Channel Surfing: Piper, Agyeman, Tate, and Simm Rumored to Return to "Doctor Who," Ratner Moves into "Cop House," "BSG," and More

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing.

Latest Doctor Who rumor: that former co-stars Billie Piper, Freema Agyeman, Catherine Tate, and John Simm will all appear in David Tennant's final episode as the Doctor, according to UK newspaper The Sun. Piper, Agyeman, and Tate will allegedly reprise their roles as the Doctor's former companions Rose, Martha, and Donna respectively, while Simm will reprise his Season Three role as The Master. The episode will also feature the Doctor regenerating into the Eleventh Doctor, to be played by Matt Smith. "This will be the most exciting episode Doctor Who have ever done," said an unnamed insider on the production. "We really wanted to get all the companions back on board as a fitting send-off to David. And of all the enemies for him to face in his final episode, it makes sense for The Master to be the main one. Getting Billie to agree is a real coup, but she loved working on the show so much it didn't take much convincing." (The Sun)

Brett Ratner will direct and executive produce FOX comedy pilot Cop House, about a halfway house for troubled officers. Project, from 20th Century Fox Television and writer Adam Resnick, will star Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Rachael Harris (Notes from the Underbelly), and Ajay Naidu (Office Space). (Hollywood Reporter)

Elle Macpherson has been cast in CW drama pilot Beautiful Life, where she will recur as Claudia, the owner of top modeling agency Focus Models who was once a supermodel herself and now runs her business with an iron fist. Pilot, from CBS Paramount Network Television, is set to star Mischa Barton, Ben Hollingsworth, Sara Paxton, Ashley Madekwe, and Nico Tortorella. (Hollywood Reporter)

Pilot casting news: Christine Baranski (Ugly Betty) and Chris Noth (Sex and the City) have been cast in CBS drama pilot The Good Wife, where Baranski will play a ligitator at the firm where a politican's wife (Julianna Margulies) takes a job as a junior associate while Noth will guest star in the pilot as a former DA in jail following a sex scandal. Elsewhere, David Wilson Barnes (As the World Turns) has scored one of the leads on CBS drama pilot The Eastmans; Swedish actress Mercedes Masohn (Entourage) has been cast in ABC comedy pilot The Law; Adam Jamal Craig (The Office) will join the cast of CBS drama pilot Washington Field; Mexican actress Ana De La Reguera has been cast in ABC's drama pilot Empire State; and MADtv's Colton Dunn will star opposite Michael Strahan and Darryl Mitchell in FOX comedy pilot Brothers. (Hollywood Reporter)

With the series finale of Battlestar Galactica set to air tonight, SCI FI Wire talks to executive producer David Eick about the series legacy. "Well, it's for somone else to say, but my hope is that we changed the face of science fiction in terms of its allegorical power," said Eick. "It was never intended to just be an escapist fantasy. It should have some metaphorical resonance. It should teach us a little something about our culture and about our times. And that's what we were hoping to do." He also says that Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica is "in its own way, is going to be as unique as Battlestar was." (SCI FI Wire)

Speaking of tonight's series finale, Los Angeles Times' Mary McNamara says "it's hard to imagine a more visually and thematically satisfying finale" than tonight's Battlestar Galactica series ender. "The writers' dedication never falters, and Battlestar Galactica's finale is everything a fan, of the show and of television, could hope for," writes McNamara in a review for the paper. "It's difficult to write about without giving anything away, so suffice it to say that tissues (or shots) would not be inappropriate accouterment." (Los Angeles Times)

NBC is allegedly looking to part ways with BermanBraun/Original on the three unscripted series that were ordered as part of a larger deal with the production companies. BermanBraun and Original are said to be shopping reality series Shark Taggers, Swords, and Tornado Roads to other networks, including Discovery and History. The first series produced under the 30-episode deal, America's Toughest Jobs, performed woefully on Friday evenings and new NBC alternative topper Paul Telegdy has made it clear that he would rather work on developing new series; however an unnamed NBC insider says that the network still plans to air the series at some point. (Variety)

Meanwhile, NBC last week indicated that other reality series wouldn't be returning. Not on the schedule and not due to return: Last Comic Standing, Nashville Star, Celebrity Circus, Celebrity Family Feud, The Baby Borrowers, America's Toughest Jobs, Momma's Boys, and American Gladiators... along with horror anthology series Fear Itself. (Futon Critic)

Universal Media Studios has signed a two-year first-look deal with writer/executive producer Scot Armstrong and his producing partner, Ravi Nandin. The duo have set up shingle American Work and are currently behind two pilots this season: NBC comedy Off Duty and FOX comedy Walorsky, which has been pushed to this summer, and are developing one-hour comedy procedural Privates, about a family of dysfunctional private investigators in Burbank who spend "more time investigating each other than they do others." Project is in the script stage. (Variety)

CBS has ordered a pilot for one-hour quiz show-meets-obstacle course game show The Whole 19 Yards, from Endemol USA and executive producer Scott Einziger. Hosted by Chris Hardwick, format will have contestants running an insane obstacle course before answering trivia questions. (TV Week)

Animal Planet has renewed its reality series Jockeys for a second season of seven episodes. The cabler is set to launch Season Two of the horse-racing themed series this summer. (Variety)

Elsewhere, pay cabler Starz has announced that it will bring back movie special series Starz Inside, hosted by film critic Richard Roeper, beginning June 9th at 10 pm with a special about character actors. Subsequent specials will air throughout the summer and fall. (Variety)

FremantleMedia, the producers of FOX's American Idol, have been sued in a class-action lawsuit by several former employees who worked on Fremantle series such as American Idol, Temptation, The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, and Osbournes: Reloaded, who allege that the company "systematically overworked employees without paying the required overtime, falsified time cards and denied staffers meals and rest periods," according to The Live Feed's James Hibberd. Fremantle had no comment on the suit. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

BBC plans to cut nearly $600 million over the next three years by issuing salary freezes for its executives and slashing talent fees. BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said such changes were necessary for the continued survival of the public broadcaster, which faces 1,200 pinkslips in the coming months. "Given the falling away of household growth, the collapse of the commercial property market and pressure on commercial revenues," said Thompson, "without a further significant reduction in spending we would exceed our statutory borrowing limit." (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Freddie Prinze Jr. Dons Cape for "No Heroics," Bloodgood Subs in for Esposito, Sherry Stringfield Gets "Back," "Rome," and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Freddie Prinze Jr. (Freddie) has been cast as one of the leads in ABC's US remake of UK comedy series No Heroics. In the ABC Studios-produced pilot, Prinze will play Bradley (a.k.a. Ultimatum), a cocky celebrity superhero with no shortage of women, arrogance, or grade-school quips. He joins the already cast Paul Campbell, Eliza Coupe, and Arielle Kebbel. (Hollywood Reporter)

Just days after announcing that Samantha Who? star Jennifer Esposito had been cast in USA's Burn Notice, the actress has dropped out of the role. No reason was given for Esposito's departure from the series, where she was to have played Miami police detective Michelle Paxon, a new adversary for Jeffrey Donovan's Michael Weston. Stepping in to replace Esposito: Moon Bloodgood (Journeyman), who will assume the role of Michelle. Production on Burn Notice's third season is currently underway. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Sherry Stringfield (ER) has been cast opposite Skeet Ulrich in the CBS drama pilot Back, where she will play Cheryl, the former wife of Ulrich's Richard, a man reported missing after 9/11 who suddenly returns home and has to reconnect with his family. For Cheryl, Richard's homecoming is fraught with complication as she is remarried to Tom, a firefighter. (Hollywood Reporter)

Former Rome star Ray Stevenson says that a feature film based on the HBO series is currently being developed and could shoot as early as six months from now, with the script being written by Rome creator Bruno Heller (The Mentalist). "The script is in full development," said Stevenson. As you are probably aware, this is a pretty strange process. We could go into production in a year, or it could be as quick as six months. Who knows? It will happen. At least it is no longer a rumor. From what I have heard, they are nearing the end of script development. We shall see. We shall see." (Movieweb)

In other TV-to-feature film news, Dan Shotz, the co-executive producer of CBS' Jericho says that a feature adaptation of that series is also in development. "It's not just wishful thinking," said Shotz. "We've ... been developing a feature to hopefully make, because we would love to. I mean, ... Jericho is so built in a way, ... especially where we left off season two, to create a feature. So our hope is to launch this comic-book series and then, with the development at the same time of the feature, hopefully get that launched as well." (SCI FI Wire)

CBS has renewed The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men for two and three additional season, respectively. (Televisionary)

Pilot casting alert: Eric McCormack (Trust Me) has been cast in ABC's untitled multi-camera comedy from writer/executive producer Tad Quill. Also cast in the pilot: Reno Wilson (Blind Justice), Jolie Jenkins (Desperate Housewives), and Constance Zimmer (Entourage). McCormack will play Dean, a heart surgeon whose wife (Jenkins) has just had a baby, while Wilson will play Seth, a contractor with an empty nest. Zimmer will play Seth's wife. For McCormack, the pilot is in second position to his TNT drama series Trust Me, which is not expected to return. (Hollywood Reporter)

Elsewhere, Lindsay Sloane (Help Me Help You), Mary Elizabeth Ellis (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and Charlie Finn (Help Me Help You) have been cast in ABC comedy pilot Pulling, a US remake of the British comedy series, while Holly Robinson Peete (Love Inc.) and Josh Braaten (The Ex List) will star opposite Lauren Graham in ABC comedy pilot The Bridget Show. (Hollywood Reporter)

Heather Locklear has turned down an offer to star in CW's revival of Melrose Place. (Televisionary)

NBC has ordered eight-episodes of reality competition series The Sing Off, in which a cappella groups will face off against one another for a Sony Music recording contract. Series, from Outlaw Prods. and Sony Pictures Television, will be executive produced by Joel Gallen. NBC/Universal Media Studios' Paul Telegdy called The Sing Off "a fantastic feel-good series." No airdate has been announced. (Variety)

One guest star too many? Clay Aiken is slated to appear on the May 14th season finale of NBC's 30 Rock. (TV Week)

SCI FI Wire talks to Caprica star Esai Morales about the Battlestar Galactica prequel series. "I think he's the moral spine [of the story]," said Morales of his character, Joseph Adama. "He's somebody who came from the wrong side of the tracks, ... or the galaxy, or solar system, so to speak. They're from a planet that's more oppressed. He and his brother came from Tauron and establish their roots here, but they're still a minority. There are still ethnic tensions. So I'm a [civil liberties] lawyer who's trying to work on the right side of the tracks, and my brother is a gangster. It's like a Rich Man, Poor Man issue meets The Godfather meets Brave New World." (SCI FI Wire)

"We are all Cylons. And every one of us is a Colonial." Speaking of Battlestar Galactica, The Washington Post has a fantastic story about the series' recent appearance at the UN, where the cast and creators discussed issues like human rights, torture, and security issues. "Suddenly we are presented with this false dichotomy of security versus human rights," said Craig Mokhiber, deputy director of the New York branch of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. "That slippery slope shows up so much in the show, and so much in real life." (Washington Post)

HBO has acquired the rights to eight-episode autobiographical documentary series The Neistat Brothers, which follows filmmaker siblings Casey and Van Neistat. All of the episodes were shot on consumer-grade cameras and edited by the Neistats using Apple's iMovie. HBO has yet to announce an airdate for the project, executive produced by Tom Scott. (Variety)

The New York Times' Brian Stelter takes a look at pay cabler Starz, which is looking to stand out from among the glut of movie channels by broadening its original series offerings, which include Rob Thomas' comedy Party Down, Crash, and Head Cases, as it looks to build a new identity for itself. "We’re the new guys on the block, even though we’re 15 years old," said Bill Myers, president of Starz Entertainment. (New York Times)

Suspense drama series Harper's Island, launching in the US next month on CBS, has been acquired by BBC Three, which plans to air the series later this year. "This is truly exciting event television," said BBC Three's Sue Deeks, Head of Series, BBC Programme Acquisition, "a suspenseful, contemporary take on the classic murder mystery with more than a dash of horror – think Agatha Christie meets Scream and you will get the idea!" (BBC)

VH1 has revived reality staple Behind the Music, ordering ten episodes that will air later this year. So far the network has signed Lil Wayne and Scott Weiland to appear in installments. "It felt like the time is right," said Jeff Olde, EVP of original programming. "There's all sorts of new artists on the scene who have emerged and have these great stories. And there's other artists that we always wanted to do the first time around." (Hollywood Reporter)

USA has promoted Jeff Wachtel to president of original series. As EVP of original programming, Wachtel helped launch such series as The 4400, Monk, and Burn Notice. "As head of original programming, Jeff’s leadership has inspired the team responsible for one of the most successful slates in all of television," said Bonnie Hammer, president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions. "His creative intellect, impeccable taste and production savvy are among the best in the business, and we look forward to having his stamp of originality on all future successes here at USA." (TV Week)

