Trachtenberg Joins ‘Gossip Girl’
Posted on March 20, 2008
Michael Ausiello has reported that Buffy star Michelle Trachtenberg, who played the Slayer’s little sister, is set to play Georgina Sparks — described as a troublemaker and scheme queen from Serena’s past – in the freshman series Gossip Girl. Mischa Barton was initially rumoured to have been approached for the role.
This follows the news that Britney Spears will guest-star in How I Met Your Mother as Abby, the receptionist at Ted’s dermatologist. In fact, I believe that’ll air next week. Sarah Chalke of Scrubs is the dermatologist.
Hannigan for ‘Buffy’ Reunion at PaleyFest
Posted on February 23, 2008
According to the Paley Center website, How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan, who played witch Willow Rosenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is the latest person set to reunite with her old cast members at the PaleyFest Buffy reunion on March 20.
This follows the news that Sarah Michelle Gellar (the titular lead Buffy Summers) and Charisma Carpenter (once-snobby cheerleader Cordelia Chase) have also booked their places at the event, while sources are saying that David Boreanaz, who portrayed vampire Angel, will film a special message to the fans to make up for his absence due to family commitments.
Panelists already confirmed to be showing up are Amber Benson, Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield, Eliza Dushku, Seth Green, James Marsters, Michelle Trachtenberg, and the mastermind behind it all, Joss Whedon. Buffy the Vampire Slayer ran for seven seasons before it ended in 2003, consisting of a total of 144 episodes, and spawned an Angel spin-off that lasted five years.
Other shows making an appearance at the annual festival, which runs for two weeks from March 14 to March 27 at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, include freshmen series Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, and Pushing Daisies, as well as struggling NBC drama Friday Night Lights.
One Tree Hill: “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” Recap
Posted on February 21, 2008
Before I start with this recap, let me make it clear that I’m new to One Tree Hill and have only just started watching the series this year. I say this because after finding out what longtime fans of the show thought of the episode, it’s interesting to note that my feelings vary quite some bit in regards to some of the characters.
The most obvious example is Haley. A lot of people I’ve spoken to didn’t warm up at all to her (as they put it) “self-righteousness”. But I personally think she has every right to be pissed at Peyton. She’s one of Lucas’ best mates, and doesn’t want Peyton to sabotage his happiness, especially when Peyton had her chance and said “someday”, leaving him broken-hearted, instead of “yes” like Lindsay did. Unfortunately for Peyton, Lucas found love between then and the present, and she needs to move on (which she thankfully tries to do at the end of the episode). Since I’m new to the show, I’m currently trying to stop myself from rooting for one particular couple over the other, but I’ve got to admit, I’m leaning towards Lucas/Lindsay even if the signs (and everyone else) say Lucas/Peyton. So consider me on that side of the border for now.
At least we all seem to agree for the most part how Nathan’s a complete fool. Surely, he wasn’t naive enough to believe that Carrie’s flirtatious moves were just a one-off thing? Under normal circumstances, you could probably put that down to her (supposed) drunkenness, but not when you add the skinny-dipping into the equation. I find it incredibly hard to believe that he didn’t see the kiss coming at all, and he really needs to snap out of it and fire her ass. I did appreciate his “I wish you were home more” comment to Haley, though. And while we’re on the Scotts, I’d like to say how adorably cute Jamie is, not for the last time I’m sure. He’s been one of the better parts of this season and always makes me smile.
Mouth also brightened up the episode this week – the scene where he’s packing, unpacking, and repacking his things was amusing, as was his discovery that Alice slept with Rick. And Carlton. Even Jerry. Him eventually winning over Millicent was the cherry on top despite a couple of cringeworthy moments. And how great was it to see Skills back after last week’s absence with “So, who’s the lucky girl?” A perfectly valid question, given Lucas’ torn heart, yet hilarious at the same time. More of him, please, show!
More of Brooke and Owen would be nice, too. What refreshingly welcome scenes, given how increasingly fragile the A- and B-plot relationships are! Joe Manganiello is more familiar to my household as Brad, one of Marshall’s law buddies, in How I Met Your Mother, and while I do miss him on the CBS comedy, his appearances here are somewhat making up for it. His hard-to-get attitude has been great to watch up ’til now and has resulted in some genuinely enjoyable banter between the pair. His reward: a naked Brooke in his back car seat. I wouldn’t mind that, either. I’m pointing to the episode title as I close this recap.
