Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Lots of news to share with you today, including some great movie trailers, so let’s get this thing started, shall we?

TELEVISION

Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson will in at least one episode (if not more) of Curb Your Enthusiasm. No details seem available as yet on what part he will be playing. (PaperMag)

Looks like when Vampire Diaries returns in the fall, viewers will be introduced to the “much younger and cooler brother of recently deceased Mayor Lockwood (Robert Pralgo) who has “been estranged from the family.” The brother will introduce a lot of questions about what is so special about that creepy Lockwood family. (William Keck at TV Guide)

The rejected FOX pilot Breakout Kings has found a new home: A&E. The cable channel has picked up the highly regarded hour-long drama for 13 episodes. The series, created by Prison Break’s Matt Olmstead, revolves around a group of U.S. marshals and ex-cons that team up to apprehend escaped criminals. It stars Jason Cerbone, Domenick Lombardozzi, Laz Alonzo, Malcolm Goodwin, and Nicole Steinwedell. (Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly)

Janeane Garofalo (24) may be joining the Criminal Minds spin-off, aptly titled Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior. The series already stars Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as the leader of an elite team of agents within the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. Garofalo would play one of those agents. (Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly)

Steve Carell has confirmed that he will leave the NBC comedy The Office following the conclusion of next season, the series’ seventh. (Kristin at E! Entertainment Online)

Mitch Pileggi is officially returning to Supernatural as Sam and Dean’s presumed-dead grandpa on a recurring basis throughout season 6. The show is also looking for an actor in his late-30s to mid-40s to play the recurring role of Christian, who is “capable, calm under pressure, and very good at his job.” Christian has a special relationship to Sam and Dean. (Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly)

Shawn Spencer (played by James Roday) on Psych will meet his match – and then some – when Nestor Carbonell (Lost) joins the series for a multi-episode arc. Carbonell has been cast in the role of Declan Rand, a criminal profiler who over the course of two episodes will shape up to be Shawn’s professional – as well as romantic – rival. So savvy is Declan at what he does that Gus (Dule Hill) will dub him “Shawn 2.0.” Psych premieres on July 14. (Matt Mitovich at Fancast)

Want to Join the ‘Glee’ Club? Audition on New Reality Series

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/want-to-join-the-glee-club-audition-on-new-reality-series/?src=tptw

VOTING

Tater Tops Are Here! Vote Now For Breakout TV Star

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b187767_tater_tops_are_here_vote_now_breakout.html

Tater Top Awards: What Was the Best TV Shocker?

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b188136_tater_top_awards_what_was_best_tv.html?

MOVIES

You can expect to see Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce in the remake of the 1973 horror movie “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” which opens on January 21st 2011. The story centers on a young girl (Bailee Madison), sent to live with her father (Pearce) and his new girlfriend (Holmes), who discover sinister creatures that live in a formerly sealed off basement fireplace. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

Tyler Hoechlin (“7th Heaven”) and Agnes Bruckner (“24,” “Private Practice”) have signed on for the indie film noir “Open Gate”. Hoechlin plays a rodeo clown and bull fighter in a small East Texas town, who discovers that the bulls are being used to smuggle drugs. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Alexander Skarsgard (“True Blood”) is attached to star in the action thriller “The Elephant”. Based on Magnar Jonsgaard’s novel “Black Rain”, the blond hunk will play a Norwegian roustabout who tangles and then bonds with a redneck American driller as they attempt to stop a building oil rig explosion in the frigid North Sea. Casting is currently under way for three American stars. Shooting will kick off either in late Fall or early 2011. (The Wrap and Dark Horizons)

MOVIE TRAILERS

First Trailer for final Harry Potter

http://scifiwire.com/2010/06/first-trailer-for-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows.php?

Julia Roberts’ Eat Pray Love Final Official Trailer

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/28/watch-this-julia-roberts-eat-pray-love-final-official-trailer/#ixzz0sG0MNwKl

First Teaser for Johnny Depp’s Animated Rango

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/29/must-watch-first-teaser-for-johnny-depps-animated-rango/

MUSIC INTERVIEW

A genuine piece of Sarah McLachlan

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-sarah-mclachlan-20100629,0,5311977.story

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

Question: Do you have any other info on that lost Lost scene?

Kristin: As a matter of fact, we’ve confirmed reports from our pal over at PopWrap that the unseen story of Hurley and Ben will be called “The New Man in Charge”—how exciting is that?! The DVD extra will run exactly 11 minutes, 40 seconds long…just enough time to find out what went down between Jacob’s reign and the end of our beloved Lost. Also, we’ll get the scene on the Season Six DVD and also the complete compilation, so you can drop to your knees and thank whatever deity you like (Jacob?).

Question: I’m in love with Pretty Little Liars. Please tell me there’s hope for more after this season?

Kristin: Why wait? ABC Family is loving it as much as the fans and just this morning upped the first season episode order to 22—that’s 12 more hours of Pretty Little Liars for your viewing pleasure!

NOTE: The remainder of the Q&A Section contains spoilers – SPOILER ALERT! – so please tread lightly:

Question: Alright, give it to me straight. What’s the deal with Sam’s little brother on True Blood?

Kristin: What, you mean little ol’ Tommy? He’s harmless—in the sociopath, crazy-person sorta way! Marshall Allman, aka Sam’s little bro Tommy, is in it for the long haul this season, and a source tells us he intends on “bringing Bon Temps to its knees.” Sounds fun, right? “I go in and have a lot of fun,” Marshall tells us. “There’s not an impulse that I don’t act on. I’m tons of fun. And then I’ll take your wallet, [and] I’ll also steal your girl.” Yes, we’re hearing some girl-stealing is afoot. Any guesses as to which lovely lady Tommy might have on his arm?

Question: True Blood, please.

Kristin: Marshall tells us he’ll be around well into the “shocking” season finale, and that even though he’ll do some pretty terrible things to Bon Temps during his stay (yep, he’s moving in!), don’t judge too quickly. “People will see that I have a heart, but they’re just going to be frustrated that I’m not being who I was meant to be,” he says, “I suffered a lot of dysfunction, and I just need a lot of love.” Sources have also revealed that Tommy might be working to Sam at Merlotte’s soon enough, so watch out for that, ’cause that seems to be where all truly terrible people end up at one time or another. (Note: Hands off Arlene, too, buddy. She’s with child.)

Question: Anything good coming up for Tara on True Blood?

Kristin: That depends on your definition of good. Rutina Wesley tells us our ever-troubled bartender “is gonna struggle with this vampire lover named Franklin Mott. He’s very psychological and very hard. So this relationship is not necessarily by choice.” Probably not your definition of good, huh? One thing you don’t have to worry about? Tara becoming a vamp herself. “Probably not,” she says. “I love being human. It’s like I’m one of the only humans on the show!”

Question: I’m intrigued by USA’s new series Covert Affairs. Piper Perabo and Chris Gorham would make a cute couple! Got scoop?

Kristin: Do I ever! But it will burst your Piper/Chris hookup bubble, so gird your loins. Chris Gorham says that while Auggie “takes Annie under his wing” right from the get-go, the prospect of a romantic pairing is not in the cards for these two. At least not yet. “There’s a real connection. And it’s definitely a big part of the show,” Chris tells us. “I think when they first met, he kind of assumes that they’re going to hookup. But the relationship with her for some reason quickly moves past the casual hookup and into a real friendship.”

Question: Are Jack and Allison finally going to hook up for real in season four of Eureka?

