Midnight

Late Tuesday, Dec. 14, Julia Stiles finally chimed in on her Golden Globe nod, hours after the nominations were announced and all the other stars had already given their statements of varying amounts of glee. The actress, who nabbed the nomination for her guest starring turn in "Dexter," was apparently at some "undisclosed location out of the country," according to a Showtime publicist. "It's bizarre receiving the news in such a remote place where internet access is difficult and phones are impossible, but I'm glad I checked my email," Stiles says in a statement. "I'm beyond thrilled! It was an honor to be part of the show, and to have my work recognized by the HFPA. I am so grateful!" On "Dexter's" fifth season, Stiles plays Lumen, a woman who has been raped and tortured by a group of men. Helping her seek revenge is part of Dexter's (Michael C. Hall) coming to terms with his wife's murder in the Season 4 finale. "Dexter" also received nominations for Hall and the show itself in the drama category. Overall, we're thrilled with Stiles' inclusion. She joined Jonny Lee Miller, Shawn Hatosy and Peter Weller in making a brisk and enjoyable season. We are struck, however, by the mysterious nature of Stiles' current location. Why is it "undisclosed"? Is she working on a super-secret film or TV project already? Perhaps this is part of her work with Habitat for Humanity International. That's okay, you can keep your secrets. Now that you're safe from Jordan Chase (Miller), we don't need to keep tabs on you. The show aired its Season 5 finale Sunday night (Dec. 12) and was watched by 2.9 million viewers, setting a ratings record for the most-watched season of the show. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz Photo/Video credit: Getty Images, Showtime Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...-from-afar.html

We were pretty shocked that The Hollywood Foreign Press had no love for "True Blood's" Season 3 in the Golden Globes 2011 nominations. The Zap2it obsession was neither nominated in the best drama category nor did any of the actors get a nomination. The series was previously nominated for both Season 1 and 2. And Anna Paquin has been nominated twice, and took home a trophy. So, what's up with the Season 3 snub? Season 3 focused on some pretty heavy relationship stories between Sookie, Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and literally broke down the Vampire hierarchy in a brutal season-long battle. Plus, we're always shocked that Nelsan Ellis' complete transformation into the bawdy Lafayette gets so little awards appreciation. Not to mention, there were some great guest stars who acted their fang-ies off: James Frain as the love-starved stalker Franklin Mott? Denis O'Hare as the vampire king who loses it when his kingdom falls apart and his life partner is murdered by Eric? Season 4 was continually spellbinding and let's not forget why we tune in to TV in the first place: "True Blood" always entertains. So, on behalf of HBO's "True Blood," we say to The Hollywood Foreign Press: Bite us! Read the rest of Zap2it's 2011 Golden Globes nominations snubs and surprises. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz Photo/Video credit: HBO

The fifth season, which concluded with "The Big One" Sunday night (Dec. 12), averaged more than 5 million viewers per week, making it the series' highest-rated season to date. The finale itself nabbed 2.9 million viewers from the 9 p.m. (2.5 million) and 11 p.m. (401,000) airings combined. This is on par with the series' stellar Season 4 finale and a good 40 percent up from the premiere's 1.77 million viewers. When all is said and done and watched On Demand/Live+7, the Season 5 finale could boast as many as 6 million viewers. In "The Big One," Dexter (Michael C. Hall) concludes his search for Lumen (Julia Stiles) , who's been kidnapped by Jordan, the leader of a group of men who raped, tortured and killed women, known to the Miami Metro as the Barrel Girls. Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...ngs-record.html

"America's Next Top Model", which will begin Cycle 16 on February 23, will now be followed by the new weight-loss reality show, "Shedding for the Wedding," hosted by Sara Rue. "Life Unexpected," which is unlikely to return for a third season, will take a bow on January 18 with a special 2-hour finale event after reaching a ratings high last week. Find the full detailed schedule below. Tuesday, January 18 8:00-10:00 p.m. Life Unexpected (Season Finale) Monday, January 24 8:00-9:00 p.m. 90210 (Original Episodes Return) 9:00-10:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (Original Episodes Return) Tuesday, January 25 8:00-9:00 p.m. One Tree Hill (Original Episodes Return) 9:00-10:00 p.m. Hellcats (New Night) Thursday, January 27 8:00-9:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (Original Episodes Return) 9:00-10:00 p.m. Nikita (Original Episodes Return) Friday, January 28 8:00-9:00 p.m. Smallville (Original Episodes Return) 9:00-10:00 p.m. Supernatural (Original Episodes Return) Wednesday, February 23 8:00-9:00 p.m. America's Next Top Model (Season Premiere) 9:00-10:00 p.m. Shedding for the Wedding (Series Premiere) Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...ur-sendoff.html

Former "ER" star Mekhi Phifer, late of FOX's "Lie to Me," has been cast in a lead role opposite John Barrowman and Eve Myles, Deadline reports. He's playing a CIA agent named Rex Matheson, who "become embroiled in the Torchwood legend and investigate what Torchwood is or was," as creator Russell T. Davies put it last summer. Rex is described as a character who's rising in the agency's ranks and has a very sharp sense of humor. In casting Phifer, Starz and the BBC (which are co-producing the new season) have gone in a different direction than what was reported earlier in the fall, when "Dollhouse's" Enver Gjokaj and former "One Tree Hill" star Chad Michael Murray were rumored to be in contention for the role. In addition to bringing a little diversity to the cast, Phifer is also a little older than either Gjokaj or Murray and -- to our minds, at least -- projects more of a no-nonsense attitude on screen. Phifer left "Lie to Me" earlier this year after the show decided to have The Lightman Group cut its ties with the FBI. His credits also include "8 Mile," "Soul Food" and a few episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." He also stars in a Lifetime movie called "Close Quarters" that's set to air next year. "Torchwood" debuts on Starz in the summer. Thoughts on the casting? Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...s-the-team.html

Spoilers ahoy for those who haven't watched yet. The last episode of 2010 brought back the season's original bad guy, introduced an even badder guy in Wo Fat and -- most important -- started to mine some of the back story for both McGarrett and Chin Ho. "Five-0" isn't suddenly going to turn into "Lost," but after 10 post-pilot episodes of crime-investigation-local color-banter-case closed, some hint of an ongoing story line is very much welcome. The episode, "Hana 'a'a Makehewa," re-introduced Victor Hesse (James Marsters), who somehow survived being shot by McGarrett and falling into the water at the end of the pilot. He manages to cold-cock Chin Ho and place an explosive collar around his neck, demanding $10 million and safe passage off the island from McGarrett or else boom. Except he doesn't really care about the money, tossing the cash McGarrett hands him on a fire before trying to take both him and Chin Ho down. The good guy wins, of course (we all know that's not going to change), and Hesse ends up in jail. It's there that we get our first glimpse of Wo Fat ("Iron Chef America" chairman/"Dancing With the Stars" contestant Mark Dacascos), who's apparently been keeping tabs on the McGarrett family for a while. He's concerned that Steve may be getting a little too close to figuring out the clues in his dad's toolbox. Wo Fat was McGarrett's arch-nemesis in the original "Five-0," so it was pretty much a given that the new show would find a way to bring the character into the picture. It feels like there's a lot of potential in having him be involved with Steve's dad's investigation -- yet it's also something that doesn't have to take over the story every week. CBS doesn't really want the show to get heavily serialized, but the best procedurals of late have been ones where there's more than just the case of the week to engage viewers. That the show also found a way to involve Chin Ho's past in the McGarrett story is all the better. He was drummed out of the Honolulu PD for allegedly being dirty, so there's no way that $10 million going missing from a secret evidence locker won't come back to bite Five-0 in the butt somewhere down the road. The show has also made a few nods to Chin Ho's connection to McGarrett's dad in the past, so having their ongoing stories dovetail seems like the right play. "Five-0" returns Jan. 3, and based on CBS' description of the episode, McGarrett's past will still be in the foreground. We'll be watching. What did you think of Monday's episode? Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...ep-forward.html

"We're leading up to the baby being born and that's about where we finished shooting was the birth of the baby," McPartlin tells Zap2it. "I think that was originally going to be the end of the show [at the 13th episode], but thank God we just keep coming back. I think they actually timed the birth out though and they said it's close to the timing with the initial pregnancy announcement." Ten of the 13 episodes originally ordered for the season have aired so far, but NBC recently announced that it was ordering a back 11 episodes. "Fans like people naming themselves after us give us publicity," says the actor, referring to the man who legally changed his name to Captain Awesome. "What better way to get publicity? Who knows? Next Jeffster will be a hit band that'll be out there. So here we are again with a lot more episodes, a lot more ground to cover." When last we saw Devon in "Chuck vs. the Leftovers," he had given Chuck (Zachary Levi) the laptop from his dad's car, thereby re-establishing the Intersect, but also gave him a warning that he didn't want Chuck's spy world to touch his growing family. "At this point, now Devon is going in an interesting way," observes McPartlin. "I think he's starting to accept the fact that Chuck's a spy but at the same time he's drawing his boundaries." This protectiveness is in keeping with his impending fatherhood. "I think that in his mind he'll be the best father in the world," says McPartlin. "There'll definitely be overkill of how awesome he's doing and how awesome he wants everyone else to be or the caretaker of the baby needs to be. "I have two children of my own and there are certain rules and requirements whenever my parents or my wife's parents are taking care of my children," he continues. "I don't know if I'm that Type A, but when it comes to my children, I'm very paranoid and I want them to be on a tight schedule. I want them to have the best possible environment for them. Everyone kind of gets a kick out of it. They're always saying, 'You're merging into your character.'" So it's no surprise that he wouldn't trust just any character from "Chuck" to look after his kids. Let's just say Morgan Grimes (Joshua Gomez) wouldn't be on his babysitter short list. "It's a tossup between John Casey [Adam Baldwin] and Sarah Walker [Yvonne Strahovski]," McPartlin says. "Because I know they take orders very well and they'd be able to protect the children and do everything to the best that I tell them to do, exactly how I'd tell them to do it. But maybe I'd lean towards Sarah Walker because she's got more of a heart than John Casey." Having already shot the birth episode, the actor knows what Baby Awesome's name will be. "But I can't divulge it," he says. "I'm sure the baby will have a cool nickname. We haven't gotten to that. There's still plenty of room to discuss what the baby's nickname will be." "Chuck," Captain Awesome and gestating Baby Awesome will return to NBC on Monday, Jan. 17. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz Photo/Video credit: NBC Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...references.html

Spoilers! Don't make us take out our knives. Let's just fastforward to the most crucial scene, shall we? Jordan Chase (Jonny Lee Miller) has taken Lumen (Julia Stiles) to the River Jordan Camp for Boys and Girls, and Dexter (Michael C. Hall​) finds them, thanks to the Office of County Records, which had listed Eugene Greer for that property. Just when it looks like Jordan has the upper hand -- Lumen is strung up, Dexter is captured after flipping his car -- Dex surprises their captor with a hidden knife. Jordan is speedily strapped to a table (or is it a gurney)? After one of the most twisted conversations ever, in which Jordan keeps trying to make Lumen thank him for "transforming" her from a meek and cowering creature to this vengeful angel, Lumen freaks and executes Jordan, screaming to his dying/lifeless body, "Do you hear me?!?" So it's over. Sort of. As Lumen and Dexter clean their knives and prepare to deal with Jordan's remains, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) arrives on the scene, thanks to a tip from a street vendor who recognized Jordan in his car on the way to the camp and heard strange noises coming from his trunk. Deb sees Jordan's body and then catches sight of Lumen and Dexter from the other side of plastic sheeting. It's translucent enough to see their general forms, but not clear enough to ID someone. This is where the whole season of Deb's maturation comes into play. We're not saying a sane and mature person will condone murder, but she's come to realize that life -- and justice -- are not black and white. She makes one of the most heartfelt speeches on the show, the whole time from the other side of the plastic, deliberately never seeing their faces fully. She starts by addressing the blurry vision of the victim (Lumen): "I know who you are, Number 13. I know what they did to you. I've seen the tapes. I watched them over and over. It's a miracle you've survived, a f***ing miracle. And you (to Dexter), whoever you are, you know that too. "Maybe it's true some people deserve to die, but I'm a cop and I don't f***ing make that decision," Deb adds. "So I'm going to call this in and in an hour this place will be swarming with police. (beat) If I were you, I'd be gone by then." And then she backs out and lets them get away. Wow, right? There are so many implications here, but of course the first is that Deb has let murderers free. More to the point, Deb has helped out Dexter, albeit unknowingly. There were signs that her sense of morality had been shifting this season, but this was a pretty huge step. This does not necessarily mean she'd be willing to help Dexter and his Dark Passenger straight out though. So that's the main stuff. A few other musings and highlights: The look of distaste on Jordan's face each time he has to deal with Lumen is hilarious. Would he have done something to Lumen really? It's hard to tell. That almost-face-bite scene was sure creepy though. When he licked his lips, we shrieked. So Dexter faked Quinn's blood test, presumably with something other than blood. Quinn himself even thanks Dex, so does that mean Quinn will let whoever Liddy's killer is get off scot free? Hmm ... more of this grey area stuff. Liddy was shady, but was he worthy of death?Speaking of Quinn, both he and Deb need to do some post-stress eating. He didn't used to be that bony, right?Great Angel line: "Am I the only on interested in this goddamn murder?"Jordan to Dexter while looking at knives: "Wow. I look at these and I can't help but think you have a kind of greatness in you."Deb struggling to speak to vendor: "I f***ing swear I'm taking Spanish after this."So nobody Dexter loved died. Huzzah! Lumen left, but that was kind of expected, right? He can't have a permanent partner. That wouldn't work. But when he pleaded, "Don't go," it broke our hearts.Do you think it's as simple as that, for Lumen to lose her Dark Passenger?Dexter's touching/creepy vow: "Don't be sorry your darkness is gone. I'll carry it for you always. I'll keep it with mine."Apparently, we need to go to more first birthday parties.Okay, it wasn't the huge, traumatic ending like last season's finale, but we feel that we needed this season. Just like Lumen, we needed a catharsis. We're not blown away, but we're satisfied. Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...rprise-you.html

