'Walking Dead' exec hints at Rick, Shane clash

'Walking Dead' exec hints at Rick, Shane clash

The Walking Dead showrunner Glen Mazzara has hinted at an upcoming clash between Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Shane (Jon Bernthal).

The two former friends have come into conflict on the AMC zombie drama, with both keen to lead the other survivors.

"It will be played out in the next episode," Mazzara told TV Guide. "The next episode... really puts Shane and Rick at odds, and Rick is tired of secrets, and a lot will come spilling out."

Mazzara also discussed reports that Bernthal is in talks to join TNT pilot L.A. Noir, overseen by former Walking Dead exec Frank Darabont.

"I haven't read the Frank script, but it is conceivable that Bernthal's character gets offed in that pilot," he said. "I haven't read it."

Discussing Shane's fate, he added: "We are a show that is going to surprise people. People can speculate.

"I don't want to say anything about secrets or spoilers or anything like that, but I think fans will be satisfied with our story, and I'm just going to focus on that, not other material."

The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman recently teased that things will "keep getting worse" for the show's characters.

"There are more dangerous things out there than the zombies," he said. "Things just keep getting worse from here."

The Walking Dead continues on Sundays at 9/8c on AMC. In the UK, the show airs on Fridays at 10pm on FX.

Paz de la Huerta 'can always come back to Boardwalk Empire', says exec

Paz de la Huerta 'can always come back to Boardwalk Empire', says exec

Terence Winter has suggested that Paz de la Huerta could return to Boardwalk Empire.

De la Huerta, who plays Nucky Thompson's (Steve Buscemi) former mistress Lucy Danziger, will not be returning for season three.

However, showrunner Winter has told New York Magazine: "On The Sopranos, too, we had so many people that came and went, sometimes you wouldn't see somebody for an entire season, and they popped back.

"As long as you're not dead on the show, you can always come back. Even if you are [dead]! Dreams, flashbacks, anything can happen."

The HBO drama series ended its second season in December with a shocking finale twist.

Boardwalk Empire was renewed for a third season back in October and will return to the air later this year.

Jennifer Saunders joins new BBC Three sitcom 'Dead Boss'

Jennifer Saunders joins new BBC Three sitcom 'Dead Boss'

Jennifer Saunders has signed up for a role in BBC Three's new comedy Dead Boss.

The show, which was written by and stars Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh, focuses on a woman called Helen who is falsely imprisoned for the murder of her boss.

Saunders has now joined the cast and will play the prison governor, Chortle reports.

Her character is described as "a sexual Margaret Thatcher" who is "probably even more psychotic than any inmate in [the prison] Broadmarsh".

Call The Midwife star Bryony Hannah will play Helen's arsonist cellmate, while Spy's Tom Goodman-Hill will star as one of the prison guards.

Geoffrey McGivern, who was recently seen in This Is Jinsy, has joined the cast as a lawyer, and Lizzie Roper and Susan Calman will play members of a gang. Caroline Quentin will reportedly also have a guest role in the comedy.

Horgan is also currently working on Channel 4 pilot Bad Sugar, which has been penned by Peep Show writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong and also stars Olivia Colman and Julia Davis.

Dead Boss is expected to air on BBC Three in April.

'Lord of the Rings' Marton Csokas cast in Sky Atlantic's 'Falcon'

'Lord of the Rings' Marton Csokas cast in Sky Atlantic's 'Falcon'

Lord of the Rings actor Marton Csokas has been cast in Sky Atlantic's new detective series Falcon.

Based on the Robert Wilson best-selling novels about Seville police chief inspector Javier Falcon, the first two-parter will be Falcon: The Blind Man of Seville.

Csokas is most famous for playing Elven Lord Celeborn in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, but more recently starred alongside Helen Mirren in The Debt.

Joining him in Falcon are Fifth Element star Charlie Creed-Miles, Hayley Atwell (Captain America), Emilia Fox (Silent Witness) and Kerry Fox (Cloudstreet).

Bernard Hill (Titanic) and Santiago Cabrera (Heroes, Merlin) will also star in the series.

The second Falcon story to be filmed will be The Silent and the Damned.

Falcon is Sky Atlantic's second homegrown UK drama commission, following Chloe Sevigny's Hit and Miss, which premieres in May.

Nick Offerman: 'Parks and Recreation is like a delicious meal'

Nick Offerman: 'Parks and Recreation is like a delicious meal'

Nick Offerman has compared Parks and Recreation to a delicious meal.

In an interview with The AP, the actor suggested that Parks and Recreation's success comes down to a perfect mix of 'ingredients'.

"There's so much luck involved in mixing up a pot of goulash and you're not sure exactly which ingredient is going to make you say, 'You know, that's a delicious meal'," he explained.

