Author: Philiana Ng , Lesley Goldberg

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Dennis Haysbert

Dennis Haysbert is heading back to television.

The Unit and 24 vet has joined Bones creator Hart Hanson‘s CBS crime drama pilot Backstrom, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Based on the Swedish book series by Leif G.W. Persson, Backstrom centers on an overweight, offensive, irascible detective, Everett Backstrom, as he tries and fails to change his self-destructive behavior.

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Haysbert will play Det. John Almond, one of the detectives working with Backstrom. Kind and warm, Almond has been married 30 years and is devoutly religious. He is the complete opposite of Backstrom, and he finds his abrasive boss wearing, believing that Backstrom’s hunches are simple luck. Almond refuses to acknowledge that his bombastic boss could have subtlety and insight to see beyond the obvious.

Hanson will write and executive produce, along with Persson and Niclas Salomonsson. Mark Mylod will direct the pilot. 20th Television produces.

With Bones‘ ninth-season renewal at Fox, Hanson could again have two series on the air should Backstrom move forward. (Bones spinoff The Finder was canceled after one season.)

Repped by Gersh and GS Management, Haysbert starred in CBS drama The Unit from 2006-09 opposite Scott Foley and played President David Palmer in Fox’s 24 from 2001-06.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube

“90210”

It’s time to look for another zip code.

90210 will end its run on The CW after five seasons, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The series closer airs Monday, May 13. (THR broke the news Feb. 25 that Michael Jackson‘s eldest son, Prince Michael, would be appearing in the finale.)

“The CW has had five great seasons with America’s favorite zip code, 90210,” said The CW president Mark Pedowitz. “I’d like to thank the talented cast, producers, and crew for all their hard work and dedication to the series. We are very proud of the West Beverly High alumni.”

Hitting a series low of a 0.2 rating among adults 18-49 and 550,000 viewers for the Feb. 18 episode, the current season has seen the aging drama drop quite a bit in the ratings. Season-to-date, it is averaging a 0.4 rating in the demo and 928,000 viewers. It gets a Live+7 DVR boost, but just enough to push it to a 0.7 rating in 18-49.

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90210 debuted on The CW in September 2008 as a modern update to Beverly Hills, 90210, which lasted 10 seasons. The one-hour drama revolved around students at West Beverly High. Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds, AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Stroup, Michael Steger, Jessica Lowndes and Matt Lanter co-star, with some Beverly Hills, 90210 vets reprising their roles for a period of time.

Over the years, 90210 has gone through several key changes, with cast member exits and changing showrunners.

A decision on bubble show Nikita has yet to be made, as well as rookie 1980s drama The Carrie Diaries, Hart of Dixie and Beauty and the Beast. The CW gave early renewals to Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries and freshman breakout Arrow earlier this month, and moved midseason entry Cult to Fridays starting next week.

Michael O’Connell contributed to this report.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube