Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Happy Friday Everybody!! Today’s news is short, once again, but still contains a few interesting tidbits:

TELEVISION

Merlin has been renewed for a fourth season on Syfy. Those new episodes will air in 2012. Season four will follow Merlin as he looks to ensure that Arthur “fulfils his destiny as the Once and Future King.” Joining the show in season four are Nathaniel Parker as Agravaine, as well as guest stars Gemma Jones as Cailleach and Phil Davis as a sinister Circus master. (TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actresses Julia Stiles (The Prince and Me) and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) are to star in the upcoming box office comedy called It’s A Disaster that tells the story of four couples who meet for Sunday Brunch only to discover they are stuck in a house together as the world may be about to end. (Dark Horizons)

Actresses Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) and actor Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding) have joined the cast of the coming-of-age box office comedy called Struck by Lightning, which stars Chris Colfer (Glee) as a student who is struck and killed by a bolt of lightning at the beginning of the movie and through flashbacks it is shown how he blackmailed his fellow senior classmates into contributing to a literary magazine he’s publishing. (Dark Horizons)

Actor Matthew Morrison (Glee) has been added to the ever-growing cast of the upcoming box office film What to Expect When You’re Expecting, based on the self-help parenting book of the same name. He will play Evan, who is paired with Jules (played by Cameron Diaz) on a celebrity dance show. The two, of course, fall in love. With Jules’s pregnancy, the two have to figure out how to make their bi-coastal lives work. Among the other cast members are Jennifer Lopez, Brooklyn Decker, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick and Chase Crawford. (The Wrap)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

There isn’t much news today, but still there are some interesting tidbits and a trailer to share with all of you:

NEWS

Congrats to all the Emmy nominees for whom their names were announced this morning.

TELEVISION

Even though a 4th season has not yet been guaranteed by FOX, Glee regulars Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will not be back for the presumed fourth season. Series co-creator Ryan Murphy said that the three regulars will be among the characters who graduate at the end of the fall’s upcoming third season. (The Hollywood Reporter)

The new MTV series Teen Wolf has been renewed for a second season. (Twitter)

Actress Penny Johnson Jerald (24 and NCIS) has joined the cast of Castle, taking over as the new Captain – in the wake of the fatal shooting of Captain Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) in the season finale. She will play Victoria Gates, a career-minded cop who has a background in Internal Affairs. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Rebecca Mader (Lost and No Ordinary Family) will show up on an episode of the new Syfy series Alphas, playing a mysterious Alpha. (TV Line)

Actress Emma Caulfield (Buffy and Life Unexpected) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Leverage. Details on her role are unavailable at this time, though. (Give Me My Remote)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) will star – and also produce – the box office film called The Vanguard, which will be a Viking adventure flick. The film centers on a pair of Viking warrior brothers who attempt to return to Sweden after being banished to North America. (E! Online)

Actor Holt McCallany (Lights Out) will appear in the box office movie Gangster Squad, playing the bodyguard and main enforcer to Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). The cost also includes Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Michael Pena and Giovanni Ribisi. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

First John Carter trailer gets Taylor Kitsch’s ass to Mars

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Over the Hump Day! We are getting ever closer to the weekend and to the start of Comic Con next week in San Diego.

In the meantime, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) is joining the cast of Gossip Girl as a chef named Max in Los Angeles, which is where Serena (Blake Lively) was spending the summer. (Michael Auseillo at TV Line)

Actress Lauren German (Happy Town) has joined the cast of Hawaii Five-0 in what could potentially be a new love interest for Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin). She will play a former Homeland Security officer who has been hand-picked by the new Governor to be a part of the team. (Spoiler TV)

Actor David Gallagher (7th Heaven) will appear as a werewolf named Ray Sutton on the first two episodes of The Vampire Diaries this fall. (TV Guide)

Actor Ted Danson has joined CSI as the Las Vegas crime lab’s new graveyard-shift supervisor. He will, of course, continue to co-star with Jason Schwartzmann and Zach Galifianakis on the HBO comedy Bored to Death, which returns for a third season later this year. (E! Online)

Actor Mark Valley (Human Target) has landed a series regular role on the NBC legal drama Harry’s Law where he will play one of two new attorneys at the law firm run by Harriett “Harry” Korn (Kathy Bates). Meanwhile, actress Jean Smart has signed on for an early-season arc in the series as well. (Deadline)

