Linda Cardellini is going to play a bad girl on New Girl. The Freaks and Geeks vet — who received an Emmy nomination for her role last season on Mad Men — has taken a recurring role as Abby, the out-of-control sister of Jess (Zooey Deschanel), Fox has confirmed. READ FULL STORY
'Survivor': Ciera and Laura on pulling rocks and...stealing Tyson's pants?
They were the last loved one pair in Survivor: Blood vs. Water, and they got there by very different means. Ciera Eastin was on the outs early so laid low, but then emerged in the back half of the season as risk-taker willing to vote out her own mom and gamble an immediate exit via a colored rock for the chance to improve her position. Mother Laura Morett, however, stuck around simply by destroying anyone that dared to face her at Redemption Island. Eventually, however, their time ran out. However we figured we would get the mother-daughter combo back together for one more round to chat about the highs and lows of their island adventure. And it turns out one of these ladies also managed to get into Tyson’s pants while she was there. Read on! (NOTE: Also make sure to check out our other exit Q&As with Blood vs. Water winner Tyson Apostol, runner-up Monica Culpepper, former champ Tina Wesson, and Big Brother champ Hayden Moss. and finalist Gervase Peterson.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Ciera, I gave you some flak early on for not making moves, but as the season went on we saw that game face and saw you get serious. Of course my favorite move was when you pulled rocks. How nervous were you when that went down?
CIERA EASTIN: It’s so funny because the moment I made my vote for Monica there was not turning back for me. I drew a line in the sand at that moment and I knew I was either going to go to rocks or somebody was going to switch and vote my way. That was it for me at that moment. And when it came time to draw rocks it happened so quickly. I just stuck my hand in, flipped the rock over, and I remember looking at my rock and thinking, what does that mean? Is this good or is this bad? Because it happened so quick. And then by the time I got back to camp, I was like, what did I just do? What just happened? So it didn’t hit me until it was all over. So the nerves were not even there in the moment. READ FULL STORY
Simon Cowell says 'X Factor' renewal happening
Simon Cowell says The X Factor will survive despite this fall’s devastating ratings drops.
“The show will be back next season,” the producer and judge told reporters on a conference call Monday.
But not so fast: What does the Fox say? The network has not yet renewed the reality series, and there’s no deal yet. As EW first reported, Factor is talks to return despite its painful season 3 numbers. The order is likely to be smaller than usual — instead of three hours per week, Factor is more probably going to run only two hours a week, especially after the audition period. All the reasons why Fox is strongly considering the renewal here. READ FULL STORY
'Survivor': Gervase explains why he thought he could win
Gervase Peterson had “early boot” written all over him when he showed up to play Survivor: Blood vs. Water. After all, he had not played in 13 years, And the one time he did play back in season 1 of Borneo, he was best known for being freaked out by the food challenge and walking through a running challenge when he was out of eyesight from the rest of his tribe. But when presented this time with an opportunity to make a big move and vote out one of his biggest alliance members in Aras, Gervase took it. And that move brought him all the way to the finals, Unfortunately for him, he left the finals without a single vote, giving him third place for the season. But for Gervase, making it all the way to the end was victory enough. (NOTE: Also make sure to check out our other exit Q&As with Blood vs. Water winner Tyson Apostol, runner-up Monica Culpepper, former champ Tina Wesson, and Big Brother champ Hayden Moss.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Well, you went from barely being able to get out of the water in the first challenge to the very, very end. So let me ask you: Did they let that fool them, Gerv?
GERVASE PETERSON: Yes, they did! They let that fool them! It was part of my strategy going in that everybody thought I couldn’t swim because I thought that if I did well on the land challenges and in the water that I’d be a big threat. So the goal was to play it up in the water like I still couldn’t swim and be as non-threatening as possible. READ FULL STORY
'Homeland' interview: Showrunner explains Brody's fate, season 4 plan
Homeland concluded its third season Sunday with the biggest game-changing move (and biggest ratings) in the acclaimed Showtime drama’s history: No more Brody! Executing the redeemed Marine was a creative decision that felt entirely necessary, yet has some fans irked. Below, showrunner Alex Gansa takes our questions about the surprisingly conclusively plotted finale and teases the show’s very wide-open future.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So the show’s over now, right?
