miraculous year

Gene Shalit is leaving NBC's 'Today.' According to Variety, Shalit, who has been with the show for 40 years, will depart the morning program on Thursday.

"It's enough already," Shalit said in a statement.

The film reviewer said he will still be active in the media scene, but focusing on publishing, Web work, radio and commercials. Look for 'Today' to air a special retrospective about Shalit's lengthy career on his last day, Nov. 11.

In other TV news ...

• Steven Weber and D.L. Hughley has been tapped to star in a new TNT pilot. Weber and Hughley will play police officers, Weber's character is newly widowed and Hughley's a newlywed. The project comes from 'Wall Street : Money Never Sleeps' writer Allan Loeb and is based on Marshall Karp's novel "The Rabbit Factory." [Deadline Hollywood]

• Shohreh Aghdashloo will guest star on 'Law & Order: SVU.' The Emmy-winner will play Sunny Qadar, an investigator in the Brooklyn district attorney's office. [Movieline]

• HBO is not going forward with 'Miraculous Year.' The star-studded pilot had Frank Langella, Lee Pace and Hope Davis attached and was directed by Kathryn Bigelow. [Deadline Hollywood]

• IFC is developing 8 new shows. The new projects vary from reality and animation to comedy. The network has tapped creators such as Thom Beers, Alan Spencer, and David Wain. Look for 'Whisker Wars,' a reality series about facial hair competitions. Yup. [Hollywood Reporter]

HBO's 'Miraculous Year' is adding more recognizable faces to its already impressive roster. According to the Ausiello Files, Lee Pace of 'Pushing Daisies' and 'Law & Order' ADA Linus Roache have been tapped to join the drama, which revolves around a New York family. Kathryn Bigelow, Oscar-winning director of 'The Hurt Locker,' is directing the pilot and executive producing.

The cast already includes Hope Davis, Frank Langella and Patti LuPone. Tony winner Eddie Redmayne plays the lead role, described as a "charismatic, self-destructive Broadway composer," according to Ausiello. Stark Sands of 'Generation Kill' is also a recent addition.