matt.mitovich

Martha Stewart, Bob Saget and Other Short Cuts

Comcast this week launched Martha Stewart On Demand, a new service offering 24/7 access to decoupage tips and such.... 1 vs. 100 host Bob Saget is taking over as Man in Chair in Broadway's The Drowsy Chaperone, starting Oct. 19.... Disney Channel has set an Oct. 27 Season 2 premiere for Handy Manny.... Evan Almighty, Fast Food Nation, Happy Feet (ugh) and Miss Potter are the feature-film nominees at the Environmental Media Association Awards, to be held Oct. 24 in Los Angeles.

Tue, Oct 2, 2007

Martha Stewart, Bob Saget and Other Short Cuts

Britney Loses Custody of Kids Because She Just Said No to Drug Counseling

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon on Monday issued an order giving Kevin Federline "physical custody of the minor children," sons Jayden James and Sean Preston, effective noon Wednesday and "until further order of the court." Spears and Federline had shared custody of the munchkins since the time of their separation. Now, one photo-shoot meltdown, a VMAs implosion and several mini-scandals later, Federline has comparatively smelled like a rose. (Well played, Garkle.)By Tuesday morning, reports were circulating that K-Fed may have already had the kids handed off to him, not long after Mom breezed 'em through a Carl's Jr. drive-through for lunch. Sources also tell the New York Daily News that in addition to Spears driving around sans a valid Cali driver's license and a bodyguard's recent account of her alleged cocaine abuse, the final straw for the judge rendering this decision may have been the popstress' noncompliance in submitting to weekly drug tests and not partaking ...

Tue, Oct 2, 2007

Britney Loses Custody of Kids Because She Just Said No to Drug Counseling

Holy Miley! Cyrus-Montana Tour Is Biz's Hottest Ticket

Tickets for Miley Cyrus' concert tour, kicking off later this month, are selling out in minutes at many venues, leaving wannabe parents-of-the-year frustrated and/or faced with exorbitant markups. "We knew it was hot, but we had no idea it was this crazy," the tour's organizer tells the AP. "It's like the Beatles." (That's Stella McCartney's dad's old band, kiddies.) Some stats: Cyrus' Memphis show filled 12,000 seats in eight minutes; a ticket for the Charlotte, North Carolina, show went for $2,565; though the tour caps ticket prices at $65, the average resale is $214, besting Timberlake, Beyoncé and The Police.While scalpers use computer programs to scarf up lotsa tickets superfast and to pass them on at massive margins, a spokesperson for StubHub advises moms and dads: "The prices you see now are not the prices that are going to hold. Parents need to set a price that they are comfortable with and watch the market." And brace for a tantrum.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Holy Miley! Cyrus-Montana Tour Is Biz's Hottest Ticket

Ratings: Housewives Still Bring Home the Bacon

This Sunday, as NBC's prime-time football coverage averaged about 13.6 million total viewers: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition drew 11.67 mil over its two-hour run, finishing strongly with 14 mil in the 8 o'clock hour. Still, its return was off from last fall's by 1.8 mil. CW Now (780,000) and Online Nation (698 thou) continue to make those year-ago Everybody Hates Chris repeats look stellar. Housewives was the night's best performer, welcoming 19 mil back to Wisteria Lane. (That's a 20-percent drop from its previous premiere, yet on par with the May finale.) Interestingly, the added competition heated up Cold Case (13.55 mil) to the tune of 1.25 mil additional heads. At 10, the champ was Brothers & Sisters (with 13.3 mil, down 17 percent from its series debut), followed by football and then Shark (11.43 mil, pretty much matching last week's numbers).

