|  Thursday,
November 20, 2008
Rosie
still traumatized from "The View"
In a conference call for "Rosie Live," Rosie O'Donnell said
that Barbara Walters "wanted everyone to believe and think and act
as if (the show's on-air personalities) get along and are really good
friends and happy and hang out together and . . . that's just not the
reality ... I'm not saying we loathed each other, but there wasn't a lot
of off-camera camaraderie." PLUS: Rosie says Tina
Fey deserves Nobel Prize for her Sarah Palin impression.
Eddie
Izzard planning "The Riches" movie
Can the canceled FX series make it to the big screen? "We've had
the meeting and the writers are going to go off and slam out a story,"
says Izzard. "We're going to raise money like Barack Obama through
the internet, and we're going to shoot it guerilla-style."
Food
Network rehires dumped "Dinner: Impossible" host who lied
Robert Irvine, whose exaggerated credentials got him canned earlier this
year, will return to the Food Network show. "He has taken responsibility
and made a conscious effort to clear the air, rebuild the relationship
with Food Network and apologize for the earlier inaccuracies," says
a Food Network spokesperson.
"Lost"
unveils its Season 5 poster
Where's Jin? PLUS: J.J. Abrams and Team Darlton sign "Lost"
Kubrick dolls.
David
E. Kelley auctions off his TV props
You can own clothing and other memorabilia from "Ally McBeal,"
"The Practice" and "Boston Legal."
"Gossip
Girl's" gay brother refuses to join the show permanently
Why won't Connor Paolo commit to becoming a series regular?
"Heroes"
creator's blaming of DVRs for killing serials is "ridiculous"
Tim Kring asserts that DVRs and live streaming have made it harder to
follow serialized shows. To which James Poniewozik counters: "Time-shifting,
streaming and watching on DVD are precisely what has made it more attractive
for viewers to watch serial shows." PLUS: Why is Kring calling realtime
"Heroes"
viewers "saps"?
Heads
up: "House" & "Fringe" will go into overtime
Next week's "House" episode will run seven minutes late, which
means "Fringe" won't end until 10:07.
Dr.
Phil has hair!
Check out a computer-generated image of Dr. Phil McGraw without the bald
head.
Alec
Baldwin slams Ben Affleck's "SNL" impression of him
"He's terrible! He's terrible! Can we say that?” Alec told
Regis Philbin of the
"SNL" skit. "It was Regis Baldwin. It was my brother
Regis."
"Law
& Order" was the first network show to mention Obama's victory
President-elect Obama was also referenced on this week's "Brothers
& Sisters" and "Boston Legal."
BBC
to begin streaming live TV over the Web
British viewers can watch BBC One or BBC Two live on their computers beginning
next week.
Roger
Ebert looks back at how his appearance has evolved
From "Michelin Man" to "Phantom of the Opera."
Seth
Meyers: Last week's "SNL" wasn't intended to be so
gay
"This is the honest truth: It really wasnt," he tells the Advocate.
"That's just not how our show works. We’re not a top-down show
where we have a meeting on Monday and assign stuff. Everyone goes off
and writes their own thing."
David
Milch walks through abandoned "Deadwood" set for new DVDs
Here are some details of the 23-minute segment in which Milch talks about
the abrupt ending and what would've happened had the show lived. "I
find this all infinitely depressing, I must say," he says at one
point.
Discovery
gives "The Detonators" their own reality show
The 13-episode series will spotlight demolition blasts while explaining
the science behind explosions.
"Sesame
Street" spoofs "30 Rock"
On "30 Rocks," an actual lemon plays Liz Lemon.
Gregory
Peck's grandson to star in "10 Things I Hate About You"
ABC Family has announced the cast for its remake of the 1999 Heath Ledger
film.
Why
"NCIS" is a huge hit: You get a lot in 44 minutes
"I can report that 'NCIS'—amiable, unpredictable, and no more
outlandish than any other prime-time fantasy about battling evil—gives
you a lot for your 44 minutes," says Troy Patterson. "Mingling
elements of a hardy cop show with those of a svelte espionage drama, segueing
from macabre moments at the autopsy table to small giggles of office comedy,
it's lively with variety."
Do
unhappy people really watch more TV?
A new study from the University of Maryland sounds too fishy.
Warren
Sapp's mom forces him to apologize
The "Dancing" star called his former Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammate
Keshawn Johnson a "bitch" in response to a question about Johnson's
new A&E interior design reality show.
Jennifer
Aniston is a huge fan of "Friends" reruns
"There are times I don't even remember that particular show,"
she says. "This is horrible to say, but there are times when I laugh
my rear end off. And I get in debates with people who are over and say,
'Friends is not my thing.' Excuse you!"
"Survivor:
Guatemala" winner Danni Boatwright is now doing Shampoo ads
She's also married to a Denver Bronco. Together, they have a 1-year-old
son.
