Posted at 7:55 a.m. Wednesday, April 8

HARPER’S ISLAND
9 p.m. Thursday, CBS
Tune in or out? out of four.

Posted at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday, April 7

RESCUE ME
9 p.m. Tuesday, FX
Tune in or out? out of four.

I’ve watched the first four seasons of this darkly comic series only sporadically. But if Season 5 were a book, I’d have to say that I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up nearly all night watching. Denis Leary and his messed up firefighting crew revisit the 9-11 tragedy when a French author interviews them for a book project. Despite that bleak premise, “Rescue Me” is one of its funniest shows on TV. I didn’t remember that.

Posted at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 8

SPOILER ALERT! TURN AWAY OF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS WEEK'S "HOUSE" OR READ A PAPER OR WATCHED TV AT ALL THIS WEEK!

Kal Penn is leaving "House" for the White House, where he will work for President Obama, who he embraced at an inauguration event in January. Fox (above) & Getty Images (below) photos

Read this spoileriffic story by clicking the link below.

Posted at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 6

When “Californication” returns to Showtime in the fall, horny author Hank (David Duchovny) will being working as a university professor.

Seriously? How’s he going to swing that and stay faithful to Karen (Natascha McElhone)? He won’t, not with Diane Farr (“Numb3rs”) playing a teacher’s assistant. Showtime says the two will “strike up a naughty relationship.”

Producers also have cast movie great Kathleen Turner and Peter Gallagher of “The O.C.” in the new season.

Turner, who starred in “Romancing the Stone” and “Peggy Sue Got Married,” stars as Charlie’s (Evan Handler) boss when he ditches working as a porn star agent. Turner will get to smolder like she did in “Body Heat” because her character has a thing for Charlie. She’ll star in 10 of the 12 episodes, Showtime says.

Gallagher will play the dean of students at Hank’s university. He and Hank won’t be getting along, but then Hank has had a problem with authority figures—which is surprising since he is an authority figure for daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin).

MORE GUEST STARS

Posted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5

Don’t mess with Meat Loaf.

The “Bat Out of Hell” singer guest stars on Monday’s “House," where Hugh Laurie’s cranky Dr. House berates Loaf’s critically ill character like he does everyone in his path.

That was fine for the show, Meat Loaf told reporters last week, but if a doctor was that mean in real life, look out.

Posted at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 5

THE TUDORS
8 p.m. Sunday, Showtime
Tune in or out? out of four.

Posted at 6:50 p.m. Friday, April 3

IN TREATMENT
8 p.m. Sunday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

Golden Globe winner Gabriel Byrne returns as Dr. Paul Weston, a psychotherapist who has demons of his own. The new season, like the critically acclaimed first, has Weston treating a handful of clients, then hitting the couch himself with his therapist, Dr. Gina Toll (Dianne Wiest). The drama is well-acted, and I suppose well-written. But it’s boring! Talk, talk, talk. Believe me, I have enough issues of my own. I don’t need to listen to this lot whine about theirs.

Posted at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 2

Chicago insidER.
Chicagoan Sharif Atkins got break with “ER.”
A few words from Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle<\a>
RedEye appears in final season of “ER.”
George Clooney’s return to the “ER.”
“ER” Chicago photo gallery.

“ER” closes shop after 15 years with a one-hour retrospective at 7 pm. Thursday, followed by a two-hour series finale that’s expected to bring back a lot of the old docs. Are you already suffering from medical TV withdrawal? Here's my prescription:

Posted at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 31

PEDRO
7 p.m. Wednesday, MTV
Tune in or out? out of four

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, March 30

It’s almost like winning the state championships—thee years running. NBC and DirecTV made it official today: “Friday Night Lights” will be back for two more 13-episode seasons.

The partnership allowed for the current season of the NBC drama, based on the book and feature film about the townspeople in football-crazy Dillon, Texas. In the updated deal, DirecTV has exclusive rights to the series' fourth and fifth seasons on “The 101 Network.” NBC will air the shows later during each season.

"We're proud that a deal for the renewal of 'Friday Night Lights' has been reached," NBC co-chair Ben Silverman said in a release. "It is one of the best shows in the history of television and we've worked hard to keep it alive for future seasons.”

