Rueben's Ramblings

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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Hey All,

I’ve been MIA from the daily updates for the past few weekdays because of other obligations, but I’m back now at least for a few more days. Fair warning: I’ll be away for the weekend, heading to Anaheim (California) for the annual WonderCon this weekend so be prepared for delayed news during that time too.

Right now, though, here are the news items from the past three weekdays:

TELEVISION

Actor Mekhi Phifer (Torchwood) will guest star on an upcoming episode of White Collar when the USA Network drama returns this summer for more new episodes. He will play FBI agent Kyle Collins, the Bureau’s top international fugitive-hunting specialist, who is tasked with catching Neal (Matt Bomer) — at any cost. Meanwhile, actress Mia Maestro (Alias) has landed the role of Maya, a local café owner with whom Neal will be romantically involved. And, actor Raymond Cruz (The Closer) will play Sheriff Enrico Morales, a corrupt local official on a small island town who crosses paths with Neal and Mozzie (Willie Garson). (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide, Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Tammy Blanchard (Moneyball) has booked a three-episode arc on the Showtime dark comedy series The Big C. She will play Giselle, a sexy, married, and uninhibited Pilates instructor who enters into an unconventional relationship with Cathy’s (Laura Linney) brother Sean (John Benjamin Hickey). Her growing affection for Sean and her adventurous sense of romance fulfills and complicates his life in ways he never expected. (Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Scottie Thompson (NCIS) has joined the cast of Graceland, a drama pilot from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin for the USA Network that will follow six agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and U.S. Customs whose worlds collide while living together in an undercover house in Southern California. Thompson will play Lauren Kincaid, a loyal and determined DEA agent dealing with the repercussion of her wounded partner. Additionally, actor Courtney B. Vance (FlashForward) has landed a role in the drama pilot where he will play Sam Campbell, a veteran FBI special agent who is the section chief at Quantico and the mentor for Mike Warren (Aaron Tveit), a freshly minted agent just out of the academy. (Variety, The Futon Critic and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks and Desperate Housewives) is set to co-star in the CBS drama pilot called Baby Big Shot that 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 top New York law firm Stark & Cohen. MacLachlan will play the head man at Stark & Cohen, a rhino who booms confidence and big-picture philosophy. He sees something in Martina and gives her a promotion. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Steven Bauer (Breaking Bad) has joined the cast of the Showtime drama pilot called Ray Donovan that stars Liev Schreiber in the title role. The pilot centers on Ray, a professional “fixer” for LA’s rich and famous who can make anyone’s problems disappear, except the ones created by his own family. Bauer will play Avi, Ray’s number one man at his detective agency. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Claire Forlani (CSI: NY) has landed the lead in the ABC drama pilot Scruples based on the best-selling novel by Judith Krantz of the same name that will feature Natalie Portman as one of the executive producers. Forlani will star as Billy Winthrop, a powerful clothing designer. Meanwhile, actor Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers) has been cast as Josh Hillman, the attorney of Billy’s late husband. Also, actors Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) and Gary Cole (Chuck) have booked principal roles on the drama pilot. Murray will play Spider Elliot, a photographer who’s partners/friends with Billy and designer, Valentine O’Neill (Karine Vanasse from Pan Am). Cole will play Royce Franklin, a lawyer who wants Billy’s company for himself. (Deadline, The Futon Critic and TV Line)

Actor Matt Letscher (Eli Stone) will play dad to actress AnnaSophia Robb, who will play young Carrie Bradshaw in The Carrie Diaries, the ’80s-themed CW drama pilot based on Candace Bushnell’s novel. (Deadline)

Actress Jacinda Barrett (Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) will play ER vet Anthony Edwards’ wife in the ABC drama pilot Zero Hour. (Deadline)

Actress Sharon Leal (Hellcats) will play the wife of Cuba Gooding Jr. character in the FOX drama pilot called Guilty. (Deadline)

Actor Tim Guinee (The Good Wife) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot called Revolution, which comes from J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke. The pilot follows a group of people struggling to survive in a world where all forms of energy have mysteriously ceased to exist. (Deadline)

Actor Jay Mohr (Gary Unmarried and Ghost Whisperer) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Applebaum that will star Rachelle Lefevre (the Twilight Saga franchise) as a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom. Mohr will play her P.I. partner, Al Hockey whose garage doubles as the agency’s office. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Michael Imperioli (Detroit 1-8-7 and The Sopranos) has been cast in the NBC drama pilot called County that will follow a group of young doctors in a frenetic, underfunded and morally compromising Los Angeles county hospital. He will play Dr. Mercer, Jack’s (Jason Ritter from Parenthood and The Event) senior resident. (TV Line and The Futon Critic)

