Channel Surfing: FOX Developing US "Torchwood," "Veronica Mars" Movie Dead, O'Loughlin Eyed for "Five-O," Whedon and Neil Patrick Harris, and More

Welcome to your Tuesday morning television briefing.

The Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed is reporting that FOX is developing a US version of British sci-fi series Torchwood that will hail from BBC Worldwide. Remake will be written by creator Russell T. Davies. and will feature the production team of the original series, including Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter. But that's not all. According to THR, it's possible that Torchwood's UK cast--including John Barrowman and Eve Myles--could star in the project, should it be ordered to pilot. "As for the new show’s plot," writes James Hibberd, "the U.S. version will contain a global story line compared to the more localized sensibility of the first two BBC seasons." Good news for the Torchwood team... or a disaster waiting to happen? (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

Bad news for Veronica Mars fans: the feature film adaptation of the much-missed UPN/CW drama series has stalled, according to creator Rob Thomas. "No," Thomas told Futon Critic's Brian Ford Sullivan, who asked if the big-screen version of Veronica Mars would happen. "I would write it if anyone would finance it. If anyone's interested in making that movie I am available, Kristen's [Bell] available. I would love to do it. I think the closest we came was Joel [Silver] pushing it at Warner Bros. and they didn't bite. It has sort of gone away." (Futon Critic)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello is reporting that Alex O'Loughlin (Moonlight, Three Rivers) is being offered the lead role in CBS' pilot remake of long-running crime drama Hawaii Five-O, according to unnamed sources. "Talks are ongoing," and undisclosed insider told Ausiello. "CBS really wants to do another series with him." The remake is being overseen by Fringe co-creators Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and Peter Lenkov (CSI: New York). (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Is a reunion between Joss Whedon and Neil Patrick Harris in the cards? Looks like it though it's not Dr. Horrible 2, unfortunately. (Not yet, anyway.) According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, Harris is said to be in talks to appear on FOX's Glee in the May episode that will be directed by Whedon and which would feature the How I Met Your Mother star in a singing/dancing role. "The one possible snag — and there’s always one, isn’t there? CBS has to OK its MVP’s appearance on Fox’s breakout hit," writes Ausiello. "But at least since HIMYM and Glee are both produced by 20th Century Fox, there’s no conflict on their end." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Joss Whedon, meanwhile, is set to meet with FX president John Landgraf in the next few weeks. (Televisionary)

E! Online's Kristin Dos Santos is reporting that Jennifer Lopez is in talks to join Glee as a cafeteria worker in at least one episode. "Discussions are ongoing and we haven't gotten into the episode(s) she'd be appearing in," Glee executive producer Brad Falchuk told Dos Santos. (E! Online's Watch with Kristin)

And in other Glee-related news, Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello spoke to Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy on Sunday evening (right before Glee took home the top musical or comedy TV prize) about what's coming up for the gleeful teens. Hint: it involves Puck and Rachel, a boyfriend for Kurt, the songs of Madonna, and some guest stars. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Jay Leno has addressed the controversy surrounding his eponymous 10 pm show, The Tonight Show, Conan O'Brien, and NBC, addressing his audience last night directly about the behind-the-scenes goings-on at the Peacock. "This is all business," said Leno. "If you don't get the ratings, they take you off the air." (Variety)

A must-read for everyone interested in television, not just those closely following the NBC/Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien fiasco: James Hibberd's insightful "Eight Ways NBC Has Damaged Itself" over at The Hollywood Reporter. (Hollywood Reporter's The Live Feed)

FOX has given pilot orders to two projects, including drama Midland, from writer Kyle Killen (The Beaver), and an untitled multi-camera comedy from writer Adam Goldberg and director Seth Gordon. Midland, which hails from 20th Century Fox Television, revolves around a polygamist with a double life who works in the oil industry. The untitled Adam Goldberg/Seth Gordon comedy, meanwhile, will follow a group of twenty-somethings who hack computer security systems. (Hollywood Reporter)

FX has announced a Tuesday, March 16th launch date for its Elmore Leonard crime series Justified, starring Timothy Olyphant. (Futon Critic)

AMC is developing historical miniseres Black Gold: The Teapot Dome Scandal, from writer Kirk Ellis (John Adams) and executive producers Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. Project, based on a nonfiction book by Laton McCartney, is set in the 1920s and depicts a major political scandal involving the election of President Warren G. Harding and big-time oil companies. (Hollywood Reporter)

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello has some additional information about the return of Jennifer Morrison's Cameron to FOX drama House later this season. "The audience is going to get the information they were looking for," Morrison told Ausiello. But don't expect Cameron to stick around permanently. "I don’t believe that they have plans to pick up my option," she told Ausiello. "That does not mean I won’t be back for a handful of episodes, but it does mean I probably will not be a series regular next season." (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files)

Undercovers casting alert! Another actor has come aboard J.J. Abrams' NBC espionage drama pilot Undercovers. Jessica Parker Kennedy (Smallville) will play the younger sister of Gugu Mbatha-Raw's Samantha, a caterer. (Hollywood Reporter)

BBC America announced a spring start for its new musical reality series The Choir, in which choirmaster Gareth Malone travels to blue collar areas to create musical choirs. "The 13 episodes that BBC America will show are a compilation of short multi-seg bursts and specials that have aired across the Pond since the show launched on BBC Two in 2006," writes Variety's Jon Weisman. (Variety)

E! has given a series order to docudrama Pretty Wild, which follows three socialite sisters--Taylor, Alexis, and Gabrielle Neiers--in Hollywood. Project, from Borderline Amazing Prods., New Wave Entertainment, and Five Five Prods., will launch in March. (Hollywood Reporter)

Stay tuned.