All My Children,' 'One Life to Live' Revivals Back On, With Series Creator Agnes Nixon on Board

After a series of twists that would rival any soap opera plot line, "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" are officially returning -- and the woman who started them is on board to help craft their revivals.

Jeff Kwatinetz and Richard H. Frank, founders of the production company Prospect Park, told TheWrap on Monday that the company is bringing "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" to its The OnLine Network, with the soaps' creator, Agnes Nixon, having an "active involvement" with the revivals via a consulting agreement with Prospect Park.

Also read: No Soap: "All My Children," "One Life to Live" Online Plans Ditched

Prospect Park has also hired "One Life to Live" director Jennifer Pepperman to executive-produce the "One Life to Live" revival and "All My Children" producer Ginger Smith to executive-produce "All My Children." Foz McDermott, former coordinating producer of "Heroes," will serve as head of production for "One Life to Live."

Production on the series will begin in February.

The announcement comes after Prospect Park signed guild agreements with SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America to revive the series.

The road to revival for the beloved soap operas has been a long one; Prospect Park had hoped to bring the series online in 2011, after they were canceled by ABC, but that plan was scuttled in  November 2011 after financing for the revivals fell through.

JJ Abrams: 'Fringe finale is incredibly emotional'

J.J. Abrams has spoken out about the series finale of Fox series Fringe.

The executive producer of the sci-fi show told delegates at the TCA winter press tour that the series finale will be 'incredibly emotional'.

"It will be great," Abrams promised reporters at the event in Pasadena on Sunday (January 6).

Although Abrams revealed that although he has yet to watch the final instalment, he has read the script.

"I mean, the script is unbelievable. I think it will be incredibly emotional," Abrams continued, adding: "If it's not satisfying, I don't know what satisfying is."

The final episode of Fringe will air on Fox on Friday, January 18, and will be simulcast on Sky1 in the UK at 1.10am on Saturday, January 19.

Vinnie Jones to play Sherlock's enemy Moriarty in 'Elementary'?

Vinnie Jones is to appear in a new episode of Sherlock Holmes drama Elementary.

The Snatch actor will play 'M.' in the CBS procedural's 12th episode, a British criminal billed as "Sherlock's greatest enemy".

In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original stories, Holmes was plagued by his nemesis Professor Moriarty - the villainous character debuted in 1893 short story 'The Adventure of the Final Problem'.

Moriarty has previously been portrayed by actors such as Eric Porter in ITV's Sherlock Holmes series, by Andrew Scott in the BBC's Sherlock and by Jared Harris in 2011 film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Jones - who has not been officially confirmed to be playing the character - is best known for his roles in such films as 2000's Gone in Sixty Seconds and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand.

His past television credits include a guest role on Chuck and a recurring role on short-lived superhero drama The Cape.

'Splash!': TV belly flop or guilty Saturday night pleasure?

Celebrities. Diving. Hosted by Vernon Kay. This was always going to be on the Don't Scare The Hare/Pets Win Prizes/Ice Warriors end of the Saturday night TV scale, but not even in our wildest imaginations could we have imagined how terrible (and simultaneously brilliant) Tom Daley's Splash! would be.

Vernon Kay (in dodgy shorts) and Gabby Logan hosted the show with a mixture of dead-behind-the-eyes horror and pure shame exuding from their every pore. Rarely could you find a duo with less chemistry as they stumbled through their lines together like a couple on the worst first date imaginable.

We had the Splash Dive Crew, a collection of youngsters hurling themselves into what looks little grander than your local swimming baths and prancing around in sparkly swimming costumes and James Bond tuxedos on the board. Even the cameramen appeared bored by the collective, switching to camera angles of the baffled audience and celebrities and ignoring the water acrobatics entirely.

And then there was the star of the show, Tom Daley. A more lovely and talented lad you are unlikely to meet, but I'd stick to the twisted pikes and tight trunks if I was him, because he's got the on-screen charisma of a packet of Rice Krispies.

The celebrities? ITV picked the one member from the history of the Sugababes who was scared of water, a chap from Benidorm who went from wiggling his bum in only a handkerchief-sized pair of trunks to talking about his nightmares at getting caught in the Thailand tsunami and 'Hollywood star' Omid Djalili, who at the very least embraced the show's silliness, ditching technique and just jumping from the highest board possible, sizeable-belly first.

