September 10, 2004 |
LAWSUIT
Relatives of the late John Ritter have filed a wrongful death and malpractice suit against the doctors and the Burbank, Calif., hospital where the 54-year-old actor died last year. According to court papers, Ritter's wife, Amy Yasbeck, and children, Carly, Tyler, Jason and Stella allege that doctors misdiagnosed him as having a heart attack when he actually died of a tear in his aorta. The suit seeks unspecified damages. |
FAB FIZZLE
The public has apparently had its fill of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Ratings are down a staggering 40 percent compared to a year ago and Tuesday's episode attracted just 804,000 viewers age 25-54 — a record low. Translation: Don't be surprised to see Jai Rodriguez taking in the culture behind the counter at Starbucks. |
THIS IS SUPER
Is Smallville big enough for two Lois Lanes? We'll find out when big-screen Lois, Margot Kidder, guest-stars in the Sept. 22 season premiere — the same episode that marks the arrival of teenage Lois Lane (Erica Durance). Kidder will play Bridgette Crosby, an emissary to Dr. Swann. Unfortunately, Kidder's Superman costar, Christopher Reeve, who originated the role of the mysterious doc, will not appear with her in the episode. But exec producer Miles Millar doesn't rule out a reunion later this season. "That's definitely something we'd like to do," he tells TV Guide Online. |
JUST TWO GOOD OL' BOYS
Resident Jackass Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott have been cast as Luke and Bo Duke in the big-screen remake of The Dukes of Hazzard. Jessica Simpson, meanwhile, is reportedly up for the role of Daisy Duke. Unless, of course, Ashlee decides she wants it. |
LIFE EXTENDED
The Surreal Life producers are developing a series for this season's breakout screwballs Flava Flav and Brigitte Nielsen, Variety reports. Meanwhile, VH1 has given the go-ahead for a fourth season of the has-been romp. Monday's third season premiere attracted 1.7 million viewers, ranking as VH1's highest-rated original series debut on record. |
OUT OF WORK
On last night's Apprentice premiere, Donald Trump fired 32-year-old businessman Rob after he failed to get excited about a toy called, um, Crustacean Nation. If you've got any questions for the underachiever, e-mail them to me ASAP. You may as well send me questions for Stacie J. Manigault-Stallworth, too, because that lunachick's gonna be next to go. |
IT'S OFFICIAL
ER's Noah Wyle is confirming rumors that he'll hightail it out of County General at season's end. "I've just got other stuff going in my life right now," he told E! News Live. "I've got a son, I've got family and friends that said goodbye to me 12 years ago and are wondering when I'm coming back." You'll be back when your agent says you'll be back — and not a moment sooner! |
IT'S SO BASIC
Scottish filmmaker Michael Caton-Jones (City by the Sea) is in talks to direct Sharon Stone in MGM's problem-plagued Basic Instinct sequel. It's still not known who will play Stone's leading man, although the role is expected to go to an actor who's looking to sabotage his career. |
GRUMPY HAS LEFT THE BUILDING
Michael Eisner's two-decade reign at the Walt Disney Co. is coming to an end. The embattled CEO announced Friday that he will step down when his contract expires in September 2006. A successor has not yet been named. |
SHORT CUTS
Lions Gate is reportedly planning to re-release Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 in theaters on Sept. 24.... USA Network has picked up The Dead Zone for a fourth season. |
YO!
How's Matt LeBlanc doin' this morning? Not too shabby, considering the respectable debut Joey made Thursday night. His heavily hyped Friends spin-off averaged nearly 18 million new friends, easily outpacing ABC's NFL Opening Kickoff and CBS's Big Brother 5. But compared to last year's Friends opener, Joey was off by 6.6 million viewers. The show's real test will come next Thursday when it goes head-to-head with Survivor: Vanuatu. Meanwhile, The Apprentice lost some business from last season. The 90-minute premiere drew 14.3 million viewers, roughly 4 million fewer than Omarosa and Co. attracted in their debut. In related news.... |
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