matt.mitovich

Ratings: Hell's Kitchen Still Cooking with Gas

Monday's few ratings highlights: A Hell's Kitchen leftover (3.95 million total viewers) bested an Age of Love repeat (3.6 mil) to oh-so-proudly lay claim to third place in the reruns-filled 8 o'clock hour. At 9, a fresh Hell's Kitchen drew 7.88 mil, enjoying a week-to-week surge of 660,000. A new Age (4.75 mil), meanwhile, broke up with 700K more viewers. Holy crap, the "kittens" are boring. Extreme Makeover returned to a hair (plug) over six million viewers, a 2.5 mil improvement over time-slot predecessor Ex-Wives Club.

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Eliza Dushku and Ricki Lake Pilots Still May Fly

Just as ABC extended its option on Football Wives, a few other initially passed-on fall pilots might see the airwaves after all. Per the Hollywood Reporter, ABC is also keeping a short leash on the comedies The Middle (Ricki Lake as blue-collar mom) and The Hill (set in D.C. and starring Michelle Trachtenberg and Wendie Malick).Fox, meanwhile, still may come calling for Nurses (a dramedy fronted by Eliza Dushku and Sara Rue) and/or The Cure (starring Oded Fehr and Anson Mount).

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Kylie Minogue Gets Appointment with Doctor Who

She just can't get Who out of her head. Aussie popstress Kylie Minogue has been tapped to play a "major lead role" in this year's Christmas episode of the BBC's Doctor Who, entitled "Voyage of the Damned." "It is an incredible thrill to be joining David [Tennant] and the entire Doctor Who production," says Minogue in a statement. "It is going to be very exciting." I'll second the "exciting" once I see what wardrobe has in store for her.

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Firefly's Nathan Fillion Might Land on Wisteria Lane

Fresh off Ausiello's scoopage that Dana Delany is in advanced talks to join Desperate Housewives  the very show she turned down back when it was in the pilot stage  comes word from the Hollywood Reporter that Nathan Fillion is being eyed to play the strapping, tight-pants-wearing younger husband of Delany's character (a wholesome, Bree-like Republican). Lyndsy Fonseca (How I Met Your Mother) is in talks to play the new Wisteria Lane couple's hell-raising daughter. Yes, Fonseca was previously announced to have earned a recurring role on Heroes this season. Apparently she is empowered with the "ability" to juggle two A-list jobs. (Mohinder can fill you in on all the deets. Genome project, blah-blah.... )POLL: Which returning drama series are you most excited for? Vote here (bottom right).

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Firefly's Nathan Fillion Might Land on Wisteria Lane

Is Nine Katie Holmes' Number? And More Movie News!

Casting is under way for director Rob Marshall's adaptation of the musical Nine, and thus far Katie Holmes, Demi Moore and Chicago's Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones have thrown their hats into the ring, says the New York Post.... Woody Allen hopes that his new (of course) untitled film, starring Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem and (of course) Scarlett Johansson, will do for Barcelona what Manhattan did for the Big Apple.... Richard Roundtree has boarded the Wachowskis' live-action Speed Racer, playing a driver turned commentator who's a hero to Speed and a sex machine to all the chicks.

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

24, Young Frankenstein and Other Short Cuts

Jorge Romero, the 25-year-old Chicagoan accused of uploading to LiveDigital.com four yet-to-air episodes of 24, has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10.... Also per the Hollywood Reporter, American Dad executive producers Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz have inked a new two-year deal with 20th Century Fox, as part of which they will develop new projects.... Mel Brooks' stage-musical adaptation of Young Frankenstein will price its best weekend seats at $450 a pop, a record high for Broadway, says the New York Post. Good thing TVGuide.com's Raven is getting me in for free. Right, Raven? Raven...?

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

24, Young Frankenstein and Other Short Cuts

Isaiah Washington: "I Have to Clear the Air" About What Really Happened

Appearing Monday night on Larry King Live, Isaiah Washington served up what many of us have been clamoring for: a blow-by-blow account of exactly what transpired on the Grey's Anatomy set last Oct. 9. In Washington's version, T.R. Knight was nowhere near the line of fire; rather, the conflict was focused on a different cast member. "Although I love Patrick Dempsey, I have to clear the air and tell what happened," Washington said to Larry King, launching into his version of those events. Prior to Oct. 9, while filming the "Where the Boys Are"/fishing episode, Washington grew concerned that when Dempsey extended a shoot day, it would appear that the show's two "titans" were taking advantage of crew members. Washington, however, didnt vent his frustration at the time  "[and] I was kicking myself for it."Come Oct. 9, Dempsey was again late to the set. "I'm mad," Washington recalls. "[But] I didnt say anything [the previous time], so what am I going to say now?" After ...