No amount of screaming from adolescent teens at his every buttock flex could mask wooden and laughably silly remarks such as, "If he is able to conquer diving, he definitely isn't going to be scared of water again".

My personal highlight from the opening episode was the judging panel - a trio who were beyond parody and who I will be mainly tuning in for next weekend.

Team GB coach Andy Banks was a Mr Serious, treating the whole ludicrous show like it was a genuine sporting occasion of Olympic significance, and I never stopped shouting WTF at my TV screen whenever Jo Brand appeared. Yes, that Jo Brand.

But best of the lot was former Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor. He may have spent his career diving, but he's also clearly got worn out VHS tapes of Nasty Nigel on Popstars and a Sky box full of Craig Revel Horwood issuing put-downs on Strictly and was like a giddy 8-year-old hyped-up on Vimto unleashed into the world of live TV.

Whether he was spectacularly failing to be the show's Mr Nasty (it helps if you don't give higher scores than the other judges Leon), futilely attempting to spark an argument with Jo Brand, or whooping about the fact that he's in tears at a dive ("Your journey - unbelievable!") when he clearly isn't, I found myself unable to keep my eyes off him. It's pointless doing a reality TV comedy spoof ever again, because Leon nailed the gag on Saturday.

The lack of actual 'splash' from the celebrities was the main disappointment. We got Omid Djalili doing his best flying pig impression and a Sugababe who could barely swim pretty much just falling into the water, but the actual diving only took up about 30 seconds of the show in total. And then we got an overload of replays and commentary about "backward bananas".

I want to see Joey Essex belly flopping 27 times. I want an ex-soap cast member to be hurled backwards off the 10 metre board. I want Vernon Kay and Leon Taylor taking a running jump and pirouetting into the pool in only their Speedos.

When Splash! gets stupid, it's funny, throwaway TV that stands proudly alongside the much-missed Hole in the Wall as a preposterous guilty pleasure. When it gets serious and Gabby and Vernon feign excitement at dance routines from the 'Splash Dive Crew' and a flip board jump from Jenni Falconer, it's time to reach for the remote.

Celebrity Big Brother is f**king boring, says Jasmine Lennard

Former Celebrity Big Brother star Jasmine Lennard has branded this year's housemates "f**king boring".

The model and ex-girlfriend of Simon Cowell, who was the first person evicted from last year's summer series, said that only X Factor's Rylan Clark had potential in a "really poor" and "bland" cast.

When a journalist declared on Twitter that Big Brother "need a 'jasmine' in there", Lennard replied: "Badly...this is dry. If your going not going to pay for big names you've got to get the casting right.

"These people aren't...entertaining me. At all. Rylan has potential if they push him. But the rest of them may as well not be there are far as i'm...concerned.

"If i walked in there right now all i would have to say to THEM ALL is do you have any idea how f**king boring you all... are...Let's get this show started. C'mon @CBB#fireworksplease...It's really poorly cast.

Lennard went on to bemoan the lack of "eye candy" in the house and said that Page 3 star Lacey Banghard would be a pointless signing "if someone doesn't f**k her".

"The glamour model has no one to play with and is just wondering around aimlessly, there's no eye candy... for the girls," she said. "There is no potential for any romance.

"The cast is SO bland. Just put them all in the basement and leave them...there. #endof."

Lennard famously caused controversy in the Celebrity Big Brother house by describing co-star Danica Thrall as "a little prostitute", before calling the lingerie model and their fellow housemate Rhian Sugden "skanks" in her live eviction interview.

Ryan Lochte Gets E! Reality Show

You saw this one coming, right? Swimmer Ryan Lochte is getting a reality show on E!

The Olympic gold medal winner -- known for his catchphrase "Jeah" (pronounced zh-yah) -- will star in "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?" The series will follow him as he meets women, copes with the fallout of his mom saying he only has time for one-night stands, explores his interest in fashion, and even occasionally swims.

Starz Signs First-Look Deal With Former Legendary TV Head Jeremy Elice

Jeremy Elice, the former head of Legendary Pictures' television division, has landed at Starz with a new deal, a spokesman for the cable network told TheWrap on Monday.

Under the two-year agreement, Starz will have first-look rights at projects from Elice's new company, Elice Island Entertainment.

