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While she is mostly known for her award-winning tenure in Once Upon A Time, the best Lana Parrilla movies and TV shows reveal an incredibly wide range that suits a whole host of genres. Born in New York in 1977, Lana Parrilla studied acting at LA's Beverly Hills Playhouse, following in the footsteps of her aunt, character actress Candice Azzara (who appeared in the likes of Caroline in the City and Who's the Boss?). Parrilla's career began in 1999 with movies like Very Mean Men and Spiders and the Upn sitcom Grown Ups.

However, while her earlier roles on the big screen didn't kick-start a prominent career in movies, she had a big break when it came to TV shows when she signed on to ABC's celebrated sitcom Spin City in 2000. From there she went on to appear in several short-lived shows, though despite having a run of less-than-stellar luck when it...

Netflix has a lot of content on its virtual shelves, but it’s missing something so huge that it’s almost shocking.

They have no original medical drama for their subscribers.

Pulse will change all that.

Netflix announced today that Carlton Cuse and Zoe Robyn will team up for the new show, which already has its first star attached.

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3: Everything We Know

Justina Machado is the first person to join the cast as a series regular.

This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into the procedural space, although their procedurals tend to have season-long arcs.

The Lincoln Lawyer, The Diplomat, and The Night Agent all have touches of procedural dramas in them, even if they don’t focus on episodes of the week.

Whether Pulse falls more in line with what we know as procedural content or not remains to be seen.

Cuse has an...

CBS All Access is rounding out the cast for Season 2 of its original anthology series Why Women Kill. Lana Parrilla (The Tax Collector), B.K. Cannon (Sin City Saints) Jordane Christie (The Haunting of Hill House), Matthew Daddario (Shadowhunters) and Veronica Falcón (Queen of the South) join previously announced Allison Tolman and Nick Frost in the series that hails from Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, Imagine Television Studios and CBS Studios.

This season of the dark comedy features a new ensemble cast and storylines set in 1949 that will explore what it means to be beautiful, the hidden truth behind the facades people present to the world, the effects of being ignored and overlooked by society, and finally, the lengths one woman will go in order to finally belong.

Parrilla will play Rita, the sardonic wife to the wealthy and evil Carlo Castillo. As she waits for her elderly husband to die,...

Shanola Hampton has been cast in NBC’s multi-camera comedy pilot “Night School,” Variety has learned.

Based on the film of the same name, the show follows a mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom.

Hampton will star as Carrie Dawes, a high school teacher who doesn’t suffer fools and takes no prisoners. In the film, Carrie was played by Tiffany Haddish. Hampton is best known for playing Veronica on the hit Showtime series “Shameless.” It was recently announced that the show would return for an eleventh and final season. Hampton’s past TV roles include shows such as “Miami Medical,” “Stalker,” and “Related.” She has also appeared in films such as “American Bullet,” “Suburban Gothic,” “Forever,” and “Always Worthy.”

Kevin Hart — who starred in, co-wrote...

The CW’s reboot of “Charmed” is changing showrunners.

Variety has learned that Carter Covington has stepped down as showrunner on the series, which has already been renewed for a second season. Husband and wife team Craig Shapiro and Elizabeth Kruger have been brought on to helm the series going forward.

Shapiro and Kruger are currently under an overall deal at CBS Television Studios, which produces “Charmed.” The team previously co-created the CBS series “Salvation” along with Matt Weaver and served as co-showrunners. They also executive produced and served as co-showrunners on the CBS series “Extant” starring Halle Berry. In addition, they co-created USA Network series “Necessary Roughness” and ran the writers room on Bravo’s “Girlfriends’ Guide To Divorce.” Their other credits include “Bull,” “Pan Am,” and “Miami Medical.” They are repped by UTA.

The rebooted “Charmed” stars Melonie Diaz, Sarah Jeffery, Madeleine Mantock, Ser’Darius Blain, Ellen Tamaki,...

Salvation co-creators Elizabeth Kruger and Craig Shapiro have inked a new overall deal with CBS TV Studios, the studio behind the thriller drama series.

Under the pact, the duo will continue to develop projects for CBS TV Studios and continue as co-showrunners/executive producers of Salvation, which is currently airing its second season on CBS. Kruger also will be making her TV directorial debut on the season finale of Salvation, which she and Shapiro co-created with Matt Wheeler. The suspense drama, about the race to save the Earth from an asteroid headed for impact, stars Santiago Cabrera and Jennifer Finnigan.

