Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing.

Former Battlestar Galactica star Michael Trucco has been cast in USA drama pilot Facing Kate, where he will play the charismatic ex-husband to Kate, a former lawyer (Sarah Shahi) who leaves her job to become a mediator after the death of her father. Also cast: Virginia Williams (Lie to Me), who will play Kate's younger stepmother, a domineering woman who is desperate to hold onto her late husband's law firm. Bronwen Hughes will direct the pilot, which hails from Universal Cable Prods. (Hollywood Reporter)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Desperate Housewives will offer a flashforward of sorts in their first episode after the December 6th cliffhanger that will explore several "what if" scenarios. "Two Wisterians featured prominently in the alternate reality sequences will be Gaby and Carlos’ youngest daughter, Celia, and Mike and Susan’s son, MJ," writes Ausiello. "I know this because DH is currently casting thirtysomething versions of both characters." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Showtime has announced return dates for several of its series, including a January 25th bow for Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, which will air back-to-back at 10 pm ET/PT. The night will also see the premiere of Marc Wootton's new comedy series La La Land, in which the British comedian will play three different characters interacting with real-life Los Angeles inhabitants. Looking ahead, Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara return for their respective sophomore seasons on March 22nd and The Tudors returns for its fourth and final season on April 11th. (via press release)

BBC One will launch the third and final season of comedy Gavin & Stacey on November 26th at 9 pm GMT. The network described this season: "As Gavin starts his new job, the move to Barry Island means big changes for the whole family. Pam and Mick have to adjust to an empty nest while Gwen's got a full house again. Stacey is in her element, but will this finally be the solution to the couple's long-distance problem? And how will Gavin take to living in Wales? Smithy questions their friendship along with his own role as father – and with Dave Coaches on the scene and now engaged to Nessa, will Smithy find himself pushed out of the frame? How will life in a caravan work out for Nessa and her soon-to-be husband Dave?" Pam Ferris will join the cast as Smithy's mother. (via press release)

Variety's Cynthia Littleton checks in with the producers of NBC's Parenthood, which has faced some very trying obstacles in its path to the small screen, including the health-related departure of star Maura Tierney and the character's recasting by Lauren Graham. "We’re looking forward to bringing some of her comedy to the show," said executive producer Jason Katims of Graham, "but our show has a very different tone and different voice for her. She’s looking forward to doing something different." (Variety)

NUMB3RS fans shouldn't worry that CBS will end the crime procedural without giving producers an opportunity to wrap up storylines, according to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. "We will be doing a 16th episode that wraps up storylines and answers questions," co-creator Cheryl Heuton told Ausiello. "It will be designed to stand as a finale, but it won’t create story situations that would hamper us if the network should decide to order more episodes... [and] will give fans what they’ve been waiting for... We’re looking to feature all our characters and give good moments to every member of the cast." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

TV Land and TV Guide Network have sealed a joint deal under which they will share basic cable rerun rights to HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm. TV Guide Network will get the first crack at the series, launching its window in February while TV Land gets their run beginning as early as February 2013. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

A&E Television Networks pinkslipped 100 employees on Friday, roughly 10 percent of their overall workforce, in light of the cabler's recent merger with Lifetime. The majority of the cuts occurred at the female-centric network, with several executives let go, including head of casting Rick Jacobs, unscripted executive Jessica Samet, and several high-level publicists. (Hollywood Reporter)

Disney Channel has ordered a second season of comedy series Jonas, which will launch sometime in mid-2010. The cabler has named showrunner Lester Lewis and director Paul Hoen executive producers. (Hollywood Reporter)

Elsewhere at the cabler, Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place) will topline Disney Channel telepic Harriet the Spy, loosely based on Louise Fitzhugh's novel. Plot will be updated with Harriet now a movie producer's daughter whose aim is to become her class blogger. Pic, set to air next year, is written by Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke and directed by Ron Oliver. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

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Over on Twitter, there's been a great debate waged over the last few days about what the best comedies currently on television are, a subjective discussion if there ever was one. Titles have been thrown about, opinions bandied, and worthiness dissected and then dissected again.

The Great Comedy Debate led Time critic James Poniewozik to yesterday publish his list of the top television comedies at the moment (he included just those that are currently on the air right now) and I thought I do this same, limiting my list to just five US series that are airing new episodes as we speak.

