Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

There is quite a bit of news to share with all of you, including a lengthy Q&A section with the folks at TV Guide and TV Line:

TELEVISION

Actor Christopher Meloni will not be back on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit when it returns for its 13th season this fall. A search for a big name to take his place is reportedly underway. (Matt Mitovich and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

The 4th season of Damages, exclusive to DirecTV users, will debut on July 13 at 10 PM. This season will find Patty (Glenn Close) and Ellen (Rose Byrne) embroiled in a wrongful-death suit against a private military contractor, Howard T. Erickson (John Goodman). Erickson has made a fortune supplying the U.S. Government with security forces in Afghanistan and is protected by his connections within the highest echelons of power in Washington, D.C. Chris Sanchez (Chris Messina), a decorated soldier who now works for the security firm, is drawn into the web of intrigue when Ellen and Patty set their sights on his corrupt employer. Complicating matters is Jerry Boorman (Dylan Baker), a shadowy opportunist with ties to both Erickson and the Middle East who is intimately involved in the conspiracy at the heart of the lawsuit. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Billy Brown (Lights Out) will have a recurring role in Dexter when it returns for its new season this fall. He will play Mike Cutler, a no-nonsense Chicago homicide detective who transfers to Miami Metro, where he immediately ruffles some feathers. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actor Rockmond Dunbar (Soul Food and Prison Break) has signed on for a multi-episode arc on Sons of Anarchy, playing Eli Roosevelt, the new sheriff in Charming. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The History Channel will air a mini-series about the most infamous family feud between The Hatfields and the McCoys next year that stars actor Kevin Coster as “Devil” Anse Hatfield. The film will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the bloody war between the two clans that has become a popular metaphor for bitterly feuding rivals. The Hatfield-McCoy saga begins with “Devil” Anse Hatfield and Randall McCoy, who were close friends and comrades during the Civil War. They return to their neighboring homes to find increasing tensions, misunderstandings and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between the two families. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

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

NOTE: Some of the details below are SPOILERISH so please tread lightly!! SPOILER ALERT!!

Question: Why did Bones not show Booth and Brennan’s hookup? Are the writers going to reveal that Brennan actually got pregnant by using Booth’s donated specimen instead? — Melanie

ADAM: Executive producer Stephen Nathan likes your conspiracy theory. “Let’s keep that one alive until next season,” he says with a laugh. “Let’s let people get all upset.” In truth, Nathan says the writers were more concerned with feelings. “Whether or not we see them jumping around in the sack did not seem as important as the emotional acceptance of who they were to each other,” Nathan says. “Moving into Season 7, [the pregnancy] cements their relationship and forces them to accept the fact that they are a couple, they are in love and that they will be moving forward together.”

Question: Got anything on The Closer? — Erica

ADAM: The new season will introduce a new recurring character, a smart, fearless and devious attorney who is suing Brenda and the LAPD on behalf of a slain gang member’s mother. He’s quick on his feet and plays her share of mind games with Brenda, starting with pretending to be a process server. He’ll create a rift when he serves everyone on the squad except Sgt. Gabriel with papers.

Question: I can’t wait for Drop Dead Diva to return. What can you tease? — Leah

NATALIE: When the show returns, Grayson will still be in the hospital after being run down by a car. And sorry, fans, but Grayson will end up in a new body. (Boo! No more sexy Jackson Hurst on the show?) Don’t worry; it’s not permanent — or real! Jane won’t have too much time to ponder that, though. We hear she may be getting fired.

Question: What’s coming up on Rizzoli & Isles? — Shari

NATALIE: Look out, Jane Rizzoli, your brother’s life is about to get very interesting. When the show returns, the love of Frankie Jr.’s life, aka Jane’s nemesis, returns — and she’s bringing some serious baggage.

Question: I read that Fox will launch The Finder in Bones‘ Thursday slot this fall and then Bones will return in the spring, significantly shortening its season. Is this true? —Nancy

Ausiello: Nope, sure isn’t. Bones will launch in the fall, pass the baton to spinoff The Finder in January, and then return to the schedule in the spring. I hear producers may keep the spirit of Bones alive during its three-month, Emily Deschanel baby-fueled midseason hiatus by integrating some of the show’s supporting players into The Finder.

