TNT planning a "Dallas" spinoff
With a "Dallas" movie failing to get off the ground, the next generation of the Ewings are being eyed for a new series that might also feature original cast members Lidna Gray, Patrick Duffy and Larry Hagman. According to the NY Times, the show would focus on "John Ross (the offspring of J. R. and Sue Ellen, for you 'Dallas' neophytes) and Christopher (the adopted son of Bobby and Pam who, devotees will remember, is the progeny of Sue Ellen’s sister, Kristin, the famed shooter of J. R.)."
Marge Simpson poses for the cover of Playboy
Does she get naked in the November issue?
Watch Hillary Clinton solve the Conan vs. Newark crisis
The secretary of state urged both sides to end their feud, and for Conan to go back to "dancing around the stage and making lame jokes about my pantsuits."
Fine Living Network is out, Cooking Channel is in
FLN is being shut down in favor of the Cooking channel, which will feature some of the hand-me-downs from the Food Network like "Emeril Live" and "Iron Chef."
Marc Cherry won't get "Desperate" for new ABC project
Cherry's newest drama, expected to air next fall, will be a standalone show unrelated to "Desperate Housewivess."
CBS picks up "Hawaii Five-O" remake with "Star Trek"/"Transformers" writers
J.J. Abrams vets Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are teaming with "CSI:NY's" Peter Lenkov on the remake of the '70s classic.
Bradley Whitford signs up for cop comedy
He'll play an off-the-rails officer in "Jack and Dan," from the creator of "Burn Notice."
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Tracy Morgan is officially on Twitter
The campaign to get Tracy on Twitter is a success, as the "30 Rock" star joined Twitter today with a verified account.
Alleged blackmailer: I saw Stephanie & Dave in "passionate embrace" in August
Dr. Bob Arnot of ABC News says his good friend Robert "Joe" Halderman is "very angry, very upset." One night in August, Arnot says, Halderman saw "the two of them in a very passionate embrace at the end of the road" after David Letterman drove Stephanie Birkitt home from work. "He's furious. He feels like he's being played," says Arnot. Arnot also defended his friend, whom he says was "positioned as a bad guy … he's a wonderful human being… he's a standup guy…he's a great human being."
Halderman says he and Stephanie broke up after her August encounter with Dave
Dave stops kissing female guests on the cheek // Mark Sanford, Mark Foley back Dave
Gloria Allred warns Letterman about workplace sex harrassment laws
Donald Trump: Dating reality show star?
"The Ultimate Merger" will feature The Donald as the ultimate matchamaker, helping a bachelorette create "the ultimate merger."
Eddie Haskell is now 66 and a retired LAPD cop
"Leave it to Beaver" star Ken Osmond, who played Eddie Haskell in the TV show that ran from 1957-63, works at the American Legion nowadays. The retired Army officer spent 18 years in the LAPD as a motorcycle officer.
Farmer creates a giant "Family Guy" corn maze
Bob Connors is such a big fan that he mowed his corn fields in the shape of Stewie and Brian.
"Smallville's" Tom Welling is making a cheerleader drama for CW
Tom Welling Prods. is working on a series adaptation of the book "Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders."
Woman accuses Dr. Phil of groping and trapping her
Shirley Dieu is suing Phil McGraw, claiming that he grabbed at her left breast and locked her inside his production offices during a therapy session.
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In defense of Jim & Pam's "Office" wedding
The long-held school of thought in TV is that Unresolved Sexual Tension should never be resolved, which means that Jim and Pam should never get together. But, says Alan Sepinwall, "this school of thought is misguided at best, idiotic and self-destructive at worst." In Jim and Pam's case, "It felt real, and it felt right." He adds: "More importantly, in the two-plus seasons since Jim and Pam started dating, then got engaged, then began preparing for a baby, 'The Office' has not been ruined. Jim and Pam didn't stop being funny, or interesting, just because they were together and happy, nor did they begin to dominate the show."
Greg Daniels not happy with spoilery "Office" promos
Looking back at Jim & Pam's romance // How Niagra Falls aided "Office" wedding
Hey NBC: Quit over-working "Jay Leno" with a 3-ring circus format
NBC wants Leno to be part of an earlier late-night, but the problem is his new format runs Jay ragged from segment to segment.
It's time to kill off "The Hills"
Without the emotional L.C., "The Hills" is now stuck with its evil elements.
