Tim Roth 'sad' that 'Lie to Me' is replacing 'Lone Star'

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/09/29/tim-roth-sad-lie-to-me-lone-star/

I know. Fox killed and buried Lone Star so quickly that it’s almost hard to be happy that its demise has led to the third-season premiere of Lie to Me being bumped up from Nov. 10 to…um, Monday (when it assumes the DOA drama’s time slot). But try to be happy anyway, okay? Series lead Tim Roth and I have even come up with five excellent reasons why you should forgive his show for jumping into Lone Star‘s grave.

5. He feels funny about the situation too. “What happened to Lone Star…I’m sad for those guys,” he says. “A lot of passion goes into making a TV show, [so] it must be very heartbreaking to have that happen.”

4. He truly feels that season 3 of Lie to Me “will be our strongest,” he says, adding that his character, profiler Cal, may look back as he moves forward. “We’ll go into his past more, and there are women who are going to come up in his life. The relationship he has with his daughter opens up as well as his relationship with Foster.”

3. In the wake of Ben’s shooting, the Lightman Group is playing a whole new ballgame. “Lightman cuts ties with the FBI,” Roth reveals. Luckily, “Ben is not dead…or is he?”

2. “The crooked cop played by Monique [Gabriela Curnen] comes back,” Roth says. And when she does, the question becomes, will Cal use their relationship to help Internal Affairs bust her?

1. There are guest stars galore—including a Gilmore Girls alum. David “Rory’s Dad” Sutcliffe has just sealed a deal to appear in episode 7 as a Tony Robbins type, Annette “Clark Kent’s Mom” O’Toole pops up in episode 4 as a woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and in episode 5, Battlestar Galactica‘s Tricia Helfer passes through as…actually, I don’t care what she passes through as. If she’s passing through, I’m there.
 

Fox cancels 'Lone Star'

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118024752.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=verttv

Fox just adminstered some cruel Texas justice on "Lone Star."

The critically acclaimed drama received this fall's first bullet, succumbing to ratings so low that even Fox's spinmeisters couldn't find the silver lining.

"The viewers have spoken," said one network insider.

Fox will now air "Lie to Me" in the Monday 9 p.m. slot starting Oct. 4. "Lie to Me" wasn't originally scheduled to return to the air until November, when it was set for Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Few expected Fox to hold on to "Lone Star" beyond this week. Fox execs were worried that they might be faced with a dilemma, had "Lone Star" shown a slight uptick over its dismal 1.3 rating among adults 18-49 last week.

Turns out there was no need to worry -- according to final national ratings, "Lone Star" averaged just a 1.0 rating and 3 share on Monday night, down 23% from week one.

"Lone Star" also appeared to be dragging its lead-in, "House" (3.8/10) down. And even as "House" declines, "Lone Star" still just held a stunningly low 25% of the "House" lead-in audience.

In its second half hour Monday night, "Lone Star" posted just a 0.9 rating with adults 18-49 -- below the CW's "Gossip Girl."

That was the final straw for Fox execs, who had seen enough.

Fox had to act fast: It's shaping up to be a competitive fall, and Fox wound up in fourth place this premiere week, narrowly behind ABC and NBC. In a world where a tenth of a rating's point can make a huge difference in primetime standings, Fox couldn't afford to keep "Lone Star" around any longer.

It won't be for lack of trying on the part of critics -- who gave "Lone Star" some of the best reviews of any new show this fall -- or creator Kyle Killen, who took to the Internet last week in a last-ditch effort to stir up support for the show.

"For us to survive we're going to have to pull off a minor miracle," Killen wrote on his blog. "Statistically, new shows tend to lose viewers in their second week. We're aiming to gain them. In fact, screw it, let's just double our audience. The good news is, our audience was so small that if my Mom and my Dad watch it we'll pretty much be there."

Unfortunately for Killen and fans of the show, it didn't quite get there.

"Lone Star" reps one of the earliest fall TV cancellations in recent memory -- but it likely won't be the last in the coming weeks, as the networks mull other changes to their skeds. ABC, for example, may want to do something with "The Whole Truth" if it posts another low number this week, while it's pretty much a given that NBC will shift "The Apprentice" to another night -- likely Friday -- after this week.