Actor Craig Horner (Legend of the Seeker) has landed a lead role in the drama pilot called Dakota for The CW. The pilot is about Maya Beaumont (Amber Stevens), a documentarian who travels back in time to 1990 where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film only to return to present day where she must find her way back and prevent his untimely death. He will play said subject, Joey Dakota, who’s fated to commit suicide at age 25. (The Futon Critic and Deadline)

Actor Grant Show (Melrose Place) and Mariana Klaveno (True Blood) have landed roles in the ABC drama pilot called Devious Maids that will be about four maids (Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sanchez and Judy Reyes) with ambitions and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. Show and Klaveno will play Spencer and Peri Davis, bickering actors who employ one of the maids (Ramirez). Additionally, actress Susan Lucci (All My Children) and actors Drew Van Acker (Pretty Little Liars) and Brett Cullen (Lost) have also landed roles in the pilot. Lucci will play Genevieve Delacourt, Zoila’s (Reyes) employer, an aging beauty who’s driving herself crazy over the loss of her looks. Acker will appear as her handsome, well-meaning son Remi, whom Zoila’s daughter Valentina pines after while Cullen will play Michael Slate, who hires Marisol (Ortiz) after his old maid left with his ex-wife Olivia (yet to be cast). (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Rade Serbedzija (24) and actress Radha Mitchell (Pitch Black) have been cast in the ABC drama pilot about Marta Walraven (Mitchell), the widow of an assassinated criminal who is suddenly forced to adopt her late husband’s role in order to protect her family. Serbedzija will play Andrei Lazarev, a respected old-school Russian mobster. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Angela Bassett and actor Julian McMahon (Charmed and Nip/Tuck) are in talks to join the cast of the as-yet untitled Karyn Usher Project at FOX that will be about Jane Forsythe (Saxon Sharbino), the orphaned 14-year-old daughter of a CIA agent who is recruited to become an operative herself. They’ll play her contrasting mentors: Alice Vargas, the Director of the CIA; and Kevin Lear, her late father’s best friend. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Vanessa Williams (Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called 666 Park Avenue that will be about a young couple (Rachael Taylor, Dave Annable) who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City where they begin to experience supernatural occurrences. Williams will play Olivia Doran, the wife of the building’s owner, Gavin (Terry O’Quinn). (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Alan Dale (Lost) has landed a role in the ABC drama pilot Beauty and the Beast set in a mythical city where its princess, Grace (Ruth Bradley), is tasked with quelling a rebellion. Dale will play her father, Emperor Dorian, who has been poisoned – presumably by the rebels – leaving Grace in charge. (Variety and The Futon Critic)

Actor Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) has been cast in the as-yet untitled Josh Berman/Rob Wright drama pilot for FOX that will be about Grace Devlin (Jordana Spiro from My Boys), one of Chicago’s top young cardiothoracic surgeons who, to save her gambling-indebted brother is forced to moonlight as a mob doctor. Gilford will play Brett Robinson, a doctor who works with Grace at the Chicago Medical Center. (The Hollywood Reporter and The Futon Critic)

Actress Carla Gugino (Watchmen) will star opposite actress Sigourney Weaver (Avatar) in the six-hour USA Network original series called Political Animals. Gugino will play Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper reporter Susan Berg, a hungry DC journalist bent on destroying the career of former First Lady and newly appointed Secretary of State Elaine Barrish (Weaver). (The Futon Critic)

Actresses Julie Benz (Buffy and Angel) and Jaime Murray (Warehouse 13) and actor Tony Curran (Covert Affairs) have landed roles in the Syfy drama called Defiance that will be sent the near future, focusing on a world where humans and aliens must learn to live together on an exotic new Earth that has been transformed by alien terra-forming machines. Benz will play Amanda Rosewater, the idealistic newly appointed mayor of the mining boomtown who is determined to maintain peace in the community; Curran will play Datak Tarr, a member of another elite alien race known as the Castithans who schemed his way out of his home planet before it was destroyed and Murray as Datak’s beautiful and proper wife. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Lennie James (Hung and Jericho) has landed a role in the ABC drama pilot called Gotham that is about Annie Travers (Megan Ketch), a cop who, after pursuing a seemingly unsolvable case, discovers a magical world that exists within New York City. He will play Gabriel Riga, a wealthy CEO running for mayor who has ties to said world. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Neal McDonough (Justified) has scored a role in the TNT drama pilot called L.A. Noir that tells the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen in the 1950s. He will play Parker, a man with a long memory and a ruthless streak when provoked, who is committed to rooting out corruption in the police department, and equally dedicated to bringing down Mickey Cohen and the mob. Also cast in the pilot is actress Alexa Davalos (The Chronicles of Riddick), who will play Jasmine, a beauty with a complicated past. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

