Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'House,' 'Gossip Girl,' '24,' 'Chuck,' and more!

Question: Obviously the main focus of the House premiere will be House in the “loony bin.” But what will the rest of the cast be up to? –Rachel
Ausiello: Enjoying the rest of their vacation. No joke. I’m told the two-hour One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest-inspired season premiere will feature only two of the show’s main players: House and Wilson. Everyone else will show up the following week. “It is a bold move,” Hugh Laurie acknowledged to EW at last night’s Paley Center for Media event, Creating Great Characters. “We are moving into our sixth year and I suppose the writers felt that we couldn’t just reprise the same stories, the same sets, the same look, the same problems. We needed to go on an adventure, and this is it.” Speaking of House, click here to find out why series creator David Shore is (sort of) apologizing to Huddy fans.

Question: There’s a spoiler floating around that says Chuck is going to bring home a girl in the Gossip Girl season premiere. Does this mean that he cheats on Blair? Or, even worse, that they broke up over the summer? –Fernanda
Ausiello: While it’s true that Blair catches Chuck, ahem, connecting with a model in the Sept. 14 opener, all is not as it appears.

Question: Any news on Gossip Girl? What’s in store for Serena? –Sara
Ausiello: She’ll be motherless for the first batch of episodes due to Kelly Rutherford’s maternity leave.

Question: 90210 scoop, please? –Darren
Ausiello: As you may have heard through the ‘vine, the teens at West Beverly High will be given a hot summer hangout with the C-dub bringing back the Beverly Hills Beach Club. Much like the original — which was a favorite hangout of Kelly, Brenda and Co.  — the new beach-side club will feature a bevy of hot new characters. I mean, it’s not really a beach unless there’s some skin to burn, right?

Question: Is Dustin Milligan not returning to 90210 at all next season? –Becky
Ausiello: Nope. We’ll learn in the Sept. 8 season premiere (via gratuitous exposition) that Ethan decided to stay in Montana with his pa.

Question: Please tell me you have some Smallville scoop! I am spoiler-dry and need some fixins’ on season 9. –Joel
Ausiello: The “s” word is being thrown around again. No, not Superman — I’m talking about spin-off. With next season likely the show’s last, rumor has it there’s chatter around Smallville about ways to extend the franchise. Meanwhile, my buddy Mitovich over at TV Guide is reporting that Brian Austin Green traded in that series regular gig on One Tree Hill for a two-episode arc on Smallville as DC Comics baddie Metallo. 

Question: That Dominic Monaghan promo decoy thing really disappointed me. Is there any chance Charlie might be coming back to Lost as well, even for a couple of episodes? –Elle
Ausiello: I can confirm what my Frenemy reported on Monday: There is interest on both sides.

Question: Do you have anything on ABC’s V reboot? –Danny
Ausiello: Someone who we were led to believe was a series regular on the show is actually just a guest star in the premiere. At least that’s the impression I was left with after watching the pilot.

Question: Got any scoop for us fangbangers about True Blood? BTW, love that Lafayette is still alive… so far. –Rebecca
Ausiello: HBO just released the official titles and loglines for TB’s July episodes and they contain some bloody good spoilers…

July 12: “Shake and Fingerpop”
With Jessica in tow, Bill and Sookie head to Dallas to carry out Eric’s vampire-reconnaissance mission — but a surprise awaits them at the airport. At the Light of Day Institute, Jason falls victim to a practical joke, but has the last laugh when the Newlins anoint him for a higher calling.  Maryann throws Tara a birthday party at Sookie’s, attracting much of Bon Temps to its Bacchanalian revelry. Sam postpones his departure from town to attend the bash, connecting with Daphne in the process. Having barely escaped Fangtasia, Lafayette (finds himself reluctantly pulled back into Eric’s orbit.

