Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Lost,' 'House,' 'Smallville,' 'Heroes,' and more!

Question: Your lack of reporting on the Veronica Mars movie has me feeling like it's DOA. Any news on it? -- Andrew
Ausiello: Yep, but it ain't good. At last weekend's Saturn Awards, Kristen Bell told us, "I don't think it will ever happen, and here's why: [Series creator] Rob Thomas and I had a powwow, and we were both 100 percent on board. We took our proposal to Warner Bros. and Joel Silver told us that there is no enthusiasm [there] to make a Veronica Mars movie, and that is unfortunately a roadblock we cannot compete with." But -- like the rest of us, I suspect -- she isn't giving up hope. "Maybe if we bombard them with letters?" she suggests. "Maybe [then] they will change their tune." What are you waiting for, a written invitation from Veronica Mars herself? Start bombarding Warner Bros. with letters!

Question: Do you have any Big Bang Theory scoopage? --Sara
Ausiello: Do locusts have leg muscles that are, like, a bazillion times stronger than an equal weight of human muscle? (Yes, I broke a sweat on that one. Thanks, this site.) Although Simon "Wolowitz" Helberg says, "We are still on summer vacation -- we go back August 5 -- and I have not seen the first script," he admits, "I just saw Jim ["Sheldon" Parsons], and he certainly did let on that he knew something. I just assume they will pick up right where we left off in terms of the North Pole… Maybe we needed to eat Sheldon to survive." All kidding aside, what would the actor like to see happen this season? "It'd be interesting to see [Wolowitz] try to move out [of his mother's basement]. I would also like him to meet his father, and I would like his father to be Ringo Starr. How cool would it be if Wolowitz is the son of a Beatle? [Besides] I would actually like pants I can breathe in and an operational fly so I don't have to pull down my pants to my ankles every time I need to pee."

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Ugly Betty,' 'House,' 'Scrubs,' 'CSI: Miami,' '24,' and more!

Question: Will Daniel Eric Gold, who plays Betty ex-BF/boss Matt, be returning to Ugly Betty next season? --Janeen
Ausiello: Not only is he returning, but sources confirm to me exclusively that he's been promoted to a full-fledged series regular! But don't take that to mean Matt and Betty will reunite and live happily ever after. In fact, I hear Betty producers are already cooking up a fresh obstacle for the pair, and rumor has it they want him to be lovable and blue collarish. (Think Seth Rogen, only much cheaper.) 

Question: Doesn't Scrubs' surprise renewal present a challenge for producers? I mean, last month's finale already showed us what happens to J.D., Elliott, and Co. in the future! --Sydney
Ausiello: I posed that exact question to Bill Lawrence last week. Here's what he said: "[The flash-forward epilogue] just showed J.D. and Elliott together, and I'll stay true to that. Those two will still be together. But [next season] won't be about tracing that relationship... There's no possible way the show will succeed if it's just more trials and tribulations of J.D. Zach is basically doing [an arc] to help us transition to a new show. It's like if Hawkeye had done AfterMASH." (Click here to see what Scrubs will be about next season.)

Question: Thoughts on Lauren Graham possibly joining Scrubs? --Shelly
Ausiello: Shhhh…you're gonna jinx it!

Question: Any House scoop, other than the prolongation of Huddy after House leaves the loony bin? Translation: Why should non-Huddy fans tune in to House next season? --Luke
Ausiello: Because the Princeton Plainsboro that House left in the season finale will not be the same one he returns to next fall. And admit it, you're dying to know how it'll be different. "How [the hospital] works when he comes back will be different," teases exec producer Katie Jacobs. "A doctor can't check into a mental institution and just walk back into his job like nothing happened. We will not start forsaking reality. This [story] will have consequences."

This just in: Bryan Fuller exits 'Heroes'

Just as Heroes was gaining some creative momentum comes word of another setback: Bryan Fuller has vacated his post as consulting producer.

The acclaimed Pushing Daisies auteur tells me that he left to focus on developing new projects for NBC, and not (as some have speculated) due to creative differences with series creator Tim Kring. 

"I'm crafting two pilots right now and it's a lot of work," admits Fuller, who has an overall deal with NBC. "It was just too hard to [juggle] Heroes and my development; something had to give."

Fuller's exit was first reported by Herc at Ain't It Cool News.

Fuller returned to Heroes last December, shortly after ABC dropped the ax on Daisies. Many (yours truly included) credited him with the show's end-of-season creative rebirth.

Reaction to Fuller's exit? Are you as bummed as I am? Sound off below!

Exclusive: 'Heroes' recruits Sue Thomas, Darth Maul

The Force will be with Heroes next season.

British actor Ray Park, whose role as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace made him an icon to fanboys far and wide, is joining the cast for a sizeable arc. Additionally, Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, The L Word) has inked a deal to come on board for multiple episodes.

Who are they playing and how long will they be sticking around for? Keep reading for the scoop...

Spoiler Alert: 'Heroes' resurrects 'Carnivale'

Wanna know what Season 4 of Heroes is gonna be like?

Go back and watch Carnivàle.

Based on the casting breakdowns that are making the rounds in Hollywood, it seems safe to say that the creatively resurgent NBC drama's new volume, "Redemption," will bear more than a passing resemblance to the much-missed HBO show.

Besides a Knife Thrower and a sexy, twentysomething Tattoo Girl, Heroes is on the hunt for a middle-aged Eddie Izzard type to play the Carnival Barker, a smooth operator with a wicked wit. This character, I hear, will start small and grow. (Not grow as in grow-into-World's-Tallest-Man grow, but grow nonetheless.)

