matt.mitovich

In the Works: Comedy Central Goes to Court

 The home to Daily Show and Colbert next will skewer court shows with The Root of All Evil, in which Lewis Black "presides" over cases positing that assorted politcal figures, celebs and pop-culture concepts are "the root of all evil." The pilot, says the Hollywood Reporter, pits Paris Hilton against Dick Cheney, and chick flicks against video games. Guest comedians will serve as attorneys. CBS' kids programming block for the fall includes Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake (checking my calendar... yep, it's 2007), a crime-fighting Sushi Pack, I Was a High School Dinosaur, Horseland (about talking equines and other critters), and Cake (teen girl and her BFFs host a cable-acess show out of Grandma's Airstream).

Thu, Apr 12, 2007

Cat Scratched: Forest Whitaker Exits Broadway Revival

Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and director Kenny Leon have led a mass exodus from a planned, all-black Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which was to also star Phylicia Rashad (as Big Mamma), Audra McDonald (Maggie) and Anthony Mackie (Brick). Sources tell the New York Post that the staging's "inexperienced" and "inept" producers  two hedge-fund managers who, for instance, wanted to replace four-time Tony winner McDonald (whom they derided as "a regional theater actress") with Beyoncé  are to blame.

Thu, Apr 12, 2007

RIPs: Novelist Kurt Vonnegut Dead at 84

Kurt Vonnegut, the revered author of such tomes as Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions, died Wednesday at age 84. Vonnegut had suffered brain injuries after taking a spill at his Manhattan home a few weeks back. For those who cannot attend the funeral, a CliffsNotes version of the eulogy will be made available.Other passings to note: Actor Roscoe Lee Browne (I remember him as a Cosby Show professor and the guy Archie got stuck in an elevator with on All in the Family) died Wednesday after a long cancer fight. He was 81.... Emmy-winning TV writer Stan Daniels (Taxi) is dead at 72.... Feature scribe A.J. Carothers (The Happiest Millionaire) is dead at 75.

Thu, Apr 12, 2007

Short Cuts: Bigger Today, Great Weather and More

The upcoming, longer Today Show has been cleared for takeoff by 90 percent of the NBC affiliates, with most of them set to run all four hours in sequence.... BET is holding casting calls for the spin-off College Hill: Interns Saturday, April 14, in Boston and Tuesday, April 17, in NYC. See BET.com for details.... The Weather Channel presents the five-part, Harry Connick Jr.-hosted miniseries 100 Biggest Weather Moments Sunday through Thursday at 8 pm/ET. You read that right: Weather gets five days, but TV's funniest moments get two hours. On a related note, thanks to the missus for letting me take the "good" umbrella today!

Thu, Apr 12, 2007

Hos'd Down: MSNBC Drops Imus Show

The TV career of Don Imus has faded to black.MSNBC announced late Tuesday that it has dumped the simulcast of the Imus in the Morning radio program. The NBC News-run cable news channel originally agreed to suspend host Don Imus for two weeks after the outcry over the racist remarks he made about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. But in a statement, NBC News decided to drop the show after "many conversations with our employees." Two high-profile African-American on-air personalities  Today Show weatherman Al Roker and correspondent Ron Allen  publicly called for stronger action against Imus.What likely sunk Imus was the announcement by a growing number of advertisers  including Staples, American Express, General Motors and Procter & Gamble  that they were pulling their spots from the show. Organized protests and continued outcry over Imus' remarks received heavy news coverage even after his apology.CBS Radio, which syndicates Imus on 70 stat...

Thu, Apr 12, 2007

Preview: Paula Abdul Makes Hey for Bravo

If you think Paula Abdul is "entertaining" on American Idol, you ain't seen nothin' yet. TV Guide got a sneak peek of Hey Paula, Bravo's upcoming reality show chronicling Ms. Abdul's wacky ways, and here's one example of what we saw: While prepping for the Grammys, Paula lets her two tiny dogs chew on millions of dollars' worth of borrowed diamonds, while the Idol judge laughs hysterically and the jeweler has a panic attack! When the show debuts this summer, theres sure to be plenty more in the way of odd behavior. Other Bravo programs on the way include:  Flipping Out: An obsessive-compulsive entrepreneur consults a spiritual healer as he flips multimillion-dollar homes.  Millionaire Matchmaker: An elite matchmaking service helps single male millionaires find their better halves.  First Class All the Way: Sara Duffy and her team of travel pros cater to every demand of high-end travelers who all but expect her to "control the weather." (What is she, a Cassadi...

matt.mitovich

In the Works: Comedy Central Goes to Court

Cat Scratched: Forest Whitaker Exits Broadway Revival

RIPs: Novelist Kurt Vonnegut Dead at 84

Short Cuts: Bigger Today, Great Weather and More

Hos'd Down: MSNBC Drops Imus Show

Preview: Paula Abdul Makes Hey for Bravo

Lane Garrison to Cop to Vehicular Manslaughter

Law & Order Star Discloses Lymphoma Battle

Gunn Shoots Down Barren Runway Rumor

News Flash: Smallville Alum to Play Comic Hero

America's Got... No Brandy

Smithsonian Supersnubs Reeve Family

In the Works: Real World's Vegas-ers Reunite

Love Notes: Dancing Baby, Katie "Cougar" and More

Short Cuts: Court TV Silences Crier and More

Sponsors Abandon Imus as Rutgers Gals Await Face-off

Sanjaya's Sis: Brother in Idol Finals Would Be "Crazy"

Anna Nicole Biopic to Star Dancing Girl

Is Selleck "All In" for Las Vegas Gig?

Anna Nicole: Birkhead Named Dannielynn's Dad as Stern Slams Malicious Press

Ratings: It's Good to Be King

Preview: Heroes Returns with a "Super" Hour