‘LOST’ Viral Ads

Source: YouTube

I’m not gonna say anything about the following viral videos. If you saw the fifth season’s finale, The Incident, these clips will guide you into some pretty interesting territory. If you haven’t seen it, don’t watch them. They will only confuse you more.

Watch The Entire SDCC Lost Panel!

Source: Youtube

LOST is absolutely my favorite show of all time. It’s critical adherence to excellence, their willingness to accept blame whenever they cut corners, and their dedication to their fanbase is above and beyond any show like it (except perhaps Buffy The Vampire Slayer). I mean, I have a Dharma tattoo for godsakes. So imagine how crestfallen and heartbroken I was not being able to attend their last year at the Con. Seriously, I’m one of those sleeping on the street all night people. So enough about me and my gushing over-praise of LOST, and onto the full panel in its entirety. Ahead of time, most of the pre-taped footage and skits are edited out of the piece, but I’ve managed to track down quite a few of them.

Present at the panel were executive producers Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof, castmembers Jorge Garcia, Michael Emerson, Josh Holloway, and Nestor Carbonell. It’s pretty entertaining, as always, and doesn’t touch on much of what we can expect in it’s final season. However, they did show some VERY interesting viral clips that hint at what may have happened after Juliet, pissed at losing the hottest guy on the island, hit a nuke with a very big rock several times. By the way, Juliet is confirmed to be seen in the final season as will twitchy-physicist, Daniel Farady. As are “several castmembers we haven’t seen since the first season.” Um. AWESOME!

Meghan Markle Joins ‘Fringe’

Source: THR

Meghan Markle has joined the cast of Fringe as a recurring character. Set to return for a second season in the fall, Markle will play an attractive, brash and quick-witted junior FBI agent. Markle got her start as a model holding cases on stupid NBC gameshow, Deal Or No Deal. I really hope this isn’t who they decided to replace Kirk Acevedo with. All that stuff about servicing the cast they have seems like a load of shit if you ask me. The series, from J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, stars cyborg Anna Torv (cos that’s the only way she could be this emotionless, right?!) as FBI special agent Olivia Dunham, who investigates paranormal phenomena with the help of Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson).

Tidbits: June 23, 2009

Blood Simple
Zhang Yimou has started shooting a remake of the Coen brothers’ debut, Blood Simple. San Qiang Pai An Jing Qi (“The Stunning Case Of The Three Gun Shots“) recently began production. Details on the remake are being kept under wraps, but the thriller-comedy stars Chinese actor Sun Honglei, comedian Xiao Shenyang and actress Yan Ni. Blood Simple was about a Texas bar owner who hires a private detective to kill his wife and her lover. The 1984 movie starring Frances McDormand won the Grand Jury Prize for best film at the United States Film Festival — the predecessor to the Sundance Film Festival — helping establish Joel and Ethan Coen’s reputations. [Source: THR]

Burlesque
Cher is set to return to the screen for the first time in more than a decade in a contemporary musical for Screen Gems. Christina Aguilera will play an ambitious small-town Iowa girl with a big voice who comes of age in a neo-burlesque club on Sunset Boulevard that’s run by Tess (Cher), a former dancer who struggles to keep the club open and gives the young girl a chance to shine. “She brings a soulfulness and gravitas to this character that will ground the story,” Chris Culpepper, president of Screen Gems said. “The only person who was more excited than I am is Christina.” Steven Antin will direct from a script he wrote that was revised by Susannah Grant (Erin Brokovich, The Soloist). [Source: Variety]

Frank
Kevin Lima (Enchanted) has been tapped to direct romantic comedy Frank, a reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein story. The film centers on a teenage prodigy who’s on the cutting edge of cell research in medical school and is encouraged by her guidance counselor to take a break from the lab and make some friends. After several unsuccessful attempts at socializing with her peers, she decides to use her scientific prowess and piece together a friend out of the med school’s instructional cadavers. The project is currently out to writers. Lima is also working on a remake of  The Incredible Mr. Limpet. [Source: Variety]

