Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

There are some pretty good items to share with all of you today, but before I get into all of that I just want to say congrats to all the winners of the Tony Awards, which were aired last night, and to send out a congrats to all the nominees of the TCA Awards to be presented by the Television Critics Association in August.

And now for today’s news:

TELEVISION

AMC has renewed The Killing for a second season. (The Wrap)

Actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Undercovers) has landed the female lead opposite Kiefer Sutherland in the FOX drama pilot Touch, which is considered a lock for a midseason series order. The series centers on Martin (Sutherland) who discovers that his genius son Jake (David Mazouz) is communicating with him through a complex series of numbers and may even be able to predict events before they happen. (Deadline)

Actor Curtis Armstrong (Revenge of the Nerds and Moonlighting) has landed a multi-episode arc on The Closer, playing Peter Goldman, a resourceful attorney hired by the mother of a slain gang member to sue Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) and the Los Angeles Police Department. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

CONDOLENCES

Laura Ziskin, Spider-Man franchise producer and co-founder of Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), lost her battle with breast cancer Sunday night. She was 61. (Twitter)

ME: Rest in Peace, Ms. Ziskin. Condolences to her family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actors Pierce Brosnan and Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl) have signed to play a father and son in the film The House Gun that is based on the 1998 novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer. It is set in post-Apartheid South Africa where the son of a wealthy South African family is arrested on a murder charge. The father hires a black lawyer to try the case. The big catch: financing for the picture is still being worked out and no writer or director is yet attached. (The LA Times and Dark Horizons)

James Badge Dale (24 and Rubicon) has joined the cast of the zombie apocalyptic thriller World War Z that is based on the novel by Max Brooks. The film stars Brad Pitt as a U.N. Postwar Commissions researcher tasked with finding a cure for the human race ten years after the disease has infected Earth. Dale will play an American soldier who is the first to report this planet-consuming zombie epidemic to government officials. (Showblitz and Dark Horizons)

Actor Jeremy Renner will star in and produce the race car drama called Slingshot that follows the real-life adventures of Bill Caswell, a guy who won the World Rally Championships held in Mexico using a BMW he bought off Craig’s List for $500. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Here is the list of the top 10 movies at the box office this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations and E! Online:

1. Super 8, $37 million
2. X-Men: First Class, $25 million
3. The Hangover Part II, $18.5 million
4. Kung Fu Panda 2, $16.6 million
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, $10.8 million
6. Bridesmaids, $10.2 million
7. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, $6.3 million
8. Midnight in Paris, $6.1 million
9. Thor, $2.4 million
10. Fast Five, $1.7 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There is a lot of great news to share with everyone today so please read on:

TELEVISION

Actress Molly Parker (Deadwood) is headed to Dexter where she will appear as Lisa Marshall, the sister of Colin Hanks’ mysterious new character, Travis. Hanks will appear in all 12 episodes of Dexter‘s sixth season as a brilliant expert on ancient artifacts who somehow becomes linked to a series of grisly murders in Miami. It remains unclear if Travis will turn out to be a friend or foe of a certain Dark Passenger. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Actress Julie Benz (most recently seen in the short-lived series No Ordinary Family) will appear in an episode of Royal Pains (expected to air on August 3), playing a young mother named Elyse. After an accident on the family farm leaves her with a nasty wound that won’t heal, Dr. Hank (Mark Feuerstein) is called into action by her daughter Libby (Meredith Hagner). (William Keck at TV Guide)

Some great faces from the world of sci-fi will be guest starring in upcoming episodes of Warehouse 13, including actress Jeri Ryan (Star Trek Voyager and currently seen on Body of Proof) will appear as a bride named Amanda while actress Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek Voyager) will have a 4-episode arc as Warehouse protector Jane. It’s said that both characters share a shocking connection to a series regular. Also actor Rene Auberjonois (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) will reprise of computer expert Hugo Miller. And, actor Sasha Roiz and actress Alessandra Torresani (both late of the short-lived series Capria) will appear in upcoming episodes. Roiz will be a mysterious part of the “Big Bad” on the show for this year while Torressani will play a girl in trouble that needs help from Myka (Joanne Kelly) and Claudia (Allison Scagliotti). (William Keck at TV Guide)

