Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items, few though they may be, for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Courtney B. Vance (FlashForward and Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will be joining the ABC series Revenge, appearing as Victoria’s new high-powered divorce attorney Ben Barnett. This recurring role will start in March. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actors/Actresses Andrea Parker (The Pretender and Desperate Housewives), Jud Tylor (That 70’s Show and Edgemont), Megalyn Echikunwoke (The 4400), Madisen Beatey (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Cody Christian (Pretty Little Liars) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot Beautiful People, which is set in the near future in a society where humans co-exist with mechanical androids that look like people but are treated like second-class citizens. It centers on the very wealthy Lydia (Frances Conroy) whose late husband founded the firm that makes Mechanicals. Parker will play the wealthy Roberta whose life is turned upside down when her rebellious teen daughter (Beatey) starts a romance with a Mechanical boy (Christian) who is the son of Lydia’s Mechanical servant David (Patrick Heusinger) and his wife Susan (Jud Tylor), also a Mechanical. Echikunwoke will play the boss of Lydia’s other son, attorney Gregory (James Murray). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The CW has greenlit three dramas: Arrow, The Carrie Diaries and a procedural take on Beauty and the Beast. Arrow is to be a contemporary retelling of the Green Arrow character. The Carrie Diaries is based on the Candace Bushnell book about Carrie Bradshaw’s high school years in the 1980s. And, Beauty and the Beast is to be loosely based on the CBS drama from the late 1980s that is to be a modern-day romancer with a procedural twist. (Variety)

Syfy has given the green light to Rewind, an action thriller which has received an order for a two-hour pilot. The story revolves around a team of military field operatives and civilian scientists who must use untested technology to travel back in time to alter past events in order to change the future and avoid a devastating terrorist attack. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CBS has ordered to pilot a female-led law enforcement drama that will revolve around a common-sense mother-turned-New York state trooper. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Teri Polo (Meet the Parents) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Criminal Minds as a former high school history teacher who was sent to jail after molesting one of her students. Now out of prison, “Miss Hallman” is on a mission to reunite with her young “lover” — and will kill anyone who gets in her way. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actor Jeff Goldblum (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and Broadway vet Brian Stokes Mitchell have been cast as the gay, adoptive dads of Rachel (Lea Michele) on Glee. They will play Hiram and LeRoy Berry, they will first appear in the show’s Valentine’s Day episode and they will sing. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Christopher Heyerdahl (Sanctuary, Hell on Wheels and the Twilight franchise) will have a recurring role in True Blood when the show returns for its fifth season. He will play Dieter Braun, an ancient, powerful vampire who plays a large part in the intelligence of the Authority and especially enjoys enhanced interrogation. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Melinda McGraw (Mad Men) will guest star in the USA Network series Fairly Legal, which is slated to return for its second season on March 16. She will play Judge Victoria Connors, a new addition to the San Francisco Supreme Courts. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Daniel Sunjata (Rescue Me) is set for a starring role in the USA Network untitled drama pilot from White Collar creator Jeff Eastin. The potential series follows four agents from various federal and local agencies (DEA, FBI, LAPD) who live at a former ganglord’s mansion-turned-safe house for undercover agents in Southern California. He will play Paul Briggs, an atypical FBI agent with a legendary past who has traded in his suit and tie for a more Zen existence. He is the senior agent in a house full of undercover agents. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

FOX has given a pilot order to a new project from Josh Freidman (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) called The Asset. The project is described as a character-driven drama set in the New York office of the CIA, which centers on a female agent. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jamie Bell (The Adventures of Tintin and Billy Elliott) and actress Tilda Swinton (Chronicles of Narnia) have joined the cast of the upcoming box office film called Snow Piercer that will star actor Chris Evans (Star Trek). The film is set on a train in a future, post-apocalyptic sci- world covered entirely by snow. There are no details on what roles any of the actors will play at this time, though. (Variety and First Showing)

Actor Matthew Lillard (The Descendants) is negotiating to join Clint Eastwood in the baseball centric drama Trouble with the Curve, but it is unclear what role he will play. (Entertainment Weekly and First Showing)

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

Question: What’s Ziva’s reaction to meeting Tony’s ex Wendy on NCIS? — Linda

ADAM: Ziva gets her claws into Wendy pretty quickly, perhaps looking for dirt on Tony. “Ziva is fascinated by Wendy because of the history, and Tony is mortified by the idea of leaving them alone,” executive producer Gary Glasberg says, adding that both Tony and Wendy still have feelings for each other. But don’t look for Wendy’s visit to completely deflate this season’s Tiva tension. “By the end of this season, they’re both going to have a better understanding of what they want from the future,” Glasberg says.

