Kathryn Hahn on 'Free Agents' cancellation: 'We saw it coming'

Kathryn Hahn on 'Free Agents' cancellation: 'We saw it coming'

Kathryn Hahn has spoken out about Free Agents' short time on television.

Hahn starred with Hank Azaria as two public relations executives who become attracted to each other on the NBC sitcom, which was cancelled in its first season.

"We all kind of saw the writing on the wall," Hahn told New York Magazine. "Tonally, it was such an interesting show and group, and it takes a second for a show to get its legs anyway. And I don't feel like, for various reasons, we could afford the time to give us that space."

When asked how she dealt with the show's cancellation changing her plans, Hahn said: "It's so hard, because I'm such a control freak. But in this business you just can't [be one]. This, and parenting. You can't control anything. It's just a game.

"As soon as you take a deep breath, you have the rug pulled out from you. Once again, bulls**t is coming out of my mouth, because it's very difficult to live this kind of life. I'd love to get to a point where I could just be independent, not care about tomorrow."

Hahn will return to NBC as a political operative in the sitcom Parks and Recreation.

'Fringe' to return for shorter fifth and final season?

'Fringe' to return for shorter fifth and final season?

Fringe could be renewed for a fifth and final season, reports suggest.

It is possible that the sci-fi drama will return to Fox for a shorter run, composed of just 15 episodes, according to TVLine.

The current fourth season of Fringe has seen the show struggle in the ratings, with midseason premiere 'Back to Where You've Never Been' pulling in just 2.87m viewers.

Last week's (February 17) instalment 'A Better Human Being' rose slightly to 3m.

Series star Joshua Jackson (Peter Bishop) recently hinted that the series could continue "off network" if Fox declines to recommission it.

"I think there's a possibility that if people just watched the show on the day and date, and if the numbers came back, [renewal] is a possibility [on Fox]," he said. "[But] the TV landscape is a different place than it used to be, so [cancellation on Fox] might not be death."

Fringe continues on Fridays at 9/8c on Fox. Sky1 airs the show on Wednesdays at 10pm in the UK.

'Wild at Heart' could face axe by ITV following falling ratings

'Wild at Heart' could face axe by ITV following falling ratings

Wild at Heart's ratings have fallen and the show may be axed, according to tabloid reports.

The long-running ITV1 drama series about vet Danny Trevanion (Stephen Tompkinson) in South Africa has fallen to under 6 million in Sunday night's ratings, a considerable drop-off for a show which has previously attracted over 10 million.

A slump in Dancing on Ice ratings on Sunday nights and the success of Call the Midwife on BBC One appear to have affected the series.

"Everyone involved knows it's expensive to make and it's not as popular as it used to be so it's not rocket science," a source told The Mirror.

"The cast and crew love making it, but all good things come to an end and we've had a good run."

An ITV spokesperson insisted that any talks about the show's future were "pure speculation" and that Wild At Heart was still doing "good business" for the broadcaster.

'The Voice's Tony Lucca wants to duet with Christina Aguilera

'The Voice's Tony Lucca wants to duet with Christina Aguilera

The Voice contestant Tony Lucca has said he wants to duet with his former Mickey Mouse Club co-star Christina Aguilera.

Lucca kept his past with Aguilera secret during his blind audition on The Voice and even opted to work with Adam Levine when he was asked to chose between the four judges.

Aguilera did not realise Lucca was her former Mickey Mouse Club co-star until after he'd left the stage, but the two later reunited and shared stories of their childhood backstage.

Lucca has now told Us Weekly that even though he didn't choose Aguilera as his mentor, he would love to duet with her on The Voice.

The 36-year-old singer commented: "It's one thing to rub elbows and be cheeky on TV together, but to actually put some time in rehearsal and share the stage once again would be really cool.

"I think the world of her as a talent. I think she's phenomenal, and it would certainly elevate my game a bit."

Lucca recently said that he has enjoyed reconnecting with Aguilera on The Voice: "Everything will be a little bizarre in front of a camera - let alone six or seven! - but I couldn't be happier with the way it went down and I'm grateful for her being so gracious and flattering."

The Voice airs Mondays at 8/7c on NBC.

'Glee' Max Adler: 'Storyline is brave, honest'

'Glee' Max Adler: 'Storyline is brave, honest'

Glee star Max Adler has praised his recent storyline on the show.

In last night's winter finale, Adler's character Karofsky attempted suicide after being bullied about his sexuality.

