matt.mitovich

In the Works: A Shannen Doherty Christmas, and More

ABC Family has greenlit Christmas Caper, a TV-movie starring Shannen Doherty as a Grinch-like cat burglar out to "steal Christmas" from her sleepy hometown, Variety reports. Doherty also has been tapped to play the old friend of a gay spy in here! Network's Kiss Me Deadly: A Jacob Keane Assignment, the first installment in a series of espionage thrillers.... Tom Brokaw is collaborating with History Channel on an examination of 1968, a year that featured the riots at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, the launch of Apollo 8, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and RFK.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

In the Works: A Shannen Doherty Christmas, and More

Katie Couric Gets CBS' Vote... for 2008, At Least

CBS News  coincidentally in the wake of New York magazine's fantastically illuminating profile of its CBS Evening News anchor  announced on Monday that Katie Couric will headline its Election 2008 coverage not only on her nightly newscast, but throughout the network via special programming. Couric will also anchor a December 10 debate in Los Angeles between our last hopes the Democratic contenders.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

Kyle XY, 300, L Word and More Short Cuts

ABC has pulled its Friday-night rebroadcasts of ABC Family's Kyle XY after four low-rated outings, TV Week reports.... TNT has ponied up $17 mil for the cable rights to 300, to premiere in September 2009. Per Variety, TNT believes it can edit out the blood and gore while maintaining the film's integrity.... OurChart.com and FanLib.com have announced a writing contest inviting fans of The L Word to rewrite any scene from Season 1 or 2. The winning submission will air as part of a future episode. Go here for deets.... On DVD August 7: 8 Simple Rules: The Complete First Season and Home Improvement, Season 7.... A survey commissioned by Arm & Hammer Advanced White Toothpaste finds that women most covet the smiles of Halle Berry and Julia Roberts. As for which Hollyhunk they'd like to "share their toothpaste" with, George Clooney edged out Matthew McConaughey.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

Tori Spelling, Ordained Minister?! Heaven Help Us

Donna Martin officiates!Tori Spelling reveals on her MySpace page that she is now a card-carrying member of the clergy. "I am now officially ordained. Yep, that's right... Reverend Tori Spelling!" she writes. "I did it last week online, and my official certificate is in the mail. I am so proud." As, undoubtedly, is the aforementioned online ministry.Tori's first order of business? Shannen Doherty, exorcism.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

Tori Spelling, Ordained Minister?! Heaven Help Us

See You in September! Fox Details Fall Premieres

Hot from Fox, the fall season's rollout plan:Thursday, Aug. 308 pm/ET Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?Saturday, Sept. 88 pm Cops9 pm America's Most WantedThursday, Sept. 139 pm Kitchen Nightmares (series premiere)Friday, Sept. 149 pm Nashville (series premiere)Saturday, Sept. 1511 pm Mad TVMidnight Talkshow with Spike FerestenMonday, Sept. 178 pm Prison Break9 pm K-Ville (series premiere)Wednesday, Sept. 198 pm Back to You (series premiere)8:30 pm 'Til Death9 pm BonesSunday, Sept. 238 pm The Simpsons8:30 pm King of the Hill9 pm Family Guy Tuesday, Sept. 258 pm New Amsterdam (series premiere)9 pm HouseSunday, Sept. 309:30 pm American DadThe complete 2007-08 prime-time schedule can be found here, in TVGuide.com's "Hottest Fall TV" blog.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

ESPN's Dan Patrick Decides It's Game Over

After serving up 18 years of wonderfully snark-flavored sports coverage, Dan Patrick announced on Monday his resignation from ESPN, where he has anchored SportsCenter and hosted an eponymous radio show. Noting that "I've spent a third of my life at ESPN," Patrick tells Variety he wants to "try something different," but specified no next step following his August 17 ESPN sign-off.Recently, Patrick's name unexpectedly entered the "Who will host The Price Is Right?" mix, but he turned down the job. "I didn't think it was the right time to do something like that, but I did appreciate them inquiring," Patrick tells the Reporter, adding, "No, I'm holding out for Wheel of Fortune."

