July 2010

July 23, 2010

Report: Eric Roberts joining "Celebrity Rehab"
No word on what Roberts will be treated for, but he has a history with cocaine use.


Watch "True Blood's" Season 3 second half preview

Alan Ball joked of upcoming plot developments at Comic-Con: "Everyone goes to therapy, everyone goes on medication and everyone is really happy."


VH1 reality stars Chad Ochocinco & Terrell Owens may become NFL teammates

TMZ says T.O. is close to joining Ochocinco on the Cincinnati Bengals, but an NFL source says a deal isn't happening.


"America's Got Talent" going on tour with Jerry Springer

Two weeks after this season ends, on Oct. 1st, "Got Talent" will take the "Idol" approach of going on a nationwide tour with ex-host Springer as MC.


"Brady Bunch's" Cindy will guest on "The Young and the Restless"

Susan Olsen will play a preschool owner in her first scripted TV appearance in more than a decade.


Starz offers a taste of the "Spartacus" prequel

Check out a one-minute teaser for "Gods of the Arena," airing in January.


Lindsay Lohan's "Pretty Wild" cell neighbor is out of jail

E!'s burglar to the stars Alexa Neiers spent less than one month behind bars after being sentenced to six monthis in jail.

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July 23, 2010

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will guest on "The Big Bang Theory"
The "Big Bang" Comic-Con panel also revealed that Mayim Bialik will be back next season. PLUS: Watch the Barenaked Ladies perform the "Big Bang" theme.


NBC brings Melora Hardin back to "The Office" — and puts her on "Outlaw"

NBC is keeping Hardin busy: Not only will "Jan Levinson" make an appearance on "The Office" next season, but Hardin will romance Jimmy Smits on "Outlaw."


"Walking Dead" cuts down on bloodshed for Comic-Con

The AMC trailer (watch it here, from a distance) shown at Comic-Con had a lot of violence and blood taken out, yet it was still very gory.


James Marsters: I'm returning to "Smallville"

He revealed today at Comic-Con that he'll appear in the 200th episode this fall.


Watch Jessica Simpson on "Entourage"

Ari Gold pays Simpson a visit on the Aug. 1 episode.


"Bones" stars talk about the "new girl"

"It's kind of scary to me!" Emily Deschanel said at Comic-Con. "This lady is coming in!"
PLUS: Watch the "Bones" Comic-Con reel.


"White Collar's" Matt Bomer & Tim DeKay dance to "Ke$ha"

Watch them help promote the new "Just Dance 2" Wii game at Comic-Con.


"The Bachelorette" finalist is dating Ali's rival

Kirk DeWindt, who was eliminated just last week, has found romance with "Bachelor Pad" star Jessie Sulidis, who competed against Ali on Jake Pavelka's season of "The Bachelorette."

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July 23, 2010

Daniel Dae Kim: We didn't find out what was going on until "Lost" chapel scene
Speaking at the packed "Hawaii Five-0" Comic-Con panel, Kim joked, ""I'm happy to be on a show that has a theme song."


"Battlestar" composer Bear McCreary will score "The Walking Dead"

Also revealed at AMC zombie drama's Comic-Con panel: the show won't follow the comic book.


Watch 3 seasons of "Mad Men" in 5 minutes

Catch up before Sunday night! PLUS: Matthew Weiner outraged by NY Times' "Mad Men" spoilers.


VH1's "Money Hungry" pits teams of obese people in a battle for money

It's a "weightloss competition like no other."

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July 23, 2010

David Boreanaz denies "Bones" extra's sex harassment claims
"The allegations concerning any alleged inappropriate conduct by David Boreanaz are totally fabricated and absurd," says his rep. "There is no validity to this lawsuit."


D.C. "Real Houswives": There's more to the show than White House crashers

The "Real Housewives of DC" seem to be miffed that the Salahis are getting all the attention. "I think viewers are going to be so surprised to find out the White House Party crash is not the crescendo of the show," said one housewife yesterday during a conference call.


CBS will stick with the old "Hawaii Five-0" theme — and blast it everywhere

There will be no modernized version of the theme song, after all. CBS plans to use a revamp of the old theme as part of a major marketing push the next six weeks.


