will follow the police investigation uncovering the intricate story of the lives entangled by a series of murders – both the killers’ and the victims’ families. (BBC and Once Upon a FanSite)

For those who LOVED Sebastian Stan as the Mad Hatter in the latest new episode of Once Upon a Time, you will be delighted to learn that he will be back in tow more episodes this season. (E! Online)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Laz Alonso (Breakout Kings) will play the lead opposite actress Meagan Good (Californication) in the NBC drama pilot called Notorious that is being described as an opulent soap in which detective Joanna Locasto (Good) returns undercover to the wealthy and troubled Lawson family she grew up in — as the housekeeper’s daughter — to solve the murder of celebutante Vivian Lawson, who was once her closest friend. Alonzo will play NYPD detective Will Sacovitch who recruits former flame Joanna to infiltrate the Lawson home, in the hope of finding evidence that Vivian was murdered. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor David Lyons (the short-lived series The Cap) has been cast in the as-yet untitled J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke drama pilot about a group of survivors in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. He will play the charismatic Marine Bass, a role which became vacant after Billy Burke, who was originally cast in the role, was promoted to play the lead Miles. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) has landed the lead in the semi-autobiographical indie film called Small Time that follows a used car salesman who is still in love with his ex-wife and has a son who wants to skip college and enter the family business. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

TV SHOW TRAILER (BEHIND THE SCENES)

Exclusive Video: Falling Skies – Unanswered Questions: The Aliens

NOTE: Falling Skies returns with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, June 17 at 9 PM.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) will guest star in the season finale of Criminal Minds, playing the villain. The finale will run for two hours on May 16 and will involve an attack on a federal bank with a subsequent hostage situation for which one of the BAU members is held captive. There were no specific details on the role Helfer would play, though. (Matt Mitovich and Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actor Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) will guest star in a May sweeps episode of Harry’s Law, playing a man who holds the courtroom hostage when the person accused of raping and murdering his sister is found not guilty. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress (and Emmy winner) Margo Martindale will appear in an episode of the legal drama Suits when the USA Network series returns this summer. She will play Nell Sawyer, a nurse who proves unflappable in the face of Harvey’s hardball tactics after her union threatens a strike against the hospital he represents. (Mandy Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

The U.K. original Being Human has been renewed for a 5th season. (Twitter and Dark Horizons)

Actress Michelle Borth has joined the cast of the CBS remake Hawaii Five-0, reprising her recurring role of Lt. Catherine Rollins. She will now be a series regular. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Graham Greene has joined the cast of the upcoming, futuristic Syfy series called Defiance. The series will center on a transformed Earth, inhabited by the survivors of a universal war. Forced to co-habitate, the group struggles to build a new society among the devastation. Greene will play Rafe McCawley, a self-made success who owns and operates the largest mine in the territory. His status as the richest and most powerful human in Defiance comes with a price, however, as he struggles to navigate both familial and political alliances in the new world. The cast includes Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Tony Curran and Jaime Murray. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Jaime Pressly (My Name is Earl) has booked a role in the ABC drama pilot called Bad Girls that will follow the ins and outs of a group of unlikely women at a federal correctional institute. She will play Melinda, the warden of Santa Del Mar Women’s Federal Correctional Institute. Among the cast are Amy Smart, Jurnee Smollett, Rick Gonzalez and Tracee Ellis Ross. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Jason George (Grey’s Anatomy) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Mistresses that is about the lives of four female friends and their involvement in an array of illicit and complex relationships. He will play Dominic Montgomery, a co-worker of the character to be played by Alyssa Milano (Charmed). Among the cast are Rochelle Aytes and Yunjin Kim. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Billy Burke (from the Twilight Saga franchise) has been promoted to the lead role in the as-yet untitled drama pilot from J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke formerly known as Revolution that will follow a group of people struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. He was originally cast in a supporting role but will now play the lead, Miles, an amazingly resourceful man with a dark and dangerous side. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

FX is in early talks to adapt the box office film Fargo as a TV series. The dark comedy film starred Frances McDormand as a pregnant police chief investigating a series of murders involving an incompetent car salesman (William H. Macy). (Variety and TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office films for this past weekend courtesy of Deadline (all totals are an approximate for the weekend):

1. The Hunger Games – 155 million
2. 21 Jump Street – 21.3 million
3. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax 3D – 13.1 million
4. John Carter 3D – 5 million
5. Act Of Valor – 2 million
6. Project X – 1.9 million
7. A Thousand Words – 1.8 million
8. October Baby – 1.7 million
9. Safe House – 1.3 million
10. Journey 2 – 1.2 million

TV TRAILER

Doctor Who Season 7 Teaser Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The Canadian drama The L.A. Complex which will air here in the States starting in April has been given a 13-episode second season order by the Canadian broadcaster Bell Media. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Ben Shenkman (Drop Dead Diva and Burn Notice) will appear in Royal Pains when it returns for its fourth season this summer on the USA Network. He will play HankMed’s new employee, Dr. Jeremiah Sacani. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Maria Bello (late of the short-lived Prime Suspect) will appear in a multi-episode arc on the new FOX drama Touch, playing an earth-mother type whose daughter shared a gift similar to that of Martin’s (Kiefer Sutherland) son Jake (David Mazouz). Bello has an option to become a series regular if the drama, as expected, is picked up for Season 2. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Mamie Gummer (Off the Map and The Good Wife) will guest star in the Showtime dark comedy The Big C that return on April 8. No details have been revealed on who she will be playing, though. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Paula Marshall (Gary Unmarried) will guest star in a May sweeps episode of CSI, playing a sexy, cold-hearted, tough and no-nonsense CEO of an oil company — who also happens to be a premiere race truck driver. The twist? She is convinced that she may have been the original target of a truck bombing. (Alyse Whitney at TV Line)

