SAG Strike Backburnered as Internal Fighting Continues
tim.molloy
The Con Will Go On: Leverage Renewed for Second Season
Leverage has leveraged itself a second season. The TNT drama about a band of con artists who use their skills to rip off other thieves – from crooked developers to corrupt companies – received an order for a 15-episode sophomore run, the cabler announced.
New SAG Leader Issues Plea for Unity
The new leader of the Screen Actors Guild began his term with a plea for unity as members try to decide how to pursue more DVD and online residuals and other concessions from studios. The removal of national executive director Doug Allen was a victory for more moderate union members, who blamed him for failed negotiations with studios. Plans to resume negotiations under new leadership will delay, for now, the possibility of an actors' strike. "It is time to turn the page on the most destructive aspects of the guild's internal politics," new executive director David White said in a message sent Tuesday afternoon to SAG's 120,000 members. "In this swiftly changing environment, we will not be successful if we do not work together."
John Travolta Extortion Allegations Revealed
The paramedic charged with trying to extort John Travolta over the death of his son was threatening to reveal a medical document irrelevant to 16-year-old Jett's death, according to Bahamian officials. Tarino Lightbourn has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 23, and is charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion. His attorney is charged with two counts of extortion.
Katie Couric Raids Prime Time on Wednesday
Prime time better watch its back: Not only will Jay Leno soon snag the 10 pm hour on NBC, but Katie Couric will borrow an 8 pm slot Wednesday for a special broadcast of The CBS Evening News. The show isn't leaving its normal 6:30 pm position. But network executives hope Couric's raid on prime time will showcase her strengths and help her snag more viewers earlier in the evening. CBS has been third in nightly news ratings since more than a decade before Couric arrived at the network in September 2006, but is the most-watch network in prime time.
John Updike, Author of Witches of Eastwick, Dies at 76
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist John Updike, a literary legend whose novel The Witches of Eastwick was adapted into a hit 1987 film starring Jack Nicholson, has died. He was 76. Updike was most celebrated for his five Rabbit novels, which chronicled the life and death of a former high school basketball player.
Travolta May Testify in Extortion Case Over Son's Death
John Travolta may be called to testify in a Bahamian extortion case involving the death of his son, Jett, E! News reported Tuesday. A court docket filed by prosecutors Monday in New Providence lists 14 witnesses, including Travolta and several of his lawyers.
Simon Baker and The Mentalist Try to Maintain Perfection
All is right in the perfect world of The Mentalist. On the show's set, on a crisp, sunny day in Los Angeles, everyone is smiling. The stars are smiling, the public relations people are smiling, and the reporters shuttled in from their hotel to eat donuts and talk to the cast are smiling. But no one smiles brighter than Simon Baker.
Shenae Grimes and Jennie Garth Want 90210 to Get Messy
The characters on 90210 live relatively untroubled lives, and two of the stars are ready for that to change. In interviews, both Shenae Grimes, who plays Annie, and Beverly Hills 90210 vet Jennie Garth, who plays Kelly, told TVGuide.com they're ready for their characters' problems to get messier.
Daniel Radcliffe Invites Obama Daughters to Harry Potter Set
In case Sasha and Malia Obama don't have enough social engagements, the First Daughters now have an open invitation to visit the set of the next Harry Potter film – from Daniel Radcliffe himself.
30 Rock, John Adams Have Another Big Night as SAG Awards Heat Up Oscar Race
Tina Fey's 30 Rock and HBO's John Adams swept their categories at the Screen Actors Guild Awards to continue their hot streaks as actors took a break from their focus on a possible strike to celebrate their best work of the last year. 30 Rock won best female actor for a comedy series for Fey, best male actor in a comedy series for Alec Baldwin, and best ensemble in a comedy series. SAG has been locked in a contract dispute with producers for months, and Fey took a jab at studios as she noted that her daughter would someday be old enough to watch 30 Rock on the Internet.
Cheryl Hines Returning to Curb Your Enthusiam
Cheryl and Larry David may be split up on Curb Your Enthusiasm, but she's not out of his life yet. Cheryl Hines, who plays Cheryl David, confirmed she'll be back on the show next season, even though last season's finale ended with Larry living in apparent bliss with Loretta Black (Vivica A. Fox).
