matt.webb.mitovich

Malcolm's Reese Woos a Golden Girl

Olympic gold-medalist Tara Lipinski expands her TV repertoire even further when she throws Malcolm's brother Reese for a (toe) loop on this weekend's Malcolm in the Middle (Sundays at 7 pm/ET). TVGuide.com talked to the 24-year-old cutie about her latest small-screen venture, the racy film role she bailed on and how she almost went Skating with Celebrities. TVGuide.com: Tell me about your Malcolm in the Middle role. Who are you playing, what's she about...?Tara Lipinski: I play Carrie, who's this quirky and earthy antifur, antimeat vegetarian type. It was a really fun to play her, so different than anything I've done before. On the show, I think Reese (Justin Berfield) is all abou

Fri, Apr 14, 2006

COVER SONG?

Did Paula Abdul fabricate her claim of assault in order to save face? While the accused attacker's lawyer calls Abdul's allegations "completely outrageous and utterly false," witnesses to Abdul's Saturday-night exit from an after-hours club in L.A. tell the New York Post that the American Idol judge looked "out of it" and in fact was kicked out of the hot spot for being "falling-down drunk." Abdul's spokesperson was unavailable for comment on the Post's story.

Thu, Apr 13, 2006

Chief's Daughter Isn't Such a Brat

You may wonder, as I do, just what Rebecca Calloway's problem is on ABC's Commander in Chief (returning tonight at 9 pm/ET). I mean, wouldn't it be the bee's knees to be the president's daughter? Even though she left us hanging for a full day, TVGuide.com was more than happy to talk — prehiatus, mind you — with the first daughter, aka Caitlin Wachs (pronounced "wax"), about life in the White House, a pregnancy shocker to come and that older costar she's been calling "sexy." TVGuide.com: So, you blew off the hotshot TV Guide reporter....Caitlin Wachs: Oh, no! [Laughs] Maybe I'll win you back. TVGuide.com: Out late partying, I

Thu, Apr 13, 2006

HOUSEWIVES ON THE MOVE?

A Hollywood Reporter survey of pilot orders for the 2006-07 TV season says that ABC, which has by far the most new shows in development, may end up relocating either Desperate Housewives or Grey's Anatomy to a different night. "We have three big shows [Extreme Makeover: Home Edition included] on Sunday, so there will be pressure to spread the wealth," ABC entertainment exec Jeff Bader tells the Reporter. The early faves to land a Sunday berth are Anne Heche's Men in Trees, the family sudser Brothers & Sisters and the workplace dramedy Women in Law.

Wed, Apr 12, 2006

Getting Cozy with Bedford's "Good Girl"

If The Bedford Diaries and its ribald undertones prove to be too hot for WB (or, ultimately CW) to handle, Tiffany Dupont can remove herself from any blame. After all, the perky brunette plays Sarah Gregory, the show's good girl on campus. (As "good" as one who boinks her teacher can be.) TVGuide.com spoke to Dupont about being an angel amidst Bedford's hellcats. TVGuide.com: Did you actually shoot Bedford Diaries in New York City? It sure looks like it.Tiffany Dupont: Yes, we did. We had a studio in Astoria, Queens, but were shooting on location at Barnard [College] and Columbia [University].

Wed, Apr 12, 2006

Twain Leaves Station for Idol's Mandisa

Irony alert! Last Wednesday Nashville's own Mandisa Hundley was the casualty of country-music week on Fox's American Idol (Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET), as her rendition of Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" failed to make the entire judging panel (or, apparently, the voting public) effuse. Defending the song choice — and addressing Simon's reaction to it in particular — Mandisa says, "I know that he does not care for country or for that song too much, but I absolutely love it and don't have any regrets. I think it's a great song and I think that whoever wrote it is brilliant." If only all the debates Mandisa had to contend with during her Idol engagement were so tidy. Having prefaced her previous week's

Tue, Apr 11, 2006

Mars' Jason Dohring, You've Got Mail!

