matt.mitovich

Star Trek: Comparing the New Crew to the Originals

How does the cast of J.J. Abrams' in-the-works Star Trek feature-film "prequel" compare to its predecessor? Upon the announcement that the final two vacancies had been filled  Chris Pine will have "the com" as Kirk, while Karl Urban is scrubbing in as Bones  TVGuide.com set up this nifty side-by-side comparison Star Trek photo gallery for your amusement and, yes, fanboy-tastic scrutiny. I'm the first to admit, I scoffed at Pine's casting, but damn if he doesn't measure up nicely versus the young Shat. Speaking purely superficially, I think John Cho is the most off-the-mark as Sulu  boy's going to have to meet the barber.POLL: Vote for your favorite and least favorite Star Trek film casting choices.More galleries: Exclusive Lost Season 4 photos, exclusive Jericho Season 2 photos

Tue, Oct 23, 2007

Star Trek: Comparing the New Crew to the Originals

Marie Osmond Literally Dances Till She Drops

Perhaps it was exhaustion. Perhaps it was the training diet. Perhaps she was overcome by the glare from the garish trophy located just off camera. In any case, Dancing with the Stars contender Marie Osmond on Monday night took to the floor, literally, upon completing a samba with pro partner Jonathan Roberts. As the judges assayed Osmond's performance, "She was laughing and then sank like a stone," an ABC rep tells the AP. "Everyone froze." (Watch video here.)After returning from a hasty commercial break, host Tom Bergeron shared that Osmond's first words upon coming to were, "Oh crap"  and then he asked the editor for a clip to send into one of those crazy home-video shows.Osmond explained on air that "once in a while... when I get winded, I stop breathing." Team Osmond went on to receive a score of 21 (out of 30).Related: Backstage at Dancing with the Stars: What Really Happened to Marie

Tue, Oct 23, 2007

Marie Osmond Literally Dances Till She Drops

24, Cold Case and Others Burned by Wildfires

The relentless wildfires ravaging Southern California have forced the evacuation of some 250,000 residents as well as singed the productions of several TV series. According to the Reporter, 24 had to rejigger a plan to film Kiefer Sutherland at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro when cast and crew became overwhelmed by drifting smoke. (This truly is not Jack Bauer's best day.) Similarly, Cold Case had to rethink a location shoot when strong winds blew over a set, and ABC's Big Shots scrapped a cycling sequence in Malibu. FX's The Riches had to make alternate plans when sheriff's deputies working traffic control at a Santa Clarita shoot were pulled to, like, save lives instead, while NCIS needed to replace crew members who stayed at home to ward off the flames.Related: Dancing Star Jane Seymour Fears Malibu Fires

Tue, Oct 23, 2007

24, Cold Case and Others Burned by Wildfires

Halle Is Berry Sorry for Making Jew Joke on Jay

Halle Berry is repenting for letting slip on The Tonight Show an off-color joke. An audience member at Friday's taping tells the New York Post that Berry  while showing Jay distorted images of herself using her iMac's Photo Booth tool  suggested that a large-nosed version "looks like my Jewish cousin." (Cue awkward silence.) Berry later asked Jay to clip the quip, and he did, but her gaffe came to light anyway. Says the tab's source, "She should be ashamed of herself."And she is. Berry phoned Page Six to explain how the joke actually originated with a Jewish assistant who made the "cousin" observation just before the taping. "I so didn't mean to offend anybody," she says. "It was just supposed to be a silly segment. I am so sorry, and I apologize." You mean you're zayt moykhl?

Tue, Oct 23, 2007

Halle Is Berry Sorry for Making Jew Joke on Jay

Amazing Race In, Not-so-amazing Viva Out

As reported earlier on the TV Guide News Report, CBS has deemed Viva Laughlin (aka "Craps Rock") a bust and cashed its chips after just two airings. Following one CSI encore (on Oct. 28), the Eye's Sundays-at-8 slot will be filled by a 12th edition of The Amazing Race. In a statement, Race exec producer Bertram van Munster says, "If there ever was a season that I consider one of the best, it's this one. It's insanely funny, fast-paced and dramatic all at once." And there's no dancing on roulette wheels. He meant to add that. This season, the Race will cover five new countries including Ireland, Lithuania and Croatia.Related: Viva's Dead! Will Brothers & Sisters' Gay Reverend Return?