In addition, the series is searching for its own Ellen Page to play Claire's (Hayden Panettiere) quirky college roommate, and a stalwart -- think Andre Braugher -- for the role of Matt's (Greg Grunberg) partner... and mentor.

Sound good to you? Or at least better than this season of Heroes? Or does it just annoy you that somebody is doing Carnivàle other than, er, Carnivàle? (My opinion? Yes, yes, and a little.) Sound off below! (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)

More Heroes Scoop:
Show seeking deaf actress for major role

Scooplets: '24,' 'Heroes,' 'HIMYM,' and more!

If this week's Ask Ausiello were to be repackaged as a DVD, the following scooplets would constitute the bonus material...

24: Is Kim Bauer following her dad to New York next season? You tell me: The show is looking for a 6-year-old actress to play Kim's now-4-year-old kid for an arc. Shooting gets underway later this month, assuming Kiefer Sutherland's recent headbutt heard 'round the world doesn't screw everything up.

Heroes: Tim Kring and Co. are on the prowl for a twentysomething actress to play a love interest for one of the main Heroes in season 4. The character will be introduced in the fourth episode and, here's where things get interesting, interested candidates must be hearing impaired. My peeps on Twitter are already campaigning for Jericho's Shoshannah Stern to get the part.

Monk: The series may be coming to an end but the webisodes are only beginning! An insider confirms that USA is developing a 10-episode web series about Monk's childhood. 

How I Met Your Mother: Neil Patrick Harris is pretty much confirming what I reported in Ask Ausiello today: Stella ain't the mother, despite how things may have looked at the end of Monday's episode. "There have already been episodes where older Ted is saying that she's not, so we'd have to go against our word to make that the case," he says. "But I think she'll have something to do with the realization of who the mother is." (Additional reporting by Emmet Sullivan)

More TV Scoop:
House: Who's getting married?!
Fringe: Major season finale spoiler
Lost: Time travel coming to an end

Breaking: NBC cancels 'Life,' plays hardball with Chris and Mariska

Just returned from NBC's upfront infront presentation. Highlights below.

•    Peacock co-chairman Ben Silverman confirmed that Life will not go on. (Bubble Show Cheat Sheet updated accordingly.)

•    As I reported earlier today, the fates of Medium, My Name is Earl, Chuck, and Law & Order will be decided on or before May 19.

•   If Chuck is renewed, it probably won't be returning to Mondays. Silverman said Heroes would be paired with "a new show" on the night (my guess: Parenthood)

•    NBC is prepared to move forward with Law & Order: SVU with or without Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay. "There's an offer on the table," said co-chair Marc Graboff, cryptically.

•    Special guests included Amy Poehler (wearing a swine flu mask) and Donald Trump (wearing his soggy raincoat).

•    Light refreshments were served. And enjoyed.

(BTW, if you were following me on Twitter you would have known all this already. Just sayin'.)

More NBC Scoop:
Ken Tucker rates new crop
Decision on Chuck on hold
Bubble Show Cheat Sheet

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'House,' 'Smallville,' 'Heroes,' 'Dexter,' 'Ugly,' 'Grey's,' 'Gossip Girl,' and more!

Question: Give me a reason to watch House next week. --Jo
Ausiello: House and Cuddy get physical!

Question: As much as I loved your all-House Ask Ausiello, I have to admit I was just a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get even a little Huddy-related scooplet. In honor of my birthday next Tuesday, give me something about the May 4 episode. --Megan
Ausiello: Okay, but I expect you to reciprocate when my b-day rolls around next February. And sending me a greeting via Facebook or Twitter doesn't count. In Monday's ep, House suspects his drug habit is fueling his Amber hallucinations, so he decides to quit Vicodin cold turkey. Cuddy comes to his apartment to personally empty out his medicine cabinet, a struggle ensues, and, before you know it, they're both wrestling on the bathroom floor and ... well ... roll the clip.

Question: So Faraday is the "less ish, more major" death on Lost, right? What a reveal! Can we expect any more mayhem before the season finale? --Tim
Ausiello: Yes and hell yes.

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'Gossip Girl,' 'Grey's,' 'Big Bang,' 'Lost,' 'NCIS,' '90210,' and more!

Question: This two-week Lost hiatus is killing me! More scoopage before the final episodes, please! --Brad
Ausiello: The major-ish Lost death is coming up soooooon. Also, it's less ish and more major than I first thought.

Question: Please, please, please give us a hint about whom Sylar kills in Monday's Heroes season finale! --Claire
Ausiello: It's a major character, and the death definitely sticks. But there is a twist. (Hint: It's possible no one will be leaving the show.) BTW, the finale is fantastic. It's compelling, suspense-filled and, most importantly, events occur consecutively and in the present day. Heroes is back, people!

Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on 'House,' 'Lost', 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Housewives,' 'Scrubs,' 'Bones.' 'Supernatural,' 'Heroes,' '24,' and more!

Question: Do you have any snippet to share with us about Lost's season finale? --Megan
Ausiello: We will come to learn that the dude who may or may not be playing Jacob bore witness to pivotal events in the pre-island lives of Locke, Sayid, and Sawyer. Speaking of Lost, I wanna say a few words about Evangeline Lilly's performance in tonight's episode: Wow. (Okay, one word.)

Question: Will we ever find out what happened to Rose and Bernard on Lost? --Lucas
Ausiello: I'm hearing we will.

Question: Any news on Heroes? Maybe something on the season finale? --Dennis
Ausiello: Sylar kills a regular Hero that's been on the show since Season 1. And it sticks.