Hey All,
So, it’s the end of the first week of January. How time flies, huh? There is quite a bit of interesting news items to share with all of you so let’s get right into all of it:
TELEVISION
Actor Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, Lost and Dexter) will guest star as Virgil Downing, a notorious international contract killer who always gets the job done trained assassin in the upcoming fugitive-themed drama Breakout Kings from A&E. The series is slated to premiere in mid-March. Pellegrino will appear in the 10th episode. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)
Actress Camryn Manheim and actor Steve Harris (both from The Practice) will guest-star on the new NBC legal series, Harry’s Law, which was created by David E. Kelly, the creator of The Practice. Manheim will play an assistant district attorney in an episode slated to air sometime later this season; while Harris will portray a convict up for parole in the January 31 episode. (TV Line and Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)
Actor Sebastian Roche (General Hospital and Supernatural) is joining the cast of Criminal Minds as a recurring player. Specifics of Roche’s storyline are under wraps, though. Roche is also set to return to Supernatural for several more episodes, reprising his role as the angel Balthazar, one of Castiel’s old friends. (Nellie Andreeva at TV Line)
The new A&E series Breakout Kings has been given a premiere date: March 13 at 10 PM. The series follows an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run. Veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso Avatar and Fast and the Furious 4: Fast & Furious) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi from The Wire and Entourage) decide to reject protocol and take an unorthodox approach to their work: using former fugitives to catch current ones. (The Futon Critic)
Meanwhile, the new AMC series The Killing will debut on April 3 at 10 PM. The series follows the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation, tying together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim’s grieving family and the suspects. The series stars Mireille Enos (Big Love) as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective that investigates the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell (Once and Again and The 4400) as Darren Richmond, Seattle’s City Council President, running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie’s killer; Michelle Forbes (True Blood) as Rosie’s mother, Mitch Larsen; and Brent Sexton (W. and In the Valley of Elah) as Rosie’s father, Stan Larsen. (The Futon Critic)
Grant Show will be return as Addison’s bad boy brother, Archer, in the February 10 episode of Private Practice. This episode will also feature the return of Stephen Collins (No Ordinary Family) as Addison’s father. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Actress Amy Acker (Angel, Happy Town and Dollhouse) will play a therapist in the new USA dramedy Common Law, which centers on polar opposite LAPD homicide detectives Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole from Mental) and Travis Marks (Michael Ealy from FlashForward) whose constant bickering prompts their captain to send them to couples counseling. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)
ABC is finalizing a deal for a 13-episode order to a medical drama about a military hospital in Afghanistan to run in the summer. This set up is being done much the same as Canadian network partner, Canwest, and under the same low-cost financial model as ABC’s cop drama Rookie Blue. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES
Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson will star in the HBO Films called The Sunset Limited, debuting on February 12 at 9 PM. The made-for-TV film is based on the play of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Cormac McCarthy, directed and executive produced by Tommy Lee Jones, written by McCarthy and produced by Barbara A. Hall. (The Futon Critic)
Lifetime has announced the premiere date for the made-for-TV film Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy, starring Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) in the title role: February 21 at 9 PM. The film is based on the infamous American exchange student accused by Italian authorities of killing her roommate. The film also stars Marcia Gay Harden. (The Hollywood Reporter)
MORE BEST OF TV FOR 2010
The 50 Best Episodes of 2010: #20-11
BOX OFFFICE NEWS
Actors Luka Haas and Diego Luna have joined the cast of the upcoming box office movie Contraband that already stars Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi. The story follows a security guard and former alcohol smuggler on the Iceland-Netherlands route who is tempted back into illicit business by a dubious friend after encountering financial problems. (First Showing and What’s Playing)
Warner Bros. announced they will pay for the entire $500 million price tag to finally get the long-gestating adaptation of The Hobbit off the ground with Peter Jackson as director. Additionally, Elijah Wood will appear as Frodo in the opening sequences of each film. (TheOneRing.net and First Showing)
SPOILER ROOM (from Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)
CHARISMA CARPENTER’S TEGAN RETURNS TO ‘GREEK’ FOR GRADE-A BITCHERY
This week, ZBZ National Rep Tegan drops by for rush week and clashes with Rebecca in a huge way over potential pledges and how she’s running the house. But seeing these two acid-tongued femmes battle it out for the final word is like watching two carnivorous beasts fight over the last chunk of ripe carcass. The two particularly disagree on how to deal with the search for a new house mom, a role Casey takes on temporarily during the episode. Although, someone does get picked for the job by the end of the hour, and you already know them very well. Other things to look forward to: Star Wars sex, a Scrubs 2.0 shout-out, and the introduction of pledge Spiderman.
SIDE DISHES (from Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)
Question: You were totally right about the end of last week’s Castle. So cute!! Any scoop to report? – B
Answer: EP Laurie Zaks told me exclusively that fans can look forward to a March episode that will wink and nod to Nathan Fillion’s One Life to Live days. Titled “One Life to Lose,” the episode finds Beckett and Castle investigating the death of a very popular soap star. Imagine the casting possibilities!
Question: V didn’t do so well out of the gate, and that’s a shame!! I love Elizabeth Mitchell. If I saw her in person, I would fall to my knees and bow to her. Anything fun to report on what’s coming up for Erica? — Randy
Answer: It sounds like someone’s in love…and kinda creepy. So I’m not sure how you’ll take news of Erica’s possible romantic future. “She is gonna end up hooking up with somebody, and for, I think, a pretty legitimate reason,” Mitchell told us. “That’s farther down the road.” Guesses? Hobbs seems a little obvious, no? Perhaps man of God Jack Landry? (For more on V, check out Lynette Rice’s chat with Jane Badler and our chat with your girl Mitchell.)
Question: I would love some scoop on No Ordinary Family. — Stacie
Answer: And I would love to give you some. While you might already know that John Hughes alum, and former star of The Dead Zone Anthony Michael Hall, will be appearing in an upcoming episode, I’ve learned that he will be playing Daphne’s boyfriend’s father, and that this meet-the-parents doesn’t go exactly as planned. In related scoop, Autumn Reeser, whose recently announced pregnancy is being written into the show, told EW at the People’s Choice Awards Wednesday night that contrary to rumors, her character probably won’t be obtaining any powers…this year. “I think there is still so much to explore with the four lead characters and their powers,” she said. “If we went for a second season, I’d love to see my character develop a power. Why not?”
Question: Got more news about the Supernatural episode where the guys play themselves? We know Genevieve Cortese is appearing. Who else will we get to see play themselves? — Wendy
Answer: The upcoming meta-episode that takes the Winchester brothers into an alternate universe where they are actors named Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles will also feature some other characters with names you might recognize — Sera Gamble, Eric Kripke, and Bob Singer. But don’t look for the real-life executive producers to appear as themselves: they will be played by actors. I also hear Castiel/Misha Collins will appear, but sadly, Jim Beaver will not.
That’s it. Enjoy!
Rueben's Ramblings 