Talk Back: Series Premiere of ABC's "V"

They have arrived.

You read my advance review of the pilot episode of ABC's sci-fi series V but now that the series has launched, I'm curious to see what all of you thought of the first episode. (You can also read my post-air thoughts on the first episode of V over at the Los Angeles Times/Show Tracker site.)

Did you love the arrival scene where the Visitors descended on Earth and then broadcast their message of "hope" and "peace"? Did you think that Elizabeth Mitchell made a kick-ass FBI agent and single mom? Happy to (nearly) see a reunion between former Firefly co-stars Alan Tudyk and Morena Baccarin? Enjoying the Vs' use of propaganda and devotion in their arsenal? Liking the updated elements, such as the sleeper cells, human resistance force, and the fact that the Vs have been on Earth for decades already? Were you surprised by the reptilian reveal behind two characters' fleshy facades? Curious about the Vs' master plan?

And, most importantly, will you tune in again next week?

Talk back here.

Next week on V ("There Is No Normal Anymore"), Erica and Father Jack find themselves being tracked by a "Seeker" from the V's; Chad, thinking he blew it for 80 million viewers with his exclusive first interview with Anna, looks to pick himself up and becomes more investigative in his next newscast; Dale Maddox's wife and law enforcement begin questioning Erica about his whereabouts.

Channel Surfing: "Flight of the Conchords" Might Stop Flying, Rosenbaum Arrives at "V," James Franco to "30 Rock," Colin Hanks, and More

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing.

Flight of the Conchords star/co-creator Jemaine Clement has indicated that there might not be a third season of their HBO comedy series but said that a final decision will be made within a month, once Clement discusses it with fellow co-creators Bret McKenzie and James Bobin. "It very likely might not," said Clement. "It could come back in a shorter season or like a special." One major hurdle is that the team would not only have to write the scripts for the series but also the music as well. HBO, meanwhile, will stand by the Conchords' decision either way. "We've left their future entirely in their hands," said HBO spokesperson Nancy Lesser. "We would love to have more, and we left an open door at HBO." (Hollywood Reporter)

Chuck executive producer Scott Rosenbaum has replaced Scott Peters as the showrunner on ABC's sci-fi series V, which launched yesterday evening. Peters will remain on board the series as an executive producer. Jeff Bell, meanwhile, has left the series. Rosenbaum has signed a two-year deal with Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind V. (Los Angeles Times/Show Tracker)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that James Franco will follow his run on General Hospital with a guest shot on NBC's 30 Rock. Citing an insider, Ausiello reports that "Franco (playing himself) will be involved in a faux romance with Jane Krakowski’s Jenna — a relationship engineered by their respective agents." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Colin Hanks (Mad Men) will star opposite Bradley Whitford in FOX's upcoming drama series Jack and Dan, produced by Fox Television Studios under their international co-production business model. Hanks will play Jack, "an ambitious, by-the-book detective whose habit of undermining himself has resulted in a dead-end position at the Los Angeles Police Department." He's partnered with drunken cop Dan (Whitford). Production is scheduled to begin in early 2010. (Hollywood Reporter)

FOX is developing an untitled espionage drama with writer Harris Wilkinson and Chernin Entertainment that will revolve around a specialized division of the CIA that uses remote viewing, i.e., intelligence gathering using paranormal means. Project will be executive produced by Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope, and Lauren Stein. Len Wiseman is attached to direct the pilot. (Variety)

CBS has ordered five additional episodes of freshman comedy Accidentally on Purpose, bringing its season total to 18 installments, just short of a full season pickup. With the additional episode order, it leaves only drama series Three Rivers without any additional commitment at the network; the medical drama is widely expected to be axed though no decision has been made at this point. (Variety)

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will serve as co-hosts for the 82nd Academy Awards. "I am happy to co-host the Oscars with my enemy, Alec Baldwin," said Martin in a statement. (via press release)

Former Dirty Sexy Money star Blair Underwood is set to reprise his role as Daniel Harris on CBS' The New Adventures of Old Christine in an upcoming episode set to air in January. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Writer Craig Doyle has set up two projects, one at FOX and the other at CBS. The FOX project is an untitled comedy about a screw-up who has to rescue his severely Type-A sister after she suffers a tragedy. It hails from 20th Century Fox Television and Chernin Entertainment. The second, a multi-camera comedy entitled Three Sisters, is about three very different men who wed three sisters who are all extremely close. CBS Television Studios and Katalyst Films will produce. (Hollywood Reporter)

TVGuide.com's Natalie Abrams has an interview with Glee star Mark Salling. "I would never rule it completely out, especially with this group of writers," said Salling about a possible second go-around with Lea Michele's Rachel. "You never know what's going to happen and who's going to be with whom. I hope it does; I like that dynamic myself. It seems like the fans really liked it, so hopefully they'll take that into consideration." (TVGuide.com)

E! has ordered eight episodes of reality series Bank of Hollywood, in which everyday people will be able to plead with celebrities and business moguls for money for a specific purpose. Panelists will include Candy Spelling, poker player Vanessa Rousso, Wilhelmina Models president Sean Patterson, and Pussycat Dolls singer Melody Thornton. Series, from Ryan Seacrest Prods., Fever Media, and BBC, is set to debut on December 14th. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC will pre-empt supernatural drama Eastwick on Wednesday, November 18th in favor of ABC News' interview with Janet Jackson about her late brother Michael Jackson. (Variety)

A&E has ordered ten half-hour episodes of an untitled docudrama focusing on Kirstie Alley's life as a single mother attempting to lose weight. Project, from FremantleMedia North America, is expected to debut in 2010. (Hollywood Reporter)

CMT is making a foray into the scripted television business and has hired former FOX comedy executive Brad Johnson to oversee the development of roughly twelve scripted comedy projects, with the goal of getting two on the air in 2010. The cabler has also ordered two adventure series, Danger Coast, from ITV and Gator 911, from 12 Forward. Both will launch in second quarter 2010. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Chuck Me: Yvonne Strahovski Talks Season Three of "Chuck"

While I still don't have any news about when Season Three of Chuck will launch on NBC (January? March?), I do have a rare treat for Chuck-starved fans looking for something to tide them over until next year, when NBC will bring the action-comedy back to its schedule (now with six more episodes as well!)

I had the opportunity to visit the set of Chuck a few weeks back and those of you who follow me on Twitter have been anxiously awaiting any news from that visit.

So, I bring you the first of several video interviews with the cast of Chuck as I sit down with Yvonne Strahovski inside the Castle to discuss the felicitous Season Three Chuck renewal, love triangles, comedy and action, what's coming up for Sarah Walker, and much more.

Without further ado, I'll let Yvonne Strahovski fill you in on some non-spoilery Chuck goodness.



Season Three of Chuck will launch on NBC in 2010.

Eat, Drink, and Be (Not So) Merry: An Advance Review of "Top Chef Reunion Dinner"

It's hard to believe at times that we're nearly almost done with the sixth season of Bravo's addictive culinary competition series Top Chef.

What better time then to take a look back than just before we anoint another new Top Chef to join the ranks of the blessed few?

Tomorrow night, Bravo will take a break from the current competition for the Top Chef Reunion Dinner, which will offer audiences a chance to see cast members from previous seasons of Top Chef come together for an evening of conversation, competition, and confrontation.

