Justin Bartha of "The Hangover" franchise has signed on for "The New Normal," according to The Hollywood Reporter, which revoles around a gay couple and the woman who agrees to serve as their surrogate. Bartha will play David to "The Book Of Mormon" star Andrew Rannells' Bryan as the couple looking to start a family.

Also joining the cast is Scottish actress Georgia King as Goldie, their surrogate, THR reports. Ellen Barkin is already attached to "The New Normal" as Goldie's racist grandmother on the NBC sitcom, co-created by Murphy and fellow "Glee" scribe Ali Adler.

And in more casting news ...

"Superman" alum Brandon Routh will play Michael Urie's boyfriend in "Partners" for CBS. The comedy pilot is from the minds of "Will & Grace" creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. [TVLine]

Ryan Phillippe has dropped out of the CBS pilot he was attached to. The actor, who's currently filming a major arc on the finale season of FX's "Damages," would have starred as a cop on the Greg Berlanti project, which was previously known as "Golden Boy." [The Hollywood Reporter]

"Kings" alum Chris Egan is going Disney. The actor has landed the first role in ABC's reimagining of the classic fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" as Gorrick, a Gaston-like character betrothed the show's leading lady, Grace. [TVLine]

Former "Oz" inmate Lee Tergesen may be back doing small screen crime. TVLine exclusively reports that Tergesen is close to signing onto ABC's drama pilot "Penoza," which is based on a Dutch series of the same name about the widow of an assassinated criminal forced to adopt her husband's role in order to protect her family. [TVLine]

At a time when watching movies has become more and more experiential with 3D glasses, enormous IMAX screen and heart-pounding surround sound systems, the Academy sings paeans to a silent movie? With French actors?

But there's more: With Hollywood executives panicking about dropping movie attendance and the inability to attract younger, hipper viewers, someone needs to ask how the Academy of Motion Pictures selected funnyman Billy Crystal to host the 84th Academy Awards given that few people under the age of 30 have heard of him. What happened? The Lollipop Guild was unavailable?

Can anyone say make-over? It is time to bring style back to the Oscars, and I'm not talking asparagus and hollandaise sauce. Spicing up the broadcast would be a quick fix -- It's time to add some new award categories. So Hollywood, take note. Take a meeting. Take some Tylenol. These recommendations could be the cure for that after-party hangover. Part II.

The Best Sequel: Am I the only one miffed that Fast Five was overlooked -- again? The franchise about street racing has everything you expect in a great movie: clutch actors, clutch plotline, clutch transmissions. (Changing topics for a second, am I also the only who thinks actor Claron Hinds looks like Clutch Cargo?) Did I mention the great chase scenes and the midriff-baring gear heads? Yet the film got blanked by the Academy. Not even an award for best cinematography, whatever that is.

Vin Diesel. Ludacris. The Rock. The film should win an Academy Award for having the actors with the coolest names.

Truth is that sequels are driving the Hollywood engine. Ten of the top 11 grossing films of 2011 were prequels or sequels. Of the past nine years, eight of the top grossing movies were sequels. It just doesn't seem kosher that year after year these cash cows are ignored during the awards season. The Academy seems to think that imitation is the sincerest form of flatulence.

Instead of snubbing this movie-making trend, why not embrace it with its own award category? This will guarantee us a chance to see the same movies we love over and over and over again. (Footnote: Fast and Furious 6 is scheduled for a 2013 release. Plot unknown. Not a big surprise given that I still can't figure out the plots for the first five.)

Best Bat Mitzvah Montage: How is it that this genre of filmmaking had gone completely unrecognized by the Academy Awards? This is especially bizarre when you consider that the production costs for the average bat mitzvah montage exceeds those for most foreign films. And there aren't any subtitles!

Let's also consider that adding such a category would attract a demographic group Hollywood has shamefully ignored over the years -- Jewish teens. In time I expect a spin-off show devoted exclusively to this segment of the industry, and, with a special soundtrack award, there's a logical tie-in with the Grammys. Imagine the scene: Rachel Glickstine's Bubbie is being nominated for best birthday scene which features her racy version of Rihanna's "S&M." The envelope is opened. The winner announced. Rachel jumps from her chair, screaming, "My grammy won a Grammy!" It's an advertiser's dream.

The Salma Hayek Award: Every year the Academy presents a lifetime achievement award to an actor who is wrinkly and grey. Why wait? Why not give the award to someone in her prime while she still looks great in evening wear? I nominate Salma Hayek. And the good news is that it would guarantee she'd be at the show. For 2013 I nominate Penelope Cruz.

