Parker Posey Joins THE BIG C, And More On Hugh Dancy's Character

On Wednesday I reported that both Alan Alda and Hugh Dancy were to guest star on the upcoming second season of "The Big C" on Showtime. But while we knew that Alda would play oncologist Dr. Atticus Sherman, the doctor Cathy meets after her previous treatment failed, for one episode, Dancy's character remained unspecified.

Well, no more.

Dancy will play a nice and charming cancer patient whom Cathy meets during an experimental drug trial. They have a bit of a rough start, but become friends later. Dancy is set for at least six episodes.

But that's not all. EW's James Hibberd reports in the same article that indie queen Parker Posey has also signed on for an arc on the show. In four episodes, she will play an older woman who develops an unlikely relationship with Cassie's son, who is just a teenager.

"The Big C" launches its second season on June 27.

Vinessa Antoine To HAVEN; Denis O'Hare, Will Arnett, Other Stars To Pilots

Yeah, you saw it right. This time, it's a mix between pilot castings and those for existing shows, but that latter is just one, the following.

- Vinessa Antoine ("Being Erica") has joined the cast of Syfy's upcoming second season of "Haven" in the recurring role of Evidence "Evi" Ryan, Syfy has announced. A former con-artist and lover of Duke's (Eric Balfour), "Evi" Ryan is as beautiful as she is calculating and clever. Jason Priestley has been previously tapped for a four-episode arc on the new season, as well as to direct one episode.

OK, off to the pilots.

- Denis O'Hare ("True Blood", “The Good Wife”) has been cast alongside Connie Britton in “American Horror Story”, FX’ upcoming drama pilot from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The premise of the project is being kept under wraps, but it involves two main characters, Ben Harmon and his gorgeous wife Vivien (Britton), a force to be reckoned with, despite her vulnerable appearance. O’Hare plays Larry, duped “Larry the burn guy”. Ryan Murphy will direct.

- Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”, “Running Wilde”) has joined the cast of NBC’s untitled Emily Spivey comedy pilot, alongside Christina Applegate and Maya Rudolph. It’s told through the POV of an acerbic mother of two (Applegate) who never thought she’d ever be a mom. It centers on her life with her stay-at-home husband (Arnett) and her outspoken parents.

- Margo Martindale (“Justified”) has come aboard CBS’ untitled Susannah Grant supernatural medical pilot. It centers on Michael (Patrick Wilson), a super-competitive surgeon who has his life changed forever when his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle), a doctor running a free clinic, dies. Now she starts teaching him all there is to know about life from the hereafter. Martindale plays Rita, Michael’s strong-willed, sassy assistant. She replaces S. Epatha Merkerson, who was originally cast in that part. Shortly after the start of filming the pilot, the role got recast.

- Hector Elizondo (“Cane”, “Chicago Hope”) is cast in ABC’s untitled Tim Allen multi-camera comedy pilot, which is about Tim Fitzgerald (Allen), a man fighting for his manhood in a world where the “traditional male” has been declared dead, and is more and more dominated by women. Elizondo plays his boss at the Euclid Demolition Company who leaves his post and makes Tim the new president of the company. Nancy Travis has been previously cast as Tim’s wife, Vanessa.

- Stella Maeve has landed the last lead on “Lovelives”, the NBC multi-camera comedy pilot about a married couple, Tim (Ryan Hansen) and Holly (Amanda Loncar), who, along with Tim’s siblings Blake (Sean Maguire) and Maddie (Maeve), plus Blake’s sarcastic ex-wife Kate (Cho), are going though the ups and downs, twists and turns of love life in New York City.

Sources: Syfy, Deadline

HBO Cancels IN TREATMENT - At Least In Current Form

Hello Folks

HBO has confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter that it has canceled its drama "In Treatment" after three seasons - at least in its current form.

"It's true that we have no plans to continue with In Treatment as previously formatted," an HBO spokesperson said to THR. "However, we are in continued conversations with the executive producers to find another way to continue telling these rich stories."

In its last season, the show lost a sizable chunk of its 446'000 viewers from the series premiere, when the season finale only gathered 279'000 viewers.

In what way "In Treatment", or at least its premise, might continue, remains to be seen.

Tina Majorino On The Case With BONES

Per TV Guide's Adam Bryant, former "Veronica Mars" alumna Tina Majorino ("The Deep End") will be guest starring on "Bones" before the season is over.

Majorino will play Special Agent Genny Shaw, who helps Booth in his search for ruthless sniper Jacob Broadsky (Arnold Vosloo). But her inexperience quickly brings Booth and her in trouble. If you want a few more details, hit the link above.

Sarah Silverman To GOOD WIFE, Andrew Dice Clay Heads To ENTOURAGE, More

Some casting news, courtesy of TVLine:

- Comedian Sarah Silverman has booked a guest spot on an upcoming episode of “The Good Wife”. On the CBS drama’s penultimate season two episode, she will play Stephanie, the owner of an explicit website who hires Lockhart Gardner to defend her in a civil case. The plaintiff claims that Stephanie’s Match.com-for-adulterers website was the reason her faithful husband cheated on her and ultimately ended up murdered.

- Another comedian, Andrew Dice Clay, has joined the cast of the eighth and final season of HBO’s “Entourage” as a recurring. He will play one of the characters in Johnny Drama’s new animated series.

- Ignacio Serricchio (“Privileged”, “General Hospital”) has booked a guest spot in the second episode of the second season of USA’s “Covert Affairs”. He plays a member of the Italian AISE that Annie is ordered to exchange for a captured CIA operative. Benito Martinez (“The Shield”) also gust stars as the Deputy Director of Argentine Military Intelligence and old friend of Joan’s (Kari Matchett). When the exchange goes down the toilet, their friendship is in danger of going the same way.

Nancy Travis, Gerald McRaney, More Get Pilots, Kyle Chandler To FX’ POWERS?

Hello Folks

Pilot season is slowly winding down, at least from the casting news front. Here’s the latest batc, but let’s start with the question mark.

- Kyle Chandler (“Friday Night Lights”) is currently being courted for the male lead in FX’ upcoming pilot “Powers”. It’s about two detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim working in a Homicide department where they work cases involving people with superpowers. Michael Dinner will direct. Aside from Chandler, there’s talk about Brea Grant (“Heroes”) being one of the possible actresses for the female lead.

- Nancy Travis (“Becker”) has booked her second pilot this season. After joining The CW’s “Hart of Dixie” earlier for a guest starring part, Travis has now landed the female lead alongside Tim Allen in ABC’s untitled comedy pilot from writer Jack Burditt. It’s about Tim Fitzgerald (Allen), a man fighting for his manhood in a world where the “traditional male” has been declared dead, and is more and more dominated by women. Travis plays Tim’s wife Vanessa, a woman who doesn’t miss much.

- Gerald McRaney (“Jericho”, “Undercovers”) has come aboard as the male lead alongside Becki Newton in CBS’ untitled Figos family comedy pilot. It centers on Joe Reilly (McRaney), a blue collar guy who struggles to parent his unmarried, grown daughter Eileen (Newton) and her 12-year old boy while shares a house with them, his own wife and his mother who became a widow recently.

- Jere Burns (“Surviving Suburbia”, “Justified”) has been cast as one of the leads in NBC’s untitled Dan Goor multi-camera comedy pilot, formerly known as “Homegrown”. It revolves around Adam Foote (Andrew J. West) a doctor who joins his parents’ (Jean Smart, Burns) medical practice, and now has to tend not only to patients, but also his family.

- Dean Collins (“The War At Home”) is the younger lead in “Lost & Found”, ABC’s comedy pilot about Jo (Jordana Spiro), a self-centered New York City bartender in her 30s, who has her life changed profoundly once her 18-year old son (Collins), whom she gave up for adoption at 16, stands at her door.

- Kevin Corrigan (“Fringe”) has come aboard CBS’ untitled Peter Knight workplace ensemble comedy pilot. It’s about Danny (Ben Rappaport), whose job and love life takes a turn once his competitor, crush and fellow trainee Gracie (Michelle Trachtenberg) gets promoted from the mailroom up to a junior associate position in the firm where they both work. Corrigan plays Nugzy, a lovable but lethargic oddball who is no longer minding his windowless existence.

- Kate Reinders (“Sherri”) and Rochelle Aytes (“Detroit 1-8-7”, “The Forgotten”) are the latest additions to ABC’s multi-camera comedy pilot “Work It”. It centers on two car salesmen who are out of work. Lee (Ben Koldyke) and Angel (Amaury Nolasco) decide that if they want to succeed in the increasingly female-dominated world, they have to dress as women to get hired as pharmaceutical reps. Reinders will play a co-worker of Lee’s, an effusive pharmaceutical rep, with Aytes playing Lee and Angel’s new boss.

- Rhea Seehorn (“I’m With Her”) has been cast in NBC’s untitled Whitney Cummings comedy pilot. It stars Cummings (who also wrote the pilot) as Whitney who, with her partner Alex (Chris D’Elia) work through all the ups and downs of a committed relationship in today’s complicated world, torn between their friends Lily (Zoë Lister) and Neal (Pancholy) who think everyone should get married, and Mark and Roxanne (Seehorn), who favor the opposite.

- Jason Jones (“The Daily Show”) has been tapped to co-star alongside Heather Locklear in “The Assistants”, CBS’ comedy pilot about four assistants working for neurotic celebrity, Ali (Locklear) and her younger, hot husband Gale (Jones). David Henrie also stars.

- Natalie Zea ("Justified") has booked a guest spot on CBS' drama pilot "Person Of Interest", to be executive produced by J.J. Abrams. It’s about ex-CIA agent Reese (Caviezel), presumed dead. He joins forces with Finch (Michael Emerson), a reclusive billionaire, to solve crimes in New York City. Zea plays a District Attorney who is in danger after she gets too close to a case.

Sources: Deadline, TVLine, The Futon Critic

Jay Mohr To Channel Charlie Sheen On LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT

TVLine's Nellie Andreeva reports today that "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is once more looking to make an episodes based on a real-life news story (or make that stories).

For one of its upcoming episodes contained in its 10th and final season, the show will tackle the various scandals surrounding Charlie Sheen. And Jay Mohr has been tapped to play the show's version of the successful celebrity bad boy.

Mohr plays Nyle Brite, a "rockstar" fashion designer who turns every creation he touches to gold. In typical Sheen manner, the man is a drug addict, party lovery and enjoys the frequent company of call girls. But that makes him only more famous, labeling him as a "lovable rogue". The murder part of the story involves a dead body at one of Brite's parties.

Noelle Beck ("As The World Turns") has also been cast in the episode called "Rispetto". She plays Nyle's long-suffering wife Debra. But she stayed with him for 20 years because she harbors some secrets of her own.

The final season of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is set to premiere May 1. Another upcoming episode with a real-life news inspiration is a plot modeled after the murder of top Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen.

AMC Launches Production On MAD MEN Season 5, Set Tentative Airdate

Hello Folks

Deadline's Nellie Andreeva reports today that AMC has released a statement announcing the start of production for the fifth season of its successful drama "Mad Men", despite the fact that the deal with creator Matt Weiner is not done yet, which is the bit referred to in the statement as "non-cast negotiations".

