VIDEO: Naomi Campbell on "Ugly Betty" Finale

So what happens when supermodel Naomi Campbell reaches for her cell phone? Why, everybody runs for cover, of course. Last night's hilarious 2nd season finale of ABC's "Ugly Betty" featured a special appearance of the short-tempered beauty.



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$potted: Chace Crawford @ Rose Bar

Pretty boy Chace Crawford was spotted burning some of his hard earned cash that he gets for playing Nate "Man-Bangs" Archibald on CW's guilty pleasure "Gossip Girl" (season 1 out on DVD August 19, 2008) at Rose Bar last night.


The in-demand actor (Tom Cruise is allegedly the hugest fan) will make an appearance at tomorrow's Grand Opening Celebration of luxury boutique Bellhaus at 328 Montauk Highway, Wainscott, New York 11973 (5-8pm).



Following a short break, the cast of "Gossip Girl" will be going back to the New York-based set in late June to begin filming summer break episodes set in The Hamptons which begin airing on The CW Monday, September 1.

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CBS' "Swingtown" Premieres in California

Earlier this week CBS' controversial new drama "Swingtown" premiered in Studio City, CA at CBS' Summer Block Party (pilot episode airs Thursday, June 5 at 10/9c). Jack Davenport, Molly Parker, Grant Show, Lana Parilla and other members of the sexy cast stepped out on the red carpet to promote the new period drama depicting the lives of group sex-loving couples of the 1970s. Check out the candids and a new video preview.

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Kate Walsh to Begin Filming Season 2 of "Private Practice"

Season 2 of ABC's "Private Practice" will launch at an undisclosed date this fall and the cast and crew are already about to get down to business and produce the first of at least 22 new episodes, titled "A Family Thing."

In the first all-new episode (which the producers have already begun prepping), a young couple arrive in the Santa Monica-based co-op with premonition that their unborn child may die while one of the doctors breaks their 14-year old patient's trust, when they tell his parents the boy is planning to have sex with his girlfriend.

"Private Practice" was the most successful new drama last fall on all broadcast networks averaging over 11 million viewers. Its run was however cut short by the writers' strike after only 9 episodes.

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VIDEO: Lindsay Lohan on "Ugly Betty"

Last night's emotional season ending cliffhanger of ABC's "Ugly Betty" kicked things off with a "stay-in-the-kitchen-30-seconds-longer-and-you'll-miss-it" guest appearance of Lindsay Lohan playing a mean girl (what else?) in Betty's 1999 flashback. The appearance had been rumored since last fall, before the producers finally closed the deal with the mischievous actress this spring.



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VIDEO: Sarah Jessica Parker on Letterman

"Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker made a grand entrance at last night's Late Show with David Letterman celebrating the launch of Fleet Week in New York. With only a week left till the release of her much-anticipated movie, the actress visited the late night talker to about her son James, her new genderless fragrance, and... make a bird call?





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VIDEO: Lesbian & Straight Kisses on "Grey's Anatomy" Finale

Two weeks after the gay soldiers locked lips on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," last night's 4th season finale climaxed with passionate, romantic and painful kisses, as leading characters sought someone to share an intimate moment with. And it all began with a lesbian kiss between Callie and Erica.

Actress Brooke Smith who plays Dr. Erica Hahn told USA Today: "Sara Ramirez is a great kisser ... and a very attractive woman. Who wouldn't want to kiss her?"

The writers explained they wanted to see what would happen if a woman who loved men suddenly had feelings for another woman.

They have promised the fans will be very surprised when they find out where this story is heading next season.



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"Desperate Housewives" Jumps Time to 2013 (VIDEO)

They did it! As anticipated by spoiler-hunters for weeks, ABC's hit soap "Desperate Housewives" jumped time in the concluding moments of last night's 2-hour 4th season finale (#416-417) revealing a somewhat different Wisteria Lane.



Many of the rumors were true - Bree is now a successful Marta Stewart-type celebrity whose affairs are managed by her gay son Andrew.

I also heard a rumor that either Bob or Lee would be gone, and Andrew would be dating the one who stays (since Bob loves the suburbs I presume it would be him), but we'll have to wait till September to see if that one's true. Bree has however forgiven Orson and she is happy with him.

Lynette may have put an end to Kayla's antics, but her teenage twins have turned into delinquents. We knew those two would always wreak havoc, so it is only logical the show would continue to explore their problematic coming of age.

