Steve Granitz/Brian Zak/Sipa/AP photo/Gregg DeGuire/Wiremage.comHey, kids, did you hear? It's summertime! And the sun in shining! And our favorite shows are on hiatus! And, um...truth be told, there isn't a whole lot going on in TV land this week. We did consider making this week's chat a "Recipe Chat" (so saucy!), but I was able to unearth quite a few little spoilery and scoopy morsels to spice up your summer-squash stew, so read on for the goodies...
Margo in New York: Any word on The Hills? I heard that they might do a spinoff with Whitney?
Would be sorta maybe kinda good, right? We just checked in with Whitney on the rumor, and here's what she told us: "I heard that too, but as far as I know, that's not happening." When asked if she'd want to do a spinoff, she said: "Yeah, possibly, but it's just too much into the future for me to think about it." Whitney says she'll be working with Lauren at People's Revolution for the upcoming fourth season.
Jessica in Chicago: What are the chances of this Weeds spinoff actually happening?
According to Jenji Kohan, she has a plan for at least the rest of this season and a fifth season of Weeds, and then she would take some time to look at setting up a spinoff. She said of the Conrad-centric sleek/fake reality-show idea, specifically, "It would be a matter of getting someone to buy it, and getting those actors on board and all that stuff."
Curtis: Do you know anything about these "three additional Battlestar movies" that I've seen mentioned in the media?
Get the whole explanation of the contracts from the BSGeniuses over at Galactica Sitrep, but long story short: Sci Fi already signed the writers to do at least one movie, and the other two will follow along in due course, assuming the first goes as well as everybody hopes. Meanwhile, in other happy BSG news, Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune reports that the series finale of BSG will be 11 hours long, meaning we're getting a whole extra hour that no one expected. Whee!
Marcius in Naples, Italy: Any word on 90210? Will it suck?
I have a good feeling about it, actually, since the cast is all kinds of hot (you can see them in our Meet the 90210 Cast video here), and the producers are from shows like Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared (awesome!). You can meet the producers here:
Yessica in Salt Lake City: Will the 90210 premiere be two hours like you had heard? I heard the premiere script was one hour?
That is true, but my sources inside the See Dub tell me they are still considering a two-hour premiere.
Marco in Las Vegas: Did you see that Michael Bluth, aka Jason Bateman, will be developing TV for Fox? This is good news, right?
Good enough to make me squee! Jason actually directed the pilot of Do Not Disturb with Jerry O'Connell and Niecy Nash, which I hear is pretty damn funny. What I personally find funny is that Jason and Jerry have both told me they are constantly mistaken for each other, so I love that they finally connected behind the scenes.
SPOILERS
Bridget in Peabody, Mass.: Any Heroes stuff? I am dying to know what happens, and I can't wait until it comes back in the fall!
Claire is not the only character on the show who is adopted. And the next adoption twist is perhaps my favorite twist ever on this show. You know how sometimes those silly promo guys say things like "It will change everything?" Well this one actually will.
Patrick in Melbourne, Australia: I'm really desperate for some Heroes news. Any news on any characters like Monica and West?
Monica will definitely be back, as will "Nana Dawson," aka the legendary Nichelle Nichols. However, in the first few eps, our time with them in New Orleans will be centered around their relationship with Micah. As for West (Nicholas D'Agosto), I couldn't swear to it in a court of law, but I'm fairly sure he's gone, at least for the time being.
Delilah: I can't wait for Weeds tonight! Is Celia totally going down for Nancy's drug crimes?
Well, Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) is definitely in big trouble, but eventually the agent investigating her starts to believe that she's (somewhat) innocent and forces her to spy on Nancy and gather evidence against our dear Ms. Botwin. However, according to Weeds creator Jenji Kohan, "The jig will be up soon. She's not exactly stealth, and [Celia] will be reincorporated into [Nancy's] world."
Tess in Ipswich, Mass.: What's the word on Prison Break?