Offerman continued: "Sometimes it's the cumin that takes it over the top. If I were ever referred to as the cumin on Parks and Recreation, I would consider it high praise."

The actor went to say that he considers it an honour to be working with Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari and Rob Lowe on the NBC sitcom.

"In my cast, I'm surrounded by Michael Jordans and I'm happy to just be a petrified tree stump where I get a laugh because a bird lands on me and picks an insect out of my hair," he joked.

Parks and Recreation airs Thursdays at 8.30/7.30c on NBC.

Chelsea Clinton to renew NBC News contract?

Chelsea Clinton to renew NBC News contract?

Chelsea Clinton is in talks to renew her NBC News contract, according to reports.

The former US First Daughter signed a three-month deal with NBC in November to highlight inspiring news stories for the network's 'Making a Difference' segments.

Clinton debuted on NBC in December with a report on an Arkansas non-profit group for Brian Williams's primetime news show Rock Centre.

NBC and Clinton are now close to reaching an agreement to extend the 31-year-old's contract, sources have told The Washington Post.

Clinton will apparently remain a correspondent for Rock Centre if a further contractual agreement can be reached.

The length of Clinton's possible new deal with NBC has not yet been revealed.

Clinton is also currently pursuing her doctorate in Public Health at New York University.

Last year, Clinton spoke out in support of same-sex marriage at a benefit for the social networking website Friendfactor.

"I certainly believe that all of my friends, as [husband] Marc [Mezvinsky] and I did, should have the right to marry their best friends," she said at the time.

Syfy's Spring 2012 to Feature More Original Series and Original Hours

Syfy's Spring 2012 to Feature More Original Series and Original Hours

Highlights include the return of "Eureka" on Monday, April 16 followed by season two of "Lost Girl."

Featuring a record number of original programming hours and original series for a spring season, Syfy's Spring 2012 schedule will include the fifth and final season of the beloved Eureka (April16); premieres of the reality shows Monster Man (March 14), Dream Machines (April 10) and Total Blackout (April 25); the return of the hit series Ghost Hunters (April 11), Lost Girl (April 16), Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files (April 17) and Hollywood Treasure (May 22), Saturday Original Movies such as the St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun's Revenge and the miniseries Treasure Island (May).

Highlights of Syfy's 2012 Spring Programming Schedule (All Times ET/PT)

MARCH

MONSTER MAN (NEW ORIGINAL SERIES)

Special Premiere Wednesday, March 14 at 11PM following Face Off season finale; regular time slot Wednesdays at 10PM beginning March 21 -- Monster Man goes behind the scenes of one of Hollywood's most respected monster prop building workshops. For more than 30 years, when studios have wanted a bizarre creature or out-of-this world alien, they've turned to Cleve Hall and his very unique family business. Only the horrifying monsters they build match the craziness of this extremely talented family. Monster Man stars Cleve Hall, his daughters Constance and Elora Hall, his ex-wife Sonja Maddox-Hall, best friends Roy Knyrim, Hill Vinot & Johnny Saiko, as well as office manager Cindy Miller. Executive producers are Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney for Gurney Productions.

SATURDAY ORIGINAL MOVIE LEPRECHAUN'S REVENGE

Premieres Saturday, March 17 at 9PM -- Billy Zane (Titanic, The Phantom), William Devane (24, Knot's Landing) and Courtney Halverson (MTV's Death Valley) star in this special St. Patrick's Day telecast about an evil leprechaun who wants revenge on the Irish immigrants who imprisoned him. A production of After Dark Films.

APRIL

DREAM MACHINES (NEW ORIGINAL SERIES)

Premieres Tuesday, April 10 at 10PM - Dream Machines follows Florida-based brothers Marc and Shannon Parker as they take the most imaginative vehicles ever seen in movies, comic books, and TV shows, and engineer them into on the road realities. There's no design challenge too fantastical - or even impossible - for the brothers to take on, and each week they'll stop at nothing to create these one-of-a-kind "dream machines" for their vast array of celebrity and collector clients. Produced by Triage Entertainment with Steve Kroopnick (Iron Chef America) serving as executive producer. Steve Nigg (American Chopper, UFO Hunters) is co-executive producer.

GHOST HUNTERS (SEASON 9 PREMIERE)

Premieres Wednesday, April 11 at 9PM -- The countdown begins: Grant's final episodes!

This winter, the Ghost Hunters received shocking news when co-lead investigator and TAPS co-founder, Grant Wilson, announced his departure from the series. On Wednesday, April 11 at 9PM, ride along for Grant's final investigations, culminating in a very special farewell episode on Wednesday, May 16 at 9PM. Ghost Hunters is produced in association with Craig Piligian's Pilgrim Films and Television (Dirty Jobs, The Ultimate Fighter, My Fair Wedding). Piligian and Thomas Thayer, along with Mike Nichols and Alan David, serve as executive producers.