FOX is developing an English-language adaptation of Telemundo’s blockbuster 2011 telenovela La Reina del Sur (The Queen of the South), which centers on Teresa Mendoza, an innocent young girl from a small Mexican village, whose desire to avenge a personal tragedy leads her down a path to become the most powerful woman in the dangerous world of narcotics trafficking in Europe. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor William Moseley (The Chronicles Of Narnia) has landed a role in the drama pilot for The CW called The Selection, which is based on the upcoming series of books by Kiera Cass. The story is an epic romance set 300 years in the future, centering on America Singer (Aimee Teegarden from Friday Night Lights), a poor young woman who is chosen by lottery to participate in a competition to marry Prince Maxon (Ethan Peck from the TV version of 10 Things I Hate About You) and become the next queen of a war-torn nation at a crossroads. Moseley will play Aspen Leger, a handsome and brave young man with a regal bearing under his ragged clothes who belongs to the servant class and has to support his entire family. He is having a secret, illegal relationship with America since it’s not allowed to date anyone out of one’s caste. Despite his love for her, when he learns she has a shot at bettering her and her family’s lives by competing in The Selection, he takes himself out of the picture by enlisting in the royal army. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 movies for this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:

1. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $39.1 million
2. John Carter, $30.6 million
3. Project X, $11.6 million
4. Silent House, $7.01 million
5. Act of Valor, $7 million
6. A Thousand Words, $6.4 million
7. Safe House, $5 million
8. The Vow, $4 million
9. This Means War, $3.8 million
10. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $3.7 million

The feature film Maleficent, a twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale which tells the story from the perspective of the evil witch, to be played by Angelina Jolie, who can turn into a dragon will star young actress Elle Fanning (Super 8 and Somewhere) has landed the role of Princess Aurora, the young sent to sleep for longer than a short slumber in the old story. (Twitch and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Dan Stevens (Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey) will appear, in addition to Season 3 of the PBS/UK mega-hit, in another period project in London called Summer in February where he will play Gilbert Evans, a 1913 land agent for the Lamorna Valley estate in England’s picturesque, southwestern county of Cornwall, which has become home to a group of artists. Australian actress Emily Browning plays the object of his affection, Florence Carter-Wood, and Dominic Cooper is Evans’ charismatic competition, A.J., who would go on to fame as artist Sir Alfred Munnings, one of England’s best painters of rural scenes. The film is based on a book by a teacher from his old school, Jonathan Smith. (Yahoo News)

Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway (Shameless and HawthoRNe) will guest star in the season finale of the new drama Ringer, playing Special Agent Berens, the Regional Director of the FBI who shows leniency to Agent Machado (Nestor Carbonell). The season finale will air on The CW on April 17 at 9 PM. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor Jamey Sheridan (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) has been promoted to a series regular for season 2 of Showtime’s new drama Homeland. In season one, he played Vice President Walden, who survived an assassination attempt and offered Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) to run for the U.S. House of Representatives as he himself is priming for a Presidential run. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Frankie Faison (The Wire) has been cast as a regular in the upcoming Cinemax drama Banshee that is being executive produced by Alan Ball (True Blood). The 10-episode series will center on an ex-convict and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, PA, where he continues his criminal activities even as he’s being hunted by the shadowy gangsters he had betrayed years earlier. Faison will play Sugar Bates, a powerful and wise former boxer and ex-con who is now the owner of the local watering hole. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Jay Harrington (Better Off Ted) has been added to the cast of the FOX drama pilot called Guilty from Greg Berlanti (Everwood). The pilot centers on a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney, Billy (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) who, after being falsely convicted of fraud and stripped of his legal license, uses his unorthodox methods to solve the cases he’s been prohibited from handling and to exact revenge on those who set him up. Harrington will play Scott, a former colleague of Billy’s who has set up a practice of his own that Billy uses as a home base. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Mercedes Masohn (The Finder) and actor Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill) have both landed roles in the ABC drama pilot 666 Park Avenue, based on the Gabriella Pierce novel, about a young couple (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable) who accept an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City where they begin to experience supernatural occurrences. Masohn and Buckley will play two of their tenants – playwright Brian Leonard and his photographer wife Louise. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Aidan Quinn (the short-lived Prime Suspect) has joined the cast of the CBS drama pilot called Elementary that envisions Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) in the present day as a former Scotland Yard consultant who solves crimes for the NYPD alongside Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), his personal recovery assistant. Quinn will play Tobias “Toby” Gregson, an NYPD Captain who originally crossed paths with Holmes while assigned to Scotland Yard to observe their counterterrorism bureau after 9/11. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Rochelle Aytes (the short-lived Work It, Detroit 1-8-7 and The Forgotten) has landed a role in the upcoming ABC drama called Mistresses, which is based on the U.K. series of the same name. The pilot follows the lives of four female friends and their involvement in an array of illicit and complex relationships. She will play April, a recent widow raising two daughters and running a high-end linen shop on Robertson Boulevard. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Jeremy Piven is in negotiations to star in the 10-episode ITV drama series called Mr. Selfridge. That will trace the life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge, chronicling the launch of his famous London department store Selfridge’s. The series is based on the book Shopping, Seduction And Mr. Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead. It would be set in London in 1909 at a time when wealthy women were enjoying a new sense of freedom, and “Mile a Minute Harry” wanted to indulge, empower and celebrate these women, making shopping as thrilling as sex. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Lauren German (Hawaii Five-0 and Happy Town) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot Chicago Fire that will star Jesse Spencer (House). The drama is about the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. German will play the all-business and humorless Shay to whom the team reports. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