And, yes, those three things play an equal weight in the unfolding of the evening, which is hosted by Top Chef: New York competitor Fabio Viviani at Social Hollywood. Joining Fabio for the reunion are such noteworthy former competitors as Harold Dieterle, Tiffany Faison, Marcel Vigneron, Ilan Hall, Dale Levitski, Casey Thompson, Hung Huynh, Richard Blais, Lisa Fernandes, Carla Hall, and Stefan Richter.

I had the opportunity to watch the reunion dinner episode and have to say that I was not only completely captivated by what these accomplished chefs created in the kitchen but also the way that they interacted. Tensions run high as do emotions and this episode showcases both haute cuisine as much as hot tempers.

Yes, there are certain tough topics from Top Chef history that are dredged up rather uncomfortably for all involved. The head-shaving incident that ensnared Marcel, Ilan, Elia, and Cliff back in Season Two comes to mind. Tiffany's interactions with, well, everyone. Heated stew room arguments. Marcel getting hit over the head with a bottle by a detractor. Carla's decision to listen to Casey's advice to sous-vide her beef, a decision that cost her a shot at the grand prize last season.

These are all touched upon over the course of the alcohol-fueled evening, which features the chefs teaming up with their competitors from their individual season to produce a five-course meal for themselves. There are no judges, no dietary restrictions, no vending machine challenges, and a $500 per course budget. Just good, honest, and delicious food cooked without the added pressure of elimination. Given that no one is going to pack their knives for their performance, each of the chefs wants to dazzle their peers and produce dishes that impress, engage, and tantalize.

Which is a nice change from the rigors and stress of the competition, really. Richard Blais, for example, says that he misses the energy and thrill of competing but when that knife block comes out, there are groans all around. (What did they expect, after all? That the producers would let them just sit back and drink all night?) Others are more keen to cook in the kitchen than dish about the past. (Look for Fabio to make a rather stunning declaration during the dinner about this fact.)

Ultimately, Top Chef Reunion Dinner is a fantastic glimpse at where the former competitors are now, which wounds still sting years later, and which contestants can rise above the fray and attempt to make the evening about camaraderie rather than reheating old vendettas. It's a reminder of the passion, dedication, and vision of the contestants that have come before as well as a delicious offering of drama, served piping hot.

Top Chef Preview: An Angry Dinner:



Top Chef Preview: Marcel vs. Everyone:



Top Chef Reunion Dinner airs Wednesday night at 10 pm ET/PT on Bravo.

Tune-In Reminder: Series Premiere of ABC's "V"

Just a quick reminder to be sure to set your DVRs (or, hell, tune in live!) to the series premiere of ABC's V tonight.

Based on the classic 1980s sci-fi miniseries, V boasts an amazing cast that includes Elizabeth Mitchell, Joel Gretsch, Morris Chestnut, Scott Wolf, Morena Baccarin, and many others. But you needn't have watched any of the classic V in order to understand the intricacies of this new reimaginating.

You can read my advance review of the pilot episode for V (written back in May) as well as my interview over at the Los Angeles Times/Show Tracker with series lead Elizabeth Mitchell about her character Erica Evans and what's coming up on the series, which will air four episodes this month before returning after the Olympics with nine additional installments.

V launches tonight at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Channel Surfing: David Tennant Crowned "Rex" for NBC, Naveen Andrews to Guest on "Law & Order: SVU," Ramsay Brings "Masterchef" to US, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Looks like the TARDIS has deposited the Doctor on our shores. Outbound Doctor Who star David Tennant has signed on to topline NBC's legal dramedy pilot Rex Is Not Your Lawyer. Tennant, who departs from Doctor Who at the end of the year, will play the titular character, Rex Alexander, a Chicago lawyer who suffers from crippling panic attacks who begins coaching his clients on how to represent themselves in court. Project, from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun, is written by Andrew Leeds and David Lampson and will be directed by David Semel, who executive produces with Barry Schindel, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun, and Gene Stein. (Hollywood Reporter)

Lost's Naveen Andrews will guest star on an upcoming episode of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Details on his role are being kept firmly under wraps, though it's known that his episode is slated to air in January. (TVGuide.com)

FOX has ordered roughly twelve to fifteen episodes of a US adaptation of British culinary competition series Masterchef from Reveille, One Potato Two Potato, and executive producer Gordon Ramsay, who will likely also appear on the series, possibly as its host. The format is still under discussion but it's thought to likely resemble the Australian version of Masterchef more than the BBC version of the series; hundreds of amateur chefs are invited to audition for a slot on the series which then becomes an American Idol-style elimination-based competition. (Variety, Broadcast)

TVGuide.com's Natalie Abrams interviews V star Scott Wolf about his role on ABC's new iteration of the classic 1980s mini-series. "When we meet him and see his first encounter with [Anna], the leader of the Visitors, he's put in a position where he's forced to either give up the opportunity of a lifetime or compromise himself in a deep way," said Wolf of his character Chad. "You come to understand why Chad is wired the way he is. On the surface, Chad is not necessarily the best guy. He's very ambitious, but I think the thing that makes him really complicated and fun to play is that he's ambiguous. There's a sense that he's a little up for grabs. In a larger way, he represents an idea, in terms of how much faith should be placed in our media figures. It asks the question: Is that a good idea? Or is it potentially dangerous?" (TVGuide.com)

Mark Mylod (Shameless) has will direct the pilot of the US adaptation of British drama series Shameless for Showtime, Warner Horizon, and executive producer John Wells. (William H. Macy is attached to star.) Elsewhere, Clark Johnson (Lights Out, The Wire) will direct TNT drama pilot Delta Blues, which is executive produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and hails from Warner Horizon as well. (Hollywood Reporter)

Both projects hail from Warner Bros. TV and its cable division Warner Horizon.

Jim Belushi, Diane English, and Barry Levinson have teamed up to develop a drama project that would star Belushi as a defense attorney based on the real-life lawyer Mickey Sherman. Project, currently being packaged by ICM, has yet to be pitched to studios or networks. (Variety)

E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos has broken her vow of silence about the Heroes cast member who is getting the axe this season on the NBC drama series. Said actor only found out about the character demise by reading about it in a script... (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

TNT's run of Season One of Southland could feature bonus, never-before-seen footage that had been cut out of NBC's broadcasts. "It’s my understanding that the actual episodes will have more airtime on TNT, so I believe they will be going back in and [adding] content," series star Michael Cudlitz told Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. "They’ll have the opportunity, and, in my opinion the need, to open up the [initial seven] episodes a little bit." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

ABC will produce two additional episodes of reality series Shark Tank using already shot footage, bringing the total of unaired episodes in its stash to five installments. It's unclear when ABC will air these episodes or if the network plans to renew the series for a second season. (Variety)

HBO is developing a telepic based on Steve Knopper's nonfiction book "Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age," about the rise and crash of the US recording industry from the 1970s to the present day. Victoria Stewart is attached to adapt and Bob Cooper will executive produce. (Hollywood Reporter)

Robert Wagner has been cast as the father of Michael Weatherley's Tony DiNozzo on the 150th episode of CBS' NCIS, set to air in January. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Comedian Tom Papa will host NBC's upcoming reality series The Marriage Ref, from executive producer Jerry Seinfeld. Series, which is slated to air in midseason, has couples involved in marital disputes "present their case to a panel of comedians and celebrities." (Hollywood Reporter)

Kathy Griffin will host ABC reality competition series Let's Dance, in which celebrities will perform famous pop dance routines. The series, from FremantleMedia North America, is set to launch Monday, November 23rd at 9:30 pm. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Fisher Stevens has been cast in a potentially recurring role on ABC's Ugly Betty, where he will play Mr. Z., Betty’s "dry, sarcastic new landlord." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Stay tuned.

