Question: TV Addict, I’ve got 50 bones riding on a bet with my bestie that Booth and Brennan will be the much-talked-about couple to head down the aisle later this season. Please tell me I will not be $50 dollars poorer in the not-to-distant-future! — Jayson
The TV Addict: To my fellow BONES addicts who insist on inundating my email box with variations of the exact same question, I’ve got some bad news for you. I for one will not be responsible for ruining the super-adorable proposal that may be coming sooner than you think.

Question: As excited as I am for BONES 100th episode, this week marks the 99th. Any big surprises? — Luke
The TV Addict: Yes, as a matter of fact there is a surprise. A fairly substantial one for Angela.

Question: When we last saw Father Jack (Joel Gretsch) he was left to die in a pool of blood. Please tell me he’ll be okay when V return on Tuesday? — Jessica
The TV Addict: I would imagine that if you’re reading a website called theTVaddict.com, odds are fairly good that you’re well-versed enough in the concept of a cliffhanger to realize that the odds of Gretsch’s Father Jack not-surviving a near fatal stabbing are about as good as Beckett not escaping from last week’s shocking apartment explosion on CASTLE. But since you seem awfully concerned, here’s a photo from the upcoming April 6th episode showing (spoiler alert) the good father alive and well. Phew!

Question: Are we ever going to revisit the Fairview strangler. It’s really the only reason I’m sticking with this disappointing season of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. — Jennifer
The TV Addict: Hoping to inject some much needed excitement into a story that seems to have fallen off the face of Wisteria Lane, the Fairview strangler will be back in a big way this April 25 courtesy of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES go-to plot device: The flashback! Entitled “Ephiphany,” the episode will not only show fans that the Fairview strangler been… wait for it… living among the women of Wisteria Lane all season long, but that he once caught Gaby and Carlos during an intimate moment; Bree offered him a job and some dating advice; Susan encouraged his passion for art; and Lynette will show him some kindness and generosity.

Question: Tonight marks the season finale of GREEK, good news for Casey and Cappie? — Mark
The TV Addict: If by good news you mean that the show will get another 10 episodes to properly wrap up the story, well, then yes. But if you mean good news on the relationship front for Casey and Cappie, two words: Bring kleenex.

Question: With the creepiness factor being off the charts, there is only so much more of Jasper I can take on 90210. Any Ideas as to when he’ll be out of Annie’s life? — Renee
The TV Addict: Coincidentally enough, it’s a question I posed to actor Trevor Donovan in an interview last week. Who, after agreeing with me that his character Teddy could totally take Jasper in a fight, revealed that, “it doesn’t come to blows so much, but Annie will be all-right. I think, in the end, Jasper ends up hurting himself more than anybody else.”

Question: If ratings are any indication, I am MELROSE PLACE’s only fan. What are the chances of it being renewed? — Lacy
The TV Addict: Put it this way, when new episodes of FLY GIRLS and HIGH SOCIETY, the CW’s latest reality offerings net more eyeballs, I think it’s safe to say MELROSE PLACE is the one show Heather Locklear couldn’t save.

Question: UNITED STATES OF TARA is the reason I subscribe to Showtime, got any scoop for me? — Adam
The TV Addict: Something will happen with Marshall that may soon find his membership to the “Gayble” revoked.

Question: Things have been quiet on the HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER front as of late. Any intel on some upcoming plot-lines that don’t involve my least favorite aspects of the show: Ted and ‘the mother.’ — Madison
The TV Addict: When the show returns from an NCAA March Madness induced hiatus on April 12, it will be Lily who goes a little mad when she decides she wants to get a gun for protection after Marshall gets mugged.

Question: Titled “Peter” I can’t help but wonder if FRINGE’s return on Thursday involved Peter finding out the truth about his true origins? — Jonathan
The TV Addict: Rest assured, by season’s end, Peter will find out the truth about his origins. Just not on Thursday. That said, please don’t let that detract you from tuning into the episode, because I am not exaggerating when I say that FRINGE’s April 1st return — complete with visits to the alternative universe, the introduction of the Walternate, and a decision that will quite literally change everything — marks the series best episode to date.

Question: Like you, I’m still finding it hard to find a reason to jump onto the HUMAN TARGET bandwagon, any reason that might change this week? — Dave
The TV Addict: It might change if you’re into the parade of really good looking actresses that continue to cross Chance’s path. This week, following in the footsteps of THE OC’s Autumn Reeser and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s Tricia Helfer and Grace Park is Terminator Salvation’s Moon Bloodgood, who drops by as a super-hot super-smart doctor on the verge of uncovering a corporate conspiracy who Chance must save in the Alaskan Wilderness.

Question: 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU is back tonight, is the show worth catching up on? — April
The TV Addict: Whether or not it’s worth catching up on this harmless half-hour ABC Family series is debatable. That said, what’s not up for debate is whether or not you should download the first 10 episode on iTunes. Which for what is surely only for a limited time are all available for FREE on iTunes.

Well that about wraps it up folks for this edition of “Ask the Addict.” if you’ve got a question for the TV Addict, you can email me directly at info@thetvaddict.com or follow me on twitter at twitter.com/thetvaddict.

Photo credits: Greg Gayne/FOX and Jack Rowand/ABC

If MELROSE PLACE has taught us anything over the years, it’s that anything or anyone can be brought back from the dead. Which is probably why actor Thomas Calabro — who has made a career out of playing the deliciously devious Dr. Michael Mancini — was only to happy to take a brief break from twittering and updating his facebook page to talk to us about what brought him back to the series that turned him into a household name and what’s in store for fans during the latter half of the season.

As the only actor who remained with the original series over the course of its entire run, how challenging was it to move on from the character that turned you into a household name?
Thomas Calabro: When MELROSE PLACE became successful I was in my 16th year as an actor. Which is to say that for 15 years, I made a living and was never in the middle of the public eye and was perfectly happy and content. Yes, the show changed my life in certain ways — of course I had more money than I ever dreamed of having and more notoriety where people would recognize me in the street— but for years, even until now, I’m always thinking, “High school? What high school did you got to?” For me it was just another job and another step in my crazy career.

Was it hard convincing casting directors to take you seriously after MELROSE PLACE?
Anytime you become so identified with a show and a role it’s both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that you’re imminently hirable. The downside is that you’re usually hirable as the same kind of character. So gone were my years at the Actor’s Studio and my 8-9 years of theater work in New York. Following the original series I was just this guy in a suit who played a soap opera badass. There were people who wouldn’t see me because I was on a nighttime soap produced by Aaron spelling and they didn’t do that kind of television. But I’m not going to sit here and complain about it, reinventing oneself is just something actors have to do.

With that in mind, was there any apprehension to returning the show?
Yes for that very same reasons I just mentioned, but also because the show itself might try to duplicate itself and that doesn’t speak to great success. Developing someone else’s vision [in this case, original series creator Darren Star] is tough to do. As an artist, I’m not saying it can’t be done, but for me personally that’s tough. I didn’t necessarily want to go back and do that again, but I was very inspired by creators Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin and knew they had their own vision. Sure it’s called MELROSE PLACE and it has the same high stakes drama backdrop, but their treatment of it was darker and different and once I heard about their whole vision for Michael Mancini I was very excited to be a part of it.

Both Michael and Amanda seem to be strategically finding ways in which to ingratiate themselves with this new crop of tenants? Would it be safe to assume their endgame is the same?
Let me say this, that is a very strong possibility. Heading toward the end of the season we have quite a few scenes together and there is an underlying relationship between both character’s goals that is begging to be explored.

And speaking of relationships, on the original series Michael was known as quite the lothario. Now that your character’s wife is out of the picture, is the good doctor going to go back to his bed-hopping ways?
It wouldn’t be Michael Mancini without the possibility of some romantic entanglements, would it? Oh gosh, I don’t know how to put this without revealing anything, but he’ll be pushing a romantic entanglement. Maybe ‘entanglement’ is a word I’m using loosely, maybe ‘romantic’ is a word I’m using loosely, either way he’ll be making things happen quite a bit going into the second half of the season.

It took the appearance of Amanda Woodward to really turn the original series into a ratings hit. Is there anything coming down the pipe, perhaps something akin to Kimberley’s iconic ‘wig’ moment that may get people really talking about the new series?
That’s a big question. I believe over the next couple of weeks something pretty monumental happens which I’m not sure is anything we’ve ever seen on television. Fans can expect some pretty fantastic twists and turns as well as a tonal change that moves towards the sweet spot of the original series when buildings were exploding, wigs were coming off and every show had a piece of dialogue that you wouldn’t forget.

