Brothers & Sisters

As previously reported, Joe Jonas is out and Cody Longo is in on Brothers & Sisters, as the actor will play a younger version of Tommy on an upcoming two-episode flashback arc that delves into the Walker family history.

Meanwhile, sources now confirm that a familiar face will come aboard the drama in the role of a 1970's William Walker.

Daniel Cosgrove - who has appeared on Beverly Hills, 90210, Dirty Sexy Money, Guiding Light and, most recently, The Good Wife - has signed on to play a version of Tom Skerritt's deceased character.

Think there's any resemblance between the actors?

Sarah's new boyfriend Roy has been a nice addition to Brothers & Sisters. He's smart, he can relate to life as a single parent, and he registers a respectable 7.5 in bed.

But he's no Luc.

That's the mentality of Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) herself, at least in the back of her mind. When she received the text from Luc (yes, he texts), at the end of last Sunday's episode, "The Pasadena Primary," it became clear that he's not over the hunky Frenchman at all.

Does that spell trouble for Roy? It very well might, because on the show's Valentine's Day episode (February 21), Sarah gets a whole lot more than candy and flowers.

Gilles Marini makes a surprise return as Luc, according to TV Guide.

What will Gilles Marini's return mean for Sarah and Roy?

"Sarah's going to have to make a decision about her direction, what she wants with her life," Brothers & Sisters executive producer David Marshall Grant says of Luc's return.

"Roy and her are in a good place right now, but Luc is one of those relationships that was really romantic for Sarah ... she's going to have a pretty conflicted Valentine's Day."

Who do you think makes a better boyfriend for Sarah?

Even as Brothers & Sisters guest stars go, this one would qualify as high-profile, and unexpected. We just hope they don't try to make young Tommy into a musician.

None other than Joe Jonas is rumored to be playing a younger version of Balthazar Getty's character, Tommy Walker, in the show's two-episode flashback this spring.

The Brothers & Sisters event focusing on the history of the Walker family reportedly will feature two different arcs: William, Nora and Holly in '73, and the kids in '86.

Tommy is presumably in his early 40s now, making him 16-18 in this scenario. ABC has not confirmed the rumor, but E! reports today that Joe Jonas is on board.

Are you psyched or what?

Can you see Joe Jonas as a young Balthazar Getty?

As for other younger Walkers, Rachel Leigh Cook is in contention to portray 1973 Nora (currently played by Sally Field). Also in the running for Nora are Courtney Ford (Dexter) and a namesake, Nora Zehetner (new Mercy West transplant Reed on Grey's Anatomy).

Meanwhile, Kay Panabaker will play a young Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Anna Wood will play Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), and Kasey Campbell will play Kevin (Matthew Rhys).

Who would you like to see play the rest of the Walkers - and are you happy with the choices rumored here? Do you like the idea of a flashback episode in general?

** UPDATE: Cody Longo, from ABC Family's Make It or Break It, has been tapped to play this younger version of Tommy. Sorry, Jonas Brothers fans.

In our review of "The Pasadena Primary," we discussed how last night's Brothers & Sisters was heavy on humor and family dynamics and light on sweeping drama.

Below, TV Fanatic's staff members analyze some of Sunday evening's many developments in further detail in our weekly Brothers & Sisters Round Table ...

1. What was your favorite scene last night?

The Barnacle: Sarah and Roy in the back of the Smart Car ... and the motel. Who knew normally straight-arrow Sarah had that wild side to her? Cougar-iffic!

L.J. Gibbs: Kitty standing up for Kevin at the reunion. Not because he's gay or needs protection, per se, but because that's what big sisters do. Kitty rules.

M.L. House: Nora and Robert arguing at the restaurant. I loved how even though she voted yes on Kitty's run, she lied by omission and let him sweat it out.

2. Do you prefer Roy or Luc as a love interest for Sarah?

M.L. House: Luc, provided he's seen Spinal Tap ... which we somehow doubt. Roy, then, because at least he probably owns a TV. There's also underrated chemistry there, I think.

L.J. Gibbs: Roy. He's nice, has a job, can relate to life as a single parent, and come on. For the first time, a 7.5 isn't as bad as they're making it sound. What if it had been a 3.5?

The Barnacle: Luc. Sorry Roy. Maybe if you work out more, you can look like Gilles Marini shirtless. Also, work on a European accent of some kind. Until then, thanks for playing!

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Despite recent reports that she will be MIA much of next season, Calista Flockhart isn't scaling back her role on Brothers & Sisters, the show's executive producer said.

"We were expecting Calista to be back next season as a series regular, and she is," David Marshall Grant says. "We're expecting to do a great year with her next year."

Reports of Flockhart's reduced schedule in Season Five began surfacing following confirmation that Rob Lowe would depart the ABC family drama after this season.

But Flockhart, who plays Lowe's TV wife Kitty McAllister, will be "visible as ever," according to Grant and a rep from ABC, who confirmed her status as a series regular.

Kitty's recent battle against lymphoma was a dramatic story for the show, ending in a risky, successful bone marrow transplant. Kitty is now running for U.S. Senate.

While it would seem like an odd time for the show to scale back on one of its most dynamic characters, a victory would conceivably have her in Washington, D.C., a lot.

As for Lowe's exit, he reportedly asked out of his contract because he felt his character, Sen. Robert McCallister, was being underutilized. His exit strategy is still unclear.

"We have a bunch of ideas on the table," Grant says. "Right now, we're just examining what would be the most exciting way to take us to the end of the season."

Lowe, whose negotiated exit from the Brothers & Sisters cast was amicable, is in talks to headline a new ABC show, according to network president Steve McPherson.

