Weekly Update
Weekly Round-Up for August 17 to 21
Please sit back and get ready for a long weekly round-up of the entertainment news for this week.
CONDOLENCES
Controversial former Washington Post columnist turned CNN political pundit Robert Novak passed away this week at the age of 78 from brain cancer. Condolences to his family and friends.
The legendary TV producer, Don Hewitt, who made telejournalism profitable and 60 Minutes into the longest-running, most-watched news program in TV history passed away this week of pancreatic cancer. He was 86. Condolences to his family and friends.
NEWS
ABC has announced they are teaming up with Friends creator Marta Kaufman and Warner Bros. Television to develop a drama series based around the film The Time Traveler’s Wife (itself an adaptation of Audrey Niffenegger‘s novel). Kaufman is expected to write the pilot script and act as Executive Producer. The potential series won’t be strictly serialized but will be comprised of episodic storylines.
NOTE: Didn’t NBC already try this with Journeyman and that lasted not even a full season. But ABC will make it work, right?
BBC One has commissioned a 90-minute adaptation of Henry James‘ supernatural classic The Turn of the Screw. Adapted by Sandy Welch (Jane Eyre) and directed by Tim Fywell (The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency), the action of the spine-tingling novella is moved to post-WWI. The drama, which begins shooting later this month, will star Michelle Dockery (Cranford), Sue Johnston (Waking the Dead) and Mark Umbers (Mistresses).
When the Seinfeld TV reunion takes place over multiple episodes of next season’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, viewers will learn that self-centered Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has had a baby, and word is she is “a horrible, terrible mother”.
Are you a fan of Dr. Horrible, do you watch the online web series The Guild or are you a fan of Felicia Day? If you are, you need to check out this video for The Guild and even if you’re not, this is a terrifically fun video and has to be shared with the world (wink!). Here’s the link: http://scifiwire.com/2009/08/love-dr-horrible-check-ou.php
TNT has added two episodes to the summer run of its hit series Leverage. The summer finale, guest-starring Star Trek: Voyager‘s Jeri Ryan in a new recurring role as Tara, a grifter who helps the team out, will air Wednesday, Sept. 9.
NOTE: Please know that the latest TV Guide reported that Gina Bellman is expecting a baby and will be taking time off from the show, but she and her character Sophie will return. It would seem that Jeri Ryan’s character is being brought in to “fill the void” (so to speak) of Gina’s temporary absence.
ABC has given a script order to Clive Barker‘s Hotel, described as a series of ghoulish incidents at a haunted hotel from writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. The project will be executive produced by Clive Barker and McG, who could direct the pilot episode if the network moves forward with the project, which had drawn attention from FOX and several other networks before landing at ABC.
Torchwood creator Russell T. Davies has indicated that he has a direction in mind for the fourth season of the series, whose format is under discussion at BBC One.
Syfy has ordered a second season of sci-fi dramedy Warehouse 13, with thirteen episodes currently on order for next year. That number could increase in later seasons.
Lifetime has ordered a second season of dramedy series Drop Dead Diva, with thirteen episodes on tap for 2010.
FOX has handed out a pilot script order to the drama Break Out Kings from Prison Break writer/producers Matt Olmstead and Nick Santora. The series is about a group of former convicts who become members of the US Marshall service in Manhattan and track down fugitives. Can we call it Prisoners in Plain Sight (a tie-in to both In Plain Sight and Prison Break)?
The BBC has announced that it will not order a second season of period fantasy comedy Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire after its funding partner Comedy Central pulled out of the international co-production.
BOX OFFICE NEWS
Sanaa Hamri (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2) is set to direct the romantic comedy Just Wright, which will star Michael Landes (Lois and Clark, Final Destination 2) who will play the romantic lead – a basketball player who becomes romantically involved with his physical therapist (Queen Latifah). Common and Pam Grier are also set to appear.
James McAvoy (Wanted) will play the author in the adaptation of Will Reiser‘s memoir I’m with Cancer. Reiser’s spec script detailed his diagnosis with the disease at age 25, and his efforts to fight it. Seth Rogen signed on to co-produce and co-star. Filming begins in January.
