By Deborah Wilker

Salem, the first scripted series on WGN (the superstation out of Chicago) has attracted all kinds of buzz during its 13-episode run this year, and as the witchy drama wraps for the season this month, it does so with the distinction of also being the network’s first show to receive a renewal for next year.

That was welcome news to South Florida’s Seth Gabel, who co-stars as Cotton Mather, an evil aristocrat who doesn’t quite practice what he preaches. Gabel, originally from Hollywood, Fla., is a graduate of The University School in Davie and The Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. He has also had roles on Fringe, Arrow, Nip/Tuck and Dirty Sexy Money, and for the last eight years has been the husband of Hollywood (California) royal Bryce Dallas Howard, actress/daughter of show-biz icon Ron Howard. The couple has two children. Salem airs Sunday nights at 10; Gabel will be seen next in the independent film, Forever.