matt.mitovich

Short Cuts: Pirates, Star Trek and More!

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest topped the video sales and rental charts last week, moving 10.5 million units (the biggest debut of any release this year) and generating $12.9 million in rentals.... Reminder: Star Trek memorabilia is being sold to the public starting today at 3 pm/ET, via eBay.com and ItsAWrapHollywood.com.... Seinfeld: The E! True Hollywood Story premieres Dec. 23, at 6 pm. Leave it to THS to uncover that there is something wrong with that after all.

Fri, Dec 15, 2006

Desperate Housewives Ponders More Rex Appeal

They're always in the shadow of their female costars, but the men of Desperate Housewives may finally be taking center stage. Executive producer Marc Cherry is considering a male narrator for a very special episode that would focus mostly on the men of Wisteria Lane. "The whole show would be told from a male point of view," Cherry tells TV Guide. The narrator will be DH's favorite dead husband, Rex Van De Kamp. "I was sitting in a makeup chair on the set of my new show, [ABC's mid-season series] Traveler, and my cell phone rang," says Steven Culp, who played Rex. "It was Marc. He told me he wanted me to be the narrator. I said fabulous. They could change their minds, but I hope not." Should Culp need any pointers, regular narrator Brenda Strong is available. "I'm waiting for the phone call from Steven saying, 'Oh, my god, is that what you do? It's a lot harder than I thought,'" Strong told TVGuide.com the other day. "I, for one, am going to be really curious to see it."By Mary Murph...

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

Ratings: Big Unit, Extra-large Medium

Catching up on the ratings from the past two nights...Tuesday Friday Night Lights (5.74 million total viewers, down 700K) and Standoff (5.05 million, down 1.4 mil) both had their worst outings since Nov. 14. Big Day (4.9 mil) and the since-sidelined Help Me Help You (3.5 mil) each lost about a million and a half viewers, with the latter dropping a full third of its previous week's audience. House (16.1 mil) had its best numbers since the season opener, while The Unit (13.47 mil) claimed a season high.Wednesday Averaging 11.71 million in its first hour, The Biggest Loser finale was the 8 o'clock champ, besting a King of Queens double-header (averaging 9.1 mil, down 750,000) and Bones (8.62 mil). At 9, Criminal Minds (16.17 mil, down 1.8 mil) was the winner over Loser, while Day Break sank another half mil, to 3.98 mil  a number that would have been beaten by One Tree Hill if the CW show weren't MIA. Medium (9.92 million, surging 1.34 mil) hit...

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

NBC Rocks Writers Guild Nods

With six nominations  including a pair for 30 Rock  NBC has bested the rest going into this year's Writers Guild Awards, to be held Feb. 11, 2007. In the comedy category, 30 Rock's staff of scribes is joined by their peers at The Office, Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm and, yes, Arrested Development. On the drama side, it's Grey's Anatomy versus Lost, 24, Deadwood and The Sopranos.Vying for best new series are 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Studio 60 and Ugly Betty.

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

ABC's Sitcom Slate Is Now Helpless

Fresh off another so-so ratings performance, ABC has pulled next week's episode of Help Me Help You, Variety reports, suggesting that Ted Danson's latest laffer is beyond treatment. In its place, the network on Dec. 19 will serve up The Nine a double helping of Big Day.

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

New Year's Eve: Dick Clark Adds to Rockin' Roll Call

Rihanna, Ludacris and K.T. Tunstall will join Xtina, Rascal Flatts and the cast of Jersey Boys as musical guests on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007. Over on the Peacock, meanwhile, NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly has booked Panic! at the Disco (Matt. Feeling. So. Old.) to perform live from Times Square.

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

In the Works: Fox Gets a Little Smarter

Per Variety, reality impresario Mark Burnett is helping develop for Fox Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, a youth-skewed quiz show that will pit one adult versus five 10-year-olds, answering questions from the students' textbooks.... NBC is developing the reality pilot Comedy Colosseum, where stand-up comedians vie against one another and are judged by the laughter of audience members.

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

Britney and Paris: The Party(ing) Is Over

The insta-BFFship that transfixed America has ended: Sources tell the New York Post's Page Six that Britney Spears has declared Paris Hilton persona non grata (Latin for "really bad news"), and hasn't hopped a single club (no, not a euphemism) with the celebutante in ages (OK, like, a week). Says the snitch, "Britney has been told that if she ever wants a comeback, she has to stay far away from Paris and start acting like an adult [who wears panties]." (My brackets.)

