Bad news, gamers and geeks: G4 will be removed from DirecTV at midnight tonight.

Consider it your Halloween trick. Both sides have been negotiating for months, but haven't been able to come to a new carriage deal.

“We were unable to reach an agreement to carry G4 and it is being removed from the DirecTV platform tomorrow,” a DirecTV spokesman said on Sunday.

The two sides have been locked in a carriage battle for months.

With the clock ticking, G4 informed it viewers last week that the channel may be dropped from DirecTV.

“We have been trying to engage DirecTV in fair and reasonable discussions to continue to carry G4,” the channel said in a statement last week.

Read more here.

Your average angry, partisan-charged individual doesn't necessarily know the difference between a network affiliate and a network.

That's why some folks are somehow finding a way to trash CBS News for the actions of its completely unrelated Anchorage affiliate, KTVA.

The backstory: According to Mediaite, KTVA reporters were caught on an answering machine (they thought they had already hung up) plotting (or some would argue, joking) negative stories about Alaskan candidate Joe Miller.

KTVA is a CBS affiliate, but that's it -- CBS doesn't own KTVA. That hasn't stopped some uninformed folks from using this as an excuse to trash CBS anyway. In a statement, a CBS News spokesperson notes:

"KTVA News is owned by the Alaska Broadcasting Co., not CBS. No CBS staffers were involved and CBS has no knowledge of and no comment on these allegations."

Meanwhile, KTVA General Manager Jerry Bever responded to the allegations leveled against it:

"It's unfortunate that this recording has happened. It's unfortunate because it does not accurately reflect the journalistic standards of our newsroom and the garbled context will no doubt leave more questions than answers. The Miller campaign's analysis of the recording is incorrect in many material ways ranging from personnel involved in the conversation, the interpretation of conversation snippets and the reported transcript of the perceived garbled conversation."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, most recently seen guesting on "30 Rock's" live episode, could be back with her own series soon -- on HBO.

The pay cabler has picked up a comedy pilot from Brit scribe Armando Iannucci ("In the Loop") that could potentially star Louis-Dreyfus. "Veep" would rep the star's first regular series since CBS canceled "The New Adventures of Old Christine" last season.

In "Veep," Louis-Dreyfus would star as a senator who becomes the vice president.

Chris Godsick, Frank Rich and Iannucci are set to exec produce.

Simon Blackwell is on board to write the show with Iannucci.

“Sister Wives” is returning to for a second season.

A day after HBO set an end date for “Big Love,” TLC gave the go-ahead for its real-life polygamist family skein and ordered another 10 episodes that will launch in March.

Also, cabler will telecast hourlong “Sister Wives Honeymoon Special” Nov. 28. In the program, Kody and Robyn Brown spend time together as husband and wife while the other three other sister wives go on a camping trick with the 16 children.

In addition, “Sister Wives Special” will air Sunday on TLC when the clan chats with NBC News correspondent Natalie Morales.

Series is produced by Figure 8 Films. Bill Hayes, Kirk Streb, Chris Poole and Tim Gibbons are exec producers.

With a Monday deadline looming, it’s looking more like “Game Over” for G4 on DirecTV.

The Comcast-owned guy-centric cabler has been locked in a carriage battle with the satellite provider for months. The channel is now set to leave DirecTV on Nov. 1 if both sides can’t come to an agreement.

With the clock ticking, G4 used its signature pop culture series “Attack of the Show” to inform viewers of the standoff on Thursday. G4’s "Attack of the Show" host Kevin Pereira and “Web Soup” host Chris Hardwick also sent tweets to fans, urging DirecTV viewers to call a toll-free number (1-888-9-WeAreG4) in support of the channel.

“We have been trying to engage DirecTV in fair and reasonable discussions to continue to carry G4,” the channel said in a statement. “G4 offered DirecTV the same basic deal we have had for the past three years. However they still plan to drop the network and deny G4 fans the only network that focuses on the popular gaming lifestyle.”

G4’s deal with DirecTV -- believed to be around five cents per subscriber per month -- originally expired at the end of September, but both sides agreed to a one-month extension. A similar arrangement didn’t appear to be in the cards as of Thursday afternoon, however.

“We’re in discussions with G4,” said DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer. “Unless we come to an agreement, the channel will come down on Nov. 1.”

Over at G4 parent Comcast Entertainment, insiders expressed a belief that DirecTV brass didn’t understand the cabler’s niche draw. Besides “Attack of the Show” and its other staple series, the gamer-fueled “X-Play,” G4 targets young men with a mix of edgy series like “Ninja Warrior” and “Whacked Out Videos,” along with off-net fare like “Cops” and “Heroes.”

Comcast noted that G4 has grown its audience by more than 175% over the past five years.

Comcast and DirecTV scuffled last year over the sports network Versus, which was yanked from the satcaster until a deal could finally be reached. A carriage showdown would draw the kind of attention that Comcast doesn’t want right now, as its deal to acquire a controlling interest in NBC Universal goes through the final stages of regulatory approval.

“Lost” exec producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis have sold their hourlong drama script “Once Upon a Time” to ABC.

Pilot, from ABC Studios, is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy with a strong mystery element. Premise is a modern-day take on fairy tales, with a female protagonist who comes from a unique background. Show takes place in a small Maine town during the present time.

Despite the fairy tale premise, show will have a strong human emotional center. Similar to “Lost,” there will be a large ensemble.

“Lost” exec producer Damon Lindelof will consult.

