Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Grimm) will take over the role of First Lady from actress Kate Burton (Grey’s Anatomy) on the new CBS fall drama Hostages, which stars actress Toni Collette as Dr. Ellen Sanders, a top-shelf surgeon who in 24 hours is due to cut open the President of the United States (actor James Naughton), but first she and her family are taken hostage by rogue FBI agent Duncan Carlisle (series lead Dylan McDermott) and his savvy, sleek team of cohorts. Hostages will premiere on September 23. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Tim Daly (Private Practice will guest star in an episode of Hawaii Five-0, playing a Texas Ranger. This role could potentially be recurring. Hawaii Five-0 returns to CBS on September 27. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actress Margo Harshman (The Big Bang Theory) will appear on NCIS, playing the potentially recurring role of McGee’s (series regular Sean Murray) new girlfriend Delilah, who is a smart and eccentric computer specialist in the cyber division at the Department of Defense. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

ABC Family has renewed Switched at Birth for a third season while ordering additional episodes of new summer shows The Fosters and Twisted. (Rebecca Iannucci at TV Line)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

It looks like The CW is thinking about developing a new project based on the DC character Flash that would be run by Arrow team/co-creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg and director David Nutter. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The CW announced during Comic Con that they are considering doing a spin-off to Supernatural and now it would seem they are moving forward with a backdoor pilot that will air during the long-running show’s upcoming ninth season. Not many details are known about this potential new series, but it will not be nomadic like Supernatural, but rather focus on clashing hunter and monster cultures in Chicago. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The cable network AMC has ordered the scripted dramas Halt &Catch Fire and Turn to series with plans to put them both to air in 2014. Halt & Catch Fire is set in the early 1980’s, focusing on the personal computing boom as seen through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnerships are challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas’ Silicon Prairie. The series will star Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) and Scoot McNairy (Argo) [among others]. Turn is based on the book “Washington’s Spies” by Alexander Rose that is set in the summer of 1778, telling the story of New York farmer, Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America’s fight for independence. The cast includes Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) and JJ Feild (Captain America: The First Avenger) [among others]. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Jurnee Smollett (Friday Night Lights and True Blood) will have a recurring role on Parenthood this fall, playing a smart and feisty woman named Heather whom Kristina (series regular Monica Potter) hires as her campaign manager when she decides to run for office. Parenthood is back on NBC starting on September 26. (TV Line and TV Guide)

CBS has given a second season order to the summer series Under the Dome. The second season will consist of 13 episodes. (AJ Marechal at Variety)

Actor James LeGros (Ally McBeal) will have the recurring role of Father Paul in the third season of Revenge this fall. Emily (series lead Emily VanCamp) will seek him out (and it should also be noted that Father Paul has some kind of tie to the Grayson family). (Kristin Dos Santos at E!)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

In addition to working on a limited series (aka a mini-series) sequel (of sorts) to The Bible called A.D.: After the Bible, NBC is in the early development stages on several other long-form projects including a behind-the-scenes look at Hillary Rodham Clinton (that will star Diane Lane in the lead role), an updated retelling of “Rosemary’s Baby”, which will a four-hour re-telling of the best-selling novel, a remake of “Stephen King’s Tommyknockers” and “Plymouth”, which is, of course, based on the epic story of the Mayflower’s landing in America. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. The Wolverine – $55 million
2. The Conjuring – $22.1 million
3. Despicable Me 2 – $16 million
4. Turbo – $13.3 million
5. Grown Ups 2 – $11.5 million
6. Red 2 – $9.4 million
7. Pacific Rim – $7.5 million
8. The Heat – $6.9 million
9. R.I.P.D. – $5.9 million
10. Fruitvale Station – $4.7 million

Actor Vin Diesel will star in the upcoming box office film called World’s Most Wanted, an action adventure for which there are no other details on storyline. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actress Samantha Barks (Les Miserables) and Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire) [among others] have joined the cast of the new take on Dracula that will be part historical, part mythological spin on the Bram Stoker creation. Luke Evans will play the lead role, a Transylvanian prince who risks eternal damnation in order to save his wife and son from a Turkish horde. Barks will play the Eastern European folk figure Baba Yaga, a beautiful young woman turned into a savage witch. There are no details on Cox’s role. Dominic Cooper and Sarah Gadon will also star. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Mark your calendars geeks, nerds and pop culture enthusiasts: San Diego Comic-Con 2014 will be held on Thursday July 24 through Sunday July 27!

TELEVISION

Actress Parminder Nagra (Alcatraz and ER) has landed a series regular role on this fall’s new NBC drama The Blacklist that will star James Spader as one of the top 10 most wanted criminals who turns himself over to the Feds. Nagra will play Agent Margot Malik, a smart and strong FBI agent who befriends Elizabeth Keen (series lead Megan Boone) and takes on a mentor role. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special will have a global simulcast on November 23, airing at 12 PM on the US West Coast, 8 PM in the UK and 7 AM the next day on the East Coast of Australia. This special will be seen in over 200 countries around the world with an expected 100 million viewers expected to watch. (The Express and Dark Horizons)

Actress Shannyn Sossamon (Mistresses) will star opposite Matt Dillion in the FOX “event series” Wayward Pines, which comes from M. Night Shyamalan. The mini-series is based on the best-selling novel about Secret Service agent Ethan Burke (Dillon) who arrives in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, ID, on a mission to find two missing federal agents. But instead of answers, Ethan’s investigation only turns up more questions as Ethan faces the terrifying reality that he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive. Sossamon will play Theresa Burke, Ethan’s wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Hart of Dixie is adding a familiar face to its roster of series regulars. That face belongs to fan favorite Kaitlyn Black, who plays belle Annabeth Nass. Hart of Dixie will air its season premiere on The CW on October 7. (Megan Masters at TV Line)

Black Sails has been renewed for a 10-episode season two by Starz before the 8-episode debut season has even aired. The debut season won’t air until January 2014. (Twitter)

Starz will also air the period drama called Dancing on the Edge that will chronicle The Louis Lester Band, an all-black jazz ensemble playing the club circuit in 1930s London. The cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity), Matthew Goode (Chasing Liberty), John Goodman (Roseanne), Angel Coulby (Merlin), Anthony Head (Buffy and Merlin) and legendary actress Jacqueline Bisset. (Michael O’Connell at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Syfy has given the greenlight to a 90-minute pilot for a new project called Dominion that is based on characters from the 2010 box office film Legion. The TV project will be an epic supernatural action drama set 25 years in the future after a war between an army of angels and mankind has transformed the world. It will follow the perilous journey of a rebellious young soldier who discovers he’s the unlikely savior of humanity. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

New Trailer for ‘Romeo & Juliet’ with Hailee Steinfeld & Douglas Booth

TV SCOOP (with Sandra Gonzalez and Mandi Bierly at Entertainment Weekly)

‘COVERT AFFAIRS’: WILL SPARKS FLY WITH ANNIE AND TEO?

In the July 30 episode of USA’s Covert Affairs, Annie (Piper Perabo) heads back to Colombia to determine the true allegiances of Arthur’s son, Teo (Manolo Cardona), after she receives intel that the terrorist group he’s involved with is planning an attack. There are some tense scenes between Perabo and Cardona, who previously worked together on the slightly less suspenseful 2008 film Beverly Hills Chihuahua. “I can’t tell you everything that happens to him [this season], but it’s dangerous,” Perabo says, with a laugh. “He gets a lot of stunts, car crashes, and shootouts. That’s another reason I was glad they cast Manolo: I was glad to have a really brave, macho guy.”

