michael.ausiello
Any idea why the character of ...
Question: Any idea why the character of Alex Taggart on ER is now played by Dominic Janes when, prior to this season, the role belonged to Oliver Davis II?Answer: Scheduling conflicts — Davis has since become a regular on ABC's Rodney — precluded him from returning.
Is Prison Break moving to a ...
Question: Is Prison Break moving to a new day/time in January when 24 reclaims its time slot?Answer: Fox isn't saying where Prison Break will end up in January, but I'm guessing it'll probably… actually, come to think of it, I have no earthly idea where they'll put it. Allow me to investigate further.
In the 9/21 AA when you ...
Question: In the 9/21 AA when you pointed out the enigma within the mystery on Veronica Mars, were you talking about Logan telling Veronica "I'm gonna miss you" before she got on the doomed bus? Or were you referring to the intense confab between Woody and Terrence Cook?Answer: None of the above, Heather. Maybe this was too obvious to be dubbed an "enigma within the mystery," but shouldn't we be focusing on who was supposed to be on that bus as opposed to who actually was? Hmmm....
Please reach into that big ...
Question: Please reach into that big bag of tricks of yours and pull out a doozy of a Smallville spoiler.Answer: The new issue of TV Guide magazine (on sale Thursday) features an exclusive first look at Aquaman, as played by former Abercrombie & Fitch model Alan Ritchson. In the pic, Aqua is seen rescuing a seemingly lifeless Lois Lane from the ocean. The accompanying article also contains some interesting dirt about the Aqua-centric Oct. 20 episode, including details about a major underwater slugfest between the man from Atlantis and the Man of Steel.
If you give me some scoop on ...
Question: If you give me some scoop on Gilmore Girls, I will come to your book signing on Friday. Promise.Answer: You better not be bluffing, Carrie, 'cause we'll be checking IDs at the door. Richard and Emily will soon find out that the apple of their eye has been engaging in some, um, extracurricular activities in the pool house. And suffice it to say they will not be happy. See you Friday at 7:30, Carrie. Just a heads-up: Mayor Bloomberg is urging everyone to take public transportation to the event to cut down on what is expected to be record gridlock. (I'm beginning to think maybe I underestimated my own popularity.)
Does "bleep, bleep, bleep" ...
Question: Does "bleep, bleep, bleep" stand for "Moon those jerks?" If not, it should.Answer: Nope. Any other guesses?
What can you tell me about ...
Question: What can you tell me about the song playing on the record player in the hatch last week on Lost? I keep thinking the lyrics are some kind of clue.Answer: It's called "Make Your Own Kind of Music," and it's sung by Mama Cass. I can't seem to find any hidden messages in the lyrics, but then again, it never dawned on me to play Walt's creepy message backward. I also didn't realize the guy who died in Jack's flashback had the same last name as Shannon. Or notice the cursed numbers were printed on Desmond's pill bottle. Or....
During the season premiere of ...
Question: During the season premiere of Nip/Tuck last week, FX aired a promo for The Shield that referred to the upcoming fifth season as "the beginning of the end." Is the show ending? I hope not. Love your column.Answer: Let's examine the evidence: There's currently no deal in place for a sixth season; series creator Sean Ryan may soon have his hands full producing CBS' mid-season drama The Unit; Forest Whitaker is being brought in to take down the Strike Team once and for all; and FX's promos are referring to the coming season as "the beginning of the end." You do the math. (For the record, an FX rep says the network is not ruling out a sixth season.)
Hi! If you buy me a ticket to ...
Question: Hi! If you buy me a ticket to fly from Utah to NYC and back, I will totally come to your book signing this Friday.Answer: I can get you on a FedEx flight leaving Salt Lake International Friday morning at 6:30. There's just one catch: You have to be willing to share a seat with 76 overnight Envelopes, 14 Express Small Paks and three Diagnostic Specimen Tubes. Oh, and it's BYOCP (Bring Your Own Cabin Pressure). If that sounds cool, shoot me an e-mail and I'll confirm the reservation. Should you make the trek, click here to check out just some of the free swag-with-purchase-of-Guide to TV that'll be awaiting you. (One item per customer while supplies last; first come, first serve.)
You mentioned in last week's ...
Question: You mentioned in last week's AA that you are hearing that Scrubs may come back sooner rather than later. Please tell me you're not playing an evil trick on us.Answer: Tricks are for kids, Jenny. Oh, right. I see your point now. Regardless, I was told by a reliable source that we could see Scrubs back on NBC's sked as early as Oct. 18. The key word here being "could."
Your ego makes me want to ...
Question: Your ego makes me want to spit up pork chops and applesauce! Build a bridge and get over yourself!Answer: That's rich coming from a person with Pretty for a first name.
Just wondering what you ...