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

ESPN's Dan Patrick Decides It's Game Over

Has Paris Hilton Returned to the, Um, Joint?

Has Paris "I Don't Do Drugs, Larry" Hilton fallen in with a bad crowd since being liberated from the hoosegow? Or perhaps she is researching a film role, à la Britney? Per the New York Post's Page Six, the Simple Lifer emerged the other night from an SUV parked outside a Hollywood hot spot awash in a haze of marijuana smoke. "She took a huge puff off a joint," says an eyewitness, "and exhaled the pot smoke basically in my face." Hilton's rep, perhaps busy banging his head on the desk, has yet to comment for the tab.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

Has Paris Hilton Returned to the, Um, Joint?

Alec Baldwin Hit with Friday-the-13th Nightmare

An Alec Baldwin film once dubbed by the New York Post as "so bad it is unreleasable" is... being released. The Devil and Daniel Webster, produced, directed and starring Baldwin, is sneaking into (precious few) theaters this Friday the 13th, six years after it wrapped (and years after Baldwin hoped it was dead and buried). Now titled Shortcut to Happiness, the flick has been stripped of Baldwin's producer-director credit, though he's still on screen (alongside Anthony Hopkins, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kim Cattrall, Dan Aykroyd and Jason Patric). "Alec doesn't recommend unrecognizable films to his fans," a pal of his scoffs to the Post.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

Alec Baldwin Hit with Friday-the-13th Nightmare

Eva and Tony's Wedding: Finally, Some Gossip

You can have your chiffon this and Swarovski that: This is what I look for in a celebrity wedding. Teri Hatcher came off as Desperate for flashbulbs as she arrived for Eva Longoria's Saturday wedding to Tony Parker. As the celeb-filled shuttle bus pulled up to a walkway affording its passengers a private entrance into the Parisian church, "Felicity [Huffman] and Nicollette [Sheridan] walked in, hand in hand, but Teri took her daughter [to] the public area to pose for photos... for 10 minutes," one witness tells the New York Daily News. "It was so strange!" notes another spy. "Everyone else was so excited to be going into the church for the wedding, and all of a sudden, Teri broke away from the group to make sure she was seen and photographed."Perhaps shedding light on the spectacle, an ABC set-sider tells the News, "Teri never joins in the fun" with the other Housewives "and often runs late for scenes." Runs late? I guess we know one cast Isaiah won't be joining.

Tue, Jul 10, 2007

Eva and Tony's Wedding: Finally, Some Gossip

Think You Can Dance Gets a Shot of Hairspray, Duff

Adam Shankman, the director and choreographer of the upcoming Hairspray movie musical, will serve as a guest judge on this Wednesday's So You Think You Can Dance. In addition to offering his extremely qualified two cents, Shankman will choreograph a group routine set to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray, to be performed during Thursdays results show.Also on Thursday, as the judges prepare to send two more dancers home, Hilary Duff will perform "Stranger" from her latest album, Dignity, named after the one thing she still has that most of her pop-tart peers do not.POLL: Which reality show's return are you most looking forward to? Choose from our list and vote here.

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Think You Can Dance Gets a Shot of Hairspray, Duff

HighTunes: Weeds Scores Joan Baez, Other Crooners

In keeping with last season's nifty notion to have a different singer/group perform the title track, Showtime's Weeds has lined up another roster of eclectic acts to serve up Malvina Reynolds' "Little Boxes." While Randy Newman will kick things off with his own take on Aug. 13, other singers to listen for throughout Season 3 include Joan Baez, (not Martin) Donovan, ex-Spearhead front man Michael Franti, the hip-hop band The Individuals, Angelique Kidjo, the Latin band Kinky, experimental rockers Man Man, Persephone's Bees, the Shins and Billy Bob Thornton.

