Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here is the news for today:

TV NEWS

TNT has ordered 15 new episodes each of The Closer and Leverage while the network’s new show Rizzoli & Isles gets 13 new episodes. These new seasons will start in 2011. (The Futon Critic)

Ellen DeGeneres is leaving American Idol and Kara DioGuardi has reportedly been fired from the singing contest “show”. Rumors are swirling about who will replace one of them since the show is supposedly going back to a 3-judge panel. Randy Jackson is staying put, but the departure of Simon Cowell leaves a hole that will need to be filled and then the female judge will need to be found. Rumor has it that Steven Tyler from Aerosmith and J. Lo herself will be taking over, but no confirmations on the replacements has been made as of yet. (E! Entertainment Online)

The exhaustive search for a new title for the ABC comedy Cougar Town, one that better reflects the show’s evolution from single-woman-on-the-prowl sitcom to dysfunctional-family comedy, has been scrapped per executive producer Bill Lawrence. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Charles Dance (Bleak House) has been cast in the upcoming George R.R. Martin drama series on HBO called Game of Thrones. He will play Tywin, a wealthy lord and head of one of the most powerful clans in the realm. He is the father of Cersei (Lena Headey), Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). (Maureen Ryan at Chicago Tribune and Televisionary)

HBO has reportedly teamed up with Lizzy Caplan (Party Down and True Blood) and producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay to adapt the memoir, “I Don’t Care About Your Band,” by Julie Klauser into a comedy series that will serve as a star vehicle for Caplan. The book is a gritty but comedic look at what it’s like to navigate the dating world in your 20’s, chronicling Klausner’s experiences from her preadolescent sexual awakenings through the unsavory details of sleeping with a gallery of losers throughout her 20s. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

Terry O’Quinn (Lost) will star Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) in the upcoming Lifetime movie, Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story, which is based on the true story of Tiffany Rubin (Henson) and the daring rescue of her six-year-old son, Kobe, after he was abducted by his biological father and taken from his home in Queens, New York, all the way to Seoul, South Korea. With the help of Mark Miller (O’Quinn) and his charitable organization The American Association for Lost Children, Tiffany was able to travel to Korea to execute a high-stakes plan to bring her son home. (E! Entertainment Online)

TV-BOOK PARTNERSHIP

HYPERION AND ABC FAMILY ANNOUNCE THE FIRST ENHANCED EBOOK BASED ON A TELEVISION SERIES, NOW AVAILABLE ON THE IBOOKSTORE

CASTING SCOOP

Corey Stoll (Lost) will appear as the on-screen detective partner to Skeet Ulrich in the upcoming new NBC series Law & Order: Los Angeles. He will play Detective Tomas “TJ” Jaruszalski, who is described as a confident Los Angeles native with a disdain for the entertainment industry and an active social life. The series premieres on September 22 at 10 PM. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and TV Guide)

Gale Harold (Queer as Folk) has signed on for a guest-starring role on the new CW series Hellcats, as Marti’s (Aly Michalka) law professor. This role will be a multi-episode arc, as he becomes a mentor to Marti. (Zap2It)

Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica) will also be making an appearance on Hellcats (Comic Con Scuttlebutt)

AWARD NOMINATIONS

Television Critics Award nominations: ‘Glee’ and ‘Modern Family’ showdown

BOX OFFICE NEWS

A new adaptation of the movie Total Recall is being done by Sony Pictures and will be directed by Len Wisemen (Underworld). (Nicole Sperling at Entertainment Weekly)

RUMOR PATROL

Looks like Clayne Crawford (24 and The Glades) has landed a major role in the new HBO drama pilot All Signs of Death from Alan Ball. The pilot is based on Charlie Huston’s best-selling crime novel, which revolves around a slacker-turned-crime scene cleaner (Ben Whishaw) who gets entangled in a murder mystery. Crawford will play his best friend, a sexy greaser who runs a tattoo parlor. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Jennifer Weiner is proud to be the queen of chick lit

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today, including some great trailers for TV and the box office:

TV NEWS

The USA Network has picked up their hit series In Plain Sight for two more seasons. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and TV By the Numbers)

Want some more Supernatural secrets? When the new season opens, Dean has been living with former girlfriend Lisa and her son Ben for a year, believing that Sam is dead. And, Lisa will be recurring for the first half of the season. (Zap2It)

Kevin Rankin (Friday Night Lights and Trauma) will have a recurring role in the new season of The Mentalist, starring as Patrick Jane’s brother-in-law, Danny Ruskin, who is a hustler, a con artist and a ladies’ man. Rankin will debut in this second episode, slated to air on September 30. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Rachel Bilson will reprise her role as Cindy on How I Met Your Mother, appearing in the show’s sixth-season premiere this fall when Cindy shows up at MacLaren’s bar, the favored hangout of show’s central quintet. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Medium will kick off its seventh season on September with a Freaky Friday episode in which Allison becomes her 13-year-old daughter Bridgette, and Bridgette becomes her thirtysomething mother Allison. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Melina Kanakaredes will be given a dignified send-off from CSI: NY. Her character will not be killed off or go missing. Instead Stella has relocated to New Orleans to run a lab there. The season premiere will pick up several months after the events that took place in the season 6 finale. As previously reported, Emmy winner Sela Ward has been tapped to fill the void left by Kanakaredes. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

ABC confirms the news that was first broken at Comic Con: Charles Mesure has been upgraded to a series regular for the 2nd season of the series V. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing) will guest star in the FOX drama House in an episode scheduled to air in October. She will play Abbey, the mother of an infant daughter who is displaying signs of a life-threatening illness. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Glee Casting Scoop: Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Javier Bardem…Who’s In and Who’s Out?!

FOX BROADCASTING COMPANY AND VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE PARTNER ON FIRST-EVER PROMOTION FOR NEW DRAMA “LONE STAR”

Caprica trailer teases with 1st look at new characters and worlds

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Malika Yoba (Defying Gravity) and Laura Mennell (Watchmen) have signed on to star in the 90-minute drama pilot Alphas for Syfy. Yoba and Mennell will star opposite David Strathairn and will play members of the Alpha team, a group of people who have extraordinary mental and physical abilities who investigate difficult-to-solve cases that the CIA and FBI have either passed over or were unable to solve. (Variety and Televisionary)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Paul Giamatti (John Adams) will star in the HBO made-for-TV movie that will depict the two-week tour that Nikita Khruschchev took of the United States in 1959. The movie is based on Peter Carlson’s nonfiction book K Blows Top. Once in the States, Khrushchev famously blew up when he was informed that a planned trip to Disneyland had to be tabled because of security concerns. (Variety and Televisionary)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Sony Pictures has picked up an in-the-works comedy starring Meryl Streep and Tina Fey as mother and daughter. Stanley Tucci has signed on to direct and he will also co-star. (The Hollywood Reporter and E! Entertainment Online)

Justin Timberlake is in talks to star in the upcoming box office movie I’m.mortal, which is one of the most sought-after sci-fi projects in the marketplace today. A final deal has yet to be made, though. I’m.mortal depicts a future where the aging gene is turned off at age 25, but to avoid overpopulation, time has become the new currency. The lead character is a poor man from the ghetto who is falsely accused of murdering a wealthy man for his time. Amanda Seyfried has already signed on to play the beautiful rich girl he kidnaps while on the run. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Nicole Sperling at Entertainment Weekly)

Jordana Spiro (My Boys) has joined the upcoming box office thriller Trespass. The story follows a married couple taken hostage by a group of thieves. Nicole Kidman will play the wife and Nicolas Cage the head thief. Spiro will play Petal, the head thief’s girlfriend who becomes a willing accomplice in the crime. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Warner Bros Unveils the First Teaser Trailer for Yogi Bear 3D

Watch The ‘Thor’ Comic-Con Footage!

