Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Happy Thursday Everybody!! The news isn’t too voluminous, but I still found some interesting items to share:

TELEVISION

It has been confirmed that Allison Mack will be back on Smallville for the two-hour series finale. (Zap2It)

Actress Vinessa Antoine (Being Erica and Soul Food) will have a recurring role on the Syfy series Haven when it returns for its second season. She will play Evidence “Evi” Ryan, a former con-artist and lover of Duke’s (Eric Balfour). (The Futon Critic)

Actor Jonathan Groff will be back on Glee for this season’s final three episodes. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Looks like the box office movie Transporter will be made into a 12-episode action drama on Cinemax. The series will center on professional transporter Frank Martin, operating in a seedy underworld of dangerous criminals and desperate players, who can always be counted on to get the job done — discreetly. Production will begin this summer, but no premiere date has been set yet. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Parker Posey will guest star on The Big C when it returns to Showtime on June 27. She will appear in four episodes as Poppy, an older woman who develops an unlikely relationship with Adam (Gabriel Basso), Cathy’s son. Also announced yesterday was that actor Hugh Dancy will also guest star in the show. He will appear in six episodes as Lee, a charming fellow cancer patient who befriends Cathy (Laura Linney) [SPOILER ALERT] as they take part in an experimental drug trial. (Tim Molloy at The Wrap)

HBO has pulled the plug on their series In Treatment. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Denis O’Hare (True Blood) has joined the FX drama pilot American Horror Story that stars Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) and comes from co-creators Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy (the men behind Glee). (The Futon Critic)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) is being courted for the FX drama pilot called Powers about a pair of homicide detectives in a world where superheroes are commonplace. He would play one of them, Christian Walker, who secretly used to be a superhero. (The Futon Critic)

Margo Martindale (Justified) has joined the cast of the as-yet untitled Susannah Grant pilot that is about Michael Halstead (Patrick Wilson), an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife, Anna Lindberg (Jennifer Ehle), dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the hereafter. Martindale will take over for S. Epatha Merkerson as Rita, Michael’s “don’t cross her” assistant. (The Futon Critic)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) will star as Sixties cover girl Jean Shrimpton – the supermodel of her day – in a new BBC film called We’ll Take Manhattan, which will examine the charged four-year love affair between the iconic model and photographer David Bailey. This is Gillan’s first leading role since making her debut in Doctor Who. (Daily Mail Reporter and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) will voice the role of Tomar-Re, a key member of the Green Lantern Corps. in the upcoming Green Lantern movie that stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actor Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and actress Sarah Shahi (Fairly Legal) are set to appear in the box office thriller called Static that follows a young couple on the verge of divorce and dealing with the loss of their child. Their life is complicated further by the arrival of a young visitor (Sara Paxton) with supernatural implications. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Actor John Travolta is set to play mobster John Gotti Sr. in the film Gotti: Three Generations that will focus on the relationship between John Gotti Sr., the head of the Gambino crime family who died in prison in 2002, and his son John Gotti Jr. who took over the family business. The younger Gotti served time in prison, but then successfully escaped conviction in four subsequent racketeering trials. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: Have a terrific weekend – I’m send these well wishes off early, as I’m heading to WonderCon tomorrow and will have limited access to the internet during that time.

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Today’s update is a little delayed because of my day job, but here is the news as its stands for today:

DEVELOPMENT

Actress Natalie Zea (Justified) will guest star in the J.J. Abrams/CBS pilot called Person of Interest, playing a district attorney whose investigation of a particularly troubling homicide may cost her life. The pilot stars Lost alum Michael Emerson as a billionaire who recruits a presumed-dead CIA agent (Jim Caviezel) to catch violent criminals in New York. Taraji P. Henson co-stars. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Actress Ashley Crow (Heroes) has been cast as Jane Blake in the CW drama pilot Secret Circle, as the main character Cassie’s (Britt Robertson from Life Unexpected) grandmother. The pilot centers on young teen from California, Cassie Blake (Robertson), who is forced to move to her grandmother’s in New Salem, Maine, after her mother’s death. Soon, she learns that she is a member of the town’s secret coven of witches. (Tierney Bricker at Zap2It)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Young Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) is linked to the big screen adaptation of Cat Patrick’s novel called Forgotten. She is expected to appear as Sleeping Beauty. No other specifics are known at this time. (Deadline and First Showing)

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

Question: Any scoop on next week’s No Ordinary Family finale? —Chris

Ausiello: A series regular perishes and we’ll get an answer to the show’s biggest mystery: How did the Powell clan get their powers?

Question: Please, give us some Chuck scoop! Man, I hate this hiatus. —Ceci

Ausiello: Yeah, well, you may hate this next scoop more: In this season’s penultimate episode on May 9, “Something terrible happens to someone we love,” reveals EP Chris Fedak. In potentially related news, the show is casting the role of Clyde Decker, a “determined and remorseless CIA agent who will go to any lengths and spare no expense — or life — in order to keep the CIA’s secrets buried.” His nickname? The Eraser. Um, yikes much?!

Question: Thanks for the awesome scoop about Ben Lawson’s upcoming stint on Covert Affairs. Have anything else to share about the second season? —Tristina

Ausiello: How about some more casting scoop? General Hospital and Privileged star Ignacio Serricchio has signed on to guest star in episode 2.02 as an alleged member of the Italian AISE that Annie is tasked with exchanging for a captured CIA operative. In the same episode, The Shield‘s Benito Martinez plays the Deputy Director of Argentine Military Intelligence and an old chum of Joan’s (Kari Matchett). When the aforementioned exchange goes awry, their friendship is put to the test.

Question: Got any good scoop about Hawaii Five-0? Is Jenna Kaye going to hang around for a while? — Susan

ADAM: That’s the plan. In fact, she might be taking Chin Ho’s place on the team! I’m hearing that the final episodes of the season will reopen the matter of Chin’s unjust removal from the police force, and that he may finally get the reinstatement he deserves. Will he be able to turn down their juicy offer?

