August 2011

Obama's request to address Congress next Wednesday in primetime gets rejected
House Speaker John Boehner, citing logistical problems, says he's rather have the president address a joint session of Congress on Thursday of next week — when the NFL season kicks off — rather than Wednesday. Obama's request drew criticism because it conflicted with the GOP debate.

ABC to air unsealed Jackie Kennedy interviews
"Jacqueline Kennedy: In Her Own Words," airing on Sept. 13, will cull from eight hours of unreleased candid audio interviews with the former first lady.

Alyssa Milano welcomes a baby boy
Milo Thomas Bugliari was born this morning, weighing 7 pounds.

History channel interviews President Obama for "Targeting Bin Laden" special
The two-hour special, airing Tuesday, will recall the Bin Laden raid.

"Sons of Anarchy" hosts a "Shield" reunion
"The Shield" alums Benito Martinez and David Rees Snell will appear in multiple episodes this season. PLUS: "Sons" cast gathers for season premiere.

Gag order denied in Charlie Sheen's lawsuit vs. Warner Bros.
Sheen will now be free to talk about his court case publicly.

NBC remaking "Romancing the Stone"
The 1984 Michael Douglas-Kathleen Turner film is set to be adapted as a TV series.

Claim: "Dancing" bans "Real Housewives"
Several of the Bravo stars have tried to join the ABC reality show with no success.

"True Blood" vs. "Game of Thrones"
Why one HBO fantasy series is failing while another is finding success.

Report: Taylor Armstrong wants FBI to investigate her husband and friend's suicides
Could there be any criminal connections behind the deaths of Russell Armstrong and, soon after, his business associate?

Don Cheadle is Captain Planet
Watch the Showtime star's Funny or Die video also starring Brenda Song and "Community's" Gillian Jacobs.

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Cat Deeley: Ryan Seacrest should win the reality host Emmy, not me

Watch the "Five" cancer drama trailer from directors Jennifer Aniston & Demi Moore

Anderson vs. Conan: Anderson Cooper feuding with Conan over best TV hair

Letterman does an 18th-anniversary "Late Show" Top 10 list

Julianne Hough's hackers are part of a Wikileaks-inspired group called "Hollywood Leaks"

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Obama is set to interrupt primetime next Wednesday
The president plans to unveil his new jobs package before a joint session of Congress Sept. 7 at 8 o'clock ET — the exact same time that Brian Williams is scheduled to host NBC's live GOP debate.

T.I. gets out of prison, lands a VH1 reality show
The series, premiering Dec. 5, will follow the rapper as he adjusts to life as a free man.

James Franco returns to "General Hospital," covered in blood
Why was he all bloody on set?

TCM taps Winona Ryder as a guest host and guest programmer
And starting tomorrow, Illeana Douglass will also guest host Turner Classic Movies.

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Bravo: We're going ahead with "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" premiere Monday
Russell Armstrong's suicide won't delay Season 2. PLUS: Bravo will air suicide prevention PSAs during "Real Housewives" and a special interview with cast members to introduce Monday's premiere.

"Dancing with the Stars" reveals partners, including Maksim's brother
Chaz Bono will dance with Lacey Schwimmer, Ricki Lake gets Derek Hough, Nancy Grace will get newbie Tristan MacManus and Maksim's brother Val will dance with Elisabetta Canalis.

"Amazing Racers" revealed, including "Survivor" champs Ethan Zohn & Jenna Morasca
New twists this season include the "Hazard" and the first-ever double elimination. PLUS: Meet the cast.

"Community's" Danny Pudi coming to "Chuck"
Details of his role are being kept under wraps, but it should be more considerable than his brief "Cougar Town" cameo last season.

"Britain's Got Talent" dumps David Hasselhoff
The former "America's Got Talent" judge is being blamed for low ratings on the Simon Cowell talent contest.

Alec Baldwin shows off his girlfriend on Letterman
Introducing Hilaria Thomas.

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HBO orders Mike Tyson-inspired boxing drama from Spike Lee, "Entourage" creator
"Da Brick" will be like an "Entourage" version of the life of Tyson, who will serve as exec producer.

Not all "Dancing" fans are thrilled with Chaz Bono's casting
Hundreds of commenters expressed distaste with the transgender star's involvement this season on ABC's message board.

Party bus driver files charges against Matthew Fox
The Cleveland prosecutor's office is reviewing Heather Bormann's complaint against Fox after she says "he got me pretty good" early Sunday morning.

