TVSquad

Big Shots, the show I haven't heard one person talk about this new season, has been pulled from the lineup by ABC effective immediately.

The show starred Dylan McDermott, Michael Vartan, and Joshua Malina (who is on Last Call with Carson Daly tonight, probably to plug the show - awkward!) and aired Thursdays at 10pm, right after Grey's Anatomy. I guess not too many people were sticking around after that highly-watched show. There are three episodes left and ABC is taking the show off the air. No word on whether the show will return at a later date or if the episodes will show up online at some point.

ABC crammed in eight (!) panels today on new and returning series as the TV Critics summer 2007 press tour -- finally -- came to an end.

As predicted in my preview story about today's sessions, Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy; Private Practice) was indeed asked about ex-GA cast member Isaiah Washington, who was canned last month by ABC and then scooped up by rival NBC for a role on Bionic Woman.

A reporter wanted to know what Rhimes thought about NBC president Ben Silverman saying he was in talks with Washington prior to the actor being let go at the end of the TV season.

Today is the last day of the 2007 summer TCA press tour and one of its panels in particular is highly anticipated as ABC rolls out more shows to present to the TV Critics membership.

Shonda Rhimes is coming to the Beverly Hilton today with Kate Walsh, Tim Daly and other cast members of Private Practice to tout the Grey's Anatomy spin-off. But you just know that Rhimes will be asked about the controversial exit of Isaiah Washington from GA at the end of the season.

Where's Dr. Bailey when you need her?

It's that time of the year. People are being cast in pilots left and right and some interesting stuff has been announced. At ABC, Christopher Titus (Titus) has landed one of the lead roles in an untitled project from Warner Bros. The show focuses on CEOs and also stars Dylan McDermott (The Practice) and Michael Vartan (Alias). McDermott and Vartan as CEOs is an easy sell. But Christopher Titus, Senior VP Harvard graduate? That's different, and something I look forward to checking out.

Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) is set to star in ABC's Suspect. The show is a procedural that will solve crimes by tracking suspects through a lineup. She's joined by Eric Palladino (ER) and Kathleen Munroe (Beautiful People). The ABC track record for procedurals is less than impressive, but the addition of Guy Ritchie (Snatch) as director is intriguing enough to give this one a look.

With Kidnapped shuffled to a new night to finish out its run, and Smith pulled from the schedule completely, NBC and CBS have a couple slots to fill. The Emmy-winning Medium will return to NBC for its third season sometime in mid November, taking over the Wednesday at 10PM slot. CBS will fill Tuesday at 10PM with 3 Lbs starting on November 14th.

3 Lbs is about the relationship between a brilliant, but arrogant, neurosurgeon, and the rising star that works for him. Originally it was to star Dylan McDermott, but now will feature Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada, Murder One) and Mark Feuerstein (West Wing, Good Morning Miami). I'm not sure about Feuerstein in this role, we'll have to wait and see, but I'll give anything with Stanley Tucci in it a look. This character sounds like he could have a little Richard Cross in him, which would be a good thing.

Lots of casting news today in The Hollywood Reporter. Dylan McDermott has joined the cast of the ABC drama, A House Divided. It's about a rift between a midwestern farming community and the federal government. I wish I knew more because, wow, that sounds like a snoozer. Sarah Clarke (aka 'Nina' on 24) is also part of the cast. She plays the wife of the lead character, which might just be McDermott.

Wendie Malick, of Just Shoot Me and Jake in Progress, has been cast in the ABC comedy pilot, A Day in the Life. The show is about a young couple's wedding day, from different points of view (I imagine it'll have to advance past the wedding day). Malick plays the mother of the bride.

Other casting news: