matt.mitovich

Mega Buzz on 24, Heroes, SVU, Without a Trace and More

Senior editors Matt Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor and Tim Molloy answer your questions. Speaking of questions, we invite you to drop us a line at megascoop@tvguide.com. 24 is totally back on track, but the one downside is Sean. I don't know whether it's the actor or the writing, but I do know I want that guy gone. Anything coming up that would make me a happy camper? — MikeMATT: I suppose it would depend on whether Sean (aka he who has since been revealed as Moley McMoleberg) is truly traitorous or a red herring a la Season 6's Nadia. My own moles (none of whom are played by Rhys Coiro, mind you) tell me that Agent Hillinger's fate may be cinched during the game-changing back-to-back episodes airing March 2.  Please tell this Heroes fan that somehow Hiro or Peter will get the power to travel through time again so that they can go back and save Daphne. — AshleyTIM: Good concept, but Heroes has promised us ...

Wed, Feb 18, 2009

Mega Buzz on 24, Heroes, SVU, Without a Trace and More

Screen Actors Guild Awards Switch to Saturday for 2010

The 16th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 — the first time since 2005 that the kudoscast has not taken place on a Sunday. Originally, next year's show was slated for Sunday, Jan. 31. The announcement from SAG cited "scheduling conflicts" for the day change, but did not specify what exactly influenced the switch. Sources tell TVGuide.com that the 2010 Winter Olympics, to be held that February in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, may have played a small role in the decision. As always, the Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast on TNT and TBS.

Wed, Feb 18, 2009

Screen Actors Guild Awards Switch to Saturday for 2010

Exclusive: Charisma Carpenter Brings CSI a Touch of Mink

It would appear that CSI has fallen hard for Charisma Carpenter — and vice versa. The brunette beauty has been booked for a guest-starring appearance on the hit CBS procedural, TVGuide.com has learned exclusively. Carpenter will play ...

Tue, Feb 17, 2009

Exclusive: Charisma Carpenter Brings CSI a Touch of Mink

USA Sets April 19 Return for Criminal Intent, In Plain Sight

USA Network declares that "it is reclaiming Sunday nights" by pairing the venerable Law & Order: Criminal Intent with the fresher-faced In Plain Sight, starting April 19. Season 8 of Criminal Intent will air Sundays at 9 pm/ET, followed by Season 2 of In Plain Sight (starring Mary McCormack as a U.S. Marshal working in the specialized branch of the witness protection program). Criminal Intent, which this season replaces Chris Noth with Jeff Goldblum, was initially scheduled to debut in ...

Tue, Feb 17, 2009

USA Sets April 19 Return for Criminal Intent, In Plain Sight

Ratings: Chuck Spies a Series Low

Monday's ratings recap: 8 pm/ET House dipped a bit yet still topped the hour with 14 million total viewers. Placing second, The Bachelor (12.5 mil) courted 15 percent more viewers than a week ago.  Chuck came in fourth (behind CBS sitcom repeats) with 6.75 million viewers — a 19 percent plunge from its 3-D showcase, a 600K drop from its most recent 2-D outing, and the series' lowest rating ever for a fresh eppy. 9 pm 24 gained six percent and added viewers across the hour, averaging 11.16 mil. Leading out of a Two and a Half Men rerun, Worst Week's finale managed 8.7 mil (down 13 percent). Heroes sagged a bit, to 7.74 mil. 10 pm Opposite a warmed-over CSI: Miami, Medium (8.94 million viewers) super-sized its audience by 13 percent, while True Beauty (7.04 mil) added 220K to its last Monday outing.

Tue, Feb 17, 2009

March Madness! Wednesday Idol Finals Will Air Opposite Lost

Fox's time-shifting American Idol is determined to cause ABC's Lost even more headaches. How so, and what will it mean for Tim Roth's Lie to Me? Get the details on this aggressive scheduling move after the jump.

