GSN senior vice president of programming Jamie Roberts is set to open an independent production company based in Los Angeles. Roberts will continue to work with GSN as a part of a production agreement.

Sci Fi Channel has landed actor Eric Stoltz for its two-hour pilot “Caprica,” a prequel to “Battlestar Galactica.” Stoltz joins actors Esai Morales and Alessandra Toressani in the cast.

Actress Frances Fisher has signed on for an eight-episode stint on Sci Fi Channel’s “Eureka,” which starts its third season on July 29. Fisher will play someone who’s brought in to clean up the Global Dynamics corporation.

Online how-to destination Howcast Media has named Jeffrey Kaufman vice president of programming and content development, putting him in charge of the company’s programming strategy. Kaufman had been with MTV for the past 12 years.

Art+Auction magazine editor in chief Anthony Barzilay has been promoted to vice president and editorial director at Louise Blouin Media, effective immediately. Freund had been in charge of Art+Auction for the past two years.

ABC News has hired Todd Donovan as vice president of news technology, and also promoted Chris Myers to executive director of newsgathering operations and Renu Thomas to executive director of news program operation. Donovan was previously director of digital media systems for NBC Universal.

The worst-kept personnel secret of the upfront goes public today when NBC will officially name Jimmy Fallon as Conan O’Brien’s replacement on “Late Night.” Fallon’s expected to take over in June 2009, when O’Brien is set to step in for Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.”

Ex-“Law & Order” actor Dennis Farina was charged with felony gun possession yesterday at Los Angeles International Airport after security found a .22-caliber handgun in his luggage, according to police. Farina says he forgot the gun was there.

CW’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” spinoff just gained a little more credibility. Original cast member Jennie Garth has signed on for the project to reprise her role as Kelly Taylor, who in the new show is a guidance counselor at West Beverly. Garth will have a recurring role on the show.

“Boston Legal” actress Saffron Burrows has signed on with NBC for the new Christian Slater drama “My Own Worst Enemy.” Burrows will play the girlfriend and shrink of Slater’s character.

New York Times Company chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and wife Gail Gregg have decided to separate, according to a release from the couple. The pair has been married for 33 years.

Ad agency Moroch Partners has added Greg Field as executive director, where his duties will include working with the agency’s McDonald’s account. Field was previously at the Karsh/Hagan agency in Denver as vice president of client services.

Production company City Lights Media Group has named Lou Festa chief financial officer, reporting to CEO Danny Fisher. Festa joins from FremantleMedia North America, where he had been CFO since 1998.