Also read: "Departed" Writer William Monahan Doing 1960s Drama "Crime" for Starz

In addition to his stint at Legendary, Elice was also a development executive at AMC, where he was instrumental in bringing the hits "Breaking Bad" and "The Walking Dead" to the network.

Dancing on Ice judges get 'barrage of abuse' over Pamela Anderson exit

The Dancing on Ice judges have received a "barrage of abusive comments" online following last night's (January 6) shock elimination of Pamela Anderson, according to panellist Jason Gardiner.

Anderson was voted out in the ITV show's premiere after stumbling in the skate-off against Keith Chegwin due to a wardrobe malfunction.

Gardiner and his fellow judges - Robin Cousins, Ashley Roberts and Karen Barber - unanimously chose to save Chegwin, despite him finishing bottom of the leaderboard after the cast's initial routines.

Writing on his official Facebook after angry viewers condemned the decision, Gardiner explained that the panel voted off Anderson - who was third in the rankings before the public vote - because the bottom two are now judged solely on their 'save me skates'.

"The judges can not take into account anything they have done before or what potential they may bring to the show for the future," he stated. "Pamela made quite a few errors throughout and Keith didn't. This is what makes the skate-off so unpredictable and exciting.

"As for the barrage of abusive comments on Twitter towards the Judges, I would like to point out that the public vote ultimately decides the bottom two for the skate off.

"Therefore Pamela didn't receive enough votes either because she isn't popular enough or people just assumed she would be safe and didn't vote."

Gardiner had previously tweeted that the elimination of Anderson and her professional partner Matt Evers was "a shock result but the right one".

Cousins, meanwhile, admitted on his own profile that the first Dancing on Ice elimination "certainly didn't play out as expected".

Paula Hamilton threatens to leave Celeb Big Brother after nominations

Paula Hamilton threatened to quit Celebrity Big Brother after being nominated for eviction by her fellow housemates.

The housemates were gathered on the sofa and informed of the results of the first nominations, with Hamilton receiving four nominations and Heidi and Spencer receiving 10.

The news was met with laughter from the housemates, including the American duo, but Hamilton was upset, telling the others: "I'm going to go and pack now, I've just gone from boiling to freezing cold," before heading into the bedroom.

She then told her housemates that she will be voted out because the British public already think she is "crazy".

Speaking to Big Brother, she said: "It's very, very different for everyone...Heidi and Spencer, to get 10 out of 10 doesn't affect their career. It makes me want to draw back from people."

Later, she said that she had decided to stay but "won't be close to the women in the house", before adding: "I know it's the girls."

Rylan Clark told Heidi and Spencer later: "It wouldn't be so hard [for us] if she didn't take it so personally."

Paula is currently the bookmakers' favourite to be evicted from the house on Wednesday, with odds as short as 8/15 being given by some outlets.

'Downton Abbey' Michelle Dockery: 'Fan reaction to Mary is flattering'

Michelle Dockery has said that she finds the fan reaction to her Downton Abbey character Mary Crawley to be "incredibly flattering".

The actress reflected on her role on the ITV drama in an interview with Parade, insisting that while she tries not to pay too much attention to what viewers of the show are saying online, she is amused by many of the things she reads.

"I was told there is a Twitter account called Lady Mary's Eyebrows, which is just bonkers!" Dockery recalled.

"I tend to not take it all too seriously, but it's incredibly flattering. I'm just very proud to be a part of something that's captured people's hearts."

She also commented on her experience working with Shirley MacLaine during Downton's third series, adding: "Oh! She was brilliant! It was suddenly very quiet when she left, and we all missed her. Being in the same scenes as Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine is something I will never forget."

Celeb Big Brother's Lacey Banghard: I could bring out Banghard condoms

Lacey Banghard has joked about better exploiting her unusual name.

The Celebrity Big Brother contestant quipped to Nuts before entering the house that she could put her name to a brand of prophylactics.

"I want to capitalise on my name a bit more," Banghard joked.

"Banghard would be a great name for my own brand of condoms - 'Banghard, bang safe,' haha."

Banghard's surname came from a misspelling by immigration officials when her Indian grandparents moved to the UK.

The glamour model won The Sun's Page 3 idol in February 2011 at the age of 18.

Asked what people might learn about her in the Big Brother house, she added: "That I have a massive big toe.

"My brother calls me 'Toe-bo Cop' or 'Toe-tanic'. I think it's to balance out my massive boob - or else I'd fall over!"

Of joining the Channel 5 reality show, Banghard said: "At first I was terrified about it but then I started to think, 'Why not?' You only live once, right?

"I loved the series with Sylvester Stallone's mum, Jackie. She was hilarious. I'd love to be in with someone crazy like that."

National Television Awards 2013 - Nominations in full

Voting has opening for the 18th National TV Awards today (January 8), so make sure you get your voice heard as the nation's biggest and best TV shows battle it out for gongs at the O2 Arena later this month.

You'll find out who wins live on ITV on Wednesday, January 23, when Dermot O'Leary hosts the star-studded ceremony. Voting is taking place now on the NTAs official website.

The National TV Awards nominations in full:

Factual Entertainment
Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs
The Apprentice
The Great British Bake Off
Top Gear

Comedy Panel Show
Have I Got News For You
Mock the Week
QI
Would I Lie To You

Drama
Doctor Who
Downton Abbey
Merlin
Sherlock

Drama Performance: Male
Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)
Daniel Mays (Mrs Biggs)
Colin Morgan (Merlin)
Matt Smith (Doctor Who)

Talent Show
Britain's Got Talent
Dancing on Ice
Strictly Come Dancing
The Voice UK
The X Factor

Drama Performance: Female
Karen Gillan (Doctor Who)
Miranda Hart (Call the Midwife)
Suranne Jones (Scott & Bailey)
Sheridan Smith (Mrs Biggs)

Situation Comedy
Absolutely Fabulous
Benidorm
Mrs Brown's Boys
The Big Bang Theory

Documentary
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings
Frozen Planet
One Born Every Minute
Planet Earth Live

Serial
Coronation Street
EastEnders
Emmerdale
Hollyoaks

Serial Drama Performance
Alan Halsall (Coronation Street)
Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street)
Emmett J. Scanlan (Hollyoaks)
Adam Woodyatt (EastEnders)

Daytime
Come Dine With Me
The Chase
The Jeremy Kyle Show
This Morning

Newcomer
Liam Fox (Emmerdale)
Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street)
Joseph Thompson (Hollyoaks)
David Witts (EastEnders)

Entertainment Programme
Alan Carr's Chatty Man
I'm a Celebrity
The Only Way Is Essex
The Graham Norton Show

Entertainment Presenter
Alan Carr
Ant & Dec
Keith Lemon
Dermot O'Leary

Landmark Award
London 2012

Serial Killers, Spies and '80s Carrie Bradshaw: 2013 Midseason TV Preview

It's that time of year again -- the post-holiday period when networks trot out their mid-season offerings while some of their fall shows take a breather.

This year's midseason schedule is poised to deliver a grab-bag of viewing options, ranging from the spooky (Fox's "The Following") to the surreal (ABC's "Zero Hour") to the breezily nostalgic (the CW's "Sex and the City" sequel "The Carrie Diaries").

Here's a rundown of which midseason series, plus a few returning efforts that are coming back to the air, to look out for in the coming weeks.

NEW SERIES

"The Following"
Network: Fox
Starring: Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Maggie Grace
Premieres: Jan. 21
Why it's worth checking out: Because it's Kevin Bacon, in his first crack at starring in a TV series. The "Footloose" star plays a former FBI agent who's dragged out of retirement to track down a serial murderer -- who happens to be leading an expanding web of killers. And it was created by "Scream" and "Vampire Diaries" vet Kevin Williamson, who seems uniquely qualified to pull off this creepily twisted tale.

"1600 Penn"
Network: NBC
Starring: Bill Pullman, Jenna Elfman, Josh Gad
Premieres: Jan. 10
Why it's worth checking out: Pullman has played presidential before -- notably, in 1997's "Independence Day" -- but he'll offer a more tormented chief executive in this comedy about a dysfunctional First Family. "The Book of Mormon" star Josh Gad co-created and co-stars in the series, hamming it up shamelessly.

"The Carrie Diaries"
Network: The CW
Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Freema Agyeman, Chloe Bridges
Premieres: Jan. 14
Why it's worth checking out: Because admit it: Some shallow part of you still misses "Sex and the City," no matter how far our culture has drifted from the carefree, affluent late '90s. And seeing Carrie Bradshaw as a young woman in the '80s, before she developed into the vapid, self-obsessed sex columnist of "Sex and the City," might help restore a little bit of your hope in humanity. Did we mention the '80s soundtrack? Don't even pretend this doesn't sound good.