ODDS
& ENDS
 Study:
Fast
food ads lead to obese children
A&E to premiere Patrick
Swayze's "The Beast" on Jan. 15
Amy
Poehler's NBC comedy won't be "Scrubs Part 2," says Aziz
Ansari
Report: Brandy
is dating her TV brother from "Moesha"
Take a peek inside the
home of Food Network's Tyler
Florence
"Kath
& Kim" started off good, but now it's bad
Meet the new "Brothers
& Sisters" brother
"I'm so proud of
myself right now," says "Next
Top Model" winner
"True
Blood's" Alexander Skarsgård is sexy! // HBO releases "True"
widgets
Check out the "Flight
of the Conchords" Season 2 promo
"Damages"
gives Glenn Close a new hairdo for Season 2
BBC tackles mental illness
with reality show "How
Mad Are You?"
Watch a preview of "A
Colbert Christmas"
Miley
Cyrus has a giggle fit when Ellen grills her about Justin Gaston
"Project Runway's"
Christian
Siriano turns 23, still feels young
Anthony Zuiker faces challenge
of keeping his 3
"CSIs" fresh
"Gossip Girl's"
Leighton
Meester lands Reebok ad campaign
"Survivor:
China's" Jean-Robert boards a plane with $40,000 in cash
Wednesday,
November 19, 2008
Lifetime
countersues over "Project Runway"
The women's cable network filed a countersuit in federal court today seeking
to wrest "Runway's" exclusive rights from Bravo.
Recession
hurting unscripted shows
"Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" has been hardest hit, but
"Dancing With the Stars," "Survivor" and "Deal
or No Deal" are also suffering.
Brooke
Shields vows to fight to keep "Lipstick Jungle" alive
"Women are in uproar over this," she says, "…they've
tried to kill us before and we have refused to die. If we were meant to
be off the air, we wouldn’t have made it as far as we have. Everything
that could possibly go wrong with a show has happened with us."
Ventriloquist
scores Comedy Central's best-ever ratings
"Jeff Dunham'’s Very Special Christmas Special" was the
most-viewed telecast in the cable network's history, drawing 6.6 million
viewers.
Coming
to Showtime: A Call-Girl reality show?
Showtime is reportedly working on a show described as "Sex and the
City" meets "Cathouse" and shot in a Hollywood Hills mansion.
But producers are having problems finding willing participants.
Toby
is back -- but only in "Office" Webisodes
Why is Paul Lieberstein in the Web "Office," but not in the
actual TV series?
Alec
Baldwin on kissing Jennifer Aniston: "It was painful"
Says the "30 Rock" star: "I mean, every man who's had to
make out with her in TV and movies — I don't know how they do it."
Check
out the new "Cupid"
Watch the Rob Thomas remake's trailer, starring Bobby Cannavale as Jeremy
Piven and Sarah Paulson as Paula Marshall.
Michael
Chiklis gives his best "Shield" performance using his eyes
 Of last night's penultimate
episode, Alan Sepinwall says of Chiklis' Vic Mackey: "Every time
I think he's wowed me as much as he ever can, he gives a performance like
the one in this episode. With Chiklis, your eyes are always drawn to that
bald dome, to the muscles, the swagger and maybe the sneer, but all I
can think about in this episode are his eyes. There are several distinct
moments in the hour where Chiklis gives us a window into Vic's soul, and
it's a terrifying glimpse each time."
We're
getting "super-concentrated, uncut, premium-grade Shield to send
us off"
Rashida
Jones will play a nurse in Amy Poehler's NBC comedy
Jones will play Ann Logan, a nurse whose boyfriend has a strange injury,
in the only detail to emerge about the Poehler comedy, which "The
Office" producers are trying to keep hush-hush. "She is perfect
for this new show, which -- just to remind everyone -- is not a spinoff
of 'The Office,'" says exec producer Mike Schur. "It is a spinoff
of 'MASH' called 'Seinfeld II.'" PLUS: Jones is returning to "The
Office" for at least one more episode.
Jay
Leno's 1931 lawsuit-ridden car to star in its own DIY TV show
"Celebrity Rides: Jay's Duesenberg" is a six-part series that
will feature the 1931 Duesenberg that is at the center of a nasty lawsuit
and a suicide.
Shonda
Rhimes explains "Grey's" Denny & Izzie, insists there's
no brain tumor
Says Shonda: "I think the love triangle with Denny, Izzie, and Alex
is among the most interesting we've ever done. Watching the chemistry
between Jeffrey and Katherine again has been really touching. I can't
wait for our viewers to see where we're taking it. But what it won't involve
is Izzie having a brain tumor."
"Dexter"
dons a mustache to go out with his "sister"
Michael C. Hall attended the GQ Men of the Year party last night with
"sister" and reported girlfriend Jennifer Carpenter.
