matt.mitovich

Idol Carrie Cozy with Gossip Hunk, and More Love Notes

American Idol Carrie Underwood and Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford were spotted "getting cozy" with each other over the weekend, says Page Six.... A spokesperson for Paris Hilton insists to TV's Extra that the celebunot and Kid Rock "are absolutely not dating," contrary to recent reports. Of course, it may all depend on what your chaste, romantic definition of "dating" is.... Law & Order: CI's Vincent D'Onofrio and his wife Carin are expecting a baby this winter, says People. This will be their second child together.

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

Pussycat Purrs on Cane, Charisma and More Short Cuts

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Laguna Beach's Kristin Cavallari both put in appearances on CBS' Cane tonight.... Attention, fellow Charisma Carpenter fans: the goddess' Big Shots debut has been pushed back to Episode 8, aka sometime during late November. Until then, you can catch her Nov. 7 on Back to You.... Disney Channel's Twitches Too conjured up nearly seven million viewers in its Friday premiere, making it basic cable's most-watched program for the night.... CNN is moving Lou Dobbs Tonight back an hour, to 7 pm/ET. Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room will air from 4 to 7.... ESPN premieres the newsmagazine E:60 tonight at 7 pm. See the TV Guide Sports Report for more.

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

Pussycat Purrs on Cane, Charisma and More Short Cuts

Jorja Fox: CSI Is a Keeper, So I'm a Goner

Explaining that there are many things, both personal and professional, that she wants to do  "and I really need to do some of them before I get too old"  Jorja Fox confirms the biz's worst-kept secret, that her days as a CSI are ending, partly because the hit procedural isn't. "If I thought the show were on its last legs, I would've tried harder to stay the course," she tells Entertainment Weekly. "But I feel like it's going to be around for a while." As such, she says, "I have to get off the ride." With Fox's send-off slated for sometime during November sweeps, might Sara-Grissom fans receive proper closure? "I don't think you're going to get that," Fox recently told the Ausiello Report. "This might sound vain, but the story of Sara and Grissom is a little like a fable, and most great fables don't really have 100 percent resolution."

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

Jorja Fox: CSI Is a Keeper, So I'm a Goner

Sherri Shepherd Views CW Sitcom Showcase

The View cohost Sherri Shepherd, formerly of prime time's Less Than Perfect and currently recurring as 30 Rock's Angy Angie Jordan, is developing a sitcom vehicle for the CW in which she would star as (art-imitates-life alert!) a married woman who discovers that her hubby not only has been unfaithful, but has an illegitimate kid to show for it. The wife then (end real-life parallels alert!) invites the child and mistress to move in. According to the Reporter, if picked up the show likely would shoot in NYC, allowing Shepherd to pull a Ripa and tackle double duty.

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

Sherri Shepherd Views CW Sitcom Showcase

Britney Booked for Hit-and-run; Lawyer Hopes for Deal

Britney Spears on Monday night was booked on two charges  hit-and-run causing property damage and driving without a valid California driver's license  stemming from her Aug. 6 fender-bender in a San Fernando Valley parking lot. Spears was reportedly smiling, "cooperative" and poured into a short black dress as she was fingerprinted and photographed, then released an hour later. (She also sported sunglasses, allegedly due to a bout of "pink eye," which only means one thing: "I'm spending time with my munchkins, y'all!") Though the popped tart faces up to a year in the clink when she is arraigned on Oct. 25, her lawyer tells People, "We're working toward a resolution of the case, but we don't have a firm deal yet."

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

Britney Booked for Hit-and-run; Lawyer Hopes for Deal

Led Zeppelin Ends Digital Communication Breakdown

Bringing to a close the group's long stalemate with the digital era, Led Zeppelin has announced that their back catalog  including "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love" (oh, the college nights I barely remember chilling out to that one)  will be available for download Nov. 13, the same day the two-CD retrospective Mothership comes out. Said guitarist Jimmy Page, "[This] will better enable fans to obtain our music in whichever manner they prefer." In related news, Apple has announced the simultaneous release of the iBong.

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

Led Zeppelin Ends Digital Communication Breakdown

DVR Ratings: Grey's, CBS Each Claim Bragging Rights

As promised, the first meaningful batch of live-plus-seven-days ratings is in, and both ABC's Grey's Anatomy and CBS' pool of procedurals can claim bragging rights (if, in fact, people choosing not to watch your show live is to be boasted about). For the first real week of fall-season competition (starting Sept. 24), Grey's enjoyed the biggest boost from DVD playback  two million total viewers. CBS, however, notes that out of the 15 shows that gained a million-plus heads, it boasts seven  led by CSI in the No. 2 slot  which is more than any rival. Rounding out the top 10 are Heroes (which received the biggest lift in 18-49), House, CSI: Miami, Criminal Minds, Bionic Woman, The Office, Numbers and Journeyman.Overall, the Big Four networks saw a five percent increase in viewership tallies once DVR playbacks were factored in.Related: DVR Ratings Might Not Perform CPR on Dying Shows

