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Fox Cancels Lie to Me and 4 More, Picks Up Zooey Deschanel's Comedy and More For Fall

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:27:19 PDT

The 2011 upfronts (a week where each major TV network unveils its official Fall lineup) doesn't begin until next week, but Fox is getting an early start on its announcements. The network has revealed its plan to cancel five current shows: Lie to Me, Traffic Light, The Chicago Code, Breaking In, and Human Target. All of those shows were on the bubble, so it's no major surprise that they won't be returning next year. (In case you missed it, Fox has renewed Fringe, Glee, House, Bones, Family Guy and The Cleveland Show).

As always, upfronts mean out with the old and in with the new, and the network has greenlit a handful of pilots to take the place of the shows that have been axed. To read more about those, just

The New Girl: Yet another comedy about twentysomethings, this one stars Zooey Deschanel as a teacher who moves in with three guys. (Already sounds like Ryan Reynolds's Two Guys and a Girl to me, but we'll see.)
The Finder: A spinoff of Bones starring Geoff Stults, a military man who helps locate lost people and items off the coast of Florida.
Alcatraz: The latest from J.J. Abrams, a crime drama about the buzzed-about San Francisco prison that takes place in present day. It reunited Abrams with Lost star Jorge Garcia.
I Hate My Teenage Daughter: A comedy focussing on two mothers (Jaime Pressly and Katie Finneran) who have mean girls for daughters.

Will you miss any of the exiting shows? And which pilots are you already pumped about?

Photo courtesy of Fox

Lie to Me Gets Social in Latest Episode

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:44:47 PST

I'm a big fan of Lie to Me, and since I kicked the cable habit long ago, I'm always a day behind on watching one of may favorites on Hulu. I caught up just a few minutes ago and discovered the latest social network-themed episode called "Killer App."

In this episode, Cal Lightman investigates a young entrepreneur named Zack (who appears to have taken a page out of Mark Zuckerberg's book of fashion), who created a social network and dating app that uses augmented reality and seems to blur the lines of privacy. Not only that, but Zuck . . . I mean Zack, edged out one of his founding partners just before the company made billions on an investment. Sound familiar? It's like art, imitating art, imitating life. Brilliant. Check out the full episode on Hulu, or you can watch it here after the break.

Buzz News Roundup, 7/6

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:30:29 PDT

ABC shows are turning up on Hulu, starting with Grey's Anatomy today. - CNET
Fox has tapped Nimrod Antal to direct another Predator movie, Predators, with Robert Rodriguez producing. - Variety
Mekhi Phifer will join Fox's Lie to Me as a regular, while Jennifer Beals will be a recurring guest star. - The Hollywood Reporter
The 1980s Aaron Spelling-produced TV series T.J. Hooker is headed for the big screen as an action comedy. - TV.com
The Sci Fi Channel officially becomes Syfy tomorrow. - New York Daily News
Last week Charlie Day and Christina Applegate joined the cast of the rom-com Going the Distance, and now Jason Sudeikis is coming on board as well. - Reuters
Chandra Wilson will be the first Grey's Anatomy cast member to direct an episode. - Entertainment Weekly
Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to most of Midway Games' assets, including the rights to popular video games like Mortal Kombat and Spy Hunter. - ComingSoon

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Link Time! 3/5

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:30:27 PST

The photo spread of comedic actors in Vanity Fair is sparking some discussion, from whether it's insulting that women go fully nude for the magazine while the men wear bodysuits, to why it's funny when men are "naked" but it's not funny when women are naked. - Jezebel and Popwatch
This reimagining of Watchmen as an '80s Saturday morning cartoon is genius. - The Onion AV Club
I kinda wish I were going to South by Southwest this year so I could see this movie, Sorry, Thanks (starring Wiley Wiggins from Dazed and Confused!). - Cinematical
Aw, I don't like it when Arcade Fire and the Flaming Lips fight! - Vulture
That's a wrap for Top Chef! Test your knowledge of the finale with this quiz. - YumSugar
Here's the new Clap Your Hands Say Yeah song from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. - You Ain't No Picasso
Speaking of which, what NBC wants to know about Jimmy Fallon's early shows. - The TV Addict
Six reasons why Lie to Me might get canceled. - CliqueClack TV