Conan O'Brien Talks About Tonight Show, Dancing Like an Ass
Conan O'Brien took a lot of questions at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour, where NBC announced he'll exit his show Feb. 20, and Jimmy Fallon will take over March 2. (O'Brien has long been scheduled to take over The Tonight Show June 1, three days after Jay Leno's sign off, with the first airing of Leno's new 10 pm show to be determined.) Beyond that scheduling news, we had a choice: Run a long news story, or some of O'Brien's jokes.You're welcome. Here are O'Brien's thoughts on ...
Heroes Returns to Roots in Midseason Reboot
Heroes will go back to its roots in its midseason return, trying to win new viewers and recapture those turned off by too many characters and plotlines."This volume starts us pretty much from scratch," creator Tim Kring said in a statement Thursday. "There is almost nothing that the audience needs to know from the previous volume in order to follow the storyline."
Edie Falco Scrubs in as Showtime's Nurse Jackie
In Nurse Jackie, Edie Falco said she had much more input into her character than she did while starring as Carmella Soprano. It wasn't that The Sopranos writers didn't welcome her ideas: "They were totally open to input, but I didn't have any," Falco told TVGuide.com. "Partially because I wasn't used to looking at it that way, but also because we were all so in-sync. Every line that they wrote for her was right on."
Talking Torture With the Casts of 24, Lie to Me
Is Jack Bauer saying goodbye to the days of breaking bad guys' fingers? Over the last eight years, the 24 hero has represented – some would say encouraged – the kinds of harsh interrogation techniques permitted during the Bush Administration. Just Wednesday, the Washington Post reported the torture of a man suspected of planning the 9/11 attacks. But with a new administration comes new policies, and another Fox show, Lie to Me, makes the case for interrogations free of physical force.
SAG Leaders Dismiss Attempt to Oust Doug Allen
Screen Actors Guild leaders have dismissed an attempt from within their ranks to remove the guild's chief negotiator, a move likely to add fuel to the internal feud. SAG leaders hope to ask their roughly 110,000 members for permission to call a strike. But some members have faulted the guild for not making more progress in talks with studios and called for a new negotiating team. They had hoped to force out SAG Executive Director Doug Allen — the guild's lead negotiator — at a meeting that lasted 30 hours over Monday and Tuesday. But SAG leadership rejected...
Pushing Daisies Movie a Possibility, Chenoweth Says
Bad news and very good news for Pushing Daisies fans, straight from star Kristin Chenoweth: The final episodes, when and if they eventually air, won't resolve all of the plotlines on the show — but show creator Bryan Fuller has an idea for a movie that would."It would wrap up a lot of the unanswered questions that people will have once they finally air our final episodes," the singer-actress told TVGuide.com.And is Fuller pushing ABC to air those episodes?
Lie to Me's Roth Not Worried About The Mentalist Comparisons
Lie to Me's Tim Roth says his colleagues on the new Fox drama sometimes talk about The Mentalist, the CBS hit to which it's already drawn comparisons. But he's says he's not worried.
CSI Says Goodbye Grissom, But Hello Taylor Swift and Much More
How is CSI recovering from the loss of William Petersen's Gil Grissom? By giving country star Taylor Swift her acting debut, freeing new star Laurence Fishburne to find out more about his role, and promising Petersen's return as a guest.Grissom's last episode — for a while at least — airs Thursday at 9 pm/ET on CBS. Then the ensemble drama will turn to Fishburne's brand-new CSI, Dr. Raymond Langston, as he learns to investigate — and Fishburne learns who his character is.
Golden Globes Bring Huge Wins for John Adams, 30 Rock, Slumdog, Winslet
At one point during Sunday's Golden Globes, things looked very dark for anyone not on HBO: Led by John Adams, the network swept all the early TV awards. Finally, halfway into the night, a loss for the cable giant: Alec Baldwin won best comedic actor for 30 Rock, which went on to win best comedy and best comedic actress for Tina Fey. Then Mad Men got in the game, winning best drama at the end of the night.
John Adams, 30 Rock Dominate Golden Globes
John Adams and 30 Rock dominated the TV categories at Sunday's Golden Globes. John Adams claimed best TV miniseries or movie, best actor for Paul Giamatti, best supporting actor for Tom Wilkinson, and supporting actress for Laura Linney.