TVSquad

When it was revealed to the media recently that actress Christina Applegate had cancer, it was a shock. She is only 36 years old, but as anyone whose life has been touched by cancer, this disease touches the young and the old and everyone in between.

Today, the star of ABC's Samantha Who? was on Good Morning, America to explain what's happening with her, and Christina declared that she is now cancer-free. "Absolutely 100 percent clear and clean. It did not spread. They got everything out, so I'm definitely not going to die from breast cancer."

In an exclusive, candid interview, she revealed that three weeks ago she had a double mastectomy to remove all traces of breast cancer. She will have reconstructive surgery over the next eight months to replace her breasts.

I really admire Christina Applegate. I've liked her a lot on Samantha Who?, but to do what she did today makes me like her even more. She didn't have to face the media and talk about her cancer. It takes courage to share your story.

And having a positive diagnosis, to be able to say you're cancer-free, doesn't make it any easier to talk about the fear you face when you were told that you have cancer and must undergo a difficult surgery or chemotherapy or radiation.

Christina Applegate, star of ABC's Samantha Who?, is battling breast cancer. According to a statement released by her rep, the cancer was detected early and is not life-threatening. "Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery," Ame Van Iden said.

The news comes just weeks after Applegate earned an Emmy nomination for her work as an amnesiac trying to undo her past misdeeds on Samantha Who?. In addition to continuing to work on her series, Applegate is also scheduled to appear on the Stand Up To Cancer telethon on September 5th. The telethon, which will be simultaneously aired on CBS, NBC and ABC, will also feature Meryl Streep, Sally Field and Jennifer Aniston, among others.

Since the cancer was detected early through a doctor-ordered MRI and Applegate is continuing her work schedule, hopefully the cancer will be easily beat. Here's to a full and speedy recovery.

9:23: Here are all of the nominations. Leave your comments below as to what should have been nominated but wasn't and the nominations that make you roll you eyes and say, "give me a break..."

9:22: I have a feeling James Spader is going to lose this year.

9:20: Battlestar Galactica fans will be happy to see a nom in the writing category.

9:18: So...no nomination for The Wire? That's going to make fans throw their TV sets through their windows (though TV sets are harder to lift nowadays...maybe they'll just kick them in). Still not sure why Jon Cryer is "supporting" and Charlie Sheen is "lead" on Two and a Half Men.

9:15: So I lied. Instead of reposting up here I just went back to the entries below (oh, the wonder of the internet!) and put show titles in, made them italic, made everything easier to read.

Jean Smart is one of TV's most popular and prodigious actresses. Capable of doing comedy and drama equally well, it seems that not a season passes without Jean making her mark. This past year, she was wonderful as Christina Applegate's mother on Samantha Who?

The two-time Emmy winner (for guesting on Frasier), is likely to win an Emmy nomination, which I discussed with her recently. But what about her other TV work. Here's some thoughts about 24, Designing Women and other TV memories. And find out what she thinks is the best show ever on television!

Allison Waldman: What are your memories from playing Charlene Frazier on Designing Women?

Jean Smart: There are so many. Of course, meeting my husband (Richard Gilliland). I met him on the fifth episode and we hadn't even been on the air yet. I remember the chemistry that we all had together, which was so much fun. When my character got married on the show, I found out I was pregnant, so I got it in just under the wire. Charlene was a good Baptist girl, she couldn't be pregnant without being married.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tony Hale, who played Buster on Arrested Development, has signed on to two second-year series to play recurring roles. On Chuck, Hale will play Emmett, an efficiency expert sent in by Buy More who stays on as the store's assistant manager after he sees how poorly the store is being run (which is going to happen when one of your techs and one of your salespeople work for government agencies). On Samantha Who?, Hale will play Samantha's new doctor, Andy Adams.

I'm pretty sure neither role will be as funny as Hale's turn as Buster, the hook-handed soldier / mama's boy that was always one of my favorite AD characters. But, hey, an actor's gotta work, and Hale picked two pretty good shows to work on. By the way, right at the top of Hale's IMDb profile are some of the sweetest words I've read all month: "Arrested Development (2009) (announced) .... Byron 'Buster' Bluth"

[via Pop Candy]

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: 90210, ER, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, Lost and Samantha Who?. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: Brothers & Sisters, Chuck, Heroes, Lost, NCIS, Prison Break, Samantha Who?, Stargate Atlantis, and Ugly Betty. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

CBS doesn't announce its new schedule till tomorrow, but the news is spilling out everywhere about what's in and what's out. The New Adventures of Old Christine has been given a 22-episode commitment for a third season; Shark has been sunk. For fans of the James Woods legal drama -- and I know there are lots of you out there because you've posted here -- my heart goes out to you. It was a good show, but it seems that CBS has four new dramas on deck for next season (that we have heard they're announcing tomorrow), so something had to give. It's likely that the choice came down between The Unit and Shark, with The Unit getting the renewal.

As for Christine, I say "Yeah!" I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Hamish Linklater (Matthew, her brother on the show) and would have been really upset if CBS let the show get away. If the network had passed on the sitcom, ABC was reportedly very, very interested in taking it on. They had visions of pairing Samantha Who? with Christine for an all-girl sitcom hour. That's not going to happen now because Julia is staying put on CBS.

Whether the show remains on Monday nights, however, is still to be determined. For the past year, it has mostly shared the 9:30 slot with Rules of Engagement, which has also been renewed. Some reporters are suggesting that CBS could be launching a second sitcom night.

ABC offered a set of fun Valentine's Day e-cards earlier this year, and they're at it again with a more extensive set of Mother's Day e-cards. More of my favorite ABC shows were let in on the fun this time, including Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, and Samantha Who?. Show Mom your love with a clever message from Lost's Claire, Susan from Desperate Housewives, or Hilda from Ugly Betty.

The cards are one part of a "Guide to Motherhood" page on ABC's website. You can watch clips from ABC's hit shows based on four motherhood themes: New Moms, Nesting, Words of Wisdom, and Letting Go. It's an amusing way to look back at some of the unconventional approaches to parenting taken in the last season.

• At 8, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, followed by new episodes of Samantha Who? and The Bachelor.
• CBS has a new Big Bang Theory at 8, then new episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, and CSI: Miami.
• FOX has a new Bones at 8.
• NBC has a new, two hour Deal Or No Deal and a new Medium.
• There's a new Gossip Girl on The CW at 8, then a new One Tree Hill.
• PBS has a new Antiques Roadshow at 8, then new episodes of American Experience and Great Performances.
• ABC Family has a new Greek at 8, followed by a new America's Prom Queen.
• USA has a new Monday Night RAW at 8.
• Also at 8: TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World.
• At 8:30, Food Network has a new Heavyweights.
• At 9, VH-1 has a new Flavor of Love.
• GSN has a new World Poker Tour at 9.
• At 9:30, Food Network has a new Unwrapped.
• At 10, MTV has a new episode of The Hills, then a new episode of The Paper.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, followed by new episodes of Samantha Who? and The Bachelor.
• CBS has a new Big Bang Theory at 8, then new episodes of How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, and CSI: Miami.
• NBC has new episodes of Deal Or No Deal and Medium.
• FOX has a new Bones at 8, followed by a new New Amsterdam.
• ABC Family has a new Greek at 8, then a new America's Prom Queen.
• Also at 8: CMT has the 2008 CMT Music Awards.
• At 8:30, Food Network has a new Heavyweights.
• At 9, The CW has a new One Tree Hill.
• Stephen Colbert is the guest on a new episode of CNN's Larry King Live at 9.
• USA has a new Monday Night RAW at 9.
• There's a new Dirty Jobs on Discovery at 9.
• GSN has a new World Poker Tour at 9.
• At 9:30, Food Network has a new Unwrapped, then a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
• At 10, MTV has a new episode of The Hills, then the series premiere of The Paper.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• At 8, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, then new episodes of Samantha Who? and The Bachelor.
• NBC has a new My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad, followed by new episodes of Deal Or No Deal and Medium.
• PBS has a new Antiques Roadshow at 8.
• TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8.
• There's a new Greek on ABC Family at 8, then a new America's Prom Queen.
• Also at 8: TCM has the original King Kong.
• At 9, CBS has the NCAA Basketball Final.
• USA has a new Monday Night RAW at 9.
• FOX has a new New Amsterdam at 9.
• Food Network has a new Chefography at 9, featuring Julia Child. It's followed by a new Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
• At 10, E! has a new episode of The Soup Presents.
• MTV has two new episodes of The Hills starting at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: House, Jericho, Lost, Moonlight, One Tree Hill, Prison Break, Samantha Who and Scrubs. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

It's a shame that the Golden Globes ceremony was cancelled in a year when so many talented comedic actresses received nominations. For the first time since 2004, the category of Best Actress in a Television Musical or Comedy includes none of the Desperate Housewives cast. The housewives have dominated the category over the past few years, and their absence has made room for some fresh faces in 2008.

I couldn't be happier that this category looks more competitive than ever. The fact that I had so much trouble predicting a winner is a very good sign. I'm also pleased that each nominee represents a different style of comedy--and there's not a cranky suburban wife or over-the-top diva to be found. The five characters that these ladies play are likeable, genuine, and hilarious.

It was finally ABC's turn to unveil its winter schedule yesterday. There aren't many surprises in it except that Lost, as rumored, will now air on a new night and that Big Shots, who was benched last week, will get a fifth another chance. ABC's winter programming will also include the premieres of Cashmere Mafia, Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann, Eli Stone and Oprah's Big Give and the return of a few reality series, such as Supernanny and Wife Swap, to fill the void left when scripted series will have aired all their new episodes.