Archive: March 2009 (92-104 of 123)

Mar 7 2009 12:00 AM ET

'The Bachelorette': Jesse Csincsak to guest on 'America's Most Wanted'

Categories: TV Biz

Haven’t gotten enough of a Bachelor fix this week yet? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Jesse Csinscak, whom Bachelorette No. 4, Deanna Pappas, gave her final rose to (and then, abruptly took it back), will be making an appearance on Fox’s America’s Most Wanted Saturday night at 8 p.m. Eastern.

The reality star was called upon by the show’s host, John Walsh, to help bring light to the murder of snowboarder Benjamin Bradley. “He was trekking to Jackson Hole, and he never made there,” explains Csincsak, who’s a pro snowboarder. “They found his body face down in the desert. A couple of months later they found his backpack. The one thing they didn’t find was his $1,200 Never Summer splitboard, which we think could be the key to the murder.” According to Csincsak, his expertise on the slopes is what made him the perfect person to work with Walsh on the case. “Basically, informing them that every snowboard has a VIN number and explaining to them how a splitboard works,” he says. “There are only 128 of those types of boards in the world. So if this board was taken from the guy and then put on eBay and sold, five million people are going to see this episode and somebody might go, ‘Well that looks a lot like the splitboard I bought on eBay’ and call in. That could be the key to solving this murder.”

Besides offering crime-fighting tips, Csincsak also had a few tips to give to Melissa Rycroft, the Bachelor contestant scorned by Jason Mesnick, earlier this week: “I’m a big fan of taking the high road and never really saying anything bad about anybody. That would be my advice to her: to keep her chin high and know…that it’s all right.” Still, the ski bum isn’t taking sides — Mesnick has been a close friend of his ever since they competed on The Bachelorette for Pappas’ heart. “I gave Jason a call [Monday night], just left him a voicemail. I’m sure he’s getting hundreds,” he says. “You go on that show to fall in love. [So] as long as he’s in love is what matters. On every single one of those shows, somebody always gets their heart broken. And it’s kind of casualties of love — love hurts. So it’s a bummer Melissa’s heart got broken. But at the same time I’m really happy for Jason and Molly and Ty. I’m really excited to go out and have pizza, beer, and wings with those guys and hang out.”

Mar 6 2009 08:44 PM ET

Exclusive: Kandi Burruss joins 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta'

Categories: Casting, Television, TV Biz

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NeNe, Kim, Sheree, and Lisa, make room for one more! EW has learned exclusively that DeShawn Snow’s replacement on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta is Kandi Burruss, a singer-songwriter from the platinum-selling ’90s R&B girl group Xscape (which also included sisters LaTocha and Tamika Scott, as well as Burruss’ best friend Tameka “Tiny” Cottle).

Burruss is undeniably the most notable member from Xscape. Since the group parted ways in the late ’90s, she had a somewhat successful solo singing career (her biggest hit: “Don’t Think I’m Not”) but has seen ever greater successes with songwriting. Along with Cottle (who’s married to rap superstar T.I.), she wrote TLC’s 1999 smash hit “No Scrubs.” Burruss has also penned jams for Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child, Boyz II Men, Alicia Keys, and Faith Evans. The singer-songwriter has a daughter, 6-year-old Riley, from a previous relationship, and a boyfriend.

Burruss fills the spot vacated by DeShawn Snow, who is the wife of Cleveland Cavaliers NBA player and NBA TV announcer Eric Snow. She was known on the show for her ridiculously large house and extensive staff, as well as a rather poorly received fundraiser she threw for the DeShawn Snow Foundation, which helps teenage girls with self-esteem issues. When the news came out that Snow would not be joining Housewives for season 2, she was quoted on Essence.com as saying a producer called her “and said that I was ‘too human for a circus show’ and that because the show
did so well, they are about to pump up the drama and they didn’t think
that I would fit in.” Snow is now pursuing a degree in divinity.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta was Bravo’s highest rated freshman series since Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, back in 2003. The series’ first season was also the second highest rated Real Housewives season ever, behind only season 3 of The Real Housewives of Orange County. It averaged 1.3 million viewers per episode and scored the highest rated Real Housewives franchise telecast ever, with 2.2 million viewers.

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Mar 6 2009 07:57 PM ET

Ratings: 'American Idol' and 'CSI' trounce Thursday's competition

Fox’s American Idol won Thursday evening with its wild card episode, drawing 21.2 million viewers, an uptick from the audience for last week’s results show. Competing against Idol at 8 p.m., CBS’ Survivor managed to hold onto most of its viewers from last week, drawing 12 million pairs of eyeballs. At 9 p.m., the Eye’s  CSI dominated with 21 million watchers, making it a close No. 2 on the night. The stalwart procedural gained 3.2 million viewers from last week’s new episode. And for the second week in a row, ER gained viewers, as did its rival at 10 p.m., CBS’s Eleventh Hour.

