Ellen DeGeneres got more than she bargained for by signing on with American Idol. The talk show queen has decided that “judging people and sometimes hurting their feelings” is just too hard for her. She also cites a heavier work schedule than she anticipated among the reasons she has decided to exit American Idol effective immediately. She will not appear on the show’s upcoming 10th season.

Ellen’s timing could be serendipitous. Scuttlebutt around the TV industry is that Fox is hoping to replace the entire judging panel this year, to make a big splash following founder Simon Cowell’s highly-publicized exit. (Cowell left to work on the American version of his British talent search show The X Factor.) The sole remaining original judge, Randy Jackson, has reportedly been expressing his desire to move on from the show as well.

At least one new high-profile panel member has just been verified: Jennifer Lopez. Fox isn’t confirming it, but it’s a done deal nonetheless. Fox is likely hoping to make a big announcement of the entire judges panel, which rumors indicate could include big names like Justin Timberlake and Elton John.

Raise your hand if you miss Battlestar Galactica. So say we all!

Yes, Caprica is pretty doggone awesome. But I still miss BSG, darn it.

If you’re feeling the same, Syfy hears your cries. The somewhat-still-science-fiction-based cable network has greenlit an online series (a la Doctor Horrible) called Blood & Chrome, which will depict the adventures of young William “Husker” Adama during the first Cylon War. BSG and Caprica co-exec producer Michael Taylor is writing the script. The goal of the production, according to the Chicago Tribune, is to show “both the realities of war as fought by soldiers on the ground, and the somewhat less real version portrayed in the media.” In other words, expect Blood & Chrome to contain plenty of the same timely social commentary that BSG was known for.

Blood & Chrome episodes are expected to last about nine or ten minutes, and will use the same “virtual sets” (i.e., green screen) production philosophy as Syfy’s Sanctuary. Episodes will also up the ante with more extreme content than you can get away with on the small screen, since it’s destined for Internet broadcast.

If successful, Blood & Chrome could lead to more online BSG projects of a similar nature, or possibly even a Syfy TV show. Production has not yet begun, so it could be a while before the series appears on the Net.

The mystery-laden plot surrounds a cross-section of characters including a regular joe whose girlfriend disappears, the President of the United States, and the leader of a secret group of detainees, all of whom are converging around a singular event in human history. Its fascinating plot is paired with a cast that’s filled with inspired choices like Jason Ritter, Blair Underwood as the U.S. President, and Laura Innes of ER. The Event is already garnering positive comparisons to both Lost and 24, and it’s heading for the fall season with a tremendous amount of buzz.

Best — and most important — of all, The Event’s creators appear to have a solid grasp on their subject matter and all reports indicate that they have a solid master plan. So all of the show’s big mysteries really are leading to some jaw-dropping reveals.

See for yourself what all the hype is about with this smart, pulse-pounding trailer.

Co-creator Ryan Murphy announced plans for the Rocky Horror spot at Comic-Con (SDCC) over this past weekend.

The second season of Glee will debut on Sept. 21 @ 8 PM ET on Fox.

Linda Hamilton

The announcement of her role was made at Comic-Con by show producer Josh Schwartz. According to Schwartz, the decision came from huge fan support for her role in the upcoming season.

The Walking Dead follows the of survivors of a zombie apocalypse and their efforts to find their loved ones and a safe place to live. The buzz on this one is off the charts, and judging by this trailer, it’s going to be intense. Note that the trailer contains some language that’s mildly NSFW.

More properly, it’s CBS Television Studios, not the broadcast network, that’s inked the Oni Press deal. Which means that CBS now has the first rights to look at Oni’s library of comic books and graphic novels and consider using them as fodder for television shows and made-for-TV movies.

On the one hand, this seems like an incredibly smart move, for any television studio right now to tap into something so near and dear to the pop cultural consciousness. But CBS? Seriously? Home of all things procedural and dramatic? Doesn’t seem like a natural fit.

Then again, CBS is letting its inner geek out with its own booth at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, a first for the top-rated network. And they do have The Big Bang Theory, the sitcom that celebrates geekdom in all its glory.

As for Oni, they already have three other properties in development in development at major film studios. So breaking into TV is the next logical step. But CBS? Sure, I could see Fox or even ABC making a move like this. Or better yet, a cable network where more risks can be taken. CBS has never been geek-friendly territory, so they’ve got some serious work to do to make this alliance fit.

According to Mo Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, the two-hour movie will not substitute for two episodes of the show, but will instead be a full movie focused solely on Sam. The movie is set in South America during Sam’s days as a SEAL, and will tell the story of how he ended up retired in Miami.

No air date has been set, as production has not yet begun.

It’s not exactly news that San Diego Comic-Con International is a big deal for Hollywood. Genre movies and TV shows can be made or buried by fan reactions to what they see at the Con.

Several networks have, in recent years, used Comic-Con as a launching pad to build buzz for their newest and hottest shows with panels and show-floor booths with swag giveaways. This year two of the most buzzed-about shows are releasing tie-in comic books as enticements for hungry fans.

IDW Publishing is using Comic-Con to launch a new True Blood comic book line, based on the popular HBO vampire show. At the Con, there are two exclusive editions of True Blood #1 available, each with a different cover. At the IDW booth (#2643), fans can get a special wrap-around cover by artist David Messina. The second special cover will be available through select retailers inside the convention center. Comic stores nationwide also have True Blood #1 starting today.

The first story arc in the True Blood comic book finds Sookie and other Bon Temps residents waiting in Merlotte’s bar for a raging storm outside to break. But this is no ordinary storm; it’s instead a trap set by an entity that feeds off of raw emotions, and soon it begins killing off the bar patrons one by one until its hunger is sated. The plot was developed by series creator Alan Ball and series writers Elisabeth Finch and Kate Barnow, co-written by David Tischman and Mariah Huehner. Messian handles the interior art.

AMC’s The Walking Dead, written and directed by Frank Darabont, is itself based on a comic book by Robert Kirkman and artist Tony Moore. AMC is using Comic-Con to launch its first-ever “motion comic,” which is based on the first 13 pages of the original comic book. The motion comic, which you can view below, serves as an introduction to the world of Walking Dead, and was produced by Juice Films, the same company that produced the Watchmen motion comic. The TV series premieres this October.