AMC renews "Hell on Wheels"
The renewal means five of six AMC original series have seen a Season 2.
December 2011
Melanie Amaro plans to buy a house and chicken with her $5M "X Factor" winnings
"The one we live in now sucks," she says of her current house. As for chicken, " I can't live without it. It's my favorite food." PLUS: 12.4 million watched the finale, and Steve Jones admits that "maybe I was a bit naïve going into it emotionally."
Conan O'Brien's Secret Santa present: Jon Hamm
Watch him give the gift of a "Mad Man" to one of his staffers for Christmas.
Letterman tweets his fellow (male) late-night hosts, including Jay Leno
"Let's buy a zoo!"
Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing" has evolved into a terrific sitcom
Thanks to the females in his life, Mike Baxter has been transformed.
"Doctor Who's" Matt Smith will miss "best pal" Karen Gillan
"I'll miss Karen because she's my best mate," he says. "She's mad as a box of cats but she's a firecracker!"
Festivus, in its 15th year, gets new life on Twitter
Festivus was introduced on "Seinfeld" in December 1997.
Divorced (or divorcing) moms are the all the rage on TV
From "Cougar Town" to "Mad Men" to "I Hate My Teenage Daughter," there has been a "sudden, salutary spate of mothers who are divorced (or at least separated)," says Anne Trubek. "They are so plentiful that they can be broken down into subtypes."
Jimmy Fallon plays "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" Mad Libs
With Martin Short, Jason Segel, Brian Williams, Maya Rudolph and more.
"The X Factor" crowns its 1st winner
Of course, arguablly the most deserving singer won. But there was one glitch. A runaway stair riser injured three stagehands.
"The X Factor" ending the season with a ratings whimper
Last night's performance show finale was the worst "The X Factor" had done on a Wednesday night, with the exception of Thanksgiving's Eve. PLUS: TiVo predicts a Melanie Amaro victory.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" movie dealt a setback
Things are looking bleak for the movie revamp following the exit of its first-time screenwriter.
Check out "30 Rock's" reality TV singing competition
Jenna Maroney is a judge on "Kidz Got Singing."
5-year-old "Toddlers & Tiaras" star: My 3-year-old rival dresses like a "hooker"
Isabella Barrett, 5, was slamming the girl who dressed as Julia Roberts.
Mario Batali dragged into a sex harassment lawsuit
The TV chef is accused of inaction after one of his waiters complained that his co-workers were torturing him with masturbation jokes and butt-slapping.
Is "Weed Wars" having any impact?
So far, the TLC series has generated little outcry — except for on "The O'Reilly Factor."
Actually, "Live's" ratings are pretty good without Regis Philbin
Ratings have dropped 35% since Reege left, but ratings are actually up compared to this point one year ago.
Debra Messing is living with her husband, despite separation
They are living together for their son, but will eventually move to a new living situation.
Can HBO make a comedy comeback?
The cancelation of three comedies this week showed a glaring weakness at HBO — it's inability to develop great comedies, as it did a decade ago. PLUS: Can "Veep" and "Girls" revive HBO comedy?
What "Glee" can learn from "Pretty Little Liars"
Camp and character can co-exist, says AfterEllen.com. PLUS: See NeNe Leakes on the "Glee" set, plus more pics of "Glee's" "Grease" tribute.
TV grandmas sure have evolved
From "Parenthood" to "Raising Hope," today's TV grannies are defying stereotypes.
Fans of Germany's "The Office" raise money to make a feature film
Fans of "Stromberg" (the German "Office") have so far raised $1.3 million for the movie. PLUS: John Krasinski visits "Sesame Street," and happy holidays from Dwight Schrute.
Go behind the scenes of "Game of Thrones"
Here's another sneak peek at Season 2.
Ranking TV's best nightlife hangouts
From the Regal Beagle to Cheers.
Did "Being Erica" go too far with product placement?
