[Televisionary]

Looking to discuss last night's fall finale of ABC's V ("It's Only the Beginning"), written by Cameron Litvack and Angela Russo-Otstot? Head over to the Los Angeles Times /Show Tracker site where you can read my write-up of last night's episode of V (entitled " V : The way of the gun") and weigh in on the twists from last night's episode. Did the four episodes live up to your expectations? Will you be tuning in when the series returns with its back nine episodes? Be sure to head to the comments section to discuss the latest installment and what you think will happen when V returns from his hiatus in the spring. V returns to the ABC schedule in March 2010.

ABC's sci-fi series V wraps up the first part of its first season run tonight at 8 pm ET/PT before it returns with new episodes in March. I had the chance to watch tonight's episode over the weekend and absolutely loved it. You can head over to the Los Angeles Times/Show Tracker site to read my advance review of the fourth episode of V , which I am referring to as the series' fall finale. Be sure to head over to the comments section (or leave a thought here) about what you think tonight's episode will hold for the Visitors and the humans... and tune in tonight for quite a few surprising twists. V airs tonight at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

What did you think of last night's episode of ABC's V , the series' third? Head over to the Los Angeles Times /Show Tracker site to read my take on last night's episode ("A Bright New Day") , written by Diego Gutierrez and Christine Roum, and discuss just what you thought of this week's installment. Personally, I thought it was a huge step up in terms of quality over last week's slightly lackluster installment and ramped up the tension and drama while also giving us some very intriguing plot twists... which I won't reveal here. Would be curious to know what people thought, especially if you were at all on the fence about V after last week. So talk back either here or at the LA Times ! Next week on the fall finale of V ("It's Only the Beginning"), Erica works with the Fifth Column to uncover a biological threat they suspect the Visitors have been plotting; Anna meets with a special guest while overseeing the investigation into the mu

We're halfway through V 's current run on ABC (the back nine episodes are slated to air after the Olympics), so with two episodes remaining--including tonight's at 8 pm ET/PT, I am wondering just what you think will go down over the next two weeks. Unlike the first two episodes, I haven't yet seen tonight's installment of V , so I am as much in the dark about what will happen just as much as you are. But I am curious to know just what viewers of the alien invasion drama WANT to see happen tonight and next week and what you think WILL actually happen. Among the questions up for debate: Just what is Anna's plan and will we find out what the Vs want from Earth's inhabitants? Will Chad fall under her spell? Will Ryan be able to keep Valerie safe? Will Dale come gunning for Erica? Is the old priest a Visitor in disguise? Will Tyler brush his hair? Discuss... and, as always, no spoilers, just pure conjecture. On tonight's episode of V ("A Bright New Day&

Looking to discuss last night's episode of ABC's alien invasion drama V ? Head over to the Los Angeles Times /Show Tracker site to read my take on the series' second episode ("There Is No Normal Anymore") in a piece entitled " V : Upsetting the Apple Cart." Lots to discuss including some very intention shout-outs to creator Scott Peters' last series, The 4400 , new reveals involving several of the characters, and a rather interesting ending, to boot. Did you enjoy the second episode? Was it as good as the pilot? Are you sticking around for the ride? Or waiting to watch the first four episodes after the Olympics (when V returns with new episodes)? Head to the comments section to discuss. Next week on V ("A Bright New Day"), Chad reports from the Peace Ambassador Center as 100 diplomatic visas are being issued to the first wave of American Visitors, with Anna getting the first, but not everyone agrees with the decision; Erica tracks a death

