Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon A Time) has joined the cast of the upcoming TNT drama Murder In The First as a series regular. The series is a murder mystery set in contemporary San Francisco, centering on two SFPD homicide detectives, Terry Seagrave (Taye Diggs) and Hildy Mulligan (Kathleen Robertson), as they take on a case that seems more like a maze. Sbarge will play police inspector David Molk, who works alongside Seagrave (Diggs). (The Deadline Team)

ABC has given a renewal order for the following dramas Once Upon a Time, Revenge, Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Nashville. (Twitter)

Actress Michelle Ryan (Bionic Woman) will have a recurring role on Covert Affairs, playing Teresa Hamilton, an agent with a shadowy past. Covert Affairs will be back on the USA Network on July 16. (Joyce Eng at TV Guide)

Actresses Angela Bassett and Patti LuPone have joined the cast American Horror Story: Coven, but there is no word yet on what characters they will play. (Liz Rafferty at TV Guide)

NBC has canceled the musical drama Smash. (Twitter)

It’s official! 24 will return to FOX next summer as a 12-week mini-series called 24: Live Another Day. (AJ Marechal at Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

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

1. Iron Man 3 – 72.5 million
2. The Great Gatsby, $51 million
3. Pain & Gain, $5 million
4. Tyler Perry Presents Peeples, $4.9million
5. 42, $4.7 million
6. Oblivion, $3.9 million
7. The Croods, $3.6 million
8. The Big Wedding, $2.5 million
9. Mud, $2.3 million
10. Oz the Great and Powerful, $802,000

Actress Jennifer Garner (Alias) and legendary actor Michael Caine will star alongside Al Pacino, Annette Benning and Bobby Cannavale (Nurse Jackie) in the upcoming box office move Imagine that will be about an aging rock star (Pacino) who reconnects with his grown son after opening a letter sent from John Lennon to his 19-year-old self. Garner will play Pacino’s daughter-in-law, with Caine will play his longtime friend and manager. (The Deadline Team)

Actor Tom Welling (Smallville) has joined the cast of the box office movie Draft Day, a football movie that will star Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner and Denis Leary. Welling will play Brian Drew, a veteran quarterback in the crossroads of his career in a story about a Cleveland Browns GM (Costner) who attempts to trade up for the first pick in the NFL Draft and save football in the city. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Fruitvale Station Trailer

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

TNT has canceled Southland after five seasons as well as freshman drama Monday Mornings. (Jon Weisman at Variety and The Wrap)

The CW has given a renewal notice to both Nikita and The Carrie Diaries for this coming fall with Nikita possibly getting a 6- to 10-episode final season while The Carrie Diaries get a 13-episode order. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CBS has finally given a renewal to Criminal Minds. Meanwhile, CSI: NY, Golden Boy and Vegas have all been canceled. (Twitter)

FOX has not only canceled the drama Touch but is considering bringing 24 back as a limited series. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Nicole Gale Anderson (Beauty And the Beast) has landed the lead role of Miranda on the Pretty Little Liars spin-off Ravenswood. (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Syfy has given a second season order to its new drama Defiance. (Syfy at Twitter)

The USA Network is pulling the plug on their long-running drama Burn Notice after its upcoming 7th season, which is set to air this summer, staring on June 6. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Justina Machado (Private Practice) has joined the cast of the new ABC Family drama The Fosters (from executive producer Jennifer Lopez). Machado will have the recurring role of Sofia Rivera, the outspoken and extremely protective mother of Mariana Foster’s (Cierra Ramirez) best friend, Lexi Rivera (Bianca Santos). She will appear in at least two episodes beginning in July. The Fosters is set to debut on June 3. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

EARLY UPFRONTS NEWS

The CW has picked up four new dramas (as well as the previously announced The Vampire Diaries spin-off The Originals). Here are the details on the new shows:

The 100 – Ninety-seven years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization, a spaceship housing the lone human survivors sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth to investigate the possibility of re-colonizing the planet. Based on the forthcoming The Hundred book series by Kass Morgan.

Oxygen – Passion and politics threaten the peace and an epic romance ignites between a human girl (Aimee Teegarden) and an alien boy when he and eight others of his kind (known as The Orion 9) are integrated into a suburban high school ten years after they and hundreds of others landed on Earth and were immediately consigned to an internment camp where they’ve been imprisoned ever since.

Reign – The previously unknown and untold story of Mary Queen of Scots’ rise to power when she arrives in France as a 15-year-old, betrothed to Prince Francis, and with her three best friends as ladies-in-waiting.

