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Channel Surfing: FX "Powers" Up with Comic Adaptation, Zarek Speaks Out About Coup, Pratt Hangs Out for "Parks and Recreation," and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Cabler FX is developing a series adaptation of Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's comic series Powers, about two police detectives in the homicide division assigned to cases involving super-powers. “Powers is in active development as a pilot at FX,” Bendis told MTV. “I just handed in a draft to the network and we’re getting our notes from the network as soon as this thing is over. So next week I’ll get the notes, and as long as they don’t involve sock puppets and some sort of orgy scene that I’m not interested in, then hopefully it will go in the right direction.” (MTV's Splash Page)

More discussion about Tom Zarek's motivations during the recent two-episode arc on Sci Fi's Battlestar Galactica, this time from Richard Hatch himself, who eloquently commented on Maureen Ryan's thread about the most recent episode ("Blood on the Scales") over at the Chicago Tribune's site. "First, having played Zarek for the past four years I would like to say that never did I play this character as a villain nor did I think he was one and I still feel that way," wrote Hatch. "After paying the price of 25 years in prison for standing up for human rights and seeing both his family, friends and cohorts killed by a supressive government on his home planet he had every right to distrust the powers that be on Galactica that seemed to think that only they had the right to make decisions for the people." Definitely worth a read. (Chicago Tribune's The Watcher)

Anne Heche (Men in Trees) will replace Kristin Bauer in HBO's ten-episode comedy Hung, from creators Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson and director Alexander Payne. Heche will play the ex-wife of Thomas Jane's Ray, a well-endowed high school basketball coach. Scenes with Bauer, who played the role in the pilot, will be reshot using Heche. It's thought that HBO will launch the series in June; production is slated to begin in March. (Hollywood Reporter)

Noel Fisher (The Riches) has been cast in at least four episodes of NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, where he will play a "rookie crime scene sleuth, a nerdy, eager beaver-type who is in awe of Benson and Stabler." Fisher's first appearance is slated to air in April. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Looking for an update about the possible Veronica Mars feature film? Look no further. (Televisionary)

NBC has given a cast-contingent pilot order to ensemble comedy 100 Questions for Charlotte Payne, about a woman trying to figure out the dating scene in New York City. Project, from Universal Media Studios and Tagline, is written/executive produced by Chris Moynihan and executive produced by Ron West and Kelly Kulchak. (Variety)

Chris Pratt (Everwood) has been cast in NBC's midseason comedy Parks and Recreation, starring Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Aziz Ansari. In the project, Pratt will play Andy, the unemployed musician boyfriend of Jones' Ann, a well-intentioned nurse. Having read the script, I can say that Pratt is perfectly cast as lazy boyfriend Andy and his role is a pivotal one in the pilot. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Helmer alert: Stephen Hopkins (Californication) will direct FOX drama pilot Maggie Hill; Mark Pellington (Cold Case) will direct CBS drama pilot Back; and Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle) will direct FOX comedy pilot Sons of Tucson. (Hollywood Reporter)

Cartoon Network has renewed animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars for a second season and plans to launch Season Two next fall. (Variety)

Aaron Tveit (Ghost Town) and Holley Fain (Lipstick Jungle) have been cast in two episodes of the CW's Gossip Girl, where they will play Nate's wealthy cousin Tripp Vanderbilt and his fiancée, Maureen respectively. (TV Guide)

ABC Family has ordered 24 episodes for Season Two of The Secret Life of the American Teenager and plans to launch the sophomore season this summer. (Hollywood Reporter)

PaleyFest09 has announced panels for FOX's Dollhouse and Dr. Horrible. (Televisionary)

Spike has ordered ten episodes of half-hour comedy Players, about a man who co-owns a sports bar with his uptight brother. Project, from writer/executive producer Matt Walsh, stars Walsh and Ian Roberts. Production begins this month in LA and Players is slated to air this summer. (Variety)

Kelsey Grammer will direct Lifetime multi-camera comedy pilot Alligator Point, starring Cybill Shepherd, Lauren Stamile, Brian Patrick Wade, Robyn Lively, Leslie Jordan, Joel McCrary, and Charlie Robinson. Project, written by Robert Peacock and executive produced by Grammer and Steve Stark, revolves around a quirky group of Florida residents who hang out at an oyster bar owned by Shepherd's Mae and whose lives are changed when they are joined by a Yankee (Stamile). Project was originally developed for NBC in 2002-03 and starred Nathan Fillion, Jaime Pressley, Paula Marshall, and Joel McCrary (who reprises his role in the pilot). (Hollywood Reporter)

NBC has ordered eight episodes of an untitled reality series from Reveille which will follow life coach Tony Robbins as he helps participants face various challenges in their lives. Project will be executive produced by Robbins, Howard T. Owens, Mark Koops, and Bruce Beresford-Redman. (TV Week)

Nick Cannon has replaced Jerry Springer as the host of Season Four of NBC's America's Got Talent. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Comments

Anonymous said…
FX seems like a good fit for Powers and, if Michael Bendis is writing it, it could have real potential. I'd love to read the pilot script - sock puppets or no sock puppets!

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