Five episodes of "Lone Star" have already been produced; it's unclear whether the three remaining segs will be screened elsewhere (perhaps online). The show centered on con man Bob Allen (James Wolk), who manages to infiltrate a Houston oil company, get in good with the boss (Jon Voight) and marry his daughter (Adrianne Palicki). While playing that ruse, dreamt up by his dad (David Keith), Bob is also living a double life in small town Midland, Texas, where he's got a girlfriend and more marks.

From 20th Century Fox TV, "Lone Star" comes from exec producers Killen. Chris Keyser, Amy Lippman, Kerry Kohansky, Paul Weitz and Peter Horton. Marc Webb directed the pilot.
 

Ask Ausiello 9/22/10

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/09/22/ask-ausiello-spoilers-glee-greys-gossip/

Question: Okay, so in order for me to make it ’till Thursday, I need some Grey’s Anatomy scoop—specifically on Mer/Der. —Olivia
Ausiello: By the time Meredith tells Derek about her pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage in next week’s episode, she will have kept both secrets for a grand total of three months. Why wait so long? “The man was shot and he’s already feeling [responsible] for getting a bunch of people killed,” explains series creator Shonda Rhimes. “So for her to tell him that the shooting also caused her miscarriage seems a little bit cruel. He doesn’t need one more thing to worry about.” Makes sense to me!

Question: I’d love a little Grey’s Anatomy scoopbit. —Christine
Ausiello: Yet another Buffy grad is checking into Seattle Grace. Amber Benson (ex-Tara) will guest star in this season’s seventh episode as the estranged daughter of one of Cristina’s patients.

Question: Any scoop on Ziva’s storyline on NCIS? —Jennifer
Ausiello: During November sweeps, Ziva “comes face-to-face with her father for the first time since her return from Israel,” reveals exec producer Shane Brennan. “It’s an emotion-charged reunion in a two-part episode that also reveals much about the enigmatic Eli David and one of the other team members.”

Question: I am just wondering about NCIS: Los Angeles and the status of Peter Cambor and his character Nate; in the premiere episode he’s only listed as a special guest star. What’s going on? —Kevin
Ausiello: You’ll get your answer in next week’s episode.

Question: I think you’ve been a little stingy with The Vampire Diaries scoop. How about some enlightenment? —Robin
Ausiello: How about some casting scoop: She Spies alum (and season 7 American Idol almost-finalist) Natasha Williams has landed the role of Lucy, a mysterious hipster who possesses a fun swagger. How’s that for a vague spoiler?

Question: Do you have any Community scoop for me? —Florian
Ausiello: Series creator Dan Harmon breaks down how the Annie/Jeff/Britta triangle will play out this season: “Annie exists, Jeff exists, and Britta exists. And the attractions between them exist. Britta and Jeff had sex. Annie and Jeff kissed. Conflicts between all of them exist and we do touch on that on and off. We established in the first season that it is okay for us to touch on the romantic element sometimes, [but] there doesn’t have to be a will-they-or-won’t-they that drives the show. In real life, there is ab intersecting of love lives and sometimes they flair up into massive complications. We deal with the fallout of the behavior that Jeff engaged in in the finale thoroughly and tremendously in the first episode. There are people who like single Britta and people who hate couples and people who are in one couple’s court, so we have lots of options and I think we will make all of them happy sometimes.”

Question: Any scoop on Community‘s Apollo 13 homage? —Amber
Ausiello: Alison Brie dropped this bombshell during our set visit last week: “Kentucky Fried Chicken is involved. Not sure if that helps you out, but I know for me when I think KFC, I think space immediately. KFC is the final frontier.”

Question: A Brothers & Sistsers scoop ahead of this weekend’s season premiere? —Kelly
Ausiello: Justin the golden child will replace Justin the hothead screw-up this season. “Justin returns from Afghanistan a very different Justin,” reveals exec producer David Marshall Grant. “We all felt that it was time for him to grow up. He becomes a much more strong and a much more helpful force in the Walker family. I don’t think Justin is going to be the problem anymore as much as he might be the solution.”

Question: If my math is correct, Brothers & Sisters will be celebrating its 100th episode this season. Anything special planned? —Matt
Ausiello: Sandra Bullock is guest starring as William Walker’s latest bastard child. And off screen, ABC will probably host a little cake-and-coffee reception for the cast and crew. One of those is true. The other one is a complete fabrication. Guesses? Hit the comments!

