Joshua Sasse stars in “Galavant”

Fairy tale funnies: Fairy tales really have found a home on ABC.

"Once Upon a Time" continues to be a big hit for the alphabet network, and although its spinoff, "Once Upon a Time In Wonderland," only lasted a single season, that isn't stopping the launch of a whole new fairy tale.

"Galavant" will replace "Once Upon a Time" when it goes on mid-season hiatus, with the first of its eight episodes premiering on Sunday, Jan. 4, on ABC.

The series, which ABC is describing as a "comedy extravaganza," is definitely a less serious take on the fairy tale genre. Just like a good Disney fable, "Galavant" is a musical take on the stories that we all know and love.

Of course, successfully making a musical comedy requires some talented actors who know how to sing, and "Galavant" certainly has those. Headlining the cast is the smoldering Joshua Sasse ("The Neighbors") as Galavant, the classic dashing knight who sets out on a quest to defeat the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson, "Psych").

Of course, Galavant won't be alone on this musical quest. The ensemble cast also includes Vinnie Jones ("Snatch.," 2000) and Karen David ("Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit," 2014).

The show has some big-name guest stars lined up for its first season, too. John Stamos ("Full House," "ER"), Ricky Gervais ("The Office"), "Weird Al" Yankovic ("Halloween II," 2009) and Hugh Bonneville ("Downton Abbey") are all on board as guest stars at various spots throughout the season's eight episodes.

ABC has proven that prime-time audiences have a taste for fairy tales, and a musical comedy may be just the kind of twist needed to set "Galavant" apart from "Once Upon a Time." Watch for it when it premieres Sunday, Jan. 4, on the alphabet network.

Stone's secret agent: Any time a big Hollywood star moves to the small screen, it turns some heads. The bigger the star, the more the heads turn.

Sharon Stone has long been one of the silver screen's biggest hitters, and now she's setting out to conquer America's living rooms, too. TNT has green lit "Agent X" for a planned 2015 launch, and with the award-winning actress headlining it, this drama already has a lot of heads on a swivel.

"Agent X" reveals a hyper-secretive organization that reports only to America's vice-president (Stone), and it is charged with protecting the nation in times of extreme crisis. Even the president is unaware of its very existence, but it nonetheless does whatever it takes to protect its citizens -- by any means necessary.

Stone first burst into the spotlight with "Basic Instinct" (1992), a role that earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She went on to star in "Casino" (1995), "Broken Flowers" (2005) and "Basic Instinct 2" (2006).

Starring as Agent X himself is Jeff Hephner ("Chicago Fire"). Brutal, effective and oh-so-handsome, Agent X reports only to the vice-president and tackles cases that are too sensitive for even the FBI or the CIA. Gerald McRaney ("Longmire," "House of Cards") also stars in the action-packed drama.

With Stone also serving as an executive producer, "Agent X" is certainly shaping up to be a vehicle for this Hollywood heavy-hitter's name. "Agent X" is scheduled to premiere in the latter half of 2015 on TNT.

A royal renewal: It's always exciting when the news breaks that a favorite show has been renewed for another season; on the flip side, it's always tragic to learn that a favorite has been canceled.

That must make it double exciting that "Royal Pains" has been renewed for not just one, but two more seasons on USA.

The popular summertime drama has been a darling with critics and audiences alike, and the addition of two more seasons will bring it up to a grand total of eight, with no signs yet of slowing down.

"Royal Pains" follows the doctors of a concierge medical practice as they serve the wealthy clientele in the Hamptons, and it stars Mark Feuersetein ("Good Morning, Miami"), Paulo Costanzo ("Joey"), Jill Flint ("The Good Wife") and Campbell Scott ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose," 2005).

Chris McCumber, president of USA Network, spoke warmly of the show while announcing its renewal for two more seasons. "'Royal Pains' remains a staple for fun summer TV viewing, and we are pleased to bring back the series for two additional seasons," he said. "We're extremely proud of both the talent and creative team, who, season after season, have brought to life these relatable and multifaceted stories, which continue to attract a loyal fan base."

The seventh season of "Royal Pains" will premiere in the summer of 2015 on USA.