Actor Drew Van Acker (Tower Prep and the online series The Lake) will take over the role of Jason DiLaurentis (the brother of the departed Allison) on Pretty Little Liars, which returns for its second season on June 14 at 8 PM on ABC Family. (New York Post)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

HBO will team with BBC2 on turning the historical novel I, Claudius by Robert Graves into a mini-series. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope) is set to co-star in the independent film called The Boys of Abu Ghraib, which follows a US soldier at the infamous Iraq prison who befriends a detainee accused of murder. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: New Web Only Trailer for Tom Hanks’ Comedy ‘Larry Crowne’

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

Question: Covert Affairs, please! This season started off awesome! — Nikki

Sandra: How about some scoop from Christopher Gorham about this season’s Auggie-centric July 19 episode? “He gets way out of the office. He’s on vacation in Istanbul for this big international jazz festival, and we end up doing flashbacks to Iraq before he lost his sight. We have the big reveal — finally the truth about how he lost his sight. There’s some romance in that episode for him as well. It’s a great episode.”

Question: Loved the premiere of White Collar! And totally agree with you, I thought the Peter-Neal tension was great. Any idea on where this is headed? — Alex

Sandra: Their battle will continue, but eventually, it will get physical. Sort of. Matt Bomer explains: “We shot this really fun scene where we run a con on somebody by setting up a fake OTB [off track betting site] and in order to sell the con, [Peter and Neal] have to pretend they’re in a fight. And he’s firing my character, and it erupts into a fight where some more personal things start to surface. [Laughs] At first they’re pretending and then it starts to get a little more real.” But in the end, he says, “it was like free couples therapy.”

Question: I’m so excited about The Big C. Loved, loved, loved the first season. Spoilers on the return? — Cindy

Sandra: If you’re a fan of the show, then you probably just recently stopped crying about the finale, right? I know I couldn’t stop bawling over the part when Adam found the loot of milestone presents from his mom. But this season, don’t expect huge changes from Adam (Gabriel Basso) as a result of that heartbreaking scene. “I was a little punk in the first season and I am actually kind of a bigger punk this season. It is still all denial on his part. He is trying to distance himself from his mother now that he knows she is sick and could die despite seeking treatment. I think he is trying to accept it and deal on his own, and that’s a mistake,” says Basso. And Parker Posey, who guest stars on this season, only complicates matters. “I meet Parker Posey on a kids-with-sick-parents website, and we strike up an interesting relationship. But before that I go a little crazy with the ladies.”

Question: Thanks for the Burn Notice scoop. Any more up your sleeve? –Chris

Sandra: You know me too well. I saved this little nugget from my chat with Jeffrey Donovan (Michael), where he talks about this season’s bigger and better stunts. “You’re going to see Michael far more physical than he ever has. Not necessarily fights, because we’ve done them before, Michael in fights and he handles himself pretty well. But pretty dangerous stuff: Motorcycle driving, repelling off of buildings, a lot of stuff that we’ve kind of touched on that Michael can do, but you’re going to see me much more physical. I will say this: They’re having me take my shirt off a lot more this year than they ever have. Which I’m not happy about.” I’m going to go out on a limb and say some fans feel the exact opposite.

Question: Any Drop Dead Diva scoop for me? ANY hope for Grayson and Jane? — Jane

Sandra: Do you have any idea how much I would love it if you had a boyfriend named Grayson? Sorry… moving on, there’s definite hope. But their bond will hit a snag in the season premiere when he wakes up — and can’t remember who she is! (It’s only temporary.) But let me say, Brooke Elliott is killing it this season. Particularly, the last scene of the June 19 premiere got me a little choked up.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

The news isn’t too long again today, but there are interesting items to share with everyone. Please read on:

TELEVISION

Legendary actor William Shatner will guest star on an upcoming episode of Psych, playing the estranged con man/father of Juliet (Maggie Lawson). Viewers will meet Frank when he attempts to mend his broken relationship with Juliet, with a little help from Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill). However, the chance to pull off a dream con will make Frank’s decision to give up his life of crime more complicated. Psych returns in the fall on USA. (TV Guide)