Tue, Feb 17, 2009

March Madness! Wednesday Idol Finals Will Air Opposite Lost

Pilot News: Jericho Star Rejoins CBS, and Girls Behaving Goodly

Lennie James, who last engaged TV viewers with his cryptic run as Jericho's Hawkins, is returning to CBS with a role in a pilot. In an as-yet-untitled legal drama being developed by The Unit co-executive producer Frank Military, James will play a former assistant district attorney who, after being disbarred ...

Mon, Feb 16, 2009

Pilot News: Jericho Star Rejoins CBS, and Girls Behaving Goodly

Sister Act: Amy Sedaris Gets Close to The Closer

Is The Closer gaining its own mentalist? This week on the TNT series (Mondays at 9 pm/ET), Strangers with Candy's Amy Sedaris guest-stars as FBI agent Fritz's sister, Claire. His clairvoyant sister, that is. Will this self-appointed seer make Brenda a believer? Sedaris shared a look at what's to come. TVGuide.com: How does Amy Sedaris come to be on The Closer? Who knows who?Amy Sedaris: Can you believe it?! My agency in Los Angeles was like, "What shows do you like?" I said, "Well, I love The Closer," because I'm a Kyra Sedgwick fan. People always think that we look alike.  TVGuide.com: When your casting was announced, many of our readers wanted you to be Brenda's sister, not Fritz's.Sedaris: That's what I thought, but she doesn't have a sister. But I think it's funny that Fritz ...

Mon, Feb 16, 2009

Sister Act: Amy Sedaris Gets Close to The Closer

Mega Minute: Scoop on Criminal Minds' Date with a Vampire, Supernatural and More

Now playing in this week's Mitovich Mega Minute: • Criminal Minds boss Ed Bernero sheds a wee bit of light on guest-star Alex O'Loughlin's dark role. • Dollhouse's Eliza Dushku tackles my burning question about the final scene of the series premiere. • How fun will Supernatural's "Jump the Shark" episode be? Eric Kripke gives us a tiny taste.  Watch and discuss the new MMM after the jump!

Sun, Feb 15, 2009

Ratings: How Many Played with Fox's Dollhouse? Did You?

Has Fox successfully revived Friday sci-fi? The numbers have processed through my tricorder, and here are some of the major notes: 8 pm/ETGhost Whisperer topped the hour with 10.34 million total viewers, down a mil week-to-week. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was greeted in its new time slot by 3.7 million, a 30 percent plunge from its last (Monday) airing.9 pmFlashpoint placed No. 1 with an audience of 8.86 mil, slipping 13 percent from its last new episode. Fox's Dollhouse debuted to 4.7 million viewers — which just so happens to be what Joss Whedon's Firefly averaged over its short run — and placed No. 2 in key demos (behind Supernanny) and first among males (go figure). What was your first impression of the series? Tell us what you thought in the comments section. (Mind you, Episode 2 is markedly better, 3 has a nifty reveal, and No. 4 serves up a cool plot twist.) Friday Night Lights dropped 760K, to 3.46 mil.10 pmDiane Sawyer's 20/20 report on the children of Appalachia was the night's most-watched program, delivering 10.93 mil — the newsmagazine's largest audience since Sept. 2004. As such, Numbers settled for second with 9 mil, down 12 percent.

Sat, Feb 14, 2009

Ratings: How Many Played with Fox's Dollhouse? Did You?

NCIS Spinoff Casts CSI Alumna, Two Others

The ensemble for CBS' planned NCIS spinoff continues to flesh out. Not long after it was reported that Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J are circling two lead roles, three other characters have been cast. Get the actors' names and details on their roles, after the jump.

Sat, Feb 14, 2009

NCIS Spinoff Casts CSI Alumna, Two Others

30 Rock Boss Tina Fey Addresses a McFlurry of Criticism

Did NBC's 30 Rock, akin to Saturday Night Live's recent (and well-scrutinized) partnership with Pepsi, cross a line by conspicuously incorporating McDonald's into a storyline? Series lead and executive producer Tina Fey sets the record straight — and in her own very special way — after the jump.

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

30 Rock Boss Tina Fey Addresses a McFlurry of Criticism

Smallville VIDEO: Will Tori Spelling Take Down Clark?

