Got a scoop request? An anonymous tip you’re dying to share? Send any/all of the above to askausiello@tvline.com

Question: Do you have any Once Upon a Time spoilers? —Jackie

Ausiello: I have not just “any” spoilers, but a bit of a sneak peek at Season 6! For the final two episodes of the about-to-premiere Season 5B, the ABC series is looking to cast the recurring roles of two brothers — one who is physically imposing, brutish, morally corrupt and willing to destroy his family in the pursuit of power, and the other who is weaker and desperate to escape his older bro’s sinister shadow. Should Once get picked up for the fall, these two newcomers would spill over into next season, as well. Cain and Abel? An anthropomorphized Scar and Mufasa? Share your theories in the Comments!

Question: House of Cards drops in about 24 hours — what have you seen and what can you share?! —Mark

Ausiello: I’ve seen the first six episodes. And I can share that in Episode [redacted], something happens involving [redacted] and [redacted] that made me choke on my Diet Half ‘n Half Snapple and violently s–t my [redacted]. Also, if the final seven episodes are as strong as the first six, Season 4 is going to give Season 2 a run for its money as the series’ strongest yet.

Question: I am dying for some scoop on Deacon and Rayna’s wedding! Since we’ve already been spoiled that it’s happening when Nashville FINALLY returns on 3/16, can you give us any details? — JC

Ausiello: You mean in addition to this list of spoilerish goods, JC? Wow. You really are insatiable. How about this: The last scene of the episode sets up an intriguing arc I definitely did not see coming.

Question: Got any Miranda Shaw-specific Quantico scoop? —Dionne

Ausiello: The midseason premiere, though heavily focused on Alex’s testimony about the bombings, spends considerable time on Miranda, Charlie and the lingering mystery of his disappearance — and someone surprising makes headway on that case.

Question: Any chance of Megan Fox sticking around on New Girl? I’m enjoying the show a lot since she’s appeared. Winston has even had storylines that involved other characters! —Jennifer

Ausiello: I hear there’s a very good chance Reagan will RSVP yes to Schmidt and Cece’s wedding, which would mean she’ll be back for the season finale. (BTW, I too am loving the new energy Fox is bringing to the show, and will be sad to see her depart in next week’s 100th episode.)

Question: Got any scoop on Blindspot? —Michelle

Ausiello: As you might suspect, John Hodgman’s appearance as Chief Inspector Jonas Fischer in Monday’s episode wasn’t a one-and-done deal. Although series creator Martin Gero assures us that Agent Patterson is “professionally secure” for the time being, Fischer will be back very soon — in Episode 13, to be exact — with his eye on unseating Assistant Director Mayfair. “He’s not done with Mayfair yet,” Gero teases. “Mayfair and her past are something that we’re taking a look at all season. They all have so many secrets, and Jonas is just looking for any sort of wedge to get in there.”

Question: Will you throw us any teeny-tiny Bates Motel bone, please? —Sara

Ausiello: Monday’s Season 4 premiere is an unpredictable, twisted delight featuring several great Norman-Norma moments, one of which is depicted exclusively below. Executive producer Kerry Ehrin likens the mother-son relationship this season to “a marriage that is having problems,” adding, “but it’s still a marriage. They remain so incredibly connected and they will always try to hang on to that.” BTW, what happens shortly after the grooming scene below also made me choke on my Diet Half ‘n Half Snapple, although I did not violently s–t my [redacted].

Question: Looking to get some good scoopage on Gotham. —Brock

Ausiello: If you’ve been waiting for Chris Chalk’s Lucius Fox to do anything more than offer the occasional consult, those days are coming. “Toward the end of the season, Lucius and Bruce will go on a journey together — with or without Alfred,” David Mazouz told TVLine at the series’ winter premiere party. Explaining the “immensely different” dynamic between the future Batman and the two mentors in his life, Mazouz said, “Alfred, Bruce is kind of stuck with. And Alfred is a protector of Bruce. Whereas Lucius really encourages the investigation [into Wayne Enterprises’ wrongdoing]. He cares about Bruce’s safety, but he’s not so overwhelmed with safeguarding him.”

Question: I never thought I’d say this, but I’m kind of digging the thought of Meredith and Alex becoming a thing on Grey’s Anatomy. –Sofia

Ausiello: There seems to be a lot of that going around. Nearly 40 percent of Grey’s fans are in favor of an Meredith/Alex pairing, according to the results of recent TVLine poll (which boasts a 0% margin of error). I was expecting that figure to be much lower, considering how much flak I get every time I even utter the word “Merlex.”