Question: When will Bones wrap up the serial killer story arc? — Jeff

ADAM: Executive producer Stephen Nathan promises that the hunt for Jacob Broadsky will be resolved in this season’s penultimate episode. Helping (or hurting?) Booth and Brennan will be a female twentysomething special agent whose inexperience ultimately puts Booth directly in Broadsky’s crosshairs.

Question: I love NCIS: Los Angeles. Got any details about the end of the season? — Tyler

ADAM: The show is hoping to land a big name actress for three episodes before the season’s up. The character in question is described as a no-nonsense natural leader, who despite rarely letting her guard down, is actually vulnerable and deeply caring. The question is: For whom will she be letting her guard down?

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

How is your week starting out? Hope all is well. Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

AMC is officially moving ahead with a 5th season of the award-winning series Mad Men (even though a deal with the show’s creator and executive producer, Matt Weiner, hasn’t been ironed out yet). The drawback to the show’s renewal, though, especially for fans – it won’t be back until early 2012. (Deadline)

Actors Alan Alda (M*A*S*H and The West Wing) and Hugh Dancy (King Arthur and Ella Enchanted) will be appearing in the 2nd season of The Big C when the show returns with new episode this summer. Alda will play an oncologist that Cathy (Laura Linney) sees [SPOILER ALERT] after receiving a failed treatment for her melanoma. Dancy’s role has yet to be specified. The show will be back on June 27 at 10:30 PM. (Deadline and TV Overmind)

Actor John Rothman (Ghostbusters) and actress Cristine Rose (Heroes) will appear as Cooper Freedman’s (Paul Adelstein) parents in the May 5 episode of Private Practice. Meanwhile Tess Harper (Silkwood) will appear as Charlotte King’s (Kadee Strickland) mom in the same episode. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Justified has been picked up for a 3rd season by FX. (Twitter)

Actor Jay Mohr (Gary Unmarried) will have a guest appearance in the 10th and final season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, playing a famous and incredibly successful Charlie Sheen-type bad boy – a “rock star” fashion designer whose every creation turns to gold. The show will be back on the USA Network on May 1 at 9 PM. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actors James Spader and Ryan Phillippe and actress Carla Gugino have joined the dramatic box office thriller called By Virtue Fall, which stars Eric Bana in the story of two ATF agents who find themselves on opposite sides of the friendship divide after one sells out the other. There are no details on the roles for any of them, though. (24 Frames and Dark Horizons)

Q&A SECTION (with the Spoiler Chat at E! Entertainment Online and Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question from Quentin: Breakout Kings is amazing! Tell me I’m not the only one feeling the heat between Lloyd and Julianne!

Spoiler Chat: You are definitely not the only one. And you’re in luck, because Brooke Nevin tells us there will be more Lloyd (Jimmi Simpson) and Julianne sparks coming up. “The writers are definitely going to let this one play out,” she says. “I don’t know that anything is necessarily resolved by the first season but certainly if you caught on to some sort of chemistry between Julianne and Lloyd you wouldn’t be far off. That is really something that’s meant to be there.”

Question from Cheryl in Hudson, N.Y.: Emily isn’t really moving to Texas on Pretty Little Liars, is she?

Spoiler Chat: First Caleb hops a bus for Arizona, now Emily’s family’s relocating to the Lone Star State…are the folks in Rosewood that desperate for fresh salsa? Anyway, while Caleb is road tripping back home with Lucas, Mrs. Fields proves she’s serious about getting out of (going to?) Dodge by putting the house on the market and getting a realtor. Suggestion for Emily: Melissa might be looking for a roommate in the guesthouse. Just sayin’.

Question from ElderPoptart: Any post finale #PLL scoop would be amazing! Please and thank you!

Spoiler Chat: When Pretty Little Liars returns for its second season June 14 (Cannot. Wait.), someone else besides A will be privy to the girls’ secrets: a posh therapist. Because no one believes their allegations about Ian and what happened to him in the church, their parents send their Little Liars (who happen to be telling the truth this time) to group counseling. Too bad their Jenna isn’t the one having her head examined instead.

Question from Simone Snow: I’m begging for some Mikita scoop!

Spoiler Chat: Nikita show runner Craig Silverstein tells us, “It’s a little hard for them. Michael and Nikita will make it work for a second—and then there is the next second.” We then asked Craig what a world with a semi-functional Mikita relationship would look like and he teased (squee), “God willing, that world is called season two.” Whoo! Meanwhile, Craig tells us, “When we come back on April 7, we will see why he wasn’t able to make it work with Nikita, when they were both working at Division, and we will get another reveal about his past that kind of ripples through and changes his presence.”

Question: Anything on the return of Leverage? I’m so excited for it to come back! — Lori

Sandra Gonzalez: The show is in the planning stages of a super trippy episode that will find Parker in a journey through time. Part of the episode takes place in present day and the rest takes place in flashbacks to the 1930s-40s as a client relays his complex and heartbreaking tale to Parker. I. Can’t. Wait.