CLARK: "Lois, I want you to tell my story .... I'm the Red-Blue Blur." LOIS: "I guess I should stop calling you 'Smallville' then." So begins this new trailer for the March 12 return of the CW's Smallville, which marks Tori Spelling's encore as tabloid reporter Linda Lake. Among the other super scenes and sound bites: • Linda sneering, "The only thing people like more than bulding up heroes is tearing them down." • A seemingly conflicted Davis saying, "I was sent to this planet to kill Clark." • Lois Lane giving Donna Martin a serious smackdown. Watch and discuss it after the jump!

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Preview: Terminator's Sarah Connor Reunites with Her Babydaddy

Friday the 13th is Sarah Connor's lucky day. As Fox's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles resumes its sophomore season this Friday at 8 pm/ET (new time slot alert!), TV's baddest momma will reunite with her back-from-the-future ex, Kyle Reese. What brings about this unexpected moment in their "long-distance" romance? Jonathan Jackson (a Daytime Emmy winner as General Hospital's original Lucky Spencer) gave us a look at what the immediate "future" holds for John Connor's extremely absentee father. TVGuide.com: Here we are, almost a year to the day of your first Terminator appearance, and you're finally working with your "babymama," Lena Headey. Is that something you thought might never be possible?Jonathan Jackson: There are so many different things they could do with the character, that I really had no idea. But I was really excited to ...

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Preview: Terminator's Sarah Connor Reunites with Her Babydaddy

Ratings: Another Big Audience Crosses over to Private Practice

Thursday's ratings rundown: 8 pm/ETSurvivor: Tocantins — The Brazilian Highlands premiered to an audience of 13.8 million total viewers, an increase of 900K over Gabon's opener and on par with Fans vs. Favorites. Placing a distant second, Ugly Betty was up a hair, to 7.44 mil. NBC's Earl (6.3 mil) gained 140 thou, but Kath & Kim (5.48 mil) kissed off 520K. Fox's broadcast of the NAACP Image Awards averaged 4.23 mil over its two-hour run. 9 pmCSI topped the hour (if not the demos) with an audience of 17.78 million viewers, slipping 11 percent from its last fresh outing. Grey's Anatomy (or "Private Anatomy Hour 1") matched last week's audience of 15.07 mil. (Grab the tape, Izzy! Grab the tape!!) In third, NBC's The Office (8.9 mil) gained 490K, while 30 Rock surged 20 percent week-to-week, hitting 7.62 mil. 10 pmPrivate Practice/"Private Anatomy Hour 2" gained another 8 percent to deliver 14.15 million viewers — the spin-off's second-largest audience ever. Eleventh Hour settled for also-ran status with 11.04 mil (down 11 percent), followed by ER (which held steady at 7.25 mil).

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Ratings: Another Big Audience Crosses over to Private Practice

VIDEO: Joss Whedon Takes You Inside His Cool Dollhouse

This Friday at 9 pm/ET (airing after Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Fox and Buffyverse auteur Joss Whedon welcome you to the Dollhouse. The new sci-fi series stars Eliza Dushku (aka Buffy's Faith) as Echo, a top-secret "active" who is imprinted with personalities and mad skills to fulfill high-paying "engagements" — only to have her mind wiped clean at the end.Whedon stopped by the TVGuide.com offices to discuss Dollhouse — as well as answer many reader questions. Watch Part 1 of our video Q&A after the jump.

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Grey's Boss Says "Very Interesting" Exit Talk Is "Not True"

Are they or aren't they? Is she, but perhaps isn't he? Recently resurrected buzz that both Katherine Heigl and T.R Knight will be checking out of Grey's Anatomy at the end of this season has had new aspersion cast on it by Shonda Rhimes.See exactly what the creator of Grey's had to say, after the jump.

