Ryan Seacrest explains bizarre behavior, says he doesn't want to judge "Idol"
"It’s one of those things," he says of Tuesday night, "where the contestants change every year, and we're here every year and every now and then, you throw in an unconventional intro or outro just to make it different. Some people might think it's funny, other people might not. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It's live and you're at bat and you're just swinging as many times as you can… But there is no script."
"Prison Break's" Wentworth Miller is now fat, with a head full of hair
Age appears to be catching up to Miller, who turns 38 in June.
Debra Winger may get "In Treatment"
She's in talks to play a patient on the HBO series.
Chris Rock: I've watched every "Hannah Montana" episode
"I think Billy Ray Cyrus is an underrated actor," he tells "Regis & Kelly" after frequently watching the Miley Cyrus show with his two girls.
United Nations to mediate international reality TV disputes
The UN agency World Intellectual Property Organization will help those who feel like their reality formats were stolen.
Patton Oswalt out at NBC's "Beach Lane"
The actor was cast early this week, sat down for a table read on Tuesday and is now apparently no longer with the sitcom, which stars Matthew Broderick.
"CSI" bringing back the Dick and Jane Killer
Tony winner Bill Irwin will appear in the season's final two episodes.
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"SNL" in the 2000s special reveals a decade that was the most difficult for cast
Tonight's two-hour special tackles everything from Will Ferrell as George W. Bush to Tina Fey's rise and Andy Samberg's digital shorts. Not to mention 9/11. "The reason is that the decade was so heavy with bad news and a general aura of disenchantment and deep melancholy that it made a satirist's job more difficult, especially if the satire has to be commercially marketable," says Tom Shales.
Why aren't TV directors treated with the acclaim as movie directors?
Writers get all the credit in the TV medium, but that doesn't mean that directors have no influence. As Joanna Weiss points out, "on ambitious TV shows—an ever growing category—directors are far more than just baby sitters who tell the actors where to stand. Directors help to establish a visual language for individual episodes and for series as a whole. They're responsible for choosing camera positions and drawing out performances from actors. ('Lost' director Jack) Bender describes his role as cooking a meal from a recipe the writers have provided."
"Modern Family" seems oblivious to the recession
Mitchell's job-loss was way out of touch with our current economic situation. As Sean Gandert notes, "For a show that attempts so hard to show what it's really like to live in contemporary America, Modern Family falls flat on its face this episode." PLUS: When was the last sitcom about a family that was plainly and matter-of-factly well-off?
UK's ITV to put 125 shows on Hulu for American consumption
Among the shows being rolled out: "Prime Suspect," "Cracker" and "Thunderbirds."
Is "Treme" too easy on New Orleans?
Outsiders are treated with disdain, while residents are portrayed with much sympathy.
Stephen Fry: British TV ought to emulate the nuances of American TV
The "Bones" guest-star and British comic says of American television: "They allow the characters to develop very slowly over time and the smallest nuances of character become huge. We tend to throw it away in the first two episodes in England, everyone explains themselves too much. The (Americans) are brilliant at just letting it be."
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Sarah Palin's TLC show deemed laughable, an embarrassment
A Discvovery insider says of the recent upfront presentation: "When the promo was over, people (employees and buyers) were rolling their eyes, snickering, and even laughing. People were laughing and it's not even a comedy. No one took it seriously."
"Ugly Betty's" boss explains the final moments
"The core relationship of the show has always been Betty and Daniel," says Silvio Horta. "Whenever we got away from that, people felt the show suffered. The chemistry they have — whether someone can feel it as romantic chemistry or it's just a strong bond — is just palpable. It drove the show. That question was always there: Will Betty and Daniel end up together?" PLUS: It was one of the best series finales ever and "Betty's" lessons.
"American Chopper": Younger Teutal hires dad's disgruntled ex-employees
The revived "Chopper" is poised to be very dramatic.
Geoge Lopez launches KeepKate.com to keep Kate Gosselin "Dancing"
The Web site is urging viewers to vote Kate in each week.