Kristin: Um, remember that heartbreaking alternate timeline in Eureka’s first-season finale when Sheriff Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) and Allison (Salli Richardson-Wakefield) were married with a baby on board? The opening of season four involves another Jack and Allison time-travel hookup. This time they both remember their encounter, but as usual (sniff) circumstances conspire against them—and everyone else involved in their blast to the past. As new cast member James Callis (Battlestar Galactica) told us, “It’s a reset button for this series…it’s exactly the same and everything’s different. Everybody in the show now has things that they can’t quite cope with.” At least Jo and Fargo finally got the promotions they deserve (and how!).

Question: Any details on the new season of Warehouse 13?

Kristin: Like Eureka, time travel is also the theme (it is Syfy, after all!) of Warehouse 13’s second-season premiere. Instead of retrieving an artifact, the team is after a person: original time-traveler H.G. Wells (Dexter’s Jaime Murray). She (it is Syfy, after all!) has been released from the Warehouse by Artie’s (Saul Rubinek) nemesis, MacPherson (Roger Rees). Will they ever defeat this guy? Yes. Soon. The beautiful Wells, however, will probably be back to torment the agents.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

There is a lot of interesting news to share with you so let’s get started.

TELEVISION

David Anders (Vampire Diaries, Heroes and 24) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Warehouse 13. He will play Jonah Raitt, “a suspected serial killer with a dangerous object who escaped Warehouse capture back in the 1960’s, whom Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) set out to hunt down and recapture once and for all. Warehouse 13 returns for its second season on July 6, at 9PM. (The Futon Critic)

Funny lady Judy Greer has joined the CBS pilot Mad Love, replacing Lizzy Caplan. The series now stars Sarah Chalke (Scrubs), who replaced Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights). (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Zap2It).

Katie Cassidy (Melrose Place) will have a multi-episode arc on Gossip Girl, playing a student at Columbia and a love interest for fellow undergrad Nate (Chace Crawford). She will appear in the season four premiere. (Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly)

David Strathairn is in talks to star in the Syfy action-adventure pilot Alphas, which revolves around a team of people with extraordinary abilities. He would play the “the overseer/team leader/prescribing doctor and all around mother hen to the team: an eccentric, absent-minded professor at times, who is also a cunning and manipulative power-player willing to bend the rules in pursuit of his objectives.” Ryan Cartwright (Mad Men), meanwhile, would play a team member with Asperger’s Syndrome who is able to receive wireless transmissions. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

It looks like the fan efforts to support recently “fired” Criminal Minds cast member A.J. Cook paid off – at least a little bit. The network has closed a deal for Cook to appear in two episodes early in the new season to tie off her character’s storyline. Her co-worker Paget Brewster will appear in 17 out of the 22 planned episodes of the new season. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Sam Witwer (Smallville) has signed on to play vampire Aidan in Syfy’s in-the-works U.S. remake of the U.K. supernatural dramedy Being Human. Also, Meaghan Rath (The Assistants) has inked a deal to play ghost Molly, and Sam Huntington (Superman Returns) is up for the role of werewolf Josh. Being Human revolves around three twentysomething roommates who attempt to blend in despite, you know, being a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost. (Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly)

Marvel Entertainment created a new Television division, to be headed by Jeph Loeb, an iconic comic book writer with a lengthy TV resume. The new division is still in the early stages however. (Entertainment Weekly)

AWARD WINNERS

Congrats to the following winners of the Daytime Emmy Awards:

Outstanding Drama Series: The Bold and the Beautiful
Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Maura West, As the World Turns
Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Michael Park, As the World Turns
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Julie Pinson, As the World Turns
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Billy Miller, The Young and the Restless
Younger Actor in a Drama Series: Drew Tyler Bell, The Bold and the Beautiful
Younger Actress in a Drama Series: Julie Berman, General Hospital
Drama Series Directing Team: General Hospital
Drama Series Writing Team: The Bold and the Beautiful

Congrats to the winners of the BET Awards, who include the following:

Best Female R&B Artist: Alicia Keys
Best Male R&B Artist: Trey Songz
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Drake
Best New Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Collaboration: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
Video of the Year: Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga – “Video Phone”
Viewer’s Choice: Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy – “Hard”
Centric Award: Monica
Best Actress: Mo’Nique

Best Actor: Idris Elba

Young Stars Award: Keke Palmer

Best Movie: “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Subway Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year: LeBron James

Humanitarian Award: John Legend
Lifetime Achievement Award: Prince

Thanks to TheWrap and E! Entertainment Online for the above lists.

MOVIES

Here are the box office results for this past weekend courtesy of E! Entertainment Online:

1. Toy Story 3, $59 million
2. Grown Ups, $41 million
3. Knight and Day, $20.5 million
4. The Karate Kid, $15.4 million
5. The A-Team, $6 million
6. Get Him to the Greek, $3 million
7. Shrek Forever After, $2.9 million
8. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, $2.8 million
9. Killers, $2 million
10. Jonah Hex, $1.6 million

Jon Tenney will star as the father of Ryan Reynolds’ title character in next summer’s Green Lantern. His scenes as Hal Jordan’s dad, Martin, will take place early in the film when the future Green Lantern is just a young boy. (Entertainment Weekly)

Carey Mulligan (An Education) is in talks to star in the family drama Stoker written by Wentworth Miller (yes, the actor from Prison Break), which follows an eccentric teenager “whose enigmatic and estranged uncle returns to the family after the death of the girl’s father”. Jodie Foster is in talks to co-star, while Ridley and Tony Scott’s Scott Free Productions in talks to produce. (Dark Horizons)

Alice Eve (She’s Out of My League) will appear as Emma Frost, the “White Queen” in the prequel movie X-Men: First Class. It has also been confirmed that Michael Fassbender (Hex and 300) will play Magneto in this movie. (Heat Vision, Deadline Hollywood Daily and First Showing)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Being Human

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Human-Season-2/13980

Doctor Who (Matt Smith Version)

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Doctor-Series-5/13981

FIRST LOOK

First Look: Summer Glau Takes Off As Supergirl

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Look-Summer-Glau-1019973.aspx

MADE FOR TV MOVIES

Lolita Davidovich and Kathleen Quinlan have joined the cast of HBO made-for-TV movie Cinema Verite, which revolves around the making of the landmark reality series An American Family. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

Emily VanCamp (Brothers & Sisters) has been cast in CBS’ upcoming Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for-TV movie Let Them Shine, where she will play a novice teacher who makes a difference in the lives of several homeless students. Project is written by Camille Thomasson and directed by Jeff Bleckner. (Variety and Televisionary)

MUSIC INTERVIEW

Pat Benatar for the Sunday Conversation

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-0627-conversation-20100627,0,3916088.story

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

Question: I know you’re not a fan of Criminal Minds, but I was wondering what your thoughts are about the situation with the producers’ decision to write AJ Cook out of the show and reduce the number of episodes for Paget Brewster. On Twitter, Brewster says she believes these moves are being made for financial reasons. I feel bad for both actresses as they obviously didn’t see this move coming. In the end, I think the producers along with CBS are to blame for this debacle. — Allan

Matt Roush: It’s not unusual for a long-running show to make cast changes and adjustments along the way, but it does seem especially odd for this show to be doing away with its primary female leads (excepting good old Garcia, that is, one of the few characters I’ve ever enjoyed on a show that tends to sap the life force from any actor who comes aboard). If it is a budget issue, which seems to be the case, my suggestion would be to scrap the spin-off — which looked pretty terrible from the “backdoor” pilot that aired last season — and focus the financial resources on shoring up the original series. Selfishly, though, I’ve always been a Paget Brewster fan (up until this role), so am happy to know she’ll be back on the market and could end up on a show I’d be more likely to watch. A comedy, perhaps?

