Ask Ausiello 10/6/10

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/10/06/ask-ausiello-glee-greys-bones/

Question: I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed that it’s Christina and Owen getting married in the Grey’s premiere and not Callie and Arizona. Will you make me feel better by giving us some Callie-Arizona scoop? —J
Ausiello: There’s a major Calzona development in the Oct. 28 episode, but a Grey’s source assures me that it’s not a turn for the worse. So don’t go barraging Shonda Rhimes with angry tweets. In the same episode, a camera crew invades Seattle Grace to film a documentary about the hospital’s recovery in the wake of the shooting rampage. In fact, the entire ep will be shot from the POV of the crew, so if shaky-cam makes you queasy you’d best pop a Dramamine before showtime.

Question: So sad to hear that you’re leaving EW! So, to cheer me up, any chance you could give me some Grey’s Anatomy scoop? —Mary
Ausiello: The sublime Amanda Foreman, who’s currently recurring on Parenthood, will guest-star in the aforementioned Oct. 28 episode as (I believe) a patient. This is also the episode that marks the return of Mandy Moore and Ryan Devlin. BTW, you’re not getting rid of me that quickly. I’m still here for a few more weeks—plenty of time to get me a really expensive farewell gift. (Registry info is forthcoming.)

Question: Good Wife scoop, please! —Cliff
Ausiello: Sounds like the show is breaking TV’s last taboo. No, not [blank], incest! A casting call has gone out for Molly, Cary’s beautiful 18-year-old cousin whom he is taking on a tour of the University of Chicago. During said tour, little Miss Molly makes it clear that she still has a crush on her older cuz. He, in turn, makes it clear that that’s gross he’s not interested. Perhaps they’re cousins once or twice or thrice removed? Or maybe they’re cousins in the way that, you know, Keri and I are cousins.

Question: What’s the poop, er, scoop on Elizabeth Reaser’s Good Wife character? —Tim
Ausiello: The scoop is … Alicia will probably get the urge to key her car. “She plays a sports writer, and she and Will develop sparks in a way that Will hasn’t with any other woman except Alicia,” explains exec producer Robert King. “We’re thrilled with [Elizabeth]. I’ve loved her since The Ex List. She’s doing an excellent job.”

Question: Could you please give us something good on Law & Order: SVU? —Kenleigh
Ausiello: I’m not sure this qualifies as good, but Emmy winner Marcia Gay Harden is reprising her role as FBI agent Dana Lewis. But she’s not returning to work on a case. She’s returning to BE the case.

Question: Were you able to find out why Glee is casting miniature versions of Puck, Santana, Rachel, Brittany, and Mercedes? Are they doing a flashback? —Shelly
Ausiello: Nope. It’s a fantasy sequence. Or nightmare sequence if Sue’s the one doing the dreaming.

Question: You must give us some scoop on whether Darren Criss will be playing Kurt’s new love interest on Glee! —Ashley
Ausiello: That’s still TBD. All I know for certain is that they’ll be good friends.

Question: College applications are getting me down. Any news on Darren Criss’ Glee character to remotivate me? Is it too much to hope that he’ll be singing one of his own songs? —Sabrina
Ausiello: Sorry to add to your doldrums, but I do believe it’s too much to hope. But let me get confirmation of that from Criss himself. “Well, it really isn’t up to me,” shrugs the up-and-comer. “But even if it was, and as cool as that would be—personally, for me as an artist—I think it’s important to keep a bit of separation from the actors’ realities and the characters’ realities. For example, as much as I would love to geek out over Matthew Morrison singing “Passeggiata” from Light in the Piazza—or any of the Spring Awakening-turned-Glee kids doing a number from that show—it probably would shake the audience out of the world of McKinley High, or at least the Broadway fans of the show anyway. But hey, what’s best for the show is best for the show, and I trust the creators in their choice of music. If the time was right, and they ever approached me to have one of my songs used in the show, of course, I’d be absolutely thrilled.” Talented, pretty, and eloquent? Bitch.

Question: Do you have any scoop on the upcoming season of Southland? —Autumn
Ausiello: It premieres in early January, and there’ll be a new face on the force. The show is casting the role of a Latina cop who is impulsive, no-nonsense, and occasionally annoying. She’s also, and I quote, “not gorgeous, but real.” I’d hate to be the actress who gets recommended for that role.