AMC has officially authorized production of season 5 of Mad Men, triggering our option with Lionsgate. While we are getting a later start than in years past due to ongoing, key non-cast negotiations, Mad Men will be back for a fifth season in early 2012."

UPDATE: FX Renews JUSTIFIED And ARCHER

Per TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich, it is now pretty much confirmed what was beginning to transpire at the end of last week.

At its upfront presentation tomorrow, FX will officially announce that it has renewed both "Justified" and "Archer" for a third season each.

The news comes on the heels of FX canceling its freshman drama "Lights Out" after less-than-satisfying ratings.

Update:

Both renewals are now official. And "Archer" will get 16 episodes next season.

Cristine Rose, John Rothman, Tess Harper Head To PRIVATE PRACTICE

Hello Folks

TV Guide's William Keck reports that veteran actors Cristine Rose ("Heroes"), John Rothman ("Guiding Light") and Tess Harper ("Crash") will all come aboard ABC's "Private Practice" before the season is over. And they all have a connnection...

Spoiler Alert!

All three will be playing the in-laws of Cooper (Paul Adelstein) and Charlotte (KaDee Strickland). Rose and Rothman are Cooper's parents, and Harper is playing Charlotte's mother, Augusta (her dad is deceased). The reason for them coming together for the first time is "very awkward", Strickland teases.

To read more about what Adelstein and Strickland had to say about the casting of their respective parents, hit the link above.

Alan Alda, Hugh Dancy To Guest Star On THE BIG C

Per Deadline's Nellie Andreeva, Alan Alda and Hugh Dancy have both booked guest starring roles on the second season of Showtime's hit drama "The Big C" starring Laura Linney.

Alda is set to play oncologist Dr. Atticus Sherman, the doctor Cathy meets after her previous treatment failed. Alda is booked for one episode.

Dancy, meanwhile, will play an unspecified recurring character.

CBS Sets Season Finale Dates - THE MENTALIST Gets Two-Hour Finish

It's still a bit over a month until May, but next in line to announce the season finale dates is CBS. And a closer look reveals that "The Mentalist" is the only scripted drama that will see a two-hour finale this season.

Here's the list:

SUNDAY, MAY 1

9:00-10:00 PM "Undercover Boss"

SUNDAY, MAY 8

8:00-10:00 PM "The Amazing Race" (two hours)

10:00-11:00 PM "CSI: Miami"

THURSDAY, MAY 12

9:00-10:00 PM "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"

FRIDAY, MAY 13

9:00-10:00 PM "CSI: NY"

10:00-11:00 PM "Blue Bloods"

SUNDAY, MAY 15

8:00-10:00 PM "Survivor: Redemption Island" (two hours)

10:00-11:00 PM "Survivor: Redemption Island Live Reunion Show"

MONDAY, MAY 16

8:00-8:30 PM "How I Met Your Mother"

8:30-9:00 PM "Mad Love"

9:30-10:00 PM "Mike & Molly"

10:00-11:00 PM "Hawaii Five-0"

TUESDAY, MAY 17

8:00-9:00 PM "NCIS"

9:00-10:00 PM "NCIS: Los Angeles"

10:00-11:00 PM "The Good Wife"

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18

9:00-10:00 PM "Criminal Minds"

THURSDAY, MAY 19

8:00-8:30 PM "The Big Bang Theory"

8:30-9:00 PM "Rules of Engagement"

9:00-11:00 PM "The Mentalist" (two hours)

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

10:00-11:00 PM "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior"

Pilots: Adrian Pasdar, Maya Rudolph, Katee Sackhoff, Gale Harold Get Cast

Hello Folks

To start off the new week, here is the latest batch of pilot castings.

- Adrian Pasdar ("Heroes") has grabbed the male lead on NBC's untitled Kari Lizer comedy pilot. It's a workplace comedy about Mary Leahy (Sarah Paulson), a relationship-challengend woman who guides through various downsizings and career transistions, all with the help of her co-workers Pasdar plays super-confident Brad, a guy who has drunk sex with Mary in a bar bathroom. Bewitched by his charm, Mary and her partner later ask Brad to join their company.

- Maya Rudolph ("Saturday Night Live") is cast in Emily Spivey's untitled NBC comedy pilot. The project is described as an irreverent look at parenthood through the eyes of an acerbic working mother (Christina Applegate) - a woman who never thought she'd ever have children - her stay-at-home husband and her opinionated parents. Rudolph is playing the co-lead part of her best friend and co-worker.

- Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica") hs landed the female lead, and Lou Diamond Phillips ("Numb3rs"), Bailey Chase ("Saving Grace") and Cassidy Freeman ("Smallville") have all joined the cast of A&E's hourlong pilot "Longmire". It centers on Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor), the charismatic and dedicated sherrif of Absaroka County, Wyo. A widower for a year, he hides his pain behind an unassuming grin and dry wit, but is in desperate need of some psychic repair. Sackhoff plays one of his deputies, a woman who, after working homicide in Philadelphia for five years, joined Walt in his office six months ago. The two have a playful give-and-take relationship, but sexual tension is simmering underneath. Phillips plays Walt's best friend, Chase plays another deputy. And Freeman plays Walt's daughter.

- Gale Harold ("Hellcats", "Desperate Housewives") is cast in The CW's drama pilot "Secret Cirlce", which revolves around Cassie (Britt Robertson) a teen girl who moves to a new town and finds out that she's a witch, and part of a secret coven. And she's the key to an age-old battle between good and evil. Harold plays Thomas Meade plays the father of Diane, the head of the witch cirlce and best friend of Cassie's.

- Danneel Ackles (formerly Harris, wife of Jensen;"One Tree Hill") and Jamie Lee Kirchner ("Mercy") have grabbed the last two leads on NBC's single-camera comedy pilot "I Hate That I Love You". It centers on straight couple Brad (Nick Thune) and Missy (Kirchner), who introduce their lesbian roommates to each other - Brad's Allie (Ackles) and Missy's Sarah (Anna Camp).

- Justin Bruening ("Knight Rider") has joined the cast of NBC's reboot pilot of "Wonder Woman". In the new take on the legendary superhero from David E. Kelley, starring Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince, Bruening will play Steve Trevor, a leading man that Diana can't get past. He's an army wet now working for the Justice Department.

- Mark Deklin ("Justice", "Lone Star") has been added to the cast of ABC's comedy pilot "Good Christian Bitches". It centers on Amanda (Leslie Bibb), a mother of two who returns to her childhood home in Dallas, where she was once a popular "mean girl". Now, after a messy divorce, she tries to make things right with her old classmates. Deklin plays a metrosexual cowboy hwo is married to one of the classmates.

- David Ramsey ("Outlaw") is the latest actor to join the CW drama pilot "Cooper & Stone", which is about Jenna Cooper (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Stone (Vanessa Ferlito) two female detectives and best friends who balance working homicides with smart talk about fashion, pop culture and music. Ramsey plays Mazzara, a cop with no patience for rookies but is good friends with Stone.

- David Alpay ("The Tudors"), rapper-turned-actor Xzibit and Aaron Yoo ("The Bedford Diaries") have all come aboard FOX' medical drama pilot "Weekend At Bellevue", which centers on the weekend shift at the Psych ward of Bellevue Hospital, and the woman in charge, Ellie Harlow (Lauren Ambrose). Alpay plays a fellow doctor, Ben Jacobs, with whom Ellie trained at Columbia. Xzibit plays Chuck Franklin, an ER nurse who has worked at Bellevue for 18 years and whom nothing really phases anymore. Yoo plays a highly competitive psychiatry intern.

- Johnny Pemberton ("Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia") has been cast in ABC's comedy pilot "Bad Mom", which revolves around Julia (Jenna Elfman), who must raise her two children on her own all of a sudden once her mother, Marian (Frances Conroy), who did it up until now, decides to get her own life back. Pemberton plays Indiana, the teenage drop out son of Julia's friend Linda (Sharon Horgan), a boy who either smokes pot or makes a move on Julia.Tom Everett Scott also stars, and Chris Koch will direct.

- Billy Brown ("Lights Out") has been tapped to co-star in "Reconstruction", NBC's drama pilot set in a complicated Missouri Town during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, and centering on Jason (Martin Henderson) a civil war soldier who settles into the town and is welcomed as its savior. There, he begins a torrid affair with a local widow (Rachelle Lefevre). Brown plays Sam, a former slave with a warm, life-affirming laugh, who tells Jason all there is to know about the small town he just set foot in.

- Sarah Wright ("Mad Love") is the latest addition to CBS's comedy pilot "The Assistants", about four assistants working for a celebrity, Ali (Heather Locklear) and her husband. At the core is Mike (David Henrie) who hopes this job helps him open doors in Hollywood. Wright plays spunky cute assistant Tina, who babysitts Ali's son and catches Mike's eye.

- Anjelah M. Johnson ("MadTv") has come aboard "My Life As An Experiment", which is about A.J. Wilder (Jon Dore), a magazine immersion journalist who tries out all kinds of experiences, and his wife Stacie (Paget Brewster). Johnson plays Luciana, their Brazilian babysitter in tight leggins and high heels, and who is very outspoken on top of it.

Sources: Deadline, The Futon Critic

William Sadler, Danny Masterson, Anna Chlumsky Locked For WHITE COLLAR

Per EW's James Hibberd, USA's "White Collar" has acquired a quartet of guest stars for the new season, which launches on June 7. And the kicker: They all appear in the same episode. The second, to be exact.

SPOILER ALERT!

Titled "Where There's A Will", the episode revolves around a forged will that turns out to be a treasure map.

William Sadler ("The Pacific", "Roswell") is playing a security guard who orchestrates a kidnapping.

Danny Masterson ("That 70's Show") and his real-life brother Christopher Masterson will play two brothers who contest their dad's will.

And former "My Girl" and "Lights Out" alumna Anna Chlumsky is a new FBI agent recruit who is helping out the team.

Tom Hanks To Guest Star On 30 ROCK

Hello Folks

Well, this show certainly isn't shy of attracting the biggest names possible for their coveted guest spots.

The latest: Tom Hanks.

TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich reports that the veteran actor and two-time Oscar winner is set to appear sometime this spring, but details on his role (or whether he'll be playing himself) are currently not available.

ABC Announces Summer Schedule - ROOKIE BLUE Returns June 16

ABC has announced its summer lineup, including the premiere dates for two scripted series, both from Canada. Cop drama "Rookie Blue" starring Missy Peregrym returns for its second season on June 16, and new Canadian Import "The Hot Zone" (formerly known as "Combat Hospital") will launch on June 21.

The rest? Reality fare. Take a look (all times ET, new shows in italics):


Monday, May 23
9:00-11:00: The Bachelorette (season premiere)

Monday, May 30
8:00-10:01 PM: The Bachelorette (regular time premiere)
10:01-11:00 PM: Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

Thursday, June16:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Wipeout” (sneak-peek episode)*
9:00-10:00 p.m. “101 Ways to Leave a Game Show” (series premiere)*
10:00-11:00 p.m. “Rookie Blue” (second season premiere)*

*If there is a Game 7 of the NBA Finals, these programs will move to Thursday, June 23

Tuesday, June 21:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Wipeout” (regular time premiere)
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Expedition Impossible” (series premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “The Hot Zone” (series premiere)

Thursday, July 28:
9:00-10:00 p.m. “Take the Money and Run” (series premiere)**

**If there is a Game 7 of the NBA Finals, “Take the Money and Run” will premiere Thursday, August 4

Monday, August 8
8:00-10:00 p.m. “Bachelor Pad” (second season premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. “America’s Karaoke Challenge” (series premiere)


And below are the descriptions of new and returning shows.

THE BACHELORETTE – PREMIERES MONDAY, MAY 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m.), AND MOVES TO ITS REGULAR TIME SLOT (8:00-10:01 p.m.) ON MONDAY, MAY 30 – Ashley Hebert, 26, couldn’t admit she was in love with Brad Womack – and it might have cost her the final rose – but that’s all in the past. The energetic and vivacious Hebert, who is ready to start a new life with a soul mate she might soon meet, will get a second chance at love when she stars in the seventh edition of “The Bachelorette.” Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelorette” is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.

EXTREME MAKEOVER: WEIGHT LOSS EDITION – PREMIERES MONDAY, MAY 30 (10:01-11:00 p.m.) – In a unique, non-competitive show about weight loss – unlike anything seen before on television – “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition” will document the amazing makeover of eight courageous, “super obese” people. Shot over an unprecedented 365 days, the participants set out to safely lose half of their body weight, ultimately revealing an amazing metamorphosis. The term “super obese” defines those who exceed their estimated ideal weight by approximately 225 percent and who 
are roughly 200 pounds or more overweight. Trainer and transformation specialist Chris Powell 
(“The 640-Pound Virgin”) will guide each of eight participants through their transformation process by moving into their homes with their families or loved ones. By assuring that they have the proper nourishment and exercise movement, Chris will provide a fresh perspective to individuals whose lives have become unmanageable because of their weight. In each of the eight one-hour episodes, the participants undergo a transformation not only of their bodies, but of who they are as individuals. Each stand-alone episode of the series will chronicle one participant’s journey to reclaim his or her life. From the producers of “The Biggest Loser,” “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition” is executive-produced by JD Roth, Todd A. Nelson and Matt Assmus. The series is produced by 3 Ball Productions/Eyeworks USA. 

WIPEOUT – SPECIAL ONE-HOUR SNEAK PEEK EPISODE THURSDAY, JUNE 16 (8:00-9:00 p.m.), BEFORE THE SUMMER SERIES PREMIERE TUESDAY, JUNE 21 (8:00-9:00 p.m.) (various encores and originals to air Thursday’s, 8:00-9:00 p.m.) -- Summer brings an all-new course, stunts and specially-themed episodes. Contestants will face brand new obstacles like the “Human Hamster Wheel,” 
the “Time Crunch” and “Chutes and Splatter,” and will go through a unique version of “Driver’s Ed.” There’s also a whole new summer Wipeout Zone featuring “The Flush!,” and of course all obstacles will come with plenty of new surprises. “Wipeout” executive producers are Matt Kunitz (“Fear Factor”) and Scott Larsen. Shye Sutherland, Kevin Wehrenberg, Trice Barto and J. Rupert Thompson are co-executive producers. The series is produced by Endemol USA. David Goldberg is the chairman of Endemol North America.

101 WAYS TO LEAVE A GAME SHOW – PREMIERES THURSDAY, JUNE 16 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) –
“101 Ways to Leave a Game Show” will feature contestants competing in one of the most insane game shows in history for a chance to win $50,000. In “101 Ways,” contestants will match wits in a series of multiple choice questions, with one contestant being eliminated every round. But unlike any other game show in the world, the eliminated contestant will then be ejected from the show in spectacular fashion -- i.e., being flown away strapped to the wing of a biplane, pushed off the top of a moving semi truck, dragged underwater by a one-ton anchor or yanked off a dock by a speed boat. The show will be hosted by Jeff Sutphen (“BrainSurge”). Produced by Endemol USA, Matt Kunitz (“Wipeout”, “Fear Factor”) will serve as the executive producer.

ROOKIE BLUE – PREMIERES THURSDAY, JUNE 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) –Take a candid look inside the professional and personal lives of five rookie cops as they navigate their first years on the job in this one-hour drama. During last summer’s premiere season, these rookies hit the streets for the first time with their training officers and learned how to walk the thin blue line. Now the training wheels are off – more experienced, they’re ready to kick some serious butt. But these rookies are just beginning to realize there are no shortcuts to becoming good at this job. And when you’re a rookie officer, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. “Rookie Blue” stars Missy Peregrym as Andy McNally, Gregory Smith as Dov Epstein, Charlotte Sullivan as Gail Peck, Enuka Okuma as Traci Nash, Travis Milne as Chris Diaz, Ben Bass as Sam Swarek and Eric Johnson as Detective Luke Callaghan. Tassie Cameron, Ilana Frank, David Wellington, Noreen Halpern and John Morayniss are the executive producers. “Rookie Blue” is produced by Thump Inc. and Entertainment One.

EXPEDITION IMPOSSIBLE – PREMIERES TUESDAY, JUNE 21 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) – Adventurer, zoologist, big cat trainer and all-around risk taker Dave Salmoni hosts ABC’s epic summer series, “Expedition Impossible,” which features ordinary people doing the extraordinary in the biggest adventure of their lives. The show will feature 13 teams of 3, racing on an expedition across vast deserts, over snow capped mountains and through raging rivers. Each week a new stage of the expedition will be revealed to the teams. Will they crumble under the pressure of having to think clearly in the wilds of the great outdoors, or will they find a way to work together to complete their 
adventures? After 10 stunning legs of competition, one team will cross the finish line first to claim victory. Mark Burnett and Lisa Hennessy serve as executive producers. Both the television show and format will be distributed internationally by Mark Burnett International Distribution.

THE HOT ZONE -- PREMIERES TUESDAY, JUNE 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) – This new drama is set in 2006 at the only military hospital providing advanced surgical care in all of Southern Afghanistan, and charts the frantic lives of the hospital’s resident doctors and nurses from Canada, America, the U.K. and other allied countries. This highly-charged series follows the characters as they navigate through the relentless life-and-death battles on the operating table and the never-ending conflicts that arise from working in a war zone military hospital. “The Hot Zone” stars Elias Koteas (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) as Colonel Marks, Michelle Borth (“Hawaii Five-0”) as Canadian surgeon 
Dr. Rebecca Gordon, Luke Mably (“The Gates”) as neurosurgeon Dr. Simon Hill, Deborah Kara Unger (“The Hurricane”) as Australian army psychiatrist Major Ada Pedersen, Terry Chen (“Sanctuary”) as trauma team leader Captain Bobby Trang and Arnold Pinnock (“The Listener”) as Commander Will Royal, Chief of Nursing. “The Hot Zone” is a production from Canada’s Sienna Films and the U.K.’s Artists Studio. Academy Award®-nominated Daniel Petrie Jr. is executive producer and showrunner. Executive producers are Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny for Sienna Films, Gub Neal, Justin Thomson-Glover and Patrick Irwin for U.K.-based Artists Studio, as well as Simon Vaughan of Lookout Point. “The Hot Zone” was created by Jinder Oujla-Chalmers and Douglas Steinberg.

TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN -- PREMIERES THURSDAY, JULY 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) -- From the producers of “The Amazing Race” and the “CSI” franchise comes an entirely new heart-stopping competition show. Combining all the elements of an edge-of-your-seat spy thriller with the excitement of rooting for real people in various locales outwitting high-level investigators, “Take the Money and Run” is an exhilarating competition series that will take reality television to a whole new level. The cat and mouse format will pit investigative professionals against everyday people trying to win a $100,000 prize. “Take the Money and Run” is produced by Profiles Television LLC and Jerry Bruckheimer Television, and distributed in the U.S. by Horizon Alternative Television. Executive producers are Jerry Bruckheimer, Bertram van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Elise Doganieri and Philip Morrow. KristieAnne Reed and Mark Dziak are co-executive producers.

BACHELOR PAD -- PREMIERES MONDAY, AUGUST 8 (8:00-10:00 p.m.) -- Fan-favorites, arch-rivals, villains and the sexiest participants from the hugely successful “Bachelor” franchise reunite under one roof in a competitive reality series for a “second chance” at love as ABC’s “Bachelor Pad” returns for a second season. Who among Bachelors and Bachelorettes past will rekindle old flames and ignite new ones? “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor Pad” are all produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon. Chris Harrison (“The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette”) hosts.

AMERICA’S KARAOKE CHALLENGE – PREMIERES MONDAY, AUGUST 8 (10:00-11:00 p.m.) – This summer ABC brings viewers the amazing story of a competition that draws thousands of the most talented singers together in the ultimate sing-off – the Karaoke World Championships USA. It’s a battle of performances from America’s biggest karaoke competition that will crown a new king and queen of karaoke. Produced by Lincoln Square Productions for ABC.

COVERT AFFAIRS Adds Ben Lawson, Rena Sofer

TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports today that when "Covert Affairs" returns to USA network this summer, you can expect to see two new faces that will be seen occasionally.

Australian actor Ben Lawson ("The Deep End") joins the show in the recurring part of Dr. Scott Weiss, a charming, handsome Doctors Without Borders-type physician whom Annie (Piper Perabo) meets while taking her niece, Chloe, to the ER. The man is very passionate about his work and understands Annie’s devotion to her job, of which he has no clear idea about.

Rena Sofer ("24"), meanwhile, will join the show for multiple episodes as Gina, Arthur's (Peter Gallagher) ex-wife who comes back into his life as he is busy with the aftermath of Lisa's (Emmanuelle Vaugier) media onslaught.

"Covert Affairs" returns for its second season on June 7.

FOX Renews FRINGE For Season Four

Hello Folks

Well, sometimes I really hate not living in the U.S.... Especially in moments when big things happen right when I'm asleep.

FOX has renewed its sci-fi drama "Fringe" for a fourth season, various sources report after a tweet from "Fringe" executive producer J.H. Wyman. FOX has since confirmed the news.

And it's not a small, abbreviated half-season, it's a full, whopping full season of 22 new episodes.

So start celebrating already, because for me, this is the kind of news I like to wake up to!

Scott Grimes To NCIS, Rita Wilson To SVU, Natasha Henstridge To CSI: MIAMI, Michael Trucco To HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

And the latest from the casting front. There are some slight spoilers below.

- Per TV Guides' Carita Rizzo, Natasha Henstridge is set to guest star in the upcoming ninth season finale of "CSI: Miami". She plays Renée Locklear, an undercover agent who will cause a stir in various ways. Henstrige is also set to guest star in the season 10 premiere (provided the show gets renewed) and has the potential to become recurring.

- Scott Grimes is headed to NCIS, according to EW's Lynette Rice. He will part of the Tony DiNozzo origin episode airing May 3, as Det. Danny Price, DiNozzo's former partner, with whom he worked 10 years ago as cops in Baltimore.

