Marvel, ABC team on 'Avengers' television show

Marvel Entertainment and ABC Television are teaming up for an "Avengers-themed" show.

The TV series will run on the Disney-owned ABC channel, reports Deadline.

The project is expected to have a "light" connection to Marvel's film franchise.

It will be set in the same universe and share themes with Joss Whedon's Avengers film, but may not feature any of the same characters.

The series has been described as only a "kernel of an idea" so far, with various possibilities being considered including a "high-concept cop show".

ABC is also working on a Hulk show which is planned to debut in 2013 with Guillermo del Toro attached.

Big Brother evictee Caroline Wharram: 'I feel f***ing fantastic'

Caroline Wharram denied being malicious in the Big Brother house following her eviction tonight (July 27).

Asked by Brian Dowling what she thought of receiving more boos than anyone in the series so far, and "maybe ever", she replied that she felt "f**king fantastic".

"I'm sorry but I love it, I think it's hilarious," she declared. "And I think anyone that loves Luke [Anderson] and Adam [Kelly] are f**king deluded."

She then went on to accuse Conor McIntyre of trying to become those two contestants' "best friends" for tactical reasons, saying she would never have attempted the same thing with the "f**king boring" pair.

Explaining her eviction, Caroline described herself as "very, very, very rude, obnoxious, outspoken, [having] no redeeming qualities whatsoever", adding: "I knew I was going, I was 20,000% sure."

However, continuing to a background of "Off!" chants, she claimed that she would "never intend to upset someone", insisting that "it takes two to tango" and saying others had "upset" her.

After the 20-year-old had broken off to tell the audience to "chill out", Dowling suggested that Caroline had repeatedly apologised in the house but never changed her ways.

"I would apologise to anyone I've upset ever," she responded. "I'd never, ever, ever go about to upset anybody.

"I think that's... come on, obviously I'm not a malicious person... I have a sense of humour, I can be a super bitch, and I can be obnoxious and I think aloud, but I'd never try and hurt somebody's feelings, ever."

Caroline later described the Big Brother environment as "f**king awful", and said that Luke A is a "super, super duper manipulator, Caroline isn't".

She finished by describing Sara McLean as "the nicest girl in that house" but "annoying to live with", revealing that she would like Adam to leave next, and picking Scott Mason as her desired winner.

FX Crosses "The Bridge" - Network Orders Drama Pilot Based on International Hit Series

FX has placed an order for its next drama series pilot, The Bridge, based on an international hit series, which will be adapted for American television by Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) and Elwood Reid (Hawaii Five-O), announced John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks.

Adapted from the Scandinavian series Bron, The Bridge centers on two detectives from the United States and Mexico who must work together to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the border after a dead body is found on the bridge connecting El Paso and Juarez.

"We really loved the Scandinavian drama and Meredith's and Elwood's script adaption is very compelling and true to its progenitor," said Landgraf. "This show will introduce two distinctive and truly great characters to American audiences in Sonya North and Marco Ruiz, an American and a Mexican cop whose shotgun partnership leads them on a vast, complicated personal and professional journey. We believe setting this series in the U.S. and Mexican border cities of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez will make the American adaptation both riveting and relevant. We are proud to partner with Shine America on what we believe will be a truly great television series."

Stiehm and Reid worked together as Executive Producers of the CBS hit Cold Case, which Stiehm created. They are Executive Producers of The Bridge, alongside Executive Producers Carolyn Bernstein, Lars Blomgren, and Jane Featherstone. The Bridge is co-produced by Shine America and FX Productions. Production of the Pilot episode of The Bridge begins this fall.

"The Bridge started as a successful drama series produced by our sister company in Sweden and it has since enjoyed tremendous success around the world," says Carolyn Bernstein, Shine America's Executive Vice President of Scripted Programming. "We are thrilled to be developing it with FX, whom we consider the ideal partner to bring this ground-breaking series to an American audience. Meredith and Elwood have written a captivating pilot script that is respectful to the DNA of the original series, but takes it in a bold new direction."