Alex Gansa: No, but I take your point. It did feel like a series finale. When you see that star at the end and realize this central relationship is over, there’s no question this show is undergoing a major reinvention or reboot for season four.
What are you going to do now?
I’m really not thinking about it yet. The only thing that’s dancing around in the back of our heads is the temptation to show Carrie doing what she was trained to do — and that’s being a case officer in a foreign capitol. That feels like an interesting place to begin a discussion.
To me the sense of finality in the episode was pretty bold, I kept expecting some sort of cliffhanger element like previous seasons, but that probably would have felt cheap after losing Brody.
The entire season was structured around this ending. Not specifically Brody being hung in the public square in Tehran, but we knew Brody wasn’t going to survive this season. His character has been such a huge part of the show. The title [of the finale] “The Star” had a few meanings; he was certainly one of the two stars of this show. And losing a character like that is painful. Damian Lewis is a phenomenal actor; Brody was such a central character. It was a very difficult decision and one we wanted to honor and not clutter with other things. That’s why the last two episodes played out as they did.
How did Showtime executives react to the news that this time you’re really killing Brody, dammit?
Even though they were understandably hesitant about making a major move like this, when they heard from the writers the story needed to conclude and we needed to move on, I think they just ultimately respect that. Their push-back in seasons 1 and 2, I’m tremendously grateful for that. I think the way we were able to bring Brody’s story to a close was worth it.
Could Brody still appear as a dream? Flashback?
I would say highly doubtful. But you never know.
Is there a specific reason Istanbul was picked as Carrie’s new destination?
Only [Turkey's] proximity to Iran. They share a border, and it would be easier to run Javadi from that location. Also I hear it’s a fabulous city to go shoot in.
Oh, so you think for season 4 you’ll be shooting on location in Turkey?
I don’t know yet, honestly. There’s so many variables. I think it would be very interesting to do a portion of the season overseas.
So that would also mean Javadi will be back?
Again, it’s an open question. One of the great things about season to season is how much time passes. We could jump ahead quite far — or not. And all those decisions will reverberate, and one of those is whether Javadi will come back and play a major role in season 4, or is there some new challenge Carrie will have to confront.
Some fans are worried Saul (Mandy Patinkin) is off the show, but I assume he’ll be back.
Everybody should rest assured that Mandy Patinkin is coming back as a series regular. I can tell you that with 100 percent certainty. Although he’s not at a desk at Langley anymore, the CIA does outsource a lot of jobs to private contractors. He’s going to be in that circle. He’s still in the intelligence-gathering profession and the CIA could use somebody of his immense skills and knowledge for various intelligence work.
We know they are no longer series regulars, so will Dana and Jessica appear next season at all? READ FULL STORY
'Survivor': Hayden on his 'top heavy' girlfriend and the one move he wishes he made
It felt weird, right? Having a Big Brother player on Survivor just seemed kind of odd. But Hayden Moss fit right in the second he hit the beach for Blood vs. Water. And the Big Brother champion almost added a Survivor title to his collection. Alas, he was finally voted out and then lost the duel that could have gotten him back into the game. We spoke with the reality veteran to find out which show truly is harder and also to get some explanation as to why his girlfriend, Kat, was bragging about her new boobs on TV. He also revealed the one move he didn’t make that could have changed the game completely. (NOTE: Also make sure to check out our interviews with Blood vs. Water winner Tyspn Apostol, runner-up Monica Culpepper and former champ Tina Wesson.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So we spoke the day before the game began and I asked you which was harder: Big Brother or Survivor and you said to ask you after 39 days. Well, you made it, what, 36 days, which is close enough. Soooooooo, which is harder, Hayden?
