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    • 'The Walking Dead' finale sets ratings record

    The AMC drama finished its six-episode freshman season Sunday night (Dec. 5), drawing more than 6 million total viewers in the 10 p.m. hour. With repeat airings at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., the total audience number swells to 8.1 million.
    The real boast, however, is the 4 million viewers in the 18-49 adult demo, the largest of any drama in basic cable history.
    Overall, the season averaged 3.5 million in the 18-49 demo, the best average of any basic cable drama going back to 1993.
    In the series finale, the group of survivors discover that their sanctuary at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not the paradise they imagined.
    "The Walking Dead" has been renewed for a second 13-episode season.
     
     
    • Season 1 of The Walking Dead​ has ambled off with history-making ratings.
    • 1,252 views
    Midnight

    'The Simpsons' Katy Perry cameo mocks 'Muppets': The horror

    On Sunday's (Dec. 5) holiday episode, the show concludes with an all-puppet segment that features the "Firework" singer.
    It's a nod to The Muppets, not only The Muppet Show but also "Sesame Street," the PBS children's show that had yanked Perry's music video with Elmo from its broadcast because of negative attention paid to her low-cut dress.
    The tone and dialogue is classic "Muppet Show," and when the Mr. Burns puppet celebrates, he echoes Kermit's stiff armed, head back posture. "Yay!" It's all a little disturbing, but we do like Grandpa Simpson and his pal Jasper Beardly playing the Statler and Waldorf roles in the balcony.
    <span style='font-family:"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"'><span style='color:"#333333"'> </span></span> 
    • The Simpsons went with Katy Perry where Sesame Street would not.
    • 1,315 views
    Midnight

    'Dexter' renewed for a sixth season

    The Showtime drama starring Michael C. Hall​ as a serial killer who targets other serial killers has officially been renewed for a sixth season.
    It's no surprise really considering the show is on pace to post its highest ratings ever with its upcoming finale. The Nov. 28 episode "In the Beginning" drew the second-highest number of viewers in the series' ratings history, just shy of the Season 4 finale. The steady growth could mean big things for the most recent episode, "Hop a Freighter," and the Dec. 12 finale.
    "'Dexter' is the best suspense drama on television," says David Nevins, Showtime's President of Entertainment. "To grow its audience so significantly in its fifth season is an enormous accomplishment by this amazing cast and crew. This is the easiest decision I've made since I got to Showtime."
    You're welcome. Anything to make your life easier, especially if it's watching "Dexter."
    "Dexter" enjoyed a stellar fourth season, which rightfully earned John Lithgow a guest actor Emmy for playing that season's villain, the Trinity Killer. Many had doubts about how the subsequent season could top the Trinity storyline, but new executive producer/writer Chip Johannessen ("24") and the full writing crew approached storytelling from a different angle in Season 5 -- having Dexter hunt down and dispatch multiple killers.
    • All that Dexter buzz about renewal has come to pass.
    • 1,511 views
    Midnight

    'Dexter': We fear for Lumen, love

    First of all, love does not run smoothly in the "Dexter" world. As soon as a couple gets moony-eyed, we're afraid for the fate of their relationship or worse, their mortality. Both Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) and Dexter (Michael C. Hall) especially have bad track records.
    That doesn't mean we don't have hope though. We were reluctant at first but are coming around about Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Deb together. She's seemed a little more steady, mature this season. And really, his declaration of love, saying that Deb's like a man, but in a good way, is just too adorable. Yeah, they deserve each other.
    We're not thrilled with how Deb's been making herself the target of Jordan's (Jonny Lee Miller) police hatred though. When he insinuates that she's obsessed with him and how he's concerned for her ... why does that sound like a threat? "You're in danger. Don't say I didn't warn you," she tells him. Heed yourself, Deb.
    The Morgans are falling fast. After Dexter's night with Lumen (Julia Stiles) they're all cosy now. They act like a couple, holding hand, making plans. Record scratch. Yup, isn't that the kiss of death? We're not talking about a house and home, but Lumen has invited herself to Harrison's birthday party in Orlando, and they do fantasize about just running away together (hence, "Hop a Freighter").
    Even Deb observes that whoever is helping the Vigilante/Victim, that it must stem from love. "what they're doing is devotion ... serious s***. It's pretty f***ed up and kind of beautiful too."
    Is it any wonder that Jordan captured her? Don't make plans, people. Some villain just wants to come along and ruin them for you.
    Of course, our biggest fear is that Lumen will have to die. We don't think the producers will do that to us (and poor Dex) two seasons in a row, but frankly, we're not sure. We can't even begin to predict how they'll wrap up all these loose ends in the finale.
    We hope Dexter's wrong when he says, "Is this the only love I'll ever find -- that ends in blood?"
    Other musings and highlights:
    Deb has become incredibly astute and instinctive this season. We wonder if this will translate do figuring out her brother's secret. So suddenly Laguerta is a good guy again? Okayyyy. What's on Quinn's computer: "A cat that hiccups and farts at the same time." Hey, Leslie Grossman! What have you been up to since "Popular"? We were NOT happy when Dexter got tased. Liddy's death was such a relief for us, and we're afraid of what that means about our humanity. Okay, Liddy's texting "yes to magician" was kind of funny. But that's all. Yeah, Emily. You knew that your Stockholm Syndrome thing with Jordan was going to end badly, right? Jordan scares us so much, especially when he says lines like, "I find this profoundly distasteful. I never had to do anything before," while wielding a poker. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
    Photo/Video credit: Showtime
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...lumen-love.html

    • Sunday's (Dec. 5) Dexter episode "Hop a Freighter" is all about love, and that's why we're so nervous about the upcoming finale.

    • 1,317 views
    Midnight

    'The Walking Dead' finale: What did Jenner whisper to Rick?

    Spoilers! If you're reading this and haven't watched the finale yet, then you must have the brain activity of a zombie.
     
    Most of the finale was spent inside the CDC with all the adults pretty drunk off of Jenner's cache of wine. We're thinking that they sobered up and got over their hangovers in a hurry though when he told them the CDC would undergo decontamination that would rival a nuclear bomb. Although the episode wasn't action-packed until the end, enough went on and was revealed that it's worth breaking it down and tackling items one at a time:
    1. Shane
    The opening flashback scene may redeem Shane in some people's eyes. He only abandoned Rick after he tried saving him and thought he was dead from hospital equipment failure. There must have been some doubt in his mind though since he firmly shut the hospital room door and blocked it with a gurney. That doesn't really seem like a deterrent to a normal zombie though, so we're shocked that Rick was actually intact. Maybe being in a coma doesn't make you smell "fresh"?
    So let's just say that even though Shane didn't risk his life to save Rick, he's off the hook because he thought his friend was dead. That doesn't forgive his current actions though. Sure, it sucks dude that your ready-made family went back to your best friend, but where's your honor? She's taken. Even if for some reason she loves both of you guys, Lori has made her decision. We don't care how drunk you are, Shane. Attempted rape is not ever cool. And that's not love.
    2. Test Subject 19
    So we were right that Jenner had feelings for this person. That she was his wife is no surprise, but that she was a more brilliant scientist is just such a tragedy. Hearing him describe the subject in such clinical detail was heartbreaking.
     
    3. RIP Jacqui and Dr. Jenner
    Dr. Edwin Jenner had looked defeated from the start, and after losing all the tissue samples from TS-19, it's no surprise after that he essentially gave up. He should have given the other survivors more of a heads up though about their limited time left. Suicide is your choice, doctor, not theirs.
    We could see that Jacqui was tearful, but we were surprised about her choice to stay. We don't really know a lot about her (except that she had worked in the city zoning department). Perhaps she suffered many close losses, but she always seemed steady. Well, at least she and Jenner kept each other company in the end.
    We'd like to say we'd choose life, but then again, we've never been through a zombie apocalypse. Do you agree with Jenner that humans will have an extinction event?
    4. Andrea and Dale
    We knew from all her doom and gloom talk and what happened with Amy that Andrea would choose to stay in the self-destructing CDC, but Dale's stance to stay with her if she wouldn't leave was gutsy. Would he have stayed for real or was it a ploy to get her to leave? Regardles, it does show that she does care about some things. She won't choose other people's deaths for them (like Jenner wanted to do) but Dale put her in that position.
    Andrea puking was just from the effects off too much wine, right? We know from the blood test she's not infected, but we're hoping there's not another reason like another illness or pregnancy. It's been about 200 days since Wildfire was declared though, so unless someone's hooking up with her among the survivors, then that's not an issue. We don't even want to think about childbirth in a world full of hungry zombies. Hey, we've seen zombie kids but not zombie babies yet. Maybe they only die and don't "turn"?
    5. Hooray for Daryl and Glenn
    Glenn is always good for a laugh, and his best line was to Shane, "Dude, you are such a buzzkill, man" after Shane demanded answers about what happened at the CDC. Daryl, as crass as he is, is also good for a chuckle, like when he says he wants to see Glenn turn red like a lot of Asians do when they get drunk.
     
