michael.ausiello

NYPD Blue Creator Tackles Marriage

Producer Stephen Bochco is thinking inside the box for his upcoming HBO series Marriage, which chronicles the state of one couple's union six years in. "All of the action takes place within the bedroom and the bathroom [of a New York City apartment]," says Bochco, "which is where relationships really do their heavy lifting." Slated to debut in 2004, Marriage stars Brit thesp Jonathan Cake and ex-Presidio Med doc Julianne Nicholson as husband and wife. "They're both real successful New York professionals: he's a doctor and she's an attorney," explains Bochco, who's hoping for his first small-screen hit since NYPD Blue arrived on the scene a decade ago. "It's a really good, strong marri

Thu, Jul 3, 2003

Scoop! Ruben/Clay Rematch Scratched

The latest showdown between American Idol champ Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken has been called off. RCA is reversing an earlier decision to release the duo's debut albums simultaneously on Aug. 19. "They're not going to come out on the same day," an RCA spokesperson tells TV Guide Online. "They're going to be spaced apart." The about-face represents a change of strategy at the record company, which was attempting to capitalize on the controversy surrounding Idol's photo finish in May by once again pitting the superstar crooners against each other  this time in record stores. As RCA Music Group's Director of Sales Karen Lieberman recently said, "We saw the releases as a way for consumers to vote with their money." (Geez, so much for subtlety.) The first rematch was held last month on the singles charts, when Aiken's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" outsold Studdard's "Flyin

Tue, Jul 1, 2003

Will The Sopranos Go For Seven?

Now that Sopranos kingpin David Chase has agreed to produce a sixth season of the HBO series (Season Five debuts in early 2004), mob mentality has set in: Greedy fans are already buzzing about the possibility of  holy cannoli!  a seventh season with James Gandolfini and Co. Will it happen? "Definitely not," insists Robert Iler (A.J. Soprano), who learned of the Season Six pact at a "family" sit-down held on the set in early June. Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who plays mouthy Meadow Soprano, elaborates: "David told us that he thought he'd be able to finish in five seasons, but he couldn't. So he's doing the extra 10 episodes in the sixth to finish up all the plotlines." While

Tue, Jul 1, 2003

It's Official! Pamela Anderson's a Cartoon!

No one can accuse former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson of not having her priorities in order  except maybe her handlers. "My agents are going crazy with me because I have all this [work] criteria, and it's all centered around the boys," she laughs, referring to sons Brandon, 7, and Dylan, 5. "They're like, 'I'm not going to tell people that you're only going to work on school holidays!' And then I say, 'Well, then, I'm retired.'" Anderson's decision to put family before career led her, ironically enough, to Stripperella, a new TNN (or is it Spike TV?) animated series debuting tonight (11 pm/ET). Created by Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, the cheeky cartoon revolves around an exotic dancer (voiced by Anderson) who leads a double life as a secret agent. TV Guide Online rang

Thu, Jun 26, 2003

Where in the World is Colby Donaldson?

Survivor producer Mark Burnett is thisclose to hooking a big fish for next winter's all-star Survivor: Colby Donaldson. The Australian Outback dreamboat confirms that CBS is reserving a tiki torch in his name. "If the scheduling works out, I want to do it," says the 29-year-old cowboy, who, after his 2001 stint Down Under, relocated to Hollywood to pursue acting (and appeared in the 2002 PAX movie Another Pretty Face). Is Donaldson worried that a return to reality will jeopardize his career as a serious thesp? (His bud, Survivor host Jeff Probst, advised him not to return for that very reason.) "Could it be a risk? Sure," Donaldson muses. "But I wanted to compete on Survivor long before I [started] pursuing acting. I think it would be an awesome opportunity to go back and play an amazing game and have a wonderful experience all over again." Meanwhil

Tue, Jun 24, 2003

Ryan Seacrest-Frenchie Davis Reunion?