The Canadian series, which airs in the U.S. on SoapNet, inserted a storyline revolving around Erica test-driving a Ford Focus.
Claim: Taylor Armstrong filed for divorce to get back on "Real Housewives"
According to Radar Online, Bravo banned Russell and Taylor because of his legal threats, so she filed for divorce to get back on the show.
Can "Bored to Death" survive as a comic book or movie?
Cartoonist Dean Haspiel, the inspiration for Zach Galifianakis’ character, thinks there's plenty of stores to keep the canceled HBO series going. PLUS: Inside Jonathan Ames' cramped apartment.
"American Horror Story" found a clever way to end the season
Each character, says Tess Lynch, "so far has been engaging, dealt a super backstory or, at the very least, a physical flaw that grabs your eyes in its fists, like headshot-man’s ghostly wife with her smoldering skin and billionth-degree burns. They are, sometimes unfortunately, unforgettable." PLUS: A neat ending to the season, and "Horror" goes out on a season high.
"I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" Katie Finneran is pregnant
Finneran, a mom to a 10-month-old boy, is expecting her 2nd child, also a boy.
"Funny or Die's Billy on the Street" puts a game show on the street
Premiering tonight, the FuseTV game show stars comedian Billy Eichner.
"American Horror Story" will return with a new haunted house and cast
"There will be familiar faces," says Ryan Murphy, "but there will also be new faces on the show."
Betty White to open "Monday Night Football"
She'll appear in a sketch next week called "A White Christmas" to open the season finale of "MNF" between the Falcons and Saints.
"The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" cast reunites
Everybody reunited last night except the two Aunt Vivians.
Watch the "Save Community" flash mob at NBC
Singing "Oh Christmas Troy" at Rockefeller Center, with felt goatees.
Brigitte Nielsen hospitalized, the victim of a suspected drunk driver
The former VH1 reality star was a passenger in a Porsche last night when it was struck by a Toyota.
Is MTV making a geek version of "Jersey Shore"?
Read the casting notice for "Fandom Rising," from the "Jersey" creators.
"Bored to Death" creator lost a lot of money buying drinks for his bummed fans
A full capacity crowd greeted Jonathan Ames last night at the Brooklyn Inn.
Read Stephen Colbert's editorial: He'll pay $500K for South Carolina GOP primary
Colbert wrote an Op-Ed for The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina.
Video captures "Workaholics" star jumping off a roof — and fracturing his spine
Watch Blake Anderson land on a beer pong table.
"Whale Wars" renewed
The Animal Planet series will return for Season 5.
Aaron Sorkin's "Newsroom" adds Jon Tenney from "The Closer"
He'll play Emily Mortimer's character's boyfriend. PLUS: "Newsroom" adds a "The" to the title, making it "The Newsroom."
Adam Lambert blames arrest on jet lag and vodka
Lambert wrote on Twitter: "Jetlag+Vodka=blackout. Us÷blackout=irrational confusion. jail+guilt+press=lesson learned."
"The X Factor's" Top 3 showed their talent, but the duets were weird
The pairing of the Top 3 with Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morisette and R. Kelly just seemed random.
Guy Fieri comes out with his own jewelry line
The Food Network star says his jewelry collection is "off-da-hook. It's some killer bling."
Ryan Murphy on the "American Horror Story" season finale
"I loved how it began," he says. "I loved it in the middle and I loved the end."
Louis CK's downloads hit $1M mark — $280K is going to 5 charities
The comedian detailed his donations last night on Jimmy Fallon.
Discovery Channel orders "Ragin Cajuns'"
The reality show follows the colorful people who catch shrimp in Louisiana.
Judge tosses lawsuit against Jimmy Kimmel over YouTube clip
A Hasidic Jewish man had objected to Kimmel using his YouTube clip without his permission.
"30 Rock" releases a post-Christmas clip
With Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy.
"Suburgatory's" Jeremy Sisto to become a dad again
A baby boy will soon join his baby sister.
