‘Alias’ returns to schedule in April
The spy drama “Alias,” starring Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, will finally return to ABC’s schedule on April 19.
The two-hour episode will feature the birth of Sydney’s baby and the reappearance of love interest/fellow spy Michael Vaughn (played by Michael Vartan), who had been presumed dead.
Garner, 33, gave birth to a daughter, Violet, on Dec. 1. The baby is the first child for Garner and her husband, Ben Affleck.
“Alias,” created by J.J. Abrams, is ending its five-year run this spring. It previously was seen this season on Thursday nights; no episodes have aired since Dec. 14.
Other familiar faces who will crop up in Sydney’s life during the show’s final episodes include best friend Will Tippin (Bradley Cooper), mother Irina Derevko (Lena Olin) and nemesis Julian Sark (David Anders).
Full White House
A flock of alumni of NBC’s “The West Wing” will return to reprise their roles one last time for the White House drama’s final episodes.
Rob Lowe will come back as Sam Seaborn, the senior political official he played from 1999-2003. Lowe was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in 2001.
Mary-Louise Parker, who now stars on Showtime’s “Weeds,” will return as women’s-rights advocate Amy Gardner, who had an on-again, off-again romance with presidential adviser Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford).
Also bringing back their characters at various points during the final 10 episodes: Emily Procter (former associate White House counsel Ainsley Hayes), Marlee Matlin (pollster Joey Lucas), Gary Cole (Vice President Bob Russell), Tim Matheson (former Vice President John Hoynes), Timothy Busfield (reporter Danny Concanon) and Annabeth Gish (presidential daughter Elizabeth Bartlet Westin).
“West Wing,” starring Martin Sheen as President Jeb Bartlet, returns March 12. The finale airs May 14.
‘Charmed’ wears off
The witches of “Charmed” won’t be making the move when the WB network combines forces with UPN to become the CW network in the fall.
A WB spokesman said Friday that said the supernatural series, which stars Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs, will end after eight seasons. The final episode airs May 21.
With “7th Heaven” having already announced its exit, it means that two WB long-running series won’t move to the CW. The WB and UPN will both shut down in September.