Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Today’s update is coming out a little late as I stayed home from work today for personal reasons, but there are lots of great things to share with you so I hope you find some items that you like:

NEWS

Universal Pictures and NBC will produce a three part film franchise and a TV series based on the Stephen King seven-book The Dark Tower collection. Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer will executive produce with King listed as a producer. The first season of the TV series will debut shortly after the first movie. The book collection is an epic fantasy series that spans multiple dimensions and eras. (Daniel Frankel at The Wrap)

The Paley Center for Media is launching a television awards show in May 2012 which will be broadcast from New York City to coincide with upfront presentations, the time when the networks traditionally unveil their fall lineups to advertisers. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

According to TV Guide, the following shows are the 10 most anticipated returning shows this fall (in order): NCIS, Fringe, Glee, Castle, Bones, Chuck, The Big Bang Theory, Grey’s Anatomy, Supernatural and Dexter. Meanwhile the following shows came thisclose to being in the top 10: The Good Wife, Modern Family, The Vampire Diaries, House and Sons of Anarchy. On the other end of the spectrum, the 10 most anticipated new shows this fall (in order) are: Hawaii Five-0, The Event, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Blue Bloods, No Ordinary Family, Undercovers, S#*! My Dad Says, Nikita, The Defenders and Boardwalk Empire. (Reporting by Adam Bryant)

TELEVISION

If you miss the debuts of the new CBS shows Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods on their original nights you can watch the rebroadcast of each on September 25 at 8 and 9 PM respectively. NBC will do the same thing for their new shows The Event and Chase, rebroadcasting their pilot episodes also on September 25 at 8 and 9 PM as well. ABC will reair the debut of The Whole Truth on September 24. Lone Star the new FOX drama will be reaired on September 25 at 11 PM.  (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Both networks – TNT and TBS – have some new pilots ordered. TNT has the new crime procedurals planned: Perception (the working title) is about Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve complex cases.
An Untitled Allan Loeb Project – Based on the novel The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp is about a recently widowed police Detective Mike Lomax and his newly married partner, Terry Biggs who delve into a world of mystery, intrigue and occasional hijinks. Dallas is an update of the long-running series, focusing on the offspring of bitter rivals and brothers JR and Bobby Ewing, who clash over the future of the Ewing dynasty while the fate of Southfork itself weighs in the balance. Meanwhile, TBS is working on a comedic detective series currently called Brain Trust, which is about Detective Billy Doyle, whose career and life have hit rock bottom after he accidentally ends his partner’s career. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Liam Neeson has joined the cast of the box office movie Battleship, based on the Hasbro board game that centers around a battle on land, sea and the sky between earth’s forces and attacking aliens with most of the action set on the USS John Paul Jones. Neeson will play Admiral Shane, a navy admiral and the future father-in-law of the lead officer character (Taylor Kitsch). Brooklyn Decker stars as Shane’s daughter, Alexander Skarsgard as the brother of Kitsch’s character, and Rihanna as a weapons analyst. (Dark Horizons)

Ciaran Hinds and Janet McTeer have joined the cast of The Woman in Black, the adaptation of Susan Hill’s gothic supernatural horror novel that follows a young solicitor (Daniel Radcliffe) who takes up a short residence at Eel Marsh House, a desolate and secluded coastal mansion cut off at high tide from the nearby market town in rural England. Hinds will play the local land-owner Mr. Daily who counsels the solicitor as he investigates, while McTeer will play Daily’s wife. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Andrea Bowen (Desperate Housewives) will star in the independent film called Preachers’ Daughter, which is about a woman who reunites with her estranged religious small-town minister father. (Variety and Entertainment Weekly)

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (The Tudors) will star as a Jewish diplomat who romances a married Swiss woman in the movie Belle Du Seigneur. (Deadline and Entertainment Weekly)

A biopic about actor turned politician Ronald Reagan is in the works for a possible release date in 2011. The movie is expected to begin with the 1981 assassination attempt and will tell Reagan’s story through flashbacks and flash-forwards. (First Showing)

CASTING SCOOP

Actor Sam Anderson (Lost) will guest star on NCIS in the second episode of the new fall season, as Walter Carmichael, a middle school teacher whose classroom becomes a crime scene when one of his students is kidnapped. The episode also features actor William Devane as the grandfather of the abducted girl. NCIS will return to CBS on September 21 at 8 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) is joining the cast of CSI in a potential recurring role, playing Detective Reed, a smart investigator who doesn’t do well with sensitivity. Her first episode is slated to air during November sweeps. CSI will be back on CBS on September 23 at 9 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Actress Celia Weston (Desperate Housewives) will appear as the down-home country mama for Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) in the ABC comedy Modern Family.  (William Keck at TV Guide)

Robert Englund (the original Freddy Krueger himself) will guest star in Chuck during its Halloween episode. He will play Dr. Stanley Wheelwright, an evil scientist who can make your waking life a nightmare. Chuck will return on September 20. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

There will be a Twin Peaks-type reunion on Psych when Sheryl Lee and Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey), appear in the episode alongside Dana Ashbrook. All three will play residents of Dual Spires, a quirky Northern California town that has been rocked by the death of a high school student. Log Lady Catherine Coulson will also make a cameo as the mysterious Woman with Wood. Ray Wise will also reprise his role as Father Westley. Lenny Von Dohlen and Robyn Lively will also make cameos. The episode, co-written by star James Roday, will air during Psych‘s fall run. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Legendary actor Hal Holbrook will appear in a multi-episode arc of the new NBC series The Event, playing a mysterious character by the name of Dempsey. The show has its premiere on September 20. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Three interns will shadow Gibbs and his team on NCIS during the second episode of the new fall season. Playing the wannabe investigators will be Zack Lively (Greek), David Magidoff (Veronica Mars) and newcomer Elizabeth Wright Shapiro. (Matt Mitovich at Fancast)

RUMOR PATROL

Joel McHale (Community) is in final negotiations to join Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World, starring as a spy-hunting reporter married to Jessica Alba’s character, who is a retired spy turned housewife and stepmother to his kids who will become the new titular Spy Kids. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Michael Caine is in final negotiations to join the box office sequel Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, which has Josh Hutcherson reprising his role from the first movie (Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D) as a young man who, along with his mom’s boyfriend (Dwayne Johnson), goes on a trip to a mythical island to find his missing grandfather. Caine will play said grandfather who gets involved in several action and chase sequences including one involving giant bees. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Reportedly, singer-actress Hilary Duff is in the running to play Gwen Stacy in the as-yet-untitled Spider-Man reboot. There has been no confirmation on casting for this movie yet except for lead actor Andrew Garfield. (Blastr)

Jennifer Morrison (House) is among a handful of actresses in the running to play a major new love interest for Ted in the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother. Other names in the mix include Minka Kelly and Jacinda Barrett. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Q&A SECTION (with TV Gurus at TV Guide):

Question: Vampire Diaries scoop, please! — Micah

MICKEY: We’ll learn pretty quickly how Jeremy and Caroline fare in their stare-downs with the Grim Reaper, but the answers won’t be simple… or permanent. Also: The premiere (tomorrow night, Sept. 9, at 8 PM on the CW) features a devastating scene between Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder. I’ll leave it up to you to guess which character Dobrev is playing in it.

Question: Will there be any friction between Abby and Gibbs in the new season of NCIS? —Melanie

ADAM: While there still may be some fallout from Abby’s discovery of Gibbs’ murderous past, executive producer Shane Brennan doesn’t think the secret will greatly change their relationship. “It’s a complex relationship and we’ve just added another layer of complexity,” he says. “But we would not jeopardize the relationship that the audience has come to love. It does bring a different perspective, but it’s not like they’re going to be busted up. Gibbs and Abby are going back to being Gibbs and Abby.”

Question: Can’t wait for Castle to come back. Just how angry with Castle is Beckett? — Anthony

ADAM: Let’s just say that there’s a whole lot of woman-scorned subtext when Beckett gets Castle in the interrogation room after he becomes a murder suspect. (And you’ve seen the promos where they’re point guns at each other, right?) But it’s pretty clear by the end of the premiere that she wants him back on her team, much to the chagrin of Esposito and Ryan, each of whom spends most of the premiere trying to become Beckett’s new favorite.

