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http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Jane-1021563.aspx
Thank you Scott Rosenbaum for just making V a thousand times cooler. After the executive producer let slip at Comic-Con that he'd be introducing Anna's mother in V's November season premiere — and that her name would be Diana, fans went bonkers. I personally begged Rosenbaum to cast Jane Badler (so deliciously evil as lizard villainess Diana in NBC's original '80s V series) as this new incarnation of Diana, and word has just reached me that he has indeed awarded Jane the role. Woo-hoo!
When V returns, we will learn that Anna (Morena Baccarin) is keeping her mother prisoner on the mother ship in a never-before-seen section that has been designed to look like the Visitors' home planet. Both Morena and Laura Vandervoort, who plays Anna's daughter, Lisa, told me they, too, were hoping Jane would take the role. Still stunningly beautiful at age 56, Jane's Diana, who will be a recurring character, is perhaps the only reptilian being who will be able to put Anna in her place. November suddenly can't come soon enough.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/exec-producer-ken-sanzel-to-exit-blue-bloods-after-behind-the-scenes-creative-tension-with-tom-selleck/
I learned this morning that Tom Selleck hasn't been accepting the scripts which Blue Bloods executive producer Ken Sanzel has been giving him. So a standoff developed over character vs procedural visions for the series, summarized to me as "creative tension". By midday, Sanzel was still staying with the show. No more. Insiders just told me that the former cop told the staff late today that he is leaving. There's no exit date yet. "He's a stand-up guy; he won't leave the network or studio hanging," a network source explains. "Simply creative differences. It happens. He was brought in after the pilot as a showrunner to set the show up. We often do this for pilots picked up to series that have great writers but who haven't run shows before." Now, to replace Sanzel, Selleck must find "his guy" but also someone who can meet with network approval. Further complicating the situation is that this is a high profile series because one of the executive producers is Leonard Goldberg, a CBS Corporation board member.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/cmt-picks-up-working-class-to-series/
CMT is officially in the scripted series business with the pickup of comedy pilot Working Class to series.
I hear the cable network has given the the multi-camera project from writer/executive producer Jill Cargeman (Gary Unmarried) a 12-episode order. Working Class stars Reba alumna and The Singing Bee host Melissa Peterman as a blue-collar, single mom who moves into a home she can barely afford in an affluent neighborhood in order to provide the best life possible for her kids. Peterman serves as a producer along with her manager Darris Hatch. Production is tentatively scheduled to begin in October for a possible January premiere.
Working Class was one of 4 comedy pilots that CMT greenlighted in April as part of its first foray into original scripted development under SVP comedy development Brad Johnson. The fate of the other three, The Hard Life, The 30 Percent and an untitled project from David Litt, is unclear at this time, but I hear that one might receive a series order down the line. Cargeman is with UTA, Peterman with APA.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/noah-reid-to-star-in-syfys-three-inches/
Canadian actor Noah Reid has landed the lead in SyFy's pilot Three Inches. The project, from Fox TV Studios and Landscape Entertainment, centers on Walter (Reid), a twentysomething underachiever who acquires a seemingly worthless superpower after getting struck by lightening: he can move any object three inches with his mind. He goes on to recruit a team of fellow heroes, each with their own less-than-spectacular abilities. Jace Alexander is set to direct the pilot from a script by Harley Peyton. Reid, who has appeared on a number of Canadian series, is repped by Toronto's Gary Goddard Angency. Three Inches is one of two pilots SyFy has in the works, along with Alphas.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/05/laura-bell-bundy-how-i-met-your-mother-as-spoiler-alert/
And How I Met Your Mother‘s titular mama is… not Laura Bell Bundy! But the stage vet/country singer has scored a recurring role on the hitcom—and a fairly pivotal one at that.
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Bundy—who played Elle Woods in the Broadway version of Legally Blonde—has been cast as Robin’s new co-host on Metro News One. She succeeds Don (Ben Koldyke), who left town in May’s season finale after dumping Robin.
