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June 2009
TV Guide Network cobbles together two more Michael Jackson tributes
Is this much MJ coverage “Bad?” Chris Pizzello photo/Associated Press
Haven’t had enough Michael Jackson coverage? I’ve had enough to last a lifetime (maybe the only network that hasn’t aired one!) but as long as y’all keep watching, it’s never going to stop.
TV Guide Network will shamelessly grab for ratings — er, pay homage to Jackson — in two more television specials airing this week: “Stars Reflect on the Man in the Mirror,” premiering tonight at 7:00 p.m. CT includes performance highlights and celebrity interviews from Sunday night’s “BET Awards,” which became a hastily-planned tribute to Jackson; “Michael Jackson: His Music Legacy,” premiering Wednesday, July 1 at 7:00 p.m. CT, features Jackson’s music videos.
“Stars Reflect on the Man in the Mirror” features interviews with Joe Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Ne-Yo, Alicia Keys, New Edition, Ciara, Sherri Shepherd, Arsenio Hall and Wyclef Jean, as they discuss Michael Jackson’s legendary career, his pop culture influence and how he paved the way for so many artists today. (Arsenio Hall? There’s a blast from the past. I wonder how many weeks of coverage we’ll have when he passes away?) The special will also include some of the most memorable tribute highlights from the “BET Awards,” including Janet Jackson’s remarks, Jamie Foxx’s Moonwalk and New Edition’s medley rendition of Jackson 5 hits.
“Michael Jackson: His Music Legacy” will feature music videos from the artist’s solo career, including “Human Nature,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” among others.
In other words, there’s little here we haven’t seen a thousand times on dozens of channels in the 5 days since Jackson died.
I don’t mean to sound callous; Jackson was a phenomenal entertainer — 25 years ago. He did influence a lot of artists and he left a brilliant musical legacy; a few days of coverage was well-deserved. But I feel there’s some revisionist — or at least, selective — history taking place here: MJ did not create MTV and, although he certainly had a gloved hand in shaping and changing the music video art form, the last time I checked nobody really shows those anymore.
I guess I’m just Thriller’d out. Do you agree? Is the continuing MJ coverage overblown or am I out of line? Post your thoughts below.
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Univision beats ESPN in soccer ratings
KAKW graphic
KAKW Univision 62, a Spanish-language TV station serving the Austin market, delivered the highest local ratings during Sunday’s USA vs. Brazil soccer match, regardless of language, based on average household ratings. Univision beat ESPN, which also aired the live match.
KAKW’s coverage reached approximately 18,000 Austin market households, while ESPN reached 12,000.
In addition, KAKW reached more viewers during the USA/Brazil time period (Sunday, 1:30p-3:30p) and the Wimbledon Early Round match on KXAN, according to the recent Nielsen overnight ratings for Sunday, June 28, 2009.
Do you prefer Univision or ESPN for this type of programming? Why?
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Friday Night Lights: Who made the squad?
AccessHollywood.com has the inside scoop on who’s on and off the team at “Friday Night Lights.” The site reports that stars Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler, who play principal Tami Taylor and coach Eric Taylor, will return for the show’s presumed final two seasons. Aimee Teegarden, who plays the couple’s daughter, Julie, will also return.
Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins) and Jesse Plemons (Landry Clarke) will also be back.
Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity) and Adrienne Palicki (Tyra Collette) should show up for a couple of episodes next season, AccessHollywood.com’s sources say.
“And in total touchdown casting news for die hard “Lights” fans,” the site reports, “Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen) will return for five to seven episodes of the new season, where the guy who is best known for taking care of everyone else in his life is said to have a major new storyline that involves him taking charge and taking care of himself.”
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Discovery Channel plans marathon Mays tribute
Discovery Channel will air a marathon of “Pitchmen,” their show starring famed gadget-hawker Billy Mays, on Wednesday, July 1 from 10am-10pm CT. The show follows Mays and co-host Anthony Sullivan as they scour inventors’ products in search of good ideas that need both financial and promotional help.
Mays, 50, died unexpectedly in his sleep Sunday morning in his Tampa, Florida home.
Discovery Channel’s statement on Mays can be found by clicking here.
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Would ye like some TV picks?
Colin Morgan as Merlin. Nick Briggs photo/NBC
Who’s your TV buddy? Uh-huh. Once again I’ve scoured through hundreds of hours of upcoming television programming so you don’t have to. Here’s some interesting stuff coming up this week:
Monday, June 29
‘Secrets of the Founding Fathers’ 7pm, History Channel: The founding fathers’ connection with Freemasonry is explored. I’m hoping we might also finally learn what Thomas Jefferson was doing in the conservatory with the lead pipe.
Tuesday, June 30
‘America’s Got Talent’ 8pm, NBC: Nationwide auditions continue. After watching this show last week, I’m confused … is the title supposed to be ironic?
Wednesday, July 1
‘I Survived a Japanese Game Show’ 8pm, ABC: No specific program information was available for this episode. That’s probably just as well, because my Japanese is not good and the translation would probably be pretty messed up.
Thursday, July 2
‘Moments of Impact’ 8pm, Discovery Channel: In this reality series debut, a teenager’s pet lion attacks his friend. It’s okay, you can go back and read that again. Alright, are you back? Good. In related news, I am totally going to stop complaining about these little ants that keep crawling across my desk.
Friday, July 3
‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ 8pm, BBC America: A man hopes his bride-to-be will love the medieval-themed ceremony he planned. I hope he ditches the idea to replace the wedding rings with thumbscrews. Also, those custom vows that read, ‘Do you take this wench?’ might not go over so well.
Saturday, July 4
‘48 Hours Mystery’ 9pm, TLC: The 2001 murder of Kent Heitholt in Columbia, Missouri is investigated. There are lots of fireworks stands in Missouri, so there’s your 4th of July tie-in. Happy Independence Day!
‘Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular’ 9pm, CBS: Would I leave you hanging without a real 4th of July-related pick? No. Craig Ferguson hosts and Neil Diamond performs. I picture Diamond throwing his sequin-studded, jump suited arm around naturalized citizen Ferguson and singing, “he’s commmming to America,” but, oddly, I picture that fairly often.
