matt.mitovich

Harry Potter Star Not "Ungrateful" During Contract Talks

Emma Watson, who was rumored to be a holdout during contract talks for the final two Harry Potter films  Half-blood Prince and Deathly Hallows  regrets that she came off as being a tough negotiator, but invites any detractors to spend a moment in her sorceress' hat. "People underestimate what a big decision this was for me," the 17-year-old says in this weekend's Parade. "This is the next three or four years of my life. Being in the spotlight and the lack of freedom are the sort of things that held me back. People will see that as ungrateful, but you never know until you've walked in someone else's shoes. I love it, and that's why I'm back, but I had to make it work for me."As for that eventual life after Potter, she ventures, "It will be the weirdest thing ever." And you have to imagine she has seen Equus.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Harry Potter Star Not "Ungrateful" During Contract Talks

Ratings: Big Brother Can't Quite Beat 5th Grader

This Thursday's ratings recap: Big Brother opened its doors to 7.42 million total viewers, not quite catching 5th Grader's 7.84 mil, but besting the Fox quizzer in key demos. BB 8 was down about eight percent from All-Stars' year-ago opener.POLL: What's your favorite BB 8 twist? Vote here. As Pirate Master dipped a bit (and again) with 5.15 mil, a second 5th Grader repeat won the 9 o'clock hour with 8.48 mil, albeit a million fewer than So You Think You Can Dance typically delivers in the slot. Men in Trees matched last week's 3.7 mil.POLL: Which returning comedy series are you most excited for this fall? Choose from our list and vote here (bottom right).

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

J.J. Abrams Trailer Teases a 'Field of Screams

"Smoke Monster Takes Manhattan"? A mysterious, Blair Witch-style trailer for a film titled Cloverfield and touted as "from producer J.J. Abrams" has the many folk catching Transformers intrigued. The film, directed by Felicity cocreator Matt Reeves and penned by Drew Goddard (Lost, Alias), is teased with a party scene set at a New York City bar, soon disrupted by the roar of some sort of monstrous entity, followed by flames and falling debris  including the head of the Statue of Liberty. According to the Reporter, Cloverfield features a cast of relative unknowns, including Lizzy Caplan (The Class), Michael Stahl-David (The Black Donnellys), Odet Jasmin and Mike Vogel. Copies of the trailer posted to the Internet, including at YouTube, are almost immediately being ordered down by threat of copyright infringment. A January 18 release date is listed in the trailer's sparse credits.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

A Freshly Dirty Dozen, and More Movie News

Per Variety, Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, Elektra) is penning a remake of The Dirty Dozen for Warner Bros.... Paramount's plan to extend Angelina Jolie's current run in theaters involves cutting the number of screens showing A Mighty Heart in half, a tactic successfully employed with Borat last fall.... Hoping to quell accusations that the country has snubbed the production of Tom Cruise's Valkyrie due to his religious beliefs, the German Federal Film Fund has ponied up $6.5 million toward the drama's $80 million tab.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Joel Siegel Gets a Goodbye from Good Morning

The entire second hour of Monday's Good Morning America will be dedicated to the work and contributions of recently passed film critic Joel Siegel, ABC has announced. On hand for the tribute will be current GMAers as well as faces from the past, including former anchors Charles Gibson, Joan Lunden and David Hartman, and weatherman Spencer Christian. Assorted film stars and heavyweights will also share their thoughts on Siegel's long career.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Telemundo Anchor Sidelined for Dating Married Mayor

Telemundo's KVEA-TV Los Angeles has placed Mirthala Salinas on leave in the wake of reports that the news anchor has been romantically involved for at least a year with married (though not for much longer) L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Given the seriousness of the allegations that have been made, we have decided to conduct an internal review of [the events] that led us to where we are today," KVEA's general manager says in a statement to Variety. Salinas, who just last month herself reported on the mayor's separation from his wife of 20 years, says, "I am confident that when all the facts are analyzed, it will be clear that I conducted myself in an appropriate way."

