Entertainment News from Eye On Weho

Eye on Entertainment
Nathaniel Grey
Entertainment Editor
August 1, 2011

TORCHWOODIE

When Russell T. Davies created the Doctor Who spin off, Torchwood, he couldn't possibly realize how big of an international adult audience it would capture. Having almost ended with it's 3rd season Children of the Earth, it's with thanks to that audience and the American Network STARZ that it's current incarnation Torchwood: Miracle Day made it to the air. It's growing popularity was underscored with the recent Torchwood panel at Comic Con being greeted by an audience of 1600 in a standing room only hall. Last week's 3rd episode of the season displayed the most risque scene of Captain Jack Harkness' sexuality shown to date. While airing on STARZ without concern for censorship, it's subsequent airing on the UK's BBC prime time will, not surprisingly, edit the basic roll in the hay between John Barrowman's Capt. Jack and a hot bartender. If you thought the hunky mixologist, played by Dillon Casey, looked familiar you may have seen him, as Noah in the first season of Vampire Diaries or MTV's short lived Skins. He can be seen in the 9/9 release of the horror movie Creature about a group of friends who discover a long hidden secret and release a horrible monster from the Louisiana swamps. The cast includes Mehcad Brooks (True Blood), Serinda Swan (Tron: Legacy), and Aaron Hill (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen).

Sparked by his own interest, Barrowman recently met with Glee's casting staff to discuss the possibility of a cameo and expressed his desire to playing anything from the rumored role as one of Rachel's Gay dad's to another substitute teacher. Sadly it was later discovered that his current contract with BBC and STARZ prevents him from taking on another role at this time. What's "bummer" in Welsh? Barrowman's co-star and Six Feet Under vet, Lauren Ambrose will be seen in the Oct.7th release of Wanderlust from Wet Hot American Summer director David Wain. The comedy about a big city couple who dive into a new counter-culture lifestyle features a couple of ironic castings. Jennifer Anniston stars opposite three her Object of My Affection costars, Paul Rudd, Lena Cardwell and Natalie B. Kikkenborg. The other casting irony is that Anniston also costar with her current boyfriend Justin Theroux (American Psycho). More irony, Rudd also starred in Wain's Wet Hot American Summer. Also in the cast are Alan Alda, the hysterical Kerri Kenney (Reno 911), and TV legend Linda Lavin (Alice). ***

Bill Pullman, who plays Oswald Danes on Miracle Day, appeared in the Cannes debut of Framke Jannsen's directorial debut Bringing Up Bobby. The story follows a European con artist who flees from her past and takes her son to Oklahoma for a fresh start. Really? If it's a choice between living with guilt and regret and moving to Oklahoma, I'm taking regret every time. The film features Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element), Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives), and Rory Cochrane (24). *** Another upcoming treat from across the Atlantic is the Oct. 8th arrival of the series Bedlam on BBC America. The gorgeous Theo James stars as a new condo tenant who can see dead people living in what was once a mental asylum. There go the property values! But the funny thing is, he moves into the luxury complex after having been released from a mental hospital himself. Don't you hate when that happens? So naturally expect to be teased as to the uncertainty of whether his seeing things or there actually are spirits. The cast also features Charlotte Salt (The Tudors), Will Young (The X Factor), Hugo Speer (The Full Monty) and your favorite hooker from Secret Diary of a Call Girl Ashley Madekwe who played Bambi.

Though most Glee fans already know that Chris Colfer, Lea Michele and Cory Montieth were Sophmores when the show started and thus, will graduate this season, and not to return for season 4. Others who will leaving McKinley High next Spring will be discovered when the series returns 9/20. But at the recent San Diego Comic Con, producer Brad Falchuk told a Gleek-filled auditorium that the favorite trio will be back for season 4 but just not as series regulars. But adding to the confusion of who's in and who's out was the recent statement, creator Ryan Murphy gave about how he was, basically hurt and disappointed in Chris, Lea and Cory for acting shocked that they wouldn't be back on Glee for season 4, when he had been talking to the trio for months about taking them into a spin-off series where the three went to New York, and perhaps a Julliard type college as well as pursue their dreams of Broadway. In the shadow of that incident Murphy claims he's not making any focus on the spin-off at this time. News flash actor's! Don't burn bridges or piss off your boss. Especially if it's Ryan Murphy. ***