National Geographic has renewed Dog Whisperer for a sixth season, ordering 30 episodes that will air later this year. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Delany Wonders Who Will Be Next to Leave Wisteria Lane, CW Orders "Melrose Place," Starz Renews "Crash," and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Dana Delany admitted that none of Wisteria Lane's residents feel exactly safe these days, following the announcement that Nicollette Sheridan will leave Desperate Housewives. "Everyone is vulnerable on Wisteria Lane -- any of us could go," said Delany. "Every single person in that cast feels like their days are numbered. I think [Marc Cherry] likes to keep people on their toes." An upcoming storyline will find Delany's Katherine in potential jeopardy. "It's good," said Delany of the upcoming plot, "because that sense of not knowing keeps the actors on their toes and it keeps the audience anticipating." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Pilot helmer alert: The CW has given an official pilot order to Melrose Place, an update of the soap to be overseen by Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin (Smallville). Pilot, from CBS Paramount Network Television, will be directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, 24) and will focus on the residents of a trendy Los Angeles neighborhood. Elsewhere, Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Traitor) will direct FOX drama pilot Masterwork, from writer/executive producer Paul Scheuring (Prison Break).

And on the casting front, Zosia Mamet (The Unit) and Toni Trucks (Barbershop) have been cast in FOX comedy pilot Ab Fab as Eddie's daughter Saffron and her assistant; Diego Klattenhoff (Men in Trees) will co-star in NBC drama pilot Mercy; and Jason George (Eli Stone) and Sarah Drew (Everwood) have been cast in ABC drama pilot Inside the Box. (Hollywood Reporter)

Meanwhile, the recession has wrought some very noticeable changes this pilot season as the networks are funding more in-house production and are shooting more pilot presentations than full-out pilots. The networks, as seen by recent developments, also seem willing to cut and run from a project if the right combination of casting, director, and showrunner don't materialize. (Variety)

Tamara Feldman (Dirty Sexy Money) will appear in a four-episode story arc later this season on CW's Gossip Girl, where she will reprise her role as Manhattan socialite Poppy Lifton. (Variety)

Patrick Dempsey won't be leaving Grey's Anatomy, but Michael Ausiello has a scoop on McDreamy's status at Seattle Grace in an upcoming story arc on the ABC drama. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Starz has renewed drama series Crash for a second season of thirteen episodes but the Lionsgate-produced drama will bring in a new creative team for the series, to be overseen by Ira Steven Behr (The 4400), who will serve as executive producer. He'll be joined on the series by James DeMonaco and Todd Harthan (The Kill Point) while creator/executive producer Glen Mazzara will serve as a consulting producer. "About half of the story lines in the first season will continue into Season 2," writes the Hollywood Reporter's Nellie Andreeva. "Roughly half of the cast, including star Dennis Hopper, will stay on." (Hollywood Reporter)

CW's America's Next Top Model is set to start casting its thirteenth cycle later this week with one noticeable change: for the first time in the series' history, applicants need to be 5'7" and under. "There have been top supermodels in the past that weren't as tall as the industry demands, like fashion icon Kate Moss," said series co-creator/host Tyra Banks. "So we are changing up Top Model for cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!" Gee, something tells me these girls will be highly prized in the cutthroat modeling world and not just one of Tyra's latest "causes." (via press release)

Katelynn Pippy has been bumped to series regular on Lifetime's drama series Army Wives; she plays the daughter of Kim Delaney's Claudia. (Variety)

Fox Reality Channel has renewed docudrama The Academy for a third season, which will focus on firefighter recruits. The Academy: Orange County Fire is executive produced by Scott Sternberg. (Hollywood Reporter)

Jennifer Aspen (Family Man) has been cast in FOX musical comedy series Glee, where she will play the role of Kendra. (Variety)

Following several weeks of speculation, Peter Chernin will leave News Corp after twenty years and will be "taking up the opportunity to start a new motion picture and television production venture with Fox," according to a memo issued by Rupert Murdoch which confirms that Chernin will not be renewing his contract. So what can Chernin's departure mean for the company? "There will be a streamlined management structure between our Los Angeles-based business units and the rest of the company," writes Murdoch. "Peter and I will be communicating more on this over the next few months. For the time being, of course, the talented executive team at the Fox Group will continue to report to Peter." (Los Angeles Times)

Meanwhile, Nikki Finke claims that former BSkyB executive James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch's youngest son, may eventually replace Chernin, following a period in which News Corp division heads report directly to Rupert Murdoch. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

SAG and AMPTP may need some intervention from a mediator in order to end the latest standoff between the guild and the studios. It's hoped the CAA head Richard Lovett will step in and mediate, as he did during the dispute between WGA and the majors last year. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Kristin Bell to "Party Down" with Rob Thomas, Lindsay Duncan to Travel with the Doctor, "Project Runway" Wraps Season, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing. Just a few quick headlines to get through today on this rather quiet programming-news-related morning.

