The TV Zone

Am gonna pay as much attention to Jimmy Fallon as reasonably possible in the next few weeks as he gets ready to move into late night, and I just noticed that yesterday he did that "viewers calls" promo again.

I now understand his strategy: He's gonna go after viewers one by one. At this rate, he should have covered all of 'em by (say) 5039. Good luck, Jimmy. Go get 'em.

Here's the viewer mail from last night...

Before the weekend gets here, I wanna make one last pitch for this Sunday's "Office" post-Super Bowl episode, and I promise - promise - that I'm not on the take for either the producers or NBC.

(NBC? Ha! That's a good one...oh yeah...)

But this Sunday's episode is a beaut. I see that the reviews are coming in and they're good. (Alan Sepinwall of the Newark Star-Ledger calls it "180-proof comedy," I believe. Exactly right...)

I also imagine some fans are thinking this thing is over-hyped, and they have every reason to be suspicious; not that post-Super Bowl episodes are necessarily bad, but that they are designed to serve the evil master (the network) as opposed to the loyal fan. As a result, they're tarted up with "special guest stars" or ridiculous or distended plotlines, or they're even dumbed down so that NEWBIES can get with the program.

"Office" this Sunday is slightly guilty of only one of the above - the special guest stars - but from what I've seen, it's not an indictable offense. But the other legit question fans might have is this business about an hour. Ken Levine, the veteran comedy writer ("Frasier") once observed that "half hour shows are supposed to be… a half hour. Twice as long does not make it twice as good. It makes it a quarter more bad."

But Sunday works, in my humble opinion. Here's what longtime show-runner Greg Daniels told me the other day: When fans griped about the hour episodes, he says...

"...it was a very specific thing - they said that about season four. [But] we had done hours before and since like 'Benihana Christmas' and no one had a problem with that, and the finale, 'The Job,' or 'Goodbye Toby.' Those were hours. So the problem was the first four of season four. [When they were written/produced] we knew they were going to be repeated as half hours so we wanted to put in a sense of closure" at the end of the first half hour. "This way, when they were repeated as half hours, each episode would have closure. But all that did was put a dead spot in the middle from where you had to battle back in the second half hour. You started the second half from a feeling that it was already over. But we've figured out how to work around that now."

Kudos this Sunday go to executive producer, Paul Lieberstein - "Tody," of course. He wrote "Stress Relief," which I think will rank as a show classic. (I'm not wild, however, about the bits with Jack Black...)

It is - I'll say it one more time - brilliant.

What would the week before Hollywood be if some web site didn't leak the names of the finalists?

I mean...just another week...right?

Votefortheworst.com has just posted the list - head to the jump - and many of the names I don't know, and many I do.

One huge surprise, if this list is accurate: What happened Leneshe Young, 18, of Cincinnati? (She was the young woman who closed out the Louisville audition, remember?) I figured she'd be a shoo-in, with her story (a pretty sad one) and her evident talent. So maybe she's been dropped from this list in ERROR. Let us hope...

But here's a name I'm not surprised to see: Joanna Pacitti (pictured.)

Poor Joanna - she got whacked by all the internet "Idol" trolls who were infuriated that ANOTHER former pro had slipped through the ranks of the amateurs.

I for one am thrilled she made it in, if true. Her parents alone are interesting - they sued the Broadway producers of "Annie" way back when when they dropped Pacittti for her understudy. There was a HUGE stink. Imagine the fun when Simon starts bad-mouthing her performance?

At the very least, she's winner of the annual Carly Smithson award.

Meanwhile...check out her music video which I've posted below for your convenience. A super actually pops up when you access it from Youtube (not here) that asks viewers whether they want to buy the song. Doesn't that, ummm, violate, "Idol" policy? Just asking...

(She's quite good, BTW.)

Go to the jump if you want to see the list. Is it accurate? Beats me but these things DO get out, and they often ARE generally accurate (let's say 80-90 percent, per my recollection...)

Continue reading ""American Idol: " The 36? Joanna Pacitti?" »

Thirty years old and what day does a distinguished news program choose to celebrate the big anniversary?

THIS Sunday, of all Sundays. When the world is thinking of the pigskin.

Rather than lament its fate, CBS's "Sunday Morning" is celebrating it...this IS, after all, the Quiet Show. What better place to be than in the shadow of a giant.

"Sunday Morning?" A truly fine program that rarely gets any ink, but just happens to churn out quality editions week after week, year after year. This is a special anniversary, and while everyone else is squawking about the Bowl today - and don't fear, I'll be squawking soon enough too - I figured I would zag a bit.

I had a nice chat with the estimable Charles Osgood this morning, and for an edited version of that, please head south to the jump.

The vital stats: "Sunday Morning" launched Jan. 28, 1979 and was hosted by Charles Kuralt until April 3, 1994. Osgood took over then, so he's closing in on his 15th anniversary here.

And one more vital stat: Along with "60 Minutes" (ten years older), "Sunday Morning" is one of the jewels in the crown of network television news...

Continue reading "CBS's "Sunday Morning" Turns 30" »

Unless you decide to stick around for "The Office" immediately after the Super Bowl on Sunday - strongly recommended - then you can head over immediately to Hulu which will stream EVERY single Super Bowl ad, and then, give you a chance to "Vote for the Best."

Per Hulu partner, NBC: "Fans of the advertisements featured in this Sunday's Super Bowl will be able to view those ads almost immediately after they air, on popular websites NBC.com, Hulu.com and SuperBowl.com.In addition, users will be able to post their favorite ads on a blog or webpage through both the NBC.com and Hulu.com widget applications. Hulu will allow users to vote on their favorite ad, with the winner announced on Tuesday, February 3rd."

Immediately following Sunday’s Super Bowl, NBC will air an episode of “The Office,” continuing a recent network practice of showcasing one of its most popular series.

Time was when networks would use the Super Bowl to launch a brand-new series, hoping to attract a large viewing audience. Many were bombs, but a handful were successes, none more so than “The A-Team,” which followed NBC’s broadcast of Super Bowl XVII on Jan. 23, 1983.

The action-adventure series from Stephen Cannell centered on four Vietnam vets (Mr. T, George Peppard, Dwight Schultz and Dirk Benedict). They were framed for a crime they didn’t commit, and after busting out of a maximum-security prison, they became soldiers of fortune while trying to avoid the military police. Filled with car crashes galore and lots of cartoon violence, the show was an immediate hit, ranking in the Nielsen top 10 for its first three seasons. A big-screen version, with Ridley and Tony Scott as producers, is set for a June 2010 release.

Here are five things to you need to know about “The A-Team”:

NBC Entertainment chief Brandon Tartikoff pitched the series to Cannell as a cross between “The Dirty Dozen,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Mad Max” and “Hill Street Blues.”

James Coburn was originally considered for the role of Hannibal Smith, which went to Peppard.

Notable guest stars playing themselves included William “The Refrigerator” Perry, Vanna White, Pat Sajak, Hulk Hogan and Boy George.

The B.A. in Mr. T’s character’s name stood for, ahem, Bad Attitude.

The gold Mr. T wore weighed between 35 and 40 pounds.

Check out the show’s memorable opening sequence (they don't make 'em like this anymore).

And speaking of bleepers that don't go bleep (see below), what exactly did Charles Gasparino say on CNBC yesterday?

Gaspo: One of my favorite TV business news reporters...no, take that back - my favorite TV biz news reporter. The guy's an insane bulldog, in the best sense of both words; he's the Gordo Ramsey of the TV biz news biz. He used to be a little calmer back when he worked for Newsday, about half a century ago...

But TV Newser yesterday caught this exchange, live and unexpurgated, between him and Donny Deutsch:

Gasparino: "We shouldn't be talking about it. It's a stupid [insert word here that typically denotes copulation but in some instances - such as when A-Rod strikes out again, in the bottom of the ninth, for like the fifth game in a row - is a perfectly acceptable and even polite exclamatory word of surprise and regret] debate."

Deutsch: Wow, did he?

Gasparino: I'm sorry.

Sue Herera: You're agreeing. We're leaving it there, you're agreeing. That's it.

Gasparino: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You can't put me on this show.

[Oh right Donny, you old prude - like YOU'VE never used that word before, like a thousand times a day, every day...]

Was it just me or was the master chef from Hades - Gordo "Don't call Me Gordo or I'll Kick Yer Arse" Ramsey - bleeped more times last night than usual? In fact, if you watch this clip - certainly one of MY fave moments from last night - you quickly realize that the Fox bleeper was actually on the fritz a couple times...Anyway...fifth season's here...bon apetit, sorta...

This just in, gang: Sully, the man we all want behind the wheel the next time we get on a bird, is gonna be on Dave (for more on this guy, see post below) on Feb. 10.

The whole crew is gonna be there too.

This, just two days after that "60 Minutes" encounter.

Here's the press release: "The crew of US Airways Flight 1549, who [we know what they did, and God bless 'em too] will visit the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Tuesday, Feb. 10 ...This will be their first late night talk show appearance since the accident.

"Moments after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, Capt. Chelsey Sullenberger, First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, and flight attendants Donna Dent, Doreen Welsh and Sheila Dail were faced with an emergency situation when Capt. Sullenberger reported a ‘double bird strike’ over the Bronx, resulting in a loss of power in both engines. Without enough time to return to LaGuardia, Capt. Sullenberger and his crew managed to land the Airbus A320 smoothly in the icy waters of the Hudson and, with the help of New York City emergency services, rescued all 155 passengers on board. It is believed that the plane hit a flock of birds after it left LaGuardia, and the National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation into the incident."

Interesting story that just crossed, via "Broadcasting & Cable" magazine: It says that Dave and CBS are "discussing" terms of a new deal that'll take him beyond 2010, when his current deal ends.

Here's the key point in the piece: "Both CBS and Letterman could see that as an opportunity for Letterman to pick up some new eyeballs and potentially take over as the top host in late night with Leno out of the picture, as he moves on to start his 10 pm show on NBC."

Any 'o this a surprise? Not really, and B&C; admitted as much, referring to that Rolling Stone interview last year when Dave said he wanted to go beyond '10.

This story - coincidentally - comes in the wake of that New York Times scoop last night that ABC is discussing the possibility of dumping "Nightline" for "Kimmel."

So, let me tell you why all these stories are popping up now: Because CBS and ABC (and Fox too) fully expect "The Tonight Show" to be vulnerable for the first time in (like) FOREVER. Nothing against Conan, but the assumption has long been that he's a "niche player" as opposed to a mass-appeal personality. (True? We'll find out soon enough). That's why ABC is thinking of going after "Tonight" with Kimmel, and why Dave is looking to re-up.

But - my hunch only - there are still some big surprises that we'll all be hearing about shortly. NBC threw a Hail Mary with Leno (and the receiver - if I may continue the metaphor - has not even caught the ball, either.) The Peacock's rivals will want to do their own fancy passing too.

A key question: Will CBS be content to give Dave his valedictory lap? You know - one more year, or maybe two more, in which the network (rightfully) celebrates one of the greatest runs in TV history?

The quick answer: Yes.

But...CBS will also want some assurances that it has a replacement in the wings. And as good as he may be, I don't think that replacement will be Craig Ferguson.

Expect the unexpected...

So, what did you think of "The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" last night? First - ever - "Evening News" edition in prime time, 8:00 p.m., which makes it a landmark in the television news business.

My thoughts:

1.) A regular edition - with few, or no hooks, that would make you think this is different. Why? Because the whole idea, if I understood it correctly, was to show viewers exactly what this program looks like on a typical night.

Bottom line: Smart decision. Any gimmickry or bells 'n whistles would suggest a bait-and-hook; best to simply reveal what you do and leave it at that.

2.) Not much Katie. There was certainly some, but the ratio of Katie to the rest of the program was just about the same as on most nights. Obvious exception was that long set-piece on the abuse of Army wives, reported by KC, plus a little cross-talk with Steve Hartman.

Bottom line: Again, a smart decision. Too much KC would suggest this whole venture was a vanity project, designed to puff up her Q scores and "likability." It would imply NEEDINESS. In other words, it woulda felt like an infomercial for Katie. That woulda been foolish - viewers already know who she is and what she does; they need to see what kind of show she's fronting every night.

3.) Normal commercial load. Which is to say, a lot of ads.

Bottom line: A grave mistake; in fact, so grave that I think it nearly botched the whole experiment. Why not reduce the commercial load for JUST ONE NIGHT? Why not a single-sponsor telecast? Anything that woulda kept viewers watching rather than forcing them to turn to "Idol" or whatever else they wanted to turn to. ("Single sponsor" shows have been around a while, BTW.)

4.) Story composition about average.

Bottom line: By "average," I mean "not great." The lede, a Chip Reid talker on the bailout vote, was freshened up, but the outcome was obvious (and reported) by 6:30. The Hartman piece on the survivor of Flight 1549? Too soft. The gang warfare in Mexico piece? Solid enough, I suppose, but what was the daily hook? I'd have bopped that one to the 6:30 show, and run the terrific Elizabeth Palmer piece at 8:00 instead (the story on rabid corruption in Kabul). And a Dave Price weather story? Redundant, to the extreme.

So, the bottom bottom line: The experiment was a worthy one and probably accomplished what CBS News set out to accomplish - that Katie's a good anchor, and the show she anchors deserves a second chance. Now...do another primetime edition...

Can you imagine what a strange universe we would live in if one day we all woke up to read (preferably on TV Zone but I won't take it personally if you don't) that "NCIS" actually BEAT "American Idol?"

I don't expect this to happen in my lifetime, but last night - check it out! - the big "N" was seen by 19.2 million viewers to "Idol's" 25.54 million.

Amazing.

Granted, the big "N'"s viewers are all older than "Idol's" viewers by about a century, but that doesn't matter, right? A viewer is a viewer is a viewer... What is going on with "NCIS" anyway? Has Mark Harmon suddenly turned into a good actor?

Just kidding, Mark! You're the best. Seriously. You were even great on "Moonlighting" - 22 years ago. And remember when you were "The Sexiest Man Alive"...and...

Sorry to dash your hopes, sports fans, but Donny Osmond is not gonna do "DWTS," as he said on a taping of "Bonnie Hunt," and which got a TON of play on-line (for reasons which elude me.)

This was just posted on "ET's" website:

"I'm definitely not doing this upcoming season," Donny tells ET. "If there was an offer on the table, I'd do it in the fall. I would make room for it. Absolutely!"

What gives? I don't know? Do you know? Anyone got Marie's number? I'll call to see if SHE knows...

