TV Gal Plays Casting Agent

By Amy Amatangelo

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Oh, dear readers, if you learn one thing from me let it be this — you just can’t get too attached. The TV industry is a fickle business. Beloved shows are abruptly cancelled (let’s pause once again for a moment of silence for "Boomtown.") Favorite characters are suddenly written off (seriously, I’m still bitter about Detective Danny Sorenson on "NYPD Blue"). Pilots that look like sure things never see prime time (how long were we hearing about the remake of "Dark Shadows.")

When the new fall season starts at the end of this month (whoo-hoo), there will be some very familiar faces in the television class of ’04-’05. Say a big "welcome back" to Neal McDonough, Heather Locklear, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Matthew Fox, Dean Cain and Jean Smart. But, alas, some adored television stars are still not on the television schedule.

This makes me a little cranky. So, I’m making a personal plea to the powers that be at the networks. Here are the television stars we need to get back on prime time. Stat.

Penny Johnson Jerald Last seen on primetime: After stirring up trouble for three scheming seasons, Jerald’s duplicitous Sherry Palmer met her primetime maker on "24."

Recommendation: Let’s get her to shake up "The West Wing." Sure Jerald can do comedy (she proved that during her years on "The Larry Sanders Show") but she’s so good when she’s so bad. She’s already caused havoc for one TV president, why not try another?

Josh Charles Last seen: As troubled sportscaster Dan Rydell in one of my all time favorite shows "Sports Night" (you so need to own the DVD box set). Since then Charles’ co-stars Felicity Huffman, Joshua Malina, and Peter Krause have been everywhere on TV. But no Josh Charles.

Recommendation: I’m not picky. Just get this man back on TV. But it would be fun if he popped up on "Six Feet Under" as Nate’s old college buddy.

Bradley Cooper Last seen: Cooper had a busy year. He returned to "Alias" and slept with Sydney. He popped up on "Miss Match" and had a long story arc on "Touching Evil."

Recommendation: I would like a short thesis statement on why Will can’t return to "Alias" full time. I always thought the Vaughn, Sydney, Will triangle was a good one.

Kim Delaney Last seen: Returning to the 15th precinct to help the detectives of "NYPD Blue."

Recommendation: As has been previously entered into evidence, I am perennially loyal to Jenny from Pine Valley. "Philly" failed and she didn’t last long on "CSI: Miami." Maybe it’s time for Delaney to lighten up and try comedy. Any reason why she can’t stop by "Will & Grace"?

Joshua Jackson Last seen: Finally getting the girl on the series finale of "Dawson’s Creek."

Recommendation: Too many people still see Jackson as a WB heartthrob, it’s time to get this guy some prime time respect. Let’s put him on "24," but, stay with me here, let’s not have him date Kim.

Alyson Hannigan Last seen: After helping once again to save the world, the best sidekick ever made the moves on Kelso on "That ’70’s Show" and co-starred as Sally (alongside Luke Perry) in the London stage production of "When Harry Met Sally." (I so try not to think about the bad reviews that show received). But her NBC comedy wasn’t given a spot on next season’s schedule.

Recommendation: We all know Hannigan can be funny (two words: "band camp"), but she’s still at her best when she breaks our hearts. I’d love to see her in a high profile dramatic arc (say on top-rated "Without a Trace" or "ER"). It’s time for the rest of the world to learn what we already know.

Charisma Carpenter Last seen: After seven seasons playing the always fashionable Cordelia Chase, Carpenter came back to "Angel" for the 100th episode and then said farewell forever. We also saw her bonding with Alicia Silverstone on the short-lived "Miss Match." Alas, Carpenter’s UPN comedy wasn’t picked up for next season. As the snobby leader of the Cordettes might have said, "Disappointed much?"

Recommendation: I always felt Carpenter would fit right in as the new gal pal of the "Sex and the City" ladies. Since that’s no longer an option for her. Can’t Darren Star create a show for her? Pretty please. By the way, I could easily add the entire cast of "Angel" to this list, but I am trying to spread the love around.

This list is only a start. Who would you like to see on television next season? Talk about it on the TV Gal message board.

Where Have I Seen Them Before?

It’s been a good couple weeks for former residents of Sunnydale. Emma Caulfield, the dear departed Anya on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and recently seen in the ABC Family movie "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks," was the writing teacher who murdered her husband on "Monk."