Question: Have we seen the last of Lucas on House? —Kirsty
Ausiello: My guess? Yes. You haven’t, however, seen the last of his portrayer, Michael Weston, on Fox. The actor has signed on to guest star in an upcoming episode of The Good Guys, which has its fall premiere this Friday. Weston plays Carson, the genial owner of a bed and breakfast where Jack spends a weekend. Carson is all smiles and pleasant conversation, but Jack senses something is off about him and delves into his past—which leads him to an unsolved crime he may have been part of.

Question: You saw the first two episodes of Fringe! Spill some details, please! Will Peter be getting hot n’ heavy with Bolivia? —Mena
Ausiello: For the record, I prefer Fauxlivia. And yes, there’s some playful dancing and a scorching couch seduction in episode 2. Other tidbits from the immensely satisfying first two hours:

* Walter has The Talk with Peter.
* Walter *ar*s!
* William Bell’s final message to Walter is as follows: Don’t ** a***i* to **o** the ***e.
* Anna Torv deserves an Emmy nomination for the premiere alone.
* Fauxlivia puts a gun to Peter’s head and pulls the trigger not once but twice.

Question: I keep hearing whispers that Gossip Girl might dare to “Dair.” Is this true or am I hearing things? —Kristin
Ausiello: While I can’t confirm that Dan and Blair will be hook up, I can confirm that they will team up to take down Katie Cassidy’s meddling minx.

Question: Any scoop on Dexter? —Mike
Ausiello: New showrunner Chip Johannessen promised he was going to go there with Deb and Quinn, and, man, does he ever. And quick.

Question: Scoop on Amy Ryan’s return to The Office? —Pete
Ausiello: Her first in-the-flesh appearance will be in the Christmas episode when Holly is transferred back to Scranton to sub for Toby, who’s on jury duty. Mindy Kaling is penning the special hour-long episode and Rainn Wilson is serving as director, which I think means craft services turns into a makeshift bar that week.

Question: Castle scoop, please? —Ellen
Ausiello: Scrubs: Med School alum Michael Mosley will be guest-starring in an episode tentatively scheduled to air in November. No details on who he’s playing.

Question: I’m a Charice fan and was wondering when we’ll see her again on Glee? —Mauruce
Ausiello: Probably not until after Sectionals in January. That girls got pipes to spare!

Question: Cheyenne Jackson’s 30-second cameo on Glee this week was fantastic, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him. But does this mean we’ve seen the last of Danny on 30 Rock? —John
Ausiello: You have not seen the last of Danny on 30 Rock. Jackson will be among the guest stars in the Oct. 14 love episode!

Question: Please give me more of scoop on Addison and Sam from Private Practice. Will they be together won’t they? —Virginia
Ausiello: All I’ll say is you’ll know exactly where they stand as a couple by the end of this week’s season premiere.

Question: The looming Private Practice tragedy that you teased in AA last week—is that connected to the blind item about a HIV storyline? —Michael
Ausiello: No, the HIV plot takes place on a CW show. The Private Practice tragedy doesn’t involve a disease.

Question: I loved Cuddy’s new assistant on the House season premiere. Any word on whether we will ever get to see him again? I’ll love you forever if you say yes! —Janine
Ausiello: Prepare to loathe me forever: There are no immediate plans for Chris Conner (Bones, The Assistants) to be back.

Question: Just out of curiosity, do you think House and Cuddy really have a fighting chance to make it as a couple? —Erin
Ausiello: If they can survive the arrival of Cuddy’s mother (as played by Candice Bergen), then I’m pretty sure they can survive anything. “House is going to meet her mom and she is a handful,” explains series creator David Shore. “It’s always nice to have House come up against people with whom, whether he likes to admit it or not, he has something in common. They’re not the same person, but there are parallels—and they’re not attractive parallels.” Bonus scoop: In next Monday’s episode, look for Cuddy to go to great, um, lengths to prove to Wilson that she is indeed dating House.

Question: What can you tell us about the 200th episode of Smallville. Rumor has it there is going to be a major Clois moment in that episode. —Lisa
Ausiello: I can confirm that the final shot in the episode will drive Clois fans bonkers. I can also confirm that Kristin Kreuk will make a cameo appearance… sort of. The landmark episode contains a Lana flashback.

Question: I know you’ve probably been getting tons of requests for this, but any more scoop on the wedding blind item? Perhaps an exact network? —Maggie
Ausiello: How about an exact show: It’s How I Met Your Mother. Did anyone spot the clues in Monday’s episode?!

Question: Did you break your wrist falling off a bridge? —Haley
Ausiello: No.

