Gaius Charles and Scott Porter on the Bench for Friday Night Lights Third Season

According to Michael Ausiello at EW.com, Friday Night Lights stars Scott Porter (Jason Street) and Gaius Charles (Smash Williams) have been demoted to recurring status for the show's third season, which debuts on DirecTV this fall.

Booooooooooo!

What are your thoughts on this? Will you stop watching the show? Or as long as they keep Matt Saracen and Tim Riggins around, will you be alright? Post your thoughts below.

NBC Boss Doesn't Sound So Sure About a Third Season of Friday Night Lights

Radar Magazine cornered NBC boss Ben Silverman at the premiere of the new series Lipstick Jungle to ask him about the future of the beloved Friday Night Lights. This was the exchange:

Radar: Quick question! A lot of us are happy that you've kept Friday Night Lights on the air despite lousy ratings. It's totally the best show on TV. But is there going to be another season?
Silverman: Do you watch 30 Rock? That's the best show on TV.

Not regularly. But what about FNL?
Start watching 30 Rock. It's the best show on TV.

I don't want to watch 30 Rock. I want to watch FNL. I love it.
I love it. You love it. Unfortunately, no one watches it. That's the thing with shows. People have to watch them. We're NBC, we have a reputation to uphold. And, man, with this writers' strike ... well, we'll see what we can do. But start watching 30 Rock.

Wow, that doesn't seem positive, now does it?

People, why aren't more of you watching this show???

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Year End: Ten Best Non-Reality TV Shows of 2007

I would've imagined I'd have tons of options when considering my ten favorite non-reality shows of the year, but when I sat down to make this list, the well was surprisingly dry. Even some of the shows I included (Weeds, Grey's Anatomy) didn't have perfect seasons, but when looked at in the bigger picture, they still made the cut.

Here's my list...

1. Friday Night Lights
2. Brothers & Sisters
3. Mad Men
4. Damages
5. Lost
6. Weeds
7. Desperate Housewives
8. House
9. The Office
10. Grey's Anatomy

What was your favorite TV show in 2007? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Golden Globe Noms Announced Tomorrow -- Here's Who I'm Hoping Scores

The Golden Globe Award nominations will be announced tomorrow morning, and while I'm bracing for myself for the usual list of suspects, there's a few stars and series I'm hoping will make the cut.

Like, for example, Friday Night Lights. After feeling no Emmy love this year, I'm desperately hoping it will score nods for Best Series, Best Actor (Kyle Chandler), Best Actress (Connie Britton) and maybe even a few of the Supporting players (Zach Gilford, Scott Porter, Adrianne Palicki). I realize these nominations are unlikely, but, hey, I can hope, right?

More likely to make the list is Damages, or at least it's star, Glenn Close. I'd also imagine Ted Danson has a good shot at picking up a nomination.

I'd love to see Christina Applegate get recognized for her charming work on Samantha Who?; ditto Rachel Griffiths or Calista Flockhart for Brothers & Sisters (Emmy Award winner Sally Field seems like a shoo-in). Mad Men is also very deserving of a nod for Best Series, Best Actor (Jon Hamm as Don Draper) and Best Supporting Actress (Christina Hendricks as Joan) -- will it make the cut?

What under-the-radar stars or series would you like to see recognized by the Golden Globes?

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Celebrity Crush: Friday Night Lights' Zach Gilford

The conventional choice for a Friday Night Lights crush would be Taylor Kitsch, who plays bad boy Tim Riggins on the NBC drama. Or maybe pretty boy Scott Porter, who portrays wheelchair-bound quarterback Jason Street. Or possibly Gaius Charles, who plays cocky running back Smash Williams.

Yeah, all those boys are hot. But I'm pining for Zach Gilford, who could not possibly be any more adorable as quarterback Matt Saracen. Swoon!

He's gawky. He's sweet. He's awkward. And he couldn't be any cuter.

Watching Gilford stammer and stutter his way through a relationship with Julie Taylor, while simultaneously developing confidence as the leader of the Dillion Panthers, has been one of the show's true joys. Gilford, as Saracen, wears his emotions on his sleeve -- when he's anxious, it shows; when he's angry, he can't hide it; and when he's happy and in love, he positively glows. He's that dorky high school boy you want to marry.

Or at least pine for on TV.

So, I say touchdown, Zach Gilford -- keep up the fine work!



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Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and Friday Night Lights' Minka Kelly: Separated at Birth?

Is anyone else a little weirded out by how similar Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and Friday Night Lights' Minka Kelly look? They are spittin' images of each other!