"Heroes"
may dump the serial format
Tim Kring is eyeing shorter plotlines as his viewership continues to erode.
"It's a very flawed way of telling stories on network television
right now because of the advent of the DVR and online streaming,"
he says of serial storytelling.
Rob
Lowe uses "Brothers & Sisters" to help Schwarzenegger woo
the Chinese
Lowe treated a group of visiting Chinese officials -- in L.A. to meet
with the California governor to talk global warming -- to the filming
of a Sen. McAlister scene at a downtown hotel. The Chinese delegates,
who turned out big "West Wing" fans, even got their own director's
chair.
"Dancing"
cuts Cody Linley just before his 19th birthday
Asked by Jimmy Kimmel his reaction to being partnered with Julianne Hough,
Linley said: "I'm not going to lie, I called like all four of my
brothers (and shouted), "HELL
YEAH!"
Watch
George Takei survive on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here"
Check out the first episode also starring Martina Navratilova.
"Criminal
Minds" transforms Jason Alexander into a long-haired serial killer
"This guy is truly messed up, but I didn't approach it with that
kind of judgment," the "Seinfeld" alum says of tonight's
role, in which he dons a white wig. "It's more interesting to look
at the thing that has made this guy this angry -- I approach as if the
character's agenda is righteous and pure."
"CSI:NY's"
Hill Harper on his former Harvard classmate Barack Obama
"It's very interesting," Hill says of his friend from Harvard
Law School. "There's not much difference between the person he is
now and the person he was then. He’s fundamentally the same person."
"24"
could become a big-screen movie if "Redemption" gets big ratings
"I would look at (the TV movie) as a dry run for a theatrical release,"
says exec producer Howard Gordon.
Patricia
Heaton's ABC sitcom gets greenlight
"The Middle" stars Heaton as a Midwestern mom, viewing life
from her perspective.
"Project
Runway" is stuck in limbo
"Runway," despite its growing viewership, won't get to air Season
6 until late in the Spring, at the earliest, because of the battle between
Harvey Weinstein and NBC.
MTV
may revive "Beauty and the Geek" with celebrities
If picked up, geeky contestants would vie for "celebrities"
such as former "Real World"-ers and Playboy Playmates.
Hilary
Duff wants to visit "The Office"
The recently signed NBC star also likes "30 Rock."
"CSI:NY"
celebrates 100 episodes with Mac Taylor investigating Mac Taylors
Rumer Willis, Chris Daughtry and Scott Wolf will all guest on tonight's
episode.
"Top
Model's" Jay Manuel and Miss J are glad to do a feel-good show
But don't worry: The duo won't go soft for "Operation Fabulous,"
which they are currently filming for The CW.
FX
to televise a revolution from the makers of "Prison Break" and
"The West Wing"
"Prison Break" creator Paul Scheuring and "The West Wing's"
Thomas Schlamme are teaming up for "AR2," about a group of Midwestern
youths who spark a second American Revolution in Michigan.
ODDS &
ENDS
Miley
Cyrus: I'd like to join "The Real World"
Charlie Rose fails to
grill NBC's
Ben Silverman in a "f--king sad" interview
"Whale
Wars" under fire for using extreme tactics
Watch Rosie
performing "Fever" // NBC could pick up 6 episodes of "Rosie
Live"
If "Mentalist"
is a hit, why can't "Life"
gain a following?
David
Duchovny gets apology from UK tabloid over tennis coach story
Bryan Fuller details "Pushing
Daisies"-"Wonderfalls" crossover
Triumph
the Insult Comic Dog introduces Blackwolf the Wizard to Lordi
Despite its advanced age,
"Law & Order"
still maintains a "quotidian beauty"
"Dollhouse"
has a new description, pics // Why Friday
timeslot is a good thing
Season 5 of Kathy
Griffin's "D List" starts shooting
"Mad Men's"
Jimmy
Barrett to visit "Lost" // How "Lost's" Team
Darlton was born
"The
Wire" alums, including Method Man, are filming a Web series in
Baltimore
Paparazzi again spot Sarah
Silverman & Jimmy Kimmel canoodling
"Days
of Our Lives" fires its biggest stars: Deidre Hall and Drake
Hogestyn
How annoying are Toyota's
"Saved by Zero" ads?
Tuesday,
November 18, 2008
NBC
confirms "Lipstick Jungle" isn't dead
A recent uptick in DVR viewing may have saved the Brooke Shields drama.
NBC boss Ben Silverman says if "Lipstick Jungle" continues to
"grows more," he'll order additional episodes.
Alec
Baldwin joins "Rosie Live"
The "30 Rock" star is the hottest name to join Rosie O'Donnell's
live variety show, which airs on Thanksgiving Eve. Baldwin will appear
along with his "30 Rock" co-star Jane Krakowski, Kathy Griffin,
Ne-Yo and Liza Minnelli.