Rumor has it Bundy’s character will go out on a date with Ted, but it’s my understanding that she is not the “complicated and intriguing” new love interest exec producer Craig Thomas mentioned in this week’s Ask Ausiello.
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.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/05/david-e-kelley-harrys-law-christopher-mcdonald/
David E. Kelley is giving Nate Corddry a sparring partner on his new NBC legal drama Harry’s Law.
Christopher McDonald (Family Law, Happy Gilmore) has landed the recurring role of Thomas “Tommy” Jefferson, a fast-talking, attention-seeking lawyer whose office is perma-lit for press conferences.
Debuting in the show’s second episode, Tommy goes head-to-head with Corddry’s Adam in an unlikely case about the legality of China’s one child only policy. And just like that, a rivalry is born.
Law, which is slated to premiere at midseason, stars Oscar winner Kathy Bates as Harriet Korn, a former patent lawyer who forms an unconventional law firm in a rundown show store. The cast also boasts American Dreams‘ Brittany Snow.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/05/criminal-minds-spinoff-adds-richard-schiff/
Forest Whitaker, meet your new boss.
West Wing Emmy winner Richard Schiff is joining CBS’ Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior in the role of FBI director Jack Fickler, sources confirm to me exclusively.
Schiff—who most recently starred on the ill-fated Fox drama Past Life—will debut in the first episode of the spin-off, which is slated to launch at midseason.
CM: SB stars Whitaker as the head of an elite team of agents within the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. The cast also includes Janeane Garofalo, Matt Ryan, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, and Minds mainstay Kirsten Vangsness.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/04/ask-ausiello-spoilers-greys-house-bones/
Question: As of today, I have officially seen every single episode of Grey’s Anatomy, and now I don’t know what to do with myself! Grey’s scoop, please! —Bea
Ausiello: Even though nearly two months will have passed since the shooting rampage, Derek will still be in pretty bad shape when the season starts. And I’m not talking physically.
Question: What can you tell us about the Grey’s Anatomy premiere? —Claudia
Ausiello: A major character will be sent directly to jail by the end of the episode. Hint: This person has already been name-checked in this week’s AA.
Question: Do you know if NCIS will deal more with what happened to Ziva in Somalia? —Carlee
Ausiello: Funny you should ask. Exec producer Shane Brennan just told me the following: “In November sweeps, we dip again into a story that perhaps everyone thought was played out. It involves Ziva.”
Questions: I am dying for some NCIS scoop. Any news on the season premiere? —Lyss
Ausiello: Brennan says the resolution of last season’s cliffhanger will “speak volumes about what sort of dad Gibbs Sr. was to his son. And you see why Gibbs is very much cut from the same cloth. He may be old, but he’s feisty.”
Question: Is Rena Sofer returning to NCIS? —Brenda
Ausiello: “She’s not in the premiere,” says Brennan. “But she didn’t die. And unless they carry you out feet first, never say never.”
Question: Any scoop on Private Practice? —Alex
Ausiello: Dexter’s dad is paying a visit! James Remar has been cast in the potentially recurring role of Gibby, a physician with Doctors Without Borders and an old friend of Pete’s. He’ll first turn up in this season’s third episode. Oh, and in case you missed TVGuide.com’s scoop, Pete and Violet are getting married in the premiere. (BTW, there’s no connection between their nuptials and this story. Thought you should know.)
Question: Please tell me you have some Bones scoop that doesn’t involve Booth’s new girlfriend. I really need the distraction. —Amy
Ausiello: As they approach their first-year anniversary, Angela and Hodgins will remain an “ironclad couple,” says exec producer Hart Hanson. “They are in the honeymoon phase but they keep getting smacked in the head. But the honeymoon phase never goes away. They are deeply, deeply in love. We just want to do everything to a couple you would do to a couple that is going to go through life together. Sort of the opposite of Booth and Brennan for the time being.” Hanson adds that he plans to “have the kitchen sink thrown at them” this season, “but they’re together for always. We could change our mind next year, but they’re pretty strong this season.”
