The Weekly Round-Up for May 9

Here are the entertainment news items for this past week:

TELEVISION NEWS

CBS has decided not to renew its deal with the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies after 16 years of airing their movies. It seems low ratings are to blame. There are no details on whether this once prestigious series of yearly movies will be shopped around to another network or not.

Actresses Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szohr will not be returning as series regulars on Gossip Girl when it returns for its fifth (yes, you read that right, fifth) season this fall. Meanwhile, Kaylee DeFer has been promoted to series.

House has been renewed for an 8th season with Robert Sean Leonard and Omar Epps returning as well.

Actor Seth Gabel (Dirty Sexy Money) has been made a series regular on Fringe, which will be back for another season this fall. He has played recurring character Lincoln Lee for the past two seasons.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Actor Charles S. Dutton (Roc) is the first actor to be cast in the FX drama pilot Powers, which is based on the graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. The project is a police procedural set in a world where superpowers are relatively common and centers on two detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, in a Homicide department that deals with cases involving “powers” (people with superpowers). Dutton will play Captain Cross, the head of the department. Powers is one of two drama pilots FX is eying for an early January launch.

It appears that Syfy is developing a spin-off of its popular Warehouse 13 dramedy series. The project will center on the character of H.G. Wells, putting Wells in a 1890s steam-punk environment (at least right now – that could change, though). As more news breaks on this proposed project, you will see it here.

UPFRONT NEWS

FOX has picked up two new dramas while canceling a number of shows. Among the casualties are Human Target, Breaking In, The Chicago Code, Traffic Light and Lie to Me. Meanwhile the new dramas picked up are Alcatraz and The Finder while two comedies – The New Girl and I Hate My Teenage Daughter – have been given season orders. The dramas that did NOT make the cut include Locke & Key and Weekends at Bellevue. Meanwhile, the drama pilot Exit Strategy may be retooled for possible mid-season consideration while a fourth, the Kiefer Sutherland-led Touch has yet to film.

TBS is giving a series order to the hour-long pilot The Wedding Band that stars Brian Austin Green, Peter Cambor and Harold Perrineau. The series is to follow a group of guys performing in a wedding band, anchored by two lifelong best friends — perennial bachelor Tommy (Brian Austin Green) and Eddie (Peter Cambor), a married father of two.

NBC let slip a few of their new season pick-ups, including some new comedies and the dramas Smash – that stars Debra Messing – and Prime Suspect – that stars Maria Bello in an American adaptation of the classic British series. It also looks like Chuck will be back for a 5th season; albeit a shorter one, as it’s been rumored it will get a 13-episode season. Official word will be made to the New York advertisers on Monday.  Chuck has been renewed for a final season with a 13 episodes order while The Event and Law & Order: Los Angeles have both been canceled. Meanwhile, NBC has picked up the new dramas The Playboy Club, Grimm and “Awake” (formerly known as R.E.M.). And, both Parenthood and Harry’s Law have been renewed. This mean the much-talked-about Wonder Woman pilot is dead as is the 17th Precinct pilot from Ron Moore.

Meanwhile, word is leaking from ABC that Brothers and Sisters, Off the Map, No Ordinary Family, Detroit 187 as well as V have all been canceled. While new drams Good Christian Bitches, er, I mean Belles (really, that’s the new name) and Charlie’s Angels have been picked up as well as a Pan Am. And, it looks like new shows Once Upon A Time, The River, Revenge and Scandal (formerly Damage Conrol) have been picked up too. Body of Proof has been picked up too.

CBS has picked up Person of Interest from pilot to series.

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

Legendary actor-comedian Bob Newhart has joined the Lifetime made-for-TV movie called Project Five, which is anthology of five short films, exploring the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives. He will play Dr. Roth, a longtime friend of Pearl (Jeanne Tripplehorn), who has to tell her some bad news. The cast includes Patricia Clarkson, Rosario Dawson, Kathy Najimy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tony Shalhoub and Jeffrey Tambor. Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Alicia Keys and Patty Jenkins will each direct.

CASTING SCOOP

Actor Mark Moses (Desperate Housewives) will guest star in Covert Affairs as a NASA employee who never quite made it to space and becomes suspected of leaking confidential information. The show returns to the USA Network starting June 7.

Actress Camilla Luddington (the Lifetime movie William and Kate) has landed a major recurring role in Californication. She will appear in an 8-episode arc, playing a nanny who gets fired from her job and comes to work for Charlie and Marcy.

Actor Colin Hanks (Roswell, The Good Guys and Mad Men) is joining the cast of Dexter for a major arc in the new season. The specifics of his role are being kept under tight wraps, though.  Meanwhile, actor and hip hop artists Mos Def will have a multi-episode arc on Dexter, playing a hardened ex-con who claims to have found religion yet seems to continually find himself surrounded by violence.  Also, actress Aimee Garcia (Off the Map and Trauma) has joined the cast of Dexter, playing Jamie, the younger sister of Batista (David Zayas) whom Dexter (Michael C. Hall) hires as a nanny for baby Harrison.

Actors Adrian Pasdar (Heroes) and Bryan Batt (Mad Men) will guest star in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Pasdar will play a wine collector named Mason Kent while Batt will portray a premiere wine sommelier. The episode is expected to air on May 22.

Actor Adam Arkin (Chicago Hope) will guest star on The Closer as Steven Hirschbaum, a Bernie Madoff-like businessman who is convicted in a massive federal fraud trial and is being sued by the former employees and investors from whom he stole. The show will be back on July 11 with new episodes.

Acting vet Danny Trejo (Machete and The Devil’s Rejects) will appear in a multi-episode arc on the FX series Sons of Anarchy, playing Romero “Romeo” Parada, a charismatic and dangerous former commando for the Mexican military who becomes a new associate of the SONS. The series is expected to return with new episodes in early September.

Actor Ernie Hudson (of Ghostbusters fame) will play Isaac Jeffries, the loving childhood mentor of Mozzie (Willie Garson) in an upcoming episode of White Collar. The series returns with all new episodes on June 7 at 9 PM on the USA Network.

Actor Matt Lauria, whose new show The Chicago Code did not get picked up for a second season by FOX has booked a potentially recurring role on Burn Notice. He will play Ethan, a discharged soldier whose intelligence and tenacity piques the interest of the CIA. Burn Notice will be back starting June 23.

Actress Míriam Colón, (HBO’s How to Make It in America and Guiding Light) will guest star in an upcoming episode of HawthoRNe, appearing as the ailing mother of Marc Anthony’s Detective Nick Renata. The medical drama is back with new episodes on June 14 at 10 PM.

Actress Susan Saint James (Kate & Allie) will guest star on the new USA Network series called Suits that stars Gabriel Macht (Behind Enemy Lines) as a top-shelf attorney and Patrick J. Adams (Friday Night Lights) as the young savant/legal whiz who assists him. St. James will play Joy McAfee, the founder of a toy company who, on the cusp of inking a major licensing deal, reconsiders her life priorities upon meeting Adams’ off-beat character. Suits will debut on June 23.

NOTE: The weekly calendar and the box office news will appear separately this week.

Have a great weekend!