Stockard Channing Joins Ron Moore's Magic Pilot, 'Burn Notice' Prequel Gets Premiere Date and More

Stockard Channing will headline '17th Precinct,' the new magic-based pilot from 'Battlestar Galactica' mastermind Ron Moore.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the 'West Wing' veteran will play Mira, a former homicide detective who now covers robberies. '17th Precinct' is set in the fictional city of Excelsior, a place where magic and the supernatural rule.

When NBC picked up the show to pilot, it was described as a 'Harry Potter'-type show for grown-ups.

In other TV news ...

• 'Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe' will premiere April 17 at 9PM on USA. The prequel is set in 2005 and directed by 'Burn Notice' star Jeffrey Donovan. [Entertainment Weekly]

• Gary Cole has joined the cast of Fox's comedy pilot 'Tagged.' Cole will play James Percy, a coroner who works with his son. [Deadline Hollywood]

• Will Paget Brewster leave 'Criminal Minds'? The actress is currently fielding comedy pilot offers from Fox. Her final 'Criminal Minds' episode of the season will end with a cliffhanger, A.J. Cook is returning to the series to possibly whisk her away. [Deadline Hollywood]

• Heidi Montag on 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'? No, sorry, Bravo honcho Andy Cohen reiterated his previous stance against the 'Hills' star. He took to his talk show, 'Watch What Happens Live,' and said he'd rather "stab ... knives into my own eyes than see her on this network." [PEOPLE]

• Wentworth Miller and Orlando Jones have been offered roles in ABC's 'Identity.' The pilot is a procedural about an elite police squad that combats identity theft. [Hollywood Reporter]

• TV Squad favorite Ashley Fink will tour with the 'Glee' cast this summer. The 'Glee' newcomer will sing 'I Know What Boys Like' in Tuesday's episode. [CeleBuzz]

• BBC America will edit the controversial "lazy Mexicans" comment from 'Top Gear' before it airs in the US. The episode is set to air next week. [Hollywood Reporter]

• Laz Alonso is heading back to 'Southland.' Alonso will reprise his Detective Gil Puente role in the season 3 finale. [TV Guide]