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TV News
News 08/17/2007
In reality TV news:
Sabra Johnson, a 20-year-old contemporary dancer from Roy, UT, was crowned the winner of FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance 3" Thursday, taking home a $250,000 prize. Also on Thursday, Dustin Erikstrup, a single 22-year-old shoe salesman from Chicago, IL, became the sixth houseguest evicted from CBS's "Big Brother 8." Finally on Thursday, Aja De Coudreaux, a.k.a.
Basura, a 27-year-old artist from Oakland, CA, was eliminated on Sci-Fi Channel's "Who Wants to Be a Superhero? 2." Hundreds of mourners, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nancy Reagan, Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi, Ryan Seacrest, Dick Van Dyke, Dick Van Patten, Jack Klugman, Larry King, Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak and Vanna White, crowded the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills Friday to pay tribute to entertainment mogul Merv Griffin, who died Sunday at 82. A reception at the Beverly Hilton
Hotel, which Griffin owned for 16 years, fittingly followed the funeral.
"Laguna Beach" bad boy Jason Wahler and model Kristin DeLuca were sued Friday by the L.A. traffic cop the two were busted for beating up on last September. Department of Transportation Officer Jonathan Wallace has accused the pair of assault, battery, and violation of civil rights for allegedly shoving him and yelling racial epithets while he was impounding a vehicle on Wilshire Blvd;
he's seeking at least $200,000 in damages. Wahler and DeLuca pled no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge earlier this year and were each given probation and suspended jail sentences.
The fake news is getting a dose of reality, after "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" shipped war correspondent Rob Riggle to Iraq for a week of "in-depth coverage and insights from the front lines." The ensuing reports, dubbed Operation Silent Thunder: "The Daily Show" in Iraq, are due to commence Monday.
"Flight of the Conchords" is flying high on HBO, after getting picked up for a second season. In other renewal news, the cable net also announced that it had re-upped hit Hollywood series "Entourage" for a fifth season.
Star Jones Reynolds is kicking off her new Court TV show on Aug. 20 by interviewing Isaiah Washington, her publicist confirmed to "E! News." The fired "Grey's Anatomy" star is expected to discuss the circumstances of his dismissal from the ABC show, as well as his new gig on NBC's "The Bionic Woman."
Paris Hilton debuted her new clothing line at Los Angeles' trendy Kitson boutique Thursday, drawing swarms of fans and paparazzi alike and causing a lane of traffic to be shut down outside the store. The heiress described the line, which includes shoes, T-shirts, and jeans, as "fun, bright and flashy" and "really affordable."
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News 08/16/2007
In reality TV news: 27-year-old British comedian Matt Kirshen and "Best Week Ever" regular Doug Benson were revealed to be the fourth and fifth Top 10 finalists eliminated from NBC's "Last Comic Standing 5" Wednesday, leaving five comics left. Pamela Bach's former attorney, Debra Opri, was in court Thursday to argue that David Hasselhoff should contribute at least $200,000 to the tab his ex-wife rang up before she fired Opri after losing custody of her two daughters. The judge said he would issue a ruling on the money matter during a non-jury trial scheduled for Oct. 1. Hasselhoff's attorney, Melvin Goldsman, said that his
client has already forked over at least $565,000 in various legal fees during the ongoing divorce proceedings.
Production on the upcoming seventh season of "24" has been delayed for a second time, this time because writers needed more time to craft the season-long plot, per Variety. Shooting was due to start Aug. 27 but has been pushed back to Sept. 10. Originally, production was slated to begin in late July but was delayed to the August date when the producers' original story line, set in
Africa, fell through, forcing them to start over.
E!'s own Ryan Seacrest has added yet another gig to his busy schedule: hosting the Super Bowl. His duties will include presiding over a red carpet-esque FOX pre-game show as celebrities enter the University of Phoenix stadium for the Feb. 3 showdown and emceeing the halftime entertainment.
The order in which Chris Benoit killed his wife and son will determine how his estate is distributed. Lawyers for the wrestler's mother-in-law, Maureen Toffoloni, filed a petition last week asking a court to determine who died first, which could affect whether she can claim a portion of Benoit's millions. Investigators have said Benoit strangled his wife first, and then killed his son
with a choke hold before hanging himself. Under that scenario, his estate passes to his two children from a previous marriage. But if it is determined the boy died before his mother, Toffoloni would be entitled to at least some of the money, lawyers said.
Rosario Dawson has signed on to star in the online live-action/motion-capture sci-fi series "The Gemini Division," per the Hollywood Reporter. She'll play a cop investigating her husband's murder who unearths a global conspiracy involving the creation of simulated live beings that have assimilated with the unsuspecting public.
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News 08/15/2007
In reality TV news: Robert Hatcher, a singer from Cincinnati, OH; The Glamanzons, a group of burlesque singers from Astoria, NY that consists of Lady Finger (Meryl Finger), Candy Apple (Sandy May), Ginger Snap (Sarah Orr), and Caramella (Laura Johnson); Sideswipe, a group of martial arts acrobats from Los Angeles, CA that
consists of Chris Brewster, Craig Henningsen, Matt Mullins, and Jackson Spidell; and Jason Pritchett, a singer from Independence, MO, were eliminated Tuesday on NBC's "America's Got Talent 2," revealing the final four. Also on Tuesday, Sam Friedlander, a 27-year-old web producer from Santa Monica, CA, was eliminated on FOX's "On the Lot."
Joey Lawrence, Melissa Joan Hart, Victoria's Secret model Selina Ebanks, "Days of Our LIves" star Shelley Hennig, skater Ryan Sheckler, and "Friday Night Lights'" Aimee Teegarden to headline the celebrity judging panel at the 2007 Miss Teen USA Pageant Aug. 24 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
"House" costars Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer have called off their engagement, People reports. "After much consideration, we have decided not to get married," the couple said in a joint statement. "We are still very close, and we look forward to continuing to work together on 'House.'" The duo had been planning to wed later this year.
The latest "Bachelor" couple, Lieutenant Andy Baldwin and Tessa Horst, have broken off their engagement, though they remain "committed to their relationship," People reports. Last month, Baldwin told reporters Horst was moving out to Hawaii, where he is currently posted, but the move is apparently no longer in the cards. "With the possibility of reassignment to a new location, we decided
it was not the ideal time for Tessa to uproot herself and move right now. Our relationship continues to deepen, and we're very hopeful about our future together," the couple said in a statement.
Mother of three Heidi Klum has signed on to star in a new ad campaign for Jordache. Klum sports the denim designer's classic skinny jeans in dark indigo in the ads, which were shot by director Brett Ratner at the Chateau Marmont. Previous Jordache girls include Elizabeth Hurley and Brittany Murphy.
Ellen DeGeneres will film a two-hour variety show for TBS at the upcoming Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. The end result, dubbed "Ellen's Really Big Show," is slated to premiere Nov. 18.
Simon Cowell's cruelty is making news again...this time after he allegedly shattered the dreams of six-year-old "Britain's Got Talent" star Connie Talbot. Cowell, who serves as a judge for the show, indicated that he was interested in signing the youngster to Sony BMG, but ultimately passed after deciding she was too
young. "There was some deliberation over the possibility of recording with Connie," Sony BMG said in a statement. "However the decision not to proceed was made with the best intentions for Connie, taking into consideration her age and that it would not be right to do so at this time."
A member of the Rutgers women's basketball team has sued Don Imus and CBS, claiming the radio host's sexist and racist comments damaged her reputation. Kia Vaughn filed her lawsuit alleging slander and defamation of character in New York State Supreme Court Tuesday, the same day Imus reached a settlement with CBS Radio that preempts his threatened $120 million breach of contract
lawsuit.
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News 08/14/2007
In reality TV news: Rock Harper, a 30-year-old executive chef from Spotsylvania, VA was crowned the show's third-season culinary king during last night's finale of FOX's "Hell's Kitchen 3," defeating Bonnie Muirhead, a 26-year-old nanny and personal chef from Los Angeles, CA. Also on Monday, Lauren Gottlieb, an
18-year-old contemporary/jazz dancer who currently lives in Sherman Oaks, CA, and Pasha Kovalev, a 27-year-old Latin ballroom dancer from Fort Lee, NJ, were eliminated on FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance 3," revealing the final four dancers competing in the season finale. Finally on Monday, Stephen Poon, a.k.a. Spoon, a 28-year-old graphic designer from
Portland, OR, quit as the first contestant on VH1's "The Pick-Up Artist." Famed Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto, who later became a well-known broadcaster, died Tuesday. He was 89. "I guess heaven must have needed a shortstop," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement.
