The Wire actor Clark Johnson is going to direct a short film about "masculinity and youth" written by nine New York City students. The film, called Misunderstood, was written by students of the High School of Graphic Communication Arts who won a contest held by Scenarios USA. The group of students consists of juniors and seniors, seven girls and two boys. Clark Johnson was on the committee that chose the winner of the contest. He will begin filming this month with a volunteer crew. Misunderstood is going to premiere this winter and will be "distributed to high schools and community groups across the country, streamed on the Internet and air on TV." However, the article did not include what channel(s) would be airing the short film.

Johnson, who played Gus Haynes on The Wire, directed 2006's The Sentinel. His other directing credits include episodes of FX's The Sheild, one episode of The West Wing, and one episode of NYPD Blue among others.

No, not the new Michael Douglas/Keifer Sutherland/Eva Longoria flick (though there is, oddly, a Desperate Housewives connection).  I'm talking about the 1990s action series The Sentinel, starring Richard Burgi, who is now on Housewives.

Show creators/producers Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo have recorded a special podcast commentary for the pilot episode of the series, much like they recorded a podcast for the series finale of The Flash when that DVD set was released. You can find all the podcasts here.

[via TVshowsondvd.com]

According to some recent buzz, Eva Longoria does not plan to renew her contract with ABC's Desperate Housewives. Longoria said, "I don't want to be on 7th Heaven -- on for 20 years and no one's really watching and it's hanging on by a thread." Apparently, she'd rather not waste her time on the show past her contract because she has her sights set solely upon the silver screen (she already has one new film, The Sentinel, co-starring Michael Douglas).

I'm not that into the whole Housewives scene, but I've heard that many think the show has lost its steam since it started out with a bang in 2004. Do you think Longoria's worrying a little too early, or are her fears justified?

Every Tuesday here on TV Squad , we will highlight the week's TV-on-DVD releases. Some noteworthy releases today, April 18, 2006:

• The Amazing World of Kreskin - The Best Moments of the Amazing Kreskin
• Doogie Howser, M.D. - Season 4
• Remington Steele - Season 3
• Sahara - Michael Palin: Sahara
• The Sentinel - The Complete 1st Season
• Thundercats - Season 2, Volume 1