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest wants to make one thing clear about his upcoming as-yet untitled syndicated series. "It's not a spinoff of American Idol," he insists of the five-times-a-week live "entertainment news magazine/variety show hybrid," which launches next January in tandem with AI3. "Obviously that's a very popular piece of pop culture that we will incorporate, but we're not going to be all American Idol, all the time." Still, Seacrest reveals that he may hire some Idol alums to serve as correspondents. Among the folks under consideration: booted belter Frenchie Davis. "She's a genuine star," he says, adding that he wants to "grab a handful of young [reporters] that bring something different to the table. I'm also thinking of doing a nationwide search for a pop culture junkie that could be a part of that team." Ironically, the well-groomed smooth-talk

Fri, Jun 20, 2003

Mutant X-Symbol Talks About Sex

Kim Cattrall's self-help book Satisfaction: The Art of the Female Orgasm should come with the following disclaimer: May cause performance anxiety in the actress-author's Sex and the City bedmates. "I found out about [the book] halfway through shooting," says Mutant X adonis Victor Webster, who plays a sleazy stockbroker seduced by Cattrall's sexually voracious alter ego Samantha on Sunday's season premiere (9 pm/ET on HBO). "I was like, 'If this was real-life, I would be very intimidated.'" After his Sex stint reached its climax, Webster nonetheless had the cajones to not only purchase Cattrall's graphic guide to pleasure, but read it cover to cover! His reaction? "She's got a pretty good understanding of t

Fri, Jun 20, 2003

Ruben Studdard Needs a Nap!

These days, the title of Hardest Working Man in Show Business surely must go to Ruben Studdard, the newly-minted American Idol winner. As if crooning like Luther Vandross all season weren't enough, he's been meeting the press non-stop, making endless public appearances and planning his album. (His first single, "Flying Without Wings," drops June 3.) When Ruben rang up TV Guide Online, the 24-year-old  who yawned his way through our last interview  was even more exhausted. If you think pop Idols go idle offstage, think again: He's being run ragged, singing and talking way too much for a man of few words.TVGO: Are they wearing you out? Ruben: They are. TVGO: At the Idol finale, you were perspiring pretty heavily on stage. Some folks were worried. Are you okay? Ruben: I'm fine, dude. TVGO: It

Thu, May 29, 2003

60 Seconds with Clay Aiken

Spend a minute on the horn with American Idol 2's Clay Aiken, and you'll find it hard to believe that the freckle-faced 24-year-old didn't win the whole shebang. Seriously  for a runner-up, the kid sure is being run around! On the day that TV Guide Online connected with him, he was en route from one promotional appearance to another. And after his debut power ballad, "This Is the Night," drops June 10, his datebook will only get heavier. So, while the carrot-topped heir apparent to Rick Astley still remembers the little people, let's (quickly) ask him the big questions.TV Guide Online: How's the publicity blitz going? Clay Aiken: (Laughs) Oh my goodness, blitz is the exact word to use. It's crazy. TVGO: Okay, set the record straight: Did you or did you not know beforehand that Ruben had won? Aiken: I simply saw that there was a long name

Wed, May 28, 2003

Angel Mystery: Will Cordy Wake Up?

Now that Angelus and Co. have assumed control of Wolfram &amp; Hart on Angel, we suggest they use their new seat of power to solve the show's biggest mystery: What the heck happened to Charisma Carpenter and her alter ego Cordelia? Carpenter  a former Buffy cast member who, like David Boreanaz, has been with the show since its inception  went off to have a baby last season and hasn't been heard from since. (Cordy remains in a coma on the show.) Making matters more murky, a new Angel cast list makes no mention of the actress. The WB and 20th Century Fox have been cagey about the omission, and numerous attempts to make contact with Carpenter's agent have proven unsuccessful. So, what's a journalist to do? Go straight to the

Tue, May 27, 2003

Spoiler Alert! Cliffhanger Mysteries Resolved!

Attention: The following story contains answers to some of the just-concluded television season's biggest questions. No kidding, we're talking about major spoilage here, folks. So, if you would prefer to spend the summer agonizing over the fates of Presidents Palmer and Bartlet, then read no further. However, if the idea of waiting 'til fall for news about Sydney's two-year-long nap and Rory's disappearing beaus has you popping Xanax at the same rate you do Tic-Tacs, then we're more than happy to help simmer you the heck down. But please, don't say we didn't warn you. Because we did. Numerous times. 24: Mad bomber Mandy (Mia Kirshner)  one of the few, surviving evildoers from Season One  resurfaced in the final scene to poison President Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) with a biotoxic handshake! Is the commander-in-chief DOA? Fox isn't squealing, but according to Bill Martel, an expert in weapons of mass destruction

Fri, May 23, 2003

Buffy Postmortem: Is Spike Dead?

