TV TOPIC: Where Are They Now?: "Gossip Girl" Cast

xoxo, Gossip Girl. I know you miss that sign-off as much as I do, along with the backstabbing, the pithy one-liners, and the incongruent storylines. How did ABC Family become the go-to channel for good teen soaps? It's a travesty. Alas, let us not dwell on the past and instead look on to the future. What are these bas(s)tards and entitled bitches up to these days?

Penn Badgley - Dan Humphrey
The once self-important original hipster has been rather busy impressing critics with his starring role in the musical biopic Greetings from Tim Buckley. He recently completed the dramatic romance Parts Per Billion alongside Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies), Rosario Dawson, Josh Hartnett, and, another CW grad, Alexis Bledel. Currently, however, he's filming the modern adaptation of the Shakespeare play Cymbeline with Dakota Johnson, Milla Jovovich, Ethan Hawke, and Anton Yelchin.

Penn Badgley's hair  - Dan Humphrey's mop
It's still attached to his head, in spite of a false alarm on January 3, 2013 when it was shaved off, and sometimes it spreads to his face.

Blake Lively - Serena van der Woodsen
Projected as being the most likely to succeed post-cancellation, Lively has actually faded out of the spotlight as she's settling into married life with her hubbie Ryan Reynolds, and presumably trying to start a family. Before checking out though, she managed to film the poorly-received superhero flick Green Lantern, the critically massacred indie drama Hick, and the fairly decent Oliver Stone crime drama Savages. At least now she has a varied resume to return with.

Leighton Meester - Blair Waldorf
The Queen B, Julie Cooper reincarnated, will be sorely missed by gif creators and quote-tweeters alike. Unfortunately, aside from her babysitter role in Date Night, Meester has been unfairly typecast in many films as the resident bitch. She flipped out on Justin Long in Going the Distance, pre-judged Garrett Hedlund in Country Strong, stalked Minka Kelly in The Roommate, openly criticized Selena Gomez in Monte Carlo, and unapologetically cheated on Andy Samberg in That's My Boy. Girl either needs a new agent or a little more confidence in her ability to do more than be snide and obnoxious. Thankfully, she's not short on roles. She recently wrapped the crime drama God Only Knows with Harvey Keitel and Ben Barnes, the indie comedy Any Tom, Dick, or Harry, and the female buddy comedy Life Partners. And currently, she is filming the drama The Judge with Robert Downey, Jr. and Vera Farmiga, while dating Adam Brody, yet another actor made famous by Josh Schwartz.

Ed Westwick - Chuck Bass
His non-GG work has been spotty at best. The only thing I can remember him in is the British rom-com Chalet Girl that introduced me to the intrepid Felicity Jones (Like Crazy). But I'm not surprised he's not popping up everywhere. He's a very odd bird. He sounds like one of those grimy bastards in a Guy Ritchie caper, but looks like a villain straight out of "The Tudors." And did I mention that he just oozes sex appeal? Ha! If you're starting to get the shakes, remiss to remember the last time you heard him fervently exclaim "I'm Chuck Bass!," fret not. He'll be in the latest adaptation of Romeo and Juliet this Fall. At the moment, however, he's shooting the horror comedy Kitchen Sink with Vanessa Hudgens, and soon he'll work on the Anthony Bourdain mystery drama Bone In The Throat.

Chace Crawford - Nate Archibald
Crawford, who first appeared on the scene in the male witch teen movie The Covenant, has been in a range of films: horror (The Haunting of Molly Hartley), dramatic thriller (Twelve), dramedy (Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding), and rom-com (What to Expect When You're Expecting). I wouldn't say he's found his niche quite yet or that he's gotten any better, but now that he permanently scarred his lip, I think he's due for a makeover. Maybe it'll get him more slash better roles. In the mean time, he just signed onto the rom-com Responsible Adults opposite Katie Holmes.

Taylor Momsen - Jenny Humphrey
Taylor. Taylor. Taylor. America's SweetheartAngry Teenager. She quit acting to be the lead singer in the grunge rock band The Pretty Reckless. So far she's toured with Evanescence and Marilyn Manson. While she's yet to make it big, at least she hasn't resorted to blatant fame-whoring yet.

Connor Paolo - Eric van der Woodsen
Paolo's character thankfully died on ABC's "Revenge" last season. Fans were so eager for his departure that if they could crawl through the screen and kill him themselves, they would've tried. It was a deep-seated hatred that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it was the fact that he had the only blue collar accent on the show or that him and his girlfriend were the whiniest version of Romeo and Juliet in the history of their re-imagining. Anyway, he's found a friend in the well-known shock photographer Tyler Shields (baby Terry Richardson), and he'll be starring in his directorial debut, the thriller Outlaw.

Jessica Szhor - Vanessa Abrams
As the most hated character on the series, simply for liking Dan more than anyone else, Szhor had a tough time building a fanbase. And she doesn't seem to be having any luck off set either, but that hasn't stopped casting agents from putting her in their films. She appeared in the comedy The Internship this summer. She just completed the rom-dramedy Light Years with Chris Lowell, the crime thriller 10 Cent Pistol with Jenna Malone, and the rom-com Two Night Stand with Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton (Warm Bodies), and Leven Rambin (Percy Jackson 2). And currently, she's filming the drama The Life with Jerry Ferrara ("Entourage").

Michelle Tratchenberg - Georgina Sparks
This kid has had like a million rebirths. She went from being Harriet the Spy to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's little sister to the gloriously evil ultimate Mean Girl. Therefore, I am not worried about her. I will disregard next year's thriller The Scribbler that she filmed with Katie Cassidy and Eliza Dushku, and mentally pat her on the back for playing the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald in the National Geographic Channel's made-for-TV movie "Killing Kennedy," starring Robe Lowe and Ginnifer Goodwin. Why? Because another rebirth is surely around the corner, and I look forward to seeing what she does next.

Desmond Harrington - Jack Bass
Yet another sexy beast from the Bass family tree, Harrington has been double-dipping for years, hopping from GG to "Dexter," playing slightly different roles. I wonder if he's freaking now that "Dexter" is coming to an end as well. If I were producers I'd grab him up ASAP, throwing him in everything: as an opponent for John on "Person of Interest," rising leader on "Revolution," serial-killing protege on "The Following," or some historical gangster on "Boardwalk Empire." All I'm asking is that he doesn't go soft. Look at that face. That's a fighter, not a lover.

As for the guest stars...

Sebastian Stan (Carter Baizen) might just get his official big break next Spring when he reprises his role as Steve Rogers's best friend slash the title villain in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Amanda Setton (Penelope) had a supporting role on "The Mindy Project" for a while, but this Fall she'll be on the CBS sitcom "The Crazy Ones" with Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar. And Ella Rae Peck (Lola/Charlie) landed her own series, the NBC family comedy "Welcome to the Family."