So, in no particular order, here are my picks for The Five Best Comedies on Television:

Modern Family (ABC)

No other series has come close to balancing the sweet with the tart than Christopher Lloyd and Steve Levitan's brilliant mockumentary Modern Family, which each week dazzles its enraptured audience with a winning combination of heart and humor. It's the rare comedy that can make you roar with laughter and tear up with melancholy and it's anchored by one of the most talented ensemble casts on television today, who bring their characters to life honestly and without vanity or pretension.

Parks and Recreation (NBC)

I've remarked on it before but even the opening chords of the series' theme song makes me giddy with excitement. After a shaky start last season, the mockumentary comedy created by Greg Daniels and Mike Schur has developed into one of the season's best series, one rife with one-off jokes, deadpan expressions, and an assortment of some of the kookiest small town individuals you'll ever meet. The Pit was a fantastic MacGuffin to kick off an investigation of small town politics, optimistic do-gooders, jaded politicos, and jilted lovers. It's a joy to visit Pawnee each week and Parks and Recreation has quickly become one of the highlights of my television viewing week.

Community (NBC)

A few years ago, Community could have been a multi-camera sitcom with a laugh track that would have faded into obscurity after a brief run between Friends and ER. But creator Dan Harmon has subverted the sitcom format, infusing it with a nostalgic John Hughes-esque tone as well as a razor-sharp wit that stings even as it wraps you up in a warm embrace. By placing the series' focus not on the situation but the characters themselves, Harmon and his talented ensemble have crafted a deftly layered comedy that's about relationships without being a relationship comedy.

30 Rock (NBC)

While the quality has slipped a little this season (though last night's hysterical installment renewed my faith), 30 Rock remains the linchpin in the Thursday night comedy lineup for me, offering a smart, sly, and savage satire of workplace mores, celebrity vanity, and the general insanity of life in the writers room/isle of Manhattan/Sheinhardt Wig Company. It's not afraid to bite the hand that feeds it and we love it all the more when it does just that.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)

FX's subversive comedy series continues to mine the seedy underbelly of Philadelphia for comedy with gleefully depraved results. Whether it's kitten mittens, cannibalism, or Green Men, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia brings the shockingly absurd and twisted to life via its motley crew of selfish and shallow bar owners. I should be horrified but I can't help myself from laughing until it hurts so good.

Honorable mention goes to HBO's current Sunday night crop of comedies: Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bored to Death, the latter of which has proven a scintillating and wacky end of weekend treat.

What comedies would make your top five list? Do you agree with the above? Any series wrongfully left out in the cold? Discuss.

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Now that's what I call a fantastic episode of Fringe.

While I've been pushing the series' producers to shift towards a sleeker serialized format for the series since its inception, last night's episode of Fringe ("Earthling"), written by J.H. Wyman and Jeff Vlaming and directed by Jon Cassar, was the perfect compromise: a self-contained mystery of the week that also served to deepen the characters.

Or one character in particular, the enigmatic head of Fringe Division, Phillip Broyles (The Wire's Lance Reddick). I've been on a tirade since the very first episode of the first season that we still know next to nothing about both Broyles and lab assistant Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole) so I'm glad that the writers are finally giving some layering to both of them, who have served more or less the thankless roles of exposition dumps until now.

Last night's mystery had the Fringe Division attempting to capture a shadowy organism that may or may not be extraterrestrial in origin but which managed, during a space walk, to attach itself to the body of a Russian cosmonaut, who brought it back to Earth where it began killing people in an effort to obtain their radiation while its host body was trapped in a comatose state. Weird? Youbetcha. Scary? Hells yeah.

But while the central mystery may have been quite the perfect sci-fi thriller (loved the opening scene and the ash effect the creature's victims exhibited), it was the fact that it was such a personal case for Broyles that made the episode truly sing. We haven't known much about Broyles until this point. We know that he has or had some sort of romantic entanglement with Blair Brown's Nina Sharp in the past and that he wasn't a fan of military investigator Olivia Dunham, after she went on a crusade against his best friend following charges of rape. There have been shadowy instances of Broyles knowing more than he has let on and he's clearly passionate about the Fringe Division and its purpose.

And that's really been it. Until fairly recently, Broyles' main purpose within the series was to tell Olivia that the strange and bizarre phenomena they are witnessing has happened before and is part and parcel of a larger Pattern, yada, yada. But last night's installment took a huge step towards adding some much needed layering to Broyle's character. After all, when you have an actor as amazing and awe-inspiring as Lance Reddick, you better use him to full effect, no?

