After Julie Benz's shocking Dexter exit, she's moving into a new neighborhood: Wisteria Lane. Benz will join the cast of Desperate Housewives as an educated stripper (you read that right) to whom Susan offers a job. True Blood's Lafayette is getting a new love interest! It's in the form of Southland star Kevin Alejandro, who will play Jesus, an orderly caring for Lafayette's ailing mother (a Read more

Medical drama Mercy isn't on the top of my TiVo lineup, but the show did well enough to score a full season, and it landed squarely on my radar when it was announced that the ladies of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (a highly guilty pleasure of mine) were going to guest on an episode. So without further ado, here's a clip from tonight's episode, "Not That Kind of Girl." Theresa and Jacqueline Read more

Janet Jackson will be talking about her brother in a new primetime special — TV Squad The Real Housewives of New Jersey are invading NBC's Mercy. Seriously. — The Ausiello Files Ryan Seacrest is letting regular people grab money from celebs for his new show Bank of Hollywood — Vulture Here's a guide to all of the guest stars during November sweeps — TV.com George Clooney's top 10 movies Read more

It's a tough life for a freshman TV series, and every Fall some new shows have to get cut — but on the bright side, others are given a vote of confidence and picked up for a full season. We're at the end of October now, and most of the networks have made their big decisions, so here's a rundown on what shows are in, out, or balancing on the edge. What's In At NBC, Parks and Recreation, Read more

She may be stirring up trouble as Georgina on Gossip Girl, but this Fall, Michelle Trachtenberg is getting to show her sweeter side in the new hospital drama Mercy, which premieres tonight on NBC. What's her new role as a nurse on Mercy like? Well, just picture the exact opposite of Georgina: Chloe is a kind, naive nurse who wants to help people, not harm them. When I caught up with Trachtenberg Read more

The networks have announced their Fall schedules, but which series will actually be worth watching? Throughout the Summer, as I watch the pilots, I'll be posting my first impressions. Note that a lot can change before a show actually makes it to air, so these aren't reviews, just quick thoughts on how the shows look now. Today's pick is NBC's nursing drama Mercy, which is pinch-hitting for Read more

On the sad, worrisome news front, Maura Tierney has fallen ill recently, and the production start date for NBC's new show Parenthood, based on the 1989 movie, has been moved from late July to late September. Thus, Parenthood will now premiere midseason, instead of its previously scheduled premiere date of Sept. 23. Another new NBC show, Mercy, will now begin in September instead of midseason, Read more

Madonna gave her daughter Mercy a piggyback ride out of London's Kabbalah center on Saturday. Mercy already had a little red string on her wrist for services with her new siblings and Guy Ritchie after a week of fun times with their family. As she gets used to life with Madonna, her grandmother back in Malawi has spoken out about missing her. Mercy is helping put a smile on Madonna's face, Read more