TV TOPIC: Where Are They Now? - "The Office" Cast

The new Fall TV season starts soon, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten about the casts who won't be returning, especially one as talented as "The Office" had. Its ending may have been overdue, but that didn't stop fans from inundating Tumblr with countless gifs commemorating the unforgettable relationships that brought smiles to our faces and tears to our eyes for nine long seasons. If you're feeling nostalgic as you hunt for a new series to fill the void, take comfort in knowing that you'll still be seeing some of them on the screen:

Steve Carell - Michael Scott
It seems like Jim Carrey accidentally passed the torch to his Bruce Almighty costar. He not only took over as the eldest of the physical comedy actors, but he managed to do what Carrey only did briefly-and-with-little-success: crossover into dramatic acting. He's becoming the full package, pulling at your heartstrings with Dan in Real Life and Crazy. Stupid. Love., but still staying true to his oddball humor with Anchorman.
Future Prospects: We'll see him pull double duty once again this December in the Anchorman sequel and the sports drama Foxcatcher, starring Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo. Currently, he's working on the family film Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day with Jennifer Garner.

John Krasinski - Jim Halpert
Many a lady has fallen for the sweet and mischievous Jim Halpert, and that's greatly due to both Krasinski's comedic and dramatic delivery. His performance was so believable, it was harder to believe it was his first big role. Saying goodbye to him was probably the hardest for most fans because of the relationship he developed with them over the years, chocked full of glances towards the camera, inside jokes, and private confessions. Because of his very large female fanbase, producers will try to typecast him as a romantic lead in a few B-grade rom-coms (i.e. Something Borrowed). And while I wouldn't mind watching him charm the pants off of a slew of leading ladies, I know he can do better. I just don't think film is where he can do that. I'd rather watch him develop a good character over time on a series than briefly on the big screen. Perhaps, something political and/or high-stakes to capture the dramatic acting I know he's capable of.
Future Prospects: He's currently recording the animated adaptation of The Prophet, alongside Salma Hayek and Liam Neeson. Not to mention, getting ready to be an awesome daddy.

Jenna Fischer - Pam Beesly
The second half of one of the most famous couples in TV history represented every woman who not only settled in love, but in life. Falling for Jim was just the beginning of her rebirth. It reminded her of who she wanted to be and set no limitations on what she could do. Fischer did a great job of giving a potentially bland character depth, displaying her imperfections and relishing her victories. She's been hitting the indie circuit hard, playing broken women in dramatic indie roles, but I don't necessarily think that's her forte, because she doesn't look the part. She's better at tearjerker moments and goofball humor.
Future Prospects: She just wrapped two indies: the drama Kiss Me and the comedy You Are Here with Amy Poehler, Owen Wilson, and Zach Galifianakis.

Rainn Wilson - Dwight Schrute
Dwight went from nuisance to brother to best friend in the course of this series—and at times in the course of one episode. Wilson was the conductor of that crazy train, and he steered it with precision, making the audience both cheer and jeer him in the span of 20 minutes. The 47-year-old actor became a household name fairly late in life, but he's a character actor—which is the nice way of saying, not super hot or leading-man material—so he has the potential to appear in many films, mostly indies, as the comedy relief, a quirky insert, or a wise guide. Of course, if he's looking to reach a higher echelon, he'll have to get in with one of the few comedy troupes currently collaborating in Hollywood. Age- and comedy-wise, he fits best with Will Ferrell's crew.
Future Prospects: He has a few indies in the works: the sci-fi thriller Uncanny, the family adventure comedy The Stream, and the horror comedy Cooties with Elijah Wood.

Angela Kinsey - Angela Martin
Forever to be known as the sourpuss cat lady with the kinky sex life, Angela grew on audiences like a fungus. Thankfully, Kinsey's penchant for playing crazy will come in handy when she goes out for more supporting comedy roles.
Future Prospects: She has a potential FOX family comedy pilot with Rob Riggle called "The Gabriels," and just finished shooting the comedy Hot Bot with Danny Masterson and Anthony Anderson. Currently, she's filming the comedy All Stars with John Goodman.

B.J. Novak - Ryan Howard
Ryan was fun to watch because he was very obviously always in over his head, whether it came to business or relationships. He was the manifestation of corporate ambition and a generation's increasing self-absorption. Although he was the opposite of Prince Charming, Novak somehow managed to make him likable. You couldn't help but pity Ryan for being stuck in such an unfulfilling situation, in spite of his delusional belief in his own skills. Luckily, in real life, Novak has actual talent and he spreads it around: acting, directing, writing, and producing. Unlike most actors who are busy building a brand, he seems more concerned with the creative side.
Future Prospects: This holiday season, you can see him in Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson's Walt Disney's biography Saving Mr. Banks, playing a famous Disney songwriter. IMDb also has him down for appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. On the other side of the camera, however, he occasionally writes for and directs "The Mindy Project."

Mindy Kaling - Kelly Kapoor
Never has an Indian woman been this annoying on television, let alone, this depraved, self-serving, and obnoxious. She was the embodiment of every entitled young woman who thought they not only deserved a fairytale, but had the right to lie and cheat to get it. Clinically, she would be characterized as a sociopath, but this is television, so she's just considered adorably obsessive and delusional. In bringing this lovable loon to life, Kaling broke some serious barriers in what roles people of her ethnicity are cast in. And she didn't just stop there. She went on to set the bar pretty high for future female comedic writers, succeeding in creating, writing, and starring in her own sitcom by the age of 33. To put that into context, Tina Fey branched out on her own at 36 and Amy Poehler at 38—and they had "SNL" cred to back them.
Future Prospects: She's busy with her series, "The Mindy Project," but soon she'll voice a character in the animated film Inside Out.

Ed Helms - Andy Bernard
This ass-kissing, socially awkward people-pleaser was at the core of many embarrassing situations throughout the series. High-strung and overly ambitious, he was like the second-coming of Ryan, except far less evil. Playing average Joes seems like Helms' niche, but the same could've been said of Carrell until he started booking challenging roles. Tack on his musical talent and he's at the very least a double-threat.
Future Prospects: He played a drug kinpin in this summer's We're the Millers. He just wrapped the comedy thriller Stretch with Chris Pine and Jessica Alba. Next year, he'll be in the comedy They Came Together with Paul Rudd. And currently, he's shooting Someone Marry Barry with Damon Wayans, Jr.

Craig Robinson - Darryl Philbin
As the voice of reason, and often sanity, in the office, Darryl was a necessary constant. While some could accuse him of suffering from a serious case of Angry Black Man syndrome, Robinson was actually a master of deadpan. However, off set, he's become the go-to black friend for frat-boy comedies (Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Hot Tub Time Machine and This Is the End), and this year, he had his first lead roles in the comedies Peeples and Rapture-Palooza. He could keep this up for a while, but his own dude-centric series on FXX, the new comedy channel, would probably be better for job security.
Future Prospects: He's currently filming the sequel to Hot Tub Time Machine, and a potential sitcom pilot for NBC, where he plays a reluctant music teacher at a middle school.

Ellie Kemper - Kelly Erin Hannon
Kemper was added to the series half-way through. She had the daunting task of cultivating her own fanbase, while playing a sweet, but dumb, young woman who would eventually recreate Pam+Jim+Roy's love triangle with Pete and Andy. Not sure if it was her Missouri accent or the oblivious look in her eyes whenever she didn't quite comprehend what was happening around her, but she nailed every scene and sometimes managed to make Michael, and even Kevin, seem smarter. Kemper's rather convincing. So convincing she could get pigeon-holed, if she's not careful, as the quirky BFF. I actually thought she was really funny in 21 Jump Street as the young teacher who had trouble controlling her attraction to the clearly adult undercover cop in her science class. Something about someone so sweet and conservative pining after a sexy meathead makes for a pretty amusing sight gag. I'd totally watch a series where she plays a community college professor to a mixed bag of uninterested students, in spite of her crippling stage fright. It's a setting she would thrive in.
Future Prospects: She's currently working on her own NBC comedy, "Brenda Forever," that's kind of like 13 Going on 30. It'll take place in both the past and present to tell the life story of an awkward-yet-confident woman.

