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Channel Surfing: Elizabeth Banks Heads to "30 Rock," Tim Minear Gets "Terriers," Anthony Zuiker Tackles "Cyber Crimes" for CBS, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

Elizabeth Banks (Modern Family) is heading to NBC's 30 Rock next, where she will recur in "at least four episodes," according to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello. Banks will reportedly play a love interest for Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy, which begs the question of just how this will affect Julianne Moore's multiple-episode story arc this season. Is there a love triangle brewing for Jack? (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Whedonverse alum Tim Minear has signed a new two-year overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television, where he has been based as a writer-producer for the last twelve years. Under the terms of the deal, Minear will develop new projects for the studio as well as come aboard FX dramedy Terriers as an executive producer, alongside Shawn Ryan and Ted Griffin. Minear's attachment allows Ryan to focus on FOX's Lie to Me and new development. Fortunately, the deal also allows Minear to continue developing Syfy's update of Alien Nation, which hails from division Fox21. (Hollywood Reporter)

CSI creator Anthony Zuiker's latest drama project, Cyber Crimes, has landed a script order plus penalty from CBS. Project, according to Variety's Michael Schneider, "centers on a newly formed government agency that fights the modern onslaught of Internet- and technology-driven offenses." Zuiker will write and executive produce the one-hour drama, which hails from his shingle Dare to Pass. (Variety)

Vanessa William's real-life brother Chris Williams has been cast in a guest starring role on ABC's Ugly Betty, where he will play Wilhediva Hater, Wilhelmina's drag queen impersonator. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Kristen Wiig will host NBC's December 17th two-hour Saturday Night Live Christmas special, entitled SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas, which will feature new material with Wiig's mischievous Gilly as well as classic holiday sketches and appearances from Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. (Hollywood Reporter)

TVGuide.com's Joyce Eng talks to 90210 star Jessica Stroup about the breast cancer-related death of Silver's mother Jackie and how it will affect her character for the remainder of the season. "I think the most influential thing that has happened to her through this has been her relationship with Teddy," said Stroup. "She's kind of always been this loner, this old soul. Being able to relate to someone like Teddy, whose mother went through the same thing, just shocks her and shakes her and makes her aware that she can talk to him. And he's different from what she thought. He's caring and actually really vulnerable, so this little spark happens out of nowhere and it's going to develop." (TVGuide.com)

VH1 has ordered eight half-hour episodes of reality series Basketball Wives, which will follow a group of women who are married to NBA players. Series, executive produced by Shaunie O'Neal (who will also star), will debut on March 15th. (Variety)

Production of Season Two of Horne and Corden, the sketch comedy series from Gavin & Stacey co-star Mathew Horne and co-creator James Corden, has been put "on hold" by the BBC. (Broadcast)

Sheri Salata and Erik Logan have been named co-presidents of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions; both will report directly to Winfrey and have been tasked with developing new programming for all platforms and overseeing current programming. (Variety)

Piers Morgan will host TV Guide Channel's exclusive Susan Boyle special, entitled I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story, airing this Sunday at 8 pm ET/PT. (via press release)

Say your goodbyes to The Bonnie Hunt Show now. According to Broadcasting & Cable's Paige Albiniak, the Warner Bros. Television-produced daytime talk show will wrap up its run at the end of the season. (Broadcasting & Cable)

Divorce Court and Judge Alex have been renewed by Twentieth Television through the 2011-12 season. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

Comments

tony libido said…
Lorne Michaels, sociopath. Discuss.
Beatrice said…
Elizabeth Banks is certainly making the guest star rounds but I can see why. She was hilarious on Modern Family and I can definitely see her being a love interest for Jack Donaghy...as long as he doesn't make her look at any baby pictures.

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