Alone in the Dark: The Death of the New Frontier on "Mad Men"

I really believed that Matthew Weiner would leave that crucial moment in history--namely, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy--until next week's finale but I'm glad that he didn't as it allows the audience to see the fallout, both social and personal, from that Dallas killing, dragging the nation as it did into the into the harsh realities of adulthood.

JFK's assassination has hung like a dark cloud over Season Three of Mad Men and each episode this season brought us that much closer to an end of innocence, knowing as we did that fateful day in Dallas was inching closer. With a shot that November afternoon, America had changed, perhaps forever.

This week's episode of Mad Men ("The Grown-Ups"), written by Brett Johnson and Matthew Weiner and directed by Barbet Schroeder, pushed our main characters somewhat into the periphery, focusing instead on JFK's death and the ripple effect his passing had on the lives of the characters we've come to know and love. How they deal with and process JFK's unexpected killing says quite a lot about who they are as individuals and the choices they make will themselves have lasting repercussions on the series.

Given the impact of Kennedy's murder, people remember where they were when they learned that Kennedy had been killed. This week's episode depicts a number of individuals discovering the news in their own way, whether that be Pete and Harry, who mistakenly turn down the volume of the television set so that Pete can impart his frustration with Ken getting the head of accounts position (missing that crucial bit of news) or Duck callously pulling the electrical cord out of the television set so he and Peggy can be uninterrupted during their hotel room tryst. We see numerous groups of people thrown together, crying, confused, standing in front of televisions, attempting to absorb the severity of what has happened. Betty and Carla both sit, sobbing, on the couch in front of the television; Bobby and Sally sit for hours watching the news footage unfold. There's a massive sense that television, as a medium, as a means of connection, has truly arrived.

Just like after 9/11, there's a sense of fragility in the world and characters seem to do 180 degree turns when faced with the news. Prior to the killing, Trudy cautions Pete against any sudden moves when he tells her of Lane's decision, pressing him toward optimism; afterward, she grows dark and vengeful, agreeing that they shouldn't attend the wedding of Roger's daughter Margaret, and telling Pete that he should take his clients and leave Sterling Cooper for good, saying that he doesn't owe them anything. Was it more than just Kennedy who was killed that day? Has America lost its optimism for the future as well?

The bratty Margaret's wedding goes ahead as planned, despite the fact that half of their guests don't turn up and the other half are in the kitchen watching the news. But whether it's the fact that he's seen his daughter be married or his president be shot dead, Roger has some rather out-of-character moments in this episode, graciously and sincerely complimenting his ex-wife Mona (with whom he had been thrown together in an alliance against both Jane and Margaret) and reaching out to Joan Harris née Holloway, perhaps his one true love. The tenderness of his telephone call with Joan, with a drunken Jane passed out next to him on the bed, demonstrated--more than anything--his true feelings for his former lover. There's still a connection, a friendship, a bond (call it what you will) between the two that aches to be awakened; after Kennedy's passing, it's a comfort for the two to speak a few words over a telephone line.

Don, meanwhile, reacts to Kennedy's death as he does most things in life, seeing it as an ugly truth that he must protect his wife and children from. Horrified that Betty would allow Sally and Bobby to watch the news, Don is stunned when Betty says that she wouldn't shield them from this. And Don's attempts to comfort everyone in the same fashion--"it's going to be all right"--fall on deaf ears. Not everything can be swept under the rug and not everyone can pretend that everything is fine when it's clearly not. We can take our pills and sedate ourselves to the realities of life but they always come back in the morning.

But that's always been Don's modus operandi, to lie about the past and the present and pretend for a better tomorrow. But the shock of what Betty has recently learned about her husband and the death of their president (and the even more shocking death of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald) have some unintended effects on Betty herself: she's seeing the world clearly, perhaps for the first time. (Likewise, Sally takes a tentative step towards adulthood as well.) Don and Betty might be able to pretend for one glittering moment that everything "will be all right" when they dance at Margaret's wedding but the kiss they share is empty, hollow, devoid of true emotion. It's a wake-up call, a slap across the face, for Betty Draper and she realizes that she's not in love with Don anymore.

The scene in which Betty tells Don this, calmly, coolly, and logically felt like a punch in the gut. And it comes as a complete and utter surprise to Don himself, a man who is able to spin just about every situation to his advantage. Cast out of his wife's heart, he retreats to the darkness of the bedroom first and then the (nearly) empty offices of Sterling Cooper. A nation is in mourning for its fallen president but Don mourns the death of his marriage.

It's a realization that propels Betty back into the arms of her would-be lover, Henry Francis, who unexpectedly proposes to her in her car. Does Henry love Betty? He claims to though he barely knows her at all. Does she love him? I don't think so but she's clearly in love with the thought of being pursued and adored. (Not helping matters here is the fact that I am really not keen on the casting of Christopher Stanley as Henry; he and January Jones' Betty seem to lack any kind of chemistry or heat.) Is this the escape hatch through which Betty can leave her marriage without resorting to the half-life of divorcees like Helen Bishop? Perhaps. But she's also being impulsive where before she would be meek; Kennedy's death has shocked her into adulthood perhaps as well.

As for Don, he discovers that he is not the only one seeking solace through work. Perhaps in an act of penance, Peggy is also working that Monday, alone with her own thoughts. It's a nice parallel between the two and a reminder that Don and Peggy are two sides of the same coin. But whereas Peggy invites Don to watch the funeral with her, to connect, he refuses, preferring to sit alone in the darkness of his office.

Could it be that Don sees such solitude as his own eventual future, spent not in the light (where he sees his family aglow with breakfast that morning) but in a darkness of his own creation? Is this the price he has to pay for the choices he's made, the lies he's spun, the hurt he's caused? And can he and the nation find its way back into the light?

Next week on the season finale of Mad Men ("Shut the Door. Have a Seat"), Don has an important meeting with Connie; Betty receives some advice; Pete talks to his clients.

Sunday Night Television: HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and CBS' "The Amazing Race"

Looking to discuss the latest episodes of CBS' The Amazing Race and HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm? You're in luck.

Head over to the Los Angeles Times/Show Tracker site, where you can read my take on last night's episodes of both series. In "The Amazing Race: For Whom the Bell Tolls," I take a look at last night's episode which featured feats of strength, counting, and herring-eating as well as some tears.

You can also read my take ("Curb Your Enthusiasm: Swan's Way") on last night's episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was a bit of a return to form for the absurdist comedy, which this week depicted Larry accidentally killing a man, somewhat intentionally killing a black swan, and basically making a mess of everything he touched, not least of which his mother's headstone.

Head to the comments to discuss both.

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.

BBC America Announces US Airdate for "Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars"

Following up this morning's Doctor Who story, BBC America has announced that it will air Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars on Saturday, December 19th at 9 pm ET/PT.

The news comes on the heels of BBC One's announcement that they will debut the David Tennant special, the first of three final Doctor Who installments featuring the Tenth Doctor, on Sunday, November 15th at 7 pm GMT, a full month ahead of the US transmission.