Been thinking about "The Office" lately because I've been reviewing "The Office" lately - this Sunday's post-Super Bowl episode, entitled "Stress Relief."

Bottom line: It's brilliant, and I do believe it lifts the curse - with some exceptions - that seemed to bedevil hour-long "Offices" of years past, notably '07 when it began with a whole slew of 'em. What's key about this episode is the fact that it revolves around a storyline involving Stanley Hudson - the saturnine grump whose miserable outlook on life and work is forever stoked and justified by Michael...

"Relief's" writer, Paul Lieberstein (Toby) gives him a line that I think will join the "greatest hits" of "Office" history - but no need to give that away here.

So...I've pulled up this old interview of Stanley/Leslie just to get everyone pumped for Sunday. The second part airs....errr...plays in the Jump.

Honestly, if the game stinks - and is there anyone on the planet other than inhabitants of cities called "Pittsburgh" and "Phoenix" who really care about the outcome? - then this episode should make up for the disappointment.

Continue reading ""The Office:" Spotlight on Leslie David Baker" »

Celebrities!

Reality TV!

Can anyone think of a more natural - if, on occasion, stomach-destabilizing - combination? TV producers can't, which is NBC will launch "Who Do You Think You Are?" on April 20. Produced by Lisa Kudrow and featuring Susan Sarandon and Sarah Jessica Parker, this one's based on the Brit series of the same name, and promises a "fascinating" and "informative" look at these "beloved stars" as they "uncover stories of heroism and tragedy, love and betrayal, secrets and intrigue that lie at the heart of their family history."

Sounds grand, but why? (Not famous ENOUGH already, eh ladies?) In fact, stars have been drawn to reality TV since the dawn of reality TV, about ten years ago, so this threesome is in (ummmm) good company. I know all you out there are trying to remember some of these celeb-based shows, which is probably taking you away from more urgent tasks at hand - like work.

So to make your life a little bit easier, I've put together this list of my own personal favorites. They may be your's too. (I've stayed away from the rather more visible ones, like "Celeb Apprentice," or "The Osbournes," or "DWTS" because otherwise this list would stretch from here to eternity...)

- "Being Bobby Brown," Bravo: Cameras accompanied lovebirds Brown and Whitney Houston on their rounds; viewers more shocked by Whit than Kev; she didn't seem all there, perhaps for pharmaceutical reasons...

- "Britney and Kevin: Chaotic," UPN: A series with a perfect title.

- "Hit Me Baby One More Time," NBC: Music show wherein faded celebrities like Vanilla Ice or less-faded ones like Wang Chung as they tried to jumpstart careers one more time.

- "The Contender," NBC: Mega-hyped boxing reality show, with Sugar Ray Leonard as mentor.

- "The Newlyweds" MTV: Nick and Jessica, need we say more? Yes, we must say more - the butt of jokes to this day. Jessica to Nick, upon being offered buffalo wings: "No thanks. I don't eat buffalo."

- "The Road to Stardom,"UPN: hosted by Missy Elliot, who by this point was on the road to un-stardom.

- "Armed & Famous," CBS: Erik Estrada, Jack Osbourne, Latoya Jackson, Jason Acuna, and Trish Stratus try to become cops. Manage not to kill anyone. A classic of Kitsch that even Ed Wood might have esteemed.

- "Celebrity Duets," Fox: A Simon Cowell inspiration! What would happen if celebs with no discernible talent sing with other celebs who have no discernible talent? Answer: A run on earplugs across the nation.

- "Skating with Celebrities," Fox: Todd Bridges, Dave Coulier, Kristy Swanson, Bruce Jenner, and Jillian Barberie on blades. No one was killed in the production of this show.

- "The Cut," CBS: Tommy Hilfiger's attempt to squash "Project Runway." Would it be redundant to observe that this attempt did not succeed?

- "Three Wishes," NBC: Amy Grant grants three of 'em. NBC grants viewers one, too - cancellation.

- "I Want to Be a Hilton," MTV: Predicated on the profoundly dubious assumption that Americans were clamoring to Be Just Like Paris. Mom Kathy hosted.

- "The Ex-Wives Club," ABC: Marla Maples and Shar Jackson (ex-squeeze of K-Fed) give divorce advice. 'Nuf said.

- "Movie Life: House of Wax:" MTV bios on Paris Hilton, and the like. A wax-like consistency.

- "Strange Love," VH1: Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav in love. This one you could not make up. Subsets of this unique genre-unto-itself include "Flavor of Love," "Rock of Love" ...

- "The Surreal Life," WB, then VH1: VH! strikes again! Celebs - albeit rather diminished ones - co-habitate Hollywood Hills manse. First season entrants included Gabrielle Carteris, MC Hammer, Corey Feldman, Emmanuel Lewis, Jerri Manthey...

- "My Fair Brady: (VH1): Christopher Knight - "Peter" - gets married, gets divorced, gets remarried, almost gets another divorce, and gets drunk...all in three seasons.

Super Bowl!

With neither the Giants or Jets (fat chance, ever) in there, who cares?

The Steelers will win.

There. Now you don't have to watch. (Though the boys from Pittsburgh are maybe a little worried about Fitzgerald and Boldin ... So change of mind - the Cards will win ...)

But what we WILL watch this Sunday are the ads. Some of them will be great. Some will be silly. Some stupid. Some stupendously stupid and silly.

The wonderful people at Adweek and Mediaweek, and Brandweek have sent me their compilation of some of this Sunday's sponsors. Here's a quiz: What sticks out in this list like a hog at a cow convention? Answer: At the bottom...


· Anheuser-Busch

· CareerBuilder

Answer: Of course, you got it. Godaddy.com. What the heck is a godaddy? Beats me ...but go to the Web site, click on the Super Bowl ad, and I suspect you'll agree - this is money that would have been better placed with a charity of godaddy.com's choice.

Ted Haggard? You remember: deposed head of the National Association of Evangelicals, and head-founder of a church in Colorado called New Life Church. He was pushed out of the church (and even the state of Colorado, as part of an agreement with the church) after admissions of a sexual relationship with a male prostitute.

He will be on "Oprah" tomorrow, and HBO Thursday - at 8, in that Alexandra Pelosi doc that's received quite a bit o' buzz in recent days.

First the news on that one: HBO today said it'll add a "card," or elaboration, at the end of the the Thursday program to acknowledge the most recent scandal to envelop "Pastor Ted" - he reportedly had a "non-physical" (he says) relationship with a man who was a member of the church, and who was paid money over the last couple of years; implication is that it was "hush money" but the man claims that was not the case.

I've reviewed the doc for Thursday's paper - it's good, as in "fascinating" but incomplete as far as it goes. Still, the portrait that emerges is a tragic one ...

Now, O. Here's stuff from the press release, in the jump...

Continue reading "Oprah, HBO have Haggard " »

Not a pinhead, not dumb, not a bimbo, likes Sweden.

There's nothing better than a good celebrity feud, and nothing NOTHING better than a celebrity feud that involves Bill O'Reilly. Now we've got a developing one, though hardly of the flame-throwing variety, between him and Jessica Alba.

He labeled her a "pinhead" on "The Factor's" Jan. 21 edition for calling "Sweden" a neutral country when in fact he thought she meant to say "Switzerland."

Oh, the things you learn in these feuds.

Here's what JA just posted on her myspace blog:

"...I want to clear some things up that have been bothering me lately. I find it depressing that in the midst of perhaps the most salient time in our country's history, individuals are taking it upon themselves to encourage negativity and stupidity. Last week, Mr. Bill O'Reilly and some really classy sites (i.e.TMZ) insinuated I was dumb by claiming Sweden was a neutral country. I appreciate the fact that he is a news anchor and that gossip sites are inundated with intelligent reporting, but seriously people...it's so sad to me that you think the only neutral country during WWII was Switzerland. Check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_during_World_War_II if you want to see what I was referring to. I appreciate the name calling and the accurate reporting. Keep it up!!"

Someone should tell JA that's it's not always a good idea to refer to wiki to prove a point (I love wiki as much as the next guy, but...)

Meanwhile, she's got me thinking - yes, Sweden was neutral, but didn't Hitler threaten to invade at one point...? I'm gonna have to wiki this...

No comment from Bill's camp. Check out his "pinhead" clip below.

(AP Photo)

Do not adjust your dial.

Do not rub your eyes.

Do not think think you've gone insane, along with the rest of the world.

But ... Susan Sarandon is doing a reality show for NBC. (Yes, we are in a recession - did you hear?)

This is the same network that airs "Momma's Boys."

So, I'm thinking: This cannot be good.

But let's not be prejudicial (shall we?). Lisa Kudrow and Sarah Jessica Parker are also starring.

So, I'm thinking: Not just one career will implode with this, but three.

Details? Who cares!!?? The pertinent ones are that Susan Sarandon is starring in a reality show for NBC. Go to the jump for the network propaganda. But the key facts: Show will be called "Who Do You Think You Are?", and it's coming April 20. Let's see what else ... Oh yes, it's one of those genealogy reality series, wherein famous people find their "roots," and discover all sorts of fun surprises from their dark past. Oprah did something like this. (Or was it Skip Gates? Or both...)

"Additional celebrities" to be announced. With bated breath I await.

(Above: So I'm thinking...why not Tim in this show? Make this a family affair. Even call it "Family Affair." WireImage.com Photo)

Continue reading "Susan Sarandon (!!!) to do NBC reality show" »

Dari Alexander, who's been sorta "filling in" at 10 for Rosanna Scotta, since the longtime 10 p.m. stalwart headed to the mornings, has just been named the anchor of both Ch. 5's 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

File under "no surprise."

Station boss Lew Leone said in the press release, “Dari has covered many major local and national news events throughout her career, most recently co-anchoring our coverage of the Presidential Inauguration and the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. Her talent, experience and deep roots in New York City made her a natural choice for this position.” She used to be with FNC and joins Ernie ... What else to tell you about Dari? Well, I'm sure she's very nice - and smart. Fancy education - double major, Mount Holyoke, returned home to NYC where she worked in the Organized Crime Unit at the New York district attorney's office and later as secretary of the Banking Board in the New York State Banking Department.

Key career stat: Started at News 12.

A very ominous development for "Ugly Betty" late yesterday: ABC will yank the show in late March to make way for a Thursday night comedy block. "Betty" will be back, and in the same time period - ABC promises - but this still doesn't look good for the once-high-flying-now-treetop-skimming dramedy.

The new Thursday shows: "In the Motherhood," with Cheryl Hines and Megan Mullally, and "Samantha Who" at 8:30, starting March 26.

(Also: a new Wednesday block - "Scrubs" and "Better Off Ted," that comedy with Portia de Rossi. It starts the 18th.)

This is ominous for "Betty" because it's been no secret that ABC has been worried about the soft numbers; "Betty" is just one more victim of the '07-'08 strike - a show that soared before and flopped after. It's also an ominous development for NYC TV production because "Bet" is now based here.

You recognize the name "In the Motherhood?" Good for you! You spend a lot of time online. This is kind of an interesting development, TV-wise, because it's already carved out some shelf space on the Web, and was created by advertising agency giant, MindShare. In fact, watch the clip below for a sense of what it's like - mothers talking about kids, marriage, etc., while every now and then the camera flits across some product for the hands or the hair. (The Web version stars Jenny McCarthy.) But ... it includes product placement for stuff like shampoo (Suave). NBC, of course, has blazed this trail already (in fact, p.p. has been part of network programming since the dawn of time) but this is at a somewhat more elevated level. Though I have to think about this, my sense is that those shows with a mega-strong product motive ("Knight Rider" as an example) are usually dreadful. There may be an exception - I just can't think of it.

Here's the first full episode of "Motherhood" from the online series - the ABC one will be recast and rewritten, and last for (duh) 22 minutes and not seven. Otherwise, unclear how different the ABC version will be; Hines is one of TV's truly sublime comediennes, so I can't imagine it'll be horrific (I hope...) The jump has the details straight from the ABC release ...

Continue reading ""Betty" Bopped" »

Naturally, the big story in Chicago has to do with this clown, Blago. The guy is absolutely hi-LAR-ious! Have you see his act? It's been everywhere today.

But Oprah finally caught up with it and tells Gayle King - via GK's Sirius XM radio show - that she was merely "amused" by the fact that he considered offering her the gig.

(The ever-vigilant TVTattle picked up the story from a Tribune Web site,Chicagobreakingnews.com.)

"If I had been watching as I normally watch from the treadmill, I probably would have fallen off the treadmill," she said.

Gayle asked - as you probably would have: Well, O, if you had taken this, when would you do it?

"Where would I fit it in with my day job, my midday job, my night job, my radio job ...?"

O might have added ... her "Color Purple" job, her Youtube job, her blogging job, her my favorite things job (that IS a job you know - all those choices), her acting job, her producing job, her job launching a new network job, her weight-losing job, her magazine publishing job, her column writing job, her job batting-away-rumors-about-her-next-job job ...

Honestly, Blago. O would not have had time for this job anyway.

Or would she?

Said O:

"I think I could be senator, too."

(O Photo by Paul J. Richards / AFP / Getty Images; Blago Photo by Mad Magazine)

Joe Torre - only the greatest manager of the Yankees in my lifetime - has written a book with former Newsday beatwriter, Tom Verducci. It's got a lot of stuff in it about A-Rod - though, sadly, absolutely nothing about Madonna.

For that reason, I probably won't read the whole thing, but will cheat by pulling pages and maybe the first chapter off of Amazon.

But - by heavens - I WILL watch every interview the Great One does, starting with the one next week on "Live with R&K.;" For all I know, Joe will have a million between now and then, but the "Live" one just now came to my attention. It'll air next Wednesday, February 4.

And your book tour isn't complete until you've heard Reeg yell..."GELLLLman..."

Blago's media circus tour continued on "The View," just concluded, and the highlight - beyond Joy's inanely playful tousle of his bouffant - was Babs' earnest and heartfelt appeal to his better nature and dignity.

(Ha!)

"For your state and for your own dignity, wouldn't it be better if you resigned?"

Any appeal to Blago's dignity is sort of like telling that guy, Jigsaw, in "Saw" to stop testing people...or Jason Vorhees to just leave those kids alone...

The horror will continue, no matter what you say. And so it did with Blago, who bullshat his way through nearly half an hour of this show. Have you no dignity, sir?

He smiled when Babs demanded his immediate resignation, and then blogo'ed on for five minutes about how he has to stay in office for the good of his "daughters." Babs also wondered why Mrs. Blago didn't turn up to this interview, as he promised she would.

Said Blago, she needed to stay home with the daughters.

Question: Who voted for this guy?

Good heavens, have you watched that round of interviews with Blago this morning?

The guy is everywhere. But out of all this ("...I'm innoncent, I tell ya...") the huge news is that he considered Oprah for the vacated Senate seat. That was the big revelation on the "GMA" interview.

Now this Blago business is getting interesting.

I suspect he considered Oprah because he knew she could easily meet the pricetag. But let's not get prejudicial here - the trial hasn't even started, although he will get impeached this week.

But what if he hadn't gotten snagged in all this senate-seat-for-sale business? What if he had offered it to O? What if she had accepted...? (Extremely unlikely...why slum it in the Senate when she already controls the world?)

The intrigue continues.

Senator Winfrey? Sounds good.

Missed last night's Screen Actors Guild Awards show?

Then...read on for our 4-second recap* (*TV portion only...)

Recap: Sure looks an awful lot like the winner's circle of the Golden Globes, with exceptions...

Actor in a television movie or miniseries
Paul Giamatti - "John Adams"

Actress in a television movie or miniseries
Laura Linney - "John Adams"

Actor in a drama series
Hugh Laurie - "House"

Actress in a drama series
Sally Field - "Brothers & Sisters"

Actor in a comedy series
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"

Actress in a comedy series
Tina Fey - "30 Rock"

Ensemble in a drama series
"Mad Men"

Ensemble in a comedy series
"30 Rock"

Just got off the phone with Sully's San Francisco-based rep (who's been juggling all the media requests), and he's taking some issue with NBC's version of the events.

The events? That Sully and crew are going with "60" and have passed over "Today," after first agreeing to go the ayem show.

His name is Alex Clemens, and he's the boss of something called Barbary Coast Consulting, described as a government and communications strategy firm. He says that he got tied up in this because he knows Sully's wife, Lorraine. And ... he adds, the work is pro bono.

We had a nice long chat, but it's just easiest to give you the written statement, sent to me and other members of The Press (it's long; do you have a couple minutes?):

"On Thursday, January 22, I told my contact at the Today show that the five members of the crew had talked amongst themselves about how they would like to see their story told, and later that day, Captain Sullenberger told me that their collective decision was to start with 60 Minutes, and to then visit each of the morning shows – starting with NBC.

"On a day earlier this week – possibly Sunday or Monday – that same contact at the Today show and I were chatting about a wide range of topics, and he asked me about the volume of requests for endorsements, book deals, and appearance opportunities that Captain Sullenberger had received. I responded with an answer similar to this: “There have been so many requests that the Captain’s family and children yet unborn will probably all attend the college of their choice.”

"For that contact to conflate those two conversations and insinuate that financial incentives were sought in exchange for appearances on one news show or another is repulsive, untrue, and extraordinarily unprofessional."

And...for the record, Clemens says no book deal was cut with S&S; Sully just wanted to go with "60."

Gov. Rod Blagojevich - Blago - will appear on "GMA" Monday and "The View" later in the morning.

Unless, of course, "60 Minutes" gets the interview first.

No details, but Blago will appear on "View" with his wife, Patricia.

Does anyone smell high-octane damage control?

Let's see - what questions could anyone possibly ask of this guy? What's the weather like in Chicago? How about them Cubs? Did ya ever meet Oprah?

I'm running out of questions here - will someone help me?

"Blago, what do you call that hair?"

And so on.

Here it is, gang!

The picture of the day -- thanks to Extra, which scored this coup. If you want to see the picture in all its glory, go here. As you know, he'll be on "ER" by season's end. His episodes were shot yesterday and today.

I do so hope you got the bad pun in my headline: But the fact remains, that special on marijuana last night on CNBC - which usually measures viewers in the thousands as opposed to millions - was by far the most-viewed special on the network's air EVER.

And "ever" is a long time.

The figure: 1.2 million potheads ... er, curious viewers ... tuned into Trish Regan's "Marijuana Inc." last night to learn how to score in ... er, learn how ... the fascinating business of cannabis is conducted.

And none of those viewers inhaled, by the way.

Katie's got Sully -- the first major interview, that is.

And "Today" is hopping mad.

CBS announced earlier that "Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger, the hero pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, and his entire crew, will appear on 60 MINUTES in their first interviews since the extraordinary water landing last week on the Hudson River in New York City."

However, "Today's" Matt Lauer last week secured the first interview, only to have the pilots' union -- or so went the "official" excuse -- force him to back out at the last minute while the investigation continued.

NBC just released this statement:

"What Captain Sullenberger did in the cockpit on flight 1549 was heroic and admirable. Unfortunately, people close to him have not acted nearly as admirably over the past few days. They gave us their word, and then broke their commitment. We wish Captain Sullenberger the best."

NBC declined further comment, but my speculation: US Airways decided that they could get more viewers - and better publicity - on "60 Minutes." Yeah, this is amazing, and much will be made of the fact (honestly, an insignificant one) that Katie beat Matt to the punch, etc. I can't remember an instance when a major interview like this was announced by one network, only to have it go to a rival.

And here's my just-wondering question: Did Simon & Schuster, which is a corporate sibling of CBS, also offer Sully or US Airways a book deal? And might there be a TV movie via Paramount, another CBS corporate sibling? (I doubt very much NBC proffered THOSE goodies.)

That IS how this business works.

I'm told by network sources that NBC got "several" assurances from both Sully's wife and a "personal representative" to Sully - presumably the PR man hired after the crash to handle the crush of media requests - that "Today" would be first. Then, "Today" got the bad news this morning.

Meanwhile, I'm also reliably told that Katie's interview with Sully has not yet taken place; you can well imagine that when it does, we'll all see outtakes on the "Evening News" the day it happens. And I wouldn't be surprised if the entire edition of "60" - though probably just two segments - isn't consumed by this interview.

This Internet! You just never know what malicious and naughty things people will do.

Cases in point: The two videos that have gone viral, revealing Anderson Cooper and Diane Sawyer in various states of mental disintegration.

Why, they remind me of me.

I called my friends at CNN and they claim this one of Anderson Cooper - posted on Gawker - was probably doctored by the same "doctor" who doctored this one of Diane (see below.) But we all need a good laugh. These will provide those - no harm, no foul, right?

Just got off the phone with Sean McManus, prez of CBS News and Sports, who told me some more stuff about this novel prime-time experiment ... you know, the one with Katie doing a half-hour of "Evening News" at 8 next Wednesday (see below...)

* This has "never been done before," he says. An amazing stat, considering that the first edition aired 61 years ago (May 3, 1948).

* No, this will not beat "Idol," Sean admits. "We're not expecting a big rating," he says. "It's another effort to get people to sample [and] every time we place Katie in high profile situations, like election night, she always seems to distinguish herself...This is one more opportunity."

* This is not a stalking horse for a regular prime-time edition of "EN." "The economics of primetime don't allow us to do that."

* Yes, CBS is looking at other ways to pop her visibility, and aired a three-minute minicast during the the AFC championship telecast. Anything else? "The Superbowl but that's 53 weeks away." (Of course, he means when CBS gets the game.)

* The focus on building Katie's numbers will be via the Web. She's already got that Youtube show, and does the CNET webcast. "A lot of priority will be placed on the Web; that has been [largely] untapped."

* Next week's special prime-time edition "is going to be a very different broadcast, in terms of content [from the earlier edition] but it's the same format...What we're trying to do is illustrate to people who might not have seen what kind of a broadcast we produce every night."

(Above, Sean/Katie...)

"Life on Mars,” the quirky series about a modern-day NYPD cop who suddenly finds himself living in 1973, returns to the ABC schedule Wednesday at 10 p.m. This got us thinking about parallel universes and the like, raising the question: Back in 1973, what show aired on ABC in that very same time slot?

The answer: “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,” one of TV’s finest legal dramas. From 1971 to 1974, Arthur Hill played a stalwart Santa Barbara attorney, considered by critics to be the legal equivalent of Marcus Welby, the stalwart doctor played by Robert Young on another popular ABC series.

Here are five things you need to know about “Owen Marshall.”

One of Marshall’s young partners was played by Lee Majors. In fact, for a while in 1973 and early ’74, Majors held down double duty on ABC, also playing Steve Austin on “The Six Million Dollar Man.”

When Majors decided to leave in February 1974, he was replaced by David Soul, who also would go on to greater fame in another ABC series, “Starsky and Hutch.”

And one final Lee Majors connection: Farrah Fawcett, who would marry Majors in 1973, appeared in two 1971 episodes, a half-decade before she became a superstar on “Charlie’s Angels.”

Steven Spielberg directed a 1971 episode featuring guest appearances by Anson Williams (Potsie from “Happy Days”) and David Soul (as another character).

Danny Paterno, a partner in the final season, was played by Reni Santoni, whom “Seinfeld” fans know well as Poppie, the restaurant owner with a nervous bladder.

Hey, you'd never believe it, but John Denver once appeared in a dramatic role on "Owen Marshall"!
Check it out here:

Here's a question without an answer: If Sully had been the pilot of Oceanic 815, would there have been a show called "Lost?"

In any event, TVguide.com has a nice little scoop: They've talked to Carlton Cuse, and he tells 'em he invited Sully to the show's set. No word on whether the Hero of the Hudson accepted.

Says Carlton, "It's funny because there's a special[online] feature which has somebody trying to debunk the Oceanic 6's story" about surviving the plunge of Flight 815. "There's this aviation expert basically saying, 'A water landing is impossible. That part of their story doesn't hold up. You could never land a plane on the water.'"

Very big "Idol" week coming up - three editions, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

And on Thursday, 8-9: The New York/Meadowlands auditions episode airs.

Tuesday and Wednesday, I'm told, will be from Jacksonville and Salt Lake, respectively.

This is actually kinda interesting - a bunch of Super Bowl stats from Nielsen. I didn't know a lot of this stuff - maybe you didn't either...Here, from Nielsen, some excerpts, verbatim:

* TELEVISION: Last year’s tilt between the Patriots and the Giants was viewed by a record 97.5 million people nationwide. As expected, the Super Bowl was the most-watched TV broadcast in 2008.

* ADVERTISERS: The cost of a 30-second spot in last year’s Super Bowl was $2.7 million. Total spending for the game reached over $195 million. Anheuser-Busch bought the most commercial time (4 minutes total). The highest-rated commercial minute was the Victoria’s Secret spot at 9:44pm, seen by 103.7 million viewers. The most-liked ad was produced by the NFL. The most-recalled ad was produced by FedEx.

* ONLINE: Super Bowl advertisers saw a 24 percent jump in Web traffic the day after last year’s Super Bowl. The Pepsi commercial featuring Justin Timberlake gathered the most Internet buzz.

* MUSIC AND MOVIES: In the week following Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ halftime performance last year, sales of their “Greatest Hits” album jumped 196%. Petty’s “Anthology: Through the Years” album jumped 240% that same week. Box office sales on the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday show notable decline. The NFL Super Bowl XLII DVD was the #1 selling sports DVD in 2008.

(Pix: Julie Jacobson, AP)

This just in: Katie Couric will anchor a one-time-only primetime edition of "The Evening News" next Wednesday at 8.

CBS says this will be "in addition" to the earlier 6:30 edition, while a spokeswoman says it will contain "all new content."

A big deal? Certainly a very interesting one. The last time an edition of "Evening News" aired at 8 - or one that wasn't tagged to breaking news? Never... This is as much promotional as anything else - Katie's coming off a very strong political season (see: The Palin Interviews) and the network wants to keep the ball rolling. (Head to this post if you want some more background from CBS News boss, Sean McManus...)

They also want to put a bullet in that long-standing - and probably bogus - press story that "Kate Will Be Leaving After the Inauguration."

You know that one - it ran in a couple of prominent papers a year or so ago,and soon the broad-based assumption was that Katie's days were numbered. She (and CBS) heatedly denied this, including a pointed denial at the summer press tour in Beverly Hills, but (then) you know the press: They wouldn't believe their own grandmother.

Certainly some basis for the rumors - After that big "EN" launch, the numbers softened, the fingers started pointing (as they tend to do inside CBS), and 'ere long, Katie was grousing about not getting the support she needed, or that this wasn't what she signed up for, or whatever. And then...the speculation began: What next for Katie? "Meet the Press?" "Larry King Live?" Back to NBC in some capacity?

Then...something happened. The "EN" numbers started to improve slightly; Katie got a new and particularly seasoned and competent exec producer, Rick Kaplan (who, by the way, was also good at handling the press and managing internal expectations at CBS); outside options for Katie were hardly as good as this one; and CBS wasn't anxious to see her go because it'd have to pay off the balance of her contract; most important, the show got better, and then the Palin business.

The new press narrative: "Katie's on a roll!"

Here are the canned quotes from this morning's press release: “This is a unique opportunity to showcase the CBS Evening News and give viewers who might not be able to sample the broadcast the chance to see the outstanding work being done by Katie and the CBS News team,” said Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports.

“I am extremely proud of the tremendous work by Katie and our entire team and the primetime broadcast is yet another platform to bring our distinct reporting and franchise news series to a wider audience,” said Kaplan.

Only one teensy, weensy hitch to this one-time-only experiment aimed at dragging more viewers to this worthy program: It'll air opposite "American Idol." (That's maybe OK too - we call this "counter-programming" in the trade.)

(Pix: John Paul Filo, CBS)

Well, it's not often you see Meredith Vieira tear up and shed a couple, and I think I can count exactly zero instances over the last twenty years or so. But this morning? The record was finally broken!

"Today" aired the Bush Twins video to the Obama girls; it's their "here's what you need to know" list. Honestly, it's very sweet - and herein you will see the nicest things probably ever said about W. After eight years, the prez left with nary a positive word from anyone - so consumed was the media with the exciting newcomer, and so consumed were voters with just seeing him go. So, it was left to his daughters to offer him, and Sasha and Malia, this tribute.

Meredith and Matt were moved...

Yes, I believe this one hundred percent. One thousand percent. "ET's" reporting as we speak that George Clooney is filming a couple of scenes tomorrow and Friday. No other details, but here's pretty much the full piece...(And don't forget - both Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards said this was gonna happen.)

"Sources confirm to Entertainment Tonight that George Clooney will be filming scenes for an appearance on "ER" this week.

"Clooney rose to fame as Dr. Doug Ross on the show, which premiered in 1994, and last appeared uncredited in 2000.

