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http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b197575_exclusive_video_see_what_dexter_does.html
In less than one month, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) returns to our TV screens for what might be his darkest season yet. After his Rita's (Julie Benz) murder by the Trinity Killer, Dexter needs to balance his day job (forensics), his night job (murder) and single parenthood, all while evading increasing suspicion that he's the one who slit his wife's throat.
Get a sneak preview of what's to come this season in our exclusive clip:
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/29/office-spoiler-jan-returns/
At Friday’s 2010 Entertainment Weekly and Women in Film pre-Emmy party, Melora Hardin revealed that when she returns to The Office this season, she won’t just be bringing Jan back, she’ll be bringing the old Jan back. (Yikes! Scary.) Not only that, but there’s a new man in her life. Does the name Jimmy Smits ring any bells? Video below!
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/29/glenn-close-on-11th-hour-damages-pickup-i-was-really-surprised/
Contrary to what you may have heard, I most certainly did not tell Glenn Close to take a flying leap when we spoke Friday at the 2010 Entertainment Weekly and Women in Film pre-Emmy shindig. However, amid talk of Damages‘ series-saving move to DirecTV—and the new freedoms said move has given the show’s writers—she did contemplate taking the plunge. WTH am I going on about? Press play to find out.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/29/ncis-scoop-pauley-perrette-abby-spoiler/
Getting scoop out of the casts of NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles can be tricky. But at Friday’s 2010 Entertainment Weekly and Women in Film pre-Emmy hootenanny, I gave it the old college try, grilling Pauley Perrette and Barrett Foa to within an inch of their lives. What did I find out? Former Avenue Q denizen Foa revealed what he and new on-screen sidekick Renee Felice Smith get up to in his trailer when they’re not theatre-geeking out, and Perrette all but confirmed that this is the season Abby’s elusive backstory will take center stage.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-Debra-1022248.aspx
Veteran actress Debra Monk, who suffered through Andy Sipowicz's drinking on NYPD Blue as his put upon wife and mothered George O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy, has signed on to Brothers & Sisters as a rival for Sally Field.
Debra will debut in episode five of the new season as Alexandra Kirby. When Nora is offered a job as the host of an Ask Mom radio program, she'll face some stiff competition from the more experienced and flashy Alexandra. Who'll get the gig? Aw, I bet you can guess.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Kecks-Exclusives-True-1022247.aspx
Let's hope she fares better in Fairview than she did in Bon Temps.
After being brutally butchered in True Blood's first season as Sookie and Jason Stackhouse's Granny Adele, veteran actress Lois Smith is headed to Wisteria Lane. Lois, 79, will debut in Desperate Housewives' fifth new episode as Allison Scavo, who moves in to Lynette and Tom's home to help son Tom (Doug Savant) get over a unique case of male postpartum depression.
Want more Desperate Housewives scoop? Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!
"I was really excited to get Lois; I've been a fan of her work for years," says Housewives creator Marc Cherry, singling out her performances in Minority Report and a TV production of Grapes of Wrath. "One of the perks of this job is that I get to work with these wonderful actors from time to time."
Lois joins is an impressive roster of actresses who have breezed through Fairview as moms to the Housewives characters, including Carol Burnett (as Bree's stepmom) and Polly Bergen (as Lynette's boozy mama).
Cherry describes Allison as "a very traditional homemaker whose ideas of what women should be to their husbands really smacks right against Lynette's more modern views of womanhood." So far, Lois is slated for two episodes.
Who was your favorite Desperate Housewives guest parent?
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/27/no-ordinary-family-jackson-rathbone/
Coming up necks for Twilight bloodsucker Jackson Rathbone: A potentially recurring role on ABC’s No Ordinary Family.
The 25-year-old actor—whose two summer films, Eclipse and The Last Airbender, collectively grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide—will play Trent Stafford, a high school classmate of Kay Panabaker telepathic Daphne. Trent was recently the victim of a home invasion robbery, and I’m guessing Daphne will join forces with her superhero parents to help catch the perp.
