Emails Surface from Ellen’s ‘Poochgate’

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, Arrested Development, Gossip, Internet

Poochgate, doggygate… whatever you want to call it, Ellen DeGeneres’ puppy problems are not quite over. Remember when Ellen sobbed on her show about that poor little dog that she adopted then gave away? Maybe you thought it was all over after the crying and the dog rescue seizing the dog and finding him a new family… or maybe you’ve lost interest in this story and moved on, but another chapter in the drama has surfaced. This time, an email trail documenting an exhange between DeGeneres’ girlfriend (Portia de Rossi), the hairdresser that was given the dog (and then the dog was yanked from) and the rescue, Mutts & Moms, paints a slightly different story than the sobfest that Ellen unleashed. The Smoking Gun posted the emails today, with de Rossi initially beaming about the dog, then later saying “he was just too much energy and time for us in our brand new home with so much going on in our lives.” She explained giving the dog to the hairstylist, to which the Mutts & Moms owner said she was “deeply disturbed” and that it was “in violation of our legally binding contract.” She also called it “a betrayal of my trust.” Even the hairdresser got in on the emal action, saying that Iggy had bonded to the family. Mutts & Moms explained that the dog would need to to be returned according to their process. And then, cue the tears from Ellen. It certainly hasn’t hurt ratings either—the show saw a 10 percent boost last week.

Read More | E! Online

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Erika Christensen, David Cross Join ‘Hell’

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, CBS, Arrested Development

At first glance, I wasn’t too excited about CBS’ new comedy I’m in Hell. Sure, Jason Biggs (of American Pie fame) stars as a Wall Street dude who dies and has to live out Hell on Earth… but it really didn’t grab me. The latest news of Erika Christensen and David Cross joining the series may make it worth a look, however. OK, so I’m really just talking about David Cross here. Since Arrested Development left, I’ve been missing the old AD gang and love to see them pop up here and there (case in point, a guest appearance by Will Arnett on tonight’s 30 Rock). I’m a huge fan of Cross’ from his quirky stand-up and of course, Mr. Show with Bob and David, which was pure genius. So, any David Cross is worth a look I figure, especially when he takes on the role as the devil in I’m in Hell.

Read More | ComingSoon.net

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Jeffrey Tambor Returns to TV

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, CBS, Arrested Development

After a failed sitcom last season with John Lithgow, Jeffrey Tambor will be returning with a new pilot. It’s a pretty safe bet that this one has got to be better than 20 Good Years. But sadly, may never match the brilliance of Arrested Development or The Larry Sanders Show—both of which Tambor played large roles in. The new series, called The Captain, stars Tambor as a retired TV writer living in Hollywood. The series’ name comes from the name of the apartment building, El Capitan. Here’s hoping that this series has the goods because Tambor is one funny guy, given the right role. Ahh, this has me missing Arrested Development all over again. Sniffle.

In other casting news, Oscar winner Marisa Tomei will star in the CBS comedy The Rich Inner Life of Penelope Cloud. She plays an author who experiences writer’s block until she tries to recapture her youthful optimism.

Read More | Zap2it

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Christoper Guest to Adapt Brit Comedy for ABC

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, ABC, Arrested Development, Ratings

Christopher Guest, the genius behind films like For Your Consideration, Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman, will be involved in creating a comedy pilot for ABC. But wait, it gets better because Arrested Development creator, Mitch Hurwitz, is also involved. If the result is only a fraction as good as Arrested or any of Guest’s films, it will be 100 times better than most of the stuff on television. Of course, you have to wonder if it will suffer Arrested‘s curse of low ratings and an early cancellation. The comedy is an adaptation of the The Thick of It, a British series. Guest has been away from TV for quite some time—you may remember his mid-80s stint on Saturday Night Live, but his last work for television was a 1993 HBO remake of Attack of the 50-Foot Woman. The Thick of It takes a humorous spin on the ins and outs of a member of Congress.

Read More | Zap2it

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

‘The Thick of It’ to be Helmed by Arrested Development Folks

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, ABC, Arrested Development

Well, it would be a lot more exciting if I could announce that Arrested Development was coming back to TV, but instead we’ll have to settle for the next (potentially) great thing from Arrested‘s creator Mitch Hurwitz. The Thick of It is yet another British adaptation for American TV. You would think that Americans have run out of creative ideas of their own! Anyway, Hurwitz and Richard Day, who wrote and produced Arrested Development, will be working together on the new comedy series for ABC. The American version will take place in the oh-so-funny world of Congress, looking at the inept players and bureaucrats who muck up the works. Day has a great writing pedigree—earning five Emmy nominations for The Larry Sanders Show and Arrested. He’s also written and/or produced for Mad About You, Ellen, Spin City, and Good Morning, Miami.

