Thursday, February 11, 2010

No Conan! No Leno!: Oscar contenders facing a talk show drought
A late-night talk show stop is a necessary part of Oscar campaigning. But with so few around these days, what is an Oscar contender to do?

"Private Practice" = Parental Nightmare Porn
"How many adorable, saucer-eyed children are going to have to suffer and die and get torn from Mommy's arms before this thing is through?" asks Heather Havrilesky. "That's what I ask myself every time I find myself watching 'Private Practice,' the flashier, cheesier, stupider cousin of "Grey's Anatomy" that serves up a big, fat slice of Parental Nightmare Porn every week — you know, for the masochist that lives deep inside every last one of us."

"Friday Night Lights" boss denies cancelation
A report of Season 5 being the last is premature. "There’s nothing official yet," says Jason Katims, adding: "I just don’t want it to seem the show is over."

Howard Stern curses Ellen, predicts he won't be joining "Idol"
The shock jock is upset with reports that Ellen DeGeneres doesn't want him on the show. (Listen to Part 2) PLUS: Ellen explains her relationship with Simon.

NBC teams with Wal-Mart and P&G for family-friendly TV movie
"Secrets of the Mountain," which will air in April, will focus ona single mother with values.

"Deadliest Catch" planning a Captain Phil tribute
The Discovery Channel says Phil Harris will appear in Season 6, which airs in April. PLUS: Watch Capt. Phil's fave moments.

Will a 4-year-old MJ impersonator become the next "Britain's Got Talent" sensation?
Kayim-Ali Jaffer has reportedly wowed the judges with his Michael Jackson impersonation. But at age 4, is he too young for the limelight?

Familiarity should breed success for the 3rd "Survivor" All-Stars
The first two "Survivor" all-star seasons didn't work for various reasons. But with nearly half the cast of "Heroes vs. Villains" competing on their third "Survivor," there's a good chance that this season could be better than ever. As Alan Sepinwall points out, "The first all-star season was tainted because several players … acted like they didn’t want to be there, while others took their prior real-world relationships with the competition too seriously within the confines of the game. And the hybrid "Fans vs. Favorites" season from a few years ago did a terrible job at casting the alleged 'fans,' who were easily routed by the previously-unimpressive likes of Parvati."
Jeff Probst and Mark Burnett reflect on 10 years of "Survivor"
Jerri happy to be a villain // Why Yau-Man turned down "Hero" invite
Boston Rob on his 6th CBS reality stint // Colby on his 3rd "Survivor"

Alec Baldwin is in his prime — so why is he threatening to retire?
"Baldwin’s career can be unevenly split into its Young Elvis and Old Elvis phases," says James Wolcott. "In Old Elvis middle age (old as in older, not old old), Baldwin may be thicker and rounder, his neck and shirt collar battling for supremacy, and those once smoldering stares squinching up into darting, wary calculation, but he has escaped the menopausal curse of Old Elvis, outwitting the artistic bankruptcy of repetitive slog and the resultant loss of pride and morale that bedeviled the original Elvis at Graceland (stewing in a pot of self-pity)." PLUS: Questions arise over Baldwin's hospitalization: Did he take sleeping pills?

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Octomom, game show host?: Nadya Suleman is meeting with GSN

With Hollywood Week, "Idol" goes bottom-drawer // Randy doesn't get percentages

Study: "The O.C." can help curb teen pregnancy

"No phone zone pledge" upsets Oprah's employees

"American Chopper" — an appreciation as the TLC reality show ends tonight

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

Alec Baldwin OK after being rushed to the hospital
The "30 Rock" star was taken to the hospital early this morning after his 14-year-old daughter, Ireland, called 911, claiming that he was "unresponsive" after threatening to take pills amid an argument. "This was a misunderstanding on one person's part," said Baldwin's rep. "Alec was quickly released from the hospital he's completely fine and will be at work today."

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