matt.mitovich

Bugged Out! Spider-Man 3 Is New Box-office King

Spider-Man 3, which already had one best under its belt going into the weekend  it opened on 4,252 screens, topping a record set by Shrek 2  went on to claim several other superlatives. First, by selling $59.3 million in tickets on Friday alone, it eclipsed the one-day haul netted by Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (which reaped $55.8 mil in its first day). The webcrawler then proceeded to sink Dead Man's Chest's three-day record, earning a grand total of $148 million over the weekend (making 10 percent of you who voted in last week's poll look veddy smart). Other noteworthy records set: Spidey averaged $34,807 per theater, and bested No. 2 finisher Disturbia by, oh, $142 million. But hey, let's give a round of applause to those plucky Shia LaBeouf fans.

Sun, May 6, 2007

Idol Execs Give Back... Emmys Gig; Plus, Tour Details!

Apparently having exhausted themselves exhuming Elvis, American Idol bosses Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick have elected not to helm this year's Primetime Emmys. The ceremony's 59th edition will now be exec-produced by Ken Ehrlich, who has 27 Grammycasts and three Emmy shows (including last year's) under his belt. "After we wrapped the enormous effort of 'Idol Gives Back,' we looked at our upcoming slate of projects, including the American Idol finale and the additional shows we will be involved in this summer, and realized that we could not devote the creative energy and time necessary to make the Emmys outstanding for the Academy and Fox," Lythgoe and Warwick said in a statement. In other Idol news, the summer-tour schedule has been released, and the fun starts July 6 in Florida and concludes Sept. 22 in New Hampshah. Details at AmericanIdol.com.

Sun, May 6, 2007

Gilmore's Graham: Cancellation Is "Best " for Show

In a segment taped to air on Tuesday's The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Lauren Graham says she is not at all surprised by the recent events that led to the CW's Gilmore Girls not continuing on for another season. "It was a conversation that was going on for a long time," says Graham, who with TV daughter Alexis Bledel had been in long-running contract talks with the network. "I think it's really a good thing.... It's the best thing for the show, and I feel really good about it." As reported by the Miami Herald, Graham then toasts the series' end by throwing back a mojito delivered to her and a La-Z-Boy-ridden Ellen by a remote-controlled robot.UPDATE: Here, as much-anticipated, is the Ausiello Report's very own, full-length, no-stone-unturned Q&A with Lauren Graham about GG's bon voyage.

Sat, May 5, 2007

It's Showtime for West Winger, Princess Leia

The West Wing's Donna ain't lovelorn no more. Janel Moloney is joining the cast of Showtime's Brotherhood for at least four episodes this season, playing a woman who has an affair with Jason Clarke's ambitious politico. (All together now: Poor Annabeth Gish.)In other Showtime news, in addition to Matthew Modine joining Weeds for at least 10 episodes (first scooped by the Ausiello Report, he'll serve as a love interest for both Nancy and Celia), Zooey Deschanel's krazy Kat is returning for the Season 3 opener, while Carrie Fisher will guest this season as Celia's "May-the-divorce-be-with-you" lawyer.

Fri, May 4, 2007

Idol Castoff: "It's Anybody's Ball Game Now"

Phil Stacey, one of American Idol's two Wednesday castoffs, is singing the praises of the lone male left in the mix. As well as, yeah, the other three finalists. "I think Blake is most likely to be the most original contestant ever on American Idol. He just blew it out this week with Bon Jovi," Phil said in a press conference call. "Melinda is possibly the greatest singer Ive ever heard on the show; LaKisha sings with so much passion that it's hard to listen to her and not get chills; and Jordin has got a range that lasts for days, her upper notes have so much power behind them." Phil opted not to forecast the ultimate outcome, saying, "Honestly, I think it's anybody's ball game at this point. Im really looking forward to seeing how it goes from here on out."As for this week's other elimination, the bad news for Chris Richardson's femme fans is he's... single. "I just got out of a three-and-a-half-year relationship back home," he shared. "All of the rumors that are going...

