Question: Tell us more about Michael Vartan's new movie in Australia.
Answer: There's nothing definitive, but my Down Under peeps at moviehole.net are speculating that the film in question may be Greg McLean's Wolf Creek follow-up, Rogue. If that's true, he'd be playing an American journalist who encounters a man-eating crocodile while in the Australian Outback. (Enter your own Jerri Manthey kicker here.)
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Question: OK, I admit, I was one of those people beating up on you, sending you a harsh e-mail after the season premiere of Alias. However, you have fully redeemed yourself with your latest tidbit about the Michael Vartan saga! Don't stop there, though — any news on the negotiations to bring him back to the show?
Answer: Were you the one who banished me to a life of eternal damnation? All my hate mail tends to blur together. Anyway, yes, there is a major — major — development on the Vartan/Vaughn front: The deal officially closed late last week and Vartan returned to work on the Alias set yesterday. Please don't ask me who he's playing or how long his return engagement will last, because that I can't tell
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Michael Vartan
It's the news Alias fans have been waiting for. As reported exclusively in today's Ask Ausiello, Michael Vartan has sealed a deal to return to ABC's spy drama. For more on his big comeback — plus breaking casting news, er, poop on ER, Charmed, The Shield, Everwood, NCIS, House and Gilmore Girls — read today's fresh AA. (There, Mike, was that plug shameless enough for you?)
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Michael Vartan's much-buzzed-about Alias comeback has allegedly hit a snag. As reported in today's Ask Ausiello, the actor has landed a movie in Australia which could derail plans for Vaughn (or his ghost?) to return before year's end. For the full story, as well as scoop on practically every show except Still Standing, read today's AA!
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Question: You've answered a lot of questions about Vaughn and Alias but not this one: Did Michael Vartan elect to leave, or was he fired?
Answer: Well, as you might expect, it's complicated. Here's what I've been told from a reliable source close to the situation. Shortly after Vartan and J.Ga's big split, Vartan allegedly made it known that he wouldn't be terribly upset if Vaughn were to get whacked while on assignment. TPTB, in turn, made it known that Vartan had a contract to honor and, well, he better suck it up and be a professional. Cut to 2005: Producers, looking for a way to revitalize the show and give Sydney a personal mission in Alias' final season, finally granted Vartan his wish. There was just one problem: Vartan was once again loving his job and didn't want to go. But the writing was already on the wall
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Question: For months you have been stringing us along saying that Michael Vartan was still going to be on the show! What gives?
Answer: Listen, just because Vartan is no longer a series regular doesn't mean J.J. was lying when he said the dude will still be part of the show. Case in point: (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT) There's an 82 percent chance Vartan will be back next month for an episode or two — although whether or not he'll be playing Vaughn remains an open question. And, if all goes according to plan, you'll see him again in May. Now, would someone please give me a hug 'cause I'm feeling attacked.
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Michael Vartan
Alias spy-hottie Michael Vartan — whose Vaughn character appeared to bite it on last night's season premiere — is reuniting with former costar Bradley Cooper for an upcoming episode of Fox's Kitchen Confidential. According to Fox, Vartan will play Michaux, er, Michel, a womanizing French chef and rival to Cooper's Jack. Meanwhile, if you're feeling blue about Vaughn's apparent demise, take a deep breath and repeat after me: "No one ever dies on Alias. No one ever dies on Alias. No one ever dies on Alias." For further reassurance, click here.
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Question: Congrats on the J.J. Abrams exclusive (Ask Ausiello 9/21)! It's great that you got him to give you more info on the Vaughn situation, but do you have to be so gullible? He's obviously trying to do damage control on the misguided decision to fire Michael Vartan; do you need to play along by telling everyone to "chill out"? I can understand wanting to stay in people's good graces, but there should be some limits!
Answer: Look, I was merely suggesting that Vartan-iacs take a deep breath and consider the possibility that J.J. — one of the tube's greatest storytellers ever — knows what he's doing. The guy rarely, if ever, lets me down, so I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. If that makes me gullible, so be it. Now, if you want to discuss this further, come to my book signing at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Gree
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Question: Everybody is talking about what they can't say about Michael Vartan's rumored exit from Alias. My question is, what can you say?Answer: A lot more than I could a week ago, Steph. Shortly after picking up his first Emmy ever for directing the killer Lost pilot, J.J. Abrams finally broke his silence about the firestorm ignited by Vaughn's alleged forthcoming death, including reports that Vartan's ex, Jennifer Garner, engineered the whole thing in a plot to remove him from the show. And here's the best part: It's a bloody AA exclusive!!!
First off, J.J. hinted that rumors of Vaughn's whacking have been greatly exaggerated: "It ain't over till the fat lady sings," he teased. "You have to see what the story is. And when I said at the beginning of the year that [Vartan] is back this season, I wasn't lying. So, in the way that Ali
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Oh, and if you're all tizzified over Michael Vartan's imminent exit from Alias and want to get series creator J.J. Abrams' take on it, as well as lots and lots of juicy gossip from behind-the-scenes at the Emmys, be sure to click here and read today's Ass Ausiello. Oops. My bad. I mean, Ask Ausiello. See what happens when you try to make somebody type while twisting his arm, Michael? Additional reporting by Matt Webb Mitovich
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