Welcome to another fun-filled, fact-filled installment of "Rapid-Fire Appearances," the new Planet MADtv feature that dispenses with most of the usual journalistic brouhaha in order to bring you the straight scoops on the latest television and movie appearances of your favorite "MADtv" cast members. Since Christian Duguay, Dannah Feinglass, and Andrew Daly are almost certainly the three "MADtv" alumni whose career tracks most often fall under fans' microscopes, suffice it to say that there's much to be excited about right now.

First comes directorial news regarding Christian Duguay. The Season 6 luminary (if there ever were such a thing) will step behind the camera for the pilot episode of "Cane," the new CBS drama about the various rivalries and power struggles within a large, highly successful Cuban-American family. In the series pilot, Pancho, the ailing family patriarch, decides to name one of his two sons a successor to take over the family business, Duque Rum and Sugar. Meanwhile, Pancho's son Alex, played by "NYPD Blue" luminary Jimmy Smits (if there ever were such a thing), confronts the family's adversaries, the Samuels, on their less-than-honest business practices. Will Christian do justice to the director's chair, thereby giving "Cane" a sugar rush in the Nielsen Ratings? To find out, you must tune in to CBS on Tuesday, September 25th, at 10:00pm EST; however, for now, read here to find out more.

As for Season 6 of "MADtv," does anyone remember Dannah Feinglass? No? Well, perhaps her voice-over work as the title character of PBS's animated series "WordGirl" will help jog your memory, if not your vocabulary. Ah yes, all the loquacious superhero has to do is to shout out twenty-five-cent words like preposterous and cumbersome; and her enemies, including the notorious Chuck the Evil Sandwich-Making Guy, succumb immediately. All right, so admittedly, "WordGirl" is designed to appeal to children aged four to nine; however, if you have children, know someone who has children, or just want to relive your own childhood in a beneficially lexicographical and potentially encyclopedic fashion, then investigate your local television listings for the appropriate broadcast times in your particular vicinity. Ask your neurologist to investigate your cerebral cortex with an electroencephalograph if your viewing experience is anything less than supercalifragilisticexpialadicious.

Those who simply cannot get enough of Dannah Feinglass's voice-over work in children's animation may also want to check out her role as Zaria in "Tak and the Power of Juju." The show's plot involves Tak, a student shaman for the Pupununu tribe who communicates with the Juju, omniscient yet devilish supernatural beings. With the help of the Juju and his various animated friends (including, one presumes, Dannah's Zaria), Tak fights off rival tribes and engaging in various other misadventures. The computer-animated series is based on the identically titled video game from THQ, the three incarnations of which have sold over three million copies so far. Ah, commerce meets art! Although air times vary, new episodes of "Tak" normally air at 10:00am EST on Nickelodeon. The very, very, very young-at-heart who are so inclined may wish to check out this article for more information. Pupununu, Juju, and you--together, they are a true-blue coup!

Finally--last but least?--Andrew Daly, yet another Season 6 legend, will have a guest-starring role in HBO's "East Bound and Down." As befitting "MADtv" alumni in small roles, Andrew's character does not appear to have been given the dignity of a name or even a description; it's this kind of injustice that (almost) makes one wish that "Crossballs" were still on the air. At any rate, HBO has picked up six episodes of the comedy series, which features as its chief protagonist a washed-up baseball player who goes to work as a substitute gym teacher. It's the kind of instant classic that one would expect from Gary Sanchez, which is a new production company owned by Second City alum Adam McKay and "Saturday Night Live" luminary Will Ferrell (if there ever were such a thing). However, there is such a thing as this article, where you are hereby directed for further reading. Apparently, no air times have yet been announced; still, once we know, we will gladly pass on this information to diehard Andrew fans everywhere. Try not to crowd one another while you wait.

Well, sports fans, I'm afraid that will wrap up this episode of "Rapid-Fire Appearances." Tune in next time, when perhaps someone other than a Season 6 cast member will star in something noteworthy. So long for now!

UPDATE: As this article in The Hollywood Reporter makes clear, the Christian Duguay who directed the pilot episode of "Cane" is actually this guy, not the "MADtv" alum. Who could have possibly known that there is more than one Christian Duguay in the world, let alone in showbiz?

Also, as this article makes clear, Andrew Daly's role on "East Bound and Down" is more significant than we had originally thought. Andrew plays the principal who is engaged to the substitute gym teacher's former high school girlfriend, who is now a teacher at the school. We apologize for the earlier misinformation on both counts.

According to backstage.com...

The Groundlings announce that actor Will Ferrell will co-chair the company's 30th anniversary gala performance, Tue. Oct. 5, 8 p.m. Previously announced co-chairs include Cheryl Hines, Chris Kattan, and Lisa Kudrow. Among the performers are Phil LaMarr, Jennifer Coolidge, Kathy Griffin, and Julia Sweeney. Surprise guests and Groundlings alumni will also appear. $100 and up. Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. (818) 817-2310.

According to groundlings.com, there's a VIP reception at 6:30pm with the evening performance starting at 8:45pm. I'd go with the groundlings announced time.

Phil is an alumni of the Groundlings and performed in the tv series "Instant Comedy With The Groundlings" in 1998.

EDIT: Michael McDonald and Christian Duguay were at this event too.

Mo Collins will be guest starring on an upcoming episode of Arrested Development. The taping for the appearance is scheduled for this Friday the 24th of September, so obviously there's no air date yet- check back here for updates and make sure to thank Scorpiogrrl2003 for this inside information. Thanks Scorp!

EDIT: "Starla" (Mo Collins) is going to be guest starring in a total of two episodes November 14th and 21st! Christian Duguay also appeared in the November 14th episode. A video clip is available here.