WB's "Bedford" tamed for TV, uncut on Web (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - The WB television network, seeking
to avoid the ire of federal regulators, debuts its new sexually
charged series "The Bedford Diaries" on Wednesday with some of
the more suggestive shots removed.
Abdul Signs New 'American Idol' Contract (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - Paula Abdul has decided she can continue to put up with Simon Cowell on "American Idol." Abdul, who shares judging duties on Fox's hit talent show with Cowell and Randy Jackson, has signed a deal to remain for another three years, the network announced Wednesday.
Another 'Idol' Contestant Booted (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - She chose the wrong song.
ESPN scores 45 Sports Emmy nominations (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - Sports cable giant ESPN
scored 45 Sports Emmy nominations Wednesday, the highest among
any network.
Fox, "Idol" trample Tuesday rivals (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - There was no stopping
Fox on Tuesday with the potent combo of "American Idol" and
"House."
'Love Monkey' Finds New Home on VH1 (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - The short-lived CBS series "Love Monkey" has found new life on VH1. At least temporarily.
TV downloads break new barrier with "Scrubs" deal (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - In another first for the fledgling
world of "on-demand" television, NBC and the sister studio of
rival network ABC have teamed up to make a prime-time show of
shared interest, "Scrubs," available for Internet downloads.
Heart Patient on 'Miracle Workers' Dies (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - A woman whose fight against heart failure was chronicled for ABC's reality series "Miracle Workers" died of complications following the last-ditch use of an experimental artificial heart pump.
Paula Is Forever Your Judge (E! Online)
March 29, 2006
E! Online - Fox announced
Wednesday that Paula Abdul, the sticky-sweet glue that holds the
American Idol judges together, will remain with the show for at
least three more years.
Reiner Steps Down From Preschool Panel (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - Complaining of "personal political attacks," Hollywood director Rob Reiner resigned Wednesday from a statewide preschool commission he helped create.
Paula Abdul agrees to three more years of "Idol" (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - Bubbly "American Idol" judge Paula
Abdul has signed on for three more years as the counterpoint to
brutally honest Simon Cowell on TV's hottest show, the Fox
network said on Wednesday.
Paula Forever Your Judge
March 29, 2006
Sometimes nice girls finish first.
Fox announced Wednesday that Paula Abdul, the sticky-sweet glue that holds the "American Idol" judges together, will remain with the show for at least three more years.
A key member of the discerning trio that also includes Randy Jackson band Simon Cowell, Abdul is most known for her infinite supply of upbeat remarks, even if they apply to a contestant's hairdo, dance moves or infectious enthusiasm rather than to his or her voice.
Oprah Winfrey Won't Host Tony Awards (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - Oprah Winfrey will not be the new Hugh Jackman at the 2006 Tony Awards.
Fox Bringing Back 'Prison Break' (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - TV's most handsome convicts will get another term on Fox's "Prison Break." Production is set to start mid-June on the show's second season, to begin in the fall, a network spokesman said Wednesday.
Gregory House Bad at Being a Friend (AP)
March 29, 2006AP - Dr. Gregory House, the abrasive, pill-popping physician with a bad leg and brilliant diagnostic skills on Fox's "House," has allowed a friend and colleague with marital problems to sleep on his couch. (Spoiler alert: Stop reading now if you've taped this one for later viewing.)
Liza Gets an 'A' for 'Liza With a 'Z" (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - It's a curious thing: When discussing her TV special, "Liza with a `Z'" (which, above all, spotlights Liza Minnelli) the woman in the title keeps steering the talk to other names.
"Idol" Feeling Serenity Now (E! Online)
March 29, 2006
E! Online - So, last week on American Idol, Barry Manilow sang, Kevin
Corvais lost--and yada yada yada.
Pamela Anderson Protests Canada Seal Hunt (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - Actress Pamela Anderson's has added her name to the growing list of celebrities speaking out against Canada's annual seal hunt, which just got under way.
Viewers Can Program Kids' Choice Awards (AP)
March 29, 2006AP - Nickelodeon is giving its young viewers the chance to create their own version of the network's annual Kids' Choice Awards online.
WB's "Bedford Diaries" more pretentious than sexy (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - Sometimes, critics chide
WB Network for overdosing on series that are mostly about sex,
love and dating with casts chosen as much for their magazine
cover potential as for their acting talent. Those critics will
have a field day with "The Bedford Diaries."
Jessica Simpson May Want to Adopt Kids (AP)
March 29, 2006
AP - Jessica Simpson has babies on the brain. The 25-year-old singer filed for divorce from Nick Lachey last December but her publicist says Simpson is looking at adoption.
PBS host Charlie Rose to undergo surgery in Paris (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - Charlie Rose, host of the PBS interview program of the same name, was to undergo heart surgery in Paris early on Wednesday and will be away from the show for several weeks to recuperate, a spokesman for the television anchor said.
Bo Derek harbors 'Secret Obsessions' (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - Bo Derek, best known for her role in the feature film "10," has joined the drama series "Secret Obsessions," which will air on News Corp.'s new broadcast outlet My Network TV.
Kelsey Grammer to direct CBS comedy pilot (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - Kelsey Grammer will direct the CBS comedy pilot "My Ex-Life," which revolves around the lives of two divorced couples.
Wayne Brady flirting with comedy pilot at CW (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - The CW Network has picked up the comedy pilot "Flirt," starring Wayne Brady as the only man working at a women's magazine.
YouTube, E! in broadband 'mash-up' (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - Fast-growing viral-video Web site http://www.YouTube.com is teaming with E! Networks in support of a new broadband offering from the cable programmer.
Court TV puts a 'Bounty' on series docket (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - Cable channel Court TV will
return 12 series to its primetime lineup next season, and add
programs that look at spam, a mastermind of polka and crime,
and an all-female bounty hunter outfit.
'Heist' team cashes in on Rodeo Drive cachet (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - "Everybody knows Rodeo Drive," says "Heist" writer/producer Mark Cullen. "It represents glamour to the whole world."
Fox's "Idol," CBS' hoops drive TV ratings week (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - The "American Idol" hopefuls and guest performer Barry Manilow crooned to the tune of another win for Fox in the adults 18-49 demographic last week, while CBS took a narrow lead in total viewers with the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
ESPN2 tries on new 'Shoes' (Reuters)
March 29, 2006Reuters - "It's the Shoes," a series about celebrities whose sneakers are a big part of their lives, will debut on ESPN2 next Tuesday.
Fox Gives "Prison" Another Year (E! Online)
March 29, 2006
E! Online - Fox has decided that it takes longer than one season to bust out of
prison.
Canadian reality TV focuses on environment (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - The grim urban jungle of
Toronto is getting a makeover in U.S. cable channel Home &
Garden Television's upcoming reality series "Green Force."
Death of a TV Horror Master (E! Online)
March 29, 2006
E! Online - Dan Curtis' working life was devoted to the pursuit of
monsters--and monstrous acts.
Fox tacking a year on its "Prison" term (Reuters)
March 29, 2006
Reuters - Two episodes into the
spring portion of "Prison Break's" freshman season, Fox has
given the suspense drama a full-season pickup for fall.
Fox Renews "Prison Break"
March 29, 2006
Fox has decided that it takes longer than one season to bust out of prison.
The network gave an early green-light Tuesday for a sophomore season of "Prison Break," which has performed very impressively for a show that doesn't come on after "American Idol."
The suspense drama, centering on a wrongly convicted death row inmate (Dominic Purcell) and his architect little brother (Wentworth Miller) who got himself sent to prison purely in order to help his big bro escape, has averaged 9.3 million viewers this season.