Ghostbusters 3
Sigourney Weaver confirms that she will not be in Ghostbusters 3. “No, I don’t expect to have anything to do with it, although I wish them well. I just did a benefit with Bill and we love working together, but I think they’re trying to create something new completely with the Ghostbusters. “I hope my little son Oscar [from Ghostbusters II] is a Ghostbuster!” [Source: Digital Spy]

Smallville
British actor Callum Blue (Dead Like Me, Rome) has joined the cast of Smallville, portraying General Zod in a role previously made famous by Terrence Stamp. Supervillain General Zod from the DC Comics books was introduced in 1980 feature “Superman II.” [Source: THR]

The Special Relationship
Peter Morgan has pulled out as director of the HBO Films/BBC Films movie The Special Relationship. Richard Loncraine has come on board to direct the project, written by Morgan, who will remain “integrally involved in every aspect of the production” in his role as a writer/executive producer. The cast, crew and filming schedule for “Special Relationship,” which has been greenlighted for production, remain intact. Dennis Quaid is on board to play President Clinton, Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Blair, Julianne Moore as Hillary Clinton and Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair. [Source: THR]

The Testament
After a decade of saying no, John Grisham has made a movie deal for his 1999 bestselling novel about a billionaire defies his greedy relatives and leaves his $11 billion fortune to a mysterious illegitimate daughter doing charity work in the Brazilian wetlands. A down-and-out lawyer helps her battle her relatives over the fortune. [Source: Variety]

Untitled Zac Efron Thriller
Zac Efron has signed to star in an untitled thriller for Mandate Pictures, which is being written by Leslie Dixon. The plot is being kept under wraps but it is described as “a sexy thriller.” Efron will act as executive producer with Mandate’s Nathan Kahane. [Source: THR]

Kathryn Hahn Lines Up Two Projects

Source: THR

Kathryn Hahn (Step Brothers, Anchorman) recently landed in a role in the upcoming James L. Brooks comedy, which was last seen adding Jack Nicholson to it’s roster. In the Brooks comedy, she’ll play the assistant to Paul Rudd’s lead role. She’s also developing a half hour pilot with husband, Ethan Sandler at Sony Pictures Television as a potential starring vehicle for Hahn.

Bryan Fuller Leaves ‘Heroes’!

Source: AICN

I think at this point my hatred for Heroes is not only known, but justified. After being given a pass for the storytelling black hole that was the second season, and grasping at straws of greatness last year, I’m not only excited but invigorated to know that Bryan Fuller (Wonderfalls, Pushing Daisies) has now left Heroes as consulting producer, the same position he held in season one. “Development was really starting to heat up, And it appears like I may be writing multiple pilots for NBC so that wasn’t leaving a ton of room for ‘Heroes,’ unfortunately,” Fuller tells AICN exclusively. “We crafted some really great arcs for the season that I’m excited to see come to fruition. I love that cast dearly and am sad to go, but the plate — she was over-flowing.”

Um, yay! Bryan Fuller is one of the most creative writers working in television right now and what the world needs are more Fuller-led television shows. This guy doesn’t need to be in the background on anything. In a perfect world, NBC would have simply handed Fuller the reigns to Heroes and booted Tim Kring. Can you imagine what Fuller would have done with this universe? Fuller is under contract with NBC Universal for another year and a half, and has been preparing new series pitches since he left Warner Brothers. He’s also expressed an ambition to eventually create, or help create, a new Paramount TV series set in J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek universe.

Posters: ‘Dexter’, ‘Daybreakers’

Source: /Film / AICN

A couple of cool posters today: first up is a really cool teaser poster (which may or may not be fake) for the upcoming fourth season of Showtime’s acclaimed serial-killer black-comedy Dexter. I’ve only seen a few episodes of the first season, but I know people lose it over this show.Production began earlier this month with John Lithgow and Courtney Ford joining the cast. The new season introduces the Trinity Killer (because he kills in threes) who moved to Miami after evading capture for almost three decades. The season premieres on September 27th 2009.

Also, we have a poster for the Spierig Brothers (Undead) upcoming Daybreakers.

The film, which has been wrapped since 2007, is set in the year 2017 where a plague transforms the world’s population into vampires. With fewer humans to provide blood, the vampires seek to farm the remaining humans and to find a way to continue their existence. A secret team of vampires uncover a way that would rescue the human race. The film stars Ethan Hawke and Sam Neil and will be released in January 2010.

