Where Are They Now?: The Breakout Stars of Fall 2012-Spring 2013 Cancelled Shows

When the leaves are falling in September, primetime television is blooming, and when those leaves return seemingly overnight in the Spring, TV shows are just as swiftly shed to make room for next year's crop. Because of this reaping, the Fall 2012-Spring 2013 television season had a lot of tragic casualties who deserve a second shot on another series. Find out who you should be keeping an eye on in the future:

Theo James of CBS's "Golden Boy"
The 28-year-old Brit officially made his crossover leap to American audiences this season when he starred in his very own police procedural that dared to rejigger the genre's template, and tell the story of the road to power. Of course, it wasn't the first time American audiences laid eyes on him. While he did co-star with Kate Beckinsale in the poorly received sequel Underworld: Awakening, he's probably best known as the Turkish diplomat who died mid-coitus in the wildly popular and rarely racy British series "Downton Abbey." Luckily, his talents don't ebb at seduction. On "Golden Boy," James never strayed from his fake American accent, always captured the viewer with his mischievous looks and heroic self-sacrifices, and impressively carried the series better than most actors in their late 20s could've.

Suggested Roles: More than the action, James excelled at the emotional scenes, whether they were with a witness or his partner. While I still think he should carry his own series where he fights for the underdog, I wouldn't mind spotting him in "Rookie Blue" as a new love interest for Andy and BFF to Dov, an internal affairs investigator who's partnered up with Cat on "Beauty and the Beast," a do-gooding warlock that catches Rebecca's eye on "The Originals," or shock his fans and appear on "Boardwalk Empire," seeking revenge for Gyp Rosetti's murder.

Upcoming Projects: He'll play the main character's love interest in the adaptation of Divergent opposite Shailene Woodley (The Descendants) and Kate Winslet.

Judy Marte of CBS's "NYC 22"
More than a decade ago we were introduced to this young lady in the critically acclaimed indie Raising Victor Vargas, which poetically captured ghetto youth and its pitfalls. In CBS's ensemble cop dramedy about rookies from all walks of life policing the dangerous streets of New York, Marte played an anomaly: a kid who grew up in a dangerous family and chose a profession that would make her their enemy. The character had a lot to prove and a lot to lose, and Marte played that with guarded trepidation and tempered bravado, a volatile mix of Rosie Perez and Michelle Rodriguez.

Suggested Roles: She's been doing the indie thing for a while now, running a couple laps on the festival circuit, but I think it's time she set up some roots. Maybe she can stir things up on "The Newsroom" or play an undercover cop on FOX's upcoming series "Gang Related."

Adhir Kalyan of CBS's "Rules of Engagement"
While I'll agree that this sitcom overstayed its welcome longer than most shows that were cancelled by the network, I will miss its cleverest character, Timmy. He brought class to a lowbrow series and stole every scene, with either a scathing quip or deadpan self-pity, as the Felix Ungar to Russell's Oscar Madison. 

Suggested Roles: Kalyan's debut was in the thankfully short-lived, racially precarious CW series "Aliens in America," during their recent brief foray into sitcoms. Then he popped up in Paul Blart: The Mall Cop and co-starred with Michael Cera in Youth in Revolt, playing against type. I think he should continue down that path, and definitely stick to comedy, because he has a talent for it. He could guest star on "Big Bang Theory" as Raj's fully Americanized relative and maybe even make a play for Amy Farrah Fowler, or play someone Mindy's mother sends to woo her for an arranged marriage on "The Mindy Project," or CBS could do him a solid and add him as an intern on Robin William's new ad agency sitcom "The Crazy Ones."

Sophia Bush of CBS's "Partners"
It's been a decade since the CW introduced the world to the spitfire that was Brooke Davis. Bush played her with a free-spirited sexuality and insecure vulnerability that encapsulated many a bad girl. It'll probably be the most complex character she's ever offered in her career, but she deserves a lot better.

Suggested Roles: Bush is being typecast as a superficial fashionista. She needs something with a little more substance. Perhaps she can join "Arrow" as Laurel's competition and Oliver's bar manager, or "Hart of Dixie" as Zoe's friend and Wade's new love interest.

Andrew Rannells of "The New Normal"
Little known fact: This 34-year-old Broadway actor spent the first decade of his career doing animated voiceovers for shows like "Yu-Gi-Oh" and "Pokemon." Thank god someone recognized his talents for hyperbole and drama just in time for The Book of Mormon to hit Broadway. Otherwise, non-theatergoers would've missed out on witnessing Rannells' impressive ability to play the scene-stealing, self-absorbed and yet nurturing father-to-be last season.

Suggested Roles: While I'm aware that gay actors can do more than just play gay, I think it's about time the gay drama genre made a comeback in a big way. Rannells, Luke Macfarlane ("Brothers and Sisters"), and Katherine Moennig ("The L Word") headlining a series about modern gay romance and issues would strike a chord in these rights-challenged times.

Upcoming Projects: Nothing solid as of yet, but he could always reprise his role on "Girls."

Jeremy Jordan of NBC's "Smash"

Best known for his Broadway role in the Tony-winning musical Newsies, Jordan managed to briefly reinvigorate the ailing series with his character's cocky, bad boy charm.
Suggested Roles: I stopped watching "Glee" a while ago, but I'm sure they could use him to throw a little strife into Blaine's life, or he could be the first singing Disney prince on "Once Upon a Time."
Upcoming Projects: He'll co-star in the adaptation of the romantic dramedy musical The Last 5 Years with Anna Kendrick.

Andre Holland of NBC's "1600 Penn"

As a grossly underutilized graduate of the short-lived dating series "Friends with Benefits," Holland had a pretty good year. Not only did he get to co-star in the Jackie Robinson biopic 42 as a groundbreaking sports reporter, but he also got to play the president's press secretary in the political family comedy "1600 Penn" opposite Tony-nominated actor and comedic writer Josh Gad. His exasperated incredulity and frustration at every scandal that arose perfectly complemented Gad's ignorant attempts at...basically everything.
Suggested Roles: He could be a polarizing love interest for Anne on "Parks and Recreation."
Upcoming Projects: He'll be in the race drama Black and White with Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, and Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty).

Dakota Johnson of FOX's "Ben & Kate"
The offspring of 80s icons Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith bumped around a bit in a few supporting casts on the big screen (Beastly, 21 Jump Street, and The Five-Year Long Engagement) before landing the lead female role in an unorthodox family series, where we got to see her Deschanel-esque awe-shucks bashfulness and goofy-nerd comedic delivery. 

Suggested Roles: She could be the rookie slash weakest link on the team of Josh Holloway's spy series "Intelligence" this Fall.
Upcoming Projects: She will appear in Aaron Paul's street-racing action film Need for Speed.

Eliza Coupe of ABC's "Happy Endings"

Fans may only know her as the blonde half of Brad & Jane, but her breakout role was actually on the "Scrubs" spinoff the year before, where she was a lot more hostile and tomboyish. It was quite the transformation. The girl is versatile. And her character's maniacal obsession with perfection, judgmental one-liners, and enviable relationship with her husband made her one of the best of an already awesome cast.

Suggested Roles: She's so good at delivering scathingly honest lines that I think "Veep" would make a good fit. She could also add some negativity to Robin Williams' "The Crazy Ones" or be an obnoxious authority figure on Marvel's "S.H.I.E.L.D."

Damon Wayans Jr. of ABC's "Happy Endings"
Don't say it. We're all thinking it. He should've stayed on "New Girl." No offense to Lamorne Morris, but Damon is a funny dude. True, he was a hundred times funnier on this series than he was on "New Girl," but they took a while to find their comedic footing. Now everyone's a lot funnier. Plus, "Happy Endings" was more suited to his type of physical and zany comedy. Whereas "New Girl" is one notch above Weird, "Happy Endings" is one notch above Crazy, which is oddly where most of the Wayans family feels comfortable. The Hollywood legacy has redefined what it means to be a black male character on TV, not only pushing the envelope with racial stereotypes but with heterosexual ones. 

Upcoming Projects: The comedy Someone Marry Barry with Tyler Labine ("Animal Practice") and Lucy Punch ("Ben and Kate"), and the buddy cop comedy Let's Be Cops with his old buddy Jake Johnson ("New Girl") and Nina Dobrev ("Vampire Diaries").

Mamie Gummer of The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D."

I would pat myself on the back for calling the demise of this series before it was officially announced, but, um, everyone did. In Gummer's defense, though, it wasn't her fault. She was good at playing a naive, shy glorified doormat. But it so didn't fit her. She is Meryl Streep's daughter. And, however, unfair it might be to put her on a pedestal and expect more from her, it's not without good reason. If you've ever seen her guest star on "The Good Wife," then you know this kid can act. Those wilting lily characters she's being offered because of her blonde hair and fair skin are beneath her. During her arc, she took down an opponent with far more experience and basked in the glow of her victory. She's a beast. A mini-Meryl. She may be two failed pilots deep, but we never said she wouldn't have to fight for it.

Suggested Roles: I really hope that "The Good Wife" producers were smart enough to swoop in there and offer her a recurring role as a lawyer in Cary's new firm. Not only would she butt heads with Alicia, but she could come between Kalinda and Cary. "House of Cards" might also allow her to show off her ability to give life to strong female characters.
Upcoming Projects: She'll be in the Kristen Bell dramedy The Lifeguard.

Jared Kusnitz of MTV's "Underemployed"

As the straight-laced, environmental activist turned cubicle paper-pusher, his character represented the tribe of college grads who refuse to turn into their parents but are ultimately obligated to. He was the poster child for this generation's most prevalent obstacle: the quarter life crisis. Kusnitz played him with the right amount of anxiety and indecisiveness. You commiserated with him and even turned a blind eye to his missteps, because from 9 to 5, you are him.
Suggested Roles: He could play a nerdy distraction for Felicity on "Arrow." He could totally keep up with the 80s star as an assistant on "The Michael J. Fox Show." Or he could play a really smart guy Maggie thinks is out of her league on "The Carrie Diaries."

Upcoming Projects: He'll appear in the online mockumentary "Addicts Anonymous," which was funded by Kickstarter.

Aldis Hodge of TNT's "Leverage"

After playing the intimidating and antagonistic rival football player Voodoo on "Friday Night Lights," no viewer could've ever imagined seeing him as a lovable nerdy goofball, but for four seasons that's exactly what he was. He played the overly confident, pop culture-loving hacker on a crack team of thieves and con artists—the most relatable and the funniest of the bunch.

Suggested Roles: Since I like him in group/team settings, I think he would be great on a police procedural or law series as the comedy relief.

Michelle Ang of MTV's "Underemployed"

It's not often that young Asian actors are cast in sexual roles. And when they are it's always some seedy, semi-pornographic, fetish scenario that's rather unrealistic. Ang, a Malaysian raised in New Zealand, played a young woman who was nervously discovering her sexuality and trying very hard to bravely embrace her homosexual desires. Her lesbian storyline wasn't tawdry or gratuitous. It was just another view of modern adolescent struggles.
Suggested Roles: I think it's important she continues to play against type. She could be a new lawyer at Cary's firm on "The Good Wife," do a quick arc on "Girls," or co-star in her own more diverse, generational series.

David Clayton Rogers of ABC Family's "Jane by Design"

Over the last decade, Rogers has gotten better at stealing scenes. I actually first saw him on the "Cougar Town" pilot, which wasn't really that funny, and it didn't seem like he and Courtney Cox were on the same comedic wavelength. He was doing bewildered and sane, and she was doing zany and obsessive. Regardless, once they introduced her main beau, he was rather forgettable. According to IMDb, he's been on "Gilmore Girls," "Brothers & Sisters," "Happy Endings," and "Grimm." None of it's ringing a bell. However, on this series, he has way more screen time and far more character development. Turns out "awkward" is where he excels.

Suggested Roles: He could awkwardly romance Anne on "Parks and Recreation," try to steal Jess from Nick on "New Girl," bring Quinn back from the edge on "Scandal," charm Peggy on "Mad Men," or if "Bunheads" is renewed, he could be a new small town hottie.
Upcoming Projects: He'll appear in the sci-fi thriller Uncanny with Marc Webber and Rainn Wilson.

These breakout stars managed to score new gigs:

Chris D'Elia of NBC's "Whitney"
The stand-up comedian was practically unrecognizable when this series first premiered. Just a few months earlier he was on TBS's college comedy "Glory Daze," playing a disheveled, perpetually-high super senior. Then all of a sudden he had a sober cadence, playful jibes, and a confident swagger, and it was like he aged ten years in seconds. D'Elia is of that rare breed, manly but able to appear sincere in romantic plots, which is great for comedies that are meant for both demographics.

Upcoming Projects: He'll star in NBC's upcoming sitcom "Undateable," where he'll play a Don Juan who teaches a few romantically challenged guys how to navigate the treacherous waters of the dating world. He's currently filming the comedy Flock of Dudes with Bryan Greenberg ("How to Make It In America" and Bride Wars), Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect), Hilary Duff, Lea Michele, and Hannah Simone ("New Girl"). He's also doing stand-up in the Funny or Die Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival with many comedians, including Dave Chapelle.

Zach Cregger of NBC's "Guys with Kids"

Since his debut in the sketch comedy series "The Whitest Kids U'Know," Cregger has been trying his best to land a more traditional sitcom. His first, "Friends with Benefits," put him on the back-burner, but this Jimmy Fallon-produced dude comedy showcased his talents a lot more. He played a snarky smart ass, like the male version of a frenemy. You wanted to hate him, but couldn't stop being amused.
Upcoming Project: He's currently attached to the female-driven NBC pilot "Assistance" with Krysten Ritter ("Don't Trust the B- in Apartment 23"). It's produced by Will Ferrell's company and based on a play by Bachelorette's screenwriter Leslye Headland.

