Sometimes you've got to do the right thing even when the wrong thing is a whole lot easier, Emmy voters -- and I'm talking about which "Jane" you vote for come nominations season. It's Jane Lynch whose snippiness on Glee was rewarded this year, but it cannot be denied that Jane Krakowski has sold the hell out of Jenna Maroney's brilliant idiocy on 30 Rock all season long, culminating last night with some of her finest one-liners yet. Let's review the reasons this Tony winner deserves an Emmy (and therefore greater EGOT potential).
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Survivor is finally interesting! Now that the more pernicious contenders like Marty have been removed, we're left with a labyrinth of social dynamics and a mad scramble for power. Who's got control right now? Who's going home? We break it down with full rankings.
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Further proof that Drea de Matteo has cornered the market on women-in-peril roles: The ex-Sopranos and Desperate Housewives fall girl has been cast as a battered wife in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU, sources confirm to me exclusively.
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When it was announced that Gwyneth Paltrow had been added as a guest star on Glee, the Internet collectively shrugged. Sure, she's an Oscar-winner -- in that, "Hey, Halle Berry won an Oscar!"-type way -- but Paltrow's appearance was just more grist for the mill that Glee was succumbing to all the typical missteps that befall a hit show during its second season. Much like the idea of Javier Bardem appearing on Glee, this was stunt-casting of the highest order. A funny thing about that though: Gwenie might end up saving Glee's season.
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Dancing with the Stars is always good for some outrage. The show's uneasy balance of rigid scoring rubrics and home-voter influence can make champions out of inferior runners-up (Donny Osmond's triumph over Mya springs to mind) and losers out of deserving competitors (like this season's shocking Audrina Patridge ouster). But now that four celebrities remain in the series' 11th season, the most terrifying question of all remains: How on Earth is Bristol Palin -- the most awkward and ambivalent performer this season -- still in this contest? Let's break down the reasons for her continued "success."
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It looks like AMC needed more than 5 reasons to renew Rubicon. The network announced moments ago that they will not bring back the conspiratorial series for a second season. Said AMC in a statement, "This was not an easy decision, but we are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented, dedicated team." You'll recall that the premiere of Rubicon was the highest rated original series start in AMC history, a number which was topped just last month by The Walking Dead.
In last night's final part to South Park's Mysterion trilogy, Cartman employed the "LeBron James technique" to manipulate his mother, and later used a "cuddly cat" tactic to manipulate his dark lord into plucking Justin Bieber from a concert stage and smashing his skull in front of thousands of screaming girls. Below, a more detailed recap of Cartman's ingenious manipulation moves and the body count from last night's "Coon vs. Coon and Friends."
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You probably stopped watching The Simpsons ten years ago, but that doesn't mean you aren't pleased right now: Fox has renewed the landmark animation series for a 23rd season, an order that will take it past 500 episodes. Producer Al Jean told Vulture that there are even plans underway for a 24th season, though nothing is official on that front just yet. Expect a YouTube video explaining why this renewal means The Simpsons and 9/11 were connected to appear online shortly. [Vulture]
Jon Hamm really can do anything, whether it be inject actual comedy into an exhausted Saturday Night Live franchise, find 30 innovative ways to ask "What?" on Mad Men or upstage Conan O'Brien on his own show. The AMC star did that last night by being humble, hilarious -- and most importantly, relaxed. Elsewhere, Russell Crowe talked about the time he lit his pubic hair on fire, David Spade discussed the embarrassing Maserati that Adam Sandler gave him and Stephen Colbert taught Martha Stewart how to make mayonnaise appetizers.
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Of all the careers I expected Chelsea Handler to emulate, Barbara Walters's was not on the wish list. But now that the E! doyenne is helming her own interview special and slating guests like Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Christina Aguilera, she may be closer to 20/20 terrain than we'd imagined. Handler's brand of unfiltered questioning requires interview subjects who will reply candidly -- and that's why I hope she interviews these other five ladies sometime in the near future.
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Sadly, NBC executive Jeff Gaspin -- who replaced Ben Silverman in July 2009, just in time to mishandle the epic primetime programming disaster that was the Jay Leno Show -- will not live to turn NBC's dismal ratings around as he had hoped. THR reports that the chairman parted ways with NBC Universal yesterday after watching Tina Fey accept the Mark Twain Prize for Humor in New York. A successor is expected to be announced next week. [THR]
Dancing with the Stars is getting so outrageous that I almost need Erin Andrews on the phone with me as I watch. It's maddening! With Bristol Palin surviving another week and Carrie Ann Inaba sparring with Maks, it's easy to get a little huffy. In our epic interview this week, Miss Andrews discusses her love of Kyle Massey, Brandy's emotions, Maksim Chmerkovskiy's passion, and the possibility that Bristol will make it to the finals.
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Glee is showing symptoms of tribute fatigue. Despite talk that the Fox hit's post-Super Bowl episode would be a love letter to either Bruce Springsteen or Michael Jackson, I'm hearing producers are strongly reconsidering the single-singer route.
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Last night's debut of Bravo's Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection proved one thing: Iman is already the most superhuman host who ever lived. (And I know who Dinah Shore is.) You may need three pairs of sunglasses to deal with the following five pictures -- each one showing a different personality trait qualifying her to be TV's most fearsome presence. Bow down!
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Sometimes a dose of Glee can be so pure that it knocks you to the floor and fills your eyes with tears, while a warm sense of euphoria washes over your body and Will Schuester croons Temptations hits in your ear. And other times, like with last night's "Never Been Kissed," Ryan Murphy cuts his potent recipe with baking powder and bully plotlines and tries to pass it off as authentic. Sure, there are some emotional moments that can be snorted up easier by the suburban kids, but it's an uneven hit that ultimately disappoints and forces you to change dealers. Let's review.
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