matt.mitovich

Idol Chatter: Antonella Feels "Exploited," and More

During a press conference call that was moderated with an iron fist, Antonella Barba was presented with little opportunity to comment on the photo scandal that was brewing while she competed on American Idol, but at the very least said, "The [pictures] that actually are me... are a part of my life that was exploited unintentionally and against my consent." That said, she admitted that because of it all, "My name is, I guess, more well known," albeit not in a manner she plans to capitalize on further. "I'd rather promote myself in a more classy way," she said, echoing previous talk that she would not pose for Playboy. "I want to look at all the offers... and sort out what's best for me."In other Idol news, Diana Ross is working with this week with the top 12, each of whom will perform a selection from the Diana Ross and the Supremes songbook.

Mon, Mar 12, 2007

Shocking Video Threatens "Big Trouble" for Brit

Britney Spears' wrongs continue, even as she tries to right herself in rehab. Not only are pics of the popstress' bare behind  taken Feb. 12 at New York's One club, as she and two dancers impulsively changed into bikinis  being auctioned off for upwards of $150,000, but corresponding security-camera footage of the gals allegedly shows them engaging in behavior so eyebrow-raising, it supposedly got Brit's pals fired from their jobs at the hotspot. While a rep for One denies to the New York Daily News that any such security camera exists nor were its dancers dismissed, a source tells the paper that if the video reaches the Internet, "There's going to be big trouble. It might be what they need to take [Spears'] kids away from her."

Mon, Mar 12, 2007

Office Supplies Fans with "Newpeats," Marathon

In a bid to cure the post-sweeps, rerun-time blues, NBC's The Office on March 15 will serve up "newpeats," a pair of previously seen episodes ("Traveling Salesman" and "The Return") re-edited with never-before-seen footage. Then on March 29, Paul Lieberstein's Toby will host a five-episode, "human resource nightmare"-themed marathon wrapped around the 9:30 showing of Andy Barker, P.I. Explaining this endeavor to go the extra mile for The Office's "wonderful fans," exec producer Greg Daniels says, "Their loyalty must be rewarded somehow, and we don't have the budget for 10 million muffin baskets."

Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Kidman, Madonna Next to Get Nip/Tucked?

At the Museum of Television & Radio's Paley Festival, Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy said he has at least 10 guest stars lined up for the coming season, including Tom's ex and perhaps a Material Girl. "Nicole Kidman's coming," Access Hollywood has Murphy saying. "I don't know when, but... she wants to do it, so we're trying to make it work. She wants to do something where she wears a lot of prosthetics  maybe all over." Worked in The Hours, right? Right...?Acording to Extra, the FX series also hopes to book Madge, a CWPF of one of last season's memorable drop-bys. "I'm going to write something for Madonna, who is a fan of the show," says Murphy. "I would love for her to do something with Rosie [O'Donnell]." OK, must. Remove. That mental image.

Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Anna Nicole: Mystery Evidence Delays Autopsy Report

New, unspecified evidence  turned over to the Broward County medical examiner by police, and relating to the Feb. 8 death of Anna Nicole Smith  has delayed the release of the autopsy report, which was slated to be completed any day now. "This is not delayed evidence," a police-department spokesperson tells the Associated Press. "This is just additional evidence that has come to light." Thus far, the medical examiner has said that there was no immediate indication of a drug overdose, nor signs of major external injuries. The complete autopsy findings are now expected to be revealed in the next week or two.

Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Springfields of Dreams: Who Will Host Simpsons Film?

A total of 16 cities named Springfield  spanning from Oregon to Massachusetts  are vying for the honor of hosting the premiere screening of The Simpsons Movie in July, reports the AP. Fox will pick the lucky town after reviewing short films highlighting each Springfield's positive qualities, as well as its associations with the 'toon Simpsons. I am left to wonder: Is it in a town's favor to have a cow?

