michael.ausiello
Can we start calling you the ...
Question: Can we start calling you the Pooper Scooper?Answer: I actually prefer Scoop Nazi. Or Scooperman. As a last resort, Scoopy-Doo.
Do you have some Prison Break ...
Question: Do you have some Prison Break scoop?Answer: A fate worse than murder awaits T-Bag's ex, Susan, and her son, Peter. Before he kills them, he's going to force them to reprise their roles as doting girlfriend and son. Because nothing screams "quality family time" like having a gun pointed at your head.
What's the skinny on Lola ...
Question: What's the skinny on Lola Glaudini leaving Criminal Minds? The show acts like she never existed!Answer: Enough of you have asked about this that I finally got executive producer Ed Bernero on the horn and asked him for an explanation. "It was definitely a mutual decision. We were looking for a way to shake the cast up a little bit, and she really wanted to go home. She lives in New York and really wanted to go home and do theater. She didn't love being here in Los Angeles. It was a very amicable parting." As far as the show acting like Elle never existed, Bernero says that, because of the way Minds works, it wouldn't have made sense to refer back to the character's exit. "We don't follow the sort of 'It's the next week' [rule]. We just look at it as this is another case. For instance, she was shot in the first episode, and the next
According to new Smallville ...
Question: According to new Smallville spoilers at Kryptonsite.com, the status of one relationship will change in Episode 13, "Crimson." Do you have any info on which relationship?Answer: All I'll say is it's a couple we've been rooting for, and Clark is the reason the relationship changes. Speaking of the action-packed "Crimson" episode, Clark gets infected with Red Kryptonite and goes on a massive kissing spree. (It is Valentine's Day, after all.) Among his victims: Two women whose names start with "L." By the end of the day, one of them won't remember anything and another will have proof that Clark possesses some seriously super DNA.
I've just read the news about ...
Question: I've just read the news about how Rob Thomas wants to make Veronica Mars into a boring, lousy, "safe" stand-alone show. No arc episodes anymore, only emotional drama will connect the episodes. Tell me this ain't true.Answer: It's true — the stand-alone part, not the "boring, lousy, safe" part — and here's Rob Thomas' reasoning: "Our fear is that the big mysteries are keeping casual TV viewers away, and it's very difficult to engage Veronica in a multi-episode mystery without making it extremely personal. Season 1 was built around the mystery. Veronica's best friend was dead. Every series regular was intertwined with the mystery. Without replacing the cast with each mystery and/or killing Wallace, I'm not sure we can devise enough personal connection to a case to keep the momentum we had in Season 1." I'm of the opinion that a self-contained Veronica is better than no Veronica.
I won an AA ice-cream ...
Question: I won an AA ice-cream scooper! Has a better sweepstakes prize ever existed? I don't think so!Answer: I can't wait to see how much they fetch on eBay! And that brings to a close another edition of AA. Head over to the AA discussion thread to chat about this week's column. And while you're there, feel free to post a farewell message to Intern Scott, the cheapest best assistant a Scoop Nazi could ask for. When it comes to watching TV and obsessing over me and my work, the kid's a genius — and you know I don't use that word lightly. He’ll be missed. Unless, upon his graduation from Northwestern in May ’08, he goes off to start his own TV gossip column on a rival website, in which case he’ll be destroyed. I made him and, if push comes to shove, I will break him. Best of luck, Scott!
OMG, did you see the clip of ...
Question: OMG, did you see the clip of the J.D./Turk ballad "Guy Love" from the Scrubs musical episode?Answer: Only about 63 times. And counting.
Any chance you might kick off ...
Question: Any chance you might kick off this week's column with some Friday Night Lights scoop? See how I did that there, "kick off"... Friday Night Lights? Pretty good, eh? I'll take that scoop now.Answer: That was genius, Dan. Next week, the cheerleaders are going to pull a Mean Girls and gang up against Lyla for sleeping with Tim. (Can we say "sex tape"?) Lyla will quit the squad, but not for long. Coach Taylor, meanwhile, may have more problems than just Matt dating his daughter. "The Street"'s lawyer is circling and looking for someone to sue for Jason's injury.
Is Heroes' Eden really dead?
Question: Is Heroes' Eden really dead?Answer: As a doornail.
I just read your Ausiello ...
Question: I just read your Ausiello Report item about Jason Lewis being cast for a multi-episode arc as Kevin's next love interest on Brothers & Sisters. In a previous entry, you had mentioned that there is a third love interest in the works for Kevin, one whom he meets through Kitty. Do you know when we're likely to meet this character? Is there anything else you can tell us about the role?Answer: There's very little I can tell you about Love Interest No. 3 (after Scotty and Chad) without getting in big trouble. There's also a chance it won't even happen, since this person's arrival is contingent on something taking place behind the scenes.
We have missed you! Please ...
