Rueben's Ramblings

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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Hey All

Well, in one week’s time, hundreds of thousands of pop culture fans will be in San Diego for Comic Con (and I will be one of them), navigating the myriad panels and crowds over the course of 4 days.

But, in the meantime, there is news to be shared.

TELEVISION

Illeana Douglas has signed on for a recurring role on Entourage. The veteran actress will portray Ari’s sister-in-aw and debut later this season. She may return for season eight, as well. In recent years, Douglas has guest-starred on episodes of Ugly Betty and Law & Order: SVU, but is better known for big screen roles in films such as Cape Fear and Stir of Echoes. (TV Fanatic)

NBC has announced the premiere dates for their fall season. Chuck, The Event and Chase will air on September 20 at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively. Parenthood will be on at 10 PM on September 21. Undercovers will debut at 8 PM with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Los Angeles on at 9 and 10 PM on September 22. Outlaw will be at 10 PM on September 24. Repeats of Law & Order: Los Angeles, Chase and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will air on Saturday nights at 8, 9 and 10 PM respectively. (TV Done Wright)

FX has also set their fall schedule with their dramas to air as follows: Sons of Anarchy premieres on September 7 at 10 PM. And, the new series Terriers – a comedic drama starring Donal Logue (Damages) and Michael Raymond-James (True Blood). The series centers on Hank Dolworth (Logue), an ex-cop who partners with his best friend Britt Pollack (Raymond-James) to launch an unlicensed private investigation business. The duo, both struggling with maturity issues, solve crimes while avoiding danger and responsibility. The debut is set for at 10 PM on September 8. (The Futon Critic)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lie To Me

Dollhouse

Bones

BOX OFFICE

Disney is developing a new Tinkerbell live-action romantic comedy called Tink that has Elizabeth Banks set to star. There is no clue as to how soon this movie could move into production, but Banks’ schedule isn’t too packed, so it could happen anytime in the next few years. (Variety and First Showing)

Julie Bowen (Modern Family) will play Kevin Spacey’s wife in the star-packed comedy Horrible Bosses, which also features Jason Bateman, Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, and Jason Sudeikis. She will then take on the role of “a high-strung wedding planner” in Jumping the Broom, which revolves around “two black families from opposite ends of the socio-economic spectrum meeting for the first time during a weekend wedding in Martha’s Vineyard.” That ensemble includes Paula Patton (Precious) and Laz Alonso (Avatar) as the happy couple, and Angela Bassett as the mother of the bride. (Variety and Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

INTERVIEW

A Candid Conversation with Joanna Garcia

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

Question: I love True Blood. I love Eric. Scoop, please. —Angi

Ausiello: Is it too soon to be talking about the finale? No? Cool. Exec producer Alan Ball tells me that there will be a “lot of Bill-Sookie-Eric stuff” in the season 3 finale. “It involves blood, it involves trust, and it does not go where we expect it to go.”

Question: I’m just going to keeping asking for some Leverage scoop until you answer me. —Matt

Ausiello: This Sunday’s Leverage finds the gang heading to Nashville to take down a corrupt record producer. Eliot is forced to play the role of a country-music singer-songwriter — and man, the big lug can actually sing!

Question: Supernatural spoilers seem to be few and far between. Any chance you have any new ones to share with us? —Judy

Ausiello: Season 6 will revolve around Dean’s new life as loving husband to Lisa and doting father to Ben. I kid! I made a funny! Here’s the real answer to your question: Despite the domestic situation Dean found himself in at the end of last season, exec producer Eric Kripke assures me that Supernatural will continue to be about the Winchester brothers “on the road together.” That said, Kripke confirms that “Dean’s situation creates all sorts of angst and conflict. The question [we’ll be] exploring is, How can you be a hunter when there are actually people that you care about? I think we will mine it for all of the emotional angst and conflict that we can. But [Lisa] is not — nor is anyone — going to be riding in the backseat of the Impala with Sam or Dean.”

Question: Thanks for all the Good Wife spoilers earlier this week. Got anything else about my fave character Kalinda? —Joel

Ausiello: Major drama! “Kalinda [Emmy nominee Archie Panjabi] always seems to be on top of her game,” says exec producer Robert King. “We are going to throw [her] off her game a little bit in the second season. Her past comes back to haunt her, and she also finds some competition.”

Question: Any more scoop on Charice’s role on Glee? —Kelly

Ausiello: Why, yes, as a matter of fact. Though Ryan Murphy says the hitmaker “comes on in a very sort of minor part,” it obviously grows, and fast, because, notes Lea Michele, while “the rivalry [between our characters] is going to be what everyone will pin it as, you know Ryan — it’s never going to be what you think it’s going to be.”