ABC Reveals Post-Strike Schedule
Posted on February 20, 2008
After Fox unveiled its post-strike schedule earlier today, ABC decided to follow suit and outline its spring schedule for the rest of this season. On April 24, Grey’s Anatomy returns to its familiar Thursday 9PM timeslot with Ugly Betty as its lead-in, while Lost is set to move one hour later to 10PM. All three shows have five original episodes planned. The network hasn’t decided when to air the remaining episodes Eli Stone, which currently holds the 10PM timeslot and averages a 3.3 rating.
Away from Thursdays, Desperate Housewives is back on April 13 with five fresh episodes, including a two-hour finale, while Brothers and Sisters comes back the following week with four. Dates for Samantha Who? (April 7) and Boston Legal (April 8) were also announced, both with six fresh episodes planned. ABC also confirmed that freshmen series Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, and Dirty Sexy Money will all be relaunched in the fall.
There was no word on whether Men in Trees or Women’s Murder Club will return or not.
Meanwhile, CBS has announced that How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, due back on March 17, will swap timeslots. Big Bang has consistently beaten Mother in the ratings this season and will now take the 8PM timeslot with Mother on half an hour later.
CBS Renews ‘CSI’s, ‘Big Bang’, And Seven More
Posted on February 15, 2008
Following NBC’s announcement just a couple of days ago that the network is renewing Chuck, Life, and Heroes, CBS decided to follow suit and name eleven shows that have earned berths to the 2008-09 season, including ratings-juggernaut CSI, along with its two spin-offs, Miami and NY, and freshman half-hour comedy The Big Bang Theory.
Cold Case, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, Numb3rs, Two and a Half Men, and Without a Trace also have reason to celebrate, as they join the previously announced Survivor and The Amazing Race in the renewals list.
However, there was notably no mention for other comedies, How I Met Your Mother, The Rules of Engagement, and The New Adventures of Old Christine, giving the impression that CBS wants to see how strong their ratings are for their end-of-season episodes before picking them up. Also missing were Shark, The Unit, and freshmen series Cane and Moonlight.
WGA Strike Over
Posted on February 13, 2008
After fourteen long and hard weeks, WGA members have voted to end the strike that started all the way back in November 5, with a resounding 92.5% for it (some 3,500 for and 283 against). This vote comes after the WGA announced that they had a tentative deal with the AMPTP over the weekend. The deal is set to be ratified within the next ten to twelve days.
“The strike is over”, said WGA West president Patric Verrone in an LA press conference. “Our membership has voted and writers can go back to work. This was not a strike we wanted but one we had to conduct in order to win jurisdiction and establish appropriate residuals for writing in new media and on the Internet.”
The deal will see specific residual rates in new media for the writers. They are set to receive 0.36% for the first 100,000 television show downloads for Internet sales, and 0.7% afterwards. And for episodes streamed on an ad-supported website, 2% of residuals will go towards the writers after the initial streaming window is closed.
Now that writers are going back to work as early as today, what does that mean for your favourite shows? Well, rejoice if you’re a Lost fan. Producer Carlton Cuse told Variety, “We’ll have to compress some of the storytelling we planned for this season, and that may not be a bad thing. Damon and I feel like we know how we can finish it off and still make it a really, really great story.” An extra five episodes are likely to be filmed, ending the fourth season with thirteen. Not too shabby.
Most of the veteran shows are set to be going back into production too, including the CSIs, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, House, Smallville, and Supernatural with an estimated four to six episodes for each. Heroes, however, will wait until the fall to launch its third volume entitled ”Villains”. Prison Break’s future has not yet been determined, while the seventh season of 24 looks like it’ll be launching on January 2009. Half-hour comedies like 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother have the advantage of being able to shoot potentially up to nine or ten episodes before the season ends.
A lot of the freshman programs, though, will be saved for a relaunch in the fall, Pushing Daisies (whose renewal for the second season was announced last week by ABC), Dirty Sexy Money, and Chuck being the main ones. Gossip Girl and half-hour long The Big Bang Theory are the two confirmed exceptions right now. Bionic Woman, Big Shots, and Journeyman amongst a few others aren’t expected to shoot any new episodes ever. In one word, “axed”.
