August 2011

Jon Stewart slams Britain for censoring "The Daily Show"
Stewart last night addressed the British rule banning footage of parliament on comedy shows.

GLAAD gives CW and ABC kudos for gay-friendliness; CBS at the bottom
GLAAD's annual list also ranked ABC Family as the most LGBT-friendly network.

"America's Next Great Restaurant" winner: Chipotle sabotaged my restaurant
Jamawn Woods, who is working on a settlement deal with Chipotle, says the restaurant chain hired a management team for him that had no experience whatsoever in working in soul food.

White House-crashing Salahis may go "Dancing" — in Australia
The former "Real Housewives of D.C." stars are supposedly so big Down Under that they're close to a deal to join Australia's "Dancing with the Stars."

Julie Chen delivers the Letterman Top 10
"Top Ten Reasons to Watch the New Season of 'Big Brother.'"

"Jersey Shore" + Shark Week = "Jersey Shark"
What happens when a shark appears in the hot tub? PLUS: The Situation lands 6-figure tuxedo endorsement deal.

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Alec Baldwin to host "SNL's" season premiere — Melissa McCarthy hosts Week 2
Lorne Michaels confirms it will be Baldwin's 16th time hosting "Saturday Night Live," and it will be his first hosting stint since helming the "SNL" season finale in May 2010.

NBC won't guarantee "30 Rock's" return to Thursdays
"Nothing's written in stone," says NBC entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt, when asked about "30 Rock's" return this midseason. But as far as Lorne Michaels is concerned, "The show will be back on Thursdays." Meanwhile, Greenblatt is hoping to keep Alec Baldwin aboard. "I'd love nothing more than to have Alec for the duration of the show. That's my goal. Let's see what we get," he says. PLUS: "The Office" will have James Spader appear in most, if not all, episodes next season, according to B.J. Novak.

Helen Mirren facing threats over HBO's Phil Spector movie
A group called "The Friends of Lana Clarkson," the woman whom Spector murdered, wrote a letter to Mirren warning her of "consequences at Emmy nomination time" if the film portrays Clarkson as being responsible for her shooting death.

Oprah Winfrey to receive an honorary Oscar
The 1986 Oscar nominee will be presented with a special Oscar for philanthropy on Nov. 12. PLUS: A lousy choice?

Nick Offerman stunned by his new "Parks and Rec" ex-wife
"I almost fainted," he says of the news. "How did I get cast as a guy who's been married to Megan Mullally and Patricia Clarkson?," he says, referring to himself as a "dumpy douchebag." PLUS: Why "Parks and Rec" picked Clarkson as Tammy I.

Check out Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story" photos
The FX series was screened to TV critics tonight, and it's more "Nip/Tuck" than "Glee."

Sarah Palin's hair salon gets a TLC reality show
"Big Hair Alaska" is a two-part series on the salon famous for Palin's "up-do" hairstyle.

Will the "Friday Night Lights" movie shoot in Philly or Texas?
"The trick" for the movie, says producer Jason Katims, "was to figure out a way to both honor the series and not move away from that…"

Army & Navy football teams submit to reality TV
They'll star in Showtime's "A Game of Honor," airing this December and featuring the cousin of Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu, Navy freshman Maika Polamalu.

TLC orders a "Pink Pastry" reality show
The series will follow Atlanta's Pink Pastry Parlor where "every little girl becomes a fabulous princess for the day."

Ricky Gervais teased at 50
Gervais tells Letterman he doesn't feel all that different now that he's the Big 5-0.

Shark Week opens to big numbers
The Andy Samberg-hosted event produced the best Sunday ratings yet.

Letterman grills Cat Deeley on her "SYTYCD" dancing ability
Turns out Deeley doesn't think she can dance.

Check out "The Playboy Club's" groovy poster
The 1960s promo is very colorful. PLUS: Hugh Hefner planks, and so does his bunnies.

Kelsey Grammer's dream is to run for president, says ex-wife Camille
Forget mayor: "Actually," says Camille Grammer, "he told me when I first met him that he wanted to run for president. This has been a lifelong dream for him." PLUS: "Real Housewives" stars mock Grammer.

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"House's" newest doctor: Charlene Yi
The "Knocked Up" star, a "Conan" fave, will join Dr. House's team next season.

James Spader: I won't have to work as hard as Steve Carell on "The Office"
Spader talks about how he got on "The Office" role and says his CEO role won't require that big a commitment and will allow him to work on other projects like Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln."