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Ratings: Housewives Still Bring Home the Bacon

Grey's Anatomy Diagnosed with Distended Ad Prices

Grey's Anatomy is this TV season's most expensive show for advertisers to buy into, commanding on average $419,000 per 30-second spot, says an Advertising Age survey. Last fall's titleholder was Desperate Housewives, which drew $394K.Rounding out this year's top five are NBC's Sunday Night Football ($358,000), The Simpsons ($315,000), Heroes ($296,000) and the ladies of Wisteria Lane ($270,000). Come January, Grey's riches could look like peanuts compared to what American Idol stands to reap. Ad Age hears that Idol is asking for anywhere from $500,000 to $700,000 per :30, depending on when during the season the commercial gets slotted. The next round of 24, meanwhile, is said to be looking at $300K per incredulous plot twist spot.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Grey's Anatomy Diagnosed with Distended Ad Prices

Casting News: Nine Star Warms Up Mafia Lesbian

Lourdes Benedicto, formerly of The Nine, 24 and NYPD Blue, has been cast as Bonnie Somerville's lesbian love interest on ABC's midseason drama series The Hot Dream Rosie Had Last Night Cashmere Mafia.... Also from the Hollywood Reporter, Melrose Place brat Laura Leighton is Daniel's Daughter in a Hallmark Channel weeper about a high-powered magazine editor who comes to some realizations about life when she takes time off to spread her father's ashes.More TVGuide.com casting news: Exclusive: Eddie Cibrian Gets Dirty, Exclusive: George Michael Gets Stoned for ABC

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Casting News: Nine Star Warms Up Mafia Lesbian

Letterman Puts Paris in the "That's Hot" Seat

David Letterman on Friday's Late Show forced the prison issue with Paris Hilton, ultimately making the heirhead feel "sad" that she paid a visit. At first owning up that her jail stint was "very traumatic," an increasingly uneasy Hilton later sought to dismiss the line of questioning by saying, "I don't really want to talk about it anymore." (To which Dave, god bless him, responded, "This is where you and I are different  this is all I want to talk about.") "There's other stuff to talk about, Dave," Paris countered, perhaps feeling that her thoughts on the mortgage industry's collapse were going unappreciated. "Now you're making me sad.... You're hurting my feelings." Find the full video here.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Letterman Puts Paris in the "That's Hot" Seat

New to TV: Cable Tackles Russell Crowe's Rugby Team

Comcast's Versus network has bought South Sydney Story, a docuseries detailing Russell Crowe's role as owner of an Aussie pro rugby team, says Variety. The series will air Wednesday nights over five weeks in October and November.... CBS has ordered eight episodes of Jingles, a reality competition from (guess who) Mark Burnett, in which contestants conjure up catchy tunes touting real-life products.... NBC has granted a 13-episode order to Robinson Crusoe, a drama series based on the Daniel Defoe novel and to premiere as early as fall 2008.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

New to TV: Cable Tackles Russell Crowe's Rugby Team

Idol's McPhee, Pam Anderson Heading for Weddings

Sources close to American Idol alumna Katharine McPhee tell OK! Magazine that the 23-year-old singer is engaged to be married to her actor-beau, Nick Cokas, 42. Let me guess, they're setting a date for either May or December?.... Twice-married Pamela Anderson and new paramour Rick "One Night in Paris" Salomon were granted a marriage license on Saturday in Las Vegas, reports the AP. Now that is going to be a helluva wedding video.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Idol's McPhee, Pam Anderson Heading for Weddings

007's Moneypenny Passes, and More Short Cuts

Lois Maxwell, the Canadian-born actress who played Miss Moneypenny in 14 James Bond films, died Saturday after a bout with cancer. She was 80.... Bono, the Edge and Julie Taymor are forging ahead with their Broadway musical take on Spider-Man, says the New York Daily News, and are currently looking for a "huge theater" to host the production.... A newly remastered Spice World DVD streets Nov. 27, timed to the Girls' World Reunion Tour.... MyNetworkTV premieres Celebrity Exposé tonight at 8 pm/ET. First to be exposed: Lindsay Lohan.... CBS' Cane this Tuesday features a performance by reggae artist Daddy Yankee.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Box Office: Game Plan Scores a Touchdown

The Game Plan, a Disney comedy starring Kyra Sedgwick (that's my spin and I'm sticking to it) topped the weekend box office with a $22.7 million opening. The weekend's other major new release, Jamie, Jen and Jason's The Kingdom, placed second with $17.7 mil.Rounding out the top five were Resident Evil: Extinction ($8 million), Good Luck Chuck ($6.3 mil) and 3:10 to Yuma (clocking in with another $4.2 mil).In very limited release, both The Darjeeling Limited (aka the Owen Wilson-in-a-head-bandage film) and Ang Lee's Lust, Caution opened strongly.

Mon, Oct 1, 2007

Box Office: Game Plan Scores a Touchdown

Legal Briefs: Lost Alum Accused of Probation Violation

Prosecutors have accused Michelle Rodriguez of violating her probation in a 2003 drunk-driving case by failing to complete her community service and not following an alcohol education program. If the actress is found to have violated her probation, she could face between 477 and 537 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Her attorney on Friday blamed "a clerical error" for the community-service discrepancy. A hearing is set for Oct. 12.... Kiefer Sutherland on Friday was officially charged with single counts of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level above .08. If convicted, he faces a max of a year in jail and a minimum of four days. If found guilty of violating probation with his second DUI in 10 years, he could get hit with an additional six months.

Sun, Sep 30, 2007

Legal Briefs: Lost Alum Accused of Probation Violation

Ratings: Moonlight Can't Come Close to Home

Numbers was Friday night's top-rated program with 9.16 million total viewers, a 20 percent plunge from its year-ago season premiere. In a close second was Las Vegas, whose two-hour opener averaged 9.12 mil (just a Tom Selleck mustache hair off last year's). Like Numbers, Ghost Whisperer (8.65 mil) was down  14 percent  from last fall's premiere. CBS' new 9 o'clock Friday series, Moonlight, was sampled by 8.63 mil, demonstrating solid retention out of J.Love yet coming up well short of underappreciated time-slot predecessor Close to Home's most recent opener (in both total viewers and key demos). Can't blame it on a lack of online advertising.Fox's K-Ville "encore" was watched by 2.6 mil, better than the numbers Nashville was putting up.Saturday's "controversial" Heroes rebroadcast drew about 3.6 mil, I hear, but the actual tally of unique, nonduplicated viewers (to be added to last Monday's audience) isn't expected until Tuesday.

Sun, Sep 30, 2007

Ratings: Moonlight Can't Come Close to Home

ABC's Traveler: The Final Secrets Are Revealed

As promised, David DiGilio, the creator of ABC's unjustly dispatched Traveler series, has come forth with a final TVGuide.com celebrity blog entry revealing not just the secret of the Fourth Branch and the true identity of the Porter, but also the (would-be) game plan for Seasons 2 and 3. Explaining the Fourth Branch alluded to in the "series" finale, he writes, "Our founding fathers wanted independence from England, and they needed to unify a fledgling country populated by a multinational constituency to win the war. What better way to rally a disparate army against the oppressors than to promise the common man a voice in the new government? But what if the founding fathers were also scared of the common mans power? Would they have perhaps put safeguards into place? A branch that sits above the peoples three official branches of government? That, my friends, is the Fourth Branch. It is the realization of one of our worst fears, that though we live in the worlds g...

Sat, Sep 29, 2007

Big Shot McDermott's Real-life Split, More Love Notes

Big Shots star Dylan McDermott and his actress-wife Shiva Rose have separated after 12 years of marriage, his rep tells People. McDermott and Rose and have two daughters, ages 11 and 2.... Jennifer Lopez is still in denial... mode, telling Us that the latest, stronger-than-ever round of pregnancy rumors are false. "No, no! We get this every week!" Lopez said at a London soiree for her upcoming album, Brave.... Teenage Witch Melissa Joan Hart and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, are expecting their second child in about five months, says People. The couple have a son, Mason, who is nearly 2.

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Big Shot McDermott's Real-life Split, More Love Notes

Ratings: CSI Teaches Anatomy a Lesson

Round 1 last fall went to the Seattle Grace gang; not so this time. Thursday's ratings rundown:8 pm/ETSurvivor: China topped the hour with 14.16 million total viewers, a drop of a mil from its premiere. Ugly Betty's season-opener (11.05 mil) was up from its freshman finale but off six mil from its year-ago debut. NBC's Earl (8.52 mil) was down about 500K from its previous premiere. Smallville veritably matched last fall's return with 5.08 mil.9 pmWith 24.9 million viewers, CSI outperformed its 2006 opener by some 13 percent and in doing so trumped Grey's Anatomy, which returned to an audience of 20.5 mil (down from last fall's 25.15 mil). Though Grey's fared better among the key demos, that is Grissom & Co.'s largest-ever margin of victory over the ABC titan. The Office (9.67 mil) improved on its previous premiere by 670 thou.10 pmWithout a Trace embraced anew its Thursday time slot with 16.7 million viewers, just shy of its last (Sunday-night) season-opener but nearly two mil b...

