Debra Messing Returns to TV

Some of the critics may not necessarily be crazy about Debra Messing's new USA Network series "The Starter Wife," but I am crazy about the idea that "Will & Grace" vet is coming back to Thursdays with this 6-part mini-series.



The actress does not otherwise seem to have had the best week ever; Messing was photographed getting coffee and talking on her cell in SoHo with a broken thumb. Let's hope she is luckier generating some good ratings for the cable network.

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ABC To Air "Kyle XY"

If you would like to see Matt Dallas do his belly button thing once again and you will not have access to basic cable's ABC Family fear not as parent network ABC comes to the rescue. Or is "Kyle XY" coming to rescue the Alphabet net's Friday nights?

The second season of the hit series begins on Monday, June 11. The season premiere will then get an encore presentation on Friday, June 15.

ABC will air at least 4 out of 23 episodes of the second season, that is it will keep "Kyle XY" on Fridays at least through July 6.

This season Kyle is back with the Traggers family who may know be in harm's way and Jaimie Alexander joins the show as the girl in the pod whose identity is unveiled.

The drama's "repurposed" episodes on ABC Fridays scored higher ratings than ABC Family originals last summer (4.2 vs 2 million viewers).

The drama's principal star Matt Dallas won the Saturn Award for Rising Star (pictured above after the ceremony).

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Nicolette Sheridan To Return To "Desperate Housewives"

I am not sure if the old lady in these images fell to the ground because she spotted "Desperate Housewives" star Nicolette Sheridan in the street or not, but if she is a fan she might as well stand up and jump around as Wisteria Lane's blond bombshell is coming back.

The ex-star of CBS classic soap "Knots Landing," Sheridan helped the old lady to her feet and comforted her with a hug. As TV Guide reports, the actress will be back on the set of the Golden Globe winning dramedy when the cast begins filming the fourth season on July 9th.

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David Hyde Pierce Is Gay

Congratulations to actor David Hyde Pierce who, intentionally or not, came out of the closet, in a scroll-too-fast-and-you'll-miss-it section of an article published on CNN.com.

Although people in the thespian community and entertainment business have known that Pierce is gay for years, general public was kept in the dark because of his policy: "I don’t talk about my personal life."

The CNN.com article makes reference to Pierce’s partner Brian Hargrove, an actor-writer-producer he relocated to Los Angeles with when Hargrove wanted to write for TV.

A recent article in OUT Magazine about the so-called "glass closet" (gay artists neither confirming not denying their sexuality in the media) did name Pierce as one of gay celebrities who chose such approach.

That means the Tony-nominated actor who will always be remembered for his triple Emmy Award-winning role as Niles on NBC's hit comedy "Frasier" may have been pushed out of the closet as were Lance Bass, T.R. Knight and Neil Patrick Harris last year.

Pierce's rep confirmed to AfterElton.com the CNN.com article was accurate.

After "Cheers'" immensely successful spin-off "Frasier" ended in 2004, Pierce joined Tim Curry on stage in "Spamalot." He is currently appearing in the Broadway production of "Curtains."

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O.C. Alums Emerge on The CW's "Hidden Palms"

The CW must have had little confidence in this teen drama that TV Guide described as Alfred Hitchcock meets "The O.C." (!), when they decided to leave it for early off season.

In any event, the critics are not exactly brimming with praise. TV Guide goes on to state: "Overwritten and underacted (by the kids anyway), it strings out its weekly climactic shockers — some of them truly unnerving — with artery-hardening blobs of moldy adolescent whining."

USA Today is equally disapproving: "It has never aired before, but you have seen it before. Repetition may not matter much to the show's target teenage audience, a group that is born anew every 10 years or so. But adults can be forgiven for thinking someone slipped in a DVD of an old WB flop while their backs were turned."

You may remember the show star Taylor Handley as the actor who played Oliver, the most hated character on the aforementioned "The O.C." way back in season 1.

Michael Cassidy also starred in the Newport-set drama as Summer's boyfriend Zach in season 2. The youngsters are joined by TV vets Gail O'Grady and Sharon Lawrence.

Handley plays Johnny Hardy, a well-adjusted teenager with good grades and a roomful of sports trophies until the terrible night when his father committs suicide and shatters Johnny's world.

