matt.mitovich

Sex and the City Boss Shares "Big" Film News

Though the most recent reports I've seen have Chris Noth claiming he had yet to sign on the dotted line, Michael Patrick King  the writer/director of the upcoming Sex and the City film  says that Carrie's one-and-only is, in fact, a part of the big-screen follow-up. As King tells TV's Extra, "[I am] happy to report that Mr. Big is alive and well and living in New York City!" King's comment seemingly snuffs building buzz that the ladies' feature folly will not be precipitated by Carrie's wedding but rather Big's death. After all, a tombstone would require getting his last name. (And good luck with that.)

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Sex and the City Boss Shares "Big" Film News

George Clooney Tells Tale of Sand and Sorrow

Straight from HBO:Paul Freedman's Sand and Sorrow will debut on HBO this December. Executive-produced and narrated by George Clooney, the HBO Documentary Films presentation details the historical events that have given rise to an Arab-dominated government's willingness to kill and displace its own indigenous African people, and examines the international community's "legacy of failure" in responding to such profound crimes against humanity.Offering unparalleled access to a contingent of African Union peacekeeping forces, Sand and Sorrow provides an exclusive look at the situation on the ground as this disturbing chapter in human history unfolds.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

George Clooney Tells Tale of Sand and Sorrow

NBC's Olympics Totals 3,595 More Hours Than You Want

With a year to go before the Summer Olympics in Beijing kick off, NBC Universal has unveiled its plan to deliver 3,600 hours of coverage, including 1,210 hours on NBC and its cable entities, with the rest being streamed on the Internet. This nets out to a good 200 hours a day for each of the games' 17 days. You can typically pencil me in for about two and a half hours total.In other sports headlines, Hall of Fame tennis broadcast Bud Collins will report from the U.S. Open for ESPN's SportsCenter, ESPNews and ESPN Radio, says TV Week. Collins had served up coverage for NBC since 1972.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

NBC's Olympics Totals 3,595 More Hours Than You Want

Jonny Quest, a New Death Race and More Movie News

The Hanna-Barbera adventure series Jonny Quest is being revived by Warner Bros. Pictures as a potential movie franchise.... Also per the Reporter, Joan Allen, Jason Statham, Ian McShane and Tyrese Gibson are all on board for Death Race, a remake of the Roger Corman classic. Statham will play "Frankenstein," while Allen, McShane and Gibson are the prison warden, a coach and sociopath Machine Gun Joe, respectively.... Thomas Haden Church is in final talks to play Eddie Murphy's workplace rival in NowhereLand.... Per Variety, Nicole Kidman will produce and star in a remake of Al Final del Espectro, a Colombian horror film about an agoraphobic who begins to see a ghost in her apartment.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Jonny Quest, a New Death Race and More Movie News

In the Works: Fox Feds Up with the FBI, and More

Imagine's Brian Grazer has landed a commitment from Fox for a drama about the FBI, the first series in more than 35 years to have the full cooperation of the feds. The project, to be penned by Chap Taylor (Changing Lanes), revolves around a character based on John O'Neill, the real-life G-man who warned the FBI about Al Qaeda early on, only to be ignored.... Per Variety, NBC has given the go-ahead to a legal thriller from Barry Sonnenfeld (Pushing Daisies) that is centered on a NYC firm populated by civil-case lawyers who "do whatever it takes to win".... Per the Reporter, Oxygen has ordered a true-crime series titled Captured, as well as Deion and Pilar Sanders: Prime Time Love, a reality series fronted by the former pro athlete.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

