April 2011

April 20, 2011

Charlie Sheen's D.C. police escort under investigation
A Washington, D.C. police spokesperson says "this entire matter is under investigation" after two marked patrol cars exceeded the speed limit escorting Sheen's two SUVs to his show on Tuesday night.


Steven Tyler's F-bomb steals the show on "Idol"

Tyler couldn't help but be profane (which Fox censored) after Casey Abrams' Maroon 5 performance that ended with a kiss on Jennifer Lopez's cheek. PLUS: Check out Tyler singing at Kara DioGuardi's house, and Mark Ballas enjoys Pia singing on Idol."


Jennifer Lopez teaming with "Idol" creator for a "Que Viva" music reality show

The reality competition would have J.Lo and hubby Marc Anthony searching Latin America for undiscovered talent.


Disney Channel buys pilot from "Glee's" Chris Colfer

Colfer has written a pilot based on the children's book "The Little Leftover Witch."


"True Blood's" Kevin Alejandro playing a "Bones" Tornado

Alejandro took a break from HBO filming to guest on the "Bones" season finale.


Lauren Graham and her dad dine with her "Parenthood" boyfriend

Peter Krause on Wednesday got to meet with Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association.

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April 20, 2011

Is "Khloe and Lamar" jinxing Lamar Odom?
Ever since the E! show premiered, the Lakers star has been off his game.


David E. Kelley rewrites "Wonder Woman" to make her more of a badass

There will be more ass-kicking than what was revealed from the original draft of the pilot script.


Did Charlie Sheen jilt a Canadian bipolar group?

The Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders says it hasn't received any of the money Sheen raised last week in their name.


Bristol Palin, Steven Tyler, Mindy Kaling and Chris Colfer will all dine together

They're all guests of People magazine at this year's White House Correspondents' Dinner. Meanwhile, Courteney Cox & David Arquette will be guests of USA Today.


"Idol" had no problem allowing Pia Toscano on "Dancing with the Stars"

"It's not unfair in any way," says "Idol's" Ken Warwick, who once worked with "Dancing" boss Conrad Green on "World Idol."


"Justified" is full of forceful women

The FX series has become a showcase for fully realized female characters, from Ava Crowder to Winona and Mags. PLUS: What great American character acting!


Claim: DJ Pauly D earns half a million each month

Pauly D is not making big bucks form "Jersey Shore," but he's also getting about $40,000 per DJ gig.


"Glee" seemed to be responding to criticism with "A Night of Neglect"

The marginalization of certain characters? Check. The maniacal behavior of Sue Sylvester? Check. PLUS: "Glee" can't do math.


Will Ferrell again threatens to shave off Conan's beard

"It's coming off, esé."

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WEDNESDAY ODDS & ENDS

April 20, 2011

Demi Lovato has bipolar disorder

In honor of 4/20: Were "Beavis and Butt-Head" actually stoners?

Saturday's "Doctor Who" premiere will acknowledge Elisabeth Sladen

Ricki Lake's talk show comeback poised for fall 2012

Study finds that TV-watching kids have narrower arteries in their eyes

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

April 20, 2011

NBC will delay a Jay Leno rerun Thursday to preview "The Voice"
A 15-minute version of "The Voice" will air on Thursday from 11:35 pm to 11:47 am. NBC also will air a two-minute clip on Saturday just before "Saturday Night Live."


Teri Hatcher: I'm struggling with "frozen shoulder"

The "Desperate Housewives" star says the painful condition has "basically left me pretty much not functioning with my left arm… I can't hook a bra anymore."


"Fairly Legal" getting a 2nd season

USA hasn't made an official announcement, but the cable network did confirm that Sarah Shahi will appear at its upfronts presentation on May 2.


"Idol" will discuss tweaking the voting for next season, but not this year

"It's no secret that most reality shows are female driven, either by mums or by young girls," says executive producer Ken Warwick. He adds: "We're going to have discussions on how we can keep it fair … Maybe we change the voting system slightly next year. Maybe we limit the number of SMS votes or the number of online votes, but it will remain the way it is for the rest of this (season)." PLUS: Why James Durbin is winning, and Matt Lauer to interview Steven Tyler.


