Tuning In

Send in the clowns

Showtime is bulking up its comedy slate for 2009, greenlighting a second season for comedian Tracey Ullman’s “State of the Union” and ordering a series from British comic Marc Wootton.

According to Variety, the announcements come as Showtime moves closer to giving series orders to its Edie Falco and Toni Collette pilots, both of which are comedies. Nothing has been decided yet, but both projects are highly likely to move forward sometime this summer, joining a Showtime comedy slate that already includes “Weeds” and “Californication.”

“We’re on a bit of a comedy kick right now,” Showtime entertainment President Robert Greenblatt told Daily Variety.

Mr. Greenblatt is particularly high on Mr. Wootton, who’s well-known in the United Kingdom (and to BBC America audiences) for characters such as theatrical psychic Shirley Ghostman.

“I believe he is the new Sasha Baron Cohen,” Mr. Greenblatt said, noting Mr. Wootton’s ability to mine comedy by fooling everyday folks into thinking his characters are real.

In an unusual move, rather than developing a pilot, Showtime is giving Mr. Wootton a blind six-episode series order and is allowing him to create a character-driven alternative comedy in which his characters interact with unassuming real people, Variety reports.

As for Miss Ullman’s “State of the Union,” Showtime has ordered a second season of seven episodes. The series premiered March 30 and wrapped its five-episode freshman season on April 27.

O’Hara eyes ABC pilot

Catherine O’Hara (“Home Alone,” “A Mighty Wind”) is in negotiations to play the matriarch at the center of “Good Behavior,” Rob Thomas’ dramedy pilot for ABC, the Hollywood Reporter says.

The show, from ABC Studios, is based on the New Zealand format “Outrageous Fortune.” It centers on the matriarch of a family of criminals who decides that it’s time for her brood to go straight after her husband is sent to the big house for five years.

In other ABC casting news, Warren Christie has landed the lead of another ABC drama pilot, “Prince of Motor City,” which also has cast Andie MacDowell, THR says.

“Motor City,” from ABC Studios, is a gothic family soap inspired by Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” that centers on a young Harvard philosophy professor (Mr. Christie) forced to return to Detroit and take over the family’s auto company. Miss MacDowell will play his mother.

“Motor City” extends Mr. Christie’s deal with ABC and ABC Studios. He co-starred in the drama “October Road,” which has become a fan favorite but is unlikely to return for a third season, THR notes.

’Ugly’ turn for Lohan

Lindsay Lohan will make a guest appearance on the season finale of ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” Associated Press reports.

The 21-year-old actress is set to play an old schoolmate of America Ferrera’s character Betty Suarez on the show’s May 22 season finale, according to the trade paper Variety.

Both Variety and Usmagazine.com said Miss Lohan began shooting her scenes during the weekend. She’s also expected to appear in five episodes of “Ugly Betty” next season.

Her publicist did not immediately return a call seeking comment yesterday, AP said.

Short takes

• Mariah Carey has canceled her appearance on “The View,” which was scheduled to tape today, ExtraTV.com reports. The news follows her impromptu Wednesday marriage to MTV star Nick Cannon. The couple reportedly dated one month. It’s the second marriage for Miss Carey, 38, and the first for Mr. Cannon, 27.

• Speaking of “The View,” the long-running gabfest — along with “Rachael Ray” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” — is among the Daytime Emmy Award nominees announced last week, the San Diego Union Tribune reports. The programs will compete for best talk show, while the new category of best informative talk show pits nominees “Dr. Phil,” “The Tyra Banks Show” and “A Place of Our Own” against one another. Winners will be announced June 20 in Los Angeles. “The View” hosts Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd are among the nominees for best talk-show host — and get another a chance to break their 10-time losing streak.

On tap tonight …

Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman (9 p.m., Sundance Channel). Filmmaker Jennifer Fox turns the camera on herself and her friends around the world as they struggle for independence over a three-year period.

Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports.