... Looks like Betty (January Jones) will be back, but Sal (Bryan Batt) was cut no slack. Boo! Mad Men creator Matt Weiner spoke to TV Guide about his decision to end Sal's storyline, the return of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and other Season 4 tidbits. [E!]
... David Spade's lovable, be-mulleted Joe Dirt character is coming to the small screen! The former SNL star is developing an animated series with TBS based on the 2001 movie. [THR]
... Dancing with the Stars' Samantha Harris will not return next season to co-host with Tom Bergeron. Harris, who boasts a journalism degree from Northwestern (who knew?), wants to focus on other projects, like her correspondence gig at The Insider. Or maybe she'll be the one to replace Simon on Idol... [People]
... VH1 has ordered four new reality series, including makeover show Transform Me and dating advice series Undateable. All four Trashy McTrashcans are set to debut this spring. Screw the reality shows—bring back I Love The 80s reruns, VH1! The world needs more Mo Rocca. [THR]
... Calling all Gleeks! Show creator Ryan Murphy has revealed the third new "mystery role": a male version of Mercedes (Amber Riley)! Murphy and the Glee crew have announced an open casting call to fill this role and two others (Kurt's boyfriend and Rachel's rival) for Season 2. [Ausiello]
... Charlize Theron and David Fincher are developing a new HBO series, which basically sounds like an even scarier version of Criminal Minds. No word yet on whether Theron will don her Monster makeup again. [Variety]
Bryan Batt's such a great actor and Sal had a lot more potential than others like Roger Sterling. This really sucks, they better find a way to make it work. And while not even Forest Whitaker can get me excited about Criminal Minds 2.0, David Fincher working on a series for HBO based on a book by John Douglas makes me all kinds of happy. A teacher when I was in high school lent me a bunch of his stuff because I had an interest in it, and it's pretty intense. Hopefully it ends up at least as good as MillenniuM (before Chris Carter sold out to the whims of FOX halfway through season 2 and made Frank a psychic and the Millennium group a doomsday cult) and Se7en and Zodiac. HBO under the new head doesn't seem to like taking chances with ballsy new stuff and likes to play it safe, so hopefully Mind Hunters changes things and we some solid drama back on there. Also, Glee, I'm still happy there's gonna be a second season.moreless
I like how the Mad Men writers are doing their own thing. Sure the mass of the fans want Sal back as he was a terrific character. But, I think by not bringing him back, the writer's are saying, "This is a REAL drama, based on reality. Life isn't always a fairytale like Hollywood depicts it." It makes me even more excited for next season!
you guys are right. sorry about that! --stefanie
Sorry, meant they're not for season one.
Yeah the new roles are for season two, not the back nine of season 2. Wonder if the male version of Mercedes is a love interest?
Yeah, the Glee thing makes no sense. Open casting call to fill the rolls for the second half of season 1 which begins in April? Except they're ALREADY FILMING those episodes because they air in APRIL! The 3 new characters to be cast will be fore season 2.