Never fear, my fellow Life superfans. Note how the title of this post states that series star Adam Arkin, who plays endearing white-collar ex-con Ted Early on NBC’s dramedy gem, is moonlighting on — not moving to — the FX biker-gang series Sons of Anarchy during its upcoming second season. Since both shows are high on my Must Watch Every Episode list, this is great news to me.

E! Online reports that Arkin will play a character on SOA who couldn’t be much more different from sweetie pie Ted. The role will find him portraying a white supremacist who wanders into Sam Crow territory to open a store, which you can bet will actually be a cover for activities far shadier than the entrepreneur will initially let on.

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Season Five of FX’s firefighter dramedy Rescue Me finally kicks off tomorrow night, April 7, at 10pm ET with the premiere “Baptism.”

Onboard as the central guest star is Family Ties and Spin City icon Michael J. Fox, who plays Janet’s latest man-friend and the predictable root of much consternation for Tommy, who’s still dealing with his father Michael’s (Charles Durning) death in the fourth-season finale “Yaz.”

Follow the jump for a few preview photos of the season opener featuring the show’s very special newcomer. The best thing of all? Fans have 22 fifth-season episodes, extending into September six months from now, to enjoy once Rescue Me is officially back in action. Kinda makes the 19-month wait worth it.

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Season Five cast photos for Rescue Me are out and they are nice. Love the imagery, love the poses, and, most of all, love the cast. Large and in charge.

As fans probably know by now, Denis Leary’s FDNY firefighter dramedy returns to FX on Tuesday, April 7, at 10pm ET with the season premiere “Baptism.” It’s been a long, hard, bone-dry spell since the last new episode, the fourth-season finale “Yaz,” aired on September 12, 2007.

Of course, we had the minisode series last July and August to tide us over, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The upside to the whole dearth of Rescue Me, then, is that the fifth season includes 22 episodes total instead of the customary shorter cable run of just 13.

Better still, the series has already been renewed for a sixth season of 18 more episodes. Together, that sorta makes up for the ultra long hiatus due to the 2007–2008 writers strike.

Now follow the jump for those smokin’ cast photos. Wish I could buy a few in poster format.

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Why is this man smiling so darn hard? Because he just heard the great news. Not only has FX announced the April 7 premiere date for the fifth season of his smokin’ series Rescue Me, but also the network’s order for a sixth season of 18 hot episodes.

Also revealed in the press release is the launch of star Denis Leary’s 11-City live Rescue Me Comedy Tour, which will stop by New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, April 2, to benefit The Leary Firefighters Foundation and present a screening of Rescue Me’s Season Five premiere. The tour will also feature performances by Leary and his fellow comedians and Rescue Me co-stars Adam Ferrara and Lenny Clarke, as well as other stand-up comics.

Fans can purchase premium VIP tickets and packages for the comedy tour through The Leary Firefighters Foundation at learyfirefighters.org or by calling 212-343-0240. Visit denisleary.com for a full comedy tour schedule.

So, mark those calendars! Season Five of Rescue Me will kick off at 10pm EST on April 7 with the first of 22 scheduled episodes. Check out the show’s 2007 fun minisode series before the big launch day.

Comedy fans have a whole lotta options tonight because no less than three shows — two sitcoms and a dramedy — return with new episodes for a new year. Here’s a brief rundown, in broadcast order:

Scrubs
My Jerks/My Last Words

On the eighth-season and ABC premiere, NBC’s former long-running staple gets a new boss in the form of Friends and Dirt alumna Courteney Cox, who ends up not being as pretty as that famous face is. In addition to dealing with Sacred Heart’s latest chief of medicine, J.D. must also cope with the hospital’s screwiest group of interns ever, while Carla does her best to keep Elliott’s enormous sense of self-worth from ballooning too much.

Immediately afterwards on “My Last Words,” the Sacred Heart bunch begins to suspect Dr. Maddox’s (Cox) real nature, even as J.D. and Turk put their heads together to help out a dying patient. The big guest star, at least to me, is former A Different World cast member Glynn Turman. [9pm and 9:30pm, ABC]

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It’s been a while since viewers were forced to say goodbye to The CW sitcom Aliens in America, but fans of series star Adhir Kalyan (pictured at right in the photo with Aliens co-star Dan Byrd), also known as Muslim exchange student Raja Musharaff on the series, have a reason to get happy early in the New Year.

Next week, the actor debuts on the FX dramedy Nip/Tuck, which resumes its fifth season — after almost a year away! — with the midseason premiere “Ronnie Chase.” The big event takes place at 10pm EST on Tuesday, January 6.

Kalyan plays Dr. Raj this time, and you can preview his appearance in the short behind-the-scenes video after the jump. He’s looking good as a doctor, although who knows how long he’ll survive around “challenging” — to say the least — plastic surgeons Sean and Christian.

Incidentally, the South African actor also plays the character Sanjay in the upcoming Kevin James (Hitch, The King of Queens) comedy flick Paul Blart: Mall Cop, which I’m really looking forward to seeing for some reason. (It must be all those billboards I passed by while holiday shopping…)

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Tomorrow is a good day for fans of comedy series on basic cable: DVD sets for ABC Family’s Greek, FX’s Nip/Tuck, and TBS’ 10 Items or Less all hit retail outlets on December 30.

Well, 10 Items or Less was actually released last Saturday, December 27, but people can still get in on the special reduced prices most stores are offering to lure buyers.

Details about the boxed sets follow.

10 Items or Less — Seasons One and Two

Discs: 2
Episodes: 13
Languages: English, Closed Captioned
List Price: $29.95
Extras: A Look Behind-the-Scenes, Coffee Break Blooper Reel, Internet Viral Videos: Choking and Apology, Notes from the Casting Couch

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Season Four of FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes to an end at 10pm EST tonight with another typically wacky episode, this one called “Nightman Cometh.”

It’s all about Charlie, who, with the rest of the gang’s help, puts on a musical production based on his song named “Nightman.”

Get an advance peek at the super-cheesy rock opera in the three preview clips after the jump, two featuring a most eye-catching costume worn by Dennis.

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Tina Fey & Company Are Back!

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Thursday, October 30 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

My Name Is Earl — Little Bad Voodoo Brother
Earl plans a Halloween party for Joy’s two sons, and Randy gets the idea that Catalina’s young cousin is capable of dark magic.
[8pm-8:30pm | NBC]

Ugly Betty — Ugly Berry
Kimmie (Lindsay Lohan) is still on hand and at odds with Betty, Hilda spreads the word about her shop, Ignacio prepares to vote for the first time as an American citizen, and Wilhelmina and Daniel disagree about a potential new hire. Model Adriana Lima has a cameo, and Ralph Macchio (My Cousin Vinny, The Karate Kid) guest stars as Archie Rodriguez.
[8pm-9pm | ABC | Trailer]

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Lindsay Lohan Returns on Ugly Betty

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Thursday, October 23 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

My Name Is Earl — Quit Your Snitchin’
Earl must decide whether reporting the theft of Randy’s birthday present to the police is worth listening to Joy go on and on about him being a snitch.
[8pm-8:30pm | NBC]

Ugly Betty — Granny Pants
Kimmie (Lindsay Lohan) asks Betty to help her find a job, Justin auditions for a Broadway musical, and Daniel tries a dating service.
[8pm-9pm | ABC | Sneak Peek]

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