Question: I’m dying for some Hetty scoop after the NCIS: LA finale. Is Linda Hunt on board next season as a series regular? —Daniel

Ausiello: Yes, she’ll be back as a regular. In fact, I predict Hetty will be the last one standing on that show.

Question: Will we ever see Adam again on Supernatural? There could be Smurf paraphernalia in it for you. —Donna

Ausiello: Showrunner Sera Gamble puts the chances of an Adam comeback at a “very strong maybe.”

Question: I was hoping for a scoop from any one of the many USA shows. Psych, Burn Notice, White Collar, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains… I’m not picky! — Elizabeth

Ausiello: In that case, the third episode of Royal Pains, titled “Rash Talk,” will feature not one, not two but three notable guest stars. Shiri Appleby (Life Unexpected) plays a flibbertigibbet whose business plan doesn’t account for a health crisis, and Tony winner Joanna Gleason (seen last on The Good Wife) and David “Sledge Hammer” Rasche play a hoity-toity couple who — what a coincidence! — also require medical attention.

Question: I’m in serious need of some Psych info! Are you getting any vibes? —JessLayne

Ausiello: Not only vibes but tingles. After a hot hippie chick witnesses a murder, Gus thinks he’s died and gone to heaven. But there’s more a foot than romance. There actually is a crime to investigate in this upcoming episode, as well as the likelihood of a “name” guest star to play the leader of the commune where the aforementioned hot hippie lives.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The news is rather short for today, but there are still some interesting items to share with everyone:

TELEVISION

Actor Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) has joined the cast of Dexter, playing a brilliant, charismatic professor of religious studies. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Jane Lynch is said to be the top choice for host of the 2011 Emmy Awards since the awards show will air on FOX. No confirmation of who the host will be has been made yet, though. (Twitter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FX and Fox International Channels announced that it will partner with Graham King’s GK-TV and Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment on a new one-hour drama Port Royale that will be set in 17th century Jamaica and will chronicle the country’s development into a safe haven for piracy. The series is based on the original idea by Hurd. (The Wrap)

Meanwhile, FX’s corporate cousin Fox is in talks to acquire Pyrates a new series from Ridley and Tony Scott’s Free Productions and Ensemble Entertainment. No deal is in place, but if picked up, this series would likely have a 10- to 13-episode limited run in the summer of 2012. (The Wrap)

MGM has teamed up the masterminds behind The Tudors and Camelot – Michael Hirst and Morgan O’Sullivan – for Vikings (the current working title), a drama series about the famous Scandinavian warriors. The series is eyed to begin production on a 10-episode first season next year would chronicle the Vikings’ exploits as warriors, explorers, builders, merchants, pirates and mercenaries through what is known as the Viking Age of Scandinavian, British and Irish history from the late-8th to the mid-11th century. It will center on Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the most popular Viking heroes, a great commander who briefly ruled Denmark and Sweden and was linked to two shield maidens and a queen. No specific network is attached to this project, though. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor-rocker Lenny Kravitz and veteran actor Toby Jones have joined the cast of the film adaptation of the best-selling novel The Hunger Games. Kravitz will play the role of Cinna, the assigned fashion stylist for lead heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) while Jones will play legendary arenas announcer Claudius Templesmith. (Dark Horizons)

Actors Brett Cullen (Lost) and Chris Ellis (Transformers) have signed on for roles in the box office film The Dark Knight Rises. Cullen will appear as a judge and Ellis will appear as a priest. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Monday, Everybody! Hope the start of your work (or school) week is going smoothly. There wasn’t too much news today, but there are still some interesting items to share:

TELEVISION

Much to the disappointment of many a fan, Actor Misha Collins will not be a series regular on Supernatural when it returns with new episodes in the fall. (TV Line)

Showtime announced today that they renewed new drama The Borgias and comedy series Nurse Jackie for new seasons; but comedy series The United States of Tara has been canceled. (Variety and Twitter)

Actress Andrea Parker (The Pretender and Less Than Perfect) will appear as Allison’s mother, Jessica DiLaurentis, on Pretty Little Liars. She is expected to appear in the 6th episode of the second season, which starts on June 14. (TV Line)

Actor Rod Hallett (The Tudors) has landed the new series regular role on the upcoming fall drama Terra Nova for FOX. On the fantasy drama, an ordinary family — Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara), his wife Elisabeth (Shelley Conn) and their kids — go on a journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. Hallett will play the charming and confident Dr. Malcolm Wallace, who becomes Jim’s nemesis as they rival for Elisabeth’s affection. (Deadline)