Question: Can’t wait for Castle to come back. Just how angry with Castle is Beckett? — Anthony

ADAM: Let’s just say that there’s a whole lot of woman-scorned subtext when Beckett gets Castle in the interrogation room after he becomes a murder suspect. (And you’ve seen the promos where they’re point guns at each other, right?) But it’s pretty clear by the end of the premiere that she wants him back on her team, much to the chagrin of Esposito and Ryan, each of whom spends most of the premiere trying to become Beckett’s new favorite.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

So did everyone enjoy the long holiday weekend? I sure hope. And now, it’s back to the normal grind of work, school and/or active family stuff, right? Whatever applies to each of you, of course.

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

NEWS

Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, country legend Merle Haggard, composer and lyricist Jerry Herman, and director and choreographer Bill T. Jones are this year’s recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. (E! Entertainment Online)

ONLINE ADVENTURE

JEFF AND LESTER ARE ON THE LAM AND IN SEARCH OF A COPY OF THE NEW HALO: REACH VIDEOGAME IN “CHUCK PRESENTS – BUY HARD: THE JEFF AND LESTER STORY,” AN ORIGINAL DIGITAL SERIES LAUNCHING SEPTEMBER 7

TELEVISION

Shawn and Aaron Ashmore (the twin actors known for their roles in the X-Men film franchise, Smallville and Veronica Mars) are set to appear in season three of Fringe this fall. The duo is set to guest star in an episode slated to air in November. No word on just who or what they’ll be playing but it’s safe to say that twins will play into the equation in some capacity. (Digital Spy and Televisionary)

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS FOR BBC AMERICA

The US premiere of the new series Luther will air on October 17 at 10 PM. The series is about a brilliant detective, who is tormented by the darker side of humanity. The series stars Idris Elba (The Wire), as Luther, Ruth Wilson (The Prisoner and Jane Eyre) as Alice Morgan, a beautiful, extraordinarily intelligent key witness in Luther’s first investigation; Steven Mackintosh (Criminal Justice) as Detective Chief Inspector Ian Reed and Luther’s loyal friend and work colleague; Indira Varma (Rome) as Zoe Luther, who’s had the strength to walk away from the man she still loves; Paul McGann (Withnail and I) as Mark North, who is unafraid to compete with Luther for Zoe’s love; Saskia Reeves (Bodies) as Detective Superintendent Rose Teller, Luther’s risk-taking boss and Warren Brown (Occupation) as Detective Sergeant Justin Ripley, Luther’s loyal, awestruck new partner. (The Futon Critic)

This Halloween (October 31) you can spend some quality time with the supernatural in the form of George, Mitchell and Annie when the network will air each and every episode from both seasons of Being Human in an all-day marathon. (The Futon Critic)

In this new adaptation of the classic novel Brideshead Revisited, Matthew Goode plays Charles Ryder, an impressionable middle-class art student who becomes fascinated with the posh lifestyle of his Oxford schoolmate, Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw). Charles spends the summer with Sebastian’s well-off family at their majestic estate, Brideshead Castle, where he falls in love with Sebastian’s sister, Julia. Over the course of two World Wars, Charles is immersed in the self-indulgent world of the Flyte family, and all the forbidden love and heartbreaking loss of innocence that involvement brings. This new movie will air on October 24 at 3:00 PM. (The Futon Critic)

INTERVIEWS

‘Friday Night Lights’: Adrianne Palicki on Tyra’s return to Dillon

Exclusive Interview: What’s Ahead for Patrick Heusinger on Royal Pains?

FILM FESTIVAL MOVIE

‘The Last Rites of Ransom Pride’ trailer: A graphic novel spin on a classic Western

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at Fancast)

Question: I’ll take anything you’ve got on ‘The Good Wife‘! – Karen

Mitovich: You’re in luck, because Graham Phillips had lots to tease about Zach Florrick’s Season 2 storyline – namely that it will feature less teen sleuthing and “a bit more real action.” With pop Peter again running for office, “Zach is desperate to get involved in some way with his dad’s political career – and by the end, he does.” Graham also confirmed what The Big Tease shared back in June, that Zach’s ex-girlfriend Becca (played by Dreama Walker) “comes back, and she’s up to more mischief.”

Question: What’s in store for Kyle Hobbes in ‘V’s Season 2? – ripleyaeryn via Twitter

Mitovich: ‘V’ exec producer Scott Rosenbaum tells The Big Tease that Hobbes (played by Charles Mesure) will resume his mercenary role within Erica’s team, but because of the deal he is forced to make with Visitor Marcus, “His alliance will be tested.” We’ll also learn about Sarah, the love of Hobbes’ life “whose disappearance sent him down his dark path,” Rosenbaum reveals. “[That] gives him a personal stake in the fight against the Vs, and we will see him at his most ruthless as he’s driven to take down the Visitors and reunite with Sarah.” Wait, what – Sarah’s alive? Paging Evangeline Lilly!

Question: What have you heard about Daisy returning to ‘Bones‘? – Smurfs

Mitovich: She’s on hand for the Sept. 23 season premiere, have no fear. In fact, she brings rather humorous levity to the “guerillas” scene that Emily Deschanel referred to in this video Q&A. And then when Daisy and Sweets (attempt to) reconnect after the seven-month split? So much fun, I want these two to get their own spin-off.

Question: What did you think of the ‘Bones‘ premiere? I’m on the fence about this one. – Tanya

Mitovich: I was impressed by how angst-free it was, even as Bones and Booth came face to face after their seven-month separation. Instead, equal time was given to the Sweets/Daisy and Angela/Hodgins stories. Plus, I like how the workplace status quo has been altered just enough (right down to a dwindled number of squints) to freshen things up.

Question: Any ‘Castle‘ scoop? Preferably something Castle/Beckett related, if you can. – xpenguin via Twitter

Mitovich: Monday’s season premiere revolves around a nifty twist: What if Castle repeatedly emerged as a person of interest in a series of murders, thus landing him Beckett’s non-flirty crosshairs? And while it’s cute to espy Kate’s bitterness over her “partner’s” summer hiatus, it’s just as fun to see Esposito and Ryan come off as scorned bromantic interests.

Question: How is the ‘Life Unexpected‘ premiere? I really liked the first season, and was surprised and happy that it got a second. – EvolutionGirl via Twitter

Mitovich: My goodness, a lot happens in the September 14 season premiere. There’s plentiful reaction to Baze’s failed ‘Graduate’ moment, there’s a romantic road trip, a near-tragedy… and at least one canvas-tweaking twist that I did not see coming.

Question: You tweeted this piece of Baze’s dialogue from the ‘Life Unexpected‘ premiere: “Cate, if I had gotten to the church earlier, it wouldn’t have mattered… right?” Tell me more! – PaulaEdgar via Twitter

Mitovich: OK – Cate’s response to that is three words.

Question: Now that ‘Lie To Me’s Gillian is finally done with Dr. Burns, can we see some good Gillian/Cal stuff? After all, Cal did say that he wanted Gillian “in the worst possible way.” – Hilla

Mitovich: Well, he sure has a funny way of showing it. Take the Season 3 episode that guest-stars Tricia Helfer (’Battlestar Galactica’) as a woman who catches Cal’s eye. He whips out every trick in his book to capitalize on her “tells,” reel her in and make her putty in his hands – and practically right in front of Gill!

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Labor Day! I hope everyone is enjoying the last of the holiday weekend. The news isn’t too voluminous, but there are a few things to share with all of you.