That remains to be seen on the Season 5 finale "The Big One" on Sunday, Dec. 12 on Showtime. Her fate is in the hands of motivational speaker Jordan Chase(Jonny Lee Miller), who headed up a sort of rape/torture club for Lumen and other similar looking blondes. He's abducted her and is taking her -- well, we have no idea where. Last we checked, he was supposed to fly out of town on a speaking gig, but that was just a ruse. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) just needs to find them before it's too late. Aw, it's nice that Dexter has family, and Astor (Christina Robinson) surely cleaned up her look from last time. We just hope he'll be able to celebrate with them later. This has been some season so far, and we're not sure how much more trauma we can handle after last season's death. So here's a wishlist of things we'd like to see in the Season 5 finale (we're kind of in the habit since it's the holidays): Liddy's body is found but he's not mourned because somehow they frame him to be the vigilante's helper.They fake Emily Birch's death to make it appear that she was the vigilante/victim.Angel and Laguerta decide to give their relationship a break.Harrison is somehow the key to capturing Jordan.Lumen gets to kill Jordan or at least tell him "Tick, tick, tick" before he's dispatched by Dexter.All of Dexter's loved ones live. This includes Lumen.Quinn and Deb decide to officially cohabitate.Masuka finds a tattooed girlfriend.Pigs fly.So okay, this wouldn't be "Dexter" if everything wrapped up so completely or happily. We'll be willing to compromise if we get two of those wishes. Do you have any wishes of your own? Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...see-happen.html

That last bit of holiday imagery comes courtesy of "Hawaii Five-0", which on Monday (Dec. 13) will welcome back a nemesis from earlier in the season and place a member of the team in serious jeopardy. The episode is called "Hana 'a'a Makehewa" (per CBS, that's Hawaiian for "Desperate Measures"). Five-0 is called in to a hostage situation, during which Victor Hesse (returning guest James Marsters) resurfaces -- looking not even a little bit dead after getting beat up by McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) and taking a tumble into the water in the series premiere. The team member in jeopardy, as you can see in the preview below, is Chin Ho (Daniel Dae Kim), who somehow winds up with a bomb strapped to his body. The question for us now is not whether Chin Ho will escape -- otherwise "Hawaii Five-0" will have taken a seriously dark turn -- but what Hesse's return means. With "Caprica" having been canceled, Marsters is presumably freer to continue his role on "Five-0" if the show's writers desire. Is he working on his own, or is he in league with the yet unseen Wo Fat (future guest start Mark Dacascos)? The show hasn't really circled back to the events of the pilot or the contents of the toolbox McGarrett's dad left him. We're hoping Hesse's return can lead to some more exploration of that story. Here's the preview for Monday's episode: Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...-whos-back.html

When lead actor Andy Whitfield stepped down from the role after a cancer diagnosis (and subsequent relapse), the "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" production team had to go to Plan B. Their prequel series, "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," which takes place before Spartacus arrived at the House of Batiatus, begins January 21 on Starz at 10 p.m. EST. "You're going to love the next installment," DeKnight promises. "It's a six-episode prequel centering on the House of Batiatus and the intrigue and action that took place before the arrival of Spartacus." Though Spartacus himself will be largely absent from the prequel, it gives viewers the opportunity to spend more time with John Hannah's Batiatus, a favorite character. "The idea for the prequel basically came from a conversation I had with Hannah," says DeKnight. "He was telling me how much he enjoyed being on the show, how much he loved it, and that if we ever wanted him to come back to just ask him. He'd love to do it again. And I thought, you know what? There are some things I would like to fill in." The prequel focuses on a time when the gladiator arena was more ruthless than what "Bood & Sand" fans are used to. Honor wasn't as valued then, and every man was out for himself, trying to get ahead. Starz released the following description of the six-episode miniseries: "As the prequel begins, Quintus Batiatus is the acting Lanista while his father is on an extended visit to Sicilia. But Batiatus isn't satisfied with just the thought of taking over the Ludus one day; he aspires to political power and prestige in Capua, and perhaps beyond. In the class-conscious world of ancient Rome, the House of Batiatus must first earn the respect of politicians as well as socialites before being granted the right for its gladiators to fight in the much-revered championship bouts called the Primus. Batiatus must not only survive the harsh politics of Capua, but also compel his hedonistic fighter, Gannicus, to embrace being a champion gladiator who will bring esteem and respect to the House of Batiatus." In addition to John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah, and Manu Bennett will return. They're joined by new cast members Jaime Murray and Marisa Ramirez. Murray plays Gaia, a social climber in Capua whose quest for social hierarchy may coincide with Batiatus' desire for political power. Ramirez is Melitta, Lucretia's body slave -- and yes, that's as sexy as it sounds. Jeffrey Thomas plays Batiatus' father, Titus, the extremely conservative head of Ludus. Don't miss the brand new trailer below to sneak a peek at the new series, which embraces the cinematic standards set by "Blood & Sand." While we'll certainly miss Whitfield in the role of Spartacus and hope for his speedy recovery, we're thrilled that Starz has given DeKnight the freedom to explore a different time in the arena. Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...and-action.html