EUREKA (SEASON 5 PREMIERE)

Premieres Monday, April 16 at 9PM - Eureka's fifth and final season culminates with an exciting series conclusion that will complete the journey of the residents of the unique little town of Eureka. As the thrilling final season kicks off, the town is reeling after the Astraeus and her crew mysteriously vanished just before their planned launch to Titan. When they finally crash land, Allison and the crewmembers are shocked to find themselves back in Eureka - and that they've been missing for four years. As the town copes with the shocking personal changes that have happened during their long absence, Sheriff Carter and Henry try to uncover the truth about the forces behind the crew's bizarre disappearance -- with deadly results. Returning for the final season are popular guest stars Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Star Trek: The Next Generation) as the contentious Dr. Parrish and Felicia Day (The Guild, Red) as Dr. Holly Marten. Eureka stars Colin Ferguson (Sheriff Jack Carter) Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Joe Morton (Henry Deacon), Erica Cerra (Jo Lupo), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo) and Niall Matter (Zane Donovan). Co-creator Jaime Paglia and Bruce Miller are executive producers. The series is produced and distributed by Universal Cable Productions.

LOST GIRL (SEASON 2 PREMIERE)

Premieres Monday, April 16 at 10PM -- The sexy supernatural drama kicks off season two with a nomadic Fae sideshow taking advantage of the chaos created by the bombing of the Light Fae headquarters. Lost Girl stars Anna Silk as Bo, co-starring Kris Holden-Ried as Dyson; Ksenia Solo as Kenzi; Zoie Palmer as Lauren; Rick Howland as Trick, and K.C. Collins as Hale. Lost Girl is a Prodigy Pictures Production in association with Showcase. Executive producers are Jay Firestone, Michelle Lovretta and Peter Mohan. Lost Girl was created by Michelle Lovretta.

FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES (NEW EPISODES)

Returns Tuesday, April 17 at 9PM -- Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files uncovers the truth behind supernatural and unexplained occurrences that have been caught on camera. In each episode, the team searches for the most intriguing images, videos and unnatural phenomenon found online and around the world. After selecting the most compelling cases, they head into the field, attempting to recreate the video, carrying out key experiments and questioning eyewitnesses. The team investigates all the clues and evidence with the most advanced techniques and tools at their disposal, and their objective is to answer the question, "Is this real?" In one of the season's upcoming episodes, Ben Hansen, Austin Porter and Jael de Pardo investigate a mysterious hovering light piercing through the night's dense fog over the waters of Bodega Bay - a California paranormal hotspot that has been featured in movies including The Fog, Puppet Master and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files is executive produced by John Brenkus and Mickey Stern for BASE Productions, and is a co-production with Universal Networks International.

TOTAL BLACKOUT (NEW ORIGINAL SERIES)

Premieres Wednesday, April 25 at 10PM -- Hosted by Jaleel White (Family Matters), Total Blackout is a half-hour extreme game show in which contestants battle each other and their fears in a series of challenges, confronting their own worst enemy - themselves. However, there is a twist -- all the challenges are played in complete darkness; no lights, no blindfolds and no-holds barred as the players face their fears and unexpected surprises in a series of nerve-wracking games. Total Blackout was created by Henrik Nielsen (Can You Duet?, Danish versions of The X Factor, Got Talent and Pop Idol). Nielsen and Jeff Apploff (Million Dollar Money Drop, Don't Forget the Lyrics) serve as executive producers. Jack Martin (Who's Still Standing, Deal or No Deal) is co-executive producer.

MAY

HOLLYWOOD TREASURE (SEASON 3 PREMIERE)

Premieres Tuesday, May 22 at 10PM -- Hollywood Treasure is a documentary-reality series that delves into the fascinating world of collecting showbiz and pop culture memorabilia, including science fiction and fantasy props and costumes. The series follows Joe Maddalena, owner of Profiles in History and the world's largest auctioneer of original movie, television and pop culture collectibles. Each episode follows Joe and his crew as they travel the globe searching for the most compelling, rare, and sought-after Hollywood memorabilia. Sometimes combing through basements and attics to uncover lost Hollywood treasure, and other times meeting with celebrities to view their personal keepsakes, Joe tracks leads and does whatever it takes to seal the deal for a piece of Hollywood history. Each episode, Joe presides over world-class auctions, where the collectibles are sold to fans and collectors from around the world. Some of Joe's previous finds include the Wicked Witch of the West's hat from The Wizard of Oz and the vintage Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. Joe recently worked with Debbie Reynolds to auction off her amazing estate of film costume and prop memorabilia. In the new episodes, Joe continues his quest to hunt down some of the most iconic Hollywood collectibles of our time, including the original camera George Lucas used to shoot Star Wars and Joe's holy grail -- the lost pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. Hollywood Treasure is produced by Gurney Productions with Scott Gurney and Dierdre Gurney as executive producers.

