The Weekly Round-Up for Sept. 21 to 25

By Rueben | September 25, 2009

Here are the entertainment news items for this week – September 21 to 25:

CONDOLENCES

Actor Robert Ginty passed away this week from cancer at the age of 60. He was best known for his roles in the 70’s series Baa Baa Black Sheep, The Paper Chase and Falcon Crest. He was also a producer, director and later became artistic director of the Irish Theatre Arts Center, staging music, film and theater projects on the Irish experience at venues around the world.

EMMY AWARDS

Congratulations to the following Emmy winners (please note this is not the full list of winners from the Primetime or Creative Arts Emmys – just a short recap):

Drama Series: Mad Men
Comedy Series: 30 Rock
Lead Actor in Drama: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Lead Actress in Drama: Glenn Close, Damages
Guest Actor in Drama: Michael J. Fox, Rescue Me
Guest Actress in Drama: Ellen Burstyn, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Supporting Actress in Drama: Cherry Jones, 24
Supporting Actor in Drama: Michael Emerson, Lost
Lead Actor in Comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Lead Actress in Comedy: Toni Collette, United States of Tara
Supporting Actor in Comedy: Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Supporting Actress in Comedy: Kristen Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Guest Actress in Comedy: Tina Fey, Saturday Night Live
Guest Actor in Comedy: Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live

NEWS

House Shocker! Jennifer Morrison is leaving the show. No specifics are available as to why.

If you want to see the “hijacking” of the Emmy Awards by Dr. Horrible (aka Neil Patrick Harris) along with Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), Penny (Felicia Day) and Moist (Simon Helberg), you can see it here: http://scifiwire.com/2009/09/miss-the-dr-horrible-bit.php.

The “revised” pilot episode of the new CBS medical drama Three Rivers is not going to be seen until October 11. The second episode of the show will actually be aired in the debut slot on October 4 instead.

NBC began streaming old episodes of Chuck on NBC.com this past Monday. The move is meant to give new and lapsed viewers a chance to play catch-up prior to the launch of the show’s third season in March 2010.

The third season of Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures will air twice a week in the UK on BBC One. The spin-off series, which stars Elisabeth Sladen, aired its first season Stateside on Sci Fi (prior to the network’s name change); however, no plans have been announced yet for the second or third seasons.

Fox just ordered an additional batch (known in the industry as “the back 9”) of episodes of the musical comedy Glee to complete the show’s first-season order.

John Barrowman (Torchwood) has hinted that he might make an appearance in this year’s final David Tenannt Doctor Who specials.

John Glenn (Eagle Eye) will write the script for the FOX drama pilot Fallen, described as “a real-world drama that revolves around a group of vigilante “fallen” angels who take down the criminal and the corrupt in New York while falling in love, battling demons and seeking their own personal revenge.”

CBS has given script orders to two projects: the first is an untitled crime drama from Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) about a quirky college professor who solves crimes. Tolan will executive produce with Michael Wimer. The second is The Rememberer, from writer/executive producer Ed Redlich (Without a Trace), about a female NYPD cop who has the secret ability to recall everything that she experiences. Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly will also executive produce.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury will appear in the cast of the Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, opening at the Walter Kerr Theater in December.

NBC has acquired Canadian two-hour backdoor pilot The Mountain. The project, written and directed by Doug Barr, will revolve around a woman who moves her family to the mountains, where they move into a cabin she inherited from her uncle, who may or may not be dead.

J.J. Abrams (Lost and Fringe) will take a stab at comedy with a half-hour sitcom for FOX.  Details of the as-yet-untitled series, described as a “comedic medical show,” are being kept under wraps.

The CW ordered more episodes of One Tree Hill, bring it up to a full 22 episodes. The network also picked up nine additional scripts for The Vampire Diaries and has asked for six more scripts for Melrose Place.

Empire creator Tom Wheeler has set up two high-concept dramas at NBC and FOX, which have received script commitments. The NBC project, entitled The Cape, is about a former cop who, after being framed for a crime, becomes The Cape, a marked vigilante out to clear his name and reunite with his son in a city beset with corruption. The project will be executive produced by Wheeler, Lloyd Braun, and Gail Berman. The FOX project, The Mysteries of Oak Island, is about a mother and daughter who inherit a 200-year-old lighthouse on a privately owned island off the coast of Nova Scotia where there are legends of buried treasure.

Vincent D’Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe and Eric Bogosian will leave Law & Order: Criminal Intent during the upcoming ninth season. And, Saffron Burrows will replace Julianne Nicolson. However, a source has stated that deals are still being worked out for all the actors to return next season.

