1. Numb3rs: David Krumholtz blogged on TVGuide.com about his upcoming storyline involving Charlie finally getting some FBI training. This makes total sense to me - I don't know when the man has time to teach, he practically lives at the FBI! And Don's team seems more inept by the minute since they can't seem to solve anything without Charlie's help. Are we really supposed to believe Charlie would've remained simply a "consultant" all this time? Then again, TV shows aren't usually based in reality so I should probably not care! :o)
This week's Numbers episode, "Checkmate" — written by Robert Port and directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal — finds Charlie Eppes sent to FBI training... finally. This is a storyline I've been anxiously awaiting to perform since the inception of the series. When a show like this is pitched to an actor, the actor's mind races through all the possible storylines was good enough to make an "old" actor happy. (I'll be 30 in five weeks — eek!) Charlie's curiosity gets the best of him and he requests to be sent to FBI training in the hopes that he may learn more about the intricacies of FBI work, and thus form a greater kinship with his brother and the other agents. Factored in (no pun intended) is the fact that Charlie has been shot at twice, pursued Port wrote was an absolutely in a high-speed car chase, and faced general danger scenarios at defend himself. What Mr.hilarious storyline, true to what would for his character. This is a storyline that I thought would have been written earlier into our run, and I've been encouraging our writers to flesh out the idea for four seasons now. And finally, Robert Portdifferent points throughout his consultation with the FBI. So, it's high time that he learn to probably happen if a young mathematician had a gun put in his hand. The three scenarios are High Pursuit Tactical Driving, Prisoner Take Down & Escort, and the Gun Range. When you are one of the youngest cast members on an action-packed show and you never get to see your fair share of the action, it's a great release when it finally happens. Needless to say, your boy was super-psyched! This was the most fun I've probably ever had on the show, and I hope that spirit comes across in the performance. To start, we filmed the High Pursuit Driving. A stunt double would film the exterior shot in my place... but no need. The interior shot with me at the helm and the FBI instructor in the passenger seat was filmed as I haphazardly navigated the actual driving course. I didn't hit a single cone or cardboard cut-out (except when the scene called for it). It was awesome, high-adrenaline and way too much fun. Watch a clip:Next we shot the Prisoner Take Down. I decided to do my own stunt which required that I be flipped over an FBI agent's knee and slammed onto a gym mat. I thought i was being brave, but in retrospect I was just being plain stupid. That dude slammed me hard! My head snapped back and I saw stars as is evidenced by the actual shot of the moment that is used in the final cut. Please enjoy my glorious moment of unadulterated shock, embarrassment and pain. The Gun Range was Charlie's comeback. After being humiliated in the other events, he triumphantly rises to the occasion by shooting the hell out of his target a la "Gomer Pyle" in Full Metal Jacket. Albeit exhilarating, guns are not my thing. I'm a pacifist... and hopefully so is Charlie. The whole experience was a blast. I hope it makes you laugh. Getting to do some comedy in the midst of crime-solving was a great opportunity. I hope they let me do it again.
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2. How I Met Your Mother: (Again, courtesy of TVGuide's Ausiello) Sarah Chalke is in advanced talks to reprise her role as Ted's possible future wife... In fact, just moments ago, Chalke's Mother crush himself, Josh Radnor — here to shoot a guest appearance for next week's Ausiello Report vodcast — confirmed that we'd probably be seeing Stella for a "few more episodes" this season. He was quick to add, however, that he has no clue whether or not she's the mother. "I really don't know," he said, "nor do I ask."
Some of you may have already read Neil Patrick Harris' comments re: the Britney episode yesterday but in case you missed it, here's an excerpt:
“I’m in the minority that our show does not need stunt casting in order to succeed,” Harris declared during a break from taping the Monday night CBS sitcom, which has grown a cult following since its 2005 debut. “I worry that if they start ‘Will and Grace’-ing us too much, that the show will suffer. And we’re all really proud of the content of the show. I mean, viewership is not our game. It’s the network and the studio’s game, you know. It’s the promotion department’s game,” the actor, who plays womanizer Barney, told The Associated Press in an interview last week... The show concluded with Spears’ secretary flirting with Barney. The following episode, which aired last Monday, introduced a “mystery woman” who’s been warning other women not to date the single-minded cad. Asked if Spears might turn out to be the secret slanderer, Bays said: “Could be. There’s no reason why not.” He also suggested the talented actress Sarah Chalke, who guest starred alongside Spears. Asked for his guess, Harris said: “No telling, but based on the stunt casting we’ve done in the past I’m guessing Tara Reid.”
I only watch HIMYM because I really like NPH and I think Barney makes the show. Now, I just love Neil that much more! He is absolutely right; I really hate it when shows I like start stunt casting. And the producers' assertions that it wasn't the beginning of a 'jump the shark' moment because "It was a great character and [they] think she played it well... [they're] glad that [they] didn’t sensationalize the character in any way" is stupid. Just because she played a character instead of herself doesn't mean it isn't retarded! Give me a break. The character was ridiculous and Britney's acting was worse. People only tuned in to see if she could string a coherent sentence together without wigging out! It wasn't because her character was so "great," believe me. The show can barely weave together an interesting story with the four leads they've got - they really don't need to add more peeps to the mix!
UPDATE (04/14): Aw, Neil got in trouble with the suits at the network (as we knew he would): Seeking to clarify some sound bites he gave an AP reporter on the set of HIMYM, NPH has issued a statement stressing that he is not opposed to Britney Spears reprising her guest-star role as Abby the receptionist. Positing that the AP scribe "took some quotes of mine and speculated an opinion about their intent," Harris tells Entertainment Weekly, "As I have said all along, Britney did a great job on the show. She really did. In fact, we are all hoping that she returns rather soon."As for the statements he made to the AP (as well as during a Harold & Kumar 2 junket), NPH says, "I am just very protective of our show and its content. I have a high standard of quality, and hope to maintain it on every level. I have great faith in our casting department... to find the appropriate person for every role on our show. I was remiss in speculating otherwise. My job description is to act, and I should really do just that."The AP at first held firm, saying that Harris "told us unequivocally that he did not believe that Britney should be on the show." Shortly thereafter, though, the news service said, "We're issuing a clarification…. Harris did not say that he opposed a return engagement for Spears, and our lede said that he did."
