michael.ausiello

You are my new hero for ...

Question: You are my new hero for revealing the sublime casting of Rodrigo Santoro on Lost. Any leads on who will be playing the two females? Answer: ER's Elizabeth Mitchell landed one of the roles, but the other one is still being cast. Word is it's down to two actresses, one of whom readers of this column are quite familiar with, and the other, well, not so much — although I still get a ton of questions from clueless readers wondering when her recently axed TV show is returning.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

I am leaving on vacation next ...

Question: I am leaving on vacation next week and I need some 24 spoilers before I go! Answer: Major-ass prattle-poop! Spoke to exec producer Evan Katz at press tour, and the boss-man told me that somewhere between "18 months and two years" will have passed when Season 6 launches in January. He said the idea of picking up immediately where last season left off was "talked about, but it's always important to us for the characters to have traveled a certain amount of distance emotionally. You don't get a chance to do a lot of that during the course [of the season]. Also, the odds that two of the worst days [would occur] right next to each other stretches credulity a little bit." Meanwhile, the New York remote that I first told you about last month has been scrapped. A source close to the show informs me that the producers have rethought the first episode and have decided that they can get what they need in Los Angeles. Bumme

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Who do you think will win at ...

Question: Who do you think will win at the Emmys? Answer: You can find out by clicking here.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Anything Gilmore ...

Question: Anything Gilmore Girls-related. Please. Answer: I'm hearing that a mishap at Luke's Diner will lead Kirk to open his own eatery across the street.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Got any Emmy prattle? I hope ...

Question: Got any Emmy prattle? I hope Conan O'Brien references Lauren Graham's Emmy drought. Answer: I don't know about Lauren, but I'm told that Conan is filming a silly little bit with a male cast member from a notoriously un-nominated show, as well as a spoof of a certain lurid, yet popular newsmagazine franchise. Any guesses?

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Kristin at E! is saying that ...

Question: Kristin at E! is saying that you two went on a date during press tour.Answer: Interesting. Does Kristin at E! have any proof to back up these claims? Like a photo? Or an eyewitness? A pair of Smurf Underoos, perhaps?

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Thanks for the Gilmore Girls ...

Question: Thanks for the Gilmore Girls script scoop! And those puzzles are so much fun. Here are my guesses: Are Sookie and Michel "arm wrestling"? Do Lorelai and Rory spend time together in a class of some kind? Does Lorelai reference "Written in the Stars"? And does Luke or Lorelai leave Stars Hollow, thus making room for a time-skip? Answer: You got two out of four. Not bad!

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Give me whatever you have ...

Question: Give me whatever you have about Marty on Gilmore Girls. Is he returning? Answer: Dave Rosenthal confirmed Wayne Wilcox's return in my Q&A with him. I don't have an episode count or first air date yet, but I'm working on it.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Last week must have been ...

Question: Last week must have been insaaaane for you. The early mornings, the 1 am posts, the facial breakouts.... I think I speak for everyone when I say that you are amazing. Even though you are sleep-deprived and oily, you never fail to bring us the scoop. Thanks!Answer: Yet, in spite of all this, I still have to go out and buy my own Snapple. Does that seem right to you?

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Thank god for FX and its ...

Question: Thank god for FX and its Famke-love. Any news on what Famke Janssen's character will be on The Shield? Answer: As I mentioned in Press Tour Diary: Fox Day Two, it's Franka Potente, not Famke Janssen, who's doing The Shield. And she's playing the wife of an Armenian mob boss. BTW, FX screened the sixth-season premiere for critics at press tour, and I'm not overselling it when I say it's a step up from brilliant. There's a scene between Forest Whitaker and Michael Chiklis outside Kavanaugh's house that will give you goose bumps. I'm counting the days until January.  

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Is it true? Is someone having ...

Question: Is it true? Is someone having a baby on Gilmore Girls this season? Answer: Considering Liz announced that she was preggers on May 2, it stands to reason that a baby will pop out at some point this season. That's what we in the biz call a no-brainer.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Any idea if Desmond died on ...

Question: Any idea if Desmond died on Lost or not? I must know! Answer: Henry Ian Cusick has been made a series regular this season, so I'm guessing Desmond is among the living. Unless Damon and Carlton are planning some kind of Weekend at Bernie's thing.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

How adorable is Mariska's ...