- The Hollywood Reporter reports today that Rita Wilson (aka Mrs. Tom Hanks) has been tapped to guest star on "Law & Order: SVU". In the "Delinquent" episode to air in May, Wilson plays Bree Mazelon, the protective mother of a teen under investigation.

- According to TVLine's Michael Ausiello, Michael Trucco ("Battlestar Galactica") will be guest starring in the April 18 episode of "How I Met Your Mother". He will play Robin's (Cobie Smulders) longtime crush. For more speculation about what that might hold in store for our core characters, hit the link above.

FX Cancels LIGHTS OUT

Per EW's James Hibberd, FX has officially canceled its boxing drama "Lights Out".

The gritty show, which debuted rather modestly back in January with 1.5 Million viewers, will not go forward with a second season.

Comedy Central Renews FUTURAMA For Two More Years

Various sources report that Comedy Central has officially renewed its successful, long-running animated series "Futurama" for two more years.

Two new 13-episode seasons (or one 26-episode season, depending on how your favorite way of counting is) have been ordered, which will keep the show on the air with new episodes through 2013.

Eliza Dushku, Anthony Stewart Head, Ben Rappaport, More Actors Join Pilots

Hello Folks

Looks like this is sort of the “Buffy” edition of this year’s pilot casting news.

- Eliza Dushku (“Dollhouse”, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”) has grabbed the female lead of CBS’ untitled sports radio show comedy pilot, alongside Damon Wayans. The project is inspired by ESPN’s outspoken sports talk show “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, and centers on Nick (Wayans), an egoistical sports radio host, quick-witted and with a cocky likability that gets him the admiration of his fans. Dushku will play Casey, Nick’s radio cohort, an equally quick-witted, yet socially oblivious and pathologically blunt girl.

- Anthony Stewart Head (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”), Al Madrigal (“Gary Unmarried”) and Joe Lo Truglio (“Backwash”) have all signed on to “Free Agents”, the NBC single-camera comedy pilot based on the UK series of the same name. It’s about the attraction of Alex (Hank Azaria) and Helen (Kathryn Hahn), two quirky PR executives who work togehter. Both are on the rebound, Alex from a divorce and Helen from the loss of her fiance who passed away. Head will reprise the role he originated on the British original, Stephen, the amoral but charming and handsome CEO of the Dayton Group. Madrigal plays Walter, the company’s oddball security guard, and Truglio is set to guest star as an executive in his 40s, described as an exhausted-looking married man with kids.

- Ben Rappaport (“Outsourced”) has landed the lead on CBS’ untitled Peter Knight pilot. It’s a workplace ensemble comedy about the young-adult employees of a high-powered venture capital firm. At the center is Danny (Rappaport), who gets quite the shock when his fellow trainee, competitor and crush Gracie (Michelle Trachtenberg) gets promoted out of the mailroom up to a junior associate position. Rappaport’s casting is in second position to his role on “Outsourced”, which is not looking too good to see another season at this point.

- Tyler Blackburn (“Pretty Little Liars”) has joined the cast of “Brave New World”, NBC’s single-camera workplace comedy pilot about a bunch of unusual characters working at a theme park that specializes in recreating New England during the 1600s. Blackburn is set to play one of those characters, a guy named John Lichtfield. Ed Begley Jr. and Nick Braun have been previously cast.

- David Alpay (“The Tudors”) will co-star alongside Lauren Ambrose in FOX’ drama pilot “Weekend at Bellevue”, which revolves around the happenings of the weekend shift Bellvue Hospital’s psych ward, and centers on the woman in charge, Ellie (Ambrose). Alpay plays Ben, a second-year attending psychiatrist at Bellevue who comes from a doctor family and has graduated from an Ivy League school. He also has a history with Ellie and is drawn to her.

- Tricia O’Kelley (“The New Adventures of Old Christine”) is cast in CBS’ “Homegrown”, which apparently is now the untitled Filgos project. It centers on a blue-collar dad who struggles with parenting his grown but unmarried daughter (Becki Newton) and her 12-year old boy, along with his own wife and recently widowed mother, as they all share a house together. O’Kelley is set as Eileen’s older sister, who is quite the opposite - happily married and a mother of two easy-to-handle kids.

- Smith Cho (“Ugly Betty”, “Knight Rider”) has been cast as one of the leads in “Lovelives”, NBC’s multi-camera comedy pilot about a married couple, Tim (Ryan Hansen) and Holly (Amanda Loncar), who, along with Tim’s siblings Blake (Sean Maguire) and Maddie, plus Blake’s sarcastic ex-wife Kate (Cho), are going though the ups and downs, twists and turns of love life in New York City.

- Audrey Esparza has come aboard NBC’s untitled Dan Goor multi-camera comedy pilot. It’s about Adam Foote (Andrew J. West), a young doctor who joins the medical practice of his parents and now has two jobs: Looking after his patients, as well as his parents. Esparza plays a kind-hearted registered nurse at the clinic. She’s very helpful to Adam, and thus he might develop feelings for her.

Sources: Deadline, TVLine, The Futon Critic

D.B. Sweeney Meets CASTLE, Kaitlin Doubleday Replaces Leven Rambin On HUNG

This is quite the casting news day, isn't it...

- According to TV Guide's David Kronke, D.B. Sweeney is the latest to join the cast of the upcoming "Castle" episode that will play out in Los Angeles. After Dominic Purcell and Jason George has signed on to guest star, Sweeney has also come aboard, playing Det. Kyle Seeger, a Robbery Homicide cop who questions Castle and Beckett about their investigation into the murder of Beckett's former partner.

- TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich reports that Leven Rambin has had some scheduling conflicts which prompted her to pull out of a part in the upcoming third season of HBO's "Hung". Filling the now vacant role of Logan, a former student of Ray's (Thomas Jane), will be Kaitlin Doubleday ("Brothers & Sisters", "Caveman").

PRISON BREAK's Chris Vance To Meet RIZZOLI & ISLES

Per TVLine's Michael Ausiello, British actor Chris Vance, who played Whistler on the former FOX hit series "Prison Break", will be joining the upcoming second season of TNT's "Rizzoli & Isles" as a recurring.

He will play Sgt. Major Charles "Casey" Jones, one of Rizzoli's old flames who comes back into her life as she is processing being shot and almost killed in the line of duty.

"Rizzoli & Isles" returns for its second season on July 11.

Jason George To CASTLE, Kristy Swanson To PSYCH, Connie Nielsen To BOSS, Emily Meade To FRINGE

Some casting news, gathered from various sources.

- Connie Nielsen has booked her first regular TV series gig with a starring role on Starz' upcoming drama series "Boss", alongside Kelsey Grammer. The show is a political drama about Kane (Grammer), the Mayor of Chicago. He get diagnosed with a degenerative mental condition, but only he and his doctor know about it. Nielsen plays Kane's wife Meredith, a woman who is immaculately groomed, tough, and a pro with the media. Their marriage is going downhill, they barely only speak to each other when they're in public.

- Kristy Swanson (The original "Buffy The Vampire Slayer") has signed on for a guest spot on USA's "Psych" this summer. She will play a mysterious, gorgeous woman whom Sean and Gus suspect of having killed a man - vampire-style.

- Jason George ("Off The Map") will be guest starring on the upcoming episode of fellow ABC drama "Castle" that takes Rick and Kate Beckett to Los Angeles. George plays an entrepreneur who meets the leading crime-fighting duo during the case. Dominic Purcell ("Prison Break") also guest stars in the episode as a shady Hollywood businessman.

- Emily Meade ("Boardwalk Empire") has joined the cast of FOX' "Fringe". In the May 6 season finale titled "The Way We Died", Meade joins the team in the role of a new FBI agent, described as a eager, wide-eyed rookie who backs away from no challenge.

- And on a sad note: Today, Hollywood lost one of its last true legends, when Elizabeth Taylor died this morning due to congestive heart failure at the age of 79 at Cedars-Sinal Hospital in Los Angeles. She was, simply put, one of the greatest moviestars that ever lived. May she rest in peace.

TORCHWOOD: MIRALCE DAY To Debut On Starz July 8 - See The Official Poster

TVLine's Michael Ausiello reports today that Starz has scheduled Friday July 8 as the premiere date for "Torchwood: Miracle Day", the fourth season of the highly successful UK series.

The new season deals with the happenings surrounding one simple question: What if the entire human race would become immortal?

“Not a single person on Earth dies” Torchwood boss Russell T. Davies recently explained. “The old stay old. It’s great news for some people, but globally it’s an instant population boom. Earth relies on people dying. Suddenly you’re affecting everyone on the planet. That’s where the Torchwood team comes in.”

Aside from returning cast members John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), there are a few fresh faces to discover on the upcoming season four of "Torchwood". Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins, Bill Pullman and Lauren Ambrose have joined the cast for this next go-round.

And to top things off, TVLine has also offered a first look at the poster. To see what the PR wizards at Starz came up with, hit the link above.

No word yet on the UK premiere date.

Natasha Henstridge, Cherry Jones, Jeff Daniels, Kathryn Hahn Among Pilot Castings

Hello Folks

The intensity is winding down, slowly. We’re nearing the end of pilot season, and thus the lists get a bit shorter now.

- Natasha Henstridge (“Eli Stone”) has come aboard “Secret Cirlce”, the CW drama pilot from Kevin Williamson about teen girl Cassie (Britt Robertson) moving to a new town and finding out that she’s a witch and part of a local coven. And she’s the key to an age-old good-vs.-evil battle. Henstridge will play Vice Principal of New Salem High School Dawn Chamberlain. She is a former best friend of Cassie’s mother, and knows everything about the 300-year-old history of the witches’ coven ruling the town.

- Cherry Jones (“24”) will co-star alongside Jason Isaacs in NBC’s drama pilot “REM”. The “Inception”-style prokect centers on Detective Michael Britten (Isaacs), who finds himself in two different realities once he wakes up after an accident. In one, he has killed his son Rex (Dylan Minnette), and in the other, he has killed his wife Hannah (see next item) in a car accident. Jones plays Dr. Stephanie Evans, Michael’s psychiatrist in the reality where his wife is killed. David Slade (“Twilight: Eclipse”, “30 Days Of Night”) will direct.

- And on a related note, Laura Allen (“Terriers”) has switched roles on “REM”. She was originally cast in the supporting role of Tara, Rex’ tennis coach and confidante in the wake of the loss of his mother (in one of the realities). That part has now gone to Michaela McManus (“Law & Order: SVU, “The Vampire Diaries”), and Allen has been upgraded to female lead, as she is now playing the role of Hannah, Michael’s wife that gets killed in one of the realities.

- Jeff Daniels is in negotiations to join HBO’s untitled Aaron Sorkin drama pilot as the male lead. The project takes a look behind the scenes of a cable news show. Daniels would play Will McCallister, a man with his own cable show, an Anderson Cooper/Brian Williams kind of guy, smart, but a pain in the butt to work with and for. The story centers on McCallister, his female executive producer and his staff.