Question: Any new Smallville scoop? —Adelle
Ausiello: Present-day Clark comes face-to-face with future Clark (a.k.a. Superman) in next Friday’s 200th episode. But I’m pretty sure that’s old news. Here’s some new news. In the Oct. 22 episode, Clark finally decides to tell Lois his secret. Which is kind of funny because that’s the same episode she decides to tell him her secret: that she already knows! Hilarious, right? I thought it was.

Question: Any cool Big Bang Theory casting scoops? —Barrie
Ausiello: This isn’t as cool as Eliza Dushku guest-starring in an episode, but actress Aarti Man (Heroes‘ Shaila) has been cast as Koothrappali’s never-before-seen sister Priya.

Question: Is the rumor true that a Dallas reboot starring Josh Holloway and Jennifer Love Hewitt is being developed? Please say it’s true! —Lillie
Ausiello: It’s sort of true. TNT is developing a new Dallas series, but it’s more of a sequel than a reboot, as it takes place a few decades after the original series left off. No one is currently attached to the project, and that includes Josh Holloway, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and (last week’s big rumor) Kiefer Sutherland.

Question: Please tell me when Chuck and Blair will be back together on Gossip Girl! —Abbey
Ausiello: Serena and Nate lay the groundwork for a possible C&B reconciliation later this month when they negotiate a peace treaty between the warring exes. A literal treaty.

Question: The synopsis for the Oct. 29 episode of Supernatural says that one of the boys faces a truth about himself that sends the other brother reeling. Any insight on which brother is “facing a truth” and which brother is sent “reeling”? —Kat
Ausiello: Sam is facing the truth; Dean is reeling.

Question: So before you leave to open your Smurf museum, could you tell me if Bones will have a Christmas episode this season? —Amanda
Ausiello: Most likely not. There’s some uncertainty about what order Bones‘ November/December episodes will air in because of the World Series, so I think all parties felt it was easier not to do one this year.

Question: Remember a little show called Brothers & Sisters? Doesn’t seem like it, considering you rarely talk about it in AA. —Steve
Ausiello: My bad. Here are a few teasers about this Sunday’s episode.

* Someone goes missing.
* Someone gets caught lying about her age.
* Someone considers plastic surgery.
* Someone (temporarily) assumes a new identity.
* An estranged couple, um, reconnect.

Question: I am really liking the show The Big C, but I am getting over the story line of her not telling anyone she has cancer. This past Monday’s episode really irked me, because I thought she was finally telling someone. It was like the House/Huddy hallucination. Do you have any spoilers on when she’s going to reveal her secret? —Melodie
Ausiello: This probably isn’t what you want to hear, but there’s another near miss coming on Oct. 18 when Cathy finally decides to tell Paul the truth. Unfortunately, before she gets the chance he drops a bombshell on HER: He wants a divorce!

Question: Any word yet on whether AMC is going to pick up Rubicon for a second season? —Christine
Ausiello: Not a peep. I imagine a decision will have to come down soon, since there’s only two episodes left.

Question: I ask you for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you Philo T. Farnsworth. How is the future looking for one of my favorite new shows this season, The Whole Truth? Remember, Mr. Ausiello, you are under oath. —Ryan
Ausiello’s attorney: Objection. Counsel is leading the witness.
Judge: Overruled. Mr. Ausiello, please answer the question.
Ausiello: The Whole Truth is one more low-rated episode away from getting pulled off the schedule.
Judge: I like your shoes, BTW. Cole Haan?
Ausiello: Yes! They’re so comfortable!

Question: Is Miles Heizer’s character on Parenthood gay? —Colleen
Ausiello: My gut says yes, but exec producer Jason Katims says no. I’m going to side with Katims on this one.
 

Showtime Renews ‘Weeds’ & ‘The Big C’

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/09/20/showtime-renews-weeds-the-big-c/64286

The Big C renewed for a second season and Weeds for a seventh.

via press release:

JUST TWO GOOD!

SHOWTIME PICKS UP NEW SEASONS OF

THE BIG C & WEEDS


LOS ANGELES, CA – (September 20, 2010) – On the heels of record-breaking premiere night ratings for both original series, SHOWTIME has picked up new seasons of its hit comedies THE BIG C and WEEDS. Season 2 of THE BIG C (from Sony Pictures Television) and WEEDS (from Lionsgate) will premiere on the network in 2011.