Kris Humphries booed at Knicks game
Watch 20,000 Knicks fans express their opinion of the Kardashian star.
Adam Lambert arrested in Finland
The "Idol" runner-up was arrested in Helsinki after getting in a fight with his public fight with his boyfriend, who starred on the Finnish "Big Brother." Since nobody was injured, Lambert was released from custody.
"Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan is shopping a new dog show
Millan hopes to make an English version of his Spanish series "El Lider de la Manada" ("The Leader of the Pack"), which premiered earlier this month in Spain.
Jon Huntsman plays the piano on Letterman
The Republican presidential candidate showed his musical skills playing "Johnny Be Goode."
"The X Factor" reveals duet partners: Avril Lavigne, R. Kelly, Alanis Morisette
Chris Rene will perform with Avril Lavigne, Josh Krajcik with Alanis Morissett and Melanie Amaro with R. Kelly.
Why Piers Morgan will survive his phone-hacking controversy
"Being the next Larry King does not require a great deal of moral authority," says David Carr. "With his multiple marriages and manifest humanity, Mr. King never came to work to point a crooked finger at people."
"Jersey Shore's" Sammi removes her makeup
Check out Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola's "makeunder."
"All-American Muslim's" ratings drop 30% following Lowe's controversy
Despite all the headlines last week, ratings dropped 30% from the previous week's episode (before the controversy).
Did "The Bachelor" remove Ben Flajnik's moles?
A new headshot from ABC shows a mole-less "Bachelor."
Fox affiliates are grateful for "The X Factor"
"We have 13 weeks of another hit show to sell — it's Christmas for three months," says one Fox affiliate manager. "Then we have (American Idol) for five-plus months."
Fox orders "I Hate Your Friends"
The comedy pilot from comedian Michael Showalter and writer Christina Lee is about a couple who falls in love — until they meet each other's friends.
Facebook's new HQ features a Charlie Sheen poster
Winning!
Japanese TV network settles "Wipeout" lawsuit with ABC
The Tokyo Broadcasting System had claimed the obstacle-course game show resembled several of its shows.
"Hung's" Thomas Jane: I never was a male prostitute
In an interview with The Fix before his show was canceled, Jane clarifies an interview that strongly implied he was a male prostitute as an 18-year-old. What he was trying to say was that he had a sexually adventurous time.
"Bored to Death" creator: We actually did pretty well on HBO
Considering the series was up against "Two and a Half Men" and "Monday Night Football," Jonathan Ames says "the numbers were not weak."
"Spartacus: Vengeance": Watch the new trailer
The Starz franchise returns Jan. 27.
Showtime promoting "House of Lies" with Kristen Bell in her underwear
She nearly bares all in the new "House of Lies" promo.
Why doesn't Pat Robertson slam "South Park"?
The televangelist slammed "SNL" for its Jesus depiction, but Jesus is almost a regular character on "South Park."
Jimmy Fallon unveils a wake-up call App
Now you can have Jimmy wake you up. PLUS: Fallon's Black Simon & Garfunkel sing "All I want for Christmas."
The 12 biggest spoilers of 2011
From "Boardwalk Empire" to "Kim's Fairytale Wedding."
HBO's "Game Change": Watch Sarah Palin played by Julianne Moore
The TV film follows the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign.
"Boardwalk Empire's" Michael Pitt gets a job at Prada
He'll be the face of the Spring/Summer 2012 ad campaign.
Carson Daly's New Year's Eve show will feature Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams
The NBC special will also have Drake, Jessie J, JB Smoove, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton, The Roots and Tony Bennett.
Showtime's "Game of Honor" chronicles the Army-Navy football rivalry
The actual Army-Navy game only consumes 10 minutes of the two-hour film.
See "The Borgias" Season 2 trailer
The Showtime series returns early next year.
NFL Network celebrating Christmas with "The Longest Game Ever"
Dec. 25 marks the 40th anniversary of the NFL's longest game, between the Chiefs and Dolphins, which was played over 82 minutes and 40 seconds.