Question: Do you think that the Emmy categories (or at least the series ones) should be expanded to 10 nominees, similar to the Oscars? It just seems with more channels and shows out there, there are so many deserving picks that get passed over, i.e. Friday Night Lights. Expanding the nominees would also be great press for the shows themselves. Your thoughts? — Nathan

Matt Roush: I wasn’t a big fan of the Oscars rule change, being of a mind that it dilutes the best-movie category to open it up to so many contenders, which ultimately results in populist pandering. It would be even worse at the Emmys, which already splits the series candidates into drama and comedy, giving a dozen shows (6 for each these days) a chance to break through. As bitterly disappointing as it is to see shows like Friday Night Lights be neglected year after year, I’m not sure that the flaws in the nominating system would be remedied by opening up the drama category to even more nominees. The ensuing clutter would likely make the honor of being nominated a lot less significant. I don’t see it happening at the Emmys — although I’m sure the networks, who feel so disadvantaged going up against cable series with less content restrictions, would like the playing field to be either expanded or leveled.

Question: I am surprised that ABC has been relegating Castle repeats to the dead zone of Saturday nights. I understand that truly serialized shows do not repeat well and do not make financial sense to rerun. However, Castle seems to be the type of show that would benefit greatly from the exposure since you don’t have to watch it in order. ABC should learn a lesson from two hits on CBS. The Big Bang Theory didn’t really seem to catch fire ratings-wise until it repeated last summer. Then it became a habitually viewed show by fall. And of course the biggest example is NCIS, a popular show that didn’t become a mega-hit until constant airings on USA made it so familiar to viewers that they began showing up during first-run episodes too. Summer is a time for light, escapist viewing and Castle could fit the bill perfectly. I just think it would make sound fiscal sense to bombard the viewers now so Castle could also become a habit for the public by the fall season. — Sheila

Matt Roush: Couldn’t agree with you more that Castle is exactly the sort of show that ABC should make a summer priority, especially knowing that it will be going up against one of the most hyped shows of the fall season in CBS’ Hawaii Five-O. The good news is that with the collapse (again) of the dreadful Happy Town, ABC is moving Castle into the Wednesday night 10/9c time period effective this week and, I’m hoping, for the rest of the summer. A charming and purely entertaining show like this will only benefit from increased exposure, and now’s the time to do it.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Lee Ann

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Hey All,

Today’s update is probably the shortest one I have done in a very long time, but most of the news seemed to be about reality programs (boring! – at least to me) and the Twilight: Eclipse red-carpet premiere last night in Los Angeles, making for a very meager update to share with all you kind folk. Hopefully that will change next week.

TELEVISION

Jonny Lee Miller (Eli Stone) will appear in a multi-episode arc on Dexter, playing a mysterious man who ends up tangled in a storyline with Julia Stiles. (Variety)

Jordana Spiro has fallen out of Love Bites, the upcoming romantic anthology series at NBC due to her contractual commitment to the TBS comedy My Boys, which returns for a 4th season on July 25. No official word has been announced on whether the pilot that was filmed with Spiro starring alongside Becky Newton (Ugly Betty) will be recast or reshot. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

MOVIES

Channing Tatum is to star in the sci-fi romantic epic Ion, which revolves around a man who travels to different Earths and dimensions in order to find his reincarnated lover. As you can imagine, comparisons to Avatar are being loosely thrown around as the success of it and the likes of Star Trek and District 9 last year have lead to several sci-fi projects being put into development lately. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

AWARD WINNERS

Avatar, Lost Rack Up Saturn Awards

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b187630_avatar_lost_rack_up_saturn_awards.html

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

The big day has arrived. What day is that? The red carpet premiere of Twilight: Eclipse is tonight and all those crazy, er I mean diehard, fans who have been camped out virtually since this past weekend will finally get their chances to glimpse the hair or perhaps one small sliver of a face of the actors as they walk the red carpet at the Nokia Theatre in LA. Good luck all you Twi-hards.

In the meantime, for the rest of us, here is the news that I found on the web today:

TELEVISION

NBC is changing their programming on Monday nights, at least for the next two weeks. The drama series Persons Unknown will now air at 8 PM with the reality series Last Comic Standing taking over the other two hours of the night. Mark your calendars. (The Futon Critic)

Mos Def has joined the upcoming HBO comedy Enlightened, starring Laura Dern as a self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening and decides to live an enlightened life, which creates havoc at home and work. He will play her new boss when she returns to work. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Dark Horizons)

Lifetime has ordered three new cop drama pilots, including Exit 19 from Jeff Bell, which had been shot as a pilot presentation at CBS during the 2008-09 season, an untitled drama from Josh Berman (Drop Dead Diva) about a female police detective who may have to raise her two children on her own, and Against the Wall, from Annie Brunner (Huff), about a female cop who is placed in the internal affairs division of the Chicago PD, a fact that doesn’t sit right with her two cop brothers. (Variety and Televisionary)

AMC is said to nearing a deal to develop drama The Wreck, from writers Graham Gordy and Michael Fuller and executive producer John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side), which would revolve around the head coach of a struggling college football team who is given one last chance to turn the team’s fortunes around. (The Hollywood Reporter and Televisionary)

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Robin Hood

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Robin-Hood-The-Complete-Series/13958

Human Target

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Human-Target-Season-1/13959

MOVIES

Jason Biggs and Joel David Moore will star in the indie political comedy Grassroots, the story of a recently fired journalist (Biggs) who reluctantly agrees to spearhead the Seattle City Council campaign of his eccentric friend (Moore), a former pedicab driver with a burning passion for the Monorail. The film, written and directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal (father of Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal), is based on the memoir Zioncheck for President. (Variety and FirstShowing)

Jeffrey Dean Morgan has joined Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener in the movie Peace, Love & Misunderstanding, which is a portrait of an unconventional family in the story of a conservative New York City lawyer (Keener) who is in desperate need of an escape after her husband asks for a divorce. Along with her two children she takes refuge at her estranged hippie mother Grace’s (Fonda) farmhouse, where she is exposed to a motley crew of free thinkers. What was meant to be a stress-free getaway quickly turns into a reminder of why Diane escaped her mother’s hippie lifestyle in the first place, but the reunion forcers her, her children, and Grace to search for peace with each other and with themselves. (Coming Soon and FirstShowing)

Lukas Haas has joined the cast of the supernatural movie Red Riding Hood. The story is a Gothic update on the Grimm Brothers tale and will see a medieval village haunted by a werewolf. Haas will play the village priest. The cast already includes Amanda Seyfried as the title red hooded girl, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, Max Irons and Shiloh Fernandez. (Variety and FirstShowing)

Pierce Brosnan will star in the thriller movie Bonded, which is being produced by and co-stars his son Sean. The story, based on true events that took place in El Monte, CA in the early ’90s, follows a Mexican teenager named Jesus who, after the death of his mother, is sold by his father and smuggled into America, where he’s forced to work as a slave laborer in a Los Angeles sweatshop. While imprisoned there, he befriends a young woman named Elena. But when she is claimed by a sex trafficker, Jesus must make a daring escape in order to rescue her. Both Brosnans will be playing police officers in the movie and casting is still on the search for the male lead. (The Wrap and FirstShowing)

MOVIE TRAILER

Must Watch: Bruce Willis in the First Official Trailer for RED!

