Rueben's Ramblings

Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Film actor John Malkovich will be heading to the small screen to star in the new NBC action-adventure drama Crossbones that has a 10-episode order from the network. He will play the lead role in the series that will take place in 1715 on the Bahamian island of New Providence, the first functioning democracy in the Americas, where the pirate Edward Teach — aka Blackbeard — reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreant sailors. A premiere date has yet to be set, though. (Lesley Goldberg at The Hollywood Reporter)

Actress Laura Vandervoort (Smallville and V) has landed the lead role in the upcoming Canadian drama series called Bitten based on a character taken from the Women of the Otherworlds series of books by Kelley Armstrong. She will play Elena Michaels, the world’s only female werewolf. Here is the synopsis of the Bitten plot: A foster child, Elena thought she finally found her “happily ever after” with her new love Clayton, but with one small bite, her life was changed forever and she was forced to survive life with the Pack as a werewolf. Years later, Elena has found refuge in Toronto, working as a photographer and dating a new man. But when bodies turn up in the backwoods of Stonehaven, the rural mansion that has served as a werewolf sanctuary for generations, the perfect life Elena has constructed begins to crumble. With the Pack threatened by an unknown predator, they turn to Elena for help. Caught between two worlds and two loves, Elena returns to Stonehaven out of duty, but once back in the fold she realizes that when push comes to shove, like any true alpha female, she’ll stop at nothing to defend her family. This series has a 13-episode order from Space; time will tell, though, if the show will reach the United States via Syfy similar to how Lost Girl and Continuum (among others) have crossed the border. (Krystal Clark at Blastr)

MINI-SERIES NEWS

Discovery Channel has announced casting for its planned six-hour mini-series called Klondike. The cast now includes Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Augustus Prew (Charlie St. Cloud), Abbie Cornish (RoboCop), Ian Hart (Luck), Johnny Simmons (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Conor Leslie (Chained). The mini-series will be based on the Charlotte Gray novel “Gold Diggers: Striking It Rich In The Klondike” that will tell the story of six strangers and their collective fight for survival and wealth in a small, frontier town in the remote Klondike, centering on childhood best friends Bill Haskell (Madden) and Byron Epstein (Prew) who head west in 1897 to seek their fortune in the Yukon Territories during the gold rush, where they face a harrowing journey of adventure, excitement and danger at every turn. Cornish will play the female lead Belinda, the powerful eyes and ears of Dawson City, who owns the mill and the loan shop and doesn’t think very highly of those seeking a fortune in gold. Hart will play Soapy Smith, an irrepressible Yukon con man and pick pocket while Simmons will play Jack London, a heavy drinker and adrenaline junkie who’s determined to write a shelf full of novels about his experiences. Leslie will play Sabine, an ambitious local beauty. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office films for this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:

1. Oz the Great and Powerful, $80.3 million
2. Jack the Giant Slayer, $10 million
3. Identity Thief, $6.3 million
4. Dead Man Down, $5.4 million
5. Snitch, $5.1 million
6. 21 and Over, $5.06 million
7. Safe Haven, $3.8 million
8. Silver Linings Playbook, $3.7 million
9. Escape From Planet Earth, $3.2 million
10. The Last Exorcism Part II, $3.1 million

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

Question: I have so loved this season of NCIS. I am confused, though, about Ziva’s behavior after the death of her father. She seems like she is having the best year of her life, while I was expecting some sort of down time for her as they have shown numerous times with Vance. I was so hoping that they would not brush her response aside as they did with Somalia. While I thought that “Shiva” was the best episode ever of NCIS and the acting was unbelievable, I guess I was expecting some revenge or response from Ziva. Have you heard of any upcoming episode that we can at least get a hint of Ziva’s response? If they don’t give Cote de Pablo another chance to sparkle as she did in “Shiva,” they are making a huge mistake. She was spectacular and had me in tears. — Kathy

Matt Roush: As noted earlier, I try not to look too far ahead in this column, but I have seen some teasers that indicate that as you’d expect, Ziva isn’t done with her quest for justice yet. How could she be? NCIS tends to measure out this kind of storyline, although in the case of Vance, the tragedy shattered his domestic situation so violently that it had to be addressed immediately and at some length. Ziva is much more likely to use work to repress her feelings, or at least to help her put up a tough façade, until the next explosive turn of events. But I get your point that given the severity of this particular setback, even for someone like Ziva, it’s jarring and less than satisfying to see her go back to business as usual.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Syfy has made a 13-episode straight-to-series order for the dark thriller called Helix from Ronald D. Moore, the man behind the reboot of Battlestar Galactica. The series is about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak at an Arctic research facility who find themselves trying to protect the world from annihilation. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Actress Kasha Kropinski, who recurred on the first two seasons of Hell on Wheels as Ruth, the courageous religious leader, has been promoted to series regular for the show’s upcoming third season on AMC. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Sebastian Roche will join Liam Neeson in the upcoming box office film called A Walk Among the Tombstones. He will play Yuri Landau, a middle class Russian drug dealer whose daughter is kidnapped. He asks hard-boiled ex-NYPD cop and unlicensed private detective Matt Scudder (Neeson) to help get her back before it is too late. (Dominic Patten at Deadline)

