Comments (0) |

Familiar faces set to star in new shows

Networks' lineups for 2009-10 feature some Kentuckians among bigger names

Staff, Wire Report

More than 30 shows will debut in the TV season beginning this fall, the broadcast TV networks announced this week. Two will star Central Kentuckians, and another features an actress with Lexington ties.

Lexington native Josh Hopkins, 38, co-stars in ABC's Cougar Town, Courteney Cox's much-hyped return to broadcast TV. Hopkins previously had regular guest-starring stints on Private Practice, Brothers and Sisters and Cold Case but hasn't had much luck in his starring roles on the critically lauded but canceled Swingtown last year and the short-lived Pepper Dennis in 2006.

Winchester native Matt Long, 29, is the star of ABC's midseason replacement The Deep End, about a group of young lawyers at a prestigious Los Angeles firm. Long previously starred in the critically lauded 2004 series Jack and Bobby.

Sara Rue, 30, whose mother is Lexingtonian Joan Rue and who starred in Less Than Perfect for four seasons, will be one of the stars of ABC's Eastwick.

Here's the roundup of announcements from four of the major networks. The CW's announcement was not available by press time; see LexGo.com for details.

ABC

ABC announced Tuesday it will add 11 programs to its lineup. The network has called on actors with proven track records to star in the new shows: Courteney Cox, Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton and Ed O'Neill.

Returning: America's Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Brothers & Sisters, Dancing With the Stars, Desperate Housewives, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Private Practice, Supernanny, Ugly Betty, Wife Swap, 20/20 and the ratings-weak Better Off Ted, Castle, Scrubs and True Beauty.

Canceled: Samantha Who?, Opportunity Knocks, Motherhood, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, Cupid, Dirty Sexy Money, Life on Mars, The Unusuals and According to Jim.

Other: Surviving Suburbia will air this summer. There is no word on its fate after that.

NEW SHOWS

Cougar Town: Courteney Cox plays a recently divorced single mother who must face honest truths about dating. Josh Hopkins co-stars.

The Deep End: Matt Long stars in this drama about young lawyers. (Starts midseason.)

Eastwick: Sara Rue and Rebecca Romijn star in this series based on The Witches of Eastwick.

Flash Forward: The world is given a glimpse of the future. Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, Jack Davenport, Sonya Walger, Courtney B. Vance and Brian O'Byrne star.

The Forgotten: A team of amateurs works on cases involving unidentified victims.

Hank: Kelsey Grammer plays a titan of industry who finds himself out of work.

Happy Town: Haplin, Minn., has a dark secret. (Starts midseason.)

The Middle: Patricia Heaton stars in this story of life in the middle class.

Modern Family: This comedy is a documentary filmmaker's vision of modern families. Ed O'Neill stars.

Shark Tank: A reality show about budding entrepreneurs getting the chance to make their dreams come true.

V: Updated version of the 1980s series about an alien invasion. Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut and Scott Wolf star. (Starts midseason.)

CBS

Because of the network's ratings success, only four new shows plus one transplant from another network were announced Wednesday. CBS has picked up the Patricia Arquette series Medium, canceled by NBC after five seasons.

Returning: How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, CSI: Miami, NCIS, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Survivor, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Mentalist, Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race and Cold Case.

Canceled: The 11th Hour, Worst Week, Without a Trace, The Ex List, The Unit and Flashpoint.

Note: The network has five midseason replacements in the wings. Miami Trauma, starring Jeremy Northam, is a medical drama, and The Bridge, starring Aaron Douglas, is a police drama. The comedy Rules of Engagement, plus the reality shows Undercover Boss and Arranged Marriage, are the other potential additions to the CBS lineup.