San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman claims that he was only trying to keep Tila Tequila, the bisexual reality star of A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, from leaving his house because he was "concerned about her welfare given [her] intoxicated state." Tequila signed a citizen's arrest early Sunday morning after calling the police and Merriman was taken into custody on suspicion of battery and false imprisonment. Merriman posted bail two and a half hours later and "is convinced that he'll be cleared." Sunday evening, Tila Tequila tweeted that she had not been drinking because of an allergy to alcohol before thanking her fans for support and turning on the privacy setting on her Twitter page. James Brennan, owner of the club Tequila visited Saturday night, says that the reality star consumed "shots of tequila and drank from a bottle of vodka." [USA Today]
The 2009 Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon brought in $5 million less than 2008's festivities, but one priceless artifact was salvaged: the talent of Charo. With her cover performance of Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music," Charo spent Labor Day proving the following: 1) She is alive; 2) Her performance style still combines the agility of Shakira with the delirium of Count Chocula; and 3) She can terrify Jerry Lewis in a way not seen since Sandra Bernhard's dinner scene in The King of Comedy. Clip after the jump.
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It is widely known that the hilarious stories told by talk show guests are not the product of spontaneity but careful pre-production screening. Hours before the show's taping, a segment producer extracts the most television-appropriate anecdote from the guest, maybe suggests a joke or prop to spice it up, and then the host finds an organic way to segue into the sound bite on air. Believe it or not, late night's most unconventional (or maybe, most juvenile) host did not always stick to this age old ritual. After the jump, find out how Late Night's first guest assumed dominance over Jimmy Fallon weeks before his interview.
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The superlative "breakout star" gets thrown around a lot these days, and The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons has seen that appellation more than his fair share of times, especially since he received his first Emmy nomination in July. Movieline caught up with the lanky Texan at the Television Critics Association's CBS event last month, where he had just won the critics' award for "Individual Achievement in Comedy." Parsons was quick to share his memorization techniques for Sheldon's dialogue, his viciously competitive nature on set, and his constant fear for Chuck Lorre's life.
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In Jane Lynch's new interview with Vanity Fair, the 48-year-old actress talks about her role on FOX's sing-it-to-the-bleachers sitcom Glee. The former Party Down star says her character Sue Sylvester, the school gym teacher, will behave how she pleases on campus. "She's not above engaging in inappropriate behavior with minors. She somehow manages to be horrible and really delightful at the same time." Scary! I mean, funny? Ten bucks to the first to find footage of Vili Fualaau practicing his scales. [Vanity Fair]
Any interest in buying a beautiful, half-finished garment with the faint scent of mothballs and broken dreams? You're in luck, as SeenON! is auctioning off every Project Runway dress from this season. You, too, can own treasures like Ra'mon's winning dress from last night for the low, low price of "No Bids Yet." Actually, the only dresses that really seem to be moving are the bad ones -- so far, the biggest seller is Ari's elimination-triggering frock from Episode 1, bought for $777.00 by Ari's mom, one of the aliens from Avatar. [SeenON!]
Though Kim Zolciak's song "Tardy for the Party" on Real Housewives of Atlanta might be even more disastrous than her wig, at least it confirms her membership in a notable club of reality stars who wanted to become pop singers. What was once a time-honored tradition in the UK (where you can be the first contestant voted off Big Brother and produce a #1 single the next day) has now become a full-fledged contagion on our shores, so Movieline felt it was time to pay our respects to the six most egregious reality-stars-turned-singers. Turn up your speakers, if you dare!
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Ever since we heard that Saturday Night Live picked up two much younger Michaela Watkins look-alikes, we wondered about the fates of the original Watkins, who debuted last season, and Casey Wilson, who didn't get much stage time during her two years on SNL. Movieline HQ heard rumors as early as two weeks ago that their contracts had not yet been picked up, but NBC would not confirm the chatter and even Bill Hader admitted to us, "You guys probably know more than me." This morning, though, it was reported that Lorne Michaels's hovering axe finally fell, releasing the two from their duties in Studio 8H.
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David Letterman's talent department has booked its fair share of near-death comedians (e.g. Mitch Hedberg, Don Rickles) to perform on the Late Show, but tonight's program marks the first time a cancer-stricken comedian who spent five years campaigning for a Letterman booking succeeded in getting on the show. This might sound like an adult Make-A-Wish Foundation thing, but the comic, Steve Mazan, has a body of work (outside the problems with his body) that might deem him eligible to do a 5 minute cleaned-up version of his act.
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There was a Project Runway episode last night, right? Between those speedy edits and that lightning-fast runway show? I want to be sure, because it may have been an over-caffeinated MC Hammer video remixed with shots of Tim Gunn staring at his flip-flops and exclaiming, "Designers, you don't even notice these plebeian clogs because Mitchell sucks so much! I'm beside myself! Next week if he's still here, I'll turn cartwheels in Zubaz." Let's sort through this poorly cut hour of television and drag up the actual delights within -- and bemoan how FORGOTTEN our Gordana was!
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Although Forbes bumped Oprah Winfrey to second place in their 2009 Celebrity Power Rankings (behind Angeline Jolie), she is still untouchable when it comes to money-making. And this fall's introduction of the Oprah Winfrey Network will only increase her three-fold lead over runner-up, Dr. Phil. The complete list of top talk show earners, who raked in a total of nearly $600 million last year, after the jump.
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Recession be damned! Maybe mocked, too! Million Dollar Listing, Bravo's reality drama about cut-throat real estate agents, is slated to return for a third season on October 12. This is eventful for perhaps no other reason (besides that I sort of, um, like the show) than the fact that Chad Rogers is, without question, the greatest television douchebag of all time, beating Bravo's own record set by third-season Project Runway vet Vincent Libretti. His mouth is shaped like a perfect puka shell! Stunning. Preview after the jump.
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In today's television landscape where nearly every demographic has at least one reality program dedicated to them (Loggers, Cave-Craving Guys, Tree Men), it makes sense that hipster cake-makers should also get their air-time. Refreshingly, Duff Goldman and his Charm City employees are a laid-back bunch that can bake a four-tiered Ferrari-shaped wedding cake without melting down or sabotaging a crew member. The only tragedy befalling Duff's Baltimore kitchen are transportation spills, Geof's seemingly chemically-enhanced attention to detail and Mary Alice's nerves.
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We've sat through three weeks of Top Chef: Las Vegas already as the chef-testants watched showgirls, dreamed up a sin-related dish and catered the lamest Vegas bachelor party in the history of bachelor parties, but we haven't seen the chef-testants exploring the casino once. Does this mean we should expect a Gambler's Anonymous Quickfire Challenge soon?
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After last night's episode of The Real World saw the near-eviction of another two housemates (CJ and Derek, who avoided jail time after a fight with a passerby) on a season where two cast members have already been banished, I thought: Why stop there? As part of my court mandate to stop being polite and start getting real, I propose a change: Let's boot every member of the Real World: Cancun cast out of the house, and not just the ones who don't show up to work (Joey) or the ones who almost kill hotel patrons with a hurled fire extinguisher (Bronne). Here's how we can make it happen.
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