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nip/Tuck

Being Human (Season Two)

CANCELED TOO SOON?

64 Shows That Were Canceled…Too Soon?

WEB SERIES

John Crichton on Farscape. Col. Cameron Mitchell in Stargate SG-1. That makes two iconic roles for Ben Browder. Now we hear we’re soon going to see him as a noir detective in the year 2030 in the series Naught for Hire. Can the sci-fi lightning strike three times? The web series, adapted from the stories of John Stith, also stars Juliet Landau (Buffy), Chase Masterson (Deep Space Nice) and Jennifer Sky (Cleopatra 2525). No one’s giving away too many secrets about what the series will be about. We imagine Stith’s stories could give a clue, but the way adaptations go, you never know. Here’s what SFX was able to find out about the adventures of Nick Naught: A lighthearted sci-fi romp in the style of ’30s noir movies, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger, Naught For Hire is about a detective who has issues with modern technology, including a car that is in love with him, an elevator that won’t cooperate and an answering machine that wants to do nothing but pull pranks on him. The 13-part series is being filmed this summer, but there’s no word yet on when it will run. (Taken verbatim from Blastr)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

I think my updates can now get back to normal after being gone for 5 days, attending Comic Con and coming home to a dead computer. At least I hope it’s slowly getting back to normal…

Regardless, now that I have the 3-part entertainment update for July 21 to 27 out of the way, here are the news items for today’s update:

COMIC CON NEWS

The biggest winners and losers of Comic Con 2010

TV NEWS

Jim Beaver (Supernatural) will make a one-time guest appearance on the new NBC series Law & Order: Los Angeles. (Zap2It)

ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson resigned from his position yesterday, just days before the network’s session at the Television Critics Association’s Summer Press Tour. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Variety)

Noah Munck has been promoted to series regular on the Nickelodeon series iCarly. (TV Guide)

Marc Cherry, creator of Desperate Housewives has had a change of heart, he announced at the Television Critics Association press tour this morning that he could see handling off the show to someone else to run it after the coming 7th season ends. This is a complete reversal of his comments made in 2007. Cherry also gave more details about the new cast additions Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills, 90210), who plays a hunky contractor who gets involved with Bree (Marcia Cross); and Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty), who will play the wife of a Major League Baseball player and Lynette’s (Felicity Huffman) former college pal who moves to Wisteria Lane. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

V

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Casting for the vampire western High Midnight is set to include William Baldwin, Thomas Kretschmann, Ted Raimi and Kevin Weisman. Vincent D’Onofrio, Elizabeth Hurley, Taylor Nichols and Emilio Rivera are also set to star. (Shock Til You Drop and Dark Horizons)

Lena Headey (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Michael Ironside (Terminator Salvation) are to star in the thriller Safe House, which follows a team of US Marshals charged with protecting a mob-trial witness and her teenage daughter who have relocated to an isolated compound high in the Californian Rockies. Despite its security, the compound’s past is steeped in mystery and violence. Kate Mara and Michael Trucco may also be part of the cast, but no confirmations have been made on that yet. (Dark Horizons and Deadline Hollywood Daily)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Syfy is developing an online prequel to Battlestar Galactica entitled Blood & Chrome, which would focus on the life of William Adama during the first Cylon War. The project would consist of nine to ten episodes of roughly ten minutes each. (Maureen Ryan at the Chicago Tribune)

Anson Mount (Conviction) and Dominique McElligott (The Guard) will star in the AMC period drama pilot Hell on Wheels. Mount will play Cullen, a former slave owner and a Confederate soldier determined to avenge the rape/murder of his beloved wife by tracking and killing the Union soldiers who killed her who ends up working on the Transcontinental Railroad. McElligott will play Lily Bell, an intelligent woman taking care of her ill husband who is part of the team of surveyors mapping the railroad’s course. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Isaiah Mustafa will appear in the movie Horrible Bosses alongside Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Q&A SECTION (with the TV gurus at TV Guide)

Question: Got any scoop on The Vampire Diaries’ new season? — Tara

MICKEY: The presence of werewolves in Mystic Falls makes uncomfortable bedfellows of the brothers Salvatore and Alaric. “What I love about Alaric and Damon is that they are both hopeless romantics blinded by love,” Ian Somerhalder tells us. Conveniently, a hottie grad student from Duke will round out their wolf-hunting pack.

Question: Will we see both universes equally next season on Fringe? — Liam

MICKEY: We’re hearing that, at least initially, we’ll see more of “over there.” Executive producer J.H. Wyatt wants viewers to enjoy their visit to the alternate universe. “We’re hoping that the audience will get behind the coolness of the other side, a world where John Lennon still exists and Martin Luther King is still alive, and that it’s actually a harder place to live.” Just ask Olivia, whose plight in captivity will be the subject of the early episodes.

Question: When will Brennan get to meet Booth’s new love interest on Bones? — Evan

ADAM: Booth’s new journalist-girlfriend, who will be played by Kathryn Winnick (House), turns up stateside to surprise Booth in Episode 2, but not before Bones gives Booth a little extra grief about his decision to leave his new love behind in Afghanistan.

Question: I want poor Erica to have a boyfriend on V. Please tell me it’s going to happen this season. — Michelle

MICKEY: Elizabeth Mitchell says she might be at the center of another love triangle. But will Erica succumb to the odd, deepening chemistry she has with Father Jack? Or Hobbs’ raw sexual magnetism? “Erica is going to get together with somebody, but I can’t say who,” she tells us. Care to guess in the comments?

Question: Any scoop on Smallville’s final season? I can’t wait to see Clark become Superman. — Zach

ADAM: Well, wait you must, it seems. “We’ve got 22 episodes to do it,” says executive producer Kelly Souders. “[Clark] has a few more obstacles and lessons to learn. When you look at the show right now, he’s definitely not the Superman — the bright light, the inspirational guy — that he will be by the end of the season. He’s still in sort of a dark hour. There are things that he’s internally wrestling with, and he really has to get over that in order to become that inspirational hope.”

Question: Got any Supernatural spoilers? — Samantha

ADAM: The show is adding a new angel who’s gone a bit rogue. The possibly recurring character is described as an attractive charmer who appears slightly manic on the surface but carries a great sadness.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Here is the final part of the update for July 21 to 27:

BOX OFFICE

“Dragon Tattoo” Girl Down To Five

‘Green Lantern’ new Comic-Con images unveiled

First Full Trailer for Tokyopop Movie ‘Priest’ with Paul Bettany

Must Watch: John Wells’ The Company Men Theatrical Trailer

Series of Six Sexy New Character Banners from Sucker Punch

Watch: Captain Jack’s Pirates of the Caribbean Comic-Con Video

High School Musical star Zac Efron is in negotiations to join the adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel The Lucky One, which follows the story of a Marine who returns to North Carolina after having survived three tours of duty in Iraq. He attributes his good luck to a photo he has always carried with him, a photo of a woman he’s never met. Now that he’s returned, he sets out to meet her. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

Daniel Craig has closed a deal to star in the film adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s ‘Millennium’ novel trilogy starting with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Craig would play Mikael Blomkvist, a divorced, middle-aged hard-nosed investigative reporter in Stockholm famous for his exposing corruption and scandal in business and government. He’s also co-publisher of the magazine Millennium and has had several lovers. (Risky Biz Blog and Dark Horizons)

Now it looks like actor Tom Hardy (Inception) will play one of the two male leads in the box office movie This Means War, starring alongside Chris Pine. The movie is to follow two best friends and veteran spies who fall for the same woman (Reese Witherspoon) who has moved into their spare room. They end up fighting for her affections using their black-ops warfare tactics, a fight which literally demolishes much of New York City along the way. (Vulture and Dark Horizons)

Edi Gathegi (The Twilight Saga movies) is joining X-Men: First Class in the role of Darwin, the first bi-racial mutant, who has the power of “reactive evolution,” which allows him to adapt to any situation or environment. Plunged underwater, he’ll grow gills, he’ll gain night vision in pitch black and his skin grows fire retardant when burned. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

The box office results for the past weekend were (according to Entertainment Weekly)

1. Inception – 43.5 million
2. Salt – 36.5 million
3. Despicable Me – 24.1 million
4. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – 9.7 million
5. Toy Story 3 – 9 million
6. Ramona and Beezus – 8 million
7. Grown Ups – 7.6 million
8. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – 7 million
9. The Last Airbender – 4.2 million
10. Predators – 2.8 million

CONDOLENCES

Canadian character actor Maury Chaykin passed away today (July 27). Chaykin appeared in the movie Dances With Wolves, and in TV shows such as C.S.I., ‘Boston Legal and Entourage (among many others). His acting career spans 35 years. He was 61. (TV Guide)

ONLINE NEWS

Check Out the new The Guild Music Video

RUMOR PATROL

It looks like Pushing Daisies actor Lee Pace may be in line to join the cast of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. If this comes to pass, Pace will play Garrett, a friend of Edward’s, who is described in the script as a tall, nomadic vampire with sandy hair that he keeps tied back with a leather thong. Garrett is also penned as being down-to-earth, laid-back, rugged and having a lightness and element of humor about him. Production on Breaking Dawn is slated to begin this fall, though no exact date has been announced. No confirmations have been made, though, on this casting so stay tuned. (E! Entertainment Online)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dollhouse

Monk (The Complete Series)

The Tudors

Ghost Whisperer

Stargate Universe

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Here is Part 2 of the update for July 21 to 27:

COMIC CON NEWS

The news broke on Saturday during Comic Con that Linda Hamilton will appear as Mary Bartowski in Chuck this fall as Chuck’s and Ellie’s mom. (The TV Addict)

Stargate Universe and Sanctuary will start their new seasons on September 28 at 9 and 10 PM respectively. (The Futon Critic)

The head honcho at USA Network announced at Comic Con that a prequel movie to the network’s number 1 series Bur Notice will be done. The topic of that movie: The final mission of Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) before his retirement as a Navy SEAL. (Dark Horizons)

Quantum Leap creator Donald Bellisario is busy at work on a script for a possible theatrical release of the popular TV series. Scott Bakula made this announcement at Comic Con. It is likely that Scott and former co-star Dean Stockwell would make appearances in the movie, but probably not in the roles viewers would expect. (TV Guide)

It was announced at Comic Con that James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) will return for the final season of Smallville as Brainiac in the show’s 200th episode. Marsters will also be seen in the Hawaii Five-0 pilot, where he plays Alex O’Loughlin’s nemesis. (TV Guide)

Revealed at Comic Con is that an extended member of the Castle family will die in the upcoming third season. It will most likely be one of these 3 people: Chet, the never-seen boyfriend of Castle’s mother, Martha (Susan Sullivan), Meredith (Darby Stanchfield), Castle’s first ex-wife and Alexis’ mother, who has been living in Los Angeles, or Gina (Monet Mazur), Castle’s second ex-wife with whom he reconnected in the season finale. The show will also reveal that Lainie (Tamala Jones) and Esposito (Jon Huertas) have started a romantic relationship. (TV Guide)

During the Stargate Universe panel at Comic Con, it was revealed that both TJ (Alaina Huffman) and Chloe (Elyse Levesque) are alive after having been shot in the final episodes. Meanwhile, Eli (David Blue) will begin a relationship with one of the Lucian Alliance members and he will also go head-to-head with a Stargate Atlantis alum: David Hewlett, who played Dr. Rodney McKay, will bring out a dark side of Eli, while Robert Picardo will also stop by. (TV Guide)

As already known, Allison Mack is exiting Smallville, but what was revealed during the show’s Comic Con panel were the following: the introduction of the super-suit (which is found at the Kent farmhouse by Lois), Tess Mercer still being alive, but being held captive, Cat Grant joins Clark at the Daily Planet, a new villain – Darkseid – will be introduced and old faces will return, including Jonathan Kent (played by John Schneider), Brainiac (James Marsters), Kara (Laura Vandervoort ) Carter Hall (Michael Shanks) and Plastique (Jessica Parker Kennedy). Discussions are being held to get Lionel Luther (John Glover) back on the series too. (TV Guide)

What surprises were revealed during the Glee panel at Comic Con? They will pay respect to The Rocky Horror Picture Show; there will be another salute to Madonna, Tina, Mike and those other characters you don’t know so well will get more face time; Kurt’s dad (Mike O’Malley) has been a series regular, Finn’s mom will be seen more, viewers will meet Rachel’s two dads and Brittany’s sister. (TV Guide)

During the Supernatural Comic Con panel, the season starts one year after the Season 5 finale. Dean has spent the last year as a defacto stepfather to his girlfriend Lisa’s son; Jensen will make his directorial debut and Sam will obviously be different this season. (Zap2It)