TNT has picked up the off-network cable rights to the ABC hit series Castle, which means the popular series will begin to reair episodes from season 1 and season 2 on the cable network next summer. (TV By the Numbers)

Actor Mark Pellegrino (Lost, Supernatural and Being Human) will have a recurring role in the TNT police drama The Closer starting in mid-August. He will play Brenda’s high-powered defense attorney Gavin Baker, who is ruthless in court and still manages to project an air of friendly professionalism. Baker specializes in defending police officers in civil actions. Brenda will require his help after she’s sued by the family of a gang member she placed in harm’s way. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Actors Kelly Lynch, Seymour Cassel and Danny Houston have joined the cast of the upcoming drama series called Magic City that will air on Starz in 2012. The 10-episode drama stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen and Supernatural) as Ike Evans, the cool, visionary force behind Miami Beach’s newest hotel and a man with dangerous secrets; Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) as Ike’s wife Vera, a former showgirl who is deeply loyal to her husband and family and Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), as Ben Diamond, Miami’s most dangerous mobster. The cast also stars Jessica Marais (Legend of the Seeker) as Ben’s beautiful, caged wife, Lily; Steven Strait (10,000 B.C.), as Ike’s eldest son, Stevie; Christian Cooke (Cemetery Junction) as Danny, Ike’s innocent, hard-working younger son; Dominik Garcia Lorido (City Island) as Mercedes, a maid in the Miramar Playa who has grown up with the Evans family in the shadow of the hotel; and Elena Satine (Just Go With It) as Judi, a platinum blonde escort who works out of the Miramar Playa and helps Ike out from time to time. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Danny Glover is set to co-star in the FOX drama pilot Touch, which is about a father (Kiefer Sutherland) who discovers that his genius son (David Mazouz) is communicating with him through a complex series of numbers and may even be able to predict events before they happen. Glover will play a professor who works with the boy. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Matthew Goode (Watchmen and Leap Year) is in talks to play the male lead in the upcoming movie called Stoker that follows a teenage girl (Mia Wasikowska from Alice in Wonderland) who, while mourning the death of her father, must deal with the unexpected appearance of a mysterious uncle (Goode). Nicole Kidman also stars. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There was a bit more news to share with all of you today than the last couple of days so please sit down and read on:

TELEVISION

Looks like actors Aml Ameen and Brittany Snow won’t be returning to the NBC legal drama Harry’s Law when it returns this fall for its second season. While the exact reasons for the split have not been announced it was a “mutual decision” with producers and the actors have been invited to return as guest stars. (TV Line)

Actor Laurence Fishburne has not opted to renew his contract with the long-running CBS drama CSI. The question now is who will replace him? (Deadline and E! Online)

Twin Peaks alums Madchen Amick and Dana Ashbrook will show up on separate episodes of White Collar. Amick will play Selena Ellis, a sultry femme fatale who is suspected of marrying wealthy men for money. The very next week, Ashbrook will appear as Carlisle, a millionaire playboy who loves to spend big bucks on extravagant, over-the-top objects that label him as a status symbol of wealth. Additionally, Robert John Burke (Gossip Girl) will play an Irish mob boss who is in direct competition with the Deluca family, a Detroit mafia organization who is after Mozzie (Wille Garson). (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Cristian de la Fuente (In Plain Sight) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Haven, playing Cornell, a straight-laced, conservative, mild-mannered banker who is hiding a double life. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Child actor David Mazouz (the Lifetime movie Amish Grace) will play the younger lead opposite Kiefer Sutherland in the Fox drama pilot Touch that is considered a lock for a midseason series order. The project centers on Martin (Sutherland) who discovers that his genius son Jake (Mazouz) is communicating with him through a complex series of numbers and may even be able to predict events before they happen. Jake rarely shows emotion, refuses to be touched, and instead busies himself with cast-off cell phones, able to see the world with something akin to the eye of God, where every action, thought, breath is interconnected. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE MOVIE NEWS

