michael.ausiello
Rumor has it that Anna ...
Question: Rumor has it that Anna Belknap of CSI: NY is pregnant. Is there any news on how the show plans on handling this?Answer: In an exclusive, only-for-AA statement, exec producer Anthony E. Zuiker confirms that Belknap "will be having her first child early in the spring. She will be leaving us for a few episodes to allow her to have sufficient time with her family. We are excited for her return, where she will finish out Season 3."
What happened to Francis ...
Question: What happened to Francis Capra on Veronica Mars? He hasn't been looking too good.Answer: Many of you have written in asking about this, and here's the deal: According to Rob Thomas, Francis had a medical condition that's required quite a bit of medication, causing him to swell up and break out. The swelling has since subsided, and Francis returns in Episode 9 looking "lean and mean," Rob tells me. Some skin problems remain, but "he's feeling better, and it's just a matter of time before he's his old self."
Please tell me Kate doesn't ...
Question: Please tell me Kate doesn't have sex in a cage with Sawyer on tonight's Lost!Answer: That should be the least of your worries where Sawyer is concerned, Tara.
Enough about Lorelai, Luke ...
Question: Enough about Lorelai, Luke and Christopher. Can you throw Rory and Logan fans a crumb?Answer: Huge-ass prattle: Logan's moving home! At least closer to home. He's going to accept a job at an Internet start-up in New York.
Are we actually going to see ...
Question: Are we actually going to see the "I do's" between Lorelai and Christopher when they e***e on next week's Gilmore Girls?Answer: No. As a safety precaution, viewers will not be allowed into the actual ceremony.
My favorite AA memory was ...
Question: My favorite AA memory was when I asked you if you ever considered writing for a television comedy because I thought you were very funny. Well, your answer was not funny at all. What a disappointment!Answer: Um, Intern Scott, what part of "Please filter out all of the negative memories" didn't you understand?
Exclusive: Lost Execs React to Latest Death!
I can't believe the smoke monster killed Mr. Eko! Sure, the stick-toting warlord wasn't exactly my favorite character, but he was a fascinating creature, not to mention one of the last remaining survivors of that cursed tail section. Why did Eko have to go? That's a question for Lost boys Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, who addressed Eko's passing — and the exit of his portrayer, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje — in an interview with yours truly earlier this week.Ausiello: Another actor leaves Lost just months after he's pulled over in Hawaii for a traffic violation. This is the part where you guys tell me there's absolutely no connection.Carlton Cuse: We actually work very closely with the Honolulu police department, and they have final script approval.Damon Lindelof: Look, we feel very strongly about traffic violations, no matter how minor they are. All we can say is that Evangeline Lilly got a parking ticket last week, and she better not count her chickens.Lindelof: The hones...
Huge Scoop: Rob Lowe Joins Brothers & Sisters!
You ready for the biggest piece of TV casting all season?Former West Winger Rob Lowe is joining the cast of ABC's sublime family drama Brothers & Sisters as a love interest for Calista Flockhart. And get this: He's playing another politician — a Republican senator who Flockhart's Kitty meets when he appears as a guest on her show, "Red, White & Blue." Brothers & Sisters cocreator Jon Robin Baitz tells me the part was "tailor-made" for Lowe. "It’s funny and smart and charming. It had to happen.”Lowe's first day on the set is Friday, and he debuts on Nov. 19. Told y'all it was big!
Any Heroes scoop? BTW, my mom ...
Question: Any Heroes scoop? BTW, my mom works for Snapple!Answer: The Nov. 20 episode will be the biggest one yet. I'm told it's the "Save the Cheerleader" episode. Now tell me more about this Snapple thing. What exactly does your mom do there, and how can I benefit from it?
A few months ago, you said ...
Question: A few months ago, you said you were in talks to do another guest-star thing. Any word on that?Answer: I'll say this: For each of the past three TV seasons, I have popped up on a show that I'm obsessed with. This TV season will be no exception.
