November 17, 2004 |
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME CONTROVERSY?
After receiving a flurry of complaints from viewers, fans and the NFL, ABC Sports apologized Tuesday for airing a sexually suggestive Desperate Housewives promo at the beginning of Monday Night Football. The spot — which is currently being reviewed by the FCC — featured a "naked" Nicolette Sheridan seducing Philadelphia Eagles player Terrell Owens in the team locker-room. In a statement, NFL V.P. Greg Aiello called the opening "inappropriate and unsuitable for our MNF audience." A rep for the Eagles, meanwhile, said "after seeing the final piece, we wish it hadn't aired." Even more infuriating, they were promised Teri Hatcher. |
IN RELATED NEWS...
Desperate Housewives is pulling an Ally McBeal at this year's Golden Globes, submitting itself in the best comedy category instead of best drama, Variety reports. Similarly, series stars Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross will all be up for best actress in a comedy — which means Lauren Graham once again has her work cut out for her. Curses! |
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS
Law & Order: Criminal Intent star Vincent D'Onofrio was back in a New York hospital Tuesday after fainting for the second time in a week. Tests did not reveal any health problems, and a rep for the show says "producers are optimistic he'll be released soon." I'm sorry, but this has "Medical Investigation crossover" written all over it. |
JACKO LEGAL UPDATE
Michael Jackson is being sued for $3 million by a former business associate who claims the embattled pop star owes him for producing fees and cash advances, including money to "pay Marlon Brando to appear at Jackson's concert" and to "buy jewelry for Elizabeth Taylor." The plaintiff, J. Marc Schaffel, is best known as the gay-porn producer who collaborated with Jacko on the Sept. 11 charity single "What More Can I Give?" Turns out, the answer was $3 million. |
TAKE A BOW
More bad news for Michael Jackson: His archenemy has the No. 1 album in the country. After just three days of release, Eminem's new CD Encore sold a whopping 700,000 copies to debut atop Billboard's album chart. |
I SPY A GREAT LINEUP
It's official: J.J. Abrams owns Wednesday night. ABC has announced that Abrams' spy-thriller Alias is relocating to Wednesday at 9 pm following his other baby, Lost. The move takes effect Jan. 5, when Alias kicks off its fourth season with a two-hour premiere. Meanwhile, the latest edition of The Bachelorette (starring Jen Schefft) will air Mondays at 9 pm beginning Jan. 10. It'll be sandwiched between Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: How'd They Do That? and the new reality series Supernanny. |
SEEING DOUBLE
TBS' Real Gilligan's Island hasn't even premiered and I'm already lost. The cabler revealed Tuesday that when the reality spoof debuts Nov. 30, viewers will be treated to two sets of castaways that will go head-to-head in a series of challenges inspired by plots from the '60s show. "It's Ginger versus Ginger, Mary Ann versus Mary Ann, Professor versus Professor and so on until we have our final seven," producer Mike Fleiss tells the Associated Press. "Then the game changes." Baywatch babe Nicole Eggert will play Rachel Hunter's Ginger twin, while the rest of the cast will be populated with Surreal Life bait. |
RED STATE OF MIND
ABC is developing a drama series set in the nation's heartland titled The Flyover States. The show revolves around a single mother from New York who moves back home to Arkansas after her husband dies, only to learn that Kmart and Sears have merged. |
AAAAAAH, BUNDY!
As reported in today's "Ask Ausiello," former Married...With Children Bickersons Katey Sagal and Ed O'Neill will reunite on an upcoming episode of ABC's 8 Simple Rules. The latest "AA" also features scoop on The West Wing, The X-Files, Charmed, Tru Calling and Kings Island's legendary Smurf Ride. Talk about an action-packed lineup! |
SHORT CUTS
Jude Law has been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive... Apprentice runner-up Kwame Jackson has reportedly been offered a gig hosting a new financial show at CNN... ABC is bringing Jennifer Love Hewitt's sports-themed comedy series back to life, ordering six episodes for midseason. The show, which failed to land on the network's fall lineup, stars Hewitt as an on-air sports reporter. |
END QUOTE
"Seven. With the new boobs, seven and a half." The Apprentice's Chris Russo rating fellow contestant Pamela Day on a scale of 1 to 10 in an interview with TV Guide Online. Click here to find out how Stacy Rotner, um, measured up. |
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