ABC has renewed summer cop drama Rookie Blue for a third season. (The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Edward Norton is “in negotiations” to play the villain in the upcoming box office movie The Bourne Legacy opposite Jeremy Renner and Rachel Weisz. There are no details, right now, on the character or the story. (Variety and First Showing)

Actress Ruth Wilson (Luther and Jane Eyre) is in negotiations to play the female lead in the upcoming box office film The Lone Ranger. The film will star actor Armie Hammer as the Masked Man and Johnny Depp as Tonto. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (Gossip Girl) are set to produce the box office film The Luxe, which is based on the Anna Godbersen book series that tracks four teens set in 19th century New York and features conflicts between old money and new money, the upper class and lower class, and star-crossed lovers. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

NOTE: This book series comes from Alloy Entertainment, which I recently wrote an article about.

Actor Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl) will star opposite Anna Kendrick (the Twilight Saga movies) in the pregnancy-based ensemble romantic comedy What to Expect When You’re Expecting. He will play Marco, the ex-boyfriend of Kendrick who reunites with her after their food trucks get into a turf war. Their lives are changed quite drastically after a romantic encounter leads to a surprise pregnancy. (Lionsgate and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: First Trailer for ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’!

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

Question: I haven’t heard anything about the second season of Body of Proof. Can you correct that? —Abby

ADAM: I hear the show is on the lookout a smokin’-hot, street-smart woman in her late 20s to drive the medical examiner’s van. She’s not just a chauffeur though. Her real interest lies in forensics, and she desperately wants to join the team. To do so, she might have to grow a better filter between her brain and her mouth.

Question: What’s the scoop on The Vampire Diaries? — Grace

NATALIE: We’ll flash-back to the speakeasies of Prohibition-era Chicago early on in Season 3, where we’ll meet a vampire from Stefan’s past who will head to present-day Mystic Falls in hopes of rekindling an old flame. If a Facebook relationship status existed that said “Currently Stalking Someone,” that’s what hers would say… but about Caroline!

Question: What’s this I’m hearing about Eliza Dushku coming in as a love interest for Matt Bomer’s Neal on White Collar? What about Sara? —Katie

Ausiello: “They’re on a break” by the time Dushku’s minx shows up, reveals Eastin. “Eliza’s character happens to be there and Neal’s in a little bit of a rebound mode anyway. We get some sparks between them.” BTW, soon enough you’ll see why Neal might be “on the market” again.

ME: It should also be noted that – if no one else has mentioned it – this isn’t the first time Matt and Eliza have worked together or been a “couple” on screen. Does anyone remember Matt’s first big break on primetime TV? He was on Eliza’s short-lived FOX series Tru Calling and their characters dated. Just saying…

Question: Anything on my summertime guilty pleasure, Royal Pains? —Megan

Ausiello: Californication‘s Madeline Zima has booked a guest stint as a nanny to the asthmatic son of a movie-star couple in this season’s ninth episode.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There are a lot of interesting tidbits to share with everyone along with one bit of sad news for the entertainment world. Please read on:

TELEVISION

ABC Family has picked up the comedy Melissa & Joey for a second season. It will return for its 2nd season in 2012. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Callum Keith Rennie (best known for his work on Battlestar Galactica and most recently seen in The Killing) has been booked as a series regular on the NBC midseason drama The Firm, starring opposite Josh Lucas and Juliette Lewis. Rennie will play Ray McDeere, the older brother to Mitch (Lucas). (Deadline)

Actor Teddy Sears (Raising the Bar and the Hallmark movie Backyard Wedding) has been cast in the made-for-TV movie from Lifetime about Drew Peterson which stars Rob Lowe, playing Peterson’s best friend. (Deadline)

Actress Mariana Klaveno (True Blood) has booked a recurring role on Showtime’s Dexter, playing Carissa Morris, a professor at Florida University. (Deadline)

Actor David Andrews (Terminator 3) has been set to recur on the USA Network spy drama Covert Affairs. (Deadline)

Actor Christopher McDonald has been promoted to series regular on the NBC legal drama Harry’s Law, which be back with new episodes starting on September 21 at 9 PM. (Deadline)