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

ABC Redials The Nine as Traveler Hits the Road

This Wednesday and next, ABC's underappreciated Traveler presents its final two episodes  and, yes, we do mean final, as series creator David DiGilio details in his TVGuide.com celebrity blog update. "We have sadly reached the point where our show is most likely not coming back," he writes. "ABC has officially let our cast contracts lapse." Read more about it here. Excellent blog entry.In keeping with that "Circle of Life" thing I hear about in my kids' Lion King DVD, shortly after Traveler hits the road, ABC is bringing back the also-underappreciated The Nine for, one would hope, all six of its unaired episodes, starting Aug. 1 at 10 pm/ET. Alas, fans should not count on finding out exactly "What happened in there" as Episode 13 was not designed to deliver 100 percent closure. My standing theory? Someone stole one of those chained bank pens, and things got very ugly.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

ABC Redials The Nine as Traveler Hits the Road

Avril Lavigne Is Hey, Hey, Sued, Sued!

TV Guide's own Ken Fox called this one months ago. Songwriters Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer allege in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court that Avril Lavigne and the cowriters of her current hit, "Girlfriend," cribbed from their 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," which was originally performed by new-wave band The Rubinoos. "We are not so naive as to chalk it up to some sort of cosmic coincidence," Dunbar says in a statement to the AP. "The lyric, the meter, the rhythm... they're identical." A spokesperson for Lavigne declined comment. A court date has been set for Aug. 28. In related news, this rather insane girl I broke up with back in college is suing Kelly Clarkson for stealing "Never Again" from the hourlong harangue she directed at me some 15 years ago.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Lance Bass Is Hairspray's New Corny Emcee

Out-and-about former 'N Syncer Lance Bass will join Broadway's Hairspray on Aug. 14, just as the Tony-winning musical marks its fifth year on the planks, sources tell the New York Daily News. Bass is taking over the role of dance-show emcee Corny Collins.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Rachael Ray's Marriage Isn't Fried, More Love Notes

A spokesperson for Rachael Ray puts a fork in a Perez Hilton report that the celebrity chef's marriage is (albeit yummy) toast. "That report is totally false," the rep tells TV Guide. "Rachael and [husband] John [Cusimano] enjoyed a happy Fourth of July in the Hamptons".... Songstress Nelly Furtado is engaged to Demacio "Demo" Castellon, the sound engineer who worked on her 2006 album Loose, says People.... Former Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson and his wife Kristin welcomed their first child, a son named Mason, on Tuesday.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Rachael Ray's Marriage Isn't Fried, More Love Notes

Maria Bartiromo, Laguna Beach and More Short Cuts

CNBC's Maria Bartiromo has trademarked the name "Money Honey" and will use it as the name of a new show she is producing, she tells Hamptons Magazine.... Laguna Beach alumna Jessica Smith, 19, received three years probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge stemming from a March crash, says the AP.... Mark Wahlberg's Shooter topped last week's DVD sales and rental charts, besting Bridge to Terabithia and Black Snake Moan, respectively.... Factory Girl: The Unrated Director's Cut arrives on DVD July 17.

Fri, Jul 6, 2007

Ratings: Shaq's Bigger Challenge, Closer and More

Ratings bits from...WednesdayFox's last-minute swap of Adam Sandler's Anger Management (in place of the final two episodes of Drive) delivered 3.13 million total viewers  or 1.5 mil fewer than tuned in for Drive's previous (April 23) broadcast. The Nathan Fillion-driven series instead will bow out Friday the 13th. Real nice.... Hidden Palms dropped 500K week-to-week to say a most unfortunate farewell to just 971,000 viewers.TuesdayOn the Lot left another 130 thou on the cutting-room floor, delivering 2.16 mil.... Shaq's Big Challenge (5.03 mil) fattened up its premiere-week numbers by 600,000.MondayTNT's The Closer (7.19 mil) was up 11 percent from the week prior, and bested the 9 pm competition on both ABC and NBC. The season-to-date is up nine percent versus its sophomore run.... Heartland drew 3.45 mil, up 15 percent.POLL: Which from our list of returning drama series are you most looking forward to? Vote here (bottom right).

