· In what could be a dream match of creative team and quirky literary material, Joel and Ethan Coen will adapt Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union for Columbia, a "noir-style murder mystery in which a rogue cop investigates the killing of a heroin-addicted chess prodigy who might be the messiah" set in a Jewish settlement in Alaska. (Are we allowed to get pre-excited about this one?) [Variety]
· Though Ugly Betty was among the nine series ABC picked up for next season on Monday, the network ruined executive producers Marco Pennette and James Hayman's back-to-work party by dropping them from the show. [THR]

· Renee Zellweger is close to a deal to star in My One and Only, a road picture based on a story permabronzed raconteur George Hamilton once told Merv Griffin about his mom's hunt for a sugardaddy willing to provide the good life to her and her sons. [Variety]
· Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse hopes to squeeze in five more episodes this season, whether or not there's enough time to figure out where they left things before the strike. [THR]
· NBC continues to dominate a still strike-plagued Monday night behind 90-minutes blocks of American Gladiators and Deal or No Deal, with the latter show recently resorting to placing $1 million prizes in each of the show's 26 briefcases in an attempt to keep ratings high. [Variety]

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