Adler has now revealed that he was "thrilled" with the direction the story took.

"I really think it's incredibly brave and honest and it's treating the character with the integrity that he deserves," he told TV Line. "I think you can't truly appreciate [the good side of high school] without experiencing the other side, which is the fear, the anxiety, and the struggle that teenagers go through identifying themselves."

Adler suggested that Glee fans "have a connection" to Karofsky, adding: "What I'm so happy about with this episode is that it gives that really amazing, powerful message to victims of bullying and to people who are or have contemplated suicide that there is hope; there are people who accept you for who you are, and you don't have to change yourself for what society tells you to be."

However, Adler admitted that he is not sure whether he will return to Glee in the future.

"It could end here," he said. "But my personal thought is that there might be something else down the line to show where Karofsky goes post-hospital. But that's all up to the writers. They've done everything amazingly well and treated this character with incredible consistency and honesty and integrity. Whatever they do, I think it will be genius."

Glee returns with a new episode on April 10 on Fox.

'Inbetweeners' Simon Bird, Joe Thomas comedy 'Chickens' to air on Sky1

'Inbetweeners' Simon Bird, Joe Thomas comedy 'Chickens' to air on Sky1

The new comedy written by and starring Simon Bird and Joe Thomas from The Inbetweeners has been ordered to series by Sky1.

Chickens, a sitcom about three men in a world full of women after they remain home during World War I, was originally piloted at Channel 4 but the broadcaster later chose not to commission a full run.

Bird, Thomas and co-writer and fellow cast member Jonny Sweet will start filming the six-part show this December with a planned air date of summer 2013.

Thomas, Bird and Sweet said: "We're delighted to be joining the Sky family to be making a series of our First World War sitcom Chickens. It was the war to end all wars, and we hope this will be the comedy to end all comedies."

Sky's head of comedy Lucy Lumsden, who commissioned the series, added: "We have fallen in love with those naughty Chickens and think our customers will do too. We are delighted to give such a talented bunch a home on Sky 1 HD."

In Chickens, Thomas plays George, described as a conscientious objector, while Bird portrays army reject Cecil. Sweet plays Bert, an "amoral philandering scaredy cat".

'The Voice' Is Top-Rated Show of the Season -- Can 'American Idol' Regain Lead?

'The Voice' Is Top-Rated Show of the Season -- Can 'American Idol' Regain Lead?

Smart scheduling, tough challengers for "American Idol," and even an oddity in the way Nielsen ratings are recorded have helped make NBC's "The Voice" the top-rated series of the season so far.

But you won't catch NBC, the fourth-place network, publicly bragging about "The Voice" beating "American Idol" in the ratings -- especially not so early in their seasons, when so much can change. Fox's veteran "Idol" has spent a stunning eight years as the top-rated network in the advertiser coveted 18-49 demographic. And it could still rebound to win this season as well.

"Idol" also holds big financial advantages over its upstart competitor: Thanks to its near-decade of dominance, it can charge more than twice what "The Voice" does for a 30-second ad. "Idol" also typically airs two new episodes a week, compared to one for "The Voice." That means twice as many twice-as-expensive ads.

Still, "The Voice" ratings lead -- for however long it lasts -- is a huge morale booster for NBC as new entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt tries to lead it past ABC to third place. (Fox leads the networks in ratings in the demo, and CBS in total viewers.)

The singing competition's second season ratings growth reminds at least one observer of "American Idol's" second season.

"It just to me points out this is a real contender," said Horizon Media senior vice president of research Brad Adgate. "It's not like the show has plateaued in year two. It's increased. It's always a good sign for a TV show when the ratings improve in the second season compared to the first."

It remains to be seen whether the midseason hit -- which debuted in April 2011 and returned for a second season this month -- can fare as well when it moves to the fall for season three, as TheWrap has previously reported it will do.

It also remains to be seen whether NBC can use the success of "The Voice" to launch other hits. So far, the musical drama that follows it, "Smash," has earned only decent ratings while losing much of its powerful lead-in.

"The Voice" owes much of its success to a plum post-Super Bowl timeslot for its season-two premiere on Feb. 5. But the show is still faring well against the aging "Idol" even with that episode factored out.

The Super Bowl episode and the three episodes that have aired on the Monday nights since have averaged a 7.7 rating/19 share in the demo and 19.8 million total viewers. Without the Super Bowl episode, "The Voice" has averaged a 6.2/16 and 16.7 million total viewers.

