August 2011

August 9, 2011

Jon Cryer calls Charlie Sheen drama "awful," says "Ashton was amazing"
"He took the roof off the place," Cryer said of his new "Two and a Half Men" co-star. "The man works hard for the money. It's a lovely vibe." As for the drama surrounding Sheen, Cryer says, ""I never want to go through that again. It was an awful thing to be a part of."


Ashton Kutcher will be TV's highest-paid sitcom star this season at $700K an episode

Meanwhile, TV veterans like Kiefer Sutherland, Tim Allen and Ted Danson will each earn $225,000 an episode.


Jamie Oliver's restaurant destroyed in UK riots

He tweeted of his Italian eatery: "Sadly my restaurant in Birmingham got smashed up windows all gone whole area closed, cant open, staff and customers all safe!!"


Gloria Steinem: Boycott "The Playboy Club"

The feminist icon says, who worked at the Playboy Club as part of an expose, says: "I expect that 'The Playboy Club' will be a net minus and I hope people boycott it. It's just not telling the truth about the era."


Chris Harrison: ABC lawyers were "very particular" with "Bachelor Pad" sex scenes

"The covers can't be moving," he says. "They can't be on top of each other." PLUS: Harrison claims Clint Eastwood is a "Bachelor" fan, Vienna & Kasey are moving in together, and "Bachelor Pad 2" debuts to solid ratings.


Dana Delaney: I plan to return to "Desperate Housewives"

"We don't know if it's for sure – it's all about scheduling," says the busy "Body of Proof" star. "We'll make it happen. I just want to resolve things. I would like Katherine to be happy. And gay – I want her to stay gay."


"Top Chef" confirms 3 Texas cities for next season

Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.


HBO unveils the "Boardwalk Empire" Season 2 trailer

Take a walk down the boardwalk with Nucky Thompson.


Watch Pia Toscano's music video

The "Idol" alum's "This Time" comes out on the same day as "Idol" champ Scotty McCreery's video.


When did "Desperate Housewives" jump the shark?

Was it last season or the pilot episode?


"Sons of Anarchy" is halfway done with its hoped-for 7 seasons

Says Kurt Sutter: "It was brought to my attention the other day that if we get the luxury of playing out our seven season arc, we are halfway to completing that task."


"Chuck" nabs alums from "Lost" and "Smallville"

Jeff Fahey and Justin Hartley will guest on the 2nd episode.


VH1 documentary will examine the connection between hip-hop and cocaine

"Planet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation" airs next month, featuring RZA, Snoop Dogg and B-Real.


Sofia Vergara's "little sister" isn't actually her sister

Sandra Vergara, who Maxim billed as the "Modern Family" star's little sister, is actually Vergara's cousin, though they were raised in the same family.

[Permalink]

TUESDAY ODDS & ENDS

August 9, 2011

Hulk Hogan goes on BBC to address the London riots

"America's Most Wanted's" John Walsh to receive the Emmy Governors Award

Why Lily Tomlin turned down "Old Lesbian" role on "The L Word"

An American guy competes on a Chinese dating show with 100M+ viewers

Sarah Chalke signs 20th Century Fox TV development deal

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

August 9, 2011

"Where's Charlie?" bumper stickers pop up throughout L.A.
Charlie Sheen apparently has some diehard fans, or at least one fan. PLUS: Ashton Kutcher jokes his "Two and a Half Men" characters is "somewhere between an alien and Jesus Christ."


Emeril Lagasse: "Top Chef's" newest judge

He'll be joined by "Top Chef Masters" alum Hugh Acheson on next season's judging panel.


NBC developing a "Frankenstein" drama

Two "House" exec producers are behind the project, focusing on a modern-day Frankenstein.


"The Wire's" Snoop pleads guilty, insists she would've been found "not guilty"

Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, told reporters: "I have things to do, I have to move on with my life."


