michael.ausiello

Now that Scrubs is finally ...

Question: Now that Scrubs is finally returning in January, what are the odds that this is its final season? Answer: Would you believe I asked Bill Lawrence that exact question when I spoke to him last Friday? Here's his answer: "I would bet that it's a little better than a coin flip that the show will be back next year. The actors are all under contract, and I don't know what comedies I see returning on NBC next year, besides Earl and, s---, maybe The Office." BTW, Bill sent me a highlight reel of this season's first seven episodes, and I laughed so hard I practically piddled my new Gap slacks. There's one scene where Elliot, presumably the victim of a practical joker, is duct-taped to the entrance of Sacred Heart under

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

I hear Seth is going to be ...

Question: I hear Seth is going to be trying some pot on The O.C. Is that true? Answer: Yes, some hashish will find its way into Seth's hands thanks to Marissa's sinister sis, Kaitlin. But I'm not sayin' whether he'll inhale any of it.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Did you happen to spend part ...

Question: Did you happen to spend part of your vacation at the Borders store in Harrisburg, Penn., on Nov. 25? If not, your doppelganger was perusing the magazine section. Answer: So much for my anonymity. Yes, that was definitely me. You should have come over and asked me to pose for a picture or something. At the very least I could have autographed a copy of TV Guide for you while we recalled some of our favorite AA moments. It would have been a blast. (That thing about me trying to retain some semblance of a private life is just something us famous folk say to make ourselves feel important. Pay it no mind.)

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

I'm lost without your Lost ...

Question: I'm lost without your Lost scoop! Dish! Answer: They just finished shooting Mr. Eko's flashback episode, which will probably air in early January. And Julie Bowen was spotted on the set this week, so I can only assume a Jack-centric outing will follow shortly thereafter. Oh, and here's an interesting little scoop nugget: I hear Katey Sagal was offered a series regular role — perhaps as one of the Others? — but opted to take the guest spot as Locke's girlfriend instead. Apparently, the former Mrs. Bundy wasn't keen on packing up her family and moving to Hawaii.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Just curious: You mentioned ...

Question: Just curious: You mentioned in September that we would be learning all about CSI's Grissom this season. But nine episodes in, he's as enigmatic as ever! Got any info on when the revelations will begin?Answer: Actually, tomorrow night.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Is Ryan hooking up with ...

Question: Is Ryan hooking up with Taylor Townsend on The O.C.? Answer: God, I hope so. That would be hysterical, no?

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

So, at the end of Prison ...

Question: So, at the end of Prison Break's first season, they'll break out, and in the second season, they're on the run. What happens in the third season? Answer: Hopefully, Michael finally sees a plastic surgeon about those bloody nubs he calls toes.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

I'm loving Commander in ...

Question: I'm loving Commander in Chief. Any good spoilers? Answer: Expect some fun with Dickie and Jayne in early '06 when Mark-Paul Gosselaar introduces himself to Natasha Henstridge and promptly asks her out on a date.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

I should let you know that ...

Question: I should let you know that Ain't It Cool News posted the answers to your Veronica Mars "contest" last week. So, if anyone writes in with all of the correct answers, they probably did a cut-and-paste from there. Answer: That would be cheating, and AA readers are, um...  totally the cheating type. Sigh… Well, I still have to award the grand prize to Jen, since A) I have no way of knowing how she obtained her information; B) The "contest" rules did not specifically forbid… OK, there were no "contest" rules, hence the quotes around the word "contest"; and C) I would have done the same thing had I been in her shoes. That said, my apologies to all those who played the game honestly. In the future, I'll do my best to ensure that AA "contests" are scam-proof. In the meantime, take comfort in knowing that your Veronica Mars CD

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

I was not happy with you last ...

Question: I was not happy with you last Wednesday. I was having an awful day and there was no new Ask Ausiello. Answer: Sorry, Alison. If it's any consolation, I made very good use of my week off. Not only did I survive a run-in with a crazed stalker at the Borders store in Harrisburg, Penn., on Nov. 25, but I finally got caught up on a show AAdicts have been gushing about forever — and now it's officially my new crack. I'm embarrassed it took me so long to jump on the bandwagon, but I'm on it in a big way. What's the name of my latest unhealthy obsession, you ask? See if you can pick up on the subtle clues sprinkled throughout this week's AA.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Think of all the gasp! ...

Question: Think of all the gasp! moments there have been these past couple of weeks: Luke has a daughter on Gilmore Girls; Meg is pregnant on Veronica Mars; Shannon dies on Lost; Lara Flynn Boyle flies away on Las Vegas; and the boys don't get out on Prison Break! Should we expect any more excitement before Christmas from any of our fave shows? Answer: Bright and Hannah are going to get naked together on Everwood tomorrow night; that's pretty major. And as if you needed another reminder, the Carver will be unmasked during the final moments of Nip/Tuck's third season finale on Dec. 20, which will be composed of two back-to-back episodes from 10 pm to midnight. And don't bother trying to guess who the Masked One is. TVGuide.com's Angel Cohn spoke to Bruno Campos on Monday and he flat-out said the Carver's identity is "not guessabl

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

You stupid [frak]. I hated ...