Question: So glad Justified is back! Give me some scoop on the rest of the season. — Jack

ADAM: Boyd’s plan to get back into prison and exact revenge on Dickie may seem pretty smart, but Raylan may spoil the fun when he figures out what his old coal-mining buddy is up to. But that’s just the beginning of Boyd’s problems: Look for a member of his crew to sell him out to disastrous results.

Question: Any NCIS: LA scoop? —Amy

Ausiello: Is it too early to start teasing the season finale? No? Splendid. “Someone’s gonna die that we know well,” confirms exec producer Shane Brennan. “I’ve got the target, I’m just choosing which missile to fire. And there’s a character or two coming back to tie some things up.”

Question: It’s about time you gives us a scoop for NCIS: LA. —Gisela

Ausiello: There’s a big Kensi-centric double episode coming up titled “Blye, K.” that Brennan says “goes to the very heart of why she joined NCIS” and sets the stage for the big NCIS: LA/Hawaii Five-0 crossover during May sweeps. In possibly related news, the show is looking for an actress in her late 40s to play the estranged mother of one of the show’s female characters.

Question: I just watched the pilot for Smash and I’m dying for some more. Any scoop you can part with? —Ellie

Ausiello: The second episode is just as good. I’ve seen many a promising pilot crash and burn in Episode 2, so it was an enormous relief that Smash maintained its quality week-to-week — save for one glaring plot contrivance involving Katharine McPhee standing up her onscreen boyfriend. Note to producers: There’s still time to reshoot that scene!

Question: Any information about Ringer? —Mark

Ausiello: Bridget’s going to spill the beans to Andrew, the only question is which beans will she be spilling. “Bridget has to come clean to Andrew on some really major secret that deals with identity,” says exec producer Pam Veasey.

Question: There will be a huge hole in my life after Chuck ends on January 27. Any last bit of final season spoilers out there? —Chuck

Ausiello: Zachary Levi breaks down the two-hour swan song thusly: “The first hour is super-intense drama and action and some tears are shed. And the second half also has some drama, but there’s a lot of comedy, too.”

Question: Having recently devoured all the episodes of Grimm since the winter semester ended, I am left wondering one thing: Has the engagement ring Nick purchased in the pilot been forgotten about? According to the story, he was proposing to Juliet that night, but I haven’t spied a ring on that finger. —Erin

Ausiello: “Nick did buy the ring, but his newfound Grimm abilities have interrupted his romantic plans — and his life in general,” responds EP David Greenwalt. “Nick and Juliette’s relationship will be tested this season as Nick continues to hide his new abilities — yet Juliette’s suspicions keep rising after she finds something of Nick’s…and also finds herself in danger.”

Question: I loved the Alcatraz premiere! Do you have any scoop? —Lily

Ausiello: An upcoming episode will focus on the “segregated block” of prisoners, says EP Jack Bender. “All of the black prisoners were not allowed to mingle, eat with [the rest of the inmates]. This was 1963, so we’re starting to deal with those issues.”

Question: The official CW description for an upcoming episode of Vampire Diaries said Klaus holds a dinner party. Any intel on what goes down? —Julia

Ausiello: Sounds like there will be blood for dessert. “There’s always a little bit of violence
involved in anything Klaus does — even if it starts as a sit down meal, it’s all going to end in violence,” reveals the host himself, Joseph Morgan. “There will be some things which aren’t strictly within dinner party etiquette. Also, it’s incredibly charged. Imagine having this powerful hybrid hosting a little dinner party. Who will be his guests? And what will the conversation be? And what will he serve for dinner? What will his table etiquette be? It’s a really interesting idea. We’ve seen so much of him in physical confrontation with people, it’s interesting to see a little bit more of his cultured side, his charm and his elegance there at the dinner table.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

It has been confirmed that the hit BBC series Sherlock will be returning for a third season. While the announcement of the renewal of the mini-series for a second season also included a third season, it seems the media picked up on the news this week, making it a hot topic online. It is being reported the third season is in the early planning stages for 2013 while the second season will air her in the States in May. (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

