On TV Envy: Chris Farley Commercial: Tacky or Funny?

Watch Shepherd’s Fight with Hasselbeck on The View

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Syndication, Video

Although was once known Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s conservative ally, the comedienne has been started to drift further away from her co-host politically.

On today’s episode of , the ladies questioned whether certain events should be dredged up in the presidential campaigns. Needless to say - they had very different opinions on the matter. (Things start really heating up around the 3:45 mark.)


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Whoopi Goldberg Makes Elisabeth Hasselbeck Cry

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Syndication, Gossip, Video

Regardless of whether you agree with the topic at hand, it’s always a great day on when a co-host ends up crying. It’s even better day when Elisabeth Hasselbeck is the one doing it.

On today’s show, things became quite tense between Elisabeth and during a discussion about the “N” word:


‘Star Jones’, ‘Montel Williams’ Cancelled

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, Cable, Syndication, Cancellations

Star Jones ReynoldsSomewhere, must be secretly laughing right now.

, the woman who once occupied a seat on , is already looking for a new job.  After only six months on the air, (formerly ) officially turned off the lights on the today.  The program’s demise was announced only earlier this week.  In a statement, the network said the decision was “due to the rebranding and programming refocus of the network.”  (In other words, the channel was moving on and Star wasn’t coming with them.)

The end of Reynolds’ show, though, does not mean a departure for her from the channel.  As part of her goodbye gift, Star was given the opportunity to serve as a guest legal correspondent on the daily program that is replacing hers: .

Click to continue reading ‘Star Jones’, ‘Montel Williams’ Cancelled

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Reality Renewals: ‘Survivor’, ‘Judge Judy’, ‘Gladiators 2000’

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Daytime, Kids, Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Syndication, Survivor, Renewals

Survivor, Jeff ProbstWith days away from debut, has already moved on to its programming future.  Realizing their aging reality show is still a ratings hit, the network has just announced they’ll be bringing it back for more.  This means we will see two more installments of this production following the ‘Fans vs. Favorites’ version premiering next month.  And, of course, the dimpled will be there to guide us to the end.

If you want to start prepping your next Survivor pool now, you can get a rundown of the contestants here.  In the meantime, set your Tivos for Thursday, Feb. 7th @ 8pm.

Click to continue reading Reality Renewals: ‘Survivor’, ‘Judge Judy’, ‘Gladiators 2000’

Read More | Variety

Alex Trebek Hospitalized

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Games, Syndication, News

Alex Trebek

, host of since 1984, was admitted to the hospital late Monday night after suffering a heart attack.  Although the incident is being described as minor, Trebek, 67, is expected to remain at LA’s Cedar-Sinai Medical Center a few more days for tests and evaluation. 

Reps for the game show fully expect him to resume taping of the program come January.

Read More | People

Late Night Repeats for Writer-less Talk Shows

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Late Night, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, NBC, Syndication, General Hospital, Saturday Night Live, News

SNL Amy PoehlerIf the Writers Guild of America strikes on Monday as scheduled, you can expect a slate of late-night reruns to put you to bed.  Assuming a last-minute Sunday mediation session doesn’t prevent the 12,000 WGA members from walking out, daily productions ranging from to will immediately go into repeats.  So much for November sweeps.

The impact will not necessarily be limited to evening fare; daytime chatfests like may be affected as well.  Fortunately like my fave, , have stockpiled scripts that should leave them immune for months to come.

Tonight’s with Brian Williams could also be the last production for some time.  But given SNL’s lame tendency to air repeats anyway, who’d even notice?

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

No Agreement Yet Between Writers and Producers

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Reality, Syndication, News

Hand writingDespite a federal mediator and plenty of bargaining sessions, the and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to come to terms on a new three-year contract. Talks ended after several not-so-fruitful hours, three hundred and sixty minutes before the current contract expired. The writers and producers are stymied over one central issue: the pay writers receive when work is released on DVD. DVD sales are huge, and have been since the discovery that people will actually pay to own episodes of television shows they watched the first time they aired. Even syndication hasn’t hurt the DVD sales of old TV episodes, and the writers want their cut. Well, the producers don’t want to give it to them. That, in a nutshell, is what all this strike talk is about.

Click to continue reading No Agreement Yet Between Writers and Producers

Read More | LA Times (Registration Required)

Howie Mandel Strikes a Deal

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Games, Prime Time, NBC, Syndication, Ratings

Howie Mandel And it didn’t even involve a call from the mysterious “banker.” Howie Mandel, who seemed to fade from the spotlight in recent years, has made his comeback. And then some. Don’t hate me, but I found his hyper comedy routine with the latex glove blown up on his head funny. Then again, I was 11 years old, so that kind of stuff is funny. So, he’s been doing Deal or No Deal since December 2005 and it’s been big business. Who would have thought that this former funnyman and sometimes dramatic actor (hey, he was good on St. Elsewhere) would rise from the ashes and recreate himself as a game show host? For anyone who watches Deal, you know how truly addictive this show can become. I try to steer clear of it because it immediately pulls me in and doesn’t let go. And I’m not alone. The show averages between 8 and 10 million viewers and airs Wednesdays and Fridays. And now, it’s been given the “deal” for syndication, with a special half-hour version that will air five days a week. Mandel, clearly no dummy, will also host the syndicated version (in addition to the regular primetime deal). No changes to the set or those briefcase models when it goes to a half hour, however, the big prize will be reduced from $1 million to $250,000. Still nothing to scoff at. Go Howie!

Read More | Zap2it

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Forces Barry Manilow to Cancel

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, ABC, Syndication

Barry ManilowI’m not sure whether to consider this silly or hilarious…but I’m going with the latter.

Crooner Barry Manilow has apparently canceled a scheduled appearance on tomorrow’s episode of .  The reason?  A disagreement in politics.  The Copacabana singer told TMZ that he considers conservative to be ‘dangerous and offensive’.  Although he’s currently on a promotional tour, he is refusing to ‘share the same stage as her’ because of their differences in opinions.  It’s not clear why the gig was ever scheduled to begin with.

Any guess how long it will take to write a haiku about this?

Read More | TMZ

This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Food & Home, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, ESPN-HD, FX, FOX, NBC, Syndication, TNT-HD, Oprah Winfrey Show, Cable/Satellite

Denis Leary

MONDAY (9/10)

  • Today (NBC, 7-11am):  The show expands to an unnecessary 4 hours.
  • Oprah (syndicated):  Season premiere includes a first appearance by David Letterman.
  • Rachel Ray (syndicated):  Ray’s Second Season premiere includes guests from
  • The View (ABC, check local listings):  The official introduction of their final new host (a.k.a. Sherri Shepherd).
  • Wheel of Fortune (syndicated):  25th season premiere.
  • Monday Night Football (ESPN):  A double-header special.  Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens (7pm ET)/ San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals (10:15 ET).
  • The Closer (TNT, 9pm):  Part-two of the season finale.

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)


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