matt.mitovich

Copycat Fall Series Spawns Sex and the City Spat

The 13-year friendship between TV producer Darren Star and author Candace Bushnell, who previously had partnered on Sex and the City, has hit the skids, now that each party has a similarly themed series being eyed for the fall TV season. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Bushnell approached Star in 2005 to turn her Lipstick Jungle  about a trio of high-powered New York City women  into an NBC series, but the pair's respective peeps couldn't reach an agreement. Flash-forward to Bushnell phoning Star with the news that NBC had greenlit Jungle's pilot, only to have him tell her that his Cashmere Mafia  a pilot concerning four successful female executives  had a potential home at ABC. While one source tells the Post, "Candace is very hurt and upset by Darren's betrayal," another claims, "There is no truth" to the story.

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

View Says Roseanne Barr Buzz Is "Untrue"; Plus, a New Hassel-baby!

Though she earned a mere 10 percent of the vote in TVGuide.com's poll about potential successors to Rosie O'Donnell, Roseanne Barr is the early front-runner to become The View's resident loudmouth once the seat is vacated, the New York Post hears. Detailing Barr's qualifications, a source tells the tab, "She's a piece of work, she's a character, she says what's on her mind and she's funny." I know, the same could be said about your Aunt Enid after a pull of dandelion wine. But Roseanne has the better name recognition.In other View news, Elisabeth Hasselbeck announced on Monday's show, "I'm totally three months pregnant," to which Babs beat me to the punch by noting they'll get a November-sweeps "baby watch" out of this. Walters also tore into gossip columnists and cable news channel talking heads who have claimed that a failed power grab by Rosie led to her exit, reminding viewers that the two had been friends "for years" before Ro joined the talker.UPDATE: What's your take on Rosea...

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

View Says Roseanne Barr Buzz Is "Untrue"; Plus, a New Hassel-baby!

Love Notes: Survivor Boss Weds an Angel

Reality-TV uberproducer Mark Burnett tied the knot with Roma Downey on Saturday at their Malibu home, in a ceremony officiated by Downey's ordained Touch by an Angel costar, Della Reese. The union is Burnett's second and Downey's third.... Also per People: Whale Rider's Keisha Castle-Hughes, 17, and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Bradley Hull, welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Felicity-Amore, on April 25, while Cary Elwes' wife, Lisa Marie, delivered their own firstborn, a daughter named Buttercup Dominique, on April 24.

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

Britney Bails on "Surprise" Comeback Show

Britney Spears  who as of late has been spied looking leaner and meaner (and with her nether regions covered up)  apparently had been quietly preparing to put on a surprise performance at the Los Angeles nightclub Forty Deuce, but wound up cancelling at the last minute. Sources tell MSNBC.com that while Spears was itching to test the waters with a small-scale showcase, it was ultimately decided that the recent rehabber wasn't quite ready. The latest buzz is that she might instead turn up at a Southern California House of Blues sometime this week  or, if all else fails, at your neighborhood Japanese karaoke bar.

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

Anna Nicole Book Details Childhood Abuse, Sex Life

A book being shopped to publishers this week finds Anna Nicole Smith  via a series of never-printed interviews she gave journalist Joyce Wagner back in 1996, at which point she was fresh out of rehab and bankrupt by an ex-nanny's harassment suit  chronicling a childhood of parental and sexual abuse, as well as her intimate encounters with husband J. Howard Marshall. In a snippet played for the New York Daily News' Rush & Molloy, Smith recalls how when she returned from running away from home at age 12, mom Virgie Arthur "started beating the s--- out of me... kicking me with her boot," and in another instance "hit me with her [deputy sheriff's] nightstick." Smith also recounts sexual abuse, though Wagner isn't previewing any details on that. As for her and J. Howard's sexcapades, Smith says, "He could not exactly satisfy me, which is to be expected, but he was very satisfied himself." (Well, duh.) "He satisfied me in other ways. He cared about me... never looked down ...

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

Hit Maker: Idol Finalist Charged with Battery

American Idol Season 4 top-10 finalist Jessica Sierra was arrested early Sunday after she allegedly clocked a man on the head with a heavy glass at a café, giving him a cut over his eye. According to the AP, Sierra was booked on a felony charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon as well as charged with possession of cocaine, perhaps a nod to Idol's soft-drink sponsor.

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

Hit Maker: Idol Finalist Charged with Battery

Box Office: Final Pre-Spidey Win Is a Meager One

With the paltry sum of $9.1 million, Disturbia repeated as the weekend box-office champ. Rounding out the top five were newcomers The Invisible ($7.6 million) and Next ($7.2 mil), followed by Fracture ($7.1 mil) and Blades of Glory ($5.2 mil).Of course, Spider-Man 3, kicking off the summer blockbuster season this Friday, will surely earn the likes of $9 mil at just one tiny drive-in in Burton, Michigan. The franchise's original foray enjoyed a $114.8 million three-day opening in 2002, setting a record untouched until POTC2 drifted along last summer with a $132 mil haul. Spider-Man 2 netted $180 mil in a six-day Fourth of July weekend bow. How do you think Spidey's third outing will do in its debut? Vote in our new poll.