Fri, May 4, 2007

Idol Castoff: "It's Anybody's Ball Game Now"

On Stage: Another Idol Pays Her Rent, and More

American Idol Season 1 finalist Tamyra Gray will join the cast of Broadway's Rent on May 29. During her run, she'll share the stage with original players Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who, despite middle age, return to their humble roots July 30.... Nathan Lane and Luke Duke himself, Tom Wopat, have been invited to appear in a workshop of Catch Me If You Can, a musicalization of the Steven Spielberg film. The same team that turned Hairspray into a Broadway blockbuster hope to cast Lane in the Tom Hanks role and Wopat as the juvenile con's dad. No word on who will fill Leonardo DiCaprio's disguises.... Weeds scribe Rinne Groff and others are turning Saved! into an off-Broadway musical to premiere next spring. Reporting by Raven Snook

Fri, May 4, 2007

Ratings: Grey's Spin-off Trumps the Shark

This Thursday's ratings recap: Survivor: Fiji topped the 8 o'clock hour with a typical 13.72 million total viewers, followed by a surging Ugly Betty (10.71 million, up 1.15 mil).  Earl (7.58 mil) was on par with a week ago, but as far as NBC's other unusually sized comedies, I'm at a loss to crunch the numbers. (Hey, they asked for it.) Smallville (3.55 mil, -380K) and Supernatural (3.16 mil, -180K) both dipped a bit. Despite being as heavy-handed as that backdoor Brady Bunch spin-off starring Ken Berry as the adoptive dad of a rainbow coalition of sons, the two-hour Grey's Anatomy averaged 20.97 million viewers, reclaiming its lead over CSI (18.87 mil, down a mil) and then besting 10 pm bully Shark (12.66 mil, slipping 1.6 mil). Let me interrupt here to ask: Are you feelin' the Grey's spin-off? Vote here. ER took the plunge  to the tune of 1.3 mil  placing third behind Shark with eight million.

Fri, May 4, 2007

TomKat Pal Calls "Prisoner Katie" Tales "Ridiculous"

"People think Tom and the Church of Scientology got something on Katie? They don't. Kate is running her own show." So friend-of-TomKat Jada Pinkett Smith tells People. Speaking about tabloid headlines that proclaim that Katie a "prisoner" in her own home, Smith counters that the Dawson's Creek alum "ain't no little wimpy kitty cat," but rather a "tigress." "She's tied up in the basement and [Tom] throws steaks to her at night, and she gets to see [daughter] Suri only on Sundays? It's ridiculous," Smith scoffs. Right, because isn't Kate a vegan?

Fri, May 4, 2007

Ticked 'Hoff Blames Wife for Leaking Drunken Stupor

While David Hasselhoff professes to be OK with the content of a video (seen here at ExtraTV.com) showing him on the floor of a hotel room, nearly incapacitated by the sauce  "part of recovery is relapse," he explains  the recovering alcoholic is pointing the finger at Pamela Bach for leaking the footage to TV and Internet outlets. The unsettling sequence, recorded by the Hoff's 16-year-old daughter with the purpose of showing Dad just how bad the bottle hits him, "was never meant to become public, but was obviously released by my estranged wife, who has her own agenda," the New York Post quotes the former Knight Rider as saying. In response, Bach's lawyer calls the accusation "kind of ridiculous."David, Alec: technology is not your friend. Be wary of electronics!

Fri, May 4, 2007

Ticked 'Hoff Blames Wife for Leaking Drunken Stupor

Charles and Brian, But Not Katie, Know About Popular

A Gallup survey released on Thursday confirms one secret to Katie Couric's lack of success. Whereas rival evening news anchors Charles Gibson and Brian Williams are viewed positively by 62 percent and 59 percent of viewers, respectively, Katie only merits a thumbs-up from barely half the sample. What's more, the face of CBS Evening News has a full 29 percent of respondents viewing her negatively, as in they simply "don't like her"  a likability that, the AP notes, arose during Legs' final years at The Today Show.

Fri, May 4, 2007

Baldwin, Basinger Custody Case Goes Back to Court

On Friday, for the first time since Alec Baldwin's controversial answering-machine message for his daughter came to light, attorneys for the actor and his ex-wife Kim Basinger will appear in court to address ongoing issues in the couple's heated custody dispute, the AP reports. Basinger stands accused of failing to heed court orders in the case, and faces 12 misdemeanor counts of contempt. If convicted of all of them, she could be eyeing up to 60 days in the clink and a $12,000 (shoe money) fine.A separate hearing is slated for June 5 to discuss the tape and determine if its disclosure violated a court order to keep the proceedings confidential.