The Tomorrow People – Based on the U.K., the drama tells the story of several young people from around the world who represent the next stage in human evolution, possessing special powers, including the ability to teleport and communicate with each other telepathically. Together they work to defeat the forces of evil. (Variety)

Meanwhile, NBC has picked up the remake of Ironside that will star Blair Underwood in the lead role as well as the Chicago Fire spin-off that is to be called Chicago PD. (Variety)

And, CBS has picked up the dramas Hostages and Intelligence for this fall. (Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

It has been confirmed that actor Enrico Colantoni will appear in the Veronica Mars movie that is to film this summer. (Official Kickstarter Update)

Young actress Chloe Moretz (Kick Ass and the upcoming Carrie remake) will appear in the big screen adaptation of the classic 80’s TV show The Equalizer alongside Denzel Washington. (First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Hot Trailer: Sandra Bullock & George Clooney’s ‘Gravity’

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor F. Murray Abraham and actress Sartia Choudhury have been made series regular on Homeland when it returns later this year for its new season. Abraham played Dar Adal while Choudhury played Saul’s estranged wife Mira. (Kimberly Roots at TV Line and Hitfix)

EARLY UPFRONTS NEWS

FOX has announced the pick-up orders for four new pilots for the fall, including the following:

Almost Human: JJ Abrams reteams with Fringe’s J.H. Wyman and Bryan Burk on this buddy cop show set in a future where all LAPD officers are paired with human-like androids. The series will star Star Trek’s Karl Urban, Common Law’s Michael Ealy, Friday Night Lights’ Minka Kelly and Lili Taylor.

Gang Related: Lost’s Terry O’Quinn, Charlie’s Angels’ Ramon Rodriguez and Nashville’s Jay Hernandez are to star in this drama about a gang member tasked with infiltrating the San Francisco Police Department, where he eventually ends up on the Gang Task Force. Naturally, his loyalties are soon tested.

Rake: Making his broadcast TV debut, Greg Kinnear stars as a brilliant but self-destructive criminal defense lawyer in this legal drama based on the Australian series of the same title.

Sleepy Hollow: From Fringe executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci, this modern-day retelling of Washington Irving’s classic tale finds Icabod Crane (Tom Mison) time-traveling two and a half centuries and teaming with a police officer to save humanity. Nicole Beharie and Orlando Jones will co-star. (Tierney Bricker at E! Online)

Meanwhile, NBC has picked up two new pilots for the fall including the following:

Believe – Another pilot from JJ Abrams that will center on a girl with emerging powers (newcomer Johnny Sequoyah) and a man sprung from prison to protect her (Jake McLaughlin).

Crisis – From Rand Ravich (the man behind the short-lived series Life) that will be a D.C.-based thriller, centering on a Secret Service agent who becomes wrapped up in an international crisis when the President’s son and classmates are kidnapped. Among the cast are Dermot Mulroney and Gillian Anderson. (AJ Marechal at Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Richard Madden (Game of Thrones) has landed the role of Prince Charming in the upcoming live-action movie Cinderella that will have actress Lily James (Downton Abbey) in the title role, will include Cate Blanchett in the cast and will be directed by actor-turned-director Kenneth Branagh at the helm. (Tim Kennally at The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Trailer for Romantic Comedy ‘Baggage Claim’ Starring Paula Patton

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Question: The title of Arrow’s finale “Sacrifice” is making me nervous! Should we expect a big death?! – Cady

Team Watch with Kristin: Executive producer Marc Guggenheim says not to read too much into the title, as “everyone should have a drinking game because literally if you were to take a drink every time the word sacrifice or some derivative thereof is used, you’d be buzzed by the end of the first act.” However, we can tell you there will be at least one major casualty in Starling City by the finale’s end.

Question: What will happen when Gabe and Vincent come face-to-face on Beauty and the Beast?! – Mae

Team Watch with Kristin: Tension with a capital T! Sendhil Ramamurthy teases fans will not want to miss. “It’s pretty interesting, because obviously Vincent is not trusting of Gabe,” he says, adding that Gabe will not exactly be himself when he first meets Vincent. “It’s Gabe-Beast meeting Human-Vincent, it really floors Vincent because he’s incredulous at this point…that whole scene is really cool.”

Question: I have to know who Elena will choose in TVD’s season finale! – Desiree

Team Watch with Kristin: While we won’t reveal which Salvatore brother our heroine chooses, we can assure you that she does in fact pick one. As for the other brother, fret not as he’ll have more than enough to deal with that not landing the girl (for now) will hardly register. Start prepping for one of the series’ best twists ever, basically!

