Because "MADtv" cast members are constantly making the showbiz rounds, we here at Planet MADtv sometimes get backlogged as we try to keep up with their various television and movie appearances. Thus, at a time like this, it becomes necessary to discuss them all in a manner that dispenses with most of the usual journalistic jargon and gets right to the point. Welcome, then, to another mirth-filled installment of "Rapid-Fire Appearances"!

We kick things off with an ABC double-header suitable for fans of both early "MADtv" and Harlequin romance novels. First, Bryan Callen makes a guest appearance on the ABC crime drama "Women's Murder Club." There appears to be no information on Bryan's character (Dino Palley), so one might safely assume that his role will be about as pertinent to the show as an extra's. Nevertheless, feel free to read here for more information on the episode "Blind Dates and Bleeding Hearts," which will air October 26th at 9:00pm EST on ABC.

After "Women's Murder Club," your fun-fraught Friday evening continues as the ubiquitous Orlando Jones reprises his role as George on the ABC comedy/drama "Men in Trees," starring the ever-stable Anne Heche. Here, you can read all about the Big O's episode, entitled "No Man Is an Iceland." (I wish that were a misprint; but no, sadly, that's the episode's actual title.) As for Orlando's role, if you have read this far, then you will want to know the following:

"Now that Lynn has left town, everyone in Elmo assumes that Marin and Jack will get back together. Mai's cousin, Lucy (Emy Coligado), an ice skating star, comes from China to visit. Mai wants her to stay, so George (Orlando Jones) offers to marry her -- much to Terri's (Mario Cantone) dismay."

If this plot sounds the least bit appealing to you (and why would it not, pray tell?), then check out Orlando's latest "Men in Trees" visit this Friday, October 26th, at 10:00pm EST on ABC. Bryan at 9:00, Orlando at 10:00, fashion tips on the local news at 11:00 -- set your TiVos now!

As many of you may know by now, Stephnie Weir has just wrapped up filming on The Other Side of the Tracks, a thriller scheduled for a 2008 release. What you may not know are all the juicy details regarding Stephnie's character. The press kit for the movie gives us more insight:

"Although Trackside Pizza has managed to stay open over the years, business has steadily fallen off and the bills piled up for sole proprietor Ann McGee [Weir] -- a spiritually-sensitive single mom and part-time tarot card reader. That, along with Ann's incapacitated brother, in an expensive long-term care facility, has forced her to sell half the business to David, a burned-out doctor with a neurotic yet friendly demeanor. As Ann and David prepare for the grand reopening of Trackside Pizza, Marcy -- Ann's twenty-something daughter -- struggles to accept her family's moral and financial burdens. Feeling frustrated with the way things are, Marcy finds refuge in a relationship with her uncle's nurse."

Granted, Stephnie's role takes a back seat to the main plot, which involves a guy's obsession with his dead girlfriend. However, can you possibly pass up the opportunity to watch Stephnie make pizza and tell fortunes? Give yourself a thousand points if you answered in the affirmative.

Dannah Feinglass just cannot sit still these days. In addition to her current voiceover work in children's animation, Dannah can now add the comedy Why Am I Doing This? to her entertainment resume. Slated for a 2008 release, the film centers around two best friends -- one Asian, one black -- who are trying to find success in Hollywood. All we know so far about Dannah's supporting role is that her character is named Holly. In fact, there does not even appear to be a press kit or anything else that would tell us anything about the film other than what is stated above. Stay tuned for further updates -- that is, if any surface.

Finally, geeks everywhere may toss their periodic tables into the air in glorious celebration; for according to the Futon Critic, CBS's "The Big Bang Theory" has been given a full-season pickup. In other words, Simon Helberg fans the world over will have plenty of chances to see their man in action right through mid-2008. Wolowitz action figures are sure to flood toy stores in weeks to come.

Regrettably, we must end there for now. Fret not, though, fans; for as "MADtv" cast members continue to ascend fame's wobbly ladder, "Rapid-Fire Appearances" will be there to keep you up to date with their latest television and movie appearances. Until next time, remember not to walk under wobbly ladders.

If you are in the Malibu, CA area on Saturday, September 29th, then you may want to catch "The Best Medicine," a benefit concert for the City of Hope that will feature current "MADtv" cast members and alumni among its performers. Proceeds from the benefit will be used to fund breast cancer research, treatment, and education programs at the City of Hope. According to the information found here, the "MADtv" notables scheduled to appear include current cast members Michael McDonald, Nicole Parker, and Bobby Lee; "MADtv" alumni Mo Collins and Stephnie Weir; and writer Michael Hitchcock, best known to most "MADtv" fans as Simeon, the crazed announcer from the "Lillian Verner Game Show" sketches. "The Best Medicine" will be hosted by comedian Denis Leary, along with his band, the Crown Royals. Other comedians who will be present include Martin Short, "Bobcat" Goldthwait, Lenny Clarke, and Groundlings alum Tim Bagley. For your musical enjoyment (or not), the "My Sharona" boys themselves, the Knack, will also perform.

Another interesting connection with "MADtv" served as the initial inspiration for this benefit:

"Leary got involved in the project through his connection with Lauren Dombrowski, a breast cancer survivor and City of Hope patient. Leary and Dombrowski, co-executive producer for 'Mad TV,' both attended Emerson College in Boston and have remained friends.

While Dombrowski has long made people laugh, in 2003, her life took a serious turn. She arrived at City of Hope with stage 4 breast cancer after two years of failed treatments elsewhere. George Somlo, M.D., co-director of City of Hope's Breast Cancer Program, became her trusted physician.

'I knew right away that Dr. Somlo would give me the best care available,' Dombrowski said. 'But it was his quick wit and ability to make me laugh that really helped me the most.'

Today, Dombrowski does not fight cancer simply through the chemotherapy she continues to undergo regularly. She came up with the idea for 'The Best Medicine' as a way to battle the disease and support breast cancer research through humor, her area of expertise."

Lauren, we at Planet MADtv wish you and Denis continued success with your fund-raising efforts. Here's hoping that laughter can indeed be "the best medicine" as the search for a breast cancer cure continues.

"The Best Medicine" benefit will be held at the Malibu Performing Arts Center (in Malibu, CA) on Saturday, September 29th. The time listed for the event is 7:00pm, which one would logically assume is local time, or PST. (It translates to 10:00pm EST.) A silent auction for various celebrity items will also be held at the benefit. At any rate, if you have a chance to attend (and thus to catch the aforementioned "MADtv" notables in action), then please post a report for us!

I got a little bit excited when I saw this.

From IGN.com: Stephnie Weir (Fun With Dick and Jane) has been bumped from a guest star to a series regular on ABC's "A Day in the Life". Weir plays the wedding planner on the comedy, which chronicles the wedding day of a young couple from the different points of view of those participating.

This is one show that I will, without a doubt, watch every episode of that I can get my hands on.

We've been waiting a long time for this, and it's finally surfaced thanks to a bit of sleuthing. The cast changes for the 11th season of MADtv are as follows:

Departing: Spencer Kayden, Ron Pederson, Aries Spears, Paul Vogt

Returning: Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caliendo, Daniele Gaither, Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Nicole Parker, Jordan Peele, Stephnie Weir

New Castmembers: Arden Myrin, Crista Flanagan

New Featured Players: Frank Caeti, Nicole Randall Johnson

So there you have it. Now, in addition to two Franks in the cast, we also have two Nicoles! Nicole Randall Johnson studied at the Groundlings and has made appearances in tv shows such as CSI, Reno 911!, Felicity and Monk. She also made a brief appearance in the current #1 movie in America, The 40 Year Old Virgin.

And this tiny spoiler comes from FOX.com, outlining what we can expect in the first episode:

For the momentous 11th season premiere, the late-night comedy lampoons Hugh Laurie (Michael McDonald) and the FOX hit HOUSE. The hilarity continues with parodies of Vince Vaughn (Ike Barinholtz) in “Wedding Crashers” and Morgan Freeman (Jordan Peele) in “March of the Penguins” on MADtv airing Saturday, Sept. 17 on FOX.

