Question: You da prattle-meister! Any scoop on Ugly Betty?Answer: The Jan. 4 episode revolves around my favorite thing: swag! A Star Jones-type frenzy breaks out when Christine announces that she's cleaning out the closet at "Mode." Betty, meanwhile, has bigger problems. A $20,000 expense report she filed for Daniel has been rejected and his credit card cut off. That could make it tough for him to wine and dine an important Japanese designer.
Question: Per last week's Ask Ausiello, and the ER doc who is going to end up in jail: is it Luca?Answer: Sure isn't. But you got the gender right.
Question: Can I please have some Medium scoop?Answer: Taking a page from Chucky, Episode 10 will revolve around a little boy and his killer doll. And Episode 11 will feature the return of Captain Push, the Texan police chief whom Allison collaborated with in the Season 1 finale and Season 2 premiere. Rumor has it he's acquiring some of Allison's sleeping habits.
Question: Do you know if and when Oscar will be coming back to The Office?Answer: He returns from his three-month vacation in tomorrow's supersized holiday episode. He only appears for a second, but it's a hysterical second.
Question: How much time will have passed on screen when Veronica Mars returns in January?Answer: It will be six weeks later in Neptune.
Question: Please give us some Supernatural scoop! Anything!Answer: That bank-hostage situation (Episode 12) I told you about last week just got creepier: Turns out the perp is a shape-shifter! Episode 13 takes an even stranger turn when the brothers are faced with what could be their first friendly spirit — hence the title, "Touched."
She's baaack! Gilmore Girls' beloved, loquacious creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, just got the green light from Fox to begin production on her new comedy, The Return of Jezebel James. And whom did she call first? I'm not gonna toot my own horn, but if you read on, you'll figure it out for yourselves, as I get the ousted genius to dish not only on her upcoming series but also on her former one. She isn't watching, but c'mon, AS-P simply wouldn't be AS-P if she didn't have something to say about it.Ausiello: How's unemployment?AS-P: It's fantastic! I'm so good at it! I never knew I had a talent for something like this!Ausiello: Well, it sounds like you're headed back to work. Tell me about the new show. AS-P: It's called The Return of Jezebel James, and it's basically a sister buddy comedy. It's about a very successful, very driven, very problem-solving kind of woman who's a young-adult book publisher. She has her own imprint. And she decides to have a baby on her own, and the doctor s...
Well, it's revealed to those of you who are good at solving riddles. As I've been saying for weeks, tonight's Nip/Tuck finale features a momentous twist that will alter the show forever. I already told you that the lyrics to The Submarines' "Brighter Discontent" — a song that gets a very unique showcase in tonight's episode — contain several clues. Well, here's an extra hint: Focus on the number 2732. If you can figure out what that number represents, the answer is well within your reach.Good luck!
Brett Cullen (aka Wilhelmina's beau on Ugly Betty) has been cast as Riggins' estranged pa on Friday Night Lights. As I first reported in Ask Ausiello last week, Tim tracks down his father to settle a pending legal issue, and the two forge an unexpected bond. Pretty fraktastic casting, IMHO. You guys agree?
* I introduced myself to Oprah's BFF Gayle King last night at a preview screening of Dreamgirls at the 68th Street Loews. As she was making her way to her seat, we locked eyes, and I very casually blurted out, "Hi, Gayle." Without missing a beat, she said hello back and we launched into a full-on conversation. She mentioned that this was her third time seeing the film this week, and I told her I loved the "Best Pizza in America" segment she did on Oprah last month — especially the part where she accidentally bit into the prop pizza that was placed on the stage for decoration. She chuckled, made some crack about how she's here to "protect and serve," and then took her seat. As for the movie itself, I'd give it a solid B. The hype surrounding Jennifer Hudson was much ado about something — her rendition of "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)" will blow you away — but the rest of the movie left me kind of cold. Chicago it is not. * My top five episodes of the past week ...
