Televisionista

PTC Attacks "Good Christian Bitches"

2011-03-10T02:03:00.008-05:00

As part of their ongoing fund-raising efforts, the Parents Television Council has moved on from MTV's "Skins" to a fresh target and this time around it's an ABC pilot which hasn't even been filmed let alone picked up to series or scheduled to air.

The pilot, which the Disney-owned ABC TV network may pick up to series later this spring, is based upon a deliciously campy novel by author and Dallas native Kim Gatlin about a gang of evil backstabbing self-righteous socialite women.

The show is described as a nightime soap dramedy - the genre ABC has had great success with in recent years - and comes from the "Melrose Place" and "Sex and the City" creator and producer Darren Star.

The project landed at ABC after a bidding war and the pilot script was written by Robert Harling whose previous credits include "Steel Magnolias" and "First Wives Club."

Star's last cooperation with ABC, the Lucy Liu fronted dramedy "Cashmere Mafia" failed to gain a significant following in the winter of 2008 (during the writer's strike) and was canceled after only 7 episodes.

Leslie Bibb (pictured at the top of the post), Annie Potts, Jennifer Aspen and Miriam Shor have so far been cast in the pilot.

Whether or not the pilot makes it to series and gets an airdate on ABC next TV season, the PTC has certainly helped raise the awareness of the project in a see of pilots being developed this spring by the five free-to-air broadcast networks in the US.

"Desperate Housewives" Spring 2009 Spoilers

2009-03-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Next Sunday "Desperate Housewives" will be back with at least 4 consecutive March sweeps episodes, followed by 5 more (including a 2-hour finale) in late April and May. So what's in store for TV's hottest housewives this spring?

SUSAN (Teri Hatcher)

Susan will try to impress Jessie (played by guest star Swoosie Kurtz) who is supposed to evaluate her job performance. Jessie, who is a lesbian, will think Susan is interested in her. In the same episode (March 15), Susan kisses Gabrielle. Later, Susan is disturbed by a violent picture drawn by a kid at her school. Look for Richard Burgi to return as Susan's ex-husband Karl.

LYNETTE (Felicity Huffman)

Lynette and Tom will be forced to sell their restaurant and look for new jobs. Bree will try to help Tom get a job, but Lynette may want the job for herself. Later, she will feel threatened by her new boss.

BREE (Marcia Cross)

Bree discovers Orson secret - he is a kleptomaniac. Embarrassed, she goes to great lengths to protect her own reputation. Orson will ask Bree to sell her catering business. Later, there will be more trouble for Orson as he continues to steal and gets caught.

GABY (Eva Longoria)

As Carlos' boss continues his affair, Gaby will visit his mistress and try to get her to end the relationship. Later, Carlos gets a promotion and joins his ex-roommate from college Lucy, making Gaby jealous.

EDIE (Nicolette Sheridan)

A priest recognizes Edie's husband as Dave Dash, making her even more suspicious. She continues to dig into his past. By the March 22 episode, Edie may learn everything she needs to know about Dave, but it will be too late. Edie's worst fears will come to life. In late April, the housewives will visit Travers, Edie's son to tell him what happened to his mommy.

ABC's "Life on Mars" Canceled

2009-03-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Following the November slaughter of its sophomore dramas "Pushing Daisies," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone," the Alphabet net has pulled the plug on its freshman series "Life on Mars," too. The final, 17th episode will air April 1.

The US version of the same-titled UK time-traveling cop drama launched last fall in the troubled post-Grey's Anatomy slot on Thursday nights at 10pm, premiering to a decent audience of 11.33 million viewers with a solid 3.7 rating among adults 18-49.

Following the initial sampling, the show lost 3 million viewers, but remained stable at 8 million viewers (and a 2.6 demo rating).

Then the network decided to cancel the above-mentioned dramas and try to save Shonda Rhimes' medical series "Private Practice," by moving it next to its parent series "Grey's Anatomy."

For this reason, "Life on Mars" was moved to Wednesday nights at 10pm, replacing "Dirty Sexy Money" and leading out of a new season of "Lost."

But the network decided to wait for the return of "Lost," thus putting "Life on Mars" on a 2-month hiatus. When the show returned in late January 2009, it immediately lost an additional 2 million viewers.

A recent episode of the show bottomed out at 4.63 million viewers, pulling in a very weak 1.6 rating among adults 18-49.

That means "Life on Mars" did worse leading out of "Lost" than "Dirty Sexy Money" did leading out of "Private Practice" last fall.

For this reason, the show will end on April 1. A week later, ABC will premiere in its place new midseason drama "The Unusuals" about a female NYPD homicide division detective played by Amber Tamblyn ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants").

The producers of "Life on Mars" were allegedly given sufficient time to give its show a proper series finale.

Jesse Metcalfe @ Watchman Premiere

2009-03-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

Former "Desperate Housewives" hunk Jesse Metcalfe (and his eyebrows), who appeared in every season of the ABC dramedy, apart from the current one, made an appearance at the premiere of "Watchman" in Hollywood on Sunday night.

After his Wisteria Lane gardener character was reduced to a recurring status, the actor appears to have found work in straight to DVD horror genre.

Last November Metcalfe was in the entertainment news again after being hospitalized following a nasty tumble 40 feet from a balcony at an afterparty for the World Music Awards in Monaco.

Spoilers: Who WIll Die on Tonight's "Brothers & Sisters"

2009-03-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Something awful will happen on tonight's special 2-hour episode of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters". Which member of the Walker clan will die as the March sweeps begin on the ABC Sunday night drama?

Executive producers Alison Schapker & Monica Owusu-Breen said to Futon Critic, the episode which opens with Sally Field marching dramatically through a hospital corridor, the show will explore a health crisis for one of the characters and all ramifications that will have when they suddenly face their vulnerability.

Although Balthazar Getty is known to be taking time away from the show (supposedly unrelated to his turbulent personal life), the producers insist he will be back to resume his place in the family.

According to a press release, in tonight's episode Walker family experiences the thrill of a new life born and the desperation and terror of loss when one of their own has a life-threatening crisis.

Meanwhile, Rebecca turns to her father (guest starring Ken Olin) for help when she discovers some information that could destroy the family business and send one of the Walkers to prison.

The episode will be repeated next Saturday at 9/8c on ABC.

"Desperate Housewives" Spoilers #5.16 "Crime Doesn't Pay"

2009-03-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

When "Desperate Housewives" return from a small hiatus next Sunday, Bree will discover Orson's shocking secret. What is it? Find out after the jump.

In a gesture of friendship, Bree tells Lynette she'll help Tom secure a new job, but the best intentions will reach a tempestuous end and reveal Orson's shameful misdeeds. In other words, Lynette may be interested in Tom's job herself and Orson may be revealed as kleptomaniac.

Gaby finds herself in a precarious position when Carlos' adulterous boss begins using her to cover for himself as he continues to cheat on his wife.

Finally, Edie digs into Dave's past after a chance encounter with an old acquaintance. Since Nicolette Sheridan's departure from Wisteria Lane has been confirmed, it appears Edie's curiosity may end up costing her too much.Then again, after two false alarms (Edie's supposed suicide in 2007 and her being ousted from Fairview in 2008) who can take any news of Edie's demise seriously?

A character who has previously appeared on the show is however rumored to die in this episode. It all starts March 8 at 9/8c on ABC.

"Gossip Girl" Spinoff Airs May 11

2009-03-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

Former "American Dreams" star Brittany Snow has been confirmed as the young Lily in the upcoming "Gossip Girl" spinoff which premieres May 11 on the CW with a backdoor pilot, i.e. a regular episode of the "Gossip Girl" series.

The network, which is also developing a "Melrose Place" redux for next season, has just renewed teen hits "Gossip Girl" and "90210," as well as Thursday night dramas "Smallville" and "Supernatural."

It is not clear whether the "Gossip Girl" spin-off would be paired off with the parent series on Monday night or air on a separate night. The network will announce its fall plans in May.

Krysten Ritter (as Lily's older sis) and Jericho's Shilo Fernandez (as brooding valley punk) have already been cast in the spin-off which will be a period drama set in the 1980s.

Katie Cassidy Joins "Melrose Place 2.0"

2009-03-01T04:00:00.000-05:00

Former "Supernatural" star Katie Cassidy (and daughter of David Cassidy) has joined the upcoming CW redux of FOX's crazy 90s bed-hopping drama "Melrose Place."

According to Variety, Cassidy will fill the role of Ella, a stylish up-and-coming publicist.

The producers are pursuing stars of the original show, namely Heather Locklear, in an attempt to match the success (by modest CW standards) of their "90210" series.

"Desperate" Stars Support Charity

2009-03-01T03:30:00.000-05:00

"Desperate Housewives" Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria made public appearances on Saturday, supporting charities of their choice - Keep Memory Alive Foundation (Hatcher) and PADRES Contra El Cancer (Longoria).

Eva accepted a $200,000 check from AT&T on behalf of her charity organization. The donation to PADRES will support families coping with the devastating effects of childhood cancer.

Hatcher and Longoria recently filmed their much-touted upcoming on-screen kiss, a ploy designed to help the 5-year old soap keep its recently weakened ratings strong. The kiss will air during the sweeps.

Leighton Meester In Style Shoot

2009-03-01T03:00:00.001-05:00

"Gossip Girl" resident vixen Leighton Meester discovers the "sensual style of this season's floral prints" in the new photo shoot for In Style magazine. Take a sneak peek, after the jump.

Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens @ Golden Globes 2009

2009-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

"High School Musical" sweethearts Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens arrived at the Golden Globes last night dressed in Burberry suit, Ferragamo shoes (Efron) and Alberta Ferretti gown (Hudgens).

