A weblog of TV news and criticism
Body of a dead man discovered outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
Study: Most late-night talk show guests are white and male
Will Nate Berkus become Oprah's 1st protege to fail?
Watch Emma Stone's "SNL" promos
Check out the poster for Ryan Howard's "The Office" "3rd Floor" Halloween special
Florence Henderson "a little surprised" she didn't survive against Bristol Palin
Bristol, meanwhile, said, "I was definitely surprised and shocked when they said we were safe… with our low scores and stuff, it was pretty stressful." PLUS: Watch Henderson's exit interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" rally gets an L.A. satellite
MacArthur Park will host the rally, thanks to help from the city's Parks and Rec department.
Parents TV Council: "Glee's" sexy GQ photoshoot "borders on pedophilia"
The conservative watchdog says: "It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on 'Glee' in this way." PLUS: Watch Mark Salling's music video.
Conan unveils the "Live Coco Cam"
The 24-hour "Epic Internet Event" begins today at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET.
"Teen Mom" getting spun off
MTV already spun off "Teen Mom" from "16 and Pregnant." Now a new "Teen Mom" show is in the works, though details are sketchy.
One "Big Brother 10" star proposes on football field, another gets arrested
"BB 10" champ Dan Gheesling popped the question during a high school football game. She said yes. Meanwhile, Steven Daigle allegedly beat up a fellow porn star.
TJ Lavin's isn't expected to have any brain damage
The "Challenge" host is battling pneumonia, but things are looking good.
Mariah Carey visits "Extreme Makeover"
The singer surprised a Florida family with the news of their "Extreme" fortune
Elvira mocks Christine O'Donnell
"I'm not a witch," the Mistress of the Dark says in a spoof ad.
CW interested in a summer camp version of "Glee"
"Acting Out" will feature students and counselors singing.
A nudist resort reality show?
Producers for a show called "The Nak'd Truth" are looking for contestants35 and "new to the nudist lifestyle for their nudist project.
HBO and New Yorker's Malcolm Gladwell to recreate Cold War Berlin for CIA spy drama
Gladwell is teaming with "Boardwalk Empire" executive producers Stephen Levinson and Mark Wahlberg are planning to go back to another era from history.
"MythBusters" team admits doing Obama experiment twice before
"Yes, we have actually tackled it twice before," says Adam Savage. "But we've never actually tackled it in the exact way that Archimedes was said to have actually done it, with 500 soldiers (played by kids) with polished shields. We've always done some kind of analog of soldiers."
Susan Boyle tells Oprah about being bullied, burned with cigarettes
"It made me feel as if nobody loved me," the "Britain's Got Talent" star told Oprah. "I didn't really matter. I was just a target."
"The Daily Show" to welcome its 1st sitting president: Obama
President Obama will appear on the Oct. 27th show, just days before the "Rally to Restore Sanity," to promote the Democrats in the November election.
Tom Bosley's "Mr. C" was the "perfected embodiment of dadness"
So says Robert Lloyd in an appreciation of Bosley: "Of all the characters in that show, whose imaginary prelapsarian American normality made a lovable scamp even of its resident outlaw, Bosley's was arguably the most authentically normal — the perfected embodiment of Dadness yet with recognizably human edges. He was the now-irascible, now-comforting voice of experience, and the necessary rock against which everything else crashed or clung to. This is an easier part to make iconic than to make interesting, but Bosley did both." PLUS: Ron Howard says, "I miss him already."
Watch Showtime's "Shameless" trailer starring William H. Macy
Macy plays a drunken, disheveled single dad to seven children in a Chicago slum, in the remake of the hit British series, which also stars Joan Cusack and Emmy Rossum. (Compare the trailer to the near-identical original "Shameless.")
Robert Englund lands another guest spot, on "Supernatural"
"Freddy Krueger" will play a character named Dr. Robert in a December episode.
Ex-JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater to break silence on Larry King
He'll tell all on Oct. 26.
