Hardblogger: College campus political chatter
March 30, 2006Kemper Ohlmeyer blogs, "With about a thousand days left to go in his term, George W. Bush pegged the proverbial elephant in the living room: the war will go on, future presidents will have to deal with it, and, in an ironic Clinton-era remix, he feels Americaâs pain. You wouldnât know it on campus though. At this point, calling college co-eds apathetic is akin to, well, pick your cliché? "
Regular Joe: Losing patience with Bush
March 30, 2006Joe Scarborough blogs, "This lifelong Republican who waited in line for hours in 1964 to cast his vote for Goldwater, and predicted the rise of Ronald Reagan in 1979, could not bring himself to verbalize what the President's critics have been saying for years now. That George Bush's war is a disaster and his administration is out of touch with the Silent Majority."
Bloggermann: Daily Made-up News
March 30, 2006Keith Olbermann blogs: "Todayâs lesson [goes] to gossip columnist Lloyd Grove, his assistant Katherine Thomson, and their employers at The New York Daily News , who are guilty of taking quotes out of context in such an egregious manner ... that what they published wouldnât have gotten past the editor of my 4th Grade Class Newspaper." l."
Sidebar: Jackson logs, guard don't agree
March 30, 2006Dan Abrams blogs, "I poked some fun at a list of Vice President Cheneyâs requirements for when he stays at a hotel. Now the Smoking Gunâs website has uncovered former presidential candidate John Kerryâs âpreferencesâ for when heâs on the road. Their advance teamsâ respective letters to hotels may reflect the differences in the men. Kerryâs were suggestions. You never do know which way heâs going to go. Cheneyâs? Requirements. "
Actress shares 50th year with "As the World Turns" (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - While actors young enough to be her
grandchildren come and go on television, soap opera veteran
Helen Wagner has earned a place in the Guinness World Records
by playing one role for 50 years.
Fox wins Wednesday with "Idol," "Unanimous" (Reuters)
March 30, 2006Reuters - Fox easily won Wednesday's primetime with an unbeatable combination of an "American Idol" results show and the second episode of the reality series "Unanimous."
ESPN's Barry Bonds documentary to go on as planned (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - A documentary TV series chronicling
Barry Bonds' upcoming 2006 baseball season will take an honest
look at the steroid scandal surrounding the slugger, but his
lawyers can review the episodes before they air, the producer
said on Thursday.
"Friends" star Matt LeBlanc files for divorce (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - Hollywood actor Matt LeBlanc, who
played the good-humored ladies' man Joey on the smash hit
television comedy "Friends," filed for divorce on Thursday from
his wife of three years, Melissa Sue.
Poll: Control of TV Content Up to Viewers (AP)
March 30, 2006AP - An overwhelming majority of voters believe that viewers and not the government should make decisions about what is appropriate to watch on television, according to a poll conducted for the group TV Watch.
Fox Extends "Prison" Sentence (E! Online)
March 30, 2006
E! Online - Fox has decided that it takes longer than one season to bust out
of prison.
"Arrested" Creator Quits
March 30, 2006
A new development looks likely to keep "Arrested Development" off the air for good.
Series creator Mitch Hurwitz announced his decision to quit the Emmy-winning comedy Monday, dealing a blow to fans still holding out hope that the canceled Fox show might be revived on another network, "Daily Variety" reports.
Seeking "Extreme" Tragedy
March 30, 2006
Run of the mill misfortune apparently just isn't going to cut it anymore on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
As casting for the next season of the heartstring-tugging show approaches, producers have come up with a list of truly tragic conditions and scenarios that would presumably make for better television than the mere poverty and woe that has affected families in past episodes.
"Idol's" Live Mistake
March 30, 2006
Holy Cowell, that sounds familiar!
Fans were ready to make "American Idol" frontrunner Chris Daughtry walk the plank after hearing him sing an oddly familiar-sounding rendition of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" Tuesday night.