Originally debuting Sweden in September 2011, Bron centers on a murder investigation following the discovery of a body on the Oresund bridge between Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden where a detective from each country has to work together to solve the mystery. The series was originally created by Hans Rosenfeldt, Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein and is a Filmlance and Nimbus Film Production. Lars Blomgren is Executive Producer, Anders Landstrom and Bo Ehrhardt producers. The Bridge has now been sold in 55 territories including the UK where it is currently BBC4's highest rated program of 2012.

Syfy to Debut "Hot Set" on Tuesday, September 18 at 10:00/9:00c

Syfy will roll out a new competition series this fall in which Hollywood production designers go head-to-head in order to create "an original and signature movie set that transports the viewer into an immersive world."

Dubbed "Hot Set," look for the newcomer to premiere on Tuesday, September 18 at 10:00/9:00c following the fellow Mission Control Media-produced "Face Off." Michael Agbabian and Dwight Smith are the executive producers.

As previously announced, "Face Off" will kick off its latest search for the next great special effects make-up artist on Tuesday, August 21 with a special 90-minute premiere at 9:00/8:00c.

Gary Barlow 'to mentor over-25s in next series of The X Factor'

Gary Barlow has reportedly been assigned the over-25s group in the next series of The X Factor.

He has the task of mentoring those selected and attempting to guide them towards victory in the competition, the first for an over-25 entrant since Steve Brookstein's win in the first series in 2004.

The Sun reports that Simon Cowell personally rang the judges and assigned them their categories.

Louis Walsh has the Groups category, Tulisa Contostavlos will be mentoring the Girls and Nicole Scherzinger will look after the Boys.

A source close to the star reportedly said: "Gary doesn't like joke acts and the Overs category is often full of novelty acts. In the past, when Louis has mentored them, the public got used to jokey acts like Wagner Carrilho and Johnny Robinson.

"Gary is preparing himself for an uphill battle."

The next series of The X Factor is also set to feature a number of acts who are returning to the competition, including Jade Richards and Sian Phillips.

FX Asked 'Louie' for Changes to Avoid Offending Catholics

FX, famous for giving creative freedom to its shows, asked Louis C.K. to make changes to an episode of "Louie" called "God" to avoid offending Catholics.

Network president John Landgraf talked about the decision during a Television Critics Association panel on Saturday. He is known for letting his shows push boundaries: The last season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," for example, featured a mock funeral for a baby.

C.K. said he was grateful for the suggestion. He said he has worked on television long enough to know where the line is, but not always.

"I'm like a dog with a shock collar who you can take off the collar after a while. I know where the fence is," he said.

Neither C.K. not Landgraf described exactly what was changed in the 2010 episode. Landgraf said it involved "Catholic iconography" and that the network asked for the changes to be "a bit senstitive."

The version of the episode that ultimately aired still had the potential to offend -- and plenty of Catholic iconography.

It features a man in a bathroom inserting his penis in a glory hole called "Heaven," and expressing faith that nothing bad will come of it. In another segment, Louie says during a standup set that God is "an asshole" and compares him to "a shitty girlfriend" who constantly wants you to prove your love.

But the most striking scenes occur in flashback. A nun, trying to explain to Louie and his Catholic school classmates how much Jesus suffered, brings in a doctor to conduct a "theoretical autopsy" on Jesus. He delivers a long, joke-free description of how Jesus was tortured and died.

At one point the doctor orders Louie to drive a nail into a classmate's wrist. Louie is so traumatized that he later knocks down a crucufix, pulls the nails from Jesus' statue, and frees him.

The episode, the eleventh to air in the comedy series' first season, makes few attempts to be funny.

Landgraf has asked for a change before to avoid offending Catholics. In the first season of "Always Sunny,"  he asked creator Rob McElhenney to change a child molester priest into a child molester gym teacher. McElhenney agreed.

