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It's Happy Happy Time!
Happy Birthday...

...to Tammy Leitner. The "Survivor Marquesas" alum turns 36.

Happy Anniversary...
...
to Tic-Tac-Dough. The noughts-and-crosses quiz returned to TV 30 years ago.

Happy Trails...
... to George Carlin. The comic legend, who died at 71 last weekend, was on two games: "Hollywood Squares" and "He Said, She Said".

Scene and Heard...

"I bid $1 more than THAT contestant." -Brandon Hoey's shirt, complete with left-pointing arrow.

 

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GSNN Originals
GSNN's Got Talent

Posted 6/30/08

It was Super Tuesday on the game show front, and WLTI is there, giving their insights as to who got their props and who rightfully deserved said props.

Meanwhile, Insites and Block Party are now online.

We Love To Interrupt
Insites
Block Party
The Numbers Game
State of Play
On the Buzzer

 
Roger Dobkowitz Leaves TPIR
Sources: Season 37 to Go In "A New Direction"
From
Golden-Road.net

Posted 7/3/08

According to sources from inside CBS, Roger Dobkowitz, a long-time producer on "The Price Is Right", has left the show.

The news was confirmed by Marc Green, proprietor of Golden-Road.net, a leading TPIR fan message board.

"Apparently the show will be taking on a new direction in season 37 (tapings for season 36 wrapped up yesterday), and the-powers-that-be feel that Roger's services are not required to help get the show where they want it to be," Green posted.

Dobkowitz has been with the show since its second inception in 1972.

We will have more information as details becomes available.

Golden-Road.net

 
 
"Million Dollar Wheel" Lives... Sort of
Sony Preps Twist for American Audience
From
B&C

Posted 7/3/08

CBS’ Wheel of Fortune will premiere a new Million Dollar Bonus Round come fall, in which players will have a chance to win $1 million.

In this version of the game, a wedge will be added to the wheel. If a contestant lands on $1 million and then goes on to solve the puzzle and make it to the bonus round without hitting bankrupt, he or she will have a chance to spin the bonus wheel -- which determines a bonus-round winner’s ultimate prize -- and then play for $1 million.

The catch is that the contestant has to land on $1 million again, which makes the odds of actually playing for $1 million pretty low.

Wheel of Fortune, produced by Sony Pictures Television, begins its 26th season Sept. 8. The game show is the top-rated program among households in syndication.

B&C

 
 
More on "The Gong Show"
Catch It July 17
From
Multichannel

Posted 7/3/08

Comedy Central Wednesday announced The Gong Show with Dave Attell, will premiere Thursday, July 17 at 10 p.m. ET on the all-comedy network.

Executive produced by Doug Robinson of Happy Madison Productions and Andrew Golder (Identity, Win Ben Stein’s Money) in association with Sony Pictures Television, The Gong Show with Dave Attell will showcase seven to 10 “off-beat and diverse acts” judged by a panel of three celebrity judges.

At the end of each show, the act with the highest score will be crowned the winner. The series premiere features Brian Posehn, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Steve Schirripa.

Throughout the season, the likes of Adam Carolla, Kate Walsh, Andy Dick, Ron White, Dave Navarro, Greg Giraldo, Jim Norton and JB Smoove will serve as celebrity judges.

Dave Attell (pictured), a comedian who for four years has served as the host of Comedy Central’s Insomniac with Dave Attell, will reprise Chuck Barris’ role as host of the wacky talent competition. Named one of the “25 Funniest People in America” by Entertainment Weekly, also hosted a two-hour network special featuring Sean Rouse, Greg Giraldo and Dane Cook in Las Vegas.

Multichannel

 
 
Strike.tv to Get a Game Show
Slate Unleashed
From
Hollywood Industry

Posted 7/3/08

An online network formed by professional TV and film scribes during the Hollywood writers' strike earlier this year unveiled a slate Wednesday featuring contributions from the minds behind the likes of "The Office" and "Die Hard."

Strike.tv (http://www.strike.tv) plans to launch this summer with more than 40 shortform programs, including comedies, dramas and a game show. Some programs will be serialized while others will be standalone; the site has yet to secure advertising.

Participating writers include Lester Lewis ("The Office"), Rob Kutner ("The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"), Stephen E. de Souza ("Die Hard"), Karen Harris ("General Hospital") and Ron Corcillo ("Malcolm in the Middle").

Hollywood Industry
Variety

 
 
SAG Doesn't Authorize Strike... Yet
Actors Offer "Last, Best, Final Offer"
From
New York Times

Posted 7/3/08

The consortium of Hollywood producers that is negotiating a new contract with the Screen Actors’ Guild gave the union a “last, best, final” offer on Monday night, shortly before the midnight deadline for the old contract expired.

Although the expiration time came and went with no new contract in place, there are no immediate plans for a strike, though things could move in that direction if an impasse continues. Discussions of the studio’s last-ditch offer, which the union has already criticized, are scheduled for Wednesday.

“The offer — which mirrors the terms of the majors’ previous deals with the DGA, WGA and AFTRA — includes increases valued at more than $250 million over the three-year term of the deal,” reported Variety. “But SAG complained that the proposal is deeply flawed and set up a meeting Wednesday with the congloms to go over details of the 43-page offer.”

Although Hollywood is certainly strike-weary after the nearly three-month work stoppage by movie and television writers over the winter, SAG’s leadership has been firm in its resolve to press the studios for better terms than were recently negotiated by the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, a smaller union that broke with tradition by hammering out a contract separately from SAG.

B&C
New York Times
CNN

 
 
"Wheel" Heads to the 808
Tickets Still Available
From
Hawaii Magazine

Posted 7/3/08

As we posted back in March, Pat Sajak, Vanna White and, presumably, all the vowels money can buy are packed up and coming to Hawaii.

Wheel of Fortune films on Hawaii’s Big Island on September 12, 13, 15 and 16. The top-rated syndicated game show will be filming four weeks of episodes in four days, oceanside on the grounds of the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

The best part of it all for Wheel watchers? If you’re already on the Big Island that week, you could be in the “studio” audience for tapings.

Imagine seeing Pat Sajak giving away Pontiacs and insane cash prizes! Imagine marveling at Vanna White’s wardrobe changes between shows! In person!

Whoa.

Many seats need to be filled. Look for applications on KHON-2’s Web site here—the Hawaii broadcast affiliate for the show. Ticket recipients will be announced between July 21 and August 8.

Wheel of Fortune’s 26th season begins on September 8. The Hawaii shows will air in November.

Hawaii Magazine

 
 
Dale Winton to Host British "Hole"
BBC Signs On
From
Coventry Telegraph

Posted 7/3/08

TV host Dale Winton is to host new family game show Hole In The Wall.

The Saturday night entertainment show has been commissioned by BBC 1 and will air later this year.

Joining Dale on the show are team captains Strictly Come Dancing favourite Anton Du Beke and cricketer Darren Gough. Each week they will bravely out on a silver Lycra suit and head up a team of three well-known names in a competition to see who can get through the "hole in the wall."

The show, which originated in Japan, has fast become a worldwide hit, as celebrities try to force themselves through the various holes in the wall or risk ending up head first in the water.

But for the celebrities taking part, it's not the fear of the water and the chance of ruining their hair and make-up that scares them most, it's having to do it while wearing a very tight shiny Lycra all-in-one number.

The winning team will walk away with £10,000 prize money for the charity of their choice.

Coventry Telegraph

 
 
"Talent" Wipes Out Competition for the Day...
"Wipeout" Also Decent
From
New York Times

Posted 7/2/08

“America’s Got Talent” lifted NBC in the ratings on Tuesday as 12 million viewers tuned in to the talent competition from 9 to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen’s estimates. NBC led the night overall, but by small margin, finishing third in the 8 p.m. time slot with “Celebrity Family Feud” (7 million) behind ABC’s “Wipeout” (9.4 million).

ABC and Fox tied for second place in that demographic behind NBC. Fox actually earned the night’s highest ratings in that age group with “Hell’s Kitchen” at 9 p.m., although the cooking show’s impressive ratings were not reflected in its total viewer tally of 7.9 million. Meanwhile, Fox struggled during the 8 p.m. hour with “The Moment of Truth,” which attracted just 4.6 million viewers.

