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TV Bulletin Board (Tues., July 19) -- Emmy nominee Connie Britton segues from Austin-madeFriday Night Lights to new FX drama series


Connie Britton, Dylan McDermott teaming in American Horror Story.

By ED BARK
Former Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton, nominated for a best actress Emmy last week, has landed another drama series.

She'll co-star with Dylan McDermott (The Practice) in FX's American Horror Story, whose co-creators are Glee maestros Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.

FX announced Monday that it's ordered 13 episodes of the series, which focuses on a "family of three who move from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish." McDermott plays psychiatrist Ben Harmon, with Britton cast as his wife, Vivien. Two-time Oscar-winner Jessica Lange (Tootsie, Blue Sky) also is in the cast as the Harmons' neighbor, Constance. It's her first weekly TV series.

Murphy also created Nip/Tuck for FX.

***TNT has canceled Men of a Certain Age after two seasons. The critically acclaimed coming-of-middle age drama stars Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula. Cause of death is listed as low ratings. But TNT has picked up a second season of its ongoing alien invasion series, Falling Skies. And ABC has renewed its summertime Rookie Blue series for a Season 3.

***The Encore network is developing its first-ever original programming, with a new, three-hour version of Moby Dick scheduled to premiere on the nights of Aug. 1-2.

William Hurt stars as Captain Ahab, with Gillian Anderson as his wife, Elizabeth and Ethan Hawke as first mate Starbuck.

Encore also is developing a documentary film on Jerry Lewis titled Method to the Madness of Jerry Lewis.

***ABC has rescued the Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise after CBS recently ended its long association with the feel-good movies.

The network says that it's first Hallmark presentation will be Have a Little Faith, adapted from the Mitch Albom bestseller. The cast includes Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford and Martin Landau.