"Royal Pains" nabs Gilles Marini for the season finale
He'll play a dance instructor named Niko.
"24" alum joins "Terra Nova"
Actor Mido Hamada, who played Samir Mehran in the final season of "24," will play the head of security in the Spielberg series.
Stephen Colbert storms off "The View"
He was just defending Bill O'Reilly's (AKA Papa Bear's) honor when he walked out during this morning's visit. PLUS: Colbert also told the ladies of "The View," "Sometimes my character and I agree and it doesn't matter to me if my audience knows when that is."
"Chase" and "Chuck" get full-season pickups, "Undercovers" earns 4 extra scripts
"'Chase’ has introduced an appealing new star to television audiences in Kelli Giddish and we think it has potential to grow," says NBC's Angela Bromstad. "We also are glad that ‘Chuck’ will be with us for a full season delivering its loyal, passionate audience."
"Glee" stars get scantily clad for GQ
Cory Monteith joins Lea Michele and Dianna Agron as they show off their bra and panties in a GQ profile that explores how "Glee" "got a choke hold on the Zeitgeist." PLUS: Watch "Glee" perform the "Time Warp" and Monteith to host Canada's Gemini Awards.
"The Talk" can't match "The View" in fearlessly tackling controversial issues
"For all that palaver, the premiere seemed about as 'real' as Joan Rivers's face," says Tom Shales. He adds: "Ironic, isn't it, that the area in which 'Talk' most clearly departs from 'View' is the one that's most worth copying: 'The View's' fearless tackling of current controversies and political outrages. 'Talk's' talkers — a slapdash collection of mostly actresses — on Monday stuck mainly to Botox, divorce and female body parts." PLUS: "The Talk" debuts to decent ratings, and "The Talk" should be called "The Shutup!" with its dumped-down "View"-point.
"Gossip Girl's" Taylor Momsen, 17, smokes while with her "dad"
Matthew Settle didn't seem to mind yesterday when Momsen took out a cigarette — which she's not old enough to purchase — and began puffing away.
Zimbabwe's president urged to intereve in Africa's "Big Brother"
Loyalists to President Robert Mugabe are outraged after a Zimbabwean was defeated by a Nigerian in the all-star edition of "Big Brother" Africa.
Watch as "Sarah Palin's Alaska" encounters a mama bear
Elton John: "X Factor" has made pop music "arse-paralysingly brain-crippling"
Lil' Jon and Gary Busey are selling "Celebrity Apprentice" pizzas today
Check out Pee-wee Regis & Pee-wee Herman's NYC adventure
Watch the promo for Tracy Morgan's HBO special
"Happy Days" dad Tom Bosley is dead at 83
Bosley died this morning at his home in Palm Springs, apparently from injuries stemming from a staph infection. Bosley had a long TV career stretching from "Murder, She Wrote" to the "Father Dowling Mysteries," but his most famous role is that of Mr. Cunningham on "Happy Days," which TV Guide ranked the No. 9 TV dad of all time. In fact, he and Henry Winkler were the only "Happy Days" stars to appear in all eight episodes during its eight-year run. Bosley also was well-known as spokesperson for Glad trash bags and, not too many years ago, he was spotted on "Family Guy". Watch Bosley's oral history and an interview catching up with him just last year.
Henry Winkler: "Tom Bosley was our mentor"; Scott Baio: "I'm sad"
VH1 teams with Queen Latifah for its 1st scripted show: "Single Ladies"
DB Woodside, Stacey Dash, LisaRaye McCoy and Charity Shea will star in the movie turned TV show about three best friends with different philosophies on sex and relationships.
Homer Simpson isn't Catholic, producer confirms
Homer attends the First Church of Springfield, which is Presbylutheran, says exec producer Al Jean, responding to the Vatican's assertion that "The Simpsons" is Catholic family. "We've pretty clearly shown that Homer is not Catholic," he says. "I really don’t think he could go without eating meat on Fridays—for even an hour."
