On TV Envy: Oprah Snags Sarah Palin Interview

‘America’s Got Talent’ and ‘Last Comic Standing’ Renewed

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Comedy, Music, Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Renewals

David Hasselhoff I finally caught America’s Got Talent for the first time, and only because an area a cappella group, The Fault Line, managed to land in the semi-finals. Yep, I thought I should watch and give my support—after all, I did see them perform in the food court of the local mall. Imagine if they won… I’d be, like, famous by association or proximity… or… oh, wait. They didn’t make it to the finals, so now my hopes of semi-fame are up in smoke. And do I continue to watch the show? Nope. The Hoff is creepy and Sharon Osbourne is nothing without her incoherent husband and annoying kids by her side. Fear not though, the talent competition has been renewed for next summer, thus making producer Simon Cowell just that much richer. Also joining the summer renewals is Last Comic Standing, which had me tuning in hit-or-miss the first few seasons and then lost me entirely this season. According to Craig Plestis, NBC’s executive vice president of alternative programming, “Both of these innovative series have proven to be summer staples and important franchises for NBC. We have the most-watched show in America’s Got Talent and one of the most upscale series in Last Comic Standing, and now viewers can look forward to seeing these popular brand series with fresh new shows again next summer.” America’s Got Talent airs live on August 21; Last Last Comic Standing will air the season finale live on September 19. 

Read More | Reality TV World

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Geico Cavemen Get a New Sitcom

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, ABC

Geico Caveman The ink is barely dry on the contract that Bill Martin and Mike Schiff (Grounded for Life creators) signed with ABC Television Studios, but work is already going full steam ahead on a new sitcom starring Geico’s cavemen. That’s right, the commercial concept has become so popular in mainstream culture it’s comedic value can no longer be ignored by network TV, a group determined to cash in on Geico’s advertising success. The two-year deal signed with ABC gives Martin and Schiff seven-figures and a third season option. The new sitcom will focus on a group of three Neanderthal Men living in today’s Atlanta, trying to adjust to a Cro-Magnon world. Martin and Schiff are no strangers to such a sitcom setup – they served as executive producers and showrunners for NBC’s 3rd Rock From the Sun in the past. 

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Go Behind the Scenes of American Idol

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, DVD, Gossip, News, Rumors

American Idol Unauthorized will give fans a long-anticipated behind-the-scenes look at America’s favorite reality show. This documentary-style movie features little-known facts, reveals rumors, shows backstage footage, and will interview former contestants and performers on the show. Ever wondered what happened to all those AI losers? This unauthorized look at life after Reality will detail what happened to contestants that we remember fondly, and some that we don’t remember at all. The cast features names like Kimberly Caldwell, Lindsey Cardinale, Kennedy, Marilu Henner, Ed McMahaon, and Mindy Sterling. Scheduled to hit the streets for public sale in April, 2007, American Idol Unauthorized is not affiliated with American Idol or the FOX network. Will the unauthorized nature of this documentary flick gives fans even juicier secrets and surprises than FOX can offer?

Read More | American Idol Unauthorized

Dancing With the Stars Contestants Announced

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Dancing With The Stars, Internet, Rumors

Heather MillsYou’ve been waiting for the big announcement, reading Internet rumors until you could get the official word. Good news for Dancing With the Stars fans: the official contestant roster was revealed today. Place your bets now on who will win the big event. And the cheesy trophy. Here are the choices:

  • Heather Mills, ex-wife of Paul McCartney
  • Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympian
  • Shandi Finnessey, Miss USA 2004
  • Clyde Drexler, former basketball star
  • Vincent Pastore, actor from The Sopranos
  • Ian Ziering, actor
  • Laila Ali, boxer
  • Billy Ray Cyrus, country singer
  • Joey Fatone, formerly of ‘N Sync
  • Leeza Gibbons, former host of Entertainment Tonight
  • Paulina Porizkova, model

The two-hour season premiere airs on March 19th.

Read More | Yahoo! News

American Idol Starts Tonight—Will You be Watching?

