matt.mitovich

Britney's $100K in Mad Money! Her Halloween Hijinks! Disputed CD Ranking!

As you and I brown-bag lunch and wear that shirt for an eleventh straight season, let's look at how Britney makes a dent in her $738,000 monthly income. As detailed in court papers, it breaks down like this:Mortgage: $50,000Utilities: $10,000Child care: $6,000Clothes: $16,000Entertainment: $102,000Daily mentions in Matt's blog: pricelessKevin Federline, meanwhile, nets $20,000-a-month in spousal support (only for two more weeks, though, yo) and $15K for child care. He himself whiles away $5,000 on entertainment and $2,000 on clothes/fedoras. Other Brit bits: Appearing at Heidi Klum's Halloween bash dressed in a sombrero, fishnets and (does the rest really matter?), Spears asked her supermodel host if their kids could have a playdate. Per the New York Daily News, Klum smiled politely and then all but hired a security detail for her moppets. Blackout is poised to top next week's Billboard Top 200 CD chart with some 350,000 in sales, but even that invites controversy. The E...

Fri, Nov 2, 2007

Britney's $100K in Mad Money! Her Halloween Hijinks! Disputed CD Ranking!

Britney Phones It In, Lashes Out at "Cruel World"

When La Spears called Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show yesterday to plug her new album, she insisted that it didn't bother her that a lot of folks think there are hobos who would make better parents than her. "It's sad how people... how cruel our world can be," she drawled. "But at the end of the day, you gotta know in your heart that you are doing the best that you can." Bless him, Seacrest then asked the obvious follow-up: Um, are you doing your best with your sons? "Oh god, yeah, yeah," she answered, sending a shudder through Child Protective Services case workers everywhere. But, according to TMZ.com, she had no idea when she would next be seeing her young'uns. "My lawyers know about all that," she said, then, the website noted, passed the phone to her gal pals and hopped in the shower. Comeback of the year, gang. Comeback of the year.  Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

Britney Phones It In, Lashes Out at "Cruel World"

Another Bad Break for Ex-Prisoner Lane Garrison

Prison Break's former Tweener, Lane Garrison, was sentenced on Wednesday to three years and four months in prison for the drunk-driving incident that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old passenger. "The public has the right to know that conduct such as this, causing devastation such as this" won't go unpunished, Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox told the actor. "Unfortunately, in this case, you have to be the messenger." Just be sure to speak slowly when delivering that message to Paris and Nicole.  Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

Another Bad Break for Ex-Prisoner Lane Garrison

X-Files 2 Update, Meryl as Julia Child, More Movie News

The second X-Files movie is really, truly happening. 20th Century Fox has even blocked off July 25, 2008, as the flick's release date. Natch, plot deets are being kept hush-hush, but the pic is said to be a stand-alone thriller (Yay! No mythology!) that will further Mulder and Scully's relationship. I've got goosebumps already.... In other movie news, Meryl Streep has signed on to play Julia Child in Julie and Julia, a Nora Ephron comedy in which a disgruntled temp (Amy Adams) spends a year trying to whip up every recipe in the master's cookbook.... Teeth, the indie buzz-builder about a high school student with a toothed vagina, has had its release moved to February 2008.  Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

X-Files 2 Update, Meryl as Julia Child, More Movie News

Dancing Pros Bare Their Claws over Cheetah Girl's Cut

Dancing with the Stars hoofer Maksim Chmerkovskiy is sock-hopping mad. No way should Sabrina Bryan and soap stud Cameron Mathison have been in the bottom two this week, he railed to TV's Extra: "There were celebrities that should've been eliminated. The two in the bottom two were not [them]." (Marie Osmond, cute as ya are, I think he might be talking to you.) Added judge Carrie Ann Inaba: "I'm kind of heartbroken. As a female competitor, we have never seen anybody as good as Sabrina." Um, excuse me, but Stacy Keibler?Related: Backstage at Dancing with the Stars: A Recount Is Demanded!Thursday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner.

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

Dancing Pros Bare Their Claws over Cheetah Girl's Cut

Nip/Tuck Ratings, L Word Return and More

Nip/Tuck's fifth-season premiere on Tuesday reeled in 4.3 million total viewers  down a bit from last year's debut but still way better than its finale (3.8 mil).... HBO has announced that "The Extra Special Series Finale" of Extras will air Dec. 16. To mark the occasion, Clive Owen, David Tennant, Gordon Ramsay and George Michael will all be making cameos. What, no Mitovich? His vodcast proves he's camera-ready, people.... USA's third annual Monk holiday special will air on Dec. 7. "Mr. Monk and the Man Who Shot Santa" will pave the way for Psych's first yuletide outing, "Gus' Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy," to be broadcast right afterwards.... Showtime is launching The L Word's fifth season on Jan. 6. Yet they refuse to give us two episodes of Dexter per week. Bastards.  Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