Mon, Apr 30, 2007

No New Trees to Sprout Until the Fall

An ABC.com blog entry by series creator Jenny Bicks confirms as much as anything can that Men in Trees' five unaired Season 1 episodes will not see the light of day until the fall, where they will be used to kick off a "more fattening," 27-episode sophomore run. Until then, Bicks says, "We will absolutely be on the air starting in June, with reruns all summer," though she is reluctant to hint at a time slot.Why did Trees not wrap up its freshman run this spring? Bicks says it speaks not at all to the quality of the unseen episodes, but rather "has everything to do with ABC wanting to use Thursday nights to showcase new shows" such as October Road and Notes from the Underbelly.

Sun, Apr 29, 2007

Anna Nicole: Court Lets Dannielynn's Dad Take Her Away

A Bahamian court on Friday rebuffed an appeal by the late Anna Nicole Smith's estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, clearing the way for Larry Birkhead to leave the Bahamas with his and Smith's baby daughter, Dannielynn, the AP reports. Arthur had challenged a judge's decision to let Birkhead leave the islands with Dannielynn, contending that he might not return as directed for a June 8 hearing in the custody case. Said Birkhead outside the courthouse, "I'm happy because this is nonsense really." Amen to that.Bahamian judges have ruled that a U.S. court will likely have the final say in the custody dispute between Arthur and Birkhead.

Sat, Apr 28, 2007

Beatty Nixed as Nixon, Frankenstein Gets a Date

Though studio suits had been pushing for an A-lister to play the disgraced prez in Ron Howard's upcoming take on the stage drama Frost/Nixon, Playbill.com reports that Frank Langella, currently channeling the Watergate wonder on Broadway, may snag the gig  despite names such as Warren Beatty and Kevin Spacey being bandied about. Similarly, Michael Sheen (aka Kate Beckinsale's babydaddy), is in talks to reprise his role as David Frost. Having seen the production three days ago, I predict that Langella will win the Tony and perhaps an Oscar for his stunning work. Almost makes me forgive him for Cutthroat Island. Almost. In other stage news, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein has booked its out-of-town, pre-Broadway tryout, but as of yet has not announced a cast. The monster will run loose Aug. 4 through Sept. 1 at Seattle's Paramount Theater, says Variety, aiming to hit the Great White Way on (wait for it) Halloween.  Reporting by Raven Snook

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Studio 60 Returns... Just as Soon as Sweeps Ends

Gotta give the folks over at TVTattle.com props for catching this one. The Peacock has super-stealthily "announced" (via some don't-scroll-to-the-right-and-you'll-miss-it text at NBC.com) that Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip will return Thursday, May 24, at 10 pm/ET  aka the day after the May-sweeps rating period closes. By my math, Jordan (the Amanda Peet character, remember?) is now about 11-months pregnant.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Studio 60 Returns... Just as Soon as Sweeps Ends

Sci Fi Summer Stars Flash and Another Superhero

Sci Fi's summer slate, as culled from a fresh press release:June 6: Ghost Hunters returns. Also, the series premiere of Destination Truth, in which globe-trotter/truth-seeker Josh Gates explores the world's unexplained.July 6: Doctor Who, Season 3 begins.July 10: Eureka, Season 2 arrives.July 25: Who Wants to Be a Superhero? takes flight with a second season. Also, the debut of a series starring Derren Brown, a British mentalist described as "part James Bond, part Yoda." Not stirred, shaken, hmmm.August 10: The premiere of a contemporized take on Flash Gordon, starring Eric Johnson. Good luck filling Sam J. Jones' spandex, kid.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Alec Baldwin's True View on 30 Rock and More

Second- and third-hand accounts, be gone. Alec Baldwin's pre-taped appearance on The View unspooled Friday, and here is what he said about:The message he left for his daughter: "There's nothing wrong with being frustrated or angry about something. I took it out on the wrong person because I'm unable, under the current dynamic, to address the other person," meaning ex-wife Kim Basinger.Why he was frustrated: After Basinger neglected on three occasions to cede custody of their daughter, Ireland, when she went to work on projects, "We pressed a contempt charge, because... we had no other outlet for enforcement. Finally they said, 'We will obey the order' [and] I was given my daughter. I had two blissful weeks.... The mother comes home and the phone gets turned off and I don't speak to the child again for 10 days."The "pig" word: "I've had a lot of people say to me that if all of us were to lose our custody rights because you said something inappropriate, we would have a parentless soci...

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Alec Baldwin's True View on 30 Rock and More

Basinger or Ricky Bobby: Why'd Baldwin Drop CAA?