Like Fox, ABC’s ratings dragged the rest of the night despite a strong showing in one time slot. Following “Wipeout,” ABC garnered 6.3 million for “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” at 9 p.m.

New York Times
Zap2It TV
TV By the Numbers
TV Squad

 
 
... AND the Week
Seven of the Top 10 Were Games
From
CV Pulse

Posted 7/2/08

The prime-time "stars" of this summer are regular folks willing to humiliate themselves on national television.

Three new games - ABC's "Wipeout" and "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" and NBC's "Celebrity Family Feud" all debuted in Nielsen Media Research's top 10 last week. Except for "60 Minutes" and reruns of "CSI: Miami and "Two and a Half Men," everything in Nielsen's top 10 was a game.

Only NBC's "America's Got Talent" topped 10 million viewers last week. ABC's "Wipeout" was #2 with 9.98 million; NBC's "Celebrity Family Feud" ranked #5 with 8.82 million, Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" held at #6 AND #8, with CBS' "Million Dollar Password" at lucky 7 with 8.49 million, and ABC's "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," rounded out the top 10 with 8 million.

CVPulse.com
Variety

 
 
Syndies: Blame Tiger
All the Games Low
From
B&C

Posted 7/2/08

Hot weather and a hot sudden-death playoff between golfers Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in the U.S. Open Monday, June 16, which pre-empted daytime programming turned syndie ratings cold in the week ending June 22.

Among first-run strips, only four talk and three court shows managed to gain on the week, while no program showed year-to-year improvement.

All of the game shows were low. CBS’ Wheel of Fortune fell 3% to new season low 6.3. CBS’ Jeopardy! also dropped to a new season low, slipping 4% to a 5.3. Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire remained at its season low 2.6 for a third straight week. Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud, Program Partners’ Merv Griffin’s Crosswords and Twentieth’s Temptation were all unchanged at a 1.7, 0.8 and 0.5, respectively.

B&C

 
 
More on "Catch 21"
Alfonso Ribiero to Host, Premiere TBA
From
Eurweb

Posted 7/2/08

Alfonso Ribeiro has found employment as the host of GSN's "Catch 21," a new series blending pop trivia with the card game, 21. Dealing out larger-than-life playing cards, Ribeiro quizzes contestants with general-knowledge questions as they attempt to build the closest hand to 21. Every correct answer is a chance to add a card and build a better hand or pass the card and “bust” the competition. After three elimination rounds, the final player takes on the house for a shot at up to $25,000 cash in the final prize round.

Eurweb

 
 
TV Land Gives Us a Second "Look"
New Season to Launch in 2009
From
Variety

Posted 7/2/08

TV Land is quickly establishing the look of an original-series network after greenlighting a second season of reality skein "She's Got the Look."

Announcement follows the net's April decision to go forward with a second campaign for another original reality series, "High School Reunion."

Premiering in 2009, season two of "She's Got the Look" will be expanded from six to eight episodes, with Allison Grodner staying on as exec producer.

Since the series premiere on June 4, an average of 633,000 viewers have been tuning in to watch "The Look," which is focused on a modeling competition for women 35 and up. The audience number represents a 17% bump over TV Land's total-day average.

The show's viewers have a median age of 46, which fits the channel's target objectives, with the other TV Land originals -- "High School Reunion" and "The Big 4-0" -- going after a similar demo.

"The show's message of reinvention and the pursuit of lifelong dreams is something identifiable to our audience of 40- and 50-year-olds," said TV Land president Larry W. Jones.

Variety

 
 
... while Britain Gets Hidden
New "Model" Show Features Handicaps
From
ABC News

Posted 7/2/08

Blond hair, blue eyes. 5 foot 11, 130 pounds.

One arm.

They're not the typical stats of a would-be model. But "Britain's Missing Top Model" hopes to change all that. The reality competition, premiering tonight in Great Britain on BBC Three follows eight hopefuls vying to prove they have what it takes to make it in the mainstream fashion world. The deal: Contestants pack into a Chelsea penthouse and, over the course of three weeks, get whittled down through a series of challenges. The prize: a high-fashion photo spread in the British edition of Marie Claire magazine.

The difference between this show and "America's Next Top Model": All the women have a disability.

