matt.mitovich

Deals on Wheels: Lost Boys Re-Up

Lost co-exec producers Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz have sealed a mid-seven-figure deal to stay with ABC through 2010. In addition to continuing on with the island drama, the Associated Press reports that the millionaires will also develop new projects.... Per Variety, ABC Family has renewed Lincoln Heights for a 10-episode second season, and put into production Greek, about a bookworm who goes wild in college.... The Disney Channel has ordered a second season of its kiddie show Johnny & the Sprites, starring former Avenue Q resident John Tartaglia.

Thu, Mar 1, 2007

ABC Adopts a "Losing" Formula

Why create a hit show of your own when somebody else's is just ripe for the copying? That seems to be ABC's thinking in greenlighting Too Big to Walk?. In the Biggest Loser rip-off  a U.K. import that thankfully will get a new title before it airs here  tubby contestants power-walk across the country, presumably being forced to pass by one Burger King after another along the way. It could debut as early as this summer.

Thu, Mar 1, 2007

Jeff Goldblum, Stalk-Blocker

After being harassed for years by allegedly loony wannabe screenwriter Linda Ransom, Jeff Goldblum has won a permanent restraining order against her, the Associated Press reports. The erstwhile Brundlefly testified that she had shown up at his home more than 50 times lately. For her part, Ransom insisted that she was only trying to "complete my research and screenplay as accurate as possible." Seriously, somebody needs to tell her that Fatal Attraction was written years ago.

Thu, Mar 1, 2007

Beyoncé's Valentine's Day Gift: Hepatitis A?

Could be. An employee of Wolfgang Puck Catering  which dished out the grub at Sports Illustrated's Feb. 14 Swimsuit Issue party  was recently diagnosed with the disease, TMZ reports. That means that the covergirl guest of honor, along with loads of other models, may have been exposed. Then again, that's making the crazy assumption that the Dreamgirl or any of the models actually did anything more than gaze longingly at the food. In any event, Knowles' rep tells the website they "were looking into it."

Thu, Mar 1, 2007

Paris Hilton Forced to Become a Streetwalker

Oh, OK. I guess technically she could also take a bus, but somehow I just don't see that happening. According to Reuters, on Tuesday, LAPD cops impounded the celebutante's Bentley after she was caught driving with a suspended license. A day later, prosecutors promised to seek the revocation of her probation stemming from an incident of alcohol-related reckless driving. If they are successful, the Simple Life simpleton could be fined (oooh, that'll smart) or jailed for up to 90 days. If they really wanted to punish her, they'd make her stick to that vow of chastity.Thursday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner.

Thu, Mar 1, 2007

"Big Pussy" Says "Fuhgeddaboudit" to Dancing

Sopranos alum Vincent Pastore has withdrawn from Dancing with the Stars after one week of training, ABC announced on Wednesday. "When I initially committed to joining Dancing with the Stars, I didn't realize just how physically demanding it would be for me," Pastore, 60, says in a statement. "Unable to put forth my best effort, I felt it appropriate to step aside and give someone else the opportunity. I wish my partner, Edyta, and the other dancers the best of luck."Executive producer Conrad Green responds, "We're sad that Vincent felt he was unable to continue in the competition, as he would have been great on the show  but we appreciate him standing aside now rather than having to withdraw later."An ABC spokesperson tells TVGuide.com that a decision regarding Pastore's replacement could come by week's end.

Thu, Mar 1, 2007

Anna Nicole: Judge Questions "Dannielynn's" Say in Smith's Burial Wishes

A three-judge appeals panel expressed doubts on Wednesday about burying Anna Nicole Smith in Texas, per the wishes of her estranged mother, Virgie Arthur, with two members saying that Smith's purchase of burial plots in the Bahamas indicates her desire to be laid to rest there. (Ya think?) Yet the panel also questioned how the advocate appointed by the court as Dannielynn's guardian  and thus the one in charge of Smith's funeral plans  could know what the 5-month-old would want for her mother. "You would need a crystal ball," the Associated Press quotes one judge as saying.If the panel ultimately rules against Arthur, Smith's Bahamas funeral could happen as early as Friday, though Arthur's lawyer has said she would next appeal to the state supreme court. All together now: Let. It. Go.Elsewhere: A Florida judge is expected to rule Wednesday on a request for DNA, to determine Dannielynn's paternity. Toxicology results determining cause of death  oh yeah, ...