Tue, Oct 23, 2007

Amazing Race In, Not-so-amazing Viva Out

Movie News: Eva's New Learning, X-Men and More

Eva Longoria and ex-flame Jason Biggs investigate allegations against an elementary-school principal (Rob Corddry) in the comedy Lower Learning.... Also per the Reporter, Angela Bassett and Noah Wyle have joined the Rod Lurie thriller Nothing But the Truth.... Crooner Chris Isaak is a sex- and alcohol-obsessed father in an adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' The Informers.... According to Variety, a May 1, 2009, release has been set for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman and perhaps also Liev Schreiber (as a young William Stryker).... After gaining 20 pounds and a beard for the role, Ryan Gosling has parted ways with Peter Jackson's take on The Lovely Bones, due to "creative differences." Mark Wahlberg steps in as the new Jack Salmon.

Mon, Oct 22, 2007

Movie News: Eva's New Learning, X-Men and More

Pink May Pink-slip Hubby and More Short Cuts

"Divorce is just around the corner" for Pink and biker-hubby Carey Hart, a source tells the New York Daily News, explaining that the popstress has had her fill of their alleged "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"/Feel Free to Play While I'm Away on Tour policy. In related news, Prison Break's Dominic Purcell has split from his wife. See the TV Guide News Report for details.... Valerie Bertinelli has signed on as a "celebrity content buddy" for Rachael Ray, starting on Oct. 23 with a "girls' guide to the gridiron".... David Copperfield's lawyer rebuts last week's rape accusation as "false," saying his client "has never forced himself on anyone".... September Dawn arrives on DVD Jan. 2.... Court TV's Star Jones continues its seven-week series on the deadly sins today at 3 pm, with sloth.

Mon, Oct 22, 2007

Pink May Pink-slip Hubby and More Short Cuts

Dancing with the Stars Host Gabbing with The View

Dancing with the Stars' Samantha Harris will guest-host ABC's The View this Thursday and Friday, as the daytime talker scrambles to accommodate the fast-tracked maternity leave of Elisabeth Hasselbeck. (Following Tuesday's taping, Hasselbeck is rushing off to Arizona, where hubby Tim is tackling a brand-new NFL quarterbacking gig.) As previously reported in the Soaps News blog, One Life to Live sweetheart Kassie DePaiva is Liz's first fill-in, on Wednesday.Also, as part of its sweeps plan, starting Nov.1 and continuing each subsequent Thursday, Viewers will be treated to a dance from couples voted off DWTS. The month also will feature such guests as Jerry Seinfeld, Peter Krause, Keri Russell, David Spade, Teri Hatcher, Steve Martin, Jason Bateman, Jorja Fox and Marcia Cross.

Mon, Oct 22, 2007

Dancing with the Stars Host Gabbing with The View

Joshua Jackson Goes Grey's, and More Casting News

Joshua Jackson, aka Dawson's Creek's Pacey (aka one of the last guys to mack on a pre-TC Katie Holmes), is scrubbing in for a "several-episode" Grey's Anatomy stint as a doctor, starting with this season's Episode 11.... Also per Variety, Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) is the wife of Joseph Fiennes' sex-change-bound family man in the FX pilot Pretty Handsome (né 4 oz.).... Logan Marshall-Green (Traveler) and Larenz Tate (Love Monkey) have landed roles on the NBC cop-drama pilot Blue Blood.... Megan Dodds (Urbania) and Christina Vidal (I Think I Love My Wife) are lawyers in an untitled legal thriller for NBC.

Mon, Oct 22, 2007

Joshua Jackson Goes Grey's, and More Casting News

Brad and Angelina Give Birth to... HBO Series

The two-person "justice league" of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are executive-producing for HBO a drama series that will explore the behind-the scenes politics of an international aid organization and chronicle the lives of the humanitarian workers assigned to dangerous areas of the globe, says the Hollywood Reporter. Scott Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum) will pen the script.The as-yet-untitled series has been a passion project for Jolie ever since she starred in Beyond Borders. It marks her first HBO enterprise since winning a Golden Globe 10 years ago for bedding Elizabeth Mitchell in Gia.

