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July 31, 2007
Cue the tearful music, and the slow-motion montage: “The Simple Life” is calling it quits after five seasons. Funny… it feels like more than that.
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, the stars of the show, have endured a lifetime of drama in their few years in the spotlight, including: numerous arrests, one prison sentence (served), another prison sentence (forthcoming), one pregnancy, at least four DUI arrests, a few engagements, numerous paramours, one pornographic film, a huge falling-out, a lackluster reconciliation, and one infectious catch phrase. Theirs are anything but simple lives.
The series, which began on Fox, was dropped by the network and picked up by E!, who ran the reality show for two seasons. This year, however, the ratings dipped once again, and the show will air for the last time this Sunday at 10pm. It seems as though viewers were more interested in watching Paris on CNN and Fox News than E! this season.
Tom Snyder, talk-show host, reporter, and television personality, lost his battle with leukemia this week at the age of 71.
From 1973 to 1982, Snyder hosted the late night talk show “Tomorrow”, which aired after Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show”. The show will be remembered for its many famous interviews, including the last televised interview of John Lennon and first US television appearance of U2, as well as for the constant plumes of smoke from Snyder’s perpetually burning cigarettes. The show was quiet and usually serious in tone, and was in sharp contrast to other, comedy-centric late night programming.
Finally, in 1982, the show was cancelled after the network reformatted it as a variety show. The shift was unsuccessful, and a new comedian, David Letterman, was given the time slot.
He is survived by a daughter and a longtime girlfriend.
July 30, 2007
“The Simpsons Movie” defied all expectations this weekend by pulling in roughly $71.8 million domestically, the third-best all-time opening of an animated film, bested only by the last two “Shrek” films. Experts projected the film to make somewhere between 30 and 40 million this weekend, so the huge numbers come as a shock to Hollywood, and a pleasant surprise for those involved with the film.
Some believed that the film would not do well, as the ratings for the FOX show have slumped in recent years. Premiering in 1989, “The Simpsons” was a ratings force for the early part of the 90s, but have steadily declined since, which lead some Hollywood experts to believe the film’s chances at box office success were limited.
But fans came out in force over the weekend, and almost doubled the expected numbers for the film. Will this success mean more “Simpsons” films? And does this mean viewers will be seeing more of their favorite television shows making the jump to the big screen? If the numbers are any indication, we can bet on it.
This year may forever be known as the year that television surpassed movies as the medium to beat in the realm of sci-fi and fantasy genres.
At this year’s Comic-Con convention in San Diego, television networks pushed their hit science fiction offerings hard, and used the convention to call attention to their new shows, to get potential fans (and fanatics) invested before the fall season begins.
NBC was the first to use the massive convention as a platform to promote their shows. Last year, they unveiled “Heroes” in order to introduce sci-fi lovers to the fantasy drama. As expected, potential fans were discussing what they had seen at Comic-Con on the internet, and advance word of the series spread online.
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July 27, 2007
By now the news has spread that Drew Carey will be picking up the long, thin microphone Bob Barker put down a few weeks ago, and will be the new host of “The Price Is Right”. He was quoted earlier this month to have said, in regards to who will take over: “Whoever does that is going to be an idiot or desperate for work. How would you like to fill a legend's shoes? Get somebody else." Now, of course, he’s changed his tune: “I’m going to be a game show host for the rest of my life. I had to come to terms with that.” Sounds like a guy excited to get to work, right?
But some candidates really wanted the job from the start, and they’re still smarting a bit from the Carey news. ‘Beverly Hill 90210’ actor Ian Ziering was also in contention, but was overlooked by the comedian. He told People Magazine: “For the last month, I’ve been so titillated, my family has been excited at the mere notion of me hosting ‘The Price is Right’”.
The ‘90s teen star took the high road, though, and continued: “They got a great host in Drew Carey. I’ve always been a big fan of his. I think he’s going to do great.” Steve Sanders couldn’t have said it any better himself.
July 26, 2007
Could this really be happening? Could the ABC hit drama “Boston Legal” not be returning to the airwaves this fall?
The Emmy-nominated series is currently missing from the fall line-up, and rumor is that ABC is still deciding of the show will return. Apparently, the network asked the “Boston Legal” producers to create a 90-minute episode to air immediately after the premiere of “Dancing With The Stars” on September 25th, but they declined. As a result, the show has been left off the schedule.
Will another popular scripted show wind up on our Pop Autopsy? For the good of the show, and its many fans, let’s hope ABC and the producers can sort out their differences.
July 25, 2007
One of the more exciting projects taking shape in Hollywood these days is the new Star Trek film, which will breathe new life into the franchise, and show viewers the origins of the Enterprise. Helmed by J. J. Abrams (of “Alias” and "Lost" fame), this new incarnation promises to be an updated, Christmas blockbuster of the sci-fi legend.
The big news, though, is that the principle cast is starting to take shape, and one of television’s hottest stars is in the running for a fan favorite. Zachary Quinto, who plays the super-villain ‘Sylar’ on the hit NBC series “Heroes”, is close to being confirmed to play “Spock” in the upcoming film, sources at eonline.com report.
Quinto’s even-tempered, cool, reserved portrayal of ‘Sylar’ on the small screen makes him an obvious and brilliant choice for the emotionless Vulcan. If Quinto is prepared for the countless Trekkie conventions, endless attention from the super-fans (both positive and potentially otherwise), and the constant request to “do that ‘V’ with your fingers”, time will tell. Maybe he should talk to Leonard Nimoy before he signs anything.
In a move that will presumably come as a huge shock to television viewers everywhere, Mark Burnett’s “Pirate Master” will be pulled from CBS immediately. The ill-fated series, in which, essentially, people pretend to be pirates, opened to low ratings when it debuted in May, and it’s been all downhill ever since.
Burnett has had a rough summer. Besides this show, his “On The Lot” was scaled back, after it failed to attract substantial numbers. But while his summer series did not take off as expected, the reality series guru will be back soon with a new, celebrity “Apprentice”, and another “Survivor”.
Maybe, years from now, “Pirate Master” will be considered a cult classic of the reality series era, and you can log onto the brilliantbutcancelled.com of the future and see clips of the series. Until then, let’s hope CBS fills the timeslot wisely. May we recommend a series about people who want to be Vikings?
July 23, 2007
Scott Patterson, who was last seen as ‘Luke’ on the CW’s “Gilmore Girls”, will be appearing on the network’s new series “Aliens in America” this fall… but the transition wasn’t as easy as it sounds.
“Aliens in America”, which is considered by some to be among the most promising new shows debuting this fall, originally starred Patrick Breen as the father on the show. But, because of a contract Patterson had with the network, Breen was released and replaced by Patterson. The contract was a “holding deal” with the CW, stating that, when “Gilmore Girls” was not picked up for an eighth season, Patterson needed to be placed on another show on the network.
Patterson and Breen are very different actors, and the effect on the show could be dramatic. If it’s for the better or the worse… viewers will have to decide for themselves this fall.
“Veronica Mars” fans, there is a little more information coming to light about the demise of the brilliant but cancelled series. Dawn Ostroff, the CW Network’s Entertainment President, spoke last week about the fate of the show, and the CW’s efforts to keep the show on the air.
According to IF Magazine, Ostroff said, “I can honestly sit here and say I can not look back and have any regrets. I feel that we gave VERONICA MARS every chance and as many of you here know, there was no stronger champion of that show than me. We gave it a better time slot to follow up every single year that it was on the air. And eventually, we just had to say how much longer do we go on without the show really catching on? So the taking of the show off the air for a while was not the demise of the show. We really tried every single year to figure out how we can bring more viewers in. We just weren’t able to crack it.”
“Mars” fans will always be left wondering what, if anything, they could’ve sent CW (a la “Jericho” crackers), but it looks like there was no saving this brilliant series.
July 20, 2007
Glenn Close returns to television and to FX in her new role as a lawyer who keeps everyone guessing in “Damages.” Close plays Patty Hewes, the nation’s foremost high-stakes litigator, who enjoys playing mind games with consummate skill. She can be silky and seductive, cold and ruthless. She can sweet-talk or threaten with equal dispatch.
