Which New Series Will be Canceled?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, UPN, WB, Cancellations, HDTV,
Website Brilliant But Cancelled is offering visitors the chance to vote on which new series they think will get the axe. Their contest, Death Watch Fall ‘06 offers weekly iPOD prizes and a grand prize of a 37 inch Aquos flatscreen HDTV. Hey, not too shabby, considering you probably have your own ideas about which shows will succeed or fail. Just log in each week and make your selection—each correct bet puts you into a drawing for the prizes. Place your bets now, since the contest starts today, September 8th and runs for nine weeks. Visit http://www.brilliantbutcancelled.com/deathwatch/ for more details. The odds change often, with 2:1 most likely to get the axe.
Read More 
| Brilliant But Cancelled
Advertisement
Simpsons Keeps on Going
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Animation, Prime Time, FOX, Renewals,
Would you believe that The Simpsons is entering its 18th season? Would you also believe that series’ creator Matt Groening expects it to continue even longer? With no shortage of funny stories for this animated family, the series continues to be a ratings and award winner (it recently earned its 23rd Emmy). What’s more, a film version of everyone’s favorite family is expected to hit the big screen next summer. This is one show that keeps chugging.
Said Groening, “My attitude at this point is, as long as the people who work on the show are having a good time, let’s keep doing it. We’ve always tried to entertain ourselves and figured that the outside world would be entertained if we were making ourselves laugh.” Working on The Simpsons sounds like a dream job. Groening also noted that the fresh stories continue because “there’s a really good-natured spirit of competitiveness among the youngest writers on the staff who basically grew up watching the show and have a great memory for everything that’s gone before.”
Fox has renewed the series through its 19th year, so the legendary cartoon will keep going yet another year. The Simpsons season premiere will air Sunday, with Homer having a “brush with mob life.” The 400th episode of the show will air in May, spoofing Fox’s 24 and featuring vocal contributions from Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub.
Read More | CNN
Ellen DeGeneres to Host Oscars
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Award Shows, Prime Time, Talk Shows, ABC,
Ellen DeGeneres has been tapped to host the 79th Annual Academy Awards on February 25th. Laura Ziksin, producer for this year’s show called DeGeneres to offer her the hosting job. DeGeneres was thrilled by the offer, saying, “There’s two things I’ve always wanted to do in my life: One is to host the Oscars. The second is to get a call from Laura Ziskin. You can imagine that day’s diary entry.”
DeGeneres is no stranger to hosting award shows, having successfully co-hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards in 1994, then again in 2001 and 2005. She has proven to be an entertaining emcee to such events, and her quick wit and easy-going demeanor have wide appeal. “I’ve always wanted to host the show, ever since I hosted the Emmys,” DeGeneres said. “Obviously, it’s a huge honor, although it’s not always a great situation. If you do well, they don’t talk about it, and if you don’t do well, you’re torn apart. But I like the challenge, and I’d like to put my stamp on it. In fact, I’m thinking of stretching it out even longer to two nights like Rock Star: Supernova.”
Read More | Hollywood Reporter
Comedian Eddie Izzard Brings New Series to FX
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Cable, FX, Cable/Satellite,
Yahoo! Eddie Izzard is making his way to the small screen with the drama series The Riches. For anyone who has seen his stand-up (nothing short of brilliant), perhaps you’re scratching your head about why he would be taking on a drama of all things. I can only hope that the series—about a pair of con-artists (Izzard and Minnie Driver) and their three children who take on the identities of a deceased suburban family—will be infused with some of his humor. FX has ordered 13 episodes, with the show expected to air in Spring 2007. FX president John Landgraf commented about the new series, saying “We’re excited to pick up FX’s first ‘family show,’ albeit a show and a family unlike any television viewers have seen before. The pickup of The Riches reflects two of FX’s goals: first, our continued efforts to make innovative, high-quality television shows, and second, our commitment to expanding the boundaries of our successful original series brand.”
If you’re unfamiliar with Izzard, check him out in his Emmy winning stand-up performance, Dress to Kill. You cannot believe how incredibly funny this guy is. He has also been in a number of films, including Oceans Twelve and My Super Ex-Girlfriend. Driver, of course, is famous for film roles in Circle of Friends, Good Will Hunting and Grosse Pointe Blank, as well as a recurring role on Will & Grace.
Read More | Zap2it
Letterman Gets Four More Years
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, CBS, NBC, Renewals,
David Letterman has reached an agreement with ABC that will keep the late-night host around for four more years. His contract extension keeps Dave on the Late Show through the 2009-2010 season. Interestingly enough, this is one year past the plan for Leno to step down from the Tonight Show and pass the torch to Conan O’Brien. According to Nielsen Media Research, Leno continues to be the ratings winner, averaging 5.71 million viewers nightly, versus 4.16 million per night for Letterman. The rivalry has been ongoing since Leno took over Johnny Carson’s post on the Tonight Show—and it looks like the competition will now continue against O’Brien. CBS Entertainment and Letterman spokespeople had no comment about the negotiations since the deal is not official yet. Even after all these years, I still prefer Letterman to Leno—Leno is more corny than anything, but Letterman’s goofy persona wins me over. Goofy beats corny in my book any day, but what to do when Letterman and O’Brien go head to head? Two goofs—don’t make me choose!