Development Update: the 29th of July

AREA 51 (AMC, New!) - Annie Jacobsen's best-selling book is set to be the focus of a potential drama at the cable channel. Todd Ellis Kessler ("Pan Am") is on board to pen the AMC Studios-based hour with Valhalla Entertainment's Gale Anne Hurd ("The Walking Dead") also serving as an executive producer. Jacobsen herself will also receive a co-producer credit. The non-fiction tome, subtitled "An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base," is billed as an oral history of the much-ballyhooed military installation. (NYPost.com)

MODERN FAMILY (ABC) - The network and 20th Century Fox Television have successfully concluded their salary renegotiations with co-stars Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Ed O'Neill and Sofia Vergara. Said group - who subsequently have dropped their lawsuit - will now receive between $170,000-180,000 per episode, up from their current salaries of $65,000 (aside from O'Neill, who was previously over $100,000) an episode as well as annual increases and a piece of the show's back-end. In exchange they'll add an extra year to their seven-year contracts. Production on the new season will begin on Monday with co-creator Steven Levitan slated to direct the opener. (Deadline.com)

ROGUE (DirecTV) - Ian Hart ("Luck") has joined the cast of the upcoming drama, about a morally and emotionally conflicted cop, Grace (Thandie Newton), who is tormented by the possibility that her own actions contributed to her son's death. He'll play an Oakland Police Department detective who works with her. Marton Csokas also stars in the project, from creator Matthew Parkhill. Entertainment One Television, Greenroom Entertainment and Momentum Entertainment are co-producing. (Deadline.com)

'Louie,' 'Game of Thrones,' 'Homeland' Thrive at TCA Awards

"Homeland" and "Louie" scored two awards each at the Television Critics Association Awards, as "Game of Thrones" won Program of the Year.

Bryan Cranston, whose series "Breaking Bad" won for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, hosted the awards, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

"Homeland" star Claire Danes won for Individual Achievement in Drama, and her show won for Outstanding New Program. Louis C.K. won for Individual Achievement in Comedy, and his series, "Louie," won for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.

Here is the full list of winners:

Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming: So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)

Individual Achievement in Drama: Claire Danes (Homeland, Showtime)

Individual Achievement in Comedy: Louis C.K. (Louie, FX)

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: Louie (FX)

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: 60 Minutes (CBS)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: Switched at Birth (ABC Family)

Outstanding New Program: Homeland (Showtime)

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials: Masterpiece: Downton Abbey (PBS)

Outstanding Achievement in Drama: Breaking Bad (AMC)

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: Louie (FX)

Career Achievement Award: David Letterman

Heritage Award: Cheers

Program of the Year: Game of Thrones (HBO)

Paddy McGuinness to host 'TV Burp'-style show for Channel 4?

Paddy McGuinness is looking to star in a TV Burp-style show for Channel 4.

The host of Take Me Out filmed a pilot called Paddy's TV Show in Manchester last week.

The Sun reports that ITV Studios describe the programme as "a comic look at TV shows that might normally slip under the radar".

If picked up, it will be McGuinness's first project for Channel for since Phoenix Nights spinoff Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere in 2004.

McGuinness's Take Me Out has proved a big ratings success for ITV, but has been rocked by a number of scandals in recent months.

The hugely popular TV Burp aired its final edition in March after Harry Hill quit the show, citing the strain of the tough working schedule.

Big Brother housemates to take part in endurance test

Big Brother housemates are to stand on boxes in an endurance task labelled 'Standing on the Shoulders of Prizes'.

Housemates will be called to stand on boxes in the garden, with each box including a potential prize, including a 50" LED TV, a mountain bike, £1,000 cash and a toilet brush.

However, the only person who will win a prize will be the housemate who stays on their box the longest.

The prizes will be listed for the housemates on a board in the garden, but no-one will know what their box contains.

In a twist, one housemate will be called to the Diary Room to allocate the prizes prior to the beginning of the task.

When housemates decide that they can no longer stand on the box, they must say their name followed by 'is no longer present', before they are allowed to see what they could have won.

Big Brother is shown daily on Channel 5 at 9pm.

