TV News

Troubled Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe has won the support of his one-time TV mistress as he battles alcoholism in rehab. Actress Eva Longoria admits she was shocked when she discovered her TV boy toy had checked himself into a Los Angeles rehab facility for alcohol abuse earlier this week. But she has become the first of Metcalfe's castmates to offer her support as he struggles with his alcohol demons. Longoria says, "I was really surprised. I worked with Jesse for a long time and he is the most put-together young actor you'll ever meet. "He wants to be responsible and do the right thing. That's a brave thing and I support him 100 percent."

Posted by Tom at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Paul McCartney and estranged wife Heather Mills are still friends, and the former Beatle sent a bouquet of flowers to mark the former model's debut on reality TV show Dancing with the Stars.
Despite media reports of a bitter battle between the pair--who split last year after four years of marriage--Mills insists relations between her and McCartney are amicable, and blames the rocker's lawyers for dragging out their divorce. She told talk-show host Larry King last night about McCartney's gift: "It was nice. "There was a card that read, 'Dear Mummy, love Daddy and Beatrice.' "We still have a friendship, it's just the lawyers who are nasty. Not on my side, but on his side. There's one woman. "The lawyer, Fiona Shackleton, wants to drag it out to fill her pockets. She has said some mean things. She wants to make it as difficult as possible." She adds of her split from McCartney, "I still love him. He's the father of my child. But you can love someone and not be right for each other and have to move on. "It's like a death. You marry someone because you are madly in love. We had a beautiful child after I'd had ectopic pregnancies and a miscarriage. "We were together for seven years. We tried and tried and tried. But sometimes you have to say, 'It's not working.'"

Posted by Tom at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Comedian Ricky Gervais will make a final Christmas special episode of TV hit Extras before axing the show, according to reports. The Emmy-winning creator of The Office is determined not to risk the failure of a poor third season, and would rather move onto new projects. After the success of The Office, Extras attracted a host of A-list celebrities desperate for cameo roles including David Bowie, Chris Martin and Ben Stiller. An insider tells British newspaper The Sun, "There had been reports that Ricky was going to go ahead with a third series of Extras. But he is firmly of the opinion that third series are rarely a success and has decided to quit while he's ahead. "When he said goodbye to The Office with a two-part Christmas special, it was a smash hit both in the ratings and critically, so he's decided to do that again. He's loved making the series and there are tons more A-list stars who want to appear. "But Ricky has lots of other things he wants to do and feels this is the right timing."

Posted by Tom at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oprah Winfrey has come under fire from parents of children attending her all-girl leadership academy in South Africa--for keeping them away from their kids. As the media mogul opened a second South African school on Friday, the parents of kids attending her first educational facility outside Johannesburg were on the attack. They claim strict visitation rules are far from ideal and they want greater access to their children. A small group of mothers has compared the school's restrictions on visits and phone calls to life in a prison. The concerned moms reveal they're only allowed to spend two hours a month with their daughters, who are full-time students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in Henley-on-Klip. Frances Mans, the foster mother of student Gweneth Mulder, tells South Africa's Media 24 network her recent visit to the school was a "nightmare." She explains, "We had only two hours to see my child. Surely this isn't a prison." A second mother, Angela Conradie, reveals her homesick daughter is very upset about the school rules: "Michelle phones me in tears sometimes, and then I don't know what to say to her."

Posted by Tom at 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

TV veteran Regis Philbin underwent a successful triple heart bypass operation on Wednesday morning. The talk-show host, 75, told viewers of his morning show Live! With Regis and Kelly on Monday he would be having the surgery after feeling shortness of breath and chest pains in recent weeks. Philbin has taken five weeks off hosting Live! to recover from the operation, which was carried out by Doctor O. Wayne Isom at the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. His co-host Kelly Ripa told viewers this morning that Philbin came through the operation "with flying colors" and was already "up, joking around with the nurses" and "harassing people."

Posted by Tom at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander was charged yesterday with six counts of rape and sexual assault in relation to several incidents dating back to 2004. The 33-year-old--who has appeared several times on reality TV show America's Next Top Model--was charged by authorities in Los Angeles for the alleged attacks on two women and a 15-year-old girl between October 2004 and March 2007. These include two counts of forcible rape and two charges of committing a lewd act upon a child. The Indian-born designer was arrested at his home in Beverly Hills, California, on March 6, after a woman accused him of rape. Alexander denies the allegations. His lawyer Ronald Richards says, "When you have people desperate to be in fashion, they get upset when you don't place them where they want to be. "When you deal with a large amount of women, you're going to have potential false allegations made against you." Alexander is currently being detained on $1.3 million bail and is due in court on March 19 for a hearing.

Posted by Tom at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pop superstar Christina Aguilera is to appear in hit TV show CSI: New York, and plans have already been made for a darker theme for the episode. The “Ain't No Other Man” singer will put her fledgling acting skills to the test in the Crime Scene Investigation series, having previously only voiced a small part in the animated movie Shark Tale. Executive producer Anthony Zuiker says, "Christina's a fan of the show, and we're excited to have her. The episode will probably explore the topic of battered women." Aguilera has been an avid campaigner against domestic violence after revealing her father physically abused her mother during her childhood.

Posted by Tom at 9:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TV veteran Regis Philbin is to undergo heart bypass surgery this week after feeling shortness of breath. The 75-year-old host told viewers of his morning show, Live with Regis and Kelly, earlier today that he had been feeling ill recently and a visit to the doctors confirmed he would have to have an operation. Speaking to the audience, Philbin said, "Well, listen, I gotta tell you something. I had been feeling chest pains, you know, and, uh, shortness of breath and all those little symptoms that you hear about." Philbin explained he is hoping to have an angioplasty this week, because "you know, you get in--bang, bang, bang--they blow it open and you leave the next day... there's some plaque in some arteries and I've got to get it cleaned out. "Darn it, I don't want to do it. Nobody wants to do it, I guess. And I had a second opinion, I did all those things, and so they're all in agreement that it should be the bypass. And so that's what I'm gonna do."

Posted by Tom at 9:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Talk-show king Jay Leno has paid tribute to tragic comedian Richard Jeni after the comic was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Saturday. Jeni appeared on Leno's Tonight Show more than any other guest, and the TV host admits he was stunned to hear of the funnyman's suspected suicide. In a statement, Leno says, "I was totally shocked. He was a great comic... a great guy. "He had an everyman kind of appeal, he was a kid from New York and his comedy was that of a kid from New York... He just made me laugh. "Whenever I watched Richard, I'd go, 'Man, I wish I had his material.'"

Posted by Tom at 9:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Madonna is set to join the cast of hit plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck after confessing she's a big fan of the show. Creator Ryan Murphy reveals he's currently writing a part for the pop superstar. Murphy would like Madonna to play opposite pal and A League of Their Own costar Rosie O'Donnell, who has become a regular on the show after hitting the headlines for a sex scene she filmed with Nip/Tuck star Julian McMahon last season. Murphy says, "I'm going to write something for Madonna, who is a fan of the show and I would love for her to do something with Rosie." Madonna isn't be the only big name being considered for upcoming episodes--Nicole Kidman has already signed on for a cameo and McMahon explains his Premonition costar Sandra Bullock is also interested in a role. He adds, "Sandy said she wanted to come on last year and she didn't. She wants to come on the last episode and she wants to get her whole body done, or something."

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Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has hit back at American Idol judge Simon Cowell, comparing her experience on the talent show to working at Burger King. Hudson--who was a contestant on the show in 2004--was rejected and tipped for failure by Cowell. When she went onto Oscar success through her role in Dreamgirls, Cowell accused Hudson of failing to appreciate the "big opportunity" her appearance on the show offered her. But Best Supporting Actress Hudson snaps back, "If I'd been any better at my job when I was at Burger King in my middle teens I wouldn't be here either, so should I thank them too?"

Posted by Tom at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The producers and stars of TV phenomenon American Idol will be giving back next month as part of a massive charity push featuring Bono, Borat, Annie Lennox, Pink and Gwen Stefani. In a first for the hit talent show, which has become America's most-watched program, poverty-stricken kids in Africa and the U.S. will benefit from a two-night charity drive. Show sponsors Coca-Cola and communications company AT&T will donate cash to charities committed to ending poverty Africa for each vote cast for wannabe stars of the current season of the program on April 24 and 25. Viewers will also be able to donate cash during the charity drive, dubbed "Idol Gives Back." Meanwhile, show host Ryan Seacrest and British judge Simon Cowell have visited Africa to film an awareness video to promote the new charity initiative, and show stars Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson will visit Louisiana to highlight ongoing post-Hurricane Katrina problems there. High profile anti-poverty activist Bono has yet to confirm he'll appear on the show, but he plans to play a part somehow. He says, "This is a big deal. I wouldn't underestimate the reach of this show or the impact its audience can have." Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen will reprise his Borat character for a skit on the shows, while Stefani, Pink, Lennox and opera singer Josh Groban are all expected to perform.

Posted by Tom at 9:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prosecutor-turned-broadcaster Star Jones Reynolds has joined Court TV as host of a new daytime talk show, the cable network said Wednesday. Reynolds, who began her television career as a Court TV legal commentator in 1991, was rumored to have been in talks with the network ever since she was dumped from The View last summer. The talk show, which has not been given an official name, will debut later this year. Court TV said the show will offer a "fresh perspective" on the day's top crime and justice stories. Reynolds also will interview newsmakers involved in high-profile cases. "My goal is to inform, empower, educate and entertain viewers, and Court TV is the perfect place to accomplish that mission," she said. Reynolds' legal bona fides are solid. She moved to TV after putting in three years with the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, making her bones on Court TV with her insights into the William Kennedy Smith rape trial. She later became a legal correspondent for NBC's Today and the NBC Nightly News, before accepting a post as senior correspondent/chief legal analyst for the syndicated newsmagazine Inside Edition. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Court devotes its programming hours to trial coverage and analysis, with shows like Banfield & Ford: Courtside and Nancy Grace Live. Only the 5 p.m. show Catherine Cryer Live appears to share any DNA with the new Reynolds talker.

Posted by Tom at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Britney Spears' estranged husband Kevin Federline is having another crack at stardom with a reality TV concept surrounding his life as a single dad. The dancer-turned-rapper is reportedly pitching leading TV networks the idea--and insiders claim he's got a chance to become a star all over again. One source says, "Thanks for Britney's rehab drama and the squabble over their kids, suddenly the show doesn't seem like such a bad idea... People are intrigued by Kevin again."
Federline has had several stabs at success in the past 12 months, launching a flop rap career, appearing on TV drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and even poking fun at himself in a fast food restaurant-themed commercial that aired during the Super Bowl last month.

Posted by Tom at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A man cleared of murder after he was spotted in the background of outtake footage of TV comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm has been awarded damages of $320,000. Juan Catalan, 28, spent five months in jail charged with the murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla until he used outtake footage--showing him at an L.A. Dodgers game in Los Angeles when the crime occurred--to prove his innocence. Catalan's attorney, Todd Melnik, trawled through hours of footage of a televised game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves that the defendant attended with his six-year-old daughter, before discovering the Larry David-starring comedy was being shot at the stadium on the same day. Catalan could be seen clearly eating a hot dog in a scene that ended up on the cutting room floor. A time code on the footage proved Catalan's whereabouts--20 miles from the murder scene in San Fernando. Los Angeles City Council has agreed to pay $320,000 to Catalan.

Posted by Tom at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prison Break star Lane Garrison is to be charged with vehicular manslaughter following a December car crash that resulted in the death of a teenager. The actor will also be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He escaped being charged with gross vehicular manslaughter. Garrison will be held on $200,000 bail, which will be paid by family friend Joe Simpson--Ashlee and Jessica's manager/father--according to In Touch magazine. Lane is expected to turn himself in to Beverly Hills authorities this afternoon, when he'll be arraigned. Garrison, 26, who plays Tweener on Prison Break, was driving three teenagers home from a party in his Land Rover Sports Utility Vehicle when he struck a center median in Beverly Hills and lost control of the car, which ended up hitting a tree late on Dec. 2. A 17-year-old male passenger was killed in the accident and two 15-year-old girls were injured.

Posted by Tom at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anne Heche's new boyfriend James Tupper has confirmed the TV couple is dating, but insists their romance didn't break-up their respective marriages. Actor Tupper, who plays Heche's love interest on TV show Men in Trees, split from his wife Kate last year--just as the series was taking off--and Heche vand her husband Coley Laffoon parted ways at the beginning of 2007.
But Tupper is playing down reports the on-set romance was responsible for the break-ups, stating, "The line was never crossed." And after a month of speculation, the actor has told People magazine the love affair is for real: "I adore her (Heche) and I'm hopeful for the future. "There's something really comforting when you can truly connect with someone and be understood."

Posted by Tom at 9:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

American Idol boss Nigel Lythgoe has hit out at Rosie O'Donnell after she accused the show of being "racist and weightiest." O'Donnell was angry because previous contestant Frenchie Davis was axed from the talent contest for having appeared in porn pictures--and current contestant Antonella Barba wasn't, despite appearing to have committed the same offense. She claims Davis was picked on because she is black and overweight. But producer Lythgoe has called O'Donnell "utterly crazy"--pointing out judge Randy Jackson is both black and overweight. In a call to Idol host Ryan Seacrest's talk show earlier today he said, "Without wishing to add to the obvious self-promotion of Ms. O'Donnell, I feel as though I must refute her absurd and ridiculous claims that American Idol is racist and/or weightist. "Ms. O'Donnell has, once again, spoken without thought or knowledge. Viewers need only look at the show tonight to realize that American Idol constantly confirms to America that talent has nothing to do with weight or color. "Look at our past contestants--Ruben (Studdard) for instance, Randy Jackson himself... these are not small people! "Once you get into a situation where you can have a view and then put it on television... that comes with responsibility and that responsibility is you think before you open your mouth."

Posted by Tom at 9:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reality TV star Jason Wahler has been sentenced to a 60-day prison spell after pleading no contest to a battery charge in Los Angeles. The Laguna Beach hunk, 20, and model Kristin DeLuca were arrested in September following a verbal altercation with towing officials who were attempting to move an illegally parked car. Wahler punched one of the tow-truck drivers, while DeLuca kicked the tow operator and spat at him, according to a filed police report. The drivers restrained the reality star and called police, who later discovered Wahler's blood alcohol level was over twice the legal limit. In court yesterday, Wahler pleaded no contest to one count of battery. As well as serving time, the 20-year-old was also ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and anger management classes. Meanwhile, DeLuca also pleaded no contest to one count of battery and was sentenced to 24 months of probation and 15 days of community service. Both Wahler and DeLuca have also been ordered to participate in a one-day lecture at Los Angeles' Museum of Tolerance as penance for the racial slurs they hurled at the tow-truck operators during the assault, according to TMZ.com. It's a bad week for Wahler, who was also arrested on Saturday when he reportedly "resisted a public officer" during a raid on underage drinkers in a North Carolina nightclub.

Posted by Tom at 9:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Actress Carmen Electra has laughed off reports her divorce from rocker Dave Navarro was caused by their MTV reality show, 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave. Electra--real name Tara Patrick--finalized her divorce from the Panic Channel guitarist last month after two and a half years of marriage, but she refuses to blame the alleged 'MTV curse' for her failed relationship, insisting there is no such thing. She says, "I don't believe so, though many people have been put off (reality TV shows). Just look at Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne. Those two are totally happy and they had the cameras following them for years. "I went to their place for New Year's Eve actually, and they seem happier and crazier than ever. It was so funny because the animals got out and began running amok and poor Ozzy was trying to round them up. He got so mad." Pop stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey divorced in June 2006 after appearing on MTV's Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, while Meet the Barkers' Travis Barker split from wife Shanna Moakler in August 2006.

Posted by Tom at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scrubs star Zach Braff is set to become one of the highest-paid actors on TV if the hit sitcom gets renewed by NBC for a seventh season. According to sources, the 31-year-old actor has landed a deal that will earn him around $350,000 per episode for the 2007-08 season. The new deal will put him in the top echelon of highest-paid male actors on television, alongside Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen, whose paycheck is also in the $350,000-per-episode range. Braff, who also wrote, directed and starred in the 2004 independent romantic comedy Garden State, plays Dr. John 'J.D.' Dorian on the show.

Posted by Tom at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Music mogul Simon Cowell has hired outrageous talk-show host Jerry Springer to front his hit TV talent contest America's Got Talent. Springer will replace fellow talk-show host Regis Philbin as the presenter of the variety competition series when it returns to TV this summer. Springer, 63, was slated to host the show after becoming a fan favorite on the last season of celebrity TV talent contest Dancing with the Stars. Last summer's first season of America's Got Talent was won by 12-year-old singer Bianca Ryan, who has since won a recording contract with Columbia Records.

Posted by Tom at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington is at risk of losing out on a pay raise after his homophobic outburst earlier this year. Washington shocked Golden Globe Award attendees in January by calling gay costar T.R. Knight an anti-gay slur--and the episode is likely to cost the star a wage boost, according to PageSix.com. A source says, "All the actors are in the midst of contract renegotiations, but ABC is using Isaiah's recent troubles to keep from paying him more.
"Isaiah knows it is his fault that he may not get the fat raise he was going to get. ABC doesn't have to give him anything. He is under contract for seven years--and this is going to cost him millions. It's just a bitter pill he is going to have to swallow." A representative for Washington says, "We are going to do our business in private, not in the press." Last week, details of a salary dispute between ABC bosses and Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl were leaked to the press.

Posted by Tom at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lost stars Naveen Andrews and Dominic Monaghan are bemoaning the lack of screen time they have in the third season of the desert island show. The British actors earn a reported $78,000 a week playing Sayid Jarrah (Andrews) and Charlie Pace (Monaghan), but admit they spend a lot of time sitting around with nothing to do. Andrews says, "Even though I like getting paid for doing nothing, it is nice occasionally to work." Monaghan adds, "As one person works more, work is being taken away from another. You have to make your peace with that. Executive producer Carlton Cuse explains, "The actors are frustrated. They're all really good at what they do and it's difficult when they don't get a chance to do it."

Posted by Tom at 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Music mogul Simon Cowell has blasted the most recent American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, for lacking the talent to become a pop superstar. Cowell , who is a judge on the hit reality TV show alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, confessed last Thursday he wanted to axe Hicks early on in American Idol last year. And British Cowell isn't surprised 30-year-old Hicks has struggled to sell records, while fellow contestant Chris Daughtry has. He says, "They (Abdul and Jackson) loved him. I couldn't stand him. I didn't get it. "At the end of the day you have to find a bona fide recording artist. Just because you win the show doesn't mean you will sell a lot of records. Chris is the one who sold the albums, not Taylor."

Posted by Tom at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Desperate Housewives bosses are furious with star Eva Longoria for revealing confidential storylines during an interview on national TV. The star, who plays Gabrielle Solis on the show, leaked secret storylines while making an appearance on talk show The View. (SPOILER ALERT!) When asked about what viewers could expect on the show, she revealed her character's husband, Carlos, won't leave the show as rumored and that they will suffer through stormy times but will ultimately have a 'surprise' lovers' reunion next season. Show executives were furious because storylines from the show are kept top secret to keep viewers tuning in. According to the National Enquirer, executives have issued a stern warning to writers, producers, directors and show staff to not reveal any information regarding the show to Longoria.

Posted by Tom at 9:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Music mogul Simon Cowell has blasted Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson after she called American Idol "a stepping stone"--insisting she wouldn't have been cast in Dreamgirls without the talent show. Hudson was a contestant on Idol in 2004, but was voted off before the finale. Over a year later, she auditioned for the role of Effie White in the big-screen version of the musical Dreamgirls and was cast. When Hudson accepted her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Dreamgirls last weekend, Cowell was disappointed she declined to mention the show. He says, "Jennifer Hudson said American Idol was a 'stepping stone' for her. Stepping stone? It was her big opportunity to become noticed and she got noticed and she got Dreamgirls. "Singers like her deliberately turn against the show that made them successful. The reason (people) come on the show is because all the doors had been slammed in their face."

Posted by Tom at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Funnyman Stephen Colbert was lauded 'Person of the Year' at the Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, on Friday. The Colbert Report star joked he could get weeks worth of material for his show from picking up the prize, but conceded it meant a lot to him. He said, "What an honor. An honor to receive and an honor for you to give to me." Colbert also used the ceremony to reveal his plans to pen a book about the U.S. He explained, "(It will be) what is best and what's worst about America. You know, it's 20 subjects ... all of the important things, the culture war, religion, hygiene, sports."

Posted by Tom at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ER heartthrob Goran Visnjic has reportedly quit the hit hospital drama. The Croatian actor, who plays D.r Luca Kovac, is thought to be leaving the show at the end of the current season.
However, TV bosses want Visnjic to star in six more episodes, to allow them time to write him out of the storyline, which involves his relationship with Dr. Abby Lockhart, played by Maura Tierney.
Visnjic, 34, joined ER in 1999.

Posted by Tom at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Former Cheers star John Ratzenberger has signed up for reality TV show Dancing with the Stars. Ratzenberger, who played Cliff Clavin on the popular sitcom for 11 seasons, is replacing actor Vincent Pastore. Pastore dropped out of the competition earlier this week, claiming the intense training for the show was too physically demanding. The show's producer, Conrad Green, tells People magazine, "Vincent just turned 60 and he had a heart condition last year. "Once he started training he said, 'Wow. What have I got myself into?'" Despite only having three weeks to rehearse for the show's March 19 premiere, Ratzenberger insists he will be ready to compete. His representative adds, "He likes to cut a rug. People will be surprised." The 59-year-old joins fellow cast members including Heather Mills, Joey Fatone, Ian Ziering, Billy Ray Cyrus and Paulina Porizkova.

Posted by Tom at 9:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl has hit out at her TV bosses for going public with details of her salary dispute. The 28-year-old, who plays Dr. Isobel 'Izzie' Stevens on the hit medical drama, dropped out of contract talks earlier this week. Heigl said, "I am embarrassed that this has become a public matter and disappointed that Touchstone felt it necessary to divulge private employment information. "I had hoped I would be able to deal with this issue confidentially with my bosses. I dropped out of the renegotiation simply because I wanted to treat myself with the respect I was not getting from them." A source told People magazine at the time, "Katie is disappointed and hurt that Touchstone doesn't value her as much as her other costars, especially Sandra Oh and Isaiah Washington." Producers of the show hit back, saying, "We have a long-term contract to ensure she'll be with the show for several years to come." Regardless of the controversy, Heigl insists she still loves playing her character, adding, "No matter how unhappy I am about their decision to respond to this publicly, I continue to be passionate about and committed to this character."

Posted by Tom at 9:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - The Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore has quit reality show Dancing with the Stars after just one week of training because it's too demanding. The 60-year-old claims the strenuous nature of the competition was overwhelming and he will not appear on the series' upcoming fourth season. Pastore explains, "When I initially committed to joining Dancing with the Stars I didn't realize just how physically demanding it would be for me. "Unable to put forth my best effort, I felt it appropriate to step aside and give someone else the opportunity." The show's executive producer, Conrad Green, claims the producers harbor no ill will against the actor, adding, "Dancing with the Stars is physically demanding and it pays to know your limits. "We respect his decision." The new season of the show starts on March 19 and will feature competitors including Heather Mills, Billy Ray Cyrus and former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone.

Posted by Tom at 9:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - Helen Mirren is looking to follow up her Oscars success next month with a small-screen acting honor at the Royal Television Society Awards. Mirren has been nominated for Best Actress at the London ceremony for her role in Prime Suspect, which has also been named in the Best Drama Serial category. Mirren is up against BBC Four's Fear of Fanny star Julia Davis, and Susan Lynch, of BBC Two's Soundproof. Extras star Stephen Merchant will battle it out for Best Comedy Performance and time-travel drama Doctor Who is in the running for Best Drama Series.

Posted by Tom at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - A script for the feature film version of Sex and the City is currently being written and could begin filming later this year in New York City. The movie has been rumored to be in the works since the hit TV series ended in 2004. Mario Cantone, who played Charlotte's wedding planner Anthony on the series, confirms the show's screenwriter, director and executive producer, Michael Patrick King, is working on the script. He tells Australian Associated Press, "I know the script is being written and I know it will be brilliant because Michael Patrick King is writing it. "I know that I'm in it. I have a nice part in it, I'm told. If it happens, we should film it in early fall, I think, but I hope it stays on course, because I would love to do it." Cantone says the show's legions of fans are desperate for the feature film version, adding, "There are girls who come up to me in the street in tears and say, 'When's the Sex and the City movie happening?' "If you look at The Devil Wears Prada, it was such a big success--this would do even better. "Sex and the City has the audience and I think it's a good time to do it now, because enough time has passed since the series ended."

Posted by Tom at 12:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood stars attending tonight's Academy Awards ceremony need to be extra mindful of their appearance--because TV bosses have warned celebrities of the effects high-definition (HD) television broadcasts can have on their looks. HD television pictures are four times clearer than a standard image, and TV expert Philip Swann believes actresses like Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones will benefit from the close-ups, while others like Brad Pitt would look terrible under the spotlight. He says, "Celebrities who are naturally beautiful look even better in HD. Their skin, hair and smile take on an extra radiance. "In HD, it's easy to see why Pitt left Jennifer (Aniston) for Jolie. She has beautiful, sparkling blue eyes and full lips. "(Zeta-Jones), the star of Chicago and Traffic, is absolutely gorgeous and it shows. Pity the ageing Michael Douglas when he has to stand beside her in the HD broadcast of the awards show." Ocean's Eleven actor Pitt doesn't fare too well either under the inspection of HDTV.He adds, "This would give females a heart attack if they saw him in high definition. (He) has deep pockmarks in his cheeks, the result of a long-time acne problem. "His name may be Pitt, but his face is a crater!"

Posted by Tom at 12:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is being sued by a woman who claims he called her by a "bitch" and a "minger" while performing as his Ali G character. Baron Cohen stands accused of defaming the woman on TV program Da Ali G Show during a 2004 interview with writer Gore Vidal, during which he allegedly said, "Me used to go out with this bitch called Heddi Cundle." Baron Cohen, as Ali G, is then said to have gone on to call her a "minger"--British slang for an ugly woman--and claimed he impregnated her. Her name was later edited out, but uncut versions of the sketch have since appeared on video Web site YouTube.com. The woman, who was born in the UK but now lives in California, claims she met Baron Cohen during a 1987 youth trip to Israel. She denies getting pregnant and is suing him and his production company for libel, slander, invasion of privacy, fraud, misrepresentation and emotional distress.

Posted by Tom at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - 24 star Kiefer Sutherland has accepted an invitation from the U.S. military to teach army cadets it is wrong to torture prisoners. Sutherland, who plays agent Jack Bauer on the show, has agreed to talk to cadets at the West Point military academy in New York state after army chiefs claimed the show's torture scenes are influencing its newest recruits. Earlier this month, Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan visited the set of 24 to urge its makers to cut down on torture scenes. He told the show's producers, "I'd like them to stop. They should do a show where torture backfires. The kids see it and say, 'If torture is wrong, what about 24?' "The disturbing thing is that although torture may cause Jack Bauer some angst, it is always the patriotic thing to do."

Posted by Tom at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - Oscars host Ellen DeGeneres burst into tears on her live post-Academy Awards TV talk show yesterday, after a string of celebrities poured praise on her via video. The humbled comedienne fought to regain composure as her studio audience gave her a standing ovation following footage of DeGeneres' day at the Oscars, where she realized a lifelong dream to host the big show. The proud comic was seen sobbing in her dressing room hours before the Oscars got underway and then she sobbed as she thanked family and friends backstage after her first hosting stint was over. But it was taped post-show comments from Kate Winslet, Marc Anthony, Queen Latifah, Helen Mirren and Will Smith that had DeGeneres sobbing on her show.
She said, "I'm crying for many reasons--I'm tired, so I'm emotional... It represented so many things to me. It represented that people believed in me, they took a chance in me to hold something like that together. "It was harder than I thought and I was scared to death... It was incredible." DeGeneres explained that watching the footage of her preparations for the big show brought all her emotions back.

Posted by Tom at 12:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HOLLYWOOD - After weeks of negotiations Victoria Beckham has signed a lucrative deal to star in her own reality TV show in America. The former Spice Girl is moving to Los Angeles with her husband David after he signed with the L.A. Galaxy soccer team earlier this year--and she's already set for her own success in Hollywood. American Idol creator and former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller will produce a 30-minute unscripted comedy series for former Posh Spice Beckham, which is slated to debut this summer. Each episode will focus on her transition to life in the U.S. and will explore how one of the most famous women in the world moves her entourage--including publicist, stylist, and personal assistants--overseas. Fuller explains, "For the past few years, I've been inundated with requests to make a show based on Victoria's real life. After much thought, we have finally decided to do it." Victoria adds, "(Fuller) has so much success around the world with his TV shows and the respect and trust of everybody he works with. "This show is really something different. It's pushing the boundaries, and I think it's going to surprise a lot of people."

Posted by Tom at 12:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)