matt.mitovich

It's "Game On!" for Battlestar Fans

NBC Universal and Sierra Online are developing a "relatively small" Battlestar Galactica video game that will focus on spaceship fighting, let players play as either humans or Cylons, and be available this fall as a download for Xbox 360 or PC, says Variety. A full-sized console port, which is still in a two- to three-year development cycle, promises to be broader in scope and incorporate more of the show's political, military and religious themes, as well as, if there is a god, Six-related cheat codes.

Mon, Feb 12, 2007

Short Cuts: Kidnapped, Peyton Manning and More!

Super Bowl XLI MVP Peyton Manning visits Late Show with David Letterman on Feb. 13.... The first season of One Day at a Time  not starring Jack Bauer, but Bonnie Franklin  arrives on DVD Apr. 24, as does the complete 13-episode run of NBC's Kidnapped.... YouTube has inked a deal with Digital Music group to post more than 4,000 hours of content, including such classic TV shows as I Spy and Gumby (damn it), in the coming weeks, says the Wall Street Journal.

Mon, Feb 12, 2007

Fox Ponders American Idol: All-Stars Special

What if American Idol featured a night of ringers versus mere singers? In a conference call with reporters, show boss Nigel Lythgoe confirmed that he's hot to present an "all-stars" night in which past finalists, perhaps even an actual winner or two, return to the stage as part of this season's forthcoming songwriting competition-within-a-competition. "Yes, it's something I'm trying to make work this season," says Lythgoe. "My idea is [for viewers] to [write] me 10 songs, and then I'll bring back 10 Idol finalists to sing them." The likes of Clay, Kellie, Bo et al need not book any plane tickets just yet, however. Says Lythgoe, "I've pitched [the idea] to Fox, and they have yet to come back to me to say yes or no."

Sat, Feb 10, 2007

Anna Nicole: Stern Reunites with Dannielynn, Vows to Keep Grandma Away

New developments in the sudden, tragic and mysterious death of Anna Nicole Smith: At an undisclosed location in the Bahamas, Dannielynn was reunited on Saturday with Howard K. Stern, Smith's lawyer and live-in beau, and the man whose name appears on the 5-month-old's birth certificate, as cameras for ET and The Insider rolled. "This is the only piece of Anna I have left," Stern told ET. "I had to get back to [her]. I know Anna loved her more than anything in the world." Stern vowed to keep the lass away from her maternal grandmother, Virgie Arthur, who on Friday bad-mouthed Smith to Good Morning America. "Anna despised that woman," said Stern. "As long as I have breath in my body, that woman will not see Dannielynn." (New York Post) Joshua Perper, the chief medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Smith, says, "There were no findings that would indicate continuing drug abuse." Perper says more tests will be necessary to determine the cause of death, and that it woul...

Sat, Feb 10, 2007

Short Cuts: Jeff's Fox-worthy, CHiPS and More!

You know you're a redneck when... you're tapped to host Fox's Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? quiz show. Jeff Foxworthy begins the gig Feb. 27.... Kevin Costner and his wife of two years, Christine, are expecting their first child together, his rep tells the AP. Costner has three kids from a previous marriage.... CHiPs: The Complete First Season arrives on DVD June 5.... Effective immediately, Disney's Touchstone Television brand will be known as ABC Television Studio.

Fri, Feb 9, 2007

Tyra Banks "Swimsuits Up" for Sports Illustrated Cover

Ten years ago, Tyra Banks became the first African-American woman to grace the cover of a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Now, 20 pounds heavier, Tyra's returned to the Bahamas to re-create the photo, which will be revealed on the Feb. 19 episode of her talk show. "I want to empower women to not stress about what they see on the scale," says Banks. "I've never been ashamed of my weight. I am 161 pounds, and I say it loud and proud." And we say, "You go, girl!" To see exclusive photos from the shoot, click on the "Videos & Photos" tab above, then pick up the Feb. 19 issue of TV Guide.  Reporting by Ali Gazan

Fri, Feb 9, 2007

Anna Nicole Smith, 39, Dead After Collapsing in Hotel

Click here for the latest updates on Anna Nicole Smith's sudden death.After collapsing in her room at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino & Hotel, where she was wrapping up a weeklong vacation, Anna Nicole Smith, 39, was rushed to the hospital on Thursday afternoon, then declared dead at 2:49 pm/ET. "It's as shocking to me as to you guys," Smith's attorney, Ronald Rale, told Reuters. "[Her lawyer and companion] Howard [K. Stern], obviously, is speechless and grieving." On Friday, an autopsy will be performed by the chief Broward County medical examiner, who told the AP that if Smith's death was from natural causes, the findings would likely be announced quickly. He cautioned, however, that definitive results could take weeks.Dr. Cyril Wecht, the toxicologist who performed the autopsy on Smith's son, Daniel (who died last September), gave MSNBC several possibilities for her death, including viral pneumonia, drug-related causes or a genetic heart defect, which also played a factor in Da...

