Hello Folks

Two casting items from the last few hours.

– TVLine’s Michael Ausiello reports that Jaleel White (“Family Matters”, “Sonic Underground”) has signed on for the October 3 season premiere of FOX’ “House”. He will play Gregory House’s (Hugh Laurie fellow inmate in prison, where the doctor landed after the events of last season’s finale.

– Per EW’s James Hibberd, Courtney Thorne-Smith (“Melrose Place”, “Ally McBeal”) will return to CBS’ “Two And A Half Men” in the coming ninth season, reprising her role of Lyndsey McElroy, Alan Harper’s (Jon Cryer) former girlfriend. Her involvement in the future is kept under wraps so far.

Some more casting news.

– TV Guide’s Natalie Abrams reports that Cheech Marin (“Nash Bridges”) and Mekhi Phifer (“Torchwood: Miracle Day”, “Lie To Me”) have both joined an upcoming episode of USA’s “Psych”. Phifer plays Drake, a member of the “Blackapella” a cappella group Gus (Dulé Hill) belonged to in collage. He comes to town to honor their mentor, Deacon Jones (Marin), who gets shot during the ceremony at the local community center, and the group helps Shawn (James Roday) and Gus investigate.

– Jesssica Tuck (“True Blood”) will be guest starring on “Castle” in one episode next season TVLine’s Michael Ausiello reports. Tuck will play a museum benefactor who becomes a suspect in a murder investigation. In the same episode, Kristin Lehman (“The Killing”) also guests as a insurance investigator who might end up getting more than just polite smiles from Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion).

TV Guide’s Michael Schneider reports that Judy Greer (“Miss/Guided”, “Mad Love”) will be recurring on “Two And A Half Men” next season, as Bridget, the former love of Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher), who is now divorcing him.

Greer has already made two appearances on the show back in 2007, playing a different part.

Hello Folks

Some casting news from TVLine.

Pleae note that there are some spoilers below this point.

– Chad Michael Murray has signed on to return to “One Tree Hill” for its ninth and final season. But he will do so without Hilarie Burton, TVLine says, as she was not invited back. The story brings Lucas back because Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) asks him for help.

– Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”) has joined the cast of The CW’s “Ringer”. He will play Mr. Carpenter, a teacher at a New York City high school that Siobhan’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) stepdaughter attends.

– Jordana Spiro (“Harry’s Law”, “My Boys”) has joined Showtime’s “Dexter” for multiple episodes, playing an acolyte of Travis (Colin Hanks) and Professor Gellar (Edward James Olmos). What’s an acolyte, you ask? Per the definition, it’s 1. One who assists the celebrant in the performance of liturgical rites, or 2. A devoted follower or attendant.

A few casting bits.

First, from TVLine:

– Zachary Quinto (“Heroes”) has been set to guest star in a major arc on FX’ upcoming “American Horror Story”. For at least four episodes, he will play Chad, the gay former owner of the spooky house that therapist Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott) and his wife Vivien (Connie Britton) move into with their kids. Chad and Vivien end up becoming friends.

– Richard Dean Anderson (“MacGyver”, “Stargate: SG-1″) has landed a guest spot on FOX’ “Raising Hope”, where he will play  Keith, an imposing patriarch who finds Jimmy (Lucas Neff) talking to his daughter at Howdy’s. Of how the conversation goes, Keith fears that Jimmy is getting a tad too interested in his little girl, which will be played by Anderson’s 13-year old real-life daughter, Wylie.

And from TV Guide:

– D. B. Woodside (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, “24″, “Hellcats”) has been cast on the upcoming third season of NBC’s “Parenthood”, playing Dr. Joseph Prestidge, who becomes a potential love interest for Jasmine (Joy Bryant). Woodside will first appear in the new season’s third episode, and is set for multiple segments.