Efron later shared the stage with "Heroes" babe Hayden Panettiere and presented Best TV Drama Actor award. The young actor said he gets very nervous before attending awards shows, and last night's Golden Globes ceremony was no expection.

Blake Lively @ Golden Globes 2009

2009-01-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

21-year old "Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively was all sequins when she came to the Beverly Hilton last night accompanied by her dad, actor Ernie Lively, in a strapless Nina Ricci gown.

Blake, who also wore Fred Leighton jewels, and her father later hit the InStyle & Warner Bros Studios after-party. As always, the actress went for a casual, messy look for her hair.

Eva Longoria @ Golden Globes 2009

2009-01-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

Eva Longoria claims she is just a "boring housewife." Proving she is anything but, Wisteria Lane's sexiest gal sizzled in her glamorous self on the red carpet at last night's event.

TV Ratings: Thursday, January 8, 2009

2009-01-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

Now these are the ratings I've been looking forward to seeing. How did the sole survivor of ABC's failed Wednesday night line-up "Private Practice" do in its new timeslot following parent series "Grey's Anatomy"?

Given the fact that "Grey's Anatomy" plummeted to a new season-low (and I would think series-low) of only 13.71 million viewers, the show's audience of 9.03 million meant a decent 65% retention rate (it could have been better, but most of its predecessors in the timeslot have done worse).

This was of course an improvement over its recent Wednesday night figures where the show averaged 7-8 million viewers. Then again, its lead-in on Wednesdays "Pushing Daisies" was almost three times weaker than "Grey's Anatomy."

The ratings last night were obviously affected by BCS Championship game on CBS (many other shows slid to season lows). We'll have a clearer picture of where Thursday night shows stand next week.

8:00
FOX BCS Championship Game 24.17 million
CBS CSI: NY (R) 8.59 million
ABC Ugly Betty 7.51 million
NBC My Name is Earl 5.50 million
CW Smallville (R) 2.30 million

8:30
NBC Kath & Kim 4.15 million

9:00
FOX BCS Championship Game 24.55 million
ABC Grey’s Anatomy 13.71 million
CBS CSI (R) 10.98 million
NBC The Office (R) 4.68 million
CW Supernatural (R) 1.87 million

9:30
NBC 30 Rock 5.24 million

10:00
ABC Private Practice 9.03 million
CBS Eleventh Hour(R) 7.70 million
NBC ER 7.32 million

"Mad Men" Kicks off Season 3 This Summer

2009-01-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

AMC confirmed yesterday that season 3 of its critically acclaimed period drama "Mad Men" about womanizing chain-smoking Madison Av. admen in the 1960s will return on schedule this summer, despite the ongoing and unresolved negotiations with series creator Matthew Weiner.

A true gem of television production, known for its meticulous attention to detail and historical authenticity as well as thought-provoking character depiction, "Mad Men" has won several awards, including two Golden Globes and six Emmys. The exact premiere date has yet to be determined.

"Supernatural" Hottie Jensen Ackles @ "My Bloody Valentine" Premiere

2009-01-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Boy, this man is hot! "Supernatural" hunk Jensen Ackles made a very sexy public appearance at last night's premiere of his new slasher theatrical "My Bloody Valentine 3D" which opens nationwide January 16.

The movie is a remake of a 1981 Canadian flick of the same title. Ackles plays an inexperienced coal miner, who causes an accident in the tunnels that trapps and kills five men and sends the only survivor, Harry Warden (Richard John Walters), into a coma. But Harry Warden soon wakes up hungry for revenge. Let the bloodshed begin!

Ackles' fans have more reasons to look forward to next week, as his CW drama "Supernatural" returns with new episodes on January 15, following a brief Christmas hiatus. The show has gained new momentum in the ratings this season.

Still No Word On Final Episodes of "Pushing Daisies", "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone"

2009-01-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Big thumbs down to ABC for not being respectful to supposedly small (hey, we're talking millions here) but loyal audiences of three of its recently canceled dramas: "Pushing Daisies," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone," who still don't know when the remaining 3-4 episodes of these shows will air (or if they'll ever air).

Once they give up on a show, it's common practice for broadcast networks to disregard pleas of fan bases and pretend the show never existed. In fact, the fans are lucky if they get to see the last filmed episodes of a show burned off on a Saturday or during the summer.

One alternative these days is obviously putting the show online, as FOX did with final episodes of its failed mystery drama "Vanished" back in 2006. But, as we have seen, with a recently dumped Thanksgiving clip episode of "Dirty Sexy Money" (preempted by a Barbara Walters Obamas special), that doesn't always happen.

Will the fans have to wait till the shows' sophomore seasons are released on DVD? According to some unconfirmed reports, ABC is "contractually obliged" to air the final 3 episodes of "Pushing Daisies" and may do so on a single night. Whether "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Eli Stone" get the same treatment is anyone's guess at this time.

"Lipstick Jungle" Hottie Robert Buckley

2009-01-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

If there's one thing I will remember NBC's short-lived soap "Lipstick Jungle" for, it will most definitely be giving the hot young actor Robert Buckley an opportunity to show off his divine physique on a regular basis. Here's a quick look at some of those moments from the show's second and final season which comes to a close tonight at 9pm.

"How I Met Your Mother" Cast Gets Salary Bumps

2009-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Last March, when CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" returned from its strike-induced hiatus with Britney Spears' headline-grabbing appearance, the sitcom began a ratings momentum that carried over to the show's current 4th season. Now, the time has come to reward the cast with more Benjamins.

According to a Hollywood press report this morning, the cast of "How I Met Your Mother" will get a deal retroactive to the beginning of the current season, bringing their salaries up to $90,000-120,000.

Although this will either double or triple their current salaries, the salaries will remain much lower than what other successful sitcom stars are making at this time. Then again, some "Mother" stars have been complete unknowns when the series began in 2005.

Just a couple of years ago, the show was considered "on-the-bubble" and it faced possible cancellation. With the current ratings momentum and this deal (which also extends the stars' contracts for an 8th year), that threat appears to be a thing of the past.

I couldn't be happier. "How I Met Your Mother" is one of the funniest and most cleverly written comedies on television at this moment, and its stellar cast makes the show a true gem.

"Brothers & Sisters" Spoilers #3.12 "Sibling Rivalry"

2009-01-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa guest star as themselves on an all-new "Brothers & Sisters" this Sunday (January 11, 10/9c on ABC).

Kitty (Calista Flockhart) goes public with her tell-all book on an appearance on "Live with Regis & Kelly" (guest starring Regis and Kelly as themselves), but suspects that Robert (Rob Lowe) is keeping a very big secret.

Meanwhile, Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) runs into some serious financial trouble that could keep Greenatopia from making it off the ground, and Tommy (Balthazar Getty) allies with Saul (Ron Rifkin) to push Holly (Patricia Wettig) out of the family business.

Also guest starring in this episode: Nigel Havers as Roger Grant, Eric Christian Olsen as Kyle DeWitt, Will McCormack as Ethan Tavis, Leonard Wu as Christopher Chao and Cotter Smith as Gordon Alexander.

Britney's Next Single "If You Seek Amy"

2009-01-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

Pop princess Britney Spears (spotted yesterday arriving at a dance studio) has announced her next single off her successful new album "Circus" (sold over half a million copies the first week) will be the track "If You Seek Amy."

The singer, who seemingly cleaned up her act last year, has had a great deal of success in the past 10 months, beginning with her buzzworthy appearance on the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother."

The first single off "Circus" titled "Womanizer" became an international smash hit, leading into several MTV Europe Music Awards and a great launch of her new album. Brit will begin her new world tour back where she belongs, March 3 in Louisiana.

The singer still gets a little anxious around the paparazzi, as visible in the image above (taken 2 days ago). Fortunately, there no longer seems to be any vagina-flashing. For now, that is.

New "Celebrity Apprentice" Contestants Announced

2009-01-09T02:00:00.002-05:00

Yes, the Donald Trump reality franchise still refuses to die (then again the show airs on NBC, so you can't expect the plug to be pulled any time soon). The network has just announced 16 'celebrities' who will take on the egotistical billionaire come March 1, including Joan and Melissa Rivers, Dennis Rodman, Brian McKnight, Khloe Kardashian and Tom Green.

The show will again begin putting men against the women.

The male team will include: Clint Black, Andrew Dice Clay, Tom Green, Scott Hamilton, Jesse James, Brian McKnight, Dennis Rodman, and Herschel Walker.

The female team will include: Annie Duke, Natalie Gulbis, Claudia Jordan, Khloe Kardashian, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, Brande Roderick and Tionne Watkins.

The show was originally a major ratings success in its first season which aired January-April 2004.

Subsequent cycles paled in comparison, and the show plummeted from 20-30 million viewers to 6-7 million by 2007.

Last winter Trump and producer and reality guru Mark Burnett reinvented the franchise, replacing regular businessmen with mostly has-been and has-never-been celebrities.

The format of the show has also changed, as the contestants now battle to win money for a charity of their choice. Originally, a supposedly lucrative position within the Trump organization was at stake.

Although the show did perk up in the ratings a bit last year, it all happened during the strike, when most of the competition was forced off the air or into repeats. Will this be the final season for Apprentice?

Gale Harold's Return to 'Desperate Housewives" Still Up in the Air

2009-01-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

According to the latest reports, Gale Harold's ("Queer as Folk," "Vanished") return to "Desperate Housewives" following his October 14 motorcycle accident remains up in the air and his character will remain out of sight, for the time being.

Earlier this week, when the show came back from its Christmas hiatus, the viewers could hear Harold's voice during a phone call with his girlfriend Susan (Teri Hatcher) which explained his character Jackson's absence (he was visiting a friend out of town).

Although the actor, who suffered some serious injuries in the accident, is recovering well, it will take him a little more time to come back to Wisteria Lane. According to his spokesperson, rumors that he would not come back or come back next year are not true.

Although I personally love Gale Harold, I am somewhat indifferent about his "Desperate" character, who seems to have gone through minor changes since his original short appearance in the final seconds of last May's season-ending cliffhanger.

According to spoilers, Jackson (Harold) will ask Susan to join him and leave Wisteria Lane for good. Since the show is expected to run for at least 4 more seasons with Hatcher on board, Susan will obviously have little desire to abandon her best friends.

"How I Met Your Mother" Returns on Monday

2009-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

CBS' brilliant sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" is back this Monday (don't you just hate these Christmas breaks?) and there will be at least 2 fresh episodes in January. Here's a little taste of what to expect.

When Ted and Robin become "friends with benefits" to deal with conflicts they're having around the apartment, Barney tries to resolve the issues so they'll stop hooking up.

Meanwhile, "reality" stars get too real for Marshall when they taunt him from the pages of his magazine. The episode "Benefits" airs on Monday, January 12. Then a week later, watch out for an all-new episode titled "Three Days of Snow."

TV Ratings: Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2009-01-08T23:00:00.000-05:00

"People's Choice Awards" and Barbara Walters interview with Patrick Swayze took top honors last night; "Knight Rider" continued to post lackluster ratings.

Most of the programming on Wednesday was in repeats. CW's new show "Fear is Real" got off to a very modest start, even by lax netlet standards. The 2-hour "People's Choice Awards" averaged about 9 million viewers.

The night's top show was the Barbara Walters interview with actor Patrick Swayze who opened up about his battle with cancer (12.57 million viewers, 3.1 among 18-49).

Although the CBS awards show generated the night's highest demo figures between 9-10pm (3.2), the entire 2-hour ceremony averaged 2.9, behind Barbara Walters' 3.1.

8:00
CBS New Adventures of Old Christine (Repeat) 8,22 million
FOX Bones (Repeat) 6,63 million
NBC Knight Rider 5,70 million
ABC Scrubs (Repeat) 4,50 million
CW NEW: Fear is Real 2,39 million

8:30
CBS Gary Unmarried (Repeat) 7,36 million

9:00
CBS People’s Choice Awards 10,21 million
ABC 20/20 7,99 million
NBC Law & Order: SVU (Repeat) 7,42 million
FOX Bones (Repeat) 6,52 million
CW 90210 (Repeat) 1,08 million

10:00
ABC Barbara Walters Special 12,57 million
NBC Law & Order 10,11 million
CBS People’s Choice Awards 8,42 million

Kevin Walker to Pull a Lance Bass, Again

2009-01-08T22:00:00.001-05:00

How exactly do those...cough, cough... not very attractive gay guys get these hotties to fight over them? After choosing between Luke MacFarlane's super-cute Scotty Wandell and Eric Winter's gorgeous Jason McCallister, Matthew Rhys' gay character on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" gets to do more flirty-flirty with his season 1 beau Chad Berry, played by "Sex and the City" hunk Jason Lewis.

EW reports Lewis will return to the family drama later this spring for one episode only, supposedly bringing some tension into the lovey-dovey relationship (and same-sex marriage) of Kevin and Scotty.

According to the show's executive producer Greg Berlanti, the couple who got married in last May's finale were destined to end up together (since he referred to Scotty as Kevin's "Mr.Big").

Of course, in the world of series television, even the most blissful relationships have to have their share of drama, and the return of once-closeted actor Chad (who was outed by a blogger and went on to enjoy his freedom ditching Kevin in the process) may signal there's more of that in store for Kevin and Scotty.

Beyonce at 'Notorious' Premiere

2009-01-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

Sexy superstar Beyonce Knowles made an appearance at last night's premiere of "Notorious," the life and death story of rap legend Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace) (opens January 16).

The movie was executive produced by Diddy, who attended the premiere with Biggie's mother Voletta on him arm, expressing satisfaction with the way the film remembered his friend who was shot dead in 1997.

Also yesterday, it was announced that Beyonce led the music nominations for the NAACP Image Awards, given by the oldest U.S. civil rights organization, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Beyonce got five nods including outstanding artist, album, song, and music video for "Single Ladies" and "If I Were a Boy."

The immensely popular video for "Single Ladies" has been praised for its simple style (just three dancers in leotards) and a mesmerizing choreography that blends Bob Fosse moves with a jazzy dance club style called J-setting.

"Desperate" Star Nathan Fillion Returns in ABC's "Castle" in March

2009-01-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

"Desperate Housewives" star Nathan Fillion, who played Dana Delany's husband Adam last season, will return to the Mickey Mouse network this spring in his new New York-based detective series "Castles" also starring Falcon Crest's Susan Sullivan.

The show begins March 9 and will air on Monday nights at 10pm, which means it will be heavily promoted during a new cycle of "Dancing with the Stars" and hopefully successfully sampled by the contest's somewhat older audience.

Fillion plays a famous mystery novelist who is bored with his own success, learns that a real-world copycat killer has started staging murder scenes depicted in his novels. Sullivan plays his Broadway diva mother.

"Lipstick Jungle" Ends Tomorrow Night

2009-01-08T19:00:00.001-05:00

"Sex" knock-off "Lipstick Jungle" will end its run on the once-hot NBC network tomorrow night at 9pm. The series based on the same-titled Candace Bushnell's book will conclude with its 20th episode.

Although the show initially did better than ABC's attempt at reviving the "Sex and the City" craze "Cashmere Mafia," it struggled on Wednesday and Friday nights this season, and ultimately ended up losing half of its already modest 6-7 million audience.

Attempt by the show's stars and producers to keep the show going were futile as its ratings failed to match even NBC's modest standards. The show has however given its stars Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lyndsay Price and Robert Buckley a lot of buzz.

Buckley has already landed a gig on CW's teen soap "Privileged" and he will also appear in a couple of movies, later in 2009.

The images of Brooke Shileds above are taken from an "In Style" photo shoot.

"Desperate Housewives" Spoilers: 100th Episode Brings Back Beloved Characters

2009-01-08T18:00:00.000-05:00

Enjoying the 5th season of "Desperate Housewives" set in 2013? If so, you'll be happy to know, there's a very special 100th episode of the show on January 18 (just 10 days away) featuring some beloved faces we haven't seen for a while. Plus, Beau Bridges makes a special guest appearance.

The episode will be centered around a neighborhood handyman, Eli Scruggs (Bridges), who passes away, and the residents of Wisteria Lane come to realize just how much he affected their lives.

Gaby recalls how Eli helped her make new friends when she moved in; Lynette remembers how he came to her aide when she was overwhelmed and neglected Penny; Susan reflects on how he was always there for her as a shoulder to cry on each time a man walked out of her life; Edie looks back on their special friendship; and Bree thinks fondly of how a small gesture he once made helped get her to where she is today.

Actors you should remember if you watched the show when it was red-hot back in 2004 when it began with a bang putting ABC back on the prime-time map, will make a special guest appearance in a series of flashbacks.

They are: Steven Culp as Rex Van de Kamp, Christine Estabrook as Martha Huber and Lucille Song as Yao Lin. The episode titled "The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened" was written by the series creator Marc Cherry. Don't miss it.

Have They Aged Well? LINDA EVANS

2009-01-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

Remember sweet-talking Alexis-fighting shoulderpads-wearing Blake-loving Carrington clan matriarch Krystle Carrington on ABC's #1 show in 1985 "Dynasty"? Actress Linda Evans, who portrayed her, was recently spotted on the streets of Toronto. Check out her latest candids and see for yourself whether she's aged gracefully or gone overboard with plastic surgery, after the jump.

FOX's "24" Season 7 Premiere Party

2009-01-08T16:00:00.002-05:00

This Sunday, FOX's "24" finally returns after a strike-induced year-off (actually, 20 months off). It all begins, as always, with 4 hours of adrenalin-pumping Jack Bauer action, who is moving to Washington, D.C. this season. Actor Kiefer Sutherland and the rest of the "24" team celebrated...

...the return of the FOX clock-ticking action series a couple of nights ago at a premiere party in Hollywood. The network honchos would of course like to know if the show will manage to generate decent ratings, following a critically-panned and ratings-challenged 6th season.

This year's 2-hour prequel which aired in November under the title "Redemption" did very well (especially in comparison to the rest of FOX's prime-time, which has been rather underwhelming all fall long). Now if Jack and the gang can keep those numbers up for another 24 hours...

"Gossip Girl" Ratings Should Still Be Better

2009-01-08T15:00:00.002-05:00

There's a lot of talk about ABC Family's "Secret Life of American Teenager" (which generated well over 4 million viewers in its new timeslot this Monday) beating CW's "Gossip Girl" (about 3 million) in the ratings battle for teenage girls.

Ever since its launch in the fall of 2006, the CW network which emerged following the death of broadcast netlets The WB and UPN and promised to offer 'the best of both,' struggled to keep its audience and fell below average ratings levels for the two defunct networks.

This season, The CW appears to have abandoned the old netlets' focus on adults 18-34, and prefers to program for young women in the same demo. With shows like "American Teenager" taking viewers away, how long can Dawn Ostoff keep the CW ball rolling?

Although "Gossip Girl" has been doing much better in the ratings this season (a 20-25% improvement, with season-high ratings reaching 3.7 million), the show still gets more buzz than eyeballs. Blake Lively (Serena Van Der Woodsen) was filmed on the set of the drama in New York City earlier this week.

FOX's "24": Season 7 Production Problems

2008-12-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

Production on the upcoming season 7 of FOX's clock-ticking action drama "24" starring Kiefer Sutherland will be shut down as of next week giving the writers 3 weeks to come up with better scripts.

The show has been plagued with problems ever since its concluded its Emmy-winning 5th season in 2006.

