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Channel Surfing: More "Forgotten," Less "Eastwick" at ABC, "Ugly Betty," Sean Faris Bites into "Vampire Diaries," and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

ABC hasn't forgotten The Forgotten after all. The network ordered five additional episodes of the Christian Slater-led procedural drama from Warner Bros. Television but also dropped the axe on the WBTV-produced supernatural drama series Eastwick, which won't continue past its initial thirteen-episode order. There's still no word on the fate of WBTV's Hank, which still hasn't received a full season order from ABC. (Hitfix, Variety)

E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos is reporting that the soon-to-be-vacated Eastwick timeslot on Wednesdays won't necessarily go to Lost, as many believed, but could in fact be given to--shock horror--Ugly Betty. "According to sources, ABC higher-ups are considering moving Ugly Betty to Wednesdays at 10 in January as part of a flashy relaunch of the show in an effort to save it," writes Dos Santos. "The thinking is that Betty would complement new hits Modern Family and Cougar Town nicely, and make ABC a solid destination for comedy on Wednesday night. Nothing has been decided, but I'm told this is one option on the table." (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Sean Faris (Reunion) has signed on the CW's Vampire Diaries in a multiple-episode story arc. Faris is set to play Ben, a former high school football star who now tends bar. "He’s Matt’s buddy," a Vampire Diaries insider told Ausiello. "He gets entangled in the group when a broke Matt takes a job at the Mystic Grill." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Elsewhere at the CW, the netlet is expected to give new drama series Life Unexpected the Monday 9 pm timeslot that's currently home to Gossip Girl beginning January 18th. Gossip Girl is expected to vacate the timeslot for a few weeks but it's unclear where Life Unexpected will eventually be slotted once Gossip Girl returns with new episodes. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Melissa George (Grey's Anatomy) has been cast in a recurring role on FOX's Lie to Me, where she will play Clara Martin, "the sassy wife of an older billionaire who has been murdered." "After being exonerated in a high-profile murder trial, she assumes control of her husband’s empire," writes Ausiello. "Lightman sees himself in her — naughty, fearless, strategic, and always game for the next adventure. In other words, she’s kinda nuts." George is first slated to appear in the eleventh episode of this season. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan interviews Mad Men's Chelcie Ross, who played real-life figure Conrad "Connie" Hilton on the AMC drama series this season. "It’s a great character. You know the saying about people living lives of quiet desperation? That’s really the essence of almost all drama, the desperation in people’s lives," Ross told Ryan. "I think that Connie sees in Don the kind of active desperation, not quiet desperation, that (Connie) had in him when he was a young man. That same sort of drive. That’s why they complemented each other so well. Connie is a bigger-than-life character to begin with, and Matt and the writers sharpened that." (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Pam Grier has signed on to appear in a multiple-episode story arc on the CW's Smallville, where she will play Agent Amanda Waller. Her first appearance is slated to air during the two-part "Legends" storyline, featuring the Justice Society, in January. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

File this under wow. The Wrap's Josef Adalian is reporting that ABC has scrapped its launch of reality competition series Let's Dance, which was set to air right after Thanksgiving. According to Adalian, citing industry insiders, the reason for the axe was that "producers couldn't find a cast acceptable to ABC." The network has instead scheduled RDF's Find My Family in the now-vacated Let's Dance timeslot. (The Wrap's TVMoJoe)

CBS has ordered an untitled multi-camera pilot based on Twitter account Sh-t My Dad Says from Warner Bros. Television. Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick will executive produce and oversee the writing the pilot script, which Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker will write. (Hollywood Reporter)

TVGuide.com's Natalie Abrams has an interview with V's Morena Baccarin, who plays Anna, the Visitor's sultry high commander. "It's going to get really interesting because he's very ambitious, and he really wants to succeed at what he does," said Baccarin about her relationship with Scott Wolf's Chad Decker. "By the end of the four episodes, he's going to find himself in a real decision spot of not knowing which way to go, and maybe their relationship will progress into something else. The power shifts back and forth a bit, so he doesn't just fold like a cheap suit [again]." (TVGuide.com)

FOX has rescinded its production order for the untitled Mark Brazil multi-camera comedy (formerly known as The Rednecks & Romeos) after its cast failed to win over executives' approvals following both live in-person auditions and taped auditions. (The project had only received a cast-contingent pickup.) Warner Bros. Television, the studio behind the project, is said to be shopping it elsewhere. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV One has ordered eight episodes of Omarosa's Ultimate Merger, a reality dating series featuring former Apprentice contestant Omarosa as she looks for a mate from a bevy of eligible bachelors. Project, from Juma Entertainment and Trump Prods, will be executive produced by Robert Horowitz, Andy Litinsky, Lewis Fenton, and Donald Trump. (Variety)

Gabrielle Anwar and Craig Sheffer have been cast in Hallmark Channel telepic Murder Among Friends, about a bridal shower that turns into a murder mystery. Telepic, slated to air next year, is written and directed by Walter Klenhard. (via press release)

Evolution Media is developing a male-skewing take on its Real Housewives franchise entitled Boys Club: ATL. Project, which is currently casting, has yet to be pitched to any networks. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Comments

Unknown said…
They should save Wednesdays @ 10 and move V to Tuesdays @ 10 when it comes back in March, if you're going to move Betty it might as well end up Tuesdays @ 8.

Looking forward to Life Unexpected, I hope it can be a big success.

Omarosa! Glad I don't get the channel that show is on.
CrazyCris said…
They're keeping the oh so boring and forgettable "The Forgotten" and dropping the fun and delightful "Eastwick"?! ARE THEY NUTS?!?!?!?!
And I thought Fox was bad...

I hope we've at least got enough time to have them end those 13 episodes on Darren getting what's coming to him...
Anonymous said…
Putting Ugly Betty at 10 is worse than keeping it at 8 on Fridays. It's not a 10 pm show.

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