Question: Any whisperings on the new Torchwood you’d care to share? — Nicky

Ausiello: Among the casting intel I’ve gathered on the new season (airing on my new favorite cable network, Starz), the show is out to cast a new series regular — Rex Matheson, a wickedly funny (operative word: wicked) CIA agent born to make waves. Almost as key to the new season are recurring characters Esther Katusi, a CIA grunt in her early 20s who learns what she’s really made of only when she’s forced to, and Oswald Jones, a convicted murderer and pedophile who will be as shocked as anyone to learn how easily infamy and fame can be exchanged for one another.

Question: Scoop on The Closer will earn you my eternal thanks. —Sasha

Ausiello: FYI: Cold hard cash is the new eternal thanks. Just something to think about moving forward. Regarding The Closer, in the second episode, airing July 19, Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell) returns and is initially thought to be doing a background check on Chief Pope. But there’s more to the story. And apparently it’s VERY top secret because the screener TNT sent us left out the final scene. Bastards. It’s not like I was going to spoil it or anything.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s over the Hump Day and the news just keeps coming. Here is what I found for today:

TELEVISION

TNT has announced finale dates for their summer lineup. Dark Blue will have a two-hour finale on September 22. Hawthorne and Memphis Beat will finish up on August 24. Leverage is done on September 5 with The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles concluding on September 13. Both The Closer and Leverage will then return this winter for their remaining installments, presumably to help launch the new seasons of Men of a Certain Age and Southland and/or newcomers Franklin & Bash and Fallen Skies. (The Futon Critic)

HBO has picked up the series Luck, which stars none other than Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. The series is set in the world of high stakes horseracing. The pilot featured an ensemble cast including Richard Kind, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Jason Gedrick, Richie Coster, Ian Hart, Tom Payne, Kerry Condon and Gary Stevens. The pilot episode included a guest appearance from Jill Hennessy. (The Wrap)

CASTING SCOOP

Glee is adding a new high school jock named Sam, who is described as very good looking. Though he plays football, Sam must also have a strong singing voice. CSI is searching for a new female named Kacey Monohan, who is in her 20’s and is a bomb expert who becomes the team’s new tech. It looks like she’ll team with Nick. Life Unexpected will add a forty-something character named Emma as a possible older love interest for Baze. Just one catch: she works for Baze’s father and is a bit stuffy. Torchwood is searching for one series regular and two supporting roles. Rex Matheson is a white, twenty-something CIA agent who sounds sort of like FX’s animated Archer spy: a fearless, cocky thrill seeker. Recurring characters include Esther Katusi, a newbie Watch Analyst in the CIA who is deeply (and secretly) in love with Rex. And Oswald Jones is the dangerous psychotic villain. He’s a forty-something murderer and pedophile who gets sprung from the slammer into the spotlight. (William Keck at TV Guide)

D. B. Woodside (24 and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) will play Derrick Altman, a handsome young physician who takes care of the cheerleaders on the fall CW series Hellcats. (Zap2It)

Josh Stewart (Criminal Minds and Dirt) will play Watcher to Michael Chiklis’ nascent superhero clan on the ABC fall drama No Ordinary Family. He will recur throughout the first season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Maxine Peake (Criminal Justice), Rupert Penry-Jones (Spooks), Natalie Dormer (The Tudors), Tom Hughes (Sex, Drugs And Rock And Roll) and Neil Stuke (Reggie Perrin) have been cast in BBC legal drama series Silk, which revolves around the lives, loves and hard cases facing barristers on the front line of criminal law. (BBC and Televisionary)

Dolph Lundgren will guest star in the season premiere of the NBC series Chuck this fall. No details have been made available, yet, as to his character. Harry Dean Stanton (Big Love) is also confirmed to guest-star in the season premiere. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Betty White will appear in the season premiere of the NBC comedy Community, as an esteemed anthropology professor who is slightly unhinged. (The Wrap)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) has been cast as the lead in the upcoming Lifetime made-for-TV movie Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story. She will play a woman who underwent a daring rescue mission to locate and free her seven-year-old son Kobe, who was seized by her ex-husband during a custody battle and taken to South Korea. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Supernatural

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Supernatural-Season-5-Press-Release/14069

Smallville

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Smallville-Season-9-Press-Release/14070

Persons Unknown

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Persons-Unknown-Box-Art/14067

BOX OFFICE

Noomi Rapace’s grip on a gripping role

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-noomi-20100714,0,2413375.story

It looks like Tom Cruise will be back in the fourth Mission Impossible film. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Richard Jenkins, Andy Samberg and Jenna Elfman have all joined the cast of the romantic comedy Friends With Benefits. Justin Timberlake will play a headhunter who agrees to sleep together with a female magazine editor friend (Mila Kunis) with no strings attached. He soon falls for her, despite the fact she’s dating someone else. (The Wrap and Dark Horizons)

REVAMPED WEBSITE LAUNCHED

Welcome to Blastr, the next step in the evolution of SCI FI Wire

http://blastr.com/2010/07/welcome-to-blastr-the-nex.php

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Vote for the Best Newbies!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b189442_tater_top_awards_vote_best_newbies.html

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

Question: Got any Bones season premiere scoop? — Meg

ADAM: Brennan, Angela and Hodgins are all lured back to D.C. to help Cam, who comes under fire from the local news media during a homicide investigation. Some people don’t appreciate her argument that veterans are suffering brain damage caused by combat.