Since its season 11 premiere in January, "Idol" has averaged a 6.1/17

and 18.8 million total viewers. That includes an average 6.5 rating/17 share in the demo and 19.9 million viewers overall for Wednesday episodes, a 5.4/15 and 17.4 million for Thursday episodes, and one Sunday episode that aired in January.

Because "The Voice" doesn't air directly against "Idol," it can't claim to have ever beaten the more established show in a direct matchup. The older show now competes against two thriving comedies -- ABC's "Modern Family" on Wednesdays and CBS's "Big Bang Theory" on Thursdays -- which have cut into its ratings and helped "The Voice" earn its recent advantage.

Not that "The Voice" has had easy competition -- it has won three consecutive Mondays for NBC against a CBS lineup including "Two and a Half Men" and "2 Broke Girls" that looked bulletproof in the fall.

One draw for "The Voice"? It's newer. As buzz about it grows, more viewers check it out for the first time. This was never more true than after the Super Bowl.

"American Idol" doesn't have the same shiny quality. But it has proven, over 11 seasons, that it has staying power, and that reliability means a lot to advertisers.

"The Voice" pulls in $206,500 for each 30-second ad, compared to $503,000 for the Wednesday "Idol" and $468,000 for the Thursday edition, according to AdAge's annual survey of primetime advertising costs.

"American Idol" and NBC's "Sunday Night Football" -- which averages $512,000 per ad -- are the most expensive shows for advertisers. If "The Voice" numbers hold up, look for its ad rates to climb as well.

By piggybacking "The Voice" second-season premiere on the Super Bowl, NBC also benefited from a Nielsen oddity.

Networks are generally required to count a show as a "special" when it airs after the Super Bowl rather than count its ratings toward its overall seasonal average. But when a show has not aired earlier in the season in a different time slot -- as was the case with "The Voice" premiere -- its ratings are counted toward its overall average.

The singing competition's success is something few imagined in December 2010 when NBC announced that it would premiere a new show tentatively titled "The Voice of America" the following spring. That meant the competition show would leapfrog Fox's long-planned "X Factor," which had been in the works for years and was slated for fall.

"The Voice" became the biggest hit of the 2010-11 season when it premiered in April. "X Factor," while successful, earned roughly half the ratings "American Idol" does, and may have contributed to viewer exhaustion with singing contests. Viewers who ordinarily would have waited through the fall for the midseason premiere of "Idol" instead satisfied their singing jones with "X Factor."

When making its 2010 "Voice" announcement, NBC noted that the Dutch show on which "The Voice" was based, "The Voice of Holland," had surpassed the Dutch versions of “The X Factor” and “American Idol” as the top talent competition show in the Netherlands.

As if that could ever happen here.

'X Factor': Simon Cowell Confirms 2 Hosts for Next Season

'X Factor': Simon Cowell Confirms 2 Hosts for Next Season

When "The X Factor" returns for a second season, there will be two hosts to replace departed emcee Steve Jones.

"X Factor" honcho Simon Cowell talked about the dual host plan during a press call Wednesday, offering the first solid clue as to what direction the show would take after a massive house-cleaning operation that saw Jones and half of the judges fired.

Though Cowell did not state who he might be looking at to fill Jones' shoes, he did say that he wants one host to be male and one host to be female -- something he had long hoped for the show.

Departed host Nicole Scherzinger, who was let go earlier this year, was originally intended to be a host on the show; she took the judge's chair after Paula Cole, a former judge on the British version of the show, was given the ax.

After a lackluster season that failed to live up to Cowell's prediction that the show would be bigger than his previous program, "American Idol," producers virtually started over in January, canning Jones, Scherzinger and Paula Abdul. Record-company executive Antonio "L.A." Reid remains on the judges' panel, along with Cowell.

Replacement judges for Scherzinger and Abdul have not been announced yet.