Oscar Nuñez - Oscar Martinez
Representing for the Latinos and the gays, Oscar wasn't just a compilation of stereotypes. Nuñez never went over the top, but he was also always game to sacrifice his self-respect for a laugh. That fact was proven when he appeared in The Proposal, stripping for a bunch of old ladies. Scene-stealing roles like that could get him a supporting spot on a series eventually.
Future Prospects: He just wrapped a supporting role in the screwball comedy pilot "The Education of Eddie and Mortimer."

Brian Baumgartner - Kevin Malone
The human garbage disposal with an IQ that barely surpasses a special needs child always baffled audiences as to how he got a job as an accountant in the first place. In the real world, he's not even qualified to sort mail. Baumgartner never failed to properly deliver a dimwitted retort or a dunce-like expression. Bit roles will certainly be his bread and butter.
Future Prospects: He did a guest spot on "Hot in Cleveland," and he'll appear on "Mike and Molly" this season.

Phyllis Smith - Phyllis Vance
As the thorn in Angela's side and the office wife to Stanley, Phyllis always had a really funny way of sounding timidly panicked or concerned. It was subtle which was the polar opposite of the comedy styles of most of the other actors. So far Smith has landed supporting roles in comedies, like Bad Teacher and Butter. Her comedic rhythm is certainly an asset most comedies these days could use.
Future Prospects: She plays a teacher in the new ABC family comedy "Trophy Wife," and she'll voice a character in the animated film Inside Out.

Paul Lieberstein - Toby Flenderson
That unfortunate human punching bag with a habit of falling in love with redheaded women who lack interest in him was a lot of fun to pity. Lieberstein, like Novak and Kaling, was also a writer on the show. Acting doesn't really seem like his end game. He started his career off as a writer ("The Drew Carey Show" and "The Bernie Mack Show") and a producer ("King of the Hill"), but lately he's been directing more.
Future Prospects: He has nothing on the horizon as of yet, but he did direct an episode of "The Mindy Project," so maybe he'll do more of that.

Kate Flannery - Meredith Palmer
Probably accused often of perpetuating the Irish stereotype of being constantly drunk and belligerent, Flannery was most likely the only actress on TV in her late 40s shamelessly exposing herself and displaying a disturbing amount of poor parenting skills. But, look on the bright side: it was never not funny. She started off almost 15 years ago doing a bunch of guest spots. It would behoove her to get back at it. I see a foul-mouthed granny role in her far-off future.
Future Prospects: She has a few bit roles coming up: the horror flick Home starring Naya Rivera, the comedy Helicopter Mom starring Nia Vardalos, the tennis comedy Break Point starring Jeremy Sisto and David Walton, and the horror comedy Cooties starring Elijah Wood.

Leslie David Baker - Stanley Hudson
Stanley was basically the office grump. He wanted to get in and out, and enjoy every freebie and perk that appeared. He's what we all fear we'll turn into if we stay in our cubicle prisons for too long. Previous to landing this recurring role, Baker did a few guest spots. He should definitely branch out into other genres. He's got the mustache and the 'tude to blend in anywhere.
Future Prospects: He doesn't have anything booked yet.

Creed Bratton - Creed Bratton
There's no other way to describe him: He was a creepy motherf*cker. The fact that his character's name is his real name actually horrifies me. That aside, the 70-year-old actor has been in this business for almost 40 years, and this is his most memorable role. He's not done yet though. There are benefits to being super old. Just ask Morgan Freeman (76), Jon Voight (75), and Michael Caine (80). With age comes wisdom, or at least roles where you get to dole some out.
Future Prospects: Nothing as of yet.

As for guest stars and last-minute newbies...

Andy Buckley (David Wallace) might still have a spot on HBO's "Veep." Melora Hardin (Jan Levinson) will be on TBS's new pilot "Do It Yourself" and is currently shooting a female comedy about middle-aged, freelance phone sex operators called 33 Liberty Lane. Zach Woods (Gabe Lewis) might keep popping up as a bottom feeder on "Veep," but is currently filming Mike Judge's HBO comedy pilot "Silicon Valley" with Martin Star and T.J. Miller.

Amy Ryan (Holly Flax) just wrapped the Alejandro González Iñárritu comedy Birdman with Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, and Emma Stone. Catherine Tate (Nellie Bertram) is playing a French teacher on the BBC comedy "Big School," and filming the British comedy SuperBob. Jake Lacy (Pete) just wrapped the abortion rom-com(!) Obvious Child with former "SNL" actress Jenny Slate and the sports comedy Intramural. He's also currently working on the CBS family comedy pilot "The McCarthys." Clark Duke (Clark) will reprise his role in Hot Tub Time Machine 2. And one cannot forget Michael Schur (Mose) who generally doesn't spend his free time mutely kidnapping small women. He actually writes for "Parks and Recreation" and he worked on the pilot for Andy Samberg's new FOX cop series "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."

Where Are They Now?: The Breakout Stars of Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Cancelled Shows

When the leaves are falling in September, primetime television is blooming, and when those leaves return seemingly overnight in the Spring, TV shows are just as swiftly shed to make room for next year's crop. Because of this reaping, the Fall 2012-Spring 2013 television season had a lot of tragic casualties who deserve a second shot on another series. Find out who you should be keeping an eye on in the future:

Theo James of CBS's "Golden Boy"
The 28-year-old Brit officially made his crossover leap to American audiences this season when he starred in his very own police procedural that dared to rejigger the genre's template, and tell the story of the road to power. Of course, it wasn't the first time American audiences laid eyes on him. While he did co-star with Kate Beckinsale in the poorly received sequel Underworld: Awakening, he's probably best known as the Turkish diplomat who died mid-coitus in the wildly popular and rarely racy British series "Downton Abbey." Luckily, his talents don't ebb at seduction. On "Golden Boy," James never strayed from his fake American accent, always captured the viewer with his mischievous looks and heroic self-sacrifices, and impressively carried the series better than most actors in their late 20s could've.

Suggested Roles: More than the action, James excelled at the emotional scenes, whether they were with a witness or his partner. While I still think he should carry his own series where he fights for the underdog, I wouldn't mind spotting him in "Rookie Blue" as a new love interest for Andy and BFF to Dov, an internal affairs investigator who's partnered up with Cat on "Beauty and the Beast," a do-gooding warlock that catches Rebecca's eye on "The Originals," or shock his fans and appear on "Boardwalk Empire," seeking revenge for Gyp Rosetti's murder.

Upcoming Projects: He'll play the main character's love interest in the adaptation of Divergent opposite Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) and Kate Winslet.