While we’re happy Annie is finally with her handler, Auggie (Chris Gorham), we can’t help but wonder if we’ll see sparks fly with Teo. “We shot this scene recently with Teo in a foreign city,” Perabo says carefully, “and he rescued me in the middle of this fight. Both the hair and makeup girls came up to me afterward, and they said, ‘What’s gonna happen with Teo and Annie?! It all seems like it’s gonna go off!’ I went up to Manolo, and I was like, ‘All right, keep it on a simmer. You can’t put out that much heat. You’re Latin. A little is a lot!’”

‘SUPERNATURAL’: SCOOP-A-PALOOZA

In addition to what was dolled out during the Supernatural panel, this year’s press room was a wonderful flood of scooplets. Here, I pull out some highlights:

CROWLEY = CURED? – Mark Sheppard scooped to me during our chat on the EW Comic-Con couch that Crowley was most certainly going to struggle with certain side effects from almost being cured at the end of last season, but, he maintains, Sam and Dean “did not cure him.” “I mean, as far as the canon is concerned, if you don’t complete the task then it hasn’t happened. I’d be more interested to see…if there is any residual effects.”

DEAN’S SECRET– So, Dean’s got a secret. Exactly what it is, we’re not sure. Neither is Jensen Ackles, but, he teases, it’s “one of the bigger issues of the series.” “So it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out,” he says. Jared Padalecki teased a little further: “ It does really heavily involve Sam, and even has a lot to do with why Sam’s still alive. So Dean is just kind of lying to Sam. And he’s hating it every step of the way and Sam can’t really tell,” he says. “But when Sam finds out, s–t’s going to hit the fan.”

WILL ACKLES DIRECT? Ackles is also waiting to hear whether or not he’ll step behind the camera to direct another episode. After directing one episode per season for the last three seasons, “I’m not directing this year — well not yet. They haven’t given me one. I usually direct the first one out of the gate, but because I have a 7-week-old daughter I opted to stay home with the newborn instead this year,” he says. But there’s still a chance he can. “There’s still a few episodes that are not slated yet with the directors and I think they’re trying to figure out how they can slide me in there storyline wise.”

CASTIEL’S NEW CHALLENGES – Lots of scoop on what’s coming up with powerless Cas in my chat with Misha Collins and Mark Sheppard, but Collins, who is slated to appear in more than a dozen episodes throughout this season, added on the matter: “I certainly hope that at the very least, Cas is going to change his underwear now that he’s human. But I will tease for you – this is pretty juicy stuff since we’re getting into the wardrobe, there is a Laundromat scene in episode 1. So this very question has been forefront in the writer’s minds.” As for his relationship with the boys? Ackles says, “It’ll be interesting to see how the relationship evolves given his new lack of skills.”

‘SUITS’ ALMOST STAGED A BIG BREAK-UP

The new relationship between law firm associate Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) and paralegal Rachel Zane (Meghan Markle) may get rocky on Suits, but it is here to stay – at least for the length of the USA drama’s summer run. But it wasn’t always that way.

“They were planning on breaking us up at episode 10,” Markle reveals. “I know that it has now been completely restructured and re-conceived because they are enjoying Mike and Rachel as a couple too much. They don’t want to do it.”

The decision is one she definitely supports. “It’s really kind of cool and sweet to just not have to keep slapping him,” she jokes. But on a serious note, she adds, “Because the show is doing so well, and we’re so lucky — you can see that we probably have a few more seasons in us — the idea of ‘will-they-won’t-they, will-they-won’t-they, okay, they will, but only for 10 episodes and then it’s going to go away’ felt like then where do you go from that? If it took us two seasons to try to figure out if we could make it work, then maybe they take that time and really give us an opportunity to have something. Just like with any character, with any relationship that you have onscreen, when you can settle into it a bit more, you get to find what’s interesting about it, find layers and nuances. So I’m really happy that they’re really happy with it.”

Q&A SECTION (with Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: I NEED some Vampire Diaries scoopage. Especially about Katherine — Lauren

Gonzalez: “Katherine is actually going to be one of the main people this season — one of the main characters,” reports EP Caroline Dries. “So she’s going to be intertwined in their lives — not that they want her there. But she’s actually going to need them more than they need her.” Watch more of your questions get answered here!

Question: Any Falling Skies scoop? — Vicky

Gonzalez: Can you have too much of a good thing? Nope! And luckily, TNT feels the same way. I have confirmed that Falling Skies fourth season will consist of 12 episodes — if you’re keeping track, that’s two more than its usual order. Good news for us, possibly bad news for the likely exhausted Tom and Co. Speaking of the gang, Noah Wyle promises that while there will be a few hanging storylines that people have to tune in next year to see, he says, “I’m very happy that we tie up a lot of storylines this season.” “All the plotlines that are laid down get answered — we now know who the mole is, we’re going to find that out and deal with that, we’ve got this Espheni grid that’s irradiating the Earth and a ticking clock on taking it out, we’re going to take it out, and we’ve got this evil Overlord in the body of a 22-year-old surfer chick that we need to deal with. So all of that stuff gets wrapped up in the last two episodes,” he said.

Question: Thank you team EW for all the Comic-Con coverage! But I’m surprised no one asked Scott or Rachel (who were there for the To Do List) for Hart of Dixie scoop! HELP!! — Dana

Gonzalez: Got you covered there. We caught up with Porter on the red carpet at the movie’s premiere, and he reported that George will be MIA for a while at the beginning of this season! Ok, it’s only 20 minutes, but I’ll let him explain: “I moved away from town a little bit, people can’t find me and the town is in desperate need of a lawyer so they go searching for me,” he says. On the romantic front, Porter says that the show is going to “cool it” on the love triangle for a little bit, in hopes it will give “the fans a breather for a second.”

Question: Great chat with the Jay and Kristin at Comic Con!! Any more Beauty and the Beast scoop to share? — Jean

Gonzalez: First, thanks! (BTW – If anyone missed that chat Jean’s talking about, you can watch it here.) And here’s a little more scoop for you: At the start of the fourth episode, Cat’s in the slammer! The big question: Why?

Question: Scandal!!!! — Tessa

Gonzalez: Recent Emmy nominee Dan Bucatinsky was mum on the details of season 3 but promised “more of that sort of jaw-dropping, heart-pounding drama.” “There are twists and turns that you just can’t believe. Characters continue to behave in ways and do things that will surprise people, even when you thought you’ve seen it all,” he says. A hint lies in a tiny casting nugget: Why is the show looking for someone to play a prostitute? And, more importantly, why is she sharing a scene with David Rosen (!!)?

Question: I’d love something on White Collar! The wait for new episodes is just painful! — Jennifer

Gonzalez: Neal and Peter will possibly face their biggest case yet next season (literally and figuratively): A missing T-Rex.