As far as series finales go, Buffy the Vampire Slayer's was a doozy. We laughed, we cried, we hurled large objects at the TV in utter despair. But darnit if the show's creator, Joss Whedon, didn't leave us wanting more... closure, that is. For example, why of all the Scoobies did Anya (Emma Caulfield) have to die? And what's the deal with Spike (James Marsters), who bit the dust just days after making a date with Angel this fall? For answers to those questions and more, read on... TV Guide Online: I have a bone to pick with you: When last we spoke, you claimed that "no decision" had been made about bringing Spike over to Angel next season. Then, days later, the WB announced that, well, Spike would be making his way to Angel next season. Why did you lie to me, man? Joss Whedon: It wasn't until the last minute that it was actually d

Fri, May 23, 2003

Buffy's Creator Speaks!

Tomorrow night, Buffy the Vampire Slayer will turn in her stakes after seven demon-dusting seasons. Yeah, yeah, we know: This bites. But on the bright side, the Buffy franchise will no doubt outlive the lifespans of Spike and Angel combined  at least if series creator Joss Whedon has anything to say about it. In honor of the show's swan song, TV Guide Online rang up Whedon and asked him to do the only honorable thing: Give us the real scoop behind a number of hot-button topics, including Eliza Dushku's now-defunct spinoff, the much-buzzed-about Buffy feature film and the show's surprising final scene. Lucky for us, he obliged. TV Guide Online: Were you bummed that Eliza opted to do the new Fox drama Tru Calling instead of a Buffy spinoff?

Mon, May 19, 2003

The Lowdown on the Network Upfronts

Is there anything more fun than watching big stars grovel for dollars and network executives deflate their own egos? Thought not. That's why, despite the boring ratings charts, we love the Upfronts. Every time the six broadcast channels converge on Gotham for this weeklong, annual ritual, in which the networks unveil their new fall shows for advertisers, we get dizzy watching spin doctors try to convince the deep-pocketed advertising community that, no matter what the pesky numbers say, last season was their best ever, and next year is guaranteed to produce more Judging Amys than Watching Ellies. Go ahead and laugh, folks, 'cause it is funny. Read on, as TV Guide Online picks the best and worst moments from Hype-a-Palooza '03, and see for yourself: Best Opening CBS's riff on "All That Jazz." The Eye saw clear to hire the cast of Broadway's Chicago for a, um, refocused version of the showstopper. The clever lyrics of "All

Fri, May 16, 2003

UPN Needs a Good Laugh

Buffy-less UPN is raising its comedy stakes this fall. The little network that couldn't climb out of last place this season is adding four comedies to its lineup, three of which will air as part of a new Tuesday sitcom block. The goal: To stem a steep 17 percent ratings slide brought on by a slumping Enterprise and poorly performing dramas (buh-bye Platinum, Twilight Zone and Haunted), and to better capitalize on its one real success story  its Monday laffers. Here's a night-by-night analysis of UPN's new lineup: Monday UPN isn't about to mess with a good thing, so it's leaving this night mostly intact. The Parkers will continue to kick things off at 8 pm, followed by the new twentysomething comedy The Opposite Sex, starring hip-hopper Eve. (It replaces One on One, which moves to Tuesday.) Some of Sex's raunchy gags had folks visibly shifting in their seats at the network's Upfront prese

Fri, May 16, 2003

Frog Takes Big Leaps This Fall

WB Entertainment President Jordan Levin was in high spirits at his network's fall presentation Tuesday in New York  and it wasn't only the Frog's huge ratings leap this season that made him grin. There was Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum and his raunchy, apparently impromptu stand-up act; a moving clip reel and farewell appearance by the Dawson's Creek cast; and, a nervous (and awkwardly lisping) Rose McGowan trying to seduce the mostly-male audience by playing the ditzy card  all amidst endless talk about the importance of targeting teen viewers. But the star of the show was, of course, the WB's new fall schedule, which features a relocated Smallville, dramatic changes on Thursday and Friday, and the return of

Wed, May 14, 2003

Shannen Doherty Speaks!