Young actor Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In and The Road) is in discussions to play Romeo’s cousin Benvolio in the latest adaptation of the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. Benvolio is Romeo’s cousin who futilely tries to keep the peace between Tybalt (Ed Westwick) and Mercutio. Hailee Steinfeld and Holly Hunter have already been cast as Juliet and her nurse respectively. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Filipina singing sensation Charice (Glee) will play the character of Malia Dela Cruz, a musical brainiac student, in the upcoming comedy film called Here Comes The Boom that follows a high school teacher whose school is facing drastic budget cuts. He decides to moonlight as a mixed martial arts fighter to win prize money. Kevin James, Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler also star. (Zezbiz and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: Any scoop on the new season of True Blood? — Renee

NATALIE: On a show where the term dead is, to say the least, fluid, we’ll discover yet another permutation when we witness a chilling resurrection. Tara has a new ‘do — and a hilariously entertaining new job. And if I were to tell you that the hottest human-vampire couple among the Bon Temps faithful is no longer Jessica and Hoyt, would you be as sad as I am? Eric wouldn’t be.

Question: Is it just me, or did Brennan seem shocked that Booth was happy about her being pregnant on Bones? — Josh

ADAM: It’s not just you. “There was a little something in that,” executive producer Stephen Nathan says. “She’s spent six years slowly becoming more and more in touch with a softer side of herself. And this was sort of one final emotional touch from Booth that says, ‘You can enjoy this. You can accept this as the most wonderful thing in the world.'”

Question: I can’t wait for Burn Notice to return! What’s happening with Michael? — James

NATALIE: Michael has been quite busy tracking down the organization involved in burning him — this time alongside the CIA and a sly handler played by Grant Show. He’ll make it back to Miami in the premiere, if only briefly, long enough to get a very warm welcome from Fiona.

Question: Will Grayson ever find out about Jane on Drop Dead Diva? — Mina

NATALIE: Creator Josh Berman is taking over my job this week to answer your question, Mina: “Absolutely … although for Jane and Grayson to ever have a successful romantic relationship, he needs to fall in love with Jane — not just because she is Deb, but because he loves the person she has become.” But something unexpected will complicate that goal. “There is also a second half to that equation — Jane must continue to be in love with him.”

Question: I hear the Pretty Little Liars girls have to see a therapist in the new season. True? — Katelyn

ADAM: True, and while the girls are naturally skeptical at first, they will soon realize how beneficial the relationship could be — that is, until one of the girls discovers a clue in the shrink’s office that suggests that A is, as usual, one step ahead of them.

Question: Any good scoop on Rizzoli & Isles? — Sarah

NATALIE: Maura Isles has a lover! Ian is a ruggedly handsome doctor who works in the Third World — but when he’s in America, he’s all about Maura, their passionate affair and the secret they’ll be attempting to hide from Jane.

Question: Can we Leverage fans count on some good Parker-Hardison scenes this season? ¬— Doug

ADAM: If you take executive producer Dean Devlin at his word, you sure can! “The Parker-Hardison relationship really goes to a much higher level this year — much deeper intensity,” Devlin says. He adds that the season will be much more emotional. “The fun is still there, the heists are still there, but … [the team’s] relationships are going to develop in ways that are profound.”

Question: It’s been a while since you’ve given us anything on Psych. ¬— Anne

NATALIE: Who wants to meet Juliet’s father? An upcoming episode will find Shawn and Gus trying to repair her relationship with her estranged con-man dad. His hard shell will be softened by some new information Juliet has to share — perhaps enough to give up his life of crime.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The news is really short for today, but there are still a few good tidbits to share:

TELEVISION

Actress Jaimie Alexander, who just appeared in the box office film Thor and has appeared in Nurse Jackie and Kyle XY, will have a recurring role (i.e. three episodes) on the USA Network drama Covert Affairs, playing new tech Reva Kline, who was the youngest person to ever land a project in the CIA’s Directorate of Science & Technology but her inability to socialize with others presents a challenge for CIA agent Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) when the two are forced to work with each other. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