"The final episode of "ER" will air Thursday night, April 2 now that NBC has extended the season's run by three extra episodes. A one-hour clip show retrospective will run just before the final episode airs. "

Yes, Clooney left in 1999 (after that two-parter, "The Storm") and his career took just an awful dive...why, the poor man was never heard from again. I've been terribly worried about him, so I'm glad he'll be able to pick up this residual check. (He can finally pay the rent.)

Enough. I'm getting loopy.

But this is good news. A great show will end properly, with one of its greatest characters.

Close, but no stogie:

Nielsen just released the final final figure for yesterday's inaugural viewing, from 10 to 5 p.m.:

37.8 million.

That's how many watched the full day, per the ratings service, and the most since 1981, when 41.8 million watched Ronald Reagan's inaugural.

As promised, I've got some numbers for you. The winners of yesterday's inauguration coverage, in terms of sheer viewer volume: NBC and CNN.

Here are the cable numbers, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

CNN: 6.9 million...
FNC: 4.4 million...
MSNBC: 2.6 million...

ABC also sent out a release saying it had the most "combined" viewership of the entire day - a total of 47 million - meaning that the network added up viewers of the day's various events as well as the primetime ones as well. The figure is impressive, indeed.

But...here's the midday figure, from 11 to 12:30. Looks like NBC beat 'em by a nose there, and same with 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

ABC: 11, 036,666...
NBC: 11,490,000...
CBS: 7,193,333...

And...10 to 5...

ABC: 8,363,714...
NBC: 8,650,000...
CBS: 5,530,695...

Observation? These figures almost seem to mirror - to the person - early evening news numbers. In other words, brand loyalty is unshakable.

So ... how many people DID watch yesterday's big event?

Answer: 29.2 percent of all TVs in the top 55 cities were tuned to the inaugural. That's the word - or rather figure - from Nielsen, which should provide a total figure later today.

Go here for a chart that will give you the blow-by-blow. New York places somewhere in the middle - about average.

"The combined overall household rating for the inauguration of President Barack Obama in the top 56 local television markets where Nielsen maintains TV meters was 29.2%.

The Raleigh-Durham market had the largest TV audience with more than 51% of households tuned in to the day’s events. Seattle-Tacoma had the lowest viewership, with only 18.8% of households watching the events."

Meanwhile, last night's "Neighborhood Ball" telecast on ABC did take a meaty chunk out of "American Idol" - an eight-million-or-so viewer chunk. "Idol" launched last week with 30.4/30.3 million viewers on the Tuesday/Wednesday editions.

Last night: 22.4 million, to 12.6 for "Ball."

Fox - a glass-half-full kinda network - says, "the Live +7 numbers for last night's episode to be much bigger than normal. "

And "Fringe": Bit by bit, its numbers grow, and if you too followed "Idol" at 9 p.m., bit by bit YOUR numbers would grow, too. But the show is a closet hit for Fox - "closet" in the sense that people are watching, but critics and TV writers don't seem to be.

If you've been missing this pretty good show, go to this page - bottom, left-hand - for the five-minute recap that'll bring you up to speed ...


(Mark Wilson / Getty Images Photo)

"Webcast ..."

Isn't that an ugly word? (Surely we can think up something better, or more appealing...) And surely you must wonder - as I did - what sort of benefits accrue to CBS News and Katie Couric to have done this thing after every major ping on the political calendar this year?

On paper, or on-screen, it seems like great idea - isn't EVERYONE supposed to do something on the Web, to prove there with-it-iveness and to establish that they too have hitched a ride to the future and aren't old fogies like everyone else? There were many many streaming shows yesterday, maybe hundreds provided by people who held up their cellphones. They're not old fogies, but God, I'd sure hate to watch their "webcasts."

Here's CBS' postgame show, below, and the problem, one of them anyway, is that it is so startlingly different from the network's earlier sober coverage - which was actually pretty good. This is the let-your-hair down show - the one that's supposed to throw a spotlight on the humanity of the anchors, and pundits, and bring out all their wit, smarts and irrepressible bonhomie (whatever that is...)

But after a day on the air, those talents tend to get shaved, or evaporate altogether. You're not at your best.

Katie: "I'm not sure who's watching but some people out there are...oh look, Jordin Sparks is here [at the Commander-in-Chief ball, where she sang, I imagine, the Etta James classic, "At Last"]...I feel like I work for MTV all of a sudden...[The Obamas] must be getting sick of 'At Last'...Would you think I was really creepy if I said I think you smell good?...Sure you can get a picture...Did I mention Audi is sponsoring our webcast."

"Webcast:" That word again, which implies "cheap," and "crumby" and "low-rent," and "really really boring." Too bad, cuz Katie's not any of those things.

So here's a suggestion for a Webcast of the future, CBS. Don't let the hair down. Make this thing as smart and insightful as it can be. Don't be silly or frivolous (that devalues the overall brand.) Don't pander - people can smell "pander" from a million miles away. Make this thing even richer than what you had on the air. Make people think that if they miss this, they'll miss the more IMPORTANT part of your overall coverage. Never embarrass yourself or CBS News - you've worked too hard to establish your Big League Anchor creds. And don't forget, some people are watching - even annoying critics who post their own blog posts...

("Blog:" An ugly word....)

That's my free advice for the day.

Watch CBS Videos Online

That's right, Al.

It was brief.

It was only partially informative.

And I think the president even fibbed. Already: His first interview with the press, and the truth was stretched.

For those wondering why Al is croaking this morning, and who MAY have turned away from the screen yesterday just around 4:15 or so, here's the clip ...

To be serenaded by Beyonce.

Singing "At Last."

Yup.

That's when you've REALLY reached the top of the mountain.

And that's the mountaintop Barack Obama stood on last night. It was really one of the highlights of the day, this moment at the "Neighborhood Ball," and if you missed it, then you should watch. Go to the jump for the bootleg version - which Disney will yank as soon as they discover.

Or, if you want to stay legal this morning, here's another clip, her tribute to Etta James, at the Fifth Annual Fashion Rocks concert on CBS last September. As you're aware, B is Etta James in "Cadillac Records."

And if you want to know more about Etta James - who doesn't? - here's her discography...

Continue reading "The Inauguration: Beyonce Sings" »

... And I've got a million of 'em! But why burden you with them all. Herewith a dozen or so:

Best coverage: Everyone! In the spirit of the day, of one-for-all-and-all-for-one, of Obamanian uplift and soaring rhetoric, I declare ALL the coverage pretty good. This event, in fact, was essentially wate proof - turn on the camera and point - but mistakes, miscues, mess-ups can happen, networks being a collection of wires and human decisions. Decisions can be poor. None evident today.

Splendid Acts of Eccentricity award to ... CNN. And you know what I'm talking about - the photos! First, that one from outer space, from like 50,000 miles on high, and the other - a 3-D beauty that will be pieced together from YOUR cell phone pictures. "You thought the hologram was cool? this is gonna be cooler," per a CNN anchor ...

Colin Powell: The Everywhere Man. He was on at least three networks, used some similar soundbites, but was so solid that he seemed to out-anchor the anchors. The one question that (I believe) went unasked - any regrets that YOU weren't the first?

Robin Roberts: Possessor of one of the better money shots of the day, with a closeup of her father's wings, clutched in her hand. He was Tuskegee Airman Col. Lawrence E. Roberts.

Pictures, worth a thousand words: The clenched jaw of Barack Obama during convocation ... the tight smile of Bill Clinton ...the uncertain gait of Jimmy Carter ... the bare branches of the oaks on the White House lawn, reaching toward the blue sky ... the yellow dress (OK, "designer outfit") of Michelle Obama, flustered by the breeze ... the crowds ... the pixilated vision of hundreds of thousands of tiny flags ... Aretha's hat ... Muhammad Ali, stooped, slowly making his way through the reviewing stand ... Dick Cheney in a wheelchair - from which he lifted himself to chat with Hillary Clinton ... Ted Kennedy ...

Whatever happened to ... the "millions and millions" on the Mall? Thus, a dominant theme of pre-inaugural coverage - that 4 million people, for cripes sakes, might show - was reduced from hyperbole to reporting in the cold light of this day. "Hundreds of thousands" was the phrase used most often to describe the vast crowd.

Tom: As in Brokaw. Four years ago, the Big Three were on hand for Bush II - Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings, who would die a little over a half-year later of lung cancer. Of these, only Brokaw was the one to observe and report on this historical moment for the network he's been so long allied with.

Brit, on the Bushes: I've gotten so used to hearing anchors speak about Bush in either dispassionate or outright hostile terms, that it was almost bizarre, otherworldly, to listen to Brit Hume's personal asides ... "His spirits have been great ... and he really liked being president and thought it was the most interesting thing he could do ... [the Bushes] are whole people [and] their ability to adapt is greater than people would imagine ..."

BET: I wonder if BET discovered the better angels of its nature today? So long has BET been accused of pandering and huckersterism and lowest-common-denominatorism that we - certainly I - don't reflexively think of it in any other way. Unfair? Probably, but not entirely. Today - all news, all the time! And a competent presentation, to boot. Rene Syler was good on "The Early Show" and is good here. Maybe this is the moment when BET will realize that it has a higher purpose in life. Maybe MTV too ... on second thought ...

The New York delegation: What would this event be without smart-aleck New Yorkers, and their one-liners and fastballs ... and one-upmanship. Mayor Bloomberg, on the crowds: "They're just copying us ..." Governor Paterson predicting his forthcoming Senate appointment: "Michelle Obama."

CSPAN: Why do we always forget poor CSPAN? This is one of the big days in its 30-year history, and the coverage has been good - not just wallpaper, but maybe wallpaper with colorful pattern. Telephone calls! That's a nice touch.

Kennedy Seizure: And of course, this shocker - a seizure that lasts "several minutes" (per ABC's Jonathan Karl) during the lunch, and Kennedy has to be taken away by ambulance, and then friend and colleague Robert Byrd is taken away. "It's just so sad," Cokie Roberts said.

Silence ... Is Golden. The cable networks were best at this, by far - that ability to hit the mute button for minutes on end, during key or pivotal moments of this day. There really is often no reason to tell viewers about something they have just viewed. Let them view.

(AP Photo)

And...for my last post of the day, this seemed appropriate. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, what would TV news coverage be without the replay of this one, just one...more...time? Turn on the TV today, anywhere and at anytime, and this - I imagine - was on. It always is on this day, or should be.

The words were probably called "prophetic" by an anchor somewhere.

His or her co-anchor then called the tone "elegiac."

Another, "magnificent."

Today, it seems doubly so. And tomorrow, we have an inauguration.

This is one of those things that you probably don't want to watch but if you do want to watch...here it is.

The Fine Brothers' parody of "Lost." They've been around a while, and I always seem to get one in the email. Whatever. Amusing. With "Lost" back on Wednesday, this clips seems like an intriguing combo - "Lost" and "Heroes." This clip ALSO shows what you can do with a little clay, a little Photoshop, and a LOT of idle time...

Again, I'm into redundancy today - maybe it's all the excitement about the inauguration or something - but if you haven't seen the "slip-up" on Oprah, it's worth seeing. Been everywhere, on every news show...when Jill Biden tells O that her husband was offered Secretary of State.

Funny, nice clip. But I hope someone is asking this question:

If Joe had taken State, does this mean Hill would be our Vice President?

And another question: Does anyone really believe this was a "slip?" Come on! She knew exactly what she was saying, and so did Joe. This was no "slip." It was information, carefully conveyed.

I wonder why?

I'm certain everyone's asking this...which is why this is such an amazing clip,

I like to remind viewers/readers every now and then about stuff they already know cold - I call this "redundancy" - but tonight is such a huge Foxian kinda night that I'd feel remiss in not reminding you about this.

"House" is back tonight - on Mondays!

It's a one-hour deal (followed of course by "24" - more redundancy!) and I've seen the first episode, entitled "Painless."

Pretty good episode about a guy who has chronic pain - sorta like someone else on the show - and tries to off himself. His family saves him just in time, and brings him to the place where miracles happen, though you must first endure a very crabby and very brilliant and very intolerant dude named House.

This is a grim hour, honestly, and there are numerous side-stories picked up from where we left off nearly a month and a half ago - notably this evolving thing between Eric Foreman (above, but you knew that) and Olivia "Thirteen" Wilde, and Cuddy's baby problems. House, meanwhile, has PLUMBING problems.

In any event, it's been awhile, so I figured a quick refresher was in order. Here's the season 5 overview clip, and...let 'er rip...

In the course of doing a round of interviews this week and last for tomorrows' inauguration, I caught up with some old friends and contacts in various places, and in the process knocked on the door of this guy - Bret Baier.

Bret: The new anchor of "Special Report," replacing Brit Hume which means he is now the big kahuna at Fox, in terms of straight-ahead anchoring, with the (possible) exception or Shep. He's a young guy - impossibly young, late 30s going into his late '20s, or so it seems - and is a Fox News stalwart. Followed his work over the years, particularly at the Pentagon - and it has always been solid, no frills, and very very serious.

Lots of little changes at "Special Report," and here's what he told me: "We maybe want to expand a little more of the demographics, and that means attracting young viewers and means trying to reach out in different ways. Just started a Facebook page and Twitter account [Twitter? Brit probably thinks that some sort of libation]

"Brit? Continues to contribute to the show as a senior political analyst, and has been on four times [since Baier took over earlier this month] with analysis of some issue of the day - a new element, commentary, where he's on the set with me...This is what he calls semi-retirement, [and has plans for appearing] a hundred days this year, and contribute to 'Fox News Sunday' and special events...We're lucky to have him still wandering around the halls.

And...what of tomorrow's coverage? "Technology has come so far in our ability to transmit these images and sounds from every corner of this city [D.C.]. We'll be at many of the balls, and many more of them than we've ever seen before, and you'll see the Obamas many different times - you'll see them get their move on a whole bunch of places."

Hold off on watching that Sully/Matt Lauer interview that was scheduled for tomorrow...

"Today" just announced that it was postponed.

Bummer.

"Matt Lauer still has the first interview with Capt. 'Sully,' however, the interview has been postponed to a future date," per the network.

No reason given...but I'm thinking, the NTSB investigation is continuing, and it might impede that if he gets on the air and discusses what happened. But that's just a guess, and why wouldn't that have occurred to him or "Today" when they first announced this?

More details as they come...

So much TV news the last forty-eight hours that it's required this Sunday "special edition" of TV Zone...

And here is some of the biggest...Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon) was revealed to be the FINAL CYLON on the mid-season opener of the fourth season of "Battlestar Gallactica" on Friday night.

This is such huge news that I've sat on it for like two days, refusing to believe. Refusing to accept this. Refusing to absorb something so momentous that I couldn't even post for fear of being wrong. So...