Of course she can. She’s Glenn Close! She played the lead in Fatal Attraction.
The crafty legal thriller premieres on FX at 10pm EDT Tuesday. Close enjoyed a previous stint as police Capt. Monica Rawling on the wildly entertaining drama “The Shield.”
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July 18, 2007
Aaron Sorkin, just a few weeks after the last episode of his brilliant but ill-fated show “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” went off the air permanently, spoke to the LA Times about his experience on the show, and the lessons learned.
“On some shows, you can make mistakes and still survive. But with this one, I made too many mistakes for it to survive”, he said. "I don't know how to emphasize this enough that I'm not disappointed or upset with anyone but myself. There are only two possible reasons for 'Studio 60' failing — it was either my fault or it was just one of those things.”
Thankfully, fans of Sorkin will not have to wait long to hear more of his signature dialogue. This fall, he will have a play premiering on Broadway, an adaptation of “Charlie Wilson’s War” in theaters (starring Tom Hanks), and also has a three-picture deal with Dreamworks to keep him busy.
It is a rare thing for anyone in Hollywood to take the blame for a shortcoming, and a brave thing for him to admit his part in any lack of success the show may have experienced. Whether the failure of the show was, in fact, his fault, viewers may never know the answer.
Fans of the cheesy sports entertainment show “American Gladiators” have reason to rejoice today… if only for a while.
The WWF-inspired sporting event—part staged wrestling drama, part obstacle course—was a favorite of the ‘90s, and has since been revitalized as part of a re-run series on ESPN Classic. But now, Ben Silverman, the newly appointed head of programming at NBC, might make a push towards a new and improved “American Gladiators”.
At a press conference on Monday, Silverman announced that a revised version of the campy hit might be making its way to NBC. But will it be full of tanned muscles, teased hair, and lots of names like “Turbo” and “Lace”? We’ll make them all run the gauntlet if it isn’t.
July 17, 2007
Mandy Patinkin, star of CBS’ hit, “Criminal Minds”, has quit the show for mysterious—and some claim contentious—reasons.
Patinkin, who previously quit another CBS show (“Chicago Hope” in 1995), did not show up to the first day of shooting this month, and the producers never learned why.
According to Variety, executive producer Ed Bernero said on a fan site, “"He gave us no advance notice that anything was wrong, no opportunity to find a way to make the loss of this character work, no indication that we should be looking for someone else, no warning that we might have to rewrite the first seven scripts (which is how far ahead we try to work) without the central character in them."
ABC Studios and CBS Paramount, who produce the show, have said an explanation for his departure will be explained in an episode early this season, and a new cast member will be added.
His reps released this comment: “ … he looks forward to continuing to work with the Disney and CBS companies in other capacities in the future." Having left two shows on the same network, he may need to do more than send his best wishes before audiences see him on CBS any time soon.
Controversial television star Isaiah Washington has landed his next job, and will be appearing on NBC this fall on their new show “Bionic Woman”.
Washington, who was dismissed from ABC’s hit “Grey’s Anatomy” because of his use of a gay slur, was temporarily without a home on television, but NBC quickly scooped up the actor, and gave him a second chance.
Ben Silverman, the recently appointed co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, had this to say about Washington, “It’s like A-Rod leaving the Yankees in midseason”. Needless to say, NBC wasted no time, and gave Washington a 5-episode story arc on the new show, which NBC hopes will follow in the footsteps of their hit, “Heroes”.
Washington is also developing an action series with NBC and its studios, based on one of his ideas.
July 16, 2007
The E! Network will be premiering a new reality series about Snoop Dogg and his complicated home and work life. The untitled show, which will debut in late 2007, will watch as Snoop juggles his family (he is a father of three) and career (as a producer, actor, and multi-platinum recording artist), trying to make both work. E! has described the show as “hilarious and heartwarming”.