British actor Hugh Dancy has landed one of the two leads in the 13-episode drama series Hannibal at NBC that will be a contemporary thriller featuring the classic characters from the Thomas Harris novel Red Dragon. Dancy will play FBI agent Will Graham alongside his mentor Dr. Hannibal Lecter (which is yet to be cast), who are re-introduced at the beginning of their budding relationship. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Alyssa Milano (Charmed) has landed one of the lead roles in the ABC drama pilot called Mistresses that is based on the UK drama of the same name. The US version will center on four women, April (Rochelle Aytes), Josslyn (Jes Macallan), Katie (Yunjin Kim) and Josslyn’s older sister Sarah (Milano) and will chronicle their sometimes scandalous romantic lives. Milano’s character, Sarah, is a classy and elegant married lawyer at a top Los Angeles law firm. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Paula Marshall (yes, her again) has been cast to co-star opposite John Corbett (and Jennifer Beals) in the CBS drama pilot called Widow Detective that will center on Denny Brennan (Corbett), a decorated police detective who, after losing three partners in the line of duty, becomes surrogate husband, lover and father to their families. Marshall will play Jill, a restaurateur and the mother of three daughters who has accepted Denny’s willing participation in her family with relief, gratitude and love (and occasionally annoyance). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

It would appear that actors Billy Bob Thornton and Forest Whitaker have joined the cast of the revenge drama flick called Out Of The Furnace that has Christian Bale playing Slim, a recently released con who just wants to live quietly and marry his long-time girlfriend (Zoe Saldana). When his brother (Casey Affleck) is murdered, he swears to track down and punish those responsible. Whitaker would play a sleazy bookie involved in the death while Thornton would play the main villain. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Q&A SECTION (with The TV Addict and Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Any idea how The Secret Circle plans on closing out the season? — Justine

The TV Addict: Murder? Magic? Can you tell that we haven’t exactly been keeping up with The Secret Circle? If so, we hope this bit of intel will make up for our general lack of interest. Producers are currently on the lookout for a twenty-something actress who bares a striking resemblance to Cassie’s mother Amelia for a pivotal flashback that will see her facing a life and/or death decision.

Question: Any clues as to what Percy has up his sleeve now that he’s escaped Division’s lurches on Nikita. — Mike

The TV Addict: When it comes to Percy, we’ve got tons of ideas. Of course, the only one you really need to be concerned with is what is going down in the explosive season finale that involves a threat to the President of the United States and a finger on a certain button that may-or-may-not activate what we hear is one helluva explosive device.

Question: Any spoilers about Juliette in Grimm? — Kriya

Sandra: Well, I’ll tell you this, you’re definitely going to see a lot more of her. Last time we saw Juliette she had been kidnapped, and she let Nick know she wasn’t sure she could keep going with this lifestyle. In episode 16, which airs in early April, Nick is going to take his lovely lady on a romantic weekend in hopes of reconciling with her and escaping work — but as you might guess, the trip ends up being anything but the getaway he was hoping for. (And Juliette might even walk away with a little more insight into Nick’s lifestyle!) Meanwhile, Grimm itself returns a week from today with all new episodes.

Question: Any scoop on The Secret Circle? — Jenn

Sandra: If you thought the episodes we’ve seen so far this season have had a bit of a spooky factor to them, stay tuned for one of the creepiest yet, says co-star Phoebe Tonkin (Faye). “There’s one that’s in a carnival where we go back to an abandoned carnival ground, and it’s so scary,” she says. “But it’s also so good.” And while we can pretty much guarantee there will be some sort of scary clown image in the episode, there’s one thing you won’t be seeing any time soon: witches on brooms. Tonkin recently tweeted a picture of herself riding a broom on set, igniting a bit of a firestorm among fans. But she assures she was only kidding around. “I was just being stupid because I found a broom on the ground, and I took a photo,” she says with a laugh. “We’re not getting brooms”.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

NBC renews ‘Smash’ for second season. (Variety)

Academy Award winning actress Patty Duke and actresses Megyn Price and Emily Rutherford will all make guest appearances in upcoming episodes of the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva. Price (Rules of Engagement) will appear in the season premiere as Emily Horn, an intelligent but manipulative socialite who was a former law school classmate of Jane’s. She will turn to Jane for help when she’s brought up on murder charges. She only knew the old Jane, which makes it awkward when this Jane begins to suspect she really is a cold-blooded killer. Duke will appear in the third episode as Rita O’Reily, a career floor-greeter who is fired after heroically stopping a shoplifter. When Jane takes on her case, she begins to wonder whether Rita may also be inhabited by someone else. In that same episode, Rutherford (The New Adventures of Old Christine) will play Olivia French, the quick-witted sister of Jane’s boyfriend Judge Owen French (Lex Medlin). Owen will enlist Kim’s (Kate Levering) help in navigating Olivia’s divorce. Why not ask Jane? Because the old Jane broke the heart of Olivia’s friend. Drop Dead Diva will be back with new episodes this summer. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Legendary actress Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) will guest star in one of the final episodes of Desperate Housewives, as the long-running soap comes to a close this season. There are no details on what character she will play, though. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actor Ciarán Hinds (Rome and The Phantom of the Opera) has been cast in the upcoming USA Network drama Political Animals that will debut this summer on the cable network. The 6-episode series will center on newly-appointed Secretary of State Elaine Barrish (Sigourney Weaver) balancing both personal and political crises. Hinds will play Bud Hammond, a jovial former president (and Elaine’s ex-husband) who was once loved by the American public, but whose out-of-office antics caused a tumble in his popularity. He still holds a candle for his wife, and eagerly awaits the call to become her elder statesman. (Alyse Whitney at TV Line)

