No time for a flowery preamble today, friends. So let’s get to your weekly scoop-a-palooza.
If you have a question about a TV show, make sure to drop me a line at spoilerroom@ew.com. Thanks as always for your participation/thoughts/comments/questions/witty banter.
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Image Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3; Craig Sjodin/ABC; Bob D’Amico/ABC
Afternoon, Roomies! Happy…what is today? I hate three-day weekends. (That’s a lie: I love them.)
Anyway, check out today’s offerings; I hope it’s enough to feed your inner scoop-hungry beast. Next week: PaleyFest kicks off in Los Angeles! I’m excited and you should be too. Make sure you send me all your questions for the casts of Once Upon a Time, Walking Dead, Community, Revolution, Parenthood, Arrow, and more! (Email is spoilerroom@ew.com)
Follow me for the most updates as well. @EWSandraG
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Image Credit: David M. Russell/CBS
Is it too early to start an Emmy campaign? Carrie Preston reprised her role as the brilliant and funny Elsbeth Tascioni on last night’s The Good Wife. But Preston’s stint on the show doesn’t end there: Elsbeth returns in the March 3 episode where she continues to represent Eli Gold (Alan Cumming) in his case against the Department of Justice. Preston called up EW to chat about her role on the series and settle once and for all: Is Elsbeth a secret genius? READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Sarah Shahi is going after Finch and Reese!
The former Fairly Legal star has scored a recurring guest star role on CBS’s Person of Interest, EW has learned.
She will play Shaw, a “fearless, sexy operative in a secret paramilitary organization that tracks and eliminates terrorists before they can act,” according to creator/executive producer Jonathan Nolan. “She brings to her work a yen for mayhem and a sharp, dark wit — in whatever language the locals are speaking,” he says of the character. “If James Bond and Sarah Connor had a kid, Shaw would kick its ass.”
Her multi-episode arc begins in the Feb. 21 episode, titled “Relevance,” which will be directed by Nolan.
Shahi currently recurs on Chicago Fire.
Related:
‘The Mindy Project’ nabs Seth Rogen to play…
‘How I Met Your Mother’: James Van Der Beek among guest stars for final Robin Sparkles installment
Tonight’s midseason finale of Person of Interest ends with a gigantic cliffhanger. But the road that leads to that major moment is filled with plenty of excitement.
In the episode, the FBI’s search for “The Man in the Suit” heats up, and meanwhile, Reece takes particular interest in the latest POI after learning she is the sister of a soldier killed in action.
For a taste of the episode, check out this exclusive clip from tonight’s midseason finale. READ FULL STORY »
Real-life husband and wife Michael Emerson and Carrie Preston might make you melt on this week’s Person of Interest.
In the episode, airing Thursday, viewers once again see Grace (Preston), Finch’s (Emerson) former fiancé who believes he died in a car accident. Only this time, she’s seen in a flashback to one of the pair’s first dates — and it’s a bit of a heart-tugger.
EW has an exclusive look at the “unquestionably” sweet moment below. READ FULL STORY »
CBS is revamping the opening credits of Person of Interest. The high-tech hit crime drama will unveil a new slicker opening on tonight’s episode. The sequence still explains, ’80s style, the show’s setup, but the graphics are definitely punchier and the intro is slightly shorter.
Below are the new credits, exclusively on EW.com: READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: John Paul Filo/CBS; Kharen Hill/The CW; Frank Ockenfels/FX
There are two positives about Mondays: 1) I know an entire week of good TV programming awaits me. And 2) I know it’s the day I answer your questions! Yes, it’s actually fun.
So keep ‘em coming: spoilerroom@ew.com and follow me on Twitter for interview alerts, news, and Halloween candy rants. (@EWSandraG)
‘ARROW’ DISH!
The Arrow cast was out in full force during New York Comic-Con this weekend. (Also, this sizzle reel? AWESOME!) And I was lucky enough to snag a few minutes backstage with Stephen Amell and Katie Cassidy so they could answer a few questions for fans who made the premiere a record-breaker.