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Grey's Boss Says "Very Interesting" Exit Talk Is "Not True"

Getting Lost: Inside Scoop on Ben's Revenge Mission, Emotional Reunions and More

Another exciting episode of ABC's Lost has come and gone, so it's time to be "Getting Lost" with the latest entry in our new video series. What's on tap this "time"? • Michael Emerson tells us if, in fact, Ben will have to "make do" with not the entire Oceanic 6. • Emerson also updates us on the status of Ben's vendetta against Widmore. • Who will have the most emotional reunion when the Oceanic HowEverMany are reunited with the left-behinders? I took that question to executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. • And lastly, if Jin survived the freighter explosion, might Michael have, also? I caught up with Harold Perrineau on the set of his new ABC series, The Unusuals, to get his take. All told, lotsa fun stuff, so make the jump and hit Play already!

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

VIDEO: ER Stars Talk of Alum's Return and "Goofy" Costumes

Dr. Benton returns to the ER this week when original cast member Eriq La Salle steps behind the camera to direct an episode of the long-running — and soon-to-end — NBC drama. La Salle's visit in effect marks the latest "homecoming," following final-season encores by Anthony Edwards (as Mark) and Alex Kingston (Elizabeth). In the video below, current ER star Parminda Nagra talks about being directed by La Salle, detailing how he got her to see Neela in new ways. Also, Scott Grimes (in this video) gives a sneak peek at the goofy superhero costume Archie dons in this week's episode, and shares his own take on La Salle's expert guidance.

Fri, Feb 13, 2009

Ratings: Time-Shifting Idol Gives Lost a Nosebleed

Wednesday's ratings roundup: 8 pm/ETA "special" two-hour edition of American Idol averaged 24.6 million total viewers, dropping 1.6 mil week-to-week. CBS' sitcombo of Old Christine (7.06 mil, down 380K) and Gary Unmarried (6.86 mil, down 210K) each dipped a bit. Knight Rider gained 450 thou to hit 5.4 mil, while this week's Lost repeat reaped 4.4 mil.  9 pmOpposite Idol's greedy "special" second hour, Criminal Minds (13.26 mil) fell 600K, while Lost sank 11 percent to a series-low 9.76 mil. (That said, Lost was for a fourth straight week Wednesday's highest-rated scripted show in the key demos, and it built its audience from start to finish.)NBC's Life dropped from last week's well-watched return, hitting a more typical 4.72 mil.  10 pmCSI: NY dominated with 12.85 million viewers, gaining 1.1 mil from its last fresh outing. Law & Order (7.52 mil) plunged 13 percent, while Life on Mars (5.14 mil) lost 860 thou.  

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

Ratings: Time-Shifting Idol Gives Lost a Nosebleed

Ratings: Mentalist Cops a New High, Flirts with 20 Mil

Tuesday's tallies: 8 pm/ETAmerican Idol won the hour this week with 24.5 million total viewers, a drop of 1.8 mil from its last Tuesday outing. NCIS secured second with 18 million, down a mil. Trailing the first hour of The Biggest Loser (9.6 mil) and the Charlie Brown Valentine's Day special (4.77 mil), 90210 matched last week's 2.4 mil. 9 pmThe Mentalist surged 9 percent from its last fresh episode to deliver 19.7 million viewers, a new all-time high for the freshman drama. Behind the back end of Biggest Loser (11 mil), Fringe fell 20 percent to 10.45 mil. Scrubs (4.42 mil) dropped 390K; Privileged's penultimate episode (1.51 mil) dipped 200 thou. 10 pmWithout a Trace topped the hour with 14.55 million viewers, up 21 percent week-to-week. It was followed by Dateline (11.3 mil) and this week's relocated True Beauty (an ugly 3.8 mil).

Wed, Feb 11, 2009

Ratings: Mentalist Cops a New High, Flirts with 20 Mil

Alex O'Loughlin Takes a Bite Out of Crime

It's not the series that long ago was promised to him through a CBS talent deal, but it's something. Alex O'Loughlin is returning to CBS by way of a guest-starring gig on Criminal Minds. The Moonlight star, a show rep confirms for TVGuide.com, will play a serial killer ...

Wed, Feb 11, 2009

Alex O'Loughlin Takes a Bite Out of Crime