TELEVISION

Actor Ken Jenkins (Scrubs) will be playing the father of Courteney Cox’s character on Cougar Town this fall. There are no details, however, on the story details or an air date. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

The made-for-TV movie Red, starring Felicia Day (Buffy, The Guild and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog), Kavan Smith (Stargate Atlantis) and Stephen McHattie (The Jesse Stone movies), will air on Syfy on October 30 at 9 PM, as part of the network’s 31 Days of Halloween event. The movie is about a descendant of Little Red Riding Hood who brings her fiancé home to meet her family and tell him about the family business – they are werewolf hunters. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Feature writer John Glenn (Journey to the Center of the Earth) is developing two new drama pilots for CBS and FOX. The CBS pilot is called Treadstone, a drama about spies, working for a secretive corporation featured in the Robert Ludlum novels. While the FOX pilot is yet to be titled, but is about vigilantes in New York City. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

The following list is the top 10 box office movies for the holiday weekend according to Exhibitor Relations via E! Entertainment Online:

1. The American, $16.4 million
2. Machete, $14 million
3. Takers, $13.5 million
4. The Last Exorcism, $8.8 million
5. Going the Distance, $8.6 million
6. The Expendables, $8.5 million
7. The Other Guys, $6.7million
8. Eat Pray Love, $6.3 million
9. Inception, $5.9 million
10. Nanny McPhee Returns, $4.7 million

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Roush at TV Guide):

Question: I’m sure I’m not alone at wondering what will be a hit among all the new shows in the fall schedule. How does one know what to watch? What are your recommendations? There’s nothing worse than starting to watch a show at the beginning of the season, truly enjoying it, and a couple of months, sometimes only weeks later, finding out it’s already off the air due to low ratings. How do we avoid that from happening? — Patricia

Matt Roush: Good timing. TV Guide Magazine’s annual Fall Preview issue will hit stands this week, and you’ll get the lowdown on the shows — and in each case, a pithy mini-review from yours truly on which shows caught my eye. (This year, unlike last fall, not very many, I’m sorry to say.) Your first question asked me what I thought would be a hit, and that’s different in many cases from my recommendations. I think most of CBS’s new shows have a very good chance of succeeding, even if (in the case of something like the very broad The Defenders) it’s not my kind of show. Hawaii Five-0 is likely to be huge, and I enjoyed much about the pilot, but am not sure if it will be on my weekly menu. I’m intrigued by The Event and No Ordinary Family, but have problems with their pilots. My favorite pilots were on Fox — Lone Star for drama, Raising Hope for comedy — and I’m definitely going to keep my eye on Blue Bloods (CBS), Nikita (CW), Undercovers (NBC), Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC), and I’m eager to see the first episode of Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC). But overall, this is a pretty formulaic lot that to me is especially disappointing after a season when the networks swung the bat with shows like Modern Family, Glee, The Good Wife, Community and The Vampire Diaries and came up with a new generation of quality/fun shows. As for the experience of falling in love with a new show only to have it be canceled: That comes with the territory. The failure rate on TV is very high, but this time of year, hope springs eternal.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The end of the week is here and for those of us in the States, we will be celebrating with a long weekend because of Labor Day (the unofficial end of summer) being on Monday. I hope everyone has a terrific extra-long weekend. Drive safe and be well.

For now, though, here are the news items from today:

TELEVISION

Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica and Dark Blue) will guest star on a Season 3 episode of Lie to Me this fall, playing Naomi, who’s attracted to Lightman (Tim Roth) despite being frustrated by the inability to hide anything from him. But when she calls on Lightman for protection from a violent ex-boyfriend, it’s Lightman who begins to wonder if her beauty has impaired his lie-detecting skills. Lie to Me wraps its second season on September 13 at 8 PM and it returns for Season 3 on November 10 at 9 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Thomas Calabro (Melrose Place) will guest star on an upcoming episode of CSI: NY, playing a man who is searching with his wife (Helen Slater) for their missing son. Together, they follow clues left for them from a mysterious caller. CSI: NY returns on September 24 at 9 PM. (Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Nicholas Brendon (Buffy) will guest star in an episode of Private Practice this fall. (Per Shonda Rhimes at Twitter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Paul Scheuring (Prison Break) and McG are working on a pilot for ABC. The project is a private investigator drama called I, PI, which revolves around an investigator who learned everything he ever needed to know about being a P.I. from watching shows like Magnum, P.I. and Simon and Simon while growing up. As a result, he tends to subconsciously emulate those TV shamuses while out on the streets. (Variety and Televisionary)

Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone) and Jennifer Robinson have sold a pilot script for an untitled event drama to ABC. The project follows the White House Office of Crisis Management as they tackle one huge global crisis per season with the first season chronicling a crisis with a ticking clock on board the international space station. (Deadline and Televisionary)

Sam Raimi (the director behind the Spider-Man movies) has sold a script for the drama pilot Lancaster about a Scotland Yard copper who joins the LAPD. (Deadline and Televisionary)

BEST AND WORST OF SUMMER

Secret agents, sexy vampires, and savvy ad men—the summer TV season has drawn to a close

SUMMER RATINGS AND VOTING

Curious about how the summer shows – those that aired on the major networks, that is – performed in the ratings? Well, Entertainment Weekly compiled a list of all the new shows (including reality) and I’ve condensed it down to just the dramas. I don’t know if the publication will do the same for all the cable shows, but I know I will be working on my own summer ratings article and posting that as soon as I can. In the meantime, here is the breakdown:

Lie to Me (Fox): 7.33 million
Rookie Blue (ABC): 7.24 million
Flashpoint (CBS): 6.99 million
Miami Medical (CBS): 6.52 million
Lie to Me (Mondays, Fox): 5.03 million
The Good Guys (Fox): 4.61 million
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC): 4.53 million
Friday Night Lights (NBC): 4.13 million
Scoundrels (ABC): 3.82 million
The Gates (ABC): 3.78 million
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC): 3.63 million
Persons Unknown (NBC): 2.79 million
Law & Order: CI (Saturdays, NBC): 2.57 million

And, if you’d like to make your “vote” count for the summer shows you enjoyed the most, head over to E! Online made courtesy of Kristin at E! Entertainment Online.

FAN MOVEMENT LEAD BY FAN FAVORITE ACTRESS

Kristen Bell revives ‘Veronica Mars’ movie campaign: Is there hope?

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Tom Hardy (Inception) has stepped in for Michael Fassbender in the new film adaptation of John le Carre’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. The movie is to be set in the mid-70’s during the height of the Cold War. Gary Oldman plays a judicious, reserved, middle-aged intelligence expert who is recalled out of forced retirement to hunt down a Soviet mole in the “Circus”, the highest echelons of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). Hardy’s character will help Oldman’s character put the pieces of his investigation together. Fassbender is busy with the box office movie X-Men: First Class and cannot participate in this adaptation. Ciaran Hinds, Colin Firth, David Thewlis and Benedict Cumberatch (who will be seen in the BBC series Sherlock Holmes series) also star in this film. (The Daily Mail and Dark Horizons)

Olivia Thirlby (Juno) has landed a lead role in the upcoming alien invasion film The Darkest Hour AND has just been cast as Cassandra Anderson in the new adaptation of Judge Dredd, which will star Karl Urban in the lead role. (First Showing)

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a safe and fun Labor Day Weekend!

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Hey All,

The long, holiday weekend is almost here. Do you folks have any fun plans arranged? Hope so. For those of you on the East Coast please take care, batten down the hatches (as the saying goes) and let’s hope that Hurricane Earl does end up being as destructive as reports are currently stating.

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

TELEVISION

Lifetime has passed on the Army Wives spin-off that was to star Brigid Brannagh and Gabrielle Union. (Deadline and Televisionary)

The USA Network has slashed the episodic budget for the new legal drama Facing Kate from twelve to ten episodes and pushed the premiere into early 2011, due to scheduling issues. (Deadline and Televisionary)

ARTICLE ABOUT TORCHWOOD

Jane Espenson tells us about Torchwood’s ‘intense’ next season

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

A new 4-hour made-for-TV movie Neverland, a prequel to author J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan, will start production soon by Syfy with a cast that includes Rhys Ifans (Pirate Radio and Notting Hill) as James Hook, Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Captain Elizabeth Bonny, Bob Hoskins as Smee, Raoul Trujillo (Tin Man) as Holy Man and Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio) as Peter Pan. The movie is slated to air in 2011.

