Paula Marshall has been cast as a "badass" character on 'Once Upon a Time,' the upcoming fairy tale drama from former 'Lost' executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Marshall, a busy actress who has appeared in everything from 'Cupid' to 'Californication,' will play Malificent, the nemesis of Sleeping Beauty. "She's a badass and she's also the rival" of Lana Parrilla's evil queen character, Kitsis said.

Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Robert Carlyle, Josh Dallas and Parrilla, Giancarlo Esposito of 'Breaking Bad' will also appear in the recurring role of the Magic Mirror in 'Once', as TV Line reported earlier this month.

UPDATE: ABC has confirmed that 'Vampire Diaries' and 'Alias' actor David Anders will play a doctor in an upcoming episode of 'Once Upon a Time.'

I spoke to Kitsis and Horowitz at length in their 'Once' office (where I admired the 'Lost' posters you see below), and I'll publish the majority of that interview closer to the show's Oct. 23 premiere date. But I can't resist sharing a little of what they had to say about the show's central concept, which features characters in a fairy tale kingdom where the evil queen is up to no good, and characters in a modern-day town where things are stranger than they first appear.

Actors can work for years before they get their big break, going from project to project, floundering away on struggling sitcoms and concept-heavy dramas until their luck changes and -- blamo! -- they're on a successful show raking in six figures per episode.

These thespians aren't quite show-killers -- they just have bad luck!

From Bret Harrison to Joanna Garcia and so many more, we're saluting these bad luck stars. Somebody get them a four-leaf clover and a hit show -- stat!

Minnie Driver will stay on the right side of the law in her next TV gig.

'The Riches' star has signed on to headline CBS's 'Hail Mary.' According to the Hollywood Reporter, Driver will star in the private investigator drama about a single mom who solves crimes with a hustler. The pilot was written by Jeff Wadlow. He'll executive produce along with with Joel Silver and Ilene Chaiken.

Driver was previously in talks to star in NBC's 'Free Agents,' from 'Party Down' producer John Enbom.

In other casting news ...

• Ashley Judd is nearing a deal to star in ABC's 'Missing.' The drama, previously slated to air this summer, now looks like it'll get a fall launch. Judd will play a former CIA agent who goes to Europe to track down her missing son. Sounds just like an Ashley Judd movie -- all she needs is Morgan Freeman. [Deadline Hollywood]

• 'Firefly' actor Alan Tudyk has joined 'Suburgatory.' The ABC comedy pilot follows a family who moves from Manhattan to the suburbs. Tudyk plays the patriarch's friend who has been living the 'burbs for years. [Deadline]

• Patrick Wilson is heading to TV. The 'Watchmen' actor will star in a medical drama pilot on CBS. Wilson will play a surgeon whose ex-wife dies "and begins teaching him what life is all about from the here-after." [TVLine]

It's time to meet the parents on 'House' -- and the rest of the family, too.

When Cuddy brings home boyfriend House during a January episode, not only will the doctor meet mom and dad, he'll meet Cuddy's sister as well. According to TV Guide, sis will be played by 'Californication' and 'Nip/Tuck' actress Paula Marshall.

Marshall joins Candice Bergen, who's been cast as Cuddy's mom.

In other TV news ...

• Rapper Nelly will appear as himself in an early 2011 episode of '90210.' The rapper will pop up when Navid and Dixon somehow get involved in the shoot for his 'She's So Fly' music video. [Movieline]

• It's rumored that Terry Wood will take over programming at Oprah's OWN network. Wood, who brought Dr. Phil and Rachael Ray to the air, quit her job at CBS earlier this week. [NY Post]

• A suspect in the murder of Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen killed himself when police served him a search warrant last night. He was a person of interest in Chassen's Nov. 16 shooting death. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Dear Jay,

Let me start by stating that I think you are a very funny man. I have been following your career for years and you're great. You were wonderful in Jerry Maguire. Of course, you were speaking lines written by Cameron Crowe, so that was a plus, but you delivered the performance. Bravo, Jay Mohr.