Sunday, July 5
‘Merlin’ 7pm, NBC: Lancelot saves Merlin from a magical, winged creature, so Merlin talks him up to Arthur. I’m not sure if I’ll be sitting on my throne, munching on a turkey leg and watching this program, but I’ll bet that guy from ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ never misses it.
‘Storm Stories’ 7pm, The Weather Channel: I keep checking, week after week, but they’re still not covering how my wife corrals us all into the bathtub and throws a mattress on top of us every time the wind gets strong enough that we can hear the chimes.
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Texas casting call for ‘The Biggest Loser’
Everything’s bigger in Texas, and NBC is counting on it. “The Biggest Loser,” the network’s hit weight-loss reality series, is including San Antonio on a contestant-seeking tour this summer. Producers will be in San Antonio July 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Nix downtown, 414 Navarro St.
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Cronkite children address news legend’s health status: ‘Not likely to recuperate’
Walter Cronkite presents UT president William Powers, Jr., with a Lunar Sample for the university’s Center for American History on Tuesday, February 28, 2006. Deborah Cannon photo/2006 AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Linda Stasi, New York Post television critic, reports receiving an e-mail message from Walter Cronkite’s three children, Nancy, Kathy Cronkite and Walter (Chip) Cronkite III, addressing the recent news coverage of the legendary newsman’s condition.
Stasi reports Nancy Cronkite confirming that her 92-year-old father has been suffering from cerebrovascular disease for years.
“In order to dispel false rumors,” the e-mail reads, “Walter Cronkite’s family want it known that, sadly, he is very ill and is not expected to recuperate; he is resting at home surrounded by family, friends and a wonderful medical team. We thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes.”
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I’ll be all ‘Idol’ in Dallas on Friday
What will you be doing tomorrow at 4 a.m.?
I’ll be up in Arlington, hitting my snooze alarm “one more time” and dragging myself into the shower before heading over to Cowboys New Stadium for ‘American Idol’ tryouts.
No, I’m not auditioning (unless my singing in the shower sounds particularly good!) but I will be pounding the pavement in 100 degree temps to talk with several Austinites who are. I’ll also blog here about the scene and send out frequent updates — including photos — via Twitter.
Is there anything you’d like to ask Austin’s “Idol” hopefuls? Post your questions below and I’ll pass ‘em along.
You can follow me on Twitter by clicking here.
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Your TV site pics … Proposal: Life on the Street
Statesman staffer Raeanne Martinez saw the recent photo we published of reader Stuart Leibowitz posing with the Mary Tyler Moore statue in Minneapolis and sent us this vintage snapshot:
Raeanne writes: “Here is my hubby Gilbert outside the ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ set in Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood. The photo was taken in 1997,
when the show was in its heyday. It still is my favorite TV show of all time. Another reason that is a kinda’ cool photo… we got engaged on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore the night before. Aw!”
Have you got a picture of yourself doing “nothing” in the ‘Seinfeld’ diner? Maybe your buddies took a snapshot while you hoisted a few at the ‘Cheers’ bar? Send it our way with a brief description; we’d love to share your TV site memories with your fellow readers.
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“Friday Night Lights” fan catches Kitsch on SoCo
Kristin at E! Online has a blog item from a “Friday Night Lights” fan who caught up with Taylor Kitsch in Austin. The actor claims his character, Tim Riggins, is “fully in” for FNL season 4 and has an “awesome storyline.”
In the posting, which includes a great photo of Kitsch near Jo’s Coffee on South Congress, the fan says that “FNL’s” casting director told her that filming will start Sept. 1.
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TV’s Ed McMahon dead at 86
Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.” CBS photo
Legendary sidekick Ed McMahon, who sat beside Johnny Carson for 30 years and acted as the viewers’ stand-in — prodding Carson and laughing boisterously at his jokes — died this morning. He was 86.
The television personality had been hospitalized recently, reportedly suffering from bone cancer and pneumonia.
Although he hadn’t regularly appeared on TV since Carson retired 17 years ago, McMahon remained a pop culture touchstone. In addition to his “Tonight Show” career with Carson (who died in 2005) McMahon hosted “Star Search,” a nationally-televised talent show and forerunner to “American Idol.” More recently, he rapped in commercials for Free Credit Report and appeared in Cash 4 Gold Superbowl ads with MC Hammer.
McMahon and Carson took over “The Tonight Show” in 1962, the year I was born, and continued until well after I was finished with school and into my journalism career. While I can’t point to a specific moment, the memories of McMahon’s booming chortles and gentle needling are an indelible part of the soundtrack of my life.
Do you have favorite memories of Ed McMahon? Please share them with us, below. In the meantime, enjoy a couple of Ed McMahon video clips after the jump.
Ed McMahon on “The Tonight Show”
Ed McMahon raps
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Friday Night Lights: Let’s play two?
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor, Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor. Bill Records photo, NBC
We’ve known for several months that “Friday Night Lights” has been picked up for another two seasons, with episodes to air first on DirecTV and then later on NBC. But Connie Britton, who plays Principal Tami Taylor in the television series filmed largely around Austin, told Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello that might be as far as it goes.
“I think the intention is to do two more seasons and then that will be it,” Britton reveals in the EW.com interview. In the video, Britton also discusses the show’s Emmy chances and her thoughts about filming without some familiar friends (including Adrienne Palicki, who is appearing in the remake of “Red Dawn”). “It’s gonna be different to be in Austin without our little core group,” Britton admits.
Meanwhile, executive producer Jason Katims is going to have twice as much work on his hands, juggling show-running duties of both “FNL” and new NBC drama “Parenthood.” Katims insisted his heavy workload won’t result in a quality decline for “Friday Night Lights.”
“’ll figure out a way to work it out,” he told TV Guide’s William Keck in March, prior to “Parenthood” landing a fall-season slot. “It might mean staggering some schedules. We have such an incredible team in Texas. It’s a very smooth running operation, so I have every confidence the show will continue to be everything it was in the past.”