The entire cast of the upcoming movie The Avengers were on hand at Comic Con, including Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Clark Gregg as Coulson, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (please note that it was announced not that long after Comic Con ended that Ruffalo dropped out of the movie). Who is the director? None other than Joss Whedon. The movie arrives in theatres on May 4, 2012. (First Showing)

NEWS

The creators of True Blood have another new project in the works: a comic book series that will add new layers to the show’s characters. Show creator Alan Ball has developed the plot of the comics with writers Elisabeth Finch and Kate Barnow, which is envisioned as a companion piece to the TV series, following Sookie and other Bon Temps residents who are trapped by an entity that begins killing people to feed. The first issue, which boasts two covers, can be downloaded from the Apple Apps Store or the Sony Digital Comics Store. (TV Guide)

Wes Craven is turning to print, in the form of a graphic novel. He is partnering with Liquid Comics and producer Arnold Rifkin to publish the four-issue graphic novel series starting in early 2011. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Zap2It)

SYFY UNVEILS SYFY FAN CLUB, THE ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE FEATURING EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, INSIDER ACCESS AND LIMITED EDITION COLLECTIBLES

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/21/syfy-unveils-syfy-fan-club-the-ultimate-fan-experience-featuring-exclusive-content-insider-access-and-limited-edition-collectibles/20100721syfy02/

USA NETWORK LAUNCHES ‘CHARACTER APPROVED’ BLOG SITE TO CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS MAKING CULTURAL WAVES

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/20/usa-network-launches-character-approved-blog-site-to-celebrate-the-people-places-and-things-making-cultural-waves/20100720usa01/

Please continue on to Part 3.

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Hey All,

So, I made it back from Comic Con on Sunday night to discover my home computer wouldn’t turn on. As you can imagine, that created quite a problem for me with getting all my notes done from the con (which still aren’t done), loading any of my pictures (which also aren’t done yet) or doing much of anything that I wanted to get done on my day off on Monday.

I did rally, though, breaking down to get a laptop so that I could continue to work and spent all day Monday going through the news from Wednesday through Monday. The following is what I found on the internet for that time period, including Tueday’s news. Needless to say, this update is very long so I’ve broken it down into three parts.

Part 1:

TV NEWS

Joe Manganiello, who plays werewolf Alcide Herveaux on the HBO series True Blood, has been promoted to be a series regular for Season 4. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and TV Guide)

The Syfy series Caprica will return with the second half of season one in January 2011. (The Futon Critic)

The comedic drama Chaos, which stars Freddy Rodriguez, Eric Close, James Murray, Tim Blake Nelson and Carmen Ejogo, has been ordered by CBS for mid-season. The series focuses on a group of rogue CIA spies in the Office of Disruptive Services (ODS), who combat threats to national security amidst bureaucratic gridlock, rampant incompetence and political infighting. (The Futon Critic)

CBS announced the premiere dates for their new and returning dramas (via The Futon Critic). They are as follows:

Hawaii Five-0 will debut on September 20 at 10 PM
NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles will return on September 21 at 8 and 9 PM respectively
Criminal Minds is back at 9 PM on September
The new show The Defenders debuts on 10 PM on September 22
CSI and The Menatlist will return at 9 and 10 PM (respectively) on September 23
Medium, CSI: NY and the new series will air at 8, 9 and 10 PM on September 24
The Good Wife will return at 10 PM on September 28
CSI: Miami will be back at 10 PM on October 3

Nicole Richie will be back on Chuck as a guest star, resurfacing in October when a prison transfer goes awry and her character, Heather Chandler, ends up being stowed away at Castle (a.k.a. the underground CIA base). (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Caterina Scorsone has been moved up to series regular on Private Practice, playing Amelia Shepherd (the sister of Derek Shepherd from Grey’s Anatomy), who was introduced late last season, when she clashed with the Oceanside Wellness doctors over whether she could save one of their patient’s lives whether she could save one of their patient’s lives. (TV Guide)

The guys of Glee – Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith and Mark Salling – will co-host the Teen Choice Awards alongside pop sensation and multi-platinum recording artist Katy Perry on August 9 starting at 8 PM on FOX. (The Futon Critic)

Russell T. Davies has teased information about the upcoming 4th season of Torchwood that will air in the US on Starz next year, telling a journalist from SFX that it will be very dark indeed, if not darker than Torchwood: Children of Earth. (Blastr)

Eric Christian Olsen—who recurred on NCIS: LA last season as LAPD liaison Marty Deeks—has been promoted to a series regular. The show’s 2nd season kicks off with a two-hour episode on September 21. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Enrique Murciano (Without A Trace) has left the new Shonda Rhimes ABC drama Off the Map before the show even goes to air because of what is being touted as creative reasons. His role will not be recast. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Broadway actor Cheyenne Jackson, who has also appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock, is joining the cast of Glee in a major recurring role, succeeding Idina Menzel as the coach of Vocal Adrenaline (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Currie Graham and French Stewart will play brother patients in the season premiere of Private Practice. Graham (Raising the Bar) will play Russell, one of Charlotte and Sam’s patients who needs a kidney transplant. Stewart (3rd Rock From the Sun) will play his estranged brother, Kevin, who is willing to give up a kidney. However, once the docs meet Kevin, they realize he may not be fit to be a donor because of his mental state. Season 4 of Private Practice premieres September 23 at 10 PM on ABC. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Lauren Graham has been assigned a new boyfriend on Parenthood: Billy Baldwin is nearing a deal to join the cast as Adam’s (Peter Krause) boss and a love interest for Graham’s Sarah. NBC declined to comment, but an insider tells me that Baldwin—who recurred on Gossip Girl last season as Serena’s MIA dad—would appear in multiple episodes of the sophomore drama. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Have you ever discovered a TV show too late to save it from cancellation?

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/27/have-you-ever-discovered-a-tv-show-too-late-to-save-it-from-cancelation/

What shows have succeeded this summer and which ones have not? Here is the list according to TV Guide:

The winners include the Canada series Rookie Blue that is airing on ABC. The new series has averaged 7 million viewers and was given a 2nd season pick-up quickly. The new TNT cop drama Rizzoli & Isles has quickly become the most watched cable series, even beating out its lead-in series The Closer. The new USA Network series Covert Affairs is also performing quite well. Additionally, repeats of CBS procedurals like NCIS and The Mentalist continue to draw respectable audiences. On the other hand, the losers include the new ABC dramas Scoundrels and The Gates.