- Kathryn Hahn (“Crossing Jordan”) has grabbed the female lead in NBCs’ “Free Agents”, the single-camera comedy pilot based on the UK series of the same name. It’s about the attraction between two PR executives - Alex (Hank Azaria) and Helen (Hahn) - who work togehter. Both are currently on the rebound, Alex from a divorce, and Helen from the loss of her fiance who passed away.

- Elizabeth Perkins (“Weeds”) returns to TV by booking the female lead alongside Michael Chiklis in CBS’ multi-camera family comedy pilot “Vince Uncensored”. It revolves around Vince (Chiklis), a man who experiences a medical problem and begins to speak the truth and live in the moment, which creates many issues with his family. Perkins plays Vince’s wife, Janet, a schoolteacher who shows much patience with Vince once he becomes this new guy. Kelsey Grammer will direct the pilot, and Conan O’Brien’s Conaco is one of the producers.

- S. Epatha Merkerson (“Law & Order”) has joined the cast of CBS’ untitled supernatural medical pilot from Susannah Grant, which Jonathan Demme will direct. It centers on Michael (Patrick Wilson), an intensely competitive surgeon who has his life changed once his ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle), who is a doctor running a free clinic, dies and starts teaching Michael all there is to know about life from the hereafter. Merkerson will play his assistant, Rita, the person who is literally running the office, and without whom Michael would probably not make it through the day. She’s a person you don’t want to mess with, strong-willed and sassy. Julie Benz has been previously cast.

Source: Deadline

TNT Picks Up PERCEPTION To Series

In addition to renewing "Southland" for a fourth season, TNT has also announced today that it has handed out a 10-episode order to "Perception", a new crime drama that is set to premier next year.

From the press release:

In PERCEPTION, Eric McCormack plays Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook and expertise to help the federal government crack difficult cases. Pierce's intimate knowledge of human behavior and masterful understanding of the mind are matched by his equally odd and imaginative view of the world. Rachael Leigh Cook co-stars as FBI agent Kate Rossi, Pierce's former student and the person responsible for recruiting him to work for the government. Arjay Smith plays Max Lewicki, Pierce's teaching assistant who has spent nine years at college. Kelly Rowan is Natalie Vincent, Pierce's best friend and every bit his intellectual equal.

"When we saw the pilot for PERCEPTION, it confirmed what we thought from the first pitch: It's a perfect fit for TNT's original series lineup," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "With its blend of intensity, emotion, humor, smart storytelling, sharp direction and a buzz-worthy performance from Eric McCormack, PERCEPTION is a hugely entertaining show we believe TNT viewers will love."

SyFy Announces New Programming Slate

Syfy holds its upfront presentation today, and therefore has announced its new programming slate.

In addition to the list that follows, the cable network has also set a July launch date for its four scripted summer series. New show "Alphas", and returning dramas "Warehouse 13", "Eureka" and "Haven.

OK, here's the long list.

NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
Alphas -- Premiering in July -- Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Leigh Rosen (Emmy Award-winner and Oscar nominee David Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able, or willing, to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.

Alphas also stars Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, Laura Mennell, Ryan Cartwright and Azita Ghanizada, and is a production of Universal Cable Productions and BermanBraun Television. Executive Producers are Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun, Zak Penn and Ira Steven Behr.

NEW REALITY SERIES
Haunted Collector (working title) -- Premiering in June -- Ghosts and spirits inhabit more than just homes and buildings -- they can also live in objects. John Zaffis and his family are renowned paranormal investigators, tracking down haunted items like paintings, guns, jewelry and dolls. Once identified, the items are collected and stored in their museum, helping John’s clients bring normalcy back to their lives. Produced by Gurney Productions. Executive producers: Scott Gurney and Dierdre Gurney.

Legend Quest -- Premiering in July -- This fast-paced action-adventure series follows Ashley Cowie, a real-life symbologist, as he travels the world in search of some of history's greatest relics and artifacts, all of which are believed to hold hidden powers and mystical significance for ancient and modern cultures. Each episode will include Indiana Jones-type adventure and Da Vinci Code-style connections as the hidden truths and alternative theories of these mythical objects are explored. Legend Quest is executive produced by John Brenkus and Mickey Stern for BASE Productions, and is a co-production with Universal Networks International.

Paranormal Witness -- Premiering in September -- From Raw TV, the acclaimed creative team behind Locked Up Abroad and Gold Rush Alaska, this tense, filmic and high-octane drama-documentary series brings to life the stories of people who have lived through paranormal experiences that defy explanation. Using the mixture of intimate first-hand testimony and grittily realistic drama that Raw TV is known for, Paranormal Witness will transport the audience into a world turned upside down by extraordinary and terrifying events. Paranormal Witness is produced by Raw TV. Executive producers: Dimitri Doganis and Bart Layton.

SCRIPTED DEVELOPMENT/DRAMA
Battlestar: Blood & Chrome -- Luke Pasqualino (Skins-UK) and Ben Cotton (Hellcats) star in Battlestar: Blood & Chrome, which takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, a sentient robotic race, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a brash rookie viper pilot enters the fray. Ensign William Adama (Pasqualino), barely in his 20’s and a recent Academy graduate, finds himself assigned to one of the most powerful ships in the Colonial fleet…the Galactica. The talented but hot-headed risk-taker soon finds himself leading a dangerous top secret mission that, if successful, will turn the tide of the decade-long war in favor of the desperate fleet. Executive producers: David Eick and Michael Taylor. Written by Michael Taylor from a story by David Eick, Taylor and Bradley Thompson and David Weddle. A production of Universal Cable Productions.

SCRIPTED DEVELOPMENT/SINGLE CAMERA HALF-HOURS
Three Inches -- In Three Inches, professional daydreamer and underachiever Walter Spackman is struck by lightning and develops a unique "super" power -- the ability to move any object using just his mind... but only a distance of three inches. He's soon immersed in a world of extraordinarily ordinary people like himself and learns that "super" is just a state of mind. The pilot is written by Harley Peyton (Twin Peaks), who also serves as executive producer. Fox Television Studios is producing with executive producer Robert Cooper, through his company Landscape Entertainment.
In the Dark -- In the Dark follows a misfit group of third tier ghost hunters whose misguided efforts tend to highlight their incompetence rather than any paranormal activity. From Universal Cable Productions, In the Dark is executive produced by Dan Taberski through Idiot Box Productions, Michael Davidoff and Bill Rosenthal. Teleplay by Michael Davidoff & Bill Rosenthal.
Me and Lee -- Me and Lee is about a down on his luck 20-something who goes in for back surgery, but the procedure doesn’t go well. Enter Lee Majors, who claims he has the perfect solution. He entices the young man into his ultra high-tech lab and makes him bionic. Majors becomes the unlikeliest of mentors helping the young man get his life back together. Jenji Kohan, the executive producer and creator of Weeds, serves as the executive producer of Me and Lee along with the writer Matthew Salzberg, Allan Loeb and Steven Pearl. Produced by Lionsgate.

REALITY DEVELOPMENT
Culture Shock with Tommy Lee -- This one-hour investigative travel show follows Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee as he attempts to uncover the various rituals, symbols and other mysteries of secret societies around the world. Tommy Lee will dig into the history behind the secret society, search out its meeting locations and members, and meet with former members to reveal the society’s rituals and deepest secrets. A production of ITV Studios America. Executive producers: Tommy Lee and Carl Stubner. Supervising producer: Jenna Barnes.

Monster Man – When Hollywood studios want a bizarre creature, monster prop or out-of-this world alien, they turn to Cleve Hall and his very unique, family business. This series goes behind the scenes of Cleve's workshop, where the craziness of this fun family is matched only by the insane monsters they build. Produced by Gurney Productions. Executive producers: Scott Gurney and Dierdre Gurney.

Stunts Unlimited -- Stunts Unlimited is an elite and exclusive fraternity of artists committed to a very imaginative, creative, unique and dangerous craft -- movie stunts. This series takes audiences behind-the-scenes into a world rarely seen, unveiling the innovations and problem solving necessary to accomplish the most spectacular stunts in Hollywood. With their lives on the line with every stunt, the members of Stunts Unlimited form a close-knit work family, helping them balance the challenges of their jobs and their families. Executive producers: Ric Roman Waugh and Gary Binkow.

Hi Tech Hoaxes -- The series where the supernatural, the mythical and the astonishing leave the big screen and step into people’s everyday lives. Each week two teams will go head-to-head to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for an unsuspecting pair of people, who are about to have their world turned upside down for a brief, thrilling moment. Teams of engineers, tech geniuses and pranksters will draw their inspiration from requests sent by ordinary people who want to execute the hoax on friends, family, colleagues, customers, kids, parents or even pupils. They’ll rely on the technical know- how and the resourcefulness of the teams to make it happen. But it needs to be hyper-convincing because these hoaxes are going to be happening in the real world in plain sight. Produced by North One Television.

Dinner with Deepak -- If you could invite three people to dinner, who would they be? Best selling author and spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra dines and joins in conversation with some of the greatest minds and creators in the world today. In every episode, Chopra brings together a group of noteworthy guests to share a meal and a conversation ranging in topic from the spiritual, political and scientific to supernatural, designed to challenge our standard conventions and push the boundaries of viewers’ imaginations and intellects. Executive producers: Deepak Chopra, Gotham Chopra, Tim Piper and Sharad Devarajan.

Tyler Shields -- A docu-series featuring unconventional photographer Tyler Shields and his team as they create worlds that are always surprising, shocking, and totally surreal. This Los Angeles-based artist is one of the most creative and original photographers working today. His subjects are celebrities, actors, models, and everyday people captured in magical, beautiful, and often dangerous situations. His eye-popping, jaw-dropping photos are designed to elicit the subject’s purest emotion right in the moment using no special effects. A production of RelativityREAL. Executive producers: Tom Forman, Tyler Shields and Zach Quinto.

Overthunk -- A one-hour series that follows two teams of four talented creators as they compete to design, build and set off massive chain reaction machines. The best gizmo gladiators across America will face off in a weekly contest testing their mettle through gears and metal. Each week visits a new city, where natural rivals race against the clock and each other to brainstorm and build a fantastic apparatus that completes a specific task and keeps viewers holding their breath to see if these contraptions will actually work. Along the way, surprise “monkey wrenches” will challenge their minds and their patience. Produced by 25/7 Productions. Executive producer: Dave Broome.

Change the Day You Die -- Change the Day You Die is an inspiring new reality series that uses state-of-the-art science to dramatically transport its participants into the future to face their own self-inflicted demise. Each of the seemingly healthy, unsuspecting candidates -- nominated by friends, family and loved ones -- will go on a 10-week transformational journey where they must master a series of mental and physical challenges designed to reverse their bad habits and add back valuable lost years to their lives. Through medical-condition simulators, life-enhancing technology, unique graphics and special effects, each participant will experience firsthand the grim reality of their potential future so that they have the opportunity to change their ways before it's too late. Produced by 3 Ball Productions/Eyeworks USA. Executive Producers: JD Roth and Todd A. Nelson (3 Ball Productions/Eyeworks USA) and Danny Fenton (Zig Zag Productions).

