TV News

Good news, Fringe fans! Fox has announced that it is renewing the sci-fi show for another season, removing it from the threat of cancellation. The J.J. Abrams series, starring Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv, has received a full 22-episode order for its fourth season. Congrats!

Photo courtesy of Fox

It's sad, but true: if you've been hankering to get your Mad Men fix, you may end up waiting until 2012. Though the series would normally begin filming new episodes around this time of the year, reported disputes over money between AMC, Lionsgate, and creator Matthew Weiner are holding up production. That means we may not see Don's new married life or Joan's bun in the oven until late this year or early next. Here's hoping the matter gets resolved quickly; until then, let the Facebook campaigns begin!


Photo courtesy of AMC

Good news for devoted fans of NBC's Thursday night community block: the network has given early renewals to The Office, Community, and Parks and Recreation. (30 Rock was already picked up earlier this year). It's no surprise that The Office is coming back, but I'm happy that I won't be biting my nails about Parks and Rec and Community for the next six weeks. We'll have to wait until upfronts to learn the fate of Outsourced and Perfect Couples, but I wouldn't advise that you hold your breath for the struggling comedies.

Photo courtesy of NBC

The Bachelor has wrapped up another season, with Brad Womack choosing Emily (who was also your pick!). Even though we don't know yet if we can look forward to a wedding for them, there is another follow-up we can put on the calendar: The Bachelorette! On Monday, May 23, we'll once again meet up with the latest lady to hand out roses: Ashley Hebert. Here's what you need to know about the newest Bachelorette.

• She was the second runner-up on the current season of The Bachelor behind Emily and Chantal, but Womack rejected her because he felt like they didn't have enough chemistry.
• She's 26 and lives in Philadelphia, PA.
• If you watched some of this season, but Ashley doesn't look that familiar to you, it may be because she just received a makeover on the reunion show. Here's her before look.
• Ashley made it clear that her dentistry career was important to her, but she's taking a break from school to be on the series.

What do you think of the choice of Ashley as the new Bachelorette? Did you want to see someone else from Brad's season or someone completely new?

Photo copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.

Last week, we speculated about whether Two and a Half Men should be canceled in the wake of Charlie Sheen's recent antics, and today a decision has been made. Sheen has been fired, according to a statement from Warner Bros. studio. It reads, "After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen's services from Two and a Half Men effective immediately." There is no news yet on whether CBS will recast Sheen's role or ax the show altogether.

There's a silver lining to that news that Steve Carell is leaving The Office earlier than we were expecting: Will Ferrell is joining the show! The comedian will appear in four episodes at the end of this season, where he'll play another branch manager who's just as incompetent as the endlessly quotable Michael Scott.

Carell and Ferrell, who've been costars before in Anchorman, will be in three episodes together, and then once Carell departs, Ferrell will be in one more episode without him.