Actress Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows) has the as-yet titled romantic comedy that is set to star Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei in a story that follows a creatively washed up, divorced and broke former award-winning screenwriter (Grant) forced to take on a job teaching screenwriting at a small college. Heathcote will play one of his students. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: Do you have anything regarding Castle‘s 100th episode? Any scoop will be very much appreciated! –Martina

Mitovich: One hundred, shmun-hundred! How about, instead, Episode 105 – aka the Season 5 finale? “We’re looking at a very emotional finale,” series creator Andrew W. Marlowe previews. “We’re dealing with something very explosive, personally… ‘he says cryptically and mysteriously.’” With a smile, he added: “Stay tuned!”

Question: I am really looking forward to the rest of Season 2 on Revenge. Especially after that last episode, what can we expect? –Matt

Mitovich: You know how Gabriel Mann teased for us a “Nolan-centric” season finale? At this week’s TV Academy event showcasing the ABC sudser, he elaborated – somewhat – about what’s on tap, saying that over “the next three or four episodes, you’re going to have a very good idea of where these events may be leading.” In fact, he’s left to wonder “whether we may hit that apex even prior to the finale — and if we do, what does that mean for what the finale actually could mean?” His working theory: Simply that the season-ender “is going to be next-level [stuff]. It’s going to be hard to top last year, so they’ve got their work cut out for them.”

Question: Will Neal’s fiancée play a role in future Once Upon a Time episodes? –Devin

Mitovich: Yes — though probably not in quite the way you expect. And that’s all I’ll say, for now, on the matter… so here’s series co-creator Eddy Kitsis, pre-PaleyFest: “Tamara’s not going anywhere anytime soon…. We’re very excited for the audience to see what she’s all about.”

Question: Will Nashville‘s Deacon find out about his secret child with Rayna this season? –Stephanie

Mitovich: Series creator Callie Khouri confirms that Deacon thus far “has no idea” about his progeny, and she seems in no rush to drop that paternity bombshell. “That’s a big deal… We’ll hold that,” Khouri says – though, keep in mind, she hasn’t tackled the season finale yet.

Question: Is the rumor true that T.J. Ramini is returning to NCIS (as Mossad Officer Malachi Ben-Gidon)? –Ted

Mitovich: “It’s no secret Eli David’s killer is still out there — and Ziva wants answers as does Mossad,” answers showrunner Gary Glasberg. “But we will have to wait and see if that means Malachi is coming back as well.”

Question: Now that things are starting to heat up between Person of Interest‘s Reese and Zoe, are we going to see Paige Turco again soon? –Kelly

Mitovich: I was prepared to break the news that, no, Turco has not booked her next visit just yet. And now, in light of her new commitment, it might be a while ’til she’s available for an encore.

Question: You guys have been lacking on the Nikita scoop lately! Give up the goods! – Lauren

Team Watch with Kristin: Say goodbye to Division! Yep, the President has hired a Navy SEAL team to disband Division, but things get complicated when a certain black box ends up in the wrong hands.

Question: Supernatural? – Haley:

Team Watch with Kristin: Prepare to meet a new angel: Metatron! The CW hit is currently casting the role of the aged, hunched angel, who is the Scribe of God. While he’s a bit of a scatterbrain, he knows how to get the job done. Think Obi-Wan Kenobi meets The Usual Suspect’s Virgil Kent. Fans can expect Metatron to stick around for at least three episodes and potentially next season as well!

Question: Revenge it up! – Lauren

Team Watch with Kristin: Is that young people speak for “give me Revenge spoilers?” If so, here it is! Henry Czerny tells us that for those fans who want Conrad and Victoria together and happy (do those fans exist?), they should know that he thinks Conrad would “go through the gauntlet” to get to a happy ending with Victoria. “There is hope,” he tells us. “But there is juicy stuff coming up that we have to get through before they can think about being together.”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

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

TELEVISION

Actor Jeffrey Wright (Angels in America) has joined the cast of the HBO drama Boardwalk Empire. He will play Valentin Narcisse, Doctor of Divinity, philanthropist, student of culture and the man who runs Harlem. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

CBS has moved their new drama Vegas to Friday nights at 9 PM in order to allow new drama Golden Boy to take over the Tuesday at 10 PM timeslot. (The Wrap)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Keri Russell (The Americans) will have the female lead in the sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, but the role has yet to be identified so there are no specifics at this time. (Variety and Dark Horizons)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Theatrical Trailer

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

Question: I’m waiting patiently for the next new Scandal at the end of March, so can you give me any scoop? – Carly

Team Watch with Kristin: Oh, you thought Fitz’s health issues were over? Silly, silly Scandal fan!

Question: I’ll take anything on Teen Wolf’s Stiles! – Jean

Team Watch with Kristin: Stiles will kiss someone in the first half of the season. Two hints: It’s a girl (Sorry, Sterek fans!) and it’s not Lydia, who will be attracting the attention of an Alpha.

Question: Toby can’t really be dead on Pretty Little Liars, right?! – Lauren D.