Married writing team Kruger have been at CBS TV Studios since 2015 when they joined the second season of the studio’s CBS sci-fi drama series Extant starring Halle Berry as executive producers and showrunners. They also created and executive produced USA Network’s Necessary Roughness and executive produced and ran...

Deadline reports actress and singer LeToya Luckett (above) will recur on the second season of the Rosewood TV show on Fox, along with Camille Spirlin. The Miami medical procedural stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. Beaumont Rosewood Jr. and Jaina Lee Ortiz as Detective Annalise Villa. The cast also includes: Lorraine Toussaint, Gabrielle Dennis, Anna Konkle, and Domenick Lombardozzi.According the the report, Luckett has been cast as Dr. Rosewood's new love interest, Tawnya. Spirlin will play her daughter, Kayla. She is described as, "a sharply intelligent and precociously cynical girl who views Rosewood, the new man in her mom’s life, with open suspicion," before she comes around to seeing him as a good man. Eddie Cibrian joined the series back in July, after Brian Austin Green exited during filming the second season premiere episode. Read...

Fox released its fall debut dates on Thursday, revealing a lineup that includes a two-hour “Scream Queens” premiere event on Sep. 22. The prior evening, “Gotham” and “Minority Report” make their debuts. The Batman prequel will explore the origin stories the Riddler, the Joker and Mr. Freeze on Mondays during its sophomore season. The Tuesday “Scream Queens” (pictured above) event will be followed by the premieres of respective John Stamos and Rob Lowe sitcoms “Grandfathered” and “The Grinder.” Also Read: 'House,' 'Episodes' Stars Cast as Leads on Fox's 'Houdini & Doyle' On Wednesday, Sep. 23, smash Fox hit “Empire” returns, following the...

Farrah Abraham doesn't have the proper resumé to be a plastic surgeon but she's actually getting off the pole in an attempt to make it happen ... in the form of an apprenticeship. The former "Teen Mom" star -- who told us last week about this new career goal -- will be sitting in on various cosmetic procedures with her new mentor, Dr. Sergio Alvarez. Dr. Alvarez tells TMZ Farrah will shadow him this summer at his Miami medical office.

Jeffrey Lieber has been added to CBS‘ new drama series NCIS: New Orleans as executive producer. Lieber will help NCIS: New Orleans creator/executive producer Gary Glasberg in running the series. Glasberg will be pulling double duty next season as he also runs the mothership NCIS series. Also executive producing NCIS: New Orleans, which will launch behind NCIS in the fall, is NCIS star/exec producer Mark Harmon. This marks Lieber’s return to CBS where he previously created and executive produced drama series Miami Medical. He spent the last three years as an executive producer on USA’s Necessary Roughness and is also credited as a co-creator of ABC’s Lost. Lieber is with CAA, Madhouse Entertainment and Peter Nelson. Related: CBS 2014 Schedule...

Born in Pennsylvania to a family with two grandfathers who fought in World War II, Mike Vogel now plays Army veteran Dale "Barbie" Barbara in CBS' Monday limited series "Under the Dome," based on the Stephen King novel of the same name.

Barbie is on a mission and has plenty of secrets and angst, but Vogel is a happily married father of three daughters. He also doesn't think much of actors opining on world issues.

"I grew up a plumber's son in Philadelphia," he tells Zap2it. "No one stuck a microphone in my dad's face, saying, 'What's your view on gun control?' But why would they care what I think? On paper, actors are the dumbest group of individuals essentially out there.

"Most of us have not gone to college. However, we never stop learning. Because of what we do, we're constantly researching, constantly learning. However, my opinion...

Mike Vogel is Under the Dome-bound.

The Pan Am alum will play Barbie, an Army veteran on a mysterious mission, in CBS’ series adaptation of Stephen King’s 2009 novel, TVLine has learned.

The 13-episode drama takes place in the New England community of Chester’s Mill, which inexplicably finds itself trapped beneath a massive, transparent barrier. Chaos soon breaks out.

Vogel played Pan Am‘s Dean and had roles on Miami Medical and Grounded for Life. He also will appear in A&E’s forthcoming Psycho prequel series Bates Motel.