Question: I was lucky enough to see the SHIELD pilot at Comic-Con. Holy cow! PLEASE tell me you have something on episode 2. — John

Gonzalez: Well, I’ll wait until everyone’s has seen the pilot to dive deep into the awesomeness of SHIELD, but here’s what Clark Gregg had to say about what comes next: “It’s a TV show, it’s not a Marvel movie, but it’s more like a Marvel movie than any TV show I’ve ever seen, and we’re spending it all on this pilot,” he said. “And if anything, it’s bigger, wilder, more effects driven than the pilot.” And while we did see Agent Coulson get a little physical in episode 1, Gregg says there’s more action-packed scenes to come. “My action has been pretty sparse in the movies — he’s kind of been like wrangling the super divas you know, like somebody managing the Green Room at Coachella. And now he’s out in the field and there’s a lot more imminent threats, and yes, I can say safely it’s a whole new level of combat for Agent Coulson.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Vanessa Ray (Pretty Little Liars) will have a recurring role on Blue Bloods, playing Edit “Eddie” Janko, a rookie cop who is assigned as Jamie Reagan’s (series regular Will Estes) new partner upon graduating from the Academy. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Josie Davis (Charles in Charge) will guest star in the season premiere of The Mentalist, playing Sonya, a waitress in a truck stop Jane (Simon Baker) and Lisbon (Robin Tunney) visit while investigating the seven possible Red John suspects. (Robyn Ross at TV Guide)

Actor Glenn Morshwer (24) will guest star in Castle this fall, playing Michael Reed, a former general who will stop at nothing to protect the secrets of his past. (Robyn Ross and Adam Bryant at TV Guide)

Actor Freddie Prinze, Jr. will appear in a multi-episode arc on Bones, playing Danny, a very covert CIA agent, who is also an old associate of Booth who has an interest in Booth and Brennan’s current murder investigation. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Peter Weller (RoboCop) will have a role in the upcoming season of Sons of Anarchy, playing a former cop who works at the Stockton port and has a run-in with the SAMCRO motorcycle club. (Rebecca Ford at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Indira Varma (Human Target and Rome) will play Ellaria Sand on Game of Thrones, the sexually adventurous love interest Prince Oberyn Martell to be played by Pedro Pascal. (Matt Richenthal at TV Fanatic)

Actress Rose McIver (The Lovely Bones) will appear as Tinkerbell on Once Upon a Time this fall. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

Cinemax has ordered the 10-part series called The Knick that will star Clive Owen. The series will be set in 1900 at the Knickerbocker Hospital, focusing on a group of groundbreaking surgeons and nurses who worked together to expand the bounds of modern medicine during an era when antibiotics were unheard of and mortality rates were extremely high. The series will premiere in 2014. (Cinemax and TV Equals)

Actor Esai Morales (Caprica) will join the cast of Criminal Minds as the new BAU section chief Matt Cruz, a longtime FBI agent who gets promoted to work with the BAU and has a previous professional relationship with JJ (A.J. Cook) that will be revealed as the season progresses. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Roger Cross (Continuum and Motive) has joined the cast of the FX pilot The Strain based on the vampire novel trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team who are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. Cross will have the recurring role of Mr. Fitzwilliams, Palmer’s (Jonathan Hyde) Head of Security, as well as, his caregiver. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Looks like the USA Network is talking about possibly doing a spin-off of Burn Notice that will follow operatives Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) and Jesse Porter (Coby Bell), but nothing definitive has been arranged yet. (Bruce Fretts at TV Guide)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE NEWS

Actress Daphne Zuninga (Melrose Place and One Tree Hill) has joined the cast of the upcoming Hallmark Channel movie Dead Letters that will debut on October 12 The and could be developed into a series for 2014. The movie tells the inspiring story of a group of postal detectives whose mission is to deliver letters and packages from the past, which arrive miraculously when they are needed most. The cast includes Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty), Kristin Booth (The Newsroom), Crystal Lowe, (Smallville) and Geoff Gustafson (Primeval: New World). (The Futon Critic)

ONLINE SERIES NEWS

Netflix has given a 10-episode order to the new sci-fi series called Sense8 that will stream in 2014. The series will tell the gripping global tale of minds linked and souls hunted. (Patrick Munn at TV Wise)

TV TRAILER

Watch A First Look At VH1′s Original Movie CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Titus Welliver (Lost) has joined the cast of Transformers 4 in a role that has yet to be announced. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

Actor James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class) will play Victor Von Frankenstein alongside Daniel Radcliffe, who will play Igor in the upcoming film from Paul McGuigan. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: Will Teen Wolf’s Scott become the Alpha before the midseason finale (airing Aug. 19)? –Anonymous_A

Mitovich: “Scott is well on his way to becoming an Alpha,” answers exec producer Jeff Davis. “Whether he remains a True Alpha — one who doesn’t have to kill or steal the power — and who survives to make up his pack, might be the important questions.”

Question: How about some juicy Scandal scoop to celebrate Kerry Washington scoring an Emmy nomination? –Miranda

Mitovich: Are you suggesting that in the course of congratulating Miss Emmy Nominee last week, that I pumped her for scoop? Handled! First, we batted around theories on who ratted out Liv to the press, and Washington believes Mellie is “too obvious” a culprit. (Plus, she noted, “Mellie got [Fitz] back at the end, so I don’t know why she would do that.”) Washington then relayed the cast’s excitement about Scott Foley being upped to series regular, though we both agreed it’d be a shame if Jake stayed in “the hole” all season long. On the topic of the premiere, she was skeptical that it will pick up with Olivia and her dad still in the car, saying, “I really love how the show plays with time and jumps all around, so I hope there’s some of that.” But one of the Season 3 stories that has Kerry most jazzed is this one: “Shonda [Rhimes] has teased that we are going to get more backstory on Harrison” – finally, I say – “and when I heard that, I was jumping up and down in the hair-and-makeup trailer like, ‘Yeah!’”

Question: I was wondering if you knew how many episodes Scandal has this season? Also, are they doing what OUAT is doing with the show running? –Lizzie

Mitovich: Scandal as of now is working off a 22-episode order, and if the second part of your question meant to suggest “airing non-stop”-ish/in repeat-free chunks, I have nothing to report on that. Yet.

Question: The Glades is my favorite summer show!!! Any details on Jim and Callie’s upcoming nuptials? –Kari

Mitovich: As the wedding gets closer and the to-do list continues to grow, so will the list of family and friends that come out of the wood work — some more welcome and expected than others, I hear. That throws a few wrenches in their plans… and potentially ruins Jim’s big surprise for his bride.

Question: Considering Cote de Pablo’s (incredibly disappointing) departure from NCIS this fall, does the show have plans to introduce another female agent (as they did when Sasha Alexander departed)? Or are they planning something very different to fill the void? –Cassaundra

Mitovich: While I haven’t heard anything about a replacement for Ziva per se, I do know that — as teased by NCIS boss Gary Glasberg — we will in fact be laying eyes on McGee’s new (and yet-to-be-cast) honey: Delilah, a “perky, smart, eccentric and downright lovable” computer wonk at the Department of Defense. And that role is possibly recurring.

Question: Anything “burning” on the Chicago Fire front? I desperately miss the folks at 51. –Vikki

Mitovich: Here’s something that’s “heating up” – a love life! Blonde beauty Larisa Polonsky, who guested last season as Otis’ Russian cousin Zoya, is set to recur during Season 2, pouring drinks at her cousin’s bar and ultimately “lighting Cruz’s fire,” as a love interest.

Question: Could you please tell me if Jeff Eastin plans to explore more about Neal’s mother on White Collar? – Ellie13

Mitovich: In a word (or three), not right now. As a note I was just slipped from the White Collar writers room explains: “Having spent time with dear old Dad last season, Neal is done looking backward for now, and will be focused on moving forward in his life for Season 5. But the story of Neal’s mother is definitely a tale we hope to tell down the road.”

Question: Can you share anything about who ends up in the hospital on The Fosters? –Mariana

Mitovich: You can probably already guess who ends up in the hospital from the promo, so let us instead tease that the dire situation opens the door for some touching and emotional flashbacks revealing how Stef and Lena came to create their loving family. Also in the hour: Wyatt does something that should endear him to even the most hardcore Callie/Brandon ‘shippers (who, by the way, will not want to miss this episode).

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

It’s back to the real world for me. Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Tom Ellis, who played Robin Hood in one episode of Once Upon a Time, is unavailable to return as a recurring character on the show so actor Sean Maguire will be taking over the role. (Kristin Dos Santos at E!)

Actress Michelle Forbes (The Killing and True Blood) will have a recurring role on Chicago Hope when it returns this fall. She will play a high ranking consultant with the State Fire Marshal’s office, who keeps a sharp eye on budgets and performance at the city’s fire houses. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actors Kenny Johnson (Saving Grace) and Michael Vartan (Alias) have landed roles in the second season of Bates Motel. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor David Anders (Alias and Necessary Roughness) will have a guest starring role on Criminal Minds, playing a serial slayer whose M.O. involves the lobotomization of his victims. (TV Line and The Futon Critic)

Actor Terrence Howard (Crash) has joined the cast of the upcoming FOX drama Wayward Pines from (among others) M. Night Shyamalan that focuses on Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon), a Secret Service Agent who drives to the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, Idaho, to find two missing federal agents only to find himself stranded after a car accident. Howard will play Wayward Pines Sheriff Pope alongside Carla Gugino, Toby Jones and Melissa Leo. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actor David Denman (The Office and Drop Dead Diva) is joining the cast of Parenthood in the recurring role of Ed, a newly unemployed stay-at-home dad who bonds with Julia when they both pull a lame volunteer job at their children’s school. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Actress Lauren Stamile (Grey’s Anatomy) will guest star in the season premiere of The Mentalist this fall, playing Madison Yardley, the wife of a murder victim whose body is discovered two years after he was reported missing. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Daniella Alonso (Revolution) has landed a series regular role on the new upcoming drama Night Shift that is an ensemble medical show following Army doctors working the late shift at a San Antonio Hospital. Alonso will play Dr. Landry Miller, a sexy, cool and fun-loving tough Texas girl. As the lone psychiatrist on the weekend night shift at the busy San Antonio hospital’s emergency department, she sees it all and thrives on it. The series hasn’t gotten a premiere date yet but the cast will include Brigid Brannagh (Army Wives), Eoin Macken (Merlin), Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under), Jeananne Goossen (Alcatraz), Jill Flint (Royal Pains), Ken Leung (Lost and Person of Interest) and Brendan Fehr (Roswell) [among others]. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Nicole Ari Parker (Soul Food) has landed a recurring role on Revolution where she will play Secretary Justine Allenford a strong and smart leader. (Deadline and Marissa Roffman at Give Me My Remote)

Actor Warren Christie (Alphas and October Road) has landed a guest star role in Castle this fall, playing Brad Parker, a reporter with a penchant for uncovering stories that are detrimental to national security. (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC is developing a limited series called The Assets that is based on the Sandra V. Grimes and Jeanne Vertefeuille book entitled “Circle of Treason: CIA Traitor Aldrich Ames and the Men He Betrayed” that will follow Ames, a mole who fed information to the Soviet Union that contributed to the deaths of at least ten Soviet intelligence officers who had spied for the United States. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Heather Graham and Ellen Burstyn (Political Animals) are set to star in the Lifetime TV adaptation of the V.C. Andrews best-selling novel Flowers in the Attic about four young siblings, two boys and two girls, who, after the tragic death of their father, are torn from an idyllic life and subjected to cruel emotional and physical abuse resulting from a dark, long-hidden family secret. Graham will play their mother, Corrine while Burstyn will play their grandmother, Olivia. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

Actors Taylor Handley (Vegas) and Mark Famiglietti (Terminator 3) [among others] will have roles in the USA drama pilot called Horizon that will be set at the height of World War II, revolving around a secretary at the FBI who begins a secretive investigation into files that have been stamped with the code name “horizon.” Handley will star as George Howl, a marine husband who mysteriously resurfaces after disappearing in a battle over the Pacific which the Navy has deemed classified while Famiglietti will play Will “Sparks” Sparkman, a by-the-book FBI agent whose crush on co-worker Lauren is obvious to everyone but her. Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride) is set for a lead role of Max Hartman, a mysterious man who leads a double life. (The Hollywood Reporter, The Futon Critic and Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Syfy is developing a new mini-series called Warriors of Oz that will be a fantasy-action reimagining of the classic story in which a warrior from present day Earth is transported to a post-apocalyptic future Oz where he must team up with three other warriors, Heartless, Brainless, and Coward, in order to defeat the evil Wizard who has enslaved the land. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

ABC has bought a potential drama called Lawless about a maverick lawyer who returns to her hometown to right the wrongs she left behind that is inspired by the real life crusading trucker-turned-lawyer Wynona Ward, founder of Have Justice Will Travel. (Deadline and The Futon Critic)

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES NEWS

Actress Rachel Blanchard (Clueless), actor Jack Wagner (The Bold and the Beautiful) and actor Cameron Mathison (All My Children) will star in the Hallmark Channel two-hour backdoor pilot and potential primetime series called My Gal Sunday based on the best-selling novel by Mary Higgins Clark that centers around an irresistible sleuthing duo, Sandra “Sunday” O’Brien-Parker (Blanchard), renowned attorney and private investigator and her newlywed husband and sleuthing partner, Henry Parker (Mathison), whose deep political ties and endearing romance put them at the center of intrigue and scandal. Wagner will play Sunday’s dad Danny. (Hallmark Press Release)

Actor Ving Rhames has joined the cast of the Lifetime made-for-TV Whoopi Goldberg-led movie called A Day Late and a Dollar Short based on the Terry McMillan best-selling book that revolves around Viola Price (Goldberg), who after learning that her next asthma attack is likely to kill her, sets out to fix her fractured family. Rhames will play Viola’s husband, Cecil. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Topher Grace will have a supporting role in the upcoming box office film Interstellar that already includes among its cast Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Caine. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant from TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: Will we get a definitive explanation of the Home Office on Once Upon a Time? — Pedro

NATALIE: Yes, in the season premiere. “As we stated in the finale, Greg and Tamara don’t know that they’re working for Peter Pan,” executive producer Adam Horowitz says. “So the Home Office is related to Pan, but that’ll be cleared up pretty quickly.” Oh, and it may have appeared that Ariel was in Storybrooke in that Comic-Con teaser, but the producers say that she’ll actually be in Neverland.

