matt.mitovich

SNL Debbie Downsizes Cast by a Third

Lorne Michaels has stepped forth with the official cast list for the new season of Saturday Night Live, and it's nearly a third smaller than the year gone by. According to Variety, the ensemble has been trimmed from 16 funnyfolk to 11, with Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell and Tracy Morgan Finesse Mitchell joining the previously announced departures of Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch (both of whom left to do 30 Rock). As for who will join Amy Poehler at the WU desk, the latest thinking has headwriter Seth Meyers filling Fey's seat. Dane Cook will host SNL's 32nd season-opener on Sept. 30, with The Killers as musical guest.

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

NBC's Madonna Concert Might Toss Cross

Reuters reports that NBC might strike Madonna's mock crucifixion when it airs her prime-time concert special in November, depending on what they see when the producers submit their first cut. Says an NBC rep, "Once we've seen [the special] in its entirety, we'll make a decision." Mind you, NBC Entertainment prez Kevin Reilly told our own Michael Ausiello, when the special was first announced in July, that the "Live to Tell" number "will probably be in the show. We viewed it, and, although Madonna is known for being provocative, we didn't see it as being ultimately inappropriate." Hmm, sounds like a Higher Authority has since stepped in.

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

Steve Irwin Remembered as "Hero" and "Champion"

At a Tuesday memorial, friends, fans and Hollywood stars remembered the "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin as someone who "touched the hearts of millions around the world in a very special way" (as Oz's prime minister put it). In a recorded video message, Russell Crowe said, "We have lost a friend, a champion," while Irwin's 8-year-old daughter, Bindi, shared, "My daddy was a hero." Irwin's father, Bob, told the crowd, "Please do not grieve for Steve. He's at peace now. Grieve for the animals. They have lost the best friend they ever had, and so have I."Playing the role of Debbie Downer (two mentions in one day?) on this occasion was marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, who, while out promoting a TV special, critiqued the deceased's tactics, saying Irwin would "interfere with nature, jump on animals [and] grab them. It goes very well on television.... But you don't touch nature. You just look at it."

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

CBS Outbids Foes for Six Feet Scribe's Latest

Per Variety, CBS has outbid at least two rival networks to land the next project from Six Feet Under writer-producer Kate Robin, an ensemble drama that (paging Daniel Benzali... ) will follow a single, high-profile court case over the course of one season. Now before you cry Murder One, Robin tells the trade, "The heart of the show is the personal lives of these very disparate characters" -- including lawyers on both sides, some of the jury, and the judge -- "who've been brought together by the case."

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

Will Ferrell Shows HBO the Funny

Will Ferrell's production company is developing for HBO P.E., a single-camera comedy about a onetime major-league baseball hopeful who returns to his small Southern hometown to teach phys ed at his old middle school. With a number of broadcast and pay networks interested in the laffer, HBO is said to have tendered one of its richest development deals ever, says the Hollywood Reporter.... Also at HBO, Gary Cole and Lily Tomlin have joined the cast of Harry and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's 12 Miles of Bad Road, a comedy pilot centered on a wealthy Dallas clan.

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

Music Awards Like Their Peppers and Peas

Mariah Carey, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Eyed Peas and Nickelback are the favorites heading into this year's American Music Awards, each act having copped three nominations on Tuesday. In the female artist pop/rock category, Mimi will vie with Kelly Clarkson and Nelly Furtado, while Nick Lachey, Sean Paul and Kanye West will duke it out amongst the men. For pop/rock duo/group, it's Nickelback versus the Peppers and the Pussycat Dolls. ABC airs the AMAs Nov. 21.

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

South Park's Worst Fills "Best of" DVD

To commemorate the forthcoming onset of the 10th season of adventures for Cartman, Kenny, et al, Matt Stone and Trey Parker have picked their noses 10 personal favorite episodes for South Park, The Hits: Volume 1, hitting stores Oct. 3 and including four bonus eps and "The Spirit of Christmas," a never-released short that I predict will never be shown at your church's Bible-study class.

