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Will Smith is reportedly teaming up with Sci Fi Channel for a new crime procedural.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network has ordered a new drama titled Unfinished Business.

The project centres on an ex-cop who starts seeing flashes of memories from the recently deceased.

"[We are] excited to begin development on Unfinished Business with Overbrook Entertainment and Will Smith," said Sci Fi's Mark Stern. "It is a compelling and thrilling drama that is perfect for our audience."

The network will apparently air Unfinished Business as a two-hour movie, which will also serve as a potential series pilot.

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Michael J. Fox jumped at the chance to play a bitter, drug-addicted character in U.S. TV drama Rescue Me - so he could ditch his reputation as Hollywood's 'Mr. Nice Guy'.

The actor plays the disabled love interest of Janet Gavin, the ex-wife of lead actor Denis Leary's character Tommy Gavin, in the gritty firefighter series, and Fox embraced the idea he'd be playing an ill-tempered bad guy.

He says, "People don't often think of me as a bitter misanthrope, so to get to play one, it's too fun to pass up."

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ABC has announced a dozen early pick-ups for the 2009-10 TV season.

The renewed scripted series are Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Lost (whew, that was a nailbiter!) and Ugly Betty.

On the reality front, Dancing with the Stars, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Supernanny, Wife Swap, The Bachelor and, yes, America's Funniest Home Videos are all officially coming back.

The biggest "news" here is perhaps that Private Practice made the cut. Some considered the sophomore drama to be on the "bubble," though its numbers have been strong-ish ever since its multi-week crossover with mothership Grey's.

Also of note: Although Ugly Betty is definitely back, Samantha Who? — which recently and unsuccessfully co-opted Betty's Thursday berth — thus far is MIA from ABC's future plans.

As for new fare, ABC has ordered 13 episodes of Copper, which is described as a "youthful and heartfelt" workplace drama about five rookie cops fresh out of the police academy. Production on that series, which is being shared with Canada's Canwest Global, kicks off in June, in Toronto.

ABC's official May upfronts presentation to advertisers is slated for May 19, in New York City.

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Former O.C. star Shannon Lucio will replace Kaley Cuoco for a stint on Grey's Anatomy, say reports.

Cuoco - who currently stars in The Big Bang Theory - was scheduled to appear in the May 14 finale of Grey's, but has since pulled out.

The actresses' rep stated that she was forced to pull out due to an unforeseen publicity commitment, but it has emerged that CBS may have been behind the decision.

A source reportedly told Entertainment Weekly: "They didn't want one of their biggest stars appearing on one of ABC's biggest shows."

Lucio, who played Caleb Nichol's illegitimate daughter Lindsay in The O.C., is now scheduled to take on the role.

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Rather than canceling the struggling serialized murder mystery Harper's Island, CBS announced today it will move the show from Thursdays at 10pm to Saturdays at 9pm, starting May 2. According to a network release, the 13-week limited series showed improvement in DVR and online viewership, an indication that it had enough of an audience to sustain the show through the end of its run.

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The Patricia Arquette-led procedural Medium is the latest NBC show to get the greenlight for the 2009-2010 season, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter. The number of Medium episodes ordered is not known, but it's expected to be somewhere in the 13-to-18 range. While not a ratings powerhouse, Medium performs solidly for NBC, averaging 7.4 million viewers so far this season. A rep for NBC declined to comment on the report. That's not exactly surprising, since the network hosts its "Infront" presentation tomorrow afternoon, when execs will reveal their entire scheduling plan for next season.

Yesterday, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that freshman cop drama Southland was picked up for 13 episodes next season. The fates of Law & Order and Chuck -- as well as several new pilots -- are still unknown, but the network is said to be in the late stages of finalizing renewals for Thursday-night comedies My Name is Earl and Parks & Recreation. In January, NBC announced early renewals for The Office, 30 Rock, and The Biggest Loser.

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The future looks bright for Allison DuBois.

On the eve of its Monday "infront" presentation of 2009-10 TV season plans, NBC renewed Medium for a sixth season, says the Hollywood Reporter. An NBC rep has no comment on the report.

The new season of Medium is expected to fall in the 13 to 18 episode range, as NBC (like its peers) struggles to cut down costs while cementing its fall schedule.

Medium's pick-up comes one day after NBC decided to keep the cops of Southland on duty for a second cycle.

Previously, NBC has renewed 30 Rock, The Office, SVU, Friday Night Lights, Biggest Loser and Celebrity Apprentice. Though the network is expected to reveal more of its fall plans on Monday, some shows and pilots — Chuck included — may not learn of their fate until later this month


So Good News For Medium Fans Then.

