Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Mitchell Talks "Lost" Fate, Itzin to Return to "24," TNT Locks Up "Southland," and More

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing.

Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch has an interview with Elizabeth Mitchell and Lost executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse about the ultimate fate of Mitchell's Juliet, last seen detonating the hydrogen bomb that may or may not have caused The Incident at the end of Season Five. While Mitchell is set to reprise her role as Juliet Burke on Season Six of Lost, it's been confirmed that Juliet is definitely dead. Still, there are still some mysteries about the good (or not so good?) doctor that still need to be resolved. "There’s still something very significant that we have not yet learned about the character," according to Cuse. (Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch)

Gregory Itzin (The Mentalist) will return to FOX's 24 in a multiple-episode story arc that finds him reprising his role as villainous former President Charles Logan, who was last seen being stabbed by his wife Martha (Jean Smart) during Day Six. The Wrap's Josef Adalian is reporting that Logan will return in Day Eight in order to help Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) deal with a diplomatic crisis. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

It's official! TNT has picked up the axed Southland in a deal with Warner Bros. Television that gives the cable exclusive rights to the six unaired episdoes produced for NBC, which TNT will air as well as the series' seven-episode first season. Southland will debut on TNT on Tuesday, January 12th at 10 pm ET/PT. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

NBC has given a script order to hostage crisis drama Zeroes, which depicts the final hour of a hostage crisis. Project, from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun, will be written by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who are attached to direct should the project be ordered to series. (Hollywood Reporter)

David Tennant said that he's jealous of incoming Doctor Who star Matt Smith, who replaces Tennant in the role of the Doctor next year. "I'm really excited for him but I remember how exciting it was starting out on this kind of a journey - and nervewracking and a bit overwhelming but just such a kick," said Tennant. "So I'm jealous he's going through that now, but [it's] brilliant and it couldn't happen to a nicer chap." (BBC Newsbeat)

Ghost Whisperer executive producers Ian Sander and Kim Moses have three projects in development at ABC via their overall deal with ABC Studios, including legal drama Jane and Dick, about an all-female law firm and its newest partner whose life is sent spinning when she crosses paths with her high school boyfriend from writers Jennifer Weiner and Michael Reisz; Police Surgeon, about a female cop who also happens to be a medical surgeon in Chicago, from writer Lance Gentile; and Ghost World, about a male ghost who solves crimes with a female police detective with the hopes of solving his own death, from writer Daniel Taplitz. (Variety)

Scott Foley (The Unit) has been cast in three episodes of ABC's Cougar Town, where he will play a businessman who is shown several homes by Courteney Cox's Jules and who might just be a potential love interest for Jules. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Anthony Michael Hall is set to guest star in the December 10th episode of NBC's Community, where he will play a bully who challenges Joel McHale's Jeff to a fight in the series' Christmas-themed episode. (TV Guide)

Variety's Michael Schneider talks to original V creator Kenneth Johnson about ABC's reimagination, which launches on Tuesday, and his efforts to get a big-screen remake off the ground. "If the show succeeds, it gives us an opportunity to go out with a one sheet that says, 'You like the show, now see the original classic reborn,'"Johnson told Schneider. "And if the show doesn't do well, we can always say, 'Here is the V you've been waiting for.'" (Variety)

Fox21 and Plantinum Studios are developing a drama series based on graphic novel "Gunplay," about "a buffalo soldier condemned to roam the Old West with a hellish curse slung at his waist: a demonic shooting iron that forces him to kill once a day or suffer soul-searing pain." Project will be adapted by Glen Morgan (The X-Files). (Hollywood Reporter)

Ian McKellan will star in half-hour mockumentary series The Academy, where he will play his own fictional brother, the headmaster of a decrepit drama school. Project, written and directed by Peter Hinton, will also star Jonathan Hyde, Sylvester McCoy, and Frances Barber. Production company DLT Entertainment is shopping the series to buyers on both sides of the pond. (Variety)

Warner Bros. Pictures have stepped in as the sole sponsors of FOX's November 8th Seth MacFarlane primetime variety special (Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show), after Microsoft pulled out of the special last week. The studio will air an extended trailer for Sherlock Holmes during the special. (Variety)

Rena Sofer (24) has been cast on CBS' NCIS, where she will play "a no-nonsense attorney with mysterious motives" in a potentially recurring role. (Hollywood Reporter)

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio has been cast in USA's Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where she will play the team's new captain, replacing Eric Bogosian's character. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Has ABC ordered more episodes of its reality series Shark Tank? Not according to an ABC spokesperson. But it's a different story with regard to one of the series' sharks, Robert Herjavec, who announced that the network had ordered additional episodes of Shark Tank via Twitter. (The Wrap's TV MoJoe)

Former Comcast executive Allan Singer has been hired as EVP of distribution and strategy at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. He'll report to CEO Christina Norman. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Tricks and Treats: Quick Thoughts on NBC's Halloween-Themed Thursday Night Lineup

I've never been much of a Halloween guy. Some people love to dress up and head out to parties but I've always taken the view that Halloween is one of those holidays that you either believe in with all of your being or you can't quite wrap your head around.

Last night, NBC's two-hour Thursday night comedy block all offered Halloween-themed diversions but happily each did so in their own inimitable way with Community focusing on a Mexican Day of the Dead after-school party, Parks and Recreation splitting its focus between Leslie stalking a notorious Halloween teen vandal and Ann throwing a costume party, The Office keeping it all confined to the cold open, and 30 Rock offering a celebration of "gay Halloween."

I have to say that I thought that Community and Parks and Recreation were by far the funniest two entries in last night's comedy block, comprising a strong one-two punch of humor that seems to be gathering more confidence week to week.

Last night's episode of Community ("Introduction to Statistics") might just be my favorite episode yet and featured fantastic turns by Yvette Nicole Brown and Danny Pudi, some fantastic Senor Chang moments, and some genuine emotion as Britta tried to get Jeff to attend Annie's Day of the Dead party rather than score with his statistics professor and slowly realized that Shirley's anger toward Jeff really stemmed from her own issues at home. (Brown is hands-down one of my favorite elements of the series and last night gave her the chance to bring some genuine emotion along with the humor.)

Meanwhile, Pudi perfectly nailed Christian Bale's gravely voice as Batman, turning in a stunning performance as the Dark Knight, even managing to save the lives of Jeff and a drug-addled Pierce from a collapsing fort of desks and chairs. (You really had to see it.) The cast of Community seems to get more self-assured with each episode and is gelling magnificently now, offering some deeply absurd comedy with an extra dose of heart on a weekly basis.

Likewise, Parks and Recreation continued the trend, turning out yet another incredible installment ("Greg Pikitis") that pitted Leslie against the titular teen, a juvenile criminal mastermind who would give Ferris Bueller a run for his money. Over the course of the episode, we saw Leslie stalk Greg with her policeman boyfriend (Louis C.K., who I hope sticks around for a while), attempt to waterboard him after discovering he had vandalized the Parks Department offices, and then got caught by her own boyfriend after toilet-papering Greg's house with Andy.

I'm confused by some viewers' dislike for Andy; to me, he's so absurdly goofy and dumb that it works perfectly in the off-kilter world of Parks and Recreation. I love having him around and am secretly hoping the writing staff can figure out a way to keep Andy on the Parks Department payroll after his short stint guarding over the Pawnee founder's statue.

Elsewhere, Ann realized that Tom isn't as bad as she thought he was after he saved her party from going off the deep end and we got to see a rare moment of vulnerability from Tom himself when it began to hit home that his green card marriage would soon be coming to an end. It's small moments like those that make Parks and Recreation such a fantastic place to visit week after week and this season has taken tremendous strides to deepening both the characters and the world they inhabit.

I was less pleased with The Office ("Koi Pond"), which jettisoned a Halloween plot early on in the episode (it was restricted to the cold open) and instead offered up a lukewarm plot about Michael falling into an ornamental koi pond during a business meeting, which seemed pretty much like stale Halloween candy. I know the writers are trying to create a new dynamic between Michael and co-branch manager Jim but the plots have gotten so ludicrous and the humor become so slight that it's actually painful for me to watch The Office on a regular basis these days. It hasn't been must-see television for several seasons now (save for when Amy Ryan joined the cast briefly) and it's likely going to get dropped off of my TiVo Season Pass very soon.

As for 30 Rock ("Stone Mountain"), not my favorite episode. Some genuinely hysterical moments (Tracy saying that he will have "a bowl of cherries and some ghost meat" in honor of a dead celebrity) and a semi-funny plot about Frank, Twofer, and Lutz attempting to befriend Jenna in order to party with some hot women at a "gay Halloween" party. The Jeff Dunham bits were painful to watch, even if it appeared that the humor was actually pointed at Dunham himself at times. I liked the idea of Liz and Jack hitting the road to find a new star for TGS but the Stone Mountain-set bits didn't quite work for me as well as I wish they had. But it's an uncharacteristically off episode for 30 Rock and I have no doubts that it will return to form next week.

What did you think of last night's Halloween comedy lineup? Which series had the strongest episode? Are you as hooked on Community and Parks and Recreation as I am? Bored by The Office? Discuss.

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.

Two of the Funniest Comedies You Should be Watching: NBC's "Community" and "Parks and Recreation"

It really upsets me that more people aren't watching Community and Parks and Recreation on NBC.

The two series--now back to back on Thursday nights--are two of the funniest and sharpest comedies on television but the ratings, while not horrible, aren't great and are nowhere near where they should be for such fantastically funny comedies.

Granted, there is a hell of a lot of competition on Thursday nights at 8 pm. Viewers have their pick between these two comedies and FlashForward on ABC, Bones on FOX, Survivor on CBS, and The Vampire Diaries on CW. (And that's just at the broadcast level.) Things get even more complicated when you look at Thursday as a whole; there's an overabundance of quality programming to watch, making it even more difficult to decide just what you should be watching live.

Personally, I ended up watching Community and Parks and Recreation live last night and TiVo'd FlashForward to watch tonight after I was rather disappointed with the series' second episode. And after the Skins season finale, I wanted something lighthearted that would make me laugh until I was in danger of incontinence. Which is where Community and Parks and Recreation came in.

Last night marked a new timeslot for Community, which moved from its post-Office timeslot at 9:30 pm ET/PT to a much earlier slot at 8 pm. But the series' inherent charms haven't been dimmed by an earlier home on the schedule. Last night's episode ("Social Psychology") was one of the funniest yet. (I happened to have been on-set during the filming of the episode to shoot some video interviews with the Community cast).

In addition to seeing Ken Jeong's "erratic" Senor Chang get to flip out as part of a psych experiment overseen by Annie (Alison Brie) and Dr. Ian Duncan (John Oliver), the episode offered a hilarious storyline between Jeff (Joel McHale) and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown)--two words: tiny nipples--and yet another speed bump in the not-quite-friendship between Jeff and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) in the form of often shirtless guest star Eric Christian Olsen.

I do think that there is a logic in pairing Community with the somewhat similar alt-comedy appeal of Parks and Recreation, but I worry about the series kicking off the night without the benefit of a lead-in. Still, I think that Community is one of the more original and rewarding comedies to come along in a long time and episodes like last night point to the series finding its footing in a major way. I can only see this already great series just getting better and better.

Despite the shakiness of its first few episodes, Parks and Recreation has built on the strength of its latter freshman episodes to deliver a second season that's overflowing with hysterical and often underplayed comedic bits. (Hell, as others have suggested, even the theme music for Parks and Recreation fills me with giddiness on a weekly basis.)

Last night's episode ("The Practice Date") was no exception, focusing on the titular practice date between the panicky Leslie (Amy Poehler) and BFF Ann (Rashida Jones), who decided to use immersion therapy as a way of giving Leslie more confidence for her date with Dave (Louis C.K.) but instead led her to drunkenly embarrass herself in front of her new beau. Ouch. Back at the office, the rest of the gang embarked on a mission to dig up as much dirt as they could on each other, leading Tom (Aziz Ansari) to make a shocking discovery about Ron (Nick Offerman) that involves jazz saxaphone and an alter ego named Duke Silver.

Parks and Recreation makes me laugh in a way that The Office used to back in the day and the second season has found creators Greg Daniels and Mike Schur mining some familiar office politics territory but with some additional layering and absurdity. Additionally, Leslie Knope is being written less as a buffoonish Michael Scott clone and more like an ambitious--if slightly less-than-savvy--woman who's out of touch with her position in the world. The result is one of the best comedies on television but it's one that people sadly aren't watching.

What do you think of these two series? Are you watching? And why aren't more people tuning in for the awesome one-two punch of Community and Parks and Recreation? Discuss.

Community and Parks and Recreation air respectively at 8 pm ET/PT and 8:30 pm ET/PT on NBC.

Five Reasons to Watch Tonight's Episode of "Community"

Just a few quick words about tonight's episode of NBC comedy Community ("Spanish 101"), the series' second outing. I had the opportunity a few weeks back to watch the second episode of this hilarious new series and loved every second of it.

So why should you tune in to tonight's episode of Community, when the airwaves are positively overcrowded with televised offerings? Here are five reasons why.

(1) If you liked the pilot, you'll love this even more.

If you enjoyed the hysterical pilot episode of Community, you'll love tonight's episode even more. Free from having to set up the group's situation and first meeting at Greendale Community College, tonight's installment has a lot more fun with the low-key academic setting, further building out the world of Greendale and strengthening the relationships between the characters.

(2) It focuses on some of the supporting characters.

While Community is an ensemble comedy, a lot of the action of the first episode centered around the flirtation between Joel McHale's Jeff and Gillian Jacob's Britta. While Jeff and Britta play a large role in tonight's episode, the spotlight also gets to shine on several of the other characters as Alison Brie's Annie and Yvette Nicole Brown's Shirley get a subplot involving political protest and Chevy Chase's Pierce gets to bond with Jeff when they're paired together for a Spanish project. Which brings us to...

(3) Ken Jeong.

Tonight's episode of Community marks the first appearance of Ken Jeong's imperious Spanish teacher Senor Chang, easily one of the most terrifying and funny professors ever to grace the small screen. Jeong has cornered the market on playing absurd, eccentric, or creepy characters in both film and television and he adds a dangerous, quixotic element to the mix here. His language lesson in tonight's episode (he claims 90 percent of Spanish is using your hands) is gut-bustingly comical and alone is worth the price of admission.

(4) Aimee Mann's "Wise Up."

The award for the best usage of Aimee Mann's song "Wise Up" ever goes to Community for its inclusion in tonight's episode. I won't spoil just how or why it's used but will say that I was rolling on the floor after seeing

(5) It's just plain funny.

And, really, what more do you need than that?

Community airs tonight at 9:30 pm ET/PT on NBC. Here's a sneak peek at tonight's episode:

Talk Back: Series Premiere of NBC's "Community"

Just curious to see how many of you tuned in to watch the series premiere of NBC's new comedy series Community.

You had a chance to read my advance review of the pilot episode from back in May as well as catch my video interviews with the cast of Community (from my recent set visit), but now that the pilot episode has aired, I'm curious to know what you thought of the series.

Did you fall for the loopy charms of the series, created by Dan Harmon? Did you enjoy Community's mix of deadpan humor and emotional heart? Are you already head over heels for its collection of eccentric characters? Does it fit in with the rest of NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup, including Parks and Recreation, The Office, and 30 Rock?

And, most importantly, will you tune in again next week? (And please do, as next week's episode is even funnier!)

Talk back here.

Next week on Community ("Spanish 101"), Jeff conspires to be Britta's partner in a team project for Senor Chang (Ken Jeong) but winds up with an undesirable partner that he can't shake; Shirley and Annie help Britta with her latest social justice cause.

Community Spirit: Televisionary Talks with the Cast of NBC's "Community"

"A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm." - Henrik Ibsen

NBC's latest comedy series Community, which launches tonight, has a unique setting--community college--that serves as a microcosm for society at large, offering one of the most ethnically diverse casts on television in an organic way.

It's also absolutely hysterical to boot. A plus for a new comedy that's landed a plum spot on NBC's Thursday night lineup. It's incredibly droll, filled with throwaway lines, deadpan humor, and layered, recurring gags that reward astute viewers.

I had the opportunity to watch the first two episodes of Community and am already in love with the witty and winsome series, a rare beast that offers both sharp bite and tenderness of heart, sometimes right after each other. (You can read my advance review of the pilot episode here.)

I visited the set of Community a few weeks back and spent some time with the cast while they shot Episode 104, entitled "Social Psychology." It's gratifying to see a cast so even-tempered, sweet, and, well, just plain fun as that of Community.

Below you'll find a nine-minute video package I culled from the footage I shot with Community cast members Joel McHale, Yvette Nicole Brown, Gillian Jacobs, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, and Danny Pudi as they discuss their characters, the sexual tension between McHale's Jeff and Jacobs' Britta, and why Community is unique.



Community launches tonight at 9:30 pm ET/PT on NBC.

Tune-In Reminder: Thursday Night Premiere Bonanza

Just a quick reminder that there's a ton of new television launching tonight, between series premieres, season premieres, and a secret advance peek at a new FX comedy series kicking off next year.

So what should you be sure to set your DVR for tonight? Here goes?

Season Five of Bones kicks off tonight at 8 pm ET/PT with a premiere ("Harbingers in a Fountain"), in which Brennan returns from a dig in Guatemala; Angela's psychic, Avalon Harmonia (Cyndi Lauper) reveals while reading Angela's tarot cards that there are multiple bodies buried under a Washington, DC fountain; Sweets certifies Booth mentally fit to return to duty after his brain surgery, but Booth is still experiencing some side effects from his coma. (You can read my advance review of the season premiere here.)

At 8:30 pm, it's the start of Season Two of comedy Parks and Recreation on NBC. (You can read my advance review of the first two episodes of the season here.)

Fringe returns to FOX at 9 pm tonight with a second season premiere ("A New Day in the Old Town") in which Peter unknowingly races against time to gain information about Olivia's visit to the parallel world and Walter reenters the lab to cook up a bit of fringe science, and some custard for Peter's birthday. (You can read my advance review of the season opener here.

Wait, there's more...

The Office kicks off its new season at 9 pm with "Rumors," in which Michael spreads some rumors around the office, including one rumor that just happens to be true.

At 9:30 pm, NBC launches its newest comedy, Community, about a lawyer (Joel McHale) whose degree has been revoked forms a study group at a community college where he has enrolled in order to obtain a legitimate bachelor's degree. (You can read my advance review of the pilot episode here.)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns to FX at 10 pm with the start of its fifth season ("The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis") as Frank, Mac and Dennis try their hand at real estate; Dee arranges to be a surrogate mother for a rich couple; Charlie squares off with a lawyer. (You can read my review of the first four episodes here.)

Cap off the evening with a sneak peek of FX's animated comedy series Archer, about an international man of mystery and his eccentric co-workers, which launches early next year.

Trailer Park: NBC's New "Community" and "Parenthood" Promos

Hoping to catch another glimpse at Community and Parenthood? Look no further.

With fall nearly upon us, NBC has today released new promos for two of its new series, Community and Parenthood, both of which launch this fall on NBC. The promos can be viewed in full below.

(Meanwhile, you can read my glowing advance review of the full Community pilot episode here.)

COMMUNITY:

Greendale Community College would like to welcome you.



Community, Thursdays this fall on NBC.

PARENTHOOD:

Parenthood is... a many-not-always-so-splendoured thing.



Parenthood, Wednesdays this fall on NBC.

Trailer Park: NBC's "Parenthood," "Community," and "Trauma

Looking for a sneak peak at some of NBC's new series?

You're in luck as NBC today released three new promos for its upcoming fall series Parenthood, Community, and Trauma, all of which can be found below.

PARENTHOOD

Parenthood – Find out everything that makes Parenthood special. Parenthood, coming this fall on NBC.



COMMUNITY

Going Back To College – Life is full of opportunities. Community, coming Thursdays this fall on NBC.



TRAUMA

Trauma – Meet the people who run towards danger. Trauma, coming this fall on NBC



Parenthood, Community, and Trauma premiere this fall on NBC.

Pilot Inspektor: An Advance Review of NBC's "Community"

For the last two years, NBC has sought to find a series to cement its lineup of comedies on Thursday nights... with mixed results.

Last season's offering, Kath & Kim, didn't quite gel with the wit and dry humor of veterans 30 Rock and The Office and was quickly sent to the mall in the sky. And Parks & Recreation, from the executive producers of The Office, hasn't quite lived up to its potential or pedigree.

Next season, NBC will launch another new comedy series, Community, which will join returnees 30 Rock, The Office, and Parks and Recreation on the Thursday night roster. I had the opportunity last night to watch the full pilot episode of Community and believe that NBC may have finally found a worthy addition to its "Comedy Done Right" lineup.

The dry-witted and caustically funny Community, written by Dan Harmon (The Sarah Silverman Program) and directed by Joe and Anthony Russo (Arrested Development), tells the story of Jeff Crocker (The Soup's Joel McHale), a fast-talking lawyer who faces disbarment when it's learned that his undergraduate degree isn't quite as legitimate as he made it out to be. (It's from Colombia rather than, er, Columbia.)

So it's off to Greendale Community College, home of the world's worst dean (he inadvertently gives a speech to the student body in which he equates the school to "loser college") and a British professor, Ian Duncan (The Daily Show's John Oliver), whom Jeff managed to get off on a DUI charge back in 2002. Jeff figures that Ian can repay him (he successfully got the jury to acquit by convincing them that Ian's highway U-turn and call for chalupas from an emergency call box was a direct result of 9/11) by making the next four years at Greendale as easy as possible by giving him all of the answers to his exams. Ian, however, is not quite buying into Jeff's moral relativism.

Meanwhile, Jeff meets the beautiful Britta (The Book of Daniel's Gillian Jacobs)--described by not one but two characters as looking "like Elisabeth Shue"--and falls for her... to the point that he pretends to be a "board-certified" Spanish tutor in order to spend time with her. But his plan goes awry when fellow student Abed (Greek's Danny Pudi) invites along several other misfit members of their class, resulting in a situation that is intentionally similar to classic 1980s film The Breakfast Club, an homage that is invoked several times throughout the pilot episode.

In order to get into Britta's pants, Jeff issues a speech about them forgiving not just each other but themselves for the actions that have led them here, proclaiming them not to be a study group or strangers, but an actual full-fledged "community." It's played for laughs here but there's a real poignancy and beauty to Jeff's off-the-cuff speech. For whatever their original reasons for being there, this motley group is indeed united under Jeff's dubious tutelage by the end of their first "study session."