Rosario Dawson, Jessy Schram (Veronica Mars, Life) and Kevin Dunn (Transformers) have joined the cast of director Tony Scott‘s upcoming action thriller Unstoppable. The story follows a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals with an engineer and his conductor in a race against time to stop it. Denzel Washington and Chris Pine star in the lead roles. Filming is to begin later this year for a Thanksgiving 2010 release.
Newcomer Julie Jones has been cast as Leah Clearwater and 15-year-old stuntman BooBoo Stewart landed the role of Seth Clearwater in Twilight: Eclipse.
Jennifer Tilly, Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) and Justin Kirk (Weeds) have joined the cast of the indie drama 30 Beats, which is inspired by Arthur Schnitzler‘s classic play La Ronde. The movie explores a series of amorous encounters among ten people in Manhattan and will feature an international ensemble cast connected in a merry-go-round of love and sexual attraction.
Karl Urban has signed on to play the villain in the post-apocalyptic horror thriller Priest, based on the TokyoPop comic. The story is set in a world ravaged by war between man and vampires. Paul Bettany stars as a warrior priest and vampire fighter who teams with a sheriff (Cam Gigandet) and warrior priestess (Maggie Q) to track down a murderous band of vampires who have kidnapped his niece. Urban plays Black Hat, the evil leader of the bloodsuckers who was once a priest and hunter but now fancies himself a god of vampires.
Billy Bob Thornton, will be prepping for his role as a retired/widowed boxer in Pound for Pound, a boxing film based on a book written by F.X. Toole, the author of the book that became the audience and critical success Million Dollar Baby. He will play a former boxer grieving after the death of his grandson, who then meets a talented Latino fighter with a less than rosy upbringing. No word on the casting for the young fighter, but the project is set to start shooting early next year.
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES
Natasha Henstridge (Eli Stone) has been cast opposite Harry Hamlin in Hallmark Channel telepic Family Gathering, from writer Kevin Commins and director John Bradshaw. The picture is slated to air in 2010.
CASTING SCOOP
Jaime Murray, the British actress best known for her work on Dexter (and who also appeared on the short-lived CW series Valentine), has joined the cast of the CW’s The Beautiful Life for a multi-episode arc, playing Vivienne, a powerful wardrobe stylist who has eyes for Corbin Bleu‘s character Isaac.
David Anders (Alias, Heroes) will be seen in Day 8 of 24 this fall, but few details are known about the role he will be playing.
Dave Franco (Privileged and brother of actor James Franco, Spiderman) is the first of the new series regulars on Scrubs, playing Cole, a 22-year-old medical student. Also, Michael Mosley (The Proposal) and Kerry Bishe (Virtuality) have also been cast as series regulars. Mosley will play Drew, an older medical student who is attempting to complete his training after a meltdown ten years earlier at Harvard Medical School. Bishe will play first-year med student Lucy who hails from a family of fishermen.
Patton Oswalt (United States of Tara) has been cast in a recurring role on Syfy’s upcoming series Caprica, where he will play Baxter Sarno, the comedian talk show host of a Caprican-based TV series.
Friday Night Lights has cast new series regulars for Season 4. Matt Lauria (Lipstick Jungle) will play a charming yet cocky junior who reluctantly finds himself playing for Coach Taylor’s East Dillon squad. Michael B. Jordan (All My Children, The Wire) will appear as Vince, East Dillon’s resident troublemaker who is a junior running back. And, Jurnee Smollet (The Great Debaters) has joined the cast, where she will play Jess, described as the daughter of a onetime NFL hopeful who knows the game and helps raise her siblings with the help of her father. The 13-episode season debuts on DirecTV on October 28.
Brothers and Sisters has cast a lab partner for Justin (Dave Annable), who will be enrolled in medical school when the show returns in September. Denzel Whitaker (The Great Debaters) will play Carter, a Doogie Howser-like prodigy who will inspire Justin to question his priorities – including the time he’s spending planning his wedding to Rebecca. Amy Aquino (ER, Felicity) has been signed for a multi-episode, playing a doctor treating a member of the Walker clan. Additionally, Peter Gerety (Homicide, The Wire) is also joining the cast for several episodes, appearing as a surprising outsider.