TV Tonight 23rd of February 2012

TV Tonight 23rd of February 2012

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

    24 Hour Catwalk S01E08: "Travel"
    30 Rock S06E09: "Leap Day"
    American Idol S11E13: "Final Judgement, Part 2"
    Antiques Road Trip S04E09: "Series 4, Episode 9"
    Archer (2009) S03E06: "Bloody Ferlin"
    Art Mann Presents S08E04: "The Top 100 Characters of All Time"
    Big Brother Sverige S08E05: "Season 8, Episode 5"
    Biggest loser Sverige S01E08: "Avsnitt 8"
    Blik op de weg S27E02: "Season 27, Episode 2"
    Braxton Family Values S02E15: "Soul-o Act"
    Celebrity Juice S07E03: "Series 7, Episode 3"
    Coach Trip S09E19: "Series 9, Day 19"
    Come Dine With Me S18E34: "Series 18, Series 29"
    Conan S02E55: "Dhani Harrison"
    Coronation Street S53E38: "Thu Feb 23, 2012"
    Days of our Lives S47E75: "Ep. #11785"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E167: "Episode 1847"
    Delocated S03E04: "Camping"
    Dickinson's Real Deal S08E58: "Series 8, Episode 58"
    Dispatches S26E02: "The Great Ticket Scandal"
    Doctors S13E205: "Grey Matters"
    EastEnders S28E32: "February 23, 2012"
    Emmerdale S41E46: "February 23, 2012 [Episode 2]"
    Emmerdale S41E45: "February 23, 2012"
    Escape To The Country S12E38: "Cornwall"
    Fat Chef S01E05: "Jeff / Maggie"
    General Hospital (US) S49E228: "#12502"
    Germany's Next Top Model S07E01: "Folge 1"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S22E124: "Season 22, Episode 124"
    Golden Goal S12E03: "Season 12, Episode 3"
    Got to Dance S03E53: "Series 3, Episode 53"
    Grey's Anatomy S08E16: "If Only You Were Lonely"
    Halv åtta hos mig S08E20: "Umeå - George"
    Hellstrøm Inviterer S01E20: "Vendela Kirsebom"
    Holiday Heaven on Earth S01E03: "Episode 3"
    Hollyoaks S18E39: "February 23, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E24: "Episode 5459"
    Hotel cæsar S28E157: "Season 28, Episode 157"
    House Hunters S48E38: "Search For Cool Mid-Century Home in Austin"
    House Hunters International S25E41: "Canadian Biologists in Belize"
    I Just Want My Pants Back S01E05: "Safety Nets"
    Impact Wrestling S08E73: "Season 8, Episode 73"
    Inside Comedy S01E05: "Larry David"
    Inside Men S01E04: "Episode 4"
    Jeopardy! S28E114: "Show #6319"
    Jersey Shore S05E08: "Sharp Objects"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E211: "Justin Theroux, Die Antwoord"
    Kidnap & Ransom S02E01: "Series 2, Episode 1"
    Last Call with Carson Daly S10E20
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E227
    Late Show with David Letterman S19E33
    Leave It To Bryan S01E11: "Double Trouble"
    Live with Regis and Kelly S29E128
    Location Location Location S14E08: "Series 14, Episode 8"
    Naruto: Shippuuden S11E09: "The Man Known as Kisame"
    Neighbours S28E34: "Episode 6344"
    New Prince of Tennis S01E08: "Episode 8"
    Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy S01E05: "Mash Potato Utopia"
    NY Ink S02E09: "Now or Never"
    Parks and Recreation S04E16: "Sweet Sixteen"
    Person of Interest S01E16: "Risk"
    Pointless S05E123: "Series 5, Episode 123"
    Pramface S01E01: "Episode 1"
    Private Practice S05E16: "Andromeda"
    Project Runway All-Stars S01E08: "O! Say, Can You Sew?"
    Question Time S32E21: "February 23, 2012"
    Raymond Blanc: The Hungry Frenchman S01E04: "Alsace"
    Reguły gry S01E02: "Żar młodości"
    Selling New York S04E18
    Sket Dance S01E46: "Episode 46"
    Swamp People S03E03: "Divide to Conquer"
    The Big Bang Theory S05E18: "The Werewolf Transformation"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S25E237: "Ep. #6267"
    The Chase (2009) S05E38: "Series 5, Episode 38"
    The Colbert Report S08E27: "Placido Domingo"
    The Daily Show S17E63: "Paul Rudd"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E107
    The Finder S01E06: "Little Green Men"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E114: "February 23, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E34: "Malin Akerman, Jon Ronson"
    The Mentalist S04E16: "His Thoughts Were Red Thoughts"
    The Office (US) S08E16: "After Hours"
    The Straits S01E05: "Epiphanies"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S19E248
    The View S15E112: "Dr. Mehmet Oz, Paul Adelstein"
    The Young and the Restless S39E235: "Ep. #9850"
    This Week (2003) S10E20: "February 23, 2012"
    Thuis S17E129: "Season 17, Episode 129"
    Tonight with Trevor McDonald S14E07: "The Obesity Time Bomb"
    truTV Presents: World's Dumbest... S12E16: "World's Dumbest Motorheads 6"
    Undercover Boss (CA) S01E04: "1-800-GOT-JUNK"
    Unsupervised S01E06: "Nits"
    Up All Night (2011) S01E17: "First Birthday"
    Watch What Happens: Live S06E34: "TBA"
    White Van Man (2011) S02E01: "Charity"
    Wie is... de Mol? S12E08: "Season 12, Episode 8"
    Wipeout (US) S05E08: "Winter Wipeout: You Ain't Seen Nothing Yeti"
    ¡Rob! S01E07: "Romantic Weekend"

