News Bites: Chris Kattan, 'In the Motherhood,' 'Sunny in Philadelphia'

A few tidbits of recent TV-comedy news:

• Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan has joined the cast of ABC's fall sitcom The Middle, starring Patricia Heaton. He was a guest star in the pilot, but will now be a regular, playing a friend of Heaton's main character. It seemed like he fell off the planet after SNL, so I guess it's good he's getting work, although I can't remember ever not finding him annoying.

• Also on ABC, the network has given up on its summer run of leftover episodes of In the Motherhood after just one airing. The two remaining episodes look likely to remain on the shelf after dismal ratings for last week's return. Instead, fellow lame-duck sitcom Samantha Who? (a much better show) will double up on episodes, playing Thursdays at 8 and 8:30 p.m. EST, until all its installments have aired.
• FX announced fall return dates for several of its shows this week, including info on the fifth-season premiere of outrageous comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which will return September 17, and air its 12 episodes Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST. The network also announced plans to pair Sunny with a new comedy, details of which have yet to be revealed.

Photo courtesy of ABC