The Ausiello Files: Nov. 13, 2009

Grey’s Anatomy prepares to drop a McSteamy bombshell
WARNING: If you’re a fan of Grey’s Anatomy lovebirds Mark (Eric Dane) and Lexie (Chyler Leigh), grab a defibrillator before reading.

A Grey’s/Private Practice crossover slated to air in January will find the doctor formerly known as McSteamy spending some quality time with his currently single ex Addison (Kate Walsh). ”They’ve both really grown up since they were together, and most of the animosity that they had is gone,” says Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of both shows. ”Now they’re friends, but they may end up falling back into their old patterns while they’re together.”

But wait, there’s more (so keep those paddles handy). The reason Mark summons Addison to Seattle Grace — prompting him to visit her in L.A. in the second hour of the crossover — is that he needs her to perform surgery on a woman from his past. Actually, make that a girl (played by Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles alum Leven Rambin, who first appears on Nov. 19.) — and a pregnant one at that! Rhimes declines to reveal the character’s connection to Mark, but one of the rumors currently making the rounds is that the girl is his daughter.

”It’s a new obstacle for [Lexie and Mark],” teases Rhimes of Rambin’s role. ”I’m not sure it’s the kind of obstacle people are expecting, but it’s definitely a new one. I’m not sure they’ll stick together through it.”

Okay, you can go ahead and use those paddles now.

SCOOPLETS

House episode packs a punch
In the Nov. 23 House, Doc Crankypants (Hugh Laurie) gets his foot out of his mouth just long enough to get a fist pointed at it! Following the departure of Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), Chase (Jesse Spencer) and our, um, hero engage in a heated argument that culminates in Dr. Prettyboy decking his boss. ”Chase is very clearly off his game,” says a House insider, ”and struggling with the loss of Cameron.”

A French twist, Lost-style
Emilie de Ravin will return to Lost as Claire for its sixth and final season, but she may be hard to spot. I hear we’ll be introduced to ”a version of Claire we’ve never seen before — a Rousseau-esque version.” We’ll be in need of a Rousseau fix since the real version will be MIA. According to a Lost insider, the French Lady’s portrayer, Mira Furlan, turned down the show’s request to return for the final season due to a ”prior overseas commitment.” Anyone know how you say ”big bag-o-nuts” en fran¸ais?

NCIS tracks down Tony’s father
If nothing else, NCIS‘ upcoming 150th episode will be remembered for one thing: introducing us to Tony’s dad! Veteran actor Robert Wagner — yes, the former Jonathan Hart himself — has been cast as the dad of Michael Weatherly’s TV sleuth. Father and son will reunite in NCIS‘ milestone episode, slated to air in January.

Mentalist takes a deadly turn
A significant character will get killed off on CBS’ The Mentalist on Nov. 19 in an episode that marks the return of Patrick Jane’s (Simon Baker, above) serial-murdering archnemesis, Red John.

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