On TV Envy: Microsoft Pulls Out of Family Guy Special

24 Lines Up Cast for Season 8

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Drama, Prime Time, FOX, 24

Kiefer Sutherland and Freddie Prinze Jr.

The Big Apple won’t be the only new thing 24 fans see next year. In addition to setting Season 8 in New York (most of the show will actually be filmed in LA), the producers will be spicing up the line-up with a list of new cast members.

Katee Sackhoff: The Battlestar Galactica star has just been cast to play Dana Walsh, data analyst in CTU’s NYC branch. Walsh - who’s romantically involved with agent Davis Cole (see below) - also comes with a secret. (Natch.)

Click to continue reading 24 Lines Up Cast for Season 8

Read More | TV Guide

Advertisement

No Melrose Place for Heather Locklear

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Prime Time, The CW, Gossip

Heather LocklearIf CW was hoping to give a big name boost to its remake, the network will have to try a bit harder.

Although many were counting on an appearance from , the newbies will just have to do without Amanda Woodward. According to Entertainment Weekly, the FOX veteran decided against joining the series. An insider claims there simply “wasn’t a way to bring her back that made sense.” (I didn’t realize that was a requirement for CW’s reboots.)

As disappointing as this news might be, the network should not give up hope. Heather might not be interested in carrying the show once again, but there’s at least one other vet who’s willing to try: Lisa Rinna. The former Days of Our Lives star told E! Online back in January that she’s “available” to resurrect her old character (Taylor McBride) at any time. Yippee!

Those confirmed for the cast so far include Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Jessica Lucas (90210), Michael Rady (Swingtown), and Katie Cassidy (Supernatural).

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

CBS Fleshes Out Cast for NCIS Spinoff

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Drama, Prime Time, CBS, Gossip

LL Cool JProduction on a planned NCIS spinoff is moving full steam ahead.

So far, three names have already been confirmed for CBS’ latest hour of crime. Louise Lombard (CSI), the series’ lead female, will star as a a former major in the military police. Notes from the Underbelly‘s Peter Cambor has been cast as an operational psychologist while Daniela Ruah will play a young investigator with a degree in forensics and criminology.

Two well-known actors are also in talks for the other leads. (Batman & Robin) is currently negotiating for the role of Callen, a “chameleon” who can easily transform into different identities. Meanwhile, the well-toned LL Cool J is being eyed for the part of Sam Hanna, an ex-Navy SEAL.

The new team will be introduced later this spring during a regular episode of NCIS.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

American Idol’s New Spin: Go For the Tears!

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Ratings, Rumors

American Idol

Every year, someone at FOX gets the idea to slightly (or hell, strongly) tweak the country’s most popular show. One year it’s a difference at Hollywood Week, an emphasis on back story or even the addition of musical instruments. This year, will be truly fundamentally different for the first time. What can fans expect from the new season?

In addition to a at the table (a shocking casting decision which will dramatically change the chemistry of the show), FOX promises this year’s contestants will be even more “emotional.” If you didn’t get enough tears out of Brooke White last year, this news is sure to please.

Click to continue reading American Idol’s New Spin: Go For the Tears!

Read More | MSNBC

Dr. Drew Talks Rehab on Today

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Reality, Cable, Editorial, Gossip

Dr. Drew Pinsky

Dr. Drew Pinsky, addiction specialist, recently sat down on Today to talk about the problems associated with this disease and the upcoming second season of . The season premieres Thursday, which somehow seems impossibly far away.

Pinsky said doing the show itself is “very stressful,” but not for the reasons you might think. The presence of cameras and the need to create a reality show might have added to the problem of overcoming addiction, but Dr. Drew says the cameras have a “positive effect” on the celebrity patients at the Pasadena Recovery Center. “It’s a hard reality,” Drew explained. “And that’s why we did this show.”

According to Pinsky, one in eight Americans will suffer or does suffer from substance addiction. An estimated sixteen million Americans currently need immediate treatment for this problem. That’s part of what Celebrity Rehab is all about - showing the public just how tough addiction can be, proving that addicts need serious treatment. According to , addiction is a “progressive illness” which needs to be stopped in its tracks.

Click to continue reading Dr. Drew Talks Rehab on Today

Read More | MSNBC

Bravo Announces Top Chef: New York Contestants

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, Bravo, Cable, News

Top Chef: New York cast

Although it seems like most reality shows kick off in New York, it’s surprisingly taken five seasons to get there.

For the show’s fifth installment, a change of location won’t be the only new thing viewers see. This fall, food critic and author Toby Young (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) will be joining Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons on their culinary rounds.

Other additions to the series will be of the celebrity kind. (It is after all.) Celebrity guests this season will include Martha Stewart, the Foo Fighters, Rocco DiSpirito, and Natasha Richardson.

Click to continue reading Bravo Announces Top Chef: New York Contestants

Read More | Futon Critic

Get to Know the Cast of Survivor: Gabon

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Survivor, Features, Video

Cast of Survivor: Gabon

With the premiere now just days away, it’s time to familiarize ourselves with the next round of castaways.

For the program’s 17th installment, the reality show will be kicking things up a notch. This season, the contestants will be “battling extreme conditions and interacting with wildlife such as elephants and gorillas” during their stay in Gabon. The filthy castaways will also have all of their flaws exposed in high-definition. (That’s a first for the long-running series.)

Host says the African locale is the perfect setting for the contest we will be seeing this year. “In a strange coincidence to Earth’s Last Eden—good vs. evil emerges as a major theme this season. I think the audience will quickly identify with one group or the other.”

Click to continue reading Get to Know the Cast of Survivor: Gabon

Read More | Futon Critic

Big Brother 10 Cast Revealed

Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Editorial, Gossip, News, Video

Big Brother 10 logo“Somebody for everyone.” That’s how executive producer Allison Grodner describes the cast of CBS’ .

After a slide in ratings in the past few installments of the long-running reality show, is returning to its roots of throwing actual strangers from all walks of life into one pretend house. This time around producers assure viewers there will be no ex-lovers, no secret father-daughter pairs or long-lost siblings. This is the first time house guests have been true strangers since the third season. (You can see a video clip with the latest contestants after the jump.)

Other than that though, the premise is the same. 13 people try to lie, cheat and steal their way to the $500,000 prize while their every move is monitored by 50 cameras for three months. The producers insist there will be twists, but past relationships aren’t among them.

Click to continue reading Big Brother 10 Cast Revealed

Read More | Associated Press

Forest Whitaker, Busy Philipps Join ER

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, FX, NBC, UPN, ER

Forest_WhitakerAndre Bauer, who was unable to fulfill his commitment to the drama ER, has been replaced by Forest Whitaker. Whitaker will play a man who comes into the ER with a cough, but quickly faces a paralyzing stroke—his story arc will take place over five episodes. Whitaker continues to be busy with the FX series The Shield, returning for at least the first two episodes of the next season. Whitaker is most famous for his many film roles, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Platoon, The Crying Game and The Panic Room. He’ll make a great addition to ER, now entering it’s 25th season (seriously, how long has this show been on?!).

Busy Philipps will also join the cast of ER with a recurring role as an intern. You may remember Philipps from the short-lived, but well-regarded Freaks and Geeks. She was also seen last season on the UPN sitcom Love, Inc.

Read More | Zap2it

Advertisement