In addition to his double-life, he is also dealing with legal troubles. After pleading ‘no contest’ to felony gun and drug charges, he was sentenced to five years probation and a grand total of 800 hours of community services. Also, he was among five men who were arrested in Heathrow Airport on charges of violent disorder.
In order to keep it “hilarious and heartwarming”, they may want to leave that last part on the editing room floor.
A new series on Indian television is looking for the next great singer in their country. Only this time: no stages, no fancy lighting, and no back-up bands. On this show, the competitors will be singing the bathroom.
“Bathroom Singer” will pit singers against one another in a bathroom-like set. They’ll belt, boogie, and bellow as they would at home, and the winner walks away with 2.5 million rupees. The show hopes to curb the current trend in singing shows, which usually features very young performers. This competition will have singers of all ages going head to head in the shower, singing their favorite hits.
And no, to answer everyone’s first question: they will not be singing in the buff.
July 13, 2007
Could another HBO fan favorite be following in the footsteps of “Sex and the City”?
“Deadwood”, David Milch’s brilliant but cancelled series (expect a “pop autopsy” on the subject soon) was rumored to have a film in the works when it was first given the boot, but now it seems like the chances are, according to HBO’s co-president, around “50-50”.
The biggest obstacle, it seems, would be another season of “John From Cincinnati”, another Milch creation. While the show hasn’t been getting excellent numbers, either, it may hang on for another season, and would make the development of a “Deadwood” film script all but impossible.
Milch fans appear divided when it comes to “Cincy”, but decided when it comes to their affection for “Deadwood”. Will the success of one mean the final nail in the coffin for another? Stay tuned…
Fans of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” number into the millions, and now they have a place to go and feel the love. “Buffy Musical Big Screen Extravaganza” is a stage show/ sing along in which people can lip sync along with “Once More With Feeling”, an infamous episode in which the characters (possessed by a demon) break out into song.
Taking their cue from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, fans sing along with the episode, while some of the more advanced viewers get up on front of the crowd to work their magic.
On a particular screening in Los Angeles this week, creator and writer Joss Whedon snuck into the theater to watch the proceedings, and was touching by the outpouring of love and respect for the show. A newcomer to the experience, he said, “This was way more moving than I expected it to be.”
“This was magical. You guys are gorgeous.”
July 11, 2007
The national Hometown Movie Challenge has come to a close, and Springfield, Vermont has come out on top. Their prize? They will host the premiere of “The Simpsons Movie” later this month.
The online competition involved cities across the country with the name “Springfield” explaining through video entries why they feel like they’re the most deserving of the movie’s premiere. The tiny town in Vermont (which earned thousands more votes online—15,367— than they have inhabitants—9,300) was a last-minute entry, but barely edged out the second place town, Springfield, Illinois, to take the crown.
How will the little village spread the word that Hollywood is coming? “We’ll probably go door to door on Main Street”, said Patricia Chaffee, vice president of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also produced the town’s video for the internet. With a population that small, and a movie so large… it seems everyone will be getting in on the action.
Daniel Radcliffe, the world’s most famous wizard, will stray from his “Harry Potter” roles and play on the small screen later this year.
Radcliffe will play the title role in “My Boy Jack”, about the author Rudyard Kipling and his wife’s search for their son (played by Radcliffe), during World War I. The television film will be shot in the UK, and will premiere in the States next year as part of PBS’ “Masterpiece Theater” series. Brian Kirk, helmer of such great series as “The Tudors” and “The Riches”, is slated to direct.
In other news, Radcliffe will also be appearing in some small, low-budget film this week, but we can’t seem to remember what it’s called. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
Tori Spelling can now add another credit to her long resume: reverend.
The actress and star of the Oxygen network’s “Tori & Dean: Inn Love” signed up online to receive her officiating certificate in the mail, and can now oversee weddings and other official ceremonies.
She applying for the certificate in order to officiate a same-sex union at her bed-and-breakfast, which she runs with her husband, Dean McDermott. The show’s second season will begin this August 14th.
As for the ceremony, Reverend Tori said: "It was so beautiful as I united Tony and Dex as life partners in love. They wrote their own beautiful vows and there was so much love surrounding them that there wasn't a dry eye in the driveway!"