There's plenty going on in Mystic Falls that doesn't involve Tyler. Stefan is trapped in the tomb, Elena is still on a suicide mission, and Jeremy and Bonnie and Luka are part of the most lopsided love triangle ever. I spent a few days with the cast of "The Vampire Diaries" on their set in Atlanta this week and got some fun insight into the shooting of this episode, which is definitely my most anticipated episode yet. Can they pull off this wolf-out? Let's see. 8:00 p.m. - Trevino said that he made a point to be on set when Taylor Kinney shot his transformation scenes, even though he wasn't working that day. I can't wait to see how he makes it his own. Watching Tyler beg Mason for help is rough. It's almost like he'd be better off knowing Mason is dead than assuming that Mason is prioritizing surfing or Florida or yoga over Tyler. Hello, Jules! Michaela McManus' "One Tree Hill" character could not have been more boring, but she's a good actress -- and totally hot, obviously -- so here's hoping that Jules can do what Rose couldn't. We need an antagonistic, badass girl in town. (By the way, Tyler's computer background is pretty boring. He's so the type to have some Maxim girl up there. Or maybe Matt's mom.) 8:03 - "I'm taking Stefan's side with this one. We're not going to let you get used in some creepy sacrifice ritual." Does Bonnie know that it's not only Elena that would be included in the sacrifice, but also Tyler, Caroline, and Bonnie herself? That was a pretty major plot point, but it hasn't been mentioned since. Everyone is so focused on saving Elena that they've forgotten that half of the characters on the show might go into the doppelganger blood stew, too. No awkwardness between Bonnie and Jeremy after last week's almost kiss? (By the way, fun fact -- Steven R. McQueen tells me that he improvised that tension-filled moment. I'm so glad he did. It felt like a natural direction for the scene, and I liked that Jeremy was a little bit over-eager and made his move too soon. It felt true to his character.) 8:04 - So now Jeremy and Bonnie are scheming up plots to trap Elena in lies? It's so bizarre to me that everyone is allowed to be actively involved in this situation except for Elena herself, who is expected to sit quietly and catch up on "90210" while everyone around her gets their hands dirty and their necks bitten and all that fun stuff. Ha! Jeremy's self-satisfied smirk when Elena walks into the door is priceless. They've become friends this season, but at the root of it all, they're still siblings who give each other a hard time. Nina Dobrev and McQueen were perfectly cast as siblings - adopted or not - because they've got a sense of ease with each other that comes through even when they're giving each other a hard time. I love the way the door barrier looked on screen - that must have been the cleanest pane of glass ever. 8:05 - Ah, so it was Damon's idea! That makes much more sense. I love that Damon brings lanterns. Because a good old flashlight and some extra batteries would just mess with the aesthetic. Stefan seems so relaxed down there. Ever since Katherine returned, she's rarely been able to unnerve Stefan. Sometimes he looks amused by her, sometimes annoyed, but she never just flat-out pisses him off unless she's threatening Elena. I'm surprised he refuses the blood. Isn't sharing with Katherine better than turning into a mummy? Damon and Stefan have shown each other more trust and compassion in the handful of minutes they've spent together since Stefan got stuck in the tomb than they've shown each other all season. Stefan isn't worried about Damon moving in on Elena -- and Damon isn't even considering it. It's a relief. I'd hate for Elena to be able to come between them that easily when they've made so much progress. 8:06 - The dynamic between Tyler and his mom has changed a lot since his dad died. He's always acted out, but Carol and Richard seemed to keep him on a pretty short leash in Season 1 - keeping an eye on who he was hanging out with, making sure he was living up to Lockwood expectations. Now he seems to come and go as he pleases. I think I like Jules. She doesn't waste any time. 8:07 - Oh, cool, so Aunt Jenna let some random into her house. Can someone please just fill her in so that she can stop doing dumb things that she doesn't even know are dumb? Caroline is always at the Grill. Do they serve blood on tap? Also, Tyler kind of sucks at sneaking around. He's got "I've got sketchy stuff in my duffel bag and I'm about to go do sketchy things with it" written all over his face right now. Guilty, guilty, guilty. Why is Alaric giving them the hairy eyeball? Is he actually going to have a purpose in this episode? 8:08 - Here's the big moment. Damon is in Elena's house, Stefan is locked in a tomb with little hope of escape... is Damon going to make his move? Judging by the look on Elena's face, he'd have to be monumentally stupid to do so. Honestly, I think it's a very good thing that Damon didn't pursue Elena just because Stefan is temporarily out of commission. He's better than that now. I love the way that Damon is running this whole operation. He's got a mini-army of various supernatural creatures monitoring the town's various supernatural problems. (Also, his referring to Caroline as Vampire Barbie is magical.) The problem with Damon's plan is Jules -- getting busted for sloppily removing Mason Lockwood's heart isn't part of the Save Elena Or Bust detail. And more adorable-little-brother stuff from Jeremy. Most suicidal siblings ever? 8:09 - I can't quite tell what kind of car Caroline drives, can someone remind me? Just kidding. This is a great soundtrack junkie moment - and according to music supervisor Chris Mollere, it's "This Time Next Year" by Goldhawks. Unfortunately, it's not available for download anywhere. Yet. 8:10 - Meanwhile, back at the Lockwood mansion, Jules has the audacity to drive a Toyota! Are those even allowed within 100 miles of Mystic Falls? It appears that Jules is in cahoots with... some mysterious stranger on the other end of a cell phone call. The saddest thing about Mason's death - other than the way we won't get to see him come in from a run all sweaty and grinning ever again - is that he died even before Tyler triggered the curse. He'd have wanted to help Tyler through it. I almost find myself hoping that Jules will be able to do that somehow - even though Caroline can understand Tyler on some level, it seems like being a vampire is pretty easy in comparison. 8:13 - MATT! And he doesn't even get a line. 8:14 - While I was in Atlanta this week I got to look around in the cellar set where Tyler transformed. Even on the stages, it looks completely creepy - you get the feeling that nothing good goes on in there. "What should I wear? I don't think it's like 'The Hulk' where I get to keep my pants," Tyler says. At least he's got some semblance of his sense of humor left. I like that Caroline, who spent a good portion of Season 1 as Damon's chewtoy, gets anxious at the sight of Tyler taking off his shirt. (Yes, I suppose there's a possibility that Damon compelled her to sleep with him... but I'm going to hope that's not the case, because gross.) 8:16 - Ugh, Luka. I almost liked him for a moment there when he was standing up to Bonnie, and then he did that whole you're-so-pretty-I-forgive-you thing, and I had to roll my eyes. Whatever this guy's angle is, I don't like it. If Dr. ManWitch is collecting grimoires from all over the place, he's probably got an extraordinary amount of power and knowledge. Run, Bonnie. Run for your life. 8:18 - Yay, drunk Alaric! Or fake drunk Alaric, as the case may be. I've missed watching him and Damon team up against their common enemies. They are, as Ian Somerhalder said, "the oddest of bedfellows," but their dynamic works and feels really fresh because we don't get to see it often. Jules, however, isn't buying into it - and I don't blame her, because Damon isn't too convincing as the swooping-in-to-save-the-damsel-in-distress type. 8:18 - Back in the tomb... I think it's genius that Stefan and Katherine got locked up together because their chemistry is phenomenal. even if it is an obvious dream sequence. I have to admit, when I saw the promo for this episode, I hoped that the cave sex was the real deal. But in order for it to be genuine, it'd have to happen after ages and ages of Katherine manipulating Stefan into believing that Damon and Elena were up to no good above ground. There's no way he'd give in this easily. Even though I totally want him to. 8:20 - Oh, Aunt Jenna. 