From Deadline:

– Veteran actress Heather Graham has joined the cast of the FOX comedy pilot “Little in Common”, which the network is currently overhauling for a potential midseason pickup. It centers on a bunch of families and the connection to each other through their kids’ little league activities. Graham, who replaces Paula Marshall from the original pilot, plays the wife to Rob Corddry’s character. Alana Ubach, Kevin Hart and Gabrielle Union also star.

Hello Folks

The Hollywood Reporter reports today that A&E has picked up cop drama “Longmire” to series with an order of 10 episodes.

The project stars Robert Taylor (“The Matrix”) and Katee Sackhoff (“Battlestar Glactica”), and centers on a widowed sheriff in Absaroka County, Wyoming, and Vic, one of his deputies.

Also starring are Lou Diamond Phillips (“Stargate: Universe”), Bailey Chase (“Saving Grace”) and Cassidy Freeeman (“Smallville”). “Longmire” is set to premiere sometime next year.

Additionally, TVLine’s Vlada Gelman reports that The CW has zoned in on the comic series it wants to turn into a TV show, which was mentioned by CW entertainment president Mark Pedowitz at the TCA Summer Press Tour.

“Supernatural” creator Eric Kripke is currently developing DC Comics’ “Deadman” for a live-action TV version.

The CW has been declaring the search for a valid replacement of “Smallville” a priority, and it looks like this might just be it. For more information on this, hit the link above.

Variety’s Stewart Levine reports exclusively that USA has picked up its successful drama “White Collar” for a fourth season.

16 new episodes are booked for the new season, which is expected to bow in the summer.

The rest of season three, which still has six episodes left to air, will resume in January.

“We’re thrilled to offer our viewers another season that promises some of the best writing in television, unexpected twists and generous helpings of America’s favorite bromance,” said USA Network co-presidents Jeff Wachtel and Chris McCumber in a statement to the trade.

Per TVLine’s Matt Webb Mitovich, veteran actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be guest starring on two episodes of “NCIS” during November sweeps.

She is set to play Charlotte Ryan, a tough, strong career woman from the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Defense. She is said to spar with the team like never before. “(…) don’t be surprised if there are sparks between Gibbs and Ryan,” NCIS executive producer Gary Glasberg said to TVLine. “We’re expecting some real chemistry.”

Hello Folks

FOX has just announced via a press release that it has finally decided to renew its comedy “Breaking In” for a second season of 13 episodes.

The show, starring Christian Slater, Bret Harrison, Alphonso McAuley and newcomer Odette Annable, will return to the airwaves sometime in 2012.

“”Breaking In” is a creatively vibrant and wildly adventurous comedy,” said Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly.  “We are looking forward to bringing it back for a second season and continuing our relationship with this incredibly talented cast and these fantastic creators – Adam Goldberg and Seth Gordon. We can’t wait to see where they take these characters next year.”

Syfy did it, so why not TNT as well.

The cable network announced today the return dates in the fall/winter of many of its signature shows.

It all begins with “Leverage” on Sunday, November 27, which returns for 8 episodes of its fourth season. Then, a day later, on Monday, November 28, at 9 PM ET/PT, “The Closer” comes back for 5 episodes of its seventh and final season (the final six episode will air next summer), and an hour later, at 10 PM ET/PT, the second season for “Rizzoli & Isles” returns with 5 episodes.

And in the new year, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at 10 PM, the fourth season of “Southland” premiers, which will consist of 10 new episodes.

Per EW’s James Hibberd, NBCs upcoming cop drama “Prime Suspect” has scored quite a guest star – who might even stick around for more.

Jay Mohr (“Gary Unmarried”, “Ghost Whisperer”) has signed on for a guest appearance which could turn into a recurring role. He will play New York City assistant district attorney John Bullock, who is considered very good at his job, but doesn’t always get along with Det. Jane Timoney (Maria Bello).

Syfy has just issued a press release announcing several important dates for the upcoming weeks.

