It's official -- MADtv has been renewed for a 14th season, despite rumors and fan speculation that the loss of their studio, a big portion of their budget, and the imminent departure of the show's biggest stars would lead FOX network executives to pull the plug on our favorite floundering sketch comedy series.

Our inside source has informed us that next season will see yet another slash occur in the episode count. Let's turn back the clock for a second, shall we? Those of you with a long attention span will remember that Season 9 was comprised of 25 episodes. This dropped to 23 in Season 10, 22 in Seasons 11 and 12, and a forecasted 18 in Season 13 (although only 12 aired due to the WGA strike). We regret to report that, at this stage, it appears Season 14 will consist of a mere 14 episodes.

The current cast have been invited to the FOX Upfronts in New York on May 15th. In the past, this has been an event that the cast for the upcoming season generally attends. Since Bobby Lee has confirmed that he won't be returning, don't expect to see him there. On the other hand, Nicole Parker won't be there, but we recently confirmed that she will be part of the Season 14 lineup. The fate of everybody else is completely up in the air at this point.

Remember that two year period from 1995-1997? Remember when a guy by the name of Artie Lange used to bring us laughs in the form of "My White Mama?" Neither do I, but of course, Mr. Lange can not seem to keep himself out of trouble. For those of you just tuning in, Artie Lange recently experienced what was considered to be a meltdown while on the set of the "Howard Stern Sirius Show." Don't have Sirius? No worries, I don't either (because I’m too lazy and cheap to pay for online radio). Judging from Artie’s current well-being, which seems to be mirroring his behavior during his "MADtv" days, things seem to only get worse based on this article:

"Stern sidekick Artie Lange has been on a self-destructive streak for the better part of the last nine or so months. His weight has been ballooning, his already prolific drug habit has only gotten worse and his on-air behavior has become more erratic than ever before. However, things reached Defcon 6 levels on today's show when Artie flew into a rage, got into a physical confrontation with his personal assistant and abruptly (and from the sounds of it, tearily) resigned from the show."

Arguments between Lange and his personal assistant broke out over traveling accommodations that were made for Amsterdam. The arguments were then reported to have escalated into a discussion about finances. But of course, the madness doesn’t stop there:

"As the argument continued, Lange became enraged and physically lashed out at Teddy, but the physical confrontation was apparently defused by other members in the studio. When Lange returned, he said Teddy would be ‘dead’ had he reached him and he would be in jail."

The drama doesn’t end quite yet, though. Not only did Artie quit the show, but he also decided to go back to his job as the dubious assistant to Mr. Howard Stern:

"In a great conclusion to the great mystery that lots of people couldn't care less about but that a few people care a lot about, Artie Lange returned, contrite and reasonably controlled, to 'The Howard Stern Show...'"

This article goes more in depth on Artie's past behavior on the show, behavior that would result in a time out if he were 5 years old.

Here’s the moral of the story in three words, write this down: get some help. Poor Artie’s self-destructive streak has really begun to take its toll, and all we can do is hope for the best for this MAD alumnus as he continues to hit those brain-cell damaging airwaves from Sirius Radio.

For those of you just joining us, let me provide you with a short recap of the events going on at MADtv that have led us up to this point and urged me to coin this season "Unlucky Number 13."

The studio was swapped for a theater that serves little to no purpose. The theme song was scrapped. The (real) premiere was delayed until November in order to keep the show "fresh" and "current," and instead of real episodes, we got four sloppily produced "Best Of's" to kick off the season. The writers strike hit, ceasing production on the show 2 weeks before the filming of the landmark 300th episode, ultimately causing two key returning cast members to cancel their appearances and leave the show scrambling to find material to put in its place. When MADtv returned for episodes in February, the material was incredibly dated and the episodes were padded out so heavily that, for the first time in MADtv history, not one, but TWO encores was a frequent occurrence.

Am I missing anything? The fans have not been happy. The cast has not been happy, despite putting on a brave face. 13 has been an incredibly unlucky number for MADtv.

And now to the point. Despite MADtv's only real time-slot competition, Saturday Night Live, being able to churn out 4 new episodes in the meager space of 4 weeks, MADtv got off to a slow start when the WGA strike finally came to its conclusion, only airing its first post-strike episode, #1312, on Saturday, March 29th. Why, you ask? The fact that the season has been cut down to 12 new episodes (as opposed to the original 18) may have something to do with it.

As of this moment, here is the current schedule for the remainder of the season:

• April 5th: Episode #1313 (guest starring Kat Von D)
• April 19th: Episode #1314
• April 26th: Episode #1315
• May 17th: Episode #1316 (season finale)

This episode count makes Season 13 the shortest in MADtv history, and at a time when the entire fandom is questioning whether the show will (or even *deserves* to) make it to a 14th season, it makes the prospect of cancellation seem only more imminent.

But the news that Bobby Lee is gone after this season and Nicole Parker will return for a period of 8 episodes proves that planning for the future of the show has not, as of yet, screeched to a halt. And of course, there is the fact that a reliable source has informed us that there is a "good chance" the show will be back next season.

