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.

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.

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.

Season 13 featured player Anjelah Johnson has been sent packing by "MADtv" after only four episodes. Those who had high hopes for Bon Qui Qui, Tammy the Nail Salon Lady, and other potential Anjelah characters will have to content themselves with the few golden moments that she left behind during her sojourn.

The standard procedure "MADtv" employs for its featured players is to pick them up for an initial four episodes. If a featured player makes a lasting impression in those four episodes, then the show will offer her or him the opportunity to appear in more episodes. In turn, the featured player has the option to accept or decline the show's offer.

Clearly, no such offer was extended to Anjelah. Despite any promise she may have shown fans, those associated with the series apparently felt that she did not make that all-important lasting impression as a sketch comedy performer -- hence, their decision not to green-light more episodes for her. While the time-honored point that dear Anj was not given a chance to make that lasting impression may be valid (or not, depending on one's perspective), it is also obviously moot now that her fate has been determined. At any rate, special thanks go to blackwind for the revelation about Anjelah's untimely exit.

In breaking news, Planet MADtv is pleased to report that funny man, improv wizard, and keeper of one of the top five Bill Closby impressions in the known universe, Dan Oster, has officially been signed for the rest of Season 13! Congratulations, Dan!

[The standard procedure "MADtv" employs for its featured players is to pick them up for an initial four episodes. If a featured player makes a lasting impression in those four episodes, then the show will offer him or her the opportunity to appear in more episodes. In turn, the featured player has the option to accept or decline the show's offer.]

On a related note, I'd like to take this time to apologize to our readers for what will surely go down in history as one of the most hackneyed, inane, eye-rollingly atrocious headlines of all-time. Sorry!

After months of reruns, late-night boredom, and utter despair over the future of "MADtv," dare we hope for a new episode of our beloved laugh fest? If this tidbit from FOX is any indication, then perhaps the possibility is not too far-fetched. Since the network is advertising the February 2nd "MADtv" episode as "all-new," one would be inclined to believe that such is the case. For what other reason would this particular date be singled out? Also, if you check the current FOX schedule, then you will notice that the January 26th episode (i.e., for this Saturday) is being advertised as simply a rerun of Episode #1308. If the February 2nd episode were also just a re-air, then would it not be promoted as such? Ah, very suspicious, very suspicious indeed.

Since the details of the February 2nd episode have yet to be posted on the show's official website, we still have ample reason to proceed with caution at this point. Once we have further information, which one assumes will arrive soon, we will post the necessary updates. Even though the evidence of an all-new episode is still somewhat sketchy at this time, "MADtv" viewers might want to have the streamers and party hats ready on the aforementioned date just in case. For now, fellow amateur sleuths, we are in tentatively enthusiastic wait mode.

UPDATE: Since FOX has labeled the February 2nd episode as #1309, we can pretty much guarantee that it will in fact be an all-new episode as advertised. We can also confirm that new cast member Daheli Hall will make her "MADtv" debut in this episode and that the anticipated guest appearance of Serena Williams will likely take place in #1309 as well.

Ah yes, our beloved "MADtv" just keeps racking up those highly coveted behind-the-scenes honors! The Art Directors Guild has once again nominated "MADtv" production designer John Sabato for an Excellence in Production Design Award. Sabato, the 2006 and 2007 winner in ADG's Multi-Camera Television Series category ("MADtv" Episodes #1106 and #1207 respectively), has received a 2008 nomination for his production design work in Episode #1221. Ah, but before Sabato can hoist his third consecutive ADG award, he will have to topple some formidable competition. Here is a list of all the nominations in the Multi-Camera Television Series category, along with a parenthetical mention of each episode's production designer:

• "Back to You" Pilot (Bernard Vyzga)
• "How I Met Your Mother" for Episode 222 "Something Blue" (Stephan Olson)
• "Mad TV" for Episode 1221 (John Sabato)
• "Rules of Engagement" for Episode 208 "Fix Ups and Downs" (Bernard Vyzga)
• "Two and a Half Men" for Episode 3T6258 "Is There A Mrs. Waffles?" (John S. Shaffner)

For a complete list of this year's Art Directors Guild nominees, check out this article. All winners will be announced on February 16th at the Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, CA. If you find yourself with time to kill, then you may also want to sneak a peek at this list of past awards for which John Sabato has been nominated, including the two aforementioned ADG wins in 2006 and 2007. Oh, however does one resist the temptation to click those links?

Can "MADtv" snag ADG honors three years in a row? Is a nomination for "How I Met Your Mother" at any award ceremony, even this one, the ultimate example of Hollywood overachievement? Will "MADtv" ever be nominated for something that people will actually remember, let alone truly care about? Stay tuned for further embarrassment. For now, go, "MADtv"!

UPDATE (02/17): The three-peat is official! At last night's ceremony, Sabato picked up his third consecutive ADG award in the Multi-Camera Television Series category. For everything you could possibly want to know about the award show, read this article.