Russell Brand Explains Sarah Palin: 'People Want to F--- Her'

A barefoot Russell Brand explained to critics Saturday how his talk show, "Brand X," will soon become more conventional.

But not too conventional. He ended a panel at the Television Critics Association on Saturday by explaining what he believes is Sarah Palin's appeal: "People want to fuck her. That's why they tolerate the other stuff."

But first, about the lack of shoes.

Brand has sold himself as a fast-talking, free-associating, antiestablishment force in show business, and dressed the part for the panel. He wore ripped jeans, beads, and some kind of leather strap on his bicep. His hair, beard and stare suggested a more handsome Charles Manson.

The lack of shoes only helped the image. And that's the conundrum of Russell Brand: Is he a delightfully weird anti-authority figure who somehow wandered into television and films, or someone who got there through canny packaging as an anti-authority figure?

Either way, his look provided him lots of material. Where were his shoes, someone asked.

"They're home with their stepmom," Brand said. He later explained that he had sustained a minor injury from a strap while kickboxing -- "essentially a rugburn." But he also noted that shoes are an often non-essential addition.

"The real question is, why are you all wearing shoes?" he asked.

Adding to the argument that Brand is about show business first, and wild self-expression second: He's making his talk show look more like all the others. It will have guests, including, perhaps, Charlie Sheen. (Brand joked that each of Sheen's personalities could appear.) He won't be so "nuts-out anti-establishment." And the show will look more conventional.

That said, he believes comedians should be free to say what they want. Asked about recent jokes by Dane Cook and Daniel Tosh that angered people (Brand's own Palin joke wasn't so different from ones by Tracy Morgan that plenty of people didn't like) Brand said people forget that comedians are comedians.

"I don't think we should create a state where people are afraid to talk," he said. "That could have much worse consequences."