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The CW will give up on Sunday programming next fall to focus on its Monday-through-Friday schedule, Variety reports. Affiliates will have to fill the evening themselves with syndicated fare, though most are in negotiations for a large movie package with MGM that would allow them to keep more of the advertising revenues on the net's traditionally weak evening. Last fall, The CW attempted another solution, allowing Media Rights Capital to provide Sunday's primetime lineup and help with ad sales; but the programming, which included Easy Money and Valentine, flopped. Recent Sunday nights have been filled with reruns of CBS' canceled series Jericho and movies

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Mel Gibson, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Billy Crystal are ready to share a last laugh with Jay Leno.

The stars are among the big-name guests lined up for Leno's final week as host of The Tonight Show, beginning May 25.

Gibson will kick things off with Lyle Lovett on the May 25 show. It will be the actor's first interview since news of his divorce from his wife of 29 years broke last month. Schwarzenegger, who announced his candidacy for governor of California on Tonight in 2003, will drop by on May 26 with Dwight Yoakam.

Other guests include Wanda Sykes and Sarah McLachlan on May 27, and Crystal and Prince on May 28.

Guests for Leno's final episode, airing May 29, will be announced on Thursday.

Conan O'Brien will take over the Tonight Show reins on June 1; Leno heads to prime-time with a comedy show this fall.

Follow TVGuide.com on Twitter for more breaking news and scoop.

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ABC has ordered Flash Forward as part of its 2009-10 season.

The show, billed as the new Lost, has been picked up for a 13-episode order.

The network recently aired promos of the show during its Lost ad breaks, suggesting a pickup was on the cards.

Sonya Walger, Christine Woods and Jack Davenport star in the drama, which focuses on the chaos following a global blackout.

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Hit animated film Kung Fu Panda is making the transition to the small screen - the movie is to be adapted into a TV series.

The 2008 movie, which featured the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie, was a box office smash, grossing $600 million (£400 million) worldwide.

It was also nominated for an Oscar at this year's Academy Awards.

And now the film's success is set to continue, with a Kung Fu Panda cartoon series in production for cable children's network Nickelodeon.

The 26-episode series will use the same computer-generated process as the film but it is not known whether any of the stars will reprise their roles. The show is scheduled to air in 2010.

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'CSI' Writer Accused of Televised Revenge Plot

This is one of the best lawsuits we've seen in a while -- a writer for "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" is accused of naming some seriously perverted characters on his show after a real-life couple who allegedly screwed her in a real estate deal gone bad.

According to the suit, filed moments ago in L.A. County Superior Court, Scott and Melinda Tamkin claim "CSI" writer Sarah Goldfinger sought revenge against them by allegedly using their names and likenesses to craft a recent episode of "CSI."

Here's the rub -- the Tamkins claim their fictional counterparts "engaged in a reckless lifestyle of sexual bondage, pornography, drunkeness, marital discord, depression, financial straights and possibly even murder."

The Tamkins claim CBS acknowledged the problem and changed the names "at the eleventh hour," but because the first names matched, and the original last names had already made it to the Internet -- the damage was already done.

Now the Tamkins claim their good names have been sullied -- and are suing CBS, Goldfinger and the production company behind the show for at least $6 mil.


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ABC greenlights 'Crash Course'

ABC has given the green light to a new car-based reality series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Crash Course will be given a late summer run.

"It’s going to be visually stunning and hysterical," said executive producer Arthur Smith. "Nothing brings out the worst in people than sitting in a passenger seat."

During its seven-episode run, five couples will undertake four extreme driving challenges, with one couple being eliminated at the end of each round.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Orlando Jones and Dan Cortese will host the new series.

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James Corden plans 'break' from Horne

James Corden has admitted that he wants time away from his TV co-star Mathew Horne.

The comedy duo have worked on a number of projects together in recent years, including BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, sketch show Horne & Corden and comedy-horror movie Lesbian Vampire Killers.

The pair have also launched careers as TV presenters, teaming up to front the Brit Awards and E4's Big Brother's Big Mouth.

Speaking to The People, Corden revealed: "We still love each other but we need to spend a bit of time apart. We are going to have a break like couples sometimes do.

"We'll probably do another series of our comedy show, but I want to do more movies. With Mat or without Mat, I'm not sure. The main thing is I am in them. What more do the public and screaming girls want?"

Corden was recently tipped to make a guest appearance on Take That's current 'Circus' tour.