"South
Park" may end the show with a big-screen movie sequel
"We talked about maybe some day doing a movie to sort of end it all,
and that seems like the best idea," says Trey Parker. "That's
been a big thought to do the last show as a movie."
"Lost's"
music composer will conduct the Oscar orchestra
The Academy Awards will mark the first time that Emmy-winner Michael Giacchino
has conducted a live telecast.
Jimmy
Fallon hires The Roots as his house band
The Philadelphia hip-hop band was spotted
with Fallon two weeks ago filming a video at a Philly bar.
HBO
renews "Little Britain USA"
Matt Lucas and David Walliams hasn't generated much buzz since its premiere,
but Matt Lucas and David Walliams promise: "It's going to be bigger
and better and there are plenty of new characters in the pipeline!"
Kristin
Chenoweth: When will ABC decide the fate of "Pushing Daisies"?
"We're on the bubble, and I just hate that," she says. "I'm
very impatient. The frustrating thing is that the decision is being made
in slow motion."
"Meh"
enters the dictionary thanks to "The Simpsons"
HarperCollins is adding "Meh" after the word was popularized
by after Homer in a 2001 episode of "The Simpsons."
Rashida
Jones joins Amy Poehler's NBC sitcom
Aziz Ansari will also be onboard for the comedy from the producers of
"The Office."
What's
it like working as Conan O'Brien's blogger?
Aaron Bleyaert, who works as Conan's "Late Night Blogger/Web Guy
Extraordinaire," says of his job: "Here at the show, I am as
far down as you can get on the totem pole. I am basically the concrete
base at the bottom. That was actually a joke in the office -- Conan called
me 'Concrete Base.'"
"True
Blood's" Ryan Kwanten shocked he's always sans clothing
The Aussie actor says of playing Jason Stackhouse: "I've just thrown
the textbook of everything I knew out the window, which I think is the
best way to play Jason. I just don't think he's the kind of guy who plans
anything, he just jumps off the cliff without thinking, whereas I tend
to be more cerebral and analytical when it comes to things so it's been
a great release for me to throw caution to the wind and fly by the seat
of my pants."
NBC's
"Making Friends With Black People" hopes to capitalize on Obama
The buddy comedy will focus on the state of race relations in the U.S.
in the age of Obama.
Simon
Cowell denies paying his ex-girlfriend $9M
The "Idol" judge also complains to "Extra": "Terri
decided to dump me" in a text message.
Seth
Rogen making a porno comedy for Showtime
The untitled project will revolve around three twentysomethings who run
a porn shop.
HBO
is working on a Sam Kinison biopic
"Brother Sam" is based on the memoir written by Bill Kinison,
the legendary comic's brother and manager. Kinison will be played by Dan
Fogler with Tom Shadyac directing.
ODDS &
ENDS
Kiefer
Sutherland still smokes despite being deprived of cigarettes in jail
Elaine Stritch returns
as Jack Donaghy's mom for "30
Rock" Christmas special
Patrick
Swayze: It was important that "The Beast" filmed in Chicago
Check out Kelly
Osbourne -- the cartoon!
Is Lance
Bass the "Dancing" champ? Or can Warren
Sapp actually win it?
PBS' "Masterpiece
Classic" taps Laura
Linney as host
"Grey's
Anatomy" sends Janina Gavanka packing after just 2 episodes
Presenting "Emergency
Backup Shows" in case your fave series is canceled
"Life
on Mars" is run by a "music snob" who likes to shy
away from classic rock
How The NY Times crossword
puzzle hooked up with "The
Simpsons"
Who will come out as gay
on "Battlestar
Galactica"?
Forest
Whitaker making a Sundance documentary on Newark, New Jersey
We'll see a lot more Walter
on "Fringe"
"Fringe"
stars are befuddled over The Pattern
It's official: "The
Bachelor" Charlie O'Connell is back with Sarah Brice
What illness is "90210"
really giving Shannen
Doherty?
Dean
Cain resurfacing for a Hallmark Channel movie
Atlanta's "Real
Housewives" say goodbye after just 7 buzzworthy episodes
"Numb3rs"
& "Criminal Mind" are headed to weekend syndication
PBS' "Nova"
investigates "The
Bible's Buried Secrets"
France's
first lady Carla Bruni visits Letterman
Gideon Yago tackles the
news media in "IFC
Media Project"
Alvin
and the Chipmunks are 50 years old and still popular
Monday,
November 17, 2008
It's
true: Miley Cyrus to perform on "Dancing" finale
The actress is still
alive, despite an Internet death hoax.
Heather
Locklear charged with DUI
For driving under the influence of prescription medications.