TV Tonight 29th of July 2012

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

    3 S01E02: "We Will Meet Again"
    60 Minutes (US) S45E06: "Season 45, Episode 6"
    Aqua Teen Hunger Force S09E06: "Bookie"
    Arcana Famiglia S01E05: "TBA"
    Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes S02E14: "Behold...The Vision"
    Bar Rescue S02E02: "Tiki Curse"
    Bar Rescue S02E01: "Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Dumb"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E17: "Olympic Games - 17"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E21: "Olympic Games - 21"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E25: "Olympic Games - 25"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E20: "Olympic Games - 20"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E24: "Olympic Games - 24"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E28: "Olympic Sportsday"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E19: "Olympic Games - 19"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E23: "Olympic Games - 23"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E27: "Olympics Tonight"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E18: "Olympic Games - 18"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E22: "Olympic Games - 22"
    BBC Olympic Games 2012 S01E26: "Olympic Games - 26"
    Big Ang S01E04: "Big Spender"
    Big Brother (UK) S14E59: "BB 13, Episode 59"
    Big Brother (US) S14E08
    Big Brother After Dark S07E18: "Season 7, Episode 18"
    Big Brother's Bit on the Side S04E55: "Series 4, Show 55"
    Black Dynamite S01E03
    Breaking Bad S05E03: "Hazard Pay"
    Bridezillas S09E08: "Brittany & Michelle"
    Builder Boss S01E12: "The Coach House"
    Builder Boss S01E11: "Master Bed and Bath"
    Builder Boss S01E13: "The Plantation Estate"
    Call of the Wildman S02E11: "Night of the Digging Dead"
    Cardfight!! Vanguard S02E17: "Hero's Challenge"
    Chopped S12E10: "Grill Masters (2)"
    Combat Pawn S01E03: "Engraved Gun"
    Come Dine With Me S19E38: "Series 19, Come Dine With Me"
    Continuum S01E09: "Family Time"
    Cupcake Wars S06E11: "Angry Birds"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E301: "Episode 1981"
    Empire Girls: Julissa & Adrienne S01E08
    Engineering Giants S01E03: "Ferry Strip-Down"
    Episodes S02E05: "Season 2, Episode 5"
    Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition S02E06: "Jonathan"
    Formula 1 S04E28: "Hungarian Grand Prix Highlights"
    Gator Boys S01E13: "See You Later, Alligators"
    Good Luck Charlie S03E11: "Wentz's Weather Girls"
    Hillbilly Handfishin' S02E01: "Preachin' to the Catfish"
    Hoarding: Buried Alive S04E04: "This is Unreal"
    House Hunters on Vacation S02E08
    Hunter X Hunter Remake S01E41: "Gathering x Of x Heroes"
    I Survived S06E32: "Midsi/Tammy/Leona"
    Ice Road Truckers S06E09: "Braking Bad"
    Insane Coaster Wars S01E05: "Extreme Heights"
    Iron Chef America S09E40: "Symon vs. Nunez"
    Jerseylicious S04E20: "Battle of Beauty"
    Keeping Up with the Kardashians S07E12: "Parent Trapped"
    Kidou Senshi Gundam Age S01E42: "Girard Spriggan"
    Klusjesmannen, De S02E04: "Season 2, Episode 4"
    Kokoro Connect S01E04: "Twin Feelings"
    Kuroko no Basuke S01E17: "Episode 17"
    Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon S02E04: "Episode 4"
    Masterchef Australia S05E02: "All Stars - 2"
    Masterpiece S42E20
    Mega Dens S03E03: "There's a Plane in my Mega Den"
    Mob Wives: Chicago S01E08: "Daddy Issues"
    My First Place S22E17: "The Search for The Perfect Home"
    My Yard Goes Disney S02E09
    Nightmare Next Door S02E19: "Deadly Dealings"
    On The Case With Paula Zahn S06E09: "Fatal Footage"
    One Piece (JP) S06E41: "Iron Pirate! Entry of Franky Shogun"
    Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle S02E17: "Episode 17"
    Political Animals S01E03: "The Woman Problem"
    Rinne no Lagrange S02E04: "A Reunion in Kamogawa"
    Saint Seiya Omega S01E17
    Shake It Up S02E26: "Slumber It Up"
    Shark Wranglers S01E05: "Line of Fire"
    Sinbad S01E04: "Old Man of the Sea"
    Small Town Security S01E03: "Dr. Sandy and the Swear Jar"
    Snapped S09E15: "Nanette Johnston"
    Storage Hunters S02E08: "Sin City Sucker Punch"
    Strange Sex S03E06: "Sexaholic & Broken Genitals"
    Strange Sex S03E05: "Super Orgasmic Man & Big Love"
    Sunday Best (2007) S05E06: "TBA"
    Taboo S09E07: "Nasty Jobs"
    Tari Tari S01E05: "Throwing Away and Holding On"
    The 2012 Summer Olympics S01E03: "Season 1, Episode 3"
    The Newsroom (2012) S01E06: "Bullies"
    The Only Way Is Essex S06E03: "Series 6, Episode 3"
    The Project S04E179: "Season 4, Episode 179"
    The Real Housewives of New Jersey S04E14: "Pack Your Baggage"
    Thelma's Gypsy Girls S01E04: "Episode 4"
    Titanic: Blood and Steel S01E12: "Season 1, Episode 12"
    Toriko S02E17: "Episode 17"
    True Blood S05E08: "Somebody That I Used to Know"
    Uchuu Kyoudai S01E18: "Kape! Kenji!"
    Ultimate Spider-Man S01E16: "The Attack of the Beetle"
    Watch What Happens: Live S07E26: "TBA"
    Weeds S08E05: "Red in Tooth and Claw"
    Winx Club S05E26: "Duel in the Omega Deminsion"
    Winx Club S05E25: "Home at Last"
    Xtreme Waterparks S01E05: "Getting Wet in Denver"

NBC Scores Best-Ever Overnight Ratings for Non-U.S. Olympics Opening

NBC scored the best overnight ratings ever for an opening ceremony of a non-U.S. Olympics.

The opening ceremony, featuring director Danny Boyle's spectacular, song-filled celebration of Great Britain, earned a 23.0 overnight rating and a 40 share from 8 p.m. to midnight, according to data from The Nielsen Company. Viewers saw James Bond, Sir Paul McCartney, dancing and texting Britons, and a parachuting Queen Elizabeth.