Question: With spring about to be sprung, any word from the folks at CBS about a possible premiere date for Season 5 of Person of Interest. —Deb

Ausiello: I just checked and there’s still no news, which makes me think we’re looking at a late-May launch for the show’s (likely) final season.

Question: Any Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. scoop? —Maddie

Ausiello: Tuesday’s midseason premiere opens with an out-of-this-world flash-forward that à la Arrow‘s grave mystery, for example, will leave you wondering what the frak happened to who and why.

Question: Any hints about what Lincoln will be doing when Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns? —Susan

Ausiello: The onetime Afterlife resident will drop some knowledge about the seemingly random assigning of which Inhumans get blessed with which powers.

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Question: Will Robert Wagner return for Tony’s last episodes of NCIS? –Christopoher

Ausiello: Well, DiNozzo Sr. is for certain returning during Michael Weatherly’s farewell run, appearing in Episode 19 (which is tentatively set to air March 22).

Question: I’m a huge fan of The 100, especially “Linctavia,” so I’m really worried about Ricky Whittle being cast on American Gods. Is he leaving The 100? —Charlotte

Ausiello: We share in your fears, Charlotte, so we took them to showrunner Jason Rothenberg: “I don’t want to say too much about what Lincoln has coming up, but I will say this wouldn’t be the first time Ricky’s been on two shows,” he tells us, alluding to the in-demand actor’s stint on ABC’s Mistresses. But if the end is near for Octavia’s main squeeze — and we all know this show isn’t afraid to kill off major, even beloved, characters — Whittle certainly won’t exit on bad terms. “Ricky’s done a fantastic job on the show,” Rothenberg adds. “We’re so happy we’ve gotten to work with him for as long as we have, and I think he’ll be fantastic [on American Gods].” Take that as you will.

Question: Can I have some The Big Bang Theory scoop, please? —Aleksandra

Ausiello: Sheldon and Amy’s sex life has cooled off considerably since they’re inaugural love-making session in December. “Sheldon made it pretty clear that this would be an annual event on her birthday,” explains showrunner Steve Molaro. “I don’t know what the future holds, but so far, he’s been sticking to that.” BONUS SCOOP: Howard and Bernadette’s baby-making mojo will not rub off on Leonard and Penny, confirms Molaro, who says the newlyweds are in “no rush” to start a family. Coincidentally, Molaro is in no rush for them to start a family either. “Realistically, if Penny and Leonard had a baby,” he says, “that baby would start to alter the DNA of the show a lot more dramatically than Howard and Bernadette’s.”

Question: Maybe I’m in the minority, but I’m still rooting for Simon and Clary to get together on Shadowhunters. Any hope for that? –Alice

Ausiello: I wouldn’t hold my breath, Alice — especially now that Simon is a member of the undead community. “You’ll definitely see resentment,” Alberto Rosende says of Simon’s post-vamp feelings toward Clary. “Not only was Simon dragged into this world by her, but when he tried to call for help, no one was there for him. He can’t even fathom that Clary, his best friend, could do this to him… But at the same time, he can’t say he wouldn’t have done the same thing for Clary. There’s a constant conflict where he’s angry with her, but he can’t be angry at her. He’s so upset with her, but he can’t really say it was the wrong decision.”

Question: Burning Castle Q: Any idea on when Castle and Beckett will finally investigate LokSat together? —Joe M

Ausiello: Things appear to heat up on that front in Episode 19, when the marrieds’ attempt to make someone flip on the elusive crime lord leads to… a vanishing. BONUS SCOOP: Following up on Courtney Ford’s recent tweet, I can confirm that the True Blood alum is guest-starring in Monday’s L.A.-based episode as… an actress named Courtney.

This AAnd That…

♦ These next 13 words are going to hurt me more than they’ll hurt you: I don’t have any new Gilmore Girls scoop to share at the moment.

♦ A new couple will emerge on The Walking Dead in the very near future.

♦ The X-Files finale was a nonsensical pile of trash, but I loved the six-episode revival more than I loathed it. And I think with a few key tweaks (many of which Kim Roots outlined here) it can return to greatness. I guess what I’m trying to say is (these next five words are going to hurt you more than they’ll hurt me) the quality is out there.



That’s a wrap! Please send questions, comments and anonymous tips to askausiello@tvline.com. (Additional reporting by Kim Roots, Andy Swift, Vlada Gelman and Rebecca Iannucci)