TVSquad

NBC seems to be sending out their screeners in dribs and drabs, so I'm making my way through their fall offerings very slowly. I've already given you previews of both Community and Trauma, and now we've got Parenthood, a new series based on a movie that was already turned into a series nearly twenty years ago. Who says Hollywood is out of ideas?

Parenthood is basically a less-melodramatic Brothers & Sisters. It follows the Braverman clan, a family in Fresno made up of four siblings: Adam (Peter Krause), Crosby (Dax Shepard), Sarah (Maura Tierney), and Julia (Erika Christensen), along with their children and parents, played by Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia. They all have their share of drama, but at the end of the day, they're all brought together in the most suburban of pursuits: Little League. Say it with me now: "awwww."

This leak appears to be unauthorized, but still pretty solid. It looks like the television remake of Ron Howard's 1989 film Parenthood has been picked up by NBC for next season. Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money), Maura Tierney (NewsRadio, ER) and Craig T. Nelson (Coach) are on board to star, and that's a pretty solid foundation right there.

The original Parenthood movie starred everybody who was anybody in the late '80s, including Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Jr. and Mary Steenbergen and Steve Martin. It was like Crash with an extended family, following multiple story lines that all ultimately connected.

Question: Is Craig T. Nelson being cast on CSI: NY just another big star guest turn or could it be something more important? We don't know the answer yet, but I suspect that booking the Emmy-award winning TV star for three episodes could be a lot more significant than just pumping up the ratings during February sweeps with a meaty story arc.

What we do know is that the popular actor will be on CSI: NY as an antagonist to Gary Sinise's character. Nelson will play Robert Parker, a high profile, powerful publisher who has an ax to grind with Mac Taylor.

To say they're going to butt heads is an educated guess, but I think that's the direction they're going. You can see Parker using his media outlets to attack Mac and his department, you know, those great New York tabloid headlines.

... Six welcome returns.

Every fall season I get stoked about all the new shows, with cool new premises ("A guy travels through time trying to make right what once went wrong!"-- Journeyman not Quantum Leap), and all the big changes in store for existing shows. But it's equally exciting to see which beloved actors will be returning to television. Brad Garrett coming back to television in 'Til Death last year? Cool! Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer both coming back to television ... together? That's gotta be awesome, right? Jerry O'Connell on Carpoolers ... well ... ? I like the guy, but I'm not scheduling a 'Welcome Back' shindig for him.

Half the fun of a new television season is the return of great actors and actresses to the small screen. And while I could have easily done 10 or even 20 of these, I've narrowed it down to the six talents who were most welcome back in my house on a weekly basis this past year. I've even been so bold as to rank them. Feel free to agree, disagree and present your own lists in the comments.

(S03E12) "They keep playing this game called eye poke. It's all fun until one of them gets poked in the eye." - Darnell Turner

When I first found out that the warden was going to burn Earl and keep him in prison I was intrigued. However, when Earl found out about it and kneed the warden in the groin, I was ecstatic. Apparently, I have secretly been waiting for Earl to revert to his dastardly ways for some time now. Now, it seems that time has come and it has brought me a newfound interest in the show.

I knew when I saw the look in Earl's eyes as he let Randy in on his plan to escape that this was going to be a great episode.

(S03E11) "Honk if you know someone on death row." - Sign outside of A. J. Johnson Prison.

It's too bad the WGA is on strike because somebody needs to write another sitcom for Craig T. Nelson. When Earl finally does get out of prison, I will truly be saddened by the warden's absence. Maybe Earl can get a job working for the warden after he gets released?

The more residents of Camden County and the surrounding area I meet, the more convinced I am that their drinking water is tainted.

(S03E05) "Get mama's thong off your head, You had pink eye last week." - Joy Turner

You know, it's funny. When most people go to prison it tends to inhibit or limit their options. However in Earl's case, it seems a whole new world has opened up. I mean Earl the show, not the guy.

By sending Earl to prison, the writers have found an entirely new world for him to play in. They can introduce new characters (Frank, Glen, Sonny) new guest stars (Craig T. Nelson, Michael Rappaport) and it forces them to explore new relationships between the characters. For example, the new dynamic between Randy and Joy is fascinating to watch.