First Javier Bardem agreed to "rock the house" on Glee and now his Oscar-winning peer Gwyneth Paltrow is rumored to be circling the Fox hit. The custom designed role -- Paltrow and creator Ryan Murphy are buds and he wrote it with her in mind -- extends over two episodes in November and would find Paltrow as a singing and dancing substitute teacher for Will Schuester. Naturally, both he and New Directions grow to love to her, much to the consternation of Emma Pillsbury. Stay Country Strong, Gwen! [E!]
Billy Gardell, an established stand-up comic, is adjusting well to his role as the star of the new CBS sitcom Mike & Molly, which, of course, premieres tonight. The series, a multicam yarn about a couple (played by Gardell and Gilmore Girls alum Melissa McCarthy) that meets at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, is not afraid to throw around the word "fat." Movieline caught up with Gardell at a press conference to discuss the show's appeal, whether the Modern Family audience will latch on, and shifting gears from the humor in his stand-up.
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There's no reason to seek out movies on TCM tonight, kids. Premiere week kicks off with many new series and the return of at least one old, ghastly favorite. Attentive Movieline readers already know about Mike & Molly, but there's also deception (Lone Star), intrigue (The Event), hard bodies (Hawaii 5-0) and freakish glitz (Dancing with the Stars) pervading the airwaves. Click ahead for your guide to What's On.
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Laura Innes picked up two Emmy nominations for playing the no-nonsense, but deeply repressed Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER. Three years after leaving that series, she's back on NBC's new drama The Event as Sophia, "the leader of a mysterious group of detainees" who might know a bit more about the enigmatic "event" than she lets on. Just ahead of tonight's premiere, we spoke to Innes about typecasting, her action-genre aspirations, and her favorite film scene of all time.
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Tonight Show staffers are just like us! They help fellow motorists in need and are the subjects of heartbreaking Craigslist Missed Connection posts. If you, Jay Leno's assistant who bears a striking resemblance to "Clark Kent/Superman," were dancing with a pretty young thing at West Hollywood's Red Rock on Sunday night, click here. This might be the only way to find happiness in your Leno-subservient life. And you, Missed Connection author, may Movieline suggest 4chan. [Craigslist]
This could be awkward. Professional Twitterer Kanye West will appear on the Bryan Cranston-hosted episode Saturday Night Live as musical guest, which wouldn't be a problem if his single "Power," didn't put the entire program on full blast. "F*** SNL and the whole cast," Kanye raps on the song. "Tell 'em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass." Well, then. Meanwhile, I'm just crestfallen that yet another "surprise" about the new season of Saturday Night Live has been spoiled. [Futon Critic]
Every season of Mad Men has its defining WTF moment. Take Betty's pellet-gun prowess in season one, or Freddy Rumsen's pants-peeing in season two, or last season's Great Lawnmower Foot Severing of 1963. The series wouldn't be the same without these breathtaking, pitch-black detours into Mathew Weiner's id (for better or worse), and the current season of the series wouldn't be the same without its frequent journeys to that well for dramatic reckoning, comic relief and/or the sheer exhilaration of point-blank, old-fashioned shock. And if this year we've indeed seen both the best and the worst of what Mad Men has to offer, then it only fits that we have finally seen its weirdest. But was it worth it?
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In April, Michael Emerson thought the idea of he and Terry O'Quinn collaborating on a new show was far fetched, but admitted, "I think [O'Quinn has] gone so far as to half-seriously discuss it with various producer types." Well, yeah, it now appears that "various producer types" included Lost producer J.J. Abrams. Vulture is reporting that Abrams and his studio, Bad Robot, are seriously pitching the idea of the former Linus and Locke playing one-time black-operatives in what's described as a buddy comedy. (If anyone's listening, my vote for a title is Locke and Loaded.) [Vulture]
Whether or not Boardwalk Empire adds up to something greater than its stuffy (and expensive), period-perfect pilot remains to be seen. What doesn't, however, is the fact that the new HBO series from Martin Scorsese and Terence Winter is forged in the pinky rings of other mafia movies. Ahead, take a stroll down memory lane with Movieline to see which of your favorites got their cut during the pilot.
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The lovable Bill Maher welcomes a distinguished panel to his show tonight, including our favorite upcoming three-time SNL host. Elsewhere on TV, Gangland gets dark, Four Weddings gets chipper, and Robert Redford moseys to a Burt Bacharach tune.
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Michael Drummond was Project Runway's reliable quipper this season, popping out Crucible jokes and cat-skinning metaphors with major aplomb. In as interview with Movieline this morning, he was diplomatic enough to declare Andy, Mondo, and even Gretchen his choices to win the season, but I wanted to know about the less-lovable parts of his Runway tenure. Below, the St. Louis native talks about the challenge that got him eliminated, Fashion Week, and remaining cool when Ivy disgraced him in front of the judges.
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When word first broke that Ryan Murphy had cast an up-and-comer named Chord Overstreet in a recurring role on Glee, cast and crew remained tight-lipped about whether his high school athlete character would be Kurt's first onscreen boyfriend. (Well, until Jane Lynch let the cat out of the bag.) However, as the season two premiere nears, Glee insiders are talking about another sexy, handsome, gay student that might be romancing McKinley High's best-dressed male.
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Sigh, girls. After a hot streak of almost shockingly entertaining episodes, Project Runway settled into a basic sportswear challenge that referenced Jackie Kennedy but packed the entertainment value of, say, Rosalynn Carter. Or Lou Hoover. Perhaps even Mirabelle Taft*. We did get to see the judges turn into Yeti and maul half the designers alive as they hyperventilated for gay mercy, so that was something. Let's make fun of them.
*Not Ms. Taft's real name. Not looking it up.
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The hits just keep on coming for Saturday Night Live. If we're to believe RadarOnline.com -- and forgive me for digging out my trusty grain of salt -- Lindsay Lohan is "confirmed" to host SNL on Dec. 4. She joins the already announced Amy Poehler, Bryan Cranston, Jane Lynch, Emma Stone and Jon Hamm as planned hosts for season 36. So far, so good. Except there's only one problem with knowing this information so far in advance: It ruins the surprise.
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Maybe those 333% raises were warranted? Just last night, CBS warmed up The Big Bang Theory's new Thursday night home by airing a two-hour marathon that crushed its new competition. The Chuck Lorre sitcom boasted nearly twice as many viewers as the season premiere of The Apprentice on NBC and over twice as many viewers as new episodes of The Vampire Diaries and Nikita on the CW. [Deadline]
