Question: I need some spoilers for Life stat!Answer: Tonight, Crews' secret extracurricular project will be discovered by someone close to him. And if that's not enough drama, he finally comes face-to-face with the infamous Jack Reese. BTW, the volume of Life-related e-mails I've been receiving has skyrocketed in recent weeks. I'm starting to think maybe I should give this show another look-see.
Question: I stood behind Lauren Graham at the Young Frankenstein opening-night party last week. Does that entitle me to some scoop on Heroes? Answer: Seriously? Who was she with? How'd she look? Did she mention me? Tell me what you know and I'll tell you who Heroes is killing off for good on Dec. 3.
Question: Please tell me that in the six or seven episodes left of Ugly Betty, the musical episode is included! Answer: Unfortunately, it's not. That episode hadn't been approved yet anyway. It was still in the idea stage when the strike happened.
Question: How great was the Scrubs event on Saturday?! I had so much fun. You were a terrific moderator and I loved your intro. Answer: Thanks for saying that. I did, too! I can't even begin to tell you what an unbelievable thrill it was to emcee the event. It was easily one of the highlights of my career — perhaps the highlight. (So far, at least. Reliable sources confirm to me exclusively that big things await me!) Not that Team Scrubs really needed a moderator. They're so instinctively funny and play off one another with such ease that all I was really left to do was watch and laugh my ass off. And if you were one of the lucky few who snagged a ticket, you know what I'm talking about. Speaking of which, as further proof that the show is far more popular than A.C. Nielsen would have you believe, not only was the event sold out, but
Question: I'm in love with Pushing Daisies. So, what's the poop, scoop, skinny, the haps, the dealio, the 411 on this amazing show? Answer: As I reported on Friday, Daisies' ninth episode — slated to air next month — will in many ways feel like a season finale. "Realizing that our ninth episode may be our last for a while if the strike goes on, we amped up the story to have as many balls in the air as possible," Daisies' creator Bryan Fuller tells me. One of those balls will involve that wee little secret Ned's been keeping from Chuck, which comes out later this month and causes "things to go haywire" in the finale. In that same episode, a surprising link between Chuck and another character will be r
Question: One more Lost-related strike Q: How will the strike affect the return of Harold Perrineau (Michael) and Cynthia Watros (Libby)? Answer: They both made the prestrike cut — but just barely. Sources confirm that (Major spoiler alert) Watros and Perrineau will show up in Episode 8. And I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they're both somehow involved in the mini-cliff-hanger that Team Darlton's been teasing.
Question: Why didn't you tell us that Marshall (aka Kevin Weisman) was going to be on Chuck? I nearly had an aneurysm when I saw him Monday night. Answer: You mean this wasn't a big enough clue?
Question: This strike has me worried about the future of Lost. Since it looks like ABC will go ahead and air the eight completed episodes in early '08, what happens to the other eight? Answer: It all depends on when the strike ends. If it ends in the next month or so, there's a good chance all 16 episodes will still air this season. If it goes on longer than that, the back eight would most likely be grouped in with next season's 16. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
J.J. Abrams has snatched up another tube star for his forthcoming Star Trek reboot. Abrams confirms that House's Jennifer Morrison has joined the cast of his as-yet-untitled Trek pic. "She is indeed in the movie," he tells me, "and she is most excellent!"Last week, Morrison was spotted outside one of Trek's Hollywood soundstages, sparking rumors that she had quietly come aboard the ensemble, alongside Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and Heroes' Zachary Quinto. Although Abrams isn't divulging specifics about her character, he is denying Internet chatter that she's playing the Enterprise's glorified secretary (and Kirk's crush), Yeoman Rand — the role originated by Grace Lee Whitney. "She is not [playing Rand]," he says.Abrams, meanwhile, tells me that the current writers' strike is not affecting production. "Our script is locked," he says.Thoughts on Morrison's casting? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Thumbs in between? And got guesses as to who she is playing? (Uhura, perhaps? I kid...
Add Pushing Daisies and Men in Trees to the list of shows preparing season finales as a result of the writers' strike.Daisies creator extraordinaire Bryan Fuller informs me that the show's ninth episode — the last one for which a script is written — can function as a season finale in the event the strike extends into the new year and beyond."As we were scrambling to rewrite [Episode 9]," he reveals, "we added several elements that will put many balls into the air and hopefully encourage the audience to come back and see how they land."Fuller confirms that production on the potential season finale got under way today, which means "our crew will now be able to work through Thanksgiving." Over at Men in Trees, show-runner Jenny Bicks reports that prior to the strike, she prepared an alternate ending "in case the last episode we have written becomes our finale. We would be sad if this happened, but we are prepared." As I pointed out in my handy strike chart, MIT — which c...