Fresh out of rehab for alcohol abuse, Johnny relocates to Palm Springs with his mother Karen (O'Grady)) and new stepfather Bob (D.W. Moffett).

The neighborhood teens include the beautiful and mysterious Greta (Amber Heard,), the awkward but brilliant Liza (Ellery Porterfield,)) and the secretive Cliff (Cassidy,) who reveals that Greta's last boyfriend, Eddie, recently died.

Sharon Lawrence stars as Cliff's plastic-surgery obsessed mother, Tess.

The pilot airs tonight at 8/7c on the CW.

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VIDEO: Sex's Back on FOX's "Dance"

FOX's hot summer dance contest "So You Think You Can Dance?" returned last week with a special 90-minute preview giving one of the wannabe dancers a medical scare. The highlight of the evening however was the return of Sex.

"Dance's" very own mini-Simon, judge Nigel Lithgoe, is rude and obnoxious, so when a delusional wannabe dancer comes along, it makes for some truly great television. You don't know what you missed, if you haven't met Sex.

Tonight, "So You Think You Can Dance" moves to its regular timeslot Wednesdays 8-10 p.m. on FOX. The third hour will air Thursdays at 9 p.m.

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Teletubbies Update

Perhaps there is common sense after all. USA Today reports that Polish official who said she would order an investigation into whether toddler TV show "Teletubbies" promotes homosexuality has backed away from her ridiculous comments.

On Tuesday, spokeswoman Wieslawa Lipinska told The Associated Press that Ewa Sowinska "hasn't asked and won't ask" psychologists to investigate whether Teletubbies promote homosexuality.

"They are fictional characters, they have nothing to do with reality, and the bag and scissors and other props the fictional characters use are there to create a fictional world that speaks to children," Lipinska said.

"We are not going to deal with this issue any more."

Sowinska is a member of the League of Polish Families party, which is militantly anti-gay rights and anti-abortion.

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Michael to Return to "LOST"?

E! Online has learned the producers of ABC's "LOST" have offered actor Harold Perrineau an opportunity to return to the complex mythology series in its fourth season.

After CBS decided not to pick up the actor's new pilot, it appears Perrineau will reprise his role as the double murderer Michael - as a series regular.

Malcolm David Kelley, who plays his son Walt Lloyd already appeared in the third season finale last week, although he has visibly aged.

Season 1 regulars, both actors appeared only in a limited number of episodes in the drama's second and third season.

Will Kelley also return to the show as a series regular? If so, it appears his current age would be ideal for flash-forward scenes set in 2007.

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NBC Axes Super-Sizing

McDonald's has done it, now it's NBC's turn. Super-sizing is officially dead as the network promises to end its practice of extending Thursday night comedies.

The gimmick began in the 2000-2001 season when then-president (now NBC Universal prexy) Jeff Zucker came up with a "brilliant" idea how to battle "Survivor" on CBS.

Episodes of "Friends" and "Will & Grace" and more recently "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" were extended with 5-10 minutes of extra footage and a commercial break.

Giving top comedies odd starting and running times may have worked several years ago, but in today's DVR age it has become obsolete and frankly, more than annoying.

In addition to DVR recording, the practice caused problems for measuring accurate TV ratings.

The only extraordinary scheduling move for NBC's Comedy Night next season will be airing 5 hour-long episodes of "The Office."

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What's Next for "Desperate Housewives"?

As you take a look at these hot weekend images of actress Marcia Cross taking a little shopping trip here's also what we know about the next season of ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

The season-ender that aired last week made it pretty much clear that we will explore Lynette's cancer storyline as Polly Bergen joins the series in a recurring role as her mother Stella.

Doug Savant who plays Lynette's husband Tom appeared on "The View" last week as said he wouldn't be surprised if Rick Coletti, Lynette's restaurant flame returned to cause more trouble.



No one knows if Nicolette Sheridan's beloved Edie will survive her shocking suicide attempt, but if the producers do decide to kill her off (I personally can't imagine that) we may be finally seeing her sister.

If so, the casting move would resemble the season 1 introduction of Martha Huber's sister Felicia Tillman. Just like Edie's son Travers, the producers have been promising this character for a while.