The shadow killer case is one that's close to Broyles' heart, not only because it wasn't ever solved but because it also played a huge role in the disintegration (heh) of his marriage. I'm glad that the writers didn't pull a cliche and have Broyles' wife one of the last victims of the unknown killer; instead Broyles' dogged determination to catch the killer and end his murder spree result in his wife leaving him and taking his kids.

Four years later, he's still haunted by the case and still saddened by what he lost in pursuit of justice. The scene in which Broyles finally tells his wife that he closed the case was both triumphant and bittersweet. He knows that he did what his conscience told him he had to but at the same time he feeling a keening sense of loss for what it cost him. The effect not only deepens our appreciation of Broyles but fleshes him out into a three-dimensional character, one with a tragic backstory that speaks volumes about the commitment he has to the Fringe Division. He's willing to put everything--his family, his career, his reputation--on the line in order to do some good in the world.

It's a path that puts him at opposition with the CIA, as seen in that final scene between Broyles and the shadowy agent who warns him against filing a report about the case. Could it be that the Fringe Division is about to become even more embattled from all sides? And why did the Senator disobey orders and send Broyles that file? Hmmm...

All in all, a fantastic installment in a series that proves once again that it's hitting its stride with flair and creativity and wisely focusing its efforts on exploring the relationships between our leads while also delivering some first-rate thrills and chills. Now if only we could get some development for Astrid...

Next week on Fringe ("Of Human Action"), a kidnapping quickly escalates into a hostage situation in New York at the hands of a mysterious man with mind control abilities; the Fringe Division connects a link between the kidnapping and Massive Dynamic.

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Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing.

J.J. Abrams is in talks to direct his NBC espionage drama pilot Undercovers for Warner Bros. Television, marking the first time that he has directed a pilot since the series premiere of ABC's Lost. Details of Undercovers, said to be about a husband-and-wife team of spies, have been kept tightly under wraps but several have described it as a cross between Mr. and Mrs. Smith and The Bourne Identity. Project is written by Josh Reims (Felicity, Dirty Sexy Money), who will executive produce with Abrams and Bryan Burk. (Hollywood Reporter)

SPOILER! Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Shonda Rhimes' next Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover will revolve around Eric Dane and Kate Walsh. "Mark summons Addison to Seattle Grace to perform a surgery on [a patient] (a.k.a. Leven Rambin)," writes Ausiello. "The storyline spills over into Private when, according exec producer Shonda Rhimes, 'complications arise and Mark ends up taking [her] back down to Los Angeles to get more surgery.'" (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Comedy Central is producing a half-hour pilot based on The Onion's Onion Sports Network website. The potential series "is designed to appeal to both casual and hardcore fans of sports as well as the Onion's well-defined style of humor," according to Variety's Jon Weisman. Project will be executive produced by Julie Smith and Will Graham. (Variety)

HBO is developing half-hour drama series T, about a woman who is transitioning into a man via gender resassignment. Project will be written and executive produced by husband-and-wife team Dan Futterman and Anya Epstein, who have just been made executive producers on HBO's In Treatment. Ira Glass and Alissa Shipp will also executive produce. (Variety)

ABC is developing six projects with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman's Mandeville, the shingle behind USA's Monk, including: workplace comedy Kegs, about a family that runs a beer distribution company from writers Jason Filardi and Mark Perez; drama Tarrytown, about a single mom who moves in with her brother and his daughter when they inherit their father's rundown house in Tarrytown, Texas, from writer R. Lee Fleming; crime drama 1-8-7 Detroit from writer Jason Richman; drama Dorchester Heights, about five friends in Boston whose friendship is put to the test when secrets spill out following the death of one of their close friends, from writer Nikki Toscano; and an untitled drama about a man in his forties who begins to live the life of a twenty-something after suffering a head injury, from writer Joy Gregory. Mandeville has a first-look deal with ABC. (Variety)

Cartoon Network has ordered its first two live-action scripted drama series, with action mystery Unnatural History and thriller Tower Prep getting the greenlight for thirteen episodes apiece. The first project revolves around a high schooler who, along with his charismatic cousin, finds himself caught up in mysteries surrounding the national museum; project was created by Mike Werb and will be produced by Warner Horizon. The latter, Tower Prep, follows a rebellious teen who awakens to find himself trapped at a mysterious prep school for students with "unique potential." Project is written and executive produced by Paul Dini for Cartoon Network Studios and Dolphin Entertainment. (Hollywood Reporter)