The BBC has confirmed that actor Matt Smith will return as the Doctor in the hit series Doctor Who when it returns for its 7th season, which will consist of 14 new episodes (the Christmas episode and 13 all-new episodes). It is unclear at this time if co-stars Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill will be returning to their roles of Amy Pond and Rory Williams, though, as they are both have signed onto other projects. Time will tell… (TV Overmind)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Keke Palmer (True Jackson and Madea’s Family Reunion) has been cast in Nickelodeon’s brand-new original TV movie called Rags, which is a modern-day fairy tale about Kadee Worth (Palmer) and Charlie Prince (Max Schneider). The story follows Charlie Prince, an orphan living with his acerbic and unloving stepfather and spoiled, simple-minded stepbrothers. Charlie’s dream is to be a singer, and while he is vocally talented and can write music, he can’t seem to catch a break. Kadee Worth, on the other hand, is the daughter of music mogul Reginald Worth and is an international pop phenomenon. While the world knows her as a glamorous superstar, she is secretly frustrated with singing other people’s songs and wearing clothes other people choose for her. Kadee wants the world to hear and see her true talent. Despite every obstacle that gets thrown in their way, once Charlie and Kadee find one another, they each finally get what they have been looking for – a voice, a stage, an audience and each other. The movie is set to premiere in 2012. (The Futon Critic)

MUSIC NEWS WITH TV TIE-IN

Naya Rivera, one of the many cast members of the FOX musicomedy Glee has signed a deal with Columbia Records and will begin recording her debut album after the Glee tour wraps later this month. She is the third Glee star to sign a record deal, following Matthew Morrison and Mark Salling. (The Hollywood Reporter and TV Guide)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There isn’t a lot of news to share today, but there are a few interesting tidbits to share with everyone:

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The next, new Procter & Gamble and Walmart made-for-TV family movie called Field of Visio will air on Saturday, June 11 at 8 PM on NBC. Through mysterious footage captured on an old malfunctioning video camera, Sinclair High School’s star quarterback, Tyler McFarland (Tony Oller from the TV series Gigantic), learns that some of his teammates have been bullying Cory Walker (Joe Adler from the box office film Prom), a troubled new transfer student. Aware that sharing this information with the coach might get his friends kicked off the team and ultimately cost the school the state championship, Tyler must choose what’s more important: winning or doing what’s right. As these events unfold, the camera also reveals more surprising footage to Tyler’s kid sister Lucy (Alyssa Jordan Shafer from the TV series The Unit). She learns that Cory has a secret past, unknown even to him. Now Lucy must convince her mom (Faith Ford) and family that the camera’s revealing insight is not a product of her imagination as she enlists their help to find the answers Cory so desperately needs. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

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

1. X-Men: First Class, $56 million
2. The Hangover Part II, $32.4 million
3. Kung Fu Panda 2, $24.3 million
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, $18 million
5. Bridesmaids, $12.1 million
6. Thor, $4.2 million
7. Fast Five, $3.2 million
8. Midnight in Paris, $2.9 million
9. Jumping the Broom, $865,000
10. Something Borrowed, $835,000

Actor Rami Malek (24 and the upcoming Twilight: Breaking Dawn movie) and Madisen Beaty (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) have joined the cast of the as-yet untitled religious drama film from Paul Thomas Anderson. Malek will play Clark, the son-in-law of Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman) the creator of a new faith that closely mirrors Scientology. Beaty’s role is currently unknown. Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Laura Dern and Jesse Plemons [among others] also star. (Movies.ie and Dark Horizons)

Actor Jon Tenney (The Closer) has replaced Clark Gregg in the upcoming film called As Cool As I Am. The story follows a Montana teen girl dealing with her self-centered parents trying to recapture the youth they feel they missed. The cast includes Claire Danes, James Marsden, Peter Fonda, Alanis Morissette, Jeremy Sisto and Anika Noni Rose [among others]. (Variety and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are today’s tidbits for the world of entertainment.

MINI-SERIES NEWS

HBO and BBC have given the green light to a 5-part mini-series set during World War I that will star actor British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall. The mini called Parade’s End is based on the series of four books by British novelist Ford Madox Ford, which were published between 1924 and 1928. It will be set against the backdrop of World War I, telling the story of a complex and destructive love triangle among a conservative English aristocrat (Cumberbatch), his beautiful but cruel socialite wife (Hall), and a vibrant young suffragette. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actors Anne Heche and James Tupper are set to star in the Lifetime movie called Girl Fight, that is inspired by the true story of Florida cheerleader Victoria “Tori” Lindsay, a 16-year-old, stellar high school student whose life spirals downward when her “friends” brutally beat her up and then upload a video of the attack onto the Internet. Heche and Tupper will play the girl’s parents. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE FILMS

