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Archive: November 2011 (27-39 of 321)

Nov 28 2011 10:03 PM ET

'Parks and Recreation': Louis C.K. to return

Amy Poehler’s Leslie and Adam Scott’s Ben may be hell-bent on finding a way to build a romantic future together, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be visited by someone from her romantic past. Louis C.K. is set to guest-star again on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, reprising his role as ex-boyfriend Dave Sanderson, an even-tempered cop who asked Leslie to move to San Diego with him in season 2. (TVLine first reported the news.)

The episode featuring C.K., who currently stars in his own FX comedy, Louie, will air later this season.

Nov 28 2011 06:14 PM ET

'Rizzoli & Isles': Sasha Alexander previews friendship woes and danger

by Sandra Gonzalez

Categories: Television, TV Scoop

Image Credit: Doug Hyun/TNT

Rizzoli & Isles begins its final stretch of season 2 episodes tonight on TNT with more of the same — and that’s anything but a bad thing.

In its time on the cable network, the show has found a comfortable existence on Procedural Way, its two excellent female leads, Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon, at the helm. And in these last five episodes of the season, Alexander, who navigated the waters over at NCIS for two years before her Rizzoli gig, says the show’s seemingly simple formula has more than a few turns in store for viewers.

“The [cases] get really strong,” she says. “In these episodes, Jane and Maura’s friendship gets tested in some really unexpected ways because of the mysteries and the way the mysteries unfold. The boundaries of being friends but having work-related rules they have to abide by, it’s just going to be interesting to see how [they] respond to it all. They both have huge disagreements and it puts them both on either side of the fence.” READ FULL STORY »

Nov 28 2011 05:38 PM ET

'Justified' season 3 gets premiere date

by James Hibberd

Categories:

If you’re a fan of Justified, you probably already knew the neo-Western returns in January.

But now you can know exactly when: Raylan and Co. are back on Tuesday, Jan 17 at 10 p.m., FX just announced. The network also revealed the premiere date for Archer season 3 (Thursday, Jan. 19 at 10 p.m.) and a new animated comedy series titled Unsupervised (from It’s Always Sunny writers, about two teens navigating life without parental guidance) which airs after Archer.

Here’s the Justified teaser trailer.

Nov 28 2011 04:13 PM ET

'Mad Men' actor will play 'Pan Am' sky god -- EXCLUSIVE

by James Hibberd

Categories: Scoop

Image Credit: Getty Images

A Mad Men actor is going to ABC’s Pan Am — he doesn’t even need to change decades!

Darren Pettie has had a recurring role on the AMC drama as the son of a cigarette mogul who was secretly gay (and recently had an arc on The CW’s Ringer). Now Pettie has signed up for a recurring part on Pan Am playing an airline captain who’s considered the “ultimate sky god.”

He’s a heroic former WWII pilot named Vince Broyles, a charmer with a dark side. Due to his acclaimed military service, he’s allowed to commandeer Pan Am aircraft for his personal use. Expect Pettie to struggle for Alpha Male status with Capt. Dean Lowrey (Mike Vogel) later this season.

Nov 28 2011 02:51 PM ET

A sneak peek at tonight's 'Ridiculousness': One of Ryan Dunn's final TV appearances

by Lanford Beard

Categories: In Memoriam, Reality TV, Television

As part of tonight’s multi-hour tribute to Ryan Dunn — who died in a drunk driving crash this past June — MTV is premiering a new episode of Rob Dyrdek’s Ridiculousness that would be one of Dunn’s final on-air performances. For the viral video round-up show, thrill seeker Dunn displayed his trademark spirit as he watched a particularly painful physical stunt with Ridiculousness regulars Chanel and Sterling “Steelo” Brim. See the preview after the jump. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 28 2011 02:45 PM ET

'Walking Dead' midseason finale posts strong ratings

by James Hibberd

Categories: Television, The Walking Dead

Image Credit: AMC

AMC’s The Walking Dead had a solid finish for its midseason finale.

The drama delivered 6.6 million viewers on Sunday night. That’s not a barn-buster for the zombie hit, which debuted its second season to 7.3 million viewers. But it’s the second-highest of the episodes that have aired since then. So though some of us are grumbling about being kept down on the farm so far this season, the gripes don’t appear to have an impact on the show’s ratings. If you haven’t read it already, be sure to check out Clark Collis interviewing executive producer Robert Kirkman about the finale.

Nov 28 2011 01:45 PM ET

'General Hospital': Maurice Benard on Sonny's journey home to Brooklyn

by Abby West

Categories: Television

Patrick Wymore/ABC

Thanksgiving may be over, but actor Maurice Benard still has something he’s thankful for: After 18 years playing mob boss Sonny Corinthos Jr. on General Hospital, the show’s writers still deliver new story lines that get him jazzed. “I’m very excited about the stuff I’ve done in the last month, when Sonny and Kate [Kelly Sullivan] go to Bensonhurst,” says Benard of episodes that kick off today and deal with Sonny’s childhood abuse at the hands of his stepfather. “You know what it is? It’s kind of bringing back the Sonny that used to be. And I think it’s needed. I’m having a blast.”