Sat, Mar 10, 2007

Grey's Raises: Pompeo Says OK, Dempsey Still Talking

Grey's Anatomy cast members Ellen Pompeo, James T. Pickens and Chandra Wilson have all signed on the dotted line with regards to their mid-contract pay increases, with Pompeo's new deal fetching her nearly $200,000 per episode, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter. Justin Chambers and T.R. Knight are said to be close to inking their respective deals, while talks continue for Patrick Dempsey, Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl (whose negotiations stalled when they became public last week). Kate Walsh, who's fronting the prospective Grey's spin-off, accordingly has a fresh deal in place, while the contract status of Isaiah Washington remains unclear, the trade reports, as it is being kept under tight wraps by the show's producer, ABC TV Studio.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Idol Pal: Antonella Won't Pose for Playboy

Speaking with TVGuide.com at Thursday night's American Idol after-party (click here for our red-carpet Q&As), Antonella Barba's on-show roommate said the 20-year-old New Jersey girl "has too much class, too much pride" to accept any possible offer to pose for Playboy. "She wouldn't do it, not at all," Stephanie Edwards told us. "She's a very classy and intelligent young woman, and I could never see her doing anything like that." Edwards says she and Barba served as each other's backbone during the competition, and "were becoming so close" until Barba's Thursday ejection. Someone else who made an impact on Barba during her two-pronged ordeal was Simon Cowell, who on Wednesday's broadcast gave the beauty props for enduring the media scrutiny. Says Edwards, "Antonella told me, 'That was so nice of Simon to say that. He helped me out there,' and I agreed. It was very nice of him."  Additional reporting by Deidre JohnsonGet an in-depth look at the Idol finalists on the TV Guide...

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Fall 2007: Huff Star's in The Thick of It

Who's doing what this pilot season? From the Reporter: Huff's two-time Emmy nominee, Oliver Platt, has joined ABC's D.C.-set British import, The Thick of It. As first scooped by Ausiello, Chris Lowell (aka Veronica Mars' Piz) is set to guest-star on the Grey's Anatomy episode setting up the possible spin-off. Deets on Lowell's character, even his name, are being kept hush-hush. Hmmm.... Lacey Chabert (Mean Girls) joins Molly Stanton (Twins) and Dorian Brown as sorority sisters trying to clean up their act after college in an untiled Fox laffer. Eric Winter (Wildfire) is a police detective in CBS' Viva Laughlin. Reba's Steve Howey is The Beast in Fox's comedy about a womanizing veterinarian. James D'Arcy is a lead agent on the hunt for E.T. sleeper cells in Fox's Them. Thad Luckinbill (The Young and the Restless) has joined CBS' police serial Protect and Serve.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Casting About: Things Look Rosey for Sigourney

Sigourney Weaver — who has stripped down to her skivvies in films such as Alien and Ghostbusters, to name but two — has been tapped to play famed burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee in an HBO biopic, Variety reports. Gypsy and Me, to shoot by year's end, will be based on My G-String Mother, a memoir written by the performer's son, Erik Lee Preminger, who by age 12 was serving as her stage manager.... Desperate Housewives' Andrea Bowen will play a popular high-school honor student who contracts HIV in Consequences, a TV-movie for  all together now  Lifetime. Jennie Garth costars as a teacher who becomes Bowen's confidante.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

At the Movies: Batman Recasts Kate with Maggie

Per Variety, Maggie Gyllenhaal is in final talks to play Rachel Dawes, the Katie Holmes role in Batman Begins, in the follow-up The Dark Knight.... Clint Eastwood is looking to direct and Angelina Jolie may star in The Changeling, about a woman whose son is abducted and then returned. Or is he?.... Per the Hollywood Reporter, Walt Disney will introduce its first African-American animated heroine with The Frog Princess, pegged as "an American fairy tale" about a girl who lives in New Orleans' French Quarter.... DreamWorks and producer Steven Spielberg are bringing Belgian comic-strip hero Tintin to the big screen.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Eddie Van Halen Enters Rehab... Right Now

In a statement to fans posted on Van Halen's website, guitarist Eddie Van Halen says that he has decided to enter rehab and seek treatment, for unspecified reasons. "At the moment, I do not feel that I can give you my best," he shares. "That's why I have decided to... work on myself, so that I can deliver the 110 percent that I feel I owe you." It is not known, says the AP, whether Eddie will be on hand Monday for the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Baby Talk: A Bundchen in Supermodel's Oven?

If only Tom Brady's passes were so prolific. Though Gisele Bundchen's rep had no comment, a source tells the New York Daily News that the supermodel is two months pregnant with the Patriot QB's baby. Brady, of course, is responsible for Six Degrees star Bridget Moynahan's own current pregnancy.... The New York Post's Page Six, meanwhile, hears that another famous mannequin, Linda Evangelista, is expecting billionaire beau Peter Morton's child. Reps didn't return the tab's calls.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Short Cuts: Criminal Minds, Borat and More!

CBS Paramount Network Television has signed Criminal Minds show runner Ed Bernero to a two-year, seven-figure deal, as part of which he will stick with the hit procedural as well as develop new programming.... Also per Variety, USA Network has coughed up sexy money  $11 million, to be exact  for Borat, to first air in April 2009 after lots and lots of editing.... A bidding war is brewing for cancer survivor Farrah Fawcett's autobiography, tentatively titled Positivity Is a Necessity, Extra reports.... Nick at Nite has acquired reruns of America's Funniest Home Videos (to begin airing April 30 at 8:30 pm/ET) and George Lopez (coming in the fall).... Season 3 of A&E's Flip This House premieres March 31 at 9 pm.

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Idol's Big News: A Star-studded Fund-raiser Week

Fresh from Fox comes word that "the biggest thing to happen to American Idol in five years," to be announced on Thursday night's results show, involves helping those who cannot help themselves. "Idol Gives Back," airing April 24 and 25, will have the six singers still in play serving up "life anthems" that Tuesday. For every vote cast that week, Idol sponsors, which include Coca-Cola and AT&T, will donate money to organizations that benefit young people living in extreme poverty in America and Africa, helping get food to those who are hungry and clothes to those who only have rose petals to wear.On Wednesday the 25th, an expanded results show will feature appearances by Gwen Stefani, Pink, Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Annie Lennox, Il Divo, Kazakhstani journalist Borat Sagdiyev and others, and viewers will be invited to make donations via a toll-free number and the Internet.I kinda preferred my own idea, that the guys and gals pair up for a week of duets, but I guess this on...

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

Word Upped: Showtime Says OK to More L

This just in from my pal at Showtime:"On the heels of a year highlighted with industry recognition and critical acclaim for its award-winning original programming including Weeds, Dexter and Brotherhood, Showtime has ordered a fifth season of its hit drama series The L Word. Twelve new episodes are set to begin production this summer and premiere sometime in early 2008."

Fri, Mar 9, 2007

This Just In: Lane Garrison Charged with Manslaughter

The Los Angeles district attorney's office confirms to TV Guide that Lane Garrison (formerly of Prison Break) is being charged with vehicular manslaughter in the death of 17-year-old Vahagn Setian, who was a passenger in Garrison's car in December. In a statement, attorney Paul Kiesel says, "The Setian family is gratified by the charges brought by the Los Angeles district attorney's office. They have lost their only child due to the recklessness of Lane Garrison. The Setians will do all they can to assist the district attorney's office and ensure that justice is served. They hope this is a message to other public figures not to abuse drugs, alcohol or the public trust afforded to them by their fame. The family continues to appreciate the privacy and respect shown to them by the media." No civil lawsuit has been filed by the Setians, who, Kiesel says, will not "disrupt the prosecution of Lane Garrison by the district attorney." Garrison's attorney, Harland Braun, was in court this mo...