"Human Target" hires a female team leader

"Rome's" Indira Varma will play Ilsa, who will head up the "Human Target" team.

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FRIDAY ODDS & ENDS

July 23, 2010

Is Emmy voting antiquated (especially with its use of Scantrons)?

Nickelodeon orders live-action "Fairly OddParents" movie

Alan Ball casts HBO "Death" star: Ben Whishaw

For Comic-Con, San Diego translates trolley signs into Klingon

"Survivor: Nicaragua" reveals team names: Espada and La Flor

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

July 23, 2010

"Mad Men" Season 4 feels less old, more recent
"For three seasons now, all that unspoken feeling among the characters has lingered in the air like their cigarette smoke — a barely visible, subtextual energy," says Matthew Gilbert, who adds:  "When season 4 of 'Mad Men' premieres on Sunday at 10, though, you can feel the silky veil of silence sliding off. The show’s world of mad men, mad women, and mad children (see: Sally Draper) is beginning to look just a little bit more like our own. As Thanksgiving of 1964 approaches, and Don and Betty’s discord has gone public, the characters are waking up a bit, expressing anger and desire more directly."
There's a troubling heartlessness to "Mad Men" // Reboot has rejuvenated "Mad Men"
"Mad Men's" color palette has changed from modernist cool to saturated Kodachrome
What Don Draper taught me // For AMC, buzz is more valuable than big bucks
Vincent Kartheiser: I do own a toilet // Female "Mad" bodies should be envied
Why DirecTV and Dish won't show "Mad Men" in HD // Betty's guide to parenting
Matthew Weiner: "Joan is terrifying to me" // A dictionary of "Mad" signs, symbols
"Mad Men Yourself" gets applied to Sarah Palin, other political figures
Fashion designer Janie Bryant on Peggy's new look // Meet "Mad Men's" composer
Don Draper is the devil // Betty Draper deserves no sympathy
"Bewitched" collides with "Mad Men" // Burning "Mad Men" questions


Entertainment abounds as Starz's "Pillars of the Earth" overreaches

"What's refreshing about Pillars, at least compared with so many turgid, self-important miniseries (historical and not), is that it's actually, from start to finish, entertaining," says Robert Bianco. "You won't come away with deep insights into the civil war between King Stephen and Queen Maud that disrupted English life for some 15 years in the 12th century, nor will you learn all that much about cathedral building techniques (and some of what you will learn seems dubious at best). But thanks to a well-paced, good-looking production, an often slyly amusing script and a terrific cast, you will likely have a good time."
How it was made // A whale of a lot of fun // You'll need a strong stomach to watch

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July 23, 2010

Martin Scorsese & Mick Jagger team for HBO rock & roll drama
The "History of Music" project would follow two friends through 40 years in the music business.


Bill Murray suffered a head injury dumpster diving on Letterman

The actor was a no-show at his "Get Low" movie event, reportedly because of injuries sustained during his "Late Show" stunt.


"True Blood" promotes "Alcide"

Joe Manganiello will become a series regular in Season 4.


David Hasselhoff parades around Comic-Con with "Knight Riders"

The Hoff celebrated "Knight Rider" and "Baywatch," not to mention his new A&E reality show "The Hasselhoffs," yesterday on the streets of San Diego.


YouTube's Double Rainbow guy is Jimmy Kimmel's "boyfriend"

Guy "Bear" Vasquez, the star of that viral YouTube video, appeared on Kimmel's show last night, but it wasn't the first time. Two years ago, he was in the audience at Kimmel's show with a shirt that read "Jimmy's Boyfriend."


Should "Big Brother" take action against Matt for lying about his wife's disability?

Matt Hoffman's lie that his wife suffers from melorheostosis is already generating outrage in the outside world.


Joan Rivers returns to Letterman for her late-night comeback

She recalled for Dave how late-night king Johnny Carson stopped talking to her when she jumped to do her own Fox show.


Watch "Big Brother" UK's tribute to "Glee"

"Big Brother UK" made a "Don't Stop Believin'" music video yesterday, transforming the house into "Big Brother High" with housemates transformed into nerds, jocks and cheerleaders.