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Isaiah Washington: "I Have to Clear the Air" About What Really Happened

Harry Potter Review: The Good, the Bad, the Muggley

For reasons only Hollywood bean counters know, Tokyo hosted the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and to hear the Times of London tell it, the franchise's fifth entry is somewhat burdened by its "crueller" subject matter. As the stage begins to be set for the ultimate loggerhead between good and evil and action-filled screen time gives way to mere intrigue, "Some will find that tedious," opines the Times. That said, the film properly paves the way for "an epic confrontation with real victims." The Times review takes issue with the younger stars' chops  "[Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint] have 'angry' and 'determined' down pat... but struggle somewhat on the the more nuanced grimaces"  yet hails the cred lent by adult thesps Imelda Staunton and Helena Bonham Carter ("a shining but underused talent"). All told, the Times suspects that Potterphiles currently enduring the "unbearable" wait for the final book's printing may deem this "...

Tue, Jul 3, 2007

Harry Potter Review: The Good, the Bad, the Muggley

Yabadaba-yabadadoo! It's a Flintstones Marathon

Want to celebrate Independence Day with a historically resonant and accurate look back at our true (albeit six-toed) Founding Fathers? The Cartoon Network's Boomerang channel is airing all 166 episodes of The Flintstones, kicking off with the pilot (then dubbed The Flagstones), starting Wednesday, July 4, at 6 am/ET  and sans commercial interruption (not even Fred and Barney shilling Winstons).Among my many favorites? Season 4, Episode 20, the family camping excursion to Shangri-La-Dee-Da, alas at the same time the park is hosting some sort of multinational Scout jamboree.

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Yabadaba-yabadadoo! It's a Flintstones Marathon

Jessica Simpson Suffers from Blonde Limbo

Blonde Ambition, the Private Benjamin/Working Girl-esque comedy that Jessica Simpson pimped at this year's Cannes Film Festival, has had its premiere pushed back to the 32nd of whenever. A source tells the New York Daily News that the original release date was August 3 (aka two days after my birthday; shop Amazon.com), "and then it was delayed until the last week of August. Papa Joe then intervened and said he wasn't comfortable with the level of competition from other films that month," and put the film's fate in limbo. (Fun fact! There are no major releases set for the second half of August.)Perhaps factoring into the decision is buzz that the uncompleted Blonde is equal parts bomb and bombshell. "Jessica was not very focused on set, and flubbed her lines often," an insider tells the News. And when she wasn't gaffing, she was goofing around "on the phone with [then-beau] John Mayer or... sitting around in a warmed-up SUV"  presumably without the engine running nor in a close...

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Jessica Simpson Suffers from Blonde Limbo

Jericho, Mad TV, Meerkat Manor and More Short Cuts

Reminder: CBS brings back Jericho, in repeats, this Friday at 9 pm/ET. Click here for the complete rebroadcast plan.... Johnny Sanchez and Anjelah Nicole Johnson join Mad TV this season as a series regular and for four episodes, respectively.... Raven-Symone reprises her role of That's So Raven's Raven on Disney Channel's Cory in the House Sunday at 8:30 pm. OK, I'll say it again: Raven.... Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor launches its new season on August 10.... A pair of Lifetime's Nora Roberts adaptations, Blue Smoke and Carolina Moon, are due out on DVd September 11.POLL: Who is reality-TV's meanest judge? Vote here.

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Jericho, Mad TV, Meerkat Manor and More Short Cuts

ABC's Science Fiction Series Finally Materializes

ABC's Masters of Science Fiction anthology series, announced what seems like light-years ago, will finally hit the airwaves during the dog days of August. The lineup  slashed from six installments to four  is as follows:August 4: "A Clean Escape," based on Nebula Award-winning author John Kessel's short story about a postapocalyptic psychiatrist (Judy Davis) determined to solve a man's (Sam Waterston) apparent memory lapse.August 11: "The Awakening," based on a short story by Howard Fast, starring Terry O'Quinn, Elisabeth Rohm and William B. Davis, and concerning Baghdad-based soldiers' discovery of a "mysterious casualty."August 18: "Jerry Was a Man," based on the Robert Heinlein story about an affluent couple (Anne Heche and Malcolm McDowell) who acquire an anthropoid.August 25: "The Discarded," based on the short story by seven-time Hugo Award winner, three-time Nebula Award winner, and Science Fiction Grand Master Laureate Harlan Ellison, directed by Jonathan Frakes,...

