michael.ausiello

Question: A little birdie (by ...

Question: A little birdie (by the name of you) told me you have some divine Scrubs scoop. Do spill. Also, if you're going to cheat on me and take a picture with some other woman at press tour (Ask Ausiello 1/19), does it have to be the one character who currently makes my skin crawl? Low blow, Mikey.  Kristin Veitch Ausiello: What exactly is your beef with Chloe on 24? Seriously, she's one of the freshest, most entertaining characters currently gracing the tube. Besides, I thought we agreed that we could see other people provided they A) were famous B) could further our careers, or C) had an "in" at 24? Are you having second thoughts now? In any event, here's the Scrubs scoop I was hinting about: A little birdie (by the name of Very High-Ranking Peacock Exec) told me that our favorite comedy has already been renewed for a fifth season! Hooray! Quick, someone take my picture with Judy Reyes!

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Question: Can I have some ...

Question: Can I have some more West Wing scoops, please?  Linda Ausiello: Despite what he told us at press tour, John Wells has decided who will succeed Martin Sheen in the Oval Office next season. And don't read anything into the current opening credits.

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Question: You mention that a ...

Question: You mention that a major character will die on Lost. Who would you like to see terminated?  Heather Ausiello: The paint-by-numbers polar bear. Clearly, J.J. Abrams blew his special-effects budget on that plane crash.

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Question: Love you, love the ...

Question: Love you, love the column. Any chance you have some Lost swag lying around that you want to get rid of?  Gail Ausiello: Would you settle for some Lost scoop instead? The pilot (played by Alias' Greg Grunberg) returns in the season finale. I'm thinking we might get to see what happened on that doomed plane pre-liftoff.

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Question: I just read your ...

Question: I just read your Keri Russell feature in TV Guide and I was wondering what she meant when she said she was in love with Skeet Ulrich? She does know he's married, right?  Katrina Ausiello: I believe what she said was, "I am kind of in love with him." Don't go starting trouble where there is none, Kat. Speaking of my Keri feature, I've got loads of extras (i.e., stuff that got cut from the final piece). So, if you have a question about something that wasn't covered in the story, let me know and I'll sift through my 235-page transcript for an answer.

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Question: Any scoop on One ...

Question: Any scoop on One Tree Hill?  Lindsay Ausiello: Karen finds out about Jules and Dan's secret relationship on March 1.

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Question: What is your take ...

Question: What is your take on Medium? I watched both episodes so far and have not been impressed.  Kris Ausiello: The pilot left me kinda cold, but given the ratings  nearly 16 million watched Monday's episode  I may have to give it another look-see.

Wed, Jan 26, 2005

Can Joey Be Saved?

If Joey is to get by, he's gonna need a little help from his Friends. Almost six months after Matt LeBlanc's NBC sitcom premiered to good reviews and great ratings, viewers are vanishing, and they're taking the critics with them. In other words, the show had better get a lot better — fast — or it'll quickly join AfterM*A*S*H in spin-off heaven. "It's not about anything more than Joey moving to Los Angeles, living in an apartment and interacting with his sister and nephew," groans Ed Martin, editor of the TV-biz newsletter "Jack Myers Report." Adds an industry insider: "If it's not sinking, it's certainly floundering." Although NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly notes that Joey is the season's No. 1 new comedy, he concedes, "There's work to be done." Efforts are under way to surround Chandler's former roommate with more interesting, er, pals. "The show is being opened up," Reilly says, citing Lucy Liu's re

Thu, Jan 20, 2005

Question: So what do you ...

Question: So what do you think the deal with Jennifer Garner is? Nerve damage and/or viral infection sound fishy to me.  Jennifer Ausiello: My sources tell me she was actually suffering from Elektraitis. It's a disease that attacks the voice box  usually right before you're supposed to go out and promote a crappy movie. I'm betting she caught it from Ben.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: Don't you think ...

Question: Don't you think it's odd that Alyson Hannigan would take a supporting role in Jennifer Love Hewitt's upcoming ABC comedy In the Game (Entertainment News 1/5)? I mean, she almost had her own sitcom on NBC!  Barbara Ausiello: I did think it odd  and apparently so did Alyson, since she has dropped out of the project. Roseanne's Sara Gilbert is replacing her. Don't know what happened there but maybe it has something to do with Hannigan guesting on Veronica Mars Feb. 22nd as Logan's half-sister.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: I really would like ...

