matt.mitovich

Aw, Heck, Just Some Random Thoughts

This whole Tyra Banks/"I'm not fat!" thing has to be one of the biggest non-stories to get such massive media play. Personally (and "until now," one of you will snark), I have steered clear of breathing a word about it, because it's merely a case of taking a tabloid story that otherwise would have come and gone, and milking it for a sweeps stunt.... Isn't it completely coincidental how Parade Magazine's "Personality Parade" column always seems to find real, actual readers inquiring about celebrities who happen to be currently promoting something? I mean, what are the odds?.... I love Diane Keaton, and Stephen Collins sure does give a swell interview, but is Because I Said So really the title of a feature film? Is It Could Happen to You ready to share its Worst Title Ever crown?

Fri, Feb 2, 2007

It's a Whole New World for Last Comic Standing

NBC has picked up a fifth installment of Last Comic Standing, which will this time be hosted by Bill Bellamy and take the show on the road to London, Montreal and Sydney, as well as U.S. cities, in a quest to find the funniest person in the English-speaking world. The taxi driver I had yesterday? Dream. Shattered.

Fri, Feb 2, 2007

MyNetworkTV Revisits Shows You're Not Watching

TV's (distant) fifth network is saying no más to all-telenovelas, all the time. According to Variety, the channel in your area that isn't the CW has drawn up a revamped schedule, kicking off Mar. 8, that adds movies and martial-arts contests to the mix, and snips the sudser slate from 10 hours a week to four. That said, MyNetworkTV's new dramatic offerings are American Heiress (pampered beauty stranded in jungle with blue-collar hunk, starring General Hospital alumna Alicia Leigh Willis) and Saints & Sinners, starring Maria Conchita Alonso, Charles Shaughnessy, Mel Harris and Robin Givens.

Fri, Feb 2, 2007

Short Cuts: Kelly Ripa, Sex in Public and More!

Kelly Ripa will host the fifth-annual TV Land Awards on Apr. 14, to air Apr. 25.... The (spoiled-online) finale of Top Chef gave Bravo 3.9 million viewers and its second-best-ever delivery in key demos (trailing only Project Runway's Season 3 ender).... The Dr. Keith Ablow Show will not be back for a second season, sources tell Reuters.... Let's go, Orange! Bob Costas will host the 66th-annual Peabody Awards on June 4.... The broadband portal that never sleeps, TimeOutNewYork.TV, has launched "Sex on the Street," a series looking at the way Big Apple denizens go at it behind closed doors or, better, in public. (Hey, it's a welcome diversion from the panhandlers.)

Fri, Feb 2, 2007

Love Notes: Pam and Kid Rock Fulfill "Mutual Desire"

The divorce between Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock has been finalized. Court papers obtained by People say, "It is the mutual desire of the parties"  and Kid does love a party  "to amicably resolve their marital-dissolution action"  and Pam does love some action. The hitch to the unhitching? Neither he nor she will be legally able to marry others (let alone several times) until after May 28.As for that other famous split, Extra reports that the custody agreement that Britney Spears and K-Fed agreed to for the month of January will "remain in effect," allowing slacker-boy visitation with his progeny on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but never during Idol, because he tends to (ouch) sing along.

Fri, Feb 2, 2007

Ratings: Strong Bones, Lights and Knights Prosper

This Wednesday's ratings notes: With an audience of 12.56 million total viewers, Bones enjoyed its best outing in a year and its second-largest audience ever. Friday Night Lights (6.86 million) soared almost a mil, delivering its best numbers since the series' Oct. 3 premiere. (PS. Did you see the Ausiello Report's latest casting scooplet?) ABC seems to have solved its comedy conundrum: Despite a loss of 1.7 million viewers when compared to According to Jim, The Knights of Prosperity (5.25 million) boosted its previous tally by a mil, and the 8 o'clock block was up a hair overall. The 9 pm combo of Jim (5.75 mil, down 400K) and In Case of Emergency (4.57 mil, up 1.6 mil thanks to a stronger lead-in) was up two million overall. Beauty and the Geek (4.08 million) was up a mil. (Because someone will ask.) American Idol (31.45 million) dominated at 9, yet slipped two mil week-to-week (and that's versus a Criminal Minds repeat). A warmed-over CSI: NY (...

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Idol Chatter: Jennifer Hudson Calls Show "Abusive"

"And I'm telling you.... " Eh, that joke's old. New intro:Think those crazies auditioning for Idol this season have it rough? They don't know the half of what they're getting into, says alumna Jennifer Hudson. In the new issue of Essence, the Oscar nominee says, "On American Idol, you go through this mental thing.... You've been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think."Idol, abusive? Once again, that's an excerpt from Essence and not "Duh! Magazine."

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Cops Want Prison Breaker Hit with Manslaughter

Police investigators have asked Los Angeles County prosecutors to charge Prison Break alum Lane Garrison with felony gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, for his involvement in the Dec. 2 car crash that left a 17-year-old high-school student dead. (According to the AP, Garrison had a blood-alcohol level of 0.20 percent, and had cocaine in his system at the time of the accident.) If charged and convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter, Garrison, 26, could face up to 10 years in a real prison.

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

The Office Promotes Andy, That Obnoxious Suck-up

Apparently all that brown-nosing with Michael did pay off. Daily Show alum Ed Helms, who joined NBC's The Office this season in a recurring capacity, has been upped to series-regular status, says the Hollywood Reporter. Rashida Jones, who plays the Stamford office's only other remaining "survivor," meanwhile remains on recurring status. (How much you wanna bet Pam "misplaced" Karen's paperwork? That Beesly is a minx, I tell you.)

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Runway's Tim Gunn to Drop Out of School

Remember the recent rumblings about Tim Gunn not yet signing on for another season of Project Runway? Turns out that at the heart of the matter is a job change for Gunn, who, the New York Post hears, is leaving Parsons The New School of Design to join Liz Claiborne Inc. as chief creative officer. Gunn's new gig, expected to be announced today and begin in March, will not keep him from participating in Runway's Season 4, sources tell the Post.

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

NBC Sweeps Peeks: Heroes, L&O and More!

A few highlights culled from NBC's 14-page (!) February-sweeps-preview press release: Feb. 2: 1 vs 100 features an all-kids "mob."Feb. 5: Heroes' Sylar makes a shocking move against H.R.G.Feb. 8: My Name Is Earl's Joy meets her half sister  played by Tamala Jones; romance blooms for 30 Rock's Kenneth and engaged Cerie. (Cue blatant plug for my 30 Rock preview.)Feb. 9: 24's Edgar (that is, Louis Lombardi) makes an indecent proposal to Las Vegas' Sam.Feb. 11: Vegas' Josh Duhamel and Molly Sims cross over to Crossing Jordan.Feb. 12: Studio 60's Matt flashes back to when he and Harriet first met.Feb. 13: Inconceivable! Cary Elwes guests on Law & Order: SVU.Feb. 14: The black Panthers demand that Mac be fired for making racial comments on Friday Night Lights.Feb. 15: Beau Bridges reprises his role as Earl's dad; The Office's Ryan invites Michael to be a guest speaker at his business school.Feb. 16: 1 vs 100's mob is populated by "people you hate," including IRS auditors, DMV em...

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Pilot Talk: Desperate Housewife Is Virgin's Ma

The latest fall-pilot developments, as recapped by our pals at Variety: Laurie Metcalf has joined the cast of Lifetime's The Virgin of Akron, Ohio, playing the mother of the title character, a young model who returns to her hometown and, after surviving a car crash, is believed to have been sent by God. I'm sorry, a model who's a virgin? Aren't we already having trouble believing Adriana Lima? ABC has picked up See Jayne Run, a comedy about a woman juggling motherhood and a career, and a sudser set in D.C. Also, it's now "official": ABC has cast Jordana Brewster as Jane in its Mr. & Mrs. Smith series  but TVGuide.com told you that yesterday. Fox has picked up The Beast, about a veterinarian who can't stand animals, and a comedy about four post-college single women.

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

At the Movies: A Whedon-less Wonder Woman?!

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Pictures and Silver Pictures, which have been developing a big-screen Wonder Woman with Buffyverse creator Joss Whedon, are in the process of buying a spec script from a pair of newbies  but as a preemptive measure, to keep the rival take (set during World War II, whereas Whedon's is present-day) off the market.... Universal emerged victorious in a bidding war for a revisionist take on Robin Hood, with Russell Crowe playing the Sheriff of Nottingham as the investigator in a string of murders in which Robin is suspected.... Per Variety, Jennifer Garner will star in a remake of Christmas in Connecticut.... Unfaithful's Richard Gere and Diane Lane will reteam for Nights in Rodanthe, an adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel about a traveling doctor who has a life-changing romance.

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Music Notes: Encores for The Eagles, Billy Joel

The classic rock group The Eagles are nearing completion on their first album of all-new material (since 1979's The Long Run), to be released "in 60 to 90 days, if we don't kill each other first," the Las Vegas Review-Journal quotes founding member Don Henley as saying at a Saturday event. Officially, the Eagles have no comment.... Uptown Girl who? Billy Joel will release his first pop single in 14 years  "All My Life," which he wrote as an anniversary present for his wife, Top Chef host Katie Lee Joel. It will be available at iTunes on Feb. 20. Dollar-for-dollar, that's perhaps cheaper than the eternity band I got my own mrs. last fall.

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Short Cuts: Desirable Beyoncé, Big Brother and More!

Talk about a Dreamgirl: Beyoncé tops AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2007 list, followed by Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, "virgin supermodel" Adriana Lima and Jessica Biel.... CBS has greenlit production on an eighth season of Big Brother.... Feb. 13 marks the DVD releases of Steve Martin: The Wild and Crazy Comedy Collection and Tom Hanks: Comedy Favorites Collection.