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

ABC's Science Fiction Series Finally Materializes

Gilmore Girls' Luke Travels to the CW's America

Fans of Gilmore Girls' Scott Patterson can keep their TVs tuned to the CW. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the heartthrob is joining the new comedy series Aliens in America, taking over (from Patrick Breen) the role of a father whose family hosts a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim exchange student. The pilot is currently being rewritten to give Dad a perma-baseball cap as well as include many, many more coffee-pouring scenes.Aliens in America is set to air Mondays at 8:30 pm/ET, opposite the likes of Dancing with the Stars, Prison Break and Deal or No Deal.

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Gilmore Girls' Luke Travels to the CW's America

Boston Legal Shake-up Adds a Dash of Saffron

Crane, Poole & Schmidt's semi-extreme makeover continues. Joining John Larroquette and Tara Summers as new additions to the Boston Legal cast this season are Circle of Friends' Saffron Burrows (as a sexy 'n' sophisticated litigator/former lover of James Spader's Alan) and Hustle & Flow's Taraji Henson (arriving mid-season as a New York office cohort of Larroquette's). The Reporter is also reporting that Mark Valley and Rene Auberjonois, half of last month's surprising cast purge, will return for multiple appearances, while Gail O'Grady is set to reprise her role of Judge Weldon for several episodes.

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Boston Legal Shake-up Adds a Dash of Saffron

Ratings: Burn Gets Noticed, But Not Hey Paula

 Thursday's commercial-free premiere of Burn Notice dealt USA Network four million viewers, and was basic cable's top-rated show of the night in key demos. That said, it fell shy of such USA series debuts as The 4400 (6.2 mil) and Dead Zone (4.2 mil). Burn Notice's lead-in, the final installment of The Starter Wife, drew 3.1 mil, a 25 percent drop from the mini's average. Not too many folks cared to say Hey Paula. The reality series' back-to-back episodes premiered to 607,000 viewers, well shy of, say, Bravo's Top Design (1.76 mil) or even Being Bobby Brown (1.1 mil). Last Tuesday's BET Awards (6.4 mil) gave the 7-year-old kudoscast its third-largest audience to date.

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Ratings: Burn Gets Noticed, But Not Hey Paula

Box Office: Pixar Rat Bests John McClane

Ratatouille topped the weekend box office with a $47.2 million debut, yet fell shy of the $50-65 million opening that experts had estimated. What's more, it was Pixar's smallest bow since 1998's A Bug's Life, and is on pace to be the studio's third straight project to underperform its predecessor.Coming in second was Bruce Willis and the Mac guy's Live Free or Die Hard, which took in $33.2 mil for the weekend (and $48.2 mil dating back to its Wednesday debut). Rounding out the top five were Evan Almighty ($15.1 mil), 1408 ($10.6 mil) and Fantastic Four 2 ($9 mil).Michael Moore's Sicko opened at No. 9 (with $4.5 mil) while the estrogen-tastic Evening bowed in the 10 spot with $3.5 mil.

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Box Office: Pixar Rat Bests John McClane

Rep Denies Diaz Made Criss Angel's Marriage Disappear

The lawyer for Criss Angel's estranged/"secret" wife, Joanna Sarantakos, claimed in court late last week that a romance between the "Mindfreak" and a Charlie's Angel was the last straw for the magic man's five-year marriage/15-year relationship. "We're naming Cameron Diaz as his lover," the New York Post quotes attorney Dominic Barbara as telling the court. "We will subpoena her as soon as she comes back to New York." Though Angel went to great lengths last month (including in this chat with TV Guide) to quell speculation about comments he directed at Diaz following a Times Square escape illusion, his lawyer is not denying the adultery allegation.On Monday, Diaz's rep issued a statement pointing out that the actress and Angel first met more than a year after he split from his wife, only went on four dates, and have no current relationship. Says the flack, "These are meaningless, attention-seeking attempts to unfairly and unnecessarily exploit Cameron's celebrity by trying to involve...