A&E has given a pilot order to crime drama Sugarloaf, about a former Chicago cop who is "kicked off the force after being shot by his ex-captain, who wrongfully accused him in having an affair with his wife. After receiving a payout, Longworth, an observant detective with a sly sense of humor, moves to a small Florida town and joins the state police." The titular cop will be played by Aussie actor Matt Passmore. Project, from Fox Television Studios, is written by Clifton Campbell, who will executive produce with Gary Randall, and will be directed by Peter O'Fallon. Elsewhere at the cabler, Jeffrey Nordling (24), John Heard (Southland), and Michael Arden (Kings) have been cast opposite Radha Mitchell in drama pilot The Quickening. (Hollywood Reporter)

Syndication news: CBS' crime procedural The Mentalist, produced by Warner Bros. Television, has been sold its off-network rights to TNT, who will begin airing the series weekly beginning in fall 2011 and then increase to a full syndication run the following year; price tag was said to be in the region of $2.2-2.3 million per episode. Elsewhere, USA locked up off-network rights to CBS' new series NCIS: LA for roughly the same price; the cabler will begin airing the series weekly in September 2011 and then in a daily strip in 2013. (Hollywood Reporter, Hollywood Reporter)

Former CBS Television Distribution executive Kathy Samuels has been hired as executive producer at Hasbro Studios, the TV production division of the toy manufacturer. (Variety)

Joe Schlosser has been promoted to SVP of NBC Entertainment Television Publicity. He'll report to Rebecca Marks. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

Former NBC Entertainment topper Warren Littlefield has signed a deal with Doubleday for a memoir about his time at the Peacock, during which he had a hand in overseeing the development of "Must See TV" Thursdays. (Variety)

Scripps Networks Interactive have reached a deal with Cox Communication acquire a 65 percent stake in the Travel Channel, with the companies forming a joint venture that will act as an umbrella for Travel. Deal is expected to close by January. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

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Where there's Marcel, there's drama.

Last night's Top Chef Reunion Dinner, a nice twist on the culinary series retrospective, offered both Marcel and drama in equal measure. After all, there's been maybe one other Top Chef contestant (cough, Tiffany, cough) who has stirred up as much conflict and confrontation as Marcel has.

From the head-shaving almost-incident to the post-series bottle-throwing, Marcel has been at the heart of some memorably tense moments, including one from the Season Five finale that had never before been aired in which he suddenly becomes involved in a verbal battle with supercilious judge Toby Young.

While I already hinted at my thoughts about the Top Chef reunion special (you can read my advance review here), now that the episode has aired we can discuss some specific details from last night's special.

Personally, I really enjoyed watching the reunion. While it was a break from the competition itself (as well as the current series), it offered not only a breather but also a look back... and I'd have much rather had some new Top Chef content this week than face an evening of repeats, as we often have to during the course of the series' run.

Given that there have already been five iterations of the series to date, Top Chef has produced some memorable contestants, including some that are known for more than just combative personalities; I was glad to see that the producers brought back not only the most dramatic cheftestants (and thank goodness Spike wasn't there!) but also some extremely talented competitors.

It was interesting to see what all of the previous contestants were up to, how they had changed, and whether their time on the series had shaped them. Marcel, of course, hasn't changed all that much. He's still cocky, combustive, and has an innate way of rubbing people the wrong way. I was beyond confused why he would agree to return for this reunion if he had no intention of discussing his past. Isn't that the very point of a reunion? Did he honestly believe that no one, not the producers, not host Fabio Viviani, would bring up any controversy?

I'm glad Fabio did say something to Marcel at the table. No one forced any of them to sign up for this reunion or rehash things on camera. Marcel could have politely refused the invitation and gone on his way. But he chose to participate. And choosing to participate means having to discuss unpleasant or uncomfortable things. With the others. On camera. Of course, the head-shaving thing is going to come up, especially as Ilan is there. Of course, Fabio is going to ask about the guy who threw a bottle at Marcel's head. It's all on the record and it has to be asked.