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

Ratings: Shaq's Bigger Challenge, Closer and More

Transformers, Disguised as ATMs, Breaks Two Records

The big-screen, live-action Transformers pocketed $27.4 million in its official July 3 debut, beating the previous Tuesday record of $15.7 million set last year by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. "The timing on this movie was perfect, with the holiday in the middle of the week," the president of box-office tracker Media by Numbers tells the Associated Press. "This film has six days plus a preview to stretch its legs." And robotic arms. And neck. And artillery-filled ears.Transformers, which is now playing in 4,011 theaters nationwide, took in $8.8 million with some Monday-night preview screenings.UPDATE: Transformers broke another box-office record by grossing $29.1 million on its second full day of release  the most ever for a July 4 holiday. (Spider-Man 2 was the record holder, with $22 mil.) Transformers' new $29.1 mil also marked the best Wednesday ever for a non-sequel movie, exceeding The Passion of the Christ's $26.6 mil.

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

Transformers, Disguised as ATMs, Breaks Two Records

Everwood, Deadwood Stars Each Find a New Life

Let the fall-season recasts continue. Stephanie Niznik, best known to TV fans as Everwood's Nina, is taking over the role of the wife/mother on the CW's Life Is Wild, replacing Judith Hoag (who played the part in the pilot). Just last week, the family patriarch was recast with Hidden Palms' D.W. Moffett.Also per the Hollywood Reporter, Brent Sexton (aka Deadwood's Harry Manning) has been added to the series-regular cast of the new NBC drama Life, playing the former partner of Damian Lewis' wrongfully imprisoned and now back-on-the-force lawman.

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

Everwood, Deadwood Stars Each Find a New Life

Britney Spears' "Umbrella Defense" Doesn't Hold Water

Remember a couple of rehab visits ago, when Britney Spears was caught on film wailing on an innocent car with an umbrella after having a run-in with K-Fed? Apparently she was getting all Method on us. In an apology hand-delivered to the website X17, Spears now "explains" that she was merely "preparing for a possible movie role where the husband doesn't play his part, so [he and the wife] swap places. I guess I got a little carried away with my role!"Spears adds that, amazingly, she did not land the plum big-screen gig. And it sounded like such a helluva film, too.

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

Britney Spears' "Umbrella Defense" Doesn't Hold Water

Will the Sex and the City Film Be a "Big" Deal?

As first scooped by Ausiello, the big-screen Sex and the City boinkfest is now a go, with leads Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis all set to reprise their series roles. Cattrall, a long-rumored holdout, was ultimately locked in with the promise of scene input, big bucks and a future HBO series deal, sources tell Variety. That's right, folks  your "Mannequin: The Series" dream is alive.Now that the New Line-produced Sex film is greenlit, the involvement of series faves such as Chris Noth (as Mr. Big/John) will start to get firmed up.POLL: Other than Big, which Sex and the City fella do you hope appears in the film? Vote here.

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

Will the Sex and the City Film Be a "Big" Deal?

Also at the Movies, Spike Lee and Stargaters

Spike Lee on Tuesday announced his plan to make a World War II film based on the novel Miracle at St. Anna, which focuses on the contribution of African-American soldiers who fought and died to liberate Europe.... A Dog's Breakfast, a comedy directed by David Hewlett and featuring fellow Stargate players Christopher Judge and Rachel Lutrell among its cast, will premiere on iTunes and Amazon's Unbox this Tuesday, before arriving on DVD in mid-September.