Mon, Oct 22, 2007

Brad and Angelina Give Birth to... HBO Series

30 Days Takes Biggest Bite of Weekend Box Office

The vampire flick 30 Days of Night this weekend topped the box office with an estimated gross of $16 million. That was enough to unseat the previous champ, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? ($12 mil). Rounding out the top five were The Game Plan ($8.1 mil), Michael Clayton ($7.1 mil) and  currently in a dead heat for fifth-place honors  Team Affleck's Gone Baby Gone and the sports spoof The Comebacks, each of which is hovering around $6 mil.

Mon, Oct 22, 2007

30 Days Takes Biggest Bite of Weekend Box Office

Harry Potter Author Confirms, "Dumbledore Is Gay"

At a Friday-night appearance at Carnegie Hall, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling confirmed that which many fans had suspected: Albus' wand leans the other way. According to the AP, during a question-and-answer following a brief Deathly Hallows reading, Rowling responded to a query about Hogwarts' headmaster finding true love by saying, "Dumbledore is gay." The writer proceeded to elaborate that Dumbledore was smitten with Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle. Upon seeing his good friend go bad, she says, Dumbledore was "horribly, terribly let down."My Dumbledore/Uncle Arthur-from-Bewitched slash fiction just got a lot more interesting.UPDATE: I went to see The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway Saturday, not long after this story hit the AP, and they worked a Professor Dumbledore joke into the script. Ha.

Sat, Oct 20, 2007

Harry Potter Author Confirms, "Dumbledore Is Gay"

Bobby Brown, Marcia Brady Vie for Country Career

CMT in January will premiere Gone Country, a reality competition in which the likes of Bobby Brown, Carnie Wilson, Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo, Julio Iglesias Jr., Maureen McCormick and R&B artist Sisqo are tutored by Big & Rich's John Rich in the ways of country crooning. According to the Reporter, the celebs will cohabitate in a Nashville manse for two weeks as they compete in challenges involving the on- and off-stage country-music lifestyle. At the end, Rich will dub one a winner, and he/she will release a song about, I am guessing, a great love gone wrong.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Bobby Brown, Marcia Brady Vie for Country Career

What's Up Copperfield's Sleeve? A Rape Allegation

A team of 12 FBI agents on Wednesday night raided a Las Vegas warehouse belonging to magic man David Copperfield, seizing a computer hard drive, digital camera system and nearly $2 million in cash. The feds, however, were not at liberty to confirm the nature of their investigation, only saying that it "is related to a Seattle case [that] is pending." Since then, startling information has come to light. A Seattle woman has made a rape claim against Copperfield, telling police that he raped her while she was in the Bahamas, Fox News reports. Because the alleged assault happened abroad and was not reported while the woman was still in the Bahamas, Seattle law enforcement turned it over to the FBI.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

What's Up Copperfield's Sleeve? A Rape Allegation

Ugly Betty Is Not Up Kirstie's Alley

Kirstie Alley will guest-star on an upcoming episode of ABC's Ugly Betty as a "zaftig, tough-talking modeling agent" who berates her wafer-thin clients, says the New York Post's Liz Smith. What's more, Alley is reportedly trying to lure her Look Who's Talking costar John Travolta into delivering a cameo during her visit. What, no love for Abe Vigoda?!UPDATE: Turns out Liz Smith was just grabbing at air with this one. Kirstie is a no, though Betty White is a yes (as is a Tru Calling alum). See the TV Guide News Report for more.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Movie News: Naomi Watts Is for The Birds, and More

Naomi Watts will star in a big-screen reimagining of the Daphne du Maurier short story that inspired Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Martin Campbell is in talks to direct, and Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes shingle will produce.... Also per Variety, Ricky Bobby hottie Leslie Bibb is Miss Nobody in an indie comedy about a mild-mannered secretary who learns she has a knack for knocking people off. Adam Goldberg, Missy Pyle and Kathy Baker will also star.... Simon Baker has the lead role as a bank manager haunted by the death of his daughter in the psychological thriller Not Forgotten.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Movie News: Naomi Watts Is for The Birds, and More

