matt.mitovich
5th Grader Befriends Million-Dollar Winner, More Celebs
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader is ready to part with some serious milk money.Though unconfirmed by Fox, sources tell TVGuide.com that the game-show is poised to call to the front of the class its first-ever million-dollar winner — and during the Sept. 5 season premiere at that.If true, it'd kick off a run of episodes that also will feature such celeb guests as past and present 90210 resident Jennie Garth, Superman Dean Cain, supermodel Kathy Ireland, super-tonguey Gene Simmons, Star Jones and boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard.The Jeff Foxworthy-hosted 5th Grader airs Fridays at 8 pm/ET this fall. — Matt Mitovich
Tree Hill Exclusive: Details on Lindsey's Extended Stay
Could it be that Lucas called and proposed to Lindsey? Many ruled her out once Michaela McManus got cast on SVU, but One Tree Hill's creator wants you to consider her still in the mix. "Michaela is returning, and for more than one episode," Mark Schwahn told me exclusively during an in-depth preview of the new season. "We'll see Lindsey throughout the year." To those who track spoilers/on-set sightings and profess to know who Lucas wound up calling, Schwahn argues, "If Lucas were to pick Lindsey, who's to say she'd pick him back? And if she does, who's to say it works out? A lot of people have eliminated her as a candidate because they know a lot about show biz, but I'm like, 'Hold on a second....'"Does that mean OTH's mighty love "rectangle" of Lucas, Brooke, Peyton and Linds is destined to continue on? "Not really, and not romantically," says Schwahn. "As you get older and more complex, how you love someone and what they mean to your life, that changes. So I think that romanticall...
Mega Buzz on Lost, CSI, SVU and More!
Every Wednesday, senior editors Matt Webb Mitovich and Mickey O'Connor answer your questions!In what capacity we will be seeing Desmond and his constant, Penny, next season on Lost? Any word on that? – MajaMatt: Maja, this is an excellent question. I even rewatched the season finale to confirm my own POV: "Why would we ever see Dez again?" I mean, he and Penny reconnected just before sendind the Oceanic Six on their (actually not-so-)merry way. However... I have it on good authority that Henry Ian Cusick is still a part of the cast, and that Sonya Walger is likely to resurface as well. As one setsider reminds me, "Just like when people die on Lost and you see them again, just because everyone reunited doesn’t mean you've seen the last of them."I was wondering what fans of CSI could look forward to for some of the other characters? There's been a lot of talk about Grissom and Sara but nothing about, say, Catherine or Nick. – JocelynMatt: The good news, if you did not g...
Analyzing the Super Heroes Season 3 Preview
What does it all mean? Having taken a few passes at NBC's brand-new two-minute trailer for Heroes' third season, here's my take on its array of fleeting images and sound bites. — Matt Mitovich0:02 Angela tells a strapped-down Sylar, "You are indeed very special... and you need to be strong for what's to come." Since when are these two chummy? Hmm. I've got an interesting perspective on that particular moment in this week's Mega Minute.0:15 HRG to Claire-bear: "Since before you were even born, I was finding these people and locking them away so they couldn’t hurt anybody."That's what he was busy with in the late '80s? He couldn’t have saved us from, like, Who's That Girl? or the Beach Boys' "Kokomo"?0:21 Claire is trapped in a closet while Sylar looms outside...and John Carpenter is paid no royalties.0:24 It's Matt Parkman... stranded in the middle of some arid plain!I totally know where this is going, having taken the TVGuide.com video crew on location with Heroes dur...
Mega Minute: Heroes' Mother of a Twist and More!
Now playing in this week's Mitovich Mega Minute:• Is Heroes planning the mother of all twists?• Who's playing matchmaker on Brothers & Sisters — and for whom?• ER alum lands one hell of a role.
Exclusive: Friday Night Lights Up with a New Family
Friday Night Lights not only has a new first-broadcast home (on DirecTV's Channel 101), it also will feature a few new faces when it returns in the fall. Janine Turner (of Northern Exposure and strategically placed beauty mark fame) and D.W. Moffett (Life Is Wild, Hidden Palms) have been cast in the recurring roles of Katie and Joe McCoy.The affluent McCoys move to Dillon from Dallas, with their (as-yet-uncast) teen son in tow. The kid, you see, is a high school freshman with mad football skills who will be fancied by many as the new Jason Street. That, as you can imagine, will put just a wee bit more pressure on one Matt Saracen.Katie and Joe will be introduced in the first two episodes of the third season, which premieres Oct. 1 on DirecTV. NBC unspools the new episodes starting in late February/early March 2009.Someone pinch me — Janine Turner?! And TVGuide.com celebrity blogger D.W. Moffett? — Matt MitovichRelated:• Ask Matt: "Will Season 2's loose ends be tied u...