In the Works: Fox Feds Up with the FBI, and More

Britney's Latest Antics: Fender-bender, Boy Toy and a Photo-shoot Stand-in

Britney Spears' latest (and simply sad) antics include a fender-bender, when on Monday her Mercedes dinged a parked station wagon in Los Angeles (embarrassing if only because of the slim odds of colliding into the one station wagon still in existence in L.A.). The pop tart then shrugged off the incident by shouting to the paparazzi, "I'm a brainiac!" The New York Post's Page Six also hears that because Spears flaked out on a photo shoot for her new fragrance, stylist Kylie Cavaco was grabbed to body double for Spears (whose head will be superimposed on the stand-in). "Kylie has the body Brit used to have," a source meows to the tab, "not the one she has now."Us, meanwhile, reports that Britney recently hooked up with an extra from her video shoot  a 21-year-old college boy  for a night of topless poolside tomfoolery, nonstop necking and (because this is junior high, after all) Truth or Dare.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Britney's Latest Antics: Fender-bender, Boy Toy and a Photo-shoot Stand-in

Ratings: The Company Spied by Small, Old Audience

 Sunday night's premiere of The Company, TNT's three-week miniseries about the Cold War CIA, averaged 2.9 million total viewers  66 percent of whom were age 50 or older, Variety notes. In comparison, TNT's Nightmares & Dreamscapes mini did 44 percent better in its July '06 bow, while the cabler's Saving Grace and Heartland opened to 6.4 and 4.3 mil, respectively. C'mon, people, it stars Batman, Robin and Doc Ock! ABC Family's Fallen returned to 1.7 and 2.3 million in its Saturday/Sunday installments. Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane premiered Sunday to 335,000 viewers, more than doubling Style Network's typical tally.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Ratings: The Company Spied by Small, Old Audience

Lisa Rinna a Big Draw as TV Guide's Red-carpet Host

TV Guide Network's new mistress of the red carpet, Lisa Rinna, makes advertisers feel like Dancing... to their checkbooks. As touted in Ad Age, all advertising inventory for the Network's Sept. 16 Primetime Emmys preshow is already sold out  and at the earliest point ever in the cabler's history of covering awards shows. What's more, this year's coverage even includes an additional three hours' worth of live "countdown." Makes you wanna give Lisa a big kiss on the lips... provided Harry doesn't slug ya.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Lisa Rinna a Big Draw as TV Guide's Red-carpet Host

Idol's Chris Sligh, Ugly Betty and More Short Cuts

Now playing in TVGuide.com's Interviews & Features column: Chris Sligh shares American Idol tour secrets and a peek at his first album.... Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season  The Bettyfied Edition arrives on DVD Aug. 21.... Firefly's Nathan Fillion talks about his "bittersweet" return to the soap opera One Life to Live in our new Soaps News blog.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

New Star Trek Film Checks Off Its Chekov

Russian-born Anton Yelchin, whose recent credits include Alpha Dog and TV's Huff, is in talks to play Pavel Chekov, the eventual navigator of the USS Enterprise, in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek film, says the Hollywood Reporter. Unreliable sources tell me the audition process involved having a Ceti eel implanted in your ear. Yowch.Yelchin will join the recently cast Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy, who will both play Spock. Casting is under way in New York and London for Kirk (Josh Duhamel? Is Nathan Fillion too old?), Bones, Uhura (yikes, we're going to get Rihanna, aren't we)?, Sulu, and Scotty. Abrams is expected to sign big names to play the villain and a Federation captain.What, no Hayden Panettiere as Yeoman Rand?!

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

New Star Trek Film Checks Off Its Chekov

Charlie Sheen Confirms Ex's Sperm-of-the-moment Idea

Confirming that which was reported on Monday in Page Six, Charlie Sheen tells Entertainment Tonight that ex-wife Denise Richards did inquire as to the availability of his sperm for the purpose of procreating a third child. (Notice how I worded that as to not sound so seedy?) "There was a request for a donation," Sheen delicately says in an interview slated to air Tuesday night. "Without getting into it here... there is a specific document relating to this that I am going to reserve for a court." Sheen and Richards are newly at odds over the strict visitation rights currently afforded to him and his two children.If said overture is indeed on the table, is Charlie up for it? "I would sooner, in exactly what I'm wearing, walk on the surface of the moon," he tells ET. "Does that answer it?" Um, yeah!