Can you tell which young lady is currently dating John Mayer, and which is catfighting all over the Upper East Side on the CW's buzzworthy hit?

Predicting the Emmys: Best Drama Series

I'm still giving my predictions for the 2007 Emmy Awards. Who was overlooked? Who should win? And who's gonna win?

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
House
The Sopranos

Overlooked:
Friday Night Lights
Lost
Rescue Me
The Shield
The Wire

Should Win: The Sopranos

Will Win: The Sopranos

Potential Spoiler: Heroes

Believe it or not, The Sopranos, which many consider to be the best Drama series of all time, has only won one Emmy Award, back in 2004. It would be nothing short of shocking if the Academy didn't recognize the series one last time by giving it the top prize. Boston Legal doesn't stand a chance, House is more often acclaimed for Hugh Laurie than for the show itself, and the consensus is that Grey's Anatomy didn't have it's strongest season last year. That leaves newcomer Heroes as the only possible competition, but really...are they really going to deny Tony and co. one last shot at the gold? Fuhgeddaboutit.

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Predicting the Emmys: Leading Actor in a Drama

For the next two weeks, I will be giving my predictions for the 2007 Emmy Awards. Who was overlooked? Who should win? And who's gonna win?

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
James Spader, Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland, 24

Overlooked:
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights<
Michael Chiklis, The Shield
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy
Matthew Fox, Lost
Michael Hall, Dexter

Should Win: Denis Leary

Will Win: James Gandolfini

Potential Spoiler: Hugh Laurie

This was one of the year's most competitive categories, with incredibly worthy actors like Kyle Chandler, Michael Hall and Matthew Fox missing the cut. Denis Leary gives a searing performance as Tommy Gavin on Rescue Me, and he'd be my choice to take the top prize, but can the voters really turn down the chance to recognize James Gandolfini for years of stellar work as the iconic Tony Soprano? The only way Gandolfini won't take home the award is if the voters try to correct last year's snub of Hugh Laurie by giving him the award this year. Never count out Dr. House!

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Predicting the Emmys: Supporting Actor in a Drama

For the next two weeks, I will be giving my predictions for the 2007 Emmy Awards. Who was overlooked? Who should win? And who's gonna win?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Michael Emerson, Lost
Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos
T.R. Knight, Grey's Anatomy
Terry O'Quinn, Lost
Masi Oka, Heroes
William Shatner, Boston Legal

Overlooked:
Zach Gilford, Friday Night Lights
Walton Goggins, The Shield
Dominic Monaghan, Lost
Stephen Pasquale, Rescue Me
Scott Porter, Friday Night Lights

Should Win: Michael Emerson

Will Win: Masi Oka

Potential Spoiler: TR Knight

This is a category as notable for it's snubs (the young cast of Friday Night Lights, Dominic Monaghan, and most notably The Shield's Walton Goggins) as it is for it's also very-deserving nominees. Emerson created one of the most complex characters on the tube last season in Ben/Henry Gale, but will he end up splitting the vote with co-star O'Quinn. Imperioli and Shatner are previous winners, and Knight could sneak onto the podium if his highly publicized year (not to mention consistently solid work on Grey's Anatomy) pulls at the voters' heartstrings, but I'm guessing the award will go to breakout Heroes star Oka. He's inspired an entire season's worth of geek/fantasy dramas -- could an Emmy Award really be that far behind?

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Friday Night Lights First Season Now on DVD -- For Cheap!

It's the best show you have probably never watched -- but now you can!

The complete first season of the amazing Friday Night Lights is in stores today, and if you've heard the buzz but never seen the program, now is your chance to jump on the bandwagon. I promise, you won't regret it! (Especially since Amazon.com is selling it for only $19.99!) Plus, Universal is offering a money-back guarantee if you don't like it. How can you go wrong?

To repeat what has been said about this show ad nauseum, you do not have to be a football fan to appreciate the beautiful, raw naturalism of this show. The writing is stellar, and the acting, from the likes of Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Zach Gilford, Scott Porter, Gaius Charles, Minka Kelly, and more, is nothing short of transcendant.

I can not recommend buying this DVD set highly enough. And to make it even easier...here's a link!

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Idol Thoughts on the Emmy Nominations - Friday Night Lights Snubbed!

Every year I get excited for the Emmy nominations, and every year I am disappointed. Damn Television Academy!