David Gallagher (7th Heaven) and Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13) will be appearing in an episode of Smallville playing characters named Tanner and Twyla, who are being presumed to be the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna of Superfriends fame.
Penelope Ann Miller (Vanished) is joining TNT’s forthcoming midlife crisis drama Men of a Certain Age as the ex-wife of Ray Romano’s neurotic party-supply store owner. She is committed to appearing in at least five episodes of the series, which bows in December and stars Andre Braugher, Scott Bakula, and Romano as a group of friends approaching midlife together.
Supernatural is planning to unveil their version of the Tooth Fairy in this season’s sixth episode. Here is the casting call:
Jesse: An all-American boy age 11 who is wise beyond his years. He was adopted as an infant and remains perplexed by his unusual powers. He possesses a childlike innocence—he believes in the Tooth Fairy. He suddenly finds himself faced with a very adult decision. This will be a recurring role.
Alexie Gilmore (New Amsterdam) is not only playing Robin Williams‘ girlfriend in World’s Greatest Dad, which opens this weekend, but she is also shooting an episode of Private Practice. Word has it the character she will play has a crossover on Grey’s Anatomy as well.
Jenna Dewan (Step Up) will appear in the remake of Melrose Place this fall, playing a movie executive named Kendra Wilson who works on the Paramount lot and has her eyes on Jonah Miller (Michael Rady), an aspiring filmmaker.
Peter Gallagher will show up on Californication this fall to stir up trouble for David Duchovny’s Hank Mood, playing Dean Stacy Koons on the Showtime series.
Gina Torres (Firefly, Alias) will be played Gabriela Abrams, the mom to Vanessa Abrams (played by Jessica Szohr) on Gossip Girl.
General Hospital star Sebastian Roche has been added to the CW’s The Beautiful Life in a recurring role, playing Raina (Sara Paxton)’s mysterious father in the third episode. The show premieres September 16th.
Cheers alum Shelley Long has just signed on to portray Ed O’Neill‘s ex wife in the single-camera sitcom, Modern Family. The series, a mockumentary of sorts following three suburban couples — one traditional, one gay, one multi-ethnic second marriage — is set to premiere this fall on ABC. O’Neill plays the husband in the multi-ethnic second marriage, with Sofia Vergara as his much-younger, Latina wife.
John Hawkes, who played Sol Star on Deadwood and co-stars in HBO’s Eastbound and Down will have a recurring role on Lost’s final season. He’ll be playing a character named Lennon, who is described as a scruffy, edgy and charismatic spokesperson and translator for the president of a foreign corporation. The character also wields more influence than it would seem based on his job.
James Marsters is joining the Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica for a sizable arc. He will play a dangerous terrorist leader by the name of Barnabus Greeley in a minimum of three episodes. Driven by desires both moralistic and carnal, Barnabus is as lethal as he is unpredictable. Caprica is set to make its Syfy debut on Jan. 22.
Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break) has been cast in NBC‘s Southland, where he will play a rowdy new partner to Detective Lydia Adams (Regina King).
Joy Bryant (Virtuality) has been added to the cast of NBC‘s midseason drama series Parenthood as single mom Jasmine, who moves to Oakland in order to introduce her five-year-old son to his father.
Ugly Betty has tapped Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock) to replace Paula Abdul in the now-recurring role of Helen, Mode’s newest office temp and Amanda’s elder doppelganger. Johnston will first appear in the second half of Betty’s two-hour premiere on Oct. 9.
Hilda (Ana Ortiz) on Ugly Betty may be falling for a new guy. Here are the details:
Bobby: A thirtysomething sexy, masculine Caucasian male from Queens, Bobby works for the family business. He’s a good guy at heart, but he can also be dangerous and violent. Producers will consider only local New York actors. (Note: This will be a recurring role.)
Devon Gummersall (My So-Called Life) will guest star in Drop Dead Diva on the October 11th season finale, playing a man from Jane’s past whose unexpected arrival throws Jane for a loop.