How romantic.
July 10, 2007
Tony Shalhoub, the star and executive producer of the hit cable series “Monk”, says the show may be coming to an end. The sixth season, which will return to USA on July 13th, is the last under Shalhoub’s current contract, and he may not be up for another.
“My contract is up in November, and we’re going to have to see how it all plays out”, he told the National Ledger. “I do love the people and I love the part, but it’s a question. There’s a lot of stiff competition, especially with so much more programming on basic cable.” When asked about another contract, he said, “I will have to take them one year at a time”.
Hopefully, it will be a long time before there will be a Pop Autopsy on this brilliant show.
The hit Fox series, which hit a few snags last season with viewers and ratings, is in the middle of shooting its next season (known as “Day 7”), and may have hit some unexpected turbulence.
TV Guide’s Editors Blog reports that most of the upcoming season’s storyline has been thrown out, largely because shooting in the deserved setting—Africa—proved to be too expensive, and substituting it with areas of southern California didn’t create the desired effect. Now, just a few weeks from August, the writers are rumored to be going back to the drawing board, trying to cook up another dramatic day for Jack Bauer.
‘24’ has had its share of rumors circulating around it this summer, but this is certainly the most dramatic. Mary Lynn Rajskub, who plays ‘Chloe’ on the show, tells TV Guide: “We usually start [back up] at the end of July, and I don’t think we’re starting until a couple of weeks into August now. It’s kind of exciting, because I think [the postponement] means that they’re really having to dig in there and come up with new stuff.”
July 09, 2007
The food-for-shows system is apparently continuing, with fans of “The Black Donnellys” taking their cue from fans of “Jericho”. Only this time, “Donnelly” fans will be shipping hundreds of pounds of crackers to executives, instead of “Jericho” fans’ nuts.
“The Black Donnellys”, a gritty drama that didn’t find a large enough audience on NBC, was cancelled at the end of this season, but fans are not giving up so easy. They’re sending about 45,000 crackers, but not to NBC. Instead, they’re shipping the Zesta crackers to HBO, the network fans believe would be better suited to the dark family drama.
For the sake of “Donnelly” fans everywhere, let’s hope HBO executives love crackers, or else they may not have the same luck as “Jericho”.
The campaign to save the CBS series ‘Jericho’ is now, at this point, well documented. What many fans may not know is that the source of their success can be tracked back to one, lone fan: Clay Aiken. And who alerted the world to his good deeds? Well, that would also be Clay Aiken.
On his fan site, Aiken apparently wrote about how much he loved the show, and how disappointed he was when it was cancelled. It was there, he claims, that the effort to save the show was born. He mobilized his “Claymates”, and they started sending letters, and the infamous nuts… and thus, reviving the show.
Non-Claymate fans of ‘Jericho’, however, tell a different story: that the nut idea, and the grassroots effort, did not begin and end with Clay Aiken. Who is to thank for the rescuing of the show remains to be seen (and may be debated online forever), but hopefully both sides can put their differences behind them, and enjoy the fruits (and nuts) of their labors in peace.
July 06, 2007
‘Hannah Montana’, the fictitious character played by Miley Cyrus on the Disney Channel, took the number one spot on the Billboard charts this week, beating out another television-spawned superstar: Kelly Clarkson.
‘Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus’ sold 33,000 more copies than Kelly Clarkson’s ‘My December’, which debuted in the number two position. Clarkson was the original winner of ‘American Idol’, and has gone on to become the most notable of all the ‘Idol’ winners.
But her post-‘Idol’ success was no match for the Disney Channel star, who last had a number one album in October.
Richard Hatch, winner of the first “Survivor”, sounded off from his prison cell earlier this week about the commutation of Scooter Libby, and he isn’t happy.
“What a country! Excessive sentence! Where’s my pardon/commutation?”
Hatch, who is serving a 51-month sentence in a minimum-security prison in West Virginia for tax evasion, has become quite vocal in his protestation of the American legal system, and its discrepancies. “If Bush believes the judge in Scooter Libby's case sentenced Libby too harshly, perhaps Bush should closely examine what bigoted and otherwise biased judges are doing every day all over the country.”