The follow-up season "Day 6" was a ratings and critical failure despite a very promising opening featuring such over-the-top storylines as a nuclear explosion in Los Angeles.

For this reason, "24" producers decided to refresh the series by taking Jack Bauer out of L.A. and putting him into an exotic location.

FOX executives however nixed the original choice because of an over-inflated budget required for shooting the series in Africa and ordered that the scripts be re-written and the new season set in Washington, DC instead.

This caused a costly delay in production schedule last summer. When the new season of "24" finally began filming, the writers' strike brought it to another halt after only 8 episodes had been completed.

At this point FOX decided not to air a new season of "24" in 2008, as they were no longer able to complete all 24 episodes in time for the January-May schedule, thus postponing the new season till January 2009.

After re-starting production earlier this year and filming a 2-hour prequel movie (scheduled to air on Sunday, November 23) and 10 additional episodes (for a total of 18), lights will go off again come September 15.

FOX is hoping the 3-week hiatus will help improve the quality of the final 6 scripts. When the prequel movie premieres in November, the show will have been off air for 18 months. Will the viewers be back?

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PTC Shocked by "90210" Oral Sex on the CW

2008-12-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

Uh-oh. There they go again. Foaming at their mouth. Calling for advertisers' boycott. Trying to find their remote controls which went missing back in the 70s. The Parents Television Council are disgusted by a 10-second alleged fellatio scene in the new "90210" spin-off.

Several minutes into the broadcast of last week's pilot, the boy played by Dustin Milligan appeared to be enjoying a morning session of oral sex with a girlfriend in his truck on the parking lot of West Beverly High before the classes began.

PTV statement reads: "They shocked viewers during the family hour by depicting high school children engaged in oral sex in their car. It's such a sucker punch to viewers and a lot of families. No one tuned in to 90210 thinking, 'Hey, maybe I will get to see (oral sex).'"

PTC are of course still upset that The CW showed them the middle finger earlier this summer when they used their critique of "Gossip Girl" which called the series "mind-blowingly inappropriate" to actually promote the show as part of a brilliant marketing campaign.

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Will "Prison Break" End After Season 4?

2008-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Wentworth Miller once said he thought FOX's "Prison Break" could run for many years, just like hit procedurals such as "C.S.I.". After Monday's dismal numbers for season 4 premiere, the writers might want to think how to bring the over-the-top drama to a satisfying conclusion this year.

The 2-hour episode reunited Miller's character Michael Scofield with the love of his life, Dr. Sara Tancredi, whom the writers brutally killed off last year, after contract renegotiations with actress Sarah Wayne Callies failed. Dismayed by Sara's decapitation and "Prison Break's" increasingly contrived storylines some fans abandoned the series.

The audience erosion appears to have continued this year. After averaging 9.5 million viewers in season 1 in 2005, the drama has been losing about a million viewers each season. For the time being, it seems this year will be no exception, as "Prison Break" is now down to about 6.5 million viewers.

For this reason, the time may have come to finally bring down "The Company" and let brothers Scofield/Burrows catch their breath and put their battle against the invisible and lethal syndicate to rest. Providing there is another regular high-profile job waiting for the hunky Miller, of course.

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VIDEO: Swingtown's Grant Show (Interview)

2008-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Ex-Melrose Place hunk Grant Show whose horny pilot Thomas Dekker of porn-moustached species gets to do a bit of wife-swapping every Thursday night at 10pm (and not many CBS characters can say that!) recently sat down with TV Guide to talk about his adult summer drama "Swingtown". Plus my take on recent episodes.

The ratings for "Swingtown" keep on going south (the most recent episode lured only a little over 5.5 million viewers, down 3 million from the June 5 premiere), so I think it is safe to say that season 2 can now be ruled out. That is a shame because the show has actually become deeper and more compelling. Not to mention more entertaining.

Those who were shocked by the show's bold premise never watched. Those who expected Showtime-type shenanigans may have been disappointed. But the most recent episode (also the first post-strike episode, written and produced after that whole WGA chaos) may have been its best yet.

The characters have been given plenty of depth, especially the brilliant Miriam Shor's conservative housewife Janet Thompson, who came out of her rigid shell bonding with people we'd never thought she'd be able to relate to, while not compromising her own set of values. Also, is there another show where adults are rollicking fun and kids are a snoozefest? Oh... "Desperate Housewives"... Never mind...

Despite the drop in the ratings, "Swingtown" continues to deliver some of the best 18-49 demo ratings on a repeat-filled CBS summer schedule, so I do hope we at least get to enjoy this fun show in its entire albeit limited 13-episode run.

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Has Sienna Miller Broken "Brothers & Sisters" Star's Marriage?

2008-12-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fashion designer Rosetta Millington has fled her posh Nichols Canyon home taking her 4 children to Italy, after learning her husband, "Brothers & Sisters" star and oil multi-millionaire Balthazar Getty, was unfaithful to her with actress Sienna Miller, British tabloids reported on Sunday.

Getty may have gotten inspired by his on-screen character Tommy Walker on the ABC drama who last season cheated on his depressed wife Julia. Unlike the show, where Tommy's indiscretion was forgiven because of Julia's own illicit affair, Getty appears to be in a more complicated predicament.

Brit Sienna Miller, who also dated Getty's "Brothers & Sisters" co-star Matthew Rhys ("Kevin Walker") while shooting a movie with him in Britain in 2007, is said to have gone to great pains to arrange secret meetings with Getty in Europe and last week in a Hollywood home.

Matthew Rhys introduced Miller to Getty at the Chateau Marmont hotel in 2007. The couple however began meeting only recently, after Miller ditched fellow British actor and Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans whom she dated after breaking up with Matthew Rhys. After Getty's wife Rosetta learned of the coupling, she hopped on the first plane to Italy taking their 4 children with her.

Former "Alias" star Getty is the great-grandson of J.Paul Getty, the late industrialist and founder of the Getty Oil Co. who had a somewhat troubling coming of age.

His father John Paul was kidnapped as a 16-year old boy. During the ordeal, his ear was severed and sent to his family that initially refused to pay ransom.

After he fathered Balthazar at the age of 18, John Paul succumbed to heavy drug use, that resulted in stroke in 1981, leaving him paralyzed and almost blind at 25.

Balthazar himself became a heroin addict in the 1990s, before going to rehab and starting a new life with Milligton.

Former model and children's fashion designer Rosetta Milligton, who recently launched a niche fashion label for women, gave birth to her and Balthazar's fourth child last year. The couple have been married since 2000.

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The Chace Crawford VideoMix

2008-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I obviously have too much time on my hands. But then again, I do have to find ways to get my Chace fix, while "Gossip Girl" is on hiatus. So here's a little video compilation of Upper East Side's hottest hunk's best moments in season 1 of The CW's addictive guilty pleasure. Chace fans, go nuts!

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Hayden Panettiere & Milo Ventimiglia Canoodling on "Heroes" Set

2008-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

The filming of season 3 of NBC's sci-fi drama "Heroes" has recently begun in Los Angeles, CA, reuniting its stars and real-life lovers Hayden Panettiere, 18, and Milo Ventimiglia, 30, who appeared to be sharing a tender moment on Friday.

Ventimiglia, who plays Panettiere's uncle on the show, never gets to enjoy locking lips with his teenage girlfriend on-screen.

According to a recent interview in the British Glamour Magazine, the petite actress experimented with her girlfriends while growing up, perfecting her kissing techniques. No wonder her boyfriend is an eager little beaver.

Season 3 of "Heroes" kicks off with a 3-hour premiere on Monday, September 22 at 8/7c on NBC.

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"Grey's Anatomy" Stars @ Butterfly Ball

2008-12-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane, his wife Rebecca Gayheart ("Ugly Betty"), co-stars T.R. Knight (with boyfriend Mark Cornelsen), Katherine Heigl (with husband Josh Kelley), "Private Practice" star Kate Walsh, "Sex and the City" stud Jason Lewis and "Brothers & Sisters" hunk Eric Winter (with girlfriend Rosalyn Sanchez) were some of the celebrities who took part in Saturday's Butterfly Ball in L.A.

The ball is organized every year by Chrysalis, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization, which helps the homeless and others find work. The event reportedly raised over $1 million on Saturday.

Newlyweds Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller who met at the Butterfly Ball in 2006 also made an appearance having tied the knot in a small ceremony on Friday.

Out actor T.R. Knight walked the red carpet hand in hand with his young boyfriend Mark Cornelsen. Apparently some losers take the issue with the cute couple's age gap, for which reason I applaud T.R. for showing off his love with pride.

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90210's Jason Priestley Meets Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford

2008-12-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Teen soap universes collided when former 90210 hunk Jason Priestley posed for photographers with Gossip Girl's cutie Chace Crawford at Nintendo’s daytime block party at the Nintendo World store in NYC’s Rockefeller Center on Saturday.

The 38-year old actor who was chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world in 1991 (time sure takes its toll), most recently appeared in the summer 2007 Lifetime series "Side Order of Life."

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Heather Locklear & "Lipstick" Hottie Robert Buckley in Hawaii

2008-12-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

Has any one of former "Melrose" vixen Heather Locklear's Lifetime movies, that she has been doing rather extensively in the past few years, gotten as much buzz and paparazzi coverage as "Flirting with 40" (currently filming in Hawaii)? Call me crazy, but I say it has something to do with "Lipstick Jungle's" super-yummy hottie Robert Buckley.

Based upon's Jane Porter's same-titled chicklit novel, the made-for-TV about a divorcée who celebrates her 40th birthday in Hawaii only to find herself falling for her gorgeous and much younger surf instructor, is set to premiere on Lifetime later this year. The movie began shooting in snowy Calgary, Alberta a month ago.

