michael.ausiello
Exclusive: NCIS Star Goes AWOL!
There's another shake-up brewing over at NCIS, only this time it's happening on screen.CBS and Paramount declined comment, but sources confirm to me exclusively that a major castmember — a series regular — is on the way out. And as tempted as I am to blab this person's identity, after much soul searching, I've decided that doing so would prove WTS (Way Too Spoilery). And here's why: The actor in question will exit the series in a dramatic fashion. I might even go so far as to call it a major freakin' twist, the repercussions of which will be felt well into next season and, perhaps, beyond. One thing I feel reasonably comfortable letting you know is that the aforementioned twist does, in fact, occur this season — i.e., sometime between tomorrow night's post-strike return and the season finale in May. Let the guessing game begin in the comments section below!
Exclusive: Underbelly Star Joins CSI Sitcom Spoof
It's not Christine Baranski, but this'll do nicely. The sublime Rachael Harris (Notes from the Underbelly, Fat Actress) will play even-tempered sidekick to Cybill Shepherd's Katey Sagal's unhinged sitcom diva in that stuntastic episode of CSI penned by Two and a Half Men scribes Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn. And should there be any lingering doubts that Lorre and Aronsohn modeled Sagal and Harris' characters after Shepherd and Baranski, both of whom the writers worked with on Cybill, this next little tidbit should erase them: Sources confirm what I hinted at last August, that the duo first offered the second-banana role to Baranski herself. That's right, they wanted Baranski to play Baranski! But for whatever reason — possibly this one — she wasn't able to do it. Um, have I told you lately how much I'm looking forward to this episode?
Friday Night Boss Tackles Burning Season 3 Qs!
Score! On Wednesday, NBC officially let slip what is sure to go down in TV history as one of the worst-kept secrets ever: It has sealed a deal with DirecTV to bring Friday Night Lights back for a third season. The deets: DirecTV will get to run with 13 new episodes beginning on Oct. 1, with NBC picking up the ball with repeats in February. But, on closer inspection, is the agreement more a field goal than a touchdown? I mean, if we're only guaranteed 13 episodes, what does that say about the prospect of a back-nine pickup? Will the show look different when it returns? And what about the cast — will any of our favorites have been benched? Let's see if we can get executive producer Jason Katims to tackle the tough questions.Why did it take so long for this deal to be made official? I feel like we've been talking about this for months. Jason Katims: Obviously, a lot of details had to be worked out because there is no model for it. And for DirecTV and NBC, it was important that it ...
Exclusive: CSI Finds Its "Cybill" in Peg Bundy!
OK, now I really can't wait to see this episode. Two and a Half Men scribes Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn have cast ex-Bundy matriarch Katey Sagal to headline their forthcoming revenge fantasy episode of CSI. Sagal will play hellacious sitcom diva Annabelle Bundt — the character not-so-loosely modeled after Lorre and Aronsohn's onetime boss, Cybill Shepherd. Awe. Some.Now let's just pray they get Christine Baranski to play Cybill's Annabelle's even-tempered sidekick, Megan Kupowski. I mean, could you imagine!? I can, and I love it!
Breaking: Dollhouse Finds Its Boss Lady
Look what I've got — fresh Dollhouse casting prattle! Even better, this performer's name doesn't resemble a word jumble! English actress Olivia Williams has landed the role of Adelle, the Dollhouse's cold and sophisticated leader. She runs things with an efficiency that is both ruthless and protective. In other words, she would die before she showed anyone how lonely she is. Never heard of her, but she sure is perty. She's also got a Wikipedia page, which is always helpful. This just in: OMG, she was Bruce Willis' wife in The Sixth Sense! I approve!Williams joins previously announced Dollhouse residents Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett, Fran Kranz, Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj.