Thinking ahead it's not too early to start thinking about next year's host. I'm pushing for Vin Diesel. He's cool. He's hip. He'd look great in a tux, assuming there is one that would fit. All in all, it would be a clutch move.

Sources say Rimes is interested in joining the Fox reality hit, with one source adding that she’s met with Factor co-producer FremantleMedia North America about the gig and other opportunities.

Instead of the more traditional awards show play-off music, the Brit Awards tasks the host with letting winners know when their speeches have run over time, Osbourne explained. "I hosted that show about four years ago, and you've got three different producers in your ear ... They send you up there and say, 'Whatever you do, get the mic, tell them to stop, that's it.' ... So I understand her frustration ... When I hosted it, they didn't tell the artists, because they didn't want to say who's won, so they don't prep them."

Osbourne had some harsh words for ITV, the network who televised the ceremony. "It's the network. They don't care. They're English. They've got a stick up their bum," she quipped. "If it had been me, I would have said, 'You tell her, I am not telling her."

Even this year's host Corden seemed to share Osbourne's sentiments. In an interview with ITV2 after the show, he said, "I don't understand quite why I was made to [cut her short]... I was having the best night of my life and then I had to cut Adele off before she's even had a chance to say, 'Thank you.' She's the biggest star in the world. I don't understand what happened, but I'm upset about it."

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Fox was represented only by its two editions of "American Idol" – which ranked second and third – while NBC's lone entry, "The Voice," took fourth place, according to Nielsen Co. figures released Wednesday.

CBS' durable drama "NCIS" won the top spot with a remarkable audience of nearly 20 million viewers.

For the week, CBS' prime-time average was 10.9 million viewers (6.8 rating, 11 share). Fox had 8.7 million viewers (5.1 rating, 8 share), ABC had 6.7 million (4.2 rating, 7 share), NBC had 5.6 million (3.5 rating, 6 share), the CW had 1.1 million (0.9 rating, 1 share) and ION Television had 1.1 million (0.7 rating, 1 share).

Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision led with a 3.8 million viewer average (1.9 rating, 3 share), Telemundo had 1.0 million (0.6 rating, 1 share), Telefutura had 660,000 (0.4 rating, 1 share), Estrella had 220,000 and Azteca 130,000 (both 0.1 rating, 0 share).

NBC's "Nightly News" topped the evening newscasts with an average of 9.4 million viewers (6.2 rating, 11 share). ABC's "World News" was second with 8 million (5.4 rating, 10 share), while the "CBS Evening News" had 6.8 million viewers (4.5 rating, 8 share).

A ratings point represents 1,147,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 114.7 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

For the week of Feb. 13-19, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: "NCIS," CBS, 19.59 million; "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 18.89 million; "American Idol" (Thursday), Fox, 18.71 million; "The Voice," NBC, 16.28 million; "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 16.15 million; "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 15.65 million; "The Mentalist," CBS, 13.55 million; "Person of Interest," CBS, 13.16 million; "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 12.45 million; "Criminal Minds," CBS, 12.20 million.

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ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Co. CBS is owned by CBS Corp. CW is a joint venture of Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corp. Fox and My Network TV are units of News Corp. NBC and Telemundo are owned by Comcast Corp. ION Television is owned by ION Media Networks. TeleFutura is a division of Univision. Azteca America is a wholly owned subsidiary of TV Azteca S.A. de C.V.

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In the episode, entitled "Hunting Ground," Olivia and David's romantic weekend is interrupted when an underage prostitute goes missing.

As the SVU detectives dig into her disappearance, they find a pattern of several missing escorts who all posted ads on a popular newspaper's website. For Oliva and David budding relationship, however, this means that the line between their personal and professional lives starts to blur, causing a bit of frustration for the two, as the squad races to find the missing girl before it's too late.

HuffPost TV caught up with Connick Jr. on the set of the long-running NBC procedural to talk about the personal connection that inspired him to take the role, David and Olivia's blossoming romance and how even he saw the chemistry between Elliot (Christopher Meloni) and Olivia.

"Law and Order: SVU" airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC. Check out exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the "SVU" set -- including a very sweet kiss between Olivia and David.

For fans that feel like they don't know much about your character, how would you describe David?