Watch Ed O'Neill's TV wives honor him at Walk of Fame ceremony
"I want to tell Eddie, he's one lucky mo-fo," said "Peg Bundy" Katey Sagal. "Here he's got these two beautiful women that he's had in his life, hopefully this one as long as he's had me." She added, gesturing toward Vergara, "and I'm sure he will." PLUS: Josh Gad from "Book of Mormon" to guest on "Modern Family."

Ron Artest: I'm "Dancing" because of my cancer-survivor daughter
"At first it was not appealing," says the L.A. Lakers star, adding: "but my daughter Diamond was like, Daddy, you should do it."

NBC will make all London Olympics events live, at least online
But the Peacock will make primetime the focal point of its coverage, as it does every Olympics.

"The Blues Brothers" TV show in the works
John Belushi's ex-wife is teaming with ex-"SNL" writer Annie Beats on a pilot script, with Dan Aykroyd set to play a parole officer.

Snooki recalls her Italian cop car accident
"I swear to God the brakes gave out," she tells Jay Leno.

Has "Jeopardy!" evolved to reflect the nation's shifting intelligence?
"Jeopardy!," says GQ "is a kind of arbiter of normalcy, a barometer of what we're expected to know."

Chris Noth, Neve Campbell close to joining "Titanic" miniseries
They're eyeing "Blood and Steel," an Italian-produced miniseries on the Titanic disaster that will air to mark the 100th anniversary.

Yahoo! will roll out 8 original online shows this fall
The eight short-form series will star everybody from Judy Greer to Niecy Nash to Morgan Spurlock.

Check out "Raising Hope's" bicycle promo photo
With Cloris Leachman close to falling off the bike.

Watch "The Mentalist's" Season 4 promo
"Let the mind games begin… again."

"The Office" teases the new boss
Will it be James Spader?

"Pretty Little Liars" shocker
Did that really just happen?

Lady Gaga wore a prosthetic penis at VMAs
The singer went full method as "Jo Calderone."

"Vampire Diaries" stars submit to more sexy pics
Sexy solo pics.

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Steven Spielberg & Stephen King team up for Showtime miniseries
They'll work together on the miniseries "Under the Dome," based on King's 2009 novel.

Watch "HIMYM's" season premiere wedding promo
Who will get married in the one-hour season premiere?

"Dancing" burning questions: Will Nancy Grace be voted off first?
Will Cher appear? What about Courteney Cox? Or Kim Kardashian? PLUS: Ryan O'Neal dropped out at the last minute, David Arquette got Howard Stern's blessing to go on "Dancing," Nancy Grace feels like Cinderella, who is J.R. Martinez?, and was Queen Latifah too famous for "Dancing"?

Larry the Cable Guy: History doesn't mind when I drop my character on "Only in America"
Comedian Dan Whitney, AKA Larry the Cable Guy, says: "Sometimes there'll be an accent when I need to have an accent and be funny. Then other times, when I'm in a serious conversation, I'l drop the accent."

TLC tonight debuts "Big Sexy," a plus-size fashion reality show
Watch the trailer about big women breaking into the plus-size fashion industry.

"Modern Family" will celebrate an "Express Christmas"
The holiday episode will team Luke and Gloria, and Phil and Manny. PLUS: See Ed O'Neill's Walk of Fame star.

Jason Priestley signs on for A&E's Stephen King miniseries
He'll play the lead in "Bag of Bones."

Howard Stern's wife stars in "Mom Caves"
Check out the HGTV twist on "Man Caves," co-hosted by Beth Ostrosky Stern, debuting on Saturday.

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BBC insists there was no "Doctor Who" F-word on "Let's Kill Hitler"

Watch Neil Patrick Harris animated for Cartoon Network's "Adventure Time"

Is Nick Offerman worried that "Parks and Rec" will turn Ron Swanson into Fonzie?

Steven Seagal in more reality TV legal trouble: He was involved in a police raid with a tank

Julianne Hough's phone hacked, revealing candid Ryan Seacrest photos

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

Dick Ebersol returning to NBC Sports — as a "senior advisor"
Next year's Olympics won't be Ebersol-free, after all.

"Survivor" Rupert Boneham may run for governor of Indiana
The three-time "Survivor" contestant has been mulling a gubernatorial run for a year and a half, and he recently opened an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian nomination for governor.

"Two and a Half Men" brings back Courtney Thorne-Smith
Will she renew last season's romance with Alan Harper?

Letterman's crew celebrates 18 years
Today is the 18th anniversary of Letterman's CBS debut of "The Late Show." PLUS: Al Qaeda "members" walk out on Dave's monologue.

"Hatfields" & McCoys" adds Tom Berenger, Mare Winningham, Powers Boothe
The trio join Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton in the History channel miniseries.