British actor Theo James (Bedlam, Downton Abbey and Underworld: Awakening) has landed the lead in the CBS drama pilot Golden Boy, which centers on Clark (James), a cop, and chronicles his meteoric rise from officer to detective and ultimately police commissioner. Actor Ryan Phillippe was originally tapped for the role but exited shortly thereafter. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is in negotiations to star in the revenge thriller film called Motor City that follows a small-time hood (Gyllenhaal) framed and sent to prison by a drug trafficker, only to relentlessly exact revenge years later to get back the woman he loves. Gary Oldman and Amber Heard have already been cast. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor s Nick Braun (ABC Family’s short-lived 10 Things I Hate About You) and Brandon T. Jackson (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) have joined the cast of upcoming comedy film called Get A Job that follows a college graduate named Will (Miles Teller from Footloose and Rabbit Hole) and his friends who have to lower their expectations about life as they enter the real world during a recession. Braun, Jackson as well as Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad and Kick Ass) will play Will’s three friends. Anna Kendrick (the Twilight Saga franchise) will play Will’s hard-charging girlfriend and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is his father who is also looking for a job at the same time his son is. Alison Brie is also onboard as a sharp-witted co-worker. (Yahoo! and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor John Ratzenberger (Cheers) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Drop Dead Diva, playing the estranged father of Kim Kaswell (Kate Levering) who, after decades of loyal service as a janitor at a Fortune 500 insurance company, suddenly loses his job and discovers his pension has been underfunded. Not one to take defeat lying down, he strikes back at his corrupt former employer by moving into the insurance company CEO’s empty Bel Air estate until he’s caught by the CEO, who tries to evict him. Larry will turn to Kim for legal help. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor Ben Browder (Farscape and Stargate SG-1) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Doctor Who. The episode will be set in the Wild Wild West, but there are no specifics on what character he will play. (SFX and Blastr and DoctorWhoTV)

Actor Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) will play a key role in the season finale of the new USA drama Common Law, which is set to premiere on May 11. The new series stars Michael Ealy and Warren Kole as Travis Marks and Wes Mitchell, two well-regarded Los Angeles robbery-homicide detectives who are forced to go into counseling in order to save their “work marriage.” Sonya Walger (Lost) plays Dr. Ryan, the therapist who helps them work through their issues. Purcell will play John Crowell, a swaggering detective who works for the LAPD’s Special Investigative Services. Part of the reason Wes and Travis were forced into couples’ therapy is because Wes pulled his gun on Travis, an incident that got both of them in very serious trouble and forced them into counseling. (Huffington Post)

Actress Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and actor Niall Matter (Eureka) have been cast in lead roles in the spin-off (of sorts) Canadian series Primeval: New World that will air on the SPACE Channel in Canada. There doesn’t seem to be any U.S. distributor as yet. (KSiteTV and The Hollywood Reporter)

Actors Rob Estes (Silk Stalking) and Evan Handler (Sex and the City) will both guest star in episodes of Necessary Roughness. Estes will appear as Rob Maroney, Terrence’s (Mehcad Brooks) agent who is willing to go to any lengths to fulfill his wishes while Handler will play Marshall Pittman, a powerful media mogul who owns the New York Hawks. (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

