matt.webb.mitovich

Have You Met Ted's Best Friend?

The ensemble cast of CBS' How I Met Your Mother (Mondays at 8:30 pm/ET) boasts beauties, cuties, and some freaks and geeks. OK, to be specific it features Freaks and Geeks alum Jason Segel, playing the happily (and horny-ly) married buddy who gets Ted thinking about finding his own perfect woman. TVGuide.com spoke to Segel about his Mother role, wooing Sydney Bristow and doing, um, R-rated things to watermelons. TVGuide.com: Going into this, did you ever predict Mother would be as big a success as it is?Jason Segel:

Mon, Dec 12, 2005

STILL CARRYING A TORCH

The tribe (or, at least, the teams of entertainment attorneys) have spoken: Jeff Probst has inked a new, multiyear deal to continue on as host of CBS' Survivor, which is greenlit for at least three more seasons after the one concluding Sunday. Says Probst in a statement, "I was thinking about retiring and spending my time traveling to exotic locations around the world, meeting new and interesting people. Then I realized I'm already doing that — and getting paid for it." Season 12, to air in the spring, is currently being filmed at an undisclosed location, although there are some reports that it's Youngstown, Ohio.

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

GOOD WIFE HUNTING

Indicating that he and his Good Will Hunting writing partner, Ben Affleck, are still working off of the same script, Matt Damon exchanged vows with his fiancée, Luciana Barroso, in a brief New York City Hall ceremony held the day after it was revealed that the couple are expecting their first child, US Weekly reports. Can't these two do anything on their own?

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

2006 OSCARS WON'T ROCK

Undoubtedly to Tobey Maguire's delight, Chris Rock will not perform an encore as host of the next Academy Awards ceremony, which he emceed for the first time last spring. "He didn't want to do it in perpetuity," the comic's rep tells the New York Times, adding, "He'd like to do it again down the road." So who will host the March 5 culmination of the movie biz's oh-so-tremulous year? Producer Gil Cates promises an announcement within the next three weeks, or as soon as Billy Crystal gets fitted for a kimono.

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

Numbers Added Up for Dark Angel Alum

Alimi Ballard, who played Herbal Thought on the cult hit Dark Angel, is these days playing someone who could not be more different: tough-as-nails FBI agent David Sinclair on CBS' Numbers (Fridays at 10 pm/ET). What does the actor make of the hit series' brain-busting twist on TV procedurals? Why didn't he merit a spot on the Titanic? And what lesson did he learn from an Oscar winner? TVGuide.com asked Ballard those questions and more. TVGuide.com: When you saw that Numbers was a procedural with a complicated math hook, were you like, "This can't fly"?Alimi Ballard: The first time I got my hands on this script, that was the first I had heard about this project. And when I read it I saw that it was so tight, the

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

Ledger Takes a Leap with Mountain

Based on a short story by Pulitzer prize-winning author Annie Proulx, director Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain (hitting select theaters today) presents Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal as Ennis and Jack, hired ranch hands who, during their isolation on a sheepherding job, discover an intimacy and, ultimately, a love that, in a 1960s setting, dared not speak its name. Partaking in what undoubtedly will be much-scrutinized fare was a significant leap for Ledger. But rather than be deterred by what "some people" might think, he only saw a can't-miss opportunity. "This is obviously the most complex and internal character that I have been offered," says the star of such past films as Monster

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

R.P., R.I.P.

Comedy legend Richard Pryor died of a heart attack Saturday morning at a Los Angeles hospital, the Associated Press reports. The ground-breaking comic and actor was 65 and had been ill with multiple sclerosis (MS), a degenerative disease of the nervous system, for years. Pryor first gained fame as a profane standup performer whose edgy, free-wheeling style and personal take on racial inequality was an influence on an entire generation of comedians, including Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Robin Williams. In the 1970s and '80s, he starred in hit films such as Stir Crazy and Silver Streak in addition to writing for TV shows and movies like Sanford and Son and Blazing Saddles. In the early 1980's, he also battled drug addiction, which he referenced on stage and in his autobiographical film, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling. He was diagnosed with MS in the 1990's

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

3... 2... 1... MIMI!

The year 2005 won't be over until the phat lady sings. In a conference call promoting the forthcoming edition of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2006, cohost Ryan Seacrest told TVGuide.com that Mariah Carey, she of the eight Grammy nods, will be on hand to usher in 2006. "We've added some great things [to the telecast], including a live performance by Mariah Carey in Times Square," Seacrest revealed. "This is the first time in the history of Dick's show that they've done a live performance there, leading up to the ball-drop. She will be right there in the middle of all the action." By action, he means "drunken tourists engaged in fistfights."