CONDOLENCES

Legendary TV producer and series creator Sherwood Schwartz passed away today. He was the creator of Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch. He was 94 years old. (Twitter)

ME: RIP, Mr. Schwartz. Deepest sympathies to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Michael Chiklis (The Shield) will play the nemesis to Jason in the upcoming box office thriller called Parker, which is based on the novel series by Donald Westlake. The story revolves around a thief who lives by a code of honor that includes never stealing money from people who need it. His word is his bond, and if he is crossed he will strike back relentlessly and has no hesitancy about taking a life if needs be. (Dark Horizons and Deadline)

Actor Walton Goggins (Justified) will appear in the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln where he will play Ohio Congressman Wells A. Hutchins, a progressive Democrat who goes against his party and votes in favor of the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery. He will co-star alongside Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln, Sally Field as Mary Todd Lincoln and David Strathairn as Secretary of State William Seward. (Deadline)

ME: Please tread lightly on the next section as it contains SPOILERS – SPOILER ALERT!!

SPOILER CHAT (with the folks at E! Online)

Question: Scoop on The Vampire Diaries! – McKenna

E! Online: Imagine Velma Kelly from the musical Chicago (“he had it coming!”) as a vampire, and you’ll have a pretty good picture of new character Becky. She’s a key figure from Stefan’s past, and she’s enrolled at Mystic Falls High to put herself in his path, reclaim his love and eliminate her rivals. She’s going to be particularly mean to poor Caroline, but we’re hoping Caroline surprises us with some newly discovered reserves of strength and shows Becky who’s boss.

Question: Anything Nikita-related please! Even better if it’s Mikita. – goldstaarr

E! Online: This isn’t really Mikita-related, but you never know how something could turn into sexy time for our favorite spy couple. Nikita’s antagonist in episode two will be a villain named Joseph Mars who pretends to be an addiction counselor so he can use “experimental psychotropics to turn his patients into sleeper assassins.” Sounds like a great setting for a romantic date, huh?

Question: Got any Pretty Little Liars news? – Lindsay in El Paso, Texas

E! Online: We’ve got all kinds of news, good and bad. First: Ian’s for-realsies death persuades the Liars’ parents to allow the girls to hang out again. The bad news? They’ll be spending a lot of time together in the hospital, where—wait for it—Emily (Shay Mitchell) is a patient! This does not look good for her swimming “scholarship,” does it?

Question: When will we meet Bay’s biological father on Switched at Birth? Is there going to be as much delicious drama as I think? – iPray4Idiots

E! Online: And then some! Bay’s (Vanessa Marano) birth father, Angelo (played by the oh-so-handsome Gilles Marini), will be making his debut in the season finale. And it won’t be a subtle entrance for Angelo. “He has a lot of secret skeletons hidden everywhere,” Gilles tells us. “No one is really ready for him, so it’s a big bang when my character comes into this world.” And hopefully, we’ll be seeing lots more of Angelo past the season finale, because Gilles has big plans for him. “I can’t wait to work more and see if my character switches gears into being a good person, or is he purely bad? There are a lot of things we need to unveil,” he says.

Question: Any new scoop on what’s ahead for Alek and Chloe on Nine Lives of Chloe King? – CloisForever23

E! Online: Well, when we chatted with both Benjamin Stone and Grey Damon, we never got around to asking about the show because we just stared at all their hotness. Just kidding, we did ask about a possible future love triangle. Let’s just say it’s a pretty safe bet that there’s going to be some serious Alek and Chloe (Skyler Samuels) tension in the next few episodes.

Question: Please get as much info as you can on Torchwood! Love it! – 24addict

E! Online: We also love Torchwood: Miracle Day and said so to creator/show runner Russell Davies, which is probably why he was so generous with his scoop. The Soulless Movement (those marchers in the creepy frownie masks) will hit home for Esther (Alexa Havins), whose sister “has a complete mental breakdown because she believes in the soulless,” Russell told us. “She believes that the human race are doomed because they’ve lost their mortality, they’ll never get to heaven. It’s an example of the sort of extreme psychological reactions that society goes through and the soulless is just one of them—we get a lot of these different reactions all the way through the series.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the entertainment news items for this Monday afternoon:

TELEVISION

Actor Charles Mesure (V) is joining Desperate Housewives as a series regular this fall, playing Ben, a sexy, charming, and occasionally ruthless contractor who has the kind of grit and drive that comes from being a self-made man. He’s also the new love interest for Vanessa Williams’ Renee. The show kicks off its eighth season on September 25. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Jewel Staite (Firefly and Stargate Atlantis) will appear on Supernatural, as a childhood friend of Sam’s (Jared Padalecki) who he encounters on a hunt. The story will involve flashbacks and is being directed by series star Jensen Ackles. (Zap2It)

Broadway actress Karen Olivo has been added as a regular to the NBC legal drama Harry’s Law. She will play a new hotshot lawyer. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Jennifer Finnigan (Close to Home) and actor Jason Priestley (90210) will guest star on Psych, playing Barbie, a comely con woman who with partner in crime Clive (Priestley) set their sights on a spa resort, the same one where Shawn and Juliet are enjoying a weekend getaway. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

CONDOLENCES

Betty Ford, wife of former President Gerald Ford and founder of the drug and alcohol center in her name, passed away. She was 93. (TV Guide)

ME: RIP, Mrs. Ford. Sympathies are extended to her family and friends.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Harry Lennix (Dollhouse) has closed a deal to play General Swanwick in the box office film Man of Steel (the Superman reboot). (Showblitz)

Actress Elizabeth Banks has joined the likes of Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Chris Rock, Matthew Morrison and Rodrigo Santoro in the upcoming box office film What To Expect When You’re Expecting, which is the film adaptation of the pregnancy self-help book by Heidi Murkoff. The film’s story follows four couples on the path to having a baby. Banks will play a baby-crazy children’s book author and owner of The Breast Choice boutique who thinks she knows what all the ingredients are in being a perfect Mom—until she becomes pregnant with her first child. (Twitter and Dark Horizons)

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

1. Transformers: Dark of the Moon, $47 million
2. Horrible Bosses, $28.1 million
3. Zookeeper, $21 million
4. Cars 2, $15.2 million
5. Bad Teacher, $9 million
6. Larry Crowne, $6.3 million
7. Super 8, $4.8 million
8. Monte Carlo, $3.8 million
9. Green Lantern, $3.1 million
10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, $2.9 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Friday Everybody!! Let’s get right into the news for today, shall we?:

TELEVISION

TNT has renewed Falling Skies for a second season. There will be 10 episodes for the second season, which is slated to air in summer 2012. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Rachelle Lefevre (Off the Map and the first two Twilight movies) has joined the cast of the fall CBS medical drama A Gifted Man that stars Patrick Wilson as Dr. Michael Holt, a surgeon who starts to communicate with his dead ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle). Lefevre will play Kate, a doctor at a family clinica where Holt will find himself spending more time instead of his upscale hospital. A Gifted Man premieres on September 23 at 8 PM. (TV Line, Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide)

Actors Michael Rady (Melrose Place and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies) and Nick Stahl (Terminator 3) have been cast as love interests Jeannie, the character to be played by actress Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) in her new Showtime comedy called House of Lies that is based on the best-selling tell-all book, How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Tell You the Time. The series will center on competing corporate management consulting firms of which the cast includes Don Cheadle, Ben Schwartz and Dawn Olivieri. Rady will recur as Wes, a wealthy golden boy who may be a tad too conservative for Jeannie while Stahl will appear in one episode as a musician named Kurt who makes Jeannie question what she wants out of life and love. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Relative newcomer actress Gwendoline Christie (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) will appear in the pivotal part of Brienne on HBO’s Game of Thrones. Brienne serves the late king’s brother Renly and is a fan favorite from the book series on which the series is based. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actor Michael B. Jordan will be back on Parenthood playing the easy-going Alex. He will have a recurring role when the show returns with new episodes on September 13. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor James Wolk (Lone Star) will appear in a multi-episode arc the Showtime series Shameless, playing Adam, an investment executive who makes a connection with Fiona (Emmy Rossum). (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

