15 Things We Learned at TV Press Tour

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

Twice a year, TV critics from across the country gather in Los Angeles for the Television Critics' Association press tour. For two weeks the press gets the chance to chat with the actors and writers from every network and cable channel -- and showered with useless freebies (an oven mitt promoting 'Coolio's Rules'!) -- all to better understand the season's new shows. Here are the best boob tube tidbits we gathered at the latest TCAs. <i>--By Kelly Woo and Maggie Furlong</i>

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

The Bitch Is Back

Kelly Taylor and Donna Martin Silver are on board for the new <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/90210/10235899/main' target='_blank'>'90210,'</a> but during their TCA panel, producers announced that Brenda Walsh will also be joining the CW's spin-off. The notoriously difficult <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/shannen-doherty/19482' target='_blank'>Shannen Doherty</a> will be reprising the role for at least one episode, returning to her alma mater to direct the school musical at West Beverly High. Makes sense -- she always was a diva.

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

When Stars Behave Badly ...

The <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/katherine-heigl/31545' target='_blank'>Katherine Heigl</a> Emmy snafu was the hottest topic at the ABC showrunners' panel, but <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/katherine-heigl/31545' target='_blank'>'Grey's Anatomy'</a> creator <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/shonda-rhimes/305254' target='_blank'>Shonda Rhimes</a>, ever the diplomat, would not comment on the rumor that Izzie would "suddenly" get a brain tumor. However, <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/ugly-betty/762061/main' target='_blank'>'Ugly Betty'</a> showrunner <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/silvio-horta/263606' target='_blank'>Silvio Horta</a> joked, "I would've put her in a coma." Hey, isn't it crossover time over at ABC?

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

'Baby Mama' Goes Primetime

<a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/amy-poehler/273694' target='_blank'>Amy Poehler</a> is officially on the slate to join NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup ... but it's NOT an <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-office/152542/main' target='_blank'>'Office'</a> spin-off. As a matter of fact, that much-anticipated offshoot is now on hold to make way for Poehler's new show, which will premiere in March after she's given birth. No tentative title and no general story information yet -- all NBC would say is, "It's gonna be funny."

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

J.J. Doesn't Like to Share

Just because <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/jj-abrams/240910' target='_blank'>J.J. Abrams</a> is busy directing the new 'Star Trek' movie doesn't mean he overlooks the details on the zillion shows he produces. So for his new spooky sci-fi series <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/fringe/10235903/main' target='_blank'>'Fringe,'</a> he purposely snatched up <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/lance-reddick/232918' target='_blank'>Lance Reddick</a> for the role of a Homeland Security agent -- so the actor could still make appearances on <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/lost/113094/main' target='_blank'>'Lost.'</a> Guess even rival networks want to know what the hell the smoke monster is.

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

'Ex List' Creator Is Our New BFF

Diane Ruggiero already gets a thumbs-up for helping write <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/veronica-mars/73285/main' target='_blank'>'Veronica Mars.'</a> But we heart the Jersey girl even more after we saw her on the panel for <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/the-ex-list/10235898/main' target='_blank'>'The Ex List'</a> (starring <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/elizabeth-reaser/396116' target='_blank'>Elizabeth Reaser</a>). Not only can she toss out funny quips, she even made up a 'Lake House' drinking game (take a slug every time something laughable happens in the sappy romance drama -- you'll be drunk in no time). Diane, call us!

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

Love Is in the Air

TCA Press Tour is panel after panel of stars and showrunners -- but the real magic happens at the parties. Couples out and about at the network fetes include: <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/seth-macfarlane/367500' target='_blank'>Seth MacFarlane</a> and <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/amanda-bynes/303423' target='_blank'>Amanda Bynes</a>; <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kristin-chenoweth/290127' target='_blank'>Kristin Chenoweth</a> and <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/aaron-sorkin/112161' target='_blank'>Aaron Sorkin</a> (on <i>again</i>!); and <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/elizabeth-reaser/396116' target='_blank'>Elizabeth Reaser</a> and <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/billy-crudup/223041' target='_blank'>Billy Crudup</a>. Sadly, no sign of 'Brothers & Sisters' bad boy <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/balthazar-getty/26632' target='_blank'>Balthazar Getty</a> with his new (scandalous!) love <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/sienna-miller/367562' target='_blank'>Sienna Miller</a>.

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

Hitting the Reset Button

When the writers' guild strike ended in February, some showrunners took the opportunity to start over. <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/desperate-housewives/379235/main' target='_blank'>'Desperate Housewives'</a> jumped five years forward in time in the season finale, and when <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/dirty-sexy-money/1342101/main' target='_blank'>'Dirty Sexy Money,'</a> <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/private-practice/1342108/main' target='_blank'>'Private Practice'</a> and <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/ugly-betty/762061/main' target='_blank'>'Ugly Betty'</a> return, expect to see storyline and tone changes. And <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/lindsay-lohan/241579' target='_blank'>Lindsay Lohan</a> everywhere! We kid ... (we think).

The Buzz on Fall TV's New & Returning Shows

Whatever Larry Wants

HBO announced that <a href='http://television.aol.com/show/curb-your-enthusiasm/99931/main' target='_blank'>'Curb Your Enthusiasm'</a> <i>will</i> be back for another season, but (as always) it's all up to creator and star <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/larry-david/207898' target='_blank'>Larry David</a> to decide when they'll start production and what will be happening this season. We wonder how flexible <a href='http://television.aol.com/celebrity/vivica-a-fox/137994' target='_blank'>Vivica A. Fox</a>'s schedule is ...