matt.mitovich

J.J.'s Anatomy: Cast Revealed for Abrams' Latest

The cast for The Anatomy of Hope, an HBO medical-drama pilot from J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias) that explores cancer battles from the patients' point of view, includes Chris Messina (Six Feet Under) and Simon Callow (The Phantom of the Opera) as oncologists, the Hollywood Reporter reports. Also on board, playing cancer patients past, present and potential, are John Ortiz (Miami Vice), Valerie Pettiford (Half & Half), Matt Craven (Disturbia) and Daryl Edwards (Rent).

Tue, May 15, 2007

At the Movies: Whoa... It's Point Break 2, Dude

Per Variety, Peter Iliff will write and direct Point Break 2, a 20-years-later follow-up to his original Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze vehicle, this time concerning a surfer-turned-Navy SEAL on the trail of a criminal gang in Southeast Asia.... Tim Allen is a troubled action-movie star who lures a Jiu-jitsu master (Chiwetel Ejiofor) into the biz in the David Mamet-penned Redbelt.... The Wayans Brothers' Super Bad James Dynomite comic is being turned into a live-action comedy starring Marlon.... Per the Reporter, Two and a Half Men's Jon Cryer is Cole Hauser's FBI partner  and Housewives' James Denton is their boss  in the psychological thriller Tortured.

Tue, May 15, 2007

Rowling, Potter Site Try to Ward Off Finale Spoilers

With nine weeks to go until the long-awaited July 21 release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, author J.K. Rowling is urging fans to steer clear of spoilers. According to the AP, Rowling, upon learning that possible secrets were being spilled via unsolicited e-mails to The-Leaky-Cauldron.org, on her own site implored readers to "embark on the last adventure... without knowing where they are going. All [spoilers] will do is diminish [your] pleasure in the book."The webmaster of The-Leaky-Cauldron.org herself is threatening spoiler-sports with "the wrath of a staff of almost 200, most of whom have been waiting almost 10 years for these final revelations. We own pitchforks, hot wax and feathers. And we're not afraid to use them." I like her!

Tue, May 15, 2007

Short Cuts: Salma, Jaws, Spidey and More!

Salma Hayek has inked a new two-year deal with ABC Studios, under which she and fellow Ugly Betty exec producer Jose Tamez will develop new series.... Ozzy Osbourne will perform on consecutive nights of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Monday, May 21, and Tuesday, May 22.... MTV has announced a May 22 premiere for Season 2 of Rob & Big.... Starz' Encore marathons all four Jaws films on Memorial Day, starting at 5 am/ET. Think that includes The Spy Who Loved Me?... Which of the three Spider-Man films is now your all-time fave? Vote in today's poll (bottom right).

Tue, May 15, 2007

ABC Slate Offers All-new Wednesday, Earlier Lost

ABC's 2007-08 prime-time schedule, detailed in TVGuide.com's First Look: Hottest Fall TV blog, features a Wednesday lineup chock-a-block with new programming  a big gamble, some may say. ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson, however, explained during a Tuesday-morning press conference that Private Practice  the Grey's Anatomy spin-off fronted by Kate Walsh's Addison and sandwiched between Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money  offers "a known character" who will "anchor that night for us." (Click here for more on Private Practice needing "some work" before its fall debut.)Speaking of Wednesday, when Lost resurfaces mid-season for the first of its three 16-episode runs, McPherson all but ruled out a return to its 10 pm berth. "I'd like to get in there at an earlier hour," he said. "It's better as a 9 or 8 o'clock show."For a look at ABC's complete plans, including where Men in Trees has been replanted and which show has claimed the plum after-Grey's time slo...

Tue, May 15, 2007

Oprah Welcomes John Tra-vol-taaaaaaaa...!

And, well, others. On this Wednesday's Oprah, the Queen of all Media acknowledges another tuner besides her own The Color Purple by devoting the entire hour to the upcoming movie musical Hairspray, which hits theaters July 20. According to TheaterMania.com, in addition to interviewing the film's stars  John Travolta (presumably out of drag), Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah  the show will also preview at least one musical number. John Waters has officially made it.  Reporting by Raven Snook

Tue, May 15, 2007

Rival Network to Recruit Trump's Apprentice?

Though The Apprentice is nowhere to be seen on the Peacock's just-announced 2007-08 schedule, NBC entertainment president Kevin Reilly said at Monday's upfront presentation, "The show still has some kick in it," and as such could be summoned back to the boardroom depending on what the other networks unveil throughout the week. NBC has until June 1 to decide on the series' fate, a spokesperson for Donald Trump tells TVGuide.com, adding, "To my knowledge, several conversations have been had with Trump and [Mark] Burnett about moving forward with a seventh season." Any next cycle of The Apprentice would almost certainly land in a new setting  Miami, Las Vegas and Chicago are the oft-mentioned possibilities  if not a new broadcast home, should NBC dare to tell The Donald, "You're fired." Says Trump's rep, "We've actually been approached by one of the other three broadcast networks, should NBC pass."

Tue, May 15, 2007

Ratings: The Camdens Leave on a High Note

This Sunday's ratings in a nutshell:8 pm/ETOpposite the first half of the Survivor: Fiji finale (which averaged 13.54 million total viewers across its two-hour run; see related TV Guide News Report), Ty Pennington's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (10.22 mil) dropped 1.4 mil week-to-week. The CW's 7th Heaven (3.37 mil) surged 570 thou to say goodbye to its biggest audience since February 18.9 pmDespite slipping 1.1 mil to a new series low, Desperate Housewives (15.75 mil) bested the back half of Survivor.10 pmBrothers & Sisters (11.93 mil) was up 700,000 and won in the key demos, yet fell shy of Survivor's reunion special (12.06 mil) in total viewers.

Mon, May 14, 2007

Brokeback Mounting Draws Lawsuit from Aghast Tween

A 12-year-old girl and her grandparents are suing the Chicago Board of Education, claiming that an Ashburn Community Elementary School substitute teacher's showing of Brokeback Mountain during class traumatized the tween and required psychological counseling. (What's more, many students in the class are now lamenting, "I wish I knew how to quit P.E.!")According to the AP, the fill-in teach prefaced the presentation by shutting the classroom door and saying, "What happens in Ms. Buford's class stays in Ms. Buford's class"  which when you think about it, is far better than if she had said, "What happens in Jack Twist's...."POLL: Was Ms. Buford wrong? Vote here.

Mon, May 14, 2007

At the Movies: Cage Gunning for Untouchables Prequel

Per Variety, Nicolas Cage is in talks to star in Brian De Palma's The Untouchables: Capone Rising, a prequel chronicling Al's rise to power and his relationship with nemesis Detective Jimmy Malone.... Maria Bello is replacing Rachel Weisz as aventuress Evelyn O'Connell in the third Mummy movie.... Guy Ritchie will return to his Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels roots with Rocknrolla, an action comedy about "a dangerous crime lord, a sexy accountant, a corrupt politician and a band of petty thieves".... Per the Hollywood Reporter, Gary Cole is an estranged hubby and father trying to reconcile with his boozing wife (Jennifer Coolidge) and their daughter (Agnes Bruckner) via a cross-country RV excursion in Say Hello to Stan Talmadge.

Mon, May 14, 2007

NBC's Fall Banks on Bionic Woman, Other Heroes

As detailed in TVGuide.com's trés snazzy First Look: Hottest Fall TV blog, NBC on Monday morning officially kicked off the upfronts by unveiling a schedule featuring five new dramas  Journeyman, Chuck, The Bionic Woman (starring British thesp Michelle Ryan, pictured), Life and Lipstick Jungle (which premieres in January 2008, see related Brooke Shields Q&A)  and just one new comedy (The IT Crowd, arriving mid-season).Other news of note: The new seasons of Law & Order (No. 18!) and Medium debut in January, once football wraps up. My Name Is Earl gets a 25-episode Season 3, while The Office's latest run will include five hour-long episodes. Six episodes of a Heroes: Origins "spin-off," to air in place of outright repeats, will introduce new characters and then invite fans to vote (at NBC.com) for the one they wish to see join the show full-time.  Friday Night Lights will make a go of it on Fridays at 10 pm. Bionic Woman and Life w...

Mon, May 14, 2007

NBC's Fall Banks on Bionic Woman, Other Heroes

Is a Soccer Mom the Next Steven Spielberg?

Fox has revealed the 50 finalists for its Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett-produced On the Lot reality competition, premiering May 22 at 9 pm/ET. Culled from 12,000 video submissions, the contenders range in age from 21 to 41, with the most "interesting" bio  meaning one of the only folks not touting themselves as a "freelance director/filmmaker"  belonging to "Hilary G." of Francestown, New Hampshire, who flies the "stay-at-home wife and mom" flag proudly. The truth is, if you can shuttle the kids to soccer and ballet while preparing three meals and slipping away to the occasional (occasional) pilates class, instructing Clive Owen to "bring it" is a piece of cake.Seriously, though, I spoke with On the Lot judge Carrie Fisher the other day, and she said the finalists are, by and large, utterly incredible, that she could not believe the quality of work these folks churned out. This could be the show to watch this summer  or else blame yourself for Big Momma's Hous...

Mon, May 14, 2007

Forsaking Africa, Sheryl Crow Adopts U.S.-born Tot

All I wanna do... is change some diapers. Sheryl Crow has adopted a 2-week-old baby boy, the songstress announced on her website this past Saturday. "His name is Wyatt (after my dad) Steven (after my little brother and Scooter), and we are enjoying some very private family time," Crow shares. No other details were made available, 'cept that the lad was born in the United States, Crow's rep tells People. Did I just hear Angie scoff?

Mon, May 14, 2007

Short Cuts: Scrubs, Emmy Tickets and More!

Tickets to the Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards, to be held June 15 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, are on sale starting today at the box office or via TicketMaster.com/KodakTheatre.com. Prices range from $62-$152.... Fox will air the Teen Choice 2007 awards live on August 26.... On the DVD horizon: Scrubs, Season 5, and Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (both streeting May 22), and Benson: The Complete First Season (July 24).

Mon, May 14, 2007

Box Office: Spidey Slips, But Still Outpacing 1 and 2

Spider-Man 3 topped the weekend box office with "just" $60 million  a second-week drop larger than the usual 50 percent for a hit, but more than expected for a film which shattered records with a $151.1 mil opening. Plus, the new sequel's 10-day tally ($242.1 mil) is still outpacing that of Nos. 1 and 2 ($223 and $225 mil, respectively). I still think these matters should be measured by numbers of tickets sold, but apparently I am an idiot.Rounding out the weekend's top five were 28 Weeks Later (opening with $10 mil), Georgia Rule (debuting with $5.9 mil, about enough to cover La Lohan's late days), Disturbia ($4.8 mil) and Delta Farce ($3.5 mil).

Mon, May 14, 2007

Fox Has a Cow Over Simpsons Parody

Lawyers for Fox are leaning on the video portal Broadcaster.com to yank three clips of a series titled "The O.J. Simpsons," which reimagines the TV 'toon with the disgraced footballer in the role of dysfunctional family patriarch. Noting that fair-use doctrine protects parodies, Broadcaster.com's CEO tells Reuters, "Our goal is to be a respecter of content rights and at the same time find legal ways to bring our members the content they enjoy." Said differently: "If the gripe doesn't stick, you must acquit."

Mon, May 14, 2007

War of the Words: Galactica Boss Snuffs Finale Talk

Battlestar Galactica executive producer David Eick on Friday issued a statement designed to dispel recent rumblings  ignited by comments made by Edward James Olmos and, to a lesser degree, fellow cast member Katie Sackhoff  proclaiming the upcoming fourth season to be the series' last. "For those of you who have been paying attention over the years, this is not the first time Eddie has made an announcement about the possibility of the show's end," Eick said. "I promise you that when [executive producer] Ron [Moore] and I make a decision about Galactica's future, we'll let you know."