The rest of that group is comprised of mature student Shirley (Rules of Engagement's Yvette Nicole Brown), whose motherliness disguises a seething aggression; hyper-sensitive Annie (Mad Men's Alison Brie), who was forced to drop out of high school after getting addicted to prescription pills; former prom king and quarterback Troy (30 Rock's Donald Glover), who lost his sports scholarship after dislocating both shoulders during a keg flip; and creepy moist towelette mogul Pierce (Chevy Chase, most recently seen on Chuck), a man divorced seven times who has an unhealthy fixation on poor Shirley.

McHale is absolutely sensational as the compulsively mendacious Jeff, a man for whom lying comes so naturally, he might as well just be breathing. It's fantastic to see McHale embody such a despicable character, yet he imbues Jeff with an overwhelming charisma that makes it impossible not to root for the guy. (NBC attempted a few seasons back to launch a US version of UK comedy The IT Crowd with McHale and I'm happy that they stuck with their efforts to build a series around him.)

The rest of the cast is equally fantastic and their characters will likely be further developed as the series progresses, but I am already enchanted by Jacob's street-smart Britta and Pudi's hilarious Abed (whom Jeff accuses of suffering from Asperger's Syndrome), who issues one of the pilot's funniest payoffs when he channels Judd Nelson's "What about you, dad?" speech from The Breakfast Club.

The jokes come fast and furious throughout the pilot episode of Community, yet there's not only a self-awareness (witness Jeff's admission that, as he was raised on TV, he believes every black woman over 50 is a spiritual guide) as well as unexpected heart as well. Could it be that the community Jeff establishes on a lie will in fact provide him with the means to change his own life?

While it's not quite at the level of 30 Rock or The Office just yet, Community shows an immense amount of promise and could easily develop into--dare I say it--must-see TV next season, making it one community I'd gladly be a part of.



Community airs this fall on Thursday nights at 9:30 pm ET/PT (before moving to 8 pm later this fall) on NBC.

Channel Surfing: "Melrose" Mayhem, Acevedo NOT Fired from "Fringe," "Smallville" and "Supernatural" Could Continue Past Next Season, and More

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. (Following a week that included the 2009 network upfronts, I think we are all looking forward to a three-day weekend.)

SPOILER! Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has the dish on the actual set-up of the new Melrose Place series, kicking off this fall on the CW, and it will either make you squeal with delight or make you want to scream, well, bloody murder. "Sources confirm to me exclusively that the dead body found floating face down in Melrose's trademark pool in the opening minutes belongs to none other than Laura Leighton's bitchtastic ex-stripper," writes Ausiello of Melrose's seemingly resurrected Sydney. "I'm told her death will set in motion a season-long murder mystery that finds nearly all of the show's principal characters -- particularly Syd's ex, Michael (Thomas Calabro) -- a possible suspect." Leighton, meanwhile, will continue to appear on the series via flashbacks that will explore what happened to her and "what really happened after she became road kill more than a decade ago." (Editor's aside: Wasn't this the basic plot setup of short-lived Melrose Place spinoff Models Inc.?) (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

The strange story of Kirk Acevedo's firing from Fringe just got a hell of a lot weirder (much like the FOX drama itself) as executive producer Jeff Pinkner now claims that Acevedo isn't fired and will in fact be returning for Season Two of Fringe. Pinkner contends that Acevedo "was not fired" and will be playing two versions of Charlie Francis next season (remember the alternate universe Charlie with the facial scar?) “We have already seen two of him on the show,” Pinkner told TV Guide. “We have already met the second Charlie. He had a scar on his face.” Still not explained, however: why Acevedo believed he had been fired. Hmmm... (TV Guide)

The CW's entertainment president Dawn Ostroff has indicated that it's not certain that Smallville and Supernatural will in fact wrap their series runs at the end of the 2009-10 season. "No [....] It's not necessarily the last season," said Ostroff of whether Smallville will hang up its (metaphorical) tights next season. "I hope it's not." As for Supernatural, Ostroff said, "We'll see how the season goes. [...] [The Supernatural creative team] did a really good job this year and it really paid off in the ratings." (TVGuide.com)

As expected, Joel McHale has confirmed that he will not be giving up his hosting duties on E's The Soup, now that his comedy Community has been picked up to series at NBC. I'm going to do both Talk Soup and Community next fall," McHale told Entertainment Weekly. "People can tune in to E! and NBC anytime they want to see me. The series doesn’t take as much time as it does for us to do Talk Soup because we do that almost every day, like a real job." (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

ABC has ordered Prep and Landing, a half-hour animated holiday special from Walt Disney Animation that tells the story of an elite elven unit that ensures that homes are prepped for Santa's annual visit. Voices will be provided by Dave Foley, Sarah Chalke, and Derek Richardson. Project, expected to air this holiday season, is executive produced by John Lasseter. (Variety)

The CW entertainment president Dawn Ostroff is said to be "sad" to see One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton depart the series. "We tried to get them to stay; we would have been thrilled if they wanted to," said Ostroff. "A show going into its seventh year is very open to reinventing itself. And one thing I have to give [series creator] Mark Schwahn a lot of credit for is that he has kept the show so fresh all these years." (TVGuide.com)

20th Century Fox Television has signed a two-year overall deal with director/produced Dan Sackheim (House, Life), under which he will join drama series Lie to Me as an executive producer. (Variety)

Streaming VOD service Hulu is set to launch in the UK in September. The UK-based version of the site is said to contain more than 3,000 hours of US television content and has signed deals within Britain with ITV and Channel 4 as content partners and is also said to be in talks with BBC as well. It's thought that UK's Hulu will display content from the partner the night after broadcast and allow the material to be accessed for 30 days after transmission, following the established British VOD pattern. (Daily Telegraph)

