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• Jan 30, 2010 12:44 PM ET
• by
  Adam Bryant

Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe, Brothers & Sisters

Calista Flockhart isn’t scaling back her role on Brothers & Sisters, the show’s executive producer tells TVGuide.com.

Rob Lowe to exit Brothers & Sisters, “in talks” for new ABC franchise

Soon after confirmation that Rob Lowe would depart the ABC family drama at the end of this season, a report surfaced that Flockhart, Lowe’s TV wife, will reduce her workload in Season 5. But David Marshall Grant, who was recently installed as Brothers & Sisters‘ showrunner, says Flockhart will be visible as ever.

“We are all expecting Calista to come back next season as a series regular, and she is,” Grant says. “We’re all expecting to do a great year with her next year.”

A representative from ABC echoed Grant’s sentiments, confirming Flockhart’s status as a series regular.

Brothers & Sisters makes showrunner switcheroo

Flockhart’s character, Kitty, is currently recovering from a battle against lymphoma, which ended with a risky bone marrow transplant. Kitty is now considering a run for political office.

As for Lowe — who reportedly asked to be let out of his contract because he felt his character, Senator Robert McCallister, was being underutilized — Grant says the writers are still contemplating the character’s exit strategy.

“We have a bunch of ideas on the table, of course, and right now we’re just leaving it open,” Grant says. “It could be anything. Right now, we’re just examining what would be the most exciting way to take us to the end of the season.”

See photos of the Brothers & Sisters cast

Lowe is in talks to headline a new ABC franchise, according to network president Steve McPherson. Brothers & Sisters airs Sundays at 10/9c on ABC.

Are you glad to hear that Flockhart isn’t going anywhere? How do you want to see Robert leave the show?

• Jan 31, 2010 09:12 AM ET
• by
  Adam Bryant

Calista Flockhart and Matthew Rhys, Brothers & Sisters

To make her political dreams come true, Brothers & Sisters‘ Kitty will need the full support of the Walker family.

But that doesn’t mean she’ll get it.

Brothers & Sisters boss says Flockhart will be as busy as ever

In Sunday’s episode (10/9c, ABC), Kitty (Calista Flockhart) polls the entire Walker clan about her plan to campaign for the soon-to-be-vacant senate seat left behind by her husband, Robert (Rob Lowe). Three guesses how that ends up.

“They all decide that they should take a vote like they used to do for family vacations,” executive producer David Marshall Grant tells TVGuide.com. “But Nora [Sally Field] decides that if it’s going to have meaning, it should be anonymous. So, it ends up that there’s one ‘No’ vote, and Kitty’s got to figure out who the ‘No’ vote is.”

Distracting Kitty from her mission will be Kevin (Matthew Rhys), who asks his big sister to join him at his high school reunion for moral support. “Facing high school is a challenge for him,” Grant says, adding that Kitty goes along to feel Kevin out about taking a job on her campaign staff.

See photos of the Brothers & Sisters cast

But Kevin has more on his mind. The episode will also reveal whether Kevin and Scotty’s surrogate responds to in vitro fertilization. Grant won’t say what happens with the possible pregnancy, but he suggests the prospect of fatherhood may change Kevin’s career goals.

“Kevin’s spent the whole series being a corporate lawyer, and then he moved right into being Robert’s communications director,” Grant says. “So he’s going to be facing real decisions with his life, and I think he’s definitely reaching a turning point. The impending parenthood and realizing that he doesn’t necessarily want to stay in politics with Robert is going to be a big source of Kevin’s story.”

Rob Lowe to exit Brothers & Sisters, “in talks” for new ABC franchise

With or without Kevin, Kitty’s campaign may be sidetracked by none other than Robert. “He is such a big personality, and I think he will perhaps go out campaigning for Kitty,” Grant says. “We might see some Bill Clinton-like situations when he is campaigning for his wife, and I think there could be some conflict there. Robert is deeply committed to his wife’s winning, and so that may take him to doing things that are certainly well-intended but may also cause some problems.”

