'Witches of East End' Season 2 Premieres July 6; Christian Cooke Added as Series Regular

The second season of Lifetime's thrilling series Witches of East End returns this summer, beginning Sunday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT with an ensemble cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Rachel Boston, Mädchen Amick, Eric Winter and Daniel DiTomasso. Christian Cooke (Magic City) joins the cast as a new series regular this season.

Based on Melissa de la Cruz's New York Times best-selling novel, the series centers on the Beauchamp family, where in season one sisters Freya (Dewan Tatum) and Ingrid (Boston) discovered they are witches with ancient magical powers. With the help of their mother Joanna (Ormond) and aunt Wendy (Amick), they learned how to cultivate their craft and work together to defeat unearthly enemies seeking revenge on their family, while keeping their abilities a secret from the town.

WITCHES OF EAST END Season Finale Sneak Peek

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime drama WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring a cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, finishes its first season on Sunday, December 15th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In the season finale, "Oh, What a World!," Freya’s wedding day arrives as do gifts from both Killian and Dash. Joanna and Wendy discover the identity of the shifter. When Ingrid discovers some unnerving details about Mike, he takes dangerous measures to complete his plan.

Check out a sneak peek video below:

WITCHES OF EAST END "A Parching Imbued" Sneak Peek

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime drama WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring a cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, continues its first season on Sunday, December 1st at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "A Parching Imbued," a mysterious professor with old connections to the Beauchamps tries to help Freya regain her powers. Killian makes a decision about his future in East End. Mike reveals an interesting theory to Ingrid. Amidst wedding preparations, Dash tries to solve the mystery of the catacombs.

Check out a sneak peek video below:

WITCHES OF EAST END Renewed By Lifetime For Second Season

Lifetime is set to scare up a second season of its new drama WITCHES OF EAST END (#WitchesofEastEnd), starring Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, with a 13 episode order for a 2014 return. The announcement was made Friday by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lifetime.

"With its great story telling and amazing cast, WITCHES OF EAST END is leading a full-blown witch renaissance," said Sharenow. "The show's perfect mix of premium execution with content that is in the zeitgeist is drawing new viewers to Lifetime and we're very excited to be bringing it back for a second season."

WITCHES OF EAST END "Unburied" Sneak Peek

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring a cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, continues its first season on Sunday, November 17th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "Unburied," the shifter summons a familiar face.

Elsewhere, Ingrid discovers something startling from her past; a novelist comes to East End to research his new book; Joanna reads Freya’s tarot cards; and Wendy turns over a new leaf, and attempts to get serious with Leo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.).

Check out a sneak peek video below:

Sneak Peek: WITCHES OF EAST END ("A Few Good Talismen")

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring a cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, continues its first season on Sunday, October 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "A Few Good Talismen," Joanna’s immortal attorney Harrison prepares for her murder trial.

Afraid for Adam’s safety, Ingrid re-evaluates her relationship with him.

Penelope recruits Freya to help her mend the rift between Dash and Killian.

Wendy seduces an entomologist (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) while trying to gather ingredients for a spell.

Joanna and Harrison try to protect Principal Redmond from the shifter.

Check out a sneak peek video below:

Sneak Peek: WITCHES OF EAST END ("Today I am a Witch")

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime's newest drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring a cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, continues its first season on Sunday, October 20 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "Today I am a Witch," Ingrid struggles with the consequences of the resurrection spell. Joanna tries to figure out which of her many former enemies might be responsible for framing her. Wendy teaches Ingrid and Freya how to use their powers. Freya gets a new co-worker at the bar.

Check out a sneak peek video below:

WITCHES OF EAST END "Millicent Fenwick, R.I.P." Preview

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime's newest drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring an all-star-cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, continues casting its spell on Sunday, October 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In "Millicent Fenwick, R.I.P.," Ingrid discovers mysterious and dangerous family heirlooms that she uses to resurrect her Aunt Wendy. Together, they race to save Freya from Doug, her jilted ex-boyfriend from another lifetime. Joanna is jailed and questioned by the police regarding her murder charge. Dash and Killian have a tense reunion.

Check out a preview of the first season below:

WITCHES OF EAST END Series Premiere Preview

Photo Credit: Lifetime

Lifetime's newest drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring an all-star-cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond, Mädchen Amick, Jenna Dewan Tatum and Rachel Boston as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, will cast its spell beginning Sunday, October 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Also set to star are Eric Winter (DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Daniel DiTomasso, Jason George (SUNSET BEACH) and Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominee Virginia Madsen.

Lifetime Launches Live Talent Chats on Facebook, Beginning September 22 With DEVIOUS MAIDS

Lifetime announced today that the network's shows will hold a series of conversations on Facebook, where stars of its programs will hold live Q&A features to interact directly with fans and viewers via the social media platform. The network's portfolio of series will engage in these featured Q&A chats, giving fans the opportunity to ask questions and see the stars respond in real-time on Facebook.

Talent and the creative teams from Lifetime's DEVIOUS MAIDS, DROP DEAD DIVA, PROJECT RUNWAY, PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS, SUPERMARKET SUPERSTAR and upcoming drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, will take part in the chats. As part of the partnership, Lifetime will feature on-screen snipes, social posts and tweets to promote the chats.