Question: What can you tell me about the new agent coming to Fringe? I heard she’s going to be played by Emily Meade from Boardwalk. — Ryan

Sandra Gonzalez: Right you are. The agent is scheduled to make her debut in the season finale, and executive producer Joel H. Wyman tells me her character will have a deeper meaning than a simple rookie agent. “We try and expand our storytelling week to week to a way that we are able to tell, I guess, deeper stories about our main characters. So many of the guest stars that come on are there to do one main thing and that’s to reflect back on our main characters and to learn more about them and sort of uncover more aspects of their personality and deepen them for the viewer. That character will definitely be there to do that,” Wyman tells EW. As for rumors that the new agent will be recurring, the EP says that’s more of a safety net. “We always protect ourselves by saying that because you never know. When we used Seth Gable, for instance, he turned out to be so great. And it’s just those little discoveries that you’re like ‘Wow, you never know.’ We always like to just know that we’re covered, should it go great.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Monday! There is a lot of news to share with all of you so let’s get right into it all:

TELEVISION

Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo will appear in the season finale of House; but there is no confirmation on the role she will be playing as yet. It is believed she will play House’s new mother-in-law. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Film star Tom Hanks announced via his Twitter account that he will be making an appearance on 30 Rock – his first prime time appearance in more than two decades. There are details on his role as yet, though. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actor Jeff Hephner (The O.C. and Hellcats) will star opposite Kelsey Grammer on the Starz eight-episode drama series Boss, which centers on Kane (Grammer), the Mayor of Chicago who is diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition that only he and his doctor know about. Hephner will play the state’s Treasurer, an impeccably handsome and ambitious Chicago native who is clearly about to become a major player on the Chicago political scene. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actor Michael Gladis (Mad Men) will make a guest appearance in an upcoming of Leverage, playing Reed Rockwall, a public relations expert in crisis management who ruthlessly protects his clients, often going after and destroying their enemies. When one of Rockwall’s victims turns to Nate (Timothy Hutton) for help, however, it will be the team that pulls out all the stops to bring Rockwall down. Leverage will return for its 4th season on Sunday, June 26 at 9 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Actor Tony Goldwyn (Ghost, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) will appear in an episode of Drop Dead Diva as a corrupt District Attorney who just so happens to have a romantic past with Jane. He will appear in the 6th episode of the show when it returns with new episode this June. (Meg Masters at TV Line)

Actress Aubrey Dollar (Dawson’s Creek and Women’s Murder Club) will play a sweet-faced nurse who takes a shine to Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) in an upcoming episode of The Good Wife. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE TRAILER

First Look at Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Adrian Pasdar (Heroes) will be back on NBC, but this time in a comedy pilot. He will have the male lead opposite actress Sarah Paulson (Cupid) in the as-yet untitled Kari Lizer workplace comedy that revolves around Mary Leahy (Paulson), a relationship-challenged woman who, with the help of her co-workers, guides people through unexpected career transitions. Pasdar will play Brad, a super confident guy who has drunk sex with Mary in a bar bathroom. After seeing how charming he is, Mary and her partner ask him to join their company. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Lou Diamond Phillips (Stargate Universe), Bailey Chase (Saving Grace) and Cassidy Freeman (Smallville) have all joined the A&E drama pilot Longmire that is the small screen take on Craig Johnson’s literary hero Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor), the charismatic, dedicated and unflappable sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. Sackhoff and Chase will play Walt’s deputies, Victoria “Vic” Moretti, a former homicide detective from Philadelphia; and Branch Connally, who plans to run against him in the next election. While Phillips is set as Henry, Walt’s best friend who tries to loosen him up; and Freeman as Cady, Walt’s lawyer daughter. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Billy Brown (Lights Out) has joined the cast of the NBC drama pilot Reconstruction, which is a period drama about Jason Edding (Martin Henderson), a Civil War veteran who crosses the country and settles into a complicated town where he is welcomed as its savior – whether he likes it or not. Brown will play Sam who befriends Jason. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Gale Harold (Hellcats) is now part of the cast of the CW drama pilot Secret Circle, which is about Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson), a California teen who moves to her mom’s hometown of New Salem, Maine and discovers that she comes from a family of witches. He will play Thomas Meade, Diane’s (Shelley Hennig) father, who along with Vice Principal Dawn Chamberlain (Natasha Henstridge) take a unique interest in Cassie. (The Futon Critic)

CONDOLENCES

Geraldine A. Ferraro, who was the first female vice presidential candidate on a national ticket, died on Saturday, according to CNN. She was 75. Ferraro died at Massachusetts General Hospital of complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer she’s had for 12 years. (TV Guide)

ME: Rest in Peace, Ms. Ferraro. Condolences are extended to her family and friends.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE….

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Amy Adams has been tapped to play Lois Lane alongside Henry Cavill as Clark Kent in the planned reboot of the Superman franchise. (Twitter)

Actor Armie Hammer (The Social Network) is set to play the coveted role of the handsome prince in the upcoming feature film Snow that includes Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen. The Snow White role for this particular film has yet to be cast. [NOTE: There are 3 Snow White films in the planning stages at 3 different film studios]. (Brandi Fowler at E! Entertainment Online)

Canadian actress Sarah Gadon (Being Erica and The Border) has snagged the role of estranged wife Elise Shifrin alongside Robert Pattinson (The Twilight Saga franchise), who has the lead role in the film Cosmopolis, which is based on the Don DeLillo novel. (Indiewire)

Here is the list of the top 10 films at the box office over the weekend from Exhibitor Relations.

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, $24.4 million
2. Sucker Punch, $19 million
3. Limitless, $15.2 million
4. Lincoln Lawyer, $11 million
5. Rango, $9.8 million
6. Battle: Los Angeles, $7.6 million
7. Paul, $7.5 million
8. Red Riding Hood, $4.4 million
9. The Adjustment Bureau, $4.2 million
10. Mars Needs Moms, $2.2 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: First Trailer for Paul W.S. Anderson’s ‘The Three Musketeers’

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Friday everyone!! I hope you have some plans activities planned for this weekend. In the meantime, let’s get right into the news for today:

TELEVISION

The big news all over Twitter last night was that FOX renewed Fringe for another season. Congrats to the cast and crew and hurrah for all the fans out there. (Twitter)

Actors Chi McBride (Human Target) and Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall) will guest star in the season finale of How I Met Your Mother. McBride will play a construction foreman, named Rod, who isn’t exactly pleased with Ted (Josh Radnor) — which is a problem, consider it’s Ted who’s designed the new building. Foley will appear as a potential new boss for Marshall (Jason Segel). (Mikey O’Connell at Zap2It)

