Molly Shannon has been tapped to star in More of Me, a Lifetime movie not about abducted children or unfaithful husbands, but concerning a woman who, striving to juggle her responsibilities at home and at work, splits off into three different versions of herself. Ooh, it's like Michael Keaton's Multiplicity, only people might actually see this.
The July 25 episode of Food Network Challenge will invite a quartet of professional cake designers to craft a sweet something that pays glorious homage to The Simpsons, in honor of the cartoon clan's upcoming big-screen debut.The chef whose cake, um, takes the cake will receive $10,000 and — this is the icing on the you-know-what — have the opportunity to see their creation featured at The Simpsons Movie's star-studded Hollywood premiere.
There's a run on lesbians at FX's Nip /Tuck. On the heels of Access Hollywood's report that Rosie O'Donnell will reprise her role of lottery winner Dawn Budge for several episodes this season comes word that Arrested Development alumna (and GF of Ellen DeGeneres) Portia de Rossi will play a manipulative (and gay at that) mom whose teen daughter wants to go under the knife. Also, says the Hollywood Reporter, Huff's Oliver Platt (not a lesbian) will appear in five episodes as the producer of a TV show on which Sean and Christian are consultants.In other casting news, Sophia Myles will return to her Underworld: Evolution roots, replacing Shannon Lucio as the love interest for Alex O'Laughlin's vampire in the new CBS drama Moonlight.
Christian Bale, whose war drama Rescue Dawn hits theaters July 4, proved evasive when asked by TVGuide.com about the rumored return of Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow in the Batman Begins follow-up Dark Knight. "I won't confirm it, 'cause I never know what I can and can't say," he hedged (in what our Raven describes as "his seriously hot native-Welsh accent"). "I usually wait for other people to say it, then I know it must be common knowledge."That unsaid, Bale notes that the sequel — hitting theaters in July 2008 — enjoyed a seamless transition, with the returning likes of Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine joined by newcomers Heath Ledger (as the Joker), Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent/Two Face) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (replacing Katie Holmes as love interest Rachel Dawes). "It's been a nice progression," he said, "and we have the confidence now," based on Batman Begins' strong reception. — Additional reporting by Raven Snook
Dreamgirls cast mates Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson were the big winners at Tuesday night's BET Awards, grabbing a pair of statues each. Beyoncé was named best female R&B artist and won video of the year (for "Irreplaceable"), while J-Hud topped the new-artist and female-actress categories. Among the other winners were Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), who took home male-actor honors, Ne-Yo, who was named best male R&Ber, Gnarls Barkley, who was best group, and T.I., who repeated as best hip-hopper.
New Line Records' soundtrack for the forthcoming Hairspray redo is available for pre-order at retailers as well as at iTunes — a first for the popular music hub.... FX has ponied up about $16 million for the cable rights to the hit comedy Wild Hogs and the thriller The Invisible, to first air in fall 2009.... Tom Sizemore's 16-month prison sentence for violating probation in a drug case has been reduced, leaving him with nine more months to serve, says the AP.
A photo of Rosie O'Donnell's 4-year-old daughter Vivian Rose wearing an ammo belt over her shoulder has elicited outrage from visitors to O'Donnell's blog, with even the personality's usual supporters declaring the image "gross," and themselves "disappointed"/"disturbed." Rosie, an anti-war and gun-control advocate, finds the response "wild" and deems it a "shame" that no such shock is expressed at the thousands of real soldiers dying in Iraq. The mom points out that the ammo belt is a toy, and that Vivian was merely joining her older brothers in a make-believe game.Me, I can't even make my 4-year-old sons anything remotely pistol-shaped out of Legos without getting a glare from the missus. Harrumph!POLL: Does this incident make Rosie a hypocrite in your book? Vote here (bottom right).For more on Rosie, see today's Nip/Tuck casting news.
Through June 10, NBC's summertime rebroadcast of Friday Night Lights episodes had drawn 2.2, 2.1 and, most recently, 3.5 million total viewers. Believing that Law & Order repeats will fare better, the network has pulled FNL from its schedule. (An America's Got Talent repeat was swapped into the drama's slot at the last minute this past Sunday.)An NBC rep says the acclaimed and yet barely renewed FNL's reruns will return in late August/early September, timed to the Season 1 DVD release.