Daughtry, 26, who has risen quickly through the "Idol" ranks with his gravelly alt-rock voice and emotive performances, a slow, brooding version of the Cash classic during the '50s-themed episode, reaping his usual accolades from judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. The impressed trio praised Daughtry for his originality and taking the song and making it his own.
Heaton Yaks It Up
March 30, 2006
Make room on the couch for Patricia Heaton.
The award-winning actress is in negotiations with Buena Vista Television to host her own daytime talk show next year, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Taking its cue from "The View" on ABC, the show would feature a multiple-host format, although there's no word yet on who will play the coveted Joy Behar role.
Whether you work the day shift or night shift, you will still get a chance to see Heaton on TV. She is also set to star in an as-yet untitled ABC sitcom next fall, playing a widowed mom who gets active in the local PTA.
The sitcom is being produced by Touchstone Television which, like Buena Vista, is a Disney-owned entity.
"Idol" Says Bye to Lisa
March 30, 2006
Because of you, America, 16-year-old Lisa Tucker was voted off of "American Idol" Wednesday night.
After underwhelming the audience on Tuesday's performance show with a cover of the Kelly Clarkson hit "Because of You," the Anaheim, Calif., native became the latest "Idol" hopeful to take a final bow. Tucker may have had impressive pipes for one so young, but apparently they just weren't big enough.
"The truth is, Lisa, is that the song was too big for your voice," Simon Cowell, "Idol's" resident truth-teller, told Tucker. "There were parts during the performance where it was actually painful."
Paula Forever Your Judge
March 30, 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.
Fox Renews "Prison Break"
March 30, 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.
"Idol's" Serenity Now
March 30, 2006
So, last week on "American Idol," Barry Manilow sang, Kevin Corvais lost--and yada yada yada.
Forgive the "Seinfeld"-ism, but not since the sitcom popularized the all-purpose cutting-to-the-chase phrase has a TV show been more popular than "Idol."
Through last week, "Idol" was averaging 32.1 million viewers on Tuesday nights and 30.5 million on Wednesday nights, per Nielsen Media Research. No show has averaged 30 million-plus since the 1997-98 season when two shows performed the feat: "Seinfeld" (34.1 million); and "ER" (30.2 million).
'Idol' Contestant Happy to Be Back Home (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - Kevin Covais, the 16-year-old who became known as "Chicken Little" while competing to be the next "American Idol," received a hero's welcome home Thursday despite being voted off the talent contest.
Friars Club to Roast Lewis for Third Time (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - Jerry Lewis is used to making jokes. This summer, he'll bear the brunt of them.
Veronica Mars Goes to College (AP)
March 30, 2006AP - Wherever Veronica Mars goes, trouble follows and this week the young crime solver used her sleuth skills to help an ex-boyfriend accused of rape.
Bahamas 'Brokeback Mountain' Ban Draws Ire (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - A Bahamian government board's decision to ban the movie "Brokeback Mountain" has prompted charges of discrimination and censorship in the island chain.
Campbell Charged With Hitting Housekeeper (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - Naomi Campbell was charged with second-degree assault Thursday after allegedly bashing her housekeeper in the head with a phone in an altercation at her Park Avenue apartment, police said.
Tim McGraw Has Lots in the Works (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - Tim McGraw asks a lot of his fans. Onstage, the country singer encourages them to live, love, dance, care, grab it all. Offstage, he urges them to vote, give blood, donate money, to help any way they can.
Viewers Hired to Choose "Apprentice" (E! Online)
March 30, 2006
E! Online - Donald Trump is taking a page from Simon Cowell's playbook.
VH1 "Monkeys" Around (E! Online)
March 30, 2006
E! Online - Seems fans weren't the only ones going ape over the demise of
Love Monkey.
Viewers Hire "Apprentice"
March 30, 2006
Donald Trump is taking a page from Simon Cowell's playbook.
The real estate mogul cum reality TV star has announced a change in plans over how he'll choose his next Apprentice, allowing viewers to phone in votes on who they believe should be selected as the next Trump-in-training.
