Further hilariously on-the-nose details convey that the show will be called Z and will be set in Los Angeles. It could only be more true to USA’s form if he worked as a day trader in Brentwood or something.

And the pilot will be helmed by the Transporter director Louis Letterier, so don’t be surprised if the show contains lots of bald guys driving late-model BMW’s, just like the real Los Angeles does.

I would like to tell you that. But I can’t.

Worthy (in this writer’s opinion, at least) channels like FX gained viewers, while the mass-marketed USA channel reigned supreme with shows like Suits, Burn Notice, and Barely Burned Suit Notice Legal Pains…PSYCH!. Unfortunately, MTV also experienced big gains, which means that more and more people are staring slack jawed at shows like 16 and Pregnant, Jersey Shore, and Awkward. Yay?

Here is the breakdown in terms of total viewers, with the percentages being the change over last year:

1. USA – 3.165 +0.3%
2. Disney Channel – 2.647 +3%
3. ESPN – 2.342 -2%
4. TNT – 2.232 -0.8%
5. History – 1.987 +21%
6. Fox News – 1.883 -7%
7. TBS – 1.614 -10%
8. A&E – 1.561 +7%
9. FX – 1.532 +21%
10. ABC Family – 1.462 +1%
11. Nick At Nite – 1.344 -22%
12. SyFy – 1.330 +11%
13. Discovery – 1.288 +2%
14. Adult Swim – 1.237 -9%
15. HGTV – 1.205 -2%
16. MTV – 1.189 +21%
17. AMC – 1.182 +8%
18. Food Network – 1.177 +3%
19. Comedy Central – 1.006 +3%
20. Bravo – 0.926 +6%

(Deadline)

That sounds like it could be funny in a wink, wink, nudge, nudge kind of way. Like, he’s working as a waiter at a restaurant to make ends meet, and the real Nathan Lane comes in for dinner. And the real Nathan Lane complains about having a terrible cold and there’s no way he can act that night. That’s when the Fake Nathan Lane steps in and wins the Real Nathan Lane a Tony. Same thing happened with me and Matthew Broderick. (Futon Critic)

This isn’t USA’s first announced venture into the exciting world of half-hour sitcoms. They previously signed a script deal for a single-camera comedy staring Ron “Tater Salad” White. Maybe the two sitcoms will take place in the same universe, and we’ll eventually see a meeting between Ron White and The Dicocc Brothers. Hey, more boring things have happened! (Deadline)

Like an old, broken down wrestler coming back for one more match, the WWE reality show “Tough Enough” is back in action and taking a lot of pain medication. Originally conceived in 2001 for MTV, the new version will air alongside RAW on USA. The WWE’s most recent attempt at a wrestlers-in-training show, “NXT,” quickly went off the air on Syfy and became a web series, which I would argue is more humiliating than just getting cancelled.

And that’s the entertainment news, because Screen Junkies said so. (EW)

I actually know Sarah Shahi more as an actor than as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, but I do happen to work out to the DCC yoga video. It was made after she left the squad, but it’s an intense workout.

Shahi stars on the new USA show “Fairly Legal.” She plays a mediator, Kate Reed. Get it? Because mediating is fair, and it’s also legal. The first episode has Kate trying to find a solution between the amateur actors who botched a proposal and the would-be groom whose wedding ring they lost.

Looking great as ever, Shahi wore a sleek white dress that was way more glamorous than breakfast called for. I did my best to focus on her eyes, to be respectful, but I hope she didn’t mind my lingering appreciation. She was friendly enough to spend some time with me and me alone and had a good sense of humor about the questions we really wanted to know about.

Q: I have the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader yoga video. Did you do that workout when you were with them?

SS: Did I do that workout? No, I did not. I don’t know if the cheerleaders liked me very much I have to say.

Q: I’m bent over panting, they’re smiling.

SS: Yeah, I’m sure you enjoy it.

Q: Were you not the “cheerleader” type, whatever that is?

SS: Not really. I don’t think I was. The reason I became a cheerleader was because I wanted to get on “Saturday Night Live.” I was in a musical over at SMU and everyone knew I wanted to be an actor, didn’t know how to do it. A background dancer said, “Why don’t you try out for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?” Because back in 1995 they were on “Saturday Night Live.” So I figured that’s it, that’s my way in. It was purely a stepping stone for me. I made the cheerleaders, ended up getting the calendar cover that year, 2000 and Robert Altman came to Texas to film Dr. T and the Women. He used the cheerleaders as his extras and he shot at our rehearsal facility for two weeks. I had no idea who he was. We buddied up, became friends for the two weeks he was there. At the end of his time he said, “What is it that you want to do?” I said I want to be an actress but I don’t know how to go about it in Texas. He said, “Well, you should move to L.A. I think you have what it takes.”

