Surely fans saw this coming. USA Network has announced that sophomore crime dramedy In Plain Sight will return to the small screen for a third season. This news follows closely on the heels of the network’s decision to pick up fellow dramedies Burn Notice and Royal Pains for additional seasons, as well.

As The Hollywood Reporter accurately notes, the In Plain Sight development and probable Law & Order: Criminal Intent pickup means that USA Network has renewed each and every one of its currently airing series, “an impossible feat” for either a broadcast or cable network.

Good for USA Network and the shows. There’s a reason why I and many others watch all of them, and the proof is in the series’ excellent ratings.

How’s this for a good match-up? USA Network announced today, July 31, that Burn Notice‘s August 6 third-midseason finale will feature an extended sneak peek at Quentin Tarantino‘s latest flick Inglourious Basterds.

The highly anticipated movie starring Brad Pitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Kruger, and Mike Myers — just to name a few — will hit theaters nationwide on Friday, August 21. For those who don’t know, the film follows The Basterds, a group of Jewish-American soldiers stationed in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, who are put on a mission to slaughter Nazis and scare the frak out of the Third Reich. Cool.

As for Burn Notice, the Season Three summer finale “Long Way Back” pits Team Michael against a mysterious dude from Fiona’s past named Thomas O’Neill. The bad guy is played by most-excellent English actor Paul Blackthorne (Lipstick Jungle, Big Shots, The Dresden Files, 24), pictured above with Gabrielle Anwar‘s Fiona in a seriously bad situation.

When O’Neill arrives in Miami out of the blue with deadly misdeeds on his mind, Michael works with Fiona’s equally kick-ass brother to bring him down and save Fiona. Check out the episode and the special Inglourious Basterds preview next Thursday, August 6, from 9pm to 10pm ET.

I’m so glad to see television casting people taking advantage of the opportunity to snatch up Christopher Gorham whenever he becomes available. The former Ugly Betty and Harper’s Island star — to name just two of his most recent shows — will next assume a lead role in USA Network’s latest pilot, the action drama (or is it yet another dramedy?) Covert Affairs.

USA Network announced today, July 30, that Covert Affairs stars Coyote Ugly actress Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, a CIA trainee who is “mysteriously summoned to headquarters for duty as [a] field operative. While Annie believes she’s been promoted for her exceptional linguistic skills, there may be something or someone from her past that her CIA bosses are really after.” Ooohhh… Sounds suspenseful!

Gorham will portray the blind character Auggie Anderson, a CIA military intelligence agent who lost his sight on the job during an assignment. He’s now tasked with mentoring Annie as she copes with her new position, including all of the excitement, intrigue, and inevitable red tape it entails.

Whether or not the pilot will eventually get picked up as a full-fledged TV show remains to be seen, but the premise and current cast certainly seem like a solid foundation for another entertaining USA Network original series. Today’s announcement didn’t mention a development time line, however, so stay tuned for additional details.

We knew it was coming sooner or later, and now it has. USA Network just announced its wise decision to pick up both Burn Notice and Royal Pains for additional 16-episode seasons following mighty impressive ratings during the shows’ respective current seasons. Burn Notice is on run number three, while Royal Pains premiered in June 2009.

Says USA Network executive Jeff Wachtel: “We are thrilled to bring Royal Pains back for a new season. The show’s stellar success has earned its prominent residency at USA, where viewers expect high quality programming and smart, character-driven storytelling.”

Moreover, “Burn Notice is simply one of the hottest shows in all of television. It continues to excite us with the exceptional writing, acting and direction that has set the TV landscape on fire.”

According to the press release, Burn Notice is the #1 scripted series of 2009 on cable television in the 18–49 and 25–54 age groups, while Royal Pains is the #1 new original series on cable in 2009. Couldn’t have happened to two more deserving shows.

If you were a fan of the short-lived serial crime drama The Nine and you happen to have access to satellite network DIRECTV, then you’re in luck. Starting tonight, July 29, at 10pm ET, the network will begin presenting the last four episodes of the show, which never aired during the series’ 2006–2007 run on ABC.

The Nine follows the experiences of nine seemingly unrelated people who develop an unexpected bond after they survive a botched bank robbery that includes being held captive for 52 hours. DIRECTV started syndicating the entire 13-episode series on Wednesday, May 27, leading up to the previously unseen episodes that fans can watch beginning with tonight’s installment, “The Inside Man.”

Keep reading for details about all four episodes.