Fri, Feb 9, 2007

Pam Anderson, Beware! Borat for Make Sequel

Say wawaweewhat? News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch tells the Financial Times that 20th Century Fox has signed Sacha Baron Cohen to reprise his role as Kazakhstan reporter Borat Sagdiyev for a follow-up to the popular and controversial Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Though Cohen is currently working on a film based on another of his alter egos  Bruno, a gay Austrian  Murdoch says that once that Universal picture is done, the comedian will "come back and do Borat Two," which entirely unreliable sources say will be subheaded, "Eat This, Naughty, Naughty American Lawyers!"

Fri, Feb 9, 2007

Ratings: Lost Returns... to Two Million Fewer Fans

Call it apples and oranges, as some of you will, but that is the short story here. This Wednesday's complete ratings recap: As Bones (12.64 million total viewers) surpassed last week's milestone performance, Friday Night Lights (6.56 mil) lost the same 300,000 heads that Beauty and the Geek (4.39 mil) gained. UPDATE: Bones tied its all-time high in viewers, and delivered its biggest numbers ever without an Idol lead-in. A "Supe'd up" Criminal Minds (17.23 million) improved upon its previous fresh Wednesday outing by nearly four million. American Idol, perhaps suffering from weirdo fatigue, slipped almost four mil week-to-week. One Tree Hill (2.86 mil) was up 600K. (Because someone will ask.) And finally, what your eyeballs are really here for: Lost was welcomed back by an audience of 14.68 million, a drop of 2.4 mil from its last Wednesdays-at-9 episode, but obviously a marked improvement over (take your pick) Invasion (8.6 mil), Primetime: Medical Mysteries ...

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Exclusive: Eric Stoltz Previews a Killer Medium Visit

Revenge is human nature, even for psychics. Eric Stoltz will guest on Medium on Feb. 28, playing Sonny, an escaped serial killer bent on getting the person who helped put him in prison: Allison Dubois. Sonny's actions are even more menacing because he has the same psychic gifts as Allison. "He's able to dream lucidly and see things that are occurring," Stoltz tells TV Guide. "He's the dark side of the coin. Allison uses her abilities and talents for good purposes, and my character is much more interested in doing dastardly things." At press time, Stoltz was saying that, "We keep getting different endings!" so he can't say for certain if he'll be returning to the NBC drama. The episode is unique in that "the threat is more personal to Allison. Usually she's helping others, but here she has to help herself." — Reporting by N.F. Mendoza

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Disney Scares Up a Big-screen High School Musical

With High School Musical 2 already in the works, Reuters reports that the Walt Disney Co. says it will also cash in on the high-rated TV-movie's success with a 2008 theatrical release called Haunted High School Musical. No plot details or castings were announced, but TVGuide.com's own Angel Cohn is meeting up with HSM frontman Zac Efron later today when he swings by our offices, so check back for updates.For much more on the haunted Musical, read The Biz.

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Fall 2007: Law's on Order for Office, ER Cuties

The latest pilot developments, from Variety and the Hollywood Reporter: ER's Shane West is one of the half-dozen clerks whose professional and personal lives are chronicled in Fox's Supreme Courtships. Boston Legal's Mark Valley is one of the two leads in NBC's Business Class, playing a charismatic and thoroughly amoral traveling salesman. Legal partner Craig Bierko, meanwhile, is a newly single guy in the Fox comedy The Rules of Starting Over, which also stars The Office's Rashida Jones as a lawyer looking for a decent fella. Um, Jim Halpert?! Jane Lynch (A Mighty Wind) has come on board Area 52, NBC's comedy about a secret government research site. Less Than Perfect's Zachary Levi is NBC's Chuck, and Adam Baldwin (Day Break) is the NSA agent who recruits the computer geek for espionage work. Rome's Kevin McKidd is NBC's Journeyman. CBS likes The Man, CSI creator Anthony Zuiker's drama starring LL Cool J as an undercover L.A. cop, while ABC has p...

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Idol Wannabe "Disinvited" for "Unknown Reasons"

Though his appearance on this past Tuesday's American Idol was not updated/edited to indicate otherwise, Dallas-Fort Worth native Akron Watson tells PegasusNews.com that two days before he was to leave for Hollywood, producers called to disinvite him from the next round, "for unknown reasons." Could a four-year-old drug bust (for possession of a reefer's worth of weed) be at issue? Watson had detailed the incident in an at-home video profile conducted as a prep for his Hollywood visit, so Idol was in the loop. And folks with felony records have moved forth to Hollywood before. An Idol rep, when contacted by PegasusNews.com, said the show would not be giving a reason for Akrons elimination.

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

The O.C., One Tree Hill Find New Homes

On SOAPnet: the cabler announced on Wednesday that it had acquired the rights to all four seasons of each of the youth-skewed serials, to begin unspooling Apr. 9. Specifically, the early misadventures of Marissa, Ryan and the nubile Newporters will begin airing weekdays at 6 pm/ET, with the Tree Hillers airing an hour earlier, at 5.Speaking of sudsy matters, don't forget to catch the Scissor Sisters (notice how I said that as if I know who they are?) and TVGuide.com's own Daniel R. Coleridge on NBC's Passions today and Friday. (Check Soaps News for more.)

