the tudors

Look for royal domination when 'The Tudors' returns for a final round of royalty, mayhem, and wives on April 11, 2010.

'The Tudors' star Jonathan Rhys-Meyers has drawn wide acclaim as Henry VIII, and was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe two years in a row. 'Tudors' co-star and longtime friend James Frain says Rhys-Myers has really "owned" the show, which will wrap next year after four seasons.

"I have known Johnny for a while -- I did a movie with him in '97 called 'Titus,' right when we were both starting out," Frain told us at last week's Hollywood premiere of his film 'Everybody's Fine.' "It's really cool to see him be like 'the star' that he's become, and really just own that, and take that into being this great, incredible character."

Every once in awhile, you come across something that reaches way back and scratches a memory you didn't now you had. This story did that. I remember years ago stumbling across Gary Jennings' massive tome Aztec. I had a thing for big, fat books; to me it felt like I was getting more for my money. Plus, I've always been a bit of a history buff, and so little was being discussed about the Aztecs in school.

So I dove into it, and the subsequent books in the series. It was fascinating and rich, and uniquely told. It is the biography of an old Aztec man as he told it to a Bishop. The Bishop, in turn, wrote the story in a series of letters to the Spanish King, and it is these letters that make up the chapters of the book.

The story was so unique and so uniquely told, I remember at the time thinking it would make a wonderful mini-series. And now, after all these years, that might just happen. Aztec has just been optioned for television as a possible mini-series. It's just too bad Jennings didn't live to see it.

'Sopranos' -- and now 'Entourage' -- star Jamie-Lynn Sigler has booked a role on 'Ugly Betty' season 4, playing Daniel's (Eric Mabius) new assistant.

Also in the news today: E! picks up 'Kendra,' while VH1 announces a new set of 'Divas.'

See more of today's top TV headlines after the jump.

I would love to put a title to this finale of the third season of The Tudors, but I can't find it. The IMDb is no help, and even the Showtime site for the show isn't very helpful (no episode titles, at least not any I can accurately decipher - maybe they're just numbered?). So if you know the title of this episode let us know!

The show will be back again for a fourth (and final) season. What did you think of the finale?

• FOX has the Sprint Cup: Coca-Cola 600 race all night.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes.
• NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7.
• At 8, TNT has the Magic/Cavaliers game.
• At 9, ABC has the miniseries Diamonds.
• GSN has a new High Stakes Poker at 9.
• Sci-Fi has the movie Polar Storm at 9.
• HBO has two new episodes of In Treatment at 9.
  
• Also at 9: Showtime has the season finale of The Tudors at 9, followed by a new Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ABC has two new episodes of Extreme Makeover, then the two-hour season finale of Desperate Housewives.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, followed by the season finale of Survivor.
  
• NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7, then Saturday Night Live Just Shorts.
• At 8, FOX has the season finale of The Simpsons, then the season finales of King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• PBS has a new Nature at 8, followed by a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• Food Network has a new Challenge at 8.
• Disney has a new Jonas at 8, followed by a new Sonny with a Chance.
• Also at 8: TNT has the Celtics/Magic game.
• At 9, USA has a new Law and Order: CI, then a new In Plain Sight.
• HBO has two new episodes of In Treatment at 9, followed by a new Russell Simmons Presents Brave New Voices.
• There's a new episode of The Tudors on Showtime at 9, then a new Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
• GSN has a new High Stakes Poker at 9.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Check your local TV listings for more.

She kind of had to, didn't she? It's great that Joss Stone is coming back for The Tudors' fourth season, but considering her character outlived Henry himself and remained associated with him, she kind of needed to, didn't she?

I guess they could have changed history some more and simply gotten rid of her, but I like that she's coming back. Stone has a sexy side that plays well in the world of The Tudors. And considering that she's playing the "homely" wife, that's a testament to her skills.

Jon Gosselin's rumored infidelities have made big headlines in recent weeks -- and now they have the fifth season premiere of 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' running late, as producers scramble to incorporate the couple's marital woes into the series. Yep, Jon is on a roll.

In other news, Fox has pulled the dismally rated animated sitcom 'Sit Down, Shut Up' a week early, Lauren Graham and David E. Kelley's new pilots WON'T be picked up, and Joss Stone is set to return to 'The Tudors.'

See more of today's TV headlines, casting scoops and premiere dates after the jump.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then the season finales of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7, followed by the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice.
  
• FOX has a new Sit Down, Shut Up at 7.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• TCM has Bunny Lake Is Missing at 8.
• HBO has a new No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency at 8, followed by The Alzheimer's Project.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Mystery!
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, then a new In Plain Sight.
  