Question: You stupid [frak]. I hated the latest podcast. You were so negative about Alias. Yes, we knew it was going to end soon, but you don't need to rub it in. Go to hell you stupid [frak]. PS. Got any scoop?Answer: What podcast were you listening to? All I said was that Alias fans should count their lucky stars that the show lasted as long as it did. Yes, it was a critical fave, but it was by no means a ratings success. That's not negativity, that's just common knowledge. Now who's the stupid frak? Huh? Huh? Yeah, you. PS. Here's your scoop: An upcoming episode will find the entire gang trapped inside the CIA offices. And you'll never guess who saves the day. C'mon, guess. You're right — it's my buddy Greg Grunberg (aka Weiss)! This'll probably be the first episode back after the

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Rumor has it that since the ...

Question: Rumor has it that since the Palladinos have the green light on a new show for next year, this might be the last season for Gilmore Girls. Is there any truth to this? Are we really not going to get a Season 7? Answer: Relax. There's little doubt Gilmore will be back in the fall. Not only is it, like, 13 viewers away from eclipsing Smallville as WB's most-watched show, but Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel are already contracted for a seventh year. And guess who's also on board for next season? Scott frakkin' Patterson. That's right; reliable sources tell me his deal just closed. Now, the only question is whether Team Palladino — whose pact expires

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Can you ask Brad Kern if ...

Question: Can you ask Brad Kern if there is any chance of a Charmed spin-off with Drew Fuller and Wes Ramsey? Please tell your readers to go to thecharmedsons.com for more. Answer: I fired off an e-mail to Mr. Kern about this and here's his response: "Never say never, but so far, the WB has given no indication that they even want a spin-off, so nothing is in the works as yet."

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Do you know when Carnivàle ...

Question: Do you know when Carnivàle Season 2 will be on DVD? Answer: I believe it will street in March. An announcement from HBO is imminent. There better be some really cool extras to make up for that whole cancellation debacle.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Hope you had a great ...

Question: Hope you had a great vacation! Where did you go? Answer: If it's alright by you, I'd rather not say. I'm trying to retain some semblance of a private life before word of my exclusive TV Guide T-shirt line gets out and Ask Ausiello mania sweeps the nation.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Hope you had a great ...

Who will write your column ...

Question: Who will write your column while you're mourning USC's loss to Texas in the Rose Bowl? Answer: Two words for you, Shelby: Reggie Bush. Speaking of the big game on Jan. 4, anyone in AA-land interested in selling me a pair of tickets at cost or a little above? I'll give you a shout-out in AA. Heck, I'll even pose for a picture if you happen to run into me at Whole Foods or something. This offer expires Jan. 3 at midnight, so don't dilly-dally. I may even throw in an Ask Ausiello Ringer Tee, available now for pre-order exclusively at the TV Guide Store. Of course, that's if there are any left. I hear supplies are very limited and demand is through the frakkin' roof.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Did you really eat Tofurkey ...

Question: Did you really eat Tofurkey for Thanksgiving? Are you a vegetarian?Answer: I'm a fish-eating vegetarian, so technically that makes me, um, a hypocrite. And no, I didn't end up having Tofurkey. Sadly, I'm the only hypocrite nonmeat-eater in my family, so it hardly seemed worth the trouble. Instead, I binged and purged on stuffing, mashed potatoes and broccoli, and then for dessert I opened my Battlestar Galactica Season One DVD and gobbled up the first 10 hours in one sitting. That's right, if you haven't figured it out by all the gratuitous frakking, BSG is my new unhealthy obsession. I'm mortified that I failed to include the show or Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell on our Dream Emmy ballot last June. Talk about a frakkin' inexcusable oversight. But if Season 2 is half as good as Season 1 (and I hear that it is), you can be sure those wrongs will be righted when bal

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Any scoop on Smallville?

Question: Any scoop on Smallville? Answer: Tomorrow night's holiday-themed episode takes a page from A Christmas Carol and shows Lex what his future could be like should he decide to take the good, honorable path. (Translation: No cheating on AA "contests.") This alternate reality is set seven years into the future with Lex happily married (with children) to Lana and free from daddy's iron grip. (Clark is with Chloe, although it's not clear whether they're married or living in sin.) I don't want to give away the whole enchilada, but TV Guide's resident Smallville junkie Rich Sands wanted me to tell AA readers "not to miss the last five minutes" as it "represents a major turning point for Lex." That Rich Sands is sounding more like a network promo exec every frakkin' day.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

When is Wallace returning to ...

Question: When is Wallace returning to Neptune? Answer: I honestly don't know. But I'm pretty sure Leo's coming back tonight, so that should be fun. Or maybe not, considering someone is about to "vanish from Veronica's life forever." Please don't let it be Leo.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

O.C. spoilers?

Question: O.C. spoilers? Answer: I'm hearing something about Julie and Kirsten starting a dating service together.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Just curious: How many times ...

Question: Just curious: How many times do I have to submit a question before it's considered for answering? Answer: Exactly 42. And according to my records, you've got 23 more to go.

Wed, Nov 23, 2005

Wed, Nov 23, 2005