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Law & Order Alum Lands Big Gig, More Casting Bits

Law & Order alumna Elisabeth Rohm and onetime Veronica Mars recurring player Ryan Devlin are each joining ABC's Big Shots, playing love interests for Michael Vartan and Peyton List (aka Dylan McDermott's daughter), respectively.... Also per the Reporter, Jordan Bridges (Conviction) is joining Bionic Woman to woo Jaime Sommers, and Brandon Eaton has been cast as a younger version of NBC's Journeyman, Kevin McKidd.... Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Tim DeKay (Tell Me You Love Me) are Amber Tamblyn's parents in the Hallmark TV-movie The Russell Girl.More TVGuide.com casting news: Samantha Who? Snags Eddie Cibrian, Lost's Kiele Sanchez, Sharon Gless Gets a Little Nip/Tuck

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Law & Order Alum Lands Big Gig, More Casting Bits

Project Runway Sews Up Nov. 14 Return Date

Following a between-season lapse that was long enough to knit 283 afghans, Bravo has announced a Nov. 14 return for Project Runway. Season 4 will (of course) feature host Heidi Klum and include judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, and Tim Gunn will mentor the 14 wannabe superdesigners. Acknowledging the series' extended downtime, Bravo Media prez Lauren Zalaznick says, "The anticipation has been building among our loyal fans, and they won't be disappointed."

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Project Runway Sews Up Nov. 14 Return Date

Dough-pra Winfrey Tops Forbes List of TV Cash Cows

Talk titan Oprah Winfrey is television's No. 1 earner, having reaped $260 million between June 2006 and June 2007, says the Forbes TV 20 ranking. Coming in at a distant No. 2 is Jerry Seinfeld, with a $60 mil payday, while Simon Cowell placed third with $45 mil.Other notable finishes: David Letterman (at No. 4, with $40 mil), Jay Leno (No. 6, $32 mil) Tyra Banks (No. 12, $18 mil), Ryan Seacrest (No. 16, $14 mil) and Barbara Walters (No. 18, $12 mil).

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Galactica Star Battles Real-world Stalker

Battlestar Galactica prez Mary McDonnell has obtained a cease-and-desist order against an obsessed female fan, the New York Post's Page Six reports. Among her assorted trespasses, the stalker — who on fan forums goes by the screen name "peakeana" — allegedly has been spied following McDonnell around when the actress visits her daughter at Brandeis University, says a classmate. The Post could not reach McDonnell for comment.

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Galactica Star Battles Real-world Stalker

Nielsen to Reconsider Heroes Ratings Loophole

In the wake of squawking by rival networks, Nielsen Media Research will revisit the new ratings rule that will let NBC add the audience from this Saturday's rebroadcast of the Heroes season premiere to the episode's original Monday tally. According to the Reporter, the issue is not so much that the Peacock would get to "double dip" but rather base its weekly numbers on less than 22 hours of prime-time programming. "We are reviewing [the rule]," says Nielsen spokesman Gabriel "Sylar" Gray.

Fri, Sep 28, 2007

Ayyyyyy! Fonzie Rates a Milwaukee Statue

And if it's constructed with the right kind of base, you can even sit on it, Malph. Visit Milwaukee, a nonprofit tourism commission, is leading an effort to raise $85,000 to get a life-size bronze statue made of Happy Days' iconic Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli character, to be located in the plaza near the Chase office tower. Thus far, the group has $45K toward its goal. "It's an honor," portrayer Henry Winkler tells the Journal Sentinel. "But it is so bizarre to think there should be a statue. I wasn't sure it was something that could happen to me."Jenny Piccolo is already planning to do bad things to the statue at night.

Fri, Sep 28, 2007