Judy Marte of CBS's "NYC 22"
More than a decade ago we were introduced to this young lady in the critically acclaimed indie Raising Victor Vargas, which poetically captured ghetto youth and its pitfalls. In CBS's ensemble cop dramedy about rookies from all walks of life policing the dangerous streets of New York, Marte played an anomaly: a kid who grew up in a dangerous family and chose a profession that would make her their enemy. The character had a lot to prove and a lot to lose, and Marte played that with guarded trepidation and tempered bravado, a volatile mix of Rosie Perez and Michelle Rodriguez.

Suggested Roles: She's been doing the indie thing for a while now, running a couple laps on the festival circuit, but I think it's time she set up some roots. Maybe she can stir things up on "The Newsroom" or play an undercover cop on FOX's upcoming series "Gang Related."

Adhir Kalyan of CBS's "Rules of Engagement"
While I'll agree that this sitcom overstayed its welcome longer than most shows that were cancelled by the network, I will miss its cleverest character, Timmy. He brought class to a lowbrow series and stole every scene, with either a scathing quip or deadpan self-pity, as the Felix Ungar to Russell's Oscar Madison. 

Suggested Roles: Kalyan's debut was in the thankfully short-lived, racially precarious CW series "Aliens in America," during their recent brief foray into sitcoms. Then he popped up in Paul Blart: The Mall Cop and co-starred with Michael Cera in Youth in Revolt, playing against type. I think he should continue down that path, and definitely stick to comedy, because he has a talent for it. He could guest star on "Big Bang Theory" as Raj's fully Americanized relative and maybe even make a play for Amy Farrah Fowler, or play someone Mindy's mother sends to woo her for an arranged marriage on "The Mindy Project," or CBS could do him a solid and add him as an intern on Robin William's new ad agency sitcom "The Crazy Ones."

Sophia Bush of CBS's "Partners"
It's been a decade since the CW introduced the world to the spitfire that was Brooke Davis. Bush played her with a free-spirited sexuality and insecure vulnerability that encapsulated many a bad girl. It'll probably be the most complex character she's ever offered in her career, but she deserves a lot better.

Suggested Roles: Bush is being typecast as a superficial fashionista. She needs something with a little more substance. Perhaps she can join "Arrow" as Laurel's competition and Oliver's bar manager, or "Hart of Dixie" as Zoe's friend and Wade's new love interest.

Andrew Rannells of "The New Normal"
Little known fact: This 34-year-old Broadway actor spent the first decade of his career doing animated voiceovers for shows like "Yu-Gi-Oh" and "Pokemon." Thank god someone recognized his talents for hyperbole and drama just in time for The Book of Mormon to hit Broadway. Otherwise, non-theatergoers would've missed out on witnessing Rannells' impressive ability to play the scene-stealing, self-absorbed and yet nurturing father-to-be last season.

Suggested Roles: While I'm aware that gay actors can do more than just play gay, I think it's about time the gay drama genre made a comeback in a big way. Rannells, Luke Macfarlane ("Brothers and Sisters"), and Katherine Moennig ("The L Word") headlining a series about modern gay romance and issues would strike a chord in these rights-challenged times.

Upcoming Projects: Nothing solid as of yet, but he could always reprise his role on "Girls."

Jeremy Jordan of NBC's "Smash"

Best known for his Broadway role in the Tony-winning musical Newsies, Jordan managed to briefly reinvigorate the ailing series with his character's cocky, bad boy charm.
Suggested Roles: I stopped watching "Glee" a while ago, but I'm sure they could use him to throw a little strife into Blaine's life, or he could be the first singing Disney prince on "Once Upon a Time."
Upcoming Projects: He'll co-star in the adaptation of the romantic dramedy musical The Last 5 Years with Anna Kendrick.

Andre Holland of NBC's "1600 Penn"

As a grossly underutilized graduate of the short-lived dating series "Friends with Benefits," Holland had a pretty good year. Not only did he get to co-star in the Jackie Robinson biopic 42 as a groundbreaking sports reporter, but he also got to play the president's press secretary in the political family comedy "1600 Penn" opposite Tony-nominated actor and comedic writer Josh Gad. His exasperated incredulity and frustration at every scandal that arose perfectly complemented Gad's ignorant attempts at...basically everything.
Suggested Roles: He could be a polarizing love interest for Anne on "Parks and Recreation."
Upcoming Projects: He'll be in the race drama Black and White with Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, and Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty).

Dakota Johnson of FOX's "Ben & Kate"
The offspring of 80s icons Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith bumped around a bit in a few supporting casts on the big screen (Beastly, 21 Jump Street, and The Five-Year Long Engagement) before landing the lead female role in an unorthodox family series, where we got to see her Deschanel-esque awe-shucks bashfulness and goofy-nerd comedic delivery. 

Suggested Roles: She could be the rookie slash weakest link on the team of Josh Holloway's spy series "Intelligence" this Fall.
Upcoming Projects: She will appear in Aaron Paul's street-racing action film Need for Speed.

Eliza Coupe of ABC's "Happy Endings"

Fans may only know her as the blonde half of Brad & Jane, but her breakout role was actually on the "Scrubs" spinoff the year before, where she was a lot more hostile and tomboyish. It was quite the transformation. The girl is versatile. And her character's maniacal obsession with perfection, judgmental one-liners, and enviable relationship with her husband made her one of the best of an already awesome cast.

Suggested Roles: She's so good at delivering scathingly honest lines that I think "Veep" would make a good fit. She could also add some negativity to Robin Williams' "The Crazy Ones" or be an obnoxious authority figure on Marvel's "S.H.I.E.L.D."

Damon Wayans Jr. of ABC's "Happy Endings"
Don't say it. We're all thinking it. He should've stayed on "New Girl." No offense to Lamorne Morris, but Damon is a funny dude. True, he was a hundred times funnier on this series than he was on "New Girl," but they took a while to find their comedic footing. Now everyone's a lot funnier. Plus, "Happy Endings" was more suited to his type of physical and zany comedy. Whereas "New Girl" is one notch above Weird, "Happy Endings" is one notch above Crazy, which is oddly where most of the Wayans family feels comfortable. The Hollywood legacy has redefined what it means to be a black male character on TV, not only pushing the envelope with racial stereotypes but with heterosexual ones. 

Upcoming Projects: The comedy Someone Marry Barry with Tyler Labine ("Animal Practice") and Lucy Punch ("Ben and Kate"), and the buddy cop comedy Let's Be Cops with his old buddy Jake Johnson ("New Girl") and Nina Dobrev ("Vampire Diaries").

Mamie Gummer of The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D."

I would pat myself on the back for calling the demise of this series before it was officially announced, but, um, everyone did. In Gummer's defense, though, it wasn't her fault. She was good at playing a naive, shy glorified doormat. But it so didn't fit her. She is Meryl Streep's daughter. And, however, unfair it might be to put her on a pedestal and expect more from her, it's not without good reason. If you've ever seen her guest star on "The Good Wife," then you know this kid can act. Those wilting lily characters she's being offered because of her blonde hair and fair skin are beneath her. During her arc, she took down an opponent with far more experience and basked in the glow of her victory. She's a beast. A mini-Meryl. She may be two failed pilots deep, but we never said she wouldn't have to fight for it.

Suggested Roles: I really hope that "The Good Wife" producers were smart enough to swoop in there and offer her a recurring role as a lawyer in Cary's new firm. Not only would she butt heads with Alicia, but she could come between Kalinda and Cary. "House of Cards" might also allow her to show off her ability to give life to strong female characters.
Upcoming Projects: She'll be in the Kristen Bell dramedy The Lifeguard.