MTV has given a pilot pickup order to Cassandra French’s Finishing School For Boys, a drama from actress Krysten Ritter and writer Eric Garcia based on Garcia’s novel of the same name. The pilot centers on Cassie French, a 22-year-old over-achiever who gets her dream job as a lawyer for a Hollywood studio but can’t find a guy ready for a real, mature relationship. After the latest disappointment, she locks a guy up in her basement in order to train him to become the perfect gentleman. Ritter, who will star in the midseason comedy Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23 next month, and Garcia are executive producing the pilot. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Film legend Sigourney Weaver will star in the USA Network six-hour original series Political Animals, playing Elaine Barrish, the divorced former first lady and newly appointed secretary of state who throws herself into the job after recovering from the dissolution of her marriage and losing the presidential nomination. Elaine will rely heavily on her son Doug (James Wolk from Happy Endings and the short-lived Lone Star), an ambitious politico who also serves as her chief of staff but is tormented by his twin brother’s battle with addiction. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Carrie-Anne Moss has landed the female lead opposite Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis in the as-yet untitled Ralph Lamb drama pilot for CBS. The pilot will be set in the 1960s and will chronicle the true story of Ralph Lamb (Quaid) – 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. Moss will play A.D.A. Katherine O’Connell, the daughter of a local rancher who grew up a neighbor to the Lambs and is now cutting her teeth in the D.A.’s office. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor John Barrowman (Torchwood) has landed the last series regular role on the ABC period drama pilot called Gilded Lilys that will be set in 1895 and will center on the Lilys, who are looking to revive their family’s fortunes by opening the most lavish hotel in New York history. Barrowman will play playboy brother Julius Lily. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Christine Adams (Terra Nova) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Americana, a family soap that centers on iconic fashion designer Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), the patriarch of a sprawling family who just welcomed a new member, Alice Clarke (Ashley Greene), a young designer whose shocking arrival turns the family and the legendary label inside out. Adams will play Robert’s wife Sierra, a bronze-skinned East African beauty and former supermodel. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Keri Russell (Felicity) will star in the FX period drama pilot called The Americans that will center on two KGB spies posing as Americans in suburban Washington, DC in the early 1980s. The arranged marriage of Phillip Jennings and Elizabeth Jennings (Russell) grows more passionate and genuine by the day but is constantly tested by the escalation of the Cold War and the intimate, dangerous and darkly funny relationships they must maintain with a network of spies and informants under their control. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Anthony Edwards (ER) will be possibly be back on TV as he has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Zero Hour that centers on Hank Foley (Edwards) who, after spending 20 years as the editor of Modern Skeptics magazine, becomes involved in one the most compelling conspiracies in human history when his wife is kidnapped. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Rhys Coiro (A Gifted Man) has landed the lead role alongside Rachelle Lefevre (the Twilight saga films and ironically A Gifted Man) in the CBS drama pilot called Applebaum that is based on the Ayelet Waldman series of books called Mommy Track Mysteries. The pilot centers on Juliet Applebaum (Lefevre), a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom. Coiro will play Juliet’s husband Peter, a successful comic book artist who is crazy about his wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Anson Mount (Hell on Wheels) will play a nasty villain in the indie racial drama film called Supremacy that is set to star Danny Glover, Joe Anderson, Derek Luke, Stacey Dash and Dawn Olivieri. The drama is based on a true story about a paroled white supremacist who has just killed a cop, and takes an African American family hostage over a long night of terror as authorities cordon off the neighborhood where he and his lady accomplice are laying low. Mount plays the role of Sobecki, a heavily tattooed maximum security prison inmate who’s the head of the Aryan Brotherhood and oversees his criminal empire from behind bars. He’s the kidnapper’s leader and not thrilled when he learns of his charge’s screw-up when he’s called in by authorities to negotiate with the kidnapper. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Actor Michael Pena (Crash and Observe and Report) will star in the lead role in the bio-pic about Cesar Chavez, the labor organizer of the 60’s and 70’s. (Variety and First Showing)

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

Question: What’s coming up for Emily and Nolan on Revenge now that she knows he’s been working with Takeda? —Holland

NATALIE: They’re going to butt heads big time, but the damage isn’t permanent. Executive producer Mike Kelley sees them as siblings. “Nolan sees David Clarke as a de facto father figure and [Emily] didn’t get the benefit of knowing her father as an adult. They both think of each other like family, so no matter what we throw at them, they’re going to remain connected.”

Question: When will we learn what Snow White did that made the Evil Queen hate her so much on Once Upon a Time? — Sarah

NATALIE: April 1 is the magical day. So much is revealed in the hour that Lana Parrilla says she was surprised the story wasn’t spread over several episodes. “You’ll meet young Regina,” she says. “I look totally different — fresh-faced, doe-eyed, young, fun, excited about life, in love, and then it just gets really dark. It’s way before she becomes the Evil Queen.” Adds Ginnifer Goodwin: “Folks will sympathize with the Evil Queen in ways they’re not expecting

Question: I’m kind of bummed Castle killed off Sophia (Jennifer Beals). I liked the way she challenged Castle and Beckett. Is that weird? — Ashley

