Question: What happened to ABC's The Days? Is it coming back on, and if so, when? My daughter and I watched this show every Sunday this summer and then it just disappeared! Thanks for your help. — Karen Ausiello: ABC has an option for more episodes, but it has yet to exercise it. I'll try to find out why at ABC's press tour session on Sunday.
Question: Father of the Pride is hilarious! Any chance the show will come back? — B. Adams Ausiello: No chance. In fact, Pride's show runner, Jon Pollack, has already joined Joey as a co-exec producer.
Question: Here is a Gilmore Girls question for you to ask at winter press tour: Is Christopher going to come back and ruin everything for Lorelai and Luke? Please say it isn't so! — Sarah Ausiello: I'll ask this on Saturday when the entire GG cast shows up at WB's press tour day. There'll also be sessions with the casts of Everwood and Summerland, so if you have questions about either show — or any other WB-related issue — send them to me ASAP. (I've already got "What's the latest on those Angel TV-movies?" on my list, so no need to e-mail me about that.)
Question: How excited were you when Mariska won her Golden Globe?! You were actually the first person I thought of when her name was called. I thought "OMG! Michael Ausiello is dying right now!" — Tracy Ausiello: Actually, he was passing out — but if you read my Backstage Globes Blog, you already knew that. In all the confusion, I forgot to thank some folks — particularly the entire team at TV Guide Online for their unwavering support these last few months. After September's Emmy debacle, I thought all hope was lost for my girl Mariska. I tried using my powers for good but, alas, no one was listening. But then Angel Cohn would say something like, "Don't give up, Michael. The Golden Globes are right around the corner. You can make a difference. Keep fighting the good fight. Besides, your objectivity as a journalist is shot anyway. What harm could another pro-Mariska story do?" Also, I'd be remiss not to give a shout
Question: Since every other Alias episode feels like a Felicity reunion — Jennifer Garner, Greg Grunberg, Amanda Foreman, Robert Benedict, et al. — when can we see a cameo by Keri Russell? — Becky Ausiello: As soon as J.J. Abrams can find the right role for her. Keri seemed game when I asked her about it over dinner and digits last month. My feeling? It's more likely you'll see her pop up in a Lost flashback. Speaking of Keri, she was at CBS' press tour day Tuesday promoting The Magic of Ordinary Days, her upcoming Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Right before the press conference started, she came over and gave me a great big hug. Suffice it to say I was the envy of the entire room. And for those keeping track at home, in the last three days I have received hugs from both Keri Russell and Mariska Hargitay. Can Lauren Graham be far behind? We'll find out this Sunday.
Question: Doesn't the fact that 15 million people keep asking you when Tru Calling is coming back mean something? You should forward all these e-mails to Fox. — Kelly Ausiello: I did one better: I asked Fox entertainment president Gail Berman about the show's fate at press tour Monday. Click here for her response. (Warning: It ain't good.) Plus, my colleague, Daniel R. Coleridge, snagged Eliza Dushku at Sunday's Golden Globes to get her take on Tru's future. (Warning: It ain't good.) "I think it's canned, man," she said. "I think that we had a movie within a show and... we couldn't quite find out where we fit in the network and in the lineup. I'm just excited to get back and do some more film and mix it up a little bit with some different characters. I think I'm gonna do a film or two in February, but nothing's set in stone yet." There is a silver lining in all this, folks: I think Tru Cal
Question: I think last week's Ask Ausiello was your best yet. You crack me up! Keep up the good work and don't kill yourself making a new one this week. Just post five to 10 questions/answers so we just get a taste to hold us over another week. — Leslie Ausiello: Now you tell me.
Question: This isn't so much a question as a veiled attempt to get that 24 shirt away from that John guy (Ask Ausiello 1/12). I'm a local boy, BTW. Know of any potential job openings in your department? Currently, I have a sucky job as an usher at the Ziegfeld. — Matt Stechel Ausiello: I've got good news and bad news for you, Matty. The good news: John B. never got back to me with his address so the 24 shirt is yours. (It's en route as I write this.) The bad news: no job openings in my department. I've given up on trying to find an assistant/intern/swag sorter. The last person I hired via Ask Ausiello never showed up for her first day of work. And when I fired her, she had the nerve to ask, "Is this because I'm a lesbian?" Don't believe me? Click here to see for yourself.
Question: I never got the Christmas With the Kranks Advent calendar that you said you'd mail to me in early December. I'm bumming a little. — Julie S Ausiello: Maybe this giveaway thing wasn't such a good idea. In any event, if what you say is true, Julie, I'll send you the Kranks calendar and give Ed, um, let's see... I'll give Ed some American Idol popcorn. Is everyone happy now?
Question: When will the U.S. version of The Office air? Is there any chance in hell it could be as subtle, smart and hilarious as the BBC original? — Corey Ausiello: After watching the first two episodes, I can say it comes pretty damn close. Unlike Coupling, this U.S. remake is actually funny — and surprisingly faithful to the original. That said, as good as the new cast is — and The Daily Show's Steve Carell is pretty freakin' good — it kinda made me miss Ricky Gervais and Co. I mean, is there any tougher act to follow? I don't think so. As far as an air date goes, NBC is saying spring.
