A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

WELL,WE CERTAINLY KNOW SHE CAN TALK FAST: Because of Maura Tierney's cancer treatment, NBC needs to recast her role on the upcoming Parenthood, and was allegedly desperately pitching the role to Helen Hunt. Now, Hunt is apparently out and reports are Lauren Graham has been offered the part. The original pilot (directed by Tommy Schlamme) was apparently excellent, the cast is solid (Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Mae Whitman), and the show's being run by FNL mastermind Jason Katims, and if this casting news holds up, maybe NBC can use it to salvage what's been a dismal fall for it thus far (I'd suggest Wednesdays at 8, replacing Mercy, where competition is largely non-existent, or, in an ideal world, replacing one of the Leno nights).