No one was more surprised that Shannen Doherty agreed to participate in Fox's Beverly Hills, 90210 reunion special than, well, Shannen Doherty. "To be honest with you, my first reaction was, 'Hmmm... no thanks,'" admits the 31-year-old actress. So, what made West Beverly's most notorious bad girl change her mind and sign up for 90210: 10 Year High School Reunion (airing Sunday, 9-10 pm/ET)? And what about talk that zip-code-mate Tori Spelling bowed out due to a long-standing feud with her? To set the record straight, the Scare Tactics ringmaster spoke to TV Guide Online and served up enough hot dish to make good ol' Nat proud.TV Guide Online: So, why did you agree to participate in the reunion? Shannen Doherty: I started thinking about it, and the 90210 fans are

Fri, May 9, 2003

Idol Chatter with Trenyce

In late March, when it was revealed that American Idol finalist Trenyce, like so many of her competitors, had a rap sheet, we naturally assumed that her fate had been sealed: She would be forever known as the poor man's Tamyra Gray. But a funny thing happened on Trenyce's way to obscurity. In the weeks that followed, the artist formerly known as Lashundra Cobbins gave one arresting performance after another. ("She's so friggin good, there ought to be a law!" we can well imagine her fellow singers complaining.) By the time she was eliminated last week, the Memphis belle proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is a diva in her own right. The kid belongs on an album cover, yo, not a mug shot. Still, we're pretty sure that a crime has been committed. How else could we explain why it was the rising star who called TV Guide Online Tuesday afternoon for an exit interview and not Joshua Gracin? TV Guide Online:

Wed, May 7, 2003

West Wing Creator Quits! What Now?

Talk about political upheaval. Late Thursday, West Wing's creator and exec producer Aaron Sorkin sent shockwaves through the TV industry when he announced that he would be stepping down as the show's Emmy-winning commander-in-chief. And what's more, he's taking his No. 2, exec producer/director Tommy Schlamme, with him. Although insiders speculate that Sorkin was driven out in part due to the show's declining ratings, all parties insist the split was an amicable one. That's a sentiment pretty much shared by fellow WW producer John Wells, who in this exclusive interview with TV Guide Online, sets the record straight about the surprising behind-the-scenes shake-up at NBC's fictional White House.TV Guide Online: Why is Aaron leaving? John Wells: He's been threatening to for the last three years, and each year we've been successful in getting him to stay. [But] this year, he said he really needs to

Fri, May 2, 2003

Idol Chatter with Carmen Rasmusen

Carmen Rasmusen sure put up with a lot of crap during the final weeks of her American Idol adventure. Critics  namely, judges Simon and Randy  all but accused the 18-year-old Utah native of hijacking the competition on the strength of her all-American girl looks as opposed to her singing ability. Heck, even Paula Abdul  the master of accentuating the positive in the worst of circumstances ("My, what pretty socks you're wearing!")  struggled at times to give props to the teen. But if this season's American Idol taught us one thing, it's this: Never  ever  underestimate the staying power of an underdog. That said, all the good will in the world couldn't keep poor Carmen from getting the boot last week. It also couldn't keep TV Guide Online from asking the aspiring pop star the tough questions when she

Wed, Apr 30, 2003

Third Watch Mystery: Why Did Alex Die?

Chances are, if you watched last night's Third Watch season finale, the image of Alex Taylor's severed body lying on the pavement remains etched in your psyche. Although NBC's promo department for weeks had been warning us that "someone won't be back," nothing could have prepared viewers for the grisly nature of Alex's death. For those who missed it, here's the sitch: While filling in as paramedic at the scene of a car crash, the trailblazing firefighter was sliced in two by a sudden explosion. (For added impact, Alex's legs hit the ground seconds after her torso. Yeesh.) Fortunately, the character's portrayer, actress Amy Carlson, remains wholly composed in the wake of the tragedy. In this exclusive interview, the former soap star gives TV Guide Online readers the lowdown on Alex's haunting death, including why she had to go and which Third Watcher could be next.TV Guide Online: First off, w

Tue, Apr 29, 2003

Perry Mulls West Wing Return

Does Matthew Perry have a future in politics? The Friends actor  who kicks off his two-episode stint on The West Wing this evening (9 pm/ET)  admits he'd be open to another term in NBC's faux White House. "We haven't really talked about it, but I had a really great experience doing the show," he tells TV Guide Online. "So, we'll have to see." Plot-wise, Perry says WW producers have left the door ajar for his character  Republican lawyer John Quincy  to return. With Friends coming to a close next season, might Perry consider a full-time gig on Aaron Sorkin's Emmy-winning drama? "[Friends] is going to end a 10-year chapter in my life," he says, "and I like to think that when one door closes, God puts another door somewhere in your life and it's your job to go find i

Wed, Apr 23, 2003