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/23/watch-this-bruce-willis-in-the-first-official-trailer-for-red/

MUSIC NEWS

Actress Katherine Graham, from the hit CW series The Vampire Diaries, has released a single called “Sassy” (which is now available at iTunes). Look for her listed as Kat Graham, who isn’t a “newbie” to the music industry as her dad was a record executive and she has recorded with will.i.am (from The Black Eyed Peas). (Damian Holbrook at TV Guide)

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

Question: Any spoilers on season 6 of Supernatural? —Shira

Ausiello: I hear the show’s fourth episode back — the one directed by Jensen Ackles — will be Bobby-centric and feature a character named Marcy Ward. Described as attractive in a down-to-earth/woman-next-door way, Marcy is a capable homemaker with a crush on her neighbor.

Question: Throw your international readers a bone and tell us what the big Friday Night Lights spoiler was in last week’s Entertainment Weekly. Not everyone can go out and buy the issue on the newsstand. —Matt

Ausiello: Fair enough, Matt. The spoiler concerned the final episodes of season 5 and a possible reunion between (wait for it) Riggins and Tyra! “Riggins is getting out of prison and Tyra is on break from school,” explains exec producer Jason Katims. “We’re looking at [them] reconnecting.”

Question: I’m desperate for some scoop regarding the new seasons of Friday Night Lights and Dexter. —Sean

Ausiello: Coincidentally, I’m desperate to unload some scoop on both those shows. FNL is casting the role of a “winning and charismatic” president of a non-Texas college (to meet with Riggins, perhaps?), while Dexter is looking for an actor in his late 40s to play an internal affairs agent at Miami Metro (to investigate Dex, perhaps?). Oh, here’s another FNL scoop-bit: Kyle Chandler will be playing coach on screen and off. Sources confirm that Chandler will direct his first FNL episode next season.

Question: I heard a rumor that David Anders will be a regular next season on The Vampire Diaries. Please tell me that it’s true! —Addison

Ausiello: I would if I could, but I can’t. But here’s something I can confirm: Anders will definitely be in the season premiere.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s over the hump day (and Joss Whedon’s birthday to boot – thank you Twitter-verse for that detail) and while the news isn’t too voluminous, there are still some interesting items to share with you.

TELEVISION

Jamie Foxx has shot a trailer for a potential television project entitled Tommy’s Little Girl, which features Paul Sorvino, Selma Blair, James Russo, and Tony Sirico. Project would revolve around the relationship between a mobster (Sorvino) and his daughter (Blair) and will be pitched to cable networks. (Televisionary and Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) has joined the Laura Linney Showtime dark comedy series The Big C. She will have a recurring role as a friend from Cathy (Linney). (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

There will be a two-part episode of Royal Pains, airing on June 24 that will guest star Tony Plana
(Ugly Betty) and Mexican sensation Ana de la Reguera (Cop Out). The action begins with Hank (Mark Feuerstein) heading to a Cuban hacienda, where Boris (Campbell Scott) is ailing. There he meets a sexy bartender named Carmen (de la Reguera). Carmen’s uncle (Plano) has faked his death and is writing an underground political blog criticizing the government. When he is injured in an accident, Carmen recruits Dr. Hank. (William Keck at TV Guide)

MOVIES

John Lithgow and Freida Pinto have joined the cast of the Planet of the Apes prequel called Rise of the Apes. Pinto will play the female lead, a primatologist named Caroline, while Lithgow will play the Alzheimer’s-stricken father to James Franco’s scientist character, who’s trying to work on a cure for his father’s disease. Rise of the Apes is set in contemporary San Francisco and follows a young scientist who becomes a crucial figure in the war between humans and apes. Franco has been testing his Alzheimer cure on apes, but one of them, named Caesar, starts to evolve rapidly, so he takes him home to live with him and protect him from the “cruel doctors,” thus starting the inevitable ape revolution. (Heat Vision and FirstShowing.net)

ANTICIPATING MOVIES COMING IN 2011

The 20 most anticipated sci-fi movies of 2011

http://scifiwire.com/2010/06/the-20-most-anticipated-sci-fi-movies-of-2011.php

INTERVIEW

Spotlight on Gregory Smith

http://thetvaddict.com/2010/06/23/no-longer-in-everwood-anymore-we-shine-the-spotlight-on-rookie-blue-star-gregory-smith/

COMIC CON ANNOUNCEMENTS

FOX has announced that Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, and Naya Rivera as well as co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk will get to experience Comic Con this year. The other members of the show – Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison and Dianna Agron – attended last year. Jane Lynch, however, has a scheduling conflict and will not be able to attend. Additionally, the cast will be bringing some never-before-seen clips to their July 25 Q&A. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

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

Question: What can we expect of the new season of The Closer? — Janelle

ADAM: Brenda Leigh will have a harder time adjusting to the Major Crimes Unit’s new digs than she has solving a murder (which will involve an adulterous wife and her jealous husband). Pope, however, has plenty of reasons to love the new workspace, chief among them a new title on his office nameplate.

Question: I can’t wait for Fringe to be back. What do you know about Olivia’s mother? — Jack

MICKEY: So far, we’re hearing that we’ll only see her “over there,” and that her ties to the Bishop family will be surprising.

Question: I loved The Gates! Got any scoop on my new favorite show? — Meg

ADAM: The wolf pack will be divided after the weres are forced to cover up a murder. Also, as you may have already guessed, Nick isn’t exactly a squeaky-clean cop. When his dirty little secret surfaces, it’ll put his life in jeopardy.

Question: Will we see Divya and Raj’s wedding on Royal Pains? — Tracy

MICKEY: No word on the actual nuptials just yet, but we hear that Divya’s pre-wedding jitters will inspire some very immodest behavior. Remember how weird it was that she was all psyched to help virtual stranger Jill with her yard sale? Well, we think the producers were setting up a buddy arc for the ladies, which will culminate in Divya’s not-so-proper “bridal tea.”

Question: Have you heard anything about the new season of Human Target ? —Will

ADAM: The show is currently on the lookout for a female series regular to be a worthy adversary to Christopher Chance. Isla, a sexy, no-nonsense widow, will overcome her hesitations about Chance to become the Charlie to his team’s angels.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

So, with the news that Twilight fans are camped out near downtown Los Angeles in preparation for Thursday night’s red carpet premiere (yes, some of them have been there since this past weekend) and news breaking on some of the scheduled panels for Comic Con, my day is almost complete with good and bad news (you can guess which I mean, right?) But, there is still more news to share with you and here is what is out there for today:

TELEVISION

Mary Steenburgen will star in the FX pilot Outlaw Country, playing a powerful country music superstar who’s protective of her daughter, Annabel. The drama follows Southern organized crime and Nashville royalty. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and TV Guide)

A.J. Cook may be seen in at least one episode of Criminal Minds next season in order to “put a cap on her character’s story”; but that will be it despite efforts by fans to make the powers that be behind the show change their minds. It is rumored, though, that a new female character may be introduced during next season. (Zap2It)

Syfy’s drama pilot Alphas is set to shoot in Toronto. The story revolves around a team of individuals with exceptional abilities who work as vigilantes. (The Hollywood Reporter and Televisionary)

Syfy is also giving fans of its Saturday night movies the chance to oversee each and every aspect of the production of one of its upcoming creature features. “The network is launching a production site, B Movie Mogul, where fans can vote and pitch ideas for the film, from title, creatures, wardrobe, dialogue and character deaths to promotional taglines. The resulting ‘script’ will be shot as a two-hour Syfy original movie to be released next year.” (The Hollywood Reporter and Televisionary)

Jennifer Jason Leigh is set to reprise her role as Nancy’s older sister Jill in one episode of Weeds, while Alanis Morissette is returning for two episodes as Nancy’s baby doc (and girlfriend to Andy). Weeds‘ sixth season, which premieres August 16, finds Nancy and Co. on the run after Shane whacked Pilar with a croquet mallet. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

FIRST LOOKS AT TV AND FILM

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “BLUE BLOODS” (CBS)

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant/2010/06/21/the-futons-first-look-blue-bloods-cbs/20100621_bluebloods/

First Look: Jason Momoa as Conan the Barbarian Official Photo

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/21/first-look-jason-momoa-as-conan-the-barbarian-official-photo/

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Good Wife

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Good-Wife-Season-1/13944

Criminal Minds

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Criminal-Minds-Season-7/13949

NCIS: Los Angeles

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/NCIS-Los-Angeles-Season-1-Press-Release/13945

MOVIES

Whales, the true tale of gray whales trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle, may be adding a new cast member: Kristen Bell. The former Veronica Mars star will join Drew Barrymore, who will appear as a Greenpeace activist, along with John Krasinksi, who will play a small-town reporter. Bell is negotiating to play an LA reporter. (BuzzSugar.com)

Kenny Wormald, a 25-year-old newcomer, who has appeared in Centerstage: Turn It Up, the MTV series Dancelife and was a backup dancer for Justin Timberlake, joins Julianne Hough and new addition Dennis Quaid in the remake of Footloose, which starts shooting in August. The movie is expected in theatres on April 1, 2011. (E! Entertainment Online)

MOVIE TRAILERS

‘The Green Hornet’: Check out the first trailer!

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/06/the-green-hornet-check-out-the-first-trailer.html

Watch: Amir Bar-Lev’s Doc ‘The Tillman Story’ Official Trailer

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/21/watch-amir-bar-lev-doc-the-tillman-story-official-trailer/

INTERVIEWS

‘Heroes’ boss Tim Kring on series wrap-up and his next project

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/06/21/heroes-boss-tim-kring-movie/

‘Eclipse’ interview teaser: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner talk ‘Breaking Dawn’ and the end of ‘Twilight’

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/06/22/eclipse-kristen-stewart-robert-pattinson-taylor-lautner/

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

Question: Barry in Ohio: Glee please!

Kristin: How about some Kristin Chenoweth news that’ll make your heart sing?! Our favorite guest star tells us she’s setting her sights on Glee’s second season, and she’s in talks to have her own show. (Anybody remember Kristin? Yeah, it’s not that.) “I’m working on my album with Sony,” the O.G. Snookie (Olive Snook) tells us. “So I’ll be doing a tour and going back to Glee a little bit and also doing my own TV show.” According to a source close to Kristin Chenoweth, it’s way too early to divulge any other details, but still, feel free to hug me and give me chocolates for sharing this happy news. No really, I don’t mind.

Question: Jamie in Little Rock, Ark.: I’m really excited about Rookie Blue. Have you seen it yet, and do you love it?

Kristin: Rookie Blue is a little rough around the edges, with far too pretty police officers, but it’s definitely not terrible and worth a glance. If you’re a lover of all things procedural, this is right up your alley. Don’t miss the premiere this Thursday, June 24 on ABC.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Another week has started and, if I’m not mistaken, today is the first official day of summer. I hope whatever plans you have for the summer or just for this week will be enjoyable. In the meantime, let’s get into the entertainment news for today:

TELEVISION

Richard Dean Anderson will guest star on the upcoming USA Network series Facing Kate, appearing in at least five episodes. The series stars Sarah Shahi (Life) as Kate Reed, a top-flight litigator who leaves her firm to become a mediator. Anderson will play David Smith, a charismatic but secretive man who enters Kate’s life shortly after the death of her father. In short order, it is revealed that David has deeper connections to the Reed family. (Fancast.com)

Matthew Lillard (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) and Gillian Vigman (Defenders) have landed the leads in the CMT single-camera comedy pilot The Hard Life. Lillard and Vigman will play a married couple who attempt to be great parents and spouses but who find it difficult to juggle everything in their lives. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

International pop star Charice has signed on to recur next season on Glee as a foreign exchange student whose killer vocals get Rachel (Lea Michele) contemplating murder. Not literally, mind you. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

No big surprise here: HBO picks up True Blood for a fourth season. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

Four new characters (not including incoming diva Vanessa Williams) will be added to Desperate Housewives this fall. The quartet includes: Maxine: A sweet lady in the 60-80 year-old age range. Maxine is Mike and Susan’s new neighbor in their apartment building, and she has an unusual job that brings in some additional income. Beth: This quirky, sweet thirtysomething woman was Paul Young’s prison pen pal-cum-wife. She’s damaged emotionally but also capable of humor. Penny Scavo: Tom and Lynette’s 12-year-old daughter is being recast. Not sure why. Keith: Hot, sexy, 30-year-old contractor. He’s a charming playboy who turns up on Wisteria Lane. Think Mike Delfino 15 years ago. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), Shanna Collins (Swingtown), and Caitlin Custer have joined the cast of the HBO made-for-TV movie Cinema Verte, based on the groundbreaking 1970s reality series An American Family, which stars Tim Robbins, Diane Lane, James Gandolfini, and Thomas Dekker. Elsewhere, Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band) has signed on for a multiple-episode story arc on HBO’s In Treatment, where he will play the son of Gabriel Byrne’s Paul. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

MOVIES

Simon Pegg revealed he is the new voice behind the brave pint-sized mouse warrior Reepicheep in The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. He is replacing Bill Nighy who was announced as a replacement for Eddie Izzard (who voiced the character in Prince Caspian). (First Showing)

Linda Cardellini, Michael Shannon and Tim Blake Nelson will star in the indie drama Return, which tells the story of a woman (Cardellini) who returns home from war to her husband (Shannon) and kids in a small town and struggles to readjust. Nelson will play an older war vet who befriends the female soldier. (First Showing and Variety)

Bruce Dern has joined the movie adaptation of The Big Valley, the 1960’s western TV series of the same name which followed a family of ranchers. (First Showing and Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Disney has lined up 10 young actors and actresses (mostly unknowns) for the ensemble cast of Prom, a high school comedy which the studio hopes will serve as a launch for a new franchise much like High School Musical. The movie is said to be similar in tone to John Hughes’ Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink. (First Showing and Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Walton Goggins (Justified) has landed a role in Cowboys & Aliens where Apache Indians and Western settlers must put their differences aside when a spaceship crash lands in their city. The cast includes Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Paul Dano and Clancy Brown. (First Showing and Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Michael Shannon and Jamie Chung have joined the cast of the thriller Premium Rush, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a New York bike messenger who picks up an envelope at Columbia University, and suddenly finds himself chased throughout the city by a dirty cop desperate to get his hands on it. Shannon will be playing the corrupt cop in pursuit while Chung will play Gordon-Levitt’s ex-girlfriend, a fellow daredevil bike messenger who helps him outwit the cop. (First Showing and The Hollywood Reporter)

MOVIE TRAILERS

Stuart Beattie’s Tomorrow: When the War Began Full Trailer

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/18/full-trailer-for-stuart-beatties-tomorrow-when-the-war-began/

International Trailer for Julia Roberts’ Drama ‘Eat Pray Love’