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

ABC, Babel Lead Golden Globes Nominations

Nominations for the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards, to be held Jan. 15, 2007, were announced Thursday morning in Beverly Hills. Powered by Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, ABC (with 11 nods) edged out NBC (9) to lead the TV pack, while Babel had the most movie kudos, netting seven noms. The big theme this year, though, is multiple nod-gasms, as Helen Mirren, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood and Toni Collette were among those earning two or more mentions. Reactions from some of this year's biggest nominees can be found here, in TVGuide.com's Interviews & Features column.I herewith apologize in advance to your poor little mouse scroll-wheels. Here now, the contenders from TV:TV Series, Drama24, Big Love, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, LostTV Series, ComedyDesperate Housewives, Entourage, The Office, Ugly Betty, WeedsLead Actor, TV DramaPatrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Bill Paxton (Big Love), Kiefer Sutherland (24)Lead Actress, TV ...

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

Ah, Walnuts! Sopranos Delayed Again

Don't fret, James Gandolfini's knees are fine. (This time.) Evoking that Saturday Night Live bit where Sopranos cast members couldn't recall where they left off/who hated who, HBO now is promoting an April 2007 return for the crime drama  a month later than last expected. Per the New York Daily News, HBO will ramp up to the final season by encoring the last round, starting Jan. 15  a day after new seasons of Rome and Extras debut.

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

At the Movies: Judge Unleashes J.T.'s Alpha Dog

Per the Hollywood Reporter, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Universal can release Alpha Dog as planned on Jan. 12, despite objections from murder suspect Jesse James Hollywood, on whom the film is based. Hollywood's attorney plans to file an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court, contending that Alpha Dog (starring Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Amber Heard) will make it impossible for his client to get a fair trial.... Ed Harris is in talks to play the former partner of Samuel L. Jackson's crime-scene cleanup man in Renny Harlin's crime thriller Cleaner.... The Devil Wears Prada's Anne Hathaway has boarded the supernatural thriller Passengers, playing a grief counselor who, in helping six plane-crash survivors, suspects a conspiracy when they start disappearing one by one.... Per Variety, The Longest Yard's Sheldon Turner is set to write the Rick James biopic Super Freak.

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

Ho, Ho, No! Christmas Slasher Called "Out of Line"

A remake of the 1974 cult classic Black Christmas has come under attack for delivering a horror-themed take on the holy day this Dec. 20. "It's out of line," a spokesperson for the Catholic League tells the New York Daily News . "It's not showing any sensitivity to Christians [or] the birth of our Lord." A rep for the film  which stars Michelle Trachtenberg and Lacey Chabert  counters, "There is a long tradition of releasing horror movies... as counterprogramming to the regular yuletide fare." Wait, when did Glitter come out?

Thu, Dec 14, 2006

Fox Likes Gilmore Creator's New Sister Act

Fox has given a green light to The Return of Jezebel James, a comedy pilot from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. The project follows two estranged sisters, far apart in age, who reunite after one of them agrees to carry the other's baby. "They never forged any relationship [growing up], and now they're forced into... not only negotiating over the carrying of the baby, but also over who they are," Sherman-Palladino tells Reuters. The tentatively titled Jezebel James marks a return to outright comedy for AS-P, who cut her teeth on ABC's Roseanne.Lo and behold, the Ausiello Report has a bakery-fresh Q&A with AS-P regarding Jezebel. Perhaps the biggest treat since the free Au Bon Pain breakfast News Corp. gave us downstairs this morning. Dive into it (the Q&A, not my plate of eggs and bacon) here.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

TNT Eyes Two New Series, While Saved... Isn't

TNT is in talks to grant series orders to the drama pilots Grace (starring Holly Hunter as an Oklahoma City police detective at times visited by an angel) and Heartland (Treat Williams as a heart surgeon). In other TNT news, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that Tom Everett Scott's Saved has perished after one season. Seriously, they used the paddles and everything.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

Nick Gives Amy Poehler's 'Bottom a Thumbs-up

Nickelodeon is on board for Mighty B, a new animated series starring Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler as the voice of Bessie Higgenbottom, a 10-year-old Honeybee Scout out to earn each and every last merit badge she can. Mighty B's 20 episodes will start unspooling in 2008.Also at Nick, nick-nick-nick, nick-nick, nick, nick, Nick-el-o-de-on (do they still use that jingle?): SpongeBob SquarePants has been picked up for a 13-episode sixth season, with all original voice-cast members set to return.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

In the Works: Mark Burnett Builds a Haunted House

One of the producers of Psych is teaming with reality guru Mark Burnett on Avery House, a Sci Fi Channel drama about a New York family that moves into a haunted home.... Also per Variety: ABC has made a pilot commitment to Pushing Daisies, a romance-tinged procedural from Heroes scribe Bryan Fuller, and following a man who can bring dead folk back to life.... According to the Hollywood Reporter, Comedy Central has ordered a half-hour animated pilot starring Larry the Cable Guy as the head of a TV station who butts heads with its classy female co-owner.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

Road to Oscar: San Fran Favors Little Children

The San Francisco Film Critics Circle has given Little Children the film's first best picture and screenplay wins of the awards season. Lead-actor kudos went to Borat's Sacha Baron Cohen and The Queen's Helen Mirren, while supporting honors were reaped by Children's Jackie Earle Haley and Babel's Adriana Barraza. United 93's Paul Greengrass won for directing.And still nothing for Step Up.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

Celebrities Do Nice Things  Just Like Us!