THE BIG C took the country by storm last month as more than 6.5 million people viewed the premiere episode across various platforms, making it the network’s highest-rated original series premiere in 8 years. The night kicked off with WEEDS, which also garnered over 6 million viewers – a record premiere episode for the series.

“The unprecedented viewership for both THE BIG C and WEEDS proves that audiences love these shows as much as we do,“ said SHOWTIME President of Entertainment David Nevins. “There are definitely more comedic adventures in store for these fascinating, complex women. For six seasons, we’ve happily traveled along with Nancy Botwin and we’re equally as excited to follow Laura Linney and THE BIG C team as they chart Cathy’s unique journey through such a provocative and personal subject as cancer. We’re thrilled that these two signature shows will be returning to the network in 2011.”

Hailed by critics, including a four-star rave from People magazine, THE BIG C stars three-time Academy Award® nominee, three-time Emmy® winner and three-time Tony Award® nominee Laura Linney (who the Boston Globe contends “…earns THE BIG C a big ‘A’…”) as Cathy Jamison, a reserved, suburban wife/mother/teacher whose terminal cancer diagnosis forces her to shake up her life and find hope, humor and the light side of a dark situation. The series also stars Oliver Platt (Huff, Frost/Nixon) stars as her immature but well-meaning husband, John Benjamin Hickey (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Phyllis Somerville (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Gabriel Basso (Alabama Moon). Season one special guest stars include Gabourey Sidibe (Oscar® nominee for Precious) as a precocious student and Idris Elba (Luther) as a love interest for Cathy.

Additional guest stars include Reid Scott (My Boys) as her oncologist, Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City) as a flaky, long-lost friend, Brian Cox (X2) as her emotionally distant father, and Liam Neeson as “Bee Man,” an eccentric character who Cathy consults for a possible treatment for her terminal cancer. THE BIG C is created by Darlene Hunt, who serves as executive producer, along with Jenny Bicks, Linney, Vivian Cannon and Neal H. Moritz. It is produced by Sony Pictures Television.

SHOWTIME’s critically acclaimed comedy series WEEDS took to the open road for season six, to hilarious ends. Dubbed by TV Guide as “….TV’s most compelling bad mama,” Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker in her Golden Globe Award-winning performance) and family are now on the lam after Shane (Alexander Gould) killed Mexican VIP Pilar (Kate del Castillo) with a croquet mallet. To elude the Mexican FBI, police and mafia, they grab what they can, toss their cell phones and IDs and get rolling, taking odd jobs and meeting new characters along the way (season six guest stars include Richard Dreyfuss, Linda Hamilton, Mark Paul Gosselaar, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alanis Morissette and more). WEEDS is executive produced by creator Jenji Kohan, Roberto Benabib and Matthew Salsberg and produced by Lionsgate.
 

TV Guide Megabuzz 8/17/10

http://www.tvguide.com/News/MegaBuzz-Bones-Good-Wife-1021965.aspx

 Got any more scoop on Bones' new season? — Andrea
ADAM: We hear the show is looking to add a Bill Nye the Science Guy type to woo Brennan... to appear as a guest on his popular children's TV show. Bones brushes off the request because she doesn't see him as a serious scientist. But when he persists, Brennan makes him a deal: She'll do his show if he can help her solve a murder.

I can't wait for the The Good Wife to come back. Do you know who Alicia picks? — Deborah
MICKEY: Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off, with Alicia deciding between standing by her man and answering that fateful phone call. She doesn't take Will's call, thanks to Eli Gold, and Julianna Margulies tells us that Will and Alicia will be like "two ships in the night" for a while. But that doesn't mean that she's back together with Peter either — though she's definitely with him. It seems that seeing his feisty wife in the courtroom makes Peter want to debrief her.

How will Criminal Minds resolve last season's cliff-hanger? — Marcus
ADAM: The season premiere finds the team in what executive producer Ed Bernero calls a "rolling hostage situation," during which an unexpected member of the team will be called upon to make contact with Tim Curry's creepy killer in an unorthodox way. "The solution rests on whether or not that team member can convince this psychopath to spare the little girl he's taken," Bernero says, adding that "another team member will be affected for a long, long time by what happens."

What exactly will Vanessa Williams be up to on Desperate Housewives this season? — P.K.D.
MICKEY: It seems she'll be taking one for the team. We're hearing that a handsome professional baseball player with some ethical issues will romance one of the Wisteria ladies. Wanna make a bet he'll be rounding the bases with the erstwhile Willi?

