(UPDATED) TV Tidbits 16 - Bones, American Idol, SYTYCD, CSI

I don't watch either of these shows but their season finales were apparently gigantenormous so I thought I should provide a few links for those who are interested:

Bones

• TVGuide.com Q&A with Eric Millegan (Zack)
• TVGuide.com Talks Finale "Zack-lash" with Show Creator

Idol

• EW.com Backstage Q&A: David Cook
• EW.com Backstage Q&A: David Archuleta
• EW.com Pre-Finale Q&A with Both Davids
• EW.com 4-Page Finale Recap

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Just as an aside, So You Think You Can Dance starts its new season tonight - yay!!! This is one of my favorite reality shows; I could watch dancing all day, every day. I know, I'm a dork. Still, it floats my boat and that's all that matters. :o)

EW.com Q&A with Nigel Lythgoe

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According to Ausiello, Jorja Fox will be returning to CSI next season - as not as part of a flashback sequence:

Sources confirm that [Fox] has inked a deal to return for the show's ninth-season premiere next fall.

Specifics of her comeback are being kept under lock and key, but my CSI mole assures me that she "won't be appearing in a flashback." The likely scenario has Sara returning to Vegas to shag Grissom mourn ex-colleague Warrick, who was shot (and presumably) killed in last week's finale. I say "presumably" because in the current issue of TV Guide, Mendelsohn says Gary Dourdan will be back in the fall — and "not just in flashbacks."

I've got three words for you: Gut-wrenching death scene.

George Michael on Idol

Dang! I missed George on Idol last night; it's hard to see someone on a show you don't actually watch, you know? Had I known in advance, however, I would have at least TiVo'd it. :o) I actually didn't know he'd performed until I came across it in the Daily Mail - thank goodness the British are so into their own! I was stoked when I heard George was going on tour a while back... until I saw that tickets were about $100 gabillion. Then not so much. So, Robert lucked out and I will not be dragging him to a designer stubble fest, after all. I'll just have to live vicariously through YouTube...

For Christina - Jason's Exit Q&A

Since you are such a faithful reader, Christina, I will reward you with a 3-page interview with Jason Castro, courtesy of EW.com:

American Idol Exit Q&A

Excerpt:

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You always seemed so mellow even when the judges were slamming you. How do you do that?
JASON CASTRO: Well, it's just my mentality. They're just people. We're all just people. There were times early on where you could see my face just die. That was because I didn't feel confident and I'm kicking myself and they just confirmed it. But if I'm sure of a performance I feel confident.

When Paula prejudged your second song, what was going through your head?
I didn't know what was going on. I was so confused. I was standing next to David and I wanted to turn to him and say, ''What?'' I thought the second song was good. I was just confused. It was too funny. But it was an honest mistake.

Did that psych you out of singing your second song well?
It might have a little. I don't really remember. I remember going into it I had a choking fit right before the commercial break. I remember thinking I hope that doesn't happen again. That first line I felt a cough. I just didn't feel right. I didn't have the feel of the song. That was my stronger song in rehearsal, but it became my weaker one.

TV Tidbits 09 - Potpourri

1.) Okey doke, the shows covered in this post are: NCIS, Medium, SVU, The Office, House, Bones, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, October Road and HIMYM. I only watch the first 4 myself so those are, naturally, first. :o) There's not a lot of info - just scooplets from TVGuide.com's Ausiello (if you don't like spoilers, skip, skip, skip!). I'm trying to cover things I know people that actually read the blog regularly but my parents (well, actually, my mother) watch just about every stinking show on TV (even According to Jim! Yes, my mom is that one person.) so I'll have to pick and choose somewhere... sorry, Dad. ;o)

• Question: I need to know who is getting murdered in NCIS! I want answers! — Irv
• Ausiello: Actually, word around NCIS is that the buzzed-about death won't be the biggest surprise of the season. Consider this line from Director Vance to Gibbs from the two-hour season finale: "If you think you can protect them forever, Jethro, you are mistaken. There's already been one casualty. There will be more." What does it mean?! Beats me!