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars, written by Russell T. Davies and Phil Ford, will star David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and Rome's Lindsay Duncan as Adelaide. The plot finds the Doctor arriving on Mars at the Bowie Base One where not everything is as it seems as the base falls under attack from a deadly water-based threat. ("Mars, 2059. Bowie Base one. Last recorded message: don't drink the water. Don't even touch it. Not one drop.")

US airdates for the final two David Tennant Doctor Who specials will be made public in early December. As fans of the British sci-fi series are aware, Tennant will depart Doctor Who at the end of the year before Season Five returns in 2010 with the Eleventh Doctor, to be played by Matt Smith.

The full press release from BBC America, announcing the scheduling, can be found below.

THE DOCTOR WHO SPECIALS ARE LANDING ON BBC AMERICA

"Mars, 2059. Bowie Base one. Last recorded message: don't drink the water. Don't even touch it. Not one drop."

New York, NY – October 30, 2009 - The BBC today announced the imminent arrival of the final Doctor Who episodes starring David Tennant as the Doctor. Television’s longest running science fiction series, shot in HD, has just three episodes to go before a new Doctor arrives on screen next year.

The next special, Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars airs on BBC AMERICA, Saturday December 19, 9:00pm ET/PT. It stars Tennant and British stage and screen actress Lindsay Duncan (Rome, Langford) as Adelaide, his cleverest and most strong-minded companion.

All will be revealed as the Doctor and his companion Adelaide face terror on the Red Planet in one of the scariest adventures yet. Peter O’Brien (Casualty, Neighbours) guest stars as Ed, Adelaide’s second-in-command at the base.

The Waters of Mars is written by Russell T Davies (Torchwood, Queer as Folk) and Phil Ford and directed by Graeme Harper. The executive producers are Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner (Torchwood, Life on Mars).

The remaining episodes, starring Tennant, will air over the holiday season as a two-part special. Airdates will be released in early December. Tennant shot a total of four specials before exiting the role - Planet of the Dead was the first one to air, last July, on BBC AMERICA.

The BBC will release The Waters of Mars and the two-part finale on DVD and Blu-ray, Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead is already available on DVD and Blu-ray. Releasing on February 2 are:
· Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars – DVD SRP: $14.98/BD SRP: $19.89
· Two-part special (2-disc release) – DVD SRP: $24.98 / BD SRP: $29.99
· Doctor Who: Specials Collection (5-disc release) – DVD SRP: $49.98 / BD SRP: $59.99 - contains The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, Waters of Mars and the two-part finale

The iconic sci-fi series originally aired on the BBC from ‘63 – ‘89 and ran on over 400 PBS stations in the ‘80s. This slick re-imagination of Doctor Who, created by Russell T Davies puts a fresh spin on the adventures of the iconic Time Lord and his feisty companions - who travel across the universe to protect Earth from dangerous aliens and terrifying monsters.

Doctor Who has received 67 awards in total - two BAFTAs, including Best Drama Series in ‘06, three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form in ‘06, ’07 and ’08 as well as the Saturn Award for Best International Series in ‘08. Doctor Who has two hit spin-off series - Torchwood, which gets its name from an anagram of Doctor Who, and one for children, The Sarah Jane Adventures.

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.

Weekend Telly Reminder: USA's "White Collar," PBS' "Place of Execution"

Just a quick reminder to be sure to take a break from your Halloween festivities to tune in to two of the weekend's best television offerings.

Tonight, be sure to catch USA's crime procedural White Collar, which airs its second episode at 10 pm ET/PT. Neal and Peter infiltrate New York's Fashion Week to stop a criminal from selling security data that is stored on a piece of technology woven into the fabric of a runway dress. Given that White Collar is already one of the most gorgeously stylish series on television, the addition of a sartorial-themed plot can only be the icing on top.

While not forgetting of course about HBO's comedy duo of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bored to Death and CBS' The Amazing Race, be sure to tune into Part One of PBS' extraordinary mystery mini-series Place of Execution on Masterpiece Contemporary on Sunday evening. (Check your local listings for details.)

You can read my advance review of the two-part mystery, which I called "gripping and provocative." The truly haunting (and at times harrowing) mini-series stars Juliet Stevenson, Lee Ingleby, and Greg Wise in a dual-stranded mystery taking place in 1963 and the present-day. It's not to be missed.

Channel Surfing: ABC Reveals First "Lost" Promo, BBC One Sets Airdate for "Doctor Who: Waters of Mars," Easton Ellis Spies "Follower" at HBO, and More

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing.

ABC has released the first promo for Season Six of Lost, the series' final season. But, be warned, the fifteen-second clip doesn't contain any new footage, which many believe is proof positive that the network will be going out of their way to avoid revealing just what happened after Juliet detonated the hydrogen bomb at the end of last season. There's still no premiere date for Season Six of Lost, but it's expected to debut roughly around the end of January.

(Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

BBC One has announced today that it will air the latest David Tennant Doctor Who special, Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars, on Sunday, November 15th at 7 pm GMT. No word yet on when BBC America will schedule the special, which will feature Tennant in one of his last appearances before his final two-part story at the end of the year. As soon as BBC America announces their scheduling plans, I'll let you know.

Novelist Bret Easton Ellis will adapt Jason Starr's novel "The Follower," about a group of twenty-something Manhattanites seen through the eyes of a stalker, for HBO. Project, from Lionsgate Television, will be executive produced by Jason Blum, Doug Davison, Roy Lee, and Geyer Kosinski. (Variety)

Sasha Alexander (NCIS) has been cast opposite Angie Harmon in TNT's drama pilot Rizzoli, where she will play medical examiner Maura Isles, who teams up with Harmon's police detective Rizzoli to solve crimes in the Boston area. Also cast: Bruce McGill (Law Abiding Citizen), Jordan Bridges (Bionic Woman), and Lee Thompson Young (FlashForward). (Hollywood Reporter)

With Rescue Me set to wrap its run in 2011, Denis Leary and Jim Serpico's Sony Pictures Television-based shingle Apostle Films is busy adding to its development slate, including an untitled CBS dramedy with Peter Ocko which will star Michael Rapaport as a social worker who helps people with their problems but can't solve his own; multi-camera FOX comedy Extended Family, with John Beck and Ron Hart, about a family that takes in foster kids; an untitled FX drama about evangelists with writer David Folwell (Medium); USA procedural drama Partners in Crime, about divorced spouses who are private eyes; USA drama Scales of Justice, about an overweight former cop who teams up with his support group to fight crime; and an adaptation of "The Rebel League," about a hockey league, for Spike. (Variety)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has the scoop on last night's shocking twist on the CW's Vampire Diaries. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Feature writer Josh Heald has set up two comedy projects at NBC and FOX. His NBC multi-camera comedy script, Sausagefest, will revolve around two twenty-something best friends who each have clingy fathers. Norm Macdonald is attached to play one of the dads, a three-time divorcee and misogynist. Project, from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun, will be executive produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun. Heald's FOX project, multi-camera comedy Sequestered, will focus on twelve jurors forced to live together when they are sequestered for a lengthy trial. Project, from 20th Century Fox Television and Chernin Entertainment, will be executive produced by Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope. (Hollywood Reporter)

FOX has ordered a sixth season of Seth MacFarlane's animated comedy American Dad, with 22 episodes expected to air during the 2010-11 season. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

