BIGGER NEWS
... J.J. Abrams' upcoming series Alcatraz, about mysteries surrounding the disappearance (and eventual reappearance) of inmates and guards from the famous prison, has stopped filming new episodes. Before you panic, take note: While normally this would be cause for concern, I don't think there's too much to worry about here. The show is due to premiere this midseason and was greenlit a while back, so it's far enough ahead of schedule that it can afford the downtime. Plus, the pause is designed to improve the series by reshooting scenes from already completed episodes. NBC's Awake recently halted production as well, but that stoppage was more alarming because the purpose of it was to give the writers time to rework scripts; such a move is much more indicative of potential problems than touching up old scenes, as Alcatraz is doing. [Deadline Hollywood]
... HBO has ordered a pilot for The Corrections, which recently rounded out its cast by signing Chris Cooper to star opposite Diane Wiest. The show is an adaptation of the book of the same name, and stars Wiest and Cooper as a Midwestern couple. The premise centers on the couple and their three adult children as they trace their family history (flashbacks!) during one final family Christmas. Trust me, it will be better than it sounds because it has to be. [Deadline Hollywood]
... ABC Family has laid out its midseason return plans, with Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game coming back on January 2. That should give you plenty of time to recover from your annual New Year's Day Martinelli's Apple Cider hangover. Switched at Birth and the debut of Jane By Design will air January 3, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Make It Or Break It have been confirmed for later in the spring. [TV Guide]
... Showtime's lesbian docu-reality-drama The Real L Word has been renewed for Season Trois. Previously exclusive to Los Angeles ladies, the third round will spread to New York follow the girl-on-girl action between new cast members in the Big Apple. [Deadline Hollywood]
... ABC just LOVES shows about wives! The latest wife show in development is called Beautiful Gangsters, which is exactly what it sounds like: a scripted version of Mob Wives that follows the better halves of mafia members. The drama follows three ladies who work with the FBI, enter the Witness Protection Program, and relocate to Canada respectively. Sorry, Canada. [Deadline Hollywood]
SMALLER NEWS
... ABC has announced a Lady Gaga Thanksgiving special titled A Very Gaga Thanksgiving. The 90-minute special will feature the performer singing eight songs (including "White Christmas") before an intimate audience and provide viewers with a look into her personal life. If she doesn't put on a turkey suit and dive into a pool of gravy, I won't consider it very Gaga at all. [LA Times]
... Do you love A&E;'s Storage Wars but wish the storage units were suitcases instead? Then today is your lucky day, weirdo! Spike has ordered Luggage Wars, a reality series that follows people who run around the country to bid on unclaimed luggage in hopes of finding treasure and full-sized bottles of shampoo. Just like on Storage Wars, the bidders are not allowed to touch the luggage or see its contents before they bid. Which raises the question: Does the dismembered body of a dead hooker count as a good thing or a bad thing? Depends if she's hot or not, I guess. [Deadline Hollywood]
CASTING NEWS
... Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss has been cast in the BBC's Top of the Lake, a miniseries about the disappearance of a drug lord's very young, pregnant daughter. Moss will play the central character, a detective on the case. [Deadline Hollywood]
... Michael Rispoli (The Black Donnellys, The Sopranos) is giving comedy a go. He's landed the male lead opposite Kirstie Alley in ABC's upcoming The Manzanis. The comedy follows the members of an Italian-American family who move to a quiet New Jersey neighborhood. [Deadline Hollywood]
... Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is coming to Conan... tonight! It will be the first time the puppet dog, voiced by Robert Smigel, will appear on Conan O'Brien's TBS program. For me to poop on! Wait, I don't think I did that right. [Team Coco]
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
Alcatraz! Alcatraz! Alca.. oh wait, it's Attica ^^
I can't wait to see Alcatraz. It looks like it will be really good
I just want some good shows to watch besides the nonstop remakes of cop and doctor shows. Let's make a referendum where they cannot make new cop,doctor or reality shows for 10 years and let's see if anything improves.
I'd be surprised if they're shelving Alcatraz for too long - or even delaying it much. I just saw an ad for it while watching the On Demand showing of last night's "Bones"
Did you like the episode of Bones? I loved it.
I get the impression FOX may have decided to hold Alcatraz for next fall instead of wasting it mid-season.
I have no problems waiting for Alcatraz. If they shut down production again then I'll be worried.
Can't wait for Alcatraz...JJ Abrams is a beast at creating incredible TV shows, such as Alias.
Triumph back on Conan? Finally!!!
You do know, right! Thinksgiving is Pre-Christmas, getting us ready for the actual Christmas event in December. That's why we see some of Christmas special events in November. And also seeing Christmas Films being released into the month of November by Theaters & DvD. And even on top of that, the store markets even have christmas stuff out early. They plan christmas stuff & things along with Thinksgiving Holiday. That is because of the winter session of the snowing weather slowing people down getting stuck. And the December month, is a busy month for everybody planning christmas, new years and some people still work at their jobs.
I seriously can't wait to see Pretty Little Liars & The Lying Game back to back. Falling on the same day return. Wow! This is gotta be great seeing these 2 line-up together.moreless
Abc Family keeps getting more shows Most of them are decent at least.
it might be when you started gearing up for Christmas, but why is a Thanksgiving special going to have Christmas songs? let's get over one holiday before we start another..
Who cares? Most Americans with the TV on will be watching football, anyway.
In Britain, the only lord's white powder is what's put in their wigs.
"in the BBC's Top of the Lake, a miniseries about the disappearance of a drug lord's "
Britain doesn't have drug lords; it just has, you know, Lords.
Surely they can multitask? I mean, since taxing the colonies without representation is right out, they have to have SOME way of generating income...
From what I've seen and read about Alcatraz, I won't be too disappointed if this show disappears never to reappear again. Conversely, if Awake is prematurely put to bed, I'll probably cry myself to sleep for a week.
I'll watch anything Abrams at least once. I'm a lot more excited for Awake though...I really hope they figure everything out.
Same with me, Alcatraz seems to be hyped for nothing.