• Question: What is going to happen to Medium? I heard it may leap to CBS. — Nicole
• Ausiello: Not true. NBC's already renewed it for next season — a decision that is proving eerily prescient considering that in recent weeks the show has been enjoying some of its best ratings and press since Season 1.

• Question: With Diane Neal leaving L&O: SVU, what are the odds of Stephanie March returning as Alex? — Judith
• Ausiello: Officially, an SVU spokesperson denies that March is returning next season. Unofficially, I'm hearing that the actress is engaged in very preliminary talks with The Wolfster to appear in a handful of episodes next season.

• Question: You've been awesome with The Office scoop recently, but you haven't said much about Ryan. He's been getting himself into trouble recently. How much more trouble should we expect? — MB
• Ausiello: Let's just say he has a brush with the law, but not for the reason you think.

• Question: No disrespect intended, but you've been really slacking on the House scoop lately. — Ellen
• Ausiello: That hardly qualifies as disrespectful, Ellen. No, disrespectful is telling me (as Aushole Jason did) that I deserve to be "run over by a New York City bus" for ignoring House these past few weeks. See the difference there? Anywho... I'm jumping back on the House scoopwagon in a big way this week with news that Fox, in collaboration with producer NBC Universal, is quietly developing a House spin-off for next season. As I understand it, producers are introducing a new male character for a multi-episode arc and, assuming the actor they find really pops in the role, he may be spun off into his own show. But there's a twist, and it's a big one: Per multiple sources, this newbie is not a doctor, but rather a private investigator! And no, his name isn't Twitter. I'll have more details as they become available…

• Question: Thanks for the awesome interview with Jesse Spencer, but did he offer any assurances about Chase getting more screen time on House next season? — Deb
• Ausiello: He sure did, and his exclusive comments appear in this week's Ausiello Report vodcast!

• Question: Is Thirteen going to have a relationship anytime soon on House — perhaps with another female considering the fact that she's bisexual? It would definitely spice things up a bit. — Zachary
• Ausiello: I don't believe she'll be taking in a lover, but I can confirm that she'll be getting something nearly as important: a name! I'm told in this Monday's episode we'll, for the first time, hear Thirteen's real name. My guess: Tenplusfourminusone.

• Question: I'm a huge fan of Bones. I have one question: Is one of the two deaths you mentioned in last week's Ask Ausiello not real?— Rita
• Ausiello: Good question. It actually might not be. Shortly after AA went live last week, a Bones insider e-mailed me to say, "There are actually two casualties coming up — only one of which leads to death." My mole's tip was all but confirmed by co-star Eric Millegan at TV Guide's Sexiest Stars Party. Actually, Millegan had a lot to say about this season's final two episodes (airing May 12 and 19), paying specific attention to the fate of his character, Zack, and the evil Gormogon.

• Question: Is Ken Jenkins really gone from Scrubs? — Drew
• Ausiello: Well, he's really gone from Sacred Heart, but not from Scrubs. Although it's unclear whether Jenkins will remain a series regular, I hear we'll see glimpses of Kelso's life as a retiree. In the meantime, Bill Lawrence is said to be looking for a new Chief to succeed Kelso, and word is he wants a name.

• Question: Is Rebecca Romijn really going to leave Ugly Betty? What other big changes are they planning for the show? — Linus
• Ausiello: ABC and the show's producers keep insisting that she'll be back in a recurring capacity, but that's assuming Romijn will be available. I have a feeling she'll be snapped up in no time by another show.

• Question: What's the scoop on October Road? Will it be back next season? — Drew
• Ausiello: Nothing official from ABC, but all indications are the show is toast. And I would like to think I was at least partially responsible. Oh, who am I kidding — it was all me.

• Question: Sarah Chalke was, once again, bedazzling on Monday's How I Met Your Mother. Please tell me that wasn't the last we'll see of her. — Gina
• Ausiello: That wasn't the last we'll see of her. Sources confirm that Sarah/Stella will be back for the season finale, which can only mean one thing: OMFG she’s the mother! I think.