 
   
   
      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

 

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
8 p.m. American Idol (Fox)
Survivor (CBS)
Ugly Betty (ABC)
My Name is Earl (NBC)
Smallville (The CW)
21.2
12.0
6.4
5.6
2.2 (repeat)
8:30 p.m. Kath & Kim (NBC) 4.2
9 p.m. CSI (CBS)
Hell’s Kitchen (Fox)
The Office (NBC)
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
Supernatural (The CW)
21.0
10.6
8.6
5.7 (repeat)
2.0 (repeat)
9:30 p.m. 30 Rock (NBC) 7.4
10 p.m. Eleventh Hour (CBS)
ER (NBC)
Private Practice (ABC)
12.2
8.8
4.5 (repeat)
Mar 6 2009 07:22 PM ET

'Gossip Girl' exclusive: 'Lost,' 'Veronica Mars' alums flash back

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“Let’s do the time warp again!” is becoming a familiar refrain for more and more
actors, now that Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage are filling out the cast for
their ’80s-set Gossip Girl prequel.

On the heels of Andrew McCarthy’s
hiring as the dad to Brittany Snow’s Lily, my moles tell me exclusively that Lost alum Cynthia
Watros is thisclose to a deal to play Lily’s mom, CeCe. Also coming aboard, I
hear, is Ryan Hansen, best known as Veronica Mars‘ aptly named Dick. He’ll play
Owen’s (Shiloh Fernandez) pal, Shep, who’s crushing (futilely) on Krysten Ritter’s Carol. (Hansen is currently appearing on Schwartz’ web series, Rockville.)

So
what do you think, peeps? Is all this gossip getting you psyched for the show?
Or did Schwartz have you at leg warmers and shoulder pads? Don’t keep it to
yourself, share with the class below. (Additional reporting by Andy Patrick)

Mar 6 2009 04:37 PM ET

'Smallville' exclusive: Two characters will die

Categories: Smallville

Smallville_lThe Grim Reaper is once again descending on Smallville, and this time he’s not foolin’ around.

Multiple sources confirm to me exclusively that two pivotal characters will bite the dust in this May’s season finale. And in a bit of a departure for Smallville, both deaths will stick. “These characters will die and they will stay dead,” maintains my insider. “This is the real deal.”

Of course, that’s not to say producers aren’t planning a twist or two, because they are. But I’m told those twists do not involve bringing either character back to life.

If you’re looking for another clue, you’re out of luck. I’m not even going to do one of those morbid charts where I assess each character’s chances for survival. I wouldn’t want to do anything beyond writing this spoilery story to ruin the surprises in store.

Eh, one more little tease won’t hurt anyone: One character qualifies as a Smallville vet… the other one, not so much.

Let the speculation (and prayer vigils) begin in the comments section!

Mar 6 2009 02:10 AM ET

'CSI' plots fraktastic 'Battlestar' crossover

Katevernon_lIf you had any doubts that CSI‘s creative team was made up of a bunch of rabid Battlestar Galactica fanboys and girls, this next story should erase them.

As first reported by Chicago Tribune, an upcoming episode of CBS’ still-powerhouse procedural will feature guest appearances by BSG‘s fifth cylon, Kate Vernon, and the show’s creator, Ronald D. Moore.

“It’s about a murder at a science fiction convention,” explains executive producer-BSG fanatic Naren Shankar of the April 16 installment, which once again puts the show’s lab rats front and center. “It has a bit of a Battlestar Galactica vibe to it.”

I’ll say. In addition to boasting Vernon and Moore, Shankar says the ep also features, “Hodges (Wally Langham) and Wendy (Liz Vassey) re-enacting scenes from a campy — and entirely fictional — 1960′s era sci-fi TV show.”

As you’ll recall, CSI producers were eyeing BSG‘s Katee Sackhoff to replace Jorja Fox last season, but they were ultimately overruled by execs at CBS and Jerry Bruckheimer Television.

So, what do you think? Are CSI and BSG two great tastes that taste great together? Share in the comments!

Mar 6 2009 12:55 AM ET

'Dancing With the Stars' producer on injured dancers: 'They throw themselves into it'

Categories: TV Biz

The producers of Dancing With the Stars are considering whether to rethink their rehearsal policies in light of injuries incurred by Jewel and Nancy O’Dell while preparing for the eighth season, which begins March 9. Both women had spent the last few weeks learning to do the waltz, when Jewel suffered tibia fractures in both legs and O’Dell did some serious damage to her knee — enough to require surgery. ABC will not confirm reports that Holly Madison, star of E!’s The Girls Next Door, will be Jewel’s replacement, though it seems unlikely that DWTS will have enough time to find a replacement for O’Dell.