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 impor

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 wi

Just a quick reminder to be sure to set your DVRs (or, hell, tune in live!) to the series premiere of ABC's V tonight. Based on the classic 1980s sci-fi miniseries, V boasts an amazing cast that includes Elizabeth Mitchell, Joel Gretsch, Morris Chestnut, Scott Wolf, Morena Baccarin, and many others. But you needn't have watched any of the classic V in order to understand the intricacies of this new reimaginating. You can read my advance review of the pilot episode for V (written back in May) as well as my interview over at the Los Angeles Times /Show Tracker with series lead Elizabeth Mitchell about her character Erica Evans and what's coming up on the series, which will air four episodes this month before returning after the Olympics with nine additional installments. V launches tonight at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing. Looks like the TARDIS has deposited the Doctor on our shores. Outbound Doctor Who star David Tennant has signed on to topline NBC's legal dramedy pilot Rex Is Not Your Lawyer . Tennant, who departs from Doctor Who at the end of the year, will play the titular character, Rex Alexander, a Chicago lawyer who suffers from crippling panic attacks who begins coaching his clients on how to represent themselves in court. Project, from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun, is written by Andrew Leeds and David Lampson and will be directed by David Semel, who executive produces with Barry Schindel, Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun, and Gene Stein. ( Hollywood Reporter ) Lost 's Naveen Andrews will guest star on an upcoming episode of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit . Details on his role are being kept firmly under wraps, though it's known that his episode is slated to air in January. ( TVGuide.com ) FOX has ordered rough

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. Entertainment Weekly 's PopWatch has an interview with Elizabeth Mitchell and Lost executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse about the ultimate fate of Mitchell's Juliet, last seen detonating the hydrogen bomb that may or may not have caused The Incident at the end of Season Five. While Mitchell is set to reprise her role as Juliet Burke on Season Six of Lost , it's been confirmed that Juliet is definitely dead. Still, there are still some mysteries about the good (or not so good?) doctor that still need to be resolved. "There’s still something very significant that we have not yet learned about the character," according to Cuse. ( Entertainment Weekly 's PopWatch ) Gregory Itzin ( The Mentalist ) will return to FOX's 24 in a multiple-episode story arc that finds him reprising his role as villainous former President Charles Logan, who was last seen being stabbed by his wife Martha (Jean Smart)

With less than a week to go until the series premiere of ABC's reimagination of cult classic sci-fi series V , the network has released a longer version of its "We Will Be Victorious" promo, which is set to the song "Uprising" by Muse. While a 45-second promo featuring the song was released about a month back (and can be viewed below), Entertainment Weekly' s Michael Ausiello has an exclusive look at a longer "Victorious" promo that clocks in at just under two minutes. (It can be viewed here .) Meanwhile, ABC has scrapped plans for a viral publicity campaign that would have seen giant, crimson-hued Vs appear over 26 major American landmarks to promote the November 3rd launch of V , according to Hollywood Reporter 's The Live Feed . An ABC spokesperson tells THR 's James Hibberd that they have decided to spend the funds in other ways, following a Washington Post column in which Lisa de Moraes calculated the amount of pollution that would h

Those of you looking for some more information about ABC's upcoming reimagining of the 1980s sci-fi mini-series V , should head over to the Los Angeles Times to read my lengthy interview with the series' lead Elizabeth Mitchell, entitled "From The Others to the Visitors: Elizabeth Mitchell talks about battling the otherworldly on her new ABC series 'V'." In this exclusive interview, I talk to the lovely and articulate Elizabeth Mitchell about her time as Juliet on ABC's Lost , her character FBI Agent Erica Evans on V , Erica's relationship with Joel Gretsch's Father Jack, what's coming up on the sci-fi series, and much more. If that weren't enough, V -related goodness for you, here's a link to my original advance review of the pilot episode from May , and you'll find a video of the first nine minutes of the V series premiere below. V premieres Tuesday, November 3rd at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Welcome to your Wednesday morning television briefing. CBS is said to be developing a potential spin-off from its crime drama series Criminal Minds that will be created by showrunner/executive producer Ed Bernero and executive producer Chris Mundy, the latter of which will write the script for the potential spin-off which will air as an episode of Criminal Minds later this season. No concrete details are available but the series is thought to revolve around a new team of FBI agents, rather than focusing on any of the existing Criminal Minds characters. ( Hollywood Reporter ) John Simm ( Life on Mars ), who returns to Doctor Who to reprise his role as The Master this winter, has said that David Tennant's swan song on the British sci-fi series is a "brilliant send-off" for Tennant and the Tenth Doctor. "It'll be a brilliant send-off for Mr Tennant," said Simm. "Last time I did it it was such fun to do. It was wonderful to be asked back and to be in th