Thu, Mar 8, 2007

Survivor Champ Anticipates Prison Break

The attorney for Richard Hatch appeared in court in Boston Thursday in an attempt to free the first Survivor winner from federal prison. Hatch is appealing his conviction for tax evasion, claiming that the trial judge did not allow him to testify that he believed CBS was going to pay the taxes on his million-dollar prize. "We weren't allowed to present all the facts," says Michael Minns, Hatch's lawyer. "If we could have presented the entire case, the result would have been different."The panel of three judges could overturn Hatch's sentence, grant a new trial, or let the original ruling stand. Hatch is currently serving 51 months at the Federal Correction Institution in Morgantown, West Virginia. Even if he wins the appeal, Hatch won't be celebrating immediately  it can take up to two months for the decision to take effect.  Reporting by TV Guide

Thu, Mar 8, 2007

Reality Judge Dances into Bigger Role

So You Think You Can Dancer Mary Murphy has cha-cha'd her way into a promotion. When the Fox dance competition returns for its third season on May 24, the former Austrian National Ballroom champ, who previously served as a part-time judge and choreographer, will be the full-time Paula Abdul of the adjudicating set that includes Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe. "I got a bump-up. Woo-hoo!" says Murphy. "So I'll be on every show and I won't rotate off to choreograph numbers." As she's done in the past, Murphy will also lead the ballroom section of the semifinals in Vegas, only this time assisting her will be her new ballroom-dancing "Boy Friday," Season 2 finalist Dmitry Chaplin. "Can't wait for that!" she cheers. What else is new this season? "My suits," jokes Lythgoe. Popular choreographers/judges Mia Michaels and Dan Karaty will be back, possibly joined by Stomp the Yard choreographers Dave Scott and Jesus Maldonado. "But the show is not about the choreographers," Lythgoe says. "It's ab...

Thu, Mar 8, 2007

CBS Makes "Aggressive Move" to Help Katie Couric

CBS News is expected to announce on Thursday that Rome Hartman is being ousted as CBS Evening News' executive producer, with former CNN and MSNBC prez Rick Kaplan to take his place. "Changes had to be made," a source tells the New York Post, alluding to Katie Couric's February-sweeps ratings, which again found her a distant third and, worse, delivering a six-percent smaller audience than Bob Schieffer drew a year ago. Adds the Post's insider, "This was a competitive move, an aggressive move by [CBS News president] Sean [McManus]." And if this doesn't work? We CGI in a third, fabulous gam for K.C.

Thu, Mar 8, 2007

Fall 2007: Buffy's Sis Takes Stab at D.C.

A few pilot developments, from Variety and the Hollywood Reporter: Buffy alum Michelle Trachtenberg has staked her claim to the female lead in ABC's D.C.-based comedy about a senator's aide (Eric Christian Olsen, yes the) who falls for the daughter of his boss' political archnemesis. Arrested Development's Jeffrey Tambor will costar as a retired television scribe in the CBS comedy The Captain. Kal Penn (Harold & Kumar) and Kali Rocha (Grey's Anatomy) are a hypochondriac paramedic and his boss, respectively, in ABC's The Call, from the creators of 24. Brit hunk Stephen Moyer (Quills) has the lead in NSA Innocent, Fox's drama (also from the folks at 24) about a defense-contractor spy.

Thu, Mar 8, 2007

At the Movies: Reese Goes Missing from Remake

Reese Witherspoon is missing... from Bunny Lake Is Missing, of which she is producer and star, says Variety. With production set to start in five weeks, Witherspoon has abruptly dropped out of the remake, leaving the studio to scramble for a replacement.... Universal is developing Nick Redfern's Three Men Seeking Monsters: Six Weeks in Pursuit of Werewolves, Lake Monsters, Giant Cats, Ghostly Devil Dogs and Ape-men as a starring vehicle for Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder and a back-breaking straw for theater marquees everywhere.... Per the Hollywood Reporter, My Name Is Earl's Jason Lee will play live-action "dad" Dave Seville to computer-animated Alvin and the Chipmunks. Sounds good, doesn't it, Alvin? Alvin...? Alvin!!!!

Thu, Mar 8, 2007