Pushing Daisies may be officially over on ABC, but fans should be happy to learn that series star Chi McBride has a new gig lined up for the 2009—2010 season on the upcoming Fox action series Human Target.

Based on the popular DC Comics graphic novel, Human Target revolves around Christopher Chance (Mark Valley, Fringe), a unique private contractor and security guard. When there’s an unusual or imminent threat that can’t be solved through “normal” means of protection, clients hire Chance to completely integrate himself into their lives to become the human target. Assisting Chance on each job are his business partner Winston (McBride) and his hired gun Guerrero (Jackie Earle Haley, Watchmen).

One of the show’s executive producers is Joseph McGinty Nichol, better known as McG, who occupies the same role on NBC’s dear and beloved Chuck. And that’s not the only Chuck connection, either, because one-time Buy More visitor Tricia Helfer also guests on the pilot episode of McG’s latest series.

Check out the four preview videos after the jump to see her, McBride, and the rest of Human Target’s cast in action. I have a feeling I’m really going to enjoy this midseason show during the 13-episode run that starts in January.

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It looks like Married… with Children’s Al Bundy — or at least Ed O’Neill, the actor who played him — is heading back to broadcast TV.

Reports indicate the ABC has picked up its first series of the 2009–2010 season unusually early, and it’s Twentieth Century Fox TV’s Modern Family. Formerly called My American Family, the ensemble project is from writers and producers Steve Levitan (Back to You, Just Shoot Me!, Wings) and Chris Lloyd (Back to You, Frasier, The Golden Girls).

According to Variety, the show “scored a great response” during pilot screenings, “giving the net reason to go ahead now and pick up 13 episodes for fall.” Moreover, despite ABC’s continuing determination to air some dreadfully unfunny supposed sitcoms — I’m primarily talking about you, Surviving Suburbia! — the network “hopes the early series order sends a message as it heads into the upfronts that the net is making comedy a priority.”

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Am I a happy TV comedy fan right now or what?!

USA Network officially announced some great news today with a press release detailing its 14-episode pickup of White Collar, an original dramedy filmed on location in New York and starring Chuck’s Bryce Larkin, better known in real life as actor Matthew Bomer (pictured at right above, with Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski).

Says USA’s Executive Vice President of Original Scripted Programming Jackie de Crinis: “‘White Collar’ is the perfect complement in our hot summer line up of character-driven originals that continue to draw loyal audiences to USA Network. The strength of the show’s lead characters, smart writing and crisp direction are key elements that we believe are the tentpoles of another compelling series.”

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I’ve been checking out the promos and sneak peeks for ABC’s latest comedy called In the Motherhood, which premieres this Thursday, March 26, at 8pm EST. I’m not sure this one is gonna float my boat.

Based on a fairly well-known Web series of the same name helmed by Leah Remini (The King of Queens), Jenny McCarthy (Two and a Half Men), and Chelsea Handler (Chelsea Lately), the television version stars Will & Grace’s mega talented Megan Mullally and Curb Your Enthusiasm’s equally gifted Cheryl Hines as Rosemary and Jane, respectively.

Along with Emily (Worst Week’s Jessica St. Clair), the show’s three central characters are supposed to be instantly familiar mother figures everyone has encountered at one time or another. Rosemary is one of those lackadaisical moms more interested in her personal life than that of her child, Jane is a divorced career mom of two trying to keep it all together, and Emily considers herself a — and I quote — “model stay-at-home-super-mom.”

These personality types definitely don’t resemble any of the women from the neighborhood where I grew up, but I guess (and I’m sure ABC hopes) enough viewers will “get” them to make the show a success. As for me, I’m going to have to sample an episode or three before I’ll know whether or not In the Motherhood will be a regular watch on my TV schedule.

Follow the jump to sample a trio of sneak peeks at the series and make up your own mind about how tasty (or not) this particular comedy looks.

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And I can’t wait to visit. Just by checking out a few video clips, I think I’m going to like ABC’s upcoming single-camera sitcom Better Off Ted, which is sort of but not quite like NBC’s The Office.

The instantly recognizable workplace series — thanks to its quirky premise — stars Jay Harrington (Private Practice, Desperate Housewives) as Ted, the lucky guy who manages the Research and Development division at a morally questionable company called Veridian Dynamics. If thoughts of Eureka’s zany and often hazardous Global Dynamics immediately cross your mind upon hearing that name, join the party.

Ted is successful at his job, where the motto is that any and every invention is achievable, no matter how bizarre or unorthodox. ABC throws out examples like cow-less meat grown in a test tube and pumpkins that also double as weapons of mass destruction to give us an idea of what to expect.

Single father Ted loves his job, as well, and I bet his adorable seven-year-old daughter Rose (Isabella Acres, The Mentalist) does, too. I know I would if I were her. However, it’s because of his status as a parent that Ted eventually begins having doubts about Veridian’s dubious practices.

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Kelsey Grammer’s previously reported ABC sitcom pilot Roman’s Empire is no more after the network failed to move forward with it. No worries, though, because now he’s been given another chance to return to the tube with a second, currently untitled ABC comedy pilot.

The latest project stars Grammer as a wealthy businessman derailed by a downsizing that leaves him without his high-power job. As a result, he finds himself with lots more time to hang out with his family.

Fingers crossed the four-time Frasier Emmy winner has better luck with this potential series, although I’d watch him in just about anything.

Neil Flynn, the versatile actor who plays the notoriously nameless Janitor on Scrubs, has just landed a starring role in Patricia Heaton’s forthcoming ABC sitcom pilot called The Middle.

Flynn will play the husband of Heaton’s character, both middle-class parents who live in middle America and struggle to bring their three children up properly. Obviously, the family comedy’s title is extremely accurate, and the lead pairing sounds like a promising match.

I hope this one makes it through the pilot process for a pickup and fares better than Heaton’s most recent sitcom, Back to You on cancel-em-quick Fox.

If you’re a big fan of Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel, NBC has something right up your alley tonight. At 8pm EST, the network will air the series premiere of its new Punk’d-style prank reality show Howie Do It. Cute title.

I happen to like Mandel quite a lot, but after checking out the previews, this series seems a bit too obvious to me. There’s just a certain sense of spontaneity and genuine surprise missing that’s been replaced with what looks like sheer silliness instead.

But, that’s just me. Take a look at the four sneak peeks after the jump and judge for yourself.

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Yeah, the U.S. adaptation was a flaming disaster, but I loved the original British version of the dysfunctional-relationship sitcom Coupling.

Tonight, New Zealand-born English actress Gina Bellman, one of the stars of that Britcom (she played self-obsessed Jane Christie), as well as the 2007 chiller Jekyll, makes her debut in the series premiere of TNT’s new crime drama Leverage.

The show revolves around a group of technologically capable criminals, led by Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, who steal from other rich and/or corrupt criminals who dare to prey on others. If you’re thinking Robin Hood, you’re spot on.

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The CW has a new hourlong dramedy debuting tonight called Easy Money, and I bet you haven’t heard about it since the network seems to be giving it zero promotion. Honestly, is that how you treat a series starring three-time Emmy-winning Roseanne alumna Laurie Metcalf? I think not. Or maybe it’s just that the show doesn’t star a whole bunch of teenagers (thank goodness).

Brought to us by some of the same people who gave the world The Sopranos and Northern Exposure — nice pedigree! — the series revolves around a group of loan sharks led by Metcalf’s Bobette Buffkin, a competent businesswoman who runs the quick-cash company Prestige Payday Loans in the Southwest.

All is wonderful in their neck of the woods, until competitors arrive in town and Bobette’s middle son Morgan (Jeff Hephner of The O.C.) becomes responsible for keeping the cool. That’s easier said than done, however, since Morgan is more concerned about escaping to a better, less illegal life with a graduate student named Julia Miller (Marsha Thomason of Lost).

Check out a trailer for the series after the jump to see if the newcomer might float your boat.

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