A Mickey-Mouse Operation: The eminently linkable Richard Verrier reports today that Disneyland’s redheaded stepsister, California Adventure, is scheduled for a $1.1-billion overhaul designed to make it not suck. Good luck.

May The Force Be With Them: Work has begun on a possible live-action TV series based on minor characters and droids from Star Wars. No Luke. No Leia. No Vader. George Lucas is banking on nerd fervor (not to be confused with Nerf Herder) to popularize a show that, in his words, is about “the life of robots.” We think we’ve seen that show.

We Wonder Who Wrote His Lines: Director-producer Barry Sonnenfeld stuck up for writers while moderating the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences annual Network Chiefs Summit, asking the group:”It seems to me that the whole residual question, getting residual should be transparent to the writer no matter what form it’s on, whether it’s iPods, DVD or cable. That should be your problem, but not the writers. First of all, is that a brilliant statement?”

The industry is gearing up for September’s Toronto International Film Festival and THR gives the full fest lineup in today’s paper, unveiling the “most American-friendly lineup in years.” Included in the fest offerings are new pics from helmers Renny Harlin, Paul Schrader and Robin Swicord. Sure to cause a tabloid frenzy is a screening of the drama “Rendition” starring Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon and her is-he-or-isn’t-he-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal.

Whoever said that crime doesn’t pay, isn’t friends with Kathryn Morris. The “Cold Case” star has just signed a deal heading into her fifth season on the hit CBC crime drama that will pay her $180,000-$190,000 per episode with a production pact to boot. THR‘s Nellie Andreeva has the scoop.

Leading up to the Sept. 16 Emmy telecast, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has installed a “more vigorous vetting process” to step up a crackdown on producer credit inflation. Variety’s Michael Schneider and Dave McNary detail the organization’s efforts to make sure that producers who are attached to awards-worthy series are worthy themselves of receiving such honors. Find out who made the cut in their front-page Var story here.

Variety’s ratings round-up doesn’t look good for Fox’s new reality series “Anchorwoman.” The show, which follows a former WWE Diva who lands a job as an anchor in a small Texas town, sunk with only 2.7 million viewers tuning in. The show is on a limited series run, the story says, so the fate of the three remaining weeks on the schedule hang in the balance. Check the rest of Variety’s ratings reporting here.
– CHRIS GARDNER