Late last year we stuck up some new pics taken from Lulu Jarmen's flesh-eating horror comedy venture 'Bad Meat' and ever since we've been sitting around just waiting to see the final product. It was originally hit with funding problems when 'Wrong Turn' helmer Rob Schmidt was behind the camera but got rolling again with Jarmen at the helm when the money finally got the project back on track. Now at last 'Bad Meat' is expected to arrive on DVD in the Us from 19 February 2013 thanks to the Mvd Entertainment Group. Elisabeth Harnois -below ('Miami Medical'), Dave Franco ('Scrubs'), Jessica Parker Kennedy ('In Time') and Mark Pellegrino ('Supernatural') all star....

She'd walk though fire to help her extended family, but Marie Schrader is stressed to the max by the violence surrounding her, Betsy Brandt says of her character on AMC's Emmy-winning "Breaking Bad."

"We've laughed about how there really never could be enough security for Marie," the actress, who happily is much more laid back than her TV alter ego, tells Zap2it. "They've had a sniper watching the house to make sure everyone was safe, but Marie would be asking, 'What about Seal Team 6? Are they available? They should be here!' "

Brandt says she has grown very close to her co-stars while filming the series in New Mexico, so she's trying not to think about how they currently are moving into the home stretch before "Breaking Bad" ends next year. "It's also exciting because I'm having all these meetings about my next project," she adds. "I love working on 'Breaking Bad,...

With the Network’s traditional May UpFronts just around the corner, theTVaddict.com thought now might be as good a time as any to take a closer look at the potential fates of your favorite shows.

CSI: Miami

You Take the Good: Where David Caruso goes, viewers follow.

You Take the Bad: In terms of advertising friendly 18-49 viewers, far more of them follow the likes of Celebrity Apprentice and Gcb on Sunday nights at 10Pm.

You Take Them Both and There You Have… Our Prediction: Expect CSI: Miami to live to investigate another season with a timeslot shift to Friday. Which not to bury the lede, just about spells doom for…

CSI: NY

You Take the Good: Despite a Friday night timeslot, the New York branch of the CSI franchise continues to pull in close to 10 million viewers.

You Take the Bad: A Friday night timeslot is the Network equivalent of purgatory.

By MoreHorror.com,

The complete legacy of one deadly experiment, 'Mimic: 3-film Set' (which includes Guillermo Del Toro's Director's Cut of Mimic) will be unleashed to DVD and Bly-ray on May 1. Read the official details below.

Audiences will experience thrills and chills from the franchise that brought the epic battle of man and nature to life as Lionsgate debuts the Mimic: 3-Film Set on Blu-ray Disc this May. Available for the first time as an HD collection, the set includes Mimic: The Director’s Cut, along with Mimic 2 and Mimic 3: Sentinel – both on Blu-ray Disc for the first time and available exclusively in the set. Telling the complete story of one deadly genetic engineering experiment, each film includes a host of special features, certain to excite and terrify fans of the sci-fi series.

Mimic: The Director’S Cut Synopsis

Directed by Oscar® nominee Guillermo Del Toro (Best Writing,...

Lulu Jarmen's 'Bad Meat' has a trio of freshly cut stills to feast your meat-eating eyes upon. The flesh-eating comedy horror flick, penned by Paul Gerstenberger, appears at the Afm '11 this week and stars Jessica Parker Kennedy ('In Time'), Elisabeth Harnois ('Miami Medical'), Dave Franco ('Scrubs') and Mark Pellegrino - who always manages to pop up in every one of my favourite TV shows including 'Dexter', 'Lost' and 'Supernatural'. The Canadian production was shot in Winnipeg and has in fact been floating around for quite some time now. You hardcore bastards out there may recall this being Rob Schmidt's ('Wrong Turn') baby at one point back in 2007/2008 but unfortunately the project ran into financial difficulty. But all's well that ends well and you can check out the three new stills below.