Two and a Half Men Exclusive: Did Rena Sofer Have Charlie's Baby?
Rena Sofer, who last was seen on Monday-night television near-simultaneously playing 1) Nathan Petrelli's wife and 2) Jack Bauer's babymama sister-in-law, has scored a date with CBS' Two and a Half Men. Sofer will guest-star on the top-rated sitcom's Season 6 opener (airing Sept. 22) as a woman from Charlie Harper's past... whose son closely resembles Charlie. (Right down to the bowling shirts?)Hmmm. I didn't take math, but if this plays out right and that Angus kid keeps growing, I think we may get to retitle the show Three and a Half Men! Who's with me?Sofer's past TV credits include Coupling and Just Shoot Me. She also created (and won an Emmy for) the role of General Hospital's saucy and Brooklyn-bred Lois Cerullo Ashton. — Matt MitovichCraving scoop? E-mail Matt and Mickey at megascoop@tvguide.com.
Exclusive: Vegas Boss "Actively Trying" for Closure
Right now, Gary Scott Thompson, as the show runner for NBC's Knight Rider series (premiering Sept. 24), is focused on turning K.I.T.T. into an even leaner, meaner crimefighting machine. But sharing some bandwith with that mission is the idea of giving closure to the Las Vegas fans who saw their series hurried off the air as a casualty of the WGA strike. Has the ship sailed as far as hope for that goes? "I don’t think so, as far as myself and some of the cast members are concerned," Thompson told me during a detour from an in-depth look at the new Knight Rider. "We're actively trying to figure out how to do something."Thompson says that Josh Duhamel and Molly Sims are particularly interested in spelling out what became of Danny, Delinda and their baby. "I talked to them both the other day, and they said we should do something. It was their characters that were really left hanging, and they were very upset by it."While one possible fix would find Thompson, Duhamel and Sims simpl...
Mega Buzz on Lost, Grey's, CSI: Miami and More!
Senior editors Matt Webb Mitovich and Mickey O'Connor answer your questions!I know Skaters and Jaters are asking about their Lost couples, but please don't ignore us Jacketeers! Is there hope for a Jack-Juliet reunion? – TamunaMatt: Hope? Sure. It's just a matter of where (back on the island, I can only assume) and when (perhaps as early as this coming season, at least one source tells me). And for those fretting about Elizabeth Mitchell's future with the show, I am assured that Juliet figures very heavily into Season 5. Me, I see her and Sawyer (wet and shirtless or even dry and clothed) taking charge as Locke and his band of worshippers move forth with whatever cockamamy plan they have in mind. Can you give me any Grey's Anatomy scoop about Meredith and Derek? – BryanMatt: The good news: They're together! The bad news: Do either of them have any idea what "together" means? Not really. So when the action picks back up, they'll be trying to figure out how being a mutually ...
Smallville Exclusive: A Kiss Before Flying?
This season on the CW's Smallville, Clark will go to work at the "Daily Planet," where he'll bump desks with Lois Lane. The predestined set-up understandably has some fans already lobbying for a lip-lock.Well, there's one coming.Sources whisper to me that in this season's fifth episode, titled "Committed," Clark and Lois will be "forced" to make like lovebirds as they investigate some strange goings-on involving a crazy guy and a Moment of Truth-esque lie detector "game." It is in the course of this bit of harrowing, shoe-leather reporting that the "Daily" duo find themselves engaged in a smooch. How real is their clinch? You'll have to wait and see and fiercely debate decide for yourselves. After all, let's not forget that these two have macked on each other before — namely, once when Lo mistook CK for the Green Arrow, and again when she was under the influence of that drugged lipstick.But perhaps the third time is the charm? Oh, and the "flying" reference in my headline? That...