Question: You broke your wrist falling off a corner? —Luci
Ausiello: Nope I sure didn’t.

Question: You broke your wrist falling off a donkey? —Anna
Ausiello: Nah.

Question: Falling off a ladder? —Lesley
Ausiello: Wrong.

Question: Taking off a jacket? —Anthony
Ausiello: Negatory.

Question: Falling off a jetski? —Christopher
Ausiello: Denied.

Question: Hanging off a branch? —Miguel
Ausiello: False.

Question: Falling off a toilet? —Ron
Ausiello: Incorrect.

Question: Asking for a **o**o*? —Sue
Ausiello: You kiss your mother with that mouth? No.

Question: *a*k**g o** a monkey? —Aaron
Ausiello: That’s disgusting. No.

Question: *a*k**g o** a source? —Joshua
Ausiello: It is getting competitive out there, but no.

Question: Falling off a seesaw? —Reana
Ausiello: Yes! Congratulations! You just won a replica of Gregory House’s legendary walking stick! For the record, Reana was one of two readers (out of 674 who participated) to correctly guess seesaw. Also for the record, turns out my wrist didn’t actually break. Further tests showed that it was just a triangular fibrocartilage complex injury (a.k.a. a bad freakin’ sprain.) Bottom line: Looks like I’ll be able to carry the Smurf balloon at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade after all!

Question: Is there any news at all about the Pushing Daisies comic books? —Eric
Ausiello: Here’s an update from Bryan Fuller himself: “Issue no. 1 will hopefully be out in early 2011. Issue no. 2 is being colored as we speak, and issue no. 3 is being written. Our Emmy-Award winning composer Jim Dooley and I have been talking about giving the audience a multi-media experience with the comic— specifically, a score. We have no idea whether we can actually afford to do an actual Pushing Daisies comic soundtrack (because the cast has agreed to sing songs and those licensing fees are expensive), but Jim has already started composing musical cues that we will either release officially or stream for freesies online when the comic book is published. I’ve already heard the track for Lee Pace’s cover-diddy and it’s fantastic.”

Question: Have you made your picks yet for best new fall show, and first new fall show to be canceled? —Alex
Ausiello: Sadly, it’s one and the same: Lone Star.

Question: I just finished watching the second season of Parks and Recreation and it was incredible. The season finale made me want to laugh, cry, and everything in between. Can you please give me some scoop to lull me over until it returns? —Avery
Ausiello: With Amy Poehler’s maternity leave wrapping up, the show resumes production next week with an episode that pits Leslie against a local tribal leader who’s determined to preserve his ancestors’ sacred grounds.

Question: How about a Friday Night Lights spoiler? —Steve
Ausiello: In the fifth episode of the new season, the wife of a college TA screams the following words in a crowded library: “Julie Taylor is a whore!”

Question: I just saw the premiere of The Event, and it was so good! Do you have any scoops—Marie-Eve
Ausiello: I just watched next week’s second episode and was completely satisfied with both the quality and quantity of the answers we got. In addition to learning what happened to the plane and its inhabitants, we find out what turned Scott Patterson into the pilot from hell and who exactly The Others (a.k.a. Laura Innes & Co.) are. Bonus scoops: A rather pivotal character from the premiere is murdered and someone else is not who he/she claims to be.

‘Lone Star’ lives! At least, for one more week

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/09/lone-star-lives-at-least-for-one-more-week.html

Fox isn't giving up on "Lone Star" just yet. The network just confirmed the show will air on Monday as originally planned. Could the drama actually be helped by all the eulogies in the press that followed its disastrous premiere ratings? 

Lone Star Cast Surprised to Learn Dallas Coming Back to TV

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Lone-1023096.aspx

At Fox's fall TV party, I shocked the stars of the net's new Texas-set soap, Lone Star, when I clued them into TNT's plans to revive the 1977-1991 prime-time soap Dallas as a new series focusing on the sons of J.R. and Bobby Ewing. When Fox first announced Lone Star, they, too, billed their show as an updated take on Dallas.

"What?!" said Lone Star's top hunk, James Wolk. "Talk to me about this. That's fantastic. It's a good thing we're confident in our show."

"Oh, wow! You're the first person to tell me that," said a stunned Eloise Mumford, who plays one of James' two love interests. "I thought the old Dallas was incredible and it will be interesting to see how they update it. Let's just hope everybody in the world watches our show too."

