Law & Order creator Dick Wolf is blasting NBC for its decision to bar Wednesday's controversial "ripped from the headlines" episode from future airings. Latino activists complained that the episode sensationalized last summer's "wilding" spree in New York's Central Park during the Puerto Rican Day Parade. "The bedrock of American democracy is free speech and lack of censorship," Wolf said. "The network has caved in to the demands of a special interest group and I am extremely disappointed with this decision, about which I was not consulted, as I think it sets an extremely dangerous precedent." In an interview with The Associated Press, Manuel Mirabal, head of the National Puerto Rican Coalition, countered that, "Every Puerto Rican shown in that show was portrayed negatively as a criminal, as a delinquent, as someone who abuses women." In a statement, NBC said: "We sincerely apologize for offending memb
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Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher gave the Backstreet Boys a serious black and blue this week when he said the group "can't sing, can't play, can't dance... They should be shot." During a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Gallagher claimed that the "very bad taste" of the American public — as proven by the success of acts like Backstreet — has prevented his and other British bands from hitting it big in the U.S. (Fair enough, but the "should be shot" comment is a tad harsh, no?)
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Fox's lurid reality smash Temptation Island is showing some signs of weakness: Compared to the previous week's installment, Wednesday's episode was down 5 percent in total viewers and 8 percent among adults 18-49. Despite the ratings dip, Temptation still managed to attract 16.83 million viewers, second only to an original episode of NBC's The West Wing. (Among adults 18-49, however, it beat the Golden Globe- winning drama.) Meanwhile, NBC's Ed beat ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for the first time among adults 18-49.
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Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker is the new pitchwoman for the name-your-own-price Internet company Priceline, replacing William Shatner, whose contract expires in October. For now, only Parker's voice will be featured in Priceline's spots.
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Nicole Kidman is on the verge of dropping out of her starring role in the David Fincher-directed drama The Panic Room due to a bum knee. According to Variety, Mrs. Tom Cruise — who was already two weeks into shooting Panic — never fully recovered from a knee injury she sustained while shooting Moulin Rouge in Australia. Should Kidman exit, producers would need to recast quickly, considering the project has to be completed before the anticipated actor's strike this summer.
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Pop diva Celine Dion gave birth to a baby boy Thursday morning in Palm Beach, Florida. Rene-Charles arrived three weeks ahead of schedule and weighed in at 6 lbs, 8 oz. It's the first child for Dion and her manager-hubby Rene Angelil, who conceived the baby through in vitro fertilization. According to a statement released by the singer's rep, both mother and child are "doing marvelously well and are in perfect health." Dion is in the midst of a three-year career sabbatical. — Michael Ausiello
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3rd Rock from the Sun taped what may be its final episode Tuesday night, as NBC seems likely to put the series out of its misery at season's end. According to Variety columnist Army Archerd, the plot of the "finale" features the aliens departing earth the same way they arrived — in a convertible. Elvis Costello appears in the episode singing "Fly Me to the Moon."
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Despite rumors that her TV hubby was fired, Bette Midler insists that Kevin Dunn — who played her better half on CBS's Bette — requested to be let out of his contract.
"Kevin wanted to be let go," the Divine One tells TV Guide Online. "He wasn't happy with the material. I thought he was a terrific husband, but he didn't like what he was doing. Rather than make him suffer through the rest of his contract, it seemed better to release him and let him find peace and happiness somewhere else."
Dunn made his final appearance on Jan. 3, and Midler admits she's in no hurry to recast. "I'm not looking for someone," she says, "but I do gather that the audience likes a male presence working with me. I understand that.
"I'm just very nervous about getting involved with an actor I'm not sure of," Midler continues. "I'd like to have a different Roy on every episode: One week it could be Martin Short
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A "humiliated" Sarah Michelle Gellar is retracting comments she made claiming she planned to quit Buffy the Vampire Slayer if the WB series moved to another network. "I'm not going anywhere, and I can't stress that enough," Gellar told the Los Angeles Times. "I just said it in passing, and it was only meant to show my appreciation and support for the WB. But Fox [the show's producer] has been very good to me too. I intend to stay with Buffy no matter what." The WB's contract to air Buffy expires at the end of this season, and renewal talks between the network and Fox have reportedly stalled over money — leading to speculation that Fox may move the show to its own network.
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Frankie Avalon will guest star on the Feb. 23 episode of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch... Valerie Harper and Howard Hesseman will play the divorced parents of Steven (series regular David Alan Basche) on the Feb. 6 episode of NBC's new comedy Three Sisters... Italian filmmaker Dino De Laurentiis (who produced the upcoming Hannibal) will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award at this year's Oscar ceremony on March 25. — Michael Ausiello
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