Actors J.K. Simmons, Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Ben Barnes and John Hannah have joined the cast of the upcoming film called The Words, which stars Bradley Cooper as a writer who, at the peak of his literary success, discovers the price he must pay for stealing another man’s work. Jeremy Irons and Dennis Quaid also star. (First Showing)

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes, the PBS mini-series version) has dropped out of the upcoming box office adaptation of the Tolstoy classic Anna Karenina due to the above mentioned mini-series with actor Matthew Macfayden taking his place. The story focuses on a 19th century Russian woman (Keira Knightley) trapped in a loveless marriage who becomes a social outcast when she has an affair with the aristocrat Count Vronsky (Aaron Johnson). Meanwhile, actresses Olivia Williams and Andrea Riseborough have joined the cast. (Daily Mail and Dark Horizons)

CONDOLENCES

Legendary Gunsmoke actor James Arness passed away at the age of 88. Gunsmoke was the longest-running series in American television history.  (Entertainment Weekly)

ME: Rest in Peace, Mr. Arness. Condolences to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Hot Trailer: ‘The Whistleblower’

Watch: Rachel McAdams & Channing Tatum in Sappy ‘The Vow’ Trailer

Must Watch: Stellar ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ Theatrical Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

There are a lot of interesting little news tidbits to share with everyone. Let’s get into them:

TELEVISION

Jane Lynch has officially been set as Emmy host. The awards show will air on September 18 on FOX. (Variety)

The new NBC fall drama The Firm, based on the book by John Grisham, now has its leading ma: Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama and The Lincoln Lawyer). The series picks up the story 10 years after the events of the film and novel. As a young associate, McDeere brought down the prestigious Memphis law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke, which operated as a front for the Chicago mob — and his life was never the same. After a difficult decade, which included a stay in the Federal Witness Protection program, Mitch and his family now emerge from isolation to reclaim their lives and their future — only to find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere.  (Deadline)

Bush frontman (and husband of fellow rocker Gwen Stefani) will guest star on an upcoming episode of Burn Notice, playing the wealthy and powerful Armand, a baddie with a hand in atrocious projects across the globe. Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) asks Armand for help, but in return she must help him with a big heist job. Burn Notice returns with all new episodes on June 23 at 9 PM on the USA Network.  (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Andrea Anders (Better Off Ted) will appear in multiple episodes of the new USA Network series Necessary Roughness that premieres on June 29 at 10 PM. The series stars Callie Thorne (Rescue Me) as Dr. Dani Santino, a down-on-her-luck psychotherapist who, through a whirlwind chain of events, finds herself serving as the “shrink to the stars.” The cast features Mehcad Brooks (True Blood) as Terrence King, a football all-star and Dani’s first high-profile patient; Marc Blucas (Buffy) as Matt, the team’s trainer; and Scott Cohen (Gilmore Girls) as a sports “fixer.” Anders will play Laura, a PR exec hired to rehab King’s (Brooks) image. The pretty spin-mistress also has a “history” with Matt (Blucas), so expect her to get pulled into a bit a love triangle with him and Dani. There is a potential this role for Anders could be recurring. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Actress Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse) has been signed to star in an online animated “motion comic” series based on upcoming series Torchwood: Miracle Day. Entitled Torchwood: Web of Lies, Dushku will be front and center in the short-form story, which will also have voice appearances by Torchwood stars John Barrowman as Capt. Jack Harkness and Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper. Jane Espenson is writing the series along with co-writer Ryan Scott. The series will consist of 10 three-minute video and is expected to launch before Torchwood premieres on July 8 on Starz. New installments of the online series will go up after each new Miracle Day episode.  (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) will star in the upcoming movie called Cooked Arrows, a standard underdog sport film that mixes things up by setting the familiar story in the world of lacrosse. The film follows a rag-tag Native American high school lacrosse team that is forced to join the local prep school league, which is comprised of better trained and better equipped rivals. Routh will play the tribal chairman’s part-Native American entrepreneurial son who is tasked with coaching the reservation’s motley lacrosse team in the hopes that he’ll reconnect with his fellow tribe members. (Variety and First Showing)