Don't forget to watch!

Michael McDonald and Stephnie Weir will be co-starring in a new movie titled "Moonpie". Here's a short summary taken from www.primezone.com...

A romantic comedy starring MAD TV's Michael McDonald and Stephanie Weir as an elementary school principal and third grade teacher who, despite their troubles, find romance in the unlikeliest of places.

Looks like Stephnie is staying busy. It'll be nice to see these two in a movie together.

According to prnewswire.com, Stephnie Weir will be appearing in a new film "based on a screenplay written by Murphy Guyer, and originally produced for the stage in New York and other cities". Here's a brief synopsis...

Eden Court is about Shroeder Duncan, who feels overwhelmed on his 30th birthday with his place in the universe. He wants to create a more meaningful life than what his trailer park existence has to offer. An injury ruined Shroeder's future in baseball, and his choices in life have failed to grant him the "American Dream." Shroeder works at a minor league baseball park as a groundskeeper, and becomes increasingly frustrated as other players achieve the success he always wanted. In bitter desperation, Shroeder resolves to pack up, leave his wife and job, and start his life over. Before he can leave, Bonnie (Williams-Paisley), his good-natured and devoted wife, and Barb (Weir), her best friend and resident alcoholic, prove to be too disruptive of a force in Shroeder's plan. Ultimately, Shroeder and Bonnie rediscover what makes life meaningful in their trailer park of paradise called Eden Court.

I'm sure Stephnie will make a great alcoholic. I believe this is her first stint since leaving MADtv. The film is scheduled for completion by month's end.

As most of you guys know by now, a number of season 10's biggest cast members will not be present for season 11. For some of them, it was a personal decision not to renew their contracts, while others were cut by the producers. Whatever the reason, this is a first glance at what the cast will look like as of right now:

Departing Cast: Ron Pederson, Aries Spears, Paul Vogt and Stephnie Weir.

Returning Cast: Ike Barinholtz, Frank Caliendo, Crista Flanagan, Daniele Gaither, Keegan-Michael Key, Bobby Lee, Michael McDonald, Nicole Parker and Jordan Peele.

In addition to the cast mentioned above, for the first time ever on MADtv there will be two African American female cast members. When I recently spoke to Debra Wilson, she informed me that a new black female has been added to the cast for season 11. She's got an improv background like Daniele and performed with Groundlings. I'm not sure of her name yet, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. I have not heard yet if Spencer has been added to the regular cast, but we'll find out very soon I'm sure.

Thanks to forum member mrekim as well as Debra Wilson and Mo Collins for updating us with this information.

MADtv's Ike Barinholtz and Stephnie Weir are among the incredible list of celebrities that are coming together on stage in Chicago this August to celebrate ImprovOlympic's 25th Anniversary Reunion Show. This impressive group of talented celebrities will all take the stage to perform some of the best ensemble improv comedy ever! This event is one night only, 8pm on Saturday August 27th at the Chicago Theatre! Scheduled to appear are:

• Mike Myers (Austin Powers, SNL)
• From SNL: Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Horatio Sanz, Seth Meyers and writers John Lutz and Rich Talarico
• From MADtv: Ike Barinholtz and Stephnie Weir
• Andy Richter (Conan, Andy Richter Controls the Universe)
• Andy Dick (Less Than Perfect, The Andy Dick Show)
• Neil Flynn (Scrubs)
• David Koechner and Director Adam McKay (Anchorman)
• Joel Murray (Dharma & Greg)
• Ian Gomez (Jake In Progress)
• Writers of Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Kevin Dorff, Brian McCaan and Brian Stack
• The Upright Citizens Brigade
  (also features tributes to Del Close and Chris Farley)

That's a really impressive list. It sounds absolutely amazing and I hope I can go, but unfortunately it's right around when school starts. Tickets range from $25 to $75 and are available at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (312) 902-1500. For more info, visit the ImprovOlympic Site. It's pricier than the Chicago Improv Festival, but it sounds like it will be well worth the price of admission.