TNT has given the greenlight to Dallas, an all-new series based upon the popular night-time soap opera. Set in the big state of Texas, Dallas stars Josh Henderson (90210), Jesse Metcalfe (John Tucker Must Die), Jordana Brewster (Fast & Furious), Julie Gonzalo (Veronica Mars) and Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives). They will be joined by iconic stars Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Larry Hagman. TNT has ordered 10 episodes and the series is slated to premiere in the summer of 2012. (TV By the Numbers)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Gillian Anderson (The X-Files) will play Miss Haversham in a new version of Great Expectations in a new adaptation of the Dickens classic for the BBC. The three-part drama will air on BBC One this Christmas to celebrate the 200th birthday of Dickens in 2012. But there is no word yet on when this adaptation will air in America, though. Meanwhile, actor Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) has signed on to play escaped criminal Magwitch and relative newcomer Douglas Booth will play the orphan hero Pip. Also actor David Suchet (Poirot) will play Jagger and Mark Addy (Game of Thrones) will play Pumblechook. (John Sellers at The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Veteran talents Vanessa Redgrave and Terrence Stamp are set to lead the box office film called Song for Marion, which follows a progressive choir composed of elderly men and women singing contemporary pop and rock songs. Redgrave will play Marion while Stamp plays her husband Arthur, who is reluctant to join the choir with Marion. But of course she and the choir leader, to be played by Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia), want him there. In addition, Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who) and Anne Reid (2010’s Upstairs Downstairs) also star in the film that will feature songs from Motorhead, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and Cyndi Lauper. (The Daily Mail and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Newest Theatrical Trailer for Gus Van Sant’s Quaint Indie ‘Restless’

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

The weekend is nearly here and the big news of the day is that the first full day of programming for the 2011 Comic Con – to be held in San Diego in less than two weeks’ time – was announced today.

Meanwhile, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actors Jason Priestley (the original Beverly Hills, 90210) and Tony Hall (Arrested Development) will both make guest appearances on Psych this fall. Priestley will play a Harley-riding con man who tries to pull a job at the same spa resort Shawn (James Roday) and Juliet (Maggie Lawson) are staying at for the weekend. While Hale plays an owner of an imports/exports business who crosses paths with Shawn and Juliet while at the resort. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos) will guest star on the season finale of Drop Dead Diva, playing Tina Howard, a hard-edged but sweet travel agent with a sense of adventure. When Tina is offered a new ticker, due to her diagnosis of fatal cardiac disease, she refuses it, as the heart is from her brother — a death row inmate who is to be executed in 72 hours. Tina wants nothing to do with her brother, and Jane (Brooke Elliott) must convince her to take the heart that will save her life. And then the real battle begins — Jane has to fight California law, which doesn’t permit death-row inmates to donate organs. Jane doesn’t have long to win her case as Tina’s health is rapidly failing. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Actor Lex Medlin (Southland) will appear in Drop Dead Diva in a multi-episode arc as Owen French, a charming judge who asks Jane out after presiding over her cases in court. He will appear in the last four episodes of the season. (Jethro Nededog at The Hollywood Reporter)

A&E is bringing back its drama series Breakout Kings for a second season. (Deadline)

Actor Jason Ritter (The Event) will be back on Parenthood in the fall AND he has also signed a development deal with Universal Media Studios for a new series that will be from Jason Katims (the man behind Parenthood, Friday Night Lights and Roswell). (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

ABC has sold the online rights to the canceled soaps All My Children and One Life to Live in a multi-year deal to Prospect Park, a company led by Royal Pains executive producers Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz. The company is in the process of finalizing the funding for an as-yet-unnamed online TV network that would feature the soaps and eventually other programming. (TV Guide)