Now fans have to wonder what will happen to some favorite characters who are seniors: Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), Landry (Jesse Plemons), Riggins (Taylor Kitsch), Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Matt (Zach Gilford).

At least we know sophomore quarterback J.D. McCoy (Jeremy Sumpter) will be back, along with Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife and principal, Tami (Connie Britton).

Maybe NBC will strike a similar deal with DirecTV to keep "Chuck" on TV.

Posted at 9:30 p.m. Monday, March 30

Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale are better than the early episodes of "Cupid." ABC photos

CUPID
9 p.m Tuesday, ABC
Tune in our out? out of four.

Posted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, March 30

This in official news, but it is good news. NBC might be renewing “Friday Night Lights” for two more seasons. According to the Associated Press, “a person close to the production” said the drama will get two more 13-episode seasons, which means it will be on through the 2010-11 season.

The person, of course, spoke on condition of anonymity. I haven't heard back from two NBC sources I've tried to contact.

“Friday Night Lights” is far from a ratings winner, but has gained critical praise for NBC, who kept it on this year through a partnership with DirecTV.

Posted at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 29

RedEye appears in final season of “ER.”
George Clooney’s return to the “ER.”

After 15 years, “ER” closes shop this Thursday. At 7 p.m., NBC will air an hour-long retrospective of the ground-breaking series that was set and often filmed in Chicago, followed by a two-finale that will reunite several old characters—and the actors like Noah Wyle who played them.

Posted at 6:50 p.m. Friday, March 27

MAKING OF ME: JOHN BARROWMAN
6 and 9 p.m. Sunday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four.

The star of the “Torchwood,” who grew up in the Chicago area, returns to the Windy City as part of his search to uncover the origins of his homosexuality. He believes people are born gay, and he consults scientists using state-of-the-art research to prove it. Barrowman also judges the talent show “Any Dream Will Do,” in which 50 actors compete to play the lead in a new production of the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (4 and 7 p.m. BBC America).

Jill Scott and Desmond Dube star in "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." HBO photo

THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY
7 p.m Sunday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

For a show involving crime fighting—and airing on HBO—this seven-episode series offers little darkness, instead remaining stubbornly positive as it moves at its own rambling tempo. In a word, it’s precious, like its lead character, Precious Ramotswe (singer Jill Scott), who begins sleuthing in her beloved Botswana. Scott shines, as does Anika Noni Rose as her fussy secretary. “No. 1” may be too sunny to keep HBO’s “Sopranos” fans happy, but Precious’ unrushed story is a refreshing, delightful change of pace.

LITTLE DORRIT
8 p.m. Sunday, WTTW
Tune in or out? out of four.

With times being so tough, you may not want to spend five Sundays watching this timely tale of chronic debt and financial ruin. This absorbing adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic offers a wonderful romance and riveting whodunit. Seamstress Amy Dorrit (Claire Foy) has lived her whole life in a debtors prison when she is summoned to work for cranky Mrs. Clennam (Judy Parfitt), whose estranged son, Arthur (Matthew Macfadyen), suspects may have caused the Dorrit clan’s troubles.

Posted at 10 p.m. Thursday, March 26

ANOTHER STRONG ROLE FOR ROSE

Anika Noni Rose stopped by RedEye in Tribune Tower on Thursday. RedEye/Chase Agnello-Dean

Anika Noni Rose has starred opposite some big-name singers.

In “Dreamgirls,” she sang with Beyonce and Chicago’s own Jennifer Hudson. In “From Justin to Kelly”—“a masterpiece,” she jokes—Rose danced with “American Idol” alums Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini.

But Rose, who won a 2004 Tony Award for best actress in a musical for “Caroline, or Change,” knows something about music too. And that helped her prepare for her latest role—a non-musical one—in HBO’s new series “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”

Posted at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 25

Will Lorraine Bracco (left) and James Gandolfini be revisiting New Jersey? HBO photo

“The Sopranos” ended its HBO run with a controversial fade to black.

Is creator David Chase (right) about to turn the lights back on? Series co-star Lorraine Bracco says yes. Well, maybe.

Bracco, who played Dr. Jennifer Melfi, psychiatrist to mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), told AOL Television that Chase is preparing to write a film version. AOL interviewed her after naming “The Sopranos” the No. 1 TV drama of all time.

“I'm so glad that he's going to write the movie soon,” she told AOL TV, adding that she is “trying to make him crazy and write the script before we all get too old and fat.”

Later in the interview when asked specifically about plans for a movie, Bracco did a reverse.

“I have no idea. But you know, it is something that I bring up with him,” she said. “I hope [Tony’s] fine, happy in New Jersey, bringing AJ to colleges. I think that would be a great way to start the movie, bringing AJ to colleges ... It would be very funny.”

An HBO spokeswoman on Wednesday whacked the idea of a "Sopranos" feature.

"I'm not aware that anything is going on with that," she told me, adding that the movie sounds like "something on [Bracco's] wish list."

Bada bing.

Chase currently is working on a miniseries for HBO, called “A Ribbon of Dreams, about the history of the Hollywood film industry. According to the network, the mini will begin in 1913 and follow two men who form an unlikely producing partnership in a very young Hollywood. The duo will cross career paths with such Hollywood greats as John Ford, John Wayne, Bette Davis and Billy Wilder.

Posted at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Dr. House may not be getting the final word on an upcoming episode of “House.”

The episode, called “Locked In,” is the first “House” hour to be shot and told almost entirely from the patient’s perspective.

Mos Def stars as that patient, named Lee. He suffers from “locked-in” syndrome, which means he can’t move or communicate after a bicycle accident. House (Hugh Laurie) and his team must try to “unlock” Lee before it’s too late.

The episode features a song by Mos Def called “Life in Marvelous Times,” which has been made into the video preview above. The episode airs at 7 p.m. Monday on Fox.

Posted at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday, March 24

For Jennifer Beals, the new "L Word" is "lie," as in "Lie to Me."

The Chicago native will guest star for several episodes on Fox’s “Lie to Me” in a plum role as Zoe Landau, Dr. Cal Lightman’s (Tim Roth) ex-wife and Emily’s (Hayley McFarland) mom, Fox announced.

Apparently Landau and Lightman still have feelings for one another. Things get complicated when Landau, an assistant U.S. attorney, hires The Lightman Group to help with an arson case.

Beals debuts on the show beginning April 29. Her Showtime series, "The L Word," recently ended its run.

Posted at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 23

Nothing against Holly Hunter, but Kenny Johnson seems happy their “Saving Grace” characters are no longer sleeping together.

Johnson, who plays Oklahoma City Det. Ham Dewey, the former partner and lover to Hunter’s Det. Grace Hanadarko, said that getting naked on set isn’t as fun as viewers might think.

“I always think ‘Just suck in and tighten your stomach,’” he told me during an interview at the Four Seasons. “Every [scene] I’m so in the moment of doing what I’m doing I’ve never sucked in my stomach. When I’m done with the whole scene I’m like, ‘God dang it, I forgot again.’”

Johnson’s character hasn’t been stripping down since the TNT drama, airing at 9 p.m. Mondays, resumed its sophomore season earlier this month. After the death of his brother and the breakup of his marriage, Ham took a break from Grace—both in the office and under the sheets.

Even though they’re speaking and may partner up again as cops, she’s keeping a cool distance.

“She was like, ‘I’m outta here, dude,’” Johnson said, adding that their troubles will carry into Season 3, which begins filming April 1. “He gets distanced more and more by what he said, that he can’t be with her. Grace will not accept him back so easily.”

“The Shield” veteran said that the Ham-Grace dynamic is what drew him to “Saving Grace,” not to mention the chance to work with Hunter.

“I fell in love with Holly when she was in ‘Raising Arizona,’” Johnson said. “She’s so unbelievably thorough and well thought-out with everything she does, it’s mind-boggling.

“Being in [an acting] situation with Holly, it’s hard not to be in the moment, right there, with her. I mean, she’s amazing; she’s that good.”

Johnson and I talked more about Hunter, being naked and “The Shield.” Read on by clicking the link below.

Posted at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21

Sunday is finale night on HBO, as “Big Love,” “Flight of the Conchords” and “Eastbound & Down” wrap their seasons. Sunday night won't be the same.

BIG LOVE
8 p.m. Sunday, HBO

The exemplary and controversial third season has been building to tonight’s showdown between Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton, right), his double-crossing second wife Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) and her evil father, Roman (Harry Dean Stanton).

FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
9 p.m. Sunday, HBO

In the finale of the uneven second season, Bret and Jemaine are forced to move in with superfan Mel (Kristen Schaal). It should be a fun send-off—possibly forever. The guys still are talking about this season being the end.

Danny McBride (above) brought the heat--and the funny--to the first season of "Eastbound & Down." HBO photos

EASTBOUND & DOWN
9:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO

The too-short first season of the comedy ends with foul-mouthed Kenny (Danny McBride) leaving his teaching job for another shot at the major leagues.

Posted at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17

As if Josh Schwartz isn’t busy enough with his hilarious spy comedy “Chuck” (watch it, it’s awesome) and the bitchy soap “Gossip Girl,” he’s launching a new show Tuesday on TheWB.com.

Schwartz teams with co-executive producer Alexandra Patsavas on “Rockville CA,” a 20-episode scripted series set in a fictional L.A. rock club called Rockville. It follows several twentysomethings who work and/or hang out at the club, and features tons of known and up-and-coming bands.

Just from watching the preview clip above, "Rockville CA" appears to have Schwartz's signature sharp banter between characters. And it has some great music from such bands as Kaiser Chiefs, Phantom Planet, Travis, The Duke Spirit, Eagles of Death Metal, The Kooks, Bishop Allen and The Broken West.

You can thank Patsavas for finding the cool new bands. She’s made a name for herself in Hollywood as the music supervisor for such shows as Schwartz’s “The O.C.” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She helped introduce several acts to America, including The Killers (“The O.C.”), Death Cab for Cutie (“The O.C.”) and The Fray (”Grey’s Anatomy”).

The series debuts Tuesday with four episodes that run between four and six minutes. Two new episodes will post every Tuesday through May 12. If you like the music you hear—The WB promises no lip-synching—you’ll be able to stream or download exclusive live music tracks from the show, watch videos, download a content-rich ”Rockville CA” widget, and enjoy exclusive band interviews and other “Rockville CA” content at TheWB's RockvilleCA site.

Click the link below to learn more about the first four episodes and the show’s stars.

Posted at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 15

CHRIS EGAN IS ONE OF MANY AUSSIES ON U.S. TV
AUSSIE PHOTO GALLERY

KINGS
7 p.m. Sunday, NBC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Give NBC some props, people. Despite drowning in one of the worst periods in its history, the network still insists on bringing quality, innovative programming to TV.

NBC has tossed some real stink-bombs on the little screen in recent years while grasping for a hit. But it’s also giving truly wonderful shows a chance to gain viewers. Ratings be damned, the proud Peacock seems to be saying as it continues to support outstanding, yet little watched programs (on TV proper anyway) such as “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights” and—keeping my fingers crossed for the future—“Chuck.”

Add “Kings” to that list. The invigorating new drama is an ambitious, atypical program for network TV. It’s not another cop drama, which could be its undoing.

In his contemporary retelling of the Biblical story of David, Goliath and King Saul, Michael Green has created a challenging soap opera filled with palace intrigues, secret romances, betrayals and “Deadwood” veteran Ian McShane.

McShane rules, literally, by honing his Al Swearengen persona into devious King Silas Benjamin, the Saul-like monarch overlooking Gilboa, a fantasyland not unlike America that is fighting for its survival in a war against neighboring Gath.

When Silas learns that a young soldier—David Shepherd (Chris Egan)—has faced down a Gath tank, which incidentally are called Goliaths—and saved his soldier son Jack (Sebastian Stan), he summons the boy to the capitol city of Shiloh.

Silas simultaneously exploits, embraces and fears the war hero, whose swelling popularity threatens the king. All the ever-so-humble former farm boy wants is to get back to his brother and friends on the frontlines, to serve his leader—and date Silas’ idealistic daughter Michelle (Allison Miller).

The rest of Silas’ family and confidantes heat up the already steamy brew. Susanna Thompson plays Silas’ scheming Queen Rose with delicious deviance. She may know about Silas’ secret lover and son on the side. Their troubled son, Jack, keeps his own secrets that could embarrass his father. And Rev. Samuals (Eamonn Walker), Silas’ former confidante who believes the king has lost his way, appears to know something about David destiny.

“Kings’ is definitely an odd duck of a show. At times it overbakes the dialogue—“ War asks the heart to freeze at room temperature,” Silas says. Then the writers come up with a gem of a phrase, as when David tells Michelle what he thinks of the people in court, "In the sea of fish, you're a mermaid.”

