December 08, 2004 |
SHE'S COMING OUT
So this is how it's done on The O.C. when the ratings start to dip: Marissa comes out as a lesbian! Series creator Josh Schwartz is confirming rumors that Mischa Barton's lovelorn alter ego will fall for another girl in early '05. "Marissa is at a point in her life where she's trying to find herself and her true identity," Schwartz tells Out.com. "There's another character who she really connects with. It's a girl, which is not something Marissa may have anticipated. But she's willing and game to explore and experiment with that." Schwartz denies that the same-sex plot is just a stunt to boost the show's lagging Nielsens (last Thursday's episode hit a series low 6.5 million viewers). "We cooked it up well before the show ever premiered this year," he says. "We're constantly looking at evolving and growing these characters. And challenging them. They're at that age where they're open to it. It was either that or Oliver's return." There he goes using that dreaded O-word again. |
MORE O.C.
In other O.C. news, Schwartz reveals in the new issue of TV Guide magazine (on sale tomorrow) that he has scrapped plans to introduce Summer's oft-referred-to but-never-seen evil Step Monster in the flesh. Schwartz now says the character will remain in the shadows, adding, "it's much funnier if you never get to meet her." Actually, it would be much funnier if that's who Marissa ended up crushing on. |
RAYMOND FALLS SHORT
Here's some more scoop from the new TV Guide: Despite a last-ditch effort by CBS to lengthen its final season, Everybody Loves Raymond will stick to Plan A and produce just 16 original episodes before signing off in May. "We honestly couldn't think of any more [ideas]," says series creator Phil Rosenthal. "We brought in a couple of people to pitch stories, but everything either reminded us of stuff we've done before or wasn't good enough." Damn you creative integrity. Damn you! |
LUCK OF THE IRISH
Scrubs star Zach Braff has persuaded good friend Colin Farrell to guest star on my favorite NBC comedy this January. In a story first reported by E! Online (damn you Kristin Veitch!) and later expanded by USA Today (damn you Will Keck!), Farrell will play a hard-partying Irishman (can he pull it off!?) who shakes things up for our friends at Sacred Heart. |
IT'S WAR!
Star Jones, er, I mean Star Jones Reynolds will grace the red carpet once again to helm E!'s coverage of the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16. In what should prove an interesting match-up, Madame Freebie will go head-to-head with ex-E! staffers Joan and Melissa Rivers, who will make their red carpet comeback the same day via the TV Guide Channel. Let the games begin! |
COMING CLEAN... AT LAST
Kevin Spacey is finally admitting that he is a big ol' (drumroll please) egotist. (What did you think I was going to say?) In an interview on tonight's 60 Minutes, the Oscar winner tells Lesley Stahl that he has a "huge ego," adding that it got in the way of his career in the beginning. "I think, in my case, I really wasn't very good at that point. I just wasn't good enough to play in the leagues that I wanted to play in, and yet I was pretending like I was." He must be so relieved to finally get that off his chest. |
SHORT CUTS
Disney and Pixar have delayed the release of their final CGI collaboration Cars from November 2005 to June 2006 because it's "the quintessential summer film"... The tabloid show that started it all, A Current Affair, is returning to TV next year, per The Hollywood Reporter... Finally, don't forget to check out the latest "Ask Ausiello," featuring scoop on Mariska, Tru Calling, Dead Like Me, The Bachelor and — last but not least — "bacne"! |
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