Steve McPherson takes stand at Sheridan trial

Former ABC Entertainment chief Steve McPherson corroborated Marc Cherry's assertion that the decision to kill off Nicollette Sheridan's "Desperate Housewives" character was made months before the on-set incident at the heart of the actress' wrongful termination suit. McPherson, who has stayed out of the showbiz spotlight since exiting the Alphabet in mid-2010, testified on Friday that Cherry sought his approval to write Sheridan's Edie Britt out of the show during a May 2008 meeting that also included "Housewives' " head writer Bob Daily and then-Touchstone TV prexy Mark Pedowitz. McPherson said the ultimate decision was kept confidential by design when pressed by Cherry's attorney on why there was no paper trail about the move. "We wanted to keep it confidential. We would do that for any character on any show," McPherson said during testimony in Los Angeles Superior Court. Even though he helped spur an investigation, "Housewives" exec producer George Perkins testified earlier in the day that he wasn't entirely convinced of Nicollette Sheridan's claim that show creator Marc Cherry hit her while on the set of the show in September 2008. "I know that Nicollette is emotional at times," Perkins told the jury. Attorneys for Cherry questioned Perkins about an email he sent shortly after the encounter, in which the exec referred to the interaction as a "minor incident." The question of whether or not Cherry assaulted Sheridan is central to the thesp's case that she was wrongfully terminated from the ABC series. Cherry has maintained that he only "tapped" Sheridan as he provided guidance for a scene. Sheridan's suit contends that she was fired from the show in retaliation after she complained about the encounter. Perkins said on the stand Friday that he advised Cherry to apologize to Sheridan, even suggesting that the producer send flowers to the actress. Attorneys for Cherry asked Perkins about the actress' professional conduct, including inquiries about how often Sheridan showed up late for work or did not know her lines. Perkins responded that while he was not always on set by season five, the actress' final season, he recalled that Sheridan was late about half the time during the show's run. Perkins also testified that the actress told him that she felt her call time was "too early," but said that she was not the only tardy thesp on set. Attorneys for both sides also addressed Friday the issue of Touchstone's mandated budget cuts for "Housewives." According to Perkins, by the end of season four the company had instructed producers to reduce the show's budget by 2%. According to emails entered into evidence, Sheridan earned $175,000 per episode by the end of season five and was expecting to earn $200,000 per episode the following season. "We were constantly under pressure to bring the budget down," Perkins testified, explaining that network execs expected to save more than $100,000 by getting rid of Sheridan's character. Perkins said producers allocated $60,000 per episode for a replacement thesp. Touchstone human resources staffer Lynne Volk also took the stand during Friday's proceedings, testifying that she questioned witnesses during an investigation into the confrontation. But when attorneys for Sheridan pressed Volk about whether she questioned the actress herself, Volk said she had not. She said she considered the situation "minor and resolved." Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

Report: Britney Warrior spears Near Deal being X Factor Judge

She went to her roots - her red-colored roots. Lindsay Lohan's Saturday Evening Live scores second greatest rankings of year The 25-year-old walked in Beverly Hillsides on Thursday with lengthy auburn locks. After going blonde within the last many years, Lohan first grew to become famous like a redhead in her own earlier films Parents Trap and Mean Women. Find Out More > Other Links From TVGuide.com Saturday Evening LiveThe Parent TrapMean GirlsLindsay LohanMatt Lauer

Anthony Anderson To Star In Jimmy Fallons NBC Pilot, Kevin Williamsons Drama Pilot Adds Mexican Actor

EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Anderson remains attracted on one of the leads in NBCs Jimmy Fallon comedy project also called DILFs. The multicamera comedy, put together by Charlie Grandy, concentrates on three 30-something males enjoy the adventures of being a parent despite the fact that they havent developed themselves. Anderson, repped by UTA and Principato-Youthful, may have one of the trio, a regrettable-sack comic collector-switched-stay-at-home father of 4 kids, including two 6-month-old twin women. He and also the wife are broke and so are totally overcome by all the kids, but they're still greatly deeply deeply in love with each other. This is often a return to comedy for actor-comedian Anderson carrying out a streak of drama series roles, beginning along with his large arc round the Shield. He ongoing to co-star round the final season in the mothership Law & Order series and recently recurred on Cinemax’s Treme. Youthful Mexican actor Adan Canto remains cast just like a series regular in Fox’s untitled Kevin Williamson drama pilot. The project, from Warner Bros TV, can be a thriller about ex-FBI agent Ryan Sturdy (Kevin Sausage) who leads the search capture diabolical killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) which has created a cult of serial killings. Canto may have Billy, a encouraging friend who helps to keep Sarah, who's Carrolls last intended victim, safe. Canto’s casting originates from talent deals Fox signed within the month of the month of january with him and Mexican actress Martha Higareda incorporated within the network’s initiative to discover inexperienced Latin American talent. Canto, repped by APA and manager Aida Berna, is certainly an up-and-comer in Mexico and not used to Hollywood this can be his first U.S. gig.

Sony Pictures Television Expands In U.K. With Silver River Acquisition

Just ahead of next month’s MIP TV market, Sony Pictures Television has added to its international production and distribution business by taking a majority stake in UK indie producer Silver River. Silver River works across a wide range of genres with programs on such UK channels as BBC1, ITV1 and Channel 4. Its current slate includes documentary Elizabeth Taylor Queen Of Diamonds which explores the late legend’s life through jewelry and fashion. SPT’s distribution arm, which will now rep Silver River programs and formats internationally, will launch Elizabeth Taylor and other titles including anti-cosmetic surgery show Say No To The Knife at MIP in April. Silver Rivers Daisy Goodwin will continue as president of the London-based company and now reports to SPTs president of international production Andrea Wong. The addition of Silver River marks SPTs 3rd UK production venture alongside Gogglebox Entertainment and Victory Television. In other Sony news, SPT Networks has announced the launch of a dedicated film channel for the UK. The Sony Movie Channel will debut in the spring with contemporary library features and TV movies from Sony Pictures as well as other studios and indie distributors. The channel will be carried on pay-TV Skys basic package.