"Obviously, going forward, we’re going to have to look at our policies," DWTS executive producer Conrad Green tells EW. "Unfortunately, injuries can come anytime. This is an intensely physical show. It’s easy to forget that at home…. It’s also a great cautionary tale and lesson to all future celebrities. What’s important is that people don’t overdo it." Green says he begins every season with a harsh warning that it’s not as easy as it looks to sashay across the dance floor. "That’s why we give them a month to train," he says. "We want them to gently work their way into it. This is a marathon, not a sprint. But people get the bug. They get competitive."

Ironically, Green says, its the younger, more athletic celebrities who seem more prone to injury. (Last season’s Misty May-Treanor, an Olympic volleyball player, tore her Achilles tendon and had to quit. For her part, O’Dell is a tennis player.) Out of the 90 celebrities who have participated in DWTS, Green says, only Jewel, O’Dell, and May-Treanor were hurt seriously enough to force a premature end to their DWTS stints. Green added that O’Dell and Jewel have already asked about coming back. "We usually have to tell people to slow down and pace themselves," says Green. "George Hamilton had a bad knee and Cloris Leachman had high blood pressure and God knows what else. They knew their limitations so they played safely."

Last week, Jewel told EW that she was struggling through rehearsals
because, "I’m dyslexic, so patterns are hard for me." She also talked
about how she was using muscles she didn’t know she had. Jewel’s
husband, professional bull rider Ty Murray, is also participating in
the show. "I feel so awkward because I’m with someone who’s been
dancing their entire life," said Jewel. "I just have to ignore myself
in the mirror, because it’s like watching a 5-year-old learn something
new."

O’Dell also talked to EW and said she forgot about some of her old
injuries — which include tennis knee and a bulging disc –  until she
began twisting and turning during rehearsals. She had already lost five
pounds after a few weeks of training. "I have no dancing background,"
admitted O’Dell, who was planning on filing constant reports about her
performance to Access Hollywood. "If this were a tennis
tournament, I could predict my chances. But the most dancing I ever did
was during a pom pom routine when I was a JV cheerleader."

Green says O’Dell and Jewel will still appear in Monday’s premiere.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 5 2009 10:44 PM ET

'Heroes' scoop: Early sneak peek at season 4!

Categories: Heroes

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The ink on NBC’s unofficial renewal of Heroes is barely dry and already the show’s producers are looking ahead to the fourth season. Truth be told, they’ve been looking ahead for some time now.

"We’ve spent a lot of time in the writers room talking about what season 4 is going to look like," consulting producer Bryan Fuller told me earlier this week. (At the time he was cautiously optimistic about the show’s chances of returning.)

Fuller says the final moments of the season 3 finale will set the stage for what’s to come in the fall. "Basically, the last act of episode 25, similar to what’s been done in the past, opens up a new chapter of Heroes. It sets up arcs for a variety of characters."

That’s particularly true in the case of Claire, Fuller says. "We set all the pieces up in terms of Claire’s attitude and what her trajectory is going to be in season 4. You will have a very strong idea by the end of this season’s final episode where Claire is going and what’s going to be happening with the Petrellis."

Of course, the bigger question is whether anyone will care where they’re going. Personally, based on what I’m hearing about this season’s final batch of episodes, I actually do care. But enough about me, let’s talk about you: What do you think of Heroes‘ early (and still unofficial) pickup? Relieved? Indifferent? None of the above? Sound off below! 

Mar 5 2009 10:25 PM ET

Ratings: 'American Idol' wins big, 'Knight Rider' ends season on an upswing

Categories: TV Biz, TV Ratings

As usual, American Idol blew away the competition on Wednesday night, with 22.5 million viewers tuning in to see Simon, Paula, Kara, Randy, and Randy’s sparkly guitar shirt announce the three contestants chosen from round 3 of the op 36. The judges also revealed their wild-card selections to fill out season 8′s Top 12. (Read Michael Slezak’s recap of Wednesday night.) NBC’s Knight Rider wrapped up its first season with an audience slightly larger than what it has had in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Fox’s Lie to Me continued to dip in viewership, with a million fewer people willing to play head games last night than there were for the psychodrama’s last new episode, on Feb. 19. The return of America’s Next Top Model brought some much-needed fierceness into The CW’s rerun-laden wasteland: Cycle 13′s premiere earned 10 percent more viewers than cycle 12′s back in September, and it enjoyed a 27 percent viewership bump from its first hour to its second.