I need some CSI: Miami scoop, pronto! — Brett
ADAM: The team will investigate a kidnapping early in Season 9 with the help of a witness. The bad news: He's blind. Look for him and Natalia, who is hearing impaired, to form a special bond. Also: Two perps from the show's past will turn up again — one in prison, and one back on the streets.

Is Chuck grooming Alex to be a mini-spy? — Ben
MICKEY: It's no accident that producers have shown us that Casey's daughter has some serious combat skills. "It's a spy show, so I think she's going to be on some missions," reports Adam Baldwin, who plays Alex's proud papa.

So excited for the Private Practice wedding. Anything else cool coming up? — Jenna
ADAM: Stop me if you've heard this one before: A merger is coming. With William gone, Naomi will decide to join Pacific Wellcare Group with Oceanside Wellness Center. In contrast to the unholy union of Seattle Grace and Mercy West on Grey's Anatomy, however, this merger is agreeable to all parties. (They do already share a roof, after all.)

Is Barney back to his old self now on How I Met Your Mother? — Kingsley
MICKEY: Neil Patrick Harris says that while Barney searches for his dad, he won't lack female companionship. (Actually, he used much more colorful language, but you get the idea.) Might he birthday-suit up for Zoey, a civic-minded activist who is protesting the destruction of a New York hotel? No. She'll tangle with Ted, since he's the guy who's leveling the historic gem.

How will Smallville deal with having less Chloe this season? — Greg D.
ADAM: As we previously reported, Chloe will give herself up in a trade to save Oliver, who was taken in the season finale. That will keep Chloe off-screen and give Oliver lots to do as he searches for her. Or will it? "Hunting [for her] may not really be a good thing He's got to weigh that decision," executive producer Brian Peterson tells us. Adds fellow EP Kelly Souders: "Giving up is maybe not quite the way he would look at it, but letting go might be part of his scenario."

I love The Big C, but I think it's sad that Cathy and her husband are apart. Will they ever reconcile? Laura Linney and Oliver Platt are so great together. — Hilary
MICKEY: Well, they don't have to be together to be great together, do they? In fact, the couple's fumbling romantic estrangement is the source of much of the upcoming comedy. A particularly hilarious misunderstanding occurs when Cathy says she'd like to have sex in the grass.

What's coming up on Lie to Me? — Sarah
ADAM: Sounds like the show is cooking up quite a season-ender, thanks in no small part to assurances from the network that it will be back. "We put some characters in jeopardy," outgoing executive producer Shawn Ryan says. "We really tried to end the season as a launching pad for Season 3. It's not a Dynasty-esque cliff-hanger, where there's bloody people on the floor... but there are some pretty high stakes."

Life Unexpected? Anything? — Tamara
MICKEY: Britt Robertson tells us that there will no more running away for Lux; Season 2 will find her much more settled with her birth parents. "No matter what people did, Lux always felt rejected," she says. "That's something she has now overcome." Good thing too, because her love life is going to get a lot more complicated. Forget Jones vs. Bug: There's a new surly musician in town, and he's like catnip to our be-hatted heroine.

Mickey's Mega Rave: The Big C's Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney) is a great addition to Showtime's stable of feisty females. Terminally ill Cathy's poignant quest to make every moment count is buoyed by another C word: comedy.

Adam's Mini Rant: You know what might make Big Brother's Saboteur twist interesting? Malevolence! Get your hands dirty, Ragan!

'Big C' Delivers Showtime's Biggest Original Series Premiere In 8 Years; Biggest 'Weeds'

http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/big-c-delivers-showtimes-highest-rated-original-series-premiere-in-8-years-weeds-returns-with-best-night-ever/

Showtime just announced that The Big C premiere attracted 1.154 million viewers at 10:30 PM. That's the pay channel's largest audience in 8 years for an original series debut. (Previous was Odyssey 5 on June 21st, 2002, with 1.155M.) At 11:30 PM, the Laura Linney freshman series delivered an additional 429,000. The total night was 1.583 million viewers. The premiere episode was made available for online sampling two weeks ago and to date has received over 1.6M online views. The Season 6 premiere of Weeds logged 1.262 million viewers at 10 PM. With a total of 1.9M viewers last night, this was Weeds' best night ever in viewers, up 4% from the Season 5 premiere of 1.217M. At 11 PM, Weeds added an additional 629,000 viewers. 