Question: We have missed you! Please give us the best scoop you can give us, your choice of show!Answer: Eenie, meenie, minie… Heroes! If other huge TV hits have taught us anything, it's that great success begets huge ego clashes. So it should come as no surprise that on-screen tensions within one of Heroes' main couples have spilled over into real life. According to multiple unnamed sources who asked not to be identified for fear of having their brains devoured, the female half of this twosome cannot stand to be in the same room as her leading man, let alone make out with him. Coincidentally (or perhaps not), these two have shared only a handful of scenes together in recent weeks. Send me your guesses, and I promise I won't confirm it if you're correct! (I like my brain without teeth marks, too.)
Could I have some Office ...
Question: Could I have some Office prattle?Answer: Santa just delivered next week's holiday-themed episode, and I had Intern Scott (whose last day is today!) screen it for scoop. Here's his report: "I’m sorry to say that Pam spends more time with Karen in the episode than she does with Jim. (Jim even rejects Pam's Christmas present!) The two women actually decide to work together when icy Angela tries to take over the office Christmas party with her rigid Nutcracker theme. And I hate to be a walking NBC promo, but don’t miss the last two minutes; what little time Pam and Jim do spend together is well worth the wait." Way to work the tease, Intern Scott! I have taught you well.
I love Help Me Help You. It's ...
Question: I love Help Me Help You. It's hilarious. How is it doing in the ratings?Answer: For lack of a better word, it needs help. I know this because exec producer Ali Rushfield e-mailed me on Monday to let me know that, after being off the air for three weeks, the show is on "life support" and in desperate need of some AA love. It's a funny little program (at least it was the one time I accidentally stumbled on it while channel surfing), so you guys should give it a test run next Tuesday at 9:30 pm, before it's too late. If it helps (there's that word again), Desperate Housewives' Brenda Strong guest-stars as a woman Bill has a crush on but is too afraid to ask out.
Were you crying along with me ...
Question: Were you crying along with me when USC lost to UCLA?Answer: In case you haven't noticed, this is a column about television, not sports. Let's try to stay on topic, please.
Can you please, please, ...
Question: Can you please, please, please give me any Grey's scoop?Answer: Although I don't believe for a second that Shonda Rhimes would actually do this, the chatter about a possible Burke death is getting louder with each passing day. A Grey's source, however, says it's not true and that Isaiah Washington's job is safe — at least for now. Speaking of which, did you all catch the special Grey's Anatomy-centric Oprah two weeks ago? And if so, how uncomfortable was O's little powwow with Washington, Patrick Dempsey and T.R. Knight? I haven't witnessed such a forced reconciliation since the late '90s when Cybill Shepherd and Christine Baranski went on Entertainment Tonight to proclaim that everything was hunky-dory on the Cybill set.
Smallville spoilers?
Question: Smallville spoilers?Answer: "Crimson" also features the third Lois Lane to find herself flying over Metropolis' skyline. The episode is gonna be huge, people. Huge! And I suspect Tom Welling fans are going to love seeing sexy Clark back.
In the last podcast, you said ...
Question: In the last podcast, you said that the story line on Gilmore Girls with Chris sulking and Luke helping Emily while Richard is sick has been "tweaked." Does that also mean that Lorelai's resulting epiphany about the two men has also changed?Answer: Turns out it was just a minor "tweaking." The story plays out the same way, with Luke running errands for Emily and Chris throwing a pity party for himself. But it's my understanding that Lorelai's epiphany will be more gradual. The end result, of course, will be the same: Luke in, Christopher out. Speaking of Episode 13, in a Gilmore first, nearly the entire hour will take place in the hospital. I hear there's some great Lorelai/Emily stuff. It's about damn time.
Please tell us if Mahone is ...
Question: Please tell us if Mahone is really dead on Prison Break.Answer: Mahone is not really dead.
Do you have any new ...
Question: Do you have any new Smallville spoilers?Answer: More "Crimson" scoop: At the end of the episode, there's a big twist concerning the bun in Lana's oven. And Martian Manhunter returns. Sort of.
Lost Finds New Time Slot!
It's official: ABC is now confirming that Lost will shift to 10 pm on Wednesdays when it returns Feb. 7. According to a just-published press release, new comedies Knights of Prosperity and In Case of Emergency will take over the 9 to 10 pm perch beginning Jan. 3. Double episodes of According to Jim will air from 8 to 9 pm from Jan. 3 through Jan. 17, and on Jan. 24, George Lopez returns with all-new episodes at 8 pm, followed by Jim at 8:30.Interestingly, the release makes no mention of either The Nine or Daybreak. I'm hearing that Daybreak will likely be yanked, with the remaining episodes airing on ABC.com.
Exclusive! Heroes Star to Host Studio 60!
Masi Oka's bid for world domination continues.... The Heroes breakout time traveler will play himself in an episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Per my spies, Masi — who shoots his scenes tomorrow — will pull a Lauren Graham and host Studio's show-within-a show. More to come in Wednesday's Ask Ausiello.