ABC picks up 'Happy Town,' 'Cougar Town,' 'Castle'

ABC on Friday started its series pickups in earnest with nods to drama "Happy Town" and the Courteney Cox-starring comedy "Cougar Town," both from ABC Studios, sources said. Full story

Fox renews 'Dollhouse'

In an underdog comeback that blows away NBC's will-they-or-won't-they hand-wringing over "Chuck" (psst, they almost certainly will), sources say Fox will renew Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" for next fall. Full story

ABC exploring 'Samantha' changes

If ABC's comedy "Samantha Who" returns for a third season, it may look a little different. Sources said the network is exploring converting the amnesia comedy starring Christina Applegate from single- to multi-camera. Full story

ABC preps for a 'Scrubs' return

Veteran comedy "Scrubs" is inching closer to a return for a ninth season on ABC with most of the main cast members locked in to return. Full story

Canadians plan subdued upfront sessions

TORONTO -- There will be no parade of U.S. talent at the Canadian upfront presentations in early June as domestic broadcasters tone down their fall 2009 primetime launches to reflect hard times. Full story

'Ugly Americans' leads Comedy Central slate

Comedy Central is ramping up its animation slate, including a series order for a new show from former "Simpsons" writer David Stern. Full story

Nick orders 'Kung Fu Panda' series

Nickelodeon has ordered "Kung Fu Panda: The Series," a new CG-animated comedy based on last year's boxoffice hit. Full story

For networks, this upfront is a drama

TV crime show writers often employ a ticking clock to ramp up suspense in an episode, putting characters under added stress to solve a mystery by an impossible deadline. But now those writers are the ones watching the minutes tick by, along with the rest of their show's cast and crews, as negotiations go down to the wire on whether networks will renew several veteran series. Full story

A&E reveals development slate

A&E is continuing its scripted push this year, developing eight original dramas, mostly crime procedurals. The projects include pilots from Jerry Bruckheimer, Shawn Ryan and Lynda Obst, as well as a Western miniseries from Kevin Costner. The cable network also renewed nine of its unscripted series and is launching seven new unscripted series. Full story

Nets set to screen pilots

Several pilots head into the screenings with a considerable amount of buzz. At ABC, "Flash Forward" is moving fast-forward to the fall schedule as the network kicked off an elaborate marketing campaign for the show last week during the 100th episode of "Lost." Full story