TV Bits: ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Girls’, ‘Parenthood’, ‘Hannibal’, Chuck Lorre, Ricky Gervais, And More
Alums ofFriday Night Lights,Roswell, andWonderfallsfind new jobs in this edition of TV Bits. After the jump:
The series will return to FX in October. Where last season’s plot took place in contemporary Los Angeles,Asylumwill move the action to the East Coast in 1964. [The Wrap]
Shiri Applebyshould know a thing or two about alien life-forms thanks to her time onRoswell, but even that may not be enough to prepare her for the Brooklyn-style weirdness that awaits her onLena Dunham’sGirls. Appleby has joined the HBO comedy’s second season as a love interest for Adam (Adam Driver), Hannah’s oddball ex. Her character Natalie will be “a beautiful and charming New Yorker who adores Adam despite his wild sexual tendencies.” Other high-profile guest stars lined up for the next season includeDonald GloverandPatrick Wilson. [Screen Crush]
With that in mind, it’s extra exciting to learn that we may get to see those fresh faces even sooner than we thought.GirlsandEnlightenedare both set to premiere inJanuary 2013, each for a ten-episode second season. It’s a surprisingly quick return forGirls, which only completed its first season in June. TheLaura Dern-starringEnlightened, on the other hand, will have been off the air for over a year; its debut season ended in December 2011. [Vulture]
When formerFriday Night LightsshowrunnerJason Katimstook his current gig as the boss at NBC’sParenthood, he apparently made a vow to himself to pull in as many Dillon and East Dillon alums with him as possible. The NBC dramedy has already featured appearances by Minka Kelly, Michael B. Jordan, Derek Phillips, Angela Rawna, and Jeff Rosick, and nowMatt Lauriais headed over as well. Lauria has been cast in a “major recurring role” for the fourth season, as an Afghanistan war vet who bonds with Zeek (Craig T. Nelson). [TV Line]
Devotees of TV makerBryan Fullerare probably just glad to have him back in full force with two new series, but fans of his short-livedWonderfallswill be especially pleased to hear the newest bit of casting forHannibal.Caroline Dhavernashas just landed the female lead in the upcoming serial killer drama, which follows FBI agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and famed cannibal / psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Mads MIkkelsen) in the early days of their relationship.
Dhavernas will play onetime Lecter protege Dr. Alana “Al” Bloom, now a psychology professor at Georgetown University. While working with the FBI on criminal profiling, she introduces Lecter to Behavioral Science Unit boss Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne).Hannibalwill premiere in midseason. [TV Line]
Chuck Lorre, the mastermind behindTwo and a Half Men,The Big Bang Theory, andMike & Molly, has been tacking on quirky little vanity cards to the end of his various shows for some time now. Sometimes they consist of just a few words and a snapshot, while other times they contain long rambly musings (occasionally about Charlie Sheen), but all of them go by too quickly to actually read.
If you’re willing to shell out $100, however, you’ll soon be able to take your good sweet time perusing his blurbs. Simon & Schuster will publish a coffee table book of Lorre’s vanity cards titledWhat Doesn’t Kill Us, Makes Us Bitter, due out inOctober 2012. The price tag may seem a bit high considering that anyone with Internet access or a DVR can read the cards for free, but the money’s going to a good cause. All proceeds will be donated to Lorre’s Dharma-Grace Foundation, which helps offer free medical care. [Deadline]
WithStephen Merchantoffdoing his own thing for HBO,Ricky Gervaisis teaming up with another frequent colleague for his next endeavor. Gervais andKarl Pilkingtonhave announced a new web series titledLearn English with Ricky Gervais, which ostensibly sees the pair offering language lessons.
As you might guess if you’ve seenThe Ricky Gervais ShoworAn Idiot Abroad, though, the educational format is really just an excuse for the two of them to rehash their familiar comedic dynamic: Pilkington says buffoonish things, and Gervais giggles at them. Check out the trailer below.
