Question: Screw the naysayers. I'm stoked Tori Spelling is returning to 90210. Any idea how many episodes she'll be doing? Answer: As of now she's signed on for three episodes (including a cameo in the premiere). Her participation beyond that is TBD.
Question: Samantha Who? Samantha What? Samantha When? Samantha Where? I'm easy — just gimme something, please! Answer: Let's go with who and when. The hitcom is casting three new roles to debut next season. First up is Dr. Andy Adams, Sam's a-dork-able neurologist who, once her insurance stops covering her treatments, finally gets the opening he's been waiting for to ask her out. Don't expect the path to be clear for him, though. In addition, the show is on the lookout for someone to play Owen, a squeaky-clean but filthy-rich Bruce Wayne type who's catnip to the ladies. Finally, there's Seth, so named because producers are going for a Seth Rogan archetype — a sloppy goofball who answers to the name "Dude" as often as the name "Seth." Oh, and here's another little tidbit for you: One of these roles is thisclose
Question: OK, Ausiello, get me psyched for the Lost two-hour finale on Thursday! Answer: The significant death I hinted in the last AA? It's for sure an original cast member. This just in: Better make that (gulp) three original cast members. That's right, per my Lost mole, a trio of island vets won't survive tomorrow's finale. Crikey!
Question: Any info as to when Nip/Tuck will return? And now that AnnaLyne McCord (who plays Portia De Rossi's daughter) has been cast in the new 90210, what will happen with her character?Answer: Sounds like someone (read: Stacie) neglected to watch last week's Ausiello Report vodcast, in which the Nip/Tuck minx answers both those questions. (BTW, an FX rep denies McCord's assertion that Nip/Tuck is coming back this summer. They claim the show's return date is TBD.)
Question: Is your idea of a vacation walking around the National Stationery Show at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center? Don't deny it, I saw you there on Sunday. Now how 'bout some Boston Legal casting scoop for next season? Every year, they discard most of the "below the marquee" talent. Answer: Stationery show? I don't know what you're talking about. I already told you, I had a family emergency. You probably just saw someone with bushy eyebrows and assumed it was me. Now, regarding Boston Legal, the only "locks" for next season are James Spader and, surprisingly, Christian Clemenson. There are no deals currently in place for William Shatner or Candice Bergen to return, but everyone expects that to change in the next few weeks. As for the rest of the cast — or the "below the marquee" talent, as you so aptly put it — they should proba
Question: Any word on whether Michaela McManus (Lindsey) is returning to One Tree Hill next season? Answer: Based on the finale, I'd say there's a 33.333333 percent shot, right? Truth be told, no final decision has been made yet. Wisely, McManus isn't twiddling her thumbs waiting for producers to decide her fate. The up-and-comer has booked a juicy guest stint on CSI: NY to air next fall. She'll play a flight attendant who gets caught up in a hijack scheme and ends up helping Mac.
Question: After seeing that explosive finale for Criminal Minds, I have to ask: Is someone leaving the show?Answer: I'm guessing not. When asked who got blown up in the episodes final seconds, exec producer Ed Bernero said in this week's issue of TV Guide, "The person who's injured is the right person to have been injured, and it will all make sense when you see the rest of this story." Notice how he said injured and not killed? Notice also how I repurposed a fairly innocuous quote from the magazine to distract you from the fact that I really don't have an answer to your question? I'm sneaky like that.
Question: It seems like your "long overdue" vacations happen about four times a year. How can you leave us during finale week?! Answer: Did I say I went on a vacation? I misspoke. I actually had a, um, er, unforeseen family emergency. Yeah, that's it. You know I'd never go MIA during the most important week of the year unless it was an unavoidable matter of critical importance. Thanks for understanding. If it's any consolation, I spent the entire weekend getting caught up on all the big finales to ensure that you guys get the closure (read: my two cents) you were so desperately missing last week. So, without further adieu, here are my better-late-than-never, hit-and-run critiques of this season's big cappers: Grey's Anatomy: B+ (Ellen Pompeo has never been better. Ditto Justin Chambers. Loved the final shot. Shonda Rhimes, consider th
Question: When is the TCA Summer Press Tour this year? Answer: July 14-22. Save the dates, 'cause barring another, um, family emergency, the diaries will be back and bitchier better than ever!
Well, would you look at this: I took a bunch of random exclusive casting scoops and packaged them into one very special Ausiello Report blog post. Enjoy! • Exercising the "Sarah Chalke Clause" in his 'Til Death contract, Brad Garrett has signed on to appear in Monk's July 18 season premiere. He'll play a handyman who helps Tony Shalhoub with his home renovations.• Also on the Monk front, Robert Loggia (Big, Mancuso, FBI, assorted mobster roles) has been cast as an aging boxer in "Mr. Monk Takes a Punch," a Season 7 episode slated to air in August. • Former CBS newsman Dan Rather is reprising his role as former CBS newsman Dan Rather on ABC's Dirty Sexy Money next season. This time 'round, he'll be interviewing Patrick Darling (Billy Baldwin) about his new book.• Superman's pledging a fraternity! And that's not even close to being the truth! In reality, Greek is casting a Clark Kent-type to play Rusty and Dale's new R.A. Got suggestions? Post 'em below!Woo-hoo! Ra...
That ominous, season-ending image of Dean chained above Hell's fiery pits inexplicably understandably has Supernatural fans on edge. Here's just a sampling of what was waiting for me in my Ask Ausiello mailbag when I returned from vacation yesterday: • "Has Jensen Ackles left Supernatural?" Jessica• "I heard a rumor that Jensen Ackles is leaving Supernatural? Is this true?" Theresa• "It's official: I'm a nervous wreck after watching the Supernatural finale! I just can’t believe what happened to my dear Dean! He can't be dead. Not Dean!" Silke• "If Jensen Ackles is leaving Supernatural, the show just lost me as a viewer." ClaraRelax, Clara. And Silke. And Theresa. And Jessica. And all you other Supe Nazis freaking out over Dean's fate. Sam's brother half is here to stay. How do I know this? Well, for starters, he's the star of the freakin' show! Also, series creator Eric Kripke just told me so via this exclusive statement: "Jensen is 100% returning to the sho...
CSI boss Carol Mendelsohn wasn't pulling my leg when she told me last October that we haven't seen the last of Sara Sidle. Sources confirm that Jorja Fox has inked a deal to return for the show's ninth-season premiere next fall.Specifics of her comeback are being kept under lock and key, but my CSI mole assures me that she "won't be appearing in a flashback." The likely scenario has Sara returning to Vegas to shag Grissom mourn ex-colleague Warrick, who was shot (and presumably) killed in last week's finale. I say "presumably" because in the current issue of TV Guide, Mendelsohn says Gary Dourdan will be back in the fall — and "not just in flashbacks." I've got three words for you: Gut-wrenching death scene. For more on Fox's CSI return, pick up next week's season finale fallout-themed issue of TV Guide, which I'm hearing is a veritable spoilerpalooza!In the meantime, post your thoughts on Fox's mini-comeback in the comments section below. — Additional reporting by Carita ...
Matt here. Mike's on vacay still, but I know he'd want you to be talking about him — or at least his latest Ausiello Report vodcast, in which he chats up at the CW upfront a number of 90210 stars, including Kelly Taylor herelf, Jennie Garth. Nestled in the mix somewhere is a snippet of Nip/Tuck news. Check it out, discuss... whatever it is you all do over here.
No, you're not high — at least you're not just high. My Weeds mole tells me that the Showtime hit is about to fulfill millions of guys' MILF fantasies by casting knockout Julie Bowen (Lost, Boston Legal, Ed) as a cradle-robbing single mom who "befriends" Nancy's nubile son, Silas.Although a rep for the cabler was unavailable for comment — put down that blunt already! — I trust my source, who says that at first Bowen's character and the strapping 17-year-old are just pals. Then, as will happen between two people who look like they do, an attraction develops. Then, before they know it, people are making "MILF Island" jokes about them and they're getting invited by backyard barbecues at Ashton and Demi's.So, between this arc, the hiring of Albert Brooks as Nancy's estranged father-in-law and the downgrading of Tonye Patano and Romany Malco to recurring, clearly, when Weeds begins its fourth season on June 16, it's going to be a rather different show. How do you feel a...
