Jason LaVeris/Getty Images; Mike Marsland/Getty Images

Who's your daddy? That's the question True Blood fans are asking about Alexander Skarsgård's Viking vampire this season, as the series plans flashbacks to medieval Scandinavia that explore Eric Northman's origins and roots. Having already introduced (and dispatched with) Eric's vampire progenitor, Godric (Allan Hyde), the series is now casting for Eric's human father, King Ulfrick.

Considering that the role calls for a fluent Swedish speaker who looks like he could be Alexander Skarsgård's father, the part just has to go to Alex's real-life dad, internationally acclaimed actor Stellan Skarsgård, right? Here's what we're hearing:

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Virginia Sherwood/NBC

• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Um, we did not authorize this. Christopher Meloni might be leaving SVU—what?! Apparently the actor told Australia's Courier-Mail, "I think 12 years is enough, a good number...The writers will have fertile ground to figure out how to arc [Elliot Stabler] out to another place—whether it's this world or the next." Meloni wants to do theater and film projects after he leaves the long-running series; Mariska Hargitay, who plays Stabler's partner, Olivia Benson, told the paper she's sticking around SVU for the foreseeable future. Reps for Meloni and NBC did not reply to requests for comment at press time. Oh, Meloni, please don't go. We suspect you might be irreplaceable.

Plus, more TV news, including which True Blood fave is getting some daddy issues...

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NBC Photo: Mitchell Haaseth

• Parks & Recreation: Network reps confirm that NBC has renewed Parks & Recreation for a third season, about four months earlier than usual. Nice. Now, join us in our favorite office debate: What's the best NBC Thursday comedy: 30 Rock, Community, The Office or Parks & Recreation?

Plus, more TV news including Lost set secrets, a Showtime series preview and Jam baby scoop:

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TLC

We are suckers for the Duggar family of Arkansas, which consists of father Jim Bob, mother Michelle and 17 and Counting... 18 and Counting... 19 and Counting... children, and so we had to share this brand-new pic of wee Josie Brooklyn Duggar, who was born four months premature (she weighed 1 pound, 6 ounces at birth!) in December.

In case you don't know, the Duggars have their own show on TLC (Jon and Kate's old network), all of their 19 kids have names that start with J, and there are so many of them because Jim Bob and Michelle are part of the evangelical Quiverfull movement—which means they don't believe in any kind of birth control, including the rhythm method.

Are these people crazy? And why are we looking at a picture of their newborn daughter on this particular day?

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AMC

When Mad Men season four comes around this fall, the old gang from Sterling Cooper will be scattered to the winds. We know which characters helped found Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, but what about the folks who didn't join the revolution—are all those character gone for good?

We've got the scoop on the Mad Men folks who are not yet accounted for, including Betty Draper, Salvatore Romano, Ken Cosgrove and Paul Kinsey. Is your favorite character safe? Here's the latest:

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Richard Foreman/CBS

• How I Met Your Mother: CBS has followed up Carter and Craig's new overall deal with an early order for season six of How I Met Your Mother. (Awesome.) Above, you can get your first official look at Carrie Underwood guest starring on the show, in what looks to be a fantasy Mad Men spoof featuring Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) as Don Draper.

And speaking of Mad Men, a fan favorite won't be returning next season after all. Plus, which fired female character is unexpectedly back at work on Grey's Anatomy? (Hint: We're not talking about Izzie!)

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Michael Becker / FOX

• American Idol: This guy claims to have already identified the top 24 Idol contestants for this season. Don't click unless you want to be spoiled and/or have reason to skip the next umpteen weeks of Idol auditions. (Bookmark the link, and we'll circle back to either celebrate or mock this spoiler when the truth comes out.) In related Idol top 24 news, Michael Lynche (who was allegedly one of the final two dozen singers) has been cut from the show after his dad spoiled the news to the St. Petersburg Times.

Plus, which multiple-award-winning TV star is defending a troubled younger colleague?

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• Lost: The newest Lost promo has one whole frame of new footage. Can't spot it in the clip above? Click here. In other Lost news, the Hollywood Reporter confirms that Titus Welliver is reprising his role as the mysterious and presumably superevil "man in black" in the latter half of season six.

Plus, one of your favorite TV stars has done something terrible to his face:

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Mitchell Haaseth/NBC, Michael Muller/NBC

The powers that be at NBC still have a lot of 'splaining to do for the past couple of years, but by god, they seem to be getting smarter by the minute.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, NBC is working to stock the weeks between the Olympics and May sweeps with as much original content as possible, and have ordered additional episodes of several scripted series to help fill in the post-Leno Show blanks. Check and see if your fave is included on the list:

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NBC Photo: Trae Patton

You wouldn't like Jillian Michaels when she's angry...

The Biggest Loser's tough-girl trainer has already sunk her teeth into Green Team member Migdella for her sullen attitude this season, and now it looks like she's got Red Team member Melissa in her sights as well. According to Jillian, Melissa threw the weigh-in for the second week in a row, and if the previews are any indication, Jillian will be letting Melissa have it in the next episode.

But are Jillian's accusations fair? We got the inside report from the ranch on Biggest Loser's latest eliminated participant, Maria Ventrella:

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RD/ Erik Kabik/ Retna Digital

Move over, Kendra, because Holly's back!

Following on the ratings success of the network's Holly's World TV special in December, E! Entertainment (yep, that's us) has ordered a new continuing series about Holly Madison, the erstwhile Girl Next Door now starring in the Vegas revue Peepshow.

We say "Hallelujah!" to this news, and not just because we work at E! and we have to. Madison, who unexpectedly became a brains-and-beauty role model during her five seasons on Girls, is the best.

So what's the show about, how much Holly do we get, and when does the series premiere? Here's the dish:

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Trae Patton / NBC

The Biggest Loser sent home one half of Team Purple last night, but mama Patti Anderson is still kicking it into high gear at home, and she says the weight-loss series experience has changed her life.

According to Patti: "Every part of my life has improved in one way or or another. It's just a true gift that I finally had this breakthrough. The show propelled me, but I'm willing to do the hard work. Everyday life has just gotten sweeter and more beautiful."

So how is Patti eating right and exercising at home, and how will daughter Stephanie do now that she's alone at the ranch? Here's what we learned:

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