Here is the premise of the movie: Raised on the streets of turn-of-the century London, orphaned Peter (Rowe) and his pals survive by their fearless wits as cunning young pickpockets. Now, they’ve been rounded up by their mentor Jimmy Hook (Ifans) to snatch a priceless some believe, magical treasure which transports them to another world. Neverland is a realm of white jungles and legendary mysteries of eternal youth, where unknown friends and enemies snatched from time welcome the new travelers with both excitement and trepidation. These groups include a band of 18th century pirates led by the power-mad Elizabeth Bonny (Friel), and the Native American Kaw tribe led by a Holy Man (Trujillo), which has protected the secret of the tree spirits from Bonny and her gang for ages and that has meant war. But as the fight to save this strange and beautiful world becomes vital, Hook, Peter, and the ragamuffin lost boys consider that growing old somewhere in time could be less important than growing up-right here in their new home called Neverland. (The Futon Critic)

Alyssa Milano will star in Lifetime made-for-TV movie called Sundays at Tiffany’s, which is based on the book by James Patterson. She will star opposite Eric Winter (Moonlight and Brothers & Sisters) and will play a “bride-to-be visited by the adult incarnation of her childhood imaginary friend” who “begins to re-examine her life.” (Variety and Televisionary)

EXCITEMENT FOR FALL TV

5 Reasons Why You’re Not Going to Want to Miss the Second Season Premiere of LIFE UNEXPECTED

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

JJ Abrams and Lost executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff are about to shop around a drama spec script written by Sarnoff to the networks about Alcatraz. The project, however, is shrouded in secrecy but it is about the San Francisco Bay island that once housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline Hollywood Daily)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

There is talk that Warner Bros. TV is in talks with several writers-producers about adapting the award-winning 1990s comic series “The Sandman” by Neil Gaiman into a feature film. At the top of the list of writers-producers is Eric Kripke (creator of Supernatural). The story of The Sandman follows Dream (aka. Morpheus), the Lord of the dream world who is held captive for seven decades by an occult ritual. Having escaped, his kingdom has fallen into disrepair in his absence and he sets about changing his old ways – hard for a being who has been around for billions of years. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Australian actress Jessica McNamee (Packed to the Rafters and The Loved Ones) has joined the cast of the romantic drama The Vow, which follows a real-life newlywed New Mexico couple (played by Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum) who get in a car crash. The wife is in a coma, where her husband takes care of her. When she awakes with no memory of her husband, he attempts to win her heart again. McNamee will play Rachel McAdams’ estranged younger sister. Scott Speedman also stars. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

John Hawkes (Deadwood), Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), Hugh Dancy (Ella Enchanted) and Elizabeth Olsen (younger sister of the Olsen twins) will star in the indie drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, which follows a young woman who goes to live with her older sister after escaping from a cult led by Hawkes’ character. (Jeff Sneider at The Wrap)

Paula Patton (Precious) has landed that female lead role in the upcoming Mission: Impossible 4 film that will start Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker). (Mike Fleming at Deadline)

Monica Bellucci has joined the cast the upcoming comedy movie called Manual Of Love 3, starring as the love interest of Robert De Niro’s American professor character. (Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today. Again, I hope you find some of them to be interesting.

GLEE NEWS

‘Glee’ and Claire’s introduce Gleek jewelry, accessories line

TELEVISION

Cybill Shepherd (Moonlighting) and Bruce McGill (Rizzoli & Isles) will guest star as the parents of Julie Benz’s character on the new ABC drama No Ordinary Family. The pilot episode airs on September 28. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Maiara Walsh (Desperate Housewives) will appear as Sarah, a high schooler who likes to party on the October 7 episode of The Vampire Diaries. She has her eyes set on Jeremy and encourages him to party it up at the Lockwood house. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Jack Coleman (Heroes) will play Max Armstrong, described as a wealthy, regal, arrogant, self-important man who becomes the prime suspect in a murder on the October 14 episode of The Mentalist. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue) will have a multi-episode arc on One Tree Hill playing the never-before-seen mother of Justin (Austin Nichols). She is in town to plan the wedding of her son and Brooke (Sophia Bush). She will first appear in episode 6, which is slated to air at the end of October. The series returns to the CW on September 14. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

George Takei (Star Trek) will play himself on the CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory. He will appear alongside Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), who is returning to the series to play Wolowitz’s conscience. (Maureen Ryan at AOL TV)

Jennifer Esposito (Samatha Who?) will guest star on several episodes of Blue Bloods, the new drama about a family with deep roots in law enforcement whose cast includes Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan. Esposito will be featured in several episodes as Wahlberg’s partner in the New York Police Department. (Associated Press and Fancast)

Mariska Hargitay will make a guest appearance on the new fall drama Law & Order Los Angeles in a crossover episode where she visits Los Angeles on a case about the backlog of untested rape kits. (E! News and M.L. House at TV Fanatic)

Kevin Rankin (Friday Night Lights) will play the son of a hard line of polygamists on Big Love. No return date has been set for Big Love yet, but the show is expected to premiere on HBO in January. (The Hollywood Reporter and M.L. House at TV Fanatic)

Stan Lee, the comic book legend, will not only be seen in upcoming episodes of Eureka and The Big Bang Theory, but he will also guest star on the new fall show Nikita, appearing in the October 7 episode. (M.L. House at TV Fanatic)

The new AMC series The Walking Dead hasn’t even aired yet (it is set to debut, fittingly, on October 31) and already the network has given the 6-episode series a second season order. This additional season will be extended to 13 episodes and will start filming in February with an as-yet determined airtime. (Inside Pulses)

The HBO half-hour dramedy Hung has been picked up for a third season. (Twitter)

TNT has renewed Memphis Beat for a second season. (Live Feed at Hollywood Reporter)

In the October 12 crossover episode between One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected, singers-songwriters Sarah McLachlan and Ben Lee will be making special appearances. The episode will have One Tree Hill characters Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) and Mia (Kate Voegele) taking the stage at the Sugar Magnolia music festival hosted by the radio station for which Life Unexpected characters Cate (Shiri Appleby) and Ryan (Kerr Smith) work. Haley and Mia will be part of the opening act for McLachlan and Lee. (Carina Adly MacKenzie at Zap2It.com)

Mekhi Phifer is out and Monique Gabriela Curnen (The Unusuals) is in at Lie To Me, as The Lightman Group is severing ties with the FBI. Curnen will play a “bent cop” by the name of Woloswky. The series will be back on FOX on November 10. (Archana Ram at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

NBC has ponied up a substantial amount of money to secure a new project from Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica). The project is being described as an adult Harry Potter set in a world ruled not by science but by magic. No other details were immediately available, but the sizable commitment (estimated at around 2 million) made by NBC indicates that they were particularly keen to land this project. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Dwayne Johnson is in final negotiations to star in the sequel to the box office movie Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D entitled Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (loosely based on the Jules Verne classic). Johnson will play the boyfriend of Sean’s mother (Josh Hutcherson), who is forced to come along on a trip with Sean to find his missing grandfather on a mythical and monstrous island. Three other characters will be introduced and cast in the next few weeks. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti have signed on for the next George Clooney directed film Farragut North, adapted by Beau Willimon from his own off-Broadway play, which is based on his own experiences working on the 2004 Howard Dean Presidential campaign. Set in Des Moines, Iowa just before the Democratic caucus, the story revolves around political manipulator Stephen Myers who uses dirty tactics to get his candidate a nomination. Hoffman will play Myers’ boss Paul Zara, while Giamatti will play the campaign manager of the opposing candidate. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

Rami Malek (The Pacific, Night at the Museum and 24) has joined the cast of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. He will play Benjamin, a member of the Egyptian coven who stands by the Cullens when they face the Volturi. (Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