"Desperate Housewives" returns with the burial of a dead body
Says Felicity Huffman: "It was heavy, horrifying and disturbing carrying this fake dead body wrapped up in a table cloth."

"Alphas" gets visits from sci-fi faves: From Summer Glau to Lindsay Wagner
Garret Dillahunt, Alaina Huffman, Rebecca Mader, Brent Spiner and Peter Wingfield will also guest on the Syfy series.

"The Glee Project" is looking good for renewal
"I feel incredibly confident that we're coming back and this is certainly in my plans for next year," says exec producer Michael Davies. PLUS: Cameron talks quitting.

Chandra Wilson to direct her 5th "Grey's Anatomy's" episode
Kevin McKidd is also expected to direct an episode this season, his 2nd.

John Goodman wants to do more "Community"
The former "Roseanne" star is loving his return to sitcoms. "I really want to talk them into more," he says. "It's really enjoyable." PLUS: Chevy Chase picks Ken Jeong's nose.

Check out the poster for "Terra Nova"
With Jason O'Mara front and center.

Eliza Dushku channels "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" on "White Collar"
She says of tonight's guest stint: "What was interesting to me was that she was almost the female version of him," Neal Cafferty.

Grant Show files for divorce
The "Melrose Place" star's marriage to Scottish actress Pollyanna McIntosh is over after seven years.

"Take the Money and Run" is compelling TV — for the first 10 minutes
The ABC reality show from Jerry Bruckheimer and the creators of "The Amazing Race" is promising at first, but then it becomes very silly. PLUS: It plays on basic human urges.

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Kurt Loder on MTV at 30: "Like it or not, MTV has evolved"

Rico Rodriguez from "Modern Family" is officially a teenager

Maria Bello defends her unusual "magic hat" on "Prime Suspect"

Aziz Ansari explains the difference between an "Aziz suit" and a "Tom suit"

Warner Bros. sued by "Dukes of Hazzard" sheriff over royalties

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"The Bachelorette" hijacked with a 9-minute promo for "Take the Money & Run"
"Bachelorette" host Chris Harrison didn't seem happy with the interruption, apologizing to Twitter users while calling it a "Looonngg promo" and a "strange bizarre promo in the middle of our show."

"The Good Wife" goes naughty for Season 3 promo
Check out Julianna Margulies in a black negligee.

Peek inside the "Jersey Shore" Italy house
The lavish home includes an indoor jacuzzi and an outdoor patio. PLUS: Check out the cast leaving the Jersey "Jersey Shore" house.

Dianna Agron is happy to have a fixed nose
As she tells Letterman, the "Glee" star has broken her nose a number of times, including recently while on the dance floor during a break from the "Glee" tour.

USA hints at renewals for "Suits" and "Necessary Roughness"
"The outlook is sunny," says one USA co-president.

"Parenthood" bringing back John Corbett
Will he battle Jason Ritter for Lauren Graham's heart?

"The Marriage Ref" canceled in Britain
The UK spinoff of Jerry Seinfeld's reality show had low ratings.

MSNBC extends Rachel Maddow
Hers is the only MSNBC show with more than 1 million viewers. PLUS: MSNBC hasn't decided whether to hire Al Sharpton.

Watch TLC's "Crazy About Pippa" promo
"We explore the global phenomenon that is Pippa Middleton," says the promo for the TLC special airing next week. PLUS: Most Americans have no idea who Pippa is, some think she's a porn star.

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John Stamos teams with "Justified" creator for "Dead Lawyers"
Sony TV is attempting another remake of the project that has been developed several times over the past eight years, starring Stamos trapped in the hell of being a dead lawyer.

"The Office" will have 2 pregnancies this season
Who else, besides Pam, is expecting? PLUS: Expect more "Office" newbies this season.

"Warehouse 13" getting a 4th season
The Syfy series averages two million viewers.

Shark Week meets "The Bachelorette"
Jimmy Kimmel mashes up this week's two big TV events.

Ashley Hebert plans to have her "Bachelorette" wedding in fall 2012
"She's going to move up to New York, we’ll find a place, get settled, she'll get a job," J.P. said on Jimmy Kimmel. PLUS: Ashley was the lowest-rated "Bachelorette," Ben is dating an ex-"Bachelor" contestant, Chris Harrison wears The Mask, and Harrison says it was obvious J.P. was the one all along.

"30 Rock" won't be canceled if Alec Baldwin exits
Lorne Michaels thinks "30 Rock" can survive without Baldwin, just like "SNL" survived when Chevy Chase left.