TV Gal reader Marie was the first to notice that Serena Scott Thomas, Anastasia, the fashion designer Susannah is going to work for on "Summerland," was Faith’s evil watcher on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

TV Gal reader Steph caught Iyari Limon, Willow’s girlfriend Kennedy, as a prostitute on "The Drew Carey Show."

Mark Valley, "Keen Eddie" himself and Robert in the short-lived "Pasadena," was the Homeland Security agent brought in to investigate the investigation on "The 4400." We’ll next see Valley as the newest lawyer on "The Practice" spin-off "Boston Legal."

TV Gal reader Ted recognized that Callie Thorne, Detective Ballard on "Homicide" and McNulty’s ex-wife on "The Wire," is the widow of Tommy’s cousin on "Rescue Me." Dean Winters, Ryan O’Reilly on "Oz," plays Tommy’s brother.

And practically everyone wants me to tell you that we have a little bit of a "Can’t Hardly Wait" reunion happening on "Six Feet Under." Last week I told you that Lauren Ambrose (Claire) and Peter Facinelli (Jimmy) co-starred in the movie. But also Freddy Rodriguez (Frederico) played one of Facinelli’s buddies. This all can only mean one thing — Seth Green needs to guest star.

As I work my way through next season’s new shows, I will be making periodic official announcements (please note the official TV Gal notary seal) so you are fully prepared for what awaits you this fall.

Drumroll please. "Joey" is pretty good. Now, the Matt LeBlanc spin-off was not the best comedy pilot I’ve ever seen, but it was certainly not the disaster so many of you feared it could be. And the biggest problem with the pilot was the totally miscast Ashley Scott as the married neighbor. That role is being rewritten and recast.

The series utterly relies on LeBlanc’s innate charm and viewers’ pre-existing affection for his daft alter-ego. But the smartest casting move was giving Joey a nephew (Paul Costanzo) who is super smart but not that savvy in the ways of the world. It’s a little bit of reverse of the Joey/Chandler friendship. And we all saw how well it worked out when they gave a Frasier a brother who was more Frasier than Frasier.

Once again the team I said I was rooting for on "The Amazing Race 5" (Tuesday, CBS, 10 p.m.) — internet dating couple Bob and Joyce — was eliminated. Therefore let’s try a little bit of reverse psychology here. Go Lance and Marshall. You guys are the best.

Executive producer Ryan Murphy has not forgotten his former cast members. Leslie Bibb, who played Brooke on Murphy’s "Popular" and was the intern never seen again on "ER," will guest star on "Nip/Tuck" (Tuesday, FX, 10 p.m.) as a model who needs plastic surgery after being attacked. "Amish in the City" (Wednesday, UPN, 8 p.m.) is a huge hit for UPN. I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch it. But if you tell me I should, I promise to at least watch one episode.

Please Ashlee, don’t go. Now that "The Ashlee Simpson Show" (Wednesday, MTV, 10:30 p.m.) is having its first season finale, I’d like to make a personal plea to MTV for a second season of my new favorite show of the summer. Discussion topic: How upsetting is it to Nick that not only is his wife more famous that he is, but her younger sister is too. Discuss.

Why on earth should you watch "Miss Teen U.S.A. Pageant" (Friday, NBC, 9 p.m.)? Because J.C. Chasez, my favorite *N Sync member, will perform. Justin got all the glory, we need to support J.C.

I will miss "The Jury" (Friday, FOX, 9 p.m.) for many reasons, but most of all because it was a great chance to see so many stars of "Homicide" again. Last week the fabulous Andre Braugher , Detective Frank Pembleton, played a judge. This week Zelijko Ivanek (quick name a show he hasn’t been on) will guest star as a psychiatrist who had an affair with a patient. By the way, Braugher is starring in the FX pilot "Thief." Let’s hope it does for him what "The Shield" did for Michael Chiklis.

"The 4400" concludes its run this Sunday at 9 p.m. on USA. For those of you who have missed this fabulous sci-fi series, you can catch up in a marathon beginning at 4 p.m. Also I keep hearing the buzz that "The 4400" will be back in the form of a series.

Riddle me this: Is it possible to watch an episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (Sunday, ABC, 9 p.m.) and not cry.

Sarah Wynter returns to "The Dead Zone" this Sunday at 10 p.m. on USA. She’ll also be back for the two-part finale on Aug. 22. Robert Iler, Anthony on "The Sopranos," also guest stars on this week’s episode as a high school troublemaker. When I interviewed Iler at the start of "The Sopranos" season, he told me he would love to guest star on "The O.C." Ryan and Anthony, Jr. in a fistfight Orange County style. Now that would be some good times.