All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

– Despite the fact that he accused them of cheating and of promising to pay the taxes on his $1 million winnings (the taxes that he didn’t pay, which led to a lengthy jail sentence), Survivor producers have invited first season winner Richard Hatch to participate in the special 10th anniversary Survivor season that begins filming in Samoa next month.

– TLC may forge ahead with a reality series that follows the non-Michael members of the Jackson family.

– It’s all about SpongeBob SquarePants this week, as the Sunday New York Times and Advertising Age chronicle how the show became an $8 billion pop culture phenomenon. Nickelodeon marks the show’s 10th anniversary with a 50-episode marathon that kicks off on Friday and includes 10 new episodes.

– Guest star alert: Eric McCormack will follow his role on Law & Order: SVU with a recurring gig on The New Adventures of Old Christine (where he’ll play a therapist and love interest for Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ Christine), while Matt Damon and Kobe Bryant will guest star on the season finale of Entourage.

– Another reality TV star is headed for the political arena, as The Apprentice winner Randall Pinkett may run for New Jersey Lt. Gov. alongside current N.J. governor Jon Corzine.

– Another boob tube-to-big-screen movie on the way: A live-action version of Hong Kong Phooey, the awesome 1974-76 ‘toon about police station janitor pooch Penry, who hops into a file cabinet to change into his secret identity, crimefighter Hong Kong Phooey.

– Al Pacino, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon will co-star in HBO’s biopic of “suicide doc” Jack Kevorkian.

– The Wendy Williams Show premieres today.

– 24 alum Jeffrey Nordling will play Drea De Matteo‘s hubby on the new season of Desperate Housewives.

– NBC will delay the premiere of its series adaptation of the 1989 hit movie Parenthood while series star Maura Tierney deals with an undisclosed illness. UPDATE: Tierney has released a statement, confirming that she will undergo surgery to have a breast tumor removed.

– It’s official: Ryan Seacrest just tripled his salary.

– The networks are really not having a great summer. USA Today reports that the three weeks ending July 5 were the lowest-rated in history for the major broadcast networks.

– HBO’s got Big Love, and Showtime is developing its own religion-themed series. The show, created by Dirty Sexy Money creator (and former minister) Craig Wright, will revolve around an “unconventional” minister who moves to Texas with his kids after his wife dies.

– And tonight in primetime:
– The Great American Road Trip (8PM ET, NBC) hits the Gateway Arch and Branson in Missouri
– It’s down to three on The Bachelorette (8PM, ABC)
– ABC Family has a new ep of The Secret Life of the American Teenager (8PM)
– Pope joins Brenda’s team on The Closer (9PM, TNT)
– It’s all about chocolate with a trip to Ghirardelli Square on Unwrapped (9PM, Food Network)
– Teddy in His Own Words (9PM, HBO) finds Sen. Ted Kennedy narrating a documentary about himself
– Anthony’s sampling the cuisine in Chile on a new Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (10PM, Travel Channel)
– There’s a weight-loss contest at Carlos Bakery on Cake Boss (10PM, TLC)
–  Jerry defends a guy who ran over an attorney on Raising the Bar (10PM, TNT)
– Rosie O’Donnell and Gloria Estefan hang with Kathy Griffin on My Life on the D-List (10PM, Bravo)
– Nancy gets an interesting offer from her babydaddy on Weeds (10PM, Showtime)
– Jackie gets an interesting request from a former co-worker on Nurse Jackie (10:30PM, Showtime)

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• Filed in Boob Tube to Big Screen, TV News
• Tags: Eric McCormack Old Christine, Hong Kong Phooey, Jack Kevorkian HBO, Jackson family reality show, Matt Damon Kobe Bryant Entourage, Maura Tierney illness, Randall Pinkett, Richard Hatch, SpongeBob SquarePants, Survivor, Wendy Williams Show