8:25 - Fantastic. So now Elijah is in the house, and Elena can't get out of the house. Great plan, Damon. Why is Elena knocking on Jeremy's door at a time like this? If there was ever a time to throw caution to the wind and bust in without knocking, it's when an unkillable vampire who wants to sacrifice you is hanging out downstairs making nice with your aunt. 8:27 - It's hard to care what's going on elsewhere in this episode knowing that Tyler is about to turn and that Caroline is down in that tomb with him. When we first met Tyler, he was easily the most flat character on the show. Unreasonable bully with a misogynistic streak, the product of crappy parenting. Boring. Somewhere along the way, though, viewers really started to feel for him. Though we still don't know what makes him tick, necessarily, we do see his vulnerability. Watching him pace and hearing the chains drag across the floor is unsettling. The noises he makes as he chokes down the wolfsbane are downright disturbing. I like that he apologizes to Caroline for his outburst, even though she knew what she was in for, to some degree. The old Tyler probably wouldn't have apologized at all. Their connection and chemistry is fantastic. She's really shown up for him in ways no one else has before. 8:29 - Daniel Gillies as Elijah was a great casting move. His undeterminable accent and sharp, Damon-esque way of delivering dialogue make him scary, but his casual posturing keep him oddly relatable. He confesses that he doesn't care about breaking the vampire spell - and why should he? He's got a daylight savings ring and werewolves aren't exactly an imminent threat to the vampire race when there are so few of them left. What he does want is to draw Klaus out of hiding. I dig his honesty here. "I'm a man of my word, Elena. I make a deal, I keep a deal." Of course, you'd better be damn sure you don't leave any loopholes in your dealmaking, as we saw with Rose and Trevor. Elena is pretty ballsy to try to negotiate with terrorists, but I've got to hand it to her for trying. She may be locked up, but she's not willing to sit idly by. 8:31 - Ugh, Luka. Once again, it seems like Bonnie is overestimating her own ability. Call me crazy, but a spell that encompasses all werewolves and vampires at the very essence of their curses should be more difficult than a spell that essentially locks a door, right? Why does Bonnie think they can do this after everything? Also, magic must be orgasmic, literally. The look on Bonnie's face every time she and Luka do anything magical makes me feel like I should look away. 8:32 - Tyler's voice and the desperate breaths he's taking are literally making my stomach churn. I've said it before - portraying all-encompassing pain can't be easy for an actor because there aren't a lot of reference points for it. Trevino is making me nauseous here... which is a good thing. Guys cry on this show all the time, but it's rare to see them actually sob, so I'm glad they went there here. It reminds me a little of when Stefan first went blood-crazy last season, because all vanity for the actor is out the window. It's an ugly process and they don't sacrifice authenticity in favor of making it look "cool." Caroline is so brave in this scene, I can't even stand it. Best character development ever. Props to the visual effects team - and the sound effects guys, for that matter - because Tyler's arm breaking and twisting was almost unwatchable... in a good way. This scene definitely isn't about the CGI, though. Tyler's "It hurts, it hurts" is what really got me. (Yeah, I'm crying, shut up.) This is pretty much the most necessary commercial break in the history of television. I need to walk it off. 8:37 - Jules is a great addition. She gives us the opportunity to see the other side of being a werewolf. Obviously her transformation is much quicker, since she's still in the bar while Tyler looks like something out of the exorcist. She also implies that she's got some control over what she does as a wolf, since she's threatening Damon specifically. I like that werewolves have a hyper sense of smell, too - that could come in handy... especially because if Tyler knows what a vampire smells like because of Caroline, he might catch on to Damon and Stefan. 8:38 - Speaking of Tyler... can this just end already? Trevino's performance is blowing my expectations out of the water (which is saying something, because my expectations were pretty high to begin with) but I don't want to see any more of it. It's scaring me. 8:39 - Aw, Alaric. Protecting Damon from the Big Bad Wolf... and Damon actually listening. 8:40 - How awesome is it that when Tyler begs Caroline to get out, she just holds him closer? Matt who? Wow, Tyler is freaking scary as he reaches the end of his transformation. With vampires, there's still such a human element of control - they can be calculated and graceful in their kills. With werewolves, the person is reduced to their animal instincts... and apparently vampires taste delicious. I like that a lot of the transformation is in shadow, so there's not much CGI needed. It's better to show too little than to show too much and in this case, they've got a great performance to rely on, which makes the effects a nice bonus, but not necessary to have the right impact. Caroline crying outside the doors is one of the best parts of this, too. She's crying because she's scared for herself and for Tyler. 8:48 - Oh, look, Rose is back. Zzzzzz. I'm not sure why I'm so uninterested in her character. I prefer my vampires with a motive and a purpose as opposed to just... kind of lost and wandering. That werewolf attack scene would've been great - I love that they used an actual wolf in some shots - but after Tyler's cries of pain, Rose's endless scream just sounds kind of bored. Two seconds ago Damon was telling Rose to hit the road, and now he's holding her and soothing her as she recovers from a wound that's... basically gone already? I don't get it. 8:50 - Oh, Luka isn't too pleased with being his father's little minion, is he? He's got an attitude. 8:51 - Back in the tomb, Katherine and Stefan are having the same conversation that they always have. "Prove to me that there's something inside of you that's actually worth trusting," Stefan says. But what, exactly, is she supposed to do? They're locked up underground. Frankly, I don't really want to see the human side of Katherine. As Elena learns to manipulate people for the sake of her own survival, she's becoming more like Katherine -- we don't need Katherine to become more like Elena, too. It's interesting that Katherine says Isobel found her... but Isobel says that it was Katherine who did the finding. "Genetic curiosity," I believe it was. 8:52 - "Good evening Katerina. Thank you for having the good sense to be frightened." Oh, I freaking love Elijah. Love. So Stefan's out of the tomb. I can't help but feel like a great story opportunity was kind of wasted - I would have liked to see much more of Stefan and Katherine's manipulative mind games while he was trapped with her. She brings out a slightly darker side of him that's really interesting. 8:56 - Caroline is in the forest in fog with crows. Anyone else getting pilot flashbacks? Thankfully, the night is over. Soundtrack junkie moment: Howie Day's "Longest Night" is highly appropriate, I think. Tyler's broken voice when he says Caroline's name KILLS me. "You're okay" she says. "No," he says. "I'm not." More tears from me. He's supposed to go through this every month? I'm guessing we're going to see another Mystic Falls resident with a death wish. Yikes. 8:58 - What a great moment, where Elena sees Stefan's reflection in her window! It's another callback to the pilot, where she saw him through the window at the end of the night. His smile is adorable, too -- Paul Wesley has been looking extra good lately. I'm not sure their reunion is quite due yet, because everything that was unresolved when they broke up is still resolved... but I'm glad to see them smile for once. They've got enough to brood over without missing each other, too. Close your blinds, Elena! Dang. 9:00 - Damon and Rose... okay, okay, there's definitely chemistry here. Then again, Damon would have chemistry with a garage door, so we'll see where this goes... especially since her shoulder seems to have been infected with flesh-eating werewolf bacteria. Gross. It's interesting that they chose to end the mid-season finale without a cliffhanger. Unless you consider Rose possibly dying a cliffhanger, which I don't, because I don't think anyone's too invested in her living at this point. If it had been Caroline with the werewolf bite, maybe, but I'm not too worried about Rose's life on the line. Overall, this is one of my favorite episodes of the season. I like when the focus is taken off of the "triangle" a little bit -- they can get exhausting with their back-and-forth. Even so, it's nice to see Stefan and Elena back together, and Damon is showing his softer side more than ever now. I do wish we'd seen some follow up on the great moment between Matt, Caroline, and Tyler, but I realize that this wasn't the place. Poor Matt - now that Caroline and Tyler have been through this hell together, he doesn't stand a chance. I knew Trevino would land the MVP for this episode, but I didn't think it'd be this good. That'll teach me to underestimate people! He's been arguably the most compelling cast member to watch this season, since last year we didn't know Tyler much at all. Tonight's episode only proved that he's got plenty more where that came from, especially when it comes to working with Candice Accola. Holy chemistry. Your turn, vamp fans! I want to know your thoughts on EVERYTHING, so drop me a comment below. Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...gest-night.html