Kelly Knox was born without a left forearm. Lilli Risner is deaf. Debbie Van der Putten is missing most of her right arm. Jenny Johnson is partially paralyzed.

"I was in a very serious car accident in December 2002," said Johnson, 22, a Seattle native who auditioned for the series after a photographer friend noticed an ad on MySpace.com.

ABC News

 
 
Wipeout Expands... a Minute
Five Tuesday Offerings Put Three Networks on the Map
From
The Futon Critic

Posted 7/1/08

ABC is giving viewers an extra minute of "Wipeout" while fellow newcomer "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" will wrap on a special night.

Said news was the first of many updates the network confirmed this weekend:

-- "Wipeout" will expand to 61 minutes effective immediately with "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" following at 9:01/8:01c. "Game Show" then will wrap its season with a two-hour finale on Tuesday, August 5 with back-to-back repeats of "Samantha Who?" filling the hour starting August 12.

-- On Monday, July 14 at 8:00/7:00c look for the one-hour special "The Bachelorette: Engagement Party."

-- And finally, "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" will air its two-hour finale on special night - Tuesday, September 16 at 8:00/7:00c. The series regularly airs Sundays at 8:00/7:00c (from July 20 through August 3) and Mondays at 8:00/7:00c (from July 21 through September 15). In addition, encores of the previous week's episode will air Sundays at 7:00/6:00c from August 3 through September 14.

New York Daily News
Variety
TCPalm.com
Chattabox
Gadling.com
New York Times TV Decoder
Observer-Reporter.com
Pop Matters
The Futon Critic
Reality TV Magazine
Charlottetown Guardian
Boston Globe
eNews 2.0
Variety
Zap2it TV
Reuters
Ad Age
THR LiveFeed
Ad Age
The Futon Critic

Media Life
New York Daily News
Newsday
The Futon Critic
Blend Television

 
 
Jackson Talks "Money"
"30 Seconds" Host Fronts VH1 Game Sunday
From
New York Daily News

Posted 7/1/08

Craig Jackson, host of VH1's upcoming reality competition series "I Love Money," considers himself more of a ringmaster than a leader.

"I'm the brown Jeff Probst," Jackson told the Daily News. "But Jeff Probst, his job is easier than mine. The people on his show are normal, everyday Americans. On this show, we have VH1 reality ‘celebs,' so it was a little more involved, trying to get people to do what you wanted them to do. Like be there on time."

"I Love Money," premiering Sunday at 9 p.m., pits 17 all-star cast members from VH1 shows "Flavor of Love," "Rock of Love" and "I Love New York" in a series of over-the-top challenges for the chance to win $250,000.

The challenges are based on past "Love" moments and include a spitting contest as well as time on the stripper pole.

New York Daily News

 
 
Bingo-testants Wanted
GSN Preps Season 2 of "Bingo America"
From
Reality Wanted

Posted 7/1/08

BINGO AMERICA Casting Contestants NOW!

Are you ready to take center stage to test your luck and your basic trivia skills? Casting Directors are seeking enthusiastic people who are looking to have a blast and a chance to win some cool cash.

If you are full of personality, enjoy trivia, and are a big fan of game shows, then submit ASAP!

Reality Wanted

 
 
Turkey Wipes Out
Endemol Sells Game to Turkey
From
Broadcast

Posted 7/1/08

Endemol has expanded into Turkey, where its first commission will be a local version of gameshow format Wipeout.

Endemol Turkey will be based in Istanbul and will produce all Endemol formats for the territory. The business will be headed up by managing director Ansi Elagoz, who joins the company from Turkish broadcaster Kanal D this week.

Production begins next January on Wipeout, which will be screened on Turkish broadcaster Show TV. The format has now been sold to 10 countries, and recently made its international debut in the US on ABC, where it attracted 10 million viewers.

Endemol shows such as Deal or No Deal, Extreme Makeover and 1 vs 100 have already been screened on Turkish TV and versions of reality show Fear Factor and entertainment show M/F are part of Star TV's summer line-up.

"Endemol's shows have been pulling in big audiences here for a long time now and I'm confident that Wipeout will prove to be the latest smash hit," said Elagoz. "Turkey has a vibrant and rapidly growing TV market and I'm very excited about further establishing Endemol as a major player here."