Question: What is the purpose of Stuffed Ca-Ca (Ask Ausiello 1/12)? But more importantly, where can I get it? My husband would love it. — Sharon Swetokos Ausiello: The New Museum of Contemporary Art sells it for $60 a clump. A local artist named Jennifer Lew came up with the idea to turn a bunch of unusual objects — animal poops, cocaine, cucumber rolls, etc. — into plush objects. And I'm not sure what purpose it serves other than my own personal amusement.
Question: Since you're here in L.A. and may be missing out on your favorite Snapple, what is your favorite flavor? I may be able to get some for you. — Carlos M. Ausiello: First-time reader, Carlos?
Question: More Lost please! — Bobo Ausiello: Robert Patrick of The X-Files fame will appear in one of Sawyer's flashbacks next month. And someone is definitely going to die before the season ends. Really die, not some dreamed-up death like Shannon's last week. For more on this (and scoop on Patrick's new character), pick up the new issue of TV Guide magazine and flip to The Ausiello Report.
Question: Is Shannen Doherty returning to Charmed? — Dan Ausiello: Let's ask exec producer Brad Kern. "No," he says. When she left the show, she left the show." Sounds like she was a real peach, eh?
Before the 2005 Golden Globes get underway, let me take a moment to share with you my traditional pre-award show wish list. For this year's Globes to be deemed a success, one — just one — of the following three things must happen: First, I have to avoid getting head-butted with the fancy new boom mics that are being used in the press room. Second, I have to witness at least one tense moment between archenemies Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood. And last but not least, and this kinda goes without saying, Mariska Hargitay needs to win for best actress in a drama series. 8:03 pm/EST Tony Potts and his camera crew from Access Hollywood set up shop right next to me. All we need is a cameo by Mary Hart and my wish list is fulfilled. (I'd still like Mariska to win, though.) 8:05 The first award goes to Clive Owen for Closer. Oooh, I'll have to ask him about those 007
After an eight-year separation, Married... With Children costars Katey Sagal and Ed O'Neill are reunited on tonight's "Old Flame" episode of 8 Simple Rules (8 pm/ET on ABC). According to exec producer John Peaslee, Sagal's Cate dated O'Neill's character, Matt, back in college. "In the show's back story, [Cate and her late husband Paul] broke up one year and she had sort of a wild year where she dated a lot of people," he explains. "[Matt] was one of the guys she went out with that year." Natch, Matt's an "Al Bundy-esque" guy whom Cate remembers fondly. She e-mails him "purely for nostalgic reasons, not for anything else," Peaslee notes. "What happens is, he gets the e-mail from her, and he's a man who's ready for a midlife crisis. He basically just dumps his wife, buys a Harley and shows up at her door assuming that they're going to pick up where they left off, and that's not what she had in mind at all." While the
Question: Which Muppet Kubrick did you get for Christmas? I'm missing Fozzie, but have an extra Piggy if you want to trade? — Dan Ausiello: I got Gonzo. Sure, I'll trade. You gimme Piggy and I'll run your question in "Ask Ausiello." Deal?
Question: Do you have in your possession the vintage Smurf Viewmaster? If not, perhaps a trade for a copy of TV Guide's colossal Guide to TV that I so desperately want. You on? — Caryn Ausiello: If by vintage you mean 2004, no thanks. I've got that one. If by vintage you mean pre-'85, you're on, my friend.
Question: The next few episodes of Desperate Housewives apparently have names such as "Move On," "Every Day a Little Death" and "Your Fault" — song titles from various Sondheim musicals. Any thoughts on whether the references have any bearing on the mysterious plot? — Trish P Ausiello: I think it has more of a bearing on the sexual orientation of the show's producers.
Question: I was just checking out your Christmas gifts and I'm a little confused. Did you get poo for Christmas? What are the lumpy brown things on top of what seems to be black binders, next to the Hatchet Smurf T-shirt? I really hope you didn't get poo for Christmas! — Jules Ausiello: Not to split hairs with you, Jules, but it's actually called Stuffed Ca-Ca.
Question: Have you seen The L Word on Showtime and what do you think of it? PS — What a little hottie you are! — Kat Ausiello: Honestly? It put me to sleep.
Question: I was upset to see readers giving you a hard time about taking the holiday off in last week's "Ask Ausiello." I just hope it was their way of showing you that they appreciate you. Of course, a "Hey, I missed your column, hope you had a nice Christmas" would have sounded a lot better. Keep up the good work. — Angie Ausiello: As I learned in high school, sticks and stones may break my bones but names will scar me for life. So, although I will be in Los Angeles covering the Golden Globes and the TCA press tour all next week, there will be a fresh installment of "Ask Ausiello" next Wednesday — even if it kills me.