Question: Had Shannen Doherty still been on Charmed, I hear they would have recruited Lou Ferrigno to play her ripped alter ego. Answer: Good one, Ron. Not as good as the refrigerator from Requiem for a Dream, but good nonetheless.
Question: When is Summerland coming back? Answer: My spies at WB say it's tentatively scheduled to return: never. In the meantime, leading man Shawn Christian has been cast as Jack's latest beau-toy on Will & Grace. He'll turn up in Episode 11.
Question: Please give me a little something on What I Like About You. Answer: OK, but you won't like it. To cut costs, WB has reduced the show's episode order from 22 to 18. Apparently, Jason Priestley didn't come cheap.
Question: Do you know why they haven't released the second season of Everwood on DVD yet? One Tree Hill's second season is out, and that show is horrible. Answer: There's no reason to get nasty, Kristin. OTH is a perfectly… horrible show, you're right. A Warner Bros. rep says "Different shows are released at different speeds," which I can only imagine means that Everwood's Season 1 DVD didn't exactly fly off the shelves. Bummer.
Question: So what's going down on The O.C.? I need some major [scoop]. Answer: After an exhaustive search, producers have tapped 14-year-old Willa Holland to play Marissa's bitchy younger sis, Kaitlin. She'll debut in early '06. Fans of HBO's The Comeback will no doubt recognize Holland as Franchesca's pal, Kalla. Oh, how I miss my Valerie.
Question: Give me some [scoop] on the big secret Jake is hiding on Everwood. Answer: Let's just say it has something to do with that pill bottle Nina found last season.
Question: Please tell me someone (SPOILER) isn't really going to die on Everwood (Ask Ausiello 11/2)! I'm so crushed about that! How "major" a character are we talking? Answer: Major enough to coax Greg Berlanti back into the fold.
Question: How could Charmed get rid of Leo? Is he really leaving the show in a few episodes?Answer: (SPOILER) Yes, Nov. 27 is his final airdate — for now. "All I'll say is don't blame me — I fought tooth and nail to keep him," says exec producer Brad Kern. "That said, though, I still have hopes of bringing Leo back before the end of the season." Speaking of Charmed, a big thank-you to everyone who played my little "Fill in the Blank" game from last week. I received a ton of terrifically funny (read: mean) responses, but this one from Cary Babka was the clear winner. "Had Shannen Doherty still been on Charmed, I hear they would have recruited the refrigerator from Requiem for a Dream to play her ripped alter ego."
Question: What is the official [scoop] on Nurse Haleh being fired on last week's ER? Tell me that actress will be back. Answer: (SPOILER!) You haven't seen the last of Nurse Haleh. All together now: "Halehelujah!"
Question: What did Kate actually do to get in so much trouble on Lost (Ask Ausiello 11/2)?Answer: Sorry, mom's the word. Oh, did I say "mom"? I meant "mum." (Wink, wink.) In other Lost news, I'll be talking to executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse this Friday for a special Lost-themed Ask Ausiello to run later this month. So, please send me your burning questions ASAP, and type "Lost Qs for Damon and Carlton" in the subject line. Also, if you're one of AA's many celebrity readers, please put "I'm famous — read me!" in the subject line. That'd be a huge help.
Question: Can we call you Scoopy-Doo? Answer: Sure, I don't think Hillary and Matt can turn that into anything disgusting and inappropriate. (That wasn't a challenge, BTW.)
Question: Are you trying to tell us that one of the four members of the Strike Team will turn against the other three in the fifth season of The Shield? Answer: (SPOILER) Well, that'll be Forest Whittaker's plan, but those guys are a tough bunch to crack. Worst-case scenario: He can always try to get to Mackey through Corinne. (And he will.)
Question: I anxiously await your AS-P-sponsored scoop on Gilmore Girls. Please tell me the spring wedding is Luke and Lorelai's. Answer: Despite my efforts to wrestle the bride's and groom's names out of her, all Amy Sherman-Palladino would confirm is that "there will be a wedding" and it will take place in "April or May." Personally, I'm betting it'll be another Stars Hollow duo, especially given this little tease AS-P dropped on my lap: "Luke and Lorelai have been sort of in a holding pattern about the wedding," she says. "Rory coming home [next week] is going to make Lorelai want to move full-steam ahead, but circumstances are going to make Luke start to be concerned about the speed of that. They're heading toward an interesting upheaval."
Question: I seriously love Veronica Mars, but how much longer are we going to be subjected to the (completely devoid of chemistry) Duncan-Veronica relationship? I miss Veronica and Logan! Answer: (SPOILER) Before tonight's episode is over, you'll find Veronica back in Logan's arms. But, as with most everything on Mars, there's a twist. And a pretty funny one at that. Also, Joss Whedon proves himself to be quite the nimble thespian. He more than held his own opposite Kristen Bell, and that's no small achievement.
Question: It's always the same shows over and over with you. How about mixing things up a bit and dishing out some Bones [scoop] with extra peanuts! Answer: It looks like I instituted the poop ban just in time. Anyway, a case is going to take Brennan and Booth to Los Angeles, where they'll encounter a sexy new recruit named Agent Finn. In the same episode, Brennan will learn what "greenlit for development" means when she finds out her book is being turned into a Hollywood movie.
Question: Any truth to the rumor that an "Ask Mitovich" column is just around the corner? Answer: Over my dead body! I mean, I haven't heard that rumor but it would be fantastic!
Question: Any O.C. scoop? Answer: SPOILER! The most unlikely of people will help Marissa get back into Harbor before the year is out. And if you thought Julie was roughing it staying in a fleabag motel, just wait. Things get worse before they get better.
Question: What can you tell us about House? Answer: Julie Warner is checking in early next year as Margo, a patient who is rushed to Princeton Plainsboro with unexplained violent seizures. And Buffy's Tom Lenk — he played Andrew the ambiguously gay evil genius, if you have to ask — will guest-star on the Nov. 15 episode as a geeky flight attendant. I'm told it's a small role, but if I know Tom, he'll make the most of it.
Question: I need more info on what Christopher is going to do when he appears on Gilmore Girls next week! On a side note, I would love one of those Ask Ausiello T-shirts.Answer: I'll have some big news on the AA T-shirt very soon — sit tight, Justin. Now, about Christopher's return, AS-P insists he's not coming back to destroy Luke and Lorelai. "Bringing him back [now] is going to fold more into Lorelai-Rory and the Gilmore side of the story than necessarily Lorelai-Luke." Still, she says he's "always going to be a thorn in Luke's side, which is only good for me. Because when everything is happy and delightful and ducky, things get a little dull."
Question: It would seem fairly obvious that the person — SPOILER — dying on Everwood is Rose; after all, she was stricken with cancer. Answer: And to that I say: When has Everwood ever gone the obvious route?
Question: I don't have time to write another rant on how much I love The Office — my dog just ate half a bag of Halloween candy — but I'd love to hear some good news about the most underappreciated show on TV. Answer: What could be better news than a full-season pickup from NBC?
Question: I know Alias is going on a short sabbatical to coincide with Jennifer Garner's delivery, but I was wondering how the show is going to cope with Sydney and a baby. Answer: As I understand it, Syd would most likely have the baby shortly after Alias returns in March. That would leave plenty of time for the little tyke to get kidnapped, rescued and reunited with Mommy before the season (read: series) finale in May. Should producers opt to go in that direction.