Channel Surfing: Aaron Bids Bye-Bye on "Gossip Girl," Cavanagh Returns to "Scrubs," HBO Gets "Hung," and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Those of us who loathed John Patrick Amedori's Aaron Rose on the CW's Gossip Girl have reason to celebrate today. The CW has confirmed that the December 8th episode that saw Serena heading off to Buenos Aires with Aaron will be the character's last appearance on the series. Whew. So what went wrong? "It was the facial hair," says Show Tracker's Enid Portuguez. I have to agree but I'd also add greasy hair and personality bypass. (Los Angeles Times)

Tom Cavanagh has confirmed that he will return to ABC's Scrubs this season as Dan, the screw-up brother of J.D. (Zach Braff), in an episode filmed in September that also sees the return of previous guest stars Amy Smart and Nicole Sullivan. Scrubs launches its final season on January 6th on ABC. (TV Guide)

Matt Lanter (Heroes) has been cast in a multiple-episode story arc on the CW's 90210, where he will play bad boy Liam, a potential love interest for AnnaLynne McCord's Naomi. Lanter's first episode is slated to air in February. (People)

HBO has ordered ten episodes of Thomas Jane-led dark comedy Hung, about a well-endowed high school basketball coach who puts his gifts to use as a gigolo. Series, created by Dmitry Lipkin (The Riches) and Colette Burson and directed by Alexander Payne (Election), is being eyed for a possible June launch. In addition to Jane, Hung also stars Jane Adams, Sianoa Smit-McPhee and Charlie Saxton. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC has handed out a pilot order for An American Family, a mockumentary-style single-camera comedy about three families living in the same suburban neighborhood, a traditional one with a a working dad, a stay-at-home mom, and three kids; another with a 60-year-old man who becomes a stepfather after marrying a much younger Colombian single mother; and a gay couple who have adopted a Vietnamese baby. Project, from 20th Century Fox Television, is written and executive produced by Steven Levitan and Christoper Lloyd, who recently created FOX's short-lived comedy Back to You. (Hollywood Reporter)

Party Down, the new Starz comedy series from Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas , has announced its cast, which includes Ken Marino (Veronica Mars), Adam Scott (Tell Me You Love Me), Jane Lynch (Role Models), Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks), Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars), and Lizzy Caplan (True Blood). Series, about a Los Angeles catering team comprised of Hollywood wannabes each hoping for their big break, will launch in March as a companion to comedy Head Cases. (via press release)

James Badge Dale (The Pacific) has been cast as the lead in AMC's untitled Jason Horwitch political thriller pilot opposite Miranda Richardson, Christopher Evan Welch, and Lauren Hodges. Dale will play Will Travers, a gifted analyst at a national think tank who discovers that his employers are not quite who they claim to be. Pilot, from Warner Horizon, will be directed by Allen Coulter (Damages). (Hollywood Reporter)

Sci Fi Channel has signed a new deal with Ghost Hunters creator Craig Piligian, under which the cabler will order six episodes of a college edition of the series (tentatively known as Ghost Hunters: New Generation), a sixth season of Ghost Hunters, a second season of Ghost Hunters International, and an undetermined new series to launch in 2010 that is separate from this franchise.

Comedy Central has ordered six episodes of scripted dating comedy Secret Girlfriend, based on a series of Web shorts on Fremantle's Atomicwedgietv.com. Series, from executive producer/showrunner Eric Weinberg, will be recast for linear television and is likely to launch in late 2009. (Variety)

Stay tuned.