TVSquad

Don't worry, their names aren't Nikki and Paolo.

Michael Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive news about two new characters that are coming to the Lost world. No word yet on whether these characters will be on the island or off of the island, but they sound intriguing.

One is a man in his late 30s/early 40s named Caesar, who is described as "dangerous, physical, and extremely intelligent" and that he's "as skillful at charming people as he is at killing them." Sounds like an assassin type, no? The other character is Ilanna, a female in her late 20s/early 30s who is described as European, intelligent, dangerous, and "used to getting her own way." Except for the European part, that sounds like a lot of the women I've dated.

Lost starts filming its new season in less than two weeks, so we'll have the answers soon enough. And by answers I mean "more questions." This is Lost, after all.

Depending on who you want to listen to -- or believe -- the end of the writers' strike is a done deal. Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO and current CNBC host, thinks "it's over," as he told the network's Fast Money show. Nikki Finke, in her usual subtle way, takes pains to debunk Eisner's expertise on the matter, saying that "Eisner hasn't mattered since 2004-2005 when he was kicked to the curb by Disney and its shareholders."

Still, Finke does give a timeline of how she's been informed the next few days will go; tomorrow seems to be the crucial day, as the WGA membership on both coasts will have "informational meetings" before the governing board of each coast's guild decides whether to put the tentative deal up for a vote. If the informational meetings go well, the union bigwigs may call off the strike before the vote, anticipating the deal will win with the rank-and-file.

I'm about to have a lot of free time on my hands when my favorite shows go into reruns due to this writers strike. Besides the late night talk shows, the first scripted series to go into reruns is The Office, which has only one new episode left and it airs this Thursday.

Michael Ausiello over at TV Guide has a long list of television shows and how many new episodes are left. I'll give you a quick list of the most popular shows, and you can click on over to see the others (not everything is listed):

NBC has brought in Friday Night Lights executive producer Jason Katims to consult on Bionic Woman, after Glen Morgan left over those curious 'creative differences.' It's certainly not a new story, a producer getting an extra iron in the fire even though they have a show already on the schedule. Although, usually we see this with producers who have established hits on their hands. This one comes as a bit of a surprise to me, given the tenuous nature of FNL's position.

Don't get me wrong, I'm as much in the bag for the show, and Katims, as anybody. But we have to be realistic and admit that the renewal did come as something of a surprise after the way the show performed in the ratings last season. Renewing it was a gamble for the network, so is pulling one of the people credited with giving it that quality away to work on another show really the best idea? I certainly think that Katims can be a help to the Bionic Woman team, but I hope that Friday Night Lights doesn't suffer for it.

[ via Ausiello Report ]

Kristen Bell, formerly of Veronica Mars, was reportedly asked to join the cast of Lost next season as a new, recurring character (one of The Others!). But, Bell has apparently turned down the opportunity to live and work in Hawaii in favor of living and working on Broadway in New York City.

According to TV Guide's Michael Ausiello, Bell will take over the lead role in the Broadway version of Legally Blonde in February. He's putting two-and-two together to come to this conclusion, but it seems pretty logical. She has wanted to do Broadway in the past, but her Veronica Mars schedule would never accommodate it.

This seems like an...interesting...career choice. A role on Lost would boost her visibility with mainstream viewers, while a role on Broadway will only make her visible to those who are into that sort of thing. But, if Broadway's your dream, go for it!

All casting rumors for Lost seem to have been debunked almost as quickly as they spread.

Last week, Isabelle reported on word that Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell and Prison Break's Peter Stormare were being considered for two new recurring roles on Lost. The Stormare rumor got squashed pretty quickly, and today TV Guide's Ausiello is reporting that Kristen Bell won't be joining the cast, either. The reason, he says, is because Bell didn't want to relocate to Hawaii.

Well, shucks. I adore Stormare and would love to see Bell get a gig that'll give her a wider audience.

Yes, you read right. It is possible that Mandy Patinkin, lead of CBS' Criminal Minds, be let go from the show. TV Guide's Michael Ausiello's reports that after he failed to show up for work, it was decided to write him out of the season premiere.

Maybe Jericho's fans aren't nuts after all.

After the serialized apocalypse-themed program was canceled by CBS, its rabid fans sent the network thousands of pounds of nuts, egged on by a well-organized internet campaign to save the show. Now, the ever-tuned-in Mike Ausiello is reporting that the network brass is listening, and is in talks to bring back the show for eight episodes, to possibly air at mid-season.

Michael Ausiello at TV Guide is reporting a big scoop: NCIS star Mark Harmon is threatening to walk off the hit CBS show.

Citing inside sources, Ausiello says that Harmon has always been fed up with producer Donald Bellisario's (Magnum, P.I., JAG, Quantum Leap) "chaotic management style" and wants off the show. The source also says that Harmon is one of the nicest guys on television and that he's in the right on this one. The dispute is described as "a big standoff."

So I'll ask you readers the same thing that Ausiello asks his readers: can NCIS survive without Mark Harmon, or is he the main reason to watch the show?