Although she has been frolicking in the hot Hawaiian sun with the delicious Buckley, Locklear has had her eyes locked on her former "Melrose Place" co-star Jack Wagner, whom she has been dating since divorcing her rock star husband, Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora. Denise Richards, eat our heart out.

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Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Pictures Scandal

2008-12-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

How utterly absurd are conservatives in America? Faux News' top clown Bill O'Reilly, who called Vanity Fair readers a bunch of old liberals, said on his ludicrous talker last night the entire Cyrus family should go on Oprah and apologize for Hanna Montana star's Vanity Fair photoshoot that sent his fellow wingnuts into frenzy.

Obviously I understand why a desperate Disney ordered Miley Cyrus to issue her lame public apology, given the fact that their billion dollar Hannah Montana brand caters to a very conservative market.

I also understand why Disney made their ridiculous statement that "a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines" given the fact that Miley's parents were present on the set, saw the digitally generated images on computer screens and agreed they were very natural and beautiful pictures of Miley.

I will however never understand how such artistically crafted images of a beautiful 15-year old from the renowned celebrity photographer Annie Leibowitz may be deemed inappropriate. This meaningless scandal merits sheer ridicule.

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VIDEO: Kevin & Scotty Get Married on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters"

2008-12-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

In a beautiful (and scandalous - Ryan Walker? WTF?) conclusion to the 2nd season of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" last night, commitment-phobic Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) tied the knot with his adorable boyfriend Scotty (openly gay in real life Luke MacFarlane) having finally realized he is "the one." Check out the wedding video and stills, after the jump.

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T.R. Knight & Boyfriend Mark Cornelsen @ GLAAD Media Awards

2008-12-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Last September when I praised "How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris for making an appearance at the 2007 Emmy Awards with his boyfriend David Burtka, I also noted how normally dateless "Grey's Anatomy" star T.R. Knight appeared with a female companion. Well, things have changed.

On Saturday night, out and proud T.R.Knight walked the red carpet with his young boyfriend Mark Cornelsen.

Knight, who came out in a People Magazine article in October 2006 following an on-set incident with shamed co-star Isaiah Washington, used the opportunity to speak of the recent murders of teens Lawrence King and Simmie Williams Jr, who were killed earlier this year because they were gay.

During the show, Knight also blasted homophobic republican Oklahoma state representative Sally Kern, who has come under fire after it was revealed that in a recent speech she compared gays to terrorists and said she believed that the "homosexual agenda is destroying this nation."

"I am realizing more and more how privileged I am to be able to use my voice to support an organization like GLAAD," Knight said. "I will continue to do so until the Sally Kerns are taught the real teachings of Jesus Christ."

The openly gay "Grey’s Anatomy" star has recently signed on to participate in the National Day of Silence ceremony at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex in Los Angeles, an event sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) to help combat bullying and harassment of gays in schools.

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Luke & Noah Finally Kiss

2008-12-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well it was about damn time! Earlier this week the annoying Ameera storyline in the ongoing gay teen saga of Luke and Noah on CBS' "As the World Turns" (kill her off already!) took a surprisingly juicy turn when the two studs locked lips ending an 8-month smooch-drought and fan protests.

Although a part of me cheered seeing the loving couple finally make out again, another part of me stood in awe how utterly ridiculous the idea, that we had to wait for 8 months in the first place and then be exceptionally happy and grateful for the 5-second kiss, is.

Now what? Another 8 month wait? That would schedule the next kiss just before Christmas, so at least we would finally get to see what happened under that mistletoe that an ATWT cameraman loved so much last year. Oh well, it's still a step in the right direction.

An idiot on YouTube already managed to flag the video as "unsuitable for minors." Since similar stupidity occurred with the previous kiss which was posted on August 17, so I do hope YouTube will once again do the right thing and remove the offensive flag.

In the meantime, you can check out German soap boys Christian and Oliver on ARD's "Forbidden Love" who have been swapping spit all over the place. I wonder how many decades it will take US daytime to catch up. The clips are now available with English subtitles.

For all of you Nuke fans here are a few more caps of the latest Nuke kiss right under the video.

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TV's Sexiest Stars 2008

2008-12-17T13:00:00.000-05:00

Sam and Dean Winchester are currently leading in the "Sexiest Siblings Poll" over in TV Guide's Sexiest Stars 2008 poll. Would you prefer to see those hunky "Prison Break" brothers take the honor instead? You may want to cast your vote then.

The casts of "Lost" and "Grey's Anatomy" are currently battling over the "Sexiest Cast" category;

"Moonlight's" Alex O'Loughlin is giving "Smallville's" Tom Welling a run for his Kryptonite, although castmate Erica Durance has no such problem being by far the "Sexiest Sci-Fi Gal";

Former Miss America Vanessa Williams rules the "Sexiest Pout" roost, while Alex O'Laughlin is beating former winner Dr.McDreamy as the "Sexiest Man-Mane" by double digits;

Jack Bauer of "24" and Sawyer Ford of "Lost" are neck to neck in the "Sexiest Badass" showdown;

Coach and Tami Taylor ("Friday Night Lights") can't seem to get away from Gabi and Carlos Solis ("Desperate Housewives") in the "Sexiest Marrieds or Former Marrieds But We'd Love to See Them Back Together Like Yesterday" category;

Pam Beesley ("The Office") and Amanda Tanner ("Ugly Betty") are running a tight "Sexiest Secretary" race;

and Dr.House of "House" ("Sexiest Curmudgeon"), Peter Krause of "Dirty Sexy Money" ("Sexiest Lawyer") and Mark Sloan of "Grey's Anatomy" ("Sexiest Cad") all seem to be far ahead in their respective categories.

If you don't like what you see hop over to TVGuide.com and make your vote count.

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ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" Star Luke MacFarlane: I'm Gay

2008-12-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

"Brothers & Sisters" star Luke MacFarlane has come out of the closet today and announced he will become series regular on the ABC series next season as his character Scotty Wandell marries his boyfriend Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) as part of an upcoming May sweeps storyline.

In an interview with Globe and Mail, Canadian MacFarlane, who has appeared on the ABC family drama since its beginning in the fall 2006 in a recurring role, says he is looking forward to being series regular on one of the first shows on network television to portray a gay marriage between two main characters.

In the article, MacFarlane went further revealing that he too wishes to marry one day and that, despite some concerns over his professional future, he made a decision to go public with his own sexual orientation. MacFarlane however declined to reveal whether he is currently involved in a relationship.

In 2006, MacFarlane was rumored to be dating "Grey's Anatomy's" out gay star T.R. Knight, before being romantically linked in 2007 to "Prison Break" hottie Wentworth Miller (whose own sexual orientation remains a matter of dispute.)

Whoever the man of Luke's heart is (if there indeed is one at the moment), he has made me very proud to be a Luke MacFarlane fan today and I wish him the very best in his personal life as well as continuing success in his career.

Read the full Globe and Mail article about Luke MacFarlane coming out.

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"Sex and the City: The Movie" Wallpapers

2008-12-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

New Line Cinema has posted several "Sex and the City" wallpapers on the official website of one of the most anticipated movies of 2008 (as far as my humble self is concerned) touting the return of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte on May 30. Check them all out, after the jump.

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"Dirty Sexy Money" @ Paley Festival

2008-12-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

The cast of ABC's deluxe sudser "Dirty Sexy Money" took the stage at the Paley festival on Tuesday night to discuss where the show is headed as it returns next fall for a 2nd season.

Peter Krause (Nick George), William Baldwin (Patrick Darling), Natalie Zea (Karen Darling), Glenn Fitzgerald (Brian Darling), Seth Gabel (Jeremy Darling), Zoe McLellan (Lisa George) and Blair Underwood (Simon Elder) took part in the event along with executive producer Greg Berlanti and creator Craig Wright.

Donald Sutherland (Tripp Darling) and Jill Clayburgh (Letitia Darling) were on a promotional tour in the UK where the show premiered a couple of weeks ago. Samaire Armstrong (Juliet Darling) was unavailable.

Here is some of the information disclosed at the panel:

* Filming on season 2 will begin on May 1.

* The 3 unaired episodes produced during the writers' strike will undergo heavy tweaking as a number of scenes may have been executed differently than the writers, who were unavailable for assistance, had envisioned them.

* Bill Chais ("Shark") and Paul Redford ("Journeyman") have both joined the show's writing staff this season which will be run by incoming showrunner Daniel Cerone ("Dexter").

* The writers will address the question whether Candis Cayne's transexual character Carmelita is pre- or post-op when they find the right moment in season 2.

* In addition to 13 new episodes (3 already filmed plus 10 all-new) ABC has also ordered scripts for episodes 214, 215 and 216.

* Season 1 of "Dirty Sexy Money" may have been the most expensive freshman season ever produced on network TV.

* Patrick Darling's election campaign won't be timed to the actual election due to time constraints. His being open about himself will bring him success.

* New showrunner Daniel Cerone plans to relieve the storylines of some of their emotional hyperactivity and tell a deeper story giving the show's amazing cast a chance to do greater scenes.

* The Dutch George murder mystery will be given a satisfying conclusion in the 2nd season. No matter who the killer is, the ultimate blame will lie at money. The storyline was supposed to be resolved in season 1, but that wasn't possible because of the writers' strike.

* Creator Craig Wright already knows how he wants to end the series, when ABC decides to pull the plug one day. The conclusion may be along the lines of 'The Divine Comedy'.

* The producers believe Nick voicing his love for Karen would not benefit the show. The storyline of making Karen Nick's half-sibling was proposed and shot down.

* Nick and Lisa will continue to be a couple for a very long time. ABC found one of Lisa's scenes for season 2 (in which she bring home a piano) "too silly."

* Brian Jr. will return in season 2.