Actor Ed Speleers (the box office film Eragon) has joined the cast of Downton Abbey for its much-anticipated third season. He will play the new footman Jimmy. Also joining the cast is actor Matt Milne (War Horse) as Alfred, a footman who’s also the nephew of is-she-or-isn’t-she-evil lady’s maid O’Brien. Season 3 won’t air in the US until January 2013. (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

Actress Rebecca Mader (Lost) will guest star in the FOX drama Fringe, appearing in the last two episodes of the season as a character named Jessica. Any additional details about her character are being kept under wraps, but Jessica is being described as a strong, brave woman involved in a case linked to super villain David Robert Jones. (William Keck at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Not only is Netflix in talks with 20th Century Fox TV about possibly picking up the recently cancelled FOX series Terra Nova, but they are also looking at another new series that is facing cancellation: ABC’s The River. It’s all speculation at best right now; but the rumor mills are filled with assumptions. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Megan Good (Californication) will play the lead in the NBC drama pilot called Notorious that is an opulent soap in which detective Joanna Locasto (Good) returns undercover to the wealthy and troubled Lawson family for which she grew up in — as the housekeeper’s daughter — to solve the murder of celebutante Vivian Lawson, who was once her closest friend. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Maggie Grace (Lost) will play a key recurring role in the as-yet untitled FOX serial killer drama pilot that will star James Purefoy as infamous serial killer Joe Carroll, who is being tracked by an FBI investigator, who will be played by Kevin Bacon. Grace will play a young doctor who’s the only surviving victim of Carroll. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Jennifer Beals (Flashdance and The Chicago Code) is set to star opposite John Corbett in the CBS drama pilot called Widow Detective that will center on Denny Brennan (Corbett), a decorated police detective who, after losing three partners in the line of duty, becomes surrogate husband, lover and father to their families. Beals will play Lainey, the sexy, wry-humored owner of a San Fernando Valley hair salon who is one of the widows as her LAPD detective husband was partnered with Denny and died on the job. Married again but about to be amicably divorced, Lainey knows Denny the best out of all the wives, and has the best shot at a real relationship with him. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) will join Halle Berry the upcoming box office thriller called The Hive that will be set against the backdrop of a 911 call center. Berry plays an emergency operator who must face her own fears in order to save a teenage girl (Breslin) from a disturbed killer. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actresses Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska and actor David Wenham will all make their directorial debuts shooting segments for the upcoming anthology called The Turning, which is based on the short story collection of the same name by author Tim Winton. The trio joins fourteen other directors on the project; each creating a chapter out of Winton’s work. The ensemble piece explores the extraordinary turning points in seemingly disparate but connected people’s lives, each chapter is self contained though characters and elements overlap. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

UK actress Jenna-Louise Coleman has been chosen to play the new companion to Doctor Who when current companion as played by Karen Gillan bids adieu to the show later this year. Coleman will make her first appearance in the 2012 Christmas episode. (Twitter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The new gripping tale of murder, mystery and monsters set in a ravaged Pennsylvania steel town called Hemlock Grove that will star Famke Janssen will be available for Netflix members beginning early in 2013. The series will start with the body of a young girl, mangled and murdered in the shadow of the former Godfrey steel mill. Some suspect an escapee from the White Tower, a biotech facility owned by the former steel magnates. Others believe the killer could be Peter, a 17-year-old Gypsy kid from the wrong side of the tracks, who tells his classmates he’s a werewolf. Or it could be Roman, the arrogant Godfrey scion, whose sister Shelley is disturbingly deformed and whose mother, Olivia (Janssen), the otherworldly beautiful and controlling grand dame of Hemlock Grove. As the crime goes unsolved and outlandish rumors mount, Peter and Roman decide to find the killer themselves, confronting unspeakable truths about themselves and Hemlock Grove as the mystery unfolds. There will be 13 episodes of Hemlock Grove. (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

Actor Noah Emmerich (White Collar and Super 8) will co-star opposite Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in the FX 1980’s-based drama pilot called The Americans that centers on two KGB spies (Russell, Rhys) posing as Americans in suburban Washington, DC in the early 1980s. Emmerich will play their new neighbor, a Counter Intelligence FBI agent who grows suspicious of the couple next door. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Eriq La Salle (ER) will guest star (and possibly recur) in the CBS drama pilot called Widow Detective that revolves around Denny, a decorated police officer (John Corbett) who becomes a surrogate husband, lover and father to families of three partners lost in the line of duty. La Salle will play Lt. Lutrell, a loyal friend who came up through the ranks with Denny. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Jack Coleman (Heroes) has been cast the drama pilot for The CW called First Cut that centers on Emily (Mamie Gummer), a newly minted doctor who, glad to leave her nerdy past behind for a fresh start in the adult professional world, discovers that, sadly and comically, life at the hospital where she works is no different than high school. Coleman will play Chief Tim Granger, the demanding and intimidating chief of staff at Denver Memorial Hospital. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DirecTV is looking into venturing into original scripted series as they pick-up Rogue, a 10-episode drama for which actress Thandie Newton is in talks to star. The project centers on an undercover cop (Newton) who takes on a gangster after her young son is killed in a drive-by shooting. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE MOVIE NEWS

