Jersey Shore has always been a tubular adventure with two-dimensional heroes. But closer inspection proves it has several parallels to the original tubular adventurer, Super Mario (and all of his friends and foes). Join us as GTL goes NES.
Within the past two years, Ellie Kemper has gone from a regular UCB performer to a series regular on The Office with a book deal and feature film roles in Sofia Coppola's Somewhere and the Kristen Wiig-penned Bridesmaids. It has been a meteoric rise Kemper was happy to modestly recount with Movieline this week at NBC's TCA event -- before diving into those Steve Carell replacement rumors and revealing the sisterly bond she shares with one of The Office's writers.
That was quick! Just a week after Dick Wolf told the assembled television critics of the TCA that he would not be opposed to using celebrity scandals for Law & Order: Los Angeles plots, the veteran executive producer has made good on his promise: A celebrity scandal will be at the center of the series premiere. But which one?
When asked by the Hollywood Reporter to reveal her pick for the Best Drama Series Emmy, Kathy Griffin responded with her most fascinating Hollywood connection yet: She once taught improv to J.J. Abrams. "So I'm going to go with Lost and here's why: J.J. Abrams was my student when I was teaching at the Groundlings as one of my day jobs," she said. "And l feel like Lost took a lot of crap because they had good episodes and episodes that maybe weren't as good, but ultimately I thought it was a very compelling show." It's that support that made Abrams's fine acting work in Six Degrees of Separation possible. [THR]
On the heels of yesterday's two-minute Mad Men preview, which managed to spoil at least one storyline of this Sunday's new episode, AMC has released another two-minute clip from the upcoming installment which will tell you everything you wanted -- or never wanted -- to know about Joan's "procedure" history and her OB-GYN's bedside manner. Click ahead to find Joan Harris waiting for you in a hospital gown.
What's the only way that CBS could make an episode of Big Brother even more morally reprehensible than usual? By dressing its contestants in wizard costumes and using the show as an hour-long commercial for a major feature film that has nothing to do with wizards: The Other Guys.
Four dancers left. Three succeeded last night. The other was AdéChiké. That leaves us adding up the second-to-last week of performances and predicting who'll move on to the finals. Join us for judgment!
Last night on Late Night, Jimmy Fallon proved that he can break face during 75 percent of a Saturday Night Live sketch while Will Ferrell builds a sub sandwich with fake limbs. Meanwhile, Sofia Vergara addressed that rumor that she would run down Sunset Blvd. naked, Julia Roberts took offense to claims that her legs are less than perfect and Stephen Colbert planned to appeal to more "black folk."
Also in this morning's TV Bites: Nigel Lythgoe officially signs on for American Idol... NBC pits Zombies vs. Vampires... Tony Robbins gets the boot... and more ahead.
Just today, a CSI executive producer revealed that it was actually Justin Bieber's idea to play against type -- as a "troubled young man, raised in the foster-care system, whose hard-luck life has left him scarred and angry" -- in the Sept. 23 season premiere of the CBS procedural. Here are three other Hollywood performers who could revive their careers, and turn their images around, by taking a cue from the the mop-topped 16-year-old.
If you ever yearned to watch the reconciliation between Ryan O'Neal and his daughter Tatum O'Neal, you are in luck. The O'Neals will be pitching a reality show called Lost and Found in the next few days which would feature the pair as they attempt to repair the notoriously acrimonious relationship they shared ever since co-starring in 1973's Paper Moon, which netted the actress an Oscar at the age of 10. The show, from Endemol USA, will feature the O'Neals as they struggle through therapy sessions, auditions, their dating lives and family gatherings. Obviously. [Variety]
So You Think You Can Dance is nearing its final stages, and that means the home viewers have all the power now. Judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mia Michaels, and Adam Shankman can't protect people like Robert and Lauren anymore -- it's up to voters to select the next great dance icon. Related: Don't mess this up for Lauren, jerks.
Jon Voight's new turn on the Fox drama Lone Star as the oil tycoon father of a young con-man (James Wolk) will likely establish him as a TV mainstay, substantiating a streak that began with his recent stint on 24. We caught up with the 71-year-old legend at Fox's "All-Star" party in Santa Monica to discuss the new series, his daughter Angelina's new film, and his favorite film scene of all time.
Remember that summer night back in 1983 when you begged a higher power to revive the homoerotic NBC cop series CHiPs, even if it meant you had to burn your acid-washed jeans? Well, prep the lighter fluid because That '70s Show star Topher Grace is spearheading a remake at Warner Bros Television. Grace and Numbers creators Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, who will write and exec produce the project, have not yet approached networks about the reboot. [Deadline]
With less than two months until fall premiere season begins, several networks are reworking some of their higher profile programs in time for their autumn roll-outs. And you might be surprised to find out which projects needed a last-minute face lift.
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