All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- ABC has a novel way of promoting its upcoming V series remake, which premieres on Nov. 3: The network has hired skywriters to create giant “V”s in the sky near 26 U.S. landmarks, starting on Nov. 23 and continuing until the show debuts.

- Southland producer John Wells says two networks are interested in picking up the cop drama that NBC canceled before its second season began.

- Taylor Swift will pull a Justin Timberlake by being the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live’s Nov. 7 episode.

- Fox is developing a sitcom based on the dog-training life of The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. That 70s Show star Wilmer Valderrama will play a character based on Milan.

- Last week’s Balloon Boy saga, not surprisingly, was part of a stunt to land Balloon Boy’s family on (another) reality show; the fam had already appeared on ABC’s Wife Swap.

- Samuel L. Jackson isn’t starring in a TV series yet, but he is producing two in-development projects, including a comedy and a medical drama for CBS.

- Mad Men Emmy nominee Elisabeth Moss is guest starring on NBC’s medical drama Mercy. Her episode, in which she plays a cancer patient, airs on Nov. 4.

- The Hills star Stephanie Pratt – sister of Spencer Pratt – was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of drunk driving.

- The Real Housewives of New York City star Bethenny Frankel is engaged.

- On Glee this week (Weds., Fox, 9PM ET): Will sings “The Thong Song” and Puck sings Neil Diamond.

- Kelly Ripa confirms she and hubby (and former All My Children co-star) Mark Consuelos will return to the soap for a couple of episodes to celebrate AMC’s 40th anniversary.

- And The New York Times wonders if the late DJ AM’s participation in the MTV reality series Gone Too Far might have led to his drug use relapse.

- And tonight in primetime:
- Barney tries to talk Robin into becoming a U.S. citizen on How I Met Your Mother (8PM ET, CBS)
- A guest appearance by Ernie Hudson is at least one (and maybe the only) reason to watch Heroes (8PM, NBC)
- On One Tree Hill (8PM, The CW), Nathan’s scandal jeopardizes his endorsement deals
- Dancing With the Stars week five (8PM, ABC)
- On Good Eats (8PM, Food Network): cooking with beer and wine
- New Lincoln Heights (8PM) on ABC Family
- A police detective thinks he’s going to die at 40, because all the men in his family do on a new House (8PM, Fox)
- On a special Man Caves episode (8:30PM, DIY), Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman gets a cool new space for his band to practice
- Billie gives the fellas love advice on Accidentally on Purpose (8:30PM, CBS)
- On Greek (9PM, ABC Family), if Evan’s not known as the rich kid, then who is he?
- HBO’s Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags (9PM) unfolds the history of the garment district in New York City
- Serena and Nate team up to help Carter on Gossip Girl (9PM, The CW)
- Pot City, USA (9PM, A&E) is just what it sounds like, an investigation into the pot-heavy area of Humboldt County, California
- Witch Haze, Daffy and Tweety join Bugs Bunny for Bugs Bunny’s Howl-oween on the Cartoon Network (9PM)
- A murder case puts to Lightman Group in danger on Lie to Me (9PM, Fox)
- Fall goodies like pumpkin pie, apple cider and candy corn are spotlighted on Unwrapped (9PM, Food Network)
- New Trauma episode (9PM, NBC)
- Wil Wheaton guests on The Big Bang Theory (9:30PM, CBS), as Sheldon’s competition in a trading card contest
- The Jay Leno Show continues to feel 90 minutes early on NBC (10PM)
- Castle (10PM, ABC) and Beckett investigate the murder of a woman whose body was found in a manhole cover
- Guy visits oldies but goodies – like a 1940s diner in L.A. – on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (10PM, Food Network)
- The chefs create circus-themed cakes on Ultimate Cake Off (10PM, TLC)
- New Million Dollar Listing ep (10PM) on Bravo
- DJ AM stages an intervention for a young heroin addict on Gone Too Far (10PM, MTV)

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• Filed in TV News
• Tags: Balloon Boy, Bethenny Frankel engaged, Glee, Kelly Ripa Mark Consuelos All My Children, Southland, V

We already have the fall TV season’s most surprising cancelation: Southland.

The NBC cop drama wasn’t even scheduled to bow its second season until Oct. 23, but NBC has already pulled the plug, sadly, on the show that was one of the best network premieres last season. Part of the reason for the cancelation: NBC says the show’s too dark and gritty for the 9PM broadcast network hour, which, of course, is the latest slot NBC has available in primetime with the lame Jay Leno Show taking up 10PM Monday-Friday. Sigh.

Southland, a Warner Bros. TV production, started off as a midseason series on NBC last spring, taking over the timeslot vacated by another John Wells production, ER. The show won good ratings that dwindled as the episodes unfolded, but earned great critical reviews and had a loyal following heading into its new Friday night home for its second season.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show may be pitched to cable networks … Southland would fit in well with great dramas like Sons of Anarchy and Damages, don’t you think, FX execs?

Meanwhile, it’s bad enough that NBC’s new series – like the generically, forgettably-titled medical dramas Trauma and Mercy – have failed to wow anyone, but now the network is just throwing away the buzzworthy scripted series it could potentially nurture into a ratings hit?

Sad.

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• Filed in Drama, TV News
• Tags: Southland, Southland canceled, The Jay Leno Show

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- “Jon Gosselin, American Hero”? Bleccch. If there was any lesson to be learned from last night’s Jon & Kate Plus 8 season premiere, it’s that both Gosselins are big ol’ messes and that neither of them is truly better off with the money, fame (infamy?) or freebies their reality show has brought them. But, for all the nasty behavior we see on-screen from the brittle Kate, let’s be honest: Mr. Gosselin doesn’t appear to be much of a prize, either. So, “American hero”?! Again, bleccch. That word is tossed around all too lightly, particularly given that we just celebrated Memorial Day.

- Remember when Friday night used to be one of the best TV-watching nights of the week, back when J.R. was getting shot by Kris-ten (as Sue Ellen called her sister) on Dallas and Don Johnson was rocking his white suits, pastel tees and mandals on Miami Vice? USA Today points out that, with 10 scripted series on the Friday night schedule next fall, it may no longer be one of the most skippable viewing nights.

- Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter is sizing up next fall’s biggest timeslot battles, including the Friday night, 9PM race, which pits Southland vs. Medium vs. Dollhouse vs. Ugly Betty, or, as THR writer James Hibberd calls it, “The Island of Broken Toys.” Funny. Though I’d argue that Southland shouldn’t be lumped in with the other, has-been, series.

- The New York Times says, if their TV show ratings are a reliable indicator, the Jonas Brothers may be headed the way of ‘N Sync, 98 Degrees and LFO.

- Twitter may become a TV show, though the specifics of how are still sketchy.

- We’ve got the Real Housewives of the O.C., Atlanta, New York City and New Jersey, and while there are already rumors of a Beverly Hills version in the works, Bravo is also reportedly looking to find the Real Housewives of D.C., too.

- And Clay Aiken’s recent anti-Adam Lambert statements, followed by his sarcastic follow-up/pseudo-backtracking make one thing clear: He’s kinda a big tool.

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• Filed in American Idol, Comedy, Drama, Reality, TV News
• Tags: 'N Sync, 98 Degrees, Adam Lambert, American Idol, Clay Aiken, D.C., Dallas, Dollhouse, Fall schedule, Fall TV schedule, Friday night, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Jon Gosselin, Jonas, Jonas Bros., Jonas Brothers, kate Gosselin, LFO, Medium, Miami Vice, Real Housewives, Real Housewives of Washington, Reality, Southland, The Gosselins, timeslot battle, Twitter, Twitter TV, Ugly Betty