That said, I have to talk to you now about Gary Unmarried. Jay, you can make this so much better. Really, you are capable of so much more. Yes, you don't have Cameron Crowe writing for you now. I'm fully aware of that. But you're there.

Gary Unmarried may have started as a formula, and it still has too much of that formula intact. The bitchy, controlling wife/ex-wife? Haven't we seen the Allison character on Two and a Half Men (Judith), Everybody Loves Raymond (Deborah), The King of Queens (Carrie)? Do you see the pattern here? I do.

I think Gary Unmarried might just be the new Yes, Dear. Remember that show? It lasted for several seasons even though no one talked about, and just when we thought it had gone away it came back for several more episodes. I think this Jay Mohr comedy might be in the same category: it's a sitcom that, before you know it, is going to be in season five.

Gary has a new job as a radio host. Did you watch it? Is this show any good? Is it an ignored comedy gem we should all be watching? It is produced and directed by James Burrows, after all. I watched the first two episodes and it's not terrible, but it just seems to be a lesser sitcom.

[You can watch clips of Gary Umarried at SlashControl and judge for yourself.]

Ten years after ABC prematurely cancelled Rob Thomas' dramedy Cupid, the alphabet net has decided to give it another go. The new version of the show, which premieres Tuesday at 10 PM ET, now stars Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale in the roles originated by Paula Marshall and Jeremy Piven, respectively.

The premise is the same: Trevor Pierce claims to be Cupid, exiled from Mt. Olympus, and he needs to find true love for 100 couples before he is allowed back home. After Trevor is arrested for one of his stunts and sent to a psychological hospital, singles self-help guru Dr. Claire McCrae is assigned to keep track of him as he makes his way in the outside world. This time around, the show is set in the fast paced and cynical world of New York, complete with all the modern touches of dating in the late '00s (Maybe Cupid will have a Twitter account).

I spoke to the stars of the new Cupid last week. While I was on the phone, I asked Paulson about what happened on her previous series, Studio 60. I got a pretty interesting response...

Anyone who thinks that the lame, traditional, laugh-track-laden sitcom is dead hasn't seen Gary Unmarried yet. Unfortunately, I have. And I've got to tell you, it's probably the worst sitcom since the undead According to Jim first infected our airwaves in 2001. It's too bad, given the talent involved.

And when I mention "talent," I don't mean series creator Ed Yeager, who helped foist Still Standing on the American public for four years. I'm talking about stars Jay Mohr, Paula Marshall, Ed Begley Jr., and Jaime King, as well as esteemed sitcom director James Burrows. They're talented people stuck in a show that contains the same wacky plots and "setup-joke" rhythm that has led many to think the multi-camera sitcom is as dead as disco.

First they changed the title from Project Gary to Gary Unmarried, and now we have another change coming to Jay Mohr's new CBS sitcom.

Ed Begley, Jr. has been cast as the therapist who treated Mohr and his ex-wife, played by Paula Marshall. The role of the therapist in the pilot was played by comic Larry Miller, who just did a guest turn on Burn Notice (maybe this will give him time for more appearances on that show).

... and I think it's a terrible idea. I have a small fascination with the titles of TV shows. They are never the total cause of a show's failure, but I do believe they can play a part. That's why my ears perked up this weekend when CBS ran a spot for Project Gary. At least, it looked like a spot for Project Gary, but my TV was now telling me it was for Gary Unmarried. What the heck is that?

It gave me a bit of deja vu. Suddenly I flashed back to September 2006 when I wrote a post about bad show titles, prompted by the name change of Let's Rob Mick Jagger. As you'll recall, that one became The Knights Of Prosperity, and things didn't work out so well. Not all name changes are bad. The CW changing Surviving The Filthy Rich to Privileged actually sounds like a good idea, but Gary Unmarried, no. I don't think the new name is going to sink them, but when combined with the fact that they didn't land in the safe harbor of the Monday night comedy block, I'm starting to get nervous for Gary.

