David Tennant, the outgoing star of Doctor Who, has a chance to make himself known to a broader American audience in the lead role of the NBC pilot, Rex Is Not Your Lawyer.

The basic idea is that Rex Alexander (Tennant) is a really great lawyer, but he suffers from panic attacks--so he ends up coaching clients to represent themselves in court. Wacky! Tennant's casting is being likened to that of fellow Brit Hugh Laurie, who after being cast on House went from a cult favorite in America (from several British hits including Jeeves & Wooster) to a huge American star.

The creative team backing Tennant is led by writers Andrew Leeds (more visible as an actor--he was recently seen on House) and David Lampson (together they created Stephen's Life, the winning entry on Bravo's reality series Situation: Comedy in 2005). More promising is tapping of David Semel to direct (he directed the excellent pilots for Heroes and Life). The showrunner is the seasoned executive producer Barry Schindel (Numb3rs, Castle, Law & Order). The project has been in development since 2007.

Meanwhile, the three final David Tennant Doctor Who specials will air soon in the United States, starting with "Waters of Mars" on Dec. 19.

MOVIES--Opening this week:

• 2012 (2009). Having tried to create mindless blockbuster spectacle at the dawn of humanity with 10,000 BC and natural catacylsm (The Day After Tomorrow), director Roland Emmerich (Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla) now tries for another world-smash, this time picking up the myth that Mayans predicted the end of the world in 2012. Synopsis: An epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. Directed by Roland Emmerich. Starring John Cusack (Jackson Curtis), Amanda Peet (Kate Curtis), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Adrian Helmsley), Thandie Newton (Laura Wilson), Oliver Platt (Carl Anheuser), Tom McCarthy (Gordon Silberman), Woody Harrelson (Charlie Frost), Danny Glover (President Thomas Wilson).
  -- Trailers, clips, and video for 2012.
  

HOME VIDEO--Out on DVD this week:

• Up (2009). Not as amazing as other Pixar films, but a fun movie with some very cute moments. Synopsis: Before they can take him to a retirement home, Carl and his house fly away, accidentally bringing with him an 8 year old stowaway named Russell. Together, they embark in an adventure, where they encounter talking dogs, an evil villain, and a rare bird named Kevin. Directed by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson. Starring Ed Asner (Carl Fredricksen (voice)), Christopher Plummer (Charles Muntz (voice)), Jordan Nagai (Russell (voice)).
  -- Compare prices on Up.
  -- Trailers, clips, and video for Up.
  -- Movie Review of Up.
  

TELEVISION—New episodes this week from:

• Heroes,
• V: The Series,
• FlashForward,
• Vampire Diaries,
• Fringe,
• Supernatural,
• Ghost Whisperer,
• Smallville,
• Medium,
• Stargate Universe,
• Sanctuary,
• Legend of the Seeker, and
• The Prisoner.

Guest stars this week include Alan Tudyk, carrying over his guest shot from the pilot, on V; Perrey Reeves (Entourage) on Ghost Whisperer); Amy Pietz (Aliens in America) on Medium; Emily Perkins (Da Vinci's Inquest) and Chuck Benedict return as superfan Becky and the Prophet Chuck on Supernatural; and Matt Davis (Legally Blonde) on Vampire Diaries.

Synopses below the jump. For details see the listings (regular or alphabetical). Read more...

AMC has exclusively passed along this little teaser of Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen in their six-part miniseries remake of The Prisoner, which debuts on Nov. 15.

In "Fear," a 30-second preview clip, Six (Caviezel) and Two (McKellen) talk about the relationship between fear and guilt, as Six investigates the extent to which he's being watched.

Although it's brief, already here we get a glimpse of how Six will get sucked into the psychological horror of realizing that his everyday life is a sham—that he is in fact a prisoner, without knowing how, or why. These production stills, in addition to Caviezel and McKellen, also include Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). So far, so good. McKellen has a flair for circumspect villainy, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he toys with poor Six.

The Prisoner premieres on Sun., Nov. 15. It will air over three consecutive nights, with two episodes each evening.

The new incarnation of V has figured out what went right and what went wrong in the 80s installments of the franchise, and has delivered what looks so far to be a superior reimagining of a concept that has a great deal of inherent potential.

The new series premieres Tuesday, Nov. 3 on ABC. For my review, go here.

MOVIES - Opening this week:

• The Box (2009). The latest from Richard Kelly, whose last film was the incomprehensble disaster Southland Tales (2006). Based on the Richard Matheson short story "Button, Button." Synopsis: Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift. A mysterious stranger, delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. But, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of someone they don't know. Written and directed by Richard Kelly. Starring Cameron Diaz (Norma Lewis), James Marsden (Arthur Lewis), Frank Langella (Arlington Steward), James Rebhorn (Norm Cahill).
  -- Trailers, clips, and video for The Box.
• A Christmas Carol (2009). Another 3-D animated feature from Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf, The Polar Express), who is evidently still trying to find his way out of the Uncanny Valley. Synopsis: An animated retelling of Charles Dickens classic novel about a Victorian-era miser taken on a journey of self-redemption, courtesy of several mysterious Christmas apparitions. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Starring Jim Carrey (Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Present/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (voice)), Steve Valentine (Funerary Undertaker/Topper (voice)), Daryl Sabara (voice), Sage Ryan (voice), Ryan Ochoa (various (voice)), Bobbi Page (voice), Ron Bottitta (voice), Sammi Hanratty (voice), Julian Holloway (voice), Gary Oldman (Bob Cratchit/Marley/Tiny Tim (voice)), Colin Firth (voice), Cary Elwes (voice).
  -- Trailers, clips, and video for A Christmas Carol.