TELEVISION TRAILER

First Look: Torchwood: Miracle Day Trailer

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the results of the top 10 box office movies for the past weekend according to Exhibitors Relations:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, $90.1 million
2. Bridesmaids, $21.1 million
3. Thor, $15.5 million
4. Fast Five, $10.6 million
5. Rio, $4.7 million
6. Priest, $4.6 million
7. Jumping the Broom, $3.7 million
8. Something Borrowed, $3.4 million
9. Water for Elephants, $2.2 million
10. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family, $990,000

Tom Cruise will star in an adaptation of the graphic novel Oblivion that is set in an apocalyptic future where the earth has been nearly wiped out by alien scavengers. Humanity has retreated to a space station and the planet is inhabited by aliens. Cruise’s character, Jak, is a human who goes to earth to hunt down the aliens. (The Wrap)

Actors Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) and Tom Conti (Derailed) have both joined the cast of The Dark Knight Rises, but their roles are currently unknown. (First Showing)

Actor Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) will play Tybalt in a new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet that stars Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit). (Variety and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here is today’s entertainment news, albeit a very short one again:

TELEVISION

The recurring role that actress Nancy Travis would be playing in the recently picked up CW series Hart of Dixie is being recast because Travis is a series regular on the new ABC comedy Last Man Standing. The studio will not permit her to recur on the CW drama. (Deadline)

British actor Chris Vance (Prison Break and Burn Notice) has been cast as the lead in the TV version of the Transporter action movie franchise. He will play expert driver and “professional transporter” Frank Martin. Meanwhile, Hungarian actress Andrea Osvart will play his handler Carla. The first season will be shot this summer and broadcast next year on Cinemax. There will be 12-episodes in the first season. (Deadline)

CONDOLENCES

Professional wrestler “Macho Man” Randy Savage passed away in a car accident. He was only 58. (Twitter)

ME: RIP, Mr. Savage. Deepest condolences to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actresses Latarsha Rose and Brooke Bundy will portray Portia and Octavia – the Glam Squad – in the upcoming movie The Hunger Games. Rose has had bit parts on All My Children, CSI, Bones and Law & Order while Bundy is a relative newcomer. (E! Entertainment)

Actress Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) will appear in two upcoming films. The first is the film Still I Rise with Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal. This film tells the story of two mothers who channel frustration into action and join forces to transform a Pittsburgh inner-city public school. Hunter will play the head of the teacher’s union. The second film is the latest adaptation of Romeo and Juliet with Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit). At this time, it is unclear what role Hunter will play in the film. (Deadline and First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

Today was the final day of upfront presentations by the major networks to the advertisers in New York. My final report on the schedule as announced by The CW is up on the home page. I also provided a run-down on the new shows and preview clips of each. Hope you will check those out.

In the meantime, here is the other news, albeit a short list, for the day:

TELEVISION

Actor Joel Gretsch (V and The 4400) will guest star in an upcoming episode of In Plain Sight, playing Major Lucas Provo, a JAG Corps attorney who comes to Albuquerque to help with Mary (Mary McCormack) and Marshall’s (Frederick Weller) most recent witness: a decorated war vet with a troubling secret. Provo proves unflappable and inscrutable as he and Mary spar over the best course of action for the witness. Despite Mary being six months pregnant and feeling completely unromantic, there seems to be a spark between Mary and Provo. (TV Squad)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) has joined the cast of Dark Shadows, joining a cast that already Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Bella Heathcote, and Chloe Moretz. He will play Elizabeth’s (Michelle Pfeiffer) ne’er-do-well brother, Roger Collins. (Dark Horizons)

Actor Topher Grace (That 70’s Show) has joined the cast of the upcoming box office film Gently Down The Stream. He will play Jared, the son of the characters played by Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton. Jared is a doctor who ends up falling in love with a young Latin woman, awkward since she’s the sister of his adopted brother. Katherine Heigl and Amanda Seyfried also star. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actress Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Michael Ealy (FlashForward) have joined the film adaptation of comedian Steve Harvey’s book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. The story follows the relationship between a dreamer with culinary talents (Ealy) and a high-powered ad executive (Henson). (Variety and Dark Horizons)

English actor Stephen Fry (who American audiences should remember from Bones) has joined the cast of The Hobbit, playing The Master of Laketown. (Facebook and Dark Horizons)

Actress Mia Maestro (Alias and the soon to be seen Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn movie) will star in the movie The Darkness of the Road, playing a young mother whose daughter disappears after picking up a mysterious hitchhiker. (The Wrap)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Well, upfronts are nearly done with CBS announcing their fall schedule today and The CW’s official announcement will be made tomorrow, but since they’ve given away the shows they are picking up as well as the cancellations and renewals, what’s the point? Anyway, I have a separate article posted for the CBS fall schedule and will have details on the new shows and each show’s trailer posted later this afternoon.