Team Watch with Kristin: Well, we do meet his mother in the season four premiere, but she’s in her pajamas, which is a weird detail, no? Also not a good sign: A reporter will also be in the episode, detailing a sad story, as well as a State cop who is part of an investigation. Ruh-roh!

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Nikki DeLoach (Awkward.) will guest star in an upcoming episode of CSI. The episode is expected to air on May 1 and she will play Heather, a Type-A personality who is ambitious, tightly-wound and a “company ass-kisser.” She attends a corporate training at a wilderness retreat, and when her fellow team member is found dead, she becomes a prime suspect. (Philiana Ng at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actress Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) and actors Mark Duplass and Ted Danson will star in the new indie film called The One I Love in which Moss and Duplass will play a young couple with marital problems while Danson will play their therapist. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Q&A SECTION (with Team Watch with Kristin at E! Online, Natalie Abrams and Adam Bryant at TV Guide, Michael Ausiello at TV Line and Sandra Gonzalez at Entertainment Weekly)

Question: Revenge freak here. I actually love Emily and Aiden together, so what’s coming up for them? – Selena

Team Watch with Kristin: “It’s always a question,” Barry Sloan tells us. “They are so similar in a way that draws them to each other, but it also causes problems.” Looks like Emily now has three will-they-or-won’t-they relationships to juggle on Revenge. But Sloan insists that they are still in a stage where they are figuring out what their relationship is, which is more than Jack and Daniel can say right now.

Question: Thanks for the Revolution scoop! Is there anything you can tease about the return episode? — James

NATALIE: Death! Yup, there will be a major casualty in the very first episode back. Executive producer Eric Kripke offered up this one tease: “I can say that it changes the dynamic wildly,” he says. “It’s a story that really kicks off the mythology for the rest of the season.”

Question: What can you say about Vampire Diaries’ return next week? — Harlan

NATALIE: The new and maybe not so improved Elena is going to be one feisty vampire. Not only will she taunt both Salvatores with her nakedness (sounds a little Katherine-esque, right?), but she’ll get in a major fight with her BFF Caroline. And we’re not talking a war of the words, but an all-out physical brawl.

Question: Is Once Upon a Time going to Neverland?! —Jayma

NATALIE: Based on the final two episode titles, it certainly sounds like it. But I have some bad news about the finale. If last year’s was about breaking the curse, this year’s is a little more ominous than that. “At the end of last year, Mr. Gold said magic was coming. Now that magic is here, it always comes with a price. In the finale, we’ll see that price,” executive producer Edward Kitsis tells me. Does that mean someone is going to die? Executive producer Adam Horowitz adds, “We should always be worried about death, but I would say that there are things to be worried about that you are probably not worried about yet, but you will be!”

Question: I need some Arrow scoop. Will the Dark Archer change his mind about Oliver now? — Luke

NATALIE: Perhaps. After Oliver inadvertently saved his foe’s life, there may be a détente on the horizon. “It certainly makes the Dark Archer see potential that he maybe didn’t see before for something greater,” Geoff Johns tells me.

Question: When will Kate finally say “I love you” to Rick on Castle? —Meg

Ausiello: Probably when she succeeds in breaking down those steel-fortified walls of his. “The issue [ex-wife Meredith raised] is going to cause some trouble,” series creator Andrew Marlowe acknowledges. “We spent four years exposing who Kate is. She’s a very private person, and she’s kind of opened [up] to Castle. But now the question is, where’s Castle’s depth? He tends to live on the surface, but we know there’s more to him than that. So part of what we’re going to do is dig a little deeper.” As such, Castle‘s boss says the final batch of episodes will shed additional light on Rick’s backstory. “It was really gratifying in the [recent] two-parter to be able to expose some of his history,” notes Marlowe, “some of the things that came to him when he was a kid and some of the things that made him who he is. We’ll see more of those kinds of moments as we move forward.”

Question: I am a huge fan of “Rumbelle” on Once Upon a Time. Do you know what is going to happen between those two once Rumple’s back from his trip to the Big Apple? —Mélodie

Ausiello: This Sunday, as Rumple lay dying, he makes a most passionate outpouring to Belle. But will it be enough to spark her memory? ”This influx of hearing who you were or are, or even thinking about what you’re supposed to be, obviously sort of goes round and round and round in your mind,” Emilie de Ravin allows. And while it might not bust open Belle’s floodgates ASAP, she says, “There’s always going to be that connection with him in a certain respect.”

Question: The chemistry between Once Upon a Time‘s Jennifer Morrison and Michael Raymond-James is amazing. What’s next for Neal and Emma? —Patti

Ausiello: In the short-term, as glimpsed in these pics? A bit of side-by-side sword-brandishing. But as for them reconnecting in more intimate ways, “It’s hard for Emma,” says co-creator Eddy Kitsis. “Their dream was Tallahassee, to just go and get regular jobs — and now he’s doing that with [fiancée Tamara]. And since Emma’s the kind of character who has a wall up around her heart, I’m not sure she wants to admit it hurts her, but we’re definitely going to see that it does. And it affects him because we know that he didn’t want to leave her. He’s in love with her. What happened [in “Manhattan”] is a situation that neither of them ever thought would happen, so now what do you do? That’s what a lot of the rest of the season’s about.”