"Banshee"
Network: Cinemax
Starring: Anthony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen
Premieres: Jan 11
Why it's worth checking out: We can count on former "True Blood" showrunner Alan Ball and "House M.D." executive producer Greg Yaitanes to pull out every stop to make this a gripping viewing experience. It's about a con who steals the identity of a small-town sheriff while carrying on his criminal ways.

"The Americans"
Network: FX
Starring: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys
Premieres: Jan. 30
Why it's worth checking out: A period piece about a pair of KGB agents posing as a suburban American couple in the Reagan era? Sure, it sounds like the makings of a wacky sitcom -- but it's actually a drama. CIA officer-turned-author Joe Weisberg ("Falling Skies") is behind the project, which mixes family drama with espionage. And there's enough egregious sex to thaw the Cold War.

"Do No Harm"
Network: NBC
Starring: Steven Pasquale
Premieres: Jan. 31
Why it's worth checking out: The premise -- a successful neurosurgeon's life is turned upside-down after his alter-ego emerges and wreaks havoc on the doctor and those around him -- is intriguing enough to warrant an initial viewing. And it will be good to see Steven Pasquale play a main role -- or roles -- after being part of the supporting cast of "Rescue Me."

"Monday Mornings"
Network: TNT
Starring: Jamie Bamber, Alfred Molina, Ving Rhames
Premieres: Feb. 4
Why it's worth watching: Centered on the professional and personal lives of the doctors at a fictional Portland, Ore., hospital, "Monday Mornings" is based on a book by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the most trusted medical professional of couch potatoes nationwide. And who isn't interested in seeing "Chicago Hope" creator David E. Kelley, who co-created "Monday Mornings," tackle the medical drama field again?

"Cult"
Network: The CW
Starring: Matt Davis, Jessica Lucas
Premieres: Feb. 19
Why it's worth checking out: Because it's freaky. It follows a journalist who begins investigating a hit TV show called, yes, "Cult," whose rabid fans are obsessed with the show's charismatic but seemingly sinister leader. Bonus: The TV cult leader in question is not named Glenn Beck.

"Golden Boy"
Network: CBS
Starring: Theo James, Chi McBride
Premieres: March 8 (following previews on Feb. 26 and March 5)
Why it's worth checking out: Chronicling the rise of New York City's youngest police commissioner (James), the series was created by Nicholas Wootton, whose writing credits ("Law & Order," "NYPD Blue") suggest that he knows a thing or two about bringing a gritty urban crime drama to the small screen.

"Zero Hour"
Network: ABC
Starring: Anthony Edwards
Premieres: Feb. 14
Why it's worth checking out: Another mind-bending concept -- this time, the editor of a skeptics magazine is pulled into "one of the most compelling conspiracies in human history" by a bizarre twist of fate. Plus, it stars Anthony Edwards in his first  television role since "E.R." It could be his most compelling performance since "Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise."

"Red Widow"
Network: ABC
Starring: Erin Moriarty, Jaime Ray Newman
Premieres: March 3
Why it's worth checking out: The widow of an assassinated criminal, forced to take her husband's place in a crime syndicate in order to protect her loved ones? Sounds like fun for the whole family. Another bonus: It's written and executive-produced by "Twilight" writer Melissa Rosenberg, and doesn't appear to involve any sparkly vampires or rock-abbed werewolves.

How to Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)
Network: ABC
Starring: Sarah Chalke, Brad Garrett, Elizabeth Perkins
Premieres: April 3
Why it's worth checking out: Sure, the whole "adult who's forced to move back in with her parents" thing is a little threadbare as a comedic conceit at this point. But "Everybody Loves Raymond" alum Brad Garrett is about 13 feet tall, and looks and sounds like a Muppet in the midst of a week-long NyQuil bender. And that's always hilarious.

RETURNING SERIES

"Community"
Network: NBC
Starring: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Donald Glover
Returns: Feb. 7
Why it's worth checking out: It's been a long time since school's been in session at Greendale Community College -- too long, for the show's small but intensely devoted fans, who've really been asked to endure a lot: The shudder of panic late last year, when NBC pulled the show from its midseason schedule. The firing of series creator and showrunner Dan Harmon. The shifting of the show's season 4 premiere date from Oct. 19 to its current start of Feb. 7, followed quickly thereafter by series star Chevy Chase's decision to leave the show. Hopefully, the new season will provide enough laughs for the show's devotees to forget it all.

