Sony Pictures' Crackle.com on Monday launched C-Spot, a new multiplatform comedy channel offering 52-weeks-a-year of Web-original programming. For its inaugural 13-week season, C-Spot will feature Hot, Hot Los Angeles, a take-off of frothy teen dramas (new every Monday); The Writers Room, a Kevin Pollack-fronted satire of late-night talk shows (Tuesdays); Gaytown, in which straight Owen Benjamin deals with a berg populated by alternative life-livers (Wednesdays); The Roadents, a 2D/3D hybrid described as The Odd Couple meets Easy Rider (Thursdays); 10 new episodes of the Web hit Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show (Fridays); and Best of Penn Says, offering the most popular entries of Penn Jillette's unscripted online series (weekends).
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He predicted it even before the dancing started. Magician Penn Jillette said that if you looked at the big picture, booking him for the show — and then booting him out first — wouldn't be a bad move for the producers of Dancing with the Stars. "I like a little bit of game theory," Jillette said in his first interview about the show. "The producers could have me on and say: 'We're booking Sasquatch and isn't that funny? And then when he loses, it'll be funny, too.'" But once he signed on the dotted line, Jillette committed himself fully. He got a trainer in Las Vegas that he calls "the Nazi. He's a very, very bad man." He dropped an astonishing 48 pounds before the show went on the air. He got special orthopedic shoes for feet that have been battered by his more than three decades in show business, starting with circus training. "The producers made me promise that I would try as hard as I could," he says.And he did. "He did his best," said his wife, Emily, after Tuesday...
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All the magic in the world couldn't keep Penn Jillette and Monica Seles in the competition. Good job, America. I wonder how long Adam Carolla will hang on? Marissa and him may be hanging on by the skin of their teeth. In the midst of the hour-long fluff that is the results show, I started thinking about what a colossal waste of time it is. Do I need two performances by the Jonas Brothers? Do I need to see people flying in mid-air? No, I don't. With the sixth installment under way, I must say this show is in need of a makeover. So let's get a discussion started: What do you want to see changed for next season of Dancing with the Stars? Maybe if we make enough noise, ABC will listen. Mmmm…not bloody likely. But at least we can say we tried! Here are a few of my suggestions:• Enough with the fluffThose two hour shows could easily be 90 or 60 minutes if they cut out the intro pieces before the contestants dance. Another option would be to considerably shorten them (do I need...
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Phew! Tonight was a marathon, not a sprint. As much as I love this show, 2 hours and all 12 competitors was a bit much for me. Luckily, there was nothing a good mambo couldn't fix. Raise your hand if you totally fantasize about being a competitor on this show. I do, I do! I always have the coolest dress, the best technique and a song that doesn't stink! Oh, and Maksim is my partner every time. Yeah, you know it!But enough about my delusions of grandeur, it's D-List casserole time. So get yourself a plate and I'll serve up some recap for ya! Mahoney — Could he be any cuter? Despite some major stiffness (hehe), he seemed to be enjoying himself. I hope he sticks around long enough to revive his career. ABC — get this man a pilot! Mambo 16Cristián — The military bit was ridiculous but his dancing was not. Thankfully, Cheryl has someone who can keep up with her this year.Quickstep 20Monica — It wasn't as big of a disaster as I thought, but it wasn't pretty eith...
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With Dancing with the Stars' first elimination night scheduled for this coming Tuesday, gold-medalist Kristi Yamaguchi is looking utterly golden, at least judging by TVGuide.com's first Power Rankings reader poll of the new season. Kristi and pro partner Mark Ballas took an early lead and held onto it to come away with 31.2% of the votes. Placing a distant second were Cristián de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke.Facing an uphill dance going into Monday's performance show are Penn Jillette and Kym Johnson, who came in last with less than two percent of the vote. Can the illusionist work some magic and overcome that rough start?The complete rankings:31.2% Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas 11.5% Cristián de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke 10.0% Mario and Karina Smirnoff 9.7% Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska 8.5% Steve Guttenberg and Anna Trebunskaya 7.1% Marlee Matlin and Fabian Sanchez6.2% Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough5.3% Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovolani 3.2% Monica Seles an...
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