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Avril's "Boyfriend" Trouble: "I've Done Nothing Wrong"

Addressing the controversy ignited by (as she puts it) "two guys who wrote for some band from the 1970s I have never in my life heard of," Avril Lavigne posted a statement on her website claiming no wrongdoing in her and cowriter Luke Gottwald's penning of "Girlfriend." Positing that the Rubinoos' "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" "has no musical similarities" to her current hit, Lavigne deems herself falsely accused. "Luke and I have done nothing wrong," she says. "There is no merit to their claim."To make her case, Lavigne cites the Rolling Stones' "Get Off of My Cloud" and the Ramones' own "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" as also featuring similar themes. "[The Plaintiffs'] claim is based on five words! All songs share similar lyrics and emotions. As humans we speak one language." (Bob Dylan excluded.)

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Dennis Hopper for President, and More Movie News

Frank Booth eyeballing the White House? Per Variety, Dennis Hopper is the Democratic contender and Kelsey Grammer the GOP incumbent in Swing Vote, a comedy starring Kevin Costner as a working-class dad who holds the deciding ballot in a presidential election. Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci are their campaign managers.... Pride & Prejudice's Rupert Friend has been cast as Prince Albert to Emily Blunt's Young Victoria.... Warner Bros. has grabbed big-screen rights to David Morrell's The Brotherhood of the Rose, previously adapted as a late-'80s miniseries.... Per the Reporter, Jennifer Esposito is a single mom who gets involved with Val Kilmer's mysterious Iraq War vet in Conspiracy.

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Brandon Walsh Is a Dad, and More Baby Talk

Beverly Hills, 90210 icon (and cast member of Lifetime's upcoming Side Order of Life) Jason Priestley and his wife Naomi Lowde have welcomed their first child, a baby girl. Yep, no name, no specific day, all very odd.... Skating with Celebrities alumna Jillian Barberie and her husband Grant Reynolds on Friday welcomed their first child, a girl named Ruby Raven, reports People.... Indie queen Toni Collette is pregnant with her and husband Dave Galafassi's first child. "We're over the moon," the actress tells the AP.

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Brandon Walsh Is a Dad, and More Baby Talk

Katie Couric Calls Her Critics "Unforgiving," "Primal"

In a sitdown with New York Magazine, Katie Couric admits to having days "when I'm like, 'Oh my god, what did I do?'" with regards to the cold reception given her CBS Evening News cast. That said, she takes issue with those who find a certain glee in her woes. "I've gone through a bit of a feeding frenzy and there's blood in the water. This person who's been successful isn't so great, and finally she's being put in her place.... That kind of mentality [is] fairly primal." Other choice sound bites from the in-depth profile: "[That] I'm not a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown... it's probably disappointing to some people, because in the arc of the story, that's what they want to see." "I underestimated the feeling that some might have that I was a morning-show personality and not a credible news person. Which I, quite frankly, think is patently unfair." On the topic of peers who have slammed her "anonymously" in the press (no less than Bob Schieffer and Lesley...

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Katie Couric Calls Her Critics "Unforgiving," "Primal"

Burn Notice, Al Bundy, Beckham and More Short Cuts

Buoyed by a strong lead-in (National Treasure), USA Network's Burn Notice performed a rare feat this past Thursday, retaining all of the four million people who tuned in for the series' premiere.... Married... with Children: The Complete Seventh Season arrives on DVD Sept. 18, the series' 20th anniversary.... ESPN will broadcast David Beckham's first Major League Soccer game as a player on the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 21 at 9 pm/ET.... Expecting to "double sales at a minimum," Sony has cut the price of its PlayStation 3 by a Benjamin, to $499.... Which returning sitcom are you most looking forward to? Choose from our list and vote here (bottom right).

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Burn Notice, Al Bundy, Beckham and More Short Cuts

Shark Shake-up Continues, and More Casting News!

