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A 'freaky' finale: 'American Horror Story' lines up the end of season guest stars

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Author: 
Andrew Warren / TV Media
Lily Rabe as seen in “American Horror Story: Asylum”

Lily Rabe as seen in “American Horror Story: Asylum”

A 'freaky' finale: What happens when you take one of the most unique TV shows from the past few years and bring on board a few of today's hottest commodities to guest star? Well, TV watchers will find out during the final few episodes of this season of "American Horror Story."

The fourth season of FX's incredibly popular horror show, subtitled "Freak Show," will see the return of Lily Rabe ("All Good Things," 2010) in the 10th episode. It seems that, despite sitting this season out, she just couldn't stay away; she'll be reprising her role from the second season ("American Horror Story: Asylum") of Sister Mary Eunice and will provide some important back story.

Perhaps even more exciting than the return of Rabe, though, is the announcement that TV and Broadway star Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") will be guest starring in the final two episodes of "Freak Show."

Harris's name sure has been popping up a lot lately. He was recently announced as the upcoming host of the 87th Academy Awards this February, taking the reins from last year's acclaimed turn by Ellen DeGeneres ("The Ellen DeGeneres Show").

Joining Harris on screen in the series finale will be his husband, actor and chef, David Burtka ("A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas," 2011). The two have appeared on screen together previously in CBS's "How I Met Your Mother," and "American Horror Story: Freak Show" will mark an on-screen reunion of sorts for the duo.

"American Horror Story" is something that isn't seen often on television these days: an anthology series. Despite using largely the same actors from season to season, each outing is nonetheless self-contained, with the actors playing different characters with each season. "Freak Show" has been something of an exception to this rule, with a few characters from "Asylum" making appearances.

Look for all of these exciting guest appearances in "American Horror Story: Freak Show" later this season on FX.

 

Terrifying television: Halloween may be almost a month behind us, but that doesn't mean that the creepy shenanigans have stopped.

MTV has ordered to series a project that's been in the works for a long time, and with an already built-in fan base, this small screen reboot of the "Scream" franchise may have a winning formula.

"Scream" (1996) and its two following installments (1997 and 2000) were incredibly popular with the millennial generation, and their legacy has endured so much that another chapter, "Scream 4," was released in 2011.

The 10-episode TV series is scheduled to premiere in October 2015 (just in time for Halloween!) and will be produced by the same minds behind the movie franchise: Wes Craven, Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein are all on board.

As for the stars of this slasher series, confirmed actors include Willa Fitzgerald ("Royal Pains"), John Karna ("The Neighbors"), Bex Taylor-Klaus ("Arrow"), Connor Weil ("The Jadagrace Show"), Carlson Young ("As the Bell Rings"), Tracey Middendorf ("Boardwalk Empire") and Joel Gretsch ("Witches of East End").

The "Scream" movie franchise revolved around a group of young adults beset by a series of serial killers who followed the general "rules" of the classic horror movies. The franchise's films successfully managed the delicate balancing act of being spoofs on the classic slasher flicks (the "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "Halloween" franchises, for example) while at the same time managing to be edge-of-your-seat thrillers in their own right -- no easy task to accomplish!

Watch for "Scream" to premiere on MTV in October of 2015.

 

End of story: Syfy and Universal Cable Productions are finally bringing a classic of science fiction to the screen after decades of false starts, and they're tapping an Emmy nominee to help make it a success.

"Childhood's End," a 1953 novel by legendary science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, is widely considered to be a classic of the genre. Now, more than six decades after it was first published, it is finally being made into a six-hour miniseries. Of course, bringing such a beloved classic to the screen requires a skilled actor, and it appears that Charles Dance is just the man for the job.

These days, Dance is probably best known for his role as the ruthless Tywin Lannister in HBO's fantasy epic "Game of Thrones," but that's far from his only credit. He earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for his role in the 2005 miniseries "Bleak House;" has popped up in "Merlin" and "Neverland;" and has had roles in dozens of big screen films, including "Dracula Untold" (2014) and "Alien 3" (1992).

Dance, to date the only announced actor signed on to "Childhood's End," will play Karellen, the alien Overlord with his sights set on Earth. Although the Overlords' intentions seem peaceful and benevolent, their presence slowly erodes humanity's culture and may hint at a more sinister agenda.

Watch for "Childhood's End" to air on Syfy sometime in 2015.