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Idol finalists on musical Journey
The “American Idol” Top 10 (well, Top 9 and a wax dummy … see Adam Lambert photo, left) seem to be full of “Glee.” Rehearsing in Burbank for their nationwide summer tour, the performers worked on a version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” a song which enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after a catchy madrigal version was featured in the pilot of the FOX fall series, “Glee,” according to the Associated Press. I smell some cross-promotion here. Just sayin’.
The tour kicks off July 5 in Oregon.
In this June 7, 2009 file photo, singer Adam Lambert arrives at the Hollywood Life 11th Annual Young Hollywood Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. Dan Steinberg photo, Associated Press
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Sharp dressed men and BFFs: here’s what I’m watching this week
Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez star in “Princess Protection Program” on Disney Channel. Roman Francisco photo/Disney Channel
Hey, watch it! No, I mean it — there’s lots of stuff to watch this week. Look, you’ve got hundreds of channels and limited free time, right? Why waste precious hours clicking though channels, flipping through TV Guide (the Statesman’s ShowWorld is a good resource, though) or DVRing stuff you’ll never watch when I can do the heavy lifting for you? These may not be the best shows you’ll see all week, but you’ve got to start somewhere:
Monday, June 22
‘Iran and the West’ 8pm, National Geographic Channel: There’s something going on over there, right? I’ve been seeing this country’s name in a lot of headlines lately. Former U.S. and Iranian dignitaries tell us how we got to this point.
Tuesday, June 23
‘The Superstars’ 7pm, ABC: This show is like ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ except with running, jumping, kayaking and biking instead of dancing. It features some decent athletes paired with a bunch of stars that weren’t famous enough to take Speidi’s place on ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!’
Wednesday, June 24
‘I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!’ 7pm, NBC: Deja vu! The winner is announced on the season one finale. Of course, ‘winner’ is a relative term here.
Thursday, June 25
‘Penn & Teller: BS!’ 9pm, Showtime: The comic magicians kick off season 7 with a rousing examination of orgasms. Hopefully this description did not just make dozens of readers disappear.
Friday, June 26
‘Virtuality’ 7pm, FOX: The guys behind ‘Battlestar Galactica’ deliver a trippy new sci-fi thriller about astronauts leaving Earth on a 10-year mission. The crew interacts with the vessel’s virtual reality program, designed to help them deal with their confinement and lack of privacy. The premise serves as an allegory of sorts for our own media- and Internet-obsessed lives. Internet obsession? Me? Let’s just see what Google has to say about that! Peter Berg directs this show —a pilot, of sorts — and it stars Clea DuVall (Carnivale) who I would watch a still photo of for two hours.
‘Princess Protection Program’ 7pm, Disney Channel: Tween stars (and real-life BFFs!) Demi Lovato (‘Camp Rock’) and Selena Gomez (‘Wizards of Waverly Place’) star in Disney’s newest ‘this-will-be-your-kids’-obsession,’ a fish out of water tale destined to score royal ratings and a king’s ransom in merchandising. It debuts tonight, but you’ll see it 50 times this summer, after which you’ll probably want to assume an alias and go into hiding yourself.
Saturday, June 27
‘Storytellers: ZZ Top’ 9pm, VH1: The Texas trio perform their hits, including ‘Tush,’ ‘La Grange’ and ‘Sharp Dressed Man,’ so give them all your lovin’. C’mon, Penn & Teller just told you how.
Sunday, June 28
‘Hostile Makeover’ 7pm, Lifetime: A fashion reporter uses her style savvy to solve a crime involving a supermodel and death threats. Good alternate titles for this show would be ‘Murder, She Curled’ or ‘MattedLocks.’ Hmmm … I wonder if the Statesman’s own Marques Harper could utilize a blow dryer and some elegant cufflinks to help me find my missing pen?
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Austin viewers have trouble tuning in Fox 7
KTBC graphic
Since the digital conversion Friday, June 12 some Austin television viewers who previously had no problems viewing Fox 7, KTBC, have found themselves unable to attain the station’s signal. These viewers primarily use antennas and converter boxes to receive the new, federally-mandated digital transmissions.
KTBC’s Web site has a graphic explaining the problem: prior to June 12, the station’s analog antenna was 1,040 feet tall. Since beginning its digital broadcast, Fox 7 has been broadcasting on a temporary digital antenna at 400 feet and 37 kw. In a few weeks (no firm date has been provided) a new antenna will reach 1,070 feet, outputting 72 kw of signal strength.
According to KTBC General Manager Mark Rodman, this was due to the station’s FCC designation as a “phased transition station.” Since Fox 7’s signal was being transferred from one digital frequency to another (the station fired up their digital signal some time ago) the FCC gave KTBC a temporary digital broadcasting authorization with lower power.
Rodman admits that Fox 7 has received many calls from upset and confused viewers, but says these viewers have largely responded with “goodwill and understanding” when learning that the problem is temporary.
“We’ll be ready for the Cowboys’ home opener,” he promised.
In the meantime, KTBC says the following 4 steps have helped some viewers recapture the station’s signal:
1. Disconnect the antenna from your converter box or digital-ready TV
2. Rescan the converter box or TV set
3. Reconnect the antenna
4. Rescan one more time
KTBC suggests viewers check in at the Fox 7 Web site for progress updates and rescan every few days until their full power signal is restored.
The station’s digital television hotline number is (512) 495-7790 and their email is news@fox7.com.
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Fuse TV delivers Bonnaroo to you
Bruce Springsteen at Bonnaroo ‘09. Photo: Star Pix/Fuse 2009
Music fans who missed this year’s 4-day Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee can check out highlights in a one-hour special on the cable and satellite Fuse network Saturday night. “Fuse Fest: Bonnaroo 2009” airs at 8 pm CT.
The special includes performances by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails and Phish, among others.
More information and free Bonnaroo downloads can be found at the Fuse Web site.
