Living briefs

TV IN BRIEF

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- Comedy Central has given new life to American Lives, a partly scripted, partly improvised pilot that was passed over at NBC earlier this year.

The show, created by Dan Mazer (Da Ali G Show), will parody the often silly world of local TV news, with four experienced improv comedians - Matt Walsh (The Daily Show), Andrea Savage (Significant Others), Zach Galifianakis (Tru Calling) and AD Miles (Stella) - playing members of the news team at Spokane, Wash., TV station KSGY. The show will mix "news" stories featuring regular people with improvised bits about the characters' lives.

- The Cylon war won't be ending anytime soon.

The Sci Fi Channel has picked up its acclaimed series Battlestar Galactica for a third season, making official what has been suspected for some time. The cable network has ordered 20 episodes of the show, which will begin production early next year.

BIRTHDAYS

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Actress-comedian Kaye Ballard is 80. Actress Estelle Parsons is 78. TV personality Richard Dawson is 73. Comedian Dick Smothers is 67. Actress Veronica Hamel is 62. Actress Bo Derek is 49. Drummer Jim Brown of UB40 is 48. Actress Sean Young is 46. Drummer Todd Nance of Widespread Panic is 43. Rapper Mike D of the Beastie Boys is 40. Rapper Sen Dog of Cypress Hill is 40. Actress Ming-Na is 38. Rapper Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest is 35. Actress Marisa Ryan (New York Undercover) is 31. Country singer Dierks Bentley is 30. Country singer Josh Turner is 28.

REACH US

Contact Lifestyles Editor Erica C. Cline at: 828-2946 or erica.cline@augustachronicle.com.