Alec Baldwin staying on "30 Rock"?: "I've lost my appetite" to be NYC mayor
Baldwin said on his radio show he won't run for may of New York City, adding that "I've got a good job" on NBC's "30 Rock." He says of "30 Rock": "Is it the most creative thing in the world? Am I doing 'The Insider' with Michael Mann? Am I doing some edgy, like finely chiseled social drama? No. Am I doing 'To Kill a Mockingbird'? No. I'm doing a sitcom. But we have fun, and it’s a family."
Helen Mirren will join NeNe Leakes on "Glee," sort of
After paying a visit to the "Glee" set, the British dame agreed to perform the "inner voice" of a character. But Mirren won't make an appearance in front of the camera.
GLAAD takes out an anti-"Work It" ad
"'Work It' will harm transgender people," says the ad in Daily Variety.
"How to Make it in America": An appreciation
Michael Weinreb admits the HBO series wasn't a very good show. "I just kind of presumed everyone else I knew was watching 'How To Make It In America' .. and we’d made a tacit agreement not to talk about it," he adds.
In Ricky Gervais' next comedy, he'll play a confused old man in an old folks' home
Gervais is working with Channel 4 in the UK on "Derek," which will feature Karl Pilkington in his acting debut, plus special guest star Sean Connery.
Ricky Gervais' "Life's Too Short" picked up for Season 2
The Warwick Davis series, which has yet to air on HBO but is finishing up in Britain will return in spring 2013. Meanwhile, Gervais has announced "An Idiot Abroad Special: The Short Way Round."
Sherri Shephard complains about the lack of black females on "SNL"
"Where's the people who can play me on the sketches?" she said on "The View" while interviewing Fred Armisen. Shephard says she's left out of "View" sketches.
Kardashian products: Made in Chinese sweatshops?
According to Radar Online, Kardashian gear is made in Chinese sweatshops. But according to their attorney Robert Shapiro, none of the Kardashian shoes were made by child labor. UPDATE: A human rights group has found no proof of "slave labor."
Conan celebrates Hanukkah with the "Human Centipede" menorah
"Happy first night of Hanukkah everybody," said Conan.
Louis CK to give proceeds from his downloads to charity?
"Please recomend a charity not in USA (gave to USA) that takes paypal," he said on Twitter.
Nearly 288,000 people have signed the Boycott Kim Kardashian petition
The BoycottKim.com petition claims Kardashian has “made a mockery of American culture.
"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Joe Giudice indicted for fraud
A grand jury indicted Teresa Giudice's husband on two counts of using a fake I.D.
"Flight of the Conchords" movie is in the works
That's according to Rhys Darby, who confirms what Bret McKenzie hinted earlier this year.
Lowe's won't reinstate "All-American Muslim" ads after receiving a 200K petition
Members of the Christian clergy in Charlotte, North Carolina met with Lowe's execs on Tuesday to ask the company to reinstate the ads.
"Live" has tumbled 35% since Regis Philbin's departure
Guest co-hosts haven't been able to help keep up the big ratings from Reege's final week.
Simon Cowell's flaw: He picked Steve Jones, Nicole Scherzinger based on looks
Here's hoping the rumors of Jones and Scherzinger's "X Factor" departure are true, says Linda Stasi. Simon, she says, has "got to stop choosing people for their looks and start picking them for their personalities, quirkiness, humor and good judgment." PLUS: Steven Tyler says "Idol" has "just a little richer mixture" of judges than "X Factor."
Should Piers Morgan's CNN job be in limbo?
CNN must be wondering what to do with Morgan after today's testimony in the British hacking scandal.
"Bored to Death" creator will buy you a drink
The real Jonathan Ames has invited everybody to the Brooklyn Inn Wednesday to say goodbye to his HBO series. "We can all toast Bored to Death and a completely loony and improbable three-year run," he says. PLUS: "How to Make it in America" star reacts to cancelation.
NBC is No. 1 in product placement
"Friday Night Lights" and "The Biggest Loser" helped give the Peacock the edge in the ranking of product placement on network TV.
ABC to meet with gay groups over "Work It"
GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign have asked ABC to pull the sitcom about two cross-dressing heterosexual men.
"The X Factor": How did it go so wrong?
Among the problems with this first season are Steve Jones (who's made Ryan Seacrest look good), the indecisive Nicole Scherzinger, the over-production, the cruelty towards children and, finally, the groups.
Vevo, the music video website, to launch a TV channel that's like the old MTV
The proposed cable channel will show music videos as well as other pop-culture entertainment.
TLC reveals suicide of "Next Great Baker" star
Sgt. Wesley Durden died in October, but his death wasn't revealed until he was eliminated on last night's episode.
Watch Pam Anderson, Dr. Drew, Jerry Springer go "undercover" on CBS
"I Get That A Lot" returns Jan. 4 with Dr. Drew, Pamela Anderson, Jerry Springer, Ty Pennington, Apolo Ohno and Pauley Perrette.
Kris Humphries gets his old NBA job back
The New Jersey Nets will re-sign its reality star for $7-8 million.
Dick Clark to celebrate his 40th "New Year's Rockin' Eve"
Clark, 82, still comes to work at his office every day, even as he continues to recover from his 2004 stroke.
"Portlandia" will tackle "Battlestar Galactica" addiction
With an episode titled, "One Moore Episode." PLUS: Fred Armisen talks about his Venezuelan, Mississippi, Japanese and German background.
Go inside Andy Cohen's apartment
The "Watch What Happens Live" star shows off his Manhattan digs.
"Batman" the 1960s series re-created with Legos
Watch the Lego version of the "Batman" intro.
Inside the "Two and a Half Men" remodeling job
Meet the show's production designer.
Planet Earth unleashes "Suzilla, The Mouth That Roars"
The new reality show follows competitive eater Suzanne French, currently 4th-ranked in the world.
"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star releases a single bashing NeNe Leakes
Listen to Sheree's auto-tuned "Who Gon’ Check Me Boo?"
Matt Damon & Scarlett Johansson sub for Anderson Cooper
Watch them try to co-host "Anderson." PLUS: Anderson converts an old firehouse into a home.
Pat Robertson slams "SNL" for Jesus-Tebow sketch: "Anti-Christian bigotry"
Said the televangelist: "If this had been a Muslim country and they had done that, and had Muhammad doing that stuff, you would have found bombs being thrown off!"
"X Factor" host Steve Jones responds to reports of his axing: "Merry Christmas, me"
"British tabloids, thank you very much for that," he tells "Access Hollywood," adding: "If I'm back, great, if I'm not, I'll do something else. Simple as that."
HBO comedies: Out with the males, in with the females?
Is there a deeper meaning to HBO's decision to renew "Enlightened," while canceling the male-skewing "Bored to Death," "Hung" and "How to Make it in America"? PLUS: "Enlightened" was least-watched of the four, so why was it renewed?
Debra Messing's marriage to "Damages" co-creator ends
The "Will & Grace" star and Daniel Zelman are calling it quits after 11 years of marriage. The couple have a 7-year-old boy.
"Terra Nova" hoping to keep key actors under contract before its fate is revealed
The cast's options expire on Dec. 31.
NBC buys family comedy from web star Kelly Oxford
The blogger/tweeter/stay-at-home mom will write the series about a divorcing family that has to live together.
Betty White's NBC 90th birthday tribute will feature an All-Star lineup
Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Carol Burnett, Hugh Jackman, Amy Poehler and Jay Leno will be among the celebs present.
HBO cancels "Bored to Death," "Hung" and "How to Make it in America"
Of the three cancelations, "Hung" had the highest ratings.
HBO renews "Enlightened"
As Laura Dern expected, her drama will be back for Season 2.
