Secret Circle replaces Awakening

Todd Jepperson


It wasn’t long ago that we told you about the undeath on the horizon for the CW network. We promised to keep you posted, and here it comes . . .

(secret circle cast photo)

Apparently, the powers that be optioned the series ‘Secret Circle,’ which is based on books of the same name written by author L.J. Smith, instead of the teen Zombie drama ‘Awakening’. Not that we were all especially excited about the project, but it’s still a shame to see our favorite monsters passed up by a crew of hormones on broomsticks. That’s it. Project cancelled. We can all go home now and watch re-runs of The Walking Dead while we wait for other networks to catch the scent of fresh meat and give chase.

The Awakening Sisters Cast

Todd Jepperson

I told you we’d be back with updates. So far, it’s really nothing but names and pictures, but there have been three casting announcements for the pilot of the upcoming CW show, The Awakening. We all know how these things change during production, but here’s what we’ve got today:

The UK’s own Lucy Griffiths has been cast as powerful attorney, sister number 1, Jenna Lestrade. If you watch much TV, you might recognize her as Maid Marian from BBC’s Robin Hood. She also plays a role in the upcoming UK horror film, Billboard, which is set for an April, 2011 release.

From Lights Out, Royal Pains, and As the World Turns, we have Meredith Hagner cast as sister number 2—so far there’s no name that I could come up with, but it looks like this will be the supporting role.

Ladies, we didn’t forget about you. There has also been a strong male role cast, although as for what part he may be playing in the pilot, we haven’t found any details. Anyway, Brian Hallisay has a Hollywood rap sheet about a mile long. He’s in the upcoming horror flick Hostel: part 3 and has had his hand in major television shows such as CSI: NY, Without a Trace, Bones, Eastwick, and Medium. (and ain’t he purdy?)

We’re doing everything we can to keep on top of these things. Sometimes our best leads are you—our readers. If you have information we don’t; or if you’re just dying to know more about this and other news we post, let us know. You can contact us by email or by leaving your comments here, on Facebook, or Twitter. Let’s hope this turns out to be as good as it has the potential to. Until next time . . .

Zombie TV: The Dead About to Rise

Todd Jepperson



Kids, get your living room furniture arranged and Homer Simpson style ass groves all warmed up for fall. And who doesn't enjoy some quality undead television?  I am obviously excited as we’ve got three big shows coming our way. By big, I mean I have no idea what the shows will be like. Everything is really preliminary at this point and we’ll just have to see how things turn out.

First up, we have something called Awakening coming to us from teen network sensation The CW (90210, Gossip Girl). Details, as of now, are few and far between; but, it seems like the show will coat-tail two sisters’ broiling hostilities during the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse. I’d expect this show to be quite a draw for the ladies, and fellas, we’ll let you know who they cast as the two strong female leads.

Next, we have a project which was picked up recently by NBC titled Zombies vs Vampires which sets two cops in a world filled with animate cadavers; the catch? One of the cops is secretly a Vampire. The cops are assigned to a specific division of law enforcement whose task is to deal specifically with Zombie crime. Created by McG, the dude who brings us Supernatural (my favorite TV show of all time… if you throw away everything after season 1), this actually shows some potential. The thing that worries me; however, is that it’s a CW production. Expect heavy censorship and a timid approach to the Undead on mainstream network television.

Last, but certainly not least, there are very few details about a Sony Pictures Television show called Department Zero; a spinoff of Jonathan Maberry’s novel Patient Zero, which will chronicle the activities of the Department of Military Sciences. I assume this will contain Zombies; but, not have them as the central theme. Expect CSI meets the Walking Dead meets Sleeper Cell. All I know, from all my digging, is that the script was on the desk of ABC execs, and they passed on it to do another remake of Charlie’s Angels . . . Yeah, really. Anyway, I think we have some pretty reliable people who are eager to break the news to us as soon as there is any news to break; so we’ll let you know as soon as we can.

Let’s hope these shows are half as good as they could be. The CW has had some on and off luck, with me, in the past, and NBC gave us The Office. So all hope is not gone. If and when these shows hit the airwaves we’ll keep you in the know.