David is very determined at his job, and he's very ethical. He's a hard-worker who believes very strongly in upholding the law and doing what he's supposed to do, which is one of the reasons that I believe he's attracted to Det. Benson. Obviously, she's beautiful and charming, but she's a bit of a mystery to him. He knows that it's going to take a bit of work, but I think he's willing to do the work to get to know her. He's a genuine guy. If he was anything other than that, I would be blind-sided by it because up to this point, he really cares for her. He senses that something has been troubling her, and we had a scene where he was like, "Look, I know something is bothering you, but I want you to know that I'm not going anywhere. It's alright, whatever it is. I can handle it."

This upcoming episode is going to see David and Olivia both juggling their personal and professional lives. Is that going to cause some friction?

For David, love trumps the business. He approaches Olivia and says, "If we want this to work, we have to make a decision. We have to stay away from each other in the work field." And he's making the decision to do that. Their relationship is more important to him than what they both do for a living, and they're both ethical about their jobs.

You're only signed on to do four episodes, so where are things headed for Olivia and David in that short time?

I don't know. I'm going to be just as surprised as everyone else. [Laughs] I think Mariska probably has a better idea than I do, but it's nice, you know? I liked being surprised because that's how these things happen in real ife.

What do you want to happen?

I would like, just as a fan of the show, for her not to get hurt. She's been through so much trauma in her life already, so I would rather, if I had my choice, not be a person who would contribute to any more pain for her. But as an actor, I'm playing a part and it is what it is.

You would also be the most hated person on TV if you break her heart.

Oh, for sure! But sometimes that's the way it is when you play a guy who's not very admired. That's just apart of being an actor. People get so personally invested with these characters that they sometimes translate that to your real personal life. That can be tough, especially when you're not expecting that kind of backlash.

I know that you're a talented singer in real life, so will David serenade Olivia any time soon?

[Laughs] I don't think that's going to happen. Oh man, one of the fun things about playing a guy like David is that he's not a singer. I just finished a show, doing eight shows a week, and sing a lot, so it's nice to play a guy who can't carry a tune. Maybe Olivia will serenade him! That's a nice alternative.

If they did ask you to come back for more than four episodes, would that be an option that you would consider?

Oh, sure! I'm having a great time. It's just a matter of scheduling, but I'd definitely be back. I'm really enjoying my time with Marlska, so I'd love to keep that going.

I know that you said that you were obsessed with the show, so I'm sure you know that there were many fans who wanted Elliot and Olivia together. Where you a big fan of Benson and Stabler?

The thing about their relationship is that it was an impossibility. You always wanted it to work and for it to happen, but you knew it wasn't because he was married, and they loved each other in a different kind of way. It's interesting to see how she's sort of breaking down a little bit and letting David into her emotional circle because that was once a place that she really only let Elliot into. It's fun to be that guy.

I read that your father was the District Attorney of New Orleans. Did that have anything to do with you taking on this role?

There's a lot of things in this script that I call about and ask him. He was the DA of New Orleans for 30 years, so I had a million questions for him about his job and the situations that he found himself in during that time. In fact, the reason I took the role was because of my dad. It's yet another way that I can share my time with him. We're very close anyway, but I had never done a role like this before, and since it's what he does for a living, I thought it would be a nice bond between us.

Being from Dallas, Texas, let me assure you: It's not.

I caught up with the show's fabulous cast -- Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb, David James Elliott, Miriam Shor, Marisol Nichols, Jennifer Aspen and Brad Beyer -- to talk all about their adventures in the Lone Star State, and why they believe they're in very capable hands.

"We have Bobby Harling, who wrote 'Steel Magnolias,' writing television for us," Potts said. For those uninitiated in the ways of the South, oh my Lord & Taylor -- "Steel Magnolias" is kind of like the Southern Bible (a label that Bibb has now stolen from me after I took her character's shopping-inspired exclamation).

"It comes from truth, as you know, and it comes from love," Aspen said of the show's depiction of the larger-than-life Texas personalities. "There's a real admiration of this area, of these people, of this life."

But if the women are all bitches, what does that make the good-time guys on the show? "They are hot asses!" Aspen said. "All the men on our show are over six feet tall, and we should do a 'GCB' calendar."

"We're like the parents, and they're like the children," Eliiott said. "We look at them as our entertainment."

Watch my full video interview with the cast for more of that entertainment, and tell us: Are you excited for "GCB"?

"GCB" premieres Sun., March 4, 10 p.m. EST on ABC.

"Sonja [Morgan] and Ramona [Singer] have totally bonded and formed a great alliance against the new ladies," a show insider tells me. "They are so inseparable this season that they shared a bed together in St. Barts and even went skinny dipping late one night after enjoying a few glasses of Ramona's wine."