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July 22, 2010

"It was me," says "Dexter" in Season 5 trailer
Unfortunately, Showtime hasn't put the trailer online, but you can watch it here before it's pulled from YouTube. "It's as wide open a feeling and as new as it's ever been," Michael C. Hall said today at "Dexter's" Comic-Con panel. "It's a testament to our writing staff." Also, Hall compares "Batman" vs. "Dexter" and check out the new "Dexter" Dark Echo trailer. PLUS: Read about Showtime's Anti-Heroes panel.


GLAAD gives MTV and CW high marks, flunks CBS

About 42% of MTV's content followed the lives of gay, bisexual and transgender people. Among the broadcast networks, CW was on top with 35%. Meanwhile, MTV and CW's sister network, CBS, had the lowest level with just 7%.


Watch the Season 4 "Californication" trailer

Featuring a bearded Rob Lowe.


Joss Whedon & J.J. Abrams unite at Comic-Con

The two geek heroes talked about first meeting as WB showrunners with "Buffy" and "Felicity" respectively. (Watch a clip) PLUS: Abrams defends the "Lost" finale.


"Weeds" producer: Next season isn't our last

A Comic-Con convention goer asked if this would be the last season. To which the response was "No."


Diana Ross' son joins "90210"

Evan Ross, 21, will surface in episode 2 as Charlie, who may get into a romance with Shenae Grimes.


"Life Unexpected" adds Emma Caulfield

Creator Liz Tigelaar said of the "Buffy" alum: "our cast is complete… for now!"

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July 22, 2010

Gigolo reality show coming to Showtime
Showtime says the untitled show will be an "unscripted look into the personal lives of a group of men who offer sex and companionship for money in Las Vegas."


Justin Bieber will make his acting debut on "CSI"

The 16-year-old singing sensation will play a troubled teen in the season premiere.


"Burn Notice" getting a prequel movie

The one-off special will look at Sam Axe's military past.


Rachelle Lefevre joins "Off the Map"

The former "Twilight" star will play a free-spirited doctor in the Shonda Rhimes medical drama.


Sarah Palin to meet "Kate Plus 8"?

TLC won't comment on rumors that Kate Gosselin's Alaska trip will include some Palin time.


William Shatner finally gets a "$#*! My Dad Says" son

Actor Jonathan Sadowski replaces Ryan Devlin on the CBS sitcom.

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July 22, 2010

Actress accuses David Boreanaz of sexual harrassment
Kristina Hagan, who has no IMDb credits, has hired Gloria Allred to sue the "Bones" star. Without offering details, Allred says Hagan and another woman are suing Boreanaz for sexual harassment. UPDATE: Hagan was a "Bones" extra.


"Rescue Me's" Andrea Roth to romance Tom Selleck on "Blue Bloods"

Roth will replace Wendy Moniz, who appeared in the pilot and was dropped for creative reasons.


"Mad Men" in talks for Season 6 and beyond

Matthew Weiner's deal is up after Season 4, so Lionsgate and AMC want to hammer out a deal to extend the series before negotiating a new contract with the "Mad Men" creator.


Carnie Wilson leaves "The Newlwed Game"

Her stint on GSN is over, as she plans to pursue opportunities.


MTV special: "Jersey Shore" stars at age 17

Saturday's episode of "When I Was 17" will look back at the "Jersey" stars as teenagers, including 17-year-old The Situation.


Fan-created "Chuck" poster revealed

Also, check out the official "Chuck" poster and the fan-created runner-up.

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THURSDAY ODDS & ENDS

July 22, 2010

"Desperate Housewives" won't bring back Andrea Bowen // Paul's wife revealed

Joey McIntyre returns for "MA Men 2"

Miami hotel drops plans for $2000-a-night "Jersey Shore" suite

"Top Gear" pits Tom Cruise vs. Cameron Diaz

NBC to air Women's MMA reality show

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

THURSDAY ODDS & ENDS

July 22, 2010

"Desperate Housewives" won't bring back Andrea Bowen // Paul's wife revealed

Joey McIntyre returns for "MA Men 2"

Miami hotel drops plans for $2000-a-night "Jersey Shore" suite

"Top Gear" pits Tom Cruise vs. Cameron Diaz

NBC to air Women's MMA reality show

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

July 22, 2010

"True Blood" beats "The Sopranos" in battle of Season 1 DVDs
HBO announced that "True Blood's" Season 1 DVD set has sold 1.3 million to "The Sopranos" Season 1's 943,000.


