TVSquad

This year, FOX is hoping for a stronger fall season with a shorter baseball hiatus. Instead of 26 game nights, FOX is expecting to air only 14 games leading up to and including the World Series. Once again, FOX's January schedule has FOX poised for a win in ratings with non-stop 24 and renewal of American Idol. One schedule item worth noting is The Sarah Connor Chronicles, based on the Terminator movies. Fox chose to hold it until mid-season because they want a strong female audience, which is something they get when American Idol returns.

In: 'Til Death, House, Bones, The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill, American Dad, America's Most Wanted, Cops, Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, American Idol, 24, Prison Break,

New: K-Ville, New Amsterdam, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Back to You, Return of Jezebel James, Rules for Starting Over, Kitchen Nightmares, Canterbury's Law, Nashville

Out: The Winner, Standoff, Drive, The War at Home, The O.C., Justice, Happy Hour, The Rich List, Vanished, The Wedding Bells, The Loop

Moving: 'Til Death, Bones (spring)

Excellent news for Gilmore and Six Feet Under fans. Lauren Ambrose, Six Feet's Claire, has been cast in Amy Sherman-Palladino's upcoming project The Return of Jezebel James as Parker Posey's younger sister. The pilot focuses on juvenile lit publisher Parker Posey and her relationship with her estranged sister. (Jezebel James is the name of the publishing house's popular franchise for pre-adolescent girls.) This is pitch perfect casting. Having read the script, I can tell you that Lauren's character is essentially the person you'd expect Six Feet Under's Claire to be after a couple of years in New York with less chemical experimentation perhaps, but the same amount of artistic ennui.

You'll also be happy to know that the pilot episode is pure Amy Sherman-Palladino. She's back in the game with a script that reads like the best Gilmore episodes against an urban backdrop. It's quick-witted, modern and now perfectly cast.

[Thanks to Lauren R. for the tip.]