Brian Adams, a former World Wrestling Entertainment star known to fans as Crush, was found dead Monday of undetermined causes, the WWE said. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday. Adams, 44, retired from wrestling in January 2003, after suffering a spinal injury. His death follows the June suicide of WWE star Chris Benoit, who murdered his wife and son before hanging himself.
Brad Garrett was caught on tape smacking a camera belonging to a photographer for TMZ.com, the Website said. The actor was leaving an L.A. eatery Sunday night when he shoved an offending lens out of his face. The photog reportedly suffered minor injuries, including a swollen eye, but TMZ declined to press charges, as the camera was not damaged.
Don Imus has reached a settlement with CBS over his multimillion-dollar contract, preempting his threatened $120-million breach of contract lawsuit, according to a network spokesperson. Terms of the settlement were not revealed. The fired radio personality is also reportedly negotiating with WABC to resume his broadcast career there, per the
Associated Press. Imus was canned in April after referring
to members of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos."
HBO canceled the dark surfing drama "John from Cincinnati" one day after its first-season finale, per the Hollywood Reporter.
"Criminal Minds" has plugged the Mandy Patinkin gap with Joe Mantegna. The Emmy nominee has joined the cast of the procedural drama as FBI Special Agent David Rossi, an original member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit who took early retirement but who has volunteered to return. According to CBS, Mantegna will make his first appearance in the fifth episode of the season. "We've been fans
of Joe's since his early days on the stage and think he will be a wonderful addition to our 'Criminal Minds' cast," executive producers Mark Gordon and Deb Spera said in a statement.
YouTube wants depositions from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as part of its defense against a lawsuit filed by Viacom accusing the video-sharing site of illegally posting various segments of sports and entertainment footage. The company did not state what it hoped to gain by questioning the Comedy Central stars.
Regis Philbin will celebrate "Live's" 20th anniversary in national syndication on Sept. 14 with Kathie Lee Gifford at his side, he said Tuesday. Gifford left the show in 2000 and was replaced by current co-host Kelly Ripa in 2001.
The cast of "Family Guy" will hit the stage of the Chicago Theatre Sept. 15 for an uncensored, live reading of a classic episode selected by Seth MacFarlane, featuring bonus material never broadcast on FOX. The performance will also feature a Q&A with the cast and creators, as well as live renditions of some of the most memorable musical numbers from the show.
Anjelica Huston has signed on to star in six episodes of NBC's "Medium," per the Hollywood Reporter. The Academy Award winner will play investigator Cynthia Keener, who strikes an unusual deal with Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette.) "Medium" returns for its fourth season in January.
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News 08/13/2007
CBS will broadcast the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" on Dec. 4, it was announced Monday. Among the scantily clad stunners due to strut the catwalk: Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, Karolina Kurkova, and Selita Eubanks.
Miss America has a new home. After getting dropped by CMT earlier this year, the venerable beauty pageant has inked a multi-year broadcast deal with TLC, it was announced Monday. The 2008 Miss America Pageant is slated to air Jan. 26.
James Gandolfini has signed on to star in the HBO movie "ABCD Camp" as Sonny Vaccaro, the sports exec who brokered multimillion-dollar sneaker endorsement deals for NBA stars including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. The former "Sopranos" star will also executive produce the project through his Attaboy Films company, per Variety.
Jill Hennessy is expecting her second child with husband Paolo Mastropietro, People reports. The "Crossing Jordan" star revealed she's having another boy, due in November. The twosome are already parents to four-year-old son Marco.
Apparently, the "Price is Right" set isn't taking too kindly to its new host. A CBS spokeswoman said Drew Carey was messing around during the grocery game Friday and injured himself on a turntable. He was checked out at a hospital and returned to the set with his hand in a splint.
Ellen DeGeneres is on the hunt for a new deejay to control the soundtrack to her eponymous talk show, as her current emcee, DJ Jonny, is returning to his acting career. The host is seeking someone versed not only in music, but also in pop culture and current events. Potential candidates can apply at ellen.tv.
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All news gathered from E! Online and other sources
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