TV Gossiper

(Credit: NBC/Michael Muller)

Halloween was scary, but not as scary as the career prospects of "Trauma" cast members. (Sorry guys!) For some info on what went wrong with their show, and what other series is benefiting from their demise, we've got gossip for you.
 
5. Courtney Cox May Soon Act Her Age
"Cougar Town" may be all about Courtney Cox's foray into relationships with younger men, but if they'd wanted someone to exclusively go after kiddies, they probably would have cast Jeri Hall as Jules. No, to keep things interesting, her "Cougar Town" character will occasionally act her age throughout the series, particularly in an upcoming romantic arc with Scott Foley. The "Felicity" and "Unit" alum just signed on for three episodes of the new ABC comedy. He'll play a businessman who comes to town around the time her current fling (played by Nick Zano) leaves the show for a new gig on "Melrose Place" in January.

4. All Star Casting for Showtime's "C-Word"
Get your mind out of the gutter. We told you a few months back that the potential series was about cancer. Well, they're about to start filming the pilot, and in addition to staring three-time Academy Award nominee Laura Linney as cancer-stricken Cathy, "The C-Word" keeps getting more and more impressive cast members. Just last week, Oliver Platt joined on to play Cathy's husband and "Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe—whose Oscar buzz is pretty much deafening, and the movie isn't even out yet—entered negotiations to appear on the pilot, with the option of a recurring role as one of Linney's summer school students.

3. "Gattaca" Eyed as TV Series
You might not remember the utopian sci-fi sleeper that was 1997's "Gattaca," but Denis Leary does. The actor and filmmaker's production company is looking to remake the underrated movie about a genetic impostor in a world where humans are custom bred to look and act like Jude Law, into a television series. Odds of this being awesome or horrible are almost dead even.

2. Eddie Murphy Wants to be on Top, Falls to Bottom
Bad decisions have plagued Eddie Murphy's career. If not for "Norbit," he might be walking around with an Academy Award for "Dreamgirls." So it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the film star isn't making a particularly high brow cameo when he returns to the tube later this year. Murphy is going to be on a very special episode of "America's Next Top Model." On the November 18 finale, he'll be sitting aside Tyra for the final challenge—though not as a judge. Murphy's daughter Bria, a working model, walked alongside the final contestants in a Julia Clancey runway show.

1. NBC Kills "Trauma," Wants More "Chuck"
Despite promising signs for the low-rated series, NBC pulled the plug on hopeful "E.R." heir "Trauma" last week.  That news proved especially good for fans of "Chuck." NBC ordered an additional six episodes to its original midseason order of 13, bringing the bubble series just three episodes shy of a full season. Does this mean NBC is changing its tune about "Chuck?" Possibly. Last week word leaked that the network is asking "Heroes" producers to tie up the series, and if they do end up canceling their former flagship series, "Chuck" would be a much cheaper way to maintain NBC's already small sci-fi fan base.