Q: “SNL” would have been big but Altman’s pretty big too.

SS: Altman’s pretty big. I’ll take Altman over “SNL.”

Q: Has acting been all you imagined and dreamed it would be?

SS: No, because I think there’s more and I like surprising myself. This was definitely not what I expected but I mean it in a good way. It’s a lot more work than I anticipated for it to be when I first set out to become an actress but it’s work that I like and work that I want to do more of. Sometimes you have to go to some pretty dark places to feel something. That’s not fun but once again, I’m in love with telling a story and I love playing make believe.

Q: The Maxim Hot 100 lists come out every year. Is that all political?

SS: I think so. Yeah, it is. But all those girls are beautiful. Absolutely it’s whoever is the hottest flavor of the moment definitely gets the first place position.

Q: Hasn’t it been you?

SS: No, I think the highest I ever got on their list 60.

Q: Then there’s clearly a flaw in the system.

SS: [Laughs] Well, I didn’t say that.

Q: What’s in the show for guys?

SS: Well I am in my underwear. That should be enough.

Q: Integral to the plot though, right?

SS: Oh, absolutely. I would never do anything gratuitous, Fred. Come on. Yeah, that sums it up. You’ve got a hot blonde, you’ve got a hot brunette, you’ve got hot extras in the background and guest stars. You guys don’t need anything more. I know how you guys are.

Q: Was it your idea to do karate on the show?

SS: You know, I’m definitely a show pony and I don’t think I have very many talents, but I do think I can throw a punch. So I was more than vocal about that at one point, yes.

Q: Have you ever given a really good beat down in real life?

SS: Yes. To my husband. That’s why he married me. A few times.

Q: Is Kate also of mixed background like you?

SS: You know, Kate’s ethnicity has never really been addressed. I don’t think it’s important. She’s a person. She’s a woman. She’s got the same struggles and triumphs as anybody else, no matter what the skin color or the ethnic background. So yeah, I don’t think it’s ever come up or been important to the series.

Q: Not necessarily “important,” but interesting.

SS: No, I think she’s got other interesting things going on.

Q: Is this a show that could encourage people to have resolutions instead on fighting it out?

SS: Absolutely. I definitely think so. I was very unaware of what a mediator was before I auditioned for the show. Now that I play one on TV, it does make more sense to try to go that route as opposed to the law. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you had to get a lawyer, go to court and you were thrilled about the idea? So they come to a resolution where they allow both sides to win. They’re cheaper than lawyers and they get to the resolution quicker than the legal system. Hopefully it’ll encourage people to go that way.

Q: What are some of the outrageous cases Kate gets to mediate?

SS: Another one is a much deeper one, how much is a man’s life worth? A man was in prison for 25 years. He was wrongly accused. He’s out and per the state of California, you’re only awarded $100 a day. This man did not want money. He wanted his life. So I go about very different ways of trying to get him to really open up and tell me what that is. The show has a good mix of the dark cases and then you’ve got your lighter, sillier [ones] like the grocery store in the pilot episode.

Q: The slogan for the show is “Less lawyer. More appeal.” What does that pun mean to you?

SS: Here’s what I always say about the show. It’s “Sex and the City” meets “Law & Order” with a lot more sex than law.

“Fairly Legal” premieres Jan. 20 on USA.

You may better know Tiffani Thiessen as Kelly Kapowski, Zack Morris‘ Polish, frizzy-haired main squeeze on Saved By The Bell, that is until that slut Stacey Carosi came into the picture. Well now she’s all grown up, taking sexy photographs to break free from her innocent image, and starring in White Collar, a fantastic new drama on USA. Seriously, watch it. For Tiffani and for your entertainment.

A word from Tiffani: “I learned how to smoke from Mark-Paul Gosselaar on Saved by the Bell. He’s the one who taught me, and we smoked together“

Tisk, tisk, Zack Morris. How did you expect Tiffani to resist your charm and stonewashed jeans when you peer pressured her into smoking with you? You’d think someone who narrated their life to an outside audience would know better.

Come on, just try the pics after the jump, they won’t hurt you, we promise.

Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen

Synopsis: About the unlikely partnership of a con artist and an FBI agent who have been playing cat and mouse for years.