Channel Surfing: ABC Benches "FlashForward" Until March, "V" Return Set, Whedon on "Dollhouse," and More

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing.

Looks like FlashForward won't be back in January, after all. ABC has announced its intentions to delay the return of FlashForward until March 4th, according to The Wrap's Josef Adalian. "Insiders said the network wants to run the remaining episodes without repeats," wrote Adalian. "Avoiding the Olympics onslaught in February is also part of the equation." However one issue that could become a narrative speed bump is the fact that it's still unclear how the revised scheduling will affect the series' key April 29th episode. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

ABC has revealed that sci-fi drama V, which aired four episodes last month, will return for the run of its back nine episodes beginning March 30th, when it will move into the Tuesdays at 10 pm ET/PT timeslot currently occupied by The Forgotten. The news means a sci-fi two-hour block of programming for ABC as V will air directly after Lost on Tuesdays. (HitFix)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan has a phenomenal interview with Joss Whedon about the end of Dollhouse, what's next for Joss, Dr. Horrible, and his views of cable network programming and development. "The problems that the show encountered weren’t standalone versus mythology [episodes]," Whedon told Ryan about Dollhouse. "Basically, the show didn’t really get off the ground because the network pretty much wanted to back away from the concept five minutes after they bought it. And then ultimately, the show itself is also kind of odd and difficult to market. I actually think they did a good job, but it’s just not a slam-dunk concept." It's a must read for fans of Whedon's work... or indeed fans of television, full stop. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

FOX has given a script order to supernatural drama Howl, described as "an epic family saga about warring families of werewolves in a small Alaskan town." Project, from DreamWorks Television, is written by Joshua Miller and M.A. Fortin and will be executive produced by Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. (Variety)

TVGuide.com's Natalie Abrams talks to Private Practice star (and former Veronica Mars co-star) Chris Lowell about last night's explosive episode of Private Practice. "What's so nice about this episode, in terms of that specifically, is that it's finally when you see a darker side of Dell," Lowell told Abrams. "Up until now, he's always been searching for the good, and the right, and the positive and he just got freaking ugly. He just wanted her to die. It was horrible. Some of the stuff I got to say was crazy. It was a lot of fun. You would've expected to see some mercy, but a wall went up with Dell." (TVGuide.com)

Trace Adkins, Joey Lauren Adams, Boyd Holbrook, and Claire van der Boom have joined the cast of Epix's Nashville drama pilot Tough Trade, from Lionsgate Television and executive producers Jenji Kohan and Chris Offutt. (Hollywood Reporter)

UK's Channel 4 has closed a deal for the UK rights to HBO's upcoming animated comedy The Ricky Gervais Show, which it will launch in March, just a few weeks after HBO's February 19th premiere. Series features the voices of Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington as they discuss a number of topics (it's based on their series of podcasts). "Channel 4, like HBO in the US, is the perfect home for this show, as they acquire innovative, cutting edge programmes such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Sopranos," said Gervais. "Like The Sopranos, C4 made me an offer I couldn’t refuse." (Broadcast)

Mark Burnett will executive produce Season Five of HGTV reality competition series HGTV Design Star. "We expect (Burnett and his team) will infuse 'HGTV Design Star' with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas," said Freddy James, HGTV SVP of programming development and production. (Variety)

Country music group Rascal Flatts will appear in an upcoming episode of CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation set to air next year. The episode, according to executive producer Carol Mendelson, is "a riff off [the group's] hit album, tour and song… [they'll] be playing themselves. One of the guys — and tear out my fingernails, but I won’t say who — will become the victim of a crime. The other two ‘Rascals’ will be suspects... thus, jeopardizing the future of the band." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Former Twenty Twenty executive Jamie Isaacs has been hired by reality production company Studio Lambert (CBS' upcoming Undercover Boss), where he will develop new unscripted formats and move the shingle into other areas of production. He'll report to Stephen Lambert. (Variety)

Stay tuned.