TVLine Items: Big American Horror Story Scoop, NBC Slots Erica Durance Drama and More!
American Horror Story‘s second season will be all about Jessica Lange.
Executive producer Ryan Murphy has confirmed that the Oscar-winning actress, who won both a Golden Globe and SAG Award for her work on the FX thriller, will be back for Season 2 in a big way.
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“We have designed the second season of American Horror Story completely around her [brand new] character,” Murphy tells EW.com. “This will really be the Jessica Lange show so I’m very excited about it. We are designing this amazing new opposite-of-the-Constance character for her.”
The EP also announced that he will reveal the identities of the three other actors who have signed on to return for Season 2 this Friday at the American Horror Story PaleyFest panel, so stick close to TVLine for the scoop.
Ready for more of today’s TV dish? Well…
? NBC has picked up a 13-episode season of Saving Hope, a Toronto-based drama starring and produced by Smallville vet Erica Durance. The project centers on a surgeon (Durance) whose comatose fiancé (played by fellow Smallville alum Michael Shanks) wanders various wards as a spirit. Vampire Diaries’ Daniel Gillies also co-stars. The series is set to bow this summer on both NBC and Canada’s CTV. Press PLAY below for a preview.
? Brett Butler (Grace Under Fire) has joined the cast of Charlie Sheen’s upcoming FX comedy, Anger Management. Per Deadline, the actress will play a bartender at the local spot Charlie (also the character’s name) regularly frequents.
? Molly Shannon has landed a recurring role in the upcoming second season of HBO’s Enlightened. The Saturday Night Live alumna — who recently appeared on NBC’s Up All Night — will play the fiercely loyal executive assistant to Abaddonn’s CEO, Deadline reports.
? Downton Abbey fans can sneak a (blurry) peek at Shirley McClain on the set of the PBS smash hit here.
? Kodi Kitchen (who plays Steve Webber’s unlikeable ex, Maggie) has been let go from ABC’s sole-surviving soap, General Hospital, Soap Opera Digest reports.
? Jocko Sims (Crash) will play Vance’s brother-in-law in the March 27 episode of NCIS, per TV Guide Magazine.
? CBS has revealed the final batch of companies to get the Undercover Boss treatment in Season 3: Yankee Candle (airing March 30), TaylorMade Golf Co. (April 6), Budget Blinds (April 13), Philly Pretzel Factory (April 27), FastSigns (May 4) and MASTEC (a builder of telecommunication and energy systems, May 11).
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