Brooke
Shields: "Lipstick Jungle" is NOT canceled
Reports that "Lipstick Jungle" is finished are completely untrue,
Brooke Shields said Sunday. "They thought that because 'My Own Worst
Enemy' has been shut down that the same thing had happened to us, and
it's not true," said Shields, who added that "Lipstick"
fans are flooding
NBC with tubes of lipstick to save the show. "They're not breaking
down the sets," says Shields. "We're still working. We still
have more to do, so it's erroneously presented that we’ve been canceled,
thank God." UPDATE: NBC
is now on the fence on "Lipstick's" future.
Sacha
Baron Cohen crashes "Medium"
Who was responsible for hiring Bruno as an extra?
"30
Rock's" ratings plunge with Jennifer Aniston
Thursday's episode was down 500,000 viewers from Oprah's episode, which
was down from the season premiere.
Ace
from "Survivor: Gabon" arrested
The 28-year-old, who was booted off "Survivor" a few weeks back,
was charged with disorderly intoxication and obstruction after a bar dispute
in Naples, Florida.
Simon
Cowell wants to buy "Dancing with the Stars"!?
Bruno Tonioli says Cowell is interested in buying the rights to "Strictly
Come Dancing" from the BBC, a purchase that would apparently include
the rights to the American version of the show, "Dancing with the
Stars." Tonioli, who became pals with Cowell because "Dancing"
and "American Idol" are filmed on the same lot, says the "Idol"
judge wants to make "Dancing" an even bigger global brand. PLUS:
Cowell
& ex-girlfriend set the record straight on "Extra."
How
did "NCIS" become so hot?
The 6th-year CBS drama is a hit wherever it airs -- whether it be in its
own timeslot, on Friday nights as a repeat or in syndication on USA. Some
say "NCIS" has become revitalized after its respected exec producer,
Don Bellisario, was ousted two years ago to make way for a fresher voice.
Others point to the reinvention
of the characters: "Early on, it was kind of a show that moved
very fast and had quick editing and a sort of staccato pace," says
executive producer Charles Johnson. "I think in the last year or
two, we've slowed it down and went, 'OK, we still like to break barriers
in how we edit the show and all. But we also want to try and get you to
know these people a little better.'"
NBC
interested in Criss Angel's magic sitcom
The project from one of the stars of NBC's failed "Coupling"
has been pitched as aa workplace comedy set in the world of magic.
Julianna
Margulies: I'm not returning to "ER"
"I feel like I left Carol in the best scenario possible," says
Margulies, who's now 42 years old. "I can't imagine making it any
better than that."
Was
"Desperate Housewives'" nightclub fire episode in bad taste?
First of all, last night's episode aired amid the SoCal wildfires. Secondly,
it recalled the 2003 Rhode
Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people.
Actor
gets to perform his music on "Ugly Betty"
Val Emmich, who plays Betty's hot neighbor, has seen interest in his music
skyrocket since landing the role. "My MySpace plays doubled in like
an hour," he says. "I was like, 'Whoa, this is bigger than I
thought.'" PLUS: Becki
Newton: "Ugly's" secret weapon?
Paula
Abdul is not quitting "Idol"
Her publicist is shooting the latest rumor about her departure from the
hit Fox reality show.
Stephen
Colbert roasted
Washington's elite -- including Bush press secretary Dana Perino and Obama
chief of staff Rahm Emanuel -- roasted Colbert over the weekend to raise
money for the Spina Bifida Association.
Mark
Burnett is making an NBA reality show
"Rebuilding the Kingdom" will follow the Maloof Brothers-owned
Sacramento Kings as they try to get back to winning.
Turtle
& Meadow Soprano: A real-life couple!?
JAMIE-Lynn Sigler has apparently fallen for "Entourage" star
Jerry Ferrara. PLUS: "Entourage" reveals Turtle's
name for the first time.
"TRL's"
finale was like a big high school reunion
The 2,247th and last episode included the 38th appearance by Diddy, a
"Total Request Live" record.
"Life
on Mars" recalls "October Road"
Producers of the canceled "October Road" moved on to "Life
on Mars," where they've added many references from their failed series.
Study:
Unhappy people watch more TV
Sociologists have found that "very happy" people watch less
TV and spend more time reading and socializing.
Tyra
Banks gives sex reassignment surgery to the transgender "Top Model"
"This is not happening!" said a stunned Isis on Tuesday's "Tyra
Banks Show."
Food
Network to open "Restaurant 101"
Based on the BBC's "Last Restaurant Standing," the reality show
will offer advice to first-time restaurant owners.
It's
a week of "CSI" anniversaries: "Miami" hits 150, "NY"
celebrates 100
Have both shows regressed over the years?
Wanda
Sykes says she's "proud to be gay"
The comedienne went public with her sexuality Saturday during a Prop.
8 rally in Las Vegas.
"Kath
& Kim" lures Pam Anderson
Can the former "Baywatch" babe boost ratings?
Mark
Cuban charged with insider trading
The HDNet founder/"Dancing" alum could follow in the footsteps
of Martha Stewart.
