How about some scoop on Fox's ...
Question: How about some scoop on Fox's Vanished? It has such a pretty cast. Answer: As I said, Vanished is a definite keeper. It totally had me hooked. It'll be a perfect fit with Prison Break on Mondays.
michael.ausiello
How about some scoop on Fox's ...
I didn't want to listen to ...
Question: I didn't want to listen to you, but I did, and now I'm in love with Kristen Bell! You bastard! Answer: You're welcome.
Your asterisk quiz for The ...
Question: Your asterisk quiz for The Closer's third season (Ask Ausiello 5/24) is driving me crazy. Can you please give me another hint? Answer: The answer appears in the new issue of TV Guide magazine, which, appropriately enough, has Kyra Sedgwick on the cover!
We were all very sorry to ...
Question: We were all very sorry to hear about your untimely death. Are you now writing to us from heaven or hell? Answer: The 7th Heaven "series" finale is being played on an endless loop, so I'll give you one guess. (I said I'd try to be nicer. Didn't say I'd succeed.)
Can you tell us who was ...
Question: Can you tell us who was supposed to end up pregnant in the Desperate Housewives finale? Answer: I believe it was Susan. Speaking of Wisteria's reigning train wreck, she's getting a new love interest next season. Casting will begin in the next week or two, and the role is for six to eight episodes.
In your opinion, what ...
Question: In your opinion, what happened with Bright and Hannah on Everwood? Answer: Based on her decision to go to A&M, I'd like to think they got back together and lived happily ever after. Their little mountaintop rendezvous — during which Bright promised that they'd be best friends forever — was my second favorite moment of the episode. My first fave was Ephram telling Amy that she's "it" for him while standing in front of the Ferris wheel. Lordy, those two kids can act. Oh geez, I'm welling up just thinking about it.
Huzzah to HBO for giving ...
Question: Huzzah to HBO for giving David Milch and fans everywhere a chance to get some closure on Deadwood. Even if it's not as good as a full fourth season, two movies are better than nothing. Answer: I couldn't agree more. This has been a true testament to the power of the fans. I'm convinced that Deadwood would have ended with its third season were it not for the huge outcry from viewers. Extra props go to the diehards who took out that full-page ad in Variety urging HBO to reconsider its decision. I'd say that was time and money well spent.
Why don't you care if Mike ...
Question: Why don't you care if Mike died in the season finale of Desperate Housewives? Mike is awesome! Answer: Awesomely boring is more like it. I've seen Passions characters with more layers.
Entourage returns Sunday! ...
Question: Entourage returns Sunday! Scoop? Answer: You mean I didn't give you enough last week? OK, well, I just got tipped off about a classic Ari-Lloyd episode that may not air until early '07. In it, Ari tries to sign a prolific gay TV writer, but realizes he'll have to pimp out Lloyd in order to seal the deal. I wouldn't think of telling you how it all plays out, but I will say there's a scene at a gay bar that is so wrong it's perfect, and the whole sordid plot takes Ari and Lloyd's relationship to a surprising new place.
Aww, rest in peace, Ausiello ...
Question: Aww, rest in peace, Ausiello (Ask Ausiello 5/31). But seriously, how would you stage your own death, if you had to? Answer: There's something about the idea of Shonda Rhimes running me over in her Mercedes that tickles my insides.
The promo for the Everwood ...
Question: The promo for the Everwood finale made it seem like Madison was going to be in it, but she wasn't. Did WB make a mistake? Answer: Yes. The network accidentally included a scene from the alternate, and subsequently unused, season finale, in which Madison reaches out to Ephram just as he's about to reconcile with Amy.
I don't know if you're a fan ...
Question: I don't know if you're a fan of either Natalie Portman and/or Dustin Hoffman, but I thought I'd let you know I just watched them film a scene for their movie, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, on the beach in Toronto. Answer: I'll do you one better. Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst were shooting a scene for Spider-Man 3 outside my apartment last night — and I snapped this exclusive picture to prove it!