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Walter Cronkite reported to be gravely ill
Mediabistro’s blog, TVNewser, and other sources are reporting that television broadcaster and former University of Texas student Walter Cronkite is gravely ill. The blog cited a source who noted that CBS began updating his obituary more than a week ago.
Meanwhile, the New York Daily News and other outlets have Cronkite’s spokeswoman denying the reports, saying the icon is just recuperating from an illness.
“The news reports that have gone out are overstated,” the article quotes a spokeswoman for the 92-year-old saying.
“He has suffered no major health crisis. He is at home. He was recently ill, and he’s home recuperating. He’s not gravely ill.”
Cronkite attended The University of Texas at Austin in the 1930s and worked as a student reporter for The Daily Texan campus newspaper. The legendary newsman began his career as a World War II correspondent for United Press. In 1950, he joined CBS and, 12 years later, became anchor of the network’s evening newscast. Cronkite retired in 1981 and was replaced by Dan Rather.
TVNewser quotes Cronkite’s thoughts on the subject of death from a 2006 interview:
“When you get to be 89, you have to think about it a little bit. It doesn’t prey on me, and it doesn’t keep me awake nights. Occasionally, when I’m upset about something else, I think, ‘My gosh, I don’t know if I should do this or that because I’m not sure I’ll be here that long to enjoy it.’ “
Cronkite announces death of JFK
Cronkite on the Moon landing
Cronkite University of Texas commercial
The latest on Cronkite on Twitter
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Readers: send us your TV photos
About a month ago, when I wrote my debut TV column, I received a lot of nice e-mails from readers welcoming me to the beat. One of these readers, Stuart Leibowitz, responded to one of my “25 things you don’t know about me” items — “#10. I have considered planning a vacation to Minneapolis just so I can see the Mary Tyler Moore statue.”
Stu wrote: “I did a business trip to Minneapolis last month and got a photo with the Mary Tyler Moore statue (see attached). You should go! Or maybe you can just “Photoshop” your photo into my picture …
Glad to oblige! Here’s Stu’s original photo, followed by an altered shot from a wise-acre graphic artist. This is what you meant, isn’t it, Stu?
Do you have any vacation photos from TV show locations? Maybe you had coffee in the “Seinfeld” diner or a slice of cherry pie in “Twin Peaks.” Perhaps you had your picture snapped sitting on Carrie Bradshaw’s stoop from “Sex in the City.”
We want to see them! Click here to email us and be sure to attach your snapshots.
Thanks, Stu!
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‘Guiding Light’ fans — talk to us!
Hey, soap fans … how do you feel about “The Guiding Light” being cancelled? Did you know it has aired on CBS since 1952? If you’re a regular watcher, we’d like to talk to you for an upcoming story.
Please e-mail us by clicking here.
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Palicki from ‘FNL’ joins cast of ‘Red Dawn’ remake
Adrianne Palicki has weathered all kinds of crises as Tyra in the Austin-filmed show “Friday Night Lights.” Now she’ll be battling Russian and Chinese invaders in a remake of the ’80s film “Red Dawn,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Palicki will play the character portrayed by Jennifer Grey in the original. Grey’s part was a pretty small one, but we’re hoping Palicki will get more to do.
This casting news follows word that “FNL’s” Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins) snared the lead in Disney’s upcoming “John Carter of Mars”.
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Is it time for the Letterman/Palin flap to end?
CNN’s political ticker reports that a protest Tuesday afternoon outside of the Ed Sullivan Theater, where David Letterman tapes his late night CBS talk show, mustered only 15 protesters who “held signs and occasionally shouted” from across the street. The group was outnumbered by more than 35 members of the media “and out-shouted by a few very vocal counter-protesters,” the site claims.
The group was picketing Letterman because of an off-color joke the television personality made about a sexual relationship between Yankees player Alex Rodriguez and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s daughter. The quip has cost CBS at least one advertiser and spurred a complaint to the Federal Communications Commission from Austinite Russell Korman, owner of Russell Korman’s Fine Jewelry & Watches.
Meanwhile, fellow comic and HBO talk show host Bill Maher defended Letterman to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer:
“It was an easy and obvious joke to make. It was funny. It was not offensive in any way,” Maher said of the joke, for which Letterman apologized on his show Monday — an apology Palin has accepted. “And they made it sound like he said something completely different. So he’s apologizing for something he never meant, never thought, and never said.”
Here’s Letterman apology. Palin has accepted it. Is it time for this to end? Tell us what you think:
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Austinites: Is one of you the next American Idol?
We’re heading up to Dallas for the ‘American Idol’ auditions. Are you?
If you live in the Austin area and plan to try out on Friday, June 26 at Dallas Cowboys New Stadium, let us know. We’d like to meet you up there, ask you some questions, snap a few pictures and give you some ink (you might as well get used to the paparazzi now).
Mostly we’d like to get in good with you so that when you release your debut CD (we’ll give you a pass on the sure-to-be-crummy “coronation song” Simon Fuller will release as your first single) we can hang with you and get a signed copy.
Click here to e-mail us.
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Austin’s digital TV transition goes smoothly
Mike Wenglar hasn’t shut off the analog signal yet, but when he throws the switch, his KVUE career will have come full circle. Wenglar, the station’s Director of Technology, turned on the analog signal nearly 38 years ago when KVUE first started broadcasting and he will switch it off in two weeks. When the static slate with the digital television transfer hotline telephone number disappears, Wenglar will be the one executing that particular program’s cancellation.
Friday, June 12 was the deadline for U.S. television broadcasters to have their digital signals up and running and most have shut off their analog broadcasts. There was a good deal of pre-transition hand wringing in central Texas, the fourth-least-prepared television market in the country just prior to the switch. But the transition appears to have gone well.
KVUE (ABC), which shut off its digital signal during Friday’s 10 p.m. newscast, fielded fewer than 60 calls this past weekend with over half of them coming before midnight the day of the transition.
KXAN (NBC) General Manager Eric Lassberg said his station’s transition went “very well. We had minimal calls.” Most were related to issues with pre-scanning, the process of teaching your digital television or converter box to find and pull in digital signals for viewing.
