Jun 18, 2009, 12:00 AM | by Michael Ausiello
Categories: 24, 90210 Casting News!, Ask Ausiello, Chuck, CSI: NY, Glee, Gossip Girl, House, Lipstick Jungle, Lost, News, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Ugly Betty
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.
Dustin Milligan was conspicuously missing from Saturday's 90210 event at PaleyFest '09, but the actor -- who was recently handed his walking papers -- was on the forefront of his co-stars' minds.
"I'm going to miss him terribly," confessed Milligan's leading lady, Shenae Grimes. "He is an amazing guy and an amazing actor. We would bounce ideas off each other and we could be straight up with each other. We could be like, 'Chill with the mouth thing.' It was nice to have that on-set camaraderie. But we will keep in touch."
90210's new boss lady, Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair, recently told me that the soap's second season would be "significantly" different than the first, and, man, she wasn't kidding.
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Dustin Milligan, who plays affable jock (and one half of 90210's central super couple) Ethan, won't be returning to the show in the fall -- at least not full time.
I'd love to say I hate to say "I told you so," but who are we kidding? I love to (and I think perversely, you kinda like it when I do, too). And back in November I told you that by the end of 90210 V. 2.0's freshman year Tori Spelling would likely be back among the fold as former virgin Donna Martin. Now, a show rep confirms that Spelling is in "final negotiations" to return for multiple episodes, adding that her deal could close as early as today.
Reportedly, a big point of contention for Spelling, who's currently in Vancouver shooting her big Smallville return, was the threat of crossing paths again with sworn frenemy Shannen Doherty. But since the artist formerly known as Brenda Walsh has wrapped for the season, the set will be a Shan-free zone when La Spelling reports for duty on the last few eps.
So whad'ya think, folks? Are you psyched that Donna will once again be walking the halls of West Beverly High? Or are you just bummed that David Silver (the notorious BAG) won't be joining her? Sound off below! (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)
More TV Scoop:
Sex stud returns to Brothers & Sisters
House exclusive: Cuddy's revenge
Is Lost killing off one of its female stars?
Color me gobsmacked: Tori Spelling is appearing on a CW show, and it's not 90210. At least not yet anyway. (More on that in a sec.)
Sources confirm to me exclusively that Spelling has finalized a deal to return to Smallville as The Daily Planet's incredibly liquefying gossip columnist Linda Lake. The camptastic character, first introduced in a Jan. '07 episode, is unique among Smallville's long line of villains in one very significant way: She knows Clark's secret.
Now for the other piece of this story: My Peach Pit mole confirms that after numerous false starts, Spelling is once again engaged in "preliminary talks" to reprise her role as everyone's favorite ex-virgin, Donna Martin, on 90210: New Flavor.
As you'll recall, Aaron's little girl was all set to head back to her former zip code earlier in the season, but she backed out in an alleged dispute over moolah. Or was it because she just had a baby? Depends who you ask!
If the 90210 deal materializes, and that's still a big if, I'm told Spelling would likely show up in the spring. Her one-episode Smallville return, meanwhile, is set in stone for early '09.
What say you, Smallville fans? Excited to see Clark's liquid nightmare back? Are you, like me, hoping it's a precursor to a 90210 return later in the season? The comments section awaits your feedback!
It looks like 90210's martini-swilling granny may be headed for another stint in rehab. Sources confirm to me exclusively that Jessica Walter has been dropped as a series regular.
That's the bad news.
The good news is that the MVP won't be leaving the show. Not yet, anyway.
A 90210 insider says while it's true that Walter's contract option was not picked up for the second half of the season, the Arrested Development grande dame has agreed to appear on a recurring basis, her schedule permitting.
"Fans have not seen the last of Tabitha," assures executive producer Gabe Sachs. "We love Jessica."
According to my moles, the decision to take Walter off contract was made purely for financial reasons. As the show continues to evolve, it didn't make sense to, as one 90210 insider puts it, "pay her all that money to utter two funny lines an episode."
Instead, 90210 will continue to invest in headline-grabbing vets like Shannen Doherty, as well as characters that drive story, such as Jessica Lowndes' Adrianna (who was just made a series regular).
Ironically, Walter's status change comes as 90210 is about to morph into a show more worthy of her considerable talents. Upcoming episodes under its new exec producer, Gilmore Girls vet Rebecca Kirshner, have been a "vast improvement," raves a setsider. "The writing is sharper and the characters much more interesting."
And with all the dough they'll save on faux vodka -- not to mention what already has to be a minuscule craft-services budget -- maybe now they'll be able to afford Luke Perry!
Thoughts? I know you have 'em. So share 'em. Below. Now.
More 90210:
Jason Priestley returns...and he's not alone!
Beverly Hills’ original sideburned heartthrob is back! Sort of.
Jason Priestley has agreed to do an episode of The CW’s 90210 later this season, but you won’t see him -- he’ll be behind the camera, working as a director. Sources confirm to me exclusively that Priestley will helm this season's 18th episode, which is slated to air this spring.