Imagination Nation -- The innovators behind Hammacher Schlemmer, America’s oldest continuously published catalog that offers imaginatively unexpected and innovative products, go on the road to meet inventors from all walks of life to find fresh offerings for their inventory. Produced by North South Productions. Executive producers: Charlie DeBevoise and Mark Hickman.

America’s Smartest Kids -- A thought provoking, reality competition show where the country’s most imaginative, innovative teenagers are challenged to invent a better future while competing for the title of America's Smartest Kid. Executive producers: David Zelon and Michael Sardo.

SATURDAY ORIGINAL MOVIES
Red Faction: Origins -- 2011 -- Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) and Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) star in Red Faction: Origins, based on the hugely successful Red Faction video game franchise. Twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason (Patrick) led the Martian Colonies to freedom …and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra (Tamzin Merchant), and left a broken hero in their wake.

Jake Mason (Smith), Alec’s only son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them…a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Red Faction: Origins is produced by Universal Cable Productions and UFO Films.

Zombie Apocalypse (working title) -- October 2011 -- Months after a zombie plague has wiped out 90 percent of the American population, a small group of survivors fight their way cross-country to a rumored refuge on the island of Catalina. A production of The Asylum.

Gretl -- November 2011 -- As an adult, a witch hunter (Hansel) returns to the village where he lived as a child to find and kill the witch who killed his sister, Gretl (Shannen Doherty), only to find that Gretl is not dead and danger lurks around every corner. Produced by Chesler/Permutter Productions & Vesuvius Productions.

Snowmageddon (working title) – December 2011 -- A story about a mystical snow globe that makes very bad things happen in the real world when it is shaken. A production of Cinetel.

Bigfoot – 2012 -- 1970’s pop culture icons Danny Bonaduce (The Partridge Family) and Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch) face off in the hunt for the legendary mountain creature. A production of The Asylum.

St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun (working title) -- St Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 17th, 2012 -- An evil leprechaun who has been imprisoned within the roots of a majestic old oak tree, is accidentally set loose on St. Patrick’s Day. Once free, he takes out his bloody revenge on the descendants of the people who originally imprisoned him. A production of After Dark Films.

Roswell -- June 2012 – The story selected by fans for Syfy and IGN.com’s B Movie Mogul project, 65 years after the original UFO crash at Roswell, another ship from the same far-off civilization comes to rescue their downed comrades – and continue their preparation to invade the earth. Directed by Jason Connery (Area 51, The Devil’s Tomb). A production of After Dark Films.

Jersey Shore Shark Attack -- 2012 -- While everyone else runs scared, vacationing Jerseyites fend off shark attacks on the shore. A production of ARO Entertainment.

Dungeons and Dragons 4 (working title) -- September 2012 -- A princess and a rogue knight become reluctant heroes inside a magical kingdom. A production of After Dark Films with Silver Pictures.

NBC Pulls PERFECT COUPLES For THE PAUL REISER SHOW

NBC has had enough of the bad ratings of its struggling Thursday comedy "Perfect Couple".

The network has pulled the show effective April 14 to make room for "The Paul Reiser Show", the new single-camera comedy starring the former "Mad About You" star, which will launch at 8.30 PM ET.

And here's the outline:

The show stars Reiser as -- Paul Reiser. It's been a few years since his hit TV series went off the air. Since then, he's been enjoying the quiet life at home with his lovely wife, Claire (Amy Landecker, "A Serious Man"), and kids and generally minding his own business, writing and producing television but enjoying life out of the spotlight. Getting him into trouble -- and into adventures -- are a group of new "friends," most of which he didn’t choose since they’re the husbands of his wife's friends and the dads of his kids’ classmates. Thrown together by circumstance, Reiser and his cohorts, including Jonathan (Ben Shenkman, "Angels in America"), Habib (Omid Djalili,"The Infidel"), Fernando (Duane Martin, "All of Us") and Brad (Andrew Daly, "MADtv"), form an unlikely comradeship -- and a pretty lame basketball team.

Oh, and yes, this pretty much means that "Perfect Couples" is essentially canceled.

ABC Announces Season Finale Dates

ABC has put out a press release announcing the exact dates for its various finales in May.

Note that "Desperate Housewives" will have a two-hour season finale, and "Cougar Town" will also get a bigger finale, which will be a one-hour event.

Here's the list:

Sunday, May 8:
10:01-11:00 p.m. “Brothers & Sisters”

Wednesday, May 11:
8:30-9:00 p.m. “Better With You”

Sunday, May 15:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Desperate Housewives” (Special Two-Hour Finale)

Monday, May 16:
10:01-11:00 p.m. “Castle”

Tuesday, May 17:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”

Thursday, May 19:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Wipeout” (Spring Edition)
9:00-10:01 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10:01-11:00 p.m. “Private Practice”

Friday, May 20:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Shark Tank”

Sunday, May 22:
7:00-8:00 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”

Monday, May 23:
8:00-9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” (Performance Show)

Tuesday, May 24:
9:00-11:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars The Results Show”

Wednesday, May 25:
8:00-8:30 p.m. “The Middle”
9:00-9:31 p.m. “Modern Family”
9:31-10:30 p.m. “Cougar Town” (Special One-Hour Finale)

Update:

Yeah, the list is not very complete, as it only lists the finales that occur during May sweeps (and not even all of those). So here are some more dates:

"No Ordinary Family" airs its penultimate episode next Saturday at 10/9c PM, with the finale scheduled for April 5.

A day later, April 6, medical drama "Off The Map" and "Mr. Sunshine" will end their current seasons.

New sitcom "Happy Endings", which launches on April 14, will see its finale most possibly on May 18 (if it's not canceled before that date).

New crime drama "Body Of Proof" , which starts March 29, will run over into early June most probably.

TNT Renews SOUTHLAND For Fourth Season

TNT has announced that it has ordered a fourth season of its police drama "Southland".

The show, which the cable network has acquired from NBC last year, will get 10 new episodes.

“SOUTHLAND has been acknowledged by many critics as one of the sharpest, most entertaining and most authentic dramas on television today,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “John Wells, Chris Chulack and their teams created a brilliant roller coaster ride this season, with countless riveting scenes and unforgettable character arcs. We are extremely proud to have SOUTHLAND on TNT and to bring it back for a fourth season.”

Judd Hirsch Joins DAMAGES - Spoiler Alert!

Hello Folks

EW's James Hibberd reports today that Judd Hirsch ("Numb3rs", "The Whole Truth") will join the cast of "Damages" in a key part, when the show will debut for its fourth season on DirecTV this summer, after having called FX its home for the previous three seasons.

Hirsch will play a former mentor of Patty Hughes (Glenn Close), a man who took her under his wing when she had her first job out of law school. But nowadays, his luck has changed and he calls alcohol his best friend.

The new season will center around a wrongful death suit against a military contractor over a fatal incident in a war zone.

Jonathan Cake Joins DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Per TVLine's Nellie Andreeva, there will be a new male addition to Wysteria Lane in the coming weeks, and the guy sets his sights on Bree.

Jonathan Cake ("Six Degrees") has been tapped to guest star in the final four episodes of the current seventh season, and then return in the fall as a new series regular.

Cake plays Aaron, a handsome, sexy and college-educated police detective who has strong family values. He comes to Wysteria Lane to work on a case, but ends up working up Bree, as he will become the new man in her life.

As sure as all this sounds, there is still one obstacle. "Desperate Housewives" has not yet been renewed for next season. The pickup will depend on whether the core cast of the show signs new contracts to extend their commitments. But things look good, an announcement is expected shortly.

Benjamin Bratt Joins PRIVATE PRACTICE As New Regular

Hello Folks

The Hollywood Reporter reports that come next season, there will be a fresh face around the Oceanside Wellness Group - or so we think.

Benjamin Bratt, who is of course best known for his starring role in A&E's "The Cleaner", will come aboard ABC's "Private Practice" as a new regular when the show returns for its fifth season in the fall. But here's the catch: We don't know anything about his role yet, it's completely kept under wraps at this point.

What we do know is that Bratt's first appearance is set for the fourth season finale in May.

The news comes about two months after it was announced that Audra MacDonald would be leaving the show by the end of the current season, to spend more time with her family in New York, reportedly.

Speculate away on what Bratt's part on the "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff might be.

Dominic Purcell Welcomes CASTLE In Hollywood

When Rick Castle and Kate Beckett travel to Los Angeles to solve a complicated murder mystery in Hollywood this spring, they will be meeting none other than Lincoln Burrows...

Per TVLine's Matt Webb Mitovich, former "Prison Break" hunk Dominic Purcell has landed a guest spot on said Hollywood episode of the ABC crime drama. He will be playing a Hollywood businessman who might be involved in the murder case.

For a bit more on the subject, hit the link above.

Grant Show To BURN NOTICE, William Forsythe To MENTALIST, Martha Plimpton Back To GOOD WIFE; More

Hello Folks

Aside from all those pilot castings at the moment, there are still a few actors that are signing on to already existing shows.

Mild spoilers follow.

- EW's James Hibberd reports that Grant Show ("Melrose Place", "Private Practice") will guest star in three episodes of "Burn Notice", when the show returns for its fifth season in the summer. He will play a CIA Operative named Max. His first appearance is set for the season premiere "Company Man".

- Per TV Guide, William Forsythe will be guest-starring on the May 5 episode of "The Mentalist", playing Rigsby's (Owain Yeoman) dad, who is described by series creator Bruno Heller as "selfish, arrogant and ruthless". Plus, he doesn't approve of his son's career choice - at all.

Also from TV Guide:

- Martha Plimpton ("Raising Hope") has signed on to return to "The Good Wife" as vicious lawyer Patt Nyholm. Mamie Gummer ("Off The Map") is also set to return before the second season is over, reprising her role of opposing lawyer Nancy Grozier.

- Aaron Staton ("Mad Men") will also be guesting on "The Good Wife", playing a "hungry, Terminator-like" attorney.

Christina Applegate, Heather Locklear, Connie Britton, Tom Arnold, More Cast In Pilots

Hello Folks

Let’s delve right back in, shall we?

- Christina Applegate (“Married… With Children”, “Samantha Who?”) has chosen. Out of about a dozen offers, the actress has picked NBC’s untitled Emily Spivey comedy pilot, lifting the contingency off the project. The story is a irreverent look at parenthood, through the eyes of an acerbic working mother (Applegate) who never thought she’d end up a parent. Also in the mix are her stay-at-home husband and her opinionated parents. Applegate will also be a producer on the project.

- Connie Britton “(Friday Night Lights”) has landed the female lead in FX’ drama pilot “American Horror Story”. From Ryan Murphy and Brad Fulchuck, the project centers on main characters Ben Harmon, a sensitive therapist, and his gorgeous wife Vivien (Britton) who is a force of nature despite a vulnerable demeanor. The premise of the show is kept under wraps at the moment. Murphy is set to direct the pilot.

- Tom Arnold (“Roseanne”) has been added to ABC’s half-hour multi-camera comedy pilot “Other People’s Kids”. It’s about 32-year old, irresponsible Adam (Jesse Bradford) who lands in an insta-family once he falls for older woman Michelle (Bonnie Somerville), a mother of two with an ex-husband and ex-in-laws. Arnold plays the potentially recurring part of the lover of Michelle’s ex-husband’s mother (Judith Light).

