Gear Live Television News: Articles Tagged Andy Whitfield

First Look at Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Drama, Prime Time, Cable, Video,

Although Starz has not yet named the actor who will become their next Spartacus, the network is ready to unveil their newest gladiator series.

When lead Andy Whitfield first announced that he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Starz execs made the decision to develop a Spartacus: Blood and Sand prequel while the actor received treatment. (Whitfield -- who was expected to return for Season 2 -- has since dropped out of the program altogether due to a recurrence of his cancer.)

Although it is unclear when Blood and Sand will return for Season 2, it appears Spartacus: Gods of the Arena -- featuring John Hannah (Batiatus) and Lucy Lawless (Lucretia) -- will have enough stadium and bedroom action to keep you occupied until then.

Gods of the Arena debuts on January 21.

Read More | Futon Critic

TV Talk: Captains Return to Deadliest Catch, Starz Recasts Spartacus

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Comedy, Kids, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Cable, NBC, Saturday Night Live, Gossip, News, Renewals,

-After threatening to leave the program, Capts. Sig Hansen and Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand have agreed to return to Deadliest Catch. Filming on Season 7 of the Discovery Channel series will begin this week.

-A number of comediennes will return to NBC for a two-hour special airing November 1. Familiar faces on The Women of SNL will include Laraine Newman, Nora Dunn, Cheri Oteri, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and, of course, Tina Fey.

-Starz has decided to renew Spartacus with a new actor in the lead role. Andy Whitfield had hoped to continue with the series, but was forced to drop out after his non-Hodgkin lymphoma returned.

-An HIV-positive muppet will be included in the Nigerian version of Sesame Street. The female character named Kami will help the show address important regional issues including AIDS, malaria and gender inequality.

TV on DVD: September 21, 2010

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, ABC, BBC, Cable, CBS, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, The Hills, DVD,

Here are some of the TV on DVD options available this Tuesday:

• 30 Rock (Season 4)
• Being Human (Season 2)
• Bored to Death (Season 1)
• Castle (Season 2)
• Community (Season 1)
• Desperate Housewives (Season 6)
• Dragon Ball GT (Complete Series)
• The Hills (Season 6)
• How I Met Your Mother (Season 5)
• Human Target (Season 1)
• Law & Order: SVU (Season 11)
• The Mentalist (Season 2)
• Modern Family (Season 1)
• Mythbusters (Collection 6)
• Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Season 1)
• Two and a Half Men (Season 7)

Make sure to also check out the DVD and Blu-ray film options for this week.

Read More | Amazon

Andy Whitfield Leaves Spartacus After Cancer Return

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Prime Time, Cable, News,

UPDATE: Starz has decided to recast the lead role.

Andy Whitfield’s long-anticipated return to Spartacus: Blood and Sand has been canceled altogether.

The actor, who was diagnosed back in March with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, had already been training for Season 2 of the Starz series. Although he was given a clean bill of health back in June, a recurrence of cancer will now require “aggressive treatment.”

“It’s with a deep sense of disappointment that I must step aside from such an exceptional project as Spartacus‚ and all the wonderful people involved,” Whitfield, who played the title character, said in a statement. “It seems that it is time for myself and my family to embark on another extraordinary journey. Thank you sincerely for the support so far.”

Click to continue reading Andy Whitfield Leaves Spartacus After Cancer Return

Read More | TV by the Numbers

TV Talk: Pawn Stars Cashes In, Maura Tierney Returns to TV

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Cable, HBO, News, Ratings,

-People love sifting through old crap. Monday’s episodes of American Pickers and Pawn Stars broke audience records for the History Channel. Pawn‘s 5.9 million viewers was the network’s largest ever.

-Meanwhile, True Blood sucked up more viewers for its third season premiere. Sunday’s debut attracted 5.1 million viewers, up 38% from Season 2’s open. (That doesn’t count the additional 1.3 million who watched the 11:00 replay.)

-A cancer-free Andy Whitfield will begin preparations for Spartacus’ second season. Production on the show had been put on hold when Andy was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

-Former ER star Maura Tierney is scheduled to star in ABC’s The Whole Truth. She was originally supposed to be part of NBC’s Parenthood, but had to drop out due to breast cancer treatments.