Former "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow is getting back into business with NBC, delving into the ancestry of some of her fellow celebrities in a new series.

NBC has picked up a show called "Who Do You Think You Are?" from Kudrow's production company, Is or Isn't Entertainment. Based on a BBC series of the same name, the documentary-style show will trace the genealogy of a well-known person in each episode, revealing the struggles and triumphs the subject's family faced in the past.

"Who Do You Think You Are?" debuted on BBC Two in 2004 and moved to the flagship BBC One in 2006. Among the celebrities who've taken part in the show are Jeremy Irons, John Hurt, Nigella Lawson, Graham Norton and David Tennant. Versions of the series have also aired in Canada and Australia. (Zap2it.com)

Christian Slater is set to star in his first TV series for NBC, according to the Hollywood Reporter. In the untitled drama, from writer-producer Jason Smilovic ("Bionic Woman," "Kidnapped," "Karen Sisco"), Slater will play a suburban dad who learns that he has an alter-ego that is a spy.

The project is being described as "Bourne Identity" meets "Jekyll and Hyde," and The Reporter states that NBC is close to handing out a series order for the project. It would be the network's latest show to go direct to series without a pilot, following orders earlier this development season for "Kath & Kim," "The Philanthropist," "Robinson Crusoe," "Fear Itself" and "The Listener."

Slater previously made guest appearances on "The West Wing" and "Alias." He was also tapped last year for the NBC drama "Dirty Little Secrets," which did not make it out of the development stage.

"Spider-Man" director Sam Raimi and reality vet Jay Bienstock ("Survivor," "The Apprentice") are developing an unscripted horror-themed show for The CW, Variety reports.

The project, titled "13," has competitors face off in horror-related challenges until there is one contestant left standing. Bienstock said inspiration came from horror franchises like "Friday the 13th" and Nightmare on Elm Street." "We want to cast it like a horror movie," he told Variety. "And shoot it a little differently as well. Think about those old movies -- we want to put people in a place like that, where they have to deal with their fears and anxieties. They'll end up surprising one another."

Raimi's horror credits include "The Evil Dead," "The Gift" and "Army of Darkness."

Paris Hilton is looking for a new best friend.

Hilton will choose from 20 potential confidantes on an MTV reality series, tentatively titled "Paris Hilton's My New BFF," premiering later this year, the network announced last week.

Production is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles at the end of May, MTV said. The contestants will live together in a house -- drama! -- and try to prove themselves worthy in the areas of loyalty, endurance and "girl politics."

Hilton, an executive producer on the show, will "teach the secrets of celebrity living -- how to turn your enchanted life into a multimillion dollar brand, how to manage public feuds and always rise above, how to survive scandal and then make it work for you, all the while wearing 6-inch heels."

A casting call has kicked off on ParisBFF.com, where visitors can vote for Hilton's aspiring hangers-on. (Associated Press)

David Newell is in New York today for scheduled morning-show appearances as his alter-ego, Mr. McFeely, taking the "Won't You Be My Neighbor? Days" message to the masses. He's due on "Fox & Friends," ABC's "Good Morning America" and other media outlets, where he'll be asking everyone to wear their favorite sweater on Thursday, to honor the late Fred Rogers.