Tuesday, January 26, 2010

January 26, 2010

Conan & NBC hook up for TV pilot
Just days after their divorce, NBC has ordered the pilot for Conan's "Justice," about a Supreme Court justice who quits to tsart his own legal practice. The pickup isn't all that unusual considering that Conan's settlement with NBC required that his Conaco production company continue operating from the NBC Universal lot.


NBC exec admits: I didn't know Conan would be so hurt by "Tonight" decision

NBC entertainment boss Jeff Gaspin says of the lessons he's learned from the late-night disaster: "I probably, you know, I probably underestimated the emotion of everything that went on. I went to Conan, to Jay, to Jimmy with a very logical, rational plan. I explained it to the press. I wasn’t trying to hide anything. And I think the underestimated the emotional impact it had on Conan, in particular."


Calista Flockhart cutting back on "Brothers & Sisters"

Kitty's reduced workload next season might have been a main reason that Rob Lowe decided to leave the show.


Harrison Ford's 7th anniversary gift to Jimmy Kimmel: Socks from his groin

"I will cherish this," said Kimmel as he wiped the wool socks on his face.


Read everything Hurley said on "Lost" last season

Also, read everything Locke said and Sawyer said. PLUS: Watch the "Lost" parody music video "Answers."


MTV inching closer to a deal with "Jersey Shore" cast

But there's one problem: It's currently snowing in New Jersey.


Apple's tablet could pop up on "24" by the end of the season

We'll likely see the iTablet in the last four hours of Season 8.


Watch Jon Hamm's "SNL" promo with "Peggy Olson's" hubby

"Do you genuinely think you're better looking than me?" Fred Armisen asks the "Mad Men" star.

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January 26, 2010

CBS picks up "HIMYM" creator's "Livin' on a Prayer"
The comedy about a Pittsburgh couple has been called "a logical extension of 'How I Met Your Mother.'"


How Obama's State of the Union will impact Wednesday's primetime

"Idol" will offer a fresh episode, while most of the other networks will air reruns.


"Damages" ratings suffer in Season 3

Monday's season premiere was down 17% from last year.


CBS defends Tim Tebow ad, welcomes more advocacy Super Bowl spots

The network is in a difficult position because just a few years ago CBS rejected ads from PETA and the United Church of Christ, as well as MoveOn.org.


Was "Pants on the Ground" ripped off from "Pockets on the Floor"?

The Green Brother's 1996 song has some similarities to Gen. Larry Platt's hit. PLUS: Wanda Sykes does "Pants on the Ground."


Tori & Dean film toilet paper parody

"He's an under!"


A "Gossip Girl"-"Vampire Diaries" crossover?

Leighton Meester and Nina Dobrev might — just might — swap places.


Kiefer Sutherland the victim of a con man

The "24" star allegedly lost $869,000 in a Ponzi scheme.


Watch Jerry Seinfeld explain "The Marriage Ref" to the audience

Turns out Seinfeld is very much involved in his reality show, even though he won't appear on the actual series.

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January 26, 2010

Martha Stewart pulls an Oprah: Her show is moving to Hallmark Channel
"The Martha Stewart Show" is leaving syndication, where it got modest ratings, for cable, where Martha will be able to create other additional shows for the Hallmark Channel. But why Hallmark? According to the L.A. Times, "landing Stewart is a high-profile move that it hopes will broaden its appeal. While the channel gets decent ratings, it is not as strong in urban and wealthy markets as it is elsewhere. Stewart caters to an upscale audience that the channel hopes will translate to stronger advertising dollars."


Larry the Cable Guy gets a History channel series

"Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy" will follow the comic as he visits historic sites around the country.


Oprah Winfrey Network's slogan: "it's your life … own it"

Discovery chief David Zaslav explains the slogan: "This network is not called Oprah, it's called OWN – it's about owning your challenges, your relationships, and moving forward in a positive way."


CBS picks up Josh Schwartz's "Hitched"

The "Gossip Girl" creator's first sitcom will revolve around 20-something newlyweds.


President Obama tells Khloe Kardashian: "Great show"

The two met yesterday at the White House where her husband was being honored for the Lakers' world championship.


Matthew Fox: Finale is sure to disappoint "Lost" fans

The actor tells The Guardian: "When you have a show that makes people think as much as 'Lost'; where you've made them hypothesize about what it all means and where it's all going on a plot level; ultimately you're going to disappoint them because they're going to want it to end a certain way, and it's going to end its own way."


"Weird Al" Yankovic is making a movie for Cartoon Network

Weird Al is expected to direct and play a low-key role in the film, which will revolve around a teenager.


Australia's "Biggest Loser" edits out contestant after child porn arrest

Deryck James Ward, who was competing with his sister, was charged with child pornography earlier this month.


Twitter war: Kirstie Alley vs. Joy Behar

Writes Alley: "Joy Bewhore . . . God, I want to bash her in the vagina with her microphone."

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ODDS & ENDS

January 26, 2010

"Breaking Bad" spoofs controversial Obama billboard

Northwestern University invites Tracy Morgan to address students

"30 Rock" snags Jon Bon Jovi for Valentine's Day

What if Comcast actually killed off NBC?

"Glee's" Jane Lynch is planning to marry her girlfriend

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]