"Anger Management"
Network: FX
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Selma Blair
Returns: Jan. 17
Why it's worth checking out: Say what you will about Charlie Sheen -- he sure knows how to get attention, on and off the screen. Sheen's comeback project, following a very public meltdown and canning from "Two and a Half Men," drew record numbers with its series premiere last year. The ratings eventually leveled off, but remained strong enough to earn the show an order for another 90 seasons. Now that the rubbernecking factor has dissipated, it will be interesting to see if Sheen can hold people's attention.

"The Walking Dead"
Network: AMC
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Laurie Holden
Returns: Feb. 10
Why it's worth checking out: Showrunner Glen Mazzara -- who's departing the show after its current third season -- closed out the first half of the season with a brain-chewer of an episode filled with showdowns: Michonne vs. The Governor's zombified daughter, Penny! Michonne vs. The Governor! And a cliffhanger: An angry mob vs. the just-reunited Daryl and Merle. The show is TV's top scripted drama for a reason.

"Dallas"
Network: TNT
Starring: Patrick Duffy, Jesse Metcalfe, Patrick Duffy
Returns: Jan. 28
Why it's worth checking out: Larry Hagman, who reprised his role as corrupt oil tycoon J.R. Ewing for the TNT reboot, died in November, with the series' second season partway done with production. The network has since said that it will air a funeral episode for Ewing, leaving the series with its most suspenseful moment since the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger, as viewers wonder exactly how the show's producers will bid farewell to an iconic TV character.

"Touch"
Network: Fox
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, David Mazouz
Returns: Feb. 8
Why it's worth checking out: Hopes were high for this Kiefer Sutherland drama, with Fox putting heavy promotion and an ambitious global launch behind the series. The drama failed to capture the public the same way that Sutherland's previous Fox series, "24" did -- and ended its second season on a ratings low. The second season -- which kicks off with a two-hour premiere on Feb. 8, after being bumped back from its original Oct. 26 premiere date --  shifts the setting from New York to Los Angeles, where Sutherland's Martin Bohm and his unusually gifted son, Jake, endeavor to help a distraught mother help find her equally gifted daughter. Time will tell if the dramatic upheaval will lead to a similar reversal of fortunes.

Development Update: The 8th of January

GETTING ON (HBO) - Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein and Niecy Nash have all been cast in the comedy pilot, about the doctors, nurses and administrators working in the women's geriatric wing of a hospital. Melcalf will play Dr. Jenna James, "the overworked temporary Director of Medicine juggling the gig with another one at a nearby hospital," with Borstein as "the head ward nurse named Dawn Forchette, who, while kind and compassionate, struggles with self-esteem and ultimately ends up in inappropriate sexual situations." Rounding out the trio is Nash as Marta Ortley, "a big-hearted practical nurse who only recently returned to this line of work after the real estate market crashed." Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer are behind the half-hour, which is based on the satirical British sitcom of the same name. (TVLine.com)

MARVEL'S S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) - Newcomer Brett Dalton is the latest to board the pilot, a drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following the small screen adventures of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, better known as S.H.I.E.L.D. He'll play Agent Grant, a highly-skilled rising star at the agency who's "deadly, precise, and cool under fire - but not so great with the people skills." Elizabeth Henstridge, Iain De Caestecker, Ming-Na Wen and Clark Gregg also star in the ABC Studios-based hour, to be directed by Joss Whedon from a script he co-wrote with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. (TVLine.com)

BLOODLINE (NBC, New!) - David Graziano ("Terra Nova") has booked a new drama at the Peacock about Bird Benson, "a young woman abandoned at birth by an ancient line of mercenaries, brigands and killers who must learn to defeat her own mother in armed combat if she ever wants to lead a normal life." Universal Television-based Film 44 is behind the hour with the company's Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey executive producing alongside Graziano. (Deadline.com)

INSTANT MOM (Nickelodeon) - Duane Martin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sydney Park, Tylen Williams and Damarr Calhoun have all been cast in the comedy pilot, which stars Tia Mowry as a 25-year-old party girl who trades in Cosmos for carpools when she marries an older man with kids. Martin will play said fellow, Charlie, with Ralph as Maggie, the mother of Mowry's character. Park, Williams and Calhoun then are set as the kids, Gabrielle, James and Aaron. Warren Bell and Jessica Butler co-wrote the half-hour and executive produce alongside Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan. (Deadline.com)