Lifetime orders "America's Supernanny"

The eight-episode series is being touted as "the first true U.S. version of the hit global format that will feature an American homegrown nanny."


TCM to mark 9/11's 10th anniversary with American films chosen by first responders

A former member of the FDNY and a retired member of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency will select the films airing on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. They include "Casablanca," "Mister Roberts," "All the Young Men" and "Red River."


Holly Robinson Peete: I may be out at "The Talk"

In wake of Sharon Osbourne's temporary leave, Peete says CBS has yet to pick up her option for next season.


"The Hills": The movie?

Audrina Patridge says a big-screen version of the MTV reality show could happen.


Lisa Edelstein reflects on her "House" exit

"It was very sad and very disappointing and a really difficult decision to make," she says. "But ultimately I felt like it was the best thing for me to do for myself and for my business. I'm really looking forward to some of the great things I have on my plate right now."

[Permalink]

August 9, 2011

"Teen Mom" Jenelle Evans arrested
The 19-year-old was taken into custody for violating her probation. See her mugshot.


Scott Wolf joins the "NCIS" season premiere

He'll play FBI Agent Casey Stratton, a role that could recur all year. PLUS: CBS wins dismissal of part of "NCIS" spinoff lawsuit.


"Idol" winner Scotty McCreery debuts his first music video

Watch "I Love You this Big," which was shot on tour.


86-year-old contestant sues "The X Factor"

Hyman Marks, 86, is suing the show with his 78-year-old wife and 54-year-old son, claiming that  going through "The X Factor" audition is too physically demanding that they were too exhausted to perform.


Ashton Kutcher & Demi Moore threw a "Two and a Half Men" party for cast and crew

They rented out the backroom of a club to celebrate wrapping the first episode. PLUS: Charlie Sheen says: "I think Ashton's gonna kill it."


"Gilmore Girls" creator eyeing a TV comeback with "The Nanny Diaries"

With an ABC deal, Amy Sherman-Palladino is adapting the 2002 book that became a 2007 movie starring Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti and Alicia Keys.


Andy Cohen got paid more than a million for his memoir

The Bravo star signed a "low seven-figure" deal.


"Celebrity Rehab" co-creator regrets the VH1 show

Bob Forrest doesn't like the way the show has evolved. "I don't like the editing of it," he says. "I don't like that they show the same thing over and over again. I don't like what it's become, technically."


Jennifer Love Hewitt reportedly went on a date with "The Bachelorette" runner-up

According to Life & Style, Hewitt flew to San Francisco over the weekend to have dinner with Ben F.


"The Lincoln Lawyer" poised to become an ABC series

ABC has ordered a script based on the Matthew McConaughey movie.

[Permalink]

August 8, 2011

Syfy cancels "Eureka" and the 6-episode Season 6
Season 5 will be "Eureka's" last. "After painstaking consideration, we have had to make the difficult business decision to not order a season six of 'Eureka,'" Syfy said in a statement.

August 8, 2011

Will ABC show "Bachelor Pad 2" sex?
Vienna Girardi and Kasey Kahl hint that they slept together on the show, and creator Mike Fleiss has said this will be a boundary-pushing season. Says Kasey: "If Disney wants to air some people sleeping together because they’re a family network – that’s on Disney, not on us." PLUS: Vienna's old nose will appear on "Bachelor Pad," and Chris Harrison slams Obama.


Felicity Huffman hopes she doesn't end up in "acting jail" after "Housewives"

Huffman jokes she may leave acting altogether once the series wraps up. "Some people say I'm crazy," she says, 'but you go into acting jail at the end of these things, because it's hard for people to see you as anything else but Lynette Scavo or whatever it is, so I think it's unwise to kind of look at the carnage of past television actresses around you and go, 'Well, it's not going to happen to me,' 'cause I think it probably will. Which is why I'm planning to open supermarkets and gas stations." PLUS: Meet Vanessa Williams' "Desperate" new man.