Mon, May 14, 2007

Fox's Fall Features AS-P's Return (and Sarah Connor's)

Fox's pickups for the fall include the Terminator-inspired, sci-fi The Sarah Connor Chronicles; K-Ville (concerning cops in post-Katrina N.O.); and New Amsterdam (about an immortal homicide detective), says the Hollywood Reporter. Comedy-wise, Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton's Back to You (FKA Action News) has been officially ordered to series, as have Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's The Return of Jezebel James (starring Parker Posey) and The Rules of Starting Over (courtesy of the Farrelly Brothers).FALL TV UPDATE: The fates of Law & Order and CI decided!A new TVGuide.com blog  "First Look: The Hottest Fall TV"  starting Monday morning will serve as a veritable clearinghouse for all official upfront announcements/schedules. Bookmark it now!

Sat, May 12, 2007

Lohan Sued for Allegedly Swiping Shutterbug with Car

Lindsay Lohan and her mother Dina are being sued by a photographer who was allegedly struck by a car driven by Lindsay (and owned by Mom) in New York on March 13, Access Hollywood reports. Per court papers, Giovanni Arnold claims he "sustained severe and permanent personal injuries" due to LL being "negligent, careless and reckless" with her career the vehicle, and is seeking a monetary settlement which reportedly "exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower courts which would otherwise have jurisdiction."During a Wednesday Late Show stop-by, Lindsay alluded to the event, saying, "The guy completely faked it"  words I have to think she has never uttered before.

Sat, May 12, 2007

NBC Says Welcome to the (Lipstick) Jungle

The upfronts are coming, the upfronts are coming...! NBC has ordered Lipstick Jungle, an hour-long drama based on the novel by Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City), sources tell TVGuide.com. At one time considered for the fall 2006 schedule and then featuring Gina Gershon among its ensemble, the serial now stars Brooke Shields (as a movie-studio exec), 24's Kim Raver (as the editor-in-chief of a pop culture mag) and Lindsay Price (as a fashion mogul). Love Monkey's Chris Wiehl (playing Brooke's hubby), Julian Sands, David Alan Basche and David Norona round out the cast.UPDATE: The Ausiello Report just grabbed hold of ABC's entire (rumored) fall schedule. Check it out.UPDATE: Scrubs news!UPDATE: Office finale/Jim-Pam preview!Also, a new TVGuide.com blog for you to bookmark: "First Look: The Hottest Fall TV," which starting Monday will serve as a veritable clearinghouse for all official upfront announcements/schedules.

Fri, May 11, 2007

NBC Says Welcome to the (Lipstick) Jungle

Ratings: Betty, CSI and Grey's Hit Lows

This Thursday in ratings-land:8 pm/ETThe penultimate Survivor: Fiji put up a typical 13.64 million total viewers, as Ugly Betty (9.38 mil) plunged 1.3 mil. Earl's riotous season-ender (6.6 mil) lost 980K versus last week's Laugh 'N Sniffer. Smallville (3.36 mil) dipped 200K. (Do not get me started on the supersized Office and Scrubs numbers.)9 pmWith 18.6 million viewers, CSI gave Grey's (19.07 mil, down 1.9 mil) a scare. Speaking of scares, Supernatural (2.85 mil) spooked 310,000 fewer folk. Regarding Grey's, welcome, welcome, welcome, Chyler Leigh as "forward" bar girl. You are a much-needed shot in Derek's arm.10 pmWhile the Shark's away... no one gets to play. Airing in a special time slot, Without a Trace's season finale drew 14.4 million, easily topping ER (9.2 mil, up 1.2 mil). ABC's Traveler sneak peek (8.8. mil) fell short of the Thursday-at-10 debuts of both October Road (14.38 mil) and Men in Trees (11.9 mil).UPDATE: I just changed the headline because though I didn't res...

Fri, May 11, 2007

At the Movies: ER Star in Heavenly Role

Per the Hollywood Reporter, ER's Linda Cardellini is Paul Walker's love interest (and thus scene upstager) in Heaven Project, a supernatural mystery about a convict who wakes up from his lethal injection in a small Oregon town. Gas up the Mystery Machine!.... James Purefoy (Rome) is in talks to star opposite Nia Vardalos in the rom-com I Hate Valentine's Day.... Barry Sonnenfeld is in negotiations to direct The Box, a contemporary take on the Pandora's-box myth, in the form of a college kid who must save the world from destruction after cracking open you-know-what.

Fri, May 11, 2007