NBC Picks Up Chuck for 24-Episode Full Season (And, yes, Picks Up Chase Too)

No couch-lock here: NBC has picked up action-comedy Chuck for a full season.

Yes, it's official: the Peacock has indicated that Chuck's current fourth season will get its back nine episodes plus an additional two, bringing this season's total to 24 installments. The series had initially been renewed this season for just 13 episodes.

The news comes significantly earlier than last season, when the show's writers had completed a 13-episode arc (it launched in January rather than September) before receiving word of a back-nine pickup, leading to a mini-season in which Chuck and Sarah became a full-blown couple.

“Chase has introduced an appealing new star to television audiences in Kelli Giddish and we think it has potential to grow,” said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios, in a statement. “We also are glad that Chuck will be with us for a full season delivering its loyal, passionate audience.” [Editor: Bromstad seems to have forgotten about Past Life, clearly.]

In other news, NBC also picked up a full season of Jerry Bruckheimer's procedural drama Chase and ordered four additional scripts for J.J. Abrams and Josh Reims' espionage dramedy Undercovers.

So, Chuck fans: are you excited about the full season? And that the writers will be able to plan accordingly this time? Head to the comments section to discuss.

The full press release from NBC can be found below.

NBC ORDERS FULL-SEASON PICKUPS FOR NEW DRAMA ‘CHASE’ AND FOR RETURNING ‘CHUCK’
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – October 19, 2010 – NBC has given full-season pickups to the new high-octane drama “Chase” and the returning action-comedy “Chuck” for 2010-11. The announcement was made by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

“‘Chase’ has introduced an appealing new star to television audiences in Kelli Giddish and we think it has potential to grow,” said Bromstad. “We also are glad that ‘Chuck’ will be with us for a full season delivering its loyal, passionate audience.”

“Chase” is averaging a 2.0 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 6.5 million viewers overall in “most current” averages through its first five telecasts this fall. "Chase" has captured an 18 percent improvement in the time period versus year-ago "most current" results for NBC in 18-49 rating (with a 2.0 rating vs. a 1.7) and a 23 percent gain in total viewers (6.5 million vs. 5.3 million). "Chase" is heavily time-shifted, adding 21 percent to its "live plus same day" 18-49 rating when Nielsen issued "live plus seven day" results for the opening two weeks of the season (to a 2.66 rating from a 2.19).

Through October 18, “Chuck” has averaged a 2.2 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall in "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research. “Chuck” is heavily time-shifted, adding 29 percent to its "live plus same day" 18-49 rating when Nielsen issued "live plus seven day" results for the opening two weeks of the season (to a 2.56 rating from a 1.99).”

“Chase” (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) -- from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson ("Cold Case," "Reunion," "Lost") -- is a lightning-fast drama that showcases an elite team of U.S. Marshals that hunts down America's most dangerous fugitives. Kelli Giddish (“Past Life”) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down violent criminals on the run. Also starring are Cole Hauser (“K-Ville”), Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”) and Rose Rollins (“The L Word”). Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) also stars.

“Chase” is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television. Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” "Cold Case”) and Johnson are as executive producers, while KristieAnne Reed is the co-executive producer.

“Chuck” (Mondays, 8-9 p.m. ET) stars Zachary Levi ("Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel") as Chuck Bartowksi, a regular guy who also happens to be the government’s most vital secret agent. The cast also includes Adam Baldwin ("My Bodyguard") as Colonel John Casey and Yvonne Strahovski (the upcoming "The Killer Elite") as partner Sarah Walker. Also starring are: Joshua Gomez ("Without a Trace"), Sarah Lancaster ("What About Brian?"), Ryan McPartlin ("Living with Fran"), Mark Christopher Lawrence ("The Pursuit of Happyness"), Vik Sahay ("Time Bomb"), Scott Krinsky ("The O.C.") and Bonita Friedericy ("The West Wing").

"Chuck" is co-created by Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.," "Gossip Girl") and Chris Fedak, and is executive-produced by Schwartz, McG ("Charlie's Angels," "Terminator Salvation"), Fedak, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Nicholas Wootton. "Chuck" is produced by Fake Empire, Wonderland Sound and Vision, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Channel Surfing: Full Season for Raising Hope, Outlaw Arrested, Mary-Lynn Rajskub to Modern Family, The Office Has Glee, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

While the focus so far this season has been on early cancellations, FOX yesterday announced the first full season pickup for this woeful fall season, granting comedy Raising Hope a 22-episode order. News comes a week after the network axed drama Lone Star after just two episodes. "With Raising Hope, Greg Garcia captures a smart take on the working-class family with a great mix of wild comedy and a big dose of heart," said Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly. "The show is running like a Swiss clock, and we're very happy with how well audiences have responded so far -- so we're confident it will build an even bigger audience throughout the season." Meanwhile, the fate of timeslot lead-out Running Wilde is still very much up in the air. (Variety)

The news wasn't so good for the crew of NBC's struggling freshman drama Outlaw, as the production grinded to a halt after three low-rated installments, during which ratings tumbled from an initial 10.7 million to just 5 million. NBC still has five completed episodes of Outlaw on the shelf that are still scheduled to air and will make a final decision on the ultimate fate of the legal drama in the next few weeks. Which means that Outlaw hasn't been cancelled. Or at least not yet, anyway. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider, TVGuide.com)

Damn it, Chloe! TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck is reporting that former 24 star Mary-Lynn Rajskub is heading to ABC's Modern Family, where she will guest star as "the old high school girlfriend of then closeted Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson)" on an upcoming episode of the hit ABC family comedy. (TV Guide Magazine)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that an upcoming episode of NBC's The Office will feature a plot revolving around the employees of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin getting together to watch an episode of Glee. "According to an Office source, no Glee actors will actually appear in the episode," writes Ausiello. "Which means that no, Dwight will not get pantsed by Puck. (Curses!)" (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica) is set to guest star on an upcoming episode of Syfy's Eureka, which returns to the lineup early in 2011. "Got a very cool email today from an old BSG friend, now EP on Eureka," wrote Douglas on Twitter. "He asked me to come play. So, Chief does Eureka, tomorrow. Hells Yeah!" (via Digital Spy)

NBC has given a script order to comedy Party People from executive producer Ben Silverman. Yes, that Ben Silverman. The project, written by David Bickel (who will also executive produce), revolves around "entertainers who work at children's parties," and has been described as "a modern-day Taxi, only with with the under-employed grown-ups dealing with kids birthdays instead of shuttling passengers." (Hollywood Reporter)

UK viewers will get a chance to see Starz's upcoming period drama Camelot, following a deal between GK-tv and UK broadcaster Channel 4. The series, which stars Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, and Jamie Campbell Bowers, is set to launch on C4 in fall 2011. (Hollywood Reporter)

With ABC having yanked drama My Generation from its Thursday night lineup, the Alphabet has to figure out just what to do with the 8 pm real estate, which it will fill at least for the next few weeks with repeats of Grey's Anatomy. Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice suggests that the network should fill the timeslot with a reality franchise, a thought that I adhere to and had actually been wondering if they would follow through with, as it would be apt counter-programming against the dramas and comedies in the timeslot. "ABC also developed two additional comedies that are waiting in the wings – Mr. Sunshine starring Matthew Perry and Happy Endings from former ABC exec Jamie Tarses — but it seems far more likely the network will take advantage of the fact that no one’s airing a reality show in the timeslot and program its new unscripted show Secret Millionaire, instead," wrote Rice. "The program, which is based on a U.K. format and first premiered on Fox in 2008 and attracted more than 10 million viewers, follows Richie Riches who agree to leave their lavish lifestyles to go undercover in impoverished neighborhoods." Meanwhile, ABC may have to decide what to do with Wednesdays at 10 pm, should it axe the struggling legal drama The Whole Truth, though it's thought that the timeslot would go to Dana Delany's Body of Proof. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

Lifetime has ordered twelve episodes of docuseries Brighton Beach, which follows a group of Russian-Americans living near beachside Coney Island in Brooklyn. Project, from executive producers Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman, is expected to launch in 2011. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Memory Lives On Forever: An Advance Review of the Third Season Premiere of Fringe

When we last saw Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), she had gotten left behind in the alternate universe while her place with her friends was co-opted by her dark-haired doppelganger and the extraordinary second season of FOX's Fringe ended with our Olivia a prisoner of the Department of Defense.

Season Three of Fringe begins not with one opener, but with two, as "Olivia" and next week's "The Box" pick up the pieces of where we left off, offering not so much a window into the lives of the Fringe Division members, but two distinct windows into "over there" and "over here."

The effect is as intoxicating as it is compelling, establishing from the start that we'll be tracking the goings on in both dimensions throughout the early part of the season. But rather than confuse the viewer, the season opener(s) offer the perfect jumping on point for new fans as well as the die-hards who are dying to know just what that final reveal means for Olivia, as well as for Peter (Joshua Jackson) and Walter Bishop (John Noble).

The producers have wisely stuck to the color palettes established last season to denote the place of origin: over there episodes are bursting with red, from the crimson-hued opening sequence to vermilion lens flares throughout the episode, whereas over here episodes use the blue that we've come to know and love throughout the series' run. Its effect anchors the action and relegates it to a particular sphere, reminding the viewers of just which dimension they're in and where the plot is unfolding.

And unfold it does. "Olivia" picks up some time in the future, as Olivia Dunham is continually interrogated by agents of Walternate, the Secretary of Defense, even as her caretakers believe her to be suffering a psychotic delusion. They maintain that she is the Olympic bronze metal competitive shooter Olivia Dunham; she maintains that she's from another world. What is a Fringe Division agent to do?

While I don't want to spoil the plot twists that lie ahead in tonight's episode, I will say that Olivia crosses paths with a cabbie played by The Wire's Andre Royo, who attempts to help Olivia... Help with what? Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Royo is perfectly cast here as a sympathetic cabbie, even when faced with the danger trailing Olivia in the form of her alternate reality self's partners, Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) and Charlie Francis (Kirk Acevedo).

As Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has already reported, Royo will be making a return appearance on Fringe down the line. Which is a very good thing as he's not only excellent here but might be a deus ex machina for Olivia as she finds herself plummeting deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole over there.

Likewise, Torv does a fantastic job of portraying two vastly different aspects of Olivia Dunham, two women connected by an invisible thread whose lives have turned out very differently. Or have they? What defines us? Our experiences or our innate characteristics?

Meanwhile, what's happening on the other side of the looking glass? Hmmm. I will say that we get a snippet of information in "Olivia" that displays the circumstances that Walter and Peter find themselves in when they return from their cross-time caper. But fans will have to wait until next week's "The Box" to really see the Bishops--and Astrid (Jasika Nicole)--in action, as it offers an episode wholly set on their side of the dimensional divide as Walter grapples with the death of William Bell and the aftermath of rescuing Peter once more.

As for what that episode entails, I'm sworn to secrecy, but I will say that Alternate-Olivia's plans become far more clear as she begins preparations and gets closer and closer to Peter Bishop. Let's just say that last season's creepy trans-dimensional typewriter makes an appearance, an innocuous box is far deadlier than it appears, wood floors are hard to clean, testaments are made, and all tattoos can be temporary... All this, plus an eleventh hour plot twist that both makes sense entirely and is also wholly surprising, one that could alter one of the foundations of the series itself.

Is that vague? You bet. But stick around for the superlative first two episodes of Fringe's third season and you'll be rewarded by some taut storytelling, intriguing plot twists, and an appearance by the much-missed Gene the Cow. What else do you really need to hear?

Season Three of Fringe begins tonight at 9 pm ET/PT on FOX.

UPDATED: NBC Orders Full Seasons of "Community," "Parks and Recreation," and "Mercy"

It's about time: NBC has handed out a full season order to freshman single-camera comedies Community and Parks and Recreation as well as drama series Mercy.

News about the full season pickup of the Sony Pictures Television-produced Community--which stars Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, and Chevy Chase--was broken on Twitter by creator Dan Harmon, who wrote, "NBC ordered 9 more episodes of Community. I only went to community college for 1 semester, but MASH was longer than the Korean War, right?"

A source close to the production confirmed to Televisionary on Friday afternoon that Community has been picked up for a full season, bringing the episodic total this season to 22 installments.

UPDATE: Just minutes after posting the above, NBC has confirmed the full-season pickup for Community and announced additional full season orders for Parks and Recreation and Mercy, all three of of which have been extended to 22 episodes.

I couldn't be happier about the full season commitments for Community and Parks and Recreation and I tip my hat to NBC for not only taking chances with these winning comedy series but also allowing them time to grow and broaden their audiences. Best of luck and congratulations to the cast and writers on both series!

The full press release from NBC, announcing the pickups, can be found below.

NBC PICKS UP COMEDIES 'COMMUNITY' AND 'PARKS AND RECREATION' AS WELL AS FRESHMAN DRAMA 'MERCY' FOR FULL-SEASON COMMITMENTS

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. ˆ October 23, 2009 ˆ NBC has picked up the comedies "Community" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET) and "Parks and Recreation" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET) -- as well as the new drama "Mercy" (Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m. ET) -- for the rest of the season by adding nine additional episodes to each, it was announced today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"We are very pleased with the critical and audience reaction to our wonderful new comedy 'Community,'" said Bromstad. "The cast and producers are delivering a first-rate, quality show that is very promising as the newest of NBC's first-rate Thursday-night comedies."

About "Mercy," Bromstad added: "This drama has found a dedicated audience and continues to build in the ratings. We've seen future episodes and we're confident 'Mercy' can be a strong player for us." She continued, 'Parks and Recreation' has proven to be a steady performer for us on Thursday nights and gets better with every show. We look forward to continuing our creative collaboration with Amy Poehler, Greg Daniels, Michael Schur, and the rest of the great cast and production team."

So far this season, "Mercy" has averaged a 2.1 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall. "Mercy" has finished #1 in its time period in total viewers with each of its last three telecasts. "Mercy" is up 31 percent versus NBC's 1.6 average in this slot for the traditional 2008-09 season in adults 18-49. In total viewers, "Mercy" is up 37 percent versus NBC's 5.7 million in the hour during the traditional 2008-09 season.

"Community" has averaged a 2.6 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.7 million viewers overall so far this season. Since shifting to the Thursday 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) slot on October 8, "Community" has improved the time period by 12 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's average in the time period earlier this season. "Community" is also one of the most upscale series on primetime broadcast television, ranking #3 in concentration of homes with $100,000-plus incomes in its adult 18-49 audience.

"Parks and Recreation" has averaged a 2.1 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers overall this season. It's retained the time period's full adult 18-49 lead-in with six of six telecasts so far this season. With its most recent telecast on October 22, "Parks and Recreation" matched its highest adult 18-49 rating of the season (2.1) and hit a new season high in total viewers (4.9 million).

"Community" comes from Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program") and Emmy Award winners Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development"). The smart comedy series concerns a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked. With some help from his fellow classmates, Winger forms a study group who eventually learn more about themselves than their course work.

Also among the series stars who comprise the group are: Chevy Chase ("Chuck") as Pierce, a man whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel") as Britta, the 28-year-old dropout with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement") as Shirley, a sassy middle-aged divorcée; Danny Pudi ("Greek") as Abed, a pop-culture junkie; Alison Brie ("Mad Men") as Annie, a high-strung perfectionist; Donald Glover ("30 Rock") as Troy, a former high school football star trying to find his way and Ken Jeong ("The Hangover") as Spanish professor, Señor Chang.

"Community" is a Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap, Russo Brothers production, Universal Media Studios production in association with Sony Pictures Television. Russ Krasnoff ("The Soloist"), Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program"), Joe Russo ("Arrested Development"), Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development"), Garrett Donovan ("Scrubs"), Neil Goldman ("Scrubs") and Gary Foster ("The Soloist") serve as executive producers.

"Mercy" is from creator/executive producer Liz Heldens (NBC's "Friday Night Lights"), executive producers Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts ("Pushing Daisies") and Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. The new medical drama concerns the lives of the people who work at Mercy Hospital seen through the eyes of those who know it best ˆ its nurses.

Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling, "Dark Matter") is an Iraqi war veteran who has just returned to Mercy Hospital and joins with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jaime Lee Kirchner, "Rent" on Broadway) and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, "Gossip Girl"). The cast also includes James Tupper ("Men in Trees") as Dr. Chris Sands, a new doctor at the hospital who complicates Veronica's life, Diego Klattenhoff ("Supernatural") as Mike Callahan, Veronica's estranged husband, Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds") as Nurse Angel Lopez and James Le Gros ("Ally McBeal") as Dr. Harris.

"Mercy" is a production from BermanBraun and Universal Media Studios.

"Parks and Recreation," from Emmy Award-winning executive producers Greg Daniels (NBC's "The Office," "King of the Hill") and Michael Schur (NBC's "The Office," "Saturday Night Live"), is a mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government. The documentary cameras follow Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler, NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "Baby Mama") an ambitious, upbeat and mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana.

Also starring are: (Rashida Jones, NBC's "The Office") as a local nurse; Aziz Ansari ("Human Giant," "Scrubs") as Lesley's colleague; Nick Offerman ("Children's Hospital") plays Lesley's boss; Paul Schneider ("The Family Stone") is the city planner; Aubrey Plaza ("Mayne Street") is Lesley's uninterested college intern; Chris Pratt ("The O.C.," "Everwood") portrays a loser ex-boyfriend.

"Parks and Recreation" is a production of Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios. Along with Daniels and Schur, Howard Klein and David Miner also serve as executive producers for the series.

Channel Surfing: "Castle" Gets Full Season, Showrunner Marc Guggenheim Departs "FlashForward," Jason Momoa Ascends to HBO's "Thrones," and More

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing.

Good news for Castle fans: ABC has picked up the Nathan Fillion procedural drama series for a full season of 22 episodes after the series has performed well in its Monday night timeslot against tough competition from CBS. The news comes on the heels of ABC picking up first year series Modern Family, Cougar Town, The Middle, and FlashForward for full seasons, leaving only Hank, Eastwick, and The Forgotten the only new series that haven't received back nine pickups. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

I wonder if he saw this in his flashforward... Co-showrunner/executive producer Marc Guggenheim has stepped down from his position on the ABC sci-fi drama series FlashForward, leaving sole showrunning duties to co-creator David Goyer. "Because of Goyer's limited hands-on TV series experience, Eli Stone co-creator Guggenheim was brought in after the FlashForward pilot to help with the launch of the mystery drama based on Robert Sawyer's novel," writes the Hollywood Reporter's Nellie Andreeva. "After learning the ropes in a co-showrunner capacity on the original 12-episode order of FlashForward alongside Guggenheim, Goyer will fly solo for the series' back-nine order." (Hollywood Reporter)

Former Stargate Atlantis star Jason Momoa has been cast in HBO's fantasy pilot Game of Thrones, based on the George R. R. Martin novel series "A Song of Fire and Ice." Momoa will play "horse lord Khal Drogo," according to the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan. Also confirmed: The Prisoner's Jamie Campbell-Bower as Waymar Royce, Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark, Richard Ridings as Gared, Ron Donachie and Ser Rodrik Cassel, Donald Sumpter and Maester Luwin, and Ian McNeice as Ilyrio Mopatis. Filming on the pilot has just gotten underway this week in Northern Ireland. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Judy Greer (Miss Guided) has attached herself to a comedy project based on Elaine Szewcyzk's novel "I'm With Stupid." Project, which has a script order at ABC, will star Greer as Kas Sienkiewicz, "a Manhattanite who has a fling with a park ranger while on safari in South Africa. She returns home -- and the ranger tracks her down in New York." Szewcyzk will write and co-executive produce the ABC Studios-produced project, with Allan Loeb, Steve Pearl, and Richard Lewis attached as executive producers. Elsewhere, the network gave out a script order plus penalty to comedy We Are Here, about four friends who met at the University of Texas but all still live in Austin and deal with adulthood in different ways. Project, from Sony Pictures Television, is written by Hilary Winston (Community), who will executive produce with Anthony and Joe Russo. (Variety)

NBC is developing an untitled sitcom from writer/star Paul Rust (I Love You, Beth Cooper) that is based on his experiences working at Wal-Mart after college in his small Iowa hometown. Project, from Conaco Prods and Universal Media Studios, will be written by Rust, who is attached to star as himself in a fictional version of his own experiences. (Variety)

ABC has given a script order plus penalty to single-camera comedy Boyfred, about six twenty-somethings who keep in touch via a Web site created by the titular Fred, a web designer whose girlfriend has gone overseas. Project, based on a $6000 presentation, is written by Alan Schmuckler, Michael Mahler, Blake Silver, and Jarrod Zimmerman and is executive produced by Thomas Schlamme. The Sony Pictures Television-produced project is said to be music-intensive, with several tunes written by Schmuckler and Mahler. (Hollywood Reporter)

Comedy Central has acquired off-network rights to FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which the cabler will begin airing next summer. FX has already committed to a sixth and seventh season of Sunny, bringing the eventual total to 84 episodes. Deal marks the first time that a basic cable channel has purchased off-network rights to another basic channel's property. (Variety)

HBO has given a script order for an untitled drama to star Stanley Tucci as a "brilliant, one-time powerful politician struggling to rebuild his career and relationships with his family and friends after being brought down by a scandal." Project, from Lionsgate and Olive Prods., the shingle set up by Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci, and Wren Arthur, will be written by Stu Zicherman (Six Degrees). Elsewhere, the shingle has received a script order for animated family comedy Good and Evel at TBS; that project, written by Daria co-creator Glenn Eichler, "revolves around twin brothers Jack Good and Bo Evel [who were] stolen by gypsy cab drivers at birth and taught how to behave and drive badly; Bo is a career petty criminal, and Jack bends over backward to mend his brother's ways and help his dysfunctional family." (Hollywood Reporter)

The Wrap's Josef Adalian is reporting that GSN has given a series order to docusoap Carnie Wilson: Unstapled, which will follow Wilson's life as a "gameshow host, media personality, and wife/mother." Series, produced by World of Wonder, is slated to premiere January 14th. The move comes as GSN looks to broaden the scope of their lineup. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

Nat Geo will unveil its first global tagline, "Live Curious," on November 15th across all of its channels in 165 countries and 34 languages. The cabler also announced a seven-hour mini-series Great Migrations, which will explore animal migrations around the planet "using advanced camera technology." (Hollywood Reporter)

George Stephanopoulous is said to be in discussions to replace Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America when Sawyer leaves to anchor World News, according to Broadcasting & Cable's Marisa Gurthrie, citing multiple sources within ABC News. (Broadcasting & Cable)

iCarly co-stars Jerry Trainor and Jennette McCurdy have been cast in Disney Channel telepic Best Player, where they will play "two online game addicts who encounter each other on and off the computer." Project, slated for a 2010 premiere, is written by Rich Amburg and Justin Ware and will be directed by Damon Santostefano. (Variety)

Scott Sternberg Prods. and Weinberger Media will produce reality series Legal Ease, in which lawyers from Manhattan law firm Tacopina Siefel & Turano will give advice to ordinary people. It's still unknown whether the series will be pitched to cable networks or is intended for first-run syndication. (Hollywood Reporter)

Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic will produce the 82nd Academy Awards, replacing Bill Condon and Laurence Mark. The awards show is slated to air March 7th on ABC. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

ABC Ties Friendship Bracelet on "FlashForward," Picks Up Series for Full Season

I wonder if the victims of the blackout saw this coming.

It's hardly a surprise but ABC has today announced that it has handed out a full season order to serialized sci-fi drama series FlashForward, which recounts the aftermath of a global incident in which the world's population glimpsed visions of their future six months from now. (UPDATE: The network has ordered twelve additional episodes of FlashForward, bringing the season total to 25 installments, per E! Online's Jennifer Godwin.)

The ABC Studios-produced series, which stars Joseph Fiennes, Sonya Walger, John Cho, Jack Davenport, and a sprawling ensemble cast too numerous to list, has aired three episodes to date and has fared well in the ratings, improving the Thursday at 8 pm timeslot by 32 percent compared to former inhabitant Ugly Betty, which returns this Friday in its new home on Friday nights.

The news comes on the heels of full season pickups for ABC's comedies Modern Family, Cougar Town, and The Middle.

Here's what ABC had to say about FlashForward's performance so far: "From 8:00-9:00 p.m. on Thursday, ABC’s FlashForward ranks No. 1 in Adults 18-49, leading CBS’ time-period veteran Survivor: Samoa. On its series debut telecast, the new ABC drama became the first regular program since Friends in 2004 to beat Survivor in the key young adult sales demo. The ABC freshman is an exceptionally strong draw among Adults 18-34, dominating its time period and qualifying as TV’s No. 1 new drama series this season. The new series is greatly improving its time period year to year for ABC, boosting the hour by 1.8 million viewers and by 32% in Adults 18-49 over the same nights last year. Based on DVR playback during season-premiere week, FlashForward finished as TV’s biggest freshman gainer, as its numbers jumped by 2.0 million viewers (12.5 million to 14.5 million) and 8-tenths of an Adult 18-49 rating point (4.1 rating to 4.9 rating) from the initially reported next-day numbers to DVR finals."

What do you think of the FlashForward pickup? Is it wishful thinking on ABC's part that the series will develop into a Lost-sized hit or is it a justified reward? Discuss.

This Is How You Make Your Horsey Go: ABC Picks Up Full Seasons of "Modern Family," "Cougar Town," "The Middle"

Oh happy day!

ABC has announced that it has ordered full seasons of three of its four new Wednesday comedies, including Modern Family, The Middle, and Cougar Town.

News comes after the third airing of Modern Family and Cougar Town and the second episode of Patricia Heaton-led family comedy The Middle; all have performed well in the ratings, even against tougher competition last night.

Noticeably absent from the pickups: Kesley Grammer's Hank, which kicks off ABC's new Wednesday night comedy block on Wednesdays.

It's a vote of confidence for a genre that ABC hasn't had a lot of luck with until this season and very well deserved, especially for Modern Family, regarded by many--including this jaded writer--as the best new series of the season.

News of the pickups quickly spread over Twitter this afternoon, following tweets from Modern Family's cast and crew.

Channel Surfing: CBS Picks Up "Wife" and "NCIS: LA," Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat to Script HBO Comedy, Panettiere's "Heroes" Clinch, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

CBS has given full season orders to freshman dramas NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife, which are respectively the first and second best-rated new series of the season and have assisted in CBS winning the last three Tuesday ratings matches. (via press release)

Ellen Page, Alia Shawkat, and Sean Tillmann will write and executive produce a single-camera comedy pilot script entitled Stitch N' Bitch for HBO. The project will follow "two painfully cool hipster girls as they relocate from Brooklyn's Williamsburge neighborhood to Los Angeles' Silver Lake enclave in hopes of become artists -- of any kind," according to Hollywood Reporter's Nellie Andreeva and Matthew Belloni. The trio might also star in the project if it's picked up to pilot but any decision of that kind will be made at a later date. (Hollywood Reporter)

SPOILER! E! Online's Jennifer Godwin has details about Hayden Panettiere's upcoming lesbian kiss on Monday night's episode of NBC's Heroes and reports that there's a twist to the lip-lock that features a third party, also played by a woman. As for who she is, Godwin writes, "You hated her guts on another series we love, and you rejoiced mightily when she was written off at the end of the season." Hmmm... (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Former Desperate Housewives scribe Kevin Murphy has joined the writing staff of Syfy's Caprica as co-executive producer. "As a rabid Battlestar Galactica fan, it's hard not to go in that writers room and not just grin ridiculously," Murphy told Variety. "These are the people who made the best TV show ever. To be able to be a part of the legacy of that show, I'd be willing to pay them for that." The writer also has several other projects in development, including an adaptation of Kate Torgovnick's nonfiction book "Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders" at CW with studio Warner Bros. Television and Tom Welling's production company Tom Welling Prods and USA's Velvet Hammer, a drama about a female FBI agent with CBS Studios. (Variety)

CBS has signed a talent holding deal with Jason Clarke, under which the Australian actor will star in a drama pilot for next season. Move comes on the heels of Clarke's performance in the network's untitled U.S. Attorney drama project. (Hollywood Reporter)

Showtime has ordered six half-hour episodes of reality series Behind the Green Room Door, a series of "no-holds-barred chat sessions" between prominent comics and host Paul Provenza. Series, which will air in the second quarter of 2010, will feature such comedians as Jonathan Winters, Eddie Izzard, Robert Klein, and Penn Jillette. (Variety)

Syfy announced on Tuesday at their press junket in Vancouver that the network will air its four-hour miniseries Alice on December 6th and December 7th. Written and directed by Nick Willing (Tin Man), the RHI-produced mini stars Caterina Scorsone, Kathy Bates, Matt Frewer, Tim Curry, Colm Meaney, Harry Dean Stanton, and Phillip Winchester.

TVGuide.com's Kate Stanhope talks with Law & Order executive producer Rene Balcer about the series' upcoming Jon & Kate Plus Eight-inspired episode, "Reality Bites," set to air on October 16th, which follows the star of the fictional Larry Plus 10, a reality series about a father looking after his ten adopted special needs children after his wife is killed. "It seems to be coming at a good time," said Balcer. "Aside from people being amused, bemused, disgusted and shocked at their exploits, [people] are probably looking for some other perspective on it." (TVGuide.com)

FX has opted to double the episodic order for its upcoming animated comedy series Archer before the series has even debuted. (The Wrap)

Planet Green has ordered ten episodes of unscripted series Beekman Farm, which revolves around two Manhattanites, a doctor and his ad exec/drag queen lover, who leave behind the city for an upstate New York farm. Project from World of Wonder, will launch in the spring. (Variety)

The Los Angeles Times has details on BET's eight-episode docudrama The Michael Vick Project. (Los Angeles Times)

Sony Pictures Entertainment will sell off its 21 percent stake in Liz Murdoch's Shine after growing concerns of conflict of interest now that the company is actually a major competitor with the studio. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: FOX Keeps "Glee" Singing, Heather Locklear Returns to "Melrose Place," Barrowman Hints at "Doctor Who" Appearance, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing. I'm back in the land of the living after recovering from a truly extraordinary Emmy evening the other night. Let's get to the headlines.

FOX has given a full season order to musical comedy Glee, picking up the back nine episodes to bring this season's total to 22 segments. While the cast had already filmed the thirteen initial episodes, there had been no word if FOX would be going ahead with the production until yesterday. Meanwhile, E! Online's Jennifer Godwin has the scoop on some upcoming plot points for the ten remaining unaired episodes from Glee's initial order, including some potential romantic complications for, well, everyone. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

The CW has announced that Heather Locklear will reprise her role as conniving Amanda Woodward on the resurrected Melrose Place later this season. Locklear is set to first appear in the November 17th episode though the reasons behind her return to the courtyard apartment complex remain a mystery. (Editor: could it have to do with Sydney stealing her thunder by faking her death too?) Zap2It wonders whether Locklear's Amanda could have a familial relationship with Katie Cassidy's Ella but that remains speculation at the moment. (Zap2It)

Torchwood star John Barrowman has hinted that he might make an appearance in this year's final David Tenannt Doctor Who specials. (Editor: I predicted as much back when Torchwood: Children of Earth wrapped its run earlier this summer.) Barrowman, asked by Metro about whether he would be returning to Doctor Who, said, "I'll put it this way - Captain Jack will always return to the side of The Doctor when he needs assistance." Hmmm... (Digital Spy)

John Glenn (Eagle Eye) will write the script for FOX drama pilot Fallen, described by the Hollywood Reporter as "a real-world drama that revolves around a group of vigilante "fallen" angels who take down the criminal and the corrupt in New York while falling in love, battling demons and seeking their own personal revenge." Project, from 20th Century Fox Television and the Chernin Co., will be executive produced by Glenn, Peter Chernin, and Katherine Pope. (Hollywood Reporter)

CBS is staying in the crime drama business. The network has given script orders (with penalties) to two projects from Sony Pictures Television. The first is an untitled crime drama from Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) about a quirky college professor who solves crimes; Tolan will executive produce with Michael Wimer. The second is The Rememberer, from writer/executive producer Ed Redlich (Without a Trace), about a female NYPD cop who has the secret ability to recall everything that she experiences. Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly will also executive produce. (Variety)

SPOILER! E! Online's Watch with Kristin chats with House star Jesse Spencer about what's coming up for Chase this season. "I'm back on the team," Spencer told E! Online's Jennifer Godwin. "It's kinda old-school: Cameron and Chase, kickin' it old-school. The merging of the teams is a work in progress. People are back and forth, and in and out, but I think very soon it's going to be a complete conglomeration of old and new. It's going to be a new dynamic for the team, which I think is going to be really good... I've got a lot of storylines coming my way. There's a bit of dodgy doctoring going on. But dodgy doctoring is all we do on the show. Bend the rules a little bit--that's what House does. If House was practicing medicine [in the real world], he'd have lot his license on day one." (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Michael Fresco (My Name is Earl) will direct single-camera FOX comedy pilot Keep Hope Alive, from writer/executive producer Greg Garcia and 20th Century Fox Television, about a 25-year-old man who--wait for it-- is "raising an infant with the help of his quirky family after the mother of the baby, with whom he had a one-night stand, ends up on death row." (Hollywood Reporter)

FX has announced that it will launch comedy series The League in the 10:30 pm timeslot following It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia beginning October 29th. Series, from Jeff Schaffer and Jackie Marcus Schaffer, follows the exploits of a fantasy football league. Meanwhile, the cabler also announced that animated comedy Archer (which aired its pilot via a sneak peek on Thursday evening) will launch in January and Louie will kick off sometime during the first quarter. (via press release)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello talks to Mariska Hargitay about what's coming up on Law & Order: SVU via a video interview at Sunday's Emmy Awards. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Variety is reporting that the Television Critics Association will return to the Langham Hotel in Pasadena for the Winter Press Tour in January but has secured the Beverly Hilton for the next three Summer Press Tours, beginning with the 2010 session, slated to run July 17th to August 8th. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Less "Heroes" Staff, More "Kath & Kim" for NBC, Jennie Garth Says No to "Melrose Place," "Samantha Who," "Chuck," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. Although it wrapped its second season only last weekend, I am already distinctly feeling the loss of Mad Men from my Sunday nights. At least I've still got Skins to look forward to before the start of the work week. (I also watched next week's episode of Chuck--easily the very best installment of the series to date--and witnessed The Kiss that everyone will be talking about come next Tuesday.)

Writer/producers Jesse Alexander and Jeph Loeb have been fired from the writing staff of NBC's Heroes, now in its third season. Both have been with the series since its first season and oversaw the day-to-day running of the production under the guidance of creator Tim Kring. While NBC and Universal Media Studios declined to comment, it's well known that execs were frustrated with the series' creative direction and its sizable budget overruns, said to be in excess of its already weighty $4 million per episode. (Variety)

In a surprising move, NBC has given a full season pickup to freshman comedy Kath & Kim, which is based on the (far superior) Aussie series of the same name. In the four installments that have aired to date, Kath & Kim has averaged a 2.6/6 in adults 18-49 and 6 million total viewers. Hardly a hit by any stretch of the imagination, but the Peacock is pointing to the fact that Kath & Kim has held onto all of lead-in My Name is Earl's audience and built upon its 18-34 rating by four percent. (Variety)

ABC has given a vote of confidence to sophomore comedy Samantha Who?, ordering seven additional episodes of the series. While the episodic order is slightly shorter than the traditional back nine, the Alphabet has a surplus of midseason comedies--Scrubs, The Goode Family, Better Off Ted, Single With Parents, and According to Jim are all on deck--and could do with a slightly shorter run for Samantha. (Variety)

Jennie Garth has said that she will not appear in Melrose Place, the CW's latest attempt to reinvigorate its sagging schedule by relaunching a Darren Star hit of the 1990s. Garth, soon to return to 90210, said that we shouldn't hold our breaths waiting for Kelly Taylor to visit Melrose Place. "I think they should keep it separate," said Garth. "And no, I don’t want to do it." (E! Online)

On the subject of Melrose Place, many are wondering just which members of the original cast would be returning to their former stomping ground. Michael Ausiello figures it's only a matter of time before Heather Locklear is asked to put on a power suit and, er, suit up again as icy Amanda, despite the fact that she faked her death in the series finale to be with lover Peter. As for which showrunners are in contention to oversee the planned series, Ausiello mentions that CW boss Dawn Ostroff is looking for a Melrose boss internally and One Tree Hill's Mark Schwann did recently sign an overall deal with CBS Paramount Network TV. Personally, I think Schwann is a monumentally bad idea and think that there has to be someone more capable on the payroll at CBS Paramount. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Andy Richter and Jenny McCarthy will guest star in a February episode of NBC's Chuck entitled "Chuck Versus the Suburbs," in which Chuck and Sarah go undercover in the 'burbs as a married couple in order to unmask a Fulcrum agent hiding in a housing development. Richter and McCarthy will play Chuck and Sarah's new neighbors. (E! Online)

FX may have found its successor to The Shield, which wraps its run later this month. The cabler is developing NYC cop drama Staten Island, with Lawrence O'Donnell (The West Wing) attached to write and executive produce the project, which will revolve around a "compromised police chief" on Staten Island. (Hollywood Reporter)

CBS has handed out a seven-episode order to an untitled reality competition series that will follow several families from a particular neighborhood who compete against one another for a grand prize. Project comes from Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor), Warner Horizon, and Next Entertainment. (Variety)

NBC has handed out a script order for multi-camera comedy Changing Positions, from writer/executive producer Jim Herzfeld (Meet the Parents) about a Wall Street player who loses everything and is forced to move his wife and kids in with his wealthy and "very sexually active" parents in a compound in the Hollywood Hills, paid for by their involvement in some instructional sex videos in the 1980s. Doug Liman and David Bartis will also executive produce the project, from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven. (Hollywood Reporter)

Nikki Finke says that Media Rights Capital, currently controlling the CW's Sunday night block of programming, has canceled two of its series. Valentine and Easy Money, which had been placed on production hiatus last month, have been put on, well, permanent hiatus and won't be returning to the schedule. Two replacements will be named soon. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Universal Media Studios has signed a two-year overall deal with Michael Green, creator and executive producer of NBC's midseason drama Kings. Under the terms of the deal, Green will continue at the creative helm of the series. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: ABC Picks Up Tab for "Private Practice," Showtime Keeps "Dexter" Killing, Bomer and DeKay Try On "White Collar," Tony Hale, and More

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing. I'm still on cloud nine after last night's perfect combination of sweet and tart on BBC America's Gavin & Stacey. Could that series be any funnier or any more genuinely emotional? It's well lush.

Looks like Kate Walsh won't be returning to Seattle Grace any time soon. ABC has picked up Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice for a full season of 22 episodes. Series, which had its freshman season truncated due to the writers strike, has averaged 3.2/8 in adults 18-49 and 8.3 million viewers across two original episodes this fall. (Variety)

Showtime wants more Dexter: the pay cabler announced that it had renewed the serial killer drama for two additional seasons (that would be Season Four and Season Five) of twelve episodes each. Production on Season Four will begin in Los Angeles next spring. (Hollywood Reporter)

CBS has ordered two additional scripts for freshman comedy Worst Week, which--after premiering to some dismal numbers--has remained steady in the ratings with a 3.2/7 among adults 18-49 and 9.9 million viewers overall. (Yep, Worst Week is doing better than Private Practice, folks.) (TV Week)

Tim DeKay (Carnivale, Tell Me You Love Me) has been cast as the lead of USA's 90-minute drama pilot White Collar, opposite Matthew Bomer. DeKay's attachment lifts the cast contingency on the project, which will be directed by Bronwen Hughes (Burn Notice) and comes from Fox TV Studios and writer/executive producer Jeff Eastin. (Hollywood Reporter)

In other casting news, Gina Torres (Standoff, Dirty Sexy Money), Brett Davern (American Summer), Scott Cohen (The Return of Jezebel James), Sammi Hanratty (American Girl), and Jen Drohan have been cast in Lifetime's drama pilot The Amazing Mrs. Novak. (Hollywood Reporter)

Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Chuck) and newcomer Ben Koldyke (Thirteen Days) have been cast in FOX comedy pilot Boldly Going Nowhere, from the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia boys. Koldyke will play a rogue spaceship captain in this high-concept comedy that looks at the lives of the ship's crewmembers between intergalactic missions. Hale will play the ship's put-upon robot. (Hollywood Reporter)

CBS Paramount has signed a first-look deal with comedy troupe Second City Entertainment; under the deal, the studio will have a crack at the troupe's performer/writers who will workshop potential projects for pilot consideration. (Variety)

Rosie O'Donnell will star in and executive produce telepic America for Lifetime, about a 16-year-old boy who struggles within the foster care system. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: NBC Orders More "Knight Rider," Brody and Tudyk Find "Good Vibes" at FOX, "Fringe," and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

NBC has given a full season pickup to Knight Rider, bringing this season's total to 22 episodes despite sagging ratings. And that's all I want to say on the subject. (E! Online)

CW has ordered a few additional scripts for freshman drama series Privileged, which has struggled to find ratings though has shown significant improvement in recent weeks (it's up 22 percent) despite softening numbers for its lead-in, 90210. Should the trend continue, it seems fairly certain that Privileged will get a full season order. (Hollywood Reporter)

One of my main suggestions for improving FOX's Fringe involved giving its supporting cast some real dimension, especially Jasika Nicole's Astrid Farnsworth. Nicole speaks with TV Guide and reveals in this interview that she doesn't know Astrid's backstory either, other than "Astrid majored in music" and is "really, really smart." Not quite the three-dimensional backstory I was hoping for... though look for Astrid to become slightly more integral to the plot in episode 107. (TV Guide)

While David Tennant hasn't walked away from Doctor Who, rumors continue to swirl about possible replacements. Yet another candidate has emerged as a potential new Doctor, should Tennant decide not to pilot the TARDIS again. Paterson Joseph (Peep Show) may be the first black actor to play the Doctor though no one from production have in fact confirmed that Joseph is being considered for the role. He most recently appeared on screen in BBC's Jekyll mini-series, which was written by Steven Moffat, Doctor Who's inbound executive producer/head writer. Coincidence? You decide. (Sci Fi Wire)

Ricky Gervais has indicated that his short-lived BBC/HBO series Extras might not be over yet and that he wants to produce "another Christmas special" of the series, despite protests from co-creator Steven Merchant. "I think it would be funny to see Andy trying to make it in Hollywood," said Gervais in an interview. "The problem is, I don't think Stephen Merchant wants to do it. But I reckon he will if I insist!" (Digital Spy)

Adam Brody (The O.C.), Josh Gad (Back to You), Debi Mazar (Entourage), Olivia Thirlby (Juno), Alan Tudyk (Firefly), and Jake Busey (Broken) have been cast in FOX's animated comedy pilot presentation Good Vibes. Project, from writer/director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express), 20th Century Fox Television, and Good Humor TV, is under consideration for spring and centers on two high school surfers who live near the beach. Cast will table read the script in November. (Variety)

In other FOX news, the network has signed a talent holding deal with Broadway star Kathryn Hahn, who starred on NBC's Crossing Jordan for six seasons. Under the deal, the network will cast her in either a comedy or drama project, though look for the talented thespian to most likely turn up in a comedy or dramedy. (Hollywood Reporter)

And Vince Vaughn has signed a deal to develop and executive produce a single-camera comedy pilot about the lives of young men who are just out of college and discovering truths about the real world. Pilot will be written by Jim and Steve Armogida (Grounded for Life). (Variety)

Bridget Moynahan (Six Degrees) will star opposite Donnie Wahlberg in Bunker Hill, Jerry Bruckheimer's drama pilot for TNT about crime and corruption in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Boston. Wahlberg (Runaway) will play Mike Moriarty, a cop who grew up in Boston who returns to his home town to protect the streets of his beloved city but clashes with his sister-in-law Erin (Moynahan) who has a love/hate relationship with Mike since the death of her cop husband. (Hollywood Reporter)

More casting announcements: Kevin Sussman (Ugly Betty) has been cast as the lead in FOX's comedy pilot presentation Sincerely, Ted L. Nancy; his attachment has lifted the cast contingency on the project. Jessalyn Gilsig (Nip/Tuck) has signed on as a regular on FOX's dramedy pilot Glee from Ryan Murphy; she'll play Terri, the put-upon wife of Will (Matthew Morrison), a Spanish teacher who attempts to resurrect the high school's glee club. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: FOX Issues Reprieve for "Sarah Connor," "Lost" Movie Unlikely, "Chuck," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. Quite a lot of good telly on last night, including new episodes of Skins, Mad Men, Amazing Race, and Little Britain USA, not to mention another installment of Masterpiece Contemporary's The Last Enemy. Whew.

FOX has issued a reprieve for ratings-starved sci-fi action drama Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The series has been given a full season order for its second season, which averaged a 2.3/6 in adults 18-49 in its last original airing. Many insiders had pegged the series as a goner, proving that there's obviously still some life in the Terminator franchise yet. (Variety)

Zeljko Ivanek (Damages) has been cast in Season Three of Heroes, where he'll appear in a multiple-episode story arc playing a character known as the Hunter in Volume Four of the series, which is subtitled "Fugitives" and is set to kick off in January or February of 2009. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Entertainment Weekly's Marc Bernardin says that Chuck's Yvonne Strahovski is "TV's most underrated actress [or] she's definitely in the top five." Do we think that the Aussie native who plays Chuck's CIA handler Sarah Walker is unduely underrated? Or do we instead think of her as one of telly's greatest secrets? (Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch)

In its second outing, ABC's Life on Mars lost about 30 percent of its premiere numbers and finished behind CBS' Eleventh Hour in the 10 pm timeslot on Thursday. The second episode of Life on Mars managed to grab only a 2.5/7 in adults 18-49 and 8.22 million viewers overall (vs. its original 3.7/10 and 11.33 million viewers) and only retained 42 percent of its lead-in from Grey's Anatomy. One doesn't need to be a time-traveling detective to see that this is not good. (Variety)

J.J. Abrams teases MTV with the possibility of a feature film version of ABC's Lost but admits that it's probably unlikely that the castaways will grace the silver screen. "There’s a chance," said Abrams in an interview, "but my gut is it would never happen.” (I have to say that, as much as I love Lost with a fiery passion, I hope it stays on television where it belongs.) (MTV)

Hope Davis (Six Degrees) and John Mahoney (Frasier) have been cast in Season Two of HBO's drama In Treatment. Davis will play high-powered, childless malpractice lawyer Mira while Mahoney will play Bill, a super-confident CEO who feels that his life has slipped away. Elsewhere, Jeffrey Nordling (24) has signed on to star opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's drama pilot Time Heals; he'll play Tom Wakefield, the hospital's director of medicine. (Hollywood Reporter)

CBS Paramount Network Television has signed a talent holding deal with Rob Riggle (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), under which he will create and star in a half-hour comedy on CBS. (Variety)

Jeff Probst, Mark Burnett, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition executive producer Denise Cramsey have sold a pilot to CBS called Live Like You're Dying, which will feature a person with a terminal illness who will receive a chance to go "on the last adventure of their life,” which will include reunions with lost friends or estranged family members and living out their personal dreams. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

In other CBS news, the network's interactive division is launching a new online feature that is has dubbed "social viewing rooms," which combines the social networking aspects of a chat room with video streaming, allowing fans to interact whilst watching the network's online content. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: "Star Trek," Will Arnett, "The Mentalist," David E. Kelley Briefs NBC, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

While not totally TV-related, you can see a sneak peek of the cover of the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (which hits newsstands tomorrow) to the right, depicting Heroes' Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine as Spock and Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. The issue also features an in-depth interview with Abrams, in which he talks about Star Trek, his YouTube-fueled feud with William Shatner, and also features quotes from Leonard Nimoy and Quinto about the new film.

Are you GOB Bluth? FOX is said to be in final negotiations for a talent/development deal with Will Arnett (Arrested Development); under the deal, FOX would develop a comedy vehicle for Arnett or cast him in a pre-existing project at the network. Arnett, who is currently recurring as Devon Banks on NBC's 30 Rock, also stars (or his voice does, anyway) in FOX's upcoming animated comedy series Sit Down, Shut Up. (TV Week)

Not such good news, however, for another Arrested Development alum. Jessica Walter has been downgraded from series regular to recurring status on CW's 90210, where she plays boozy faded actress Tabitha. The rationale is said to be budget-related, though Jessica Lowndes (who plays irritatingly shrill Adrianna) has been promoted to regular. As much as I love Walter, I have to say that her talents are being tragically wasted here and I hated the way that the writers trotted her out to utter a few humorless lines every couple of episodes. Let's hope she finds some more challenging material quickly. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

CBS has handed out a full season order to Warner Bros. Television's drama The Mentalist, this season's top new drama in viewers and adults 25-54. Series, which stars Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman, and Amanda Righetti, has averaged 16.14 million viewers so far. (Futon Critic)

NBC has issued a series order for a new untitled legal drama from David E. Kelley and Warner Bros. Television (Kelley moved to a new deal at Warners earlier this year), the first scripted deal that Kelley has struck at NBC since LA Law in the 1980s. Series will be "set in a Chicago law firm and revolves around an aging partner and his daughter who works with him as well as a host of eccentric characters around them." Should the pilot not go to series, NBC is on the hook with what's said to be a multi-million dollar penalty. (Variety, Hollywood Reporter)

In other Peacock news, NBC has ordered three additional scripts for midseason drama Medium, which is slated to return to the lineup this winter. However, insiders have indicated that Medium may return as soon as this fall. (Hollywood Reporter)

James Strong will direct the Doctor Who Easter Special, slated to air in the UK in 2009. The Easter Special was co-written by Russell T. Davies and Gareth Roberts. Strong has previously helmed several episodes of Doctor Who, including "The Impossible Planet," "Daleks In Manhattan," "Voyage Of The Damned," and "Partners In Crime." (Digital Spy)

Jason Priestley will guest star on an upcoming episode of My Name Is Earl, where he'll play a character named... Brandon, "Earl's better-looking and more successful cousin, whom we first meet in a flashback to Earl and Joy's first wedding anniversary. On that memorable day, viewers will learn, Earl discovered that prior to his marriage, Joy had a steamy affair with his cousin." (TV Guide)

In other casting news, Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin will guest star on CW's Gossip Girl, where she won't play herself but rather created specifically for her by the series' writers. Liukin wasn't sure whether her character would be appearing in just one episode or in several. (Reuters)
Desperate Housewives' Gale Harold is in critical condition following a motorcycle accident yesterday but is expected to recover. Harold plays Susan's boyfriend Jackson on the current season of Desperate Housewives. Executive producer Marc Cherry acknowledged that some rewrites would have to be done in light of Harold's accident. (New York Times)

Spike has renewed reality series DEA and ordered two new series: nine-episode Deadliest Warrior, which features computer-rendered bouts between historical fighters from Morningstar Entertainment, and ten one-hour episodes of Surviving Disaster, in which former Navy SEAL Cade Coutley offers viewers tips on how to survive various disasters such as earthquakes, terrorist attacks, and plane crashes, from Wall to Wall Media. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: "Fringe" Gets Full Season, "Daisies" Fails to Bloom, Showtime Announces "Tara" Launch, "Survivor" Flap at CBS, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

But is it The Pattern? The big news is, of course, the full season pick up for FOX's freshman drama Fringe, bringing this season's total to 22 episodes. "We're having a blast working on this show with this great team of producers and amazing cast," said FOX Entertainment president Kevin Reilly. "The series has really taken off creatively, and it's exciting to see that the audience is responding. We believe this is the first full season of many years to come." The pickup for Fringe marks the second full season order so far this year; last month, the CW ordered a full season of 90210. To date, Fringe has ranked as the number one new series among adults 18-49 this season. (Variety)

Pushing Daisies' second season launch plummeted in the ratings, sadly. "Despite strong reviews, the return of Daisies (6.3 million viewers, 2.0/6) had the steepest drop of any show this fall, declining a roller coaster-style 55% to a series-low fourth place at 8 p.m." Ouch. Let's hope that ABC doesn't get trigger-happy and cancel Daisies just as it's returning to the airwaves. Fans looking to send pie to ABC execs better start baking now, well in advance of Daisies' initial 13-episode order conclusion. Sigh. (Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed)

Showtime will launch its newest scripted comedy, The United States of Tara, starring Toni Collete, John Corbett, and Rosemary DeWitt, on January 18th at 10 pm. Series will bow between the final season of The L Word and the second season of Brit import Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Tara follows a woman suffers from multiple personality disorder and looks at how her family deals with her divergent identities. Project comes from writer/executive producer Diablo Cody and executive producer Steven Spielberg, who came up with the series' original premise. (Hollywood Reporter)

Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) and Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) have closed deals to appear in ABC's series adaptation of online series In the Motherhood (which starred Chelsea Handler, Leah Remini, and Jenny McCarthy in its original iteration). Handler may reprise her role in the ABC version but no deal is in place. Net is looking at potential 2009 launch. (TV Guide)

UK fans of Warner Bros. Television's The Mentalist, starring Simon Baker, can rest a little easier: the series will be coming to Blighty in 2009. Five and Five US have acquired rights to the procedural drama, which the nets will launch next year. (Variety)

Rosie O'Donnell will get her very own variety show this Thanksgiving entitled Rosie's Variety Show, which will be presented live on NBC from New York the evening before Thanksgiving. It's believed that the special--which will feature celebrity guests, musical acts, contests, and comedy sketches--could be a sign of a similar O'Donnell-fronted series for 2009. (Variety)

Parents Television Council has filed an indecency complaint with the FCC over CBS' season premiere of Survivor, which featured unintentional full frontal male nudity and was the first installment of the long-running reality franchise to be broadcast in HD. (Washington Post)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: CW to Stay in "90210," HBO Renews "Entourage," Producers of "Do Not Disturb" Ask for Second Chance, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing. I caught up on television-watching last night and finally got to watch Sunday's episode of Skins (Tony really is a manipulative sociopath, isn't he?) and watched some Season Two episodes of 30 Rock but, sigh, will have to wait to watch last night's Gossip Girl until tonight.

Netlet the CW has given a full season order to freshman drama 90210, with 22 episodes slated to air this season. “The successful addition of 90210 has taken The CW another step forward in building a cohesive schedule that defines this network as a destination for young women with shows that get our audience talking—and watching,” said president of entertainment Dawn Ostroff. "We're very excited about the chance to watch this ensemble of newcomers and familiar faces coalesce and grow together as we move forward." (Hmmm, methinks Ostroff may have just saved her job with this one.) (Variety)

In other 90210-related news, the drama has booked former Gilmore Girls and Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer Rebecca Rand Kirschner as an executive producer; she'll be overseeing the writers' room while Gabe Sachs (whom I met on Saturday and was absolutely charming) and Jeff Judah will be overseeing the day-to-day showrunning. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

ABC ordered an additional eight scripts to its upcoming animated series The Goode Family--about a family of hapless do-gooders--from King of the Hill creator Mike Judge...

... and Vince and the boys will live to see another day as HBO has renewed Entourage for a sixth season of Hollywood-based debauchery. (Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily)

The producers of FOX's multi-camera comedy Do Not Disturb have apologized "for being the perpetrators of such bad television" and have asked critics for another chance, after the network decided not to air the original pilot and instead launched the series with a subsequent episode that "created much confusion" and didn't reflect well on the overall quality of the series. Having seen both the truly awful original pilot episode, the dull-as-hotel-dishwater "Work Sex" episode, and a third equally boring episode, I can say that the sub-par quality of any of those individual episodes hangs like a dark cloud over all of them. Thanks, but no thanks. (Variety)

Tom Everett Scott (Cashmere Mafia), Regina King (24), and Arija Bareikis (Crossing Jordan) have been cast in NBC drama pilot LAPD, from Warner Bros. Television and executive producer John Wells. Scott will play Russell, a cop and father who is married to a blogger who writes about her marriage to a cop; King will play his partner Lydia. Bareikis will play a patrol cop who shares a fondness for surfing with her son. (Hollywood Reporter)

Canucks can finally get HBO... sort of. HBO is launching a pay channel in Canada as a joint venture between Astral Media and Corus Entertainment, which already air HBO content on the Movie Network and Movie Central. Due to laws which restrict foreign companies from owning or operating channels within Canada, HBO won't actually own HBO Canada but the two companies will expand their programming commitment to HBO from 100 hours per year to 300 hours. (Variety)

Kanye West has shot a half-hour pilot for Comedy Central entitled Alligator Boots that's described as "hip-hop meets the Muppets." West would produce and perform music with rapper Rhymefest; he also appears as the host of the pilot, which is under consideration for 2009. West, Rhymefest and Daniel Kellison serve as executive producers on the project, from Jackhole Prods. (Hollywood Reporter)

Lipstick Jungle didn't exactly make a splash across the pond: only 200,000 tuned in to watch Living's latest US acquisition when it launched last night. Ouch. (Digital Spy)

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: NCIS (CBS); Biggest Loser: Families (NBC; 8-10 pm); 90210 (CW); Opportunity Knocks (ABC); House (FOX)

9 pm: The Mentalist (CBS); Privileged (CW); Dancing with the Stars (ABC; 9-11 pm); Fringe (FOX)

10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: 90210.

I'm beyond bored with this tired and underwhelming series but there's nothing else on at 8 pm these days. Sigh. On tonight's episode ("Wide Awake and Dreaming"), Ty announces his plans for an after party after the opening night of Annie's musical; Naomi can't come to terms with her parents' divorce; Brenda, Kelly, and Ryan confront Adrianna about her substance abuse; Dixon offers to help Silver backstage at the musical.

8:40-9:20 pm: Gavin & Stacey on BBC America.

If my gushing review of this bittersweet (yes, it's literally bitter AND sweet) comedy wasn't enough, why not tune in yourself to see just how wonderful the brainchild of writer/co-stars Ruth Jones and James Corden really is? On tonight's episode, Gavin and Stacey attend their respective stag and hen parties.

9 pm: Fringe.

On tonight's episode ("The Ghost Network"), the team investigates the death of bus commuters, whose bodies are frozen like insects in amber, and encounters a man who may have a psychic connection to The Pattern. Plus, Walter requests a piano for the lab. Yes, a piano.

Good Luck, "Chuck": NBC Grants Back Nine Order for Spy Dramedy

Just like Bryce Larkin, you can't keep a good spy dead for long.

I am currently jumping up and down with abandon and glee (much like a pigtailed six-year-old girl) at the news that NBC has granted freshman series Chuck a full season order.

Yes, you read that correctly: spy dramedy Chuck, from creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak, has received the ever-elusive back nine order, despite the current writers strike, though the Peacock was quick to preface that statement by offering the alternative language of "the balance of the 2007-08 season."

The announcement of Chuck's full season order--and that of fellow freshman series Life--was made by Ben Silverman.

"Chuck and Life stand out in a crowded TV landscape because they are smart, well-produced series with incredibly talented casts," said Silverman in a press release. "Both shows are hitting their stride creatively, have developed loyal audiences and offer unlimited potential to grow throughout the season."

According to NBC's release: "Chuck is averaging a 3.4 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 8.4 million viewers overall this season. Chuck has been delivering competitive results in the Monday 8-9 p.m. (ET) slot and has increased its adult 18-49 rating from half-hour to half-hour with each of its nine Monday telecasts to date. Chuck's average 3.1 rating in adults 18-49 for the November sweep has kept NBC on pace with its rating in the time period during last May's sweep with Deal or No Deal."

I cannot tell you how completely happy this news makes me, especially what with a brand-spanking-new episode of Chuck on tonight at 8 pm ET/PT.

Trustafarians Rejoice: ABC Picks Up "Dirty Sexy Money" For Full Season

Forget what your parents may have told you: Vice does have its rewards.

In a bit of a surprise move (albeit one that makes this jaded writer ecstatic), ABC will not kill critical, er, darling Dirty Sexy Money and has instead handed out a full season order to the freshman drama.

The back nine order for the series, created by Craig Wright, comes amid the ongoing writers' strike here in Hollywood and is the first order of its kind since the strike began nearly two weeks ago. (Apparently, my constant prayers that the series would be picked up were heard by Steve McPherson.) Dirty Sexy Money joins fellow Alphabet network rookies Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, and Samantha Who? in the pickup line.

ABC's confidence in Dirty Sexy Money, while well-intentioned, is perceived as a bit odd as there is no guarantee that the series will even finish shooting its initial 13 episode order, given the strike situation. However, a spokesperson for the network said that ABC is confident that the conflict between the WGA and the AMPTP can be resolved in time for production to begin again before the end of the 2007-08 season. (Fingers crossed.)

Personally, I was over the moon after hearing this news. Dirty Sexy Money is hands-down one of my favorite new series this season (the others being Pushing Daisies and Chuck) and I am thrilled to see the network has as much faith in this addictively soapy drama as I do.

Dirty Sexy Money airs Wednesday evenings at 10 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Doctor "Who": ABC Loves, Loves, Loves Samantha

ABC continues its trend this season, granting another full season pickup to a freshman series.

Samantha Who, which stars Christina Applegate as an amnesiac who discovers that she was a terrible human being after an accident (which may not have been much of an accident), has received a back nine order by ABC, bring the total installments this season to twenty-two (well, potentially, should there be no prolonged strike).

Series, which to date has averaged a 4.5/11 among the key A18-49 demo, also stars Melissa McCarthy, Barry Watson, Jennifer Esposito, Kevin Dunn, Tim Russ, and Jean Smart.

I enjoyed the pilot for Samantha Who when I saw it in May but haven't yet caught any of the subsequent episodes (they're on my TiVo). To me, it's an intriguing premise and Applegate is a compelling (if at times too broadly drawn) lead, but I worry that the series' simple conceit could wear thin after a while, like My Name is Earl.

Meanwhile, it's not looking good for Cavemen (there is justice after all). Series is one of the few not to receive additional episodic or script orders by ABC, while the fate of fellow freshman comedy Carpoolers, which DID receive an additional script order, is also still up in the air.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Kid Nation (CBS); Phenomenon (NBC; 8-10 pm); America's Next Top Model (CW); Pushing Daisies (ABC); Back to You/'Til Death (FOX)

9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Gossip Girl (CW); Private Practice (ABC); Kitchen Nightmares

10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Life (NBC); Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Pushing Daisies.

ABC's groundbreaking new drama Pushing Daisies continues. On a Halloween-themed episode ("Girth"), Ned, Chuck, and Emerson are hired by Olive to investigate a series of possible murders involving jockeys being trampled to death by the ghost of a long-dead rider and his horse when all signs point to the ex-jockey Olive Snook being the next victim. (Didn't know she was a jockey? Cheno told me herself here.) Meanwhile, Ned must face his own fears of Halloween when faced with some uncomfortable childhood memories.

8 pm: America's Next Top Model.

On tonight's episode ("The Girl Who Runs Into the Glass Door"), it's yet another CW recap episode this week. (Yes, I get that November sweeps are right around the corner, but come on, people.) Tyra discusses body image with the girls while Bianca has some nasty confrontations with Chantal and Ebony. Did I say how happy I am that Ebony's gone? No? There, I just did.

10 pm: Dirty Sexy Money.

Primetime soap Dirty Sexy Money continues. On tonight's episode ("The Game"), Tripp and Simon Elder face off in a high-stakes poker game, Karen discovers she's still married to her last husband (guest star Eddie Cibrian), Jeremy beings his job as a parking attendant, a blackmailer targets Patrick, and Juliet introduces Brian Jr. to the notion of materialism.

Anchors Away: FOX Orders More "Back to You"

Fans of the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton starring comedy Back to You will be pleased with this news bulletin: FOX has picked up the comedy for a full season.

That's not all. Rather than stick to the traditional back nine order, FOX has opted to instead order eleven additional installments of Back to You, bringing the episodic total to 24 episodes this season.

While the ratings haven't been all that peachy for Back to You so far this season, FOX is hoping that the launch of American Idol will spread some cheer onto this local newsroom.

The news of the full season order for Back to You comes on the heels of ABC's full season pickups for Pushing Daisies and Private Practice and CBS' pickup of The Big Bang Theory. A back-nine order for comedy Samantha Who, which received an additional six script order, is expected shortly.