It’s not an actual Friends reunion, but I’ll take it: Lisa Kudrow has signed on to guest star opposite ex-Friend Courteney Cox on Cougar Town, an ABC spokesperson confirms.
“She’ll play a dermatologist that my character can’t stop going to even though [she's] mean to me,” Cox told tvguidemagazine.com.
The Cox-Kudrow reunion episode will shoot next month and air in early 2010.
PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Hatcher/PR Photos
Melrose Place‘s “fun and sexy” new makeover has a face — and it’s a pretty one at that.
Nick Zano, who’s currently playing Courteney Cox’s boy-toy on Cougar Town, is in talks to join The CW reboot as a pseudo-replacement for Colin Egglesfield’s dark, brooding Auggie, sources confirm to me exclusively. READ FULL STORY »
Is ABC getting Friend-lier or what? Matthew Perry has signed a deal with the network that airs Courteney Cox’s Cougar Town to star in, executive produce, and co-write a potential comedy series about a self-consumed 40-year-old manager of a second-rate sports arena who’s reluctantly learning to be a nicer guy. “We’re trying to do a show that’s really, really funny and can slow down and play some heartfelt moments,” Perry tells EW.com. “All of this stuff originally came from watching a lot of Alan Partridge and the British Office, and just wanting to go be funny again.” As for the setting? “The idea of where the guy works I ripped off from a 1981 Burt Reynolds movie, Paternity,” he cracks. “He ran Madison Square Garden. I was like, “It’s an okay movie, but what a cool job he had.’ [An arena] is a place where a lot of crazy things can come through.”
Not unlike his character on NBC’s 2006-2007 showbiz dramedy Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (Perry’s last regular TV gig), he’s playing the role of script writer in real life; he’s penning the pilot with Alex Barnow and Mark Firek (Family Guy, ‘Til Death). “I was curious what the process of sitting down and facing the page would be like and was really relieved that I liked the challenge of it,” Perry says. “And it gives me something to do when I can’t sleep at 3 o’clock in the morning.”
Although his last two TV series aired on NBC, Perry chose ABC for this project. “[ABC Entertainment president] Steve McPherson is a very smart dude and he has obviously shown this year that he can launch comedy, so it seemed like a smart place to do the show,” he says. “Clearly, they were the right choice alphabetically as well.”
Asked if the inventive Seinfeld reunion on Curb Your Enthusiasm has made him more interested in a Friends reunion of some kind, Perry quips: “Someone who executive produced or who starred in the show needs to be on a hilarious cable show for about eight years and then bring us all on and we’ll do it…. I think it’s much more fun to see them on screen that way than if we just did some Thanksgiving reunion like, “Hey, Monica! How ya been?”
For more on Matthew Perry’s new TV project, check out the Hollywood Insider page in this week’s EW.
PHOTO CREDIT: Ian Daniels/startrakphoto.com
Smallville‘s upcoming Justice Society-themed two-parter has added another headliner. Exec producer Kelly Souders confirms that the highly anticipated eppys (titled “Society” and slated to air in early 2010) will mark the return of Phil Morris as Martian Manhunter.
Penned by comic book hero Geoff Johns, “Society” marks the arrival of Justice Society members Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and Stargirl. The abundance of special guest stars is what prompted Souders and fellow showrunner Brian Peterson to expand the episode into two parts. READ FULL STORY »
Good news, Bones fans: We’re going back in time!
Last month, I told you that Bones producers were considering rewinding the clock back to Booth and Brennan’s first assignment together for the show’s milestone 100th episode this spring. Well, I’m happy to report that the time-tripping story has been given the green light! READ FULL STORY »
The secret’s out! S. Epatha Merkerson’s mystery lover on Law & Order is none other than Winston Zeddemore Ernie Hudson!
Merkerson’s cancer-stricken Van Buren recently revealed that she had met the love of her life, but the identity of her new suitor has remained a secret. All that will change this Friday when Hudson begins a multi-episode arc as her new boyfriend.
News of Hudson’s hiring follows my scoop that Van Buren would soon be getting a visit from former colleague Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt).
All of this attention being paid to Van Buren has me wondering: Should we be worried that she won’t surv… Nah, Dick Wolf wouldn’t dare.
PHOTO CREDIT: Virginia Sherwood/NBC; Hudson: Brandi Pettijohn/PR Photos
TV’s obsession with casting Dawson Leery as a major creep continues…
James Van Der Beek, who in the past two years has played everything from a killer (on Criminal Minds) to a homophobic fashion designer (on Ugly Betty), has been tapped to portray a sleazy moneyman on ABC’s The Forgotten. READ FULL STORY »
The TV season is only six weeks old, but hey, it’s never too early to single out its biggest winners and losers, is it? That’s what I thought. Here goes:
Most Improved: Creatively
Parks and Recreation: When it debuted last spring, Amy Poehler’s workplace comedy was a snooze and a half. But apparently, while I was sleeping it got better. Lots better. What happened? “I don’t think magical fairy dust was sprinkled over the show,” co-creator Michael Schur says. “I just think we’re getting better at it.” Indeed, Poehler has dialed down her performance as deputy parks director Leslie Knope, and the strong supporting cast, including Rashida Jones and Aziz Ansari, is jelling.