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

The Hallmark Hall of Fame movie November Christmas will star Sam Elliott, John Corbett, Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Sarah Paulson (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) and Emily Alyn Lind (All My Children). The movie is set in a small Rhode Island community where neighbors band together to create magical Halloween and Christmas moments – several weeks early – for a young girl named Vanessa, who is facing a serious illness. The film will air on November 28 at 9 PM. (The Futon Critic)

Luke Perry and Jason Priestley (both formerly of Beverly Hills, 90210) have reunited for Goodnight For Justice, a Hallmark Movie Channel movie to be executive produced by Perry and directed by Priestley. The Western is based on an idea by Perry set in the American Old West, centering on John Goodnight (Perry) a circuit judge on a quest to catch the outlaw who killed his family. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill) will appear in the made-for-TV movie The Ex-Mas Carol on the ABC Family Channel, starring alongside Christina Milian and Ashley Benson (Pretty Little Liars). The movie is (more or less) about a comatose girl who visits her Christmas past, present, and future. (Zap2It)

CASTING SCOOP

English actress Indira Varma (Rome) is joining the cast of Human Target as a series regular, playing Ilsa, a sophisticated, driven and principled widow with a vast fortune that she uses to help better the world. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Paula Patton will appear in a multi-episode arc of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing a charming and savvy ADA who works with the Special Victims Unit. (TV Guide)

Newcomer Chord Overstreet has joined Glee as Sam, a high school athlete who starts off as Finn’s protégé but becomes his competition and will more than likely be the football playing boyfriend to Kurt Hummel. (The TV Addict)

Rachelle Lefevre (Twilight) has joined the cast of the upcoming ABC drama Off the Map, playing Eva, who is a free-spirited missionary doctor who is well versed in international medicine and global health. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Liz Tigelaar, the Executive Producer of the CW series Life Unexpected announced that Emma Caulfield (Buffy) has joined the cast. (Twitter)

Liam Neeson will guest-star on the new Showtime series The Big C, playing a character named Bee Man, who Cathy (Laura Linney) sees about alternative cancer treatments. The series follows Cathy, a schoolteacher and suburban mother who tries to rebuild her life after her terminal cancer diagnosis. The series debuts on August 16 at 10:30 PM. (TV Guide)

A new football coach will be on staff for the second season of Glee. Actress Dot Jones, who has appeared in episodes of 10 Things I Hate About You and HawthoRNe will be that new coach. This mean that Patrick Gallagher, who played coach Ken Tanaka, will not be back. (TV Guide)

Katherine Moennig (The L Word) will guest star in the upcoming season of Dexter, playing a tattoo artist. The fifth season of the show premieres on September 26 at 9 PM. (TV Guide)

Olivia Munn and Isaiah Mustafa will both appear in Chuck this upcoming season as Greta, an impossibly cool and smart CIA agent who intimidates and schools Chuck and Morgan. This new character will, according to Josh Schwartz, will be played by a different actor or actress each week. The fourth season of Chuck starts on September 20 at 8 PM. (TV Guide)

Emily Bergl (Men In Trees) has been cast in Desperate Housewives, as Paul Young’s new wife, Beth, who will prove instrumental in Paul’s post-jail plans on Wisteria Lane. (TV Guide)

Evan Ross, the son of singer Diana Ross, has joined the cast of 90210, playing Charlie, an older newcomer who gets tangled up in a love triangle with two current cast members. (TV Guide)

Andrea Roth (Rescue Me) has replaced Wendy Moniz in the upcoming CBS drama Blue Bloods, playing the love interest for Tom Selleck’s character. (TV Guide)

Melora Hardin (The Office) is joining the new NBC drama Outlaw, playing a high-powered lawyer and love interest for star Jimmy Smits. Gina Gershon played the role in the pilot. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Zap2It)

Felicia Day (Dollhouse) has signed on to appear in ten episodes of Eureka, while Polly Walker (Caprica) will appear on two episodes of Sanctuary, where she will play Ranna, a powerful foe who faces Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) after the team encounters her in the show’s mid-season cliffhanger. (The Hollywood Reporter and Televisionary)

Jonathan Sadowski (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) will replace Ryan Devlin on the CBS comedy $#*! My Dad Says. (Variety and Televisionary)

Sarah Carter (Dirty Sexy Money) has joined the cast of the upcoming TNT alien invasion drama Falling Skies, starring opposite Noah Wylie and Moon Bloodgood. She will play a member of a motorcycle gang who helps the heroes escape the aliens. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

Actress Katheryn Winnick (Criminal Minds) will play Ashley, a war correspondent with whom Booth bonded with during his year overseas. She ends up following Booth back to D.C. where things get complicated. She is scheduled to appear in roughly five episodes, beginning with the September 23 season premiere. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Shoshannah Stern (Jericho) will recur in the upcoming third season of Lie To Me, starring as a grad student hired to help Dr. Lightman (Tim Roth) write his new book. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Alfred Molina has joined the new NBC upcoming Law & Order: Los Angeles, playing Deputy D.A. Morales. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Gabriel Macht (The Spirit) will star in the new USA Network drama pilot A Legal Mind, playing Harvey, a smart, successful lawyer at a big Manhattan firm who takes a chance and hires Mike, a brilliant man lacking motivation and a college degree. Newcomer Patrick J. Adams will play Mike in the upcoming procedural. (Entertainment Weekly)

Susan Sarandon has joined the new HBO pilot The Miraculous Year, starring as Patty Atwood, the director and choreographer of the Broadway play-within-a-show. The series follows a self-destructive Broadway composer trying to balance his equally difficult new show and family. The project will be produced by Tony winner John Logan and Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow, who will also direct the pilot. (TV Guide)

British actor Ben Whishaw (Brideshead Revisited) has been cast as the lead in the new Alan Ball HBO drama pilot All Signs of Death, based on Charlie Huston’s novel called The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death. Whishaw will play Webster Filmore Goodhue, an inveterate twenty-something slacker who stumbles into a career as a crime scene cleaner, only to find himself entangled with a murder mystery, a femme fatale and the loose ends of his own past. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

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

Question: Got any good info on Season 3 of The Mentalist? — Connor

ADAM: Get ready to meet Patrick Jane’s con man brother-in-law. He’s charismatic and uses his charm and bravado to mask his anxieties. Even though he blames Jane for his sister’s death, he’ll have to rely on him when he’s suspected of murder.

Question: Who will Quinn hook up with on Glee this season? — Oleg

MICKEY: Dianna Agron will have quite a full dance card this season. There’s sure to be the inevitable push-pull between Finn and Puck, but more surprising will be her role in Kurt’s new romance. Cheerleaders love football players, right?

Question: I need some Grey’s Anatomy scoop. Got anything on McSteamy? — Janelle

ADAM: Sloan will team with Callie to perform a major operation in the Season 7 premiere. The patient is a 19-year-old young man who suffers twitches and facial drooping because of an advanced tumor. It’s so advanced, in fact, that his family has already held a living memorial for him before the surgery.

Question: So … what is the event of The Event? — James

MICKEY: Great promos, right? As you’ve seen, there are several strange events that occur within the first hour of NBC’s new mystery thriller series. But trust me when I tell you that none of them compares to the one that closes the episode. It will definitely have you wondering what takes place in Episode 2.