July 19: “Never Let Me Go”
In Dallas, Sookie connects with one of her own, then joins Bill and Eric for a strategic summit at the lair of the missing vampire, Godric, attended by his lieutenants, Stan and Isabel. Meanwhile, Jason shows his mettle at a Light of Day boot camp, and is rewarded for his hard work with a gift from Sarah. Rebuffed by Tara in her relocation efforts, Maryann decides to cast her spell on the staff of Merlotte’s, softening Tara up towards her new “family.” Eric shares a little-known secret about his past with Bill, and Sookie makes a decision that might solve the Godric mystery — or get her killed.

July 26: “Hard-Hearted Hannah”
Accompanied by Isabel’s human boyfriend Hugo, Sookie embarks on a dangerous mission to locate Godric. Meanwhile, Bill is shocked when a vampire from his distant, more violent past resurfaces in Dallas. In Bon Temps, Daphne presses Sam to get comfortable in his own skin(s); Hoyt continues his unlikely courtship of Jessica; Andy interrogates Lafayette about his disappearance; and Tara and Eggs take a detour while on a road trip. At the Light of Day camp, Jason faces difficult emotional and physical choices. 

Question: If Chris Diamantopoulos is playing Pres. Taylor’s new Chief of Staff on 24 next season, then where does that leave Bob Gunton (a.k.a. Ethan Kanin)? –Betty
Ausiello: Don’t worry about Ethan. He fares very well in the transition.

Question: As the fall schedules are being announced, would it be possible for you to make a matrix of the shows and when they are on each night? –Danielle
Ausiello: Little busy right now with Ask Ausiello, if you hadn’t noticed.

Question: I read that they are casting for a new female CSI on CSI NY. Any info on if this is a replacement or an addition? In other words, is someone not returning in September? –Kate
Ausiello: I can tell you that it’s not a replacement for either Anna Belknap or Melina Kanakaredes. Both are officially returning next season. Not sure about the rest of the cast. 

Question: Can you give us any info on whether Jane Lynch will return to Party Down for the second season? Or will she be too busy with Glee? –Veronika
Ausiello: Let’s ask Party boy Rob Thomas: “It looks unlikely that we’ll be able to use Jane as a series regular next year,” he tells me. “We are hopeful that she can guest star for us at least once, but we’re not even able to lock that down at this point.”

Question: You interviewed Zach Levi! Spill the details, buddy! What can we expect from season 3 of Chuck? –Mena
Ausiello: Our little Ausiello TV sit-down is coming to an embedded video player near you very soon. Here’s another scoop to tide you over: Based on our convo, I am 99 percent certain The Orange Orange will morph into a Subway next season.

Question: What’s up with Ugly Betty next season? Maybe you can get some scoop from Becki Newton when you hang with her at Michael Urie’s play. –Kelcy
Ausiello: Unfortunately, Becki didn’t put out. [Beat] Any scoop. [Hold for laughs] Actually, that’s not true: She confirmed that both she and Michael have received their formal pickup letters from ABC, which means Amanda and Marc will be back next season. Oh, and here’s something else: You’ll never guess who was sitting next to us at the theater — Ed Norton! At least we thought it was Ed Norton. Turns out it was just some dude who looked like Ed Norton. Bottom line: Go see The Temperamentals — you never know what celeb look-alike you’ll see in the audience! (It’s also a really good play!)

Question: Got anything on the upcoming season of Ugly Betty? –Mei
Ausiello: This just in: Producers are adding a twentysomething African-American actress in a major recurring role, which makes me to wonder if Wilhelmina’s daughter is about to get an extreme makeover.

Question: There have been rumors that Danneel Harris is returning as Rachel on One Tree Hill in the season 7. Is this true? –Cameron
Ausiello: The rumors are true. Rachel will be back next season for an arc.

Question: Any idea what actress is slated to play the role of Haley’s sister Quinn on One Tree Hill? –Lila
Ausiello: According to this highly reputable journalist, relative newcomer Shantel VanSanten has landed the role.

That’s a wrap! Feed questions/comments/anonymous tips to 
ausielloscoop@ew.com. Thanks for playing! (Additional reporting by David Yi and Carrie Bell)

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