Question: Fitz choosing Olivia has the Olitz/POPUS shippers over the moon. How long before Scandal ruins the honeymoon? –Mandy

Mitovich: My advice would be to savor the POPUS/Olitz goodness while you can, because big things are brewing for season’s end. As Kerry Washington shared with me, “The end of the season finale is so shocking that at the table read I almost couldn’t get it out of my mouth. You can’t imagine how you’re going to live through the hiatus.”

Question: When Falling Skies returns, how much time has passed on screen between the Season 2 finale and the Season 3 premiere? –@jacobsjj

Mitovich: I will go out on a limb and say that seven months have passed — if only because about a dozen different characters mention in the Season 3 opener that seven months have passed. As such, Tom and Ann are thisclose to birthing their baby, which will, all things considered, present out-of-this-world complications. I can also share that the premiere has a wowza cold open in which the rebels kick some ass… until they don’t; Hal is somehow paralyzed, yet still finding ways to rendezvous with an ever-creepy Karen; and a murder mystery plays a big role in at least the first episodes.

Question: I’ll take any (and I mean ANY) scoop regarding Castle‘s season finale! Monday cannot come fast enough! –Martina

Mitovich: Awesome, because I have any scoop: Chuck alum Mekenna Melvin, we knew, was guest-starring in Monday’s episode. I can now tell you she’s playing Talia McTeague, a well-off Harvard student who shares a connection with the Victim of the Week.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor Colin Ferguson (Eureka) is joining the cast of the Syfy series Haven in a season-long arc. He will play William, a handsome mysterious stranger, whose secret agenda leads him to FBI agent-turned cop in the small town of Haven, Maine Audrey Parker (Emily Rose). (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

TNT has picked up the spy drama called Legends from the producers of Homeland and based on the novel by Robert Littell. The series will star actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones) as Martin Odum, an undercover agent working for the FBI’s Deep Cover Operations (D.C.O.) division. Martin has the uncanny ability to transform himself into a completely different person for each job. But, he begins to question his own identity when a mysterious stranger suggests that Martin isn’t the man he believes himself to be. (Jethro Nededog at The Wrap)

Actor Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time) and Ioan Gruffudd (Ringer) will both appear in upcoming episodes of Necessary Roughness. Sbarge will appear in two episodes as Carl Webber, a high-level employee at V3, the sports and entertainment management company headed by Connor McClane (John Stamos). Carl seeks Dani’s (Callie Thorne) counsel after a traumatic incident. Gruffudd will appear as Nolan Powers, a successful self-help guru embarking on a book tour. Nolan despises anything that has to do with therapy which doesn’t sit well with Dani. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Merritt Patterson (Kyle XY and Supernatural) has joined the cast of the upcoming series Ravenswood, which is a spin-off of ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. Ravenswood centers on a town not far from Rosewood, Pa. (where Pretty Little Liars is set), that has suffered for generations under a deadly curse. Five strangers find themselves connected by the fatal curse and are charged with investigating the town’s mysterious and terrible history before it’s too late for everyone. Patterson will play the series regular role of Tess, Olivia’s (Elizabeth Whitson) former best friend who is not involved with the curse. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Bruce Greenwood (the upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness) has joined the cast of the remake of Endless Love that will star Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four and Magic Mike) and Gabriella Wilde (The Three Musketeers) as teenage lovers from opposite backgrounds. Greenwood will play Wilde’s father, who doesn’t approve of her relationship with a blue-collar boy while Robert Patrick (The Unit and Last Resort) will star as Pettyfer’s father, who runs an auto body shop where his son works. (Jeff Sneider at The Wrap)

Young Australian actor Callan McAuliffe (Flipped, I Am Number Four and the upcoming The Great Gatsby) has landed the lead role in the upcoming movie called Our Robot Overlords that centers on a teen who gathers a group of teens together to search for his long lost father in the midst of a war between humans and robots. The teen discovers a way to fight back and he realizes that there’s more to this war than his own family. Sir Ben Kingsley and Gillian Anderson will also star. (Borys Kit at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE TRAILERS

Hot Trailer: Lee Daniels’ ‘The Butler’

Hot Trailer: Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Ender’s Game’

Watch: Tom Hanks in First Compelling Trailer for ‘Captain Phillips‘

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

Question: What can you tease about The Vampire Diaries finale?! — Rachel

NATALIE: We promise that tears (both happy and sad) will be shed while watching the final hour, which includes an epic declaration of love, a duo (finally!) setting off for the summer together, a major death and another character heading on a path that will leave fans screaming at their screen.

