Broadway and the New TV Season: Monday - Wednesday

Just as we are starting a new Broadway season, so too is TVLand.  And isn't it nice that so many stage stars are appearing in our living rooms when we can't get them live on stage?  Here is a round-up (though not all-inclusive, I'm sure) of Broadway actors slumming acting on the small screen this fall.

MONDAY

Florence Henderson of Dancing with the Stars

8PM:  ABC - Dancing with the Stars - Always a natural connection to Broadway, this season is no different.  Florence Henderson (The Girl Who Came to Supper, Fanny, Oklahoma!) is said to be Broadway-bound in Merry-Go-Round.  David Hasselhoff starred on Broadway (and DVD) in Jekyll and Hyde.  Meanwhile, Jennifer Grey is the daughter of legend Joel Grey, and even Brandy did a TV version of Cinderella with the likes of Bernadette Peters!

9PM:  NBC: The Event - This big show features Zeljko Ivanek (Biloxi Blues).

9:30PM:  CBS - Mike and Molly - Tony Winner Swoosie Kurtz (The House of Blue Leaves) goes from Pushing Daisies to this comedy.

10PM:  CBS - Hawaii 5-0 - This sexy remake features Jean Smart (The Man Who Came to Dinner) as the Governor of the 50th state.

Returning from last year:  Matthew Settle (Chicago) in Gossip Girl.  Josh Radnor (The Graduate) and Neil Patrick Harris (Cabaret, Assassins) in How I Met Your Mother.

TUESDAY

Jon Michael Hill of Detroit 1-8-7

9PM:  FOX - Raising Hope - This sitcom features Tony nominee Martha Plimpton (Pal Joey).

10PM:  ABC - Detroit 1-8-7 -  Superior Donuts' Tony nominee Jon Michael Hill co-stars in this police drama.

Returning from last year: Matthew Morrison (Hairspray, South Pacific), Lea Michele, Jenna Ushkowitz (both in Spring Awakening) are all in Glee, not to mention MANY Broadway guest stars: Idina, Kristin, Jonathan, Cheyenne, and John Stamos (Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie).  Barrett Foa (Avenue Q), Chris O'Donnell (The Man with All the Luck) in NCIS: Los Angeles.  The Good Wife features Festen's Juliana Margulies, Women on the Verge's Mary Beth Piel, Gore Vidal's A Good Man's Chris Noth, Boeing Boeing's Christine Baranski, 13's Graham Phillips, and Cabaret's Alan Cumming - PLUS the first episode features guest stars Montego Glover (Memphis) and Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins).  And then there is NBC's Parenthood  which features Peter Krause, Bonnie Bedelia, Lauren Graham and Craig T. Nelson, all of whom have Broadway credits.

WEDNESDAY

Alfred Molina of Law and Order: Los Angeles

8PM:  NBC - Undercovers - This action-drama co-stars Gerald McRaney (Dividing the Estate)

8:30PM:  ABC - Better with You -  Cat on a Hot Tin Roof's Debra Jo Rupp.

10PM:  ABC - The Whole Truth - Rob Morrow (The Boys of Winter) and Maura Tierney (The 24 Hour Plays of 2008) co-star in this legal drama as opposing attorneys.
10PM:  NBC - Law and Order: Los Angeles - Alfred Molina (RED) and Terrence Howard (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) co-star in this latest "Dun Dun" spin-off.

Returning from last year: Patricia Heaton (Don't Get God Started) in The Middle, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Spelling Bee) in Modern Family.  Plus I am sure stage stars will continue to dominate guest starring roles on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, along with B.D. Wong (M. Butterfly).

And of course, this doesn't include the cable networks...  what will you be watching this fall?

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Jeff
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