Actress Jessica Biel has landed the second female lead in upcoming box office film Alfred Hitchcock And The Making Of Psycho, playing the role of Vera Miles, who played Lila Crane in the 1960 classic. Anthony Hopkins plays Hitchcock while Scarlett Johansson will play Janet Leigh. Helen Mirren will play Alma Reville and James D’Arcy is reportedly up for the role of Anthony Perkins. Actors Toni Collette and Danny Huston (among others) are in negotiations to play roles in the film as well with Collette potentially playing Peggy Robertson, the director’s longtime assistant and Huston portraying Whitfield Cook, a friend of the director’s wife, Alma
Reville (Helen Mirren). (Movie Web and Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actress Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) has been cast in as the leading lady in the film adaptation of the 1983 Mark Helprin novel Winter’s Tale. She will play a dying young woman who falls in love with a thief who breaks into her home, a palatial West Side mansion, in a drama that takes place in 19th Century and contemporary Manhattan. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

It has been confirmed that actor Russell Crowe will play Noah in the upcoming biblical epic about the prophet. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor Anthony Head (Buffy and Merlin) will replace Pierce Brosnan as centaur Chiron in the upcoming sequel Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters that has Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario reprising their roles. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

TRAILER PARK

Dennis Lee’s ‘Jesus Henry Christ’ Trailer with Toni Collette

Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome Trailer

NOTE: It was announced this afternoon that Syfy has decided not to pick up Blood & Chrome as a series, but the 90-minute pilot that was shot will air as a movie on the network; but it’s airdate is still unknown. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant from TV Guide and Michael Ausiello from TV Line)

Question: How long will Bonnie be mad at Elena for causing her mother to turn on The Vampire Diaries? —Michelle

NATALIE: Elena’s actions may have led to Abby’s transformation, but she certainly didn’t plan for it to happen! Ultimately, Bonnie will understand that, but perhaps not as well as Caroline. “Caroline realizes she’s made decisions that have affected people’s lives, so she’s not one to judge Elena for having to make big decisions, whether they turned out well or not,” Candice Accola tells us. “We’ll definitely see more beautiful friend moments as the season comes to a conclusion.”

Question: What can you tell me about what’s next on NCIS? — Tyler

ADAM: Oh, you know, just another day of saving the entire country! The team will be called in to work closely with the Chief of Naval Operations to stop an imminent attack against the U.S. They’ll also be collaborating with an eccentric businessman whose son was killed in a terrorist bombing. He must be quite an asset: I hear he will recur this season and possibly next.

Question: The car chase scene in the Alcatraz finale looks awesome. What can you tell us about the Tommy-Rebecca showdown? — Samuel

NATALIE: Prior to the big car chase — which has been likened to Steve McQueen’s Bullitt (see awesome clip here) — Rebecca and Diego will discover more about Tommy’s involvement in the bigger mystery, which will be the catalyst for the desperate hunt to track him down. More importantly, Ray’s change of heart about Tommy will be explained.

Question:  I’m really loving Awake. Got any teases for me? — Jared

ADAM: Michael’s dual realities will work together in a way that puts him on the trail of a serial killer who everyone — including the FBI profiler who followed him for 12 years — thought was dead. In an effort to find out just how Michael cracked a previously uncrackable case, the killer starts digging into Michael’s private life and uncovers a deep-dark secret.

Question: We haven’t seen Beckett’s psychiatrist, Dr. Burke, in a while on Castle. Got any clue if guest star Michael Dorn will be making an appearance before season’s end? —Ivy

Ausiello: I’ve got one word: yes! He’ll appear in late April/early May.

Question: Any Ryan-centric Nikita scoop! I was very happy to see him rejoin the team last week. —Cady

Ausiello: Pray extra hard that Nikita gets renewed, Cady. I’m told if the show comes back for a third season, Noah Bean (a.k.a. Ryan) will be promoted to a full-fledged series regular.

Question: How did Toby know how to contact Dr. Sullivan in the finale of Pretty Little Liars? If she was that easy to locate, wouldn’t the girls have found her already? —Lori

Ausiello: We put your burning question in front of exec producer Oliver Goldstick, who explains, “Toby hiding his valiant effort to protect Spencer was very connected to Jenna because he really was hoping that if she was indeed treacherous, he could find something from the inside. So, that’s what that was about. All of the loved ones of the PLLs were aware of Dr. Sullivan, and her sudden disappearance from Rosewood would have sparked interest and curiosity among them. Again, Toby had been clued in that someone was torturing the girls, so he made the connection that that person could have been holding Dr. Sullivan at bay. I can’t explain all of that to you now — it will certainly unfold — but he knew there was a time she could come back and confirm who indeed was tormenting the girls. Obviously, Mona was seeing Dr. Sullivan, too, if you remember the episode where she was looking through her files and realized who ‘A’ was.”

Question: Do you got any info about the new season of The Killing? I’m dying; April can’t get here soon enough. —Kristal

Ausiello: Season 2 picks up immediately after the finale, with Linden, having skedaddled off the airplane, learning about Richmond’s shooting via an airport TV. Holder meanwhile is still riding around with the mysterious someone — soon revealed — who hooked him up with the fake photo that triggered the councilman’s arrest. In fact, Holder’s agenda in sealing Richmond’s fate is immediately confirmed, and it just may surprise.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All

I’m back from WonderCon and playing some major games of ‘catch-up’. Here are the news items since Friday:

TELEVISION

NBC has picked up the new fairytale drama Grimm for a second season. (E! Online)

Actor Thomas Calabro (the original Melrose Place) will appear on an upcoming episode as the dad of none other than Puck (Mark Salling). His character is described as in his 40s with his life is in shambles; he dropped out of high school, left his wife and hasn’t paid child support in a long time. Rumor has it he may stick around too. (TV Line and E! Online)

Even before the new Starz drama Magic City has debuted the cabler has already given the series a 10-episode second season order. The drama will star Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, Grey’s Anatomy and Supernatural), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace and Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) in tales of Miami Beach circa 1959 for Starz. The first season will debut on April 6. (The Futon Critic)

Geek queen/actress Felicia Day (The Guild) will guest star in the April 27 episode of Supernatural, portraying a young woman who’s handy with a computer. (TV Guide)

Actress Constance Zimmer (Entourage) has booked a major recurring role in the Netflix drama series House Of Cards, which is a political thriller that will star Kevin Spacey as Rep. Frank Underwood, the Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives who after being passed over for Secretary of State hatches a plot to bring down the new president. Zimmer will play a school journalist who gets involved in a political scandal. (Deadline)

Actress Allison Mack (Smallville) has been tapped for a major recurring role on the FX comedy Wilfred that is about Ryan (Elijah Wood) and his relationship with his neighbor’s dog Wilfred (Jason Gann). Mack will play Ryan’s new love interest, an attractive and edgy biochemist. (Deadline)

Actress Camilla Luddington (the Lifetime movie William and Kate) has been cast in a recurring role on the upcoming season of True Blood. She will play Claudette, one of Claude’s (Giles Matthey) many sisters, who gives Sookie insight into what it means to be a faerie. (Deadline)

Actress Janel Parrish, who was revealed – SPOILER ALERT – to be “A” in last night’s season finale of Pretty Little Liars, has been added to the cast as a series regular when the cable series returns for its third season this summer. (The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Gerard Butler will star in the White House-set action thriller called Olympus Has Fallen that centers on an ex-Secret Service agent who must foil a terrorist attack on the president’s residence. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actresses Margo Martindale (Justified and A Gifted Man) and Zoey Deutch (Ringer) are in final negotiations to join the cast of the supernatural love story Beautiful Creatures, which is based on the first novel in the popular series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The story follows teenage lovers Ethan and Lena (Jack O’Connell and Alice Englert) who uncover dark secrets about their families, their history and their town. Martindale will play Lena’s Aunt Del who helps to protect her from the family’s dark side. Deutch will play Emily Asher, Ethan’s ex-girlfriend and the ringleader of the high school’s popular clique that conspires against Lena. The cast already includes Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson and Emmy Rossum. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Here are the top 10 box office films from this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:

1. 21 Jump Street, $35 million
2. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $22.8 million
3. John Carter, $13.5 million
4. Project X, $4 million
5. A Thousand Words, $3.8 million
6. Act of Valor, $3.7 million
7. Safe House, $2.8 million
8. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $2.5 million
9. Casa de mi Padre, $2.2 million
10. This Means War, $2.1 million

NOTE: Really, 21 Jump Street is the top movie? Seriously? Does anyone remember the show for which the movie is LOOSELY based? This movie is NOTHING like the show except that they are young looking cops undercover in high school. The rest looks like utter crap. And, then there is Project X and that Will Farrell piece of trash in the top 10. ARGH!! What in the world is the American movie-going audience thinking? Off my soap box (for now).

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Queen Latifah has signed on to star in and executive produce the Lifetime Original Movie Event, Steel Magnolias, the TV adaptation of the iconic play and 1989 film. The all-star cast includes Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott (among others). This version chronicles the lives and friendship of six women in Louisiana, supporting each other through their triumphs and tragedies. They congregate at the local beauty shop to ponder the mysteries of life and death, husbands and children – and hair and nails – all the important topics that bring women together. The movie is expected to debut in 2012. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Matthew Rhys (Brothers & Sisters) will star opposite Keri Russell in the FX drama pilot The Americans that is about the complex marriage of two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington DC in the early 1980’s. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Pablo Schreiber (A Gifted Man) has joined the cast of CBS drama pilot Baby Big Shot that is about Martina Garretti (Janet Montgomery from Human Target), a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a Manhattan law firm. He will play Aaronson, a senior partner at Stark & Cohen who still leads with his looks and athletic prowess. Also, actress Stephanie March (Law & Order: SVU) has landed a role in this pilot, playing Natalie, a high-ranking law firm associate who aspires to run the firm someday. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly, Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Brian White (Men of a Certain Age) has been added to the cast of The CW drama pilot Beauty and the Beat that is about Catherine Chandler (Kristin Kreuk from Smallville), a police detective who teams with Vincent Koslow (Jay Ryan from Terra Nova), a genetically altered Afghanistan war veteran to solve crimes in New York City. White will play Joe Profeta, Catherine’s handsome superior at the NYPD. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Tom Irwin (Saving Grace) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot Devious Maids that focuses on four maids (Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sanchez, Judy Reyes) with ambition and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. Irwin will play renowned fashion designer Adrian Powell whose maid was recently murdered, a development which Marisol (Ortiz) has taken upon herself to investigate. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Yunjin Kim (Lost) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot Mistresses (based on the BBC original) that follows the lives of four female friends and their involvement in an array of illicit and complex relationships. She will play Katie Roden, a therapist who slept with one of her patients, John, before his death. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Mimi Rogers and actor Gilles Marini (Switched at Birth and Brothers & Sisters) have both landed roles in the ABC drama pilot Scruples based on the book of the same name by Judith Krantz. The pilot is about the staggeringly luxurious life of a Beverly Hills boutique in 1978 and the people who work in it. Rogers will guest star as Harriet Toppington, the Anna Wintour-esque editor of Vogue Magazine who is behind Spider’s (Chad Michael Murray) banishment to Los Angeles. Meanwhile Marini will play Renee Dufaux, a handsome, scruffy French Count from Billy’s (Claire Forlani) past. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Holt McCallany (Lights Out) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot Golden Boy that tracks one man’s (Theo James from Underworld: Awakenings) meteoric rise from uniform cop at age 26 to police commissioner at 34. McCallany will play Joe Diaco, one of the detectives from the commissioner’s days in homicide. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Tate Donovan (Damages) will star in the NBC drama pilot Notorious that is about Joanna Locasto (yet to be cast), a police detective who returns undercover to the wealthy family she grew up in – as the maid’s daughter – to solve the murder of Vivian Lawson, the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend. Donovan will play Vivian’s older, responsible brother Edward, who’s married with two kids and serves as CFO of Lawson Pharmaceuticals. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Scott Bakula (Men of a Certain Age and Quantum Leap) has landed the male lead on the NBC comedy pilot Table for Three about Penelope “Pen” Morton (Christine Woods from FlashForward), a young doctor who returns home from Doctors Without Borders to find her father is seriously dating Holly Timmons (Nicky Whelan), the “mean girl” from her high school. Bakula will play said father, Robert, a safe, responsible, creature of habit who is made extremely uncomfortable by conflict. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor John Corbett (United States of Tara and Northern Exposure) has scored a lead role in the CBS drama The Widow Detective that is about a decorated detective who has lost three partners in the line of duty and serves as the male figure in the lives of his fallen partners’ families. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova and Life on Mars) has landed a role alongside Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis and Carrie-Anne Moss in the as-yet untitled CBS Ralph Lamb drama pilot. The pilot chronicles the true story of Ralph Lamb (Quaid), a rodeo cowboy turned longtime Sheriff of Las Vegas and Johnny Savino (Chiklis), a Chicago mob fixer whose entrepreneurial vision for transforming Las Vegas collides with the law-and-order mandate of Sheriff Lamb. O’Mara will play Ralph Lamb’s younger brother Frank, the diplomat in the family. (Deadline)

Legendary actor Brian Cox will co-star in the ABC drama pilot Gotham that centers on Detective Annie Travers (Megan Ketch) who, while investigating the “impossible murder” of a nightclub owner, is stunned to learn that New York has a whole secret magical history of which she (and everyone else) was hitherto unaware. Cox will play Alderman Morrill, an intelligent, sharp-eyed gentleman and seemingly the owner of a clock shop who is actually entrusted to keep the secret magic world New York City running on an even keel. (Deadline)

Actor Anson Mount (Hell On Wheels) will have a high-profile guest starring role in the ABC drama pilot Penoza that centers on Martha (Radha Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal (Mount) who is forced to adopt her husband’s role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family. (Deadline)

The NBC reboot of the 60’s classic The Munsters now called Mockingbird Lane has cast its Grandpa in the form of none other than comedian/actor Eddie Izzard.  (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Today will mark my last daily update until either Monday or Tuesday of next week due to my going to Anaheim starting tomorrow for the annual Wonder Con.

For now, here is today’s news:

TELEVISION

HBO has canceled the low-rated but renewed for a second season debut drama Luck due to the death of three horses during the production of the series. (Variety)

Actor Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl) has joined the cast of the upcoming six-episode USA Network series Political Animals that already consists of Sigourney Weaver and Carla Gugino. The series, which will debut this summer, follows Elaine Barrish (Weaver), a divorced former First Lady who immerses herself in her new job as Secretary of State as she rebounds from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Stan will play her son T.J, a lost soul struggling with addiction — the polar opposite of his “perfect” twin brother, Douglas (James Wolk from Lone Star and Happy Endings). Brittany Ishibashi (Ghostfacers) plays Doug’s fiancée. Carla Gugino plays a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who is hell-bent on destroying Elaine’s career. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Eric Close will reprise his role of Boston lawyer Travis Tilden in the second season of the USA Network drama Suits. (The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Bonnie Somerville (The Ugly Truth) has landed the female lead opposite British actor Theo James (Bedlam and Downton Abbey) in the CBS drama pilot called Golden Boy that centers on cop Walter Clark (James) and chronicles his meteoric rise from officer to detective and ultimately police commissioner. Somerville will play Detective Deborah McKenzie, a Long Island native and third-generation cop who is the only female detective on the homicide squad. (Deadline)

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot called Bad Girls that will follow the ins and outs of a group of unlikely women in a federal prison. Ross will play Rachel, a high-powered business woman who is now serving time for selling phony mortgages. She delayed having kids because of her career, and now she’s desperate to get pregnant — which isn’t easy in prison. (Deadline)

Actor/Comedian Simon Pegg is in negotiations to play a top-secret role in the TNT period drama pilot called L.A. Noir that is a period thriller based on the acclaimed novel of the same name. The pilot centers on the 1940s/50s-era epic battle between determined Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker (Neal McDonough) and boxer-turned-mobster Mickey Cohen. Details on Pegg’s character are being kept under wraps. Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead) and Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) also star. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Scott Wolf (Party of Five and V) has been cast in drama pilot called Joey Dakota over at The CW. The pilot is based on the Israeli format Danny Hollywood, which is a romantic-time-travel-musical centering on Maya (Amber Stevens), a documentary filmmaker making a film about Joey Dakota, a rock star who met an untimely death in the 1990s. She travels back in time to the 1990s where she meets and falls in love with Joey and when she unexpectedly returns to present day, she must find her way back to the past to reunite with her love and prevent his death. Wolf will play the mysterious Franklin, who seems to know a lot about Maya’s situation, may have been dabbling with time travel himself, and could be the key to Maya’s returning to the past and the man she loves. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Rick Schroder (NYPD Blue) has joined the cast of the as-yet untitled drama pilot from Karyn Usher that centers on Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA operative (Schroder) who encounters a mysterious rogue agent (Julian McMahon) who serves as her professional mentor in the spy world. Angela Bassett will also star. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Chloe Moretz (Hugo) and actor Rupert Grint (the Harry Potter franchise) have both joined the cast of the upcoming film called The Drummer which is an independent bio-pic chronicling the last six years in the life of Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson. Moretz is in final negotiations to play Wilson’s daughter Jennifer while Grint will play Stan Shapiro, a mail room intern at William Morris who befriended Wilson during the last years of the musician’s life. Actor Aaron Eckhart will play Wilson while actress Vera Farmiga is set as Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actor Michael Fassbender (Shame and X-Men: First Class) is in talks to star in the upcoming movie called The Mountain Between Us, which follows two strangers who survive a plane crash in the Colorado woods and are forced to rely on one another for survival, eventually falling in love. Fassbender plays the lead role of Ben Trace, a doctor and avid climber who uses his skills to transport an injured writer named Ashley down a mountain in harsh weather. (Variety and First Showing)

Actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfo in the Harry Potter franchise) will appear alongside actress Sharon Stone in the upcoming movie called Attachment playing a student who seduces his married teacher (Stone), then stalks her and her family while dating the teacher’s teenage daughter. (Vulture)

Actor Nathan Fillion (Castle) has joined the cast of the Percy Jackson sequel called Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters, which is based on the second book in Rick Riordan’s best-selling young adult book series. He will play the god Hermes, the father of antagonist Luke, who is played in the films by actor Jake Abel. Logan Lerman returns in the lead role of demigod Percy with Alexandra Daddario and Brandon T. Jason both returning as well. (Pamela McClintock at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actors Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) and Richard Blake (Dragonball: Evolution) will star in the upcoming film called Snake and Mongoos that is an independent bio-pic based on the true story of drag racing legends Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “Mongoose” McEwen. Williams will play Prudhomme and Blake will play McEwen. The film will follow the longtime friendship and rivalry between the two legends. (Variety)

Actress Kiera Knightley (Pride & Prejudice) is in early talks to take on the lead role in the film adaptation of the Nicolas Sparks novel called Safe Haven. The synopsis of the book is: When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family. But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her; a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. (Twitch and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

In advance, have a fantastic weekend and I’ll be back with more news, probably, on Tuesday of next week.

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The History Channel is making its first foray into scripted series with Vikings, a 10-episode drama that will chronicle the world of the mighty Norsemen who raided, traded and explored during medieval times. The drama will premiere in 2013. (Deadline)

Actress Khandi Alexander (CSI: Miami) will guest star in the upcoming new summer drama Common Law from the USA Network. The series is set to premiere on May 11, telling the story of Travis Marks (Michael Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole), two sharp LAPD detectives whose partnership becomes so strained that Captain Mike Sutton (Jack McGee) sends them to see couples therapist Dr. Ryan (Sonya Walger). Alexander will play Captain Sutton’s long-suffering wife Helen, who joins her husband and his detectives in group session. In fact, Sutton sends Wes and Travis to Dr. Ryan because she was able to work wonders for him and his wife. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Here are the dramas that have been given a renewal order by CBS (thus far): Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, CSI, The Good Wife, Hawaii Five-0, The Mentalist, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles and Person of Interest. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue) will guest star on Rizzoli & Isles as the biological mother of Maura (Sasha Alexander). The cable drama will be back this summer with new episodes on TNT. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Andrea Roth (Rescue Me) and JD Pardo (American Dreams) have both been cast in the NBC drama pilot from JJ Abrams and Eric Kripke called Revolution that follows a group of people struggling to survive and reunite with loved ones in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. Roth will play Rachel, the mother of 2 of the leads who Pardo will play Nate, an expert archer. (Deadline)

Actress Erin Cummings (Spartacus: Blood and Sand) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Baby Big Shot, which is a legal drama centered on Martina (Janet Montgomery), a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a top New York law firm. Cummings will play Martina’s sexually heightened older sister. (Deadline)

Katherine LaNasa (Big Love) and Neil Jackson (Make It or Break It) have both been cast in the NBC drama pilot called Notorious that is being described as an opulent soap in which a female detective returns undercover to the wealthy and troubled Lawson family she grew up in — as the maid’s daughter — to solve the murder of the notorious heiress who was once her closest friend. LaNasa will play the beautiful, elegant sharp-tongued Sofia Lawson, the second wife of the patriarch Robert Lawson (Victor Garber), who is used to managing the family crises with ruthless expertise. Jackson will play the handsome, sexy and smart bad boy of the family who has returned home for the funeral. (Deadline)

Actor Matt Davis (The Vampire Diaries) will star opposite Jessica Lucas (Melrose Place and 90210) in the drama pilot for The CW called Cult. The pilot centers on Skye (Lucas), an inquisitive young production assistant on a wildly popular television show called Cult. After a rash of disappearances and a likely murder, she joins Jeff (Davis), a journalist blogger whose brother was among those gone missing, in investigating the rabid fans of the series who might be re-creating crimes seen on the program in real life. (Deadline)

Actress Suleka Mathew (Hawthorne) and Jaime Ray Newman (Eastwick and Drop Dead Diva) have both been added to the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Penoza, which is based on a Dutch format. The pilot centers on Martha (Radha Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is forced to adopt her husband’s role in a crime syndicate in order to protect her family. Mathew will play Marta’s best friend Dina while Newman will play Marta’s younger sister Kat. (Deadline)

