"Italy's Got Talent" accused of blatantly ripping off Susan Boyle
Another frumpy middle-age singer: Carmen Masola (watch her here) stunned a teary-eyed audience this past week when she belted out the "Casta Diva" aria from Vincenzo Bellini's "Norma." Masola, a newsstand agent who trained as an opera singer, even cited Boyle as her role model. Italian TV critics are accusing "Italy's Got Talent" of looking for its own Boyle to boost ratings.
Maura Tierrney could be well enough to return to "Rescue Me"
Co-creator Peter Tolan expects her to be back, saying "we know we're going to bring back Maura Tierney, because we loved her and she loved us, which is even more fulfilling."
"Survivor" Shambo won't cut the mullet — she knew Russell was evil early on
Any chance for a makeover? "I would respectfully decline that," she says, "because I think everybody has the right to have their hair the way they like, and I have always liked my hair. My mom hates it this way. She would love it if I would cut it off." PLUS: Jeff Probst's "Live for the Moment" reality show will air, after all, on Jan. 28.
ABC burning through "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted"
Both low-rated comedies will get numerous airings over the next 3 1/2 weeks, with ABC taking the unusual step of airing "Scrubs" and two "Ted" episodes after the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. Each show will air two episodes each on Jan. 5 and 12.
You can rent "Jersey Shore's" Snooki for $2,000 plus transportation
The recently fired MTV star is pitching herself for personal appearances. PLUS: "Jersey's" ratings keep going up.
Newly single Kate Gosselin goes on Jay Leno
What's the first thing she'll do after getting divorced? "I’m a wild woman Jay," she answered. "I’m baking cookies with the kids."
USA grants "White Collar" a 2nd season
Of course, the well-received series was a lock for renewal.
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"Glee" wrote Lea Michele's part for her, Sue Sylvestor will get beefed up
Ryan Murphy had Michele in mind when he wrote the part. The tough part was getting her through the audition process. As for Jane Lynch, Murphy says, "Jane has really broken out on the show and people love her, and we're writing to that. If you thought she was bad in the first 13, she'll be doubly wicked and funny and vulnerable in the back nine."
ABC orders "Awkward Situation for Men"
Based on an upcoming book, the comedy follows an awkward Brit who moves to the U.S. and discovers that his behavior rubs Americans the wrong way.
Dr. Drew: I never said I was an expert in sex addiction
Responding to a story by a "Sex Rehab" star claiming he was a phony, Dr. Drew says he's a substance abuse expert: "I learned a lot about treating sex addiction while working on the show. Knowing that I’m not an expert on sex addiction, I surrounded myself with a team of people who were. I’m leading the team, I’m organizing the team, but I’m not the expert.”
Meet the latest "True Blood" casting addition
It's Lindsay Pulsipher, from "The Beast."
DirecTV to air a bunch of "Lost" specials
The specials will look back at previous seasons with special unseen footage.
"Gilmore Girls" matriarch coming to "Mercy"
Will Kelly Bishop and Lauren Graham appear on NBC at the same time?
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"Jon & Kate" are officially divorced
Kate Gosselin's lawyer says that under the agreement, which was signed this morning, "Our client will continue to reside with all eight of her children in the former marital home." She adds, "I am very relieved that our divorce has been finalized, and I look forward to the New Year, focusing on our children." PLUS: Broke Jon Gosselin will have to pay "huge child support payments."
"America's Best Dance Crew" judge arrested for child molestation
The LAPD took Shane Sparks into custody this morning on a felony warrant charging him with molestation. He's being held on $590,000 bail.
Fox may disappear from Time Warner Cable
The cable giant is refusing Fox's demands that it pay $1 per subscriber.
Did the nation of Georgia rip off "The Simpsons"?
"The Samsonadzes," a new Georgian TV show about a yellow-skinned cartoon family (watch the trailer), appears to be a "Simpsons" rip-off — but its creator insists the show is more of a tribute. "There are some similarities to The Simpsons, but there are also a lot of differences," says Shalva Ramishvili, who also serves as a producer. "We have tried to make the programme relevant to Georgian reality and touch on social issues that will resonate with a Georgian audience."
Study: TV-watching may perpetuate racial bias
Tufts University researched racial perception on TV in a series of four studies, which found that white characters consistently received more positive treatment than their black counterparts.
Will "The Beautiful Life's" YouTube viewers be accurately counted?
So far, the pilot of the canceled CW series has received about 266,000 views, but what if one person watches each episode thousands of times?
MTV "Hires" with a job-search reality show
In a sign of the times, job applicants to the digital agency Huge in Brooklyn will be filmed as they try to get hired. Part of the process will see them going through a meeting with a career coach.
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Will "SNL" declare the 2010s "The Al Franken Decade"?
It has become a "Saturday Night Live" tradition to end each decade with Al Franken going on Weekend Update" to declare the next decade as "The Al Franken Decade." Franken did it in December 1979, and in December 1989 and again in December 1999. But now that he's a big-time U.S. senator, will he go on "SNL" tomorrow for the final "Update" of the year? Here's what he said at the end of the 1970s: "I believe we're entering what I like to call the Al Franken Decade. Oh, for me, Al Franken, the 80's will be pretty much the same as the 70's. I'll still be thinking of me, Al Franken."
All Christmas TV specials have one of 3 basic plotlines
They are 1) Gift woes threaten to ruin Christmas, 2) Work threatens to ruin Christmas and 3) Absent holiday spirit threatens to ruin Christmas.
"Soul Food" star joins J.J. Abrams' "Undercovers" as the male lead
Actor Boris Kodjoe will be one-half of a couple spy team.
Ex-"Top Model" star sues NFL wide receiver for child support
Nik Pace, who appeared on "ANTM" in 2005, claims Braylon Edwards of the New York Jets, is the father of her baby. She's demanding $70,000 a month.
Why "Vampire Diaries" is so better than "Twilight"
Here are five reasons, including the fact that the CW "Vampire" characters actually sleep with each other.
4 of "The Office" stars once interned for Conan
Angela Kinsey, Mindy Kaling, John Krasinski and Ellie Kemper all have a Conan internship on their resumes. "We created the show the office using our intern pool," Conan tells Krasinski, neglecting to mention that his Harvard roommate, Greg Daniels, runs "The Office."
Did George Costanza inspire Major League Baseball?
His "Seinfeld" vision of a snow tire day at Yankee stadium is becoming closer to reality, thanks to a new pact between MLB and Firestone.
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Master P's 13-year-old daughter could be Nickelodeon's next teen star
Cymphonique, who is also the sister of Romeo, has inked a big-time talent development deal with the cable network.
"Sex Rehab" star: Dr. Drew is a phony when it comes to sex addiction
Duncan Roy claims that Dr. Drew — who has hosted "Loveline" for 25 years — was so ignorant of sex addiction that he'd recycle lines from cast members. "It was," he says, "immediately apparent that while Drew may be an astounding drug and alcohol specialist, he knows very little, or anything, about the precise science of sex addiction. More disturbingly, he does not believe in God, which is a fundamental prerequisite to any 12-step program." PLUS: Roy claims all the women on the show have the same agent.
Martha Stewart & Snoop Dogg bake brownies together
Says Snoop: "We're missing the most important part of the brownies."
Paul Shaffer has a "Late Night" bone to pick with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
Letterman's bandleader doesn't like Jimmy proclaming The Roots as the "greatest band in late night."
"Gossip Girl's" costume designer pens book: "You Know You Want It"
Eric Daman's book will teach you how to be a "Serena" one day, and a "Blair" the next. PLUS: Check out the "Gossip Girl" cast Top 10 lists.
TLC's "Mall Cops" show off for the camera
There was a little bit of showboating as camera crews followed Minneapolis Mall of America cops. "You feel the pressure with cameras and 16 people behind you," said one of the mall cops.
So long, "Survivor's" Mullet
It was too obvious last night that Shambo was a goner.
Shambo, day after // Probst sad about Shambo // Will she vote for Russell?
MTV blacks out "Jersey Shore" punch, airs PSA about violence against women
Viewers saw nothing but darkness last night when Snooki was bunched at a Jersey bar. At the end of the episode, viewers were warned about the reality of violence against women.
The Situation tan-less in high school // Pauly D and Mike are moving to Hollywood
"Jersey Shore" cast visit George Lopez to talk about the "Guido Revolution"
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