Ex-NYC
Mayor David Dinkins wants to go on "Law & Order"
"Whenever I watch the show and a judge has a line, I tell my wife,
'I can do that,'" he says.
"Bachelor"
champ Mary Delgado arrested for assaulting a cop car
The Season Six winner, who allegedly punched "The Bachelor"
Byron Velvick, was busted again on Saturday night for public intoxication,
resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Food
Network hires "Queer Eye's" Ted Allen
He'll host "Chopped," a new cooking competition.
"The
Hills" will be back for Season 5
"There is going to be a fifth season," says Audrina Patridge.
"We just found out."
Justin
Timberlake makes a surprise return to "SNL"
But did his presence diminish Paul Rudd's hosting?
"SNL"
still solid post-election // Why
did "SNL" barely use its new females?
ODDS &
ENDS
Could
Rosie revive variety with "Rosie
Live" and Liza Minnelli?
Rosie
will spend 3 days on "Rachael Ray" to promote her new variety
show
Joan Rivers spoils the
"Celebrity
Apprentice"
How did squinty-eyed character
actor Wallace Shawn end up on "Gossip
Girl"?
"Leave it to Beaver's"
Wally
Cleaver explains his art
George
Takei, the "I'm a Celebrity" fave, gets in trouble for urinating
in camp
Reiko Aylesworth spills
some beans on her "Lost"
character
Annabeth
Gish: My "Brotherhood" nudity was very liberating
History channel covers
"Einstein"
in 2 hours
Joan
Cusack does TV: She'll create a show for NBC and star in a Lifetime
movie
Rutina Wesley: Tara's
"True
Blood" cursing is like a defense mechanism
Is "True Blood"
TV's
best new show?
Brian
Dennehy joins TNT's "Bunker Hill"
What are the 40
best TV themes of all time?
Is ABC going to far promoting
"Bolt" within its shows?
"Jon
& Kate Plus 8" has become a show all about freebies
Which of Paris
Hilton's "BFFs" has a softcore past?
"The O.C.'s"
Autumn
Reeser is engaged
You can soon order Domino's
pizza
via your TiVo
Former O.C.
"Real Housewife" starts a charity: Housewives for Housewives
Ex-"View" co-host
Debbie
Matenopoulos is getting divorced
Ex-wrestler Ric
Flair & NFL-er Lawrence Taylor are each shopping reality shows
Friday,
November 14, 2008
"Monk"
is bidding farewell with an 8th and final season
USA announced that it is putting Adrian Monk to rest with a 16-episode
final season that should run next summer.
NBC
taps Michael Flatley to host "Superstar Dancers of the World"
The competition from the producers of "Idol" will pit experts
in various dance styles from eight countries against each other.
CBS
gives "Gary Unmarried" a full season, adds 3 more eps. to "Worst
Week"
"Week" has been a modest performer for CBS.
NBC
signs Hilary Duff to star in her own series
Under a one-year talent deal, NBC will develop a show starring Duff. In
the meantime, the former "Lizzie McGuire" star will guest on
other NBC shows.
GM
doesn't regret its special "My Own Worst Enemy" product placement
 According to the NY
Times, the "brand integration" was extensive: "they teamed
up early in the production process, created commercials together and carefully
added the Camaro and Traverse brands to the story lines." Now General
Motors, which like all Detroit automakers has been struggling financially,
says it was proud to be part of the series. "Our partners understand
that it’s a risky business," says NBC's Marc Graboff. "But
they want to be more integrated with our content."
NBC's
"big stars on TV" strategy isn't working
Neither Brooke Shields nor Christian Slater -- whose mother was wooed
by NBC to get Slater onboard -- could deliver ratings.
Report:
NBC may reward Ben Silverman for the network's awful fall
Page Six reports that another NBC Universal exec, Katherine Pope, is expected
to take the fall for "Lipstick Jungle," "My Own Worst Enemy"
and "Heroes." Said one unnamed NBC exec: "The company is
very happy with Ben. He is deep in negotiations to re-up his contract
with NBC, and he has the network up 50 percent profit from year to year."
Paula
Abdul's stalker changed her name to "Paula"
Paula Goodspeed was so obsessed with Abdul that she changed her name from
Sandra to Paula, People magazine reports. According to People, "Signs
of Goodspeed's infatuation with Abdul included her car's personalized
license plate 'ABL LV' and a photo of Abdul hanging from the rearview
mirror. During her audition, she said that she often drew pictures of
Abdul and been drawing them since she was young." PLUS: Don't
blame "Idol" for Goodspeed's suicide.
Don
Rickles bombs telling an Obama joke on Letterman
Is this a sign of things to come? Rickles, known for his racial humor,
silenced the "Late Show" audience with a joke involving the
President-elect and basketball. (Watch his appearance here
and here)
"Pushing
Daisies" creator: ABC says it hasn't given up on us
"Our ABC exec was on the set last night saying they are still swinging
in the fight to keep 'Daisies' on the air," says Bryan Fuller, who
has yet to hear a final verdict.