Here are my thoughts on this years nods:

The Very Good
- Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths picking up nominations for Brothers & Sisters
- Denis Leary grabbing a Best Actor nomination for Rescue Me
- TR Knight, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, and Katherine Heigl dominating the supporting categories from Grey's Anatomy
- Neil Patrick Harris getting a first time nomination for How I Met Your Mother
- Wade Robson and Mia Michaels getting recognized for their stellar work on So You Think You Can Dance

The Good
- Entourage as a contender for Best Comedy, and Kevin Dillon joining Jeremy Piven in the Best Supporting Actor race
- Jenna Fisher making her debut in the Emmy hunt for The Office
- The Starter Wife's surprisingly strong showing, including nods for Debra Messing, Joe Mantegna, and Judy Davis
- Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List receiving a second consecutive nomination
- Mary Louise Parker grabbing 2 nominations -- one for Weeds and one for the TV movie The Robber Bride

The Boring
- All of the Boston Legal love. Gimme a break!
- Two and a Half Men instead of Scrubs?
- Tony Shaloub for Monk? Mariska Hargitay for Law and Order: SVU? Patricia Arquette for Medium? Been there, done that.

The Egregious
- No Friday Nights Love? Unacceptable! Where's the Best Drama nomination? Where is Kyle Chandler? Connie Britton? Zach Gilford? I'm livid.
- Where is Lost's Best Drama nomination? Where are Matthew Fox, Elizabeth Mitchell and Dominic Monaghan? (Although it's good to see Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson get recognized for their work)
- What about The Shield? Walton Goggins? CCH Pounder?
- Gilmore Girls' Lauren Graham snubbed again!
- Weeds' Justin Kirk missing out on a nomination, despite nods for co-stars Mary Louise Parker and Elizabeth Perkins
- The Wire, the best show on TV, once again completely ignored

The Emmy Nominations are Coming!

Only one more day until the 2007 Primetime Emmy Award nominations are announced.

Will newbies Friday Night Lights and Heroes make the cut? How about deserving candidates Kyle Chandler, Sally Field, Connie Britton, Walton Goggins, and Denis Leary? And will Lauren Graham finally grab a nod for Gilmore Girls now that it has switched over to the drama category?

Click here for my predictions on the Comedy Awards

Click here for my predictions on the Drama Awards

And check back tomorrow for the nominations!

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NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates

NBC has announced the premiere dates for it's fall season. Here they are!

(New shows are in capital letters)

SEPTEMBER 11
"The Biggest Loser" (8-10 PM)

SEPTEMBER 17
"Deal or No Deal" (8-9 PM)

SEPTEMBER 24
"CHUCK" (8-9 PM)
"Heroes" (9-10 PM)
"JOURNEYMAN" (10-11 PM)

SEPTEMBER 25
"The Singing Bee" (9:30-10 PM)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10-11 PM)

SEPTEMBER 26
"Deal or No Deal" (8-9 PM; marks Wednesday debut)
"BIONIC WOMAN" (9-10 PM)
"LIFE" (10-11 PM)

SEPTEMBER 27
"My Name Is Earl" (8-9 PM)
"The Office" (9-10 PM)
"ER" (10-11 PM)

SEPTEMBER 28
"Deal or No Deal" (moves to new day, 8-9 PM)
"Las Vegas" (9-11 PM)

OCTOBER 4
"30 Rock" (8-8:30 PM)

OCTOBER 5
"Friday Night Lights" (9-10 PM)

OCTOBER 25
"Scrubs" (9:30-10 PM)

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NBC Announces Changes to Fall Schedule

The broadcast networks take center stage at the annual TCA Summer Press Tour this week, with NBC being the first at bat, announcing several changes to their previously announced fall schedule.

According to Mediaweek, new drama Chuck, which was originally scheduled for Tuesdays at 9PM, will now lead off Monday nights at 8PM, followed by Heroes and Journeyman. The Biggest Loser, then, will expand to 90-minutes (Tuesday 8-9:30PM), leading into surprise summer hit The Singing Bee at 9:30PM. Deal or No Deal will replace The Singing Bee on Fridays at 8PM, followed by Friday Night Lights and Las Vegas (which are swapping timeslots).
Here are the three rescheduled nights on NBC (with new shows in caps):

Monday
8:00 p.m. CHUCK (new day and time)
9:00 p.m. Heroes
10:00 p.m. JOURNEYMAN

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. The Biggest Loser (90-minutes)
9:30 p.m. THE SINGING BEE (new day and time)
10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU

Friday
8:00 p.m. Deal or No Deal (new day)
9:00 p.m. Friday Night Lights (new time)
10:00 p.m. Las Vegas (new time)

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Predicting the Emmy Nominations: The Dramas

There's still about a month until this year's Emmy Award nominations are announced, but since the 2006-2007 television season has come to an end, I thought it would be fun to try and predict who will and won't make the cut.