Nick Zano (The Final Destination) has been cast in a recurring role on ABC‘s upcoming comedy series Cougar Town, where he will play Courteney Cox‘s first boyfriend.
Gal Gadot (Fast & Furious) has been cast in the CW‘s modeling drama The Beautiful Life.
Rosie Perez and Garret Dillahunt (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) will square off on an explosive episode of Law & Order: SVU this fall. Jim True-Frost (The Wire) appears as Perez’s husband and stepfather to her son. This same episode will mark the return of Defense attorney Patrice Larue (Jeri Ryan) who will battle Stephanie March‘s Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot, who starts her 10-episode run behind the prosecutor’s bench that week. And, Mitchell Jarvis, star of the Broadway show Rock of Ages, will also appear in this episode.
Super-famous Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada — best known stateside for his roles in The Last Samurai and Rush Hour 3 — is joining the sixth and final season of Lost. No details are available on who he will portray, but it is a “significant recurring role.
Marc Blucas (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) has been cast in Episode 5 of Lie to Me, playing Jack Rader, a slick deception expert who is a smooth combination of looks, brains and charisma. Lightman was once his mentor, until some unexplained issue caused a bitter rift in their relationship. James Marsters will also appear in the series this fall.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Virtuality, New Amsterdam) has been cast in the pilot for fantasy drama Game of Thrones, HBO‘s adaptation of George R.R. Martin‘s novel series. He will play Jaime Lannister, one of the king’s guards and a ruthless usurper of the previous king.
RUMOR PATROL
Lionsgate is preparing to remake the 1987 classic Dirty Dancing. No word on whether the plot will change from the original or who will star, though.
Legendary Pictures is hoping to bring a bio-pic about Jimi Hendrix to the big screen with Thomas Tull as producer and Bill Gerber and Max Borenstein (Thin Men) penning the script. It looks like singer Andre Benjamin will play the titular role with Ken Russell directing.
Disney and director Robert Zemeckis are negotiating to remake Yellow Submarine, the 1968 psychedelic animated film based on the music of The Beatles. The studio has been quietly brokering a complicated rights deal that would give Zemeckis access to 16 original Beatles songs. The hope is to have Yellow Submarine ready to premiere around the 2012 Summer Olympics, which begins July 27 in London.
Newcomer Madison Burge is rumored to be playing Becky, the beauty pageant princess who will cause scandal in a storyline involving Tami Taylor and Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights.
The CW has made no official comment, but sources report that Heather Locklear is indeed in talks to appear on the new Melrose Place as Amanda Woodward.
DVD ALERT: SAVE THE DATE
On September 15, Sanctuary: The Complete First Season debuts on DVD in a deluxe, 4-disc set featuring all 13 episodes plus over two hours of bonus features for only $44.98. The DVD will include an arsenal of exclusive extras including: audio commentaries on all 13 episodes with cast and crew including Amanda Tapping, creator Damian Kindler, director Martin Wood and more; three making-of featurettes (Welcome to the Sanctuary, Sanctuary Residents and Sanctuary Visual Effects); the original Sanctuary webisodes (which provided the inspiration for the television series); a bloopers reel; behind-the-scenes photo gallery and an exclusive sneak peek at Season Two, which premieres on Syfy Friday, October 9 at 10 p.m.
Sanctuary follows the adventures of the beautiful, enigmatic and always surprising Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1), her new recruit, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne, Dawson’s Creek) and her fearless daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup, jPod). Together they track down, study and protect the strange and often terrifying creatures that secretly populate our world. Although dismissed as monstrous figments of our imaginations and the stuff of our nightmares, Magnus recognizes that the world is full of nature’s mistakes and triumphs. And she has the spectacular proof that they are indeed real. For some ‘abnormals’, Magnus is their protector. For a dangerous few, she is their captor. The cast also includes Christopher Heyerdahl (Stargate Atlantis) as the sinister John Druitt and Ryan Robbins (Battlestar Galactica) as Henry Foss.
For more information, visit www.sanctuaryforall.com.
WEB SERIES
TheWB.com will run the final 4 installments of their web series The Lake on August 24. You can learn more about this web series and see the previous installments from August 10 and 17 at: http://www.thewb.com/shows/the-lake/.