Likewise, I'm glad that Casey and Carla were able to talk about what went wrong in the season finale that cost Carla her shot at the grand prize. But Carla being Carla, she's not harping on it or even blaming Casey, who clearly feels some guilt over what happened in that final challenge. They were able to bring their feelings into the air and move on. And that's really what a reunion should be all about, in the end.

Of course, it wasn't all accusations and haughty glares across the table as the chefs prepared a beautiful five-course menu for themselves to enjoy... without the stress of elimination, immunity, or wacky restrictions about only using food from the vending machine or a particular aisle of the grocery store. It was all about the food.

So what did the chefs prepare? Let's take a look course-by-course:

• First Course (Season Three's Casey, Dale, and Hung): Fanny Bay oyster puree, puffed forbidden rice, cilantro, pickled watermelon, cucumber, green bean, and red onion; crab pierogi with mushroom and asparagus ragout and curry hollandaise; sardines with a black pepper- caramelized sugar pork broth and scallions
• Second Course (Season One's Harold and Tiffany): seared scallop with scallop sashimi noodles and tom yum broth
• Third Course (Season Two's Marcel and Ilan): sea salt-encrusted Thai snapper (stuffed with basil, lemongrass and lemons) served with ratatouille
• Fourth Course (Season Four's Richard and Lisa): corn-fed beef, duck pate, and corn puree with Captain Crunch air, spicy pickled radish salad, and savory root beer caramel
• Fifth Course (Season Five's Stefan and Carla): raspberry panna cotta, rhubarb sauce, chocolate mousse, and almond crisp

Other than Dale's disastrous crab pierogies (dubbed a "trainwreck" by Tiffany), I have to say that I was impressed by the other dishes and how well the chefs worked together after all of this time apart. Loved that Marcel cooked the Thai snapper in a salt crust; besides for being ideal for family style serving it's also a dramatic showcase and allowed him to fillet and bone the fish tableside. Likewise, Hung's sardines sounded incredible and bowed the chefs into a shared silence. Harold and Tiffany's scallops were simple but focused the attention on the flavors... and they spend the majority of their $500 budget on wine and champagne.

All in all, a fun look back before the competition on the current season really heats up. Reunion episodes can be overly formatted and at times snidely shocking. This was one dinner that I wished I was at and which played an equal amount of weight on the confrontation as it did the cuisine.

Next week it's back to the competition on Top Chef: Las Vegas ("Strip Around the World"), as the day begins with a Quickfire Challenge that tasks the chefs to create the perfect breakfast in bed for guest judge Nigella Lawson and Padma in their hotel suite; the chefs visit casinos to gain inspiration for their Elimination Challenge.

Top Chef Preview: Breakfast in Bed:



Top Chef Preview: Casino Inspiration:

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Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

Sarah Wynter (24) has joined the cast of FX's Damages in a recurring role on the series' third season, set to launch in early 2010. She joins the previously reported Reiko Aylesworth, Martin Short, Lily Tomlin, and Campbell Scott. Wynter will play a mysterious "'security specialist' helping a high-level assistant district attorney unravel" a financial scheme; Aylesworth will play the wife of Campbell Scott's character. [Editor: I've also just been informed that "Short's character is a high-powered attorney (family friend) who defends a prominent NY family accused of the financial scheme. Lily Tomlin plays the matriarch of the family."] (Hollywood Reporter)

Life on Mars creators Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham have been commissioned by BBC Worldwide new drama czar Jane Tranter to write the script for an ABC drama pilot described as a "California cop show with a British twist." Should the project--executive produced by Julie Gardner--go to pilot, it would be produced by BBC Worldwide's Los Angeles production team and Pharoah and Gardner would remain heavily involved, unlike their limited creative involvement with the US version of Life on Mars. (Broadcast)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan is reporting that Starz comedy series Party Down will return for its second season in April. Ken Marino, Adam Scott, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and Lizzy Caplan are set to return for Season Two and will be joined by new series regular Megan Mullally. Kristen Bell, Jane Lynch, J.K. Simmons, Joey Lauren Adams, Steve Guttenberg (playing himself), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse are all set to guest star this time around. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

CBS has cut back the episodic order this season for procedural drama Numb3rs from a full 22 episodes to just 16. Many, including Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, are viewing the decision as a sign that it might be the final season for Numb3rs and that Canadian co-pro Flashpoint might take over the Friday night timeslot. Elsewhere at the network, CBS increased the episodic orders for How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, NCIS: LA, CSI: Miami, and Two and a Half Men to 24 installments, while Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, The Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, CSI, and The Mentalist, have all been bumped to 23 installments. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files, Variety)

