matt.mitovich

Smack Talk: Heroes Accused of Thievery

A pair of artists have filed suit against NBC, claiming that the idea for Heroes' Isaac Mendez and his ominous artwork was cribbed from a short story, a painting and a short-film exhibition of theirs, Reuters reports. According to the lawsuit filed by New York City-based artists Clifton Mallery and Amnau Karam Eele, two individuals who identified themselves as writers from Crossing Jordan  Heroes creator Tim Kring's previous stomping grounds  spied their work at an April 2005 exhibition at Hunter College, and left with some samples. The plaintiffs' work concerns an artist who can paint the future, specifically the destruction of New York City landmarks  a theme that they call "strikingly similar" to Heroes' plotline. Calling the suit without merit, an NBC rep says they will defend against it vigorously. A source close to Isaac Mendez, meanwhile, speaking on the condition of anonymity, calls the plaintiff's lawyer "very bad man," adding, "Mister Eee-sock steal nothi...

Mon, Mar 19, 2007

TVGuide.com Exclusive! BSG's Six Is One of Them

TVGuide.com has learned exclusively that Tricia Helfer has joined the cast of Them, the Fox pilot being shepherded by her Battlestar Galactica boss, David Eick, and concerning sleeper cells of extraterrestrial terrorists. Previously announced to the cast are James D'Arcy, Rachel Nichols, Ben Feldman and Reg Rogers. Before you start speccing on what this means for BSG's Six, TVGuide.com has it on good authority that if Them gets picked up in May, it's entirely possible that Helfer  who will go dark (meaning brunette) for this new gig, which she starts shooting Monday  could do double duty, seeing as how, you know, Eick is a big cheese at both shows. Out-of-this-world hottie Helfer on two TV series? That I'm not sure the human race could handle.Speaking of BSG, here's an update on the Caprica prequel, posted over the weekend.

Mon, Mar 19, 2007

Galactica Boss Inks New Deal, Prequel's Fate TBD

David Eick has renewed his deal with NBC Universal, where he will continue as exec producer of Sci Fi's Battlestar Galactica and work with BSG's Ronald D. Moore on the series' prequel, Caprica, whose fate will soon be determined, Variety reports.Away from Sci Fi, Eick is behind the pilots for The Bionic Woman (NBC) and Them (Fox), and has two projects in the works at FX: Guilty Pleasures, a drama he calls "the most outrageously subversive thing I've ever done," and The Wanting, a commentary on Americans' obsession with "people famous for being famous." He's also producing a Lifetime mini on which details are scarce, but which he deems "the scariest" of his endeavors.

Sun, Mar 18, 2007

Family Feud: Carol Burnett Sues Fox 'Toon

Legendary comedienne Carol Burnett has filed suit against Twentieth Century Fox, claiming that Family Guy misappropriated her name and likeness by showing her "Charwoman" character mopping a porn shop's floor in an April 2006 episode, as a rip-off of her variety show's theme song played. (Video here.) Per papers obtained by TheSmokingGun.com, Burnett claims that after she denied Family Guy the use of her theme song back in 2005, she was spitefully targeted by the show. Burnett's copyright-infringement suit seeks $6 million in damages. Tug on that, Stewie.

Sat, Mar 17, 2007

Broadway Stages a Birthday Bash for Rosie

Rosie O'Donnell's wish has come true. No, Donald Trump hasn't burst into flames — Ro's getting a View full of Broadway show tunes, just as she asked for during Tuesday's telecast. To help the talk queen ring in No. 45, this Wednesday's show will feature the casts of A Chorus Line and Les Miserables performing songs, as well as Tony winner LaChanze (formerly of The Color Purple) making a special appearance to duet "What About Love?" with Elisabeth Withers-Mendes. It promises to offer the most music on the View set since that time Star was on an all-asparagus diet.