Rathbone last appeared on the small screen in 2009, when he guest-starred as a serial killer with multiple personalities on Criminal Minds.
N.O.F. premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 28.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/27/desperate-housewives-season-7-promo/
There’s a new sheriff in town on Desperate Housewives, and judging by this exclusive image from the show’s Western-themed season 7 promo campaign, her name is Vanessa Williams!
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Frances-Conroy-Greys-1022230.aspx
Frances Conroy, who played matriarch Ruth Fisher on HBO's Six Feet Under, has been cast on Grey's Anatomy in a role that sounds perfectly suited for this Golden Globe winner's dramatic and comedic talents. Frances will guest star as a patient named Eleanor who blacks out. But that's not the fun part. Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes tells me Eleanor claims she blacked out right around the time she raced into a Laundromat and caught her naughty husband folding another woman's panties. Don't you just hate when that happens?
Grey's Anatomy: Ryan Devlin returning to Seattle Grace
"Whether or not she really blacked out is an issue," says Rhimes. Hmm... Might Frances' vindictive character have sent her husband six feet under? That'll be for Detectives Grey and Yang to investigate. Apparently all those Cagney & Lacey reruns I've been watching have gotten the best of my imagination.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/allison-miller-cast-in-fox-series-terra-nova/
Allison Miller has become the second actor after Jason O'Mara cast in Fox's upcoming adventure series Terra Nova. The project, from Steven Spielberg and Peter Chernin, follows an ordinary family from 2149 led by Jim Shannon (O'Mara) who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization. Miller will play Skye.
Terra Nova was originally announced at the upfronts as a midseason replacement, but has been pushed to fall 2011 with a May preview to give more time for the elaborate production and post-production. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox TV, DreamWorks TV, Kapital Entertainment and Chernin Entertainment. Miller, who recently starred on NBC's Kings and in the feature 17 Again, is repped by ICM and Thruline.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/26/chuck-scoop-timothy-dalton/
Maybe I’ve been watching soaps for too long, but the second I heard that Timothy Dalton was joining Chuck as a mystery man with ties to Chuck’s mom (a.k.a. Linda Hamilton) my mind immediately went here: James Bond is Chuck’s real father. Admit it, yours did too.
But is it true? Did 007 and Sarah Connor make a baby named Charles Irving Bartowski?
“Consider that theory squashed,” responds executive producer Josh Schwartz, who declined to reveal what connection Dalton’s character shares with Mama B. “We’ll only say that they’ve known each other for a long time.”
Landing Dalton is a major coup for Schwartz and fellow EP Chris Fedak. The actor—who allegedly turned down an offer to join the third season of Sons of Anarchy—hasn’t appeared on an American series in more than three decades (since a 1979 stint on Charlie’s Angeles). How’d they manage to lure him back?
“With my charm and Fedak’s singing voice,” deadpans Schwartz. “That’s not true. We’re huge fans of Mr. Dalton, not only for being a badass Bond but for his comic work in Hot Fuzz and The Rocketeer.
“In truth,” Schwartz continues, “we’ve wanted to have him on the show since season 1. When we came up with this part, we thought he’d be perfect. So we sent him [some episodes], he dug it, and then we started talking.”
Dalton makes his first appearance in Chuck‘s seventh episode, titled, “Chuck Versus the First Fight.”
Chuck‘s fourth season kicks off Monday, Sept. 20.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b197313_exclusive_casting_news_meet_male_nikita.html
Good news TV fans! The CW's Nikita, one of my fave new shows of the fall season, is getting even sexier.
(You didn't think it was possible, did you, what with Maggie Q already being so fierce and gorgeous as a rogue operative fighting conspiracies and criminals?)
We've got the exclusive scoop on a new character who will be battling our heroine, and can reveal that Nikita's new nemesis is...
Devon Sawa, whom you might remember from the original Final Destination movie.
Devon is set to play the role of Owen beginning on episode five of Nikita, which airs Oct. 7.