[1] There's some bad and some good in today's TV Bits, but I'd say there's more of the latter -- more Shameless, more Homeland, more Jennifer Coolidge, and Olga Kurylenko in late '50s Miami all count as pluses, right? After the jump: Showtime's Shameless get a Season 2 trailer -- and invites fans to play Truth or Dare with one of the characters Starz debuts a trailer for Magic City, starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Olga Kurylenko, and Danny Huston CBS gives full season orders to Unforgettable and Person of Interest Showtime renews freshman series Homeland Jennifer Coolidge signs on for CBS' 2 Broke Girls Jenna Elfman boards the fifth season of DirecTV's Damages Starz' Boss loses its two showrunners ABC's Pan Am gets a new showrunner First, let's take a look at some teasers... It's been seven long months for fans of Shameless, Showtime's series about the out-of-control Gallagher family, but their...

Sony Pictures TV is adding some top-level behind-the-scenes reinforcement to freshman drama Pan Am in anticipation of a back order from ABC. Veteran writer-producer Steven Maeda will be joining the 1960s-set series as showrunner, working alongside creator/executive producer Jack Orman and director/executive producer Tommy Schlamme. ABC is yet to make a decision on Pan Am, but word is that the rookie has strong internal support at the network, which has several promotional events for the series slated for the coming weeks. Despite its modest ratings — 1.8 in adults 18-49 last night — the drama has leveled off, gets a big bump from DVR viewing and has become popular with advertisers who consider it a premium buy. ABC is expected to wait to hear Maeda’s input on the potential back nine episodes before making a call. Earlier this year, UTA-repped Maeda signed a premium two-script deal with ABC Studios. He...

The 2011-12 season has thus far not been a great one for new drama. The networks took a couple of high-concept swings ("Terra Nova," "Pan Am") and have produced a few solid performers ("Unforgettable," "Person of Interest"), but on the whole nothing has really broken through and become the show to watch.

"Once Upon a Time," which premieres Sunday (Oct. 23) on ABC, may or may not change that. It's flawed, to be sure -- we wonder about how it could sustain a long-term run, and one part of the show isn't as interesting as the other. But we have to give it points for ambition: No other new show this fall is attempting to tell a bigger story, and we're hoping the rough patches smooth out and it fulfills the potential that's there in its very strong cast and premise.

The show is one of two premiering in the next...

Elisabeth Harnois can't deny she's thrilled to see herself in the title sequence of one of television's top dramas.

The actress' second episode as a "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" regular airs Wednesday (Sept. 28) on CBS. Introduced as a guest star last season, she's continuing the role of Morgan Brody, a crime-lab tech who has just transferred from Los Angeles to the Las Vegas unit ... where she clashes with her estranged father, ex-csi supervisor turned local lawman Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann).

"That was one of the highlights," Harnois tells Zap2it of first seeing her billing alongside such "CSI" veterans as Marg Helgenberger, George Eads and Jorja Fox. "I knew I was only going to be in a couple of scenes [of the season premiere], but we all watched it together on a big screen on the studio lot, and I had forgotten that little detail of my name in the opening credits. It was something to see.

Andrew Elvis Miller has landed a killer role on One Tree Hill.

The character actor - who has enjoyed small parts in Criminal Minds, Miami Medical and The Gates, among other programs - will recur throughout the final season of One Tree Hill as an Eastern European assassin.

How the heck does he come into play? Who might he whack? Viewers will need to wait until January for some answers.

The first lady of the United States makes a guest appearance in TV Snacks today, along with some ratings news and casting bits. Eat up:

Absence apparently made the hearts of "Breaking Bad" fans grow fonder: The show's season premiere Sunday (July 17), which came after more than a year off, was the its most-watched episode ever with 2.6 million viewers. More than half of them (1.4 million) fell in the adults 18-49 demographic. [AMC]

Speaking of "Breaking Bad" (sort of), one of the show's regulars, Giancarlo Esposito, will have a recurring part on ABC's new drama "Once Upon a Time" in the fall. He'll play a newspaper reporter in the everyday world -- and the voice of the Queen's (Lana Parrilla) magic mirror in the fairy-tale world. [TVLine]

Boy, were we off in our Women's World Cup final ratings prediction: The match, in which Japan beat the United States on penalty kicks, drew 13.5 million...

Mike Vogel comes aboard the plane on "Pan Am". The 32-year-old hunk, who landed a role of Jason "Hawk" Hawkins on Matt Reeves-directed sci-fi film "Cloverfield", has been cast to replace Jonah Lotan on the upcoming ABC drama series.

Vogel will now be seen in the male lead role of Dean, a captain on Pan Am's newest plane, the Majestic, who is living his boyhood dream of being a pilot. Lotan was reportedly cut off the show because of creative reasons.

"Pan Am", created by Jack Orman, follows some stewardesses and pilots for Pan Am Airlines living double lives as spies. Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner, Margot Robbie and Michael Mosley are also featured on this period drama which will premiere Sunday, September 25 at 10 P.M.

Mike Vogel has previously starred on such TV series as "Miami Medical" and "Grounded for Life". He recently appeared on "Blue Valentine" as...

A new actor will be flying for Pan Am this fall.

In a last-minute casting switch, ABC announced this week that Mike Vogel (Grounded for Life, Miami Medical) will be taking over for Jonah Lotan on its upcoming flight attendant-based drama. The latter was let go from the series for creative reasons.

 

Pan Am Trailer

Vogel will come on board as Dean, a recently-promoted captain, as Pan Am premieres on Sunday, September 25.

Filed under: TV News

Attention passengers, you have a new 'Pan Am' pilot in the form of Mike Vogel.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the 'Blue Valentine' actor will replace Jonah Lotan on the new ABC drama. Besides 'Blue Valentine,' Vogel appeared in 'Miami Medical' and 'Cloverfield.'

Vogel will play Dean, a young pilot living out his childhood dream of flying the friendly skies. The 1960s-set drama also stars Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner and Michael Mosley.

Look for 'Pan Am' to take off on ABC on Sun., Sept. 25 at 10Pm.

In other TV news ...

 

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Mike Vogel will star as the male lead in ABC's new drama "Pan Am," according to Deadline.com. In a key piece of re-casting, Vogel is stepping in for Jonah Lotan who played the role in the pilot. The show centers on a group of Pan Am pilots and flight attendants in the '60s, with Vogel's character the brand new captain of the airline's signature plane, the Majestic. Christina Ricci, Kellie Garner and Margot Robbie will also star in the show. Television vet Vogel was featured on "Miami Medical" and "Grounded For Life." On the big screen, Vogel was recently seen in...

Mike Vogel (Blue Valentine) is set to star in ABC's new drama series Pan Am, which will air on Sundays after Desperate Housewives this fall. On the Sony TV-produced show, about a group of pilots and flight attendants working at the iconic Pan Am Airlines in the 1960s, Vogel will play the male lead, the charismatic and confident Dean who had longed to be a pilot since he was a boy and has just been made the captain of the amazing new Pan Am clipper, the Majestic, living every man’s dream, exploring the world and leading the crew. Vogel replaces Jonah Lotan who played the role in the pilot. Word is the role would be beefed up with Vogel on board. Also starring on the series are Christina Ricci, Kellie Garner and Margot Robbie. Vogel, repped by Wme and manager Geordie Frey, will next be seen in DreamWorks' The Help.

USA Network is hoping to put together a "doctor in unusual circumstances" one-two punch with its new show Necessary Roughness following the new season premiere of Royal Pains. After HankMed has its way with you, Necessary Roughness will offer up a therapist who finds herself diving into less than the normal routine, and since the world of physical health doctor out of water did so well, hopefully the mental health world will perform as well.

Necessary Roughness has a few more chinks in its armor than most of the new shows that USA puts out, and what stands out most is that it is difficult to tell where it's going, and it's even more difficult to tell who exactly the show is for. The pilot sets us up with Dr. Dani Santino (Callie Thorne) as a therapist who is a fan of hypnotherapy, and the first thing that happens in...

Elisabeth Harnois has not even appeared on an episode of CSI yet.

But the former Miami Medical star has already earned a promotion: she'll be a series regular on season 12.

Harnois was originally slated to appear on only the May 5 episode - portraying the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie and helping in the hunt for Nate Haskell - but fans can look forward to her constant presence in the fall.

Granted, CSI is yet to receive an official renewal, but there's no doubt it will be included on the 2011-2012 schedule when CBS reveals it next month.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" has added an actress to its regular cast line-up. Elisabeth Harnois, who originally only signed on to guest star in the May 5 episode, was expected to return for more episodes and has now been promoted as a regular on the CBS drama series.

Harnois was initially scheduled to appear in one episode as the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann). She works for the Los Angeles Police Department and helps the Las Vegas crew hunt down serial killer Nate Haskell (Bill Irwin).