TREASURE ISLAND (ORIGINAL MINISERIES)

Premieres May TBD -- This new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel Treasure Island will star Eddie Izzard (The Riches, Oceans 12, Oceans 13) as Long John Silver, Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Everything Is Illuminated) as Ben Gunn and Donald Sutherland (Pride & Prejudice, Ordinary People, M*A*S*H) as Flint. Executive producers are Robert Halmi Sr. for RHI Entertainment, Alan Moloney for Parallel Films, Mark Grenside for MNG Films, Melanie Stokes and Anne Brogan for Kindle Entertainment and Annie Harrison-Baxter for Sky. The producer is Laurie Borg (Made in Dagenham, Sense and Sensibility, Little Voice) and it is written by Stewart Harcourt (Hearts & Bones, Poirot, Marple). Treasure Island is directed by Steve Barron (Merlin, Arabian Nights).

Alan Carr: 'I've blown my chance of interviewing Madonna'

Alan Carr: 'I've blown my chance of interviewing Madonna'

Alan Carr has claimed that Madonna will never appear on his show Chatty Man due to the number of jokes he has made about her.

Carr said that he was disappointed to see the 'Give Me All Your Luvin'' singer guest on The Graham Norton Show last month, but accepted that the rival programme was probably more to her liking.

"I love Madonna so it felt like she was two-timing me by going on Graham Norton's show," he told The Sun.

"I'd love to have her on but I think I have made too many jokes about her dog-chew arms. See, that's why I don't get Madonna."

Carr previously defended Adele following Chanel boss Karl Lagerfeld's comment that she was "a little too fat".

"Lagerfeld is a vile old queen," he was quoted as saying. "If I see him I'd rip his grey hair off the top of his prune face. He needs to sort his face out. I mean, he could drop kick his jowls they're so saggy."

Jeremy Clarkson 'The One Show' rant cleared by Ofcom

Jeremy Clarkson 'The One Show' rant cleared by Ofcom

Ofcom has today dismissed a complaint from a trade union about Jeremy Clarkson's controversial appearance on The One Show, in which he said that striking public sector workers "should be shot".

UNISON wrote to Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards to complain about the "extreme and wholly unjustified" statements made by Clarkson last November.

On the programme, the Top Gear star said that public sector workers taking industrial action over their "gilt-edged pensions" should be executed "in front of their families".

However, Richards wrote back to the union to say that the comments were "not in breach" of the broadcasting code because they were justified by the context on the BBC One programme.

He acknowledged that the statements were "potentially offensive" to members of the union working in public service, but noted that they were "justified" by the context of The One Show, which is a "light" programme and not intended as "serious daily news".

Richards said that presenter Alex Jones used "light-hearted irony" to introduce Clarkson, by saying he was a "guest with balanced uncontroversial opinions who makes great efforts not to offend".

The Ofcom boss said that "editorial content and the editorial nature of the programme as a whole would have prepared viewers for the type of comments Jeremy Clarkson would be likely to make".

"In Ofcom's view, viewers' expectations would also have been influenced by Jeremy Clarkson's well-established public persona," said Richards.

"His often controversial (and, to some, offensive) views are widely publicised in both print and on television."

He added: "Further, we considered that it would have been clear to most viewers that his comments were not an expression of serious held beliefs or views that should be literally interpreted."

Richards also agreed with Clarkson's claim that his comments were "aimed to a considerable extent at the BBC", particularly at the corporation's need for "balance" in its coverage of major news stories.

Despite acknowledging that Clarkson's comments were likely to offend anyone not familiar with his personality, Richards said that Alex Jones had made a "wide-ranging apology" at the end of the show, and the BBC had also apologised after the controversy broke.

There had been claims that BBC bosses were made aware of Clarkson's intended comments before he made them, but Richards said that the production team had actually told him that it would "not be appropriate" to make the jokes, but he made them any way. This led the team to tell Jones to make the apology at the end of the show.

The BBC has received more than 31,000 complaints about Clarkson's appearance on The One Show, and is expected to announce its own findings on the matter shortly.

UNISON has also called on the corporation to sack Clarkson for the comments, but BBC director general Mark Thompson has already ruled that out.

The Saturdays meet US TV executives for new reality show

The Saturdays meet US TV executives for new reality show

The Saturdays reportedly impressed TV bosses in Los Angeles last week while pitching their own reality series.

The girl group travelled to the US without Una Healy - who is currently eight months pregnant - to work on and plan future projects.

According to The Sun, they went to a number of meetings with US TV networks to secure a deal to film their own reality show, with a view to move Stateside.

A source revealed: "The girls have already been looking at luxury homes to live in."

Previously talking about their plans for a US TV show, Rochelle Wiseman told Digital Spy: "There has been so much press flying around for weeks.