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

TELEVISION

Syfy has picked up the two seasons of the Canadian supernatural series Lost Girl. There are no current details on when it will air, though. (Daemon’s TV)

TBS and TNT released a slew of details on plans for made-for-TV movies from best-selling authors and quite a number of new scripted shows as well as the announcement that the proposed spin-off to The Closer – called Major Crimes, starring Mary McDonnell – will actually take place in the latter part of 2012. More details on all their plans as they solidify, though. (TV by the Numbers)

UPFRONT NEWS

The CW drama pilots that were not picked up include Awakening, Heavenly, Cooper and Stone and Danni Lowinski. (Deadline)

BOX OFFICE MOVIE NEWS

Looks like actor Joel Edgerton (Warrior) bet out actor Luke Evans for the role of Tom Buchanan in the upcoming adaptation of The Great Gatsby. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor Armie Hammer (The Social Network) has landed the lead role in the upcoming film The Lone Ranger, starring opposite Johnny Depp who will play Tonto. (Los Angeles Times and Dark Horizons)

Actress Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) has been cast as Glinda, the good witch, in the upcoming film Oz: The Great and Powerful. She will play opposite Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis and James Franco. (First Showing)

Actor Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) will be re-teaming with Director Peter Berg for the film adaptation of Lone Survivor (from author Marcus Luttrell). The story details a covert mission in the Hindu Kush in 2005 undertaken by the author and his fellow Navy SEALs who struggled to survive an attack by Taliban forces. The mission went wrong after their presence was given away, and Luttrell was the only one who made it out alive. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: Thanks for the great Castle postmortem. Any leftovers? — Kristen

ADAM: A couple. First, Beckett’s ability to put her faith in people may have died along with Captain Montgomery. “We’re really interested in how this death will affect Beckett’s ability to trust in the Castle-Beckett relationship moving forward,” executive producer Andrew W. Marlowe says. Secondly, you can definitely expect to see the 3XK killer again next season, and his target will be Detective Ryan. “We’re going to be dealing with the aftermath of Ryan having lost his gun and badge [to 3XK]” Marlowe says. “He has to come face to face with what happened that night.”

Question: So glad to hear that Matt Lauria landed on Burn Notice. What can you tell me? — Casey

ADAM: I’ll let Lauria do the talking: “[My character] is really integrally involved in the case every step of the way. Instead of just coming to the team and asking for help, he ends up insisting that he be involved in the process of solving it.” Unfortunately, Lauria says that, despite reports that his character — who reminds Michael of a younger version of himself — could recur, he hasn’t heard about doing anything beyond the one episode he already shot.

Question: I’m excited for Leverage to come back. How will Nate and Sophie interact after having slept together? — Brenda

ADAM: Both characters are in their own state of denial; Nate has resorted to virtually ignoring Sophie. But they both ultimately agree that it’s best to keep that night of passion between themselves — for the good of the team, of course. Something tells me that secret won’t stay secret very long. “Those other guys are pretty sharp,” Timothy Hutton teases.

Question: You better have a Castle Q&A coming up after that season finale. Please? —@jenkburns via Twitter

Ausiello: Sorry, no Q&A. I welcome you to join me in a fun game of connect the dots though! Dot No. 1: Beckett was shot near the heart. Dot No. 2: Beckett’s lovah, Josh, is a cardiac surgeon. Dot. No. 3: In an interview with TVGuide.com, the show’s EP, Andrew Marlowe, all but confirmed that Victor Webster would be back next season. “He’s still out there, and he’s somebody we’re going to have to deal with,” Marlowe teased. “He’s an element moving forward and it’ll be interesting to see how that functions.”

