Sad news hit the comedy world last week, as it was announced that Saturday Night Live cast member for just over 8 years Will Forte will not be returning for the show’s upcoming 36th season. But, much like the circle of life, where we lose one, we get another…or in this case, three new lives in the SNL world.

No word on whether it was Forte’s decision to leave or Lorne Michaels’ way of mixing things up right before the new season, as he’s prone to do. What we do know, however, is that Forte’s publicist says that he’s “eternally grateful” to Michaels, along with the cast and crew.

With that said, a new report is out that the show will be getting 3 new faces come this fall. From the NY Post:

Taran Killam, a refugee from the cast of the long-running sitcom “Scrubs,” and two young comedians from Chicago — Paul Brittain and Vanessa Bayer – have been signed to the cast.

Among the new cast members, Killam, 28, is by far the best known. He became free when the proposed series he’d been working on — the Arianna Huffington-produced comedy called “Freshman,” about three first-term congressmen living together in the same D.C. apartment — was not picked up by ABC.

Brittain and Bayer are little known outside Chicago, where they have starred in stage comedies and done stand-up.

While the new of Forte leaving is sad enough on it’s own, other reports are coming in that Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis and Kenan Thompson are still up in the air as to whether or not they will return next season.

Last night marked the first two episodes of the 9th season of Scrubs. The medical sitcom’s long life has helped it through a change in networks, and most recently a change in stories. This season, the series is taking a different direction by focusing on the lives of a new class of “scrubs”, while the original cast stays on as teachers at the medical school.

We got the chance to talk with stars Donald Faison (Turk) and Dave Franco (Cole) about this season. The two actors discussed the differences in this season to all others, how that has affected working on the show, and where Dave fits into all this.

The two also got a chance to discuss the new season 8 DVD, which is available now. Donald talks about some of the great features of the DVD, including collected webisodes, bloopers, and deleted scenes.

Check out our interview with the two after the jump, and be sure to catch Scrubs on ABC every Tuesday at 9PM/8PM Central.

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Most of us around The Flickcast offices are big fans of NBC (and later, ABC’s) Scrubs. We recently got the opportunity to chat with stars Donald Faison and Dave Franco about the upcoming season on December 1st, but before that, a brand new video is up, in which Faison shows us around the brand new set for season 9.

The show is taking a bit of a “New Class” turn. The main cast of characters is switching roles to teachers at a medical school, while the main focus is on a new batch of young doctors. Joining the cast this season are Kerry Bishe, Michael Mosley, and Dave Franco.

Check out Faison’s behind the scenes video after the jump. Be sure to catch the Scrubs 1-hour season premiere event on December 1st at 9PM EST on ABC.

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It’s hard to believe the journey that Scrubs, the once sophomore sitcom on NBC, has gone through. After hanging on for it’s life at NBC and then making the epic leap over to ABC the show is now in it’s 9th season and getting a complete overhaul, including losing 3 stars and adding 4 new ones.

Going into a 9th season meant that Zach Braff, Neil Flynn and Judy Reyes would all be leaving the show, with Braff guest starring in the first few episodes to help ease the transition. With those losses, come a few new additions to the cast. Kerry Bishe will be taking on the role of Lucy, the newest main character, with Michael Mosley taking on the role of Drew, the older, cooler med student. James Franco’s younger brother Dave will also be joining the cast as the cocky Cole.

The show will even be getting a change in location. The new setting won’t be Sacred Heart hospital anymore, but the college campus, where the returning cast joins as professors to the up-and-coming med students. Think of this as the show getting a Saved By The Bell: The New Class makeover.

After the jump, check out an exclusive new scene from the season 9 premiere, which happens on December 1st. In it, Turk and J.D. show that though things may look different around them, their love is still as everlasting.

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In 1992, Executive Producer Aaron Spelling’s latest soap-drama Melrose Place was lacking some serious ratings sizzle. Heather Locklear was recruited to play the stiletto heeled, micro-mini wearing maneater, Amanda Woodward. The character stirred things up in the boardroom (at D&D advertising agency) and in the bedroom.

Almost overnight, ratings climbed, and Locklear was credited with a 22% rise in ratings, according to Entertainment Weekly. Originally hired for a guest starring stint, Locklear remained on the show throughout its 7 year run, and her character’s bitchy persona and questionable board-room attire provided fodder for countless water cooler chats.

Later, Locklear appeared on Spin City, Scrubs, and Two and Half Men. All three shows saw a bump in ratings as well (“The Locklear Effect”, so to speak).  Her 2004 series LAX didn’t fare as well, though, and was quickly canceled.

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