NEWS: Vince Gilligan on BREAKING BAD RETURN; Shonda Rhimes; Freddie Prinze Jr.; New Men of DOWNTON ABBEY

NBC Nabs Futuristic Prison Drama From Seth Grahame-Smith & Greg Berlanti
PARADISE is set in the late 21st century in the city of Las Vegas which is now the world’s largest maximum-security prison, known as Paradise. Matthew Turner, M.D., is its newest inmate, convicted of a murder he didn’t commit. Desperate to get back to his family and prove his innocence, Matthew will have to find a strength he never knew he had, and stay alive long enough to do the one thing no inmate has ever done: escape.

Freddie Prinze Jr. joins WITCHES OF EAST END
Prinze will play Leo Wingate, a gallant and sweetly shy entomologist who falls head over heels for Wendy Beauchamp (Madchen Amick). The scholar is said to specialize in rare and exotic insects, and he soon begins to wonder whether Wendy is more interested in his body or his bugs. He is set to guest star in the fourth episode, with more episodes possible.

WITCHES OF EAST END To Premiere October 6

The witching hour is coming...get ready to meet the Beauchamps, the Witches of East End...

Lifetime's newest drama, WITCHES OF EAST END, featuring an all-star-cast headlined by Emmy Award-winner Julia Ormond (MAD MEN), Mädchen Amick (TWIN PEAKS), Jenna Dewan Tatum (AMERICAN HORROR STORY) and Rachel Boston (IN PLAIN SIGHT) as a family of witches living in the secluded seaside town of East Haven, will cast its spell beginning Sunday, October 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Also set to star are Eric Winter (DAYS OF OUR LIVES), Daniel DiTomasso (CSI), Jason George (GREY'S ANATOMY) and Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominee Virginia Madsen (Sideways).

WITCHES OF EAST END Picked Up By Lifetime

Lifetime has picked up the drama WITCHES OF EAST END, starring Julia Ormond (MAD MEN), Jenna Dewan-Tatum (AMERICAN HORROR STORY), Rachel Boston (IN PLAIN SIGHT) and Mädchen Amick (TWIN PEAKS), it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President, Programming, of Lifetime Networks. Lifetime ordered 10 episodes of the series to launch this year.

Regarding the pick-up, Sharenow said, “We’ve been thrilled about WITCHES OF EAST END and its powerful premise since the moment we bought the property, and our friends at Fox 21 helped develop it for television. This is one of the most exciting ensemble casts we’ve seen and the whole show is fresh, original and just right for Lifetime.”

NEWS ROUNDUP: Deidre Hall To Visit Southern Women's Show, Sean Kanan On GH Return, Keith Hamilton Cobb Does Mamet

Deidre Hall to appear at the Southern Women’s Show at the Orange County Convention Center
“I always talk about women’s friendships,” she said in a phone interview. “The two books I’ve co-written with my dearest friend come out of the friendship. I have such a strong belief in women’s ability to sustain each other. When I do these events, I’ve been at the convention a day already. What I’ve seen is an endless parade of best friends.”

Hall said the working title for her book “How Does She Do It?” was “Does This Mascara Make My Ass Look Big?”

“We lost our courage at the last minute,” she said. For her beauty tips, she drew on 35 years in front of the camera.

“I call it camera survival,” she said. “We as adults rarely see ourselves shot from every angle. I’ve learned survival secrets from being on camera, and then translated them into everyday life.”

Sean Kanan on his return to GENERAL HOSPITAL: 'I have been sworn to secrecy'
"I have been sworn to secrecy," the 45-year-old son of Dale and Michele Perelman of Neshannock Township said with a chuckle. "I’ll just say that I am really looking forward to my role."

NEWS ROUNDUP: EASTENDERS Shona McGarty's Lesson Learned. Plus, Emily Wilson Joins GH, Why TV Pilots Crash & Burn

Why TV pilots crash and burn
"Network TV shows might be better off if they started with the second episode, or the third. The best TV shows (most of them on cable) launch themselves into what seems like the middle of a story. People have been watching TV nonstop for 60 years; surely we’ve learned how to figure our way around a basic premise and a set of characters by now. Why drag us through the unnecessary clumsiness of a beginning, an origin story?"

EASTENDERS actress Shona McGarty "really learned my lesson" after suspension
The actress, who plays Whitney Dean in the BBC soap, was suspended without pay in July for repeated lateness. McGarty said that her co-star Patsy Palmer helped her get through her time away from the soap.

Lifetime Orders Two Drama Pilots: THE SECRET LIVES OF WIVES and WITCHES OF EAST END

Lifetime has ordered the drama pilots THE SECRET LIVES OF WIVES (working title) and WITCHES OF EAST END for 2013, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President, Programming, of Lifetime Networks.

Inspired by the book by Iris Krasnow, THE SECRET LIVES OF WIVES will explore the unvarnished truth behind the marriages of four different women, breaking down the creative ways each close friend nurtures, maintains and endures what many see as an impossible convention of modern life.  With a relatable and provocative approach, the pilot will provide an honest portrayal of the ultimate challenge every relationship faces – emotional and sexual longevity.