The big idea: Chat up Jason Dohring about all things Veronica Mars — past, present and future — in connection with this, the day UPN's supersleuth series returns to Tuesday nights (at 9 pm/ET). The big problem: Dohring's, like, mad busy filming the season finale. Luckily, the dude's a trouper, and agreed to A our Qs via e-mail. (Coincidentally, you TVGuide.com Insider enthusiasts will recall, Kristen Bell "cybered" with us as well.)  So, is full-on reconciliation in store for Logan and Veronica? Will Dohring clue us in on the top-secret season-ender? And what are the current odds on Mars la

Tue, Apr 11, 2006

BREAK UP NIXED

Film fans have spoken, and they want Jennifer Aniston to ride off into the sunset with Vince Vaughn.The New York Post reports that as the result of poorly received test screenings, the lovers recently reshot the ending to their upcoming romantic comedy, The Break Up. "People want to see Jennifer happy after she was thrown over by Brad Pitt for Angelina Jolie," a source tells the paper. "And the original ending was... just too much of the same."

Tue, Apr 11, 2006

24'S HEAVEN

Kiefer Sutherland has inked a deal with 20th Century Fox Television that will keep him starring on 24 for another three years/"days" — at a rumored $40 million, no less, which would make him the highest-paid actor on a drama series — and also elevate him to full executive-producer status on the five-year-old series. The contract also provides funding for the development of Sutherland's soon-to-launch production company.

Mon, Apr 10, 2006

The Apprentice's Bryce Cries Fowl

It was jingle all the way... off of NBC's The Apprentice (airing double episodes tonight, starting at 9 pm/ET) for Bryce Gahagan last week, when the 28-year-old custom-home builder got deconstructed by the Donald for, among other things, blaming the wrong teammates for Gold Rush's flunking the Arby's Chicken Naturals task. Does Bryce feel he made a bad call? And does he, like anyone, really believe Trump goes wild for fast-food roast beef? Here's what he had to tell TVGuide.com: TVGuide.com: The dominant theme for this season — more so than in other seasons — is, "Dude! You're bringing the wrong people into the boardroom."Bryce Gahagan: No, it's called integrity, and not playing into TV. I brought the right people [

Mon, Apr 10, 2006

A SUIT WITH JEANS

Jessica Simpson is having the pants sued off of her, almost literally, having been hit with a $100 million breach-of-contract complaint by Tarrant Apparel Group. According to papers obtained by TheSmokingGun.com, the pop tart inked a multimillion-dollar licensing deal for low-priced jeans and other items under the "JS by Jessica Simpson" and "Princy" labels, then refused to even be photographed in the apparel, let alone be "actively involved" in promoting the lines as promised. Now to be fair, Jess is really known for the clothes she doesn't wear.

Fri, Apr 7, 2006

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Naomi Campbell's arrest on charges of assaulting her maid may have kept her out of the reality-TV kitchen for now, but not forever. Explaining the supermodel's last-minute replacement by Patti LaBelle on NBC's Celebrity Cooking Showdown (premiering April 17), exec producer Ben Silverman tells TVGuide.com, "Naomi clearly has a lot of stuff going on, so it was definitely her decision." He then adds, "Hopefully, she'll be on in our next [round], because she likes to cook."

Fri, Apr 7, 2006

REALITY JONES

Steven Spielberg is partnering with reality king Mark Burnett for On the Lot, a Fox contest that will pit 16 aspiring directors against each other in pursuit of a studio development deal. "All through my career I've done what I can do to discover new talent and give them a start," Spielberg says in a statement. "This [series will] open a much wider door." Each week, On the Lot contestants will produce and screen a short film for a judging panel; viewer voting will then eliminate one wannabe. Time for me to dust off that script about two gay Indians isolated in the mountains.

Fri, Apr 7, 2006

SPECIAL DELIVERY?

Wire reports say that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are holed up this week in a secluded Namibian resort surrounded by tight security, prompting spec that the couple's love child will be born in Africa. Two things: 1) Isn't Angie not due until the summer? (If so, just how big is the time difference in Africa?) And 2) does Namibia have a Babies R Us? I mean, a good one that carries the Huggies Overnites.

Fri, Apr 7, 2006

Elvis and a President's Murder: What's the Connection?

What does Elvis Presley's 1956 appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show have in common with the 1901 assassination of William McKinley? And the onset of the Pequot War of 1637, for that matter? They are three of the 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America, as revisited in a History Channel series airing for five consecutive days starting Sunday at 9 pm/ET. (A detailed schedule appears at the bottom of this page.) To gain insight into this trip down memory lane, TVGuide.com spoke to acclaimed director Joe Berlinger (Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills), a coexecutive producer on the project who also helmed one of its installments.

Fri, Apr 7, 2006

Elvis and a President's Murder: What's the Connection?