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/18/international-trailer-for-julia-roberts-drama-eat-pray-love/#ixzz0rVGFZdv7

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

Question: As a longtime fan of intelligent and complex sci-fi on TV, I have been disheartened to see so little interest by producers or writers in the genre. With the success of the whole Star Trek group, Farscape, and, lately, Battlestar Galactica, I would think that the mainstream networks (plus show developers) would be motivated to put together something that stimulates as well as entertains. Of the current series available on TV, Eureka is pretty good to better than good, Sanctuary is way too uneven, Stargate Universe is bleak & boring, and V is cartoon sci-fi. That’s a pretty thin menu. Do you see any indicators that someone/anyone is working on more sci-fi for those with brains and imaginations? Finally, I hope and pray that Joss Whedon cranks up his creative mojo real soon. I miss his quality of work. — Jan

Matt Roush: Sci-fi traditionally is a tough sell for the mainstream networks, especially of the darker and meatier variety. Launching shows in this genre is an expensive and risky proposition, and as you’ll see when you sample most of this fall’s new output, risk isn’t what the networks are particularly interested in right now. (NBC’s The Event does have an element of the fantastic in its premise, so we’ll see how that goes. It can’t be worse than the last few seasons of Heroes.)

Otherwise, a partial list of sci-fi/fantasy titles in active development that have caught my interest includes: AMC tackling horror in a zombie series, The Walking Dead; BBC America’s current success with Doctor Who and a second season of Being Human coming later this summer (which is being developed into a U.S. format by Syfy, and I’ll reserve judgment on that until later), plus a new season of Primeval for next year as well as a bona fide sci-fi series, Outcasts, set on a remote planet; Torchwood’s much anticipated new season, courtesy of Starz; HBO’s epic fantasy series A Game of Thrones, also for next year. And with the exception of the morose Caprica (which is beginning to pique my interest), while Syfy has gone rather light as it aims for mass appeal in many of its sci-fi/fantasy series (Eureka, Warehouse 13, etc.), I’m intrigued by at least one title on their slate: Alphas, whose pilot will be directed by Lost’s Jack Bender. Will any of these be as rich as Battlestar Galactica or as full of potential as Firefly or as peculiar and dangerous as Dollhouse? We’ll see. But yes, let’s hope it doesn’t take too long to get Joss Whedon back doing TV, whether it’s network or cable — or the Internet, for that matter.

Question: I’ve got a question about one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Human Target. I always thought that the show was an enjoyable action piece, and with Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride along for the ride, you just had a feeling these guys were seriously having a good time. Here’s my question: While it was picked up, Human Target was moved to Fridays (typically a dead zone for TV, as far as I’m concerned). Will this move help the show, or hurtle it toward premature cancellation (see: Firefly, Dollhouse and just about anything Fox put on Fridays as of late)? — Steve

Matt Roush: Seeing the move to Fridays as a positive development would be disingenuous, but it is a lifeline of sorts for a show that could have fallen through the cracks altogether, especially as it isn’t produced by the Fox studio (already making it an underdog). The upside anytime Fox moves a show to Friday is that expectations couldn’t be lower, so if Human Target does any business whatsoever it would be a pleasant surprise. And should something fall apart on one of the weeknight lineups, a show like this would make a great utility back-up player. I agree with you that this show is lots of fun, and the spark provided by the supporting players is infectious. I’m hoping it finds its niche, but it will almost certainly be an uphill climb.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Lee Ann

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Hey All,

Wow, the end of another week is here and it’s already the middle of June. Where did the first half of the year go already? And, Comic Con will be held in just a little over a month – WOW! Time is flying by…and now on to the news for today:

TELEVISION

ABC has once again benched the series Happy Town. With only two episodes left to go the network has pulled the show from the line-up. Repeats of Castle will fill the empty timeslot (Wednesdays at 10 PM). It is believed; however, that these two episodes will turn up on a Saturday evening later this summer much like what ABC is doing with the two remaining unaired episodes of both The Forgotten (which will be seen on July 3) and Eastwick (which will air on July 10). (The Futon Critic)

Anna Camp – last seen as Sarah Newlin in True Blood – will guest star in a future episode of the new USA series Covert Affairs. The new series will debut on July 13 and stars Piper Perabo (Coyote Ugly), Christopher Gorham (Ugly Betty), Kari Matchett (24), Anne Dudek (House), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes) and Peter Gallagher (The O.C.). (Zap2It)

Showtime has renewed the Billie Piper-led dark comedy Secret Diary of a Call Girl for a fourth season, which would be the series’ last. It is expected to return in early 2011 and the final season would likely focus on the relationship between Piper’s Belle/Hannah and her best friend Ben (Iddo Goldberg). (Televisionary and The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed)

ABC Family is developing an espionage drama called Shadows, about a secret Harvard-based program that recruits and trains young spies. The project will follow the students and faculty of this shadowy program. (Televisionary and The Hollywood Reporter)

Matt Letscher (Eli Stone) and Camille Guaty (Prison Break) will guest star on the August 22 episode of the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva. (Zap2It)

AWARD WINNERS

The winners of the 3rd Annual “NewNowNext” Awards were announced by LOGO, the cable network, and some of the winners included: Lea Michele (Glee) for Brink of Fame: Actor; Archer (FX) for Best Show You’re Not Watching and Agnes for Brink of Fame: Music Artist. (The Futon Critic)

TV SHOW REVIEWS

Summer TV Review: ABC’s Ghoul-ash of New Drama

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Summer-TV-Review-1019727.aspx

MOVIES

Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum will star in box office movie The Vow, which tells the real-life story of a newlywed New Mexico couple who end up in a car crash. The wife is put in a coma, where she is cared for by her devoted husband. When she comes to, without any memory of her husband or their marriage, the husband woos her and attempts to wins her heart again. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Bradley Cooper (The A-Team) will star in an as-yet untitled baseball dramedy about a baseball player who sustains an injury that forces him to go back to the minor leagues. The only place he can find lodging is in an old folks home where he meets a retired baseball guru who helps him get back on track. (Dark Horizons)

Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) will star in the movie Battleship alongside Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, playing a “straight and narrow” naval officer. (FirstShowing)

Wendy Crewson (The Santa Clause) will play activist Mary Botha in the movie Winnie. Botha became a social worker in South Africa after witnessing a brutal police assault on a black youth. After befriending the Mandelas during the fight against apartheid, Botha is subjected to phone-tapping, police harassment and house arrest. Terrence Howard and Jennifer Hudson are set to play Nelson and Winnie Mandela. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Demi Moore has joined the cast of the indie drama Margin Call, which is set over one day, and follows the story of eight people working at a large investment bank when the financial crisis hit the US. Moore will play the chief risk management officer at the bank. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Dark Horizons)

MOVIE TRAILER

Watch: Hilary Swank & Sam Rockwell in the Conviction Trailer

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/17/watch-hilary-swank-sam-rockwell-in-the-conviction-trailer/

That’s it. Enjoy! And, have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

I normally post my entertainment updates while on my lunch hour at my day job – the job that keeps a roof over my head and pays my bills – but today I had the luxury of, for once, going out for lunch with a good friend. It is nice to break the routine every once in a while, but let’s turn over to the news for today.