Question: It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Castle. What do you know? — Kelly

ADAM: I hear the show is looking to add a (possibly recurring) character to the cast. A middle-aged former cop-turned-bounty-hunter, the character is described as a larger-than-life figure with a good sense of humor. I smell a one-liner showdown with Castle.

Question: I would love some intel on the new season of Smallville. — Will

ADAM: And I’d love to give you some: Carter Hall (aka Hawkman) will return in Season 10’s second episode, presumably to help Clark & Co. fight this season’s big bad. And there will also be a new face, as Clark gets assigned a new partner at the Daily Planet when Lois takes a temporary leave. The character, who seems to be hiding something, is very vocal in her disdain for masked superheroes.

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

Question: I’m wondering what you think about Rizzoli & Isles and Covert Affairs? I gave both premieres a look, but only continued watching the latter. I find Angie Harmon a one-note actress. Her characters in every show all seem to have the same personality. She has no chemistry with Sasha Alexander, who at least has an interesting character. With so many crime shows on the air, I was hoping for one that had another take on crime solving. Just having two women in the leads is not new. Covert Affairs, on the other hand, tells an interesting story. It’s a great addition to the USA brand of shows. Even though the character of Auggie seems a bit of a stretch, Christopher Gorham brings so much to him. The actor makes the character “real” and adorable. I was one of the few who didn’t like his character, Henry, on Ugly Betty, but I really like him here. And I like the bickering married couple, though I’m not sure why. Maybe because you don’t normally see married couples in workplace shows who aren’t madly in love. What’s your take? — Myra

Matt Roush: When I blurb-reviewed the latest wave of new summer crime dramas in the magazine, I gave Rizzoli a slightly higher ranking than Covert Affairs based on their pilots, but after watching second episodes of both, I’d reverse that decision. Doesn’t really matter about the critical response, though, when it comes to this bottomless glut of crime dramas. Both shows are instant hits and will be with us for quite some time. You’re absolutely right there’s nothing new about Rizzoli, which is probably the point. It’s called pandering to the masses, and it’s paying off. And yet there’s no question to me that both Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander are bona fide TV stars, and their appeal carries the show a great way. But OMG the writing! Especially in the Boston Strangler redux episode. They’re pushing the quirks so hard (Isles diagnosing her date over dinner) you can see them sweat. Whereas Covert Affairs muted some of the pilot’s preciousness in the second week, and as you noted, there’s plenty of charm to go around: from Piper Perabo (who I like more than some of my colleagues) and Christopher Gorham for sure, although Anne Dudek so far has been largely wasted. I’m not as keen on the squabbling married bosses, finding that subplot painfully contrived, but Peter Gallagher and Kari Matchett are well cast and the show goes down easy. Are either of these shows must-see for me? Not yet.

VOTING RESULTS

Tater Top Awards 2010 Winners: The Vampire Diaries, House and Glee Score Big!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b191416_tater_top_awards_2010_winners_vampire.html

Please continue on to Part 2.

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Hey All,

Today is my last entertainment update until either Monday or Tuesday of next week, as I head out bright and early tomorrow morning for San Diego and the annual Comic Con. I wish safe travels to all the folks who are heading there.

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

TELEVISION

After lots of negotiations and what seemed like hopeless situations for Damages, DirecTV has saved the Glenn Close drama from the TV land scrap heap. DirecTV has ordered two seasons of 10 episodes each, with the first season of Damages reairing next summer, and the new episodes starting in the summer of 2012. Unfortunately, those new episodes of Damages will not repeat on FX later in the year, à la Friday Night Lights on NBC. (E! Entertainment Online)

Beverly Mitchell (7th Heaven) will appear in the Season 4 premiere of The Secret Life of the American Teenager in January 2011. Her character will replace Mayim Bialik (Blossom), who currently plays the school counselor. (TV Guide)

Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly) will appear in two episodes of Law & Order: SVU, playing a woman with a secret past that Detective Benson is investigating. (TV Guide)

Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights) is joining the CBS series The Good Wife as a professional and perhaps personal foil to Archie Punjabi’s sexually ambiguous Kalinda. Porter’s exact episode count is still being worked out but it could be as many as 10 episodes of the second season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Jeff Hephner (The O.C.) has landed a recurring role on the new fall show Hellcats. He will portray the football coach at the fictional college where the drama is set. His character is named Red Raymond and he’s a graduate of Lancer University. Look for him and Hellcats cheerleading coach Vanessa (Sharon Leal) to share a past. (Fancast and TV Fanatic)

CONDOLENCES

Actor James Gammon, who played Don Johnson’s father in Nash Bridges, has passed away. He was 70. Mr. Gammon got his start in the NBC series The Road West in 1966. He’s well remembered for his roles in Major League, as the manager of the Cleveland Indians, and for Nash Bridges, in which he played patriarch Nick Bridges. Among his myriad credits, Gammon most recently appeared in the films In the Electric Mist and Appaloosa, as well as the TV series Grey’s Anatomy and Monk. (The Associated Press and TV Guide)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Syfy is teaming up with videogame maker THQ for a two-hour backdoor pilot called Red Faction: Origins, which would air in March 2011. The story of Red Faction: Origins follows rebel hero Alec Mason and the Mason family. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

Sarah Paulson, Karen Allen, and Emily Alyn Lind have been cast opposite John Corbett and Sam Elliott in Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for-TV movie November Christmas, which will air Thanksgiving weekend on CBS. (Variety and Televisionary)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

V

Doctor Who

Persons Unknown

BOX OFFICE

Rob Lowe has joined the cast of I Melt With You, which storyline is being kept under wraps, but is said to examine pain in terms of the modern male psyche. Lowe will play a doctor dealing with a tragic personal loss and an increasing drug addiction. Jeremy Piven and Thomas Jane also star. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Dark Horizons)

Sherri Shepherd (The View co-host) has joined the Katherine Heigl film One for the Money, which is based on the popular book series by Janet Evanovich. Shepherd will tackle dual roles, playing two hookers with hearts of gold. Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata, John Leguizamo and Patrick Fischler also star. (Variety and Zap2It)

Julia Stiles is set to produce and star in The Bell Jar, an adaptation of famed poet Sylvia Plath’s posthumously published, autobiographical novel. The story follows a gifted young woman’s mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s. Virginia Madsen (Scoundrels) will play a therapist. (The New York Times and Dark Horizons)

TEASER TRAILER

Watch: First Teaser for Dwayne Johnson Revenge Movie Faster

SNEAK PEEK

Jed Whedon’s new Dollhouse comic revealed

Q&A SECTION (with Kristin from E! Entertainment Online)

Question: Jackie in Miami: Got any Glee scoop on Will and Emma? They’re my favorite couple on Glee!

Kristin: Sorry to break it to ya, but don’t think that smooch in last season’s finale led to a full-fledged relationship over summer break. We spoke with show runner Brad Falchuk who told us this upcoming season they’ll be exploring, “What does Will look like as a single guy, for real?” Also standing in their way? A little guest star you may have heard of named John Stamos and Will’s ex-wife Terri, who yes, is still in love with everyone’s favorite Spanish teacher and determined to win him back. By the way, make sure you check out my exclusive interview with John Stamos that just posted, where he talks Entourage, Beach Boys, Glee and that unfortunate extortion. He starts filming Glee soon!

Question: Gregory in Houston: Please tell me something about Bones.

Kristin: Get ready to see some of Tamara Taylor’s great acting chops when Bones returns. Cam sets up an on-air interview and unbeknownst to her, the journalist only intends on grilling her about an ongoing, and very sensitive, investigation. And without revealing the case at hand, let’s just say things get ugly very quickly.

Question: Hank in Boise, Idaho: I’m really digging Rookie Blue. What’s coming up?

Kristin: Andy finds herself in some serious danger this week when she and a fellow rookie are the first on the scene of a violent crime. She’s eventually left to fend for herself, which ends up being an eye-opening experience.

Question: Andrea in Canton, Ohio: Leverage is awesome this summer! Can you give me any scoop on this week’s episode?

Kristin: Rest assured, Eliot’s hair will continue to be luxurious and shiny. Oh, you want more scoop than that? Then prepare for a romp in the great outdoors, courtesy of Eliot and Hardison, the latter being less than thrilled about being away from his precious electronics. But it’s necessary if the gang wants to take down an evil money launderer. Are there any other kinds of money launderers? Well, this one is also…patriotic.

Question: Beatrice in California: What’s ahead for Pretty Little Liars?

Kristin: Allison’s brother is set to make a triumphant return to town—and not in a welcome way. The long-gone lady’s bro is out to take the girls down by discovering what really happened to A, thus ruining the lovely memorial Aria and Co. had planned for their friend.

Question: Breanne in Long Island: Please tell me you have some scoop on Make It or Break It?

Kristin: Think Lauren’s changed? That one deserves a big ol’ HA! When the Rock starts planning its annual Rocky Awards, this bad girl goes all out to win Miss Congeniality, even if it means returning to her bribing, cheating ways.

Question: Linda in Calabasas, Calif.: I wish you’d talk about Huge more often. It’s such a cute show.

Kristin: As you wish. Will is about to demonstrate some Brave Little Toaster-type behavior when she feels like her crush Ian is slipping away. The cure: writing him a love song, of course.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The big week is finally here – Comic Con!! I leave bright and early Wednesday morning to head to San Diego for the annual celebration of all things pop culture. It’ll be a whirlwind 5 days, but in the meantime, here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Joy Bryant and Tyree Brown – who play Dax Shepard’s onscreen girlfriend Jasmine and son Jabbar respectively – on the NBC series Parenthood have been upgraded to full-fledged series regulars. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

The Spartacus prequel called Gods of the Arena has cast Dustin Clare (Underbelly and McLeod’s Daughters) in the lead as well as Jaime Murray (Dexter) and Marisa Ramirez (Mental) in supporting roles. (The Hollywood Reporter and Zap2It)

Rochelle Aytes (The Forgotten) has booked a recurring role on the upcoming ABC cop drama Detroit 1-8-7, playing Alice Williams, a smart, sexy, ambitious lawyer in the Wayne County prosecutor’s office. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Michael Ealy (FlashForward and Sleeper Cell) is joining the cast of the CBS series The Good Wife as Derrick Bond, the head of the D.C. firm that’s merging with Will and Diane’s cash-strapped outfit. Ealy is set to appear in at least 10 episodes of Good Wife‘s upcoming second season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Gregory Itzin (24) has signed up for a major recurring gig on the new season of Big Love, playing Senator Richard Dwyer, the Republican Majority Leader of the Utah State Senate — of which Bill (Bill Paxton) is now a member. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

TELEVISION OBSERVATION (from Grady Smith at Entertainment Weekly)

NOTE: I slightly edited this article.

Since when were female law enforcement officials the hottest commodity on TV?

American audiences have been taken into custody by a group of no-nonsense, tight-business-suit-wearing females in the justice department. This summer it seems like every channel you flip to features a high-profile show about an impossibly beautiful woman fighting crime. These girls are powerful and well-trained, with an uncanny ability to chase down their foes in heels, and whether they’re cops, spies or detectives these women are taking down criminals — and arresting huge numbers of viewers. Could this be the new television trend? Just take a look at the evidence from the past week:

The season premiere of TNT’s smash hit The Closer, which features Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, found a huge 7.7 million viewers.

Close behind, the series premiere of Rizzoli & Isles earned the best-ever debut for an ad-supported cable show with 7.6 million viewers. The TNT drama stars Angie Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as a medical examiner Maura Isles.

USA’s premiere of Covert Affairs, built solidly upon its lead-in, White Collar, and achieved a terrific 4.9 million viewers. The spy drama features the Coyote-(not)-Ugly actress Piper Perabo as C.I.A. trainee Annie Walker.

ABC picked up their Canadian import, Rookie Blue, which centers around a recent police academy graduate played by Missy Peregrym, for a second season.

As to why these programs are blowing up the summer schedule, I have a few guesses. These shows feature strong and dangerous female protagonists who possess a vulnerable, insecure side as well. In a television landscape that often prefers archetypal tough guys, this kind of dimensionality is refreshing. In a more shallow sense, it doesn’t hurt that the actresses playing these women are beautiful.

But what do you think, PopWatchers? Are you a prisoner of this trend? Should we expect twice as many female crime-fighters on our screens by this time next year? Does this bode well for the CW’s Nikita?

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

The Good Wife

BOX OFFICE

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise) is confirmed to be starring in the movie The Woman In Black. This movie is an adaptation of the gothic supernatural horror novel by Susan Hill, which follows a young solicitor (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. Alone and sorting out the affairs of the elderly widow owner who recently died, the lawyer is spooked by unexplained noises and visions of a mysterious woman in black. (Digital Spy and Dark Horizons)

Will Smith has attached himself to star in and produce The Legend Of Cain, a film adaptation of the classic Biblical story. Smith will play crop farmer Cain, no word on who’ll be his younger shepherd brother Abel but the story is said to take a vampiric twist on the tale. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Dark Horizons)

Here are the top 10 movies in the box office from this past weekend compiled by Exhibitor Relations and provided online by E! Entertainment Online:

1. Inception, $60.4 million
2. Despicable Me, $32.7 million
3. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, $17.4 million
4. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, $13.5 million
5. Toy Story 3, $11.7 million
6. Grown Ups, $10 million
7. The Last Airbender, $7.5 million
8. Predators, $6.8 million
9. Knight and Day, $3.7 million
10. The Karate Kid, $2.2 million

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Vote for the Season’s Best Shows

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

Question: Mike O’Malley’s Emmy nod as guest actor in a comedy for Glee is great, but what do you think about mostly dramatic parts being nominated in the comedy categories? — James (from Twitter)

Matt Roush: It’s a good question. Some of the best work in the comedy categories is at least as dramatic as comedic. Mike O’Malley’s poignant work as Kurt’s father is a great performance but is more likely to elicit tears than laughs. He could be eclipsed by the more conventionally funny work being done by his fellow nominees (most notably Neil Patrick Harris from the same show, or Modern Family’s Fred Willard, Jon Hamm’s comic turn on 30 Rock, and so on). At the same time, the meatiness of the dramatic scenes in these comedy-drama hybrids (a list that includes Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara and even Monk) may give actors like O’Malley and especially Edie Falco an advantage at awards time. I’m certainly not opposed to honoring the dramatic highlights from comedy series, but it’s true the line is very blurred in some of these categories.

