- The new J. J. Abrams series “Alcatraz” has officially been greenlit, because Fox needs another beloved, expensive, poorly-rated mystery drama from Abrams right away. The story follows a team of investigators trying to figure out why 1960s prisoners are re-appearing in Alcatraz. Hint: Sideways Universes.

- Also picked up is a “Bones” spin-off called “Finder.” The series stars Geoff Stults as a military-trained “finder” of missing items and persons in Florida. Hint: “Lost and Found” boxes.

- “Human Target” was targeted for cancellation, and subsequently got hit with the dreaded cancellation missile.

- “Breaking In” did just that with strong initial ratings, but the Christian Slater comedy will not make it to season 2.

- “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” is apparently liked, not hated, by Fox executives. They picked up the new Jaime Pressly comedy series.

- “The Chicago Code” has been decoded. It reads: “cancelled.”

- “Traffic Light” got the dreaded red “cancellation” light, not the green one.

- Zooey Deschanel will star in “The New Girl,” a single camera comedy about a teacher who gets dumped. Like all girls who get dumped in movies and TV shows, Deschanel’s quirky teacher character will have to navigate the wacky world… of dating. She’ll do so with her three new dude roommates: “the cynic, the player and the man-child.” Setting my TiVO to “destroy.”

- As I reported earlier, the “House” party continues with season 8.

What else do we know about “The Finder”? The character is based on “The Locator” series of books from Richard Greener. They seem to be a very literal bunch producing these shows. The finder is a locator. Got it. His partner will be played by Michael Clarke Duncan, wh I am obligated to tell you is an Oscar nominee for his work in The Green Mile.

It seems more than a little goofy that the show is being considered a spinoff when it’s pretty clear that the producers are shoehorning this character into the final three episodes of this season solely for the purpose of building an audience for the new show’s premiere. It should be more accurately be described as a “Bones”-incubated show, rather than a spinoff. But that’s wordy.

“Tune in to Fox this for “The Finder.” If you’re a fan of “Bones,” then you’ll fall in love with the new show from the people tangentially associated with it! Tuesdays this fall, after all-new episodes of “Are You Smarter Than a Haitian?”(Deadline)