The hit TNT series The Closer will be coming to a conclusion this summer and the show’s spin-off series Major Crimes will pick up where The Closer left off this time with Mary McDonnell leading the cast as Captain Sharon Raydor. The cast from The Closer who will be moving over to Major Crimes will include actors G.W. Bailey (Provenza), Tony Denison (Flynn), Michael Paul Chan (Tao), Raymond Cruz (Sanchez) and Phillip P. Keene (Buzz) while actors Jon Tenney (Fritz) and Robert Gossett (Commander Taylor) will appear in recurring roles; but actors Corey Reynolds (Gabriel) and J.K. Simmons (Chief Pope) will not be back. (Dark Horizons)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC has greenlit a pilot for a period drama set in 1895 New York from Shonda Rhimes, the woman behind Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. The series, called Gilded Lillys, revolves around the opening of Gotham’s first luxury hotel; and is said to have a touch of the PBS mini-series Downton Abbey and is being billed as a drama that will delve into all the intermingling of love, treachery and disdain between the classes. (Variety)

CBS has greenlit their first dramas for the new season: Baby Big Shot is a legal drama that centers on a working-class woman who uses her street smarts to compete with her more polished colleagues at a tony Manhattan law firm and Elementary, which is a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Grant Bowler (Ugly Betty and True Blood) has landed the lead role in the new Syfy series called Defiance that is set on a future Earth where humans and aliens live together on a planet ravished by decades of war and transformed by alien terra-forming machines. It centers on Jeb Nolan (Bowler), the law keeper in the bustling frontier boomtown of Defiance that is one of the new world’s few oasis of civility and inclusion. Nolan is a former Marine who fought in the alien conflict and suffered the loss of his wife and child in the war. The trauma transformed him into a lone wanderer in the wilds of this new and dangerous world. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Jaimie Alexander recently confirmed she was returning to play Sif in the upcoming Thor sequel; and now recent Golden Globe-winner Idris Elba (Luther) has confirmed he will reprise his role of Heimdall as well. (MTV News and Dark Horizons)

Actress Abigail Spencer (Mad Men) has signed on for the Joss Whedon film called In Your Eyes that is described as a supernatural romance tale about two people who are polar opposites who are spiritually linked. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

French actor and recent Golden Globe winner Jean Dujardin (The Artist) and actor Vincent will appear in a remake of One Wild Moment, a 1977 French romantic comedy about two middle-aged best friends who end up in a strange situation when one of the men begins a secret romance with the other’s daughter. (The Hollywood Reporter and First Showing)

Actor Tommy Lee Jones will join Matthew Fox (Lost) in the box office film called Emperor, which is set amidst the tensions and uncertainties of the days immediately following the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. Jones will portray General Douglas MacArthur, the de facto ruler of Japan as Supreme Commander of the occupying forces, and he leans on a leading Japanese expert on his staff, General Bonner Fellers (Fox), to reach a decision of historical importance: should Emperor Hirohito be tried and hanged as a war criminal? (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with E! Online)

Question: Anything on Once Upon a Time! – tiffanyrush

E! Online: Prepare to meet Jefferson, a former criminal in the fairy-tale world who is extremely handsome. (Aren’t all TV criminals?) In Storybrooke, he’s a mysterious figure who is in the know about a certain curse and attempts to sway Emma (Jennifer Morrison) into believing as well.

Question: Something about Once Upon a Time, about Snow and Charming! Any scoop? – fotreya

E! Online: David (Josh Dallas) is about to make a big decision regarding his love life that should make David and Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) very happy.

Question: Revenge! – Brunettenoel

E! Online: Quick and to the point, we like that in a reader. In addition to casting that high-profile defense attorney we told you about last week, Revenge is also casting the role of a very serious judge for episode 16 and beyond, so it looks like the murder trial will be moving very quickly. Color us excited!

Question: Will Nolan from Revenge have another love interest that isn’t a crazy gold digger? – whorelips:

E! Online: Gabriel Mann told me he lobbies all the time for Nolan and Ashley to get together (much to Ashley Madekwe’s dismay!). Anyone else kind dig that idea? It’s almost as good as Nolan and Emily. Assuming they aren’t, you know, also somehow surprisingly related.

Question: Any scoop on Misha Collins’ return to Supernatural? I’m counting down the days! – Bridget

E! Online: You and us both, sister! We asked Jared Padalecki for the scoop on Collins’ return when we sat down with him for some french fries. “He doesn’t come back as Castiel per say. When he and the boys see each other, it’s not like, ‘Oh, Sam and Dean!’ ‘Oh, Castiel!’ It’s amnesia of sorts,” he teases. “He’s still got great powers and we seek him out because we have an inkling that something’s going on. I think Castiel, like Bobby (Jim Beaver), they can’t come back as the good ol’ Castiel and the good ol’ Bobby because the audience starts to not take seriously what’s going on.”

