"Mad Men" ends Season 3 with a fist-pumping finale
"I mean, come on," says Tim Goodman, "that was a gloriously fast-driven episode that brought both joy and emotional pay-off to everyone who has ground through the machinations of Don and Betty Draper this season. In fact, the finale was about as close to a full-on fist-pumper as any episode that "Mad Men" has ever aired. I can't recall an episode in this series where I've paused the TV to let out a pent-up whoop of exaltation. This was a beautiful, rewarding mix of forward movement – Don, Roger, Bert and Lane conspiring to start their own agency as Sterling Cooper is sold out from underneath them – and the emotional angst of Don and Betty splitting in half."
Next season: It's "Mad Men: New and Improved!" // Are Don's daddy issues dead?
Why end the season with Roy Orbison's "Shahadaroba"? // Where will Bert fit in?
A rewarding finale, sets up all sorts of great storylines for Season 4
Connie Hilton was the season's Macguffin // Don lost one family, gained another
Draper is stripped bare // Was hitting reset the right thing to do?
Q&A with Jon Hamm // Everything Don said in Season 3 // Roger Sterling's 1-liners
November 2009
Why did "Mad Men's" creator change his mind on the JFK assasination?
Matthew Weiner had always insisted he'd skip over Nov. 22, 1963 this season — yet there it was in this week's episode. "I thought it was a melodramatic trope the way it had been treated," Weiner says of changing his mind. "And after having lived through 9/11, which is a comparable experience, I didn't want to pretend — especially if I was going to continue on in the lives of these characters — like this wouldn't have had an impact on them."
So that explains it: James Franco is doing "General Hospital" for a film project
The big-time movie star is incorporating his daytime experience for a film called "Erased James Franco." Says "GH's" exec producer: "He approached us. And we all had the same reaction of ‘Really? Are you kidding?’"
Kathy Ireland kept "Dancing" injury secret, will be forced to have knee surgery
"Did not want people to know during voting process because sympathy votes and drama are not my thing," she said on Twitter.
Susan Boyle to sing on "Dancing"
She'll perform "I Dreamed a Dream" on next week's results show, which will also feature Michael Buble.
Will Oprah move to L.A.?
She tells her employees not to worry, but she says an announcement will come soon.
Welcome to Twitter, Hank Azaria!
According to the NFL Network's Rich Eisen, it's really him.
"SYTYCD" sparks romance
Janette Manrara and Jason Glover became an item while on tour.
A&E's Jackson family reality show debuts next month
"The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" kicks off Dec. 13 with back-to-back hour-long episodes.
Meryl Streep wasn't invited to join her co-stars as Oscar co-hosts
The Academy never had her in mind to join her "It's Complicated" co-stars Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.
"The Rachel Zoe Project" fires Taylor Jacobson
She had been at odds with her boss for four years.
Why one (Southern) CW affiliate is airing "Gossip Girl" threesome
Knoxville, Tennessee's CW isn't budging. Says the general manager: "Although I have some concerns about it, we know it will be far less offensive than most of which is on cable."
"Dancing's" Joanna Krupa: I'm empowering women by posing for Playboy
She explains: “There are several great reasons why female celebs line up to shoot Playboy: finally a woman gets paid more than a man for comparable work, she gets to set the rules, gets to be in a real team work with other women, as many key positions at Playboy are in fact held by women!"
How John Krasinski popped the question to Emily Blunt
He got the ladies of "The View" to say "aww."
Travel Channel sells for $975 million
Why so much money for a cable channel few watch? Because Travel Channel's 370,000 households represent the kind of niche advertising that advertisers crave.
Ellen reveals O cover with Oprah
It's Ellen sitting on a box next to Oprah.
Is the recession fueling the NFL's monster ratings this season?
Ratings are up 15% compared to this time last season, representing a 20-year high as more and more people skip outside entertainment in favor of free football.
Simon Cowell sells himself for $31,500 an hour
The "Idol" judge put himself up for auction, and was purchased by the chairman of Universal Music.
Has "30 Rock" lost the funny?
"The show," says Alyssa Rosenberg, "is listing badly these days for a number of reasons – its failure to fully use its strong mix of actors, the choppiness of its storylines, its increasing reliance on weak gags, and, above all, the fact that its strong first two seasons moved the relationships between the characters so far forward that they’ve run out of places to go." PLUS: Finally, "30 Rock" turns in a funny episode!
"This American Life" inspires HBO sex-change drama
A woman will slowly become a man in "T," from the producers of "In Treatment" and Ira Glass, whose show inspired the series.