Horowitz and Kitsis had the idea for the show seven years ago, prior to coming aboard “Lost.” The pair, who are longtime writing partners, didn’t approach ABC with the pitch until “Lost” finished its run in May.

Besides exec producing and writing “Lost,” Horowitz and Kitsis wrote the upcoming pic “Tron: Legacy” as well as the “Tron” sequel. They’re also penning “Ouija,” the Universal pic based on the Hasbro property.

HBO is saying so long to “Big Love.”

Polygamy drama starring Bill Paxton as a Utah husband with three wives will end its run following the fifth season that begins Jan. 16.

“It has been an honor and pleasure to work with series creators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer on this unique and provocative series, and I’m happy that they will be able to bring the story to its close the way they always envisioned,” noted Michael Lombardo, president HBO Programming. “We look forward with great anticipation to collaborating with Mark and Will on their next venture.”

Apparently chomping at the bit to get back on the air, Conan O'Brien announced today that he'll host an online sneak preview of his new TBS yakker this Monday, Nov. 1 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

The online event, dubbed "Show Zero," will be simulcast on O'Brien's teamcoco.com website, as well as on YouTube and Facebook. The special will be shot at the "Conan" production offices and feature guests, the "Basic Cable Band" and sidekick Andy Richter.

Event comes on the heels of O'Brien's 24-hour "Live Coco Cam," which streamed the goings-on at the "Conan" offices for 24 hours.

With Paula Abdul in its arsenal, CBS is looking to get a jump on Fox’s “American Idol” juggernaut.

Eye will launch Abdul’s new dancing competish, “Live to Dance,” with a two-hour special on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 8 p.m. The show will then move into its regular one-hour Wednesday night slot the following night, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m.

Move would seemingly give “Live to Dance” a one-week head start on “Idol,” which usually launches the second week of January. Last year’s 10th edition, for example, bowed with a two-night premiere on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13.

Scheduling sets the stage for a smackdown between Abdul and her former “Idol” employers in week two, however. “Live to Dance” will go live starting with the Jan. 12 show – which almost certainly will go up against “Idol.”

Now we'll await Fox's scheduling response. It's unlikely that the network will let this challenge go unanswered. (Our idea: Fox goes up against the "Live to Dance" premiere with a special "Paula's Greatest (and Not So Great) 'American Idol' Moments." An hour-long special featuring nothing but wacky Paula segments? Tempting.)

“Live to Dance’s” Jan. 4 premiere will focus on auditions in New York and Los Angeles, with the show’s contestants picked at the end of the hour.

The following night, the Jan. 5 episode will feature a “dance off” among contenders who had just missed being picked. Those second-chance winners will become a part of the show’s 18 contestants.

“Live to Dance’s” live episodes start Jan. 12 with the first six dance acts competing, and two winners advancing. After three rounds, the six remaining dance acts will compete for the final prize: $500,000.

Abdul will serve as a judge along with Travis Payne and Kimberly Wyatt; Andrew Gunsberg is host.

The “Live to Dance” format comes from Princess Prods. and Shine TV. Reveille is behind the show, which is exec produced by Elisabeth Murdoch, Howard T. Owens, Abdul, James Sunderland, Anthony Dominici and Robin Ashbrook.

“Live to Dance” will bridge the gap between “Survivor” cycles in the Wednesday 8 p.m. slot.

"Live to Dance" reps the first midseason CBS series to get an airdate. Also in the Eye arsenal: The comedy "Mad Love," spinoff "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" and comedic cop drama "Chaos."

Among the possible homes for those shows: "Mad Love" could get a berth Mondays at 8:30 when CBS rests "Rules of Engagement"; "Suspect Behavior" could run behind the mother "Criminal Minds" ship if "The Defenders" takes a hiatus; and "Chaos" could always end up Fridays at 8 p.m. after "Medium," which just got an episodic reduction, ends its run.

I swear, the Taiwanese animators behind these ripped-from-the-headlines shorts are getting faster. Less than 48 hours after news broke of Sheen's hotel rampage in New York, here's the animated take on how it might have gone down.

Funniest thing about this clip: The cartoon character playing Sheen publicist Stan Rosenfeld is by far the most accurate-looking of the bunch.

Syfy has canceled “Caprica,” pulling the skein before the conclusion of the first season.

Move is highly unusual for a scripted cable series, since most episode orders are in the 10-13 range. “Caprica,” however, was performing poorly in its season one back-nine episodes and Syfy decided they couldn’t keep the show on the air in its 10 p.m. Tuesday timeslot.

Since returning back for the second half of season one Oct. 5, four episodes have already run. The net says it will burn off the remaining five episodes in the first quarter of 2011

“We appreciate all the support that fans have shown for ‘Caprica’ and are very proud of the producers, cast, writers and the rest of the amazing team that has been committed to this fine series,“ said Mark Stern, exec VP of original programming for Syfy. “Unfortunately, despite its obvious quality, ‘Caprica’ has not been able to build the audience necessary to justify a second season.”

Though it's not scheduled for release for another several months, Phil Rosenthal's "Exporting Raymond," depicting the "Everybody Loves Raymond" co-creator's efforts to help adapt the series for Russian audiences, is already gathering buzz. Days after its public premiere at the Austin Film Festival, "Exporting Raymond" has been acquired for U.S. distribution by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

In his directorial debut, Rosenthal gets a new set of laughs in showing the challenge of reinventing "Raymond" in Russia. John Woldenberg ("The Visitor") exec produced, with Jim Czarnicki ("Fahrenheit 9/11") producing. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is handling ancillary rights. U.S. audiences can expect to see the doc in Spring 2011.

“Phil has done a terrific job capturing a pulp culture phenomenon that his fans, fans of the show and anyone looking to laugh out loud will enjoy," Samuel Goldwyn Films prexy Meyer Gottlieb said. "We are thrilled to be in business with him, John and Sony.”

Quipped Rosenthal: “I'm very excited that Samuel Goldwyn is releasing my movie. Goldwyn was always my favorite part of 'MGM.' 'Metro' sounded very corporate, but 'Goldwyn' sounded warm and Jewish but not too Jewish, like Mayer. They have a history of working with great, wonderful, beautiful people, and I'm lucky they're making an exception in my case.”

The humor in "Exporting Raymond" comes from many directions, from the hopelessly unguarded appearances of Rosenthal’s real-life parents (who inspired the original series’ Frank and Marie Barone, played by Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts), to the painstaking effort Rosenthal has to make to convince the writers and actors on the Russian ‘Raymond’ that the show they’re adapting was actually funny.

Below, some bits from  “The Voronins”

And a chunk of the "Everybody Loves Raymond" episode on which it was based:

Kenny Powers is nowhere finished insulting the men, women or children who get in his way.

HBO has given third-season renewals to half-hour comedies “Eastbound & Down” and “Bored to Death,” continuing the pay cabler’s streak of picking up shows for extended seasons. Net gave drama “Boardwalk Empire” a second season the day after the Sept. 19 premiere.

“Eastbound,” starring Danny McBride as a washed up Major League baseball player, airs at 10:30 Sunday nights, following the 10 p.m. showing of “Bored to Death.” Show is averaging 1.2 million viewers for its initial episode every week, and just shy of 5 million when tallying all weeklong telecasts.

Jason Schwartzman toplines “Bored to Death” as a writer turned detective. Series, which is performing slightly lower than “Eastbound,” was created by exec producer Jonathan Ames.

Showtime has launched a new free video streaming service where subscribers will be able to watch all the net’s programming online.

Showtime Anytime, available through the pay cabler’s cable, satellite and telco affiliates, will offer more than 400 hours of Showtime series, movies, sports and other offerings.

Access to the service will vary by operator, but Showtime subscribers will be given authenticated access codes to log on to the newly created site to watch programs any time during the day.

Comcast customers can access the service now through Xfinity TV’s online service at XfinityTV.com. Additional participating MSOs will be announced at a later date.

“We’re excited to be able to offer this added-value service to our subscribers,” said Showtime chairman-CEO Matthew Blank. “With Showtime Anytime, our subscribers will have access to their favorite programs online with an easy-to-use service that provides the flexibility to choose where and when they would like to watch our content.”

Blogging pal Nanette attended the first TBS "Conan" test show on Tuesday along with a friend of hers, fellow blogger Johnakkah.

According to the duo, guests for the first test show included "30 Rock's" Jack McBrayer, "24's" Mary Lynn Rajskub and comedian Brendan Walsh.

Here's an excerpt from Johnakkah's report:

Out of respect for the show and the writers (who’ve obviously been chomping at the bit during their unexpected break) I’m not going to talk about many specifics of the show. I will, however, say that the difference between tonight’s test show of “Conan” and the taping of “The Tonight Show” that I saw last year was obvious. When Conan left “The Tonight Show” 9 months ago, he did it after a week of self-declared “having fun on television”, something that it didn’t seem like he was having a lot of when I saw the show tape in October. Between segments that night, I remember Conan standing with his arms crossed as a gaggle of suits (some producers and a few guys who had ‘NETWORK’ written all over them) seemed to be dissecting everything and trying to give him notes on how to improve. Tonight, both when the cameras were rolling and when they weren’t, Conan and crew seemed to be having a really great time doing their show. Does it help that a bit of the network TV pressure is off? I’m sure. But this was more about a guy who’s found his voice, knows his audience and is ready to do what he does best every night: have fun on TV.

Just because it was a test show doesn’t mean that things weren’t awesome. Tonight’s guests were Jack McBriar from “30 Rock”, Mary Lynn Rajskub from “24″ and her one woman show “Mary Lynn Spreads Her Legs” and comedian Brendon Walsh. They were all great guests and they really seemed to be enjoying their time even though the episode will never see the light of day. Props, as always, go out to Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable band who know how to get things started and keep energy high between segments.

My favorite part about the whole experience though was seeing so many of the same faces working on the new show. From Jimmy Pardo and Andy Richter to the same stage manager and executive producer, Conan’s loyalty is a rarity in show business that deserves to be commended.

 

Here's what Rajskub tweeted after doing the show:

The first real "Conan" episode debuts on Nov. 8 with guests Seth Rogen and Jack White.

ALSO on Conan Patrol today: Richter talks to EW about the new show and here's an except from Rolling Stone's front cover story on O'Brien.

By the way, the New York Post wrote today about the question of whether Conan will be able to use intellectual property like the Masturbating Bear . But if you remember what we wrote in July, NBC's Jeff Gaspin has already said that he won't fight O'Brien should the host decide to use features that are technically owned by NBC.

(Pic of her ticket and wristband by Nanette.)

“The Hills” legacy lives on.

VHI, sister net of MTV, has pacted with Audrina Patridge for a reality show that will spotlight her and her family.

After appearing for several seasons as Justin Bobby’s on and off girlfriend on MTV’s seminal reality series that was all rage for the teen and twentysomething set before “Jersey Shore” came along, the thinking is Patridge has enough clout and popularity to go out on her own.