Fox promo puts its stars in a strip club
Watch the "House," "Bones," "Lie to Me" and "Fringe" as they eye women and get lap dances.
Debate pits "Real Housewives" vs. "Real Housewives"
The New York and New Jersey cast will spar next week over which Bravo show is better. PLUS: Danielle Staub's ex threatens lawsuit.
Heidi Klum will keep the "Klum" despite changing her name
Heidi Samuel will continue to be known as Heidi Klum in her professional life.
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Stephanie on paid leave from Letterman; "48 Hours" co-workers paid for bond
Letterman's assistant/ex-mistress Stephanie Birkitt is on paid leave, a Worldwide Pants spokesperson says. TMZ, however, claims that Stephanie is banned from the set. Meanwhile, the NY Times reports that CBS is not conducting an internal investigation and that inside CBS News, there is still disbelief that Robert Halderman was arrested. In fact, two of his co-workers posted the bond for his bail.
Advertisers, including Disney, are apparently sticking with Dave
National Organization for Women: Letterman created a "toxic environment"
PETA gets "Dancing" to cancel chimp judge
A chimpanzee was supposed to guest-judge on Tuesday, but PETA got the show to cancel the segment.
Jay Leno bops his head: "I did a Conan"
"I would rather have done a Letterman," Leno said after a stunt rehearsal gone awry. "But I did a Conan."
Did "Dancing" push Tom DeLay to quit due to bad ratings?
Monday's episode drew the lowest-ever ratings for a fall performance show as DeLay's fractured feet became the main storyline. PLUS: DeLay puts his feet in a bone stimulator machine at night.
Leno sends his paparazzi after Kate Gosselin
Check her out on "JMZ."
Harry Connick Jr. scolds Australian variety show for blackface skit
Guest judge Connick was visibly upset and had to be apologized to over a "Jackson Jive" parody skit on the variety show "Hey Hey It's Saturday" (watch the video).
Ellen Page & Alia Shawkat team up to write an HBO hipster comedy
"Stitch N' Bitch" will feature "Whip It" stars Page, Shawkat of "Arrested Development" fame and Sean Tillmann in a comedy about hipsters who relocate from Brooklyn to L.A.
CBS renews "NCIS: LA" and "The Good Wife"
Both freshmen series have been posting stellar numbers on Tuesday nights.
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Tom DeLay explains his exit, says he's a fan of "Survivor" and "Big Brother"
"It was pretty painful to practice last week," he says of the two fractures on his feet that eventually would sideline him. "Last Sunday, I could only do 30 minutes. But I knew the dance, and I wanted to see if I could dance. We took it one dance at a time and it worked out. But I also knew I couldn't go through that again. In order to be in this competition you had to practice, and you had to practice four hours a day. I could only practice for 45 minutes and then ice. You have to have two feet to dance." PLUS: DeLay goes on Kimmel in a wheelbarrow.
Jon Gosselin offers proof he only took $22K, says Kate has 11 bank accounts and $1M
Jon also says that it's unlikely the kids were upset with the halt in filming, unless Kate made it an issue.
"Evil" Russell: Is "Survivor" falsely building him up?
So far, Russell — the alleged mastermind and villain of "Survivor: Samoa" — hasn't been all he's cracked up to be, despite what Jeff Probst, CBS promos and the editing will have you believe.
Nicole Eggert shows off her flabby bikini body in "Baywatch" spoof
Check out the 37-year-old in this FunnyOrDie video.
Gourmet magazine has shut down, but its TV show will still air
"Gourmet's Adventures with Ruth" features Gourmet magazine editor Ruth Reichl, whose magazine was shuttered on Monday. "Gourmet" the TV show will premiere on PBS on Oct. 17.
Study: Viewers can be fooled into thinking standard def is HD
Is there a placebo effect when it comes to HDTV?
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CW's "Gossip Girl" reality show hits a snag
None of socialite Tinsley Mortimer's friends want to appear on the reality show that promises to "lift the curtain on New York's most talked-about 'Park Avenue Princess' and her young, elite society friends." Her half-brother also posted on Facebook that he has "zero interest in playing a warped, twisted version of myself on television."
Newark mayor calls an end to feud as Conan "apologizes"
Mayor Cory Booker posted a "final response" to Conan O'Brien last night urging the "Tonight Show" host to end the divide between "Coco states" and "Corey states." Meanwhile, Conan apologized on last night's show — for flushing Newark down the toilet in the wrong direction. PLUS: Is Newark's mayor making a mistake taking on Conan?