It'll be fun to see the twins the producers cast over the summer to take over the roles. I would guess the young actors who played them were among those who had to leave the show. At least as series regulars.

Katherine remains on the show and that's a good thing. Dana Delany has been a wonderful addition to 'Desperate Housewives' (has she actually replaced Edie, or is Nicolette Sheridan's hilarious character coming back in the fall?).

Gabrielle's bloated appearance and being a parent to twin girls is just the sort of a comic twist you could imagine befall the self-obsessed material girl. Is Carlos still by her side?

Finally, Gale Harold's ("Queer as Folk") character did (as spoilers claimed) turn out to be Susan's new husband (and no, that wasn't Nathan Fillion as some of those stereotypical magazine-flipping and chips-munching casual viewers may have thought).

The questions remain - what happened to Mike? Is he dead? Who's the new guy? How did Susan meet him? I hear he may be the focus of next year's big mystery. Is he just an obstacle to Susan reuniting with Mike, the love of her life, in the big series finale in 2011 (which I guess would depict events in 2016)?

It's hard to tell by those 3 minutes whether this was a brilliant move on the part of the writers, or the moment which will be remembered as the time when "Desperate Housewives" "jumped the shark."

It will all depend on the execution in the fall and whether the viewers actually care to find out how the ladies got to the point where they are in 2013 (through a series of flashbacks which could still employ some of the actors who left the show).

In any event, I'll be happy to revisit Bree "The Celebrity Mom," Lynette "The Delinquents' Mom," Gabby "The Fatty Mom," and Susan "The Remarried Mom," all living on Wisteria Lane in 2013.

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Supernatural Finale Spoilers

The time has come to say goodbye to those hunky Winchester brothers. At least it is for the summer, as "Supernatural" has already been renewed for a 4th season. Here are stills and spoilers from tomorrow's 3rd season ender titled "No Rest for the Wicked."


It's 30 hours before Dean's (Jensen Ackles) deal with the crossroads demon is up and Dean, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Bobby (Jim Beaver) are searching for Lilith, who holds the contract.

They discover her location and Sam summons Ruby (Katie Cassidy) for help despite Dean's protests.



Ruby warns them they aren't ready to fight Lilith yet but they steal her knife and depart for New Harmony, Indiana. In a battle to the death, Sam, Dean and Bobby take on Lilith and all her demons in a last ditch effort to save Dean's life.

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TV Ratings: Tuesday (May 13, 2008)

American Idol managed to bounce back after last week's season-low, albeit it failed to break the 24 million mark.

"Dancing with the Stars" was the second most watched telecast of the night, although CBS' underrated "NCIS" wasn't far behind.

The series finale of the just-axed "Women's Murder Club" lost half the "Dancing" audience, although both shows skew older demos.

ABC:
8:00pm According to Jim (4.28 million)
8:30pm According to Jim (4.55 million)
9:00pm Dancing With the Stars (16.62 million)
10:02pm Women's Murder Club [season 1 finale] (8.46 million)

CBS:
8:00pm NCIS (14.7 million)
9:00pm Shark (10.2 million)
10:00pm Criminal Minds (R) (8.28 million)

NBC:
8:00pm Most Outrageous Moments (3.97 million)
8:30pm Most Outrageous Moments (R) (4.1 million)
9:00pm Law & Order: SVU (R) (6.13 million)
10:00pm Law & Order: SVU [season 9 finale] (11.32 million)

Fox:
8:00pm American Idol (23.97 million)
9:02pm Hell's Kitchen (12.4 million)

The CW:
8:00pm Beauty and the Geek [season 5 finale] (1.53 million)
9:00pm Reaper (2 million)

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CBS' Fall 2008 Schedule

Having gotten rid of 'Shark' and 'Moonlight' (there is a rumor The CW may resurrect the latter on the just-outsourced Sunday nights), CBS has unveiled its new fall 2008 schedule today, opening up a new comedy block on Wednesday.

New Shows: "Worst Week," "The Mentalist," "Project Gary," "11th Hour" and "The Ex-List."

Midseason: "Harper's Island"

Canceled: "Cane," "Jericho," "Kid Nation," "Moonlight," "Shark," "Viva Laughlin" and "Welcome to the Captain."


NEW SHOWS:


WORST WEEK - a comedy about Sam Briggs (Kyle Bornheimer, "Jericho"), an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend's parents ... but instead becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he's around them. Airs Mondays at 9:30pm.

