Happy Holidays!

Hello Folks

Well, that's about it.

Another year has come and is (almost) gone, a year filled with exciting, shocking, happy, devastating, interesting, curious or (insert any adjective you like) TV news.

As of now, the rest of 2010 will be pretty much non-existent news-wise, but I will still be around to update if it becomes a necessity.

Let me take this opportunity to wish all and everyone of you Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year!

Let's hope 2011 will be as exciting, shocking, happy, devastating, interesting, curious or (insert any adjective you like) in terms of All Things TV.

Greets
Lambsilencer

CBS Announces Midseason Schedule - THE DEFENDERS Moves To Fridays

Hello Folks

CBS has announced its midseason schedule. And there are some things changing come January.

First off, beginning January 19, the Eye will move its freshman police drama "Blue Bloods" to Wednesdays at 10 PM ET/PT for four weeks.

This means that when legal drama "The Defenders" returns, it will have a new death…, uhm, timeslot of Fridays at 8 PM ET/PT.

After four weeks of "Blue Bloods", CBS will then launch its "Criminal Minds" spinoff "Suspect Behavior" in the Wednesday, 10 PM ET/PT slot, following the original "Criminal Minds". Pairing the spinoff with its original show has worked well for "NCIS", so it makes sense for CBS to do the same here.

"Rules Of Engagement" will move from Mondays to Thursdays beginning February 24, pairing it with "The Big Bang Theory" to form a CBS comedy block on Thursday.

For all the info above, and all the rest, check the list below.

CBS's Mid-Season Lineup:


Wednesdays, Effective Jan. 19

8:00-9:00 PM LIVE TO DANCE

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS

10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS (ntp)



Fridays, Effective Feb. 4

8:00-9:00 PM THE DEFENDERS (ntp)

9:00-10:00 PM CSI: NY



Fridays, Effective Feb. 11

8:00-9:00 PM THE DEFENDERS

9:00-10:00 PM CSI: NY

10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS



Wednesday, Effective Feb. 16

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLAND (Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS

10:00-11:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS: SUSPECT BEHAVIOR (Series Debut)



Monday, Effective Feb. 21

8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

8:30-9:00 PM MAD LOVE (Series Debut)

9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN

9:30-10:00 PM MIKE & MOLLY

10:00-11:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0



Thursday, Effective Feb. 24

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ntp)

9:00-10:00 PM CSI

10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST



Friday, Effective April 1

8:00-9:00 PM CHAOS (Series Debut)

9:00-10:00 PM CSI: NY

10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS

JUSTIFIED Returns February 9

Hello Folks

FX has officially announced the start date for season two of its acclaimed drama "Justified".

The show starring Timothy Olyphant will be back on February 9, airing in the timeslot of Wednesday at 10 PM for 13 weeks.

FOX Cancels THE GOOD GUYS

Per Deadline, FOX will not order a second season of its cop comedy "The Good Guys".

The show starring Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks was launched in summer and taken into fall, but it simply failed to get the ratings needed for a renewal. And that's why after 20 episodes, it's going bye-bye.

SANCTUARY To Return In April

Hello Folks

After last night's eventful fall season finale, Syfy has announced on its show website that we will have to wait quite a while to find out what will become of our heroes.

The second half of "Sanctuary"'s third season will launch in April.

Syfy Cancels STARGATE: UNIVERSE

Various sources report today that Syfy has opted not to pick up "Stargate: Universe" for a third season, which leaves the show effectively canceled.

The show will return for its final 10 episodes next spring.

Leven Rambin Heading To CSI: MIAMI

Hello Folks

Matt Webb Mitovich reports on Movieline that Leven Rambin ("Scoundrels", "Grey's Anatomy", "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") has landed a potentially recurring role on CBS' veteran procedural "CSI: Miami".

Rambin plays Molly Sloan, a new sexy, spunky evidence technician that quickly makes a first impression on Ryan Wolfe (Jonathan Togo). Her first appearance will be in the current season's 14th episode.

Kaylee DeFer Joins GOSSIP GIRL, AMC Picks HELL ON WHEELS To Series

And two more stories:

- Deadline reports today that Kaylee DeFer ("THe War At Home", "The Mountain") will join the cast of The CW's "Gossip Girl" later this season. Her role will be recurring, and is kept secret at the moment.

- AMC has announced that it has picked up its period pilot "Hell On Wheels" to series.

“Hell on Wheels” tells the epic story of post-Civil War America, focusing on a Confederate soldier (Anson Mount) who sets out to exact revenge on the Union soldiers who have killed his wife. His journey takes him west to ‘Hell on Wheels,’ a dangerous, raucous, lawless melting pot of a town that travels with and services the construction of the first transcontinental railroad, an engineering feat unprecedented for its time. The series examines the railroad's institutionalized greed and corruption, the immigrant experience, and the plight of the newly emancipated African-Americans during reconstruction. Over time, “Hell on Wheels” chronicles this potent turning point in our nation's history, and how uncivilized the business of civilization can be.

"We are thrilled to bring ‘Hell on Wheels’ to series,” said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s SVP of original programming, production and digital content. “AMC's commitment to the western is long standing, and the genre is an important part of our brand and history as a channel. This show has some incredibly original twists and turns and a contemporary sensibility that we think will bring a very broad audience to our newest drama series."

Bill Pullman Joins TORCHWOOD

Hello Folks

Per Michael Ausiello, Bill Pullman has officially joined the cast of Starz' and the BBC's fourth season of "Torchwood" as a regular.

He will play Oswald Jones, a convicted murderer with a dangerously clever mind who manages to escape a life-long prison sentence on a technicality, which turns him into a media sensation, and he gets involved in a global crisis.

Pullman is the latest actor to join the US-based fourth season of "Torchwood", after Mekhi Phifer was announced as the third lead on the show.

FOX Pulls RUNNING WILDE From Schedule

After the latest original episodes drew a measly 4.1 Million viewers, FOX has decided to pull the remaining five episodes of "Running Wilde" from its schedule, various sources report.

The network has said that those unaired episodes of the comedy starring Will Arnett and Keri Russell, would "turn up at a later date".

Mekhi Phifer Gets Hired By TORCHWOOD, Virginia Madsen Learns About THE EVENT, More Castings

Hello Folks

Here are a few casting news, from Deadline.

- Mekhi Phifer ("Lie To Me") has been set to star as the third lead on the upcoming fourth season of "Torchwood", which will be set in the US and is co-produced by Starz and the BBC, to run on both networks.

Phifer will play CIA agent Rex Matheson, a man with a lethal sense of humor who starts feeling his mortality once his life in put in danger.


- Michael Ausiello reports that Virginia Madsen has been cast in a recurring role on NBC's "The Event". She will play the widow of a U.S. Senator from Alaska who has taken over her husband's post. A Harvard graduate and former powerhouse attorney, she is set to carry out her late husband's legacy at any and all cost.


- Also per Ausiello, but from the sister site Movieline comes the news that Rochelle Aytes ("The Forgotten") will be seen for at least three episodes on "Desperate Housewives", playing Keith's (Brian Austin Green) ex-girlfriend.

Her first appearance is set for late January.

And over to TV Guide:

- Leighton Meester has announced that she will leave "Gossip Girl" in two years, when her contract is up for renewal, saying that she likes to pursue other projects. But that might not be a problem, since the show might not be around after that anyway. Meester says that it's too early to tell if her exit might mean the end of "Gossip Girl", but she said that she thinks "there's that old saying about wanting to go out on top."

- Dane Cook is cast as Danny's (Scott Caan) brother on CBS "Hawaii Five-O" in an episode airing in February.

The CW Announces Its Midseason Schedule

Hello Folks

The CW has announced its slightly different schedule for midseason.

With "Life Unexpected" going out for good, the timeslot of Tuesday at 9 PM is becoming vacant. Enter "Hellcats".

The freshman cheerleading drama will be moving to said slot come January 25.

On Wednesday, the Cee-Dub has opted for reality. But see for yourself. Here's the full list:

Tuesday, January 18

8:00-10:00 p.m. Life Unexpected (Season Finale)

Monday, January 24

8:00-9:00 p.m. 90210 (Original Episodes Return)

9:00-10:00 p.m. Gossip Girl (Original Episodes Return)

Tuesday, January 25

8:00-9:00 p.m. One Tree Hill (Original Episodes Return)

9:00-10:00 p.m. Hellcats (New Night)

Thursday, January 27

8:00-9:00 p.m. The Vampire Diaries (Original Episodes Return)

9:00-10:00 p.m. Nikita (Original Episodes Return)

Friday, January 28

8:00-9:00 p.m. Smallville (Original Episodes Return)

9:00-10:00 p.m. Supernatural (Original Episodes Return)

Wednesday, February 23

8:00-9:00 p.m. America's Next Top Model (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 p.m. Shedding for the Wedding (Series Premiere)

All Times ET

TNT To End THE CLOSER After Seventh Season

Hello Folks

TNT just announced that its successful police drama "The Closer" will come to an end after its upcoming seventh season, which will air in 2011. The decision was made by series star Kyra Sedgwick.

“It’s impossible to fully express our appreciation to Kyra Sedgwick, series creator James Duff and all of the other talented people who brought THE CLOSER to TNT viewers,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. “THE CLOSER was a pivotal series in setting a new course for TNT’s original programming, while also serving as a prime example of the storytelling strength possible on cable television.”

“I cannot fathom how difficult it will be to say goodbye to the incredible family we’ve created on THE CLOSER,” Sedgwick said. “I will always be grateful to James Duff for his love and friendship, as well as for creating such a rich and complex character who I have loved living with year after year. Mike, Greer, Rick and all of our outstanding cast and crew are forever in my heart. I want to thank TNT and Warner Bros. Television, as well as the incredible fans of THE CLOSER, for all of their unwavering support over the last seven years.”

LOVE BITES Order Cut To 9 Episodes

After cutting its freshman series "Chase" down to 18 episodes, NBC has also reduced the order of another series, one that is yet to premier.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, "Love Bites", which was first pushed back from the fall to midseason, is now being stripped of 4 episodes. Instead of the usual 13, the show will only see 9 episodes.

NBC insists that the move is only done to make room for other midseason content. Whether that is really the case remains to be seen. But it will worry some, and, based on previous experiences, they do have a reason to be worried…

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES To Meet J. R. Ewing

Hello Folks

According to the Hollywood Reporter, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" are about to get a visit from the most famous TV oil tycoon - or at least a very convincing doppelganger.

Larry Hagman, best known of course as evil-grinning J.R. Ewing from "Dallas", will be guest starring in at least one episode as a new love interest for Lynette Scavo's (Felicity Huffman) mother, who is played by Polly Bergen.

Hagman's guest stint is set for early next year.

ABC Announces Comedy Premiere Dates, Eliza Dushku Exits BIRD DOG

ABC has officially announced the premiere dates for its two upcomin midseason comedies, "Mr. Sunshine" starring Matthew Perry, and "Happy Endings", toplined by Elisha Cuthbert ("24", "The Forgotten").

"Mr. Sunshine" will launch on February 9 at 9.30 PM ET, with "Happy Endings" getting its first shot on April 13.

The move puts "Cougar Town" on an extended hiatus of nine weeks, from Febuary to April 13.

Here's the updated Wednesday schedule:

The Wednesday schedule for February 9 through April 6, 2011 is as follows (all times ET):

8:00 p.m. “The Middle”
8:30 p.m. “Better Together”
9:00 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30 p.m. “Mr. Sunshine”
10:00 p.m. “Off the Map”

The Wednesday schedule beginning Wednesday, April 13, 2011 is as follows:

8:00 p.m. “The Middle”
8:30 p.m. “Better Together”
9:00 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:30 p.m. “Cougar Town”
10:00 p.m. “Happy Endings”
10:30 p.m. “Modern Family” Fan Favorites

Meanwhile, Eliza Dushku has officially passed on TNT's upcoming cop pilot "Bird Dog". The actress announced the following on Twitter:

Hey guys! News to report~ We have mutually & AMICABLY decided to part ways on "Bird Dog" due to creative differences. No worries/fears/tears

The CW Cancels LIFE UNEXPECTED

It sure looked like it when the back nine order didn't come, but now we have the sad confirmation…

The CW won't order a third season of "Life Unexpected".

According to my most reliable industry source, and a tweet by series creator Liz Tigelaar, the upcoming second season finale, which will see the last two episodes back-to-back on January 18 will indeed be the series finale.

Just when things got interesting again, of course…

FOX Won't Give LIE TO ME A Full Season

Hello Folks

Per the Hollywood Reporter, FOX has opted not to pick up the back nine episodes of the current third season of "Lie To Me", which will air new episodes through January before signing off for the time being.

But while this is not the best sign, and it most often leads to a cancellation, insiders say that the show does have a chance of coming back, either for summer or next fall. FOX simply has a full lineup for midseason, and doesn't need more episodes of the show for the moment.

A decision whether "Lie To Me", who is not a ratings hit but a pretty consistent performer, will return, is not expected before April.

ABC Pulls THE WHOLE TRUTH From Schedule

According to the Hollywood Reporter, ABC has decided to pull its canceled legal drama "The Whole Truth" from its schedule.

This leaves seven episodes unaired, and it is not clear if ABC will ever air them, or make them available online at this point.

The show was not picked up for a full season back in October, and the Alphabet deemed the ratings too low for even a burn-off in December.

FX Cancels TERRIERS

Hello Folks

Per a tweet from Variety's Jon Weisman, FX has decided not to renew its freshman detective drama "Terriers" for a second season.

The show was highly acclaimed by critics, and had an ardent fan following, but apparently has failed to pull in the ratings needed for a renewal.

Showtime Renews DEXTER For Sixth Season

Hello Folks

Speculation of this news was floating around since last week, but now it's official:

Showtime has officially announced that it has renewed its successful drama "Dexter" for a sixth season.

Production on the 12 new episodes is slated for next spring.

"Dexter" airs its fifth season finale next Sunday, December 12 at 9 PM ET/PT.

NBC Cuts Full Season Order For CHASE Back To 18 Epsiodes

Hello Folks

Per the Hollywood Reporter, NBC has decided to cut back the full season order it gave to its freshman drama "Chase" back in October.

Instead of the 22 episodes a real full season consists of, the show will only have 18 episodes in its first season.

The full season pickup back in October was a bit unexpected in the first place, based on the not-so-stellar ratings the show drew in.