The 23.0/40 is seven percent higher than the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics (21.5/37), 10 percent higher than the Lillehammer Games (21.0/34), and 15 percent higher than the opening ceremony for the 2010 Vancouver Games (20.0/33).

Opening ceremonies for U.S. opening ceremonies have been much stronger: Los Angeles in 1984 had a 29.5/55, Salt Lake City in 2002 had a 27.9/43, and Atlanta in 1996 had a 27.2/47.

Iwan Rheon Cast In 'Game Of Thrones' Season 3

War is coming for Iwan Rheon!

HBO has confirmed to HuffPost TV that former "Misfits" actor Iwan Rheon will be joining the "Game Of Thrones" Season 3 cast as "Boy," which could mean he'll be playing Ramsay Snow, otherwise known as the "Bastard Of Bolton."

Rumors have been swirling that the "Misfits" alum since a photo surfaced of him hanging out with "Game of Thrones" cast.

Rheon is one of many new characters heading to "Game Of Thrones" in Season 3: 14 other Season 3 roles have officially been filled, listed below, per HBO's press release.

-Nathalie Emannuel will play Missandei. "Originally from the peaceful island of Naath, Missandei was sold into slavery as a child, along with her brother. She received education in various languages and became a translator to the slave trader Kraznys in Astapor."

-Kerry Ingram will play Shireen Baratheon. Shireen is "the only child of Stannis Baratheon. An avid reader, she escapes her lonely life through myths and stories –- her books are her most treasured possessions."

-Paul Kaye will play Thoros of Myr. "A key member of the outlaw band known as the Brotherhood Without Banners, he is a Red Priest, in service of the Lord of Light, and originally hails from the Free City of Myr, in Essos."

-Thomas Brodie-Sangster will play Jojen Reed, "a mysterious and enigmatic young man who becomes an important ally to Bran Stark."

-Ellie Kendrick will play Meera Reed. "The eldest daughter of Howland Reed and a staunch Stark loyalist, Meera and her younger brother Jojen seek out Bran Stark to protect him on his hard journey north."

-Richard Dormer will play Beric Dondarrion. "Once the lord of Blackhaven and a celebrated warrior, Lord Beric has now become the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners, a band of vigilante outlaws."

-Kristofer Hivju will play Tormund Giantsbane. "A famed wildling warrior and chief lieutenant of the 'King Beyond the Wall,' Mance Rayder, Tormund is fearsome and strong, with a large build and a beard to match."

-Philip McGinley will play Anguy, "an extremely skilled archer and key member of the outlaw band known as the Brotherhood Without Banners."

-Tara Fitzgerald will play Selyse Baratheon. "The wife of Stannis Baratheon, Selyse spends much of her life in seclusion, shut away in a gloomy tower."

-Tobias Menzies will play Edmure Tully. "The younger brother of Catelyn Stark, Edmure has recently become Lord of Riverrun in the wake of his father’s death."

-Anton Lesser will play Qyburn, "a former maester of the Citadel, who was stripped of his chain many years ago."

James Van Der Beek wants Katie Holmes reunion on 'Don't Trust The B'

James Van Der Beek has called for a reunion with his Dawson's Creek co-star Katie Holmes on his new show Don't Trust The B---- in Apartment 23.

The actor said that he would love to see Holmes cameo in the ABC sitcom as a "demented" version of herself.

"I'd love to see her saucier side," he told TV Guide. "I think it would be fun if she came on as herself, but a demented, bizarro version."

Krysten Ritter, who stars as the eponymous 'b----' Chloe, said that Holmes could be her "lesbian love interest", while creator Nahnatchka Khan suggested playing on a feud amongst the Dawson's Creek cast.

"I think it would be really funny if there is some sort of bad blood between her and James that's not really been addressed," she stated.

"For example, if she thinks it's his funeral and she shows up in a red dress with champagne, like, 'Ding dong, the Beek is dead'."