Read More | Zap2it

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Arrested Development Airs Again

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Cable, FOX, Syndication, Arrested Development, HDTV, Internet

OK, so we know that Arrested Development was canceled. We just have to accept it and move on (sob!). To me, it always begs the question: “How can sub-par sitcoms continue into their umpteenth season while something cool and hilarious like Arrested Development gets canceled?” It’s just not fair. But anyhoo… Arrested Development will be returning in syndication with a very interesting arrangement. The 53 episodes have been sold to both MSN and cable networks HDNet and G4. The agreement is that MSN has rights for three years, beginning later this year, and will be free to MSN subscribers. Additional interactive elements are planned to further enhance the greatness that is Arrested Development. Then, HDNet also gets the series for three years, beginning in September (airing in high definition, of course), and G4 (owned by Comcast) will get the series in October. Now if only someone could bring it back from the dead.

Read More | Reuters

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (2)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Emmy Nominations Announced

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Drama, NBC, Arrested Development, Commander In Chief, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, Grey's Anatomy, House, Lost, My Name Is Earl, Scrubs, The Office, News

Bright and early this morning, the Emmy nominations were announced from Hollywood. There’s certainly an interesting mix this time around with the change in nomination procedures – you’ll notice no mention of Lost in the major categories and none of the leading ladies of Desperate Housewives. Here are the major categories:

Best Drama
Grey’s Anatomy
House
The Sopranos
24
The West Wing

Best Comedy
Arrested Development
Scrubs
Two and a Half Men
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Office

Click to continue reading Emmy Nominations Announced

Read More | CNN

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

New Rules Give Smaller Shows a Chance at an Emmy

Posted by Abby Rose Dalto Categories: Award Shows, Sci-Fi/Horror, ABC, Cable, CBS, FX, HBO, NBC, UPN, WB, Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, Everybody Hates Chris, Grey's Anatomy, My Name Is Earl, The Office, The Sopranos, West Wing, The

This year’s Emmy nominations will be announced July 6 and perhaps new nominating guidelines will make 2006 the “year of the underdog”.

Last year showed some progress, with nominations gained by new hits such as Lost, Desperate Housewives and the recently-cancelled, cult-hit Arrested Development (which won seven awards last year).

Apparently some rules have been instated this year that will give newer shows (and shows from less popular networks, such as UPN, FX, and the WB) an even better chance at getting an award. The new system will allow members of the Academy to choose ten to fifteen finalists (depending on category), later cut to five main nominees by a panel of judges.

A few of this year’s hopefuls include The Office (NBC), My Name is Earl (NBC), Rescue Me (FX), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Gilmore Girls (WB), Battlestar Galactica (SciFi), Everybody Hates Chris (UPN), and Entourage (HBO).

Of course, some regular faces will be sure to make appearance on the list such as members of The West Wing and The Sopranos. (Thank goodness Fraiser is off the air, although Will & Grace may return for one last year of nominations, despite the end of the series a few months ago).

The awards will air on August 27.

Read More | MSNBC

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

MSNBC’s Top 5 Missed Shows

Posted by Eric Chaloux Categories: CBS, FOX, NBC, WB, Arrested Development, West Wing, The, Cancellations, Internet, Ratings

The new summer season is about to take over the steamy airwaves. As we laugh, cry and look for the remote while watching these new shows it will give us sometime to think about what’s on the horizon. A lot of shows won’t be back this fall.

Here’s what MSNBC has as the Top 5 shows they’ll miss.

1. Arrested Development
2. Alias
3. The West Wing
4. Everwood
5. That ‘70s Show

A lot of big names are not on their Top 5 list. Some of those obvious ones are Will & Grace, Malcolm in the Middle and the Bernie Mac Show.  I’m not that heartbroken over a season without Hope & Faith and Joey.

Read More | MSNBC

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

FOX To Air Last Four Episodes Of Arrested Development

Posted by Rhys Alexander Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, FOX, Arrested Development

Good news for fans of Arrested Development: FOX recently announced that it will air the final four episodes of the season, which had previously been shelved. Arrested Development has enjoyed a mighty resurrection of late, with Showtime in talks to pick up the series. No doubt fans are rejoicing, though there is some concern over the air dates of the episodes.

FOX aired what felt like a finale on Jan. 2. The episode, titled “SOBs”—short for Save Our Bluths, which is also the name of a fan web site trying to save the show—stuck to “Arrested’s” deeply self-referential guns by mocking both the conventions of ratings-grabbing stunts and its own insular nature (“Maybe we’re not that likable,” Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) tells his family at one point).
But the network has decided to air the season’s final four episodes in one two-hour block Friday, Feb. 10. That night also happens to feature the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC, an event that is likely to dominate the ratings that night.

Read More | Zap2it

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (4)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story