Question: Is there any chance NBC will pick up a full season’s worth of episodes for Chuck‘s final season, or is the 13 episodes set in stone? —Emily

Ausiello: It’s set in stone — unless, as NBC president Bob Greenblatt told me over the weekend, there are “suddenly 10 million viewers watching it on Friday night.” For his part, exec producer Chris Fedak is operating under the assumption that the episode order is locked. “It certainly feels like Episode 13 will be the finale of the show,” he tells me. “And the good thing about that is it allows us to design the season around those 13 episodes. And to know how much time we have will really help us crack that season.”

Question: Any scoop regarding Drop Dead Diva? — Clavie

Ausiello: In episode 9, Deb’s old pal, trashtastically sexy bar wench Cassie Moll (to be played by a Philipps type) falls for Grayson. But just one episode later, there’s already trouble afoot… which may explain why this is just a two-episode gig.

Question: With Kirk Acevedo cast in NBC’s Prime Suspect reboot, does that mean we won’t see Charlie on Fringe next season?! That was one of the best things about the Alt. Universe! — Erica

Ausiello: “All I know is they do want me back,” the actor himself told TVLine’s Matt Mitovich at NBC’s upfront presentation on Monday, adding that he wants to go back. “It’s a great group of guys over there, and [on-screen partner] Seth [Gabel] is such a good guy. I talk to him all the time.” So what’s the trouble? “I can only, contractually, do maybe three or four [episodes],” he reveals.

Question: Now that Parenthood has been renewed (best news ever, btw!) and The Event has not, is it possible we will see Jason Ritter return in season 3 to rekindle his relationship with Sarah? — Kellen

Ausiello: Seems likely. Even highly likely. In fact, when Mitovich spoke with Lauren Graham, she was hoping the same thing you were — so much so that real-life beau Peter Krause teased that she liked her leading man. “We all like him,” she laughed. “I like him for Sarah Braverman!” And you know what else the former Gilmore Girl likes for her current character? A job. “I think it’d be cool for her to have a career [as a writer],” she says, “and build on that some more.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

More upfront news came out of New York this morning; this time from ABC regarding their fall schedule. There is a separate article on that at the home page. I also followed up yesterday’s upfront reports from FOX and NBC with articles on the new shows that were picked up by each network, including trailers for each of the new dramas. Please check those out when you can.

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

TELEVISION

Actress Lisa Edelstein – who played Dr. Cuddy on House for 7 seasons – will not be returning to the show in the fall. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

UPFRONT NEWS

More news is coming from CBS about their fall schedule – ahead of their official announcement in New York. They have picked up the new drama called A Gifted Man (which until now was simply the untitled Susannah Grant pilot) that centers on a surgeon (Patrick Wilson) whose life changes when his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle) gives him life lessons from beyond the grave. Julie Benz (No Ordinary Family and Dexter) co-stars. Additionally, the network has canceled Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior after one season while picking up CSI: NY for another season. (Broadcasting & Cable and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Is there still hope for the FOX pilot Locke & Key? The producers aren’t giving up without a fight, as they are reportedly in talking to Syfy and The CW about picking up the project. The latter seems less likely, since the fifth broadcast network tends to skew toward young female viewers and next season’s schedule is pretty locked in at this point. But the project is completely on brand for Syfy, if the economics could make the show work on basic cable. Don’t get your hopes up, though, fans: Making the leap from broadcast pilot to a cable network doesn’t happen very often, and Locke isn’t the only busted genre pilot to approach the cable network. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

The CW has officially picked up Secret Circle, Heart of Dixie and The Ringer. Meanwhile, One Tree Hill has been officially picked up for 13 episodes and Nikita has been given a second season; but Hellcats has been cancelled. (Twitter)

BOX OFFICE MOVIE NEWS

Actors Jamie Campbell Bower (Camelot), Ed Speleers (Eragon) and newcomer Leebo Freeman have all tested for the role of the shadow hunter Jace in the upcoming film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments, which is based on the six-novel young adult series by Cassandra Clare. The story follows a girl whose mother is attacked by a mysterious creature and taken from her home in New York. When the girl, Clary Fray (Lily Collins), tries to get her back, she learns unnerving truths about her own bloodline. All three are up for the male lead part. (The Wrap and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: First Exciting ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ Teaser Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Today is the start of the annual upfront presentations made in New York by all the networks. The proposed fall schedules for FOX and NBC have been announced (you can find those lists on the home page), but what is to follow is the rest of the news for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) will guest star in an episode of White Collar, playing a skilled hacker suspected of a major cyber crime who “gets close” to Mozzie (Willie Garson). The show returns on June 7 at 9 PM with new episodes. (Hanh Nguyen at TV Guide)