With the time it takes to write, film, and produce, post-strike episodes will probably air during April and May — in time for the May sweeps.
Photo by Brad Herman
Top 30 Television Episodes of 2007: 20-11
Posted on January 16, 2008
20. Gilmore Girls – To Whom It May Concern (Season 7, Episode 12)
I’m going to risk being mobbed by all the fans here and say that I never really got into Gilmore Girls. Too many annoying minor characters to take the show seriously. It probably isn’t a coincidence that one of the rare few episodes that I loved saw no Lane, Michel, or Kirk. Then again, it might have been the fact that Christopher finds Lorelai’s character reference for Luke, the one that had her spewing all the qualities she sees in Luke that she wishes to see in her husband. A heartbroken Christopher quite rightly states that it read “almost like a love letter”. In addition, “To Whom It May Concern” achieves an unprecedented first for the show by making the wait for next week’s episode excruciatingly slow after Richard’s unexpected collapse during one of Rory’s lectures.
19. Smallville – Freak (Season 6, Episode 15)
A lot of people have been raving about “Justice” being the highlight of Season 6. While I agree it was a terrific hour of entertainment (with the Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, Green Arrow, and Superman all banding together to take down 33.1, how can it not be awesome?), my personal highlight was “Freak”, Michael Rosenbaum’s debut as a director and a Chloe-centric episode in which she discovers that she’s the very thing she used to document on her very own Wall of Weird: a meteor freak. Better paced and filled with more tension – Clark heat-visioning you? Triple ouch – “Freak” serves as key groundwork for the season finale at the dam. It’s also an increasingly rare episode where Lana Lang becomes surprisingly likeable for one week. Rosenbaum, sir, you are a genius.
18. How I Met Your Mother – Spoiler Alert (Season 3, Episode 8 )
Remember when I said “Showdown” (#22) didn’t quite reach the level of “Slap Bet”? That missing ingredient can be found right in “Spoiler Alert” – an episode about bad habits and how you generally don’t notice them until someone points it out to you. Though this particular half-hour may not have mustered as many laughs as Barney’s foray into The Price Is Right did, it doesn’t rely on Neil Patrick Harris. It’s an impressive ensemble episode that is very reminiscent of “Slap Bet”. Everyone has their moments – from Marshall singing to Lily inexplicably and ridiculously loud munching with candyfloss (and Ted’s priceless irritation) to Barney being Barney – and it’s episodes like these where I absolutely love the show. To me, How I Met Your Mother is much more than how Ted meets his future wife. It’s about a group of close friends living their lives together, and “Spoiler Alert” demonstrates this perfectly.
17. Grey’s Anatomy – Haunt You Every Day (Season 4, Episode 5)
By far the best episode of Grey’s since mid-Season 3, and one we’ve been waiting for an incredibly long time. Folks, this was the moment when the show regained its mojo and came close to achieving the same standard as they did with Season 2. (We still miss you, Denny.) The way Meredith put her mother to rest with the Chief at the end of the episode by rinsing her ashes down an OR sink was incredibly moving and the perfect farewell to Ellis Grey. Couple that with some great humour (Olivia forming a “Nurses United Against Mark Sloan” club – haha), and yeah, I stand by my initial comment and believe that this compares to Grey’s sophomore season. Even the subplots pack plenty of drama and laughs, from Ava’s bittersweet return to George and Izzie’s drunken sex finally made public. The show just needs to be a little more consistent now.
16. Scrubs – My Musical (Season 6, Episode 6)
“My Musical” doesn’t come anywhere near to Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “Once More, with Feeling”, an episode that I regard as one of my favourites of all time. But to compare the two is like apples and oranges, and anyone who watched this expecting it to be on the same ridiculously high level should be more aware how different these two musical episodes are. Put simply, Scrubs makes up for the lack of depth, emotion, and storytelling by providing half an hour of pure entertainment. It’s just great, mindless fun that you can watch over and over again without getting bored. It does border on being outrageously silly at times with “Ev’rythin’ Comes Down to Poo”, but the third act really does steal the show with the hilarious “Guy Love” and the upbeat group finale “Friends Forever”. Fantastic performance by Stephanie D’Abruzzo as the lead patient, and kudos to writer Debra Fordham for making the daring project a success.
15. CSI: NY – Snow Day (Season 3, Episode 22)
Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t watch a lot of crime procedurals. Yet somehow, CSI: NY blew me away with its surprisingly action-packed Die Hard-esque season finale. That’s right, I said “action-packed”, and yeah, I likened it to Die Hard. When drug lords infiltrate the entire building with guns galore and when it becomes Mac’s job to save the day almost single-handedly, how can you not make that comparison? The most impressive thing about this episode, though, is that it still manages to keep the CSI element amidst all the action, investigating who these men are and what they want. Add that to the fact that it doesn’t turn into Rambo and cleverly uses the whole scenario to sensibly develop characters and relationships, and you have one stellar episode that ultimately converted me into a regular CSI: NY viewer. A special mention goes to CSI’s seventh season finale, “Living Doll”, but it didn’t quite get my heart pumping as much as New York did.
14. Dexter – There’s Something About Harry (Season 2, Episode 10)
As if our favourite serial killer, Dexter Morgan, didn’t have enough worries on his mind, what with the whole Bay Harbour Butcher investigation going on and, of course, him holding the persistent Doakes captive in a cage after he discovered his secret. So, to find out gradually over the episode that his father had committed suicide because of his guilt in channelling Dexter’s dark tendencies into killing those who deserve it and in the end “creating a monster” must have been damn devastating for the antihero. James Remar really shines in his small recurring role as Dexter’s father. His shocked reaction when he came upon his son gleefully cutting up one of his earlier victims said it all. So did the puke that followed. (Ew.) It is during this episode that we are reminded that Dexter isn’t a normal person. He doesn’t have genuine feelings like the rest of the characters do, and this is not only supported by the suicide of Dexter’s father, but also by Doakes becoming completely unresponsive towards him when he kills someone practically in front of his eyes.
13. Supernatural – All Hell Breaks Loose, Part I (Season 2, Episode 21)
Hell doesn’t literally break loose in the first part of Supernatural’s season finale (that comes in the second!), but the cliffhanger of this otherwise transitional episode had me completely stunned: they freakin’ killed Sam Winchester. Of course, we know Eric Kripke doesn’t have the stones to permanently bid farewell one of the two brothers that make the show, lest the ever-so-rabid fanbase send death threats and whatnot to his mail (and I’m not exaggerating when I say that Supernatural has by far the most loyal, vocal, and crazy fans I’ve seen this decade, despite its modest viewing figures). But no one – no one who watched the trailer prior to the episode, of course – expected at all to see Jake actually deliver that killing blow. I’ve got to admit, Jensen Ackles had my throat dried up when his character was begging Sam to hang on. He never really stood out during his brief stint on Smallville, but he’s perfect here.
12. Lost – Greatest Hits (Season 3, Episode 21)
I’ve never really cared much about Charlie since mid-Season 1, so for one episode to come along and make me sympathise with him is definitely noteworthy. His admirable decision to accept his fate for Claire and the rest of the survivors was touching and towards the end of the episode when he swam into the Looking Glass, I was scared he was going to get killed. I was scared he would drown right at that point unceremoniously. That’s powerful television. A friend said to me right after the airing that Charlie’s main flaw prior to this sequence of events was failing to accept responsibility, and I couldn’t agree more. From drug addict and has-been rock star to one heck of a brave saviour, his journey on the island is now complete. Regardless of what happens in Season 4, Charlie will always be a hero in my eyes.
11. 24 – 9:00AM – 10:00AM (Season 6, Episode 4)
The fourth and final part in the two-hour season premiere back in January should have been in my top five. Curtis dying wasn’t a huge shock (the omission of the actor’s name from the main cast didn’t go unnoticed), but the fact that it was Jack who had to pull the trigger left quite a large impact on myself. Then, less than ten minutes later, there was the ultimate “holy fucking shit” moment, the moment that all of a sudden made me silent: a nuclear bomb actually went off in the middle of a populated area. And then, we were thrown another curveball, that there were four more of these motherfucking nukes out there. So why the heck did it miss the top ten? Retrospection. Instead of being a jaw-droppingly awesome episode that set the scene for a great season of 24, it became a jaw-droppingly awesome episode that led to mediocrity and the show’s worst season yet.
