jane leeves

Veterans of early TV are scarce these days, most being retired or, well, really retired. But after 61 years in the business, the legendary Betty White is enjoying her third or fourth career resurgence -- and told AOL TV she's thrilled to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sandra Bullock at the SAG Awards on Jan. 23.

After doing radio and summer stock back in the 1940s, White's big break came as the "telephone girl" on a live, local Los Angeles show, 'Hollywood on Television,' hosted by popular DJ Al Jarvis. With all honors to Lucille Ball and 'I Love Lucy,' that gig led to the creation of one of the first female-driven sitcoms, 'Life with Elizabeth.' The TV skies were the limit from there.

(S06E13) "The number one rule to a successful dinner party: keep discussion about your marriage to a minimum." - Mary Alice

Let's face it, all the Wisteria Lane residents need some one-on-one time with a shrink. From past episodes, we know that Tom and Lynette need to discuss their issues with the loss of the baby, Lynette's need for control and Tom's frustrations; while Orson and Bree need to cope with her affair with Karl and Orson being in a wheelchair and acting like a spoiled brat. This week, we can add that Gaby and Susan need to get over their need for competition and accept their children as they are; Bob and Lee must deal with their marital problems; and Angie needs advice so she can let new people in her life, aka Ana as Danny's new girlfriend.

Out of our favorite Wisteria Lane residents, only five met with a shrink and that includes Katherine, whom we finally (!) get news of.

TV Land has officially jumped into the cable sitcom party, even if they showed up just as the hangovers are starting to set in. And for their first venture, they have enlisted the help of some of television's tastiest babes.

Valerie Bertinelli (One Day at a Time), Jane Leeves (Frasier), Wendy Malick (Just Shoot Me) and Betty White (The Golden Girls) have been brought on board to star in Hot for Cleveland, the second sitcom project approved by the cable network. That's right, Betty White is a TV hottie. I will fight ANYONE who makes fun of me for it.

The other show commissioned by TV Land is Retired at 35, and has lined up actor George Segal, Christine Ebersole and SNL alum Casey Wilson, her first role since she was abruptly pumped from the sketch show. Given TV Land's horrible choices in making their own reality shows, do these even have a chance of being a hit?

Four TV vets have just inked deals to star in the new TV Land comedy pilot 'Hot in Cleveland.' Among those joining the show are Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and 'Frasier''s Jane Leeves as three best friends from Los Angeles who get trapped in Cleveland, then decide to stay when they realize the locals think they're hot. Also on board is Emmy winner Betty White, who will play the trio's "grumpy" and "opinionated" neighbor (how very Sophia Petrillo of her). In the meantime, this marks the second pilot order from the network, after 'Retired at 35,' starring George Segal. No word yet on a premiere date. [Hollywood Reporter]

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This week we have spoilers for: 90210, Better Off Ted, Desperate Housewives, Flashforward, Glee, Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, Supernatural, The Big Bang Theory, and Ugly Betty. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

'Frasier''s Jane Leeves is about to fill Dr. Frasier Crane's shoes.

According to the Ausiello Files, the Emmy nominated actress is joining 'Desperate Housewives' for at least two episodes. She'll play a shrink who counsels Tom Scavo (Doug Savant) through his midlife crisis. (Lynette will be thrilled -- well, unless it develops into a forbidden romance, like so many 'Desperate' relationships do.)

And we're happy to hear that increasingly crazy Katherine (Dana Delaney), who had a major mental meltdown in last week's episode, will also get some professional help. About time, we say.

I have to thank my fellow Squadder Bob Sassone for turning me on to Ken Levine's fantastic blog; not only is Levine funny when he writes about random stuff, but he gives advice about what to do and what not to do when writing a sitcom script. The man knows what he talking about; he's written for many classic sitcoms, including M*A*S*H, Cheers, and Frasier.

But it's his behind-the-scenes anecdotes that are my favorties. And this past week, he gave us some doozy, and he didn't even write them: he let his friend Peter Casey, one of the co-creators of Frasier, do a three-part series on how the show was created.