The Weekly Round-Up (Dec. 21 to 25)

Here are the entertainment news items for this week (December 21 to December 25):

CONDOLENCES

Actress Brittany Murphy, best known for her roles in the movies Clueless, 8 Mile and Don’t Say A Word, passed away at only 32 year of age this past weekend. Condolences to her family, friends and fans.

Alaina Reed Hall, otherwise known as Olivia on Sesame Street, passed away last week after a battle with breast cancer. She was 63. Condolences to her family, friends and fans.

Arnold Stang, who was the voice of both Top Cat and Herman Mouse passed away on Sunday. He was 91. Condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Connie Hines, the actress who portrayed Carol Post, wife of Wilbur Post on the old TV series Mister Ed passed away last week at the age of 79 from complications of heart problems. Condolences to her family, friends and fans.

NEWS

Maura Tierney may be well enough next year to return to her Rescue Me role of Kelly McPhee, love interest of Denis Leary’s firefighter Tommy Gavin. Plans are underway by series Executive Producer, Peter Tolan, to bring her character back in the 7th season, which will be shot in the spring of 2010.

Starz has already renewed the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, starring Lucy Lawless and John Hannah (among others) before the series has even debuted. The premiere will air on January 22.

Haaz Sleiman who plays Mohammed “Mo’Mo” De La Cruz on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie is no longer with the series. No explanation was given by Showtime. The series will return with no episodes on March 22.

ABC is looking to air a special edition of 20/20 called The Blind Side: The Real Story Behind the Movie on December 29 at 10 PM with Deborah Roberts anchoring. A sit-down interview with the real Michael Oher, Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family are expected.

NEW DEVELOPMENT SLATE

A pilot script from Anthony Zuiker, the creator of CSI, for the cop drama Jax and Amber has been ordered by CBS. The story revolves around two female detectives who harbor a unique insight into solving crimes.

Disney XD has given a series order to the live-action comedy Pair of Kings, which revolves around a set of fraternal twins: one is white, the other black, who are raised by their aunt and uncle until they find out that they are heirs to the throne of the island of Kinkou; they relocate there to become kings. The stars of the series include Mitchel Musso, Doc Shaw, Geno Segers, Kelsey Chow, and Ryan Ochoa. The series was created by Dan Cross and Dave Hoge (Aaron Stone).

ABC has given a pilot order to a multi-camera comedy called Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid. It is about a man and a woman who have been very unlucky in love and hope that their latest relationship will work out. The pilot is based on a book by Howard Morris and Jenny Lee, who will write the pilot script.

BOX OFFICE NEWS

Kevin Bacon will play the villain in the upcoming action-comedy Super, playing a smooth-talking drug dealer who steals the wife (Liv Tyler) of an average guy (Rainn Wilson), causing the latter to become a one-man crime-fighting force known as The Crimson Bolt. Ellen Page also stars.

CASTING SCOOP

Ugly Betty will return to ABC on January 6 and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) will reprise his role as Betty’s orthodontist. Christine Ebersole will guest stars as Frances, a gallery owner; Matt Newton returns as Marc’s one-night stand, Troy and Denise Ludwig will play a Hollywood player hired to replace Wilhemina.

Max Martini (The Unit) has been cast in an episode of Lie To Me.

Emmanuelle Vaugier (CSI: NY) will appear in the new FOX drama Human Target, playing Emma Barnes, an FBI agent who crosses paths Christopher Chance (Mark Valley). Her character may be first appearing in the January 20 episode.

Tina Majorino will be back as Heather Tuttle on the HBO series Big Love when it returns for its fourth season.

Also, Matthew Humphries will be playing the role of Ron Reed, the new face of the religious right, on Big Love. As the head of an anti-gaming organization, his character will run up against Bill (Bill Paxton).

RUMOR PATROL

The Paley Center for Media and Sony Pictures Television are said to be in talks about launching a television awards special and are talking to multiple networks to gauge interest in such an offering.

Writer/Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs) are in talks to direct the 21 Jump Street, based on the popular 80’s TV series that starred Johnny Depp. Mike Bacall penned the script from a story he and actor Jonah Hill developed together. Hill will star in the film and executive produce. Neal Moritz and Stephen J. Cannell will produce.

Taylor Lautner is supposedly in talks to star in a remake of the 1985 drama Vision Quest, which starred Matthew Modine as a high school wrestling star who falls in love with an artist his dad has taken in as a boarder. No confirmation of this casting has been made, however.

It appears Hugh Jackman MAY be attached to the new Antoine Fuqua movie Prisoners, a dark tale about a man who, after his daughter and her friend are kidnapped and the cops fail to solve the crime, takes matters into his own hands, holding hostage the person he suspects committed the crime. Again, no confirmation of this casting has been made either.

The other big rumor (or possibility) is that Eric Millegan MAY be returning to Bones for its 100th episode; but a lot of scheduling will have to be worked to make this happen.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The following movies and specials will air this coming weekend and next week:

The Hallmark Channel movie Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle will reair at 8 PM on Monday, December 28. The movie stars James Van Der Beek and Doris Roberts in a story about a widower who hires a nanny to reign in his rambunctious twins; she has a profound effect on the boys, who dub her Mrs. Miracle.

Kennedy Center Honors will air on Tuesday, December 29 at 9 PM, honoring Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert De Niro and Bruce Springsteen.

Christmas in Canaan will reair on the Hallmark Channel at 8 PM and stars Billy Ray Cyrus as a widower who tries to ease the racial tension between his young son and a classmate by forcing them to spend time to together.

On Thursday, December 31, the following holiday specials will air:

• Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rocking Eve will air on ABC at 10 PM
• New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly on NBC at 10 PM
• Live from Lincoln Center on PBS at 8 PM (This special will reair at 10 PM)
• New Year’s Eve Star Showdown will air on Disney at 8 PM (featured viewer’s favorite episodes and music videos)

The Lifetime Movie Network will air Ann Rule’s Too Late to Say Goodbye on Thursday December 31at 8 PM. The movie is about a woman’s suicide is not what it seems, and suspicion falls on her philandering husband (Rob Lowe) and a mysterious man she met online.

Pick-A-Flick movie marathon will air on Friday, January 1 on Lifetime Movie Network, featuring viewer’s favorite movies throughout the day. Check your local listings for movies and air times.

NEW EPISODES OF EXISTING SHOWS

Because of the holidays there are very few new episodes for the returning and new fall shows, but here are the new episodes that will air this coming week:

Monday, December 28:
Men of A Certain Age on TNT at 10 p.m.

Wednesday, December 30:
Eastwick on ABC at 10 p.m.
NOTE: This will be the last episode of the series (most likely)
Friday Night Lights on DirecTV only at 9 p.m.

Thursday, December 31:
The Twilight Zone marathon on Syfy from 8:30 a.m. to 12 midnight
Burn Notice marathon on USA Network from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight

Friday, January 1:
Burn Notice marathon on USA Network from 12 midnight to 6 a.m.
Doctor Who marathon on BBC America – check local listings
The Twilight Zone marathon on Syfy – ALL DAY
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Marathon on USA Network from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight
One Tree Hill Marathon on SoapNET from 2 PM to 12 Midnight

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!