Carrie Underwood and Tonight Show band leader Kevin Eubanks are the World's Sexiest Vegetarian female and male for 2007, as voted on in a month-long poll at PETA.org. This marks a second win for Underwood, who previously claimed the honor in '05.Despite not campaigning at all, TV Guide's own Michael Ausiello this year came in (what we are calling) "fourth," placing alongside the likes of runners-up Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Joaquin Phoenix. Among the femmes, Kristen Bell (2006's list-topper) and Spider-Man 3's Bryce Dallas Howard trailed the Idol.Remember, the thing about sexiest vegetarian contests is you really can't have a beef with the results.
Sure, make me go and re-edit my new Trivial Matt'rs blog entry. An ABC spokesperson confirms for TVGuide.com that the network's new comedy starring Christina Applegate as an amnesiac party animal is now going by the name Samantha Who?The (rather awesome) series was originally dubbed Sam I Am — until the estate of Dr. Seuss apparently had something to say (in rhyme, of course) on the matter — and then (briefly) rechristened Samantha Be Good. Perhaps Chuck Berry's peeps got miffed this time?
Is Heartland not beating strongly enough? TNT has announced that Academy Award winner Holly Hunter's Saving Grace, originally pegged for a July 18 bow and Wednesdays-at-10 time slot, instead will premiere Monday, July 23, serving as The Closer's new lead-out.Treat Williams' Heartland will stay put until Grace's arrival, at which point it will air two hours earlier, Mondays at 8.
In an interview with the New York Post, Barbara Walters says she turned down Paris Hilton's first post-pokey Q&A because — get this — the story wasn't "important" enough. "Look, I've done prison interviews before, but people like the Menendez brothers were really important news stories," she reasoned. "This wasn't. And even though I'd already written my questions, when all that pay-for-play stuff happened, I suddenly felt this was not up to my standard. It felt... sort of tawdry. The whole thing somehow was beneath me." Natch, ABC had a cow and a half. "For them, it was ratings," Walters says. (Well, duh.) "For me, it was respect. I'm fortunately at a point in my life where I can choose what I want, and this was solely my decision" — which, she adds, ABC respected by not forcing her to gab with Hilton. Instead, execs just gathered in a dark corner, holding one another and weeping quietly.
Has Law & Order found its next ADA? Is Las Vegas getting a new flirty concierge? Whatever the case, best of luck (and lots of Aleve) to the publicist assigned to this show. According to the Hollywood Reporter, NBC is in talks with Isaiah Washington's worst enemy — that is, the Grey's Anatomy firestarter himself — about a possible gig (though whether that would be a new or existing series is unclear). In related news, word on the street has it that, since T.R. Knight's insidiously clever scheme to get producers to rethink him as a leading man by getting himself called the F-word and then coming out of the closet has worked so brilliantly, everyone on The Office who is not Steve Carell, Jim or Pam has begun hanging out in gay bars.POLL: Would you follow Isaiah to a new series? Vote here.POLL: If Isaiah joins a show you watch, would you tune out? Vote.
JoBeth Williams has signed on to play Angel alum Julie Benz's mom in several episodes of Showtime's Dexter.... America's First Top Model (sorry, Janice), Lauren Hutton, will appear in at least three eppies of FX's Nip/Tuck this season, playing a PR whiz whose client needs a little [see title of show].... Munich's Yigal Naor has been cast as Saddam Hussein, and Shohreh Aghdashloo (24) his wife Sajida, in Between Two Rivers, HBO and the BBC's four-hour mini about the dictator's 24-year reign.For details on Barbara Eden's visit to Lifetime's Army Wives, see the TV Guide News Report.
Although Rosie O'Donnell recently met with the producers of The Price Is Right, the hosting gig is wrong for her, she says in her latest video blog. "I'm in a weird position. I don't need the money. So to get my entire family uprooted from their lives and move them across the country so that I can have a fantasy childhood indulgence... it just doesn't seem fair." Is she kidding? What rugrat wouldn't give their two front teeth to have a miniature putting green waiting for them at the office on Bring Your Brat to Work Day?