Jared Kusnitz of MTV's "Underemployed"

As the straight-laced, environmental activist turned cubicle paper-pusher, his character represented the tribe of college grads who refuse to turn into their parents but are ultimately obligated to. He was the poster child for this generation's most prevalent obstacle: the quarter life crisis. Kusnitz played him with the right amount of anxiety and indecisiveness. You commiserated with him and even turned a blind eye to his missteps, because from 9 to 5, you are him.
Suggested Roles: He could play a nerdy distraction for Felicity on "Arrow." He could totally keep up with the 80s star as an assistant on "The Michael J. Fox Show." Or he could play a really smart guy Maggie thinks is out of her league on "The Carrie Diaries."

Upcoming Projects: He'll appear in the online mockumentary "Addicts Anonymous," which was funded by Kickstarter.

Aldis Hodge of TNT's "Leverage"

After playing the intimidating and antagonistic rival football player Voodoo on "Friday Night Lights," no viewer could've ever imagined seeing him as a lovable nerdy goofball, but for four seasons that's exactly what he was. He played the overly confident, pop culture-loving hacker on a crack team of thieves and con artists—the most relatable and the funniest of the bunch.

Suggested Roles: Since I like him in group/team settings, I think he would be great on a police procedural or law series as the comedy relief.

Michelle Ang of MTV's "Underemployed"

It's not often that young Asian actors are cast in sexual roles. And when they are it's always some seedy, semi-pornographic, fetish scenario that's rather unrealistic. Ang, a Malaysian raised in New Zealand, played a young woman who was nervously discovering her sexuality and trying very hard to bravely embrace her homosexual desires. Her lesbian storyline wasn't tawdry or gratuitous. It was just another view of modern adolescent struggles.
Suggested Roles: I think it's important she continues to play against type. She could be a new lawyer at Cary's firm on "The Good Wife," do a quick arc on "Girls," or co-star in her own more diverse, generational series.

David Clayton Rogers of ABC Family's "Jane by Design"

Over the last decade, Rogers has gotten better at stealing scenes. I actually first saw him on the "Cougar Town" pilot, which wasn't really that funny, and it didn't seem like he and Courtney Cox were on the same comedic wavelength. He was doing bewildered and sane, and she was doing zany and obsessive. Regardless, once they introduced her main beau, he was rather forgettable. According to IMDb, he's been on "Gilmore Girls," "Brothers & Sisters," "Happy Endings," and "Grimm." None of it's ringing a bell. However, on this series, he has way more screen time and far more character development. Turns out "awkward" is where he excels.

Suggested Roles: He could awkwardly romance Anne on "Parks and Recreation," try to steal Jess from Nick on "New Girl," bring Quinn back from the edge on "Scandal," charm Peggy on "Mad Men," or if "Bunheads" is renewed, he could be a new small town hottie.
Upcoming Projects: He'll appear in the sci-fi thriller Uncanny with Marc Webber and Rainn Wilson.

These breakout stars managed to score new gigs:

Chris D'Elia of NBC's "Whitney"
The stand-up comedian was practically unrecognizable when this series first premiered. Just a few months earlier he was on TBS's college comedy "Glory Daze," playing a disheveled, perpetually-high super senior. Then all of a sudden he had a sober cadence, playful jibes, and a confident swagger, and it was like he aged ten years in seconds. D'Elia is of that rare breed, manly but able to appear sincere in romantic plots, which is great for comedies that are meant for both demographics.

Upcoming Projects: He'll star in NBC's upcoming sitcom "Undateable," where he'll play a Don Juan who teaches a few romantically challenged guys how to navigate the treacherous waters of the dating world. He's currently filming the comedy Flock of Dudes with Bryan Greenberg ("How to Make It In America" and Bride Wars), Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect), Hilary Duff, Lea Michele, and Hannah Simone ("New Girl"). He's also doing stand-up in the Funny or Die Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival with many comedians, including Dave Chapelle.

Zach Cregger of NBC's "Guys with Kids"

Since his debut in the sketch comedy series "The Whitest Kids U'Know," Cregger has been trying his best to land a more traditional sitcom. His first, "Friends with Benefits," put him on the back-burner, but this Jimmy Fallon-produced dude comedy showcased his talents a lot more. He played a snarky smart ass, like the male version of a frenemy. You wanted to hate him, but couldn't stop being amused.
Upcoming Project: He's currently attached to the female-driven NBC pilot "Assistance" with Krysten Ritter ("Don't Trust the B- in Apartment 23"). It's produced by Will Ferrell's company and based on a play by Bachelorette's screenwriter Leslye Headland.

Maddie Hasson of FOX's "The Finder"
This 18-year-old newbie played a feisty little loner, quick on the uptake but secretly vulnerable, as evidenced by her go-to pout and puppy-dog eyes. It's a bit uncharacteristic for blondes to have bite or for teenagers to outshine their superiors, especially for this Hollywood generation, but Hasson gives off a mysterious allure that's usually attributed to bad-boy heartthrobs, keeping you hooked.

Upcoming Projects: Currently, she stars in the ABC Family teen mystery series "Twisted," but she just completed the sport drama Underdogs.

Michael Rady of The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D."

Ohhh where do I begin? I first noticed Mr. Rady when he played the incredibly sexy Greek Kostas in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Every teenage girl's fantasy is to meet a hot foreigner with an accent and an adventurous attitude. He was like catnip for the tweens to twentysomethings. He didn't re-enter their lives in any other capacity until he briefly popped up in the ABC Family college series "Greek" and starred in the CW's "Melrose Place" reboot. Since the cancellation of those shows, he's done a few guest arcs on "House of Lies" and "The Mentalist." He definitely gets around, but he always plays the same guy: An endearing, gentle soul with a forgiving, if not ignorant, nature.

Upcoming Projects: Not only is he starring in the indie rom-com Romantic Encounters with Meghan Markle ("Suits"), but he scored a supporting role in Josh Holloway's spy thriller "Intelligence."

Phoebe Tonkin of The CW's "The Secret Circle"
I didn't want to like her character, but I couldn't help it. This little Aussie plays catty divas and wherever they go, trouble soon follows. After her Wicca-themed series "The Secret Circle" failed to build a cult following on The CW, she hopped over to "The Vampire Diaries" to seduce a werewolf and birth an Original hybrid. As a beautiful girl with ambiguous ethnicity, who's mastered bitch face and the sympathy pout, she has a lot of potential.

Upcoming Projects: She'll co-star in The CW spinoff "The Originals," and appear in the drama The Ever After, written by actors Mark Webber and Teresa Palmer, which will also star Rosario Dawson and Jaime King.

Michael Ealy of USA's "Common Law"

Those dreamy-dreamy eyes. You'd never think he started off playing a standoffish tough guy in Barbershop. Who knew his niche would be seductive charmers? Even though his supporting gig on "FlashForward" fell through, his guest star role on "The Good Wife" ran its course, and his lead role on the buddy cop series "Common Law" was short-lived, he managed to reignite the public's interest in him with last year's urban rom-com Think Like a Man, where he played a struggling chef who doted on the woman of his dreams and never felt threatened by her success. Dream guy, question mark.
Upcoming Projects: He'll star in the FOX sci-fi buddy cop series "Almost Human," where he'll play a humanized robocop of sorts. And next year, he'll star in another urban rom-com called About Last Night alongside Regina Hall and comedian Kevin Hart, and reprise his role in the Think Like a Man sequel.