Question: Is Supernatural definitely coming back next year? – Frank

E! Online: While both Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are contracted through season eight, the CW has yet to make a decision about the fate of Supernatural…or anything other show for that matter. “We are considering everything for next year. We have made no determinations on any of our shows,” CW Boss Mark Pedowitz tells us. “I’m very happy with how Supernatural has done this year, in terms of ratings and production.” He also says if they have more “juice” in them, he could see it going on for “many, many years.” Our guess? It’s coming back.

Question: Can you tell us anything about NBC’s Grimm? – indigo_15

E! Online: Don’t you hate Skalengeck (lizard-esque creatures) who are addicted to drugs? The show is currently casting two Skalengecks who are addicted to “T” and will do anything to score their next fix.

Question: Can we please have some Ezria scoop? – irutter2011

E! Online: Pretty Little Liars’ fan favorite couple Aria (Lucy Hale) and Ezra (Ian Harding) are back to their secretive ways after spilling the beans to her parents. “It’s almost like they have to start back at square one. They’re very creative with how they are going to pursue this relationship,” Hale teases. “I think the fans will be pretty happy with it. These are two people who really love and care about each other.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

First of all, congratulations to last night’s Golden Globe Award winners, including (but not limited to) Meryl Streep, Octavia Spencer, Michelle Williams, Homeland, Downton Abbey, Claire Danes, Idris Elba, Peter Dinklage and Morgan Freeman.

Now, let’s get into today’s news:

TELEVISION

Actor Joe Lando, best known for his role of Byron Sully on the long-running CBS drama Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, will appear as Cassie’s (Brit Robertson) father, John Blackwell, on The Secret Circle. Blackwell will return to Chance Harbor in Episode 15, claiming to be a changed man and determined to protect Cassie and her Circle. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actress Cassidy Freeman (Smallville) will guest star in an upcoming episode of The Vampire Diaries, playing Sage, a character seen in 1920s flashbacks whose allure is felt by both the Salvatore brothers and the Original family. She will make her series debut in Episode 16, and this role has the potential to recur. (TV Line and TV Guide)

Actor Justin Hartley (Smallville) will be guest star in Hart of Dixie, playing Jesse, a charming Southerner and war hero who becomes a potential love interest Zoe (Rachel Bilson). He will show up on the show sometime this spring. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It looks like the proposed FX pilot called Powers, which is based on the comic series about a cop, to be played by Jason Patric, who works in the Powers division of the police force that deals with crimes involving those endowed with special abilities may not be happening after all because the network is “mulling over reshoots of the project”. It is likely that a decision will made in a couple months, though. (The Hollywood Reporter)

NBC is moving forward with more pilot orders for the following three new, potential dramas: The Frontier – from writer (and former actor/singer) Shaun Cassidy, which chronicles the journey of a group of disparate travelers from Missouri to the West Coast in 1840; Midnight Sun, which is a thriller following the mysterious disappearance of a group living on a commune in Alaska and Do No Harm, which is a medical drama about a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego that threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and professional life. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office films for the past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations and E! Online:

1. Contraband, $24.1 million
2. Beauty and the Beast 3D, $18.5 million
3. Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, $11.5 million
4. Joyful Noise, $11.3 million
5. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, $8.4 million
6. The Devil Inside, $7.9 million
7. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, $6.8 million
8. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, $5.8 million
9. War Horse, $5.6 million
10. The Iron Lady, $5.4 million

Actress Jessica Chastain (The Help), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and actor-comedian Martin Short will lend their voices to the upcoming animated film Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. Chastain will play Gia the jaguar, Cranston as Vitaly the Siberian tiger, and Short as Stefano the sea lion. The story follows our regular quartet of escaped zoo animals (Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith) continuing their way back home who end up joining a European traveling circus. That’s where they come across these three new characters. Frances McDormand and Sacha Baron Cohen also star in the film that will hit theatres on June 8. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actress Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) has replaced actress Ophelia Lovibond in the period-drama called Summer in February that stars Dominic Cooper and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) in the story of a love triangle within a group of UK Bohemian artists at the start of the 20th century. (Screen Daily and Dark Horizons)

