michael.ausiello

Backstage Scoop at the Emmys!

Hey, Emmy producers, listen up: If you're looking for a gimmick to goose the ratings for next year's ceremony, here's a hot tip, free of charge  move the cameras to the press room. As any award-show veteran will tell you, the real action at any given kudocast takes place behind-the-scenes. Don't believe me? Well, then you'll just have to peruse my blow-by-blow, minute-by-minute recap of last night's Emmy circus and see for yourself. Go ahead, you know you want to... 8:07 pm/ET Everybody Loves Raymond's Grandmommie Dearest Doris Roberts wins best supporting actress in a comedy for the third time. Groans reverberate through the press tent. We're a bitchy lot, us media types. 8:23 pm Roberts's TV son, Brad Garrett, wins best supporting actor, comedy. A reporter behind me screams out in pain. Or is that CBS boss Les Moonves calculating how much this will cost him? 8:26 pm Roberts appears backstage with

Mon, Sep 22, 2003

Frasier Wedding Mystery

Buzz that Frasier will cap its 11-year run in May by throwing a wedding for Kelsey Grammer's lovelorn shrink has everyone speculating about the identity of the future Mrs. Crane. Well, we can pretty much tell you who the radio caregiver won't be exchanging I-do's with: his trusty producer Roz (Peri Gilpin), who, in last May's finale, quit KACL in a jealous rage over her boss's romance with Julia (Felicity Huffman). "I'll tell you the truth," Grammer confides to TV Guide Online. "We've never actually seen [Frasier and Roz] as the ultimate relationship. It never seemed like the right place to go. But they certainly are the best of friends  and we'll restore that." But first, the tension created by Roz's lingering feelings will be dealt with in the Sept. 23 season premiere. "We will explore some of the psychological underpinnings as to why Roz acted that way," explains exec producer Christopher Lloyd. "But as far as

Tue, Sep 16, 2003

Ellen Shunned Fish After Nemo

In Finding Nemo, Ellen DeGeneres's memory-challenged alter ego Dory preaches, "Fish are friends, not food." It's a message the rookie talk-show host took to heart. "I [gave up eating fish] for a little while," she tells TV Guide Online. "It was kind of hard &mdash; especially [after doing the scene] where the fish go, 'Swim down!' [to avoid getting caught in a fisherman's net].' You don't want fish again after that, [but] then you go have sushi." Even if Nemo doesn't propel the funny lady hook line and sinker into vegetarianism, DeGeneres insists she's still a changed woman. And judging by the heaps of cash the film reeled in at the box office &mdash; Nemo's $330 million in receipts make it the biggest animated movie of all time &mdash; it's safe to say DeGeneres wasn't the only person thinking twice before biting into her shrimp tempura. "Just like Pixar [made people] care about toys [with Toy Story, Nemo

Wed, Sep 10, 2003

George Lopez's Grammy Coup

If we didn't know better, we'd think CBS Entertainment President Les Moonves had a crush on ABC. First, the Eye chief guest starred on an episode of The Practice, and now, the exec has tapped comedian George Lopez  arguably one of ABC's biggest stars  to host CBS's telecast of the 4th annual Latin Grammy Awards (tonight at 9-11 pm/ET). What's next? Moonves exchanging barbs with Jimmy Kimmel? For his part, Lopez is more than happy to welcome the "Don Corleone of CBS" into the Mickey Mouse Club.TV Guide Online: You're CBS's newest star. How'd that happen? George Lopez: I just know that Les Moonves had to approve me, and he did. I'm a big fan of Les's. I like what he's done with the network. TVGO: Do you see this as a sign of progress? Lopez: It's a huge thing because no wants to promote other people on other networks because it's so competitive. Every time you hear "George Lopez" in a [CBS promo f