Oh my gosh, the Everwood ...
Question: Oh my gosh, the Everwood finale was absolutely perfect! What were the ratings? Can it still be saved?! Answer: As I reported in my Ausiello Report blog, the two-hour swan song managed to attract a respectable four million viewers despite being unceremoniously dumped in the dead of June. But that was still three million shy of 7th Heaven's "series" finale total, so, to answer your question: No, it can't be saved. On the bright side, at least Everwood's finale didn't make me want to hurl buckets.
Seriously, it has been a ...
Question: Seriously, it has been a month since you gave us anything about the Gilmore Girls, and I am going crazy waiting. Please give us some scoop — anything to get us through the summer. Answer: Check out my Ausiello Report blog tomorrow night. You won't be disappointed. Trust me.
What's the scoop on What ...
Question: What's the scoop on What About Brian? Answer: ABC is bringing in a whole new writing staff, headed by Everwood's Josh Reims — which basically means we should give the show another shot next fall.
Your obsession with Santa ...
Question: Your obsession with Santa Barbara's Roberta Weiss is quite bizarre. Answer: Um, do I have to remind you that Ask Ausiello is a judgment-free zone? Do I?
Please stop bashing 7th ...
Question: Please stop bashing 7th Heaven! I was one person who begged for it to be continued. Answer: I'm sorry. I'll try to be nicer.
There's a rumor going around ...
Question: There's a rumor going around that The O.C. was only picked up for 16 episodes next season. Is it true? Answer: Yes, it's true. The show doesn't come back until early November and, with the scheduling for this fall and next winter/spring, Fox only needed 16 at this point. I'm told that number can easily (and quickly) be increased.
Everwood Ratings!
I've got good news and bad news about the ratings for last night's Everwood swan song. The good news? The two-hour tearjerker averaged four million viewers — a very respectable figure considering it was buried in June and had to compete with the finales of Deal or No Deal and The Apprentice. And now for the bad news: That number probably wasn't high enough to force an about-face by CW. And that's a cryin' shame. But let's focus on the positive, shall we? At least Everwood went out with its head held high. As Matt Roush so eloquently pointed out in his Dispatch this morning, Everwood proved itself a class act to the very end. And there ain't nothin' sad about that.
R.I.P. Everwood
Just finished watching the finale and I'm a wreck. I really tried to hold it together, but that final scene got me. It's so not fair that these people are leaving us after only four short years, but I'm relieved we at least got closure. I'll have more on the finale in tomorrow's Ask Ausiello, assuming I can pull myself together by then.
Best Deadwood News Ever!
My faith in the TV biz has been restored. From today's Variety..."Deadwood" lives.After a month of what seemed like public negotiating, HBO and "Deadwood" creator-exec producer David Milch have kissed and made up, as it were, agreeing to produce a pair of two-hour specials that will serve as the show's series finale.While Milch's grisly Western had been presumed a goner last month after HBO announced it would not be renewing options on the large cast (Daily Variety, May 12), HBO said Sunday that the series and its fans would get closure in what amounts to a four-hour event.HBO will have to renegotiate new deals -- now for a pair of two-hours as opposed to a full season -- with all of the players. Although no one is locked into continuing with "Deadwood," an HBO rep said the network was confident in reaching all the deals necessary to proceed with the show in its new incarnation.No decisions had been made about a production start date or a premiere date.Insiders say HBO was uncomfort...
Major Shield News
The Shield has been greenlit for a sixth season. No one at FX will confirm, but very reliable sources say series creator Shawn Ryan has decided there's enough creative juice left to carry on for one more season. The show is currently in production on Season 5's final 10 episodes, slated to debut in early '07. In other FX news, I'm told the cable net has made a 13-episode commitment to Courteney Cox's tabloid-set comedy Dirt. We're happy about this. Why are we happy about this? Because I read the pilot script, and it's really funny. We're also happy about this because Courteney Cox was the most underrated member of the Friends cast, and we want to see her succeed. At least I do.