SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

At a time when ABC news is dealing with the Iraqi attack that left anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt critically injured, there’s finally some good news.

“World News Tonight” co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas and her husband, singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, are expecting their second child in late summer.

Vargas and Cohn have a son Zachary, 3, and Cohn has two children from a previous marriage Max, 14, and Emily 11.

“This is joyous news for Marc and our family,” Vargas said. “At the same time, our immediate concern remains with Bob [Woodruff], [wife] Lee, and the entire Woodruff family as we hope and pray for continuing good news about his recovery.”

“I told Elizabeth that during such a difficult time for all of us, it’s good to get such wonderful, life-affirming news,” said ABC News President David Weston.

Vargas, who also co-anchors the ABC newsmagazine “20/20,” will continue to anchor both broadcasts through late summer.

Vargas, 43, and Woodruff, 44, debuted as co-anchors of ABC News’ evening newscast in January 2006. Woodruff is currently being treated at Bethesda Medical Center for injuries he sustained during an IED attack in Iraq on Jan. 29.

Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson will continue to fill in for Woodruff until the end of February as he recovers. When the timetable for Woodruff’s recovery becomes clearer in the coming weeks, ABC News will announce further interim plans for substitution on the broadcast.

ABC News President David Westin sent the following update on Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt to his ABC News colleagues Wednesday, Feb. 8:

“Both Bob and Doug continue to make progress on their different roads to recovery. Yesterday Doug moved into an outpatient facility at Bethesda Medical Center where he will stay in the coming weeks. He is still under the treatment of the doctors there, but this is a positive step on his road to recovery.
Bob is also making progress. The doctors are keeping him sedated for now to help with the healing of his various injuries. They do adjust the levels of his sedation from time to time, and they have been pleased with how he responds even with somewhat lowered sedation.
This remains a long process, but I will continue to let you know when there are important developments.”

“The Sopranos” are back.

The sixth season kicks off at 9 p.m. on March 12, with 12 episodes airing this year and the final eight presented in 2007.

According to the HBO press release, new challenges abound for Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as his life grows increasingly complicated. Now that he and Carmela (Edie Falco) are back together, they must face the reality that their kids are no longer children, but not yet grown. And with Johnny Sack (Vincent Curatola) in prison, the always-tense relations between the New Jersey and New York families are strained even further.

Returning this season are Lorraine Bracco as therapist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, Michael Imperioli as Tony’s nephew Christopher Moltisanti, and Dominic Chianese as Uncle Junior.

Also returning to the series are regulars Robert Iler as Anthony Soprano, Jr., Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Meadow Soprano, Tony Sirico as Paulie Walnuts, and Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante.

Aida Turturro, who plays Tony’s sister Janice, will return to the show as a series regular, as will Steven R. Schirripa as Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri and John Ventimiglia as Artie Bucco.

Guest stars for the sixth season include Jerry Adler (“In Her Shoes”), Tim Daly (“Wings”), Frankie Valli (Four Seasons lead singer), Hal Holbrook (“Men of Honor”), Ben Kingsley (“House of Sand and Fog”), Julianna Margulies (“ER”), Treach (“First Time Felon”), Ron Leibman (“Garden State”), Elizabeth Bracco (“Analyze This”) and Lord Jamar (“Oz”).

In the premiere episode, Tony ponders an associate’s retirement request, and shares a recent windfall with Carmela. Junior takes Tony on a backyard treasure hunt; Hesh (Adler) seeks restitution for a wrong perpetrated on his son-in-law.

March 19 episode: Tony suffers from a case of mistaken identity during a west coast business trip. Written by creator David Chase.

March 26 episode: Silvio divides the spoils from Paulie’s latest score, and heads off a territorial impasse between Bobby and Vito (Joe Gannascoli). Carmela turns to an unexpected source for help with AJ and Christopher turns to an old writing acquaintance, JT Dolan (Tim Daly), for help in a new venture.

Fox tests out the late-night waters with the new series “Talk Show with Spike Feresten” this fall.

The series is set to air from midnight to 12:30 a.m. Saturdays, following the sketch comedy series “MADtv.”

The half-hour show combines traditional elements of the talk show format with “bold and irreverent comedy sketches.” Hosted by Emmy-nominated writer Spike Feresten (“Seinfeld,” “The Late Show with David Letterman”), the show will have guests deliver the monologue and participate in comedy sketches. Additionally, the show includes field pieces, mock commercials and pop-culture parodies.

Frustrated that your favorite show got snuffed?

Well, ABC is giving “Night Stalker” fans a chance to see some unaired episodes through iTunes.

ABC has made three previously unaired episodes of “Night Stalker” available for purchase for $1.99 per episode on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com). These episodes join seven other previously released “Night Stalker” installments on iTunes Music Store.

The three newly released “Night Stalker” episodes are:

* “Into Night” — When two office workers toiling late into the night are found dead the next morning, their bodies mummified, the police attempt to explain the strange deaths away, while Kolchak tries to find out who – or what – killed them before it happens again.

* “Timeless” — Kolchak and Reed are perplexed when they cover a bizarre murder that appears to mirror similar deaths that have occurred every 35 years since the paper was founded.

* “What’s the Frequency, Kolchak?” — Kolchak is kidnapped by a demented man (guest star Paul Krieger) who claims the reporter has been sending him “hidden” messages via his newspaper stories . . . and that they were both institutionalized together at the same mental hospital. While trying to find a way to free himself, Kolchak discovers his tormentor seems to be responsible for a series of sudden disappearances that may have ended in murder

Based on the cult favorite ’70s classic, “Night Stalker” is a mystery series starring Stuart Townsend (“League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”), Gabrielle Union (“The Honeymooners”), Cotter Smith (“X2”) and Eric Jungmann (“Not Another Teen Movie”). Frank Spotnitz (“The X Files”) is creator and executive producer of the series. Dan Sackheim (“The X Files”) served as executive producer and director.

UPN gets this wedding started when a San Francisco man surprises his girlfriend with what UPN is calling the ultimate marriage proposal, wedding and reception.

We’ll be the judge of that.

It all happens on the reality series “Get This Party Started” at 9 p.m. on Feb. 21 on UPN-Channel 44.

Kristin Cavallari (“Laguna Beach”) and Ethan Erickson (“Extra”) host the show which features aspiring musical artist Anthony, who wanted to express his love for his girlfriend Shannon in a big and unique way by proposing and throwing her the surprise wedding of her dreams.

As part of the ruse, Shannon thinks she is rehearsing to be part of a music video for her boyfriend Anthony, while the elite party team converts an empty loft into an elegant and chic setting for the wedding.

But won’t Shannon wonder why mom and dad are in a music video?

“Rock Star: The Series” – just a working title, so don’t get too attached – returns this summer to CBS.

But first, they need to round up some rockers. So get in line.

Auditions will be taking place in early March. Applications for potential singers can be found at CBS.com and http://rockstar.msn.com. Auditions are open to men and women all over the world who are at least 21 years-old.

Open calls will take place in the following cities. Cities are subject to change, with venues announced at a later date.

March 1, 2006