michael.ausiello

What's your view on Beautiful ...

Question: What's your view on Beautiful People?Answer: I'm a big fan of beautiful people — in fact, the prettier the better. Oh, wait, you mean the show on ABC Family. Silly me. I was disappointed by the season premiere, mostly because it reduced Daphne Zuniga to a glorified extra. I also felt like it wanted desperately to be a big-city Gilmore Girls and, well, homey don't play that. But just when I was about to write this show off, they go and exploit Zuniga's Melrose Place connections in a way that brings a tear to my eye. For the Sept. 26 season finale, Zuniga will be reunited with her MP leading man

Wed, Aug 17, 2005

Wed, Aug 17, 2005

Did they really kill off Rex ...

Question: Did they really kill off Rex on Desperate Housewives? Answer: Yes, they (read: Marc Cherry) really killed him off. He told me so himself at press tour. In fact, I think we'll see the body in the season premiere.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

How could you come back after ...

Question: How could you come back after two weeks of no AA and not have any scoop on Desperate Housewives? Answer: The glass is always half empty with you people. I was actually sitting on the Desperate dish to prevent it from getting buried under last week's avalanche of post-press tour scoop, so a) simmer yourself and b) listen up, 'cause here come the goods: Series creator Marc Cherry and I spent some QT at TCA, during which he confirmed buzz that Jesse Metcalfe would only be tending to Eva Longoria's bushes for a handful of episodes this season. "But," he added, "I'm hoping to get him back next season for a bigger story." Cherry also contributed another name to the swelling list of actresses who were considered for the

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Any news on how and when ER ...

Question: Any news on how and when ER will say goodbye to Sherry Stringfield? I hope she'll get a farewell, but I have an awful feeling she'll just disappear.Answer: Trust your gut, Angie. Stringfield is only slated to appear in the Sept. 22 season premiere, and I have it on good authority her exit will not be a plot point. I suspect Susan's departure will be referenced off-handedly by one of her colleagues in a subsequent episode. That's the standard penalty for quitting a show twice.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

What's the deal with John ...

Question: What's the deal with John Cho's sudden disappearance from the Kitchen Confidential promo pic? Answer: According to a Fox rep, "We only have series regulars in the photos. John will be a featured guest star — [appearing] in about eight episodes. He was in our initial photos we did for pilot, but we shot new ones."

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I am so glad that you are ...

Question: I am so glad that you are back. With you gone it made my Wednesdays at work very long! Do you know any scoop on Rescue Me? Answer: Jesus sightings are gonna be the least of Tommy's troubles in the coming weeks. Oscar winner Tatum O'Neal will appear in this season's final two episodes (Sep. 6 and 13) as his duplicitous sister. She comes to town looking to collect an inheritance after a family member dies. And no, I'm not telling ya which one. (Mostly because, um, I don't actually know.)

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Dude — that was one of the ...

Question: Dude — that was one of the best AA columns ever last week. You are truly a god among columnists. Now enough with the flattery! Spill on Veronica Mars!Answer: Dude — that was one of the most accurate coolest e-mails ever. Now, more about Mars: The central mystery of the season will be a whodunit after all, with the ill-fated character biting it in the Sept. 28 premiere. (No, that's not a typo. The Mars premiere has been pushed back a week.) Meanwhile, here's some casting scoop: Producers have tapped newcomer Tessa Thompson to play Veronica's new African-American pal Jackie Cook (also not a typo; it's been changed from Jackie Chase).  And Krysten Ritter has been cast as the daughter of S

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Hey Ausiello! I met Jared ...

Question: Hey Ausiello! I met Jared Padalecki on the streets of Vancouver and he totally pimped his new WB show Supernatural. So what do you think? Is it worthy of my viewership? Answer: Yes, it's totally worthy of your viewership. Of course, I'm inclined to like any show that prominently features a Smurf T-shirt in its first episode.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

What do you know about ...

Question: What do you know about Michelle Rodriguez's Lost story line!? What will Ana-Lucia be up to on the island?Answer: You mean aside from coming between Jack and Kate? "We're not stupid," exec producer Carlton Cuse says of the looming triangle. "There's clearly chemistry between [Michelle and Matthew Fox]. Their [airport encounter] was not accidental."

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Ahhh... the idea of Deadwood ...

