American Idol Audition Dates
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Reality, FOX, American Idol, Features,
Attention Idol Wannabes: Time to clear your calendars! The next round of audition dates for American Idol have just been announced:
August 8: Los Angeles
August 11: San Antonio
August 14: New York
August 21: Birmingham
September 3: Memphis
September 8: Minneapolis
September 19: Seattle
Read More 
| FOX
Gallery: American Idol Audition Dates
Advertisement
Brigitte Nielsen Marries For Fifth Time
Posted by Abby Rose Dalto Categories: Reality, Cable, Gossip,
Brigitte Nielsen has recently married former model Mattia Dessi. Nielsen is most famous for her roles in Beverly Hills Cop III and Rocky IV. She is also famous for her on-and-off screen “relationship” with rapper Flavor Flav, her costar on VH1’s The Surreal Life and Strange Love.
Nielsen’s most recent marriage, to former race car driver Raoul Meyer, ended in 2005. Their divorce was not yet final when she and Dessi tied the knot in an “unofficial” ceremony in the Dominican Republic. The marriage is official this time, having wed at the Radisson Golden Sands Resort in Malta.
This is the fifth marriage for the Danish model-actress, who has four children from previous relationships.
Read More | Reality TV World
Gallery: Brigitte Nielsen Marries For Fifth Time
Finally Some Reality Stars With Skills
Posted by Abby Rose Dalto Categories: Food & Home, Reality, Bravo, FOX, Hell’s Kitchen, American Idol, Survivor, The Bachelor,
Too often the stars of reality television are famous simply for being famous. Their only talent is the shamelessness of appearing on one of these shows. The Real World was originally an experiment in human nature – “what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real?” – but after seventeen seasons it has become simply a pageant for those that want to be on TV but lack the talent and dedication to do so legitimately.
There have been a few exceptions to this rule. American Idol contestants choose to compete on the show not just for a chance at winning, but for a chance at gaining exposure. That is, exposure that they can actually use. Very few cast members of reality shows like The Real World, Survivor, Big Brother, or The Bachelor actually are able to use their “exposure” to jump-start their careers. However the contestants of talent showcases such as American Idol, America’s Got Talent, or Making the Band have the potential to hold on to their “fame” after the shows end.
Lately there have been more and more shows that take this concept to the next level: the contestants are aiming not just for “fame”, but for success. Programs like the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon vehicle for aspiring filmmakers, Project Greenlight, or Project Runway - which premieres its third season tomorrow at 10pm EST – both focus on people with actual skills such as fashion design.
Other shows that followed people being creative include three cooking programs, Bravo’s Top Chef, FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen, and The Food Network’s The Next Food Network Star. HGTV Design Star, which premieres July 23, will feature competing home designers.
These shows all have the potential not only to be quality TV, but to serve as stepping-stones for the cast members. Their prize – whether they win or lose – will not simply be fifteen minutes of fame, but hopefully a lasting career. They aspire not to be the world’s next big celebrities, but rather the “next big thing” in their respective fields… even after the cameras stop rolling.
Read More | Time
Gallery: Finally Some Reality Stars With Skills
No Photoshop for Tyra Banks
Posted by Stephanie Whiteside Categories: Reality, America’s Next Top Model, Talent, Gossip, Rumors,
America’s Next Top Model host Tyra Banks has sworn off Photoshop. The model is insisting that any magazine shoots she does in the future not be touched up or digitally enhanced. Instead, she will rely on hair and make-up techniques to enhance her natural beauty. Tyra is attempting to make the admittedly unreal business of modelling just a bit more real. She also encourages heavier women to try out for her show, despite the modelling industry’s continued rejection of anyone who isn’t tall and waif-like.
I’m all for plus-size models, but what I really want to see is a modelling show that accepts someone under 5’6”. How about showing some love for us short girls, Tyra?
Read More | Sky Showbiz
Gallery: No Photoshop for Tyra Banks
She may be a two-time loser on TV, but she’s finally winner at home. Survivor fan-favorite, Stephenie LaGrossa, wed her longtime boyfriend on Friday in New Jersey. The former pharmaceuticals rep, first seen on Survivor: Palau, was widely remembered for outlasting everyone else in her own camp. Stephenie’s spunk and good looks then brought her back to Guatemala where she narrowly missed being the ultimate survivor. Attendees of the wedding included the winners of both her seasons—Tom Westman (Palau) and Danni Boatwright (Guatemala). LaGrossa, 26, has now moved on from selling the meds to selling herself—- through modeling and public appearances (natch).
Read More | People
Gallery: Survivor Sweetheart Gets Married
The Best (and Worst) Shows of 2005-06
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Reality, ABC, Cable, CBS, FX, FOX, HBO, NBC, 24, Amazing Race, The, American Idol, Apprentice, The - Donald, Degrassi, Lost, My Name Is Earl, Prison Break, Scrubs, The Office, The Sopranos,
In a recent edition of Broadcasting & Cable, the trade magazine presented a list of the Best Shows on TV for the 2005-06 season. The 2nd annual poll, based on the views of 111 critics, didn’t reveal many shocking choices overall…but does give much love to some underappreciated gems. Let’s see how your choices compare:
BEST SHOW
BEST DRAMA:
Gold: Lost (ABC)—Really not much of a surprise on any of these choices. It’s only shocking to remember that Lost is the only one of these three to be shut out of the Best Drama category for the upcoming Emmys.
Silver: 24 (FOX)
Bronze: The Sopranos (HBO)
BEST COMEDY:
Gold: The Office (NBC)
Silver: My Name is Earl (NBC)
Bronze: Scrubs (NBC)—Woo hoo! Even if NBC doesn’t respect the comedic gem enough to give it a regular time slot (and a fall start), it’s reassuring to know that the show is still being noticed.
BEST REALITY:
Gold: American Idol (FOX)
Silver: The Amazing Race (CBS)—Race may not be able to compete against Idol in the ratings department, but it still wins in my heart. No popularity contests here. The prize goes to those who simply stick it out.
Bronze: Project Runway (Bravo)—Heidi Klum has it all. Good looks, two cute kids, a sexy husband—and now a highly respected show. I hate her. I may enjoy watching her show..but I still hate her.
BEST NEW SHOW:
Gold: My Name is Earl (NBC)
Silver: Prison Break (FOX)
Bronze: Big Love (HBO)—Although I’m personally obsessed with polygamy-based stories, I feared the subject might be too taboo for the average audience. Regardless of the subject matter, this show has been a hoot to watch..and it doesn’t hurt that Bill Paxton is still quite easy on the eyes. No wonder three women want to bear his children.
WORST SHOW:
Gold: Unan1mous (FOX)
Silver: The War at Home (FOX)
Bronze: The Apprentice (NBC)—While I will have to admit that my interest in this show has waned over the past year or so, I don’t think it’s one of the worst shows out there. But if Donald continues to make creepy remarks about the attractive females on his show, I may have to call the FCC myself.
CABLE NETWORK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD WATCH:
Gold: BBC America
Silver: FX
Bronze: The N—- Degrassi, Degrassi, Degrassi. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. The N is home to the best drama for teens…ever.
MOST MEMORABLE TV MOMENT:
Gold: Coverage of Hurricane Katrina
Silver: Uncle Junior shoots Tony on The Sopranos (HBO)
Bronze: Michael shoots Ana-Lucia and Libby on Lost (ABC)—I admit, I don’t watch The Sopranos so I may be a bit biased here. But Michael shot two people. That should definitely earn him a higher medal than Uncle Junior. I dare say Michael even deserves the gold, but he can’t compete with Nature.
Read More | Broadcasting & Cable
Gallery: The Best (and Worst) Shows of 2005-06
A Match Made in Reality TV Heaven?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Reality, NBC, Apprentice, The - Donald, News,
Oh those wacky reality TV people… the latest love connection, although they did not appear on the same show, pairs Extreme Makeover dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman with Apprentice contestant Jennifer (“Zenthura” – if you saw season 4, you’ll get the joke) Murphy. The couple were married Friday evening, according to People magazine. The site of the wedding? The Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The Donald was even there as a guest, as well as other former Apprentice contestants.
The two (Dorfman, 47, and Murphy, 27) met during the 2004 Miss USA pageant. Murphy was Miss Oregon and Dorfman was in the audience. According to People, they didn’t connect until a year later, when she appeared in an ad for teeth whitening by Dorfman’s company, Discus Dental.
Read More | People
Gallery: A Match Made in Reality TV Heaven?
Apprentice Involved In Another Lawsuit
Posted by Abby Rose Dalto Categories: Reality, NBC, Apprentice, The - Donald,
Nicholas Christakis, who was rejected from The Apprentice, is suing for being kept off the show. Christakis claims that producer Mark Burnett is guilty of unfair business practices, defamation of character, slander, and libel, during the final casting of the show’s first season.
