*Ps, and also a happy birthday to James’ co-star Shantel VanSanten!

Karen in Flagstaff, Ariz.: Dan Scott is returning to One Tree Hill! So happy the evil one is back. Will he still be the reformed guy we’ve come to know, or will he go back to his normal, plotting self?
We are obsessed with this casting news, too! Paul Johansson made One Tree Hill the drama machine we’ve grown to love so dearly. So that’s why we’re happy to share that he will definitely be causing a ruckus on his return to Tree Hill. Exact details are unknown right now, but rest assured, the old scheming Dan Scott is making a comeback!
James Lafferty, One Tree Hill Fred Norris/The CW

MH_Raz: What’s the deal with James Lafferty on OTH? Is he actually in 13, nine, or seven episodes? Feel like things keep changing on that front.
No confirmation yet on James’ number of episodes, but rest assured, we are bugging people about it. However, since Paul Johansson was just announced as a series regular, it would be weird to not have his son around for all the Dan Scott shenanigans, right? I think it’s safe to say Nathan Scott will be around a lot, but once we know his official status we’ll text you. Mmmkay?

Source: Jenna Mullins, Christina Dowling & Drusilla Moorhouse @

The upcoming final season of One Tree Hill won’t start until mid-season, but things are already gearing up, and the first exciting bit of news from Zap2It is that Tyler Hilton is coming back. Yes, the lady-stealing musician Chris Keller will once again be forcing the men of One Tree Hill to lock up their gals.

The idea of bringing back old characters to help send One Tree Hill off in style is a great one, especially because the first eight seasons have featured so many memorable characters. Obviously top on anyone’s list would be Peyton (Hilarie Burton) and Lucas (Chad Michael Murray), but besides them, I can think of plenty Tree Hill residents, past and present, I’d love to see one last time.

Here are my top 10 One Tree Hill characters I want to come back for the final season.

Karen: Now that Karen’s Café has been reopened, it’s time Lucas Scott’s mom came back to see what Haley has done to her old place.

Deb: Nathan’s mom would also be a welcome return, if only to try and seduce Skills one last time. I only hope she doesn’t come back with a perverted clown for a husband.

Whitey: The last time we saw Whitey, he was giving Dan some advice on the long road to redemption. The old school basketball coach could definitely come back for one last lesson.

Keith: One Tree Hill has never shied away from ghosts, and while Dan Scott was almost fully redeemed at the end of season 8, talking to the ghost of the brother he killed would be the best way to atone for his sins.

Owen: Sure, Joe Manganiello is busy with True Blood, but maybe he could stop by one last time to show how rehab worked very well for him, since he’s now an insanely hunky werewolf.

Tim and Bevin: If One Tree Hill wants to go back to the beginning for a nice symmetry, why not bring back this unlikely duo who got married and had a son they named Nathan? Besides, I think, if my calculations are correct, Tree Hill might have a 10-year high school reunion coming up.

Felix and Anna: The big troublemakers of season 2, I have no idea why the Tagarros would come back, but I sure would like to see if Anna ever settled down with a nice girlfriend and how military school worked out for Felix.

Psycho Derek: Matt Barr isn’t doing anything since Hellcats got canceled, so why not have a story where he gets released from prison.

Which old characters would you like to see return for One Tree Hill’s final season?

Source: John Kubicek @ Buddy TV