Mark Burnett is set to exec produce with Patridge and Dave Fleming.

Only a few weeks ago, Lauren Conrad — the impetus for “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” — signed up with MTV for a new reality series that will take an inside look at her fashion empire.

“I am so excited to be rejoining the MTV family,” she said. “The new project will follow me as I develop my new contemporary line and also touch on my other businesses.”

“Medium,” the show resurrected by CBS after NBC canceled it, may finally be on its last legs.

Eye on Tuesday reduced its order on the show from 22 down to 13 episodes. Decision to cut back on “Medium” comes after the network picked up all of its frosh series -- and now finds itself with limited open shelf space.

With fewer needs, CBS opted to cut back on “Medium” in order to make room for midseason entries such as “Chaos,” “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” and new reality skein “Live to Dance.”

“Medium,” created by Glenn Gordon Caron, stars Patricia Arquette as research medium Allison Dubois. Jake Weber, Miguel Sandoval, Sofia Vassilieva, Maria Lark and David Cubitt also star. CBS TV Studios is the studio; Caron, Kelsey Grammer, Steve Stark and Ronald L. Schwary are the exec producers.

Fox Entertainment prexy Kevin Reilly weighed in Tuesday on his network's spat with Cablevision, arguing that the network was "entitled to get our fair share."

Reilly, on stage with the other broadcast entertainment presidents for the Hollywood Radio and TV Society's annual "network chiefs" luncheon, said he believed the networks should get a proper chunk of the approximately $15 a month that subscribers pay for the broadcast stations.

Add that up, he said, and that reps $550 million in profit for the cable operator.

"I don't know why USA Network gets compensated for 'House' reruns when we don't for 'House' originals," he added.

That argument didn't sit well with the folks at USA Network, however, where the cabler's strong crop of original programming plays into its subscriber fees as well.

"I think my good friend Kevin (Reilly) may have mispoken when he said that MSOs are just 'paying USA for re-runs of House,'" said Jeff Wachtel, president, original programming, USA Network, and co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions. "I think they value a number of things, including seven original scripted hit series, the WWE, big movies and a well-branded overall environment."

Read more about today's HRTS luncheon here.

More casting news for Fox’s anticipated Steven Spielberg series “Terra Nova,” which is set to premiere next fall.

Landon Liboiron (right), Naomi Scott and Alana Mansour have been tabbed to play the Shannon children, the kids of the characters played by Shelley Conn and Jason O’Mara.

Set in the year 2149 when overpopulation and pollution is destroying the planet, the sci-fi skein examines an ordinary family that journeys back in time to prehistoric Earth in an experiment to save the human race.

Last week, Mido Hamada earned the part of the head of a security team and a trusted advisor.

Series, from Twentieth Century Fox Television, is exec produced by Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Craig Silverstein, Kelly Marcel, Brannon Braga, Jon Cassar, Aaron Kaplan, Katherine Pope, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.

Veteran TV director Alex Graves (“The West Wing”) is set to helm the pilot, while production is scheduled to begin next month in Queensland, Australia.

And no, the show isn't suddenly about a group of bureaucrats re-writing the Windy City's fire, electrical, plumbing and building ordinances... OR IS IT?

Network and studio opted to change the title after "Ride-Along" didn't test well -- as audiences likely didn't get the police reference of going on a "Ride-Along." Although "The Chicago Code" sounds a tad more generic at first whiff, it does play up the Windy City-ness of the show -- and Ryan has made it clear that his native Chicagoland will play a big role in the show.

Ryan has reason to be concerned about titles. It's now widely held that his well-received FX drama "Terriers" has been hampered by its confusing title.

And no. "The Chicago Code" is also not about Chicagoland's ever-increasing number of area codes.

The official word from Warner Bros. Television is “no comment” on how Charlie Sheen’s Monday night hospitalization will affect the upcoming production schedule for “Two and a Half Men.”

The studio and CBS have been through this more than once with Sheen, and neither wants to get ahead of themselves in trying to speculate how cast and crew might be affected with Sheen’s most recent off-screen tabloid-making encounter.

As “Two and a Half Men” is one of the top-rated shows on television, and a cash cow for both Warner Bros. and CBS, both entities are treading delicately.

According to Warner Bros.-owned TMZ, Sheen is scheduled to fly back to Los Angeles today on a private plane. He was in New York on a scheduled hiatus for the show and production for the next episode is scheduled to begin Monday with the taping set for Friday, Nov. 5.

Time will tell if things proceed normally or if there will be a hiccup in the production sked.

Bravo has ordered 10 episodes of a music competish series fronted by "American Idol" alum Kara DioGuardi and thrush Jewel.

"Going Platinum" will focus on a group of 12 aspiring singer-songwriters as they're put through the paces of writing and recording an original tune. The end game is a $100,000 prize and recording pact with RCA/Jive and publishing deal with Sony.

Jewel will serve as host while DioGuardi will be back in the familiar position as judge.

Series from True Entertainment is set to bow next year.

--Cynthia Littleton

All right stop, collaborate and listen: Ice is back with a brand new renovation.

Twenty years after he hit the top of the Hot 100 with "Ice, Ice Baby" -- YES, IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS. WE ARE OLD -- Vanilla Ice is once again making a name for himself, this time as a reality TV star.

Ice -- real name Robert Van Winkle -- just landed a second season pickup for his DIY home construction show "The Vanilla Ice Project." (I would have called it "This Old Skool House," but that's just me.)

Season one bowed on Oct. 14; the ten-episode series airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. and follows Vanilla Ice as he overhauls a six-bedroom, five-bathroom, 7,000 square-foot lakefront home in Florida.

"Rob's home improvement knowledge has been an unexpected surprise for many of our viewers," said DIY general manager Andy Singer.

Season one of "The Vanilla Ice Project" concludes on Thursday, Dec. 16.

ABC made the folks behind new series "No Ordinary Family," "Better With You" and "Detroit 1-8-7" very happy on Monday. Not so happy: The cast and crew of Wednesday night's "The Whole Truth," which was told that a full season order wasn't in the cards.

"ABC gave us the word. We will only make 13 episodes of #thewholetruth," co-exec producer KristieAnne Reed wrote via Twitter on Monday night.

The Jerry Bruckheimer TV-based producer also noted that shooting would continue on the show into December, and that Mandy Patinkin will be seen as a guest in episode 13.

"The Whole Truth," starring Maura Tierney and Rob Murrow, looks at a case equally from the side of the prosecutor and the defendant.

Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television are behind the show, which is exec produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman and Ed Zuckerman. Tom Donaghy and Reed are co-executive producers.

In a nonstop 24/7 world where way too much attention is paid to Lindsay Lohan and Snooki, it’s actually nice to sit back and reflect on people who make a difference.

Programming-wise, CNN hasn’t done much right lately, but its annual “Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” presentation is one of the feel-good shows of the year that deserves viewing. While we’re all too busy checking our Blackberrys every 20 seconds when we should be slowing down and focusing on what’s really important in our lives, the folks at the cabler rightly focus on ordinary citizens who sacrifice themselves — and often time with their families — to help others.

Among the selfless acts of this year’s honorees are individuals who’ve helped build a hospital, improved the health of those immensely overweight and provided meals to hungry children.

This year’s presentation tapes Nov. 20 at the Shrine Auditorium (event moved from the Kodak Theater) and airs a few days later on Thanksgiving night. Among the celebs introducing the top 10 heroes are Halle Berry, Demi Moore and Eva Longoria Parker. Bon Jovi and Sugarland are set to perform.

Joel Gallen will once again exec produce and “360” host Anderson Cooper will emcee.

Fox is getting a jump on pilot orders, giving a greenlight to the adaptation of graphic novel ‘Locke and Key’ from DreamWorks TV and exec producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

The project had already been given a series commitment from Fox, but this now cements the plan to shoot a pilot. Hourlong is being adapted by scribe Josh Friedman, who created “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” for Fox.

Twentieth Century Fox TV is producing along with DreamWorks TV and Kurtzman and Orci’s K.O. Paper Products banner. DreamWorks’ Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank are exec producing along with K.O.’s Kurtzman, Orci and Heather Kadin. Friedman and IDW Publishing’s Ted Adams are also EPs.

The original “Locke and Key” graphic novel series is created and written by Joe Hill, Stephen King’s son, who has created a world about brothers who live in a mysterious New England mansion. Gabriel Rodriguez handles the art.

Dreamworks Television and K.O Paper Products are producing the TV version through K.O’s deal with 20th Television.

Friedman’s credits also include co-writing Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds” for Paramount, and writing the Universal feature “The Black Dahlia.”

Fox already has several projects in play for next year, including the series order “Terra Nova” -- also from 20th and DreamWorks TV, among others.

ABC has joined the pickup party, giving full-season orders to frosh drama “No Ordinary Family” and sitcom “Better With You.”

Also at the Alphabet, newcomer “Detroit 1-8-7” and returnee “Brothers and Sisters” received additional episodes as well.

The fate of ABC’s Wednesday night drama “The Whole Truth” is still uncertain, although it’s not expected to return for a full back nine. Alphabet’s other new frosh series, “My Generation,” has already been canceled.

“No Ordinary Family” had already scored an order for an additional four scripts from the network -- a good sign that ABC was looking to keep the show going for the remainder of the season.

The comicbook-esque hour has performed decently for ABC in a tough slot -- Tuesdays at 8 p.m., opposite Fox’s young hit “Glee” and CBS’ powerful “NCIS.”

“No Ordinary Family,” which centers on a family that suddenly develops superpowers, stars Michael Chiklis, Julie Benz, Romany Malco and Autumn Reeser. Greg Berlanti, Jon Harmon Feldman, David Semel and Morgan Wandell exec produce.

Season to date, “No Ordinary Family” has averaged a 2.8 rating and 7 share among adults 18-49, and 9.4 million total viewers.

In the case of “Detroit 1-8-7,” the cast and crew can breathe a sigh of relief. The show has performed so-so on Tuesdays at 10, where CBS’ “The Good Wife” is consistently winning the time slot.

But “1-8-7,” helped by a “Dancing with the Stars” results show, is still exhibiting enough life to earn the pickup.

Show, set in the world of Detroit homicide cops, stars Michael Imperioli, James McDaniel, Aisha Hinds, D.J. Cotrona, Jon Michael Hill, Shaun Majumder, Natalie Martinez and Erin Cummings.

David Zabel, Jason Richman, Kevin Hooks, David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are executive producers. ABC Studios produces.

“Detroit 1-8-7” is posting a 2.2 rating and 6 share with adults 18-49, as well as 9 million viewers.

As for “Better With You,” show -- about three sets of couples within the same family, all in different stages of their relationship -- has managed to hold on to its “The Middle” lead-in.