Harnois has previously appeared on another CBS show, "Miami Medical", and guest starred on "One Tree Hill". She recently joined the voice cast of animated film "Mars Needs Moms!" and will next be seen starring in "Riddle" opposite Val Kilmer.

Elisabeth Harnois, who co-starred on CBS’ Miami Medical, will be joining the cast of CSI as a series regular.

Harnois was originally signed to guest star in the May 5 episode as the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann), who works for the Los Angeles Police Department and helps the Las Vegas crew hunt down serial killer Nate Haskell (Bill Irwin).

The guest stint grew into a bigger role on the show. She was expected to return for more episodes and has now been upgraded to a full-blown regular.

CSI, now in its 11th season, has not been officially renewed...

USA Network brings you its biggest summer ever with powerful weeknight blocks of nine original series. Two of summer's hottest hits, White Collar and Covert Affairs, kick it off with the return of all new seasons on Tuesday, June 7 at 9/8c and 10/9c, respectively. Next up, Burn Notice returns for a sizzling fifth season, followed by the much-anticipated new series launch of Suits (fka A Legal Mind), premiering Thursday, June 23 at 9/8c and 10/9c, respectively. June ends with the hit series Royal Pains leading into another new show launch, Necessary Roughness, on Wednesday, June 29 at 9/8c and 10/9c, respectively. Also continuing into summer, Monday nights are marked with high-powered octane with WWE Tough Enough at 8/7c, followed by WWE Monday Night Raw at 9/8c. Sundays continue to share the love with back-to-back episodes Law & Order: Criminal Intent and In Plain Sight at 9/8c and 10/9c, respectively.

One of television's hottest shows,...

Elisabeth Harnois is to make a guest appearance in a forthcoming episode of CSI. Entertainment Weekly reports that the actress will play the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann) in 'Cell and Goodbye'. The character, who is expected to recur next season, works for the Lapd and will help the CSI team hunt down serial killer Nate Haskell (Bill Irwin). Harnois previously starred in short-lived CBS drama Miami Medical and has also appeared (more)...

Christina Ricci doing CSI!

Sounds too good to be true, right?

That’s because it is. Despite a breathless internet report that says The Addams Family star will appear in the penultimate episode, it turns out the CBS crime drama never approached Ricci about playing a young woman who helps the Las Vegas team with the Nate Haskell investigation.

But the role does exist — and it will be played by Elisabeth Harnois (Miami Medical, Dirt). She’ll debut in the May 5 episode dubbed “Cello and Goodbye” and will play the estranged daughter of Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann). Her character works...

Exclusive: Steven Maeda has inked a premium two-script deal with ABC Studios. Under the pact, Maeda will have an office on the Disney lot and, in addition to writing 2 scripts for the  studio, he may also executive producer/supervise other projects. Maeda worked with ABC Studios earlier this development season when he developed the drama Courtroom 302 for studio-based producer Mark Gordon. Before that, he served as executive producer/showrunner on the CBS series Miami Medical for Jerry Bruckheimer and Warner Bros. TV and executive producer/showrunner for Fox's Lie To Me, produced by 20th TV and Imagine TV. This marks Maeda's return to ABC Studios. He previously had a multi-year overall deal with the studio (then Touchstone TV), during which he served as a co-executive producer on the ABC/Touchstone series Lost and Daybreak. Maeda's resume also includes gigs on Chris Carter's The X-Files and Harsh Realm and a...

The latest round of pilot casting includes a familiar face returning to CBS, Fox casting a lead in "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" and NBC adding three actors to its "Prime Suspect" pilot.

These updates come courtesy of Deadline Hollywood, which, we must admit, has pretty much been owning the casting news this pilot season. Here's the rundown:

- Former "Without a Trace" star Poppy Montgomery is returning to CBS in a drama pilot from one of that show's exec producers, Ed Redlich, and co-writer John Bellucci. She'll play an NYPD detective who's blessed/cursed with the ability to remember absolutely everything.

- Jaime Pressly will star opposite Katie Finneran in Fox's comedy "I Hate My Teenage Daughter." The "My Name Is Earl" Emmy winner will play a mom who fears she's raising a Mean Girl.

- "Prime Suspect" has added Kirk Acevedo ("Fringe"), Joe Nieves ("How I Met Your Mother...

USA will debut two new shows this year, including a legal drama from Bourne trilogy producer Doug Liman.