The Glee 3-D Concert movie doesn't open until Aug. 12th but die hard fans have a chance to catch a special advance screening two days earlier at one of 291 theatres around the US and Canada. If not sold out, tickets can be purchased at www.gleesneak3D.com for $30 which include the screening plus a special commemorative gift bag with jewelry, hat, backpack and more. Meanwhile, over on Oxygen, The Glee Project has increased viewers since it's paltry debut. The recent 4th episode saw a comparative viewer increase of 64%. Still not giving it hit status, Oxygen is crossing fingers that trend will improve as they have rerun rights to Glee starting in 2013 and were hoping to produce future Glee Project season to pair with Glee re-broadcasts. *** Charice, who played the pint-sized powerhouse Sunshine Corazon in three Glee episodes last season is currently seen on TV doing a Target commercial and stars in next years Kevin James picture Here Comes the Boom, in which he plays a biology teacher who moonlights doing mixed martial arts fights as a way to raise money to save his school's music program. You could almost call it, Glee Meets Karate Kid. Also in the comedy are Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler and Joe Rogan who in real life, is a black belt in Tae Kwan Do. Since Joe is listed as playing himself It wouldn't be stretch to assume he'll be appearing in competition scenes, display his craft. ***

Desperate Housewives news brings the rumor that Susan Lucci will make a guest appearance on the show. Though not a rumor but confirmed is that former V star Charles Mesure will join the series with it's Sept. 25 debut as a contractor (aren't they always) who hooks up with Vanessa Williams character. Original cast member Eva Longoria's Las Vegas club has closed while the restaurant, Beso's is still open. Though her share in both Vegas elements is only 32% she has hope that the club can be renovated, re-promoted and re-open. If you've not been to her original Beso's location in Hollywood, I have to say it was one of the best dining experiences I've had since moving to Hollywood. Impressive menu, wonderful food and impeccable service. ***

"I must confirm that Liam Neeson's upcoming movie The Grey is NOT my life story" says author of this column, Nathaniel Grey. It is, however a wilderness thriller about an Alaskan oil drilling team struggling to survive a plane crash while a pack of wolves pursue them as their next meal. Please tell me one of the team members wears a red hoodie. The picture is written and directed by former Smokin' Aces filmmaker Joe Carnahan and stars Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding), Frank Grillo (The Gates) and Dallas Roberts (The Good Wife). A 3 minute piece of footage was shown right after Cannes that got so many industry tongues wagging, that a 30 minute reel was shown last week which brought expressed interest from 6 different distributors. Release is being aimed for Jan. 2012. Neeson's film Taken brought in over 2 1/4 million worldwide so it's only natural that writer, director, producer Luc Besson (The Fifth Element) is working on the script for a sequel. Not scheduled to film until next year, they've already confirmed a return of the originals cast members Neeson and Lost veteran Maggie Grace. One of Besson's next projects is the Oct. release of The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart, an animated film about a man whose heart was replaced with a clock when he was born and must lead a stress less and intense emotion free life. Wait a minute, isn't this a biography on Dick Cheney? ***

And lastly, I want to thank Lady Gaga for her recent outdoor performance in the lot behind The Jimmy Kimmel Show, just three blocks from my Hollywood residence. It's where all bands perform on his show in order to have a larger and more impressive audiences on camera. Unfortunately, my gratitude is sarcastic due to the police and media helicopters that circled my building for almost 4 hours. Jeez, I didn't know those things carried that much fuel? Of course, ever the optimist, my editor, Reed Berry pointed out how lucky I was they held that much fuel since I live on the top floor and if they ran out of gas, my living room would have been their next landing site. Now if you don't have friends who point out the disasters you narrowly escaped then you ain't got real friends.

You can get daily show biz twitter updates by following me @GreyAgenda.

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