- Heather Locklear (“Melrose Place”, “Dynasty”) has signed on to star in CBS’ pilot “The Assistants”, an ensemle comedy about the group of assistants working for celebritites Ali (Locklear) and her husband. At the center is Mike (David Henrie), who arrives in Hollywood hoping that his job as an assistant for neurotic Ali and her similarily crazy hubbie might open some doors for him. But for now, he has to learn the ropes from his co-workers who know how to tip-toe around their employers. Ali is describeda as successful yet insecure and prone to wild mood swings.

- Michelle Trachtenberg (“Gossip Girl”, “Mercy”) has come aboard CBS’ untitled Peter Knight comedy pilot as the female lead, and Tim Peper (“Carpoolers”) has joined the cast as well. It’s a workplace ensemble about the young-adult employees at a high-powered venture capital firm. It revolves around Danny, who is quite shocked once he sees how his fellow trainee, competitor and crush Gracie (Trachtenberg) climbs up the ladder from the mailroom to a junior associate position. Peper plays Danny’s obnoxiously lovable best friend.

- Boris Kodjoe (“Undercovers”) has joined the cast of ABC’s ensemble drama pilot “Georgetown”, which centers on young staffers on Capitol Hill. It revolves around Andrew Pierce (Jimmy Wolk), the youngest Presidential speech-writer on record. Kodjoe plays the fiercly intelligent senior advisor to the Democratic president. Wendy Crewson, Katie Cassidy. Joe Mazzello and Daisy Betts co-star.

- Mary Lynn Rajskub (“24”) and Kevin Dillon (“Entourage”) are the latest additions to CBS’ “How To Be A Gentleman”. The comedy pilot from David Hornsby is based on the book by the same name, and is a buddy comedy centering on Alan (Hornsby), an uptight guy who learns how to live his life with the help of his former high school classmate Bert (Dillon), a man stuck with a teenage optimism and no concept for boundaries. Rajskub plays Janet, Alan’s aggressive sister, who is a successful lawyer and is running a roughshod over loving but meek husband.

- Esai Morales (“Jericho”, “Caprica”) is the latest addition to Ron Moore’s NBC drama pilot “17th Precinct”. It’s set in a city where magic rules over science, and centers on the cops at the local 17th precinct, headed by Detective Chief Inspector Wilder Blanks (Eamonn Walker). Morales plays Lt. Liam Butterfield, his second in command. Stockard Channing, Tricia Helfer, James Callis, Jamie Bamber, Matt Long and Kristin Kreuk also star.

- Tom Everett Scott (“Southland”, “ER”) has grabbed the male lead alongside Jenna Elfman in ABC’s comedy pilot “Bad Mom”. It’s about Julia Lacey (Elfman), a working mother constantly battling the job and raising the kids. Things get really complicated once her mother tells her that she wants her life back, and won’t be babysitting her children any longer. Scott plays Julia’s husband, who works for a demanding new boss and is forced to very often work overtime.

- Kevin Rahm (“Desperate Housewives”), Rosa Blasi (“Make It Or Break It”) and Chad Coleman (“The Wire”) have all come aboard “I Hate My Teenage Daughter”, the FOX comedy pilot about two divorced mothers, Nikki (Katie Finneran) and Annie (Jamie Pressly), who have to raise daughters that are exactly as mean as the girls that once picked on Nikki an Annie in high school. Rahm plays a potential love interest for Annie. Coleman plays Nikki’s ex-husband, and Blasi is cast in an unspecified guest-starring part.

- Lenny Clarke (“Rescue Me”) is cast in NBC’s comedy pilot “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea”, based on Chelsea Handler’s autobiographical book which chronicles her early years as a fresh-faced, over-sexed cocktail waitress named Chelsea Hanson (Laura Prepon), girl with quite the love for alcohol. Clarke plays her father, a man with a big personality, who shares with his daughter the character trait of having no filter.

- Todd Grinnell (“Desperate Housewives”, “Braistorm”) has been added to “Lost & Found”, the ABC comedy pilot that centers on Jo (Jordana Spiro), a narcissistic bartender in her 30s from New York, who has her life rocked in its core once her 18-year old son, whom she gave up for adoption at 16, shows up at her doorstep. Grinnell plays Jo’s next-door neighbor.

- Mo Mandel (“Chelsea Lately”, “Reality Bites Back”) has joined the cast of NBC’s single-camera romantic comedy pilot “Free Agents”, about two quirky PR executives working togther. Alex (Hank Azaria) and Helen are both on the rebound; Alex recently got divorced and Helen has lost her fiance who passed away. Mandel plays Dan, who is not shy of telling tall tales about his various exploits with women.

Source: Deadline

First Look - Adrianne Palicki As WONDER WOMAN

EW's Lynette Rice has put up a first look at Adrianne Palicki in her brand-new "Wonder Woman" costume.



Personally, I think she should have gone with shorts, but that's just me. Otherwise, it looks quite cool.

Scott Porter, Jimmy Smits, Donald Sutherland, Others Get Pilot Roles

Hello Folks

Here’s more from the pilot front.

- Scott Porter (“Friday Night Lights”, “Caprica”) has been tapped for the male lead in The CW’s drama pilot “Hart of Dixie”, which stars Rachel Bilson as Zoe Hart, a young doctor from New York City who inherits a small town medical pratice. The townsfolk turn out to be a pretty eccentric and bizarre bunch. Porter plays Zoe’s love interest, a charming local attorney who is engaged to be married to the daughter of Zoe’s competitor at the practice.

- Jimmy Smits (“Outlaw”, “Cane”, “L.A. Law”) has picked up the last major lead role in NBC’s untitled Stephen Gaghan drama pilot, which was formerly labeled “S.I.L.A.”. It’s a complex drama in the vein of “Traffic” and “Syriana”, covering various angles of politics, crime and law enforcement in today’s Los Angeles. The story centers on ambitious, caring LA Mayor Alfonso Morales (Smits) and his Specieal Investigations Unit that is led by detective Terry Mullins (Noah Emmerich). Mullins has taken the job in LA to reconnect with his 15.-year old daughter Jennifer (Emma Dumont) and to try to get along with his ex-wife, Mary McCarthy (Mädchen Amick), who is a high-powered attorney. Smits’ role of Morales is also said to be quite interested in women and the power his position brings.

- Donald Sutherland (“Dirty Sexy Money”, “Commander In Chief”) has landed a co-starring role in “My Life As an Experiment”, the NBC comedy pilot about magazine immersion journalist A.J. Wilder (Jon Dore), who tries all sorts of experiences. Paget Brewster has been previously cast as his wife Stacie. Sutherland plays Stacie’s father, a very accomplished and respected heart surgeon, who has a pompous, arrogant demeanoer and disapproves deeply of his son-in-law, A.J.

- Damon Wayans (“My Wife and Kids”) has signed on to star in CBS untitled sports radio show pilot. The multi-camera comedy is inspired by ESPN’s Colin Cowherd and his opinionated sports talk show. It revolves around Nick (Wayans) a sports radio host who is egoistical, quick-witted and has a cocky likability that makes him adored by his fans. On the air, Nick is “right about everything”, but off the air, he sees himself as a “shmuck trying to get women from freaking out on him”.

- And on a related note, Damon Wayans Jr. (son of Damon) (“Happy Endings”), has been added as one of the three male leads on FOX’ untitled Liz Meriwether project that takes a fun look on the sexual politics between men and women. The comedy pilot centers on Jessica (Zooey Deschanel), an elementary school teacher. After a breakup, she moves out of the shared apartment and in with three juvenile guys: beer-loving hunk Schmidt (Max Greenfield); sweat-pants-prone and out of shape trainer Coach (Wayans Jr.) and bartender Nick (Jake M. Johnson). The casting of Wayans is in second position to his role on ABC’s upcoming comedy “Happy Endings”.

- Dylan Walsh (“Brooklyn South”) is cast as the male lead alongside Poppy Montgomery in CBS’ untitled Ed Redlich/John Bellucci drama pilot. It’s about Carrie Wells (Montgomery) a former detective and now a volunteer at a nursing home, who has the uncanny ability to remember everything, which is a gift in her professional life, but a curse in her personal one. Walsh plays Detectice Al Burns, the chief of a NYPD crack team of detectives. Al worked with Carrie, and she is the love of his life, but Carrie’s ability has destroyed her relationship, and he is now engaged to another woman. When a neighbor of Carrie’s gets murdered, they run into each other, and eventually, Carrie becomes a consultant for the department - a dynamic that is working well for CBS’ “The Mentalist”, and will be quite similar here. Niels Alden Oplev (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) wil direct the pilot.

- Wendy Crewson (“ReGenesis”, “24”) and Kevin Zegers (“Gossip Girl”) are joining the cast of “Georgetown”, the ABC drama pilot about a bunch of young staffers at Capitol Hill. It centers on Andrew Pierce (Jimmy Wolk) a brilliant, effortlessly charming Yale gradiate and the youngest Presidential speech-writer on record. Crewson plays Sen. Caroline Wallance, the GOP minority leader. Zegers plays wealthy stockbroker Monty, a old rival of Andrew’s who has just proposed to Andrew’s old girlfriend. Katie Cassidy and Daisy Betts also star.

- Ana Gasteyer (“Saturday Night Life”)joins ABC’s comedy pilot “Suburgatory” as a guest star with the potential to recur. The project centers on teen girl Tessa (Jane Levy), who gets moved from New York by her dad George (Jeremy Sisto) to a place she calls her own personal hell: the suburbs. Gasteyer plays their neighbor, the quintessential stay-at-home mother, a domestic goddess guiding her two children through life with a firm hand, who is also skilled in garden work and grilling.

- Lauren Cohan (“Supernatural”, “The Vampire Diaries”) has been cast as the female lead and Ryan Eggold (“90210”) has also grabbed a lead part in The CW’s supernatural drama “Heavenly”. It’s about Lily (Cohan), a dedicated attorney who teams up with former angel Dashiel Coffee (Ben Aldridge), who recently turned human, to work cases at Lily’s legal aid clinic. She saves their clients’ bodies, he saves their souls. Eggold plays pastor who Dashiel seeks counsels from. Elizabeth Ho has been previously cast.

- Alanna Ubach (“Hung”, “Men of a Certain Age”) has been added to “Little In Common”, the FOX comedy pilot about three families tied together through their kids’ little league sports. Rob Corddry and Paula Marshall play the Wellers, who move from San Jose, CA to Austin, TX, only to find that the Pachecos (Ubach, Lombardo Boyar), their new Latino neighbors, have a vastyl different approach to chlid-upbrining. And then there’s the Burlesons (Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union), who take their kids’ sports activities very seriously.

- Matthew Moy (“Scrubs”), Garrett Morris (“The Jamie Foxx Show”) and Jonathan Kite have all joined the cast of CBS’ comedy pilot “Two Broke Girls”. It centers on two girls from very different backgrounds - Max (Kat Dennings) born poor, and Caroline (Beth Behrs), born wealthy but donw on her luck. They both wind up as waitresses in the same Brooklyn diner and start an unfamiliar friendship that could lead to a successful business venture. Moy plays the diner’s owner, Morris is the cashier and Kite is cast as the local Russian cook.

