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Channel Surfing: Chase and Cameron Back in Center of "House," Callum Keith Rennie Clocks in for "24," Will Arnett Returns to FOX, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that House's Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer's Cameron and Chase will move back into their old jobs on the FOX medical drama following a staffing shakeup at Princeton Plainsboro during which Foreman takes over House's role. "They are both thrown back into their old jobs," Morrison told EW. "It’s been great actually. I have been working a lot and there are things that happen to House very early in the season that have a domino effect on all of the other characters... Cameron was always very close and protective of House. And to have her mentor be away in an asylum makes her contemplate life and career and him. Having him gone affects everyone he works with, personally and professionally." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Another Battlestar Galactica actor is heading to FOX's 24 next season. Callum Keith Rennie, who played Leoben on the Sci Fi series, has signed on to appear in a multiple-episode story arc in Day Eight of 24, where he will play Vladimir Laitanan, a "Russian syndicate mobster who debuts around Episode Six or Seven," according to TV Guide Magazine's Will Keck, who said that Rennie's character will be linked to Jurgen Prochnow's mobster Bazhaev. (TV Guide Magazine)

It's not quite Arrested Development but it's a reunion of sorts. FOX has given a script order to an untitled comedy pilot to be written by Will Arnett, Mitch Hurwitz, and Jim Vallely about a "rich Beverly Hills jackass who falls in love with a charitable tree-hugging woman who can't stand his lifestyle or values." Said man will be played by none other than Arnett himself, should the script get ordered to pilot. Project, from Sony Pictures Television and Tantamount, is executive produced by Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum, Vallely, Peter Principato, and Paul Young. (Hollywood Reporter)

FOX has slated a two-hour Octomom documentary entitled Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage on August 19th. Footage, culled from six months' worth of shooting by RadarOnline.com reporters living with Nadya Suleman and her brood. Pilgrim Film and Television's Craig Piligian will be executive producing the documentary special, which won't have an on-air host. (Variety)

TNT has renewed medical drama Hawthorne for a second season of ten episodes, which will launch in 2010. (via press release)

Gabrielle Union, who is set to appear in a multiple-episode story arc on ABC's FlashForward next season, has signed on to star and executive produce Lifetime telepic The Vow, based on a Denene Millner novel about three women who attend a wedding and make a pact to all get engaged within the following year. Project, from Sony Pictures Television, is being adapted by Nzingha Stewart. (Variety)

Cabler Ovation TV has secured US broadcast premiere rights to the newest episodes of UK music series Later... with Jools Holland, which will air Thursday evenings at 8 pm, beginning September 10th with an episode featuring Kaiser Chiefs, The Streets, Seasick Steve, TV on the Radio, Little Jackie, and Boy George. (via press release)

HBO has acquired US television rights to Sundance award-winning documentary Afghan Star, about the lives of four finalists competing in an American Idol-type pop music showdown in Afghanistan. Doc will premiere on the pay cabler in 2010. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.

Comments

Harper said…
I've been kind of disappointed in the last few Mitch Hurwitz projects but I'm hoping that the Will Arnett pilot will finally be a worthy follow up to the brilliant Arrested Development.
Unknown said…
So excited about Later...with Jules Holland. It was airing on Fuse and I thought it had disappeared.

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