Actor Alfred Molina (Law & Order: Los Angeles) has been cast in a multi-episode arc in the NBC drama Harry’s Law that will return this fall on NBC. He will play ‪Eric Sanders, a man in who has been accused of murdering his wife. While admitting he was unhappy in his marriage and had dreamt of getting rid of her, he claims he’s innocent. After spending time in jail, he has suffered from anxiety attacks and is estranged from his daughter who believes him to be guilty of murder. He will appear in three episodes. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Russell T Davies (the man behind Doctor Who and the creator of the Showtime series Queer As Folk) is back at the premium cable network with a new drama series in development titled Cucumber. Details about the plot are not available at this time. (Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The Hallmark Hall of Fame (HHOF), a staple of CBS Sunday nights for 16 years, is moving to ABC this fall. In the new arrangement, the HHOF will air its three-a-year productions Sunday nights before Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. And then those movies will reair one week later on the Hallmark Channel. Currently filming in Detroit is the HHOF movie to be based on a Mitch Albom book called Have a Little Faith that stars Bradley Whitford, Laurence Fishburne and Martin Landau and the HHOF is planning a return to the Hallmark screen of the ageless Betty White. (Twitter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Abigail Spencer (Mad Men and the upcoming box office film Cowboys and Aliens) has joined the cast of the upcoming film Oz, the Great and Powerful which is a pseudo-prequel to the L. Frank Baum’s classic novel The Wizard of Oz that shows how a traveling mid-Western magician (James Franco) crash landed in the magical land of Oz and the three powerful witches (Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams) he runs into. Spencer will play a young woman who is a willing subject of Oz’s magic tricks which the erstwhile magician is performing in Kansas. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor Giovanni Ribisi will co-star in the period crime drama called The Gangster Squad that is based on a series of Los Angeles Times articles. The true story tale follows a secret “off the record” police task force in the 1940’s who pursued high-profile gangster Meyer Harris “Mickey” Cohen (Sean Penn), a member of the so-called “Jewish Mafia”. Ribisi will play Conway Keeler, a cop in the group who is a master of electronics and wires. Also among the cast are Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Anthony Mackie and Michael Pena. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

AWARD WINNERS

Here are the winners of E! Online’s 10th annual Tater Top Awards:

BEST BADDIE: Ian Somerhalder, The Vampire Diaries
BEST BITCH: Naya Rivera, Glee
BEST COMEDY: Community
BEST COUPLE: Brittany & Santana, Glee
BEST DRAMA: The Vampire Diaries
BEST KISS: Blaine & Kurt, Glee
BIGGEST SHOCKER: Bones is pregnant with Booth’s child, Bones
BREAKOUT STAR: Naya Rivera, Glee
DRAMA KING: Jensen Ackles, Supernatural
DRAMA MAMA: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
FAVORITE FUNNY GUY: Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
FAVORITE FUNNY LADY: Heather Morris, Glee
LOVE TRIANGLE YOU’RE TOTALLY OVER: Finn, Rachel & Quinn, Glee
NEW FALL SHOW YOU’RE MOST EXCITED FOR: Ringer
ODD COUPLE: Lauren Zizes & Puck, Glee
SHOW YOU MISS THE MOST: Smallville
STAR YOU’LL MISS THE MOST: Lisa Edelstein, House

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for this “Over the Hump” day:

TELEVISION

The USA Network has picked up another pilot. The new series Common Law has been given an 11 episode order. The series stars Michael Ealy (FlashForward) and Warren Kole (Mental), who play wildly different cops who are the elite team in the LAPD homicide squad until their constant bickering gets them put on probation. To fix their problems, their captain (Jack McGee) sends them to couples therapy. (Deadline)

Actor Adrian Pasdar (Heroes) has joined the cast of the new ABC Family Channel drama The Lying Game, which is based on the books by Sara Shepard (who also authored Pretty Little Liars). The series is about separated-at-birth twins Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer (both played by Alexandra Chando). The sisters switch places so that Emma can experience the trappings of wealth while Sutton pursues the identity of their birth mother. But it gets much darker when Sutton doesn’t show on the night the girls are supposed to reunite. Pasdar will play the father of Sutton’s best friend Madeleine (Alice Greczyn) and her brother Thayer. The Lying Game premieres on August 15 at 9 PM. (TV Guide)

Actresses Stephanie March and Diane Neal will be returning to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit next season as Assistant District-Attorneys. It is unknown for how many episodes they will be returning, though, nor if they will be splitting the ADA duties. (TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Author Stephenie Meyer (the woman behind the Twilight books) and female director-writer Jerusha Hess (co-writer of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre) will be working together on the film adaptation of the chick-lit novel Austenland. The novel focuses on a young woman obsessed with Colin Firth’s character, Mr. Darcy, in the BBC production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The cast of this film includes Keri Russell (Felicity), JJ Field (Captain America), Bret McKenzie (The Flight of the Conchords), Jennifer Coolidge (Legally Blonde), Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) and James Callis (Battlestar Galactica). (The Hollywood Reporter and SlashFilms)

