Question: Word around the conspiracy mill is that Ice-T is leaving SVU and will be replaced by Adam Beach. Please tell me it isn't true!Answer: It's not true, per a show spokesperson. In related news, Chris and Mariska are on the verge of inking brand spankin' new deals with NBC. In fact, the paperwork may already be signed by the time you read this.
Question: I love you, but I have to correct you. Dr. Kim on Scrubs is a urologist, not an obstetrician, as you stated on last week's AA.Answer: I was referring to my character, you nitwit. I'm the obstetrician. Some days I wonder why I even bother.
You read it here first: Prison Break's Sarah Wayne Callies is expecting her first child with husband Josh Winterhalt, the actress' spokeswoman confirms. The baby is due in late summer.What exactly does this mean for Dr. Sara on PB? I'll have the scoop on that in the coming days, but suffice it to say that Michael's crush will be MIA for at least the early part of any Season 3. (Can you say, "kidnap victim?" Can you?)
Here's another name to add to Heroes' rapidly expanding "list": Missy Peregrym.Although unconfirmed by NBC, multiple sources confirm that the Stick It actress has been cast as Faith, a female temptress who, according to an earlier casting breakdown, "wields a tremendous amount of sex appeal" and is willing to "get her hands dirty" for her employer. Peregrym will first appear in Episode 18, likely airing in April. In the meantime, if you're dying to know what special power Faith will possess, check out tomorrow's Ask Ausiello for a clue wrapped inside an asterisk quiz. I know how you guys love those. For the exclusive scoop on Heroes' other new addition, click here.
Call them Friends with benefits. You already know that when Jennifer Aniston guests on the March 27 season finale of Courteney Cox's FX drama Dirt, she'll be playing her bosom buddy's archenemy, a rival tabloid editor. But what I've learned — muahaha, exclusively! — is that Aniston's character is a lesbian. What's more, she won't just mouth off to Cox's tightly wound counterpart, she's going to share a liplock with her. An FX rep declined to comment, but Joey Tribbiani had this to say: "Yeah, baby!"
Here's some Heroes scoop to tide you over until tonight's hugely anticipated winter premiere: Multiple unnamed sources confirm that Eric Roberts is joining the cast as an associate of H.R.G.'s. He'll first air in the thick of February sweeps. I'll have more scoopy poop on Heroes in this week's Ask Ausiello, so clear your skeds.
History is being made in the Ausiello Report this morning, folks. For the first time ever, I'm going to write a sentence that contains the words "'Til" and "Death" in it. But I think it's warranted since, well, it's a big ol' piece of prattle. A tipster with close ties to the Fox sitcom tells me that Brad Garrett has persuaded his former TV bro Ray Romano to make a guest appearance in an upcoming episode (airdate TBD). This would mark the duo's first on-screen reunion since Everybody Loves Raymond signed off in May '05. Garrett's no doubt hoping this bit of stunt casting will bring Death to life in the ratings, where it's been struggling pretty much since day one. The show is also expected to get a boost when it moves to Wednesdays after the American Idol results show beginning Feb. 27. Thoughts? Will a Romano cameo get you to watch 'Til Death? Do you think less of me for giving the show more press?
In the first clear sign that Isaiah Washington hasn't gone completely bonkers, sources confirm that the embattled, F-bomb-droppin' Grey's Anatomy doc has fired his longtime publicist and retained 42 West's Allan Mayer and Kelly Mullens, both of whom have a background in crisis situations. (Mayer has reportedly handled such scandal-prone celebs as R Kelly, Tommy Lee and Paula Poundstone.) Meanwhile, Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes is facing increasing pressure to publicly denounce Washington's behavior. She's slated to attend tonight's Producers Guild Awards, but a source close to the show says it's doubtful she'll be doing any press. Finally, insiders say ABC has yet to decide what form Washington's punishment will take, but a source says everything is being "considered and weighed" — including him being fired.Now, in totally unrelated news, thanks for all the congratulatory e-mails regarding Keri's pregnancy. We're putting the finishing touches on our official statement, but it g...