Co-star and Friday Night Lights vet Adrianne Palicki, who plays James' wife, told me, "Dallas was a fantastic show — it was on for years — but Lone Star is not that show. It's original, sexy and little soapy, but really smart. If we see them shooting in Texas we'll go over and say hi."

At least one Lone Star cast member is priming for battle with the Ewings. "They're going to have to go through me, man," joked Jon Voight, who plays wealthy patriarch Clint Thatcher. "It's good to have competition, so maybe it'll perk us both up. J.R. was a great character, but we have a brilliant show with a fabulous cast of characters, so bring it on, Dallas!"
 

'Lone Star': Ex marks the spot for '4400' alum Chad Faust

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/17/lone-star-chad-faust/

The 4400‘s Chad Faust has landed a recurring role on Fox’s first-rate new fall drama Lone Star, sources confirm to me exclusively.

Faust will play Harrison, the roguish ex-husband of Adrianne Palicki’s Cat Thatcher. Per the official character description, Harrison is “her mistake carried over from high school. What was charming about him at seventeen is less than attractive in a grown man with adult responsibilities that until now, he has not wanted to shoulder. But his motorcycle-riding, noncommittal, unfaithful-husband ways are behind him, or so he claims, and he’s back in town now, ready to prove that he’s changed.”

Lone Star—which stars up-and-comer James Wolk as a con man juggling two lives and wives (one of whom is Palicki’s aforementioned Cat)—premieres Monday, Sept. 20. The cast also includes David Keith, Jon Voight, and Eloise Mumford.
 

Rosa Blasi Heads to Lone Star; Will Andie MacDowell Join Too?

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Blasi-Lone-Star-1021590.aspx

Strong Medicine alum Rosa Blasi has joined Fox's Lone Star, a show rep told TVGuide.com.

Blasi will play Blake, the trophy wife of Trammell (Mark Deklin), on the new drama, which revolves around Robert/Bob Allen (James Wolk), a Texas con man who leads a double life.


Andie MacDowell is also near a deal to join the series, according to Entertainment Weekly, which first reported Blasi's casting. MacDowell would play the love interest of Clint Thatcher (Jon Voight), an oil tycoon and father-in-law to Bob Allen, EW reports.

Fox would not confirm MacDowell's casting.

Lone Star premieres Monday, Sept. 20 at 9/8c.

'Lone Star' lassoes Andie MacDowell and Rosa Blasi

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/05/lone-star-lassoes-andie-macdowell-and-rosa-blasi/

In what would be her first major TV gig, Andie MacDowell is thisclose to joining the cast of Fox’s best new fall series, Lone Star. Additionally, Rosa Blasi—of Make It or Break It and Strong Medicine fame—has signed on to recur on the Texas-set drama.

MacDowell, whose deal I’m told is 98 percent done, would play the love interest of Jon Voigt’s oil tycoon. Blasi, meanwhile, is set for the role of Blake, the Lady Macbeth-esque trophy wife of Mark Deklin’s character, Trammell.

Lone Star revolves around a con man (played by rising star James Wolk) who’s leading a double life. Friday Night Lights‘ Adrianne Palicki plays one of his two wives.
 

TCA: 'Lone Star' Deep In Heart Of Texas

http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/58940/

What’s up with TV and Texas this season? This fall’s crop of new TV series includes NBC’s Chase shooting in Dallas, and ABC’s My Generation, shooting in Austin. At today’s TCA, Fox presented the new drama Lone Star -- which, with that title, couldn’t really be set anywhere else. The show's lead character (played by relative newcomer James Wolk) has two wives and two lives in two different locations, Houston and Midland. It will actually be shot in Dallas, the setting for another Fox series introduced earlier this year, The Good Guys. (Executive producer Peter Horton, who plans to direct some episodes, he joked of his involvement: “I thought it was going to be shot in San Francisco.”)

Lone Star creator/executive producer (and native Texan) Kyle Killen explained that when he pitched the series, "I sold it as Dallas without the cheese.

It definitely has things in common -- it's big, it's Texas, it’s got oil. I would like to think we will go for a few season without hair-pulling cat fights. But we might run out of ideas.”

Executive producer Amy Lippman said that in Dallas the old fashioned soapy characters wwere more black and white with no shades of gray. In 2010, Lippman says of Lone Star's characters: “They each in their own way do bad things, but their motives are pure. It is not simply about the acquisition of power and money. At the heart of it, they are holding on to people that they love.“