- David Henrie (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) has grabbed the lead in CBS’ comedy pilot “Assistants”, which revolves around Mike (Henrie) who arrives in Hollywood from a small Pennsylvania town. He’s looking for a job as an assistant for a celebrity, a move that he hopes will open many doors for him. First, however, he learns the ropes from his fellow assistants, who know how to cater to their neurotic boss and her similarily whacky husband.

- German actor Thomas Kretschmann (“King Kong”) has been added to ABC’s horror thriller pilot “The River”, which centers on Lincoln Cole (Joe Anderson), who, after his father (Bruce Greenwood), a famous TV explorer goes missing in the Amazon, is forced by his mother Tess (Leslie ope ) to abandon his medical studies to go look for him - with a camera crew in tow, and with Something Deadly in the water waiting for him. Kretschmann plays a bad-ass ex-military who is in charge of security during the mission to the Amazon.

- British actor Joshua Bowman (“Holby City”) is the latest addition to “Revenge”, ABC’s drama pilot that centers on Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp), a mysterious woman coming to the Hamptons to revenge the destruction of her family by the Graysons (Madeleine Stowe, Henry Czerny). Bowman plays Daniel Grayson, the dashing heir in his 20s who gets engaged to Emily/Amanda.

- Shelly Hennig (“Days of Our Lives”9 and Jesscia Parker Kennedy (“Valemont”, “Smallville”) have come aboard “Secret Circle”, the CW draam plilot that tells the story of Cassie (Britt Robertson), who moves to a new tonw and finds out she’s a witch, and that she is part of a scret coven. Plus, she’s the key to unlock a centuries-old battle between good and evil. Hennig plays the head of the circle, who quickly becomes Cassie’s friend, while Kennedy plays another coven member. Phoebe Tonkin and Thomas Dekker also star.

- Marco Grazzini has grabbed not one, but two lead roles in pilots this season. He is one of the regulars of ABC’s drama pilot “Poe”, about Edgar Allan Poe, the world’s very first detective who investigates dark mysteries in 1840s Boston by using unconventional methods. Grazzini plays the lover of Poe’s muse Sarah (Tabrett Bethell). Additionally, Grazzini has also grabbed a guest spot on The CW’s zombie pilot“Awakening”, where two sisters find out they are pitted against eachother in the beginning of a zombie uprising.

- Will Kemp (“The Prisoner”) is joining the cast of “Grace”, the ABC drama pilot about womanizing dance studio owner and choreographer Michael Grace (Eric Roberts), who is in danger of losing his studio until one of his three daughters, Sarah (Abigail Spencer) buys it and runs if for him. Kemp plays Nicky, Michael’s gay assistant choreographer.

And on another note...

- Kelsey Grammer has been tapped to direct “Vince Uncensored”, the CBS comedy pilot from writer Phoef Sutton, Conan O’Brien’s Conaco and Warner Bros. TV. It centers on a man (Michael Chiklis)who has a life-changing experience, and decides to take a new, more honest approach to his life, family and work.

Source: Deadline, The Futon Critic

USA Sets WHITE COLLAR, COVERT AFFAIRS Summer Return Date

USA has issued a press release officially announcing the returns of two of its very successful scripted series.

"White Collar" and "Covert Affairs" are both set to return with al-new episodes on June 7.

The third season of "White Collar" will launch at 9/8c, with "Covert Affairs", starring Piper Perabo, following with the second season premiere at 10/9c.

Syfy Renews BEING HUMAN For Second Season

Syfy has announced via a press release that it has ordered a second season of its freshman drama "Being Human".

The show, based on the British series of the same name, has had a great run during its first season, averaging 1.8 Million viewers. Additionally, the show has proven to be the most female-attracting series ever for Syfy, with a 53% share of female viewers.

"'Being Human' has proven to be a winner for Syfy on all fronts," said Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. "Using the original format as inspiration, showrunners/writers Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke - along with a superlative team of writers, cast, and production - have created an amazing, compelling series in its own right. We can't wait to watch Aidan, Josh and Sally continue their struggle to be human in the second season!"

The news comes a day after Syfy has ordered a second round of its special effects competition series "Face Off".

NBC Renews PARKS & RECREATION, COMMUNITY, THE OFFICE For Next Season

Hello Folks

NBC has announced that it has handed out early renewals for its Thursday night comedies "Parks & Recreation", "Community" and "The Office".

"I am so pleased to renew these three outstanding comedies which are all at the top of their game creatively," said NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt. "Along with '30 Rock,' they represent the best of what the NBC comedy brand stands for in terms of originality, wit, and sophistication. 'The Office' continues to fire on all cylinders on the most competitive night of television; 'Parks & Recreation' has come into its own this season as the rightful companion to 'The Office'; and 'Community' is one of the freshest comedies on any network and a solid foundation for Thursday night."

Especially "The Office" will face a great challenge next season, when it has to continue with longtime lead Steve Carrell.

Madeleine Stowe, Robert Knepper, Kristin Chenoweth, Others Get Pilots

Hello Folks

Another day, another list of pilot castings.

- Madeleine Stowe (“Raines”) and Henry Czerny (“The Tudors”) have ABC’s drama pilot “Revenge”. It centers on Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke (Emily VanCamp), a mysterious woman coming to the Hamptons to revenge the destruction of her family by the Graysons. Stowe plays Victoria Grayson, the matriarch and also a social power broker. She was responsible for the merciless destruction of Amand’s father Kevin Clarke, and also for Amanda’s life in various foster homes. She is unaware that Emily is acutally Amanda, and welcomes her with open arms. Czerny plays Victoria’s husband.

- Cybill Shepherd (“Cybill”, “Moonlighting”) has grabbed one of the leads on ABCs’ comedy pilot “My Freakin’ Family”. It’s about parents Anna (Ellen Woglom) and Raj (Ravi Patel), who see their life change when the four grandparents form very different cultural backgrounds come into their lives. Shepherd plays Raj’s sophisticated but uptight mother.

- Leslie Hope (“24”, “The Mentalist”) has been cast as the female lead in “The River”, ABC’s horror thriller pilot that tells the story of Lincoln Cole (Joe Anderson), who, after his father (Bruce Greenwood), a famous TV explorer goes missing in the Amazon, abandons his medical studies to search for him - with a camera crew in tow, and with Something Deadly in the water waiting for him. Hope plays Lincoln’s mother, Tess, who, six months after her husband went missing, recieves a signal from his beacon. She then forces her son to go look for his dad.

- Robert Knepper (“Prison Break”, “Heroes”) has been added to NBC’s drama pilot “Reconstruction”. Set in the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, it centers on Jason (Martin Henderson), a Civil War soldier who settles into a complicated Missouri town and is welcomed as its savior. Soon, he begins a torrid affair with war widow Anna (Rachelle Lefevre). Knepper plays the town sheriff, a veteran Confederate who expresses various ways of bizarre characteristics, from a Southern courtliness to a hair-trigger temperament. Peter Horton directs the pilot.

- Kristin Chenoweth (“Pushing Daisies”) and David James Elliott (“JAG”, “Scoundrels”) have come aboard ABC’s dramedy pilot “Good Christian Bitches”. It revolves around Amanda (Leslie Bibb), a mother of two and former “mean girl” in high school who, after a scandalous divorce, returns home to Dallas, deeply humbled, and looking for a second chance with her former classmates. Chenoweth plays Darlene, the head of this group of women who call themselves G.C.B.’s. She a classic housewife with a villainous side based in a skewed sense of goodness. A regular church goer, she knows her scripture, but doesn’t mind breaking a few Commandments now and then. She was one of the girls Amanda was mean to back in the day, but now she’s too much of a Christian not to forgive Amanada and welcome her back. Elliott plays her husband.

- Vanessa Ferlito (“CSI: NY”, “24”) has landed the second title role alongside Alexandra Breckenridge in “Cooper & Stone”, the CW drama pilot about Jenna Cooper (Breckenridge) and Stone (Ferlito). They are two smart female detectives and best friends on Chicago’s North Side. They are equally adept in solving homicides as well as discussing all aspects of pop culture, fashion and music.

- Frances Conroy (“Six Feet Under”, “Happy Town”) will co-star alongside Jenna Elfman in ABC’s comedy pilot “Bad Mom”. It centers on Julia (Elfman), who had her two kids largely raised my her own mother (Conroy). But once the older woman decides to get her life back, Julia now has to do it alone.

- Lombardo Boyar (“Notes From the Underbelly”, “The Bernie Mac Show”) has come aboard FOX’ comedy pilot “Little In Common” as a lead. It’s about three families tied together through their kids’ little league sports. Rob Corddry and Paula Marshall play the Wellers, who move from San Jose, CA to Austin, TX, only to find that the Pachecos, their new Latino neighbors, have a vastyl different approach to chlid-upbrining. And then there’s the Burlesons (Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union), who take their kids’ sports activities very seriously. Boyar plays the head of the Pacheco family. He’s the unpretentious owner of Pachecos Pizza.

- Brett Cullen (“Make It Or Break It”, “The Gates”, “Damages”) and Jonathan Scarfe (“Raising The Bar”) have both joined ABC’s Marc Cherry drama pilot “Hallelujah”. It’s set in Hallelujah, Tenn., a town where the forces of good and evil are portayed through diner owner Rye Turner (Donal Logue) a deeply moral, hard-working family man who has a run of tragic luck. On the other side is his nemesis, corrupt billionaire Del Roman (Terry O’Quinn), who is a man donating to church, but virtually owns the town and is a mean bully under his upstanding persona who resort to any means to get his way. Del is on the winning streak of this battle against Rye, but things start to change once a mysterious stranger (Jesse L. Martin) arrives in town. Cullen plays Sheriff Bob Clement, a corrupt lawman on Del’s payroll. Scarfe plays self-confessed and miserable sinner, Caleb, Rye’s brother.

- Maulik Pancholy (“30 Rock”) is teh latest addition to NBC’s untitled Whitney Cummings comedy pilot. It centers on young couple Whitney (Cummings) and Alex (Chris D’Elia), who tackle the ups and downs of a relationship in today’s complicated world, torn between their friends Lily (Zoë Lister) and Neal (Pancholy) who think everyone should get married, and Mark and Roxanne, who favor the opposite.
Luiz Chavez (“Crash”) has come aboard “S.I.L.A.”, the NBC drama pilot in the vein of “Traffic” and “Syriana”, about politics, crime and law enforcement in today’s Los Angeles. Chavez plays Manny, who does double working duty - for the police as well as a drug kingpin.

- Phoebe Tonkin (“H2O: Just Add Water”, “Home and Away”) has been added to The CW’s drama pilot “Secret Circle”. Based on the book series by L.J. Smith ("The Vampire Diaries"), it's about a young woman (Britt Robertson) moving to a new town where she finds out she's a witch and part of a secret coven. And she's the key to unlock a centuries-old battle between good and evil. Tonkin will play Faye, who is part of the witches’ circle. Thomas Dekker has been previously cast.

Source: Deadline