Owen is described as "a highly trained Division agent who is equal to Nikita in skill."
Nikita premieres two weeks from tonight at 9 p.m. on the CW. Will you be watching?
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/26/how-i-met-your-mother-nicole-scherzinger-robin-sparkles/
How I Met Your Mother is about to fill in a major piece of Robin Sparkles’ pop-star backstory.
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Pussycat Doll-turned-Dancing With the Stars champ Nicole Scherzinger has been tapped to play Jessica Glitter, Robin’s former BFF and costar of the Canadian talk show that also featured Alan Thicke.
“It’s going to be a satisfying third chapter in the Robin Sparkles trilogy,” says executive producer Craig Thomas. “It’s a prequel to both ‘Let’s Go to the Mall’ and ‘Sandcastles in the Sand.’”
Adds fellow EP Carter Bays: “It’s the origin story of Robin Sparkles. You see where she came from.”
The Sparkles & Glitter flashback episode, simply titled “Glitter,” is slated to air during November sweeps.
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/26/bones-season-6-poster/
Anyone available to help me analyze another piece of Fox key art? This time it’s the official poster for Bones‘ upcoming sixth season, and, as you can see, there’s much to discuss. The coordinating outfits. The body language. Brennan’s sexy new ‘do. The cadaverous paws. And a tagline that screams, “Sex by May Sweeps!” Well, that’s what it screams to me anyway. I suppose that could be the jetlag talking. In any event, scroll down to the comments and scrutinize away!
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/nbcs-chuck-adds-a-touch-of-bond-with-timothy-dalton-casting/
First Linda Hamilton, now Timothy Dalton. After casting Terminator star Hamilton to play Chuck (Zachary Levi) mom, NBC spy dramedy Chuck has drafted another 1980s action star to recur next season. Dalton, who has experience in spy fare having played James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, will appear in a multiple-episode arc playing a mysterious stranger who has a history with Chuck’s mom (Hamilton). This marks Dalton’s first series appearance on American television since he guest-starred on Charlie’s Angels in 1979. Dalton, who recently added his voice to the animated hit film Toy Story 3, will next be seen in The Tourist. Chuck returns for its fourth season on Monday, Sept. 20.
http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/08/26/exclusive-katee-sackhoff-returning-to-the-big-bang-theory/
My new AOL TV column doesn't officially debut until Sept. 1 -- and debut it will, with a title and picture and everything. But when the nerd Batphone rings, you can be sure Mo Ryan will answer it, whether or not the Photoshop wizards have finished working on my column photo.
I found out that 'The Big Bang Theory' is breaking out the big guns for its impending move to Thursdays, and I just had to get this exclusive news out there now: Katee Sackhoff is guest starring on the CBS comedy again this fall.
The actress, who played Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on 'Battlestar Galactica' and Dana Walsh on '24,' won't be in the season premiere of 'Big Bang' (Thurs., Sept. 23, 8PM ET on CBS), but keep reading for scoop on that one, too.
Sackhoff will return later this fall to the role she first played last year -- the version of "Katee Sackhoff" who acts as the conscience of Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg). The episode will also feature the return of Melissa Rauch as Wolowitz's ex-girlfriend, Bernadette.
"He's struggling with his feelings about Bernadette and them breaking up, and in pops Katee Sackhoff again," Sackhoff laughed. "I can probably say [the scene] won't be in the bathtub. I don't know for sure ... I can't imagine them doing the same thing twice, but you never know."
Appearing on 'Big Bang' -- which grew into such a hit that CBS is using it as part of a new sitcom block in a hotly contested Thursday slot -- "really, really helped me decide that I could do [comedy]," Sackhoff said. "So when [co-creator Chuck Lorre] called to see if I could do a second episode, I said, 'Of course.'"
Sackhoff admitted that, prior to her first 'Big Bang' experience, she had avoided funny roles for years. It's not surprising given that her first Hollywood guest role -- on the WB comedy 'Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane' -- didn't go very well, especially when her character had to deliver a "throaty laugh."