Networks are getting a windfall of TV ad money, despite the bad economy

"We don't see any signs of a deceleration right now," says the CEO of NBC Universal.


"Game of Thrones" adds a UK "Skins" standout and British soap star

The now-redheaded Hannah Murray, who played Cassie on "Skins," will play Gilly, while Karl Davies will take the role of Alton Lannister.


Richard Marx pops up on IFC's "Commercial Kings" — pitching colonics

The adult contemporary singer agreed to star in a colonics commercial for Rhett & Link.


"The Dana Carvey Show": Read an oral history with Stephen Colbert & Steve Carell

Robert Smigel, Jon Hamm and Carvey himself also talk about the rise and fall of the mid-90s sketch-comedy show.


ABC's "Suburgatory": Inspired by "Desperate Housewives"

The ABC comedy's creator also says it's "more satirical" than "Pretty Little Liars."


Watch "Idol" runner-up Lauren Alaina's new music video

Titled "Like My Mother Does."


Matthew Perry reveals his favorite Chandler line on "Friends"

"Joey, you have to stop the qtip when there is resistance!"

[Permalink]

August 8, 2011

Justin Chambers is unsure if he'll stick with "Grey's Anatomy"
"I don't know if I'll go farther," he says. "I don't know if the show will go farther. When we get to that point, we'll go from there…"


"Dexter" is moving back to his old apartment

Season 6 will also have "Dexter" moving into an adjoining apartment for baby Harrison.


ESPN hires Jerry Rice

The "Dancing" champion will become an NFL analyst on "SportsCenter" and other ESPN shows.


Christopher Gorham gets a new "Covert Affairs" girlfriend

"The Chicago Code's" Devin Kelley has landed a recurring role on the USA drama.


Even more "True Blood" stars make "It Gets Better" PSAs

Check out the latest PSAs by Joe Manganiello, Janina Gavankar, Deborah Ann Woll and Sam Trammell.


FEARnet orders its first original series

The horror channel has greenlighted "Holliston," a buddy comedy starring a pair of genre filmmakers.


"Masterpiece" to air an "Inspector Morse" prequel

Titled "Endeavor," the prequel will mark "Morse's" 25th anniversary.


Has "Breaking Bad" become more or less plausible?

Are there holes in Season 4? PLUS: "Bad" delivers a compelling episode.


"Moesha" coming to DVD

The first season of the late-90s UPN sitcom starring Brandy Norwood will be released as part of Amazon's CreateSpace program.


"Saved by the Bell" voted the best school TV show ever

"Beverly Hills 90210" came in 2nd place, according to a survey by Bing.


HBO introduces us to real-life "Superheroes"

Tonight's documentary follows the people who aim to live a comic book life.

[Permalink]

August 8, 2011

"The Wire's" Snoop to plead guilty to distributing heroin
Felicia "Snoop" Pearson's attorney expects her to get probation for the misdemeanor crime.

August 8, 2011

Tim Allen: ABC is "leaner" and "cheaper" compared to the '90s
"Everything is, I don't want to say cheaper, but I just did," the "Last Man Standing" star told critics this morning. "There's less revenue, there's less of everything so you've got to do better with less." He adds: ""Sometimes leaner is better. In this case it's not." PLUS: Allen says: "I really wanted to flip-flop 'Home Improvement.'"


"Extreme Couponing" blamed for a rise in newspaper thievery

From Alabama to California, more and more people have been stealing newspapers since the TLC reality show debuted in April.


Bravo's Andy Cohen is writing his memoir

The biography will detail Cohen's love of pop-culture as well as growing up repressing his sexuality.


"Law & Order's" Linus Roache surfaces on "SVU"

Former ADA Michael Cutter will now oversee the Special Victims Unit.


"All My Children" snags a cameo from its creator

Agnes Nixon first appeared on "AMC" in 2005.


"Urkel" is Cee-Lo Green

Jaleel White plays "The Voice" star in Cee-Lo's new video "Cry Baby."