Cheryl Ladd: From Angel to... Grandma?

Cheryl Ladd, grandmother? Have we come to that point? Sort of, but not really. In the Hallmark Channel presentation Though None Go with Me (premiering Saturday at 9 pm/ET), Charlie's onetime Angel disappears behind old-age makeup to play Elizabeth Leroy Bishop, a woman who relates stories from her colorful and oft-times turbulent life — Amy Grabow plays Elizabeth as a young woman — to a grandchild. As anyone who has seen Ladd on Las Vegas knows, it must have taken a lot of powder to make this heavenly beauty look anything but robust. TVGuide.com: Look at you, playing grandma to some twentysomething girl!Cheryl Ladd: [Laughs] Yep!

Fri, Apr 7, 2006

WEIGHTY MATTERS

On Thursday, newly ousted American Idol wannabe Mandisa tried to explain what she said last week prior to singing Mary Mary's "Wanna Praise You." Having dedicated the tune "to everybody that wants to be free! Your addiction, your lifestyle or situation may be big, but God is bigger," the singer was accused of making a homophobic dig. "I just heard about that," Mandisa tells TVGuide.com, "and it broke my heart because I really do try to live my life according to the value system that you treat others the way you want to be treated. I absolutely hate nobody." As for what she meant by "lifestyle," she answered, "I've given in to every food indulgence I have ever had, so that was just me saying that God is freeing me of [that particular lifestyle]."

Thu, Apr 6, 2006

EVERYTHING'S IN ORDER

Warner Bros. has officially announced a release date for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth entry in the blockbuster film franchise: July 13, 2007 — 10 days before star Daniel Radcliffe's 32nd 18th birthday.

Thu, Apr 6, 2006

EMINEM CAN'T MAKE FRIENDS

Eminem has filed for divorce from Kim Mathers, whom he remarried just this past Jan. 14 — four-plus years after they originally split and engaged in a heated October 2001 custody battle. The couple have a 10-year-old daughter, Hailie, who's gotta be shaking her head over the whole sitch.

Wed, Apr 5, 2006

IT'S OFFICIAL: KATIE QUITS

Ending months of speculation, Katie Couric marked her 15th anniversary on Today by announcing on Wednesday morning that she is leaving NBC's morning news program. "After listening to my heart and my gut, I've decided I'll be leaving at the end of May," she said on air. The longest-serving anchor in Today history, Couric is expected to fill the anchor chair at CBS Evening News, in a deal the Wall Street Journal says will also get her face time on 60 Minutes, as well as her own documentary crew, and fetch her a cool $15 million a year. "Sometimes change is a good thing," Couric told viewers. "Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's very exciting to start a new chapter in your life." As for her Today successor, a source at The View tells the New York Daily News that it's all but a done deal that Meredith Vieira will fill the vacancy.

Wed, Apr 5, 2006

IT'S OFFICIAL: KATIE QUITS

Ending months of speculation, Katie Couric marked her 15th anniversary on Today by announcing Wednesday morning that she is leaving NBC's morning news program. "I wanted to tell all of you out there that after listening to my heart and my gut, I've decided I'll be leaving at the end of May," she said on-air. "I really feel as if we've become friends through the years." Couric, the longest-serving anchor in Today history, is expected to fill the anchor chair at CBS Evening News, in a deal the Wall Street Journal says will also get her face time on 60 Minutes, her own documentary crew, and fetch her $15 million a year. "Sometimes change is a good thing," Couric told viewers. "Although it may be terrifying to get out of your comfort zone, it's also very exciting to start a new chapter in your life." As for Miss Perky's successor at Today, a source at The View tells the New York Daily News it's al

Tue, Apr 4, 2006

Brooke Burns Gives Pepper Its Kick

If Murphy Brown and Ally McBeal had a baby, she'd probably resemble the title character of WB's new Pepper Dennis (premiering tonight at 9 pm/ET). But as pretty as series star Rebecca Romijn may be, the top story here, in this intrepid reporter's opinion at least, may be Brooke Burns, cast against type as the sexy newscaster's wholesome sister, Kathy. TVGuide.com: I have to say — and I hope this doesn't forfeit me any dinner invites from Rebecca Romijn — you are the most fun thing about this show.Brooke Burns: Oh, stop! You say that to all the nurses! [Laughs] TVGuide.com: No, really! What a fun role for you.Burns: It's such a great role, is

Tue, Apr 4, 2006