Bree will obviously continue to pretend she is pregnant with presumably hilarious consequences. Her son Andrew should get more screen time, and I do hope that means he goes back to dating and causing trouble.



Mike Delfino's brother Teri will be a recurring character in the first half of the 4th season and may stay even longer if the viewers like him. Apparently the producers are looking for a "hot and buff" actor to play the part.

Finally, Eva Longoria's Gabrielle will get to deal with being married to Fairviews's ambitious and conniving mayor Victor Lang, but as the actress also revealed on "The View," she and Carlos will be getting back together.

Will the writers change that original plan now that Longoria spilled the beans? The scripts for the 4th season premiere is in the works and shooting begins on Monday, July 9 just 2 days after Eva Longoria's wedding in Paris, France.

If you missed Doug Savant's appearance on "The View," here's the clip.

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Cox, Aniston "Friends" Forever

These fresh candid images of former "Friends" castmates Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston were taken yesterday as the actresses left a Memorial Day party in Malibu. The ladies who locked lips in the most over-hyped lesbian plot on television this year...

...may get down to business once again as earlier this year FX greenlit a second season for the paparazzi mag drama "Dirt" that has left many among the television critics with a bad taste in their mouth. The next 13-episode batch is expected to premiere in January 2008.

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Stop Calling the Boy, Eva Longoria

San Antonio Spurs fan and "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria was at the NBA Western conference finals in Salt Lake City this past week witnessing her fiance Tony Parker's team win Game 4 of the Western Conference finals beating the Utah Jazz last night.


A boy in the audience supporting the Utah Jazz team held a sign teasing Spurs guard Parker of France, about Longoria. When the actress was shown on the overhead monitor during the second quarter, the audience booed.



Surely the folks in Salt Lake City simply expressed contempt for the opposing team and it had nothing to do with the show. I mean how can you not adore the bed-hopping, scandal-mongering and muffin-baking ladies of Wisteria Lane?

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Homophobes Attack Teletubbies Again

There they go again. Poor Tinky Winky. All he wanted was to enjoy his gorgeous red bag. And now Jerry Falwell is laughing at him again. From hell.

Poland's government, well-known for their outright homophobic sentiment, will be looking into the mega-popular British television program "Teletubbies" via a children's watchdog group as they believe the BBC show is promoting homosexuality.

Ewa Sowinska spoke on behalf of the organization on Monday: "I noticed (Tinky Winky) has a lady's purse, but I didn't realize he's a boy. At first I thought the purse would be a burden for this Teletubby ... Later I learned that this may have a homosexual undertone."

Poland's right-wing government has repeatedly upset human rights organizations as well as the European Union with their blatant discrimination against gay people recently calling for dismissal of gay teachers.

Sowinska is of course 8 years late, as Teletubbies had already been attacked in 1999 by the American fundamentalist televangelist Jerry Falwell who recently passed away.

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VIDEO: Katherine Heigl's Worst Nightmare

What is Katherine Heigl's worst nightmare? "Grey's Anatomy" star reveals as she speaks about her new comedy "Knocked Up" which opens nationwide this Friday, June 1. The actress who graces the cover of the June edition of Allure Magazine explains why the movie is a great comedy. Also bonus red carpet footage from the premiere - check it all out after the jump.

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Hannigan's New Summer Look

The woman previously known as "Buffy's" Willow and flautist on "American Pie," Alyson Hannigan who now stars on "How I Met Your Mother" has a reason to celebrate as the cast of the hit comedy dodged the CBS bullet.

The actress was snapped on the weekend in Malibu taking a stroll with hubby actor Alexis Denisof and sporting a hot new hairstyle. "How I Met Your Mother" returns to CBS this fall, as always on Mondays at 8/7c.

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VIDEO: Grey's "Nazi" Sounds Off on Spin Off

Ever since ABC announced the Kate Walsh spin-off, tabloids have speculated about the other members of the "Grey's Anatomy" cast, namely Katherine Heigl, fuming over the decision. Now SAG Award winner Chandra Wilson who plays the loud Dr. Miranda Bailey on the hit series says Addison was the right choice. TV Guide video after the jump.

