Casting News on Whedon’s ‘Dollhouse’
Posted on March 30, 2008
By now, you’ve probably heard that Buffy creator Joss Whedon will work with Eliza Dushku, known to a lot of us as rogue slayer Faith on the vampire-dusting cult series, in drama Dollhouse to air in the fall on Fox.
Well, Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica), Fran Kranz (Welcome to the Captain), Dichen Lachman (Neighbours), and newcomer Enver Gjokaj are all onboard.
Penikett will play FBI agent Paul Smith, while Kranz will be Topher Brink, the programmer responsible for imprinting the dolls. Lachman and Gjokaj are to play dolls Sierra and Victor.
Dollhouse stars Dushku as Echo, a member of a group of people known as “dolls”, who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with new personas — hired out for particular assignments.
‘Dirty Sexy Money’ Drops Armstrong
Posted on March 30, 2008
Samaire Armstrong, spoiled Juliet Darling in the freshman show Dirty Sexy Money, has been dropped as a series regular, according to Michael Ausiello of TV Guide.
She is, however, expected to return as a recurring character, should her schedule allow it.
Last October, Armstrong checked into rehab to deal with “personal issues”, which forced the producers to write her out of an episode. Whether the two are related or not is currently speculation.
‘Prison Break’ Renewed for Fourth Season
Posted on March 25, 2008
Fox announced that Prison Break — despite falling ratings and criticism during the third season this year — has been renewed with its return slated for the fall.
There had been speculation prior to this news regarding the show’s status, hinting that it would follow Jericho and get the axe, but the twenty-two episode order quashed all of that.
The thriller starring Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell is set to relocate to Los Angeles after the events in Panama.
CBS Axes ‘Jericho’
Posted on March 21, 2008
With ratings worse this year than they were during the show’s first season, it doesn’t come to much surprise that CBS is axing Jericho.
“The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale,” said a statement by the network’s Nina Tassler. “Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high-quality second season.”
“We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try,” she continues. “We listened to our viewers, gave the series an opportunity to grow, and the producers put a great story on the screen. We’re proud of everyone’s efforts.”
Producers filmed two different endings for the series finale, one with a cliffhanger – in case Jericho was picked up for a third season — and one with more resolution and closure. The latter will be used on Tuesday.
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.
‘Supernatural’, ‘Smallville’, More Renewed
Posted on March 4, 2008
Fans of Supernatural can rest easy, as it was announced yesterday that the CW is picking it up for a fourth season. The cult hit has managed to maintain ratings around the three-million mark despite airing in the dreaded Thursday slot alongside CSI and Grey’s Anatomy.
Also renewed are Smallville, which will be returning for its eighth season, freshman series Gossip Girl, Chad Michael Murray’s One Tree Hill, comedy Everybody Hates Chris, and reality show America’s Next Top Model. No news on Reaper or Aliens in America yet, though.
The network also released a statement revealing its plans to merge its drama and current programming departments — meaning that the comedy division will be shut down. Twenty-five employees were let go on Monday afternoon.
“The CW is restructuring some programming and marketing functions as part of an effort to streamline both areas,” they said. “In programming, the current and drama development departments will work together in a combined group that will include current programming in addition to scripted development.”
NBC, ABC Fighting for ‘Scrubs’
Posted on March 1, 2008
Scrubs, the comedy from ABC Studios, is currently in the middle of a hotly contested battle between networks NBC and ABC.
ABC has apparently been in negotiations to pick up eighteen episodes of it for next season, yet NBC are said to be a little bit peeved off, as they have first negotiation rights with ABC Studios.
The seventh season of the veteran comedy was expected to be its last until the WGA strike hit and before the season had to be shortened from eighteen episodes to twelve. However, the cast — including Zach Braff — are said to be all onboard for another year.
Regardless of which network Scrubs will be on next season, NBC still has possession of five pre-strike episodes and is expected to air them before this season’s out.