Here is a special thread completely devoted to all television casting and development updates. Please feel free to comment and add the latest information for October, 2009.

Exclusive: '24' grad Reiko Aylesworth joins 'Damages'
by Michael Ausiello
Entertainment Weekly
Sep 30 2009 11:04 PM ET

Former 24 heroine Reiko Aylesworth has booked a recurring role on Damages, sources confirm to me exclusively. Not surprisingly, details about her character are being kept under wraps. The actress joins a season 3 cast that also includes new series regulars Campbell Scott and Martin Short, as well as special guest stars Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine. Production of the show’s 13-episode third season began last week ahead of a January debut.

Flavor Flav plans reality show returning to high school
by Wendy Mitchell

Flavor Flav is ready to go back to school, The Hollywood Reporter reveals. The rapper/reality star is working with producer Eric Ortner to develop a series in which he returns to high school to get his diploma. He dropped out in 10th grade.

"Dr. Oz" opens strong
Talkshow tops in daytime ratings
by STUART LEVINE

"Dr. Oz" could be an antidote for the recent daytime ratings woes.

New syndie talkshow opened strongly for Sony, tying for second place in its first week in women 25-54 with a 1.5 rating. "Dr. Oz" was on par with "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," but both were far behind longtime daytime champ "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which scored a 4.5.

First week of "Dr. Oz" topped any talkshow in seven years in national households with an average audience of 2.6 million per day and a 2.3 rating. In 2002, "Dr. Phil" drew a 4.4 rating in week one and a 3.4 in women 25-54 in what was then a much more thriving daypart.

For the week of Sept. 14-20, "Dr. Oz" was third in households with a 2.3 rating. It followed "Oprah" (6.1) and "Dr. Phil" (2.5).

Among the top markets, "Dr. Oz" performed strongly at 3 p.m. on WNYW in New York, at 5 p.m. on KTTV in Los Angeles and at 9 a.m. at WFXT in Boston.

Matt LeBlanc to star in Showtimes sitcom "Episodes"


http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009...time-series-episode/

quote:

Friends star Matt LeBlanc is headed back to TV in a single-camera comedy for Showtime called Episodes, a series “about a British couple whose hit UK show is turned into a dumbed-down American sitcom starring LeBlanc (as himself),” according to a press release from the cable network. The series is essentially a send-up of the network TV business in America, as the to-be-Americanized UK series at the center of Episodes will be morphed quickly by American TV executives.

Episodes‘ creators are David Crane (Friends, The Class) and Jeffrey Klarik (The Class, Mad About You). “Jeffrey and David have a great idea—I love it,” LeBlanc said in the announcement. “I am really excited to be working with Showtime and the BBC. And I am so glad I got the part, seeing someone else play Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating.” Six episodes will begin shooting in London and Hollywood this winter. The series is set to air on Showtime and BBC Two in the UK in 2010.

NBC opts to air 'Day One' as miniseries
Move is likely a cost-cutting measure
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

NBC is cutting its order on midseason sci-fi thriller "Day One," opting to air the show as a four-hour miniseries instead.

"Day One" will still bow following the Winter Olympics, but will no longer run as a 13-episode series, as originally announced.

Move is likely a cost-cutting measure, as NBC will be able to judge the performance of "Day One's" first four hours before deciding whether to proceed with a series.

Indeed, Pea**** execs said "Day One" could still morph into a series for next season should the miniseries perform well. Network compares the strategy to how sister cabler Sci-Fi (now Syfy) launched "Battlestar Galactica," which was revived as a three-hour miniseries before being redeveloped into a new series.

Move comes just days after ABC opted to launch its own sci-fi thriller, "V," as a four-hour event in November. But unlike "Day One," the Alphabet hasn't cut "V's" order short, and still plans to air nine more segs in midseason.

Pea**** execs said they've always looked at "Day One" as more of an event, hence the decision to launch it out of the post-Olympics fanfare.

Two hours of "Day One" have already been shot. Creator/exec producer Jesse Alexander is now prepping the second two hours to wrap up some storylines, while leaving a few loose threads open for a potential series.

"I've been in discussions with the network for some time about the best way to launch what I truly feel is an awesome television program," Alexander said.

Scribe added that he felt the post-Olympics slot would give the show "all the promotional power it needs for great success."

NBC Wins Bidding War for J.J. Abrams' New Series
Oct 1, 2009 08:33 PM ET
by Natalie Abrams
TV Guide.com

J.J. Abrams is bringing a second show to life next season, this time on NBC, according to Variety. After Fox bought Abrams' script for a half-hour medical comedy, a bidding war between ABC, NBC and CBS raged for his new action-adventure series. Wednesday night, NBC came out the victor. Abrams has partnered with Josh Reims (Felicity, What About Brian) to write the one-hour spy thriller, which centers on married spies. (Paging Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn.) The show will be produced by Warner Bros. TV, where Abrams' Bad Robot Productions is based.