In "All the Way," Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca​) gets yet another chance at a mission. For a recruit, she sure does get into the field a lot. She's posing as a photographer and the assistant to a wedding planner, but really she's supposed to get to the leader of a crime syndicate. As usual, Nikita (Maggie Q) helps her from the outside, but the mission is compromised in a surprising way, causing some desperate measures to be taken. We don't want to spoil too much of what will happen, but certain information (and photos) have been released that we feel comfortable teasing a few things now that we've watched our advance screener. For those who'd prefer their viewing experience to remain unsullied, read no further. What to expect from "All the Way": Michael gives his opinion on women's fashion.Flashbacks of Alex and Nikita pre-Division mole operation.Hmm, that wedding planner looks an awful like Robin Givens.Birkhoff finally earns his keep.Thom is back, looking dapper in a suit and gives Alex a pep talk.Jaden comes on to Thom (again). He rebuffs her (again).Alex gets violent on her mission.Nikita gets inside Division.Amanda is her warm and charming self.Nikita makes a reference to BP.The recruits get a really hard workout.You might feel like crying

And now one of our favorite shows is doing its own take on the medium. "I love those specials," says "Community's" creator and executive producer Dan Harmon. "They have huge emotional value to me, because most of them are on the theme of awkward people realizing that it's okay for them to be awkward. That's what the 'Community' version of it is, as well." In the holiday episode, Abed (played by Danny Pudi​) wakes to find himself in a stop motion winter wonderland. The gang soon joins him for what ultimately becomes an exploration of Abed's brain. "It's a weird art form. It's about being meticulous, but also being completely off-the-wall," Harmon explains. "And that's very Abed. The idea of stop motion animation - total control over a completely creative environment - and what that says about him." It's amazing just how spot-on the clay versions of the cast really are and Harmon says that it took a bit of serendipity and a lot of thought to capture each character's stop motion doppelganger. "You're making a million arbitrary choices in the likenesses of these characters," he says. "What is it about Joel McHale​ on 'Community,' not on 'The Soup,' that's popping out about the character? When you look at the doll for Jeff Winger, if you split-screen them next to Joel McHale, obviously you're not looking at the same face. But, what is it? Is it the angle of the eyebrows or is it spiky hair? The kind of expression on his face? We were very excited about those opportunities." To us, "Community" is like a TV sitcom test lab, which gives a nod to "the rules" while at the same time challenging their boundaries. Somehow the show makes action thrillers, space themes and zombie movie lore work while still preserving the characters' storylines. Harmon promises the Christmas episode was conceived in the same vein. "Doing your story in a different medium is a great way to send a signal to the audience that, hey, these guys are real," he says. "Because look how consistent they are, even if you put them in outer space or have them be stop motion for an episode." "Community's" stop motion animated Christmas episode airs Thursday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