Question: Just wondering what you thought of the Lost premiere? I absolutely loved it!Answer: It was better than I could have ever hoped for. The hatch reveal was totally worth the wait. I only wish I hadn't been tipped off about Desmond beforehand. I would have enjoyed the element of surprise. Damn spoilers.
Do you in your infinite ...
Question: Do you in your infinite spoiler wisdom have even a clue to offer as to the identity of the Carver on Nip/Tuck?Answer: Well, the obvious choice would be (SPOILER ALERT) the new doc played by Bruno Campos, but since when has Ryan Murphy ever taken the obvious route? All I know for sure is that the man/woman will be unmasked in the final scene of the season finale.
Chloe and Edgar (Ask Ausiello ...
Question: Chloe and Edgar (Ask Ausiello 9/21)? Ewww!Answer: But that's the whole point!
Pay for my flight and hotel ...
Question: Pay for my flight and hotel and I'll come to your book signing. Answer: Look, people, I'm a world-renowned journalist, not a travel agent. That said, I can probably get you on a DHL flight leaving Thursday night at 11. As far as the hotel goes, there's a scary crack den lovely little place on Eighth Avenue called Hourly Inn that has plenty of vacancies. There's just one catch: You have to be willing to "entertain" a few times a day. But I think it'll be worth it. I mean, take another look at all the swag I'm giving away!
OK, I know ER has been on a ...
Question: OK, I know ER has been on a long time, but I still want spoilers.Answer: Exec producer David Zabel gave my colleague, Matt Webb Mitovich, the lowdown on John Stamos' two-episode arc this November. "You'll actually meet him in Episode 7," he says, "and then he's a major player in [Episode] 8, when a commuter plane crashes in a Chicago neighborhood." Stamos plays one of the paramedics on the scene, and Zabel likens the November sweeps episode to "a big action movie." The other central figures in the episode are Neela and Pratt.
Any new spoilers for ...
Question: Any new spoilers for Desperate Housewives? I'm desperate.Answer: First off, was I the only one who felt Sunday's premiere marked a huge improvement over last season? The pacing was quicker, the writing sharper and the performances flawless. Two scenes stand out for me as instant laugh-out-loud classics: Lynette changing her daughter's diaper during her job interview and Bree replacing Rex's tie in the middle of his funeral. (Oh, and loyal AA readers must've experienced a sense of déjà vu when Betty Applewhite and her son ventured down into the basement dungeon to feed their prisoner.) On the spoiler front, I'm not one to tout a rival sleuth, but USA Today's Will Keck dropped more than a few plot nuggets in his front-page story last Friday. Among the doozies: A wedding will take place early this season, and someone will die within the first 13 episodes. Unfortunately,
You mentioned that TV Guide ...
Question: You mentioned that TV Guide magazine would serve as the exclusive distributor of the 3-D glasses for the Nov. 21 Medium episode. But I'm wondering whether they will only be in the newsstand copies like all the other "good stuff" (e.g., the Lost DVD). As a long-time subscriber, I'm ready to discontinue my subscription and buy only those issues with the good stuff in them.Answer: I'm told the glasses, like the Ausiello Report, will be included in both the newsstand and subscriber issues, so no need to cancel that subscription, Annette. Speaking of the 3-D outing, I have some breaking news to share on that front: The depth-defying episode will now air as a special two-hour event. And regarding the specifics of the plot, exec producer Glenn Gordon Caron tells me that many of the 3-D sequences will take place in an art gallery. "Something will be reve
Do you have any updates about ...
Question: Do you have any updates about Everwood?Answer: Yeah, here's one: After screening the first two episodes of the season, Everwood has officially become my new favorite show. And yes, that includes Lost, Veronica Mars and (yikes!) Gilmore Girls. It's that good. I'd even go so far as to proclaim it my new Felicity. Seriously. (SPOILER ALERT) Now, while I won't give away which couple gets hitched in the opener, I will say I jumped to the wrong conclusion — twice — before the betrothed duo were finally revealed at around the 20-minute mark. Also, as exec producer Rina Mimoun teased in AA last month, there's a major twist concerning the new med student (Justin Baldoni) who Amy's crushing on. Oh, and just when I couldn't love the show anymore, Bright utters the following line to Ephram, who flew home from Euro
What's the real story behind ...
Question: What's the real story behind Marsha Thomason's departure from Las Vegas?Answer: As series creator Gary Scott Thompson cryptically told me in July, Marsha "wanted to do some other things." Interpret as you like.
Can't you think of any other ...
Question: Can't you think of any other word to use besides "scoop"? Incidentally, I don't think you're all that funny. Your shtick is getting old.Answer: Yeah, my copy editors have been begging me to come up with some new shtick alternatives for the word scoop, but I'm at a loss. Got any suggestions? Send 'em in! And I'm going to ignore the second part of your question, 'cause sticks and stones may break my bones, but names make me cry like a 2-year-old sitting in soiled Huggies.