The network has given series orders to A Legal Mind starring Gabriel Macht (Love and Other Drugs) and Patrick J. Adams (Lost) and Necessary Roughness starring Callie Thorne (Rescue Me).

Legal Mind (Universal Cable Productions) is about a top Manhattan corporate lawyer (Macht) who hires a street-smart college dropout (Adams) to team on legal cases — even though only one of them has a law degree. Mind is created by Aaron Korsh (The Deep End); Gene Klein (Covert Affairs) is producer and Liman is exec producer.

Mars Needs Moms! is an upcoming Disney film based on the book by Berkeley Breathed and stars the voices of Seth Green (Robot Chicken), Joan Cusack (Toy Story 2&3), Elisabeth Harnois (Miami Medical), Dan Fogler (Fanboys). The folks at Disney have just released the first theatrical trailer for the film via Yahoo! Movies. Check it out below:

Mars Needs Moms! follows a boy named Milo (Seth Green). Milo is just beginning summer but his mother gives him chores and tasks like weeding the garden or eating his vegetables. But after Milo tints his sister’s face purple, his mother sees no humor in this. She orders him up to his room. After an argument with his mother in which Milo says “I don’t see what’s so special about mothers!”, Milo goes to his room. After falling asleep, Milo does not hear the rumble of the rocket landing outside.

Exclusive: Fox has nabbed a drama project from writer Jeffrey Lieber and Jerry Bruckheimer Television. The project, tentatively titled Full Nelson, is set in the music industry in the 1980s and follows a woman as she rises in the business. Serving as a producer on the project is Kathy Nelson, former president of film music for Universal and Disney, who was a music executive at McA Records in the 1980s and early 1990s, rising through the ranks to Svp and general manager, where she was responsible for building the label's soundtrack division. At McA and Disney, Nelson worked on the music for a number of Bruckheimer movies, including Coyote Ugly, Gone in 60 Seconds, Remember the Titans, Armageddon, Con Air, The Rock, Dangerous Minds and Beverly Hills Cop 1&2. Lieber, repped by CAA and Madhouse, will write Full Nelson, which has received a script commitment plus penalty. He will executive produce with Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman,...

Mars Needs Moms! is an upcoming Disney film based on the book by Berkeley Breathed.

The film follows a boy named Milo (Seth Green). Milo is just beginning summer but his mother gives him chores and tasks like weeding the garden or eating his vegetables. But after Milo tints his sister’s face purple, his mother sees no humor in this. She orders him up to his room. After an argument with his mother in which Milo says “I don’t see what’s so special about mothers!”, Milo goes to his room. After falling asleep, Milo does not hear the rumble of the rocket landing outside. After, Martians enter Milo’s house and take away his mother, Milo realizes that he has to rescue her. He embarks on an adventure to rescue his mother.

Mars Needs Moms! is set to be released on March 11th 2011 in the Us and...

Actor Brando Eaton is suing a medical prop company used by producers on axed U.S. hospital drama "Miami Medical" after a stunt with a cardiac defibrillator went wrong and he was shocked with powerful electrical charges. The 24 year old, who also starred on crime series "Dexter", appeared on the medical show as a character whose heart needed to be jolted back to life with the use of the cardiac device.

But the prop turned out to be a real defibrillator and Eaton had to seek doctors' attention following the onset mishap, reports TMZ.com. He has filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the bosses of the prop firm, claiming he needed "treatment and counseling for the anxiety, flashbacks and apprehension from this incident" and could have been killed.

Eaton is seeking unspecified damages for the health scare.

Actor Brando Eaton is suing a medical prop company used by producers on axed U.S. hospital drama Miami Medical after a stunt with a cardiac defibrillator went wrong and he was shocked with powerful electrical charges.

The 24 year old, who also starred on crime series Dexter, appeared on the medical show as a character whose heart needed to be jolted back to life with the use of the cardiac device.

But the prop turned out to be a real defibrillator and Eaton had to seek doctors' attention following the onset mishap, reports TMZ.com.

He has filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the bosses of the prop firm, claiming he needed "treatment and counselling for the anxiety, flashbacks and apprehension from this incident" and could have been killed.

Eaton is seeking unspecified damages for the health scare.