The folks over at FOX affiliate KTBC fielded about 480 calls throughout the weekend at their fully-staffed hotline. There were some questions about coupons and converter boxes, but many of the callers had problems receiving the station’s digital signal. According to General Manager Mark Rodman, this was due to KTBC’s FCC designation as a “phased transition station.” Since KTBC’s signal was being transferred from one digital frequency to another, the FCC gave the station a temporary authorization with lower power. Rodman stresses that this was planned and that the signal strength is scheduled to be back up in 2-3 weeks.
“We’ll be ready for the Cowboys’ home opener,” he says, adding that he appreciated the goodwill and understanding from KTBC’s loyal viewers. Rodman touted the fact that these particular callers had converter boxes and knew how to use them as proof that the transition awareness campaign was effective.
“We’re in the digital age,” he said. “Welcome.”
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News news: Staffing changes at KEYE, KXAN
Austin journalist and news analyst Jim McNabb, over at media blog News McNabb, has a great roundup of staffing changes at the KEYE and KXAN newsrooms.
Included are updates on KEYE Capitol reporter Alexis Patterson; former KXAN Williamson County reporter Stephanie Serna; KEYE’s Troy Kimmel; a new KXAN reporter; and KEYE’s Rosie Gomez, who is leaving the station for Honduras to teach English as a second language.
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Jeweler Korman files complaint over Letterman joke
UDPATE: The FCC has declined to comment.
Sarah Palin is not the only person outraged about David Letterman’s jabs at her family. After the CBS late-night talk show host made some off-color jokes about the former vice presidential candidate’s daughter Monday night, Austinite Russell Korman, owner of Russell Korman’s Fine Jewelry & Watches, decided to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.
“I really think it was intent to hurt a public figure by going through their children,” said Korman, who saw the jokes on Tuesday when they were rerun on cable news shows. “We didn’t do that, much, to the Bush kids and we didn’t do it much to Chelsea Clinton or Amy Carter, and we certainly shouldn’t do it to Sasha and Malia Obama. And we shouldn’t do it to a governor or senator or, really, anyone’s underage kids.”
In his Monday night monologue, Letterman made a joke about a sexual relationship between Yankees player Alex Rodriguez and Palin’s daughter. (The Palin family attended a Yankees game Sunday.) An issue of contention is whether Letterman was referring to Palin’s 18-year-old daughter Bristol, a single mother who has become a public figure, or Palin’s 14-year-old daughter, Willow.
Letterman contends he was talking about Bristol, and that he would not have made a joke about a 14-year-old girl. But Korman notes that it was widely reported, before Monday’s broadcast, that it was Willow Palin who was attending the game with her parents. “For me to know that in Austin, Texas, before any of these jokes even came up, it was that well publicized,” Korman said. “Let’s remind everyone, CBS is based in New York, his show is in New York City, I believe, and the New York Yankees are in New York. So if I knew the news here, out of his huge staff — they knew what they were doing.”
Korman filed his complaint (Form 475B, regarding “Obscene, Profane and/or Indecent Material) on Thursday morning. He said he would like to see the FCC mete out the maximum possible fine to CBS and for the network to suspend Letterman’s show for a week. “I’m not someone that does a Don Imus thing and calls for firings and things like that,” he said.
Neither the FCC nor local CBS affiliate KEYE responded to repeated requests for comment.
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The new ‘Real World’
MTV’s “The Real World” will film its 23rd season (23rd!) in Washington, D.C., this summer, the AP reports. The Washington “Real World” will air next year. In the mean time, Season 22 of the reality (well, reality-ish) show will premiere June 24. It’s set in Cancun.
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‘Real Housewife’ in hospital for baby’s birth
If you’re a fan of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” — and we have to admit we are — Life & Style Weekly is reporting that Jacqueline Laurita is in the hospital for delivery of son Nicholas via C-section.
Jacqueline’s attempts to have a third child have been a storyline on the Bravo reality show, which has its season finale next Tuesday at 9.
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‘Jon & Kate’ tops cable ratings
TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” topped cable ratings for the week of June 1-7, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 8:30 episode was the No. 1 show with 5.94 million viewers, while the 8 p.m. show was No. 4 with 5.46 million viewers. While the show still tops the Nielsens, ratings are down from the season premiere on May 25, which drew 9.8 million viewers
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‘American Idol’ voting controversy
Need a fix of “American Idol” news? The New York Times’ story on block voting is a good read that raises a lot of questions:
“Just how many people are casting block votes — which seem to be at odds with the show’s own rules — is unclear. The Fox network and the “American Idol” producers refuse to reveal all but the barest details of its voting process. Since Kris Allen defeated Adam Lambert for the eighth “American Idol” crown last month, no one in a position to know has officially disclosed even the margin of victory.”
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‘Top Chef Masters’ sounds tempting
“Top Chef Masters” premieres tonight at 9 on Bravo. From the reviews, the new show sounds reminiscent of a Bravo classic that used to occupy this Wednesday timeslot: “Project Runway” (which has moved to the Lifetime network).
Like “Runway,” “Top Chef Masters” makes skill and creativity the main attractions instead of amped-up dramatics. If you’re looking for a nicer alternative to the summer’s sleazier reality offerings (such as “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!”) this show should be worth a try.
The competition pits award-winning chefs against each other in challenges such as preparing a dinner in a dorm room using a microwave and hot plates. It is, of course, a spinoff of the original “Top Chef,” whose contestants haven’t yet made it big.
The L.A. Times calls “Top Chef Masters” “A thing of pure delight, it takes all the ego out of the equation and leaves only the art.”
The New York Daily News says: “Those who prefer TV food competition shows to be blood sport may find that ‘Top Chef Masters’ starts out a little tame. But it’s a tasty treat for those who enjoy food and would like to think that people who prepare it feel the same.”
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Variety: ‘Mad Men’ back on August 16th
You might be able to finally let out that breath — you know, the smokey, gin-soaked one you’ve been holding since last October. Variety is reporting that AMC’s “Mad Men” will return at 9 p.m. on August 16.
