"So, Kip, we're just hours away from finding out who wins this year's American Horror Story tontine."
News
Jim Parsons is adapting a YouTube series with Todd Spiewak that spotlights gifted young people, Prodigies. It sounds like a classy way to make a reality TV version of The Big Bang Theory.
TV Guide breaks the news that when Dallas kills off J.R., it won't be from natural causes, prompting a mystery that will echo the classic "Who shot J.R.?" storyline.
Fox has ordered a pilot for its Gavin & Stacey remake, titling this version Friends & Family. This time the romance will involve a couple trying to navigate the distance between Manhattan and rural Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Fox has gone and ordered a series from Seth MacFarlane and his Ted co-writers. Dads will follow two thirtysomething guys who have their dads suddenly move in with them. Fox has ordered six episodes.
Fox wasn't the only network that announced a bunch of pilot orders. ABC is developing an adaptation of the BBC comedy Pulling, along with two primetime soaps and a show about the dead returning to their loved ones. Meanwhile, NBC's pilot orders include a show from the creator of Nurse Jackie called Girlfriend in a Coma (about a woman who wakes up from a 17-year coma and learns she was pregnant when she fell into the coma, making her the mother of a teenager) and an adaptation of the Oni graphic novel The Sixth Gun.
One last bit of pilot news: NBC has found a comedy project for Sean Hayes. The show would see Hayes play a man who is juggling the demands of being a dad to a 14-year-old daughter while working for a temperamental boss and, encouragingly, will be written by Better Off Ted creator Victor Fresco.
Castle has found someone to play Rick's father, according to TV Guide. James Brolin will play the mystery-writer's dad.
I usually feel encouraged to hear about networks working with fans and the way they express their love of a show, but HBO's official Tumblr page for Girls has an oddly-specific list of requirements detailing the kind of gifs fans can submit. I'm intrigued by the one that says the content must come from authorized sources — does that mean HBO gives fans access to video files to turn into gifs?
Arrow has managed another bit of geek-fave casting. EW reports that Alex Kingston will appear to play Dinah Lance. I suspect this as close as I'll ever get to seeing a meeting between Captain Jack (since John Barrowman is also a part of Arrow) and Lady Captain JackRiver Song. No word if Kingston's costume will include a bolero jacket.
Responding to the series' apparent cancellation, Buzzfeed lists nine reasons to save Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. I'd add that, at its best, Apartment 23 could deliver great meta-commentary on the portrayal of women in media.
In ratings news, The Following had a solid start, one that compares well to the season's best drama debuts. Even better, ratings improved in the second half-hour, suggesting that viewers mostly liked it. Don't get too optimistic too quickly, however. Last January, the debut of Alcatraz debuted to similarly strong numbers only to bleed viewers until it was cancelled.
Listings
Anderson Live (syndicated) Check local listings
With the big American Horror Story finale airing tonight, Sarah Paulson will be visiting Anderson. I'm just so thrilled Paulson's finally on a show that people are noticing.
The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated) Check local listings
John Gidding's back this week with "cheap and easy."
Katie (syndicated) Check local listings
Barry Manilow is talking with Katie today. They'll be looking back at his whole career, including his time playing for Bette Midler.
Days of Our Lives (NBC) Check local listing
Nick tries to head off the inevitable custody battle by getting Will to sign away his parental rights. Oh, Nick, don't you understand there's no way to avoid a custody battle on a soap? We'll be there to liveblog the action. Join us starting at 1PM Eastern!
Arrow (CW) 8:00 PM ET
Arrow has been going fast and furious with the casting announcements (see above) so the time from announcement to episode is long enough that you might have forgotten who's on tap to join the show. Tonight's episode has Ben Browder showing up as Diggle's mentor from his time in Afghanistan... and someone on Ollie's list. With all these Roy Harper and Dinah Lance announcements, the excitement I felt when Browder's appearance was announced feels like it happened ages ago.
The Middle (ABC) 8:00 PM ET
Brad is back this week as Sue and the Wrestlerettes face a turf war with the cheerleaders over who gets to cheer for the wresting team.
Ghost Hunters (Syfy) 9:00 PM ET
The TAPS team heads to the Mission San Juan Capistrano which has been around for 236 years, plenty of time to develop stories of unexplained circumstances. That history includes an 1812 earthquake that's said to have buried alive a teenage girl who was at the mission to confess for a relationship with a boy her father disapproved.
Supernatural (CW) 9:00PM ET
I've discussed my mixed feelings about Charlie, an incredibly likable character played an irresistible performer (Felicia Day). She's a great queer female character on a show that has struggled with giving queer and female characters a major presence. However, there's a little bit of discomfort for me at Charlie returning, mostly because the velocity for Supernatural characters veers towards increasing misery and tragedy. I'm happy to see Charlie again, but I don't want to see her end up like Kevin. That said, I can't get too worried when Charlie's return involves introducing Sam and Dean to LARPing. Still, has anyone considered making a lighthearted Supernatural spin-off focused on Charlie as she finds evil lurking within geek communities?
Modern Family (ABC) 9:00 PM ET
We're getting to meet another branch of the Pritchett clan this week as Gloria's mom (Elizabeth Pena) and sister (Stephanie Beatriz) visit to meet the new baby with plenty of expectations that Jay and Gloria will raise the child following their Colombian traditions. Meanwhile, Cam and Mitch realize (only now?) that they have to clean up their act around Lily so that she doesn't pick up their bad habits.
Suburgatory (ABC) 9:30 PM ET
Sure, boy bands look good in pin-up photos, but isn't it about time we got a group made up of older hotties? I'm hoping that's where Suburgatory is going as George, Noah and Fred start a "dad band".
American Horror Story (FX) 10:00 PM ET
Oooh, are we jumping forward to the present for the Asylum finale? I think we are, which means we're going to find out how Lana's life pans out. Does she ever come out? I don't know, but apparently she's finally getting back to her vow to try to shut down Briarcliff along the way. Meanwhile, her son's looking to meet up with her and I hear Adam Levine makes one final appearance.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) 10:00 PM ET
CSI tries to lure in tennis fans with guest appearances by Chris Evert, Lindsay Davenport and Justin Gimelstob for a case involving a tennis star. Judging from past CSI episodes, I'm bracing for the case hinging on the discovery that "volley" is secret slang for some kind of kinky sex.
Hot in Cleveland (TV Land) 10:00 PM ET
Victoria's relationship with Emmet reaches its latest obstacle when his ex (actress-slash-Orange County housewife Heather Dubrow). Somewhere, they find an excuse to work Robbie Amell into the episode.
Workaholics (Comedy Central) 10:30 PM ET
Just as American Horror Story is wrapping up, Workaholics is telling its own "TelAmerican Horror Story" as the guys suspect the office is haunted and try to take action to fix the problem.
Happily Divorced (TV Land) 10:30 PM ET
Molly Shannon shows up as Peter's sister, who objected at Peter and Fran's wedding, which sounded crazy at the time but totally wise in hindsight.
What will you be watching tonight? Please share in the comments!
Tomorrow's Preview
Anderson Live (syndicated) Check local listings
Tomorrow's show has Rosie PerezandSpartacus'Liam McIntyre.
The New Ricki Lake Show (syndicated) Check local listings
Ricki looks at the stories of people who came out late in life after spending years married to someone of the opposite sex.
