Ask Ausiello

Ausiello: Jenna Fischer told Entertainment Weekly that "big stuff happens" for Dunder-Miff's soul mates next Thursday, which, at this point, can only mean one of four things: They're getting engaged, they're having sex, they're eloping or they're breaking up (again). Naturally, I ran my theory by my Office snitch, who confirmed that one of those four events will indeed take place, but the April 17 episode merely serves as the staging ground. Apparently, the plot is set in motion next week, picks up steam on April 24, and then climaxes on May 1. And to quote Fischer, it definitely qualifies as "big stuff." BTW, there's a huge Jam-centric feature (cover story for subscribers) in the new issue of TV Guide magazine, on sale tomorrow at a newsstand near you. As an added bonus, tell the cashier you're an Aushole and receive zero cents off the cover price!

Ausiello: I know that, contrary to speculation, it will not revolve around Dwight. According to an insider, the Michael-Dwight dynamic is "too integral to the show." The likelier scenario, according to a Peacock insider, has Ed Helms' Andy headlining Office 2.0. "That idea was batted around prior to the strike," whispers my source, "and NBC seemed interested." Personally, I hope NBC sticks with its original plan and looks outside the Dunderverse for the offshoot's boss. Speaking of which….

Ausiello: You mean the mega-deal that may or may not have been force-majeured by the strike? Well, regardless of whether she's currently on the Peacock's payroll, I love your idea, and I think Ben Silverman and Greg Daniels would be insane not to at least consider Graham for the gig. Are you with me? If so, consider this week's Ask Ausiello Discussion Thread a makeshift petition to get LG an Office job.

Ausiello: Not happening. The funny thing is, Ben Silverman did actually confirm the ill-conceived idea's passing at last week's "infront," but, for whatever reason, it went unreported. Perhaps the assembled media were still reeling from Silverman's description of Christian Slater as "a major movie star."

Ausiello: Yes, she's definitely playing her shrink and, presumably, the catalyst that will bring Mer-Der back together by the finale.

Ausiello: I hope January Jones (Betty) likes horses, because she's going to be around a lot of them in the new season. According to my Mad mole, Betty starts taking riding lessons, and she'll make two new friends in the process: Pam, an easily embarrassed married lady, and Arthur, a wealthy suburbanite who has special insight into Betty's um, inner workings.

Ausiello: OK, but you'll probably want to sit down for this: In a shocking move that will prove less so once I place it in the proper context, producers have decided to recast the roles of Betty, Amanda, Daniel and Gio. But there's a twist (i.e., the proper context I spoke of earlier). In an upcoming episode, Betty observes younger versions of some of the people in her life while she's chaperoning a junior-high dance.

Ausiello: So confident that I'm willing to bet my entire Idol Gives Back paycheck on it.

Ausiello: That's odd. I heard that not only has it been renewed, but it will be producing a whopping 24 episodes. I'll tell you my source if you tell me yours. Mine's ABC. 

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Ausiello: Not so much scoop as a call to action: Josh Radnor's stopping by tomorrow to guest-star on my vodcast, so send any/all questions to ask_ausiello@tvguide.com.

Ausiello: Good question — let's ask exec producer Carol Mendelsohn. "The scene where Catherine finds Sara's picture on Grissom's fridge is really fun. But the paradox of writing a procedural is that sometimes even our favorite scenes (scenes that show the personal lives of our CSIs) aren't required by the narrative. We wrote the scene because, like Catherine, we're dying to snoop around Grissom and Sara's relationship. But at the end of the day, crime-solving trumped romance. The scene drove our hearts, but not our investigation." However, Mendelsohn tells me that she was "so charmed by the scene" that she went and posted it on the Internets! Even better, here's the link!

Ausiello: I'll let Mendelsohn tackle the first part of that question: "To everyone who's pondered, 'Who is Grissom talking to in the final scene?' — well, her photo was on his fridge." (Look — the screen-grabbed proof!) For an answer to the second part, you'll have to watch my new Ausiello Report vodcast.

Ausiello: Yes. I also have an irrational fear of white males, entertainment journalists and adults who collect little blue people.

Ausiello: This week's Ausiello Report vodcast has fraktastic spoilers on what will become of Chloe and Lex in the big 150th episode on May 1. And regarding Brainiac, departing exec producer Al Gough tells us that in that same episode "the Clark-Brainiac story is going to come to a head."

Ausiello: Everyone I spoke to about this — and that includes sources at the CW, Warner Bros. and the show itself — tell me two key issues played a role in their departure: money and movies. Warner Bros. apparently wasn't offering enough of the former, and their Smallville duties weren't affording them enough time to do the latter. Now, these same sources stressed that the duo's exit should not be likened to the seismic event that was Team Palladino's exodus from Gilmore Girls two years ago. Whereas Amy and Dan pretty much wrote and/or directed every episode of GG right up to the day they packed up and left, Al and Miles have been relatively hands-off in recent years, leaving much of the work to Darren Swimmer, Todd Slavkin, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson. And since the four of them will now be running the show together, the transition will be a seamless one.

Ausiello: Damn, I think I just sold my last one the other day. I'll double-check the warehouse tonight and let you know.

Ausiello: Believe it or not, you were the one and only Aushole to pick up on my Tate reference, leading me to conclude that it was either way too subtle or not enough of you have experienced the brilliance that is this. Or this. And for your information, I posted a huge NCIS scoop yesterday. Take the shame, mate.  

Ausiello: Two new recurring roles are being cast, both of which are slated to debut in the Season 3 premiere. "Joy" is in her early twenties and described as "quick on her feet — and adept at getting herself into and out of trouble." Senator Robert Malden, meanwhile, is in his fifties and a political straight shooter.

Ausiello: Get used to the name "Vincent Juarez." I suspect we may be seeing a lot of him next season. He's one of Dr. Brennan's brighter grad students and he'll be joining the Squints until Brennan can find a new full-time forensic anthropologist. The yet-to-be-cast character loves to lighten the mood in the lab, but he definitely thinks he's funnier than he actually is. In other words, it's Nicholas Brendon's role to lose. In related news, does anyone know why Bones would be looking for a new full-time forensic anthropologist? Hmmm….

Ausiello: It's pretty much locked, according to exec producer Jason Katims. " They were pretty clear that it's going to be 13 episodes," he told me last Friday (the full Q&A is here). "This is a really exciting idea, but it's also an experiment. And I think DirecTV and NBC want to see how it works, and that's how the 13-episode order came to be."

Ausiello: Most likely renewed and most likely canceled. Respectively. Now gimme my DRS-drenched Smurf!

Ausiello: No, but I may have something even better for you later today in my Ausiello Report blog — the key word there being "may." And no, it doesn't involve the four-toed statue. At least I don't think it does. Hmmm….

OK, that's a wrap. Come back next week for more scoop, spoilers and other assorted random stuff!