Check out the season finale to MWG Entertainment’s Road To The Altar, in which Simon and Rochelle (Jaleel White, Family Matters and Leyna Juliet Weber, As The World Turns) try to cut down on their wedding expenses with a more creative approach in the webisode called The Budget. This web series is a mockumentary web series following a couple’s journey through Weddingland. Find out more about the season finale at: http://bit.ly/RTTAepisode10. To learn more about the entire web series please visit: http://www.roadtothealtar.com/.
In honor of the final season of Monk, the long-running series on USA, the network is introducing their first live-action web series, Little Monk, during tonight’s all-new episode. Fans will get a two-minute sneak peek into the web series that unravels the mystery of why Monk is as neurotic and compulsive as he is. You will catch a glimpse of his childhood days as he and his brother Ambrose navigate the socially awkward junior high school years and solve crimes along the way. Then you can visit http://www.usanetwork.com/series/littlemonk/ to watch the conclusion, returning each Friday for a new webisode. Newcomers Aaron Linker plays Little Adrian Monk and Christopher Lizardi plays Little Ambrose Monk. The webisodes are written by Monk executive producer/head writer Andy Breckman as well as show writers Hy Conrad, Justin Brenneman and Kevin Albright and are directed by Monk executive producer Randy Zisk. If you would like to see the Little Monk Promo please go to the following: http://download.yousendit.com/MnFqbUplYStRWUt4dnc9PQ.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The Lifetime movie Acceptance will air on Saturday, August 22 at 9 PM, starring Joan Cusack, Brigid Brannagh and Mae Whitman in a movie about the quest by parents of high school students to get them accepted into college.
The Syfy movie Phantom Racer will air on Saturday, August 22 at 9 PM. The movie is about a possessed race car who menaces a driver-turned-trucker (Greg Evigan) who feels responsible for the death of the car’s driver. Nicole Eggert co-stars.
The Syfy movie Dead Like Me: Life After Death will air on Sunday, August 23 at 9 PM. The movie is about our favorite undead reaper getting a new boss, whose agenda creates disorder within the clan.
The Miss Universe Pageant will air on NBC on Sunday, August 23 at 9 PM.
Spring Breakdown will air on Lifetime on Wednesday, August 26 at 9 PM. This movie is about three thirtysomething friends (Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Parker Posey) go on spring break at a popular resort frequented by college coeds.
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie will air on Disney on Friday, August 28 at 8 PM and is about a Caribbean family vacation that turns into a disaster after a frustrated Alex (Selena Gomez) wishes her parents had never met and her wish is granted.
Here is a list of new episodes for the multitude of summer series that are currently airing all over the dial:
Saturday, August 22:
Being Human on BBC America at 9 p.m. (for 1 ½ hours).
Sunday, August 23:
Merlin on NBC at 7 and 8 p.m.
Mad Men on AMC at 10 p.m.
True Blood on HBO at 9 p.m.
Hung on HBO at 10 p.m.
Entourage on HBO at 10:30 p.m.
Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime at 9 p.m.
Army Wives on Lifetime at 10 p.m.
Defying Gravity on ABC at 10 p.m.
Monday, August 24:
The Secret Life of An American Teenager on ABC Family at 8 p.m.
Make It or Break It on ABC Family at 9 p.m.
The Closer on TNT at 9 p.m.
Raising the Bar on TNT at 10 p.m.
Weeds on Showtime at 10 p.m.
Nurse Jackie on Showtime at 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25 :
10 Things I Hate About You on ABC Family at 8 p.m.
Ruby & the Rockits on ABC Family at 8:30 p.m.
Warehouse 13 on SyFy at 9 p.m.
The Cleaner on A&E at 10 p.m.
Rescue Me on FX at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 26:
Leverage on TNT at 9 p.m.
Dark Blue on TNT at 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 27:
Royal Pains on USA at 10 p.m.
Friday, August 27:
Eureka on SyFy at 9 p.m.
Monk on USA at 9 p.m.
Psych on USA at 10 p.m.
NOTE: Please check your local listings for the correct air dates and times for all of the above.
Have a great weekend!
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