NBC's much talked-about show Awake marks the TV return of the very talented Jason Isaacs (whom you should remember from his compelling turn as Providence mobster Michael Caffee on Showtime's best kept secret, Brotherhood). What drew Isaacs to the role of Detective Michael Britten, who finds himself in two separate realities at the same time? How does he tackle dual storylines within one show? He recently talked with me about that and more.

For more Awake, you can also read my recent interview with executive producers Kyle Killen and Howard Gordon, and tune in for my review of the ...

NBC just introduced its 2011-12 primetime schedule, showcasing six new dramas and six new comedies from a roster of renowned hitmakers that includes Steven Spielberg, Lorne Michaels, Brian Grazer, Tom Werner, John Grisham and Peter Berg, among many others.

The season's new dramas are "Smash," "Prime Suspect," "The Playboy Club," "Awake," "Grimm" and "The Firm"; and the new comedies are "Up All Night," "Whitney," "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," "Free Agents," "Best Friends Forever" and "Bent."

Returning shows include "Parenthood," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Harry's La...

Happy Birthday to "Family Ties" actor Brian Bonsall (1981), "My Girl" star Anna Chlumsky (1980), "Charmed" witch Holly Marie Combs (1973), movie star Brendan Fraser (1968), figure skater Katarina Witt (1965), actor Steve Harris (1965), actress Julianne Moore (1960), "Kill Bill" 1 and 2 actress Daryl Hannah (1960), self-proclaimed "Prince of @#$%!@# Darkness" Ozzy Osbourne (1948), French director Jean-Luc Godard (1930), singer Andy Williams (1930), and author Joseph Conrad (1857; d.1924).

Happy Birthday to "Family Ties" actor Brian Bonsall (1981), "My Girl" star Anna Chlumsky (1980), "Charmed" witch Holly Marie Combs (1973), movie star Brendan Fraser (1968), figure skater Katarina Witt (1965), actor Steve Harris (1965), actress Julianne Moore (1960), "Kill Bill" 1 and 2 actress Daryl Hannah (1960), "Prince of @#$%!@# Darkness" Ozzy Osbourne (1948), French director Jean-Luc Godard (1930), singer Andy Williams (1930), and author Joseph Conrad (1857; d.1924).

The premiere of NBC's new drama Heist kicks off on Wed., Mar. 22, at 10-11 p.m., following an all-new episode of Law & Order debuting in its new time slot at 9-10 p.m. "Heist" is a fast-paced, serialized drama that follows a team of expert career criminals as they attempt to pull off one of the biggest heists in history.

Dougray Scott, Steve Harris, Seymour Cassel, Marika Dominczyk and David Walton star as the burglars hell-bent on pulling off the impossible to simultaneously rob three of the most renowned jewelry stores on Beverly Hills' famed Rodeo Drive during Academy Awards week. ...

NBC will introduce several new mid-season series and welcome back other hits following the closing day ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics beginning Feb. 27 with the reprise of the smash "Deal or No Deal" followed by the series premieres of "Conviction" (March 3), "Heist" (March 22) and "Teachers" (April 6).

Other early schedule changes include Law & Order moving on Wednesdays to 9-10 p.m. (ET) beginning March 22. In addition, The Apprentice returns on Monday, February 27 (9-10 p.m. ET), and Las Vegas rolls on to Fridays (9-10 p.m. ET) on March 3. "Dateline NBC" also will move from...

Happy Birthday to "Family Ties" actor Brian Bonsall (1981), "My Girl" star Anna Chlumsky (1980), "Charmed" witch Holly Marie Combs (1973), movie star Brendan Fraser (1968), figure skater Katarina Witt (1965), actor Steve Harris (1965), actress Julianne Moore (1960), "Kill Bill" 1 and 2 actress Daryl Hannah (1960), "Prince of @#$%!@# Darkness" Ozzy Osbourne (1948), French director Jean-Luc Godard (1930), singer Andy Williams (1930), and author Joseph Conrad (1857; d.1924).