Actress Louise Lombard (CSI) has joined the as-yet untitled FOX drama pilot from Karyn Usher that centers on Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA operative who encounters mysterious rogue agent Kevin Lear (Julian McMahon) who serves as her surrogate father and professional mentor in the spy world. Lombard will play Kevin’s former lover Wendy, a CIA operative who offers to help him raise a teen girl. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jeremy Irons is in final negotiations to join the supernatural love story Beautiful Creatures (based on the best-selling novel of the same name). He is expected to play Macon Ravenwood, the mysterious and reclusive uncle of the leading girl (Alice Englert). (The Press Association and Dark Horizons)

It looks like the box office adaptation of the long-running FOX drama 24 has been put on hold yet again. The film hasn’t been scrapped, but it is rumored to be on hold until sometime next year. It has already been reported that lead actor Kiefer Sutherland has expressed his displeasure over this latest development. (Twitter, Deadline and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER AND BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE

Watch: New Featurette & Preview for ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’

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

Question: Got any scoop on the “kid from Baltimore” storyline on NCIS? — Maddie, via Twitter

ADAM: Word on the “kid” is that he’s a boy Tony once saved from a fire many years ago. Unfortunately, not all of his family members made it out alive, which drove him to become an arson investigator. Look for him to be reunited with Tony when a string of fires leave the Baltimore cops stumped and in need of some federal input.

Question: I’m really rooting for Lanie and Esposito to get back together on Castle. What do you know about that? — Nicky

ADAM: You’ll probably enjoy Beckett and Lanie’s upcoming girls’ night! Tamala Jones tells us the episode will reveal what it was in Lanie’s past that turned her against marriage and spooked her into breaking things off with Esposito. Perhaps reliving the bad will lead to good things down the line. “We’re talking about Castle and we’re talking about Esposito, and I think that’s a good segue into rekindling or figuring out why Esposito and Lanie didn’t work,” Jones says.

Question: What’s coming up on Once Upon a Time? —Chris

NATALIE: Mary Margaret won’t be the only one behind bars. Lest we forget, Prince Charming ran away from the kingdom, and even though he helped Abigail reunite with her golden lover, King George won’t be so forgiving. “King George takes him, so he’s locked away in fairytale land,” Josh Dallas teases. “He’s going to have to do some fighting to get out.”

Question: I can’t wait for Royal Pains to return! Is Dr. Paul Van Dyke (Kyle Howard) really going to be the new Hank of Hank Med? —Mindy

NATALIE: Not quite. Although Evan was seen knocking on Paul’s door in the final moments of Season 3, he will hire another doctor who has some serious people problems. Paging Dr. Hank!

Question: Now that Homeland has announced a Season 2 premiere date, I think it’s time to start dishing!

ADAM: Morena Baccarin confirms that there will be a time-jump between seasons, and she’s hoping her character will be in a happier place, despite Brody’s new political career, when the drama returns. “I think it’s going to be a challenge,” she says. “I think she embraced it in order to be there for him, which is something she wants and believes is best for the family.” She may also get wise to Brody’s double life. “I think it makes sense that she catches on a little or at least suspects something is going on,” Baccarin says.

Question: I am tired of seeing David Clarke on Revenge. He annoys the hell out of me! Please tell me when he is gone from the show. —C.C

Ausiello: Conrad, is that you? I’m afraid I have some bad news. Not only will Emily’s dead pa continue to be a regular presence in flashbacks, but the upcoming episode set in 1991 will chronicle the early days of his relationship to Victoria. The big surprise? The Grayson matriarch wasn’t always such an ice queen. “Over time, she’s become a little bit more [hardened],” portrayer Madeleine Stowe tells TV Line. “Early on, you might see something that’s a little more playful, a little more fun.” The origin-heavy hour will also jump ahead to 2002 to show the “tough and rough” dynamic between fresh-out-of-juvie Emily and frenemy Nolan, previews Emily VanCamp, who adds, “We also have almost all of the take-down characters [return]. It’s really cool. It’s a great episode.”

Question: Please grace us with any scoop you have on Revenge. —Brandi

Ausiello: Fun fact: There’s a good reason Jack is holding on to that blood-soaked hoodie of his instead of lighting a match to it. “I might need it later,” hints Nick Wechsler in character. “If I need to get [Amanda] out of trouble, I might want it because I need to prove that I was there.” Meanwhile, don’t expect the bartender to swoop in and steal Emily while Daniel’s off doing time in the pokey. “He’s a good enough guy that he’s not wishing ill on [Daniel],” muses the actor. “He feels bad for him.” But, he adds, there “might be an [opportunity] now” in Daniel’s absence for “a slightly lingering hug” between the childhood sweethearts.

Question: I heard that the last two Hart of Dixie episodes of the season could be major for the Zoe/Wade/George triangle. Can you confirm and shed some more light on to which way this will go? —Ali

Ausiello: Here’s my carefully worded response to what is proving to be a very popular question here at Ask Ausiello headquarters: Zoe is going to have a lot to mull over this summer given what’s about to go down in her relationships with both guys.

Question: Can you please, please, please share some Smash scoop with us? —Bill

Ausiello: Someone (a very important someone) gets fired from Marilyn: The Musical in next week’s episode, but it remains unclear if the pink slip will stick.

Question: Please help us get through our Grimm hiatus with some scoop about what is coming up. —Stacie

Ausiello: I have it on good authority that the season finale will feature not one but two spectacular cliffhangers. In more timely news, next time we see poor Juliette she’ll be taking matters into her own hands — literally.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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