Actors Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) and Tom Hollander are joining the cast of the sci-fi thriller Byzantium that stars actress Gemma Arterton as a vampire who has to protect herself and her daughter (Saoirse Ronan) from those seeking to plunge a stake through their hearts. (The Daily Mail and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The cable network Starz greenlit a new 10-episode scripted series called Marco Polo about the 13th century explorer that is being described as a fantastical martial arts epic chronicling the famous adventurer’s early years in the court of Kublai Khan. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

NBC is planning a contemporary spin on Count Dracula, but the series will be set in the 1890s, and is expected to be a “big, sweeping international soap opera that is young, sexy and supernatural”. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The CW is finalizing a deal for a pilot order to Arrow, an hour-long superhero drama based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow, coming from Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg. It is being reported that this version will set Green Arrow in a new world with an original story that is not based on the comics; but there is no word on whether actor Justin Hartley, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in Smallville, will star. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

A&E is developing a TV series prequel to Psycho called Bates Motel. The series would focus on giving viewers “an intimate understanding of how Norman Bates’ psyche developed from his childhood through his teen years.” (IGN)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Chris Diamantopoulos (the upcoming box office film The Three Stooges, The Kennedys and Starter Wife) has joined the cast the comedy flick called The Black Marks that will star Kurt Russell as a retired motorcycle daredevil with a penchant for snatching art. Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel also star. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actress Kate Winslet is attached to star in the Kenneth Branagh film called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that is a love story set in London and the Channel Islands after WWII. Winslet will play a magazine columnist who enters into a correspondence with a man from Guernsey. She soon learns how the islanders used a book group during the war as cover to outwit their German occupiers; so captivated by their stories, she travels there herself. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) is set to join the upcoming thriller Kill Your Darlings that is set to star Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise). The story is about the relationship between Allen Ginsberg (Radcliffe), Jack Kerouac and Lucien Carr which eventually ends up with them caught up in murder. Olsen will play Edie Parker, the wealthy art-student girlfriend of Jack Kerouac who will be played by Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire). (Variety and First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: I am dying over these Vampire Diaries photos right now and don’t know what to think, especially Caroline and Klaus. I need scoop immediately anything on #TVD. — @Gval21

Gonzalez: You should be dying — of excitement. Because as hinted in last night’s episode — and teased to Spoiler Room by Julie Plec — it sounds like it’s on. “I have a feeling that Klaus ultimately is equally capable of indulging in love and sabotaging love, just like Damon is. But there is certainly going to be an object of his interest very soon,” she told us Wednesday night.

Question: I’ve been reading a lot online recently about a new character coming to The Vampire Diaries, Samantha Gilbert, and that she’s supposedly a new love interest for Damon?? As a hardcore Delena shipper, please SAY IT ISN’T SO!!! — Sophie

Gonzalez: It isn’t so. “She’s not for Damon,” EP Julie Plec assures. “We’ll meet her in the past, not the present. She’s somebody that we meet in not present-day Mystic Falls.” All better, Soph?

Question: Anything about TVD‘s Stefan/Katherine? Thanks! — Rose

Gonzalez: Though she’s currently on the down low, I’d expect to see Katherine very soon. “She’s gone underground, and so it will be a surprise when we see Katherine again. As Katherine tends to do, she’ll pop up sometime and throw everyone for a loop,” says Plec.

Question: Drop Dead Diva won’t be back on for a while, but I’m dying for some scoopage. Please help! S.U.S. (Send Us Scoop!) — Dani

Gonzalez: There’s a new angel on the block. Well, there will be. The show is currently casting the role of Luke, a young-at-heart, confident “after-life coach” who will act as Jane’s new guardian angel. Casting intel describes him as having the “charm of Jack Nicholson and the soul of Russell Brand” with a little Vince Vaughn and a touch of Christian Slater thrown in. Well, that’s specific. Meanwhile, the show is also casting someone — presumably for one of the show’s cases of the week. They’re looking for someone to play a charming, intelligent — and possibly murderous — socialite named Emily Horn who comes to Jane needing help.

Question: I know everyone probably is asking you for Castle-Beckett spoilers, but I want some Ryan and Esposito scoop. What do you have for me about my favorite Bromance? — Jen Jones

Gonzalez: There are no specific plans as of yet, according to EP Andrew Marlowe. “That stuff is living toward the back half of the season. But it’s something we have our eye on.”