Maddie Hasson of FOX's "The Finder"
This 18-year-old newbie played a feisty little loner, quick on the uptake but secretly vulnerable, as evidenced by her go-to pout and puppy-dog eyes. It's a bit uncharacteristic for blondes to have bite or for teenagers to outshine their superiors, especially for this Hollywood generation, but Hasson gives off a mysterious allure that's usually attributed to bad-boy heartthrobs, keeping you hooked.

Upcoming Projects: Currently, she stars in the ABC Family teen mystery series "Twisted," but she just completed the sport drama Underdogs.

Michael Rady of The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D."

Ohhh where do I begin? I first noticed Mr. Rady when he played the incredibly sexy Greek Kostas in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Every teenage girl's fantasy is to meet a hot foreigner with an accent and an adventurous attitude. He was like catnip for the tweens to twentysomethings. He didn't re-enter their lives in any other capacity until he briefly popped up in the ABC Family college series "Greek" and starred in the CW's "Melrose Place" reboot. Since the cancellation of those shows, he's done a few guest arcs on "House of Lies" and "The Mentalist." He definitely gets around, but he always plays the same guy: An endearing, gentle soul with a forgiving, if not ignorant, nature.

Upcoming Projects: Not only is he starring in the indie rom-com Romantic Encounters with Meghan Markle ("Suits"), but he scored a supporting role in Josh Holloway's spy thriller "Intelligence."

Phoebe Tonkin of The CW's "The Secret Circle"
I didn't want to like her character, but I couldn't help it. This little Aussie plays catty divas and wherever they go, trouble soon follows. After her Wicca-themed series "The Secret Circle" failed to build a cult following on The CW, she hopped over to "The Vampire Diaries" to seduce a werewolf and birth an Original hybrid. As a beautiful girl with ambiguous ethnicity, who's mastered bitch face and the sympathy pout, she has a lot of potential.

Upcoming Projects: She'll co-star in The CW spinoff "The Originals," and appear in the drama The Ever After, written by actors Mark Webber and Teresa Palmer, which will also star Rosario Dawson and Jaime King.

Michael Ealy of USA's "Common Law"

Those dreamy-dreamy eyes. You'd never think he started off playing a standoffish tough guy in Barbershop. Who knew his niche would be seductive charmers? Even though his supporting gig on "FlashForward" fell through, his guest star role on "The Good Wife" ran its course, and his lead role on the buddy cop series "Common Law" was short-lived, he managed to reignite the public's interest in him with last year's urban rom-com Think Like a Man, where he played a struggling chef who doted on the woman of his dreams and never felt threatened by her success. Dream guy, question mark.
Upcoming Projects: He'll star in the FOX sci-fi buddy cop series "Almost Human," where he'll play a humanized robocop of sorts. And next year, he'll star in another urban rom-com called About Last Night alongside Regina Hall and comedian Kevin Hart, and reprise his role in the Think Like a Man sequel.

Serinda Swan of A&E's "Breakout Kings"

Very few actresses can pull off badass and beautiful. To be both what men covet and fear. It isn't just the eyeliner, Swan's got a knack for it. You get the sense that she can handle herself in a fight, against either sex. There's a wave of heroines taking over pop culture, from the Katniss's to the Calisi's. And it's good to know there's more on the horizon.

Upcoming Projects: She's co-starring in USA's crime drama "Graceland."

Jimmi Simpson of A&E's "Breakout Kings"

I have no recollection of ever seeing this guy anywhere else. He's one of "those guys" that fit in anywhere and go unnoticed. Watch this series though and there's no way he won't make an impression. He played a timid, obnoxiously intelligent, mildly autistic, condescending Rain Man. Hands down, he was the best part of the series.

Suggested Roles: Since Sherlock defeated Moriarty, he could go head-to-head with him on "Elementary," or be a major political player in the next season of "Revolution."
Upcoming Projects: He'll join Netflix's "House of Cards" next season in a recurring role and this summer, he's in White House Down. He has the indie fantasy adventure Knights of Badassdom with Peter Dinklage ("Game of Thrones"), Summer Glau (Serenity), and Ryan Kwanten ("True Blood"), and the comedy Gravy with Sarah Silverman, written and directed by James Roday of "Psych."

TV TOPIC: Netflix's Future Affect on TV Ratings & a List of New Netflix TV Shows

Binge-viewing is an interesting concept.

Bing-viewing (v.) The act of watching more than two episodes of a series in a row.

It's mostly something that sporadic TV viewers and non-cable or -DVR owners do during holiday breaks or activity-light weekends. But it's also a popular pastime for TV lovers who want to re-watch their favorite parts of an old or recently-cancelled series. According to Variety.com, Netflix noticed that its users were quite partial to binge-viewing, given the increase in streaming statistics whenever a new slate of TV shows were added to the site.

The surprising enthusiasm to re-watch or "finally get the chance to see" the entire series of "Arrested Development" is actually what inspired the company to revive the series, and release an entire new season to be watched in one sitting if one wished to. Such a plan has never been implemented in network television history.

The British network, BBC (PBS for westerners), have many shows that fend off cancellation by constructing short seasons and short runs—a light at the end of the tunnel and the promise of a resolution. And American television could possibly do the same if they decided to follow in Netflix's footsteps and release full seasons of their shows. How that would work, given their dependence on ad sales, and how exactly they would disseminate an entire season would be difficult to suss out. But by using the metrics they'll gather from the shows debuting this year, Netflix will be able to determine where exactly each initially-interested viewer lost interest, what time of day they chose to watch, and which episodes they chose to re-watch. With this data they could not only determine the plot flow and content of the next season, but also do the same for future shows. And if they should ever decide to release such information to network TV channels, even privately, it could really give the networks the insight they, especially NBC, need to figure out what they're doing wrong. Maybe, at the very least, the networks will discover what fans of cult TV shows wish they would: a series should be given at least a full season before they're cancelled to let everyone get a chance to either accept it or reject it.

We'll see exactly how much affect Netflix will have on the ratings system and on television history overall after its new shows premiere this year. While there's no word on how its first series, "Lilyhammer," did last year, chances are, given the high profile names attached to the upcoming shows, we'll get the gist of whether or not they're any good from Twitter alone. This year, along with the May-return of "Arrested Development," we can look forward to:

"House of Cards" (Feb. 1, 2013)
A political drama adapted from a 90s UK series, starring Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, and Kate Mara. It follows a ruthless politician, passed over for Secretary of State, with his eye on the presidency. Netflix outbid AMC and HBO, and committed to two seasons (26 episodes).
Watch the trailer >

"Hemlock Grove" (April 19, 2013)
A horror thriller adapted from Brian McGreevy's novel and executive produced by Eli Roth (Hostel). It follows teenage boys (Terra Nova's Landon Liboiron and Bill Skarsgaard, Alexander's little bro), the former suspected of being a gypsy werewolf, who try to uncover the mystery behind a girl's brutal murder, so they can clear their names. It also stars Famke Janssen and Dougray Scott. The budget behind this 13-episode season is rumored to be $45 million.
Watch the trailer >

"Derek" (2013)
A Ricky Gervais British half-hour dramedy about oddball caretakers at an old person's home. It originally aired in the UK, but was picked up by Netflix after controversy over the claim that it mocks mentally disabled people made it undesirable to British networks.
Check out a first look at the series >

"Orange is the New Black" (2013)
A dramedy created by Jenji Kohan, former head writer of "Weeds," and adapted from Piper Kerman's memoir, which was subtitled "My Year in a Women's Prison," hence the title. It'll star Taylor Schilling (The Lucky One and "Mercy"), Jason Biggs, and Laura Prepon ("That 70s Show" and "Are You There, Chelsea?"), with recurring roles by Natasha Lyonne, Taryn Manning, and Pablo Schreiber (Happythankyoumoreplease).

TV TOPIC: The Reason the CW's "Emily Owens, M.D." Might Get Cancelled

Sex. That's it. Sex. If you watch adult, prime time television, you will discover that people like to have sex. Warriors on "Game of Thrones" like to have sex, sometimes even mid-battle. Teenagers on "Secret Life of the American Teeanger" like to have sex. New moms on "How I Met Your Mother" like to have sex. Old people on "Mike and Molly" like to have sex. Dead people on "Vampire Diaries" like to have sex. And doctors, all doctors, on all doctor shows like to have sex, whether it's the super-serious and critically acclaimed "ER" or the incredibly sappy, jumped-the-shark-two-seasons-ago "Grey's Anatomy," they all have active libidos. So tell me, how is it that there have been four episodes, and the closest that anyone has gotten to getting it on on "Emily Owens, M.D." is Justin Hartley changing his shirt in slow motion and a brood of teenage girls suffering from an STD outbreak? Seriously? On the network that featured a "Gossip Girl" ad campaign with mid-coitus shots emblazoned with the acronym OMG. Really?

Look no further than this glaringly obvious missing component when you start to wonder why the ratings are so bad and the network, a network with notoriously lackluster ratings, wouldn't give it another shot, when it seems to give "90210" and, honestly, nearly every other series multiple shots. It doesn't matter that Mamie Gummer is extremely talented—far too talented for such an unchallenging role, in my opinion—or that both Hartley and Michael Rady are so adorable. Audiences, especially ones who watch the CW, are accustomed to a little sexual intrigue. This is no longer the age of "7th Heaven." Even ABCFamily, the network with the word "family" in it has sex scenes. So if you're going to hit us with the "My So Called Life" meets "Grey's Anatomy" internal monologue and cast hot guys, at the very least give us something worth listening to and looking at. At this point, priests get more action than your characters do.

Post-Mortem: CBS Cancelled "Partners"

Totally called it. Sure, it got better. Brandon Routh became the appropriate amount of dry for his deadpan one-liners. Michael Urie's campy bug-eyes grew on you. And you somehow managed to pretend that Sophia Bush would ever, in a million years, give David Krumholtz the time of day—let alone access to her vagina. But, in the end, it just wasn't funny enough.

No worries though. It wasn't a massive waste of time. "One Tree Hill" and "Ugly Betty" uber fans got to spend some quality time with their favorite divas, Bush and Urie. Krumholtz got to flex his funny bone. And Routh may have finally shook off the stench of Superman failure. Maybe. Too soon to tell. Nonetheless, I'm sure they'll find their footing eventually.

I love Sophia Bush. While I may have given up on "One Tree Hill" after season 2, I never gave up on Sophia. She was the highlight of that series, which is why I gave "Partners" a shot in the first place. But I'm hoping, given her new-found freedom, she might possibly find a more female-friendly gig on a romance-oriented series. I'm thinking she, Joanna Garcia ("Animal Practice"), and the newly jilted Rachael Taylor ("666 Park Avenue") could make a go of it on Showtime or HBO. It's been 8 years since "Sex and the City" ended, and no series has successfully replaced it. And now that we all agree the films have tainted its legacy, there's no time like the present.

Michael Urie is a comedic delight. He could easily make a fantastic supporting character in any ensemble dramedy—just not one with too many characters. I'm not talking "Smash" or "Once Upon a Time," more like "Bunheads," "Girls," or "Episodes." Broadway would be awesome too. His kind of energy is very theatre-friendly.

I never saw "Numb3rs," but I did catch David Krumholtz in the doomed-from-the-start mystery drama "The Playboy Club." It was surprising how comfortable he was playing a slimy club owner with a thuggish Chicago accent. He could easily slither into the "Boardwalk Empire" cast without missing a beat. I do believe, however, he's still got a gig on "The Newsroom" as Will's therapist, which I do enjoy. Actually, I just enjoy someone taking Will off his high-horse every now and then.

Last, but not least, Brandon Routh...well, baby steps. Personally, I think he'd make a beautiful Abercrombie & Fitch or Ralph Lauren model, but if he insists on speaking, maybe he could play Prince Eric on "Once Upon a Time." Come on, doesn't he look like Ariel's dog-loving mermaid-romancer? Also, it might be hilarious if he guest-starred on "Big Bang Theory" as some dopey meathead that has a thing for Amy. He would look like a giant next to those nerds, and Amy deserves to get her groove on after putting up with Sheldon for this long.

Regardless of where this quartet ends up, I wish them the best of luck during pilot season.

Post-Mortem: CBS Cancelled "Made in Jersey"

And the honor of the first series to get cancelled this Fall TV season goes to CBS's lackluster law series. Before you fret at the fact that only two episodes have aired, rest assured it was not a premature execution.

CBS's law dramedy "Made in Jersey" was pretty much a snoozefest. It was thought of as the younger counterpart to the network's other legal series "The Good Wife," but that would be an insult to the latter. While Martina Garretti's plucky perspective on life, in spite of constantly being underestimated due to her Jersey-girl background, was tolerable, and the British lead actress, Janet Montgomery, managed to do the state's native twang justice, the content itself was nothing worth staying home for or rushing back to on a Friday night.

Here are the ingredients to the show's downfall:

• The series didn't offer a twist on the case-solving procedural genre, like many tend to do. Aside from the fact that she basically did her own investigations and outsmarted her superiors, she didn't have a particularly interesting method of deduction. 
• Instead of being given a strong sidekick from the start, we were introduced to a multitude of supporting characters ranging from family members to co-workers. While she did have a girlfriend at work, Cyndi (Toni Trucks), she was backburnered in the second episode in favor of her sisters, who weren't that interesting to begin with.
• None of the leading men (Kyle MacLachlan, Pablo Schreiber, and Kristoffer Polaha) were charismatic enough to register on our radar. And while I root for Enver Gjokaj every time I see him on screen, the role of ex-boyfriend slash professional competition was a waste of his talents. That guy can do like 5 accents. He should be on USA's "Covert Affairs" showing Annie/Piper how to do her job.
• Every protagonist needs an antagonist, and from the first episode to the second it switched from an old, obnoxious, skinny blonde (Stephanie March) to a young, judgmental, skinny black girl (Megalyn Echikunwoke). And neither were intimidating enough to warrant enough sympathy for the viewer to emotionally connect with Martina.
• Most protagonists have a goal from the start. Alicia Florrick is trying to figure out what kind of lawyer, mother, and lover she wants to be as the entire city watches her every cuckolded move on "The Good Wife." Jane Bingham switched bodies with a model who died the same day she did, and is trying to hijack her life back on "Drop Dead Diva." And Patrick Jane is seeking a serial killer who murdered his family on "The Mentalist." All we know about Martina is that she doesn't like being underestimated. That's not grounds for a series. She needs a running mystery or a deep-seated cause.