Question: There are so many stories and new characters on True Blood. Please tell me it gets better! — Carol

MICKEY: We’ve spoken to quite a few cast members about this common complaint, and they’ve all assured us that the season’s multiple plot splinters will eventually coalesce. “I never got to eat at Merlotte’s, but I certainly visit the front porches of many people’s houses,” says Denis O’Hare, who plays Russell Edgington, King of Mississippi. He goes on to defend the new kids on the bayou. “Pam and Eric’s relationship really blossoms this season, in part because of his interaction with people like me.”

Question: When does Dark Blue start up again? — Hal

ADAM: TNT’s undercover cop drama returns with two new episodes on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 9/8c. Battlestar Galactica’s Tricia Helfer joins the cast this season as an FBI agent who steps all over Carter’s case, getting one of his closest allies killed in the process. Ultimately he forgives her — and sleeps with her for good measure.

Question: We’re so excited for more White Collar! Scoop, please. — Aaron and Carrie

MICKEY: It’s like The West Wing meets Ocean’s Eleven when Neal goes undercover as a shrewd political operative in a corrupt senatorial campaign. Meanwhile, Peter will investigate a high-class escort service, much to Elizabeth’s chagrin and Diana’s delight.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Lots of news to share with all of you, so let’s get right into it.

TELEVISION

Shaun Sipos (Melrose Place) will have a recurring role in Life Unexpected when it returns to the CW with new episodes this fall. He will play Eric, a new teacher at Westmonte High School, where Lux (Britt Robertson) attends. (Fan Cast)

In other Life Unexpected news, Arielle Kebbel (Gilmore Girls and Vampire Diaries) will play Paige, the new hottie in town who may well wind up tending more than bar for Baze (Kristoffer Polaha). Also, Amy Price-Francis (24 and The Cleaner) will play Kelly, a conservative author/chatterbox who becomes a partner on the radio show that Cate (Shiri Appleby) and Ryan (Kerr Smith) front. Both roles are recurring. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Peter Weller will join Dexter for eight of the 12 episodes of the upcoming 5th season. He will play a Miami Metro cop who gets entangled in an internal affairs investigation. The series returns to Showtime on September 25. (Zap2It)

Aidan Gillen (The Wire) will be a series regular on the upcoming HBO drama series Game of Thrones, playing Littlefinger, who is described as a scheming “adviser to King Robert who manipulates those in power to fit his own agenda. (The Hollywood Reporter and Televisionary)

Timm Sharp (‘Til Death) has been cast in the HBO comedy series Enlightened, where he will play the new boss of Laura Dern’s formerly self-destructive character who returns to work after a spectacular meltdown. Sharp replaces Mos Def, who exited the series due to “deal issues,” according to Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

Among the actors lending their voices to Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III are: Zac Efron, Donald Glover (Community), and Mike Henry (The Cleveland Show), as well Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Seth MacFarlane, Abraham Benrubi (ER and Men In Trees), Donald Faison, Rachael Leigh Cook, Adrianne Palicki and Billy Dee Williams [among many others]. The special will air December 12. (Variety and Televisionary)

Joe Jonas will guest star on TV Land new comedy Hot in Cleveland, playing the son of Valerie Bertinelli’s character. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

The FOX series Bones will undergo a big transition as the investigative team finally closes the case on its greatest adversary. But as the dust settles, an even worse threat will emerge — and one fan favorite will not survive! Watch for Deidre Lovejoy to reappear for her final turn as murderous Heather “Gravedigger” Taffet, who has one last card to play after being convicted. Executive producer Hart Hanson says the same episode will introduce “someone much worse, who will dog us for the season.” Who could possibly be worse than the Gravedigger? “It’s someone highly motivated to do great harm to our people — a personal vendetta,” teases Hanson. “One of our characters will be a victim.” Hanson won’t give up any clues, though. (William Keck at TV Guide)

As announced yesterday, Melina Kanakaredes will not be returning to CSI: NY in the fall. Sela Ward will join the show as an experienced investigator from Washington, D.C., whose work is driven by her empathy for the victim. (Entertainment Weekly)

FOX has announced the premiere dates for their shows. The following are the dates for their dramas: House at 8 PM and Debut of new show Lone Star at 9 PM on September 20; Glee at 8 PM on September 21; Bones and Fringe at 8 and 9 PM respectively on September 23; Human Target at 8 PM and The Good Guys at 9 PM on September 24 and Lie To Me at 8 PM on November 10. Mark your calendars. (FOX Broadcasting)

Laura Vandervoort (V) will make a return guest appearance as Clark’s cousin Kara on Smallville for its final season on the CW. The episode is tentatively set to air in October. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

FIRST LOOK AT TONIGHT’S TV

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “COVERT AFFAIRS” (USA)

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant/2010/07/13/the-futons-first-look-covert-affairs-usa/20100713_covertaffairs/

‘Covert Affairs’ review: Exciting and endearing espionage

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/07/covert-affairs-review-exciting-and-endearing-espionage.html

A Neighborhood of Voluntary Spies: An Advance Review of the Series Premiere of USA’s Covert Affairs

http://www.televisionaryblog.com/2010/07/neighborhood-of-voluntary-spies-advance.html

Television review: ‘Covert Affairs’

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-covert-affairs-20100713,0,1036045.story

‘White Collar’: Where did we leave off? What do we want for Season 2?

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/07/white-collar-where-did-we-leave-off-what-do-we-want-for-season-2.html

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Emma Roberts stars in the coming-of-age comedy Wild Child, which will premiere on the ABC Family Channel on August 8 at 8 PM. The movie will premiere during the network’s annual 10-day summer programming event called Campus Crush, which runs from August 1 – August 10. Roberts stars as 16-year-old Poppy, an LA teen diva who does what she wants whenever she wants. But after an over-the-top prank pushes her father (Aidan Quinn) one step too far, she finds herself shipped off to the one place where everything will change – British boarding school. No cell phones, no designer clothes, no way. Desperate to break free, she sets in motion the ultimate escape plan involving the son (Alex Pettyfer) of the head mistress (the late Natasha Richardson) – only to discover that this could be the reason she wants to stay. (The Futon Critic)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

CSI

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/CSI-Season-10/14061

Being Erica

http://tvshowsondvd.com/n/14065

FALL PREVIEW

Fall Preview ‘10: HAWAII FIVE-0

http://thetvaddict.com/2010/07/12/fall-preview-%E2%80%9810-hawaii-five-0/#more-15615

‘Glee’: Rachel and Finn stay together, plus Kristin Chenoweth, Jonathan Groff, and more

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/07/glee-rachel-and-finn-stay-together-plus-kristin-chenoweth-jonathan-groff-and-more.html

BOX OFFICE

Amanda Seyfried has been cast in the lead role in the box office movie called I’m.mortal. The description of the movie is: “Time has become the currency. The rich are immortal, while the rest struggle to stay alive. When a “rebel” from the ghetto is falsely accused of murdering a wealthy man for his time, he is forced to go on the run with a beautiful hostage (Seyfried). Together, they rage against the system, living minute to minute. They discover that love is more powerful than all the time in the world.” (Variety and First Showing)

Sam Trammell (True Blood) will appear in the indie crime thriller Guns, Girls and Gambling, playing a sheriff working with a corrupt sheriff (Dane Cook). (Variety and Entertainment Weekly)

Allison Janney (The West Wing) will play Charlotte Phelan, the mother to heroine Skeeter Phelan, in the film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel The Help. Emma Stone (Zombieland) is set to star as aspiring writer Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, while Viola Davis will play Aibileen. Octavia Spencer has been cast as Minnie, and Bryce Dallas Howard is set to play Hilly, Skeeter’s childhood friend and adult nemesis. The Help will open in theaters next year. (Entertainment Weekly)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Shows You Love (and Love to Hate!)

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188665_tater_top_awards_shows_you_love_love.html

POLL: Who should star in the movie version of Broadway’s ‘Wicked’?

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/07/poll-who-should-star-in-the-movie-version-of-broadways-wicked.html

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

Question: Brandon in Oregon: I saw some Team WWK Twitter action about Showtime’s new series Shameless. What else can you guys spill?

Kristin: Besides the fact that it’s far and away one of the best series pilots we’ve seen in recent history, Showtime announced today that we can all mark our calendars for its much-anticipated premiere date: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 at 10 p.m. And get ready to see some acting genius coming from Emmy Rossum, who is easily an awards season shoo-in next year. The picture on the right is a little misleading though, sadly, because Alison Janney (aka West Wing’s C.J. and evilish mother of Lost’s Jacob) is no longer a part of the project because of her new gig on ABC’s Mr. Sunshine.

Question: Pete in Boston: Shower us with some Vampire Diaries love today?

Kristin: Thanks to Ian Somerhalder and the clever tweeter that he is, we’re now in custody of a photo of the season premiere script, titled: “The Return.” So who’s returning?! Our guess is that it’s referencing Katherine or possibly Uncle John (David Anders), who’s not quite dead yet.

Question: Joyce in Maryland: Give me the goods on Pretty Little Liars, please!

Kristin: One of the Pretty Little Liars ladies is going to discover A’s identity sooner than you’d think. Troian Bellisario (Spencer) tells us: “A lot of things are coming to a head. One of the biggest things is one of us finding out who A is.” Even better? A wants to be found out! “We get invited to Mona’s party, and it’s nowhere that any of the PLLs, except Hanna, until we get a text that says that it’s a scavenger hunt, and that A is the prize. Then we’re all very interested in going.” Guesses as to who the lucky lady is?

