Hawthorne

Despite a lack of buzz and/or critical acclaim, HawthoRNe has been renewed by TNT. The Jada Pinkett Smith-led series will have a 10-episode run in 2010.

The first season of the medical drama has averaged a total audience of 3.8 million viewers.

"HawthoRNe has been a great addition to TNT's lineup of original series, and Jada Pinkett Smith's performance has been a tremendous draw with viewers," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. "There are powerful episodes remaining, and we're looking forward to what is certain to be an extraordinary second season."

From Chuck's sister to a patient's girlfriend.

Sarah Lancaster, who plays Chuck's sibling on the NBC hit, will appear on a future episode of Hawthorne.

The actress will portray the girlfriend of a patient (played by Reid Scott) that gets terribly injured in a motorcycle accident. Lancaster's character is described as a woman who's never had to face adversity before this incident.

Michael Vartan stars next as the (Mc)dreamy Dr. Tom Wakefield opposite Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's new medical drama, Hawthorne, which centers on the nurses.

Michael plays the straight-laced, by-the-books chief of surgery to Jada's tough, risk-taking Christina Hawthorne, Richmond Trinity Hospital's chief nursing officer.

The former Alias star dished to E! Online on working with Mrs. Will Smith (She's apparently quite hilarious), not being a risk taker (He's a "pansy.") and more:

Q: What attracted you to Hawthorne?

A: First and foremost, Jada. Let's be honest. And also, I really liked the concept of the show. I know there are a lot of medical dramas out there, but this one is different in the sense that it tells the story of what goes on in a hospital from the nurse's point of view.

Q: Is there romance between your character and Jada's Christina?

A: It's television, so honestly I'd be surprised if there wasn't. But in the story, her husband just passed away about six months to a year ago, and I was a close friend of his. So we're going to need a little healing time for the poor girl before [my character] swoops in to try to take her out. But yeah, I definitely think that's one element of the story that's going to be explored at some point. I don't know when. But I can't image it not happening.

Q: Who might you hook up with before you get your shot with Christina?

A: I haven't heard a peep about that yet. Mainly because our characters are slaves to the hospital and work so damn long. I don't think there will be time for much romance, other than possibly with Christina because they're basically the only people they each hang out with. So it's almost, by default, as if they're going to have to, at some point, get it on. I guess.

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On June 16, TNT viewers will meet Christina Hawthorne.

She's the show's title character, a headstrong nurse played by Jada Pinkett Smith, in Hawthorne, television's latest medical drama.

In the series premiere clip below, Christina races to save her late husband's best friend from committing suicide on the one-year anniversay of his pal's death. The network told you so: it knows drama.

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