Some big names will be appearing in the upcoming box office comedy film called Gods Behaving Badly. Based on the novel by Marie Phillips, the story deals with a mortal couple (Alicia Silverstone and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) who encounter the Olympian Gods who are currently residing in a brownstone in modern-day New York. Among the big names are: Christopher Walken as Zeus, John Turturro as Hades, Sharon Stone as Aphrodite, Oliver Platt as Apollo, Edie Falco as Artemis, Phylicia Rashad as Demeter, Nelsan Ellis as Dionysus and Rosie Perez is Persephone. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actor Rodrigo Santoro (Lost and Love Actually) is set play Jennifer Lopez’s husband in the upcoming film What To Expect When You’re Expecting, which is an adaptation of the best-selling pregnancy guidebook. Cameron Diaz, Anna Kendrick and Brooklyn Decker also star in the film, which tracks several couples who suffer the joys and pains of the childbirth process. Santoro will play a music business executive who isn’t quite ready to have a child but goes along with his wife’s plan to adopt. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: Will NCIS resolve Tony’s investigation in the season opener? — Jennie C., via Twitter

ADAM: I’m hearing Tony’s mole hunt will be mostly wrapped up in the premiere. And if you’re worried that the investigation is going to tear our beloved team apart, let executive producer Gary Glasberg assure you otherwise. “Our group will be working together as a team more often [this season] and not be quite as splintered as they sometimes are,” he says. “There are certain things that [the new Secretary of the Navy] may want them to do, and they’re going to have to unite in certain ways to take on those challenges.”

Question: So excited to hear about the new villain on Bones. What else have you heard about the new season? — Linda

ADAM: Executive producer Stephen Nathan confirms that the Nov. 3 premiere deals with an amnesia victim, which forces Booth and Brennan to reflect on their own pasts. That means that Ryan O’Neal will be returning as Brennan’s father, but will we meet any of Booth’s family in the process? “We’ll be dealing with an important aspect of Booth’s family as well,” Nathan says. “Both of them had quite unique and difficult upbringings. It’s about finding out how memories affect [them] going forward.”

Question: Please tell me you have Mikita spoilers for the new season of Nikita! — Leslie

NATALIE: Nikita and Michael will use the information contained in the black box to begin undoing the decades-long wrath of Percy. First up: They’ll help a captain who was framed by the now-former Division leader escape from military prison. Unfortunately for the star-crossed — and ass-kicking — couple, Alex will be hot on their trail.

Question: Any word on who will play the new captain on Castle? — Ellen

ADAM: I’m hearing the show auditioned several big-name actresses, but no one’s signed on the dotted line yet. We shouldn’t have to wait much longer, though: I’m told they’ll introduce the new bosslady at Comic-Con in late July.

Question: Jane and Maura are my favorite duo on television right now. Do you have any spoilers on what we’ll see for them this season on Rizzoli & Isles? — Justin

NATALIE: Sadly, their BFF status may be in jeopardy when Maura hides a troubling secret. “Jane comes to the realization that she’s maybe misjudged her relationship with Maura,” Angie Harmon tells us. “She’s always thought she could be herself and be personal around Maura, and the way Maura is acting is proving that to be untrue.”

Question: Got anything juicy on Royal Pains? — Grace

ADAM: Who doesn’t a love a little doctor-on-doctor rivalry? The show is looking for a name actress to recur as Hank’s med school nemesis. Described as beautiful and spunky, she’s now working at Brooklyn Mercy, the hospital that blacklisted Hank in the pilot episode. We hear he’ll have to swallow his pride when he seeks her advice about a clinically depressed patient.

Question: Will Peter come back in Season 4 of Fringe? Will Olivia find out the existence of Fauxlivia’s son? And, if so, how will she react? —Silvia

Ausiello: I don’t have any concrete answers to those questions, but my gut is telling me probably, eventually and not well. Meanwhile, sources confirm that producers are casting a new recurring female character. Interested actresses should be Asian and between the age of 25 and 50.

Question: Are we gonna get a Bones Christmas episode this season? They had one in Season 5, but not in Season 6. So I think it’s time dust off the mistletoe! —Hanna

Ausiello: At this point, “nothing’s planned,” responds exec producer Stephen Nathan. “But since we will be airing in the middle of December, we might toss in a snowman or something. Could be a nice murder, thawing out Frosty and finding the clues in a puddle of water.” You mess with Frosty, you mess with my childhood. Tread lightly, Nathan. Tread lightly.