VH1 "Monkeys" Around
March 30, 2006
Seems fans weren't the only ones going ape over the demise of "Love Monkey." VH1 has announced plans to air all eight episodes of the short-lived CBS dramedy beginning next month.
While the cable net was quick to dismiss the notion that they will resume production on the series, most of the episodes will be new for viewerseight shows were produced by CBS, though the network yanked it from the air after just three episodes.
China reality show puts art back into martial arts (Reuters)
March 30, 2006Reuters - The monks of China's ancient Shaolin Temple, one of the birthplaces of Chinese martial arts, have teamed up with a television company to make a reality show aimed at unearthing a new Jet Li or Jackie Chan.
Comcast reaches video-on-demand deal with NBC (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - Cable operator Comcast Corp. on
Thursday said it will sell popular NBC television shows, such
as "Law & Order" and "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," through
its video-on-demand service starting in May.
George Lopez Gets Walk of Fame Star (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - George Lopez has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Teenage Life Is Dreamy for Josh Schwartz (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - Things are about to get explosive in "The O.C.," says show creator Josh Schwartz. And it's only fair, considering the effect the popular teen drama has had on the writer's career.
Journalists hail Woodruff, Jennings at D.C. event (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - The usual levity that
marks the annual Radio-Television Correspondents Assn. dinner
briefly made way Wednesday for emotional tributes to injured
ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and his late predecessor Peter
Jennings.
Michael Eisner shows promise in new career (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - A cardinal rule for
successful talk show hosts is that the guest is the most
important person on the set. Former Walt Disney Co. chairman
Michael Eisner gave the rule a grudging acceptance. Even so,
Tuesday's premiere of his bimonthly talk show had some lively
moments. What's more, Eisner proved that his considerable media
expertise could make this a buzzworthy show.
Actress shares 50th year with 'As the World Turns' (Reuters)
March 30, 2006Reuters - While actors young enough to be her grandchildren come and go on television, soap opera veteran Helen Wagner has earned a place in the Guinness World Records by playing one role for 50 years.
Eisner's CNBC talker outgunned by game show rerun (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - Former Walt Disney Co.
chairman Michael Eisner's star power failed to attract a large
audience Tuesday in the debut of his CNBC talk show.
'Office' man lands CBS comedy pilot gig (Reuters)
March 30, 2006Reuters - Writer-producer Larry Wilmore is moving in front of the camera with a co-starring role in an untitled comedy pilot at CBS.
Witt exits Fox's shrink comedy (Reuters)
March 30, 2006Reuters - Alicia Witt is no longer starring in Fox's comedy pilot "More, Patience," with "creative differences" cited as the reason for her departure.
BBC America targets younger viewers with new shows (Reuters)
March 30, 2006Reuters - A high school drama from the creators of the U.K. hit "Footballers Wives" and fresh takes on Robin Hood and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde are among the new dramas set to air on BBC America in the next year, the cable channel said Wednesday.
"Idol" Says So Long to Little Lisa (E! Online)
March 30, 2006
E! Online - Because of you, America, 16-year-old Lisa Tucker was voted off of
American Idol Wednesday night.
Talk Show Host Charlie Rose Has Surgery (AP)
March 30, 2006
AP - Talk show host Charlie Rose underwent heart surgery Wednesday in Paris to replace a valve, a spokesman said. He was in intensive care.
PBS host Charlie Rose to undergo surgery (Reuters)
March 30, 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.
YouTube, E! in broadband "mash-up" (Reuters)
March 30, 2006
Reuters - 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 30, 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.
"Idol" Says Bye to Lisa
March 30, 2006
Because of you, America, 16-year-old Lisa Tucker was voted off of "American Idol" Wednesday night.
After underwhelming the audience on Tuesday's performance show with a cover of the Kelly Clarkson hit "Because of You," the Anaheim, Calif., native became the latest "Idol" hopeful to take a final bow. Tucker may have had impressive pipes for one so young, but apparently they just weren't big enough.
"The truth is, Lisa, is that the song was too big for your voice," Simon Cowell, "Idol's" resident truth-teller, told Tucker. "There were parts during the performance where it was actually painful."