TBS established itself as cable-channel-as-lifeboat when it offered Conan O’Brien safe harbor in their lineup after what I’ll call “The Jay Leno Incident.”  Its latest revived series is ABC’s discarded /Courteney-Cox‘s-Cleavage-helmed Cougar Town, much to the toast of Big Carl (and Big Joe) lovin’ fans everywhere.  The biggest question though surely is whether or not the show is similar to its old format, and that I can answer without hesitation: 100% yes.  Though the network has changed, there’s no sense of transition, just relief to see the familiar faces of the cul-de-sac.  

The other question of course is whether ABC was right to cancel it in the first place.  After three seasons, does the show still have life?  How long can we go on watching six alcoholics sit around and change the use of common phrases (“I’m going to use ‘junk in the trunk’ to mean emotional baggage.” “Approved!”) and play Penny Can?  The answer lies behind the jump, with my full preview of the upcoming season.

Apparently ABC just couldn’t justify keeping Cougar Town around for another season, but fans need not worry about losing the Courteney Cox led comedy series. Today TBS sent out a press release announcing they had rescued the series and picked it up for a fourth season that will begin airing sometime in early 2013. All the stars will be back for at least one more round, and if the ratings deliver on the cable network, we may get even more than a fourth season. It’s refreshing to know that series have more options for survival at this point in TV history when primetime networks aren’t willing to keep a show around to please fans.

And yet they wonder why they have to cancel and scarp so many terrible shows after they cancel the good ones? If Community sticks around like we’re all hoping, maybe we’ll get some more crossover action too. Anyway, for the full press release with this good news, hit the jump!

Famous for his role co-starring in Fox’s House M.D. for the last eight seasons, Jesse Spencer will now be on the front line of the Dick Wolf drama, Chicago Fire. The NBC pilot will hopefully set off a dramatic series that follows the professional and personal lives of the firefighters in Chicago’s Firehouse 55. Spencer has been cast as Matthew Casey, a natural leader who was born to be a firefighter. A recent separation from his wife, however, causes friction in his personal life. Hit the jump for more on Chicago Fire as well as recent additions to more upcoming pilots.