Bravo has 5 more reality shows: "What If," "L.A. Therapists," "The Proposal Planner"
In "What If," women consider the men who got away. In the Ashley Tisdale-produced "Miss Advised," relationship gurus are followed around. "The Headhuntress" delves into the life of a corporate recruiter. And "The Proposal Planner" featuring a woman who crafts proposals for men.
Simon Cowell: American "X Factor" will be a "blank sheet of paper"
"Zero rules," he says of the format, which will differ from the UK version. "Because I can’t bear rules. For instance, I’ve never liked the idea you have to be a certain age to be a pop star. I like the idea that anybody can enter, anybody can compete."
Chelsea Handler refuses to allow the release of her sex tape
Which means it will likely never come out.
Watch "Will & Grace" reunite
Debra Messing and Eric McCormack revisit their past in a photo shoot.
"Conan" announces Jimmy Vivino-led "The Basic Cable Band"
The new band will also feature James Wormworth, Max Weinberg's longtime substitute, on drums.
ABC cuts "V" down to 10 episodes to make way for "Dancing"
"V" returns Jan. 4, and ABC had to have its season finished by the time "Dancing with the Stars" started on March 29.
History channel orders an aerial follow-up to "WWII in HD"
Rob Lowe will narrate "WWII in HD: The Air War," which tells the story of the U.S. Air Force vs. the German Luftwaffe in the run-up to D-Day. Also lending their voices are Chris O'Donnell, Elijah Wood and Sean Astin.
"Lost's" Cynthia Watros gets "Desperate"
She'll guest on "Desperate Housewives" as Bree's crazy friend.
Demitri Martin signs CBS talent deal
Martin won't be returning to Comedy Central as he aims to develop a comedy for CBS that will pull in young viewers.
NBC picks up "The Event," "Outsourced," "Law & Order: L.A." for full seasons
Says the Peacock: "We believe in these new series and the creative auspices behind them."
A&E "Hoarder" is a convicted sex offender
doll-collecting eccentric "Sir Patrick," who was featured last month, is actually a repeated felon with a phony backstory.
MTV apologizes for calling a band the "Black Eyed Peas"
The Black Keys last month received a VMA for Best Breakthrough Video with the name "Black Eyed Peas" on it.
Denis Leary sells 3 shows to CBS and CW
They include the female psychologist script "Mind Games," medical drama "Cross Roads" and cop show "Trigger."
"The Talk" premieres with timid Sara Gilbert, ringleader Julie Chen
CBS CEO helped kick off the mommy chat show, saying: "I have two reasons why I want this show to work. First is because I love my wife so much. And the second is, if it doesn't work, I'll cancel you."
Check out "Glee" "Rocky Horror" photos
And watch a "Rocky"-themed featurette from the "Glee" set. PLUS: "Karoke Revolution Glee" for Nintendo Wii coming out next month.
Barbara Walters scolds "View" co-hosts over Bill O'Reilly walkout
"You don’t walk out of your own home," Walters said this morning, finally addressing Thursday's walkout over Bill O'Reilly. "We’re used to Bill O’Reilly. He loves this. He loves to pull your chain. He loves to get you angry. This is just what he wanted." Goldberg, meanwhile, said "I had reached my saturation point." (Watch Part 2)
Wrangler begins pulling Brett Favre ads from NFL games amid sexting allegations
The famous ads were yanked from all NFL broadcasts over the weekend, though they did appear on niche cable networks.
NBC on the verge of picking up "Chuck" for a full season
Despite terrible ratings, "Chuck" has been a "steady" performer for NBC — and is on the verge of getting a full 22 episodes for Season 4.
Here's President Obama meeting "MythBusters"
Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman met with the president this morning, and held a press conference outside the White House afterwards.
Is TV these days promoting capitalism, career ambition, multi-tasking?
From "No Ordinary Family" to "Friday Night Lights," many shows are promoting a "capitalist impulse," says Ginia Bellafante, "casting ambition as something healthy, positive, redemptive and even honorable, and its absence an agent of ostentatious humiliation."