In "By the Light of the Moon," Tyler Lockwood, Mystic Falls' resident bully with a heart of gold, transforms into a werewolf in an excruciating scene that took two days to shoot. If you're anything like us, you're anticipating Mystic Falls' next full moon with an unsettling blend of excitement and dread. We couldn't wait to find out what happens, so Zap2it hit the show's Atlanta set this week -- with our shaky flip video camera in tow -- to get the scoop from the cast. There is one thing that everyone from Michael Trevino's co-stars to showrunners Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec agreed on unanimously: this is Trevino's episode to shine, and it's a story that's been well-earned. "Though the promos have focused heavily on the 'triangle' drama, honestly the episode really belongs to Michael Trevino, Tyler, as we watch him go through the most harrowing experience of his life," Plec says, referring to the CW's episode trailer, which may not do the actual plot of the episode much justice. I chatted with Trevino about his character's journey from the resident one-dimensional bully to the emotionally layered Tyler we'll see on screen this week. "Last year, Tyler would show up, get into a fight, and then leave for a few episodes," Trevino says. While we're sure those choreographed brawl scenes had their merits, this season, he gets to stretch the limits of his talent and training as an actor. In fact, the transformation was Trevino's most challenging experience as an actor. "By far," he says. "In all the TV stuff that I've done, guest stars and recurring, the two days of shooting the transformation scene by far was the hardest, most challenging I've ever done." Luckily, Trevino didn't have to go it alone. Marcos Siega, former supervising producer, returned to "The Vampire Diaries" while they filmed this important hour. Trevino found comfort in Siega's presence. "It's not only a difficult scene because you're not in your comfort zone, you know?" he says. "Your shirt's off, and this and that. There's all these different elements, so just to have that relationship where you totally 100% trust that person, that was Marcos." He was also joined on set by co-star Candice Accola. "It was a very beautiful, painfully beautiful day at work," she says. "You'd walk on set and the tone was set. Everyone was there to work. It was very serious. Everything that he was doing was so beautiful, creatively, that it was a very intense two days. They put him through the ringer. He went for it, he went there, and I think it's going to make for a great, shining moment for Trevino. I think it's a great episode for him." Tyler will never be the same after this transformation, and not just because once a month he'll wolf out. The changes he goes through will alter his relationships with his friends and make him question his place in Mystic Falls as the two monster species collide. Ian Somerhalder​ says that the heart of Tyler's story is whether or not he can step up, accept his fate, and do what it takes to protect his home and his family. "Or what's left of his family, the poor guy," Somerhalder adds. "We killed his dad, we killed his uncle. I think we need to figure out, first of all, what Tyler wants. My guess, hopefully, is that he realizes that this is his home. This is where it all started and where it should end." Watch the video below for more from Trevino, Accola, and Somerhalder -- including some scoop on Damon's relationship with a new female character and just what separates a Lockwood werewolf from a "True Blood" wolf.

Breaking Bad, 30 Rock, Modern Family and Boardwalk Empire lead the pack with the most nominations -- though fan favorites like "Friday Night Lights," "Lost" and "The Good Wife" are each represented as well. Recent years have seen WGAs go to "Mad Men," "30 Rock" and "House." Here's a partial list of this year's contenders: Dramatic Series "Boardwalk Empire" "Breaking Bad" "Dexter" "Friday Night Lights" "Mad Men" Comedy Series "30 Rock" "Glee" "Modern Family" "Nurse Jackie" "The Office" New Series "Boardwalk Empire" "Justified" "Men of a Certain Age" "Treme" "The Walking Dead" Episodic Drama "Boom" ("The Good Wife") "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" ("Mad Men") "The End" ("Lost") "Help Me" ("House") "I.F.T." ("Breaking Bad") "I See You" ("Breaking Bad") Episodic Comedy "Anna Howard Shaw Day" ("30 Rock") "Earthquake" ("Modern Family") "Nightmayor" ("The Sarah Silverman Program") "Starry Night" ("Modern Family") "When It Rains, It Pours" ("30 Rock") "Wuphf.com" ("The Office") Long Form, Original "The Special Relationship" "You Don't Know Jack" Long Form, Adaptation "The Pacific," "Part Four," "The Pacific," "Part Eight," "The Pillars of the Earth" "Temple Grandin" Animation "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences" ("Futurama") "Moe Letter Blues" ("The Simpsons") "O Brother, Where Bart Thou?" ("The Simpsons") "The Prisoner of Brenda" ("Futurama") "Treasure Hunt" ("Back at the Barnyard") Comedy/Variety, Series "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" "Saturday Night Live" "The Colbert Report" "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" Comedy/Variety, Specials "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3-D On Ice!" "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards" Daytime Serials "As the World Turns" "General Hospital" "One Life to Live" The WGA has the complete list, including categories for news, promos and children's programming.

Ty Burrell says that we can look forward to his character Phil Dunphy and wife Claire (Julie Bowen​) getting amorous, but we're not the only ones to witness the action. "This week we're taping an episode where the kids walk in on us while we're having sex," tells Ty. "It's a full 22-minute sex scene. Actually, it's sitcom sex, definitely appropriate." We didn't really expect ABC to go too racy with their Emmy-winning show with "family" in the title, but we do expect the subject to turn to the birds and the bees. "There's a difficult chat with the kids," Burrell confirms. "Phil comes through with shining colors as usual." Burrell won't be getting quite that much action on Wednesday's (Dec. 8) episode. In "Dance Dance Revelation," Manny and Luke (Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould) have their first school dance, and Phil and Jay (Ed O'Neill​) accompany them to the mall to prepare. Fans of the show know that Jay isn't Phil's biggest fan, and we guess the mall is not where Jay is happiest. "They take the boys out shopping and it comes to a head," Burrell reveals. "It's part of the ongoing struggle between Jay and Phil about respect and whether or not Phil deserves it or not. His manhood is threatened as usual." Burrell also shares how he's like Phil, thoughts on his co-stars and a telenovela he's working on with Rodriguez. Are you an early adopter of technology like Phil? Ty Burrell: No I'm really not. I'm not a Luddite, but I'm not like up on what's the newest, coolest thing. Of course Steve Levitan from our show is. That's where our storylines generate. He basically tells me if I'm anywhere close if I'm trying to operate a computer with a rock and a flame. What's the fanciest piece of technology you own? Burrell: I have an iPad. I mainly work on scripts with it honestly. There are a couple of apps on there that allow you to make notes on the PDF so you can score a script. It's made it really easy actually to not need paper except for certain situations. I think the show in general has gotten pretty far at being paperless. It's pretty cool. As a new parent, what's one trait you'd take from Phil's parenting skills? Burrell: I think one of positivity. He's kind of a militantly positive guy. He's sort of relentless. If I am that positive parent, I will be extremely grateful. I'll be very glad if that happens. Although Phil and Jay don't get along, how is it working with O'Neill? Burrell: It's amazing. I can't say enough good things about him. He's always been sort of a paterfamilias for us both onscreen and off. I love working with him because he's a total pro. He's not one of those guys who has a lot of ups and downs. You can kind of count on Ed being there all that time whether you're working late into the night or early in the morning or whatever is going on in any of our private lives. He's really one for coming to work to work. Throw in the fact that he's a genius. He's so effortless as a performer. It's just a lot of fun. Do you feel the partnership with Julie Bowen that Phil and Claire have? Burrell: I've been describing her most recently as the ultimate teammate. She has an incredible amount of skill as a comedian but she's got your back as far as trying to negotiate teams. She's just not one of those people that increases the challenge so to speak. The scenes are enough of a challenge to figure out for everyone, to try to basically get the genius writing to come across. She's not ever one to add to that challenge. She's just really an awesome. Who's the biggest jokester on set? Burrell: Probably Rico. Rico is, contrary to his character, a true joyful kid. He loves to run around doing jokes and bits and stuff. It adds a ton of life to the set. He and I were working on a sort of telenovela, Latin American soap opera. We've got an episode essentially worked out. Eventually we'll have three or four episodes hopefully. We'll have a side job. We don't write it down. We just sort of memorize these scenes between these two incredibly dramatic long-lost relatives. Do the actors who play your screen kids (Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter​, Nolan Gould) respect you? Burrell: I think it's fairly typical. I think they look on us with pity like any kid would with an adult. They can see that we're slowly decomposing.