Will we see some Laurel/Oliver flashbacks any time soon? — Joy
“You’ll definitely get to see more of the history between Laurel and Oliver, and where they come from,” assures Cassidy, who adds that she loves playing a character with “a huge heart.” Which is also something that likely endears her to Oliver. “Laurel lost her sister because her boyfriend had an affair and invited her [on the boat]. It’s basically his fault. And I think if any man did this to me and my sisters, I would never forgive that person,” she says. “I feel like she has a lot of soul, and she’s clearly very strong because she tries to see the best in everyone. I think that says a lot about her.”Sandra, can we please get Revenge/Arrow crossover? I think Emily and Oliver would make amazing partners! — Leslie
…And have amazingly beautiful justice-seeking babies! Ehem. No spoiler here because this is a crazy bananas idea. But, for the record, Amell is on board: “Let’s cross pollinate. Let’s do it. I don’t understand why we wouldn’t. Maybe ABC and CW would have issues, but that’s not for me to discuss. But in a perfect world, we would just do it.”Sandra, please tell me we’re going to see that ladder thing on Arrow again. Please. Please. – Kristine
As I reported in this post-premiere scoop, no salmon ladder again any time soon. (Sniff.) But if it’s action you like, I hear there’s some very impressive machete stunts in this week’s episode (not to mention, a Kardashian joke). And in the seventh episode, there’s a fight scene that Amell is “very proud of” against a character that “D.C. comics fans will recognize.” “It’s another fight in my plain clothes and when I’m in my plain clothes, it has to be only me because I don’t have a hood on; you can’t hide my face,” he said. “It got a really nice reception from the crew after we shot it.”
Image Credit: Michael Muller/CBS; Jack Rowand/The CW; Javier Pesquera/USA Network
True story: I’m so excited for fall TV that I’ve been having dreams about watching season premieres. Seriously. My entire dream is me sitting on the couch, watching TV. Part of me thinks that maybe I’m clairvoyant and all the secrets of the fall season are playing out on Dream Sandra’s TV. The more likely possibility is that I need a real life. (My birthday was last week, and I’m now starting to think I wasted that wish. Damn.)
Regardless, as TV continues to invade my dreams, I encourage you to engage with it in reality by sending me your questions! Email spoilerroom@ew.com or ask via Twitter @EWSandraG. Belated birthday wishes also accepted. (Just don’t ask for age specifics. I’ll never tell.)
CBS confirmed a bunch of recent casting news at TCA press tour Sunday morning, with names such as Polly Walker (Rome), Michael Madsen (Resevoir Dogs), Ken Leung (Lost) and Sarah Jones (Alcatraz) joining the network’s shows in roles of varying length. Most of this has been previously reported here or there, but for those who aren’t TV casting news obsessives, you’ll probably find some surprises. Here’s the release: READ FULL STORY »
Three Thursday night dramas were greeted with larger audiences for their final episodes of the season, but one NBC comedy tied its all-time low.
ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy delivered 11.1 million viewers and a 3.9 rating, up 11 percent from last week and marking its best rating in three months. Check out EW.com’s interview with Grey’s showrunner Shonda Rhimes about last night’s two shocking exits here.
Bigger news: Rhimes’ Scandal (7.5 million, 2.4) was up too, and not just a little. The political soap was up 26 percent, which is expected to mark a series high for the show (even after its rating is adjusted later today to account for some Grey’s overrun). Scandal started its brief midseason run modestly but, as we’ve noted before, seemed like it had the potential to grow. READ FULL STORY »
Image Credit: CBS/ABC
With the fall TV schedule now complete (below), we get to step back and take a look at the hellish battleground that broadcast hath wrought. There’s some very tough-to-predict match-ups this fall:*
Tim Allen vs. Whitney Cummings (Fridays, 8-9): “No, my show’s lamer!” ABC and NBC have their low-expectations comedies airing on Fridays this fall, and they might run head-to-head depending on when NBC launches (ABC’s comedies premiere in November). NBC has Whitney and Community and ABC has Last Man Standing and new comedy Malibu Country. (Community fans, if your ass beat by Reba McEntire and Lily Tomlin, we have no words for you). At least 9 p.m. shows Shark Tank and Grimm will have half-way decent lead-ins for once. Our prediction: Edge goes to ABC.
Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera: OK, so one this is kind of a cheat. The Voice and X Factor won’t air on the same nights, let along in the same time period. But if you think their lack of head-to-head scheduling will matter to the media, you deserve to be hit, baby, one more time. Everybody will obsess over how these two compare. NBC’s The Voice has the wind at its back, averaging 6.2 in the adult demo this season compared to X Factor‘s 4.4. We all want to see how Spears handles the reality show spotlight, but many wonder if she can pull off being entertaining and analytical. Mark Burnett cast The Voice with big names who are charismatic and have the cojones to criticize a singer. Simon Cowell seems to like big names — who are just big names. Prediction: You can’t hold down Xtina. READ FULL STORY »
Credit: John P. Filo/CBS
[SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched this week's episode of Person of Interest, stop reading now, or else we will enter your social security number into the Machine...]
James Hibberd
@James_Hibberd
Lynette Rice
@EWLynette