Question: Betty in Boise, Idaho: Anything else on Pretty Little Liars?

Kristin: Hanna and her hot mamacita (Laura Leighton) are headed for some major financial woes. Like scary, house-losing money probs.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Welcome to another new week and also let the countdown begin to the 2010 Comic Con, which starts on July 21 with preview night. I’m looking forward to the convention even with the crazy schedule I will have each day in order to make all the panels for which I would like to attend. Fingers are crossed that all works out.

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

TELEVISION

Taylor Kinney (Trauma) will be seen in the second season of The Vampire Diaries in the recurring role of Mason Lockwood, the younger brother of late Mayor Lockwood. “Uncle Mason” is sexy and athletic and possesses an easygoing charm. Though he has more control than his nephew, he can “flip in an instant” if crossed. Kinney will make his first appearance in Diaries’ second-season premiere on Sept. 9. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Michael Gambon and Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins will guest star in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. The story is said to be a spin on “A Christmas Carol” and will be entitled “Father Who?” (The Guardian and Dark Horizons)

Frederic Lehne will reprise his role of the Yellow-Eyed Demon on Supernatural, at least according to what the actor stated at a Supernatural convention in New Jersey this past weekend. (Zap2It)

Andre Royo (The Wire) will guest star in the third season premiere of Fringe, reportedly playing Henry, “a soulful taxi driver who is unexpectedly forced into a tense situation with Olivia (Anna Torv).” (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly and Televisionary)

Despite the fact that the actor options have expired, the CW’s medical drama pilot HMS is said to still be in contention for a series order. “There is still no final word from the CW but I hear producer Warner Bros. TV is not giving up and is still hoping for a series order for the project, written/executive produced by Amy Holden Jones, co-executive produced by Hayden Panettiere and directed by Mark Piznarski. The actors are aware of the studio’s efforts and appear willing to return if there is a pickup soon.” (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

ABC is renewing its summer drama series Rookie Blue after only three weeks on the air. The series has averaged 7.1 million viewers since its debut. No word yet on when the second season of episodes will be aired, however. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Showtime will bring in the New Year with the premieres of the new drama series Shameless on January 9 at 10 PM; the new comedy series Episodes on January 10 at 10:30 PM and the fourth season premiere of the hit comedy series Californication on January 10 at 10 PM. Shameless is based on the long-running hit UK series with William H. Macy playing a far-from-stellar working class patriarch of an unconventional Chicago brood of six motley kids (headed by eldest sibling Emmy Rossum) who keep the home afloat while he’s out drinking and carousing. Episodes Matt LeBlanc and focuses on a British couple whose hit, erudite UK show is turned into an Americanized sitcom starring LeBlanc (as himself). Californication, of course stars David Duchovny as hedonistic novelist Hank Moody who struggles to raise his teenage daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), with on-again, off-again girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone). (The Futon Critic)

Another long-running CBS procedural has been rocked by a high-profile departure: Melina Kanakaredes is leaving CSI: NY. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

The first photos have been released for the BBC’s new take on Sherlock Holmes, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Watson respectively. The three 90-minute made-for-TV movies will kick off in the UK in late July/early August. (Digital Spy and Dark Horizons)

FIRST LOOK AT TONIGHT’S TV

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “RIZZOLI & ISLES” (TNT)

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant/2010/07/12/the-futons-first-look-rizzoli-and-isles-tnt/20100712_rizzoliandisles/

BOX OFFICE

Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) will star opposite Milla Jovovich in the indie drama Bringing Up Bobby. Famke Janssen (X-Men) is making her feature directorial debut working from a script which she also wrote herself. The film tells the story of a European con artist and her 10-year-old son who find themselves in Oklahoma in an effort to escape her past and build a better future. The two move quite successfully through a myriad of adventures until the mother’s criminal past catches up with her. Cross plays a woman who’s able to deal with the loss of her own child by becoming the adoptive mother of the son, and Bill Pullman plays her husband. (Variety and First Showing)

Gillian Anderson will appear as MI7 secret agent Pamela Head in the silly sequel Johnny English Reborn. Rowan Atkinson is returning as the clumsy British spy as he embarks on a search for traitors within Her Majesty’s Secret Service. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and First Showing)

Kathryn Morris (Cold Case) has joined the cast of the box office movie Moneyball, playing second wife to Brad Pitt’s Billy Beane, while Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) has signed on to play ball player Scott Hatteberg. (The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly)

Here is the list of the top 10 movies at the box office for this past weekend courtesy of The Wrap:

1. “Despicable Me” ($60.1 million)
2. “Twilight Saga: Eclipse” ($33.4 million)
3. “Predators” ($25.3 million)
4. “Toy Story 3” ($22.0 million)
5. “The Last Airbender” ($17.2 million)
6. “Grown Ups” ($16.4 million)
7. “Knight and Day” ($7.8 million)
8. “Karate Kid” ($5.7 million)
9. “The A-Team” ($1.8 million)
10. “Cyrus” ($1.4 million)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Out With the Old, In With the New

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188632_tater_top_awards_out_with_old_in_with.html

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s the end of the week, finally! Doesn’t it seem like this week just lasted forever despite it being a short week. And maybe it’s me, but it seems like Fourth of July was a LONG time ago. It’s weird how the mind works sometimes, huh?