Mega Minute: Scoop on Numbers, Big Bang and T:SCC
Now playing in this week's Mitovich Mega Minute:• Numbers welcomes back a familiar face. (And yes, I already know about my Kung Fu flub. Oops!)• What's next for The Big Bang Theory's Penny, Leonard and Sheldon?• The latest word on Sarah Connor's new BFF.Enjoy! — Matt Mitovich
Exclusive: Kenny G Engages in Dirty Sax
Dave Koz, you need a better agent. Kenny G, he of the lush curls and even lusher sax playing, will guest-star and perform on ABC's Dirty Sexy Money. I'm still working on nailing down the exact context — I mean, don't millions earn you the right to avoid Kenny G music?! — but as of now the G-man is slated to appear in this season's second episode, which is tentatively scheduled to air Oct. 8. — Matt MitovichLooking for scoop? E-mail Matt and Mickey at megascoop@tvguide.com. The Mega Buzz column answers your questions every Wednesday.
Exclusive: Private Practice Landos Billy Dee Williams
Since I am (just about) at a place where I forgive him for selling out Luke, Han and the gang, I can happily and exclusively report that Billy Dee Williams is going to be paying the Oceanside Wellness Center a visit during the second season of ABC's Private Practice. In what is being described by setsiders as "a very moving role," Williams will play a patient of Taye Diggs' Dr. Sam Bennett. The storyline: BDW has been dutifully caring for his lady as she sings the blues (his wife is addled by dementia-type symptoms), yet he has been doing so with selfless disregard for his own declining health. As of late, Williams — who has been fondly hailed by at least one TVGuide.com reader as "the black Sean Connery" — had been quietly mopping floors on General Hospital: Night Shift, yet recently got promoted to orderly! Yes, the dream is alive. — Matt MitovichCrave scoop? E-mail Matt and Mickey at megascoop@tvguide.com.
Exclusive: Ugly Betty Taps Pretty Hunky Consuelos
Some of the whitest teeth the good lord ever put into a human mouth will be sparkling on ABC's Ugly Betty. Sources tell me exclusively that Mark Consuelos, the former MISSING star who gets to call supercool Kelly Ripa his wife, will guest-star on this season's third episode. This is where it gets... interesting. Despite my best efforts, no one is budging as to who Mark is playing or who he will share scenes with. All I have been able to suss out is that he'll be filming on the "Mode" set, and that his character's arrival plays into a major story arc.Betty fans, I invite you to speculate away. Just know that thus far, Consuelos is booked for only a single appearance. Though that could change. Ugly Betty returns Sept. 25.Mark, who met his Mrs. when they played lovebirds on All My Children, next can be seen in the Hallmark Channel original For the Love of Grace, premiering Aug. 30. — Matt MitovichCrave scoop? E-mail Matt and Mickey at megascoop@tvguide.com.
Mega Minute: Tree Hill Time Twist, DSM and More!
Now playing in this week's Mitovich Mega Minute vodcast:• An exclusive (if somewhat maddening!) report on One Tree Hill's latest "time jump" — and what it has to do with Lucas' marriage proposal.• Dirty Sexy Money's most controversial story heats up!• A status report on the possible return of two 24 favorites.Enjoy! — Matt Mitovich
Exclusive: Gretchen Mol Cops Top Life on Mars Role
They've cast all the guys, now let's bring on some gals. (After all, shooting on the revamped pilot starts in a week!) Gretchen Mol has joined the cast of ABC's Life on Mars adaptation, playing the lead female role of Annie Norris.When Jason O'Mara's modern-day detective, Sam Tyler, is transported to 1973, Annie is a member of the Police Women's Bureau, making do with menial tasks and combating the sexism of the times, despite being the smartest person in the squad room. Annie's battle for equality on the force will one day pave the way for Sam's contemporary love, Maya Daniels, to herself become a police officer. In the BBC's original Life on Mars, Annie was played by Liz White.Mol's credits include Rounders (opposite Matt Damon), Sweet and Lowdown and, most recently on TV, The Memory Keeper's Daughter. — Matt MitovichRelated:• Harvey Keitel Lands on Mars as Homicide Boss • Ask Matt: "Does Life on Mars have challenges ahead?"• ABC's Life on Mars to Amp Up the M...
