Monday, December 21, 2009

December 21, 2009

Report: Nancy O'Dell quit "Access Hollywood" over Billy Bush's bad behavior
"The atmosphere at ‘Access Hollywood' is like walking on a landmine because of Billy," a show insider tells the NY Daily News. "He throws tantrums and tirades and oftentimes for no apparent reason. It was one of several things that had Nancy at her wit's end after 13 years."


Rage Against the Machine defeats Simon Cowell

Thanks to a Facebook campaign, "Killing in the Name" became the Christmas No. 1 in Britain, beating "The X Factor" winner's debut single.


Alyssa Milano transforms into a "Jersey Shore" guidette

She almost looks just like Snooki, poof and all.


Carrie Underwood gets engaged to a hockey player

Ottawa Senator hockey player Mike Fisher popped the question on Sunday: "We're both obviously excited and very happy," he says.


Jimmy Fallon accuses British talk show host of ripping him off

Fallon says Jonathan Ross stole his bit when the UK host had Christopher Walken do a dramatic reading of Lady Gaga.


What is it like to watch TV without a DVR?

Once upon a time, we used to watch whatever happened to be on TV. But, as Jon Caramanica points out, "the DVR isn't the death of appointment viewing so much as it's the death of happenstance."


Why does "Men of a Certain Age" have a '70s-flavored soundtrack?

Ray Romano calls the show's music "needle-drop songs," adding that that's all he has on his iPod. "It’s kind of a lame iPod," he says. "It’s all classic rock, it’s soft rock, it’s Neil Sedaka, it’s Chicago, it’s Air Supply."

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December 21, 2009

Why Natalie's "Survivor" victory over Russell was well-deserved
Ultimately, Natalie played a better game than Russell, despite gripes by naysayers. As James Poniewozik points out, "Not that I especially cared for Natalie, but I was kind of glad to see her win, if only to reject this idea that the "coattails" strategy is somehow any less legitimate than any other strategy in Survivor. For one thing, if you're a less physically strong player, you have fewer protections, especially in the early rounds, and the coattail strategy is one of the ones available to you. Saying that Russell's strategy was more legitimate on some Calvinist grounds that it required harder work, supposedly, is not only nonsensical, it's unfair."
Russell: "I don't think she deserves it. That's my opinion"
Natalie: I had as much game as Russell // Finale gets ratings boost
Did Russell not winning ruin this season? // What a satisfying end!


Reality TV mostly celebrates the "utterly mundane"

Sure there are reality shows like "Project Runway" and "SYTYCD" that are informative, says Mary McNamara. "But from the nurse log of 'American Idol' and 'The Amazing Race' have sprouted all manner of shows in which the time-honored division between fame and notoriety has been unforgivably mangled, creating a pop culture smoothie in which there is not so much flavor as sensation. Raising children, surviving marriage, gossiping with your friends, looking for a job, losing weight and buying expensive things — for all their bravura, most reality shows celebrate nothing quite so much as the utterly mundane."


Showtime giving "Ronna & Beverly" a midnight tryout tonight

The "Jewish AbFab" from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan was filmed as a pilot but never picked up. Instead, the comedy about two Boston Jewish divorcees will get a special airing tonight and Dec. 29.


"Amazing Race" returns Feb. 14, paired with "Undercover Boss"

"Cold Case," meanwhile," will move to 10 pm on Sunday nights.


"SNL's" comedy secret: Repeat, repeat, repeat!

Repetition is hilarious on "Saturday Night Live," as Roger Catlin points out: "Just about every sketch on 'SNL' Saturday dealt with repeating a phrase or action, ad infinitum, to the end of the sketch." PLUS: Jack McBrayer & Mike Tyson pop up on the umpteenth "What Up With That?" sketch.


NBC affiliates seem peeved over Jay Leno's low ratings

“We remain hopeful that it will get better,” Howfield says NBC's Las Vegas affiliate GM says of November's "a little scary" ratings. “But we'd sure like to have a few of those ratings points back.”


Fox sends "Fringe" to knock out "Heroes"

"Fringe" will remaining in its Thursday timeslot, but an unaired "Fringe" episode from Season 1 has been scheduled to air on Monday, Jan. 11.

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December 21, 2009

Kate Gosselin offers herself up for "Dancing"
Asked by Jay Leno which reality show she'd be willing to do, Kate responded: "Yes, 'Dancing with the Stars' because I cannot dance. I want to laugh at myself. I so cannot dance. It would be a sad sight."


Mia Kirshner joins "The Vampire Diaries"

"The L Word" alum will pplay Alaric's wife.


BBC America will launch "Survivors" 2 days after CBS brings back "Survivor"

The apocalyptic BBC drama about the aftermath of a deadly virus (watch here) has been scheduled to premiere on Feb. 13, just two days after the next season of "Survivor" debuts.


Bravo to turn over "Real Housewives" crasher footage to Congress

Turns out the White House ignored the cable channel when it inquired in advance if the Salahis' invitation as legit.


Lovable losers are making a TV comeback

From "Community" to "Men of a Certain Age," humility is slowly becoming all the rage.


Mark Burnett: "Our Little Genius" isn't harming kid contestants

"These are the kinds of kids who've been on a lot of daytime shows and you say, 'I can't believe what this kid knows,'" he says, adding that "the kids don't seem to feel any pressure."


"Sesame Street's" Olivia dies of breast cancer

Aliana Reed Hall, who also starred on "227," was 63.

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ODDS & ENDS

December 21, 2009

Kathy Najimy on her "Hill" co-star: "Brittany Murphy was like no other"

Happy holidays from "Modern Family"!

Stewie Griffin to deliver the Letterman Top 10

Watch Alec Baldwin's "60 Minutes" profile

Check out the Fox's Season 9 "American Idol" campaign

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