Kirstie Alley Returns to TV
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, FOX, Oprah Winfrey Show,
Kirstie Alley has been gracing the TV quite a lot, what with her Showtime series Fat Actress, the Jenny Craig ads, and the appearance on Oprah. This time, however, she’s back on network television, playing the lead in The Minister of Divine, a British remake of the comedy The Vicar of Dibley. I just love the word “vicar,” and I don’t really know why, other than it just sounds funny when the Brits say it. So, she plays a former rebel who comes back to her hometown—as a minister. I’m looking forward to Alley’s return to TV. While I didn’t enjoy Veronica’s Closet, Fat Actress was a little gem. And anyone who can parade their weight loss on Oprah has more than their fair share of fans, no doubt.
Read More 
| Zap2it
Gallery: Kirstie Alley Returns to TV
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New Game Show Tests 5th Grade Smarts
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Games, Prime Time, FOX, American Idol, Survivor,
Here’s a fun development from Mark Burnett—a game show that tests people on 5th grade level questions. The Fox show, titled, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (clever) begins in late February and will run for six episodes.
Viewers anxious to discover if they are, in fact, smarter than a 5th grader will be able to find out on FOX starting at the end of February. The air time will be a bit funky, with episodes airing at 9:30 p.m. on February 27th and 28th. The show will most likely get a big bump since the episodes will follow American Idol. March 1st and 8th promises an hour-long episode each night—yet again following Idol‘s lead. Then, on March 15th and 22nd, the game show will be at 8:00 p.m. Do you think you’re smarter than a 5th grader? You may think so, but consider that most of us emptied 5th grade geography, history, math, and science out of our brains long ago. The questions come from 1st through 5th grade text books, and be assured that the contestants can ask for help—from actual grade school kids.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: New Game Show Tests 5th Grade Smarts
Rumor: Paula Abdul to be Replaced
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Rumors,
When I first read the gossip that Paula Abdul might be replaced on American Idol, I figured it was true. Her strange behavior seems to be begging for her to get the boot. Then I read a bit more and saw that Courtney Love may be her replacement. Huh? Seems it would be in Idol producers’ best interest to replace one incoherent judge with someone reliable, and… I don’t know… coherent? The rumor comes from Us Weekly, so I think we may have to take this one with a grain of salt. Their report says that a source informed the magazine that Nigel Lythgoe, Idol executive producer, considered replacing Paula with Courtney. No telling who the “source” is, but it seems a fair assumption that this prediction will never see the light of day. Us reported that Love was contacted by Lythgoe, but she made no comment about whether or not she would appear on Idol. Love said of the call, “He was wondering if I was interested. I thought it was kind of weird but brilliant.”
Read More | Reality TV World
Gallery: Rumor: Paula Abdul to be Replaced
Armed & Famous Gets the Axe
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, CBS, FOX, American Idol, Announcements, Cancellations, Ratings,
Seems the writing was on the wall for Armed & Famous from the get-go. As far as reality series go, this premise was a doozy. B-list celebs helping to keep the peace as police officers in Muncie, Indiana—well, I suppose there are worse reality shows on, but this one seemed particularly ill-fated. When the highlight of the short-lived series is watching celebrities get tasered, you know it’s got nowhere to go but down. And down it goes. After just four episodes, CBS has canceled the series. The show featured La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Erik Estrada, Wee Man, and Trish Stratus. With stiff competition from American Idol how did the show even stand a chance? The debut episode drew 8.1 million viewers, but ratings quickly slid, and by the third week numbers were down to 5.8 million. If the cancellation has you feeling blue, fear not. VH1 will air the next episode this weekend; the remaining two episodes may make it to the music video network as well.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Armed & Famous Gets the Axe
ABC Moves ‘Knights of Prosperity’
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, FOX, American Idol, Ratings,
ABC must have some faith in the new comedy The Knights of Prosperity—they’ve decided to move the new show to a time frame that isn’t against American Idol. I’m not so sure the show is worth saving, but compared to In Case of Emergency, which Knights has been paired with, seems they are making the better choice about which to move. If you haven’t seen it, Knights features Donal Logue and a team of rag-tag thieves as they try to rob Mick Jagger. The first episode showed potential, but it seemed to take a slide in subsequent episodes. Ratings for the first two shows were at 6.2 million, but the last two episodes only drew in 4 million viewers. In Case of Emergency will stay on in the Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. slot, where I’m sure it will certainly face its eventual death. The Knights of Prosperity will now be seen at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, following George Lopez. According to Jim will take on American Idol at 9 p.m. Once American Idol cuts back to a one hour show in a few more weeks, Emergency may gain some steam, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: ABC Moves ‘Knights of Prosperity’
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Auditions Set to Begin
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, FOX,
Put on your dancing shoes, it’s time to show the folks at So You Think You Can Dance that you can—well, you know—dance. Fox is beginning to hold auditions for the third season of the dance talent competition. Look for auditions in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta. New York dancers can show their stuff March 1-3 at the Manhattan Center Theater. Chicago folks can make their way to The Legendary Chicago Theatre on March 8-10. Los Angeles hopefuls can try out at the Orpheum Theatre on March 22 -24. The auditions wrap up on April 5-7 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The dancers who make the cut attend a call-back week, where the top 20 contestants will be announced. So, not only do you need to be a talented dancer, but you also need to be between 18 and 30 years old. Guess my aspirations have been crushed because I’m too dang old. Oh yeah, and I can’t dance either. Sigh.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Auditions Set to Begin
Chris Daughtry to Give Free Concert
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, FOX, American Idol,
In other American Idol news, last season’s finalist, Chris Daughtry, is planning to give a a free concert in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 23. Daughtry, who has seen much success since his departure from Idol, will perform at the Greensboro Coliseum to kick off the NCAA women’s basketball tournament on March 24 and 26. Organizers of the event expect between 6,000 and 7,000 people to attend the concert, which could give the city a boost in their efforts to host the 2012 women’s Final Four. Daughtry made it to fourth place before getting the boot on Idol, but his exit from the show didn’t dampen his career any. He released an album in November 2006, with band Daughtry, which has sold nearly 1.3 million copies. This week, the album made it to number one.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: Chris Daughtry to Give Free Concert
Justin Guarini’s Return to TV
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, Cable, FOX, American Idol,
If you’ve been missing American Idol‘s season one finalist, Justin Guarini, the wait is over. The runner-up’s shining face will soon be gracing the TV Guide Channel’s Idol Tonight live preshow. OK, forgive my cynicism here, but how much American Idol do we really need on the television? I guess Idol Tonight is for the hardcore fans who just can’t get enough of all things Idol. At least there’s a place for Guarini, who had seemed to all but vanish from the spotlight. Here, he gets to provide all the behind-the-scenes commentary, including interviews with former contestants, vocal coaches, and stylists. And he won’t go it alone—he’ll be joined by Kimberly Caldwell, from season two of Idol and Rosanna Tavarez, who was a winner on the WB’s Popstars. What? They couldn’t get another Idol alum to fill the third spot? Show of hands for anyone who even saw Popstars? Sadly, that’s me with my hand raised. Yep, I watched it.
Read More | E! Online
Gallery: Justin Guarini’s Return to TV
American Idol’s Jennifer Hudson Nominated for Oscar
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Award Shows, Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol,
How great is the news that former American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson is nominated for an Oscar? What a sweet comeback she made after being ousted on Idol. It has been an amazing rise straight to the top for this talented woman. I thought she was robbed on Idol, but seems she made out pretty well after all. I have yet to see Dreamgirls, but have read that her performance is nothing less than spectacular. Her Golden Globe win seems to confirm her talent, and let’s hope that this big leap out of the starting gate into films will mean even more impressive work from her for years to come.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Gallery: American Idol’s Jennifer Hudson Nominated for Oscar
Fox Shuffles Schedule for Spring Premieres
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, FOX,
With new spring programming comes some creative shuffling of existing shows. For Fox, that means a couple of new dramas and a new comedy to fill the schedule. What does that mean for existing shows on the schedule? ‘Til Death, The War at Home and Standoff will still have a place on the network.
The new drama The Wedding Bells, from David E. Kelley, will premiere on Friday, March 9 at 9:00 p.m ET. The show looks at a wedding planning business and the family that owns it, and features Teri Polo, Sarah Jones, and KaDee Strickland. The Winner, from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, is a live-action comedy premiering on Sunday, March 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The show features The Daily Show correspondent Rob Corddry. Drive looks at the participants of an underground road race, and hits the network on Sunday, April 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
‘Til Death moves to Wednesdays, following American Idol, in March. The War at Home, moves to Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Standoff will premiere on Friday, March 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Read More | Comingsoon.net
Gallery: Fox Shuffles Schedule for Spring Premieres
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