It follows the Old Testament story so closely, and invokes God’s name throughout, which might be too much for some viewers.

But I’m hoping “Kings” finds an audience. The stellar cast, the intriguing storytelling possibilities and the intricate details brought to the world Green and his writers have created have me hooked.

“Kings” is unlike anything else on TV. That’s reason enough to tune in.

Posted at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12

George Clooney and Julianna Margulies checked back into “ER” on Thursday in an unsentimental, excellent episode.

Their characters, Doug Ross and Carol Hathaway, are still together and living in Seattle, where they were trying to convince a grandmother played by Susan Sarandon to donate the organs of her grandson.

Their scenes with Sarandon were the touching, emotional kind that “ER” fans have grown accustomed to, but having Clooney and Margulies back one last time made them extra special.

I applaud the “ER” writers for not getting cheesy on us. I sooo wanted Doug and Carol to figure out that the kidney they were securing would save their old Chicago co-worker, Dr. John Carter (Noah Wyle), who was being attended to by another old County General doc, Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle). But Doug and Carol didn't learn how close they were to reconnecting with Carter and Benton.

It was frustrating, but perfect.

NBC has several clips from the episode, which I’ve posted here. Ross does reminisce about Country General with Dr. Neela Rasgotra (Parminder Nagra) and Nurse Samantha Taggart (Linda Cardellini), who are in Seattle to collect the liver and a heart. But the pair doesn’t know most of the former Country General folks he mentions.

Click the link below for more videos from NBC featuring Clooney.

Posted at 11:12 a.m. Thursday, March 12

So the rumors are true: George Clooney will be on Thursday’s “ER” along with Julianna Margulies. It airs at 9 p.m. Thursday on NBC.

Why NBC didn't promote the heck out of this I don't know, but today they're confirming, through a PR firm, that Clooney does come back as Dr. Doug Ross. Alums Margulies, Eriq LaSalle and Noah Wyle also guest star.

“Access Hollywood” talked to Clooney and Margulies about their “ER” roles. The romance between his Doug Ross and her Nurse Carol Hathaway almost never happened, the stars said. Here’s a clip from the “Access Hollywood” interviews.

Check the blog after the show. I’ll have clips from the episode.

Posted at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 6

ASHES TO ASHES
8 p.m. Saturday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four.

You don’t have to feel nostalgia for the 1980s to get into this sequel to the British hit “Life on Mars,” but it sure helps.

Fuzzy perms, leg warmers and Adam Ant—you’ll find them all when modern-day police psychologist Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) is transported back to 1981 after being shot. It’s a fantastical leap for viewers, but one they’ve already taken with “Life on Mars,” which saw contemporary cop Sam Tyler make a similarly surreal trip to 1973, where he fought crime and butted heads with racist, sexist detective Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).

Alex has studied up on Sam’s case—he did make it back to his real life and report his experience, but that’s all I’ll spoil of “Mars”—and she’s more than equipped to handle the situation. She knows all about Gene and his boys, and laughs off their sexist remarks by calling them “figments.”

In the original “Mars”—not the current ABC version—Sam constantly fretted over his situation. Although she’s not exaclty shouting “I love the ’80s,” Alex seems to be having a better time. She’s rocking the off-the-shoulder sweat shirt look of Jennifer Beals in “Flashdance,” guzzling booze, dancing to an ’80s soundtrack (Adam Ant again) and sexing with a slick businessman. <

Alex knows that she’s in a coma and dreaming, saying matter-of-factly, “I might be one second away from life or one second way from death.”

All she’s got to do to mind-leap back to the present and the daughter she misses is snap out of it, she decides. She searches for clues in her casework and tries to make peace with her mother, who will be killed later in 1981, in order to trigger that wake-up call.

Maybe reliving the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana will shock her back to her future.

Posted at 2 a.m. Friday, March 6

BREAKING BAD
9 p.m. Sunday, AMC
Tune in or out? out of four.

Walter White is living one of life’s little ironies.

Before he went into business cooking meth, Walt (Bryan Cranston) was a wimpy high school chemistry teacher in New Mexico struggling to support his pregnant wife and teen son. It took a death sentence—he learned he had terminal lung cancer—for him to start living. Sure, he’s thriving on the wrong side of the law, but he’s gained the purpose, passion and power he’d never before possessed.

