ABC PICKS UP PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR FULL SEASON

ABC has ordered the “back nine” for the sophomore Shonda Rhimes doctor drama, which was spun off from Grey’s Anatomy last season but shortened to just nine episodes due to the writer’s strike.  Private Practice stars Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs and Amy Brenneman.

Uncle Mitch’s Take: “I got me three appointments with Kate Walsh for prostate exams next week.”

Although this is slated to be ER‘s final season, the show is doing so well in the ratings against freshman shows Life on Mars and The Eleventh Hour, that NBC is thinking of tacking on three more episodes to round out its season order to a full 22 from 19.

Uncle Mitch’s Take: “Makes no nevermind to me.  I stopped watching when George Clooney left to go do Batman & Robin.”
 

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer and current How I Met Your Mother actress Alyson Hannigan, 34, is expecting her first child with husband, Alexis Denisof, 42, also formerly of Buffy. 

Uncle Mitch’s Take: “Congrats to the happy couple.  But if that kid comes out all Dark Willow-y, I’m gonna stake it right then and there.”

Former The View co-host Rosie O’Donnell is returning to TV in a Lifetime movie titled America.  The TV film, which O’Donnell will star in and executive produce, concerns the struggles of a 16-year-old boy named America in the foster care system.  O’Donnell will portray America’s therapist.

Uncle Mitch’s Take: “Kid wouldn’t have had any struggles if his name were Sue.”

BILL O’REILLY RE-UPS WITH FOX

Fox News personality and host of The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly, has just signed a multi-year deal at $10 million per to continue with the cable network.  Reilly had this comment: “…if I
retired, I know my friends in the elite media would miss me
greatly.”

Uncle Mitch’s Take: “If I would’ve known they were giving out that kinda dough for being an a-hole, I’d be friggin’ Richard Branson by now.”