Alas, there is great news for all of those "MADtv" fans who think that Nicole Parker is the best thing since the Wacky WallWalker and are therefore ready to take to the streets with torches in hand once she leaves the show. Well, feel free to put aside the gasoline-soaked stakes and matchbooks temporarily, for we at Planet MADtv have it on good authority that Nicole's contract with the series has been extended for eight episodes. In other words, if we abide by the assumption (however dire) that there will indeed be a Season 14 of "MADtv," then we can expect to see Nicole among next season's cast members, at least for the aforementioned episodes. Again, in no way does this Nicole news imply that the prospect of a Season 14 is a given, only that Nicole will be on board for eight episodes if it actually comes to fruition. Proceed with caution at this stage, sports fans; after all, studies show that carts before horses tend not to move too fast.

From this latest news, we can conclude that the claims Nicole made in this August 2007 article were slightly premature. Still, we may likewise read a great deal of validity into her assertion that she wishes to do things apart from "MADtv," as evidenced by her ever-growing interest in Broadway and other outside entertainment pursuits. As far as Nicole's tentative sixth "MADtv" season is concerned, we are likely looking at a scenario in which her eight episodes would be somewhat dispersed throughout the season a la Stephnie Weir's Season 11 contributions. Then again, who knows what the good folks in Alfredville have up their sleeves at this point? (Lint seems like a really good possibility.) At any rate, if we get a Season 14, then we get Nicole Parker too. You may now return to your regularly scheduled Wacky WallWalkers while you await further "MADtv" updates.

Watch Comedy Central tonight at 10:30pm EST as Andrew Daly simultaneously dons beer goggles and sticks it to the suds. On tonight's episode of comedian Lewis Black's new series, "Root of All Evil," Andrew will debate beer's evil influence with fellow comedian Paul F. Tompkins, who in turn will advocate that weed, not beer, is indeed the true root of all evil. Which would-be attorney will win his case, thereby sentencing his choice of the evil substances to the slammer, where it will have to endure numerous anal atrocities from heroin and the like? The honorable judge Lewis Black will hear both sides and reach a verdict, one that will certainly have a direct bearing on the United States judicial system for years to come. If you miss the premiere of tonight's episode, then you will have to wait a whole hour and a half to catch the re-air on Thursday morning at 12:30am EST. After that, you will have to content yourself with the infinite re-airs that are sure to follow. Poor you!

Although we do not yet know whether Andrew Daly will appear on future episodes of "Root of All Evil," do not rule out the possibility. According to this article, the series is employing several comedians as "advocates" for various episodes, including Comedy Central regulars and semi-regulars such as Tompkins, Greg Giraldo, and Patton Oswalt. Since Andrew himself was also a regular on a not-too-dissimilar Comedy Central series, the short-lived "Crossballs," it would not be unreasonable -- or maybe it would be, depending on one's perspective -- to suggest that we could very well see old Andy pop up on a future "Evil" episode. In the meantime, go here if you would like to see a preview clip of tonight's substance-slanted verbal slaughter. If Andrew has his way, then beer is so getting life. Case closed.

Wow, has it really been a whole five minutes since we have had news about Orlando Jones? My oh my, where does the time go? Tonight, you can catch the mighty Mr. Jones on the series debut of "Black Poker Stars Invitational." From this article, we glean the following regarding Orlando's date with the cards:

"Hosted by actor and funny man Katt Williams and the self-proclaimed 'Black Robin Leach' Kenny Burns, celebrity poker players Anthony Anderson, Nelly, Kevin Hart, Miguel Nunez Jr., Eddie Griffin, Orlando Jones, Faizon Love, Eva Pigford, Wood Harris (HBO's 'The Wire'), Al Shearer, Mekhi Phifer, Chris Spencer and Melyssa Ford vie to win $50,000 for their favorite charity. With special guest appearances by Eddie Murphy and DMC, this No Limit - Texas Hold 'Em Poker tournament doesn't begin or end at the tables. Taped at the newly opened Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, BLACK POKER STARS INVITATIONAL catches every aspect of celebrity involvement from their rendezvous at the private 'Millionaire Airport' in Van Nuys to their VIP hotel check-in to the special 'Losers Lounge,' where eliminated players soothe their bruised egos during the poker face off -- all while capturing the comedic exchange and trash talk from today's hottest celebrities."

Will Orlando clean up, or will the other competitors clean his clock? Tune in to BET tonight at 10:30pm EST to find out. If you miss the episode the first time around or simply want some entertainment to go with your bout of insomnia, then watch the re-air on Wednesday morning at 3:30am EST.

In indie dramedy news -- is there such a thing? -- look for Orlando to pop up in Misconceptions. Those with right-wing religious convictions will certainly flock in droves (probably with picket signs) to observe this film's unique plot:

"Directed by Ron Satlof from a script he wrote with Ira Pearlstein, the story centers on a religiously conservative married woman from the South who receives a message from God telling her to act as a surrogate mother for two gay men.

Jones will play Terry, the hopeful parent who comes to the woman's home to micromanage her pregnancy and in the process causes havoc.

A.J. Cook (CBS' 'Criminal Minds') will play Miranda, the woman who decides to carry the child for the gay couple."