"30
Rock" rolls out Alec Baldwin toilet paper
To promote the show in the Netherlands.
"The
View" becomes daytime's No. 1 show for the first time ever
After 12 years on the air, "The View" led the daytime crop for
the first time with an average of 4.7 million viewers last week. The gabfest
was also No. 1 among 18-49 year olds.
Discovery
Channel solves the JFK assassination with state-of-the-art forensics
"JFK: Inside the Target Car" will mark the 45th anniversary
of John F. Kennedy's death to prove that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone
assassin.
"Married
with Children" cast reunites -- with Seth Green as Bud Bundy
Catch Kelly, Peggy and Al Bundy filming David Faustino's new Web comedy
"Star-ving."
Eve
Plumb: If I wrote a "Brady Bunch" tell-all, it would be "massively
dull"
"Jan Brady" talks briefly about Maureen McCormick's book, saying
she had no idea what was going on in her TV sister's life.
Canadians
relieved that "The Office" didn't resort to Canuck stereotypes
In fact, as one Canadian writer points out, last night's episode "really
didn't have much to do with Winnipeg at all. If anything, the show was
more of a dig at untravelled Americans who don't know Canada from Cambodia."
Sarah
Silverman getting $2.5M for writing a book
She's working on a collection of comedic essays.
VH1
claims Pumkin's engagement is a fraud
The cable network is using its blog to attack one of its reality stars.
"Bachelorette"
DeAnna Pappas lands wedding show host job
She'll co-host "get Married" on Lifetime.
Letterman
does a "live" Mazda ad in the middle of his show
Dave is following Jimmy Kimmel in doing "live" commercials,
presenting a "special message from Mazda" before last night's
Top 10 list.
A
John Mayer variety show?
Will the singer follow in the footsteps of Rosie, Ellen and the Osbournes?
"Soul
Train's" Don Cornelius charged with multiple crimes
According to TMZ, the "Soul Train" host has been charged with
3 counts of spousal battery, one count of dissuading a witness from making
a police report, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon.
"30
Rock" reunites the cast of "Night Court"
In case you missed it: Harry Anderson, Markie Post and Charles Robinson
all provided a B-story to Jennifer Aniston in an episode titled, "The
One With The Cast of 'Night Court.'"
"Robot
Chicken" does another "Star Wars" spoof
With guest-stars Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian and Jar Jar Binks.
"TRL"
says goodbye
As Carson Daly tells it, "Total Request Live" once was the
place to be. "I didn't actually go to my own high school reunion,
but that's what this 'Total Finale Live' is starting to feel like,"
says Daly. "I'm nostalgic in a way that I would be if I heard some
of the names of people that I went to high school with."
ODDS
& ENDS
"60
Minutes" lands the first interview with President-elect
Obama
Survey: Many "CSI"
fans will quit watching once William Petersen leaves
Is Randy the most viciously
nasty
"Survivor" contestant ever?
Tina
Fey should be Time magazine's"Person of the Year," says
Seth Meyers
This sorry
fall season could be described with an "Uh-oh"
Dr. Mark Greene gives
"ER"
a ratings boost
"Top
Chef" sets a Bravo ratings record with its 5th season debut
National Geo kicks off
"Expedition
Week," mixing hardcore history and juicy tidbits
"The
Price is Right" tonight salutes the troops
NFL Network parodies "Heroes"
for Brett Favre ad
"Hero
by Night" comic book may be coming to TV
Marvel developing a "Thor"
cartoon to go with its movie
A less-agitated Bill
O'Reilly returns to "The
Daily Show"
Cartoon Network's new
"Batman"
cartoon pairs him with a different hero
Ricky
Gervais goes "Out of England" for HBO standup special
Says Gervais: "I
don't think the Oscars are quite right for me"
Chandra
Wilson's "Accidental Friendship": Homeless woman befriends
a cop
GSN's "The
Meow Mix Think Like a Cat Game Show" is quite lame
Thursday,
November 13, 2008
"Pushing
Daisies" nearing death?
"Daisies" tonight wraps production on the final episode of Season
2, but ABC is not ready to declare the show dead for Season 3.
Fox
may end "Prison Break" with 2 special episodes
The struggling 4th-season series, which doesn't yet have a midseason timeslot,
may end its run with a two-hour special event.
Is
Sarah Palin bound for "Desperate Housewives"?
Marc Cherry, "Desperate's" gay Republican creator, is said to
"very hot to trot to have her appear on the season-five finale,"
according to one PR person not involved with the show. "Marc is highly
enamored of Sarah and sees her as the ultimate guest star (playing) a
similar version of herself," says the PR man. ABC's response: "There's
no truth to it."
Gay
superhero headed to Showtime, thanks to Stan Lee
Based on the book "Hero," the untitled project will track the
life of a gay superhero.
Anthony
Edwards' "ER" return will earn an African children's hospital
$300,000
 Edwards would only
agree to reprise Dr. Mark Greene if the show donated his $125,000 salary
to help build the largest children's hospital in Africa. When Steven Spielberg
found out about the donation, he decided to match the $125,000, while
John Wells kicked in $50,000 of his own money. Of the cameo, Edwards said
it was perfect timing. And it was as if he never left. "I can understand
peoples' hesitancy of coming back, because you know when you are part
of something you feel like you did so well you kind of also don't want
to screw it up," he says. "I think there is a natural respect
for the show that you want to be respectful of."
One
of the best hours this season // Greene's
flashback is hauntingly effective
Warren
Sapp admits he's a "Dancing" diva
"I have to be honest about the diva
thing. I am a little eccentric at times," Sapp said on Inside
the NFL," one of 3-4 shows the former NFL star is working on these
days. He said all he wanted, backstage at "Dancing with the Stars,"
was a little cold water. "If a big fella needing cold water is being
a diva, then diva I am."
Lizzy
Kaplan: "True Blood" nakedness is "a truly liberating thing"
"I'm glad I did it," says Kaplan, who was initially skittish
about taking off her clothes. "It was sort of a moment of invincibility
like 'Oh, s-, I can pull this off. It's fine.'"
Joan
Rivers to interview rich people for TV Land
In "How'd You Get So Rich?," a Mark Burnett production, Rivers
will visit big estates to interview the filthy rich. Also on tap for TV
Land: "First Love, Second Chance," which reunites
long-broken-up couples to see if any chemistry remains.
Kristen
Bell defends "Heroes"
On the heavy criticism of this season, Bell says "everybody deserves
a get-out-of-jail-free card" for the writers' strike. But she adds,
"This season is really good. It's comparable to season one—which,
start to finish, I think is up there with 'Lost' and '24' as one of the
best first seasons I've ever seen."
"CSI:
Miami" turns Diddy into a prosecutor
Sean Combs will guest as a federal prosecutor who hates Horatio Caine.
Rosie's
variety show lands Kathy Griffin & Jane Krakowski
Ne-Yo and Alanis Morissette will also appear in "Rosie Live"
on Thanksgiving Eve. (Watch the "Rosie
Live" promo)
"NCIS"
reaches its highest ratings ever
Thanks to "The Mentalist."
William
Shatner wants to interview George Takei for his talk show
Will "Sulu" submit himself to "Shatner's Raw Nerve"?
Ellen:
I probably won't host the Oscars again
"It's just a lot of work and a lot of pressure," she says of
the "tough job" of hosting the Academy Awards.
A
"Bachelor" happy ending?: Charlie O'Connell may marry his bachelorette
What are the chances that Charlie and Sarah Brice walk down the aisle?
Billy
Ray Cyrus backtracks on Obama girls' "Hannah Montana" invite
"Oh, to tell you the truth now, this thing got a lot bigger, a lot
quicker than I ever planned," he says.
"West
Wing" reunion: Joshua Molina joins Mary McCormack on "In Plain
Sight"
He'll play an alcoholic that Brandi meets in an AA meeting.
Scott
Wolf expecting a baby with his "Real World" wife
The former "Party of Five" star and Kelley from "Real World:
New Orleans" are both very "excited" at the prospect of
becoming parents.
Ricky
Gervais to visit "Sesame Street"
Says Gervais: "I've been asked to do Sesame Street - there are some
things you don't turn down."
"Flip
This House" creator wins $4M from A&E
Richard C. Davis had sued A&E claiming the network had failed to split
half the profits of the reality show, as was promised.
Shonda
Rhimes: "Grey's" had to keep Kevin McKidd because of the "Mc"
in his name
"He's been a delight to collaborate with and brings incredible passion,
talent and creativity to his work," says Rhimes. "Plus, he's
already got the 'Mc' built in to his name so we had to keep him."
PLUS: Mary
McDonnell on going "Grey's."
ODDS
& ENDS
Coming
to Comedy Central: "Ugly
Americans"
Is Jennifer
Aniston playing herself tonight on "30 Rock"?
MTV launching a movie
show -- "Spoilers"
debuts Friday
Watch Jimmy
Kimmel as Bond. James Bond.
Misty May-Treanor: That
"Dancing"
stage is cursed!
Bruce
Springsteen's newest song will be unveiled during NBC "SNF"
halftime
Sci Fi Channel renews
"Sanctuary"
"NCIS" alum
Sasha
Alexander joins "The Karenskys"
Speidi dish on their "How
I Met Your Mother" cameo
Is social
video viewing TV's next killer app?
Who is Big Poppa
from "Real
Housewives of Atlanta"?
| 