Liev Schreiber is the "big ...
Question: Liev Schreiber is the "big name" actor replacing William Petersen on CSI? Puh-lease! Didn't anyone ever tell you there's nothing worse than overhyped poop?Answer: That's fair. I'll be the first to admit that I tend to get a little overzealous with my prattle. To show you that I've learned my lesson, I'm going to take the low-key approach in touting next week's 100th Ask Ausiello and simply say that Nov. 8 is going to be the most important day in your entire lives. Trust me when I say you do not want to miss next Wednesday's AA. In addition to exclusive, earth-shattering spoilers, there will be special guests, an announcement about a thrilling new Ausiello-esque feature on tvguide.com, and an incredible giveaway that will put Oprah's $1,000 debit-card gimmick to shame. Now, head on over to the Ask Ausiello Discussion Thread
The final scene of last ...
Question: The final scene of last week's Gilmore Girls with Lorelai, Chris and Rory driving back from Friday-night dinner together is what I have been waiting for since the beginning of the show!Answer: I have to confess, that scene got me a little choked up, too.
Can you tell me more about ...
Question: Can you tell me more about the new MIA network? Does the network have a website? How can I find out what channel it is in my area? I need to know.Answer: OK, guys: at what point does this stop being funny and start becoming just plain sad? Are we there yet?
Do you really have a Smurf ...
Question: Do you really have a Smurf collection?Answer: Yes, and someday when I'm wealthy enough to afford an apartment with more than one room, I'll create a mini-Smurf museum and open it to the public. I'll charge a small admission fee, of course. I'm not an idiot.
You are such a tease, ...
Question: You are such a tease, Ausiello! What show was Michael Vartan going to join (Ausiello Report 10/27)?!Answer: One of the producers on this show worked with Vartan on his last TV gig.
I need me some hot BSG scoop!
Question: I need me some hot BSG scoop!Answer: Here's some hotness for ya: There's a big menage a trois coming up. But to find out who the participants are, you must pick up the new issue of TV Guide (with ER on the cover).
Thanks for running your ...
Question: Thanks for running your address in last week's AA. I'm seriously thinking about sending you this. It's all a matter of convincing my family that buying a Smurf for "some TV Guide columnist" is OK.Answer: I have a better idea: How 'bout you do it without telling them? It'll be our little secret.
Rumors are running rampant ...
Question: Rumors are running rampant about the next edition of The Amazing Race being an all-star edition.Answer: You know what they say about rumors: They're almost always true.
Why is everyone on Lost so ...
Question: Why is everyone on Lost so worried about polar bears and Henry Gale? What about the kids who were taken, um, last year.Answer: Don't worry, they haven't been forgotten. Speaking of those children, what kind of doctor did Juliet say she was last week? Oh, that's right — a fertility doctor.
I know Desperate Housewives ...
Question: I know Desperate Housewives has been going downhill, but I can't help but watch it anyway! What can you tell me about this week's hostage drama?Answer: What I can tell you is that it's actually pretty entertaining. It's certainly a vast improvement over the last three episodes. There are some truly riotous moments, most of them courtesy of a delightfully nutty Laurie Metcalfe. Even Susan made me laugh. In fact, Teri Hatcher has the funniest line in the whole damn episode. (It involves a bullhorn and Susan's cell digits.) I only wish Marc Cherry had resisted the urge to go all "very special episode" on us. There's nothing more cringe-inducing than when Desperate Housewives tries to teach us — or its characters — a lesson.
I share your newfound love ...
Question: I share your newfound love for Brothers & Sisters. With Everwood gone, the quality family drama has become an endangered species.Answer: Amen, brother. This show just gets better with each passing week. And there's some great stuff coming up. We're going to learn via flashback why Justin enlisted and how the conflict between Kitty and Nora was born. As a result, Tom Skerritt is returning for a handful of episodes as the late Walker-family patriarch.