Katie Holmes Not Pregnant, and More Love Notes

A spokesperson for Katie Holmes tells Us that despite recent puffy-bloused photos and typical tabloid "speculation," Tom Cruise's missus "is not pregnant".... Virtually everybody from Lindsay Lohan's camp, Papa Michael included, is coming forth to rebuff a rumor that the recently rehabbed starlet is betrothed to snowboarder Riley Giles. (Too bad  he sounds like such a catch!).... Grey's Anatomy grump Sandra Oh's divorce from filmmaker hubby Alexander Payne was finalized on Thursday, says TV's Extra.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Katie Holmes Not Pregnant, and More Love Notes

X-Files, Dexter and More Short Cuts

The X-Files: The Complete Collectors' Edition, a 61-disc package, arrives on DVD Nov. 6 at a retail price of $329.98.... Dexter celebrates Halloween on Oct. 28 with an episode where our "hero" seeks to avenge his mother's murder.... Surf's Up topped last week's DVD sales and rental charts, besting Evan Almighty and Fantastic Four 2, respectively.... ESPN alum Dan Patrick has inked a deal to write a weekly column for Sports Illustrated, says Variety.... Twentieth Century Fox TV has signed L.I.E. director Michael Cuesta to develop, produce and direct series for the studio. Cuesta was behind the passed-on CBS pilot Babylon Fields and is helming the Fox pilot The Oaks.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

In Memoriam: Eternity's Deborah Kerr, Rat Pack Member Joey Bishop

Deborah Kerr, whose most memorable film turns include From Here to Eternity and The King and I, died Tuesday at age 86. The actress, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, is survived by husband Peter Viertel, two daughters and three grandchildren.... The Rat Pack is at last no more, with the Wednesday passing of Joey Bishop at age 89. Bishop is survived by his son Larry, two grandchildren and his longtime companion, Nora Garabotti.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Star Trek Ready for Blastoff with Castin' of Kirk and Bones Picking

As previewed last week, Chris Pine (Just My Luck, Smokin' Aces) has signed on to play James Tiberius Kirk in J.J. Abrams' increasingly anticipated Star Trek feature film. The future Enterprise crew is now complete, with the further addition of country singer The Lord of the Rings' Karl Urban as Leonard "Bones/I'm a Doctor, Not a Bricklayer" McCoy.With shooting to begin next month, now we just need a script that sings and uniforms that aren't, like, absolutely goofy.

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Star Trek Ready for Blastoff with Castin' of Kirk and Bones Picking

Toni Collette's Got Personalities in Spielberg Series

Oscar and Golden Globe nominee Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine) has landed the roles of a lifetime in The United States of Tara, a Showtime pilot produced by Steven Spielberg and centered on a wife and mom with multiple-personality syndrome. Tara's alters include a male biker, a slutty teen and a Martha Stewart-like homemaker. Championing the casting, Showtime prez Robert Greenblatt tells the Reporter, "When [you need] an actress to not only play one complex character, but in this case several, the road begins and ends with Toni Collette. [We] are thrilled to have one of the best young actresses of her generation come aboard this project."

Fri, Oct 19, 2007

Toni Collette's Got Personalities in Spielberg Series

In the Works: View of Joizy, Sci Fi Revolution and More

Debi Mazar (Entourage), Aida Turturro (The Sopranos) and Karen Duffy (Dumb and Dumber) are shopping around a syndicated talk show fancied as a New Jersey take on The View, sources tell the Reporter. The line for tickets forms at Exit 143.... Sci Fi Channel has greenlit Revolution, a futuristic (duh) action-drama pilot about colonists of the Earth-like New America fighting for independence from their increasingly hostile homeland, the United State.... Damon Wayans is cocreating a new family sitcom for ABC, one edgier in tone than My Wife & Kids and in which he will star as a widower who takes in the teen stepson he never knew.

Thu, Oct 18, 2007

In the Works: View of Joizy, Sci Fi Revolution and More