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Ratings: Fox's 5th Grader Overachieves

This Tuesday, as the 90-minute American Idol averaged 30.44 million total viewers (a week-to-week bump of one million, this despite Sanjay's disturbing li'l outfit).... NCIS (16.2 million) was up 840,000, while Gilmore Girls stood pat with 4.08 mil. At 9, The Unit (12.81 million) surged 1.25 mil to deliver its best numbers since Oct. 10. Veronica Mars (2.74 mil) inched up 400K from last week's season low. Not at all surprisingly, Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? quiz show enjoyed a big ol' ride on Idol's coattails at 9:30, debuting to an audience of 26.57 million. UPDATE: Fox notes that this is its highest-rated series premiere ever, and the most-watched series debut on any network in eight-and-a-half years (since NBC's Jesse, Sept. 1998). SVU drew 11.72 million (down 220 thou), besting a Criminal Minds repeat (10.52 mil) and ABC's Bob Woodruff special )10.11 mil).

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Random Thoughts, Featuring No Eddie Murphy Quotes

At the risk of evoking the great Larry King.... Now that the Oscars have come and gone, can I call for a moratorium on Eddie Murphy write-arounds? (A "write-around" is a feature offering not a single new quote from its very subject, but rather dusty, regurgitated sound bites and interviews with friends and friends-of-friends.) Entertainment Weekly offered a spectacular write-around at Globes time, but every single other one came across as inane filler. Similarly, how about a cease-and-desist on running "goofy" Anna Nicole Smith headshots alongside serious updates on her death and baby girl's uncertain future? Good pics exist, so why are certain oulets avoiding them and instead going for giggles? Speaking of Anna Nicole, what a sweeps it turned out to be for the network newscasts. Add in Britney's theater of the bizarre and a few Nor'easters and voila! Juicy headlines and promotional come-ons. ABC's pre-Oscars red carpet special was, in a word, terrific. Not o...

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Fall 2007: 24 Alum Returns to Fox

You know the drill. Fall. Pilots. Variety. The Reporter. Read: 24's Teri Bauer, Leslie Hope, is returning to Fox, playing the wife of a cop in The Apostles. Jessalyn Gilsig (Claire's bio-mom on Heroes, Nip/Tuck) has also joined the cast. As first scooped by the Ausiello Report, Lucy Liu, who is currently in the midst of an Ugly Betty run, is now part of ABC's Cashmere Mafia. James Brolin is Alyssa Milano's father (and thus Mary Steenburgen's hubby) in Everwood creator Rina Mimoun's untitled ABC drama. Ooh, Barbra is gonna sing the theme song, you just know it! Aimee Garcia (George Lopez) and Paul Campbell (Battlestar Galactica) are the weather girl and news director for Fox's Action News. Eddie Matos (General Hospital) is Jimmy Smits' youngest brother in CBS' drama about a family-run rum dynasty.

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

At the Movies: Abrams' Trek Is a Christmas Present

Per Variety, a Christmas Day 2008 release date has been set aside for the new Star Trek feature to be helmed by J.J. Abrams, produced by Lost cohort Damon Lindelof, and penned by Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci (Mission: Impossible III).... Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III) will direct a remake of David Cronenberg's Scanners.... Per the Hollywood Reporter, Alan Arkin will reunite with Little Miss Sunshine costar Steve Carell when he plays "Chief" in the big-screen Get Smart.... M:I:III's Michelle "Don't I look like Kate Holmes?" Monaghan will star opposite Patrick Dempsey in Made of Honor, a romantic comedy about longtime friends who come to want something more just as Monaghan's character is about to wed.... Robert Downey Jr. and Jay Baruchel will star in Tropic Thunder, a Ben Stiller-directed comedy about the making of an epic war film. Downey plays "the greatest actor of his generation," while Baruchel is a newbie.