"Weird Al" Yankovic hooks up with Comedy Central for a concert special

He'll star in "'Weird Al' Yankovic Live," his first televised TV concert in a decade.


"Apu" buys a house from "Homer Simpson"

Dan Castellaneta sold his Pacific Palisades home to fellow "Simpsons" cast member Hank Azaria for $5.5 million.


"Sesame Street" names this year's celeb guests, from Sofia Vergara to Craig Ferguson

Other guests include Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Carmelo Anthony, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Mark Ruffalo, Seth Rogen and George Lopez.


Kurt Warner joins NFL Network full-time

The former "Dancing" star will join a number of NFL Network program this fall.

[Permalink]

August 8, 2011

Report: Steven Tyler jealous of Jennier Lopez's impending "Idol" raise
Tyler is tied to a deal paying him $10 million a year, and J.Lo's $20 million a year deal has prompted him to ask "Idol" for more money, according to Page Six.


All-star "Project Runway" unveils new judges, new mentor, new host, returnees

Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman will judge, Angela Lindvall will fill in for Heidi Klum, Marie Claire editor-in-chief Joanna Coles in the Tim Gunn role, and the all-stars will include Austin Scarlett and Mondo Guerra.


"Castle" going "Ghostbusters" with Dan Aykroyd for Halloween

"We're planning a Ghostbusters-themed episode to air on Halloween night," says exec producer Laurie Zaks, who also reveals that "Castle" is planning its first Christmas episode.


Nicollette Sheridan: I'm not returning to "Desperate Housewives"

"I loved her dearly, but they killed her! She's dead," she said this morning on "Today."


Lifetime nixes Serena Williams' nail salon reality show

The pilot was to feature the tennis star giving Oprah a manicure.


Gordon Ramsay sues his wife's entire family

Ramsay filed suit on Friday against his wife's father, mother, sister, brother, brother's wife and her father's alleged mistress over claims his father-in-hacked into his private e-mails and stealing millions of dollars.


Check out Jon Hamm as a "Mad Men" director

Directing Peggy Olson in shorts.


Groupies flock to Larry David

At a recent Rolling Stone party, more women surrounded the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star than Alexander Skarsgard.


Cory Monteith has no idea what's happening to him on "Glee"

Is he graduating or not? "I don’t know. You’ll have to find out," he says. "They don't tell me anything on the set!"


Kevin McKidd joins Twitter

The "Grey's Anatomy" star is also tweeting today to save the children.


Charlie Sheen: "It is going to be amazing to witness my own funeral"

Sheen says Ashton Kutcher replacing him is a "win/win" situation because Ashton has given me a 10th" life.

[Permalink]

August 7, 2011

"Desperate Housewives" stars react: Felicity Huffman "really sad"
"I wasn't exactly shocked but you always hope for the best, so I was really sad," Huffman said Sunday in reaction to "Desperate's" cancelation. Added Marcia Cross: "I think Marc is right; this is the time; this is the moment." PLUS: Will Nicollette Sheridan make up and come back?, and Dana Delany wants to return.


ABC's new identity: Home to empowered women and weak little men

As Ken Tucker notes, "ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee has set out a passel of new shows that are consciously going for a theme that’s a bit daring. Boiled down, it amounts to: Women smart and strong, men dumb and weak."


"It's Always Sunny's" Fat Mac has dropped 25 to 30 pounds

Rob McElhenney is getting closer to his skinny weight after packing on 50 pounds — healthily, as it turns out, thanks to baseball player Chase Utley.


Is Erin Andrews dating a "Cougar Town" star?

The "Dancing" alum/ESPN star has been "hanging out" lately with Josh Hopkins.


Ellen DeGeneres, 53, and 33-year-old Ashton Kutcher win Teen Choice Awards

Meanwhile, "Glee" won choice TV comedy, with 29-year-old Cory Monteith winning as choice TV star.