The starting date has been a source of speculation and angst amongst the show’s rabid fans (including yours truly) ever since the network revealed that the Season 3 premiere would be pushed back from July to August.
There’s no official confirmation from AMC, but the network did post the Variety article on its “Mad Men” Web site. The story also addresses the resolution to the argument between AMC and “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner over the length of the show’s episodes. The network wanted to cut two minutes off of the their length in order to sell more advertising (ironic, no?). Weiner objected and, in the end, AMC agreed to simply let the show run two minutes into the next hour.
There’s no new video yet, just that frustrating Season 3 promo. So, instead, enjoy this “Simpsonized” clip of the “Mad Men” opening credits from last year’s ‘Treehouse of Horror’ episode:
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Lil Dez: Yes or no?
I don’t know — I think I liked the Kobe and LeBron commercials better before the kid showed up. What do you say?
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‘Nurse Jackie’ could become a new TV addiction
Edie Falco portrays the titular character in Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”
Did you get my prescription for Monday night television in Monday’s Austin American-Statesman? Take half an hour of Showtime’s conflicted, addicted “Nurse Jackie” at 9:30 p.m., repeat weekly, refill next season. (Disclosure: I am not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV.)
Here’s what I wrote about the show in my print review:
With a mantra of “Make me good, God — but not yet,” Falco plays a conflicted caregiver. Viewed by many of her patients as a saint — and she does saintly things — she also nurses a prescription drug habit (whether she sleeps with All Saints Hospital’s pharmacist out of passion or a need for pills remains unclear); has serious family issues, apparently of her own making; forges patients’ signatures on organ donor cards; and blithely debates with a doctor friend which of them will interrupt their lunch at a nearby restaurant to help a woman who is choking at the next table. She also flushes a thug’s severed ear down the toilet, but not before holding it up to her mouth and delivering a heartfelt epithet straight into it that she could not say to its owner’s face.
“Nurse Jackie” — hilarious and heartbreaking, is so good that I could not stop watching, rifling through six half-hour episodes in one sitting. The ensemble is remarkable, including Peter Facinelli as cocky Dr. Cooper, Eve Best as Falco’s confidante, Dr. Elenor O’Hara, and especially Merritt Wever as overeager nurse trainee Zoey Brakow. If you have Showtime, please watch.
Aside from some uproar from real-life nurses, the show debuted to good reviews:
Entertainment Weekly found it to be an excellent stylized drama.
The Wall Street Journal calls Jackie Gregory House with a heart.
Journalist/critic/author Marshall Fine agrees with me that “Jackie” pairs up nicely with Showtime’s “Weeds.”
Do you disagree? Will you be tuning in regularly? Let us know by posting your comments below.
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New ‘Futurama’ episodes at Comedy Central?
Well bite my shiny, metal keyboard (it’s one of those slick aluminum Apple jobs!). Collider.com has a fresh rumor about Futurama.
Collider cites an “inside source” who claims that Cartoon Network has ordered 13 new episodes of the whip-smart, underappreciated animated series from the creators of “The Simpsons.” Following the adventures of a pizza delivery boy transported to the year 3000, the series ran from 1999-2003 on FOX and its characters were most recently seen in four straight-to-DVD movies which later aired on Comedy Central, current site of ‘Futurama’ reruns.
If the rumor pans out, expect an announcement at July’s Comic Con, where the quartet of movie titles were previously announced.
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‘American Idol’ Kris Allen sings Anthem, inks contract
Kris Allen sings the National Anthem before game 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals
Fresh off his National Anthem performance before game 2 of the NBA finals Sunday, “American Idol” champ Kris Allen has been officially signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records, Entertainment Weekly reports.
I hadn’t realized that Allen already has two singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including the stupid, awful coronation theme “No Boundaries” (co-written by Idol judge Kara DioGuardi). If that aural mess can chart so high, it only bodes well for Allen’s full album’s late fall release.
Are you the next American Idol?
The FOX television show just wrapped its 8th season, but season 9 audition dates have been announced and Dallas is on the list. Registrations are June 24-25 with tryouts on the 26th. If you’re planning on hopping the highway to stardom (that would be I-35 North) by auditioning, please e-mail me at droe@statesman.com. We might want to follow you up there for a future story.
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‘I’m A Celebrity’ star Heidi Pratt hospitalized
In what can only be described, if true, as a bone thrown to viewers, tmz.com reports that Heidi Pratt (“The HIlls”) and her husband Spencer, stars of NBC’s summer reality offering, “I’m A Celebrity — Get Me Out Of Here!,” have been “tortured” by the network for attempting to leave the show.
The Web site claims a cast member compared treatment of the Pratts, who were locked in a dark room for a day and night with only rice, water and beans, to that of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Ms. Pratt was reportedly taken to a hospital where she was diagnosed diagnosed with a gastric ulcer.
It’s hard to imagine how the likes of Sanjaya Malakar or Stephen Baldwin would know about the inner workings at Gitmo (although, if there’s any justice, Rod Blagojevich, former Illinois Governor and wife of the show’s Patti, might eventually spend some time there) but it’s a safe bet that the only real torture NBC is inflicting is upon anyone who accidentally lands on this show while channel surfing.
The Pratts (best name-to-occupation match since my old hometown’s Chiropractor, “Will Tickle”) have been pulling a “we’re leaving … no, we’re staying” routine since the show began last week, successfully making themselves the most annoying and talked-about contestants. It remains to be seen if this hoopla is all just designed to generate more publicity for “Celebrity,” which takes up two more hours of network prime time Monday at 7 p.m.
NBC may be trying to pass this obnoxious couple off as famous, but my prediction is that the only way they’ll get TV time after this show ends is by having octuplets.
Are you a “Celebrity” fan? Do you think this is all orchestrated? Post your comments below.
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Bad news for Mike Judge’s “The Goode Family”
“The Goode Family” is on the move, but they’re not necessarily movin’ on up. ABC is shifting Austinite Mike Judge’s underperforming animated comedy to Fridays at 8pm starting June 12, according to this TV Week article.