Oprah exploring other options, besides the Oprah Winfrey Network
Will she leave CBS for another syndicator in 2011?
UK rejects Benny Hill stamp
Political correctness sunk a proposal to celebrate "The Benny Hill Show."
Showtime announces return dates for "Jackie," "Tara," "Tudors" and more
"Nurse Jackie" and "United States of Tara" return March 22, while "The Tudors" begins its final season April 11. Meanwhile, "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" and "Tracey Ullman's State of the Union" are back Jan. 25.
Levi Johnston accepts Conan's apology
"I'm glad I gave him something to talk about on his show," he says of the fake tweets. "Obviously it's good that I'm on there."
Lady Gaga: I sat down with "Gossip Girl" writers to make the most of her cameo
"I was like, 'Look, I want to do this, and the reason I want to do this is because I am trying to say something that is not mainstream in a mainstream capacity," she says. "So, if I can say it on your show, that would be, like, a real coup d'état for me as a performance artist.'"
Wanda Sykes: The voice of a new generation?
When her talk show premieres Saturday, Sykes will be "breaking into the parade of white men on late-night TV," says Joanne Ostrow. "Whether or not her late-night talk enterprise clicks, her distinctive presence on the entertainment landscape is undeniable. There is an essential honesty and a rarely glimpsed political attitude shining through her act. Whether she's talking about the day's headlines, her wife or their 7-month- old twins, hers is a fresh take."
Wanda's writers are 50/50 male and female and 50/50 black and white
Sykes: It's about my personality — not about being a black woman
Mom: My kids don't want to watch "Sesame Street"
KJ Dell'Antonia says her children don't "want humans on their small screen, doing all of the boring things humans do—they wanted cartoons, often devoid of any background, facial expression or ability to speak." To her, "Sesame" has "too many grown-ups, too many scene changes, too many intervening videos of kids getting dressed or going about their day."
"Yogi Bear" is becoming a movie, starring Dan Aykroyd and Anna Faris
Enough with TV weight-loss shows!
Why isn't November sweeps special this year?
"Dr. Phil" renewed through 2014
Backstabbing Sauce! Paranoia salad!: Last night's "Survivor" was delicious!
Conan says sorry to Levi Johnston, brings William Shatner back
"Apparently the tweets that we read were counterfeit," Conan O'Brien said of the "shocking news" that Levi's "real" Twitter wasn't so real after all. "They were written by a clever impostor posing as the witty Levi Johnston. And the real Levi is very angry with us now," said Conan, who re-introduced Shatner reading Johnston's correct quotes. PLUS: Conan edges ahead of Letterman in important viewers.
Oprah hasn't decided her future, her production company insists
Rumors of her departure from broadcast TV are premature, says Harp Productions. "As she has previously stated, she'll be making an announcement before the end of the year." PLUS: Oprah yanks BeBe Winans from her show over domestic abuse charges.
GLAAD protests "South Park's" F-word
This week's attempt to redefine the word "fag" didn't sit well in the gay community.
MTV Europe Music Awards under fire for walling off Berllin Wall concert
Some Berliners found it ironic that their view of U2's concert celebrating the fall of the wall was blocked by yet another wall.
Jeff Probst: "Talk about a blindside. Wow"
Jeff says of this week's "Survivor": "Russell’s HUGE move to play the idol is yet one more pencil in his jar of 'this is how ya do it.'"
TLC to subpoena Jon Gosselin's girlfriend and Lindsay Lohan's dad
They'll be forced to testify in the breach of contract TLC filed against Gosselin.
Mister Rogers statue unveiled in Pittsburgh
The 7,000-pound bronze sculpture depicts Fred Rogers facing the Pittsburgh skyline while tying his sneakers, with its location just off the Fort Duquesne Bridge. "It's the only pose my husband would consider," said the sculptor's wife. "It's the pose that everyone identifies with him." (Check out a panorama of the statue.)
"The Office's" hangman's noose upsets suicide prevention groups
Michael Scott's use of a noose "crossed the line," says the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
"Grey's" and "Private Practice" will do another crossover
With Addison, Mark and the blonde from "Terminator."
MTV special follows "Real World"-er to Iraq
Watch a preview of Brooklyn cast member Ryan Conklin in "Return to Duty."
J.J. Abrams to direct NBC's "Undercovers"
It'll be the first pilot he's directed since "Lost" in 2004.
Kym Johnson is the latest "Dancing" star heading for Broadway
The Australian will join Maksim Chmerkovskiy in "Burn the Floor," replacing Maksim's ex Karina Smirnoff.
