March 25, 2003 |
NOT SO GOLDEN
Michael Moore is probably breathing a sigh of relief today. Ratings for Sunday's 75th Annual Academy Awards are in, and a record-low number of viewers witnessed the Bowling for Columbine filmmaker's embarrassing on-stage meltdown. According to Nielsen, 33.1 million viewers watched the ABC telecast — a 21 percent decline from last year. Insiders believe viewers were most likely drawn to war coverage on cable. In related news, Focus Features, the studio behind surprise Oscar darling The Pianist, announced Monday that the holocaust drama will expand to 900 screens nationwide this weekend. Also, NBC and sister network Bravo have snagged small-screen rights to best picture winner Chicago. They can begin airing the film in November 2005. |
RYAN'S HOPE
American Idol pretty boy Ryan Seacrest is in talks with Fox to headline his own syndicated show. Although the program won't be a typical talk show, it will utilize Seacrest's "interviewing talents," according to The Hollywood Reporter. In other words, it will be a typical talk show. |
SPEAKING OF IDOL...
From Justin to Kelly, the upcoming movie-musical starring last year's American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Justin Guarini, has been delayed until June 13. We can only assume the film's producers want to use the extra time to destroy the final cut and go into exile. |
HAIRDON'T?
Wonder Woman is getting a butch makeover. Her new "edgy" look — which includes short, spiky hair and a camouflage bustier — will be unveiled in Wednesday's DC Comics issue. It's part of a six-part adventure in which the bracelet-deflecting diva gets amnesia and thinks she's a lesbian. I kid. I kid. |
THIS BITES
The WB has renewed six of its series for next season — but unfortunately, Angel isn't one of them. Charmed, Gilmore Girls, Everwood, Smallville and Reba have been picked up for the 2003-04 season, while Monday-night staple 7th Heaven received a two-year green light. The network is expected to make a decision on Angel, arguably the WB's best show, in May. |
JUST JACK
An interior designer who claimed Will & Grace based the flamboyantly gay character of Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) on him but failed to give him credit, has settled his lawsuit with one of the show's writers. Jack Deamer claimed that longtime pal and W&G producer Max Mutchnick reneged on a promise to buy him a house and car if the sitcom became a hit. (Yep, that's our Jack.) The amount of the settlement was not disclosed. |
IT'S MAGIC!
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has a little wizard of her own. The writer gave birth to a baby boy, David Gordon Rowling Murray, on Sunday in Scotland. This is Rowling's first child with second husband Neil Murray. She has a 10-year-old daughter from her first marriage. |
GONE AND FORGOTTEN
ABC finally came to the conclusion that no one was watching Veritas: The Quest. The network has put the low-rated Monday drama on "hiatus" — which is industry-speak for, "We lost a ton of money on this show." In other scheduling news, ABC will air the final two episodes of Are You Hot? on April 5 from 9-11 pm/ET. In the meantime, Lorenzo Lamas will try and find out where Ana Alicia disappeared to. |
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