Exclusive Details! Vegas Star Braves the Jungle
It's a sad world where Las Vegas' reliable Mike gets second billing behind Rosie Perez. Yet that's what happened last week at the TCA press tour, when NBC trumpeted the guest-casting of the sometimes polarizing Latina on Lipstick Jungle, then virtually added, as an aside, "Oh, and James Lesure, too."How does the Vegas vet fit into the Jungle's sophomore season? Sources tell me Lesure will be playing the role of Griffin, boss to both Kim Raver's Nico and Brooke Shields' Wendy. I'm also hearing that over the course of Lesure's multi-episode run, Griffin might strike up a certain chemistry with Nico, though it might not necessarily lead to (her busy) boudoir. What do you say, Vegas fans? With Josh off doing Transformers 2 and the reunion movie pretty darn squashed, are you glad to see "Mike" back on TV? — Matt Mitovich
Prison Break Preview: Time for a Break In?
As hinted at last week, during the TCA press tour I got some 1-on-2 time with Matt Olmstead and Zack Estrin, the creators of Fox's Prison Break. I was up front with the guys — as much of a Pollyanna I can be for the series, Season 3 was, well, a bit rocky, and certainly didn't tee up a clear-cut next arc. Here's what they had to say about that, the character they worked hard to keep around, and the boys' latest mission. — Matt MitovichTVGuide.com: Where do we go from here? The ersatz season finale didn't really spell it out.Matt Olmstead: As you know, we had a whole back nine planned, but the strike cut that out. Ironically, that enabled us creatively to jump forward. So we're not picking up moments later from Season 3. TVGuide.com: Right, we're jumping ahead a month or so. But any "blanks" would have been filled in had you had a complete Season 3?Olmstead: Yeah. We would have led the audience to this same point. But now we're starting there and dropping back a little bit ...
Scoop! Keitel Lands on Mars as Homicide Boss
Last week at press tour, the producers of ABC's Life on Mars revealed they were after a "name" to top off their tweaked cast. Well, they got one. Harvey Keitel — an Academy Award nominee for his work in Bugsy and familiar from such films as Reservoir Dogs and (nudity alert!) The Piano — has been tapped to fill the pivotal role of Det. Gene Hunt, the gruff head of the homicide department for which Jason O'Mara's Sam Tyler toils. Hunt, the last major male character to be cast on ABC's port of the BBC series, was played across the pond by Philip Glenister.Interestingly, exactly a year ago Keitel was being eyeballed to replace Mandy Patinkin on Criminal Minds. Joe Mantegna ultimately was cast instead.Other announced casting for Life on Mars includes The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli (as Det. Ray Carling) and October Road's Jonathan Murphy (as upstart Det. Chris Skelton).Life on Mars concerns a modern-day cop (O'Mara) mysteriously transported back to the 1970s. Filming on the ser...
Exclusive: Reaper (Casting) Madness!
Reaper's Sock is going to get socked by infatuation — with no less than his stepsister! Eriko Tamura, who played a Samurai princess on Heroes, is joining the CW comedy as a recurring player this coming midseason. Tamura will play Kristin, Sock's new sis by way of his mom's remarriage. Thing is, Sock will have it bad for the new family member, while she sees him as her kindly "big brother." This could lead to tickle fights that are playful for some (her), agonizing for others (him).Reaper's second season also will introduce Sean Patrick Thomas (Save the Last Dance) as Alan, an escaped soul who, when Sam tries to send him back to Hell, instead sends Sam on a surprising, brand-new journey. Thomas thus far is only booked for the premiere, but could get bumped up to recurring. — Matt MitovichRelated:• Mega Buzz: Reaper's Ben takes on a demon lovah!• Reaper celebrity blog by Valarie Rae Miller (Josie)
Care to Get Lost with Me?
Damon Lindelof remembers the day clearly. Not long after turning into ABC a 23-page outline for a show that would be called Lost, his phone rang, on a Sunday. It was Lloyd Braun, who at the time was the president of ABC Entertainment. "I'm going to greenlight this show," Braun said. Lindelof's immediate thought? "Oh, s--t!"That story and many more reflections on the serialized phenomenon concerning castaways, Others and others are shared in Lost: A G4 Special, premiering Friday, July 25, at 10 pm/ET on the G4 cable network.Among the Losties sharing their views on the series' secrets and theories are Matt Mitovich (that's me), Entertainment Weekly's Jeff "Doc" Jensen and MediaWeek's Marc Berman. If you get a chance, tune in and check it out. I'm sure it will be a lot of fun!