Last week, the whole gang's Thanksgiving was interrupted by the Portland police bursting in to take Tasha (Ksenia Solo) into custody after she hit Trey, Lux's former foster father. When the state department decides to press charges against Tasha, the whole family rallies around her to support her. When Zap2it last spoke to Britt Robertson, she told us firmly that despite her recent preoccupation with Eric (Shawn Sipos), Tasha is still one of the most important people in Lux's life. "They're each other's beginning," Robertson says. "Tasha's the one person in Lux's life that I think she really, really, completely trusts. She's been Lux's family since she was seven years old. You'll see in the next episode that their relationship continues to grow. Despite all of their mistakes, they'll always be there for each other." When Lux is asked to testify in Tasha's case, she hesitates, concerned that revealing the truth about her time in foster care will push Eric away and make her family look at her differently. The lengths that Lux goes to to keep her past in the past may not only jeopardize her relationships, but could land Tasha in a federal penitentiary. Lux's testimony is so shocking that a courtroom brawl breaks out -- but the person who lands the first punch will surprise you. The hits just keep on coming after that. If you think things have settled down, don't get too comfortable - there's a reveal in the final moments of the episode that could prove to be devastating to one of our favorite characters. We don't want to give too much away, but suffice to say that "Stand Taken" is easily the series' most powerful episode. You'll see characters you thought you knew in an entirely different light. Robertson and Kristoffer Polaha in particular give performances that are subtly heartbreaking - arguably the best of their respective careers. Basically, if you don't cry... we think you should get your tear ducts examined. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOICucUcKSc&feature=player_embedded Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz Photo/Video credit: CW Source: http://blog.zap2it.c...everything.html

He's not talking about himself. O'Neill was the only adult member of the show's cast not nominated for an Emmy, but the winner in his category -- outstanding supporting actor in a comedy -- was one of his castmates,Eric Stonestreet. O'Neill does, however, think that his on-screen wife, Sofia Vergara, deserved the comedy supporting actress over Jane Lynch of "Glee." "I love Jane, honestly I do," O'Neill told a group of international reporters at a recent press conference, according to TV Guide Canada. "I'm dying to star in one of Christopher Guest's movies alongside her, but I don't think she should have gotten the Emmy for that part. [Her character Sue Sylvester] is just a one-note character." Vergara and Julie Bowen were both nominated in the category this year, but O'Neill gives the nod to his TV wife over his TV daughter: "Sofia is just so, so funny," he says of Vergara. "I don't think people realize how hilarious she is. She's so sharp with her wit, it's amazing." We don't really have a beef with Lynch winning the award -- and wouldn't have with Vergara either; both are great in their roles. What do you think of O'Neill's comments?

Prior to the season finale of "Boardwalk Empire" Sunday night (Dec. 5), HBO aired a 10-minute making-of/preview special for "Game of Thrones." It was the usual mix of teaser footage, behind-the-scenes info and talking heads with the cast and crew -- but it was also the first extended look fans have gotten at the show. The video -- which features interview segments with author George R.R. Martin, whose novels form the basis of the series, as well as creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss -- is at the end of the post. But we also wanted to share a few new photos HBO has posted of the cast. Up above is Sean Bean ("The Lord of the Rings") as Eddard "Ned" Stark, and below is Lena Headey ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") Cersei Lannister: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau​ ("New Amsterdam") plays Cersei's brother Jaime: Peter Dinklage​ as the third of the Lannister siblings, Tyrion: Emilia Clarke is Daenerys Targaryen: Here's the video, in which you'll also see (among others) Harry Lloyd as Daenerys' brother Viserys, Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon and, briefly, "The Wire's" Aiden Gillenas Littlefinger. "Game of Thrones" premieres in April.

ABC can't handle the The (Whole) Truth. Although the network was going to burn off the remainder of the legal drama's 13 episodes, they've reconsidered and decided to run reruns of Modern Family and Cougar Town in its place on Dec. 8, 15 and 29. Once Jan. 12 rolls around, midseason replacement "Off the Map" will debut in that slot. [The Hollywood Reporter] Have an appetite for satiric pop culture news? You're in luck. Joel McHale has signed a new two-year deal with E! as host of The Soup so we'll still get a double dose of Joel-y goodness with him over on NBC's Community. He'll also host the upcoming Independent Spirit Awards on Feb. 26. [Deadline] Neil Patrick Harris will continue to add to his extraordinary hosting resume with the Spike TV Video Game Awards on Dec. 11. Oh, and he does have video game cred. He's the star of "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions." [Spike TV] Be Good Johnny Weir is skating from Sundance to Logo. Its first season will re-air in early 2011 and then its new season is aiming for that summer. The cable net has also greenlit two other series -- "Pretty Hurts" about a Beverly Hills "lip injector" and "Setup Squad" about a NYC dating service that provides wingmen or -women. [THR] Move over "Boardwalk Empire," Starz is committing to 10 episodes of "Magic City," set in a Miami hotel during the time when Fidel Castro takes control of Cuba and shuts down gambling in Havana. Where's a decadent, sleazy gambler to go? Miami! [Deadline]

The AMC drama finished its six-episode freshman season Sunday night (Dec. 5), drawing more than 6 million total viewers in the 10 p.m. hour. With repeat airings at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., the total audience number swells to 8.1 million. The real boast, however, is the 4 million viewers in the 18-49 adult demo, the largest of any drama in basic cable history. Overall, the season averaged 3.5 million in the 18-49 demo, the best average of any basic cable drama going back to 1993. In the series finale, the group of survivors discover that their sanctuary at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not the paradise they imagined. "The Walking Dead" has been renewed for a second 13-episode season.