In an effort to spice up “The Young and the Restless” new headwriter Hogan Sheffer has recently killed off characters David and Sabrina to make way for new blood on the show.

The first of that new blood is an old familiar face to many prime time views. Michael Gross from the “new classic” NBC series “Family Ties” is joining the show as River Baldwin.

Gross’ first appearance will be on the August 15th episode of the show.

NBC and Dick Wolf are teaming up for a new project called “Lost and Found”.

The network is giving Wolf a cast-contingent pilot order for the drama about a slightly quirky female homicide detective who has a tendency to use “outside-the-box” techniques to find the identities of people.

Sounds like “Without a Trace” meets “Monk” to me.

If the pilot gets picked up we could see this on the air as early as the 2009 – 2010 season. OR – we could never hear about it again…who knows.

On Thursday Cartoon Network announced the production of 2 animated features and a live action film based on comic book properties.

The two animated films will be based on Image Comics properties, “Firebreather” and “The Mice Templar”. “Firebreather” follows the adventures of an awkward teen who just happens to be half human, half dragon.

“Mice Templar” follows the story of a young mouse that uncovers a prophecy to reunite a long forgotten order of mice.

The live action film will be based on “The Vanishers” which is the story of two fifth-graders who go on adventures through time.

Expect more interesting TV related announcements throughout the weekend from the San Diego Comi-con.

Fox is very enthusiastic about a new series from the creator of “Nip/Tuck” called “Glee”. “Tuck” creator Ryan Murphy sold the project to Fox and they are now moving forward on the pilot and 4 scripts for the series immediately.

We might even see the show as early as next year. The plot of the series centers around the “cut throat” world of high school glee clubs. Fox feels the show may be compatible with other musical themed shows like “American Idol”, but hasn’t officially announced a pairing just yet.

We’ll have more information about the project as it becomes available.

More details have been released about the upcoming Amy Poehler based sitcom coming to NBC from the same producing team as the US version of “The Office”.

Poehler’s new sitcom will be shot in the same style as “The Office” but it will not be in any way related to the show. The spin-off that has been long rumored is still in development and will be going ahead as well.

So if the Poehler show is successful, and the Office spin-off actually makes it to air – we’ll have 3 shows on at once shot in the same format. Is it just me, or could that be too much of a good thing?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

It’s happening all over again.

Joss Whedon fans may remember a little show called “Firefly”. After the pilot of that show was finished, Fox Executives didn’t think it had enough punch…or didn’t understand it…or SOMETHING…and they ordered that a new pilot be produced.

It was.

“Firefly” then went on to be one of the most mishandled shows in the history of television, and quickly found itself on the chopping block.

Cut to 2008, and Joss Whedon is working on a show for Fox again. This one is called “Dollhouse” and after Fox executives saw the pilot they either didn’t think it had enough punch…didn’t understand it…(you get the idea)…

Bottom line is, Dollhouse is getting a new pilot. Dollhouse is going to be a mid-season replacement show…and base soley on the history of Fox and how they handle shows like this…it’s going to be a miracle if Dollhouse makes it past the first season.

Aint It Cool News has some information about the future of Late Night on NBC.

According to the report Jimmy Fallon will soon begin hosting his own “Late Night” talk show on NBC.com to warm up for his eventual take over of “Late Night” once Conan O’Brien leaves the show in 2009.

It looks like Conan will leave “Late Night” in Feb. of 2009, and Jimmy will take over in March.

In June of 2009, Jay Leno will leave “The Tonight Show” and Conan O’Brien will take over after his departure.

Where Leno will show up after that is unknown – but my guess is that it’ll be somewhere right around 10:35 CST.

Well, she may not be returning to “The Dark Knight”, but Katie Holmes will be making her way onto the small screen this fall according to TV Guide.

ABC is hoping to grab a few viewers for the struggling “Eli Stone” by having Mrs. Cruise guest star on the series for at least one episode.

…and apparently she’s going to “sing and dance” in the episode. So…um…whoo hoo?

Something tells me that NBC’s decision to ensure Conan the “Tonight Show” in 2009 was a mistake. Jay Leno seems to be at the top of his game…and his ratings are still killer.

NBC has stated more than once that they would like to keep Jay Leno with the network in some capacity after they kicked him out of Johnny’s chair (that’s right – it’s STILL Johnny’s chair).

Leno has now officially gone on record as saying that he IS NOT staying with NBC…but he isn’t retiring either.

Chances are either ABC or FOX is going to get him, and he’s going to kick Conan’s ass in 2009.

Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

We’ve heard quite about the upcoming “Office” spin-off from producers Greg Daniels and Mike “Mose” Schur. First it was going to share characters, then it wasn’t going to share characters…NOW – it’s not even happening.

Instead of an “Office” spin-off the producers are creating a new, unrelated show, which will star Amy Poehler and Aziz Ansari. That will put Poehler on Thursday nights along side her former co-anchor Tina Fey.

There is no title or premise information just yet…and for all we know they don’t even have them yet.

I’m very disappointed my John Hodgeman/Ed Helms led “Office” spin-off isn’t happening. Sure, I just made it up – but STILL – someone could have read it and ran with it…I wouldn’t have minded.