Hargitay and Meloni Extend SVU Contracts
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, NBC, Renewals,
Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, stars of the hit NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, have just extended their contracts for two more years. This comes after weeks of negotiations and some speculation that the series would go on without the star power of Hargitay and Meloni. The two will continue on the drama through 2009. The show’s creator, Dick Wolf, has made no announcements about the dollar amount of the deal, but it has been reported that each could be earning more than $6.5 million annually. Hargitay is joining the big leagues, with an estimated $300,000 to $340,000 per episode, putting her in the range of Kyra Sedgwick, who was recently named as one of the top paid female television stars. Creator Dick Wolf said of the agreement, “I’m thrilled that Chris and Mariska have decided to stay with a show that they’ve made an indelible stamp upon, as we move into our ninth season.” Both have been with the series since it started in 1999.
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| Yahoo! News
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Victor Garber to Star in ABC Legal Drama
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Prime Time, ABC,
Oh, Mr. Victor Garber, is there nothing you can’t do? Man, this guy seems to get deal after deal. Case in point, his latest gig on the ABC legal drama pilot Eli Stone. The show will also star Jonny Lee Miller, an attorney at a top San Francisco law firm. Oh yeah, and Miller’s character discovers that he might be a prophet. Garber is on hand as the senior partner at the firm and father to Eli Stone’s fiancee. Garber is fresh off the cancelled show Justice—also a legal drama. And, of course, who could forget him for his role on the ABC hit Alias? Garber has been nominated for six Emmys, three of which were for his role as Jack Bristow on Alias. And, oh my gosh, have you ever seen him as Daddy Warbucks in the 1999 TV movie Annie? Genius.
Read More | Zap2it
Anne Heche and Hubby Split
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Prime Time, ABC, Gossip, Rumors,
After five years of marriage, Anne Heche and her husband, cameraman Coley Laffoon, have split. Heche’s rep has confirmed the news with People magazine, which seems to be the go-to publication for airing your break up news if you’re a celebrity. Her rep said that the couple “have decided to separate after five years of marriage. They have requested that they be allowed their privacy at this time.” You may recall that Heche, currently starring on Men in Trees, was involved with Ellen DeGeneres for a few years before they split in 2000. She and Laffoon married in 2001, shortly after she released her kooky autobiography titled, Call Me Crazy. The couple have a four-year-old son named Homer. Rumors have been swirling (according to Entertainment Tonight anyway) that Heche is involved with Men in Trees co-star, James Tupper, although there has been no confirmation of this relationship.
Read More | People
Former ‘Friends’ Stars to Kiss on ‘Dirt’
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Drama, Cable, Cable/Satellite, Gossip,
We brought you the news that Jennifer Aniston may be appearing on Courteney Cox Arquette’s FX series, Dirt. Then we confirmed Aniston’s appearance on the finale. And now… well, for anyone that ever hoped to catch any of the women from Friends in a liplock, this news is for you. Not only will Aniston appear on the season finale of Dirt, but she will also be seen kissing star Courteney Cox Arquette. So, if you thought viewership for this freshman series was going to see an uptick from Aniston’s turn as a rival magazine editor, the upcoming kiss will have viewer numbers off of the chart. The episode, which airs on March 27th, will have Aniston’s character giving what a source calls a “goodbye peck.” Okay, so it’s not a heavy kissing scene, but the source tells People magazine, “But, yes, it’s on the lips.” Further, it has been confirmed that Aniston will be playing a lesbian, according to a USA Today article.
Read More | People
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton Return to TV
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, Syndication,
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elsey Grammer, of Frasier fame, and Patricia Heaton, of Everybody Loves Raymond, are expected to make a return to TV comedy. While the show, titled Action News, is still in negotiations, the pilot will star the two Emmy winners. The show would focus on two anchors at a local TV station, and is created by Frasier‘s Christopher Lloyd and Just Shoot Me’s Steven Levitan. Both Grammer and Heaton had their fair share of success on their own television shows. Grammer won four Emmys, and has been seen in X-Men: The Last Stand and A Christmas Carol. He also guest starred on Medium, which he also executive produces. Heaton won two Emmys and has appeared in TV movies The Path to 9/11 and The Engagement Ring.
Read More | Zap2it
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
Improv Series Coming to NBC
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, Reality, NBC,
Now here’s a show that sounds like it could be a good time. NBC has ordered six episodes of the improv series Thank God You’re Here. The show is nothing too groundbreaking—you’ve seen it before with Who’s Line is it Anyway? and this exact series is already enjoying popularity in other countries. Hosting duties will be performed by David Alan Grier (In Living Color), while Dave Foley (Kids in the Hall, Newsradio) serves as judge. I’m excited because I love these two, and I love improv. Check out the pilot, featuring Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle), Joel McHale (E!‘s The Soup), Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie), and Wayne Knight (Seinfeld). No details yet on when exactly you can catch the premiere of this show, but be on the lookout for what should prove an entertaining diversion from ordinary television offerings.
Read More | Zap2it
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
Grease Reality Show Down to Twelve
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, NBC, American Idol,
While I haven’t been a faithful watcher of Grease: You’re the One that I Want, I have tuned in briefly and found myself pleasantly surprised. The show, which is seeking the next Danny and Sandy for the broadway production of the musical, has announced their twelve finalists. Here’s where the viewer’s votes come into play, with each finalist performing live, a la American Idol. The first live show is Sunday, January 28th, on a two hour episode, with seven more live episodes to follow. Plus Olivia Newton-John will be on hand for judging duties. You can’t get any better than Sandy herself.
The twelve finalists are: Allie “Baby Sandy” Schultz, Laura “Small-town Sandy” Osnes, Ashley “Ballerina Sandy” Spencer, Kate “Serious Sandy” Rockwell, Juliana “Rock Chic Sandy” Hansen, Kathleen “Spiritual Sandy” Monteleone, Max “Slacker Danny” Crumm, Kevin “Bellhop Danny” Greene, Derek “Wholesome Danny” Keeling, Chad “Ambitious Danny” Doreck, Austin “Hot Danny” Miller, and Jason “Boy-band Danny” Celaya.
Read More | Reality TV World
CBS Greenlights Another Year of Survivor
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Survivor, Renewals,
CBS announced that Survivor will go on at least for another year. And why not? The reality show competition, where contestants use their survival instincts for a shot at a million dollars is a ratings winner. With an upcoming 14th season airing soon, Survivor still manages to bring it. The additional year will have two more back-to-back seasons in store, marking seasons 15 and 16. Survivor: Cook Islands, the latest season to air, did well with 15.75 million viewers. That’s big business considering the popularity of their competitor, the freshman hit Ugly Betty. There has been no announcement yet about what the next two seasons will have in store or where they will be located. You can be certain there will be some new twists up Mark Burnett’s sleeve though, I’m sure. “Survivor: Fiji” starts on February 8.
Read More | Zap2it
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