TELEVISION

Eddie Cibrian (Cardoza) is leaving CBS: Miami. Original cast member Adam Rodriguez (Delko) returns this fall, eliminating the need for his character. And, his ending will not be a pretty one *SPOILER ALERT* as in the end of his character, period. (Kristin at E! Entertainment Online)

Fred Goss (Sons & Daughters) is close to signing a deal to star in the CMT comedy pilot 30 Percent (with Sarah Rafferty also joining the cast). (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

Debra Mooney (Everwood) has signed on to the CMT’s untitled David Litt comedy pilot. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and Televisionary)

Mark-Paul Gosselaar will appear in an upcoming episode of Weeds on Showtime, playing Jack, a rough-around-the-edges local bar owner who serves Nancy more than just a drink. (Kristin at E! Entertainment Online)

TV SHOW REVIEW

ABC bites into the vampire trend with ‘The Gates’

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/06/gates-abc.html

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez, Benito Martinez (The Shield, Saving Grace), Chad Michael Murray (One Tree Hill), Christoph Sanders (Ghost Whisperer), Martha Higareda (Street Kings) and Yul Vasquez (The A-Team) are set to star in the Lifetime Movie Network movie Lies in Plain Sight (which is the working title). The film is scheduled to premiere in the fall and follows the story of Ava and her blind cousin Sofia (Higareda), who were inseparable as children, with Ava the loyal companion who helped Sofia through her tough adolescent years. When Ava suddenly commits suicide, Sofia rushes home to her father Hector (Martinez) and Ava’s parents Marisol (Perez) and Rafael (Vasquez) to find answers. But as she delves into Ava’s life, questioning her past boyfriends Ethan (Murray) and Christian (Sanders), the more Sofia realizes that their childhood was actually filled with dark disturbing secrets. (The Futon Critic)

Jennie Garth (90210) will star in the Hallmark Channel movie called Mulligan, which was penned by her husband, Peter Facinelli (Twilight) who also co-stars along with Fred Willard (Modern Family) and Marilu Henner (Taxi). The movie is about a disgruntled actor (Ethan Eriskon from Melrose Place) wants to do more than play “Mulligan the Rabbit” on a children’s TV show and discovers life can change in a heartbeat when he causes a car accident with single mother, Annie (Garth). Facinelli plays Eddie’s mooching childhood buddy, Scott. Willard is Eddie’s slick agent, Dick while Henner will portray Annie’s well-meaning mother. The movie is slated to air in 2011. (The Futon Critic)

Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) has will star opposite Tim Robbins, Diane Lane, and James Gandolfini in HBO made-for-TV movie Cinema Verite, which takes a look at the real-life family who was the focus for the groundbreaking 1970s reality series An American Family. (Televisionary and The Hollywood Reporter)

Yeti and Other Villains Return In the Doctor Who Christmas Special

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/17513/yeti-other-villains-return-in-doctor-who-

INTERVIEWS

A Conversation with CASTLE Star Stana Katic

http://thetvaddict.com/2010/06/17/a-conversation-with-castle-star-stana-katic/

High Flying, Adored: We catch up with Europe-Bound GLEE star Chris Colfer

http://thetvaddict.com/2010/06/16/high-flying-adored-we-catch-up-with-europe-bound-glee-star-chris-colfer/

Stars of Syfy’s new The Phantom mini-series spill 7 superhero secrets

http://scifiwire.com/2010/06/stars-of-syfys-new-phantom-miniseries-spill-7-superhero-secrets.php

DVD NEWS

Glee

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Glee-Season-1-Volume-2/13926

MOVIES

Final cast announcements have been made for the next Steven Spielberg movie called War Horse: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Emily Watson (Equilibrium) and David Thewlis (Harry Potter) [among others]. The movie, based on the 1982 novel by Michael Morpurgo, traces a friendship between Joey, a horse sold into the British army and sent off to serve on the battlefields of France in World War I, and Albert (Redmayne), his young owner. (FirstShowing.net and Empire)

Miley Cyrus is attached to star in an adaptation of the young-adult paranormal thriller novel titled Wake by Lisa McMann. The story follows Janie (Cyrus), a 17-year-old girl with the unwanted ability to become sucked into people’s dreams. Not surprisingly, she sees things she would rather not see. But when she gets pulled into a terrible nightmare, Janie goes from mere witness to participant. (FirstShowing.net and The Hollywood Reporter)

Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly) and Jason Isaacs (Brotherhood and Harry Potter) will play the parent of Taylor Lautner (Twilight franchise) in the movie Abduction. (Deadline Hollywood Daily and TheWrap.com)

Simon Baker (The Mentalist) and Paul Bettany are in talks to join the indie thriller Margin Call, which follows a group of employees at an investment bank during a tumultuous 24-hour period during the 2008 financial collapse. Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci and Zachary Quinto also star. (The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.com)

Chace Crawford (Gossip Girl) has joined the cast of the multi-generational indie drama Peace, Love and Misunderstanding, which stars Catherine Keener as a conservative New York lawyer who takes her son and intellectual daughter to visit their estranged hippie grandmother (Jane Fonda) in Woodstock after her husband asks for a divorce. The retreat quickly becomes a reminder of why she escaped her mother’s wacky lifestyle in the first place. (The Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.com)

Christian Slater, Gary Oldman and comedian Dane Cook will star in Guns, Girls & Gambling, a stylized crime thriller, which throws Elvis impersonators, Indians, modern cowboys, a 6-foot-tall blond assassin, a frat boy, a corrupt sheriff and a prostitute into a chase for a priceless American Indian artifact stolen during a poker game at an Indian casino. Slater plays a normal guy who in a drunken stupor joins an Elvis impersonation contest. Oldman is the contest’s mega-contender, and Cook will play the sheriff. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Tom Hanks, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen, Natalie Portman, and Halle Berry will all play leads in the ensemble drama Cloud Atlas, which spans six different story lines over a millennia. Each tale is revealed to be a story that is read (or watched) by the main character in the next. The stories in order include an American notary’s voyage across the Pacific in 1850, a young English musician working as an amanuensis in 1930’s Belgium, a 1970’s Californian journalist investigating corruption around a nuclear plant, a modern day British publisher who becomes confined to a nursing home, a clone political prisoner being executed in a dystopian near future Korea, and a Hawaiian tribesman in a post-apocalyptic distant future telling a story around a campfire. (The Playlist and Dark Horizons)

Barry Levine, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard will produce a film adaptation of the Nick Percival steampunk-meets-fairy tale graphic novel called Legends. The story begins when the remains of Pinocchio are discovered. Red Riding Hood, now a noted wolf hunter, and Jack the Giant Killer partner to discover who is murdering the creatures of folklore. Along the way, they are assisted by famous characters re-imagined for a new age such as the mercenary Goldilocks and the psychic exterminators Hansel & Gretel. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Lauren Graham (Parenthood and Gilmore Girls) has joined the cast of Scream 4, joining the ensemble cast that includes Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Hayden Panettiere, Rory Culkin, Emma Roberts, Lake Bella and Ashley Greene. (Movie Web)

MOVIE TRAILER

Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader First Trailer

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/16/trailer-for-chronicles-of-narnia-voyage-of-the-dawn-treader/#ixzz0r7qCIKkM

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

Question: Can you tell me anything about Supernatural‘s new season? —Bryan

Ausiello: I can’t be certain, but I think I just uncovered a significant clue about the overriding plot of season 6: Sources confirm to me exclusively that X-Files vet Mitch Pileggi is in talks to reprise his role as Sam and Dean’s presumed-dead grandpa on a potentially recurring basis.