    What we really like though is that they're full of life. No doom and gloom "I'm staying here to die a painless death" for them. They're scrappy fighters in their own ways, and while everyone's overthinking things, Daryl is always trying to act. Okay, sometimes it's not the best plan of action, but at least he's trying. We could see Glenn and Daryl playing off each other pretty well. Booyah, indeed.
    6. Where's Merle?
    Captain Hook didn't show up for the finale, so we guess we're waiting until Season 2. Grumble. Although we've gotten to like Daryl a little more than when we first met him, whenever Merle returns, we think he's going to be worse than before.
    7. "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" - Bob Dylan
    Perfect song for the ending, especially considering what Dale did for Andrea:
    "If today was not an endless highway,
    If tonight was not a crooked trail,
    If tomorrow wasn't such a long time,
    Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all"
    8. What did Jenner whisper to Rick?
    We'd like to think Jenner was giving Rick some sort of help -- info about another place they could bunk safely, a source of good water, something. But then again, maybe he found out about Shane and Lori somehow and was warning Rick to watch his back. Shoot, maybe it's what was said at the end of "Lost in Translation."
    Ugh, we can't wait till next season picks back up.
     
     
    • The Walking Dead Season 1 went out with a literal bang, but not before playing claustrophobic mind games with the survivors.
    • 1,334 views
    Midnight

    'Modern Family's' Ty Burrell, Oregon Ducks fan extraordinaire

    "The Oregon Ducks are on the verge of potentially going to the national championship game so we're all on pins and needles," the sitcom star tells Zap2it.
    Burrell is an Oregon native and has a keen interest in the outcome of the classic Civil War game Saturday (Dec. 4) between historic rivals the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Offense has been the name of the game for the Ducks this season, and this game will determine their advancement to the national championship.
    For Burrell, the more critical the game, the more he wants to watch it either alone or with family who are as passionate as he is about his teams.
    "My mom is the same way. My mom is a huge football fan," he says. "You don't really want to be around people who aren't as into it as you are. I had the worst experience a long time ago when my Rams were in the Super Bowl. We had an acquaintance pop by for the Super Bowl. There I was in my jersey, basically crouched down two inches away from the TV trying to be polite and make conversation when every single second was the most dramatic thing in my life."
    He admits that watching with him can get rather energetic.
    "Yes, a lot of kicks where my feet end up above my head," he reveals. "If it's with a group of people who are into yelling at the screen, then awesome. Bring it on."
    And although he gets involved with the plays, he doesn't personally believe he can do any sort of rituals to affect the outcome of the game.
    "Not really, no," Burrell says. "I don't fall into that category -- if they start to play poorly I have to leave the room and then run back in -- although I absolutely relate to it.
    "The only thing I do that's not superstitious is I don't look at my phone at all because I'm usually DVR-ing something so I'm watching it after [it's been over]. I also get floods of texts from family asking who won. I'm basically out of contact during games."
    Burrell keeps his celebrations simple but heartfelt -- "just a lot of screaming and high fives." If his precious Ducks do win, the "Modern Family" actor naturally wants to make the finals a family affair.
    "If we go to the national championship, hopefully I'll get to watch the game either in person or in front of the TV with a lot of family," he says. "So if that were to come to pass we could all squeeze each other to death."
    [UPDATE: The Oregon Ducks did indeed defeat the Beavers 37-20. We can guess who's voice is hoarse right now.]
    Check back with Zap2it for Part 2 of our interview with Ty Burrell when he discusses what to expect on "Modern Family."
    Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
    Photo/Video credit: ESPN
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...aordinaire.html
    • The Emmy-nominated Ty Burrell may play an easygoing husband and father on Modern Family but when it comes to football, he's a little more intense.
    • 1,707 views
    Midnight

    'The Walking Dead' finale preview: Test Subject 19

    It's been quite a ride, and since we know that there's a Season 2 ordered, it'll continue in 2011. For now though, we're concerned with what the survivors find after they've entered the CDC and met Dr. Jenner (Noah Emmerich).
    In the finale, "TS-19," Jenner reveals that the designation stands for "Test Subject 19," a person who was bitten, infected and voluntarily allowed his/her body to be monitored and recorded and eventually dissected. "Everything you ever were or will be -- gone."
    It's a pretty grim subject despite the pretty lights, and you can tell this is disturbing Andrea (Laurie Holden) especially since this had just happened to her sister. We wonder though if this is foreshadowing. We had already seen clips of Andrea in the shower upset. Could she be next?
    We also wonder who Test Subject 19 was. Perhaps someone Jenner knew well like a fellow scientist, maybe even loved. Zombies ruin everything.
    We're breaking out the steak tartare and a glass of wine for the finale. It's going to be good.
    Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
    Photo/Video credit: AMC
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...subject-19.html
    • 1,270 views
    Midnight

    'Dexter' peek: Lumen, Lumen, everywhere

    On Sunday's (Dec. 5) episode "Hop a Freighter," Miami Metro isn't just looking for the rape club that targeted the Barrel Girls but also who might be taking out each of the guys -- well, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) is anyway.
    Masuka (C.S. Lee) has found new evidence though, and Dexter (Michael C. Hall) isn't too thrilled that the police are trying endangering his prey (that's his job).
    Hmm, wonder how Laguerta (Lauren Velez) feels about Deb's little vigilante theory.
    Meanwhile, Dexter and Lumen (Julia Stiles) are all post-coital relationship-y feeling now. So of course they're cosy on the floor, doing what couples do best -- plot the capture of Jordan Chase (Jonny Lee Miller) .
    We do not like that uncertain feeling of Dexter being the victim. Also, for Lumen being a supposed dead girl, she's leaving a lot of evidence around for people to find her.
    Excited for the penultimate episode of Season 5? We're buy extra TUMS so we can deal with the suspense and stress.
    Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook  for the latest news and buzz
    Photo/Video credit: Showtime
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...everywhere.html
    • For a girl who's supposed to be dead and hidden away, Lumen sure does leave a lot of evidence around for people to find her. It's hunting season on Dexter and everybody's joined in.
    • 1,333 views
    Midnight

    'The Vampire Diaries': Stephen Amell signs on as another one of Mason's loyal friends

    Michaela McManus makes her The Vampire Diaries debut on Thursday, Dec. 9, as Jules, a friend of Mason's who comes to Mystic Falls looking for him. Now, Stephen Amell has been confirmed as a guest star and what do you know? He has a connection to our dearly departed werewolf as well.
    As first reported by E! Online, Amell will be playing Brady, who producers say is "an old friend of Mason Lockwood who blows into town with a vengeance. [He's a] loyal friend or your worst enemy depending on who you are. Did we mention he was hot?" A hot guy on "TVD"? What a nice change of pace for the show. No word yet on if Brady is a werewolf or not.
    Amell will appear in two episodes, one of which he is filming now (episode 13). Clearly, he is going to be facing off against Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder), so we suggest he buy some metal chest armor before rolling into town. We all know how much enjoyment Damon gets out of ripping out a heart, human or werewolf. He's all for equal opportunity.
    Fun fact: Amell was recently up for the lead role in "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" (which is being recast after Andy Whitfield had to quit the show due to his battle with cancer.)
    P.S. Don't fret! Carina MacKenzie is still your go-to girl for all things "TVD", including Matt Donovan-centric tweets. She just (gasp!) took the day off, so please put down the vervain and wolfsbane.
    • Say what you will about Mason Lockwood (Taylor Kinney), but clearly the dude was well liked by the Floridians.
    • 1,314 views
    Midnight