Anyway, here are the news items for today, covering television and the box office:

TELEVISION

Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) and Linus Roache (Law & Order) have joined the HBO drama pilot Miraculous Year. The pilot has been described as an examination of a New York family as seen through the eyes of a charismatic, self-destructive Broadway composer (played by Tony winner Eddie Redmayne). Hope Davis, Frank Langella, and Patti LuPone are also part of the cast. Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow is set to direct the pilot. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Brian Austin Green (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) has signed to Desperate Housewives for next season, playing a hot contractor in his 30s, who catches the eyes of some of the neighbors on Wisteria Lane. (Access Hollywood)

The new HBO series Boardwalk Empire will premiere on September 19 (IGN)

Ryan Murphy has confirmed that season two of Glee will include an episode featuring the music of Britney Spears. But according it looks like Spears will not be appearing in the episode. (Buzz Sugar and Kristin at E! Entertainment Online)

Alan Ball, the creator and show runner for the HBO hit series True Blood is launching a new pilot for the network. Adapted from the novel The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston, the series is to be called All Signs of Death and is to be considered a comedic drama, following a 20-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, Zap2It and The Hollywood Reporter)

TV finally gets weight in focus

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-ca-overweight-20100711,0,159922.story

FIRST LOOK AT TONIGHT’S TV

The Futon’s First Look: Syfy’s Haven

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant/2010/07/08/the-futons-first-look-haven-syfy/20100708_haven/

Once for Luck: An Advance Review of Season Four of Syfy’s Eureka and New Series Haven

http://www.televisionaryblog.com/2010/07/once-for-luck-advance-review-of-season.html

10 developments will change everything on Eureka (spoilers)

http://scifiwire.com/2010/07/10-developments-will-chan.php

Three mini-reviews: ‘The Glades,’ ‘Eureka’ and ‘Haven’

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/07/three-minireviews-the-glades-eureka-and-haven.html

FIRST LOOK AT THIS WEEKEND’S TV

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “GLADES, THE” (A&E)

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant/2010/07/09/the-futons-first-look-glades-the-a-and-e/20100709_glades/

Surprisingly, The Glades is Not Just Another Florida Cop Show

http://www.tv.com/surprisingly-the-glades-is-not-just-another-florida-cop-show/story/23375.html?tag=news_hub_stories;

FIRST LOOK AT FALL TV

‘Lone Star’: FOX welcomes James Wolk as a con man deep in the heart of Texas

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/07/lone-star-fox-welcomes-james-wolk-as-a-con-man-deep-in-the-heart-of-texas.html

BOX OFFICE

Ralph Fiennes, Colin Firth and Michael Fassbender have all joined the movie adaptation of the espionage-themed literary classic by John le Carre Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, which is set in the mid-70’s during the height of the Cold War. Gary Oldman will play George Smiley, 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). (Variety and Dark Horizons)

More casting news has come out for the movie X-Men: First Class. Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy and Clash of the Titans) is set to play a young Beast/Hank McCoy. Official cast members of the movie so far include James McAvoy (Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto) and Alice Eve (Emma Frost). Also recently added to the cast is Caleb Landry Jones (No Country for Old Men and Friday Night Lights), who will play Banshee, an Irish mutant who possesses a sonic scream, capable of harming auditory systems and causing physical vibrations. And, Lucas Till (Hannah Montana: The Movie) will play Havok, while Kevin Bacon is in talks to play a key villain. (Dark Horizons, Ain’t It Cool News, SlashFilm and First Showing)

Amber Entertainment and Chicagofilms plan to bring South Pacific to the big screen. (Variety and Entertainment Weekly)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Sexiness and Sobfests

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188603_tater_top_awards_sexiness_sobfests.html

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Today was the big day – the Emmy Award nominations came out this morning. I have more on that further below. There were some other news-worthy items to share with all of you too.

TELEVISION

Gloria Reuben (ER) will guest-star in the season finale of the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva. She will play Professor Kathy Miller, Jane (Brooke Elliott) and Grayson’s (Jackson Hurst) latest client. The season finale will air on Sunday, August 29 at 10 PM. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

ABC has opted to drop the mockumentary format from its upcoming cop drama Detroit 1-8-7. ABC is also launching another mockumentary-style series in the fall — My Generation, a soapy relationship drama which revolves around a group of pals who’ve been harassed by documentary makers since they were high school seniors back in 2000 — so one wonders if the network decided that three such shows (counting Modern Family) might test viewers’ patience. (Vulture and Televisionary)

ABC has announced their fall line-up for the season premieres and the new series debuts. The list of dramas looks like this:

Castle – September 20 at 10 PM
Detroit 1-8-7 – September 21 at 10 PM (New Series)
The Whole Truth – September 22 at 10 PM (New Series)
My Generation – September 23 at 8 PM (New Series)
Grey’s Anatomy – September 23 at 9 PM
Private Practice – September 23 at 10 PM
Desperate Housewives – September 24 at 9 PM
Brothers & Sisters – September 24 at 10 PM
No Ordinary Family – September 28 at 8 PM (New Series)

NOTE: Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for the list.

INSIDE TELEVISION

6 ways the new show Haven gives you Stephen King goodness

http://scifiwire.com/2010/07/6-ways-the-new-show-haven.php

EMMY NOMINATIONS

Complete List of 2010 Emmy Nominations

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b189329_complete_list_of_2010_emmy_nominations.html

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Beastmaster

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/BeastMaster-Season-1/14035

Andromeda

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Andromeda-Season-1/14037

BOX OFFICE

Movie review: ‘The Kids Are All Right’

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-kids-all-right-20100708,0,7212474.story

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Shows and Stars You’ll Miss Most

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188584_tater_top_awards_shows_stars_youll_miss.html

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

Question: Is John Casey’s daughter, Alex (Mekenna Melvin), going to be a series regular next season on Chuck? —Charles

Ausiello: She’ll be the next best thing to a series regular: a recurring guest star.

Question: Castle scoop, pretty please? —Becca

Ausiello: When the show returns this fall, promotion for Castle’s new book, Naked Heat, will be in full swing. Of particular interest to Beckett will be the provocative image depicted in the posters, which will be splashed throughout the city.

Question: Is Patricia Wettig (Holly) leaving Brothers & Sisters? I sure hope not, because I love me some Holly and Nora scenes. —Nathan

Ausiello: All I know for sure is that Holly survives Carmageddon and plays a pivotal role in daughter Rebecca’s impending departure. “The way that Rebecca is going to be leaving is very exciting,” teases exec producer David Marshall Grant, “and it involves not just Justin but her mother. It’s a great story.”

Question: Any Brothers & Sisters scoop? —Ben

Ausiello: Grant all but confirms that Kevin and Scotty will eschew surrogacy for foster care when they take in a homeless teen this fall. “We’re casting a Hispanic kid who is going to be very prominent in Kevin and Scotty’s story this year,” he tells me. Additionally, Grant is on the lookout for an actor to play a possible suitor for grieving widow Kitty. “She has a ways to go before she’s really going to land on a boyfriend,” concedes Grant. “But men will certainly play a part in her life as she moves past the tragedy. We are actually looking for somebody right now that she’s going to meet around episode 3.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s over the hump day and despite the shorter work week because of the Fourth of July holiday; this week seems to be moving along slowly. Or perhaps it’s just me. Anyway, there was a bit more news to cull together for today, including some details about the upcoming Comic Con. So, let’s get started:

COMIC CON DETAILS

Attention Torchwood fans: Make sure you pick up a copy of the new Torchwood comic, which will make its debut at San Diego Comic-Con later this month. The first issue of the monthly will feature a story written by John Barrowman and will be available at the convention exclusively until it hits shelves on August 10th. (Digital Spy and Televisionary)

This Thursday, the first-day schedule for Comic-Con International will be announced, but already all over Los Angeles, studio insiders are playing a game of “show me yours and I’ll show you mine” with their programming plans for film and television. One of the interesting tidbits we keep hearing about is the rumor that Entertainment Weekly is hosting a two-man panel that must come close to the elusive state known as Nerdvana: J. J. Abrams and Joss Whedon! (Geoff Boucher at the LA Times)

TELEVISION

Henry Ian Cusick (Lost) has signed on for at least two fall episodes of Law & Order: SVU, playing a graphic artist named Erik Weber. He may be a love interest for Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay). (William Keck at TV Guide)

Luke Grimes (Brothers & Sisters) and Haley Bennett (Marley & Me) have joined the FX drama pilot Outlaw Country, which will star Mary Steenburgen. The pilot is a crime thriller/family drama set against the backdrop of southern organized crime and Nashville royalty. Grimes will play twentysomething Eli Larkin, a half-cowboy, half-modern guy who tries to get out of the crime ridden life he has grown accustom to in order to help his siblings, however he finds out that it is much harder than he expected. Bennett will play twentysomething Annabel Lee, a gorgeous country singer who is living in the shadow of her overprotective mother (Steenburgen). (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Richard Dreyfuss will be joining the Showtime series Weeds for at least four episodes. He will play “an unexpected character” from the past of “Weeds” protagonist Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker). (The Wrap)

The second season premiere of the FOX series Glee has been set for Tuesday, September 7. (Twitter)