READ FULL STORY »

Nov 28 2011 01:40 PM ET

'Twilight's' Ashley Greene on 'Pan Am' -- EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK

by Lynette Rice

Categories: EW Exclusive, Twilight

A touch of Twilight will hit Pan Am on Dec. 4, when Ashley Greene (Alice from the Twilight franchise) begins a four (!!) episode arc on the ABC drama. She’ll play a debutante with a past connection to Ted (Michael Mosley).

Here are some exclusive first looks of Greene in her nifty period garb. READ FULL STORY »

Nov 28 2011 01:25 PM ET

'The Sing-Off': Check out the finale set list

by Dave Karger

Categories: The Sing-Off

We’ve reached the end of season 3 of NBC’s The Sing-Off. On tonight’s finale (airing at 8/7 Central), we’ll learn which of the top three acts scores the $200,000 prize and the Sony recording contract. My money’s on the always inventive Pentatonix. Here’s the set list:

Opening Number: “The Way You Make Me Feel,” Michael Jackson
All-Boys Performance (from the top 10 groups): “Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen
All-Girls Performance (from the top 10 groups): “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” Aretha Franklin
Urban Method: “Stereo Hearts,” Gym Class Heroes & Adam Levine
Pentatonix: “Without You,” David Guetta & Usher
Dartmouth Aires: “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” Meatloaf

The show’s host and judges will also take part in some special performances: Sara Bareilles will sing her current single “Gonna Get Over You” with Urban Method, the Dartmouth Aires will join Ben Folds on his track “Not the Same,” and Nick Lachey will perform his 98 Degrees hit “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)” with Pentatonix. And I’m happy to see that the unfairly booted Afro-Blue will get another moment in the spotlight, sharing the stage with Smokey Robinson for “You Really Got A Hold On Me.”

Which act do you think will win the title tonight?

Dave on Twitter: @davekarger

Nov 28 2011 11:30 AM ET

'Game of Thrones' teaser: Season 2 dragons are kept here -- PHOTO

by James Hibberd

Categories:

Flew to Croatia under cover of darkness on a bold secret mission: To sneak onto the Game of Thrones season 2 set and snap a photo of Daenerys Targaryen’s three dragons. My editors at EW tried to talk me out of it — something about the producers using “CGI” for the dragons (?). But I was certain I could evade whatever high-tech countermeasures the Thrones team employed.

I anchored my dingy in the waters off Dubrovnik, then swam ashore at Fort Lovrijenac– READ FULL STORY »

Nov 28 2011 09:38 AM ET

First look of Katharine McPhee in NBC's 'Smash' -- VIDEO

by Lynette Rice

Categories: Television

The music definitely picks up for NBC in February, when it debuts the musical drama Smash starring Katharine McPhee and Debra Messing. Here’s a quick peek at the making of a behind-the-scenes featurette that helps to explain a little bit about McPhee’s anti-Glee-like character for the series that’ll bow Feb. 6.

McPhee plays an Iowa gal named Karen Cartwright, who auditions for the role of Marilyn on Broadway. (You can guess how she does by hearing her croon in this video). READ FULL STORY »

Nov 28 2011 01:00 AM ET

'Walking Dead' writer Robert Kirkman talks midseason finale shocker

by Clark Collis

Categories: Books, Comic Book Adaptations, Comic-Con, Sci-Fi, Scoop, Television, The Walking Dead, TV Characters

Image Credit: Gene Page/AMC

Yikes!

The last time we spoke with Walking Dead executive producer Robert Kirkman he suggested fans might be “a little shocked” by tonight’s midseason finale, ‘Pretty Much Dead Already.’ The show very much proved he is a man of his word.

READ FULL STORY »

Nov 26 2011 11:45 AM ET

NBA could be back on TV by Christmas

by Associated Press

Categories: Television

After nearly two years of bickering, NBA players and owners are back on the same side.

“We want to play basketball,” Commissioner David Stern said.

Come Christmas Day, they should be.

The sides reached a tentative agreement early Saturday to end the 149-day lockout and hope to begin the delayed season with the marquee tripleheader on Dec. 25 originally scheduled to air on ABC and ESPN. Most of a season that seemed in jeopardy of being lost entirely will be salvaged if both sides approve the handshake deal.

Barring a change in scheduling, the 2011-12 season will open with the Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, followed by Miami at Dallas in an NBA finals rematch before MVP Derrick Rose and Chicago visiting Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. READ FULL STORY »