"It was literally us five girls thinking, 'We've done a reality show here - how fun would it be to do one Stateside?' And that's not necessarily us cracking America. Maybe it would be about us taking our material to a different environment."

She added: "We literally had it down as an idea and then all of a sudden the press are saying we've got a channel that it's on. It was an idea, but all the confirmed stuff is untrue."

Development Update.....

Development Update.....

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (The CW) - Kristin Kreuk ("Smallville") and Austin Basis ("Life Unexpected") are the first to be cast in the drama pilot, about Catherine Chandler, a police detective who teams with Vincent Koslow, a genetically altered Afghanistan war veteran to solve crimes in New York City. She'll play said detective ("her pluck and sense of humor having gotten her through"), with Basis as J.T. Forbes, Vincent's former roommate, a medical researcher who aids him. Gary Fleder is helming the CBS Television Studios-based hour from a script by Jennifer Levin and Sherri Cooper. (Deadline.com)

CHELSEA GENERAL (TNT) - Emily Swallow and Sarayu Rao are the latest additions to the drama pilot, about the lives of five surgeons as they push the limits of their abilities and confront their personal and professional failings. They'll play Michelle Robidaux, "a young resident at Chelsea General who is still learning the ropes," and Sydney Saxena, "a fast-talking, Olympic multi-tasker whose dedication to being a doctor consumes her 24/7, even to the detriment of her relationships," respectively. Also starring in the David E. Kelley-penned hour are Alfred Molina, Bill Irwin, Jamie Bamber, Jennifer Finnigan, Keong Sim and Ving Rhames. Bill D'Elia is directing. (Deadline.com)

CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) - Eamonn Walker ("The Whole Truth") is the first to board the pilot, an "action-driven drama exploring the complex and heroic men and women of the Chicago Fire Department." He's set as Battalion Chief Walter Boden ("has kept himself in great shape, a fireman's fireman"), a former Golden Gloves champ who is mulling retirement. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt co-created the Universal Television-based hour, to be directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff. (Deadline.com)

DO NO HARM (NBC) - Mousa Kraish is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about Jeffrey Kohn (Steven Pasquale), a brilliant neurosurgeon who wrestles with his dangerous alter-ego Ian Price who threatens to wreak havoc on his personal and professional life. He's set as Amit Sarin, "the attending clinical pharmacologist, a man of science and religion who has a sharp wit and sharper mind." Alana De La Garza and Ruta Gedmintas co-star in the Universal Television-based hour, from director Michael Mayer and writer David Schulner. (Deadline.com)

EL JEFE (FOX) - Ryan Hansen ("Friends With Benefits") has snagged the title role on the comedy pilot, about Josh Turkus, "an affable but lost 30-year-old (Hansen) who, tossed out of his Brentwood home, moves in with his longtime Latin American nanny and goes head to head with her strong-willed son and finds himself in a family and work life very different than the ones he grew up in." David Guarascio and Moses Port are behind the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, to be directed by Michael Patrick Jann. (Deadline.com)

LIKE FATHER... (FOX) - Colin Ferguson ("Eureka") has booked the title role on the comedy pilot, about Van Lyons, a bombastic dad who, after his wife dies, moves into his son Will's campus apartment. He'll play said father ("a wear it on your sleeve guy; feels hard; loud; positive; full of love and an unapologetic handful"), in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, which comes from creator Bill Lawrence. Also cast are Phill Lewis as Rick Street ("a stoic, quiet, rumpled, kind, bear of a man"), Van's best friend; and Kevin Michael Martin as Rob Ruby ("a high-energy, relentless human, and the world's most loyal friend"), Will's roommate. (Deadline.com)

PARTNERS (CBS) - Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") has scored a lead role on the pilot, a multi-camera comedy about two male architects - one straight, one gay - whose relationship itself resembles a marriage. He'll play Louis, the latter half of said duo, in the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour, from director James Burrows and co-creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick. Sophia Bush also stars. (Deadline.com)

RAY DONOVAN (Showtime) - Pooch Hall ("The Game") and Katherine Moennig ("The L Word") have both been cast in the Liev Schreiber-led drama pilot, about Hollywood's best professional "fixer" - the one called in to solve the complicated, confidential and controversial problems of the city's elite. He'll play Daryll, "a young fighter who trains at Terry Donovan's Fite Club, a boxing gym owned by Ray's brother (Eddie Marsan)," with Moennig as Lena, "the titular sleuth's edgy and intense second in command." Dash Mihok, Elliott Gould, Jon Voight and Paula Malcomson also star in the project, from director Allen Coulter and writer Ann Biderman. (Deadline.com, (TVLine.com)