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

World Champion: ABC News Hits Decade-long High

ABC's World News with Charles Gibson just won its first quarter in more than a decade, averaging eight million total viewers to NBC's 7.5 mil. CBS' Evening News with Katie Couric owned third place with 6.1 mil. ABC's was the only evening newcast to gain viewers during the time frame, up seven percent, as NBC and CBS dipped four and nine percent, respectively.On the cable front, Variety notes, Fox News won its 22nd straight quarter by drawing 1.5 million prime-time viewers, fueled by The O'Reilly Factor's dominance at 8 pm with 2.2 mil non-spinning heads.

Thu, Jul 5, 2007

Paris Hilton's 4th of July Tip: Don't Drink and Drive!

Refreshed and relaxed by her quick jaunt to Hawaii  where, says the New York Post, she had trouble finding a top-tier hotel willing to open its doors to her and her paparazzi friends  Paris Hilton took keyboard in hand and updated her MySpace page with the following holiday message to fans: "Happy 4th of July, everyone, and remember to be responsible and have a designated driver! Just looking out for you all. I love you and have an amazing summer!"I would imagine that Hilton's previous MySpace pearls of wisdom included: "Don't go to second base on the first date!" "Rethink that remake of a 50-year-old horror movie!" "Packing a bowl with some hash? Beware of video cameras!!"and "Club-hopping while commando is a big no-no!"

Wed, Jul 4, 2007

Paris Hilton's 4th of July Tip: Don't Drink and Drive!

Diddy, Wayne Brady and Jackass Headed for Splits

Kim Porter, Diddy's girlfriend and babymamma of 10 years, has moved out of the pair's New York City pad with no plans to return. "She is focusing on her career as a model and actress and raising their [three] children," a source tells the New York Post's Page Six. "They are the best of friends, but they just can't be together right now".... Wayne Brady's wife, Mandie, has filed for divorce. The couple wed in 1999, but separated in April 2006. Mandie is seeking joint custody of their 4-year-old daughter, Maile.... Also per the Associated Press, Johnny Knoxville (aka Philip John Clapp) has filed for divorce from Melanie Lynn Clapp, his wife of 12 years (and from whom he separated last July). Knoxville seeks joint custody of their 11-year-old daughter, Madison.

Wed, Jul 4, 2007

Diddy, Wayne Brady and Jackass Headed for Splits

Heroes Does Super with Teen Choice Nominations

NBC's Heroes is the most recognized TV program going into the Teen Choice 2007 awards, earning six total nominations, including Choice Drama and Breakout Show ("Breakout" of course meaning different things to this particular audience). Lost, Entourage and Ugly Betty followed with four nods each.The drama contest pits Peter, Hiro et al against Grey's Anatomy, House, Lost and Kyle XY, while the comedy race has Entourage and Betty duking it out with The Office, Desperate Housewives and Hannah Montana.If I may now cite three of the fluffier categories:Choice Liplock nomineesKeira-Orlando, Kirsten-Tobey, Transformers' Megan Fox-Shia LaBeouf, Drew-Hugh and Beyoncé-JamieChoice Male HottieJosh Duhamel, Orlando, T.I., Zac and Taylor KitschChoice Female HottieMegan Fox, Hayden, Jessicas A and B, and RihannaThis excuse to exceed the reasonable limit for any one assembly of young and dewy folk airs Aug. 26 on Fox.

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Zach Woos Drew, and Other Hollywood Hookups

Has Drew Barrymore landed herself a "doctor"? The actress "recently reconnected" with onetime Saturday Night Live after-party crush Zach Braff "and spent the weekend in East Village bliss," says the New York Post's Page Six.... Housewives hunk Josh Henderson and Hills hottie Lauren "L.C." Conrad were spotted leaving Fantastic Four star Chris Evans' Saturday birthday bash hand in hand, says the New York Daily News.... October Road's Laura Prepon and Christopher Masterson, who ended their longtime romance nary two months ago, appear to be back on, having been spied cozying up to one another at last week's Stayfree Girls in the Director's Chair event.

Tue, Jul 3, 2007