90210: After struggling to find its own identity, the reboot has grown into the guilty pleasure we always wanted it to be. Moving AnnaLynne McCord’s immensely entertaining anti-heroine, Naomi, front and center certainly didn’t hurt. “AnnaLynne has moxie, and I wanted to tap into that,” says Rebecca Sinclair, who took over as showrunner last spring. “Plus, she’s hilarious.”
Most Disappointing: Creatively READ FULL STORY »
Sam Page (a.k.a. Joan’s jerk-face husband on Mad Men and James Woods’ ex-underling on Shark) is joining Greek in a major recurring role, sources confirm to me exclusively.
Page’s character, Joel, is described as a smart and accessible local campaign manager for a congresswoman. READ FULL STORY »
In anticipation of their Oct. 27 appearance on The Bold and The Beautiful (they’ll co-star opposite Jennifer Gareis’ Donna and Aaron D. Spears’ Justin in flashback scenes of an ’80s high school dance) Big Brother 11 winner Jordan Lloyd – together with America’s Favorite Player Jeff Schroeder – talked to EW about acting for daytime, spending their winnings, and (finally!) becoming a couple.
Have you watched episodes of Big Brother 11 yet?
Jeff I’ve watched a couple clips here and there, but I haven’t watched a whole episode yet.
Jordan I watched them the other night. I was bored and I couldn’t sleep so I was on YouTube. I was kinda cringing. Natalie surprised me the most. All the lies she said … I guess I was just being naïve, believing her. Kevin was funny in the diary room. I loved some of the stuff he said like ‘biz natch.’
Have you spent your winnings yet?
Jordan I have. I just closed on a townhouse yesterday so I’m at the new place right now. It’s for me, my mom and my brother – it’s three bedrooms and two baths. I moved out of the Matthews toward Waxhaw (North Carolina). I haven’t gone back to work yet because there’s been a lot of stuff going on. If nothing happens out of this, I’ll probably start back the first of the year. I was a waitress and I was working as a receptionist at a hair salon.
Jeff I just took my car in for oil change. I haven’t splurged.
What was it like doing The Bold and the Beautiful?
Jordan When CBS told us about it, I was so scared because I had never acted before. When I found out I just had a little bit of lines …I was still freaking out. I had one sentence but I studied it for three hours. Jeff was making fun of me about it. I play Donna’s best friend.
Jeff I don’t know who I am.
Jordan He’s just like the announcer. You know when you go to prom and there’s a DJ guy who normally announces the prom king and queen? It’s an ’80s flashback.
Jeff We’re not together in the show. We could be. We could make up some characters. We just had one line each and we did it in one afternoon. They did hair and makeup. Jordan’s hair was out of control and I looked like a pirate. It was fun, though.
Fans want to see you as a team on The Amazing Race. Any overtures from the AR people?
Jeff No overtures, just a couple of songs (laughs). I don’t think me and Jordan would be opposed to that but no offers yet.
Do you want to do more work in front of the camera?
Jeff I definitely do. Hopefully this opened a couple of doors and I can keep it rolling. My niche would be hosting so I can be myself and crack jokes. I don’t know how great of an actor I am – to get up with big actors, I might ruin the scene.
Jordan At first I didn’t want to, but then we did Bold and being in Los Angeles, I kinda wanted to. I don’t know if I’d be good at it, but then I never thought I’d win Big Brother. So why not try it? If that doesn’t work out, I always wanted to be a dental hygienist.
Are you guys officially dating now?
Jeff Go ahead, Jordan.
Jordan Why do you always make me do it?
Jeff Because you love it!
Jordan We are. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, though. Right after the show, we’d only go about four days before seeing each other. I went to Chicago to meet his family. He has a huge family.
Once you got out of the BB house, did you discover how popular you were with fans?
Jordan We always said on the show that nobody was watching it and how it was the worst. Now, it’s weird. People notice us when we’re together more than when we are by ourselves. I took Jeff shopping at the mall and the guy helping was was like, ‘the lady next to you is freaking out, she loves y’all.’ I was like, ‘Really?’
Jeff I just started Twittering and people are like, ‘Why aren’t you answering people?’ I have 15,000 fans! How am I gonna answer all these people? It’s kinda overwhelming … you can’t make everybody happy all of the time. But I appreciate all the positive feedback. I think we’re winding down. Our 15 minutes is about up.
Photo Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS
Kim Raver is headed to Grey’s Anatomy to break up Owen and Cristina! I kid. (I think.) I was just trying to get all you O&C ‘shippers stirred up and, in turn, drive eyeballs to my interview with the actress. Speaking of which… In the following Q&A, Raver teases her Grey’s stint (kicking off Nov. 12), addresses reports that producers wanted her to dye, and solves a big 24 mystery: Are Jack and Audrey soul mates? READ FULL STORY »
James Hibberd
@James_Hibberd
Lynette Rice
@EWLynette