The show’s second season picks up right where the excellent first left off. Walt and his former student/now drug meth-making partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), are selling their improved product to sadistic Mexican drug lord Tuco (a scary Raymond Cruz). Walt figures he has to make just 11 more sales before he earns enough money to take care of his family before he dies.

That plan changes when Tuco takes a snort of Walt's new drug and gets so amped up he kills one of his buddies—making Walt and Jesse witnesses to murder.

But Tuco is the least of Walt’s worries. His DEA agent brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris), has video footage showing Walt and Jesse—hilariously disguised and fumbling—as they steal a barrel of chemicals for the meth lab. Hank doesn’t know it’s them, but he’s closing in on Walt’s secret life. Walt’s wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), also grows suspicious that her hubby is hiding something.

Walt comes up with a plan to cut ties with Tuco and throw his own family off his trail. But as usual, things go tragically—sometimes comically wrong—for Walt and Jesse.

That’s the beauty of “Breaking Bad”: It’s bleak and brutal, but it’s also darkly humorous. And if ever an actor earned his Emmy, Cranston did last year. With quiet magnetism, he exposes Walt’s complicated, conflicted psyche to viewers. Loving family man or stone-cold killer? Brilliant chemist or bumbling businessman? He’s all of these, and you’ll love him for it.

Posted at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1

SAVING GRACE
9 p.m. Monday, TNT
Tune in or out? out of four.

As if Oklahoma City Det. Grace Hanadarko doesn’t have enough problems, she now has to break in new rookie partner Abby Charles (guest star Christina Ricci).

“Are you crying? You don't cry at a crime scene,” Holly Hunter’s Grace tells Abby after bawling her out for being late.

It’s Abby’s introduction to the hard-charging, whiskey-guzzling, sex-loving Grace viewers have come to know and love, thanks to Hunter’s soulful, honest portrayal of the flawed woman.

Her intense acting is matched by that of other cast members, including Kenny Johnson as her former partner/lover, Ham, and Laura San Giacomo as her friend, Rhetta.

Unfortunately, the show’s realism is often undercut by the presence of Earl (Leon Rippy), Grace’s guardian angel. I think the show could stand on its own without Earl. The writers offer up rich, emotional story lines with surprising twists that don't need the supernatural elements to keep our interest.

Posted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28

“The Simpsons” isn’t the only show to earn more air time. Fans will get more “Survivor” and “Crash” in the future too.

CBS has announced the 19th and 20th editions of “Survivor” that will air in the 2009-2010 season. “Survivor: Tocatins” currently airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays, drawing 12.3 million viewers this week against “American Idol.” CBS didn’t announce where the new editions would be filmed.

Starz Entertainment renewed "Crash" for its second season that will air this fall. The network’s first original drama wrapped its 13-episode first season in January. Starz announced that writer/producer Ira Steven Behr ("The 4400," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "The Twilight Zone") will be executive producer/showrunner for the second season, while James DeMonaco ("The Kill Point") will exec produce and Todd Harthan ("The Kill Point") will be supervising producer.

Also last week, Fox renewed “The Simpsons” for its 21st and 22nd seasons.

Posted at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24

Apparently something’s working over at The CW. The network, which ejected its entire Sunday night line-up earlier this year, has picked up several of its series for next season.

“Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill,” “90210,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “Smallville” and “Supernatural” all will be back for another season, the network announced Tuesday. Let’s hope “Reaper” is added to that list. It returns March 3—up against “American Idol” unfortunately.

Posted at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22

Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and Walt White (Bryan Cranston) in “Breaking Bad.” AMC photo

Brian Cranston doesn’t return to his Emmy-winning role as Walt on AMC’s “Breaking Bad” until 9 p.m. March 8, but you can watch him now at AMC’s press site.

The network has created five minisodes here and a customized viral video with Cranston called “Walt’s Warning” here. All seven Season 1 episodes of “Breaking Bad” will be made into 5-minute shorts that can be watched at on The Minisode Network on Crackle, YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video, Hulu, Adobe Media Player, Sling, TV.com, Veoh and on mobile at Verizon Wireless' V CAST Video service and Sprint TV.