Question: I’m hearing amazing things about the Castle noir episode. DISH! — Tonya

Gonzalez: The episode, airing in February, will find Castle and Beckett coming across the journal of an investigator from the 1940s, and as Stana Katic told the press at the People’s Choice Awards, “Castle dreams it into reality where all of our characters dig up kind of film noir stereotypes — Castle become the P.I. I become a gangsta’s mom. [Ryan and Espocito] are thugs… Everybody looks absolutely phenomenal in that episode.” But you might not recognize everyone. I hear Castle’s mom (Susan Sullivan) actually goes blonde for the occasion! More importantly, though, the episode supposedly has a pretty epic moment. (You didn’t think it was gonna just be fancy costumes and sets, right?) “I think the best version of the Castle-Beckett story happens in that episode,” Katic teased.

Question: I’d love something on Snow and Charming from Once Upon a Time. They are easily my favorite TV couple. Talk about a twist on the will-they-won’t-they formula. So GOOD! — Suzanna

Gonzalez: I agree on all counts! Especially after I heard what Ginnifer Goodwin had to say about the “dark” revelations coming our way. “There are some big surprises. I mean, there are surprises that have led me to throw scripts at walls,” she says. “We’re going to learn a lot more about Snow and the things that we learn are not pretty. There is a dark side. We jump back in time so much; in the past you will learn about her wretched history. Yes, there are some wretched parts of her history. There will be some pretty MASSIVE obstacles put between Snow White and Prince Charming.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Congrats to all of the winners of the People’s Choice Awards last night, especially Nathan Fillion, Nina Dobrev, Supernatural, Pretty Little Liars and Castle!

And now, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actors Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J will be making a crossover appearance from their show NCIS: Los Angeles to Hawaii Five-0; this will actually be an “exciting May sweeps two-night crossover event. The crossover “stunt” will first take place on Hawaii Five-0 and then roll over to NCIS: Los Angeles. (William Keck at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor James Badge Dale (24 and Rubicon) is the frontrunner to join the cast of the box office film The Lone Ranger, playing the older brother of the title character (played by Armie Hammer) Dan Reid is an ex-ranger and hero of the Old West. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Up-and-comer actor Douglas Booth (to be seen in the upcoming films Great Expectations and LOL) and Billy Crudup (Watchmen) are set to star in the box office film Life at These Speeds that is based on the novel by Jeremy Jackson. The story follows a rural teenager (Booth) who loses his best friends in a tragic accident and channels his survivor’s guilt into an addiction to running. Along the way he becomes a world-class distance runner. Crudup will co-star as Booth’s coach and confidante. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Young actress Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan and the upcoming The Hunger Games) is in negotiations to join the M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi action adventure flick called After Earth that is set to star Will and Jaden Smith as a father and son who crash-land on Earth a millennia after mankind has abandoned the planet. The crash leaves the elder Smith badly injured, and it’s up to the boy to find help in what is now a strange and dangerous place. Zoe Kravitz and Sophie Okonedo also star. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here is today’s update, very short though it may be:

TELEVISION

Psych has been renewed by the USA Network for a 7th season. The current (sixth) season will resume with new episodes starting on February 29. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

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

Question: I hear there’s going to be a kiss in Castle’s 1940s film noir episode. Is that true? — Erin

ADAM: After chatting with Stana Katic, my money is on a kiss… and much, much more. “What fans will see is probably the fulfillment of what most any fan would like to see happen with the Castle and Beckett relationship,” Katic says of the episode, in which Castle daydreams about a detective who falls in love with a gangster’s moll (played in Castle’s fantasy by Beckett, of course). “Fans will be seeing the ultimate expression of love for those two characters.” Ultimate expression of love? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

Question: When are we going to see the Impala again on Supernatural? It just doesn’t seem right to have Dean separated from his baby for this long! —Laura

Ausiello: The two shall be reunited! “You will eventually see the Impala again,” exec producer Sera Gamble confirms. “He could never leave [her] forever! It breaks everyone’s heart, including ours. That’s one of the biggest loses of the season is that Dean can’t drive her.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

IT’S OFFICIAL: The CW has acquired the Canadian original drama The L.A. Complex, a six-part hour-long drama about the lives of six, sexy young performers pursuing their dreams in Hollywood. The L.A. Complex will have its U.S. premiere on The CW later this spring. The series stars Jewel Staite (Firefly/Serenity and Stargate Atlantis) and Chelan Simmons (Kyle XY) [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