Rue McClanahan OK after heart bypass surgery
The "Golden Girls" star is said to be doing "absolutely great."
"The Mentalist" getting syndicated on TNT
Each episode sold for $2.2 to 2.3 million.
Check out "Battlestar's" CBS comedy invasion
Katee Sackhoff in the bath with Wolowitz!
Ex-NBC boss Warren Littlefield is penning his "Must-See TV" memoir
The man who ran NBC Entertainment during its "Friends"/"Seinfeld"/"ER" heyday will recall what it was like to be a character on "Seinfeld."
USA picks up "NCIS: LA" reruns
At more than $2 million an episode.
More from "CSI's" Trilogy
Watch an extended preview of next week's event.
Levi Johnston demands retraction from Conan O'Brien
Turns out Levi's "real" tweets that William Shatner read last night as beat poetry were actually fake. Conan introduced the bit by saying of Levi's tweets, "All real … we did not make these up."
Oprah: Quitting her talk show for cable?
According to Nikki Finke Oprah Winfrey's rumored departure to the Oprah Winfrey Network should soon become a reality. "I've learned that in coming days Winfrey and Discovery will issue a press release announcing OWN's on-air launch for the start of 2011," says Finke. "And, in several weeks, Oprah will tell the public that she's ending her syndicated Chicago-based daytime talk show when her current deal runs out and moving it to OWN headquarters in Los Angeles probably as soon as mid-2011."
Comedy Central orders Onion Sports Network TV show
The Onion and Comedy Central are partnering on a pilot based on its fake sports stories.
"24" alums join "Damages"
Sarah Wynter from "24" Season 2 and Reiko Aylesworth will have recurring roles on the FX series, with Aylesworth playing Campbell Scott's wife.
NBA star claims "Kourtney and Khloe" is staged
Rashad McCants says of a scene on the E! show: they "made the whole thing up."
Tina Fey reveals her fave "30 Rock" moments
From "Tracy Does Conan" to Rosemary's Baby."
Sharon Osbourne slams Susan Boyle: She looks like a "slapped ass"
"I like everybody to do well," the "America's Got Talent" judge said on "Opie & Anthony." "Even somebody that looks like a slapped ass with a moustache. God bless her. It's like, 'You go girl.' She does look like a hairy a*shole."
40 years later, urban "Sesame Street" has become gentrified
"This is your mother’s 'Sesame Street,'" says Alessandra Stanley, "only better dressed and gentrified: 'Sesame Street' by way of Park Slope. The opening is no longer a realistic rendition of an urban skyline but an animated, candy-colored chalk drawing of a preschool Arcadia, with flowers and butterflies and stars. The famous set, brownstones and garbage bins, has lost the messy graffiti and gritty smudges of city life over the years. Now there are green spaces, tofu and yoga."
Sarcastic Big Bird visits Kimmel, doesn't like his Google Doodle // Watch Part 2
Ask Big Bird a question // Jimmy Kimmel dresses as Big Bird for Halloween
"Sesame Street" scolded for "Pox News" parody
TCM to host its 1st-ever film festival
More than 50 classics will be screened at such historic venues as the Graumann's Chinese Theater and the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.
How did "Parks and Recreation" suddenly become hilarious?
What happened? Explains Heather Havrilesky: "Instead of turning every character into a joke-spewing lunatic, the writers have started to focus on the aspects of each character that feel organic and interesting."
Weddings are all the rage on TLC with 4 new marriage reality shows
From "Battle of the Wedding Planners" to "Happily Ever Faster," from "Four Weddings" to "Manhattan Marriage Project."
Teen boys are "Going Commando" for military reality show
Cartoon Network will send boys ages 13 through 16 with real-life issues through a camp that will teach them how "to plan and execute real life missions" by a team of former special forces soldiers.
Neil Patrick Harris a comic book character for "Dr. Horrible" prequel
Check out a sneak peek from Joss Whedon's brother Zack.
Jeana Keough: Why I had to leave O.C. "Real Housewives"
The cash-strapped Keough only appears in the 1st three episodes, before leaving the show to concentrate on working full-time. "I just didn’t feel appreciated by the girls or the network,” she says, responding to rumors that she didn't like her Bravo salary. “There’s a lot of work that is involved—it’s an all-year-round thing with all of the shooting and the press, and it wasn’t enough.”
Conan invites William Shatner back to read Levi Johnston's tweets
Comedy Central creates a 1-minute "Daily Show" highlight reel for the Web
Laura Bush dodges Jay Leno's porn joke
British TV lets breast cancer charity run free ads during "Nip/Tuck"
About 22 million watched the Yankees win the World Series
"Law & Order" is ripping Letterman from the headlines
In "L&O's" version of the scandal, a married talk show host is involved in a murder mystery and extortion plot after his mistress was found cheating with another woman.
MTV yanks DJ AM reality show from primetime
The remaining episodes will air in late night, starting tomorrow.
"CSI:NY" partners Vanessa Minnillo & Kim Kardashian
They'll join Minnillo’s former "TRL" co-star LaLa Vasquez and the members of the band Train in a murder mystery.
"Dancing's" Cheryl Burke up for "Chicago" role on Broadway
She can dance, but can she sing during her "Dancing" hiatus?
Brian Williams: I hope my "30 Rock" cameo doesn't disappoint "Nightly" fans
"You've got to mix it up a little bit," says Williams, who appears on Thursday's episode.
Meryl Streep's daughter joins Joe Mantegna's daughter on TeenNick
Grace Gummer, Streep's 23-year-old daughter, will play the 17-year-old daughter of a famous couple in "Gigantic." The series will also feature Mantegna's 19-year-old daughter, Gia.
CBS cuts "Numb3rs" order, adds extra episodes to a slew of shows
"Numb3rs" will likely see its final season with its episodes reduced to 22 to 16. Meanwhile, "How I Met Your Mother," "NCIS," "NCIS: LA," "CSI: Miami" and "Two and a Half Men" will each go up from 22 to 24 episodes, while "Criminal Minds," "CSI: NY," "The Big Bang Theory," "The Good Wife," "CSI" and "The Mentalist" has been upped from 22 to 23 episodes.
Dr. Drew saves high school football player's life
Drew Pinsky administered CPR during a game he was attending Friday night.
"The Bachelor" goes HD for "On the Wings of Love"
Pilot Jake Pavelka will begin handing out roses on Jan. 4.
"2012" TV show will be set in 2013
“It is about the resettling of Earth. That is very, very fascinating," film director Roland Emmerich says of the proposed TV series.
Heidi Klum to host Victoria's Secret Fashion show
The special will air Dec. 1 on CBS.
Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin: Oscar's most unflappable hosts?
"They are men of elastic talents who have proved themselves on the requisite stage, screen and television," says Mary McNamara. "Martin created the template for the modern stand-up-turned-serious-movie-star, while Baldwin's career morphed from handsome young romantic lead to handsome older master of comedy." She adds: "Together, they have played to virtually every sort of house in every sort of role — if nothing else, they will no doubt be the most unflappable hosts in Oscar history."
Tina Fey was approached, but she was too busy with "30 Rock"
Watch Steve & Alec last perform together on "SNL" in 2006
Report: Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. turned down the Academy
New Jersey "Real Housewives" take on "Mercy"
Teresa and Jacqueline will play themselves confronting Michelle Trachtenberg in a Jersey bar.
Michelle Obama films "Iron Chef America" cameo
The First Lady will reveal the secret ingredient in a competition pitting White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and Bobby Flay vs. Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.
Google Doodles kick start week-long "Sesame Street" celebration
With "Sesame's" 40th birthday coming Nov. 10, Google is putting up a different "Sesame" character on its home page every day for the next week.
What happened to "Gossip Girl's" buzz?
The once-buzzworthy show seems to have worn out its welcome, even with next week's threesome that has caught the attention of the Parents TV Council. "The silence is deafening," says TV professor Robert Thompson. "'Gossip Girl' was like Twitter – when people first discovered it, they couldn't stop talking about it. But the enchantment has worn off."
Chicago police may get their own A&E reality show
The Chicago City Council has to approve of "Missing Persons: Chicago," which will follow Windy City cops as they do their jobs.
Stephen Colbert isn't exactly giving U.S. Speedskating big bucks
Colbert's sponsorship of the team is mostly a promotional vehicle. U.S. Speedskating is counting on Colbert's audience to donate money to their program. "But," says Apolo Anton Ohno, "BIG UP's to Stephen Colbert for his willingness to help out our nation's greatest athletes. I'm personally 100% in support of his show and think that this is a very good thing. NOW can I get on the show? *wink? haha."
Coming to CMT: Sitcoms and gators
CMT yesterday announced that it's going into the sitcom business, while also revealing plans for two new action-adventure shows — "Gator 911" and "Danger Coast."