Serinda Swan of A&E's "Breakout Kings"

Very few actresses can pull off badass and beautiful. To be both what men covet and fear. It isn't just the eyeliner, Swan's got a knack for it. You get the sense that she can handle herself in a fight, against either sex. There's a wave of heroines taking over pop culture, from the Katniss's to the Calisi's. And it's good to know there's more on the horizon.

Upcoming Projects: She's co-starring in USA's crime drama "Graceland."

Jimmi Simpson of A&E's "Breakout Kings"

I have no recollection of ever seeing this guy anywhere else. He's one of "those guys" that fit in anywhere and go unnoticed. Watch this series though and there's no way he won't make an impression. He played a timid, obnoxiously intelligent, mildly autistic, condescending Rain Man. Hands down, he was the best part of the series.

Suggested Roles: Since Sherlock defeated Moriarty, he could go head-to-head with him on "Elementary," or be a major political player in the next season of "Revolution."
Upcoming Projects: He'll join Netflix's "House of Cards" next season in a recurring role and this summer, he's in White House Down. He has the indie fantasy adventure Knights of Badassdom with Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones"), Summer Glau (Serenity), and Ryan Kwanten ("True Blood"), and the comedy Gravy with Sarah Silverman, written and directed by James Roday of "Psych."

FILM TOPIC: Brad Pitt Has Never Saved the World

As I was watching World War Z last night, I realized something pretty monumental: Brad Pitt has never saved the world before. He's turning 50 this December and in the span of his 30+ years as a leading male hearthrob, he has not saved the world once. He has played heroes before: Lieutenant Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds, a spy in Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Spy Game, and Achilles in Troy, but never has he saved the world. I thought it impossible. It's practically a rite of passage for an A-list actor. Get the girl. Check. Come up against a formidable villain. Check. Play ugly or against type. Check. Save the world. ...?

Will Smith has saved the world five times (Independence Day, Men in Black 1-3, and I, Robot). Nicholas Cage, four (Ghost Rider 1-2, Knowing, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice). Tom Cruise, three (Mission: Impossible II, War of the Worlds, and Oblivion). Ben Affleck (Armageddon), George Clooney (Batman & Robin), and Denzel Washington (The Book of Eli), all at least once. How has Pitt only achieved this feat in his golden years. Even his wife, Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider 1 & 2), has saved the world. Twice.

He made me wonder though who else hasn't yet. Johnny Depp, Mark Wahlberg, and surprisingly, Matt Damon. His first time will be this summer with Elysium.

FILM REVIEW: Man of Steel

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's a predictable opening to a Superman review. If you're a Superman superfan, that line is about as intrinsic to the hero and his saga as the Kryptonite that ails him and the Fortress of Solitude that guides him. Both of which are not in this film. This latest reboot isn't a die-hard's version. It's not a throwback to earlier film adaptations. And while some critics and fans might argue that that's a good thing, that doesn't mean it's perfect.

In this reboot, we are first introduced to Kal-El's home planet, Krypton, and his birth parents, Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and Lara Lor-Van (Angels and Demons' Ayelet Zurer). We witness its destruction and his father's tireless attempts to save him and their people. And, ultimately, we witness his father's demise at the hands of Superman's most famous alien archnemisis, General Zod (the fear-inducing Michael Shannon of "Boardwalk Empire"). From there, we are thrust into Earth right along with Kal-El (the dashing Henry Cavill of Immortals ). While he wanders the sparsely populated areas of America, we're shown flashbacks of his struggle to blend in and control his volatile powers. It's refreshing to see a less celebratory reaction when he discovers his x-ray vision, ability to burn through things with his eyes, and heightened hearing. Each flashback is juxtaposed to a present day act of heroism. And with each one, we grow closer to the hero he will become. 

That storytelling technique was one of my favorite components of the film. Every time they showed a former bully all grown up, tamed, and in awe of him, it preyed on our inner underdog, which naturally dreams of a day when we will get to rub our worth and popularity in the faces of our own childhood bullies. It also served to make a comparison between his biological parents and his adoptive parents Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane), who were essentially mirrors of one another. Both mothers doting and protective. Both fathers heroic and selfless. That scene when Costner raises his hand, stopping Clark from saving him from the approaching tornado and revealing his powers to all the people huddled under the overpass was haunting. As the sound dropped out, like the calm before the storm, your heart dropped with it, but you couldn't look away. Born of a hero and raised by a hero, there seemed to be no other path he could've ever considered.

The lore that we are told of Kal-El's birth, having been the first natural one on his planet for centuries, was simply the beginning of the Messiah comparisons. During his last conversation with Jor-El, his father tells him that he sent him to Earth hoping that being raised by humans would make him feel like half of one, so he would be the bridge that unified the two species, and the Kryptonians could one day flourish again. He thought that Kal-El could show the humans the Kryptonian way of life, to live justly and to always have hope for a better tomorrow. In the Catholic religion, Jesus was sent to Earth, born naturally (although not conceived naturally), for the very same reason. God, his father, wanted him to be the bridge between Earth and the heavens, to deliver his message of hope. And much like Kal-El, Jesus's birth was questioned, his powers feared, and his existence rejected. They would first cast him down before raising him up. And the clincher of that comparison was when Superman floats out of Zod's ship into space's atmosphere with his arms outstretched and his legs pressed together as if crucified on a cross. He is our messiah, our savior, the bringer of hope.

The voiceovers, when we could hear Jor-El but not see him, also helped to solidify the God comparison. Crowe was a good choice—his voice sounds both commanding and wise. He's no James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman, but not everybody can be black. One aspect I'm glad they brought back from previous incarnations was the flying perspective. I think watching Superman fly without any mechanical or scientific assistance is one of the main things that separates him from other superheroes and, therefore, vital, but I also think that watching his face as he flies is a clever way to bond the audience to him. Watching him smile and laugh as he finds his soaring rhythm brings him down to our level, because if we could fly, that's exactly how we would look. It showed his human side. 

Although, different isn't always bad. I thought the choice to model the Kryptonian space ships, creatures, and gadgets after the structure of several types of bugs, including beetles, was not only aerodynamically logical, but also a smart way of differentiating their technology from ours, since we model our planes after birds. General Zod's initial contact with the human race was also inspired. It's not often that an alien movie includes the entire world. And when they do, they don't always remember that regardless of how universal the English language might seem to be, not everybody chooses to learn it. So the translation of his worldwide transmission was quite warranted. I also appreciated the implied origin story of Superman's costume. It wasn't just something he thought up or that was made specifically for him, but a warrior's uniform on his planet. And the S on his chest wasn't to inspire a moniker that would deem him superior to the inhabitants of his adoptive planet, but a symbol that all of his people wore.

