"Dancing" sought big-name stars; Pam Anderson pursued since Season 1
From Buzz Aldrin to Erin Andrews to Kate Gosselin, "We wanted a cast that had impact — we needed every single name to pop," Deena Katz, who's in charge of lining up the celebs, says of this year's high-profile cast. The cast this season has been whittled down with more high-profile names, including Erin Andrews, who fears that she might be perceived as capitalizing on her stalker notoriety. Why is the 80-year-old Aldrin doing it? "To promote space travel and, for me, to demonstrate how to have a good time," he says.
Letterman jokes about Leno's return
“Thank you very much, welcome to the ‘Late Show,’ my name is Dave Letterman — same time, same host," he said, opening tonight's monologue.
Pilots go to Julie Benz, Adrianne Palicki, Peggy Lipton, Jaime King, Mehcad Brooks
The former "Dexter" star joins Michael Chiklis on ABC's "No Ordinary Family. Jaime King and Mehcad Brooks have joined ":Generation Y." "Friday Night Lights" alum Adrianne Palicki will star in Fox's "Midland" and Peggy Lipton will join ABC's "Cutthroat."
Robert Pattinson confronts Jimmy Fallon on his "bothered" impression
"I don't really talk that way," said Pattinson (Watch his interview)
NBC no longer selling Conan souvenirs
But the Peacock still has "The Jay Leno Show" merchandise available.
ABC may yank Oscars from NYC Cablevision subscribers
Disney's dispute with the cable company may spill over to the Academy Awards.
The acting legend will make his TV series debut in "Luck," the HBO horse racing drama from Michael Mann and "Deadwood" creator David Milch. Hoffman, 72, will play, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "an intelligent, intuitive and tough man (Hoffman) who has always been involved with gambling, from bookmaking and money laundering through casino operations." Among his co-stars will be Dennis Farina, who was hired last week.
Time heals, and most of Jay Leno's fans don't think he did anything wrong. So says James Poniewozik, who predicts Leno will win back his audience at 11:35.
"This show," says David Zurawik, "doesn't deserve a spot in daytime syndication, let alone a key position in prime time. I am serious, there were better game shows on in the 1950s when budgets were miniscule, technology was primitive and few producers yet knew how to use the medium of television. "Jackpot Bowling with Milton Berle," in 1959, was funnier and featured a more engaging concept than this sorry production from Jerry Seinfeld. Look it up."