Broadcast

 
 
Hulk: Reality Show Exacerbated Marital Problems
"Gladiators" Host Still Loves Wife
From
DigitalSpy

Posted 7/1/08

Hulk Hogan has admitted that appearing in a reality show "amplified" the problems in his marriage.

The former WWE wrestler and current host of "American Gladiators" said the VH1 program Hogan Knows Best exacerbated faults in his marriage that had been around for a decade.

"I just think the reality show amplified the problems that were already there," he told People.

Hogan's wife Linda filed for divorce last November, but the sports entertainment star insisted he still loves his former partner.

"I unconditionally love my wife, even though we're not together anymore," he commented. "The Linda that I know was a great mother and a great person."

DigitalSpy

 
 
Farmer and His Wife... Still Together
Finale Was Last Week
From
OC Register

Posted 7/1/08

It's the obvious question when the reality TV dating shows end:

"But did they really get married?"

And so after "Farmer Wants a Wife" wrapped up Wednesday with Missouri farmer Matt Neustadt offering his hand, his tractor, his land to former Orange County resident Brooke Ward, we had to find out.

The CW network show wrapped shooting last summer, since when they'd not been allowed to be seen with each other in public. Surely by now they'd both found greener romantic pastures closer to home?

After all, in 12 seasons of ABC's "The Bachelor," only two couples are still together, neither married. It just doesn't happen that the love made on reality TV series ever lasts, right?

So imagine the surprise when Brooke came on the line from her apartment in Hermosa Beach – her soon-to-be-ex-apartment – where she was packing to leave on Sunday for a cross-country trip filled with romance.

"I'm in the process of literally packing up my car," Brooke says. "I'm driving to Texas to my sister's wedding, and then I'm driving to Missouri to see my man."

OC Register

 
 
No Sass Between "Dance Crew", Judge
Contestant Shoots Down Sexual Harrassment Charge
From
Los Angeles Times

Posted 7/1/08

We don't have to tell you that Digg serves up as much news as it does rumors and hoaxes.

An item about eliminated Sass x7 contestant Dominique Conti allegedly accusing "America's Best Dance Crew" judge and noted choreographer Shane Sparks of sexual harassment raised a red flag over here in Show Tracker headquarters on Friday.

According to the report in question, Conti allegedly claimed that Sparks promised Sass x7 could continue on the series if the contestant "accommodated" him. The unsourced entry penned by "ChChChChia" claimed that Conti's parents had allegedly hired a lawyer.

Reached at her parents' home in New Jersey on Friday, Conti said she had never heard of the claim and the report is "absolutely not true."

"My only interaction with Shane was when we were onstage and he was sitting at the judging table or in passing backstage," Conti said. "We all took a picture with him backstage before we were eliminated."

Los Angeles Times

 
 
Idol 7's Other Cook Signs On.... Again
First Single Drops August
From
OK! Magazine

Posted 7/1/08

Blake Lewis is out. Kristy Lee Cook is in.

The American Idol finalist has inked a record deal with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville and will release her debut album in the fall.

Hoping to follow in the country superstar footsteps of Carrie Underwood, Kristy Lee will be collaborating with Brett James on the disc. Brett was the songwriter behind Carrie's Grammy-winning "Jesus, Take the Wheel."

Her first single, "15 Minutes of Shame" will hit airwaves on Aug. 11.

OK! Magazine

 
 
Bennett to Birth a Baby
Season Five Idoler Pregnant with "Fifth Generation"
From
Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Posted 7/1/08

"American Idol" 2006 contestant Princess P is becoming a mommy.

Paris Bennett is expecting a baby girl in October and will be 20 when mommyhood arrives.

"This makes five generations," an overjoyed Jamecia Bennett, told me Thursday.

Jamecia, who like her daughter and mother is a singer, is absolutely over the moon about being a first-time grandmother.

"I'm proud of how she did it. I was 16 when I got pregnant," said Jamecia.

Paris' great-grandmother is Shirley T. Bennett, 75, of Rockford, Ill.; her grandmother Ann Nesby, a gospel and R&B powerhouse, who lives in Atlanta, was with the Sounds of Blackness.

Who's the daddy? "He chooses not to be in the public eye," said Jamecia. "I respect that." What does he do for a living? "I can't tell," she said.

"She has a ring," said Jamecia, who's hopeful that she'll be planning a wedding for Paris.

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

 
 
Same "Runway", New Handlers
Bunim-Murray to Take Over with Lifetime Moves
From
Variety

Posted 6/30/08

Bunim-Murray is close to signing on as the new producer behind "Project Runway."

The "Real World" producer has been in talks with the Weinstein Co. for weeks about taking over the gig in time for the hit reality show's sixth season and first on Lifetime.

Magical Elves, which originated the show for the Weinsteins (and their former Miramax label) at Bravo, recently sealed a production deal with NBC Universal. Because of their commitment at NBC U, Magical Elves won't be making the move to Lifetime (where the show bows in November).

Bunim-Murray is no stranger to Lifetime, having recently produced "America's Psychic Challenge" for the cabler. Company's other recent credits include E!'s "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" and "Living Lohan." It also produces "Bad Girls Club" for Oxygen.

In choosing Bunim-Murray to take over the franchise, TWC and Lifetime went with a company that knows the reality space well, having produced 21 seasons of "The Real World." In the competition space, its credits include the music shows "Making the Band" and "Born to Diva."

Variety

 
 
Singing for the Office...
TLC's Third Game Launched Sunday
From
Post-Gazette.com

Posted 6/30/08

Now that "The Singing Bee" on NBC is toast, host Joey Fatone isn't giving up on average Americans singing. Now he's intent on not only getting people to sing but to ruin office productivity at the same time with "The Singing Office" (9 p.m. ET Sunday, TLC), premiering this weekend.

Fatone and Spice Girl Mel B. search for singers in two different workplaces each week, pitting teams from each office against the other. The teams go through boot camp and then engage in a choreographed singing competition finale, vying for the $50,000 grand prize.

Post-Gazette.com
Boston Herald

 
 
ABC Fires Up "Dance Machine"
Yet Another Dance Series Launches Tonight
From
Media Life

Posted 6/27/08

“Dance Machine” is yet another reality dancing competition, only this one doesn’t feature celebrities or wannabe professional dancers. The contestants here are all ordinary people from a variety of backgrounds.

One contestant on tonight’s premiere is a 25-year-old circus acrobat from Monterey, Calif. Among next week’s dancers is a 70-year-old grandmother from Mexico City.

Here’s how it works: Each week six contestants battle in a series of one-on-one dance-offs, and throughout the night the dancers are eliminated by voters in the studio audience. The two remaining performers then face off to be crowned the night’s “Dance Machine,” for a cash prize of $100,000.

E! News’ Jason Kennedy hosts and DJ Rodney Perry provides the music, mainly pop hits from years past.

Media Life
South Coast Today
Blend Television

 
 
Nine Stops "Million Dollar Wheel"
Newest Revision Lasts A Month
From
TheWest.com.au

Posted 6/27/08

The Nine Network's attempt to revive the classic TV game show Wheel of Fortune has failed.

The network has announced it has stopped production on Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune, with the final episode to air today.

Hosted by former Home and Away actor Tim Campbell and model Kelly Landry, it premiered just a month ago, and was one of the station's big local production hopes.

“We are disappointed that Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune has not done as well as we had hoped,” Nine said in a statement this afternoon.

“It is best in these circumstances to make the tough decisions and move on so we have.”

It's the latest in a number of locally produced flops for Nine this year including game show The Power of 10.

Others include the reality sitcom Monster House and the talent contest My Kid's A Star.

It was hoped that the reinvention of Wheel of Fortune, which ran for 25 years on Seven, would knock off rival game show Deal or No Deal on Seven in the 5.30pm time slot.

But it struggled, as Deal or No Deal brought in about 300,000 more viewers each day.

A recent promotion to try out celebrity Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune also failed.

Nine said Campbell and Landry would both stay on at the network, Campbell on The Singing Bee and Landry on Getaway.

TheWest.com.au

 
 
Bob Saget to Get Roasted
Expect "1 vs. 100" Jokes on Comedy Central
From
B&C

Posted 6/27/08

Comedy Central has announced the latest victim of the network’s Comedy Central Roast series. Former Full House star, 1 vs. 100 host (and notoriously dirty stand-up comic) Bob Saget.

Saget follows in the footsteps of previous roastees Flavor Flav, Pamela Anderson and William Shatner.

The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget will tape in Los Angeles, airing on Comedy Central August 17.

"It's an honor...My ass is already sore," Saget said in a statement.

Mind you, that’s what he said in a statement. If you want to get a sense of what he would say in person, check out The Aristocrats. It ain’t pretty.

B&C

 
 
New York Loves Dorothy, Marilyn
VH1 Releases Pub Photos
From
People

Posted 6/27/08

After getting double dissed on Flavor of Love, Tiffany ‘New York’ Pollard transformed rejection into her own reality series with I Love New York. But finding love with Tailor Made (George Weisgerber) on I Love New York 2 was not enough. New York is ready for a new challenge. Get ready for New York Goes to Hollywood, which follows the leading lady as she attempts to put her name on Tinsel Town’s A-list by becoming a serious actress.

What about Weisgerber? Although he told People in March, “Tiffany and I are very happy together,” New York will leave her love behind and go west to woo industry professionals in her quest for a movie star career. “We will make this work,” Tailor Made said of their relationship. “I’ll visit her as much as I can.”

People

 
 
Auditions Announced for Eighth Idol
Team Goes to Puerto Rico for the First Time
From TheTVAddict.com

Posted 6/26/08

Auditions for the eighth season of American Idol begin Thursday, July 17, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA, and will continue in seven other cities. Once again, auditioners will have an extraordinary opportunity to perform before millions of TV viewers and become household names, with one winning the coveted American Idol title and a major recording contract.

From Frisco, Randy, Paula and Simon will head to Louisville, KY (Freedom Hall, July 21); Phoenix (Jobing.com Arena, July 25); Salt Lake City (EnergySolutions Arena, July 29); San Juan, Puerto Rico (Coliseo de Puerto Rico, August 2); Kansas City (Sprint Center, August 8); and East Rutherford, NJ (IZOD Center, August 19).

As usual, men and women 16-28 years old as of July 15, 2008, who are
eligible to work in the U.S. (with some restrictions) are eligible. Please visit americanidol.com for specific information.

The TV Addict

 
 
All3Media Buys Into the Zoo
"Lingo", "Cash Cab" Producer Acquire "5th Grader" Creator
From Variety

Posted 6/26/08

Indie U.K. TV group All3Media has acquired U.S.-based Zoo Prods., which is partnered with Mark Burnett on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"

"America is viewed as a market that hasn't reached saturation," said one production company exec. "A lot of foreign entities are looking to take advantage of that. The weak dollar also makes these companies attractive not just to the British but to everyone that uses the Euro. And the saturation of European markets is forcing many international companies to look at the U.S."

All3Media itself is rumored to be in play, with reports last month that NBC Universal may be interested in taking over the company.

Barry Poznick and John Stevens founded Zoo in 1994 and early on produced "The Blame Game" and "Spring Break" for MTV.

All3Media CEO Steve Morrison said he's been looking to extend the company's footprint in the U.S.

"This adds a dynamic American flavor to All3Media and helps cement the growth of our production companies in the U.S.," Morrison said. "This acquisition complements wonderfully the business we already have in this important market."

All3Media will now add Zoo Prods. to its growing stable of companies producing fare in the U.S. Those shingles include Lion Television, whose "Cash Cab" just won a Daytime Emmy for gameshow last week.

Variety
C21Media

 
 
Coles, Gold Tapped for GSN Revivals
Newlywed/Dating Pilots Are Go
From Hollywood Reporter

Posted 6/26/08

GSN has tapped Kim Coles and stand-up comedian Judy Gold to host the pilots for "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game," respectively.

The cable network is prepping new versions of the popular 1970s game shows, which are Sony-owned titles, that will incorporate modern elements like online dating sites. Michael Davies is executive producing both shows through his overall deal at Sony Pictures TV.

As for the hosts, GSN senior vp programming Jamie Roberts said this month that the network was looking for "unusual candidates to take these shows and reinvent them."

