Ask Ausiello 10/20/10

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/10/20/ask-ausiello-spoilers-glee-desperate-30-rock/

Question: Rumor around the Glee circuit is that Quinn and Rachel lock lips in episode 6. Any truth to that? —Joan
Ausiello: Sorry, no. If it’s any consolation, it looks like the frenemies get fairly close to first base in the new GQ. Speaking of Glee, I can now confirm that the show is planning a Christmas episode. I don’t have any other details at the moment. I do, however, have a suggestion for Ryan Murphy: Please give us (read: me) an It’s a Wonderful Life homage with Sue at the center. I, er, we don’t ask for much.

Question: Glee scoop, please! —Jeffrey
Ausiello: Someone’s about to get expelled!

Question: One Tree Hill. You’re a stingy Smurf when it comes to scoop on this gem of a show. —La-roo
Ausiello: Sources close to the National Weather Center confirm that Mother Nature is doing me a solid and sending a major hurricane Hill‘s way before season’s end.

Question: Do you have any spoilers on No Ordinary Family? —Mike
Ausiello: A recurring character has an appointment with the Grim Reaper in early December.

Question: I am loving No Ordinary Family. Got any good spoilers for me? —Deb
Ausiello: Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Julie Benz’s Ordinary parents will be played by Maddie Hayes and D-Day (a.k.a. Cybill Shepherd and Bruce McGill). Ma and Pa pay their superhero daughter a visit next month.

Question: Could you stop using the phrase “hitcom”? It bothers me. —John
Ausiello: Yes, but only because you asked nicely.

Question: Please, we need some 30 Rock scoop! Thank you. —Cindy
Ausiello: Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…wait, it really is a plane. And Matt Damon is flying it, in an episode that sounds like it’s going to take place largely on one of pilot Carol’s flights. Not only is Liz on board, but the show is also casting such fellow passengers as a neurotic suit (seated next to Liz, which I don’t think has ever dulled anyone’s neuroses), a snippy gay male flight attendant, and — this is where things get interesting — an *** ********.

Question: I can’t be the only one who loves Lincoln Lee in Fringe‘s “over there” universe! Will we learn new things about him (like how did he know Nick Lane, or where’s his “over here” version)? —Elena
Ausiello: Sounds like a question for exec producer Jeff Pinkner: “No, Elena, you’re not the only one! We love Lincoln (and Seth Gabel!). We love the energy he brings to the show, and the vibe of the Fringe Team “Over There.” (And we all fantasize about how much fun it would be to see the TV show Fringe that has been playing for the past two years in the Alt Universe with Lincoln, Charlie and Altlivia/Fauxlivia/(b)Olivia as the stars.) But to answer your question: We look forward to spending more time learning about Lincoln. And you raise a very interesting point: What is his doppelgänger “Over Here” up to?!”

Question: Weeds spoilers, for the love of all that is holy, I need some Weeds spoilers! Who is Lars? —Claire
Ausiello: Lars is an old friend of Nancy’s. A very good old friend.

Question: Your frenemy dropped some major Weeds scoop this week, and I know you are not gonna let her one-up you like that! What say you give us the deets on Guillermo’s return and just how far Esteban is willing to go to get baby Stevie back. —Claire
Ausiello: Guillermo shows up at the tail end of this season’s penultimate episode…with Esteban! And they don’t have to go too far to get Stevie back — just to the airport, which is where the Botwin clan is headed to flee the country. Quick, someone ask me who makes it onto the plane!

Question. Hey, there’s been no scoop on 90210 lately. Got anything? —Jane
Ausiello: New-couple alert: Navid and Silver! Look for sparks to start flying around episode 8. In other 90210 news, Ivy’s estranged father will be introduced in early ’11. He’s described as an all-American, Ivy League-educated charmer.

Question: Can’t seem to get enough Smallville spoilers. Have any new ones? —Dylan
Ausiello: If you’re a Clois freak, the Oct. 29 ghost-town-set episode is not to be missed. Trust me. Elsewhere, expect more Justice League appearances toward the end of the season.

Question: How is the new FX show Terriers doing? —Alexandra
Ausiello: Terribly. Seriously, the ratings are abysmal. It’s depressing because the show is fantastic. I screened the first five episodes last weekend and I immediately gave it the official Aushole Seal of Approval. The ceremony was private — i.e., friends, family, and Shawn Ryan — so don’t give me any grief about your invitation getting lost in the mail.

Question: There hasn’t been Desperate Housewives scoop in weeks. Got anything to appease me? —Connor
Ausiello: I hear Marc Cherry is putting the finishing touches on his annual winter cliff-hanger catastrophe, and this is what I’ve been able to glean from my Wisteria Lane moles: Two characters will be in mortal danger, the deadly event is not weather-related, and hordes of extras will be needed for the harrowing sequence. Guesses? Hit the comments!

Question: Do you have anything on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia? —Stephanie
Ausiello: The Oct. 28 episode finds the gang (sans Dee) flashing back to try to figure out who got her pregnant. Mac claims they all “browned out” that night, which is a less severe version of blacking out. They piece together what vague memories they have and arrive at this disturbing conclusion: Dennis might have impregnated his sister! Ewwww!

Question: Do you know if any of last year’s guest stars from Community are coming back this year? I’m thinking John Michael Higgins, Tony Hale, Blake Clark, or Jack Black? —Tommy
Ausiello: Nothing cooking with any of those folks at this time. Here’s something cool, though: Judd Apatow’s go-to baddie Kevin Corrigan has just been cast as a guest professor in an upcoming episode.

Question: Is there any news on the rumored sniper on Bones? —Jessica
Ausiello: His name is Jacob Ripkin Broadsky, he’s slated to show up in early ’11, and I can confirm that he does in fact take out a pivotal recurring character.

Question: I’ve missed House two weeks in a row due to work, which is very depressing. Can I please have some scoop to cheer me up? —Kim
Ausiello: You should check out this new product that just hit the market. It’s called a DVR. All the cool kids are using it. In any event, exec producer Katie Jacobs teases that Taub’s marriage will be tested in “a completely unexpected way” later this season. Might this be connected to a certain spoiler that ran in AA last week? Maybe. Maybe not.

Question: Can you please use your impressive resources to find out if Rubicon will be picked up for season 2? —Nathan
Ausiello: I’m told that AMC would very much like a second season, but the ratings are atrocious. Even worse than Terriers’.

Question: I’m getting super-tired of Cristina’s “can’t do it” story line on Grey’s Anatomy. Tell me she’ll get over it soon. —Farrah
Ausiello: My guess is we’re closer to the end than the beginning. “It gets pretty dark for her,” teases exec producer Shonda Rhimes. “Cristina is a person who has identified herself purely as a surgeon — before anything else. And for her to be at a place where she’s not sure if she can even pick up a scalpel is fairly devastating.”

Question: Um, so tip fail? Unless a certain Mad Men character committed suicide after the credits rolled, I think you pegged that one wrong. What’s the scoop? —Elise
Ausiello: The scoop is there’s a big difference between a spoiler and a prediction. Look it up.

Question: Any Big C scoop? —Jeremy
Ausiello: A major character will commit suicide before the end of season 1. Now that, Elise, is a spoiler.

Question: I’m torn…I’m enjoying The Event, but I’m mildly happy that its ratings aren’t stellar. Why? Because Mr. Cyr [Jason Ritter] and Sarah were so perfect together on Parenthood! What are the chances of The Event lasting, in your expert opinion? —Wendy
Ausiello: Considering it was just picked up for a full season, the chances are good it’ll last at least 22 episodes. If the show’s ratings stabilize — or better yet grow — a second season is probably a safe bet. Chances are you’ll get closure either way. “I do have a shorter way of getting to [the endgame, should it conclude prematurely],” says series creator Nick Wauters. “Hopefully it won’t come to that. But I think it’s important to give viewers some kind of conclusion.”

Question: Any spoilers on The Event? —Sydney
Ausiello: Wauters says we’ll definitely find out who (or what) the “Others” are (aliens? time travelers?) by the end of season 1. “We’ll also find out what they want and where they came from.”

Question: Is there any way you can find out when Interview With the Vampire comes on? This probably isn’t what you normally do, but you are the best. Anyway, if you find out something, please post it or get back to me. —LT
Ausiello: Sometimes I don’t even know who you people are.

Question: Can you tell me more about Nicholas Brendon’s three-episode arc on Private Practice? —Catherine
Ausiello: As I revealed last week, he plays the nutjob who rapes Charlotte. Exec producer Shonda Rhimes describes it as a “random” attack. He comes into the clinic, and “immediately there’s [the suggestion] of some mental illness going on there,” she explains. “Charlotte tells him to wait his turn, and the next thing you know, he’s attacking her.”

Question: I would gladly give up my Papa Smurf action figure for some Private Practice scoop. I’m hoping that the upcoming sexual assault of Charlotte brings Cooper and Charlotte closer. Love this couple. BTW, last week’s episode with Dell’s daughter was one of the best episodes of all time. Ending was a classic. —The Rock
Ausiello: I think the attack will ultimately bring Charlotte and Cooper closer, but initially she’ll push him away. “The interesting bond that springs up is between Charlotte and Amelia,” reveals Rhimes. “They were both addicts, and there’s an interesting [connection] that forms there.”

Question: Damn you for pissing on my My Boys parade, Ausiello! That season finale was perfect, and now you’re telling me the show was cancelled?! I think I deserve some scoopage. Let’s go obscure. How about Huge? —Jenn
Ausiello: LOL! Good one, Jenn. You had me going there for a second. [Beat] Oh, wait — you’re not joking, are you? Um, this is awkward.
 

Fancast Big Tease 9/28/10

http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/tv-news/the-big-tease-scoop-on-ncis-fringe-v-good-wife-and-more/

Do you have any hints as to why Robert Wagner is coming back to ‘NCIS‘? – Carlee
I turn this first question over to the Hintmaster himself, Shane Brennan. “R.J. Wagner’s return as the charming Anthony DiNozzo Sr. recaptures all the fun and chaos that resulted from his last visit,” the ‘NCIS’ boss tells the Big Tease. What’s more, he says the encore “reveals an emotionally charged moment between father and son that’s not to be missed.” So hinty!

I’m obsessed with what ‘Fringe’s Anna Torv said about Olivia finding a new ally in the alternate universe. Did she give any other clues? – Deb
Did Anna? No. John Noble? Maybe. When I questioned alt-Broyles’ allegiance to the Secretary of Defense, Noble responded, “Broyles is a strong character. Now, how much he’ll go along with things is to be revealed.”

Are we going to see more of the hybrid baby when ‘V‘ returns? – Susan
“Ohhh yeah,” exec producer Steve Pearlman told me during my visit to the ABC series’ Vancouver set last week. “You’ll see the hybrid in Episode 1″ (premiere date TBD). As for the little one’s appearance, “It won’t necessarily look very human,” he teased.

Did your visit to the ‘V‘ set turn up any scoop on what “red sky” is or does? – Greg
Though Elizabeth Mitchell wouldn’t spill any specifics, she said the answer “definitely satisfied me” and it “happens in the first five minutes…. all kinds of really horrifying things.” And yet, somehow, Anna will spin it as a good thing for humanity. Somewhere in outer space lays a very savvy publicist.

Please give me some scoop on ‘The Good Wife‘! – Karen
Oh, tonight’s season premiere is a fine hour. That “intimate” scene that made headlines a few weeks back? Well-played. Also, the way Kalinda meets her new rival (’FNL’s Scott Porter) is pretty awesome, as is their ongoing prickly banter (he knows a secret of hers that she very much doesn’t like him knowing); Eli acquires a new cohort; Michael Ealy (’Sleeper Cell’) fits in smoothly as a new partner with big ideas; and Will has been named one of the area’s most eligible bachelors (ouch, Alicia!).

Thank you so much for the ‘CSI: NY‘ Q&A. Did Pam Veasey say nothing about Adam, though? – QueenLillith
Well, she offered this: “Adam gets a little hair on his chest in Episode 2,” which airs this Friday at 9/8c. The storyline: A woman appears to be strangled while participating in a live online chat that Adam witnesses. Ah, the perils of this Internet thing.


I hope Claire Forlani is coming back to ‘CSI: NY‘ as Mac’s love interest. Any hints? – starskybabe
As revealed in last Friday’s Q&A: Madchen Amick, maybe. Claire Forlani, no.

