Art Smith, a two-time James Beard Award recipient and former personal chef for Oprah Winfrey, has signed on with TLC for an eight-episode series currently titled Craving Comfort. The show, which has already started filming, will follow Smith as he “travel[s] the country, exploring variations of the simple, sumptuous dishes that everyone craves,” according to a press release from the cable station.

ABC’s Cougar Town may have halted production while star Courteney Cox deals with a “private family matter,” but three completed, unaired episodes will keep fans of the hit freshman sitcom satisfied until early 2010. An ABC spokesperson says new Cougar Town episodes are slated for Nov. 25 and Dec. 9, as well as Jan. 6, 2010 (with guest star Lisa Kudrow), which, combined with the eight episodes already aired, would  mean the show is halfway through its full-season 22-episode order. An ABC rep had no comment on whether the network had a contingency plan — such as shooting some episodes without Cox’s Jules, and focusing on some of the show’s ensemble players — if Cox’s absence proved to be a long one. (Related: The 10 best zingers from last week’s Cougar Town episode.)

Image Credit: Danny Feld/ABC

Jon and Kate Gosselin’s divorce could be finalized by the end of the year. Jon Gosselin’s lawyer told People that couple’s divorce arbitration Saturday was “successful and productive,” and that the arbitrator should have a ruling in a month. “It was a positive move in the right direction for us to bring them together to the mediation table,” Jon’s lawyer told People. “Obviously before two warring parties can smoke the peace pipe, they have to sit down at a table and address the issues that brought them to the skirmish.” The former couple is discussing custody, child support, and distribution of assets. People also reports that Jon brought a bouquet of red roses to the hearing for Kate, but his ex-wife turned them down.

Production on Courteney Cox’s ABC sitcom, Cougar Town, has been stopped while Cox deals with a family matter. According to an ABC rep, via People, “We can confirm production on Cougar Town has been temporarily shut down in order for Courteney to deal with a private family matter.”

UPDATE: Cougar Town: No effect of shutdown will be seen on air — yet