Luke Wilson, David Morse (Disturbia) and Riley Keough (The Runaways) have joined the cast of the box office movie Yellow, which is about a young woman with a drug habit and a myriad of other problems. Other cast members include Sienna Miller, Lucy Punch, Ben Foster, Melanie Griffith and Gena Rowlands. Hank Azaria will have a cameo in the movie as well. (Coming Soon and First Showing)

Ted Danson and Vinessa Shaw (3:10 to Yuma) have joined Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell and Tim Blake Nelson in the cast of the film Everybody Loves Whales, which is a true story about a small-town reporter (Krasinski) and a Greenpeace volunteer (Barrymore) who enlist the help of rival superpowers to save three majestic gray whales trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle. Danson will play a win-at-all-costs oilman who has no interest in saving the mammals while Shaw plays a White House staffer who wants the government to help the whales. (The Hollywood Reporter and First Showing)

Thomas Haden Church, Martin Landau and Ezra Miller (City Island) have joined the cast of The Reasonable Bunch. Few plot details are known, but the indie is supposed to be some sort of wedding comedy which has also already signed Kate Bosworth, Ellen Barkin, Ellen Burstyn and Demi Moore to star. (Variety and First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin at E! Entertainment Online, Adam Bryant at TV Guide and Vlada at Staying In):

Question: Laney in Las Vegas: Enough Rachel and Finn already! Please tell me Tina and Artie won’t stay broken up for long! They’re my favorite couple!

Kristin: They are superadorable, aren’t they? Never fear, according to Kevin McHale, Artie is going to fight for his woman! “Tina broke up with him, so he goes above and beyond to try to get her back, which is fun” he tells us. “We’re doing stuff that I never thought possible with my character.” Perhaps more dream-dancing sequences? Can’t wait to see!

Question: So Brennan really isn’t going to be jealous of Booth’s new girlfriend on Bones? — Tina

ADAM: Executive producer Stephen Nathan says that Brennan will no doubt wrestle with regret about her decisions last season, but it may be Booth who torpedoes his new relationship. “He has forged a new life for himself emotionally,” Nathan says. “Of course, all of this occurred when he was not around Brennan. So Brennan’s presence in the mix will alter the relationship — it just has to. He’s moved on, but whether he continues to move on is another thing entirely.”

Question: Will The Good Wife be even better in season two?

Vlada: One of the most successful new dramas of last season isn’t playing it safe. Season two spoilers hint at major shakeups and new characters played by incredible actors like Tammy Blanchard and Friday Night Lights‘ Scott Porter in a storyline that will set him up against the mysterious Kalinda. Add to that guest star Michael J. Fox, Carey working for the other side, Alan Cumming as a regular cast member, and The Good Wife seems poised to top itself. I can’t wait.

Question: Can The Vampire Diaries‘ Nina Dobrev successfully pull off playing two characters in more than just flashbacks?

Vlada: Early buzz seems to suggest, “Yes,” and what we’ve seen so far in previews of season two looks very promising. Plus, after Dobrev’s surprise Emmys performance, I’m not going to bet against the girl.

Question: Which version of Glee will air this fall?

Vlada: Ryan Murphy keeps telling the press that season two will be more intimate and will focus on the regular cast. “We’re scaling it back and concentrating on the stories,” he said at the TCA Press Tour. Then he proceeded to talk about more tribute episodes, the Britney Spears episode, the big Super Bowl episode, Susan Boyle possibly guesting, a book tour, etc.

Question: Is Lonestar on the wrong network?

Vlada: A morally ambiguous and thoughtful character study, I’m worried that my favorite fall pilot might be too sophisticated for Fox. The show would feel more at home on cable, but with direction by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) and an ambitious conceit — a con man juggles a girlfriend and a wife (also his mark), both of whom he’s in love with — Lonestar is really more like an indie film than a TV show.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Happy Tuesday! There isn’t too much news today, but I hope you find at least some of it interesting:

TELEVISION

Joan Cusack has joined the cast of the Showtime one-hour drama series Shameless, appearing in all 12 episodes of the new series. She will play the role of Sheila, an agoraphobic Chicago housewife with a sexually active teenage daughter who strikes up a special friendship with William H. Macy’s character, Frank Gallagher. The series is based on the long-running hit UK series and the cast includes Emmy Rossum (The Phantom of the Opera), Justin Chatwin (War of the Worlds) and Steve Howey (Reba) [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

Kevin Sorbo will make a guest appearance on an upcoming episode of Hawaii Five-O. (Twitter)

Eddie Izzard (The Riches) is joining the third season of the Showtime comedy United States of Tara in a major recurring role, playing Tara’s (Toni Collette) brilliant psychology professor who starts as a DID skeptic, but becomes fascinated with Tara as a subject, leading him to explore the condition further. The third season is expected to premiere in 2011. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Gregory Harrison will guest star on CSI: NY in the fifth episode of the new season, as Roland Carson, New York City’s top criminal defense attorney. When a violent heist takes place at Carson’s Manhattan penthouse, the high-priced lawyer must field questions from Mac and his team. The show returns on September 24. (Matt Webb Mitovich at Fancast)

UPCOMING TV

Soon, the cast of Glee will learn which parts they’ll be playing in their Halloween episode send-up of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. “It’s the most closely guarded secret on set at the moment,” says Naya Rivera (Santana). If it were up to the actors, here’s who they’d play:

Lea Michele (Rachel): “I’m so excited to do it. If Rachel ends up doing the Susan Sarandon role that would be really cool!”

Cory Monteith (Finn): “I might be in some Brad briefs, let’s put it that way. But I don’t know for sure.”

Jane Lynch (Sue): “I would love to be the Narrator.”

Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina): “There’s Magenta. She could be fun.”

Chris Colfer (Kurt): “I pray that I’m Riff Raff because he’s the best one. He sings ‘Time Warp.’ From the time we shot the pilot I’ve been stressing to Ryan Murphy how much I want to sing ‘Time Warp.'”

But the real question is this: Which character would you like to see suit up in lace stockings as the sweet transvestite Frank-N-Furter, originally played by Tim Curry? Matthew Morrison, I’m thinking there’s some stockings with your name on ’em! (William Keck at TV Guide)

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Webb Mitovich at Fancast):

Question: Do you have any new information on Henry Ian Cusick’s ‘Law & Order: SVU‘ character, and what’s in store for him and Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay)? – Dee93

Matt: The ‘Lost’ alum was hesitant to spill too much on his ‘SVU’ stint when I saw him at the Emmys, but he did say that graphic artist Erik and Benson “first meet in a train station, there’s sort of a flirtation, and it goes on from there.” Though Cusick is around for just two episodes – the September 22 season opener and the one after that – he promises, “It’s going to be an interesting role.”

Question: I cannot wait for ‘Glee’s return – any scoop to share? – Alicia

Matt: Heather Morris – who looked positively golden at the Emmys – told me that in the Britney Spears/Brittany-centric episode airing September 29, “People will see more of what I do as an artist, which is dancing.” (If you’ve ever seen Heather back up Beyoncé, you know girl’s got mad moves.) Morris also said that while we will learn Brittany’s last name, her increasingly fleshed-out Cheerio won’t also gain a brain. “No, that’s confirmed – I will not be smarter!” she happily reported.

Question: Do you have any scoop on ‘Nikita‘? Especially on Melinda Clarke’s character? – Angela

Matt: Shortly after the CW action-drama debuts on September 9, it will be revealed that the ‘O.C.’ alum’s character, Amanda, is nicknamed “The Inquisitor” because of her very thorough interrogation skills. Meaning, if you’re a hostile being detained by the top-secret Division and you won’t talk, expect a visit from Amanda… and don’t be surprised if she comes wearing (eek) a latex glove.

Question: With the ‘Caprica‘ actors’ contracts expiring, executive producer David Eick said we’d hear a decision on Season 2 by August 15. It’s now almost September. Is the show canceled? – Pete

Matt: That deadline came and went, yes, but a source very close to Syfy’s ‘Caprica’ told me during Emmys weekend that NBC Universal worked out an “extension” that bought them until November to make a call on a pick-up. So hold out hope, Pete.

