WALKING TOUR
We’re still three months away from the return of The Walking Dead, but the recently released trailer has allowed fans a telling sneak peek of the show’s upcoming fifth season.
Released last weekend at Comic-Con in San Diego, the trailer provides several tantalizing clues of what’s to come on AMC’s apocalyptic zombie drama series, which ranked among TV’s most-watched shows last season.
Here are six reasonable conclusions gleaned from The Walking Dead trailer (with all spoiler alerts in effect):
Terminus really is run by cannibals
The trailer shows a fleeting image of what definitely appears to be a human being butchered by another human somewhere inside the dank confines of the sprawling Terminus refuge.
Hey, you can only live on canned goods for so long, right?
Glenn may not survive the season
Although he’s a fan favourite, Glenn (Steven Yeun) seems to be living on borrowed time.
A gagged and bound Glenn is shown about to receive a solid shot to the head with a baseball bat from an unknown figure.
Even though Glenn is shown again in the trailer, it’s hard to imagine him surviving such vicious attack. Then again, Glenn has taken some pretty good beatings before.
Carol is back!
Who’s that grimy, spiky-haired woman lurking in the weeds with camouflage all over her face? Why, it’s Carol (Melissa McBride), who was last seen midway through season four being cast out from the group of survivors by Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln).
Although Carol is seen in the blink of an eye in the trailer, fans have been speculating madly that she’s covered herself in blood and guts to blend in with the walkers. Carol was always smart like that.
Beth lives!
When last seen, Beth (Emily Kinney) was on the road with Daryl (Norman Reedus), but the pair separated when walkers attacked and Daryl hooked up with a group of biker types.
But not any more. In the trailer, Beth appears to be in a hospital and is shown peering down an empty elevator shaft. She’s also seen assisting a doctor (well, maybe he’s a doctor) in amputating a walker victim’s arm – with piano wire. Ick.
Enter Father Gabriel
The trailer includes a fleeting glimpse of a character that can only be the fire-and-brimstone preacher who factors prominently in the comic-book series that serves as The Walking Dead’s source material.
Next stop: The White House
The closing episodes of season four introduced the characters of ex-military man Abraham (Michael Cudlitz) and big-brain Eugene (Josh McDermitt) who claimed they were en route to Washington, ostensibly to find a cure for the zombie outbreak.
Based on the trailer, Abraham and Eugene, and possibly others, make it to D.C., but the U.S. capital is in a sorry state: abandoned freeways and scorched earth and nary a survivor in sight.
The Walking Dead returns October 12 on AMC.
FLY GIRL
Girls’ star Alison Williams will star in NBC’s upcoming Peter Pan Live. The 26-year-old actress and daughter of NBC News anchor Brian Williams will take the titular role of Peter Pan in the live-musical production, which is slated for broadcast on Dec. 4. Peter Pan Live will also star film veteran Christopher Walken in the role of villainous Captain Hook.
Source: Just Jared
DREAM CASTING
Is Billy Bob Thornton lobbying for a guest role on The Big Bang Theory? The recent Emmy nominee for his role in Fargo revealed his admiration for the CBS sitcom while attending the Emmy Performers Peer Group event in Beverly Hills, Calif., earlier this week. Thornton said he’d be interesting in appearing on Big Bang, but he’d “want to be a guy who steals Penny [Kaley Cuoco] away.” Failing that, Thornton said he’d be willing to play Hodor’s cousin on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Source: Variety
WRONG WORDS
ESPN has suspended on-air commentator Stephen A. Smith following his recent comments in regard to NFL player Ray Rice’s suspension for domestic violence. On last Friday’s edition of the program First Take, Smith weighed in on the issue by suggesting women should not “do anything to provoke wrong actions.” Smith’s ESPN colleague Michelle Beadle immediately criticized his comment with a series of tweets. On Tuesday, ESPN suspended Smith for one week, saying, “He will return to ESPN next Wednesday.” Smith himself also released a statement saying his remarks constituted “the most egregious error of my career.”
Source: Hollywood Reporter
BIG TEESE
Dita Von Teese wants to bring sexy back for expectant mothers. The model has partnered with fashion company Destination Maternity to launch the maternity-wear line called Von Follies by Dita Von Teese. “Elegant underpinning are a simple way to create everyday moments of luxury and beauty,” said Von Teese. “And why wouldn’t a new mother enjoy beautiful lingerie, too?” Von Teese (who is not pregnant) also models the new lingerie line, which is expected to hit stores in September.
Source: People
PLUG PULLED
TV Land has cancelled the Kirstie Alley sitcom Kirstie after only one season. The decision follows the departure of Kirstie creator and showrunner Marco Pennette, who left the show after its inaugural 12-episode season that wrapped in February. Kirstie cast Alley into the role of Madison Banks, a manic Broadway diva whose life changes immeasurably when her witless son suddenly shows up to reconnect with his famous mother. The show co-starred ex-Seinfeld regular Michael Richards and Rhea Perlman.
Source: Hollywood Reporter