FX announces premiere dates for "Rescue Me," "Louie," "Wilfred"

"Rescue Me's" final season begins July 12, while "Wilfred" and "Louie" are set for June 23.


Howard Stern sidekick is shopping "The Robin Quivers Show"

With the launch of RobinQuivers.com, Quivers is looking to launch a talk show related to healthy eating, like her web series "Vegucating Robin." This won't be the first time she shopped a talk show. In the mid-2000s, she shot a talk show pilot that wasn't picked up. (MP3 link)


Sarah Silverman on "The Good Wife"

Here's your first look at Silverman playing the owner of an Ashley Madison-type cheating website.


Check out the "Friday Night Lights" auction

Up for grabs is a Taylor Kitsch hoodie and a Connie Britton dress.


"Glee's" Holly Holiday mixes up Tiffany and Debbie Gibson

It was Tiffany who played the malls, not Gibson, as Gwyneth Paltrow's character asserted on last night's episode.

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April 20, 2011

"SNL" gets Justin Timberlake & Lady Gaga for the season finale
Timberlake will host and Gaga will perform on the May 21 season-ender.


"Two and a Half Men" crew recalls Charlie Sheen's descent into madness

The first sign of problems came in 2006 when he divorced Denise Richards, but his downfall didn't really begin until last season, Season 7, with things getting worse this year. "The writers were having to write around him a lot," recalls one crew member. "They had him sitting on a couch a lot, and the focus was more on Jon Cryer and (Angus T. Jones). Charlie was forgetting his lines and he never did that before. He got progressively worse. Up close, you'd see that he was gaunt and pale and his eyes were crossed." PLUS: Sheen toyed with running for president, and implied he was a birther in Washington, D.C.


VH1 announces "Famous Food" with Heidi Montag, Big Pussy, Jake Pavelka

Former "Real Housewives" star Danielle Staub, ex-"Big Brother" star Mike Malin  and ex-call girl Ashley Dupre willl also star in a reality show in which "famous" people the chance to open up a restaurant.


Andy Samberg will host Shark Week as "Chief Shark Officer"

"I'm overjoyed about being appointed CSO," says the "SNL" star. "Everyone loves Shark Week. It's the Bill Cosby of week-long television blocks dedicated to sea animals."


Lauren Graham is writing a semi-autobiographical book

Titled "You'll never Make It," it will delve into Graham's life as a struggling actress in New York in the '90s. PLUS: "Parenthood" boss explains the season finale.


Meet the newest Old Spice Guy

Suddenly, Isaiah Mustafa has some competition.


Italian-American group blasts "Mob Wives"

UNICO National, which was also none too happy with "Jersey Shore," says VH1's show — which debuted to 2.2 million viewers — is "trash TV like 'Jersey Shore.' I hope it dies because no one watches it."


Tina Fey shares the stage with Steve Martin

Watch them (mostly) promote Fey's "Bossypants" here, here, here and here.


Can Khloe Kardashian boost "Law & Order: L.A.'s" ratings?

She'll make a cameo on Monday's episode.


Mark Ballas: I had nothing to do with Pia Toscano's "Dancing" performance

"I wish I could work my magic with the producers," he says.


TV pilot watch: Rachel Bilson looks bad, "Playboy" & "Charlie's Angels" look good

J.J. Abrams' "Alcatraz" is also looking good, while Bilson having trouble looking like a CW doctor.


Paul Michael Glaser wants a restraining order against his ex-website operator

The "Starsky and Hutch" is fearing for his life over the obsessed woman he allowed to operate his official website.


"Real Housewives of O.C." star Gretchen Rossi sued for fraud

Slade Smiley is also being sued over a make-up venture.


University of California chancellor is going on "Undercover Boss"

UC Riverside's chancellor wore an earring to disguise himself for the CBS reality show.