Question: Any new hints about the Person of Interest finale? — Richard

ADAM: Look for another major download of answers about Finch’s past, including exactly what tragedy befell his former partner Nathan Ingram and how that moment led Finch to take up Nathan’s mantle with regards to doing the work of The Machine. But given Finch’s alleged recent betrayals of Reese, is their partnership also destined to end in flames? Also, in the race to save The Machine, expect more resolution than your traditional cliff-hanger. “At the end of this 24-hour period, someone is going to control The Machine, and the identity of that someone is something of a surprise,” creator Jonathan Nolan says. “We consider this finale the end of one chapter. Next season is a brave new world.”

Question: I’m so excited about Manu Bennett being a series regular on Arrow next season. Will we get a hint towards his Deathstroke future any time soon? — Kayte

NATALIE: Actually, we may get a hint this week, though it may not be the most obvious thing. “I would caution anybody who thinks that they know which way the story is going to go,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg says. “What’s always interesting about the island is that you know that Oliver survives the flashbacks, so there’s no suspense in that, but it’s who lives and who dies, and what they do and how they do it; that’s the stuff that is constantly the surprise and the thing that you don’t see coming.”

Question: It’s my birthday over here and a great gift would be scoop on the Scandal finale. But anything Scandal is greatly accepted. —Mateo

Ausiello: How about details on John Barrowman’s top-secret May 9 guest stint? According to Shonda Rhimes, the Arrow baddie plays “a fixer” with a “very interesting” client. Bonus (b-day) Scoop: Joe Morton’s character/Jake’s boss does have a name: Rowan!

Question: Love Orphan Black, but I miss Art! Please tell me Sarah’s going to re-join the force soon. —Christopher

Ausiello: Art’s “like a bad smell,” notes EP Graeme Manson, “he just won’t go away.” Translation: “We haven’t seen the last of Art,” he confirms. In the meantime, “Sarah’s many deceptions are still rippling and the effects are being felt, so there’s prices to be paid for the things that she’s done.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today (few though they are):

TELEVISION

TNT has given the Michael Bay drama thriller The Last Ship a 10-episode order. The series will revolve around a submarine crew that survives a nuclear disaster, starring Eric Dane (Grey’s Anatomy) as Captain Tom Chandler, a career Navy man who is authoritative and decisive, but also fair and courageous. The cast also includes Rhona Mitra (Strike Back) as Rachel Scott, a strong-willed, intelligent and fearless paleomicrobiologist; Adam Baldwin (Chuck) as Slattery, the ship’s second-in-command who occasionally clashes with Dane’s Captain Chandler and Tracy Middendorf (Boardwalk Empire) as Darien Chandler, the captain’s wife. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline and Cynthia Middleton at Variety)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith will produce and star in the upcoming box office film called Salsa that will co-star Latin hunk (and former Dancing with the Stars alum) William Levy. Amy Heckerling (the woman behind the cult classic film Clueless) will write and direct the film. The movie is about a woman (Pinkett-Smith) at a turning point in her life who meets a salsa teacher (Levy). Through the dance of salsa she begins to get her life back on track. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actress Sophia Myles (Moonlight and Underworld) will have a major recurring role in the upcoming box office film Transformers 4. She will play a scientist in the film, though the specifics of her role are unknown. The cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Kelsey Grammer also star. (The Wrap and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: Beauty and the Beast scoop if you’ve got it! – Andy

Team Watch with Kristin: Now that the show’s been officially renewed for a second season, executive producer Jennifer Levin says fans can expect to see more of Vincent and Catherine’s relationship struggles next year. “We spent this season really bonding Cat and Vincent, and they are so strong together,” she explains. “I think next year we want to put some obstacles in their way and really challenge their relationship, so that’s what we’ve been talking about, how to do that.”

Question: Got anything on Grimm? – Sebastian

Team Watch with Kristin: The Grim Reaper is a-comin’ for a visit in the finale! When we chatted with David Guintoll, Silas Weir Mitchell and Bree Turner recently, they revealed that one of the three of them might not make it out of the finale alive. Gulp!