It was reported shortly after the announcement of Holmes's divorce from Tom Cruise that the Mission: Impossible star had banned her from a Dawson's Creek reunion.

'True Blood's Wes Brown replaces Neil Jackson on NBC's 'Infamous'

Wes Brown has joined the cast of NBC's upcoming series Infamous.

Brown replaces Neil Jackson in the role of womanising bad boy Julian, reports TVLine.

Infamous stars Meagan Good as Detective Joanna Locasto, who returns undercover to the wealthy Bowers family she grew up in as the maid's daughter, in order to solve the death of a famous socialite who was her best friend.

The new show also features Victor Garber, Katherine LaNasa, Tate Donovan and Ella Rae Peck.

Brown was previously cast in 90210 in a recurring role for its upcoming fifth season.

His television credits include True Blood, Private Practice, Hart of Dixie and Scandal.

Steve Levitan: 'Modern Family' Deal May Be Done By Monday

"Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan says a deal is close on the contracts for the show's stars.

"They're very close. Everybody is feeling optimistic about how it's going," he told TheWrap. "You know we had a table read Thursday that went very well. I think that lifted everybody's spirits. I will be surprised if we're not back in business on Monday."

Does he expect a deal to be done by Monday?

"We're all extremely hopeful that it will be and it feels like that is doable," he said.

Levitan said he has talked to all sides in the dispute. He spoke to TheWrap after a week in which the cast initially refused to do a table read for the series, and sued 20th Century Fox Television to be released from their contracts. They later agreed to do the table read, in a sign that tensions might be thawing.

ABC entertainment president Paul Lee also said Friday that he was "optimistic" a deal was close.

Spencer Matthews looked like a Ken doll, says 'Bachelor' contestant

Danielle Sheehan from The Bachelor has opened up about the show, calling it "pointless" and its star Spencer Matthews an "arrogant toff".

The 22-year-old spoke to Reveal about how the Made in Chelsea star looked like a "cardboard cutout" and was only after sex.

"He comes across on camera like he's looking for a relationship, and that's all about love, but off camera he said, 'F**k love, let's all just have sex'," the model from Norfolk claimed.

Sheehan also revealed how Matthews was embarrassed about his height, saying: "Anyone taller than him had to wear flip-flops under a long dress."

She added that Matthews's Made in Chelsea co-star Louise Thompson, who was in a relationship with Spencer, is not a fan of the show.

"She always tweets nasty things about the show and slags off the girls," Sheehan said. "She started following me on Twitter the other day."

Read the latest issue of Reveal to see Danielle Sheehan's interview in full - on sale now. The Bachelor currently airs Fridays on Channel 5.

Cheryl Cole's niece on 'X Factor': 'They asked me to talk about her'

Cheryl Cole's niece has claimed that she was prompted to talk about her famous aunt when she auditioned for The X Factor.

Melissa Armstrong, 21, was told she has a "nice sweet voice" by judge Tulisa Contostavlos, but was also urged to follow in Cole's footsteps by joining a girl group.

Asked if she told Cole she was auditioning, Armstrong told Heat: "No, I was too nervous. I didn't want to jinx it.

"I never auditioned before, when she was a judge, because I didn't want everyone to think it was biased. It would have been really weird auditioning for her."

She continued: "I got through two auditions with the producers before they found out Cheryl was my aunt.

"At the [filmed] audition they were prompting me to start taking about Cheryl. They asked us to sing Cheryl's songs a few times and I was dubious at first."

Armstrong added: "I didn't go on to be Cheryl. I think it could be manipulated on telly to make it look like I just want to be her.

"She'll know I didn't go on to copy her. I'm in the recording studio right now, but I think I might try and get in a girlband. I'm done with The X Factor - I hate queueing!"

Emmys Consider More Nominees, Andy Griffith Tribute, Miniseries Category

The Emmys are considering changes great and small as they prepare for this year's awards.