The new ABC drama The Hot Zone has been given its series premiere date: Tuesday, June 21 at 10 PM. The series is set in 2006 at the only military hospital providing advanced surgical care in all of Southern Afghanistan, and charts the frantic lives of the hospital’s resident doctors and nurses from Canada, America, the U.K. and other allied countries. The series stars Elias Koteas (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Michelle Borth (Hawaii Five-0 and The Forgotten) and Luke Mably (The Gates) [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

Meanwhile, the Canadian drama Rookie Blue, which was a hit for ABC last summer, will be back with its 2nd season starting Thursday, June 16 at 10 PM. The show takes a look inside the professional and personal lives of five rookie cops as they navigate their first years on the job. The show stars Missy Peregrym, Gregory Smith, Charlotte Sullivan, Enuka Okuma, Travis Milne, Ben Bass and Eric Johnson. (The Futon Critic)

Two familiar faces will be seen in the 2nd season of Covert Affairs when it returns to the USA Network on June 7. Actor Ben Lawson (the short-lived ABC drama The Deep End) will have a recurring role as Dr. Scott Weiss, a charming and handsome Doctors Without Borders-type physician who Annie (Piper Perabo) meets when she takes her niece, Chloe, to the emergency room. Actress Rena Sofer (NCIS) has been cast as Gina, Arthur’s (Peter Gallagher) smart, kind-hearted ex-wife who re-enters his life to offer advice as he deals with the political fallout from Lisa’s (Emmanuelle Vaugier) media assault. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Meanwhile over on White Collar, four familiar faces have been lined up for the 2nd episode of the new season (the show returns June 7). Those include: Danny Masterson (That 70’s Show), his real-life brother Christopher Masterson, Anna Chlumsky (and William Sadler (Roswell). Sadler will play a menacing security consultant who orchestrates a kidnapping with the Masterson brothers actually playing two brothers contesting their fathers will while Chlumsky appears as a new FBI agent recruit who helps the team. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Mark Deklin (the short-lived FOX drama Lone Star) has joined the cast of the ABC drama pilot Good Christian Bitches about Amanda Vaughn (Leslie Bibb), a widowed mother of two who – to get a fresh start – moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew up. He will play Blake Caruth, Amanda’s first crush who’s now married to Cricket (Miriam Shor), a former Plain Jane who was tormented by Amanda as a teen. (The Futon Critic)

Actor Justin Bruening (Knight Rider) will play Steve Trevor in the NBC drama pilot of Wonder Woman. Trevor is the government agent who crash landed on Themyscira, home of the mythical Amazons; fell in love with one of them, Diana (Adrianne Palicki); and brought her back with him to New York. They’ve since broken up as Diana now operates out of L.A. and Steve is a lawyer for the Justice Department. (The Futon Critic)

MADE FOR TV MOVIES NEWS

Actor Woody Harrelson will join Julianne Moore and Ed Harris in the HBO Films called Game Change that follows John McCain’s (Harris) 2008 presidential campaign, from his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (Moore) as his running mate to their ultimate defeat in the general election. Harrelson will play Steve Schmidt, McCain’s senior campaign strategist and adviser. (Deadline)

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

Question: Are there any hopes for Deeks and Kensi to get together on NCIS: LA? I have gotten all the girls in my office hooked [on the show], to the point now we are all going crazy. Please — we are in desperate need here. Thanks. — Christy

Answer: Well, I like desperation. It makes it more fun to tease you with quotes like this one from executive producer and creator Shane Brennan. “Deeks is handsome, funny and loyal. Kensi is smart, exotic and smoking hot. What was the question again? … Would we like to see Deeks and Kensi together? You bet! Will it happen? Characters have funny ways of taking you to unexpected places. We’ll all just have to hang in and see…”

Question: Any Blue Bloods scoop? I started watching this show every week with my dad — mostly for him. But now I’m addicted. — Amy

Answer: Remember when Michael T. Weiss guested as the super creepy Det. Molevsky? Well, I can confirm he’ll be back before the end of the season. And I don’t know about you, but news of his return made me recall what he told Jamie earlier — “It can be dangerous out here.”

Question: How much of this war are we going to see on Supernatural. It would be kind lame for them not to show the thing they’ve been talking about all season, right? — Rachael

Answer: Lame? Probably not. My gut tells me it would be for a good reason. Misha Collins agrees with my gut. “We’re not going to see a whole lot of the actual war that’s taking place in heaven. We’re going to see how that plays out with respect to Sam and Dean and their world. But the two definitely collide in the season finale,” he says. Another thing we can expect not to see? Cas in 300-style angel battle gear. “I would love to have some sexy, feathery armor, but I’m not getting any. It’s the same frumpy trench coat and suit,” he laments.

Question: Any scoop on Cas’s new angel buddy on Supernatural? — Krystal

Answer: I wouldn’t necessarily use the word “buddy.” More like “reluctant ally.” “It’s hard for Cas to figure out who’s on his side and who’s not,” Collins dishes. “There’s a lot of duplicity and spies.”

Question: Thanks for all the scoopage on the Winchester boys … I’m torn between excitement and dread for the last episodes of the season. Just thinking that what’s left is all we might ever have makes me want to have a little Hunter’s Helper and pass out in grief! I was wondering if there is any word yet on whether we will have a season 7? Thanks! — Gia

Answer: Save some room for me at your table, because I think we’re going to need to lean on each other for support after a likely soul-killing finale. Actually, let me back up. The heartbreak really begins with “The Man Who Would Be King,” the first episode being directed by fan-fave writer Ben Edlund. “It’s the story of Castiel looking over his life, and then it turns into Castiel looking into his relationships,” he says. “If it does its job, it’ll break your heart.” As for the chances of a next season, Supernatural show runner Sera Gamble tells me, “We’ve cliffhung this season, so if you want to know what happens, you have to tune into season 7. So we have to make one.”

