Channel Surfing: Cherry Wants Four More Seasons of "Desperate Housewives," John Glover to Play Sylar's Dad, Fuller Talks "Heroes," and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Mark Cherry announced that he would like to continue ABC's Desperate Housewives through 2013. While Cherry is signed on to executive produce the ABC drama through its seventh season and ABC has only committed so far to the current fifth season, there is currently no deal in place for any additional seasons beyond that. Cherry announced his intentions to keep Desperate Housewives on the air for nine seasons (rather than the seven he previously discussed) during a cast and crew celebration yesterday. "We've been talking with the studio and the network about the conceptual possibilities of additional seasons," said a source close to the situation, "but it's still dependent on a lot of things like cast willingness, ratings, etc... It sure seems like it could happen!" Yes, but four more seasons? (E! Online)

"I think the goal for everybody is to put a face back on the drama." Pushing Daisies creator/executive producer Bryan Fuller talks with Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello about his trip back to NBC's Heroes, where the series went wrong, and what he intends to do to help fix the sagging series. So what should fans expect? "People will die," said Fuller. "And some will return. Matt’s wife [Janice] comes back. We’ll find out what happens when you have a superbaby. We're also going to tell fewer stories per episode. We're going to limit it to three or four with one big one that you can wrap the stories around. We're altering the structure of the show so that there's a very clear A story that takes up a larger percentage of the show so that that story gets traction." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Speaking of Heroes, John Glover (Smallville) has been cast on the struggling NBC drama, where he'll play the father of Zachary Quinto's Sylar. "When Sylar meets his father, he's going to see a path ahead of him that he doesn't want to take," an insider tells Michael Ausiello. "He has a lot more in common with his father than he realized." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Looking for some more Fringe to tide you over until new episodes air next year? Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker has a round-up of all the Fringe-related websites available, from Massive Dynamics to Glowing Monkeys. (Los Angeles Times)

Tori Spelling is said to once again be in talks to appear on CW's 90210. Her storyline (and salary) is still under discussion but Donna Martin could be turning up this spring, possibly for one of the episodes that former 90210 cast member Jason Priestley is set to direct. (E! Online)

HBO is slated to air a live telecast of Will Ferrell's Broadway show You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George Bush. No word on when the pay cabler will air the special broadcast to be directed by Marty Callner; Ferrell's play begins preview performances on January 20th and runs through March 15th. (Variety)

Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) has been cast as the lead in Lifetime's four-hour miniseries Maneater, based on Gigi Levangie Grazer's book about a socialite who has a near breakdown when she realizes she's single and in her thirties and set her sights on bagging a Hollywood producer as a husband. Project, from Sony Pictures Television, will be directed by Timothy Busfield from a script by Suzanne Martin (Frasier).

Former FX marketing chief Chris Carlisle has been named president of fox21, the low-cost programming division of 20th Century Fox Television responsible for such series as Beauty and the Geek and Sons of Anarchy. He'll report to Dana Walden and Gary Newman. (TV Week)

DirecTV's 1o1 Network has dug up the corpse of ABC's canceled 2000 drama Wonderland and will air the two episodes that ran on ABC as well as six unaired installments, beginning January 14th. (Variety)

Showtime has ordered a pilot presentation for reality series Way Out, in which closeted gays reveal their sexual orientation during a group meeting that includes friends and family, from executive producer Bryn Freedman (Intervention). (Hollywood Reporter)

Anthony Pellicano's wife is pitching a reality series with Zoo Prods. following her and her three daughters as they cope with a life without Pellicano, who was found guilty of racketeering and conspiracy earlier this year. (Variety)

Susie Castillo (TRL) has been named co-host for NBC's midseason dance competition series Superstars of Dance, alongside former Lord of the Dance Michael Flatley. Series is set to launch on Sunday, January 4th at 9 pm. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.