DEVLEOPMENT NEWS

AMC has put into development a series version of the 1990 Martin Scorsese mob classic Goodfellas. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Fox has picked up two more drama pilots: one is a serial killer project from Kevin Williamson and the other is a legal drama from Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim. The untitled Williamson project is described as an edge-of-the-seat thriller about a diabolical serial killer who uses technology to create a cult of serial killers, and the FBI agent who finds himself in the middle of it. The Berlanti-Guggenheim project, entitled Guilty, centers on a brilliant, morally questionable defense attorney 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 ultimately exact revenge on the men who set him up. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

L.A. Noir, from Frank Darabont, has landed at TNT with a pilot order. The project is based on the John Buntin book L.A. Noir: The Struggle For The Soul Of America’s Most Seductive City, which chronicles the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) is in final negotiations to play Dahl, a Nordic mercenary tasked with tracking down Riddick. (Deadline, Variety and Dark Horizons)

Richard Schiff (The West Wing) has joined the cast of the Superman reboot Man of Steel where he will play Dr. Emil Hamilton, a character which in the comics served as a scientific advisor for Superman. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin from E! Online)

Question: Revenge spoilers? – BrunetteNoel

Kristin: Someone is taking advice from The Social Network and lawyering up. A well-connected and high-profile criminal defense attorney who loves being in the spotlight is coming to the Hamptons soon. However, he might get more than he bargained for. The really interesting part? He first appears in episode 16, one week after we finally learn who’s been murdered.

Question: Anything Revenge related would be just lovely! – Sarahirwin92

Kristin: Something we were curious to know when we chatted with Gabriel Mann? When will we see flashbacks of Nolan and David Clark (James Tupper), a bond that’s only been talked about on the show. “I’m really curious how they’re going to start to incorporate some of that backstory,” he tells us. “James is great and there’s been really fun stuff that’s been talked about and written, in terms of what has happened between Nolan and David. I think it’s really going to be about how they want to end up telling that story and introduce it and if it’s something they want to focus on.”

Question: Thirsty for some Vampire Diaries information! – Bea in San Diego

Kristin: One Gilbert leaves, another enters: a new Gilbert is coming to Mystic Falls! It’s time to meet Samantha, who’s kind and warm, but can turn on a dime, unleashing a devilish side. Regarding Jeremy’s (Steven R. MCQueen) exit, you can expect to see him for a hot minute in this week’s episode.

Question: Any hope for Stefan & Elena? – Thewurzelx3

Kristin: Something tells us those two won’t be reuniting anytime soon. And that something would be Stefan (Paul Wesley) using Elena (Nina Dobrev) as his ultimate weapon in his war against Klaus (Joseph Morgan).

Question: Is there much Bonnie-Damon interaction coming up? Book fans are desperate for those long-awaited Bamon moments. – Lorainnecollins

Kristin: When we recently chatted with Kat Graham we made sure to tell her that we received one or two…or 50 Bamon-related tweets. “Oh my gosh! They will drag you into the Bamon world—it’s so funny! There is none of that so far and I’m actually having more scenes with Paul than with Ian [Somerhalder], but Ian and I are very close.” Don’t start reaching for the tissues just yet book lovers! Kat tell us that she adores her Bamon fans: “They’re wonderful…I would put them up there with Beliebers. Bamon and Beliebers, they’re strong.”

Question: Secret Circle is getting so dark and I love it! Any new big bads coming to town? –
Liam

Kristin: A bad, bad man is coming to Chance Harbor. Handsome, confident and calm, Steve is an inspiring and intimidating leader whom you’d want to think twice before crossing. Something tells us we’re about to meet a new witch hunter, maybe even the witch hunter, as he’s set to appear through the rest of the season.

Question: Are we ever going to see Adam and Cassie together on Secret Circle? Or is Cassie and Jake more likely? – blondie429

Kristin: How about Jake (Chris Zylka) and Adam (Thomas Dekker)?! “No one wants him back when he does come back. He’ll probably regret it,” executive producer Andrew Miller says of Jake’s return to town. “No one is more angry about his return than Adam.” As for what brings Jake back, Miller teases, “If he doesn’t come back, they’re screwed. The only reason he would show up to Chance Harbor knowing how much they all hate him is because he has no choice.”