The move does not bode well for the show, which pokes fun at a family of politically correct tree huggers. It debuted to average critical response but has failed to catch on with viewers.
The May 27 pilot episode debuted to nearly 4 million viewers while the third episode (aired just one week later in a “Goode” double-header) attracted just over half that number, and failed to hold a million viewers from that evening’s first outing.
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Comedy Central Command: Colbert takes show to Iraq
In this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force, talk show host Stephen Colbert poses next to an Air Force jet at the Republic airport in East Farmingdale, N.Y. on Friday, May 22, 2009.
“Better know a green zone?” “Tip of the helmet, wag of the finger?” Colbert nation, prepare to mobilize.
Stephen Colbert is taking his faux punditry to Iraq and, as he would be the first to tell you, he is a formidable faux.
From Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11 the 10:30 p.m. Comedy Central show becomes a USO tour entitled “Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando,” and Colbert will tape and perform shows in front of the troops.
“The USO counts this as military service, right? I might want to run for office some day,” Colbert said.
The location of Colbert’s road trip, which the show had been keeping secret, was leaked last week when Alaska Governor and former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin revealed via the social media tool Twitter that she was taping a segment. “Getting ready to tape shout-out for our awesome US troops serving overseas!” Palin tweeted on May 29. “Will be on Colbert Report next month, broadcast from Iraq…”
The shows, taped at an undisclosed military base, will feature segments including Colbert putting together USO care packages for the troops and more shout outs from other notable figures presumably much better at keeping secrets. Guests include: Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Barham Salih; Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general, Multi National Force- Iraq ; and a host of other American and Iraqi military personnel.
Colbert will post his own updates from base on Twitter. You can follow him by clicking here.
Proceeds from sales of “The Colbert Report” on iTunes during the week of June 8 will benefit the USO.
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Precursor to Emmys: TV critics announce award nominees
The Television Critics Association just announced the nominees for its 2009 Awards, honoring the finest work of the 2008-09 television season as selected by the association’s 200-plus member critics and journalists. The winners will be announced August 1. Chelsea Handler, host of E!’s “Chelsea Lately,” will open the ceremony.
NBC, fresh off of ribbing from its new “The Tonight Show” host Conan O’Brien about being the network that nobody watches, leads the pack with 11 nominations, including comedies “30 Rock,” “The Office” and “Saturday Night Live,” which garnered 7 nominations total. “Friday Night Lights,” which initially aired on DirecTV, got a nomination along with long-time series “ER.” NBC also received a nomination for its coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics.
“Battlestar Galactica,” “Lost,” “Mad Men,” Saturday Night Live” and “The Shield” are up for program of the year.
Check out a complete list of TCA Award nominations after the jump.
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“Battlestar Galactica” (SciFi Channel)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“The Shield” (FX)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
“How I Met Your Mother” (CBS)
“The Office” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC/DirecTV)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“The Shield” (FX)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT MOVIES, MINI-SERIES AND SPECIALS
2008 Summer Olympic Coverage (NBC)
“24: Redemption” (Fox)
“Generation Kill” (HBO)
“Grey Gardens” (HBO)
“Taking Chance” (HBO)
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“Fringe” (Fox)
“The Mentalist” (CBS)
“No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” (HBO)
“True Blood” (HBO)
“United States of Tara” (Showtime)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”)
Steve Carell (“The Office”)
Tina Fey (“30 Rock”)
Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”)
Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Glenn Close (“Damages”)
Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”)
Walton Goggins (“The Shield”)
Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”)
Hugh Laurie (“House”)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING
“Camp Rock” (The Disney Channel)
“The Electric Company” (PBS)
“Nick News” (Nickelodeon)
“Sid the Science Kid” (PBS)
“Yo Gabba Gabba” (Nickelodeon)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION
“60 Minutes” (CBS)
“The Alzheimer’s Project” (HBO)
“Frontline” (PBS)
“The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC)
“We Shall Remain” (PBS)
HERITAGE AWARD
“ER” (NBC)
“MAS*H” (CBS)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“The Shield” (FX)
“Star Trek” (NBC)
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Dallas auditions announced for ‘American Idol’
Have you wiped all the season 8 episodes of “American Idol” off of your DVR yet? Better make room. We’re only weeks into Kris Allen’s reign and Adam Lambert hasn’t even officially come out yet, but season 9 is already rocking and rolling.
The show’s Web site has announced audition dates and Texas is representin’: Dallas registration dates are June 24-25 and auditions are on Friday, June 26, the site says, with “more information coming soon.” We’ll keep you posted
Are you planning on making the drive and becoming the next American Idol? Let us know; we might want to follow you up to D-town.
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‘Mad Men’ promo makes me mad
Hey, tailored, slim-cut suits over at AMC … when are we going to get to see some authentic “Mad Men” season 3 footage?
There’s been a lot of buzz this week on Twitter and Facebook about “the new ‘Mad Men’ trailer,” but this is not a trailer. It’s a teaser. It tells us nothing new and, while it’s nice to see Don Draper and company again, it only serves to spoil several major plot points for anyone who hasn’t watched the previous two seasons.
Season 3 kicks off in August, so hopefully we’ll be seeing some new stuff soon. In the meantime, this is all we’ve got:
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Here are some thoughts on last night’s ‘Tonight,’ today
Paul Drinkwater photo, NBC
Like many of you (Gawker reports that the show pulled in the program’s highest Monday numbers in four years) I watched Conan O’Brien’s eagerly anticipated “Tonight Show” debut last night. Unlike most of you, I watched it at 1 a.m. on DVR in an antihistamine-induced stupor, so if some of my observations come across as fevered hallucinations, well, maybe they are. Nevertheless, here are my initial thoughts:
I liked the opening piece with Conan running across America after realizing, a few minutes prior to showtime, that he had forgotten to check off his list item, “Move to L.A.” His impromptu stops in Wrigley Field and, later, a doll shop, were priceless. Nice shout out to the Amish, too.
