ABC/BOB D'AMICO; ABC/FRANK OCKENFELS; ABC/RANDY HOLMES; ABC/KAREN NEALGrey's Anatomy: Episode 15 of Grey's Anatomy this season features a flashback to the romance between Chief Webber and Meredith's late mother Ellis Grey, and the series is now casting for younger versions of James Pickens Jr. and Kate Burton.
Hmmm...although the story for this episode is most likely about the roots of Chief's alcoholism, this casting development doesn't do much to debunk rumors that the Hotness Monster is Ellis and Richard's secret love child. (Who is the Hotness Monster? That's Jesse Williams, who plays Mercy Wester Dr. Jackson Avery on Grey's Anatomy but got his fan nickname—say it like Loch Ness Monster—during a stint on ABC Family's Greek.)
Fans have long wondered if Meredith's (Ellen Pompeo) daddy issues with Chief were strictly psychological or if there was a genetic component to the relationship, but attention on the long-lost baby front has now shifted to young Dr. Avery. What's your take on this tantalizing fan speculation?
Glee: The L.A. Times' Hollywood Backlot photographers were on set for the filming of Glee's fall finale, "Sectionals," which airs this coming Wednesday. Our favorite of the 41 snaps is the one that shows off Chris Colfer's adorable dimples.
ABC: We updated our premieres calendar with new return dates for FlashForward (March 4) and V (March 30).
General Hospital: Movie star James Franco confirmed that his G.H. stint is part of a larger performance art project. (Actors. Are. Nutty.)
Jersey Shore: Based on Twitter chitter-chatter, MTV's Jersey Shore appeared to be a big hit, but only 1.4 million people actually tuned in. Did you watch? What did you think?
Merie in Sacramento, Calif.: I heard that Hayden Panettiere from Heroes is hooking up with Jesse McCartney. Is that true?
Hayden and Jesse are close friends and have been spotted out in Hollywood many times together, but a source tells E! News that the two seemed very close earlier this week when they were spotted together at Hollywood hot spot Wonderland.
"He was already there with three guy friends and when she got there she walked directly to his table," says the source. "They hugged, and he kissed her on the cheek. They're definitely together. They were flirting and he was sitting on the couch between her legs while she sat on top of the couch."
But these two aren't ready to announce their relationship to the world just yet. When it was time to close up shop, they left separately, both hiding their faces from waiting paparazzi.
"He left before her and had his hood on his head as he walked into an Escalade," says our source. "Then the club closed, and she didn't want to leave. She kept saying she didn't want to go outside because of the paps. She wanted to go out the back door but it was bolted."
The club tried to protect Panettiere though, even asking E! News' source to pose as a decoy for the starlet.
"A security guard came over to me and asked if I would be willing to put my fedora over my face and walk into her car to trick the paps," says the source. "I felt uncomfortable and I didn't do it. She ended up having to go out and she put her hood on her head and left with a bunch of security."
Panettiere's rep says "They are just friends," while McCartney's rep tells E! "We don’t comment on our clients' personal lives."
—Additional reporting by Whitney English and Juli Deveau
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Get your first look at Benjamin Bratt's return to Law & Order after a 10-year absence in our TV Stunt Casting gallery!