Question: At Comic-Con, John Schneider said the ‘Smallville‘ Season 10 premiere (airing Sept. 24) features “the best-written scene I’ve ever done on [the show].” Any details? – Kipper

Matt: “I agree with him,” exec producer Brian Petersen said of Schneider’s rave. “He has a great scene with Tom Welling – kind of a reunion thing.” EP Kelly Souders added that Pa Kent’s improbable “return” is designed to kick off the final season with a bit of “the warmth, the mentor and sort of moral compass that Jonathan always was in Clark’s life – and that Clark has kind of been missing. He brings that aspect of ‘Smallville’ back.” Yes, this item is brought to you by Kleenex.

Question: EW’s Michael Ausiello says that ‘Smallville’s Erica Durance is playing DC’s Isis. So, is she playing the comic/TV character or not? – history1776 via Twitter

Matt: Mere moments after I hit play on Oz’s video, I quadruple-confirmed what I had heard and posted in last week’s Big Tease. And I had it right: According to exec producer Kelly Souders, ED is doing double duty as an Egyptian goddess named Isis, but she is not the DC Comics character.

Question: Thank you so much for sharing the news about David Tennant and the ‘Fright Night’ remake during your Emmy tweets. Did he say anything about the status of NBC’s ‘Rex Is Not Your Lawyer’? – Dawn

Matt: I did ask about ‘Rex’ – which last I heard was being eyed by USA Network after NBC opted not to order the series – and Tennant confirmed what we sorta knew: It’s truly and sincerely dead. Shame, too – in addition to the former Doctor Who, ‘Rex’ also starred ‘Mad Men’ schoolteach Abigail Spencer.

Question: I read that the ‘Covert Affairs‘ season finale is in mid-September. How long will I have to live without it? And to cope during its absence, what show(s) should I add to my Tivo season pass list? – Alicia

Matt: Sad but true, ‘Covert Affairs’ double-episode season finale airs September 14 – and the spy drama won’t be back until summer 2011. In the meantime, I would suggest that you DVR/watch On Demand the new shows ‘Nikita‘ (Thursdays, The CW) and ‘Undercovers‘ (Wednesdays, NBC), both of which offer a similar mix of espionage, intrigue and romance.

Question: I was excited to hear that Gale Harold will play Marti’s law professor on ‘Hellcats‘! Do you have any scoop on his character, or any idea how many episodes he’ll be in? – Tariel22

Matt: I scooped back in July, Gale’s law professor is someone Marti (played by Aly Michalka) will look up to – but not necessarily hook up with. At least not right away, seeing as The CW series will quickly handspring the blonde bombshell into a triangle with BFF Dan (‘Harper’s Island’s Matt Barr) and fellow cheerleader Luis (’One Tree Hill’s Robbie Jones). At this time, Harold’s episode count is TBD.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Welcome to the end of summer folks! Well, at least as close to the end of summer as we can get, right?

And, how about those Emmy Awards last night? Granted, I don’t watch the televised ceremony anyway (it’s simply too yawn-inducing), but I was paying close attention as the winners were announced online. Did any of your favorites win? I know a few of mine did.

You can see the list of Emmy winners here.

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

TELEVISION

Jackson Rathbone (The Twilight Franchise) may have a potentially recurring role on the new fall ABC series No Ordinary Family. He will play Trent Stafford, a high school classmate of Kay Panabaker’s telepathic Daphne. No Ordinary Family debuts September 28. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Debra Monk (NYPD Blue and Grey’s Anatomy) has signed on to Brothers & Sisters as a rival for Sally Field. She will debut in episode five of the new season as Alexandra Kirby. When Nora is offered a job as the host of an Ask Mom radio program, she’ll face some stiff competition from the more experienced and flashy Alexandra. (William Keck at TV Guide)

The BBC and “Doctor Who” show runner Steven Moffat have confirmed today that the upcoming 13-episode sixth season of the series will be split into two blocks to air several months apart. The split is the result of a request from Moffat to write a new story arc which involves a big plot twist in the middle of the season. Said twist will serve as a mid-season cliffhanger to be resolved in the second half of the season. (Dark Horizons)

Lois Smith (True Blood) will guest star on Desperate Housewives in the 5th episode of the new season, as Allison Scavo, who moves in to Lynette and Tom’s home to help son Tom (Doug Savant) get over a unique case of male postpartum depression. (William Keck at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Looks like Ryan Reynolds and Bradley Cooper are teaming up for an as-yet untitled buddy cop action comedy. They are to play two San Francisco cops and friends, whose fathers were once partners on the police force. Things get interesting when they have to bring their fathers out of retirement to help crack a new case. (RiskyBiz and First Showing)

The top 10 box office movies for this past weekend, according to details from Fancast are as follows:

1. The Lost Exorcism – $21.3m
2. Takers – $21m
3. The Expendables – $9.5m
4. Eat Pray Love – $7m
5. The Other Guys – $6.6m
6. Vampires Suck – $5.3m
7. Inception – $5.1m
8. Nanny McPhee Returns – $4.7m
9. The Switch – $4.6m
10. Piranha 3D – $4.3m

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

Question: I absolutely love The Closer! It’s one of my favorite shows and I am always so eager to watch that I usually don’t even wait for my DVR to get ahead enough to allow me to skip commercials. This season started off with a bang and I’ve loved it, but I’m a little concerned. What will happen if Brenda does become chief? On one hand, as a woman, I think it would be great for the character to be a female Chief of Police in Los Angeles. On the other hand, I am afraid for what that would mean for her position as a “closer.” If she gets some distance from the cases, how can she possibly get all of those confessions that have the audience on the edge of their seats? Plus, I have not enjoyed the rather jerk-like qualities this whole process has brought out in Pope. I know he’s got his heart set on being chief, but it seems a little uncharacteristic for him to be such a jerk now when he has not gone completely into that territory before. Please tell me that whatever is in the works is going to maintain the same quality of scripts and keep Brenda right in the middle of the action! Do you have any insight into the rest of the season or what impact this whole development would have for the future of the show? — Beth

Matt Roush: Now that’s a true sign of devotion, watching a show in real time, not DVR time. I’m very fond of The Closer as well. It’s easily my household’s favorite summer procedural. And we’re watching it just as you are, with no foreknowledge of how this hunt for the new chief is going to turn out. (See my recent discussion of this being a spoiler-free zone for why that’s the case.) Your concerns make sense to me, in that too much tinkering with a successful formula doesn’t always make much sense and can do more harm than good in the long run. (See recent seasons of House.) Still, I can’t imagine a scenario in which Brenda is removed from the day-to-day detection of cases, and if she were promoted to such a position, I would bet it would be short-lived. But this current arc has been mostly good for the show this season, I think, adding some tension — between Brenda and Pope, between Brenda and the long-suffering Fritz — and distinguishing it from years past. (Not always easy for a long-running crime drama.) Showing chinks in Pope’s armor, and then watching him deflate last week when he learned he wasn’t even on the short list, gives the invaluable J.K. Simmons something to play, which is always a good thing. Whatever happens as this season winds down, I’m thinking you shouldn’t worry that they’ll muck up the show you love too drastically.

On another Closer note: Even if you’re not a regular viewer, this week’s episode is a standout, as Brenda contends with a military overseer (Gary Cole, excellent as usual) after off-duty soldiers are gunned down in what looks like a gang-related murder. Strong stuff.