LeAnn Rimes feuding with Giuliana Rancic
The E! star ticked off Rimes after calling her too skinny.

NBC releases "Community" season premiere pics
What is Joel McHale doing with that axe?

"Kendra" to team up with Jon Lovitz in Season 4
Kendra Wilkinson's E! show returns with her auditioning for a TV show with Lovitz, as well as her palling around with her "Dancing" castmates. Watch the promo.

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How lame is this "Dancing with the Stars" cast?
This is the cast that "Dancing" came up with after reportedly promising to dump D-listers from this season, yet the biggest star just might be Nancy Grace. PLUS: GLAAD gives thumbs up for Chaz Bono, "Dancing" cast parties together, and Ricki Lake was sinpired by Kirstie Alley's "Dancing."

Is Julie Chen using her CBS boss hubby to get her way on "The Talk"?
Page Six reports that Chen was behind the recent move to hire Kris Jenner and dump Holly Robinson Peete. "My husband Les Moonves can fire your asses any day," she allegedly warned her co-hosts.

Ed O'Neill's Hollywood Walk of Fame star is in front of a shoe store
Today's ceremony will honor "Al Bundy" with "Married with Children" wife Katey Sagal in attendance, as well his current "Modern Family" wife, Sofia Vergara.

Comedy Central releases more Charlie Sheen roast promos
Including "Tsunami in a Sippy Cup." PLUS: Jon Cryer won't participate on the roast.

911 call released on the discovery of Russell Armstrong's body
TMZ has obtained the 911 call on the discovery of the "Real Housewives" star's body.

Anthony Bourdain: "I feel bad" about bashing Paula Deen
"You know, I deserved the whacking I got back on that," he says, adding, "I stand by the substance of what I said."

Cee Lo Green to record on "Parenthood"
"The Voice" star is planning to use Adam and Crosby's new studio.

"Battlestar Galactica's" Ron Moore sells a Western to ABC
"Hangtown" is set in the early 1900s.

Check out the latest Alec Baldwin vs. John Krasinski commercial
The New Era "Rivalry" ad introduces "912."

"Urkel" visits "House"
Jaleel White will guest as Dr. House's fellow inmate in the season premiere.

Watch Dr. Phil's Casey Anthony parents promo
"There are millions of people in America right now who want to shake you away."

Spike TV getting out of the scripted business
"Blue Mountain State" will remain Spike sole scripted show as the cable network concentrates on reality programming.

"The Wire's" Jim True-Frost welcomes a daughter
It's the 2nd child for the "Treme" star.

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"Dancing" cast revealed: Nancy Grace, David Arquette, Carson Kressley, Chaz Bono
The 13 "Dancing with the Stars" cast members also includes Ron Artest, Kristin Cvallari, Chynna Philips, J.R. Martinez, Hpe Solo, Rob Kardashian, Elisabetta Canaliisa and Chaz Bono.

Bravo shoots "Real Housewives" Russell Armstrong suicide special
"he Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast, excluding Taylor Armstrong, participated in the special that Bravo has yet to formally announced. PLUS: Taylor Armstrong and daughter are living with Kyle Richards.

VMAs deliver MTV's biggest audience ever
About 12.4 million tuned in, the best ratings in MTV history.

"Two and a Half Men" taps Judy Greer to play Ashton Kutcher's ex-wife
It's a "Miss/Guided" reunion: Greer will reunite with Kutcher, who executive produced and guested on her 2008 canceled ABC sitcom.

Judge limits Nicollette Sheridan's potential "Desperate" damages to one year's pay
A Los Angeles Superior Court urged both parties to settle in Sheridan's "Desperate Housewives" lawsuit, after limiting the damages she could win to one year's worth of pay instead of pay for the entire length of the series.

Matthew Fox's accuser says she plans to press charges
Watch party bus driver Heather Bormann describe how Fox allegedly attacked her.

Jordana Spiro joins "Dexter"
The "My Boys" alum will work closely with Colin Hanks and Edward James Olmos as part of a multi-episode arc.

"Psych" brings on Mekhi Phifer & Cheech Marin
Meanwhile, "Psych" is bringing back Jaleel White and Kristy Swanson.

Kim Kardashian's 1st music video surfaces on the web
It's for her debut single, "Jam."

Mariah Carey's secret "X Factor" shoot disrupted by Hurricane Irene
She was supposed to meet Simon Cowell at a secret location, but she couldn't fly out of New York because of the hurricane.

Watch "The Big Bang Theory's" Season 4 promo
To the tune of Rock Mafia's "The Big Bang."

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Why TV news is addicted to "weather porn"
All the hoopla and fear-mongering over Hurricane Irene demonstrated that "dread-inducing storm coverage is a profit-maker, and the formula always works," says Matt Zoller Seitz. Even the Weather Channel goes nutty during storms.

Kathy Griffin to host "Emmys Aftermath" on TV Guide Network
Says Kathy: "Shhh… don't tell anyone from TV Guide Network, but I swear I am going to say whatever I want the day after the Emmy."

Watch the "Castle" Season 4 promo
Does Beckett live?

Is too much inspirational reality TV dragging down Oprah's network?
Too much inspiration and advice is hurting the Oprah Winfrey Network, says Mary McNamara, who offers OWN some advice, including balancing the cable network out with comedy, fiction and programs with dissent. PLUS: Oprah betting future of OWN on Rosie.

"SNL" alum Darrell Hammond sues over car crash
Hammond's suit claims he suffered "severe and personal injuries" when he was involved in a three-car pileup in Long Island in June.

HBO putting "Entourage" props for sale
Starting today you can bid on fake scripts and fake posters for fake movies. PLUS: Mrs. Ari gets a name, and how did Bobby Flay do portraying "Bobby Flay"?

"Veronica Mars" alum Jason Dohring joins "Ringer"
He'll play a high school teacher on the CW series.

"MythBusters" returns Sept. 28, new season will tackle walking in a straight line
This season will also ask: "Are motorcycles better for the environment than cars?"

Judge on Israel's "Idol"-like show accused of extorting an ex-contestant
Margalit Tsanani from "A Star is Born" also allegedly sent an enforcer nicknamed "Tooth Puller" to collect money from a former contestant she managed.

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Ron Artest caught hiding his face while entering the "Dancing" studio

NBC Universal wants U.S. Supreme Court to hear "Ghost Hunters" lawsuit

"Glee" stars: Before they were famous // Happy 25th birthday, Lea Michele!

Costco selling $140 Guy Fieri Meat Variety Pack

"Sons of Anarchy" creator: I'll return to Twitter if ratings "blow up" by 20% or more

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

"One Tree Hill" gets Chad Michael Murray to return for the final season
The 30-year-old Murray will be back for the final season, but not with his TV wife Hilarie Burton.

BBC America will air the original "Free Agents" — 1 month after NBC's version debuts
The original "Free Agents," which also stars Anthony Head, originally aired in early 2009 with a cast that includes "Episodes" star Stephen Mangan.

Fred Willard visits "The Closer"
He'll appear in Episode 100 as "Santa Jack."

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Matthew Fox arrested for allegedly punching a woman in her "crotch and breast"
The former "Lost" star was allegedly drunk when he boarded a party bus, got into an argument with the female driver and punched her, she alleges, in the  "crotch and breast." In response, the woman punched him back in the face.

Jon Cryer: I become Ashton Kutcher's love mentor
He also reveals that "Two and a Half Men" will address Charlie Harper's death all season.

Mike Tyson to roast Charlie Sheen
He joins a panel that, so far, includes Steve-O, Roastmaster General Jeff Ross and Anthony Jeselnik. UPDATE: TMZ's Harvey Levin will also roast Sheen.

Did Larry David break up a marriage?
Turns out that Larry's girlfriend Amy Landecker, last week's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" guest-star whom he is seeing, is a married woman who filed for divorce from her husband in March — one month after she supposedly started dating Larry.

More "Dancing" rumors: Nancy Grace? Ricki Lake? Ryan O'Neal? Ron Artest?
Chynna Phillips and Hope Solo are also among the rumored names for "Dancing with the Stars." UPDATE: TMZ is also reporting "Dancing" Nancy Grace.

"Absolutely Fabulous" will return with 3 new specials
The 20th-anniversary specials will be co-produced by BBC America and Logo.

Hurricane Irene prevented The Situation from attending the VMAs
The "Jersey Shore" star was stranded on the East Coast for last night's event, while his fellow castmates flew to L.A. via private jet. PLUS: Watch "Jersey" security break up the Ronnie-Situation fight.

Claim: Chelsea Handler was booted from a men's restroom
What was she allegedly doing in a stall with "a dude with gold shoes"?

Christina Milian may star in an ABC Family musical comedy
In "Maid in Miami, she would play a maid with singing aspirations in a series from "Glee's" music producer.

Watch the latest "Fear Factor" accident
A contestant was strapped to a truck when it hit another car.