Of course you know I'm full of baloney. I just found this out, having missed Friday's "Sometimes a Great Notion."

Anyway, it is big news in TVland, and I wonder whether anyone ever guessed she'd be the one...(insofar as she did die at some point, right?)

Whatever, here's the full show from Friday, if you like me missed...Thanks Hulu...

Don't worry! He's back, with a new two-year deal in hand, and that means at least two more years - or quality years anyway - of "Mad Men."

Matthew Weiner, creator/creative force behind "Mad Men" is on board.

This broke Friday and was all over the trades...sorry for the delay in getting this to you...Here's Matthew's statement:

"Since the beginning, the show has been a charmed experience, made possible by my partnership with AMC and Lionsgate. I am proud to work so closely with these two companies who love taking risks and value creativity and I am thrilled to get back to work with the most talented cast and crew in the business."

A surprise? Not really - AMC and Lionsgate indicated recently that a deal would happen, but working out the details ($$$$$) did seem to take an awfully long time. Reports (via Deadlinehollywood.com months ago) were that Weiner wanted $10 million per. If true, Matt didn't get it; the trades say this is a "seven-figure" deal. (Oh boo hoo.)

In any event, wonderful news, for a great TV series.

Is it Okay to laugh about Flight 1549?

I guess so - a happy and heroic outcome. The only creatures not celebrating are those creatures that foul the fields at John J. Burns Park. And then, deed done, fly away to other ball fields.

The geese.

Here's the skit from last night's "SNL." I do believe THIS goose is Andy Samberg, in goose disguise...

"Today" has scored the biggest get in the land: Sully.

AKA, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III.

It'll air tomorrow morning. Of course, everyone has been after Sully - even the president-elect, who wants him in Washington on Tuesday. He is the man of the moment, the all-our-hopes-and-dreams, the guy we want behind the wheel the next time we get on a jet.

Here's the press release: "NBC News' Matt Lauer will sit down live with Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III, in his first interview since he piloted the crash landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in New York City. The live interview will air on "Today," Monday, January 19 in Washington, D.C. This will be Capt. Sullenberger's first comments since the incident now known as "Miracle on the Hudson." The pilot will be joined by his wife and two children during the interview. "

OK, when will this big get air? My professional opinion: Probably the second half hour, so that excerpts can be pulled during the rest of the show. But maybe in the 8 a.m. half hour too.

There's been some confusion (Okay, maybe I've been the only one confused) about tonight's HBO telecast of the big inaugural celebration concert at the Lincoln Memorial; some people seemed to think it was going to air tonight only...but do not believe them.

It all starts this afternoon, at 2:30. Here's the deal: HBO will air it exclusively at that time, and then everyone else gets dibs on the rebroadcast starting at 7. If you've got nothing better to do at 2:30 - and I don't think the playoffs start till around three or 3:30 - then this is definitely the show to watch. Plus, it'll be on HBO.com too...

Check out this list of performers and "readers..."

... Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. The Rt. Reverend V. Gene Robinson will give the invocation. Rob Mathes will be the music director and arranger for the backing band, which will support all of the artists.

B by Thomas Concordia, WireImage.com.

In all the hub-bub - didn't I just use that line? - I almost forgot to tell you about another new show coming up tomorrow: "Talkshow with Spike Feresten," which goes to an hour at 11, now that "MadTV" has been sent to the glue factory.

Spike? You've never watched his show? Tomorrow night is the time, then, or at least Hulu it on Sunday morning.

Here's why: He's gonna call out Jeremy Piven on the show, and tell the world - or at least his few select viewers - that he thinks the whole business with mercury poisoning was..."bull----."

We talked a couple days ago, and here's what he said (and for some viral "Spike," go to that clip below of the lovely lady trying to figure out her digital conversion techniques; it's been an Internet hit...)

"I'm a big 'Entourage' fan and I enjoy Jeremy Piven on the show, but this has rubbed me the wrong way. I feel it's total bull---- and it appears that David Mamet believes that too...[Piven's] lying and my personal opinion is, he went out on stage [for 'Speed the Plow"] and saw a sea of gray-haired ladies in their sixties and thought, 'I'm not gonna get [any sex] here.'"

Of the mercury business, he says, "I have an opinion about that too. In Hollywood, if you have a problem, or don't want to be somewhere...you usually say, 'I've got food poisoning.' Or, 'I can't come to your party, I've got food poisoning.' I've used it myself. That'll get you out of one night, but it won't get you out of a Broadway show, so you've got to up [the ante.]"

That's to mercury poisoning.

By the way, I think Spike's kidding. I'm not sure though. In any event, he did ask Jeremy to come on tomorrow's show. So far, no answer.

And what of his star, 97-year-old Mae Laborde, who got into show business only a few years ago? Says Spike, "I find her a real inspiration to anyone who says, 'I don't know what to do with my life' and they're only 35. She started a new job in one of the toughest careers there is - at age 90."

Watch tomorrow night (or Hulu on Sunday). Spike is a funny guy and so is his show.

All this hub-bub about the inaugural and I almost forgot to mention a pretty important development at CNN this weekend. A brand new four-hour show will be launched Sunday morning, to be anchored by redoubtable reporter and master of the touchy-feely
board, John King.

Its first guests have just been announced. You know one of them very well: Barack Obama, senior adviser David Axelrod, Bush White House press secretary Dana Perino and Bush White House counselor Ed Gillespie will be on the new show.

I've been a fan of King's for years - he's a ridiculously competent guy - so I'm thinking, this will be a good show, entitled "State of the Union," airing from nine to 1 p.m. But one of the other more noteworthy developments here: It'll swallow Howie Kurtz's long-running "Reliable Sources," which has been something of a must-see in media circles (much as Romenesko is a must-read) since launch in 1992. Howie - as you may know - is also the veteran media writer for the Washington Post. King tells me Howie's show isn't going away, but will remain as part of this four-hour block. But it will definitely change.

Says John, "my participation will be less, not more, but that'll fluctuate. I will definitely have interaction [with Kurtz] at the top and end of the hour [it airs at 10 a.m.] though some weeks maybe in the middle. We'll also maybe have more news makers in that hour. Let's say Obama's health care plan" is covered in "State of the Union's" first hour, then "maybe at ten, the subject is, 'how are they selling that in the media...'"

That, of course, is a big change because "RS" has typically covered major media stories that broke the week before.

BTW, Kurtz's first guests include Perino and Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers, while CNN's Dan Lothian and American Urban Radio Networks White House correspondent April Ryan will talk about diversity in the press corps.

This four hour show, explains King, will originate out of Washington. King was senior White House correspondent from '99 to '05 and currently chief national correspondent. In that capacity he mastered and made famous that space-age in-studio jumbo tron which displayed voter behavior almost down to individual neighborhoods. He'll bring the touch screen to the new show, too, while he adds that he'll also leave Washington every week to report various stories around the country, and maybe world.

With “Lost” returning Wednesday, our thoughts turn to islands, specifically TV shows that take place on those land masses surrounded by water on all sides. Here are five (and we’re excluding “Survivor” and shows set in Hawaii and Manhattan,
because that would be too easy).

“Gilligan’s Island” (1964-67) — The classic story of seven castaways who set sail on a three-hour tour and ended up on an uncharted desert isle. You know the rest.

“Fantasy Island” (1978-84) — “Love Boat”-ish anthology in which visitors would schlep off to a remote island resort, where they would have one lifelong dream come true. (Props to myself for writing this item and not making one Herve
Villechaize joke.)

“Paradise Island” (on “Wonder Woman,” 1976-79) — Home of Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) and her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Carolyn Jones). They ruled over a race of super Amazonian women who derived their strength from prolonged exposure to a rare
element known as “Feminum” that was unique to Paradise Island.

“Temptation Island” (2001-02) — Sleazy, cheesy Fox reality show in which four unmarried but committed couples were sent to a tropical island. The bonds of their relationships would then be tested by stray hotties who were brought in expressly to
try and break up the couples.

“The Pruitts of Southampton” (1966-67) — The locale may not be as exotic as the others, but, hey, this sitcom was set on an island. Phyllis Diller starred as a down-on-her-luck East End matron who still pretended that her family was worth
millions. Gypsy Rose Lee played her nosy neighbor.

See for yourself the wackiness of "The Pruitts":

Do not, repeat, do not waste your time trying to get tickets for either of the two "Oprah" shows that'll originate from Washington on Monday and Wednesday; those suckers were gone within minutes of the ticket offer going up on the website a few weeks ago.

And how many of those tix went to stars, dignitaries, advertisers, and other assorted FOO's - "Friends of Oprah?" Wild guess? Most of 'em - a total of over 2,300, at the Kennedy Center Opera House alone.

Yes, the Monday gig is one of the hotter tickets next week, and just last night, details of the shows finally emerged. The big draw on Monday is the world premiere performance of a new inaugural-themed song produced/written by David Foster and Will. i. am. Stars singing it: Bono, Will.i.am, Faith Hill, Seal, David Foster and Mary J. Blige

Also this, per press release: "Stars Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher will stop by, and stars including Scarlett Johansson and more will share special messages about what this inauguration means to them. "

Oh woop-de-do.

The Wednesday show originates from restaurant Art and Soul; Forest Whitaker and Jon Bon Jovi will be there...

Well...this is a surprise. NBC just announced that Conan will leave "Late Night" on Feb. 20.

Let that sink in - this means he'll basically be sitting around on a beach somewhere, and sipping Long Island Ice Teas for three months. That's a long long time to be out of the public eye, but I'm guessing that - rather than the beach business - he'll probably be moving staff and production crew out to LA to set up shop at the "Tonight" studios.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Fallon will start March 2.

It's not often that a major anchor for a major network actually witnesses a major news story - in fact, I can't remember an instance - but that's what happened at 3:30 this afternoon, when Robin Roberts looked out her window and...what's that?! - a major airliner splashed down in the Hudson. If you haven't watched ABC's air, check out this clip. It's rather unusual... (BTW, if you have trouble getting the picture, hit your refresh button.)

Here's what she told Charlie (Gibson): "It completely just hit the water full force, never bounced or anything like that, and came to a relatively quick stop," Roberts said. "But… it didn't skim along the water. There was very little trauma to the aircraft. It was… I'm still… can't believe what I saw."

"I would say, 10 seconds -- I… have binoculars. I could see that the front door was, they were able to open the front door, and within a couple of minutes a water taxi just happened to be in that direction, and I could see that it was making its way to the airplane as fast as possible," she said.

Letterman fans know well this on-going feature that's called "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches." I do believe it's run all eight years of the Bush presidency (and in case you think Letterman was picking on W, Clinton got much, much worse over his two terms.) Anyway, this feature will officially end tomorrow night with a three-minute send-off.

A shame. What will Dave do for Obama? (Or should I ask, what will Dave do TO Obama?)

CBS didn't get us the clip, so I dug one up myself. Here's a nice one indeed...

As you know all too well, Gil Grissom leaves tonight - Gil, of course, being William Petersen, who will be back on the show occasionally, and retains his exec producer creds. Below, watch this nice clip of Bill, as he discusses the role, and a bunch of other stuff.

How do I feel about the Grissom departure? So glad you asked: I honestly can't imagine this show without him. I remember years ago when Les Moonves got him to star in this Anthony Zuiker idea, and at the time it was seen as a mini-coup, given Petersen's emerging big-screen character actor career ("Contender"..."To Live and Die in LA"..."Mulholland Falls.") Petersen got on board as a producer, too - which also, if memory serves, seemed kind of unique insofar as he hardly had a sterling TV resume to that point. But the guy plunged right in, and shaped this show to his own specifications.

Though I don't know Petersen - and by all accounts, he's a hard guy to get to know - I suspect his character is something of a mirror: Perfectionist, prickly, removed and very, very private. I'm pretty certain he doesn't like the press and has not worked at building his press clips or publicity. But whatever you think of "CSI" - and I'm occasionally ambivalent, given the fact that it sometimes wallows in its tawdry subject matter - it's beautifully produced, acted, and conceived. Much, much credit due to Petersen.

I know you're out there - pretending you don't watch this show, but you really, really do. You watch it, love it, wait for it to return from hiatus, or repeat purgatory. You count the days, hours, minutes and know that (of course) it returns tonight after a two-month break (as least as far as originals are concerned). The CW sent me a bunch of clips as reminders. So, here they are...Go to the jump for the rest. Happy "Smallville-ing." (Oh, and as an added bonus, I've got a "Supernatural" clip, too, also back and also in the jump...)

Continue reading "For "Smallville" fans only" »

Lots to catch up with today, so let's go to our trusty "Catching up with the News" - and with the TCA TV Press Tour meet going on out West, there's plenty....

CBS spinning off "NCIS." Can you believe it? It's true. CBS bosswoman Nina Tassler told TV writers yesterday that this is gonna happen, and though I wasn't there for the grand announcement, I'm assuming next fall..."The Mentalist" is probably next, and suggested heds are "Positively Mental," "The Mentalizer," "Getting Mental," "The Mentalistist," and so on.

"Gossip Girl" spin-off a definite definite. Before it was just a "definite maybe." Per the Hollywood Reporter, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage - latter the real brains of the show who seems to write every word - are putting together a show that'll air as a backdoor pilot in May; there'll be flashbacks to the '80s of mom Lilly and Serena - so I'm thinking prequel here as opposed to sequel.

Chevy Chase to "Chuck": Also in HR, which says CC will be in a three-ep arc sometime this spring (I assume). He plays a techno mogul, and Chuck's dad accuses him of something ... whatever.

Conan at NBC session today: Conan speaks to assemblage later today, and let me just prefigure his comments right here..."I'm thrilled Jay's taking over at 10...no this won't impact our guest lineup at all...no, I don't feel like this announcement upstaged my move to 'Tonight'...Will you please stop asking the same stupid questions...oh, to hell with all of you...I'm outta here...Silverman, don't put me through this again..."
Amy Poehler will be here too to talk about her new show...

John Mayer will do a CBS show. Yeah, this news was out yesterday and it's a real head-scratcher. A music-variety-sketch show? Does this mean COMEDY? Oh, that Mayer, he's a funny one - as funny as a crutch. I've never seen this guy smile - except when he broke up with Jen. And then he smiled again when he got back together with her. Speaking of Jen, if she's on the show, I'll watch. Otherwise, a pass.

The star of "Fantasy Island" passed away today at the age of 88.

