News Round-up

Kyle Chandler calls tonight's FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS finale "genius"
"It would be sad to see it end," the actor said in a phone chat from his California home before heading to the Alamo City. "We've formed quite a family these past three years. We and the children have grown up together."

Whether the series goes on or not, the third season's finale leaves fans in a good place. "What a genius job they did!" Chandler said. "It does wrap things up, but it also sets up all kinds of opportunities for the show to expand and bring in a whole set of new characters."

Tori Spelling will return to 90210 with Diablo Cody
Last night at a special event promoting the CW’s 90210, iF Magazine caught up with producer/writer Rebecca Rand Kirschner who gave us the exclusive scoop on what to expect with the arrival of Tori Spelling on the show, when she reprises her role as Donna later this season after her contract negotiations are finalized.

One of the biggest aspects of her arrival – she’ll be bringing Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody (who is a self-professed 90210 junkie) to share the screen with her during her first episode. Cody will play herself.

It's official: CBS axes SWINGTOWN
CBS president Nina Tassler kicked off the net's portion of press tour this morning by confirming the obvious: SWINGTOWN has been cancelled.

"We're not going back to SWINGTOWN," Tassler said. "At the end of the day the show was well executed, it was well received, the performances were great, the writing was great. It was a risk, we took it, and we're proud of it."

INTERVIEW: DAYS OF OUR LIVES' Blake Berris (Nick)
On his last scenes, which air tomorrow: "They were great. It was nice because as of a couple of months ago, the stakes have gotten higher and higher and this was the hearing, so jumping back into it for the last two days was really intense and emotional. It was a cathartic ending."

DAYS' Daniel and Chloe song
Singer/Songwriter Jd Webb’s song "Captured" will be played on the January 16 episode of DAYS OF OUR LIVES during a montage scene with Chloe (Nadia Bjorlin) and Daniel (Shawn Christian). As a songwriter for DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Jd has written and recorded numerous songs for the popular drama series including "Right Here," "If Only" and "I’ll Never Let Go." These songs and others are available on Jd’s album entitled, "Days of Our Lives," released in November of 2007.

CBS affiliate KDBC in El Paso may get dropped by Comcast
Unless a last-minute deal is reached (before Thursday at 4pm) between Comcast and KDBC TV in El Paso, Comcast subscribers in Doña Ana County will not be able to watch the CBS affiliate.

CORONATION STREET cross "mistake"
Producers of CORONATION STREET admit they made a mistake hiding a cross in the church in which they filmed a wedding scene for the soap opera.

ABC bumping UGLY BETTY this week
ABC will carry President Bush's speech and post-speech coverage from 8 to 8:15, then finish the half-hour with a SCRUBS from Tuesday, followed by another SCRUBS from Tuesday at 8:30, then GREY'S ANATOMY and PRIVATE PRACTICE as scheduled.

Ashley Jensen denies she's quitting UGLY BETTY
Jensen's rep says a report of her exit at the end of this season is "not true."

Former ATWT actress Kristina Sisco back to direct
Sisco, now Kristina Romero, played Abigail Williams on the soap earlier this decade. She directed an episode in November which will air on Thursday.

Frank Runyeon event: Hollywood vs Faith
Recent ALL MY CHILDREN guest star Frank Runyeon will highlight the teachings of St. Paul in "Hollywood vs. Faith" as he talks about the struggle to live faithfully in the media age. This event is open to the public, free of charge and begins at 3 p.m. It will be followed by refreshments in the church hall, 64 Pearl St.