The lawsuit seeks $250 million in damages and names both Burnett and real estate mogul Donald Trump as defendants. This is not the first trip to court for Christakis. His family sued the Billerica, Massachusetts Board of Health in 2002 for shutting down their restaurant.
This is not the first trip to court for The Apprentice either. Mark Bethea brought a lawsuit against NBC, Trump, and Burnett in 2004, alleging that The Apprentice was actually his idea and that Burnett stole it. Having registered the concept for the show (titled CEO) with the Writers Guild of America in 2000, Bethea claims he pitched the show to Burnett in 2001. The lawsuit was finally settled this May, but the terms were not disclosed.
James W. Schottel, Jr., a quadriplegic lawyer, sued the show in 2005 for discrimination. He stipulated that the audition rules that demand “excellent physical health” was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He later dropped the suit after the wording of the application was altered.
Mark Burnett Productions also filed a lawsuit related to The Apprentice in 2005, against Madison Road Entertainment. Burnett and his company alleged that they misrepresented themselves as being the sole company involved in Apprentice product placement deals. He claims they overcharged companies for participating in the show but only gave Burnett company a portion of the fees earned. Madison Road Entertainment countersued and accussed Burnett of simply trying to eliminate competition, citing the fact that no companies who bought sponsorship complained about being overcharged.
Meanwhile, Trump is set to open a new production company in Los Angeles. The company, which will be run by a former Apprentice contestant, Andy Litinsky, will likely introduce a TV version of the board game Monopoly as its first project.
Read More | Reality TV World
Gallery: Apprentice Involved In Another Lawsuit
Shannen Doherty and Others to Guest Host on The View
Posted by Abby Rose Dalto Categories: Daytime, Reality, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, American Idol, Gossip,
After the loss of Meredith Viera and the “gain” of losing Star Jones Reynolds, The View will feature a series of guest hosts for the next few weeks.
Some of the upcoming guests will include American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee (July 19), and Carrie Ann Inaba of Dancing with the Stars (July 10). All My Children‘s Susan Lucci appeared yesterday, while singer-actress Brandy (of Moesha and America’s Got Talent) guest hosted today and Wednesday July 5.
Perhaps the most highly anticipated appearance - in my humble opinion only, I’m sure - is that of Shannen Doherty. Doherty, known for her starring roles in (and allegedly bitter departures from) Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, is sheduled to guest host July 31 and August 1.
The actress, infamous as being “trouble” due to rumors of stormy relationships with cast members and a shortlived marriage to Ashley Hamilton, is unlikely to be considered as a permanent replacement though. Her new reality show Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty, in which she will help people get out of toxic relationships, premieres August 1 on Oxygen.
The View won’t be making a permanent replacement until after Rosie O’Donnell’s debut on September 5. (The show will be on a month-long hiatus before that starting August 4).
Meanwhile, no one is quite sure what Reynolds is up to. She posted details on how to contact Barbara Walters, the president of ABC Daytime, and an executive producer of The View on her website recently. However, as of this Thursday the information was down.
Debbie Matenopoulos, who was fired from The View in 1999, appeared on Fox’s Good Day LA last week and had this message for Reynolds: “It’s called ‘show business.’”
Read More | Just Shannen
Gallery: Shannen Doherty and Others to Guest Host on The View
Big Brother 7: All-Stars – Let the Scheming Begin
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS,
Well, the premiere of Big Brother All-Stars aired tonight, and for me, it did not fail to disappoint. As previously reported, the 14 houseguests were revealed when CBS accidentally aired the live audio feed, so there were no surprises there (Alison, Danielle, Diane, Erika, “Chicken” George, Howie, James, Janelle, Jase, Nakomis, Kaysar, Marcellas, Mike “Boogie,” and Will). While I don’t love all of the contestants, there are enough of my favorites to make it interesting. Since these are the “all-stars,” they’ve done this before and viewed other seasons, so it seemed that people started to get right down to business. Since the show is so heavy with houseguests from season 6, there appeared to be an instant alliance there. The other houseguests were definitely feeling the heat of the season 6’ers, so there was some scheming underway to break the largest alliance up. The sweet outcome was that the two instigators trying to make waves are the first two nominated for eviction. I’m not sure if I can keep up with the rigorous three nights a week that Big Brother is on, but it is a beacon compared to the otherwise dull summer offerings.
Gallery: Big Brother 7: All-Stars – Let the Scheming Begin
Advertisement
© Gear Live Media, LLC. 2007 – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.