Fri, May 4, 2007

No Laughing Matter: Divorce for Office Star

If Oscar Nuñez comes off as a bit reserved in this coming Thursday's Interviews & Features Q&A with TVGuide.com, it's probably for good reason: Upon completion of the interview, the star of The Office called us back to explain that he and his wife Carla "are in the middle of a divorce right now." The actor added, "I havent really gotten it out there [in the press], but I guess I might as well now."  Additional reporting by Anthony Layser

Fri, May 4, 2007

Unhappy Gilmore: CW Officially Says Goodbye, Girls

This just in, a joint statement from the CW and Warner Bros.:"Announcing the final season of Gilmore Girls is truly a sad moment for everyone at the CW and Warner Bros. Television. This series helped define a network and created a fantastic, storybook world featuring some of television's most memorable, lovable characters. We thank Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dan Palladino, Dave Rosenthal, the amazing cast led by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, as well as the producers, writers and crew, for giving us this delightful gem for the past seven years. We would also like to thank the critics and Gilmore fans for their passionate support and promise to give this series the send-off it deserves." What will now be Gilmore Girls' series finale airs Tuesday, May 15.UPDATE: As forecast, the Ausiello Report has more on exactly why CW is saying, "No more" to Gilmore.UPDATE: How do you feel about CW's decision? Vote here.

Thu, May 3, 2007

Unhappy Gilmore: CW Officially Says Goodbye, Girls

Studio 60 Lament: "We Were Under a Microscope"

As previously reported, NBC is bringing back Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, albeit on Thursday, May 24, the day after sweeps ends. Still, if all goes well, steadfast fans of 30 Rock's more serious big brother will get to see the first season's five unaired episodes.Pondering the surprising fate of a show with such a solid pedigree  crafted by Aaron Sorkin, and populated by the likes of proven TV draws Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford  Amanda Peet shrugs off talk that S60 tried to be too smart for the room. "It was definitely very ambitious," she tells TVGuide.com, "but a part of me wonders if, had it been an unknown writer-creator instead of Aaron Sorkin, we would have had more time to find our tone and focus. Because we were under a microscope from the moment we arrived, it was very difficult for the creators to feel free to follow the strengths of the show and see that through."Peet can next be seen starring alongside two other members of the Underappreciated TV Show...

Thu, May 3, 2007

Studio 60 Lament: "We Were Under a Microscope"

Ratings: Tree Hill Return Spays Pussycat

The ratings recap for the first Wednesday of sweeps:8 pm/ETUp 2.5 mil from its last fresh eppy, Bones (10.41 million total viewers) topped a surging Jericho (8.16 mil, up 480K). Top Model (5.13 mil) put up typical numbers, while Notes from the Underbelly (6.1 mil) delivered 1.2 mil additional heads.9 pmIdol fans were feeling more charitable this week, as the show (28.07 mil) enjoyed a 1.67 mil bump from last Wednesday's half of "Idol Gives Back." Criminal Minds (13.3 mil) rose 450,000, Jordan (5.9 mil) dipped 480K, and One Tree Hill (3.27 mil) returned to an audience 120K bigger than the sudser's Feb. 21 outing and 400K greater than the PCD finale.10 pmThough Lost (12.1 mil) found yet another 470,000 viewers, CSI: NY (12.93 mil) reclaimed its No. 1 position. Medium (7.64 mil) added 520K.

Thu, May 3, 2007

Blake Becomes Idol's Last Man Standing

In Wednesday night's double elimination on American Idol, Phil Stacey (who should've known he was in trouble when he was asked to sing a number by a hair band) and Chris Richardson finally got sent home. Which makes sense, right? I've thrown away paper towels that are more charismatic than poor Phil, and Chris... come on. The only time the bargain-bin J.T. has hit the right note has been with his stylist. This leaves the newly brunette Blake Lewis as the last contestant to represent the male of the species. Sputter, man! Sputter and hiccup and do that spitting thing you do like your life depends on it!UPDATE: OK, it needs to be asked: Who is your current favorite to win American Idol? Vote here.Thursday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner.

Thu, May 3, 2007

Isaiah Washington Says, "Gay? Yay!"