"I was 18 years old. I had no idea what a throaty laugh was," Sackhoff said. When the episode aired, another actress' voice had been dubbed over hers for the laugh. Sackhoff's reaction: "And I will never do comedy again!"
But she said that a decade spent playing serious roles on shows like '24,' 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Bionic Woman' had her on the lookout for a change of pace. "I think that people remember you for your last job, and ... no one can picture you outside of that," Sackhoff said. "So I was looking for something to tear the lid off that box."
Appearing on 'Big Bang' last November (in the aforementioned bathtub scene with Wolowitz) was "daunting ... thank God for the bubbles, because I didn't have to do it in front of a live audience," she added with a laugh. Though she said she was relieved that the episode was largely well-received, she was a bit thrown by the surprising reaction in some quarters.
"My mom called me and she goes, 'Everyone online thinks you've had your boobs and your lips done.' I was like, 'What?!'" Sackhoff recalled. "I just thought it was absolutely the funniest thing ever. I realized it's because they've never seen me with that much makeup on before. And because it's supposed to be Wolowitz's fantasy, I had on the stuff that pushed my boobs together and we traced the line of my lips to make them bigger, because in his mind, they're huge. I mean, it was a caricature of myself. I cracked up."
So is she open to coming back for more? Absolutely. "We're just trying to figure out how many times Starbuck or Katee Sackhoff can pop up in Wolowitz's head. It can't be every episode ... I mean, I would love to have me pop up every episode, but maybe it's too much. Maybe I could do a 'final thought,' like Andy Rooney does, at the end of every ['60 Minutes'] episode," she joked.
If you can't wait until Sept. 23 to see Sackhoff, she's also appearing on 'Futurama' this Thursday (Aug. 26, 10PM ET on Comedy Central).
Oh, and if you see her and Tricia Helfer (Six!) passing through your town this October on motorcycles, know that A) You are not seeing things, and B) the 'Battlestar Galactica' castmates -- who are very good friends in real life -- are riding from Los Angeles to Louisiana to raise money for the Gulf region in the wake of the BP oil spill.
"We're trying to continue to raise awareness that this will be an ongoing problem," said Sackhoff, who'll start selling T-shirts benefiting Gulf causes via the site actingoutlaws.org in a couple of weeks.
Even when not riding for charity, she and Helfer like getting on their motorcycles and cruising around Los Angeles. I asked what the reaction is when 'Battlestar' fans see them at gas stations. "It's kind of funny, especially when [fellow 'BSG' actor] Michael Trucco goes with us," Sackhoff said. "People are like, 'Wow, what just happened?'"
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Christine-Lahti-SVU-1022196.aspx
An Oscar-nominated actress will return to Law & Order: SVU this season — but don't get nervous, it's not Sharon Stone. It's Christine Lahti, reappearing as overbearing ADA Sonya Paxton sent by the DA's office to ride herd on the SVU team.
A nasty alcoholic, she butted heads with Stabler (Chris Meloni) and was eventually forced to enter rehab. Paxton reappeared in a later episode only to warn Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March) not to trust the cops. She'll return in this season's ninth episode on a case and is supposedly all cleaned up. "She has a huge scene where she faces off with Stabler," SVU's executive producer Neal Baer tells TV Guide Magazine exclusively.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Manny-Modern-Family-1022192.aspx
When Modern Family returns to ABC on September 22 for its second season little Manny (Rico Rodriguez) will be front and center. Executive producers Christopher Lloyd and Steve Levitan tell TV Guide Magazine he'll go on his first date—his first on-screen date, that is.
"I don't think it's his first date," says Levitan, Adds Lloyd, It's his first serious girlfriend. The irst one he really feels he's falling in love with." The story line might end up being less about Manny than it is about his mother.
"It mostly turns into a clash with Gloria," says Lloyd. "Because in the Colombian culture the bond between a mother and son is very intense, and it becomes a little bit of a competition between the girl and Gloria for Manny."