SPOILER! Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that 90210's token lesbian Gia (Rumer Willis) will embark on a romance with a major and heretofore straight female character later this season. "This isn’t a fling," 90210 executive producer Rebecca Sinclair told Ausiello. "We’re coming at this [relationship] from a genuine place and not going, 'Let’s do a titillating story that will grab some promotion.' This is a real aspect of teenager life that’s interesting... And there’s been a real void in the 90210 universe in terms of gay and bisexual characters." The character in question? Jessica Lowndes' Adrianna. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Comedy Central has ordered six half-hour episodes of an untitled sketch comedy series to star Nick Swardson (Reno 911!) that will mix man-on-the-street interviews, animation, skits, and digital shorts. Series, from Sony Pictures Television and Happy Madison Prods., is expected to launch in 2010. (Variety)

Danielle Panabaker (Shark) has been cast as a guest star on an upcoming episode of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, where she will play a patient at Seattle Grace under the care of Cristina and Jackson in the November 19th episode. The episode will also feature The Wire's Frankie Faison, who will play Bailey's father, Bill. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Disney Channel has ordered 21 episodes of animated high school comedy Fish Hooks, which will mix photo collage with two-dimensional digital animation. Series, which will launch in Fall 2010, "revolves around party guy Milo (voiced by Kyle Massey); his neurotic brother, Oscar (Justin Roiland); and an overly dramatic goldfish, Bea (Chelsea Staub). They attend Freshwater High, a school submerged in a giant fish tank in the center of a local pet store." (Hollywood Reporter)

The New York Times is reporting that Cox Communication's sale of cabler Travel Channel could fetch as much as $1 billion. The company is said to have received bids from such entities as News Corporation and Scripps Networks, with one of the bids said to be north of $900 million. (New York Times)

Discovery has ordered eight episodes of unscripted series Airplane Repo, from executive producer Craig Piligian, about repo man Nick Popovich who specializes in repossessing jets and helicopters from delinquent owners. It's expected to debut during first quarter 2010. Elsewhere, the network renewed Swords for a second season. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

"Helmets and Racism": The "True Blood" Writers Talk About HBO's Vampire Drama at the Paley Center

Season Three of True Blood might be a long ways off but I was able to get a taste of what we can look forward to in the meantime.

I was lucky enough to be in attendance last night at the Paley Center's event Inside the Writers Room: True Blood, featuring True Blood writer/producers Alan Ball, Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo, Bryan Buckner, and Nancy Oliver.

Expertly moderated by Entertainment Weekly's divine Alynda Wheat, the panel pulled back the curtain to reveal the creative process behind HBO's vampire drama, with the panelists teasing some information about the series' upcoming third season, which will launch sometime around June of next year and is currently being written. (They've so far broken about half of Season Three.)

Asked what the major theme of Season Three of True Blood is, Ball joked that it was "helmets and racism," and admitted that they just tell HBO that it's about "identity." (Which it is, in actuality, as Ball told me last month.)

Ball quickly addressed the recent news that rapper Snoop Dogg wanted a role on True Blood by saying that he's not a fan of stunt casting. (Sorry, Snoop.) Unless he was looking to cast a specific part wherein the character was a rapper and vampire, he's not calling Snoop Dogg as celebrity stunt casting takes the audience out of the story. So it's not going to happen anytime soon.

Wheat brought up comments made by Ball in the past about the fact that True Blood started to hit its stride in the fifth episode of Season One, where Bill speaks about his experiences during the Civil War and Sookie returns home to discover that Gran has been murdered. "It was Episode Five for both Six Feet Under and True Blood where it just hit its stride," said Ball, who added that those were the "moments where I said 'I get this. I know what this show is now.'"

Nancy Oliver said that she feels very lucky to be on HBO. It would be impossible to do this series justice if it weren't on premium cable, said Ball, who said that they are writing a series for adults. He once again said that "vampires are sex." And that the sex is meant to be adult and real and "be about something." That said, he admitted to being in the writers room and saying, "Come on, can we get his shirt off? It's Louisiana! It's really hot!" (Apparently, his cast isn't shy about nudity as Raelle Tucker said that the frequently nude Ryan Kwanten complained about having his clothes on for five episodes in a row.)

But True Blood is also able to deftly inject some much needed humor into the darkness and sexuality on the series. The humor in the series is not because the writers want to plug in a joke into a particular scene but rather, because the actors play everything so straight, the humor is often extremely unexpected. "Just let it be funny and let the actors play right through it," said Brian Buckner, a veteran of several sitcom writers rooms.

Likewise, there shouldn't be too much reading into the bigger metaphors on the series, such as the notion that the vampires are substitutes for the gay and lesbian community in our world. Those metaphors are just "fun window dressing," said Ball, but they are not the heart of the show.

Ball said that in hiring his writing team, he didn't read spec scripts for other series as he wanted to read something that was in that particular writer's voice, whether it be a script, a short story, a screenplay, rather than see if they could imitate someone else's voice. All of the writers praised Ball for allowing them to take risks with their individual scripts and give them much more freedom than they would on a typical one-hour drama, enabling them to follow their episode through prep and post-production as the on-set producer. Ball said he feels this is a natural evolution of their role as they know these individual episodes better than anyone, as they wrote them. Alexander Woo said it's a privilege that isn't normally accorded them on other series.

Several of the writers spoke about the fluidity of television as a medium, allowing the writers to course-correct based upon where the story needs to go. Because Nelsan Ellis' Lafayette was such a huge hit with the audience and the writing staff, they opted to diverge from Charlaine Harris' novels and keep the flamboyant short order cook alive. Likewise, Season Two indicated that the story needed to follow Eric and Jessica and Hoyt and the writers were able to push the plot in those directions because serialized television is a living, breathing medium that can change and go where the story dictates in a way that perhaps only comic books (by dint of their own ongoing, serialized nature) can.

Ball said he regretted killing Gran during Season One but said it was necessary and the right decision to make for the story as it was such a huge part of Harris' novels and would propel Sookie into adulthood. (He shrugged when asked about killing off Eggs.)

Asked which characters they most like writing for, Ball said he really enjoys writing for Jason and Lafayette. Tucker said she loves writing for Jessica and Hoyt. Buckner, to several hearty cheers in the crowd, said Eric. (Quelle surprise.)

Among the tidbits of information that Ball and Company revealed for upcoming storylines on True Blood:

• Expect some major Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) nudity in the first episode of Season Three. ("I think he appears without most of his clothes in the very first episode," said Ball.)
• It's extremely likely that Allan Hyde's Godric will make a return appearance. Given the fact that he torched himself in the rays of the rising sun, he won't cross paths with Sookie but there's a good chance he'll appear in Eric's flashbacks, given their thousand-year history.
• Pam (Kristin Bauer) will "have her hands full in Season Three." Which is good news for those of us (like myself!) who are in love with Bauer's snarky Pam.
• We'll definitely be seeing more of American Vampire League spokesperson Nan Flanagan (Jessica Tuck) next season.
• SPOILER! (For those of us who haven't read the books, anyway) Ball is sticking to the Eric-getting-amnesia plot, but don't look for it to surface until Season Four.
• Stephen Moyer will not be marginalized though Bill and Sookie will have some major problems, possibly longer than Team Bill would like.
• No ifs about it: Ball confirmed that Maryann (Michelle Forbes) is DEAD.
• Ball is not shutting the door on the Newlins, who could turn up again at any point during the series' run. (Ball told me as much in my one-on-one interview with him a while back.)
• Evan Rachel Wood's Queen Sophie-Anne will be back.
• Don't expect a wedding this season on True Blood, though someone will want a wedding.