Do the folks at ‘Human Target‘ feel like they’re shooting a James Bond film with every episode? Because it sure feels like one! – Joel
Exec producer Matt Miller must agree. “Between our incredible stunt coordinator (Emmy nominee Dean Cho) and our producer-director Steve Boyum, who spent the majority of his career as a stunt man, we have the best stunts on television,” he boasts. And what sort of explodey goodness is on tap for Season 2, premiering this Friday at 8/7c? “For our eighth episode, our kind of ‘holiday ‘episode, we really wanted to destroy a mall,” Miller says. “We wanted a cool set piece where Chance is just wreaking havoc in a mall.” I suggested the episode title “A Very Human Target Christmas” – cross fingers!

Will ‘Smallville’s Clark ever say to Lois the words, “I love you”? – Nicole
First, let’s ask Clark himself. “I would think so,” Tom Welling told me Saturday night at the show’s 200th episode party. “I’m not sure what exactly they have in store for [the final season], but Lois is definitely a part of Clark’s future.” And now, the executive producers. “There will be epic romance, that we can say,” teases Brian Peterson. Adds Kelly Souders: “Definitely watch the 200th episode” (airing Oct. 15).

How about some scoop on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’s Meredith? – Kazzer
This is the week Mer tells Derek that she had a miscarriage. But also on the horizon are some powerhouse scenes on the sisterly front. As the aftermath of the shooting continues to play out and “Meredith begins mothering everybody, Lexie is like, ‘Hey, what about me? I don’t understand where you’ve been for me in this,’” Chyler Leigh previews. That leads to “several really great scenes between the two of us, where we really define what our relationship is.”


Any info on Jensen Ackles‘ ‘Supernatural‘ directorial debut? – DeanGirl1 via Comments
If by info you mean raves, here’s one castmate’s take on Jensen’s turn behind the camera: “The truth of the matter is he’s a natural,” Mark Sheppard (Crowley) tells Fancast. “He was extraordinarily well-prepared, and he’s very good at getting what he wants. It was fun for me and Jim [Beaver] to….” To what? Frak, Mark caught himself and stopped short of spoiling. But he did share this about the Crowley/Bobby teaser shown at Comic-Con this summer: “That is a fabulous, really fun scene – and that’s not all of the scene either. There’s a lot of stuff going on.”

Do you have any new scoops for ‘Sons Of Anarchy’s Gemma? – Evee
You know how nothing comes between Ms. Teller-Morrow and her brood? Well, I hear that later this season, as part of a plan to find grandson Abel, Gemma’s allegiance to her family is demonstrated via a desperate act that is her most shocking exploit yet. When I asked my source if it’s the same “shocking act” that I Big Tease’d a ways back, I was laughed at and told that that act is “sooooo tame” compared to the one teased here.

Please tell me that Marti and Savannah’s ‘Hellcats‘ friendship will not devolve into a catty thing over Dan! I love those girls together, and I don’t want to see their friendship torn apart over a guy. – VM
It might not get downright catty, but envision more of a small kitten. As Ashley Tisdale notes, “There’s a bit of a flirtation there between Dan and Marti – you just know they have a history – so for Marti and Savannah it’s going to be up and down.” And what might said “history” entail? When we saw Matt Barr (Dan) last week, he cryptically shared, “I just got some big news [from the producers] about Marti and Dan’s background [and] it’s something that really does define their relationship.”


You seem to be the only source of ‘Make It Or Break It‘ news – whatcha got? – Irena
What I’ve got is a correction to my scoop on Sean Maher’s guest-starring role. Turns out the ‘Firefly’ alum is going to be playing a National Gymnastics Organization official who starts poking around Emily’s life. Though I’m sure he would’ve done fine as a gymnast.

Last week’s ‘Terriers‘ – WTF?! – Joe
I’m assuming that’s a request for scoop on the shadowy figure seen slinking into the crawl space of Hank’s house? That out-of-left field mystery “is resolved pretty quickly,” says Donal Logue. “You’ll find out who it is, and to me a really cool aspect of this show is what it means getting to work with that person.”

FX’s ‘Terriers’ premiere ratings bite

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/09/fxs-terriers-premiere-ratings-bite.html

The series premiere of FX's cop-dramedy-thingy "Terriers" got off to a ruff! start.

Looks like 1.6 million viewers tuned in for the show's first episode, with 659,000 adults 18-49.

By comparison: FX's last drama series debut, "Justified," scored a record 4.2 million viewers last year, then slumped a bit. Two years ago, "Sons of Anarchy" launched to 2.5 million, then grew.