Question: Your lack of reporting on the “Veronica Mars” movie has me feeling like it’s DOA. Any news on it? -- Andrew
Ausiello: Yep, but it ain’t good. At last weekend’s Saturn Awards, Kristen Bell told us, “I don’t think it will ever happen, and here’s why: (Series creator) Rob Thomas and I had a powwow, and we were both 100 percent on board. We took our proposal to Warner Bros. and Joel Silver told us that there is no enthusiasm (there) to make a ‘Veronica Mars’ movie, and that is unfortunately a roadblock we cannot compete with.”
But — like the rest of us, I suspect — she isn’t giving up hope. “Maybe if we bombard them with letters?” she suggests. “Maybe (then) they will change their tune.” What are you waiting for, a written invitation from “Veronica Mars” herself? Start bombarding Warner Bros. with letters!
Question: Do you have any “Big Bang Theory” scoopage? --Sara
Ausiello: Do locusts have leg muscles that are, like, a bazillion times stronger than an equal weight of human muscle? (Yes, I broke a sweat on that one. Thanks, this site.) Although Simon “Wolowitz” Helberg says, “We are still on summer vacation — we go back August 5 — and I have not seen the first script,” he admits, “I just saw Jim (“Sheldon” Parsons), and he certainly did let on that he knew something. I just assume they will pick up right where we left off in terms of the North Pole… Maybe we needed to eat Sheldon to survive.”
All kidding aside, what would the actor like to see happen this season? “It’d be interesting to see (Wolowitz) try to move out (of his mother’s basement). I would also like him to meet his father, and I would like his father to be Ringo Starr. How cool would it be if Wolowitz is the son of a Beatle? (Besides) I would actually like pants I can breathe in and an operational fly so I don’t have to pull down my pants to my ankles every time I need to pee.”
Question: Any update on Lauren Graham joining the cast of “Scrubs”? --Jenny
Ausiello: As I suspected, it’s not happening. I don’t even think it got past the wish list stage.
Question: Like most “Friday Night Lights” fans, I was devastated to read in last week’s AA that Zach Gilford will not return as a series regular next season. Do you know how long he will return for? --Amanda
Ausiello: It’s looking like five episodes, maybe more. And I’m a little bummed myself.
Question: Will House recover from whatever it is that landed him in the psycho ward? --Catherine
Ausiello: You mean will he stop being crazy? “No,” says Robert Sean Leonard. “It would be like Quincy suddenly getting nice and loving examining dead bodies. There are certain things that are just givens about the show, and one is the general makeup of House’s attitude and personality. He may stop hallucinating but he’d never stop being sarcastic.”
Adds series creator David Shore: “It depends on how we define better. That is the question. How sick is he? Does House want to get better? Can he get better? And how much better? And how much will the team be told and how will the dynamic shift with House away? Those are the questions we are going to deal with in the first bunch of episodes, and perhaps even the whole season to a certain extent.”
Question: Is it true that Gregory Itzin will be back on “24” next season? --Arleen
Ausiello: That’s false.
Question: Is it true that Claire on “Heroes” is going to have a romantic relationship with Rachel Melvin’s new character, Annie? --Elizabeth
Ausiello: That’s true. Kind of. I’m not sure about a full-blown relationship, but I can confirm that the college roomies will engage in a little sapphic experimentation. At least that’s the plan. Meanwhile, Hayden P. insists rumors that she tried to wiggle out of her “Heroes” contract at the end of the last season have been greatly exaggerated (i.e., all lies!).
“I love my job and I love where I am,” she maintains. “‘Heroes’ has been such a massive part of my life. I’ve been doing it for four years, and at times you get restless; I think anyone would in any job. But I love what I do. I love my job. I love my cast members. They’re all my family. I don’t pay attention to rumors like that. That’s why they’re called rumors. ‘Cause they’re rumors.”
Thanks for clearing that up!
Question: Jennifer Jason Leigh was hilarious as Nancy’s sister on “Weeds.” Will we see her again? --Paul
Ausiello: If “Weeds” creator Jenji Kohan has anything to say about it, we will. “We loved having Jennifer on the show and were dazzled by her performance and her chemistry with our cast,” she raves. “We have no idea when she’ll be back, but we’d love to have her return if our story and her schedule align. Fingers crossed.”
Question: Is the Comic-Con meet-and-greet happening or not? My calendar is filling up! --Kevin
Ausiello: Keep open Thursday, July 23, at 8 p.m., because that’s when I’ll be getting plastered with a bunch of Ausholes at an undisclosed San Diego-area location. Well, undisclosed to all but the first 75 of you who RSVP via ausholesunite@ew.com. Did I mention the open bar? Hurry!
Question: Any hints about who or what Annie hit at the end of “90210”? --Craig
Ausiello: It’s a person.