    'The Vampire Diaries' recap: The One with the Almost-Kisses

    Previously on "The Vampire Diaries": Klaus is looking to break the moonstone spell that prevents vampires from walking in the sun. In order to do it, he's going to need to sacrifice Elena... and almost everyone she cares about. To get to her, he'll stop at nothing.
    There's a catch, though. That moonstone binds not only the vampires' spell - but also the one that forces werewolves to transform at every full moon. It's a bit of a race to the finish line, because once one spell is broken, the other will be eternal.
    I needed a little bit of clarification on the whole spell situation, so I checked in with executive producer Julie Plec, and she confirmed that if the werewolf spell is broken, the wolves will be able to turn whenever they want to - or to never turn again, if that's their preference.
    Now that that's all cleared up, let's cue up our DVRs. Spoiler alert: Nina Dobrev is awesome.
    8:01 - Elena needs her own personal Whoopi Goldberg to tell her, You in danger, girl! every. single. day. After everything she's been through, I'm impressed that she doesn't build a cage around her bed. You know, the kind that they use to lower divers into shark-infested waters? Elena Gilbert is permanently in shark-infested waters.
    Wait... has Elena's trouble-magnet been turned off? It appears that the only menace in the Gilbert house is a mostly-naked Alaric (which some might consider a welcome surprise) brandishing ice cream.
    Nope. Manwitch Luka's creepy Witch Doctor Dad is up to no good in Elena's bedroom, collecting stuff from her shelves.
    "Well, I'm naked, so I'm gonna go." Ha! It's a little weird to me that Alaric (Matt Davis) has been used so sparingly in the first half of the season, but I'm hearing that there will be lots happening for him and Jenna (Sara Canning) this spring.
    8:02 - Let me get this straight. Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) have to do that whole one-two-three-heave-ho thing to move the rock slab in the tomb, but Caroline can lift it like it's styrofoam? Better start eating your wheaties, Salvatores. The tiny pretty blonde is out-awesoming you.
    I have to confess, I'm not a fan of all this cutting back and forth between scenes. I'm getting whiplash. I am, however, a fan of Damon playing with an orange - I may not have read the "Vampire Diaries" books (I'll get around to it, I promise) but I can appreciate an homage when I see one.
    This scene was released earlier, and I commented on it here, but I'll reiterate - I do think that it's significant that Elena pointedly includes Damon on her list of people she cares about. The last time she verbalized feelings for him she said she hated him. Progress is good - and whether or not you think Elena belongs with Stefan or Damon, it's in everyone's best interest for them to all get along.
    8:06 - Whenever Bonnie (Katerina Graham) talks about her Grams I (1) really miss Grams from "Dawson's Creek" and (2) am sad that we lost Sheila Bennett so early. I would've liked to see drunk Grams rambling about Bonnie's witchy powers.
    Bonnie and Manwitch Luka are bonding - emotionally and magically. I have to say, I'm so very Team Jeremy here (especially given Luka's creepster Dad), but with all the nosebleeds and passing out and doom and gloom lately, it's nice to see the light-hearted, happy, magical witchery that happens when Bonnie and Luka "channel" each other.
    Graham's work in this scene is fantastic. Suddenly all the stress on Bonnie's shoulder's is gone, and she's just having fun with her powers. It's a lot like the scene with the feathers when she first told Elena her secret.
    That said... the whole dog-tag/bracelet switch is a yawn. There's too much enchanted jewelry on this show. God forbid a dude move to Mystic Falls who isn't a fan of man-jewelry.
    8:08 - Poor Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen). His hair looks spectactular, but he will never be able to make autumn leaves dance with the powers of his mind.
    8:09 - "It's not nice to leave a girl naked so early in the morning," Rose says. She does realize that Stefan lives in that house too, right? Just wondering. It's good to know that Damon is still tapping that at night, while running around saving Elena is his day job.
    Elena offers Bonnie's daylight savings ring services in exchange for something from Rose. In the last 500 years, has Rose really not been able to convince a witch to make her a ring? She's been slacking. It's not like those things are hard to come by these days.
    8:10 - MATT! Tyler! Basketball! Their shirts are on, but I'll take it. "The Vampire Diaries" does friendships between guys really well, and even though Jeremy seems to have abandoned Tyler (Michael Trevino) in his time of need to make eyes at Bonnie, I'm glad that Matt (Zach Roerig) still has his back. (Even if Matt doesn't know about the lycanthropy issue.)
    Poor Matt. He looks like he's going to cry, and he's being so honest. He's devastated by what happened at the maquerade - and unlike Tyler, he doesn't really have anyone to lean on, because he doesn't know anything about all the mind manipulation that led up to that tragic moment in the study. Somebody fix him, please!
    (Awesome soundtrack junkie moment: "Only Happy When it Rains" by Kat Graham. That "pour your misery down on me" line in the background is aces.)
    8:11 - Caroline (Candice Accola) and Matt or Caroline and Tyler?! I can't choose! They're all so wounded and moody-broody.
    8:12 - Okay, I don't want you guys to think I'm drinking the Bonnie haterade, because I'm totally not. I think she's just as awesome as the rest of the girls on this show. But when she says she's "learned a few new things" since opening the tomb literally killed her grandmother, I had to roll my eyes. Her grandmother had decades to perfect her craft. Bonnie holds hands with a Manwitch at school and now she thinks she's got it under control? Girl, you in danger.
    Stefan notes that unlike Katherine, he and Damon have been feeding. Are we to assume that Elena is still giving him her blood despite their break-up? Or has he been raiding the O-neg bags in the basement?
    Damon's continued disdain for Jeremy's mere presence amuses me. Just so long as he keeps his hands away from the neck-area.
    8:13 - Slater's apartment looks like Ben and Sean's loft from "Felicity," only without the cool deli fridge and the book of Smoothaise and fruit-selling ideas. Oh... and plus one dead vampire on the floor. They didn't have those at UNY.
    8:17 - Hello, Alice. Who are you?
    8:18 - Stefan is giving up that photo of Katherine without a care in the world, showing once again that he's over her. Though, I guess, technically, since she's back in the picture he could just snap a photo with his blackberry (or with whichever phone is sponsoring this week).
    Damon didn't hold onto anything of hers? Interesting.
    "I can turn the metal to ash, blow the ashes on her, incapacitate her," Bonnie says. Okay... but if your nose is bleeding just from that, do you really expect your brain not to hemorrhage when you try to take on the tomb?
    8:19 - More Caroline and Tyler bonding! The more time these two spend together the more I like the idea of them together, but I'm still not totally convinced that she doesn't see him as her latest extracurricular activity. Tyler takes her to Mason's cellar, where they find chains and scratches in the stone from werewolves past.
    I can't help but wonder - between the well, the cellar, and the tomb, there's a whole lot going on underground in this town. Are there hidden tunnels out of that tomb that no one knows about?
    Caroline finds Mason's journal stashed in the cellar. It doesn't make a ton of sense that he'd leave it there - sure, he had to bail in a hurry the night he turned, but he had plenty of time after that to go back for it. I'd like to think he left it just in case, when he realized the Salvatores would be gunning for him, as a road map for Tyler. Uncle Mason pulls through again!
    He chronicled everything... and even left a memory card tucked between the pages.
    8:22 - When Jeremy asks Bonnie, "What are you doing?" I don't understand why she freaks out and shushes him so fast. Is she afraid Damon and Stefan will change their minds? Or is she just looking for an excuse to touch Jeremy's mouth? I wouldn't judge her or anything.
    Bonnie tells Jeremy she's doing this to keep Elena safe. But has anyone filled her in on the fact that to break the spell, she'd be part of the sacrifice, too? Isn't it a package deal - the doppelganger, the witch, the vampire, and the werewolf? Elena's friends are constantly sacrificing themselves for her.
    Oh, Jeremy. Stealing the ashes in true I-was-a-teenage-druggie fashion.
    8:23 - Okay, so Alice is one of those girls who wants to be turned because she's read "Twilight" too many times, and Slater's computer password was "Kristen Stewart." I'm so disappointed. (Also... I've seen this before.)
    8:25 - Uh-oh... Elena is on a suicide mission. With all the sacrifices her friends have been making on her behalf lately, it sort of seems like it's about time she make a sacrifice for them. Of course, I'm only saying this because I know she's never actually going to die, but seriously.
    8:26 - Oh, Jeremy. You're so brave. And so, so dumb.
    8:32 - So now Jeremy is vamp chow, and Damon has to bolt to Virginia to save Elena's life for the zillionth time. Jeremy can't die, so he's literally going to be Katherine's personal fountain of fresh blood in there - she'll drain him, and then he'll come back to life, and then she'll drain him.
    "I'm just going to be in the back playing with my new little toy, and you guys just give me a holler when you've got the tomb open." Nina Dobrev is my hero. Also I'm a little bit afraid of her.
    8:34 - I don't get it. Witch Doctor snuck into Elena's house... while she was home... to steal stuff from her... to do a spell to find out where she is. Why didn't he just snatch her, or call Elijah, right then? Logic fail.
    8:37 - Hmm. Is Manwitch Luka on Bonnie's side? Does he not know what his dad is up to?
    8:38 - Oh. My. God.
    Bonus shirtless Taylor Kinney weeks after Uncle Mason's death? This is like finding an extra Christmas present under the couch a week after New Year's Eve.
    Of course, it's not exactly shiny happy Pictionary Mason we get from the video footage Tyler and Caroline found. This is ugly, and painful, and downright hard to watch. I'm always impressed when actors really go there in scenes like this. Agony is awkward to play, and writhing on the floor in front of a bunch of camera guys can't be exactly comfortable. If this is any indication of what we'll see from Trevino next week, bring it on.
    Speaking of Trevino... amazing in this scene, as usual. Tyler not only grapples with the struggle of seeing someone he loves in pain, but with his own inevitable future.
    8:41 - "When have I ever made a decision?" Elena's little mission is misguided and perhaps stupid, but at least she's thinking for herself. I'm almost proud of her, even though it all backfired, as usual. She and her little brother have a lot in common.
    8:42 - Surprise! Bonnie isn't actually more powerful than her wise, practiced grandmother.
    8:47 - Stefan and Katherine stuck in the tomb. Oops?
    8:48 - Okay, I know Tyler is a new member of the Badass Leather Jackets club, but he doesn't need to wear it inside. He looks like he's ready to bolt.
    "There's a reason it's called a curse, Tyler." Now it's time to gush about Accola. How does she make her performance feel so real when her hair stays so perfect?!
    And the doorbell rings. I woooonder who that could be... ... ...
    8:50 - MATT! "I was driving home from work and I kind of found myself here. I miss you." I am dying right now. Their little smiles! The music! And--
    Oh, come on, Tyler. I hate you. You couldn't have waited like one more minute to be a kiss-block!?
    8:51 - Does ripping out a heart always work, no matter the monster? It's kind of messy, but it's effective.
    8:54 - "I spared him. He'd die before he'd let anything happen to her. They both will. She'll be kept safe," Elijah drones. Ew. The Salvatores are like walking talking Elena incubators. Their entire purpose is to keep her safe and warm and like, fatten her up for the sacrifice. Gross.
    8:55 - Jeremy and Bonnie, alone at last! Nevermind their friend stuck in the tomb with the psycho bitch! There's romantic music and dim lighting and Jeremy being all open and honest and talking about his feelings. "Don't act like this is one-sided," he says. "Like I'm some kid that has a crush on his sister's friend."
    Bonnie's willpower is extraordinary.
    Seriously. Extraordinary. The fact that she can walk away from that, but she can't break the tomb spell for a minute is mind-blowing.
    8:57 - Why does Elena even waste her breath defending Rose? Maybe she actually likes the idea of Damon having someone to occupy him while she's busy still being in love with Stefan. If he's distracted by Rose, he might lay off the longing looks and close-talking.
    "If I had a dollar for every time some evil vampire surprised me," Damon says... Elena could echo that sentiment.
    Uh-oh. Here's Jeremy with the bad news.
    Damon throws some of the blame for Stefan's precarious situation Elena's way. "I was too busy saving you from your crazy kamikaze mission," he hisses. I love Dobrev in this scene. Elena knows better than to go in after Stefan - she just needs Damon to be her punching bag for a minute before she comes to her senses. This is going to be tough.
    8:58 - "You martyr yourself into a tomb and I get partnered with a semi-competent witch." Awww. Brotherly love.
    That was one hell of an episode. There was a lot going on - and a lot of kissing not happening. I don't care who, but somebody better start making out on this show. All these almost-but-not-quite moments are really harshing my buzz.
    In other news, Rose continues to be just shy of totally boring, and Luka is going to have to step up his game tenfold if I'm ever going to care about Bonnie giving him magic seizures.
    The preview for next week looks absolutely bananas. If that hot scene between Stefan and Katherine is a dream sequence, I'm going to be so mad.
    I want to give MVP to Trevino, but I'm saving that for next week. (I have a lot of faith in him.) So Kinney gets it. For the best surprise appearance ever.
    Your turn, vamp fans! Tell me what you thought in the comments below. What are you most anticipating about next week's fall finale? More importantly, I'll be visiting the "Vampire Diaries" cast on set next week, so let me know if you've got any burning questions. I'll get as many answers as I can!
    • Whew. After two cold, lonely, dark, painful Thursdays without The Vampire Diaries, those Mystic Falls kids came back with a vengeance tonight. This episode, "The Sacrifice," moved so fast I nearly gave up on taking notes.
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    'Smallville's' Cassidy Freeman on what 'Luthor' means to Tess