This will be the first season of the hit show since original cast members Jill Zarin and Alex McCord were fired and replaced with Carole Radziwill, a distant relative of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, fashion designer Heather Thomson, and Wall Street wife Aviva Drescher, who is related to actress Fran Drescher.

"This season you will see the ladies travel to London, where Carole thinks it's so funny that LuAnn [de Lesseps] insists that everyone call her 'The Countess,' that she makes all the ladies refer to her as 'The Princess' to mock her," one of the ladies tells me. Carole is the widow of Prince Anthony Radziwill, who died August 10, 1999, at age 40 after a five-year battle with cancer.

But when the ladies travel to Miami and St. Barts, that's where the real trouble begins.

"Things between Ramona and the new ones get so bad at one point they even discussed recreating the bathroom scene from the film 'Bridesmaids' after Ramona gives them her new red wine to taste," an insider tells me. "Ramona now thinks it's her show for sure."

Get a glass of wine in these women and there's no telling what they'll do.

"You know me, I always skinny dip," Sonja tells me. "Why else would you rent a house? I can't tell you if I did it on film or if I did it with Ramona because that would be a storyline and I can get in trouble for that according to my contract."

Check out all of the "Real Housewives," past and present, below:

According to the 911 phone call the character actor made from his Cincinnati apartment, von Bargen sustained a self-inflicted gun shot in his head. The 61-year-old appears discombobulated on the phone: "I was supposed to go to the hospital and I didn't want to… they were supposed to amputate at least a few toes," he said, adding that he is diabetic.

Von Bargen played the characters of Chief Grady in "Super Troopers" and Mr. Kruger on "Seinfeld."

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The news arrives just days before the start of Cycle 18 (premieres Wed., Feb. 29, 9 p.m. EST), which will pit British models against American contestants. Cycle 18 guest judges include Kelly Osbourne, Kris Jenner, pop star Estelle, "So You Think You Can Dance" host Cat Deeley, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta and fashion photographer Jez Smith.

"America's Next Top Model" got its start on UPN and moved over to The CW when The WB and UPN merged in 2006. It is the only UPN show still standing on The CW. "Top Model" has lost steam in the ratings over the years, but is still one of The CW's strongest players. THR reports the series averaged a 1.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic during Cycle 17.

Click over to THR for more.

The MGM Channel, via Hollywood Suite, is putting on a special showcase of the "James Bond" films this weekend, just in time for the Oscars. The channel plans to air 10 classic Bond films over the weekend -- and no matter if you prefer Connery, Moore or Dalton, they're all making an appearance.

Friday February 24:
8 p.m. "Dr. No" (1962)
10 p.m. "From Russia With Love" (1963)
12 a.m. "Goldfinger" (1965)
2 a.m. "Thunderball" (1965)

Saturday February 25
8 p.m. "For Your Eyes Only" (1981)
10: 10 p.m. "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977)
12:20 a.m. "Octopussy" (1983)
2:35 a.m. "A View To Kill" (1985)

Sunday February 26
9:05 p.m. "The Living Daylights" (1987)
11:20 p.m. "License To Kill" (1985)
(All Times Eastern)

To see if you have this channel, please contact your local cable provider.

"Jon basically lives his life and I live mine... it's more peaceful and it's probably not anything I'm doing differently," she told Dr. Drew.

Gosselin, whose reality show, “Kate Plus 8,” ended in September 2011, said their improved relationship might have something to do with her ex-husband's recent employment.

"He feels like he's living a regular life again and maybe [he's] a little happier himself, so that boils down to peace between us. The kids are now okay going there," the reality TV star said. "I feel like he's trying again. The bottom line is, the kids come home happy, basically, so that's all that matters."

Her sentiments are a departure from earlier comments she made about their acrimonious split; in December 2010, Gosselin told "Today Show" co-host Meredith Vieira that she hadn't yet made up with Jon after their highly publicized split, and that two of their children, Collin and Alexis, had anger issues, which she believed stemmed from the couple's divorce.

Gosselin filed for divorce from Jon in June 2009 after ten years of marriage, amid rumors of Jon's infidelity.

Note: Do not read on if you have not seen Season 3, Episode 17 of NBC's "Parenthood" entitled "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You."