Question: I may be reading too much into it, but wasn’t it a bit curious that Daniel bought his assistant breakfast back from his fake meeting with Helen on Revenge? Since he broke things off with Emily, perhaps he has eyes for someone new? —Jen

Ausiello: Josh Bowman confirmed to TVLine Monday at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ “Evening with Revenge” that Episode 18 (slated to air March 31) will mark “a return to romance” for Daniel, though it’s not his corporate minion he’ll be canoodling with — it’s Ashley… or Emily, he teased. “[Daniel is] changing quite drastically as a character,” Bowman added. “The Initiative story starts to wrap up, which is I think a good thing, and we’re getting back to the roots of who each of the characters are and why they’re there — why Emily’s here, more importantly — and Daniel gets involved.”

Question: Tell me something about Revenge! —Simona

Ausiello: Aiden will be a scarce presence in the next batch of episodes. “He’s been [put] on the backburner purely because of [Emily]‘s emotional state,” explains Barry Sloane. “One thing he knows about her is that she needs space. And because of Amanda dying, she’s going to be putting [her] guard back up, not allowing people into her life so much.”

Question: What does Zoe and Wade’s break-up on Hart of Dixie mean for George and Tansy? —Melissa

Ausiello: In the short term? It’ll bring them closer together. “I don’t think it’s going to fray their relationship,” ventures Scott Porter. “If anything, it gives them something else to bond over and to focus on outside of their relationship.” Rachel Bilson, however, suspects the show will eventually pull the trigger on George/Zoe on account of the fact that “we haven’t seen them together yet.” (Plus, there’s a scene later this season where even the local gossip columnist is buzzing about, as he puts it, a “Zeorge” romance!) Bonus Scoop: Dixie‘s season finale, titled “On the Road Again,” finds Zoe traveling back to the Big Apple (for reasons that are not immediately clear).

Question: Not loving this Scandal hiatus. Not loving it at all. Gimme something to tied me over until March 21. —Jay

Ausiello: Jake will start showing his true colors. And they are multiple shades of extremely freakin’ dark.

Question: I’m so glad to hear that OUAT isn’t planning on recasting the Mad Hatter. But anything else you can report about the spin-off possibilities? — Tina

Sandra: While talk of a possible spin-off was definitely “premature,” Adam Horowitz and Eddie Kitsis told me at PaleyFest that they might do some test footage at the end of the year. “But the idea is not a spin-off in the traditional sense — another five-year, 22-episode series,” says Kitsis. “It’s much more in the vein of an American Horror Story, with a beginning, middle, and end.”

Question: Snow looked SO pissed in this week’s episode. Can you tell me anything about this Snow/Regina feud on OUAT? — Laurel

Sandra: Oh, you haven’t even seen it reach a full boil yet. After this week, “the gloves are going to come off,” says Horowitz. “It’s not going to be pretty for a little while. … It’s just a freight train from here on out.”

Question: PaleyFest didn’t give enough Once finale scoop! Help me out! — Clara

Sandra: One word: Game-changer. “It’s up to the audience how they’re going to take it,” Horowitz said. “But we’re really excited as storytellers for how we leave this season.” Kitsis adds that the theme of this season has always been the price of magic, and in the finale “we’ll see that get paid … whether that’s death or something worse.”

Question: I really enjoyed Colton Haynes on Arrow, but (comic nerd warning) I’m curious if they’re going to delve into the fact that Roy Harper has a drug past. Any intel? — Leslie

Sandra: That’s actually one of Haynes’ burning questions, too, and he’s as anxious as you are for answers. “They [did] get into the fact that his mom was into it, but Roy Harper is one of the only DC comic character with a heavy drug past, so it will be interesting if they take it that way,” he says.

Question: Any Hart of Dixie scoopage? — Jenni

Sandra: We all know that Dr. Zoe Hart is a skilled physician, but an upcoming episode is going to find the doc showing her lifesaving skills in the air.

Question: I’m a die-hard USA fan. Psych, Suits, White Collar, Royal Pains — I’ll take something on any of them! — Tara

Sandra: In an early season 5 episode of Royal Pains we’re going to meet Milos, Boris’ outgoing cousin, who shares more than Boris’s surname; he also has the same genetic disease.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for yesterday and today:

TELEVISION

ABC has canceled their new drama Zero Hour after only three episodes due to low ratings. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

FOX on the other hand has given a second season order to The Following. (The Futon Critic)

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

TNT is developing a scripted drama based on novelist Sara Gran’s book series about tough female private investigator Claire DeWitt. (Lacey Rose at The Hollywood Reporter)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies this past weekend courtesy of Exhibitor Relations:

1. Jack the Giant Slayer – $28 million
2. Identity Thief -$9.7 million
3. 21 and Over – $9 million
4. The Last Exorcism Part II – $8 million
5. Snitch – $7.7 million
6. Escape From Planet Earth – $6.7 million
7. Safe Haven – $6.3 million
8. Silver Linings Playbook – $5.9 million
9. A Good Day to Die Hard – $4.5 million
10. Dark Skies – $3.6 million

