MONEY MATTERS
Love is in the air on the set of CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond, although Brad Garrett still isn't inhaling any of it. Patricia Heaton, Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts — who all suspiciously missed at least one day of work since taping resumed on the new season — have each been granted small stakes in the sitcom's hefty syndication profits. According to trade reports, the coin — which could net them as much as $15 million apiece — came directly out of the pockets of the show's existing profit participants, including series creator Phil Rosenthal and star Ray Romano. As for Garrett, who is refusing to show up for work until he gets a raise, CBS reportedly offered him a similar profit-sharing pact — in addition to a 70 percent pay hike (from $4 million a year to $10 million). But the actor is said to be holding out for a better deal. As a result, producers were forced to write his character Robert out of the first two episodes of the new season. |
NO SHOW
Here's some "TV News" scoop from this week's issue of TV Guide magazine: That '70s Show has eighty-sixed Lisa Robin Kelly, who played Eric's slutty sis Laurie, and the sitcom is searching for a replacement. A show rep calls the move a "mutual agreement" and insists that "it has nothing to do with [bad] behavior or documented personal problems in her past." Then why exactly did Kelly's spokesman practically hang up on me when I called for a comment? And as much as I'd like to take full credit for breaking this story, FilmJerk.com first reported Kelly's dismissal earlier this month. Note to self: Find out who their source is and treat him/her to lunch. |
NEW MATTRESS
Carol Burnett is developing a TV version of the classic Broadway musical Once Upon a Mattress for ABC's Wonderful World of Disney. According to Variety, Hairspray star Marissa Jaret Winokur is being eyed to star as Princess Winnifred, a part originally played by Burnett — who would co-star as the Queen. |
BUSTED!
Current Real Worlder Adam King was arrested last week after he flagged down a Georgia policeman and took off running when the officer stopped his cruiser, TheSmokingGun.com reports. The 24-year-old was charged with "loitering/prowling" and being a pedestrian under the influence. |
BIGGER BROTHER
CBS is extending Big Brother's current run by a week. Instead of ending on Sept. 17, the summer reality hit will conclude on Sept. 24. The move pushes back the one-hour season premiere of King of Queens, which will now debut in its new Wednesday timeslot on Oct. 1. |
AMAZING SPLIT?
Amazing Race's gay champs Reichen and Chip are coming out and confirming that their romance is on the rocks. "Chip and I have undergone a lot of stress since the race ended in February, and it put a lot of pressure on our relationship," Reichen tells TV Guide Online in an interview posted today. "We're just trying to work through things privately right now. The most important thing though, just sitting here together, I know that Chip and I agree that we love each other very much." Get the two of them in a car, however, and it's a whole other story. |
CASE CLOSED
Fox News did the fair and balanced thing Monday and dropped its ridiculous lawsuit against Al Franken. The move comes three days after a federal judge refused Fox's request to stop the sale of Franken's new book, which parodies the network's trademark "fair and balanced" slogan on the cover. Says a Fox rep: "It's time to return Al Franken back to the normal obscurity he's accustomed to." Nobody likes a sore loser. |
BROKEN RECORD
Bobby Brown will remain in a Georgia jail cell until Wednesday, when he appears in court on a parole violation stemming from an earlier drunk driving conviction. Brown was arrested last Friday while dining with his wife, Whitney Houston. The 33-year-old singer was picked up because he did not show up for court-ordered community service, drug treatment or a random drug test. |
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Robin Leach is exposing the lifestyles of the rich and famous for ABC. Leach has inked a deal with the network to host Life of Luxury, a potential series that takes an inside look at the lavish lifestyles of the young and wealthy (and obnoxious). The pilot features rap mogul Master P, Virgin tycoon Richard Branson and the world's richest teens. |
HOPKINS + PALTROW = OSCAR
Anthony Hopkins is in talks to star opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in Miramax's upcoming feature adaptation of Proof, Variety reports. Hopkins would play the math-genius father of Paltrow's character. |
WOODY RECAST
Robert Downey Jr.'s past drug problems are coming back to haunt him. The actor has dropped out of Woody Allen's next film after producers were unable to reach a workable solution to cover the collateral on his insurance premium, Variety reports. Jason Biggs is in talks to replace him. |
SHORT CUTS
ABC sitcom star George Lopez has been tapped to host CBS's telecast of the fourth-annual Latin Grammy Awards on Sept. 3... Rumor has it that plus-sized View co-host Star Jones is planning to undergo gastric bypass surgery. |
IT'S MILLER TIME
Comedian/actor Dennis Miller will appear in three episodes of Fox's Boston Public beginning Oct. 24. According to Fox, he'll play an "unabashedly materialist investment banker" who, convicted of securities fraud, avoids jail time by agreeing to teach math at an inner city school. |