HAYDEN MOSS: It’s apples and oranges out there. They are two totally different games. Survivor is by far physically harder and physically more demanding. I think the mental side of Big Brother and the wear of 90 days is a little bit harder on your mindset. But it’s so hard to try and say this game is harder, or that game is harder. There are bits and pieces of Survivor that are harder and bits and pieces of Big Brother that are way harder. READ FULL STORY
Miley Cyrus talks life post-Liam Hemsworth to Barbara Walters: 'I was so scared of ever being alone' -- VIDEO
Do esteemed veteran journalists pore over heartbroken pop lyrics too?
Well, in the name of research. It appears Barbara Walters may have done some reading in between the lines for her interview with Miley Cyrus for her annual special Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013, in which the singer admitted her naiveté at getting engaged too young, her fear of loneliness, and her current enjoyment of the single life.
Walters read lyrics from the singer’s song “Drive”: “I was crazy thinking you were mine/ It was all just a lie.”
“What was the lie?” asked Walters, with all the seriousness and tonal rigidity you’d expect for grilling a disgraced politician.
“I don’t think there was any lies,” Cyrus replied. “I was so scared of ever being alone, and I think conquering that fear this year was actually bigger than any other transition I ever had this entire year.”
Cyrus spoke of the neediness inherent to relationships and how “you can’t be yourself.”
“But that’s called ‘being in love,’” Walters countered. “That’s called maybe wanting to be married to someone… you don’t want that?”
“I don’t think I realized what 19 truly is,” Cyrus said, of the age she became engaged to Hunger Games: Catching Fire star Liam Hemsworth. “I just feel I can actually be happy.”
Watch part of the interview below:
READ FULL STORY
'Survivor': Tina says she would have won 'hands down' had she made the finals
Tina Wesson viewed this season of Survivor: Blood vs. Water as her shot at redemption. After going from first (winning The Australian Outback) to worst (being the initial person kicked out of All-Stars), Tina wanted to prove she still had the chops to go all the way. And she almost did, falling just a single day short, after making it back into the game off of Redemption Island, but then being booted once again in the very last vote-off. Of course, all of that seems insignificant now after Tina’s son Taylor was killed in a car accident just two weeks ago. Had he been wearing a seat belt, he would most likely still be with us today, and Tina showed up at the Survivor reunion last night with a personal plea to others to not make the same mistake Taylor did, and to buckle up.
However, Tina still loves her some Survivor, and we had a chance to chat with her about her latest go round on Blood vs. Water. (NOTE: You can also read our interviews with winner Tyson Apsotol and runner-up Monica Culpepper.) READ FULL STORY
'Game of Thrones': First season 4 footage
Joffrey at his wedding. Tyrion in chains. A clean-shaven Jamie. HBO has released the first few tantalizing glimpses of Game of Thrones season 4. The network’s year-end trailer has highlights from 2013 and first-look footage from next year’s programming. In addition to Thrones, there’s quick glimpses of buzzy new drama True Detective, Damon Lindelof’s apocalyptic series The Leftovers, Mike Judge’s new project Silicon Valley, and more. Check it out below (the new footage starts around 1:30): READ FULL STORY
'Homeland' finale delivers biggest audience ever
The third season finale of Showtime’s Homeland set a new record for the series: Homeland had 2.4 million viewers for its 9 p.m. premiere and totaled 2.9 million viewers for the night. That’s the show’s biggest take ever.
The finale was also up 27 percent compared to last year’s closer. Homeland is Showtime’s top-rated show and season 3 has now exceeded seven million viewers per week in all cumulative viewing — that’s a record performance for the network, even surpassing Dexter.
See our first-blush take on Homeland‘s big shakeup (and whether the show’s ratings will continue to stay high given last night’s events) and our Q&A with showrunner Alex Gansa.
Also last night: Showtime’s Masters of Sex finished its freshman run with 1.2 million viewers for its finale premiere and 1.5 million for the night. Quite a big drop-off from Homeland, but the period drama is averaging 4.8 million per episode in cumulative viewing, which is higher than the first season of Homeland. Between these ratings and the show’s recent Golden Globes nominations, Showtime is surely optimistic that Masters could grow next year.
