SPRING 2014: '24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY' WILL PREMIERE ON MAY 5

24: Live Another Day is getting closer every day, and now the dates have been finalized.

Today, FOX announced the premiere date for the special event series, which picks up from the flagship series 24 though not necessarily right after the events of the final season and episode. Live Another Day is a 12-episode series that will reduce the need for filler as it will tell the events of the latest 24 hours in 12 episodes.

The action-packed drama centering on Jack Bauer's latest dilemma (and in London!) will premiere in a special two-hour episode on Monday, May 5. The following week, May 12, the show will air in its regular 9 pm time slot.

WINTER 2014: ABC'S 'THE ASSETS' IS HISTORY...AFTER ONLY 2 EPISODES

The Assets is history.

ABC has pulled (as expected) the low-rated Cold War drama after only two episodes. It premiered last week to disastrous ratings and continued the downward trend this past Thursday. The Assets was supposed to be an eight-episode miniseries to fill the void while Scandal takes a hiatus. The network, however, was not so thrilled with the less than 3 million viewers at the 10:00 PM slot.

ABC will air repeats of Shark Tank in its place. No word yet on when, or if, the network plans to burn the remaining six episodes later in the year.

WINTER 2014: 'MODERN FAMILY' IS HEADING TO AUSTRALIA

The Pritchetts and Dunphys are going on another vacation this season, and this time it is the Land Down Under, Australia.

In partnership with Qantas Airlines, the ABC comedy will fly down its cast, crew, and showrunner for two weeks in February to shoot the vacation episode that will be aired later this season. Previous seasons of Modern Family has seen the complex family vacation in Hawaii and Wyoming.

No details have been given on what event spearheads this latest excursion but showrunner Steve Levitan assures that the typical Australian things like a kangaroo, koala, and boomerang, and much more will be highlighted in the episode.

WINTER 2014: PALEYFEST 2014 SCHEDULES 'LOST' 10TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION

The cast of Lost are preparing to reunite for one night in what is being touted as a 10th Anniversary Reunion. The much anticipated reunion will take place at PaleyFest 2014, a two-week celebration of television right in the heart of Hollywood. This year's event, which is organized by The Paley Center for Media, will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland.

The Lost panel will take place on Sunday, March 16. No participants have been named yet but it is expected to be revealed in the next few weeks.

Lost premiered September 22, 2004 on ABC and became an international phenomenon lasting for six seasons and 121 episodes.

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY (1/7/14): THE FOLLOWING, ARCHER, CHINA BEACH & MORE

A bunch of fan favorites are hitting store shelves today and we have a breakdown of what's worth picking up and viewing.

Thriller Pick-of-the-Week

The Following - The Complete 1st Season (DVD/BD)

FOX's midseason hit, The Following, releases its short first season and provides viewers an opportunity to catch up on the rollercoaster before its second season debuts later this month.

Comedy Pick-of-the-Week

Archer - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD/BD)

FX's popular animated comedy, Archer, gets a fourth season release just days before the premiere of its new season. This latest release continues to follow the missions and antics of Sterling Archer and gang at ISIS. Break out the liquor and bring on the drinking games!

Retro Pick-of-the-Week

Barney Miller - The Complete Fourth Season

This classic situation comedy, set in the 12th Precinct of Manhattan, New York City, releases another individual season. Back in 2011, the entire Barney Miller series was released in a complete box set by Shout! Factory after obtaining the rights from Sony Television. Now Shout! is releasing the sets that Sony didn't get to and frankly we love it. Barney Miller has become a little gem for Stay Tuned and we are currently halfway through the show's eight season run. The comedy, antics, and chemistry between the detectives of the 12th helped propel the show's popularity, and its influence in future police comedies is clearly noted (Hello Brooklyn Nine-Nine!).

China Beach - Season 2

One of the most requested television series releases its second season. StarVista/Time Life did an excellent job obtaining the rights of almost all of the original music, which was emblematic in the storytelling of the characters and essential for the backdrop of the Vietnam War.

Honorable Mention

House of Lies - The Second Season

Star Trek: Enterprise - Season: Three (BD)

 

WINTER 2014: 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' FINDS ITS AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALE CAST MEMBER

Saturday Night Live has finally found its female African-American cast member in the form of Sasheer Zamata.

Sasheer Zamata is a graduate of the University of Virginia and has performed in numerous comedy festivals as well as the famed Upright Citizen's Brigade. Zamata becomes the first African-American female to appear on SNL since Maya Rudolph departed the late-night sketch comedy show back in 2007.

The pressure for an African-American female player started back in November when actress Kerry Washington hosted SNL. The cold opening poked fun at the fact that Washington would have to play all of its planned African-American women in the skit, which involved several exits and costume changes in those first minutes. Cast members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah have also been very vocal about the casting need and were sort of the catalyst for the search when they both refused to dress in drag.

Zamata's credits include a web series, Pursuit of Sexiness, as well as appearances in videos for College Humor and Fodder. Her first SNL air date is January 18 when Drake hosts and musical guests.

WINTER 2014: JAMES AVERY, 'UNCLE PHIL' ON FRESH PRINCE, DEAD AT 65

Actor James Avery, most famous for his role as Will Smith's Uncle Phil on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, has passed away at 65 from complications following open heart surgery. Former co-star and close friend Alfonso Ribeiro broke the news this morning through his Twitter account. Avery passed away at a Los Angeles hospital on New Year's Eve, December 31.

James Avery was a dedicated actor of both film and television for the past 30 years. Avery appeared in more than 30 films since 1980, usually in small supporting roles. But some roles were more memorable such as the MVA instructor on License to Drive and the cranky neighbor from The Brady Bunch Movie. In television, Avery was a character actor appearing in numerous dramas and comedies before taking on the lead role of patriarch Philip Banks on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.