ABC has picked up two more dramas for its 2010-11 roster, in addition to the ones reported on yesterday in TheWrap: “Body of Proof” and “Off the Map.”
“Off the Map” comes from executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers and creator Jenna Bans, and is described as “an uplifting medical procedural.” It stars Caroline Dhavernas (“Wonderfalls”) as an idealistic, gifted young surgeon who heads to an understocked, barely staffed clinic in a small town in South America.
Joining her are young expat doctors played by Mamie Gummer and Enrique Murciano, working with the clinic’s Martin Henderson and Jason George.
“Body of Proof” stars Dana Delany as a neurosurgeon who, after a car accident ends her career as a surgeon, becomes a Philadelphia medical examiner whose reputation for being difficult precedes her wherever she goes.
She’s also a divorced single mother of a teenage daughter. Also starring are John Carroll Lynch, Nicholas Bishop, Geoffrey Arend, Jeri Ryan, Sonja Sohn and Windell Middlebrooks. Executive producers are Matt Gross and Christopher Murphey.
Announced on Tuesday was ABC’s ninth new entry, "No Ordinary Family," with Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz.
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ABC also has shifted the premiere dates of several shows on its previously announced summer schedule.
“Downfall,” an adrenaline-charged game show from FremantleMedia North America, now will premiere at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22.
“Wipeout” returns for its new season in the hour before “Downfall” on June 22. This summer will feature themed episodes such as “Ladies Night,” “Family Edition” and “Wipeout Blind Date.” It’s hosted by John Anderson of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and “Talk Soup” veteran John Henson, with co-host Jill Wagner. It comes from Endemol USA.
“Shaq vs.” returns Tuesday, Aug. 3, at 9 p.m. In the show’s second season, Shaquille O’Neal faces off not only against top athletes in their respective fields, but takes part in non-sports competitions such as a spelling bee or a dance crew battle. Casting is under way for the Media Rights Capital/dick clark productions show.
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You can tell it’s sweeps. “Access Hollywood” next week presents “Maria’s Madcap Adventures,” five segments featuring Maria Menounos in a series of adventures “way out of her comfort zone.”
Menounos will sing backup in-studio with Justin Bieber, perform live on stage with New Kids on the Block, sing and dance in Broadway’s “Chicago” and does play-by-play for a Boston Celtics game.
"We hope the ‘Madcap’ series inspires people to go for it and try new things they’ve always wanted to do," “Access” executive producer Rob Silverstein said in a statement.
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“Glenn Martin, DDS” returns for its second season on Nick at Nite at 10:30 p.m. on Friday, June 11.
Guest stars on the stop-motion animated comedy series will include Bret Michaels, Mel Brooks, Fergie, Kristen Bell, Sean Hayes, Betty White, Jimmy Kimmel, John Corbett, Fran Drescher, Bradley Whitford, Cheri Oteri, MC Hammer, Jason Alexander, George Takei, Howie Mandel, Don Johnson, Ty Burrell, Ashley Tisdale, Jim Parsons, Bryan Cranston, Gabourey Sibide and Ellen Page.
The show’s lead voice cast, including Kevin Nealon as the title character and Catherine O’Hara as his wife, also returns.
“Glenn Martin, DDS” was developed for Nick at Nite by Michael Eisner, who co-created the series with Alex Berger and Eric Fogel. Sivert Glarum and Michael Jamin are executive producers and show runners. The show is produced by Steven Cohen and Noel Bright for Tornante Animation, a division of the Tornante Co.
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CBS will air “The Ministry of Animals,” a special about spirituality and animals, on Sunday, June 13.
Among the topics explored in the program are “ministry dogs,” used by the clergy as a means of pastoral care; the monks of New Skete, in particular Brother Stavros and Brother John, who breed and train German shepherds in order to support their order; Harvard Divinity School professor Kimberley Patton, who explains the roles animals have played within various world religions; and the annual blessing of the animals at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York.
John P. Blessington is executive producer of the special and Liz Kineke is the producer. It’s produced in cooperation with the National Council of Churches, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Islamic Society of North America, the Union of Reform Judaism and the New York Board of Rabbis.
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HBO is adding "The Neistat Brothers" to its late-night lineup.
The Futon Critic reports the eight-episode series will follow "Real Time With Bill Maher" on Friday nights at midnight starting June 4.
Casey and Van Neistat said on their website that the half-hour show is along the lines of their offbeat online short films.