First off, the cable network has set Friday, October 7 for the start of the fourth season of “Sanctuary”, with the following little preview attached:

““With the arrival of the Hollow Earth refugees, the balance between Abnormals and humans is severely upset. In order to keep the peace, Magnus and team must throw out the rulebook. But forging their own way means they’re not just dodging dangerous Abnormals anymore, now they’ve got world governments and new villains nipping at their heels.”

Then, a few finale dates were also mentioned.

“Alphas” ends its first season on Setpember 26, with “Eureka” ending the second half of its fourht season on September 19. “Haven” is airing its second season finale on September 30, and “Warehouse 13″ will cap the third season with a two-hour finale on October 3.

Hello Folks

Per EW’s James Hibberd, Meredith Monroe (“Dawson’s Creek”, “Criminal Minds”) has been tapped for a guest spot in an upcoming second season episode of “Hawaii Five-O”.

She will play an unhappy wife who, with the “help” of the local volleyball coach, leaves her loaded husband. However, the money she takes belongs to a crime kingpin, and gets her kidnapped.

Also from James Hibberd comes the news that Jamie Bamber (“Battlestar Galactica”) has nabbed yet another guest spot (he signed on for an episode of “CSI: Miami” recently). This time, he will guest on two episodes of upcoming TNT series “Perception”, about a neuroscientist and university professor (Eric McCormack) who helps the FBI solving crimes. Bamber plays another professor, Michael Hathaway, who introduces the professor to the FBI agent (Rachael Leigh Cook) who becomes the neuroscientists handler.

Over on NBC, it was announced that Jimmy Fallon would return to “Saturday Night Live” as host on December 17.

And finally, and this needs a spoiler alert for “The Good Wife”:

Per TVLine’s Michael Ausiello, Dylan Baker will return to the CBS drama next season, reprising his role as convicted killer Colin Sweeney. Details on the reason are scarce, but there’s a rumor about how it goes down that can be found by hitting the link above.

Hello Folks

USA has just issued a press release announcing that its two successful dramas “Covert Affairs” and “Burn Notice” will continue their current seasons in early November.

On Tuesday, November 1, “Covert Affairs” comes back for the remainder of its second season. And two days later, on Thursday, November 3, the rest of “Burn Notice”‘ fifth season will begin to air. Both shows air at 10/9c PM.

Hello Folks

Per TVLine’s Michael Ausiello, NBC’s upcoming small screen continuation of the John Grisham best-selling novel (and subsequent feature film) “The Firm” has jus hired its latest co-worker.

Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) has been cast as Alex Clark, the senior partner at Kinross & Klark, who acquires lead character Mitch McDeere (Josh Lucas) as a new partner.

Juliette Lewis and Callum Keith Rennie also star. The show is currently in production in Toronto.

Hello Folks
Some casting news from TVLine.

– Miguel Ferrer has joined the cast of the final season of “Desperate Housewives” in the recurring part of Andre Zeller, a temperamental artist who teaches a course at the local college. One of his students who has to suffer through his demanding teaching style is Susan (Teri Hatcher).

– And in related news, Andrea Parker has joined the veteran ABC drama as well, replacing formerly cast Jessica Hecht in the role of Tom Sciavo’s (Doug Savant) new girlfriend, after he and his wife Lynette (Felicity Huffman) have decided to call it quits. Talks between Hecht and producers unexpectedly broke down, and the offer was made to Parker.

– Molly Shannon (“Saturday Night Live”) has signed on to guest star on ABC’s comedy “The Middle”, playing Frankie’s (Patricia Heaton) sister.

– Eisa Dawis (“Law & Order”) has joined The CW’s upcoming medical drama “Hart of Dixie” as recurring. She plays Addy Pickett, a nurse with 15 years experience at the Alabama medical practice Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) inherits.

Hello Folks

Here’s a bunch of casting news from the last few days.