MERLIN (Syfy) - The U.K. import will come to a close after its upcoming fifth season on the cable channel, which premieres Friday, January 4 at 10:00/9:00c. "This is the [season] where the storylines truly reach their apex," co-creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy told EW.com. "We always felt the story of the legend was best told across five series, leading to a spectacular finale that draws on the best known elements of this much-loved story and brings to a conclusion the battle for Camelot." Producers Shine and FremantleMedia Enterprises however are reportedly in the early stages of developing potential spin-offs set within the show's universe. (Deadline.com, EW.com)

SIXTH FAMILY, THE (Cinemax, New!) - David Graziano ("Terra Nova") likewise has sold a potential drama to the pay channel about "the changing face of organized crime in the wake of 9/11" with the title being a riff on "New York's Five Families, the city's infamous Italian mafia clans." Warner Horizon Television is behind the hour, set in South Brooklyn, which he'll write and executive produce. (Deadline.com)

TROPHY WIFE (ABC) - Natalie Morales ("Parks & Recreation") has boarded the comedy pilot, about "reformed party girl Kate (Malin Akerman), who finds herself with an insta-family when she falls in love with Brad (Bradley Whitford), a successful charmer with a quirky sense of humor who has three manipulative kids and two judgmental ex-wives (Marcia Gay Harden, Michaela Watkins)." She's set as Meg, Kate's best friend in the ABC Studios-based half-hour, from director Jason Moore and co-creators Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins. (Deadline.com)