This list actually includes two sets of predictions -- who I think should be nominated, and who I think will be nominated. First up -- the prizes for Best Drama, Best Actor and Actress in a Drama, and Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Drama. The rest of the categories will follow later in the week.

Best Drama Series
Will 24 be rewarded, even though last year's Best Drama had it's worst season yet? Will bad feelings about The Sopranos finale cause it to miss out on a nod? Will The Wire, hands down the best show on TV, or any of FX's dynamite shows (Rescue Me, The Shield, The Riches) make the cut? How about deserving newbies Brothers & Sisters, Friday Night Lights, and The Tudors?

Should Be Nominated:
Friday Night Lights
Grey's Anatomy
Lost
Rescue Me
The Wire

Will Be Nominated:
Friday Night Lights
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Lost
The Sopranos

Best Actor in a Drama
Will 24's creative slump mean last year's champ Kiefer Sutherland will be left off the list? Will last year's egregious snub of Hugh Laurie be rectified this year? Will Kyle Chandler be rewarded for his superb work on Friday Night Lights? And how about other stars of freshman series, The Tudors' Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Dexter's Michael C. Hall?

Should Be Nominated:
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Michael Chiklis, The Shield
Matthew Fox, Lost
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me

Will Be Nominated:
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Hugh Laurie, House
Kiefer Sutherland, 24

Best Actress in a Drama
For the first time in years The West Wing's Allison Janney is not eligible, which opens up at least one new spot on the list. Could that spot be taken by perpetual Emmy snubee Lauren Graham, whose show, Gilmore Girls, has made the switch from Comedy to Drama? Or what about Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell, whose beloved show was killed before it's time? Will former champs Mariska Hargitay and Patricia Arquette make the list again? And which of Brothers & Sisters leading ladies will get a nod?

Should Be Nominated:
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Calista Flockhart, Brothers & Sisters
Lauren Graham, Gilmore Girls
Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy

Will Be Nominated:
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
You could fill this entire category with the cast of Friday Night Lights, but will Emmy recognize any of the incredibly naturalistic young actors? Will Walton Goggins garner a nod for his shattering work on this season of The Shield? And what about the men of Lost? Dominic Monaghan, Michael Emerson, Terry O'Quinn, Daniel Dae Kim, Ian Cusick, Naveen Andrews, and Jorge Garcia are all worthy, but will any of their names be called on July 19?

Should Be Nominated:
Zach Gilford, Friday Night Lights
Walton Goggins, The Shield
TR Knight, Grey's Anatomy
Dominic Monaghan, Lost
Scott Porter, Friday Night Lights

Will Be Nominated:
Michael Emerson, Lost
Walton Goggins, The Shield
TR Knight, Grey's Anatomy
Dominic Monaghan, Lost
Masi Oka, Heroes

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
This seems to be the hardest category to call, with almost a dozen deserving candidates in the mix. Chandra Wilson, Katherine Heigl, Kate Walsh, and Sandra Oh are all worthy contenders, but which of Grey's Anatomy's supporting ladies will make the cut? Will Gilmore Girls' Kelly Bishop finally get the recognition she deserves? And will Lost's newest cast member pick up a nomination?

Should Be Nominated:
Kelly Bishop, Gilmore Girls
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost
CCH Pounder, The Shield
Callie Thorne, Rescue Me

Will Be Nominated:
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Elizabeth Mitchell, Lost
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
CCH Pounder, The Shield
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy

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Idol Thoughts on NBC's Schedule

After this week is over, and all of the networks have presented their fall schedules, I will be giving my thoughts on all the new shows announced by the networks. But, for now, here are some initial thoughts on NBC's schedule (which you can view by clicking here):

-Of course, I am thrilled that Friday Night Lights will be returning (it was far and away my favorite new show of the year). Even though Friday has become a little bit of a wasteland for network shows, I actually think it is a wise move for the show to air on the day of the week featured in it's title (NBC's marketing department must be happy!) and it may actually benefit from the low expectations that come from airing on Friday night. I would have preferred the 9PM slot instead of the 10PM slot, but, hey, the show's coming back, so no complaints here.

-How sad is it that from 12 comedy pilots, NBC could only pick up one, and for midseason no less? They certainly weren't lying when they said the sitcom is dying. Having said that, the Earl/30 Rock/Office/Scrubs is a high quality combo -- if only more people would watch!