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today few though they may be:

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Luke Evans (the upcoming Fast & Furious 6) will play the title role in the remake of The Crow that originally starred the late Brandon Lee in the revenge story based on the James O’Barr comic book series. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actor Benjamin Bratt (Private Practice) will take over the reins of Al Pacino in the animated sequel Despicable Me 2, providing the voice of villain Eduardo. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Here are the top 10 movies at the box office for this past weekend from Box Office Mojo and TV Guide:

1. Iron Man 3 – 175.3 million
2. Pain and Gain – 7.6 million
3. 42 – 6.2 million
4. Oblivion – 5.8 million
5. The Croods – 4.2 million
6. The Big Wedding – 3.9 million
7. Mud – 2.1 million
8. Oz the Great and Powerful – 1.8 million
9. Scary Movie 5 – 1.4 million
10. The Place Beyond the Pines – 1.3 million

NOTE: There wasn’t any update on Friday by the way, as it was a very slow news day.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for yesterday and today:

TELEVISION

Actor Tom Berenger (Hatfields & McCoys) will appear in at least three episodes of Major Crimes when it returns for its second season this summer. He will appear as Captain Sharon Raydor’s estranged husband of 25 years, Jackson Raydor, who is a brilliant lawyer. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Catherine Bell (JAG and Army Wives) will show up on the new TNT series King & Maxwell that is set to debut on June 10. She will have a multi-episode arc as Joan Dillinger, ex-lover of Sean King (series lead Jon Tenney). (Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

BBC America has renewed the new sci-fi drama Orphan Black for a 10-episode second season that will air in 2014. (BBC America)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actresses Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and Gillian Jacobs (Community) as well as actor Adam Brody (The O.C.) are set to star in the box office comedy called Life Partners. The comedy is about a co-dependent friendship between two very different girls – type-A Paige (Jacobs) and lesbian slacker Sasha (Meester). Paige has vowed that she won’t get married until Sasha has the same legal right and that works out fine until Paige meets Tim (Brody), a young and charming doctor. As a crucial vote on gay marriage approaches, the threesome struggle with issues of love, friendship, and loyalty. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Entertainment, Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant at TV Guide and Michael Ausiello and Matt Mitovich both at TV Line)

Question: Suits scoop would be lovely! – Emily

Team Watch with Kristin: Harvey’s father is coming to town! Kind of! Fans will meet Gordon Specter in a flashback to ten years ago, which will show exactly where Harvey got his good looks and awesome negotiation skills. Gordon is described as a Jeff Bridges type who is warm and compassionate, so let’s dream cast the role in the comments, shall we?

Question: I loved the first 10 minutes of Sunday’s Once Upon a Time! Please give me some scoop on that episode! — Sharlene

NATALIE: Regina is in a very shocking position, but it’s who comes to her aid that’ll really shock you. In an attempt to fix her blackened heart, Snow and Charming will enlist Rumple to help track her down. But all magic comes with a price: This particular spell will connect Regina and Snow in a very dangerous way.

Question: Is Klaroline totally over now that The Originals was picked up? — Lisa

NATALIE: Not necessarily, and certainly not this season! When we asked Joseph Morgan about the “surprising encounter” that’s being teased between the two this week, he told us, “It’s going to come in the guise of an olive branch, and then it’ll start as something that I think people have wanted for a long time — but we’ll see where it goes.” Could this be the kiss that some of you have been waiting for?!

Question: I need some NCIS: LA scoop on Kensi and Deeks. Will the box return? — Chelsea

ADAM: Sort of. Executive producer Shane Brennan says that what the box symbolizes will be explored. “If you look at the box as a ratcheting up of their personal relationship, you will not be disappointed,” Brennan says. “There is a very poignant moment between Kensi and Deeks in the finale that will surprise everyone.” How poignant, you ask? Let’s just say that people do crazy things when they’re about to die.

Question: Why don’t you ever show Doctor Who any love? — Noah

ADAM: Well, in the upcoming episode, “The Crimson Horror,” the good Doctor meets someone who develops quite a dangerous crush on him. (She even gives him a funny pet name!) What’s more, we’ll see the Time Lord lock lips with a lovely lady… who isn’t his companion Clara! As for the episode’s titular “horror,” let’s just say that one character has a very close (and kind of disgusting) relationship that is key to solving the episode’s mystery.

Question: Do you have anything about the season finale of Scandal you can share? —Daniela

Ausiello: Conventional wisdom points to the elusive mole being unmasked in the May 16 finale. Kerry Washington, meanwhile, points to it being the person you’d least expect. “It’s so shocking,” the actress tells us with a huge, hearty laugh. “So, so shocking. And so good. One of the things the show does so well is they mostly do these, like, one-two or one-two-three punches. So it’s not usually one cliffhanger; it’s usually a shock, and then another couple of shocks — and that’s kind of how that goes down.”

Question: I have a Q about Once Upon a Time and its potential spin-off: If we decide not to watch the spin-off, will we still understand everything that’s going on in Once Upon a Time? Or are the two shows completely connected? Thanks! —Emily

Ausiello: Worry not. Should the Wonderland-based limited-run offshoot get the green light from ABC on May 14 — and even though Barbara Hershey’s Cora and even Lana Parrilla’s Regina could appear in flashbacks — “It is intended to exist as its own thing,” says Once co-creator Eddy Kitsis. Adds Adam Horowitz, “If you’ve never seen Once, you can actually watch Wonderland and not worry.”

Question: Got any scoop on Revenge, Once Upon a Time, Nashville, Hannibal or Orphan Black? —Danae

Ausiello: On the Once Upon a Time front, expect to see Mulan, Aurora and Prince Phillip once again, before the season is over. And lest you think Regina’s “trigger” to implode Storybrooke is just a MacGuffin for us to gaze upon and imagine its potential, “We’re definitely going to see what that black diamond does,” EP Eddy Kitsis warns.

Question: So we know there are ghosts appearing on The Vampire Diaries soon. Do you know if any characters are actually getting resurrected permanently? Or are they all just ghosts? —Audrey

Ausiello: Rumor has it that one resurrection may stick.

Question: I need some Vampire Diaries scoop on Caroline. —Calleigh

Ausiello: These 15 words will leave her mouth in the May 16 season finale, per exec producer Julie Plec: “Come hell or high water, hell will freeze over before I let anybody cancel graduation.” As Plec explains, “The instinct to miss graduation is going to be on [everyone’s] minds because there’s greater things afoot. And Caroline, as we know, finds these moments and high school events very precious and gets very angry when anybody tries to mess with them.”

Question: What does NCIS: LA have in store for Nell and Eric? —Sophiaq

Ausiello: For the remainder of this season? Not much. For next season? At least one juicy episode. “We’re actually [about to] shoot one episode [for Season 5] that’s apparently an Eric-Nell episode,” Barrett Foa shares. “We haven’t really checked in with them after the big Christmas-under-the-mistletoe [incident] — there hasn’t been a ton of stuff with the two of us — and I think it’s time to get that back, because I figure fans are really ready for that.”

Question: Should we be worried that The CW hasn’t renewed Nikita yet? —Soso

Ausiello: I don’t think so. I’m told the reason Nikita wasn’t included in last week’s CW pickups was because series creator Craig Silverstein was in Virginia shooting his AMC pilot Turn and therefore unable to pitch his Season 4 plan to the network. He’s now back in L.A. and due to meet with CW brass in the coming days. Bottom line: The show is still a safe bet for a (shortened) fourth season.

Question: Long time reader, first time question asker. I am so glad to know that you too are an Orphan Black fan. Any scoop to share? —Vanessa

Ausiello: Party at Alison’s house this week, and it’s a doozy! As the characters and storylines converge on her abode, “Clone antics ensue,” previews EP Graeme Manson with a laugh. “And Felix is right in the middle of it, which is fun, too.”

Question: My heart broke when Zoe/Wade broke up on Hart of Dixie. They didn’t get nearly enough time “together.” Please tell me Zoe gives Wade another chance! —Lauren

Ausiello: Executive producer Leila Gerstein insists Wade’s infidelity and the pair’s subsequent breakup “was never intended to be the end” of their story. “It is a long series [and] we expect to do many, many, many more episodes of this show,” she adds of the recently renewed dramedy. “And they’re not even done for this season! There will be another connection between Zoe and Wade before the season is over. I would certainly tell ‘Zade’ fans out there that they should not be giving up hope.”

Question: Any Suits tidbits? –Megan

Mitovich: Midway through the coming season, we’ll meet Harvey’s yet-to-be-cast father Gordon, in an origins flashback to when Harvey was working at District Attorney’s office and he caught his boss Cameron burying evidence on his cases. Of note during the father/son chat: They bring up two family members that have been hinted at only a little thus far, Harvey’s cheating mother and his little brother Marcus.