Cranston’s also a director, and at 10 p.m. March 7 fans can watch his directorial debut of the romantic drama “Last Chance” on WeTV. According to We, Cranston wrote and directed the film for his wife, actress Robin Dreardon, who stars with him in the film.

Here’s We’s description of the film: “LAST CHANCE tells the story of Lauren, a woman in a small town who’s been stripped of all aspirations. Resigned to her life with a louse of a husband, she pragmatically trudges about her everyday existence with no hope, except that her kids may have a better life. But when she makes the acquaintance of Sam, an older man who has lived his entire life driven by his dreams, she might just find the inspiration to truly live to the fullest.”

Posted at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

The "Dollhouse" cast: Tahmoh Penikett (from left), Enver Gjokaj, Eliza Dushku, Dichen Lachman, Fran Kranz, Olivia Williams and Harry Lennix. Fox photo

DOLLHOUSE
8 p.m. Fridays, Fox
Tune in or out? out of four.

I’m a big fan of Joss Whedon and his series’ “Firefly,” “Angel” and, of course, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

“Dollhouse” is none of those. And honestly, I’m disappointed. I’m not suggesting the guy needs to repeat himself to make me happy, but his Web hit “Dr. Horrible” was perfectly different and I loved it.

Whedon’s getting a little too serious with “Dollhouse,” in which a covert group is convincing people who have no other options to have their minds wiped clean of their own memories. After that, the “dolls,” or “actives,” are imprinted with the memories of others in order to assume different identities for each mission.

It’s a little human trafficking mixed with fractured identities injected with a little weird science—and a whole lot of boredom. "Dollhouse" seems to be devoid of any of the joy in those other shows.

At this point the actives, chief among them Echo (who in her past life was Caroline), mindlessly trade pleasantries at the Dollhouse, get massages, swim, shower and sleep. Nothing too exciting there.

My belief was that their missions, or engagements as Dollhouse doyenne Adelle DeWitt (Olivia Williams) calls them, would allow the actives to really bust out the personalities and action. But Eliza Dushku, as nice as she is to look at as Echo, seems kind of brain-drained no matter who she is. In last week’s misfire of a series premiere, she played a troubled hostage negotiator. On tonight’s much better second episode, she’s an adventurous gal on a hunting date with the devil. Bows and arrows, backwoods, dead rangers—you’d think there’d be plenty of opportunity for Dushku to give us just a glimmer of her “Buffy” slayer Faith. Instead, she’s a scared victim until the last part of the episode.

Yawn. I want some action. I want some mystery. I want a lot more smart-ass dialogue. (Ironic boy genius Topher (Fran Kranz) provides some, but even he’s a little lethargic.)

Hope comes in the form of FBI agent Paul Ballard (Tahmoh Penikett), who is hell-bent on uncovering the “urban legend” of the Dollhouse, as well as the series’ mythology involving an escaped active called Alpha. This guy has recovered his memories (and has kept a lot of imprinted knife skills) and is secretly feeding Ballard hints about the dolls, as well as killing people. All that becomes more firmly established tonight and next week.

Maybe Dushku’s Echo—and the series—will get more interesting as she and the other actives start to malfunction like Alpha, regaining some of their own memories. Maybe then she’ll show us all some personality.

Posted at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

TAKING CHANCE
7 p.m. Saturday, HBO
Tune in or out? out of four.

Kevin Bacon (right) is an understated wonder in this fact-based film that follows Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl as he volunteers to escort the body of Lance Cpl. Chance Phelps to his Wyoming family after the 19-year-old was killed in Iraq in April 2004.

Bacon’s disciplined, poignant performance makes viewers feel every emotion that Strobl feels—from guilt for being a “desk-jockey” and not fighting in Iraq to honor for caring for a fallen Marine to pride, sadness and humility.

The story hits its emotional peak when, as Phelps’ body is removed from a plane, civilians all around stop to silently show their respects—and seemingly thank Strobl for taking on his difficult task. It’s a powerful moment in a simple, honest film that may move slowly at times, but will leave even the most cynical viewers pondering the preciousness of life.

Posted at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

Shelley Conn (from left), Sharon Small, Sarah Parish and Orla Brady star in “Mistresses.” BBC America photo.

MISTRESSES
7 p.m. Friday, BBC America
Tune in or out? out of four.

