Tough-talking, no-nonsense actor and activist Ron Silver passed away yesterday at the age of 62 after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer. Silver was best known for his portrayal of no-nonsense Campaign Manager Bruno Gianelli on The West Wing. According to Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver had help found, "Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning" in New York City.

The FX network is trying to make a groundbreaking hit by plotting a revolution on TV.  The cable network is currently developing a new show called AR2 from Thomas Schlamme, producer on The West Wing, and Prison Break creator Paul Scheuring.  According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pilot is about a group of Midwestern youths who ignite a second American Revolution.

Set in Michigan, which the home of the top Unites States automakers where "corporations undermine the common man and the government is not interested in helping [the common man]," AR2 is expected to explore how the revolting college students perceive patriotism, as well as the military and the law enforcement officers who oppose them.

Emmy Award-winning The West Wing star Bradley Whitford and former Weeds cast Romany Malco will star in a brand new buddy comedy about two detectives with contrasting styles on a on NBC following a successful cast-contingent pilot order last June.

Whitford from the NBC drama and Malco from the Showtime comedy will star on Off Duty, a comedy that will primarily deal with how the two cops would interact.  Off Duty will be a single-camera style comedy about a once legendary police veteran who's starting to decline (Whitford) partnered with a young, up-and-coming straight shooter (Malco).  As critics note that this is a oft-used formula, the success of the pilot will largely depend on the chemistry of the two actors.

As reported last month, fans of Swingtown will get a chance to relive the ‘70s once again as the period and relationship drama about the impact of sexual and social liberation in 1970s American suburban households heads to Bravo.  At the time of the announcement, the NBC Universal-owned cable network has just acquired the off-network rights to all 13 episodes of the retro series but has not set a premiere date for the cable.  Now, fans can mark their calendars!

On Friday, October 24, Bravo will be airing a full series marathon of Swingtown, from 12pm to 1am ET/PT.  In a nutshell, Swingtown initially takes place in the summer of 1976 when the Miller family decides to relocate to a more affluent neighborhood in Chicago where they meet temptation in the form of their provocative new neighbors, Tom and Trina Decker.  While maintaining their friendship with neighbors from their old neighborhood, they struggle whether to embrace or steer clear of  their newfound personal freedom.

Melissa Fitzgerald got her television break on the NBC series The West Wing.  For 99 episodes, she portrayed Carol Fitzpatrick, the assistant to White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg, played by Allison Janney.  Despite her knack for research, she was terrible in spelling, which added comic relief to the series.  At present, she's making use of her acting expertise, as well as her knack for producing, in her two upcoming films.

Allison Janney was known as Claudia Jean “C.J.” Cregg on the television series The West Wing.  From season one to six, she portrayed the White House Press Secretary in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and then became the White House Chief of Staff for the duration of season seven.  Having a sharp, well-spoken and witty persona, she was offered many positions in both government and private sectors, but, instead, opted to manage a charitable organization towards the end.  In a flash-forward feature, it was revealed that C.J. found her peace with her family, consisting of husband Danny Concannon (Timothy Busfield) and their child.  In the coming months, she'll be extending her movie credentials with several drama and comedy projects.