Looking for one more reason to turn into Starz's upcoming comedy series Party Down, from co-creator Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars)? Turns out that Veronica herself--Kristin Bell--will be appearing on the series, according to Kristin Dos Santos. "I'm about to guest star on Rob Thomas' new show, called Party Down," Bell told Dos Santos. "It's on Starz...a lot of old Veronica Mars people are on it and some really cool comedians like Adam Scott." Starz has confirmed the casting coup saying, "Kristen Bell will be appearing in our new original comedy series, Party Down, premiering on Friday, March 20." Bell's episode, the season finale, is slated to air May 22nd and it's thought that Bell will play Veronica Moon, a rival caterer. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Rome's Lindsay Duncan will guest star in this year's second Doctor Who special, where she will play a new companion for the Doctor (David Tennant) named Adelaide, described as one of the most strong-willed and intelligent companion the Doctor has had to date. The as-yet-untitled special will be filmed this spring and will later later this year on BBC One. (BBC News)

Project Runway will tape its season finale tomorrow at New York's Fashion Week... but it's still anybody's guess whether viewers will see the series' sixth season, currently the subject of a lawsuit between Bravo parent company NBC Universal and producer The Weinstein Company. NBC Universal successfully lobbied for an injunction which has prevented new network Lifetime from airing the series. "It's an absolutely fantastic season," said Tim Gunn. "There are opportunities located [in L.A.] that we don't have in New York. Here we have the Hudson River, there they have the Pacific Ocean... And nowhere has the red-carpet opportunities that L.A. has. I can't wait for you to see the show and see what we have." (Washington Post)

Former American Idol contestant Katherine McPhee will guest star in an April episode of CBS' CSI: NY, where she will play a singer. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

NBC's sci-fi pilot Day One, from Heroes writer/producer Jesse Alexander, is being rewritten as a two-hour pilot, according to Alexander, who is currently involved in casting sessions for the project. (via twitter)

Comedy Central has ordered seven half-hour episodes of sketch comedy series Michael and Michael Have Issues from creator/stars Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, which will offer a mix of comic sketches starring the duo and a "behind-the-scenes cinema verite drama." Black and Showalter will executive produce with Jim Biederman and Lou Wallach. The cabler plans to launch the series in July. (Variety)

The Paley Center for Media has announced its lineup for PaleyFest09 and will host panels for such series as 90210, Battlestar Galactica and Caprica, The Big Bang Theory, Big Love, Desperate Housewives, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Fringe, The Hills, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Mentalist, Swingtown, and True Blood. (Televisionary)

Producers of NBC's reality competition series The Biggest Loser have decided to return to a single-contestant format this fall and will cast contestants from cities that top a recent "Fattest Cities in America" list. The new season will explore just why these cities' populations are battling obesity in such large numbers and will empower competitors to return home and improve their cities. (Hollywood Reporter)

SAG and the AMPTP met again yesterday in renewed talks that went late into the night. The two sides are scheduled to meet again today at 1 pm. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Are We Having Fun Yet?: An Advance Review of Rob Thomas' New Comedy Series "Party Down"

As a huge fan of Veronica Mars, I've been extremely curious to see what creator Rob Thomas would do with a pared-down comedy about a group of wannabe actors and writers working as party caterers in LA. Especially since said comedy, Party Down, which launches next month on pay cabler Starz, features more than a few Veronica Mars alums in starring or cameo roles.

So I was ecstatic when I had the opportunity to catch an early look at Starz's Party Down, which stars Ken Marino (Veronica Mars), Adam Scott (Tell Me You Love Me), Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield), Martin Starr (Freaks & Geeks), Jane Lynch (Two and a Half Men), and Ryan Hansen (Veronica Mars). No, you're not dreaming: Rob Thomas and fellow executive producer/writers John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd may have assembled the single best comedy cast EVER.

A quick recap of Party Down's simple premise: Ken Marino's moronic team leader Ron Donald (a more genial version of Michael Scott, had he been a recreational drug user) keeps a watchful eye on his misfit employees at Party Down, an event catering company which arranges fetes for everything from Sweet 16 parties to porn awards. Yet it's painfully apparent that none of them want to be in the catering biz and each is hoping to break into the entertainment industry. This is felt most keenly by Ron's hiring of Henry Pollard (Adam Scott), a would-be actor who had a big break in a catchphrase-laden beer commercial... and never really worked again. He's forced rather unwillingly to return to work for Party Down after an absence of eight years as a bartender.

Rounding out the cast are the fellow wannabes employed by Party Down: there's Kyle (Ryan Hansen), a would-be actor/model/rock star who views his job ("the overall handsome business") as mainly a way to meet hot women; Roman (Martin Starr), an aspiring writer with a seething hatred of people who haven't seen Repo Man who is engaged in a never-ending battle of wills with his nemesis Kyle; Constance (Jane Lynch), a faded bit-part actress who acts as the team's psychotic mother hen and keeps her age firmly under wraps while stealing guests' cheese; and Casey (Lizzy Caplan), a married stand-up comedian whose relationship with her possessive (and aggressive) husband Mike (Wes Armstrong) is further complicated by the arrival of Henry, with whom she definitely feels some sparks. (If the above wasn't enough, look for guest stars Enrico Colantoni, Ed Begley Jr., Jason Dohring, and Alona Tal to turn up at various points early on in the season.)

I had the opportunity to watch a few episodes of Party Down that were made available for press and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed what I've seen of the series so far. The dialogue is top-notch and the actors are all perfectly cast. I especially enjoyed the third episode ("Pepper McMaster's Singles Seminar"), which sees the gang catering a singles meet-up for senior citizens and features the reunion between Constance and one of her many, many former flames (Ed Begley Jr.). I thought that this episode perfectly managed to crystallize the series' premise and made the best use of all of the characters to full effect. Additionally, its combination of deadpan humor and absurd plot twists involving heart attacks, strippers, and erectile dysfunction medication are used to full effect here, right alongside some genuine emotional beats.

Party Down's first episode ("Willow Canyon Homeowners Party") seems a little bit stilted, as if both the writers and actors were trying to find their footing while introducing all of the characters and the series' revolving setting. I found the party setting in the third episode to work a little better than that in the first, which features a put-upon Hawaiian-shirt-wearing husband (Colantoni) bonding with Henry... and diving naked into the pool in front of his guests. (If the thought of full-frontal nudity from Papa Mars disturbs you, look away.)

However, while the series' first episode might come off as a little awkward, it definitely showcases the series' loopy charms and points to Party Down's full potential as a stage for some deliciously wacky (and terribly flawed) individuals all trying to achieve their dream while sucking it up week to week for another paycheck.

It's more than enough to make me wish I subscribed to Starz.

Party Down premieres March 20th at 10:30 pm ET/PT on Starz.

Channel Surfing: FOX to Get "AbFab," Jane Espenson Will Be Showrunner on "Caprica," Lauren Graham, Pilot News, and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing.

FOX has handed out a pilot order to a US remake of BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, which follows the boozy exploits of PR magnate Edina Monsoon, her magazine editrix best friend Patsy, and Edina's uptight daughter Saffy. US version will be set in LA and the script written by Christine Zander (Less Than Perfect), who will executive produce with Jennifer Saunders, Ian Moffit, Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum, and Kim Tannenbaum. Project will be produced by Sony Pictures Television, Tantamount, and BBC Worldwide Americas. (Variety)

Battlestar Galactica's Jane Espenson will serve as an executive producer on BSG prequel series Caprica and will eventually become the showrunner on the series, slated to air on Sci Fi in 2010. Espenson, whom many fans will know from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls, will take over the reins of Caprica's writers' room from co-creator Ron Moore later this year. Production on Caprica--which will also feature BSG writers Michael Taylor and Ryan Mottesheard, production designer Richard Hudolin, composer Bear McCreary, and special effects supervisor Gary Hutzel--is scheduled to begin in July. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Lauren Graham talks to Michael Ausiello about her upcoming run in Guys & Dolls on Broadway, the likelihood of a Gilmore Girls movie (slim to none), and her new ABC pilot--about an embittered self-help guru--which she says is a much "darker" comedy than Gilmore and features a character who is "deeply flawed." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

In other pilot news, ABC has ordered a two-hour pilot for mystery Happy Town from writers/executive producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg (October Road, Life on Mars). Project is said to be in the same vein as Twin Peaks and is "set in the hamlet of Happy Town, which had enjoyed a seven-year peace after a series of kidnappings until it is hit by another crime." (Hollywood Reporter)

As expected, NBC has given a pilot order to medical drama Trauma, from writer/executive producer Dario Scardapane, that is said to be a "a high-octane emergency medical procedural that takes place out in the field." Project, from Universal Media Studios and Film 44, will also be executive produced by Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey. (Hollywood Reporter)

Disney has renewed syndicated fantasy drama Legend of the Seeker for a second season on Tribune-owned stations. (Variety)

As anticipated, series 30 Rock and Mad Men, and mini-series John Adams swept the television categories at the SAG Awards last night and House's Hugh Laurie and Brothers & Sisters' Sally Field took home individal awards. (Hollywood Reporter)

Shortly after upgrading Sara Gilbert from recurring to series regular status on CBS' The Big Bang Theory, the former Roseanne star has now been bumped back down to recurring on the comedy series. The reason for the about-face is said to be due to the fact that the series' writers couldn't create enough story for her and Johnny Galecki's Leonard. "They couldn't write for her, so they changed her status to recurring," a source told Michael Ausiello. "It's a little mystifying." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Lauren Allen (Dirt, The 4400) will appear in a two-episode story arc on ABC's Grey's Anatomy, where she will play the ex-girlfriend of Kevin McKidd's Dr. Owen Hunt. [Editor's note: the story says ER, but they clearly mean Grey's Anatomy.] (Variety)

Executive producer John Wells is writing the series finale for NBC's ER, which is wrapping its run on April 2nd after fifteen seasons. "You want to try and find the essence of the series," said Wells about writing the finale script. "You want to find the thing that people actually identify with in the series and do something that leaves them feeling satisfied for having spent X number of hours of their lives devoted to watching your ongoing narrative." (Los Angeles Times)

CBS has ordered a pilot presentation for Missing You, an unscripted crime series which follows missing persons investigators as they take on various cases each week. Project will be executive produced by Shaun Cassidy, Ned Nalle, and James Bruce. (Hollywood Reporter)

NBC Universal has signed a deal with American Airlines to provide the carrier with in-flight entertainment. Under the terms of the exclusive two-year deal, NBC Universal will replace CBS and provide American with four 90-minute programs each month beginning March 1st. Content won't be limited to NBC, as the studio will draw from the Peacock as well as Bravo, Sci Fi, USA, Oxygen, MSNBC, films from Universal, and programs from NBC News and NBC Sports. (Variety)

Starz is developing a comedy series based on online series Tom and Sam Are Stuck, from creators Tom Saunders and Sam Laybourne, about a man and his uncle from the future who find themselves trapped in the present day when their time machine fails. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

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.

Channel Surfing: Alexis Denisof Heads to "Private Practice," Jessica Walter, Starz Plots "Spartacus," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. It's currently freezing here in LA (well, relatively speaking anyway) but I am still shaking after last night's season finale of Mad Men, not to mention another shocking installment of Skins. (Poor Sid.)

Former Angel star Alexis Denisof will guest star in the November 19th episode of ABC's Private Practice, where he'll play a father-to-be with two very expectant wives in need of Addison's specialty. In real life, Denisof and wife Alyson Hannigan announced last week that they are expecting their first child. (TV Guide)

CBS is once again developing some rather, er, unique properties that aren't crime procedurals (did they not learn their lesson from Moonlight or Cane?). Among the projects currently said to be in development at the Eye: Hex Wives, a one-hour drama from Neil Meron and Craig Zadan about four women with magical powers; 1960s period drama Magic City about an iconic Miami Beach hotel from executive producer Mitch Glazer; an untitled medical drama from Curtis Hanson and Carol Barbee; and a variety series. Expected to return: Survivor and The Amazing Race. (TV Week)

Cabler A&E has renewed drama The Cleaner for a second season of thirteen episodes. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Jessica Walter dishes about playing Tabitha on 90210, atonement, Flipper, and that possible Arrested Development movie, of which she says "Mitch [Hurwitz] does have a story line." Reeeeeally? (Los Angeles Times)

Could the struggling economy have anything to do with the networks picking up low-performing series (like FOX's Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles or ABC's Private Practice) for full seasons? (Hollywood Reporter)

NBC is shifting Lipstick Jungle to Friday nights (ouch) beginning October 31st and creating a crime-centric block of programming on Wednesday nights that will include Knight Rider (a crime in and of itself), Law & Order, and Life. Law & Order will return to the lineup on November 5th, the same night that Life will move to its new Wednesday digs. And, oh, the Peacock has delayed reality competition series Momma's Boys once again; it's now set to launch on December 22nd. (Variety)

Following the recent launch of Crash, pay cabler Starz has announced its second drama effort, ordering thirteen episodes of period drama Spartacus from executive producers Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, and Joshua Donen, who are all behind the syndicated drama series Legend of the Seeker, which launches nationally this weekend. The series, which is inspired by the life of a slave in the Roman Republic who leads a revolt, will be reimagined for today's viewer used to "cutting-edge production technology" and is being eyed for a Summer 2009 launch. Steven DeKnight (Smallville) has signed on as head writer and showrunner. (Hollywood Reporter)

Are Booth and Bones the Nick and Norah of the 21st century? The Los Angeles Times seems to think so as they offer a look at FOX's Bones. (Los Angeles Times)

Lifetime announced several casting additions to its two upcoming Nora Roberts adaptations: Emilie de Ravin, Ivan Sergei, and Cybill Shepherd will star in High Noon, while Jerry O'Connell, Lauren Stamile, and Faye Dunaway have joined the cast of Midnight Bayou. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Starz Orders New Rob Thomas Series, Doherty Returns to "90210," More "Gossip Girl,"

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing. I hope you all tuned in to watch the third episode of Chuck last night as well as a pretty soggy installment of Gossip Girl in which the laws of college applications, logic, and, well, sense of any kind sort of went out the window. But at least the kids looked fabulous, right?

Rob Thomas is proving himself to be quite prolific, in the post-Veronica Mars universe. Pay cabler Starz has ordered ten episodes of half-hour comedy series Party Down, written by the Veronica Mars creator, who is set to executive produce with John Enbom, Paul Rudd, and Dan Etheridge. (Enbom will act as the series' showrunner.) Series follows the lives of six Hollywood wannabes as they attempt to pursue their dreams while trying to get by day by day with their shared catering company. Party Down will likely launch in March 2009. (Variety)

Brenda will be returning to 90210. Yep, Shannen Doherty has agreed to appear in two additional episodes of the teen soap, with the possibility that she will return for more installments at a later time. Look for Brenda to cross paths with Jennie Garth's Kelly in the series' 11th and 12th episodes, set to air next month. (Los Angeles Times)

Prince Charles has turned down an invitation to appear on Doctor Who, a fact that made outbound Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies very unhappy. (Davies called HRH "a miserable swine" for turning his nose up at the offer.) (New York Times)

Production has been shut down on Easy Money and Valentine, Inc., the two hour-long dramas produced by MRC for the CW's Sunday night block. Both series will go on a "planned" hiatus for four to six weeks in order to "give writers time to catch up on scripts." Both series are, however, expected to fulfill their 13-episode commitments and shooting will continue on the eight segments already written. (Hollywood Reporter, Variety)

Andy Richter will guest star on the current season of Bones in an episode, slated to air in January, that will follow Brennan and Booth as they work undercover as a "knife-throwing team named Buck and Wanda" at the circus. Richter will play the circus' owner and ringmaster. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Jason Jones and Samantha Bee (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) will co-write and star in an untitled CBS comedy series about the behind-the-scenes world of a celebrity chef (Jones) and the two women (one of whom will be played by Bee) who run his culinary empire. The duo have signed separate talent holding deals with CBS and CBS Paramount Network Television. (Variety)

CW has ordered two additional episodes of Gossip Girl, bringing its season total to 24 episodes. If you feel like you've read this item before, it's because the CW had ordered 24 episodes this season back in May... but then allegedly changed their mind and only ordered 22 segments but seemingly have changed their minds again. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Showtime has ordered a pilot for dark comedy The End of Steve, written by and starring Matthew Perry (Friends). Project, from Sony Pictures Television, revolves around an egomaniacal talk show host who is forced to work on an afternoon series in Rochester and seeks personal and professional redemption. (Variety)

Jonathan Prince (Cane) has signed a two-year first-look deal with CBS Paramount Network Television to develop series for cable, network, and new media. Prince already has set up an untitled medical drama at CBS about college grads who enroll in a medical school that throws its students into a teaching hospital rather than have them study. Project was co-created with Elle Johnson (Ghost Whisperer) and Fred Einsman (Private Practice). (Hollywood Reporter)

Spike has ordered six half-hour episodes of Worldwide Biggie's videogame-spoofing comedy MoCap, LLC, a mockumentary about a motion-capture studio. The network plans to launch the series--based on a series of web shorts--in January. (Variety)

Sci Fi has promoted Thomas Vitale to EVP of programming and original movies. (Variety)

Stay tuned.