• GSN has a new High Stakes Poker at 9.
• Nickelodeon has a marathon of The Nanny starting at 9.
• Also at 9: Showtime has a new episode of The Tudors, then a new Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then a new episode of The Amazing Race, the season (series?) finale of Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7, followed by a new, two-hour Celebrity Apprentice.
• FOX has a new Sit Down, Shut Up at 7.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then new episodes of King of the Hill, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• HBO has a new No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency at 8, followed by two new episodes of In Treatment.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic.
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, then a new In Plain Sight.
• Sci-Fi has the movie Fireball at 9.
• Also at 9: Showtime has a new episode of The Tudors, then a new Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
• At 1AM, Cartoon Network has a new Mighty Boosh.

Check your local TV listings for more.

In the DVR era, I have this new problem/blessing that happens to me every year. I jump on board these shows and then just get too busy to keep up with them and they pile up and sit there on my DVR unwatched. As an example, I just finished "Chapter 5" of John Adams last night; damn that's a good mini-series. But now that 99% of the network shows are wrapping up their seasons, I'm looking at three months of solid catch-up time.

I can also use the time to try out series I've always wanted to get into but just haven't for some reason or another; I'll use that "no time" excuse again. With more videos streaming online at Hulu (thanks ABC), seasons coming out ever faster on DVD and more vintage shows coming out the field is wide open. Of course, I'm probably taking on more than I can handle, but dammit I'm excited!

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by new episodes of Extreme Makeover, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.
  
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then new episodes of The Amazing Race, Cold Case, and The Unit.
  
• NBC has a new, two-hour Dateline at 7, then a new Celebrity Apprentice.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, followed by new episodes of Sit Down, Shut Up, Family Guy, and American Dad.
• TV Land has The TV Land Awards at 8.
• ESPN has the Red Sox/Yankees game at 8.
• TNT has the Trail Blazers/Rockets game at 8.
• HBO has a new No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency at 8, then two new episodes of In Treatment.
• There's a new Challenge on Food Network at 8, followed by a new Iron Chef America.
• At 9, PBS has a new Masterpiece Theater.
• USA has a new Law and Order: CI at 9, then a new In Plain Sight.
• Showtime has a new episode of The Tudors at 9, followed by a new Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
• GSN has a new High Stakes Poker at 9.
• G4 has a new G4 Underground at 9.
• Also at 9: MTV has a new Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, followed by new episodes of Bully Beatdown and Nitro Circus.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
• At 1AM, Cartoon Network has a new Mighty Boosh.

Check your local TV listings for more.

TV Land Awards
(Sun., 8PM, TV Land)
NPH in the house ... if only the Emmy and Oscar show folk chose their hosts so wisely.

'How I Met Your Mother' star - and self-professed TV fan – Neil Patrick Harris hosts the seventh annual salute to classic TV, which this year includes nods to funny fella Don Rickles, 'Magnum P.I.''s Tom Selleck, 'M*A*S*H,' 'Knots Landing,' 'Home Improvement' and trippy kiddie show producers Sid and Marty Krofft.

The show, taped last week in Los Angeles, also includes presenters like Amy Poehler, Jimmy Kimmel, Dr. Phil, Teri Hatcher and Will Ferrell, who stars in the June 5 remake of a Krofft boob tube classic, 'Land of the Lost.'

• At 7, ABC has a new America's Funniest Home Videos.
• CBS has a new 60 Minutes at 7, then a new Amazing Race and the movie The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.
  
• NBC has the Miss USA 2009 Pageant at 7, followed by a new Celebrity Apprentice.
• At 8, FOX has a new Simpsons, then the series premiere of Sit Down, Shut Up and new episodes of Family Guy and American Dad.
• There's a new Challenge on Food Network at 8.
• ABC Family has the movie My Fake Fiance at 8.
• Also at 8: HBO has a new No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, followed by two new episodes of In Treatment.
• At 8:30, Disney has a new Wizards of Waverly Place.
• At 9, ABC has a new Desperate Housewives, then a new Brothers & Sisters.
• PBS has a new Masterpiece Classic at 9.
• USA has the season premiere of Law and Order: CI at 9, then the season premiere of In Plain Sight.
• GSN has a new High Stakes Poker at 9.
• Nickelodeon has a new Nick News at 9.
• G4 has a new G4 Underground at 9.
• Showtime has a new episode of The Tudors at 9, then a new Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
• At 10, AMC has a new Breaking Bad.
• At 11:45, Cartoon Network has a new Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
• At 1am, Cartoon Network has a new Mighty Boosh.

Check your local TV listings for more.

Why was Wisteria Lane's resident troublemaker Edie killed off 'Desperate Housewives' last month? Depends who you ask.

Nicollette Sheridan, who portrayed Edie for five years, and series creator Marc Cherry are sparring over why exactly the character was sent to meet her maker -- and some of the allegations are downright funny.

In other news, NBC's Boston affiliate has backpedaled on its earlier decision to air a newscast instead of Jay Leno's new primetime show, Showtime has renewed 'The Tudors' for a fourth and final season, and HBO is planning a movie about the 2008 presidential election.

See more of today's TV headlines, casting scoops and premiere dates after the jump.