Michael J Fox

Actor Michael J. Fox filed into Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday to hear opening arguments in a legal dispute stemming from the 1991 sale of his Studio City ranch house--a place the buyer alleges was a dream house that "turned into a nightmare." At issue is who is responsible for landscaping and repairs to the gated house that Fox sold Michele Ader for $750,000. "This was to be her dream house, the culmination of her life's hard work," said Drew Pomerance, an attorney representing Ader.

There are monsters and vampires, science fiction, trips back and forward through time, supernatural themes and other out-of-this-world scenarios in the television pilots vying for space on the networks' fall schedules. The five major networks, ordering more than 100 potential new shows for their 2013-14 season, have scoured this planet and distant ones for buzzworthy big-tent series. They've snagged prominent talents like Michael J. Fox, Robin Williams, Toni Collette and Matthew Broderick and adapted film franchises such as "The Avengers" and "Beverly Hills Cop" to try to lure audiences to NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and the CW. FOR THE RECORD: TV pilots: In the April 24 Calendar section, an article about the larger number of network TV pilots being developed for next season said that CBS' ratings were down 3% compared with last season among viewers ages 18 to 49. Based on new ratings released Tuesday, CBS is now even with last year in that ratings category.

Actor Michael J. Fox took the stand Wednesday in Superior Court to deny that the master suite of his former Studio City home looked like a "teen-age boy's fantasy" of a "playboy's life." "Actually it was a 21-year-old boy's fantasy of a playboy's life," he quipped. Fox, now 32, was testifying in a suit filed by a woman who bought the $750,000 ranch home from him in 1990 and who is now seeking to recover landscaping and repair expenses.

Michael J. Fox would rather Taylor Swift stay the heck away from his 23-year-old son Sam - and really, can you blame him? Tina Fey, at the Golden Globes on Sunday, had hilariously warned audience member Swift to "stay away from Michael J. Fox's son" as the younger Fox, along with Francesca Eastwood, helped out on the awards show. And Dad was happy to reinforce that notion at a Wednesday book party in New York. "No. No ... Just back off," he told Vulture after the idea of a Sam-and-Taylor love connection was proposed.

TV luminary, movie star, comedian, dramatic actor, Pepsi pitchman, teen idol, Hollywood mogul, impulsive boy wonder, savvy and thoughtful adult. Michael J. Fox, now 26, wears all those labels like a charmed coat of many colors.

Actor Michael J. Fox and his entourage filed into Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday where an attorney described a Studio City ranch home the movie star sold his client as a dream house that turned into a nightmare. At issue is who is responsible for landscaping and repairs to a gated house that Fox sold Michele Ader in 1991 for $750,000. The home is located in the mountains between Mulholland Drive and Laurel Canyon Boulevard.

Sha-la-la-la! Michael J. Fox is returning to NBC. After reports of a planned comeback for the 51-year-old actor began making the rounds last week , it's now official: Fox will star in a loosely autobiographical comedy about a husband and father of three from New York dealing with family, career and other life challenges - including Parkinson's. It's a homecoming of sorts, putting Fox back on the network that began airing “Family Ties' three decades ago. The untitled single-camera comedy was given a straight-to-series order by the network with a 22-episode commitment.

After the coffee. Before finding out why I haven't been asked to join Augusta yet. The Skinny: My cats want to become outdoor cats. I made the mistake of letting them wander around while I get my newspaper and now they are convinced there is a whole other world to explore. Don't they know that's the bad world? Tuesday's headlines include a new deal for DreamWorks Animation, NBC lands Michael J. Fox and appreciations of Tony Scott and Phyllis Diller. Daily Dose: There is a lot movement on the public relations front.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded $104,386 in damages to a woman who bought a Studio City home from actor Michael J. Fox and then sued the movie star for landscaping and repair costs, the woman said Wednesday. Michele Ader said in a telephone interview that the jury ordered Fox to pay the damages after finding he breached a contract covering sale of the house. The same jury found that Fox had not committed fraud or negligent misrepresentation.

One drink was sent over by a shy young blonde in a black silk blouse. Another came from a pair of giggling co-eds in matching Ohio State sweat shirts. Sitting at a noisy hotel bar here late one night, cigarette in one hand, beer in the other, Michael J. Fox was surrounded by so many frosty mugs of brew that you'd think he was on the 15th take of a Budweiser commercial. It's not that the young actor drinks that much.