ABC has given a pilot order to high-concept police procedural, Hopscotch, from writer/executive producer Chris Levinson (Law & Order), executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman. No other details are available.

Glen Mazzara (Crash) has been named showrunner on the second season of the TNT medical drama Hawthorne. He replaces the series’ creator John Masius, who served as the showrunner on the first season. Masius will remain with the series as an executive producer.

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) will also be featured as a CIA operative in the upcoming The A-Team film.

Wentworth Miller (Prison Break) and Ali Larter (Heroes) have joined the cast of Resident Evil: Afterlife.

Nick Stahl, Rose McGowan and Amy Smart have all joined the cast of the indie romantic thriller Dylan’s Wake.

Dylan Walsh, John Malkovich and Scott Glenn have signed on for the story of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, starring alongside Diane Lane.

Universal Pictures has made a deal with Mattel to build a live action film around its signature toy line, Barbie.

Not to be outdone, Sony will unleash He-Man and the Masters of the Universe on the movie-going public, too.

Universal is in talks to gain the rights to Francine Pascal‘s Sweet Valley High series of young adult novels with the intention of installing Diablo Cody as writer for the film versions.

Jaimie Alexander (Kyle XY) and Colm Feore (24) have joined the cast of the movie Thor. Alexander will play Sif, an Asgardian warrior who often accompanies Thor in his battle to fight evil. Feore’s role has not yet to be named.

Dennis Hopper, Scott Caan (Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) and J.K. Simmons (The Closer, Spiderman movies) have joined the cast of the dark comedy A Beginner’s Guide to Endings.

Geoffrey Rush will reprise his role as Captain Barbossa in the new Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Stanley Tucci is set to join Cher and Christina Aguilera in the musical Burlesque, in which Aguilera plays an ambitious small-town girl with a big voice who finds success in a neo-burlesque club on Sunset Boulevard. Tucci plays the club’s manager and the best pal of Tess (Cher), a former dancer who tries to help the young girl.

Neve Campbell has signed on to return as Sidney Prescott while Wes Craven is in talks to direct Scream 4.

A contemporary remake of the classic A Star is Born is finally moving along at Warner Bros. Pictures.

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

A big-budgeted TV event movie about the doomed flight of the Hindenburg is taking flight in Germany with an international cast that includes Stacy Keach, Greta Scacchi and Lauren Lee Smith (CSI).

AS HEARD ON TV/NEW MUSIC RELEASES

Songs from last weekend’s episode of Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime included “Moving” by Cathy Davey; “Nothing At All” by Madi Diaz; “Bloom” by Nerina Pallot and “More Of You” and “Hurry Up and Choose” by Mozella.

The single “You & Me” by Dave Matthews Band was featured in the final scene of the series finale of Eureka this past Friday.

“There There Boney King” by Radiohead was featured in the series premiere of The Forgotten, well, at least the instrumental part.

Did anyone catch Chris Isaak’s “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing” at the end of Eastwick‘s premiere on Wednesday night?

How great was it to hear “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Supernatural this past week?

Songs from this week’s The Vampire Diaries include: “Bad Day” by Darker My Love; “Slow Poison” by The Bravery, “Starstrukk” by 3Oh!3; “Temptation” by Moby; “Strange Times” by The Black Keys and “You’re a Wolf” by Sea Wolf.

Both the band Paramore and Mariah Carey have new albums coming out next week. You can expect to see “Brand New Eyes” by Paramore and “Memoirs of an Imperfect Week” by Mariah Carey available on September 29.

CASTING SCOOP

Desmond Harrington will be returning to Gossip Girl as Chuck Bass’s (Ed Westwick) devious uncle Jack.

The CW announced that Heather Locklear will stop by the renovated Melrose Place on November 17.

Shelley Long will appear on at least one episode of the new ABC comedy Modern Family as outrageous MIA mom Dede Pritchettt.

Aida Turturro (Sopranos) will guest star on the October 30 Halloween episode of Medium.

Jason George (Eli Stone) will appear on the November 4 episode of Eastwick as Max, a rival reporter (and potential love interest) for Joanna (Lindsay Price).

Rosanna Arquette is booked for the November 18 and 25 episodes of Eastwick, as a New York City art gallery owner and old friend of devilish Daryl Van Horne (Paul Gross).

Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break) has departed Southland after filming just three episodes. No reason was given for his departure. Stepping in will be Clifton Collins (Crank: High Voltage), who will play a new character named Ray Suarez.

Campbell Scott and Martin Short have signed on as series regulars while Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine take guest starring roles on FX’s Damages.

Stephen Root (True Blood) has been cast in a multiple-episode story arc on Day Eight of FOX‘s 24, playing Ben Prady, an officer of the Department of Corrections looking into a parolee gone missing.

Natalie Zea (Dirty Sexy Money and Hung) has signed on as a series regular to FX‘s new drama Lawman, which will star Timothy Olyphant.

Daniel Mays (The Street) has joined the cast of BBC One‘s time travel drama series Ashes to Ashes for its third and final season. He will play Jim Keats, a Discipline and Complaints Officer with the Metropolitan Police on the series, which returns to BBC One in 2010.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

More returning shows will be back and some new shows will debut this coming weekend as well as next week. They include:

Sunday, September 27:
Desperate Housewives on ABC at 9 PM
Brothers & Sisters on ABC at 10 PM
Cold Case on CBS at 10 PM
Dexter on Showtime at 9 PM

Monday, September 28:
Lie to Me on FOX at 9 PM
Trauma on NBC at 9 PM – NEW

Thursday, October 1:
Private Practice on ABC at 10 PM

Friday, October 2:
Stargate Universe on Syfy at 9 PM (Two Hours) – NEW

EXTRA RUNS

CBS will reair the pilot episode of The Good Wife on Saturday, September 26 at 9 PM.

NBC will reair the pilot episode of Mercy on Saturday, September 26 at 9 PM.

MOVIES

Lifetime will air the movie Homecoming on Saturday, September 26 at 9 PM. The movie is about a bitter ex-girlfriend (Mischa Barton) tries to win her boyfriend back by any means necessary. Co-stars Matt Long (Jack & Bobby) and Jessica Stroup (90210). Morgan Freeman directed.

The movie Children of the Corn will air on Syfy on Saturday, September 26 at 9 PM. The story chronicles a couple’s horrific detour to a strange rural town ruled by fanatically religious children unfolds in this adaptation of the Stephen King short story. Stars David Anders (Alias) and Kandyse McClure (Battlestar Galactica).

NEW EPISODES OF EXISTING SHOWS

Here is a list of new episodes for the series that are finishing up their summer runs and most of the returning and new fall shows that are just getting their season started:

Saturday, September 26:
Robin Hood on BBC America at 9 p.m.

Sunday, September 27:
Mad Men on AMC at 10 p.m.
Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime at 9 p.m.
Army Wives on Lifetime at 10 p.m.

Monday, September 28:
House on FOX at 8 p.m.
Heroes on NBC at 8 p.m.
Castle on ABC at 10 p.m.
CSI: Miami on CBS at 10 p.m.
Durham County on ION at 10 p.m.
Lincoln Heights on ABC Family at 8 p.m.
Greek on ABC Family at 9 p.m.
One Tree Hill on the CW at 8 p.m.
Gossip Girl on the CW at 9 p.m.

Tuesday, September 29:
NCIS on CBS at 8 p.m.
NCIS: Los Angeles on CBS at 9 p.m.
The Good Wife on CBS at 10 p.m.
The Forgotten on ABC at 10 p.m.
Sons of Anarchy on FX at 10 p.m.
90210 on the CW at 8 PM
Melrose Place on the CW at 9 PM

Wednesday, September 30:
Mercy on NBC at 8 p.m.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC at 9 p.m.
Criminal Minds on CBS at 9 p.m.
CSI: NY on CBS at 10 p.m.
Eastwick on ABC at 10 p.m.
Glee on FOX at 9 p.m.
The Beautiful Life: TBL on the CW at 9 p.m.

SIDEBAR: Just announced this afternoon that The Beautiful Life has been canceled by The CW. Its the first cancellation of the fall.

Thursday, October 1:
Flash Forward on ABC at 8 p.m.
Grey’s Anatomy on ABC at 9 p.m.
CSI on CBS at 9 p.m.
The Mentalist on CBS at 10 p.m.
The Vampire Diaries on the CW at 8 p.m.
Supernatural on the CW at 9 p.m.
Bones on FOX at 8 p.m.
Fringe on FOX at 9 p.m.

Friday, October 2:
Dollhouse on FOX at 9 p.m.
Ghost Whisperer on CBS at 8 p.m.
Medium on CBS at 9 p.m.
Numb3rs on CBS at 10 p.m.
Law & Order on NBC at 8 p.m.
Smallville on the CW at 8 p.m.

NOTE: Please check your local listings for the correct air dates and times for all of the above.

Have a great weekend!