James Marsters Joins Alex O’Loughlin for Hawaii Five-O

James Marsters, Alex O’Loughlin and Daniel Dae Kim sharing a screen? Yes please! Marsters announced on his Facebook page that he’s filming a guest role in the pilot of the new Hawaii Five-O, headlined by O’Loughlin and Kim. James Marsters will play the nemesis of Alex O’Loughlin’s character, Det. McGarrett. Here’s hoping they don’t resolve their differences too quickly so Marsters can sign on as a recurring character if CBS picks up the show. Spike and Mick St. James together on screen is going to launch a thousand fan fics, just you wait.

The Hawaii Five-O series, originally airing 1968-1980, is being revived by Fringe writer-producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, as well as CSI: NY exec producer Peter Lenkov.

Nice Girls News Round-Up: Friday Night Lights, Alex O’Loughlin, Royal Pains

We’ve been so busy with our sister sites, True-Blood.net and ChuckTV.net, that we’ve been sadly remiss in reporting news about our favorite shows and actors. In the interest of catching up quickly, here are some tidbits that have us excited:

• NBC just launched their new Friday Night Lights website in advance of the April 30 season premiere. In related news, sources confirm that the fifth season, debuting on DirecTV next autumn, will be the show’s last.
• Alex O’Loughlin has been signed on as Det. Steve McGarrett in CBS’ remake of Hawaii Five-O. Lost’s Daniel Dae Kim and Battlestar Galactica’s Linda Park co-star. The pilot is being written & produced by Fringe’s Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, along with CSI: NY’s Peter Lenkov.
• Henry Winkler will recur on USA’s Royal Pains when the show returns for it’s sophomore season this summer. Winkler will play Eddie R. Lawson, the so-far unseen father of Mark Feuerstein’s Hank and Paolo Costanzo’s Evan, who appeared to have cleaned out the HankMed bank accounts at the end of season 1.
• Season 3 of In Plain Sight premieres on USA March 31 with a slew of familiar faces lined up to guest star. Rita Moreno, Allison Janney, Steven Weber, Tess Harper, and Josh Cooke will all show up in various capacities likely to irk Mary.

Did we miss anything else pressing?

CBS Looking At Alex O’Loughlin to Headline Hawaii Five-0 Reboot

Nina Tassler was serious when she said last week that although Three Rivers is cancelled, CBS wanted to keep working with Alex O’Loughlin. Ausiello just broke the news that CBS is courting Alex to headline the reboot of Hawaii Five-0 that the network wants to have on the air next autumn. What do you think, would you watch Alex as a cop in Hawaii?

“Three Rivers” Done? Nothing Official But Alex O’Loughlin Has Been Here Before

I started to post this news last night, but I just didn’t have the heart to, and a small part of me still hoped it wouldn’t be true. Then, I kept reading conflicting stories: “Three Rivers pulled immediately from Sunday night lineup”; “Three Rivers to air in later time slot”; “Three Rivers to finish out season”; and similar news items.

While CBS has not officially announced a cancellation, and at this point, they are planning on airing all of the remaining episodes, the writing is definitely on the wall. I had a lot of hope for this show, but I have to be honest here, and say that I was really pulling more for Alex O’Loughlin than the show, itself. I’m not as sad and shocked about losing this show nearly as much as with Moonlight. After a couple of episodes of Three Rivers, I just couldn’t follow it anymore. I just lost interest. I got the message of organ donor awareness in the pilot episode. The fact that nothing changed to hold my interest is, I think, a common complaint among those I know who gave Three Rivers a try.

I feel really bad because I know that Alex threw is whole heart into this show, and really believed in it. To be fair, I think CBS did too. As I said before, there have been a few different stories floating around out there, beginning with THR’s from yesterday. But Alex’s own words nailed it down, even if CBS hasn’t given the official word.

A lot of you probably already know this, because you guys know what’s happening in my life before I do, but today I was informed that Three Rivers would soon draw to an end. (Continue reading.)

