Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Bones, Once, Scandal, Glee, Vampire Diaries, Smash and More!
Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com
Question: Do you have anything particularly scandalous about the season finale of Scandal you can share? —Daniela
Ausiello: I see what you did there. Scandalous. Scandal. Clever. I may steal that for next week’s AA. In the meantime, conventional wisdom points to the elusive mole being unmasked in the May 16 finale. Kerry Washington, meanwhile, points to it being the person you’d least expect. “It’s so shocking,” the actress tells us with a huge, hearty laugh. “So, so shocking. And so good. One of the things the show does so well is they mostly do these, like, one-two or one-two-three punches. So it’s not usually one cliffhanger; it’s usually a shock, and then another couple of shocks — and that’s kind of how that goes down.”
Question: Will Glee‘s Blaine actually go through with the marriage proposal to Kurt? Hope not. They’re freakin’ teenagers! —Jonathan
Ausiello: That’s just the kind of common sense advice Blaine needs right now. Cue a special appearance by Kurt’s pa, Burt! “Blaine is considering marrying Kurt and [I offer] my point of view on that,” Mike O’Malley tells TVLine of his May 2 encore. “I had some beautiful scenes with Darren Criss, who is just turning into such a remarkable actor. Well, turning into, he was – but this year they’ve given him strong, strong material and a really nice, beautiful arc to play. And oftentimes, my scenes with him are triangulated with the presence of Chris Colfer, and in this episode, they’re not. I have one really beautiful scene with just Darren, and I loved it.”
Question: After Monday’s Bones finale, can you divert our attention for a bit and tell us a bit more about Bones‘ Season 9 episode “El Carnicero en el Coche” that the cast and crew are shooting right now? From a pic that David Boreanaz tweeted, it appears that Sweets might have quit his job. —Rex
Ausiello: It’s the second episode of Season 9 and, yes, it revolves around Sweets’ new gig. As exec producer Stephen Nathan reveals, the events of the season finale will drive the Jeffersonian’s resident shrink out the door. “He has some leave coming from the FBI, and considering all the stress and guilt he feels after Pelant’s [latest killing spree], he decides to take his leave and explore another opportunity,” Nathan previews. “We’re going to see in Sweets that crime-fighting isn’t the only thing he’s focused on. We’re going to open up his life a little more.” Nathan, however, stresses that the leave is only a temporary one, adding, “He’s going to be around. He’s just going to explore his character a little bit more.”
Question: Is the vote-tampering secret between Peter and Will going to resurface on The Good Wife next season? Seems too juicy of a storyline to just let end in the finale. —Kathy
Ausiello: I’m with you, Kath. Even though Peter didn’t end up needing those votes to win, it could still wreak havoc on his political career — and jeopardize his relationship with Alicia. But as Josh Charles points out, even if the political scandal stays under wraps, it still “adds a really neat dynamic” to Peter and Will’s relationship. “It’s now something that lives between them,” he adds, “Whether that becomes something that’s explored literally — or it’s just there sort of hanging in the air – will remain to be seen.” Speaking of The Good Wife, series co-creators Robert and Michelle King have agreed to answer reader questions about the finale. So, stop what you’re doing, compose a really intelligent question pertaining to the finale and/or Season 5, and send it to askausiello@tvline.com with the words “Good Wife Q” in the subject line.
Question: Do you have any scoop on Grey’s Anatomy? —BP
Ausiello: If you are among the few who believe that this Owen/Ethan storyline will have a shiny, happy ending — with the motherless, potentially fatherless lad skipping off to live with his grandma Nancy — I’d like to introduce you to this thing called television. “There are a lot of interesting twists coming up, ones that I did not expect,” All My Children alum Jennifer Bassey, who plays Nancy, tells us. “It will really tear your heart out…. It’s heavy-duty stuff!” In other Grey’s news, Shonda Rhimes tweeted the following finale tease on Tuesday and I can’t get it out of my damn head! “On set at Grey’s. A piece of this scene was so top-secret that I had to whisper it to the director instead of writing it in the script.” Anyone by chance know what supermarket Rob Corn shops at? E-mail me privately at askausiello@tvline.com.
Question: I have a Q about Once Upon a Time and its potential spin-off: If we decide not to watch the spin-off, will we still understand everything that’s going on in Once Upon a Time? Or are the two shows completely connected? Thanks! —Emily
Ausiello: Worry not. Should the Wonderland-based limited-run offshoot get the green light from ABC on May 14 — and even though Barbara Hershey’s Cora and even Lana Parrilla’s Regina could appear in flashbacks — “It is intended to exist as its own thing,” says Once cocreator Eddy Kitsis. Adds Adam Horowitz, “If you’ve never seen Once, you can actually watch Wonderland and not worry.”
Question: Got any scoop on Revenge, Once Upon a Time, Nashville, Hannibal or Orphan Black? —Danae
Ausiello: On the Once Upon a Time front, expect to see Mulan, Aurora and Prince Phillip once again, before the season is over. And lest you think Regina’s “trigger” to implode Storybrooke is just a MacGuffin for us to gaze upon and imagine its potential, “We’re definitely going to see what that black diamond does,” EP Eddy Kitsis warns.
Question: I know its unlikely, because she’s on Nurse Jackie, but what are the odds that Merritt Wever will keep showing up on New Girl? I love her with Max Greenfield! – Kasey
Ausiello: “That’s definitely sort of up in the air,” says series creator Liz Meriwether. “I certainly hope so. She’s great.” The scene Wever and Greenfield share in tonight’s “Virgins” episode – a must-watch – is an example of what Meriwether calls “a lot of really great chemistry and fullness” between Schmidt and his college girlfriend. “She doesn’t take any of his bulls—t, and is pushing him to be a better person. That’s what he’s struggling with and what their arc is as a couple.” So you wanted odds? I’d say it’s at 5/2. (Full-disclosure: I have no clue what those numbers mean.)
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Question: So we know there are ghosts appearing on The Vampire Diaries soon. Do you know if any characters are actually getting resurrected permanently? Or are they all just ghosts? —Audrey
Ausiello: Rumor has it that one resurrection may stick.
Question: I need some Vampire Diaries scoop on Caroline. —Calleigh
Ausiello: These 15 words will leave her mouth in the May 16 season finale, per exec producer Julie Plec: “Come hell or high water, hell will freeze over before I let anybody cancel graduation.” As Plec explains, “The instinct to miss graduation is going to be on [everyone's] minds because there’s greater things afoot. And Caroline, as we know, finds these moments and high school events very precious and gets very angry when anybody tries to mess with them.”
Question: What does NCIS: LA have in store for Nell and Eric? —Sophiaq
Ausiello: For the remainder of this season? Not much. For next season? At least one juicy episode. “We’re actually [about to] shoot one episode [for Season 5] that’s apparently an Eric-Nell episode,” Barrett Foa shares. “We haven’t really checked in with them after the big Christmas-under-the-mistletoe [incident] — there hasn’t been a ton of stuff with the two of us — and I think it’s time to get that back, because I figure fans are really ready for that.”
Question: Do you know if Dalia will still be living with George next season on Suburgatory? I love that dynamic. I hope it doesn’t go away just because George and Dallas broke up. —Tania H
Ausiello: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it sounds like it’s going away. “Dalia will really want to remain part of George’s world, but given what has gone on with her and Tessa, how realistic is that?” muses series creator Emily Kapnek. “It will be really hard for George to justify spending time with Dalia. It will hurt him probably to turn his back on her. Until Dalia and Tessa can reconcile, there really is no place for Dalia to go with that. I imagine that she would be really upset and hurt, and probably take some of this stuff out on Dallas, blaming her for the loss of Daddy Altman.”
Question: Should we be worried that The CW hasn’t renewed Nikita yet? —Soso
Ausiello: I don’t think so. I’m told the reason Nikita wasn’t included in last week’s CW pickups was because series creator Craig Silverstein was in Virginia shooting his AMC pilot Turn and therefore unable to pitch his Season 4 plan to the network. He’s now back in L.A. and due to meet with CW brass in the coming days. Bottom line: The show is still a safe bet for a (shortened) fourth season.
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Question: Will we meet Sherlock Holmes’ dad this season on Elementary? —Nola
Ausiello: We put that exact question to showrunner Rob Doherty. His response? “I’m not telling.” The EP did, however, confirm that the message Joan received in response to her request to stay on as the investigator’s sober companion “did come from Sherlock’s father,” and that it’s “no coincidence that the dad’s first initial is M. We anticipated and looked forward to some discussion about that.” Are you thinking what we’re thinking?!
Question: Since NBC renewed Law & Order: SVU for next season before Mariska Hargitay signed her contract (as opposed to last year), does this mean she is having trouble with her negotiations? Are they trying to get rid of her? —Jessica
Ausiello: What’chu talkin’ ’bout, Willis? Her deal is done. She’s returning. End of story. (Unless you know something I don’t. Which is possible. But unlikely.)
Question: Any scoop on this Wednesday’s season finale on The Americans? —La-Shauna
Ausiello: The Jennings’ laundry room — you know, the one where they keep some of their spy stuff — plays a key role.
Question: Call me crazy, but as a denizen of NBC’s old 227-Golden Girls-Amen Saturday-night programming bloc, I’m kinda digging Smash inhabiting a similar position on the Peacock net’s current lineup. I have to say, though, that there hasn’t been enough of Anjelica Huston’s Eileen — or her take-no-prisoners hilarity — the last few episodes. Any scoop? —Katrina
Ausiello: What? No love for Hunter? (Shakes head.) Despite that snub, Katrina, I’ve got good news for you: Eileen’s ne’er-do-well ex Jerry is back in the picture on this Saturday’s episode (with a pretty young thing in tow). And without giving too much away, let’s just say Eileen gets her fingers around Jerry’s martini glass before she’s even finished her first sentence in their conversation.
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Question: I’m still reeling from the cliffhanger at the end of last week’s Smash — with Kyle stepping in front of those screeching headlights. They’re not seriously gonna make me yell, “Oh my God, they killed Kyle!”, are they? —Brent
Ausiello: Would you settle for some intel on the show’s other unresolved cliffhanger — the one with Karen asking Derek, “Are you gonna walk me home or what?” Let’s just say that the tousled director makes it all the way up to his leading lady’s apartment, that the duo knocks back a room-spinning amount of vino and that — grab your smelling salts! — Cartwills fans will be hitting the rewind buttons on their DVRs. That is, at least, till somebody delivers the line, “I was a total ass. I always am. I ruin everything.” (Cue sad trombone.)
Question: Long time reader, first time question asker. I am so glad to know that you too are an Orphan Black fan. Any scoop to share? —Vanessa
Ausiello: Party at Alison’s house this week, and it’s a doozy! As the characters and storylines converge on her abode, “Clone antics ensue,” previews EP Graeme Manson with a laugh. “And Felix is right in the middle of it, which is fun, too.”
Question: My hart broke when Zoe/Wade broke up on Hart of Dixie. They didn’t get nearly enough time “together.” Please tell me Zoe gives Wade another chance! —Lauren
Ausiello: I see what you did there. Hart. Hart of Dixie. Clever. I may steal that for next week’s AA. In the meantime, exec producer Leila Gerstein insists Wade’s infidelity and the pair’s subsequent breakup “was never intended to be the end” of their story. “It is a long series [and] we expect to do many, many, many more episodes of this show,” she adds of the recently renewed dramedy. “And they’re not even done for this season! There will be another connection between Zoe and Wade before the season is over. I would certainly tell ‘Zade’ fans out there that they should not be giving up hope.”
That’s a wrap! Please send questions, comments, and anonymous tips to askausiello@tvline.com. (Additional reporting by Vlada Gelman, Kim Roots and Michael Slezak)
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Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Grey's, Glee, Walking Dead, Scandal, Office, Arrow, TVD and More!
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