michael.ausiello

Have you been watching Kathy ...

Question: Have you been watching Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List? Whose pile of swag would be bigger, hers or yours?Answer: No contest. Her swag stash kicks my swag stash's butt. That said, I'm betting I can get a bigger turnout at my book signing next month than she did at her Big Apple DVD signing. All I need is 11 people to show up to prevail. Heck, my friend Jill is smuggling at least that many through the Lincoln Tunnel in her minivan, so it would appear I have the edge.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Let me congratulate you on ...

Question: Let me congratulate you on your successful campaign to bring back our Blondie Bear!Answer: I can't take all of the credit for the Spike movie, folks. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I can. Thanks, Janice!!

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

I saw you on TV. You have ...

Question: I saw you on TV. You have nice cheekbones.Answer: These old things?

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Did you hear the news? Joss ...

Question: Did you hear the news? Joss Whedon asked Buffyverse vet Tim Minear to write and direct the Spike movie you suggested. You've got power, Mike!Answer: Yes, I heard! Theresa over at SupportSpike.com forwarded me the link over the weekend, and, needless to say, I was ecstatic. Now I'm just waiting for confirmation of that producing credit.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Who's the veteran female ...

Question: Who's the veteran female actress that was thisclose to signing with Lost that you teased about in Monday's Entertainment News?Answer: Well, before Cynthia Watros nabbed the plum gig, producers approached Jennifer Jason Leigh to play Libby, the mysterious character who may or may not have been seated across from Michelle Rodriguez in the tail section of Oceanic Flight 815 when it crashed last fall. I'm not sure why the Leigh deal fell apart, but I'm really glad it did. Not only is Watros one of my favorite actresses/people in the biz, but she was the very first person I interviewed as a TV journalist — back in 1997 when she was on Guiding Light and I was gett

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Michael — do you have a blog ...

Question: Michael — do you have a blog or personal website? I gots to get me some more Aussie!Answer: God willing, I'll be able to share some major news about MichaelAusiello.com very soon.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

I love your column and I was ...

Question: I love your column and I was wondering if you could wish me happy birthday (Aug. 26) next week, so I can show it to all my friends.Answer: OK, but I think it could land me in hot water with Al Mattice. If he comes complainin', I'm directing him to you.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

I've been hearing that Lost's ...

Question: I've been hearing that Lost's Ian Somerhalder is returning to Smallville to reprise his character Adam from Season 3. True?Answer: No. Besides, didn't Adam die? Twice?

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

As a Smallville junkie, I ...

Question: As a Smallville junkie, I feel that I am entitled to know whether or not Michael McKean has been signed on to return as Perry White any time this season.Answer: "We are talking about that," Al Gough tells me, "but if it happens it'll be in the back of the season. We tried to bring him back last year, but he was very busy [on Broadway] with Hairspray and then he did a Woody Allen play."

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

I know you probably can't ...

Question: I know you probably can't tell us who is leaving CSI: NY, but can you perhaps say why? Did the person want to leave, or was she/he let go by the show?Answer: Let's just say that when I interviewed this person last year he/she was not looking forward to relocating to Los Angeles for the job. I wouldn't be surprised if that's why he/she decided to bolt.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Why exactly is Diane Farr ...

Question: Why exactly is Diane Farr leaving Rescue Me?Answer: "There are five really good reasons," she says. Chief among them: Numbers shoots in Los Angeles; Rescue Me doesn't. "I moved to L.A. eight years ago, and I'm the only actress on earth to get two series [Rescue Me and ABC's The Job] in New York, so for five years I've been doing half a year here and half a year there. And I live with my boyfriend there now. It was fun to be [in N.Y.] beforehand, but now every single day that I have off I fly back." Also, "the [firefighter equipment] is really heavy," she sighs. "It's 65 lbs. of gear. I just finished a

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Is it true that Goran Visnjic ...

Question: Is it true that Goran Visnjic is among the finalists to take over as James Bond? And what does this mean for him on ER?Answer: Yes, it's true. But should he get the role, it wouldn't mean the end of Kovac. "We have a contingency plan," says exec producer David Zabel. "We would film a bunch of stuff [with Kovac] at one time for later episodes. Or, depending on where the Bond film was shooting, he might be able to work on both at the same time. That's what [George] Clooney did. He was shooting Batman & Robin for part of the day and ER the other part."

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Is it true that Goran Visnjic ...

Gilmore Girls spoilers!

Question: Gilmore Girls spoilers!Answer: Team Palladino is thisclose to signing former Secretary of State Madeline Albright to appear in this season's seventh episode. "I'm not going to tell you what she's going to do," teases Amy, "but she is going to play herself." Madame Secretary best not be playing Dragonfly Inn Guest No. 1, 'cause that number's already taken.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

You mentioned show runners ...

Question: You mentioned show runners twice in last week's AA. What exactly is a show runner?Answer: A show runner is — wait for it, wait for it — a person who runs a show. (You set me up with that one, Chris.)

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Will Rescue Me return for a ...

Question: Will Rescue Me return for a third season?Answer: Yes, FX made the announcement Monday. The 13-episode Farr-less third season will premiere next spring.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Please! I am dying for more ...

Question: Please! I am dying for more O.C. scoop!Answer: Here are a few more nuggets from my conversation with Josh Schwartz: "The last day of Hanukkah this year lands on Christmas, so Chrismukkah actually takes place in the [real] world." In The O.C.'s world, Chrismukkah takes place in the 10th episode. Also, Schwartz talked up the new O.C. soundtrack, due in November. "It's got some great stuff, including a new, stripped-down version of "California" we had done by Phantom Planet. And the Imogen Heap song ["Hide and Seek"] will also be on there."

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Please tell me anything about ...

Question: Please tell me anything about Veronica Mars!Answer: You know that much-talked-about love note that Joss Whedon posted about his new fave show, Veronica Mars? Well, I hear he followed that up with a personal e-mail to exec producer Rob Thomas in which he, well, gushed some more. It apparently made Rob's week.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Have you heard from Keri ...

Question: Have you heard from Keri Russell lately?Answer: No, but I'm cutting her some slack since she's been a little busy shooting, oh, I don't know, one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2006! Speaking of which, click here and prepare to piddle yourself. I did.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Do you have any Without a ...

Question: Do you have any Without a Trace scoop? I'm dying to know what will happen to Danny and Martin!Answer: From what I hear, Danny and Martin aren't the ones you should be worrying about.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

I have three dollars to my ...

Question: I have three dollars to my name. For them, I require both the answer to Luke's proposal and Michael Vartan's episode count on Alias this season.Answer: Make it $10 and give me a lift to IKEA in Elizabeth, N.J., this weekend and you've got yourself a deal.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Is Capt. Donald Cragen the ...

Question: Is Capt. Donald Cragen the one who gets shot on SVU this November?Answer: No.

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Michael, I could not believe ...

Question: Michael, I could not believe you punked out and did not go to Hawaii for the Lost DVD party. What were you thinking?!! You must have had too much Diet Snapple! I've been reading blogs about the event, you must be kicking yourself.Answer: I was kicking myself — until buzz about the substandard goody bags reached the mainland, that is. According to a reporter on the scene, the contents included a pack of Lost trading cards, a copy of The Worse-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, a handful of macadamia nuts and a tiny Hpnotiq liquor bottle. And that's it. No Lost DVD. No Lost flip-flops. No coconut-shaped co

Wed, Aug 24, 2005

Wed, Aug 24, 2005