Poor Manny will face an existential crisis as he turns 12. "He realizes that he's almost forgotten to live his childhood and he tries to figure out a way to pack it all in, because he's only got one year left before he's a teenager," says Lloyd.
And it wouldn't be Modern Family without some high jinks from Phil and the Dunphy family. "There's one [episode] where there's a chirping smoke alarm and he can't figure out which one is having the battery go wrong and it eventually drives him crazy, among other things," says Ty Burrell, who's currently shooting Episode 4. "This week's episode Phil's trying to help Jay [Ed O'Neill] fix a computer, which makes him so happy since Jay is basically the real man."
In other Dunphy news, "Hayley breaks up with Dylan but it's tougher on Phil than it is on Hayley so he continues seeing Dylan behind Hayley's back," teases Lloyd.
Nothing, however, prepares Phil for this: "The Dunphy kids walk in on their parents having sex," says Levitan. "Hey, it happens." Can you say awkward?
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/08/25/ask-ausiello-spoilers-glee-gossip-girl-castle/
Question: Any Glee scoop? —Ines
Ausiello: I’m hearing a major character (a series regular!) will find himself/herself in a literal life-and-death situation in this season’s third episode. In possibly related news (I say possibly because I honest-to-goodness don’t know), Chris Colfer’s Emmy-nominated TV dad Mike O’Malley tells us that episode 3 will be “another emotional, emotional episode” for father and son. The actor goes on to hint that the show will revisit the complicated dynamic between Burt and Kurt’s crush, Finn. “The last time I was on the show, [Burt] threw Finn out of the house. There [may] be some resolution there. One of the things I think is really important in life and for human beings is to forgive and be able to rise up from our mistakes. I’m hoping that Finn and Burt are able to cross that chasm.”
Question: I seem to recall you said that Chord Overstreet (a.k.a. Glee‘s newest stud) wouldn’t turn out to be Kurt’s new boyfriend. Jane Lynch tells it differently. —Ashley
Ausiello: Actually, Jane Lynch tells it exactly the same way I did. Snap.
Question: Will Glee ever cast Rachel’s “two gay dads”? Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are my top picks! —Kim L
Ausiello: Series creator Ryan Murphy sounds doubtful. Though “people always ask me to do that…I don’t know that we ever will.” Maybe he’ll go with Lea Michele’s idea. Says the boss, she suggested “we see them in season 3, like a shot of Elton John cheering her on in an audience. I haven’t decided how I’m going to do that.”
Question: Got any Grey’s Anatomy scoop concerning the Alex/Lexie/Mark triangle? —Maura
Ausiello: Yep—said triangle no longer exists! “At the end of the season Alex was asking for Izzie,” Shonda Rhimes reminds me. “It’s really hard to feel like there’s a love triangle going on if the man Lexie loves is clearly asking for another woman. And she’s very clear on that by the time the [season premiere] is over.”
Question: Some news about the future of Josh Holloway in television? —Olivia
Ausiello: Funny story: Shortly after I posted my story linking Holloway to NBC’s Rockford Files remake, Doc Jensen emails me and says he had a conversation with JH about Rockford back in April when NBC started casting the pilot. Doc J mentioned to him that after watching the “Sawyer & Miles” cop show in the sideways world, he thought Holloway would make a perfect Jim Rockford. Holloway’s response? “I thought so, too! And I was like, no way, don’t even go there… because I love The Rockford Files. And I thought Ken [Leung] would be great for [Rockford's sidekick]. I would have loved that show. But I wanted to give movies a shot, so I never even pursued it.” But that was April. This is August. Fingers crossed Holloway is having a change of heart.
Question: Is it too early to get any plot-related Big Love scoop? —Rachael
Ausiello: It’s sure not. Ex-president Gregory Itzin tells us that his senator character and newly elected Bill “will butt heads. [Since] he’s come out as a polygamist, he’s taking a lot of political heat, and I become the spearhead for that, because I am the Speaker of the House.” But before the conclusion of the 24 baddie’s arc—he’s in at least five of the season’s 10 episodes—”I extend an olive branch, and he does too. But,” he adds, “I don’t know how long that will last.”
