Was that headline a little too excited? Sorry. Alias‘ Michael Vartan (pictured, right) has been cast opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT’s upcoming drama series Time Heals. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the show, which will premiere later this year, revolves around a "strong but caring director of nursing at a North Carolina hospital" (Pinkett Smith) and the director of medicine (Vartan) who may or may not have feelings for her. Would I have thought to put the two of them together? No. But I’m liking it: Reserved Vartan does well opposite women who could kick his ass. Plus, if we learned anything from Monster-in-Law (besides that it plays better on cable than in theaters), it’s that he wears the medical profession well.
In other news exciting only to me because it means he’d have a reason to follow through on his offer to dance shirtless in my office?, October Road’s Geoff Stults (pictured, left) has reunited with that show’s creators for the ABC drama pilot Happy Town. According to THR, he’ll play Tommy, a man appointed sheriff so that he can solve the small town’s first crime in seven years — a murder. While the prospect of seeing Stults flash a badge is hot cool, this sounds like a show that, should it actually end up on the air, I will reluctantly get attached to, blog about repeatedly, then see canceled before the mystery is solved. (I still need to know whether Eddie, Stults’ character on October Road, was that kid’s dad. I heard we might get closure on the Season 2 DVD release, expected in May.)
After the jump, more pilot season news, including Shonda Rhimes’ new leading man…
Another bit of (Mc)dreamy casting news: The Ring’s Martin Henderson has been tapped for Shonda Rhimes’ ABC pilot Inside the Box. THR says he’ll play the on-again off-again love interest/colleague of a female network news producer. He’ll be "charismatic, with a great sense of humor and great chemistry with her." Naturally. She has yet to be cast. But I’m already sold. You?
CBS is thinking outside the box (again) with a reality pilot called Thunder Road, exec produced by McG. "Two teams risk demolition whiledriving a course stocked with challenging obstacles. It’s like anauto Wipeout," THR reports. As a NASCAR fan and someone who generally enjoys people running into things, you’d think this would speak to me, but I could’ve cared less about ABC’s Fast Cars & Superstars. It takes a lot to get people invested in reality shows that star cars.
More on pilot season:
‘Hot Girls in Scary Places’
ABC in business with Courteney Cox, Kelsey Grammer, Cedric the Entertainer
Cybill Shepherd on Lifetime? Yes!
More CBS procedurals, more slackers
Twilight for television: The CW orders pilot for Vampire Diaries
Kristen Johnston: The scoop on her Absolutely Fabulous return to TV
CBS orders more than procedurals after all
CBS plans arranged-marriage reality show. Discuss.
Bruckheimer, star-crossed lovers, and ‘Fame’ comparisons
CBS plans arranged-marriage reality show. Discuss.
ABC likes Lauren Graham, CBS more procedurals!
Grade the latest orders, including ‘Parenthood’
Grade the latest orders, including one from Shonda Rhimes and a detective show with an 11-year-old genius
V and Lost in the ’80s a go
Ab Fab import and Witches of Eastwick-based drama a go
Grade Fox’s latest orders
Comments (1-15) of 18 Add your comment
This article just made me miss October Road even more and Men in Trees for that matter
All the good shows never get air time while the crappy reality tv shows and rich teenager shows dominate the air
You know I thought Monster in Law was funny, I am glad I am not the only one. Maybe it is the cable thing, because I wondered why the movie got panned.
Michael opposite Jada? Interesting . ..
Of course, anything to have Vaughn, I mean Vartan, back on my tv. I’ve missed you man.
I’ve missed Michael Vartan, too! I was planning on watching Jada Pinkett Smith’s new show anyway, and now that Michael’s going to be in it, that’s just more incentive! I wouldn’t have put these two together, but I wouldn’t have put Michael with Nia Long either, in Big Shots, and that worked well (even if the show overall wasn’t so hot).
Seriously, they’re giving Shonda another show? Seriously? Hasn’t she already proven that she can only really do one show well? When she split her time between two shows the quality of Grey’s dipped greatly and the trade-off was that we got the mediocre Private Practice. Bad idea!
Don’t ever use the “word?” ‘Squee’ again please. Yikes.
I am excited about Shonda’s new show. Martin Henderson is a hottie. Jada’s new series also sounds like a winner. I am so loving Black women getting their due on the small screen in front of and behind the camera.
Michael Vartan, mmm, pretty. Now if they could just let him speak French occasionally in it. They do that I’ll preorder the DVD.
best headline ever!!! i HEART michael vartan…
Squeee! doesn’t even come close to expressing how excited I am about Vartan returning to my television! I can’t wait to hear more about the project. It will definitely be interesting to see Michael and Jada working together.
I met Michael Vartan in L.A. once. I was so excited I made a huge idiot out of myself. All I could get out was, “Alias is my favorite show.” Then he and my boyfriend exchanged a thumbs up. It was awesome.
How about they just bring back October Road?
good to see that Vartan will be returning to television. hope this show will be better than “Big Shots,” which for him I tried, but, ugh. I like Jada Pinckett Smith too, so here’s hoping.
i was *JUST* watching sydney bristow/vaughan fanvids on Youtube last night, so yay!!!! for the new show w/ Michael Vartan and JPS!!!
YAY! I love me some Michael Vartan! Bring him back, stat!