The Inside Man | July 29

After Egan (John Billingsley) makes a surprising statement on national television, the lives of the nine are thrown into turmoil. Kathryn (Kim Raver) must now consider the political implications of her continued association with the others, and Nick (Tim Daly) tries to use knowledge that only he possesses to satisfy a nagging suspicion.

Man of the Year | August 5

While Malcolm (Chi McBride) struggles with whether or not he deserves an award for his many years od civic service, his hapless brother visits unexpectedly. Lizzie (Jessica Collins) remains troubled by romantic dreams of Lucas (Owain Yeoman). And Felicia (Dana Davis) digs deeper into her memories of the bank incident.

Legacy | August 12

Nick asks Malcolm for guidance in coping with an old promise of revenge for his father’s death. Egan proves to be a valuable asset in Kathryn’s campaign. And Felicia confronts Malcolm about something she remembers from the robbery.

Confessions | August 19

Kathryn is drawn dangerously close to Nick. Burdened by his sins, Jeremy (Scott Wolf) makes a shocking confession. And Lizzie faces a crisis of conscience regarding Lucas.

So You Think You Can Dance | 8pm

Top 12 Perform: It’s the Round of 12, which means there are just six couples left!
[Fox, 120 minutes]

Ghost Hunters International | 9pm

Wicklow’s Gaol: Season Two begins with a trip to the title location.
[Syfy, 63 minutes, Season Premiere]

Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns | 9pm

Meet the Secret: Tyler Perry’s second successful basic-cable sitcom moves to a new, one-hour earlier time slot. Another fresh episode, “Meet the Intervention,” follows at 9:30pm to complete the typical hourlong comedy block.
[TBS, 30 minutes, Time Change]

The Philanthropist | 10pm

Paris: Team Teddy takes on the plight of girls and women trapped in a nasty, vicious sex-trafficking ring. The action begins on a trip to Paris, where Olivia encounters an old friend named Isabelle who soon reveals her involvement with powerful pimp Bejan. Death follows, making Teddy and his colleagues even more determined to stop the corruption. Check out a sneak peek below, which features Teddy and Dax in really big trouble.
[NBC, 60 minutes]

Top Chef Masters | 10pm

Magic Chefs: It looks like that one-week break was worth it. Not only does How I Met Your Mother, Harold & Kumar, and Doogie Howser, M.D. standout Neil Patrick Harris make a special appearance, but viewers get the awesome opportunity to watch the chefs — and I’m not making this up — cook eggs with one hand tied behind their back. Talk about an invaluable skill! However, moms (and some dads) everywhere could do it with their eyes closed, too. Just sayin’…
[Bravo, 60 minutes]

Reno 911! | 10:30pm

Wiegel’s Couple’s Therapy: Season Six comes to a close with Deputy Raineesha Williams reluctantly accompanying her fellow deputy, Trudy Wiegel, to couple’s therapy after Trudy’s insurance allotment for psychiatric assistance runs out. It’s nice to know that at least one of the Reno Sheriff Department’s finest has been taking full advantage of therapy. Too bad that still hasn’t done a bit of good, though.
[Comedy Central, 30 minutes, Season Finale, Season Six DVD Giveaway]

I was pretty bummed yesterday when I realized ABC had pulled the previously scheduled episode of always-fun comedy Better Off Ted in favor of a 20/20 special honoring Michael Jackson. The programming change wasn’t a huge surprise, of course, since Tuesday was the day of Jackson’s big memorial event. However, Better Off Ted was missed, at least in my home.

So, in tribute to one of television’s more entertaining sitcoms, the latest TV Quotable focuses on Better Off Ted and a little exchange that occurs during the June 30 episode “Bioshuffle.”

When a toxic leak invades the administrative section of Veridian Dynamics, employees who work in the area are forced to dig up their cubicle roots and relocate temporarily, including lovely, sarcastic Linda (Andrea Anders).

Her boss Ted (Jay Harrington) understandably doesn’t want to share his spacious office with her because they’ve got this whole inappropriate attraction thing going on. But how can he refuse when Linda barges on in anyway and sets up shop?

Unfortunately, Ted has no idea just how difficult it will be to remain productive in the same room with Linda. Not only do their work styles clash like a ton of bricks hurtling to the ground, but then there’s also the following issue.

Ted stares at Linda’s butt as she bends over doing something.

Linda [turns around and notices before Ted can look away]: Are you staring at my butt?

Ted: Hmm? No, your butt is in my staring place. So, technically, it’s staring at me.

Linda [smiling]: Sorry. It’s from a small town. It’s never seen a big businessman like you before.

