Tuning In

‘Tucker’ canned

Tucker Carlson’s live political talk show, “Tucker,” which airs at 6 p.m. weekdays on MSNBC, has been canceled.

The MediaBistro blog TVNewser broke the story over the weekend. Politico columnist Michael Calderone spoke to Mr. Carlson Sunday night, and the host confirmed the news. Mr. Carlson will stay on as a political contributor to MSNBC at least through this year’s presidential election.

Mr. Carlson — who also was a competitor on season three of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” — spent almost three years at MSNBC, where his show went through four time slots and about as many formats. It originally was called “The Situation With Tucker Carlson.” TVNewser notes that “Tucker” sometimes builds on its lead-in from “Hardball With Chris Matthews” and at other times loses viewers. Associated Press reports that Mr. Carlson will be replaced by David Gregory, NBC News’ chief White House correspondent. His new show will be titled “Race for the White House” and will begin airing Monday.

The last ‘Word’

The “L Word” is set to take its final bow.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Showtime has renewed the lesbian-themed drama for a sixth and final season, which will make it one of the premium network’s longest-running series. Eight episodes have been ordered, targeted to go into production in early summer for an early 2009 premiere.

“L Word” follows a group of Los Angeles-based friends as they navigate careers, families, friendships, personal struggles and romantic relationships. The series became the first prime-time lesbian drama on television when it debuted in January 2004.

The season five finale is set to air March 23.

‘Ladies’ first on HBO

HBO will develop a 13-part drama series from the best-selling book series “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” and also will air the two-hour film directed by Oscar winner Anthony Minghella (“The English Patient”) from the script he co-wrote with Richard Curtis, MultiChannel.com reports.

Grammy winner Jill Scott (“Tyler Perry’ s Why Did I Get Married?”) will star in the series, whose two-hour pilot was filmed on location in Botswana. Mr. Curtis, an Oscar nominee for “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” is an executive producer with Mr. Minghella; producers are Oscar winner Sydney Pollack (“Out of Africa”) and Timothy Bricknell for Mirage Enterprises, along with Amy Moore for Cinechicks. The pilot is scheduled to air on the BBC in the United Kingdom later this month.

The 13 one-hour episodes will begin filming this summer.

“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” book series, by author Alexander McCall Smith, chronicles the adventures of Precious Ramotswe (Miss Scott, in concert now through Saturday at DAR Constitution Hall), proprietor of the only woman-owned detective agency in Botswana. Aided by her highly efficient but rather peculiar secretary, Mma Makutsi (played by Tony winner Anika Noni Rose of “Dreamgirls”), Mma Ramotswe investigates cases and helps people solve problems in their lives.

Lucian Msamati plays her devoted suitor, JLB Matekoni. They are joined by David Oyelowo, Idris Elba (of HBO’ s just-ended series “The Wire”), Colin Salmon and Tony Award winner John Kani.

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