Lie to Me's Brendan Hines on Always Telling the Truth

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:30:24 PST

In Lie to Me, the new Fox drama premiering tonight, Brendan Hines plays Eli, a researcher who always says anything that's on his mind. In the first couple of episodes, Hines's character often made me chuckle, so at Fox's all-star party at TCA, I caught up with him to ask about the show, his character, and whether he's now self-conscious about lying. Here are highlights:

Tell me about your character. He has this radical honesty thing going on.
I have it going on in spades. My character is brutally honest at all times. Not only does he tell a truth when he's asked a question, but he'll always just spit out what's on his mind no matter what. To me, that's fascinating. I love it when characters in TV or movies get put in incredibly awkward situations, and my character does - quite a bit - get put in those situations.

It seems like that would happen a lot if you were a person who just spit out whatever was on your mind.
It does, and I didn't even realize this until we started shooting the show, but I've known people like this for years. Maybe they haven't taken this sort of pledge where they're like, "Oh, I'm going to be honest at all times," but they are the kind of people who will just always tell you what's on their minds and not spare anybody's feelings at all. Problem with those people, you don't want to be around them all that much, so it's a difficult thing for the writers to try to do, which is to stay true to this pledge that the guy has taken, yet still make him likable and accessible.

Has playing him made you more honest in your own life?
No, but I will tell you that I am much more conscious of the lies that I tell. I do sort of stand back and assess whether or not I had to tell that lie, because most of the ones that you tell, they're harmless, or you think they are. As far as my character is concerned, he thinks any lie whatsoever is a no-no.

To hear whether Hines has become a good lie-spotter and whether he'll be involved in any on-screen romances, just

Between shooting the show and meeting Dr. Paul Ekman [on whose work the show is based], have you learned a lot about the science of lying?
I've learned a pretty fair amount. I've read a lot of Paul's books. As soon as I knew we were getting started on the show, I bought all of them, and I just started to delve. But anytime I'm around Paul, I try not to talk to him about the science. I have a challenge that I've set for myself, basically, where I try to have the most benign, normal conversation with Paul and just make sure that he never calls me out on anything or goes, "bullsh*t."

Do you have a favorite trick you've learned for spotting other people lying?
Yes, but I'm a little worried that I'm imposing it on people when I'm not actually there. . . I'll be sitting back and watching two people talk and just be like "Aw, yeah, no way, you are so full of sh*t." Who knows if I'm actually seeing what I think I'm seeing or if I'm just imposing it on those conversations.

Your character has a very straightforward come-on to one of his colleagues in the first episode. Is there any chance the show will get into a romance between them?
Yes . . .

See, and I haven't watched enough of the show yet to be able to tell if you're lying!
I think the charm of the character that I get to play is that ultimately it's not about him trying to sleep with her - it's his way of saying hello. It's just basically, "Oh, I'd like to sleep with you" and not "Let's get on that right away, let's start to make that happen." It's like, "I just need you to know this, right up front." As far as the writers, they go where they want and I'll follow . . . It could happen. They're always hinting at it.

Photo courtesy of Fox

TCA Tidbits: Paula Abdul, Human Lie Detectors, and More

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:15:28 PST

Today CBS and Showtime are taking the stage at TCA, but before things get too busy, I wanted to wrap up some of the highlights from Fox's jam-packed Tuesday of panels (and parties). Here were some of the highs, lows, and most awkward moments:

I think I already love Glee, Fox's upcoming hourlong comedy about a misfit glee club from Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy - and, judging from the warm reception it got in the room during its presentation, I'm not alone. I caught an advanced screening of the show earlier this week, and it's a quirky mixture of snark and show tunes. It might not appeal to everyone, but if you like Freaks and Geeks and "Don't Stop Believing," it will be worth checking out when it premieres this Spring.
Speaking of singing, things threatened to get a little tense at the afternoon American Idol panel, with lots of questions about Paula Abdul's future with the show. Luckily, attention shifted quickly to the new dynamic on the judging panel now that Kara DioGuardi is adding a second female voice. About having someone to help her take down Simon Cowell, Abdul said: "Kara finally sees what it's like for me, my own private hell." She later said of Simon, "He's the bully brother that sometimes we love each other, and sometimes I try to change seats. He's annoying sometimes. I have to reel him in."
Interesting tidbit for Damages fans: FX President John Landgraf said that even though the Glenn Close drama doesn't meet the ratings standards set by previous FX hits, he's "confident" that Damages will be on the network's schedule even beyond the three seasons that have already been ordered.

To hear whether Dollhouse will bring the funny, what Mary Lynn Rajskub had to say about having fellow comedienne Janeane Garofalo on board for 24, and what's a surefire sign your relationship is about to end, just

Having real-life "human lie detector" Dr. Paul Ekman around certainly made Fox's Lie to Me something beyond just the standard panel. At one point, Ekman dispensed advice on how to tell if your relationship is about to be over: A look of anger on your significant other's face is fine and normal, but if it crosses into disgust, you're out of luck.

Mary Lynn Rajskub said she's been happy to have fellow funny lady Janeane Garofalo join her on the 24 set - though it's not always easy for them to stay serious. "We tried not to laugh when we were in scenes together," she said, and it was tough for them to make eye contact without chuckling. Fun fact: Rajskub replaced Garofalo on The Larry Sanders Show.
Joss Whedon - visiting TCA via satellite from Boston - said that while Dollhouse might not be outright silly, it will still be humorous. "The show is much more straight-ahead dramatic than what we've done before," he said. "However, it is me we're talking about here. We can't fight the funny. The funny is going to win, partially because it makes it more diverting and partially because I believe that's how people react to difficult situations. I couldn’t make a show that’s relentlessly serious and I don’t think anybody would watch it ."
Also, Whedon on the possibility of another Dr. Horrible: "Yeah, we'd like to do that again." He said it's a matter of getting everyone together and finding the time.
I'll share more from the House panel later, but for now, it's worth noting Omar Epps's simple reaction to his character finally having a romantic life: "Foreman. Love life. Great!" He later elaborated: "It's great being in those scenes with Olivia [Wilde], because she's hot." Fair enough.

Photos courtesy of Fox

First Look: Lie to Me

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:31:55 PST

I may just be looking for some bright spots after this fairly lackluster Fall TV season, but I'm starting to think that January/midseason TV is going to be awesome. We've just gotten a new glimpse at Joss Whedon's Dollhouse (which is now set to premiere Friday, Feb. 13), and now here's the first look at the Tim Roth series Lie to Me.

The show, which will air after American Idol starting Jan. 21, is based on the real-life work of Dr. Paul Ekman, an expert in the physical and psychological signs of lying. Roth plays Cal Lightman, a skilled "human lie detector" whose abilities are a boon for his job but a burden at home, where he sometimes knows more than he should about his friends and family. His team includes psychologist Gillian Foster (Kelli Williams), who looks at the big picture when Lightman's caught up in the details; researcher Will Loker (Brendan Hines), who hates lying so much that he always says exactly what's on his mind; and junior member Ria Torres (Monica Raymund), a "natural" with an untrained ability to read people.

