Lie to Me
Lie to Me's surprise midseason success last year has been attributed to its compelling leading man (Tim Roth) and its unconventional approach to the cop procedural.
So when Shawn Ryan (The Shield, The Unit) was brought in to co-executive-produce the show (with Samuel Baum, the show's creator) this season, he wanted to maintain those two elements.
Fall TV: Get scoop on all the new and returning shows
"There were a lot of things that worked well about the show last year, primarily Tim Roth," Ryan says. "He's one of the premier actors in the world. The show had a lot of strengths. I have just been trying to refine it, add a little adrenaline, add some deeper character work and dig really deep into who these characters really are."
Ryan's higher-octane imprint has already been felt. In the second-season premiere ...
read more
Emily Deschanel (Bones), Carmine Giovinazzo (CSI: NY) and Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives)
Every week, senior editors Matt Webb Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor and Tim Molloy satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questions to mega_scoop@tvguide.com.
Is Bones coming back this fall? — Byerley
MATT: Well of course it is, on Thursday, Sept. 17. And if only because I had Eddie McClintock (now starring on SyFy's Warehouse 13) dropping by for a video Q&A, I reached out to Bones boss Hart Hanson to see if Eddie's Special Agent Tim Sullivan might ever reenter Temp's life. "We've always thought he might return one day, dead or alive. I prefer alive, actually," Hanson told the Buzz. McClintock in turn told me, "I had such a great time with Emily [Deschanel] and David [Boreanaz], so for Hart to say that makes me happy. I would love to [do Bones again]." Hmm, W13 did just wrap production on Season 1....
Do you have any info on what's in store for CSI: NY's Danny and Lindsay? — Tasha
TIM: Danny and Lindsay will have a tough time balancing their jobs and relationship this season as they face serious pressures at both work and home. Look for both of them to ...
read more
Mekhi Phifer
Just as ER prepares to tee up its series finale, one of its alumni has booked a meaty new gig.
Mekhi Phifer, who for six seasons walked the halls of County General as Dr. Gregory Pratt, has booked a multiple-episode appointment on Fox's Lie to Me, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively.
Phifer will appear on the freshman drama series as ...
read more
As I prepped for tonights episode it suddenly hit me that for the last fifteen years ER has been a part of my life next September it wont be I guess that its true that all good things must come to an end and with that in mind tonights tragic loss was a fitting though truly sad beginning to the final leg of this journeyGreg Pratt wasnt always an easy character to love or even like for that matter However over the years Pratt matured from a brash headstrong know-it-all into a poised and gifted doctor and a beloved character in the ER It was a fitting tribute that so many of the people he worked with mentored and loved were a part of his final moments As Neela Gates Abby Sam and Morris all valiantly tried to save his life in the wake of the ambulance explosion the most gut-wrenching scene for me was when the severity of his injuries became clear and the tears streamed down his face while his friends desperately tried to help him I imag
read more
Mekhi Phifer by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
There's no rest for an ER doc. On Tuesday, Oct. 30, Mekhi Phifer went directly from the birth of his new baby boy, Mekhi Thira Phifer, at 6:47 am to an on-set press conference (anticipating the long-running show's 300th episode), in the early afternoon.The proud papa announced, "Mekhi Jr. was born this morning at 6:47 am, a beautiful little boy, 5 pounds 4 ounces, and I'm just really excited." When asked the inevitable question of how hard it was to leave his newborn and his fiancé, Oni Souratha, the baby's mother, Phifer said, "It is, but we gotta keep them bills flowing. Gotta get the bills paid. It's OK, I've just come to knock this out and head on back to the hospital, to relax. Actually I'm off tomorrow, everything's fallen into place like that, so we'll be just fine. And my lady is very excited."Many congratulated Phifer, including costar John Stamos, who asked what Mekhi Jr. will be called at home, to which Phifer replied, "I don't know… Little Man?"Mekhi Jr. is Phi...
read more
Nadine Velazquez by Mitchell Haaseth/NBC
Despite the hot night, there was a chill vibe in the air at the NBC upfront party on the Beverly Hilton rooftop. Celebs like Heroes’ Greg Grunberg and ER's John Stamos kept cool with electronic mini-fans the network handed out to guests. As they noshed on roast beef, pasta and loads of pastries, partygoers could unwind in cabanas, mingle with the masses, or, in the case of NBC’s biggest stars, dish to TV Guide about the upcoming season of their hit show. My Name Is Earl’s Nadine Velasquez says, “The last I heard, I might explore being a lesbian and compete with Earl for girls. It’s not confirmed yet because the network has to approve it, but I love it.” Still, despite the reporters trying to get some scoop, it was a party. ER’s Mekhi Phifer, who doesn’t return to work until August, didn’t know much about the upcoming season. After a few minutes, Phifer looked at the crowd and said, “C’mon, guys, I just want to drink and relax.&#...
read more
Tonights episode was directed by Ernest Dickerson who is best known for his work as a cinematographer on a number of Spike Lee films including Malcolm X Jungle Fever and Do the Right Thing This is his third directing stint for ER having worked on two episodes in 2005 Mr Dickerson definitely crafted an edgier more intense episode than weve seen in recent weeks with cases that were compelling and polarizingTensions were running high on many fronts Luka and Abby faced off over a possible spousal-abuse case and ran up against their complicated work relationship as he reminded her of her place in the pecking order Lets try this You be the resident Ill be the attending OK Ouch Of course his callousness was likely the result of his agitation over the package he received from Curtis Ames When he pulled the cop aside to ask for his help his fear for his family was palpableFred Ward has been popping up all over my favorite hospital dra
read more
ER's Mekhi Phifer in the Kalahari Desert
Tonight at 10 pm/ET, NBC's ER airs the first of two episodes featuring scenes filmed on location in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Kalahari Desert. The story line: Mekhi Phifer's Dr. Gregory Pratt, making the trek to Darfur to give Carter (Noah Wyle) an assist, finds his eyes opened to the harsh realities, genocide included, that plague the region. The fictional doc, though, was not the only one enlightened by the sobering experience.
"Before I read the script, I had no idea of the atrocities that are going on over there and the masses of people t
read more
John Stamos, ER
Question: I admit to being one of those who, for the last season or two, watched ER solely out of habit. However, I am psyched at the prospect of John Stamos being a regular cast member next season, and I am eagerly awaiting next season. Do you expect that the casting of John will pull the show out of its "funk" and re-entice some of the viewers who think it's jumped the shark?
Answer: It can't hurt. I know I was sorely disappointed when ABC's inexplicable renewal (to little effect) of Jake in Progress kept him off the show during a season that could have really used him. I just hope he doesn't succumb to the same ailment that has befallen so many promising actors (Linda Cardellini, Parminder Nagra, Shane West, Kristen Johnston) who join the cast and are almost immediately sapped of appealing personality traits.
Coming to ER's defense is Phil S., who writes: "I'm tired of people bashing shows just because they've been on the air for a while. If anybody actually sat down and watched ER
...
read more
ERRay Liotta did it last season, and so did Cynthia Nixon: When they guest-starred on ER, the entire hour revolved around their characters. Ray won an Emmy for his brilliant portrayal, and Cynthia should've been at least nominated, but wasn't. James Woods continued this tradition and was just as awesome as ALS patient Dr. Nate Lennox. I loved how the flashbacks kept going further and further back in time, so we could see the gradual deterioration of his character, but what made it even more interesting was seeing the various ER characters as they dealt with him throughout the years. Just because I was naturally curious, I checked my ER records and yes, Goran Visnjic was indeed on the show back in 2001. (He's been on since 1999, my, how time h
read more
