matt.mitovich

Letterman Makes Quite an Impression

This just in from CBS: "The Late Show with David Letterman, which recently entertained audiences with 'Ventriloquist Week,' will next highlight some of the best impressionists when it presents 'Impressionist Week,' [starting] Monday, Nov. 13." The lineup is as follows: Rich Little (Monday), Fred Travalena (Tuesday), Gordie Brown (Wednesday) MadTV's Frank Caliendo (Thursday) and then Kevin Pollak (Friday).Myself, I do a mean Jimmy Stewart: "You think the whole world revolves around you and your money, Mr. Potter. Well, it doesn't. Why, in the whole vast configuration of things, you are nothing but a scurvy li'l spider!" OK, you kinda have to be here at my desk.

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Scoop! Which Fellow Heroes Will Matt Meet First?

As part of a Tuesday visit to the TV Guide offices, Heroes' Greg Grunberg revealed which similarly enabled characters lawman Matt Parker will cross paths with first. "I just shot scenes with Hayden [Panettiere, Claire] and Milo [Ventimiglia, Peter]," he shared with TVGuide.com. The threesome, however, do not all share a scene together. "No, but almost," said Grunberg. "We're in the same location, investigating the same murder." Wait, so does Peter actually meet the cheerleader whom he has to save to, you know, save the world? "Oh, he does, yeah. In a big way. A big way," Grunberg teased. For more on Greg's visit, as well as buckets more TV scoopage, don't miss the 100th edition of Ask Ausiello. (By the way, if Greg comes through on his offer to Mike? Huge.)

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Mario Puts Dirty Dancing Rumor in the Corner

In an interview with E! News, Dancing with the Stars' Mario Lopez revealed that he has been offered a gig in Broadway's The Producers  one he won't take, though, seeing as "I really can't sing; I sound like a choking cat," he admits  and shot down a rumor that he will front a new Dirty Dancing sequel, saying, "Wow, that's news to me." Good, because I will be damned if anyone taints Diego Luna's legacy.

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Lindsay Lohan Gets Rear-ended

Lindsay Lohan was involved in yet another car accident, in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, when a lead-footed paparazzo rear-ended her Mercedes, sources tell the New York Daily News. Lo'  who was seen talking to a "mystery man," "upset and teary-eyed," before she sped off from (surprise) an L.A. club  reportedly drove away from the fender bender, but soon pulled over and phoned a friend to come get her. Lohan's rep confirms the incident, but had no information about her client's condition or whether charges would be filed.In less pathetic news, Lohan's latest movie deal is a starring role in I Know Who Killed Me, a psychological thriller in which she will play a gal who acts strangely after being abducted and tortured by Paris Hilton a serial killer.

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Casting About: TV's Terminator Finds Its Sarah Connor

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Lena Headey (The Brothers Grimm, The Cave) will pick up where Linda Hamilton left off and play the title character in The Sarah Connor Chronicles, a Fox pilot set between the second and third Terminator films, and following 15-year-old John's tough-gal mom.... 8 Simple Rules' Kaley Cuoco, who, when she first auditioned for the role last spring, was deemed too young, fought the good fight and has landed the female lead in The Big Bang Theory, CBS' comedy pilot about genius physicists (Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons) whose lives are turned upside down by a woman (Cuoco).

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

In the Works: Suite Life Goes On for Disney

Disney Channel has ordered a third season of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, one of the network's top-rated series.... Speaking of brotherly love, albeit of a different kind: Here!, the nation's inaugural gay television network, has greenlit production on a third, six-episode season of the sudsy Dante's Cove.... Bravo has picked up Welcome to the Parker, a docu-series that will take viewers inside the world of the luxurious Parker Palm Springs hotel, set to premiere in 2007.

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Kiefer, Charlie and McDreamy Vie for People's Choice

And you thought yesterday's voting was important. Pfft. Nominees for the 33rd-annual People's Choice Awards were announced Tuesday by How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris and Grey's Anatomy's Isaiah Washington  ponder that pairing for a moment  and their respective cast mates, Alyson Hannigan and Kate Walsh. Vying for favorite male movie-star honors are Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, while Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock will duke it out amongst the ladies. In the fave TV-star contests, it's Patrick Dempsey versus Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland, and Jennifer Love Hewitt versus Eva Longoria and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Click here to see the full list of TV, film and music nominees, and to cast your vote.