THE MENTALIST - Simon Baker ("The Devil Wears Prada") stars as Patrick Jane, a detective and independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation, otorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. Airs Tuesdays at 9:00pm.

PROJECT GARY - stars Jay Mohr ("Ghost Whisperer") and Paula Marshall as a couple who face post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage as they each embark on new relationships. He's the fun parent and she's the strict one. Together, they share custody of their two children. Airs Wednesdays at 8:30pm.

THE 11th HOUR - from CSI creator Jerry Bruckheimer, the drama follows Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell, "The Illusionist"), a brilliant biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. Airs in the lucrative post-CSI timeslot, Thursdays at 10:00pm.

THE EX-LIST - a female-friendly dramedy about Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser, "Grey's Anatomy") - a single, 30-something, successful business owner who is surprised to learn from a psychic that she's already dated her future husband andif she doesn't find him in the next year, she'll remain alone forever. Fridays at 9:00pm.

HARPER'S ISLAND - is a midseason murder mystery that unfolds as friends and family attend week-long festivities at a destination wedding on a secluded and picturesque island off the coast of Seattle, infamous for a homicidal maniac's rampage seven years ago.


NEW CBS FALL 2008 SCHEDULE:


MONDAYS:
8:00pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30pm How I Met Your Mother
9:00pm Two and a Half Men
9:30pm Worst Week (NEW)
10:00pm CSI: Miami

TUESDAYS:
8:00pm NCIS
9:00pm The Mentalist (NEW)
10:00pm Without a Trace

WEDNESDAYS:
8:00pm The New Adventures of Old Christine
8:30pm Project Gary (NEW)
9:00pm Criminal Minds
10:00pm CSI: NY

THURSDAYS:
8:00pm Survivor
9:00pm CSI
10:00pm The 11th Hour

FRIDAYS:
8:00pm The Ghost Whisperer
9:00pm The Ex-List (NEW)
10:00pm Numb3rs

SATURDAYS:
Repeats
10:00pm 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAYS:
7:00pm 60 Minutes
8:00pm The Amazing Race
9:00pm Cold Case
10:00pm The Unit


The network had done comedy on Wednesdays in the past, but was forced to replace it with dramas and reality once good sitcom ideas ran dry. Although single-camera comedy is all the rage on other networks (especially NBC), CBS is still successful with the old-fashioned multi-camera format. This may change when 'Worst Week' premieres on Mondays at 9:30pm in the plum post "Two and a Half Men" spot.

Elizabeth Reaser's Friday night dramedy which replaces 'Moonlight' will have to do what the vampire drama was not able to: keep the 18-49 crowd glued to CBS. Although "Ghost Whisperer" and "Numb3rs" are doing relatively well in the demos, the 9:00pm timeslot has been weaker.

Meanwhile, the Eye network has had trouble launching shows in the Tuesday at 10:00pm timeslot for years, so perhaps bringing the proven hit 'Without a Trace' into the Tuesday night line-up will do the trick. Unless of course the 9:00pm timeslot becomes problematic for a change. Won't Dr.House and 'Dancing with the Stars' crush 'The Mentalist'? On the other hand, we still have to see what FOX's plans for the night are.

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VIDEO: Bill O'Reilly Flips Out - Dance Remix (!)

Oh, dear. I'm actually going to do this. Soil my lovely blog with that butt-ugly face. But, this is even funnier that the original. I swear to Sarah Jessica Parker, that Faux News clown could have a hit in the charts with this one. Play us out, Billo!

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CW Stars @ Upfronts

"You wanna live in the Zip, you gotta live by the code." That is the tagline of the new CW 90210 spin-off which got plenty of buzz at last night's CW upfronts event in New York as the familiar tune played in the background.


Maroon 5 crooner Adam Levine sang: "Something's gotta change/It must be rearranged," and it couldn't be more true for the struggling CW network which suffered a serious ratings slump this season following a disappointing launch last year.



Former Lifetime and UPN boss Dawn Ostroff who has ruled the CW for almost 2 years has inexplicably managed to hold on to her position of the President despite making a number of crass scheduling decisions including the cancellation of the beloved 'Everwood' and the resurrection of the god-awful '7th Heaven' that kicked off her tenure at the weblet.



The CW has promised a sharper focus on its target female demos (aged 18-34) in the upcoming TV season and an earlier launch (September 1) ahead of its competition. Maroon 5 will provide music for CW's new marketing campaign.