Actor Bradley Cooper (Alias) has joined the cast of the upcoming film called The Place Beyond the Pines that is about a motorcycle pro (Ryan Gosling) who takes up bank-robbing to support his family. Cooper will play the cop chasing Gosling’s character. (Sam Morgan at Hollywood.com)

It looks like Hollywood is intent on remaking the horror flick Carrie with young True Grit actress Hailee Steinfeld being eyed for the lead role. (Cinema Blend and Dark Horizons)

Actor Nick Nolte has joined the cast of the upcoming film called A Walk in the Woods where he will play an old chum of Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) with whom the author decides to walk the Appalachian Trail. (The LA Times and Dark Horizons)

Actors Lucas Till (Battle: Los Angeles), Kyle Schmid (Blood Ties), Sonja Kinski (daughter of Nastassja Kinski), Rachel Blanchard (7th Heaven) and Juliet Landau (Buffy) are all part of the cast of the independent thriller called Dark Hearts. In the film Goran Visnjic (ER) and Richard Edson (Platoon) star in the story of a struggling artist who accompanies his younger brother to a secret gig where he finds his muse in sultry singer (Kinski) only to be thrust into a maelstrom of art, blood and passion, leading to a dangerous love triangle. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

“Official” Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trailer Hits the Web

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There was a bit more news to today than yesterday, funny how a holiday can slow down the news process, huh? Regardless, here are the news tidbits for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Erica Durance (Smallville) has landed the lead role in a CTV (Canadian broadcaster) drama called Saving Hope. The show begins production in Toronto on June 22. Many CTV dramas like the TV series Flashpoint has aired in the US as well, so it is possible that US audiences could see this new show if it should get picked up. Saving Hope is described as a sexy, fast-paced drama set in a Toronto hospital. (Kryptonsite)

Actress Morena Baccarin (V, Firefly, Stargate: SG-1) has landed a role in the upcoming fall series Homeland, which will air on Showtime. The series centers on Marine Sergeant Scott Brody (Damian Lewis), who returns home eight years after going missing in Iraq, and Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a driven CIA officer who suspects he might be plotting an attack on America. Baccarin will play Jessica Brody, Scott Brody’s smart, strong wife. She replaces Laura Fraser who played the role in the pilot. (Deadline)

Canadian viewers will get to see World Without End, which is based on Ken Follett’s multi-million best seller of the same name, as it will air on the Canadian channel known as Showcase in 2012. The eight-hour special event takes place in the same fictional town as Pillars of the Earth — Kingsbridge — and features the descendants of some Pillars characters two centuries later. The plot incorporates two major historical events, the start of the Hundred Years’ War and the Black Death. (Spoiler TV)

Actor Sam Waterson (Law & Order) has joined the cast of the tentatively-titled More As This Story Develops, which is the Aaron Sorkin-HBO drama pilot that is set behind the scenes at a cable news network. The much-buzzed-about project stars Jeff Daniels as Will McCallister, the host of a popular cable news show. Waterston will play McCallister’s boss. The cast also includes Olivia Munn, Alison Pill, and possibly will also include Emily Mortimer. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse) will guest star on an upcoming episode of White Collar, playing a very sexy woman who works for Matthew Keller (Ross McCall). The series is back with all new episodes on the USA Network on June 7. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

While the news broke over the past few weeks, Life Unexpected creator Liz Tigelaar and former Buffy producer Jane Espenson have both joined the team behind the upcoming fall ABC series Once Upon a Time. Tigelaar is a consulting producer while Espenson will co-executive producer. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It looks like actress Halle Berry just might be doing a TV series on one of the pay cable networks if the current buzz about town is true. Rumor has it that a spec script called Higher Learning is being shipped around to cable networks such as HBO and Showtime (among others). The only detail on the story is that Berry would play a college professor and that the script was written by 30-year industry veteran Lee Rose. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CONDOLENCES

Actress Clarice Taylor, who had a pivotal recurring role on The Cosby Show, passed away on Monday, succumbing to heart failure at the age of 93. Her career spanned the stage, the big and small screen, and radio, including the original Broadway cast of The Wiz and a supporting role in Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty For Me. (Entertainment Weekly)