* The party scene on the bridge in episode 105 was taped on a green screen set at Paramount.

* About half of the jewelry worn on "Dirty Sexy Money" is real. In one episode, Natalie Zea said she had over a million dollars worth of diamonds on her.

* The "3 Ants" painting Lisa George bought is real art by Robert Russell.

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Hunk Watch: "Lipstick Jungle's" Robert Buckley

2008-12-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

What's the best (only) reason to watch NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" from "Sex and the City" scribe Candace Bushnell? Why, man candy Robert Buckley's shirtless scenes, of course. Catch the first (and possibly last) season finale this Thursday at 10/9c, and check out over 50 steamy screencaps of the former "Fashion House" star doing what he does best.

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Heather Locklear & Jack Wagner Spotted Days After 911 Call

2008-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Former "Melrose Place" sweethearts Heather Locklear, ("Amanda Woodward") and Jack Wagner ("Dr.Peter Burns") who are dating in real life, were snapped at the Malibu TraDiNoi restaurant enjoying lunch on Thursday, just days after an anonymous caller placed a 911 call suggesting Locklear, 46, was suicidal.

The frantic call was made by someone who claimed to be a medical doctor. Paramedics and sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Locklear's home in a gated community in Thousand Oaks, but found Locklear alive and well.

The call was released by the authorities on Wednesday last week, amid protests from Locklear's reps. According to TMZ the caller had seen an upset Locklear earlier in the day and feared she might overdose on her depression medication.

Locklear who starred in such classic TV hits as "Dynasty" and "Melrose Place" has struggled in recent years to find a new hit series. Her 2nd marriage to rocker Richie Sambora ended as did her friendship with former BFF Denise Richards, who is now dating Sambora.

Most recently Locklear appeared in several Lifetime made-for movies. Here's a funny video of Heather being embarrassed by reporters' questions while promoting a movie in January 2007.

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Are Justecca the New Gizzie?

2008-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

A twist in an upcoming episode of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" may send Rebecca (Emily Van Camp) into Justin's arms (the red-bearded Dave Annable).

According to casting sides for the first post-strike episode (titled "Separation Anxiety") Justin is by Rebecca's side when she arranges a DNA test in order to determine whether or not Holly's friend (Ken Olin) is her father.

Earlier this season, the viewers were led to question the paternity of Rebecca's late father William Walker which would open up new romantic possibilities for the character.

But will the writers dare take the obvious and increasingly sudsy route in their storytelling and abolish the family tie between Rebecca and Justin, that they worked so hard to establish last year?

Such twist with quasi-incestuous connotations could lead, according to some fans, to a disaster of Gizzistic proportions.

On the other hand, the characters played by Van Camp and Annable who are said to be dating in real life, have had a special bond and relied upon each other for support since the day they met.

Let us hope the producers of "Brothers & Sisters" know what they are doing. The show returns April 20 with 4 all-new episodes crammed with juicy developments. The 2nd season finale airs May 11. The show has already been renewed for a 3rd season.

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Milo Ventimiglia's GQ Fashion Spread

2008-12-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

Sexy "Heroes" star Milo Ventimiglia appears in the March 2008 issue of GQ Magazine revealing why he and co-star Hayden Panettiere kept their relationship a secret. Check out the drool-worthy scans, after the jump.

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Kristin Kreuk & Michael Rosenbaum to Leave "Smallville"

2008-12-16T14:00:00.000-05:00

"Smallville" may have just been renewed for an 8th season, but two of its principal stars will no longer be regular cast members. Can CW's young Superman drama survive without Lana and Lex?

According to TV Guide, two original cast members - Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang) and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) opted not to renew their 7-year contracts and return as series regulars next year, but are open to several guest starring appearances, the details of which are being negotiated.

The producers may have expected this development as most marketing efforts this season focused on two more recent female cast members who play crucial characters on the show - Erica Durance, who came on board in season 4 as Lois Lane, and Laura Vandervoort, who joined the show this year as Supergirl.

A long-time regular male cast member is expected to be killed off for good in the first of 5 post-strike episodes, that airs on Thursday, April 17. Could it be John Glover's psychopath Lionel Luthor who turns evil all over again? The actor was rumored to be contracted for season eight, but anything is possible.

In its 7th year, "Smallville" is CW's top-rated scripted drama averaging 3.86 million viewers per week. Last season the show averaged 3.98 million viewers. The show's 7th season finale airs on May 15.

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NBC's "Las Vegas" Cancelled

2008-12-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

NBC keeps swinging the axe. After 5 seasons, Montecito is closing down for good. Is "Friday Night Lights" next on the chopping block?

The show originally aired on Monday nights, but midway through season 3 (in early 2006) NBC successfully moved the series to lower-rated Fridays.

Last summer James Caan, one of the original cast members, left the casino-centered drama. The studio replaced him with Tom Selleck.

Despite the writers' strike, the cast and crew managed to film as many as 19 out of 22 episodes ordered.

This season the ratings went down 8% (from 9.02 million the show averaged in its 4th season to the current average of 8.29 million).

"Las Vegas" has already ended its run with a 2-hour episode last Friday.

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"Terminator's" Thomas Dekker Strikes a Pose

2008-12-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

The young actor who had his "Heroes" role 'de-gayed' and who recently told Life & Style Magazine former co-stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere's relationship was "gross," strikes a tummy-showing pose at a "Terminator" promo shoot in Sydney, Australia.

Dekker's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" co-star Summer Glau joined in on the Bondi Beach shenanigans. Later, the couple were snapped at Bondi Icebergs, one of Sydney's best restaurants.

Other stars of Warner Brothers TV shows like Jensen Ackles of "Supernatural," Kathryn Morris of "Cold Case" and Ed Westwick of "Gossip Girl," also took part in the press junket at the iconic beachfront venue, promoting their shows for Australian networks like Channel 9, Network Ten and Foxtel.

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"Heroes" Love Birds Hayden Panettiere & Milo Ventimiglia Step Out Again

2008-12-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

"Heroes" co-stars Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia attend a private Hollywood party on Saturday night under the watchful eye of the paparazzi.

The couple had denied being in a relationship before People Magazine ran a New Year's Eve story confirming that they were dating.

The article suggested Hayden's mom adores Milo and introduces him as Hayden's boyfriend.

Milo, 30, who plays Hayden's, 18, uncle on the show, was also said to have spent great time with the Panettiere family on a December trip to New York City.

More recently, the couple were photographed holding hands shopping at a mall on a Sunday afternoon in January.

US Magazine reported the couple decided to go public because they were tired of avoiding questions about their relationship.

Ventimiglia was said to have had a 'crush' on Hayden for a long time, but revealed his true feelings for her only after Hayden broke up with her former boyfriend, MTV VJ Stephen Colletti.

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"Eli Stone" Music Video (George Michael: "Faith")

2008-12-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Check out the music video for ABC's quirky legal drama "Eli Stone" (airs Thursdays at 10/9c, after 'Lost') along with the official promo shoot of the entire cast.

Over the past couple of years, the network has used successful recording artists like Mika, The Last Goodnight and Paolo Nutini to promote shows like "Ugly Betty," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Men in Trees."

Given his prominent place in the storylines, George Michael and his 1987 classic "Faith" was the obvious choice for "Eli Stone."

Every episode of the series is titled after one of the songs from the singer's vast catalogue and he himself will make several additional appearances on the show (in episodes 7, 9 and 13).

Furthermore, in episode 9, Eli Stone gets to actually meet the singer (normally he only sees visions of him). Michael asks Stone to represent him in a legal case.

Co-creator Marc Guggenheim recently revealed the show was written with George Michael in mind and the producers were very happy when the singer, who is allegedly a TV junkie, accepted to appear on the show.

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"Friday Night Lights" To Be Canceled?

2008-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week's episode of NBC's critically-acclaimed drama "Friday Night Lights" may be its swan song.

When asked about the fate of FNL at last week's "Lipstick Jungle" launch party, NBC's Programming Chief Ben Silverman ignored the question and instead touted the network's Thursday night comedy "30 Rock" as "the best show on TV."

When repeatedly pressed to address the future of the Texas-based drama, Silverman said: "I like it. You like it. But no one watches it. We'll see what we can do. Watch '30 Rock!"

Last spring, "Friday Night Lights" had been renewed for a second season by Silverman's predecessor Kevin Reilly, before he was let go. Reilly, a fan of the show, was responsible for its original development.

Following Reilly's departure, NBC had the producers make several creative choices (including the much-criticized Tyra-Landry murder storyline) in an attempt to improve the show's modest ratings.

The show has averaged 6.16 million viewers this season, almost on a par with last year's average of 6.20 million.

This year, however, the show airs on lower-rated Friday nights (last year it aired on Tuesdays and Wednesdays), so maintaining season 1 ratings on a night when fewer people watch TV is a modest accomplishment.

Also, on several occasions this year FNL tied for the first place in the timeslot among adults 18-49.

Ironically "30 Rock," the show that - unlike FNL - appears to have Silverman's support, has averaged a very similar 6.61 million viewers this season. The comedy however airs on much more competitive, and therefore more significant, Thursday nights.

Ben Silverman, 37, has caused quite a bit of controversy over the past 6 months, including personal attacks on ABC Prexy Stephen McPherson.

Silverman's programming strategy relies heavily on reality shows and acquisition of foreign formats. The exec who originally developed "Ugly Betty" for ABC, is now planning the US version of Aussie comedy "Kath & Kim," and a soap opera titled "Without Breasts There Is No Paradise."

Although NBC has yet to make a final decision on the future of "Friday Night Lights," there will be no additional episodes this season.

All 15 episodes of season 2 will be released on DVD in April.

Could fan support similar to last year's "Jericho" nut campaign save the endangered series from cancellation?

