Ask Ausiello

Ausiello: It's good to be back! In case you missed any of the diaries, here are some handy-dandy links to make life easier for you:

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CW
Fox, Day 1
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But enough about that. Let's get to all the scoop and spoilers that have been burning a whole in my pocket these last three weeks!

Ausiello: Ask and you shall receive: Sources confirm that newly minted Emmy nominee Elizabeth Reaser is returning to Grey's this fall as Alex's erstwhile Jane Doe. An exact episode count is still being worked out, but my spy tells me it's "definitely more than one." Best. News. Ever.

Ausiello: Yes, Henry is definitely sticking around this season. I know this because A) Christopher Gorham was at ABC's press tour party last Thursday, and B) the show is casting the role of Kenny, Henry's BFF and office mate who speaks faux gangsta and tries to be cooler than he actually is.

Ausiello: My favorite Ugly comedy team will be getting a lot more airtime together this season. No, not Amanda and Marc — they're my second fave Ugly yuksters. I'm talking about Justin and Wilhelmina! I hear producers were so tickled by their interplay in last season's Fashion Week episode that they're planning several encores — beginning with the season premiere when Justin makes a cameo at "Mode," prompting Wilhelmina to mistake him for a… um… you'll see. Suffice it to say, it's so funny you'll piddle.

Ausiello: (Spoiler alert) Alejandro will be back on Betty next season. I won't say in what capacity or for how long, but he will be back.

Ausiello: Don't tell Marc, but Amanda's getting a new sidekick — and this one has four legs. Marc, meanwhile, is getting his first stalker in the form of a gay, overweight, average-looking shutterbug.

Ausiello: Based on those scathing focus groups and Shonda Rhimes' less-than-enthusiastic comments at press tour, it's safe to say that the nightmare is over. In fact, I'm hearing Rhimes may stick a fork in Gizzie in the season premiere when (Spoiler alert) the ex-platonic pals are forced to examine their relationship while tending to an, um, unusual patient: a deer. That's right, an injured deer will be admitted to Seattle Grace. What will Shonda think of next?!

Ausiello: OMG, were you eavesdropping?! 'Cause he did say something about a Papa Winchester comeback, and it went something like this: "It's not happening anytime soon. And not because we don't love Jeffrey; we'd love to have him back. But he's a very busy person these days and his schedule is notoriously hard to fit in with our schedule, so I don't see that happening in the near future. But [John is] off in a better place now. He's in heaven, or wherever. And I think he's going to hang out there and party for a little while until we're able to make Jeffrey's schedule work."

Ausiello: Yeah, I think that's been the general consensus. Even Heroes bossman Tim Kring is thrilled by the nifty piece of casting — although it probably means losing Sylar for a chunk of the season. "I was actually involved with this happening," he says. "Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams and I are friends, and we discussed this many months ago. There were a couple of behind-the-scenes phone calls and conversations and we were able to work it out."

Ausiello: Yes, but it's going to require a spoiler alert. We'll be seeing less of Ali Larter this fall as Niki takes off early in the season to, as Larter herself teases, "fix something. And once it's fixed, it will be very shocking and exciting."

Ausiello: Did I hear?! I already placed my frakkin' order!

Ausiello: OMG, I am obsessed with this show! The dialogue is off-the-charts smart. I swear, there are at least 25 quotable one-liners in every episode. And you want surprises? There's a creepy one coming next Thursday when the new divorcée on the block asks Don's wife Betty to babysit her pre-pube son and her infant daughter. Let's just say that Mrs. Draper gets more than she bargained for.

Ausiello: Did someone change the name of this column to "Ask Richard Simmons" while I was away?

Ausiello: I'm still harboring suicidal thoughts over their twin snubs. If you're looking for evidence of why professional TV junkies like myself need to be included in those Emmy blue-ribbon panels, there's your Exhibit A and B. On the scoop front, with Coach Taylor away, Tami will find herself leaning rather heavily on her temporary replacement at Dillon High, a guy named Glenn — but the big question is how heavily. "They have such a good marriage, it's not like she's going to go out and have an affair," exec producer Jason Katims tells me. "But I think there is an interesting [dynamic] there. [Eric]'s away and there's somebody for her to talk to and maybe even help out around the house a little bit to fix things."

Ausiello: Casting scoop! Newcomer Michaela McManus has been added to the cast for a multi-episode arc. She'll be playing a "tough but kind" New York editor assigned to work on Lucas' novel. Daphne Zuniga, meanwhile, is doing five episodes as a "glamorous and intimidating" business exec who works with Brooke.

Ausiello: Major-ass prattle alert! One of the three major male actors from the original Dead Zone film is guest-starring in the season finale. If you can't remember who else aside from Christopher Walken was in the thing, you're in luck: Here's a handy-dandy link to the cast list.

Ausiello: (Spoiler alert) Season 4 — which kicks off in January — ends with a wedding. And it's a wedding that fans have been clamoring for.

Ausiello: Can't confirm that Watros is returning, but I can say that Libby's story will definitely be revisited this season. Backing up what he and Damon Lindelof teased at Comic-Con last week, Carlton Cuse tells me, "There is a cool part of [Libby's] story that we have yet to tell."

Ausiello: Wow, lots to choose from there. Let's go with BSG. As Syfyportal.com already reported, three humanoid Cylon models will be completely wiped out next season. Well, I just found out (Spoiler alert) which ones are getting retired, and I can tell you they all have one thing in common: their gender. And here's another tasty morsel: the name of the 13th Colony in the Colonial Scriptures? "Cylon."