Sadly, my set visit had to be postponed, and I'm hoping it pans out for another time soon. In the meantime, I can tell you that in the new season, Michael Rapaport is coming on board as a government agent who offers complete freedom (all charges dropped) to Michael Scofield if he helps them to bring down the Company once and for all. Word is, this offer will cause all the peeps we love to form an A-Team of sorts (including Sara, hurrah!) to bring down Gretchen and her big, bad voodoo friends. Here's hoping they have a kick-ass van and Linc sports some big-ass jewelry and a Mohawk.
Nelson in Miami: Any word on Gossip Girl? I'm having withdrawals from the best worst show on TV.
You and me both, babe! I'm hearing that in the season premiere, the kids go to the Hamptons, Serena and Dan reconsider their breakup and Blair uses a new guy to make Chuck jealous.
Rebecca in Detroit: Kristin, you will be my hero if you give us some One Tree Hill scoop! I specifically want to know whom Lucas chooses.
News flash: It has been decided! I can't say exactly who, sorry, because that is a huge reveal, and Mark Schwan would promptly open a can of whup-ass on me, but I can tell you the script has been written, and I think many of you will be happy. (I am.) In other news, Nanny Carrie is back! And so is Brooke's mom! God help us all. If Nanny See You Next Tuesday so much as touches a hair on Nathan, Haley or Jamie's heads, I will fly right out to N.C. and snap her in two.
Ann-Marie in Wales: What can we expect for next season of Criminal Minds?
Big Love isn't the only show featuring polygamy this season. Criminal Minds is planning an episode where the agents profile a polygamist sect leader and try to protect his many wives.
Robyn in Pittsburgh: It's been forever since you've scooped Pushing Daisies. Anything new with the show?
We're going to meet baby Olive! Pushing Daisies is currently casting for a young Olive Snook, and in flashback scenes in episode three, we'll also meet her negligent parents. Yay! (Not yay for negligent parents, just yay for adorable baby Olive.)
Melody in Chicago: I'm loving Army Wives: Got any Claudia Joy scoop?
Amanda's little sister, Emmalin, aka Claudia Joy and Michael's only surviving child, is getting a boyfriend! He's a little too old for her, and I'm pretty sure he has an ulterior motive in dating her. What a dummy. Doesn't he know not to frak with Claudia Joy's baby?
Jace in Cheshire, Conn.: Summer's burning up, and I'm not talking about the weather. Jeffrey Donovan looks smokin' in the Burn Notice spots. Any chance you can give us some scoop on the hottest summer show?
At the Battlestar Galactica event last week, I talked to Tricia Helfer about her new role as Carla on Burn Notice, and she told me, "I shot the first two episodes of Burn Notice, and now I've gone back to Battlestar. I start back up again in Florida in July." But her character Carla will still be in the mix for most of the season, said Tricia, even if she's on another set. Tricia added: "Obviously the show has a lot of voice-overs, so there will be a few where she'll appear and a couple of phone calls to Michael. And also, Michael will be trying to figure out who she is, so there will be some talk of her even if she's not there. Carla is even still a mystery to me. She's elusive, but she's definitely the public face of the organization that burned Michael." If you have any Burn Notice Q's for Jeffrey Donovan, email me at tvdiva@eonline.com. There's an event with him later this week, and I'll try to get you answers.
Maria in Santiago, Chile: Anything good on the last season of Scrubs?
They're going to the Bahamas! (And if I play my cards right, I might be able to sneak into the plane's cargo hold.) I'm also hearing that an existing regular character is going to be appointed to replace Kelso as chief. I'll give you three guesses who, but you'll only need one, because this one is a gimme.
Chev in San Jose, Calif.: So, besides the main women on the show, who else will be back for season five of Desperate Housewives? Husbands? Kids? Neighbors? Who?
They're currently casting for Parker Scavo at age 14! Apparently Parker has "grown into a nice, smart kid who is somewhat of a techno geek." They're also looking to cast a 9-year-old, blond, blue-eyed Penny Scavo. Penny and Parker will both be series regulars, and Susan and Mike's son Maynard "M.J." Delfino will be a recurring character. And of course, the Scavos' twins will also be on board (they started casting for them last week). So lots of teens and tweens and young'uns who'll be part of the new cast as Wisteria Lane jumps five years into the future.
—Additional reporting by Jennifer Godwin