Actor Jesse L. Martin will be taking over for singer-actor Lenny Kravitz in the lead role of Marvin Gaye in the upcoming bio-pic called Sexual Healing that will focus on the time Gaye spent in Europe in the early 1980s, when the soul singer attempted to get his addictions under control and his career back on track with the help of British music promoter Freddy Cousaert. (Deadline and Dark Horizons)

Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, Supernatural and Magic City) will join Anthony Hopkins and Colin Farrell in the supernatural thriller called Solace. Hopkins will play a former doctor with psychic abilities who is drawn into a serial-killer case, only to find that the killer (Farrell) is a psychic as well — so the two men can detect each other’s moves. Morgan is playing a veteran FBI agent heading the investigation of a series of grisly murders. He recruits Hopkins’ character to help catch the killer. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

Actress Rebecca Hall (The Town) has landed the lead role opposite Johnny Depp in the sci-fi film Transcendence. The film will also star Paul Bettany. The story is supposedly to follow a husband and wife team who develop a programming code for the first self-aware computer. But when a group of anti-technology terrorists try to assassinate the husband, his wife uploads his brain into a prototype supercomputer. Rather than going horribly wrong, the man starts to respond in computer form and connects him to the Internet to continue to explore this breakthrough. But the terrorists are still in pursuit, trying to destroy the computer. (First Showing)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

‘Iron Man 3’ Trailer

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

Question: In desperate need of PLL scoop! – Dana

Team Watch with Kristin: We can tell you that the season four premiere will be titled “‘A’ is for A-l-i-v-e.” Take from that what you will. In the episode, we’ll meet Marion, Toby’s mother.

Question: Once Upon a Time scoop please! – Dahlia

Team Watch with Kristin: While the only answer Colin O’Donoghue would give us when we asked if he’s filmed any scenes in Neverland yet was a coy smile and a nervous deflection, the show’s creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis revealed that the two-part season two finale episode titles are “Second Star to the Right” and “And Straight On ‘Til Morning.”

Question: I’m waiting on the return of Revolution. What can I expect in the first episode back? – ChuckGamble1968

Team Watch with Kristin: Answers! “We reveal why the power went out and we do it early,” creator Eric Kripke teases. He also adds that “the fights get bigger, the emotion gets more fraught.” Is it March 25 yet?

Question: Hart of Dixie broke my heart last week! Any scoop on what’s next for Zoe? – Ashley

Team Watch with Kristin: Zoe is heading back to New York! Yes, episode 22 will find our heartbroken doc heading back to her old stomping grounds, but don’t worry; it’s not a one-way trip as she’s traveling back for a wedding. On the flight, however, she will have a very chatty seatmate who will provide Zoe with some advice on her love life, which includes major updates on both the Wade and George front.

Question: Scandal, please! – Tweetydreamer20

Team Watch with Kristin: In an upcoming episode, Fitz and Mellie will be interviewed by a Barbara Walters-type, who gets the couple to talk a bit about their relationship in law school, where the two often went head-to-head.

Question: Was the recent episode of Person of Interest that guest-starred Sarah Shahi a back-door pilot? I found the episode to be fantastic, and if they were going to spin it off, I would watch it in a second. — Mike

Matt Roush: My understanding is that she will return later this season as part of an arc, with the potential of being integrated into the larger world of the show, not unlike the equally appealing recurring character of Zoe, played by Paige Turco. At the moment, a spin-off doesn’t appear to be on CBS’ development roster, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the question. We already know CBS isn’t shy about offshoots of its most successful franchises, but Person of Interest is awfully offbeat, so I’m not sure it lends itself to this quite as easily.

Additional Question: Another POI fan, Tommy, writes in to observe: “The last half-dozen episodes have been spectacular. Excellent writing and storytelling that has exceeded even The Good Wife, in my opinion. Moving on from the Elias storyline last season to a broader exploration of The Machine has really raised the bar this season. Is there a smarter series on network TV today? Does that bode well for renewal?”

Matt again: Person of Interest is way too young, and way too good, to have to worry about cancellation anytime soon. It’s also too different from The Good Wife for me to want to declare one “smarter” than the other — let’s just be glad that a network as successful as CBS can support both of them.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actor DJ Qualls (Memphis Beat and Supernatural) will guest star in the TNT drama Perception when the cable series returns for its second season this summer. He will play Agent Rudy Fleckner, a young, tech-savvy FBI agent who specializes in investigating cyber crimes. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Siobhan Finneran, who plays Miss O’Brien on Downton Abbey will not be returning for season four of the international hit. (Jarett Wieselman at ET Online)

Actors Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) and Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) will star opposite Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer in The Normal Heart, HBO‘s original movie adaptation of the Tony-winning Larry Kramer play. The project tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s. Parsons will play gay activist Tommy Boatwright while Kitsch will play Bruce Niles, a closeted investment banker who becomes a prominent AIDS activist. Roberts will play physician Dr. Emma Brookner, a survivor of childhood polio who treats several of the earliest victims of HIV-AIDS. Ruffalo will play Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand the mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Bomer will play Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

