Tuning In

Ryan gets ’Office’ job

Amy Ryan earned an Oscar nomination this year for her scarily intense performance in “Gone Baby Gone,” and she had some quietly devastating scenes in the final season of “The Wire.”

Now she’s striking silly gangsta poses with Michael Scott on “The Office.”

The Oscar nod helped open a few doors for Miss Ryan, and she told her agent and manager that she really would like to be part of the NBC comedy. “Some people thought I — they laughed at me when I told them that, and they said I shot too low,” she tells Zap2it.com. “But I disagree. I think it’s one of the best shows on TV.”

Miss Ryan, who joined the cast on Thursday night, also has some ties to the show. She co-starred with “Office” star Steve Carell in the movie “Dan in Real Life” and is friends with former “Office” worker Rashida Jones, whom she called for advice before joining the show. She also has known writer-producer Paul Lieberstein — who also plays Toby, the departed Dunder Mifflin HR rep whom Miss Ryan’s character, Holly, replaced in last season’s finale — since they both worked on the mid-’90s sitcom “The Naked Truth.”

’Peep Show’ for Spike

Spike TV is peering into “Peep Show,” handing out a pilot order to the U.S. adaptation of the British comedy series, the Hollywood Reporter says.

“Peep Show” is a modern-day “Odd Couple” centering on Jeremy (Rob Chester Smith), a slacker with misguided musical ambitions, and Mark (Brad Morris), his uptight, office-drone roommate, who are living together and trying to survive the many unexpected hurdles life throws at them. The stories are told with what is described as a “unique” first-person perspective and voice-over from the characters.

Shooting on the half-hour pilot just wrapped in Chicago, THR says.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award-winning series is entering its sixth season on Channel 4 in the U.K.

Spike TV premiered its first original comedy series, “The Factory,” in June. No decision has been made regarding a second season.

Burstyn joins ’Effects’

Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn (“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”) has joined the cast of “Possible Side Effects,” Showtime’s drama pilot set inside the world of the pharmaceutical industry, Variety reports.

Miss Burstyn will play the matriarch of the Hunt family, a powerful but dysfunctional brood that runs a drug company that gets into a heap of trouble. Josh Lucas (“American Pyscho”) is already attached to star, as is Tim Blake Nelson (“The Incredible Hulk”).

Tim Robbins is writing and directing “Possible Side Effects,” and also serving as executive producer with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Daniel Thomas.

Miss Burstyn will next be seen in the feature “W.” as Barbara Bush. Her recent TV credits include the telepics “For One More Day” and “Mrs. Harris.” She also appeared in the series “Big Love,” “Book of Daniel” and “That’s Life.”

Weekend highlights:

Friday

The Ex-List (8 p.m., CBS) — Series premiere. Elizabeth Reaser stars in this American adaptation of the hit Israeli show, portraying flower shop owner Bella Bloom, who gets two disturbing messages from a psychic: 1) that she’s already met the man she’s supposed to marry, and 2) that if she doesn’t marry in the next year, she never will.

Ironic Iconic America (8 p.m., Bravo) — Series premiere. Produced by noted fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, this hourlong series offers a unique and whimsical tour of contemporary American culture. Spoken word poet and performer Rives and Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli are the hosts. Based on the book of the same name by Mr. Hilfiger and George Louis.

Saturday

Dream House (7 a.m., HGTV) — A Northern Virginia business and family — Ronald M. Hawes Inc. and homeowners Stephen and Shannon Mackey — will be featured in eight episodes of this series about families who overcome a host of obstacles and challenges to build their ideal abode. The Mackeys are embarking on their dream to start a career as winemakers, while building a new home and vineyard (Notaviva Vineyards in Purcellville, Va.) on the site of an old cattle ranch in western Loudoun County.

Sunday

Masterpiece (9 p.m., WETA-Channel 26, WMPT-Channel 22) — Part one of the five-part “Last Enemy,” a fast-paced thriller about a mathematician (Benedict Cumberbatch) who’s swept up in intrigue when, after years abroad, he returns to England for the funeral of his brother, a doctor killed in Afghanistan.

• Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from staff, Web and wire reports