“Better with You” stars JoAnna Garcia, Jennifer Finnigan, Josh Cooke, Jake Lacy as Casey, Kurt Fuller and Debra Jo Rupp.

Shana Goldberg-Meehan created the show and exec produces with Greg Malins. Warner Bros. TV is the studio.

Season to date, “Better With You” is averaging a 2.4/7 in the adults 18-49 demo and 7.3 million viewers.

“Brothers and Sisters,” which also received an order for four additional scripts earlier this fall, landed a shortened 18-episode pickup from the network.

Greg Berlanti, Ken Olin, David Marshall Grant, Sarah Caplan, Michael Morris and Sally Field exec produce the drama.

Pauly Shore is back.

No, that's not a threat, that's a promise. The Weasel is back on cable, signing on to host the ten-episode CMT series "Meet the In-Laws."

Show, which launches in January, is hosted by Shore -- he starred in the movie "Son-in-Law," see -- and follows recently engaged couples who split up and spend a week with their future in-laws.

“MEET THE IN-LAWS puts a fun new twist on living under one roof with your fiancée’s parents – illustrating the unlikely, revealing and sometimes embarrassing situations that result,” said Claire McCabe, vice president, original programming and development, CMT.

ITV Studios is behind the show; Mitchell Rosenbaum, Patrice Andrews Bob Kusbit and Claire McCabe are executive producers.

FX has given a series order to its U.S. adaptation of "Wilfred," the dark Australian comedy about a talking dog and his troubled neighbor.

"Wilfred" has been picked up for 13 episodes. The live action comedy stars Elijah Wood and Jason Gann, who co-created the show, is reprising his role as Wilfred (which he also played in the Australian version).

FX Networks exec VP Nick Grad announced the pickup on Monday.

"Family Guy" alum David Zuckerman is behind the adaptation, and is exec producer and showrunner. Randall Einhorn ("It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia") directed the pilot.

Wood stars in "Wilfred" as a man who is struggling in both his personal and professional lives. He then meets “Wilfred” (Gann) -- described by Zuckerman as "part Australian Shepherd, part Russell Crowe on a bender."

Show also stars Fiona Gublemann as Wood's neighbor (and Wilfred's owner).

“We loved how well the pilot turned out, and we were blown away by the chemistry between Elijah Wood and Jason Gann,” Grad said. “It’s a very unique concept and we think David Zuckerman has a great take on it.”

Rich Frank, Paul Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz of Prospect Park are exec producers, along with Joe Connor and Ken Conner of Renegade, producers of the Australian version of "Wilfred." Gann is co-EP. FX Productions is behind the show.

FX continues to bolster its comedy lineup. Besides "Wilfred," FX airs the laffers "Louie," "Archer," "The League" and vet comedy "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

“Royal Pains” exec producers Andrew Lenchewski and Michael Rauch have each signed two-year deals with Universal Cable Prods, the studio behind the popular series.

Show, which has aired for two seasons, has been a bonafide hit for USA Network. It was the No. 1 new cable scripted series when it launched in 2009, running for 12 episodes over the summer.

In 2010, “Royal Pains” averaged 7.3 million overall viewers, including just over 3 million in the 18-49 demo and 3.5 million in the 25-54 demo.

New pact represents a two-year extension for both show creator Lenchewski and Rauch. Both will remain exec producers on “Royal Pains” for the skein’s third and fourth seasons.

Technically, the show has not been renewed yet for a fourth season but with stellar ratings propelling the series, the fourth season pickup is virtually a certainty. Season three will air next summer.

The deal also includes the two working on future projects for UCP.

“Royal Pains” stars Mark Feuerstein as a blackballed doctor who ends up working in the tony Hamptons area of Long Island.

The “Waiting” isn’t over at Comedy Central.

Cabler has picked up the pilot order to the comedy based on the 2005 film starring Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris and Justin Long.

Pilot will cover the same territory in the film: The goings-on at Shenaniganz restaurant, where the staff insults customers and has a little too much fun at their jobs.

Lionsgate is producing, with Rob McKittrick — scribe and director of the film — writing and exec producing. Jeff Balis and Thomas Augsberger are also exec producing.

Banana fana fo fana, fe fi fo fana ...

CBS has ordered a pilot for a reality show revolving around celebs who switch places with everyday people who share the same first and last name.
"The Same Name" comes from the Endemol-controlled production shingle 51 Minds. It's exec produced by Cris Abrego and Eugene Young.
Show will follow both the celeb and the non-pro as they spend time walking in each other's shoes, with an emphasis on light-hearted humor and heart as the celebs are reminded of how the other half lives.
The episodes are designed to be self-contained, in the vein of CBS' unscripted hit "Undercover Boss."

As expected, CW freshman dramas "Hellcats" and "Nikita" got back-nine orders to complete their 2010-11 seasons, as did veteran "One Tree Hill."

"Hellcats" has had the best audience retention of any series ever to follow "America's Next Top Model" on Wednesdays, more than doubling the CW's typical 9 p.m. audience in total viewers and roughly doing the same in key demos.

"Nikita," meanwhile, has become the CW's second-most-watched series, trailing only "The Vampire Diaries."

Syfy has given a two-hour pilot order to “Battlestar Gallactica: Blood & Chrome.”

Script puts the storyline directly between the events of “Battlestar Gallactica” and its prequel, “Caprica,” which currently airs on the net. The cabler’s “Battlestar” skein, which won the Television Critics Assn. Program of the Year honors in 2009, aired for four seasons before ending its run last year.

