Six Feet Under’s Frances Conroy guest stars as Barney’s mom on How I Met Your Married…we’ll also meet his wife and kid. More details on Balthazar Getty’s exit from Brothers & Sisters and some casting updates that include Entourage.
— How I Met Your Mother (Mondays at 8:30pm on E! Canada/CBS): Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) will get a visit from his mother Lorette, who will be played by Six Feet Under‘s Frances Controy. Barney has told his mother that he is married and has a kid! The “wife” will be played by Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle‘s Brooke D’Orsay in the March 2nd episode titled “The Stinsons.” The following week, That ’70s Show and October Road star Laura Prepon (yay! Donna Pinciotti!) begins her 5-episode stint as Karen whom Ted (Josh Radnor) dated on and off in high school and college. Karen’s isn’t so nice. Marshall (Jason Segel) will have a hard time trying not to tell the gang the story abut how he forgot his pants at work.
— Brothers & Sisters (Sunday at 9pm on Global/ABC): The big 2-hour event airs this week from 9-11pm. Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and Robert’s (Rob Lowe) baby will be born and Robert will face a life/death crisis. Tom Skerrit will return as William Walker in a flashback with Kitty later this season. Ryan Lafferty (Luke Grimes) will move in with Rebecca (Emily VanCamp) which will obviously cause even more problems for her and Justin (Dave Annable). Balthazar Getty (Tommy) will make his final appearance as a series regular on the March 15th episode titled “Spring Broken” where Tommy will get arrested, get out on bail and then runaway to Mexico. Sources tell E!’s Watch with Kristen that Tommy will also end up getting “thoroughly wasted, flirt with young girls and get a nice slap across the face from his mother, Nora (Sally Field).”
— Reaper (Season Premiere is on Tuesday, March 3 at 8pm on The CW & ‘A’): When Repear returns for its second season in two weeks, Sam (Bret Harrison) and Andi (Missy Peregrym) discuss their relationship and how Sam’s job with the Devil (Ray Wise) will affect it. Sam, Sock (Tyler Labine) and Benji (Rick Gonzalez) went on a road trip for a few week so they have to quickly capture 40 souls.
— ER (Thursdays at 10pm on CTV/NBC): This week’s episode it titled “The Beginning of the End” and marks Noah Wyle‘s return as Dr. Carter and in the next two weeks will have a difficult time with the new procedures at County. Banfiend (Angela Bassett) and her husband (gest star Courtney B. Vance) continue to try with the In Vitro but I’m hearing they’ll resort to adoption next week. Also next week, Sam (Linda Cardellini) will get a surprise visit from her mom (played by Amy Madigan). This week’s episode will feature Pete Yorn‘s hit “Crystal Village.”
— Grey’s Anatomy (Thursdays at 9pm on CTV/ABC): Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Addison (Kate Walsh) disagree on treatment for a pregnant woman who is dying while Cristina is surprised by the in-abilities of an otherwise renowned sugeon played by Faye Dunaway. Also dissapointed is Bailey (Chandra Wilson) after “The Chief” (James Pickens Jr.) writes her letter of recommendation for her pediatrics fellowship. And now for the juicy stuff…remember that exit headline last week? Turns out that Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight‘s exists are still “rumors” according to showrunner Shonda Rhimes who also said at last week’s NAACP Image Awards that Pickens’ comments were “taken out of context” and that she doesn’t really like to say what is going to happen on the show. Pickens later backtracked what he said to People. Perhaps Rhimes is doing her best to keep them? Sources have told TVGuide.com that Knight was apparently upset with his lack of story and word has it that his character George’s end-of-season story arc will be beefed up. Since Heigl/Knight are still under contract, if they do leave after this season, don’t be surprised if ABC works out returning guest stints.
Other stuff…Nicollette Sheridan is leaving Desperate Housewives…this time for good. Rumors have Edie Britt getting killed off by this season’s end. Invasion beauty Alexis Dziena is joining he cast of Entourage as a love interest for Eric (Kevin Connolly). The sixth season will premiere this summer while production begins next month. I’ve stopped watch Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles and am afraid of The Big Bang Theory but I might check out the March 9th episode as Summer Glau will guest star as herself. In other casting news, Alex O’Loughlin (late of Moonlight) guest stars as a serial killer in an April episode of Criminal Minds. United States of Tara headwriter Diablo Cody teases that Tara may be getting some new alters. Cody will have a cameo on an upcoming episode of 90210 later this season.