My Ox Is Broken

Ox Notes: November 10, 2009

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Despite getting an official premiere date from the network, ABC has canceled Let's Dance because the show couldn't find enough celebrities willing to participate.

Access Hollywood and ET had cameras backstage after last night's Dancing with the Stars 9 Performance Show. OK! magazine was also on set to talk with Kelly Osbourne about the weight she's lost during her run on the show and with Aaron Carter about the song he wrote for Karina Smirnoff.

Each 30-second commercial during last night's DwtS Performance Show cost advertisers $178,687.

Kathy Ireland is rehearsing for a DwtS 9 finale performance in spite of her pending knee surgery.

Is it a bad sign that I forgot that a new episode of V airs tonight until I saw this TV Guide interview with Morena Baccarin?

Survivor: Samoa's Erik spoke with EW and People about becoming the season's first jury member (that means Ponderosa videos!). Jeff Probst blogged about the latest episode as well.

We're little more than a week away from James Franco's General Hospital debut. Are you getting excited? NYMag spoke with Franco, while The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog caught up with GH executive producer Jill Farren Phelps.

Ox Notes: November 5, 2009

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Pure DwtS has a roundup of media coverage of this week's Dancing with the Stars 9 double elimination. I can't believe there are only three weeks left.

Iron Chef America's connection with DwtS won't end with Chairman Mark Dacascos' departure from the ballroom. A January episode of the cooking competition features an appearance by First Lady Michelle Obama and will be judged by DwtS vets Jane Seymour and Natalie Coughlin.

DwtS pro Cheryl Burke is reportedly headed to Broadway, where she will appear as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.

ABC will keep on dancing after DwtS ends, filling its timeslot with the comedic celebrity dance show Let's Dance. The new series, hosted by Kathy Griffin, debuts on Monday, November 23 after DwtS 9's final Performance Show.

Keeping with the ABC theme, I liked the network's reboot of V on Tuesday night (though I can't compare it to the original -- too scary for me when I was a kid). It won the night in demos. The Watcher gave her take on the first episode and her hopes for the series.

Speaking of scary things, I fear getting sucked in to Broke and Famous on VH1 tonight at 10 ET. The show follows Willie Aames for seven days as he tries to get his life back in order.

Comedian Artie Lange turned down $200,000 to appear on Celebrity Rehab, in part because he's not sure that it works. Also, he didn't want his mom to see the results if he failed.

Next time you're in New York City with $45 to spend, take the Top Chef walking tour.

Reality Blurred has a roundup of interviews with Tiffany & Maria, the duo booted from The Amazing Race last week. Had it been a non-elimination week, they would've been able to take a 24-hour penalty for not completing either Detour task. But it wasn't, and they were sent home.

Time for me to get a jump on setting my DVR: James Franco's run on General Hospital starts November 20.

Ox Notes: October 29, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

In her Top Chef blog, judge Gail Simmons addressed something I wondered about while watching the show last night: where were the eggs and dairy products? The meal needed to be vegetarian, not vegan (no animal products of any kind), and the producers encouraged the chefs to use eggs and dairy. No wonder the judges had to go out for dinner after taping the show.

Judge Tom Colicchio also blogged about the episode, and the eliminated chef discussed how the contestants pass the time in a house with no TV or reading materials.

In related news, Top Chef 5 bad boy Stefan Richter is looking for love on the Internet.

Pure DwtS rounded up some interview videos filmed after this week's Dancing with the Stars Results Show. People filed What You Didn't See reports from the set of the Monday and Tuesday shows.

Ahead of tonight's new episode of Survivor: Samoa, here's a link to Jeff Probst's blog post about Russell's collapse, as well as Russell's interviews with ET and EW.

TV Guide has a list of TV shows in danger of being canceled. The list includes Gossip Girl and Three Rivers, which is referred to in my house by an alternate name: Handsome Doctor.

Last week, I gave up on Flash Forward because the plot wasn't progressing. Also, the interpersonal drama relied on people keeping secrets from one another just for the sake of creating interpersonal drama, my least favorite plot device.

I'm also considering bailing on Supernatural, which started taking itself too seriously as soon as it introduced the whole Heaven vs. Hell plotline. The Watcher's preview of the remaining Fall 2009 episodes gives me hope that Sam & Dean might get to have some fun and crack a few jokes again, like they did during the first seasons.

What shows are you ready to give up on?

Ox Notes: October 28, 2009

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Had a bit of a scheduling problem yesterday, so here's a special Wednesday edition of Ox Notes.

There don't appear to have been any cameras backstage after last night's Dancing with the Stars 9 double elimination, but departing duos Melissa & Mark and Louie & Chelsie did talk to E! and People.

I just noticed that Maksim Chmerkovskiy is blogging about DwtS for TV Guide. He posted new entries on Monday and Tuesday.

Julianne Hough's post-DwtS career has hit a speedbump; choreographer Kenny Ortega will no longer direct the Footloose remake.

As annoyed as I was with Canaan's "disturbing" behavior during last Sunday's episode of The Amazing Race, I'm even more annoyed that he believes that trying to shove his petrified girlfriend, Mika, down a waterslide was just being competitive. He made light of his actions when they got to Elimination Station and defended himself to TV Guide and People.

Ricky Gervais will host the Golden Globes on January 17. Yay!

TV viewing by kids is at an 8-year high. Boo!