Andrew Garcia & Katie Stevens: From "Idol" faves to bootees
As Fox News notes of the latest two eliminated contestants, "We did think it was interesting… that Andrew and Katie were two of the original front-runners coming out of Hollywood Week, which shows you that you can’t really “call it” that early in the competition. Katie improved in recent weeks, but we think her slow start in the live episodes really hurt her. And Andrew will forever be known as the guy who sang “Straight Up” During Hollywood Week."
Next week's mentor: Alicia Keys // Elton John to perform on "Idol Gives Back"
"Idol" album drops May 11, with Top 10 // This week's lesson: "Idol" is the new Elvis
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Larry King to divorce Wife No. 7
An explosive fight between King, 76, and his 50-year-old wife, Shawn, reportedly prompted the divorce filing — she filed for divorce, too — after 12 1/2 years of marriage. Did he sleep with her sister?
VH1 orders "Football Wives"
The NFLer version of "Basketball Wives" is set to debut later this year.
Crystal Bowersox: Ryan Seacrest suffered from caffeine overload
The "Idol" stars said Seacrest's behavior was even more erratic during dress rehearsals. "(Ryan) goes, 'I'm really tired right now, so I'm trying to fool myself into thinking I'm awake,'" said Katie Stevens. Bowersox adds: "Ryan drank a lot of coffee — it was definitely caffeine overload."
"Armageddon" director Michael Bay to tackle reality TV: "One Way Out"
The action film director is teaming with "Top Chef" producer Magical Elves on "One Way Out," an action -adventure reality show that he says combines "unique twists, death-defying challenges, and stunning visuals, we are reinventing the genre."
Britain's prime minister: "Glee" is better than "Mad Men"
"Oh yes! It’s brilliant," Gordon Brown said of his fondness for "Glee." PLUS: How did "Glee" fizzle out so fast?
MyNetworkTV adds "Monk," "Without a Trace" and "Burn Notice"
Their reruns will begin airing this fall.
CMT to "Get Up and Dance"
The reality competition will have contestants reinterpreting famous dance scenes.
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Adam Lambert should replace Simon Cowell!
Last night's mentoring proved that last year's runner-up is a perfect fit for the judges' table. As Ann Powers notes, "from the minute he stood at that familiar piano, persuading Crystal Bowersox to put down the folkie strum one time and strap on a sequined electric guitar, he filled the role with complete self-assurance, compassion and sincerity, tempered by an ironic edge that could easily translate to the judges' table. And he gave great advice."
What was up with Ryan Seacrest's wacky behavior last night?
Was he drunk? On drugs? And should "Idol" apologize to Brian Dunkleman?
Rickey Minor is bringing his "Idol" band to Leno — to replac "The Tonight Show" band?
Minor talked about his "Tonight Show" move this morning in an interview with Ryan Seacrest. "I think it's a change for us and the band," he said.
Kate Gosselin's brother testifies: "Jon & Kate Plus 8" was hazardous for kids
Kevin Kreider, who appeared on the TLC series, said that the Gossellin kids suffered psychological damage as a result of the show, adding that the production equipment created a dangerous situation. On Twitter, Jon Gosselin denied Kreider's claims. UPDATE: Child labor complaint dismissed.
Forbes magazine interviews Chuck Bass
As if the "Gossip Girl" character was a real corporate leader.
The Tina Fey backlash: Why are her most ardent fans mutinying?
The very same female fans who made Fey a big name have become the harshest critics of "Liz Lemonism," according to Rebecca Traister. "The ardor and (occasionally personal) ferocity with which these critics are tearing down their former muse," she says, "may say more about the intensity of longing for a perfect feminist idol, and about the degree of idealization many of us young feminists have projected at Fey, than it does about any change in the star herself."
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"Jersey Shore" contract is scaring off businesses, warning of humiliation
The show's location contract gives the "Jersey" cast the freedom to do anything they want. "The Project may lead to emotional strains and pressures on you, your business, your friends, your co-workers and family," the contract reads. "Your actions and the actions of others displayed in the Project may be disparaging, embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature and may expose you, your business, your friends, your co-workers and/or your family to public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation." PLUS: "Jersey" gals get classy for Harper's Bazaar.