Tyra Banks, the cast of Gossip Girl, 90210's Jennie Garth and Maroon 5 were just some of the stars that came out to celebrate CW's new season last night. Scroll down for more pics taken at the event.

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VIDEO: "Lost" Star Evi Lilly Says She's Cheap

Freckled "LOST" beauty Evangeline Lilly appeared on last night's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" revealing TMI about her being cheap and the crazy tricks she can do with her ear. Plus, Leno addresses the hilarious insanity of having a 3-part 2-night season finale.





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The CW's Fall 2008 Schedule

The CW has unveiled its new fall 2008 schedule to advertisers in New York including a completely revamped Tuesday night, changes on Wednesdays and Fridays, and sold out Sunday nights.

New shows: "90210," "Surviving the Filthy Rich" and "Stylista."

Returning at midseason: "Reaper."

Canceled: "Life is Wild," "Aliens in America," "Girlfriends," "Beauty and the Geek," "Girlicious," "CW Now," "Online Nation."


NEW SHOWS:


90210 - Jennie Garth will guest star as guidance counselor Kelly Taylor on the contemporary spin-off of the iconic drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," centered around the Mills family. This time around, the dad becomes the West Beverly High principal, the son is adopted and African-American, the family has an alcoholic grandma who is a fading actress, the school reporter does a daily newscast, and a popular girl is a YouTube star.

SURVIVING THE FILTHY RICH - Leading out of "90210" this new drama will follow a 23-year old Megan (JoAnna Garcia, "Reba") who becomes the live-in tutor for cosmetics mogul Laurel Limoges twin teen granddaughters in the ritzy Palm Beach. Hunky Michael Cassidy ("Smallville") stars as Megan's best friend Charlie who is secretly in love with her. The producers are now casting an "extremely hot young dilettante" who lives next door.

STYLISTA - A reality show from the producers of "America's Next Top Model" and "Project Runway" along the lines of the movie "The Devil Wears Prada," where 11 aspiring fashion enthusiasts vie for an editorial job with Elle magazine.


THE CW FALL 2008 SCHEDULE:
(Launches Monday, September 1)


MONDAYS:
8:00pm Gossip Girl
9:00pm One Tree Hill

TUESDAYS:
8:00pm 90210 (NEW)
9:00pm Surviving the Filthy Rich (NEW)

WEDNESDAYS:
8:00pm America's Next Top Model
9:00pm Stylista (NEW)

THURSDAYS:
8:00pm Smallville
9:00pm Supernatural

FRIDAYS:
8:00pm Everybody Hates Chris
8:30pm The Game
9:00pm America's Next Top Model (Encore)


Comments:

Although it may seem a little strange to air two brand new shows back to back, the power of the 90210 brand is strong enough to anchor Tuesday nights. The success of the night will obviously depend on the execution of the spin-off. The buzz and the eyeballs will be there. At least in the beginning.

Both "Gossip Girl" and "One Tree Hill" were actually doing a little better in their respective timeslots on Wednesday and Tuesday night, but the network needed to save them from FOX's juggernaut "American Idol." Although they have been averaging only 2.5 million viewers, the shows are building momentum among target female demos.

The move however almost killed The CW's comedy line-up, for which reason the network is giving up on programming Sunday nights in-house, and the last 2 surviving sitcoms are headed to Friday nights in place of the departing wrestling show. Although they will never match the high ratings of wrestling, perhaps The CW can gradually rebuild its comedy block there.

The network's main target group is young women, hence the Monday-Wednesday line-up. In fact, even the special effects-heavy Thursday night shows "Smallville" and "Supernatural" which do have a certain young male fan base, are already being marketed for their gorgeous men, not necessarily the content.

But as veteran "Smallville" enters its 8th year sans a number of key regulars, the CW better find that next big hit pronto or they may be in even bigger trouble next year.

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ABC Fall 2008 Schedule Update

"Boston Legal" will have a shorter final season of 13 episodes; reality programs "Dance War" and "Here Come the Newlyweds" may return after all; "Scrubs" and "According to Jim" will also have shorter seasons of 18 episodes each.

ABC has yet to film its 17 pilots some of which may be developed into midseason series and used to replace underperforming fall shows.

That means shows like "Pushing Daisies" (pictured above) and "Dirty Sexy Money" which did show some sign of weakness before they went off air in December 2007 better step up their game when they return, or they'll be gone by Christmas.

Check out the full ABC Fall 2008 schedule in my previous post.

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Will Michelle Trachtenberg's Georgina Stay on "Gossip Girl"?

"Gossip Girl's" naughty little minx Michelle Trachtenberg and her cover-friendly co-stars Ed Westwick, Jessica Szohr and Connor Paolo were all snapped at the Lucky Club event at The Ritz Carlton Central Park South in New York City earlier today.


TV Guide which tends to compare "Gossip Girl" to FOX's 1990s campfest "Melrose Place" (well both shows aired on Mondays at 8 and cast Kelly Rutherford as series regular, didn't they?) already compares Buffy alumna's arrival to Heather Locklear making waves in the Melrose Place pool.


But does Trachtenberg's Georgina (whose name co-star Leighton Meester pronounces in a way that rhymes with vagina) have the staying power? She most certainly is deliciously evil - she's a bitch, and she knows it.



As for next week's big cliffhanger, Trachtenberg's reveals: "There are a bunch of punched-in-the-face moments where you'll be like, 'Oh, god!' Not everyone's storylines will be tied up with a nice little colorful ribbon. They’ll absolutely make you want to tune in next season."

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New 90210 Spin-Off Cast Photo

The CW has released the first cast photo for its fall 2008 "Beverly Hills, 90210" redux including new cast members Tristan Wilds, Jessica Stroup and Michael Steger.

For more on the cast members whose casting had been in the news in recent weeks, check an earlier 90210 post.

Original cast member Jennie Garth who has just signed the contract to appear on the spin-off is of course not included.

The CW will officially announce its schedule later today, but rumor has it the show will anchor CW Tuesdays at 8/7c.

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NBC Stars Come Out @ Upfronts

Last night stars of NBC shows "Heroes" (Milo Ventimiglia), "Lipstick Jungle" (Brooke Shields), "Friday Night Lights" (Minka Kelly), "Law & Order: SVU" (Mariska Hargitay) and others took part in NBC's Upfronts event the Peacock called The NBC Universal Experience.

Since NBC had already released their year-round schedule in early April, the network honchos instead focused on reminding advertisers of the size and power of NBC Universal. The only information released yesterday was concerning Jimmy Fallon taking over Conan O'Brian's timeslot in 2009 and details on Ryan Seacrest's reality show.

Among the stars attending the event was the cast of Candace Bushnell's dramedy "Lipstick Jungle" (is Kim Raver wearing a wig?) which is moving to Wednesday nights next season and Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, who will try to bring to life a US version of the hit Australian comedy "Kath & Kim."

For more details on NBC's fall 2008 schedule see my earlier post.

You May Also Like:
"Knight Rider" Ordered to Series
"Lipstick Jungle" to Return

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TV Ratings: Monday (May 12, 2008)

ABC's "Samantha Who?" and "The Bachelor" ended their respective seasons last night, Britney Spears hit Barney's sheets again on "How I Met Your Mother," and a new season of "American Gladiators" premiered on NBC. How well did all they do? Monday's ratings, a click away.

Ouch! That's gotta hurt. The 2nd season of NBC's "American Gladiators" redux opened on a very disappointing note pulling in fewer than 5 million viewers. The trip down memory lane has obviously worn off. Now, if only NBC learned to come up with original ideas. Perhaps they would last longer.

The reappearance of Britney Spears on "How I Met Your Mother" could not lift the show to the same level as her original appearance in March (10.5 million), but the comedy did break the 9 million mark and help score almost 15% more pairs of eyeballs than its lead-in "The Big Bang Theory."

ABC:
8:00pm Dancing With the Stars (18.27 million)
9:32pm Samantha Who? [season 1 finale] (11.02 million)
10:02pm The Bachelor: London Calling [season finale] (9.19 million)

CBS:
8:00pm The Big Bang Theory (7.88 million)
8:30pm How I Met Your Mother (9.02 million)
9:00pm Two and a Half Men (13.70 million)
9:30pm Rules of Engagement (10.72 million)
10:00pm CSI: Miami (13.66 million)

NBC:
8:00pm American Gladiators [season 2 premiere] (4.92 million)
10:00pm Medium [season 4 finale] (8.57 million)

Fox:
8:00pm Bones (9.42 million)
9:00pm House (14.84 million)

The CW:
8:00pm Gossip Girl (2.64 million)
9:00pm One Tree Hill (2.65 million)

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"How I Met Your Mother" Renewed for Season 4

Well it was about damn time! Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that "How I Met Your Mother" has been renewed for a fourth season and CBS is expected to make an official announcement when it presents its fall schedule at the Upfronts on Wednesday.