Did anyone else think it was odd that Conan’s monologue was so long and included so many pre-taped bits? Wasn’t it about a half an hour or so into the program when he finally got over to his desk? Don’t get me wrong — I thought it was funny. I guess I’m just used to seeing the standard format: short monologue with jokes; band plays host over to desk; host does comedy “bit”; first guest. I hope this isn’t the sum total of Conan’s plans to shake up late-night.
I wonder if this will continue to be the pattern. Conan seemed a little needy last night, as if he were throwing everything he had at America; it was clear that he really, really wanted to be liked.
It was nice to see Andy Richter back, but he needs to dial it down. His overboard laughter at everything Conan said led me to believe he might be channeling Ed McMahon (I half expected to hear a shout of “Hey-O!” or to hear him say, “you are correct, oh great one!”) Andy and Conan also talked over each other quite a bit, but I’m confident they’ll get their rhythm back soon. I’m not sure I like Andy being separated from Conan all the way over at that podium; let’s see how long that lasts.
Finally, what was with Conan’s repetitive shout outs to the set builders? We got it the first couple of times. Was it just a case of nerves or have the Teamsters got something on him? Maybe they’re doing some side work on his new California digs. Come to think of it, they probably stuck Andy over at that announcer’s lectern with the plan to eventually tear it down and move him over to the couch with Conan, just so he can thank the set builders again.
I’ll be back with another look at “The Tonight Show” in a few weeks, after Conan’s had a chance to settle in. In the meantime, I’ll be watching. Will you?
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Will Ferrell guests on ‘Man vs. Wild’ tonight
Will Ferrell, the overgrown, lunkish, man-child star of films such as “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is accompanying Bear Grylls to the northern Sweden wilderness on “Man vs. Wild,” 9 p.m. tonight on Discovery Channel.
In order to promote his movie “Land of the Lost” — opening June 5 — Ferrell hangs from a helicopter by a rope, sleeps in a snow cave and dines on reindeer eyeballs.
As Ron Burgundy might say, “stay classy, Discovery Channel.”
The Associated Press reports that the cable network has been mulling a celebrity version of Grylls’ show and is using the Ferrell episode as a pilot of sorts.
Since Discovery Channel plans to run with this idea, which other pampered celebrities would you like to see tough it out Grylls style? Where would you send them? Post your ideas below.
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CBS online content jumps into the Ustream
Mashable.com reports that CBS has announced a partnership with Ustream to deliver live, online video content. Mashable says that whenever there is a major world event, Ustream will carry the live CBS News feed, which will be delivered through Ustream channels such as CBS News.
The partnership also encompasses political news, press conferences, speeches, addresses and hearings, Mashable reports. In addition, exclusive Web-based content from The Early Show, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and others will be made available via uStream. Finally, full on-air programs will be streamed through the live video service.
The deal is significant because FOX, NBC and ABC have all partnered with Hulu to deliver content online.
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Boyle loses? Britain’s got talons
“Britain’s Got Talent” runner-up and Internet phenomenon Susan Boyle is being treated for exhaustion at a mental health clinic in London today, according to the Associated Press.
Amidst cries of unfair treatment by the media, Boyle was admitted to The Priory, a clinic that caters to celebrities.
“Nobody has had to put up with the kind of attention Susan has had. Nobody could have predicted it,” Piers Morgan, a “Britain’s Got Talent” judge, said on British television.
Admonishment of “elements of a press who like nothing better than to build people up and then drag them down” came from Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond (Boyle resides in a small Scottish town).
In the end, predicted winner Boyle, who sang “I Dreamed A Dream” from “Les Miserables,” lost to Diversity, a dance group, by almost 5 percent of the 4 million votes cast.
Here are the show’s final performances from Boyle and Diversity, as well as the naming of the winner.
Susan Boyle:
Diversity:
And the winner is …
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‘Multiple’ happenings on reality television
If Kate and Jon Gosselin’s crumbling marriage leads to the cancellation of their TLC reality show (will you be watching tonight?) we all have something else to look forward to: the Associated Press is reporting that Nadya Suleman has inked a deal to star in her own television gig.
A production company has signed the “Octomom” (who, in addition to her six other children, gave birth to six boys and two girls in January) to a documentary-style show “less intrusive than a reality TV type of program.”
The show hasn’t yet been sold to an American television network. TLC (home of “Jon & Kate Plus 8”) had expressed interest in working with Sulemon following the octuplets’ births but, according to Entertainment Weekly, the backlash against the idea on the cable network’s message boards led TLC to reconsider.
Netherlands production company Eyeworks “came up with this idea, presented (it) to her and she liked it because she’ll get to use a camera and do some of the filming herself,” Sulemon’s lawyer told The Associated Press.
Well, yeah, that explains it. It would be a shame to let the logistics and rigors of raising fourteen kids under the age of 7 as a single mother get in the way of some fun videography — everybody needs a creative outlet!
I haven’t heard of any possible titles being floated for the show, so let me suggest the one of the following — Eyeworks, take your pick:
Eight Isn’t Enough
The More, The Scarier
Ocean’s 14 (hey, she lives in California — there’s gotta’ be a body of water around there somewhere)
The Young and the Restless (whoops, already taken!)
Almost 16 Candles
Fertility Bites
Can’t wait, but hate Jon & Kate? WEtv, home of “Platinum Weddings” and “Women Behind Bars,” debuts “Raising Sextuplets” June 11 at 9 p.m. The show chronicles the lives of proud parents Jenny (TCU grad!) and Bryan Masche, and their babies Savannah Jane, Bailey Elizabeth, Grant William, Cole Robert, Molli Grace and Blake Nickolas.
Jenny describes the “multiples” experience on the WE site:
“The great joy of raising sextuplets is definitely the six smiling faces calling out ‘mama, dada,’ the twelve little feet running toward you and the twelve little arms around your neck hugging you! Six little mouths to kiss and six little ones to cuddle… the amount of love we experience for the six of them is sometimes incomprehensible, and we feel our hearts may burst!”
Don’t worry, Jenny. Should that happen, there’ll be plenty of camera men, wardrobe folks, boom mic operators and other crew members around to dial 911.
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