    "I was really excited about the whole thing,"  said Freeman. "It it really gives her character more depth. Up to this point, Tess has sort of been an amalgamation of other characters. She's a little bit mysterious, so she's a reflection of what everyone thinks of her. This [reveal] gives her a place in the story."
    Friday's (Dec. 3) episode, "Luthor," is sure to add more new twists to the family legacy. Tess finds a Kryptonian box that once belonged to Lionel (special guest star John Glover). But when Clark activates the box, he's transported to an alternate universe where the Kents never found him and he was raised instead by Lionel, as Clark Luthor.
    While Clark tries to get home, he has to pretend to be his murderous alter-ego -- and as he encounters his friends in the alternate universe he realizes the impact one small change could have had on his life.
    Throughout the episode, we'll also see Clark Luthor in the Smallville we know and love. "You'll see both worlds going at the same time," Cassidy says."It was a bit of dual personality that week for all of us. But [executive producer] Kelly Souders was directing, and she'd obviously been with the idea from the inception, so she was so versed in who these alternate characters were that it made the transitions easy."
    Freeman says that with the writers and producers based in LA and the show's set in Vancouver, the cast's interactions with the writers and producers are usually via videoconference. "Kelly came in so ready to learn," she says. "But we really learned from her too. She was totally solid in terms of how she wanted things to look and the different atmosphere."
    The CW has released some teaser clips from "Luthor," including scenes that display a whole new dynamic between Clark and Tess. "Our characters become textbook week-to-week, so any chance we have to take them and flip them and play something really different is great," Freeman says. "Especially with an actor you're so comfortable with, the way Tom and I are. We had a really great time exploring the different versions of Clark and Tess and how they'd react to each other."
    Of course, the episode presented the opportunity for Freeman to work with actors she may not be as familiar with as well. Since she was added to the cast in 2008, she's had her fingers crossed to work with the actors who made the Luthors so appealingly devious.
    "John Glover is awesome," she says enthusiastically of the returning star. "It's been a total dream of mine to work with him from the time I started the show. I've been wondering how they could bring him back in a way that would let me interact with him, and man, they did it so creatively. It was really fun. He's so talented and just brilliant to work with." She pauses. "I do still really want to work with Michael Rosenbaum, though. Just to throw that out there."
    In the meantime, though, she has plenty of ground to explore with Tess. "Now that she knows she's a Luthor, some major questions are answered for her. She's got this sordid past that's now explained a bit, but it's also very upsetting in a way. It's like now, any evil thoughts or evil doings aren't just circumstantial. They might be ingrained in her; they might be in her blood."
    Her connection with the Lex clone she's essentially nurtured may grow deeper as well. "Internally, knowing that she's a Luthor definitely changes that connection," Freeman says."It's not just a sort of mothering instinct, it's an actual biological connection to this person."
    As powerful as the Luthor name is for Tess, it may have an even deeper resonance for Clark and Oliver, and though Tess is currently trying to keep her true identity a secret, Freeman confesses, "It's just like any secret in 'Smallville.' It's a secret until it can't be a secret anymore."
    How will our trusty superheroes react when they hear that Tess, who they finally have accepted as part of their team, has Luthor blood in her veins?
    "They'll have a choice -- if and when they find out," Freeman says coyly. "They can accept her for it and base their judgment on her actions, or they can totally not accept it and push her away. Knowing the characters, I'd imagine that Oliver will probably have a much harder time accepting it than Clark will. Clark always wants to see the good in people."
    We haven't seen much of Tess's relationship with Lois this season, but Freeman assures us that the two will share more scenes moving forward. "Their relationship is more collaborative, now that everyone knows what's going on and Clark's secret is out," says Freeman. "They're all on the same team now, and they can really look at the bigger picture."
    Chloe (Allison Mack) returns in Episode 12, but don't expect to see much interaction between her and Tess for her first few episodes back. "Allison is back, yes, but we haven't had any scenes together, to be honest," Freeman says. "She's got a lot of other storylines to take care of. In terms of Tess running the Watch Tower, I think that Chloe made this really strong decision to leave, and she understands the repercussions. She'd rather know things have been running smoothly than worry about having been replaced somehow. She's a strong character that way."
    As this is the final season of "Smallville," Freeman admits that there's the occasional bittersweet feeling on set. "There are little moments of sadness," she says. "When we finished Episode 11, we all sort of looked at each other and thought, 'Well, we're halfway through.' But there's also a sense of excitement in terms of moving on and exploring new things next year."
    Freeman's post-"Smallville" plans? "I have a plan to maybe sleep for a week," she laughs. "That's as far as my plans go right now."
    When it comes to whether Tess will continue on the straight and narrow path or go with her Luthor heritage and take a dark turn, Freeman insists she doesn't know what the writers' plan is.
    Now, though, she's changed her tune a bit. "The writers have two distinct avenues they can take now, with Tess," she says. "Yes, as an actor, it's fun to play dark and evil. But I've gotten to know Tess now, I've gotten to be close to the character, and honestly, I want her to do good and to be happy. I think there's a way to do that and still thrive creatively."
    • Smallville is pulling out all the stops for its final season, as evidenced when they dropped the bomb that Tess Mercer  was actually born Lutessa Lena Luthor. It's a name that carries considerable weight given the influence of Lex, Lionel, and Luthorcorp over the series.
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    'The Walking Dead' finale peek: Welcome to the CDC