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Charlie Sheen Confirms Ex's Sperm-of-the-moment Idea

Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake Lead VMA Nods

Nominations for the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards were announced on Tuesday, and Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake lead the pack with seven nods each. Kanye West follows with five noms, while Amy Winehouse has her eye on a sandwich a bar of soap a trio of moonmen.Best Male Artist wannabes include Akon, Kanye West, J.T, T.I. and Robin Thicke, while Winehouse, Beyoncé, F-e-r g-i-e, Nelly Furtado and Rihanna are up for top female. Video of the Year contenders include Ms. Knowles' "Irresistible," Winehouse's "Rehab," Justice's "D.A.N.C.E.," Kanye's "Stronger" and Rihanna's "Umbrella."Voting for Best New Artist is now under way at VMA.MTV.com, where you can also view all the assorted categories and nominees. The show airs live from Vegas on Sept. 9.

Wed, Aug 8, 2007

Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake Lead VMA Nods

A More Randy Mandy Moore Visits CBS' Mother

Mandy Moore will shed her wholesome image wholesale as part of a guest-starring gig on the new season of How I Met Your Mother. As series creator Carter Bays previews for Entertainment Tonight, "Ted is freshly single and on the rebound, and on his first night out, he meets Amy, the ultimate bad decision. She's the tattooed, vodka-swilling train wreck that Mandy Moore thankfully never turned into. We can't wait to see what Mandy does with it"  or to see if Lindsay Lohan calls her lawyer.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

A More Randy Mandy Moore Visits CBS' Mother

In the Works: The Contender Fights On, and More

ESPN on Sept. 4 will reenter the ring with a third round of The Contender, the first to feature full and uncut fights on ESPN2. Sugar Ray Leonard will again host, says the Reporter.... CBS has given a greenlight to the pilots Worst Week (a half-hour comedy based on the U.K.'s The Worst Week of My Life, and to be penned/exec-produced by Scrubs' Matt Tarses), as well as a medical drama from Kasi Lemmons (Talk to Me) and Mark Gordon (Grey's Anatomy).... Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) and scribe Sheldon Turner are developing for FX a dark drama about two cops undercover with the Russian Mafia, says Variety. The series is being eyed as a successor to The Shield.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

In the Works: The Contender Fights On, and More

Carson Daly Stays on Call, Confirms New Year's Plans

NBC has inked a new two-year deal that will keep Carson Daly hosting Last Call, which recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. It was also confirmed that Daly will continue on with his New Year's Eve special, which debuted in 2004. And yet still, I can't read the guy's name without thinking of the four-letter word Jimmy Fallon used to describe him during Saturday Night Live impressions.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Carson Daly Stays on Call, Confirms New Year's Plans

Drake & Josh's Big Shrimp Nets Really Big Audience

Friday night's premiere of Drake & Josh: Really Big Shrimp delivered 5.8 million total viewers, making it the most-watched TV-movie in Nickelodeon history. It also marked the cabler's best performance with tweens age 9 to 14, bringing in 2.3 million of 'em. Nick's previous record holder was 2006's Drake & Josh Go Hollywood, which Really Big Shrimp bested by six percent in total viewers.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Tim Allen Has Six Wives, and More Movie News

Tim Allen will star in The Six Wives of Henry Lefay, a comedy about a man whose wife and five exes fight over his will when he is believed dead. Andie McDowell, Kelli Garner, S. Epatha Merkerson and Paz Vega are in talks to play some of the titular ladies, while Elisha Cuthbert is on board as Allen's daughter. Hey, whatever precludes a Santa Clause 4.... Also per the Reporter, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long and Ginnifer Goodwin are in talks to star in Drew Barrymore's He's Just Not That Into You, based on the best-seller.... Following a rousing reception at Comic-Con, the competitive Ping-Pong spoof Balls of Fury has been moved up to an Aug. 29 release.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Idol, Ice Road Truckers and More Short Cuts

Fox's "Idol Gives Back" and HBO's The Addiction Project will each receive the Governors Award, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' highest honor, for "harnessing the power of television to inform viewers about two very significant issues."... History Channel has added three "bonus" episodes to Ice Road Truckers, cable's highest-rated nonscripted series, to air Aug. 17 at 3 pm/ET, Aug. 26 at 9 and Sept. 2 at 9.... This September TBS will launch TBS Hot Corner, an interactive broadband channel offering on-demand Major League Baseball news, interviews and other content, as well as expanded coverage during game telecasts.... USA has secured network-TV rights to The Bourne Ultimatum and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, to air as early as January 2010 and December 2009, respectively. The price tag? Twelve percent of the total domestic box office for each.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Idol, Ice Road Truckers and More Short Cuts

Death Becomes Kumar's Harold, More Casting News

John Cho will guest-star as a private-school principal who squares off with Eddie Kaye Thomas' public school veep in three episodes of Fox's 'Til Death this coming season. With Kal Penn now on House, both Harold and Kumar should have plenty of cash for future White Castle runs. Also per the Hollywood Reporter, Jessalyn Gilsig, aka the mom of Heroes' Claire, has joined the cast of NBC's Backyards & Bullets pilot, playing Mathew St. Patrick's wife.... Camryn Manheim (Ghost Whisperer), Leslie Hope (24) and Kathy Baker (Picket Fences) are all on board for Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, the fifth installment in CBS' hit TV-movie franchise.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Death Becomes Kumar's Harold, More Casting News

Avril and Clarkson Headline One Angry Awards Show

Bad boyfriends, make sure your athletic cup is well secured. This year's Teen Choice Awards, airing Aug. 26 on Fox, will feature live performances by punk princess Avril Lavigne and two-time Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson. Avril will croon "Girlfriend," KC will belt out "Never Again" and guys everywhere will be sure to buy their honeys flowers immediately afterwards.Among the celebs on tap to appear on the show are Zac Efron, America Ferrera, Ryan Reynolds, Rob & Big, Jessica Alba, Megan Fox, Miley Cyrus, Jared Padalecki and Taylor Kitsch.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Bargain Bourne: Damon Delivers Biggest Bang for Buck

The inaugural edition of Forbes.com's "payback" list declares the Bourne films' Matt Damon to be Hollywood's biggest bargain, delivering $29 in box-office revenue for every dollar poured into his paycheck. (Damon was paid $26 million for the trilogy, which to date has drawn $850 mil in gross income.) Ocean's mate Brad Pitt places second with a $24-to-$1 ROI, followed by Vince Vaughn and Johnny Depp, each at $21.Coming in at No. 5 and the top investment actress-wise is Jennifer Aniston, who gives her bosses $17 on the dollar. Hot on Jen's heels is one Angelina Jolie ($15).I'm no statistician, but what I think this all means is that Aniston will either date Matt or Johnny next.

Tue, Aug 7, 2007

Bargain Bourne: Damon Delivers Biggest Bang for Buck

On Smallville, Supergirl Is Superman's Mom. Got it?

Allow me to explain. A Warner Bros. rep confirms for TVGuide.com that Helen Slater, who played Supergirl in 1984's tepidly received Superman film franchise spin-off, will guest on Smallville this season as the aunt of Kara aka Supergirl (played by series newcomer Laura Vandervoort). Slater's small-screen alter ego, though, is not some adoptive "I found you in a crater in my cornfield" sort of Earthling aunt. No, she is none other than Lara-El, Clark's Kryptonian mama. (Perhaps in Smallville mythology she was "away" on a spa vacation to Venus when her home went kablooey?)Thus far, Slater is slated to appear in at least one episode, the sixth one of Smallville's upcoming season.

Mon, Aug 6, 2007

On Smallville, Supergirl Is Superman's Mom. Got it?