Many series creators complain that networks don't give their shows enough time to build an audience, and that ratings aren't everything. While both those points may be accurate, I think what should also be considered is the possibility that the series was shopped to the wrong network. "Made in Jersey" would've fared much better on female-friendly cable networks like LIFE, USA, and ABCFamily. Its best bet would've been the USA network, which loves procedurals and gives them plenty of time to fail. Just ask Sarah Shahi ("Fairly Legal"). Timing is also extremely important. Legal dramedies are a bit dry and not very summer-friendly, but given how happy-go-lucky Martina was most of the time, it would've done just fine in a summer slot.

That said, Montgomery shouldn't have any trouble finding a new gig after this. I don't believe the cancellation had anything to do with her acting abilities. Anyone who's seen her on the short-lived action series "Human Target" knows she can carry a scene. Now all she needs is a worthy ensemble.

What series will get the boot next? My money is on FOX's "Mob Doctor." Aside from that series, I'm not feeling too confident about the second season chances for FOX's "Ben & Kate," CBS's "Partners," NBC's "Animal Practice," or ABC's "The Neighbors." The last two have a chance because of animal lovers and the family-friendly appeal. But "Mob Doctor" is almost as stale as "Made in Jersey," "Ben & Kate" is rarely funny, and if CBS could cancel last season's equally funny "Mad Love" then it would definitely give "Partners" the boot. Time will tell.

TV PILOT REVIEW: HBO's "The Newsroom"

I am not an avid newswatcher. The only reason I see the news of the day, if I ever see the news, is because it happens to be on when I turn the TV on, I happen to glance at it as I pass a newspaper, or it's trending on Twitter. I know that I'm "apart of the problem," but my love for fiction is so all-encompassing that I have no room for reality—except when my bills arrive, of course. HBO's "The Newsroom," however, is a perfect combination of fiction and reality. Most critics and viewers of the much-talked-about promo were blown away by the intensity and cleverness of the dialogue and, of course, the creator himself, Mr. Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network and Moneyball). But what I found most intriguing about the pilot was that it's only half way through that you're informed the series takes place in the Spring of 2010.

The action picks up as the news of the cataclysmic Gulf of Mexico oil spill breaks. We're taken through the thought process that broadcast networks go through to determine which angle they're going to use when they report, how seriously they're going to treat the topic, who they're interviewing, and what risks they're going to take. It's more tense than watching a delicate surgery on a medical drama. One misstep could make-or-break the careers of every single person involved, not to mention tarnish the network's reputation, costing them millions of dollars. And because Sorkin chose to go back in time instead of fabricating similar major news stories in present day, it feels more real than ever. If you didn't get the inside scoop on certain stories or see how a minor rescue mission escalated into a multi-million dollar environmental disaster, you will now.

What's also impressive about the series is that it does all of this without seeming like it's reading off a microfilm. It develops its characters and keeps you as interested in them as it does in the breaking stories. Leading the cast is Jeff Daniels as the broadcast personality Will McAvoy. His character has spent the last three years of his career playing it safe, never asking or answering the hard questions, and basically half-assing his way through the newscast. In the beginning, we think it's because he doesn't want the hassle that comes with constantly being on the defensive, justifying his opinions. But once his ex-girlfriend Mackenzie MacHale (British actress Emily Mortimer) strolls back into his life, we realize his neutered personality has everything to do with her seemingly abrupt relocation. And it takes her extremely abrupt return for him to get back to the man he (and she) once respected. Thankfully, both sides of him are perpetually pissed off, sarcastic know-it-alls, which is half his appeal. The other half being his sense of humor. If you've ever seen the indie The Answer Man, you know that Daniels is perfect for this role.

Mackenzie returns to the states after a bout in the Middle East that apparently rocked her to her core enough to make her come home, but not enough to crush her optimistic, sometimes-bubbly, sometimes-ballsy demeanor. She's accepted a job as executive producer of Will's show, but he refuses to work with and/or forgive her. She brought her producer Jim Harper (Tony award winning John Gallagher Jr. from Spring Awakening) along, a clumsy, awkward, nervous Dustin Hoffman meets Jesse Eisenberg kind of guy, who may look green but is far more intelligent and capable than anyone gives him credit for. Mackenzie actually has a talent for spotting people with potential. She not only gave Jim his big break, but she also gave one to her former intern, Will's traitorous ex-executive producer Don (Thomas Sadoski from Loser), and to his current intern-turned-assistant Maggie (Alison Pill from Midnight in Paris and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), who she bumped up to associate producer because she reminded her of a younger her. Rounding out the cast in the pilot are Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), who plays Neal, a highly knowledgable and resourceful blogger, and Sam Waterston ("Law & Order"), who plays Charlie Skinner, the functioning alcoholic and deeply involved president of the network.

You will get attached to these characters after watching the first episode. You will pity naive little Maggie and pray she grows a backbone long enough to dump her emotionally destructive boyfriend Don. You will applaud Jim for every risky move he makes and chuckle whenever he gets flustered. You will fist-pump whenever Don gets put in his obnoxious place. You will shake your head whenever someone fails to acknowledge Neal's existence. You will smirk every time Charlie reaches for a drink to fuel his increasingly inappropriate behavior and yet very effective methods of encouragement. You will cheer when Will preaches and berates. You will snicker whenever Mackenzie pulls one over on him. And you will wait patiently for Will and Mackenzie's relationship to unfold, because you can see she not only makes him a better man, but a better reporter. This is a solid cast. An Emmy-worthy cast.

I look forward to a season filled with debate, drama, and revelations, and to the cast members I've yet to see. There have been reports that Chris Matthews and Andrew Breitbart will guest star for roundtables; Olivia Munn ("Perfect Couples") will play a financial analyst with her own show on the network; Jane Fonda will be the CEO of a parent company; John Tenney ("The Closer") will join as Mackenzie's boyfriend and Natalie Morales ("The Middleman") as Neal's girlfriend. Stay tuned. I have a feeling it only gets better.

Premieres Sunday June 24th at 10pm on HBO.