SAVE ME (NBC) - Heather Burns ("Bored to Death") and Lamon Rucker ("Meet the Browns") are the latest additions to the Anne Heche-led comedy pilot, about Beth Harper (Heche), a woman who lets herself go while in a broken marriage goes through a transformation where she becomes the best version of herself and creates miracles along the way. Burns will play Beth's friend Jane Derring ("a plucky little southern wife in the Holly Hunter mode") with Rucker as John Wilkins, the doctor pal of Beth's husband Tom (Michael Landes). Alexandra Breckenridge also stars in the Sony Pictures Television-based half-hour, which Scott Winant is helming off a script by John Scott Shepherd. (Deadline.com)

THE SMART ONE (ABC) - Malin Akerman ("Childrens Hospital") and Jean Smart ("$#*! My Dad Says") have both been cast in the comedy pilot, about Judith "Jude" Swann (Portia de Rossi), a brilliant and successful woman who has to go to work for her less brainy but more popular sister - a former beauty queen, weather girl and now big city mayor. The former will play said sister, Candy Cooper, with Smart as their mother, Helen ("youthful, elegant but firmly in charge"), who's actually described as Jean Smart-esque in the script. Michael Fresco is helming the Warner Bros. Television-based half-hour from a script by Don Todd. (Deadline.com)

Roland Martin's On-Air Apology Gets Blessing From GLAAD

Roland Martin's On-Air Apology Gets Blessing From GLAAD

Roland Martin, the CNN commentator who was suspended by the cable news outlet earlier this month for a pair of homophobic tweets he sent out during this year's Super Bowl, has received a thumbs-up from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for his on-air apology on Sunday.

GLAAD had earlier called for Martin's firing over the tweets.

During his "Perspectives" segment on his show "Washington Watch," Martin recalled his Feb. 14 meeting with GLAAD's Herndon Graddick over the tweets. Martin characterized the meeting as helpful and said that he's sympathetic to many of GLAAD's stances.

"[I]ronically, I have historically supported many of the issues important to the GLAAD agenda, such as ending [the] 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy; gay adoption; and including gays in hate crimes laws. Those, folks, are facts."

He went on to note that he believes all people have a right to be heard.

"[I]f you’re gay or straight, your voice matters. If you are a pastor or activist, your voice matters," Martin said. "I have no plan to abandon my goal as a truth-teller on a variety of issues; and, yes, that includes those that may be on the LGBT agenda. I am confident that this table can serve as an example of Dr. King’s 'table of brotherhood,' and I and this excellent team will do all we can to advance the dialogue so we all can learn, grow and prosper together."

GLAAD was quick to applaud Martin's statements, calling Sunday's "Perspectives" segment an "important step" in mending the hurt caused by his tweets.

"Martin today took another important step, acknowledging that his words had a negative impact, and making it clear that he understands how serious the issues of anti-LGBT bullying and violence are," the organization said on Sunday. "This incident, along with recent incidents of violence directed at LGBT people, sparked a national dialogue centered around why the issue of anti-LGBT violence needs to be taken seriously."

Martin caused an uproar with his Super Bowl Sunday tweets, which seemed to advocate violence against gays.

"If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!" Roland said in one of his tweets.

Another of Martin's tweets read, "Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass."

The commentator had also earned GLAAD's ire by defending Tracy Morgan after the "30 Rock" star said in a standup routine that he would "pull out a knife and stab" his son if he were to find out he was gay. (Morgan also met with GLAAD after being publicly chastised by the group over his comments.)

"Morgan is keenly aware of what society actually thinks, and he simply said it onstage. Isn’t that what comedians have always done?" Martin wrote of the controversy of Morgan's statements.

Bret Michaels' Lawyer: Tony Awards' Latest Legal Move Over Injury a 'Desperate Act'

Bret Michaels' Lawyer: Tony Awards' Latest Legal Move Over Injury a 'Desperate Act'

Bret Michaels -- or rather, his attorney -- is accusing the Tony Awards of hitting a bum note in its latest move in the legal saga over the Poison singer's 2009 injury.

The rocker's lawyer, Alex Weingarten, has lashed out at the Tonys organization and CBS, accusing the awards group of trying to duck its responsibility over the injury, which occurred when Michaels was struck in the head by a set piece at the end of his performance at the ceremony.

According to Weingarten, the Tonys organization and CBS have filed a third-part cross-complaint in U.S. District Court in New York last week against Rock of Ages Broadway LLC -- which he claims is a "desperate" effort to deflect blame for the incident.

Michaels was performing with the Rock of Ages cast when the injury occurred.

“This is a desperate act," Weingarten said. "The producers of the Tony Awards and their co-defendants cannot credibly deny that they almost killed Bret while he was performing with the cast of Rock of Ages, so instead they are trying to point the finger elsewhere.

“CBS and the rest of the defendants are just grasping at straws," Weingarten continued. "It was their negligence that injured Bret, and it was then their decision to try to profit from his injuries by joking about them and playing them for ratings."

