The Weekly Round Up for January 3 to 7

Here are the entertainment news items for this past week:

NEWS

Congrats to all the winners of the People’s Choice Awards that were presented earlier this week.

TELEVISION NEWS

Hawaii Five-0 has been given the timeslot after the NFL AFC Championship game on Sunday January 23. Mark your calendars.

The new A&E series Breakout Kings has been given a premiere date: March 13 at 10 PM. The series follows an unconventional partnership between the U.S. Marshals’ office and a group of convicts as they work to catch fugitives on the run. Veteran U.S. Marshals Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso Avatar and Fast and the Furious 4: Fast & Furious) and Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi from The Wire and Entourage) decide to reject protocol and take an unorthodox approach to their work: using former fugitives to catch current ones.

Meanwhile, the new AMC series The Killing will debut on April 3 at 10 PM. The series follows the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation, tying together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim’s grieving family and the suspects. The series stars Mireille Enos (Big Love) as Sarah Linden, the lead homicide detective that investigates the death of Rosie Larsen; Billy Campbell (Once and Again and The 4400) as Darren Richmond, Seattle’s City Council President, running for Mayor; Joel Kinnaman (Snabba Cash) as Stephen Holder, an ex-narc cop who joins the homicide division in the investigation to find Rosie’s killer; Michelle Forbes (True Blood) as Rosie’s mother, Mitch Larsen; and Brent Sexton (W. and In the Valley of Elah) as Rosie’s father, Stan Larsen.

Grant Show will be return as Addison’s bad boy brother, Archer, in the February 10 episode of Private Practice. This episode will also feature the return of Stephen Collins (No Ordinary Family) as Addison’s father.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Diego Klattenhoff (Men in Trees) has been cast in the Showtime pilot Homeland where he will play Mike Faber, a Marine colonel and the best friend of Scott Brody (Damian Lewis), the lead character who returns after years in exile in Iraq only to raise the suspicion of a CIA agent (Claire Danes) who suspects that Brody may now harbor anti-American, jihadist tendencies. Mandy Patinkin plays Danes’ boss, and Laura Fraseris Brody’s wife.

The production company of J.J. Abrams, Bad Robot, is developing Pulp, a crime drama set in a slightly heightened reality, not unlike Quentin Tarantino’s neo-noir classic. The company will begin pitching Pulp to networks next week.

Actress Amy Acker (Angel, Happy Town and Dollhouse) will play a therapist in the new USA dramedy Common Law, which centers on polar opposite LAPD homicide detectives Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole from Mental) and Travis Marks (Michael Ealy from FlashForward) whose constant bickering prompts their captain to send them to couples counseling.

ABC is finalizing a deal for a 13-episode order to a medical drama about a military hospital in Afghanistan to run in the summer. This set up is being done much the same as Canadian network partner, Canwest, and under the same low-cost financial model as ABC’s cop drama Rookie Blue.

MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES

Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson will star in the HBO Films called The Sunset Limited, debuting on February 12 at 9 PM. The made-for-TV film is based on the play of the same name by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Cormac McCarthy, directed and executive produced by Tommy Lee Jones, written by McCarthy and produced by Barbara A. Hall.

Lifetime has announced the premiere date for the made-for-TV film Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy, starring Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) in the title role: February 21 at 9 PM. The film is based on the infamous American exchange student accused by Italian authorities of killing her roommate. The film also stars Marcia Gay Harden.

BOX OFFICE NEWS

The much-anticipated movie version of Kiefer Sutherland’s TV thriller series 24 isn’t happening any time in the foreseeable future. The script for the flick was turned down by executives at 20th Century Fox. The future of “24: The Movie,” is best-described by executive producer Howard Gordon as being “in suspended animation.”

Actress Olivia Wilde has joined the cast of the family drama film called Welcome to People, follows a struggling twenty-something junk dealer (Chris Pine) who returns home to Los Angeles for the funeral of his estranged record-producer father.His late dad’s last will stipulates that he delivers $150,000 in cash to a 30-year-old alcoholic sister (Banks) he never knew existed. Determined to keep the money, he makes contact with her and her troubled teenage son anyway but doesn’t reveal who he really is.Wilde will play Hannah, his character’s girlfriend.