Hatch was introduced to television audiences on the first season of “Survivor”, where he made waves by lounging in the nude, and netting the first grand prize of one million dollars.
July 05, 2007
The rapper and “Law & Order” star Ice-T is planning a new reality series with his wife, Coco. “Beauty and the Beast” will focus on the couple’s seven-year relationship, and the trials and tribulations of celebrity coupledom.
When asked by AllHipHop.com about his distinct take on marriage, and about his model wife, Ice-T said: “Some women just have a knack for wanting the most rowdiest men. There’s a way to get us. If you got a pitbull, as long as you feed it and take care of it, that pitbull is gonna lick your hand. So when someone says 'yo coco, Ice sis a pitbull, she can say, 'yeah, but he's my pitbull.'”
In response, Coco replied: "I needed that challenge. I just wanted a real guy, not one of those nerdy, dorky men. I just wanted a real guy with some swagger. It's been seven years now."
Having lasted much longer than the average celebrity couple, perhaps Ice-T and Coco have some lessons for us all.
July 03, 2007
A list of Primetime Emmy finalists was leaked online over the weekend, giving viewers (and networks, and producers, and writers, and agents…) a rare look into the voting process. It also gave them a chance to see who the frontrunners were for nominations.
TheEnvelope.com posted lists of the top ten finalists in drama and comedy. For drama, “Boston Legal”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Lost”, “Friday Night Lights”, “Heroes”, “House”, “24”, Showtimes’s “Dexter”, and HBO’s “Rome” and “The Sopranos” make up the list. For comedy, “Desperate Housewives”, “Ugly Betty”, “My Name Is Earl”, “The Office”, “Scrubs”, “30 Rock”, Two and a Half Men”, “Entourage”, “Extras”, and “Weeds” are in the lead for nominations.
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which runs and operates the Awards, did not comment on the leak, nor did it say whether it will investigate the source.
There will be some new faces on Wisteria Lane this season of “Desperate Housewives”, but they won’t be strangers to television viewers.
Dana Delany, who won two Emmys for her work on “China Beach”, and was last seen on the small screen in the underrated series “Kidnapped”, will be the newest wife. She’ll join Nathan Fillion, who starred in FOX’s “Drive”, but is better known in Brilliant But Cancelled circles as Captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds on “Firefly”. They will play a May-December married couple, with Fillion being the younger of the two.
Lyndsy Fonseca, of NBC’s “Heroes”, rounds out the new family in town, playing Delany’s daughter. Will these new additions add more spice and drama this season? We can count on it.
July 02, 2007
The new VH1 series, “Scott Baio is 45… and Single”, has hit a bit of a problem. It turns out that Baio (who is, in fact, 45), isn’t really single at all.
The series, which will debut this month, will feature an aging Baio as he searches for romance in Los Angeles. As a former heartthrob, Baio once dated the likes of Pamela Anderson, Heather Locklear, and Nicollette Sheridan, but is now a lonely bachelor looking to settle down. Or so the show would like to portray.
Unfortunately, conflicting reports have emerged, and it looks like Baio hasn’t been that lonely after all. In fact, he may have been dating his current girlfriend, Renee Sloan, for two years… well before taping began. Sloan, a former Playboy Playmate, was once Anderson’s stunt double on “Baywatch”.
Will this jeopardize the success of the show? We suspect it all depends on whether viewers watch such reality programming for truth or for entertainment.
The Cartoon Network’s retro channel, Boomerang, will be broadcasting all 166 episodes of “The Flintstones” later this week, in sequential order, and without commercial interruption.
The Boomerang Channel is devoted to animated series and programming the Baby Boomer generation grew up with, running older cartoons instead of the new (and occasionally racy) programming on The Cartoon Network. This will be the Network’s first marathon of any series.
“The Flintstones”, which debuted in 1960 on ABC, will begin airing on Wednesday, July 4th, at 6:00am, and will run until Saturday, July 7th at 5pm.
Fans, start your sofas.