'Dexter' Star Sues -- Medical Prop Almost Killed Me

Brando Eaton -- who recently starred on "Dexter" -- claims he needed counseling for some terrifying flashbacks ... but not because he played the son of a killer -- it's because he was on "Miami Medical."

Eaton claims he was the victim of a horrifying prop mishap on the set of the failed medical show last year -- when he played a character who was supposed to be shocked with a cardiac defibrillator ... but the prop medical device wasn't really a prop.

In a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court, the 24-year-old claims the prop company failed to inform the actors that the defibrillator on set was a "real working device" -- so when another actor applied it to Eaton's chest for a scene ... it sent real electrical charges through his body.

Eaton claims he had to be...

Brando Eaton -- who recently starred on " Dexter " -- claims he needed counseling for some terrifying flashbacks ... but not because he played the son of a killer -- it's because he was on " Miami Medical ." Eaton claims he was the victim of a horrifying prop mishap on the set of the failed medical show last year -- when he played a character who was supposed to be shocked with a cardiac defibrillator ... but the prop...

Rescue Me’s reigning nutcase Sheila is tackling a new career.

Callie Thorne has landed the lead role in the hourlong USA pilot Necessary Roughness, sources confirm to me semi-exclusively.

The potential series—which is inspired by a true story—centers on a female shrink (Thorne) who becomes the therapist for a professional football team. After succeeding beyond expectations, she is sought after by other athletes, musicians, politicians and those living in the spotlight who all want her unique brand of tough love therapy.

Miami Medical’s Elizabeth Kruger and Craig Shapiro penned the script. Thorne’s hiring lifts the cast contingency on the project.

Paris -- Top U.S. screenwriters will be pushing their scripts over the borderline when the third annual "France: Unlimited Access" program kicks off on Sept. 19th in Metz and Nantes, French film commission Film France announced Monday.

After a first edition in Paris, Marseille and Provence followed by last year's romp through French Polynesia, this year, the program is titled "Cities on the Borders: Metz & Nantes."

Ten of Hollywood's finest scribes have been selected for the eight-day program organized by Film France and the Los Angeles Film and Television Office of the French Embassy with the help of the Lorraine and Loire Valley regions and several sponsors.

This year's crop of studio-friendly screenwriters includes: Stuart Beattie ("Collateral," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Derailed," "3:10 to Yuma," "Australia," "G.I. Joe."), John Brancato and Michael Ferris ("The Game," "Terminator 3," "Terminator 4," "The Net," "Clones" and the upcoming "xXx3."), Peter Buchman ("Che"), Katherine Fugate ("Valentine's Day,...

Jerry Bruckheimer, of all people, shouldn't have to worry about maintaining a production deal.

And Disney says he doesn't have to, with execs labeling Bruckheimer's lucrative arrangement with the studio as secure despite a recent string of theatrical misfires. Yet whispers of a growing breach between the multibillion-dollar producer and his studio partner circulated in the aftermath of a disappointing $17.6 million first weekend for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

"No producer can have four flops and have there be no repercussions," one Disney insider mused.

Greenlighted by since-departed film boss Oren Aviv and studio chairman Dick Cook, "Sorcerer's Apprentice" cost at least $160 million to produce what was supposed to launch a franchise of the four-pic "Pirates of the Caribbean" variety. The film's marketing came with a price tag of upward of $50 million, and though M.T. Carney wasn't installed as marketing topper on the Burbank lot until after the launch of its pricey campaign,...

The new season of Flashpoint got off to a decent start for CBS on Friday night, early overnight data suggests. During the 9pm hour, the police drama - imported from Canada - pulled in a slot-winning 6.09m. Miami Medical followed with 6.14m, while a repeat of Medium had 4.03m from 8pm. Elsewhere, an emotional episode of Friday Night Lights attracted 3.81m to NBC, then a two-hour Dateline (more)...

CBS's Ghost Whisperer came to a close with a modest 6.65m on Friday night, according to early overnight data. Comfortably winning its 8pm timeslot, the supernatural drama celebrated its last-ever episode, following its recent cancellation. Later on the network, Medium's sixth season finale gripped 6.82m at 9pm, then the also-cancelled Miami Medical logged 6.56m, adding 600k week-on-week. Elsewhere, Friday Night Lights pulled in a solid 3.96m for NBC in the 8pm hour, after which Dateline (more)...