Nip/Tuck Ratings, L Word Return and More

ABC Commits More Murder as NBC's Bee Gets Stung

ABC has ordered three more scripts for Women's Murder Club, and not a moment too soon, given that a writers' strike could start as early as tomorrow. Cavemen and Big Shots are now the only new ABC series for which the net hasn't ordered additional episodes.... That's gotta sting: NBC has pulled The Singing Bee from its November-sweeps lineup and replaced it on Tuesday nights with supersized episodes of The Biggest Loser.  Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

ABC Commits More Murder as NBC's Bee Gets Stung

Elmo Becomes the Ghost of Future Christmas Past

Bah, humbug! ABC will premiere Elmo's Christmas Countdown on Christmas Eve eve, December 23. And although the ticklish Muppet will have Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Charles Gibson, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, Kevin James, Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Ty Pennington, Steve Schirippa, Tony Sirico and Ben Stiller on his side, I'm secretly hoping for a surprise appearance by the Grinch.  Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

Gay 'N Sync-er Pulls a Britney in Vegas

Wannabe space cadet Lance Bass has revealed to E! that in 1999 (or was it 2000? He's a bit foggy on the deets...) he got hitched in Sin City. And to a girl! "The only reason we did it is because we wanted to get free drinks all night," he stresses in making the reveal. "And we didn't get one. We're like, 'We just got married,' and they're like, 'Ah, whatever.'" — Ben Katner

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

Hills Hookup Is a Hoax? And J.Lo Is Pregnant?!

TMZ reports that The Hills are alive with the sound of screaming. While Spencer and Heidi remain nauseatingly tight, Audrina Patridge and her squeeze, Justin Bobby, had a major blowup outside L.A.'s Opera the other night. In Justin's defense, not everybody likes Carmen.... Designer Roberto Cavalli, of all people, has let the cat out of the bag, telling People, "Jennifer Lopez, at this moment, requests something very special because she is waiting for the baby. It is so complicated because every week she is getting bigger." Who knew?! (Besides everybody.)Thursday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner.

Thu, Nov 1, 2007

NBC Boss Won't Leggo His Leno

NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker on Tuesday reiterated the existing plan for Conan O'Brien to claim The Tonight Show come 2009, but stressed that that does not mean Jay Leno is leaving the Peacock. "I would very much like to keep [Jay] in the family," Zucker said to a gathering of media types at Syracuse freakin' University's S.I. Newhouse ultracool School of Public Communications, "and those discussions are going on now.... I'm hopeful Jay will be with us beyond 2009." At which time Leno's "topical" jokes about Judge Ito will be nearly 15 years old.

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Gerard Butler Escapes Remake, More Movie News

Gerard Butler (300) has bowed out of the Escape from New York remake, citing "creative differences".... Also per Variety, Spider-man 4 has tapped James Vanderbilt (Zodiac) to pen the script, which unlike No. 3 will feature two baddies, max. Neither Tobey, Kirsten nor director Sam Raimi have yet to sign on.... Ridley and Tony Scott are producing Tell-Tale, a psychological thriller inspired by the Edgar Allan Poe short story, says the Reporter.... Saw IV baddie Tobin Bell is a good-guy sheriff in a big-screen adaptation of the graphic novel Bump.

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Jessica Simpson/Owen Wilson?! And Other Love Notes

Jessica Simpson and Owen Wilson were spied on a date Sunday night at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica  before (ahem) "retiring" to his Malibu home, says The Star. And just like that, he gets a bedrock of stability in his life.... Ashley Olsen and Lance Armstrong were spotted together at the Rose Bar in New York City, say both Gotham dailies.... Catherine Keener's divorce from Dermot Mulroney was finalized on Tuesday.

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Rosie's Apres-View Debut, More Programming Notes

Rosie O'Donnell makes her first (consensual) television appearance since exiting The View on today's The Martha Stewart Show. Read into it what you will, but Ro will be dressed as Queen Elizabeth (sic?).... Charisma Carpenter's Big Shots debut currently is rescheduled for Nov. 29, with the Angel alumna playing (typecasting alert!) an "increasingly irresistible" woman.... ABC premieres the animated special Shrek the Halls Nov. 28 at 8 pm/ET. (My Jared and Jacob are getting into an advance screening!).... Speaking of me, the Mitovich Mega Minute vodcast premieres today on our homepage.

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Rosie's Apres-View Debut, More Programming Notes

Bruckheimer CSEyes an NHL Team, More Short Cuts

Jerry Bruckheimer is in talks with the National Hockey League about ponying up some $250 million to create a Las Vegas-based franchise, says Variety.... Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan is being investigated for not shaking or stirring but committing battery on a TMZ photographer this past Friday at a Malibu mall. (Funny how the assaulted shutterbugs are never on assignment from Time or Newsweek).... Bonnie Hunt's syndicated talker has been cleared in 55 percent of the country for a fall 2008 launch.... Resurrecting the Champ arrives on DVD Feb. 26.