Question: Will we see Michael’s brother Nate on Burn Notice this season? —Jason

Ausiello: Michael’s dumbass sib actually resurfaces in this Thursday’s episode with a new title: daddy! “He has a kid now” with new bride Ruth, previews series creator Matt Nix. “It’s just another thing Michael is dealing with. We really like having Seth [Petersen] around and part of this whole season is just dealing with who Michael is vis-à-vis his family and the people that he cares about. Nate is part of that.”

Question: Anything on the current season of The Glades? I’ll take anything. —Emily

Ausiello: Vampire Diaries‘ Kayla Ewell is squeezing in a Glades guest spot before she resumes work on the CW hit. The actress will play a Miami bartender who may have ties to a man found murdered at the beach. And by “ties to” I mean “murdered in cold blood.”

Question: I can’t be the only one who is tired of the Neal/Peter tension on White Collar, right? Are they going to resolve this frakkin’ issue soon, or are they going to drag is out all season? I want to see the Neal/Peter friendship and camaraderie back. —Scott

Ausiello: Considering that the episode they’re currently shooting revolves around the treasure mystery, I’m betting the tension will persist at least through the midseason finale “This [episode] has a lot to do with the treasure,” confirms Tim DeKay. “Some questions will be answered, and some may not.”

Question: So Castle and Josh finally get into it on Castle! Amazing! But is it physical blows or just a shouting match? Please tell me it’s physical! —Kelis

Ausiello: It’s physical!

Question: Any scoop on Kristen Bell’s new Showtime series House of Lies? —Karen

Ausiello: The show is casting a love interest for her character, and producers are looking for a twentysomething actor with a dirty sexy rocker vibe who’s comfortable with simulated intercourse, tasteful nudity and endless comparisons to Russell Brand in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There isn’t too much news to share today. That can be attributed to the long holiday weekend, I’m sure. But, here is what I found:

TELEVISION

Actors Darren Criss and Harry Shum, Jr. have both been upgraded to series regular on the FOX musicomedy Glee, but the contract for actor Chord Overstreet has not been renewed. (E! Online)

Actor Richard T. Jones (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Judging Amy) will appear on a recurring basis as the new Governor on the CBS series Hawaii Five-0. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Actress Kristina Apgar (Privileged) will have a recurring role on 90210, playing a love interest for Liam (Matt Lanter). Her character will be Jane, a mysterious 21-year-old from Alaska who married young and is a widow. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Charisma Carpenter (Buffy and Angel) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Burn Notice playing Nicki, a sharp-tongued, high-maintenance trophy wife whose not-so-better half, a bio-weapons engineer, is a wanted man in cahoots with the Russians. (Matt Mitovich and Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for this past holiday weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations and E! Online:

1. Transformers: Dark of the Moon, $97.5 million
2. Cars 2, $26.2 million
3. Bad Teacher, $14.5 million
4. Larry Crowne, $13 million
5. Super 8, $7.8 million
6. Monte Carlo, $7.4 million
7. Green Lantern, $6.5 million
8. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, $5.5 million
9. Bridesmaids, $3.6 million
10. Midnight in Paris, $3.4 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Today’s news is really short, but here it is:

TELEVISION

Starz has canceled the drama Camelot after airing only one season. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Anna Kendrick (The Twilight Saga films) and actor Chris Rock have landed roles in the upcoming film What to Expect When You’re Expecting that already includes Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Ed Helms and Isla Fisher. Kendrick will play Rosie, a woman who reunites with an old flame and fellow food-truck owner and becomes pregnant while Rock will play the head of a group of expectant fathers who lectures them on what it’s really like to have a baby and become a father. (First Showing and Deadline)

Actress Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights) will be the female lead in the box office film G.I. Joe: Cobra Sticks, playing Lady Jaye. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor Jason London has joined the cast of independent romantic comedy film called Roswell FM, which already stars actor Brendan Fehr (from the Roswell TV series). London will play a quirky eccentric paranormal talk show host in the film which centers around a radio station in New Mexico. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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