The cast of "MADtv"

'MAD' laughs: A sketch comedy classic is making a comeback. The original "MADtv" straight up broke audience's funny bones with its off-the-wall wit and politically incorrect humor for 14 seasons until it was canceled in 2009. CW brought it back for a one-hour special earlier this year to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, and that reunion was such a success that the network has decided to bring it back again, this time as a full series.

CW's new "MADtv" premieres Tuesday, July 26, with a diverse new cast of players and a fresh generation of sharp, biting jokes and satire. Their names may not be familiar yet, but these up-and-coming comics have some impressive credentials to their names.

Chelsea Davison is a writer for Comedy Central's "@Midnight," and has written sketch comedy for MTV, UCB and YouTube. Carlie Craig has produced and appeared in MTV's "Todrick," which follows YouTube star and "American Idol" semifinalist Todrick Hall, and appeared in "First Impressions With Dana Carvey."

Jeremy D. Howard brings his impressive vocal skills to the cast; this former choir director has a three-octave range. He starred in 2014's "Hollywood Street."

Comedian Amir K is known around the globe thanks to a stand-up comedy routine that's taken him across the world. On screen, he's been seen in "Last Comic Standing" and in the Oscar-winning film "Argo" (2012).

Lyric Lewis has appeared in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Drunk History"; Michelle Ortiz, who has appeared in "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," is a trained classical opera singer; impressionist Piotr Michael is a sought-after voice actor, with credits including "Wander Over Yonder" and the video game franchises Final Fantasy and Call of Duty.

Finally, comedian Adam Ray rounds out the cast. He has starred in "The Heat" (2013) and "Spy" (2015), and his voice talents are featured in the 2016 "Ghostbusters" reboot.

It remains to be seen how the move to weeknight prime time will affect the new show's content, but with the caliber of talent lined up, there's a lot of buzz surrounding this latest incarnation of the classic sketch comedy show. The new "MADtv" premieres Tuesday, July 26, on CW.

Play on: It's a sad day when a favorite TV show is canceled. Luckily for "Nashville's" fans, the musical favorite is getting a second chance. "Nashville" may have been cut by ABC after its fourth season, but CMT has picked up a 22-episode fifth season to keep the show, which has a small but loyal fan base, alive and kicking. The new season is expected to premiere this fall.

The musical drama stars Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights") and Hayden Panettiere ("Heroes") as a pair of country music stars, one in the twilight of her career and the other whose star is only growing brighter.

There's good news for "Nashville" viewers: both Britton and Panettiere have signed up for the move to the new network, and they aren't the only ones to do so. Most of the series regulars have agreed to make the jump over to CMT.

Sam Palladio ("Episodes"), Charles Esten ("Big Love"), Clare Bowen ("The Clinic," 2010), Jonathan Jackson ("General Hospital"), Chris Carmack ("The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations," 2009) and sisters Lennon and Maisy Stella (in their first roles) are all packing their bags.

Unfortunately, two series regulars will not be making the transition. Aubrey Peeples ("Jem and the Holograms," 2015) and Will Chase ("Smash"), who played Layla and Luke, have left "Nashville" behind them.

Country music can never die, and neither can "Nashville," it seems. The Music City drama settles into its new home on CMT this fall.

Future sight: It looks like putting the "sci-fi" back into Syfy is working out well for the cabler. The network has been working hard at incorporating more original, scripted science-fiction programs into its roster, and it has just renewed one of the backbones of this effort.

"12 Monkeys" was renewed for a 10-episode third season before its second had even completed its run. Starring Aaron Stanford ("X-Men: The Last Stand," 2006) and Amanda Schull ("Suits"), the critically acclaimed series is based on the 1995 film of the same name that starred Bruce Willis ("Armageddon," 1998) and Brad Pitt ("Fight Club," 1999).

The show follows James Cole (Stanford), a time traveler from a post-apocalyptic future who has come to the present day to stop the release of a deadly virus by a terrorist organization. Schull co-stars as virologist Cassandra Railly, who has to come to grips with the reality of time travel, while struggling with her own psychological problems.

The third season of the critically acclaimed "12 Monkeys" is expected to hit the airwaves sometime in 2017.