Recaps

The Weekly Round Up (Feb. 1 to 5)

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Here are the entertainment news items for this week:

CONDOLENCES

Days of Our Lives actress Frances Reid passed away this week at the age of 95. She was a theater veteran who appeared in the soap for 42 years (from 1965 to 2007). Condolences are extended to her family, friends and fans.

NEWS

Congrats to all the winners at this past weekend’s Grammy awards. And, congrats to all the Oscar nominees that were announced earlier this week.

The Canadian series The Bridge will air on CTV (in Canada) starting on March 5 at 9 PM with a two-hour premiere before shifting to its normal timeslot of 10 PM the following week. CBS still has yet to announce an airdate for the series, which is being co-produced between the American and Canadian netlets.

The Emmy Awards may be coming to the nation LIVE on both coasts rather than the typical tape delayed airings that the West Coast always gets, following the lead of the Golden Globes. No confirmed plans have been set yet, though.

TV SERIES NEWS

A new series finale date for the ABC series Lost was announced earlier this week: Sunday, May 23. Mark your calendar!

The final episodes of Saving Grace will air on TNT starting on March 29 at 9 PM with back-to-back episodes. The remaining 7 episodes will play out over the spring in its regular 10 PM timeslot (with a slight interruption by the NBA playoffs in between).

Southland will conclude its second season on TNT on April 6 at 10 PM. A marathon of the second season episodes will run that same day starting at 5 PM.

Big Love has been renewed for a fifth season on HBO.

The new series Happy Town, a mid-season series, has been given a premiere date: April 28 at 10 PM. The series stars Geoff Stults, Sam Neill, Lauren German, Steven Weber, Amy AckerRobert Wisdom (among others).  The series is being touted as a creepy show (ala supposedly Twin Peaks) about a small town still haunted by a number of unsolved kidnappings.

The March 5 episode of Ghost Whisperer will be the series 100th episode and it will feature a major characters death.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

ABC Family Channel has picked up the half-hour comedy Melissa & Joey, which will star Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence (who also serve executive producers). Hart will portray Mel, the grown-up former wild child of a political family who is now a local politician herself. When her sister ends up in prison and brother-in-law flees after a scandal hits, Mel must take responsibility for her teenaged niece Lennox and pre-adolescent nephew Ryder. Spread too thin to manage by herself, help comes in the unlikely form of Joe (Lawrence) who, desperate for a job, moves in and becomes the family’s “manny.” The series has been given a 10-episode order and is scheduled to premiere in 2010.

CBS has picked up drama pilot ATF, which centers on an ATF agent who hunts down the most dangerous criminals while trying to balance life as a dad to his teenage daughter who has re-entered his life.

Matt Ryan (The Tudors) is expected to join Forest Whitaker in the cast of the Criminal Minds spin-off about a new group of profilers who work outside the FBI bureaucracy. Michael Kelly (The Sopranos) has also been added to the cast.

The pilot Hellcats based in the world of competitive college cheerleading and based on the Kate Torgovnick book Cheer will come to the CW and will produced by none other than Tom Welling (Smallville).

The exploits of the sexy freshmen class at Harvard Medical School as seen through the eyes of a young female student will come to the CW in a pilot called HMS from co-executive producer Hayden Panettiere (Heroes).

CBS will bring the personal and professional lives of the adult Quinn quintuplets, whose whole lives have been documented on TV to life in the new drama pilot called The Quinn-Tuplets.

Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) has the lead role in the comedy pilot Freshmen from ABC that follows the friendship of three freshmen members of Congress – two men and a woman – who live together in D.C.

Emmy-winner Allison Janney (The West Wing) has joined the cast of the Matthew Perry comedy pilot Mr. Sunshine at ABC, which is about the manager of an aging San Diego stadium who realizes on his 40th birthday that he can no longer get by on just his charming, noncommittal ways. She’ll play Crystal Cohen, his boss at the arena.