ABC Family yanks low-rated "Friday Night Lights" reruns
“It wasn't performing from a ratings standpoint," says the cable network. "We moved it around the schedule, but unfortunately it wasn’t holding up.
Penn Badgley is tired of filming "Gossip Girl"
He also reveals to Page Six that he and girlfriend Blake Lively are "not friends" with real-life "Gossip" couple Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr.
"Modern Family" getting syndicated on Fox stations
What is Oprah's motive for tying herself with the Stewart/Colbert rally?
Report: "Jersey Shore's" Pauly D turned down Trump and "Celebrity Apprentice"
"Lost" unveils a new Dharma Orientation Film at Spike's Scream Awards
What was "June Cleaver" Barbara Billingley like in real life?
In defense of Don Draper's" stunning "Mad Men" decision
Faye Miller, according to Matt Zoller Seitz, had become a sort of female Don Draper. And why would he want that? "Unfortunately, the qualities that would seem to make Faye a perfect fit for Don are what doomed her," he says. "Don Draper can't be happy with a female Don Draper. "No, Don needs somebody who's going to take care of the 90 percent of daily life that he finds dull or onerous, freeing him to do what he does best: live in his head and indulge his appetites. He needs somebody like Megan—a social inferior who'll take care of his kids so he doesn't have to, and who's just young and naive enough that she'll mistake Don's neediness for love."
Don is turning into Betty — a child // "Stepford Don": That was unsettling to watch
Draper reflects the American compulsion to go after the empty illusion of perfection
Engagement is an enormous misfire—a baffling plot twist // Was Don insane?
Don Draper's Season 4 style evolution // Joan & Peggy stole the show
Matthew Weiner explains the finale // Weiner on "Who is Don Draper?"
In defense of Megan // "Megan" speaks // Why Don is a bad leader
"Groundhog Day" music played as Don chose Don over Dick
Obama sets "Mythbusters" a challenge
In a December episode titled "Archimedes Solar Ray," the president will challenge "Mythbusters" to revisit whether ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes set fire to a fleet of invading Roman ships by using mirrors that reflect the sun's rays.
"My Name is Earl" reunion: Jason Lee to appear on "Raising Hope"
Lee will play a washed-up rock star, Smokey Daniels, as he reunites with "Hope" and "Earl" creator Greg Garcia.
The Vatican declares Homer and Bart Simpson true Catholics
According to the official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, "The Simpsons are among the few TV programmes for children in which Christian faith, religion, and questions about God are recurrent themes."
British military demading halt to British TV's Prince Harry hostage docudrama
"The Taking Of Prince Harry" explores what might happen if Harry was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"The Talk" debuts today
Can CBS' "View"-like series actually establish its own "mom" identity?
"Modern Family" transforms Mitchell into Spiderman
Check out pics of Jesse Tyler Ferguson, from suit to spandex.
Edward Norton developing an HBO miniseries
The actor wants to adapt Stephen Ambrose's book "Undaunted Courage."
VH1 "I Love New York" star sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for murder
Jamal Rashead Trulove, 29, was identified as the murderer by a witness who watched him on "I Love New York 2" three months after he committed first degree murder at a housing project near San Francisco.
Simon-less "Idol" is still TV's priciest show for advertisers
Next year's season is raking in $467,617 per 30-second ad on Tuesday night and $400,546 for Wednesday night — in fact, Fox has five of the 10 most expensive shows.
NBC's 10 o'clock shows are getting lower ratings than "The Jay Leno Show"
Shows like "The Apprentice," "Parenthood" and "Chase" aren't getting the kind of ratings than 10 o'clock Leno received.
CMT tabs Ed Asner for sitcom comeback
The 80-year-old Asner will play the neighbor of a single mom in CMT's first scripted comedy, "Working Class." Will Asner be able to do what former co-star Betty White did for TV Land "Hot in Cleveland"?
