Casting News: Melrose nabs Step Up girl, GG gets Gina
Lucky, lucky girl. First Jenna Dewan snags drool-worthy Channing Tatum (appearing in the recently-released summer blockbuster G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) for a walk down the aisle (the Step Up costars got hitched last month and honeymooned in Bali -- according to US Weekly, tattoos and all) and now the dancer-turned-actress has landed a multi-episode spot on Melrose Place, according to EW’s Michael Ausiello.
E! Online’s WWK crew got confirmation from executive producer Todd Slavkin that Dewan will appear in at least two episodes as Kendra Wilson, a young Paramount movie exec who has set her sites on aspiring filmmaker Jonah Miller (Michael Rady). Todd adds that her character is an "ivy league graduate, wickedly sexy and wickedly smart."
Catch the premiere of Melrose Place on Sept. 8 at 9/8c.
In other casting news, you may know her as Jasmine on “Angel”, Zoe on “Firefly”, Julia Milliken on “24”, Anna Espinosa on “Alias”, or, heck, even as Mrs. Laurence Fishburne… All in all, her face should be pretty familiar, and soon you’ll know and love Gina Torres as Vanessa’s mom on Gossip Girl, reports TV Guide.com. Currently scheduled for two episodes, Torres is expected to reprise her role as Gabriela Adams -- a warm, outgoing free spirit who has an opinion or two where Vanessa is concerned -- throughout the series.
Speaking of GG, People has spoilers galore on the new season: Blair’s a fish out of water in her new school, but she’ll have plenty of friends downtown to keep her company; Serena will heat things up with Carter; Dan will be romancing Olivia (guest star Hilary Duff); and Jenny begins to exercise her power as Queen Bee.
Gossip Girl kicks off its third season on Sept. 14 at 9/8c.