Meanwhile, a 90210 insider also reveals that Priestley's TV sis, Shannen Doherty, is nearing a deal to return for two more episodes later this season. Executive producer Gabe Sachs would only confirm that she's "in talks," but my 90210 spy insists "she's coming back. The deal isn't officially done, but it's happening."
Might one of Doherty's two episodes be the Priestley-directed installment? Sachs says that's TBD. "I think it would be a kick for Jason to work with any of his [former 90210 costars], and it would also add something special to that episode," he says. "But we don't know whether that will happen yet."
A more likely scenario has Priestley bossing around his other leading lady, Jennie Garth, who's back for at least six episodes -- despite what the actress herself told me at EW's pre-Emmy party last month. "That was a misunderstanding," whispers a source.
For more on Priestley and Doherty's comebacks, and to get the latest on efforts to lure Luke Perry and Tori Spelling back to the fold, pick up the new issue of EW, on sale this Friday. In the meantime, weigh in with your reaction to what's shaping up to be quite the 90210 veteran logjam later this season.
More on 90210:
Sound bites from last night's episode
As I was perusing The CW's just-released press release announcing the full-season pickup of 90210, I noticed the most peculiar thing: Those crazy kids buried their lead!
In the final sentence of the bulletin, the network quietly mentions that veteran Gilmore Girls scribe Rebecca Kirshner is joining the series as an executive producer.
And it gets better.
After I did some digging, a 90210 source confirms to me exclusively that Amy Sherman-Palladino's longtime collaborator will not just be sitting in the show's writers room, she'll be running it. (And yes, contrary to speculation, the show does have one of those.) Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, meanwhile, will continue to serve as show's day-to-day showrunners.
In announcing the 90210 pickup, CW prez Dawn Ostroff says, "The successful addition of 90210 has taken The CW another step forward in building a cohesive schedule that defines this network as a destination for young women with shows that get our audience talking -- and watching. We're very excited about the chance to watch this ensemble of newcomers and familiar faces coalesce and grow together as we move forward."
Exactly how many familiar faces will be sticking around 90210 remains an open question. As I reported over the weekend, Jennie Garth is denying that she has agreed to stick around beyond her initial six-episode stint. "Nothing's confirmed at this point," she told me. "It's still totally up in the air." (That noise you hear is Dawn Ostroff telling her assistant to get Tori Spelling's reps on the phone.)
Is the infusion of some Gilmore blood the best thing to happen to 90210 since Shannen and Jennie agreed to bury the hatchet? I say, "Damn straight, it is!" But what do you say? Comment away!
Related links:
Remember that story I ran about Jennie Garth agreeing to extend her stay in the zip code that made her famous? You know, the one that was later confirmed by both The CW and producer Paramount? Here's how good I am -- I wrote it before it was even official! So the erstwhile Kelly Taylor told me herself at last night's EW pre-Emmy soiree.
"I was signed on to do four [episodes], I ended up doing six, and I guess it broke that I was doing more," she said.
"But nothing's confirmed at this point," she added. "It's still totally up in the air."
Natch, I also got the Dancing With the Stars hoofer to weigh in on the controversy surrounding 90210's stick-figure starlets (covered at length in this week's EW)."I wish they'd stop saying that about me!" she joked. "Why can't I get that [criticism]!"
All kidding aside, the mother of three said, "It's not my place [to address that issue]. I'm not a producer on the show. I just go in and do my thing and leave. I obviously care about the girls, but they seem healthy and happy, and they love what they're doing.
"If it would make it better," she continued, "I will certainly make some cookies and take them to [the girls]."
Finally, with Doherty finished in Bev Hills (her final episode airs this week), Garth had some very interesting things to say about her former rival. For more on that, check out my entire video interview with Garth below. And keep checking EW's Emmy video hub for the rest of my interviews from last night, including one-on-ones with Kate Walsh, Lost's Emily de Ravin, Kathy Griffin, Lisa Edelstein, Jon Hamm, Zach Levi, and more.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go press my monkey suit for this evening's main event!
Just like Brandon, Dylan, Steve, Colin, and Matt before them, 90210's producers just can't get enough of Kelly. So, my sources tell me, they've signed Jennie Garth to appear in five episodes on top of the six to which she originally agreed.
So now we're gonna get the Kelly-Brenda rematch we've all been waiting for, right?
Erm, no. Though Shannen Doherty may return later in the season, for now it appears that the first four episodes she signed on for will also be her last (the second of those episodes airs next week). "They asked me to do a lot more," she says, but "I'm in the middle of pitching a show, [so] I couldn't commit to more than [I did]."
That being the case, the powers that be might want to reconsider ponying up the big bucks to get Tori Spelling back on board as Donna. Though the update's second eppy kept it Tuesday's highest-rated show with women 18-34 (2.9/8) and women 12-34 (2.5/7), its overall numbers took a hit opposite stiffer competition, including the premiere of Fringe.
What do you think? Does 90210 2.0 need Garth and Doherty to make the grade? Or are the new characters appealing enough to make the grade on their own merits? The comments section below is yours for the filling. (Additional reporting by Jessica Shaw)
