Back in February, Viking confirmed that Bill Carter, the bestselling author of the Late Shift had flown to Los Angeles to begin research on a new book chronicling the latest late night shakedown at NBC. Proof of the project arrived earlier this week online via cover art for The War For Late Night: When Leno Went Early and Television Went Crazy (pictured right) and a September release date. Anxious to hear more about the surefire bestseller, Movieline phoned Carter earlier this week to discuss the impending release date and whether Jay Leno is really as cold and calculating as Conan fans make him out to be.
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TVLand's premiere of Hot in Cleveland last night felt like a quick call with old friends I'd been meaning to phone for years: Old neighbor Valerie Bertinelli? She's doing well! Trusty Frasier star Jane Leeves? She's still salty! Fave Just Shoot Me alum Wendie Malick? She's still playing vain characters, wouldn't you know! But just when the addictive nostalgia started to overcome me, Hot in Cleveland made some moves I wish it didn't, proving there are probably some TV formats that are better left for dead in 1998.
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While attempting to change a flat tire in Palm Springs, former Party of Five star Jeremy London was kidnapped by two men who forced the former drug-addicted actor to smoke crack cocaine (or amphetamines, London wasn't certain) and distribute liquor in a gang area of the town -- all while being held at gunpoint. Radar reports that two men were charged Wednesday over the incident, which lasted five hours before London escaped. [Radar]
A trio of '90s television stars resurfaced for last night's after hours circuit. On the Late Show, John Goodman rapped about his new premium cable gig before tossing out a puzzling reference to Roseanne Barr. Meanwhile, Lisa Kudrow explained why she probably was not the best fit for a recent commencement address and Tim Allen joined Craig Ferguson in comparing Ryan Seacrest to a polyp. Click through for those segments, as well as the other highlights you missed last night while celebrating Psycho's 50th birthday.
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· Don't have any plans for this Sunday yet? Consider tuning into the first unauthorized special about Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson -- Hidden Lives of Michael Jackson's Children on TLC. The program features behind-the-scenes footage previously seen in short clips -- like the King of Pop helping Prince learn his "ABCs" and the legend teaching his kids how to play chess -- and interviews with friends of Jackson who attest that he was a wonderful father. Coincidentally, the special airs on the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death. [NY Post]
CBS continues to downsize its criminal procedural casts, Syfy explores Hollywood, and more TV Bites after the jump.
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It appears that Awkward Video Week has given way to Angry Hollywood Writer Week. And leave it to Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter to up the stakes: Soon after a former Hells Angel/Oz actor filed a $5 million lawsuit accusing Sutter of stealing his idea for SOA, the writer took to his blog to defend himself. And how.
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If you answered affirmatively and can get to Culver City in a week on your own dime, Conan O'Brien's sidekick needs you. Sony Studios is currently recruiting "die hard Andy Richter fans to support him" in the audience for his new pilot of the game show Pyramid. Filming takes place Wednesday, June 23rd; click here for more details. Joel Godard, you're probably going to want to sit this one out. [Craigslist]
Like you, I'm psyched for Betty White's return to the small screen on Hot in Cleveland, a sitcom about three cosmopolitan women who move to Ohio and live with an elderly caretaker, but I'm just as torqued for the two of the other primetime veterans in this TVLand Series: Valerie Bertinelli and Wendie Malick. The former kept One Day at a Time vivacious for its nine-year run, and the latter gave Just Shoot Me some brassy edge. Tonight's programming also includes the return of a beloved Bravo series and So You Think You Can Dance's competitive weeks.
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Long before Justin Halpern launched the Twitter feed Sh*t My Dad Says to catalog his father's cranky observations about life, the writer spent five years waiting tables at the Crocodile Cafe in Pasadena. At that point in his struggling writing career, the recent New York Times bestselling author cites the time that he served sparkling water to Home Improvement co-star Richard Karn as the most exciting moment of his life. Since then, Halpern moved back into his parents' house in San Diego, accumulated over a million Twitter followers, wrote a book, moved to Los Angeles and created a network sitcom starring William Shatner that premieres in September.
Earlier this week, Justin Halpern phoned Movieline to discuss his whirlwind success, his Twitter technique and the sh*t his dad says about his CBS series.
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If you're a decent person and enjoy Julie Miller's Housewives and Hills recaps every week, you're aware that Movieline's "reality checks" single out the most staged and sincere moments that this genre has to offer. In the case of Bravo's Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, those are harder to sort: Griffin has consciously evolved her show from an unstructured free-for-all to something of a pseudo-staged campfest in the style of The Comeback. Both formats work, but the new one needs Movieline to tell it when it's honest and just phony. Come with us as we pick the realest and fakest moments from Kathy's sixth season premiere.
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Disturbing news has come out that may affect the fistpump equilibrium in Seaside Heights: MTV reportedly new shot footage for Jersey Shore that left the network underwhelmed. This doesn't mean the format of the show will change; it means that four Jersey Shore cast members are likely to lose their spots on the show for season three. Oh, horrors! Someone call a juicehead to explain this to the children! Hold your breath and join us to learn if your favorite guido/guidette is on the way out.
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This may sound shocking, but last night's episode of The Hills was actually enjoyable and reminiscent of earlier, better seasons. The cast members expressed feelings that could pass as genuine: Justin Bobby realized that Audrina deserves a partner who will respect her, Kristin and Brody bonded over their hatred of a mutual acquaintance and Audrina ran out of a Ryan Cabrera concert in tears. In short, it was a truly timeless installment of the Hills franchise that will forever be remembered by fans as "The One Where Justin Bobby Wasn't a Total Jerk and Stephanie Made a Salad." For further analysis, join me after the jump to assess which moments hit Movieline's Real/Fake Jackpot.
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Remember back in April when Nicollette Sheridan filed a $20 million lawsuit against Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry alleging that he "forcefully hit" and then wrongfully terminated her? Sheridan's lawyers recently amended the lawsuit, noting that ABC investigated the claim and dismissed the abuse as a "light tap on the side of the head" meant to provide screen direction. [THR]
Jay Leno may not have much in common with Robert Pattinson, but he does share one thing with Pattinson's dad: an affection for classic cars. After the pair bored Twihards with that factoid, R-Patz Jr. whipped out his cell phone and proceeded to humiliate R-Patz Sr. -- who happened to be sitting in the studio audience -- by reading his father's private e-mails aloud. Click through to see footage of that particular embarrassment as well as the other highlights you missed last night while cheering up Keanu Reeves.
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· Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is one step closer to playing a charismatic cult leader in a new drama series called The Crux. Although Spacey has met with executives at HBO, Starz and FX, Showtime is reportedly the closest to signing the actors. Writer/director Rod Lurie (Commander in Chief) is slated to write the pilot script. Both Lurie and Spacey will executive produce. [Deadline]
Clive Owen brushes up on Hemingway, a gang member sues FX, and more TV Bites after the jump.
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