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Coming Soon: Posh Spice Pushes Reality's Envelope

 As her soccer star hubby does his thing for the L.A. Galaxy, Brit beauty Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham will while away her time fronting a half-hour unscripted series for NBC. Exec-produced by American Idol's Simon Fuller, slated for a summer bow and revolving around Beckham's transition to life in Los Angeles, the show "will cross all genres, and hopefully surprise a few people," Fuller tells Variety. Beckham herself touts the venture as "really something different.... It's pushing the boundaries." Bob Barker will play himself on an upcoming How I Met Your Mother, when "a voyage of self-discovery leads Barney to [The Price Is Right's] Showcase Showdown," exec producer Carter Bays tells Variety. HBO has greenlit Generation Kill, a seven-hour scripted miniseries based on the true story of Marines fighting in the early stages of the Iraq war. The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns will write and exec-produce.

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Oscarmath: Seinfeld Unlikely to Host Next, and More

 Despite his winning appearance as a presenter on Sunday's telecast, Jerry Seinfeld is unlikely to host next year's Academy Awards, as has been buzzed about for the past few days. Here's why: The animated Bee Movie, which is written by and stars Seinfeld, and opens in November, is likely to net an Oscar nod, reports the New York Daily News, effectively disqualifying the comedian from emceeing the show. YouTube on Tuesday complied with a "request" from the Academy to take down all unauthorized clips from the broadcast, such as Ellen DeGeneres' opening spiel and musical numbers featuring Will Ferrell (which had racked up 250,000 views) and Beyoncé (which had, well, thousands viewing her rack). The official Oscars website offers a five-minute clip of highlights, as well as footage from the backstage "Thank-You Cam." Babel director Alejandro González Iñárritu and other collaborators on the film, including cast members Gael García Bernal and Adr...

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Streams Come True for Heroes, FNL Fans

Not only will Andy Richter's Andy Barker, P.I. premiere on NBC.com, but the comedy's entire six-episode freshman season  including one episode that won't be shown on television  will be made available online before the show's March 15 broadcast debut, Variety reports. NBC.com will also serve up a Web-only "bonus" episode of The Black Donnellys (reportedly because it didnt pass muster with Standards & Practices) and, come March, take Medium online and begin streaming all episodes of Heroes and Friday Night Lights.Yowza, my dial-up at home is gonna be workin' overtime!

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Short Cuts: SNL, Keith Partridge, Hot Kisses and More!

Julia Louis-Dreyfus will host Saturday Night Live on March 17. Snow Patrol is musical guest.... A David Cassidy memoir in which the Partridge Family heartthrob recalls his drug use and wild romps and discusses his "oft-complimented endowment" will only be released in Britian, says the New York Daily News, as it doesnt have a U.S. publisher.... ABC's World News with Charles Gibson was the top-rated evening newscast last week.... Naomi Watts and longtime beau Liev Schreiber are expecting their first child together. Yawn.... Sawyer smoochin' Kate? Alex macking on Addison? Cast your vote for TV's sexiest kiss in the new TVGuide.com poll.

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Studio "Surprised" by Heigl's Reaction, Says She'll Remain on Grey's

Katherine Heigl has dropped out of contract talks with Grey's Anatomy, due to matters of dollars and cents, People reported Wednesday morning. "Katie is disappointed and hurt that Touchstone doesn't value her as much as her other costars, especially Sandra Oh and Isaiah Washington," said a source who apparently didn't get the memo that Touchstone changed its name to ABC Television Studio about two weeks ago. Heigl, if you think way, way back to the pre-Anna Nicole/Bald Britney era, was perhaps the most vocal of T.R. Knight's cast mates in publicly expressing disapproval with Washington's gay slur.UPDATE: ABC Television Studio (né Touchstone, Mr./Ms. People "Source") has since issued the following statement to TVGuide.com: "Katherine is an integral part of Greys Anatomy and its success. Fortunately, we have a long-term contract to ensure shell be with the show for several years to come. In recognition of her tremendous talent and value to the show, we recently approa...