“Blood & Sand” will be exec produced by David Eick. Michael Taylor wrote the teleplay from a story by Eick, Bradley Thompson and David Weddle. Universal Cable Prods. will produce.

Pilot takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war and introduces auds to Edward James Olmos’ character, Ensign William Adama, as he finds himself assigned to the Gallactica, the newest battlestar in the Colonial fleet.

“The ‘Galactica’ universe as reimagined by Ron Moore and David Eick is rich with possibilities and backstory,” said Mark Stern, exec VP of original programming at Syfy. “We jumped at the chance to revisit the William Adama character and explore this exciting chapter in the BSG narrative.”

Added Eick: “While maintaining the themes of politics, social propaganda and the timeless question: What does it mean to be human? ‘Blood & Chrome’ will also return us to the authentic, relentless depiction of combat and the agony and ecstasy of human-Cylon war, which was the hallmark of ‘Battlestar Galactica’s’ early seasons.”

“Jersey Shore” closed out its second season with 6.1 million viewers tuning in, according to Nielsen.

It’s not the biggest number of all time — 6.7 million watched the Sept. 30 episode — but with these kinds of figures, expect MTV to air all things Snooki for years to come. Like “The Hills,” the phenomenon will eventually pass, but it may be awhile.

The season two premiere drew 5.3 million, which was about 500,000 more who watched the season one finale.

For those already going through “Jersey Shore” withdrawl, the new season starts up Jan. 6. And the gang is back in the Garden State this time, saying goodbye to Miami and hello to Seaside Heights.

Heather Hach has sold half-hour single-camera comedy “Plan This” to ABC.

Script is loosely based on the life of Mindy Weiss, a prominent L.A. party planner to the stars.

ABC Studios is producing with Anonymous Content. Alex Goldstone and Elana Barry are exec producers, with Hach getting a co-exec producer credit. Weiss will act as a consultant.

Hach was a writer on “Freaky Friday,” telepic “Legally Blonde: The Musical” and is attached to the upcoming Lionsgate film “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”

Weiss’ Beverly Hills-based firm has organized weddings and parties for clients that include Ellen DeGeneres, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez. She is also the author of “The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day.”

NBC will premiere “The Sing-Off” Dec. 6 and conclude the five-night musical competition Dec. 20. Each episode will run two hours, from 8-10 p.m.

Ten a capella groups will compete for a $100,000 prize and a Sony Music recording contract. Three will reach the final episode before a winner is declared.

Last year’s four December telecasts averaged a 2.5 rating in the 18-49 demo, with 7.3 million overall viewers.

Nick Lachey is set to return as host, while judges Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman and Nicole Scherzinger are also back. Last year’s champ, Nota, will return for one of the episodes.

Series is produced by Tenth Planet Prods., Outlaw Prods. and Sony Pictures Television. Joel Gallen, Deb Newmyer and Sam Weisman are exec producers.

Seth Rogen will be the first celebrity guest on Conan O'Brien's TBS latenighter — premiering Nov. 8 at 11 p.m. — with Tom Hanks to follow the following night.

Here's the opening week lineup:

Nov. 8 – First Guest Poll winner, Seth Rogen and musical guest Jack White
Nov. 9 – Tom Hanks, Jack McBrayer and musical guest Soundgarden
Nov. 10 – Jon Hamm, Charlyne Yi and musical guest Fistful of Mercy
Nov. 11 – Michael Cera, Julie Bowen and comedian Jon Dore

Carol Mendelsohn’s next project looks to be back at CBS.

“CSI” showrunner and “The Defenders” exec producer has sold an untitled crime drama to the Eye based on the mystery novels featuring Jane Whitefield from author Thomas Perry. Craig Sweeney and Julie Weitz will exec produce.

The six Whitefield-centric tomes begin with “The Vanishing Act” in 1995 and end with “Runner” in 2009.

Sweeney was a producer on “Medium” — the Patricia Arquette supernatural drama that shifted from NBC to CBS near the end of its run — and will write as well.

CBS Television Studios is set to produce.

Tuesday night’s Scream Awards on Spike drew 800,000 viewers for the initial 9 o’clock premiere and another 471,000 in the 11 p.m. telecast.

Last year Scream kudos drew 9.9 million total viewers over four telecasts, so unless there’s a big jump in repeats to come, this year’s figures are down comparatively. In the 18-34 male demo, which is the net’s sweet spot, the awards drew a 0.7 rating for the first telecast.

Show is geared toward sci-fi and fantasy fans, and this year’s edition reunited several members of the “Lost” cast, as well as showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. Staying on the TV side, many thesps from HBO’s vampire drama “True Blood” were on hand. Also featured was a look back at bigscreen pic “Back to the Future,” with stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd on hand to introduce the seg.

Show was taped Oct. 16 from the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

Ellen DeGeneres is moving beyond talkshow host status at Warner Bros.

The former “American Idol” judge has signed a multiyear pact with the studio to enter into the scripted, reality and social media worlds via her shingle, A Very Good Production. She will exec produce several projects going forward.

Concurrently, DeGeneres has named for Comedy Central original programming topper Lauren Corrao as president of A Very Good Production.

“I’m so happy to be expanding my relationship with Warner Bros. It’s kind of becoming a family affair. My brother works on the lot and fingers crossed, my mother’s up for the role of Charlie Sheen’s love interest on ‘Two and a Half Men.’ So this is really working out,” said DeGeneres.