Ricky Schroder's 18-year-old son looks just like him
Luke Schroder, who turned 18 yesterday, is following his dad into the acting business, starring in the GMC TV movie "A Mile in His Shoes" with Dean Cain.

Bravo renews "Real Housewives of Orange County," orders 4 new reality shows
Joining the Bravo lineup are "Around the World in 80 Plates," "Paint the Town," "Newlyweds: The First Year" and Thicker Than Water: The Marinos."

Alex Trebek's alleged burglar faces life in prison
Prosecutors plan to prosecute Lucinda Moyers, 56, under the "three strikes and you're out law."

Kelly Ripa: My hubby Mark Consuelos doesn't want to replace Regis Philbin
"It's our favorite rumor, because the one person with zero interest in the job would be my husband," she says.

Lorne Michaels: All "SNL" cast members will be back next season
None of last year's four new featured players will be let go.

Paul McCartney will headline the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony
McCartney won't be reuniting with Ringo Starr, nor will there be a proposed opening number by the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.

Jennifer Lopez opens up about her divorce from Marc Anthony
She tells Vanity Fair: "Sometimes it doesn't work—and that's sad. But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love."

"Damages" Season 4 is coming to DVD
Non DirecTV customers will be able to watch this season.

Pamela Anderson is the latest rumored "Celebrity Big Brother" name
This wouldn't be Anderson's first "Big Brother" experience. She appeared on India's "Big Brother," "Big Boss," last year.

January Jones writes on behalf of sharks for Shark Week
Read the "Mad Men" star's Huffington Post article. PLUS: Comedy Central celebrates "Snark Week."

"Game of Thrones" casts Theon's sister
Actress Gemma Whelan will play Yara Greyjoy.

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"Two and a Half Men's" season premiere: Charlie Harper's funeral?
The CBS comedy is expected to return with a two-parter featuring Charlie's funeral, the return of his ex-girlfriends and the introduction of Ashton Kutcher.

Report: Jennifer Lopez's "Idol" deal is done
J.Lo's money is expected to soar from $12 million to $20 million next year.

"Friday Night Lights" movie script is being written
Peter Berg says he hopes filming could begin on the film based on the TV series in 2012.

"Breaking Bad" talks: AMC wants a shorter Season 5, producers seeking a new home
Season 5 is expected to be the final season, so AMC wanted to trim the number of episodes to six to eight. But producers insisted on the standard 13, and began approaching other channels about moving the critically acclaimed series.

Lady Gaga slams "bully" Tim Gunn
"He's being a bully," Gaga says of the "Project Runway's" star's recent dissing of Clinton's pants suits.

Marla Sokoloff is pregnant
"The Practice" and "Full House" alum, who's now 30, is expecting with her musician husband Alec Puro.

Snooki sheds a tear as she wraps up "Jersey Shore" filming– for good?
Season 5, possibly the last season with the original cast, is in the can.

"Real World" alum sues "Entourage" over "Johnny's Bananas"
Johnny Devenanzio from "Real World: Key West" claims he was the first to be known as "Johnny Bananas" before "Entourage" created a fictional cartoon called "Johnny's Bananas."

Maya Rudolph will channel Oprah when she re-shoots the "Up All Night" pilot
The "SNL" vet will go from PR person to talk show host in the revamped NBC sitcom.

Rob Riggle lands on HBO
"The Daily Show" alum, as part of a development deal, will star on "Lifestyle Lemonaid," a comedy based on the real-life blog of the wife of a Hollywood agent.

New "Prime Suspect" will be less dark than the Helen Mirren original
There will be no alcoholism, like the original, but Maria Bello's character will smoke, though she is trying to quit.

"Louie" to tackle the Louis CK vs. Dane Cook feud
Louis CK has accused Dane Cook of joke-stealing, and on this week's "Louie" he'll get to confront Cook.

Read the 30-page "Real World" cast member contract
The castmates have to agree to the following terms, including "You don't have STDs, but accept that other people on the show might, "You may be humiliated and explicitly portrayed 'in a false light'" and "You may die, lose limbs, and suffer nervous breakdowns."

Josh Groban sings the Letterman Top 10
"The Top 10 Rejected Josh Groban Songs."

"Roseanne" a major inspiration to "Whitney"
Whitney Cummings says of Roseanne Barr, "Her show is one of my favorite shows ever. I didn’t necessarily look to" other comedians who had their own shows. PLUS: Whitney defends using a multi-camera sitcom format.

Jason Priestley will not only guest on "Haven" but direct it as well
He'll appear in four episodes and direct one.