David Cross on Using Cocaine Near Obama: 'It Wasn't That Much'

David Cross on Using Cocaine Near Obama: 'It Wasn't That Much'

David Cross opened up to Playboy about his cocaine use at a White House Correspondents' Dinner, telling the magazine that he only snorted a small amount of the drug -- and did it more for the principle than the high.

"[I]t wasn’t even that much cocaine," the actor/comedian recalled of the 2009 incident, which has been, um, buzzed about in the rumor mill over the past few years.

Cross estimates that he was some 65 feet away from Obama when he hoovered up the go-go powder.

"It was literally the size of, I don’t know, a tick. It was a tiny granule of coke that I put on my wrist and said, 'Watch this. I need a witness.' And then I ducked under the table and did it. It wasn’t like I got high. The jolt was similar to licking an empty espresso cup."

According to Cross, "It was just about being able to say that I did it, that I did cocaine in the same room as the president," Cross said. "I’m not proud of it, nor am I ashamed of it."

Cross -- who's gearing up to reprise his role as Tobias Funke in the "Arrested Development" revival set first as a series for Netflix, then a theatrical movie -- has admitted to the incident in the past, though he hasn't previously addressed it in as much detail.

Cross attended the dinner as a guest of his girlfriend, actress Amber Tamblyn.

Cross's only regret from the incident, he told Playboy, was that Tamblyn got "in trouble by association.

"I was her date, her plus-one, and she got dragged through the mud because of what I did," Cross laments. "She had nothing to do with it. She didn’t know I was going to do it. And because of that she’ll never be invited to the White House again. That’s not cool."

Cross and Obama would seem to have a bit in common, aside from proximity at the Correspondents' Dinner; in his 1995 book "Dreams From My Father," the president admitted to using marijuana and cocaine, saying that he did "maybe a little blow."

Katy Perry to Guest-Star on Fox's 'Raising Hope'

Katy Perry to Guest-Star on Fox's 'Raising Hope'

Katy Perry is going to prison -- on "Raising Hope."

The "Teenage Dream" singer will guest-star on the Fox comedy in an episode that will air March 6. Perry will play Rikki, a prison attendant who claims to be a long-lost pal of Sabrina (Shannon Woodward), who's arrested after participating in an Occupy Natesville protest. Nikki endeavors to make Sabrina's prison stint as miserable as possible, until remembers the good times they once shared.

The idea for the guest spot emerged from Woodward's real-life friendship with Perry, according to executive producer Greg Garcia.

Also read: Katy Perry as Marilyn Monroe on Broadway? Harvey Weinstein Wants It to Happen

"Shannon Woodward told me that her friend Katy was interested in doing an episode and I thought, 'Why not? Let's do your friend Katy a favor,'" Garcia cracked. "Then she came in and did a terrific job. She was hilarious. And now people are telling me that Katy is also a singer. I sincerely hope that her appearance on the show helps her get her singing career off the ground. It's a tough business."

Ratings: 'Cougar Town' and 'Unforgettable' Down as CBS Wins Night With 'NCIS'

Ratings: 'Cougar Town' and 'Unforgettable' Down as CBS Wins Night With 'NCIS'

ABC's "Cougar Town," which returned to the air last week to a series low, continued to slide Tuesday night as CBS's "Unforgettable" also dipped. But CBS won the night overall on the strength of the top-rated "NCIS," according to preliminary numbers.