MTV has nothing to do with all the "Jersey Shore" so-called spinoffs
The Persian, Russian, Asian and even the Boston versions are all wannabes.
3-D TVs may have hazardous effects on kids, teens, elderly, pregnant women
Samsung's new line of 3-D TVs warn that the new technology might cause motion sickness, lingering depth perception problems, disorientation and "decreased postural stability."
Oscar winners are all the rage for TV roles
Why are movie stars like Forest Whitaker, Kathy Bates, Diane Keaton and Sissy Spacek flocking to the small screen?
Matt & Trey talk "South Park's" 200th
Tonight's angry celeb-filled episode sounded, at first, like "quite a head f–ker."
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Farewell, "Ugly Betty"
"Ugly" departs tonight as a television groundbreaker. As Robert Lloyd points out, "A multicultural fantasia that celebrated difference and the acceptance of difference, whether of race, class, sexual orientation or fashion sense, 'Ugly Betty' was also unique in its tone, a mix of comedy and melodrama, the funky and the refined, the fanciful and the actual." PLUS: "Ugly Betty White" and "Betty" was one of the most unapologetically gay hourlong shows ever on network TV.
With Hurley's final episode, "Lost" is finally embracing its tragic weight
"Really, he's the perfect guy to have around as everything comes to its end, which may be why Jacob understands his gifts," says Todd VanDerWerff. "Hurley's the guy who will deeply feel just how much things have shifted, just how much those who are lost will be missed. Hurley is the heart of 'Lost,' just as Desmond is its soul, but that heart seems almost cursed, now, to be one that is weighted down with sorrow, with the sense that duty often carries with it a grave sense of loss."
Was this a Hurley episode or a Desmond episode? // It was a like a "Lost" throwback
"Lost's" Willy Wonka promo // Do Team Darlton have enough time to wrap it up?
Jorge Garcia blogs last night's episode: That was his real-life dog
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Jay Leno's new bandleader: "Idol's" Rickey Minor
"American Idol" music director Rickey Minor will become the new Kevin Eubanks, officially joining "The Tonight Show" on June 7th. That means Minor will become the latest departure from TV's top show, following Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. Minor is widely regarded in the music business, having worked with everybody from Ray Charles to Whitney Houston. He also worked on the Grammys and Super Bowl. PLUS: Check out "Idol" judges' stand-ins.
"Desperate" stars collectively respond to Nicollette Sheridan's lawsuit
Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria Parker and Teri Hatcher released a statement today, saying: "It would be irresponsible of us to let the public believe that being a part of this show from its inception has been anything but a blessing. We have no first-hand knowledge of what Nicolette may or may not have experienced, but we would never characterize our set as a hostile environment. It is, in fact, the opposite."
"CSI" loses one of its showrunners
Naren Shanar is departing after eight seasons on the show.
Matthew Fox denies affair, recalls losing his virginity at age 12
Read excerpts from his upcoming Playboy interview.
ABC taps Sophia Bush for "Southern Discomfort"
She'll play the daughter of Don Johnson and Mary Steenburgen.
Introducing the TV magic wand
Use it to replace your remote control.
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Lopez tells Larry King that he believes that Conan's show will originate from the same Warner Bros. lot that Lopez uses. "Conan and I talked about doing things together," he says, "about him being on the lot, about him and I doing pieces together back and forth, which I think is innovative for late night TV."
"It’s a partnership that works," he says of Conan bumping him an hour on TBS. I don’t mind following Conan. I’ve only been at 11 for five months, and it will be a year when Conan comes. So I’ll take my audience and move it to 12. I don’t read into it the way that people on Twitter do. I don’t read into it the way that people with a negative opinion do. I don’t need to be on TV other than to do something I really want to do. I like this show at 11. And I like it at 12." PLUS: How did 
After all he's been through, says Joe Shearer, why not have him hook up with Chloe?