ADAM: It’s a little weird. But we may not have seen the last of the Russian spy after all. “I always knew that she was going to be the bad guy and we were going to kill her in the end. But I also know that in any sort of CIA-inspired story, nobody is ever really dead for certain,” creator Andrew W. Marlowe tells us. “I like to have my cake and eat it too. It’s all depending on where our storytelling takes us and assuming that Jennifer had a good time and wants to come back and play with us.” (OK, maybe it’s not so weird after all…)

Question: I miss Covert Affairs. What’s coming up in the new season? — Lois

NATALIE: Annie is getting a new mentor and confidant this season. If Joan is the “cold mom,” think of Lena as the “cool mom,” something Annie greatly aspires to be. Though Lena’s a consummate professional, she’s also very inclusive and treats her operatives as equals. Sound too good to be true? That’s because it is. Sorry, Annie!

Question: Got any scoop on Grimm? — Joshua

NATALIE: Get ready to meet Cinderella! She’s led a half-tragic, half-magical life with her mean stepmother and stepsisters, and a “Prince Charming” whose company has just sunk the family fortune. Oh, and did we mention Cinderella likes the dark and has got a wingspan that Batman would be jealous of?

Question: Now that Neal has run away, what will we see next season on White Collar? — Tom

NATALIE: Though Neal will be off living the life — with a new lady love in tow — he won’t be missing for long, not if Internal Affairs has anything to say about it. They’ll send their most dangerous agent to track him down, which is bad news for Neal because said agent will take his targets dead or alive.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Justified has been renewed for a 13-episode fourth season by FX. (The Futon Critic)

Fans of Veronica Mars can rejoice. SoapNet has picked up the syndication rights to the show and will be adding 4 episodes to their Saturday and Sunday morning programming schedule. On Saturdays the episodes will air from 10 AM to 1 PM while on Sunday the episodes will air from 10 AM to 1 PM.  (Twitter)

Actress Karina Lombard (The 4400 and The L Word) will guest star in an upcoming episode of NCIS as the longtime friend and mentor of Ziva. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Vanessa Marano (Switched at Birth) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Grey’s Anatomy, playing a patient in the 20th episode of the current season that is set to air in late April. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

FOX has made it official: Terra Nova has NOT been renewed. It will now join the LONG list of shows for which the network has cancelled; but word has it that 20th Century Fox TV is going to shop the series around. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and E! Online)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep’s daughter and former star of the short-lived series Off The Map) has landed a lead role in the medical drama pilot at The CW called First Cut. The pilot is to center on Emily (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. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Eric Close (Without A Trace) and actress Connie Britton (American Horror Story and Friday Night Lights) have both joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Nashville that will be a family soap about love, country music, family, politics and sex, set against the backdrop of the Nashville music scene. The pilot centers on 40-year-old Nashville superstar Rayna James (Britton) who is stunned to find that her star is fading and her label requires her to team up with teen sensation Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) on tour – or else face the loss of her own tour and the label’s promotion of her latest record, whose sales have been underwhelming. Close will play Rayna’s husband, who is now living on his wife’s salary. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

Actress Jessy Schram (Falling Skies and Once Upon a Time) has been added to the cast of the ABC drama pilot called Last Resort that is about the crew of a U.S. nuclear submarine who, after ignoring a questionable order to fire nuclear missiles, escape to a NATO outpost where they declare themselves to be the world’s smallest nuclear nation. Schram will play Sam’s (Scott Speedman) dutiful wife whose patience for his return is growing thin. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Relative newcomer Megan Ketch has landed the female lead in the ABC drama pilot Gotham that will center on Detective Annie Travers (Ketch), a born-and-bred New Yorker investigating the “impossible murder” of a nightclub owner who is stunned to learn that New York has a whole secret magical history of which she (and everyone else) was hitherto unaware. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor David Harbour (Pan Am) has landed a role in the NBC drama pilot called Midnight Sun that is about the FBI’s investigation into the disappearance of a remote cult in Dugan, Alaska – led by Bennett Maxwell (Titus Welliver) – which taps into a grander political conspiracy. Harbour will play Ethan Davies, a suspicious lieutenant at the local Coast Guard Station. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actress Brianna Brown (General Hospital) has been cast in the ABC drama pilot called Devious Maids (based on the Mexican soap by Marc Cherry, the creator of Desperate Housewives). This pilot revolves around four maids (Ana Ortiz, Judy Reyes, Roselyn Sanchez and Dania Ramirez) with ambition and dreams of their own while they work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills. Brown will play Taylor Slate, the classy and smart second (trophy) wife to Michael Slate, who’s insecure as his ex, Marisol, continues to be a factor in his life. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars and House of Lies) has been cast in Some Girls, the upcoming film adaptation of the Neil LaBute play that will star Adam Brody (The O.C.) as a man who attempts to make amends with several ex-girlfriends on the eve of his wedding. Bell plays Bobbi, a smart, articulate woman he bailed on years before without a word, leaving her without respect or love for him. (Twitter)

Actress Zoe Saldana and actor Casey Affleck are considering joining the cast of the upcoming film called Out of the Furnace that already includes Christian Bale as part of the cast. In fact, Bale will play a freed convict whose brother is murdered, scuttling his plans to go straight in lieu of seeking revenge. Saldana would play Bale’s ex-wife who is married to the town’s sheriff. There are no details on the role that Affleck would play as yet. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine in UK Drama ‘Now is Good’ Trailer

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

Question: I am involved in an intense love-hate relationship with Smash. I can’t quite figure this show out. On the one hand, I adore the main characters: Ivy and Karen, Derek, Julia and Tom, all are entertaining, engaging and obviously talented. From there, though, the show falls down. It seems to me that the Smash writers haven’t quite settled on a personality for the show. Its half straight-forward soap and half over-the-top camp. I, for one, enjoy the straight-forward soap aspects much more. Is it possible to gradually tweak the show to weed out the parts that aren’t working? And what’s your take on the Ellis character, in particular? To me he’s just irritating, and not in an “Oooh, drama!” kind of way. I want him off my TV screen. I don’t think this show needs an outright villain; the drama between these flawed characters is good enough. Thoughts? — Kirsten

Matt Roush: Couldn’t agree more about Ellis. A terribly written and poorly realized character, one of several weak spots in a show that is clearly still trying to find its voice and tone. (The episode in which Karen went back home to Iowa was the show’s worst to date, but then it was followed by the episode in which Ivy shut Karen out during rehearsals, which may have been the show’s best since the pilot.) For me, Smash is at its best when focused on the show, as if it were A Chorus Line: The Series. The showmances, the financial and creative pressures, anything involving that cad Derek, I’m on board. It can take a while for any show that’s truly original to find its legs. I hope Smash gets that chance.

Question: Based off your previous columns, you are a fan of BBC 3/BBC America’s Being Human. So am I! I have seen the first two episodes of the original version’s fourth season, and for lack of a more original word: Wow. I’m not sure where to start almost. One major death off screen, another major death at the end of the first episode, it almost feels like a UK version of Fringe now with such a reboot of storytelling and focus. The show’s dynamic on almost every level has changed, which has to be considered a huge gamble, right? The initial purpose of the show was to almost be a parable at how being human regardless of one’s quirks was hard or different, but now it has this edge to it with what they are trying to do.

Also, unlike American TV, in the U.K. the main star of any show is usually the show itself. Whether it’s Being Human or Spooks (aka MI-5), in the U.K. a character isn’t the star of a show, the show is the star of the show, which enables them to freely kill anyone at anytime. The U.S. is much more based on brands, and TV stars are brands, and people tune in to watch the stars, not the show, so there is a diverging philosophical difference. Another difference is that actors in the U.K., once having proven themselves, will get offers from American TV or even Hollywood as is the case with John Mitchell’s Aidan Turner, who got a part in The Hobbit. So what are your thoughts of the revamped (pun slightly intended) version of Being Human? And do you see America’s version in a different light with its ability to tell a story without the worry of losing its cast to bigger (possibly) and better (possibly) things? Also you once said the U.S. version made a mistake in its casting. Slam on Sam Witwer? And why? — Trenton

Matt Roush: I am very intrigued by this transformative season of the British Being Human, and you make some very interesting points about the willingness of many British series to kill off major characters, even fairly early in a show’s run. (Often precipitated, as in the case of Being Human this season, by the actors deciding to move on.) But I should also note that what I’ve seen of the Syfy version this season, it has improved quite a bit over last year. I still have issues about the principal actors who are not Sam Witwer, but as the show diverges from the original series, it is becoming more interesting.

Question: I was just wondering about your views on Person of Interest and what do you think its chances are for a renewal? I just read that Touch is going to be airing in the same timeslot as Person Of Interest. Do you think it will hurt the ratings for the show? — Ishaan

Matt Roush: I am enjoying Person of Interest more and more as the season continues, and as the world of the show expands with more recurring characters (both heroic and villainous). I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t get renewed. It will be interesting to see how Touch fares on Thursdays, a rather last-minute programming change designed to give this very unusual show a boost from an American Idol lead-in. Person of Interest is more offbeat than the usual CBS series, but I think it will do fine against the new competition. This is one of those time periods where there’s just about something for everyone, from NBC’s comedies to Grey’s Anatomy to Person of Interest and now Touch. That’s a lot of variety in one hour of prime time. Which is good for everybody.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Adam Harrington (The Secret Circle) will guest star on an upcoming episode of Castle, playing Brad Melville, the host of a reality TV dance competition called A Night of Dance. Actress Lauralee Bell (The Young and the Restless) will portray a Paula Abdul-inspired judge on the same episode. (Give Me My Remote)

More cast members are coming back to American Horror Story, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and Lily Rabe. (Jenna Mullins and Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

Actor Paul Blackthorne (The River) will guest star in an upcoming episode of CSI, playing Tom, a pompous, slick and charismatic college professor who teaches a popular class on the nature of celebrity. But a protégé of his who employs some questionable methods to operate his own gossipy video blog ends up dead. Tom ends up defending his methods to investigators but makes no apologies at the same time. (Lynette Rice at Entertainment Weekly)

Veteran actor Michael Gambon has been promoted to series regular for the second season of the HBO series Luck that is just now in its debut season. Also, actress Margarita Levieva (Revenge) will join the series in a recurring role during season two. Gambon plays the mythical Mike, an adversary for Ace Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) while Levieva will play Sarah Israel, sister of Nathan Israel (recurring guest star (and star of USA’s Suits) Patrick J. Adams. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Karinne Vanasse (Pan Am) will guest star in the ABC drama pilot called Scruples, based on the best-selling 1978 novel of the same name. She will guest as a designer named Valentine. The series centers on a rich and powerful clothes designer in a world of sex, revenge and scandal. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Justin Hartley (Smallville) has joined the cast of the new medical drama pilot at The CW called First Cut. The pilot will revolve around a newly minted female doctor working at a hospital. Hartley will play Will, a handsome and flirty surgical intern, a golden boy that all girls want to date and all guys want to hang out with. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Annabeth Gish (The X-Files) has been cast in ABC drama pilot called Americana, which centers on iconic fashion designer Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), the patriarch of a sprawling family who just welcomed a new member, Alice Clarke (Ashley Greene), a young designer whose shocking arrival turns the family and the legendary label inside out. Gish will play Alice’s mother, a fading beauty. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Luke Goss (Hellboy II) has joined the ABC drama pilot called Penoza (from Melissa Rosenberg, the writer behind the Twilight saga of films). The pilot is based on the Dutch format, centering on Martha, 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. Goss will play the bodyguard of Martha’s mobster father who is assigned to look after her and her children. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Julia Stiles (Dexter) has landed her first regular TV series gig in the NBC crime drama pilot called Midnight Sun that is being adapted from the Israeli format and revolves around an investigation into mysterious disappearances within a group living on a cult-like commune in Alaska. Stiles will play Leah Kafka, an FBI cult specialist leading the investigation that ultimately uncovers a larger conspiracy. (Deadline and Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actor Jesse Spencer (House) has landed the lead in the NBC drama pilot called Chicago Fire that is about the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. Spencer will play the lead, Matthew Casey, a firefighter at Firehouse 55, a natural leader who is in his element when on a rescue or putting out a fire but in his personal life, he is grappling with a recent separation from his wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Austin Butler (Life Unexpected and Switched at Birth) and actress Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who and Law & Order: UK) have joined the cast of the drama pilot The Carrie Diaries for The CW. Butler will play Sebastian Kydd, the principal love interest of Carrie, a childhood crush who moves to Castlebury High after getting kicked out of his old high school. Agyeman will play Larissa, Carrie’s mentor, a hip, cutting-edge editor/party girl who works at Interview magazine. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor Billy Burke (the Twilight saga films) has been cast in the NBC drama pilot called Revolution (from J.J. Abrams and Eric Kripke). The drama 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. Burke will play a charismatic Marine. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Rachelle Lefevre (A Gifted Man) has landed a lead role in a CBS drama pilot called Applebaum, which is based on the Ayelet Waldman series of books “Mommy Track Mysteries. The pilot centers on Juliet Applebaum (Lefevre), a former public defender who becomes a private investigator to keep from being bored to death as a stay-at-home mom. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Emmy Rossum (Shameless) is in final talks to star opposite Viola Davis and Emma Thompson in the upcoming box office film Beautiful Creatures, which is an adaptation of the novel of the same name. Rossum’s role in the film has yet to be disclosed. (Brian Brooks at Deadline)

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

1. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, $70.7 million
2. Project X, $20.8 million
3. Act of Valor, $13.7 million
4. Safe House, $7.2 million
5. Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, $7 million
6. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, $6.9 million
7. The Vow, $6.1 million
8. This Means War, $5.6 million
9. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, $4.7 million
10. The Artist, $3.9 million

The folks over at MGM have closed a deal with actor Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) to play the title role in the remake of Robocop. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Men in Black 3 Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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