Well, this doesn't bode well for ol' Major Frank: Army Wives has cast General Hospital alum Seamus Dever — he was Ian Devlin, doctor by day, hit man by night — as a new love interest for Catherine Bell's Denise.The actor, who's also guested on NCIS and JAG, will appear in at least four episodes of the Lifetime soap's second season (which kicks off June 8) as hot doc Getti at Mercer Hospital. You know the type... funny and flirtatious, with a motorcycle in the parking lot to boot. (No word yet on whether this doc is also a closet hit man.)So do you think this means Frank's going to die overseas? Or is Getti just a passing fancy, someone whose bedside manner distracts Denise from her injuries after that pesky explosion in the season finale? Weigh in below. -- Additional reporting by Ben Katner
Stalker alert! Sources confirm to me exclusively that Michael Weston, best known as Michael C. Hall's psychotic pursuer on Six Feet Under, is in advanced talks to appear on House next season in a multi-episode arc that could lead to his own spinoff. But, as I reported last week in Ask Ausiello, the actor — also well remembered as Mariska Hargitay's long-lost bro on Law & Order: SVU — won't exactly be scrubbing in next to the show's title crab: He'll be playing a private eye. So it's probably a good bet that the potential offshoot would look more like Magnum P.I. than House 2.0. Fox will wait to see if Weston catches on in the role before deciding whether or not to move forward with the spin-off. (No pressure though, dude!) In any event, what do you think of this development? Are the suits smart to invite Weston to the House party? Or would you have preferred to see one of the series' regulars spun off — and if so, which one(s)? Debate, discuss, dicker. Not necessa...
The L Word's Lauren Lee Smith has been tapped to join CSI as Jorja Fox's pseudo-replacement, a CBS spokesperson confirms.Smith is expected to play the character of Bryce Adams, a "flirtatious, witty and strong-willed non-conformist" that is recruited to join the graveyard shift — also known as the role that Katee Sackhoff inexplicably got passed over for. In addition to L Word, Smith was a regular on the syndicated series Mutant X and had a role in the CBS comedy pilot, Can Openers, which failed to make it on the fall sked.
Don't say I never did anything for ya, One Tree Hill fans. Click the play button below for an exclusive interview with Hilarie Burton and Lee Norris from Tuesday's CW upfront. And I have to say: For someone who doesn't watch OTH, I somehow managed to ask all the right questions. Eh, it's a gift. Check our TVGuide.com video hub later today for my interviews with the rest of the OTH cast.
Check your watches Ausholes, 'cause I'm pretty sure it's time for some 24 scoop! Sources confirm to me exclusively that Scottish thesp Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) has been cast in Fox's upcoming 24 prequel movie as Benton, Jack's mentor in Africa. As Fox announced this morning, the two-hour telepic, shot on location in South Africa, will air on Nov. 23 and bridge the gap between Day 6 and Day 7. Carlyle's role is not expected to spill over into the drama's seventh season, but, well, this being 24, nothing's set in stone. Fun piece of casting, no? (I was going to say cheeky, but I thought better of it.)
It's time for an all-new adventure in arithmetic, Ausholes!Justin Hartley's CW drama pilot, Austin Golden Hour, failed to receive a pick-up this week.+The towering Adonis has a talent-holding deal with the CW, which means the network pretty much owns him for the foreseeable future. +His Green Arrow was wildly popular on Smallville, and fans have been clamoring for the Justice Leaguer's return since the moment he left. +In light of Michael Rosenbaum's impending Smallville exit — Lex bids adieu in tonight's season finale (8 pm/ET) — and Kristin Kreuk's decreased role next season, the show needs all the familiar faces it can get its hands on.+Sources confirm to me exclusively that producers are very keen on bringing Hartley back into the fold ASAP.=Duh. Justin Hartley is (probably) returning to Smallville next season as Green Arrow!Are you guys getting the same thing? Crunch the numbers and let me know!Related:• Smallville Exclusive: Kara's Future Is Up, Up, Up in the Ai...
Dr. Cox is going to have three new souls to torture when Scrubs moves to ABC next season. Sources confirm to me exclusively that Betsy Beutler (The Black Donnellys), Eliza Coupe (HBO's 12 Miles of Bad Road) and Aziz Ansari (MTV's Human Giant) are joining the cast as Sacred Heart's newest interns. The trio will appear on a recurring basis.The injection of new blood is part of an ambitious plan to return the show to its more drama-filled roots. To read about the other changes in store, check out my fresh Q&A with series creator Bill Lawrence (aka Da Man).
Smallville fans, consider this bullet officially dodged: Multiple sources confirm to me exclusively that after weeks of tense negotiations, Allison Mack has sealed a deal to return next season as a series regular![The crowd roars]Although the specifics of the new contract -- which was signed just hours ago -- are being kept under wraps, I'm told it calls for Mack to appear in all episodes produced next season. As I reported earlier this week, the actress' reps were (wisely) using the imminent departure of Smallville vet Michael Rosenbaum as leverage in the negotiations. I'm going to go out on a limb and say the strategy paid off. Share the Mack/Chloe love in the comments section below!Related:Is Justin Hartley returning to Smallville as Green Arrow?
