The Weekly Round-Up for May 23 to 27

Here are the entertainment news items for this past week:

TELEVISION NEWS

Much to the disappointment of many a fan, Actor Misha Collins will not be a series regular on Supernatural when it returns with new episodes in the fall.

Actor Christopher Meloni will not be back on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit when it returns for its 13th season this fall. A search for a big name to take his place is reportedly underway.

Showtime announced today that they renewed new drama The Borgias and comedy series Nurse Jackie for new seasons; but comedy series The United States of Tara has been canceled.

The 4th season of Damages, exclusive to DirecTV users, will debut on July 13 at 10 PM. This season will find Patty (Glenn Close) and Ellen (Rose Byrne) embroiled in a wrongful-death suit against a private military contractor, Howard T. Erickson (John Goodman). Erickson has made a fortune supplying the U.S. Government with security forces in Afghanistan and is protected by his connections within the highest echelons of power in Washington, D.C. Chris Sanchez (Chris Messina), a decorated soldier who now works for the security firm, is drawn into the web of intrigue when Ellen and Patty set their sights on his corrupt employer. Complicating matters is Jerry Boorman (Dylan Baker), a shadowy opportunist with ties to both Erickson and the Middle East who is intimately involved in the conspiracy at the heart of the lawsuit.

Actress Saffron Burrows is out of the new fall drama The Finder (the Bones spin-off). Her role will be recast and it is reported the role will be reimagined from that of a cocky bar owner and helicopter pilot.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS

FX and Fox International Channels (FIC) announced that it will partner with Graham King’s GK-tv and Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment on a new one-hour drama Port Royale that will be set in 17th century Jamaica and will chronicle the country’s development into a safe haven for piracy. The series is based on the original idea by Hurd.

Meanwhile, FX’s corporate cousin Fox is in talks to acquire Pyrates a new series from Ridley and Tony Scott’s Free Productions and Ensemble Entertainment. No deal is in place, but if picked up, this seires would likely have a 10- to 13-episode limited run in the summer of 2012.

MGM has teamed up the masterminds behind The Tudors and Camelot – Michael Hirst and Morgan O’Sullivan – for Vikings (the current working title), a drama series about the famous Scandinavian warriors. The series is eyed to begin production on a 10-episode first season next year would chronicle the Vikings’ exploits as warriors, explorers, builders, merchants, pirates and mercenaries through what is known as the Viking Age of Scandinavian, British and Irish history from the late-8th to the mid-11th century. It will center on Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the most popular Viking heroes, a great commander who briefly ruled Denmark and Sweden and was linked to two shieldmaidens and a queen. No specific network is attached to this project, though.

Actresses Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Alexandra Breckenridge (Life Unexpected) have landed roles in the FX drama pilot American Horror Story that comes from the co-creators of Glee Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. The project is centered around Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott), a handsome therapist who, along with his wife (Connie Britton) and their kids, move into a new house. Conroy will play their housekeeper, while Breckenridge will play a younger version of the character.

MADE FOR TV MOVIE NEWS

The History Channel will air a mini-series about the most infamous family feud between The Hatfields and the McCoys next year that stars actor Kevin Coster as “Devil” Anse Hatfield. The film will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the bloody war between the two clans that has become a popular metaphor for bitterly feuding rivals. The Hatfield-McCoy saga begins with “Devil” Anse Hatfield and Randall McCoy, who were close friends and comrades during the Civil War. They return to their neighboring homes to find increasing tensions, misunderstandings and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between the two families.

CONDOLENCES

Actor Jeff Conaway, who is best known for his roles in the box office film Grease and the TV series Taxi passed away today at the age of 60. (LA Times and Twitter)

ME: Rest in Peace, Mr. Conaway. Condolences to his family, friends and fans.

MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE…

CASTING SCOOP

Actress Andrea Parker (The Pretender and Less Than Perfect) will appear as Allison’s mother, Jessica DiLaurentis, on Pretty Little Liars. She is expected to appear in the 6th episode of the second season, which starts on June 14.

Actor Rod Hallett (The Tudors) has landed the new series regular role on the upcoming fall drama Terra Nova for FOX. On the fantasy drama, an ordinary family — Jim Shannon (Jason O’Mara), his wife Elisabeth (Shelley Conn) and their kids — go on a journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. Hallett will play the charming and confident Dr. Malcolm Wallace, who becomes Jim’s nemesis as they rival for Elisabeth’s affection.

Actor Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) has joined the cast of Dexter, playing a brilliant, charismatic professor of religious studies.  Meanwhile, actor Billy Brown (Lights Out) will have a recurring role on the show, playing Mike Cutler, a no-nonsense Chicago homicide detective who transfers to Miami Metro, where he immediately ruffles some feathers.

Actor James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek) will appear in an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Rex Tamlyn, an overconfident, hard-partying playboy and partner in a Facebook-Like website devoted to “connecting people who share fleeting romantic encounters.” The episode involves a lawsuit surrounding a stolen idea.

Actor Rockmond Dunbar (Soul Food and Prison Break) has signed on for a multi-episode arc on Sons of Anarchy, playing Eli Roosevelt, the new sheriff in Charming.

Actress Rebecca Mader (Lost) will guest-star on Covert Affairs, playing Franka, a German flight attendant whom Auggie meets while en route to Istanbul.

Actor Brady Smith (and real-life husband Tiffani Thiessen) will appear on his wife’s show White Collar, playing an ex-Navy commander and COO of a Blackwater-type private security company.

Actor Gary Cole will appear in an upcoming episode of True Blood, playing Earl Stackhouse, Sookie’s grandfather from whom she inherited her telepathic abilities. Since her grandfather is known to be gone, it is anticipated that he will either appear in a flashback or dream.

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

Have a great weekend!