Thu, Feb 1, 2007

Non-shocker! Idol Boss "Did Not Call Courtney Love"

This just in.... A statement from executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, refuting the USmagazine.com report that Courtney Love is being courted by American Idol:"I did not call Courtney Love, and am afraid someone may have misrepresented me. Courtney Love is a very talented artist, but the judges for American Idol are Paula, Randy and Simon. We have no plans to add to or replace any of them." That settles that. (Told ya it was crazy talk.)

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Ratings: Idol Has House Singing All-time High

Doctor, doctor give me the ratings news.... American Idol drew an audience of 33.29 million total viewers, a bump of two mil from a week ago and up 10 percent from a year ago. Elsewhere at 8, Gilmore Girls (4.26 million) was up 600K from last week's season low. This year's first post-Idol outing for House* was watched by 27.75 million people, a massive surge of 10 mil from its last fresh outing, and besting the previous season high by more than eight million. And cue Rita Coolidge, folks, because it's also an all-time high for the series. Veronica Mars, meanwhile, slid 550,000 to "achieve" a new season low (2.74 mil). At 10, Boston Legal (9.41 mil, down 500K) bested 48 Hours Mystery and an SVU repeat.* UPDATE: OK, yet another House superlative, if only because it's impressive: In total viewers, Tuesday's episode was Fox's highest-rated drama telecast in over 10 years (since The X-Files, Jan. 26, 1997).

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Isaiah Scrubs Back In at Grey's

Isaiah Washington is scheduled to return to work at Grey's Anatomy as early as Thursday, his first time back on the set since entering counseling, People reports. In Thursday's Interviews & Features, TVGuide.com takes you behind the closed doors of Washington's Jan. 22 meeting with the leaders of two gay-advocacy groups. Watch for it.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Short Cuts: SNL, Letterman and More!

Bill Murray, the very first guest on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman, will help Dave celebrate 25 years in late-night TV this Thursday on CBS' Late Show.... Following the Feb. 3 combo of Drew Barrymore/Lily Allen, Saturday Night Live will feature Oscar front-runner Forest Whitaker as host, and Keith Urban as musical guest.... Fox has announced a Feb. 27-28, after-Idol premiere for Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, its new, self-explanatory quiz show.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Idol Chatter: Courtney Love Will Not Replace Paula

Hard-living rocker Courtney Love tells Usmagazine.com that American Idol exec producer Nigel Lythgoe has inquired as to her availability to serve as a guest judge. What's more, a source tells that site that Lythgoe might like to see Love replace Paula Abdul as a full-time panelist, but a well-placed source at Fox tells TV Guide that such talk is entirely untrue, if not, I think, insane. (See Wednesday-afternoon update.)Abdul, meanwhile, dismisses recent disses/dissections of her behavior, telling TV's Extra, "I don't like to [drink alcohol]. I've never been drunk. I'm goofy enough, am I not?" (It's rhetorical.)In other Idol news, Season 5 finalist Katharine McPhee's debut CD is earning some good marks. New York Daily News critic Jim Farber, for one, says "the album's harder R&B beats give McPhee an edge she never had before," while her singing "shows more force and élan... than she did on the show." Pick up the Feb. 5 TV Guide for a full Q&A with Kat.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Casting About: ABC (Private) Eyes O'Mara as Marlowe

 In Justice's Jason O'Mara is in final talks to play Philip Marlowe in ABC's drama pilot. Something About Amelia reunion alert! Ted Danson has been cast as a corporate titan facing off against Glenn Close's litigator in FX's get-a-title-already legal thriller pilot, says the Hollywood Reporter. Oscar nominee Alan Arkin will play a prison pal of Damian Lewis' wrongfully imprisoned cop-back-on-the-force in the NBC pilot Life. Legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is a guest judge on NBC's Grease: You're the One that I Want on Feb. 11. Lucy Liu and Jerry O'Connell appear on the Feb. 15 episode of Ugly Betty, playing a once-frumpy college classmate of Daniel's and a man Alexis meets in a bar, respectively. Lisa Donovan (aka YouTube's "Lisa Nova") joins the cast of Mad TV on Feb. 17. Desperate Housewives' Mark Moses guests on Without a Trace on Feb. 25.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

At the Movies: Sequels to The Departed, Fockers

Talks are underway to serve up a follow-up to Martin Scorsese's The Departed, which to date has earned much acclaim (including five Oscar nods) and $125.2 million in box office. Sources tell Reuters that Departed scribe William Monahan is at work on a take that would involve Mark Wahlberg's Dignam, and introduce a new character to be played by Robert De Niro.... Teri Polo is set to reprise her role as Ben Stiller's wife in Meet the Little Focker.... Harold & Kumar 2  which will pick up where the original left off, with Harold hot to follow Maria (Paula Garcés) to Amsterdam, but is thwarted when Kumar is mistaken at the airport for a terrorist  also has Neil Patrick Harris, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Rob Corddry, Christopher Meloni and Roger Bart on board.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007