Abdul Causes Security Breach at Airport (AP)
March 3, 2006
AP - Paula Abdul was allowed to board a plane at the Las Vegas airport without passing through a security checkpoint, prompting all passengers and luggage to be screened when they landed in California, officials said Friday.
"Charmed" Spell Is Broken (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - Charmed will not be bewitching the new CW network next season.
The WB confirmed Friday that the show has been canceled, with its final
episode scheduled to air May 21.
Swanson, Eisler Win "Skating" Gold (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - The ice was nice to Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler in more
ways than one.
"Idol" Bids Farewell to Four More (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - American Idol voters have dashed the dreams of four
more aspiring singers.
"Charmed" Spell Broken
March 3, 2006
"Charmed" will not be bewitching the new CW network next season. The WB confirmed Friday that the show has been canceled, with its final episode scheduled to air May 21.
With eight seasons behind it, the series, starring Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan and Holly Marie Combs as sister witches Phoebe, Paige and Piper, "Charmed" is one of the WB's longest running series.
Executive producer Brad Kern told TV Guide that this season's planned storyline won't suffer from the not-so-charming news, that he had intended to write a season finale that could be considered a series-ender. "It's been a hell of a run," he said, "but all good things must come to an end."
Swanson Wins "Skating"
March 3, 2006
The ice was nice to Kristy Swanson and Lloyd Eisler in more ways than one.
The underdog twosome glided to victory Thursday night, beating out apparent favorites Jillian Barberie and John Zimmerman to take the "Skating with Celebrities" crown.
Correction: 'The Apprentice' Story (AP)
March 3, 2006AP - In a March 2 story about "The Apprentice," The Associated Press reported erroneously that NBC will begin a 17-city casting tour for the show starting June 25 in Los Angeles, with other stops in Anchorage, Baltimore, Charlotte, Des Moines and Pittsburgh. The 17-city tour will start March 10 in Los Angeles and include stops in Phoenix, Seattle, New York, Atlanta and Denver.
"Idol," "Survivor" draw big numbers Thursday (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - "American Idol" plus "Survivor: Panama" equals 42 million-plus viewers flocking to broadcast TV in the 8 p.m. time slot Thursday.
"Idol" Bids Farewell to Four More (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - American Idol voters have dashed the dreams of four more
aspiring singers.
'Charmed' a Casualty of WB-UPN Change (AP)
March 3, 2006
AP - The spell is broken. The witches on "Charmed" won't be making the move when the WB network combines forces with UPN to become the CW network in the fall.
Natalie Cole's "Anatomy" Lesson (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - There were plenty of doctors in the house, but unfortunately for
a dinged-up Natalie Cole, they were all fake.
Lights, cameras, stocks! SEC pitches to Hollywood (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - A top official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission wants Hollywood to send flashy doses of investor education into America's living rooms.
Burnett Pays Visit to "Housewives" (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - The women of Wisteria Lane are bracing themselves for a new
arrival.
"Idol" Axes Four More
March 3, 2006
"American Idol" voters have dashed the dreams of four more aspiring singers.
After receiving the least number of the more than 42 million votes cast, Brenna Gethers, Heather Cox, David Radford and Jose "Sway" Penala were sent home from the talent search Thursday, leaving 16 contestants still in the running to become the next Idol.
Cole's 'Anatomy' Lesson
March 3, 2006
There were plenty of doctors in the house, but unfortunately for a dinged-up Natalie Cole, they were all fake.
The 55-year-old "Unforgettable" Grammy winner slipped and broke her arm on the set of "Grey's Anatomy" last week, Cole told E! Thursday night at a Los Angeles party
Cole had been filming a guest spot on the hit ABC drama at the time of the accident.
Burnett Feels "Desperate"
March 3, 2006
The women of Wisteria Lane are bracing themselves for a new arrival.
Carol Burnett has signed on to make a guest appearance on "Desperate Housewives" as Eleanor Mason, the icy stepmother of Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross).
Chappelle Said Unhappy With Network Plans (AP)
March 3, 2006
AP - Comedian Dave Chappelle says he may never return to his hit Comedy Central show if the cable network goes through with plans to air new episodes culled from material he filmed before leaving the series.
Google, ABC team for Net, mobile news (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - Google is venturing further into the mobile and online news spaces by offering users expanded resources and access to up-to-the-nanosecond headlines.
"Madea" maven taking on syndicated TV with sitcom (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - After bucking Hollywood tradition on the feature side, actor-filmmaker Tyler Perry is preparing to do the same in television.
ABC hires foursome for pilots (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - ABC has hired Peter Facinelli as the second lead in its drama pilot "Enemies," while Sarah Clarke has joined "A House Divided," another drama pilot set up at the network.
David Arquette responds to "Emergency" (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - David Arquette has joined the cast of the ABC comedy "In Case of Emergency," which revolves around four high school friends who unexpectedly reunite during a crossroads in their lives.
Shepard, Whaley saddle up for "Ruffian" (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - Sam Shepard and Frank Whaley have been cast in "Ruffian," an ESPN-produced TV movie based on the true story of the legendary racehorse.
MTV2 embraces battered YouTube video-sharing site (Reuters)
March 3, 2006Reuters - YouTube.com, a popular video-sharing Web site that was smacked around in recent weeks by CBS and NBC, is starting to make friends in the TV world.
Winging It Back to "West Wing" (E! Online)
March 3, 2006
E! Online - A
bevy of big-name alumni are set to return to The West Wing for
the political drama's last hurrah this spring, the network has
announced.
Four Eliminated From 'American Idol' (AP)
March 3, 2006
AP - "American Idol" said goodbye to four more contestants Thursday night, cutting loose two guys and two gals.
Bigamist Seen on 'Dr. Phil' Pleads Guilty (AP)
March 3, 2006
AP - A man charged with bigamy after his girlfriend's sister saw him profiled on the "Dr. Phil" television show pleaded guilty Thursday.
Study: Children's TV Studded With Dark Acts (AP)
March 3, 2006AP - Children's television is studded with violence, much of it darker and more realistic than when an anvil dropped on Wile E. Coyote's head, a watchdog group reported on Thursday.
Oscar Ads
March 3, 2006
The Best Picture Oscar is still up for grabs, but ABC is already the big winner.
Sunday's 78th Academy Awards stand to net the Alphabet network nearly $82 million this year. Each of the 48 commercial spots for the three-hour telecast has been sold, at an average of $1.7 million per 30-second commercial, up 6 percent from last year, ABC announced last week. More than half of Oscar advertisers are launching new campaigns.
Expect lots of spots from main sponsor Coca-Cola, as well L'Oreal ads featuring Penelope Cruz, Beyonce Knowles and Scarlett Johansson, and an American Express ad directed by M. Night Shyamalan--complete with a twist ending.