Ausiello: Greenwalt's Moonlight exit was medically induced (i.e., exhaustion). Thomas, meanwhile, left Miss/Guided for creative reasons, and I hear he's thisclose to lining up a new gig. Here's hoping it includes the words "Veronica," "Mars" and "movie."

Ausiello: Not much scoop was procured during my set visit, unfortunately. For starters, the cast just started shooting and, as they reminded me, I know more about the coming season than they do. (It's true.) And secondly, I spent almost the entire time shooting the you-know-what with BFFs David Annable and Emily VanCamp, the latter of which, believe it or not, I had never met in person. Needless to say, there was much mutual fawning to do. Wait a second, I did uncover a little scooplet on the set: Nora and Kevin are converting to Republicanism. At least that's the story they'll use when a right-leaning cop pulls them over for speeding. In other news, Luke MacFarlane is returning for a string of episodes, to keep Kevin company until Viva Laughlin's inevitable cancellation frees up Eric Winter.

Ausiello: Wow, I can't get anything past you guys. According to CSI: NY exec producer Pam Veasey, they will start off the season very much an item. "They are together and their relationship is happy and interesting," she tells me. "And, at some point, which we haven't decided yet, there will be a bump in the road — like any relationship." Veasey adds that unlike a certain high-profile romance on another CSI show, Danny and Lindsay won't be going out of their way to keep their romance a secret from their coworkers. "We're not going to make a big deal about whether people know or don't know," she says. "They played that very well on CSI [with Sara and Grissom]. It's more about seeing that they have this mutual respect. They'll have moments that they share, things that the audience shares with them, but mostly they'll continue to do their jobs and enjoy working together. And then, ultimately, we'll find a little skip in there somewhere."

Ausiello: Um, ewww. Between the new "Daily Planet" editor and the return of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Lois' dance card will be plenty full this season. Meanwhile, the big news out of Comic-Con was the announcement that Dean Cain will be guest-starring in Episode 4 as a villain. Also, the Season 7 clips that were shown at the panel apparently confirm that Chloe is very much alive.

Ausiello: Ridiculously handsome. In fact, I almost didn't recognize him with all the weight his portrayer, Greg Grunberg, lost. (Thirty-five pounds and counting!) Hey, I just realized something — your name is Greg Grunberg, too! What a coinky-dink!

Ausiello: How'd you know? I didn't tell you that Masi Oka once again gave me a taste of my own medicine by hurling an impossible-to-solve asterisk quiz at me. Maybe you'll have better luck with it: "In Episode 1," he says, "** **** **** *** **** *****'* ***** **."

Ausiello: Apparently my shout-out in yesterday's Ausiello Report was enough: Shortly after I posted that item, ABC Family picked up another 10 episodes. I'm only beginning to understand the scope of my power. Also, the show's first three episodes rank among the top five downloads on iTunes, although I probably can't take credit for that. (But I will anyway.)

Ausiello: Here's some spoilery scoop straight from series creator Sean Smith: Next Monday's episode is a "big fun episode. The Kappa Taus are hosting their legendary homecoming party — Vesuvius — showcasing a volcano that ultimately involves Rusty's scientific brain and, coincidentally, the Department of Defense. Rusty learns that he has a secret admirer. We're also going to meet Evan's parents (played by Kathryn Harrold and Kevin Kilner), and Casey does everything she can to fit in with the illustrious Chambers — including watching Masterpiece Theatre. And Dale ends up at his first fraternity party. It's huge. Think Trump."

Ausiello: A reporter asked why the show was banished to summer, and here's his verbatim response: "We were disappointed in the way that that show was creatively developed, and [it] ended up being just not… not to the level that we thought it could succeed. And so it didn't get the kind of support that, you know, we gave some other shows that we believed in a lot more." Don't shoot the messenger!

Ausiello: I see you guys haven't lost your sense of humor.

Ausiello: I can confirm that they are not recasting her role. And that, unfortunately, is all I can confirm.

Ausiello: John Krasinski confirmed that Rashida Jones will be back for a "couple of episodes" this fall. "I think we're going to find out where she went," he says, "because she didn't get to say her piece. I think she'll come back, slap everyone in the face and then be done — it'll be glorious!" Regarding Jam, Krasinski says he hopes this season will find the star-crossed lovers enjoying all the ups and downs of coupledom. "I think it would be interesting to see, after all that pressure, what a relationship would be like. I feel like there would be some sort of awkwardness because there is a lot of pressure, and I think both those characters would feel that. There's a lot of fun you could have with it."

Ausiello: I'll tell ya, these Tony resurrection rumors just won't die. Ba-dum-bum. According to my 24 mole, producers briefly toyed with the idea of making Tony the Big Bad of Season 7, but that plot was scrapped. I know this because reliable sources say the show recently reached out to Gary Oldman to play Day 7's evil genius.

Ausiello: Fair enough. I'll even do you one better by giving you a little scooplet: The show will be introducing the new acting president of the U.S. this season. The part, per the casting notice, is being modeled after JFK, a charismatic leader the people need to help rebuild what is left of the country.

Ausiello: Remember last year's rape controversy? That's gonna look like a stroll through Smurf Village if Tommy does what it looks like he's going to do at the very end of tonight's episode.

OK, that's all, folks! Remember to check out the latest episode of the Ausiello Report vodcast if you haven't done so already. Also, head on over to my AR blog to dissect this week's column (read: crack Masi's asterisk quiz) in the Ask Ausiello discussion thread. And, last but not least, e-mail your questions, tips and love notes to ask_ausiello@tvguide.com

See ya back here next week!