The Ausiello Files: Jan. 15, 2010

Ugly Betty Flirts With Betty/Daniel Fling
Remember that near kiss Ugly Betty staged earlier this season for our title heroine (America Ferrera) and Daniel (Eric Mabius) that we wrote off? Suddenly, it’s looking more like foreshadowing. Series creator Silvio Horta reveals that he may explore a romance between Betty and her boss. ”We’ve been batting around the idea,” he confesses. ”It is not outside the realm of possibility that something could happen, but we’re not sure yet.”

A lot of Horta’s indecision stems from Betty‘s uncertain future. Although he’s encouraged that ABC moved the show from Friday to Wednesday (you know, when people actually watch TV), the comedy is still fighting for its life.

At least if Betty does hang up her glasses for good in May, Horta is confident ABC will give him time to script an appropriate ending…maybe even, as rumor has it, one that reunites Betty with ex-love Henry (Christopher Gorham). ”I think there is a place for him to come back in some way,” Horta says. ”But I don’t know if them being together is what’s going to happen.”

Whomever Betty ultimately ends up with, one thing is certain: ”There’s a chunk of people who won’t be happy with whatever we do,” Horta sighs. ”You’re always going to piss somebody off.”

SCOOPLETS

Grey’s Promotes Kim Raver
I have a hunch Kim Raver won’t be regifting what she received this holiday season from Grey’s Anatomy: job security. On Dec. 24, the actress learned that she’d officially been made a full-fledged series regular. ”It was a great Christmas present,” says Raver, who is relishing heart doc Teddy’s position in the middle of an unorthodox love triangle with Sandra Oh’s Cristina and Kevin McKidd’s Owen. ”[Triangles] are usually just [focused] on the man and woman. But in this case, Teddy has real platonic feelings for Cristina, and that’s creating a different dynamic.” Rumor has it that the unusual dynamic will get even wilder in coming weeks, prompting fans to suggest a threesome. ”Woo-hoo,” Raver enthusiastically cheers. ”All I have to say to that is ‘Stay tuned.”’

True Romance for Lafayette
True Blood has tapped Southland dreamboat Kevin Alejandro to join the cast as a love interest for Nelsan Ellis’ gay blood-pusher, Lafayette. Alejandro will be introduced as Jesus, a Latino orderly tasked with caring for Lafayette’s mother (played by Alfre Woodard). ”Lafayette, for all his fierceness, has built a big wall around his heart, and is not particularly inclined to be emotionally vulnerable,” points out series creator Alan Ball. ”Jesus is going to try his best to knock that wall down.” Ball quickly adds that ”there is a bigger and more dangerous reason Jesus is drawn to Bon Temps, one that will be revealed over time.”

Dexter‘s Rita Gets Desperate
Julie Benz has bounced back from her shocking Dexter departure with a recurring role on Desperate Housewives. The actress, who debuts in February, will play a stripper with ties to Susan (Teri Hatcher). No, not those kinds of ties.

SVU nabs Sharon Stone
Stunt-casting-obsessed Law & Order: SVU has upped the ante yet again: Sharon Stone has inked a deal to play a prosecutor for four episodes beginning in April.