Exclusive: ABC Courting Old Christine
ABC may exhibit questionable judgment when it comes to its own half-hour comedies (i.e., Caveman, Carpoolers, According to Jim, etc.), but the network sure has impeccable taste when it concerns its competitors' sitcoms. Case in point: On the heels of the Alphabet's (almost official) acquisition of NBC's brilliant-but-nearly canceled Scrubs, sources are telling me that the net is making a play for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' hilarious Seinfeld-curse-busting comeback vehicle, The New Adventures of Old Christine!According to several insiders, all of whom asked not to be identified because they would prefer to keep their jobs, execs at ABC have been engaged in informal talks with Warner Bros. Television about picking up Old Christine should CBS decide not to renew it. The third-year laffer, which earned its highest ratings of the season this week, remains very much on the bubble at CBS. Reps at ABC and Warner Bros. were unavailable for comment. I don't know about you guys, but the idea of an O...
Scoop: Is CBS' Men Targeting Cybill Shepherd for Murder?
Holy crap! They're actually going through with it! As we previously reported, the writers of Two and a Half Men and CSI are switching teams for an episode of each others' series to air this May. Well, for the funnymen's CSI installment, it appears that they're sticking with their original plan and killing off their old boss, Cybill Shepherd!If you'll recall, Two and a Half's main Men, Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn, used to exec-produce the laffer Cybill, where their leading lady was said to be, to put it mildly, difficult. Now, according to an early outline of the episode obtained by yours truly, as payback, in the CSI titled "Two and a Half Deaths," the scribes have created an ill-fated sitcom ball-buster named Annabelle Bundt who never met a back she wouldn't stab. As if the fact that Annabelle's show is named after her isn't enough evidence of the correlation we are supposed to make, the guys have also given their she-devil an even-tempered and "infinitely more talented" on-screen...
Exclusive: Oops… Is Brit Doing CBS' Mother Again?
Hmmm… if this keeps up, people are going to start whispering that maybe she's the mother.Britney Spears and How I Met Your Mother are looking to rekindle their mutually beneficial relationship later this season. According to multiple sources, Brit's in talks to reprise her role as Barney's fraternal twin Ted's stalker in at least one more episode. "It all depends on her availability," whispers an insider.Brit's first go-round on Mother was a resounding success for all concerned: The yet-to-be-renewed CBS sitcom received a much-needed ratings boost and Spears made headlines for doing something other than driving to her local Starbucks. It's not clear whether this would also signal the return of Brit's boss, Sarah Chalke, whose impeccable comic timing as Ted's crush elicited shock and awe from critics despite the fact that she's been hitting comedic home-runs for seven freakin' years on Scrubs! Get with the program, people!Anyway, back to Brit: Would you be happy to see her visit...
I just picked up the new ...
Question: I just picked up the new issue of TV Guide so I could learn about all of my returning favorites, and I nearly stopped breathing when I read the CSI: NY update. Danny and Lindsay are going to cool off? What does that mean exactly? Answer: I'm hearing something about another woman. And possibly [Don't shoot the messenger!] some sex.
NBC's Thursday-night lineup ...
Question: NBC's Thursday-night lineup returns in a month! Any scoop yet? Especially for Ben Silverman's favorite (and mine), 30 Rock? Answer: Look for Liz to channel her inner Angelina when she decides to adopt a world-weary Russian kid in an attempt to ease her misplaced liberal guilt. And this adoption may take: I hear the kid could be around all next season!
I got such a kick out of ...
Question: I got such a kick out of seeing Britney Spears on How I Met Your Mother this week, but what got me most excited was Sarah Chalke's character, Stella, making a comment about leaving a St. Patty's Day party early. Could this mean she's the mother?! After all, Scrubs is coming to a close next season.Answer: I think it's fair to say that producers are keeping all of their options open. And thanks to the show's Brit-induced ratings bump last week, it looks like they'll have a little more time to make that decision. I'm hearing a fourth season is looking — wait for it, wait for it — very good.
What about some scoop on ...
Question: What about some scoop on Dirt, Damages, Weeds, Nip/Tuck, The Riches or Terminator: SCC. Answer: Eenie, meenie, Nip/Tuck. Doogie Howser's headed to McNamara/Troy! Well, at least his East Indian doppelgänger is. Producers are casting the role of Dr. Raj, a 17-year-old child prodigy in the plastic-surgery world who is funny, frank and self-promoting.