Question: Let’s get some Nikita action going on here, Sandra. Spoilers, please! — Ashlyn

Answer: In an upcoming episode, Nikita will put herself on the line (<< no news there) for a shocking reason: to help Division. There’s much more to this story…

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

The weekend is almost here and the sun is shining so it’s a good day, right? Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor D.B. Sweeney (The Event) will guest star in upcoming episode of Castle that finds Castle and Beckett going to LA to investigate a murder. He will play Detective Kyle Seeger, a Los Angeles cop with Robbery Homicide, who questions Castle and Beckett about their rogue investigation. This is the same episode that will include Jason George (Off the Map) and Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) as guest stars. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actor Chris Vance (Prison Break) has booked a major recurring role on the TNT breakout hit Rizzoli & Isles. He will play Sgt. Major Charles “Casey” Jones, an old flame of Rizzoli’s (Angie Harmon) who comes back into her life just as she’s [SPOILER ALERT] struggling to recover from being shot and nearly killed in the line of duty. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Natasha Henstridge (Eli Stone) will appear in the season finale of CSI: Miami as Renee Locklear, an undercover agent who is about to cause a stir in more ways than one. (TV Guide and Spoiler TV)

Actor Michael Trucco (Fairly Legal and Battlestar Galactica) will guest star in an April episode of How I Met Your Mother as Robin’s (Colbie Smulders) long-time crush. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Scott Grimes (ER and Party of Five) will guest star in the Tony DiNozzo origins episode set for May 3 as Det. Danny Price, an ex-partner of Tony’s. They worked together 10 years ago while serving as cops in Baltimore. (Entertainment Weekly)

FX has canceled its new drama Lights Out, but the final 2 episodes will air. (Twitter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

BBC America will co-produce the new six-part drama series called The Hour, which will premiere in the summer on BBC America. The series is a spy thriller set behind the scenes of the BBC’s news room in London in the mid ‘50s, starring Dominic West (The Wire), Romola Garai (Emma) and Ben Whishaw (Bright Star) who are locked in a highly competitive, sharp witted and passionate love triangle. (Deadline)

Actor David Alpay (The Tudors) will star alongside Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) in the FOX drama pilot Weekends at Bellevue, which is based on Julie Holland’s memoir. The pilot centers on Ellie (Ambrose), the psychiatrist in charge of the weekend shift at Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric unit. He will play Ben, a second-year attending psychiatrist at Bellevue who graduated from an Ivy League school and comes from a family of doctors. He has a history with Ellie and is strongly drawn to her. (Deadline)

Actress Eliza Dushku (Dollhouse) has landed the female lead opposite Damon Wayans in the CBS as-yet untitled sports radio show pilot. The pilot is inspired by ESPN personality Colin Cowherd’s outspoken sports talk show with this one centering on Nick (Wayans), an egotistical sports-radio host with a quick wit and cocky likability who is adored by his fans. She will play Nick’s radio cohort Casey, a fun, quick-witted gal who is socially oblivious and pathologically blunt. (Deadline)

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Veteran actor Ed Harris has been cast to play John McCain in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the best-selling book Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime, by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin. Harris will play the Republican candidate John McCain for the film’s depiction of his 2008 presidential campaign. Julianna Moore will portray Sarah Palin in the film. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Looks like actress Amy Adams (Enchanted and The Fighter) is being courted to join the cast of the upcoming box office movie Rock of Ages, in which she would play the journalist who falls into a bedroom romp with Tom Cruise’s decadent rock star character, Stacee Jax. (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with the TV Addict)

Question: Got anything for a WHITE COLLAR fan who is already going through post-finale withdrawal? — Ainsley

The TV Addict: When WHITE COLLAR returns this June, fans will finally get a peek into the private life of Detective Diana Barrigan when Neal meets Diana’s partner, Christie. What’s more, the episode will feature Diana as she goes undercover to protect a powerful newswoman who is about to break a deadly secret that may take down a major corporation. Which, if you ask us, is a nice change of pace from the usual episode of WHITE COLLAR where women are often overlooked and underestimated in lieu of Peter and Neal.

Question: Blood is to vampires as scoop is to me, I need it to survive. Particularly of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES variety, what’cha got? — Mandy

The TV Addict: You know how Bonnie has been somewhat on her own since the death of her grandmother? Well, the good news is that she’ll soon be meeting a relative. Unfortunately, like the majority of the mysterious newcomers to Mystic Falls, said relative has an agenda entirely of her own. Oh, and did we mention she has somewhat of a sordid past with Katherine?

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

It’s over the hump day. I sure hope your week has been good so far. Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Kristy Swanson (best known as the original Buffy Summers from the 1992 film version of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) will make a guest appearance on an upcoming episode of Psych when it returns for its sixth season this summer on the USA Network. Swanson will play Marlowe Viccellio, a beautiful and mysterious woman who catches the attention of Lassiter. Despite their love connection, Shawn and Gus begin to suspect Marlowe of killing someone “vampire-style” after the police find a blood-drained body. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Emily Meade (Boardwalk Empire) will appear in the season finale of Fringe that is scheduled to air on May 6 as a new FBI agent who is a wide-eyed and eager rookie who is ready to face all of the challenges in front of her. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

The cable network Starz has announced the premiere date for Torchwood: Miracle Day as July 8 at 10 PM. The US installment of the BBC smash hit series will star Mekhi Phifer (ER and Lie to Me), Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and, in an extended guest role, Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) along with return alumni John Barrowman and Eve Myles. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order) has joined the as-yet untitled Susannah Grant/CBS supernatural medical drama pilot, which centers on Michael (Patrick Wilson), an ultra-competitive surgeon whose life is changed forever when his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle), a doctor running a free clinic, dies and begins teaching him what life is all about from the hereafter. Merkerson will play Michael’s assistant Rita. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CONDOLENCES