Of course, there are still plenty of things I either didn't get, found annoying, or thought were illogical. For example, the cape. I still don't get the cape. I know it's part of the iconic costume, but I will never get the cape. What is it for? He flies either way. And while we're on the topic of the hero's appearance, what was up with his teeth? Do British people not have dentists? Do Germans? General Zod's second in command, Faora-Ul (Antje Traue), also had quite the set of chompers. Gorgeous woman. Fucked up teeth. And, lastly, I realize we want to stress Superman's humanity, but did he have to have the hairiest chest of any of his predecessors. It was like he was competing with Wolverine, who is...a fucking wolverine. I'm not saying don't have a hairy chest. I'm just saying tufts of it shouldn't peek out at the top of your costume. The third most obvious visual eye sore was the product placement. I get it. This movie was expensive—$225 million to be exact. But I don't think we needed to know that Lois Lane uses a Nikon, that bullies end up serving mouthwatering pancakes at IHOP, or that Clark Kent's mom works at Sears. And, while sure, the American flag isn't a product, it sure as hell seemed like one given how many times it was on screen. It reminded me of the Facebook sidebar that suggests people you might want to be friends with. I imagine other countries viewing this movie are declining just the same.

I'm not complaining just to be a killjoy. If I really wanted to get nit-picky, I'd mention the fact that Clark's dad is supposed to be 46 when he dies, according to his tombstone. Pfft. Costner, who is 58, looks maybe 65—maybe, on a good airbrushing day. And the studio's decision to make General Swanwick (Harry Lennix from "Dollhouse") fake swear at the end with "F-ing" to keep their PG-13 rating was ridiculous. Realistically, he would've cursed during that tense moment. But if he's not going to actually curse, then don't bother. That's like serving gluten-free cake. Why? Just eat anything else. But I'm not being nit-picky. I was simply easing you into the preposterousness of a few other elements. 

For example, why in God's name would you freeze criminals and send them to a black hole for a few life cycles, 1) knowing that when your planet inevitably explodes, they will be freed and 2) in the end, you die and they live? What?! Leave them on the planet that's dying. You go somewhere else. You had so much time to evacuate. You have got to be kidding me. In the same vein of stupidity, Zod, if your plan was to rebuild the Kryptonian community with the fetuses that survived for thousands of years in a well-hidden space ship, why the F (see how annoying that is?) would you take that ship to battle? If the ship is destroyed, the babies die. In the wise words of Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler, Really? My biggest gripe though is with the CGI movements of the Kryptonians. They moved like The Hulk. The Hulk is a giant ogre. He's clunky and massive. Superman should be graceful. He and his fellow Kryptonians shouldn't land like hammers and fight like wrestlers. I mean, they don't need to know karate, but I felt like I was watching "The Flinstones" and Bamm-Bamm was throwing a fit. And last, but not least, I will let the lack of a Fortress of Solitude or Kryptonite slide, since I'm sure we'll eventually encounter these things in sequels, but I'm a little bummed we weren't introduced to Jimmy Olsen.

Now, there was internet speculation that the intern Jenny (newcomer Rebecca Buller), who got trapped mid-attack and was vigilantly saved by her boss Perry White (Laurence Fishburne) and reporter Steve Lombard (Michael Kelly of "House of Cards" and "People of Interest"), was Jimmy's replacement. But luckily, after someone obsessively enhanced her ID and read that her last name was Jurwich, that theory was debunked. Look, as much as I love girl power, the brotherly bond between Clark and Jimmy is far more important. He has to feel like he has a family in Metropolis, now that all of his people are dead and he's so far from both his homes.

Speaking of vital bonds, after the second viewing of this film, I decided that in spite of a serious lack of courting, I will accept the love story between Clark and Lois (the bravado-bearing Amy Adams). At first, I only understood why she liked him. Who wouldn't she? He's handsome, heroic, selfless, and he treats her with the respect that most men don't. What I struggled with was why he would fall for her. Flashbacks to his childhood give glimpses of his crush on Lana Lang, but he's met plenty of women since then in his travels. Why would he fall for this one? Then I realized it was because she's the only one who ever publicly accepted him without fear of judgement, and publicly stood up for him without fear of consequence. She embodies the reason the human race deserves to be saved. She is both the acceptance he has craved all his life and the hope he was destined to deliver. So fine. Fall. Fall hard. But the next movie better be chocked full of Clark and Lois moments now that they work together at The Daily Planet, while he rocks those extremely "covert" spectacles, because otherwise it'll become a superficial romance.

I also look forward to the possibility that they will introduce Lex Luthor next time, because, let's be honest, some tycoon is going to swoop in and rebuild Metropolis after that insane demolition scene that was passed off as an aerial duel. I'm also interested in finding out if the government were so bold as to search the wreckage for fetuses to dissect or alien technology to steal. I also wonder if Faora-Ul, who is said to be one of Superman's most formidable comic book enemies, actually died during that black hole suck, given her propensity for survival. But mostly, I look forward to finding out the most baffling question of all: Is Superman a virgin? Come on. After his implication that the best has yet to come when they took a much-needed kiss break, you were thinking the exact same thing.

BEST TRACKS: will.i.am's "#Willpower"

Much like Timbaland, will.i.am is a better producer than rapper/singer, but he does have two gems on his latest album that I'd recommend downloading.

The first is "Geekin'," which is basically a geek anthem. If he could get enough technological innovators and recent news-making young nerds, like Spelling Bee champ Arvind Mahankali to be in the video, it could be his first hit single off the album. Innovative videos like the one he did for his first single "This is Love" with Eva Simons could be his bread-and-butter. Especially since shelling out dough for crappy collaborations with Britney Spears ("Scream and Shout") and Justin Bieber ("#thatPower") isn't doing him any favors. He'll learn that for sure after his next single, "Fall Down," featuring Miley Cyrus, hits the airwaves.

My favorite part of "Geekin'" is when he says:

I’m so pay, my friends call me Pay Pal
I make a lot of chips, now they call me Intel
*Intel jingle*

The second song, "Bang Bang," is criminally a bonus track on the deluxe edition. It's an old-timey, 20s flapper tune, complete with scatting, that would seem impossible to modernize, but he manages it by dropping the base right before the chorus for a fist-pumping beat. It would make a great award show performance with a pop star known for her dance skills, like Britney Spears. Her incentive? Proving she's still got it. If she could pull off the 15-second, tap-dancing break towards the end, she'd get a standing ovation. In fact, why not bring out all the pop stars who've been milking throwbacks (Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars) to join them? That would bring down the house.

TV TOPIC: TV Shows That Should Get Cancelled

You know them. Those shows that have overstayed their welcome. Countless episodes are piling up on your DVR because you just can't bring yourself to sit through even just one more. And if you do get around to watching them, you're half-paying attention or daydreaming. Some of them were once good, great even, but eventually the story either got stale or went off-track.