[via TV Tattle]

If you don't like spoilers, or even possible spoilers, just stop reading now. Seriously. If I see one comment about how I ruined the season finale of CSI for you... well, the other readers will ridicule you.

Everybody on board? Good.

TV Guide's "Scoopermodel" Ausiello is doing the math and he's estimating that the series is going to kill off Jorja Fox's character, Sara Sidle. There are three reasons: 1) Fox's contract is up next month and she hasn't signed a new one, 2) "Sources" say she's bored after seven years on the series and is ready for something new, and 3) Sara Sidle disappears in the season finale (also, her relationship with Grissom becomes public and the miniature killer returns).

Personally, I'd like to see a beloved character get killed off, but this will do. Someone definitely needs to go from that show, and when Jonathan and I suggested killing off Nick Stokes last season, a lot of TV Squad readers said they'd rather bid farewell to Sidle. It'll make an interesting 8th season for Grissom if she's dead. The season finale airs May 17th.

I'm in denial even as I write this. Ausiello over at TV Guide has a scoop that appears to be about How I Met Your Mother, although he's not naming names just yet. He says the comedy may not be renewed because some stuffed suit over at CBS doesn't get it. Or, to quote Ausiello directly, the bigwig thinks HIMYM "is about as funny as a root canal." (What?!? You have to be dead if you don't find Barney funny) I wonder if this is the same decision-maker who keeps renewing The Unit?

Why do I suspect it's HIMYM? Because Ausiello gives a big hint, saying that the show in question was passed over for a major promotion earlier this season. That sounds an awful lot like how HIMYM got screwed out of the post-Super Bowl slot, doesn't it? Plus, there hasn't been any official word about a renewal for HIMYM so even if I'm wrong, it wouldn't hurt to send some support to the show.

Fans, it may be time for a rally. CBS has a feedback button on the bottom of its homepage where you can flood the network with love for Ted, Robin, Lily, Marshall and Barney.

*UPDATE: Here's the online petition. (Thanks, e!)

[Thanks for the tip, Steven!]

Over at TV Guide, Michael Ausiello is reporting that Marion Ross will be joining Brothers & Sisters as Nora's (Sally Field) mother. Her character is said to be "tough, obstinate, judgmental, direct, and uncompromising." Is it just me, or doesn't that sound a whole lot like Ross' Trix Gilmore character on Gilmore Girls?

It will be interesting to see where they go with it. I suspect we'll learn that Nora had a whole boatload of mother issues herself before her relationship with Kitty (Calista Flockhart) went all haywire. I could even see the Nora/Kitty relationship getting more rocky if it turns out that Kitty and her grandmother are fast friends. However it shakes out, you can never get enough Mrs. C on your TV. Even if it is a crankier, more curmudgeonly, Mrs. C.

Related:
Rob Lowe joining cast of Brothers & Sisters
Brothers & Sisters gets full season order

Don't panic, William Petersen fans, don't panic! It's only temporary.

Petersen is taking a break from the show for a handful of episodes starting January 12, and Schreiber will play another investigator who comes in to solve bizarre murders in Las Vegas.

I wonder if this is a tryout for Schreiber. It's often been rumored that Petersen would not stay with CSI forever, so maybe producers are taking this break as an opportunity to try out someone else in the role if Petersen decides to move on. I'm kinda surprised that Schreiber took the gig, since he's been focusing on movies and the stage for several years, but he could add something interesting to the show. Though I don't watch the show anymore. Is there anything interesting happening on any of the CSIs these days?

What's in this week's issue of America's favorite TV mag?

• Lost isn't on the cover, and neither is Desperate Housewives. So it must be Grey's Anatomy.
• How the new season stands so far, the winners and the losers.
• As The World Turns is finally going to deal with the death of soap vet Benjamin Hendrickson, who committed suicide earlier this year. His character Hal Munson will also die on the show.
• Matt Roush likes 1 vs. 100.
• An interview with horror master Wes Craven.
• Will Saxondale be another Brit comedy hit for NBC?
• In the print edition: a look at Ugly Betty (a surprising hit for ABC in the Thursday 8pm slot), and yet another damn article about Dancing with the Stars.

This week, the low-rated Fox drama Vanished made a surprise move by killing off its lead character, Det. Kelton (played by Gale Harold). It was only seven episodes into its first season. Why would they do that? Was it because ratings were so low? Or, because of reports that Harold was reportedly a bit of a prima donna on set? The producer, Josh Berman, says no and no.

In an interview with TV Guide's Ausiello, Berman says it was their way of "thinking outside the box", a directive from Fox when they started the show. He said he and the writers realized that Kelton was getting closer than they planned to solving the mystery of the missing Sara Collins, so it was time for him to die. Berman also says that Harold was pumped about his character's death and even suggested the scene where his estranged wife gives back his wedding ring as a way to wrap up that subplot. The new lead detective on the show is Det. Danny Lucas, played by Eddie Cibrian. Berman also said a lot of the mystery about Collins' disappearance will be wrapped up by the 13th episode, as the show has not yet received an order for a full season. If it does, Berman has plans for new plot lines.

Now it's time for the Vanished fans to chime in: Was killing off Det. Kelton a good or a bad move?