Actor Nicholas Bishop (Body of Proof) will guest star in the new USA Network series Necessary Roughness, playing Griffin Page, a dashing former war correspondent who goes on to host his own cable news show. Page seeks treatment from psychotherapist Dani (Callie Thorne) after inexplicably cracking up during a somber report and getting suspended from his job. The show debuts on June 29. (Jethro Nededog at Zap2It)

ABC has moved the summer premiere date for Rookie Blue to June 23. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Leon Rippy (Saving Grace) will have a recurring nemesis role on Leverage when the show returns with new episodes on June 26 at 9 PM. He will play a mysterious Warren Buffett-type named Mr. Latimer. (TV Guide)

Actor Masi Oka has been made a series regular on Hawaii Five-o (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer) is being eyed to play the new female lead on Law & Order: SVU as Mariska Hargitay has signed a deal to return for the 13th season in a reduced capacity. But, there is no confirmation on this as of yet. (Deadline and TV Guide)

HBO has renewed their drama Treme for a third season. (Deadline)

UPFRONT NEWS

CBS has canceled the drama The Defenders and the comedies Mad Love and *&$% My Dad Says and it looks like Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0 and Mike & Molly are being renewed. Meanwhile, the network has picked up the new cop drama The 2-2 (formerly Rookies), the Poppy Montgomery-starring detective drama Unforgettable (formerly The Rememberer) and the sitcom How to Be a Gentlemen. Lastly, (New York Times, TV By The Numbers, TV Guide and The Futon Critic)

The CBS pilot Ringer, that stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kristopher Polaha, Ioan Gruffudd and Nestor Carbonell has jumped from the consideration list at the Eye network to the CW. The show has been given a green light for production. (Deadline and TV Line)

BOX OFFICE MOVIE NEWS

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

1. Thor, $34.5 million
2. Bridesmaids, $24.4 million
3. Fast Five, $19.5 million
4. Priest, $14.5 million
5. Rio, $8 million
6. Jumping the Broom, $7.3 million
7. Something Borrowed, $7 million
8. Water for Elephants, $4.1 million
9. Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family, $2.2 million
10. Soul Surfer, $1.8 million

Actors Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska have joined a movie “project” that is to be a “crypto-vampire love story” set against the romantic desolation of Detroit and Tangiers. Tilda Swinton also stars with John Hurt said to be in a featured role. (Screen Daily and Dark Horizons)

Actress Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) is joining Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand in the film My Mother’s Curse that follows an inventor (Rogen) who invites his mother (Streisand) on a cross-country trip as he tries to sell his new product, while also reuniting her with a lost love. Strahovski will play Rogen’s high school sweetheart to whom he once proposed. (Yahoo and Dark Horizons)

Actress Hilary Swank will produce and wants to star in an adaptation of You’re Not You that delves into the relationship between a thirty-something woman with Lou Gehrig’s disease and her female career. (Indiewire and Dark Horizons)

Actors Stanley Tucci and Cloris Leachman have joined the cast of the remake of Gambit that centers on British art curator Harry Deane (Colin Firth) who devises a finely-crafted scheme to con England’s richest man and avid art collector, Lionel Shabandar, (Alan Rickman) into purchasing a fake Monet painting. In order to bait his buyer, he recruits a Texas rodeo queen (Cameron Diaz) to cross the pond and pose as a woman whose grandfather liberated the painting at the end of WWII. No word on what roles either Tucci or Leachman will play. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actor Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) has joined the cast of the action-adventure film called Vikingdom. (Screen Daily and Dark Horizons)

Actors Joel Edgerton and Luke Evans are now in contention for the role of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

More breaking news from the networks on their plans for the fall TV schedule are breaking along with much other news so let’s get into today’s update, shall we:

TELEVISION

Actor Ernie Hudson (of Ghostbusters fame) will play Isaac Jeffries, the loving childhood mentor of Mozzie (Willie Garson) in an upcoming episode of White Collar. The series returns with all new episodes on June 7 at 9 PM on the USA Network. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actor Matt Lauria, whose new show The Chicago Code did not get picked up for a second season by FOX has booked a potentially recurring role on Burn Notice. He will play Ethan, a discharged soldier whose intelligence and tenacity piques the interest of the CIA. Burn Notice will be back starting June 23. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Míriam Colón, (HBO’s How to Make It in America and Guiding Light) will guest star in an upcoming episode of HawthoRNe, appearing as the ailing mother of Marc Anthony’s Detective Nick Renata. The medical drama is back with new episodes on June 14 at 10 PM. (Megan Masters and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Susan Saint James (Kate & Allie) will guest star on the new USA Network series called Suits that stars Gabriel Macht (Behind Enemy Lines) as a top-shelf attorney and Patrick J. Adams (Friday Night Lights) as the young savant/legal whiz who assists him. St. James will play Joy McAfee, the founder of a toy company who, on the cusp of inking a major licensing deal, reconsiders her life priorities upon meeting Adams’ off-beat character. Suits will debut on June 23. (Megan Masters and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Aimee Garcia (Off the Map and Trauma) has joined the cast of Dexter, playing Jamie, the younger sister of Batista (David Zayas) whom Dexter (Michael C. Hall) hires as a nanny for baby Harrison. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide and TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It appears that Syfy is developing a spin-off of its popular Warehouse 13 dramedy series. The project will center on the character of H.G. Wells, putting Wells in a 1890s steam-punk environment (at least right now – that could change, though). As more news breaks on this proposed project, you will see it here. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

UPFRONTS NEWS

Chuck has been renewed for a final season with a 13 episodes order while The Event and Law & Order: Los Angeles have both been canceled. Meanwhile, NBC has picked up the new dramas The Playboy Club, Grimm and “Awake” (formerly known as R.E.M.). And, both Parenthood and Harry’s Law have been renewed. This mean the much-talked-about Wonder Woman pilot is dead as is the 17th Precinct pilot from Ron Moore. (The Futon Critic)

ME: I can personally live without the Wonder Woman pilot, but “boo” on NBC for not moving forward with 17th Precinct.

Meanwhile, word is leaking from ABC that Brothers and Sisters, Off the Map, No Ordinary Family, Detroit 187 as well as V have all been canceled. While new drams Good Christian Bitches, er, I mean Belles (really, that’s the new name) and Charlie’s Angels have been picked up as well as a Pan Am. And, it looks like new shows Once Upon A Time, The River, Revenge and Scandal (formerly Damage Control) have been picked up too. Body of Proof has been picked up too. (Twitter)

ME: Really, Charlie’s Angels and Pan Am are picked up? I’m making the prediction now that Pan Am will crash and burn literally and figuratively. C’mon, ABC. What are you thinking?

JUST BREAKING: CBS has picked up Person of Interest from pilot to series. (Twitter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

French star Dany Boon and actress Diane Kruger have joined the high-concept action-adventure comedy film Fly Me to the Moon. Kruger plays a 30-something woman who has a great career and a loving boyfriend, though her family is plagued with a curse that turns every first marriage into a divorce. So when her boyfriend presses her to get hitched, she embarks on a mission to marry and divorce a stranger before her actual wedding. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Zoe Saldana will join actors Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Irons in the film The Words that tells the story of a writer (Cooper) who discovers the price he must pay for stealing the work of another man (Irons). Actor Dennis Quaid will also star in the film as Clay Hammond, another celebrated writer. (Coming Soon, The Hollywood Reporter and First Showing)

Actor Rob Lowe will star in Knife Fight, a film that deals with the dark side of political operatives. He will play a political crisis specialist who plays hard and tough in dealing with various October campaign surprises. (Deadline and First Showing)

Actor Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries) has joined the cast of the film The Baytown Disco that stars Eva Longoria and Billy Bob Thornton. He will play Anthony Reese, a federal agent who comes into a small Southern town to investigate the Oodies — three redneck brothers who get more than they bargained for after agreeing to help a woman get her son back from his seemingly abusive father. (The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: Colin Farrell Bares Teeth in First Trailer for ‘Fright Night’

SPOILER ROOM (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

‘WHITE COLLAR’: HOW WILLIE GARSON’S REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE INSPIRED AN EPISODE. PLUS: NEAL SCOOP!