Legendary film actress and Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor passed away this morning at the age of 79 after being recently hospitalized in recent weeks for congestive heart failure. She starred in over 50 movies, making the leap from child star (National Velvet) to one of the world’s biggest stars, appearing in movies such as Giant and Cleopatra as well as her Oscar winning roles in Butterfield 8 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (E! Entertainment Online)

ME: RIP, Ms. Taylor. Condolences to her family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

MUSIC NEWS WITH TV TIE-IN

Looks like Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow will be featured on the solo album being done by Glee actor-singer Matthew Morrison. They will duet on a new rendition of “Over the Rainbow.” (E! Entertainment Online)

BROADWAY NEWS WITH TV TIE-IN

Departing Private Practice star Audra McDonald is heading back to Broadway, starring in a new production of the George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward opera Porgy and Bess at the American Repertory Theater production in September. This new production is a re-imagining of the classic opera, which follows Porgy, a disabled beggar, and his love for Bess. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Alan Rickman is in negotiations to join Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz in the remake of the classic 60’s caper movie Gambit that follows a British thief (Firth) who plans to steal an expensive statue from one of the richest men in the world (Rickman) and needs the help of a woman (Diaz) who closely resembles the rich man’s late wife. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

The next Chronicles of Narnia film being made is going to be based on the sixth book – The Magician’s Nephew – in the famous series of novels. It is actually a prequel to the The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and will set the stage as an origins story, learning where the wardrobe came from, where the lamp post came from and where Narnia came from. The brief run-down of the book’s story is: British schoolchildren Polly and Digory inadvertently tumble into the Wood Between the Worlds, where they meet the evil Queen Jadis and, ultimately, the great, mysterious King Aslan. The film is currently under development. (Coming Soon and First Showing)

Casting for the sequel to the box office remake Clash of the Titans was released today, including returning cast members Sam Worthington as Greek demi-god hero Perseus and Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson as the gods Hades and Zeus respectively. The film is to be set a decade after the heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken with Perseus attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Other returning cast members are Danny Huston (Robin Hood) as Poseidon, god of the sea; Edgar Ramírez (The Bourne Ultimatum) as the god of war, Ares; Bill Nighy (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) as Hephaestus; Toby Kebbell (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) as Agenor, and Rosamund Pike (Barney’s Version) as Andromeda. (Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures and First Showing)

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

Question: Please give me some NCIS news on Abby and McGee! — Leslie

ADAM: I’m not sure McGabby ‘shippers are going to love this, but … Abby’s going on a date! And McGee is not going to be happy about it. “If another girl comes around McGee, [Abby] definitely has a little bit of a jealous streak,” Pauley Perrette says. The feeling is mutual, she says. So what do we know about Abby’s new suitor? She’ll look up to him, in some respect, and he’s a stick-around kind of guy.

Question: What can you tell me about Glee? — Amanda

ADAM: Who wants to meet Sam’s little brother and sister? You’ll soon get your chance, and from everything we’ve heard, Sam isn’t the only “Trouty Mouth” in the family.

Question: Any scoop on Hoyt and Jessica? They’re my favorite True Blood couple! — Nancy

NATALIE: Hoyt’s mother will be the couple’s biggest obstacle next season. “She did not just buy that gun and leave it at home,” executive producer Alan Ball teases. Adds Deborah Ann Woll: “She is dangerous and wants the best for her son, [but] he may not agree with what that is, so we’re definitely going to fight her on that.”

Question: I can’t wait for Rizzoli & Isles to come back this summer. Any details?

ADAM: Get ready to meet Janet, a bilingual doctor who will be working under Sasha Alexander’s Dr. Isles. Janet’s non-American point of view will provide fresh insight to cases. She’s also a constant source of amusement for Angie Harmon’s Rizzoli.

Question: Any scoop on Nikita? — Heather

NATALIE: Someone close to Nikita will betray her, which will land her in CIA custody. The Agency’s director, a Colin Powell type, will threaten her with the death penalty. Good thing she still has friends on the inside.

Question: Any scoop on the next six episodes of Glee? —Emma

Ausiello: Look for a VERY unlikely “romantic” pairing to take shape as the show’s second season enters the homestretch. And you know that when I do “very” in all caps like that, I mean business.

Question: Will Glee end its season with a cliffhanger? —Todd

Ausiello: That’s negatory. I’m not saying the show won’t leave you with some questions to ponder over the long, hot summer. But the episode doesn’t end with an OMGWTF-type mind twister.

Question: What leads Kurt to return to McKinley High on Glee? —Erin

Ausiello: With the Warblers’ competitive season kaput, New Directions eyes an opportunity to get their old soprano back. But there’s a twist, and it involves a power play from an unexpected source within the NDs.

Question: I need some White Collar scoop to tide me over until the show returns this summer. —Melodie

Ausiello: The upcoming third season will pull the curtain back on Diana’s (Marsha Thomason) personal life and introduce her quick-witted and sophisticated doctor girlfriend, Christie. Casting is underway, so now’s the time to hit the comments section with your suggestions. Think actresses in their 30s who can convey a wild child/sexy/smart/lesbian vibe — all at the same time.

Question: I hear Luc and Sarah will finally tie the knot in the Brothers & Sisters season finale. Is anyone coming back for the wedding? Will Balthazar Getty return? —Delmonico

Ausiello: Getty’s Tommy will put in an appearance at the nuptials, but, as far as notable “alums” go, that’s about it.

Question: Two weeks in a row with Fringe scoop. Keep the streak alive! —Jeff

Ausiello: OK, we’re now three-for-three, because I happen to have found out the titles of this season’s last two episodes, and at least one of them sounds VERY ominous. (And you know when I do “very” in all caps like that, I mean business.) Let’s start with the penultimate episode (3.21), which is called “The Last Sam Weiss.” I previously reported that Kevin Corrigan would be back as Olivia’s bowling alley counselor/confidant, but what’s intrigued me now is that “last” bit. Before you hit the comments with your theories, grab a seat, take a hit of oxygen, and behold the title of the season finale: “The Day We Died.” Go ahead. Take a moment to process that. [Beat] Moment’s up. It sure sounds to me like we’ll be down one universe if/when Fringe returns in the fall, right?

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Tuesday!! The news isn’t too voluminous today, but there were some good items that broke today:

TELEVISION

Actor Jonathan Cake (Six Degrees and Empire) will play a major love interest for Marcia Cross on Desperate Housewives, appearing in this season’s final four episodes. He will then return in the fall as a full-fledged series regular. He will play Aaron, a handsome, sexy, college-educated police detective with strong family values who comes to Wisteria Lane to investigate a case. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)

Actresses Jennifer Tilly (most recently seen on Caprica) and Romy Rosemont (Finn’s mom on Glee) will guest star on the third episode of the Lifetime drama Drop Dead Diva when it returns with new episodes this summer. Rosemont will play one of Jane’s (Brooke Elliott) clients – the mother of a little person – who is suing the sperm bank that provided the sperm. Meanwhile Tilly will play an actress who Fred (Ben Feldman) hires to play his mother for Stacy (April Bowlby). (Jethro Nededog at Zap2It)

It looks like actor Steven Weber (Wings) is joining the cast of Parenthood as a potential love interest for Lauren Graham’s lovelorn single mom. He will play Jack Kraft, a charismatic artistic director of the Berkeley Theater Company who crosses paths with Sarah when her play is submitted to his New Voices reading series. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Jason George (Off the Map) will guest star on Castle in an upcoming episode where Castle and Becket head to Los Angeles. He will play an entrepreneur, who ends up being a key character in solving their new case. This is the same episode for which actor Dominic Purcell will appear. (TV Overmind)

Actor Judd Hirsch will appear in the new season of Damages when it comes to DirecTV with all new episodes this summer. He will play a former mentor of Patty’s whose reappearance in her life shows just how much has changed in his. (TV Overmind)

TNT has renewed the critically acclaimed drama Southland for a 4th season, ordering 10 new episodes of the gritty, realistic cop drama. (The Futon Critic)

Additionally, TNT has given the green light to the new drama Perception that stars Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) as Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook and expertise to help the federal government crack difficult cases. His intimate knowledge of human behavior and masterful understanding of the mind are matched by his equally odd and imaginative view of the world. The cast includes Rachael Leigh Cook (She’s All That), as FBI agent Kate Rossi, Pierce’s former student and the person responsible for recruiting him to work for the government and Kelly Rowan (The O.C.) as Natalie Vincent, Pierce’s best friend, who is every bit his intellectual equal. The show is expected to premiere in 2012, receiving a 10 episode order. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Connie Nielsen will star opposite Kelsey Grammer in the Starz series called Boss, which is an 8-episode political drama with Grammer starring as Kane, the Mayor of Chicago who is diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition that only he and his doctor know about. Nielsen will play his immaculately groomed wife Meredith who is a pro with the press and tough when she needs to be. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Laura Allen (Terriers) has been bumped up to the female lead opposite actor Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter franchise) in the NBC drama pilot REM. Additionally, actresses Michael McManus (The Vampire Diaries and Law & Order: SVU) and Cherry Jones (24) have also joined the cast. The drama is described as an Inception-style thriller and centers on Detective Michael Britten (Isaacs), who wakes up after an accident to find he is living in two different realities, one in which he has killed his son Rex (Dylan Minnette) and one in which he has killed his wife Hannah (Allen) in a car accident. McManus will play Rex’s tennis coach, who has become his confidante in the wake of the recent loss of his mother. While Jones will play Dr. Stephanie Evans, Mark’s shrink in the reality in which his wife has been killed. (The Futon Critic and Deadline)

Actress Natasha Henstridge (Eli Stone) has joined the CW drama pilot called The Secret Circle, based on the book series by L.J. Smith (author of The Vampire Diaries books for which the series is based). This pilot centers on Cassie (Britt Robertson), a young girl who moves to New Salem, Maine and learns she is a member of a secret coven of witches. She is also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle of good versus evil. Henstridge will play Dawn Chamberlain, the vice principal of New Salem High School. (Zap2It and Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Acting legend Ian McShane (Deadwood) has joined the cast of the upcoming box office movie Jack the Giant Killer, which is a re-telling of the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale that follows a farm boy (Nicholas Hoult) who leads an expedition to free a princess taken hostage by a giant, a situation which threatens the uneasy truce between humans and giants. He will play King Brahmwell, the father of the kidnapped princess (Eleanor Tomlinson) who is not thrilled about the idea of his daughter marrying a farmer boy. (Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Happy Monday! Did everyone have a good weekend? Sure hope so. Let’s get right into today’s news, shall we?:

TELEVISION

Actor Benjamin Bratt (Law & Order and The Cleaner) will be joining Private Practice as a series regular next season, making his first appearance in the show’s season finale this May. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Former American Idol contestant-turned actress Lisa Tucker has been tapped to play Greta Martin on The Vampire Diaries. As viewers may remember her father Jonas and brother Luka were killed by the Salvatore Brothers; and she has been held captive by Klaus (Joseph Morgan). Like her family, she is a witch and will play a key role in the big showdown between Elena and the brothers. (Zap2It)

Actor Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) will guest star in an upcoming spring episode of Castle that finds Castle and Beckett heading to LA to investigate a murder. Purcell will play a Hollywood businessman who may have a connection to the killing. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actress Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) has landed the female lead in American Horror, the much-buzzed-about FX drama pilot from Glee bosses Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. She will play the role of Vivien Harmon, one half of the show’s central couple. The premise of the show is being kept under tight wraps, but this much can be revealed: Each season will feature an entirely new cast. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers) has joined the ABC drama pilot Georgetown that is about a quartet of young staffers in Washington, D.C. – Sam (Daisy Betts), Nikki (Katie Cassidy), Peter (Joseph Mazzello) and Andrew (Jimmy Wolk) – who share a DuPont Circle townhouse together. He willplay Sam’s boss, a White House Senior Adviser Michael Kline. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

It has been revealed that actress Julianne Moore will join actor Jeff Bridges in the box office film The Seventh Son, which is an adaptation of The Last Apprentice (or The Wardstone Chronicles) book series. She will play the role of Mother Malkin, the most sinister of witches who uses blood magic. The story is described as: when 12-year-old Thomas, seventh son of a seventh son, is apprenticed to the local Spook, whose job is to fight evil spirits and witches, he expects a life of danger. However, the boy doesn’t realize just how soon he’ll face a powerful enemy alone, as Mother Malkin escapes her confinement while the Spook is away. Thomas is forced to use his wits, and the help of his enigmatic new friend, Alice, to fight the evil witch. And defeating her is only the start of the boy’s problems. The rest of the cast is yet to be announced. (The First Showing)

Here are the top 10 movies in the box office according to Exhibitors Relations and E! Entertainment Online:
1. Limitless, $19 million
2. Rango, $15.3 million
3. Battle: Los Angeles, $14.6 million
4. Lincoln Lawyer, $13.4 million
5. Paul, $13.2 million
6. Red Riding Hood, $7.3 million
7. The Adjustment Bureau, $5.9 million
8. Mars Needs Moms, $5.3 million
9. Beastly, $3.3 million
10. Hall Pass, $2.6 million

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Oscar winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park and Downton Abbey) has written the long-gestating four-hour mini-series Titanic that has finally found a home on ABC. The mini-series is slated to coincide with the ship’s sinking next year. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

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

Question: I have a different sort of “relationship” question regarding Castle. The big thing always seems to be the potential relationship between Castle and Beckett. But honestly, the parts I rewind and watch again and again are the scenes with Castle, Ryan and Esposito. I adore their interactions and reactions. Do you think there is any chance those scenes might be expanded? For me, they make the show. — Renee

Matt Roush: It does seem like they’ve developed the sidekick characters a little more this season,
which is probably a good thing, because I’ve always wondered how these detectives (and those on The Mentalist, for that matter) earn their keep when they’re upstaged on almost every case by the amateur “consultant” in their midst. If these guys are popping for you in their scenes with Castle, it’s a sign of good ensemble chemistry. But they’re still very much co-stars to the leads, and I doubt that would change significantly on a regular basis.

Question: Just wanted to give two big thumbs up to Anna Torv’s “channeling” of Leonard Nimoy (as William Bell) in Friday’s episode of Fringe. I could have watched her do that for two hours instead of just one. From the graveled hoarseness in her voice to the arching of her eyebrow, she had Leonard down pat. I have no idea if Leonard Nimoy would have watched this impersonation of him, but I hope if he did, he appreciated it as much as the rest of the Fringe fans. This reminded me of what David Duchovny did on The X-Files in the “Small Potatoes” episode where he had to behave like the little shape-shifting guy Eddie Van Blundht trying to masquerade as Mulder. Granted a little more complex role, but nonetheless the same kind of quirkiness that made The X-Files such a treat to watch, and Fringe can do the same (as does Supernatural). Of course Anna Torv does a great job throughout the series being her alternate Olivia, but this was a step above. Keep up the good work, Anna. — JG

Matt Roush: Wasn’t she great? I especially got a kick out of the more playful moments: Bell-Livia remarking on how binding a bra was, or creeping Astrid out with her/his flirting. And the final moment, when the church bells brought the dormant Olivia back to the surface for a fleeting panicked moment, was just chilling. In the first season of Fringe, I found Anna Torv’s performance the show’s greatest liability. This season, with her pulling double duty as Alt-livia in the parallel world and now this inspired twist, she’s among its greatest assets. Nicely played indeed. And comparisons to The X-Files are very apt these days. Fringe is that good.

Question: I know you don’t usually go too much into the business side of things, but I was wondering about your take on Netflix’s apparent foray into original programming with House of Cards. It seems to match the model put forth by HBO (start as a content consolidator and then become a content creator), except that Netflix will be creating a TV show that many people may never see on a TV. Given the success of YouTube as well as web-based programs, the definition of “television show” is getting rather blurry (indeed, Dr. Horrible made many critics’ top TV list for 2008, though it never aired on TV). What do you think the ramifications of Netflix’s original programming will wind up being? Will it be just another cable outlet, albeit one that’s entirely “on-demand,” or will the inclusion of original programming that people can access without cable, a dish, or even a TV cause ripples throughout the industry? — Erin

Matt Roush: This may well be seen as a watershed moment in the ongoing evolution of how we consume TV. But for now, it’s only one series, and much as I don’t prejudge anything on network, cable or (these days) satellite, I don’t want to read too much into this. Yet. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is another excellent example of someone skirting the usual distribution system with a landmark piece of entertainment, but the way that was produced (during a writers’ strike, with everyone deferring payment until it hit the DVD market) was unusual to say the least, and since then, has anything made for-Internet-only had the same sort of impact? The real question here is how deeply Netflix and its peers will invest in original programming. Because the best stuff doesn’t come cheap. (Just look at HBO.) I’m happy for any new entity to come along that will invest in and support the production of high-quality long-form scripted programming. Even if House of Cards turns out to be a winner — and the original British miniseries it’s based on is still regarded as one of Masterpiece Theater’s very best — do I think it’s going to make the networks, cable and satellite method of watching TV obsolete? Probably not, and certainly not immediately.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »