Person of Interest

• CBS picks up two more dramas — The Hollywood Reporter
• See what made the list of Paul Bettany's favorite movies — Rotten Tomatoes
• Get a peek at this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries — BuddyTV
• Will Aaron Sorkin write the Steve Jobs biopic? — NextMovie
• TV's best and worst mothers-in-law — Zap2it
• Find out when Warner Bros. is pulling the last Harry Potter DVD off the market — Moviefone
• Celebrate Halloween with the best moments from Bones — Aol TV
• Want to be Katy Perry for Halloween? Here are some tips — FabSugar

Photo courtesy of CBS

• Bradley Cooper could be The Man From U.N.C.L.E. — Moviefone
• The best spy spoofs, inspired by Johnny English Reborn — Rotten Tomatoes
• Find out which new CBS shows are on the verge of being picked up — The Hollywood Reporter
• Fear Factor is back! Watch the trailer for the returning show — Aol TV
• Details about the horror movie Ben Stiller is directing — /Film
• A DIY guide to some funny TV-inspired Halloween costumes — Flavorpill
• Find out about Catherine Zeta-Jones's juicy role as Russell Crowe's wife — NextMovie
• The 10 funniest quotes from last night's The Vampire Diaries — BuddyTV
• What you can learn from pop culture witches — TrèsSugar

Person of Interest, CBS's new thriller starring Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel, presented its TCA panel in a unique way: via satellite from New York, since they were busy at work shooting the series. We still got to hear from cast members Emerson, Caviezel, and Taraji P. Henson as well as executive producer and writer Jonathan Nolan (yes, Christopher's brother) about their tense drama. In it, Emerson plays an inventor of a machine that can predict when someone is about to be the victim of a crime, and Caviezel is the former CIA agent with a dark past who's recruited to help use it. They discussed their characters and why the show isn't so sci-fi after all while fielding questions about similarities to the Batman films (which Nolan co-wrote) and Emerson's Lost legacy.

• Though Michael Emerson will always be Ben Linus for some of us, the former Lost star is keen to move on, but he acknowledges that he may not be able to completely. "Part of me wants to leave behind everything I've ever done before," but he only knows "one way to rattle around scenes." Still, he seemed excited about his new character Finch on Person of Interest, describing him as a "shadowy tech billionaire" who has had some kind of transformative experience. Though Finch has dedicated himself to a justice mission, a physical handicap prevents him from intervening, which is why he needs to team up with someone who can — enter Caviezel's character.
• Caviezel famously played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ. When it was brought up, the actor deadpanned that the film was "a little bit more controversial than I thought it would be." After he professed that he just keeps "movin' on," he talked about his mysterious character on Person of Interest. Though he's tough, Caviezel says he's "deep down, a guy who is searching for purpose." As to why Caviezel was desired for the series, Nolan said that he had seen the actor years earlier in The Thin Red Line and called his performance unbelievable. When Nolan heard Caviezel might be interested, Nolan was "amazed and thrilled" to work with him.
• The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises screenwriter Nolan could see similarities between Batman's world and Person of Interest because of the surveillance system in the first film. He said that he's fascinated by the idea of a "surveillance state," because of the question of "what happens when you start harnessing all that information." To Nolan, that makes his show "not science fiction" but "science fact."

Find out what else the Person of Interest cast talked about, just read more

Summer may have barely begun, but you'd better believe that we're already making preparations for Fall — more specifically, arranging our TV lineups. There are a lot of new shows to check out, but luckily we're here to help you sift through the myriad of new programs to figure out which ones are up your alley. Today, I'm giving you the lowdown on Person of Interest, a new drama starring Lost alum Michael Emerson.

• What it's about: The story, which looks like it will be a procedural series, centers on the relationship between Reese and Finch, a pair of men with mysterious pasts who team up to try to prevent crimes before they happen. Finch (Emerson) has developed a system that provides the social security numbers of Manhattan residents who are about to involved in a dangerous crime. Reese (Jim Cavaziel) is a military man-turned-bum whose brain and brawn help Finch protect the innocent.
• Where it works: Emerson is excellent as always, and his relationship with broody Cavaziel makes for a fun, geeky, odd couple of sorts. Though both guys are loners, the few hints we get at their past lives and loved ones could make for an interesting undercurrent to the weekly cases.
• Where it doesn't: The pilot lays on some of the themes pretty thick: the dialogue is painful at times and some of the heavier action scenes feel forced in for dramatic effect. I found myself wanting more character development and sci-fi and less run-of-the-mill sleuthing.
• You might like this show if: You loved Minority Report, since the premise is pretty similar.
• When it's on: Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBS

Watch a preview when you read more

CBS is getting in on the upfronts action with its own announcements of new Fall shows. They've picked up a couple of pilots so far with some very exciting casting to boot, like Thor's Kat Dennings and one of my favorite Lost alums. Check out the details on their upcoming respective series.

COMEDY

• Two Broke Girls: Two girls in their early twenties (Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs) struggle to get by in New York City and fulfill their dreams.
• How to Be a Gentleman: Focuses on an odd-couple pair of male best friends; one is uptight while the other is a little more brusque. David Hornsby and Kevin Dillon star.,

DRAMA

• Person of Interest: In this J.J. Abrams-produced drama, Jim Caviezel plays a former CIA agent who's presumed dead and starts working with a billionaire (Michael Emerson) to prevent crime in NYC.
• The 2-2: Robert De Niro is producing this drama about six rookie cops in NYC. The ensemble cast includes Leelee Sobieski and Adam Goldberg.
• Unforgettable: Poppy Montgomery stars in this series about an NYPD detective with the ability to remember everything.
• A Gifted Man: Patrick Wilson stars as a hotshot surgeon who changes his outlook on life after his ex-wife dies and begins giving him advice. Julie Benz also stars.