Ted [with a dead-serious look on his face]: Well, tell it to act more professional. It’s making a spectacle of itself.

Linda smiles harder and turns back around to bend over in the same position.

Oh, get a room — outside of the office — already!

10 Things I Hate About You | 8pm

Pilot: The 1999 movie starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, among many other notables, gets a decade-later makeover as a new TV sitcom, featuring Larry Miller (Boston Legal), Lindsey Shaw (Aliens in America), Meaghan Jette Martin (House), Dana Davis (Heroes), and Ethan Peck (That ’70s Show). Check out the trailer immediately below and read the insightful advance review from The New York Times.
[ABC Family, 36 minutes, Series Premiere]

Great American Road Trip | 8pm

Pilot: Yet another new summer reality series, this one from BBC Worldwide and featuring seven distinct families as they travel the United States via legendary Route 66 and participate in various challenges. I might actually watch.
[NBC, 60 minutes, Series Premiere]

Heroes Among Us: The 2009 Hero Awards | 8pm

Host Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) and others celebrate everyday people who have done extraordinary things to help others in need. Love it!
[MyNetworkTV, 60 minutes]

HawthoRNe | 9pm

All the Wrong Places: Christina’s latest patients are a Korean mother and her young son, both in declining states that don’t seem to be the result of injuries sustained during their recent car accident.
[TNT, 60 minutes]

Warehouse 13 | 9pm

Pilot, Parts 1 and 2: And to go along with its new rebranding as Syfy, which is official as of today, the former Sci Fi Channel presents its latest original fantasy drama. The series stars Saul Rubinek (Blind Justice), Eddie McClintock (Bones), Joanne Kelly (The Dresden Files), and CCH Pounder (The Shield) as the lucky folks responsible for mysterious artifacts housed at the titular facility.
[Syfy, 120 minutes, Series Premiere]

Rescue Me | 10pm

Wheels: One of the crew’s good deeds does indeed go punished, and Franco finally hits the ring for a real boxing match.
[FX, 61 minutes]

Saving Grace | 10pm

What Would You Do?: Actor F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus) guest stars as an angel named Matthew who encroaches on Earl’s Earth-bound territory following a bit of bad luck with his own souls.
[TNT, 60 minutes]

The Cleaner | 10pm

The Projectionist: William kidnaps a pregnant East Indian woman on her wedding day after being asked to help the future bride kick her addiction to meth.
[A&E, 60 minutes]

How’s this for fast? The sixth season of Comedy Central’s improvised cop mockumentary Reno 911! hits stores across the United States today, July 7, exactly one day before the same season’s finale premieres.

That closing episode is called “Wiegel’s Couple’s Therapy,” and it airs tomorrow night at 10:30pm ET. In the meantime, the two-disc Season Six DVD set, Reno 911! The Complete Sixth Season: Uncensored, features all 15 episodes from the current season, as well as over two hours of bonus material that includes:

• A digital copy of every episode
• Audio commentary with cast members Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Thomas Lennon, Niecy Nash, Ian Roberts, Jo Lo Truglio, and Cedric Yarbrough
• Extended and never-before-seen outtakes
• The featurette “Profiles in Valor” with new characters Deputy Frank Rizzo (Truglio) and Sergeant Jack Declan (Roberts)

If you’re a fan of the series, I invite you to enter the giveaway I’m currently hosting at the sitcom blog Comedy Centric. Two lucky winners will be randomly selected to receive one copy each of the Reno 911! Season Six DVD set.

So, surf on over and leave a comment for your shot at that prize. The deadline for entries is next Wednesday, July 15, at 11:59pm ET.

The Closer | 9pm

Half Load: While investigating the case of a murdered gang banger, Team Brenda ends up encountering the Crenshaw Community Center’s Father Jack (Mark Rolston), whom we first met during the Season Three episode “Grave Doubt,” again.
[TNT, 60 minutes]

Raising the Bar | 10pm

Is There a Doctor in the House?: Jerry’s next case? A woman who claims the substance that led to her arrest on drug possession charges is just a dab of laundry detergent. Yeah, right!
[TNT, 60 minutes]

Weeds | 10pm

Van Nuys: Canadian music artist Alanis Morissette begins a seven-episode story arc as Audra Kitson, pregnant Nancy Botwin’s doctor.
[Showtime, 30 minutes]

Nurse Jackie | 10:30

Daffodil: Lots of stuff happens, but none funnier or stranger than Mrs. Akalitus (Anna Deavere Smith) somehow managing to taser herself accidentally. WTF?!
[Showtime, 30 minutes]