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Viva, Las Vegas... Minus Two of Its Stars

NBC announced on Tuesday that it has renewed Las Vegas (Fridays, 9 pm/ET) for a fifth season. But as scooped by Ausiello and detailed in Wednesday's Hollywood Reporter, the series is moving forward minus two original cast members.Having launched with the likes of James Caan, Nikki Cox, Josh Duhamel, James Lesure, Molly Simms and Vanessa Marcil, (SPOILER ALERT) it is the first two listed there who are not returning for Season 5. "I've had a wonderful four years, worked with great people and made friends for life working on Las Vegas. But I'm eager to return to where my heart is, which is film, and due to the show's schedule, I missed some great opportunities to do that," Caan says. "I wish the show and everyone involved with it continued success." Cox, meanwhile, says she is "very sad and shocked" to leave, but wishes her cast mates all the best. "I had a great time."

Wed, Feb 28, 2007

Fall 2007: Hairspray Headliner Gets Fugly

The latest batch of fall-pilot news, from the Hollywood Reporter and Variety: Marissa Jaret Winokur, a Tony winner for Hairspray and a survivor of Stacked, will star in the CBS comedy Fugly, in which three siblings pool their money to give one sister (not Winokur's character) an extreme makeover. Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) has joined ABC's Suspect, playing a cop. Fred Willard is the sports anchor for Action News, starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. William Baldwin (not Alec and not the DUI one and not the born-again Christian) is a senator in ABC's Dirty Sexy Money. Brian Benben (Dream On) is one of NBC's Mastersons of Manhattan. The CW has picked up Hell on Earth, about a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who gets a second chance after getting fatally hit by a bus.

Tue, Feb 27, 2007

Casting About: Bells Rings for Heroes Vamp

Missi Pyle, who recently messed with our Hiro and Ando on NBC's Heroes, has been upgraded to series-regular status on David E. Kelley's The Wedding Bells, premiering Mar. 9 on Fox. Pyle had initially guested on the new series' first episode as a bridezilla.... Shohreh Aghdashloo (24, House of Sand and Fog) will check in as a patient on an upcoming episode of Grey's Anatomy.... The Class' Jesse Tyler Ferguson guests as Ugly Betty's orthodontist on Mar. 15.

Tue, Feb 27, 2007

What's New with Grey's Anatomy 2?

Though the plot is still shrouded in Shondra-caliber secrecy, Variety says that "My Favorite Mistake," the two-hour Grey's Anatomy outing setting up an Addison-centric spin-off, will be directed by Michael Grossman, who was last behind the camera for "Great Expectations" (in which Burke and George popped the question to their respective ladies). In addition to opening the door for Addison to possibly leave Seattle Grace, "My Favorite Mistake" (as previously reported here) will guest-star Taye Diggs and introduce Hector Elizondo (Chicago Hope) as Callie's father. An exact airdate has not been announced by ABC, but the episode will serve as the 22nd and 23rd Grey's episodes (out of 24) of the season.

Tue, Feb 27, 2007

Oscarmath: A Departed Reunion, Ratings and More

A few postscripts to Sunday's Academy Awards: This year's kudoscast drew 39.9 million total viewers, a million-head gain from 2006's anemic audience. With Ellen DeGeneres at the helm, the show also noted a 15 percent boost in women 18-34. The Departed's Oscar winners, director Martin Scorsese and scribe William Monahan, may reteam for The Long Play, a rock 'n' roll epic that follows two friends through 40 years in the music business. (Variety) Helen Mirren may be invited to tea with the real Queen Elizabeth II  whom, a Buckingham Palace says, was "pleased" by her portrayer's best-actress win. (AP) The goodie bag for presenters at this year's "green" Oscars consisted solely of "a gift of 100,000 lbs. of greenhouse-gas reductions from carbon-offset retailer TerraPass." Don't worry, I'm feeling clueless, too. But that's why I gave you the link.

Tue, Feb 27, 2007

Nixed Top Model: Posters Banned from Buses

Responding to a number of complaints, Santa Monica's city-owned busline has ripped down posters from the sides of its buses promoting the new season of America's Next Top Model. "It's a matter of public taste," the director of transit services explains to Variety, declining to reveal exactly how many complaints came in, only saying, "enough that it allowed me to make the decision." At issue, interestingly, is not so much the fact that the posters feature the new cycle's hopefuls clad in bikinis, but the appearance of Santa Monica endorsing a show that may objectify women.

Tue, Feb 27, 2007