MTV's T.J. Lavin showing signs of improvement following accident
The "Challenge" host was able to give doctors a thumbs up following a medically induced coma.
Watch "The West Wing" cast, reunited
With Josiah Bartlet, C.J. Cregg, Bradley Whitford and more.
"Mad Men's" Vincent Kartheiser is now on Twitter
According to "Trudy Campbell." UPDATE: Kartheiser is NOT on Twitter. Alison Brie was fooled by an imposter.
Barbara Billingsley, TV's June Cleaver, dies at 94
The "Leave it to Beaver" star died Saturday at her home in Santa Monica. No reason was given for her death, though she had been in poor health. Billingsley famously played housewife June Cleaver in two incarnations — on "Leave it to Beaver" from 1957 through 1963 and "The New Leave it to Beaver" from 1983 to 1989, as well as in a 1983 TV movie, "Still the Beaver." "Now some people, they just associate you with that one role (June Cleaver), and it makes it hard to do other things," Billingsley once said. "But as far as I'm concerned, it's been an honor." (Watch the Archive of American Television's interview with Billingsley and her 2007 "GMA" appearance in honor of "Beaver's" 50th anniversary.
Jerry Mathers: "She helped me along this challenging journey through life…"
"The View" will discuss the Bill O'Reilly incident on Monday
Friday's show ignored the controversy because it was pre-taped.
CBS buys another blog-inspired sitcom from Ashton Kutcher
This one is based on "Dear Girls Above Me."
espnW — ESPN for women — could become a cable chahnel
ESPN has big plans for espnW, a new brand targeting female sports fans.
David James Elliott tapped to play Sela Ward's "CSI:NY" ex
The former "JAG" star will make his debut in January.
Why are ads running during "Mad Men" so lame?
They try to co-opt "Mad Men's" '60s-era style — without any of the show's depth or nuance, says Kate Dailey. "Instead of giving us ads that riff on Mad Men’s smart, subtle takes on culture, gender roles, family, and responsibility—the reason most diehard fans, the advertiser’s targets, tune in—we get ham-fisted shorthand and visual slapstick that actually have very little to do with the show." PLUS: How "Mad Men's" design reflects social change of the '60s.
Kristin Chenoweth may return for a "Glee" multi-episode arc
She was supposed to begin filming next week, but her appearance was rescheduled.
Check out "Conan's" handsome Vanity Fair ad
"The most anticipated television event since television's last most anticipated event."
Neil Patrick Harris welcomes twins
"All of us are happy, healthy, tired, and a little pukey," he tweeted.
B.J. Novak wants Danny McBride as the new "Office" boss
But can NBC steal him away from "Eastbound and Down"?
Middle school teacher pleads guilty to downloading "Simpsons" child pornography
Steven Kutzner could face 10 years in federal prison for animated child pornography pics.
Watch Eva Longoria's sexy MTV ad
For the European Music Awards.
Nigel Lythgoe slams Simon, says "Idol" has been reinvigorated without him
"He just got too big for his boots," Lythgoe says, pointing out that without Simon, "The energy in the audition rooms is totally different. You aren't tired at the end of the day, even though we are seeing twice as many kids as we did in the past. We are enjoying it; we are laughing." He adds: "We've had some incredible country voices — in truth, Simon would have gotten rid of them straight-away because he wasn't a country fan."
Stewart/Colbert rally may become a global event, covered live by cable news
"Satellite rallies" are being planned nationally in 40 cities and internationally in six countries, according to Comedy Central. The event is big enough that CNN, MSNBC and Fox News are planning live coverage of the rally. PLUS: Stephen Colbert launches SpookyOrDorky.com, where you can post photos from the rally.
"Jersey Shore" cast among Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People
The entire cast is filming the year-end Walters special this week. PLUS: The Situation may become a partner in the Plaza Hotel.
"Smallville's" 200th episode aspires to be as special as the iconic 100th
"We wanted to have something that really had that kind of gravity," says exec producer Brian Peterson, "but also be a much more uplifting push off, because that's kind of this season – looking back, but also pushing off with hope. I actually think we accomplished it. I think we do." PLUS: Watch a preview of tonight's 200th episode.
"Real World/Road Rules Challenge" host TJ Lavin in a coma after crash
The professional BMX dirt rider was in critical condition last night after he was injured while qualifying in the Dew Tour Championships in Las Vegas.
"The Wire's" Idris Elba turns detective in "Luther"
"Stringer Bell's" BBC America crime drama isn't original, but it is intense. PLUS: Elba says, "I don't want to play gangsters all my life."
How "Rubicon" got shaken up over its 1st season
Novelist and screenwriter Henry Bromell talks about revamping the show and cutting down on the conspiracy theories. PLUS: "Rubicon" ends season having found its way.
Can "Mad Men" season finale rehabilitate Don Draper?
"This time around, even if Don wins, it will feel hollow," says Sady Doyle. "The character appears to have reached the point of no return; we've seen the man commit so many acts of thoughtless cruelty, and wreck his own chances at happiness so many times, that watching the character actually feels like knowing a reckless drunk. Even if he comes through and saves the day this time, he's going to ruin it all again tomorrow; what's the point of hoping?"
The "Mad Men" Season 4 scorecard: Don gets mixed grades
"Mad Men"-ers: Before they were stars // Which "Mad" character drinks the most?
Christina Hendricks: Teenage goth // Season 4's 10 best moments
It's Twitter War!: Nick Cannon vs. Chelsea Handler
"V" and "Skating with the Stars" take over "Dancing" timeslots
Cable TV is spending $23 billion on 1,462 original programs this year
Steve-O: I turned down VH1's "Rock of Love"-like offer
Watch "HIMYM's" Jennifer Morrison // It's the "HIMYM" cast in Halloween costumes
"30 Rock's" live show: "A loose, sloppy, wonderful mess"
The whole production had a meta feel to it, says Matthew Gilbert, and that's why it was so good. "Rather than trying to recreate the tight single-camera wit of the regular '30 Rock,' Tina Fey and company turned the show into a 'Saturday Night Live'-like stage production complete with audience laughter. (Indeed, the episode was filmed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Studio 8H, home of 'SNL.') From Jane Krakowski singing lyrics along with the "30 Rock" theme song to Julia Louis-Dreyfus standing in for Fey in the 'flashbacks,' it was a refreshing, silly delight." UPDATE: Live show boosts "30 Rock's" ratings 43% over last week.
Live episode was an overheated slice of self-indulgence and excess
"30 Rock" live is just the sort of semi-daring attempt that TV has needed lately
It was a mixed bag, yet it proved that "30 Rock" is still TV's best sitcom
West Coast vs. East Coast: Which was better? // 17 differences
Watch both versions // What an awkward, silly, completely counter-productive effort
Oprah flying out Jon Stewart's audience to his "Sanity" rally
Stewart and Stephen Colbert joined forces last night, to share a permit for their rallies, and Oprah appeared on a giant screen to bless the Oct. 30 event.
Jimmy Fallon transforms into Large Marge from "Pee-wee's Big Adventure"
Pee-wee Herman paid a visit to "Late Night" last night by revealing The Secret Word.
More "Celeb Apprentice" contestants: Meatloaf, David Cassidy, Gary Busey
Also competing: Marlee Matlin, "Real Housewife" Nene Leakes, John Rich of Big and Rich fame and 2010 Playmate of the Year Hope Dworaczyk.
"The Talk" announces its first guests
Chrstie Brinkley, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa Rycroft, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jenny Sanford will help open the CBS show.
"Community" proudly shills for KFC
Last night's KFC-themed space episode was one of the most blatant forms of product placement.
"The Gates" headed for cancelation?
"Gates" star Frank Grillo says "The Gates are closing," though he points out that it's not official.
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