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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Any ‘Til Death fans out there? If so, have I got some wonderful news for you and you alone.

The Futon Critic reports the sitcom is returning to Fox for a summer run. Sure, the episodes will only be repeats, but that’s much better than the nothing fans have received since way back on October 8, 2008, when Brad Garrett and his co-stars Joely Fisher and J.B. Smoove were suddenly and swiftly yanked from the network’s lineup. Ratings may have had a little something to do with that.

So, if you’ve been missing the Starks and their new friend Kenny, mark your calendar for the encore return date Sunday, July 5. The series will air at 7pm ET at least throughout August, unless something else changes between now and then, which you never know when it comes to this show.

Season Four of ‘Til Death arrives this fall, where the show will air on Fridays at 8:30pm ET, immediately before — wait for it! — the science-fiction drama Dollhouse. Really.

I’m at a loss for words to sum up how unbelievably incompatible that matchup is, but at least the sitcom will be preceded by another comedy at 8pm, the newcomer Brothers.

Reports this past week indicate two new sitcoms will have a home on Fox during the 2009–2010 season and, wouldn’t you know, both sound infinitely better than ‘Til Death.

News of a pickup for the single-camera comedy Sons of Tucson broke first, on Tuesday, May 12, although the network won’t officially announce its newcomers until the broadcast networks’ upfront presentations next week.

Sons focuses on three brothers (Davis Cleveland, Frank Dolce, and Troy Gentile) who hire a hustler, played by Reaper’s Tyler Labine, to pose as their wealthy father while the real deal is in prison for a white-collar boo boo.

Word of a second comedy pickup for the multi-camera sitcom Brothers came Friday, May 15. The series scored a 13-episode order to tell viewers about a retired NFL football star who returns to his Houston hometown in order to become close to his family, including his brother confined to a wheelchair.

Fox NFL Sunday commentator and real-life former NFL player Michael Strahan plays the first brother, while always entertaining Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (Ed, Veronica’s Closet, The John Larroquette Show), who’s pictured above and wheelchair-bound in real life following a 2001 car accident, plays the second sibling. Carl Weathers (In the Heat of the Night, Street Justice), CCH Pounder (The Shield, ER), and Colton Dunn (MADtv) round out the fine cast.

Here’s a stunner of sorts.

The Brad Garrett/Joely Fisher sitcom ‘Til Death has been off the air since October 8 of last year, with not a word about a return date. This caused many industry watchers to believe the likelihood of the show returning was slim to none, especially since just seven episodes of ‘Til Death have aired thus far during its current third season, three of which were holdovers from the writers strike-shortened second season.

Yet, Fox recently announced at the Television Critics Association Press Tour currently underway that the network has renewed the comedy for not just a fourth season, but a full fourth season with 22 episodes. Why, you ask, given its lengthy absence, not to mention poor average ratings of about 4 million total viewers, give or take a few thousand?

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Andy Richter may not be controlling the universe anymore nowadays, but he is guest starring on the hit Fox crime procedural Bones when it returns to begin the second half of its fourth season at 8pm EST on January 15.

The episode is called “Double Trouble in the Panhandle,” and the central case — someone offs conjoined female twins — requires Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to go undercover at a circus to find the killer(s). Their gig? A knife thrower and his assistant.

Richter plays Henry Simon, ringmaster of the Circus of Wonders and probably a potential suspect. I wonder if he done it.

Yes or no, check out a few photos from the episode after the jump (click each image for the larger version). And, if you’re an established Bones fan, note that the new Thursdays at 8pm time slot differs from the fall scheduling of Wednesdays at 8pm.

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It’s a nice gig if you can get it, and this year, two extremely talented and phenomenally popular entertainers with rhyming names (which I’d never noticed before) — Tyler Perry and Halle Berry — have.

Fox announced earlier this week that Perry and Oscar winner Berry will share hosting duties during the network’s broadcast of the 40th NAACP Image Awards next year. The ceremony annually honors individuals who champion and further diversity in the arts.

Berry has received an impressive four Image Awards in the past, while Perry has been nominated numerous times and has seen his TBS sitcom House of Payne and his feature film Why Did I Get Married? earn outstanding series and acting honors.

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The announcement was made today: Fox has canceled the Saturday-night sketch-comedy series MadTV after 14 seasons and reportedly several dodged cancellations in recent years. As a result of the development, the current season will be MadTV’s last on Fox.

If you’re a fan of the show, however, there is a little hope. According to The Live Feed, MadTV co-creator David Salzman intends to seek a new home for the series on cable television or elsewhere, an alternative strategy to save TV shows that is sometimes successful, as evidenced by the migration of NBC’s critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights to DirecTV this season, for example.

Salzman indicates several potential outlets have already indicated interest in acquiring MadTV, despite Fox’s belief that the series is too expensive to produce for the low ratings it earns. Perhaps a new home will make a difference.

ABC Prefers Pushing Daisies Over Half-Hour Presidential Specials

Network foregoes Barack Obama broadcast

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

Pushing Daisies — Dim Sum Lose Some
While Emerson’s latest murder case at a dim sum restaurant leads to a reunion with a polygamist’s widow named Simone (Christine Adams), Ned meets a strange man (Stephen Root) who not only claims to be an old friend and colleague of his father, but also wants Ned to help find him.
[8pm-9pm | ABC | Trailer]

The New Adventures of Old Christine — Tie Me Up, Don’t Tie Me Down
The big green monster has Barb and Christine at each other’s throats again when their dates with two guys from a video store have very different outcomes: one leads to a second date and the other one doesn’t. Christine’s date is played by Tim DeKay, Bizarro Jerry on Seinfeld.
[8:30pm-9pm | CBS | SPECIAL TIME]

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It looks like Eddie Stark (Brad Garrett) has a brother on Fox’s ‘Til Death, and according to Entertainment Weekly, not only is he gay, but he’ll be played by Broadway regular Nathan Lane during a November Sweeps episode.

The installment is currently set to air November 18, and the entertainment site clarifies: “Garrett’s Eddie gets a visit from his bro, who’s in a bit of a funk because his life partner of many years has dumped him. The sibs end up bonding over their mutual dependence on their spouses.”

Sounds like typical ‘Til Death fodder that fans of the sitcom will enjoy. Now, all of those still missing the absent Woodcocks are another matter…

David Arquette Guest Stars on Pushing Daisies

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

The New Adventures of Old Christine — Everyone Says I Love You Except Ritchie
When Ritchie stops telling Christine he loves her, she decides to have another baby to love her like her son used to. What a great reason to get pregnant again! (Not!)
[8pm-8:30pm | CBS]

Pushing Daisies — Frescorts
David Arquette guest stars as Randy Mann (Get it? He’s a randy man…), the antisocial taxidermy enthusiast who also happens to be the prime suspect in the murder of his roommate, a paid escort. Also, Emerson’s mother (Debra Mooney), a well-known private investigator, shows up unexpectedly.
[8pm-9pm | ABC]

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