Bill Murray dives into Letterman's dumpster

A dumpster outside the Ed Sullivan Theater was transformed into a swimming pool for the actor.


Check out Greg Kinnear as JFK

Does "The Kennedys" star, with Katie Holmes as Jackie, look like John F. Kennedy?


"Britain's Got Talent" contestant sues Simon Cowell for nearly $4M

Emma Amelia Pearl Czikai  is accusing the show and Cowell of "exploitation, humiliation, degradation and barbarism."


Gabourey Sidibe's mom makes "America's Got Talent's" semi-finals

Alice Tan Ridley "is just brilliant," says Piers Morgan, pointing out the "Got Talent" contestants have been superior to "Idol" stars.


Jimmy Kimmel animates Sarah Palin

For a "Schoolhouse Rock" parody.

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July 21, 2010

CBS denies Les Moonves got wife Julie Chen her new daytime talk show
A CBS spokesman says that the decision whether to pick up a new Mommy "View" was solely that of the network's entertainment boss, Nina Tassler, who works for Moonves.


Brett Ratner's "Chaos" gets official pickup from CBS for midseason

The CIA drama was dead, now it's alive.


Facebook founder lands "Simpsons" cameo

Mark Zuckerberg will run into Lisa at an entrepreneurs convention.


"Chuck" brings back Nicole Richie and Stone Cold Steve Austin

Richie and Austin will appear together in the same October episode.


2 networks turn down Lohan reality show

At least two "major" networks rejected the Dina and Ali Lohan reality show that would feature cameos by Lindsay.


CBS cancels "The Bridge"

The Canadian cop show is out after just three episodes.

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July 21, 2010

FBI arrests man linked to al-Qaeda who made threats over "South Park"
Federal authorities say Zachary Chesser, 20 of Virginia, made threats over the Prophet Muhammad dressed as a bear episode. He's being charged with helping a terror group affiliated with al-Qaeda.

July 21, 2010

Ex-"House" prop master sues, alleging cocaine use and sex on the set
Carl Jones says in his lawsuit (as reported by Fox News) that he was fired from the Fox series in March because he didn't go along with the "degenerate conduct" on set. Two of his supervisors, he alleges, harassed him for refusing "visits to strip bars, participation in getting drunk, stoned or intoxicated on cocaine, to participate in sexual conduct at the trailer, and other dangerous conduct."


"Jersey" stars are replaceable; MTV films 400 hours for every 1 hour of show

"Jersey" creator SallyAnn Salsano would drop any one of them in a heartbeat, she tells the Daily Beast , which — noting that Season 3 was supposed to be the latter half of Season 2 — chronicles the cast negotiations and makes a note of what a big production the MTV show is: "There are four overlapping shooting crew shifts (and four craft services shifts too). There's constant video feed to the studio from every room in the cast house. There are seven minivans for crew and security and nearly 20 security staffers. They shoot four hundred hours for every hour of show." PLUS: J-Woww poses for Maxim.


CBS' "View"-like talk show with Julie Chen to replace "As the World Turns"

The "ATWT" replacement is the clear frontrunner over an Andy Richter-hosted "Pyramid" and an Emeril Lagasse cooking game show. Sara Gilbert will host the talk show, which could launch as soon as October with Chen, Holly Robinson Peete, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Winokur. UPDATE: Chen will leave "The Early Show" for this new talk show.


"Mad Men": Inspired by a comic strip?

According to Vanity Fair, "Mad Men" is based on an obscure comic strip called "Those Madison Avenue Men!," which ran in the 1960s. PLUS: "Mad Men" stars before they were famous.


Christina Applegate is pregnant

The 38-year-old former "Married with Children" star is expecting her first child with fiancé Martyn Lenoble.