Question: Some Gossip Girl scoop regarding Rufus and Lily, please. They’re my favorite couple, and we’ve heard nothing about them. —Sly
Ausiello: A certain rat Bass-tard is going to come between them early in the season—relax, I’m not talking romantically. While Lily is more than willing to forgive Chuck for what happened with Jenny, Rufus is having a harder time moving past it. And just when he finally starts to come around, Eric lets him in on a little secret (hint: It pertains to an ugly incident from the pilot). Cue World War III.
Question: I fell in love with Dan and Vanessa last season on Gossip Girl. Needless to say, Dan’s out-of-nowhere “signs” about Serena in the finale threw me for a loop. Please say Dan and Vanessa aren’t over for good as a couple. —Sarah
Ausiello: I’m guessing it’s not over, since they move in together in episode 3!
Question: Got anything on Brothers & Sisters? —Tim
Ausiello: Producers are looking for a “celebrity name” to play Gilles Marini’s gorgeous (natch) sixtysomething TV mom, who comes to town and makes quite an impression on the Walker family. Got casting tips? Hit the comments!
Question: What happened to Duck on Mad Men? —Karen
Ausiello: I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll find out in this Sunday’s episode. Meanwhile, Rich Sommer (Harry) says he’s optimistic that current contract talks between series creator Matthew Weiner and Lionsgate will yield a positive outcome. “I think the show is him,” he says. “Could a show called Mad Men exist without Matt Weiner? It wouldn’t be the Mad Men that we know and care about. Hopefully everything will get worked out soon, and I will get the phone call saying so.”
Question: I will be cutting my Smurf doll in half unless I receive some good How I Met Your Mother scoop. Your move, Ausiello. —Matt
Ausiello: Back away from the doll! [Beat] Take another step back. [Beat] You’re still too close. [Beat] Okay, that’s good. Marshall and Lily waste no time starting Project Concepción. “We’re going to pick up right where season 5 left off—it’s night 1 of them trying to have a baby,” previews exec producer Craig Thomas. “I’m not saying it’s going to be pornographic, but we are going to dig right into Attempt No. 1. We’re going to join them at the very beginning of that journey.” In other HIMYM news…wedding scoop!
Question: I’m in desperate need of some Weeds scoop, especially regarding Andy! —Kristen
Ausiello: Someone’s about to get gang-spanked, and that someone is Andy.
Question: Please tell me some good 30 Rock scoop! —Cindy
Ausiello: Would you settle for good-ish? A casting call has gone out for an African-American male in the 30s-60s age range to play Rutherford Rice, the distinguished, well-spoken host of Right On, a fictitious talk show focusing on African-American issues. Is it racist of me to assume this probably involves Tracy? Probably.
Question: Are you going to make a list of the new shows we should watch, and the ones that we should miss? I have no idea how to set my DVR! —Amanda
Ausiello: Help has arrived…
Watch: Lone Star (Fox), Undercovers (ABC), The Event (NBC), No Ordinary Family (ABC), Raising Hope (Fox), Mike & Molly (CBS), Better With You (ABC), Hawaii 5-0 (CBS), and Nikita (The CW).
Miss: $#*! My Dad Says (CBS) and Hellcats (The CW).
If a new show you’re curious about isn’t listed above, it means either I’m on the fence (e.g., CBS’ The Defenders) or I haven’t watched the pilot yet (e.g., Outlaw).
Question: I’m sure you’re sick of Castle/Beckett-related questions, but it has to be asked: Is there any good news on the horizon for them? —Darla
Ausiello: There is good news: Series creator Andrew W. Marlowe confirms that they will hook up—eventually. “There will come a time in the series when [a relationship] will be worth exploring,” he says. “But I don’t think the characters are ready to go to that level now. We still have a lot of storytelling—a lot of near misses—left to explore and play with. In many ways, Beckett is still a mystery to Castle. She has other things going on in her life that she’s very cautious about exposing to him because she feels that he’s not ready. I think the fun of the series is watching them do that dance. And the dance can continue evolving to the point where they can be in a relationship. I just don’t think they’re ready for that right now.” That’s sorta good news, right?!