Actress Jodie Foster will join Matt Damon and Sharlto Copley in the sci-fi feature called Elysium to be directed by District 9 director Neill Blomkamp. Story details are still being kept under wraps, though.

Gemma Arterton will play the sister half of the titular duo in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, a dark twist on the classic fairytale siblings. Jeremy Renner is apparently still attached to the project as Hansel. In this version, we follow Hansel and Gretel some 15 years after that whole gingerbread house incident with the brother and sister known as famed witch hunters.

John Goodman will appear alongside Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks in the adaptation of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. Goodman is set to play a doorman for 10-year-old Oksar, who embarks on a journey around New York City after losing his father (Hanks) in the September 11 attacks.

Sam Rockwell has signed on to join Brad Pitt in the comic crime saga Cogan’s Trade, which has Pitt playing Jackie Cogan, a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that takes place during a high stakes poker game held under the protection of the mob. Rumor has it that Casey Affleck may possibly participate.

James Badge Dale and Dallas Roberts (both from Rubicon) will join Liam Neeson in the upcoming film called The Grey, a thriller that follows a group of Alaskan pipeline workers being hunted by wolves in the frigid wilderness after their plane crashes on their way back home. The cast also includes Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo [among others].

Twilight franchise star Robert Pattison has accepted the lead role in the film Cosmopolis, an adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel of the same name. The film is described as a study of capitalism in a slightly futuristic metropolis. Pattinson will play Eric Packer, a financial wunderkind who risks his entire fortune to bet against the yen on a tumultuous trading day. The young man’s decision backfires and he becomes a possible assassination target during a 24-hour odyssey across Manhattan. Pattinson replaces Colin Farrell in the film, which co-stars Marion Cotillard as his wife and Paul Giamatti.

For the first time since 1983 (and the movie Yentl), Barbara Streisand is negotiating to produce, direct and star in an adaptation of the classic 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy.

Actress Sienna Miller has joined the cast of the upcoming New Year’s Eve movie (a sequel of sorts to the Valentine’s Day movie), which already includes cast members Robert De Niro, Hilary Swank, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher, Abigail Breslin, and Til Schweiger. The film is expected to be released this December.

Actors Luka Haas and Diego Luna have joined the cast of the upcoming box office movie Contraband that already stars Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi. The story follows a security guard and former alcohol smuggler on the Iceland-Netherlands route who is tempted back into illicit business by a dubious friend after encountering financial problems.

Warner Bros. announced they will pay for the entire $500 million price tag to finally get the long-gestating adaptation of The Hobbit off the ground with Peter Jackson as director. Additionally, Elijah Wood will appear as Frodo in the opening sequences of each film.

CONDOLENCES

Oscar-nominated British actor Pete Postlethwaite passed away in London at the age of 64 after a long battle with cancer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1993 film In the Name of the Father and had recently been seen in the critically acclaimed film Inception and had worked on The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Amistad.

Actress Anne Francis, who co-starred in the 1950’s science-fiction classic Forbidden Planet passed away over the weekend. She was also known for her lead role in the 1960’s TV series Honey West, playing a sexy female private detective. She was 80.

Character actor Bill Erwin, who has appeared on several episodes of Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, Perry Mason, Growing Pains, Highway to Heaven, and Just the Ten of Us, as well as more recently appearing on episodes of Monk, The West Wing, Just Shoot Me!, and My Name Is Earl has passed away. He was 96. Viewers will best know Mr. Erwin from his Emmy nominated role in Seinfeld as Sid “The Old Man” Fields and as the knowledgeable bellhop in the 1980 film Somewhere in Time (his character helped Christopher Reeves time travel to find love).

ME: Deepest condolences are extended to their families, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

CASTING SCOOP

Debra Messing will guest star Law& Order: Special Victims Unit in February, playing a television journalist working to expose pedophiles. The SVU detectives must step in when her own life is put in danger.

Actor Grant Show (from the original Melrose Place) will make a surprise appearance in the premiere episode of Big Love on January 16.He will play a spiritual marketing guru who shows up just as Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) is having a meltdown over her jewelry business.

Buffy alum Adam Busch will guest star in at least one episode of Grey’s Anatomy, playing a first-year resident who must shadow Dr. Cristina Yang.

