Lambsilencer's News Blog

Per EW's Michael Ausiello, Jennifer Westfeldt ("Notes from the Underbelly"), "Kissing Jessica Stein") has booked a multi-episode arc on "Grey's Anatomy".

Not much more is known at this point, except that she will play a patient.

Confirm here.

Well, call this a de-facto cancellation.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, NBC will move its freshman adventure drama "Crusoe" from Friday to Saturday, beginning December 6. With this move, it's pretty obvious the Peacock has given up on the show, and most probably won't order any more episodes.

In slightly better news, NBC has decided to give "Lipstick Jungle" another shot, sort of. The show returns to the schdeule on Friday, December 5 at 9pm. The remaining three episodes are expected to air on December 13 and January 2 and 9.

While this is by no means a sign that the show is saved, NBC will certainly take a close look at the ratings, and then make a really, really final decision.

E!Online's Kristin Dos Santos reports today that producers Mitch Hurvitz and Ron Howard have signed on with Fox Searchlight to make a movie off their comedy series "Arrested Development".

Budgeted at 15 million, the movie is only experiencing one holdup. One castmember has not yet signed on. But sources say the movie will be made with or without that person. All the other original castmembers have already signed on.

Confirm here.

EW's Michael Ausiello reports today that Tricia Helfer, Jonathan Cake and Brooklyn Decker have all joined NBC's "Chuck".

Some slight spoilers below:

Helfer guest stars in one episode as Special Agent Alex Forrest, brought in as a potential replacement for Sarah (which won't happen, since Yvonne Strahovski is locked for six seasons).

- Cake joins the spy dramedy for multiple episodes as British MI6 agent Cole Barker, which sets his eyes on Sarah.

- "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit cover girl Decker guests in episode 15 as a potential Buy More booth babe, when Jeff and Lester take charge of recruiting new co-workers.

Confirm here.

Hello Folks!

OK, I admit I'm a little behind with this news, but I still think that it belongs to this blog.

ABC has officially declined the pickup of the back nine to "Eli Stone", "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money". This means that those shows will all come to an end after their respective 13-episode orders.

But some good news are stil coming from the Alphabet. "Life On Mars" recieved an order for four additional episodes, which will bring this season's total to a current 17. The show is, according to EW's Michael Ausiello, returning to the midseason schedule on Wednesday, January 28, as the lead-out for "Lost".

Hello Folks!

Yes, I'm still here...

It was a VERY slow news week up to this point, but today The CW made a decision that resulted in this blog coming back to life pretty fast.

As of November 30, the network will resume control over its Sunday nights, ending the buy-out deal with Media Rights Capital, and canceling all three MRC shows, which are "Easy Money", "Valentine" and "Harm's Way", several sources report today.

The CW will fill the nights with repeats of "Everybody Hates Chris", "The Game" and the second season of "The Drew Carey Show", as well as the canceled CBS drama "Jericho". A movie will close out Sundays beginning November 30.

Hello Folks!

USA Today reports today that Julianna Margulies has officially turned down the invitation to return to "ER" for its final season.

"I feel like I left Carol Hathaway in the best scenario possible. I can't imagine making it any better than that," she said Saturday.

Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle and Eriq La Salle are all signed on to return to the medial drama, with La Salle also set up to direct an episode.

Still no word on George Clooney.

Confirm here.

B&C reports that NBC has picked up an additional six episodes of "Medium", to bring the total of episodes to 19 for the fifth season, which is expected to launch in midseason.

It is still uncertain when and where in the lineup NBC will put the show. Sundays was an option, but the report says that with the lackluster fall for the Peacock, it might no longer be the case.

Confirm here.

Hello Folks!

ABC has finally revealed its final midseason schedule. Save for Wednesday and Friday nights, it's the same as the tentative schedule that was leaked earlier this week.

It was released on ABC's Sales Website, and the Futon Critic has put the heavy graphics in written format.

Mondays
8:00/7:00c - "The Bachelor" (New Season)
9:30/8:30c - "Samantha Who?"
10:00/9:00c - "True Beauty" (New Series)

Tuesdays
8:00/7:00c - "Border Security USA" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "According to Jim" (New Season)
9:30/8:30c - "According to Jim" (New Season)
10:00/9:00c - "Eli Stone"

Wednesdays
8:00/7:00c - "Scrubs" (New Season)
8:30/7:30c - "The Goode Family" (New Series)
9:00/8:00c - "Lost" (New Season)
10:00/9:00c - "The Unusuals" (New Series)

Thursdays
8:00/7:00c - "Ugly Betty"
9:00/8:00c - "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00/9:00c - "Private Practice" (New Time Slot)

Fridays
8:00/7:00c - "Wife Swap"
9:00/8:00c - "Supernanny"
10:00/9:00c - "20/20"

Saturdays
8:00/7:00c - "Saturday Night Movie"

Sundays
7:00/6:00c - "America's Funniest Home Videos"
8:00/7:00c - "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
9:00/8:00c - "Desperate Housewives"
10:00/9:00c - "Brothers & Sisters"

On Wednesday, the full hour of "Scrubs" has been tweaked to make room for new entry "The Goode Family", while "Life On Mars" has been replaced with new drama "The Unusuals". It looks like either "Life On Mars" will end its season at 13 episodes, or will return at a later date.

On Friday nights, "Welcome To The Newlyweds" has been benched for the time being.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, USA has confirmed that it will order an eighth season of its hit crime series "Monk", starring Tony Shalhoub.

But it will be the final season for the long-running show.

Confirm here.

TVWeek reports today that CBS has ordered 7 more episodes of its freshman comedy "Gary Unmarried", starring Jay Mohr, and two more scripts. The show's total is now at 20, with the option to order the two additional segments to give it a full seaon.

The network has also picked up three additional episodes of "Worst Week". The reason for not ordering a full season right along is that CBS needs to make a slot available for the return of *Rules Of Engagement". But the order keeps "Worst Week" in the running for a second season next fall.

As for rookie drama "Eleventh Hour", CBS is expected to make a decision on a full season order next week.

Confirm here.

Hello Folks!

NBC announced today that Hilary Duff has signed a talent and development deal with the network. The Peacock is set to come up with a new series for her to star in, as well as giving her guest spots on existing shows throughout next year. No further details are available.

Says NBC Entertainment Executive Vice President Teri Weinberg:

"Hilary is an incredibly versatile talent with a huge following whose career we know will continue to soar on NBC. We are confident we will develop great ideas that would feature her vast talents and are thrilled to have this opportunity."

The young actress has three feature films coming out next year as well.

ABC has announced via a press release that Kevin McKidd ("Joruneyman") has now been fully added to the cast of "Grey's Anatomy" as a series regular.

He plays Dr. Owen Hunt, the new head of trauma at Seattle Grace Hospital.

Per the Hollywood Reporter, SCI-FI has ordered up a second season of "Sanctuary", starring Amanda Tapping. The second season will consist of 13 episodes. Production start is set for early next year, with a premiere date later in 2009.

Confirm here.

Hello Folks!

Per E!Online's Kristin Dos Santos, NBC has officically canceled its freshman spy drama "My Own Worst Enemy" starring Christian Slater, and also sophomore "Lipstick Jungle", starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price.

The reason of course the ratings, which "Enemy" failed to generate in its Monday slot, while "Lipstick Jungle" had a small, loyal fanbase, but failed to generate a wider audience in its second season.

Confirm here.