CBS came in first in ratings and total viewers with an average 2.9 rating/8 share in the adults 18-49 demographic and 15.3 million. "NCIS" at 8 drew the top ratings and most total viewers with a 3.8/10 in the demo and 19.5 million. "NCIS: LA" the following hour received a 2.9/7 in the demo and 15.9 million. "Unforgettable" at 10 dropped 17 percent to a series low of 1.9/5 in the demo. It drew 10.6 million total viewers.

Fox was second in ratings and total viewers with a 2.8/7 in the demo and 6.5 million. "Glee" was up slightly in the demo and total viewers, with a 2.9/8 and 7.4 million. "New Girl" the following hour posted a 3.0/8 in the demo and 6.2 million total viewers. "Raising Hope" at 9:30 had a 2.2/5 in the demo and 4.8 million.

NBC, in third place in ratings and total viewers with a 2.1/5 in the demo and 6 million, started the night with "The Biggest Loser" at 8. It climbed 10 percent in the demo for a 2.3/6 and had 6.7 million total viewers. "Parenthood" at 10 also saw a modest increase, receiving a 1.7/5 in the demo and 4.9 million total viewers.

ABC drew fourth place in ratings and total viewers with a 1.7/4 in the demo and 5.8 million. "Last Man Standing" at 8 was flat with last week's series low for a 2.2/6 in the demo and 7.5 million total viewers. "Cougar Town" at 8:30 dropped 6 percent in the demo from last week's return, taking a 1.7/4, and had 4.5 million total viewers. "The River" at 9 ran even with last week for a 1.7/4 in the demo and 4.8 million total viewers, while "Body of Proof" at 10 climbed 17 percent in the demo, posting a 1.4/4. It had 6.5 million total viewers.

Development Update....

Development Update....

AMERICANA (ABC) - Ken Olin ("Brothers & Sisters") has joined the cast of the drama pilot, about Robert Soulter (Anthony LaPaglia), creator of the most iconic fashion brand in the world - Americana - which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. He's on board as Martin Garano, "the owner of a garment manufacturing company whose daughter designs clothes for the company." Natalie Mendoza also stars as Robert's ex-wife. Phillip Noyce is helming the ABC Studios-based hour from a script by Michael Seitzman. (THR.com)

ARROW (The CW) - Colin Donnell ("Pan Am") has been cast in the drama pilot, a modern retelling of the story of DC Comics character Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), better known as Green Arrow. He'll play Tommy Merlyn ("28, tall, dark, Devil-smooth"), Oliver's playboy best friend in the Warner Bros. Television-based hour, which also stars David Ramsey, Katie Cassidy, Susanna Thompson and Willa Holland. David Nutter is directing from a script by Andrew Kreisberg, Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim. (Deadline.com)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (ABC) - Chris Egan ("Kings") is the first to be cast in the pilot, a drama set in the mythical city where its princess, Grace, is tasked with quelling a rebellion. The actor, who has a talent holding deal with the network, will play Garrick, said princess's fiancé and Emperor Dorian's - her father - most favored soldier. Jonathan E. Steinberg is behind the ABC Studios-based hour, to be helmed by Yves Simoneau. (Deadline.com)

CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) - Monica Raymund ("The Good Wife") is the latest addition to the drama pilot, about the men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. She'll play Gabriela Dawson ("a beautiful Latina, 30"), a fast-thinking and fearless paramedic. Director Jeffrey Nachmanoff and writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas are behind the hour, which also stars Eamonn Walker and Taylor Kinney. The Universal Television-based Wolf Films is producing. (Deadline.com)

L.A. NOIR (TNT) - Milo Ventimiglia ("Heroes") is set to star in the pilot, a period drama which chronicles the epic battle between Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker and mobster Mickey Cohen. He'll play Ned Stax, "a former marine who served with Joe Teague (Jon Bernthal) during WWII, now a budding lawyer groomed to be a master 'fixer' for the mob." Frank Darabont is behind the project, which is based on John Buntin's book of the same name, subtitled "The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City." (Deadline.com)

LAST RESORT (ABC) - Dichen Lachman ("Dollhouse") is the latest to score a role on the drama pilot, about the crew of a nuclear submarine, who, after disobeying a suspicious order become fugitives, take over the NATO Listening Post in Sainte Marina and declare themselves an independent nuclear nation. She's on board as Tani Tumrenjack, "a native of Soubourg; a mixture of intelligence and naivete; inherited a local bar, but has ambitions beyond the shores of Sainte Marina; daughter of elder tribesman." The ensemble cast also includes Andre Braugher, Autumn Reeser, Camille de Pazzis, Daisy Betts, Daniel Lissing, Sahr Ngaujah and Scott Speedman. Martin Campbell is directing from a script by Karl Gajdusek and Shawn Ryan for Sony Pictures Television. (TVLine.com)

MY IDIOTIC TWENTIES (CBS) - Brie Larson ("United States of Tara") has booked the female lead in the single-camera comedy pilot, about Jake (Michael Angarano), a guy who gets his heart broken by his girlfriend and now has to work one cubicle away from her. She'll play said girl, Laura ("25, cute, whip smart, funny and guilty at all times about everything") in the project, which comes from writer/director Nicholas Stoller. 20th Century Fox Television is producing while Adam Campbell, Amanda Lund, Chris Smith and Randall Park also star. (Deadline.com)

MIDNIGHT SUN (NBC) - Veteran character-actor Titus Welliver has boarded the drama pilot, about the FBI's investigation into disappearance of a remote cult in Alaska which taps into a grander political conspiracy. He's set as Bennett Maxwell, the charismatic leader of said cult, Midnight Sun. Lisa Zwerling penned the Universal Television-based hour, which Brad Anderson is directing. (Deadline.com)

TAKE ME OUT (FOX, New!) - The network is reportedly casting a domestic take on the U.K. series in which a single man tries to impress a recurring panel of 30 single women who each control a lighted podium. If said fellow manages to garner any interest, those women then compete to go out on a date, which is shown the subsequent week and their spots are filled with new members. FremantleMedia North America is behind the format, which is being eyed for a summer run. (EW.com)

UNTITLED LOUIS CK/SPIKE FERESTEN PROJECT (CBS) - Ashley Tisdale ("Hellcats") has scored a role on the multi-camera comedy pilot, about a group of young people working to achieve their creative dreams amid tough financial times. She'll play Petra, the beautiful and sarcastic assistant to Anna (yet to be cast), a vintage clothing seller. Louis C.K. and Spike Feresten are behind the half-hour, which is set up at CBS Television Studios and the Universal Television-based BermanBraun. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED RALPH LAMB PROJECT (CBS) - Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis are both in talks to star in the pilot, a period drama about Ralph Lamb, the cowboy-turned-Las Vegas sheriff in the 1960s. Quaid would play said role, "a 4th generation Nevada cattle rancher; Korean war veteran, former M.P; a keen observer; strong-willed, independent; a good friend; a bad enemy," with Chiklis as Johnny Savino, an "up and coming Mob player, fresh from Chicago; came to Vegas to make his mark; a ruthless killer with a polished edge." James Mangold is set to helm the CBS Television Studios-based hour from a script by Greg Walker and Nicholas Pileggi. (Deadline.com)

WORKING CLASS HERO (FOX, New!) - Patton Oswalt and Mike Barker have landed a presentation order for a new animated comedy at the network "set in a world where superheroing is just another low-paid government job and centers on a dad (Oswalt) whose powers are no match for his misfit superhero co-workers and his demanding family." Barker penned the 20th Century Fox Television-based project alongside Brent Woods and Jordan Blum. Barker then will executive produce with Woods and Blum serving as co-executive producers and Oswalt receiving a producing credit. (Deadline.com)

'Conan' Extended Through April 2014 on TBS

'Conan' Extended Through April 2014 on TBS

You can understand how Conan O'Brien might never feel secure in a job again, but his future looks good at TBS: The network announced Wednesday it has renewed "Conan" through April 2014.

O'Brien, who left NBC in January 2010 after the network tried to push his "Tonight Show" back half an hour to make room for Jay Leno's return to late night, debuted on TBS in November 2010.

"I am excited to continue my run with TBS because they have been fantastic partners. This means I’ll be taping episodes of 'Conan' well into the Ron Paul presidency," O'Brien said in a statement.

The show has often struggled for ratings, but TBS noted that it has enjoyed audience growth for the last three months. Last month, it was up 27 percent in total viewers compared to October 2011, and up 21 percent among adults 18-49, the demographic most important to advertisers. This month the show is up another 11 percent among adults 18-49 and 8 percent in total viewers.

"Conan" is averaging 1.1 million viewers this year, averaging 702,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic.

In its first year, "Conan" earneed three Emmys nominations, including one for Outstanding Varirty Music or Comedy Series. O'Brien also won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Talk Show Host.