BBC America has announced the launch of Season Four of Gordon Ramsay's F Word, which returns to primetime with a US premiere of the new season on Wednesday, June 17th. Series will air at 9 pm ET/PT through the summer, wrapping its twelve-episode season on September 2nd. This season will find Gordon traveling the world in search of the very best ingredients and challenging guests to make a three-course meal for 50 diners using recipes that they can make at home while Janet Street-Porter attempts to raise two calves in a cruelty-free environment. Guests include Meatloaf, Graham Norton, Dannii Minogue, Jessica Hynes, Erin O'Connor, and Ricky Hatton. (via press release)

Patti Blagojevich, the wife of disgraced former Illinois governor Rob Blagojevich, will be participating as a contestant on NBC's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! "I don't feel I'm a celebrity. NBC wanted my husband on the show, and when he was unable to go, they expressed interest in me," said Blagojevich in an interview on NBC's Today. "In this terrible economic time, I feel it's necessary to go to work to support my family." (New York Daily News)

BSkyB's Sky Movies has signed a deal to bring the ten-part Steven Spielberg- and Tom Hanks-produced HBO series The Pacific to the U.K. Sky Movies will debut The Pacific, which follows three U.S. Marines in the WWII battle with Japan, next spring. Elsewhere at the company, Sky1 has confirmed that it has canceled reality series Gladiators. (Variety)

BBC Worldwide has renewed its deal with YouTube and, in a first, will allow a "limited number" of full-length episodes of natural history program The Life of Birds to be available for US viewers. It's the first time that long-form BBC content has appeared on the platform, both in the US or the UK. Short-form content from BBC Worldwide will be available on a number of YouTube channels later this year, including BBC America, BBC Explore, and BBC Earth, which feature such series as Doctor Who, Primeval, and Hotel Babylon. (Hollywood Reporter)

USA has promoted Ryan Sharkey to VP of program acquisitions and administration, where he will oversee theatrical and series acquisitions and inventory for USA and sister cablers Sleuth and Universal HD. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Channel Surfing: Starz to "Party Down" for Season Two, FOX Orders "Human Target" and "Sons of Tucson," "Torchwood" Ignites in July, and More

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing.

Good news: pay cabler Starz has renewed comedy series Party Down, from creators Rob Thomas, John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd, for a second season. The entire cast of Season One of Party Down will return for a sophomore season, though Jane Lynch's commitment to FOX's upcoming series Glee could create complications for her return and the actress is the only cast member who isn't already signed on for a second season. Party Down will return to production this summer for a Season Two launch date sometime in 2010. Also returning: directors Fred Savage and Bryan Gordon, who will direct episodes of the series, along with Ken Marino, who is locked to helm an installment as well. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin, Variety)

FOX has reportedly ordered pilots Human Target, from Warner Bros Television, and comedy Sons of Tucson, from 20th Century Fox Television, to series. FOX had no comment on the news, which is hardly surprising as the network will unveil its schedule to advertisers on Monday. Human Target stars Mark Valley, Chi McBride, and Jackie Earle Haley; it revolves around a man hired to pose as people whose lives are in danger, becoming in effect a human target. (Series is based on a DC Comics/Vertigo title.) Sons of Tucson, starring Tyler Labine and Natalie Morales, follows a hustler who is hired to pose as the father of three kids whose real father is in jail for white collar crimes. Series was created by Tommy Dewey and Greg Bratman. (Variety)

BBC America has announced that Torchwood's third season, comprised of five episodes, will air this July, following a similar air pattern as BBC One in the UK and will air day-and-date with the UK airings. (You can take a look at the trailer for season three, Torchwood: Children of Earth, here.) (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

FOX has renewed drama Lie to Me for a second season of thirteen episodes and has hired The Shield creator Shawn Ryan to come aboard as showrunner on the 20th Century Fox Television-produced series. The hiring doesn't mean curtains for Ryan's other series, CBS' The Unit, however; should that series be picked up for another season, Ryan will juggle duties on both of the 20th-produced series. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files, Hollywood Reporter)

Meanwhile, Dollhouse is said to still be alive at FOX, with Hollywood Reporter's Nellie Andreeva reporting that "cult favorite Dollhouse is still alive, with the final decision hinging on the low-rated series' economics." (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC's Scrubs is said to be inching its way to a ninth season renewal following reports that offers have gone out to the series' cast, with many of them--including Zach Braff--expected to return for a ninth season, even if only for a handful of episodes. (Variety)

The New York Post is reporting that Desperate Housewives' Lily Tomlin and Kathryn Joosten, who play Roberta and Karen McClusky on the ABC drama, are in talks to reprise their roles in an untitled spin-off focusing on their characters. (New York Post)

Showtime has confirmed that Alanis Morissette will will appear in at least seven episodes of Season Five of Weeds, which launches Monday, June 8th. Morisette will guest star in the series as no-nonsense clinic OB/GYN Dr. Audra Kitson, who treats Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) for her pregnancy. (via press release)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton will not be returning to One Tree Hill for the series' seventh season, launching on the CW this fall. Their final appearances on the series will air this Monday on the season finale. The reason behind their departure? Failed contract negotiations, according to Ausiello, who says that two new characters will be introduced next season to fill the void left behind by Murray and Burton and Austin Nichols will be bumped to series regular. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

A&E announced a slew of scripted development at their upfront yesterday, including the The Quickening from writer Jennifer Salt (Nip/Tuck) about a bi-polar LAPD cop who goes off of her medication; Night Falls, about a Manhattan cop with a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality disorder, from writer Daniel Connolly and executive producer Brian Robbins; an untitled Matthew Carnahan cop drama which splits its focus on the criminals and the FBI team assigned to track them down; and James Ellroy-scripted drama The Lead Sheet, a period drama set in the 1970s as the LAPD looks to capture the elusive Hillside Strangler. Two of those projects will get pilot greenlights in the next few weeks, joining Jerry Bruckheimer's Cooler Kings. (Variety)

Nikki Finke is reporting that ABC pilots Limelight and No Heroics are dead, while Romantically Challenged "came in better than expected but star Alysso Milano was worse than expected." At CBS, Miami Trauma and Three Rivers are both fighting for a slot on the schedule. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Universal Media Studios have signed an overall deal with former Scrubs writers Garrett Donovan and Neil Goldman, who co-created comedy pilot Nobody's Watching with Bill Lawrence. Under the terms of the deal, they will come aboard upcoming NBC comedy series Community as executive producers, working alongside creator Dan Harmon on the series, and will develop new projects for the studio hopefully in the 2010-2011 season. (Hollywood Reporter)

In other deal-related news, CBS Television Studios has signed a two-year overall deal with writer Ken Sanzel, under which he will remain showrunner on CBS drama NUMB3RS, should the series be renewed for a fifth season. Failing a renewal, Sanzel will be shifted over to another CBS Television Studios series. (Variety)

Discovery has announced another HD nature documentary series entitled Wild Planet: North America, on which the cabler will team with former BBC Natural History Unit head Keith Scholey as part of the first of a batch of documentary series that will catalogue the planet's natural beauty continent by continent. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC is developing a US adaptation of Dutch reality series Find My Family with RDF USA and executive producer Tom Forman (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) in which everyday people, desperate to track down a long-lost friend or relative, get reunited with their missing individual. Project, which just recently wrapped production on a pilot, will be hosted by Tim Green and Lisa Joyner. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

NBC Announces Six New Series, Renews Four Returning Series... But No News for "Chuck"

NBC unveiled part of its plan for the 2009-2010 season just a few hours ahead of its infront presentation to advertisers in New York.

The Peacock ordered six new series including dramas Trauma, Parenthood, Mercy, and Day One (described as an "event series") and comedies 100 Questions and Community.

NBC also officially announced that it had renewed dramas Heroes and Southland and comedy Parks and Recreation, as well as ordering six new installments of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday.

As expected, there was no mention of on the bubble series like Chuck, Law & Order, and My Name is Earl, although the network was quick to acknowledge that additional renewals and pickups will be announced May 19th, when NBC announces its full 2009-2010 schedule. (Also missing: Medium, which some news outlets had reported as already being renewed.)

It's a rather full offering (with the potential for further orders), considering that NBC has lost its 10 pm hour during the week. Just how all of these series, along with the slew of programs that the Peacock had already renewed ahead of its infront presentation (including The Office, 30 Rock, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Biggest Loser,Celebrity Apprentice, and Friday Night Lights), will fit into the complicated rubric that is NBC's primetime schedule remains to be seen.

The full press release from NBC, along with descriptions, photos, and featurettes about the new series, can be found below.

NBC ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS LINEUP OF PROGRAMMING DOMINATED BY NEW SCRIPTED SERIES FOR 2009-2010 PRIMETIME SEASON THAT EXTENDS THE NETWORK'S QUALITY BRAND

New Series Include Four Dramas: Trauma, Parenthood, Mercy and the Event Series Day One as Well as Two Comedies: Community and 100 Questions

Returning Series Pickups Include Heroes, Southland, Parks and Recreation and Six New Episodes of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday

NEW YORK CITY – May 4, 2009 – NBC unveiled today a strong lineup of broad and diverse quality programming for the 2009-2010 television season announcing the pickups of six new series featuring four new dramas including Trauma, Parenthood, Mercy and the event series Day One, as well as two new comedies including Community and 100 Questions. Four returning series pickups were also announced today including Heroes, Southland, Parks and Recreation and the addition of six new episodes of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday skewering today's top stories in live half-hour primetime shows.

The new and returning series will launch next season and the epic event series Day One is slated to premiere out of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The Jay Leno Show will be broadcast Monday-Fridays, 10-11 p.m. ET beginning in the fall. Previously announced series pickups include The Office, 30 Rock, The Biggest Loser, The Celebrity Apprentice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Friday Night Lights, and new alternative series The Marriage Ref, Breakthrough With Tony Robbins and Who Do You Think You Are?

Additional series pickups will be announced May 19, when NBC announces its 2009-2010 schedule.

NBC unveiled pickups for the upcoming broadcast season in the first of a series of presentations today and tomorrow to key advertisers from Studio 8H-the home of NBC's Saturday Night Live-at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Presentations will continue in Chicago on May 7 and Los Angeles on May 12.

"We are thrilled to be announcing such an awesome slate of new series that build on our existing quality brand and deliver emotional, human stories," said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "NBC will strive to make viewers feel and our shows represent the full range of human emotion from laughter to tears. We can't wait to share these concepts with our audience and our advertising partners."

"These new series will showcase fresh talent and bold, original concepts that are extremely well executed," said Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios. "We are grateful to the producers, casts and crews -- and our team -- who have delivered incredibly compelling and entertaining new series."
In response to an evolving media marketplace and the changing needs of advertisers, NBC has created a more innovative, client-centric approach to its traditional Upfront with a series of one-on-one client presentations, which began today in New York City. These presentations are interactive and, unlike other networks' Upfront presentations, will include a Q & A with advertisers and NBC sales and entertainment executives.

NBC will also host advertisers and affiliates at a "Night of Comedy" featuring appearances by some of its biggest comedy stars including Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Rainn Wilson and Tracy Morgan on Tuesday, May 19 in New York City.

2009-2010 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

New Dramas:

PARENTHOOD

From the executive producers of the box-office hit Parenthood -- Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (Oscar winners for "A Beautiful Mind"), and writer/executive producer Jason Katims ("Friday Night Lights") -- this contemporary re-imagining of the blockbuster film depicts the colorful and imperfect Braverman family -- four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches and joy of being parents. The star-studded cast includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Craig T. Nelson, Dax Shepard, Bonnie Bedelia, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen and Sarah Ramos. When Sarah Braverman (Tierney, "ER"), a financially strapped single mother, returns home to her parents and siblings in Berkeley, Calif. after packing up her Fresno apartment and uprooting her two inconvenienced kids, Amber (Mae Whitman, "In Treatment") and Drew (Miles Heizer, "ER"), she is greeted by her opinionated father, Zeek (Nelson, "Family Stone," "Coach"), and strong mother, Camille (Bedelia, "Heart Like a Wheel"), who are privately dealing with their own marital issues. As Sarah is reunited with her siblings -- sister, Julia (Christensen, "Traffic"), and brothers Crosby (Shepard, "Baby Mama") and Adam (Krause, "Six Feet Under") -- all struggling with issues of their own, it's clear that the Braverman reunion is just what they need to face the everyday challenges of modern family life. "Parenthood" is a production from Imagine Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing") directs the pilot.



TRAUMA

Executive producer Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") delivers "Trauma," the first high-octane medical drama series to live exclusively in the field where the real action is. Like an adrenaline shot to the heart, "Trauma" is an intense, action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco General is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach their victims in time. From the heights of the city's Transamerica Pyramid to the depths of the San Francisco Bay, these heroes must face the most extreme conditions to save lives -- and give meaning to their own existence in the process. Starring in "Trauma" are Derek Luke ("Notorious"), Cliff Curtis ("10,000 B.C"), Anastasia Griffith ("Damages"), Aimee Garcia ("George Lopez"), Kevin Rankin ("Friday Night Lights") and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"). "Trauma" is a production of Universal Media Studios and Film 44. Berg, Sarah Aubrey ("Bad Santa," "Friday Night Lights"), Dario Scardapane and Jeffrey Reiner ("Friday Night Lights") serve as executive producers. The pilot was written by Scardapane and directed by Reiner.



MERCY

"Mercy," a new medical drama with a unique point of view, portrays the lives of the staff at Mercy Hospital as seen through the eyes of those who know it best -- its nurses. Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling, "Dark Matter") returns to Mercy from a military tour in Iraq -- and she knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jamie Lee Kirchner, "Rescue Me") and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, "Gossip Girl"), Callahan navigates through the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world. 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 husband; and Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds") as Nurse Angel Lopez. "Mercy" is a production from Universal Media Studios and Berman Braun. Joining writer/executive producers Liz Heldens (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") and Gretchen Berg & Aaron Harberts ("Pushing Daisies," "Pepper Dennis") are executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein (NBC's "30 Rock," "Rescue Me") is the director.



DAY ONE

From executive producer/writer Jesse Alexander ("Heroes," "Lost," "Alias") and director Alex Graves ("Fringe," "Journeyman"), "Day One" tells the story of life on earth following a global catastrophe that has devastated the world's infrastructures. Beginning with the immediate aftermath of the cataclysmic event, an eclectic band of survivors -- played by Adam Campbell ("Date Movie"), Catherine Dent ("The Shield"), Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone"), David Lyons ("ER"), Derek Mio ("Greek"), Carly Pope ("24"), Thekla Reuten ("Sleeper Cell") and Addison Timlin ("Cashmere Mafia") -- strives to rebuild society as they unravel the mysteries of what happened and face their uncertain future. The group, all residents of one apartment building in suburban Van Nuys, Calif., embarks on a quest for survival and discovers that hope is found in small victories -- and heroes are born every day. "Day One" is a Universal Media Studios production.



New Comedies:

100 QUESTIONS (fka 100 Questions for Charlotte Payne)

Emmy winner James Burrows ("Will & Grace," "Friends") directs "100 Questions," a new comedy series written and executive-produced by Christopher Moynihan ("For Your Consideration") that provides hilarious answers to 100 questions about love. Charlotte Payne (Sophie Winkleman, "Peep Show") is looking for love and has rejected multiple marriage proposals -- but she has yet to meet Mr. Right. When she joins a popular online dating site, she gets a little help from her dating counselor Ravi (Amir Talai, "The Ex List") – who requires her to take a 100-question compatibility test. The questions aren't easy for Charlotte to answer, and each one requires her to recount a poignant and humorous time in her life with friends Leslie (Elizabeth Ho, "Women's Murder Club"), Jill (Joy Suprano, NBC's "Law & Order"), Mike (Christopher Moynihan "For Your Consideration") and Wayne (David Walton "Quarterlife"). The test becomes a journey of self-discovery for Charlotte who begins to realize what she truly wants in a relationship. Ron West ("Psych"), Kelly Kulchak ("Psych") and Michelle Nader ("King of Queens") join Moynihan as executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Tagline.



COMMUNITY

From Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") comes "Community," a smart comedy series about higher education -- and lower expectations. The student body at Greendale Community College is made up of high-school losers, newly divorced housewives, and old people who want to keep their minds active. Within these not-so-hallowed halls, "Community" focuses on a band of misfits, at the center of which is a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), who form a study group and end up learning a lot more about themselves than they do about their course work. In addition to McHale, the series also stars: Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel"); Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement"); Danny Pudi ("Greek"); Alison Brie ("Mad Men"); and comedy legend Chevy Chase ("Saturday Night Live"). "Community" is a Krasnoff Foster Entertainment, Harmonious Claptrap and Russo Brothers production in association with Sony Pictures Television and Universal Media Studios. Russ Krasnoff ("The Soloist"), Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program"), Joe Russo ("Arrested Development"), Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") and Gary Foster ("The Soloist") serve as executive producers. Joe and Anthony Russo directed the pilot that was written by Dan Harmon.



Stay tuned.