matt.mitovich

Miss USA Says "Yes" to Coke, "No" to Playboy

As part of her first post-rehab sit-down, Miss USA Tara Conner admits to "inhaling" during the hard-partying days that almost robbed her of her crown. "I have done cocaine, yes," she tells Matt Lauer on Thursday's Today. She then adds, "It feels good to get that off my chest." Speaking of which, Conner will not be accepting a lucrative offer  a cool million, by one account  to pose for Playboy. "She just didnt feel it was appropriate," a spokesperson for pageant boss/King of Appropriate Donald Trump tells the New York Daily News.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Nude Harry Potter Play Has Staff at Attention

With Daniel Radcliffe set to prove just how grown-up he is  by appearing nude in a London revival of Peter Shaffer's Equus  ushers at the Gielgud Theatre stand poised to prevent audience members from snapping cell-phone pics of the young actor's, er, wand. "Pictures arent allowed in any London theaters," a play rep tells the New York Daily News. "But for Equus, the staff will be extra-vigilant." C'mon, folks, he's 17!

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Aniston Takes on Lesbian Kiss, Boob-job Buzz

Yep, she's (playing) gay, but nope, her girls are homegrown. That's the net-net from Jennifer Aniston, per a new interview in People. Regarding her upcoming appearance on Friend Courteney Cox's Dirt, Aniston's not surprised by the hoopla surrounding their on-screen kiss (first reported on by our own Ausiello): "I told Courteney, 'How many days will it take to come out?' It was a record  about a week." As for tab headlines suggesting that her bosom appeared suspiciously bodacious at the Globes, Aniston only cops to a recent rhinoplasty redo. "I had [a deviated septum] fixed  best thing I ever did. As far as all the other [rumors], as boring as it sounds, it's still mine. All of it. Short of letting everybody have a feel, I don't know what else to do. I really am pretty happy with what God gave me." And how.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

TV's Mr. & Mrs. Smith Finds Its "Angelina"

Well, half of the burning question has been answered: Sources tell TVGuide.com that Jordana Brewster (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, The Fast and the Furious, what-have-you) has been tapped to fill Angelina Jolie's tattoos shoes, playing Jane in ABC's Mr. & Mrs. Smith pilot, based on the 2005 film. No word yet on Mr. Pitt's successor, and while I feel that Las Vegas' Josh Duhamel would kill in the role (no pun intended), I now have a feeling we might get, like, Ashton Kutcher.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

ABC's Brian Comes Up Short (But Doesn't)

An ABC spokesperson confirms for TVGuide.com that J.J. Abrams' What About Brian will now air only 19 episodes this season, as opposed to 22. The rep, though, stresses that the abbreviated run is "no reflection on the show in any way." Rather, "ABC had no room on the schedule for those [three episodes], so it has decided to pull back."For more good Brian news, watch for our Wednesday Q&A with guest star Stacy Keibler, whose character looks to be the answer to many fans' prayers  and just in time for Valentine's Day, no less!

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Ratings: 24 Defeats a Weakened Heroes

Sorry for the delay, but A) the ratings were delayed to begin with (I blame the slacker college kids), and B) I was off interviewing Bob Saget about Farce of the Penguins (out on DVD today). On with the show! Prison Break matched, perhaps even squeezed past, last week's season high, drawing an audience of 9.91 million total viewers. With Heroes (13.57 million) dropping 1.27 mil viewers week-to-week — in turn delivering its lowest numbers since Oct 16 — 24 (14.05 mil, up 400K) came out on top this week, and was the 9 pm champ (versus CBS sitcom reruns). Opposite a CSI: Miami repeat (13.4-ish million), Studio 60 (6.95 mil) was down 500,000, while What About Brian (5.71 mil) was up 300 thou.

Wed, Jan 31, 2007

Reba to Sing Swan Song on Feb. 18

Reba McEntire's eponymous WB-born series will conclude its six-season run with back-to-back episodes airing Sunday, Feb. 18, says TheFutonCritic.com. Some preview: Reba's worst nightmare is confirmed, there's a fire, and Barbra Jean ponders an out-of-town job offer.How will the CW fill its Sundays-at-7 slot? Amber Heard's Hidden Palms seems a bit racy for that family-friendly hour. Hmmm....