While these nebulous "series regular" comments don't necessarily mean Calista won't miss time next season, we're glad to hear she'll be a major presence either way.

Last night's Brothers & Sisters wasn't among the show's best, but did contain some quality moments while setting the stage for bigger developments in coming weeks.

For better or worse, it was a departure from some of the heavier stories of recent episodes. This week was generally lighter, focusing on humor and family dynamics.

Follow this link for a full recap of the events of "The Pasadena Primary," then see if you agree with TV Fanatic's take on the episode after reading our review below ...

TELL, DON'T ASK: Kitty is running for Robert's open U.S. Senate seat. She hasn't yet told the family, though, and despite his advice, she allows them to "vote" on it.

Everyone votes yes, she should run. Except one. Who was the lone "no" vote? Robert and Kitty assume it's Nora, the devout liberal and somewhat overbearing mom.

She doesn't exactly deny it.

Robert and Nora spar over spices and politics at Scott's restaurant.

Meanwhile, Scotty is frightened that his restaurant may close, due to the recession, so he plans fundraising event with Nora and the mayor helping out as guest chefs.

When the mayor cancels, Robert volunteers. Because he likes Scotty, sure, but mostly because he's obsessed with getting Nora to change her vote on Kitty running.

Naturally, they bicker over politics and lamb preparation.

It turns out she wasn't even the "no" vote, though. Kevin was. He wants to get out of politics and does not want to be her campaign manager ... even if he still will.

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First, the good news. Brothers & Sisters star Calista Flockhart will be back next season.

Now the bad news. She will do so on a "reduced schedule," according to this EW story.

This comes on the heels of reports of Rob Lowe leaving the show in May. Now his TV spouse is apparently making a partial exit of her own. Are these two things related?

An ABC spokesperson said only that Flockhart "will remain a series regular." So she's still a member of the cast next year, but will miss a significant number of episodes.

A Brothers & Sisters source says Flockhart’s lighter workload was a contributing factor in Lowe’s decision to leave the show, which he already felt was under-utilizing him.

The McAllisters have been awesome this season, likely their last together.

The idea of Kitty McAllister appearing on fewer episodes next season further marginalized Lowe, who plays Kitty's husband Robert, and he negotiated an "amicable" exit.

Lowe is also in talks to star in a new show for ABC next fall.

How do you feel about this Brothers & Sisters casting news, and how do you think it will play out in the remainder of the ABC drama's fourth season?

Our guess? Robert has another heart attack it in a dramatic season finale, while Kitty goes on to win election to the U.S. Senate and is simply around California less.

The fact that we always see Robert in L.A., as opposed to D.C., has always been somewhat puzzling to us given his job. Maybe this will make a bit more sense at least.

As we saw on the last episode of Brothers & Sisters, "Run Baby Run," Kitty is considering running for the U.S. Senate seat her husband just vacated. Will she do it?

Before California gets the opportunity to decide her fate, the Walkers will. The family votes on Kitty's potential bid on Sunday's episode, "The Pasadena Primary."

Here's a promo for the all-new episode ..

Elsewhere, Sarah reaches a point of frustration with Roy but is quickly rewarded for speaking up, while Robert and Nora work as guest chefs in Scotty's restaurant.

If Rob Lowe, who is leaving Brothers & Sisters after this season, is upset about not being used enough, you certainly wouldn't know it from these episode stills.

Click to enlarge some pics of Robert and Nora at work on Brothers & Sisters ...

As we reported last week, Rob Lowe is departing Brothers & Sisters later this season.

Does this mean we can expect another heart attack in Senator McCallister’s future?

Regardless of his exit strategy, Lowe apparently feels he's being underutilized on the ABC drama during the current Season Four and asked to be released from his contract.

The network granted his request and he’ll leave at the end of the season. ABC does want to remain in business with Lowe and is talking to him about headlining his own show.

There’s no word how Brothers & Sisters plans to write out Rob Lowe.

A Robert-Kitty divorce isn't exactly a far-fetched scenario given the couple’s recent marital woes, but then again, that's already been explored, and somewhat repaired - the couple has actually come a long way lately and seems to be on great terms. Hmmm.

That leaves us thinking it could be a heart attack that does Robert in. You?

In a surprise development for Brothers And Sisters, Rob Lowe has reportedly worked out an amicable exit strategy with Steve McPherson, ABC Entertainment President.

Lowe was brought in as Sen. Robert McAllister when the series stumbled out of the gate, and ratings soon climbed, leading to Lowe's signing a deal as a series regular.

Insiders say that in the drama's four seasons, at least four different show runners have gone and gone, and Rob Lowe has felt under-utilized in the family story lines.

As a result, he'll be leaving the Brothers & Sisters cast - a bit of a dubious move, considering the large ensemble he knew he was becoming a part of - at season's end.

McPherson confirmed the exit, with an interesting twist: A new Rob Lowe-centric series.

Robert is leaving the U.S. Senate. Rob is leaving the show.

"We would absolutely like to keep Rob at ABC; we feel he should be anchoring his own franchise," McPherson said, noting that the two parties are currently "in talks now.”

Many fans may know that Lowe previously exited The West Wing in the middle of its series run to start a new series, The Lyon's Den, which was axed in its first season.

It is unclear what the Lowe-led show would be about. However unlikely it may be, we'd love to see a Robert and Kitty political spinoff series. The McAllisters go to D.C.!

That's just us speculating (and likely dreaming) however. How do you think Robert will be written off the show - and are you happy with the surprise move?