Question: TV Guide Magazine used to run a “best show you’re not watching feature,” but perhaps there should be subcategories? I would like to put in a vote for Eureka as “the most charming show people aren’t watching.” I’ve always enjoyed Eureka, but I feel as if it has been rejuvenated this year with the alternative time-line reboot. While always light, I’ve felt some urgency in terms of the multiple ongoing romantic stories this year. Henry’s rendition of “She Blinded Me With Science” for Grace made me smile more than any romantic gesture on TV for some time. What have you thought of it recently? I see it has been renewed, but what is the timeline for seeing the back end of these episodes or the new season? While USA is always good about telling the audience the minute a finale ends when the new episodes will be, SyFy barely advertises Eureka — I always have to hunt for the start date. Why do they do that? — Rebecca

Matt Roush: Cable schedules, especially when they split seasons in two, are often confusing, and Syfy can be especially mystifying. It would be nice if Syfy would announce the return date for a show like Eureka around the time of its summer finale, but maybe they want to keep their options open in case they need this asset to return to the schedule sooner or later than they think. The good news is that Eureka is still going strong, and I agree this has been its most enjoyable and freshest season in quite a while. The show that seems to me to have been hurt the most by Syfy’s stop-and-start scheduling is Caprica, which was just beginning to build some momentum when it ended its season back in March. The second half of its season won’t air until January, and that’s a potentially fatal amount of time to be dark. Especially for a show that dark.

Question: I have a question about BBC America [BBCA] as a whole. Now don’t take this as meaning I’m in a show for the nudity and profanity. However, I find the censoring they do enormously annoying. BBCA does this frequently. They blur George’s rumpus-roast in Being Human and eliminate words, and since I’m deaf and need the closed captions, occasionally use symbols. An example would be in the late-great Torchwood they used @ in certain words. In Being Human’s case they seem to have neither rhyme nor reason. They let a euphemism for fecal matter fly while censoring the “frak” symbolized word. I remember seeing far worse on Saving Grace and Nip/Tuck. I know they don’t censor on-demand, however, nor do they closed-caption the on-demand. I find the censoring does distract my attention from the story; my mind jumps to the “aw, come on” mode. I still watch, and love, some, but well, aw come on. Other times I can’t even make it through the initial episodes (Inbetweeners and Skins jump to mind). Mind you, I do buy the DVD later and watch and enjoy some of the shows. Why the [censor] do they [censor] do this [censor]? Pun intended, but you get the idea. — Scott

Matt Roush: This and the next question both find fault and express surprise that ad-supported cable (whether on the basic tier or, in the case of BBCA, digital) still operates with standards-and-practices prudence. While the decency rules are much looser on cable than for broadcast, and certain networks (FX in particular, and AMC more and more) are pushing the envelope as far as they can, there are still concessions made to placate advertisers and to agree not go quite as far as on the pay (no commercials) services. I agree it’s a much different experience watching the uncut Inbetweeners and Skins than watching them on BBCA, where the bleeps are so constant it feels like they’re written in Morse code. Call me old-fashioned, but I can still be shocked by what they get away with on over-the-air TV across the pond. But with Being Human, I tend to get the gist of what they’re saying and (often graphically) doing. I can live with the bleeps as long as they keep importing the good stuff.

Question: Was The Glades made for another broadcast company and then somehow found its way on to A&E? I ask because I notice it having dialogue removed, and that seems strange for a show it ordered. I also notice this on its many reruns, almost as if it seems more concerned with language than the broadcast networks. Insights? — Dennis

Matt Roush: I’ve watched a handful of Glades episodes and never noticed this “problem,” but I got a handful of comments about this, so it must have been noticeable on some of the episodes I’ve missed. The Glades was produced for A&E, so that’s not the issue, but the way I figure it, having seen the same thing happen with other basic-cable entities (I’m thinking here of Breaking Bad and AMC), when the language gets too rough, the network steps in and as opposed to cutting the scene entirely, it just omits the offending word, leaving it to our imagination. Gives the producers creative license to film the scene the way they want (which can be preserved on DVD), but then is altered to adhere to what can sometimes seem an arbitrary and inconsistent set of standards.

Question: Have really enjoyed Army Wives from the beginning. Will there be a season 5? The spin-off cop show is just not the same for me. Already lots of those kind of shows on now. — Virginia

Matt Roush: As of last week, according to my sources, Lifetime hadn’t officially renewed Army Wives. And the spin-off is still being considered a pilot in development, with no solid green light. Which doesn’t mean we won’t see both next year — but I’m with you about the show spinning off into yet another crime drama. Do we really need it?

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Today’s update is shorter than usual, but there were still some good news items to share with all of you. Hope you find something that you like:

TELEVISION

Devon Sawa (Final Destination) will play the role of Owen in the new CW series Nikita. He will be Nikita’s (Maggie Q) nemesis starting with the 5th episode, which is expected to air on October 7. Owen is described as a highly trained Division agent who is equal to Nikita in skill. (Kristin at E! Entertainment Online)

Timothy Dalton (License to Kill) will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on Chuck, playing a mysterious stranger who has a history with Chuck’s mom, who will be played by Linda Hamilton (Terminator and Beauty & the Beast). (The Futon Critic)

Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) will guest star on Grey’s Anatomy as a patient named Eleanor who blacks out, but her black outs may not be all they seem, as Eleanor claims she blacked out right around the time she raced into a Laundromat and caught her naughty husband folding another woman’s panties. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Allison Miller (the short-lived NBC drama Kings) has joined the FOX drama Terra Nova, which stars Jason O’Mara (Life on Mars). The time-traveling drama revolves around humans from 2149 who travel back 85 million years to pre-historic Earth to try to save the planet from destruction. Miller will play Skye, a Terra Nova resident who bonds with O’Mara’s character’s son. Terra Nova was originally scheduled to premiere mid-season, but was pushed back to fall 2011. Fox will preview the pilot in May before launching the first season in the fall. (Variety and Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

Tia Carrere will return to Warehouse 13 on August 31, reprising her role as Katie Logan, a Secret Service agent who has a history with Pete (Eddie McClintock). She returns because a close colleague is murdered in a plot of revenge against Artie (Saul Rubinek). (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC has ordered the as-yet untitled new pilot, from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (the people behind The O.C., Gossip Girl and Chuck), about a group of twenty-something roommates who juggle their personal and professional lives in Washington. The young politicos find that the ideals that brought them to D.C. don’t always match with the realities of living in the nation’s capital. (Variety)

NOTE: The TV Addict made a comment about the above new pilot for which I have to whole heartedly agree. Here is his statement: “Good News: ABC has green-lit an OC-esque drama centering around a group of twenty-somethings in Washington D.C. Bad News: We’re still smarting over the CW’s hair-brained decision not to pick up the Brian Austin Green (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars and Moonlight), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights) OC-esque drama centering around a group of twenty-somethings in Washington D.C that was The Body Politic.”

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

Army Wives

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Malcolm McDowell, Marilu Henner and Zak Orth have joined the cast of the vampire romance drama Vamps, which is a contemporary story following two beautiful young vampires (Alicia Silverstone and Krysten Ritter) who enjoy the New York City nightlife until romance jeopardizes their immortality. McDowell plays Vlad the Impaler, now living in NYC as the velvet jogging suit-wearing Vlad Tepish. Henner will play a dying woman who gets the chance to resurrect her once-sexy self while Orth will appear as a nerdy friend to the two female characters. Sigourney Weaver, Kristen Johnston, Richard Lewis, Wallace Shawn and Justin Kirk also star. (Dark Horizons)

Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies) is in negotiations to star opposite Maria Bello (The History of Violence) in the indie thriller Carjacked. The story follows a single mother and her child who are carjacked by a thief who has no intention of letting them go. (The Wrap)

That’s it. Enjoy! Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

Counting down the hours until its Friday; but for now it’s countdown mode until I attend a Writers Guild event tonight with a good friend. The WGA is honoring writers who are nominated for Emmy Awards, which will be presented this Sunday.

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

TELEVISION

Christine Lahti will be back on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, reappearing as overbearing ADA Sonya Paxton sent by the DA’s office to ride herd on the SVU team. (Ileane Rudolph at TV Guide)

Katee Sackhoff will be returning to The Big Bang Theory this fall, where she will reprise her role as “Katee Sackhoff,” the conscience of Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), in an episode that will also guest star Melissa Rauch’s Bernadette. Sackhoff is slated to appear in the September 23rd episode. (Maureen Ryan at AOL TV and Televisionary)

ARTICLES ABOUT TELEVISION

‘Chuck’ Exclusive: Meet Casey’s A-Team!