Tue, Oct 16, 2007

DVR Ratings: Grey's, CBS Each Claim Bragging Rights

View's Hasselbeck Gets November-sweeps Send-off

Lest anyone get too comfy with the current, finally finalized lineup of ladies who gab... The View's increasingly pregnant cohost, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, will set off on maternity leave Nov. 8 or 9, a spokesperson tells the Associated Press. In Hasselbeck's absence, Rosie will kvell repeatedly via haiku various celebrity guest cohosts will fill in for her.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

View's Hasselbeck Gets November-sweeps Send-off

Brothers & Sisters Keeps Its "Father," and More Deals

Brothers & Sisters creator Jon Robin Baitz has inked a two-year, seven-figure deal with ABC Studios to stay on as the an executive producer for the Sunday serial and develop new projects.... Also per Variety, Mark Steines has signed a multiyear deal to continue coanchoring Entertainment Tonight/applying Kiehls twice daily to Mary Hart's legs.... Hairspray producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have landed a lucrative production deal at CBS to produce movies and miniseries for the tube.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Brothers & Sisters Keeps Its "Father," and More Deals

Exclusive Peek at Lost's New Season! Plus, Lost 2.0!

Break out the magnifying glasses and prepare to hypothesize to your heart's content, Lost fans. At right is an exclusive photo from the set of the new season of ABC's Lost, premiering... well, way too long a time from now, for my liking. I see Sayid, Bernard and Desmond, and when you click over to our oversized pop-up, you can spy Juliet on the far right, also standing in front of... is that Flight 815's cockpit?!For more clue-filled Lost photos, watch for this week's issue of TV Guide, featuring Grey's Anatomy's Justin Chambers and Elizabeth Reaser on the cover. Try four risk-free issues now!Related news: SciFi Channel and G4 have grabbed dibs on Lost repeats, with SciFi planning a weekly four-hour block (perhaps to air on Monday nights) and G4 aiming to give the series the same "2.0" treatment it did for Star Trek.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Exclusive Peek at Lost's New Season! Plus, Lost 2.0!

Good News for Back to You, and K-Ville, Too

On the heels of the announcement that Fox has cut back its order for Amy Sherman-Palladino's midseason comedy The Return of Jezebel James from 13 to just seven total episodes (see the Ausiello Report for more) comes word that the network has picked up two additional scripts for the ratings-challenged K-Ville. Variety is also reporting that Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton's Back to You is due for a full-season pickup by Fox, perhaps coming as early as this week.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Good News for Back to You, and K-Ville, Too

Friday Night Lights Stars Apply for "Super" Roles

Friday Night Lights' Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki and Scott Porter are among the host of fresh young faces currently taking part in director George Miller's two-day marathon casting session for Justice League of America, says the Hollywood Reporter. Miller has some 40 up-and-comers on his radar for the comic-book-based film, which is looking to fill the costumes of Superman, Wonder Woman (Jessica Biel "passed"), Batman, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter. Others on yesterday and today's short list include Adam Brody (The O.C.), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Grindhouse), Michael Anganaro (Will & Grace), Teresa Palmer (Wolf Creek) and rapper Common.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Friday Night Lights Stars Apply for "Super" Roles

Brooke Shields' New Hubby, Swayze's Beastly Role

Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files) has replaced Chris Wiehl (Love Monkey) as Brooke Shields' husband on the NBC midseason drama Lipstick Jungle.... Also per the Reporter, Patrick Swayze has been tapped to topline The Beast, A&E Network's drama pilot about a veteran FBI agent who trains a new partner (Travis Fimmel) in his psychologically clever style while being pursued by an Internal Affairs team and being subjected to Dr. Houseman's rhetoric.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Brooke Shields' New Hubby, Swayze's Beastly Role

Project Runway 4 Ripped for Alleged Bias

Spoiler alert for the yet-to-air fourth season of Project Runway, which premieres Nov. 4 on the Bravo cable network. Here's a few other extra words to pad the space before the actual spoiler info. OK.... A source who claims to have spoken with this cycle's fifth eliminee, New Yorker Jack Mackenroth, tells the New York Daily News the HIV-positive designer saw his chances unravel when he got a staph infection "and his face blew up like the kid from Mask." (Staph skin infections, the News explains, can be especially serious for the HIV-positive  and potentially infectious to others.) Mackenroth, who would have been in violation of his reality-show confidentiality agreement by passing along such information, responds via a Bravo rep, "Those were not my words and are fictitious."

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Ugly Betty's Vanessa Gets Pretty Penny from Proactiv

Vanessa Williams has inked an endorsement deal with Proactiv worth nearly $20 million, sources tell the New York Post's Page Six. The Ugly Betty cast member's pact reportedly is on par with the $3 mil-per-year Jessica Simpson just scored, but at the end of the day Williams will net even more because she is going to be developing a cosmetics line for the company. (Me, I think J.Simp perhaps overestimates just how many people are looking at the face.)