 
   
   
      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

   

      

      

      

   

 

Time Show Viewers (in millions)
8:00 p.m. American Idol (Fox)
Knight Rider (NBC)
Old Christine (CBS)
Lost (ABC)
America’s Next Top Model (The CW)
22.5
5.8
5.5 (repeat)
4.8 (repeat)
3.3
8:30 Gary Unmarried (CBS) 5.4 (repeat)
9:00 Lost (ABC)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
Lie to Me (Fox)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
America’s Next Top Model (The CW)
10.6
10.3 (repeat)
10.2
4.6 (repeat)
4.5 (cont.)
10:00 CSI: NY (CBS)
Law & Order (NBC)
Life On Mars (ABC)
10.9 (repeat)
5.8 (repeat)
5.7
Mar 5 2009 09:33 PM ET

'ER' final episodes: Doug reunites with Carol...and Dr. Benton?

Categories: TV Biz

1038coverew
When George Clooney left ER in 1999, executive producer John Wells began to conceive the series finale of his NBC drama. Okay, maybe he was a tad premature, but he realized that it was quite possible that all of ER’s original cast members would eventually jump ship (as they did) and he wanted to be prepared. And he insists that his plans for the two-hour finale on April 2 at 9 p.m. (preceded by a one-hour retrospective) haven’t changed much over the past decade. “I really wanted to say to the audience, ‘This place is still here, and if you took the wrong off-ramp in Chicago, you’d end up in front of the hospital where these people have always worked,’” says Wells, who penned the final episode, which is currently shooting in Los Angeles.

Actually, the long good-bye to County General has been going on since November: Early cast members Noah Wyle (Dr. Carter), Laura Innes (Dr. Weaver), and Anthony Edwards (Dr. Greene) have already guest-starred. And Clooney — whose return as Dr. Doug Ross is one of the worst-kept secrets in TV — will be joined by costars Julianna Margulies (Nurse Hathaway) and Eriq La Salle (Dr. Benton) for much-anticipated cameo appearances throughout March sweeps. Wells won’t say exactly when we’ll see them (nor will NBC confirm reports that Clooney will appear March 12), but he does suggest that fans set their TiVos ASAP. “You should not expect them all to be in the finale,” warns Wells. “We’ve spread them out over the season. I didn’t want to do something like somebody dies, or there is a celebration, or the hospital closes, so that’s why everybody comes back. I wanted it to be natural.” He’ll confirm one star for the finale: Wyle, the one original cast member who has appeared in the most episodes of ER.

For more about ER – including how it almost got pink-slipped by NBC before it went on the air in 1994 — check out the latest issue of EW.

More ‘ER’:

George Clooney will appear on ‘ER’…but when?

‘Gilmore’ girl rushed to ‘ER’!

Ausiello Files ‘ER’ scoops

Mar 5 2009 09:23 PM ET

Scoop: Julianna Margulies eyes CBS drama

Categories: Misc.

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Julianna Margulies is heading back to court.

The ER vet has been tapped to headline the CBS drama pilot Good Wife, sources confirm to me semi-exclusively. The potential series focuses on a politician’s wife who pursues her original career as a defense attorney.

Margulies, who will slip back into Nurse Hathaway’s scrubs on ER next Thursday, is no doubt hoping Wife fares better than her last law-based series, Fox’s short-lived Canterbury’s Law. The Denis Leary-produced drama was axed after just six episodes.

Glad Margulies isn’t giving up her legal ambitions without a fight? Or is it time she moved on to another faux career? Comment away!

 

Mar 5 2009 09:06 PM ET

Exclusive: 'Seinfeld' cast to appear on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'

Categories: TV Biz

Seinfeld_l
The Seinfeld cast is making another must-see appearance. EW has learned exclusively that the four stars of NBC’s long-running comedy — Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards — will be featured in a multiple-episode story arc on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm this fall. The cameos will mark the first time that all four actors have appeared together in a scripted TV show since Seinfeld went off the air nearly 11 years ago. No date has been set for this event, or for Curb’s seventh season, which will run for 10 weeks. Curb, of course, was created by and stars Larry David, the cocreator of Seinfeld.

The episodes, which are currently shooting in Los Angeles, appear to represent a continuation of David’s relationship with the Seinfeld stars. As Curb fans know, Seinfeld, Louis-Dreyfus, and Alexander have made individual appearances on the award-winning series over the years.

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Mar 5 2009 09:03 PM ET

'Watchmen' star Jackie Earle Haley jumps to Fox pilot

Categories: TV Biz

Watchmen star and Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children) is now setting his sights on the small screen. EW has learned that he’ll play a supporting role in Human Target, a Fox pilot in contention for the fall that’s based on the popular DC Comics franchise. Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies) is also joining the cast of the pilot that stars Mark Valley (Fringe) and is exec produced by McG. The pilot focuses on a character named Christopher Chance (Valley), a private detective who changes his identity each week to save lives. (Reporting by Michael Ausiello)

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