Season Three of True Blood is slated to air next summer on HBO.

Whatever, Whatever: Meatless Meals Fail to Hit the Mark on "Top Chef"

First off, I am not a vegetarian. I've flirted with vegetarianism at certain points in my life (perhaps, most notably, a reaction to dining hall food at university), but I've been a blissfully happy carnivore for the majority of my life and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

That said, vegetarians often get a raw deal in restaurants and sometimes have to deal with chefs that don't understand how to satiate someone's hunger without the inclusion of meat. But vegetarian cuisine can be just as nourishing, comforting, and filling as carnivorous dishes; it's just a matter of replacing protein with protein and making sure that the dish is more than a collection of cooked vegetable side dishes.

Last night's episode of Top Chef ("Meat Natalie") found the cheftestants grappling with the unexpected. After arriving at Tom Colicchio's craftsteak in Las Vegas, they all made a very big assumption and believed that they would be creating steak-based dishes for Tom and his special guest. But Tom's guest was vegetarian actress Natalie Portman and there would be no red meat going out of the kitchen that night.

Top Chef has always been, at its core, about how well the chefs can adapt to whatever is thrown their way, whether that be time elements, a change in plans, or the exclusion of meat altogether when they're cooking in a steakhouse. Some chefs rose to the challenge, producing stunning and inventive dishes, while others this week sank to some new lows.

So how well did they perform? Let's discuss.

This week's Quickfire Challenge had the chefs preparing TV dinners that were meant to be inspired by classic television series, selected by TV Guide editors. After drawing knives to randomly select between seven well-known series from MASH to The Sopranos, the chefs had to deliver a TV dinner-style meal that was not only satisfying and original but also captured the essence of the series.

What did the individual chefs prepare?

• Bryan (MASH): meatloaf roulade, mashed potato, asparagus, and apple tarte tatin
• Eli (Gilligan's Island): macadamia nut-encrusted shrimp with sweet potato puree, herb salad, and dessert of cherries and bananas
• Jennifer (The Flintstones): chicken roulade with garlic cream, pea salad, and carmelized peaches
• Kevin (The Sopranos): meatballs with polenta, roasted cauliflower, and roasted pears
Mike I. (Seinfeld): chicken parmesan with braised swiss chard and cherry pie
• Mike V. (Cheers): sausage and peppers, mushroom and cheese, warm fruit salad
• Robin (Sesame Street): burger with egg, crispy kale, carrot salad, and almond-laced cookie

I had a feeling it would come down to either Bryan or Kevin for this one. Both of their dishes not only perfectly fit the brief but also looked absolutely delectable. I really thought it was Bryan's challenge to lose but the judges went with Kevin, who's been on a really fantastic run of late. It was quite apparent that Bryan's near-wins are getting the better of him; he appeared to be seething when Kevin won the Quickfire. No immunity in play but Kevin did win the opportunity to have his winning dish featured as part of Top Chef's frozen dinner line. (It's a product that, I'll be honest, makes me incredibly sad as it seems to be at odds with the series' message about honest, handmade cuisine.)

As for the Elimination Challenge, the chefs had to quickly throw out their conceptualized meat-based dishes to cook solely vegetarian for Natalie Portman and her guests. In a bit of a chance, Portman herself would also be a judge, making it even more imperative that the chefs appealed to her tastes and offered a satisfying and rich meal that didn't involve meat.

Some of the chefs accomplished this better than others. Jennifer's nerves have seriously gotten the better of her and this week she once again skated very dangerously toward elimination, placing in the bottom of the Quickfire and just creatively breaking down during the Elimination Challenge. One major problem among the majority of the dishes is that they didn't quite deliver main courses; several would have worked as beautiful vegetable-based sides but they didn't offer a hunger-sating meal in themselves. And, when you're working with vegetarians, that's a huge issue.

Bryan offered a gorgeous looking artichoke barigoule with confit of shallot, wild asparagus, and fennel puree; it was stunning even without all of the elements he wanted to get onto the plate but it looked like something that might accompany a beautiful steak rather than the main event itself. Same too with Jennifer, who delivered a dish of charred baby eggplant, braised fennel, tomatoes, and verjus nage, which her shaking hands then proceeded to splatter on the guests. I'm really concerned about Jennifer, given her amazing talents; she seems to be all but cracking under the pressure at this point and she can't seem to recover from losses. This was a shockingly underwhelming dish from her and I can only hope that she manages to get it together and regroup... fast.

I'm really not sure what to make of Mike I.'s confusing and bewildering dish of whole roasted leeks with onion jus, baby carrot puree, and fingerling potatoes. He kept referring to the leeks as standing in for the protein so much so that Padma had to make sure that he knew that leeks weren't actually protein. (It was pretty bizarre.) It was such a dish that showed no real vision or execution skills; it was lazy, bland, and just blah. It didn't qualify as a main course or even, really, as a salad, I'd say. Just odd. Likewise, Robin's schizophrenic dish of stuffed squash blossoms, beet carpachio, fresh garbanzo beans, and chermoula was shockingly weird. There was no cohesion to any of the ingredients, no sign of any connective tissue (no pun intended), and no real skill or flair; it was a collection of disparate ingredients thrown onto a plate together and she couldn't articulate what she was going for or how these things related to one another. (How she's still in this competition is beyond me.)

On the top end of the competition, Eli surprised the judges with a beautiful confit of eggplant, lentils, garlic puree, and a radish and herb salad. He understood the brief and offered up a dish that was meaty and rich without containing meat, was stunning to behold, and was comforting and inviting. Kevin's dish, a duo of mushrooms with smoked kale, candied garlic and turnip puree, was smoky, meaty, and richly seductive, enticing the diner with the familiar scents and textures of meat but without any of the actual stuff. Michael once again dazzled the judges with a playful and inventive dish of asparagus salad, Japanese tomato sashimi, and banana polenta, offering an amusing and inspiring take on meat-free dining that had Portman in giggles at one point.

But it was Kevin who once again took home the top honors for his soulful and warm dish, much to the chagrin of Michael Voltaggio, who took the opportunity to knock Kevin's dish as something he would have done "in the second year of culinary school." That might be but it was still a better dish than yours, Michael. No need for sour grapes. Kevin has proven once again that he's an extremely strong contender, despite the fact that the Voltaggio Brothers seem to underestimate him time and time again. Here's to hoping that he makes it all the way to the final round.

On the other end, Jennifer, Mike I., and Robin found themselves before the judges' table. I really thought that this would be the week that Robin would be going home and, AGAIN, I was sweating bullets that Jen would be told to pack her knives. But the judges managed to surprise me by keeping Robin around for another week (WHY!?!) and sending home the supremely arrogant Mike, who failed to see why his dish failed to impress and couldn't quite wrap his head around why he was in the bottom (the "whatever, whatever" of this title). I wasn't all that impressed with Mike throughout this season but I do think he's a better chef than Robin. Let's just hope she's the next to go...

In two weeks on Top Chef ("Strip Around the World"), the day begins with a Quickfire Challenge that tasks the chefs to create the perfect breakfast in bed; Nigella Lawson stops by as this week's guest judge.