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Musical Notes: Genesis Reborn, Plus a Pair of Stalkings

Genesis will reunite for their first tour in 15 years, a 20-date trek through Europe, it was announced on Tuesday by front man Phil Collins. The "Turn It On Again" tour will open in Helsinki, Finland, on June 11, 2007, and end with a free concert in front of the Colosseum in Rome on July 14. U.S. dates will follow.... Country crooner Lee Ann Womack has secured a protective order against a man who has been stalking her for a year, says the Savannah Morning News, while Hilary Duff's own harasser, an 18-year-old who has "made physical threats" against both the teen queen and her beau, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, has pleaded not guilty to stalking charges. A Nov. 22 hearing has been set to see if a trial is warranted.

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Short Cuts: Becca Thacher Has a Baby, and More!

Kellie Martin welcomed her and hubby Keith Christian's first child, a daughter named Margaret Heather, on Saturday, reports People.... Foulmouthed and foxy funnylady Sarah Silverman will emcee the 2007 Spirit Awards, to be held Feb. 24, 2007, the day prior to the Oscars.... For a fourth consecutive year, Caroline Kennedy will host the Kennedy Center Honors, airing Dec. 26 on CBS, and this year tributing Andrew Lloyd Webber, conductor Zubin Mehta, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson and Steven Spielberg.... Fans of ABC's The Nine, don't miss my Trivial Mattr's blog entry teasing tonight's episode!

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Preview: The Nine's "Take Me Instead"

Fellow fans of ABC's The Nine (and I know you are out there, and an impassioned bunch at that): I had the chance to screen this week's episode, and it's a good one. (A particularly juicy one, even, for Kathryn-Nick 'shippers.) Without revealing too much, I can tell you that you will see: A marriage proposal, followed by a, um, "atypical" response A poker game, hosted by Egan, that impacts the direction of definitely one, perhaps two, and maybe even three lives A first kiss  and then some! A good chunk of flashback, tying into the episode's title ("Take Me Instead") and shedding light on Nick's "heroism" and perhaps also why he punched out the negotiator upon the hostages' release Some veddy interesting exchanges between Lucas and Lizzie, both in present time and during the ordeal A final scene involving Malcolm that had me going, "Wha?!" Still scratching my head over that one!So tune in, and stay tuned in, tonight at 10 pm/ET!

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Her Perogative: Spears Chucks K-Fed

Citing "irreconcilable differences" in court papers filed Monday and obtained by TMZ.com, Britney Spears has filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, her hubby of two years. In her petition, Spears asks for custody of the couple's children, year-old Sean Preston and 2-month-old Jayden James, with Federline getting reasonable visitation rights, and waives her right to spousal support  though it could effectively be argued that she did that around the time she said, "I do."Sources tell TMZ there was no single reason for Britney pulling the plug, but rather "a string of events," while my own insider quotes her as telling her attorney, "Please... anything to make his music stop."UPDATE: Per the New York Post, a mini-dress-and-fishnets-clad Spears was seen dining with "a hunky male pal" on Tuesday night, after the news broke. She then shopped for a trio of thongs at a Midtown GAP, and went ice-skating at Rockefeller Plaza, "giddily" "holding hands" with the gent. K-Fed, meanwhile, s...

Wed, Nov 8, 2006

Say "What?!" Faith Hill Insists She Didn't Dis Carrie

Responding to claims that she had an adverse (if not outright rude) reaction to Carrie Underwood being named female vocalist of the year at Monday night's CMA Awards  the people's Exhibit A, which can be found at YouTube, clearly shows Hill exclaiming, "What?!"  Faith Hill asserts that she did not undermine Underwood. "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me," Hill says in a statement to the AP. "For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving [winner]." In light of Hill's "I was just pretending" stance, NATAS has proactively nominated her for an Emmy. Gonna be tough to beat.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Ratings: CMA: Nashville Can't Top CSI: Miami

Monday's ratings stories of note: ABC's presentation of the Country Music Awards averaged 15.9 million total viewers for the night, besting all comers 'cept the 10 o'clock hour's CSI: Miami (16.5 mil). How I Met Your Mother (8.43 million) dipped a full 1.3 mil from its last fresh outing (which, to be fair, was its second best of the season), while lead-out The Class (7.7 mil) had another 400K absentees. Fox's Prison Break (8.62 mil) was down 300,000, and lead-out Justice (5.81 mil) slipped 700K. After two weeks of record highs, Heroes came back to earth with 14.33 million viewers, down 400-thou from last week. Welcomed back by an audience of 7.78 mil, Studio 60 was up a tick from its last outing, but shy of the 8.29 mil Friday Night Lights tackled as an Oct. 30 fill-in.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

NBC.com Offers Expanded, Extras-Special Office

An extended, "producer's cut" of this week's episode of The Office (titled "Branch Closing") will be made available for viewing exclusively at NBC.com, starting at 9 pm Thursday. Touted by NBC digital entertainment exec Vivi Zigler as "a first of its kind, and a real bonus for fans," the online offering will include additional scenes and footage not shown in the broadcast version. Just as long as none of it is Michael trying to mack on our poor Pam again. [Still shuddering]