-I'm glad to see Law and Order back on the schedule (albeit at midseason), and I'm glad Law and Order: CI (my least favorite of the Law and Order family) is the show moved off-network (to USA). Supposedly the cast of the original L&O will be returning, intact.

-I can't say I'm thrilled (on paper, at least) with the new shows NBC will have in the fall. Bionic Woman sounds like the surest thing, and I'm looking forward to Lipstick Jungle (which will premiere midseason), but the supernatural slant in Journeyman and Chuck seems a bit off-putting to me. Haven't the NBC suits noticed that the ratings for Heroes (unquestionably one of this season's few success stories) have severely declined over the course of the season? These kind of shows are inherently designed for a cult audience, and if NBC is trying to put themselves back on the map, I'm not sure either of these programs will help much.

Life, on the other hand, features a strong cast (Chicago Hope's Adam Arkin, Sleeper Cell's Melissa Sagemiller, The L Word's Sarah Shahi) and an interesting spin on police procedurals.

More on these new shows later in the week...

What do you think of NBC's schedule?

NBC Announces Fall Schedule - Friday Night Lights to Fridays, Law and Order Renewed

From NBC's press release:

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2007-08

*New programs in CAPS (with the exception of "ER")

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. "JOURNEYMAN"

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser"
9-10 p.m. "CHUCK"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. "BIONIC WOMAN"
10-11 p.m. "LIFE"

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock"
9-9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "Scrubs"
10-11 p.m. "ER"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "1 vs 100"/"THE SINGING BEE"
9-10 p.m. "Las Vegas"
10-11 p.m. "Friday Night Lights"

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-11 p.m. Drama Series Encores

SUNDAY (Fall 2007)
7-8 p.m. "Football Night in America"
8-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"

SUNDAY (January 2008)
7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. "Medium"
10-11 p.m. "LIPSTICK JUNGLE"

2007-08 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

New Dramas

"JOURNEYMAN"-- From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls ("The West Wing") and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves ("The West Wing"), "Journeyman" is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, "Rome"), a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives. Along the way, he also must deal with the difficulties and strife at work and home brought on by his sudden disappearances. However, his freewheeling travels through the decades reunite him with his long-lost fiance Livia (Moon Bloodgood, "Day Break") -- which complicates his present-day life with wife Katie (Gretchen Egolf, "Martial Law") and their son. Reed Diamond ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and Charles Henry Wyson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") also star. "Journeyman" is a production of 20th Century Fox Television. Falls is executive producer and writer; Graves is executive producer and director of the pilot.

"CHUCK" - From executive producer, Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.") and executive producer-director McG ("Charlie's Angels," "We Are Marshall") comes a one-hour, comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, "Less Than Perfect") - a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government's most vital secret agent. When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at Buy More. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must fight assassins and international terrorists. With the government's most precious secrets in Chuck's head, Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin, "My Bodyguard") of the NSA assumes the responsibility of protecting him. His partner is the CIA's top agent (and Chuck's first date in years) Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski, "Gone"). They'll keep him safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Also starring are Joshua Gomez ("Without a Trace") as Chuck's best buddy Morgan and Sarah Lancaster ("What About Brian?") as Chuck's ever-supportive sister Ellie. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak wrote "Chuck," which is produced by College Hill Pictures and Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television.

"BIONIC WOMAN" - Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan, "EastEnders") didn't think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death's door, Jaime's only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to re-pay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Also starring are: Mae Whitman ("State of Grace") as Becca, Jaime's younger sister; Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan") as Jonas, the man who employs Jaime's boyfriend; Chris Bowers ("Rescue Me) as Will, Jaime's boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee ("Witchblade") as Jae, the specialized operations leader; and Molly Price ("Third Watch"), as Ruth, Jonas' second-in-command. "Bionic Woman" is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio and executive-produced by David Eick ("Battlestar Galactica"), Glen Morgan ("The X-Files"), Michael Dinner ("Kidnapped") -- who also directed the pilot -- and Jason Smilovic ("Lucky Number Slevin"). Laeta Kalogridis ("Birds of Prey") is also an executive producer on the pilot.