At one point, I could binge-watch entire seasons of "The Office," but somewhere around the time of the shitty gas station proposal and the announcement of Pam and Jim's second kid, I lost interest in the series. I know it was a workplace comedy about a quirky extended family of oddballs who worked at a paper company, but I was only tuning in for one of the greatest love stories in television history. No, not Michael and Holly. Pam and Jim. Jam. I'm gonna miss my Jam. I'm even gonna miss the hilarious shenanigans of the brothers-from-separate-mothers, Jim and Dwight. But I'm happy they're going out with what dignity they have left, something "How I Met Your Mother" cannot possibly boast of. I'm not quite sure how many seasons ago they should've wrapped it up, and I am perfectly aware that the title did imply a serious amount of suspense, but I no longer have any sort of interest in Ted's romantic life. I can't even tell you that I ever did. That show was never interesting to me because of "the mystery." I just loved the gang. And watching Ted and Barney repeatedly fall for the wrong women became mind-numbingly boring. At this point I would rather watch a spinoff called "How I Slept With Half of New York and Never Got A Permanent STD" starring Barney and his stripper ex-fiance Quinn. "Burn Notice" also ran its concept into the ground. If I had to listen to Michael explain ONE. MORE. THING. I was gonna watch the show on mute. And, honestly, I completely forgot "Rules of Engagement" was about a newly engaged couple learning about marriage from a married couple. I think they actually forgot too. It became the David Spade and his British Indian sidekick show.

Thankfully, the networks are doing their annual spring cleaning this month and a ton of shows are getting the ax. I am overjoyed that "The Office" ended, "How I Met Your Mother" and "Burn Notice" have been renewed for one final season, and "Rules of Engagement" is no more. Unfortunately, a ton of duds are sticking around.

"The Mentalist" (CBS)
I love Patrick Jane. I think he's one of the best of the clever-quirky investigators on TV. But this series needs to end ASAP. I could care less about Rigsby and Van Pelt. Cho should already have a girlfriend. Lisbon and Patrick should've had a least a handful of awkward romantic moments looping on Youtube by now. And this "narrowed down" list of Red John suspects should've happened at the beginning of the season.

"Community" (NBC)
While I do think that this series has managed to showcase an impressive amount of innovative storytelling techniques on a modest budget, I think the personal struggles of the characters and their setting is getting old.

"Parenthood" (NBC)
This series is like the Barbara Walters of dramas. Never a dry eye. Even when you're at the 3/4 mark and you think you're going to make it through without needing a tissue or a sleeve, boom! something sweet or tragic or heartbreaking happens. It's a wonderful mix of true-to-life stories, but how many more do they have left? This could very well be neverending since there are several generations on the show, but after a while, it just feels like they're going through the motions.

"Glee" (FOX)
Many blogs have dedicated every Friday morning to griping about the massive plot holes and inconsistency this series has developed over the years. And I don't know if it's because its showrunner has divided his attentions amongst so many other shows ("American Horror Story" and "The New Normal") or if they never really got the tone down. Is it a comedy? Is it a drama? In which scenes is it ok to be both? I only watched half of this season because of the singing. And now I can't even bring myself to fastforward to those scenes.

"Bones" (FOX)
Oh my god, don't even get me started on how pissed I was when I realized they glazed over the declaration of love and courting scenes. They made me watch the rejection scene, but the weeks of sleeping together, dating, and general romanticism were just swept under the rug? Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for that frigid brainiac to finally admit she likes Booth. The best romantic scene in your series cannot be a mistletoe scene when your main characters weren't even together. Un-fucking-cool.

"Nashville" (ABC)
The singing is great. The premise was very original. The execution, not so much. There are one-too-many subplots and not enough personal victories. They should rename it "No One Can Ever Be Happy."

USA's "Psych," "Royal Pains," and "Necessary Roughness," FX's "Justified," HBO's "True Blood," Showtime's "Dexter," AMC's "Mad Men," and PBS's "Downton Abbey" are like hamsters in a cage, just running in circles.

TV TOPIC: Where Will the "90210" Stars Go Next?

Yes! It's finally happened. The CW cancelled "90210." Relax. I'm not some bitter bitch who wants to see a bunch of young actors on the unemployment line--or worse, in a string of poorly made horror movies. I'm just happy that Tristan Wilds (Dixon), Jessica Stroup (Silver), Michael Steger (Navid), Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna), and, most importantly, AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi) are free to spread their wings. Five years is a long time in TV land. And spending it on a poorly written series could taint you for life. These kids need to book a ton of guest star spots and show the networks what they can do before everyone completely forgets who they are. Remember Mischa Barton? Yeah, neither does anyone else.

AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi)
She could be a love interest for Cary on "The Good Wife" at his new firm, a nosy reporter on "Arrow," a city friend of Zoe on "Hart of Dixie," who goes after Wade, or a publicist who helps Selina revamp the public's perception of her on "Veep."

Tristan Wilds (Dixon)
He could play a new doctor on "Grey's Anatomy," since they're down a doc and Meredith is on maternity leave.

Jessica Stroup (Silver)
She could play a vampire who catches Damon's eye on "Vampire Diaries," a tree-hugging love interest for the dork on "Underemployed," assuming it isn't cancelled, a new Mike-like resourceful paralegal who works under Harvey on "Suits," or a con artist on "White Collar," who goes toe-to-toe with Peter and Neal.

Michael Steger (Navid)
He could play a new intern on "The Newsroom," since he does fast-talking well, be the victim of politically incorrect jokes on "Veep," or, however inappropriate it may be to say out loud, play Aladdin on "Once Upon a Time." (For the record, he's Ecuadorian, Austrian and Norwegian. Not a drop of Arab, Indian, or Persian in him.)

Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna)
She could play a singer and love interest for Drew on "Parenthood," do a guest spot on "Nashville," or peak Pete's interest on "Mad Men."

Alas, the only actor on the series who actually has a post-"90210" job lined up is Matt Lanter (Liam), who scored a midseason series on The CW called "Star Crossed."

FILM REVIEW: Tina Fey & Paul Rudd's "Admission"

Admission is a romantic dramedy about a Princeton admissions officer who is contacted by a passionate teacher, hellbent on not only getting his student into Princeton, but also reuniting him with his biological mother...her.

With Tina Fey and Paul Rudd at the helm, adorable goofiness was bound to ensue, of which they both delivered. But what I found most noteworthy was the tone, which reminded me so much of Judd Apatow's This is Forty. In the trailers of both these films, the audience is led to believe they're in for 90% comedy / 10% drama, but that's not what's delivered. This is Forty suffered from the same tone issues that Apatow's previous film Funny People did. The balance of humor and drama were so unexpectedly disproportionate for a screenwriter known for films like The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Pineapple Express that the audience left shell-shocked with emotion when they actually came for a raucous good time. Admission, however, gets it right, with a fluid balance of comedy and drama injected into each scene.  

Rudd has a knack for this particular juggling act, but after 7 years on the loopy "30 Rock" and 12 years on the unhinged "Saturday Night Live," Fey has yet to truly prove she can handle a dramatic moment. Sure there were a few in Mean Girls, Baby Mama, and Date Night, but those were definitely 90-10 dramedies. Admission is more of a 60-40 dramedy. And it turns out Fey can bring you to tears almost as easily as she can get a laugh out of you.

That said, the film is at best a rental. No need to run to theaters to see it. My advice to junior and senior high school students, especially ones who want to go to the top Ivy schools, is to definitely not watch this before you get your admission responses. Once you learn what is allegedly the process that one must endure to apply and the system the admissions officers use in order to determine your worthiness, your brain will probably melt. For everybody else, who is either already in college or glad to be done with it, you'll discover a sweet story about parenthood and the different ways it can go wrong no matter how much you try to do right. Special recognition go to Michael Sheen, who plays Fey's boring British pushover of a long-term boyfriend, and Nat Wolff, who is surprisingly captivating for a kid who once starred in a Nickelodeon series called "The Naked Brothers Band."