Mon, Jul 2, 2007

Rep Denies Diaz Made Criss Angel's Marriage Disappear

Emmy Finalists Include Heroes, FNL and 30 Rock

According to insider reports trickling in to TheEnvelope.com, this year's Primetime Emmy voters won't be showing ABC's Walker family as much Brotherly love as they could have. Newbies that are in the best series races, however, include Heroes, Friday Night Lights and Dexter, and (on the lighter side) 30 Rock.Top 10 Drama Series FinalistsBoston Legal, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, Lost, Rome, The Sopranos, 24Comedy Series FinalistsDesperate Housewives, Entourage, Extras, My Name Is Earl, The Office, Scrubs, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men, Ugly Betty, WeedsNoteworthy among the MIA include the aforementioned Brothers & Sisters, The Shield, Deadwood and (in this comedy lover's opinion) How I Met Your Mother. The eligibility period ran June 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007.With the actual nominations due July 19, judges on both coasts this week will screen each category's contenders and rank them against each other. Accountants will then use a 50/50 mix of tho...

Sun, Jul 1, 2007

Emmy Finalists Include Heroes, FNL and 30 Rock

ABC's Joel Siegel Dead at 63

This just in from ABCNews.com:Surrounded by family and friends, ABC's beaming and insightful movie critic Joel Siegel has died in New York, after a long and remarkably courageous struggle with cancer, at the age of 63.He was the master of the unambiguous thumbnail review, whether delivering flowers"The Pursuit of Happyness" gets a C for spelling and an A for acting. It could also get an Oscar for Will Smith." or bombs:"The appeal of Matthew McConaughey has long evaded me both as a pinup and as an actor. His constant ticks, bad hair and strained syntax as a coach fumble what should have been the tragic and inspirational story of the rebuilding of Marshall University's football team after a devastating plane crash."In a statement today, ABC News President David Westin said, "Joel was an important part of ABC News and we will miss him. He was a brilliant reviewer and a great reporter. But much more, he was our dear friend and colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with his...

Sat, Jun 30, 2007

Jason O'Mara Finds Life on Mars (Or Vice Versa)

Celtic thesp Jason O'Mara, who had the lead in ABC's new take on investigator Philip Marlowe (but, alas, that pilot was not picked up), is still set to do some sleuthing, only this time in the '70s. According to the Reporter, O'Mara has been tapped to front Life on Mars, David E. Kelley's BBC-series-inspired ABC pilot about a detective mysteriously transported three decades into the past after his girlfriend is kidnapped.O'Mara's role was deemed so tricky to cast that Life was suspended from this past development cycle, and now hopes for a mid-season bid. What About Brian's Rachelle Lefevre has the female lead, playing the rare lady detective during the disco days.O'Mara's recent creds include Men in Trees and In Justice.

Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Britney's Divorce: Why K-Fed Isn't Signing the Papers

Kevin Federline is hesitating to put his John Hancock on his and Britney's final divorce papers, out of concern for how his estranged missus' penchant for partying, though currently quelled, might affect their kids if it resurfaces. While the couple since March have shared custody of their two sons, a source tells People that K-Fed "wants to make sure that the divorce document makes it simple enough for Kevin to downsize Britney's access to her kids the next time her behavior troubles him." (In recent weeks, the freshly rehabbed Spears has been spied revisiting the nightclub scene.) Brit's lawyer declined to comment on her personal life and legal situation.

Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Isaiah Washington Shuffles Deck, Finally Pulls Race Card

Sorry yet again, Heigl. Isaiah Washington's latest interview  this time given to Newsweek  has the disgraced former Grey's Anatomy star saying that racism (also?) factored into his firing. "It didn't help me on the set that I was a black man who wasn't a mush-mouth Negro walking around with his head in his hands all the time," the actor tells the mag. "Someone heard the booming voice of a black man and got really scared, and that was the beginning of the end for me."Washington even claims that a person in ABC human resources once told him "that 'some people' were afraid of me. I asked her why, because I'm a 6-foot-1 black man... who doesn't go around saying, 'Yessah, massa sir' and 'No sir, massa' to everyone?"ABC declined comment on this latest beat in the sordid story.

Fri, Jun 29, 2007

Isaiah Washington Shuffles Deck, Finally Pulls Race Card