Alec Baldwin's abrupt decision to leave CAA for as-yet-to-be-determined pastures may have been fueled in part by a video spoof posted at FunnyOrDie.com, a website cocreated by another CAAer, Will Ferrell, and placing poor Dora the Explorer on the receiving end of his answering-machine harangue. "Baldwin asked CAA to take it off [the site], and they didn't," a source tells the New York Post's Page Six. Others, though, contend that Baldwin parted ways with the 10-percentery because they still pimp his ex-wife, Kim Basinger. Baldwin's rep quips about the video spoof, "Three-year-olds everywhere are upset that Dora... and her friends are being dragged into this." Or as Swiper would say, "Oh, man!"

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Idol in Motion: Clarkson Unveils Summer Tour Dates

Kelly Clarkson, a most unfortunate fashion victim on Wednesday's "Idol Gives Back," hopefully will don more dynamic duds for her summer concert series tied to the release of her third awesome album. Hitting nearly 40 U.S. and Canadian cities, the music starts July 7 at Giants Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey, and winds down Sept. 28 in Las Vegas.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Sarah Silverman's Happy as $#!% About MTV Gig

MTV has tapped the sexy and sassy Sarah Silverman to front the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, airing live on June 3. Sarah has her special way of talking about things, so lemme hit you with some sound bites from her purty pottymouth regarding the plum gig: "The other day I sat down too hard and sprained my labia majora. I'm OK, but I took it as a sign from God to host the MTV Movie Awards."  To MTV.com: "This is actually the first time the MTV [Movie] Awards are live, which means I can say ass c--k t-- vagina diarrhea sandwich, and they can't bleep it out. Which is great, because that's my favorite sandwich." Last but not least, to the AP: "Ever since I was a little girl, before MTV even started in 1980, I said, 'Someday, I want there to be an all-music channel that gives out awards for movies. And I want to host that show.'"Love. Her.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Crazed Sandra Bullock Fan Is No Miss Congeniality

Talk about a Speed demon. Marcia Diana Valentine of Huntington Beach, California, tried to mow down Sandra Bullock's hubby, Jesse James, with her Mercedes on Sunday after Bullock asked her apparently off-kilter "biggest fan" to leave the couple's home, the AP reports.After hopping into her car and throwing it into reverse, Valentine, 45, "attempted to hit [James] three or four times," then sped away, says a spokesman for the county sheriff. James was not injured, and Valentine was found and arrested on Monday on charges of assault with a Lake House DVD deadly weapon.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Crazed Sandra Bullock Fan Is No Miss Congeniality

At the Movies: Nicole Kidman Channels Marilyn

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Nicole Kidman is producing and may star in a redo of How to Marry a Millionaire, the 1953 comedy featuring Marilyn Monroe as one of three models on the prowl for rich men. Kidman's project, though, is said to be a "complete overhaul" of the original story.... Filmmaker David S. Goyer (Blade, Batman Begins) will develop and may direct the X-Men franchise prequel recounting the early friendship and ultimate rivalry between Magneto and Professor X, with actors in their twenties playing the leads. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine spin-off, however, is expected to get made first.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Will & Grace Trial Stymied by Tainted Juror

The jury foreman in a court case pitting the creators of Will & Grace against NBC Studios (whom, it has been argued, did not negotiate a fair licensing fee with the sitcom) was removed from the trial on Thursday after it was learned that he runs a website that critiques big corporations  and this after the jury had reached an as-yet-undisclosed verdict. The judge presiding over the case, having now interviewed each juror about the foreman's possible influence on their decision-making, will announce on Friday whether he plans to declare a mistrial or restart deliberations with an alternate juror in place.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

The End: Film Lobbyist Jack Valenti Dead at 85

Jack Valenti, a onetime aide to President Lyndon Johnson who went on to oversee the Motion Picture Association of America and become Hollywood's top lobbyist, died on Thursday of complications from a stroke he suffered in March. He was 85. Valenti's legacy includes, of course, updating the film industry's morality code created in the 1930s with the ratings system we have today.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Short Cuts: Family Guy, Flash Gordon and More

Family Guy has been cleared in 90 percent of the country for its fall launch into syndication.... Flash Gordon: Saviour of the Universe Edition arrives on DVD August 7, boasting an all-new digitally remastered picture and several "out of this world"/camptastic extras.... In a new Trivial Matt'rs blog, I revisit my original 2006-07 TV season predictions.... "Monster Mash" singer Bobby Picket died on Wednesday of leukemia. He was 69.

Fri, Apr 27, 2007

Letterman Looks to Make More Great Impressions

Just in from CBS:"Following its successful first 'Impressionist Week' last fall, Late Show with David Letterman will once again showcase some of the best impressionists in entertainment when it presents 'Impressionist Week 2,' Monday, April 30, through Friday, May 4."The lineup looks like this:Monday: Rob MagnottiTuesday: John Byner Wednesday: Mike MacRaeThursday: Joe Piscopo Friday: Reggie RegI've plugged my own "Jimmy Stewart" here before, but have I told you about my "Rocky Balboa"? It'll knock ya to tomorrow, I tell ya.

Thu, Apr 26, 2007