Of course, he had a long Hollywood career before becoming Mr. Roarke, but Ricardo Montalban became a pop-culture icon 1970s for his commercials for the Chrysler Cordoba and its swank upholstery made from "soft Corinthian leather."

We have no idea whether such material existed, but this is not the time to quibble. In memory of Montalban, lets recall this typical Cordoba commercial:

As you may have heard, Patrick McGoohan has died - one of the greats of '60s TV, and maybe Britain's most famous actor to have been born in Queens (Astoria, just to be exact) AMC - producing a miniseries remake of his mid-60s classic "The Prisoner" with Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen - has a trove of tributes on the Web site Amctv.com. Some of the best stuff: The entire series run of "The Prisoner." I've pasted the series premiere ... below.

And below that, in the Jump...one of the most famous themes/tunes off the entire decade, right up there with "Gilligan's Island" and "Perry Mason." If you were around, should bring back memories...("Danger Man," and not to be confused with the more charming Patrick Macnee/Dianna Rigg spyfi, "The Avengers...")

Continue reading "AMC McGoohan tributes" »

The Big Show is still Very Big ...

If you hoped that "Idol" would somehow diminish this season along with the rest of the slumping prime-time world-scape, your hopes have just been dashed (and by "you," I do mean execs at NBC, CBS and ABC...)

The show had a huge opening night.

30.1 million total viewers.

Now, you'll read elsewhere (probably) that this is down from last year - and I believe there was a 10 percent decline from last year - but year-to-year comparisons may be somewhat irrelevant, given the state of prime-time in general. By any standard, this is a huge opening figure. Fox is very happy.

Here's the relevant stat graph from the press release:

On Tuesday the eighth season premiere of AMERICAN IDOL posted a very impressive 11.6/28 among Adults 18-49, with 30.1 Mil Total Viewers, making it the highest-rated telecast and night of the season (all networks, all programming) and the highest-rated night on any network in 11 months among Adults 18-49 and a year in Total Viewers.

"IDOL showed a substantial advantage over the season’s previous highest-rated entertainment telecast, including +57% among Adults 18-49 (11.6/28 vs. 7.4/18 for Grey's Anatomy on 9/25/08). In fact, this +57% advantage is even greater than last year’s comparable advantage over that season’s highest-rated entertainment telecast at the time (+55%, IDOL vs. Grey’s Anatomy premiere on 9/27/07). In other demos, AMERICAN IDOL’s advantage over the previous highest entertainment telecast includes +28% in Total Viewers (30.1 vs. 23.5 Mil for CSI on 10/8/08), +24% among Adults 18-34 (9.7/26 vs. 7.8/21 for Grey’s Anatomy on 9/25/08) and +108% in Teens (10.8/33 vs. 5.2/15 for Family Guy on 11/2/08)."

Hot new judge, but...

Of course, I just HAVE to offer my two cents concerning last night, and to make the following just a little more insightful, I'll give you my three cents instead....

* It's not all that different. Of course it isn't. All that spec about huge changes to pop ratings, etcetera - mostly just bunk. We in the press do that a lot - desperate to find something new to say, we find something new to say. I'm one of the biggest culprits in that regard, BTW. Yeah, lots of tweaks last night, as promised, but in total, they added up to a fundamentally similar product. Now, I should add that some of the key changes are to come - the wildcard, the vote for three finalists as opposed to two, the 36 finalists, and so on. But "Idol" remains "Idol."

* God complex: Dear old "Idol." Every year it treats us to an opening montage about just how important it is to our lives, and how we just couldn't do without it, and how it continues to rock our world. Last night's opening montage? Ditto, and then some. I've grown fond of these opening show back-pats, but last night's felt a little over the top.

* Fewer black contestants. In fact, no black contestants - other than the crazy ones. I used to live in Phoenix, many many moons ago, and remember a big sprawling multiracial town. Last night was white-bread. I was surprised. Reasons? Beats me. The audience pans seemed to suggest a rainbow, but the audition room was otherwise. Maybe I missed someone, but I don't think I did.

* Fewer "crazies." I use this term as a catchall for the contestants who clearly have a deluded sense of the world around them. They're not the actors - the ones who try to get screen time for the hell of it and for the drunks back at the fraternity house. These are people who are - seriously - quite sad. One thoughtful reader told me a couple seasons ago that one particular contestant even had Asperger's syndrome, which made sense to me. Is "Idol" growing kinder? Clearly, the Paula Goodspeed tragedy has nothing to do with this, as she committed suicide long after the Phoenix sessions were taped. I just think "Idol" believes that enough is enough; also, these early rounds have traditionally been watched by young guys who then abandon the show when it heads to Hollywood. Ratings are then artificially goosed early on and then "Idol's" gotta deal with a spate of stories that say "ratings are declining," etc.

More "Napoleon Dynamite" contestants: These are the contestants that look like nerds, and then sing like angels. It's an old "Idol" prototype, of course - LI's Kevin Covais as a famous example -- but there seemed to be more of them last night. In fact, quite a few more, like Scott McIntyre, or that annoying kid who told Simon he could sing "God Save the Queen." Reason for this: They make good TV.

Kara: Meh. I leave Kara for last, and reviewed her performance in today's paper. Called her the Fifth Beatle. There's certainly nothing wrong with her, and she is a beauty - no doubt about that. But I saw no discernible reason for her presence. She added little, other than that nice moment when she sang that Mariah Carey song to Bikini Girl. Seems to agree with everyone, had no surprising observations. I just don't get it. She may turn into a great addition, and has the background to, God knows. But so far...

Dave, on LIKG, again, from tonight's monologue:

"Talk about a divorce, I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but there’s a story – a man and a wife are married. And she says, “You know what? I need one of your kidneys.” And he says, “Fine, not a problem. Take my kidney.” She’s fine, and now they’re getting a divorce. The guy wants his kidney back! Yes, wants his kidney back. And he’s not kidding around. He says, “Alright, if I don’t get my kidney back, I want my Aerosmith CDs back.”

"But from what I know about divorce, this guy’s lucky to get away with one kidney, you know what I’m saying?"

Name "Red Skelton" mean anything to you?

No?

Than - whoo, boy - I gotta lot of work to do, and quickly, because this show airs in just about three hours, on WLIW/21, at 8 p.m.

So, I'll make this fast: For just about fifty (maybe 60) of the last one hundred years (AKA the 20th century), he was one of the biggest - and I do mean biggest - entertainers on the planet. (Died in '97). The career spanned vaudeville, Broadway, radio, movies and finally TV - where his vaudeville work seemed to be repeated, as if this career had come full circle. He was a clown - quite literally - and was even the son of a clown. TV viewers were especially familiar with his many, many characters - like seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe or Sheriff Deadeye, and so on. His many movies of the '30s and '40s were beloved - "Whistling in the Dark" was one of the most famous - and undistinguished, for the most part. They were, though, a welcome and needed antidote for those very troubled times.

Skelton? HE was beloved. His show, on CBS and NBC (although I think it ended on CBS) seemed to go on forever; it was terribly familiar to anyone who drew a breath in the '60s or '70s.

Tonight, a tribute - but not THE tribute that he deserves. Honestly, I'm a little disappointed with this one, given the magnitude of this amazing career. Skelton's TV work could be very funny or very pedestrian, or just downright bad - he was in the factory business, and churned out these shows like GM churns out Saturns (or used to anyway.) He was deeply embittered when CBS zapped his show - I believe that was one of the last acts of the Smiling Cobra, Jim Aubrey - but in truth, the show was old-fashioned even by 1971 standards.

Ch. 21 has packed this tribute with old footage from the TV show only, and promises that much has "not been on TV since the original broadcasts."

There's a reason for that.

Jamie Farr, a longtime pal of Skelton's, will host this show in a live wraparound tonight; interesting, certainly to see what Jamie has to say...

Otherwise, check out a Skelton movie...you might still be able to find one. The man WAS funny.

Meanwhile, one can't mention Red without citing one of his classic show biz quotes: When reviled Columbia boss, Harry Cohn, died, Skelton went to the packed funeral, and observed, "Harry was right - if you give people what they want, they'll show up."

Grade: C

Interesting interview with Fox in the current (or is it forthcoming?) "Details." He says - among many things - that even if he were to get asked for "answers" to yearning, burning fan questions, he wouldn't know them - the answers - anyway.

Go to this link for a few soundbites, and below are some more quotes...

On Lost coming to an end:
“Personally, it’s a relief...I owe this show a great amount, and I think it’s exceptionally good...[but] I am looking forward to the freedom that comes with not working on one project professionally.”

His plans to move from Hawaii to the mainland:
“My major motivation is to be closer to family. My brother is there, my mother is there. We’re hoping to break ground in March, and it will be completed right around the time we’re finishing the last season of Lost in March 2010. I really miss that kind of wide-open space, and there’s a big part of me that wants the kids to live in that mountain air.”

On playing Dr. Jack Shepard:
“When it’s all said and done, you’ll be able to look at the six seasons of Lost and see a pretty amazing character arc. Jack as been evolving, and not necessarily into a good place. We started the show with him being this hero who had no concept of what that required, sort of trying to live up to the expectations...and then finding the way to redeem himself.”

On how Lost will end:
“This show started with a plane crash on an island in the South Pacific, and it’s going to have a very global and epic ending.”

Well, that, as we say, is that: "Prison Break" will end in May, forever, while the final episodes will begin to air on Friday, April 17. Fox announced this minutes ago at the TV Critics tour out in Universal City (I'm not there because I heard the weather was going to be warm, and I'd much rather be in the minus 5 we're about to be frozen solid by.)

Is this ending a surprise? Ha! You're kidding, right? I've lost count of all the major character departures, and the buzz on "Break" is so low that it sounds like a beehive in the dead of winter. (Although I read somewhere that Stephen King was the biggest fan in the world, so what do I know.) The end was expected. Really expected. We'll learn in a little while whether Fox will add to its original 22-ep order just to wrap things up.

Byron Pitts has just joined the most exclusive club in TV journalism - he was named a contributing correspondent for "60 Minutes." A big deal? Yes, a big deal: "60" has been rather starkly white in recent years, and certainly since Ed Bradley's death in '06, so the show is addressing a pretty amazing iniquity (and particularly amazing considering this IS TV's premiere news magazine, by a large margin.)

Pitts? He's a solid guy - has done very good work on what seems like every story under the sun for CBS, and many of those have appeared on "Evening News" and "60," for which he contributed some memorable pieces on Katrina. He's not a jump-off-the-screen type of personality - he eschews "dramatics," you might say, which is what you probably want in a "60" contributing correspondent. His interview with NO mayor Ray Nagin, elicited this famous line - when pressed about the city clean-up effort, hizzoner said, “That’s alright. You guys in New York City can’t get a hole in the ground fixed and it’s five years later. So let’s be fair." He apologized...

This gig - BTE - can and likely will lead to a full-fledged correspondent role.

....For an irregular heartbeat.

And apparently he's OK.

But - as you're well aware - that is a very serious condition.

And for NBC, not one but three key shows affected - "Deal," the syndicated version, and of course, the new "Howie Do It." The obvious question that'll come up this morning: Is the guy's work schedule a bit much?

Here's the full AP story, if you haven't yet seen...

"Howie Mandel has been hospitalized in Canada with an irregular heartbeat, his publicist said.

Mandel was in Toronto taping his new show "Howie Do It!" Monday when he was taken to the hospital, said Lewis Kay, publicist for the 53-year-old comedian and game show host.

"Howie is in the hospital being monitored for an irregular heartbeat but doctors expect him to be released and back to work tomorrow," Kay said in a statement. "He did not have a heart attack."

Toronto police Staff Sgt. Devin Kealey told the Canadian Press that officers were called to a downtown hotel with a report of a man with a medical condition shortly after 7 p.m. Monday.

Kealey confirmed the man was Mandel, and said he was conscious and breathing when officers arrived. Family members went with him to St. Michael's Hospital, Kealey said.

Mandel, who was born in Toronto, hosts the hourlong NBC game show "Deal or No Deal." His new hidden-camera prank show "Howie Do It!" premiered last week."

From tonight's show...

"How about those New York football Giants? I mean, was that a killer? Was that a heartbreaker? I mean, Eli Manning, the quarterback for the Giants here in New York, is so upset, listen to what he did – today he has Plaxico Burress shoot him in the leg.

"And you know last week in the playoffs, Peyton Manning lost and this week Eli Manning lost. So I’m telling ya, the Manning brothers are starting to look like the Lehman Brothers."

DC...and friend.

You may or maybe you don't remember this - well, let's call it "interesting" - development in "Idol" World when Disney announced sometime last summer that the show would actually become an ATTRACTION at D World, called "The American Idol Experience." Show, er, attraction was slated for a January opening, but now, mid-February looks like the target date. February 12, to be exact.

What is this? Here are the relevant grafs from the press release:

"That experience will include an audition process, open to all eligible to register, where guests perform "live" in front of a Disney's Hollywood Studios producer for the chance to be cast in a theme park show. If shown to have that star quality during the screening process and after backstage preparation -- working with a vocal coach, hair and make-up -- it's lights up and showtime for the lucky guest in front of a "live" audience and a panel of judges.

Guest performers with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day Grand Finale show at Walt Disney World, and the winner of the Grand Finale show will receive a guaranteed reservation for a future regional stadium audition -- to ensure no waiting in long lines -- for the American Idol TV show. But when it comes down to the television show auditions, everyone is treated equal."

So in other words, "Experience" promises to be an elaborate line-jumping gimmick, correct?

Remember Tina Fey's mini-half-serious rant concerning the Internet last night? She elaborated backstage to The Envelope's Tom O'Neil last night, and his hand held video of the encounter's actually kinda interesting. Fey - in part - blames some of the forum posters on Tom's website for bugging her, and of course she gets the usual round of Palin questions - all deflected with nary a comment. Interpretation: She's going to distance herself as far from Sarah as humanly possible. If that is possible.

Numbers from last night in and they don't look good for the Globes but - considering the general decline out there anyway - not awful either:

14.6 million.

That's down around 5 mill from '07, when the real awards show as last televised.

"24?"

12.5 million.

And that is off 3.3 mill viewers from the season 6 premiere.

I'll take the glass-half-full approach here by noting that neither of these numbers are bad, and almost certainly predicted by the respective networks. Habits are changing and changing dramatically; interesting to see how "Idol" does tomorrow.

Giants lost.

But "Mad Men" won.

I'll get over it - the Giants, that is.

Don't mind me...if I sulk.