Read More | Yahoo! News
Breaking news: Paris Hilton is now officially a triple-threat. She’s a singer, a soft-core porn star…and now a drunk driver.
Miss Hilton was arrested early Thursday morning in Hollywood after officers observed symptoms of intoxication. Although her blood alcohol level was not disclosed, it was high enough to warrant her being booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI. She has since been released.
Paris’ rep, Elliott Mintz, says she was returning home from a charity event where she only had one drink. Prior to that, she had been busy shooting a new music video. He believes the symptoms were “probably the result of an empty stomach and working all day and being fatigued.”
Note to Paris: Don’t you worry. I’m sure people are still too busy trying to believe that you’ve only had sex with two men in your whole life. This little incident will just go right over their heads.
Read More | San Jose Mercury News
Desperate Housewife Pregnant
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, ABC, Desperate Housewives, Gossip,
Well—talk about a potential cliffhanger…
Reps for Marcia Cross, 44, have confirmed exclusively to People magazine that the newlywed is pregnant. Just married in June, the Desperate Housewives star is reportedly due in April. You don’t need to do the math to figure out that she and her husband, stockbroker Tom Mahoney, acted quickly!
Given that most finales are filmed long before their May sweeps debuts, will her impending pregnancy have any impact on the show? If so, who could possibly be the father? Both men in her life—Rex and George—are already dead. Could it be Kyle Maclachlan’s?? He was making the moves on her at the end of last season.
But then again, it doesn’t have to affect the show at all. She wouldn’t be the first person to hide behind pillows. Seriously though— judging by her size, she probably won’t need to hide at all. She could probably go the whole season without anyone being the wiser…
Read More | People
ABC Miniseries Examines Events Leading to 9/11
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Mini Series, Prime Time, Specials, ABC,
ABC will be airing a five-hour miniseries, titled The Path to 9/11 on Sunday and Monday. This is certainly a story worth telling and is likely to be an eye-opening look at what went wrong. As if the tragedy of September 11th isn’t enough, The Path to 9/11 reveals ten years of events that lead to the terrorist attacks. The series also looks at the “report card” issued in December by the 9/11 Commission, which gave the government failing grades in many areas related to protecting the nation from further attacks. This film isn’t exactly an encouraging look at future protection, and will likely be criticized for its portrayal of the people involved.
The series will begin on Sunday at 8 p.m., with the final chapters to air on Monday (also at 8 p.m.)—both nights will air commercial-free. The series features 247 speaking roles and a $40 million budget, with over 300 sets. The Path to 9/11 stars Harvey Keitel as FBI counter-terrorism expert John O’Neill, Patricia Heaton as Barbara Bodine, Ambassador to Yemen, Donnie Wahlberg as an undercover CIA agent, and Penny Johnson Jerald as Condoleezza Rice. Stephen Root (from News Radio) plays Richard Clarke, national security advisor to four presidents.
In the face of controversy, ABC responded that the miniseries is “a dramatization, not a documentary, drawn from a variety of sources, including the 9/11 Commission report, other published materials and from personal interviews.” Certainly the finger-pointing is expected to draw much criticism.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Comic Relief Makes a Comeback
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Cable, HBO, Cable/Satellite, News,
Remember how great Comic Relief used to be? They were wildly successful at raising money, yet somehow they stopped making new ones. Hard to believe that it’s been eight years since the last Comic Relief special. After the long hiatus, Comic Relief returns to HBO this fall—raising money for the Hurricane Katrina recovery. For those without HBO, their Time Warner “sibling” TBS will also air the Comic Relief 2006 concert live on Saturday, November 18th. The special is taking place in Las Vegas and it’s good to hear that the original hosts will be returning. Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal originally hosted Relief in 1986 and hosted the first eight concerts.
“Disasters like Katrina devastate the environment and cause suffering for all forms of life, both human and animal,” says Bob Zmuda, Comic Relief’s founder and president. “Comic Relief is determined to address these tragedies by benefiting everyone from the elderly to children and pets.” Look for live segments from New Orleans during the three hour show. The specifics of the performers have not yet been released.
Read More | Zap2it
Newlyweds Reach Divorce Settlement
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Reality, Cable/Satellite, News,
Newlyweds Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson have reached an agreement about their divorce settlement—surprisingly enough, Nick will be walking away with less than expected. Perhaps to put things behind him quickly, Lachey agreed to take much less than the 50 percent he’s entitled to. Since Simpson didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement, California law entitles him to half of the assets. At half, Lachey would get $18 million, but he has decided to settle for less, bypassing the need to go to court.
Neither Simpson nor Lachey have withered from the spotlight since the split. Lachey’s recent wins at the Teen Choice awards and romance with MTVs Vanessa Minnillo, as well as the popularity of his heartbreaking song “What’s Left of Me,” have kept him front and center. Similarly, Simpson continues to get attention with her new album “A Public Affair,” her bout with laryngitis, and links to both funny man Dane Cook and musician John Mayer (she’s not dating either of them).
Read More | TMZ.com
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.