Question: How adorable is Mariska's baby boy? I just picked up the new TV Guide and saw the pics. Not that it is surprising, given that his parents are both hot, but he really is an adorable baby. Answer: Quite possibly the cutest little man to crawl the face of the earth. And if anyone dares question Mariska's devotion to yours truly, I suggest they check out the tyke's middle name. 

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Thank you so much for your ...

Question: Thank you so much for your review of the first episode of Gilmore Girls. Just curious: Who did you have to sleep with to get the script? Answer: Taylor Doose. When I said I'd do anything for a good scoop, I meant anything.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

What is the status of the two ...

Question: What is the status of the two Deadwood movies? The last I'd heard, they were all but agreed upon and the contracts had to be settled. Is there any update you can give us? Answer: Glad you asked. Ian McShane told TVGuide.com's Matt Mitovich that the actors are currently working out deals and the two movies are scheduled to begin shooting next May. McShane even offered a prediction as to how it'll end. "It will probably end with the town burning down," he says. "Actually, the real Deadwood burned twice. My character, Swearengen, died in the stockyards in Denver, broke, in 1899. Nobody seems to know why. When you look at the history of Deadwood, there's a lot more known about the other characters than there is about Swearengen, except that he was married twice, divorced twice, a wife-beater... a terrible guy."

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Will there ever be a second ...

Question: Will there ever be a second X-Files movie? Answer: Not in the next two years, considering Gillian Anderson just announced she's expecting her second child in 2007.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

How come Matt Roush can still ...

Question: How come Matt Roush can still put out his Ask column during press tour, but you can't keep up with AA? Answer: You mean you haven't heard? Scientists have recently discovered that Matt Roush is part machine.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Any news on House? Please ...

Question: Any news on House? Please tell me Cameron and Chase will finally get together…. You know, when she's not high. Answer: Make up your minds, kids. Do you want Cameron with Chase or with House? (Sounds like the makings of a great TVGuide.com poll!) I know which way Jennifer Morrison (Cameron) would vote. Although she was a no-show at Fox's press-tour bash last week, an adorably tongue-tied Hugh Laurie delivered — or, rather, attempted to deliver — a message on her behalf. Here's our exchange: Laurie: I'm going to tread here very carefully because Jennifer is actually still working. She asked me to say… can I say this? Because it's going to get her into such trouble. I'm going to have to let her say it. She will get her opportunity to say it.Ausiello: C'mon, give me a hint. Laurie: She is keen to see a… a…. a… development of the relationship we hinted at before. Sh

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Do you have any Desperate ...

Question: Do you have any Desperate Housewives scoop? Answer: You know that woman who Bree spied Orson visiting in Fairview Meadows Psychiatric Hospital? Well originally, the mystery crazy lady was going to be unmasked as a grifter working in cahoots with Orson. That idea was tossed out along with Tom Spezialy, and now the plot has been reconceived. Can't say too much about the new twist, except that it'll involve a parrot.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

First you take two weeks off ...

Question: First you take two weeks off for "vacation," then you abandon Ask Ausiello to do the Press Tour Diaries? Please! The Ausiello Report was good, but I miss reading your witty replies to stupid questions. Come on — do me! Answer: I'm back, you ignorant hussy! (How was that?) Speaking of my PTDs, if you didn't catch them the first time around, I've posted links to all nine diaries below in chronological order. I also included a link to a website that features pictures of bunny rabbits yawning. Don't question me. CBS Day One CBS Day TwoCW Day ABC Day One

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

First you take two weeks off ...

Come on, give it up: What ...

Question: Come on, give it up: What "swag" did you get at the press tour? Answer: I have to say, my swag bag was pretty hollow this year. The coolest freebie I got was a $25 gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma from my good friends at The Greg Behrendt Show. Well, they're my good friends now.

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Have you received any ...

Question: Have you received any confirmation that Eric Dane is returning to Grey's? Or is it just pure speculation? Answer: No official confirmation, but there's mounting evidence to suggest that McSteamy will be a major part of Grey's this season. I think I already told you guys that ABC served a special McSteamy martini at its press tour bash. Seems like an odd thing to do if the character weren't coming back. And Shonda Rimes herself admitted in Friday's Grey's-themed Ausiello Report that Dane made a huge splash during his brief, one-episode stint last February. But the most compelling clue comes from a source over at CSI: Miami. My South Beach spy says Dane was originally approached to play Natalia's soon-to-be-introduced shady ex, but Miami producers were informed that h

Wed, Aug 2, 2006

Wed, Aug 2, 2006