Emmy-winners Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green (The Sopranos) have booked a pilot called Reagan’s Law with CBS, which is about a multi-generational family of New York-based cops.

NBC has slated a two-hour backdoor pilot called Secrets of the Mountain for Friday, April 16 at 8 PM. The possible series stars Barry Bostwick and Paige Turco in a story about a single mom (Turco) with three kids who inherits a remote mountain cabin from a supposedly dead uncle (Bostwick) who turns out to be very much alive, and they set out to keep an evil buyer from gaining access to the mountain that holds secrets and treasures.

An as-yet untitled new drama from Hannah Shakespeare (The Philanthropist) has received a pilot order from CBS. The series is to follow a roaming medical team that travels the U.S. helping those less fortunate get through life-or-death medical crises.

Zooey Deschanel (500 Days of Summer) has joined the HBO half-hour pilot based on the Pamela Des Barres memoir about her life of bed-hopping with musicians and movie stars in the late 1960s.

HBO is developing an untitled political drama that revolves around a young political aide and his relationship with his idol–the former President of the United States.

Gary Cole will headline the first hour-long mystery comedy called Uncle Nigel on TBS about a veteran homicide detective (Cole) in Philadelphia who partners up with his rookie nephew.

Virginia Madsen will appear as the lead in the new ABC dramedy Scoundrels, which is about a family of small-town criminals who attempt to go straight after the patriarch is sent to prison. Madsen would play the mom. The show, which has been picked up for eight episodes (all of them slated to air this summer), is based on the New Zealand series Outrageous Fortune.

Enrique Murciano (Without a Trace) has joined ABC pilot Off the Map, which centers around a team of medical professionals who flee the U.S. to work at a clinic on a tropical island. He will join Martin Henderson in the cast.

Laura Prepon (That ’70s Show) will star in the ABC comedy pilot Awkward Situations for Men, alongside Matt Letscher (Eli Stone).

Bret Harrison (Reaper) has landed the lead role in FOX‘s untitled Adam Goldberg single-camera comedy, where he will play a member of a team who crack computer security systems.

Emily Rose (Jericho and Brothers & Sisters) will appear in the Syfy series Haven, which is based on the Stephen King novella The Colorado Kid. She will play FBI agent Audrey Parker, who investigates a murder in the small town of Haven, Maine and finds herself caught up in a web of supernatural activity among its citizens.

MADE FOR TV MOVIES NEWS

The Syfy made-for-TV movie Beauty and the Beast will premiere on Saturday, February 27, at 9PM. The movie stars Estella Warren (Planet of the Apes) is a young Beauty with a gift for healing who helps a deformed Prince (Rhett Gilles, Wraiths of Roanoke) regain his throne and defeat the ruthless nobleman who wants to be king — and then together they try to destroy a power-hungry witch.

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Zachary Quinto (Heroes and Star Trek) is set to play famed composer and pianist George Gershwin in a biopic of the man who was responsible for more than a dozen Broadway shows such as Funny Face and Porgy and Bess who died of a brain tumor at the age of 38.

Orlando Bloom is to star in the indie drama The Good Doctor, which centers on a frustrated doctor (Bloom) looking to impress his superiors and colleagues.

Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup will be seen in the indie crime drama The Convincer that follows a desperate insurance salesman whose scheme to acquire a rare violin, which leads to unforeseen consequences.

Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Christina Ricci have joined the cast of the Robet Pattinson-led film Bel Ami, which is based on the Guy de Maupassant novel and set in 1890’s Paris.

American Idol winner and country singing star Carrie Underwood will play the church youth leader in the movie Soul Surfer, the biopic of 19-year-old surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack but persevered to resume hanging 10 less than a month later. AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid also star.

Christian Bale, Javier Bardem, Rachel McAdams and Olga Kurylenko will appear in the as-yet untitled romantic drama from acclaimed director Terrence Malick.

Whoopi Goldberg and Kathy Bates have signed on to the film Earthbound which also stars Kate Hudson, Gael Garcia Bernal, Rosemarie DeWitt, Steven Weber and Treat Williams.

Bradley Cooper and Reese Witherspoon will appear in the action-comedy This Means War. Cooper is expected to play one of a pair of spies whose friendship devolves into trickery and deceit when they both fall for the same woman (Witherspoon).

CASTING SCOOP

Fred Willard and Swoosie Kurtz will guest star in an upcoming episode of Chuck, as a Hart to Hart-esque spy couple now over-the-hill but still in the game.

Actor Chelcie Ross (Mad Men) will appear as Jackson’s (Jesse Williams) ailing grandfather, Harper Avery, in an upcoming episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Turns out he is the namesake of the Avery Award that was bestowed on Meredith’s mom, Ellis. This will help form a bond between Jackson and Meredith.

Indy race car driver Danica Patrick will appear on CSI: NY next week as a rival of a racing legend (guest star Antonio Sabato Jr.) who dies in a vehicle explosion.

Dawn Olivieri (Heroes) will play Janice Herveaux, the sister of werewolf Alcide (Joe Manganiello) and Brit Morgan (The Middleman) will play Alcide’s psycho ex girlfriend Debbie Pelt on True Blood.

It would appear that casting is nearly confirmed for the flashback episodes of Brothers & Sisters with Rachel Leigh Cook, Nora Zehetner (Grey’s Anatomy) or Courtney Ford (Dexter) could possibly playing a young Nora (Sally Field); Kay Panabaker (Fame) will play a young Kitty (Calista Flockhart); newcomer Anna Wood will play Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) and newcomer Kasey Campbell will play Kevin (Matthew Rhys). Also it’s being rumored that singer Joe Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers) will play a young Tommy (Balthazar Getty).

Cynthia Watros (Lost) will appear as Wilson’s (Robert Sean Leonard) first ex-wife and the doctor’s rekindled love interest in upcoming multi-episode arch of House.

Charles Measure (Crossing Jordan), Nicholas Lea (The X-Files), and Lexa Doig (The 4400) are joining the cast of the ABC drama V.

Julie Benz’s appearance in Desperate Housewives has been extended at least one more episode (if not more). Her character will be moving out of Susan’s home and moving in on Katherine (Dana Delany).

Henry Winkler is joining the USA Network hit Royal Pains in a major recurring role next season, playing Eddie R. Lawson, the absentee father to Hank (Mark Feuerstein) and Evan (Paulo Costanzo) Lawson.

RUMOR PATROL

Ginnifer Goodwin (He’s Just Not That Into You and Big Love) is in talks to star in Something Borrowed, which is based on the Emily Giffin novel. She would play a Manhattan attorney who becomes involved with her best friend’s fiancé following her 30th birthday.

Could Rob Lowe be headed to the planned Criminal Minds spin-off on CBS?  Rumor has it that he has been approached about a leading role in the new series.

Russell Crowe is apparently the front-runner for the male lead in the latest remake of A Star Is Born, playing an alcoholic musician who mentors a rising female star and the pair begin a romance. The female role has yet to be cast but Beyonce Knowles is likely to star as the singer/actress has long been linked with the role.

Eric Bana is in the final negotiations to join the movie Hanna, which already stars Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) as a 14-year-old girl who has grown up entirely in a remote woods where her father has taught her to become a lethal assassin.

Brad Pitt is the top contender while Ryan Reynolds is among the potential back-up candidates to star in a film remake of classic western series Gunsmoke. In the film version, Pitt or the other potentials would play the lead role of Marshall Matt Dillon.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The following movies, special and new series will debut and/or air this weekend and throughout next week:

The HBO movie Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes, will air on Saturday, February 6 at 8 PM. This is a biopic about the animal scientist who overcame the stigma of autism to become an authority on livestock in the 1970s.

NOTE: This movie will reair on both Monday, February 8 at 9 PM and Wednesday, February 10 at 8 PM on HBO.

