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Meow Mix HouseWhat happens when there are no more fresh ideas for reality programs? Is it time to throw in the reality towel? Never fear – cats are here! Access Hollywood reports that the next reality show to hit the airwaves will feature 10 cats living in a New York house. Don’t panic – this is part of Meow Mix’s latest ad campaign, being broadcast in three-minute segments on Animal Planet, starting June 16th. The cats were selected from animal shelters, so the folks at Meow Mix hope to bring attention to pet adoptions (as well as sell more cat food, of course).

Now for the fun part. Rather than observing the cats milling around for three minutes, each week will feature a competition for the furry houseguests. Viewers vote online for their favorite and the cat with the lowest vote leaves the house… no losers in this game though. Each week, the evicted cat will move to a permanent home and get a year’s supply of Meow Mix.
The grand prize for one lucky cat is a corporate job with Meow Mix. According to the Meow Mix site, the winner will be named Feline Vice President of Research and Development, responsible for taste testing a variety of Meow Mix products.


Read More | Meow Mix House


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Bill Maher Here’s the one I’ve been waiting for! Amazon goes TV. The perpetual non-profit has taken on the tube to sell books and other goods, and Bill Maher is its host. Is book selling really all that funny? Perhaps in the “Amazon Fishbowl” anything is possible. The late-night landscape will now include interviewing artists and authors. Since these folks can pretty much express themselves as seen fit, Maher’s new TV venture will finally be “politically correct!”


Read More | The New York Times


Rumors have been circulating for months about the hit show’s next lineup—and now at least one star has been announced.  Actress Vivica A. Fox has confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that she will be strutting her stuff for Dancing with the Stars.  The actress, who will start practicing her moves at the end of July, is quite familiar with what it takes to physically prepare for a role.  She proved she was in fine shape when she starred in the popular action flick Kill Bill.  Of course, her choreography will now consist of twirling with a male partner as opposed to fighting a female adversary.  Other stars rumored for next year’s show include Mario Lopez and Harry Hamlin (Lisa Rinna’s husband).  ABC has yet to confirm any of the performer details.


Dwight's WorkspaceFans of The Office should mark their calendar for July 13th.  No, that’s not the day Dwight sells the Schrutte Family Beet Farm and moves in with his “undercover” girlfriend Angela.  It’s the day you’ll be able to get Webisodes of the office.  The former volunteer sheriff’s deputy kept a close watch on his flock as they taped 10 online-only episodes to air online during the summer.

What you’ll see is all new material that will bring some of the show’s supporting players front and center, like when the Dunder Mifflin accounting staff searches for a stash of cash that’s gone missing from the Scranton office.  The Web site for The Office is probably one of the most on-line savvy fan sites out there as far as television shows go including video clips, blogs and office inspired video games. You need to make sure you’re not drinking anything if you click on the fake public service announcements because it will come out your nose you’ll be laughing so hard.  They are those NBC “The More You Know” type PSA with the classic office spin.  They are a must see, since many of them have never aired on TV and are only available on-line. 


itunesCSI, Survivor, and NCIS fans: the day has now arrived that you can take your favorite shows with you on your iPod.  Apple’s iTunes Music store now has episodes from the just-completed 2005-06 season and earlier for some series.  In the fall, new episodes of shows will be available on iTunes the day after they appear on CBS.  You can download them to your iPod or Computer for just $1.99 an episode.  CBS was the slow poke in getting their show on iTunes as most of the major networks inked deals with Apple last month.


Read More | Hollywood Reporter


MonopolyIt seems Trump’s “monopoly” on half the city of Manhattan and his new family life are not enough to keep the Donald busy. He’s going after board games next. Trump will be working with Hasbro to bring the treasured classic “Monopoly” into the world of reality television. Obviously not intimidated by his failed “Martha The Apprentice” effort (and fueled by his own show’s continual success), Trump is working with producer R.J. Cutler and Hasbro to transform the game into a sellable reality show. It’s reported they will be looking to pitch the concept to four major networks in the coming weeks. All involved are keeping details of the show under wraps, but Variety said the premise involves contestants improving properties as a means of increasing their net worth. Hmmm…not sure the Donald needed to hijack the classic board game in order to create that concept.


Kathy Griffin Forty percent of Kathy Griffin’s adoring public have spoken and the votes are in. In order to get off the D List once and for all, Griffin will need to shoot a sex tape with Dame Judi Dench (night vision and all). The remaining breakdown of the votes were as follows: 24% adopt a baby in Namibia (ala Jolie), 20% give Seacrest a mani/pedi (I voted for that one) and 17% voted for Griffin to join Scientology (couch jumping anyone?). Starting today Griffin’s sure to be hilarious efforts to…“do the Dame”, will be streamed exclusively on BravoTV.com. And if she completes this mission, it may just escalate her from the depths of the D. Sort of leaves you wondering where something like this will leave the Grand Dame herself on the A-D List rankings…


Steve Carell has proven he is a worthy employee of “The Office.” At least, that’s what his bosses at NBC have shown by rewarding his hard work (and high ratings) with a bump in salary to $175,000 per episode next season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Carell will also enjoy a flexible filming schedule of The Office to handle his feature film projects.

If you haven’t seen The Office, you’re missing out on one of the most cleverly written and filmed shows around. Fans of the British version who didn’t think it would work as an Americanized version (myself included) will not be disappointed. Next week’s episode (airing Thursday at 8:30 PM) has Steve Carell’s character, Michael, gaining access to the employees’ emails. For anyone who’s ever worked in an office, this hits the spot—and if you haven’t experienced office-life, this will give you a hilarious glimpse!


South ParkSouth Park, the cartoon that introduced the “anal probe” to animated grade-schoolers in small-town Colorado, won a Peabody Award this week for “distinguished achievement and meritous service.” Clearly, the world would be a far more dangerous place without their constant vigilance against organized religion, zombies, cow cults, and Mecha-Barbra Streisand. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone accepted the award from fellow Comedy Central star Jon Stewart who praised their ability to consistently shock audiences into laughter after ten seasons. 

Also winning a Peabody: the NBC News team for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina.


Nip/TuckFX’s will have a good list of guest stars this season including Larry Hagman, Kathleen Turner and Brooke Shields who will appear on the FX show throughout the year.  A former Dallas star, Hagman will play the much older husband to Sanaa Lathan’s character.  Turner will play the part of Cindy Plumb, a phone sex operator who comes to McNamara/Troy to get live life back into her vocal cords.  New mom Shields will be in the season opener as a shrink in whom Julian McMahon’s character confides.  Nip/Tuck Season 4 starts later this fall on FX.


Read More | Yahoo! News


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