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Pilot Talk: X-Men's Jean Grey Turns TV Cop

The most recent fall-pilot developments, as reported by Variety: NBC has nabbed X-Men's Famke Janssen to fill the lead in House creator David Shore and Peter Blake's untitled drama about a female cop. Kidnapped's Michael Dinner will bring Jaime Sommers back to life, directing NBC's The Bionic Woman. ABC has picked up a police precinct-set comedy from Britcom scribe Victoria Pile (Smack the Pony).

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Grammys Call The Police... to Reunite

This just in from CBS:"Legendary five-time Grammy Award winners The Police (Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers) will perform on the Grammy Awards for the first time when they reunite to open the show." CBS will telecast the 49th Annual Grammy Awards live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 8 pm/ET.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

At the Movies: Eva Mendes Gets Cleaner

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Eva Mendes is joining Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Keke Palmer and Christa Campbell in Cleaner, a thriller being directed by Renny Harlin.... Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott give "horribly immoral advice" to youths in Big Brothers, a comedy about a pair of wild beer-company reps who are forced to perform community service as mentors.... Bob Hoskins is a policeman in Doomsday, a thriller about his attempts to quarantine a lethal virus.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Really Now, So You Think You Can Dance?

Because if you really, truly do, here are the casting-call locations for Season 3:March 1-3: The Manhattan Center Theatre in New York CityMarch 8-10: The Legendary Chicago Theatre in (if I have to tell you, you're too dumb for this show)March 22-24: The Orpheum Theatre in Los AngelesApril 5-7: The Fox Theatre in AtlantaMore information will be made available at Fox.com/Dance.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Legal Briefs: Paris Says, "Don't Touch My Goodies!"

Paris Hilton filed a lawsuit on Monday, seeking to shut down a website which, for a $39.97 ($39.97?) fee, offered a look at the celebunot's passport, medical records, diaries and other belongings left in a storage facility for which she defaulted on monthly payments. The AP quotes Hilton as being "appalled to learn that people are exploiting my and my sister [Nicky]'s private personal belongings for commercial gain." Translation: only exploit Paris on her own terms.In other legal news, Jennifer Lopez' first husband, Ojani Noa, has been ordered to enter arbitration with his ex to discuss his plans for a tell-all about their 11-month marriage. J.Lo secured a restraining order nine months ago barring Noa from publishing details of their sex life, as well as allegations that she engaged in mutliple affairs — including one with current husband No. 3, Marc Anthony.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Short Cuts: Scarlett Johansson, Wiggles and More

Scarlett Johansson and Ben Stiller are this year's recipients of Harvard University's Hasty Pudding awards, given to performers who have made a "lasting and impressive contribution to the world of entertainment" and/or bikinis.... Disney Channel has set a Feb. 19 premiere date for Season 5 of The Wiggles.... Family Ties: The First Season arrives on DVD Feb. 20, or on my desk yesterday, hee-hee.... (Sometime?) today, Nickelodeon will unveil Nicktropolis, a new online community where visitors create virtual representations of themselves.... I Love Lucy cocreator Bob Carroll Jr. died on Saturday, at age 87.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Supermodel Niki Taylor Sues E! Over Bad Dreams

Niki Taylor has filed a federal slander suit against E! Entertainment, claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress with its depiction of her in the new series Blvd. of Broken Dreams. According to court papers cited by the AP, E! allegedly told Taylor and her manager that the program would focus on the supermodel's current professional endeavors and her charitable foundation. Instead, Broken Dreams dwelled on the Taylor's past hardships, characterizing her as a celeb "who risked everything... and lost." Says Taylor in a statement, "My life is far from a 'boulevard of broken dreams,'" which is actually a block and a half from Tara Reid's place.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Highway Patrol: Charge Brandy with Manslaughter

The California Highway Patrol recommended on Monday that actress-singer Brandy be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, for her involvement in an accident that killed a woman motorist, the Associated Press reports. Currently awaiting review by the city attorney's office, the charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. On Dec. 30, 2006, on Interstate 405, Brandy's Land Rover struck a Honda, which then hit another car, slid into the center divider and was hit by a fourth car. The driver of the Honda died later of blunt-force injuries.

