Channel Surfing: "Do Not Disturb" Checks Out Early, Sarah Michelle Returns to TV, "Boston Legal," and More

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. Last night was quite a busy telly-viewing evening here in the Televisionary household, with brand-new episodes of Ugly Betty, The Office, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which once again managed to make me laugh until it hurt. Green man!

We may have our very first cancellation of the season on our hands with FOX's comedy Do Not Disturb. Series, which starred Jerry O'Connell and Niecy Nash and struggled in the ratings since its launch three weeks ago, has been preempted next week and will be replaced with a repeat of 'Til Death. (Ouch.) There was no official announcement as of press time from studio 20th Century Fox Television or the network about the fate of Do Not Disturb, but Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello claims that inside sources at the network have confirmed that the series has been cancelled. Let the guessing games about what the second cancelled series of the year will be begin! (Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Sarah Michelle Gellar has signed on to star in HBO's half-hour comedy pilot The Wonderful Maladys, about the dysfunctional lives of three adult siblings who lost their parents at an early age. In the project, from writer/executive producer Charles Randolph (The Interpreter), Gellar will play a character described as having "a king of zealous immaturity -- like a drug addict with a to-do list." Character was created by Randolph with Gellar in mind; pilot will likely be shot in early 2009. (Variety)

Melissa George (Alias) is in final negotiations to join the cast of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, where she will play an intern who is intended to be a potential love interest of their Sara Ramirez's Callie or Brooke Smith's Erica. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

TNT has ordered two procedural cop drama pilots, including an untitled project from writer/executive producer Doug Jung (Big Love) and executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Danny Cannon (CSI) about a squad of young undercover police officers as they find themselves torn between performing their duty and being seduced by corruption and cash. The other project ordered by TNT is Bunker Hill (formerly known as Morse Code), which stars Donnie Wahlberg and explores the "crime, corruption, and deceit" of the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Boston. Project comes from writer/executive producer Walon Green and executive producers Donnie Wahlberg and Jon Avnet, who is set to direct the pilot. (Hollywood Reporter)

FOX is developing an untitled single-camera workplace comedy from writer/executive producers Moses Port and David Guarascio, who created last season's CW comedy Aliens in America. Project is about a young man who takes a mood enhancer that breaks him out of his funk and he applies for a job at a pharmaceutical company, where he must deal with working for his high-powered female boss who is nicknamed "The Velvet Hammer." (Variety)

Could Jason Ritter be joining the cast of ABC's Brothers & Sisters as Ryan Walker, the secret child of William Walker? (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

In other FOX news, the network is developing a The New McToms, a single-camera half-hour comedy about a "conservative matriarch who must face the reality of her three children marrying ethnically diverse spouses." Project comes from ABC Studios, executive producer Salma Hayek, and writers Boyce Bugliari and Jamie McLaughlin. (Hollywood Reporter)

Julie Bowen is set to return to ABC's Boston Legal in November in the series' tenth episode. Just don't hold your breath waiting for Mark Valley to return... (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

True Blood has upped four actors to regular status when the series returns for its recently ordered second season. Former guest stars Mehcad Brooks (Desperate Housewives), Todd Lowe (Gilmore Girls), Deborah Ann Woll (The Mentalist), and Michelle Forbes (Battlestar Galactica) are all set to appear in the season finale, which airs later this fall. (Hollywood Reporter)

MTV has renewed reality competition series From G's to Gents, ordering ten episodes to run early next year. (Variety)

David Tennant is said to be suffering from Doctor Who withdrawal while acting alongside Patrick Stewart in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet, joking that "Shakespeare's all right, but he's lacking in spaceships." He went on to say, "It's nice to know that I'm coming back. I'll be reminded of [Doctor Who] in some shape or form pretty much every day until I start filming again in January." (Digital Spy)

ABC Studios has extended director Gary Fleder's overall deal; he's said to be developing a project with Jericho creator Jonathan Steinberg and is set to executive produce and direct CW pilot Light Years. This past development cycle, he directed the pilots for ABC's Life on Mars (launching October 9th) and Finnegan. (Variety)

Oxygen has acquired off-network rerun rights to the CW's America's Next Top Model, which it will begin to air in January. The cabler has purchased the rights to the full library of the series, including its current and future cycles. (TV Week)

Steve Valentine (Crossing Jordan) will sereve as host on Sci Fi's new reality competition series Estate of Panic, which follows seven contestants seeking hidden cash on an estate filled with all sorts of unexpected challenges. Series comes from Endemol and will launch on November 12th. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: The Mentalist (CBS); America's Toughest Jobs (NBC); Friday Night SmackDown! (CW; 8-10 pm); Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? (FOX)

9 pm: Presidential Debate (CBS; 9-11 pm); NBC News Special (NBC); Presidential Debate (ABC); Presidential Debate (FOX)

10 pm: Dateline (NBC); 20/20 (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

Um, I think I'll just go out instead...