Holbrook to play a dying man on 'ER'
The veteran actor will be a guest star on the NBC show during the first night of sweeps.
Recent Oscar nominee Hal Holbrook is making a house call to NBC's
ER
, doing a guest appearance on the first night of sweeps.
Holbrook, coming off his Academy Award-nominated turn in
Into the Wild
, will play a cancer patient who has a strong effect on Luka (Goran Visnjic). The episode is scheduled for April 24.
"The show has had an amazing array of incredible actors who have walked through the doors over the years, and Hal Holbrook certainly continues that tradition," executive producer David Zabel says. "He is perfect for this role and we couldn't be more pleased to have him."
Holbrook will play Walter, whom Luka meets while visiting a hospice ward. Despite his terminal status, Walter faces what's left of his life with a positive outlook - and has managed to outlive all the other patients at the facility. Luka reevaluates a big decision in his life after meeting Walter.
Holbrook has won five Emmys in his career, including one for portraying Abraham Lincoln in the 1974 mini-series
Lincoln
. He was also nominated for one in 1967 for his signature role as Mark Twain in a televised version of his stage show
Mark Twain Tonight!
(for which he also won a Tony).
More tenants for 'Dollhouse.'
Tahmoh Penikett, Fran Kranz, Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj have signed on to join Eliza Dushku in Joss Whedon's Fox drama
Dollhouse
.
Fox gave
Dollhouse
a seven-episode order shortly before the writers strike based on a pitch Whedon suggested to Dushku, who had a talent deal with 20th Century Fox TV.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Duskhu will play Echo, part of a community of "dolls," young men and women who are imprinted with new identities and false memories to fulfill a variety of sensitive assignments. None of the "dolls" have any memories of their own until Echo begins investigating their pasts.
The trade says that Lachman and Gjokaj will play dolls named Sierra and Victor, respectively.
Penikett will play Paul Smith, an FBI agent investigating the Dollhouse and a potential love interest for Echo, while Kranz will play the computer programmer responsible for the imprinting process.
HBO heads Down Under for 'Summer.'
HBO is beefing up its late-night offerings, adding a pair of comedy series to its lineup this summer.
The Australian import
Summer Heights High
and the animated show
The Life and Times of Tim
are both scheduled to premiere in June and will air back-to-back on Fridays.
Summer Heights High
which has become a hit in its native country, takes a jaundiced look at life in an average high school. Series creator Chris Lilley plays all three lead roles: Mr. G, the high-strung drama teacher; Jonah, an indifferent student struggling to stay in school; and Ja'mie, a snotty private-school girl who's attending public school on a student exchange.
The Life and Times of Tim
centers on, as you might suspect, Tim, a regular guy whose best intentions invariably lead to bad consequences. Steve Dildarian created the show and also provides Tim's voice; the show also features the voices of Rick Gomez (
What About Brian
), Cheri Oteri (
Saturday Night Live
), and Nick Kroll (
Cavemen
).