The holidays are here, as evidenced by the festively decorated late night stages and the emphasis on Christmas-gone-wrong anecdotes. Why, just last night, Conan got a jump on his holiday greeting card, Hugh Grant recalled a horrifying, blood-soaked winter retreat, and Jimmy Fallon giggled through his letter to Santa. Get in the seasonal spirit with these videos, and the other after-hours highlights you missed while celebrating that surprise WGA nomination, after the jump.
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In the first of what will be Movieline's many investigations into the decade, we inspect the 10 greatest talk show guests of the 2000s. Some of the listed winners were in on the joke, and some were pretty decent jokes themselves. Grow a beard, recall your favorite menu items from prison, and enjoy.
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Wash those crusted tears off your oversize sweatshirt: NBC just announced that the Biggest Loser's ninth season will premiere on Jan. 5. That's right, the network will roll out a new iteration less than a month after Danny Cahill shed a record-breaking 238 pounds and barely edged out Rudy Pauls for the Season Eight title. So how will the Peacock top its capital-conquering and proposal-inclusive "biggest season yet?"
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· On the heels of Dexter's record-breaking season four finale, not to mention the most gruesome bathtub-full-of-blood scene in television history, the Showtime drama's executive producer/showrunner Clyde Phillips is leaving the series to spend more time with his family. Phillips, who also created Suddenly Susan, will be replaced by 24 co-executive producer Chip Johannessen. [THR]
Betty visits the orthodontist, True Blood tracks down Sam's mom, and more TV Bites after the jump.
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For a minute there, you were worried we were out of network singing competitions. Fear not: The frontman of 98 Degrees, the frontcat of the Pussycat Dolls, and the frontkneeler of Boyz II Men are here to bring pitchiness and populism back into your living room.
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The Simpsons dominated the field of nominees announced this afternoon for the 2010 Writers Guild Awards, pulling down five nominations (though all were in the animation category). The usual suspects -- including Mad Men, The Office, and 30 Rock -- plus newcomer Modern Family tied for second place with three nominations each. Meanwhile, Rosie O'Donnell earned surprise recognition for adapting a Lifetime telepic America (in which she also starred), along with HBO's loved-or-hated dark comedy series Eastbound & Down, which was nominated for Episodic Comedy. The complete list of nominations, as well as the notable absences, after the jump.
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If you weren't one of the 11.8 million that tuned into ABC last night for Oprah Winfrey's private tour of the White House and its Christmas (whatever happened to political correctness?) traditions, fear not. Movieline has filtered out the commercial interruptions and the few minutes worth of actual policy discussion to give you the SFW video highlights. What was promoted as a behind-the-scenes special was really behind-the-scenes, not just of the capital but of Oprah's intimate relationship with the Obamas. There was hand-holding, all-too-knowing sideways glances and a solid minute's worth of baby talk with Bo. Thankfully, Oprah spared us of any questions relating to Michelle's tricep regime. After the jump, last night's emotional highs and lows, as well as the odd glimpse into actual White House tradition.
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Making their first red carpet appearances since being catapulted into the very stratosphere they helped to erode with their chain-smoking and hairspray addictions, the cast of MTV wildlife documentary Jersey Shore showed up at Spike's Video Game Awards. There, The Situation Room, Paulie Walnuts, JWOWOWOWW and sucker-clocked good-times girl Snooki took the stage alongside Mike Tyson, who we hope gave Snooks a few pointers on ducking, how many pounds of force it takes to fracture a skull, and the delicious taste of ear cartilage. [VGAs]
Certain TV events require more than slick analysis -- they require a friend. The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, A&E's new reality show about Michael Jackson's famous brothers and their "comeback," is just the kind of staged, cold spectacle you expect, save a few surprises. For instance, what was up with Jermaine's impromptu trip to Vienna? Or that phone call to Janet, which sounded more impersonal than her last three albums? Someone hold us! After the break, TV Line's Julie "Just Look Over Your Shoulder!" Miller and Louis "Easier Than ABC" Virtel break down the premiere, with their emotions and emoticons intact.
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The Jay Leno Show has been on air for three torturous months, enduring bottomless criticism for its lazy satellite interviews, gimmicky "Earn Your Plug" stunts and rehashed segment ideas. Some might say that the only moments of brilliance arise from fortuitously scheduled guests or segments gone horribly wrong. But a triumph has finally arrived for NBC's denim-outfitted underdog, just in time for the holidays. Unfortunately for Leno, his new title was claimed for whoring out his show to the most on-air advertisers.
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It looks like the skittish television networks that quickly pulled ads featuring Tiger Woods will suffer along with the embattled golfer when they start airing tournament coverage nearly every weekend next month. Woods announced on Friday that he will be taking an indefinite break from the sport. Bill Carroll, VP and Director of Programming at Katz TV Group equated his absence to a movie without a box office superstar: "Without Woods, televised tournaments are like a major motion picture without a star's name above the title -- rarely do people go to see the flick." Proving just that, last weekend's Tiger-less Chevron World Challenge lost over half of its viewers from 2007. Maybe it's time for golf to consider adding a vocal talent element to its tournament, at least for the televised broadcast. [THR]
Sarah Palin takes on William Shatner, Bill O'Reilly feuds with Law & Order, and more TV Bites after the jump.
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Over the past two weeks, James Franco relied on brooding stares, sinister laughter and one-note monologues to maximize the illusion of his character's evil persona. But during today's episode of General Hospital, the performance art-motivated actor tapped into something much deeper: textbook soap opera skills. Franco was angry, so James Franco raised his voice, pointedly gestured, and adopted all of the body language taught in the "Fury" week of Acting 101. It was a scene with such formulaic passion that it immediately brought to mind Tommy Wiseau's brilliantly craptastic performance in The Room.
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Year-end Nielsen recaps in the late '00s feel like a week-two American Idol results show: predictable, obligatory, cynical even without the commentary (or the jilted Alexis Grace). This year the rankings number the usual suspects and crown the same "regularly scheduled program" champ as in 2008. However, one new entry to the list makes middle-aged lawyering seem as watchable as Bruno Tonioli's big, stupid screaming.
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Before Avatar-mania can sweep the nation, James Cameron's masterpiece must be shamelessly promoted on the late night circuit. And last night, an odd A-list movie star kicked off the after-hours leg of promotion. To find out who it was, and to watch the other clips you missed while finishing your holiday shopping, follow us after the jump.
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Movieline's accolades for Jersey Shore keep coming. Case in point: Has a reality show ever eliminated its weakest link this effectively? Because Angelina was gone faster than a sucker-punching gym teacher at a Queens high school. I award the producers of Jersey Shore the coveted "Eject the Hater" trophy, which -- in its bronze, plastic, factory-produced splendor -- is unfortunately identical to DJ Pauly. Back to the task at hand: Last night's episode featured the series' softiest moment yet, and the winning guido's bloated, girly feelings couldn't even fit through a mini-golf windmill.
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