Question: Do you know when The Vampire Diaries will pick up this season? — Jeanine

NATALIE: “We’re coming back three months later, so we’ll touch base on what the characters have been doing all summer,” says executive producer Caroline Dries. “We realize that poor Stefan has been drowning, dying and coming back to life. But everyone else has been having a totally fun time. Elena and Damon are a super-sexy couple and happy for once. Caroline is ready to start school. Nobody knows that Bonnie is dead, so it’s bliss, but then there’s Stefan just dying.” Just a typical summer vacation!

Question: I’d like some Castle scoop, please. Especially something about Lanie and Esposito! — Cindy

ADAM: Tamala Jones’ promised more “Esplanie,” this season, and creator Andrew W. Marlowe seems happy to oblige. But don’t get your hopes up for some grand romance. In fact, we’ll probably just figure out why they’re apart. “There was a scene cut from their break-up because of some time issues that I think leaves a little lack of clarity in terms of what happened and where they are,” Marlowe says. “I think we owe it to the fans to give them an explanation of what’s going on in their relationship.”

Question: Since Comic-Con ended, that means you’ve gotta have some scoop on the best summer show ever, Under the Dome. Is it coming back for a second season? —Phillip

Ausiello: Yes. Although nothing’s official, rest assured there will be a second season of Under the Dome. The only question is whether CBS will hold it until next summer or bring it back in-season (i.e. next spring). In the meantime, in case you missed it, Rachelle Lefevre lightly spoiled the Season 1 finale, telling me at Con, “The last five minutes will contain a very, very large moment of whether or not [Barbie and Julia] have come far enough in our relationship to help one other out of a very difficult situation.”

Question: I need something on The Fosters, like, now. Obsessed. —Vona

Ausiello: The Aug. 5 finale features resolution for a number of “love triangles and love squares,” teases co-star Maia Mitchell, who adds, “There’s [also] a huge cliffhanger to do with my character. Something pretty big happens. And something big happens between Lena and Stef, too.”

Question: Is there any chance Covert Affairs will bring back Eyal this season? I just love his character so much. —Ashley

Ausiello: There’s a rock-solid chance, actually. Exec producer Matt Corman tells TVLine, “It’s safe to say [Oded Fehr’s spy] will return, it’s just a question as to when. And we want that to kind of be a secret.”

Question: How about some Pretty Little Liars scoop on Jake and Aria? —Jasmine

Ausiello: Jake “rides back into Rosewood” in next week’s episode, confirms exec producer Oliver Goldstick, “and their romance heats up by the latter half of the season.” He adds that the Ezra/Aria/Jake imbroglio is “a real triangle by the finale. There will be a turn of events in Ezra’s life, too, that may change his relationship with Aria. We’re editing the penultimate episode right now, which I wrote, and in it you’ll get to see Ryan Guzman show his fancy dance moves. We have a great Footloose/Urban Cowboy episode where he gets to let loose. You’ll see why Aria’s drawn in that direction.”

Question: How much time will have passed when Orphan Black‘s second season starts? —Geoffrey

Ausiello: Not much. “We pick up very quickly from where we left off at the end of Season 1,” exec producer John Fawcett tells TVLine. “Kira has been taken. It’s very difficult to not go, ‘OK, what do we do next? Kira’s gone!’ The presumption is we have to begin right there.” Adds fellow EP Graeme Manson: “There’s no ‘Two Years Later’ and Sarah’s living a bucolic life on a farm.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

OMG! I’ve been gone for a week attending Comic Con 2013 and it feels like I’ve been gone for a month. There is SO much news to catch up on besides all the SDCC 2013 stuff that took place. Thank GOD that I had today off to gather all these details for you.

Here goes:

TELEVISION

BBC America will co-produce a new fantasy drama called Atlantis that will air as part of the network’s Supernatural Saturday this fall. The series comes from the team behind the popular TV series Merlin that is set in a time of legendry heroes and mythical creatures that will bring to life the vast store of Greek myths and legends re-imagined for a new generation. (Seat42F)

Showtime has renewed the new drama Ray Donovan for a second season. (Variety)

PBS and Masterpiece have given their mini-series Mr. Selfridge, which starred Jeremy Piven in the title role, a second season order. (The Futon Critic)

ABC has given the cop drama Rookie Blue a fifth season order. (The Futon Critic)

Actors Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise) and Jon Hamm (Mad Men) have signed on to do a second season of A Young Doctor’s Notebook & Other Stories. The first four-hour series aired in the UK this past December and will air here in the States on the Ovation channel this fall. The series is an adaptation of the Mikhail Bulgakov short stories with Hamm playing a Russian doctor during the Russian Revolution while Radcliffe plays his younger self. (Nancy Tartaglione at Deadline)

Actress Amy Acker (Angel and Much Ado About Nothing) has been promoted to series regular on Person of Interest. As viewers will recall, Acker plays Root, the conflicted cyber-terrorist. (The Deadline Team)

Actor Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones and the box office reboot of Conan) has been cast in the new Sundance Channel original scripted drama The Red Road (formerly known as The Descendants) that is being described as a hard-hitting drama that revolves around Harold Jensen, a sheriff struggling to keep his family together while simultaneously policing two clashing communities: the small town where he grew up and the neighboring Ramapo Mountains, home of the Ramapo Mountain Indians. Momoa will play Indian ex-con Phillip Kopus. Julianne Nicholson had already been cast as the female lead. This series received a straight-to-series order of six episodes. (The Deadline Team)

Actor Billy Campbell (The Killing and Killing Lincoln) will star in the upcoming Syfy drama Helix where he is set to play Dr. Alan Farragut. The series is about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

Actress Karine Vanasse (Pan Am and Midnight In Paris) will appear in a multi-episode arc in Revenge this fall. She will play Margaux, a French businesswoman and former acquaintance of Daniel’s (Josh Bowman) who comes to town to start a magazine. (The Deadline Team)

Actor Tom Arnold will guest star in a season eight episode of Psych, playing Garth Mathers, the paranormal police consultant for the Anchorage Police Department who comes to Santa Barbara with his trusty spirit sidekick Bernie to participate in the Cutting Edge Consultants panel hosted by Professor Stein (Bill Marchant). But when a murder occurs, they pitch in to solve the case. (The Deadline Team)

Syfy is looking to create a TV series based on the Terry Gilliam cult 1995 feature 12 Monkeys. The film starred Bruce Willis as James Cole, a convicted criminal in a near future where the last of humanity lives underground after a pandemic. This adaptation will have a “Battlestar Galactica style approach” with a 90-minute TV movie, serving as a backdoor pilot for a straight-to-series order. (Dark Horizons)

Actress Caity Lotz (Death Valley) will have the recurring role of the Black Canary in Arrow this fall. It is being said, however, that series regular Katie Cassidy, who plays Laurel Lance, could still end up in the part further down the line. (Dark Horizons)

Actor Jim Beaver will be back as Bobby Singer on Supernatural, but there are no other details at this time. Felicia Day will also be back to reprise her role of Charlie. (TV Fanatic and Dark Horizons and Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actor Stephen Collins (7th Heaven and Falling Skies) will join the cast of Revolution this fall, playing the father of Rachel (Elizabeth Mitchell). (TV Guide)

Actor Josh Stamberg (Drop Dead Diva) will appear in at least five episodes of Parenthood, playing Carl, a new tenant in the apartment building Sarah (Lauren Graham) owns. (The Wrap and Sadie Gennis at TV Guide)

Actress Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother and The Avengers) will reprise her role of Agent Maria Hill in the TV series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

ABC Family has officially canceled the dramedy Bunheads. (TV Line)

Actor Shawn Doyle (Big Love) will appear in this fall’s new CW series Reign – that focuses on teenaged Mary, Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane from Teen Wolf and Pretty Tough). Doyle will play Mary’s uncle Claude, who shows up at French court shortly after Mary’s own arrival to advise his niece on matters both political and personal. Along the way he will rouse trouble between the King and the Queen of France. Reign debuts October 10. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Merritt Patterson will replace Elizabeth Whitson as Olivia, one of the leading roles in the Pretty Little Liars spin-off series called Ravenswood. Patterson had been cast as Olivia’s best friend. Whitson will exit the project all together. (The Hollywood Reporter and TV Line)

Actor Yancey Arias (Revenge) will appear in the first two episodes of Castle this fall, playing Carl Villante, the head of an elite investigative unit who clashes with both Beckett and Castle during the working of a high-stakes case. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Up-and-coming young actor Robbie Kay will appear in Once Upon a Time this fall as a member of the infamous Lost Boys. This will be a recurring role. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actor Bobby Campo (Being Human) and actress Heather Hemmens (Hellcats) will have recurring roles on Grey’s Anatomy this fall. Campo will play Brian, a young and dedicated fireman who is introduced at the scene of a major accident. He’s engaged to Sasha (Hemmens), a tough cop with a good heart who also is involved in the disaster. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

TV TRAILERS COURTESY OF COMIC CON

Teen Wolf

Vikings

Revolution

Psych

TV TO MOVIE TO BOOKS

A long time ago…oh wait, that’s not necessarily true…right now the Veronica Mars movie is being worked on (the filming actually completed this week) and now Vintage Publishing and Alloy Entertainment have joined forces to bring fans of the cult favorite series a two-book set, allowing everyone’s favorite blonde detective to live on in a book series. Rob Thomas, the series creator and writer/director of the movie, will develop and co-write the books that will pick up where the 2014 film leaves off, following a new mystery. (HuffPostTV and The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Looks like The CW just can’t help itself: they are working on a possible spin-off to their long-running series Supernatural (and as a BIG fan of that show I’m not complaining about this possibility one single bit). The potential series will be introduced in episode 20 of Supernatural’s current season and is expected to center on a new character that will be introduced in that episode, but few other details are known at this time. I say TPTB should just let Felicia Day (aka Charlie) be the focus of the spin-off, wouldn’t that be cool?! (Kristin Dos Santos at E!)

Universal TV is developing a series based on the comic book Clone from writer-creator David Schulner. Clone is a high-octane thriller that focuses on themes of identity and nature verses nurture. (The Deadline Team)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

The Sundance channel will air their mini-series Top of the Lake and Restless as marathons on July 28 and July 31 respectively. Check your local listings for airdates. (The Futon Critic)

The season premiere of Glee has been moved up a week from September 19 to September 26 in light of the tragic death of series star Cory Monteith. (The Futon Critic)

It has been confirmed that the dozen episodes that make up the second half of the third season of MTV’s “Teen Wolf” is set to kick off on January 6th 2014. The show is currently seven episodes into its dozen episode run of the first half of the third season (Dark Horizons).

Today the USA Network announced that the much-anticipated Psych: The Musical will air as a two-hour episode Dec. 15. (Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. The Conjuring – 41.9 million
2. Despicable Me 2 – 24.9 million
3. Turbo – 21.3 million
4. Grown Ups 2 – 19.9 million
5. Red 2 – 18 million
6. Pacific Rim – 16 million
7. R.I.P.D. – 12.7 million
8. The Heat – 9.3 million
9. World War Z – 5.2 million
10. Monsters University – 5.1 million

Actor Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan) has joined the cast of the Veronica Mars movie. He will play Dan Lamb, the brother of deceased Sheriff Lamb (series regular Michael Muhney), who is now in charge of the Neptune Police Department.  (Kickstarter Update)

Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead will star in the box office movie Kill The Messenger, a true-story thriller about journalist Gary Webb and his suicide after being smeared for stories he wrote linking the CIA to a scheme to arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua and import cocaine into California. Winstead will play Dawn Garcia, the editor of the San Jose Mercury News, where Webb worked. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

Actor Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim and Sons of Anarchy) will star in the cop drama flick Triple Nine that is about a Los Angeles heist in which a group of thieves plan to kill a cop (Hunnam) to divert authorities from their own crime scene across town. Christoph Waltz and Cate Blanchett are also under consideration for roles but no formal negotiations have taken place. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actress Britt Robertson (Under the Dome) will star in the box office film called Tomorrowland, playing a high school girl with an unconventional understanding of technology who is launched on a journey to reclaim her future. The film will also star George Clooney and Hugh Laurie. (Heat Vision and Dark Horizons)

Actress Gillian Jacobs (Community) will star opposite Kevin Costner in the upcoming film called Black and White. She will play the girlfriend of Costner’s best friend. The story centers on a widowed attorney (Costner) who battles for custody of his bi-racial granddaughter after the girl’s black grandmother (Octavia Spencer) demands the child be put under the care of her drug addict father. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Warner Bros. announced at Comic Con that Superman will face off against Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel. (Sadie Gennis at TV Guide)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Hot Trailer: ‘12 Years A Slave’

Full ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ Trailer

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: Peter Pan, a new Robin Hood, Lost Boys plural….. Should Once Upon a Time fans be worried that the main cast will be overshadowed by the Season 3 newbies? –Devin

Mitovich: I wouldn’t worry. I mean, we knew Peter Pan was coming, and where there’s Pan, there are Lost Boys in the background. And Robin Hood, I suspect, will play a role on what’s going on in the Fairytale Land That Is, probably impeding Neal’s return “home.” As series co-creator Adam Horowitz told me (after I suggested they’d be giving Belle new friends there in Storybrooke), “There will be some new characters, but for the most part were going to be focusing on our core group of regulars from Seasons 1 and 2. If characters do come in, it will, at least at first, be more akin to how we used Robin Hood in Season 2.”

Question: While I appreciate all the tidbits you’ve shared this summer, I’m wondering why you’re keeping the Scandal info under wraps? –Kimberly

Mitovich: The writers’ room only reconvened recently. Can’t scoop what doesn’t exist! But this much I’ve gleaned: We will learn, via flashbacks, who it was that ratted out Liv to the press. And I am pretty sure it’s not anyone you’d guess. Also: Prepare to meet Cyrus’ very oppressed, young, male office assistant.

Question: Graceland is starting to grow on me. Have you got any scoops on Briggs? And will we see any love interest for any of the characters? –Marla

Mitovich: This week we learn a huge Briggs secret — and we’re not alone in doing so! As such, expect to soon see his layers peeled back and gain greater insight into why he’s really being investigated. As for love interests, expect things to heat up between Mike and Abby as they go on a double date…with a member of Graceland.