Some good did come out of this show, besides the awareness that donating organs is not a scary thing. Alex is an Ambassador and official spokesperson for Donate Life America. He will give 110% to this organization, just like he does with any acting job he does, and that can never be bad. I’m looking forward to Alex’s next acting project, and I hope we won’t have to wait too long.

Oded Fehr Joins Three Rivers, Show Explodes From Hotness

Question: When is does a show tip the balance into too much hotness? When Oded Fehr joins Alex O’Loughlin, Daniel Henney and Christopher J. Hanke on Three Rivers for a two-episode guest role, that’s when. This Nice Girl may be standing by with a bucket of ice to pour on her TV to prevent a meltdown.

The Israeli hottie, best known for his roles in The Mummy and Sleeper Cell, joins Three Rivers for a couple of episodes early in 2010 as Dr. Luc, a charming heart surgeon returning to Three Rivers after spending time working abroad. O’Loughlin’s Andy Yablonsky butts heads with him in what are sure to be some electric scenes.

In other noteworthy guest star news, Felicia Day (The Guild, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog) appears in the December 6 episode as part of a daisy-chain of donors and recipients.

A Diagnosis of Three Rivers

The new medical drama Three Rivers will debut on CBS at 9 PM on Sunday, October 4. The main premise of this series is not only about the preeminent transplant hospital in the country located in Pittsburgh but also about the three sides of organ transplantation: the donor, the doctor and the recipient.

Starring in the series is Alex O’Loughlin (Moonlight), as Dr. Andy Yablonski, a highly-skilled workaholic lead organ transplant surgeon, whose good-natured personality and sarcastic wit make him popular with patients and colleagues alike and Katherine Moennig (The L Word) appears as Dr. Miranda Foster, a surgical fellow with a rebellious streak and a fiery temper who strives to live up to her deceased father’s excellent surgical reputation.

Julia Ormond had been cast in the original pilot, which has since been scrapped, reshot and recast. In her place is acclaimed actress Alfre Woodard as Dr. Sophia Jordan, the dedicated head of surgery who has no patience for anyone who hasn’t sacrificed as much as she has for the job.

Rounding out the cast are Daniel Henney (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) as Dr. David Lee, a womanizing surgical resident who’s broken as many hearts as he’s replaced; Justina Machado (Six Feet Under) as Pam Acosta, Dr. Yablonski’s no-nonsense operating assistant and best friend; and newcomer Christopher J. Hanke as Ryan Abbott, the inexperienced new transplant coordinator who arranges the intricately choreographed process of quickly and carefully transporting organs from donor to patient.

Very little is known about Three Rivers except for the casting (and recasting) and the basic premise of the show simply because CBS has not allowed a screening of the series to take place. On two separate occasions – the first at a Donate Life Charity event back in June and the second at the recent Paley Center for Media Preview Party for CBS – the pilot episode, which was to be aired at both events, was unexpectedly pulled by the network.

The reason behind the episode being pulled at these events is unclear. Speculation is running rampant especially given the recent announcement by the network that the second episode that was filmed will actually air prior to the pilot episode. This switch could be for a myriad of reasons, but for fans of Alex O’Loughlin and his former CBS series Moonlight it is unsettling to say the least. And, given the less than positive reviews by countless critics, the prognosis for Three Rivers is bleak. However, tune in on Sunday, October 4 at 9 p.m. to judge for yourself.

Three Rivers Live Chat with Alex O’Loughlin

Mark this date on your calendars, fans: October 2. TV.com will have a Live Chat with Alex O’Loughlin at 12 p.m. Pacific time, 2 p.m. Central, to chat about Three Rivers, which premieres Sunday, Oct. 4 on CBS.

Here is your chance to ask Alex your questions about his new series. We’ll be there, will you?

A NiceGirl at a Hollywood Movie Premiere

Last week I got together with some of my local friends (who are also fans of the defunct CBS series Moonlight) for a special event: the Hollywood premiere of the movie Whiteout, which co-stars Alex O’Loughlin (the former star of Moonlight). Oh yeah, Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht and Tom Skerritt also star in the movie.