All My Children actress Alexa Havins has joined the cast of the new version of the Torchwood series that will debut on Starz. She will play Esther Katusi, a CIA Watch Analyst who possesses an unshakable faith in human nature and a monster crush on colleague Rex (Mekhi Phifer). Also, actress Dichen Lachman (Dollhouse) will guest star in the premiere, but details are scare on character except that she also works at the CIA.

Former Seinfeld star Jason Alexander Jason Alexander will guest star on the upcoming TNT series Franklin & Bash, playing Carter, a wealthy CEO who seeks to put the titular lawyers (Breckin Meyer and Mark-Paul Gosselaar) on retainer, but his unethical behavior puts the duo in hot water.

Actress L. Scott Caldwell (Rose on Lost) will guest star on Grey’s Anatomy, playing the wife of a patient participating in the Alzheimer’s clinical trial that Derek is heading with Alex assisting. Her episode is scheduled to air Feb. 23.

Actor Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, Lost and Dexter) will guest star as Virgil Downing, a notorious international contract killer who always gets the job done trained assassin in the upcoming fugitive-themed drama Breakout Kings from A&E. The series is slated to premiere in mid-March. Pellegrino will appear in the 10th episode.

Actress Camryn Manheim and actor Steve Harris (both from The Practice) will guest-star on the new NBC legal series, Harry’s Law, which was created by David E. Kelly, the creator of The Practice. Manheim will play an assistant district attorney in an episode slated to air sometime later this season; while Harris will portray a convict up for parole in the January 31 episode.

Actor Sebastian Roche (General Hospital and Supernatural) is joining the cast of Criminal Minds as a recurring player. Specifics of Roche’s storyline are under wraps, though. Roche is also set to return to Supernatural for several more episodes, reprising his role as the angel Balthazar, one of Castiel’s old friends.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

With the shows returning from their short winter hiatus, there is a lot of programming for which to keep track. The list below covers most of what you can expect this coming weekend and next week, mostly new episodes, some reairs and made-for-TV movies):

Saturday, January 8:
Change of Plans movie on FOX at 8 PM (Debut)
Primeval on BBC America at 8 and 9 PM (Reair and NEW respectively)
Perfectly Prudence movie on Hallmark at 9 PM (Debut)

Sunday, January 9:
Desperate Housewives on ABC at 9 PM
Brothers & Sisters on ABC at 10:01 PM
CSI: Miami on CBS at 8 PM
The Cape on NBC at 9 PM (Two-Hour Debut)
Downton Abbey mini-series on PBS at 9 PM (Four-part mini-series)
Perfectly Prudence movie on Hallmark at 9 PM (Reair)

Monday, January 10:
Castle on ABC at 10:01 PM
Hawaii Five-0 on CBS at 10 PM (Reair)
Lie To Me on FOX at 8 PM (Two-Hour Airing)
Chuck on NBC at 8 PM (Reair)
The Cape on NBC at 9 PM (Two-Hour Debut Reair)
Pretty Little Liars on ABC Family at 8 and 10 PM (NEW and Reair)
Greek on ABC Family at 9 PM
The Closer on TNT at 8 PM (Reair of Finale)
Men of a Certain Age on TNT at10 PM

Tuesday, January 11:
No Ordinary Family on ABC at 8 PM
V on ABC at 9 PM
Detroit 1-8-7 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
Parenthood on NBC at 10 PM
Southland on TNT at 10 PM
Glory Daze on TBS at 10 PM
Lights Out on FX at 10 PM (DEBUT)
Tower Prep on Cartoon Network at 8 PM (Reair)

Wednesday, January 12:
Off the Map on ABC at 10 PM (DEBUT)
The Defenders on CBS at 10 PM
Human Target on FOX at 8 PM (Another Two-Hour Airing)
Friday Night Lights on DirecTV at 9 PM (NEW)
Chase on NBC at 9 PM (Part 1 of 2) (Return)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC at 10 PM

Thursday, January 13:
Grey’s Anatomy on ABC at 9 PM
Private Practice on ABC at 10:01 PM

Friday, January 14:
Medium on CBS at 8 PM
CSI: NY on CBS at 9 PM
Blue Bloods on CBS at 10 PM
Law & Order: UK on BBC America at 9 and 10 PM
Merlin on Syfy at 10 PM
Perfectly Prudence on Hallmark at 9 PM (Rear)

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

Have a great weekend!