Brothers & Sisters
Spoilers

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.

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.

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.

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?

They became closer than ever as she battled cancer, but with it in remission, you knew it was just a matter of time until Kitty and Robert were at odds over politics again.

On Sunday's all-new Brothers & Sisters, Robert makes a startling announcement - or maybe not startling, in light of what's been going on: He is not seeking reelection.

Instead, he's going to focus on being a husband, father and engaged private citizen. Noble goals, all. But what happens when rumors circulate about Kitty's political future?

Let's just say that for the recovering Mrs. McAllister, the episode title, "Run Baby Run," can be interpreted more than one way. Watch the clip here to see what we mean ...

Looks like the tension returns in a big way. Meanwhile, things heat up with Sarah and the new romantic interest she met in "The Science Fair." Who needs that hunk Luc?

Another plot line unfolding Sunday? Scotty and Kevin awaiting the results of their first try at surrogacy. Click to enlarge some pics from the January 17 episode below ...

ABC's Brothers & Sisters is getting ready to party like it's 1973 ... and 1986!

The soapiest drama with the best cast in prime time is flashing back and casting younger versions of the entire Walker clan for a special two-part episode set in 1973 and 1986.

Between this, Lost and ill-fated Life on Mars, ABC has a thing for the '70s.

EW reported the news yesterday, and notes that not every character will be cast in the past, but seven notables will. Among the roles Brothers & Sisters is looking to fill:

• William Walker at 33 (set in 1973)
• Nora Walker at 28 (set in 1973)
• Holly Harper at 21 (set in 1973)
• Kevin Walker at 14 (set in 1986)
• Kitty Walker at 18 (set in 1986)
• Tommy Walker at 16 (set in 1986)
• Sarah Walker at 20 (set in 1986)

Any ideas for who should play younger versions of Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Nora (Sally Field) and the rest of the Walker clan in a two-part Brothers & Sisters flashback event?

This week on Brothers & Sisters, a divorced dad at Paige's school piques Sarah's interest. Looks like "The Science Fair" may mark her first foray into romance since Luc left!

Meanwhile, Justin finds the key to his learning challenges. It had better work, because he's on the verge of failing out, and his relationship with Rebecca has suffered too.

Also, as the sneak preview clip below shows, shady Simon is back in town after bailing on the wedding. It doesn't look like Nora has completely gotten over him, either ...

What do you think this guy is up to? Did he try to steal Nora's money and will he do so again? Do you think Sarah is ready to date again? Will Justin pull it together?

For a closer look at Sunday's episode, which comes on the heels of last week's terrific "A Bone to Pick," click to enlarge episode stills from "The Science Fair" below ...

I want to live.

As you might imagine, based on Kitty's words above, Brothers & Sisters goes right for the tear ducts when it returns from its holiday hiatus this Sunday night.

In the episode "A Bone to Pick," Kitty's lymphoma hits a critical stage, forcing the family to search for a marrow donor.

As always, TV Fanatic will recap, review and discuss the installment in detail soon after it airs. For now, watch an emotional hospital scene between Kitty, Nora and Robert below.

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On this Sunday's episode of Brothers & Sisters, the last of the calendar year, Justin and Rebecca are ready to walk down the aisle in a Hawaiian ceremony ... or are they?

As our Round Table panel discussed after each of the last two episodes, "Pregnant Pause" and "The Wine Festival," the two seem anything but ready to take the plunge.

Could this be Brothers & Sisters' way of foreshadowing the wedding falling apart? Or the couple triumphing over adversity? Will Rebecca's pregnancy unite or divide them?

We'll have to wait and see. We know the Walkers make it to Hawaii, though - including estranged Tommy, who's willing to risk it all to make things right with his family.

It will be very interesting to watch play out. Here's a clip from the episode in which Kitty, whose cancer we hear takes its toll at the end, helps Robert with his speech ...

Here's a look at some pictures from "Nearlyweds." Click to enlarge the images below and leave a comment with your thoughts on what will happen come Sunday night ...