Question: Any scoop on the new season of Torchwood? —Craig

Ausiello: Starz wasn’t kidding when it said the new season would be more global in scope. I’m hearing the show will shoot a chunk of the season on location in Los Angeles. Captain Jack’s going Hollywood!

Question: I’m so excited that Life Unexpected got renewed for a second season! Can you give us any good scoop? —CC

Ausiello: The show is casting Baze’s rebound girl. Actually, make that girls. Potential Love Interest No. 1, Kelly, is a perky and uptight conservative author who joins Ryan’s radio show. Potential Love Interest No. 2, Emma, is a high-powered exec in her early 40s who works with Baze’s dad, Jack.

Question: I love Life Unexpected. Any hints or news you can give me? —Ann

Ausiello: More season 2 casting intel: The show is adding the recurring roles of Eric, a slightly rugged new young teacher at Westmonte High, and Paige, Ryan’s sassy, flirty, and free-spirited younger sister recently back from an Eat, Pray, Love-type tour. Hey, there’s a movie about that opening soon!

Question: I know that the creators of Spartacus are working on a prequel to give Andy Whitfield time to recover. Is there any other news about him or the show? —Kat

Ausiello: Good news: Reports that Whitfield is cancer-free were all but confirmed yesterday when Starz announced that the actor would be attending Comic-Con next month. As far as the show itself, the untitled prequel — which will focus on John Hannah’s Batiatus and Lucy Lawless’ Lucretia — is slated to go into production this fall ahead of a January ’11 premiere. Season 2, meanwhile, will likely debut in fall ’11.

Question: Parenthood scoop for next season…please? —Jennifer

Ausiello: Exec producer Jason Katims is cooking up another juicy mother-daughter story line for Lauren Graham and Mae Whitman. “Amber’s going to make a new friend and she comes from an upper-crust kind of background,” Katims explains. “It becomes complicated for Sarah because Amber’s suddenly being taken into this world that’s out of her grasp.”

Question: The True Blood premiere was awesome. What’s coming up next? —Tyler

Ausiello: Here’s some prattle for you, straight from series creator Alan Ball: In the second half of the season, “all hell breaks loose,” he tells my colleague Tim Stack. “Certainly, everybody finds themselves in danger. Loyalties are tested. There’s a lot of deceit.” And though the lies will be spread around, the dots will connect in the end. The stories “do converge,” Ball confirms, culminating in a season finale that he calls “very big. [But] it doesn’t center around one particular event the way the first one did. The first one was all about Rene chasing Sookie. The second one was all about Maryann’s ritual. This [time], there are a lot of big events” leading up to “definitely more than one cliff-hanger.” I’m on the edge of my seat already!

Question: I saw pictures of Allan Hyde at the True Blood premiere. Any chance Godric’s going to return this season (yeah, he died, but you know what I mean)? —Maiyer

Ausiello: I think there’s a very good chance of him returning. And soon. Know what I mean?

Question: Psych news. Please. (Brief and to the point.) —M Horton

Ausiello: I’m head over heels in love with this scoop: The show has tapped Curt Smith of Tears for Fears fame to rerecord the theme song, “I Know, You Know,” for an upcoming season 5 episode. I’m told Smith will also make a guest appearance in the episode as himself.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s over the hump day and one day closer to the weekend. Are you planning anything fun for the weekend? I might just take it easy, enjoying some quiet time and catch up on some much needed writing.

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

FALL TV REVIEW

THE FUTON’S FIRST LOOK: “DEFENDERS, THE” (CBS)

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant/2010/06/15/the-futons-first-look-defenders-the-cbs/20100615_defenders/

DVD ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fringe

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Fringe-Season-2/13922

Chuck

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Chuck-Season-3/13923

MOVIES

Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar are set to script a film adaptation of the Mattel property Monster High. Described as a monster musical (along the lines of Beetlejuice or the Addams Family) set at the “frighteningly fashionable Monster High”, the story follows the sons and daughters of famous monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman as they undergo the usual trials of high school. (Dark Horizons and The Hollywood Reporter)

Martin Sheen (The West Wing) has joined the cast of the spy thriller The Double, which centers on a retired CIA operative (Richard Gere) forced to partner with a young FBI agent (Topher Grace) to hunt down the killer of a senator in Washington. Sheen will play the director of the CIA. Stephen Moyer (True Blood), Stana Katic (Castle), and Odette Yustman (Cloverfield) also star. (Dark Horizons and The Hollywood Reporter)

Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage have signed on to the action-adventure movie Trespass, which is about a husband and wife (Cage, Kidman) who are taken hostage by four brutal perpetrators seeking some quick cash. Unexpected discoveries of betrayal and deception lead to various complications. (Dark Horizons and Variety)

Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) has joined the movie Red Riding Hood, which is being directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight). Amanda Seyfried (Letters to Juliet), Shiloh Fernandez (Jericho), Max Irons (son of Jeremy Irons), Julie Christie and Gary Oldman also star in the movie set in a medieval village that is haunted by a werewolf. The story follows a young girl (Seyfried) who is engaged to be married (to Irons) but falls for an orphaned woodcutter (Fernandez), much to her family’s displeasure. (TheWrap.com)

Russell Crowe is attached to play Robert McCall, the mysterious agent made famous by Edward Woodward in the 1980s CBS crime series The Equalizer. (LA Times)

MOVIE TRAILERS

Zack Snyder’s Movie – Legend of the Guardians

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/15/watch-full-trailer-for-zack-snyders-legend-of-the-guardians/

Mark Romanek’s Movie – Never Let Me Go

http://www.firstshowing.net/2010/06/15/must-watch-mark-romaneks-never-let-me-go-trailer-arrives/

TELEVISION

It is being reported that HBO has given an order to the made-for-TV movie Hemingway & Gellhorn, which is expected to star Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman as literary couple Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn. The story will follow the romance between Hemingway and Gellhorn as they meet in 1936 and later wed before traveling to report on the Spanish Civil War. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Kevin Spacey has begun “conversations” with Showtime (and possibly several other pay channels) about returning to the small screen in the proposed new drama series The Crux, in which the actor would play the leader of an extremely high-profile cult. (Vulture at NY Magazine)

April Lee Hernandez (ER) has landed what is believed to be the last new recurring role in the upcoming fifth season of Dexter. She will play a new cop (presumably) working in the Miami Metro’s homicide department. (Michael Ausiello at Entertainment Weekly)

ON-LINE VOTING

Tater Top Awards 2010: Get Your Nominations in Now!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b184669_tater_top_awards_2010_get_your.html

INTERVIEW

Sarah McLachlan on American Idol, Her Kids and Why She’s Happier Than You Think

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b186035_sarah_mclachlan_on_american_idol_her.html

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

Question: I can’t wait to see how the new season of Fringe goes down. What have you heard? — Martha

MICKEY: As it did in Season 1, the Fringe division will have an in-house adversary, a powerful government official who thinks Agent Broyles gives his team far too much latitude. Her actions will complicate things for Walter & Co., who will already be burdened by the secret sabotage of Nolivia (the “over-there” Olivia).

Question: So if this season of Royal Pains is the “summer of love,” when will Evan have some fun? — Marisol and Dave

MICKEY: Pretty soon. “We are going to be introducing a character toward the middle of the season who’s not quite the type you’d imagine for [Evan],” executive producer Andrew Lenchewski tells us. “Something is going to develop between them in a fairly unusual way, and then to start evolve into a more romantic relationship.” In possibly related news, we’ll also meet Divya’s sister, who tolerates her arranged marriage the old-fashioned way: She cheats!

That’s it. Enjoy!

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