Ana Gasteyer's "Suburgatory" role expands
The "SNL" alum appears in the pilot. Now she'll appear in other episodes in a recurring role.

Sean Hayes may take a role on his "Grimm" show
The former "Will & Grace" star, who just signed a deal to star in an NBC sitcom, may take a supporting role possibly "down the road." PLUS: "Grimm" could never run out of episodes thanks to more than 200 Grimm's Fairy Tales.

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Heidi & Spencer are broke and still together
Life isn't as it used to be now that the former "Hills" couple are living in Spencer's parents' beach house rent-free. "What we learned is: You can be too famous," says Spencer.

After the success of "Bridesmaids," NBC boosts Maya Rudoph
Rudolph's role on "Up All Night" will be changed to reflect her growing popularity, which may result in a reshooting of the pilot. "We decided to change the workplace all together, to give Maya a better platform to do her thing," says NBC boss Robert Greenblatt.

Craig Ferguson's journey through Paris airs tonight
With no studio and no lighting, but with Geoff and Kristen Bell.

Lucy Liu joins "Southland"
She'll join the LAPD as a "special guest star" next season.

Oprah vows that OWN "will succeed"
Asked by a Twitter user if she was "frazzled," Oprah responded: "Nope, not frazzled. And I have faith that if I do what I'm supposed to—allow it to serve my purpose, and you, the viewer—it will succeed. Everyone in the cable business told me it would take 3 years. Some said 5. I've been here a week."

Ashley Hebert: The most clueless "Bachelorette" yet
"Never in the history of the series there been as clueless a 'Bachelorette' as Ashley Hebert," says Nicole Homewood. "Ashley, who's ostensibly in the driver's seat with 25 men vying for her affections, has heard — rather than said — 'goodbye' a record three times this season. She's as cute, perky and bubbly as a golden retriever. And when she's not husband-hunting, she's finishing up her studies to be a dentist. So, it's safe to assume that she's a reasonably intelligent young woman. et's just hope that she reads dental X-rays better than she reads men."
National Enquirer claims "The Bachelorette" was fixed
Bentley ditches "The Men Tell All" // The Mask is auctioned
Check out Ashley's $16,790 dress

Has Shark Week jumped the shark?
The Discovery Channel event is become harder to watch with its "whipsaw" transitions from the graphic to the educational, argues Allison Gillmore. PLUS: Why all the fuss over Shark Week?

Starz may order "Tits in the Pits," a female NASCAR pilot
Described as the "red state 'Mad Men,'" the drama would revolve around the first female NASCAR team owner.

Felicity Huffman looked like (bleep) for her "Desperate" audition
"When you came in, you were such a mess," she recalls Marc Cherry telling her after she got the part of Lynette.

James Franco: I'm not returning to "General Hospital"
"I'm sad to say that that was a little bit of misinformation," Franco says of premature reports of his return to the soap this fall.

"The Playboy Club" will be more mild than racy
"In terms of content, it will be mild," says exec producer Ian Biederman in response to Salt Lake City's NBC affiliate dumping "The Playboy Club." "These are characters who are in a certain time and certain place. The show will be a lot of fun, it will have a ton of music and lots of energy." PLUS: There will be bathroom sex.

The Top 25 Most Stylish Comedians:Letterman, Aziz Ansari, Joel McHale
GQ's list of the all-time most stylist comics also includes Chris Rock, Steve Martin, Johnny Carson and Donald Glover.

Did NFL Network ruin NFL Films?
Ed Sabol, the founder of NFL Films, becomes enshrined in the Pro Football of Fame Saturday as his creation is struggling under budget cuts that have been forced by an NFL Network head who is more interested in following ESPN's model of sports TV.

Is PBS giving up on aggressive, quality programming?
Most of its really good programs like "Downton Abbey," says Ken Tucker, are not by design but by happy accident. PLUS: What to expect on "Dowton Abbey" Season 2.

"Doctor Who" boss listened to criticism and added a bunch of LGBT characters
"I was thinking, 'Dammit, it’s the one criticism I've ever listened to,'" says Steven Moffat. "Good point, Doctor Who should always be…" It’s not because it’s politically and morally correct. It’s right for Doctor Who, isn’t it? It’s cheeky and off-centered. And fun." PLUS: Check out "Who" graffiti.

Kal Penn reflects on his stint in the White House
Watch Penn's exit interview with "Nightline." The future "How I Met Your Mother" guest-star worked his last day for Obama last Friday.