It’s almost time for White Collar, Collars! And if you’re half as excited as I am about what’s in store, here’s a bit of fun news. First, the Mozzi flashback episode creator Jeff Eastin told me about last year is definitely happening/filmed/done/amazing. But here’s what you may not know: Willie Garson (who plays Mozzi) motivated much of the story. “[The episode] was inspired by Willie’s real-life journey to get his son, who he got out of foster care,” Eastin says. “Early on, I sat down with Willie and we talked about that. It was similar to a story I had been working on for him anyway. And after talking to him, we decided to embrace that idea, and we find out Mozzi was an orphan. It’s a pretty cool story.” Also cool? Seeing Mozzi in the different stages of life, “from an infant all the way up to the present day,” Eastin says. Much more White Collar scoop coming your way in the coming weeks. But here’s some bonus Neal news to tide you over: Look for more “library“-esque sexy time, according to Matt Bomer; the gang will face Keller again this season; and look for a not-so-happy Neal in an upcoming episode where the team encounters “the young Neal Caffrey.” Jealousy? I think so.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

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

TELEVISION

Acting vet Danny Trejo (Machete and The Devil’s Rejects) will appear in a multi-episode arc on the FX series Sons of Anarchy, playing Romero “Romeo” Parada, a charismatic and dangerous former commando for the Mexican military who becomes a new associate of the SONS. The series is expected to return with new episodes in early September. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

UPFRONTS NEWS

NBC let slip a few of their new season pick-ups, including some new comedies and the dramas Smash – that stars Debra Messing – and Prime Suspect – that stars Maria Bello in an American adaptation of the classic British series. It also looks like Chuck will be back for a 5th season; albeit a shorter one, as it’s been rumored it will get a 13-episode season. Official word will be made to the New York advertisers on Monday. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actors Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan and Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood) will co-star in the dramedy movie What Maisie Knew that is a contemporary-set adaptation of the Henry James novel, centering on Maisie, a six-year-old girl enmeshed in the bitter divorce of her mother (Moore), a rock and roll icon, and her father (Coogan), a charming but distracted art dealer. Skarsgård will play Moore’s new husband. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actors Ben Whishaw and Hugo Weaving are to play major roles in the ambitious adaptation of the David Mitchell novel Cloud Atlas, joining the already confirmed Halle Berry and Tom Hanks in the ensemble drama which spans six different story lines over a millennia. Each tale is revealed to be a story that is read (or watched) by the main character in the next. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actors Luke Evans and Kristin Scott Thomas are set to star in the box office film called Only God Forgives, which is a story of a Thai police lieutenant whose rivalry with a gangster sees the two settling their differences in a Thai boxing match. (Reuters and Dark Horizons)

Actors Emile Hirsch and Penelope Cruz are set to star in film Twice Born, which is based on the book Venuto Al Mondo, which tells the story of a woman who returns to Sarajevo with her son in tow and revisits the tumultuous past she shared with his late father. (Screen Daily and Dark Horizons)

Recent Aussie acting graduate Elizabeth Debicki will play Jordan Baker in the remake of The Great Gatsby. Baker is a famed golfer and love interest of narrator Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire). (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor Dylan McDermott certainly is busy. He has been cast in the FX pilot American Horror Story from the men behind the FOX musicomedy Glee; but he has signed on for two movies as well. First is Nobody Walks that is about a Los Angeles family that takes in a stranger who winds up disrupting their lives. John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby and Jane Levy also star. Second is Perks of Being a Wallflower that revolves around a boy whose life dramatically changes as he learns about secrets buried deep in his past during his freshman year of high school. McDermott will also play the father of the main character. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Helen Hunt is set to star in, produce and direct the romantic comedy Ride, playing the mother of a 20-year-old NYU student. When he leaves for a summer in California, this strong-willed magazine-editor mother is alarmed. When he reveals he’s abandoning school for the surfing life, she follows him to L.A. There, each finds their own version of love, sex and self discovery. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actors Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl and Amanda Seyfried will star in the comedy called Gently Down the Stream. De Niro and Keaton play a long-divorced couple who, for the sake of their adopted son’s wedding and his biological mother, pretend they are still married. They quickly learn that acting the part isn’t easy, especially when their ‘relationship’ unravels for all to see. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub (24) joins Aubrey Plaza and Kristen Bell (among others) in the film called Safety Not Guaranteed that is a real-life-inspired story of three magazine employees sent to investigate a classified ad from a man seeking a partner for time travel. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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