TV Tonight 8th of January 2013

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

American Experience S24E09: "THE ABOLITIONISTS, Part One: 1820s-1838"
Antiques Road Trip S06E02: "Series 6, Episode 2"
Ben and Kate S01E11: "B-Squad"
Betty White's Off Their Rockers S02E02: "Season 2, Episode 2"
Betty White's Off Their Rockers S02E01: "Season 2, Episode 1"
Big Brother's Bit on the Side S06E06: "Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side - 6"
Celebrity Big Brother S11E07: "Series 11 - Day 5 Highlights"
Chasing Classic Cars S06E11: "Hidden Treasures"
Chelsea Lately S06E208: "Bradley Trevor Greive, Brody Stevens, Arden Myrin, Jo Koy"
Chicagolicious S01E20: "Salon Overboard!"
Come Dine With Me S20E80: "Series 20, Episode 62"
Conan S03E25: "Kaley Cuoco, Anthony Mackie, Gary Clark Jr."
Cougar Town S04E01: "Blue Sunday"
Cracked S01E01: "How the Light Gets In"
Dance Moms S03E02: "Out With The Old, In With The New"
Dangerous Grounds S01E07: "Papua New Guinea"
Daybreak S03E85: "January 8, 2013"
Days of our Lives S48E41: "Ep. #11997"
Deal Or No Deal (UK) S08E128: "Episode 2121"
Death In Paradise S02E01: "Series 2, Episode 1"
Diggers S01E04: "Gold Diggers"
Diggers S01E03: "The Lost Hotel"
Doctors S14E164: "Brother's Keeper (Part 1)"
Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 S02E09: "The Scarlet Neighbor"
Doomsday Preppers S02E10: "Prepared Not Scared"
Dual Survival S03E02: "On The Menu"
EastEnders S29E06: "January 8, 2013"
Emily Owens, M.D. S01E09: "Emily and… the Love of Larping"
Emmerdale S42E07: "January 8, 2013"
Escape To The Country S13E32: "Hampshire"
Face the Clock S01E02: "Episode 2"
Four In A Bed S04E02: "Series 4, Episode 2"
Frontline (US) S31E06: "The Education of Michelle Rhee"
General Hospital (US) S50E192: "#12720"
Ginga e Kickoff!! S01E33: "Season 1, Episode 33"
Go On S01E12: "Win at all Costas"
Got to Dance S04E05: "Series 4, Episode 5"
Great British Railway Journeys S04E02: "Birmingham to Stafford"
Happy Endings S03E09: "Ordinary Extraordinary Love"
Hardcore Pawn S06E22: "TBA"
Hardcore Pawn: Chicago S01E02: "The Competition"
History Detectives S10E08
Holby City S15E13: "Hanssen / Hemingway"
Hollyoaks S19E05: "January 8, 2013"
House Hunters S51E06
I Hate My Bath S03E06: "Blame the Roommates"
Jimmy Kimmel Live S11E02: "Jennifer Aniston, No Doubt"
Judge Judy S17E106: "Blind Horse Vandalism? | Say Uncle!"
Justified S04E01: "Hole in the Wall"
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S04E05
Late Show with David Letterman S20E64: "Brian Williams, Morrissey"
Loose Women S17E75: "Series 17, Show 75"
Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too S04E08
Million Dollar Decorators S02E08: "The Finishing Touch"
Naruto SD: Rock Lee no Seishun Full-Power Ninden S01E40
Nattpatruljen S01E02: "Season 1, Episode 2"
NCIS S10E11: "Shabbat Shalom"
NCIS: Los Angeles S04E11: "Drive"
Neighbours S29E02: "Episode 6552"
New Girl S02E12: "Cabin"
Nightmare Next Door S03E05: "Deadly Intentions"
Parenthood (2010) S04E13: "Small Victories"
Peppa Pig S04E52: "Pirate Treasure"
Pointless S08E05: "Series 8, Episode 5"
Polar Bear Family and Me S01E02: "Summer"
Pretty Little Liars S03E14: "She's Better Now"
Private Practice S06E11: "Good Fries Are Hard to Come By"
Privates S01E02: "Episode 2"
Raising Hope S03E11: "Credit Where Credit Is Due"
Robotics;Notes S01E12: "How Far Should One Go for the Things They Love"
Sakura-sou no Petto na Kanojo S01E13: "Winter is a Step Away"
Snooki and JWoww S02E01: "New Beginnings"
Space Janitors S01E07: "Season 1, Episode 7"
Stargazing Live S03E01: "Series 3, Episode 1"
Stargazing Live 'Back to Earth' S02E01: "Series 2, Episode 1"
Storage Wars: NY S01E03: "Straight Outta Connecticut"
Storage Wars: NY S01E04: "The Shore Thing"
Storage Wars: Texas S02E33: "Rules to Buy By"
Storage Wars: Texas S02E32: "Bubba and the Chocolate Factory"
Supersize vs Superskinny S06E01: "McAllen's Mortuary"
Sveriges mästerkock S03E02: "Auditionturnén fortsätter"
The Bad Girls Club S10E00: "Making it to the Mansion, ATL"
The Bold and the Beautiful S26E200: "Ep. #6484"
The Burn S02E01: "Season 2, Episode 1"
The Chase (2009) S06E45: "Series 6, Episode 45"
The Chew S02E85: "Episode 323"
The Colbert Report S09E02: "Chris Kluwe"
The Daily Show S18E40: "Gen. Stanley McChrystal"
The Dr. Phil Show S11E81: "Elder Abuse"
The Ellen DeGeneres Show S10E77: "Kaley Cuoco, Padma Lakshmi"
The Guild S06E12: "Season 6, Episode 12"
The Jeremy Kyle Show S08E80: "January 8, 2013"
The Joe Schmo Show S03E02: "A Date With Lady Justice"
The Joe Schmo Show S03E01: "The Bounty Begins"
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S09E02: "Billy Connolly, Meghan Rath"
The Lying Game S02E01: "The Revengers"
The Mindy Project S01E10: "Mindy's Brother"
The New Normal S01E12: "The Goldie Rush"
The Project S05E06: "Season 5, Episode 6"
The Real Housewives of Miami S02E18: "The Lost Footage"
The Talk S03E80: "Kathy Griffin, Susan Feniger"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S21E15: "Emma Stone, Josh Gad, the Whigs"
The Undateables S02E01: "Series 2, Episode 1"
The View S16E79: "Bradley Cooper, Jeffrey Ross"
The Young and the Restless S40E201: "Ep. #10070"
Thuis S18E97: "Season 18, Episode 97"
Tia & Tamera S02E21: "Stripteased"
Tipping Point S02E05: "Series 2, Episode 5"
Vegas S01E11: "Paiutes"
Wanted Down Under S07E05: "Series 7, Episode 5"
Watch What Happens: Live S09E03: "Busy Phillips"
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (UK) S31E01: "Celebrity Special"
Wolven S01E05: "Season 1, Episode 5"