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Exclusive: Samantha Mathis and Norm Lewis and are set as series regulars opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

Created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and to be directed by Richard Shepard, Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist. In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy (Passmore) is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

Mathis will play Dr. Sylvia Matthews, the team’s forensic psychologist.

Exclusive: Abhi Sinha is set as a series regular opposite Matt Passmore and Floriana Lima in Blank Slate, NBC’s drama pilot from Dean Georgaris, John Fox, Davis Entertainment and Universal Television.

Created by Georgaris and Fox, written by Georgaris and to be directed by Richard Shepard, Blank Slate draws some parallels to Davis Entertainment’s long-running NBC series The Blacklist. In Blank Slate, Special Agent Alexander McCoy (Passmore) is a legend in law enforcement, the agent we all hope is out there, the agent we’d all like to be. The only issue is — he doesn’t actually exist. He’s a ghost, a phantom. So what happens when a man claiming to be Alexander McCoy walks through the door with all of his skills and knowledge but with an agenda nobody will see coming?

Sinha will play Cornelius Kepler, the tech specialist on Maya’s Homeland Security team...

1970: Dark Shadows' Quentin and Maggie had matching pitchforks on their hands.

1980: Edge of Night's Mrs. Henson testified at Draper's trial.

1995: Atwt's Eduardo died.

2006: Gh's Courtney found out Nikolas was the father of her baby (Spencer Cassadine)."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: CBS began broadcasting As the World Turns in color, shifting from the black-and-white telecasts of the show's first 11 years.

1970: On Dark Shadows, Quentin (David Selby) and Maggie (Kathryn Leigh Scott) noticed they both had pitchfork marks on their hands.

1970: Dark Shadows' Quentin and Maggie had matching pitchforks

on their hands. 1980: Edge of Night's Mrs. Henson testified at

Draper's trial. 1995: Atwt's Eduardo died. 2006: Gh's Courtney

found out Nikolas was the father of her baby (Spencer Cassadine)."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."

― Machiavelli

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1967: CBS began broadcasting As the World Turns in color,...

Recently, CBS served up the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "NCIS: Los Angeles" episode 11 of season 7. The episode is entitled, "Angels & Daemons," and it turns out that we're going to see some pretty interesting stuff go down as the homicide of a tech mogul, prompts the NCIS: L.A. team to launch a serious investigation, and more. In the new, 11th episode press release: The Team Investigates The Murder Of A Tech Entrepreneur Turned Venture Capitalist Who Secretly Developed A Computer Program That Allows For Undetectable Data Collection, On "NCIS: Los Angeles," Monday, Jan. 18. Press release number 2: The team will end up investigating the murder of tech entrepreneur turned venture capitalist who secretly developed a daemon, which is a background computer program that allows for undetectable data collection. Guest stars feature: Kaj-Erik Eriksen (Mark Powell), Galadriel Stineman (Jessica Moore), Abhi Sinha (Austin Chopra), Dove Meir (Vincent Lee...

Abhi Sinha has been cast in the role of Harry Whitmark in “The Conjuring 2,” TheWrap has learned. In the sequel to 2013’s “The Conjuring,” starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, Sinha’s character will assist Maurice (Simon McBurney) and Anita (Franka Potente), two paranormal investigators who work alongside the Warren’s, in their research. Sinha is best known for his roles as Vikram in 2010’s “The Social Network” and Daniels in “Blackhat” alongside Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis. He also starred on TV series like “Rizzoli & Isles,” “Greek,” “Bones” and “Scorpion.” Also Read: Warner Bros. Sued by 'The Conjuring' Homeowners Over Scary Fan.

Recently, CBS released the new, official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Scorpion" episode 6 of season 2. The episode is entitled, "Tech, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll," and it turns out that we're going to see extremely dramatic and high intense stuff go down as a major fire traps lots of people inside a building after a virus gets uploaded to Walter's computer, and more! In the new, 6th episode press release: When A Nefarious Virus Is Uploaded To Walter's Computer, Team Scorpion'S New "Smart" Building Project Turns Into A Burning Death Trap With People Locked Inside, On A Special 90-minute Episode Of "Scorpion," Monday, Oct. 26. Press release number 2: Walter's attempt to "normalize" will go horribly wrong when a nefarious virus is uploaded to his computer, turning Team Scorpion's new "smart" building project into a burning death trap with people locked inside, on a special 90-minute episode of Scorpion.

Network: ABC Family

Episodes: 34 (hour)

Seasons: Two

TV show dates: June 10, 2014 -- September 28, 2015

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Italia Ricci, Mary Page Keller, Richard Brancatisano, Haley Ramm, Aisha Dee, Abhi Sinha, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Scott Michael Foster, and Steven Weber.

TV show description:

This dramatic series follows a twenty-something aspiring journalist whose world is turned upside down when she learns that she has cancer.