Michaels filed suit against the Tonys and CBS, which aired the awards show, in May 2011, claiming that the producers failed to give him "blocking instructions" that could have prevented the injury, and suggesting that the head injury might have been responsible for the suaracchnoid hemorrhage that the singer suffered in 2010.

Head injury aside, Weingarten's statement suggests that the biggest blow might have been made to Michaels' ego. The attorney also takes the Tonys to task for not employing a broadcast delay to block the accident from going out over the air, and laments that video of the accident became a sensation on the web.

"The Tony Awards could have – but did not – take advantage of the standard broadcast delay to prevent the video from being transmitted," Weingarten said. "The incident became an Internet mainstay, and at one point was one of the 10 most-viewed clips on YouTube."

The Tony Awards, CBS and Rock of Ages Broadway LLC have not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' on Top; 'Celebrity Apprentice' Down; CBS Takes Night

Ratings: 'Once Upon a Time' on Top; 'Celebrity Apprentice' Down; CBS Takes Night

CBS took an overall win on Sunday night, while ABC's "Once Upon a Time" took the night's top ratings slot and NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" returned to a low for series premieres, according to preliminary numbers.

Though extended coverage of Sunday's golf coverage renders the numbers approximate, CBS took away a win in the coveted adults 18-49 demographic and total viewership, with an average 2.2 rating/6 share in the demo and 10.5 million total viewers.

Overrun from the Northern Trust Open PGA golf tournament at 7 p.m., combined with the beginning of "60 Minutes," drew a 1.8/6 in the demo and 11.5 million total viewers, while continuation of "60 Minutes" at 7:30 posted a 1.7/5 in the demo and 11.6 million total viewers.

At 8 p.m., the conclusion of "60 Minutes," coupled with the season premiere of "The Amazing Race," gave the network a 2.6/7 in the demo and 10.9 million total viewers for the hour, while the conclusion of "Amazing Race" an the beginning of "The Good Wife" from 9 to 10 p.m. gave the network a 2.2/5 in the demo and 11 million total viewers. From 10 to 11 p.m., the end of "The Good Wife" coupled with the beginning of "CSI: Miami" gave the network a 2.1/5 in the demo and 10 million total viewers.

ABC and NBC tied for second in the ratings for the night, with each network averaging a 2.1/5, though ABC bested NBC in total viewership, with an average 7.3 million total viewers versus NBC's 6.3 million.

ABC's night began with "America's Funniest Home Videos" at 7, which was flat compared to last week with a 2.0/6 in the demo and 8 million total viewers. "Once Upon a Time" at 8 was also flat with last week, but nonetheless took the night's top numbers with a 3.0/8 in the demo and 9.7 million total viewers. "Desperate Housewives" the following hour grew 22 percent versus last week, receiving a 2.2/5 in the demo and 7.5 million total viewers, while the finale of "Pan Am" at 10 grew 71 percent versus the previous week with a 1.2/3 in the demo an 3.9 million total viewers.

NBC ran a repeat of "The Voice" at 7, followed by the season premiere of "Celebrity Apprentice" at 9, which posted a 2.8/7 in the demo -- a 7 percent decline from last year's premiere, and the lowest-rated "Celebrity Apprentice" premiere ever. The premiere drew 7.4 million total viewers.

Fox ran a "Bob's Burgers" repeat at 7, followed by "The Cleveland Show" at 7:30, which was flat with last week for a 1.2/3 in the demo and 2.6 million total viewers. The 500th episode of "The Simpsons" at 8 enjoyed a 30 percent boost over last week's episode, taking a 2.6/7 in the demo and 5.8 million total viewers, while "Napoleon Dynamite" at 8:30 took a 2.0/5 in the demo and 4.4 million total viewers.

"Family Guy" at 9 took a 2.7/7 in the demo and 5.4 million total viewers, while "American Dad" closed out the night with a 22 percent increase over last week, drawing a 2.2/5 in the demo and 4.4 million total viewers.

TV Tonight 21st of February 2012

TV Tonight 21st of February 2012

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing.