While we're waiting for Fox president Peter Liguori to take his seat on stage, I gotta ask: Who the frak forgot to defrost the egg whites in preparation for this morning's Hell's Kitchen-themed breakfast? I was really looking forward to a nice egg-white omelette this am, and instead I got something that looked like watered-down brain. (That's what happens when you try to cook half-frozen egg whites. Not pretty.) Gordon Ramsay's gonna catch hell for this. I am not happy.• First Q about the botched O.J. special. Liguori, as expected, lawyers up. Where's Jack Bauer when you need him?• First Q about Paula Abdul's loopy behavior. "America loves her, she's successful on the show, we're pleased with what Paula does for us on American Idol."• "One thing about Paula is that she does a great job managing her schedule." Huh?• Thought it was "respectful" to fans to announce that The O.C. was ending ahead of time.• "We're very excited about [Tim Minear's] Drive. We have ...
Got any Q's for Dawn Ostroff? Send 'em! The panel's about to get underway....• Dawn's making some opening remarks. She noted that Smallville scored its best ratings of the season with last night's "Justice" episode.• Just asked Dawn how confident she is that Lauren and Alexis will agree to another season of Gilmore Girls. "We are talking to them," is all she would say.• Got in a follow-up about the likelihood of a fourth season of Veronica Mars. She loves the show and points out that it's having its highest-rated season yet. But no decision has been made.• Veronica Mars will go on hiatus for eight weeks beginning Mar. 6 to make way for the Pussycat Dolls reality show. Mars will return with five stand-alone eps in April.• "One Tree Hill has been such a great story for us," she says. "[Pairing it with Model] has reinvigorated the show."• On Gilmore's creative direction this season, she concedes that "the first half of the season was a little rocky. [Dave ...
Warning, if you haven't seen tonight's Ugly Betty, stop reading!Now that the bandages have come off and Rebecca Romijn's Ugly Betty character has been revealed to be Daniel's presumed-dead brother, Alex, post-sex-change, series creator Silvio Horta can finally reveal how the frak he came up with this loopy twist. "While we were shooting the pilot," he explains, "I got to the point where Wilhelmina screws Daniel over, and I felt at the end it just needed something else. Something bigger. So I wrote a scene between her and a mysterious woman." Like everything on Betty, the over-the-top (not to mention unprecedented) role reversal will be played for more than just laughs. "[We're] going to get into a little bit more of what Alex went through and the reality of her experience. It's sort of like the show itself — there's great comedy to be had, but there's also a real strong, emotional story there that I think will move people." This isn't the last surprise Horta has up his sleeve w...
Just getting back from CBS' press-tour bash, where Neil Patrick Harris weighed in on — what else? — Grey's-gate. "T.R. has proven himself to be an incredibly classy, dignified guy," he told me. "I'm impressed that Katherine Heigl said what she said. I was shocked that it all reared its ugly head again."Harris — who came out just weeks after Knight — wouldn't comment on what form Washington's "punishment" should take. "It's impossible for me to make any kind of comment about that because I wasn't there when it happened. It's just disappointing that it's... cyclical." Meanwhile, the word from the Grey's set is that Washington's problems extend far beyond his affinity for a certain derogatory F-word. Per a source, his behavior has been so "inappropriate and offensive" for so long that producers have often been forced to intervene. And Washington's mea culpa may be too little, too late. A separate source at Grey's suggests that while Washington is sure to receive the...
And the plot thickens. Isaiah Washington just released the following statement: "I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show, and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance. By repeating the word Monday night, I marred what should have been a perfect night for everyone who works on Grey's Anatomy. I can neither defend nor explain my behavior. I can also no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help. "I know the power of words, especially those that demean. I realize that by using one filled with disrespect I have hurt more than T.R. and my colleagues. With one word, I've hurt everyone who has struggled for the respect so many of us take for granted. I welcome the chance to meet with leaders of the gay and lesbian community to apologize in person and to talk about what I can do to heal the wounds I’ve opened."T.R.'s courage th...