The movie The Cursed will air on Syfy on Saturday, February 6 at 9 PM and follows a writer who awakens a malevolent creature in a Tennessee town with a dark past. The cast includes Costas and Louis Mandylor.

The conclusion of the Jane Austen classic novel Emma, starring Jonny Lee Miller an Romola Garai in the lead roles will air on PBS on Sunday, February 7 at 9 PM.

The new series Past Life will debut on FOX on Tuesday, February 9 at 9 PM. This series follows a woman who “solves crimes that put souls to rest”. The series will then move to its regular timeslot on Thursday, February 11 at 9 PM.

The opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics will air at 7:30 PM on NBC on Friday, February 12.

NEW EPISODES OF EXISTING SHOWS

Here are the new episodes of the dramas that will be airing this coming week:

Saturday, February 6:
Demons on BBC America at 8 and 9 PM (Series Finale at 9 PM)

NOTE: A repeat of Legend of the Seeker will air in syndication this weekend. Check your local listings for date, time and channel.

Sunday, February 7:
Super Bowl Sunday
Big Love on HBO at 9 PM

NOTE: A repeat of Legend of the Seeker will air in syndication this weekend. Check your local listings for date, time and channel.

Monday, February 8:
Castle on ABC at 10 PM
CSI: Miami on CBS at 10 PM
One Tree Hill on the CW at 8 PM
Life Unexpected on the CW at 9 PM
House on FOX at 8 PM
24 on FOX at 9 PM
Chuck on NBC at 8 PM
Heroes on NBC at 9 PM
The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family at 8 PM
Make It or Break It on ABC Family at 9 PM
Greek on ABC Family at 10 PM
Damages on FX at 10 PM
Men of a Certain Age on TNT at 10 PM

Tuesday, February 9:
Lost on ABC at 9 PM
The Forgotten on ABC at 10 PM
NCIS on CBS at 8 PM
NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS at 9 PM
The Good Wife on CBS at 10 PM
Southland on TNT at 10 PM
White Collar on USA at 10 PM

Wednesday, February 10:
Ugly Betty on ABC at 10:01 PM
Criminal Minds on CBS at 9 PM
CSI: NY on CBS at 10 PM
Human Target on FOX at 8 PM
Life Unexpected (reair) on the CW at 8 PM
Nip/Tuck on FX at 10 PM
Mercy on NBC at 8 PM
Leverage on TNT at 10 PM
Psych on USA at 10 PM
Friday Night Lights on DirecTV; check local listings for time (Season Finale)
Being Erica on SOAPNet at 10 PM

Thursday, February 11:
The Deep End on ABC at 8 PM
Grey’s Anatomy on ABC at 9 PM
Private Practice on ABC at 10:01 PM
The Mentalist on CBS at 10 PM
The Vampire Diaries on The CW at 8 PM
Supernatural on The CW at 9 PM
Burn Notice on USA at 10 PM

Friday, February 12:
Smallville on the CW at 8 PM
Spartacus: Blood and Sand on Starz at 10 PM

NOTE: Please check your local listings for the correct air dates and times for all of the above.  Have a great weekend!

Please note that I will feature a weekly round-up of sci-fi based (and similar genres) news items at our sister site located at http://scifitvzone.com/. Please visit there as often as you can. Thanks!

Using her favorite online handle, Rueben is an East Coast-bred gal who is now a permanent Californian and a lifelong tv-oholic. She watches at least 25 TV shows a week, goes to the movies as often as possible, listens to music every waking moment, reads every day and “plays” on the internet every chance she can. Some of her current favorite TV shows are Outlander, Sweet Magnolias, Wednesday, The Mandalorian, The Equalizer, Fire Country, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, The Rookie, Cobra Kai, Virgin River, The Witcher, Leverage: Redemption and School Spirits.  She is looking forward to the season premieres of Hudson & Rex on UPtv and Skymed on Paramount+ as well as the return of fall TV albeit starting in February. Follow her at @ruebenrambling or contact her at rueben@nicegirlstv.com.

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