Nicole Richie, former reality star, mother of two, "novelist," and designer of maternity wear (see above), will soon have another notch in her belt: her very own sitcom on ABC! Her previous acting credits include a guest spot on "Chuck," as well as a small role in "Kids in America" as a girl named Kelly Stepford. (She was credited in the latter role as "Nicole Camille Richie," but don't be fooled.) Nicole will co-produce the sitcom, which chronicles the life of a young working woman as she struggles to balance family, love, and her job -- comedically, of course. They have Daisy Gardner of "Californication" on board as a writer, so let's hope it has some edge; the exec producers include Warren Bell ("According to Jim") and Jamie Tarses. I already have my fingers crossed for a crossover episode with "Cougar Town."

"Bad boy" novelist Hank Moody (ssen above in a typically naughty mood) is irresistible to the ladies -- and to people who watch Showtime, apparently. "Californication" viewership has risen 57% since last year, and so the show has just been rewarded with a fourth season, to air sometime next fall. To celebrate, if you are so inclined, you may enjoy -- and contribute to! -- an NSFW list of Moody's sex partners, in convenient wiki form. Just click here.

Where does Ed Westwick end and Chuck Bass begin? Do we really want to know? Isn't it better to savor the delicious ambiguity of Bass/Westwick's man tiffs, love spats, and dude-kissing?

Basswick's upcoming "Californication" role (see above) will only lend fuel to the fantasy fire. A vaguely gay vampire-aficioniado on the hunt for a mentor? Just one more of the multitudes this fine young actor contains.

The third season of Showtime's "Californication" premieres September 27, and judging by the trailer above, there will be plenty of big guest stars to make Hank Moody's priapic narcissism more engaging: Peter Fonda, Kathleen Turner, Kevin Corrigan, Rick Springfield, Ed Westwick, Peter Gallagher. Also, Susan Sarandon's daughter, Eva Amurri.

Did they know what they were getting into? Apparently, Duchovny is a master of on-set mayhem -- using one of our favorite iPhone apps. According to Madeleine Martin, who plays his daughter:

"Sometimes he tries to make me laugh [during a scene]...He actually played a lot of pranks on the set this season. There's one scene where Hank, Karen and Becca are driving up in the Porsche and right before I said my line, [Duchovny] used an application on his iPhone called iFart that made an awful farting noise. He used it quite a lot this season."

Jon Hamm and his impeccable head of hair appeared on "Late Night" yesterday, where he refused to say anything about the upcoming "Mad Men" season. BUT -- he did admit to Jimmy that the show's ad campaign, which features an image of his character sitting knee-deep in water in his office, is [spoiler!] a metaphor. Why no pithy catchphrases on the poster, Sterling Cooper-style? "He's in too deep," or something...oh wait. Yeah, never mind.

Jon also talked about his longtime friendship with fellow actor Paul Rudd (who, it must be said, also possesses some lovely locks). Apparently, Paul used to crash at Jon's house in L.A. when he was hammered. Now that's a slumber party I wish I'd been invited to.

To see previews for Season 3 of "Mad Men," hit "continue reading."

The big problem with Californication, besides the stupid title it stole from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is the irresistible urge it creates to punch David Duchovny in the face.