A pair of TV icons will be part of the FX family this upcoming season. Michael J. Fox will guest on the first four episodes of "Rescue Me" when the fifth season premieres in spring 2009.
And Ted Danson will make multiple appearances on "Damages" -- even though it appears his character might have been fatally shot in the last episode. "Damages" producers, who spoke at the Television Critics Association tour Tuesday, said fans shouldn't assume the character survived the shooting, because the series will continue to use flashbacks as a storytelling device. Oscar winners Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt are also part of the second season, which starts in January.
Fox, who is good friends with "Rescue Me" star Denis Leary, will play a charmer in a wheelchair who competes for the affections of Tommy Gavin's estranged wife.
FX president John Landgraf announced that "Nip/Tuck" will end its run after 100 episodes -- but don't panic. There are still 27 episodes to go, the last of which will run in 2011. Landgraf says that FX's serialized dramas are more vulnerable to "wearing out their welcome," as opposed to "case-of-the-week" shows.
"I don't know if you'll ever see a drama go more than 100 episodes on FX," he said.
Others appearing at TCA on Tuesday included Bonnie Hunt, who is launching a daily talk show, and the cast of "The Shield," which shared memories from the groundbreaking show, which starts its final, limited season on Sept. 2.