Question: We’re three episodes into Defiance and Irisa doesn’t even seem to like her dad. Will this change? –@justinmwykes

Mitovich: Alas, save for one fleeting scene, Irisa is MIA in next week’s episode. (In fact, I hope they shot the scene during a busier day for poor Stephanie Leonidas, lest she spent hours in makeup to not say a word!) What you do get this Monday is a wonderful (and then suddenly intense) scene between Amanda and Stahma, and some sexytime for Nolan and Kenya (interrupted, amusingly, by madame mayor). There’s also a tiny mythology dump (what’s up with that golden gizmo McCawley’s ill-fated son discovered?), and you’ll learn the Bioman’s first (only?) name.

Question: I’m in serious need of some Emma/Neal scoop on Once Upon a Time! Do you have anything? –Meredith

Mitovich: This Sunday’s episode very well may be everything you’ve ever wanted (and more), when the exes finally have a heart-to-heart. As Michael Raymond James previews, “Neal still feels some guilt” for bailing on his love 10 years ago, “but he felt he didn’t have a choice in the matter. I mean, we’re talking about her saving a townful of people that he grew up with, people from Fairytale Land. So in Neal’s mind, he jumped on a grenade in the name of the greater good.”

Question: Are we ever gonna see Greg/Owen’s dad again on Once Upon a Time? I can’t say I’d be shocked if being locked up somewhere in Storybrooke post-curse hasn’t aged him a day. –Estee

Mitovich: Kurt Flynn resurfaces this Sunday. And… that’s all I got.

Question: Any scoop on Castle? Are there any scenes coming up with Alexis or Martha, or Lanie with Kate? –Valentina

Mitovich: I like your thinking, that as Kate gets to wondering about her and Rick’s future, she might consult with her gal pal. So I am happy to confirm that we will get another of the all-too-rare Kate/Lanie scenes before this season is over.

Question: Will the Castle ‘shippers that have a vested interest in the Caskett relationship be happy or angry at the end of the season finale, “Watershed”? –Gary

Mitovich: The Castle ‘shippers that have a vested interest in the Caskett relationship will… have a very strong reaction at the end of the season finale, “Watershed.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today, few though they may be:

TELEVISION

TNT has renewed Dallas for a third season. (Tim Kennally at The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Sam Worthington will star alongside Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfeld and Nicole Beharie in the upcoming box office film The Keeping Room that is set in the dying days of the Civil War. Worthington will play a soldier who has broken off from the fast-approaching Union Army and encounters women who have been left to fend for themselves. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actress Lily James (Downton Abbey) has landed the plum role of Cinderella in the upcoming live-action version of the classic fairy tale that will be directed by legendary actor-director Kenneth Branagh. Cate Blanchett is set to star as the evil stepmother. (Marc Graser at Variety)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch With Kristin at E! Online)

Question: Excited that Beauty and the Beast was picked up for a second season. Give us some scoop to celebrate! – Jeremy

Team Watch With Kristin: Well, we’re not sure you are going to want to celebrate after we share what executive producer Jennifer Levin told us about the season-one finale. “We are building towards someone that we really care about, their life is in jeopardy,” she teases. “We are building towards a secret being revealed about Cat’s family that is not what you might think.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

PS: There will be no news update tomorrow as I have the day off, taking a much deserved “me day”, but I’ll be back with the news on Thursday.

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Hey All,

Here are the news items, few though they are, for today:

TELEVISION

ABC will burn-off the remaining episode of the short-lived drama Zero Hour this summer starting on June 15 at 8 PM. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for this past weekend courtesy of Box Office Mojo and E! Entertainment Online:

1. Pain and Gain, $20 million
2. Oblivion, $17.4 million
3. 42, $10.7 million
4. The Big Wedding, $7.5 million
5. The Croods, $6.6 million
6. G.I. Joe: Retaliation, $3.6 million
7. Scary Movie 5, $3.5 million
8. Olympus Has Fallen, $2.8 million
9. The Place Beyond the Pines, $2.7 million
10. Jurassic Park 3D, $2.3 million

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Hot Trailer: ‘Fast & Furious 6′

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

When Major Crimes returns for its second season this summer, Captain Raydor’s (Mary McDonnell) estranged, not-quite-ex-husband Jackson Raydor will be showing up. There has been no casting announcement made yet, but his character is being described as a charming and devilish rascal on hiatus from his career as a lawyer to pursue his main passion: gambling. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actors Sam Page (Switched at Birth and Mad Men) and Sinqua Walls (Friday Night Lights and Teen Wolf) as well as actress Kate Miner (Hellcats and Persons Unknown) have joined the cast of Necessary Roughness. Miner will appear in at least four episodes in the recurring role of Sheera Kane, an up-and-coming model with a wild streak who catches TK’s (Mehcad Brooks) eye. Walls will in at least one episode as basketball player Devon Langer, the son of Lana (who will be played by guest star Garcelle Beauvais). Page will appear in at least two episode, playing Sam Conte, a V3 agent who represents one of Dani’s (Callie Thorne) clients. A talented agent, Sam would love to mix business and pleasure with Dani. He will appear in two episodes, the first of which will be episode four. Necessary Roughness will be back on the USA Network on June 12. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