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April 19, 2011

"Idol's" Pia Toscano to sing on "Dancing with the Stars" as Mark Ballas dances
Next week, as TMZ notes, will mark a "borderline incestuous cross-pollination between the two biggest shows on TV," which just happened to be neighbors on the CBS Television City studios lot. PLUS: Did Fox give Pia permission?


Charlie Sheen gets a police escort in Washington, D.C.

Sheen was an hour late to his D.C. tour stop due to courtroom obligations today in L.A., and apparently the audience was mad.


"How to Make it in America" recruits Joe Pantoliano & Eriq La Salle

They'll both  recur in Season 2.


"Glee" extra who spilled the beans may prompt Fox to punish future leakers

Turns out the extra who spoiled the prom scene didn't sign a nondisclosure agreement. That may change.


Which HBO pilot has more nudity, "Game of Thrones" or "True Blood"?

"True Blood" had about 2:00 of nudity in its pilot, compared to 2:55 for "Game of Thrones."


HBO will bring "Game of Thrones" back same time next year, with 10 episodes

"On a creative level, it was screaming for another season," HBO's Michael Lombardo says of renewing the fantasy series so soon after its premiere.


"Bachelor" champ Shayne Lamas is pregnant

She and her husband, whom she married soon after meeting, are expecting a baby.


"Dallas" adds Charlene Tilton & Steve Kanaly

Lucy Ewing and Ray Krebbs will be part of the TNT remake.


"Bewitched" creator dies at 100

Sol Saks wrote only one episode of the '60s comedy, the pilot episode, which was inspired by the 1942 movie "I Married a Witch." Watch a 2009 interview with Saks, who was born in 1910.


Remembering "Doctor Who's" Elisabeth Sladen

Her character, Sarah Jane Smith, got to say goodbye last year.

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April 19, 2011

NFL to mark 9/11's 10-year anniversary with Redskins vs. Giants in primetime
The first Sunday of the NFL season comes on Sept. 11. And to remember the anniversary, the NFL will have the New York Giants plat at the Washington Redskins on NBC in primetime — if there is actually an NFL season.


L.A. Unified School District may lift its ban on Jamie Oliver

The TV chef is going to meet next week with the LAUSD's new superintendent, and that meeting might pave the way for filming in LA. schools.


"Idol" is No. 1 in product placement, "Amazing Race" No. 5

"American Idol" had 208 occurrences of product placement in March, topping No. 2 "Celebrity Apprentice," which had 127. "America's Next Top Model" was 3rd and "Biggest Loser" is No. 4.


Oklahoma University to offer a "Jersey Shore" class

The professor teaching the online course on "Depictions of gender, race and class on the Shore" says she was inspired by Snooki to start the course.


Judge allows cameras in courtroom for "Two and a Half Men" trial

Warner Bros. and Chuck Lorre were against televising the trial.


Lynda Carter: I might appear on the "Wonder Woman" remake

Carter said on "The Talk," "I've talked to David E. Kelley, who's a brilliant writer, a number of times and we're hoping to plan something. But I cannot reveal."


Rosie will live in arch enemy Donald Trump's hotel while working for Oprah

Howard Stern went on Rosie O'Donnell's radio show, where he also got her to reveal that she is still with her girlfriend.


MTV accused of stealing "Fun Employed"

MTV's new comedy "UnderEmployed," about five 20-something Chicago college grads, is being accused of ripping off the Chicago comedy troupe web series "Fun Employed," which is about five 20-something Chicago college grads.


Miranda Cosgrove puts off college for "iCarly"

The 17-year-old Cosgrove been accepted to USC and NYU, but she'll delay admission to continue making $180,000 an episode.


Sunday's TV Land Awards was the cable network's most-watched telecast ever

Just over two million watched the reunions of "The Facts of Life," "The Cosby Show," "Family Ties" and "Welcome Back, Kotter."