    But just like Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln)and the rest of the un-merry band of survivors, life must go on. Another episode, the finale even, awaits.
    In this exclusive Zap2it clip, we pick up where Episode 5 left off with the doors to the CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) rising, bathing the wary survivors in a bright light.
    As they enter, they meet the lone scientist (Noah Emmerich) we saw in the previous episode who had accidentally contaminated the last "fresh" sample of zombie flesh -- labeled TS-19 -- he had for testing. Uh oh. Who do you think will come down with the Walker syndrome next and donate their body to science? Let's go back and find Jim.
    And did you catch his name? It sounds like Dr. Edwin Jenner, reminiscent of Edward Jenner who developed the smallpox vaccine. Well, even if there's no relation, finding a zombie vaccine would certainly qualify for a Nobel, if the committee is alive to bestow it.
    "The Walking Dead" Season 1 finale titled "TS-19" airs Sunday, Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. ET on AMC.
    To stay in the zombie loop, be sure to "like" "The Walking Dead" on Facebook and follow @WalkingDead_AMC on Twitter.
    • We're still somewhat traumatized by the most recent episode of  The Walking Dead. So much horror, loss, heartache. Why must we lose the gentle and sweet ones?
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    'Supernatural': Castiel says Sam's soul is a 'mutilated thing'

    When we caught up with Jared Padalecki on the set of Supernatural earlier this year, he told us that Sam's time in hell was worse than Dean's. "Crowley says, 'I can't imagine what it's like in the cage, and I can imagine so many things,'" Padalecki said, "So we get the idea that Sam was in the bad part of hell. He wasn't like, in the penthouse. He was slumming down there.'"
    "Sam's soul has been locked in the cage with Michael and Lucifer for more than a year," the angel says. "And they have nothing to do but take their frustrations out on him. If we try to force that mutilated thing down Sam's gullet, we have no idea what could happen. It could be catastrophic."
    Could it be that Sam - or at least the part of Sam that's topside - is better off without his soul? Say it ain't so!
    Despite the horrors that Sam's soul has endured, Dean isn't ready to give up on it. "We'll go get it back, and if there are complications, we'll figure out a way to deal with those, too," he insists.
    Castiel says that if they fail, "Sam suffers horrifically." We saw the personal struggle Dean endured after just four months in hell. Will Sam's post-traumatic reaction be even worse?
    This situation just keeps getting messier and messier.
    What do you think, "Supernatural" fans? Is Sam better off with a clean slate? Should Dean and Castiel even bother trying to get the soul back? Do you think "RoboSam" can survive on earth without human traits like compassion and instinct?
    Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...ated-thing.html
    • In Friday's new episode, Castiel (Misha Collins) confirms this to Dean (Jensen Ackles). Sam's soul is still stuck in that cage, and it isn't pretty in there.
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    'The Vampire Diaries' Steven R. McQueen: Carrying grandfather's famous name is 'a little fuel in the fire'

    Steven says that playing Jeremy Gilbert has been a "therapeutic" experience. He spent most of his childhood on the move, living with his mom and his stepfather, Luc Robitaille, a pro hockey player.
    "When we were living in Detroit, I had a real lack of direction," Steven tells the mag. "I started watching movies all day long."
    Though he never met his grandfather, Steven still got to enjoy him through movies like "The Great Escape" and "Bullit." Of course, when he decided to move to Los Angeles and take acting classes, it wasn't all about following in his family's footsteps. "I watched my grandfather's projects with admiration and looked up to him, but at the end of the day you have to be true to what's inside," he says.
    According to the mag, Steven was up for roles on both "The Vampire Diaries" and the short-lived new version of "Melrose Place."
    Lucky for us -- and for him -- he chose wisely. He decided to play Jeremy because the angsty teen was "as messed up as possible in the head" - which appealed to Steven.
    As for his grandfather, Steven says he's lucky that there's a generation gap between their fans, because he doesn't have to bear the pressure of the comparison too much. "More than anything it's a little fuel in the fire," he says.
     

    • Vanity Fair, which refers to "The Vampire Diaries" as a "naughty mix of 'Twilight' and 'Gossip Girl'" profiles the actor in relation to his very famous grandfather... yes, that Steve McQueen. 

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    'Vampire Diaries': Michael Trevino and Candice Accola tease 'painful' werewolf transformation

    Heh. "Suckers."
    When Trevino and co-star Candice Accola visited the Zap2it offices last week, I had to get the scoop - especially considering how Accola has been playing out Caroline's vampire transformation this season.
    "I felt a little fortunate, Vicki transformed so I got to use that as kind of a note sheet, of sorts, a cheat sheet," Accola says. "I mean, I kind of had a certain map to go off of, which there really hadn't been for a werewolf transformation."
    Luckily, Trevino didn't have to go it alone. Tyler's new friend, and possible love interest, sticks by him throughout the whole grueling ordeal. "It was very interesting. We shot it over 2 days. Candice was with me the whole time," he says. But even with Caroline on hand, he certainly didn't have an easy time of it.
    When Mason (Taylor Kinney) transformed into a werewolf, we only got to see the before and after. We watched as he attempted to take sedatives and chain himself up, and we heard him scream in agony... but most of the transformation occurred after he'd climbed into his truck, out of sight. When Tyler transforms, we're going to see the whole thing.
    "You're gonna get the whole enchilada," Trevino confirms. "It's not quick. It isn't something that just happens; it's ongoing, especially because it's his first transformation."
    Of course, our new favorite monster duo didn't want to give away all the secrets, but they told us as much as they could without spoiling their fun. "How can you explain it?" Trevino says. "It's Tyler going through this crazy struggle. It's like he's being reborn, because you have Tyler and the journey that he went through before this transformation, before this curse, and he doesn't want any part of it, but he has no choice -- it's just happening. He's alone and by himself because Mason isn't around, so it's just this constant struggle, just eating at him."
    Accola is just as excited as we are to check out the final product. "Even reading it, the writers did such a great job on just pushing the boundaries of what you thought it could be," she says. "They take risks in the kind of transformation and what happens and the lengths that things are going to. It's crazy to watch and to read on the page. I'm really excited."
    In tonight's Dec. 2 episode, Tyler and Caroline begin to make preparations for the first full moon since Tyler triggered his curse. In the Lockwood's cellar, they'll find evidence of werewolves past, and the restraints used by centuries of cursed Lockwoods... and they'll make a terrifying discovery that will leave both of them fearing for their lives.
    The transformation itself sounds scary enough. "You're going to see, it's just a constant thing that he's fighting as he's going through it," Trevino says. "It's long and it's painful."
     
    • If, like me, you stalk (er... follow) The Vampire Diaries stars on Twitter, you probably noticed when resident Mystic Falls werewolf-in-training Michael Trevino tweeted, "A Vampire transformation is NOTHING compared to a Werewolf transformation in Mystic Falls. Those suckers have it easy."
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    'Nikita's' Shane West: His tricky first kiss, favorite scary treat and 8 more revelations

