There aren‘t too many male actors on Showtime‘s hit drama The L Word, but this doesn‘t bother industry veteran Wallace Shawn, who has landed a multi-episode guest-starring arc on the series. “I already had seen the show, so I wasn‘t looking around thinking, ‘Where are the men?‘” Shawn told TV Guide.  “And of course for me, I‘m more comfortable with the company of women than the company of men, so it was the world that I think every show or play or film should be — I‘m the man, and everyone else is a woman.  It‘s very agreeable.” Read more »

Ever since Jorja Fox hung up her CSI glove, producers have been looking for a replacement that will fill in the void of the forensic drama.  With the casting search underway, many rumors have surged regarding actresses who may possibly join the cast, including Battlestar Galactica‘s Katee Sackhoff, who was recently junked for the opening. Now, the search is over.  CSI has tapped Lauren Lee Smith, actress known for her recurring role on The L Word, to join the cast as a series regular.  According to a CBS spokesperson, the Canadian actress is expected to play the character Bryce Adams, a "flirtatious, witty and strong-willed non-conformist" that is enlisted to join the Las Vegas graveyard shift led by Grissom (William Petersen).  Other members of the forensic crew include Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger), Nicholas "Nick" Stokes (George Eads), David Hodges (Wallace Langham), Det. Capt. James "Jim" Brass (Paul Guilfoyle), Gregory "Greg" Sanders (Eric Szmanda) and Dr. Albert "Al" Robbins (Robert David Hall). Read more »

The folks at Showtime had plenty to be excited about as their panels at the TCA began. Yesterday the network finally broke through at the Emmys to score its first ever nomination for Outstanding Drama Series for Dexter and also saw acting nominations for Michael C. Hall from Dexter and Mary-Louise Parker from Weeds.While the past year brought ratings records and plenty of awards, Showtime is looking to the future. The network just ordered two more seasons of Weeds following the current one, it‘s picking up two new comedies starring a pair of top-tier actresses and a potential spin-off for The L Word. Read more »

After playing Horatio Caine‘s (David Caruso) ex-lover, Julia Winston, on CBS‘ hit procedural drama CSI: Miami, Elizabeth Berkley makes her way into yet another TV series. This time, she‘ll be joining the cast of Showtime‘s The L Word for a multi-episode arc.According to Entertainment Weekly, Berkley will be appearing on The L Word as a straight girl that got away from Jennifer Beals‘ character Bette Porter in college. Read more »

Fans of The L-Word will be happy to know that Showtime is finally ordering a spin-off of the series, they announced on Thursday.  In fact, creator Ilene Chaiken was set to write and produce the pilot presentation of the spin-off, which will follow Leisha Hailey’s character, Alice Pieszecki, as she moves on with her life, closing the chapter of The L-Word.Showtime already gave us a hint of what’s to come for the show, as CEO Matt Blank announced during the TCA that “[W]e‘re doing this interesting thing: The storyline at the end of The L Word, the final episode in the final season, there will be an open-ended component to it and Ilene is going to carry that story along on the Internet, which we think is an interesting way to keep The L Word experience going.  Then if we decide to go ahead with the spin-off that storyline will segue into the new series.” Read more »

It has already been announced that Kevin McKidd, formerly of Journeyman, will be making hearts go pitter-patter on Grey‘s Anatomy. He‘ll be playing a military doctor, Major Owen Hunt, who‘ll catch the eye of our favorite robotic resident, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh).In more Grey‘s Anatomy casting news, EW‘s Michael Ausiello reported last week that Janina Gavankar, recently of The L Word, will be joining the cast of Grey‘s Anatomy as an intern, and Brandon Scott (Cold Case) will also be checking into Seattle Grace Hospital as a junior McDreamy. Read more »