Looky there. With just those seven little words The Sarah Connor Chronicles has become the show I'm most looking forward to next season. With music, there's nothing I like more than putting a little Garbage on the turntable. Because of that, over the years I've become just a little bit obsessed with Shirley Manson. And now comes word that the lovely and talented Miss Manson has been signed to the show.

Just that is enough to make me watch, but it gets even better. This isn't a musical guest like someone stopping by to play at P3 or the Montecito. Oh no, Shirley will join the cast in a regular role as Catherine Weaver, CEO of a high-tech company. One could certainly argue that it's stunt casting, or that they could find a more qualified actor to take on such a big role. But any crazy argument like that will fall on deaf ears here pal. It's Shirley Manson. That's all I need to know.

I suppose most people would lead with the fact that Jay Mohr has signed on to Ed Yeager's untitled comedy pilot for CBS. After all, Jay does have that regular gig on Ghost Whisperer. In a nutshell, Mohr and Paula Marshall play a couple that has recently divorced, after fifteen years of marriage. The funny is scheduled to arrive as we watch Mohr's character try to juggle his ex-wife, their two kids, and his new girlfriend, played by Jaime King.

That's all well and good. For me though, the far more interesting bit is Paula Marshall's involvement. I find her career fascinating. She's been on a bunch of great shows. The Wonder Years, Seinfeld, Nash Bridges (don't laugh, Nash was very successful), Spin City, Sports Night, Just Shoot Me, Nip/Tuck, and Veronica Mars, to name a few. Yet, for whatever reason, whenever she gets a starring gig, it all seems to go to hell. See Cupid, Snoops, Hidden Hills, and Out Of Practice. I don't get it. I like everything she's ever done, but it just doesn't work. So, I don't have high hopes for this production. However, it does offer a thought. It's quite possible that Paula was all set to star in a great new show for Tim Minear. Unfortunately, the sheer power of their combined abilities to kill shows sent the series itself back in time, canceling itself before the idea even came to be.

(S05E06) "These people are crazy. The only reason I moved out here was because they threw a bunch of money at me. And... the golfing opportunities." - Nurse Linda

What a great episode! It was different, unique for this show, and was clearly a challenge to shoot and edit so that the "reality" look and feel were achieved. It certainly wasn't the best episode of Nip/Tuck, but I'm all for stuff like this. Taking chances with proven formulas is something I can respect. Anybody pay attention to the beginning? When Christian was trying to convince Sean to do Plastic Fantastic with him? Christian made some comment about how "reality is the future." Granted this was written and shot at least a few months ago, but it's still a little eerie considering the current TV climate because of the WGA strike. Kind of ironic that we all sat down to watch a scripted drama spoofing reality TV when all these writers are fighting to be compensated for creative episodes like this and actual reality is slowly taking over every channel.
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(S05E05) "You don't want to play this game with me." - Christian

No you don't. The second Christian said that to Eden, a clock started and all episode long we were waiting for the alarm to go off. What was he going to do to her? For a minute, I honestly thought nothing. He gave her the pills and Eden was on her way, her mouth shut about Christian and Julia's night together. Maybe it was because I watched the episode early this morning and I was still a little drowsy, but I never saw it coming. Well played Dr. Troy.
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(S05E04) "I was attacked by a giant wedge-tailed eagle in Calgary." - Dawn

The return of the best guest star Nip/Tuck has ever had! Say what you will about Rosie O'Donnell (I couldn't stand her on The View), but when she steps into the shoes of Dawn Budge, it's gold. She was one of the highlights of last season (not to mention Christian's first paying "escort" customer) and her trip to Los Angeles easily made this episode an instant Nip/Tuck classic. From her hang-glider scene when the eagle attacked her to the face she made when the "ass bandit" had his way with her, she stole every scene she was in.