"Iron Chef" returns with a Food Network-heavy lineup

Competitors in Season 4 will include Spike Mendelsohn from "Top Chef."


"Doctor Who" star Elisabeth Sladen is dead at 63

Sladen played the doctor's assistant, Sarah Jane Smith, beginning in 1973. She later starred in a spinoff, "Sarah Jane Adventures."

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TUESDAY ODDS & ENDS

April 19, 2011

Is Donald Trump's presidential talk hurting "Celebrity Apprentice" ratings?

Tina Fey gives 3 different answers when asked about her pregnancy

"Real Housewife" Jill Zarin admits to having "liquid facelifts" every 6 months

Cheryl Burke to Len Goodman: Stop talking about my "Dancing" breasts!

From "The Weber Show" to "The Wire": Wendell Pierce looks back at his TV career

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

April 19, 2011

NBC's Monday lineup reaches season low with "Chuck" and "Law & Order: LA"
"LOLA" was down 27% from its already low-rated midseason premiere last week, "The Event" was down 13% and "Chuck" tied its worst-ever ratings for the 2nd week in a row.


"Glee" bringing back Jessalyn Gilsig

Not only will Terri Schuester be back for the rest of this season, but she's expecting to appear in almost every episode next season. PLUS: "Glee" tour adds Ashley Fink, The Warblers and more tour dates.


"Bachelor" Brad Womack & Emily: Is it over, already?

According to Life & Style, another "Bachelor" relationship has bitten the dust.


Charlie Sheen was in an L.A. courtroom 6 hours before his Washington, D.C. concert

Sheen left his Santa Monica custody hearing at 1:47 pm ET to scramble to Washington for his 8:00 pm ET concert. PLUS: Sheen loses custody bid for his twins.


Mayor of Florence, Italy wants "Jersey Shore" to follow certain rules

No filming in bars! No filming drinking in public! No filming in historic places!


Simon Cowell dumps his 2nd "X Factor" winner in a week

Is this a sing of things to come on the U.S. version? Shayne Ward, who won in 2005, is the 4th "X Factor" to be dropped by Cowell's label.


NBC plans to rename Versus

NBC sports boss Dick Ebersol says the former Outdoor Life Network will get an NBC brand name in the next 90 days.

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April 19, 2011

"Happy Days" stars sue CBS
The estate of Tom Bosley, Anson Williams, Don Most, Marion Ross and Erin Moran claim they were cheated out of merchandising licensing fees.


"Game of Thrones" renewed for Season 2 after delivering decent ratings

About 2.2 million watched Sunday's premiere, which looks bad compared to the 5 million who tuned in to the "Boardwalk Empire" debut last fall. Yet that's a good number for a genre show.


Demi Lovato leaving "Sonny with a Chance" to focus on music

The Disney Channel star also revealed this morning that she hit a backup dancer during the "Camp Rock 2" tour and that she began cutting herself at age 11.


FX taps Mary Steenburgen to play Elijah Wood's mom

She'll guest star in the pilot for "Wilfred."


"Boardwalk Empire's" Paz de la Huerta charged with assault

Prosecutors are accusing her of throwing a drinking glass at "The City" star Samantha Swetra.


John Travolta pops on "Dancing"

Watch his cameo as Kirstey Alley's "Dance Doctor."

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April 19, 2011

Marisa Tomei may join Aaron Sorkin's HBO cable news drama
Tomei is in talks to play the executive producer of a fictional cable news show, anchored by Jeff Daniels, in the HBO project tentatively titled "More as the Story Develops."

April 18, 2011

Kara DioGuardi reveals she was molested as a child, date-raped as an adult
The former "Idol" judge makes the shocking claims in her new book, "A Helluva High Note." DioGuardi says she was 11 when a teenage boy molested her. She also recalls that "a fairly known producer" date-raped her after a friendly dinner.


Will Ferrell: I'm shaving Conan's beard on May 2

"That thing's a huge mistake," he says in a video to Conan, adding of May 2nd guest appearance: "I'm going to shave every rusty pube on your face. I am serious. Beardly serious … It's coming off."