"LIFE" -- From Rand Ravich and Far Shariat, the executive producers of the feature film "The Astronaut's Wife," and David Semel, who directed the pilot of NBC's "Heroes," "Life" is a new drama about a detective who is given a second chance. Damian Lewis ("Band of Brothers") stars as complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the force after years in prison, thanks to close friend and attorney Constance Griffiths (Melissa Sagemiller, "Sleeper Cell"), after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. The cast also includes Sarah Shahi ("Rush Hour 3") as Charlie's skeptical, demanding partner, Robin Weigart (HBO's "Deadwood") as their hard-hitting lieutenant, and Adam Arkin ("Chicago Hope") as former cellmate Ted Early. "Life" is an NBC Universal Television Studio production. Rand Ravich is executive producer and writer; Far Shariat is executive producer; David Semel is executive producer and director on the pilot

"LIPSTICK JUNGLE" - Based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell ("Sex and the City"), this fun dramedy follows three high-powered friends as they weather the ups and downs of lives lived at the top of their game. Nico (Kim Raver, "24"), editor-in-chief of a hot fashion magazine, wants to replace her boss as CEO. Movie exec Wendy (Brooke Shields, "Suddenly Susan") finds even her most earnest efforts may not be enough to balance career and family. And free-spirited designer Victory (Lindsay Price, "Beverly Hills, 90210") longs to make her dreams come true, and maybe find Mr. Right along the way. Armed with humor and strength, these three modern New York women support one another through the triumphs and tears that are all part of making it big in the Big Apple. Written by executive producers DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler (both for "How I Met Your Mother," "Three Sisters") and based on the book by Bushnell, "Lipstick Jungle" is from NBC Universal Television Studio. The pilot is directed by Gary Winick ("13 Going on 30").

New Comedy Series

"THE IT CROWD" - Ever wonder what's up with those quirky techies who come to fix the office computer when no one's around? "The IT Crowd" is an offbeat series, based on the critically acclaimed British comedy, that offers a humorous behind-the-scenes peek at the people who truly keep the office humming. Roy (Joel McHale, "The Soup") and Moss (Richard Ayoade, "The IT Crowd" -- U.K.) are the misunderstood masters of their high-tech domain, but they lack the people skills to befriend anyone but each other. Their company's head is Denholm (Rocky Carrol, "Chicago Hope"), who wants the IT department to stay segregated and forever banished to the basement. Executive producers are Moses Port ("Just Shoot Me"), David Guarascio ("Just Shoot Me"), Joe Port (NBC's "The Office"), Joe Wiseman ("The Office"), Graham Linehan ("The IT Crowd" -- UK) and Steve Tao ("Red Doors"). Gail Mancuso ("Scrubs," "30 Rock") directed the pilot. "The IT Crowd" is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio.

New Alternative Series

"THE SINGING BEE" - "The Singing Bee" is a variety-competition show that challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs -- even when the band stops playing. In this karaoke showdown, there's no middle ground for partially correct answers -- contestants must be perfect or they're out. Family-friendly, broad in appeal and conducive to playing (and singing) along at home, "The Singing Bee" features popular, recognizable music that inspires hilarious wrong answers and amazing performances by those rare contestants who somehow manage to get every word right. "The Singing Bee" is produced by the Gurin Company and Juma Entertainment, LLC. The executive producers are Phil Gurin (NBC's "Miss Universe" franchise) and Robert C. Horowitz ("Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials Top 40 Countdown").

"WORLD MOVES" -- From executive producer Randy Jackson ("American Idol") and the creators of the World Hip Hop Championship comes one of the most visual and captivating performance competition shows ever to hit TV. Thousands of dance teams from around the world will audition for their shot to come to Los Angeles and compete for a global championship and an international touring contract. The live television event features young teams of five to seven members demonstrating their athleticism, creativity and innovative choreography in a presentation that highlights both the competition and the personal drama unfolding within each team. Viewers from across the globe will vote via the Internet, by text message, or by phone to eliminate one team each week. Ultimately, it's not just about winning a competition; "World Moves" involves stories that change lives and bring the world together. From Warner Horizon Television, the series is executive-produced by Jackson ("American Idol," Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment), Rob Lee (President, Bayonne Entertainment, "Blow Out," "House of Carters"), Howard Schwartz ("Hip Hop International, World Hip Hop Championship), Karen Schwartz (Hip Hop International, World Hip Hop Championship) and Harriet Sternberg (Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment).

NBC Renews Friday Night Lights!

According to Variety, NBC has renewed Friday Night Lights for a second season!

Despite pretty terrible ratings, Friday Night Lights is probably the most critically acclaimed show of the season, and it's definitely my favorite new show of the year. I love me some Matt Saracen!

Good for NBC for sticking with quality programming!

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