NoahWyle
Jason Lee, Angie Harmon Pilots Picked Up by TNT
If you can't choose one, why not choose them all?That's exactly what TNT did yesterday with the pickup of three new pilots: 'Delta Blues,' 'Rizzoli and Isles' and the still-untitled alien-invasion series from producer Steven Spielberg. Each show received 10-episode orders, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
'Delta Blues,' from producer George Clooney, stars Jason Lee as a Memphis cop who moonlights as a musician and still lives at home with his mother. The Boston-set 'Rizzoli,' based on a series of mystery novels by Tess Gerritsen, stars Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander as detectives, with Lorraine Bracco playing Harmon's tough, but loyal mother.
TNT picks up more dramas
TNT has some new dramatic shows on the horizon and believe it or not, they actually don't involve sexy cops or lawyers. Well, one of them does. The cable network has picked up a new science fiction series about aliens overtaking humanity starring Noah Wyle, a detective series starring Angie Harmon and (surprise!) a cop drama starring Jason Lee.
The "untitled alien invasion series" (wouldn't it be a big bowl of hilariousness if that were the actual title?) will star Wyle as the leader of a band of human resisters who aspire to take back the Earth from an alien race that has laid waste to humanity. Since this is being produced by Steven Speilberg, how about calling it Close Encounters of the Ass Kicking Kind?
TV Moment of 2009: 'ER' Series Finale -- 'And in the End ...'
'ER' spent an awfully long time saying goodbye -- a whole season, in fact -- before it finally wound down on April 2. The last episode was not epic in scope, nor did it neatly tie up the loose ends of the lives of the multitude of County General staffers. It was just another gritty workday in the life of the hospital, but one in which some special things happened that, for fans, paid respectful homage to the show's 15-year legacy as one of NBC's finest (and perhaps final) hour-long dramas.Noah Wyle officially boards Spielberg's alien-invasion pilot
Noah Wyle is going from fighting vampires in The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice to fighting aliens for Steven Spielberg. The former ER doc has signed on to the Oscar-wining filmmaker's alien invasion pilot for TNT as the leader of a "ragtag" group of rebels set to make trouble for the alien baddies.The series will take place months after the alien force has decimated the human population of Earth, leading Wyle and friends to strike back any way they can. (Thankfully, George Lucas' name has not been mentioned in any news surrounding this upcoming sci-fi project.)
TV News Daily: Noah Wyle Joins TNT Alien-Invasion Series
Spielberg wants to bring aliens and Noah Wyle to TNT
Steven Spielberg, the man behind sci-fi movie classics like E.T and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, is producing an alien-invasion drama pilot for TNT. The unnamed series would potentially take place on Earth six months after evil aliens wipe out most of humanity.We still don't know if Spielberg will direct the pilot, but the award-winning filmmaker reportedly wants to cast Noah Wyle to play the potential series' lead. The former E.R. star would play the leader of a group of human rebels trying to bring down the big bad aliens.
The Ultimate 'ER' Quiz
How well do you know the show?Since premiering in 1994, 'ER' has seen a lot of action -- and quite a few cast changes. George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, John Stamos and many others have walked the halls of County General.
After 15 seasons of ups and downs, it's time to test your 'ER' knowledge by taking our quiz.
Bob Newhart: The TV Squad Interview
What can you say about Bob Newhart that hasn't been written a million times over? He's a TV legend, with two classic sitcoms (The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart) on his resume. He's also a stand-up comedy legend, who left a humble accounting career to win a Grammy with his first comedy album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, in 1960. He still tours today, and has been seen on both the big and small screens in a number of projects (Legally Blonde, Elf, ER).On Sunday at 8 PM ET, he co-stars in The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, the third in the Librarian series that has become a nice little franchise for TNT. He plays Judson, who acts as a guide and mentor to Noah Wyle's character of Flynn Carsen, a librarian who acts more like Indiana Jones than the person who stamps the insides of new books.
I spoke to Newhart by phone last week; we discussed the movie, shooting in New Orleans, his recent penchant for memorable supporting roles, and if he thinks the multi-camera sitcom has a future.