Smart, charismatic and quick-witted, April Carver (Italia Ricci) seems poised to have it all. She's landed a job at a major Boston newspaper and a date with her super-sexy co-worker -- all while managing to be a supportive daughter, grand-daughter and sister to her family (who lost their patriarch to a tragic accident two years earlier).

Read More…...

ABC Family had high hopes for Ravenswood but it was cancelled after one season due to low ratings. Twisted is very likely to be cancelled as well. How will Chasing Life fare? Will it be dropped as well -- or renewed for a second season? Stay tuned.

Chasing Life revolves around a young newspaper reporter (Italia Ricci) whose big plans get thrown in disarray when she's diagnosed with cancer. The show's cast also includes Mary Page Keller, Richard Brancatisano, Haley Ramm, Aisha Dee, Abhi Sinha, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Scott Michael Foster, and Steven Weber.

Below are the show's TV ratings, typically the best way to tell if the series will be cancelled or renewed. These figures will be updated as the weeks progress: (more…)...

ABC Family has greenlighted Chasing Life, formerly known as Terminales, to series. With the pickup, the cable network has gone 3-for-3 with its drama pilots, with the murder mystery Twisted (formerly Socio) and The Fosters launching in the summer. The 10-episode series will debut in early 2014. Production will begin in July in Santa Clarita, Calif. Based on the Mexican format by Miguel Angel Fox, the series centers on a young woman's life after she is diagnosed with a terminal illness. Italia Ricci, soap veteran Mary Page Keller, Aisha Dee, Richard Brancatisano, Haley Ramm and Abhi Sinha

read more...

  Caliber Media Co., the management-production outfit run by Jack Heller and Dallas Sonnier, is in expansion mode, with Laura Gibson and Jennifer Au joining the fold as managers, Caliber has told TheWrap. Gibson previously served as a talent agent at ICM. Her clients include actors like Luke Arnold ("Black Sails"), Shelby Young ("American Horror Story") and "Terminales" star Abhi Sinha (pictured). Au, who spent the last four years at Untitled Entertainment, represents John Todd and Brusta Brown ("Natural 20"), Megan Griffiths ("Eden") and Jim Beggarly ("Free Samples"), among others. Gibson and Au join current Caliber managers Adam Marshall, Jared Schwartz,...

It looks like Sarah Shahi is trading attorneys for firefighters.

According to TV Guide, the "Fairly Legal" actress has booked a multi-episode arc on NBC's "Chicago Fire" as Renee, a new love interest for Taylor Kinney's character.

There's no word on when her first episode will air, but rumor has it Shahi will be popping up on the series before the end of the year.

In addition to "Fairly Legal," Shahi has also appeared on "The L Word," "Life," "Psych" and more.

In other casting news...

Serinda Swan has joined the "Graceland" cast. The "Breakout Kings" alumna has joined the USA drama as an undercover DEA agent named Paige. [EW]

Abhi Sinha is headed to "Terminales." The "Social Network" actor had landed the lead role in the ABC Family pilot as a Harvard grad named Danny who constantly competes with his friend April, played by Italia Ricci. [THR]

Monique Gabriela Curnen is "Mentalist"-bound.

It looks like Sarah Shahi is trading attorneys for firefighters.

According to TV Guide, the "Fairly Legal" actress has booked a multi-episode arc on NBC's "Chicago Fire" as Renee, a new love interest for Taylor Kinney's character.

There's no word on when her first episode will air, but rumor has it Shahi will be popping up on the series before the end of the year.

In addition to "Fairly Legal," Shahi has also appeared on "The L Word," "Life," "Psych" and more.

In other casting news...

Serinda Swan has joined the "Graceland" cast. The "Breakout Kings" alumna has joined the USA drama as an undercover DEA agent named Paige. [EW]

Abhi Sinha is headed to "Terminales." The "Social Network" actor had landed the lead role in the ABC Family pilot as a Harvard grad named Danny who constantly competes with his friend April, played by Italia Ricci. [THR]

Monique Gabriela Curnen is "Mentalist"-bound.

Sasha Grey's performance in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience isn't anything spectacular, but for her first go-around in a film not in the adult entertainment industry, it's quite impressive. Apparently director Mark Pellington thought so too because Grey has been cast in his next film, the low-budget drama I Melt With You.

The script, penned by Pellington and Glen Porter, focuses on three college buddies played by Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven. They get together every year for a summer reunion, but this year is different. This year the guys are feeling a little empty inside. According to THR, that's when they decide to "resurrect a pact they vowed to live, die and kill by." Grey comes in as Raven, "a free spirit who helps one of the men realize that nirvana can only be achieved by death." Huge's Zander Eckhouse also joined the cast...

It's a bit of a rarity that an adult film actress would successfully start to make herself legit in the some what cleaner mainstream movie world. Luckily that's the case for Sasha Grey. She's made that rough transition into the mainstream, starring last year in Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience". Now she could be continuing her streak with a role in the Mark Pellington drama "I Melt With You"."Melt With You", written by newcomer Glenn Porter, revolves around three college friends who meet up at their summer reunion. The three of them then resurrect a pact that they promised to live, die and kill by. Grey will be taking on the role of the free-spirited girl named Raven who convinces the men that they'll only be happy through death.Principal photography commences next month in Northern California. However, Grey isn't the only new addition to the cast of...