Top 30 Television Episodes of 2007: 30-21
Posted on January 8, 2008
30. Prison Break - Chicago (Season 2, Episode 16)
While Prison Break’s “Go” would have been in the running to be the top episode of 2006, a slightly weaker sophomore season followed by a hit-or-miss third means that their only appearance on this list is “Chicago”, which barely makes the cut. But that’s not to say this is a sub-par episode, because it isn’t. In fact, it’s got plenty of the same drama and suspense that got us hooked when Michael Scofield first got himself incarcerated at Fox River, as Michael and company try to escape the authorities’ grasp on a sweet train. You know they had to have a police car roadblock to smash through! And of course, this was the episode where mentally unstable Haywire became the third of the Fox River Eight to bite it. Our hopes of him in the unlikely event of making Amsterdam were shot down when Mahone persuaded him to jump.
29. Doctor Who - Blink (Season 3, Episode 10)
Admittedly, I don’t watch a lot of Doctor Who. I was a big fan in the short yet sweet Christopher Eccleston era, but once Rose Tyler left, I gave up on it. “Blink” turned out to be the best episode this year that I certainly didn’t intend on watching. In another Doctor-light forty-five minutes, Sally Sparrow – just your average person – finds herself trying to retrieve the TARDIS and survive against the Weeping Angels. Look away, and these Angels, seemingly ordinary statues, come to life. And once they touch you, they’ll chuck you back forty years, leaving you stranded in the 1960s. What “Blink” does right is make the atmosphere fittingly creepy. The old, dilapidated house, for starters, is the perfect setting for the final showdown, and it’s topped by chilling, suspenseful music as the unlikely hero and her boyfriend try to refrain from blinking, lest the Angels edge closer…and closer…and closer…
28. Gossip Girl - Roman Holiday (Season 1, Episode 11)
It’s been a while since I had a guilty pleasure, but Gossip Girl ticks all the boxes you could ask for in a teen soapy drama. Genuine characters? Check. Believable relationships? Check. Fights and stories that veer away from clichés? Double check. And “Roman Holiday” sums up everything I like about this show right now. Each character continues to have a surprising amount of depth. Blair (excellently played by Leighton Meester) in particular shines: on one end, she’s gutted that she can’t seem to get her father’s attention, yet on the other hand, her threat to Vanessa with cuticle scissors, telling her to back away from her best friend’s boyfriend, is totally awesome. Also worth noting are Serena and Dan, spending their first Christmas together, whose panic at finding the perfect Christmas present for each other is really endearing and shows how serious they are about this relationship, even though they come from completely different backgrounds.
27. Heroes - Cautionary Tales (Season 2, Episode 11)
With an exceptional team of writers, you would have banked Heroes on delivering an equally great sophomore season to follow up their first, but an uninspired and slow-paced first half left many loyal fans disappointed and criticising the direction of the show. Things did eventually take a turn for the better, though, and “Cautionary Tales”, the ninth of the eleven chapters in the second volume, was the epitome of the decent run of episodes that followed. This is the Heroes we want to see more of. Each subplot progresses a tremendous amount – from Hiro’s (and our) discovery that it was his personal hero, Kensei, who killed his father, to Mohinder fulfilling yet another Mendez painting when he actually shoots Bennet in the friggin’ eye! Oh, but it’s not over yet! The Company then uses Claire’s regenerative blood to revive him! What the heck!
26. Private Practice - In Which Sam Gets Taken For A Ride (Season 1, Episode 7)
Yadda yadda yadda, as interesting the mini-hostage situation was that Sam (yo, Taye!) found himself in, and as interesting as it was to see David Sutcliffe (Christopher on Gilmore Girls) making a guest appearance, I think you’re all missing the point as to why this episode squirmed its way into the thirty. So let’s run through it. Addison and Pete finally agree to a date. Cooper and Violet finally agree to sex (albeit casual with no strings attached, not the kind Cooper might want from the woman he fancies). But wait, by the end of the episode, it’s Sam and Naomi, divorced and bitter with each other, who end up getting some action. What’s up with that?! Hey…wait a minute. This is starting to feel like Grey’s Anatomy. And it’s good!
25. Grey’s Anatomy - Crash Into Me, Part I (Season 4, Episode 9)
Speaking of Grey’s, it seems that the show has bounced back from that blip at the end of last season. In the Mega Disaster of the Season™, an ambulance crashes into another right in front of Seattle Grace. What ensues is everyone crying their eyes out when Stan saves fellow paramedic Ray’s life, only to die before he can hear the Chief call him a hero. Also involved in the Mega Disaster of the Season™ is a white supremacist with a giant-ass swastika tattoo on his stomach, and faced with saving his life and saving her failing marriage, Bailey (who’s black) chooses to perform the surgery. Finally, Seth Green’s in it, which is awesome. Slightly underused, but still awesome. That screencap right there? His artery just blew, drenching intern Lexie with all his blood. Cue the “To Be Continued” card.
24. Day Break - What If He’s Free (Season 1, Episode 10)
Ah, Taye Diggs. We can’t get enough of you. I was disappointed when barely anyone stuck with Groundhog Day-influenced Day Break, leading to its demise, but let’s not dwell on the past. “What If He’s Free” continues what made the show worth watching. I honestly don’t recall another show in which the twists actually make sense as much as they do instead of using them for the sake of stirring things up and keeping the story interesting. For Day Break to come in and do that every week is bloody impressive. So, remember when Hopper’s landlord told him that the two plumbers still haven’t fixed the leak all the way back in the pilot? Turns out that they were Fencik and Buchalter. And the hostile lady artist whose address was found in Torres’ wallet? Well, she wasn’t the next target but actually the serial murderer’s sister. But the clincher was – even though Hopper solved Garza’s murder and was intent on watching the sunrise with Rita – the day repeated once more. The look on his devastated face said it all.
23. Supernatural - The Kids Are Alright (Season 3, Episode 2)
This is one creepy episode. “The Kids Are Alright”, no doubt taking some inspiration from Doctor Who’s “The Empty Child”, explores the lore of changelings. I don’t think I need to say much more other than to look at the screencap and imagine that thing tailing you around like a magnet, monotonously repeating, “mommy, can I have some ice-cream?” Believe it or not, there’s also some excellent humour embedded in this episode. See, while he’s in town, Dean visits a woman he had sex with eight, nine years ago. Now she’s raising a son who is also around that age. It’s not that original and it’s been done before in other shows, but I couldn’t help laughing the way this little kid shared the same love of heavy rock, the same hairdo, the same fashion sense – even the same mannerisms as Dean does. And if the creepiness and the humour combined still isn’t good enough for you, there’s more in the form of a massive reveal: Ruby’s a frickin’ demon!
22. How I Met Your Mother - Showdown (Season 2, Episode 20)
Neil Patrick Harris once again steals the show and more than deservedly earns an Emmy nomination with this episode as the sharply dressed Barney Stinson. Though the A-plot – Marshall and Lily trying to prove that they aren’t co-dependant and can sleep apart – was funny enough to keep me happy, Barney’s appearance on The Price Is Right, believing Bob Barker to be his father, had me laughing in stitches. His competitive nature and his determination to do his “father” proud were both endearing and absolutely hilarious at the same time. Sure, it didn’t quite reach the heights of 2006’s critically acclaimed “Slap Bet” (let’s go to the mall!), but it’s darn close. And whoever thought of the “night night” tape was an absolute genius.
21. Chuck - Chuck Versus the Truth (Season 1, Episode 8 )
I was let down by Chuck’s middle stint, so I was pleasantly surprised when “Chuck Versus the Truth” completely exceeded my expectations and turned out to be one of the funniest and most touching episodes yet. (Thankfully, since then, Chuck has managed to continue delivering solid episodes.) With Chuck, Sarah, and Casey all affected by truth serum, the story strikes a fine balance between humour (Chuck to Casey: “Your jaw was chiselled by Michelangelo himself.” Ha!) and developing Sarah’s hidden feelings for our leading man – finally confirming what we already know. Traditionally, these sort of situations get complicated with another girl, so who else than to cast Rachel Bilson of The O.C. to guest-star as the hot, quirky, loveable, and deli-owning Lou? Josh Schwartz, you’re the man.