Tue, Jan 30, 2007

Epic Spoof Tops Weekend Box Office

At a time when the best of the cinematic best are being celebrated, how ironic that a C-lister-studded piece of unscreened-for-critics fluff like Epic Movie emerged No. 1 at the weekend box office, with a $19.2 million haul. Rounding out the top five were Smokin' Aces (opening with $14.3 mil), Night at the Museum ($9.5 mil, now at $217 mil to-date), Jennifer Garner's Catch and Release (which, from what I have read, they should have done with the script; $8 mil) and Stomp the Yard ($7.8 mil).

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

Idol Warship Prompts CBS to Disarm Famous

Just as ABC has moved Knights of Prosperity to Wednesdays at 8:30 pm, the arrival of American Idol has prompted CBS to shelve the reality series Armed & Famous from its schedule immediately, reports Variety. Any remaining episodes are expected to surface over the summer. The. Suspense. Might. Kill. Me.For the next two weeks, CBS will plug the Wednesdays-at-8 gap with repeats of CSI: NY and Criminal Minds. Jericho  thank god  then returns with a recap episode on Feb. 14.

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

Former Costar: "Isaiah's Not Anti-gay; He's a Hothead."

In an interview with the New York Daily News, veterage stage actress Madeline McCray joins a growing chorus of people positing that Grey's Anatomy doc Isaiah Washington simply possesses a rotten bedside manner. "He's not anti-gay; he's a hothead," says McCay, who starred with Washington in August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning play Fences. "[That] leads him to say and do things he wishes he hadn't  to everybody. He's always had a lack of control over his temper." McCay goes on to say, "Isaiah wants it to be perfect.... And he expects everybody else to be on their mark, too. But when we're adults, we can't allow our anger to get the best of us. He's jeopardizing the incredible opportunity [of having] a distinguished role on a hit show created by an African-American woman."Washington, absent from Sunday's SAG Awards, is currently enrolled in a 30-day anger-management therapy program.

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

Fox's February Guest List: Prison Warden Returns!

A quick look at the familiar faces gracing Fox's series during February sweeps:Feb. 1: Martin Mull, The War at Home; Kevin Sorbo, The O.C.Feb. 3: 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub, Mad TVFeb. 7: Eddie McClintock and Stephen Fry, BonesFeb. 10: Grey's Anatomy's Kate Walsh, Mad TVFeb. 11: Natalie Portman voices a girl who romances The Simpsons' Bart.Feb. 12: Chad Lowe (as a savvy politico) and Powers Boothe (as VP) debut on 24.Feb. 19: Stacy Keach resurfaces on Prison Break, as Michael and Sara realize that Pope might hold the key to bringing down the Company. Uh-oh, I hope one of the Taj Mahal popsicle sticks wasn't embedded with a microchip, because....

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

At the Movies: The Office's Pam Takes a Walk

Per Variety, Office cutie Jenna Fischer has joined the Judd Apatow- and Jake Kasdan-penned comedy Walk Hard, playing a June Carter Cash-esque love interest for John C. Reilly's fictional music legend, Dewey Cox. Fischer will also sing in the pic.... Will Arnett has been added to the lineup for Semi-Pro, the basketball comedy starring Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson and Andrew Benjamin.... HDNet Films has tapped Brian De Palma to write and direct Redacted, a montage of stories about U.S. soldiers fighting in the Iraq war, and due for a fall day-and-date release.

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

On Broadway: Will Dreamgirls Return to the Stage?

And I'm telling you, I'm not going... to pay a cent over $150 for tickets, should Dreamgirls return to Broadway, as is being discussed. "We're going to figure out how to do this," composer Henry Krieger tells the New York Post. "We think it's time. All is good." Though it's too soon to discuss details, insiders tell the Post that Jennifer Hudson may be asked to reprise her award-winning film role. Yeah, good luck with that.The Post also says there is talk that Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane might deliver a final encore, starting in May, as The Producers prepares to take its final bow on June 24. "[They] have always had a standing invitation to come back," says a show spokesperson. "They're family." Really? I mean, I knew about Lane, but....

Mon, Jan 29, 2007

Love Notes: Ugly Betty Star Weds, and Baby's Baby

Ugly Betty's Ashley Jensen eloped with her longtime boyfriend, actor-writer Terence Beesley, last Monday in the Northern California hideaway of Big Sur. "[It] was a beautiful, beautiful magical wedding," the Scottish-born actress tells People. "It was brilliant".... Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton is pregnant with her and boyfriend Jade Jones' first child, says People.

Mon, Jan 29, 2007