ME: Rest in Peace, Ms. Taylor. Deepest sympathies to her family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actors Seth Green and Michelle Trachtenberg will join actress Katee Sackhoff in the independent film called Sexy Evil Genius. The film centers on a group of strangers brought together in a downtown Los Angeles bar by their mutual ex-girlfriend (Sackhoff). The woman is mysterious about her intentions, but by the night’s end, revenge will be had, romance kindled and the wronged woman will have delivered on her reputation as the sexy evil genius at the center of all their lives. Also among the cast are Billy Baldwin and Harold Perrineau Jr. (The Hollywood Reporter)

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

Question: What’s up with Sookie and the fairies on True Blood? — Sarah

NATALIE: When the show returns, Sookie will reconnect with some familiar faces in Fairyland. But the glowing lumières the fairies offer up as a snack notwithstanding, it won’t be all sweetness and light. Sookie will have a lot of questions for Claudine, her fairy godmother. First up: If she’s supposed to be Sookie’s protector, where the heck has she been all this time?

Question: What do you have on White Collar? Will we have to wait long to learn who stole the treasure? — Joshua

ADAM: Nope. In fact, the June 7 premiere deals almost entirely with Neal’s dilemma with the pilfered Nazi booty. And Peter won’t make it easy: After the U-Boat explosion, he’s much less trusting of his con man compadre. Not only will Neal have to figure out how to get to the loot out of the country, he’ll also have to fool Peter’s polygraph.

Question: Tell me more about this lawsuit Brenda’s facing on The Closer! — Christine

ADAM: She won’t have to face it alone. She’ll hire a sharp lawyer who specializes in defending cops. He’s a former city attorney who’s now a very successful partner at a private firm. The good news: He’s never lost a case. The bad news: He sees right through Brenda.

Question: I can’t wait for Rizzoli & Isles to return. Got any spoilers? — Erin

NATALIE: Jane and the rest of the Boston PD will have to pull out all the stops when an undercover officer’s daughter is kidnapped. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Jane’s busybody mom has a theory about the missing kid, but can you believe that she actually cracks the case?

Question: What’s coming up on In Plain Sight? — Rosie

NATALIE: It’s Brandi’s wedding day, and a very pregnant Mary has to work… of course. She’ll have to choose between her sister and an endangered witness, and I think we all know how that’s going to go. The upside: Bridezilla Brandi is a veritable TV treat.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

I hope everyone had a terrific holiday weekend and that your first day back to work (or whatever your daily grind may be) hasn’t been too horrible, as I know it’s always hard getting back to “normal” after a holiday weekend.

The news for today is rather short, but there are a few good things to share with everyone:

TELEVISION

AMC has announced that Breaking Bad is set to return with new episodes starting on Sunday, July 17 at 10 PM. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Rachel Nichols has been drooped by Criminal Minds with actress Paget Brewster returning as part of a new deal that includes fewer episodes in which she will appear. Also, negotiations are ongoing with actor Thomas Gibson for next season. Meanwhile, original cast member A.J. Cook is coming back to the show as are Kirsten Vangsness and Shemar Moore. The show returns for its seventh season this fall. (Deadline and E! Online)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Legendary actor Donald Sutherland has been cast as President Snow in the film adaptation of the best-selling novel The Hunger Games. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Jamie Campbell Bower (the TV series Camelot and the Twilight movie franchise) has landed the lead role alongside actress Lily Collins in the film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments from the young adult novel series by Cassandra Clare. Collins plays Clary Fray, a girl with a psychic gift that allows her to see both demons and Shadowhunters. When her mother is abducted, she is forced to learn about her bloodline and abilities in order to get her mother back. Bower will play Jace Wayland, one of the best Shadowhunters around. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Here are the top 10 movies from the long holiday weekend, courtesy of TV Guide:

1. The Hangover Part II – 86.5 million
2. Kung Fu Panda 2 – 48 million
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – 39.3 million
4. Bridesmaids – 16.4 million
5. Thor – 9.4million
6. Fast Five – 6.6 million
7. Midnight in Paris – 1.91 million
8. Jumping the Broom – 1.9 million
9. Something Borrowed – 1.85 million
10. Rio – 1.79 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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