    Unlike Division agent Michael, however, West is very positive and open, subjecting himself to probing Celeb Slam Book questions with good humor and candor. It's not like he has anything to hide. In fact, most of his fans are already well aware of his musical talents and various tattoos.
    West's first order of business under Zap2it's sinister too-bright light bulb is to divulge his first "real" kiss. It sounds a little tricky, but as any actor learns, it's all about improvising. Here's the dirty deets:
    "I'll pass on the name," West tells Zap2it. "I guess it would have been pretty late. I'd have to say junior year of high school. I'm talking first real kiss. I kissed a million girls in kindergarten. So junior year in high school, outside of a movie theater on a slope that we kept slowly sliding down, which is really embarrassing. And then my mom came and picked us up. It was awesome. I don't think I ever saw her again."
    Her loss we say.
    West also dishes on his biggest fears, worst habit and a very sweet and scary treat he indulges in once a year.
    1) What's your guiltiest music pleasure?
    There's always something to say about '80s one-hit wonders. Being born in '78, I certainly have plenty of that. I have my iTunes right in front of me. Well, some people truly love the music, but I'll say for certain nights out in Las Vegas and that kind of stuff, I have some Rihanna and Lady Gaga. That's not what I normally listen to, but obviously the world does, so I don't know if that goes under a guilty pleasure, but it would be for me as well as plenty of Motley Crue, Poison and all the hair bands from the '80s, which are a lot of fun.
    2) If you could jam with one person dead or alive, who would it be?
    Joe Strummer, singer for The Clash. Big time. And he is dead, unfortunately.
    3) Which celebrity do you find attractive?
    There are many. I'd have to go with Angelina Jolie on that one. I've liked her since "Cyborg 2," which is a movie not many people saw. Check it out. It's one of her first films. It was pre-"Hackers," but not by much I don't think.
    4) What's your worst habit or trait?It's been smoking in the past, which I've cut out. It was biting my nails in the past, which I've now cut out. I'm 32, so I did a full life reversal at 30 of at least paying attention to things more and actually getting them done instead of screwing around with them. I'd say it's just -- I have an inherent laziness that's built in me that I have to fight through all the time. So I would say getting off the couch. I'm very much a huge movie watcher and book reader, and even though that can be productive, it still does mean sitting on the couch. So I think my worst habit is getting me out of the house. Once I get out then I can keep moving.
    5) What's the latest book and/or movie that affected you the most?
    I just finished, believe it or not, "On the Road" for the first time, about five or six months ago. It was one of the reasons why I drove -- I didn't hitchhike -- but I drove from Los Angeles to Toronto to shoot "Nikita." It affected me enough, and I had not done that before. I had done it on tour buses with my band, but you're on a tour bus and you're asleep. It doesn't really count. So that book truly affected me in that sense that I wanted to feel that Americana and see it. I'm currently reading "The Fountainhead," which is going to take me a year I guess because it's like 800 pages. I make sure I start and finish everything, so I can't just stop even though I have other books to read.
    "Paranormal Activity 2" was really creepy. I didn't really realize it was that effective until I tried sleeping the last couple of nights. There's also a movie that came out called "A Prophet" that came out this year. Brilliant film. It's essentially a "Godfather"-like tale taking place in prison. I hadn't seen a film that powerful as they had been 20-25 years ago in that genre. It seems like it had been a while since the last "Goodfellas."
    6) Who do you text with the most?
    Currently that would be all the actors and actresses I'm working with right now. In reality, my buddy from high school, my sister back in LA and the three good friends who are my roommates.
    7) What is your deepest fear?Besides failure, it would have to be sharks and drowning. I did go swimming with sharks in Hawaii a couple years ago to try and get over the fear, and I did a pretty damn good job, but it's still a brutal way to go. And I've always thought drowning would be terrible.
    8) What's a surprising activity you do in your free time?
    I'm pretty much an open book from what people know about me. Besides you know, reading, watching movies, I play the guitar, I go to the gym a lot, I run. I think those things people already know. I started rock climbing here in Toronto. With a rope. Aaron Stanford, one of the actors on the show, is getting really into it. He just started bouldering, so wants me to go with him and do that with no line or anything. I'm trying to find time for that because it's a great way to stay in shape. And it's not boring, that's for sure. It's a great combo.
    9) What's your food weakness?
    Because of Halloween ending not too long ago, my weakness around there are breakfast cereals such as Boo Berry, Franken Berry and Count Chocula. And I'm still frustrated to this day that they are not sold all the time and only sold during Halloween. Obviously someone made the decision -- well, they're terrible for you, so it's a good thing they're not. But it's fun to have during Halloween. I'm looking at them right now. Those three boxes that were sent to me from my roommate in LA they're currently in my kitchen in Toronto sitting next to egg white protein, Emergen C and Clif bodybuilder bars ... and Boo Berry and Franken Berry.
     
    • Shane West has a very loyal following, and being able to play dark, brooding and conflicted on The CW's Nikita is just part of the appeal.
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    'Fringe': Trailer for 'Entrada' has thrills and a secret message

    The two-minute teaser starts off (how else?) super creepy with Peter (Joshua Jackson) being woken up by a strange phone call. "I know this is going to sound crazy, but I just saw a woman disappear in front of my eyes. Her name was Olivia. She has a message for you. She's trapped in the other universe." Cue Peter rolling over to look at Fauxlivia (Anna Torv). We told you. Super creepy.
    We also see the real Olivia (Anna Torv, part two!) stuck in the parallel world trying her best to explain the situation after "Walternate" (John Noble) found out she now knows who she is: "My universe is not at war with yours. This all began because a man came over here to save a boy and 25 years later, I came back to save that same boy. Both universes can't survive. There must be another way." In true J.J. Abrams fashion, the trailer ends with a reversed-recorded message, which -- spoiler alert! -- is a man saying, '"Only one way to find out."
    The highlight of the trailer? This intense exchange between Peter and Fauxlivia:
    Fauxlivia: You gonna kill me?Peter: No, I'm going to get answers. And if I find out that you did anything to Olivia, then I'm going to kill you."Entrada" airs Thursday, Dec. 2, at 9 pm ET on Fox.
    Here's the trailer, courtesy of  EW:
    http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1545148137?bctid=693300280001
    Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook  for the latest news and buzz
    Photo/Video credit: Fox/EW.com
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...et-message.html
    • So reads the opening of  Fringe's movie-style trailer for Thursday's (Dec. 2) episode, "Entrada," and believe us when we say it is awesome and better than most actual movies' trailers.
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    Jeffrey Donovan directs 'Burn Notice' prequel; ABC considers food truck sitcom

    ABC could be revving up for a tasty treat. Word is that Warren Littlefield and some former "King of the Hill" writers are developing a sitcom about food trucks, those mobile purveyors of sustenance. Comedian Al Madrigal would star as a man who takes over the family food truck biz. [Vulture]
    More American Country Awards performers are signing up. Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and The Band Perry will join the previously announced performers for the two-hour special on Dec. 4. [ACAs]
    "The Walking Dead" is ambling to a close in its first season, and this may be the end of its writing staff as well. Showrunner Frank Darabont has reportedly fired the entire writing staff and will farm out individual episodes of Season 2 to freelancers. Not sure how we feel about that, but we're waiting for confirmation from AMC before we panic as if we're in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. [Deadline]
    Trinity still holds the record, but "Dexter's" latest episode, "In the Beginning" could presage big numbers for the upcoming Season 5 finale. "In the Beginning" drew the second-highest number of viewers in the ratings history. Approximately 2.54 million tuned in Sunday (Nov. 28), just shy of the Season 4 finale audience of 2.57 million. The show has shown steady growth as well, it's up 43 percent from the Season 5 premiere, and is up 20 percent from the previous week. [Showtime]
    "Ugly Betty" star Michael Urie, Jed Rees and Lindy Booth have joined the TBS pilot "Brain Trust," a comedy starring D.B. Sweeney as a police detective who's aided by three geeks played by the aforementioned trio. Meanwhile, on sister network TNT, Wynn Everett, William Ragsdale and Suzy Nakamura have jumped aboard the Eliza Dushku small town cop drama "Bird Dog." [Deadline]
    Spike TV has bagged more "Auction Hunters." The network has renewed the reality series for a 20-episode second season. The show originally debuted on Nov. 9. [The Hollywood Reporter]
    Reiko Aylesworth (best known for playing Michelle Dessler on "24") has landed a potentially recurring role on "Hawaii Five-0," as Malia, Chin Ho's (Daniel Dae Kim) ex-fiance. Malia is a doctor who Chin Ho runs into when a case leads him to the hospital. This isn't the actresss' first time in Hawaii; She played Dharma member Amy on "Lost."[Movieline]
    • Jeffrey Donovan may play a spy on Burn Notice, but what he really wants to do is direct. Well, he gets his chance when he helms the "Burn Notice" prequel movie starring Bruce Campbell as Sam. The two-hour mission unfolds in Spring 2011. [USA Network]
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    TV ratings: 'Chuck,' 'Event' up some, but CBS reruns win Monday

    Fast National ratings for Monday, Nov. 29, 2010
    ESPN will most likely end up having Monday's biggest audience thanks to "Monday Night Football." Among the broadcast networks, though, CBS led the way with 8.65 million viewers and a 5.5 rating/9 share in households. ABC (6.7 million, 4.4/7) took a big tumble from its Monday average now that "Dancing" is gone. NBC took third with 6 million viewers and a 3.7/6 as all three of its shows were up a bit compared to recent weeks. FOX (5.7 million, 3.5/5) came in fourth. The CW (2 million, 1.3/2) was also up some over recent weeks.
    CBS also led the adults 18-49 demographic with a 2.4 rating. FOX grabbed second in the demo with a 1.9, narrowly beating NBC's 1.8. ABC was fourth with just a 1.3, while The CW earned a 1.0.
    Monday hour by hour:
    8 p.m.
    CBS: How I Met Your Mother rerun (8.5 million viewers, 5.3/8 households)/ Rules Of Engagement rerun (7.8 million, 4.8/7)
    ABC: "Skating With the Stars" (6.19 million, 4.2/7)
    NBC: "Chuck" (6.17 million, 3.7/6)
    FOX: "House" rerun (5.1 million, 3.2/5)
    The CW: "90210" (2 million, 1.3/2)
    18-49 leader: "How I Met Your Mother" (2.7)
    9 p.m.
    CBS: Two and a Half Men rerun (11.25 million, 7.0/11)/ Mike & Molly rerun (8.9 million, 5.6/9)
    ABC: "Skating With the Stars" (5.8 million, 3.9/6)/Special - "CMA Country Christmas" (7.2 million, 4.7/7)
    FOX: "Lie to Me" (6.3 million, 3.8/6)
    NBC: "The Event" (5.8 million, 3.6/5)
    The CW: "Gossip Girl" (2 million, 1.4/2)
    18-49 leader: "Two and a Half Men" (3.0)
    10 p.m.
    CBS: Hawaii Five-O rerun (7.7 million, 5.1/9)
    ABC: "CMA Country Christmas" (7.4 million, 4.8/8)
    NBC: "Chase" (6 million, 3.9/7)
    18-49 leader: "Hawaii Five-0" (1.9)
    Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.
    • The absence of "Dancing With the Stars" from ABC and a night of reruns on CBS gave a slight boost to shows like Chuck and Lie to Me Monday night. Even with reruns, though, CBS still led the night.
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    Michael Douglas 'on the upward curve'; David Cassidy pleads innocent to DUI