Hoover protests cancelation of "AMC" and "OLTL" by pulling its ads from ABC

The vacuum company is also spearheading a "Save The Soaps" campaign.


Charlie Sheen taking to break from his tour to go to court in L.A.

Sheen is scheduled to perform in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, yet he's planning to be in court tomorrow morning to try to get legal custody of his twins.


CBS yanks "Chaos," as "Flashpoint" returns

"Chaos" is looking dead after three low-rated episodes, while "Flashpoint" will return on May 6.


FX to burn off the remaining "Running Wilde" episodes

The four episodes that haven't aired will be shown on FX, starting April 28.


"The Good Wife" signs Alan Cumming to a 3-year deal

Eli Gold will stick around for a while.


MTV may revive high school football reality show "Two-A-Days"

MTV is reportedly considering three schools in Florida, Michigan and California for "Two-A-Days," which last aired in 2007. The pilot episode of "Two-A-Days featured a cameo by high school QB Tim Tebow.


Ex-producer claims BET discriminated against her

An ex-producer is suing, claiming her BET bosses did nothing when a cameraman during a Nicki Minaj shoot harrassed her. When she complained to her bosses, she was allegedly fired.


Animated "Fringe" trip was all-consuming

Effects house Zoic Studios says its animation involved the "creation of 240 heavily stylized animated shots [and] a blend of hand-drawn and 3-D techniques."


"True Blood's" Evan Rachel Wood admits she's bi

"I'm into anything," she tells Esquire. "Meet a nice guy, meet a nice girl…"

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April 18, 2011

"Hot in Cleveland" adding Cedric the Entertainer, before spinning him off
The comedian will pop up on "Cleveland" this summer as a minister, a character TV Land hopes will become the center of his own spinoff.


"Glee" won't have its gay bully commit suicide

Max Adler tells TV Guide there's a possibility his character, Dave Karofsky, may go so far as to hang himself next season. But exec producer Brad Falchuk says while a suicide has been discussed, "'Glee' doesn't really feel like the show for that. We like to get dramatic and push things, but that didn't seem the kind of story we wanted to tell." PLUS: "Glee" extra spoils the prom king on Twitter, Will & Emma romance might be back on, and Matthew Morrison was forced to leave his rat-infested house.


Charlie Sheen moves to take full custody of his twins after his wife enters rehab

According to TMZ, Sheen is also wants to cut off child support for Brooke Mueller. PLUS: Sheen goddess Bree Olson leaves again.


Emily Deschanel's pregnancy may lead to a "curtailed" Season 7 of "Bones"

Says Hart Hanson: "Season 7 would probably be a curtailed season in some respects; we don’t know how much yet."


HBO offers a look at "Luck" starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte

Check out the horse racing series from Michael Mann and "Deadwood's" David Milch.


Most late-night talk shows employ just 1 female writer

Chelsea Handler has the most, at five, followed by "SNL," with four, while Jimmy Fallon and Jon Stewart have two female writers each. Jimmy Kimmel is dating his lone female (co-head) writer, while Craig Ferguson employs his sister.


"Cougar Town" returns, but its creator won't blame ABC for lack of promotion

"I'm not pointing fingers at ABC; I don't think it’s the network's fault," says Bill Lawrence. "There's a new economic reality. What these companies can do is put their money and financial backing behind launching a show and they really did that for us when we premiered. But you can't ever get that again." PLUS: Christa Miller on Penny Can.


Lifetime's "William & Kate" is boring with lousy performances

Tonight's TV movie could've been fun, but Lifetime opted for the banal.


Report: Pia Toscano dumped her boyfriend in January

According to TMZ, Mark Ballas didn't break up the "Idol" star's relationship, as previously reported. PLUS: Paul McDonald has never watched any of his girlfriend's "Twilight" films.