Question: What’s this I’m hearing about a sniper stalking the Bones gang this season? —Dave
Ausiello: “We’ve got someone worse than the Gravedigger coming,” teases Hanson. “And if the Gravedigger is Evil Brennan, this next person is Evil Booth.” Sounds like a sniper to me. “Booth was a sniper,” Hanson points out, “so it may be a sniper.” In related news, sources confirm to me exclusively that Hart Hanson is legally changing his name to Teasy McTeaserson.
Question: Can you give us any sort of clue as to who is going to die on Bones? Is it a series regular? —Camilla
Ausiello: I’m 92 percent certain it is not a series regular. Hanson, meanwhile, would only tell me “it’s someone we know.” This Just In: Hart Hanson is changing his name yet again. He will now be known as Cryptic McCrypticson.
Question: What’s in store for Cate and Ryan on Life Unexpected this season? I love them together. —Ken
Ausiello: Their marriage is going to hit a few bumps, but none of them will involve Baze. “Baze has been a thorn in their side, but in the second season, the dynamic is going to shift a little bit,” reveals exec producer Liz Tigelaar. “Whereas before they had a common enemy in Baze—all of their problems can kind of be blamed on him—they come to realize that maybe other things are more of a problem. Removing Baze from the equation highlights some other things they hadn’t quite worked out. This season is very much the story of a young marriage and the trails and tribulations that they go through and the way you’re kind of thrust together, torn apart, and brought back together. It’s like everyone always says—the first year of marriage is the hardest. I think that they’re going to experience that.”
Question: I’m still really bummed about the Emmys snubbing Cougar Town—especially Busy Philipps for supporting actress! Can you give me some scoop to ease my pain? —Ed
Ausiello: This next piece of news should leave you feeling both happy and a little gay: Exec producer Bill Lawrence hints that Travis will make a gay friend in season 2. “One of the reasons Travis is going to college,” says Lawrence, “is to expand our world a little bit.” In possibly related news, Cougar Town is casting the role of Travis’ “enormous jocky college roommate” named Kevin. Think Quinton Aaron from The Blind Side—only with better fashion sense. (That last part is purely speculative.)
Question: Anything you can share about Tim/Tyra from Friday Night Lights? —Lisa
Ausiello: I asked Adrianne Palicki—star of Fox’s near-perfect fall drama Lone Star—about rumors of a Tim/Tyra reunion in season 5, and here’s what she told me: “I think if anybody ends up together it should be them. They’re so right for each other. They’re the same.” I tend to agree with her. Palicki and I also see eye-to-eye when it comes to costar Connie Britton’s long overdue Emmy nomination. For her thoughts on that, and scoop on FNL‘s wrap parties (plural), press play below.
Question: Got any scoop for Sons of Anarchy fans? I can't wait for the new season! —Kara
Ausiello: Maggie Siff (Tara) tells me that season 3 picks up almost immediately where season 2 left off. "The first episode is just a couple days after the last episode, so it's really the aftermath of the [kidnapping]," she says. "So there's still a lot of shock involved. There's this reckoning of guilt and fear and anxiety and adrenaline. The whole season is [like] that."
Question: How are audiences responding to Quintuplets? —Sara
Ausiello: You complete me, Sara.
Question: Thank you for all the scoops the past two weeks! You are completely forgiven for skipping a week of Ask Ausiello. I would love you even more if you can give me a Psych scoop, preferably a very good one. —Cecilie
Ausiello: I'm kind of shocked this hasn't gotten out, but James Roday revealed the identity of the Yin-Yang killer to me at Comic-Con—and our cameras caught the whole thing! Roday also told me that Dana Ashbrook is confirmed to guest star in the show's upcoming Twin Peaks-themed episode. BTW, if you're too lazy to go watch my interview with Roday and Dule Hill, I'll just tell you who Yin-Yang is here: It's **** *******s. Can you believe it?!