With the series’ future hanging in the balance, will the season end on a cliffhanger, or in a way in which fans will be satisfied should the series not get picked up for a second season?
It’s going to end with intrigue, it’s got to, there’s no MELROSE PLACE without mystery. We always move forward thinking we’re in the middle of these people’s lives and what the heck is going to happen next with all of them.

MELROSE PLACE airs on Tuesdays at 9PM on the CW (Wednesdays at 10PM on Global TV in Canada)

Photo Credits: Michael Desmond/The CW

Nearly sixteen years ago, an ambitious blonde bombshell turned an apartment complex upside-down — and in doing so, upped the drama, excitement and most importantly of all ratings — for the struggling, often tedious soap that was the first season of the original MELROSE PLACE.

This Tuesday, the CW is hoping praying that lightening will strike twice when Heather Locklear — who Aaron Spelling once famously referred to as his “lucky penny” — returns once again. First look video of which, complete with our own editorial commentary in brackets, can be found after the jump.

.
Caleb: Amanda, I thought you weren’t visiting for another two weeks?

Amanda: You know how I love surprises. (Have you seen your show’s ratings?) This LA branch is drowning in red like a steer in a slaughterhouse (Seriously, absolutely nobody is watching this show.) When I hired you to give this place a makeover i didn’t mean for you to smear it with lipstick and turn it into a five dollar hooker (See: Ashlee Simpson Wentz). This office is pathetic! (We’re talking original series season one pathetic when Billy learned about the realities of racism after a very special episode that had neighbor Rhonda giving the then cab driver a tour of the ‘real’ Los Angeles.)

In our latest installment of Advertising Anarchy (Also known as our take on how networks might wish to consider promoting some of our favorite shows), this TV Addict wanted to take the opportunity to remind you all that if you aren’t watching the CW’s MELROSE PLACE re-boot — an increasingly addictive guilty pleasure that’s about to become even more so thanks to Heather Locklear’s upcoming return — Sydney Andrews will have totally died in vain, again! Think about it.

What does a fine wine and Heather Locklear have in common? Easy, they both get better with age. Something we quickly discovered after perusing these just released photos from Locklear’s November 17 return to MELROSE PLACE, where she’ll reprise her role as scheming advertising public relations exec Amanda Woodward. See for yourself after the jump.

Thank to yet another stellar outing, this TV Addict is officially ready to crown 90210 the season’s most improved player. But in lieu of a crown — which alas, this little-blog-that-could most definitely can’t afford — we hope the CW and new showrunner Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair will accept something far more valuable: A mea culpa. After-all, when we’re wrong, we’re wrong. Which is why we’re willing to admit that in-spite of stars Annalynne McCord and Trevor Donovan looking like they’re 17 going on 30, we currently find ourselves growing surprisingly attached to them both. Particularly McCord, whose desperate attempt to weasel her way into California University last night by morphing from Naomi Clark into Naomi Klein had us in stitches. Meanwhile, Shenae Grimes’ Annie Mills is not only far less annoying this season, she has us genuinely concerned for her safety. And by that we mean, is it possible for new friend Jasper to give off anymore of a creepy Beaver Cassidy Casablancas Neptune High circa 2006 vibe? (RIP: VERONICA MARS) Call us crazy, but we’re starting to wonder if Jasper’s Uncle may have been dead before Annie drove away from her personal prom nightmare!

And while we’re on the subject of killing, it’s killing this TV Addict that more of you aren’t jumping on the MELROSE PLACE bandwagon. Do you know how embarrassed Ella must feel knowing that a mere 1.6 million of you showed up to her birthday last night. What’s worse, only 900,000 advertiser friendly good-looking 18-49 years old bothered to attend? Which means the millions of you that weren’t nodding off to NCIS: LOS ANGELES missed: A very revealing flashback that had a thoughtful and caring Sydney Andrews take a young and naive Ella Simms under her wing (Or as Syd put it, from Uggs to Manolos!), an increasingly adorable Riley and Jonah and most exciting of all, med student/lady-of-the-night Lauren Yang get in bed (Not literally of course, that desperate storyline has already been reserved for HEROES) with Hollywood Madame Wendi (Played by who else.. NIP/TUCK’s Kelly Carlson). It was a hoot (and kinda hawt), so why not drop by next Tuesday at 9PM on the CW (10PM on GlobalTV in Canada)

And finally, in this world of Lindsays, Britneys and that freaky youngest brother from HOME IMPROVEMENT, it’s nice to know that not all child stars go bad. Which is why it was such a treat to see Spencer Treat Clark (Gladiator, Unbreakable, Mystic River) doing a fine job playing a murder suspect on last night’s GOOD WIFE. Take note young cast members of MODERN FAMILY and THE MIDDLE. Not all roads have to lead to VH1′s CELEBRITY REHAB.

When it comes to our favorite fictional serial killer, suspension of disbelief is pretty much par for the course. Which is why we’ve gladly put aside our question as to how on earth Dexter Morgan’s employer, the Miami PD has yet to clue into his extra-curricular activities in lieu of a far bigger mystery: Just how on earth does a blood splatter analyst afford to support a wife and three kids in a spacious suburban alcove, plus an oceanfront condo and a boat on his public servant salary?

In the world of STARGATE UNIVERSE, mankind is capable of harnessing the power of a Stargate to travel millions of miles away, transport themselves to-and-from ships at will, and protect themselves with state of the art weaponry. Yet David Blue’s Eli Wallace is still using an iPhone.

Be it father William or brother Tommy, the Walker family hasn’t exactly had the most stellar track record when it comes to family members working in the family business. Yet Uncle Saul and Holly waited all of three-minutes to hand over the financials and entrust the future of Ojai Foods to very-sketchy illegitimate step-son Ryan.

Giving us yet another reason for us to worry about the American educational system comes GLEE’s Will Shuster, who has yet to clue into the fact that his wife is wearing a fake pregnancy belly.

Only in the world of MELROSE PLACE do men who look like they’ve just stepped out of an Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue have to hire call girls like Stephanie Jacobsen’s Lauren. We’re just sayin’

Lost amidst the deafening Heather [Locklear] hype is another tenants much-anticipated return to MELROSE PLACE: Daphne Zuniga. Whose photag Jo Reynolds will soon find herself crossing paths with some of your favorite next gen tenants after Riley is plucked from obscurity by famous fashion designer Anton V. (guest star Kevin Alejandro) to be the face of his new denim jean campaign. More photos of which can be found after the jump.

After facing down killer robots from the future in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR and the wrong end of a loaded weapon in TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, actress Stephanie Jacobsen could use a break. Unfortunately, she won’t be getting one anytime soon and can currently be seen in the CW’s MELROSE PLACE reboot playing med student by-day/call-girl by night Lauren Yang. Is Jacobsen aware just what she’s signed on to and was she a fan of the original series? All these questions, plus one or two lingering TERMINATOR-related ones can be found after the jump.

Before we get into your role on the new MELROSE PLACE, I first have to ask about your work on TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. Did you come on board knowing Jesse (Jacobsen’s ill-fated character) would have an expiry date?
Stephanie Jacobsen: I don’t think anyone knew if she had an expiry date. And I don’t know how certain we are that Jesse has actually expired! I mean you never saw him [Derek] pull the trigger. It’s actually something Brian [Austin Green] and I debate.

Are you saying that had TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES not been unceremoniously cancelled, we might have gotten the chance to see Jesse again?
Yeah, I think so. i think that there would have been a definite possibility. But it’s just one of those things that you can’t say because the chips didn’t fall.

How does it feel to finally play a role that doesn’t involve battling evil robots?
I feel that it was time for me to learn how to use some new tools. I feel that the change of pace is timely and while I loved doing Sci-fi (which hopefully I’ll find the time to do again someday) it’s definitely nice to do something different.

Were you a fan of the original MELROSE PLACE growing up?
They did show it in Australia, but I was just a kid so I only have a memory of it airing. I actually have the DVDs back home, sitting on my cabinet waiting for me to have a day off from work.

I imagine Lauren’s about to face some pretty interesting consequences for some of her decision thus far?
Lauren is such a paradox, so torn. I mean obviously, everything that happens with her is going to have some big implications. But what exactly? I don’t know, but it’s going to be really interesting to see where her decisions take her and something of an honour to be entrusted with this character.

As an actor who has had the ability to jump seamlessly from series to series, was there any apprehension on your part to join such an iconic show?
I don’t know that our show is going to be that kind of show. I feel like the new MELROSE PLACE is tonally very different from the old one. Our performances are very grounded in the potential reality of the situation that our characters are facing and everyone who is involved is really about making a great show. I feel really privileged to be on it and I would be very surprised if a few seasons of the show wouldn’t benefit us all [career wise].

MELROSE PLACE airs Tuesdays at 9PM on the CW (Wednesdays at 10PM on Global TV in Canada)