Welcome to your Monday morning television briefing. ABC has confirmed that it has now altered its launch plan for sci-fi drama series V , which is set to premiere November 3rd. The network has decided to air just the first four installments of the Warner Bros. Television-produced series and then place V on hiatus until after the Winter Olympics. The news comes as a surprise as the series, which is written and executive produced by The 4400 's Scott Peters, has enjoyed extremely positive buzz from critics and from Comic-Con audiences who screened the pilot episode earlier this summer. However, both Warner Bros. Television and ABC were quick to point out that the episodic order for V hadn't been shortened; series is still set to air 13 installments. ( Los Angeles Times /Show Tracker ) The first official cancellation of the fall season is here: The Beautiful Life , we hardly knew ye. The CW has confirmed that it has axed The Beautiful Life after just two episodes, which plunge

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. Jennifer Morrison will depart FOX series House this season, with her final episode airing in November. According to Entertainment Weekly 's Michael Ausiello, who broke the story, Morrison did not quit but her departure was "a creative decision on the part of [the series'] producers." Ausiello is quick to point out that Morrison's character, Dr. Allison Cameron, won't be killed off and producers are leaving the door open for her to guest star later on in the season. ( Entertainment Weekly 's Ausiello Files ) Looking for just how House 's producers will write Cameron out of the series? E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos and Jennifer Godwin have the scoop as sources close to the production indicate a major medical standoff between Cameron and Chase (Jesse Spencer), with House (Hugh Laurie) getting involved in the discussion as well. ( E! Online's Watch with Kristin ) Hollywood Reporter 's Roger

You can check out my interview by USA Weekend 's Thomas J. Walter about the fall season here . I was interviewed along with The Futon Critic's Brian Ford Sullivan and Ain't It Cool News' Herc about which series were we most looking forward to this fall. Not surprisingly, two of the series I touted were ABC's Modern Family and V . Of Modern Family (which launches on Wednesday night), I said, "Hands down, this is my favorite new series so far," and that the series "has a winning combination of quirkiness, witty banter and heart. It explores how the post-nuclear family ticks and how universal bonds of love and frustration keep it all together." And V I described as "Gripping and electrifying in equal measure... With engaging leads such as Elizabeth Mitchell and Joel Gretsch, it's difficult not to get swept up by the action and the analogies for our changed world." The piece can be read in full here .

Welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. Entertainment Weekly 's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Campbell Scott ( Royal Pains, Six Degrees ) has signed on as a series regular for Season Three of FX's serpentine legal thriller Damages . No details were immediately available about just who Scott will be playing next season on the Sony Pictures Television-produced drama series, which will return to production next month for a January 2010 premiere. ( Entertainment Weekly 's Ausiello Files ) ABC's sci-fi drama V is set to take a two-week creative break, with filming to temporarily shut down for a two week period beginning next Wednesday. However, the move won't impact the November 3rd launch date, involve any staff changes, or, writes The Wrap's Josef Adalian, affect "the six episodes its planning for the fourth quarter." For its part, studio Warner Bros. Television wouldn't give any details about the exact reason behind the decision to

V fans may want to hold onto their hats (or whatever else is nearby) as ABC announced that the series will now launch on Tuesday, November 3rd at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC rather than in midseason. (The news echoes comments made by executive producer Scott Peters to me at Comic-Con .) ABC announced the change in scheduling at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour session for V , which featured cast members Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Lourdes Benedicto, Morena Baccarin, and Scott Wolf and executive producers Scott Peters and Jeffrey Bell. Or rather the cast of the alien invasion drama announced it... in unison, no less. So what else did the cast and crew have to say about their upcoming first season? Let's discuss. Executive producer Scott Peters was asked right off the bat about the fact that so many of V's cast members have appeared on a slew of genre series before getting cast in this project and whether that was an intentional, calculated move.