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

In the Works: A Merry Shrekmas, More Sunny Days

ABC is calling upon the big green guy to usher in a new holiday tradition, developing a half-hour animated special based on Shrek, and featuring the voices of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas. The special will pick up where the forthcoming Shrek the Third feature leaves off, and is set to debut in December 2007.... Per Variety, FX has picked up It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a third, 15-episode season, to premiere next summer.... CBS has given a pilot order to an ensemble drama about a team of public defenders, from Law & Order/Numbers vet Barry Schindel.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

NYPD: Indie Actress Murdered, Not a Suicide

Adrienne Shelly (Trust, The Unbelievable Truth), who was found hanged in her West Village apartment on Nov. 1, was in fact murdered, police have since learned. Led by the clue of a sneaker print in the bathtub where Shelly was discovered, the New York City Police Department ultimately were led to Diego Pillco, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant who had been renovating the apartment below Shelly's, and while doing so fielded a complaint from her about the noise he was making. Having apparently panicked that he might be deported if Shelly filed a complaint with the police, Pillco "snapped," assaulted the married mother of a toddler in her apartment, then staged the suicide. Pillco has been charged with second-degree murder.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Musical Notes: Urban Earns Ovation at CMAs

Kenny Chesney was named entertainer of the year, and Brooks & Dunn's "Believe" netted three trophies, at Monday night's Country Music Association Awards. Also of note: Keith Urban, missing from the ceremony because he recently entered rehab for alcohol abuse, received a standing ovation when he won male-vocalist honors.... Performers at the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards, airing Nov. 15, include Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris and The Game.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Baldwin Returns to SNL... With His Schweddy Balls?

Apparently not having his fill of faux sketch-comedy making, 30 Rock's Alec Baldwin will guest-host Saturday Night Live for a lucky 13th time on Nov. 11. (Raising the question: can SNL spoof an SNL-spoofing series? Or is that like when Marty McFly stole a baseball almanac?) Appearing as musical guest that night will be Christina "It's Painful When I Try to Act in My Music Videos" Aguilera. Next up, on Nov. 18: Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, doing double duty as host/musical act. Then, on the 25th, an encore of this season's Hugh Laurie/Beck outing.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Bush Gets NBC's Vote

Billy Bush, that is. The Access Hollywood coanchor has been tapped by NBC to cohost the upcoming reality competition, You're the One That I Want, in which Danny and Sandy wannabes vie for roles in a Broadway revival of Grease. Fronting the show with Bush will be U.K. TV personality Denise Van Outen, because after all, you cannot, repeat cannot, have a reality series without a British accent. Just ain't done.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Love Notes: Rock's Marriage Not on the Rocks

Friends of Chris Rock tell the New York Daily News that the actor-comedian is not planning to file for divorce from Malaak Compton-Rock, his wife of almost 10 years, as has been reported, but is committed to keeping the marriage intact.... The Unit's Scott Foley recently got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, actress Marika Dominczyk, whom he met on the set of the sitcom The Help.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

At the Movies: Not-a-Sequel Hulk Set for Summer '08

Per Variety, Marvel has set a June 27, 2008, release date for its new Hulk, which is not being fancied as a sequel to Ang Lee's tepidly received feature. Among summer '08's other biggies: Marvel's own Iron Man (May 2); the Batman Begins follow-up, The Dark Knight; the new Narnia film; and possibly Hellboy 2 and Indiana Jones 4.... DreamWorks is putting a new polish on the script for Dinner with Shmucks, a French remake to star the now Borat-hot Sacha Baron Cohen.... Per the Reporter, Morgan Freeman is in final talks to star opposite James McAvoy in the sci-fi actioner Wanted.... Kirsten Dunst will star in and produce A Jealous Ghost, a supernatural thriller inspired by the A.N. Wilson novel.

Tue, Nov 7, 2006

Short Cuts: Cars, Xwords, Xbox and More!

Among today's DVD releases: Wordplay, a look at New York Times crossword creator Will Shortz (see related Q&A) and the annual puzzle tournament held in my hometown of Stamford, Connecticut, and Disney's Cars, aka the theme for my sons' birthday party this coming weekend.... Xbox 360 owners will be able to "unlock" a thus-far untapped part of the console and download movies and TV shows  including Batman Forever, The Nine and CSI  starting Nov. 22.... Jay Leno, Matthew McConaughey, Regis Philbin and Bob Costas are among the big names lending their voices to new releases in the Team Baby DVD series, which is likened by some to "Baby Einstein for the sports-minded set."

Tue, Nov 7, 2006