TV: The Future Projects of Actors From the Cancelled Shows of Fall 2011-2012

Sure, a TON of shows were cancelled this year. Some before they were barely out of the gate ("How to be a Gentleman"), some despite relatively decent ratings ("GCB"), and some who were long overdue ("One Tree Hill"). But for those of you who loyally watched or at least DVRed every week to tune in for your favorite cast members, fret not. Some of them have scored new shows (some even with better prospects) and some you might even see on the big screen soon. So wipe the snot off your face, stop watching reruns, and check out where you can see these recently-canned actors next:

Adam Rodriguez
Cancelled Series: CBS's "CSI: Miami" where he played a cop.
Why We Loved His Character: He was the handsome, lighthearted, Latino charmer that the series needed to set it apart from the other "CSI" incarnations, I guess. I'm not a CSIer.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the Steven Soderbergh stripper dramedy Magic Mike with several other incredibly hot, half-naked people.

Adrianne Palicki
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Friday Night Lights" where she played the sassy hot girl.
Why We Loved Her Character: She may have been thought of as a skank, but she owned her sex appeal and used it to her advantage.
Upcoming Role: She'll star in the sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation and the remake Red Dawn.

Aidan Quinn
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Prime Suspect" where he played the lieutenant.
Why We Loved His Character: His stodgy support of the old boys' club was grating at first, but he gave credit where credit was due and owned up to his mistakes when the time came.
Upcoming Role: He'll show some range by playing the captain on the upcoming CBS's Sherlock series "Elementary."

Aimee Teegarden
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Friday Night Lights" where she played the daughter of the coach.
Why We Loved Her Character: She kept the coach and his wife on their toes and helped Matt believe in himself.
Upcoming Role: She'll costar in the romantic war drama Love and Honor with Liam Hemsworth (Hunger Games) and Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four).

Amanda Peet
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Bent" where she played an uptight single mother.
Why We Loved Her Character: Her nervous reactions to being romanced by her manwhore contractor were hilariously embarrassing, yet totally relatable. What strong woman wouldn't pretend to not be easily flustered by dimples and a cute smile? I mean, besides one who wants to get laid.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the romantic drama To the Wonder with Rachel McAdams, Jessica Chastain, and Ben Affleck, and the comedy Identity Thief with Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, and John Cho. 

Amaury Nolasco
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Work It" where he played the unemployed, desperate, cross-dressing, prescription drug salesman.../woman.
Why We Loved His Character: His thick accent and seemingly uncontrollable attraction to the opposite sex.
Upcoming Role: He'll play a friend of John McClane in the Die Hard sequel A Good Day to Die Hard.

Amber Heard
Cancelled Series: NBC's "The Playboy Club" where she played the newest bunny.
Why We Loved Her Character: In spite of her tawdry ambition, she seemed to want more out of life than to be lusted after. She wanted to be known.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in Robert Rodriguez's action massacre Machete Kills with Mel Gibson, Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, and Michelle Rodriguez, and the crime drama Motor City with Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman.

Annie Ilonzeh
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Charlie's Angels" where she played a crime-fighting private detective.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was a third of a badass trio.
New Series: She'll play the Black Canary's co-worker on the CW's upcoming Green Arrow superhero series "Arrow."

Ben Schwartz
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Undercovers" where he played a tech wiz and sidekick.
Why We Loved His Character: His dorky eagerness.
New Series: He'll play a sleazy businessman in SHO's "House of Lies."
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the dramatic thriller Runner, Runner with Ben Affleck, Justin Timberlake, and Gemma Arterton.

Boris Kodjoe
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Undercovers" where he played a spy.
Why We Loved His Character: His cocky and suave attitude.
New Series: He'll play an attorney on ABC's upcoming mystery drama "Scruples."
Upcoming Role: The sequel Resident Evil: Retribution.

Brenda Strong
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Desperate Housewives" where she was the suicidal narrator.
Why We Loved Her Character: She provided the "moral of the story" each episode with great wisdom.
New Series: She'll play the matriarch in TNT's "Dallas" revival.

Britt Robertson
Cancelled Series: The CW's "The Secret Circle" where she played a dark witch.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was a sweet orphan swayed by the dark side because she was driven to protect the people she loved. She represented the fight between good and evil that's within all of us.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the teen rom-com The First Time with Dylan O'Brien ("Teen Wolf") and Victoria Justice ("Victorious").

Brittany Snow
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Harry's Law" where she played a spunky, fashion-obsessed assistant.
Why We Loved Her Character: In a rather dull series, she was the jovial sprite.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the comedy Misfits Christmas with Ashley Tisdale ("Hellcats" and High School Musical) and Evan Ross ("90210" and ATL), and the music comedy Pitch Perfect with Anna Kendrick (50/50 and Up in the Air), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Fright Night and Kick-Ass), and Rebel Wilson (What to Expect When You're Expecting and Bridesmaids).

Chad Michael Murray
Cancelled Series: The CW's "One Tree Hill" where he played an outcast turned author.
Why We Loved His Character: He was the boy-next-door who inspired his friends to do better and want more with his potent words.
New Series: He'll play a creative director in the upcoming scandalous ABC period drama "Scruples."
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the indie music bio drama Renee with Kat Dennings ("2 Broke Girls") and Rupert Friend (The Young Victoria).

Chris Zylka
Cancelled Series: The CW's "The Secret Circle" where he played a reformed witch hunter.
Why We Loved His Character: He was the quintessential bad boy who feared never living up to the expectations of any girl he adored, and vowed to avenge the death of his family.
Upcoming Role: He'll play Flash Thompson, Peter Parker's high school bully, in the superhero saga's reboot The Amazing Spider-Man.

Clark Duke
Cancelled Series: ABC Family's "Greek" where he played a religious, obnoxious dork.
Why We Loved His Character: He was a nice contrast from everyone else who wasn't so reluctant to have fun.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the comedies Identity Thief with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, and A.C.O.D. with Jessica Alba, Amy Poehler, and Adam Scott ("Parks and Recreation").

Connie Britton
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Friday Night Lights" where she played the coach's wife and the hardworking principal.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was a tough cookie and the perfect match for the stubborn coach.
New Series: She'll star in the upcoming ABC drama "Nashville" as a country star struggling to compete with young starlets.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the dramatic thriller By Virtue Fall with Armie Hammer (Mirror Mirror) and Eric Bana.

David Krumholtz
Cancelled Series: NBC's "The Playboy Club" where he played the manager.
Why We Loved His Character: His heavy New York accent and sleazy, self-important endeavors added the right amount of authenticity to the period drama.
New Series: He'll costar with Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") in CBS's new buddy comedy "Partners," which is about a straight and gay man who own an architect business together.

David Walton
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Bent" where he played a gambling-addicted contractor.
Why We Loved His Character: His charming nature and overconfidence made up for his slacker reputation.
New Series: He'll star in the upcoming CBS series "Oh Fuck, It's You" about a guy who realizes his best friend is "The One" after a near-death experience.

Felicity Huffman
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Desperate Housewives" where she played the overworked and under-appreciated mother-of-many.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was probably the cleverest of the housewives, and she helped her family survive to the very end.
Upcoming Role: She'll costar with her husband, William H. Macy, in a drama he directed called Rudderless.

Hank Azaria
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Free Agent" where he played a recently divorced ad exec.
Why We Loved His Character: It was easy to empathize with him. He was a well-meaning hopeless romantic who just wanted someone to share his life with, but instead had to endure the bizarre practices of modern dating.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the bio drama Lovelace with Amanda Seyfried and James Franco, and the sequel The Smurfs 2.

James Lafferty
Cancelled Series: The CW's "One Tree Hill" where he played a bully turned pro basketball player.
Why We Loved His Character: He was easy to hate until he fell in love with Haley and slowly transformed into the man she deserved.
Upcoming Role: He'll star in the indie rom-com Sam opposite Anna Chlumsky ("Veep" and In the Loop).

Jason Clarke
Cancelled Series: FOX's "The Chicago Code" where he played a brash detective who didn't play by the rules.
Why We Loved His Character: Even though there were plenty of reasons why he should've backed down, he never did.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the crime drama Lawless, the adaptation The Great Gatsby, and the upcoming Kathryn Bigelow war drama Zero Dark Thirty.

Jason George
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Off the Map," where he played a cocky doctor with a drug addiction.
Why We Loved His Character: He had a certain bravado that was a nice contrast to all the do-gooding going on.
New Series: He'll play Alyssa Milano's lover in the upcoming ABC drama "Mistresses."

Jason Isaacs
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Awake" where he played a detective trying to figure out which reality he lived in was real after a car accident split his world apart.
Why We Loved His Character: We were sympathetic to his trauma. Honestly, what would you do if you had to choose between the person you're in love with and your child? And what would you sacrifice to keep them both?
Upcoming Role: The thriller A Single Shot with Sam Rockwell, William H. Macy, and Melissa Leo, and the sequel Resident Evil: Retribution.

Jason O'Mara
Cancelled Series: FOX's "Terra Nova" where he played a cop in a new civilization.
Why We Loved His Character: He was brave in the face of new and unexpected dangers in spite of dinosaurs and rebel warriors packing futuristic weapons in an analog world.
New Series: He'll play a deputy in the upcoming 60s CBS drama "Vegas."

Jeananne Goossen
Cancelled Series: FOX's "Alcatraz" where she played the coroner.
Why We Loved Her Character: Even though she had maybe 15 minutes of screen time in the entire season, she made an impression. She was tough, but gorgeous. You can tell she was meant for a larger role.
New Series: She'll play a detective on FOX's new serial killer drama "The Following" opposite Kevin Bacon.

Jesse Plemons
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Bent" where he played an apprentice contractor.
Why We Loved His Character: It's the same reason we love all of Plemons' characters: He's that adorkable, nervous spaz that deserves the girl but often gets so tongue-tied he acts as his very own cockblocker. He's the underdog you can't help but root for.
New Series: He'll be in the religious drama The Master with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams.

Jesse Spencer
Cancelled Series: FOX's "House M.D." where he played a doctor.
Why We Loved His Character: Anybody who can put up with House as long as he did deserves a medal.
New Series: He'll play a firefighter on NBC's new firefighter drama "Chicago Fire."...one more time: fire.

Jorge Garcia
Cancelled Series: FOX's "Alcatraz" where he played an expert of the prison and a comic book nerd.
Why We Loved His Character: He's a lovable lug eager to help out in spite of the limitations of his size.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the comedy Get a Job with Anna Kendrick, Allison Brie ("Community" and "Mad Men"), Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Cho, and many more.

Josh Lucas
Cancelled Series: NBC's "The Firm" where he played an attorney.
Why We Loved His Character: It was a classic David & Goliath story.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the action film Stolen with Nicolas Cage and Malin Akerman (Wanderlust and Watchmen), and the indie drama Big Sur with Stana Katic ("The Castle") and Kate Bosworth.

Karine Vanasse
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Pan Am" where she played a French stewardess.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was exotic, but sophisticated and sweet. Every girl wanted to look like her and every guy wanted to sweep her off her feet.
New Series: She'll play a designer on the new scandalous ABC period drama "Scruples."

Kathryn Hahn
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Free Agents" where she played an ad exec.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was quick-witted and unmerciful, but secretly vulnerable and equally as pathetic as her f*ckbuddy slash punching bag.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the adventure dramedy The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, and Adam Scott (Friends with Kids and "Parks and Recreation").

Kyle Bornheimer
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Perfect Couples" where he played a clueless, clumsy husband.
Why We Loved His Character: He was dorky and relatable.
New Series: He'll play a fuck-up charged with taking over his aging father's business in the upcoming ABC comedy "The Family Tools."
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the star-studded indie comedy The Big Wedding with Robert De Niro, Diane Keaton, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, and many more.

Kyle Chandler
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Friday Night Lights" where he played the coach.
Why We Loved His Character: He was an inspirational, caring father figure for so many boys who were in need of guidance and understanding.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the dramatic thriller Broken City with Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and the crime drama The Wolf of Wall Street with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill.

Kyle MacLachlan
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Desperate Housewives" where he played Brie's husband.
Why We Loved His Character: He managed to match Brie's classiness and deviousness perfectly.
New Series: He'll play a law firm founder in CBS's upcoming legal series "Made in Jersey."
Upcoming Role: He'll be in an untitled indie drama with Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones (Like Crazy).

Landon Liboiron
Cancelled Series: FOX's "Terra Nova" where he played the rebellious son.
Why We Loved His Character: He was devoted to bringing his girlfriend to the new world and risked everything to get her there, even when he had simpler, closer prospects available to him.
New Series: He'll play a kid who tries to help solve a girl's murder on Netflix's upcoming mystery horror "Hemlock Grove."

Laura Benanti
Cancelled Series: NBC's "The Playboy Club" where she played the head bunny.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was catty, vindictive, and manipulative, but also talented and enterprising. Ingredients that when mixed together can be deadly. A true femme fatale.
New Series: She'll play a counselor on NBC's therapeutic comedy "Go On" opposite Matthew Perry.

Laura Prepon
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Are You There, Chelsea?" where she played a slutty waitress.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was unabashedly earnest in her desire for hot guys—a particular breed of modern feminism.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the indie comedy Lay the Favorite with Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall (The Town and Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Catherine Zeta-Jones, Vince Vaughn, and Joshua Jackson ("Fringe").

Lauren Lapkus
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Are You There, Chelsea?" where she played the nerdy, cat-loving virgin.
Why We Loved Her Character: Her goofy voice, expressive facial features, huge eyes, and innocent demeanor were a stark contrast to her free-wheeling roommates, and sometimes hilariously so.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the comedy You Are Here with Zach Galifianakis, Owen Wilson, and Amy Poehler.

Liza Lapira
Cancelled Series: FOX's "Traffic Light" where she played the hilariously vindictive yet mature half of a married couple.
Why We Loved Her Character: She had THE best lines and delivery.
New Series: She plays an obsessive stalker in the ABC comedy "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23."

Mamie Gummer
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Off the Map" where she played an uptight surgeon who left traditional medicine because she felt guilty about the death of a child patient.
Why We Loved Her Character: She wasn't prone to taking anyone's shit.
New Series: She'll star in the CW medical series "Emily Owens, M.D.," where she'll play an insecure new doctor who finds her work environment to be very much like high school.