Question: Got any Castle scoop for us? —Jennifer
Ausiello: There’s a somewhat significant death in the second episode. I’m also hearing something about Castle revealing his REAL name.
Question: Thanks for the scoop about Monet Mazur (Gina) returning in Castle‘s fifth episode. Can you tell us anything else about the episode? What brings her back? —Heather
Ausiello: Per Marlowe, “Castle has to attend a charity event that Gina’s throwing that’s honoring her. Of course, Martha’s take on it is that it’s very narcissistic, but we find out later on that she’s doing it for all the noble reasons. The theme of the episode is the things we do for love.”
Question: Many fans of The Office are concerned that Pam dated Timothy Olyphant’s character post-Roy and pre-Jim. Is this the case? Is Jim just finding out about it now? —Matt
Ausiello: Yes to all of the above! According to executive producer Paul Lieberstein, Pam dated Olyphant while Jim was with Karen. “Everyone in the office makes a big deal of it, and we get into Jim’s jealousy a little bit,” he says. “It bothers him a little.”
Question: You tell us that Erica Durance is playing Isis on Smallville and you don’t elaborate? WTH? —Steve
Ausiello: Do you still not understand how this works? Ausiello TV is where the seed gets planted, and Ask Ausiello is where we watch the flower grow. Put another way, Ausiello TV is the foreplay to Ask Ausiello’s full-on shag. So whaddaya say we get down to business? “It’s an inhabitation story,” explains exec producer Brian Peterson of the Lois-Isis connection. “Lois is actually going to be possessed by the spirit of Isis.” Was it good for you, Steve? BTW, quick clarification: Smallville‘s Isis isn’t the DC Comics character Isis. It’s the Egyptian goddess Isis with a nod to the DC Isis. Understand? Good, now explain it to me.
Question: Anything on Chloe’s return yet on Smallville? —Maria26
Ausiello: Allison Mack will appear in the premiere and then return “in the middle of the season in a very impactful way in Clark’s life,” reveals Peterson. “It’s a great wrap-up to her character, and it also dovetails into the Chloe/Oliver relationship.”
Question: I have loved this season of Burn Notice so far, and I’m totally digging the addition of Coby Bell. But last week’s episode has me wondering: Now that (SPOILER ALERT!) Jesse knows that Michael burned him, what will become of Mr. Bell? —Kristina
Ausiello: He’ll be back for the second half of the season, don’t you worry. In the meantime, Jesse makes a choice in this week’s finale that will affect Michael in a major way. In possibly related news, the cliff-hanger finds Michael in the most perilous situation we’ve ever seen him in. And this dude’s been in some seriously perilous situations.
Question: The last two Ask Ausiellos haven’t had any scoop on the best series at this moment: The Good Wife! —Ingmar
Ausiello: Good thing we spoke to Alan Cumming over the weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys or else it would’ve been three in a row. Look for Eli to get “more heavily involved in Peter’s campaign,” he teases about his character’s story line this fall. “He gets meaner and ruthlesser.” Regarding his recent upgrade to series regular, Cumming says the biggest difference is “I get paid more. And I sort of have an idea of where my character is going now. [Before] I had no idea what was going to happen. The next week I could’ve been a murderer.”
Question: What are the chances Chuck will get a back-nine order? I’m freaking out over here! —Eric
Ausiello: I assumed exec producers Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz would be too. But they’re not. As Schwartz points out, “We never started a season with more than 13 episodes. Like last year, we will hope for the best, plan for the worst, and be ready to have an incredible final episode 13 if need be with a contingency plan to keep the season going.” Adds Fedak: “Episode 13 no matter what will be epic.”