    112 - på liv och död S05E17: "Del 17 av 36"
    19 Kids and Counting S06E03: "40 Kids, Oh My!"
    19 Kids and Counting S06E02: "Josh & Anna Check-In"
    Alex Polizzi - The Fixer S01E04: "Guidebridge MOT"
    American Experience S24E04: "Clinton (2)"
    Ano Natsu de Matteru S01E07: "Episode 7"
    Another S01E07: "Episode 7"
    Antiques Road Trip S04E07: "Series 4, Episode 7"
    Arctic Air S01E07: "Vancouver is Such a Screwed-Up City"
    Big Brother Sverige S08E03: "Season 8, Episode 3"
    Big Fat Gypsy Weddings S03E04: "Romany Gypsies"
    Bleach (JP) S16E19: "A New Appearance! Meet the Gotei 13!"
    Body Of Proof S02E15: "Occupational Hazards"
    Brit Awards S01E37: "The Brit Awards 2012"
    Campus PD S04E08: "TBA"
    Chopped S10E09: "Good Chop, Bad Chop"
    Coach Trip S09E17: "Series 9, Day 17"
    Come Dine With Me S18E32: "Series 18, Series 27"
    Conan S02E53: "Amanda Seyfried, fun."
    Cougar Town S03E02: "A Mind With A Heart Of Its Own"
    Dance Moms S02E07: "Bullets and Ballet (FKA Flash Dance Moms)"
    Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou S01E07: "Episode 7"
    Days of our Lives S47E73: "Ep. #11783"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E165: "Episode 1845"
    Dickinson's Real Deal S08E56: "Series 8, Episode 56"
    Dirty Jobs S08E11: "Dirty Conversations 2"
    Doctors S13E203: "And Nothing but the Truth"
    Doomsday Preppers S01E05: "Nine Meals Away from Anarchy"
    EastEnders S28E31: "February 21, 2012"
    Emmerdale S41E43: "February 21, 2012"
    Escape To The Country S12E36: "Peak District"
    General Hospital (US) S49E226: "#12500"
    Geordie Shore S02E04: "Season 2, Episode 4"
    Glee S03E14: "On My Way"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S22E122: "Season 22, Episode 122"
    Gokujo S01E05: "Episode 5"
    Got to Dance S03E51: "Series 3, Episode 51"
    Halv åtta hos mig S08E18: "Umeå - Roine"
    Hellstrøm Inviterer S01E18: "Håvard Lilleheie"
    Hidden City S01E12
    Holby City S14E19: "What You Wish For"
    Hollyoaks S18E37: "February 21, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E22: "Episode 5457"
    Hotel cæsar S28E155: "Season 28, Episode 155"
    House Hunters S48E36
    House Hunters International S25E39: "English Cottage Revival Homes"
    How to Grow a Planet S01E03: "The Challenger"
    Ink Master S01E06: "Permanent Mistakes"
    Jane By Design S01E08: "The Wedding Dress"
    Jeopardy! S28E112: "Show #6317"
    Jersey Couture S02E05: "Diane’s Way or the Highway"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E209
    Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? S02E05: "A Very Public Affair"
    Junior Doctors – Your Life In Their Hands S02E05: "Series 2, Episode 5"
    Justified S03E06: "When the Guns Come Out"
    Key & Peele S01E04: "Season 1, Episode 4"
    Last Call with Carson Daly S10E18
    Last Man Standing S01E18: "Baxter & Sons"
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E225
    Late Show with David Letterman S19E31
    Level Up S01E07: "Hampire Weeknight"
    Live with Regis and Kelly S29E126:
    My First Place S21E10
    Natsume Yūjin-Chō S04E08: "Episode 8"
    NCIS S09E16: "Psych out"
    NCIS: Los Angeles S03E16: "Blye, K."
    Neighbours S28E32: "Episode 6342"
    New Girl S01E14: "Bully"
    Packed To The Rafters S04E18: "Sign of the Times"
    Parenthood (2010) S03E17:
    Pointless S05E121: "Series 5, Episode 121"
    Prisoners' Wives S01E04: "Episode 4"
    Property Virgins S11E07: "Character Building"
    Raising Hope S02E15: "Sheer Madness"
    Ringer S01E14: "Whores Don't Make That Much"
    River City S10E24: "Episode 768"
    Shameless S09E08: "Series 9, Episode 8"
    Southland S04E06: "Integrity Check"
    Switched at Birth S01E18: "The Art Of Painting"
    Teen Mom 2 S02E5005
    The Amazing World of Gumball S01E33: "The Microwave"
    The Biggest Loser S13E08: "Season 13, Episode 8"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S25E235: "Ep. #6265"
    The Chase (2009) S05E36: "Series 5, Episode 36"
    The Colbert Report S08E25: "Robert Kagan"
    The Daily Show S17E61: "Russ Feingold"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E105: "Taylor Swift, Zac Efron"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E112: "February 21, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E32
    The Real Housewives Of Orange County S07E03: "Who's Laughing Now"
    The River S01E04: "A Better Man"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S19E246
    The View S15E110
    The Young and the Restless S39E233: "Ep. #9848"
    Thuis S17E127: "Season 17, Episode 127"
    Top Gear (US) S03E02: "Muscle Cars"
    Top Shot S04E02: "In the Trenches"
    Unforgettable S01E16: "Heartbreak"
    Veckans brott S04E06
    Watch What Happens: Live S06E32: "Billy Eichner and Tamra Barney"
    White Collar S03E15: "Stealing Home"
    Wszyscy kochają Romana S01E15: "Diamenty"