Thursday, February 25, 2010

February 25, 2010

Andrew Koenig committed suicide, says his dad who helped find the body
Walter Koenig and Vancouver police confirm that the "Growing Pains" star has died at age 41. "My son took his own life," said the elder Koenig who found his son's body while searching a Vancouver park with Andrew's friends today. "We've already said what a great guy he was and (what) a good human being. He was obviously in a lot of pain." (Watch Koenig's parents' emotional press conference)


Malcolm McDowell goes from "CSI: Miami" to "The Mentalist"

McDowell, who appears on Monday's "CSI: Miami," will appear in an upcoming "Mentalist" episode.


Claim: Jon Cryer's ex-wife hired a hitman to kill him

That's according to the ex-wife's ex-boyfriend.


"Felicity" predicted the iPad way back in 1999

J.J. Abrams: Psychic?


TV Land renews Joan Rivers

"How'd You Get So Rich?" returns in May.


Watch Kathy Griffin on "SVU"

As the "lesbian Al Sharpton."


Simon vs. Ellen

Apparently their "Idol" feud is real.

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February 25, 2010

NBC will air Olympic hockey game live across the U.S. on Friday
The U.S. vs. Czech Republic semifinal won't be tape delayed. PLUS: NBC says household chores aren't getting done thanks to the Olympics.


"Leave Right Now": "Idol" unveils Season 9 exit song, from the 1st "Pop Idol" winne
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This year's farewell song will be "Leave Right Now" (listen here) by first-ever "Idol" winner Will Young. PLUS: Ellen has a $150,000 "Idol" wardrobe.


Congresswoman rips Jeff Zucker for NBC's lack of diversity

The NBC boss tried to point out the Peacock's "Cosby Show" past, but Rep. Maxine Waters, who is black, didn't want to hear it. "That was then and now is now," she said, adding, "Black viewers deserve the kind of content they feel good about. … I don't understand why you don't pursue it and why you don't do it."


Report: Craig Ferguson pays audience members $20 each

About 50 to 60 of his 100 audience members are paid, according to Radar Online. Is this why he went audience-less the other night?


Chris Golightly: That's my "Idol" spot, I would've been better than Tim Urban

"I met Tim, he's wonderful, he's awesome as well, but we're two different people," says Golightly. "That's my spot. (Simon Cowell) wouldn't have said that to me."


"Bachelor's" Rozlyn denies sex tape, auditions for E! job

As Chris Harrison predicted, Rozlyn is interested in a Hollywood career.


Seth Green gets engaged

He's set to marry 30-year-old model/actress Clare Grant.


Fitness trainers sue Oprah

Two trainers were supposed to train Oprah's staff for a potential segment on her show, but their contract was canceled at the last minute.


BBC America to air "Doctor Who" on a 2-week delay

The Matt Smith episodes will debut on April 17, two weeks after the British premiere.

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February 25, 2010

Ellen's ratings soar thanks to "Idol"
"The Ellen DeGeneres Show" posted its highest-ever ratings the same week she joined "American Idol."


Why "Boner's" parents walked out on "disrespectful" Larry King

"We felt it was disrespectful," Walter Koenig said of last night's "Larry King Live," which bumped the Andrew Koenig segment to the final five minutes.


CW optimistic about "Life Unexpected" — "Melrose Place"? Not so much…

CW boss Dawn Ostroff says of "Life Unexpected's" renewal chances: "I would say it's got a real shot at this point." As for that other show, she says, "We hope Melrose Place picks up steam."


Matthew Fox denies affair

His rep says a stripper made up cheating claims for "financial gain."


Report: George Lopez won't pay $21,000 he owes kids' charity

He bid $21K for a one-year gold membership that would benefit the  $Joe Torre's Safe at Home Foundation. Yet two years later, Lopez still hasn't paid the money, according to the charity.


Jerry Seinfeld's ex-girlfriend of 8 years stunned by his "Marriage Ref"

“Seinfeld? Marriage counseling? WHAT?!” exclaimed Susan McNabb, now 50, an ex-model who dated Seinfeld in the '80s.

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February 25, 2010

"Glee" making Neil Patrick Harris a meanie
A "Glee" insider tells E! that his character will be "really funny and really mean," and "much more of the Dr. Horrible variety than Doogie Howser, M.D."


Tweeting Conan easily beat a non-tweeting Leno, but can he top Fallon's 2.5M?

Comparing Conan's 295,000+ Twitter followers to Jay's 30,000 isn't really fair since Leno doesn't actually tweet and his @jayleno account is used for his talk show (just like Conan had his own "Tonight Show" Twitter account that attracted little attention). A better comparison might be late-night Twitter King Jimmy Fallon, who has amassed nearly 2.5 million followers in more than a year of tweeting. Will Conan catch up to his successor? PLUS: Conan's squirrel responds on Twitter. UPDATE: Conan's 2nd tweet: "I watched Remington Steele … I was naked."


Will Conan upstage Leno next week with live shows announcement?

Don't be shocked if it were to happen.


Jimmy Fallon says he's looking forward to Leno's return

Though, during an appearance on "Today," he was careful to point out that it was "unfortunate" the way things worked out with Conan.


Quit complaining!: "Idol" singers are supposed to sound bad at this point

They are all diamonds in the rough, who are expected to sound horrible, says Eric Deggans, pointing out that they still have to get over their nerves, adjust to the sound while becoming polished performers. "There's no underestimating the heebie-jeebies which can come from singing live, for the first time, in front of a TV audience of millions," he says.
Of course the guys are nervous: Judges behaved more like inquisitors than mentors
It was "Revenge of the Nerds" // Inside Simon's dressing room
Guys missed chance to make the girls look bad // Pete Wentz is on Team Garcia

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ODDS & ENDS

February 25, 2010

"Idol" beats Olympics yet again // Olympic viewers are mostly female, white

Check out "Project Runway," the video game

Jay Leno drops by Craig Ferugon's dream

Gordon Ramsay cuts off his fingernail during Ellen cooking demonstration

Happy 92nd birthday to "SNL's" Don Pardo!

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