Tuning In to TV

’Who’ star in pilot

Popular British actor David Tennant, best known for playing the title role in the BBC’s long-running science-fiction series “Doctor Who,” is set to make his American television debut as the title character in NBC’s hourlong pilot “Rex Is Not Your Lawyer,” notes the Hollywood Reporter.

Written by Andrew Leeds and David Lampson, “Rex” centers on Rex Alexander (Mr. Tennant), a top Chicago litigator who begins suffering panic attacks and takes up coaching clients to represent themselves in court.

David Semel, who directed the pilots for “Heroes” and “Life,” has come onboard to helm the comedic legal drama.

NBC approved the “Rex” project in August, about two years after it was first developed, and had been trying to find a lead actor for several months until Mr. Tennant came along and nailed the part, THR notes.

Mr. Tennant, a theater and television actor, rose to fame playing the mysterious alien time traveler at the center of “Doctor Who” for the past five years. His performance as the Doctor has been often rated as the top in the franchise’s 46-year history.

His casting is reminiscent of the tapping of another established British TV actor with virtually no American TV experience, Hugh Laurie, as the lead on Fox’s medical drama “House.”

Mr. Tennant also co-starred in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

Janet talks

ABC’s prime-time interview with pop star Janet Jackson is expected to be her first lengthy television interview since her brother Michael’s death.

According to Associated Press, ABC’s Robin Roberts will interview Miss Jackson at her California home for an hourlong special scheduled to air Nov. 18. Miss Jackson is promoting a greatest-hits CD that is coming out for the holiday season.

The network says it’s the first time Miss Jackson has allowed television cameras into her Malibu home.

She paid tribute to her late brother in September at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Miss Jackson danced to a recording of their duet “Scream” and did not address the audience.

Palin blitz is on

Barbara Walters will sit down with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and ABC News will dole out the interview over five parts, beginning Nov. 17 on “Good Morning America,” continuing that evening on “Nightline,” Nov. 18 on “GMA” and Nov. 20 on “20/20.”

The interview is timed to the release of Mrs. Palin’s book “Going Rogue: An American Life,” which hits stores Nov. 17. Mrs. Palin will be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on Nov. 16. She also will also appear on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program Nov. 18. It will be her first cable interview, Broadcastingcable.com reports.

Mrs. Palin will discuss her political life as governor of Alaska and as Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 presidential election, as well as her private life.

’Bachelor’ set for Jan.

Note to everyone appearing on “The Bachelor” this season: Get your skin-care regime in order, ’cause you’ll be airing in HD come January.

ABC says the show will begin its 14th cycle Jan. 4, with a two-hour premiere, Zap2it.com reports. This season also will be the first broadcast in high definition.

The new edition is subtitled “On the Wings of Love.” No, it’s not a reference to the 1982 Jeffrey Osborne hit, but to the fact that “Bachelor” Jake Pavelka — who was rejected on “The Bachelorette” last season — is a pilot.

’Zeroes’ on radar

The feature writing-directing team of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor is venturing into television with a one-hour project for NBC.

“Zeroes,” from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun, is described as a high-intensity drama chronicling the last hour of a crisis situation, MediaWeek.com reports.

BermanBraun approached Mr. Neveldine and Mr. Taylor with the idea to do “a crisis show that doesn’t bore you with all of the buildup leading to the crisis,” Mr. Taylor said.

“We want to drop right into it and sustain the absolute most berserk state of crisis, when all of the options have been exhausted,” he said. “We want to take that last 60 minutes and sustain it for the entire show.”

“Zeroes” refers to a fictional team of guys called in as a last resort who are “absolutely ruthless” in their use of force, Mr. Taylor said.

Mr. Neveldine and Mr. Taylor are writing the script and also are onboard to direct the potential pilot.

In doing so, they plan to use their film experience.

“We came out of guerrilla filmmaking,” Mr. Taylor said. “We learned how to work superfast under pressure, generating a lot footage on a small budget.”

There he is …

Here comes Mario Lopez as the Miss America pageant host.

TLC and the Miss America Organization say that the 36-year-old “Extra” host and former “Dancing With the Stars” runner-up will again serve as master of ceremonies for the live Jan. 30 ceremony at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Mr. Lopez previously hosted the Miss America pageant in 2007 and 2009, the Hollywood Reporter notes.

Next year’s pageant will feature 53 contestants, including Miss District of Columbia, Miss Virgin Islands and Miss Puerto Rico, who returns after a 50-year absence from the event. As always, the women will compete in interview, swimsuit, evening gown and talent competitions for the title of Miss America.

Katie Stam of Indiana is the current Miss America.

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