Question: Any Supernatural news is great! – shanni1124:

Kristin: New recurring Supernatural guest-star alert! The show is casting the role of George, who will first appear in episode 16 as a miserable assistant to a real estate agent. But (there’s always a but!) there’s more to him than meets the eye, especially when it comes to self-preservation.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Rhona Mitra (The Gates) is finalizing a deal to play the new female lead in the Cinemax series Strike Back, which will be back for a second 10-episode season. She will play the beautiful, cunning and ultimately ruthless Capt. Rachel Dalton of the British military who is offered the position of head of Section 20 after a long stint working in North Africa. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Yesterday, FOX announced at the TCA’s (the Television Critics Association winter press gathering) that new animated series Allen Gregory has been cancelled; no news on the renewals of Terra Nova, House or Fringe (yet) and there will be no spin off of Glee. (TV By the Numbers)

Today at the TCA’s ABC Family announced they are “on the verge of putting a movie into development” for their recently cancelled TV series The Nine Lives of Chloe King. No specifics are available at this time, though. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding) will appear in multiple episode of New Girl as a love interest for Jess (Zooey Deschanel). He will play a handsome, intelligent and wealthy gentleman who also happens to be the father of one of Jess’ students. They start off disliking each other but their chemistry is undeniable. His episodes will begin airing either in March or April. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The cable giant A+E Networks is closing in on Bonnie and Clyde, a potential mini-series based on the Depression Era outlaws that would air on either Lifetime or History. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for the weekend from E! Online and Exhibitor Relations:

1. The Devil Inside, $34.5 million
2. Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, $20.5 million
3. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, $14.1 million
4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, $11.4 million
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, $9.5 million
6. War Horse, $8.6 million
7. We Bought a Zoo, $8.5 million
8. The Adventures of Tintin, $6.6 million
9. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, $5.8 million
10. New Year’s Eve, $3.3 million

It looks like the box office movie adaptation of the TV series 24 is finally going to happen with filming expected to start in April or May. Kiefer Sutherland will, of course, return as Jack Bauer and actress Mary Lynn Rajskub, who played Chloe during the show’s entire run, is expected to be involved as well. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actor George Clooney will write, direct and star in the big-budget film called “The Monument Men that will be about the hunt for Nazi-stolen art treasure. This film will be an adaptation of the Robert M. Edsel book about a hand-picked group of art experts chosen by the U.S. government to retrieve artwork taken by the Nazis during World War II. The team of American and British museum directors, curators and art historians all came together to find and return the treasures which Hitler systematically emptied from the museums and private collections of Europe. (The Wrap and Dark Horizons)

ONLINE TELEVISION

Lionsgate has sold Canadian crime drama Endgame to Hulu, which will begin streaming the show’s first season in the U.S. on Hulu and Hulu Plus. Endgame centers on a brilliant chess master (Shawn Doyle) who, traumatized by the murder of his fiancée, becomes a prisoner in his luxury Vancouver hotel and, to pay the bills, works as a detective, solving mysteries with the help of a band of hotel employees and chess fanatics. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Tom Hanks’ Playtone and Reliance Entertainment are teaming to produce the animated online science-fiction series Electric City that will initially stream exclusively on Yahoo. There will be 20 episodes in the online series with Hanks providing the voice for the lead character. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Singer-actor Harry Connick Jr. will appear in a multi-episode arc on Law & Order: Special Victims unit, appearing as Executive ADA David Haden, who is described as a straight-shooting prosecutor who is assigned a case with Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay). Although Benson is at first wary of Haden, they are both surprised to find they work well together. As the case develops, so does their relationship. He will first be seen in the January 18 episode. (The Futon Critic)

Yesterday came news that The CW will be airing the new Canadian series The L.A. Complex and now NBC is stepping to possibly acquire the upcoming Canadian medical drama Saving Hope. The series is set at a fictional Toronto hospital and follows the lives of the doctors and staff and the complicated decisions they make trying to save lives. The show stars Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1), Erica Durance (Smallville) and Daniel Gillies (The Vampire Diaries). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Nikki Deloach (Awkward!) will have a recurring role in the new CW series Ringer, playing Shaylene, the often-mentioned stripper whose murder Bridget (Sarah Michelle Gellar) witnessed. The smart and savvy exotic dancer will be seen through flashbacks. The series returns with new episodes starting on January 31. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Frances Conroy (American Horror Story) has landed the lead role in the NBC drama pilot called Beautiful People, which is set in the near future in a society where humans co-exist with mechanical androids that look like people but are treated like second-class citizens. The potential series will center on the very wealthy Lydia (Conroy) whose late husband founded the firm that makes Mechanicals. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

It would appear that actors Jessica Chastain (The Debt and The Help), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes) and Edgar Ramirez (The Bourne Ultimatum) may join the cast of the highly-anticipated new film from director and Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow. The Bin Laden movie follows the Navy SEAL Team’s long hunt for the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. (Mike Fleming on Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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