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'Prison Break' actor joins 'Entourage'

William Fichtner has joined HBO's Entourage, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The actor, who played Agent Mahone in Prison Break, has reportedly been tapped for a multi-episode arc on the comedy's upcoming sixth series.

Fichtner will play Phil Yagoda, a slick TV producer who had a hit teen series in the '90s.

Additionally, Matt Letscher has been cast as Dan Coakley, a handsome, arrogant TV studio executive, and Ocean's Eleven star Scott Caan has joined as Scotty Lavin, a cocky and highly competitive manager.

Recently, it was announced that Zac Efron had filmed a cameo for the series.


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Cyrus: Hannah Montana To End After Next Season

Disney star Miley Cyrus will quit her role as Hannah Montana when the show's fourth season ends next year.

The 16 year old skyrocketed to stardom as a normal schoolgirl who leads a double life as a pop star at night.

Rumours Cyrus was itching to move on from the TV series were silenced when she signed up for another season of the hit show earlier this month.

But the star's dad Billy Ray Cyrus - who also plays her father in the programme - has confirmed the fourth season will be her last.

He tells U.S. news show Access Hollywood, "Quite frankly, I give a lot of credit to Miley for taking it to another year. She didn't want it to just end with whatever was the last episode we did... She wanted there to be an official ending to Hannah Montana."

Cyrus is scheduled to tape 11 episodes and a special one-hour series finale starting in January.


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Exclusive: Noah Wyle + Steve Spielberg + Aliens = Big fat hit?

File this under "T" for "Things that are going to have to really suck to fail."

Steven Spielberg is pursuing Noah Wyle to headline his untitled alien-invasion pilot for TNT, sources confirm to me exclusively.

The potential series -- which was announced last month at TNT's upfront presentation -- takes place six months after evil extra terrestrials decimate mankind. Wyle would play the leader of a ragtag group of citizens who try to bring down the aggressors.

Translation: It's Spielberg's take on V!

The gig would mark a small-screen reunion for ex-TV doc Wyle and Spielberg; the Oscar-winning director was one of ER's founding producers. It would also keep Wyle in business with TNT, the network behind his super-fun* Librarian movies.

A TNT spokesperson declined to comment.

Is Wyle the right guy for the role? If not, who's on top of your short list of actors to lead the resistance?


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The Stig 'preparing to reveal identity'

Jeremy Clarkson has claimed that his Top Gear co-star The Stig will finally be unmasked in tonight's episode.

The identity of the test driver, who wears a white racing suit and white crash helmet, has remained a mystery for years, prompting several theories about who is really under the mask.

Writing in The Sun, host Clarkson said: "Stig barges into the studio and in an atmosphere that you could cut with a knife removes his helmet.

"Hardened, emotionless camera crews said the hair on the back of their neck prickled. As a television moment, it's up there with Neil Armstrong walking on the... corpse of J.R. Ewing."

Reports had previously suggested that The Stig was actually portrayed by four different individuals, while others have claimed that he is a Norwegian or French racing driver.

Last year, the query 'Who is The Stig?' was revealed to be one of the most frequently searched questions on the internet.


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Kudrow, Cox reunite for online comedy

Former Friends co-stars Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox will reportedly reunite for an online comedy series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cox has been lined up for a guest appearance in the second season of Kudrow's Lexus series Web Therapy.

She will cameo as a psychic who seeks the help of Kudrow's web-based doctor after beginning to lose her visionary powers. Her episode will be broadcast on July 6.

Kudrow won the outstanding comedic performance prize at this month's Webby Awards for the role of Fiona Wallice, a medic who counsels her clients via webcam.

Cox and Kudrow starred together in Friends from 1994 until 2004, playing Monica Geller and Phoebe Buffay respectively.


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Law & Order: UK' gets second series

ITV1 has commissioned Law & Order: UK for a 13-episode second series, it has announced.

The first series, starring Freema Agyeman, Jamie Bamber and Bradley Walsh, opened its seven-episode run with strong ratings earlier this year. The second half of the series is yet to air.

Series two will see the return of the original cast and will go into production later this year.

"This new commission brings our total order to 26 episodes, which demonstrates our commitment to series that have concepts and storylines that can run long-term," said ITV's Laura Mackie.

"Audiences clearly loved the first series, which featured the cream of British acting talent with gripping 'torn from the headlines' storylines, and this will again be at the heart of the new series."

Series creator Dick Wolf added: "This is a great day for the Law & Order brand. On the heels of the original Law and Order tying Gunsmoke's all time drama series record of 20 years, and Law and Order: SVU's renewal for season 11, it's wonderful to have pick-ups on both sides of the Atlantic."


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