More "True Blood" stars film "It Gets Better" PSA, including Anna Paquin
Also starring in the PSAs are Nelsan Ellis, Britt Morgan and Stephen Moyer.

Encore's "Moby Dick" is a great one
With Ethan Hawke, William Hurt and Gillian Anderson, the miniseries isn't cheesy at all. PLUS: Gillian Anderson on playing Mrs. Ahab.

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Is NBC's new boss trying to turn the Peacock into Showtime?

How "Entourage" helped evolve the "modern bro"

Photographer sues "Project Runway" over contestant's photos

From Smurfs to Ninja Turtles: Check out the cartoon-character color wheel

Why did Bill Cosby turn down the PBS documentary "America in Primetime"?

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MTV turns 30 today, but its 20th birthday celebration was even bigger
Aside from MTV on VH1 Classic, MTV isn't doing much compared to the 2001 celebration when it reunited all five original VJs. "As far as I know, MTV isn't doing anything in particular to celebrate the 30th," says former VJ Mark Goodman. "MTV doesn't want people to think about how friggin' old they are. The people watching now were so, so not born when we launched. They were light years away from being born."
Watch the first hour of MTV // MTV helped inspire a generation of girls
10 videos MTV banned // The first 30 videos // Best sci-fi music videos
An MTV timeline: From "Video Killed the Radio Star" to Snooki
The more MTV changes, the more it stays the same

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"The Voice" returns after Super Bowl, then it'll be paired with "Smash" on Mondays
"The Voice" will return on Feb. 5 after the Super Bowl, and the next night "Smash" will debut with a two-hour "Voice" as its lead-in.

NBC working on a cartoon from "The Office" boss, plus a Dick Wolf firefighter series
The Peacock has signed a deal with Greg Daniels to produce all kinds of shows, including reality TV and cartoons. PLUS: NBC orders Michael Buble Christmas special and a "Celebrity Game Night" pilot.

Joel McHale polks fun at NBC
The "Community" star joked about his show — "the Chevy Chase babysitting service — and the Peacock during this morning's TV Critics' press tour session. "NBC has a new strategy," he said. "We're going to wait for all the old people watching CBS and ABC to die. The new motto is: "Just one more step and you’ll be at the bottom of the stairs, grandma.'" PLUS: McHale calls Ryan Seacrest "the most powerful hobbit in all of Middle Earth."

NBC boss expects James Spader to put "The Office" writers back on their game
Entertainment president Robert Greenblatt says Spader "is completely different than Steve (Carell), with his own iconoclastic kind of acting style, and his character is very unique. He’s a perfect fit in that mix."

NBC wants Sean Hayes to star in a new sitcom
The "Will & Grace" star is in talks to develop a sitcom concept. In recent years, Hayes has turned to producing shows like "Hot in Cleveland" and "Grimm."

Lady Gaga guest co-hosts "The View" with custom-made index cards
Barbara Walters, 82, had to assist the 25-year-old Gaga to her "View" seat.

No "Celebrity Big Brother" for Charlie Sheen
A tabloid report that Sheen will be paid $10 million is "totally untrue," says Sheen's rep.

NBC: Mariska Hargitay will appear in every "SVU" episode next season
"It's my goal to make sure that continues past this season," says NBC entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt. PLUS: Chris Meloni's character won't be killed off.

"Turtle" topless
Check out the newly ripped "Entourage" star Jerry Ferrara without his shirt on.

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"The Playboy Club" steers away from Hugh Hefner's narration
Hef lends his voice to the pilot episode, but producers have opted to discontinue narration on the series. Hef, though, may appear in cameos in future episodes.

Robert De Niro to host CBS' 9/11 special
"9/11: 10 Years Later" is a follow-up to the Naudet brothers, who filmed the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center. The documentary will also focus on the firefighters and the changes at Ground Zero.

Kelsey Grammer wants to run for NYC mayor — when he's done acting
"I have had a great career and extraordinary opportunities," says the conservative Republican. "But I look at my political aspirations as that last piece of my life — where I hope to do something good for people and pay back a little."

Sherri Shepherd rejects "Dancing"
According to TMZ, producers were "aggressively courting" "The View" star.

ABC Family orders 22 more "Switched at Birth" episodes
Season 1 will now be comprised of 32 episodes.

Fantasia Barrino announces she's pregnant on stage
The "Idol" champ revealed the news last night during a charity concert. PLUS: Scott MacIntyre getting married.

Lewis Black joins Twitter
"The Daily Show" contributor is tweeting @TheLewisBlack after being shamed by Kathleen Madigan.

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