Question: Will we see Mekhi Phifer and/or Jennifer Beals back on “Lie to Me” next season? Any other new faces coming on board?--Bernd
Ausiello: Mekhi has been promoted to a series regular, while Jennifer will continue to recur as Lightman’s ex. As far as new blood goes, we’ll meet Lightman’s longtime rival, an on-camera expert in the same field.
Question: With regard to your “24” asterisk quiz in last week’s Ask Ausiello, is it safe to say that Ethan will be promoted to commander-in-chief next season? --Neely
Ausiello: You’d be safer going with Secretary of State.
Question: Now that Drea de Matteo is on “Desperate Housewives,” what does that mean for her character on “Sons of Anarchy”? --Brandon
Ausiello: It means “she is not currently scheduled to appear in season 2,” per an FX spokesperson. Speaking of season 2, it debuts Sept. 8.
Question: Is Kyle MacLachlan seriously leaving “Desperate Housewives”? --Elina
Ausiello: Nope, he’s returning. And he’ll remain a series regular.
Question: Wentworth Miller has had a few months off now. It’s time for him to get back to work. Any word on his next TV gig? --Deirdre
Ausiello: As first scooped by TV Guide mag, he’s guest-starring in the season premiere of “Law & Order: SVU” as a cop who comes to the aid of a rape victim.
Question: “Heroes” scoop, please? --Justin
Ausiello: Remember me telling you that producers were casting an 11-year-old version of Nathan? Well, thanks to Adrian Pasdar, now we know why! “I absorb a memory from an article of clothing that sends me back in time to when I was 11,” he explains. “Something happened to young Nathan but old Nathan doesn’t remember it. How can that be? It has to do with a character we have met before.”
Question: Regarding “Ugly Betty,” got any spoilers that don’t involve Matt and Betty? --Kelcy
Ausiello: Mode’s getting a new editor! Her name’s Amber, she’s in her 20s, she’s Asian, and is a master at the backhanded compliment. Casting is under way. Also, I’m hearing (and already laughing) about a possible Mob subplot involving Hilda. BTW, congrats to Ana Ortiz on the birth of her daughter!
Question: I’m having “Glee” withdrawals! News, please? --James
Ausiello: I don’t want to blow my whole “Glee” wad before the show even returns! Oh, who am I kidding, yes I do. “MADtv’s” Michael Hitchcock — yet another Christopher Guest alum — will be appearing alongside Eve as the director of a rival choir.
Question: Ever since the news of Callum Blue being cast as Zod on “Smallville” was reported, there is one question we are all dying to know: Was the “Mason” role, in fact, Zod? --C.B.
Ausiello: Yep, it sure was. Speaking of which, Justin Hartley doesn’t think a Green Arrow-Zod face-off is in the cards next season. “I have the good sense in my head to let Clark deal with (him),” he says with a laugh. “I’ll stick to dealing with the ladies. Why would I start something with that guy? That guy looks tall in photos. I don’t need a piece of that guy.”
Question: Could you kindly tell us “Smallville” fans what season 9 will be about? --Colin
Ausiello: According to Justin Hartley, a portion of it will be about Oliver confronting his demons. “I think he is going to struggle with the things he has been afforded (as a result of) his powers,” he says. “He has sacrificed things and done things that haunt him… It’s bad stuff. We need to get to the bottom of it.”
Question: Got “Greek” scoop? --Karen
Ausiello: G4 hostess Olivia Munn (“Attack of the Show!”) is joining the cast in the recurring role of Lana, a beautiful yet guarded waitress who doesn’t realize how drop-dead gorgeous she is.
Question: Hey, did you hear the new Smurfs movie will be in 3-D?! Anyway, do you have any more “Lost ”scoop? --Erick
Ausiello: May’s series finale is going to be a real downer, predicts Michael Emerson. “I don’t think ‘Lost’ will have a happy ending,” he confessed to us at the Saturn Awards. “It’s the end and I think we are going to start seeing more casualties. I would put money on major characters being killed. I believe it will be a sad ending to the show — or at least bittersweet. I think it will definitely be a series finale for grown-ups.”
Emerson, meanwhile, is still trying to make sense of the season 5 finale. (Join the club!) “I killed Jacob... maybe... probably,” he hedged. “It isn’t like we haven’t seen plenty of other people be killed and somehow come back. And what does it mean if I did kill him? Who the hell was he anyway? Obviously, Ben wanted a father. So much of our show is about bad fathers. It is one of our biggest themes. And Jacob disappointed in those final moments. And maybe Jacob made it easy for him. Maybe that was all meant to happen. Is it all ordained? Maybe. And for that matter, can Jacob even be killed? Stay tuned is my response.”
Click here is mine.
That’s a wrap! Feed questions/comments/anonymous tips to ausielloscoop@ew.com. Thanks for playing! (Additional reporting by Carrie Bell, Missy Schwartz and Ben Katner)