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Channel Surfing: "Pushing Daisies" In Danger of Wilting Away, Mad Man Hamm Heads to "30 Rock," and More

Happy Halloween and welcome to your Friday morning television briefing. I'm still catching up on television from this week, thanks to a busy social calendar and some LA-based preemptions of CW's Wednesday night series, so look for me to spend much time this weekend catching up.

I got many a worried email from readers last night about Kristin Dos Santos' report about the possibility that ABC had not extended Pushing Daisies beyond its initial 13-episode order. While ABC has yet to make a decision about the fate of the series, producers were told to change their original plan for the second season's thirteenth episode (intended as the first of a two-parter) and make said episode a stand-alone installment to "cover all bases," whether the episode be just the thirteenth episode... or Pushing Daisies' series finale. (And be sure to read this item about what you can do to help the Daisies cause.) (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

Don Draper has found somewhere new to hang his hat. Jon Hamm (Mad Men) is said to be in advanced negotiations to appear in a multiple-episode story arc on Season Three of NBC's 30 Rock, where he'll play a potential love interest for our beloved Liz Lemon and possibly her neighbor. (Let's just hope he has better luck with her than Achmed.) (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

FOX has ordered a fifth season of American Dad and studio 20th Century Fox Television has signed new overall deals with executive producers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman to keep them on as showrunners on Season Five. Barker and Weitzman, who were writing partners working out of the same deal, have separated their services and signed individual deals, freeing both up to pursue solo projects as well. (Variety)

While American Dad may be returning for the 2009-10 season, one FOX animated skein won't be. FOX has confirmed that it will not go ahead for an additional season of King of the Hill, currently airing its twelfth season. Episodes for Season Thirteen, however, don't launch until February and could, in fact, be held for next season if need be. (Variety)

Bradley Whitford (West Wing) and Romany Malco (Weeds) have joined the cast of NBC's buddy cop comedy pilot Off Duty from writer/executive producer Jason Mantzoukas. Project follows a veteran police detective (Whitford) who finds his life--both on and off duty--complicated by his new partner (Malco), a rising star in the force. (Hollywood Reporter)

Jane Lynch (Lovespring International) has joined the cast of FOX dramedy pilot Glee, where she will play the "antagonistic coach of the high school's cheerleading squad." The former Cindy Lightballoon will star in the project opposite Matthew Morrison, Jessalyn Gilsig, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Lea Michele. Should Glee be ordered to series, it could bow as early as this spring. (Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider)

Mike Binder (The Mind of the Married Man) has sold comedy pilot script Two Dollar Beer to FOX and 20th Century Fox Television. Project will revolve around a group of twenty-somethings as they deal with the worsening economy in Detroit. Should the project be ordered to pilot, Binder is attached to direct. (Variety)

Emily Rose (Brothers and Sisters) will star in USA's medical drama pilot Operating Instructions as a top female truma surgeon who returns from Iraq to take a position at a military hospital; her attachmen lifts the casting contigency on the project. Elsewhere at USA, Willie Garson (Sex and the City) has joined the cast of drama pilot White Collar, opposite Matthew Bomer and Tim DeKay. (Hollywood Reporter)

Bravo has announced five unscripted projects in development: Fashionality, featuring Manhattan tastemakers in a roundtable discussion about pop culture and fashion from Embassy Row; Celebrity Sew-Off, in which celebs will design their own clothes in a sartorial competition from Lake Paradise Entertainment; Double Exposure, a docusoap following fashion photographer Markus Klinko from Juma Entertainment; Polo, a BTS-look at the lives of professional polo players from Granada America; and The Dubai Project, about the lavish lifestyles of American and Brit ex-pats from World of Wonder. (Variety)

Alison Pill has been cast as one of the leads of Season Two of HBO's In Treatment, where she will play April, a graduate student diagnoses with lymphoma. (Hollywood Reporter)

Dave Franco (Do Not Disturb, Greek) has signed on to appear in a multiple-episode arc of CW's Privileged, where he will play a love interest for Rose (Lucy Hale). His first episode is expected to air in early 2009. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Stay tuned.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
I am extremely worried about Pushing Daisies and fear that the Pie Hole may soon have to close its doors for good. I hate to see another brilliant show die and, if that happens, I don't even think Ned will be able to bring it back to life.
10/31/2008
Danielle C.F. Maris said…
Jon Hamm on 30 Rock? I love it! They really do have the best guest casting ever and I can't wait to see the elusive Don Draper take on Liz Lemon. Maybe he can help her with product placement on TGS?
10/31/2008
qooza said…
No! Bring back Floyd! They haven't resolved that story yet!
11/01/2008
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