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, FOX, American Idol, Ratings

American IdolSo, the big event is here. I speak, of course, about the sixth season premiere of American Idol. And what better way to make it an event than by spreading it over two nights, at two hours a pop? The question is, will you be watching? I have a real love/hate relationship with American Idol—mostly because it’s like a train wreck that I can’t look away from. The last couple of years, however, I have passed on the initial audition episodes and instead watched from the Hollywood sessions onward. Last year, I just waited until they had whittled it down to the finalists. Why? Well, I’ve come to dislike the audition shows immensely because they have so many horrible wannabes. It makes for interesting television, right? To me, it just seems cruel to pass people through to the final audition to be judged if they aren’t any good to begin with. And viewers wonder why these people are so angry? Wouldn’t you be bummed if you made it that far only to get ripped apart? I guess it wouldn’t be as interesting if they only showed the quality people, but I really do feel for those talentless souls who are given a glimmer of hope when they stand before Simon, Randy, and Paula. I mean, really, how would you feel?

(You can find all the American Idol 6 posts here.)

Read More | Yahoo! News

Dancing With the Stars Returns in March

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, FOX, American Idol, Dancing With The Stars

Dancing with the StarsDancing With the Stars returns to the small screen in mid-March, and moves nights from Tuesday/Wednesday to Monday/Tuesday. Why the move? Well, with American Idol coming on for its umpteenth season, Dancing decided to split its schedule to avoid the competition. Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, said of the move, “The great thing about this air schedule is that fans won’t have to choose between the two reality hits this spring.” Too true. Fans of both shows, however will have their dance card (sorry, couldn’t resist) filled with watching both hit talent competitions. Who will be dancing in this latest installment? Sorry, folks. The official word isn’t expected until closer to the March 19th premiere date. Stay tuned—Good Morning America will make the announcement as we get closer to that date. The premiere will be two hours, with another two-hour installment on March 26th. The results show will be on Tuesday, March 27th. The shows will go to 90 minutes beginning on April 2nd.

Read More | Zap2it

Mario Lopez Next Miss America Host

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Cable, Dancing With The Stars

Mario Lopez Fresh off of his successful turn on Dancing With the Stars, Mario Lopez will next be taking on hosting duties for the Miss America pageant. No stranger to hosting duties, Lopez hosted Pet Star on Animal Planet, a contest looking for the most talented animal. So maybe hosting a beauty pageant won’t be too much of a stretch. I kid! He also hosted the Miss Teen USA pageant in 2003, so he has experience with both beauty queens and pets.

“I’m honored. I think it’s going to be great,” Lopez commented to The Associated Press. Last year, Miss America was hosted by Desperate Housewives James Denton. Lopez doesn’t, however, plan to sing the theme of “There She Is, Miss America” when the pageant airs January 29th from Las Vegas.

Read More | Yahoo! News

“Grease” Reality Competition to Feature Newton-John

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, NBC

Olivia Newton-JohnOkay, so Grease: You’re the One that I Want doesn’t immediately sound like a hit. But what if they raised the stakes with the promise that Olivia Newton-John, who starred as Sandy in the film Grease, would be on hand to dole out the complements and criticisms. Hmmm, the show now sounds slightly more interesting to me. And she ought to know what flies and doesn’t in this talent competition—the film was the most successful movie musical of all time, with the soundtrack being the most successful musical soundtrack.

Newton-John, who went on to earn multiple Grammy awards and star in other films, will guest star on the first two episodes of the talent show. Like American Idol, Grease: You’re the One that I Want will be looking to America to choose the most talented “Sandy” and “Danny” for the Broadway revival of Grease. The show will begin airing on Sunday, January 7th at 8:00 p.m.

Read More | Comingsoon.net

New Reality Series: The Imposter

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, ABC

ABC logoABC is jumping into the reality arena again—this time searching for the best imposter. I think I’m done saying that I can’t believe the depths that reality shows have sunk too. Now it’s simply not good enough to be on a televised talent show, you have to show how talented you are at impersonating someone! Just when they seem to have run out of concepts, they dig another one out.

The Imposter comes from the folks behind Last Comic Standing, and will seek out the best celebrity impersonator. ABC has ordered eight episodes of the series, expecting to air in summer 2007. Impersonations aren’t just limited to Madonna, Cher, Elvis or Liza, however—the show will consider entries in the musician, actor and athlete categories. The show is also casting their panel of judges and host. May I suggest Brian Dunkelman? I think his calendar is free.

Read More | Comingsoon.net

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