Wed, Sep 3, 2003

Freaks and Geeks: The Next Generation

Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig is developing a new comedy series for HBO about four twentysomething friends  three guys and a girl (no pizza place)  dealing with sex and dating from a distinctly nerdy point of view. Think of it as his attempt to educate Hollywood about the complexities of the male species. "Guys in their 20s in movies and on TV always wanna get laid, and that was not my experience," the self-proclaimed geek tells TV Guide Online. "We were looking for the great girlfriend, who could then make a wife. I wanted to portray that and get away from the ugly side of male mating." Of the four central characters, "three work at a mall and a fourth guy secretly works in an adult book store on the outskirts of town," explains Feig. "What it enables them to do is meet in the food court all of the time, which is very Freaks and Geeksy in a way. I just love how people kind of talk when they're eating together. "An

Tue, Sep 2, 2003

Scoop Uncovered on VMA Red Carpet

Keeping track of who's who on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards can be a tall order for the most diehard music fans  let alone a journalist whose primary beats are television and film. For every Pamela Anderson and Jason Biggs that whizzed by, there were 16 Simple Plans (Who?). So, what's a dazed reporter to do? Focus on the familiar, avoid the obscure, but never  ever  let them see you sweat. The first act to make its way down the carpet was British female duo Floetry  not the most recognizable artists around. Luckily, their publicist brought along a stack of flyers chock-full of background information. Turns out, Floetry's Natalie Stewart and Marsha Ambrosius are "the breakthrough story of the year," having landed two VMA nominations for their debut album and single Floetic. Who knew? What wasn't covered in the flyer, however, was the origin of the duo's unusual name. "A

Fri, Aug 29, 2003

X-Files Star Disses Skinner

Mitch Pileggi seems to be biting the hand that fed him for the better part of a decade. The former X-Files G-man confesses that he was more than ready to retire Skinner when the Fox drama ended its run in 2002. "I played him for nine years  I'm ready to move on and play another character," says the 51-year-old actor and upcoming star of the WB's Tarzan redo. "Honestly, after The X-Files was over, I had to go back to acting class to see if I could still act. "He never went anywhere," Pileggi adds of his stodgy FBI boss. "Yeah, he's a friend to [Mulder and Scully] and blah, blah, blah... I don't mean to be negative, but it's time to [move on]." Oddly enough, Pileggi chose another heavy as his follow-up to Skinner  although he insists the evil CEO he plays on Tarzan (debuting Oct. 5 at 9 pm/ET) will not be nearly as limiting as his X-Files alter ego. "I think th

Wed, Aug 20, 2003

Meet Alias's Sexy New Superspy

Jennifer Garner's got someone new to kick around on Alias this season. Actress Melissa George has been cast as Lauren Reed, the mysterious Brit that Vaughn (Michael Vartan) went and married during Sydney's two-year brain freeze. The Aussie import  best known as John Stamos' partner in crime on ABC's short-lived Thieves  will debut in the show's second episode. TV Guide Online spoke with the femme fatale just hours after she nabbed the plum part, so forgive her if she's a little giddy.TV Guide Online: How did you get the part? Melissa George: I read like everybody else in L.A.

Mon, Aug 18, 2003

Hilary Duff Breaks Her Silence

As evidenced by her sexy "So Yesterday" video, actress-turned-pop star Hilary Duff is so ready to put Lizzie McGuire behind her. But the 15-year-old  who this spring parted ways with Lizzie when talks with Disney broke down  doesn't think her edgy new image will alienate her core tween-girl fan base. "It's not, like, crazy," she says of the video for the single, which is currently No. 2 on the charts. "I'm not taking my clothes off or anything." Fair enough. But still, it's safe to say a new, more grown-up day has dawned for Duff. In addition to her first solo album Metamorphosis (due Aug. 26), the Texas native has two movies in the works (Cinderella Man and Cheaper by the Dozen), is planning a series of music specials for the WB and is about to launch an ambitious fashion and merchandise line. Lucky for us, she took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to chat about t

Mon, Aug 18, 2003

Hilary Duff Breaks Her Silence

Fri, Aug 15, 2003

Is Noah Wyle Leaving ER?