Question: Scoop on Castle, please. Are Castle and Beckett getting together anytime soon? —Maggie
Ausiello: You obviously missed my interview with Nathan Fillion at Comic-Con, during which he revealed that Castle and Beckett would spend much of the season married—in the figurative sense—to other people. Exec producer Andrew Marlowe both corroborated and expanded on that scoop when we caught up with him at press tour. "We will be introducing a boyfriend for Beckett in episode 4," he revealed. "It's someone new and surprising." Castle, meanwhile, will still be going strong with his ex—although fellow EP Rob Bowman concedes "he would prefer to be with Beckett. He acted as a gentleman should last year. She said she was with somebody else and he stepped back. But I don't think he spent his summer where he preferred to spend it. I think he wants to be back with her. We also know we like to have fun with the boy/girl chase and that as soon as he lets on any intention that he's interested, you know she's going to punish him. And that's why we watch the show."
Question: I know she's on CSI: NY now, but is there any chance Sela Ward will be returning to House this season? —Josh
Ausiello: No. That particular 'ship has sailed. This season's all about the Cuddster. "House and Cuddy alone in a room have had chemistry—that's never been in doubt," says exec producer Katie Jacobs. "Can it work in the real world? Can it work with them being coworkers? She's his boss, she has a kid, he's always breaking the rules... Can it work? I don't know, but that's the question [this season]. And she's not necessarily trying to change him. It's not like she goes, 'Oh well, I'll give it a try with House and hopefully he'll grow up.' He's never going to grow up. And she sort of thinks, 'I love him enough, maybe it could work. It's complicated.'"
Question: I'm kind of obsessed with your story about House's new opening title sequence. How exactly will it be different? —Jennifer
Ausiello: Let's ask Katie Jacobs, who's working on the revamp as we speak. "It's not all new," she says, "but I'm making a few changes because Jennifer [Morrison] is no longer in the main titles. And I am changing a little bit more than that, but I'm not changing so much that you're losing what you love about the opening titles." Jacobs also confirmed that a "few new names"—presumably Olivia Wilde and Peter Jacobson—have been added to the opening as well.
Question: What's coming up for Scotty and Kevin this season on Brothers & Sisters? —Dennis
Ausiello: "Something very risqué," teases exec producer Greg Berlanti. "I'll leave it at that." You thinking what I'm thinking? 'Cause I'm thinking this has open relationship written all over it.
Question: Any more Gossip Girl scoops? I'm dying here! —Jessica
Ausiello: The bitch is back and more powerful than ever. "Blair at NYU was like throwing a fish far, far out of water," says exec producer Josh Schwartz. "I think [this season] you'll see Blair with her power back, with her swagger back, back in her game, but still troubled by thoughts of Mr. Bass. The Chuck/Blair relationship—whether they're together or not—will always be a huge drive to the show emotionally."
Question: I have created a Facebook campaign for Burt Reynolds to host SNL and I am trying to spread the word about it. Thanks for your time. —Kathleen
Ausiello: What an unbelievable coincidence. I'm starting a Facebook campaign to put an end to Facebook campaigns that involve old people hosting SNL. Spooky.
Question: Any juicy and/or shocking news about the new season of Desperate Housewives? —Arno
Ausiello: Stop me if you've heard this one: More than one cougar will be preying on Brian Austin Green's handyman character. I'm told both Bree (Marcia Cross) and Renee (Vanessa Williams) will sink their claws into the artist formerly known as David Silver this fall.
Question: Did you get any Supernatural scoop at press tour? —Jackie
Ausiello: Sure did. Considering the theme of the season is monsters, it's probably no surprise that the first big mystery concerns, er, monsters. "Sam and Dean are looking into the fact that monsters are acting off-pattern," explains exec producer Sera Gamble. "It's sort of a post-apocalyptic landscape and monsters are acting in various weird ways. It's a monster mystery." Gamble is also hard at work on an episode that pokes fun at the Twilight phenomenon. "I was just doing a bit of work on the script today with [series creator] Eric [Kripke] and he was like, 'So what is this reference to dropping an apple?' I was like, 'You don't know the dropping an apple thing? It's from Twilight!' I was like, 'Come over here! You have to watch the promo!' There are a lot of references to Twilight and our former [timeslot companion] Vampire Diaries."