HOME VIDEO - Out on DVD this week:

• G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009). Synopsis: An elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit, takes on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer. Directed by Stephen Sommers. Starring Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Heavy Duty), Christopher Eccleston (James McCullen), Grégory Fitoussi (Baron de Cobray), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Doctor), Leo Howard (Young Snake Eyes), Karolina Kurkova (Courtney), Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow), Sienna Miller (Anastasia), David Murray (James McCullen), Rachel Nichols (Shana), Kevin J. O'Connor (Dr. Mindbender), Gerald Okamura (Hard Master), Ray Park (Snake Eyes), Jonathan Pryce (U.S. President), Dennis Quaid (General Hawk).
  -- Compare prices on G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
  -- Trailers, clips, and video for G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
  -- Movie Review of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
• Aliens in the Attic (2009). A very silly kids vs. monsters flick, but it knows what it is. Synopsis: A group of kids must protect their vacation home from invading aliens. Directed by John Schultz. Starring Carter Jenkins (Tom Pearson), Austin Butler (Jake Pearson), Ashley Tisdale (Bethany Pearson), Ashley Boettcher (Hannah Pearson), Henri Young (Art Pearson), Regan Young (Lee Pearson), Doris Roberts (Nana Rose Pearson), Robert Hoffman (Ricky Dillman), Kevin Nealon (Stuart Pearson), Gillian Vigman (Nina Pearson), Andy Richter (Uncle Nathan Pearson), Tim Meadows (Sheriff Doug Armstrong).
  -- Compare prices on Aliens in the Attic.
  -- Trailers, clips, and video for Aliens in the Attic.
  

Welcome to sweeps month! Where everyone tries a little harder. New episodes this week from:

• Heroes,
• V: The Series (series premiere!),
• Eastwick,
• FlashForward,
• Vampire Diaries,
• Fringe,
• Supernatural,
• Ghost Whisperer,
• Smallville,
• Medium,
• Stargate Universe,
• Sanctuary, and
• Legend of the Seeker (season premiere!).

Guest stars this week: Elisabeth Röhm (Angel) is on Heroes; Cybill Shepherd is on Eastwick; Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Dollhouse) guests on the V premiere; the always fabulous Alex Kingston returns to FlashForward; Arielle Kebbel (Grounded for Life) is on Vampire Diaries; Julian Sands (The Doci from Stargate SG-1) appears as Jor-El on Smallville; Richard Dean Anderson recurs on Stargate Universe; and Charisma Carpenter is on the season premiere of Legend of the Seeker.

Synopses below the jump. For details see the listings (regular or alphabetical). Read more...

Syfy has ordered 13 episodes of a new version of the BBC original series Being Human.

The truly excellent BBC series, about three 20-something roommates -- a ghost, a vampire and a werewolf - who all lead double lives and try to keep their secrets safe from the world, stars Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, and Aidan Turner. It was created by Toby Whithouse and aired as six episodes on BBC Three starting in January 2009 and on BBC America starting in July.

It's not clear exactly how much will change about the series in its Syfy incarnation: the BBC series is very clever and engaging, but it's also very British; nonetheless, the basic concept of the conflict between one's human and monster lives, along with the dark humor, are both very portable. RDF Media USA will produce this new run of episodes, and RDF's subsidiary Touchpaper Television produced the original series. One factor in Syfy's decision to adapt the show, given how big vampires are lately, is certainly the overarching storyline in the original series involving a vampire plot to attack humanity, a threat that draws in all three of the main characters.

The make-or-break is probably the casting: the writing needs to stay sharp, but everything depends on who plays the three leads. In the BBC version, the first pilot tanked because the casting was not quite right, and the revised version clicked because the cast clicked. Any chance we could keep the British cast? Read more...

Cost-conscious NBC has ordered six more episodes of Chuck, extending its third season to 19 episodes.

The windfall may have something to do with the money saved by amputating Day One, a post-apocalyptic series originally allotted 13 episodes alongside Chuck as part of the Spring season starting in March, down to a four-hour miniseries. NBC also just canceled another new show, the medical drama Trauma, though the chop takes effect after the fulfillment of the original 13-episode order.

The expanded order may also mean a new start date for Chuck. Originally not supposed to come on until after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Chuck may now launch in January, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Chuck was "on the bubble" at the end of last season, but a strong season 2 finish (featuring guest star Scott Bakula), a wide-awake fan-base, money-saving initiatives, and other strengths are now placing it among the shows NBC is betting on for the first half of 2010.

NBC has given a green light to a drama called Nola Rising about crime solvers who interact with ghosts.

Nola Rising, from producer Teri Weinberg (Ugly Betty, Kath & Kim) and writer Diane Ademu-John (Medium, Crossing Jordan), is about the partnership of an unlucky private eye and a charismatic ex-con who allows ghosts to inhabit his body as they solve crimes in New Orleans. (For those who don't know, "Nola" is an abbreviation for New Orleans, Louisiana.)

I'm game for a new supernatural series set in New Orleans--there hasn't been much genre activity there since Heroes abandoned its ho-hum Monica Dawson storyline a year ago. Before that, you go back to--what, Joseph Sisko's restaurant on Deep Space 9? But for some reasons New Orleans-based series are hard to make stick especially since Katrina, as K-Ville amply demonstrated season before last.

The N.O. detective duo premise will also remind people of Chief Wiggum, P. I. ... but maybe in a good way.

Meanwhile, New Orleans bloggers are wondering whether Nola Rising will be shot there--surely the development announcement would have included such an attention-getter if it were?--and if not, why not.