This fall on CBS's Without a Trace: A Chicago doc vanishes, and Anthony LaPaglia and Co. are the prime suspects! Don't laugh; it could happen. A rep for rival drama ER confirms that Dr. John Carter will be MIA for several weeks this fall to accommodate portrayer Noah Wyle's request for some time off. "He will be in the first two episodes," says the spokesperson, "and then there will be [an] absence." According to Wyle's camp, the actor  who is entering his 10th season as the increasingly moody M.D.  expressed a desire to spend more time with his family, including wife Tracy and their 9-month-old son, Owen. "That's something he has discussed with the producers for some time," says his publicist, Eddie Mi

Tue, Aug 12, 2003

Gilmore Girls Star's Weight Loss Secret

Gilmore Girls scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy shed nearly half her body weight over the summer, but viewers won't know what's missing when the show returns this fall; her alter ego, Sookie, will be six months preggers at the start of the new season. "I'll be wearing all these pads," laments the actress. "That's the irony." But even after Sookie delivers, the show won't be making a big deal of the character's newly-svelte self. "We never made an issue of her weight on the show before," notes exec producer Amy Sherman-Palladino, "so I doubt we will start now." McCarthy  who says the "final straw" came earlier this year when she stumbled upon a pair of her old size four jeans  slimmed down with the help of UCLA's Risk Factor Obesity (RFO) program. "It's been around for like 20 years, so it's pretty well known," she explains o

Thu, Aug 7, 2003

Sarah Jessica Defends Baryshnikov Casting

We must confess: Sex and the City's decision to cast 55-year-old dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov as Carrie's new artist-boyfriend caught us way off guard. When exec producer Michael Patrick King told TV Guide Online he snagged a "big name" for the plum part, we were thinking Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Sean Penn... you know, movie stars. Not a freakin' ballet dancer. That said, given that it was Carrie's portrayer, the delightful

Mon, Aug 4, 2003

Joey's All the Rage at NBC Press Tour

NBC kicked off its portion of the Television Critics Assoc. press tour in Hollywood, Calif., on Thursday by announcing that it had struck a deal with Matt LeBlanc to star in Joey, a Friends spinoff centered around TV's most lovable dimwit. "I spoke to Matt last night, and he is over the moon," Peacock entertainment prez Jeff Zucker told reporters, "Needless to say, we are too." But before you could shout, "How you doin?", reality set in: Since Jennifer Aniston is not taking part in the show, doesn't it essentially rule out a happy ending for Joey and Rachel  not to mention spoil a story that has galvanized viewers for the better part of two years? For answers to those questions  as well as scoop on

Fri, Jul 25, 2003

Will Smith Saves UPN's Day

UPN is mired in last place in the ratings, its viewership is off 18 percent from last season, and, with the exception of America's Next Top Model, none of its new or returning shows are generating any audible buzz. In spite of all this, the network's portion of the Television Critics Assoc. press tour in Hollywood, Calif., on Tuesday wasn't nearly as pathetic as it should have been. Much of the credit for that belongs to the exec producers behind the new sitcom All of Us  Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. The movie-star couple showed up to plug their latest pet project, and turned what could have been a standard-issue TCA panel into a rollicking hour of live theater. It proved the old adage true: The only thing a network needs to turn its press tour around is one hit session. Here's a

Wed, Jul 23, 2003

Raymond Controversy Erupts at TCA

You gotta love Les Moonves. In an era when network execs never seem to meet a politically correct, over-rehearsed, innocuous soundbite they don't like, CBS's chairman and CEO is the rare bird that speaks his mind  regardless of the consequences. Case in point: At CBS's portion of the Television Critics press tour on Sunday, Moonves hinted to reporters that he could see his flagship comedy Everybody Loves Raymond returning in fall 2004 with or without series creator Phil Rosenthal and star Ray Romano. (Neither has committed to a ninth season yet.) "Nothing's been ruled out," Moonves confided to a few select journalists following Sunday morning's executive session. "I hope they stay. If they ultimately decide not to, we'll do everyt

Mon, Jul 21, 2003

Emmy Boss Explains WB's Shut-Out

Let's face the facts: This year's Emmy nominations were a snooze. Voters once again played it safe, honoring aging faves like The West Wing and Will &amp; Grace over fresher, more deserving fare like Alias and Scrubs. (When E!'s reality train wreck Anna Nicole Smith Show gets more nods than the WB's sublime mother-daughter dramedy Gilmore Girls, something's wrong, folks.) So, who better to vent our frustrations to than the big cheese himself: Academy Chairman and CEO Bryce Zabel.TV Guide Online: Why do you think it's so tough for WB shows to break through? Bryce Zabel: I'm not an expert here, but I would presume that the WB is gaining increasing consciousness every year among all the voters, among American

Fri, Jul 18, 2003

Fox Exec Grilled About 24 Gaffe

Fox kicked off its portion of the Television Critics Assoc. press tour in Hollywood, Calif., on a high note Thursday. As the network's Entertainment President Gail Berman said in her opening remarks, "Today we have a lot to celebrate." She was referring, of course, to the 37 Emmy nominations Fox scored earlier that morning (led by 24 and American Idol), as well as the fact that the network was "coming off the most successful year in our history." Unfortunately, I found it difficult to share in her happiness, for I had a score to settle with Ms. Berman. At issue: Her obsession with running 24 commercials that give away key plot twists. The last straw came in April, when Fox ran a promo that revealed Lynn's impending fall down a stairwell. And the worst part? It aired just weeks after I personally pleaded with Berman to put an end to

Fri, Jul 18, 2003

Can ABC Make Practice Perfect?

ABC wrapped up its two-day gig at the Television Critics Assoc. press tour in Hollywood on Tuesday with one of the most hotly-anticipated sessions of the event: The Practice panel, during which David E. Kelley would address for the first time his decision to jettison half of the cast in one of the most dramatic overhauls of a drama series to date. Sadly, the press conference was scheduled for 4 pm/PT, and the day's only other exciting offering was a special lunch celebrating One Life to Live's 35th anniversary. Of course, this being press tour, some of the most thrilling moments come when you least expect it. Here's my minute-by-minute guide to all the day's highlights: 9:04 am Kelly Ripa makes good on

Wed, Jul 16, 2003

Roseanne, Ripa Make ABC's Day

With the WB portion of the Television Critics Assoc. press tour behind me, I was ready to tackle Day Two  ABC. Unfortunately, I couldn't get too excited about the sessions on tap: Threat Matrix? Yawn. 10-8? 4getaboutit. Luckily, Kelly Ripa and Roseanne Barr were slated to appear to promote their new shows, so the day held some promise. Up first: The dreaded executive session. This should be brief, I think to myself. After all, what the heck does ABC have to talk about? 9:02 am ABC chairman Lloyd Braun tries to convince us that network TV isn't in dire straits by rattling off a series of boring statistics. 9:12 am I can't believe my eyes. Someone in the audience is actually paying attention  and ta

Tue, Jul 15, 2003

Secrets Spilled at WB Fall Preview Event

We're at the midway point of summer, and that can mean only two things: Soon there will be far fewer kids clogging the streets during the day, and it's time for that semi-annual ritual known as the Television Critics Assoc. (TCA) press tour. For three weeks every July (and two weeks in January), the broadcast and cable networks trot out for the media the stars of their new fall shows during a series of press conferences, parties and other thinly veiled excuses to schmooze. Occasionally, amid all the slick video packages and over-rehearsed sound bites, a genuine, unscripted moment takes place. We at TV Guide Online live for those moments. The broadcast portion of the tour kicked off Sunday (at the Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Hollywood) with the WB. Here are some highlights as they took place in real time &#151 give or take a few minutes. Work with me, people; it was a long day. 8:30 am A startled WB publicist spots veteran actor

Mon, Jul 14, 2003

Kelsey Grammer Smells a Rat

If we didn't know better, we'd say Kelsey Grammer had an objection to the legal profession. How else to explain his new TNN series Gary the Rat, about a rodent who works as a Big Apple attorney. "I think anyone that's ever lived or worked in Hollywood has had a bad run-in with a lawyer," laughs the Frasier star, who voices the title character and serves as a producer. "Unfortunately, the stereotype about [lawyers] is not very favorable, so we thought we'd take advantage of that and use it for the good of entertainment." Grammer's opinion of legal types was hardly enhanced by a New York judge's recent decision to grant filmmaker Spike Lee an injunction preventing TNN from renaming itself Spike TV. (Late yesterday, Lee settled, giving TNN permission to use the Spike TV name.) "I think

Tue, Jul 8, 2003