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

Katey Sagal on Wise Guys, Lost and More!

To paraphrase the Malachi Brothers, "Set the Christmas movies loose!" One of the first out of the gate this season is the USA Network comedy Three Wise Guys (premiering Dec. 10 at 9 pm/ET), in which casino owner Tom Arnold's gang of goons (Judd Nelson, Nicholas Turturro and Eddie McClintock) stumble across a pregnant beauty named Mary (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) on their way back from a hit, leading to twists of "biblical" proportions. Playing wife to Arnold is fellow sitcom vet Katey Sagal, who was more than jolly when she chatted with TVGuide.com about catching the holiday spirit,

Fri, Dec 9, 2005

Katey Sagal on Wise Guys, Lost and More!

BUFFY HOLDS A GRUDGE

Sarah Michelle Gellar has signed on to reprise the role of Karen in The Grudge 2, a sequel to last year's surprise box-office hit. Buffy will appear in the follow-up only briefly — just long enough to pass along the supernatural curse to the franchise's next, as-yet-uncast, victim. [Insert your own Susan Lucci joke here.]

Thu, Dec 8, 2005

Smallville's Lois Lane Has the Scoop!

Deciding to follow in the footsteps of Noel Neill and Margot Kidder (and a pre-Housewives Teri Hatcher, for that matter) could not have been easy for Erica Durance, who joined WB's Smallville last season as Lois Lane. Nonetheless, the Canuck took the risk and has since settled into the role nicely, offering up an edgy take on the woman who will one day fancy herself an intrepid reporter and call herself Mrs. Superman. TVGuide.com leaped over a tall building at the chance to chat up the beauty about Clark Kent's romantic options, the tips she earned by stripping and the none-too-insignificant fact that her Lois has yet to show any journalistic leanings. TV

Thu, Dec 8, 2005

Apprentice Pair Get Microsocked!

What's a sure way to get yourself booted from The Apprentice? Take an inherently dry software product, like Microsoft's LiveMeeting, and make it appear even more lackluster. Such was the error message Felisha Mason and — hey, not so fast, you, too! — Alla Wartenberg got from Donald Trump last week, leaving Randal and Rebecca to square off in the final showdown. Here's what the former teammates had to say to TVGuide.com about their blink-and-it's-gone alliance. TVGuide.com: So, has your friendship mended much since that torrid war of words in the boardroom?Felisha Mason: Honestly, Alla is Alla. She looks at things very differently than I do. She has not apologized

Thu, Dec 8, 2005

News Flash: ER's Jack Carter Isn't Dead

It's December, so it's time for another heartwarming Christmas episode of NBC's ER (Thursdays at 10 pm/ET). This year's yuletide guest star is Jack Carter, whom you undoubtedly recognize from his myriad film, TV and stage roles. TVGuide.com was more than happy to talk up the veteran actor about his ER visit, his feud with Woody Allen and those exaggerated rumors of his death. TVGuide.com: I take it you're this year's "a very special ER Christmas" guest star? Jack Carter: It's funny, I was talking to [screenwriter] Larry Gelbart the other day. I said, "I just did ER and a couple of weeks ago I did CSI." He said, "Oh, you only do initials?" [Laughs] He's so fast, you know. But yeah, I've got a

Thu, Dec 8, 2005

YO, MALLORY!

It will be a family reunion when Family Ties alum Justine Bateman guest-stars on kid brother Jason's Arrested Development. In the Jan. 9 episode, Justine will play Nellie Bluth, a woman Michael suspects may be a long-lost sister of his, so he hires her to consult at the family biz. Then, says Fox's press release, Nellie's "hands-on" tactics catch Michael off guard, leading me to worry that we're gonna have some Angelina Jolie-and-her-brother thing happenin', but I could be wrong. Let's just hope Justine doesn't forego the underwear these days.