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Musical Notes: A Reunion for Gwen? No Doubt!

In an interview airing on Thursday's Extra, Gwen Stefani hints that next on her L.A.M.B.-monogrammed plate, following her upcoming tour, is a reunion with No Doubt. "I'm sniffing around with [them]," she says. "We're going to record another record".... The Police have scheduled a Monday, post-Grammys reunion press conference at which, Billboard speculates, they will announce a 30th-anniversay world tour.... Celine Dion will unveil a new song, "I Knew I Loved You," during a tribute to composer Ennio Morricone at this month's Oscars. Said it before, I say it again: Didn't she retire?!

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

At the Movies: Biel Grabs Importance Role from Lohan

Rising party-circuit queen Jessica Biel is taking advantage of Lindsay Lohan's steadfast commitment to personal betterment, snatching up the vacated role opposite Annette Bening in A Woman of No Importance, says Us.... Per Variety, Paramount has booked the David Koepp (Spider-Man)-penned Indiana Jones 4 for a May 22, 2008, release, where its biggest competition will be Warner Bros.' Speed Racer.... Per the Hollywood Reporter, Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, Fiona Apple's "Criminal" video) will direct Benicio Del Toro in The Wolfman.... Kate Beckinsale will star in Whiteout, playing a U.S. marshal out to solve a murder in Antarctica before the continent is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer.... Natalie Portman is interested in directing and perhaps appearing in a film version of Israeli writer Amos Oz's autobiography, A Tale of Love and Darkness.

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

MSNBC Viewers Mum over Hardballer's Effin' Slip

Thanks to a delay system, WFAN's Don Imus was able to bleep out a bad word when Hardball host Chris Matthews, during a Wednesday-morning simulcast interview, let slip, "I want a guy to run for president who doesnt have a f---ing ranch." MSNBC viewers, however, heard the F-bomb in all its glory, since the cabler doesnt employ a delay on its end. MSNBC has received no complaints, reports the New York Daily News  perhaps because, let's face it, Matthews has desensitized us to a lot of things at this point.

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

O'Neal Son Rejects Ryan's "Self-defense" Spin

Representing Griffin O'Neal, attorney-to-the-stars Gloria Allred told reporters on Wednesday that her client's father, Ryan O'Neal, is in fact responsible for the injuries suffered by Griffin's pregnant girlfriend during the father and son's recent struggle. "We vigorously reject any assertion that [the injuries] were a result of Ryan O'Neal's acting in self-defense," says Allred.And still, Shaquille is suspiciously silent on the matter....

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Short Cuts: Borat, Green Arrow, Emmys and More!

Borat and Ugly Betty were honored on Wednesday for brandishing the best publicity campaigns in their fields at the 44th-annual ICG Publicists Awards.... Smallville's Justin Hartley guest-stars as a male model who figures into a murder investigation on the Feb. 14 CSI: NY.... Fueled by Sesame Street (five nods) and Reading Rainbow (three), PBS drew the most nominations, 18 in total, for this year's Children's Programming Emmys. Discovery Kids followed with 15 nods.... Open Season topped the DVD sales charts last week, while The Marine (?) was the most rented.

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Look Who's Not Talking: More Letterman for Dummies

This just in from CBS:"Following the success of its first 'Ventriloquist Week' last fall, The Late Show with David Letterman will once again feature some of the top ventriloquists in show business when it presents 'Ventriloquist Week 2,' Monday, Feb. 12 through Friday, Feb. 16."The new batch of voice-throwers sporting wood are Kevin Johnson with "Clyde" and "Matilda," Dan Horn with "Orson," Otto Petersen with "George," Jim Barber with "Seville," and Brad Cummings with "Rex."

Thu, Feb 8, 2007

Beauty Reveals Why She Quit Survivor: Fiji ASAP

In a candid interview with TV Guide, Melissa McNulty  a talent agent who was poised to be this season's Jenna  details why she bailed out on Survivor: Fiji before the contest even began filming. "I was there in Fiji for almost two weeks before I took myself out of the game," she tells us, revealing that a history of panic attacks ultimately did her in. "My No. 1 trigger is being in a situation where I can't get out. I get a claustrophobia kind of panic," she says. "[In Fiji] I had multiple panic attacks in one day, which I've never experienced before. I tried to pull myself together, but.... "For much more from the Survivor almost-ran, see Interviews & Features.

Wed, Feb 7, 2007

Top Designer Reveals HIV-positive Status

Tonight's episode of Bravo's Top Design mixes reality TV with harsh reality, as John Gray, whose outbursts have already caused friction among the cast of competing interior designers, reveals that his anger was fueled by medication used in treatment of his HIV-positive condition. "I just want everyone to know," USA Today quotes Gray as telling his fellow contestants. "I'm not making excuses or apologies."Though Gray disclosed his HIV status during casting, producers had no designs on revealing it. As exec producer Clay Newbill tells USA Today, "This isn't a relationship show, so it wasn't an issue."

Wed, Feb 7, 2007