Margot Robbie
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Pan Am" where she played the naive and wide-eyed stewardess.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was a dreamer who was bold enough to take the leap in a time when women often did what they were told and regretted it every day.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the time travel rom-com About Time with Rachael McAdams, Bill Nighy (Love Actually), and Tom Hollander (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest).

Maria Bello
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Prime Suspect" where she played a tomboy detective.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was resilient and badass, and in spite of the macho misogyny of her fellow officers, she stuck it out, earned their respect, and showed them how it's done.
New Series: She'll join FOX's "Touch" next season as the mother of a child similar to Jake.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the indie dramedy Wild Oats with Jack Black.

Mark Valley
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Harry's Law" where he played an attorney.
Why We Loved His Character: It's his chiseled jaw and charming nature.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the action film Stolen with Nicolas Cage, Malin Akerman, and Josh Lucas.

Matthew Perry
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Mr. Sunshine" where he played an overworked stadium manager.
Why We Loved His Character: The same reason we love all of Perry's characters: they're adorably frazzled, perplexed, and mildly annoyed by everything and everyone.
New Series: He'll play a sportscaster who joins a mandatory therapy group after a loss in the upcoming NBC comedy "Go On."

Mercedes Masohn
Cancelled Series: FOX's "The Finder" where she played a U.S. Marshall.
Why We Loved Her Character: She managed to maintain a good balance between being girly and sexy, and being authoritative and formidable.
New Series: She'll play a fashion photographer who lives in a haunted building on ABC's new horror series "666 Park Avenue."

Nathan Corddry
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Harry's Law" where he played a lawyer.
Why We Loved His Character: He has a nervous way about him that makes him endearing.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the comedy Imogene starring Kristen Wiig, Darren Criss ("Glee"), and Matt Dillon.

Naturi Naughton
Cancelled Series: NBC's "The Playboy Club" where she played an ambitious bunny.
Why We Loved Her Character: Her goals didn't stop at making big tips or marrying rich. She wanted to be the first black bunny on the cover of Playboy, and make history.
New Series: She plays a masseuse who gives "happy endings" on Liftetime's "The Client List."

Olivia Munn
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Perfect Couples" where she played an obsessive, micro-managing wife.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was comically psychotic.
New Series: She'll play a financial broadcast reporter with a severe lack of social skills on Aaron Sorkin's upcoming HBO drama "The Newsroom."
Upcoming Role: She'll appear in the stripper dramedy Magic Mike.

Olivia Wilde
Cancelled Series: FOX's "House" where she played a doctor.
Why We Loved Her Character: Not many female docs on TV were this cool.
Upcoming Role: You can see her this summer in the indie drama People Like Us with Chris Pine (Star Trek) and Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games); some time this year in the dramedy The Longest Week with Jason Bateman and Billy Crudup (Eat Pray Love); next year in the magic-driven comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone with Jim Carrey and Steve Carell; the Ron Howard-directed bio drama Rush starring Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers); the indie dramedy Better Living with Chemistry with Michelle Monaghan (Source Code) and Sam Rockwell; the comedy Relanxious with Jason Sudeikis (Horrible Bosses); and the romantic drama Third Person with Liam Neeson and Naomi Watts.

Patrick Wilson
Cancelled Series: CBS's "A Gifted Man" where he played a reformed doctor.
Why We Loved His Character: We admired his struggle with finally putting his patients before his own ambition.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror Prometheus, and the horror thriller The Warren Files with Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air).

Rachael Taylor
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Charlie's Angels" where she played a crime-fighting private detective.
Why We Loved Her Character: Even though she had a luxurious lifestyle, she gave it all up to do something meaningful with her life.
New Series: A new tenant in a haunted building on ABC's upcoming horror series "666 Park Avenue."

Rob Schneider
Cancelled Series: CBS's "Rob" where he played an uptight white guy trying to adjust to the Hispanic family he married into.
Why We Loved His Character: His frazzled fish-out-of-water anxiety was completely relatable for anyone who marries into a new family.
Upcoming Role: He'll be in the comedy InAPPropriate Comedy with Lindsay Lohan, Michelle Rodriguez, and Adrien Brody, and the sequel Grown Ups 2.

Robert Buckley
Cancelled Series: The CW's "One Tree Hill" where he played a sports agent.
Why We Loved His Character: His loyalty to his best bud Nathan...and, let's be honest, his hotness.
New Series: He'll play a playwright who lives in a haunted building on ABC's new horror series "666 Park Avenue."

Scott Michael Foster
Cancelled Series: ABC Family's "Greek" where he played the slacker fraternity president.
Why We Loved His Character: No matter how many times he screwed up, he always had the best of intentions and always knew how to have a good time.
New Series: He'll be in the upcoming ABC conspiracy theory thriller "Zero Hour."

Sophia Bush
Cancelled Series: The CW's "One Tree Hill" where she played a mean girl turned fashion mogul.
Why We Loved Her Character: She's the popular girl who grew a conscience and became the best friend anyone could ever have.
New Series: She'll play David Krumholtz's love interest in the upcoming CBS comedy "Partners."

Stark Sands
Cancelled Series: CBS's "NYC 22" where he played a rookie cop.
Why We Loved His Character: Because of his struggle with using his job to get a girl, and how he handled it like a gentleman.
Upcoming Role: He'll play a young soldier on-leave in the Coen Bros' drama Inside Llewyn Davis.

Taylor Kitsch
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Friday Night Lights" where he played an alcoholic football player who never had much faith in himself.
Why We Loved His Character: Because he was ruggedly sexy and laidback, and secretly sweet.
Upcoming Role: He'll play a soldier in the Peter Berg war drama Lone Survivor starring Mark Wahlberg and Ben Foster.

Yvonne Strahovski
Cancelled Series: NBC's "Chuck" where she played a secret agent.
Why We Loved Her Character: Because of her badass moves and soft spot for geeks.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the horror thriller I, Frankenstein with Aaron Eckhart, and the comedy The Guilt Trip with Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand.

Zach Gilford
Cancelled Series: ABC's "Off the Map," where he played a slacker plastic surgeon.
Why We Loved His Character: He only pretended to be a jerk to mask his issues, and he made an adorable effort to woo a non-English speaking native.
New Series: He'll play a doctor in FOX's upcoming drama "The Mob Doctor."
Upcoming Role: He'll costar in the drama In Our Nature with John Slattery ("Mad Men"), Jenna Malone (Sucker Punch), and Gabriel Union, and in the action thriller The Last Stand with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Rodrigo Santoro, and Johnny Knoxville.

Zoey Deutch
Cancelled Series: The CW's "Ringer" where she played a manipulative teenager.
Why We Loved Her Character: She was a really good liar who was a victim of her parents' neglect.
Upcoming Role: She'll be in the Beautiful Creatures adaptation with Emmy Rossum ("Shameless"), Emma Thompson, and Viola Davis.