Question: Ahhh... the idea of Deadwood scoop brings a tear to my eye — although it could be the conjunctivitis. Answer: You'd best see Doc Cochran about that. He's looking in on them whores this morning, but I believe he'll be back in the office around 3 pm. Speaking of which, I never got around to telling you all about my unfreakingbelievable Deadwood set visit last month, during which I was treated to an hourlong tour of the show's so-authentic-it's-scary outdoor set. Unlike other TV soundstages, which almost always disappoint when viewed in person, the Deadwood set actually exceeded all of my expectations. Producers actually went and re-created an Old West town in the middle of the freakin' Southe

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I missed your Gilmore Girls ...

Question: I missed your Gilmore Girls appearance last April. Will WB air it again before the fall season begins? Answer: Yes, my debut as Dragonfly Guest No. 1 will be encored Tuesday, Aug. 30, so start organizing those viewing parties now.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I read on barnesandnoble.com ...

Question: I read on barnesandnoble.com that you are going to be doing a book signing in NYC next month! What kind of swag does the first person in line score?Answer: Yeah, I wasn't aware they were making that information public so soon. I was kinda hoping I'd be the one to break that bit of news, thus sparing myself the humiliation of getting scooped about my own event. But that's my cross to bear. The fact remains, I'm doing a freakin' book signing!!! On Friday, Sept. 30, I'll be at Barnes & Noble's Greenwich Village branch signing copies of TV Guide: Guide to TV 2006, to which I penned the introduction. I'll have lot

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I am dying to know: What are ...

Question: I am dying to know: What are the odds that Luke will say yes to Lorelai's proposal on Gilmore Girls?Answer: (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!) 50/50.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

What gives, man? The only ...

Question: What gives, man? The only Lost spoilers you gave us last week were things we already knew or assumed anyway. Give us some real scoop! Answer: With all due respect, I think my stunning revelation last week that aliens are not hiding out in the hatch most definitely qualifies as real scoop, Marissa. I'd go so far as to call it an all-out bombshell. But enough about that, let's get to the really real scoop. (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT) Among the burning questions Damon Lindelof and Co. plan to answer this season via flashback: * Who is the woman Jack married? Yeah, we know she used to be on Ed, but who is she

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I'm totally addicted to your ...

Question: I'm totally addicted to your column — it's my favorite part of the week!  Have any West Wing scoop?  Answer: I don't, but the new issue of TV Guide magazine does. It seems exec producer John Wells is mulling a live episode during November sweeps that would tie in with a presidential debate between Jimmy Smits' Santos and Alan Alda's Vinick. I personally think they should do a live episode on Election Day that invites viewers to choose the next president via phone vote. But no one cares what I think.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

OK, I love all the Gilmore ...

Question: OK, I love all the Gilmore info, but how about some Everwood tidbits?Answer: We'll learn more about Jake's (Scott Wolf) potential drug problem this season.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

You always ignore my ...

Question: You always ignore my messages/questions, but I'll try again: What do you think will be the best new show this season? P.S. Did Azrael miss you while you were at press tour? Answer: The best show — hands-down, without question — is the aforementioned Prison Break. And I have no idea if Azrael missed me because, well, he's a cat and cats can't talk.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Can you please tell me ...

Question: Can you please tell me something about CSI: Miami for next season? Answer: Roswell's Brendan Fehr has joined the show as a new techie named Dan Cooper. As he noted on his personal website, the role is recurring. That's all I got for ya.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Can you make some mention ...

Question: Can you make some mention that your brother, who lives in Anne Arundel County in Maryland, has been without cable for a month? Maybe it will get Comcast going.Answer: Hey, Comcast — get your freakin' act together!

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I'll give you a cookie if you ...

Question: I'll give you a cookie if you post me!Answer: I'll have a Double Stuf Oreo, please.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

I thought I remembered ...

Question: I thought I remembered reading a while back that Jason Wiles — Bosco from Third Watch — was going to be on a new show this fall. Any updates? Answer: He's been cast as Geena Davis' deputy press secretary on ABC's Commander-In-Chief.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Any truth to the rumor that ...

Question: Any truth to the rumor that Dorian Gregory has been cut from the cast of Charmed, and Brian Krause's appearances have been reduced? Answer: Yes, the rumors are true. Both were the victim of budget cuts.

Wed, Aug 10, 2005

Wed, Aug 10, 2005