Ashton Kutcher covers Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream"

Watch the "Two and a Half Men" star's Teen Choice Awards acceptance speech. PLUS: Ashton winning over "Men" crew.


Glee's" Dot-Marie Jones is on crutches

The actress who plays Coach Beiste fractured her foot on Saturday. PLUS: Jane Lynch cut from "Glee" concert movie.


Who will be the new "Grey's Anatomy" Chief?

James Pickens Jr's old job will be filled by either Kevin McKidd, Patrick Dempsey, Sara Ramirez, Eric Dane or Chandra Wilson.


Benjamin Bratt will play a fertility doctor on "Private Practice"

"And not just a fertility doctor," says Bratt, "but someone who is quite accomplished and up to speed with cutting-edge technology and procedures."


NBC's "Friends with Benefits" was "dumped in a ditch"

As the NY Times notes, "Two years after it was first announced, 'Benefits' surfaced last week on NBC — in August, on a Friday night, on the heels of a feature film with the same title." (Watch the pilot and the 2nd episode)

[Permalink]

August 7, 2011

"Pan Am": Our stewardesses are sending a message of female empowerment
"It was part of the irony of the profession," says creator Jack Orman. "It was a coveted position at the time for young women. They needed to be college-educated and speak several languages. They were really pioneers. The fact that they had to be subjected to girdle checks and weigh-ins adds a certain realism, but also a dramatic push."


ABC Daytime president: Outcry over soap opera cancelations is a good thing

"I think we've spent 40-plus years trying to keep the soap-opera audience happy," says ABC's Brian Frons. "So in an odd way, (the outcry) is actually good. It's just sad that we don't have a solution." PLUS: "The Chew" producers respond to soap cancelations.


Could our weak economy make ABC's "Revenge" a hit?

Madeleine Stowe thinks so: "We're dealing with a particular time in American history where I think the average citizen is going to want to see the takedown of the rich," she says. PLUS: Emily VanCamp ready to carry a TV show for the first time.


"Lost's" Damon Lindelof served as a mentor to ABC's "Once Upon a Time"

"Damon has been a godfather to us," says exec producer Edward Kitsis, who worked on "Lost." He also says of Lindelof: "His name is not on the show but he's in the DNA of the it," Kitsis said. "He helps when he can and when necessary he gives us tough love."


ABC's cross-dressing "Work It" getting a lot of buzz

ABC entertainment president Paul Lee is so proud of the show he considered going before TV critics dressed as a woman.


New "Charlie's Angels" will be darker, more grounded than the original

"If Jack Bauer and Carrie Bradshaw had a love child, it would be (the new) 'Charlie's Angels," says exec producer Al Gough. PLUS: "Smallville's" Michael Rosenbaum lobbying to play "Charlie's" voice.


Connor Paolo: I don't think I'll return to "Gossip Girl"

Now starring on ABC's "Revenge," Paolo says: "I don't know how I can do it. I'm here. I have to move out here now; I don’t know how’d that work."


"The Lying Game": We're not like CW's "Ringer"

Producers of the ABC Family series addressed similarities it has with the Sarah Michelle Gellar drama.

[Permalink]

August 7, 2011

ABC confirms end of "Desperate Housewives," says it wants a "victory lap"
"Desperate" creator Marc Cherry was on board with the decision. "I think the only thing harder than creating a ht show is to know when to end it," said Cherry. "It's something that has weighed on my mind for some time. I'm well aware of people who have overstayed their welcome, and I just didn't want that to happen to us. I wanted to go out while the network still thought it was a viable series and while it still did well in the ratings; I wanted to go out in the classier way possible."


Aziz Ansari lashes back at "racist" audience member

At a club Friday night, the "Parks and Rec" star was asked by a female audience member, "Why don't you have a red dot on your forehead?" To which he responded, Why don't you have a "c— on her forehead."


"Glee's" Naya Rivera: I'm graduating on "Glee"

She adds "I don't think it's a thing."


