Sam Waterston may be a getting a "Law & Order" promotion. The actor is negotiating to step in as the show's New York district attorney, replacing co-star Fred Thompson, a source close to the production said. Thompson, a former U.S. senator, is weighing a presidential run and asked to be released from the NBC drama.

Eric Liebowitz/NBC
On "Law & Order," Alana de la Garza plays assistant district attorney to Sam Waterston's executive district attorney. But her boss may be in line for a promotion.
Click photo for larger image.

The source was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday.

Waterston, who's been with "Law & Order" for 13 years, plays Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy. His character would take over from District Attorney Arthur Branch (Thompson) when the show returns in midseason, the source said.

The story line and McCoy's replacement have yet to be determined.

NBC and series creator and executive producer Dick Wolf declined comment Monday, as did Waterston's representative.

Cast changes are part of the "Law & Order" history, with a variety of actors playing prosecutors and police detectives. NBC had announced that Jeremy Sisto ("Six Feet Under") was joining the drama as a detective when the show begins its 18th year.

Sisto is replacing Milena Govich, who played Detective Nina Cassady.

There's also a larger shake-up in the "Law & Order" family, with next season's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to be seen first on the USA cable channel before it airs on NBC. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will remain on NBC with the original series.

(Lynn Elber, Associated Press)

'Starter' may not end

The USA Network will consider turning its limited series "The Starter Wife" into an ongoing series if viewers continue to watch in similar numbers as they did for the premiere Thursday night, said Jeff Wachtel, USA's executive vice president of original programming.

The other key determining factor would be whether actress Debra Messing, who stars as a Hollywood producer's ex-wife, would be willing to continue in the role.

"We are always looking at long-term prospects of any show we launch," Wachtel said. "It's hard to imagine it with someone else. There's no deal in place with Debra, so it would be a conversation."

The object of a widespread marketing campaign, the first installment of "The Starter Wife" averaged 5.4 million viewers, 2.8 million in the 18-to-49 age category that many advertisers prize -- the network's best launch since "The 4400" three years ago. That miniseries became a regular series.

"The Starter Wife" will run as a weekly hour on Thursdays through June 28.

(Lynn Smith, Los Angeles Times)

Silverman stays 'Ugly'

His job this fall will be to beat "Ugly Betty," but NBC's new entertainment chief is keeping his name on the show.

Ben Silverman, appointed last week as co-chairman of NBC's entertainment operation with Marc Graboff, accepted a Peabody Award on Monday for ABC's "Ugly Betty." Silverman and his production company helped remake the Spanish-language telenovela for an American audience.

He said backstage that he plans to keep his executive producer credit on the series next season despite his NBC job. He won't be involved in planning episodes, he said.

In its freshman season on ABC Thursday nights, "Ugly Betty" won a Golden Globe award for best comedy. Its star, America Ferrera, was named best actress in a comedy.

"This is the kind of show I want on NBC," he said.

Silverman's company, Reveille Studios, also developed the BBC series "The Office" for an American audience. That NBC show won a Peabody, too, giving Silverman a chance to take home an award for a show he'll actually be responsible for next fall.

One of Silverman's biggest challenges is reviving NBC's Thursday lineup. Once a legendary source of strength, NBC has been suffering in the ratings that night with four comedies including "The Office."

"All of the shows are quality," he said. "It's going to be my job to figure out how to get them sampled."

(AP)

HBO names new CEO

HBO announced a new lineup of four top corporate officers yesterday to replace Chris Albrecht, the chief executive who resigned last month. The group will be headed by Bill Nelson as the new chairman and chief executive.

The channel elevated three other executives, Richard Plepler, Eric Kessler and Hal Akselrad, to the new title of co-presidents, all with specific duties at the pay cable channel. Additionally, HBO named Michael Lombardo an executive vice president in charge of its West Coast office, where he will run the channel's programming division.

The announcements were made by HBO's parent company, Time Warner. Nelson has been acting as the chief executive since Albrecht's ouster, which took place after he was arrested in Las Vegas for an assault on a girlfriend. Previously, Nelson had been the longtime chief operating officer for HBO, in charge of most of the channel's finances. He will continue to oversee that part of the business, and the three co-presidents will report to him.

Plepler is taking on the most significant new role as the executive in charge of HBOs programming, which has long been the key to its success.

(New York Times)

First Published: June 5, 2007, 11:45 p.m.