Frasier’s Dog in Doggie Heaven
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Syndication, Talent, News,
Hollywood recently suffered a great loss with the death of “Eddie” – the Jack Russell Terrier who was Frasier‘s companion for 10 years. “Moose,” as he was known in real life, got his big break when his trainer saved him from the pound. Apparently, prior to his rise in Hollywood, he got into quite a lot of trouble. That mischief paid off in both the TV series Frasier and the film My Dog Skip. Moose was 16 and a half years old and according to his trainer, “he just had an incredible charisma and was such a free spirit.”
Read More 
| People
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Brad Pitt Makes America Great?
Posted by Abby Rose Dalto Categories: Announcements, Editorial, Gossip, News, Rumors,
Newsweek recently named Brad Pitt one of “15 People Who Make America Great”, although there are some who might disagree with this honor.
Lauded for bringing much-needed publicity (and money) to impoverished African nations, the article states that Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose to have their baby in Namibia in order to lure the paparazzi to the country. However, Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights alleges that the couple had visiting journalists deported for “harassment”, contradicting their claim that they hoped to attract the media’s attention. NSHR also feels that persuading the government to shut down the border was an abuse of the couple’s power.
Newsweek also mentioned Pitt’s sponsorship of the Global Green USA architecture competition to create affordable, eco-friendly housing in New Orleans and his donation of four million dollars - earned from the sale of new baby Shiloh’s photos to People magazine – to African charities.
However, amidst all the publicity that Pitt’s “happy family” has received, few people ever mention the fact that (if you do your math) Jolie was expecting Pitt’s child before his divorce from Jennifer Aniston was finalized. Although Pitt and Aniston technically separated months before the pregnancy, many blame Jolie – and a suspected affair – for the decline of their marriage.
Many would say that Jolie is the true humanitarian force behind the couple because she has been traveling the globe - volunteering, spreading goodwill, and adopting third-world babies - long before she became romantically linked to Pitt. The article does cite her as the catalyst that caused Pitt to become so politically active, but she was otherwise absent from Newsweek’s list.
Read More | Newsweek
Rescue Me Co-Creator Responds to Critics of Sex Scene
Posted by Christina Furtado Categories: Drama, Prime Time, Cable, Editorial,
As many of us know by now, last week’s Rescue Me included a disturbing sex scene that has created quite a bit of controversy. All over the internet, people have been arguing about to what extent the scene depicted a rape, and about the show’s lack of social responsibility in showing a woman apparently enjoying a rape. The show’s co-creater Peter Tolan has been posting in response to this controversy on the Television Without Pity message boards. According to Tolan, “In terms of the scene ... I never wrote the words ‘don’t’ or ‘no’ at any point in the scene, and when I talked to Andrea about the playing of the thing, I pretty much told her that she had to stand up to Tommy—that he had taken so much away from her over the years, that she had to stare him down from a position of strength while he was forcing himself on her. I told her to shame him with the words she was given - to let him know he couldn’t hurt her anymore, no matter what he did.” Tolan does acknowledge, however, that many viewers interpreted the scene differently, and that the issue of a woman seeming to enjoy a rape had “caused some concern” for them, but he’s very vague about it. Also, to further complicate matters, there is an interview with Tolan and Denis Leary in which they claim it wasn’t a rape at all. (Beware of some mildly spoilery stuff there.) Hmm.
As I stated in my comment to the post I linked to, I am of two minds about this issue. On the one hand, it is consistent with the characterization of these characters, and with the sort of two-dimensional portrayal of women on Rescue Me in general: they all seem to be evil, crazy, or some combination of the two. On the other hand, I do indeed think it’s socially irresponsible in this day and age to portray a woman as enjoying something that could be construed as a rape. In addition, if Tolan and Leary’s vision of this scene failed to come across to the audience in general, couldn’t the scene perhaps be looked at as a failure, artisically? Thoughts, anyone?
Read More | Zap2It
Controversial Book of Daniel Coming to DVD
Posted by Christina Furtado Categories: NBC, Cancellations, DVD,
NBC’s short-lived, controversial series, The Book of Daniel, which starred Aidan Quinn as a Vicodin-popping Episcopalian priest who talks to Jesus, will be coming to DVD in September. The two-disc set, priced at $29.98, will feature all eight produced episodes of the show; only four episodes aired, though NBC did offer the rest online. The show had already stopped airing in a few markets, though, due to its controversial treatment of religion. Despite its being about a priest, the show was a bit soap opera-esque, what with the pill popping, the visits from Jesus, the alcoholic wife, the gay son, and the drug dealing daughter. Even so, I thought it had its amusing and charming moments, so I’m glad all the episodes will be available. It may not be worth buying, but it can’t hurt to add it to the Netflix queue. Look for the set to hit the street on September 26th.
Read More | TV Shows on DVD
Star Jones Quits The View
Posted by Zoe Stagg Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Talent, Gossip,
According to Access Hollywood reports, Star Jones is leaving her hosting gig on The View. Her last day is set for sometime in July, just two months before Rosie O’Donnell is set to claim the seat at the table recently vacated by Meredith Viera who’s in turn claiming Katie Couric’s Today show mug. Am I the only one getting dizzy? Apparently Star will announce her departure on the show this week. She’s been an original cast member since the show’s debut in August 1997.
Read More | Gawker
Yes, when I found out that my beloved Real World was heading to Denver, I thought the show had not only jumped the shark, but did a backflip over it, wearing a tutu. But fear not reality fans! It seems as though Denver has proved itself cooler than Seattle and Chicago- they’re not protesting, they’re joining in the fun! The Denver Post kicked off the Real World romp with a 24/7 investigative blog, and now the local alternative rag, the Westword, has out-realitied, reality. The Westword created a fake cast, crew, security detail, and slew of producers waving release forms, fooling Denver residents into believing they were the “Real” deal. So authentic were the ersatz “Real” kids, they even tricked Holly, a former Road Rules cast member who came over to introduce herself.
A really fake reality show? Boy. It almost makes you miss Puck.
Big Brother Finalists Looking for Your Vote
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Reality, Specials, CBS,
As if the casting special and website with the 20 Big Brother candidates pleading their case for your vote weren’t enough, they are seeking other opportunities to spread the word about their worthiness. CBS has posted a listing of each candidate’s personal appearances – each hoping to sway your vote to elect them as one of the lucky 12 voted into the Big Brother 7: All-Stars house this season.
While viewers get to cast their votes, keep in mind that only the viewer’s top six will be sent to live in the house. The other six are chosen by the producers. So if you were hoping for your own little Big Brother utopian experience with all of your favorites, be aware that the producers have to play their part. As with any reality show, there has to be the right mix of personalities to keep things lively.
The CBS.com polls will close on Wednesday, so cast your vote soon! The season premiere airs July 6, when Julie Chen announces the 12 who will be competing for the $500,000 prize.
Read More | CBS
Comedy Central to Bring Futurama Back from the Dead
Posted by Christina Furtado Categories: Animation, Comedy, Cable, FOX, DVD, News, Renewals,
Comedy Central has ordered 13 episodes of former Fox animated series Futurama to debut in 2008. The network bought the rights to the existing 72 episodes of the cult series last year, and talks about bringing the series back began at 20th Century Fox Television with show creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen. Voice actors Billy West, Katey Segal, and John DiMaggio are all expected to return to the comedy about a frozen pizza boy who wakes up 1000 years in the future. The show has done well on DVD, much like the other cancelled Fox show Family Guy, which was resurrected on that network last year. Ah, the power of TV-on-DVD!
Read More | Coming Soon
Showtime Cancels Huff
Posted by Christina Furtado Categories: Drama, Cable, Showtime, Cancellations, News, Ratings,
After two low-rated but critically acclaimed seasons, Showtime has pulled the plug on its drama Huff, according to a report in Variety yesterday. The cast of the show, that focuses on a psychiatrist played by Hank Azaria and his family, was apparently notified earlier in the week. The show was noted for a huge Emmy campaign after its first low-rated season, resulting in an Emmy for Blythe Danner. A second season only aired, however, because Showtime exec Robert Greenblatt had been so impressed by the show that he green-lit a second season before the first even aired. The second season still failed to increase its numbers, so the season finale on Sunday night will also be its series finale. Huff also stars Oliver Platt, and Season One is available on DVD.
Read More | Coming Soon
Katharine McPhee Admits Bulimia
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: FOX, American Idol, Rumors,
American Idol runner-up, Katharine McPhee, has been talking publicly about her five-year battle with bulimia. According to the songstress, she hit rock-bottom when she was throwing up as many as seven times a day. The damage to her vocal cords could have prevented her from even making it to Idol, but after successfully “making it to Hollywood,” she spent three months in group and individual therapy at Los Angeles’s Eating Disorder Center of California. According to McPhee, “When I made it onto American Idol, I knew that food – my eating disorder – was the one thing really holding me back. I was binging my whole life away for days at a time…So when I got on the show, I said, ‘You know what? I can do well in this competition. Let me give myself a chance and just get a hold of this thing.”
People Magazine reports that McPhee has lost 30 lbs., resulting from an approach she learned while at the Eating Disorder Center. Katharine praises the impact of Idol, saying “That’s why I say American Idol saved my life, because if I hadn’t auditioned I don’t think I would have gotten a handle on food.”
Read More | People
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