Lie to Me
News (Page 2)

Look out, Tim Roth. Lennie James is coming for you!

The actor, most recently seen as Robert Hawkins on Jericho, has landed the role of Ray Marsh on Lie to Me. He'll serve as a nemesis to Roth's Cal Lightman.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Marsh will debut in the second season’s fifth episode. He's a charming Brit that formerly ran scams with Lightman back in the day; now he's atop the FBI and Scotland Yard watch lists.

After a two decade-long estrangement, Ray - who once went to prison in order to take the fall for Lightman - returns to collect what he's owed. Cue suspenseful music!

Marc Blucas will guest star on an episode of Lie to Me this fall.

The actor - who has appeared on House and is best known as Buffy's boyfriend on Buffy the Vampire Slayer - has been cast on the fifth installment of the show's second season.

He'll portray Jack Rader, a deception expert who was once Lightman's protege... until an unexplained issue caused a rift in their relationship.

"With Lightman on vacation, Rader is called in to assist on a case... he might just have an eye on [Lightman's colleague] Foster, and he might just try to poach some of Lightman's staff," said a network represenative.

Maureen Ryan of The Chicago Tribune went on the Lie to Me set last week and spoke with new showrunner Shawn Ryan.

Said the creator of The Shield of his plans for season two:

"Within each standalone episode, we want to really delve into the emotional lives of these characters. Last year, a lot of episodes started with 'What’s the cool science?' and worked the episodes around that. This year, I think the approach is, 'What is the great character story we can tell in this episode - the mystery - and we will figure out the science at the end.'"

Viewers can also look forward to these second season developments:

• Garret Dillahunt guest stars in the second episode;
• Fans will learn more about Lightman's past, about what he was like "before he became a respectable scientist," Ryan said.
• The Foster/Lightman relationship will be explored further. Ryan said: There’s a very kind of sweet, non-sexual yet love affair I think going on between the two of them that’s very deep and meaningful, and we want to pursue that more."
• Foster will be be trying to pursue the adoption process she started with her ex-husband.

Shawn Ryan created The Shield, the grittiest, most exhilarating, flat out best show in the history of television.

We aren't exaggerating.

Now that he's taken over head writing duties on Lie to Me, it's not surprising that he plans to rev up the action a bit on this Tim Roth-led drama.

"I want to push it a little bit more in a character direction, add a little bit of more adrenaline," Ryan said this week, noting won't turn Dr. Lightman into Vic Mackey or Jack Bauer exactly. "I just want to get to know these characters better...

The show is ultimately based on a group of scientists. But the fact is they are people who are diving into the middle of charged cases. They are going to be in emotionally and physically harrowing situations at times. And I think the pace of the show will just get some juice."

A couple of quick casting tidbits from the week:

• On September season premiere of Lie to Me, look for Michael Raymond James to guest star in an unannounced role. The actor appeared on the first season of True Blood as the serial killer Rene. He's also shown up on Boston Legal and Cold Case, among other shows.
• Comedian Louis C.K. (pictured) has signed on for a multi-episode Parks and Recreation arc. He'll play a Pawnee police officer and potential love interest for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler).

How would Seeley Booth and Cal Lightman get along? We may soon find out.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, Fox is considering a crossover episode next season that would feature Bones' Booth and Brennan working on a case with Tim Roth’s Lie to Me specialist.

Nothing is finalized yet, as a network insider said the plan is in its very early stages and “may not even happen."

Possible Bones spoilers alert: Brennan may tangle with Lightman in the fall.

This past spring, of course, ABC attempted a multiple-week crossover with mixed results. Some loved seeing the Private Practice crew invade Seattle Grace, while others felt like it was a cheap trick to force Grey's Anatomy viewers into watching another show.

Do you think Fox should give it a try with these two shows?

Erika Christensen will guest star on the second season of Lie to Me.

As first reported by Entertainment Weekly, the actress will portray a law student suffering from multiple personality disorder in the season premiere of the show.

Her character, Tricia, comes to Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) for assistance when she has a psychic vision of a killing.

As previously reported, Mekhi Phifer will be a series regular next season on Lie to Me.

He'll be joined by Jennifer Beals, who won't be a full-time cast member, but will often recur as Cal Lightman's ex-wife.

Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly reports that some new blood is coming to the Fox show: viewers will meet Lightman's longtime rival, an expert in the same field. The role has not yet been cast.

Before we get to the great news, here's the very good news for Lie to Me fans:

The show has been picked up for a second season. Michael Ausiello confirms that Fox has ordered 13 episodes of the drama for its fall schedule.

Now, for the amazing news, also courtesy of Ausiello and Entertainment Weekly:

Shawn Ryan, the creator of our favorite show in TV history, The Shield will be taking over as showrunner! Ryan is also a producer/writer on The Unit.

Starting next season, Tom Roth and the Lie to Me cast will have their lines written by an utter genius in the world of television.

A dedicated Lie to Me viewer posed a question to TV Guide this week:

When, if ever, will fans find out what happened between Dr. Cal Lightman and his ex-wife? What about the state of Dr. Foster's marriage?

In response, who better to turn to than star Tim Roth? He replied that we'll need to keep an eye on event that take place during the season's penultimate episode, airing May 6.

During that installment, the team tries to stop a serial rapist and "it kind of builds into some very strange areas," Roth said. "You're going to find out about Foster. You're going to find more about me and Jennifer, and my daughter."

Mekhi Phifer also makes his series debut on that episode.