Television news briefs

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'TOP GEAR' BUCKLES UP HOST TRIO

NBC has put a trio of hosts behind the wheel of its adaptation of the BBC hit "Top Gear."

Comedian/car collector Adam Carolla, rally driver and stunt performer Tanner Foust and HGTV host Eric Stromer will try to fill the shoes of U.K. hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The American version will shoot a pilot this week.

"This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience," says Craig Plestis, head of alternative programming at NBC. "We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats."

Clarkson, who's an executive producer of the BBC show (but won't be involved in the NBC show), also gives an endorsement of the trio. "This is fantastic news _ but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road, I've no idea."

Carolla, whose involvement was announced earlier this year, is a self-professed gearhead who counts classic Lamborghinis and two Ferraris among his car collection. The recent "Dancing with the Stars" contestant hosts a syndicated radio show from L.A.

Stromer hosts the HGTV show "Over Your Head" and has appeared on TLC's "Clean Sweep" and NBC's "Three Wishes." He's also a frequent guest on Carolla's radio show.

Foust is the 2007 Formula Drift Pro Drift champion and has worked on a stunt driver on several films, including "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." He's also hosted the Speed Channel's "Redline TV."

Tod Mesirow ("Monster Garage") and Kevin Harris ("The Apprentice") are executive producing for NBC.

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GEORGE TAKEI TO ACQUIRE MARRIAGE LICENSE

George Takei is taking the next step to marrying his longtime partner Brad Altman.

The couple of 21 years will pick up a marriage license on Tuesday, June 17, the first day that marriage licenses will be offered to gay and lesbian couples in California.

Takei, 71, and Altman, 54, will be among the hundreds of couples in West Hollywood Park for ribbon cutting ceremonies, a press conference and to receive the licenses.

Although many couples will have a civil ceremony performed in marriage cabanas Tuesday, Takei and Altman will wait till September for their wedding.

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On Thursday, May 15, the California Supreme Court lifted a ban on gay marriage, making it constitutional for same-sex couples to get hitched in the state. The next day, the "Star Trek" actor posted on his website: "We are overjoyed! At long last, the barrier to full marriage rights for same-sex couples has been torn down. We are equal with all citizens of our state!"

Takei announced his homosexuality in October 2005. He's best known for playing Sulu on "Star Trek" and more recently appeared on NBC's hit drama "Heroes" as the father of Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), the hero who can bend space and time.

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'WEST WING' STAR READS ABC'S 'ATLAS'

ABC has admitted four actors into the fantasy world, including former "West Wing" star Janel Moloney, of its pilot "Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas."

The show has also found its lead actress in 13-year-old Jodelle Ferland. Patrick Breen ("Eli Stone") and Nathan Gamble ("Runaway") round out the cast.

"Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas" is a fantasy centered on a girl (Ferland, whose credits include "Kingdom Hospital" and "Silent Hill") who discovers a magic book that leads to a world beneath the Earth's surface. Moloney and Breen will play her adoptive parents and Gamble her younger brother.

Tom Wheeler wrote the pilot, and another "West Wing" veteran, Emmy winner Thomas Schlamme, is set to direct.

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AYDA FIELD JOINS PILOT

Also at ABC, Ayda Field ("Back to You") has joined the cast of David Kohan and Max Mutchnick's comedy pilot, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the Kohan-Mutchnick pilot, Field will play the girlfriend of Josh Cooke's character. She takes over the role from Sarah Lafleur, who was let go after the cast did a table read. Lafleur has a talent holding deal at ABC and will likely join another show at the network.

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LIFETIME 'ROCKS' WITH NICOLE SULLIVAN

Lifetime has ordered its first original prime-time comedy in 10 years, picking up "Rita Rocks" for a fall premiere.

The show stars "MADtv" and "The King of Queens" alumna Nicole Sullivan as a wife and mother who finds herself in the midst of an identity crisis. The solution: Start a band with her mail carrier (Tisha Campbell-Martin, "My Wife and Kids") and a neighbor (Ian Gomez, "Felicity").

Richard Ruccolo ("Two Guys and a Girl"), Raviv Ullman ("Phil of the Future") and Kelly Gould also star.

Lifetime has experimented a little bit with comedy in recent years, notably with the Eric McCormack-produced "Lovespring International," which aired in late nights two years ago. But it's relied mostly on syndicated shows like "Will & Grace" and "The Golden Girls" for its laughs.

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In addition to "The King of Queens" and "MADtv," Sullivan was a regular on NBC's short-lived series "Raines" and had a recurring part on "Scrubs." Her film credits include "Superhero Movie," "Guess Who" and voice work on "Meet the Robinsons."

"Rita Rocks" comes from Media Rights Capital. Jim Berg and Stan Zimmerman ("Gilmore Girls," "Roseanne") wrote the pilot and will executive produce with Jeffrey Hodes and Nastaran Dibai.

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