Sat, Mar 17, 2007

L&O: CI Takes on Anna Nicole, Crazy Astronaut

Law & Order: Criminal Intent will ring in May sweeps with tales ripped from the real-life headlines of February sweeps. On May 1, Tate Donovan will guest-star as a married astronaut whose affair with a colleague goes south when someone turns up dead. Then on May 8, Kristy Swanson plays a stripper turned model and  sorry, this particular one is just so shameless  widow of an elderly billionaire, whose son dies under mysterious circumstances, and then later so does she. David Cross (Arrested Development) plays the partner and lawyer of Swanson's ill-fated bombshell.

Sat, Mar 17, 2007

Anna Nicole: Lawyer Quits Paternity Case, Saying, "I Just Had Enough"

Perhaps as fed up as the rest of us are with the protracted proceedings to determine the paternity of the late Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Debra Opri has ended her professional relationship with 6-month-old Dannielynn's prospective pop, Larry Birkhead. "I just had enough," Opri tells TV's Extra. "I can't represent a client who has a middle man by the name of Howard K. Stern. I just don't like [Stern's] influence.... It was too much to handle."Lest anyone think she is "jumping ship," Opri notes that Birkhead should get the DNA results he needs before she bids their arrangement adieu. "I feel comfortable in my decision, and I wish Larry the best," she says. "But I am worried about him."

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Ratings: Six Appeal Rouses Winchester Boys

This Thursday's ratings rundown:8 pmOpposite NCCA basketball coverage, Ugly Betty (10.76 mil) dropped 2.4 million total viewers from its last fresh outing to deliver its smallest audience since Nov. 23. Fox's 5th Grader (12.18 mil) won the hour, while Smallville (4.58 mil) slipped 500 thou from its last new episode.9 pmGrey's Anatomy (22.4 million) came out on top with 4.8 mil fewer heads than its boffo Feb. 23 outing, but the key demos race wasn't even close. Scrubs (6.37 mil) was up 470,000 and Andy Barker, P.I. (5.85 mil) debuted to an audience 650K larger than the most recent 30 Rock. The big story, though, is that Supernatural, which only recently hit a season low, came through with its best numbers since Oct. 26: 3.54 mil.10 pmIn the battle of the newbies, ABC's October Road bested NBC's Raines, 14.3 million to 10.3 mil. October Road did three mil better than the latest Men in Trees, while Jeff Goldblum was up just 420,000 from ER.

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Stanley Tucci Takes Charge of the ER

Stanley Tucci may have lost 3 LBS, but he's back in scrubs for amulti-episode ER arc starting later this season and carrying over into next. TV Guide has learned that the acclaimed actor will be playing Kevin Moretti, "a brilliant ICU turned ER chief," so expect some changes at County General  big ones. And where does that put Kovac? And Goran Visnjic? The shake-up starts May 10.

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

At the Movies: Cate Blanchett Joins Indy's Crusade

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Cate Blanchett is in talks to fill a starring role in the fourth Indiana Jones film. If she plays her cards right, she could be the next Alison Doody, I think.... French horror helmer Alexandre Aja (2006's The Hills Have Eyes) has signed on to write-direct a remake of 1978's Piranha, which he recalls as "the ultimate popcorn movie that pits beer-soaked, sunburned spring breakers against killer, bloodthirsty animals." OK, when you put it like that.... Raven-Symone and Martin Lawrence are a daughter and her overprotective policeman father touring potential universities in College Road Trip.

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Sinbad Rises from the Dead After Online "Demise"

Any prospect for Jingle All the Way 2 may be dead, but Sinbad isn't. This despite the "fact" that the actor-comedian's Wikipedia entry was updated last weekend with news of his fatal heart attack. Seeing himself prematurely passed on was "not that strange," Sinbad told the Associated Press on Thursday, shrugging off the flub. "It's going to be more commonplace as the Internet opens up more and more."Sinbad says he has not received an apology from the site, though I'm sure one of y'all can run to Wiki and "create" one right now, yes?

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Short Cuts: Prison Break, Chrissy Snow and More!

A TV station in eastern China recently flouted a national ban on crime-related shows by airing excerpts of Prison Break on a children's channel, as part of a "Watch Movies, Learn English" initiative. "Shiv" is now the most-used word at the Luying Elementary School's recess.... TV Land marks the 30th anniversary of Three's Company with a 24-hour marathon beginning Saturday at 8 pm/ET  or at least that's what I overheard through the kitchen door.... Kris Kristofferson will be honored with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award at the 2007 CMT Music Awards, airing April 16.... Has a movie ever taught you something? Talk about it in my new Trivial Mattr's blog entry.