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Parents Television Council Wants CBS to Kill "Dexter"

2008-12-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Parents Television Council, the conservative organization that deems ABC's "Ugly Betty" inappropriate for minors thus giving the award-winning comedy "red light," while encouraging family audiences to watch mind-numbing fare like "Deal Or No Deal," now wants the CBS network to ditch plans to air the butchered version of "Dexter," a drama about a serial killer that airs on its cable sibling Showtime.

Although the critically-acclaimed series would end up being heavily edited in order to conform to stricter standards of free-to-air broadcast networks, the PTC believes "the biggest problem with the series is something that no amount of editing can get around: the series compels viewers to empathize with a serial killer, to root for him to prevail, to hope he doesn’t get discovered."

I find the greatest disgrace in all of this putting this daring show on air in the edited form (reportedly mainly in the language department, although some gruesome scenes will also end up on the cutting room floor), not exposing it to broader audiences. Should the network go along with the request (I seriously doubt that), PTC might actually be doing "Dexter" a favor. How deliciously ironic.

"Dexter" is scheduled to premiere on CBS on Sunday, February 17.

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Sarah Jessica Parker Shoots "Sex" Print Ad

2008-12-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

While at least one of the two knock-offs of her cult HBO comedy "Sex and the City" is not doing too well in the ratings, Sarah Jessica Parker is getting ready for a big 2008 comeback shooting a new print campaign for her theatrical in New York City on Thursday.

Meanwhile, New Line has released the poster for "Sex and the City: Movie" which opens nationwide May 30. The new tagline for the highly anticipated movie is "Get Carried Away." Scroll down for 19 images from yesterday's photo shoot.

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Kate Walsh's Naked Back

2008-12-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

My superficial mind of a savage brute will never understand how "Private Practice" star Kate Walsh could ever let that prime piece of hot hunkage that goes by the name of Dave Annable ("Brothers & Sisters") go, but then again - who's asking me anyway?

The actress may have bumped into her former boyfriend at the already-mentioned Art Elysium event in Los Angeles on Saturday where she made a sexy appearance with her movie exec husband Alex Young.

Kate's "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off "Private Practice" has run out of new episodes in early December after only 9 installments. The show is the second hottest new series on network TV this season.

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Daily Eye Candy: Chace Crawford (Photo Shoot)

2008-12-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

Holy McTwinky! Now this made my day. So much so that I finally moved my lazy butt and updated my horribly neglected "DAILY EYE CANDY" blog with these hot photo shoot images of Mr. Carrie Underwood himself, "Gossip Girl" hottie Chace Crawford. Some have called these images a bit on the cheesy side. The superficial me says: "Bring on the cheese!"

There are over 40 IMAGES OF CHACE over on DYC, so here's just a little taste. Don't forget you can catch Chace and the rest of the cast of "Gossip Girl" this Wednesday at 8/7c on the CW in what may be the show's final outing this season.

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Ultimate Christmas Present: Mini-Went

2008-12-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a thought for all of you fans of "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller going all loco in the comments section of that post I did last year on the possibility of the actor being gay. In case he is (hey, I didn't say he was), you can still take him home and sleep with him. Presenting the mother of all Christmas presents for the Ultimate Wenty Miller fan.

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"Brothers & Sisters" Creator Baitz Leaves Show, Insults TV Guide's Ausiello

2008-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Playwright Jon Robin Baitz says he was ousted from ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," the show he created, revealing backstage turmoil and branding TV Guide's scooper-pooper Michael Ausiello "marginally literate" and one of "low-rent journalistic toadies penning breathless wooze" in a 2-part article titled "Leaving Los Angeles" published in "The Huffington Post."

Baitz, who says being on "Brothers & Sisters" had taught him how to fight, explains former show runner Marti Noxon who originally worked with him on the show in the summer of 2006 (now executive producer of "Private Practice") believed his writing style was a reflection of a drug habit and chose to share knowledge of his use of "doctor-approved Ritalin" with other people on the show "in a remarkable display of discretion."

Baitz says Greg Berlanti ("Everwood," "Dirty Sexy Money"), who joined "Brothers & Sisters" after Noxon left in the summer of 2006 and initiated reshoots of reshoots of the first 3 episodes, is a "genius" who not only "saved the show" but is "efficient and indefatigable in his ability to repair and streamline, and force change. At any cost. What. So. Ever."

As for the show's third show runner, Marc B. Perry ("The Wonder Years"), who replaced Berlanti at the beginning of the show's 2nd season in the summer of 2007, Baitz says working on the show became "an exercise in diplomacy, politeness and tact for the new team and for" himself. In August, Baitz was however told to step back after a storyline he didn't even write threw one of the stars into despair.

Baitz explains his own version of "Brothers & Sisters," possibly on a cable network like Showtime or FX, would have been an entirely different show, reflecting "sorrow and rage in the aging face of Sally Field," "cold and funny sexuality of Patty Wettig," "wisdom, joyous childishness and the melancholy of Ron Rifkin," "follow the prodigal son Justin to Iraq and show his friends die," "allow Calista Flockhart to be truly political," "explore low-income lives of Ojai workers" and further explore "Kevin Walker's internalized homophobia and his fear of contact with others."

In his departing piece openly gay Baitz also criticizes America's obsession with youth, the Botoxed and hyper-sexed gay scene of West Hollywood and Hollywood's disgust with aging women, and reveals how his own heart got crushed after he fell in love with a writer last summer.

Full Article:
"Leaving Los Angeles, Part One: Work"
"Leaving Los Angeles, Part Two: Love"

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Wisteria Lane Tornado Destruction ("Desperate Housewives" #410 Spoilers)

2008-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

This Sunday ABC is airing the final new episode of "Desperate Housewives" uncovering the full scale of tornado destruction on TV's most pristine neighborhood, Wisteria Lane. Watch "Welcome to Kanagawa" on Sunday and find out who died in the deadly twister. Click "read more" and see the destruction right here and right now.

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...and more about "DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES"

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Katherine Heigl's "27 Dresses" Photo Shoot

2008-12-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Katherine Heigl, whom Barbara Walters has included in her "Most Fascinating People of 2007" prime time special airing after an all-new "Grey's Anatomy" tomorrow night on ABC, appears in a promotional photo shoot for her upcoming movie "27 Dresses" which opens January 11. Check out the dresses (not necessarily all 27 of them) and a trailer, after the jump.

The 20th Century Fox romantic comedy stars Heigl as a young woman who has made a career out of being a bridesmaid but never a bride.

James Marsden plays the man who she meets at her sister's wedding. He will change her bridesmaid status for good.

Heigl filmed the comedy earlier this year during the hiatus between the 3rd and the 4th season of "Grey's Anatomy."

Can the movie repeat the success of "Knocked Up"?

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Thursdays Ratings; VP Debate Breaks Records

2008-10-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

Did the highly anticipated face-off between Alaska governor Sarah Palin and Delaware senator Joe Biden score as high ratings as many had expected? You betcha, Joe!

The VP debate was the highest rated VP debate ever and the highest rated debate overall since the second round of Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George Bush debating in 1992, which believe it or not scored exactly the same ratings.

Thursday's event scored 69.9 million viewers across 3 broadcast and 3 cable news networks with most viewers flocking to ABC for its coverage (13.1 million). FOX News was the most successful on cable, scoring 11.1 million, its highest ratings ever.

Here's the breakdown:
ABC: 13,130,000
NBC: 12,820,000
CBS: 11,100,000
Fox News: 11,098,000
CNN: 10,685,000
MSNBC: 4,412,000

In other news, "Ugly Betty" lost some steam at 8pm. The ABC comedy scored 8.58 million viewers.

When the show originally premiered in 2006 it averaged 15 million viewers. Last year at this time most of those people who may have been intrigued by the show's early episodes, but later stopped watching, were gone as the show averaged 10 million.

With no scripted competition at 9pm, The CW's "Supernatural" scored 3.57 million viewers, retaining 90% of "Smallville" audience.

ABC:
8pm UGLY BETTY (8.58 million)
9pm VP DEBATE (13.1 million)
10:30pm DEBATE ANALYSIS (9.23 million)

CBS:
8pm SURVIVOR (12.85 million)
9pm VP DEBATE (11.1 million)
10:30pm DEBATE ANALYSIS (7.91 million)

NBC:
8pm MY NAME IS EARL (7.01 million)
9pm VP DEBATE (12.82 million)
10:30pm DEBATE ANALYSIS (8.75 million)

FOX:
8-10pm HOLE IN THE WALL (3.54 million)

THE CW:
8pm SMALLVILLE (3.95 million)
9pm SUPERNATURAL (3.57 million)

Justin Hartley Shirtless on "Smallville"

2008-10-03T15:00:00.000-04:00

Last night on The CW's "Smallville," Justice League hunk the Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) made a droolworthy shirtless appearance. Check out the stills from the "Toxic" episode of the young Superman drama, after the jump.

"Brothers & Sisters" Spoilers #3.02 'Book Burning'

2008-10-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

This Sunday night on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," unbeknownst to the Walkers or Robert (Rob Lowe), Kitty (Calista Flockhart) publishes a tell-all memoir.

Much to the chagrin of her mother and siblings, Kitty decides to publish a tell-all memoir about Robert's unsuccessful Presidential race and the trials and tribulations of the Walker family.

Meanwhile, Justin slows his relationship with Rebecca to a near stand still. Guest stars: Cathy Ladman as Carla Hanson, Karl T. Wright as Alan Simms and Marty Ryan as Mike.

Also in this episode, the Walker family will go to great lengths to wine and dine social worker Carla who comes over to interview Kitty and Robert over adoption.

Finally, Hollyw decides to give her daughter Rebecca the money she was supposed to receive at age 25, making her an instant millionaire.

