‘Fresh Off the Boat’ Is Doing a ‘Melrose Place’-Themed Episode With Courtney Thorne-Smith

TV Tattle

Fresh Off the Boat is doing a Melrose Place-themed episode with Courtney Thorne-Smith

Titled Jessica’s Place, the April 5 episode will revolve around the Huang family matriarch’s obsession with the Fox primetime soap. How former Melrose Place star Thorne-Smith will figure in the storylines has yet to be revealed.


Orange Is the New Black’s Lorraine Toussaint to reprise her Law & Order role on Chicago Justice

Dick Wolf’s two TV universes are colliding: From 1990 to 2013, Toussaint played the role of defense attorney Shambala Green in seven episodes of Law & Order. Now her L&O character will be part of the Chicago Justice backdoor pilot.


The Passion down sharply from Grease Live

The “semi-live” New Orleans-set Tyler Perry musical on Jesus crucifixion was down double digits from Grease Live in January. PLUS: The Passion felt at times more like a concert than a play, it was the ultimate experiment in turning religion into entertainment, it was beautifully sung and awkwardly assembled, and there were some inescapably campy production choices.


HBO will show dying comedian’s comedy special after pleas from Ellen

Comic Quincy Jones, who’s terminally ill with Stage 4 mesothelioma cancer, had raised about $50,000 on Kickstarter to fund his standup special. Both HBO and Ellen fall under the same Time Warner umbrella.


The Wire creator David Simon had an epic Twitter chat Sunday with Edward Snowden

The two talked extensively about surveillance after Snowden joked in a tweet that The Wire is “helping the terrorists. David Simon wanted for questioning.” Their conversation was sparked by a story about how the Paris terrorists communicated.


President Obama filmed a cameo for a Cuban comedy show

The president taped his bit with Cuban comedian Panfilo prior to his arrival in Cuba on Sunday.


Bloodline returns to Netflix on May 27

Check out photos from Season 2.


Cookie Monster stars in Apple’s newest iPhone ad

Watch the Sesame Street star communicate with Siri.


Selina Meyer is “not that kind of president” in new Veep trailer

Watch a nearly two-minute preview of Season 5.


Switched at Birth’s final season will air next year

“I’m not sure exactly when,” creator Lizzy Weiss tweeted. “BUT WAIT FOR US.”


Carl Weathers joins Chicago Justice

The Rocky alum will play the state’s attorney of Cook County on the Dick Wolf backdoor pilot.


Bryan Cranston unveils his LBJ HBO movie trailer for All the Way

Here’s the most revealing look at the film based on former President Lyndon B. Johnson.


PBS to air a Joan Rivers documentary

Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing will premiere on April 1 on New York’s PBS WNET Thirteen.

The Walking Dead this week was a real head-scratcher

Last night’s episode felt like two or three different script ideas wedged together. PLUS: The Walking Dead is having the same problem The 100 is having, and this week’s casualty speaks.


Fantasy Island’s “Da Plane” is going up for auction

The 1967 Grumman Widgeon used on the iconic TV series will be on the auction block next month.


Carice van Houten announced her pregnancy with a Game of Thrones joke

The Game of Thrones star, who’s expecting her first child with Guy Pearce, tweeted: “Ok. I’m ready for your shadowbaby jokes.” PLUS: Introducing GOT chocolate eggs.