But here's the thing. Last night, the Golden Globes. An important awards show? (Perhaps on some galaxy.) But what is, or should be, especially good about this awards ceremony, is the television show that wraps around all its sodden, soupy, sappy silliness mixed in with the serious and interesting. So...

The Bottom Line: As awards shows go, this one went fine - not too hot, and not too cold, but somewhere in that mild, midpoint temperature range. That's good because the Globes will not - and maybe should not - be remembered by next week; there's something terrifically ephemeral about this ceremony, and the TV program probably shouldn't attempt to pretend that history is unfolding, and that the moment of bestowal should be consecrated for all time. As recently as five years ago, this affair was treated as serio-comedy - the place where you could get drunk! Watch Jack slur! See the stars make fun of themselves (not so hard to do, on occasion)! And...then something happened. Maybe they closed the bar early, but the Golden Globes became "important" - an Oscar bellwether, and an award that didn't deserve to be mothballed along with your People's Choice, but set alongside the Oscar (at a far remove, but at least on the same mantlepiece.) This type of self-importance can lead to a disaster on-screen - but not last night. Just smartly paced, and properly contextualized. A good awards show for a once frivolous, and still somewhat frivolous award... (Can you really buy these things, as rumor has long held? I wonder...I wonder...)

Continue reading ""Golden Globes:" Appraisal" »

Yeah, "SNL" returned last night with Neil Patrick Harris - very good guest host, BTW - and I'm thinking: Now what? All that noise last year, all that "buzz," and all that Tina. Amy Poehler's gone as well, and I'm left with this surly question in mind: Well, what have you done for us LATELY, "SNL?"

In answer to that to that question, check out this clip from last night. It's a pretty funny rip on "The Today Show's Fourth Hour" - Michaela Watkins as Hoda, and Kristen Wiig as KLG.

Kristen Wiig as the Next Tina/Amy? As I've said before, methinks so...

Attention, Kevin James: If you haven't already, check out this pretty good interview with Mr. Long Island (formerly) conducted by Neil Best. Nah, no scoop about a new TV series, but plenty o' other stuff, like...

Do you ever get back to Long Island?

"Every time I come out here I love driving on the parkways or getting on the Expressway, just that feeling again. I love it, man. I miss it, I do. I was considering getting a place in whatever town just to be near Shea Stadium and Citi Field and go to a bunch of games. Unfortunately with the business I’m in it’s hard to do that. I thought once I got out of TV and I’m making movies I could just live wherever I want to live. I can do that but it’s hard because with editing and the more involved I get with the film, casting and stuff, everything is kind of based out of L.A."

He is, in fact, the only guy on the planet who actually loves driving the LIE...

After five seasons, this is it, friends. "Stargate Atlantis": Whether you love it or didn't even know it existed, this is a show that had and continues to have a pretty indelible impact on fans. They DO love it, and this is a big night indeed. Now, the long ride is just about over. The 100th episode and season finale - "Enemy at the Gate" - airs at 9.

But here, for you, because I like you so very much, is a sneak peek at a couple of minutes. I wonder - will "Stargate" end after one hundred episodes in a very familiar and green place? (And my thanks to Michelle at Sci Fi Channel for this...)

When “American Idol” returns for its eighth season this week, the show will have a fourth judge for the first time in its history: Kara DioGuardi. Here are five things you might want to know about the 38-year-old
singer-songwriter-producer.

1. She grew up in New Rochelle, the daughter of former Congressman Joseph DioGuardi.

2. She has a political science degree from Duke University.

3. In 2000, she and Paula Abdul co-wrote “Spinning Out,” Kylie Minogue’s comeback single.

4. She’s written songs for Enrique Iglesias, Pink, Celine Dion, and “Idol” contestants Kelly Clarkson, David Archuleta, David Cook and Katharine McPhee.

5. She appeared on ABC’s 2006 “Idol” wannabe “The One: Making a Music Star,” a show that was canceled after only four episodes.

See what Kara has to say:

Maybe you've heard tell of this special by now or maybe not, and if not, read on: This one sounds particularly worthy. Airs on the Fox News Channel tomorrow night at 9, and I haven't seen much of anything beyond the clip (below). But it is unusual: "CSI:NY's" Gary Sinise goes on a trip to Iraq to supports the troops with camera in tow. A lot of personal footage is promised, along with a fairly urgent message - don't forget the troops and support these guys in any way you can.

Here's what he said on the program notes: "With the help of the USO, my brother-in-law Jack, and my friend Jonathan Flora who used a handheld camera, you will see what happened on a seven day trip I took to Iraq last summer which will air this Saturday night on the FOX News Channel. It was my fourth trip there with the USO. My goal, as always, was to cover as many miles as possible and to take pictures, sign autographs and shake hands with as many troops as I could in the time I had. Stops included bases in Kuwait and in Iraq — Al Asad, Al Qaim, Ramadi , Habbaniyah, TQ airbase and Baghdad.

"I could not be more honored to play a small part in helping our troops and their families. We can never do enough for our veterans who have sacrificed so much to keep this nation free.

"But we can always try to do more."

(And more and more and more, especially as many come home to an eviscerated economy.)

The clip. As mentioned, "On the Road in Iraq with our Troops and Gary Sinise" airs tomorrow at nine.

From tonight's monologue...

"There’s a guy in Long Island and he and his wife get married and they get a divorce. And you think, 'Oh, big deal.' But here now is the problem – at some point during the marriage, the guy gives the wife a kidney. And now the guy is steamed. He wants the kidney back. And they’re working, the lawyers are working on an arrangement whereby the husband gets the kidney every other weekend.

"And the wife is having none of it. The wife was adamant. She says, 'Nope. I’m going to keep the kidney because it works a lot better than that other organ he used to give me.'”

Baaa...DUM!

And the jump's got more...

Continue reading "Letterman: On Long Island's Kidney Guy" »

Yeah, tomorrow, and his appearance was already taped today - the show was pre-empted for Obama, and so ABC is holding till Friday. He calls Jett Travolta's death"horrific" and is apparently pretty outspoken - that's our Tom! - about Scientology and all the stuff that's been said about it, etc.

Meanwhile, check out this interesting ABC.com piece that just crossed. It reads to me like the Church went after the network this week big-time in the wake of Travolta's death, and the story goes to some length to get their point of view in, even adding this (ummmm) intriguing comment at the bottom, from some professor...

"A Scientology funeral is likely to emphasize the movement of the thetan from attachment to this body to attachment to another body," Kent added. "The hope is that the thetan will come back in better times, with a better body, with a better spiritual nature."

"After the funeral, it's likely the organization will ask Travolta, his family and Jett's caretakers to undergo evaluations to banish any ill feelings about the tragedy. "

[Caretakers?]

Who needs TV critics when you got Conan? And Max?

Watch this brilliant deconstruction of the saddest network in the land.

(And then, I'm gonna get you Katie's riposte to Sarah; oh, I just love media feuds. Can't we get Oprah in this fight some way? Letterman?) Thanks to TVtattle.com for finding the gem you are about to click on...

If you haven't yet seen, YOU MUST watch this video that is now raging around the Internet. It's Sarah Palin on the media! Notably, she takes a nice little hit on Katie Couric, who's "not the center of the universe."

Or the fact that that Tina Fey line about her kids as unwilling partners in marriage made "the momma grizzly in me" rise.

Her whack on Katie's the best bit - says CBS edited the interviews to make her look like a dummy by editing stuff out. "Katie, you're not the center of everyone's universe," says Sarah, as she watches Katie tell David Letterman that other interviewers shoulda asked why she doesn't read newspapers.

Here's the clip, and it's produced by John Ziegler - he's a libertarian radio talk show host in LA, who's been sharply critical of the media's swooning love affair with Barack Obama. Clearly he found a sympathetic ear with Momma Griz...The clip's sensational...

This hit the in-box a minute ago - another "Kenneth Web Page" installment.

Doing a dry run of his roast of Tracy Jordan.

Note to self: Never go to roast where Kenneth is presenter. Actually, take that back - always go to roast where Kenneth is presenter...

BTW, Selma Hayek tonight...

Here's one name I didn't expect to be joining "Celeb Apprentice": Herschel Walker.

And here's another "Andrew Dice Clay."

And ... so here's another suggested name for show, which just announced its new list of celebs for the second season, launching March 1: "Former-Celebrities-and-now-not-exactly-Celebrities-but-more-like-Friends-of-Donald-or-in-Between-Gigs Apprentice."

Let's see if it flies with Trumpster ...

Remember Herschel? Of course you do - that sensational college career and then he helped jump-start that long-dead USFL by joining some team called (I think) the Generals. He spurned the REAL league for the big bucks and now this, many years later. He's had a pretty solid biz career since then, and I believe "Celeb Apprentice" earnings go to charity.

Anyway, I may be wrong on this, since I try to memory-dump stuff all the time, but didn't the Trumpster have some stake in the Generals, or maybe even own the team? That may explain this...

Rest of the list: Clint Black, Diceman, Annie Duke, the poker player, Tom Green, Natalie Gulbis, pro golfer; Scott Hamilton; Jesse James; Claudia Jordon, model for "Deal or No Deal;" Khloe Kardashian; Brian McKnight; Joan Rivers; Melissa Rivers; Brande Roderick, starlet; Dennis Rodman; Tionne Watkins (T-Boz.).

Where was Kate Hudson last night when she shoulda been at the People's Choice Awards?

I imagine she eventually turned up to accept her best, or favorite, or "peopleyist" award or whatever they call these - and I'm pretty certain she did - but she was AWOL for a stretch when poor Ellen D had to stand there, bare-naked, without script or joke in hand, to substitute for Kate. She looks over, stage-right, and no Kate - just a bucket of flop seat about to be poured on her.

In fact, no one sweats at these things; how could they? You stand up there and say this line: "I did this [movie/TV show] for YOU," then smile, look out at the audience, and with a grand dramatic thespian sweep of the hand imply that the $20-million fee was irrelevant, but that it was you, you and YOU for whom I did this [movie/TV show].

Adam Sandler: "I woulda committed suicide 20 years ago if I had done movies for the critics." An extreme measure, Adam: a simple pledge that "I will never again create/star/produce poisonous, monstrous dreck" would alone have been sufficient.

But where was Kate? Surely she coulda said "I did it all for YOU," too. I think she later said she was at her son's b'day party, or stuck in traffic. Lame-o excuse! Like there's traffic in LA.

Other possibilities:

1.) She went to that theater where they're gonna hold the Golden Globes, thinking THAT was the ceremony she was supposed to present at.

2.) Giving advice to Oprah on weight loss ("First, O, you don't eat. Ever.")

3.) While practicing, "I did it all for YOU," kept giggling hysterically and decided better not to turn up than to provide Nat Enquirer a cover shot.

4.) Suing that tab that said she was a lesbian.

5.) Was out partying with with Lilo and Samron.

Head on down to the jump for last night's "I Did it all for YOU!" TV winners...

Continue reading "Kate Hudson: Wherefore art thou?" »

And, yup, here they are...

"Well, we’re just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. He’s been very busy. This is the transition period. Very busy, naming a lot of cabinet positions. And today he announced that he wants the Surgeon General – you know, the surgeon general – he wants that guy to be TV doctor Sanjay Gupta. Are you familiar with Sanjay Gupta? Now wait a minute, that was the kid on “American Idol,” wasn’t it?

"Surgeon General. That’s a tough position. And it was hard for Obama to make the choice. It was between Gupta, Dr. Phil and a guy on “Scrubs.”

"This Gupta is quite a diagnostician... Two years ago, Gupta warned Jeremy Piven to lay off the tuna sandwiches.

"Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a historic day down in Washington. Listen to this – Five living Presidents had lunch together: George W. Bush Senior, Herbert Walker Bush, and George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. All at the White House. All having lunch. What a day. And while this was going on, John McCain was at Applebee’s blowing on his soup.

"Fascinating because you have the five different presidents. Five different political ideologies. And Democrats and Republicans. And at the end of the lunch they agreed that they all agreed on one thing: Sarah Palin is smokin’ hot. That’s what they all agreed on.

"I understand the lunch went well. Only three shoes thrown."

Ha.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Haaaa haaaa haaaaa HA HA HA HA!!!! Hoo...hoo...Hee..Hee!! HAAAA HAAAA!!! HEEEE!!!!! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

I'm sorry. I've got it under control. (But it was difficult.)

Chris Matthews leaks to the Times that he won't run for Senate.

And who - one wonders - would have voted for him? Hill? Oh wait - she doesn't live in Pennsylvania, does she...

I needed a good laugh tonight.

Thanks, Chris.

Fear is real, real, REAL - I tell you. Really real, whenever I look at my checking account.

But I'm wondering whether the CW's "13 Fear is Real" is real scary or real bad? (Bows tonight, at 8.)

I swear, I don't know. I watched some of the clips at TCA last summer, and found them highly amusing - no doubt made particularly amusing by the fact all the contestants were screaming so loudly. Were they scared or merely drunk? It was all like some nutty combo of "Blair Witch Hunt" and "Ghost Hunters: The Big Easy" edition.

Anyway, an experiment. Here's a nice clip from my friends at the CW. I've posted it without even watching. This way, we can all watch together and decide whether to waste our time with this tonight.

Call this exercise a critical group grope. Here goes. If really really bad, please don't blame the messenger...

Remember "The Superstars"?

ABC's Sunday-afternoon '70s "sports" show virtually invented the genre of "trash sports," not to mention "Battle of the Network Stars" and every other celeb/jock/reality show since. On it, pro athletes of the day competed with each other in sports to which they might not be naturally suited. (Commentators included Reggie Jackson and O.J. Simpson.)

The point of this nostalgic digression is that ABC has just announced it will bring back a brand- spankin'-new 2009 version of the show this summer. The network didn't say which athletes will be there, so we'll have to hold our collective breath until they do. Who would you

Continue reading "'The Superstars' Coming Back" »

I had a productive chat with "24" honcho/show-runner Howard Gordon yesterday - "HoGo," I've long called him, though not to his face because he'd probably "Jack Bauer" me - and he had a lot of things to say. All interesting...

They'll be included in a "24" seventh-season curtain-raiser that'll run in this Sunday's Newsday (and I encourage you to buy a copy - this is a wonderful newspaper and we need subscribers).

In any event, one of my towering interests - among many related to this show - has to do with its future, and I asked Howard: Well, how many more seasons? And without further ado ... his answer:

"I take it one hour at a time. The important thing is to find the right end to the show. Kiefer feels this way [too] and it's entirely possible the eighth year will be the last year. This is me talking, but we'll know when it's time to leave. We won't want to be dressing a corpse. As long as we can figure out a story that means something to Jack - but we don't want to be glutinous about it and make it go on forever."