Steven Weber Joins "Desperate Housewives"

2008-10-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

Steven Weber ("Wings," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), who romanced Rachel Griffiths on ABC's Sunday night dramedy "Brothers & Sisters" last season is coming back to the same network and night this year, but he will now be seen an hour earlier raising eyebrows with a young lady on Wisteria Lane.

According to EW's Ausiello: "When Susan Mayer's (Teri Hatcher) now-adult daughter Julie (Andrea Bowen) returns to Wisteria Lane next month, she'll be bringing along one helluva surprise: boyfriend Steven Weber."

The show producers have cast Weber as Julie's thrice-divorced college professor-turned-lover, whose sudden appearance leads Susan to double her crazy pill intake. The actor (and former "Desperate Housewives" regular Bowen) will only appear in one episode so far.

"Friday Night Lights" Season 3 Promos

2008-10-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Award-winning drama "Friday Night Lights" has begun its 3rd season on Wednesday night, but the show won't be coming to NBC before early 2009. Instead, DirecTV is airing the 13 episodes ordered this year, following fans' efforts to save the low-rated series.

The critically-acclaimed drama is airing on channel 101 on the DIRECTV dial in a commercial-free and extended format for the entire season.

This season, Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) has to cope with an uncertain team after the graduation of star running back Smash Williams (Gaius Charles).

Smash is dealing with his own demons after a season-ending injury causes him to lose his college scholarship while Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) is in danger of having his starting quarterback position taken away from him when a new freshman phenom arrives on the scene.

Meanwhile Tami (Connie Britton) faces stressful challenges as the new principal of Dillon High School as she continues to struggle with raising her teenage daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden).

Tyra (Adrienne Palicki) is determined to get out of Dillon and into a good college by overcoming her past academic problems and with the help of a few friends, she's encourage her to make a run for student body president.

But a budding romance between Tyra and a rodeo star leaves her ambitions and Landry on the sidelines.

And finally, this season gives fans what they have been waiting for as Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) and Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) finally become a couple!

Blake Lively Films "Gossip Girl" Kissing Scene

2008-10-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

"Gossip Girl" star Blake Lively and her season 2 co-star John Patrick Amedori filmed a kissing scene for the hit CW series earlier this week on Times Square in New York. Serena appears to have quickly gotten over Dan.

Meanwhile, Willa Holland, who played Marissa Cooper's devilish little sis, Caitlin, on "The O.C" (from "Gossip Girl" creator Josh Schwartz) has also joined the series for a 3-episode arc as Agnes, a young model for Eleanor Waldorf who befriends Jenny Humphrey.

"Gossip Girl" has done very well in the ratings this season, going up from season 1 average of 2.5 million to about 3.3-3.7 million viewers. The buzz seems to be finally paying off.

"Sex and the City" Star Sarah Jessica Parker Launches NYC Schools Benefit

2008-10-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

Caroline Kennedy and Sarah Jessica Parker kicked off New York City's fifth annual "Shop for Public Schools" promotion on Wednesday.

More than 200 retail locations across the city will donate part of their sales to public school libraries.

The Fund For Public Schools initiative - which runs through next Wednesday - has raised more than $5 million since it was started in 2004.

Parker said it was "a great opportunity for all New Yorkers to get involved." The money should help children "learn to love reading, improve their research skills and pursue their dreams."

ABC Wednesday Ratings Meltdown

2008-10-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

Highly-anticipated ABC Wednesdays got off to a lackluster start this week as the trio of sophomore dramas "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" pulled in just 6.5-8 million viewers.

ABC tried to spin the numbers in their press release, but the best they could do is say that the 2nd season opener of whimsical "Pushing Daisies" beat NBC's "Knight Rider" in key female demos.

The truth is the show generated only 6.32 million viewers vs. the hideous "Knight Rider", which actually went up in the ratings to 7.56 million.

"Private Practice" at 9pm pulled in only 8.05 million viewers, a far cry from the 14 million who tuned into the series premiere last September, or the 11 million that the show averaged during its short 9-episode run last fall.

Finally at 10pm, Dynasty-esque sudser "Dirty Sexy Money" kept 7.15 million viewers tuned to ABC. That is a little higher than its last episode last year (6.7 million) and the show did retain almost 90% of the PP audience.

Unfortunately, only "Private Practice" built its audience during the hour, both "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money" shed viewers during their respective hours.

"Heroes" Babe Hayden Panettiere Smiles Despite Ratings & Family Troubles

2008-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Her hit NBC series is still down in the ratings and her father has just been charged with misdemeanor battery for an incident in which he allegedly hit his wife, but "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere is still smiling for the cameras.

Earlier this week it was reported that Alan Panettiere faces up to a year in a Los Angeles County jail if convicted. He was arrested on Aug. 11 on suspicion of striking his wife, Lesley.

Meanwhile, Hayden's sci-fi saga "Heroes" has failed to break the 10 million mark in the Nielsen ratings, losing about 5 million viewers year to year. The show returned to NBC Mondays following a 10-month break and a lackluster 2nd season.

Desperate Housewives #5.04 "Back in Business": Susan Teaches MJ to Fall

2008-10-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

As jealousy rears its ugly head on Wisteria Lane, MJ's drawing of a family portrait has left Mike (James Denton) feeling like he's not a presence in his son's life. Catch the "Back in Business" episode of "Desperate Housewives" October 19.

Also in the episode, Bree's new cookbook and entrepreneurial success has the women of Wisteria Lane feeling envious; Lynette's longing for a taste of her breadwinning days as an ad-exec leads her to lend an unsolicited hand to Bree's marketing plan; Gaby hatches a plan to have more sex with Carlos, Susan teaches a reluctant MJ how to fall, and Dave's motives for moving to the neighborhood continue to take shape.

Guest stars include Gale Harold as Jackson, Mary Pat Gleason as Ms. Elenora Butters and Charlie Babcock as Stu. "Back in Business" was directed by Scott Ellis and written by John Pardee and Joey Murphy.

"Fringe" Premiere & "90210" Week #2 Ratings

2008-09-10T13:30:00.000-04:00

Has all the hype paid off? "Fringe" series premiere ratings have arrived, along with week #2 of "90210" and the series premiere of CW's new soap "Privileged."

The 90-minute premiere of "Fringe" pulled in 9 million viewers, generating a 3.2 rating among adults 18-49.

Although that is a somewhat decent start for the series, I do believe FOX expected higher figures. Even 2005 premiere of "Prison Break" did a little better with less hype.

The ratings should however improve in the coming weeks with FOX's #1 scripted hit "House" giving the new drama a little lead-in push.

Over on The CW, one third of viewers who watched last week's premiere of "90210" were gone, as the redux took a big plunge from 4.9 to only 3.3 million viewers, with a very modest 1.7 rating among adults 18-49.

Perhaps CW executives should have waited before boasting about its record-breaking figures last week. Given the original show's cult status, last week's solid sampling was a sure shot.

Finally, the new soap "Privileged" got a modest 2.9 million viewers for its 9pm series premiere, leading out of "90210."

Perhaps, CW prexy Dawn Ostroff (a.k.a. Everwood-killer) was not on the mark with her strategy of programming similar shows every day after all. Then again, there's always a way to spin everything.

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Gay Romance on ABC Sundays

2008-09-10T12:00:00.001-04:00

Remember when back in the 1980s "Dynasty's" Steven and Luke (who recently reemerged here) were the only gay couple on prime time TV who got to give each other a hug once in a blue moon? Well, things have certainly changed since then, as gay couples on ABC soaps today not only get to kiss and have sex, but also wed and parent children.

Following rumors of their split and coupling of one of the men with Wisteria Lane's naughty gay teen Andrew Van De Kamp, Bob and Lee on "Desperate Housewives" are still together when the show leaps to 2013 and they are now raising a little girl. Shawn Pyfrom's character will meanwhile become Bree's Machiavellian PR manager.

Over on "Brothers & Sisters," out actor Luke MacFarlane and his Welsh co-star Matthew Rhys are now both regulars on the show. Their characters Kevin and Scotty will face new challanges after their wedding in May, including Kevin's radical career changes and Scotty's attempt to reconnect with his homophobic parents.

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"Desperate" Spoilers: Gabrielle's New Family

2008-09-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

Wisteria Lane's self-centered materialistic vixen played by Eva Longoria is getting two overweight daughters when she and her castmates time jump to 2013 on an all-new season of ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

Fans are eager to see whether these bold changes will ruin the beloved Sunday night soap, or if the writers and actors manage to pull it off and keep the show fresh and at the top of its game.

Richardo Chavira, who plays Longoria's husband on the show, has in the meantime become proud father again, welcoming his second child, a daughter named Belen Elysabeth. He says the experience has made him extra protective of the 2 young girls hired to play his daughters on the show.

In an interview with TV Guide, Chavira said he was not sure whether 'Desperate Housewives' should be making fun of child obesity, when the problem is spiraling out of control in North America.

An upcoming storyline features Gaby, a former model, noticing her girls are not living up to her strict standards of physical appearance and discussing the matter with her husband Carlos who is still blind and now a little grey, too.

The plan is for Carlos to regain his sight in the course of the 5th season. In the meantime, he will try to earn some extra cash by working out of his home as massage therapist.

Surprisingly, Gaby who herself appeared somewhat bloated and overweight in last May's finale, appears in top shape in the new episodes. Perhaps Mrs. Parker was unhappy with her character's physical changes and had Marc Cherry scrap them for her.

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VIDEO: Gossip Girl's Chace C. on Regis/Kelly

2008-09-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

Texas-born beauty Chace Crawford who plays "Gossip Girl's" cougar-loving prep boy Nathaniel Archibald made an appearance on the syndicated talker "Regis and Kelly" earlier this week to promote his CW show and talk about his own high school shenanigans.

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