My mole in Elmo, Alaska, just gave me the OK to solve last Friday's Men in Trees asterisk quiz. As some of you correctly guessed, producers have successfully wooed Orlando Jones (aka ***a*** ***e*) to play George, Buzz's (John Amos) gay son. Slated to appear in at least two episodes, George will pay Pops a visit in Elmo in early '07. BTW, although I haven't seen it, I hear tonight's episode is the best yet. In other words, if you haven't joined the growing Trees cult, now would be a good time.
Question: "Unfinished Business" was the best Battlestar Galactica episode yet.Answer: Frak, yeah. I have to admit, I wasn't thrilled by the whole boxing conceit going in, but man, it packed a huge emotional punch — even by Battlestar's lofty standards. That final scene in which Starbuck and Apollo — all bloodied and sweat-soaked — whispered to each other their true feelings was a thing of beauty. The word "genius" gets thrown around way too much in this column business, but that, my friends, was genius. You know what else is genius? The six-city Battlestar event that TV Guide is throwing next week. I've got five words for you: Battlestar on the big screen. Cli
Question: Now that Heroes is off the air for almost two months, I could really use a little bit of scoop on what we can expect in the future.Answer: You can expect an answer to a huge question about Claire. And surprisingly, it's a question no one but me seems to be asking.
Question: I must pick your brain for ER spoilers!Answer: Ames is going to cause more problems for Abby and Luka, so much so that authorities will get involved. Elsewhere, Meg will continue to come between Neela and Gates, one character’s heart will stop, and a doc will end up behind bars.
Question: Anything on The Office?Answer: OK, I just finished watching the aforementioned Christmas episode, and Intern Scott neglected to mention a major plot point: Someone gets dumped! You still have much to learn, Intern Scott.
Question: I hung a Smurf ornament on my Christmas tree in your honor on Saturday! Isn't that worth some O.C. prattle?Answer: Sure is! Remember the tease I dropped in my 100th column about Sandy and Julie being husband and wife? Well, that's one of three marital bombshells that'll be dropped in next week's Chrismukkah episode. But naturally, there's a twist. (Hint: It involves Taylor, Ryan, a ladder and a hospital.)
Question: Can you tell me something nice about my favorite couple, Seth and Summer?Answer: Does the thought of Seth and Summer having a baby give you the warm-and-fuzzies? If so, the Dec. 21 episode is not to be missed.
Question: Are we ever going to find out what would've happened on Vanished?Answer: John Allen Nelson told one of our reporters at Monday's 24 party that his character would have been president of the United States at the end of the season. "I won’t tell you how I was going to get there," he hedged, "but [becoming president] would have been an amazing thing." This just in: Intern Scott says the reason he didn't tell me about Michael getting dumped in next week's Office was because "NBC already spoiled that twist in the press release that accompanied the screener." Way to cover your ass, Intern Scott! I have taught you well.
Question: I absolutely love Friday Night Lights! Do you have any scoop on Lyla and Tim Riggins?Answer: We're going to meet Papa Riggins in early '07 when Tim tracks his deadbeat dad down (on a golf course, of all places) to settle a pending legal issue, and the two forge an unexpected bond.
Question: The general consensus seems to be that a fourth season of Veronica Mars seems unlikely. Is there any chance that the stellar ratings for the Arc 1 finale could change that general outlook? I believe it was a series high in the target demo.Answer: What a difference a week makes, right? Two weeks ago, I would've bet my entire Smurf collection that Mars was a goner after this season. But in light of last Tuesday's Nielsen triumph, I'm not so sure anymore. My guess? If the show can maintain those numbers for the rest of the season, it'll be back.
Question: Mama Smurf is begging for some juicy Lost prattle!Answer: Time to update your flashback scorecards: Episode 11 is Sayid, and Episode 12 is Claire. And this just in: Lost is moving to 10 pm on Wednesday when it returns on Feb. 7. That's one way to dodge the bullet that is American Idol.
Question: Were those special drug-testing coasters on last week's Veronica Mars real? Is there such a thing?Answer: Let's ask Rob Thomas: "Yes, there are. On occasion, sexual-health organizations visit television writing staffs to spread the word. These coasters are one of the things we learned about." I'm still waiting for the one that tests for backwash.