Is this posturing of the sort people in showbiz routinely go through - as routinely as you and I brush our teeth? You know that routine: Tell the network you just can't POSSIBLY do another season and then they throw another hundred million at you, and just like that, you can do another season ...

I don't think this is posturing, and here's why. Gordon's serious. By his account, production of the seventh, which launches Sunday, was torture - no pun intended - and he's not sure how much more life this franchise has in it. (Some fans started wondering the same during the sixth season.) This one actually went through three rewrites - sounds more like a feature grind than a TV one ...

My read: A la "Lost," Gordon, Bob Cochran and Sutherland et al. will start to lay the groundwork for a mega-finale season that'll draw new fans and reinvigorate the loyal base. Will this be the eighth or ninth? Beats me, but if numbers lag during the seventh, then it'll be the eighth. Yeah, it's heartbreaking to even contemplate the end of "24" but "Lost" will be gone soon enough - and so will "Battlestar Gallactica" and "Prison Break." All good things must ... you know the rest of the cliche.

Meanwhile, my super-quickie review of the seventh season's first four hours: They're good, often very good. You, dear fan, will be happy. That's a promise.

Yes, there are two names that have never ever been linked, and after this, may never ever be linked again, but as you may know, she's got big house trouble down in North Carolina. The bank's set to foreclose on some mcmansion she owns down there - a 6,500 square foot spread that's imperiled by some debt she's in arrears on.

FANTASIA - third season "Idol" winner and per Sico, the best singer in the show's history - in financial trouble, and yet another victim of this sinkhole of an economy? (Will Donald Trump come to the rescue this time?) This situation, I believe, is dramatically different than Ed's situation - she still has another pretty huge house in Charlotte - but it's still odd. Remember when she pulled a Jeremy Piven on "The Color Purple" (and Dr. Evil dropped her from his 19 Entertainment record label last summer)? People - ok, no-nothing bloggers - will start to say there's a "pattern."

Honestly, the pattern may be - she doesn't want the house (plus, doesn't she have a new album forthcoming?) But what's most noteworthy here is the timing: Foreclosure is set for Monday, or the day before season premiere. "Irony" is the word that comes to mind, but it's probably the wrong word.

And...here goes!

"Welcome to the LATE SHOW – the last show open on Broadway. I’m serious about this. Sad news. A lot of shows are closing this month on Broadway. “Grease.” Forget “Grease.” “Hairspray” – yeah, great shows. Gone. If you’re looking for “Grease” and “Hairspray,” you gotta go see that thing on Donald Trump’s head.
...
"Here’s something, Ladies and Gentlemen, on this date in 2001… 2001, remember that, 2001? 2001. On this date, George W. Bush certified as the winner of the 2000 presidential election. Huh. How about that? Well, that turned out pretty well, didn’t it?

"By the way, First Lady Laura Bush, Laura Bush is writing a memoir. I’m going to buy this, because I mean, what was going on there? But the name of the memoir, I believe, is “I’m With Stupid.”
...
"Anyway, the Regis Lee with Kelly Lee Show…you know the Regis Show? Is now in high definition. That means everything is, you know, Whoa! Like high-definition. I’m telling you, forget that coffee in the morning if you really want something to wake you up, it’s Regis in high-def. "

This came across my in-box not long ago and I share with you now - a nice photo album of Gil Grissom through the years, all the way back to the early days when his idea of a great night out was studying high-rez pictures of cocystus mexicanus hortideorum McCook (that's the American honey ant, which has a strange and inscrutable attraction to corpses found near beehives...)

What a fun guy!

As you are well aware, Gil/Billy Petersen's last day at "CSI" is January 15. I also understand he's on next week's cover of TV Guide (of course), where we'll get quotes like this: "I was an emotional wreck on Billy's last day," Marg Helgenberger told the mag. "Actually the last two weeks leading up to his departure, it was hard for me to keep it together.

Yeah, he will be missed, very much so.

Finally, a reasonably attractive Surgeon General and in some quarters, cute, too. It's about time.

CNN medicine man Sanjay Gupta is gonna join the Obama administration as Surgeon General.

It's true!

Even CNN has pretty much said so; haven't checked Drudge or the Times, but I guess they have this above the fold already. My thoughts? Where's Wolf Blitzer gonna go? The SEC? John King? The FEC? Candy Crowley? The FCC? Jeannie Moos...?

This will be gleefully reported by Fox, which has long argued that CNN is in the pocket of the Dems anyway...

But not so fast, Foxies. Don't forget that shout-down between Gupta and Micheal Moore on Larry King, where Gupta said something to the effect that "Sicko" was bogus.

And speaking of Obama, he'll be all over CNBC's air tomorrow. John Harwood has a big interview with the prez-elect on the stimulus package.

Here's a just-asking blog post: How is it that Lara Logan, the respected correspondent for CBS News - embroiled in quite the scandale du TV last year when revealed she was bearing the child of a married man (not married to her, BTW - she was married to someone else; oh brother) - could actually give birth to a baby boy on Dec. 29 (Joseph Washington Burkett V), but still have a story on the air just a few days later?!!??

That woman has stamina, by heavens.

Or another possibility: The story on "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" had been mothballed for months, which is kinda odd considering there's so much real news out there.

You be the judge. Here's the piece:

Did you know "American Idol" was starting up again next week? Little joke...of course you did. Here's a tidbit: The first audition shows, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8-10, will take place in Phoenix and Kansas City. Meanwhile, Kara DioGuardi - new judge and eventual replacement for Paula if she dives irrevocably off the deep end - is holding one of those conference calls this Thursday. It's her second...what will she say this time?

ABC, bless 'em, has gone ahead and posted a whole bunch of stuff from Wednesday night's 10 p.m. mega-mega promoted / anticipated interview with Patrick Swayze - on "The Beast" promotion hunt - and there's so much here that I suggest you read the whole thing.

Bottom line: Swayze sure doesn't sound like someone who's trying to sugarcoat his challenge and pretend that everything's just hunky-dory on the eve of his new TV series. In fact, he sounds pretty sober and intense. Here are the nut grafs from the ABC.com story:

"I've never been one to run from a challenge," Swayze told Barbara Walters in his first interview since the diagnosis [for pancreatic cancer] last January. Still, when asked if he was scared, Swayze told Walters, "I don't know. I will be so either truthful or stupid as to say no. But then I immediately, when I say that, I have to say yes, I am."

"You can bet that I'm going through hell," Swayze said. "And I've only seen the beginning of it."
Walters first interviewed Swayze in 1988, at the height of the actor's "Dirty Dancing" fame. When they met again last month at his ranch in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains near Los Angeles, Swayze talked openly about his cancer, how he's handled the treatment, his thoughts and fears and his prognosis.

"There's a lot of fear here," Swayze said. "There's a lot of stuff going on. Yeah, I'm scared. Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm [asking] why me. Yeah, I'm all this stuff."

(See a photo gallery of Patrick Swayze through the years.)

(See a slide show of celebrity cancer survivors.)

Continue reading "Patrick Swayze to Barbara Walters: 'I'm going through hell'" »

Yesterday, as Drudge Report readers are aware, the Drudgster made made note of the fact (actually screamed bloody murder of the fact) that NBC had barred Ann Coulter from the hallowed halls of "Today" because it refused to promote her new book "Guilty." So, Ann gets all in a huff and heads over to..."The Early Show" this morning, where she sits down with Harry for an encounter that's so peculiar that it honestly merits inclusion on "Superstars of Dance." (See: below)

Don't ask me what any of this means. I'm not sure. (And to watch, you must first sit through a 15-second ad for the execrable "Gary Unmarried." Sorry.)

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Always on the hunt for oddities that are wrapped in absurdities as the networks try to jump-start their stalled '08-9 season, I finally caught up with "Superstars of Dance." Could this be the one - that show so peculiar that even the word "peculiar" doesn't quite work here?

And here's the punchline. It could be - could be - a hit. We'll know more in a little bit when the finals from last night come out, but the Sunday numbers look reasonably encouraging for NBC. But this show, lemme tell you, is strange. To watch makes you feel like you've been sucked into a quantum mechanical wormhole that has transported you to some exotic place in the universe where the lapels remain frightening wide, the idea of "TV makeup" is as alien as moondust, and where "dancing" actually means "the performance of circus acts, sort of, along with bodily contortions that should not be performed without the assistance of an insane person."

Strange. Exotic. Peculiar.

I kind of even like it. More on the numbers when I get 'em.

New year, but no reason to break all the old habits, like the one I started when the very nice people at "Letterman" started sending me the nightly monologue (like) five hours before it actually hits the air (or, for my one reader in California, eight hours earlier.) This way, Dave fans get the best jokes via 'Zone and go to bed earlier.

Unfortunately, the best one in tonight's monologue had to do with fellatio, A-Rod and Madonna, and because we at 'Zone have a rule against printing (laughing at is fine) Dave jokes concerning said subject, you'll just have to watch. Otherwise, I thought this part was amusing...

"George Herbert Walker Bush, that’s George W. Bush’s father, who was also a President, George Bush senior, he says – and they’ve got another Bush named Jeb, Governor of Florida – they say that Jeb would make a great President [and] I was thinking... We need another Bush like Jeremy Piven needs another tuna sandwich.

"Well, here’s how you can tell it’s a brand new year. The Regis Lee and Kathie Lee…Victoria…what’s her name? Kelly Lee, that’s right. They have a brand new set on the Regis Lee and Kelly Lee Show, as a matter of fact. It’s the biggest event in show business since Pam Anderson unveiled her set.

"Were you like me when you heard Regis was getting a new set? Were you like me – did you think…teeth? "

Just pulled up for some air after a terrifically challenging day watching "24" - and I STILL don't believe Tony's a bad guy, but only that he's slipped off his meds - to catch up with a little news. In case you haven't seen the WaPo's annual "In/Out" by Hank Stuever, it's well worth a quick read. This ran on Jan. 1, and on that day, I was otherwise engaged - oh yes, I believe it's called "sleeping."

Reason I'm bringing this list up is because there are a lot of tv-related matters that are either in for 2009 or out. For example, "voting like Oprah" is "out." Eating like Oprah is "in."

"Big endowments" are out in 2009. HBO's "Hung" is in.

"Lost," I'm informed, will be "out" too. The reason given is "too hard." Easy shows like "The Mentalist" will be "in." (So far, a safe call, but I still think "Lost" will be waaay "in.")

And so on. (For some reason Jay Leno didn't make this list, and I think I know why: He'll be both "in" AND "out" in 2009, literally.)

"One Tree Hill," and 70 others, back fresh or new this month.

Welcome back, gang, and a happy and hopefully prosperous New Year to you all.

Consider this an orientation post, as we trudge back to our metaphoric classrooms, facing off our metaphoric teachers, in this new (metaphoric) school year.

Enough already with the metaphors: This is going to be an insanely busy TV January. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it, at least in terms of new product, show premieres and re-launches. I count a total of seventy-one - will repeat for emphasis, 71! - newbies over the next four weeks, counting the launch of "Game Show in My Head" on Saturday and "Superstars of Dance" last night.

71: This figure, of course, includes new show premieres for all the tried-and-trues, like "One Tree Hill" tonight, or "Nip/Tuck," back after nearly a year's hiatus tomorrow. December was essentially dead in front of the tube, as it is every year, and so a lot of new product is hitting the screen this month. In fact a lot more than usual, and I suspect one reason is that television has finally cleared away the wreckage of the Writers' strike. What you're about to see, starting immediately, is a fully cocked-and-loaded network TV industry that is absolutely desperate, desperate, to get viewers back.

I've tried to think of ways to orient 'Zone readers to the tsunami-of-shows upon them, and one simple way? Simply tell you about them, each and every day.

So, let's start.

Tonight: - "The Bachelor" is back (8).

- "Secret Life of the American Teenager" (also 8), ABC Family, which shocked pretty much everyone by becoming a bone fide hit for AF its first go around.

- "Gossip Girl:" Chuck kissed Blair, or vice versa, don't recall, and Chuck's dad passed.

- "One Tree Hill," Brooke's looking for Sam...

- "True Beauty," ABC. 10. That new ABC reality show. More on this a little later today.

And...please go here, here, here for the complete list. TV Guide did the honors. The list is a beaut.

Phew. I'm back.

Yes. Was away. For almost a week. More than a week.

My brain, my poor sad brain, now must be picked up, dusted off and reinserted.

Sometimes this works. Sometimes it doesn't work. We'll see.

Meanwhile, how about Kathy?

For the first post of the year, I offer this clip. We learn from this a few things. a.) She will probably not be returning next year to co-host the ball drop with Anderson Cooper. b.) You should probably NOT heckle her when she's doing live TV. 3.) Anderson may have wished he'd said what she said.

By the way, I missed this. I was too busy watching Dick Clark. Alas, my fascination with his latest outing was purely morbid.

Here's the Kathy clip. Keep the kiddies away ...

(Screen grab, courtesy the Cable Game)

"Scrubs,” a show given up for dead many, many times, has new life. The medical comedy returns Tuesday night — but this time it will air on ABC, not NBC, its network home since 2001. “Scrubs” thus joins a special group of shows that have aired on more than one network, including these five:

JAG — The legal-military drama aired for one season on NBC (1995-96), but finished 77th in the Nielsens and was canceled. CBS took a chance on the show, and after it debuted there in January 1997, “JAG” became a hit, remaining popular until it went off the air in 2005.

TAXI — After premiering in 1978 on ABC, the Judd Hirsch-Danny DeVito comedy became one of TV’s most popular shows. But “Taxi” began to run out of gas, ratings-wise, by 1982 and ABC canceled it. NBC picked up the show for one more season, before low ratings did it in forever.

BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER — The teen vampire drama was one of the WB’s most popular shows from 1997 to 2001. But the series moved to UPN for its final two seasons (2001-03) because its producers were able to strike a deal with the network giving them more money than what the WB had offered.

MATLOCK — Crafty Atlanta attorney Ben Matlock (Andy Griffith) pleaded his case on NBC for six seasons (1986-92) before moving to ABC, where he had a three-season run (1992-95).

CANDID CAMERA -- The venerable hidden-camera show created by Allen Funt has the distinction of airing on four (well, maybe 3 1/2) networks: ABC (1948); NBC (1949, 1953); CBS (1949-50; 1960-67; 1990; 1998-2000) and PAX (2001-04). That’s reason enough to smile!

And speaking of smiling, check out this clip from "Candid Camera"