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This year's VMAs: The most-bleeped awards show ever?
This year's host-less ceremony was a "surprisingly enjoyable mess" with apparently no adult supervision, says Jon Caramanica. "This was," he says, "maybe the most bleeped award show in history, and certainly among the lewdest, from Lady Gaga’s opening monologue, in drag, channeling Andrew 'Dice' Clay and Denis Leary, to Cloris Leachman swapping foul talk with the cast of 'Jersey Shore,' to Justin Bieber making phallus jokes with his girlfriend Selena Gomez on the pre-show. The falling-flat toilet humor of last year’s host Chelsea Handler had nothing on this." PLUS: Lady Gaga opens the VMAs in drag and Beyonce rubs her pregnant belly.

Adam Levine: "F*ck you" to VMAs
"The VMA's. one day a year when MTV pretends to still care about music," "The Voice" star wrote on Twitter. "I'm drawing a line in the sand. F–k you VMA's."

"Big Brother's" Shelly's family gets death threats
Fans of Jeff Schroeder have allegedly been making threats against her family and 8-year-old daughter.

Simon Cowell battling L.A. Reid for biggest "X Factor" trailer?
Simon has reportedly insisted on having two trailers stocked with nine TVs, a garden and a jacuzzi.

"True Blood" vampire coming to "Castle"
Jessica Tuck will become a suspect in a murder investigation.

Watch "Sons of Anarchy's" extended Season 4 promo
Featuring Danny Trejo.

"It's Always Sunny" actress: I'm being stalked
Thesy Surface, who plays Margaret McPoyle, has told police that a person has been harassing her online, even sending a photo of a bloody finger.

Meat Loaf & Lil Jon are teaming up outside "Celebrity Apprentice"
"Jon is going to be a part of my live show in a very special way," Meat Loaf was recently heard saying.

Ellen DeGeneres joins the New Orleans Saints, for 1 day
The Saints spent the past week practicing in Oxnard, California, so Ellen decided to join them in full pads.

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MTV evacuates "Jersey Shore" cast by private jet to avoid the hurricane
Snooki, Sammi, Deena and Vinny were flown out via private jet this morning to the VMAs.

Justin Bieber revives "Punk'd" by pranking Taylor Swift
Bieber, however, won't be the new host of "Punk'd." Instead, a new celebrity will helm each episode with Ashton Kutcher as executive producer.

Russell Armstrong's business associate also committed suicide
Alan Schram was found dead one day after the "Real Housewives" star's body was found.

Watch John Goodman on "Community"
"Now you're going to feel my power."

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Report: "Dancing" will let Chaz Bono dance with a woman
After all, the only child of Cher and Sonny Bono is now legally a man.

As Hurricane Irene approaches: TV's most memorable hurricanes
From "The Simpsons'" Hurricane Neddy to "CSI: Miami's" Hurricane Anthony.

TBS buys sitcom from Breckin Meyer
The TNT "Franklin & Bash" star has sold a comedy about four buddies and their bromance.

Alton Brown: "I feel about 250"
The Food Network star talks about ending "Good Eats": "It will hold its own for awhile. We wanted to make sure they were dense, juicy and succulent and last a long time."

"Men of a Certain" gives up on finding a new home
Creators Ray Romano and Mike Royce worked hard shopping the canceled TNT series to other networks.

Louis CK: FX doesn't give me complete creative control over "Louie"
FX must see every script and approve every actor, and executives can replace him in any of his jobs at any time. Otherwise, he can do what he wants. Or as Louis CK puts it, "it's really a lack of being creatively controlled." PLUS: This week's "Louie" was the show's most expensive and ambitious episode.

CW offers a taste of "H8R"
With Kim Kardashian and Snooki.

The Roots loses a bassist, gains a new one
Owen Biddle has left "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon's" house band. His replacement: Mark Kelley.

Casting reality shows has never been more difficult
After more than a decade of reality television, just about everybody is savvy about the casting process, making it harder to find genuine people.

"Doctor Who" unveils "Let's Kill Hitler" episode
Saturday's episode is all it's cracked up to be. PLUS: Steven Moffat on "Who's" return and Karen Gillan on keeping secrets.

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Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds reuniting on a Fox cartoon
"The Proposal" co-stars are expected to lend their voices to and serve as producers on "And Then There Was Gordon."

Is Minka Kelly dating her "Charlie's Angels" co-star?
In the aftermath of Kelly's breakup with Derek Jeter, there'talk of a "growing late-night friendship" between her and co-star Ramon Rodriguez.

AMC orders "Longmire" starring Katee Sackhoff and Lou Diamond Phillips
"Matrix" star Robert Taylor is also aboard this Wyoming sheriff western, with Sackhoff as his deputy.

Apple ends TV rentals
A year after charging $0.99 to $1.99 for rentals of ABC and Fox shows, Apple has decided to bail on rentals altogether after finding that most viewers would rather buy episodes.

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