Feeling all good about yourself for throwing that lightly used Hungry Hungry Hippos into the Toys for Tots box at work?Shakira and fellow Colombian and Nobel Prize laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez have launched a foundation to fight child poverty in Latin America.George Clooney is in Egypt raising awareness about killings in Sudan's Darfur region.And Bob Barker has pledged $300,000 toward housing Gita, an elephant from the Los Angeles zoo, in a better-suited animal sanctuary. Well, Bob, the actual retail price on the room and board of said elephant is... $278,536. You went over, so back to the crummy zoo, Gita!

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

Dance Hottie, Garrison Keillor Front New Year's Bashes

Do Ryan and Dick not blow your noisemaker? If that's the case, So You Think You Can Dance hostess Cat Deeley is fronting Fox's own New Year's Eve special, featuring musical acts Toni Braxton and Daughtry. And over on PBS, Garrison Keillor will host a Great Performances special ushering in 2007. Me, I'll be lucky to last past Family Guy.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

Kanye West Draws Evel Eye... and Lawsuit

Daredevil Evel Knievel has sued Kanye West, the AP reports, taking issue with the "Touch the Sky" music video in which the rapper fancies himself as "Evel Kanyevel" and tries (oh, how they always try) to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon. Knievel is claiming trademark infringement, among other things.I'd sympathize with the plaintiff were it not for the fact that the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle toy (from Ideal) I had as a tyke so did not perform the flips, somersaults and perfect landings shown in the TV commercials. But did I go out and lawyer up?

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

At the Movies: Julia Roberts Pursues Happiness

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Julia Roberts will produce and possibly star in Happiness Sold Separately, a novel-based romantic feature about a woman broadsided by heartbreak when she learns her husband had an affair. Jennifer Aniston, do not see this movie.... OutKast's André "3000" Benjamin is joining Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson in the basketball comedy Semi-Pro.... Per Variety, principal photography has begun on Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, a big-screen take on the David Foster Wallace novel, written and directed by The Office's John Krasinski. The pic stars Law & Order: Criminal Intent's Julianne Nicholson as a grad student who interviews assorted men played by, among others, Bobby Cannavale, Will Forte, Timothy Hutton and Christopher Meloni.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

Short Cuts: Degrassi, Gandolfini, Clooney and More!

Rock band Taking Back Sunday will perform as themselves on the Jan. 12 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation, marking the return of Jake Epstein (Craig). Also of note: Degrassi: TNG will enter U.S. syndication in the fall of 2007.... The Sopranos' James Gandolfini will serve as celebrity monarch Bacchus during the 2007 Mardi Gras season.... AMC presents George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute tonight at 8 pm/ET.... Air Bud's five puppies star in Air Buddies, now out on DVD.... Green Lantern creator Martin Nodell died of natural causes on Saturday. He was 91.

Wed, Dec 13, 2006

matt.mitovich

Short Cuts: Pirates, Star Trek and More!

Desperate Housewives Ponders More Rex Appeal

Ratings: Big Unit, Extra-large Medium

NBC Rocks Writers Guild Nods

ABC's Sitcom Slate Is Now Helpless

New Year's Eve: Dick Clark Adds to Rockin' Roll Call

In the Works: Fox Gets a Little Smarter

Britney and Paris: The Party(ing) Is Over

ABC, Babel Lead Golden Globes Nominations

Ah, Walnuts! Sopranos Delayed Again

At the Movies: Judge Unleashes J.T.'s Alpha Dog

Ho, Ho, No! Christmas Slasher Called "Out of Line"

Fox Likes Gilmore Creator's New Sister Act

TNT Eyes Two New Series, While Saved... Isn't

Nick Gives Amy Poehler's 'Bottom a Thumbs-up

In the Works: Mark Burnett Builds a Haunted House

Road to Oscar: San Fran Favors Little Children

Celebrities Do Nice Things &#151; Just Like Us!

Dance Hottie, Garrison Keillor Front New Year's Bashes

Kanye West Draws Evel Eye... and Lawsuit

At the Movies: Julia Roberts Pursues Happiness

Short Cuts: Degrassi, Gandolfini, Clooney and More!

Celebrities Do Nice Things Just Like Us!