Kevin Pollak, with whom James Woods shared the silver screen in Casino, is joining Shark in the recurring role of new Los Angeles District Attorney Lloyd Cutler. Another new face coming on board CBS' hit drama is Kevin Alejandro (you say Ugly Betty, I say Drive), playing a street-smart prosecutor who specializes in organized crime. Sounds like the "Sam Page replacement" Ausiello scooped a ways back, yes?Also per the Reporter, ABC's Cavemen  namely, Cro-Mag Joel's younger brother  is getting a makeover. Sam Huntington (Superman Returns' Jimmy Olsen) is in as Andy, while Dash Mihok is out as Jamie. What's more, the pilot screened at the upfronts will not kick off the series in the fall. Instead, a new opener is being filmed, one which better (meaning at all) addresses the cavemen's existence in modern society. Small detail, that.

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Shark Shake-up Continues, and More Casting News!

Box Office: Transformers Takes Aim at Best Week Ever

Michael Bay's Transformers, with at least two box-office records already under its belt, took in another $67.6 million over the weekend, bringing its total to $152.5 mil  aka the largest first-week tally for a non-sequel, surpassing 2002's Spider-Man. (The 'bots, however, sold 22.5 mil tickets to Spidey's 26.1 mil.)Rounding out the top five were Ratatouille ($29 million), Live Free or Die Hard ($17.4 mil), License to Wed (opening with $10.4 mil) and Evan Almighty ($8.1 mil). Overall, the weekend b.o. was down 23 percent versus a year ago. The hope is that one Harold Potter can turn things around.POLL: Why did you see Transformers? Vote here.

Mon, Jul 9, 2007

Box Office: Transformers Takes Aim at Best Week Ever

You're Rehired! The Apprentice Returns to NBC

And you thought Jericho's renewal was nutty. Plucking the reality competition out of its own ashes, NBC is bringing back Donald Trump's The Apprentice for at least one more season, sources tell Reuters, saying that the Peacock plans to announce the somewhat unexpected renewal on July 16 at the Television Critics Association press tour.Though there's no official word from NBC, one person familiar with the talks tells Reuters The Apprentice would return for two more years, while another insider says the plan is to bring the show back for a seventh season with an option to renew for an eighth.

Sat, Jul 7, 2007

You're Rehired! The Apprentice Returns to NBC

ER's Goran Visnjic Slapped with Paternity Suit

A 36-year-old Croatian woman has slapped Goran Visnjic with a paternity suit, claiming that the ER hunk is the father of her 4-month-old daughter and that he knew about the pregnancy "from the start." According to the Associated Press, Mirela Rupic filed suit after trying to settle the matter privately, only to have Visnjic say that he would support the child financially, but never recognize her as his own. Since 1999 Visnjic has been married to Croatian artist Ivana Vrdoljak, with whom he adopted a son this past May. Should the actor formally deny that he is the girl's father, a paternity test would be required, says Rupics attorney. Visnjic could not immediately be reached by the AP for comment.

Sat, Jul 7, 2007

ER's Goran Visnjic Slapped with Paternity Suit

Jim Carrey Is Really Out to Scrooge Moviegoers

Jim Carrey will play Ebenezer Scrooge  as well as the three ghosts that haunt him  in a new big-screen adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, to be written and directed for Disney by Robert Zemeckis, says Variety. Zemeckis will shoot the film using "performance capture/Disney digital 3-D" animation, a technique he introduced in Tom Hanks' Polar Express and fine-tuned for Beowulf (an upcoming film starring Angelina Jolie), a bit of live action and a dash of Monster House-esque computer graphics. And just like that, The Grinch looks art-house.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Jim Carrey Is Really Out to Scrooge Moviegoers

Elizabeth Berkley's Black Widow Has Legs

Showgirls showstopper Elizabeth Berkley will spin a very tangled web in the Lifetime movie Black Widow, reports the Reporter. The flick concerns a journalist (Jericho's Alicia Coppola) who suspects that her bestest guy friend (Randall Batinkoff) has fallen for a woman who has married  and apparently murdered  her previous husbands, including a wealthy software tycoon. The rest involves a stool, a broom and a jelly jar with holes poked in the lid.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007