This just in from MARC BERMAN’S PROGRAMMING INSIDER:

TV Tidbits:
Notes of Interest

More Rita Rocks:
Lifetime Television has renewed freshman sitcom Rita Rocks, its first original prime-time comedy in 10 years, for a second season. Twenty episodes have been ordered.

ABC Cancels Life on Mars:
ABC has announced that critically acclaimed, but minimally seen drama Life on Mars, which recently moved to Wednesday at 10 p.m. out of Lost, will end production after 17 episodes. The series-ender is expected to air sometime in April.

TVS Targets Teens:
The Television Syndication Company (TVS) has announced two weekly teen oriented programs from the producers of VJLAM.tv for fall 2009: Go for Gold TV and Green Generation TV. Described as a motivational sports series, Go for Gold TV will cover the daily challenges and successes of amateur athletes on their way to gold. Green Generation TV will report in inspirational stories of today’s internet generation trying to make our planet cleaner and greener. Both shows will be added to TVS’ current syndication line-up of Real Life 101, What’s Up! ¿Que Pasa and VJIAM.tv.

Upcoming on TV Guide Channel:
Season four of Idol Tonight, the exclusive live pre-show for Fox’s American Idol, will open on Wednesday, March 11 at 8 p.m. ET. Former contestants Kimberly Caldwell (season two) and Just Guarini (the season one runner-up) will return as hosts. Let’s just hope that neither host decides to “sing!

Speaking of TV Guide:
Why is the magazine featuring Cheryl Burke from Dancing With the Stars on the current cover. Doesn’t it want to sell issues?

Alexis Bledel Heads to ER:
Former Gilmore Girls co-star Alexis Bledel has a new short-term gig: guest shot on NBC’s departing ER. Bledel will play a new intern at the hospital in the two-hour series finale on April 2.

CW Plus Adds Brian McKnight Show to Weekend Line-up:
Upcoming Litton Entertainment weekly The Brian McKnight Show has been cleared by the CW Plus for a fall 2009 premiere. Other station groups committing to the weekly entertainment hour include Tribune’s WPIX-TV in New York, Weigel’s WCIU in Chicago, and stations from the CBS, Barrington, Hubbard, LIN, McKinnon, Newport and Sinclair groups.

Rumor Alert:
It looks like CBS’ veteran Two and a Half Men is about to be renewed for three additional seasons, taking it through the 2011-12 season, while sophomore The Big Bang Theory is being picked-up for two more years. If this is indeed true, little Jake will be ready for college!

Speaking of Rumors:
Former The O.C. star Mischa Barton is apparently in conversations to join the cast of the potential upcoming remake of Melrose Place on the CW. Let’s just hope that Mischa has taken some acting lessons!

Coming Up on G4:
G4, the destination for young males, will be introducing a new investigative reporting series called G4 Underground on Sunday, March 29. Hosted by Morgan Webb of X-Play and targeted to the digital generation, G4 Underground will focus on some of today’s most controversial issues and hot trends. It airs at 9 p.m. ET.