And here's a look at the Top Chef reunion cookoff coming up next week...

Top Chef Preview: An Angry Dinner:



Top Chef Preview: Marcel vs. Everyone:

First Look: Day Eight of FOX's "24"

FOX has unveiled their first official promo for Day Eight of 24, which launches in January.

The 45-second promo clip for Day Eight, which can be viewed below, doesn't focus on the new characters played by Katee Sackhoff and Freddie Prinze Jr. next season, instead placing the emphasis squarely on Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer and Elisha Cuthbert's Kim (sans cougar, natch).

Will Jack ever get a chance to settle into the quiet comfort of grandparenthood and time with his family? Not this day, anyway, as Jack is once again called upon to save the nation.



Are you excited about Day Eight? Curious about the new characters? And wondering whether Jack will make it through the season alive? Discuss.

Day Eight of 24 is scheduled to launch on Monday, January 17th on FOX.

Channel Surfing: NBC Ups "Chuck" and Dumps "Trauma," "Lost," Syfy Orders US "Being Human," "Better Off Ted" in December, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Good news for Chuck fans: NBC has opted to order six additional episodes of Chuck, bringing the episodic total for Season Three to 19 installments. (Huzzah!) While NBC has yet to announce an official launch date for Chuck's third season, the order of the additional episodes points to a potential January launch for the Warner Bros. Television-produced series, as does NBC's decision to cancel low-rated medical drama Trauma, which failed to garner a back nine pickup. Given the Peacock's cancellation of both Trauma and Southland, it now seems more likely that Chuck will return to the schedule before March. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe, Hollywood Reporter, Variety)

E! Online's Jennifer Godwin gets Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof to answer a few choice questions about Season Six of Lost while at a signing for the hardcover collection of Lindelof's Wolverine Vs. Hulk. Asked about whether fan questions have helped the writers frame a storyline, Lindelof said, "The fact of the matter is no question is ever asked of us that we're not asking ourselves. So by the time someone asks me if Libby's ever coming back to the show for the 14th time, I'm like, 'Trust me. I wish we could figure out a way to make that work.' Like, I wish I could talk to the actress and get down on my hands and knees and beg her to come back, but the reality is, you know, there are certain questions that every time you're asked it's a pain for you because you're basically like, 'I know man. You're absolutely right.'" (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Syfy has given a thirteen-episode order to an American remake of British supernatural dramedy series Being Human. Project, from RDF USA, will focus on the lives of three twenty-somethings--a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost--who live together. No writer is attached to the remake and the hunt is on for a scribe to adapt the British series for an American audience. "We've always been keen on vampires and werewolves, and we loved the originality of Being Human, the fact that the fantastical creatures in it are very young, accessible and charming," said Syfy president Dave Howe, who added that the US version won't "slavishly replicate the British version." Meanwhile, the British version of Being Human is slated to launch its eight-episode second season on BBC One next year. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC has announced return dates for comedies Better Off Ted and Scrubs. The latter will return to the lineup on Tuesday, December 1st, when it will relaunch itself with a largely new cast. Scrubs will launch initially with back-to-back episodes on December 1st but will then move to its regular timeslot of 9 pm ET/PT the following week, when it will be joined by Better Off Ted at 9:30 pm ET/PT. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

Desperate Housewives creator Mark Cherry has signed a two-year deal extension with ABC Studios that could keep the soap on the air through the 2012-2013 season. Under the terms of the deal, Cherry will remain on board Desperate Housewives as executive producer, though it should be noted that the main cast has only signed on through the series' seventh season, slated for the 2010-2011 season. Bob Daily has also signed a two-year extension with the studio, keeping him on board through those potential eighth and ninth seasons. Cherry, meanwhile, is currently developing new projects for the studio, including a multi-camera comedy about two brothers--one gay, the other straight--neither of whom knows anything about women despite the fact that they share a gynecology practice. Jeffrey Bowen and Hunter Bell will pen the script. There's also the drama that Cherry is writing with Alexandra Cunningham. (Variety)

Oliver Platt (Bored to Death) has been cast opposite Laura Linney in Showtime's dark comedy pilot The C Word; he'll play Paul, the husband to Linney's Cathy, a woman who is forced to come to terms with her cancer diagnosis. (Hollywood Reporter)

NBC has given a script order to an untitled drama about a crime-solving magician whose career is in shambles after he develops stage fright and agoraphobia but who finds a new purpose when a "an elite law enforcement agency recruits him to take an unusual approach to cracking tough cases." Project, from Universal Media Studios, is written by Dan Fesman, who will executive produce with David Percelay and Jon Amiel, who is attached to direct should the project go to pilot. (Variety)

BBC One has ordered six one-hour installments of The Accused, said to be the "spiritual successor" to Jimmy McGovern's The Street. Project, from McGovern's RSJ Productions, will follow a different lead character each week who has been accused of a crime and will focus on the unraveling of their lives as their individual trials get under way and a verdict on guilt or innocence creeps in. (Broadcast)

VH1 has given a series order to Dad Camp, which gives first-time fathers a crash course in parenting responsibilities. Project, from 3 Ball Prods., will be executive produced by J.D. Roth, Jeff Olde, Adam Greener, Todd Nelson, Matt Assmus, Jill Holmes, Sean Boyle, and Csherian Coleman. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Tears and Recriminations: The Ugly Truth (or Lack Thereof) on the "Flipping Out" Reunion

Cameras are funny things. They're meant to capture the reality of a moment but there's something inherently artificial about them being there in the first place. Reality television isn't exactly reality as it exists; it's an edited-together version of actual events, threaded together into a cohesive narrative for television. It gives us an image of reality but not the whole picture.

The reason I'm bringing this up is that I'm still in shock about last night's dramatic and intensely stressful Flipping Out: Season Three Reunion on Bravo.

While the reunion special brought up a number of intriguing (and in some cases hilarious) plot strands from the third season of Flipping Out including "rollover Number Two minutes," Roomba (dubbed a "big bitch" by Zoila), the poisoned bacon, and the status of Valley Oak, the main set piece in the episode was a confrontation between Jeff Lewis and his former business partner Ryan Brown.

It was, shall we say, heated. The former best friends--who hadn't spoken in the four months since Jeff walked out of Chloe's birthday party in the season finale--attacked, defended, and deflected and ultimately reached another stalemate, unable to convince the other of their perspective.



It's impossible to say who is telling the truth but it's clear that there are some mightily bruised feelings on both sides. And it's also clear that Jeff believes with all of his heart that Ryan deliberately misled people and siphoned business away from him via some rather shady dealings including a "smokescreen" website, sponsored links on Google, and other misleading practices. Ryan, for his part, vehemently denies any wrongdoing, saying that he can't apologize for anything as he hasn't done anything.

Which brings me back to my original point about the cameras. To say that watching the duo air their dirty laundry on camera was uncomfortable is a massive understatement of the highest order. Would it have been better for Jeff and Ryan to attempt to talk without the prying eyes of the cameras (and host Andy Cohen)? Perhaps. But it was also the cameras themselves that led to the breakdown in their relationship and to their coming together one final time.