This just in: ABC/Touchstone is getting ready to issue its first public statement regarding Isaiah Washington's outburst at Monday's Golden Globes, and guess who's getting a first look at it? You guys!"We have a long-standing policy to create and maintain respectful workplaces for all our employees. We dealt with the original situation in October, and thought the issue resolved. Therefore, we are greatly dismayed that Mr. Washington chose to use such inappropriate language at the Golden Globes, that he himself deemed 'unfortunate' in his previous public apology. We take this situation very seriously, and his actions are unacceptable and are being addressed."Veddy interesting. I'll have more on this developing story soon.
• I'm in NBC's executive session, and Kevin Reilly just announced that Heroes, My Name Is Earl, The Office and Law & Order: SVU have been renewed for another season. In far less exciting news, the Peacock has also ordered seven more episodes of Identity.• Regarding Heroes, Reilly says, "I [do know] where it's going, and it's going to be mind-blowing."• Passions' final episode will air in August. "The daypart has become extremely tough for us financially," he says.• Reilly loves Friday Night Lights. Says it deserves a better time slot. No decision about a second year (ditto Studio 60). • I just asked Reilly if he thinks SVU can succeed without Chris and Mariska. His response: "The Law & Order brand has proven that it can be stronger than any one performer. Negotiations are ongoing, and I cannot comment on that. But they are stars, and I hope they'll be our stars for the run of the show."• Heroes spin-off? "I think Tim Kring's head would explode....
Question: Can you give us some prattle on Desperate Housewives?Answer: You probably already heard that Marc Cherry announced at press tour on Sunday that Nicollette Sheridan's role on the show is getting beefed up, partly to fill the void left by bedridden Marcia Cross, and partly because, well, it's about bloody time. What you may not have heard is that (Major spoiler alert) Edie's gonna make a play for Carlos, which makes complete sense given what Nicollette told me in our red-carpet Q&A: "There are going to be a lot of people who are very unhappy with Edie on Wisteria Lane."
Question: When is the next season of Rescue Me to start?Answer: They resume production on Feb. 8 with an eye towards returning sometime in June.
Question: Oh, Great Guru of Gratuitous Gaff, you intimate that we will see the death of a Smallville heroine, aka **lo* in "Labyrinth," but if this is a "what if" episode, then it stands to reason that this is by no means permanent.Answer: If everyone were as smart as you, writing this column would be a lot less fun.
Question: Hey, Michael, were you in the press room when Isaiah Washington hijacked the microphone and said, "I did not call T.R. Knight a f----t!" And, if so, care to give us the scoop?Answer: I certainly was there, and I have the internal scars to prove it. It was by far the ugliest, most uncomfortable press-room moment I have ever experienced. And judging by the shell-shocked faces on the cast — particularly T.R. Knight and Patrick Dempsey, who have been class acts throughout this entire ordeal — it was a new low for them, too. And what's ironic about the whole thing is that in Washington's attempt to clear his name, he came off as an out-of-control homophobe who throws the f-word around like it's candy. (He's also playing fast and loose with the truth. Did he call T.R. a f----t to his face? No. Did he refer to him as one behind his back? Yes. T.R. says
Question: Why did 24 kill off Curtis?Answer: The same reason they killed off Edgar, Michelle, Tony and President Palmer last season: to raise the stakes! If you haven't already done so, check out my exclusive video interview/postmortem with Roger Cross at Monday's Globes. He had some interesting things to say about Curtis' swan song.
Question: Any word on when the first of the two Deadwood movies might begin shooting?Answer: At the press-tour panel for his new (and confounding-based-on-the-clips) HBO drama John from Cincinnati, David Milch said he has "every intention" of beginning production on the first film later this summer. Whether HBO has every intention of keeping its word is another matter altogether.
Question: Alright, so is the Gilmore Girls death another one of Babette's cats?Answer: No, but you're close!