Throng

Ratings

Glee ended its first run in the US with tied highest season ratings, Criminal Minds had its biggest audience since its season premiere and The New Adventures of Old Christine had its biggest audience in a year. Season 8 of The Biggest Loser just finished in the US with its biggest viewership in four years. MTV's premiere of Teen Mom was their highest rating new series launch since August 2008.

Renewals

Comedy The League (FX) has been renewed for a second season.

Cast and Directing

Broadway star Indina Menzel (Wicked) is joining the cast of Glee as coach to rival club Vocal Adrenaline.

Hugh Laurie will direct his first episode of House: "I am thrilled, daunted and honoured – with a ‘u’ – by this new responsibility,” Laurie. “'House' scripts are Fabergé eggs, and I will try my very hardest not to drop this one on a stone floor."

Coming Soon

It's the final of Season 6 of The X Factor in the UK this weekend. The show hasn't yet been renewed for another season. 2006 winner Leona Lewis has been the biggest star to date.

Susan Boyle is said to have caused problems during filming of I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story which airs in the US and UK this weekend. Apparently she twice broke into disco dancing while singing a ballad.

The UK's Top of the Pops Christmas special will include performances from Lily Allen, La Roux, Dizzee Rascal, Muse, Sugababes, Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity and X Factor stars JLS and Alexandra Burke.

The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty reality TV show starts this weekend in the US on A&E channel. The brothers insist this was going to be a show before Michael died and aren't cashing in on his death. The jury is out.

ABC's new legal drama, The Deep End, premieres January 21st. The show centres around five young first year associates fighting to stay afloat in a top LA law firm.

In Development

JJ Abrams new lighthearted TV project is Undercovers - about a husband and wife who are spies by night and caterers by day. It's not meant to be a Mr and Mrs Smith - they'll be a happy couple this time.

ABC is adapting What? Where? When?, the #1 Russian game show which has run for 35 years. It's tentatively titled The Six - a wheel is spun with viewer questions on it for six experts to try and answer.