ABC will reveal the next "Dancing" cast during "Bachelor Pad"

The stars will be announced on Aug. 29.


"Ron Swanson" sings: Check out TCA Award photos

"Parks and Recreation" star Nick Offerman hosted last night's ceremony, bringing out his guitar to sing a song in the tune of Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line."


ABC bans smoking on "Pan Am"

Though passengers did smoke in the '60s, "it's the one revisionist cheat," says exec producer Tommy Schlamme.

[Permalink]

August 6, 2011

TCA Awards go to "Friday Night Lights," "Game of Thrones," "Ron Swanson"
"FNL" won program of the year at Television Critcs' Awards, while "Thrones" was named best new show. "Modern Family's" Ty Burrell and Nick Offerman from "Parks and Recreation" tied for individual achievement in comedy, while Jon Hamm was honored for individual achievement in drama. Best drama went to "Mad Men" and "Modern Family" picked up the honor for best comedy.

August 6, 2011

"Rescue Me" team working on a Denis Leary sitcom
Peter Tolan and Leary, whose last comedy was ABC's "The Job," hope to put Leary back in the comedy world.


Seth Rogen joining "The League"

He'll play the infamous Dirty Randy next season. PLUS: "The League" reveals plan B for the NFL lockout, and Will Forte will also guest-star.


"House" will jump 1 whole year from last season

"The advantage of going forward a year is that everything's changed," says David Shore, "and changed dramatically."


"It's Alway Sunny's" Fat Mac: "I tried to look as ugly as possible"

Rob McElhenney explains why he packed on 50 pounds: ""It came when I was watching a very popular sitcom, and I noticed the people were getting better and better looking as the seasons were going on … I always thought that what we were trying to do on Sunny was the deconstruction of the sitcom."


Comedians voice support for Jerry Lewis

"If this is the way we're going, we should also tell grandpa we don't need him for Thanksgiving," says Miller.


It's a "Saved by the Bell" reunion

Zack Morris & Kelly Kapowski, together again!


"24" alum Francesco Quinn dies at 48

The son of Anthony Quinn, who played Syed Ali on Season 2 of "24" and also guested on "The Shield" and "The Glades," died of a heart attack today while playing with his kids in Malibu.

[Permalink]

August 6, 2011

Charlie Harper's "Two and a Half Men" cause of death revealed
TMZ reports that the death has something to do with meat. PLUS: CBS releases a photo of the cast after last night's taping.


FX renews "Louie" and "Wilfred," and gives "Sunny" 2 more seasons

FX president says Season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is hilarious. "Legitimately I think it's their funniest season so far. … It's just uproariously funny," he says. The two-season pickup, to nine seasons, makes "Sunny" the longest-running live-action comedy in basic cable history. PLUS: FX inks $50M deal with "Sunny" creators.


3 "Wipeout" crew members arrested

Sheriff deputies visited the ABC show set and found three parolees with violations, ranging from narcotics to firearms.


"Rescue Me" boss drops his pants

TV critics were stunned to see co-creator Peter Tolan's green speedo this morning.


"Sons of Anarchy" goes back to basics in Season 4

"This season feels different, but splintered in another way," says Katey Sagal. "There's a lot of internal struggle that goes on this season." PLUS: "Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter doesn't regret anti-Emmy tweets.


"American Horror Stories" will have 8 cliffhangers in its pilot

The FX series, says Ryan Murphy, "was never really about horror. It really was about marriage and infidelity. It permeates all the characters, they all experience different points of view on that topic."

[Permalink]

August 6, 2011

Ashton Kutcher tapes his first "Two and a Half Men" episode — how'd it go?
How Charlie Harper died was not revealed at last night's taping of the season premiere, the first Charlie Sheen-less episode, according to TMZ. "As for Ashton," TMZ notes, "most of the audience liked him. We're told he and (Jon) Cryer had good chemistry — and Ashton went out of his way to interact with the audience.  At one point he snuck into the crowd and surprised a woman with a back rub." One audience member, though, thought Kutcher was a little dry. PLUS: Sheen says he'll watch Charlie's funeral.