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MONDAY ODDS & ENDS

April 18, 2011

"The Price is Right" found its new announcer, George Gray, on "Junkyard Wars"

Oprah! Uma!: Letterman's Oscar-hosting disaster from 1995 surfaces on YouTube

The new 3D network is planning a documentary on "The Civil War 3D"

Watch 32 years of "Doctor Who" condensed in 6 minutes

Seth Meyers: Sarah Palin has become less relevant for "SNL

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

April 18, 2011

Will NBC give up the Olympics?
NBC sports boss Dick Ebersol is said to be facing an uphill battle in trying to convince new owners Comcast to shell out big bucks for the 2014 and 2016 games.


NBC cutting back on Royal Wedding coverage

Prince William and Kate Middleton are "too boring," an NBC source tells Page Six, and Americans aren't that interested.


Mariah Carey will be part of "The X Factor," but not as a judge

"I think Mariah will have a role on the TV live shows," says Simon Cowell. "I met her recently and she was on great form. And her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which only Mariah could come up with. She'll be involved in some form. I literally adore her. I love her to bits."


It's official: Simon Cowell is leaving the UK "X Factor"

Simon, however, may continue to have some kind of on-screen presence on the original version.


Ozzy Osbourne may become a UK "X Factor" judge

Osbourne once criticized the Simon Cowell talent show, saying, It's about killing music to make light entertainment. It should be about music and talent but it's not."


Gary Busey: I'd vote for Donald Trump as president

"He knows about this country," said the latest fired "Celebrity Apprentice" star. "He knows the situation we're in now."


VH1 is now targeting women ages 25 to 35

Shows like "Mob Wives" are part of VH1's new makeover, aiming to capture female viewers it had abandoned.


Logo renews "RuPaul's Drag Race," adds 2 shows

"Sex Rx" and "The A-List Dallas" will join Logo in the fall.


"Bachelorette" Ali OK after kayak accident

Ali Fedotowsky was briefly hospitalized and had to have her head stapled after her kayak capsized on Sunday.


Oops!: "Mrs. Garrett" proud her "Facts of Life" girls came out "Straight!"

Charlotte Rae said later she wasn't thinking about sexuality when she uttered the "straight" line.

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April 17, 2011

Watch Charlie Sheen get roasted by Jeffrey Ross
The roastmaster in chief gave Sheen a "comedy intervention" this weekend, saving Charlie's Atlantic City shows.


NBC isn't planning for Donald Trump to run for president

Executives aren't worried about Trump leaving behind an "Apprentice"-sized void on the network. "This is Donald being Donald," says one NBC exec.


HBO picks up "Veep" starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the vice president

She'll play the unexpected vice president of the United States in a political satire that is expected to bring big bucks to Maryland, where the pilot was filmed.


Dog the Bounty Hunter bails Nicolas Cage out of jail

The $11,000 bond Dog Chapman posted on Saturday had nothing to do with his A&E show, says the Bounty Hunter. "I am a truly dedicated fan of Mr. Cage and will not be granting any interviews about my client as I wish to respect his privacy," he says.


Is Pia Toscano trading her longtime boyfriend for Mark Ballas?

It appears that the "Idol" star is calling it quits with her catering boyfriend as a possible romance with the "Dancing" star escalates.


See Roger Ebert deliver a speech with his computerized voice

Ebert recently spoke at the TED conference.


Maksim Chmerkovskiy launching his own jewelry line

The "MAKSIM" line is predominantly for men, says the "Dancing" star.


"Teen Mom 2" star files for divorce

Leah Messer wed Corey Simms are calling it quits after six months of marriage.


"Real Housewives of DC" star Tareq Salahi: Posing for Playgirl?

The magazine is allegedly interested in the White House crasher.

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April 15, 2011

It's official: A.J. Cook returns to "Criminal Minds"
She has signed a 2-year deal, and will guest on this season's finale.


Donald Trump delays "Apprentice" extension as he mulls a presidential bid

Trump says he won't commit to a new three-year deal until he decides if he's running.


