Real World, Road Rules, and Simple Life creator Mary-Ellis Bunim dies. Mary-Ellis Bunim, half of the team that created The Real World, Road Rules, Making the Band, Love Cruise, and The Simple Life, died of cancer yesterday at 57. She worked first in daytime TV, producing “more than 2,500 hours of daytime television on Search… continue reading
Archives for January 2004
Apprentice finale may air live, while supersized eps will start during Survivor.
Apprentice finale may air live, while supersized eps will start during Survivor. Donald Trump wants the April finale of The Apprentice to air live from his Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. NBC confirms the two-hour finale, but says the live shoot from AC is “not a done deal yet,” the Press of Atlantic City… continue reading
Tuesday American Idol episode beats big ABC, CBS, NBC, UPN combined.
Tuesday American Idol episode beats big ABC, CBS, NBC, UPN combined. Tuesday’s episode of American Idol 3 was watched by 29.6 million viewers. That’s more than ABC, CBS, NBC, and UPN combined; together they were watched by 28.6 million viewers. So, we can’t really blame FOX for milking this as much as possible: Next week,… continue reading
Andy Roddick show is dead; Mandy Moore says; she’d leave him over it.
Andy Roddick show is dead; Mandy Moore says she’d leave him over it. The Tour was to “follow [Andy] Roddick’s bouncing tennis ball as the 21-year-old, top-ranked ace travels the globe next May to September,” E! reported last year, but Andy’s girlfriend Mandy Moore says his balls are bouncing nowhere. “It was supposed to be… continue reading
success of product placement on Queer Eye means it now comes with a fee.
success of product placement on Queer Eye means it now comes with a fee. Remember when Queer Eye gave companies free product placement in exchange for great stuff? A refresher: a producer said, “They’re giving me a location, and they’re giving us product. Why would I charge them? That would be horrible.” Apparently, not being… continue reading
FOX making over families; Little People of America was consulted about show.
FOX making over families; Little People of America was consulted about show. FOX is scouring the south for families, but applicants need not fear Paris and Nicole invading their space and ruining their reputation. Instead, they’re casting for Family Time, which the Macon Telegraph says will “take that family, whether its background be Mayberry or… continue reading
Ashley Parker Angel is “a fan of Making the Band 2.”
Ashley Parker Angel is “a fan of Making the Band 2,” which is out on DVD. Former O-Town member Ashley Parker Angel is fulfilling his promise to record a solo album, just as he said he would, aiming to = John Mayer + Vanessa Carlton. “I’m really excited to primarily be onstage with a guitar… continue reading
BET’s College Hill debuts tonight.
BET’s College Hill debuts tonight. Television’s first black reality TV series debuts tonight as BET airs College Hill at 9 p.m. ET. Eight students, who BET helpfully stereotyped for us, live together in dorm suite. As the Houston Chronicle reports, Southern University “had editorial oversight” over the show’s content, and The Hollywood Reporter says “the… continue reading
FOX will air The Littlest Groom.
FOX will air The Littlest Groom. Wouldn’t you love to eavesdrop on the meetings where FOX exces decide what person or group to ridicule/exploit? Next up for the fine folks at FOX: little people. The Littlest Groom will be a Bachelor-style dating show that features “Glen, a 23-year-old salesman who stands 4-foot-5,” who will “go… continue reading
Queer Eye book was produced in six weeks, and was written by the Fab Five.
Queer Eye book was produced in six weeks, and was written by the Fab Five. The forthcoming Queer Eye book, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab 5’s Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better, was “put…together in six weeks,” most of which was probably spent writing the… continue reading
Ethan Zohn has “very ragged cuticles.”
Ethan Zohn has “very ragged cuticles.” A Gawker reader won the site’s stalking competition with an account of spotting a nearly naked Survivor Africa winner (and Survivor All-Stars cast member) Ethan Zohn at the New York Sports Club steam room. Although “he usually just puts on streetclothes and leaves sans shower,” this time Ethan “[s]tayed… continue reading
Nick Lachey and Kelly Osbourne sign deals with ABC, joining Jessica Simpson.
Nick Lachey and Kelly Osbourne sign deals with ABC, joining Jessica Simpson. MTV reality stars are flocking to ABC, home of, well, not a whole lot. Not content to be left behind by his Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica co-star and wife, Nick Lachey has just signed a development deal with ABC. While Jessica is developing… continue reading
Evan says Joe Millionaire was “fake” and “staged”; FOX used sound effects.
Evan says Joe Millionaire was “fake” and “staged”; FOX used sound effects. Joe Millionaire‘s Evan Marriott says the show that took him from underwear model to game show host was “staged” and “totally fake. … I sold 40 million people.” The Sun-Sentinel breaks this news in Tom Jicha’s column, and while he reports “[t]here is… continue reading
third Osbournes season debuts tonight.
third Osbournes season debuts tonight. The third (or fourth, depending how you count) season of The Osbournes debuts tonight, and it’s the series’ final season. Maybe; we’ve certainly heard that before. The fifth of five new episodes (out of 20 that will ultimately air) will focus on Ozzy’s ATV accident, according to USA TODAY. The… continue reading
A&E’s Airline may be renewed.
A&E’s Airline may be renewed. Southwest and A&E are talking about a second season of Airline. Seven of eighteen episodes have already aired on A&E, which says it is “very pleased with the results of the show so far.” As USA TODAY reported, the “debut episode averaged 784,000 viewers–not exactly Friends ratings, but 40% more… continue reading