NBC has given the following dramas renewals for this fall: Parenthood, Revolution, Chicago Fire, Grimm and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. (Variety)

The short-lived NBC drama Do No Harm that was pulled after only two episodes earlier this year will actually get a chance to burn-off the rest of its episodes this summer. It will start airing those remaining episodes on NBC starting on Saturday, June 29 at 10 PM. (The Futon Critic)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Watch: First Trailer for Judy Blume’s ‘Tiger Eyes’ Feature Adaptation

Watch: Full ‘RED 2’ Trailer Puts Willis & Malkovich Back into Action

Q&A SECTION (with Matt Mitovich at TV Line and Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online)

Question: Welcome to your new email address! I’m still reeling from the NCIS cliffhanger. What else can you tell us about the upcoming episodes? –Cheryl

Mitovich: And congrats to you, Cheryl, for being the one of 100-plus NCIS emails I chose. This much I can share: Next Tuesday’s episode picks up right where we left off, with Tony and Ziva in the crashed car; no time-jump into a hustling-bustling hospital ER room here. Also, viewers won’t have to wait long to find out who it was that Michael Vaughn’d their vehicle.

Question: Tell us Castle and Beckett are not breaking up in the finale! OK, I know you can’t answer that, but give us something to make us feel better? –Rida

Mitovich: Hmm. Would it make you feel better to have insight into how Andrew W. Marlowe decided wherever it is that Kate and Rick end up at 10:55 pm on May 13? When first planning a finale, the series creator explains, “You have a great map, but it’s like driving through fog a little bit – the closer you get, the clearer it gets. So about seven or eight episodes out, I knew ballpark where I wanted to land.” And versus yet another capper tied to Beckett’s mother’s murder, “I wanted a quieter, more emotional finale, without the fireworks,” he says. “In this one, something comes out of left field that both characters have to wrestle with, something that would be a challenge to any relationship.”

Question: Got any scoop on Once Upon a Time? –Mundo Magico

Mitovich: In an upcoming TVLine Q&A, Lana Parrilla has plenty of wonderful things to say (and tease) about the final three episodes, including how the May 12 finale features “a very sobering moment, where the audience will be very surprised to see some characters have to come together, to work together, to save one another.”

Question: How will Royal Pains handle Hank’s medical situation when the show returns in June? Last we saw, he had suffered a stroke-like emergency from the explosion at Shadow Pond. Will the show pick up with his recovery? –Laura

Mitovich: I have four words that may point you in the right direction: Five. Month. Time. Jump.

Question: The Nikita writers wouldn’t do anything as obvious as killing off Michael in a finale titled “Til Death Do Us Part…” would they? –Lora

Mitovich: “We have some pretty big deaths coming up,” EP Craig Silverstein spilled in out May Sweeps/Finales Scoopapalooza. And the finale itself, he added, uncorks “one of the most WTF shocks” of the season.

Question: Can you please get info on Vikings? –Lyn

Mitovich: Oh, I’ve got tons, and it’s all coming your way soon. But until then, I shall taunt you with this context-free quote from series creator Michael Hirst, that despite what happens in Sunday’s finale, “I’m very happy to reassure audiences that Lagertha will continue to be a very, very important and major character in the show, for a very long time.”

Question: I love the dynamic between Defiance’s Amanda and Nolan, they make such a good pairing. Any scoop you could share about them? – Lily

Team Watch with Kristin: Absolutely! When we talked with Grant Bowler and Julie Benz about their characters’ arcs for the season, they remained pretty coy. But we managed to drag one thing out of them: Fans of Amanda and Nolan’s chemistry will not be disappointed by the final episodes of the season.

Question: Awkward is better than ever this season! Any scoop to share? – Conor

Team Watch with Kristin: Awkward is getting its election on! Things will get pretty crazy at Palos Hills High School when it’s time for student council elections and the competition will be fierce. Expect to see one freshman girl encounter the wrath of a certain upper classman when she tries to run for treasurer. Poor girl, she’s going to be eaten alive!

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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