The always exceptional Southland got renewed for a fourth season today. And it didn't even take a desperate Internet campaign.

I told you that Southland news first to cushion the rest of the news today, starting with the announcement of Fran Drescher's new TV Land show being greenlit for production. Because reruns of The Nanny wouldn't suffice.

It is looking good that Mad Men will be getting a fifth season, just not this year. Apparently, Matt Weiner's demands to become a rich white guy for a show only rich white people watch drastically increased during this last negotiation cycle.

In order to fill the older woman hosting duties on SNL now that Betty White has jumped the shark, Dame Helen Mirren will be hosting the show on April 9. The fact that it took a Russell Brand movie to get her on SNL makes me sad for America.

In case you can't look ahead on your TiVo, here's the ABC finale schedule for the end of this season. Does the fact that the season is ending around the same time it always does count as news?

The. Casting. News. Can't. Look. Away.

To fill the Steve Carell-shaped hole in The Office's last episode this season the show has brought on both Will Arnett and Ricky Gervais. Considering the amount of Will Ferrell we will have to deal with before then, it will be nice to have some funny guest stars close out the season.

Jonathan Cake, a.k.a. Cole Barker on Chuck, must have enjoyed the soapy vibe on Off the Map, because he is going to be joining the regular cast of Desperate Housewives. Good for Cake, but isn't jumping on that show now sort of like deciding that a post-iceberg Titanic is a good way to travel? (Creatively speaking, of course. For some unknown reason that show still has ludicrously healthy ratings.)

24's president, Cherry Jones, has been cast for NBC's parallel world show REM. The fact that she is willing to work on that show makes me have to wonder if it might actually be good.

Playing along side Hank Azaria in Free Agents will be Kathryn Hahn. I am sure she is just glad to not be working with Will Ferrell again.

Oh, and Steven Weber will be on Parenthood at the end of this season and into the next. So all you strangely fanatical Weber-heads can't say I never gave you anything.

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