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Archive: April 2011 (222-234 of 303)

Apr 8 2011 12:39 PM ET

Simon Cowell eyeing Fergie for 'X Factor'

by James Hibberd

Categories: Television, The X Factor, TV Biz

Image Credit: Fox

So far Simon Cowell has likely picked one judge for X Factor that 61 percent of Americans won’t understand (ultra-Brit Cheryl Cole) and definitely selected another that 98 percent have never heard of (L.A. Reid).* Could some homegrown star power be next on the list?

Cowell told reporters that Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie is in the running for a spot on the show, plus he says Gloria Estefan is also in contention after mentoring some X Factor audition hopefuls in Miami. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 8 2011 12:04 PM ET

'Idol' tops Thursday as 'Vampire,' 'Nikita' return

by James Hibberd

Categories: Television, TV Biz, TV Ratings

Image Credit: CW

Fox was out in front on Thursday night with American Idol (20.6 million viewers, 6.1 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) dipping slightly and a steady Bones (11.3 million, 3.4). Both shows easily ruled their respective time slots.

CBS’ programs were all within a few percentage points of last week, with Big Bang Theory (11.2 million, 3.6) and Rules of Engagement (8.6 million, 2.5), followed by CSI (12.6 million, 2.8) and The Mentalist (14.7 million, 2.9), which topped 10 p.m. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 8 2011 11:38 AM ET

Chuck Lorre's latest super-short vanity card

by James Hibberd

Categories: Charlie Sheen, Television, TV Biz

Last night’s Big Bang Theory vanity card, read, quite simply:

“My lawyer ate my vanity card.”

(Lorre, of course, also produces Two and a Half Men and is being sued by Charlie Sheen, who alleges the producer masterminded the actor’s exodus from the show — and if you didn’t already know that then, well, the above joke wasn’t funny for you).

Apr 8 2011 10:59 AM ET

'The Office': Two new clips from Will Ferrell's first episode

by Hillary Busis

Categories: Television, The Office

We still don’t know which Will Ferrell is going to show up at Dunder Mifflin Scranton next week, when the comedian’s four-episode arc on The Office begins — but these two new clips from Ferrell’s first episode, “Training Day,” do help flesh out his character. Michael Scott’s temporary (or not-so-temporary) replacement is a genial dude named Deangelo Vickers who loves the American southwest, has to live with a debilitating peanut allergy (“It’s a part of me”), and proclaims that he’s “just as comfortable at a ball game as I am at the opera” — a declaration that provokes utter contempt in Dwight. He’s also kind of a fox … at least in the eyes of Kelly, who clearly has a thing for non-Michael men in positions of power (Charles Miner, anyone?). Watch the clips below, then tell us: How do you think Ferrell will fare on The Office?

READ FULL STORY »

Apr 8 2011 09:34 AM ET

'American Idol' exit Q&A: Pia Toscano tears up while discussing her 'amazing memories' from the show -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

by John Young

Categories: American Idol, EW Exclusive, Reality TV, Television

An emotional Pia Toscano, the 22-year-old New Yorker who was shockingly eliminated from American Idol Thursday night, said she had a feeling bad news might be coming her way. “Last night I said, ‘Maybe I might be in the bottom three tomorrow,’” Toscano told EW in a backstage interview an hour after the show. “And I was okay with that because everything happens for a reason. You just have to stay up about it and know that there’s amazing things to come.” Toscano became teary-eyed while reflecting upon her truncated Idol experience. “I have lots of amazing memories,” she said. “The people that I met, [and] doing things that I didn’t think I could do. Every single one of [the contestants] is just the most classy, standout person.”

Toscano, who revealed that she would have sung “Somewhere” from West Side Story next week, ended her stint on Idol by performing the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You” — the song that pushed her into the final Top 13. “I couldn’t even breathe at that moment,” said Toscano, “so the fact that I could get anything out was a miracle. I put every emotion I had into it, and I wanted to finish with the song that got me here.”

Check out the full interview below: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 8 2011 09:14 AM ET

'NCIS,' 'Community,' 'Smallville,' 'House': Find out what's next in the Spoiler Room

by Sandra Gonzalez

Categories: 90210, Being Human, Bones, Community, Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, House, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, NCIS, Smallville, Supernatural, Television, The Big Bang Theory, The Spoiler Room, The Vampire Diaries, TV Scoop

Image Credit: Jack Rowand/The CW; Sonja Flemming/CBS; Paul Drinkwater/NBC

The best way to start the weekend is with a big serving of Spoiler Room, so grab your fork and dig in below.