New ABC series add actors

Lawson joins 'Challenged'; Ealy in 'FlashForward'

By Nellie Andreeva

Josh Lawson has been tapped as the male lead opposite Alyssa Milano in ABC's midseason comedy series "Romantically Challenged."

Meanwhile, Michael Ealy has joined another new ABC series, the drama "FlashForward," as a recurring.

The multicamera "Challenged," from Warner Bros. TV and writer Ricky Blitt, centers on a thirtysomething man (Lawson) torn between his new girlfriend (Milano) and needy best friend (Kyle Bornheimer).

Lawson replaces Eric Christian Olsen, who played the role in the pilot. Kelly Stables co-stars as Milano's younger sister.

On the ABC Studios-produced "FlashForward," about a team of FBI agents led by Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) dealing with the aftermath of a global event where everyone blacks out for 2 minutes, 17 seconds, Ealy will play Benford's nemesis.

Ealy, who next appears in Screen Gems' "Takers," recently signed with Gersh and is managed by Darryl Taja.

NBC closing in on "Midnighters"
Centers on people who use the 25th hour to stop crime
by Nellie Andreeva

A new breed of crimefighters is coming to NBC.

The network is closing a deal for "Midnighters," a drama project based on Alloy Entertainment's book series.

Chad Hodge will write the show, which will receive a script commitment.

"Midnighters," from Warner Bros. TV and Alloy, revolves around a group of people born at the stroke of midnight who have access to the 25th hour of each day, which they use to stop crime.

Hodge is executive producing with Alloy's Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein.

This is WBTV and Alloy's second stab at adapting "Midnighters" as a series. Four years ago, a drama was in development at WB Network with another writer.

"Runaway" creator Hodge is repped by WME, manager Aaron Kaplan and attorney Michael Fuller.

"Midnighters" marks the second WBTV drama project to land at NBC in the past couple of days. The network also outbid ABC and CBS for a spy spec from J.J. Abrams and Josh Reims, which received a pilot commitment with a big penalty.

Exclusive: Megan Mullally Plays Ex on "Parks and Recreation"
Oct 1, 2009 by Natalie Abrams

Megan Mullally will guest star on an upcoming episode of NBC's "Parks and Recreation." The "Will & Grace" star will play the ex-wife of Amy Poehler's character's boss.

Mullally's recent broken wrist from a car accident hasn't slowed her down. On top of this guest stint, she's also shooting "Party Down" for Starz, and starring in the L.A.-based play, "The Receptionist."

Mullally is currently shooting her episode, which will air on Oct. 29.

Oct 2 2009 12:59 PM ET

'HIMYM' exclusive: Rachel Bilson cast as you-know-who?!
by Michael Ausiello

In what could turn out to be the mother of all casting scoops, Rachel Bilson has landed a pivotal — some would say legendary — role in How I Met Your Mother’s 100th episode.

Last month, exec producer Craig Thomas told me that the milestone episode (airing in January) would feature “some serious mother action,” adding, “It’ll be the closest Ted’s ever come to [discovering who she is]. He’s getting a step closer every episode this season, and episode 100 [we] kind of go bananas with it.”

Thomas went on to say that he and fellow exec producer Carter Bays have been “spending a lot of time trying to cast the female role in Ted’s story for episode 100″ — a role a Mother insider confirms has gone to Bilson.

But is she really Ted’s baby mama? Or is this just the latest in a long line of fake outs (see also: Sarah Chalke, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, etc)?

quote:

'HIMYM' exclusive: Rachel Bilson cast as you-know-who?!

God, please, please, PLEASE let her not be the mother! It's not just because I mildly dislike her, it's because I'd rather have a total unknown as the mother. I guess it would make things far more exciting to be someone we're not familiar with.

I'm happy that Leblanc has been cast to another show. After Cox, he gets a show post Friends.

Plus it's on Showtime. Hmm. Awards stuff?

ABC pushes back "Ugly Betty" return
Dramedy's fourth season premiere now set for Oct. 16
by Nellie Andreeva

Fans of "Ugly Betty" will have to wait a week longer for the return of the show in its new Friday slot.

ABC has decided to push the fourth season premiere of the dramedy from Oct. 9 to Oct. 16.

The network has been using the 8-10 p.m. Friday block to air same-week reruns of its new series to garner additional sampling.

ABC will now extend the double pumping for another week to land extra support to its fledging shows before giving the two-hour block to "Supernanny" and "Ugly Betty."

"Betty" will launch with a two-hour premiere Oct. 16, moving to its regular Friday 9 p.m. slot the following week.

"Idol Gives Back" for the third time
Yearlong hiatus will end with April 21 special
by Nellie Andreeva

"American Idol" is bringing back "Idol Gives Back."

After an yearlong hiatus, the charitable special will return for a third installment April 21, airing during the top-seven Wednesday results show.