– TVLine’s Michael Ausiello reports that former “Without A Trace” star Eric Close has grabbed a recurring role on FX’ upcoming Ryan Murphy/Brad Falchuk series “American Horror Story”. He will play Hugo, a handsome cad who appears in various flashbacks to the 1980s. “American Horror Story” launches October 5.

– Also per Michael Ausiello, Parker Posey has joined the cast of CBS’s “The Good Wife” for a recurring part. She will first appear in an October episode as Eli Gold’s (Alan C-umming) estranged wife. “The Good Wife” launches its third season on Sunday, September 25, at 9/8c PM.

– Per E!Online’s Tierney Bricker, Katheryn Winnick (“Bones”) will guest star on “Nikita” in the second season’s fourth episode, airing in October. She will play Kelly, Nikita’s former partner that got left behind when Nikita escaped division. More about the reason of the reunion can be found by hitting the link above.

– Stephen Collins (“7th Heaven”), Dee Wallace (“E.T.”) and singer Josh Groban have all joined the cast of NBC’s “The Office”, TVLine’s Michael Ausiello reports. Collins and Wallace will play Andy’s parents, while Groban has come aboard as Andy’s brother.

– TV Guide’s Adam Bryant reports that Kelli Williams (“Lie To Me”) has signed on for a guest spot on CBS’ “The Mentalist”. In the episode airing October 6, Williams will play a woman who once hired Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) when he was still a pretend psychic.

– In related news, Michael Rady (“Melrose Place”) has also joined the cast of “The Mentalist” as Luther Wainwright, the new head of CBI. Freh-faced and with little experience, he’s a quick learner, TVLine’s Michael Ausiello reports.

– Per TV Guide’s Adam Bryant, veteran actor William Atherton (“Die Hard”) will guest star on a next season episode of ABC’s “Castle”. He will play Dr. Ari Weiss, a “life-extension researcher” who dedicated his work to cryogenic freezing. When Castle and Beckett have to solve a murder case wihtout a victim, they end up checking with Weiss’ frozen corpses. Chilling, indeed…

– Per EW’s James Hibberd Goran Visnjic (“ER”) has booked a four-episode arc on ABC’s upcoming drama “Pan Am”. He plays “a sexy Yugoslavian immigrant torn between his communist Eastern Bloc homeland and the potential freedoms and opportunities of the West.” “Pan Am” debuts September 25.

Hello Folks

Per TVLine’s Michael Ausiello, a tweet from Daniela Ruah, who plays Agent Kensi Blye on “NCIS: LA”, there will be a crossover coming between her show and fellow CBS procedural “Hawaii Five-O”.

Ruah wrote on her Twitter account, “Aloha hoaloha! Read my lips closely… Kensi will make her way to Hawaii Five-0 this season! Stay tuned…”

Not more information was given for the time being.

Hello Folks

According to TVLine’s Matt Webb Mitovich, fans of cult series “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” will get a special treat when they tune in to the upcoming seventh season of “Supernatural”.

in the new season’s fifth episode titled “Shut Up, Dr. Phil”, Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) and James Marsters (Spike) will be playing husband and wife.

“This episode is ‘Bewitched gone wrong,’” showrunner Sera Gamble tells TVLine. “[It was] all upside for this successful man (Marsters) while he was married to the witch (Carpenter), but now that he’s pissed her off, the whole town is paying the price.”

“Supernatural” launches its seventh season on Friday, September 23, at 9/8c PM.

So, are you excited to have two former “Buffy” alums appearing in one “Supernatural” episode?

According to EW’s James Hibberd, there will be a new judge on the bench in the fourth episode of the upcoming third season of “The Good Wife” on CBS.

Harvey Fierstein (“Independence Day”, “Torch Song” Trilogy) has been cast for a goest spot playing a new judge, an ex-hippie with a liberal streak, who presides over one of Alicia’s (Julianna Margulies) cases with with keen oversight, but a laid-back demeanor.

“The Good WIfe” returns in its new Sunday timeslot, September 25, at 9 PM.