Latest from Ausiello - Various Shows - 18th Jan 2011

Question: What can you tell us about Episode 15 of House? I’ve seen a lot of stuff on Twitter from producers @GregYaitanes and @SaraHess, and even @MMRAW about some epic stuff: dance sequences, zombies…. What is going on?! —Reana
Ausiello: You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. You might, however, believe Hugh Laurie. “It contains some ingredients that we have not seen before on House — or many other television shows — for quite some time,” he teases. “It’s quite a trip. It’s a viewing trip but it’s also a trip trip. I haven’t seen the result of it yet, but I have the utmost confidence [in our producers]. I go where they point me. I’m a willing passenger on this journey.”

Question: Should we be nervous that Fox hasn’t renewed House for next season? —Joel
Ausiello: As coincidence would have it, I asked showrunners David Shore and Katie Jacobs exactly that question when I chatted them up at Fox’s press tour party. “I’m not worried about it,” said Shore, whose deal with House producer NBC Universal is up for renewal at season’s end. Jacobs seconded that emotion. “I can’t imagine it not coming back,” she said, adding that she’s still thinking up ways to extend the franchise when the day does come that the show ends. “I once thought of a Three’s Company kind of spinoff with Wilson, Cuddy and House,” she admitted. “I don’t think that will happen. But I have thought about it.”

Question: Is there any possibility of Jennifer Morrison returning to House this season? —Isabela
Ausiello: The possibility definitely exists, but Shore says there’s “nothing in the works at this time.”

Question: Any news on Parenthood‘s Haddie and Alex?! I hope Alex (Friday Night Lights‘ Michael B. Jordan) is with us for a long while, despite Hattie’s parents’ concerns! —Angie
Ausiello: I am loving those two together. And so is Parenthood boss Jason Katims, who tells me that the Hattie/Alex romance will “take us through pretty much the rest of the season. It’s big. What we started the past couple of weeks — with the two of them not being allowed to see each other — goes on for quite a while. And then after that there’s a story about them getting to the next level in their relationship.” I can’t be sure but I think he’s talking about — come in a little closer — SEX!!!!!!!!! (In other P’hood news, did you see this?)

Question: I miss The Event! Got any scoop? —Carter
Ausiello: Jason Ritter’s Sean is going to find himself entangled in a very unlikely romance with [major spoiler alert] when NBC’s serialized thriller returns from its midseason break in late February. It’s all part of what exec producer Evan Katz calls a “radical transformation” of the Sean character. “By the end of the season he will be the opposite of the charmed innocent he was in the beginning.” What else you got Katz? “In Episode 15, someone goes bye-bye.” There we go. That’s the stuff.

Question: OK, last week’s Fringe scoop was weak. Going back to the Cortexiphan trials? Didn’t we find that out two weeks ago? I guess Bolivia coming back was new, but that’s not nearly mind-blowing enough. Gimme something really interesting! Please? –Laurie
Ausiello: Well, if this doesn’t do the trick — and by golly it should — talk to J.J. Abrams, as he’s the one who dropped it in my lap. An upcoming episode will reach back into the show’s rich history “in such a huge way,” he says. “We’re using something that is already within the Fringe universe and it is so cleverly done.” Abrams isn’t saying which episode the show will be calling back to, but he does reveal that it’s from Season 1. “It doesn’t mean you need to have seen that episode to understand what’s going on, but it just makes it extra special for those who have seen it,” he adds. Any guesses? Hit the comments! And last reminder: Fringe moves to Fridays at 9/8c this week! Be there or face my wrath!

Question: Any idea what the sex of Angela’s unborn baby will be on Bones? —Denise
Ausiello: Depends who you ask. According to series creator Hart Hanson, everyone in Angela’s inner circle will have a different opinion about the gender question. “Her father Billy Gibbons has a theory,” says Hanson. “The Finder — the guy at the center of the spinoff — has a theory. And Cyndi Lauper’s returning psychic (Avalon Harmonia) has a theory. And I’m not saying who’s right.” Here’s my theory: The new arrival will enter the world sans penis.

Question: Bones scoopage, please? —Dave
Ausiello: A spring episode features one of the show’s “most gruesome murders ever,” reveals EP Stephen Nathan. “It takes place on a body farm, and I had to postpone my dinner for a few minutes after [reading the scene].”

Question: Do you have any scoop on Justified? —Veronica
Ausiello: What if I told you that Boyd (Walton Goggins) was going to get romantically involved with his onetime sister-in-law Ava this season? Better yet, what if Goggins told you himself?! “It’s going to be an interesting relationship,” he says. “I talked [to the producers] about how Boyd would approach love, and how different that would be than Raylan. Boyd’s a really deep guy. He’s probably someone who would create a flower out of a napkin or just read poetry for hours.”

Question: I adore your new site, I adore you, and I adore Cougar Town. May I please have some scoop on the Cul de Sac crew? —Paige
Ausiello: What a coincidence — we adore the same things! On the Cougar front, exec producer Kevin Biegel tells TVLine’s Megan Masters, “There’s a big story coming up where Bobby tries to [market] Penny Can, becomes a baron and is shockingly successful with it.”

Question: Could we please get some good new Chuck spoilers? —Alissa
Ausiello: Look for the new G-woman played by Robin Givens to butt heads with General Beckman when the former arrives on the scene this spring. Also, I uncovered a few more details about the new Vivian character being played by Supernatural‘s Lauren Cohan. Per a Chuck source, Vivian finds herself thrust into the spy world and quickly discovers that she has a lot in common with Chuckles. Are you thinking what I’m thinking..? ‘Cause I’m thinking… oh, I better not. I don’t need to spend the rest of the week wading through hate tweets.

Question: Got any Glee spoilers — specifically Kurt/Blaine-related? —Ami
Ausiello: It’s time for Blaine to meet the parent! Mike O’Malley told me at the Golden Globes that there’s a big episode coming up where Burt is introduced to Blaine for the first time. “It’s a great story,” he said. “I just got the script.”

Question: When, when, when will Glee‘s Kurt return to McKinley High?! I love Blaine, but need Kurt back with New Directions! —Diane
Ausiello: Chris Colfer’s on and off-screen BFF Amber Riley (Mercedes) feels your pain. “I want him to come back so bad,” she tells me. “I miss him.” Although she’s sad for herself, Riley admits the “storyline Chris is having at the other school is amazing. And I love the Warblers. I’m a big fan of their music. Maybe I should transfer over there? Mercedes could shave her head and pretend to be a boy.” Maybe save that for Season 7.

Question: Any exciting news about my favorite Glee character, Sue? —Richard
Ausiello: Her upcoming stint as a member of New Directions will be a brief one — and it sounds like that’s good news for Jane Lynch. “[Jane]‘s a little bored because the choir room scenes are always the hardest and require the longest hours,” her onscreen archenemy, Matthew Morrison, says with a chuckle. “So she’s getting a taste of what it’s like to be in the glee club and have the long hours.” Amber Riley says it’s been a rare treat working opposite her idol. “I never get to do a lot of scenes with Jane so it’s been amazing,” she gushes. “I’m still a big fan of hers. I still get nervous around her and I’ve been working with her for almost two years. To be able to have her in the choir room has been great.”

Question: Your True Blood spoiler from last week about Jason is torturing me. Any other details about his big risqué scene? —Stephen
Ausiello: At the Globes, Ryan Kwanten said the sequence in question elicited an “audible gasp at the table read… and for our actors to be shocked at anything is a big deal.” Remember: This has the potential to be as shocking, if not more, than last season’s head-spinning sexscapade between Lorena and Bill. Hmmm…

Question: Enough about Eric/Sookie or Bill/Sookie. Tell me something about True Blood‘s hottest duo, Alcide/Sookie. —Suzan
Ausiello: I’m 87 percent certain that there will be an Alkie (or is it Soocide?) kiss within the first six episodes of Season 4. (The margin of error is +/- 4.9 percent, so you can pretty much take this to the bank.)

Question: If you run into the Big Bang Theory gang at the Golden Globes, please ask them if they’re ever going to divulge Penny’s last name. — Jason
Ausiello: As a matter of fact, I did run into them. And I did ask. But you may not love the answer(s) I got. After all, executive producer Bill Prady pointed out, “We were just renewed for three seasons,” so they are in no rush. “We may wait to answer that for a little while.” Golden Globe champ Jim Parsons offered up his own ideas, however unlikely. “I thought Penny Moonves, as a tribute to the man up top,” he suggested. “[Or] sometimes the prop master’s last name appears on things, which would be London. But I don’t think they’re going to go with that.” Yeah, I didn’t think so, either.

Question: A Big Bang Theory scoop, please! —Melissa
Ausiello: Sheldon and Amy’s Skype romance is about to hit a major snag. “In the episode we’re shooting right now, Sheldon — in a moment of somewhat irritation — threatens to minimize her window,” Parsons teases. “For them, that’s big stuff.”

Question: Where’s this week’s AA?! I am in AA withdrawal! Will you please give me some Smallville scoop and I may forgive you. —Lara
Ausiello: Sounds like someone forgot to refill her prescription of Simma Down Now. Here’s your big Small scoop: I’m hearing ****** **** is coming to town!

Question: Any Smallville scoop on the arrival of Booster Gold and Blue Beetle? —Dominic
Ausiello: Just that the show is still casting the parts. For egomaniacal Booster, they want… well, in essence, another Justin Hartley (Green Arrow): blond and hot, although he has to radiate smarm. (Think Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer.) For Blue Beetle — or Iron Man, if Iron Man became a superhero because a scarab possessed him — they want a nerdy Latino actor who can pass for a teenager. (Ugly Betty’s Justin, Mark Indelicato, perhaps?)

Question: Is there any news about Love Bites? Will it ever see the light of day? —Mayela
Ausiello: If it does see the light of day, it probably won’t be until summer. Bummer. Becki Newton has been off my TV for far too long.

Question: Do you have any scoop on 90210? —Giovanni
Ausiello: An Oscar winner’s joining the cast! Sort of but not really! Allow me to explain: Producers are looking for a “name” actress to play the recurring role of Marla, a faded Oscar-winning actress in her 50s who’s now living in Grey Gardens-esque squalor. She hires Annie to de-hoard her house. Because when I think of home organization I think of either Peter Walsh or… Annie Wilson.

Question: It seems like it’s been forever since there was some big Supernatural scoop? — Jeff
Ausiello: Oh, really? Well, have you heard that Cass is getting a sidekick? Because he is. Rachel — as yet uncast — will be a pretty twentysomething angel with a finely tuned BS detector. Also, when Sam and Dean visit the Old West later this season, they’ll meet, ironically, an Easterner: Samuel Colt, a middle-aged hunter who’s tarnished his own legend by becoming more interested in pouring his next drink than firing his next shot. You reckon he’ll be able to help them dispatch Elias Finch, the innocent specter out for vengeance after being hung?

Source: TV Line