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Ugly Betty's Vanessa Gets Pretty Penny from Proactiv

Box Office: Tyler Perry Dislodges the Rock

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? unseated Dwayne Johnson's The Game Plan! as box-office champ, earning $21.5 million in its opening weekend. After two straight weeks at the top, Game Plan dropped to the No. 2 slot, adding $11.5 mil to its coffers.Rounding out the weekend's top five were George Clooney's Michael Clayton! ($11.01 mil), Joaquin Phoenix's Do We Own the Night? ($11 mil) and Ben Stiller's The Heartbreak Kid! ($7.4 mil). Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth: Is This the Golden Age? placed sixth in its debut with $6.2 mil.

Mon, Oct 15, 2007

Box Office: Tyler Perry Dislodges the Rock

Ratings: ABC's Murder Club Kills the Competition

The premiere of the new ABC drama Women's Murder Club was Friday's most-watched program  with 10.8 million total viewers  as well as the evening's No. 1 performer among the 18-49 demo. What's more, it gave ABC its best Friday audience since May 2006.Elsewhere: Trailing Deal or No Deal, Ghost Whisperer (8.76 mil) matched last week's numbers. 20/20 was a distance fourth (behind Fox's playoffs coverage, which averaged 7.46 mil for the night). Opposite WMC at 9, Moonlight (7.3 mil) was down 950 thou. Friday Night Lights (5.42 mil) lost 16 percent of its season-premiere audience. Numbers topped the 10 o'clock hour in total viewers (9.1 mil, down 430K), while the returning Men in Trees (7.06 mil) was tops with the 18-49 crowd. With 7.13 mil, Las Vegas dipped 270 thou.

Sun, Oct 14, 2007

Ratings: ABC's Murder Club Kills the Competition

Dirty Sexy Samaire Treated for "Personal Issues"

Samaire Armstrong, who plays the substance-abusing, Paris Hilton-esque Juliet Darling on ABC's Dirty Sexy Money, has "decided to enter an outpatient facility to deal with some personal issues in a therapeutic atmosphere and is doing very well," says a statement from the actress' rep. "She continues to work on her show and will be completing her treatment in a matter of weeks." Us is reporting that as a result, Armstrong will only be absent from a single episode.It's reassuring to see that at least one Hollywood starlet knows how to (and cares to) head things off at the pass.

Sat, Oct 13, 2007

Dirty Sexy Samaire Treated for "Personal Issues"

Investigating Anna Nicole's Death, Authorities Raid Doctors' Offices

California Department of Justice agents investigating the February death of Anna Nicole Smith on Friday raided a half-dozen locations, including the offices and residences of two doctors under suspicion for their treatment of the former Playboy Playmate and reality-TV star, says the AP. Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, for one, is being eyeballed for his prescription of methadone to Smith, who was felled by an accidental overdose. Agents also were seen at the office of Dr. Khristine Ersohevich, a psychiatrist who reportedly authorized the 11 meds found in Smith's hotel room the day she died. All told, at the time of her death, more than 600 pills were found missing from Smith's litany of prescriptions, none of which was more than five weeks old.

Sat, Oct 13, 2007

Investigating Anna Nicole's Death, Authorities Raid Doctors' Offices

SJP Is AS-P's Late Bloomer, More Movie News

Sarah Jessica Parker is a single woman who, after the death of her mother, bonds with her dad as they each venture into the dating world in The Late Bloomer's Revolution, an adaptation of the Amy Cohen book and Gilmore Girl boss Amy Sherman-Palladino's feature-directing debut.... Also per Variety, Frank Langella will present Cameron Diaz with The Box in a horror flick helmed by Donnie Darko's Richard Kelly.... The 300 team of director Zack Snyder and scribe Kurt Johnstad are reuniting for The Last Photograph, a drama based on an original idea of Snyder's.

Fri, Oct 12, 2007

Jessica Simpson's Zit Remedy and More Short Cuts

Jessica Simpson has renewed her deal with Proactiv  to the tune of $3 mil, Page Six hears  and will star in new commercials to break out before Christmas.... History Channel premieres Bob Woodruff's Baghdad Diary on Nov. 17.... Rose McGowan is engaged to Robert Rodriguez, who directed her (at the very least, apparently) in Grindhouse, a source tells People. Yeesh, you only have to sleep with the director, kids.... My Girl Anna Chlumsky's bid for a prettier last name is closer to fruition, as she is now engaged to Army reserve member Shaun So.

Fri, Oct 12, 2007

New Star Trek "Pines" for Kirk as it Casts Scotty, Sulu and Baddie

Gloucester, England-born Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz) and Harold & Kumar's John Cho are boarding J.J. Abrams' Star Trek feature in the roles of engineering wizard/Romulan-ale enthusiast Montgomery Scott and Lt. Hikaru Sulu, says the Reporter. They join other future Enterprisers Zachary Quinto (as Spock), Zoe Saldana (Uhura) and Anton Yelchin (Chekov), while Eric Bana has been tapped to play the villain. I know what you're wondering: But who... has... the com? According to the trades, Chris Pine is in talks to play young Kirk. Just My Luck, indeed. For more discussion of the Star Trek castings, listen to the Oct. 12 TV Guide Talk podcast.

Fri, Oct 12, 2007