The premiere was held at Mann’s Village Theatre in Westwood, located near UCLA for those who are not local or familiar with the area. As organizer for this “get-together” I arrived early to scope out the area, find a good spot for our group to wait and keep an eye out for other spectators.

Eventually the rest of the group began to arrive, filtering in from Simi Valley, Chino, Orange and elsewhere. All the while the crew working on the elaborate set-up for the premiere continued to labor in the blazing sun and heat of a typical September afternoon here in (mostly) sunny California.

By the middle of the afternoon our group of 10 was fully assembled, our “spot” was all picked out behind the barricades and the waiting began in earnest. Since most of our group had never attended a Hollywood movie premiere before, we marveled at the set-up involved and enjoyed the time to chat (despite being under a rather grueling sun).

As the sun began to disappear behind the building located directly across the street from our position and more observers took their place along the street, the anticipation of the crowd became more palpable. We all watched in earnest for the first limousine to arrive and even though it felt like “forever” – the first car arrived, but seeing no familiar (i.e. celebrity) faces, we all realized they must be family members of the crew. The next car to arrive was a repeat of the first.

Our wait for a celebrity arrival was not long, however, as Tom Skerritt soon arrived, waving to the masses but steering clear of the autograph hounds and the fans who yelled his name. He quickly walked the all-white “red” carpet (appropriate for a movie set in Antarctica), making the paparazzi who littered the opposite sidewalk extremely happy. After countless flashbulbs and “catcalls” the next limousines arrived with yet more crew family members.

Then the big moment arrived, a large Escalade pulled up to the white carpet and out stepped the man of the hour: Alex O’Loughlin (at least to our group and some other small groups of fans as well as the pre-requisite, or so it would seem, autograph hounds). He quickly moved over to the first throng of spectators, vigorously signing photo after photo and speaking briefly to the fans.

It seemed like a long time before he was able to work his way down to where our group had gathered, but thanks to his studio “handler” (the person who is responsible for each celebrity, making sure they get to each “appointed” spot in the premiere area on time) he was standing in front of us, signing our photos, chatting with us and making our afternoon of standing in the sun worthwhile.

He finished with the last member of our group and a few other people in the crowd before being whisked over to the white carpet, walking the gauntlet of paparazzi, interviewers and such. Our group kept a close watch on his progress down the white carpet while star Gabriel Macht arrived and briefly signed some autographs.

It was quite awhile before star Kate Beckinsale arrived, looking extremely glamorous alongside her director husband Len Wiseman. She was mobbed, of course, by fans and autograph hounds as she came over to the spectator area but she never made it down to our spot in the crowd. And despite waiting around for nearly another hour (after she, too, ran the gauntlet of press, paparazzi, etc.) and a promise from one of her “people” that she would come back over to the spectator area, the son of one of the members of our group was unable to get her autograph (though we tried valiantly on his behave).

Despite that set-back, we were all excited to have had a special moment or two with Alex and we relived the moments, fleeting though they were, while having dinner at Jerry’s Famous Deli. This was a unique experience for all of us; one that I will wait to repeat for awhile, as it was a long, tiring day; but well worth it all to have our “time” with Alex. It was very nice to spend time with my friends too.

If you ever get the chance to take in a movie premiere should you ever visit Los Angeles, I recommend that you do so, as it’s well worth the wait.

Let the Tweaking Begin

The dust has settled from the rush of the upfronts and the networks have chosen their new shows for the season. Now begins the tweaking process, whereby, some actors will remain where they are, and others will move on.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Julia Ormond has left her leading role on Three Rivers, so has Joaquim De Almeida, who was to have a possible recurring role. Also switching roles is Gillian Jacobs, who was to have a recurring role on The Good Wife. Jacobs went on to NBC’s comedy Community.

This is how Moonlight started too. Just sayin’!

First Look: Alex O’Loughlin in Three Rivers

Never let it be said that the Nice Girls allow grass to grow under our feet when it comes to highlighting our Nice Boys! We’ve got your first look at Alex O’Loughlin as Dr. Andy Yablonsky in CBS’ new series, Three Rivers, below.

Next Page »