Elisabeth Moss: I'm "super-happy" with Peggy Olson's new haircut

"I was super, super, super-happy to have my bangs swept to the side rather than straight in front of me, which I dealt with for three seasons," she says of Peggy's new hairdo. "I'm very, very much done with that. So when I showed up and we did it to the side, I thought, 'This is the greatest day of my life, and this is going to be the greatest season ever.'" PLUS: Check out "Mad Men" premiere pics.


Web series tries to envision a 21st-century "Seinfeld"

What if "Seinfeld" was in its 21st season and its writers were suffering from burnout? Check out the results at SeinfeldComedy.com.


Princeton economics prof deconstructs "The Sponge" episode of "Seinfeld"

The purpose of the academic paper "An Option Value Problem from Seinfeld," says economist Avinash Dixit, is "to quantify this concept of spongeworthiness," where the investment is the partner.

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WEDNESDAY ODDS & ENDS

July 21, 2010

Tracy Morgan gets his 1st HBO standup special

"Glee's" Matthew Morrison returns to his "high school of the arts" alma mater

Coming to stores: Betty White T-shirts, hoodies

"SVU's" new ADA: "Precious" star Paula Patton

Syfy sets January return for "Caprica"

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

July 21, 2010

Jimmy Johnson, Fox NFL analyst and ex-Cowboys coach, is a "Survivor"
Johnson, who led the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories in the '90s, is one of the contestants on "Survivor: Nicaragua." At age 67, the TV pitchman will also be one of the show's oldest contestant — not to mention one of the wealthiest. In fact, Johnson was a finalist for "Survivor: Gabon" two years ago. "Survivor" shouldn't, however, interfere with his Fox NFL duties, which begin in early September. Johnson is the 2nd former Dallas Cowboy on "Survivor," after Gary Hogeboom from "Survivor: Guatemala." PLUS: Three of Johnson's former players, Jason Taylor, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, competed on "Dancing with the Stars."


Seth MacFarlane will helm David Hasselhoff's roast

The "Family Guy" creator will serve as roast master for the Comedy Central roast airing Aug. 15, leading a group that includes Hulk Hogan and George Hamilton.


Emmys will honor George Clooney

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will present the former "ER" star  with its Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the ceremony next month for his work with the "Hope for Haiti" special.


Ex-"Bachelor" babes in car crash after "Bachelorette" reunion

At least one of them was hospitalized after attending "The Bachelorette's" "Men Tell All" special taping.


Steve Carell plays the fife for Letterman

Carell also showed off his mouse diorama of himself and Dave on last night's "Late Show."


Glenn Close reacts to "Damages" on DirecTV

"It's very exciting to still be teamed with KZK (Productions) and Rose while going into new territory with DirecTV," she says.

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July 20, 2010

"Idol" considering Harry Connick Jr. and Chris Isaak, but what about Trump?
Connick and Isaak are being seriously considered to replace Simon Cowell, while Bret Michaels is said to be out of the running. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is quietly pitching himself for the job.


"The Office" locks in B.J. Novak for 2 more years

With Steve Carell leaving, Novak has a new deal that will keep him on the show for the 7th and 8th seasons. Novak will also be promoted from co-executive producer to executive producer.


Ali Larter confirms pregnancy

The ex-"Heroes" star is expecting her first baby with hubby Hayes MacArthur.


Ex-"Laguna Beach" star pitches cupcake reality show, with Hilton-dating brother

Cupcake entrepreneur Casey Reinhardt and her brother Doug, who dated Paris Hilton and Lauren Conrad, are shopping a reality show about a brother and sister's relationship.

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July 20, 2010

"Jersey Shore" strike is over
MTV has announced that seven "Jersey" stars — everybody but  Angelina — will be back for Season 7. PLUS: JWoww says there never was a strike.


"Pretty Wild" burglar is Lindsay Lohan's jail neighbor

E! star Alexis Neiers, a member of the Burglar Bunch that targeted celebrities like Lohan, is in cell #29. Lohan is in Cell #28.


Coming to reality TV: Domestic violence "Abusers"?

"Abusers" is being shopped around to networks as a reality series that offers counseling for and support for both the abuser and the victim.


"The Ricky Gervais Show" gets comic strip treatment

The drawings of Gervais, Karl Pilkington and Stephen Merchant are being used to promote the DVD of the HBO series.

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