Joss Whedon is dropping some impressive players in "Dollhouse" for the second season, which starts Sept. 25.

The ratings-challenged thriller -- all about the mysterious Echo (Eliza Dushku) who works for an underground group -- needs those big names. The series airs this fall at 9 p.m. Fridays on Fox.

Jamie Bamber and Michael Hogan of "Battlestar Galactica" will be guest stars. So, too, will Alexis Denisof of "Angel" and Keith Carradine of "Dexter."

And Summer Glau of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" will join the show in the recurring role of Bennett, who has some connection to Echo. Of course, agent Echo's mind is erased after each assignment, so forming connections is difficult.

Bamber seems to have the most interesting role as Echo's new husband, a mysterious businessman.

Denisof will play U.S. senator, and Carradine will be a foe of the Dollhouse leader (played by Olivia Williams).

Maybe they'll all supply the juice to turn this into a winner for Whedon, who wowed fans with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel."

Get ready for an additional 13 episodes of "Warehouse 13."

The sci-fi thriller/comedy has won a second season, Syfy announced today.

Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek and Allison Scagliotti will return next season. McClintock and Kelly play two Secret Service agents who collect fantastic artifacts and place them in the South Dakota warehouse of the title.

Roger Rees and CCH Pounder will star in the first-season finale, which can be seen at 9 p.m. Sept. 22.

Syfy -- the channel formally known as Sci Fi -- noted that "Warehouse 13" is averaging 4 million viewers. It's on its way to being the most-watched and highest-rated first season for a Syfy series, the channel says.

Syfy also crowed that the "Warehouse 13" audience is bigger than those this summer for TNT's "HawthoRNe," "Raising the Bar," "Dark Blue" and "Saving Grace." The "Warehouse 13" audience is also bigger than those for FX's "Rescue Me" and Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva," Syfy added. Bragging is very important in television, but you know that, don't you?

Even so, Lifetime announced it was renewing "Drop Dead Diva" for a second season of 13 episodes next year. The series stars Brooke Elliott and Margaret Cho.

It's not the same as winning the best-comedy Emmy, but "The Big Bang Theory" has collected the top comedy prize from the Television Critics Association.

"Big Bang" isn't even nominated at the Emmys in that category this year, and it's a shame, because the CBS sitcom might have had a shot at dethroning two-time winner "30 Rock."

America's critics adore the "Big Bang" geeks, and like those geeks, the scribes love sci-fi. The critics handed the best new series prize to HBO's hugely entertaining "True Blood," which was shut out of the Emmys.

Syfy's "Battlestar Galactica" earned the biggest prize Saturday night in Pasadena, Calif.: program of the year. "Galactica" isn't nominated for the drama Emmy, either.

Do you see a trend here? Emmy nominators and TV critics seem to be out of step, except ...

"Mad Men" was chosen top drama, and the AMC drama is a shoo-in to repeat in that category at the Emmys, which will be presented Sept. 20 on CBS.

The week's biggest TV show will be Michael Jackson's memorial service. Expect extensive coverage Tuesday.

I've heard about CNN's plans, and I'll share the other channels' announcements when I get them. Coverage starts at noon ET -- the service has been announced for 1 p.m. Anderson Cooper, Larry King, Don Lemon and Soledad O'Brien will anchor from Los Angeles while Campbell Brown and Roland Martin handle the same duties from New York. Kiran Chetry will anchor "American Morning" from L.A. that morning at 6 a.m.

CBS has announced that Katie Couric will anchor a "48 Hours" special on the service at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

And that's just a hint of what's to come as television analyzes all things Michael.

In television news, Sci Fi Channel becomes Syfy on Tuesday -- don't ask me why. I think it's a stupid move to change a brand that means something. "Warehouse 13" also debuts that night with two hours at 9 p.m. Think "X-Files" as a madcap comedy, and you'll have an idea of what's coming. Two Secret Service agents collect fantastic artifacts for collection in the South Dakota warehouse of the title. It's a highly derivative adventure -- although is beats sitting through many reality series.

Starbuck is coming aboard "24."

Katee Sackhoff of "Battlestar Galactica" will play a data analyst when the Fox drama starts its eighth season Jan. 17 next year.

Also joining the cast will be Freddie Prinze Jr., Mykelti Williamson, John Boyd, Jennifer Westfeldt and Chris Diamantopoulos. These are great casting additions.

Fox says the new day will be set in New York near the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations. The network already announced that Anil Kapoor of "Slumdog Millionaire" will play a Middle Eastern leader who visits the United States on a peacemaking mission.

CTU will be back and improved. Williamson will play the new head of CTU, Prinze will portray a former Marine in charge of field operations, and Boyd is a systems analyst.