Question: Do you know if ABC Family ordered more episode of The Fosters? — @coolteacher31

Mitovich: They have not. The Aug. 5 episode will be the summer finale — and the final episode until/unless the show gets picked up (which I reckon it will, seeing as it keeps doing solidly in the Nielsens).

Question: Can you please keep us in touch with the latest on the Beauty and the Beast show? It will be much appreciated. –Carol

Mitovich: I hereby confirm that Sendhil Ramamurthy will be back as Gabe, and for multiple episodes at that. The big question is: whose side is he on now? Jay Ryan, for one, believes the secret-keeping ADA owes poor, abandoned Catherine a serious solid. As he puts it, “Gabe has got a lot of making up to do, if he wants to get back in our good books.”

Question: Do you think Cote de Pablo’s departure spells the end for NCIS? With Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. rivaling for No. 1, I don’t see NCIS staying at the top without her, and I know many Tiva shippers are leaving the show with Cote. –Mary Catherine

Mitovich: OK, for one, it’s not “the end of NCIS.” TV’s most watched program isn’t abruptly going to crater because one member of a good-sized, top-notch ensemble leaves. Will its numbers get dinged? Maybe. A bit. But it’d have to lose 3 million viewers to fall behind The Big Bang Theory and cease being TV’s most watched (non-sports) program. The whole debate is: What fraction of that total viewership has been tuning in just for Ziva, and/or just for “Tiva.” S.H.I.E.L.D.’s more direct competition, I imagine, is The Originals, as those two first duke it out for the genre-TV-loving eyeballs, before either start eating into CBS’ older-skewing audience.

Question: Will we ever find out what Harvey and Donna really do with that can-opener on Suits? – Abdul

Mitovich: I cannot confirm that one way or the other, but EP Aaron Korsh reveals this much: The flashback episode’s title, “The Other Time,” is definitely “a clue” about Harvey and Donna’s mysterious past.

Question: I am incredibly curious about Auggie’s secret on Covert Affairs. Any clues? –Mel

Mitovich: Only that what Annie’s honey is hiding is “a seismic secret that will affect the entire trajectory of the show,” per EP Chris Ord. Only that!

Question: Why is Moon Bloodgood no longer billed as a series regular on Falling Skies? Is she leaving the show? –Andy

Mitovich: I am assured that Bloodgood is very much still a series regular, and was only omitted from the credits during her maternity leave. What’s more, I can tease that Anne resurfaces soon, and in an unexpected place.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Kendrick Sampson (Greek) and actress Olga Fonda (Nikita and How I Met Your Mother) will both have recurring roles on The Vampire Diaries this fall. Sampson will play Jesse, a fellow student who Elena (Nina Dobrev) and Carolina (Candice Accola) meet on their first day at Whitmore College. Whereas, Fonda will play a mysterious European beauty who follows Rebekah (Claire Holt) and Matt (Zach Roerig) back to Mystic Falls. The Vampire Diaries is back on The CW on October 17. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actress Virigina Madsen has joined the cast of the upcoming new Lifetime drama Witches of East End, appearing in a multi-episode arc. The series centers on Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond) and her two adult daughters Freya (Jenna Dewan-Tatum) and Ingrid (Rachel Boston), both of whom unknowingly are their family’s next generation of witches. Madsen will play Penelope Gardiner, the mother of Freya’s fiancé Dash (Eric Winter). Witches of East End has yet to be given an official airdate by Lifetime. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Looks like ABC Family has cancelled The Lying Game. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

HBO has renewed True Blood for a 7th season. (The Wrap)

Hit the Floor, the new VH1 drama, has been given a second season order. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Mira Sorvino will appear in a multi-episode arc on Psych when the show returns for its 8th (and likely final) season. She will play the Santa Barbara Police Department’s newest head detective, Betsy Brannigan, an incredibly sweet, adorably reserved and yet certified badass. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

CONDOLENCES

The sad news hit over the weekend that Glee cast member Cory Montheith was found dead in a Vancouver hotel. He was only 31 years old. (Twitter)

NOTE: Rest in peace, Cory. Condolences are extended to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 movies for this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Despicable Me 2 – 44.7 million
2. Grown Ups 2 – 42.5 million
3. Pacific Rim – 38.3 million
4. The Heat – 14 million
5. The Lone Ranger – 11.1 million
6. Monsters University – 10.6 million
7. World War Z – 9.4 million
8. White House Down – 6.2 million
9. Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain – 5 million
10. Man of Steel – 4.8 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Hot Teaser Trailer: ‘How To Train Your Dragon 2′

More Incredible Martial Arts in Second US Trailer for ‘The Grandmaster’

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: I leave for the San Diego Comic Con 2013 tomorrow so there will be no more daily news updates until July 24.

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Justin Hartley (Smallville and Emily Owens, M.D.) has been cast in a multi-episode arc on Revenge, playing Patrick, the long lost son of Victoria Grayson (series lead Madeleine Stowe). (Kristin Dos Santos at E! Entertainment)

Actress Sonya Walger (Lost and Common Law) will have a recurring role on Parenthood this fall, playing Meredith, an architect who is working for Joel (series regular Sam Jaeger) on a two-year project. (James Hibberd at Entertainment Weekly)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Melissa Benoist (Glee) will appear in the box office film called Imagine, playing Jamie, a desk clerk at a hotel frequented by one of her favorite rock stars of all time. (The Deadline Team)

Actress Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) has joined the ensemble cast of the upcoming box office film Posh that follows two first-year students determined to join the infamous Riot Club, where reputations can be made or destroyed in one night. (The Deadline Team)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: First UK Teaser Trailer for ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend.

PS: I will be at Comic Con 2013 most of next week and part of the following week so daily updates will be few and far between until on or around July 24.

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Chi McBride (Golden Boy and Pushing Daisies) will guest star in the season premiere of Hawaii Five-0 on September 27, playing SWAT Captain Lou Grover, a character that first appeared in an episode of the original series. (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Cote de Pablo is leaving the long-running CBS series NCIS after the season premiere this fall. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Carla Gugino (Political Animals) has landed the lead role in the upcoming FOX event series called Wayward Pines. The 10-episode drama is based on the best-selling novel by Blake Crouch that revolves around Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon), a Secret Service agent who arrives in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, Idaho on a mission to find two missing federal agents. But instead of answers, Ethan’s investigation only turns up more questions. Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the life he knew, from the husband and father he was, until he must face the terrifying reality that he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive. Gugino will play Kate Hewson, Ethan’s ex-Secret Service partner and a resident of Wayward Pines. The cast also includes Oscar winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter) and will be overseen by Chad Hodge (The Playboy Club) and M. Night Shyamalan. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch the First Trailer for Disney’s ‘Saving Mr. Banks’

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question:  Do you have any Regina-related scoop for Once Upon a Time Season 3? –ZsaZsa

Mitovich: And how! With an eye on the upcoming run, series co-creator Adam Horowitz tells us, “We may find out that perhaps, just perhaps, there is a special someone out there for Regina.”Qu

Question:  Can you confirm any stars returning for Defiance Season 2? –Sally

Mitovich: I shan’t, but instead will tell you about a new series regular. The Syfy hit is casting the role of Niles Pottinger, a “provisional mayor” installed into office by E-Rep. This 40something gent is described as both “a man of manners who is rarely in public without cufflinks and freshly polished shoes” and a “sociopath.” We’re also going to meet Rafe’s wife Pilar, whom as you know was sent away years ago after almost killing their children during a bipolar fugue.