Among the biggest possible changes is one that it's too late to institute this year. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is considering whether to add to the number of nominees in the major categories. The Oscars expanded the number of best picture nominees to 10 in 2009.

"I think that's something that we absolutely need to look at," Academy chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum (left) said in a Television Critics Association panel Friday. "You look at the caliber of the six dramas that were nominated, and there's obviously several other dramas on television which are worthy of being in that category. It's something that we as a board of governors should take a look at."

Rosenblum also said the academy is "carefully" monitoring the best movie or miniseries category, where three of this year's nominees -- "American Horror Story," "Luther" and "Sherlock," could also be considered drama series. He said the academy would "see how 'American Horror Story' plays out" and will keep track of whether each entry should continue to qualify as a miniseries.

Producer Don Mischer said in response to a question about whether Andy Griffith might merit a special tribute that the show is considering it. When an especially notable person dies, he says, the show sometimes focuses on that person at the start or end of the "In Memoriam" segment.

Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel, meanwhile, suggested the "In Memoriam" song be whistled in honor of Griffith.

Mischer noted that the segment is often ranked as the most popular part of the show, besides the host. Deciding who to include is always a difficult decision, he said.

"This is an issue that you face often," he said. "There are many more people who in fact deserve to be in there."

Jimmy Kimmel's Best Jokes From the TCA Emmys Panel

Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel's proposals for a better Emmys include whistling the "In Memoriam" song in honor of Andy Griffith and firing awards out of a T-shirt cannon to speed things along.

Or so he told reporters at a Television Critics Association panel on this year's Emmys.

He also talked about why cable shows get so many nominations, his "constant dialogue" with Oprah Winfrey, and, in a serious moment, his thoughts on his former "Man Show" co-host, Adam Carolla, who said that women writers aren't as funny as men.

"I think Adam says a lot of things he doesn't mean," Kimmel told TheWrap.

Here are some of the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" host's best jokes as he prepares for his first turn as Emmys host.

On not being asked to host ABC's last Emmys telecast: "I actually took some satisfaction out of it because everyone, especially you guys, seemed to hate how the broadcast came out, and I was able to look good by not doing anything at all. That's my goal in life, by the way."

Twitter: "I think Twitter has made it easier to say something stupid to everyone in the world in the middle of the night. I think Twitter should be taken away from us."

Why cable shows get so many nominations: "I'll give you two reasons: nudity and profanity. If we could have more of that on network television I think we would have a lot more Emmys. I'd like to appear nude on my show."

'In Memoriam': "I love the 'In Memoriam.' I love that even in death you're subject to a popularity contest."

Oprah: "I have kept in touch with Oprah a little bit, I'm confounded to say. … Oprah and I are always talking. It's a constant dialogue. She calls me her new Gayle."

Joe McElderry 'proud of X Factor roots'

Joe McElderry has asserted that he is proud of his X Factor roots.

The star - who won the 2009 series of the singing competition - admitted that he gets annoyed with people who slate the show and is grateful for the opportunities it has given him.

"I'm always proud of where I came from on X Factor. Without that nothing else would've happened," McElderry told BBC Radio 2's Patrick Kielty.

"I've seen people who slate it and it really annoys me. It's great that people are having success but they used that show and got 20 million people watching them and that's how they're selling albums.

"Without that show I wouldn't have been able to do Popstar to Operastar or be on to this new album. I never try to get rid of it, I just try and progress from it."

The singer is currently preparing to release his fourth studio album Here's What I Believe and will distribute the title track - which he co-wrote - as the set's lead single.

"It's one of the first songs I've written for any of my albums. I've never tried songwriting before and it's one of my first attempts. I hope people like it because I can't blame it on somebody else now!" McElderry joked.

"I was really scared to do it. I think it was a confidence thing and I never wanted to do it but my new manager persuaded me to try it.

"The first song I wrote, 'What Have I Done', got picked up for the album straight away. Everybody at the label liked it and that gave me a bit of confidence. I've got three tracks on the album which is quite a big deal considering I've not written before."

Joe McElderry's new album Here's What I Believe will be released on September 10.