Attention Drop Dead Diva fans! It looks like the show will be back for a fifth season on Lifetime after all, as the network and Sony Pictures TV has come to an agreement to give the show another go-round. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Australian actress Sarah Snook (Ghosts and Sleeping Beauty) will star opposite Ethan Hawke in the upcoming box office film called Predestination, a time-travelling sci-fi thriller where Hawke will play a Temporal Agent who on his final assignment pursues a criminal who has long eluded him. (The Deadline Team)

Actor Gary Oldman has joined the cast of the upcoming sequel film Dawn of The Planet of the Apes. It is being reported that he will play Dreyfus, leader of the human resistance after the apes have taken power. (Mike Fleming, Jr. at Deadline)

Actor Liam Neeson will lend his voice to the upcoming animated film called The Nut Job. The film will be about a mischievous squirrel who plots to rob a nut store with his rat friend Buddy. Neeson will voice the villainous Raccoon. Other actors lending their voices to this film include Katherine Heigl, Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Stephen Lang, Sarah Gadon, and comedian Jeff Dunham. (Lucas Shaw at The Wrap and Jen Yamato at Deadline)

Actress Abigail Spencer (Suits and Mad Men) will appear in the upcoming box office film called Beautiful Now that tells the story of a passionate dancer who finds herself mulling an extreme act when she reaches a crossroads in her life. As she hangs on the razor’s edge, crossing between reality and fantasy, her fractured group of friends reunite and embark on a shared journey into intense memories of their past, helping the woman answer the question. (Borys Kit at The Hollywood Reporter)

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

Question: So excited for the new season of Teen Wolf! Got anything to share on what we can expect from the new characters? – Hannah

Team Watch with Kristin: With Alphas comes Betas! We’ll meet one of lead Alpha Deaucalion’s Betas Marco in episode eight (the same episode that features a flashback to Derek’s haunted past). Marco is volatile, angry and not afraid to confront an Alpha.

Question: How will Amanda’s death affect Jack on Revenge? – Meghan

Team Watch with Kristin: “I think you’re going to start seeing a very different Jack then you’ve seen,” Gabriel Mann teases. “Personally, when I started seeing some of the scripts that were coming out it was like, ‘Great, finally!’ You know it’s going to make it complicated in some of his friendships and relationships coming up, this new kind of character twist, but it’s so fun. ”

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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Hey All,

Here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

The CW is moving their new thriller series Cult to Friday nights at 9 PM starting on March 8. (The Futon Critic)

Actress Joanna Cassidy (Body of Proof) will appear as the mom of Seeley Booth on Bones. (William Keck at TV Guide)

Actress Susan Misner (Person of Interest) will play a new love interest for Deacon (Charles Esten) on Nashville. (Kate Stanhope at TV Guide)

Actress Melinda McGraw (Mad Men) will play the wife of ruthless oil tycoon Hollis Doyle on Scandal. (Michael Ausiello at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Chris Cooper is set to play Norman Osborn in the upcoming sequel The Amazing Spider-Man 2. (The Deadline Team)

BOX OFFICE TRAILER

Hot Trailer: ‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2′

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

Question: Last night’s episode of Arrow was insane! In desperate need of spoilers now! – Declan

Team Watch with Kristin: Meet episode 20’s big bad: Edward Rasmus, a wealthy investment broker/fraud who has a network of criminal associates at his disposal and thinks he’s untouchable in Starling City. Ha! Rasmus, who has silver-streaked hair (Hmmm…), defrauds investors and rides off with their money, something we’re sure Oliver isn’t too impressed by.

Question: I’ll take Beauty and the Beast scoop if you’ve got it! – Davis

Team Watch with Kristin: In the show’s 18th episode of the season, which is ominously titled “Moving On,” we’ll meet Kirk, a new medical examiner who is handsome, but edgy and aggressive (Think Henry Rollins). Fans can expect the newbie to stick around for a little bit.

Question: Are there any more hot Deacon and Rayna kisses coming up on Nashville? – Jenna

Team Watch with Kristin: If we do get any hot makeout sessions between those two, better enjoy it while you can. Because near the end of the season, those two won’t exactly be on smooching terms. In fact, when tragedy hits Rayna’s personal life, Deacon can only manage an awkward phone call to make sure she’s OK. Not exactly the timeline Deacon-Rayna shippers want, eh?

Question: What does the Season 3 finale of Pretty Little Liars hold for us? – Fernando

Mitovich: Just as I was hand-crafting this week’s column, ‘Nando, this official synopsis for the March 19 season ender, titled “A dAngerous gAme,” arrived from ABC Family: “Spencer is back home and presenting a good front, but Aria, Hanna and Emily are not so sure their friend is fully back after seeing how fragile she was just a day or so before. Unfortunately the girls don’t have much time to ponder Spencer’s health as shocking revelations are brought to the forefront. With so much happening and new information being uncovered, will the Liars be ready for what is waiting for them?”