Trailers: ‘The Pacific’

Source: Pacific Fansite

The following trailer debuted during last night’s episode of True Blood which, apparently to me only, was miles above the premiere in terms of entertainment value. The Pacific is similiar but unrelated to HBO’s Band Of Brothers, in that this mini-series focuses the United States Marine Corps‘s actions in the Pacific Theater Of Operations. The series will feature well-known battles involving the 1st Marine Division, such as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, and Okinawa, as well as Basilone’s involvement in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The Pacific is produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Speilberg, and Gary Goetzman. The series was written by Bruce McKenna (Band Of Brothers) and Greg Pelecanos (The Wire).

Brian Austin Green Is Metallo

Source: TV Guide

Brian Austin Green, he of 90210 fame and longtime boyfriend of the hottest girl breathing, Megan Fox, will be joining the cast of Smallville for it’s ninth season. I stopped watching this show after the first season. I couldn’t handle all the back and forth Clark/Lana/Chloe/Lex garbage, so I won’t even pretend to know what’s going on. Green was last seen on The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which was cancelled after two seasons, but this time around he’ll be playing Daily Reporter journalist/cyborg, John Corben. Green will appear as the kryptonite-powered villain in at least the first two episodes of Season 9, which airs Friday, Sept. 25th.I honestly can’t remember this many 90210 cast members having jobs since, well, 90210.

CW, Fox Announce Fall Line-Up

Source: THR [2]

Apparently all seasons are behind a bit this year. The CW is actually only starting a week later leading off with remakes of 90210 and Melrose Place. The midseason premiere date for the drama Life Unexpected will be announced later. Fox, on the other hand, is set to launch in mid-to-late September alongside most other channels.

Here’s the CW’s fall premiere schedule:

Tuesday, Sept. 8
8:00-9:00 p.m. “90210” (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Melrose Place” (Series Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 9
8:00-10:00 p.m. “America’s Next Top Model” (2-Hour Season Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 10
8:00-9:00 p.m. “The Vampire Diaries” (Series Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Supernatural” (Season Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 14
8:00-9:00 p.m. “One Tree Hill” (Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Gossip Girl” (Season Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 16
9:00-10:00 p.m. “The Beautiful Life: TBL” (Series Premiere)

Friday, Sept. 25
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Smallville” (Season Premiere)

Here’s Fox’s fall premiere schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 12
8-8:30 p.m. “Cops” (Season premiere)
8:30-9 p.m. “Cops” (All-new episode)
9-10 p.m. “America’s Most Wanted” (Season premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 16
8-9 p.m. “So You Think You Can Dance” (Season premiere)
9-10 p.m. “Glee” (Series premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 17
8-9 p.m. “Bones” (Season premiere)
9-10 p.m. “Fringe” (Season premiere)

Friday, Sept. 18
8-8:30 p.m. “Brothers” (Series premiere)
8:30-9 p.m. ” ‘Til Death” (Season premiere)
9-10 p.m. “Dollhouse” (Season premiere)

Monday, Sept. 21
8-10 p.m. “House” (2-hour season premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 27
8-8:30 p.m. “The Simpsons” (Season premiere)
8:30-9 p.m. “The Cleveland Show” (Series premiere)
9-9:30 p.m. “Family Guy” (Season premiere)
9:30-10 p.m. “American Dad” (Season premiere)

Monday, Sept. 28
9-10 p.m. “Lie to Me” (Season premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 29
8-9 p.m. “Hell’s Kitchen” (All-new episode)
9-10 p.m. “So You Think You Can Dance” (Time period premiere)

Tuesday, Oct. 27
8-10 p.m. “So You Think You Can Dance” (Time period premiere)

Saturday, Nov. 7
11 p.m.-midnight “The Wanda Sykes Show” (Series premiere)

Why is Fringe on Thursday nights? Why do I have to wait two more days? Why can’t you just show Lie To Me on Thursday? I can watch Tim Roth be a dick some other time. Come to think of it, most lead characters on Fox are complete dicks: Peter Griffin, House, the upcoming Human Target‘s Christopher Chance, Al Bundy. Hm. A metaphor for Tom Rothman? Only time will tell.