Michael Jackson's memorial was unexpectedly tasteful and dignified
With all the gobs of media attention, viewers were likely expecting a bizarre celebrity event, says Troy Patterson. He writes: "Yet—disappointing cynics and reassuring fans of human decency—the tone was congruent with what you'd expect for the funeral of a church deacon in St. Louis. It was perfectly sober, considering the supernormal circumstances. Yes, the pallbearers wore sequined gloves to carry a gilded casket. Sure, the featured images of the deceased included a few Christlike poses. But an incomparable showbiz career deserves a commensurately big finish. Anything less would have been inappropriate."
This was no Cirque du Soleil in a casket // It's stunning how well-produced it was
Daughter Paris upstaged the memorial sideshow // Where was TV perspective?
Cable news outshined networks // ABC, CBS couldn't keep their mouths shut
"Laverne and Shirley's" Big Ragoo busted for DUI
Eddie Mekka, who played Carmine "The Big Ragoo" Ragusa, was arrested Friday night in Las Vegas.
SNL's "MacGruber" movie a go
Will Forte will co-write the script and star along with Kristen Wiig.
"Bruno" doesn't dress like "Bruno" for Letterman
"The Late Show" has been the only talk show where Sacha Baron Cohen was dressed as himself to promote his new movie.
MTV may put D.C. "Real World"-ers in nonprofit jobs
Will they do actual sidewalk canvassing?
Carlos' "Desperate" niece is joining the cast
Actress Maiara Walsh will live with the Solises next season after appearing in the last two episodes.
"30 Rock" reruns coming to comedy Central and WGN
The NBC comedy drew big bucks in off-network syndication.
Michael Jackson's daughter elicits tears at memorial
Said Paris Jackson: "I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine." PLUS: "Britain's Got Talent" 12-year-old Shaheen Jafargholi wows with "Who's Loving You."
Wanted: A "Lost" theme song
Producers are soliciting a theme song that they could play at Comic-Con.
Teri Hatcher's "Desperate" daughter returns
Andrea Bowen, who was dumped from "Desperate Housewives" after the show flashed forward five years, will return as a series regular next season.
Twitter is spoiling "Torchwood"
British viewers who get to watch the five-episode Season 3 miniseries two weeks before the U.S. have been tweeting so much that "Torchwood" spoilers have surfaced on Twitter's trending topics.
Watch a clip from "Dollhouse's" lost episode
Featuring guest-star Felicia Day.
Michael Jackson's memorial could be bigger than Obama's inauguration
Today's national viewing experience will be attended by Jackson himself, with his casket appearing on stage.
Letterman jokes about Sarah Palin's resignation
"Something I said?" was Dave's reaction last night. PLUS: Optimus Prime delivers the Top 10 list.
"Lost" definitely won't come out with a movie
"We won't be vague and ambiguous – there will be a lot of answers," says Damon Lindelof. "We've no plans to continue the story of 'Lost' beyond series six. My wife says 'never say never.' I say 'never.'"
SyFy's new name: Can it work?
As of today, the Sci Fi Channel is officially SyFy, a move that SyFy president Dave Howe says was necessary. "This was a two-year exercise," he tells CNN. The new name, he says, needed to be usable all over the world in Internet URLs, brand extensions and merchandising, and "the only way to do that is to create an empty name. "We explored them all," he said. "We wanted a word that was uniquely ours," while not straying too far from the sound of "Sci Fi."
Kal Penn hopes "to be treated like any staff member" at the White House
He said on his first day as part of the Obama administration: "I brushed my teeth, I did floss, used mouthwash . . . took the bus to work, the same thing everybody does."
"CSI: Miami" flashing back to 1997
Next season's premiere will show how Horatio Caine assembled his team 12 years ago.
"Heroes" won't be at Comic-Con — it'll be near Comic-Con
Tim Kring and his gang will avoid the actual Comic-Con crush at the San Diego Convention Center this year in favor of a nearby Hilton Hotel. That's where he'll reveal the Volume 5 trailer.
VH1 unveils "The T.O. Show"
Check out the latest reality show starring NFL receiver Terrell Owens.
Who are TV's unsexiest beautiful people?
Nerve.com identifies Tyra Banks, Mischa Barton, Heidi Montag, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Heidi Montag, Paris Hilton and the Jonas Brothers.
HBO's ComedyFetish.com site boasts hundreds of clips
Catch everything from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to "Entourage" stand-up specials at the ComedyFetish Web site.
Women in their 40s are all the rage on TV these days
From Kyra Sedgwick to Jane Krakowski.
"Bachelorette" host defends Jillian: She was protecting Wes!
As Chris Harrison explains it, Jillian didn't want to walk away from Wes like everybody else in his life: "She defended him a bit and I think the more people attacked Wes the more she wanted to prove them wrong. I know many of you wish she'd kicked him to the curb weeks ago but this was something she needed to figure out and handle in her own way and in her own time." PLUS: Texas oughtta be ashamed of Wes.
NYC "Real Housewives" demand a raise as Bravo seeks their replacements
Only Kelly Bensimon is confirmed for Season 3, which Bravo announced today in a press release that proclaimed that the cable network "is currently casting for additional housewives." "The Housewives all want six-figure deals," a source tells the NY Daily News. "They barely made 10 grand for the first season, and now are all a bit too big for their britches. They want the whole shebang: a clothing allowance, money for hair and makeup, a set raise and a promised amount of screen time." PLUS: Bethenny Frankel is "getting married," though she has yet to get engaged.
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