EXCLUSIVE Interview: Erin Karpluk talks Season 3 of Being Erica!

NOTE: The premiere date for Being Erica is for CANADA. For those of us in the States, we’ll have to wait to see when SoapNet decides to give it an airdate and time.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The new Syfy pilot Three Inches has announced more casting news. The show that already boasts James Marsters (Smallville, Caprica and Buffy), Andrea Martin (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Naoko Mori (Torchwood) and Stephanie Jacobsen (Melrose Place and Battlestar Galactica: Razor) as part of the cast now also includes Noah Reid (Strange Days at Blake Holsey High). Antony Del Rio (The Super Hero Squad Show), Kyle Schmid (Blood Ties) and Brandon Jay McLaren (TRON: Legacy, Harper’s Island). The pilot will be 90-minutes long and will feature Alona Tal (Veronica Mars), Craig Eldridge (Covert Affairs) and Julian Richings (Supernatural) as guest stars in the pilot episode. The series is about professional daydreamer and underachiever, Walter Spackman (Reid) who is struck by lightning, and develops a unique “super” power — the ability to move any object using just his mind… but only a distance of three inches. He’s soon recruited by a covert team of superheroes each gifted with their own extraordinarily ordinary abilities. Together, the unlikely band of heroes proves that “super” is simply a state of mind.

The rest of the casting breaks down as follows:

Jace Alexander (Rescue Me, Prison Break) is directing the pilot, written by Harley Peyton (Twin Peaks), who also serves as executive producer. Fox Television Studios is producing with Executive Producer Robert Cooper, through his company Landscape Entertainment. J.J. Jamieson heads up television for Landscape Entertainment.

James Marsters will star as Troy Hamilton, a former government agent who takes Walter in to his own team of “super” heroes who fight evil wherever they find it. He is a father figure to Walter.

Andrea Martin will play Belinda Spackman, Walter’s mother, a brutally honest, comically cynical force of nature that loves her son more than words can say and will do anything to protect him.

Stephanie Jacobsen plays Watts, a beautiful “super” hero who has the ability to shape the emotions of anyone she meets at close range.

Antony Del Rio will portray The Human Smell, an adventurous, often irritating teenager who is able to emit a pungent gas through his pores that disables anyone nearby.

Naoko Mori plays Annika, a woman who can duplicate and broadcast any sound she hears.

Kyle Schmid will play Brandon, the “super” hero team leader with all the cockiness and strength of a true action hero, minus the superpowers. He is the opposite of Walter and sees most of the team as freaks.

Brandon Jay McLaren plays Macklin Sportello, Walter’s best friend, a big talker with not a lot to back it up. His relationship is tested when Walter begins to change, but he’s the friend that will always be there for him.

Alona Tal will guest star in the pilot as Lily Theroux, the kind, pretty girl next door and Walter’s long time crush who loves him but “not in that way.”

Craig Eldridge will guest as Todd, part of Troy’s team of “super” heroes who can see two minutes into the future at the cost of a massive disabling headache.

Julian Richings will also appear as a guest star playing Ethan, a man with the ability to communicate with and control the insect kingdom.

NOTE: Thanks to The Futon Critic for providing these details.

FALL TV PROMO PHOTOS

Get Your GLEEK On!

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

The Mentalist

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Channing Tatum will star in and co-produce the ensemble drama movie Ten Year, which follows a group of friends reunited a decade after their graduation. Jenna Dewan (Tatum’s wife), Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Chris Pine and Scott Porter are among those being sought for other roles in the film, but no deals are yet locked. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Jeremy Renner has been cat opposite Tom Cruise in the upcoming Mission: Impossible IV. Paramount has stated the following: “[We] have struggled to find the right co-star to play an operative opposite Cruise, and one factor was selecting an actor who could potentially carry the series down the line, should Cruise’s Ethan Hunt character not continue.” A scheduled release date for Mission: Impossible IV is December 2011. (First Showing)

Q&A SECTION (with Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Any Glee scoop? —Ines

Ausiello: I’m hearing a major character (a series regular!) will find himself/herself in a literal life-and-death situation in this season’s third episode. In possibly related news (I say possibly because I honest-to-goodness don’t know), Chris Colfer’s Emmy-nominated TV dad Mike O’Malley tells us that episode 3 will be “another emotional, emotional episode” for father and son. The actor goes on to hint that the show will revisit the complicated dynamic between Burt and Kurt’s crush, Finn. “The last time I was on the show, [Burt] threw Finn out of the house. There [may] be some resolution there. One of the things I think is really important in life and for human beings is to forgive and be able to rise up from our mistakes. I’m hoping that Finn and Burt are able to cross that chasm.”

Question: Got anything on Brothers & Sisters? —Tim

Ausiello: Producers are looking for a “celebrity name” to play Gilles Marini’s gorgeous (natch) sixtysomething TV mom, who comes to town and makes quite an impression on the Walker family.

NOTE: I would suggest Raquel Welch or Ann-Margret since they would be gorgeous “older” women who could play his mom. Or if they want to go for slightly older than sixtysomething – there is always Sophia Loren.

Question: Are you going to make a list of the new shows we should watch, and the ones that we should miss? I have no idea how to set my DVR! —Amanda

Ausiello: Help has arrived…

Watch: Lone Star (Fox), Undercovers (NBC), The Event (NBC), No Ordinary Family (ABC), Raising Hope (Fox), Mike & Molly (CBS), Better With You (ABC), Hawaii 5-0 (CBS), and Nikita (The CW).

Miss: $#*! My Dad Says (CBS) and Hellcats (The CW).

If a new show you’re curious about isn’t listed above, it means either I’m on the fence (e.g., CBS’ The Defenders) or I haven’t watched the pilot yet (e.g., Outlaw).

NOTE: I cannot believe that I actually agree with Ausiello on the “to watch” shows – except for the comedies, none of which I will watch since I don’t comedies anyway. And, good for him for saying “miss” to Hellcats, as I didn’t really care for it either.

Question: Got any Castle scoop for us? —Jennifer

Ausiello: There’s a somewhat significant death in the second episode. I’m also hearing something about Castle revealing his REAL name.

Question: Anything on Chloe’s return yet on Smallville? —Maria26

Ausiello: Allison Mack will appear in the premiere and then return “in the middle of the season in a very impactful way in Clark’s life,” reveals Peterson. “It’s a great wrap-up to her character, and it also dovetails into the Chloe/Oliver relationship.”

Question: I have loved this season of Burn Notice so far, and I’m totally digging the addition of Coby Bell. But last week’s episode has me wondering: Now that (SPOILER ALERT!) Jesse knows that Michael burned him, what will become of Mr. Bell? —Kristina

Ausiello: He’ll be back for the second half of the season, don’t you worry. In the meantime, Jesse makes a choice in this week’s finale that will affect Michael in a major way. In possibly related news, the cliff-hanger finds Michael in the most perilous situation we’ve ever seen him in. And this dude’s been in some seriously perilous situations.

Question: The last two Ask Ausiellos haven’t had any scoop on the best series at this moment: The Good Wife! —Ingmar

Ausiello: Good thing we spoke to Alan Cumming over the weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys or else it would’ve been three in a row. Look for Eli to get “more heavily involved in Peter’s campaign,” he teases about his character’s story line this fall. “He gets meaner and ruthlesser.” Regarding his recent upgrade to series regular, Cumming says the biggest difference is “I get paid more. And I sort of have an idea of where my character is going now. [Before] I had no idea what was going to happen. The next week I could’ve been a murderer.”

Question: What are the chances Chuck will get a back-nine order? I’m freaking out over here! —Eric

Ausiello: I assumed exec producers Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz would be too. But they’re not. As Schwartz points out, “We never started a season with more than 13 episodes. Like last year, we will hope for the best, plan for the worst, and be ready to have an incredible final episode 13 if need be with a contingency plan to keep the season going.” Adds Fedak: “Episode 13 no matter what will be epic.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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