"This is our opportunity to reach out and support the people of America and around the world who need our compassion and generosity to improve or even save their lives," "Idol" creator and 19 Entertainment CEO Simon Fuller said.

Next year's special will benefit returning charities Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, and Save the Children as well as the United Nations Foundation.

"In today's tough economic times, it's more important than ever -- but more difficult than ever -- to raise money to help those in need," Fox president of alternative Mike Darnell said. "With this season's 'Idol Gives Back,' we're focused on raising awareness about the challenges that so many children and families currently face and demonstrating how even small donations can make a difference and help save lives."

"Idol Gives Back" has raised more than $140 million thus far, which is being distributed by the Idol Gives Back Foundation.

In addition to the fundraising, the April 21 show also will feature that week's voting results and the elimination of a finalist.

"Idol," from 19 Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America, will return for a ninth season in January with host Ryan Seacrest and judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and rookie Ellen DeGeneres.

"Top Chef," "Californication" renewed
by Adam B. Vary

Bravo announced today that it was renewing popular cooking competition show "Top Chef" for a seventh season, which will premiere in 2010. (No city has been chosen for the season, although casting calls will start on Oct. 18.) And after Showtime’s "Californication" launched its third season last week to the series’ highest ratings ever (up 57% from the season 2 premiere), Showtime announced today it had picked up the David Duchovny show for a 12-episode fourth season in 2010.

FX, Fox 21 buy "Broken"
Hourlong drama to be penned by Turner
by MICHAEL FLEMING

FX and Fox 21 have acquired "Broken," an hourlong drama script that will be penned by Sheldon Turner, co-writer of the Jason Reitman-directed "Up in the Air."

Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, the series is built around an investigative journalist for the New Orleans Gazette who is so frustrated by the breakdown of social and governmental institutions that he takes on a sideline pursuit as a vigilante.

Turner will be exec producer along with Apartment 3B's Jennifer Klein.

It's the second recent TV deal for the film-centric duo. They most recently set up at ABC an hourlong dramedy that will be scripted by "Chuck" exec producer Ali Adler. That untitled project concerns a female attorney who observes enough misery in her divorce and family law practice that she vows never to marry.

Turner and Klein will be exec producers with Adler, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage in a deal for a put pilot commitment from ABC, which won the property in a three-network bidding battle.

Turner and Klein are also aligned to "Paths of Glory," a feature adaptation of the Jeffrey Archer historical novel for Sony.

Turner and Klein are repped by CAA.

MTV to air DJ AM reality show
"Gone Too Far" to launch on Oct. 12
by MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

MTV has confirmed plans to air "Gone Too Far," the docuseries hosted by the late DJ AM.

The eight-episode series, which wrapped production just days before DJ AM's untimely death, will launch at 10 p.m. Monday.

"Gone Too Far" was originally set to bow on Oct. 5, but MTV put the series on hold as it determined how to proceed. Cabler said it opted to launch the show after consulting with the family of Adam Goldstein (AM's real name).

"After careful consideration we have decided to air the show," Goldstein's family said in a statement provided by MTV. "Adam felt strongly that by doing this series he could help other addicts who were at a crisis point to get sober. Adam was fully aware that if it were not for his own sobriety he never would have achieved the level of success and happiness he had found."

"Gone Too Far" follows AM as he offers a group of young addicts a chance at recovery. Ish Entertainment produced the series.

In their statement, Goldstein's family called the decision to air the show "difficult" but said they believed the show would "inspire others to seek help."

"Helping people in their recovery was a huge part of Adam's life," the family said. "It is our hope through airing this show that people will get to see the side of Adam that we knew and loved, not just the celebrity DJ, but the honest and caring person who gave so much of himself to help others."

Goldstein's body was found on Aug. 28. A report from the New York medical examiner's office ruled that his death was accidental, blaming a mix of cocaine and prescription drugs found in his system.

'Parenthood' exclusive: Helen Hunt out! Lauren Graham in?
by Michael Ausiello

This just in: Helen Hunt is apparently no longer in the running to replace Maura Tierney in Parenthood. According to an insider, talks between the actress and NBC fell apart and the role of single mom Sarah has now been offered to (wait for it) Lauren Graham! I’m told the Gilmore Girls MVP recently met with Parenthood boss Jason Katims (dream team alert!) to discuss the plum part.

---
YES, PLEASE!

Kim Raver joining 'Grey's Anatomy'

Will join in the ninth episode as a surgeon

By Nellie Andreeva

Kim Raver is checking into Seattle Grace.

The "Lipstick Jungle" star has joined the cast of the ABC medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" as a recurring, playing a new surgeon.

Raver will make her first appearance on the show in the ninth episode, which is expected to air Nov. 12.

"Grey's" reunites Raver with ABC and creator-executive producer Shonda Rhimes. This past development season, Raver starred on the ABC drama pilot "Inside the Box," which was exec produced by Rhimes.

Raver, whose series credits also include "24" and "The Nine," is repped by WME and Mosaic.