Question: I really would like to know your opinion on this season's 24. And which is your favorite new character?  Paula Ausiello: I'm love, love, loving 24 so far this season. And my fave new character is, of course, Mommie Dearest. She gives me chills  the good kind. The actress behind the terrorist, Shohreh Aghdashloo, isn't nearly as creepy  as I discovered at Sunday's Globes when we met on the red carpet. Although relishing being "a villain for the first time in my life," Aghdashloo admits playing someone who poisons little girls to death has its drawbacks. "I was worried that my daughter's friends wouldn't come to my house to eat anymore," she told me. "I'm a good cook  and I like to cook for them. They especially love my rice. But they understand that it's fiction." Plus, everyone knows it's her iced tea you have to watch out for.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: Do you know why ...

Question: Do you know why Lena Olin did not return to Alias? Didn't J.J. Abrams offer her everything under the sun?  Pam Ausiello: Everything and then some. Her refusal to return to Alias remains one of the great mysteries of our time. And her agent's refusal to return my phone calls isn't helping to bring any clarity to the situation.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: Any possibility of ...

Question: Any possibility of a Lost soundtrack featuring the music of Charlie's band, Driveshaft?  David Ausiello: Nothing in the works yet, but it seems inevitable  especially in light of Driveshaft's Alias cameo last week.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: Do you know if Fox ...

Question: Do you know if Fox is going to air the new season of Tru Calling, or is the show just dead?  Yanira Ausiello: I give up.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: I just read that ...

Question: I just read that The Will has been canceled after only one episode. I admit the show was crap, but it was very entertaining to watch all the gold diggers. Any chance of the other episodes being made available on CBS.com?  Kieth Ausiello: CBS says there are no plans at the moment, but I'm sure that'll change if reality flops Playing It Straight and My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss come to life on Fox.com.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: I second Kini's ...

Question: I second Kini's nomination of you as TV's new leader ("Ask Ausiello" 1/12). All hail to Ausiello! PS I'm not doing this for the free gifts, but if you want to give them away, I have no problem.  Ed Ausiello: Good thing, because there's a Jonny Zero cap and a Christmas With the Kranks Advent calendar winging their ways to your mailbox, my friend.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: I was excited to ...

Question: I was excited to read that a second X-Files movie is finally being made. Do you have any more info on the plot  other than that it will be a stand-alone horror flick?  Jack K. Ausiello: Actually, it looks like David Duchovny was getting a little ahead of himself when he told USA Today last week that the film was slated to begin production later this year. "There's nothing at the moment going on," Chris Carter's agent, Elliott Webb, says. "There is no negotiation, there's no script written, there's nothing other than a desire for people to get together." Bummer.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: I've heard lots of ...

Question: I've heard lots of rumors, but do you know the real reason Rebecca DeMornay's character wasn't carried over from The Practice to Boston Legal?  Rae Ausiello: As one of my ABC moles understands it, "The show's producers, while big fans of Rebecca's, just didn't feel her character worked within the larger framework of the new show."

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: What exactly is TCA ...

Question: What exactly is TCA press tour?  KC Ausiello: It's a twice-annual convention held in Los Angeles at which the networks pitch their latest offerings to TV reporters around the country. I like to think of it as jury duty with better perks. Among them: getting your picture taken with your favorite TV characters  like 24 scene-stealer Chloe, played by Mary Lynn Rajskub (see photo, above). Right before that pic was taken, Rajskub shared with me the disturbing news that (spoiler alert!) Chloe's gonna be MIA for about nine hours this season. Turns out, prior to joining 24, Rajskub agreed to appear in several episodes of Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show, which airs later this season on Fox. But Rajskub promises that "Chloe will be back" by the end of the day. Phew. While we're on the subject of 24 spoilers, a little birdie told me at Sunday's Golden Globes that Dennis Haysbert is returning as President Pal

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: Just wanted to know ...

Question: Just wanted to know if your coverage of the Television Critics Association winter press tour will be done in the same manner as the summer press tour. I loved the time-stamp format.  Ash B Ausiello: Sorry to disappoint you, Ash, but my Press Tour Diaries are reserved for the summer tour only. I use the abbreviated winter tour as an opportunity to score a free trip to Hollywood on TV Guide's dime. I throw in a TCA mention here and there in Entertainment News and Ask Ausiello just to keep up the illusion of work.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: I'll take the 24 ...

Question: I'll take the 24 shirt. Was I the first to e-mail?  Carol Ausiello: More like the 91st. Sorry.

Wed, Jan 19, 2005

Question: Yo, I'm putting ...

Question: Yo, I'm putting myself out there early and stating that I'm available to be your assistant at this summer's TV press tour. I write, I edit and I make a mean phone call for take-out.  Larry B. Ausiello: But are you a lesbian?

Wed, Jan 19, 2005