Jesse Swenson, from my ...
Question: Jesse Swenson, from my favorite Broadway musical, Spring Awakening, has joined the cast of Gossip Girl! Will he have a big part? How many episodes is he supposed to be in?Answer: He's in two episodes, so I wouldn't exactly call his part big. What I would call big is the trouble he stirs up — particularly for Jenny and Dan. A clue can be found in these pics.
I thought Burn Notice was one ...
Question: I thought Burn Notice was one of the best shows going last summer. What's USA saying about Season 2? Answer: They're saying it'll premiere Thursday, July 10, at 10 pm/ ET.
Any idea how good or bad the ...
Question: Any idea how good or bad the upcoming episodes of Grey's Anatomy are? Answer: That depends. Does the sight of two extremely good-looking young men making out on your TV screen get you excited? If your answer is yes, then I guarantee you at least one of Grey's five post-strike episodes will be very good. According to my Seattle Grace mole, producers are looking for a pair of actors in their twenties to play gay soldiers in love. Interested thesps must be Caucasian, hot and be comfortable sharing a "very romantic kiss" with another dude. BTW, if you're wondering why we teased this item with a photo of Eric Dane, it's because a) the story pertains to Grey's and b) Dane is a member of that show's cast. Duh.
What is up with the 90210 ...
Question: What is up with the 90210 spin-off rumor? I heard "Meet the Mills" is the name and that none of the original characters are coming back. Why don't they just call it The O.C. 2.0? Answer: Fenster, you don't hear so good. As far as I know, the show is still untitled, but I'd be very surprised if producers didn't go with… Beverly Hills, 90210. A glance at Rob Thomas' script for the pilot tells me that Hannah Zuckerman-Vasquez (the spawn of Andrea and Jesse) now helms the news desk at the "West Beverly Blaze," which is now apparently a TV show. Also roaming the halls of West Bev is Kelly Taylor, who teaches fashion design. (Wait, wasn't Donna the fashion designer? Oh right, she's now the proprietress of Bao Thai.) Whether or not Jennie Garth would ever sign on to be this s
I really need some good ...
Question: I really need some good Smallville scoop involving Lois and Clark. C'mon, help me out here. Answer: Help is on the way! In the aforementioned 150th episode, we'll get our first glimpse of Clark sporting an iconic Superman look. What does that have to do with Lois, you ask? Well, Ms. Lane's responsible for the wardrobe change!
Any scoop on the 150th ...
Question: Any scoop on the 150th episode of Smallville? Answer: It's airing on May 1, it's being directed by Tom Welling, it features the return of James Marsters as Brainiac, and, according to exec producer Al Gough, it's another one of those alt-reality romps, only this time "Clark has to look at a world where potentially he never crash-landed on Earth. It's basically a version that could have happened — and if Brainiac has his way, it will happen."
I love Lost, but is Claire ...
Question: I love Lost, but is Claire ever going to get Charlie's letter and ring? Answer: The only thing I know for sure is that Claire is in significant danger in this season's Episode 9.
Will Kristin Kreuk be back ...
Question: Will Kristin Kreuk be back for any more episodes this season? And do you have any major news about the season finale? Answer: KK will be in some, but not all, of this season's remaining episodes, as she's currently in Thailand shooting Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li. Regarding the finale, I can tell you that the final scene(s) very much involve Lex finding some important pieces of the Superman puzzle. Hint: The title of the episode is "Arctic."
Hey, how about giving us the ...
Question: Hey, how about giving us the scoop on a Season 2 of Moonlight? Will it happen? Please say yes. Answer: It depends on how successful the kids over at Operation: Renew Moonlight are at mobilizing fans. All I know for sure is that before the season is out, we'll meet Mick's BFF/former WWII army buddy, Ray, who, curiously, is only in his late twenties. Let's see here… WWII vet + present-day twentysomething = yep, vampire! (UPDATE: Another Save Moonlight campaign has sprouted up, and this one's bloody unbelievable!)