Go ahead and check your calendar, because no, it isn't April 1. Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington really has agreed to do a PSA for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. Although neither organization will comment on the content of the ad, Washington's well-named publicist Howard Bragman  who is primarily responsible for helping his client out of this quagmire  said that there will be "at least two versions [of the PSA]... to broaden our message a little." The spot is set to be shot in the next few weeks. And next month, I'm sure Don Imus will be being feted by the NAACP.

Thu, May 3, 2007

In Love: Many News Cycles Later, Vaughniston Persists

As Brangelina save the world one orphan at a time, Jennifer Aniston can't seem to wash that Wedding Crasher out of her hair. As one source tells Us, "She goes out to meet people, but she keeps ending up back in bed with Vince." Vaughn, that is. Vince Vaughn.... Jennifer Esposito has filed for divorce from Alias alum Bradley Cooper, her husband of four months, TMZ.com reports. Court papers cite the impossibility of either party keeping a show on the air "irreconcilable differences".... ER's Goran Visnjic and his wife Ivana have adopted a baby boy, born April 19, whom they've named Tin, says People.

Thu, May 3, 2007

Top 10 Reasons The View Merits an Emmy

With The View having netted 10 consecutive nominations in the Daytime Emmys Outstanding Talk Show Host contest yet failing to convert on any nods to date ABC has offered up this list of Joy Behars top 10 reasons why she Babs Liz and RosieOccupant are worthy10 Weve already lost nine times and Susan Lucci is worried well beat her record [LucciEmmys joke Check]9 Were the only show with Hot Topics and hot flashes [Borderline bawdy item Check]8 We promise our acceptance speech will be shorter than Britneys hair [Topical-ish reference check]7 We give free juice cookies and foot massages to our studio audience [Blatant-but-cute lie check]6 We all know how to decoupage [Arcane item check]5 Limoncello endorsements by celebrity guests [Getting even less topical]4 If Barbara Walters dog can talk then anything is possible [In joke check]3 Two words Celebrity feuds [Two words item check]2 We support the American confett

Wed, May 2, 2007

On Stage: Cabaret's Cumming Back and Other Drama

Though it closed only three years ago, the New York Post says the Roundabout Theater Company is planning to revive their Tony-winning revival of Cabaret with the original creative team and star Alan Cumming intact.... Steven Culp (Desperate Housewives, ABC's upcoming Traveler) has a new gig, says Playbill.com, playing a pedophile in a West Coast take on the controversial drama Blackbird.... Jason Patric has exited Neil LaBute's soon-to-bow In a Dark Dark House due to "creative differences," and will be replaced by Frederick Weller.... Are you an ogre-achiever? Want to make an ass of yourself in front of NYC tourists? If you have what it takes to play the big guy or Donkey, the producers of the upcoming Shrek musical want to hear from you. Details at IWantToBeShrek.com.  Reporting by Raven Snook

Wed, May 2, 2007

Short Cuts: CSI: NY, Rachael Ray and More!

Tantrum-prone tennis great John McEnroe plays a dual role  including himself  on the May 9 CSI: NY.... Oh yes, bring out the skeletons. Rachael Ray: The E! True Hollywood Story premieres Saturday at 6 pm/ET.... HGTV debuts the new weekly series Spice Up My Kitchen May 15 at 10:30 pm. I just got a new wire-mesh letter holder at Container Store, does that count?.... Which classic TV "minisode" are you most excited to see? Vote in today's poll (bottom right).

Wed, May 2, 2007

Double O' My! Rosie to Make Fox News?

Having done morning TV both solo and among a group, new buzz suggests that Rosie O'Donnell might follow up her Viewing with a gig on a cable news outlet  perhaps even Fox News Channel. That's what the New York Daily News is hearing, though frankly it's deemed a long shot as it would put Ro too close to the spin zone of her arch nemesis, Bill O'Reilly. But if she can't join them, maybe she'll beat them? As Professor Robert J. Thompson of Syracuse U.'s Center for Television and Popular Culture tells the News, "If I were MSNBC, I would really be courting [Rosie] to go up against O'Reilly. For so long, they've been looking for a different perspective." Ro's rep maintains that a decision on her next move has yet to be made.

Wed, May 2, 2007