Channel Surfing: Production Shut Down on "24", Kathryn Bigelow to Direct HBO Pilot, Ben Koldyke Talks "Big Love" and "Mother," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. Just a few headlines to get through today, which is Presidents' Day here in the US. (If you're lucky enough to have the day off, get out there and do something fun.)

Los Angeles Times' Maria Elena Fernandez is reporting that studio 20th Century Fox Television has temporarily suspended production on FOX's 24 in order to accommodate a medical procedure for series lead Kiefer Sutherland involving a ruptured cyst. Production on the series, likely in its final season, is thought to begin again in roughly a week and will not affect scheduling for Day Eight of 24. "While Kiefer Sutherland is frustrated to miss even one day of work, he and Fox decided together that it would be best to complete this minor elective procedure now as a precaution as opposed to six weeks from now when production wraps," said Sutherland's publicist Evelyn Karamanos in a statement. "He looks forward to returning to work next week." (Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker)

Academy Award nominee Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) will direct HBO family drama pilot The Miraculous Year. Project, written and executive produced by John Logan (Any Given Sunday), revolves around a "charismatic, self-destructive Broadway composer and his family in New York. Bigelow, who will receive an executive producer credit on the project, will direct the pilot but will not remain involved beyond that point, should the pilot be ordered to series. (Variety, Hollywood Reporter)

New York Magazine's Lauren Waterman talks with Big Love and How I Met Your Mother co-star Ben Koldyke about his simultaneous breakout performances on both an HBO drama and a CBS comedy... and why he still doesn't have a Wikipedia entry. [Editor: avoid this article if you haven't yet seen last night's episode of Big Love. But if you have viewed it, take a look at what Koldyke has to say about Dale's relationship with Alby.] (New York Magazine's Vulture)

Beau Garrett (Tron Legacy) has landed the female lead on CBS' untitled Criminal Minds spinoff, which revolves around a team of profilers who work outside of the FBI and report to Cooper (Forest Whitaker). Garrett will play Gina, described as "a tough girl and recent FBI recruit who is loyal to Cooper and the object of Mick's (Matt Ryan) flirting." (Hollywood Reporter)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello talks to House executive producer David Shore about the relationship between House (Hugh Laurie) and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein). "Eventually, it’s going to happen," Shore told Ausiello. "This is the thing we’ve been dancing around — even before we knew we were dancing around it. They’re two very flawed people, but they’re two people that are very attracted to each other. I’m a Huddy fan, [too]. Just keep watching the show. It’ll happen eventually." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Stephen Martines (The Closer) has been cast in a recurring role on the CW drama Vampire Diaries, where he will play "a bad-ass vampire named Frederick who is locked in the tomb where Katherine (Nina Dobrev) was once thought to be and is up to no good when released," according to The Hollywood Reporter's Nellie Andreeva.

BBC One have commissioned a second season of Reggie Perrin, starring Martin Clunes. The revival of the classic 1970s comedy, which launched last year, will return this autumn for its second season. (Broadcast)

Spike is looking to compete with World Wrestling Entertainment's WWE Raw (airing on USA) by moving its own wrestling franchise, TNA Impact, to Monday night. As part of the deal, TNA Impact will air live telecasts every other week. (Variety)

Stay tuned.