Click here to download TV listings for the week Dec. 23 - 29 in PDF format This week's TV Movies     CBS This Morning (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Chris Pine and Kevin Costner; Guinness World Records of 2012; holiday cocktails; Valerie Bertinelli. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC Good Day L.A. 7 a.m. KTTV Rachael Ray Regis Philbin. 8 a.m. KCAL Live With Kelly and Michael Ricky Martin; Bradley Cooper; Usher.

CBS This Morning (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Chris Pine and Kevin Costner; Guinness World Records of 2012; holiday cocktails; Valerie Bertinelli. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC Good Day L.A. 7 a.m. KTTV Rachael Ray Regis Philbin. 8 a.m. KCAL Live With Kelly and Michael Ricky Martin; Bradley Cooper; Usher. 9 a.m. KABC The View Naomi Watts; Mario Cantone. 10 a.m. KABC The Ricki Lake Show 11 a.m. KCOP The Talk Guest co-host Carnie Wilson; Marlee Matlin; Il Volo performs; Danisha Danielle; Texas Battle.

After the coffee. Before finding out why I haven't been asked to join Augusta yet. The Skinny: My cats want to become outdoor cats. I made the mistake of letting them wander around while I get my newspaper and now they are convinced there is a whole other world to explore. Don't they know that's the bad world? Tuesday's headlines include a new deal for DreamWorks Animation, NBC lands Michael J. Fox and appreciations of Tony Scott and Phyllis Diller. Daily Dose: There is a lot movement on the public relations front.

Sha-la-la-la! Michael J. Fox is returning to NBC. After reports of a planned comeback for the 51-year-old actor began making the rounds last week , it's now official: Fox will star in a loosely autobiographical comedy about a husband and father of three from New York dealing with family, career and other life challenges - including Parkinson's. It's a homecoming of sorts, putting Fox back on the network that began airing “Family Ties' three decades ago. The untitled single-camera comedy was given a straight-to-series order by the network with a 22-episode commitment.

After the coffee. Before trying to make a cameo on TLC's 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.' The Skinny: Is it just me or are perfect games starting to lose their luster? There have been three this season alone. I may have to learn to throw a knuckleball and give it a shot. Thursday's headlines include Apple's efforts to get into the TV business, Michael J. Fox plans a comeback and Mitt Romney gives PBS reason to worry. Daily Dose: Dish Network appears to be nearing a deal  with Sinclair Broadcast Group to keep Sinclair's 70 TV stations in almost 50 markets served by the satellite broadcaster.

MOVIES Cinefamily calls all disaffected, bitter and downright nasty punks to show up for "Class of 1984," which it describes as "one of the most vicious and hateful exploitation movies of the '80s. " Director Mark L. Lester's disturbed masterwork features rabid packs of bloodthirsty teen gangs roaming our schools ? and also, apparently, a scene in which the sweetest of '80s faces, Michael J. Fox, gets stabbed. Come for the poisonous imagery; stay for the subsequent Q&A with Lester.

Superior Court Judge Florence T. Pickard threw out a lawsuit Tuesday against a real estate company and its agents who sold actor Michael J. Fox's ranch home in Studio City to a woman who described it as a dream house that turned into a nightmare. Michele Ader filed suit against Fox, his business manager, the Jon Douglas Co. and two of its agents over landscaping and repairs to the $750,000 home.

Michael J. Fox went back to his past earlier this week, thanks to the high-profile release of the three "Back to the Future" films on DVD. It's been 12 years since the actor was last seen in his signature big-screen role, the tireless time-traveling Marty McFly in the hugely successful trilogy.

Actor Michael J. Fox is back to the present. First, as star of the original "Back to the Future" film, which turns 25 this year with big-screen showings in theaters nationwide later this month, he recently remade the movie's original trailer (check it out on Spike TV ). Second, as the founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research , which recently launched a five-year study to identify biomarkers of the progression of Parkinson's disease. Fox has had Parkinson's for almost 19 years, since he turned 30. The Chicago Tribune explores one hospital's participation in the new study in "Northwestern seeks clues to Parkinson's.

What Is This Thing Called Love? Stories Gene Wilder St. Martin's: 160 pp., $19.99 "It was cold and raining at four in the morning when Buddy walked out of Caesars Palace, stark naked except for the L.A. Times wrapped around his waist." These sweet, hilarious stories about love are dedicated to Gene Wilder's cousin Buddy: "When he was alive he really wanted love, but settled only for sex." Many are about the time wasted by lovers who choose to hide their true feelings — Jane Austen without the happy endings.