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Fall 2007: President Logan Returns to Office

Pilots. Casting. Variety. Reporter. Go. Gregory Itzin, whose disgraced President Logan's life currently hangs in the balance on 24, will play an alpha-male, adrenaline-junkie boss in ABC's Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office. Another 24 politico, Logan VP Ray Wise, is a real devil in the CW's Reaper. Oh, Leland...! Emmy winner, meet Oscar winner: Cynthia Watros is Marisa Tomei's dancer/best friend in CBS' The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud. Rachel Boston (American Dreams) has landed the lead, playing a rising-star exec, in an ABC comedy set in a Phoenix TV newsroom. Amy Yasbeck is on board as a coanchor. The Wire's Domenick Lombardozzi is a cop alongside CBS' The Man. Rade Serbedzija (24's Gredenko) is a vampire in CBS' Twilight. Brandon Quinn (The O.C.'s Spencer) is Lacey Chabert's love interest in Fox's untitled, life-after-college comedy.

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Emmy Changes Help Lost, Block Burstyns

A raft of rulebook tweaks aim to remedy a "problem" or two brought to light by last year's Primetime Emmy Awards. I'll boil it down best I can:The Write StuffProducers and performers may submit an essay (of 250 words or less) offering context for the episodes they submit in the best-series and lead-actor races. This is to help shows such as Lost, which is believed to have been hamstrung last year by bewildered voters who don't have the Fuselage bookmarked.Short Ain't SweetA so-called "Ellen Burstyn rule" calls for long-form supporting-actor nominees to have appeared in at least five percent of the program.Popularity ContestPerhaps the most controversial "fix" has the nominees in key acting and series categories being determined by a 50/50 mix of judging-panel ballots and the "popular vote" of Academy members. (Last year, the blue-ribbon panelists who actually screen submitted reels alone compiled the short list.) The intent, says an Academy rep, is to combine "the wisdom of the mass...

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Showtime Likes Spielberg's Alter'd States

Showtime is stepping up development of The United States of Tara, summed up by Variety as a seriocomic half-hour series, in the vein of Weeds, concerning a wife and mother of two teens who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The pilot for Tara, which is based on an idea from Steven Spielberg (whose DreamWorks will produce the series), shows off at least two of Mom's alters: a slutty teen girl, and a macho adult male. Niki Smith, call your lawyer!

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Back, in the Future? Time Warp Could Save V. Mars

My, how time flies when you're a show on the bubble. Series creator Rob Thomas has fashioned a plan to "fast-forward" the lives of Veronica Mars and company should the CW series squeeze a fourth season out of Dawn Ostroff. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Thomas is as we speak crafting a trailer previewing this possible time warp  with 'Ron now studying at the FBI Academy.* (Ooh, I got goosebumps just typing that!) The trailer is to be submitted to the CW as the network considers the series' fate.Now if I've got my math right, this shift could advance Logan's maturity level to that of a full-fledged 18-year-old.UPDATE: Ausiello is now reporting that Veronica would not be a student at the FBI Academy, but rather an actual agent.

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Screen Gems: Has a Movie Ever Taught You Something?

"When you see the lightning, count 'til you hear the thunder. lf you can count higher each time... that means the storm's moving away."On Wednesday night  and by night, I mean, like, 2 am  one of my twin 4-year-old sons was awoken by the thunder of an arriving storm. And by awoken, I mean screaming for Mommy and Daddy, craving some edification on what that booming noise was.I explained to the boy  as I have done before, yes, but when you're that young and the noise is that scary, things don't sometimes stick  that it was simply thunder, which sometimes comes with the rain. I then reached into my vast archive of trivial knowledge to explain that as the time between the flash of lightning and the boom of thunder gets longer, it means the storm is going away.Where did I first learn that little chestnut? Poltergeist, as told by Craig T. Nelson to li'l Carol Anne (and quoted above). Thank goodness the similarities ended there, and no tree limbs came reaching throu...