August 5, 2011

Pepsi's Super Bowl ad with "X Factor" winner can't acknowledge "The X Factor"
NBC won't allow a commercial promoting a show on a rival network.


Mark Burnett: Emmy's death reel will be less of a "bummer" this year

"One thing about being in this business is people can enjoy your work after you're gone," he says. "I'm looking of it being a more of a raise-up than a bring-down."


Jane Lynch promises to tamp down on Sue Sylvester at Emmys

"It's definitely going to be more me than Sue Sylvester," she says. "In fact, if Sue were hosting, I don't think many people would watch it, because a little of Sue goes a long way."


Flavor Flav & Dee Snider to engage in "Celebrity Wife Swap"-ing

They'll swap lives in ABC's midseason spinoff.


Native American former NBC employee sues for harrassment

Faruq "Peter" Wells, who worked on "Jimmy Fallon," "Dr. Oz" and "Today," claims employees taunted him with an Indian doll.


"Terra Nova" emphasizing character over special effects

"If you don't love this family after the first hour, it really doesn't matter how the dinosaurs look," says exec producer Jon Cassar. PLUS: "Terra Nova" will avoid "the butterfly effect."


Maria Menounos: My goals included working with Dr. Drew and Mario Lopez

The two were on her short list of people she wanted to work with one day, which she'll do on "Extra" and "Dr. Drew's Lifechangers."


Kal Penn compares working at the White House with working on TV

The former "House" star is jumping back into acting with a role on "How I Met Your Mother" and a development deal with NBC.


Jimmy Kimmel pays tribute to Jerry Lewis

Watch Lewis "greatest' moments. PLUS: An appreciation of Jerry Lewis.


NFL Films' 94-year-old founder enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Ed Sabol enters the Hall Saturday in a tough time. Not only did he recently survive pneumonia, but his son and close collaborator, NFL Films president Steve Sabol, is recovering from a tumor. Still, Sabol will be celebrated on Saturday for playing a big role in elevating the NFL into the position of America's No. 1 sport with iconic made-for-TV films. PLUS: Watch how Ed Sabol changed the NFL.


IFC's "Whisker Wars" documents the battle over facial hair supremacy

From the producer of "Deadliest Catch" and "Ice Road Truckers" comes a show documenting the pageants for craziest beards.

[Permalink]

FRIDAY ODDS & ENDS

August 5, 2011

Simon Cowell predicts: "The X Factor" will become America's No. 1 show

A sing-off? Nigel Lythgoe mulls making "Idol" voting more "SYTYCD"-like

Ex-Charlie Sheen galpal Bree Olson lands a Canadian TV show — about a porn band

Newport Beach police are searching for the "Ashton Kutcher bandit"

More mysterious Stephen Colbert art posters surface in NYC

[Click to read the rest of Odds & Ends]

August 5, 2011

Happy 100th birthday, Lucille Ball!
Saturday would've been Ball's 100th birthday, but it wasn't until exactly 60 years ago that she became a bona fide star with the premiere of "I Love Lucy." In fact, Ball "was probably one of the hardest-working actresses in Hollywood" in the two decades she worked in Hollywood before doing "Lucy," according to biographer Kathleen Brady. Ball had, she says, an "extraordinary perseverance, whether it was about getting pregnant or becoming a major star. Somehow it took a long time to come together for her."
Why Lucille Ball still matters // TCM to air a 24-hour Lucy marathon Saturday
Lucille gets a comic book // Check out vintage photos of Ball
Baseball team honors Lucille Ball (and Desi) // Lucy lookalikes gather
The woman behind Lucille: Madelyn Pugh Davis, who died in April
Google's home page celebrates Lucy with a special Google Doodle

[Permalink]