NEWS: B&B To Recast Role; Plus, Florence Lozano, Melissa Fumero, Erinn Westbrook, Michael Easton, Maitland Ward, Michael Le Vell

Why Broadcast TV Lost Its Edge After NYPD BLUE
“I suppose I was naive,” producer Steven Bochco says. “I thought NYPD BLUE would open a door to more adult, mainstream programming.” Yet the series remains an exception, and broadcast standards didn't appreciably change.

“It’s disappointing (that) it influenced cable more than broadcast,” Bochco adds, while deriving some satisfaction from the fact the forces that railed against the show “lost the battle, because cable television is television.”

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL recasting the role of Karen Spencer
B&B has released a casting notice for Karen Spencer, meaning that they're looking to replace portrayer Joanna Johnson. The actress is also a producer, and as her ABC Family series THE FOSTERS has been picked up for additional episodes, it's likely she was unable to juggle both duties as the notice lists Karen as a recurring role with a possible contract.

The show is also lowering the age on the casting notice for Thorne's daughter Alexandra from 19-21 down to 17-19, making her more of a teen.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE's Florence Lozano joins "The Heirs of Tantalus: From the House of Atreus to the Palace of Nero"
Lozano joins Gregory Peck's grandson Ethan Peck, OBIE-award winner Steven Rattazzi, soprano Jessica Gould, countertenor José Lemos, Grammy-nominated harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, and members of The Sebastians Chamber Orchestra to open the fifth season of Salon/Sanctuary Concerts with an expanded run of the critically acclaimed "The Heirs of Tantalus: From the House of Atreus to the Palace of Nero."

The show will take place at the Broad Street Ballroom on September 19 and September 21.

Erinn Westbrook joins GLEE
Westbrook has been cast in a recurring role on the upcoming fifth season. She will play Bree, a new student and member of the Cheerios, a mean girl who’s going to shake things up.

NEWS: Debra Messing Books Pilot, Kassie DePaiva, Erika Slezak, Jamie Chung, Michael Le Vell

SMASH star Debra Messing books CBS pilot
Though NBC hasn’t officially said Smash is dead (though really, a move to Saturdays speaks volumes), its stars are beginning to seek employment elsewhere. To wit: Debra Messing has been cast as a married mom in an untitled single-camera comedy at CBS.

In the project from Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky, which is based on an Israeli format, Messing will play Shira, a married mom who struggles to balance family, life and work. Messing is in second position on the pilot since technically, NBC still has its hooks in her for SMASH — that is, until they officially pull the plug.

Kassie DePaiva reports on ONE LIFE TO LIVE's first week back in production
"The majority of my scenes were with my family and I can't wait for you to see the excitement that surrounds Blair's life. The sets are absolutely beautiful from top to bottom. We have many of our same directors working with us and our executive producer Jen Pepperman is just amazing."