Good luck following the logic of this one, folks: Germany has said nein to the producers of a film about a WWII scheme to kill Adolf Hitler, who wanted to shoot some scenes at military sites around the country — but it isn't because they fear it will compromise their national safety or anything. No, it's because Tom Cruise is the movie's star, and over there, Scientology is not recognized as a religion. Golly, this is even more embarrassing than that whole Anne Rice/Interview with the Vampire flap a hundred years ago.
...humanitarian side. Rush Hour director Brett Ratner is on board to helm Playboy, a feature about the original lad mag's presumably libidinous founder, Hugh Hefner. But, notes Variety, this being a production by Brian Grazer (the Beautiful Mind Oscar winner), the flick will hail Gramps not only as a loverboy but also as a social activist. Wait, isn't that the same thing? Oh, right — they probably don't mean that kind of social activity.
Spider-Man 3 baddie Thomas Haden Church is in talks to star as the object of Sandra Bullock's affection in the kooky romcom All About Steve.... Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton and rapper Ludacris will topline RocknRolla, a new caper from Mr. Madonna, Guy Ritchie.
Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl and singer-beau Josh Kelley are planning a Christmas Eve wedding, says the New York Daily News.... As first speculated in May, Weeds lead Mary-Louise Parker and Grey's Anatomy stiff Jeffrey Dean Morgan are no longer a couple. As "Denny" tells People, "It just didn't work out. Wrong time in both our lives".... Andria "Dreamz" Herd, notorious for reneging on an immunity deal on Survivor: Fiji, is being sued by a woman who claims he's her baby's deadbeat dad. And no, the woman's name is not Scary Spice.
Out on DVD today are High School Musical: The Concert and Hannah Montana: Pop Star Profile, while an Aug. 28 release has been set for Bob Saget: That Ain't Right.... Directors Mark Waters (Mean Girls) and Eli Roth (Hostel) guest-judge On the Lot tonight and next Tuesday, respectively.... The June 28 premiere of the USA Network spy drama Burn Notice will air commercial-free, marking the first time anything on the cabler has run sans ads. DIRECTV is the ghost sponsor.... TBS will launch a hi-def channel in September. Tuesday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner.
At a quarter past midnight today, Paris Hilton strolled out of the Century Regional Detention Facility, clad in black slacks and a short-sleeved top and received by throngs of reporters. "She fulfilled her debt," said a sheriff's department spokesman. "She was obviously in good spirits." In the end, Hilton served 22 days in detention, her original 45-day sentence slashed in half due to good behavior. But will such good behavior continue? The public is about to see what the heirhead is really made of. "I used to act dumb," Hilton said in a recent call to Barbara Walters, "[but that] is not who I am, nor do I want to be that person for the young girls who looked up to me." So here's her chance to prove it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have a hunch that as many people as there are who loathe the party animal, there are just as many who would be elated to have her do a 180 and set an example for kids that's worth emulating for reasons beyond the lineup of rich boyfriends and closets o...
I'm working my way through the 2007-08 TV season pilot screeners, and thought it time to share my initial batch in a series of kneejerk thoughts. The theme for this one, you might say, is "Ladies first," as it covers ABC's new Christina Applegate comedy, NBC's Bionic Woman and Fox's The Sarah Connor Chronicles.Samantha Be Good (né Sam I Am, thanks to Dr. Seuss), is, I am prompted to rave, an early and huge favorite. I watched the pilot last Friday (and again with the wife on Saturday) and both times was disheartened to see it end. Applegate, you may know, stars as a young woman who awakens from an eight-day coma with no knowledge of what she soon realizes was a very bad-girl past. Pre-amnesia, Sam was a boozing floozy of a party gal who could probably drink Lindsay Lohan under the table... at rehab. Now she's an innocent desperate to come to terms with her "reputation" and prove that she need not revert to it. But oh, is it fun seeing her juggle who she was with who she believe...