We seem to be hearing more and more on adult film star Sasha Grey’s efforts to move into the mainstream – first it was her role in Steven Sodebergh’s The Girlfriend Experience, then the Herschell Gordon Lewis tribute Smash Cut, and more recently her appearance in season seven of Entourage and her role as a bible-bashing virgin in Richard Sullivan’s horror flick Hallows. Now comes news of the actress joining another mainstream drama…

THR are reporting that Grey is in negotiations to join the cast of I Melt With You, a low-budget movie being directed by Mark Pellington (Cold Case, Henry Poole Is Here). Grey, along with Zander Eckhouse, Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel, are joining the already cast Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven in the drama, which Pellington wrote with Glen Porter.

The character drama follows a group of college buddies played by Jane, Lowe and Piven,...

Sasha Grey is most prominently known for her roles in various adult films, but after headlining Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience, it seems she’s caught the Hollywood acting bug, as she’s currently in advanced talks to star in I Melt With You, an indie drama ready to role with Mark Pellington at the helm.

If she secures the role, Grey will play “a character named Raven, described as a free spirit who helps one of the men realize that nirvana can only be achieved by death.” She will star alongside Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe, Zander Eckhouse, Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel and Jeremy Piven.

Synopsis: I Melt With You centres on a group of college buddies (Jane, Lowe and Piven) who, now as adults, look within themselves and find emptiness when they have their annual summer reunion. They resurrect a pact they vowed to live, die and kill by.

Porn star Sasha Grey, who starred in Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience," is in talks to board Mark Pellington's drama "I Melt With You," which also stars Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven.

The Hollywood Reporter says Zander Eckhouse, Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel are also joining the project. Story follows a trio of former college buddies who reunite and realize theire lives kind of suck.

As a result, they decide to ressurect a pact they made years earlier. Grey will apparently play a chick trying to convince one of the friends that death is the ultimate solution. Eckhouse plays her boyfriend.

Adult film star Sasha Grey has reportedly opened talks to join indie I Melt With You. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Grey could join a cast that includes Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane and Rob Lowe. The low-budget movie is directed by Mark Pellington and also features actors Zander Eckhouse, Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel. Melt is detailed as a (more)...

The porn star who launched a thousand (Ok, so a few dozen) debates about her dramatic acting capabilities is coming back for more: Sasha Grey is in talks for the dark thriller I Melt With You, in which she'd play "a free spirit who helps one of the men realize that nirvana can only be achieved by death." And all this time I thought nirvana was a prolonged 10-guy gangbang. I guess this is close enough; Rob Lowe, Jeremy Piven, Thomas Jane, Zander Eckhouse and Abhi Sinha are aboard as well. Sacramento, represent! [THR]...

According to The Hollywood Reporter , adult star Sasha Grey, who impressed many with her mainstream feature debut in Steven Soderbergh's The Girlfriend Experience last year, is up for a role in Mark Pellington's indie drama I Melt with You . The film follows three college buddies, played by Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven, who look back on the emptiness of their lives during a summer reunion. Grey will play Raven, a free spirit who helps one of the guys realize "that nirvana can only be achieved by death." Also joining the cast at this time are Zander Eckhouse (as Raven's writer boyfriend), Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel. The movie begins shooting in Northern California next month.

I'm not sure if there have been cross overs from porn to mainstream cinema, but it appears that for one actress in particular, working in both worlds might be a valid option. Catherine Breillat had Rocco, and now, both Steven Soderbergh and Mark Pellington will have employed the services of Sasha Gray, the adult film star with some gnarly film titles in her filmography. So the The Girlfriend Experience will not have been a "token" experience after all. THR reports that Gray, along with Zander Eckhouse, Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel (The Uninvited), will act alongside Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe, Jeremy Piven (and Christian McKay according to The Playlist) in a pic I liken to Mike Figgis' experimental work. Last week, The Playlist gave a fairly hands on explanation of what the director of Arlington Road and Henry Poole Is Here will attempt to do with the project. I Melt With You...

Sasha Grey, the adult-film star who toplined Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience," is in negotiations to join the cast of "I Melt With You," the low-budget drama being directed by Mark Pellington.

Grey, along with Zander Eckhouse, Abhi Sinha and Arielle Kebbel, are joining Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe and Jeremy Piven in the drama, which Pellington wrote with Glen Porter.

The character drama follows a group of college buddies (Jane, Lowe and Piven) who, now as adults, look within themselves and find emptiness when they have their annual summer reunion. They resurrect a pact they vowed to live, die and kill by.

Grey will play a character named Raven, described as a free spirit who helps one of the men realize that nirvana can only be achieved by death.

Eckhouse plays Grey's idealistic writer boyfriend. Sinha is a medical student, and Kebbel is a young hostess.

The movie shoots in Northern California next month.