NEWS: Weil, Carlson, CA Tax Credits, Zucker, Seganti

ANYONE BUT ME Anything But Unpopular with 2.2M Views, GILMORE GIRLS Star Joining Cast
The show has racked up a total of 2.2 million views across all of its distribution partners, including over 560,000 views on Blip.tv since December — making it the most popular drama in the company’s history. Liza Weil, memorable to GILMORE GIRLS fans as Rory's nemesis Paris Geller, will begin a multi-episode arc this February as pregnant psychiatrist Dr. Glass.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Star Nicole Pacent teased this casting on a recent episode of WE LOVE SOAPS TV.

UGLY BETTY leaves lasting legacy: Move from LA to NYC led to new CA tax credit
Reports Nikki Finke: "The show will be remembered for more than just a fashion storyline, or a remake of a Colombian telenovela. Instead, UGLY BETTY's 2008 move from LA to Gotham for New York's tax breaks prompted the California state legislature to finally offer $500 million in new tax credits to help stop runaway showbiz production. Even though the first credits aren't applicable until 2011, applications are already flying out the door. That's because the so-called UGLY BETTY law aimed at big movie productions with budgets up to $75 million, new TV series willing to relocate to California, and independent films with budgets up to $10 million. The credit, for up to 25% of production budgets spent in the state, is capped at $100 million a year. This, combined with the Los Angeles City Council's new business tax breaks, could persuade Hollywood to start filming close to home again."

Laura Leighton, Ashley Benson, Nia Peeples series picked up by ABC Family
The Warner Horizon-produced LIARS, which was originally picked up to pilot, is based on Sara Shepard's books. It follows four estranged best friends (Lucy Hale, Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell) who are reunited one year after their best friend and queen bee of the group, Alison, goes missing -- only to discover they're receiving messages from an anonymous "A" who knows all their secrets.

Latin Pop Star Joins the Cast of 90210
Mexican pop star Diego Boneta is joining the cast of 90210, TVGuide.com is reporting. Boneta will play Javier, a young musician, in multiple episodes beginning in May. Javier has a fling with Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes), whose story line will become increasingly music-centric when she joins an all-girl band.

For high school students, thanks partly to GLEE, singing in a cappella groups is the new reality
For several years, attempts to form an a cappella group at Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury fell flat. Then the television show GLEE, about a high school glee club, debuted.

"The kids saw the show last spring and we came back in the fall and suddenly I had all these kids," said Kim O’Keefe, who directs the school’s new, 32-member a cappella group, the Treble Makers. "GLEE is why the group is so big."

NIP/TUCK's Kelly Carlson meets with Congressman
Best known for her role as the sultry but disturbed Kimber Henry on the racy FX show NIP/TUCK Carlson walked into Rep. John Conyers Jr.'s (D-Mich.) office — and found the lawmaker “rocking out to [jazz legend John] Coltrane!” she told ITK at a dinner at Teatro Goldoni on K Street.

Apple's iPad may underwhelm Hollywood
The slim gadget that enables the computing functions of a laptop while also incorporating a full-color e-reader offers little that's unique for Hollywood. When it comes to video programing, the iPad, for now, is just another home for buying and watching TV shows and movies through the iTunes store.

Arianne Zucker returns from materity leave; Wildman back on DAYS too
Arianne Zucker (Nicole) is back from her maternity leave and on set filming this week. Her on-screen mom, Valerie Wildman (Fay) also taped on Monday, Jan. 25. Look for both to first air in March.

INTERVIEW: ATWT's Paolo Seganti on his new book, "The Tin Funnel"
"A lot of fans have already been asking me for months when this book's going to come out [in the States]. I was aiming for Christmas but it's a couple of months later than I was expecting. It's hopefully going to be out by Valentine's Day. It came out last year in September and has won a few awards already."