Tina Fey enlisted NYC fixture "Radioman" to book Tom Hanks on "30 Rock"

Fey recounts to Letterman how an ex-homeless guy named "Radio Man" landed Hanks during filming of the 100th episode.


Joan Rivers in 2033

Check Joan out in the future in Funny or Die's "TMI with Joan Rivers."

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April 15, 2011

Bruce Springsteen meets with the "Idols"
According to "Idol's" official Twitter, Springsteen was in studio with the "Idols" on Friday afternoon.


"Mad Men" Emmy face-off: Elisabeth Moss vs. January Jones for lead actress

For the first time, "Betty Draper" and "Peggy Olson" will battle each other in the lead actress category.


Oprah tells how she'll repackage her old shows as "Oprah's Encore"

The new Oprah Winfrey Network show will comprise of 60 episodes that feature added commentary and special clip packages, plus old celebrity interviews. PLUS: Oprah admits OWN is underachieving.


Cee Lo Green: Shows like "Idol" have "run its course"

That's one of the reasons, he says, he turned down "The X Factor," which wasn't distinctive enough for him, and joined NBC's "The Voice."


NBC's "Love in the Wild": We're not "The Bachelor" or "Survivor"

The "Survivor" meets "Bachelor" reality show, which premieres June 1, is trying to distance itself from its reality TV forebears.


"All My Children's" Erica Kane: An appreciation of the feminist pioneer

"Before Erica," says Mary Elizabeth Williams, "soaps were already full of domestic drama and scandal, but Agnes Nixon's brassy creation was the first to truly make them sexy. She was a new kind of woman, a petulant princess and reckless seducer, but also one of television's first unself-consciously feminist characters." PLUS: Creator Agnes Nixon aims to keep "AMC" and "One Life to Live" Alive," growing up with "AMC" and "OLTL," and remembering the stars who got their start on "AMC."


Jeff Probst spends $5M buying the Gene Autry estate

The late cowboy singer-actor built the 3.68 acre property in 1949.


"True Blood's" Stephen Moyer OK after flipping his car

Moyer got into the accident today during a qualifying lap for the Long Beach Grand Prix celebrity race.


"Friday Night Lights" begins its final run on NBC, after its DVD release

The final season reruns of the DirecTV episodes seems like "glorified repeats." PLUS: How "FNL" created the next crop of A-list stars.

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FRIDAY ODDS & ENDS

April 15, 2011

"The Chew's' Mario Batali: I didn't kill the "AMC" and "OLTL"

When will Fox renew "Bones" and "House"?

Letterman to Tina Fey: Why announce your pregnancy on Oprah?

Evangeline Lilly's "Lost" baby daddy: Who is he, exactly?

Should NBC be worried about its Thursday sitcom lineup?

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

April 15, 2011

HBO's "Game of Thrones" is dense, demanding, a stern taskmaster of a show
Avoid HBO's new fantasy series if you like passive entertainment, warns Matt Zoller Seitz. "The difference between watching most other TV shows and this one is the difference between making yearly visits to another country for a couple of days at a time versus packing up and moving there," he says. "It's set in a mythical, quasi-European alternate universe of squabbling feudal kingdoms. The network of central relationships is so dense that if you haven't read Martin's fiction, it might help to keep the series' HBO Web page open while you watch, the better to answer such questions as, 'Why does the king hate that guy?' and 'Who the hell is that?'"
Too many storylines and characters may scare off those not up to the challenge
First 10 minutes are like a celebration of cable with HBO sex and bloody violence
"Thrones" has an ugly edge not seen on other fantasy series
You have to wait till Episode 5 for the story to get going
Each installment could be dull, but ends in a riveting fashion
It's not just for nerds: "Game of Thrones" is accessible for non-fantasy fans
"Thrones" is "boy fiction patronizingly turned out to reach the population's other half"
A primer on "Game of Thrones" // George R. R. Martin speaks on the series
By the numbers: $50 to $60M budget, 583 crew members

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