"Newlywed" often is identified with Bob Eubanks, who hosted most of the show's incarnations, though Jim Lange, Paul Rodriguez and Gary Kroeger were featured in some editions. "Dating" has been hosted by Lange, Elaine Joyce, Jeff MacGregor, Brad Sherwood and Chuck Woolery.

Hollywood Reporter
C21Media
All Headline News

 
 
Rumor Mills...
Trump Wants Sir Paul's Ex... NBC Doesn't
From Chicago Sun-Times

Posted 6/26/08

Reports indicate that there have been a number of heated conversations between NBC honchos and Donald Trump -- about the concept of including Heather Mills on the upcoming season of ''The Celebrity Apprentice.''

While Mills reportedly is only interested in appearing occasionally (her exact role is yet to be fully defined), even a part-time Mills gig is giving some network execs indigestion.

The thinking follows this scenario: Paul McCartney's wife is considered ''old news'' since her divorce from the former Beatle was finalized -- to the tune of some $50 million. Furthermore, NBC production types have been comparing notes with their counterparts at ABC, who say Mills was one of the biggest divas ever to waltz or samba across a ''Dancing With the Stars'' dance floor. ''She was just downright nasty,'' a show staffer told me Monday. ''She was the worst.''

Spokesfolks for Mills did not respond to requests for comment.

Chicago Sun-Times

 
 
One Order of 45 Pizzas to Go...
Drew Carey Celebrates Finale of His First Season as TPIR Host
From WRAL

Posted 6/26/08

Drew Carey really, really loves the pizza from Antonio's - so he's having UPS deliver dozens of the pies from Ohio all the way to Los Angeles.

The Cleveland native often stops at the Parma pizzeria for a pepperoni slice when he visits town. But this time he placed a tall order - 45 pizza pies - to celebrate Saturday's season finale of his CBS game show, "The Price is Right."

The actual retail price according to the pizzeria's owners: $450. That doesn't include the steep price of delivering the pizzas thousands of miles away.

AP/WRAL

 
 
Cash Cab Rolls Into India, Japan
All3Media Deals in Wake of Emmy Win
From World Screen News

Posted 6/26/08

ALL3MEDIA International’s hit format Cash Cab—which recently received a Daytime Emmy for outstanding game show for its Discovery Channel U.S. version—has been picked up for local adaptation by UTV in India.

The Indian edition, with 13 episodes ordered, will film in Mumbai, beginning in July, for broadcast on UTV’s Bindass channel. UTV’s Ajit Thakur said of the show: “It’s so much more than a quiz show with the city, iconic cabs and its people. Which is why it’s all the more exciting for India. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta have so much to offer—buzzing streets, all kinds of people, the characters like traffic cops and streetside hawkers, the monuments, and not to forget the great Indian taxi. UTV and Bindass are both very confident that Cash Cab will be a very successful show in India.”

The format recently clinched a deal in Japan, where Future Planet is in production on a version for Fuji TV. ALL3MEDIA notes that more than 2,500 episodes are being produced worldwide in more than 50 territories. Other recent deals include a renewal by XYZ in Australia and a pilot filming in Italy.

World Screen News

 
 
Idol Studdard Finds a Wife
Paperwork Filed in Birmingham
From AP

Posted 6/26/08

He won the affection of millions of people on "American Idol," but this weekend, Ruben Studdard is giving his heart to one woman.

A representative for the former "Idol" confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that Studdard, 29, plans a Saturday wedding. He and Surata Zuri McCants, 30, took out a marriage license on Monday, according to court records.

The Birmingham native, nicknamed the "Velvet Teddy Bear" on the show for his big frame and sonorous voice, has released three albums since his 2003 win, including the platinum CD "Soulful." He is working on a new album.

Reality TV World

 
 
Idol Hicks Finds His Niche
Champ Signs with Jazz Label
From New York Post

Posted 6/26/08

'American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks has finally landed with a record label more in-tune with his personality.

Vanguard Records, the longtime purveyor of jazz, blues and folk, has agreed to distribute Hicks' next album, which he plans to cut on his own label, Modern Whomp Records.

The disc is expected to be comprised mostly of Hicks' pre-"Idol" tunes and is slated for release in August.

Hicks is currently appearing as the "Teen Angel" in Broadway's "Grease."