Ugly Betty

Nurse Jackie renewed, Tara axed

US network Showtime has renewed dark comedy series Nurse Jackie for another season but have decided to axe comedy-drama United States of Tara. The former will return for its fourth season while the latter will end after its third.

U2 to perform on Idol finale

U2 have been confirmed to perform on the season finale of American Idol this week. The Irish band just recently picked up the Top Touring Award at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.

Ugly Betty actress joins Hung

Former Ugly Betty actress Ana Ortiz has signed on for a role in the third season of Hung. Ortiz, who played Hilda on Ugly Betty, has landed a multi-episode arc on the series.

Glover to guest star

Lethal weapon actor Danny Glover will feature in an episode of Psych. Glover will play the manager of a minor league baseball team.

Heder producing series

Napoleon Dynamite actor Jon Heder will play the lead role in a new Disney pilot called Gulliver Quinn. Heder will also produce the series, which is written by Malcolm in the Middle’s Dan Kopelman.

Talk of new Underbelly series

There is talk of a new Underbelly series for 2011 being set in Sydney during the 1920s, a time when crooks armed themselves with razors as opposed to handguns. The buzz is around a new season of the Channel Nine series featuring gangs of razor-wielding crooks who operated in the Darlinghurst/Kings Cross area during a time when pistol licensing laws made it easier for crims to choose blades over bullets.

Writer accuses MTV of stealing Jersey Shore concept

A television writer has accused MTV of stealing his idea for reality shore Jersey Shore from a 2006 pitch he called Guidos: The Reality Series. Christopher Gambale is claiming that MTV used his idea of portraying stereotypical Italians without credit, but MTV is hitting back by saying that his idea was not original.

Uni offers course on The Wire

A Baltimore university has begun offering a course based on critically acclaimed drama series The Wire. The John Hopkins University has launched the class which uses the show as a base to explore issues affecting US cities including drug use and crime with guest lecturers including the show’s creator David Simon.

Ugly Betty actor claims God was involved in murder

The former Ugly Betty actor who killed his mother last week with a samurai sword has insisted he was “doing the work of God”. Michael L. Brea has claimed that voices in his head ordered him to attack his mum after a “demon” took her soul.

Momsen’s absence for “creative reasons”

Gossip Girl producers have confirmed that while Taylor Momsen’s part has been cut down on the drama series, the actress “isn’t going anywhere.” They have underlined that her absence is for “creative reasons” as opposed to issues with the actress herself who has been accused of being difficult to work with on set.

Grey wins Dancing with the Stars

Former Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey has been crowned the winner of the latest season of Dancing with the Stars in the US, beating out a Disney actor and the daughter of Sarah Palin in the finale. Grey, who appeared alongside the late Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, was the favourite throughout the competition which also featured the likes of David Hasselhoff and The Hills’ Audrina Patridge.

Ugly Betty actor arrested for murder

A former Ugly Betty actor has been charged with stabbing his mother to death with a 1-metre sword in New York. 31-year-old Michael Brea, who had a small part in Ugly Betty and film Step Up 3D, was arrested at the scene.

Production company sacked over Top Model gaffe

The production company behind Australia’s Next Top Model has been sacked following the live finale gaffe that saw the wrong winner named. The show’s host and executive producer Sarah Murdoch has reportedly instigated the move, saying it was “probably time for a change.”

Some changes to 7TWO programming coming up with some shows finishing, others playing from the start and a few new ones added. And with the Xtra Factor coming soon in September as well, it all looks a bit like a 7TWO makeover.

At 6pm weeknights, from Monday September 13, Ugly Betty will play from the very first episode. Just before that, Murphy Brown moves to 4.30pm while Best Dish settles into a 5pm weekday timeslot.

Airline USA remains at 7pm weeknights, with the exception of Thursday nights which still include family movies at 7pm, followed by James Bond around 9pm. Friday September 17, sees Airline USA play back from the start.

Monday September 13 has the final ever episode of Heartbeat at 7.30pm. This will be seen just hours after they see it in the UK – now that’s what I call fast tracking! Then, in its regular Saturday night timeslot of 7.30pm, Heartbeat will play from the very first season. Quite a jump back, seeing it ends on its 18^th season.

Tuesday nights, from September 14, sees some of the best of British, with Fawlty Towers at 7.30, the The Vicar of Dibley at 8pm. At 8.45, Benidorm will play – a first for Sydney and Brisbane, repeats for Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth who had a few episodes of the show on Seven on Thursday nights alittle while ago. Not Going Out follows at 9.15pm.

On Wednesday nights, from Sept 15, The Royal premieres at 7.30, with McCallum following at 8.30. Both shows new to 7TWO.

Meanwhile, Breaking the Magicians Code ends on Sunday September 12, while Eli Stone has its last ever episode late night Thursday September 16.

6:30pm – Tuesday, June 15 on 7TWO

NEW EPISODE

Tonight on UGLY BETTY, Fashion week gets hotter than ever for Betty when the Suarez family home catches fire. Betty is pressured into dating a fireman (Rich Sommer, “Mad Men”), Wilhemina reconnects with an old flame and Hilda meets the parents

Wilhemina marginalizes Betty during Fashion Week but Daniel intercedes, and she’s assigned to cover a low-priority show. There, she discovers a new designer, Marisa, whom she promotes as one of the 10 Designers to Watch, but Marc steals all her thunder. Meanwhile, Amanda is impressed by Helen’s (Kristen Johnston’s) sewing skills and teams up with her to start a new line, but cannot convince Marc or Betty to lobby Wilhemina on her behalf. Claire’s son Tyler (Neal Bledsoe) comes to New York to find her, and Daniel gets seduced into modeling. The fashion and the feelings are smoking hot, but the real flames are at the Suarez home, which mysteriously catches fire.

To speed along the investigation into her house fire, Betty is pressured to date an annoying fireman, Jimmy (Rich Sommer, “Mad Men”). Wilhemina tries to prove to Don, an old flame from her past (Brian Stokes Mitchell), that she’s just “Wanda from the block” instead of an uber-bitch, and Amanda draws closer to Tyler, convincing Claire to hire him as an in-house model at Mode. Meanwhile, Hilda meets Bobby’s parents for the first time (Lainie Kazan and Nestor Serrano).

UGLY BETTY STARS : FERRERA AS BETTY SUAREZ, ERIC MABIUS AS DANIEL MEADE, TONY PLANA AS IGNACIO, ANA ORTIZ AS HILDA, BECKI NEWTON AS AMANDA, MARK INDELICATO AS JUSTIN, MICHAEL URIE AS MARC, JUDITH LIGHT AS CLAIRE MEADE, VANESSA WILLIAMS AS WILHELMINA SLATER. SPECIAL GUEST STARS GRANT BOWLER AS CONNOR OWENS AND FRANK WHALEY AS MR. SPARKS

6:30pm – Tuesday, June 8 on 7TWO

NEW DOUBLE EPISODE

Tonight on UGLY BETTY, A citywide blackout raises the stakes

Betty tries to be neighbourly by planning a karaoke party in her apartment building, but before the big day, her building is robbed, and it’s partly her fault. Marc is distraught since he lost something irreplaceable in the theft. Meanwhile, Daniel and Wilhelmina are back to being at each other’s throats, so Amanda tricks them into attending couples counselling with Dr. Sparks (Frank Whaley), and Ignacio refuses to accept Bobby in Hilda’s life. Then a citywide blackout ups the ante for everyone.

Vanessa Williams’ Real-Life Brother, Chris Williams, Portrays Wilhediva Hater
Additional Guest Stars Include Kristen Johnston, RuPaul Charles and Carlos Leon

Wilhemina is furious when she discovers she has a drag queen impersonator – Wilhediva Hater (portrayed by Vanessa Williams’ brother, Chris Williams). The fur flies with unexpected results amid guest stars who include RuPaul Charles as Rudolph, the emcee of the cabaret. Meanwhile Betty receives an award for her blog, which causes tension between her and Daniel. When she vents online, her fans in blogosphere escalate the feud, and the press hounds Daniel. Amanda rehires Helen (Kristen Johnston), but Willie orders Amanda to fire her — which Amanda just can’t bring herself to do. And Marc runs his own photo shoot with a famous director (played by Carlos Leon) and actress.

UGLY BETTY STARS : FERRERA AS BETTY SUAREZ, ERIC MABIUS AS DANIEL MEADE, TONY PLANA AS IGNACIO, ANA ORTIZ AS HILDA, BECKI NEWTON AS AMANDA, MARK INDELICATO AS JUSTIN, MICHAEL URIE AS MARC, JUDITH LIGHT AS CLAIRE MEADE, VANESSA WILLIAMS AS WILHELMINA SLATER. SPECIAL GUEST STARS GRANT BOWLER AS CONNOR OWENS AND FRANK WHALEY AS MR. SPARKS

Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty fans are in for a bit of a Betty-fest in the week of June 20-26 with a total of five episodes to be played that week up to, and including the final ever episode of the show.

Ugly Betty currently is playing in doubles on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm. It the show’s final week, the extra three episodes to run out the series will be seen at 6pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The programming for Ugly Betty looks like this:
6.30pm Tuesdays until June 22 – double episodes.
6.00pm Wednesday June 23
6.00pm Thursday June 24
6.00pm Friday June 25 – final ever episode.