"The Office" is hitting Halloween hard with "The 3rd Floor," a horror film directed by B.J. Novak's Ryan Howard character. The making of the film will be the subject of the next batch of "Office" webisodes, debuting online Thursday. A dedicated website has been set up to support the project.

Mido Hamada is the latest thesp to be cast in Fox’s “Terra Nova,” the Steven Spielberg drama set for a fall 2011 launch.

Set in the year 2149 when overpopulation and pollution is destroying the planet, the sci-fi skein examines an ordinary family that journeys back in time to prehistoric Earth in an experiment to save the human race.

Hamada, who had a recurring role in “24,” will play the head of a security team and a trusted advisor.

Series, from Twentieth Century Fox Television, is exec produced by Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Craig Silverstein, Kelly Marcel, Brannon Braga, Jon Cassar, Aaron Kaplan, Katherine Pope, Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank.

Actors Stephen Lang and Jason O’Mara (“Life on Mars”) are already on board.

Veteran TV director Alex Graves ("The West Wing") is set to helm the pilot, while production is scheduled to begin next month in Queensland, Australia.

NBC has continued with its back-order momentum, granting full-season orders to freshman skein “Chase” and returnee “Chuck.”

News was joyful on the Warner Bros. lot, as both series are from the studio.

“Chase,” from the Jerry Bruckheimer stable, is averaging a 2.0 rating in the 18-49 demo and 6.5 million overall viewers. When live-plus-seven DVR numbers are factored in, the series earns a 23% increase in its total audience.

“Chuck” has been on the ratings bubble for several seasons at the Peacock, but has performed well enough — 2.2 rating with 5.9 million viewers — to earn it a full-season commitment from the network.

Tim Allen, Ty Burrell, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Hawk, Bret Michaels, Dominic Monaghan, Kid Rock and MIchelle Rodriguez will be among the guest stars appearing on the coming premiere season of the U.S. version of "Top Gear," which will debut on History in November.

Even bigger news for hardcore fans of the program (co-produced by BBC Worldwide Prods.) might be that the season will also feature a Stig — a masked-identity stunt driver for each car who has been the subject of major speculation in earlier seasons of the U.K. version (his Facebook page boasting more than 3 million fans). The identity of the most recent Stig, Ben Collins, was recently revealed following a court battle over whether he could publish a book on his experiences. (At right, Burrell stands with the new U.S. Stig in his first official photo.)

The current British version of "Top Gear" launched in 2002. A U.S. version had been gestating in various forms since 2007, at one point headed for NBC, before getting the greenlight from History, which notes that its first program ever was "Automobiles: Corvette." 

Adam Ferrara ("Rescue Me"), racer and stunt driver Tanner Foust and analyst Rutledge Wood will host the new U.S. edition of the show, exec produced by Scott Messick along with John Hesling of BBC Worldwide and David McKillop and Dirk Hoogstra of History.

And it is...

Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band!

We already knew that Vivino (above), the associate music director, arranger, guitarist and vocalist for "The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien" and "Late Night with Conan O’Brien," would fill the void left by Max Weinberg, who's not returning as O'Brien's band leader.

But here now is the rest of the band lineup: Scott Healy (keyboards); Mike Merritt (bass); Mark Pender (trumpet); Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg (trombone); Jerry Vivino (saxophone, woodwinds and vocals); and James Wormworth (drums).

TBS' "Conan" launches on Nov. 8.

TLC's eight-episode "Sarah Palin's Alaska" kicks off on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 9 p.m.; here, Sarah and First Dude Todd go salmon fishing in bear country.

Comedian Demetri Martin has a signed a blind script deal with CBS to star, write and produce his own show.

Standup won’t be returning to Comedy Central, where his “Important Things With Demetri Martin” aired for two seasons. The show, produced by Jon Stewart’s Busboy Prods., involved Martin in a variety of sketches, while also having the host engaging in some repartee with the audience.

By signing Martin, the Eye may be aiming to strive for a younger aud — one that has come to the net in recent years with “The Big Bang Theory” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

Martin has appeared in HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords,” as well as acting as a contributor in Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.”

Mediaite just posted this video of Leslie Moonves' pre-taped appearance on today's launch of new CBS daytime gabber "The Talk."

The show is noteworthy, of course, for the involvement of Moonves' wife, "Big Brother" host and former "Early Show" co-anchor Julie Chen.

I haven't watch the show yet -- it's currently on TiVo, as I look for plenty of other things to do (hmm, does that toilet need scrubbing?) before finally subjecting myself to the show we used to call "Mommy View." (Well, I still like that handle.)

But Mediaite promises a premiere episode chock full of vagina, penis and vulva talk.

Yep.. I do think that toilet needs a good scrubbing. Sorry "The Talk," you're just gonna have to wait.

Moonves quips in the video above that "The Talk" better work -- or he'll cancel ya.

"TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME!" sez Julie.

ABC will air the 90-minute special "CMA Country Christmas" at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 29, following the second segment of the network's new reality competish series, "Skating With the Stars."

Brad Paisley (right), Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Sheryl Crow and Sugarland are among the featured guests scheduled to appear on the special, exec produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Paul Miller.

ABC is also showing "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" on Nov. 10, with Paisley and Carrie Underwood hosting. Meanwhile, Fox announced the nominees for its rival spesh, the inaugural "American Country Awards," which will air Dec. 6. Lady Antebellum and Easton Corbin each drew seven nominations, while Underwood had six and Miranda Lambert and Josh Turner five. Bob Bain is exec producing.