Liam Neeson Next to Join 'The Big C'

http://blogs.courant.com/roger_catlin_tv_eye/2010/07/liam-neeson-next-to-join-the-b-1.html

Liam Neeson is the next big star to sign onto "The Big C," the Showtime dramedy about a woman dealing with cancer.

He follows Cynthia Nixon and Reid Scott to the upcoming series starring Laura Linney and Oliver Platt.

Although the show is set in Minneapolis, it's wrapping up the shooting of its first 13-episode season in Stamford. It starts Aug. 16 on Showtime.

Executive producer Jenny Bicks says that the show has benefitted from the large pool of acting talent on the East Coast, and Neeson, like Linney, will be commuting within the state, from their homes in Northwest Connecticut.
 

'My Boys' Co-Star Joins Showtime's 'Big C'

http://www.deadline.com/2010/07/my-boys-co-star-joins-showtimes-big-c/

While his My Boys co-stars Jordana Spiro and Kyle Howard had to pull out of their regular roles on new NBC series Love Bites and Perfect Couples because of their commitment to the TBS comedy, Reid Scott quietly booked a heavily recurring role on Showtime's upcoming dark comedy series The Big C. The Sony/Original Film-produced show stars Linney as Cathy, a repressed suburban wife and mother who reclaims her life after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Scott, repped by Gersh and Impression, plays Cathy's oncologist Dr. Todd who has lots of training and intellect but lacks life or professional experience. Scott is doing The Big C with TBS' blessing. What also helped him do the series while still under contract on My Boys is that his role on The Big C is technically recurring. Additionally, the smaller size of The Big C's order - 13 episodes - and its production schedule - it is now filming for an Aug. 16 premiere - would make Scott available in the unlikely event that My Boys is renewed for another season. 

Cynthia Nixon Joins Showtime's 'Big C'

http://www.deadline.com/2010/06/cynthia-nixon-joins-showtimes-big-c/

Laura Linney’s Cathy is getting Miranda as a friend. Cynthia Nixon, who played Miranda on the hit HBO comedy series Sex and the City and in the 2 features the show spawned, is joining the cast of Linney's upcoming Showtime dark comedy series The Big C as a recurring. The Sony/Original Film-produced show stars Linney as Cathy, a repressed suburban wife and mother who reclaims her life after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Nixon will play her friend. Other recurring guest stars on Big C’s upcoming first season are Gabourey Sidibe and Idris Elba. 

'Borgias,' 'Big C' Casting News

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/showtime-adds-to-borgias-big-c-casts.html

Showtime has signed two big-screen veterans to play key roles on upcoming series.

The premium network has cast Joanne Whalley as the female lead in its Renaissance crime drama "The Borgias" and Brian Cox for a role in its late-summer comedy "The Big C."

English actress Whalley will star opposite Jeremy Irons as Vanossa, mother of the Borgia children who were fathered by Rodrigo Borgia (Irons) before he became one of history's most infamous popes. Vanossa once was a courtesan with a disreputable past.

Whalley has played several roles on the small screen, including the title character in the 1994 TV miniseries "Scarlett" and the 2000 TV movie "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis."

Meanwhile, Cox will appear in an unspecified number of episodes on "Big C" as lead Laura Linney's father. The actor has been a steady performer in movies and TV, with recent small-screen efforts including roles in "Deadwood" and "Kings."

"Big C" is set to premiere Aug. 16 after the sixth-season debut of "Weeds." "Borgias" premieres next year.
 

'Office' boss Idris Elba joins 'The Big C'

http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/06/08/idris-elba-joins-the-big-c/

Here’s another big reason to catch Showtime’s The Big C when it premieres later this summer: The fantastic Idris Elba is joining the cast as a love interest for Laura Linney’s cancer-stricken (and very much married) character.

I’m told the Wire and Office alum will appear in at least four episodes of the dark comedy’s first season, which bows Aug. 16.

The Big C centers on a suburban wife and mother (Linney) whose world is turned upside down when she’s diagnosed with cancer. Oliver Platt costars as the guy Linney’s newly enlightened alter ego may or may not cheat on. [Beat] I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt!

Elba is currently winning raves across the pond for his starring role in BBC One’s six-part psychological thriller Luther. The project makes its debut Stateside later this year on BBC America.