Putting aside the accusations that Jeff has very publicly made against Ryan for a second, things were incredibly mismanaged in the way that Jeff went about confronting his former business partner. For one, he should have never made those accusations on national television without speaking to Ryan and attempting to find out the truth first. It does, as Ryan was indicating on the reunion special, create a dangerous situation as Ryan's very reputation is being damaged in front of an audience of millions. Likewise, Jeff opted to engage both his father and "long-suffering assistant" Jenni in conversations about his suspicions... on camera.

Furthermore, the confrontation on last night's reunion took a turn for the nasty, with both sides making accusations and bringing up information that the audience shouldn't really be privy to, such as Ryan's monthly mortgage or the fact that Dale isn't working (though we did know that: he's in culinary school). Ryan, in turn, attempted to paint a portrait of Jeff as an unstable, paranoid, and delusional individual who thrives on tearing down his friends for amusement and stated that clients should know who "the real Jeff Lewis" is.

The truth of the matter is that we don't know what actually happened between the two, just as we still don't know a season later what actually happened between Jenni and her ex-husband Chris Elwood. We see one side of the equation on reality series and we, as an audience, only see part of the truth. Do some of Ryan's choices seem unethical? Based on Jeff's perspective, yes. The matter of the Google sponsored links still hasn't been dealt with head-on and Ryan didn't deny that he paid for sponsored links to Jeff's name. So will we ever know what really went down? Probably not. Given Jeff's televised accusations, Ryan would be crazy to do anything other than defend himself and vigorously deny any wrongdoing. After all, his professional and personal reputation depend upon it.

What we do know at the end of the day is that these two did, and possibly still do, care for one another. The pain and anguish that both people feel is palpable. Ryan moved on from Jeff a long time ago; he has a husband and a baby now and naturally their relationship would change. He says that he's stuck by Jeff and supported him. Jeff says that he misses the old Ryan, "ugly haircut" and all. But it's not enough to mend the massive rift between them and I don't know that anything can at this point.

As stressful as the confrontation was, it was the sight of Jenni struggling to hold back tears that brought home the message for me. Regardless of what might or might not have happened, things have changed, perhaps irrevocably, in the various relationships depicted on Flipping Out. And that, cameras and all, is painfully real.

Spreading Hope: ABC Releases Longer "V" Music-Set Promo But Skywriting Plan Downed

With less than a week to go until the series premiere of ABC's reimagination of cult classic sci-fi series V, the network has released a longer version of its "We Will Be Victorious" promo, which is set to the song "Uprising" by Muse.

While a 45-second promo featuring the song was released about a month back (and can be viewed below), Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has an exclusive look at a longer "Victorious" promo that clocks in at just under two minutes. (It can be viewed here.)

Meanwhile, ABC has scrapped plans for a viral publicity campaign that would have seen giant, crimson-hued Vs appear over 26 major American landmarks to promote the November 3rd launch of V, according to Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed.

An ABC spokesperson tells THR's James Hibberd that they have decided to spend the funds in other ways, following a Washington Post column in which Lisa de Moraes calculated the amount of pollution that would have been created from the skywriting campaign, noting that ABC parent company Disney had made a pledge to cut its carbon emissions in half within the next two years.

But, as Hibberd is quick to point out, "Giant red 'V's in the sky might have also freaked a few people out."



V launches Tuesday, November 3rd at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Channel Surfing: "Dollhouse" Remains on Fridays in January, NBC Keeping "Trauma" Alive for Another Three Weeks, Kudrow Set for "Cougar Town," and More

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing.

Good news for Dollhouse fans. After double-booking Dollhouse episodes on Friday nights in December, FOX has indicated that it will continue to air the remainder of the second season of Dollhouse, with the series returning to its regular timeslot of Friday evenings at 9 pm ET/PT beginning January 8th. Meanwhile, 'Til Death will move to Sundays at 7 pm beginning January 10th while Brothers will wrap its run on December 27th. (Futon Critic)

NBC has announced that it will keep underperforming medical drama Trauma in the Monday night timeslot for the next three weeks. No decision has yet been made about the ultimate fate of the medical series, which failed to garner a back nine pickup along with fellow freshman series Community and Mercy. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

Lisa Kudrow will guest star on an upcoming episode of ABC's Cougar Town, which will reunite her with her former Friends co-star Courteney Cox. Kudrow is slated to appear in an upcoming episode as a mean-spirited dermatologist. TV Guide Magazine broke the story and Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has confirmed the casting, saying that Kudrow's episode will air sometime in early 2010. (TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse has teased the identity of an upcoming guest star on the sixth and final season of ABC's Lost. Via Twitter, Cuse sent the clue-laden message, "Damon and I are die hard fans of this impeckable actor who keeps the barr high and just signed to guest star on the show. Life is good!" After sending fans guessing for roughly two hours, Cuse confirmed the theories of many readers that veteran character actor William Atherton (Life) would be guest starring on Lost. (Twitter)

In other Lost-related news, Jeff Fahey has been upgraded to a series regular for Season Six of Lost. USA Today's Whitney Matheson has a fantastic interview with executive producer Damon Lindelof about the final season of Lost, where he reveals Fahey has been promoted. "Lapidus is definitely a series regular this season," said Lindelof. "Jeff Fahey was just a recurring character up through last year. Now, whether or not Lapidus makes it until the end of the season is anyone's guess, but he's definitely one of the A-team this year." This and much more in the interview. (USA Today)

NBC is developing an untitled legal drama about "a vigilante lawyer who uses any means necessary to defend his clients against a corrupt district attorney and city establishment," that will star Idris Elba (The Wire). Project, from writers Sean O'Keefe and Will Staples, will be executive produced by David Eick (Battlestar Galactica). Elba appeared in a seven-episode story arc on NBC's The Office; deal could potentially keep him on the network, should the project go to series. (Hollywood Reporter)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that former Women's Murder Club star Paula Newsome has been cast in a multiple-episode story arc on ABC's FlashForward this season, where she will play a doctor. Her first appearance on the series is set for early 2010. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Gabourney Sidibe (Precious) is said to be in talks to appear in Showtime comedy pilot The C Word opposite Laura Linney. If a deal closes, Sidibe would guest star in the pilot as a "teen whom Linney's character tries to help lose both weight and the bad attitude." (Variety)

E! Online's Jennifer Godwin has some spoilers for Season Three of HBO's True Blood. I won't be reading it (I prefer to be surprised) but if you're of the spoiler-loving persuasion, you can check out what tidbits she's pulled together. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Lakers star Pau Gasol will guest star in the November 16th episode of CBS' CSI: Miami, where he will play a person of interest in an investigation involving a car accident. (Hollywood Reporter)

Comedy Central has acquired 13 episodes of ABC's short-lived animated comedy The Goode Family beginning in January. The cabler is also said to be in talks to pick up FOX animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up. (Variety)

Disney Channel has given a pilot order to musical comedy Dance Dance Chicago, which will follow two teens working as back-up dancers on an American Bandstand-esque series. Project, from writer/executive producer Chris Thompson, is slated to begin production in January. (Hollywood Reporter)

Reveille has formed a joint venture with former Ish Entertainment co-founder Stella Stolper. Company, dubbed Wikked Entertainment, will focus on reality projects that are talent-driven, with the venture run by Stolper. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

TruTV has ordered eight episodes of an untitled reality series set inside the Vegas county jail from executive producers John Langley and Morgan Langley's Langley Prods. Project, which is currently known under its working title of Las Vegas Lockdown, is slated to launch in January. (Variety)

Stay tuned.