TV Chatting

According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS is thisclose to a major commitment to two of their hit comedies, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory.

The shows are looking at multi-season deals - Men for 3 years and Big Bang for 2 years.

Both shows are produced by Warner Bros. and co-created by Chuck Lorre. The Big Bang Theory currently airs at 8 p.m. on Mondays and has kept setting new series-high numbers in the ratings this season.  Two and a Half Men airs at 9 p.m. and routinely wins it’s timeslot. 

There has been some discussion about making a switcheroo after a schedule change was made for one night, putting Big Bang on after Men.  Big Bang managed to retain an extremely large amount of the Two and a Half Men viewers in the 9:30 p.m. slot, something other comedies haven’t always been able to do.

Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, James Marsters, will guest on CBS’ Numb3rs as a shady arms dealer.  Reaper’s Ray Wise will appear in the same episode.  It is scheduled for broadcast on February 13.

Laura Allen, of Dirt and The 4400 fame, will be guest starring at least one episode of Grey’s Anatomy.  She will play McArmy Owen’s ex-lover in the season’s 15th episode.  As we reported earlier this week, the episode will also mark the final appearance of Dr. Sadie Harris (Melissa George). 

The Big Bang Theory has cast Christine Baranski (Cybil, Mamma Mia) for a guest role.  The award-winning Baranski will appear in the season’s 15th episode as Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, an acclaimed researcher of the human brain, and mom to Dr. Leonard Hofstadter.

It is widely known that Noah Wyle will be making a return as Dr. Carter for a few episodes of ER this season, but Wyle says we can expect a few other ER docs to return.  In an interview with TV Guide, Wyle said that Eriq LaSalle, who will be directing an episode of the final season, will also be returning as Dr. Benton and he says it is his understanding that George Clooney may be back to reprise the role of Doug Ross as well.  "From what I heard, George said, ‘absolutely,’ schedule permitting," said Wyle.  Clooney’s rep would not give any comment on Wyle’s remarks.

Sara Rue, who was so perfect on the ABC sitcom Less Than Perfect, will be heading to The Big Bang Theory for a multi-episode arc as Dr. Stephanie Barnett, the new girlfriend of Wolowitz, who is “stolen” away by Leonard.

Hairspray’s Nikki Blonsky will join Ugly Betty for an episode as an assistant at Mode’s rival magazine Elle.  Her character will befriend Betty, but she may have ulterior motives.  Her episode will air before the end of the year.

Emilio Estevez will guest star on Two and a Half Men with brother Charlie Sheen.  Estevez will play a former drinking buddy of Charlie’s who comes to visit.  No air date has been announced for his appearance.

James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek) and David Denman (The Office) have been announced as co-stars for Fox’s pilot Eva Adams.  The hourlong show, from writer/executive producer Kevin Falls and Sony TV, is set at a sports agency and will center around a character named Adam who is an egotistic, sexist agent who is put under a witch’s spell and turned into a beautiful woman so he can see the other side of things.  Van Der Beek will play Connor, a friend and co-worker of Adam’s and Denman will play single dad, Paul.

ABC has pulled the order for Alyssa Milano’s new who, Single with Parents.  ABC also reduced it’s order for two other new shows, two of its midseason drama series, Castle and The Unusuals.

Sara Gilbert will become a regular on the second season of The Big Bang Theory. The role reunites her with Roseanne co-star Johnny Galecki, who played her boyfriend (and later husband) on the series.

Gilbert guest-starred on Big Bang three times during the first season. She will continue her role as Leslie Winkle, a university colleague of the guys and sometime love interest to Galecki’s character, Leonard.

Gilbert will also appear in the season premiere of Law & Order: SVU, along with Luke Perry (90210) and Julie Bowen (Boston Legal, LOST). Gilbert will play the biological mother of a boy who is being abused. Perry and Bowen play the accused foster parents.

The Big Bang Theory premieres on Monday, September 22 and Law & Order: SVU premieres Tuesday, September 23.