Thu, Dec 8, 2005

Heidi Klum Braves a Bigger Runway

Tonight at 10 pm/ET, Bravo invites viewers to take a second stroll down the runway — the reality contest Project Runway, that is, executive-produced and again hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum. The stakes this time around: Not only will the winner be handed a cool $100,000 to help launch his or her own line, but he or she will also win the keys to a 2007 Saturn SkyRoadster, a mentorship from the Banana Republic Design Team, and the winning designs will be featured in Elle, as photographed by the magazine's world-renowned Gilles Bensimon. How will Runway 2 be different from the original? Among the surprises that Victoria's Secret's go-to girl has in store are an even larger

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

MIGHT AS WELL JUMP

One of Hollywood's longest-running unions is officially coming to an end, as Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen have announced their divorce after 24 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. "It's amicable," Bertinelli's spokesperson tells the Associated Press, also confirming that the couple has been separated for four years, meaning they surely did take it — you saw this coming, yes? — one day at a time.

Wed, Dec 7, 2005

Oopsy-Daisy! U.K. Comic Invades America

Tonight, TBS and executive producers Courteney Cox and David Arquette invite viewers to tune in as Daisy Does America (Tuesdays at 10 pm/ET) in a new, unscripted series that follows Brit actress-comedienne Daisy Donovan as she tours the countryside in search of no less than "the American Dream." How does the import fare at bounty-hunting, rap-singing, poker-playing, dog-handling and more? TVGuide.com checked in with Donovan just before her stateside endeavor premiered. TVGuide.com: So, what exactly are you doing here with Daisy Does America? Anything that might make us want to rescind your green card?Daisy Donovan: [Gasps] God, I hope not! I am traveling across America, getting into different world

Tue, Dec 6, 2005

ANISTON GIVES MAGS NUDES ALERT

In documents obtained by TheSmokingGun.com, lawyers for Jennifer Aniston have warned magazines that they will be subject to "substantial monetary damages" if they publish photos of the actress sunbathing topless at her Los Angeles home, claiming that paparazzo Peter Brandt violated Aniston's privacy by using a "powerful telephoto lens," perhaps from a mile away, to capture the images. Brandt refutes the trespassing claims, arguing that he always has had a hot-air-ballooning hobby.

Tue, Dec 6, 2005

William Hung Is Still She-Banging!

With two albums and 14 and a half minutes of fame seemingly behind him, you'd have thought we'd heard the last of infamous American Idol Season 3 auditioner William Hung. Nope, not yet. The 22-year-old's painfully memorable cover of the Ricky Martin mantra "She Bangs" landed at No. 80 on TV Guide and TV Land's list of "The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments," detailed in our new issue and being counted down on TV Land every night this week at 10 pm/ET. How does it feel to have his place in TV history further cemented? TVGuide.com rung up Hung. (Snicker.) TVGuide.com: Two years ago, would you ever have imagined you'd merit a place on a list of TV's "Most Unexpected Moments"?

Tue, Dec 6, 2005

Queer Eye Guys Find Wedded Bliss

Tonight at 10 pm/ET, Bravo brings back Queer Eye and the Fab Five in a block of episodes that vows to set marriage ceremonies straight once and for all. The new season finds Carson Kressley, Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia and Jai Rodriguez proffering their best wedding-planning advice each week as hetero couples prepare to say "I do" before family and friends. "For the very first time, the Fab Five rush in to help straight guys with the most important decision and event of their lives — marriage," notes Andrew Cohen, Bravo's VP of production and programming. "Tying the knot has never been this much fun!" Of course, the very concept of the new season is laden with irony

Tue, Dec 6, 2005

An All-Star Cast Explores The Triangle

Starting tonight at 9 pm/ET, Sci Fi Channel will explore The Triangle — as in the inexplicable Bermuda phenomenon — over the course of a three-part, six-hour miniseries event. (Take an extended look behind the scenes of The Triangle in this special video.) The premise: Sam Neill's shipping magnate, fed up with losing carriers and cargo to the deep blue sea, recruits a ragtag group of experts — Eric Stoltz, Catherine Bell, Bruce Davison and Michael Rodgers included — to make some sense of the oceanic mystery of the Triangle once and for all. At the helm, so to speak, are producers D

Mon, Dec 5, 2005

CHAPPELLE'S SHOW SHOWS UP

Variety reports that Comedy Central will be unveiling sketches from the never-before-seen Season 3 of Chappelle's Show, which had to abruptly halt production in April when host Dave Chappelle disappeared on what was later learned to be a "spiritual retreat." The new offerings, which will be shown first on Comedy Central's online broadband network and then broadcast sometime in 2006, include send-ups of MTV's Cribs and the 2004 documentary Super Size Me. At this late date, you may as well throw in a Pac-Man spoof.

Mon, Dec 5, 2005