This could be the last major piece of TV casting I bestow upon you guys in a while, so take some time to savor it. Sources confirm to me exclusively that Dirty Sexy Money has tapped the fierce and fabulous Gina Torres to play the ex-wife of Darling-family nemesis Simon Elder (Blair Underwood). The character is described as gorgeous, lithe and beaming with intelligence — yep, that's Torres! The role was originally intended to be recurring, but in light of you-know-what, it looks like Torres will just barely squeeze in one episode. Sigh....
Question: What does the strike mean for Lost? Any idea how many episodes they finished pre-strike? Is it still scheduled to air some time in February? Answer: Why do I suddenly feel as if I'm talking to myself, Mike? Why do I also suddenly feel like I'm not going to like what I have to say? At least I know the answer to that second part — it's because I don't like what I have to say. If the strike extends into the new year and beyond, there is a chance ABC may opt to delay the new season until the fall. Or worse yet, February 2009. Another scenario has the network simply airing the eight episodes already in the can this February as originally planned — something Team Darlton would not be in favor of. Says Lost cocreator Carlton Cuse, "Damon [Lindelof] and my concern about running the [eight] episodes we will
Question: With this strike happening, could you tell me how many episodes of Chuck are left? I love the show and really want to see the episodes with Rachel Bilson. Answer: Josh Schwartz informs me that Chuck will be able to complete its initial 13-episode order. Ditto his other baby, Gossip Girl.
Question: Thank god Michael finally found out about Sara on Prison Break. Got any scoop? Answer: Naturally, while I had Paul Adelstein on the horn, I asked him for his thoughts on Sara's controversial head removal. "I actually knew the head in the box was coming, and it was very upsetting," he admitted. "I still found it shocking, even though I knew it was coming…. It was upsetting as a fan of the show to see the character go that way."
Question: Do you know who will be playing Stuart, Christina McKinney's estranged husband on Ugly Betty? Answer: Scottish actor Derek Riddell, aka Lili Taylor's leading man on Lifetime's State of Mind. He'll first turn up at Wilhelmina and Bradford's wedding this Thursday. BTW, random stunt-casting alert: Bud Cort (Harold & Maude) is playing the priest officiating the ceremony.
Question: My dad and I are dying for some scoop on our favorite new show, Reaper. Pretty please with a Smurf on top? Answer: First off, I'm sorry to hear that you and your dad are dying. That kinda puts this whole strike thing into perspective. As far as Reaper scoop goes, I hear Jamie Kennedy has closed a deal to guest-star as a street performer named Ryan who Ray "The Devil" Wise is tempting with a record deal.
Question: Here's some scoop for you: Desperate Housewives is filming at a baseball park in Long Beach today. They are also filming a funeral scene nearby. What does it all mean? Answer: It means that one of the people dying has requested his/her ashes be scattered at a baseball field. OK, now that's the last clue. I mean it.
Question: Teri Hatcher hinted in USA Today that one of the two upcoming deaths is someone she likes a lot. Please tell me Julie isn't one of the fatalities. Answer: We should be so lucky. Unfortunately, Julie survives the twister. Here are the final two hints you're getting about the doomed duo: Both are recurring, and one has man parts and the other doesn't.
Question: Could I please have some Buffy scoop? A girl can dream, can't she? Answer: Yes, a girl can dream. Hopefully, a girl can also push play on our video player, 'cause the latest episode of the Ausiello Report vodcast contains an answer to a question I know has been on the minds of Whedonverse disciples since last Wednesday: Might a Buffy alum, like, say, oh, James Marsters, be in contention to play Dollhouse's male lead? What are you waiting for — push play!
Question: It looks like the Urban Dictionary has changed its mind about including "Aushole." Answer: I knew they'd cave!
Question: Now that the writers are striking, we may be on limited scoop time. Doesn't that make you want to give us some Heroes scoop? Answer: Actually, it makes me want to double my Prozac dosage. But giving you Heroes scoop comes in a very close second — and the scoop I'm about to give you is good. I'm hearing from multiple very reliable sources that when (and if) Heroes kicks off the second half of its season, it'll look very different from what was initially planned. Let's just say the complaints from fans and critics about the overabundance of new characters and weak overarching story have not fallen on deaf ears, and that changes are being made to return the show to its winning Season 1 formula. In related news, this would be even more exciting if there wasn't a friggin' strike going on!
Question: Now that the WGA has gone on strike, do you know how many new episodes we have left for each show? It would be great if you could do a chart. Answer: I busted my ass pulling this thing together in time for Ask Ausiello. Remember this the next time you guys call me a lazy tool.