Yup, Clooney coming back to ER (probably)
I'm not sure what George Clooney fans are called. Clooneys? Cloonsters? Cloons? Whatever you fans are called, you're probably going to be very happy about this news.In an upcoming TV Guide interview, ex-ER star Noah Wyle (who will be appearing in several episodes this last season) says that Clooney said he will "absolutely" appear in the show in an episode, at least if his schedule permits it (though I'm sure he'll make the time). This has been off again and on again for so many months, but I think Clooney will do it.
Greg Pratt's fate on ER -- too soon?
We all know that ER is famous for its deaths. Not only of the patients that are served by Chicago's County General but of its staff as well. Particularly in its emergency room. Fact of the matter is, there have been so many deaths of ER personnel that I'm surprised that a police investigation hasn't been opened to determined if they were natural or a bit suspicious. Some of these deaths have been shocking, such as Lucy Knight's during season six. Others were long in coming, like Mark Greene's peaceful death in season 8.
How ER plans to get George Clooney back
With this being the final season of ER, the show naturally wants to bring back some of its old stars for cameos. George Clooney is the big fish to land, of course, and producers say they've got a juicy storyline to lure him in.Showrunner David Zabel told TV Guide, "We have a really good story line for every [major] character from the past to show [the actors] what we want to do."
Anthony Edwards is already on board to appear in flashbacks on the Nov. 13 episode (since his character, Dr. Greene, is dead), along with Paul McCrane (Dr. Romano) and Laura Innes (Dr. Weaver). Noah Wyle will guest star in four episodes, and Alex Kingston may show up as Dr. Corday.
ER snags Angela Bassett
NBC doctors may have already called the time for ER, setting next season for the end of the enduring medical drama, but the final year will go out with fire and brio. That was made abundantly clear by casting dynamic actress Angela Bassett as a series regular for the 15th season of ER. Despite rumors, Anthony Edwards may or may not return, and Noah Wyle's back for just four shows, but Angela can be counting on to carry the load.This is the first full-time series for Ms. Bassett, an Oscar-nominated actress for What's Love Got to Do With It? (1994). Who will ever forget her playing Tina Turner in that film? She made muscular arms on a woman sexy, in addition to providing a terrific performance as the musical star. In 2006, she was superb in the indie hit Akeelah and the Bee, and on TV, she did a short stint on Alias in 2005 as a CIA director.
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines -- an early look

Well, not that early, considering it premieres tonight on TNT. But it is early enough to let you know that if you are fan of the first Librarian film you will probably like the second installment as well. And, even if you never saw the first one you'll still enjoy it.
For those who are unfamiliar with the film series, The Librarian stars Noah Wyle (ER's Doctor John Carter) as Flynn Carson, holder of 22 college degrees and 'librarian' of the Metropolitan Public Library. Actually, Flynn's job is to find and protect historical and sometime magical items that are stored in the special section of the library. His position of librarian takes him around the world in search of said items, and it sometimes leads to situations no normal librarian would be involved with. I mean, librarians usually aren't held at gunpoint by villains whose books are overdue.
The Five: Who I miss from ER
Hi again. No new ER this week due to America's national pastime (the World Series, for the confused). So, I thought I'd take my usual Thursday night spot to pose a question to all fans of the show, past and present. Who do you miss from County General? There have been plenty of doctors and nurses who have come and gone through the doors of the emergency room. Some of them we were glad to see go, and we wish others would return for at least a guest appearance.
While I wait for your comments on the subject, here are the five ER cast members I miss.
John Carter (Noah Wyle) -- All right, I admit it, I had a "man crush" on Dr. Carter. In the very beginning of the series run I always felt the show was a bit empty when he wasn't around. Carter was the face of how things changed in the emergency room. Plus, he was one of those characters that we could root for, especially with events such as his stabbing and drug addiction and his rocky relationship with Abby. I wouldn't mind at all if he returned to ER for a few episodes this season.
Your guide to May sweeps
USA Today today (I just like writing that phrase) has a handy, easy-to-read guide to all of the season finales and other big happenings in May. Critic Robert Bianco is wrong when he says Noah Wyle's last ER show airs in May (he's actually going to be on 8 more episodes over the next two years), but he does have the best advice for Wednesday, May 25: watch Lost and Alias and just tape the last ten minutes of American Idol (sorry Dave!) TV Squad Hot Topics
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