Question: James Brolin was so good as Castle’s father. Will Martha and Kate hear the entire story? – Cynthia

Mitovich: We will have to assume they both were utterly regaled by the overseas espionage tale, because as Nathan Fillion told us at the show’s 100th episode party, there’s “nothing in the episodes that we’ve filmed” since the two-parter that calls back to the paternal reveal. As for how the long-awaited father/son meeting played out, Fillion said he was “very satisfied,” explaining, “To find out that his dad has had a hand in his life ever since he was kid, that his dad has been there in the wings, I think, for Castle, is a good feeling. He can’t have any feelings of, ‘I was abandoned.’ He knows now his dad has been a shadow.”

Question: Was Castle‘s second kidnapping really shot in Paris? Or on a sound stage? – Leslie

Mitovich: Molly Quinn confirmed that she, director Rob Bowman and her TV dad’s stuntman got to travel to France for a quickie shoot – yet nonetheless fielded tons of teasing/envy, especially from Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever. Says the actress, “I kept telling them, ‘I feel bad. I wish we could all go. But really, I’m going to go there, I’m going to be jet-lagged. I’m going to work three days and then I come back, I’ll be jet-legged again and then I have to get back to work!’”

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

After hitting a dry spell on news yesterday (there wasn’t anything to report on – SIGH!?!), here are the news items for today:

TELEVISION

Actress Jill Flint (Royal Pains) will guest star on an upcoming episode of Elementary, playing Alysa Darvin, a beguiling young woman who catches the eye of Detective Bell (Jon Michael Hill) when he helps Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller) investigate a heist in the middle of a blizzard. Her episode is slated to air on April 4. (Natalie Abrams at TV Guide)

Actress Kathy Bates has signed on for the third season of American Horror Story in whatever incarnation the series takes that time around. (Tim Stack at Entertainment Weekly and TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Navid Negahban (Abu Nazir on Homeland) will appear in the upcoming independent drama film called Words and Pictures. He will play the headmaster at a New England prep school where a charismatic English teacher (Clive Owen) and a guarded art teacher (Juliette Binoche) form an unlikely bond, one later complicated by romance. (The Hollywood Reporter and Dark Horizons)

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

Question: You are now my official “go-to” for Revenge spoilers. What do you have for me? – Alicia

Team Watch with Kristin: Prepare for our Revenge ladies to go back to being bad! Madeleine Stowe tells us that not only is Victoria going back to being a “naughty troublemaker,” but Emily will also “really flip over to the dark side” for the rest of the season. But it won’t be all fun and games for our Queen of the Hamptons. “Victoria is incredibly haunted by something from her past that’s going to be a very large component in the story,” she reveals to us. Plus, those of you who are so over the Initiative situation will be happy to hear that as far as Stowe knows, they are shooting the last of that storyline right now.

Question: I need Once Upon a Time scoop, STAT! — Mallory

NATALIE: Let’s see if I can turn this into a fairy tale: Once upon a time, a noble and moral character made a drastic decision that would forever mar his or her future, something so dastardly and irreversible that you would think that this character was actually evil rather than pure of heart. Any guess as to who will make the biggest mistake of his or her life?

Question: What’s going to happen now that Monroe has power on Revolution? — John

NATALIE: If Miles, Rachel and the kids are able to escape Monroe’s helicopters — spoiler alert: they do — the group will be on a quest to turn the power back on for everyone, which is why they enlist the help of other territories, like the Georgia Federation (headed up by Leslie Hope). “Now that the stakes have changed, Rachel feels that it’s the only thing that can be done,” Elizabeth Mitchell says. “But whether or not that can be done, it’s really hard.”

Question: Loved meeting Rick’s dad on Castle, but it just left me with more questions! When will we see him again? — Sam

ADAM: That’s exactly how creator Andrew W. Marlowe wanted you — and Castle himself — to feel. “We wanted to not give him as big a bite at the relationship as he would want,” he says. “Castle is going to crave that connection and crave knowing that guy more. That will give us some storytelling options as we go into Season 6 if the TV gods are kind enough to grant that to us.” And while Marlowe didn’t rule out another Spy Daddy appearance this season, you can expect his father’s presence to be felt in other ways. “We’re interested to see how this influences Castle’s writing,” Marlowe teases. “There’ll be a new Derrick Storm novel coming out this year, and it will be very much influenced by the events he just went through.”

Question: I’ve just finished watching the first season of Once Upon a Time and I love it, especially the relationship between Emma and August/Pinocchio. Do you know if he is coming back in Season 2? —Gaia

Ausiello: Yes, as previously reported, Eion Bailey will resurface later this season as August — as will Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham/The Huntsman! — but Emma will only reunite with one the fellas. “I don’t have scenes with Jamie, unfortunately,” Jennifer Morrison shares with us, “but I do have scenes with Eion.” Bonus Scoop: Though Matt Mitovich teased in the new Spoiler Alert! that there would be one death in this Sunday’s episode, technically there are two — one in each realm.

Question: Any scoop on the upcoming Klaus sex scene on The Vampire Diaries? —Holly

Ausiello: Teases exec producer Julie Plec of the anticipated coitus session in Episode 16 (airing March 14): “I will say that Joseph Morgan has some tattoos that I didn’t know he had until shooting this scene.” (BTW, Plec wouldn’t say if his partner in fornication was someone we’ve met before).