Oops! "30 Rock" was already on German TV when it "debuted" last week
Germans probably don't hate "30 Rock," after all. As it turns out, "30 Rock" has been airing on Germany's TNT, albeit in English. Yet reports of "30 Rock's" 0.0 rating were for a dubbed version an obscure startup cable channel that few Germans have. Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin said last night that "we have work to do in Germany."
From "Survivor" to "Amazing": CBS shows get video game treatment
"Survivor" and "Amazing Race" will join other CBS shows in video games shelves, including "Ghost Whisperer," "Criminal Minds," "Diagnosis Murder," "Hollywood Squares" and "CSI."
Fox teams Colin Hanks with Bradley Whitford
"Jack and Dan" follows a pair of LAPD detectives — one straight-laced, the other a drunk.
Jon Gosselin's "emotional abuse" a publicity stunt?
According to Fox News, Gosselin had girlfriend Hailey Glassman lie about him abusing her to keep their names in the headlines.
"V" debuts big with 13.9M viewers // "Chuck" producer to run "V"
Psychic predicts Jay Leno's future: "it goes on and on and on"
Simon Cowell donates $160,000 to cancer-stricken girl
John Lithgow's wife had to talk him into doing "Dexter"
Barbara Walters lands 2nd Sarah Palin interview
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer: A female?
British scientists claim that Rudolph can't be a male because female reindeer still have antlers at Christmas. Males shed theirs before mid-December.
Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin's Oscar pairing benefits NBC
Both stars will be able to use their Academy Awards stint to promote their new NBC Universal movie "It's Complicated," plus Alec Baldwin will be able to plug "30 Rock" before 35 to 40 million viewers. Both Baldwin and Martin are also considered NBC mainstays for hosting "SNL" a combined 27 times.
Jon Gosselin storms out of "ET" interview featuring his girlfriend
"I wanted to discuss this in private, but now it's public," he told Hailey Glassman before abruptly leaving the set. "I'm getting frustrated, because it's uncomfortable. This whole thing's uncomfortable. I don't like it."
"General Hospital's" James Franco to guest on "30 Rock"
Franco, seen here on the set of "General Hospital," will play himself in a fake romance with Jenna.
Celebs to give away thier money on E!'s "Bank of Hollywood"
Famous people like Candy Spelling will hear pleas from ordinary people before parting with their case, in Ryan Seacrest's latest reality show.
Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin to co-host the Oscars
They are "the perfect pair of hosts for the Oscar," the Academy said today. Martin is a two-time Academy Awards host, most recently in 2003, while Baldwin has been a presenter several times. Why pick a 51-year-old and a 64-year-old to lure young viewers? Martin and Baldwin happen to be stars of a new comedy coming this Christmas called "It's Complicated," and they both hope to be nominated next year.
CW affilaites could catch PTC grief for showing "Gossip Girl" threesome
The Parents TV Council wants next week's episode yanked, warning CW stations that they will "bear the financial burden of an FCC fine" if they air the threesome.
CBS orders 5 more "Accidentally on Purpose" episodes
That's still four short of a full season.
Ryan Seacrest's accused stalker pleads not guilty
Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr. entered the plea Tuesday through an attorney.
Kirstie Alley gets her own A&E reality show
Cameras will follow as Alley tries to lose weight while juggling the responsibility of being a single mom to teenagers.
Claim: "Cheaters" hires people to pretend their cheating
"Inside Edition" tonight uncovers numerous instances of fake cheating. Two women interviewed even claim that, though underage, producers got them drunk to make the show sexier.
Bravo: TV's most moral network?
The "ESPN for gay men and their simpatico BFF divas," as Hank Stuever refers to Bravo, seems to believe in people with its spate of reality shows, "imparting, in the slyest and most intuitive of ways, a sense of what's right and what's wrong." As he points out, "People on Bravo, one way or another, always get what's coming to them," adding: "Bravo asks its very engaged audiences to decide right from wrong, to judge the sinner apart from the sin, and to do unto others as if the camera is always watching you."
Bravo sets its next reality show in a NYC nightclub
New York nightlife impresario Amy Sacco of Bungalow 8 fame is taping a pilot about her life behind the scenes.
Kathy Griffin to host ABC's "Let's Dance"
Premiering later this month, "Let's Dance" has celebs reenact famous dance sequences in pop-culture.
Maggie Grace: Holding out on "Lost"?
So far, she's the only cast member not coming back for the final season.
"Flight of the Conchords" may not return
Jemaine Clement says "it very likely might not" return for a third season because the show is too much work. But he added, "It could come back in a shorter season or like a special."