2.) I was reading this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly during lunch and was able to gloss over oodles of pages devoted to cover girl Ellen Pompeo and American Idol. I thought you AI people might be interested in this article:

• Why Song Selection is Important

TV Tidbits 08 - American Gladiators, American Idol

1.) American Gladiators' 2nd season premieres this Monday, the 12th, and it looks like it will debut a few new games to boot. Hosts Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali recently intro'd the new games:

"My favorite [game] is a new one called Rocket Ball," Hogan said while speaking with reporters at NBC's "All American Summer" Press Day in Pasadena on Friday. "It's kind of like a mix between slam-dunk basketball and football. You've got these round hoops, way up in the air. You've got two contenders and two Gladiators, and you hit this launch button, and you get launched 25 to 30 feet in the air and try to put the ball in one of the hoops. At the same time, the Gladiator is trying to knock the ball out of the way, or hit you physically. That game is really intense."

Ali... introduced a game called Tilt, "which is like a tug-of-war that takes place over the water," she explained. There's also one called Vertigo, adopted from the U.K. version of Gladiators, which involves a race between a contender and a Gladiator across a field of hanging poles. "To start," she said, "you have to climb up a pole, and then you have to make the poles sway using your body weight to get to the next pole. Way up in the air. I wouldn't want to do that. But I like it!" [EW.com]

Man, whatever happened to the event where the contestants ran inside giant metal hamster balls and tried to roll their ball over steam-spewing scoring pods (while a gladiator chases them, of course)?! That was the best!!! *sigh*

OOH! I just found it! 'Atlasphere'... nice. Real nice. I can't embed the video but if you click here, you can check out Atlasphere in action. Woohoo!

2.) Against my will - I just said I would never do this! Never say never... it'll bite you in the ass every time - but by repeated request, here's a teensy blurbette on AI:

Meeting the press to promote the new season of NBC's America's Got Talent (premiering June 17 at 9 pm/ET), Simon Cowell inevitably was swarmed with Idol-related queries. Here is what the outspoken Brit had to say about:

It All Coming Down to David vs. David
"It's what I genuinely believe will happen. I think you're going to have a real scrap on the night. Without either of them being a red-hot favorite, [the winner] will be [determined by] what happens on the night, and that's what the show is all about."

The Davids' Weaknesses
"I don't think they've got too many. I think David Cook has got the best voice and David Archuleta's got the teen and the gran[dma] appeal. [They're] very equal."

Jason's Surprising Longevity
"He's got a great face. If he looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, he still wouldn't be there, would he? But that's the music business. He's had some very good weeks, to be fair. He just struggled with Andrew Lloyd Webber and, in particular, Neil Diamond. It almost felt a little bit like he was giving up last week."

"Broadway Week"
"I didn't really see the point because I use it as a criticism on the show that you are going to end up on Broadway. We aren't looking for a Broadway singer. I want like a Leona Lewis, a contemporary recording artist who's going to sell a lot of records. I'm not looking for someone to be in The Wiz."

The Plan to Revamp Idol
"You have to revamp every show that you make, every year. You have to wait and see [what we are going to do]. It's a surprise."

This Season's "Safe" Singers
"We are not "letting go" enough, you know? They are very media savvy, saying the right things, not arguing with me. David Archuleta was performing in front of Kelly Clarkson six years ago. It is on tape. It's like he's gone to the "University of American Idol." Safe song, safe message. I like people who go a bit crazy sometimes. I'm dying for someone to scream at me one week and say, "I hate your guts." I know they are thinking it."

Paula's Flub Last Week
"The whole thing is being blown out of proportion. It was a live show, she made a mistake. The year [Idol] becomes normal is probably the year I will leave. Genuinely, I like it when it is a bit loopy."

A Singer Sent Home Too Soon
"Michael Johns was probably the only contestant that should have stayed on a bit longer. I was thinking this week it would have been nice to see him in the Top 4. I think he would have got better."

Kristy Lee, Country Star?
"Kristy Lee Cook [has a career ahead of her] because I think that she knows who she is now, and I do think I steered her in the right direction one week when I said, "You are actually a country artist." So I think she knows who she is and I think that audience will like her. She's easy to market and she is interesting." [TVGuide.com]