Question: Any scoop on Elijah’s Vampire Diaries return? —Jessica

Ausiello: Plec confirms that viewers will get “a little Elijah flavor” before the planted Originals spin-off airs in April. “It’ll be fun to have him back in our Mystic Falls universe,” she adds. “We finally get a sense of what he’s been doing during his whole absence from our world.”

Question: Can you give us any Vampire Diaries scoop on Silas? —Holly

Ausiello: Plec will eventually put a face to the name, telling TVLine, “We do plan at some point to meet the real Silas.”

Question: Suits fanatic here. Is it too early to beg for details about next season? —Anelej

Ausiello: Folks, you really need to stop asking me if it’s too early for scoop. As the Ask Ausiello mission statement clearly states, it’s never too early. Case in point: I already know that Season 3 will continue the Rachel-wants-to-become-a-lawyer plot, despite her recent rejection from Harvard. “I don’t think her quest to become a lawyer is dead,” shares EP Aaron Korsh. “[But] she’s going to have to deal with what she wants to do [in Season 3]. She acted with hubris [and] didn’t apply to a backup school. There are other schools she can apply to. She’s got to decide what she wants to do moving forward.”

Question: In the last new Nashville, Glenn quit working for Juliette. Does that mean she’s going to have a new (and maybe young and hot) manager sometime soon? –Dana

Ausiello: Her new manager is certainly young and decidedly hot… and that’s because Juliette’s new manager is herself! Despite the country star’s new sense of direction, “She’s not better off without him, that’s for sure,” says creator Callie Khouri. “She’s certainly not the best person to be managing her own career. So we’re going to watch that for a while.”

Question: I’d like to know how much longer Fitz is going to go down this dark path on Scandal before we get to see him happier again. —Carly

Ausiello: Well, first he has to stop surrounding himself with such lowlifes. Case in point: An upcoming episode will involve a Supreme Court nominee (played by Tim Halligan, Commander in Chief) whose skeleton-packed closet threatens to tarnish Fitz’s recommendation and image.

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

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

GENERAL

Congrats to all of the winners at the Academy Awards last night, including (but not limited to) Argo, Ang Lee, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jennifer Lawrence, Christoph Waltz, Anne Hathaway, Adele, Brave, Amour, Les Misérables and Anna Karenina.

TELEVISION

Actor Misha Collins will be back as a series regular on Supernatural when the show returns for its ninth season this fall. He, of course, has played angel Castiel since season four. (Vlada Gelman at TV Line)

Actor Alan Ritchson (Smallville and the upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Hawaii Five-0, playing a Navy SEAL who was McGarrett’s best buddy in the military. (Zap2It and Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

Actor James Sheridan (Homeland) will guest star in an upcoming episode of NCIS as McGee’s (Sean Murphy) father, Admiral John McGee. (Matt Mitovich at TV Line)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Here are the top 10 box office movies for this past weekend based on weekend estimates provided by Deadline:

1. Identity Thief – 14 million
2. Snitch – 12.8 million
3. Escape from Planet Earth 3D – 11.1 million
4. Safe Haven – 10.7 million
5. A Good Day to Die Hard – 9.7 million
6. Dark Skies – 8.4 million
7. Silver Linings Playbook – 5.9 million
8. Warm Bodies – 4.8 million
9. Beautiful Creatures – 3.4 million
10. Side Effects – 3.4 million

That’s it. Enjoy!

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Hey All,

Here is the news, short though it may be, for today:

TELEVISION

FX has ordered a second season of their new 1980’s set drama The Americans that will consist of 13 episodes. (The Wrap)

Actor Hill Harper (CSI: NY) has joined the cast of the USA Network spy drama Covert Affairs as a new series regular. He will play an ambitious CIA station chief based in Latin America who is plotting his way into a bigger position back in Washington and seeks Annie and Auggie’s help, but his questionable actions will cause them to doubt his intentions. (Nellie Andreeva at Deadline)

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Actor Jeremy Jordan (Smash and Joyful Noise) will star opposite Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect) for the upcoming box office film The Last 5 Years that is being adapted from the award-winning off-Broadway musical. Jordan will play Jamie, a rising novelist whose relationship with struggling actress Cathy (Kendrick) is explored through an unusual narrative device: His story unfolds in chronological order as the pair first meet, while hers unfolds in reverse starting at the end of their marriage. (Jen Yamato at Deadline)

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

Question: I still can’t believe Revenge killed off Amanda just as I was really getting to like her! What’s next for Emily? – Shawn

Team Watch with Kristin: “Amanda’s death on the show kind of sets us up for the rest of the season. It’s certainly affecting to Emily,” Gabriel Mann previews. “I think the reasons and the psychology behind it will inform a lot of where you see Jack go for the rest of the season. You know it sort of just ups the stakes in a different kind of way because it’s one thing to ruin somebody and kick them out of town, but to send them to the bottom of the ocean vengeance must be paid. There will be hell to pay.” Did anyone else just get chills?

That’s it. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

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