At the end of last week's "Parenthood," scratching my head as Jasmine's hesitated to move in with her dreamboat doctor, then shaking my head in disapproval as Amber was swept out of a hotel room by her aunt, and then biting my finger nails in anticipation for the arrival of Julia's adopted baby. (If you ask me, Zoe was ready to pop a good three episodes ago.) But on this week's episode, "Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You," relationships took a toll and took a turn.

While Amber quits her job as the politician's assistant, Sarah got a proposal; but not that kind of proposal ... more like an "east-coastal" kind, that came out of thin air. New York City was never an option; unless you count the New York play producer Sarah met a good, oh, season ago.

Meanwhile, Kristina outs Amber to her mom, telling her that she acted out of love for her niece and she hopes that, if the time ever came, Sarah would take Haddie home from an overnight play-date with her boss. (But we all know Haddie would never.) After Sarah thanks Kristina for looking out for her kid, she tells her about her desire for the other coast and Kristina gives her the thumbs up. The kids will be all right, Kristina says. Maybe in that movie, but I doubt it on this show. Drew cried last week, remember? And I thought the rhyme went love, marriage, baby carriage, not "move to another city, in another house with a porch and garage." But Mark and Sarah feel good about their relationship moving forward, that is, until Amber runs to her mom -- as every woman needs to do from time to time -- in hopes of finding comfort from her conflicted work/boss feelings. Is Sarah needed in the Wild West after all?

Someone who isn't needed? Crosby. At least, not to Adam. The brothers turn down a hefty offer for their Luncheonette Studio because Crosby apparently does not want to be a millionaire. But Adam still sees dollar signs. Despite Crosby's unwavering decision to not sell for matters of the heart, Adam has a drink with the West Coast Recordings headman, Richard Gilcriss, while Crosby is out of town. We all know in the business world that "having a drink" really means "get the potential client a little floopy for some soft negotiations." And negotiate he did. Gilcriss offered another number so large that Adam couldn't refuse -- and one that the writers couldn't show apparently. Maybe it was [insert Dr. Evil's voice] "one billion dollars!" The gentlemen shake hands and Adam promises to talk his brother into selling. I don't know, blood is thicker than water, buddy. You probably should've used a genuine gentlemen's "spit" handshake for this one.

But while Adam's thinking about money, Crosby's got matters of the heart to worry about. I'm a romantic so I always root for the sweetheart couple and this show is no different. But these two sweethearts, Crosby and Jasmine, have sweethearts of their own. Committed sweethearts. Jasmine and Crosby take Jabbar on his Boy Scout camping trip with plans for it to turn into a Boys Only sleepover as Jasmine plans to leave early. But of course, after an innocent plea from her son, Jasmine decides to stay the night with him and her Baby Daddy, ex-fiancé in the next sleeping bag. Oh, sure. It's all Jabbar's fault. We all saw that longing look you gave Crosby as he tended to your burn wound, Jasmine. But admittedly, that was still cute. The downpour starts in the middle of the night with Crosby blaming himself for ruining what could've been a perfect family. (I thought he really liked the Cello Girl.) The next morning, the real downpour comes. The camping trip is cut shot as a rainstorm hit the grounds, forcing Jasmine and Crosby to leave any possibility of getting back together behind. Just as Crosby pulls away in his car, Jasmine runs to his window with her face dripping wet and confesses her love for him: "I love you. I've always loved you [...] Crosby Braverman, I want to be your wife. Will you still marry me?" Whoa. Not prepared for that. But, I bought it, mostly thanks to that "Notebook" moment. Show me any proclamation of love in the rain and I'll believe you.

Crosby and Jasmine were happy at the end, but it pains my heart to say that things didn't turn out quite the same for Julia. Most of her storyline leads up to this much-anticipated moment and the possibility of another Baby Braverman. Like a fireman on shift, Julia springs out of bed and right to Zoe's side as she holds her hand and acknowledges "I love you's" through the labor and delivery. The look of pure joy on Julia's face when she first holds her son is almost unbearable next to Zoe's. The painful sobs pulled on my heartstrings just a little bit too tight. Julia arrives the next day and brings New Daddy Joel and Big Sister Sydney to the hospital, but much to Julia's surprise, she watches Zoe play with the baby in the window of the nursery, knowing, without words, the decision Zoe had made. Right when I think there are little to no heartstrings left to pull, "Parenthood" thrusts me into another emotional tornado, making me watch Julia break down in an empty hospital room. Tears. Everywhere.

Next week's season finale promises a list of events that won't fall short to what we've seen all season: tears, more tears, kids and grown-ups growing up, and more high school tunes from Death Cab For Cutie. At least there will be a wedding.