Honestly, I don’t know how the quartet of British women in this series—doctor Katie (Sarah Parish), lawyer Siobhan (Orla Brady), event planner Jessica (Shelley Conn) and 9/11 widow Trudi (Sharon Small)—manage their time so well. They work, keep decent-looking places, take care of the kids or hubby, go to the gym, have secret affairs and, somehow, manage to get together and dish at least once a week. How!?

Throw that hard-to-swallow scenario aside and you may just enjoy this “Sex and the City”/“Desperate Housewives”/“Lipstick Jungle”-inspired drama. It’s similar to all those shows, except the melodrama isn’t as goofy and the dialogue is cheekier. (Am I using “cheeky” correctly, Anglophiles?)

Because it strips away all the flipness of those other shows, you're left with the women and whether you agree or disagree with their lack of self-control. Wait, that sounds judgmental, doesn't it? I'd be the last guy to fault a person for getting some, but the situations these women—especially Katie—find themselves in makes you wonder what they are thinking.

I connected most with Trudi, who gets a $2 million payoff for her hubby’s death, but isn’t sure she wants to cash the check—or start dating the single father of her daughter’s BFF. Now there’s a character I haven’t seen on any TV show.

Posted at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18

Noah Wyle (right) returns to “ER” at 9 p.m. Thursday, part of the parade of the show’s former stars guest starring in the series’ 15th and final season.

I talked to Wyle in November, when he said that the only reason he left “ER” after 11 years playing Dr. John Carter was his growing family.

“I would have stayed with ‘ER’ probably until it ended had my son not been born,” he said. “That was the first time I ever looked at my watch on set and thought, ‘Let’s get going. I got some place I want to be.’”

Watch the video above from NBC for more from Wyle, and check out my earlier interview with him here and here.

Posted at 11 a.m. New York time, Feb. 9

CHUCK VS. COMIC CON, OR OBAMA
"TORCHWOOD" AT COMIC CON

"Fringe" stars John Noble (from left), Joshua Jackson, Anna Torv, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Mark Valley, Jasika Nicole and Kirk Acevedo. Only Valley was missing from the Comic Con panel. Fox photo

Fans learned one thing for certain at New York Comic Con’s panel for “Fringe” on Sunday: Fox loves the show.

The network is so into its new hit that it lobbied to get the mysterious “Observer” character, the bald-headed guy who watches all the creepy goings-on and is played by Michael Cerveris, onto the platform when Barack Obama was sworn in as president, executive producer Jeff Pinkner said.

“They spent a lot of time and effort” but ultimately failed, Pinker told the packed house of at least 2,000 fans.

The network did manage to get Cerveris on the sidelines at the New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles divisional playoff game this year, a development that angered star Joshua Jackson, who plays Peter Bishop.

“I don’t mean to be a pissy actor,” said Jackson, who was stuck way up high in the nosebleed section during the game. “But I mean, really Fox? You couldn’t hook a guy up?”

Jackson was the star of the panel, offering the best one-liners and cracking up the audience, who clearly appreciated him. The rest of the panel consisted of Pinkner; Anna Torv (who plays FBI agent Olivia Dunham); John Noble (scientist Walter Bishop); Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo and Jasika Nicole (FBI agents); and Blair Brown (a boss at the shady biotech firm Massive Dynamics).

As funny as Jackson was, Pinkner seemed to be in a revealing mood, offering several hints about little extras fans can pick up watching the show.

“There are several little games embedded in the show,” he said. The Observer can be spotted in every single episode, he said, whether or not he is mentioned. Also, every episode contains a clue about the following episode. And those “Pattern” icons that appear before commercial breaks? They’re a code, he said.

“It’s not easy to crack,” he said, “but it ultimately speaks to the larger controlling issues of the show.”

Jackson said that he has such a hard time figuring out the intricate plotlines that he made a flow chart that covered his dressing room wall. The diagram has gotten so big now that he had to take it home, he said.

“I’m such a nerd,” he said. “I’m an actor with a flow chart.”

If you want to know more of the secrets Pinkner and the cast revealed—and what happened in the sneak peek of Tuesday’s episode that we were shown, click the link after the photo below.

Jasika Nicole laughs at Joshua Jackson during the "Fringe" panel. Fox/Getty Images photo