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Singer Robert Goulet Dead at 73

Singer Robert Goulet, whose career was launched in 1960 with Broadway's Camelot, died on Tuesday while awaiting a lung transplant. He was 73. Goulet last month had been diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, but remained in good spirits to the very end. As his wife relates to the AP, he told doctors, "Just watch my vocal cords" before they inserted a breathing tube. Longtime friend Wayne Newton remembers Goulet for his sense of humor, saying he "kept my spirits up in some of the lowest valleys in my life.... God now has another singing angel by his side."

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Dancing Star Seymour "Better" After Hospital Visit

On Tuesday night's Dancing with the Stars results show, host Tom Bergeron cited food poisoning as the reason for Jane Seymour's absence. Indeed, a spokesperson for the beleaguered Brit tells ET that Seymour had been taken to the hospital as a result, leaving pro partner Tony Dovolani to appear solo. Upon surviving this week's cut, Tony tells TV Guide, "I called Jane and I screamed, 'Yeah, baby! We're in it!'" Jane's reaction? "She's really happy," hubby James Keach relayed to Tony, adding that healthwise, "She's doing much better."Related: Backstage at Dancing with the Stars: A "Recount" Is Demanded!

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Dancing Star Seymour "Better" After Hospital Visit

House Star Laurie: "Depression" Prompted Getaway

The demands of playing doctor on one of TV's biggest hits is taking its toll on Hugh Laurie, and in part prompted him to abruptly duck out of production last week and hop across the pond to his home. As the actor shares with Sydney's Daily Telegraph, "You do a pilot and of the very few picked up, only about a quarter go to a second year. So I thought, 'I'll have three fun weeks.' I never thought I'd be here three and a half years later." Though Laurie says he and his wife and kids in the U.K. visit each other "as much as possible," the expanses of time they do spend apart has landed him in "a minor depression," leaving him "drained."

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

House Star Laurie: "Depression" Prompted Getaway

Britney Bashed in Court as a "Rarely Engaged" Mom; Record Label Rants, Too

The parenting coach who has been shadowing Britney Spears during her child visitations has thoroughly chided the pop tart's maternal skills as so much Momsense. "During all three of my visits, Ms. Spears rarely engaged with the children in either conversation or play," the court-appointed observer says in docs revealed on Tuesday. "Her choices are dependent more upon what she wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children."The parenting coach also (but probably unintentionally) evoked Spears' reality series in saying the environment at her house "ranged from chaotic to almost somber." As a result, the judge ordered the kids to remain with dad Kevin Federline, and limited Spears to two day visits and one overnight per week. He also dismissed a request to modify or terminate the random drug-testing order, and demanded that she baby-proof her two residences. (But I'll warn you, Brit, those kitchen cabinet latches are a confounding beast even for...

Wed, Oct 31, 2007

Britney Bashed in Court as a "Rarely Engaged" Mom; Record Label Rants, Too

Oh, Lord! Britney Spears Crosses the Line with Scandalous Album Pics

Didn't Madonna already pull this stunt with her "Like a Prayer" video? Twitney Spears has outraged Catholic leaders with photos from her new CD, Blackout (in stores today). In one shot, in a typical state of semi-undress, the pop wreck is sitting on a priest's lap. In another, she's looking all come-hither while leaning against a church confessional. Other than concerns from religious leaders, however, the reviews for the disc have been pretty excellent. Meanwhile, as they wait to to learn whether a 50/50 custody split will be reinstated, La Spears and Kevin Federline hooked up Monday at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills for her court-ordered parenting session (only the second of which she's said to have attended). Afterward, Mamma Mia went house-hunting.Tuesday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner.

Tue, Oct 30, 2007

Oh, Lord! Britney Spears Crosses the Line with Scandalous Album Pics

Casting About: Bones Digs Geek as a New Regular

Freaks and Geeks alum John Francis Daley (seen more recently, if fleetingly, on Kitchen Confidential) has been added to the series-regular cast of Bones as Dr. Lance Sweets, the FBI-appointed therapist who has been counseling Brennan and Booth.... Designing woman Annie Potts has been cast as Hairspray hoofer Nikki Blonsky's mom in the upcoming Lifetime movie Queen-Sized.... James Caan has landed the role of the don who hires Alyssa Milano as a courier in another Lifetime pic, Wisegal.  Ben Katner

Tue, Oct 30, 2007

Casting About: Bones Digs Geek as a New Regular

Dancing with the Stars Backstage Feud Gets a Lift

After Dancing with the Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba repeatedly slammed Tony Dovolani's use of illegal lifts in his and partner Jane Seymour's routines, the pro hoofer presented the judge with a ballroom rulebook. "Because she does not know anything about ballroom, I figured she should at least read [it]," Tony tells People. "I highlighted the parts I wanted her to read, including the description of what a lift is." Unfortunately for Dovolani and Seymour, Inaba was neither amused nor enlightened. He says the ex-Fly Girl "gave me the finger.... I thought I hit home." Or certainly too close to it.  Ben KatnerFor more on Dancing with the Stars, read this morning's backstage report.

Tue, Oct 30, 2007

Dancing with the Stars Backstage Feud Gets a Lift