    In his first big interview since being diagnosed with throat cancer earlier this year, Michael Douglas admits that the disease and intense treatment he's undergone have taken a toll, but he says he's "on the upward curve" now. "To be able to sit here and talk to you, I'm so happy." [Hollywood Reporter]
    David Cassidy -- or rather his lawyer, acting on Cassidy's behalf -- pleaded not guilty to a DUI charge in a Florida court on Tuesday (Nov. 30). Cassidy was arrested earlier this month but maintains his innocence; he's due back in court in January. [TMZ]
    Mariah Carey has started having some pregnancy cravings, but they're not the sterotypical ones. "My taste bud situation is unparalleled," she says. "I don't know what it is, but I'm just about fruit for some reason." [People]
    NFL/VH1 star Chad Ochocinco put weeks of rumors to rest Tuesday by confirming he's engaged to another VH1 regular, Evelyn Lozada of "Basketball Wives." "It's time for me to sit down," he says. "I'm 32, you know, my days are over." [On-Air with Ryan Seacrest]
    • Shocking News on Michal Douglas, David Cassidy, Mariah Carey and Chad Ochocinco!
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    'The Vampire Diaries' sneak peek: Master plans and meaningful looks

    Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) come up with a plan to break the spell cast over vampires and werewolves so that Elena (Nina Dobrev) is no longer an essential part of Klaus's diabolical scheme. "Ergo, you live," Damon quips.
    There are a few things that stand out to us about this clip.
    One: Why is Bonnie agreeing to open the tomb up? Of course Elena is her best friend, but this is a spell that actually killed her seasoned, practiced grandmother. Wouldn't she demand they find another way?
    Two: Katherine is starved for blood. They'd better have a damn good method of keeping her in that tomb because once Bonnie breaks the spell, she basically turns into a juicy steak on a plate. With Katherine's vervain tolerance, almost nothing will be able to stop her from tearing a piece out of Bonnie and any other living person in that tomb.
    Three: Elena is probably right. Klaus has been alive a thousand years -- if he's got anything, he's got time on his hands. He'll be perfectly content to come whirling through Mystic Falls, killing off every person who had a hand in messing up his plan... and maybe a few extra for good measure.
    Four: Okay, let's talk about that look Elena gives Damon when she says, "Everyone that I care about, including the two of you." Elena is pointedly making sure Damon knows that she cares about him again, Damon is stunned by it, and Stefan goes on talking like there are no meaningful gazes around at all. Hmmm. I'll say this: it's only been 10 episodes since Damon snapped Jeremy's neck. He's making pretty good time.
    Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
     
     
    • After a brief (or excruciatingly long... whatever) hiatus, The Vampire Diaries returns this Thursday, Dec. 3, with a vengeance. Specifically, Klaus's.
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    'Chuck': Volkoff, you so crazy

    And let us all now praise Timothy Dalton. There could have been easier ways for the character of Volkoff to go in this episode -- the psycho part of him could have melted away in favor of the lovesick part -- but to his immense credit, Dalton played crazy-in-love about as well as I've ever seen it played on television. "Chuck" hasn't really gotten any recognition from the Emmys in its first three seasons, but Dalton gave an award-worthy performance here -- funny, scary, intense and great.
    While we still don't quite know what Mary Bartowski is up to -- she says her mission is to take down Volkoff's network, but do we want to take her at her word? -- "Leftovers" at least gave us a great sense of why she's stayed embedded with Volkoff for so long. He has a blind spot for her, and she's (presumably) been using that to gather intel on his operations. Sarah recognizes her dilemma, and she helps talk Chuck down a little after he finds out the reason Volkoff is so single-minded in his efforts to get Frost out of CIA custody.
    Speaking of Chuck himself, this was Zachary Levi's second episode as a director, and it had some common threads with last season's "Chuck vs. the Beard." Like that one, we got a huge dose of key information that deepens the "Chuck" universe, and curiously enough, both episodes involve enemy agents taking over the Buy More and imperiling Morgan. This one, however, was a little smaller in scale and focused more on the actors, and Levi got strong performances all around (including himself).
    And that's four sizable paragraphs in without even mentioning that, oh by the way,Chuck has the Intersect back. It seemed like kind of a roundabout way to get it back to him -- among other things, why would Steven Bartowski go through Ellie and risk her falling into the spy world? -- but the excited-relieved-nerdy smile on Chuck's face as he said "I know kung fu. Again" was enough to patch over those holes.
    So where does all the activity of "Chuck vs. the Leftovers" leave us? Volkoff now knows Frost is Chuck's mom, and that her son works for the CIA. He can't be so deep in Mary's thrall that he's willing just to leave Chuck and Sarah alone -- and it's equally hard to believe that Chuck will let things lie. He may trust his mom again, but that seems like all the more reason for him and the team to go after Volkoff and try to take him down and free her from the situation she's been in for so long.
    On the real-life side of things, too, here's hoping that "Chuck" can get Dalton and Linda Hamilton back for some of the back 11 episodes. Their primary arc will likely be done by episode 13 -- that's all the episodes the writers had to work with at the start of the season -- but as with Shaw last season, it's easy to see a way for them to pop back up in the second half of the season. Fingers crossed that everyone's schedule works out.
    Other thoughts on "Chuck vs. the Leftovers":
    The show has gone to the "Die Hard" well before, but Morgan's John McClane impression tonight was just brilliant. The tank top, the bare feet, the hobbling with the gun taped to his back, the not being able to reach the gun because he taped it too low -- note-perfect. Chuck told Devon he needed to be awesome, and he was -- both in helping Chuck and Sarah call in backup and in resetting the boundary between Chuck-world and family world. Awesome can't really unlearn what he knows about Chuck's work, but his setting a line with Chuck and refusal to be informed about the new Intersect was a great way to show how much he cares about Ellie and wants to protect her and their child (aside from asking her to drive a minivan). How strong must the sedative Volkoff's advance woman used on Jeff and Lester have been? It's been a running joke on the show that Jeff does not go down easily, but he faded away in seconds with this stuff. I really, really hope that we get to see the machine guns hidden in the Buy More ceiling again before the season ends. What did you think of the episode? How are you going to pass the time between now and when "Chuck" returns?
    • If  Chuck is going away till January -- which it is -- at least it left us with one heck of an episode. "Chuck vs. the Leftovers" wasn't nearly as heavy on action as some others have been this season, but for pure concentrated Chuck-ness, it was very satisfying.
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    'The Event': Thomas phone home

    The twin revelations that Thomas wasn't planning an attack on the United States (at least not directly) and of the reason why Dempsey was after Leila and her little sister gave the show a nice note on which to go out. But they were more "Hmm" than "Whoa!" as these things go, and while they worked, it's hard to say whether they worked well enough to keep fans on the hook until late February.
    That the show won't be back until then is not  The Event's  fault, of course, and if it were coming back sooner, then this would have been a fine bit of teasing to tide us over till, say, mid-January. But that's not what's happening, and NBC's decision to hold off longer could end up hurting the show.
    So, about those two revelations. Midway though the episode I wrote the following in my notes: "This nuke is going to launch at the fade to black, isn't it?" That the show chose not to do that -- and that it wasn't a nuclear missile Thomas launched after all -- is a big plus to its credit. The question now is why Thomas and Isobel were being so secretive about their plans with Sophia.
    Is he transmitting a homing beacon, a distress signal or a call to arms into space, and regardless of which it is (or if it's something else altogether), why is that something that needs to be hidden from Sophia? She wants to return to wherever it is they came from, but is that necessarily mutually exclusive from what Thomas is doing -- especially since they don't quite have the technology here on Earth to make it happen?
    As for the other big moment, seeing that Michael Buchanan hasn't aged in 50-plus years answers a couple questions while raising others. We now know why Dempsey has been kidnapping little girls -- they're the daughters of sleepers, and he's using them somehow to supply his young-making coffee additive. It makes them age prematurely, as does whatever was in the syringe Sean injected into Dempsey's goon.
    Now that we know -- or at least can very strongly assume -- that Michael is an EBE too, it does explain how he was so certain that the helicopters that came for the Avias passengers weren't friendly. What it doesn't explain is Crazy Journalist Lady's info-dump to Sean and Leila about Michael's Mt. Inostranka research. Mostly likely Michael was just lying about having seen the facility from the air a couple years back, but that's an odd red herring to throw in.
    It does seem to mean, though, that unless Leila's mom is also an alien, that humans and the EBEs can procreate, and the resulting offspring are different -- at least different enough for Dempsey to want to round them up and experiment on them.
    Again, if these questions were going to be answered in a couple weeks, or even a little more than a month from now, we'd be more sanguine about where "The Event" was headed. This was a pretty solid episode, one of the better ones it's done in recent weeks. But the fact that we won't find anything out until three months from now takes away from its impact some, and that's a shame.
     
     
    • Say this for the last new episode of The Event for three months: The two big developments at the end of the episode weren't ones we exactly saw coming.
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    'Hellcats': AJ Michalka joins sister Aly for multi-episode arc

    Zap2it confirms that AJ has been tapped for a recurring role on her sister's series, Hellcats.  AJ, who recently appeared in Disney's "Secretariat," will make her CW debut in the second half of the season as a girl who works at a record store near Lancer University.
    Of course, Aly and AJ are in a band together called 78violet - which was previously known simply as "Aly and AJ." When AJ's character befriends Marti, a musical connection is made, and The CW tells us that "a musical performance with the two is very likely."
    When Zap2it spoke with Aly at the Television Critics Association press tour over the summer, she told us that despite "Hellcats" filming in Vancouver, she and her sister remained as close as ever. "AJ is so excited about the show," she said. "She's sad that I'm in Vancouver so I'm away a lot, but we still talk every day and we're still always working on our music together. One of the major differences between myself and Marti is that her relationship with her family is really volatile and can be sort of toxic, but I've always been incredibly blessed when it comes to my family. My mom and my sister are amazing."
    In fact, the music clip that plays during the "Hellcats" title sequence in each episode is a 78violet special. "We are definitely excited about the fact that me and AJ did the opening credits," Aly told us. "The opening title sequence we wrote and recorded, which was a fantastic opportunity."
    AJ's character's name hasn't been confirmed yet -- nor has exactly which episode she'll make her first appearance in -- but she is expected to appear in several episodes.
    Follow Zap2it and @cadlymack on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
    Photo credit: Getty Images
    Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...pisode-arc.html
    • You can't keep sisters as close as Aly and AJ Michalka apart for long!
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    'Smallville' EPs: 'The Luthor name has a profound impact,' plus dish on returning characters

    "We were very excited that that didn't leak, somehow, because we've had that in the works for a very long time," says executive producer Kelly Souders. "It's going to have a very significant role in her life for the rest of the season. Some of it really comes to a head in episode 10. We'll see how it's impacting her and how it's going to start changing her life a bit."
    Episode 10, airing Friday Dec. 3, is aptly titled "Luthor." It explores not only Tess's connection to the Luthor name, but also gives us a glimpse into what would have happened if it was Lionel Luthor, not the Kent family, who found Clark (Tom Welling) in that cornfield after the meteor hit Smallville.
    "It's always fun to get to write these characters that we know and love in our world and sort of think about how life would've turned out differently for them with just a few changes," says Souders. "It's always one of the most fun episodes to break of the year, when we change it up a bit."
    In the parallel universe, Clark is a villainous murderer, and Lois is engaged to Oliver. However, back in the real world, Tess is still coming to grips with the new information about her past. "We obviously have a lot of ideas up our sleeve for the end of the season," says Brian Peterson, also an executive producer. "Having the Luthor name definitely has a profound impact on you."
    As we approach the last half of the final season, expect to see a lot of familiar characters return -- including everyone's favorite feisty blonde, Chloe (Allison Mack). "She'll be back in 12. She comes back in a very cool and exciting way, in addition to a very very romantic way," says Peterson. "It's very true to who Chloe is and who she's becoming."
    Mack is expected to appear in multiple episodes, but the showrunners don't share whether her episodes will be joined in a consecutive story arc or if they'll be scattered throughout the remaining months. "That part we can't really say right now, but she definitely will be back for several episodes in the back half of the season."
    Chloe's first episode back will also see the return of the Black Canary, aka Dinah Lance (Alaina Huffman). "I wouldn't say it's a two parter, but she has a quick cameo at the end of 11, which is the very last episode in this run," says Peterson. "And then she's in episode 12 when we come back. We see her in a different light than we've ever seen her before."
    Sounds like we may be going into the holiday hiatus on quite a cliffhanger.
    Another familiar face in the back nine? Look for Clark's mother, Martha Kent, to return with a mission. "Becoming a senator was twofold for Martha Kent," says Souders. "Part of it was to serve the people and part of it was to protect her son. When she comes back, she'll do both."
    If you're still hungry for hints about what's to come for our heroes, don't worry - we've got a few more tidbits for you.
    We're all looking forward to Clark proposing to Lois, but the course of true love never did run smooth. We mentioned to Souders and Peterson that we've gotten a lot of tweets from fans wondering when Lois and Clark would get back to being journalists. "You don't see a lot of them at work," Peterson says. "That's actually part of the issue between them now, is that Clark is very busy being a hero."
    "We can promise in the next run you'll see them back at the Daily Planet working together," Souders adds, reassuring.
    Of course, one of the reasons Clark has been so preoccupied lately is that he's grappling with the decision of whether or not to reveal himself as a superhero. One particular catalyst will come into play: Clark's friend Oliver.
    "What's going on with Oliver has a lot to do with Clark coming out, when he's going to do it, how he's going to do it, and what he needs to do before he can do it," says Souders. "Oliver really becomes a big lesson for all the people in the JLA."
    And as for Lex, our favorite villain of all? The bond between Tess and Lex's clone, Alexander, is growing stronger. "Lex is definitely evolving very quickly now," says Peterson. "He's got this connection with Tess, and with her being a Luthor, he's more tied into the rest of her world in this next run of episodes than he was before."
    • When it was revealed that Smallville's Tess (Cassidy Freeman) is actually a Luthor, jaws dropped. Tess, whose birth name is Lutessa Lena Luthor, was the product of an affair between Lionel Luthor and Pamela Jenkins, Lex's nanny.
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    'Vampire Diaries': Kevin Williamson working on a possible 'companion show'

    Williamson is working on a project that could be a "companion series" to "TVD," The CW's most-watched show. Deadline describes the new show as "'The X-Files' meets 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'" and says it revolves around people who track unexplained phenomena. (So, more "X-Files" than "Buffy," based on that logline.)
    The rather large catch at the moment is that Williamson hasn't actually written a script yet, and The CW hasn't committed to anything. Williamson may co-write it with fellow "Vampire Diaries" creator Julie Plec.
    "Companion series," by the way, doesn't mean "spinoff." That's TV-exec-speak for a show that people think might be a good match with "TVD" on The CW's schedule.
    Williamson signed a development deal with Warner Bros. earlier this month. The paranormal project is the first thing he's gotten rolling under the contract.

    • The Vampire Diaries co-creator Kevin Williamson hasn't wasted much time getting to work on his development deal with Warner Bros. TV.

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    Life goes on for Kristoffer Polaha at CBS; Shonda Rhimes developing new show for ABC

    CBS has signed the star to a talent holding deal, meaning he will headline a new project set for next fall. Sources say the actor was offered the deal the same day The CW decided to not give "Life Unexpected" a full-season order. Polaha is thus far the only dramatic actor on CBS' roster this pilot season. [Deadline]
    "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" creator Shonda Rhimes is creating a new series for ABC set in the world of public relations crisis management. The show will be based on the career of legendary public relations consultant Judy Smith, who worked with Bill Clinton, Michael Vick and New York Governor David Paterson. Not much is known about the project (it doesn't have a title yet), other than it is being developed for the 2011-12 season and will revolve around the life and work of a PR pro and her dysfunctional team. [Vulture]
    "Lost" alum Doug Hutchinson (he played Horace Goodspeed) is heading to Lie To Me. The actor will guest star as Lane Bradley, whose rising career as a police detective comes to a screeching halt when his infant daughter is kidnapped. Bradley is described as an intense individual who is controlling of his wife and son and blames his wife for the kidnapping, but he naturally has a few secrets of his own. The episode, "Gone Baby Gone," will air later this season. [Movieline]
    • Good and bad news for Life Unexpected fans: Kristoffer Polaha be staying within the CBS /CW family, just not on their beloved show. 
    • 1,164 views
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