Question: I thoroughly enjoyed the season 2 premiere of White Collar; however, I noticed a (lens?) distortion every time Tiffani Thiessen was on-screen. Do you know what’s up with that? Also wanted to get your take (and any news, if you please) on the new season of Warehouse 13. — Christen

Matt Roush: In these first episodes of White Collar, they’re shooting around her pregnancy, so that’s what you may have noticed. (Don’t remember a distortion in my advance non-HD screener, but I do remember being aware they were clearly going to extremes to keep her baby bump from showing.) Regarding Warehouse 13, look for two new recurring characters to be introduced in this week’s episode: Paula Garces, as a local veterinarian in “Univille” (the warehouse’s setting) who catches Pete’s eye, and Nolan Gerard Funk as another local who bonds with Claudia. The first week of August features a cross-over with Eureka, as Fargo and Claudia cross-pollinate each other’s shows. And look for more of Jaime Murray as H.G. Wells as the season progresses, along with other guest stars including Lindsay Wagner, Rene Auberjonois and, in another recurring role, Tia Carrere.

Question: I’m sure I’m not alone in extolling the virtues of the wonderfully written, marvelously acted Friday Night Lights. I am in shock that the powers-that-be at NBC actually had the smarts to air the new season after it was on Direct TV. Is there any chance that there will be a new season after this one? — Barbara

Matt Roush: As a matter of fact, Friday Night Lights is just wrapping its fifth and final season, which will begin airing on DirecTV in the fall and will show up at later on NBC. After that, though, it will be time to leave Dillon for good. But we got to stay there much longer than anyone expected. Thanks, DirecTV, for rescuing this gem—and thanks again, Emmy voters, for finally recognizing Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. I’m still happily amazed.

Question: I watched Covert Affairs last night and will watch again. Good cast and GREAT music. Can you give me the names of the songs from the first night show? There are lots of questions posted asking about the great music. — Sandy

Matt Roush: Because the show’s new and there’s so much buzz regarding this year’s new crop of cable series, I looked into this. (For the record, I am not a music expert and am not traditionally the go-to guy for this sort of info.) According to USA, the primary songs from the pilot were “The Dog Days are Over” by Florence and the Machine (from the skydiving sequence) and “Before it Breaks” by Brandi Carlisle at the end of the episode.

Question: I watched and enjoyed the series Merlin when it was on NBC last summer. I was terribly disappointed when I realized it had aired a second season on Syfy. Luckily, I watched an all-day marathon and saw the second season in its entirety. I loved it. Are there plans to bring it back for a third season? — Nellie

Matt Roush: A third season of Merlin is in production, but Syfy has yet to announce a pick-up. I’d be surprised if they pass, though.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s finally Friday. YAY! And, only a few more days until the mass exodus to San Diego for Comic Con. Yes! Yes!

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

TELEVISION

Casting changes have taken place on the upcoming HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones. Varys, the calculating spymaster for the king of Westeros, will be played by UK actor Conleth Hill and the role of Waymar Royce has been recast due to a scheduling issue. Jamie Campbell-Bower had played the role in the pilot but when the producers decided to do reshoots of his scenes, Campbell-Bower was unavailable. The role of Royce will now be played by Rob Ostlere. (Maureen Ryan at Chicago Tribune and Televisionary)

Tammy Blanchard (Guiding Light) has been cast in a recurring role on The Good Wife, playing a fair-minded assistant state’s attorney who looks more like an indie-band drummer than a lawyer, and who will serve as “one of Glen Childs’ underlings and a confidante to Cary (Matt Czuchry). Meanwhile, Chris Saradon (Judging Amy) has been cast as Judge Goode. He will recur throughout the season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly and Televisionary)

Kirsten Vangsness may pull double-duty and appear on the Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior spinoff in either a regular or recurring capacity, following a similar trend to Rocky Carroll on NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. Vangsness would bring her Penelope Garcia to a cast that also includes Forest Whittaker and Janeane Garofalo. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Joseph Mallozzi, executive producer for both Stargate Universe and Stargate Atlantis, announced details about an upcoming crossover between the two series. Here is what he had to say:

“With word from producer John G. Lenic that the deals have been closed on those Atlantis alums, we can now move forward on the script, secure in the knowledge that both extra-special guest stars will actually be on hand to say the dialogue written specifically for them. Great news for fans of the old series. There was a reluctance to move ahead with an SGA crossover, particularly on my part, because the feeling was it would step on the timing of the SGA movie, Stargate: Extinction, the events of which directly proceed the Atlantis series finale, Enemy at the Gate. But given the delay on the movie front and the ideal premise pitched out by Remi Aubuchon and Brad Wright, it was decided to go ahead with the crossover.”

No details were revealed as to which Atlantis cast will appear on Universe though. (Blastr – formerly Sci-Fi Wire)

The CW will air the hit Canadian comedy series 18 to Life, which is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, starting on August 3 with back-to-back episodes airing at 9 and 9:30 PM. The network will air all 12 half-hour episodes. The series follows Tom and Jessie – 18-year-old next-door neighbors who have grown up together – who run off and get married, forcing their warring families to become one in this hilarious multi-generational half-hour about relationships, true love, and who takes out the garbage. The series stars Stacey Farber (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Michael Seater (Life With Derek) as the young lovers. (The Futon Critic)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Say Whaaa?! Vote for TV’s Best Quotes

FIRST LOOK AT TV

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “TEEN WOLF” (MTV)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENT

Men of A Certain Age

BOX OFFICE

Amy Adams (Julie & Julia and Enchanted) is confirmed to play Janis Joplin in a biopic, which will be directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God). (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Zap2It)

Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone and The Burning Plain) has been cast as the mutant Mystique in the box office prequel/reboot X-Men: First Class. Mystique is a shape-shifter who can mimic other people, though she can’t replicate superpowers. The cast includes James MacAvoy as Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Magneto as young men discovering their powers for the first time, and meeting up with other mutants. The movie is expected to be released on June 3, 2011. (Heat Vision and First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Must Watch: Great Official Trailer for Ben Affleck’s The Town

That’s it. Enjoy!

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