24
Another show comes to an end with the final ever episode of 24 to be seen at 8.30pm Tuesday June 22 in a double offering. Until then, 24 remains at its regular timeslot of 8.30pm Tuesday, followed by the Sopranos.

Thursday night movies.
An odd move, but the Movie “Starstruck” will air from 7pm Thursday June 24, followed by another Bond movie “From Russia With Love”.

Heartbeat
Moves into season 18 on Saturday June 26.

Meanwhile…
With only 6 days to go, Seven’s program for 8.30pm June 13 remains as “TBA”, as does June 20. With a number of shows having their season finales on Seven in coming weeks, advanced guides for Seven are packed to the rafters with TBA’s (and yes, Rafters will be back, but not until July).

6:30pm – Tuesday, June 1 on 7TWO

NEW EPISODE

Tonight on UGLY BETTY, ……are the Suarez sisters pregnant?

Against the backdrop of Ignacio’s multi-culti holiday dinner that he prepares for his new flame Jean (Faith Prince), who is Jewish, Betty and Hilda have pregnancy scares. Worse, they purchase their Be-Shure instant pregnancy tests from the local pharmacy — where Jean works and Ignacio is shopping. Meanwhile, Hartley installs Willie’s replacement, a clueless Hollywood mogul, Denise Ludwig (Nadia Dajani), whose claim to fame is a tacky movie, but Marc has a plan to get Willie back — if only Daniel will agree. And Claire gets Amanda’s help and tracks down Tyler (Neal Bledsoe), the son she long ago gave up for adoption.

UGLY BETTY STARS : FERRERA AS BETTY SUAREZ, ERIC MABIUS AS DANIEL MEADE, TONY PLANA AS IGNACIO, ANA ORTIZ AS HILDA, BECKI NEWTON AS AMANDA, MARK INDELICATO AS JUSTIN, MICHAEL URIE AS MARC, JUDITH LIGHT AS CLAIRE MEADE, VANESSA WILLIAMS AS WILHELMINA SLATER. SPECIAL GUEST STARS ADAM RODRIQUEZ AS BOBBY TALERCIO, GRANT BOWLER AS CONNOR OWENS, RALPH MACCHIO AS ARCHIE RODRIGUEZ, CHRISTIE BRINKLEY AS PENELOPE GRAYBRIDGE, MATT NEWTON AS TROY AND SHAKIRA AS HERSELF

6:30pm – Tuesday, May 25 on 7TWO

NEW EPISODE

GUEST STARS INCLUDE SHAKIRA, CHRISTIE BRINKLEY AND MATT NEWTON

Tonight on UGLY BETTY, in the steamy Bahamas things get hot, and romantic pairings abound

In the steamy Bahamas, the love triangle between Betty, Matt and Amanda explodes, and romantic pairings abound. Things should be dreamy at the Atlantis resort, where even Shakira (portraying herself) is staying, but Betty has a nightmarish photo shoot after Willie learns her nemesis, Penelope Graybridge (Christie Brinkley), snagged a coveted job, and, even more importantly, discovers Connor is very much alive. Marc frets that there is no one on the island for him, but then meets the uber-hot Troy (portrayed by Matt Newton, Becki Newton’s brother), and back home, Hilda draws closer to her old love, Bobby.

UGLY BETTY STARS : FERRERA AS BETTY SUAREZ, ERIC MABIUS AS DANIEL MEADE, TONY PLANA AS IGNACIO, ANA ORTIZ AS HILDA, BECKI NEWTON AS AMANDA, MARK INDELICATO AS JUSTIN, MICHAEL URIE AS MARC, JUDITH LIGHT AS CLAIRE MEADE, VANESSA WILLIAMS AS WILHELMINA SLATER. SPECIAL GUEST STARS ADAM RODRIQUEZ AS BOBBY TALERCIO, GRANT BOWLER AS CONNOR OWENS, RALPH MACCHIO AS ARCHIE RODRIGUEZ, CHRISTIE BRINKLEY AS PENELOPE GRAYBRIDGE, MATT NEWTON AS TROY AND SHAKIRA AS HERSELF

Wisteria lane will get a new resident next season with news today Vanessa Williams will join the cast.

Williams, best known for her role as scheming Wilhelmina on Ugly Betty, has signed on to the drama series to play, surprise-surprise, a villain.

The 47-year-old actress and singer will fill the void left by departed housewife Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) with series creator Marc Cherry saying he was looking for a new troublemaker to replace Sheridan’s character.

Word is Williams character will be connected in some way to returning villain Paul (Mark Moses) but nothing has been confirmed.

Source: EW