Fri, Mar 16, 2007

Idol's Brandon Blames Good Time for Bad Flub

American Idol's Brandon Rogers blames his perhaps critical error  forgetting the words to "Can't Hurry Love"  to neither nerves nor pressure, nor the onus of singing first this week, but to his... hips. "Honestly, it was just me having too good of a time," he said during a Thursday press-conference call. "I went out there, did my little hip-shimmy, and the crowd screamed  it was the loudest they'd been my whole time in the competition  and I was like, 'Whoa, this is awesome! Um, what the heck are my words?' My mind went blank."Immediately upon Brandon's ouster, bullet-dodger Sanjaya's face went forlorn, suggesting either sadness over a friend's fate or proactive dread over what Simon will say next about his own singing. Asked what turned Sanjaya so sour, Brandon told TVGuide.com, "I have no idea. It's hard to see anybody leave, and every week there's no confusion as to why we're all in tears. We genuinely care about each other, all of us."

Thu, Mar 15, 2007

Live and Kicking: Emmys Didn't Snub Regis and Kelly

Don't count Regis Philbin out quite yet, and we're not just talking about the morning-show host's successful triple-bypass heart surgery. (He's come through, as Live with Regis and Kelly cohost Kelly Ripa put it on Thursday morning, "with flying colors" and "the heart of a 19-year-old.") No, we're talking about how, no matter what you may have read elsewhere, the Daytime Emmy folks have not necessarily snubbed Reege and Kel after a long run of nominations. Rather, the show decided to submit itself for a brand-new category  outstanding morning show  instead of in the talker contests.Even away from the orbit of Rosie, Ellen, et al, the competition's rough: Today, Good Morning America and other newsy shows are in the running. The new category's nominees will be announced in April.  Reporting by Ileane Rudolph

Thu, Mar 15, 2007

"Jeopardy! History Is Made!"

The question: "What happens on Friday's installment of the long-running game show?"A publicist for Jeopardy! tells the Orlando Sentinel that on March 16, "and for the first time in 23 years, Jeopardy! history will be made. It was such a remarkable event we consulted a game-theory expert, and he said it may never happen again!" Beyond that tease, the rep is tight-lipped: "Alex Trebek and our producers remain mum, and I, myself, have been sworn to secrecy."I'll take "TVGuide.com Readers' Speculations," for $500....

Thu, Mar 15, 2007

Exclusive: Idol's Chris R.: "J.T. Looks a Lot Like Me"

It's no secret the American Idol judges think Chris Richardson looks and sounds a heckuva lot like one Justin Timberlake. But here's some exclusive scoop: The burgeoning heartthrob has actually met and hung with the ex-NSync singer more than once. Richardson explains that in early 2006, he was writing music in the same Virginia Beach recording studio where J.T. was working on FutureSex/LoveSounds. "We're acquaintances," says the Idol contender. "He's a great guy." So does Richardson see the comparisons? "As a matter of fact," he says, smiling, "He looks a lot like me."  Reporting by Shawna Malcom

Thu, Mar 15, 2007

Ratings: What's the Doll?! Repeats Are the Cats' Meow

This Wednesday, in ratingsland: Bones topped the 8 pm hour albeit with 10.2 million total viewers, a two mil drop from its last fresh outing. In third (behind Dateline), Jericho (7.76 mil) lost 460,000 week-to-week. American's Next Top Model (5.15 million) was up 620K, while The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll, as it did last week, lured an impressive number  3.53 million  to a repeat of its Tuesday outing, which itself drew 2.52 mil. Are six million watching these scantily-clad, catfighting PYTs? (Did I just ask a rhetorical question?) American Idol's 34-minute "half-hour" results show delivered 25.6 million, giving lead-out 'Til Death an inflated viewership of 14 million. At 10, Lost drooped another 220K, to a new series low of 12.12 million. BSWA... Crossing Jordan (7.42 mil) was down 600 thou, and each of ABC's sitcoms took hits, with Lost lead-in ICE attracting just 4.74 mil.

Thu, Mar 15, 2007