Quick thanks to everyone sending in scoop requests, comments, and random (sometimes inappropriate-but-hilarious) TV comments to me at spoilerroom@ew.com. Keep them coming — especially as we head toward sweeps! You can also harass me on Twitter (@EWSandraG). See y’all Tuesday for more! READ FULL STORY »

Apr 8 2011 08:53 AM ET

'American Idol': Pia Toscano's final performance -- VIDEO

by Jeff Labrecque

Categories: American Idol, Music, Reality TV

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Pia Toscano, the American Idol frontrunner, is gone. The 22-year-old New Yorker was shockingly eliminated Thursday night, leaving the other contestants, the judges, and the Idoldome stunned. She gathered herself to sing her goodbye, the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You.” If only voters had done the same. Click below to watch her farewell performance. Were you shocked to see her eliminated? READ FULL STORY »

Apr 7 2011 08:18 PM ET

'Extreme Couponing' premiere clips strong ratings

by James Hibberd

Categories: Reality TV, Television, TV Biz, TV Ratings

TLC’s Extreme Couponing got off to a strong start Wednesday night, opening with an average of 2.3 million viewers across two episodes. That’s an improvement upon the show’s original special which nabbed 2.1 million viewers back in December and won the show a series order. In fact, the second episode of the show peaked as the night’s top-rated show in adults 19-49 (1.3 rating).

Apr 7 2011 08:11 PM ET

A Bravo first: A 'Real Housewives' gets canceled

by James Hibberd

Categories: Real Housewives, Reality TV, Television, TV Biz, TV Ratings

Image Credit: Bravo

For the first time in Bravo history, a member of its flagship reality franchise has received the axe: The Real Housewives of Washington D.C. has been canceled after one season.

That still leaves more than enough Housewives to go around: There’s Orange County, New York, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Miami and, of course, New Jersey.

Though D.C. had decent ratings, executives found the cast a bit stiff compared to the menopausal rage-o-holicism that spiced up some of the other shows in the franchise — particularly fellow newcomer Beverly Hills, which doubled D.C.‘s ratings in its finale.

Bravo also has a jazillion other shows waiting in the wings, having just announced projects like Gallery Girls, a docu-series about hip young women working in New York art galleries, and Jason of Beverly Hills, about a high-end custom jeweler.

In other Bravo news: Wednesday night’s season premiere of the new-and-improved Top Chef Masters averaged 1.1 million viewers, up 9 percent from last year.

Apr 7 2011 07:33 PM ET

'DWTS' pro Karina Smirnoff poses for Playboy

by Lynette Rice

Categories:

Image Credit: Bauer-Griffin.com

Dancing with the Stars’ pro Karina Smirnoff has decided to take it all off — though not under the mirror ball. Hugh Hefner tweeted today that Ralph Macchio’s partner will pose for the May issue. She’s on the cover, too.

“The May issue of Playboy is unforgettable with Dancing With The Stars’ Karina Smirnoff on the cover & nude inside,” Hef posted on his Twitter page.

Maybe he got the idea while sitting in the audience during premiere night?

Actually, Hefner was there to show support for Kendra Wilkinson, who starred in the E! show about his girlfriends called The Girls Next Door. His presence in the DWTS ballroom was a particular thrill for contestant Chelsea Kane. “I met him, it was awesome!” she told EW. ”I was so excited. I told him, `I know it’s a huge jump from Disney but Hef … can I just give you a hug?’ It was really cool. Kendra was like, `wait. Am I taking you under my wing?’ It was pretty funny.”

Smirnoff is not the first member of the DWTS family to appear in Playboy. Host Brooke Burke and contestant Pamela Anderson have appeared in the magazine.

Apr 7 2011 06:05 PM ET

'Smallville' scoop: Does this teaser sound familiar?

by James Hibberd

Categories: Scoop, Smallville, Television, TV Biz

Clark Kent is getting closer to his Superman destiny.

This Friday, The CW will roll out this promo for the final episodes of Smallville that licenses John Williams’ classic score from the original 1978 Superman movie. If you’re a fan, this will give you chills: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 7 2011 05:41 PM ET

MTV's 'Son of a Gun': Trailer first look

by Stephan Lee

Categories: EW Exclusive, First Look, Reality TV, Trailers

MTV will begin airing Son of a Gun, its new docu-series about 23-year-old rapper Cory Gunz and his rise to rap stardom, on April 28 at 11 p.m., but EW has the exclusive trailer before the network unveils it tonight on MTV.com. Check out our sneak peek below, and look out for Nick Cannon, who also exec produces the series. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 7 2011 04:16 PM ET

'Jersey Shore': MTV greenlights spin-offs for Snooki, JWoww, and Pauly D

by Tim Stack

Categories: Jersey Shore, Reality TV, Rumor Police!, TV Biz, TV Pilots

Image Credit: X17online.com

MTV announced today that it is moving forward with two spin-offs for their massively successful series, Jersey Shore.

One will feature best friends Snooki and JWoww as they buy a house and become roommates, and the other will focus on Pauly D’s main job as an in-demand DJ, along with his crew of friends. Both series, which are currently untitled, have been given a 12-episode order and will begin production later this year for a premiere date sometime in 2012. Meanwhile, the entire cast is still scheduled to begin filming their latest season of Jersey Shore in Italy this spring. READ FULL STORY »