Extremely violent TV is all the rage
"Violence in television is, of course, not new," says Greg Braxton. "What is new — at least in this class of programming — is the unsparing detail with which it's "being displayed, not to mention the inventiveness employed in showcasing the hacking, dismembering and killing. For these shows, the 'graphic violence' label before the opening credits isn't just an advisory, it's a warning."
50 Cent is headed to "The Finder"
He'll play a hip-hop mogul named Big Glade.
Stereo Hogzz: Seeing Paula Abdul cry "hurt worse" than being eliminated
"We didn't want to see her like that," says "X Factor" contestant Trace Kennedy. "I almost wanted to tell her, 'It's okay, Paula.'" PLUS: Paula has been terrible at picking groups.
Check out the new show from Oprah's "Your OWN Show" winners
"Ambush Cook" debuts in December.
"The Vampire Diaries": A guilty pleasure?
The CW "Buffy knockoff" has a rabid fanbase, but little critical love. PLUS: "Vampire Diaries" fans make "Smile Paul Wesley" a worldwide Twitter trending topic — and Wesley complies!
"SYTYCD" settles lawsuit claiming the show was stolen
A celebrity dance instructor calling himself the "Dance Doctor" filed suit six years ago, alleging "So You Think You Can Dance" was his idea.
"The Walking Dead's" Merle Dixon is a fan favorite
Michael Rooker won't say if his hands-less character will return Sunday, but he's stunned how big a following Merle has received.
"One Tree Hill" is bringing back "Skills"
Antwon "Skills" Taylor will return for the series finale.
BBC America orders more "Nerdist"
Five more episodes of Chris Hardwick's podcast show will air over the next year.
Marg Helgenberger regrets calling Justin Bieber "kind of a brat" on the "CSI" set
"I said it as part of the interview, being sort of silly. I think he's a very talented kid," she says.
Holly Marie Combs files for divorce
The "Charmed" and "Pretty Little Liars" star was married to her husband for seven years.
TLC's "All-American Muslims" is likable and engaging — unlike most reality shows
Despite the lack of controversy, the "All-American Muslim" cast is genuinely engaging. PLUS: There's nothing extraordinary about it, and that's the point.
Sarah Hyland romances her real-life boyfriend in "Geek Charming"
The "Modern Family" star's Disney Channel movie airs tonight.
"America's Got Talent" producer Simon Cowell would love to see the shock jock and Sharon Osbourne on the same judging panel. "Howard would be good for the show!" says Simon. "I think the fact that he is thinking about it either way means that there is a good shot. I know for a fact there is no deal yet." PLUS: "I'd say it's a 
Nick Offerman's "Parks and Recreation" character is very timely considering the current political landscape, says Rob Sheffield. "Part of the Swanson effect," says Sheffield, "is just how much American culture has changed in the time that 'Parks and Rec' has been on the air. Ron has existed for less than three years, but his fringe political views have turned into the Republican mainstream, if not the whole message of the primary debates, which are Parks and Rec's main comedy competition this fall." PLUS: Get your Ron Swanson 
Crystal just tweeted (though the Academy hasn't confirmed): "Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up my prescriptions. Looking forward to the show." In August, Crystal said he was 
Robert California has been neutered — he could've been a lunatic but instead he's an inscrutable eccentric, says Alan Sepinwall. Andy Bernard, meanwhile, is "not funny," says Sepinwall, "and everybody either likes him too much or feels too sorry for him for their interactions with him to be funny. In some ways, he feels like what everyone feared the American version of 'The Office' was going to be: a main character who's sort of inappropriate, but not really; who seems to annoy people, but you know they really like him, gosh darn it; who seems inept but ultimately manages to rally the troops; etc. If Michael Scott was a slightly kinder David Brent, Andy Bernard is Brent completely defanged." PLUS: Why 
The "Two and a Half Men" star is vowing to change the way he uses Twitter after tweeting 
Steve Jones talks about cutting off the judges and not hooking up with Nicole Scherzinger. As for Seacrest," he says: "A lot of people mention Ryan in the same breath as my name: 'You're going to be the new Ryan Seacrest. I wish. The man's prolific. I'm like, 'I'm sure he's worried, with $50 million in the bank, please, he could give a shit.'" PLUS: 
Said Murphy in a statement: "First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.
The 13-year-old's adoptive mother says of Rachel: "She was born a crack baby and actually lived in a crack house and suffered a lot of abuse. But she is totally unaffected by it. She never looks at (her past) in a sad way. She looks at it as that is what made her the person she is."