Another biggie: Cherry Jones continues as U.S. President Allison Taylor. Diamantopoulos of "The Starter Wife" will play her new chief of staff.

Westfeldt, who has appeared on "Grey's Anatomy," will play a journalist. This is especially good news: She is a delightful actress.

Still another biggie, but no surprise: Kiefer Sutherland continues as Jack Bauer. That  experimental surgery evidently worked. You were expecting he wouldn't be back?

Mary Lynn Rajskub and Annie Wersching will be back as well.

Did you love the "Battlestar Galactica" finale?

It scored impressive ratings for Sci Fi Channel. The two-hour series wrap-up was seen live by 2.4 million, the channel reported over the weekend. The finale was the most-watched "Galactica" in more than three years.

Oscar-nominee Mary McDonnell, who played the president, has lined up another TV role, Entertainment Weekly's EW.com reports. For several episodes, she will play a police captain who doesn't see eye to eye with Kyra Sedgwick's Brenda Johnson on TNT's "The Closer." Sounds promising. What do you think?

It's a grand weekend for sports, news and old movies on television.

But the event likely to make the most headlines is President Barack Obama's interview on Sunday's "60 Minutes." Just look at all the headlines he made by appearing last night on "The Tonight Show." Yes, and he made a really thoughtless remark about his bowling. "Like the Special Olympics or something," Obama said. I imagine Steve Kroft won't spend too much time on that flub; there's so much news to discuss, such as the economy, AIG and war.

The NCAA men's basketball tournament continues this weekend on CBS. The other networks will throw new fare against the sports spectacular.

The biggest scripted event is the series finale of "Battlestar Galactica." You get two hours -- two hours -- at 9 tonight on Sci Fi. The goal was to make a great show. The result: Mission accomplished.

March is a sweeps month this year, and so the schedule is packed with new offerings from the broadcast networks. Yet two of the most notable programs this weekend can be found on cable.

The finale of "Battlestar Galactica" starts at 10 tonight on Sci Fi. The final two hours come next week, and fans will miss a series that stands as something special in a golden age for drama.

HBO has another biggie: Will Ferrell brings his Broadway show to television at 9 p.m. Saturday. "You're Welcome America, A Final Night With George W. Bush" has been a big hit despite scathing reviews. Just think, HBO subscribers: You're seeing a live Broadway show without having to pay Broadway prices. The show completes it run on Sunday.

Ferrell was a favorite on "Saturday Night Live." Another alum returns to host that show this weekend: Tracy Morgan of "30 Rock." If he hosts as well as he gives acceptance speeches, this episode could be hilarious. "American Idol" champ Kelly Clarkson, who has been just about everywhere this week pushing her new CD, will be the musical guest.

Sunday brings the premiere of NBC's "Kings," which takes the biblical story of David and turns it into a modern drama in a fictional monarchy. The two-hour premiere starts at 8 p.m. The wartime heroism of David Shepherd (Chris Egan) transforms him into a public favorite and puts him in the orbit of the king (Ian McShane of "Deadwood"). NBC deserves points for trying something different, but the results are  often pretentious and silly. The best moments belong to Egan, who handles his chores simply and directly.

On the series front, "Cold Case" depicts what happens after Jeffries is shot, "The Simpsons" offers its sendup of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Desperate Housewives" plops Susan in another fine mess.

If you missed the season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars," ABC will repeat it at 8 p.m. Saturday. Pay special attention to gymnast Shawn Johnson and actor Gilles Marini.

The cast for new series "SGU: Stargate Universe" continues to gain star power.

Lou Diamond Phillips and Ming-Na will join Robert Carlyle in the series, which is scheduled to debut in October on Sci Fi.

The drama follow survivors of a base attack who find themselves on a ship that cannot return to Earth. The group struggles to survive on the mysterious journey.

"ER" alumna Ming-Na plays a human-resources executive with a superior attitude. Phillips is a proud military man. "Full Monty" star Carlyle plays a brilliant scientist.

Other new cast members are Elyse Levesque and Alaina Huffman, who both acted on "Smallville."  They are joining Justin Louis, David Blue, Jamil Walker Smith and Brian J. Smith.

Coming this weekend: the Super Bowl, usually the most-watched program each year.

Struggling NBC hopes to gain ratings advantages from showing the big game at 6 p.m. Sunday between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals.

The Peacock Network will promote its schedule heavily during the game. Matt Lauer of NBC's "Today" will interview President Barack Obama. And NBC will follow the big game with a special episode of "The Office."

But is "The Office" the right show to follow the Super Bowl? NBC might have been wiser to give that wonderful showcase to "Chuck," which will offer a 3-D episode Monday.

The program of most note Saturday will be "Saturday Night Live," which features Steve Martin (pictured) as host. The musical guest is Grammy nominee Jason Mraz.