FX is developing period Western Reconstruction, about a wealthy East Coaster shaken by war who takes refuge in a Missouri town during the post-Civil War reconstruction. Project hails from executive producers Joshua Brand and Peter Horton; Brand will write the script while Horton is attached to direct. (Hollywood Reporter)

HBO is developing a telepic based on Mark Bowden's nonfiction book "Guests of the Ayatollah: The Iran Hostage Crisis, The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam" about the 444-day hostage crisis involving 66 Americans seized and held hostage for over a year. Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center) has been attached to adapt the book and William Horberg will executive produce. (Variety)

Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice is reporting that ABC, Mark Gordon, and Roland Emmerich are developing a series-based sequel to their upcoming disaster film 2012. “The plan is that it is 2013 and it’s about what happens after the disaster,” Emmerich told Entertainment Weekly. "It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating. (2012 writer/producer) Harald Kloser and I came up with the idea and we have the luxury of having a producer on the film who is a big TV producer, Mark Gordon. We said to Mark, 'Why don’t you do a TV show that picks up where the movie leaves off and call it 2013?' I think it will focus on a group of people who survived but not on the boats... maybe they were on a piece of land that was spared or one that became an island in the process of the crust moving. There are so many possibilities of what they could do and I’d be excited to watch it." (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

NBC has signed a first look deal with Don Cheadle's production company Crescendo, which has several projects already set up at NBC, ABC, TNT, and FX, including an ABC drama based on feature film The Star Chamber with writer Zack Estrin attached and an NBC cop drama from The Shield's John Hlavin. (Variety)

TVGuide.com's Natalie Abrams talks to Arielle Kebbel, who guest stars in Thursday's episode of the CW's Vampire Diaries as vampire Lexi. "She is about as much fun as anyone who's 300-and-something years old," said Kebbel about Lexi, an ancient friend of Stefan's. "She's this burst of energy, a complete life force. It's safe to say she's pretty much been everywhere, seen everything, lived every moment and that makes her even stronger, even more confident, even more sarcastic because she has all of this life experience behind her." (TVGuide.com)

Grace Gummer has been cast opposite Gia Mantegna in TeenNick drama series Gigantic, where she will play the 17-year-old daughter of a celebrity couple. Project is set to debut in early 2010. (Hollywood Reporter)

TLC is continuing to make a push into wedding-themed programming, ordering several new projects including November 13th special Battle of the Wedding Planners, six-episode docudrama Happily Ever Faster, about Las Vegas' Chapel of the Flowers, ten-episode reality series Four Weddings, in which four brides attend and score each others nuptials, and Manhattan Marriage Project, which follows wedding planner Gino Filippone. (Variety)

More changes afoot at OWN as Oprah Winfrey Show co-executive producer Lisa Erspamer has been named chief creative officer; she'll assume the position beginning in January and will report to Christina Norman. (Variety)

Jennifer Beals (Lie to Me) has been cast in Hallmark Channel telepic The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, about a family whose home is the crash site for a very early Santa Claus. Pic is set to air next year. (via press release)

Stay tuned.

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"You are what you choose."

Syfy has released a new 90-second promo for its upcoming drama series Caprica, the prequel to Battlestar Galactica launching in January.

Featuring all-new footage of the series, the promo depicts some of the storylines and imagery slated to appear on the series, which is being overseen by showrunner Jane Espenson.

And, yes, it just happens to also feature a brief shot of James Marsters as terrorist leader Barnabus Greeley. (He's slated to appear in at least three episodes this season.)

Caprica is slated to launch January 22nd at 9 pm ET/PT.

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I've gotten some lovely emails, tweets, messages, and comments from Chuck-starved viewers who were overjoyed to see the lovely Yvonne Strahovski turn up on their computer monitors yesterday via the video interview I did with her on set a few weeks back.

While Season Three is still a ways off (who knows when for sure), I thought I'd take this opportunity not to rehash rumors or spin some spoilers but find out what you, the viewers, want to see in Season Three of Chuck.

So take this opportunity to offer up some predictions (no spoilers!) or creative suggestions for the upcoming storylines, romantic permutations, and diabolical scenarios facing our favorite spies next year.

Any and all thoughts encouraged as we keep up our vigil for new episodes of Chuck...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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