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Why TV Shows Took Ratings Dive

The just-concluded 2006-2007 season will be remembered among other things by the Black Spring that saw all but 13 shows take a dive in the Nielsens - "Desperate Housewives," "LOST," even the freshman drama "Heroes" - you name it. What gives?

According to the networks delayed viewing on DVRs and the early onset of Daylight Saving Time are the top reasons for noticeable ratings losses, although creative difficulties ("24") may have played a role in the declines as well.

The greatest battle of course occurred on Thursday nights where there were casualties everywhere as a relocated "Grey's Anatomy" eroded 9% in the crucial demos and its arch rival "CSI" on CBS went down 21%.

The #1 show on television "American Idol" was also affected as its bloated season finale which angered a number of DVR users plunged 19% as opposed to last year's climax. The show's Tuesday night outing bled from 36 million viewers in January to 23 million in May.

Despite all media coverage about the decline of "LOST" the drama remains very competitive in the 18-49 demo - its ratings among those viewers that advertisers actually care about declined only 3% year-to-year.

One of the most affected shows was ABC's "Desperate Housewives" which sank 26%. NBC's Heroes" on the other hand posted some disappointing results in the final 5 weeks, but remained the season's top freshman drama.

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What's Ahead in Season 4 of "LOST"?

The producers of ABC's "LOST" did their best to avoid answering the question if the big game-changing episode that aired last week meant they were going to tell the story from 2007 and flash back to the island or remain on the island and replace flashbacks with flash-forwards. Turns out they may have a completely different plan. Plus, Michael Emerson (Ben) gives the latest scoop.

According to the website "Ain't It Cool News" which has reported on LOST's twists and shocks for quite a while, "LOST" will employ as of season 4 both flashbacks and flash-forwards. I wonder if that means we will be playing the guessing game, or if it will be clear from the very first scene if we're watching a flash-forward or not.

According to the brilliant Michael Emerson (NY Mag just published an interview with him) that may be true as "not only are we going to live in the present and the past, but also the future."

The script for the fourth season premiere hasn't been written yet, and the actor is already speculating about the future.

He claims he was also genuinely surprised by the episode ending because only Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly (and a bunch of other people) participated in filming the twist,

Emerson thinks that: "Kate and Jack got off the island somehow, but other castaways didn’t, and they’re sick about it."

"Naomi is a messenger from the dark side. I think we can take Ben at his word. Whoever is on the boat that they just called mean them no good. As soon as we’re in season four, I think we’re gonna discover that everyone is in deep trouble," concludes the actor.

Emerson also believes his character is not as bad as he seems; in fact he may be on an Earth-saving mission and will share a different kind of agenda with us.

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"Desperate Houseboy" Goes Indy

Former "Desperate Housewives" gardener Jesse Metcalfe made a scheduled appearance at the Indy 500 race on Sunday. The "Passions" alum got a little out of control just two months ago when he upset a lot of people in Hollywood's Sky Bar (and not only there)...


...with his obnoxious behavior. Following a month in rehab and suspicions of infidelity, the actor was dumped by his fiance Nadine Coyle, a singer from the British gal band "Girls Aloud," and returned to his partying ways.

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Josh Holloway's New Davidoff Campaign

You will sure need some "cool water" to see these images. "LOST" island hunk Josh Holloway whose character Sawyer may get to marry Kate (Evangeline Lilly) or ends up in a coffin in 2007 is going back to his modeling ways in this new campaign for Davidoff.

According to Coty, the campaign will not run in the United States. The actor traveled to the UK and Germany last week to promote the fragrance.

The company says the product symbolizes the energy, sensuality and the cool attitude that characterize Josh Holloway.

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Adam Brody Goes Wild at "Life Ball"

Life Ball, a freakishly fantabulous star-studded charity event reaching out to younger sufferers of AIDS took place for the 15th time this weekend in Vienna, Austria drawing international celebs like Mya, Christian Karembeu and Sharon Stone. And look who got down down to business at the Volksgarten Club. Adam? Is that your face in those girl's breasts?

Trevor Rains and Richie Rich - the New York designer duo known as Heatherette - designed the costumes for this year's extravagant fashion show and Brody, porn star Jenna Jameson and former N'Sync star Lance Bass were among the celebrities modelling the flamboyant outfits. Things sure seem to have gotten a bit on the steamy side at the after-party.

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