Wed, Sep 20, 2006

Oprah's Lawyers to Fan: Stop Prezzing the Issue

Lawyers for Oprah Winfrey have ordered Kansas City businessman Patrick Crowe to cease his grassroots movement to land the talk queen in the Oval Office, the New York Post reports. Claiming that the campaign is causing "damage and irreparable injury" to Oprah's businesses, the lawyers want Crowe to hang up a toll-free number that ends in "OPRAH," and pull his book, Oprah for President: Run, Oprah, Run. "I'm genuinely puzzled," Crowe says in his defense. "How could [it] possibly cause damage and irreparable injury?" Maybe the Run, Oprah, Run title simply made her winded.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

Renewed Dead Zone to Be Reinvented

Officially confirming Friday's Ausiello Report, which said that The Dead Zone, as well as Psych, has been renewed, USA Network programming exec Jeff Wachtel tells the Hollywood Reporter that the Anthony Michael Hall series will in a way be reinvented as it enters its new year. "We're looking at the sixth season as the first season," he says.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

CSI Creator: LL Cool J Is The Man

Anthony Zuiker, creator of the CSI franchise, is teaming up with LL Cool J to develop The Man, a CBS drama starring the rapper-actor as a lawman who juggles his nights as an upper-echelon crime-stopper with his days as a parent lording over a trio of adopted children, Reuters reports. Zuiker says he was influenced by LL Cool J's own dual existence as a "multiplatinum rapper and an amazing father" of four. Upon pitching the concept to LL Cool J, Zuiker says, "He loved it, and we're now officially in business."

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

In the Works: ABC Likes Gene Hackman's Conversation

Producer Tony Krantz (24) and writers Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Erik Jendresen (Band of Brothers) have a pilot commitment to adapt Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation, a 1974 thriller starring Gene Hackman, into a weekly series for ABC.... Also per Variety: David O. Russell (Three Kings) is teaming with Josh Lieb (The Simpsons) on an hourlong FX dramedy envisioned as a sort of Upstairs, Downstairs set in a Los Angeles country club.... John Corbett, Charlotte Ross, Ashley Williams and Diane Ladd will star in Montana Sky, a Lifetime movie based on the best seller by the amazing Nora Roberts.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

Wrist Injury Impairs Lohan's Career

Lindsay Lohan was taken to a New York City hospital on Friday after she slipped and fell on a slick outdoor walkway, fracturing her wrist in two places, while attending a Fashion Week event at Milk Studios, AccessHollwood.com reports. Since Lohan was scheduled to return to Los Angeles for assorted meetings, "lawyers are looking into" possible negligence on the club's behalf, the actress' rep reports, claiming that the wrist injury may affect Lohan's ability to work. Not to mention totally mess up her "dating" life, ifyouknowwhatImean.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

Britney's Baby Boy Is Sutton Special

Britney Spears and Kevin Federline have named their newborn son Sutton Pierce Federline, sources tell People.com. The lad boasts the same initials as big bro Sean Preston, as well as millions of suntan-lotion bottles.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

Anna Nicole's Son: Foul Play Looking Unlikely

Forensic-pathologist-to-the-stars Cyril Wecht who has worked on such cases as JFK and Elvis performed a second autopsy on Anna Nicole Smiths son Daniel on Sunday but was unable to determine the cause of death As such he has ordered further tests including a toxicology screen that will take weeks to complete Wecht however ruled out several potential natural causes including heart disease or a stroke and didn't find anything suggesting foul playtraumatic injurypoisoning

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

At the Movies: Clooney's Ready for Some Football

In his most commercial directorial effort to date, George Clooney will helm and star in Leatherheads, a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of pro football's formation in the 1920s. Renée Zellweger is in talks to costar.... Also per Variety: Brittany Murphy is The Ramen Girl in a romantic comedy about an American woman, stranded in Tokyo, who trains under a master noodle chef.... Per the Hollywood Reporter, Ghost Whisperer's Aisha Tyler will play a homicide detective in Death Sentence, a vigilante drama starring Kevin Bacon.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

Short Cuts: TV's Next Great Sitcom? And More!

Split the Difference, a mockumentary set at a cutthroat ad agency, was the winner of the TV Guide Audience Award at the New York Television Festival's Independent Pilot Competition, held Sunday. Last year's winner, the fishing reality series Off the Hook, premieres on Versus (née OLN) Sept. 29.... Fox has added Justice, 'Til Death and Happy Hour to the list of series it is streaming online for free at such sites as, well, TVGuide.com.... Mr. Telephone Man, there's something wrong with this idea: Bobby Brown will be reuniting with the original members of New Edition for a one-time concert at the Forum in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, the singer's agent tells the New York Daily News.

Mon, Sep 18, 2006

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Betty: Part 2

Here now, the rest of mine own fall forecast:WednesdayThe Nine, ABC: A fun little cast of familiar faces (24's Audrey! Bailey Salinger! The shadowy Prison Break dude!) and a far-out premise make this serialized drama more than worthy of a long hard look. But the crux of the show ? What exactly happened to the nine people involved in a seemingly life-altering 52-hour bank hostage situation? ? could prove frustrating if the mad-cryptic flashbacks are only parceled out mere seconds at a time. Jericho, CBS: As I told the show's publicist, I was loving this pilot, about a small town isolated from the rest of civilization after some sort of nuclear assault on major cities, until the very final scene, which in my opinion rang illogical. Blocking that moment out, however, I'm excited for this series. Justice, Fox: Alias' Spy Daddy (Victor Garber) as the most cunning of cunning, high-priced defense attorneys? I'm so there. Plus, I like the gimmick of showing us, in the coda, what really happ...

Fri, Sep 15, 2006

Casting News: NBC Singles Out Alicia Silverstone

Clueless' Alicia Silverstone has been tapped to replace Pascale Hutton in the role of Georgia, a successful doctor, in The Singles Table, NBC's mid-season comedy about strangers who bond after sharing a table (and, I presume, undercooked beef) at a mutual pal's wedding.... Lolita Davidovich (no relation to moi), whose recent TV credits include The L Word and Monk, but not Miss Match, has been cast opposite Lili Taylor in the Lifetime drama pilot State of Mind, a look at the professional and personal lives of therapists.

Fri, Sep 15, 2006

Everwood, O.C. Bosses Prep Pilots for Takeoff

Following a heated bidding war with NBC, ABC emerged with a pilot commitment for All Fall Down, a drama series from Everwood show-runner Rina Mimoun about a family of seven lawyers. Mimoun will write and exec-produce the pilot while continuing on as a Gilmore Girls consulting producer. The Peacock, however, claimed dibs on the newest project from The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz, a high-concept action drama revolving around a normal guy who somehow downloads the entire CIA database into his head. Talk about a spyware problem!

Fri, Sep 15, 2006

Bounty Hunter Dog Impounded for Kidnapping

Duane "Dog" Chapman and two Dog the Bounty Hunter costars, including his 29-year-old son Leland, were arrested on Thursday in Hawaii on charges of illegal detention and conspiracy, stemming from their June 2003 capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster, who had fled the U.S. for Mexico on three rape charges. Chapman's publicist says her client will be vindicated, telling the Associated Press, "He arrests the bad guys. He is definitely not one of them." Said Chapman himself in the courtroom following his arrest, "You see what the American government is doing to us? They throw us in jail. I'm so upset about this." Chapman et al are being held in Honolulu, where they will face an extradition-to-Mexico hearing.

Fri, Sep 15, 2006

"Devastated" Anna Nicole Orders Second Autopsy

Anna Nicole Smith, "devastated" and "in seclusion" in the wake of her 20-year-old son's sudden death, is supporting a formal inquest to determine exactly how Daniel Smith died during a visit to the Bahamian hospital where his mother had recently given birth to a baby girl. The jury inquest is slated to begin Oct. 23, at which time witnesses including Smith, hospital staffers and others who saw Daniel the night of his death will render their accounts of what they know or saw. Until then, Smith's lawyer tells the AP, "She wishes the public to not jump to conclusions and to wait for the [official findings]."UPDATE: Smith's lawyer has been authorized to bring in a private pathologist to perform a second autopsy on her son, reports the AP.

Fri, Sep 15, 2006

"Kumar," Grey's Producer Ink ABC Deals

Variety reports that ABC and Touchstone have inked Kal Penn, a cast member on the coming season of 24, to a talent-holding deal in which the network will develop prospective projects, mainly single-camera comedies, for the Harold & Kumar star. Peter Horton, meanwhile, has also signed a new, two-year, seven-figure pact with Touchstone to continue on as an exec producer on Grey's Anatomy, in addition to serving as a consultant on Six Degrees.

Fri, Sep 15, 2006