National Geographic will film Obama's White House over a 4-month period
"The White House: Through The Lens" is expected to air in November 2010.
Lady Gaga sets "Gossip Girl" cameo
She'll play herself in an upcoming episode.
Sports writer sues claiming "Shaq Vs." was stolen
Todd Gallagher is suing for $5 million accusing the William Morris Endeaver Agency of ripping off his book, "Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan," which he was shopping as a reality show.
Drew Carey bidding $1 million for @Drew Twitter account
Another Drew, Drew Olanoff, is auctioning off his Twitter account, while Drew Carey is stuck tweeting from @drewfromTV.
NBC insists the problem isn't Leno, it's the shows leading to Jay
Ratings have been steadily going down, except for on Tuesdays, when "The Biggest Loser" is his lead-in. PLUS: Why not put "The Jay Leno Show" at 10:30?
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Is Kate Gosselin's "I-am-broke" media tour part of a plan to win back ex-fans?
David Zurawik thinks it's "outrageous that no one questioned how she could be broke after all the money she and Jon made." Further, he says, after watching TLC and Kate Gosselin in practice during the last year, I would not be suprised if this latest 'I-am-broke' media tour isn't part of an effort to re-cast Kate's image as someone who is feeling some of the economic pain that many of her former fans are feeling. As Kate has gone all-spa, high-end vacations, and no financial worries, literally 90 percent of her audience has abandoned her. That is astonishing."
Nancy Grace makes Jon Gosselin squirm
"You talk the talk, but you don't walk the walk," said Grace as she ripped into Jon. PLUS: Jon says, "I'm not the bad guy here."
Jim Belushi & Brooke Shields OK after minor plane accident
The two actors were on a plane last Friday that landed and crashed into a car.
Wanna smell like Simon? Cowell to release his own "Cowel-ogne"
Simon, who turns 50 tomorrow, is launching his own brand of aftershave in the UK along with his fellow "X Factor" judges. A source tells The Sun: "Simon says his will be the top-seller – he's already winding the other three up." PLUS: Simon's party was vulgar, crass, tacky.
PETA protesters dressed as chickens plan to protest "The Jay Leno Show"
Today's protest is over Leno shilling for McDonald's and its McNuggets.
ABC gives Jennifer Hudson her own Christmas special
The Oscar-winning "Idol" alum will relive her Chicago childhood in "Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home For Christmas."
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Watch Letterman's 2nd apology — he says sex with staff is "in the past"
"I would just like to set the record straight: No, I am not having sex with these women," Dave said on tonight's "Late Show. "These episodes are in the past. So my apologies to subjecting them to that vulnerability and being browbeaten and humiliated." As for his relationship with his wife, Letterman says, "I've got my work cut out for me."
Craig Ferguson defends boss Letterman
"If we are now holding late-night talk show hosts to the same moral accountability as we hold politicians or clergymen, I'm out," said the "Late Late" host. "I'm gone."
"Idol Gives Back" is coming back
After a one year hiatus, "Idol's" charity benefit will return on April 21st for the To 7 results show.
Donny Osmond nearly makes out with "Dancing" judge Bruno
"Turn to the dark side! Come to the dark side," said Bruno as Donny held him in his arms after kissing him on the cheek. Said Osmond: "I don't think they're going to love me back in Utah anymore." PLUS: Paula Abdul pops up in the "Dancing" audience.
Bravo orders D.C., more N.J. "Real Housewives"
"The Real Housewives" of New Jersey" will return for a 2nd season, while the Washington "Real Housewives" is set to premiere next year.
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The storylines are really stretching it, says A.N. Kitchen. "If the drama can't keep up with the soundtrack, is 'Glee' doomed to die on the vine?" Kitchen writes. "When its songs are selling like hotcakes on iTunes, maybe the lack of a quality storyline allows the show to withstand a few punches in the ratings — or at least buy it some time to develop some decent plotlines."
The "Project Runway" star will make a cameo to fix Barney's "Suit Catastrophe." "Tim is basically like Barney's ER physician for a serious suit emergency," says "HIMYM" co-creator Craig Thomas. Gunn will appear on an episode that includes a big musical number and Rachel Bilson as possibly the mother.