'Survivor': Monica on being slammed at the final Tribal Council -- 'It hurt me'
Monica Culpepper made it all the way to the very end of Survivor: Blood vs. Water, and ended up taking home the $100,000 second place prize after getting the one vote that did not go to winner Tyson Apostol. But the season ended on a bittersweet note, as she was hammered at the final Tribal Council, and not over any moves she did or did not make, but rather just for the type of person she was. We spoke with Monica the morning after the Survivor finale to get her thoughts on what went down, and she tells us about the painful ordeal, as well as one moment we did not see. (NOTE: You can also read our interview with winner Tyson right here.) READ FULL STORY
Robert Rodriguez's El Rey network casts Adrianne Palicki, two more in 'From Dusk Till Dawn' -- EXCLUSIVE
Grindhouse guy Robert Rodriguez is diversifying — and he’s got a would-be Wonder Woman on board as well.
Rodriguez is currently launching a new 24-hour cable channel called El Rey Network, which plans to “unite the most culturally diverse generation in history through fearless, badass and original content that awakens the renegade in everyone” — according to a press release, at least. Its content will include cult classic films, next-gen sports, and original series like From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, a 10-episode supernatural crime saga inspired by Rodriguez’s 1996 feature.
The drama’s cast already includes Wilmer Valderrama as criminal mastermind Carlos, D.J. Cotrona of Dear John as bank robber Seth Gecko (a role played by George Clooney in the film), Zane Holtz of The Perks of Being a Wallflower as his volatile brother Richie (played by Quentin Tarantino in the film), and Jesse Garcia of Sons of Anarchy as Texas Ranger Freddie Gonzalez.
Now EW has learned of three more additions to the cast: Friday Night Lights alum Adrianne Palicki, Jake Busey (yes, son of Gary), and Lane Garrison, late of the multi-network miniseries Bonnie & Clyde. Palicki plays Vanessa Styles, a woman from Seth Gecko’s past. Busey plays eccentric, mythology-obsessed professor Aiden Tanner. And Garrison is Pete, a liquor store clerk who gets more than he bargained for when the Gecko brothers enter his shop.
From Dusk Till Dawn will be the fledgling network’s first scripted original. Though a premiere date for the series has not yet been announced, El Rey is available nationally beginning this week.
'Family Guy' ratings up as Brian returns
First we predicted Brian wasn’t going to stay dead. Then we told you Family Guy‘s pooch was, indeed, coming back this week. Now Fox’s long-running hit gave fans what they wanted (and expected) for Christmas — the resurrection of Brian. Creator Seth MacFarlane then took to Twitter to seemingly chide fans for taking the narrative of his animated show semi-seriously (“I mean, you didn’t really think we’d kill off Brian, did you? Jesus, we’d have to be f–king high.”)
At any rate, the canine’s return coincided with the show’s ratings rising 11 percent: Sunday’s Family Guy had 6.3 million viewers and a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49, beating everything last night except football and The Simpsons (which had an NFL overrun lead-in). Tough to say the ratings were because of the doggy comeback, however, since the rest of Fox’s animated lineup also climbed this week, and moreso than Family Guy.
Over on ABC, the Once Upon a Time winter finale continued the show’s ratings slump, down 14 percent from last week, yet tantalizingly announced the addition of The Wicked Witch of the West for midseason. CBS’ early Survivor finale ratings are mucked up by sports overruns and are subject to change, though this looks pretty low for a Survivor finale and such schedule shifts typically only suggest the numbers could go even lower. Full ratings chart (hey, Betrayal is still on!): READ FULL STORY
MORE INSIDE TV: Follow us on Twitter
-
James Hibberd @James_Hibberd
-
Lynette Rice @EWLynette
Latest News
- 'How I Met Your Mother' recap: 'Bass Player Wanted'
- TV in 2013: YOUR 25 most-commented episodes
- 'Descendants': Dove Cameron as Maleficent daughter
- Woody Allen: A conversation about 'Blue Jasmine'
- 'Game of Thrones' season 4: First footage
- 'Homeland' showrunner on finale: 'We're sad too'
- 'Homeland' season 3 review: Where it went wrong
- Taran Killam's new comic: Meet 'The Illegitimates'