Question: Do you know how I can get a hold of one of those awesome Entertainment Weekly pillows from your Comic-Con video suite? —Stephanie
Ausiello: I probably shouldn't be doing this but I'm feeling extra generous today. Bring $600 cash to the SW corner of 42nd and 7th avenue in exactly one hour. We'll make the exchange there. If you bring anyone with you the deal is off.
Question: Any chance of seeing Grissom even for a tiny moment on CSI this season? —Juliana
Ausiello: I'm 92 percent certain the next time you see Grissom will be in the show's series finale.
Question: With Liz Vassey leaving CSI, what can you tell us about the fate of Wallace Langham? —DJ
Ausiello: He's staying put. In fact, sound like he's getting a promotion. "We're focusing primarily on the core team this season, and I want to bring Hodges more into that core group," says exec producer Carol Mendelsohn, who adds that Vassey will be back in episode 2 to wrap up Wendy's story line. "I think fans will be satisfied. She will be able to say goodbye to Hodges, and Hodges will take his anger and heartbreak out on a fellow tech."
Question: Who is Timothy Olyphant playing on The Office? —Jeff
Ausiello: A rival paper salesman with a deep, dark secret: He used to date Pam!
Question: Thanks for all the How I Met Your Mother spoilers. Can I please have some more, kind sir? —Jen
Ausiello: Yes, ma'am. Ted is getting a serious love interest this season. "There's going to be a new woman in Ted's life that is very complicated and intriguing," says exec producer Craig Thomas. "It's going to be a big arc, a huge arc for this season. It's going to be a little bit less date-of-the-week for Ted, which is what season 5 was. Last season we kind of just had fun with Ted. This year, we're back to the fact that Ted is the "I" in How I Met Your Mother. There's going to be a huge push of forward momentum for Ted on that search and that journey. We're going to meet the biggest female character we've maybe ever added to the show in Ted's life and it's very complicated and intriguing at first. I can't say a lot more than that."
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/breaking-bad-wont-be-back-until-2011-plans-for-mini-episodes-on-amc-website/
Emmy-nominated AMC/Sony TV drama Breaking Bad won’t premiere fresh episodes for its fourth season until July 2011. That's more than a full year after the conclusion of Season Three last June. As a result, the show won't be eligible for a third Emmy nomination next year. That also affects lead actor Bryan Cranston, who won an Emmy last year and is again nominated this year and might have three-peated. To bridge the 13-month gap between seasons, the plan is to produce short interstitial mini-episodes of 3-to-4 minutes apiece early next year after the show goes back in production in January. They'll be posted on AMC’s website. “The idea is to keep people aware and interested in the show during the long time away,” Cranston is telling interviewers. “But I for one am eager to make these little interstitials important. I don’t want them to be simply filler or recap, but something that actually moves the storyline forward. If we’re going to do it, it ought to be a real part of the larger show.”
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/nbc-buys-zombies-vs-vampires-spec/
This a title that would certainly score big with the Comic-Con crowd. NBC has closed a deal for Zombies vs. Vampires, a spec script by Jake in Progress creator/executive producer Austin Winsberg. I hear NBC bought preemptively the project, produced by Warner Bros. TV and McG's studio-based Wonderland production banner. Zombies vs. Vampires is described as a "fun buddy cop procedural." It is set in a world where zombies are a part of society, controllable with medication. The show's two leads (one secretly a vampire) are cops assigned to a squad specifically formed to deal with "zombie crime". Winsberg, McG and Peter Johnson are executive producing.