Skeet Ulrich (Jericho) has signed on to play one of the two lead detectives on Law & Order: Los Angeles. His character, Rex Winters, is described as an ex-Marine who possesses the intuition of a natural cop. His experience during the Rodney King Riots — which occurred during his second month on the job — shaped his philosophy on policing. Basically, the world is chaos and people are either good or bad. As an added twist, he’s currently married to his ex-partner. Ulrich is the first actor to sign up for LOLA duty. Five other roles are currently being cast. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Jane Kaczmarek (Raising the Bar) and Kim Dickens (Friday Night Lights and Treme) will appear in the Lifetime made-for-TV movie called Reviving Ophelia, which is based on the non-fiction book by Mary Pipher. They will play sisters who must help one another raise their teenage daughters. Project, written by Teena Booth and directed by Bobby Roth, will air later this year. (Variety and Televisionary)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dollhouse

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dollhouse-Season-2/14016

Ally McBeal

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ally-McBeal-Seasons-3-4-5/14017

BOX OFFICE

Gina Gershon, Danny Glover and Robert Patrick will appear in the independent movie Five Minarets in New York, which follows two police officers from the southeastern Turkish province of Diyarbakır, sent to New York to bring back a Turkish smuggler who was arrested in the United States and who will be delivered to Turkish authorities by the FBI. Gershon will play the wife of a Turkish scholar arrested by federal authorities after being wrongfully accused of a crime. (Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Christian Bale is apparently set to star in The Last Photograph, which revolves around a photograph that becomes the catalyst for a journey two men undertake through war-torn Afghanistan. (Pajiba and Dark Horizons)

Virginia Madsen will play the mother of Amanda Seyfried in the supernatural thriller Red Riding Hood. Max Irons (Jeremy’s son), Shiloh Fernandez, Lukas Haas, Julie Christie, Gary Oldman and Michael Hogan co-star in the medieval movie, which is set in a village that is being terrorized by a werewolf. Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) directs. The movie is expected to be released on March 11. (The Wrap)

VOTING

Tater Top Awards: Vote for the Best Bitches and Baddies!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188554_tater_top_awards_vote_best_bitches.html

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

Question: Will Bones and Booth really be apart when Bones comes back? — Marta

MICKEY: It’s looking that way, particularly now that we know that Booth will meet his new love interest, a journalist, when she’s embedded with his unit in Afghanistan. In a seemingly Grey’s Anatomy-inspired Teddy-Owen-like twist, she’ll follow Booth back to Washington, where they’ll attempt to be together in the real world. And we all know how that goes. But don’t blame Bones — she’ll be nothing but supportive of the born-under-fire union.

Question: I heard Kevin and Scotty will lose their surrogate when Brothers & Sisters resumes. Please tell me it’s not true! — Brittney

ADAM: Would that I could, Brittney, but it sounds like after all that worrying last season, adopting a baby isn’t in the cards for the couple. Instead, look for the guys to open their home to an underprivileged teen this season.

Question: Have we seen the last of Shelby Corcoran on Glee? — Matty

MICKEY: I have a feeling that Idina Menzel will be back when the plot calls for it, but in the meantime, the writers are turning their attention toward Rachel’s as-yet-unseen two dads. It’s a little suspicious that we haven’t met them yet, but it seems that will change next season. Any casting suggestions? I vote for Taye Diggs and House’s Peter Jacobson.

Question: Any scoop on The Vampire Diaries’ new season? — Lally

MICKEY: The much-teased werewolf storyline will get under way quickly when an estranged relative breezes into Mystic Falls to act as a Mr. Miyagi type to the afflicted party. Apparently, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec didn’t think my idea for a hoops-shooting wolf in the cast was so good (or original).

Question: What can you tell me about the new season of Eureka, particularly about James Callis’ character? — Chris

ADAM: Callis plays Dr. Grant, a brilliant physicist who takes an instant shine to Allison and who butts heads with Sheriff Carter. Despite his brains and his former ties to Eureka, he is a bit … out of place when he turns up on Founder’s Day.

Question: It’s awesome to have Warehouse 13 back on the air. Any hints about what’s ahead? — Trey

ADAM: While Myka and Pete chase down a superhero in Detroit (yes, a missing artifact brings one of Pete’s favorite childhood comic heroes to life), Artie is haunted by the ghost of McPherson in the Warehouse. Also look for Claudia to eventually make peace with Leena, who is still feeling some serious side effects from being manipulated by McPherson’s Pearl of Wisdom.

Question: What can we expect for Season 2 of Life Unexpected? — Liza

MICKEY: Baze will be playing the field a bit this season — both romantically and, well, vocationally. Don’t worry — Open Bar isn’t going anywhere (well, it is, but not right away). But it’s Baze’s unlikely new career that jump-starts his social life. In related news, Open Bar itself will serve as the spark for at least two new love connections, for characters who really deserve them.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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