Nicole Richie’s Amok in Chuck
Nicole Richie’s providing some fresh meat for Chuck.
NBC just confirmed that Richie will be popping into the spy series for an episode in which she plays the former high school nemesis of resident babe Sarah, played by Yvonne Strahovski. (So very Lohan on Betty, right?) Richie plays a “snarky and spiteful girl who tortured Sarah,” and something tells me she’s gonna so regret that when she sees that Sarah can split hairs with a Ninja knife. (Hooray for catfights!)
“Nicole auditioned for the part and was very funny,” says Chuck boss Josh Schwartz. “This role is a great opportunity for her to show off her comedic skills and be diabolically evil and kick some butt.”
Get more on the upcoming season of Chuck in Online’s Watch With Kristin.
Alfre Woodard joins new Christian Slater series
Alfre Woodard has an exciting new role on the upcoming NBC drama My Own Worst Enemy. The Emmy winner is set to play Christian Slater’s boss in the spy series, which premieres this fall. If you followed TV’s coverage of the upfronts, you already know that the drama focuses on a man (Slater) living two different lives: the life of an ordinary suburban father named Henry and the life of a spy named Edward.
Woodard’s character, Mavis Heller, is Edward’s “tough and astute boss” at headquarters. Like Edward, Mavis is leading a double life as well. Her alter ego, Helen, will be a part of Henry’s suburban existence. My Own Worst Enemy premieres on Monday, September 29.
Apart from Christian Slater, Alfre Woodard’s other co-stars include Mike O’Malley, Yara Martinez, and Saffron Burrows. I’m becoming more curious about this show, especially now that Alfre Woodard has joined the cast. My Own Worst Enemy is airing after Heroes and Chuck on Monday nights, and it’ll be interesting to see how the dramatic side of the spy world compares to Chuck’s quirkier version.
I don’t know why people aren’t watching The Mole
It’s only the first episode, but people seem to be avoiding ABC’s new edition of The Mole like it was on The CW or something.
The first episode of the show this past Monday at 10pm got a 1.9 rating in the important 18 to 49 demographic. It came in third place in the time slot and lost a lot of the lead-in from The Bachelorette.
I don’t understand why viewers don’t make this one of the top reality shows on television. I mean, if you love reality television, why don’t you watch this show? Is it the time slot? Is it the fact that you have to figure things out on the show yourself? I think this is actually one of the most interesting parts of the show, that it’s actually a reality show that you can actually play along with. You don’t get that with The Bachelorette or Survivor. It’s actually a reality show mixed with a mystery/spy series. It’s a TV mystery series, where viewers have to guess who the bad guy is, mixed with a reality competition series. And it has great music and great Amazing Race-like stunts and worldwide locales and is immensely entertaining. Why aren’t more people, especially people who watch reality shows, watching The Mole?
Christian Slater coming to NBC
NBC is reportedly moments away from ordering a series starring Christian Slater, according to a story in The Hollywood Reporter. The series is described as “The Bourne Identity meets Jekyll & Hyde”– where Slater’s suburban house dad discovers he has a super-spy alter ego. It would be the first television series for Slater, who has been on television’s hot list for years but never made it to primetime.
The spy series is created by Jason Smilovic, who also created critically adored-but-ultimately-canceled series Kidnapped and Karen Sisco.
If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard of this untitled series before, it’s because the pilot hasn’t even been shot. NBC is picking it up purely on the script and series pitch, forgoing the expense of shooting the pilot. It’s NBC’s new tactic to save money by skipping expensive pilots by just ordering an entire series. It’s the fifth series that NBC has picked up in this fashion. Risky, but it’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out this fall.