Which Walker do you think will be the voice of dissent?

• Jan 30, 2010 01:24 PM ET
• by
  Kate Stanhope

Allison Janney

Four-time Emmy-winner Allison Janney is returning to television to star in the ABC pilot Mr. Sunshine, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Longtime West Wing star Janney will star alongside Friends alum Matthew Perry. Perry stars in the pilot as the manager of a deteriorating San Diego stadium who begins to reevaluate his life after his 40^th birthday. Janney will play the stadium’s owner, Crystal, an eccentric pill-popper. Perry helped develop the project, which he will also co-write and executive produce.

Matthew Perry comedy lands at ABC

Sunshine marks the third pairing for Aaron Sorkin grads Janney and Perry. Perry appeared on three episodes of Sorkin’s The West Wing in the show’s fourth and fifth seasons. Janney then played herself on an episode of Sorkin’s failed 2006 late-night drama, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Janney is also set to appear in Wing executive producer John Wells‘ upcoming Showtime project, Shameless, THR reports.

• Jan 30, 2010 07:22 PM ET
• by
  Kate Stanhope

Rip Torn

Rip Torn has been charged with breaking into a Connecticut bank and carrying a loaded firearm while intoxicated, The Associated Press reports.

Police say the Emmy-winning actor, 78, was arrested Friday after police found him inside a Litchfield Bancorp in Salisbury, Conn., drunk with a loaded revolver, according to the news agency. Torn was arrested, and charges against him include burglary and possession of a fireman without a permit.

Rip Torn gets probation in DUI case

Most recently seen on 30 Rock as fictional General Electric chief Don Geiss, Torn is currently being held on $100,000 bond and is set to appear in court Monday, the AP reports.

The alleged bank break-in is Torn’s third arrest in four years. In December 2006, he was arrested for drunk driving and hitting a tractor trailer and later had his license suspended for 90 days and paid a fine. He was charged with a second DUI in December 2008 and sentenced to probation in May of 2009.

• Jan 29, 2010 10:45 PM ET
• by
  Kate Stanhope

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation has been renewed early for next season, TVGuide.com has confirmed.

The Amy Poehler-led sitcom, which takes a behind-the-scenes look at small town bureaucracy in an Indiana-area parks department, debuted to an impressive 6.8 million viewers and a 3.0 rating in the 18-to-49 demo in April 2009 before dipping to 4.24 million viewers and a rating of 2.0 for its first season finale in May.

Watch full episodes of Parks and Recreation

In its second year, the series has found its footing with both fans and critics, enjoying a small ratings uptick and a big increase in positive buzz. The show’s most recent new episode brought in 4.37 million viewers and a 2.0 rating on Jan. 21.

The sophomore series — part of NBC’s Thursday night comedy block — was created by two of the executive producers behind fellow NBC sitcom The Office, Greg Daniels and Michael Schur.

Are you excited for more Parks and Recreation?

• Jan 29, 2010 11:16 PM ET
• by
  Kate Stanhope

Dana Gould

ABC has ordered two comedy pilots; How to Be a Better American and an untitled project from comedian Dana Gould, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

From Scrubs executive producers Steven Cragg and Brian Bradley, How to Be a Better American follows a father who begins a journey to be a better person, much to the chagrin of his family.

The untitled Dana Gould project is about a guidance counselor (Gould) stuck between his father’s traditional parenting beliefs and his wife’s more progressive methods while raising two young children. The Emmy-winning Gould’s credits include writing and producing for The Simpsons and Parks and Recreation.

• Jan 29, 2010 12:06 PM ET
• by
  Gina DiNunno

TBS

TBS has ordered up a new hour-long comedy pilot from the director of Wild Hogs.

Written by Walt Becker (Wild Hogs) and Michael LeSieur (You, Me and Dupree), Glory Daze revolves around four incoming freshman in the 80s, who pledge a frat at a Wisconsin college, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Gilmore Girls creator returning to the CW for new pilot

TBS recently picked up the mystery comedy Uncle Nigel from Monk co-creator and executive producer

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