Prison Break Docks at the Port of Rapa

Michael Rapaport (My Name Is Earl) has stepped out of his comedy boots and into his drama sneakers. According to the Hollywood Reporter:

On the 20th Century Fox TV-produced “Prison Break,” Rapaport will play a government agent who has an interesting offer for Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and his brother (Dominic Purcell). Production on the upcoming fourth season begins this month in Los Angeles.

“Interesting offer” is insider code for, “that script hasn’t been written yet.”

Inkubate

Fox Broadcasting and sister studio 20th Century Fox Television announce the creation of “Fox Inkubation,” a a new department focused entirely on animation. We’ve lured Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s executive, Jennifer Howell, to run it and find the next cartoon blockbuster.

Writer/animators will receive funding to produce a set of completed 2-minute shorts. If the material shows promise, they will advance through the production process to make more. They may even be teamed with an experienced producer to bring the idea to pilot and ultimately series. There’s already plans to syndicate and viral market these shorts.

Les Cousins Dangereux

One of the production companies responsible for “Sit Down, Shut Up” is called Tantamount, which is actuallty Mitch Hurwitz’s.

You may also remember that name from Arrested — Tantamount Studios was where Maeby Fünke served as the “third youngest movie executive in Hollywood.”

Terminator is Casting?

At least according to Ask Ausiello:

The show is hunting for a couple of new regulars: Becky, a hot teenaged hipster, and Catherine, an unusually earthy business bigwig in her early forties. Which leads me to believe that young John is about to get a girlfriend. Because of the new teenager, I mean, not the 40-year-old female Bill Gates. Although, now that I mention it, he does have some mother issues.

UPDATE: Since Fox hasn’t officially announced this, we merely linked to the rumors…

Fans Play Journalists

Our friends at Dollverse have been manning the phones (and emails) to investigate what the real premiere date of Dollhouse will be. Are they right or does the HR have it? Fall or mid-season?

One more week and we’ll all have confirmation, people!

Fox announces its pickups and new schedule on Thursday, May 15th at 4pm EST.

We’ll point you to the official Fox schedule and show previews once we’ve got the webpage ready.

Let the Speculation Begin

While we have heard various grumblings, the new Fox schedule is not set in stone yet. But here is what the HR is reporting about pickups:

Over at Fox, J.J. Abrams “Fringe” looks like a lock after an enthusiastic response from the network’s brass during the weekend. Fox already has given its blessing for staffing to begin on the Warner Bros. TV-produced sci-fi drama.

“Fringe,” which has the scope of Abrams’ “Lost,” is rumored for a fall launch as a key weapon in Fox’s effort to shake off its fourth-quarter ratings blues. It could be paired with “Prison Break” or “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”

Fox’s other high-profile new entry, Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse,” which is still in production, is eyed for midseason. Meanwhile, the Bernie Mac starrer “Starting Under,” which also was delivered to the network during the weekend, looks good to join Fox’s multicamera comedies “Back to You” and ” ‘Til Death.”

Also set to be hot at Fox are comedies “Outnumbered” and “Spaced.”

Inter-Show Nerd Fight

IGN TV: With Joss Whedon coming to FOX with Dollhouse, is there a little part of you that thinks he’s coming to take Summer Glau back?

Josh Friedman, EP of Terminator: (laughs) Yes! I will say that some of my more uncomfortable moments as executive producer of this show involve me, Joss Whedon, and Summer Glau at Comic-Con standing together. I felt like I’d gotten into the middle of a very intense relationship that I shouldn’t be a part of. So I just had to walk away.

And referring to the other guys with new potential shows at Fox (Whedon, JJ Abrams, Ron Moore, Shawn Ryan):

Josh Friedman: Those guys, certainly more than I do, have a brand that brings with it a group of fans. I only hope that a year from now we will all be grouped together on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Though I’ll be the guy in the back bringing coffee. “Not Pictured: Josh Friedman.”

She’s the One with the Big Heart

Megan Dodds has been cast as the female lead in Paul Attanasio’s “Courtroom K,” a comedic drama set in a Milwaukee Superior Court that revolves around a judge, a prosecutor and a big-hearted public defender (Dodds). The Russo Brothers direct the pilot.

The Nine-Figure Range Man

“Cleveland” is in development now. From Variety:

“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane has sealed an overall deal with 20th Century Fox TV, keeping him in business with the studio through 2012.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but should MacFarlane’s properties, which also include “American Dad” and upcoming “Family Guy” spinoff “The Cleveland Show,” hit all their financial goals, the value of the pact could ultimately enter the nine-figure range.

I Can Do That

Think you’ve got the chops to write the next Simpsons, Seinfeld or Friends*? The New York Television Festival and Fox Broadcasting Company invite you to enter your original comedy TV pilot for the opportunity to win $25,000 and a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Company.

*Remember: Matt Groening and Jim Brooks and Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David and Marta Kauffman and David Crane are all very rich people.

Eligibility, rules, deadlines and submission info are all here.