Once again, we find ourselves in the awkward position of not yet knowing the film's release date; however, we will keep that weary eagle eye on the lookout for you. In the meantime, use this article to clarify any, well, misconceptions you might have about Misconceptions.

Poker and surrogate parenthood -- if those two activities combined are not your idea of the ultimate Orlando Jones entertainment package, then I guess you will just have for his next entertainment venture. See you in five minutes!

Since rock-and-roll music and Lifetime Television are practically synonymous with each other, it is only fitting that "MADtv" headbanger extraordinaire Nicole Sullivan be given the chance to strut her stuff in "Rita Rocks," her new pilot for the vagina-friendly network. (Well, at least the second half of the previous sentence is sincere.) Given Nicole's lack of success with major-network pilots, her devoted fans can only hope that this cable-oriented endeavor will at last propel her, or at least help propel her, to the level of success she richly deserves. Start tuning up your Stratocaster as you groove to this series description from the Futon Critic:

"Nicole Sullivan ('The King of Queens'), Richard Ruccolo ('Two Guys and a Girl') and Tisha Campbell Martin ('My Wife and Kids') have been tapped for the lead roles in the comedy pilot, about an overworked wife and mother in the middle of a full-blown identity crisis who starts a garage band with her postwoman and neighbor. Sullivan will play the title role of Rita Clements, who's further detailed in the casting notice as: 'Mid 30s-Mid 40s, any ethnicity.' A straight shooting wife and mother whose charisma shines through her mundane world of minivans and bulk shopping, Rita is a harried working mother of two. She spends every waking hour trying to whittle down her to-do list and in between working for Bed Bath & Beyond, cooking for her family and ferrying her two kids hither and yon, Rita fears that she has no time to herself, and that her killer schedule is taking away the sparkle from her eyes. Very happy in her marriage to Jay, and able to keep her daughter Shannon more or less in line (her daughter Hallie is another, darker story), Rita decides that her life needs a teeny-tiny slice for Rita all alone -- and when she starts her own garage band with Patty [Martin] and Owen, the light comes back into her life."

Shooting for "Rita Rocks" is scheduled to begin this month. Assuming that the series is picked up, we do not yet know whether it would be a summer replacement series or whether Lifetime would prolong diehard Sullivan fans' agony until the fall. (Or would the agony begin then? Time will tell, I guess.) Because Nicole's history of pilots contains more tragedies than a Shakespearean tome, perhaps there is not much reason to get overly excited by her latest venture; then again, maybe cable will be kind to the "MADtv" alum in ways that have eluded her on the major-network circuit. Thus, can one assume that the Golden Lady will use her newest fret-fest of a comedic role to grind an axe with the television industry? At any rate, if you wish to ascend this potential stairway to heaven with Nicole (and in turn bash me over the skull with your own axe for subjecting you to these painful puns), then get ready to plug into Lifetime Television for "Rita Rocks." Thank you, Planet MADtv -- good night!

Admittedly, at this time, the feast is a mere appetizer; however, in the near future, "MADtv" fans may indeed have a thriving Internet destination with which to view full episodes for free. Fancast, a fledgling website offered through Comcast Interactive Media (CIM), announced today that it will showcase video content from over one hundred providers, including, yes, "MADtv." All of the juicy details, as well as a list of all the shows currently carried, can be found here:

"On Fancast, users can not only watch free content from top networks and studios, but also manage their entertainment experience through the site's specialized 'Watch It' feature. The feature helps viewers learn where their favorite TV show and movie content is playing, and how they can access it.

'Fancast is a one-stop online personal entertainment guide whose mission is to provide the widest selection of content from the most partners, and allow fans to truly manage their own entertainment experience,' said Amy Banse, President of CIM. 'As consumers continue to embrace content across multiple platforms, Comcast is leading the way to provide content where viewers want to see it, on TV, on demand, online and on Fancast.'

Fancast, which launched in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will continue to add content and functionally to provide new and unique ways that consumers can manage their entertainment experience.

On Fancast:

• Watch more than 20,000 free long and short form TV and movie videos from top networks and movie studios at any time, with an average of 5,000 new videos a month.
• Find entertainment information on one of the largest entertainment databases with over 11 million pages of information on 50,000 television shows; 75,000 photos; 80,000 movies; and 1.2 million actors, cast and crew.
• Manage their viewing experience starting later this year by programming their DVR recordings in advance, from their computers, and creating a 'Watch List' which will organize and catalogue upcoming programming, set a personalized play list and send reminders to users about what they should watch in the future."

Unfortunately, only two "MADtv" episodes are presently available: #1304 and #1311 (the latter of which is incorrected labeled as #1313). You will also notice that each video, for whatever crazy reason, carries an expiration date. Therefore, if you want to view these episodes via Fancast, then I suppose that you will need to view them soon. In the meantime, you may want to visit this link periodically for further updates. You do not need an account; you should be able just to click on the episode links and watch.

Will this little online venture prove profitable for faithful "MADtv" viewers, or will it ultimately promise more than it delivers? As the band conductor said to his middle-school orchestra, stay tuned.