A&E Television Networks has named Doug Jacobs senior vice president and general counsel. Jacobs will now manage the networks legal and business affairs team.

Laura San Giacomo, best known from NBC's "Just Shoot Me," has now joined the cast of TNT's new drama pilot "Grace." Holly Hunter plays the title character, a weary police detective who is visited by an angel and offered a chance to redeem her empty life. Giacomo will play Grace's forensic scientist best friend. Giacomo will also be appearing in several episodes this season of the CW's "Veronica Mars."

Heather Locklear is set to star in the Lifetime original movie "Angels Fall," based on Nora Roberts' best-selling romance novel. This makes the third of four adaptations of Roberts' books that Lifetime will run back-to-back on Monday nights in February. Locklear will be playing Reese Gilmore, a chef who is recovering after a shooting at her restaurant in which she was the only survivor.

CNNMoney.com has hired Chris Hunter as associate director of audience development, where he will develop and manage content partnerships as well as oversee search engine optimization and other traffic-building efforts. Hunter had previously been business development manager at Yahoo Finance.

National Public Radio has appointed Ken Stern the new chief executive officer for NPR, effective Oct. 1. Stern will lead NPR in all management areas while president Kevin Klose continues his work leading a new development initiative.

People magazine has tapped Jess Cagle as assistant managing editor, where he will oversee all entertainment stories in the publication. Cagle had been movie and theater critic for WCBS-TV, as well as serving as an editor-at-large for People.

The Television Bureau of Advertising has hired Carrie Hart as vice president of research, putting her second in command of the six-member research department. Hart had previously been director of research at WCBS-TV in New York.

Tribune Entertainment has upped Jon Krobot to the position of vice president of station sales for the Central region. Based in Chicago, Krobot will head up program sales efforts on behalf of the company in the Midwest.

KING Broadcasting, which owns several broadcast affiliates, has promoted Troy Smith to senior research analyst. Reporting to director of research Dan Williams, Smith will now manage research for NWCN, KING, and KONG.

Seth Meyers, after five seasons with "Saturday Night Live," will be replacing Tina Fey not only as head writer but also as anchor of Weekend Update, alongside Amy Poehler. He was chosen out of four cast members who auditioned, according to executive producer and show creator Lorne Michaels. Meyers will primarily appear on the "Weekend Update" sketch each episode.

"American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken is sick and tired of people popping the question the gay question, that is. In an interview yesterday with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, in which Sawyer led off with the question, the 2003 American Idol runner-up called her questions regarding his sexuality invasive and none of her business. "This is a waste of time," he said, and it seems many viewers agree the interview has sparked a debate on the "Good Morning America" message board over whether or not Aiken should reveal his sexual orientation to the public.

In the midst of rumors of staff cuts at Canada's Toronto Sun, editor in chief Jim Jennings has stepped down. Though Jennings announced his departure to his staff, he did not explain the move, saying only that he'd be out of the building soon.

Sony Pictures Television International has promoted Lyle Stewart to vice president of programming and research in Europe, where he will oversee programming and backing for the company's new channels in Europe. He will also be responsible for the company's digital and mobile divisions.

A. Smith & Co., production and programming company, has hired David Schiff as vice president of production and development, where he will manage the day-to-day operations of the development department and the creative for new and current series. Christmas Rini has also been hired as manager of development.