That’s it. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Jason George (Mistresses and Grey’s Anatomy) has joined the cast of the new upcoming Lifetime drama Witches of East End in the recurring role of Adam, the love interest for Ingrid (Rachel Boston from American Dreams and In Plain Sight), one of two daughters of Joanna Beauchamp (Julia Ormond), who learn they are from a long line of witches. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line)

Actress Summer Glau (Firefly, The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Cape) has joined the cast of The CW series Arrow for its second season. She will have the recurring role of Isabel Rochev, the VP of Acquisitions for Steelmoor International, a company looking to take over Queen Consolidated; and an adversary to Oliver aka The Hood aka Arrow. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actress Lisa Edelstein (House) will make a multi-episode appearance on Castle this fall, playing Rachel McCord, a tough and highly-skilled Federal Investigator whose appearance plays a vital role in Beckett’s decisions about her future. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Actress Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg) will make a guest appearance on Royal Pains in the August 28. She will play Lacy, a reformed party girl who believes life can still be a party — even if you’re not partying. When Hank and Evan’s father Eddie calls upon her for some family advice, she offers surprising insight into the Lawson clan. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings franchise) has joined the cast of the FX drama pilot The Strain that is based on the vampire novel trilogy by director Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. The pilot will tell the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll from House of Cards), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. Details on what character Astin will play, though, are being kept under wraps. (The Deadline Team)

A one-hour drama at FOX has been put into development based on the Alan Moore/Kevin O’Neill graphic novel League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Neither men are involved in the project, however; and no other details are available at this time. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Janine Turner (Northern Exposure) has joined the cast of the upcoming supernatural thriller flick Solace that is set to star Anthony Hopkins as retired doctor and FBI psychic John Clancy, who’s tasked with helping hunt down a killer (Colin Farrell). Turner will play Elizabeth Clancy, wife of Hopkins’ character. Sharon Lawrence, Abbie Cornish and Jeffrey Dean Morgan will star in the film. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

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Jeff Bridges Faces Down A Dragon In The Seventh Son Trailer

Q&A SECTION (with Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

Question: I’m going to miss Ashley on Revenge! Have we already seen the last of her? — Kate

NATALIE: No, Ashley will definitely be back, at least for the season premiere, in which she pops up at one of Emily’s big parties. Look for her to share an awkward encounter with her ex Daniel, just as he seems to be as in love with Emily as he ever was. Meanwhile, Jack will be hitting the bottle extra-hard now that he’s a single dad and knows the truth about Emily.

Question: Love the scoop on Nashville. Got any other tidbits about what’s next for Rayna and Deacon? — Kristy

ADAM: Both might find dates where they least expect them. We hear that the show is casting for a hot, no-nonsense attorney who, while trying to convince Deacon to sue Rayna, decides to let him into her legal briefs. Meanwhile, Rayna will confront the new head of her record label, whom she suspects of rushing the release of her new album to capitalize on the publicity of her car accident. His response? Let’s go to dinner!

Question: How will Elena deal with college on The Vampire Diaries? — Jonah

NATALIE: Elena and Caroline will find college to be much more difficult than they anticipated when they stumble into a class led by a hot, but not-so-nice professor who knows more about Mystic Falls than he’s letting on. Does it scare anyone else that his true passion is research that he believes will help humanity?

Question: What’s coming up on Longmire? — Anna

NATALIE: When Cady gets into a nasty car accident that lands her in the hospital, Walt and Vic do everything in their power to get the bottom of it, but it’s actually Branch who suspects foul play closer to home.

Question: I still can’t believe that Peter was arrested for murder on White Collar! Where will the case stand when the show returns? — Chad

ADAM: Although Peter will be back at work at the FBI, he’ll still have to appear in court for a grand-jury hearing scheduled to decide whether to indict him. He thinks he’s doing the right thing by testifying on his own behalf, but damning new evidence might make him regret his decision.

Question: I am so thrilled that Falling Skies wound up renewed! Any scoop to add to my celebration? –Chelsea

Ausiello: Try this casting item on for size: Jennifer Ferrin (The Following) guest-stars in the July 21 episode…. as Tom’s wife. Also, are you eagle-eyed enough to spy Doug Jones in the same episode out of his Cochise get-up?

Question: Any NCIS tidbits to share on the new season? —Cheryl

Ausiello: There’s some serious WTF?! buzz surrounding the CBS smash’s Sept. 24 premiere, and here’s why: The episode is titled “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.” (Trend alert: This is the third instance in recent memory of an hour-long drama using this expression as an episode title, following Scandal and The Good Wife.) Maybe the title is a nod to the insane workload dropped on the desk of the I.T. department’s newest hire Ozzy, a towering figure who’s tasked with digging up information on an intruder and tracking down a potential hacker.

Question: Any news on whether or not Lana Parrilla will be on Once Upon A Time panel at Comic-Con? –Callie

Ausiello: Though Parrilla was not among the first batch of RSVPs, I have just learned that thanks to a bit of “hocus pocus,” she will materialize at the panel after all.

Question: You’ve been conspicuously quiet about Castle Season 6. —Charlie

Ausiello: The show is casting a handful of new detectives who I’m guessing will be Beckett’s new D.C.-based colleagues in the U.S. Attorney General’s office. One of them — a character named Matt, who’s intelligent and driven — will recur, so either Kate’s putting down roots in the nation’s capital or this guy’s going to follow her back to the Big Apple or…

Question: Are the rumors true about Once Upon a Time introducing Tinker Bell? —Bonnie

Ausiello: I’ll answer that question by describing to you the new character of Violet and letting you draw your own conclusions. How about that? Vi is a mischievous twentysomething whose penchant for troublemaking belies the heart of a true survivor. (Interesting side note, especially for Hook if she is Tinkerbell: She never lets a slight go unpunished!)

Question: Thanks for the Nashville scoop last week. —Tara

Ausiello: We almost lost Rayna! It’s true. We’ll learn in the season premiere that she nearly perished in the finale’s cheesetacular car accident, but the silver lining is the near-death experience sent her album sales soaring. Jump ahead several months to the opener and her career’s still on an upswing and she’s the apple in the eye of her label’s new top exec, the very good looking and incredibly charming Jeff. You thinking what I’m thinking? ‘Cause I’m thinking these two crazy kids are going to mix in a little pleasure with their business

Question: Any scoop on Hart of Dixie? —Cornelia

Ausiello: The premiere, titled “Southern Comfort Zone,” will introduce two new recurring characters. One is Joel, a quintessential New York artist who passes through Bluebell to get some inspiration for his latest book and becomes enamored with the small town’s charms. The other’s Lynly, Lavon’s spoiled, clueless cousin who arrives to town in the hopes of mending her broken heart. News flash: Girlfriend’s not as dumb as she lets on.

Question: Production of Season 5 of Vampire Diaries officially started this week. I realize it’s a tad early but is there a way we can find out how much Delena sexiness is shippers can expect in the premiere!? —Ana

Ausiello: Can’t help you on the Delena front, but there’s buzz that the show is casting a male doctor who knows alllllll of Damon’s secrets.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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