On the feature side, Winsberg, repped by UTA and Underground, recently sold a pitch to Warner Bros. for an animated feature about a peacock, which he is co-writing with Heath Corson. Wonderland is with WME.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/MegaBuzz-NCIS-Housewives-Greys-1021417.aspx
Given the events of the finale, is Gibbs' job in danger on NCIS? — Jonathan
ADAM: The murder of Pedro Hernandez will add a new layer to the already contentious relationship between Gibbs and Director Vance. You'll see Vance's somewhat shocking reaction in the premiere, but executive producer Shane Brennan coyly tells us that it may also give hints to Vance's own mysterious past. "Sometimes when you think something's done, things pop up years later," Brennan says. "You've got that famous moment where the new director moves into his office for the first time and shreds a piece of paper. That's one of those moments."
How bad do Mike and Susan's finances get on Desperate Housewives? — Rob
MICKEY: With Mike's business on the skids, Susan's finger-painting with the kiddies isn't going to pay the rent. To help out, she'll get a house-cleaning job. And wait until you see her uniform, gentlemen.
What can you tell me about my favorite Grey's Anatomy couple, Arizona and Callie? — Maggie
ADAM: Callie is about to pop a life-altering question, and it's safe to say that Arizona will be a bit freaked-out. And even though Jessica Capshaw, who plays Arizona, is pregnant, that doesn't mean her character is. "This is not being unveiled," Capshaw says of her pregnancy. "This is below a counter, in back of an X-ray, hidden by a big file. This baby is camera-shy."
House and Cuddy — give me the dirt. — Caren
MICKEY: The writers and producers of House "are addressing all the concerns one might have when the main characters of a show get together," Lisa Edelstein says. "This is a real relationship." One snag: House might be ready to pursue love with Cuddy, but he ain't exactly ready to be a dad. "We're just now getting into that now," Edelstein says. And it doesn't sound good.
Are we really supposed to believe that Brennan is happy about Booth's new girlfriend on Bones? — Taylor
ADAM: Supportive is a better word. She's certainly not thrilled, but Brennan might get some action of her own. "We're going to look at some different possibilities for Brennan now; she will definitely look into some different love interests," Emily Deschanel tells us. "She wants to be happy for Booth, but I think there's some jealousy there."
How will the vamps and weres interact on The Vampire Diaries? — Tamara
MICKEY: "In our world, our vampires know very little about the werewolf mythology, other than what anybody who's watched Wolfman or read books has learned," says executive producer Julie Plec. "They're going to be surprised at what they can do." Well, not everyone will be surprised. Katherine, it turns out, has a long history with the werewolves of Mystic Falls.
What will the vibe be like between Castle and Beckett in the new season of Castle? — David
ADAM: Beckett's not happy that Castle has returned from his summer in the Hamptons without so much as calling her, especially after her crushing disappointment in the Season 2 finale. But Stana Katic says the duo's chemistry is still intact. "I don't think they're back to square one," she says. "They have so much history. There's nothing that can untie that kind of a bond between those two characters. They should still have the same kind of swordplay."
Is Travis really going to go away to college on Cougar Town? — Joshua
MICKEY: He is, unless Jules shrinks him down so small that he can live inside her blood! Trav marks his first days as a college man similarly attached to his mama, much to the amusement of his roommate (producers are seeking a Quinton Aaron type), who bestows upon Trav a series of nicknames, each more humiliating than the last.
Anything you can tell us about the new season of Criminal Minds? — Richard
ADAM: The new season is focused on secrets. "We will learn that every member of the team has a secret that they try to keep from the others," executive producer Ed Bernero says. "In some cases, they're successful. In other cases, it threatens the trust and fabric of the group."
I'm excited for Law & Order: Los Angeles, but not about the cast so far. Are there any more coming? — Dave
MICKEY: Now that Alfred Molina and Terrence Howard are locked in to share deputy district attorney duties, they need some assistants. We hear they're looking for a young Latina woman to fill one of those slots. My pick: My Generation's Daniella Alonso, who deserves a better show.
Any updates on the new team member replacing Liz Vassey on CSI? — Brittney
ADAM: Two things: First, the new team member won't exactly replace Vassey. "We did not hire a new cast member," executive producer Carol Mendelsohn says. "It's potentially recurring, but at the moment, it's for one episode." Second, the new CSI, to be played by British actress Sienna Guillory (Criminal Minds), will be a total BABE. (What? It stands for bombs and ballistics expert!)
Give me scoop on Peter's re-entry this season on Fringe. — India
MICKEY: Joshua Jackson says we should focus on that mysterious machine that we saw in the season finale. "The most crucial thing in his life is what that machine is and what he is to that machine," he says.
Mickey's Mega Rave: At the TCA awards, Glee executive producer Ian Brennan gave critics a sneak peek at Sue Sylvester's continuing reign of terror, quoting one of her lines from an upcoming episode: "Don't go soft on me, Will. I realize you're mourning the loss of that bony little redhead you're in love with. And I understand, it's not just a loss for you — as she appears to be the link between early hominids and man, it's also a loss for science." Waiting for Season 2 of Glee to begin... that's hard.
Adam's Mini Rant: I am intrigued by Rubicon, but if the show wants to pay homage to such films as The Parallax View and All the President's Men, it should also try a little harder to match the quick pacing of those films.
Reader Quote of the Week: "On Monday, Victoria Principal will wake up, walk into the bathroom, and find Patrick Duffy in the shower. Then she'll tell him that she had a terrible nightmare and, just like that, last season will be ret-conned as if it had been a dream." — MichaelSacal, on the American Idol judges' shakeup
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/amc-nears-series-order-for-the-killing/
I hear that AMC is close to picking up drama pilot The Killing to series, which would extend the network's perfect pilot-to-series ratio.
Based on the successful Danish series Forbrydelsen, The Killing tells the story of the murder of a young girl and the subsequent police investigation through the perspective of the detectives, the grieving family, and the suspects. It centers on Sarah (Mireille Enos), the lead homicide detective that investigates the murder. Billy Campbell, Michelle Forbes, Brent Sexton, Kristin Lehman, Eric Ladin, Jamie Anne Allman, and Joel Kinnaman co-starred in the pilot directed by Patty Jenkins and written by Veena Sud. Fox TV Studios is producing, with Sud and Mikkel Bondesen executive producing. The Killing was AMC's fifth pilot, following Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Rubicon and The Walking Dead. The other four have already gone to series. (For Walking Dead, the series pickup came before the pilot was shot.)
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/tca-no-plans-for-character-development-on-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia/
During a Tuesday afternoon panel with two of the three creator-producer-stars of the FX comedy hit It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a critic asked if the immature personalities who populate the series that's going into its sixth season in September were ever going to show anything resembling character development. With all due respect. Co-creator Rob McElhenney admitted that while evolution is ongoing, there is no immediate plan to have them develop at anything resembling an accelerated rate. "The older we get, the sadder it it. And the sadder it is, the funnier it is," he figures.
The show is planning to address some genuine issues for the coming season, however -- like gay marriage. "We'll do gay marriage, and sometimes we do dick jokes," McElhenney said, "and we feel like there's a happy medium there." The medium has resulted in a series that started modestly in 2005 and has seen its ratings rise each season since, along with the stature of its stars. "It's much harder for me to just sit in an airport at the gate without it being a whole thing," admitted co-creator Glenn Howerton. "It tells me how much people are watching and enjoying the show."
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/tca-sons-of-anarchy-star-charlie-hunnam-thinks-the-emmys-are-a-crock-of-shit/
Charlie Hunnam, the star of the FX biker drama Sons of Anarchy, made like his character and didn't mince too many words while describing the Sons' Emmy snub on Tuesday during an FX session on the show. "I personally don't subscribe to Emmys or awards or any of that shit. I think it's all a crock of shit," he said. "It's all just so corrupting. We weren't on he receiving end of a force that can change the dynamic of what we're doing. All of that crap is just secondary and completely unimportant but does have the potential to ruin a good thing. So let me just say fuck 'em."
Sons creator/exec producer Kurt Sitter sounded a somewhat more circumspect tone on the issue, deciding not to use any profanity but also equally un-thrilled. "Here's what I'll say about it: Half the stories you see the day of the nominations are about the nominations, and the other half are about the absurdity of the nominations and the snubs," he maintained. "To me, this says the system is somewhat flawed."
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/sherry-stringfield-to-star-in-lifetime-pilot/
ER alumna Sherry Strinfield is set as the lead in Lifetime’s untitled drama pilot from Drop Dead Diva creator/executive producer Josh Berman. The project, from Sony Pictures TV, is a closed-ended drama set in San Diego, which centers on police detective Molly Collins (Stringfield), married mother of two on the verge of divorce, who, along with her partner Brooke Kross, investigate the city’s most high-profile crimes while navigating their divergent personal lives. This is one of 3 pilots Lifetime greenlighted in June, along with Against the Wall and Exit 19. The pilot reunites Stringfield with Lifetime where she co-starred opposite Eric McCormack in the original film Who Is Clark Rockefeller?” earlier this year. She is repped by APA and John Carrabino.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/colm-meaney-to-star-in-hell-on-wheels/
Colm Meaney is set to star opposite Anson Mount in AMC's period drama pilot Hell on Wheels. The Endemol USA/Entertainment One-produced Western centers on Cullen (Mount), a former Confederate soldier tracking down the Union soldiers who killed his wife who winds up working on the Nebraska prairie's Hell on Wheels' portion of the transcontinental railroad. Meaney will play Thomas "Doc" Durant, a businessman determined to make his fortune building the transcontinental railroad, a man of vision and a self-serving opportunist who is capable of "creative financing." Meaney joins previously cast Mount, Dominique McElligott and rapper-actor Common. Meaney, most recently seen in Get Him to the Greek, is repped by Innovative and manager Rick Ax.
http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/08/fox-buys-diablo-cody-pilot.html
Diablo Cody is headed to broadcast.
The writer of the indie hit “Juno” and Showtime’s “United States of Tara” has sold a comedy pilot to Fox.
The network has made a put-pilot deal (where a pilot will be shot and the network will incur penalty if it’s not aired) for a Warner Bros.-produced project written by Cody.
The title is “The Breadwinner.”
Beyond that, script details are being kept closely under wraps.
Cody will executive produce “The Breadwinner” along with Mason Novick.
Since becoming a breakout writer with 2007’s “Juno,” Cody has successfully launched “Tara” on Showtime, took a big swing with horror flick “Jennifer’s Body” and is re-teaming with Jason Reitman on the dark comedy “Young Adult,” which will star Charlize Theron and will go before cameras this October.
Fox and Warner Bros. had no comment.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/03/chuck-lou-ferrigno/
Now this is some incredible stint casting.
Chuck has recruited erstwhile Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno to guest star in this season’s third episode, sources confirm to me exclusively.
Ferrigno will play the bodyguard of an evil spy model (ex-Victoria’s Secret Angel Karolina Kurkova).
As I reported yesterday, Stacy Keibler also appears in episode 3 as the Buy More’s in-house undercover agent Greta.
Chuck‘s fourth season gets underway Sept. 20.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/the-future-of-usas-law-order-criminal-intent-still-in-limbo-may-return-for-final-hurrah-sans-jeff-goldblum/
There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Law & Order: Criminal Intent on USA in the past month or so. I hear the network looked at a number of scenarios, including a full-season pickup, two-season pickup and a partial season pickup until settling on the idea for an eight-episode order for what would be the show's final season. I hear that a final pickup decision, which largely hinges on making the economics work, will be made in the next couple of days, and the network is looking to bring some of the show's original players, including Vincent D'Onofrio. Meanwhile, Jeff Goldblum, who starred on the show last season, has decided not to return. The options on all the actors formally expired on July 31 after being extended by a month on June 30 when they were originally up. For Goldblum, the decision coincided with an agency switch. He has left Gersh and signed with CAA. Goldblum took on the role of Law & Order: CI's new leading man last fall when, in a major cast overhaul, original stars D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe exited, along with veteran Eric Bogosian. Goldblum now stars in Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue at London's Old Vic.