It's a shame Lie to Me can't be paired with House - the shows seem to have a similar structure, and they're both about people who are obsessed with lying. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me! Maybe next Fall? To watch the trailer, just

Photo and video courtesy of Fox

Buzz News Roundup, 9/24

BuzzSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:32:35 PDT

Lifetime just paid a whole lot of money for the reruns of How I Met Your Mother. - Hollywood Reporter
Bruce Willis will make his directorial debut with the indie psychological drama Three Stories About Joan. - ComingSoon
Billy Crystal will join Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, and Julie Andrews in the comedy Tooth Fairy. - Variety
Mary McDonnell of Battlestar Galactica will guest star on Grey's Anatomy. - E! Online
A recent study shows that there are more than double the number of gay and bisexual characters in prime-time TV series this Fall compared with last year. - AP
Fox has picked up the series Lie to Me, starring Tim Roth, for midseason. - TV Guide
Kanye West is teaming up with Comedy Central for "a project described as hip-hop meets the Muppets." - Billboard

Photo courtesy of CBS

Tim Roth to Fox: Lie To Me

BuzzSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:33:39 PDT

It seems Fox is a little obsessed with lying and lie detection these days. The Moment of Truth is still a ratings success, and now, the network has recruited Tim Roth to star in a new drama series about "deception detection."

In Lie to Me, Roth will play Dr. Cal Lightman, the scientist who pioneered the lie-detection field - and who's based on a real-life scientist, Dr. Paul Ekman, who was featured prominently in many stories about the psychology of reading people's faces. According to Variety, the fictional Lightman is "a human lie detector, skilled at reading the human face, body and voice to uncover the truth in criminal and private investigations. The fact that the character can apply the same skills to his personal life complicates his relationships."

Lie to Me marks Roth's first time leading a TV series, and he apparently took three months of pursuing by the show's producers before he would finally agree to the job. The show's pilot is scheduled to film in August, and Fox has already committed to ordering 13 episodes of the show.

I'm pretty fascinated by the idea of being a "human lie detector," and I'm curious to see how Roth does on the small screen. How about you? Would you check out this show?

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"Is This a Controlling Relationship?"

Tres Community — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:05:41 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I've been with my boyfriend for seven months now, and we decided to move in together after three months because he had to find a new house. His mum also moved in with us - she used to live with him before - but I was fine about it because I get on well with her. I didn't tell my mum and my sister that we were moving in together because I thought they would get upset that I didn't ask for their advice. I wanted to wait a few months and tell them, but my mum found out about two months after I moved in with him and got very upset that I lied to her. My mum and sister believe that he persuaded me to move in together, but I wanted that too.

It was fine until last two weeks. One day after Uni I went to see my friend and told him about it. When we were having coffee with my friend, my boyfriend texted me saying he just passed the cafe we were at and rang me. He said he was going to work and I said that I would call him back, but he hung up and we had a massive fight after because he was offended that I didn't invite him to have a coffee with my friend - he basically said I have no manners. So he was giving me the silent treatment for two days and I felt guilty about it the whole time. I told my best friend and my sister about that and they said that he acted like a child.

Everything seemed to settle down before my sister came to visit me for a day about a week after that incident. I didn't see her for six months because she lives in a different country but I wanted her to meet my boyfriend - he even took a day off work. But my sister told me she wanted to have sister time without him, which I thought was fair, but I also wanted her to get to know the person I live with. My boyfriend said he would be babysitting for his sister in the morning, so I thought me and my sister could spend some time together and he could join us in the afternoon. He got upset, saying that he took a day off from work and I just messed him like that. I knew I got myself into a stupid situation because I waited to tell him until the last minute, so I apologized.

I can understand his reaction but I didn't think it would get worse. I kept texting him during the day but he didn't text back, then when me and my sister came home, he just ignored us. When my sister left, we had a big argument. I wanted to find out why he got so upset, because if that had been his sister and he'd wanted to be with her alone for a while, I would understand. He said that I don't know what a serious relationship is because if I really cared about him, I would have told my sister that he would come with us whether she wanted it or not. He also said that if she really cared about me, she would have stayed longer than one day because she had about twelve days in my country and spent most of the time at our mum's house. He said that my sister only came to spy on him and tell my mum everything about him because my mum has never met him, then added that I should stop listening to everybody's advice and start thinking for myself - otherwise I will be a pushover for the rest of my life. I told my sister about this argument because I was so confused, then she said that he is a controlling person and that I should dump him. It's been okay between my boyfriend and I ever since, but I am still not sure what's happened. I think I need to hear an objective opinion on the whole situation.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.