I'm thrilled that Bravo is developing a competition for pastry chefs called Top Chef: Just Desserts. A couple of years ago, I took an introductory course on basic French pastries at The French Pastry School in Chicago, and it changed my life. I can't wait to see these talented artist-scientists compete Top Chef style.

Ox Notes: October 22, 2009

Thursday, October 22, 2009

So You Think You Can Dance revealed its Top 20 dancers last night, and EW ranked the contestants.

Also on TV last night was Top Chef's latest edition of restaurant wars. Bravo's website has blog posts by judges Toby Young and Tom Colicchio, as well as an interview with the ousted cheftestant. But Reality Blurred wonders if the Voltaggio brothers' constant bickering is dragging down the season.

In related news, Top Chef Masters will return for a second season next year.

If you can't wait for tonight's dramatic episode of Survivor: Samoa, People has a spoiler-filled interview with Jeff Probst.

What do Survivor winners do after they leave the show? They join the FCC.

Pure DwtS posted a collection of video interviews recorded after Tuesday night's Dancing with the Stars Results Show. People filed a What You Didn't See report from the set.

The CW ordered more episodes of Vampire Diaries and Melrose Place.

Stay current on the fates of current network shows with Live Feed's TV Series Survival Status Chart.

Fox will release a DVD of the first 13 episodes of Glee on December 29, which works out great for people like me who want to get into the show but missed the early episodes.

Fox also announced its plans for November sweeps, only to amend them a few days later.

A second bizarre celebrity drug bust finds Sam Jones -- better known as Pete on Smallville -- arrested for allegedly selling oxycodone, as Big Brother winner Adam Jasinski was earlier this week. The DEA has made over 300 drug arrests nationwide this week, and I'm curious to learn how the arrests of Jones and Jasinski are related, if at all.

Finally, one of the last of the major roles in the HBO pilot A Game of Thrones has been filled. Baywatch alum Jason Momoa will play Khal Drogo. Tower of the Hand has a complete gallery of actors cast in the pilot.

Ox Notes: October 20, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Derek Hough, who wasn't well enough to dance during last night's Dancing with the Stars 9 Performance Show, felt well enough to stand in the post-show interview line, populated by cameras from ET, The Insider and Access Hollywood.

Kelly Osbourne went to the hospital after last night's show with a shoe buckle injury.

Before performing his Argentine Tango, Louie Vito blogged about the routine for People.

Disappointingly, a judge has allowed Rod Blagojevich to participate in The Celebrity Apprentice 3. His castmates for the show include music industry vets Bret Michaels, Cyndi Lauper and Sharon Osbourne.

Big Brother 9 winner Adam Jasinski allegedly used his prize money to finance a drug dealing operation. He was caught selling oxycodone pills over the weekend and now faces a $1 million fine and 20 years in prison.

People has an interview with The Amazing Race's Lance & Keri, who got married after participating in the show. They joined the other ousted teams at Elimination Station this week, which seems all the more boring because of the continued absence of Justin & Zev.

Jeff Probst wrote in his EW blog that this week's episode contains "the scariest moment" in Survivor history when one of the contestants is seriously injured.

Unfortunately, CBS revealed what happens in a promo for Survivor shown during Sunday night's episode of The Amazing Race. The network did the same thing the week before when they revealed that Justin & Zev were the team that lost a passport in a promo that aired during 60 Minutes -- right before the episode of TAR was about to begin!

Giving away the goods in promos lessens the urgency and desire to watch them, making it more likely that viewers will DVR the show and fast forward through the commercials. Advertisers need to pressure CBS to stop spoiling their shows in their attempts to promote them. I'm sure they carry more weight with the network than we disgruntled fans do.

Ox Notes: October 15, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Finally! TLC will end Jon & Kate Plus 8 in November, after the network has used up all of the footage it's already shot. Sadly, Jon Gosselin plans to continue working in television.

Fox Reality Channel will meet the same fate as Jon & Kate Plus 8 in March.

Using the latest form of celebrity news dissemination, So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Mia Michaels announced that she's leaving the show via Twitter.

In other SYTYCD news, judge Mary Murphy is on the cover of the current issue of Us magazine, in which she discusses surviving an abusive marriage.

Next week's Dancing with the Stars Results Show will feature a tribute to Michael Jackson, choreographed by pros Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani and Cheryl Burke.

Tonight's new episode of Project Runway will feature celebrity guest judge Christina Aguilera.

In other Project Runway news, Atari is working on a video game based on the show, set for release on the Wii sometime next year.

Catching up on Survivor news, here are links to the latest blog post by Jeff Probst and interviews ousted contestant Yasmin gave to Reality Blurred, People and TV Guide.

Last night's episode of Top Chef: Las Vegas yielded some great additional materials, including an entertaining video with the losing chef, Q & A's with Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, an instructive blog post by Tom Colicchio and a passionate defense of the mispronunciation of words by Toby Young (my favorite piece of the lot).

The CW revealed details of the new dramas the network is developing for next season.

Production on the HBO pilot A Game of Thrones is set to begin on October 24, welcome news for fans of George R. R. Martin impatiently waiting for the next book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Ox Notes: October 13, 2009

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

After last night's Dancing with the Stars 9 Performance Show, Access Hollywood sent ace reporter LaToya Jackson to get the scoop from the competitors. Wait, LaToya Jackson?! The Insider and ET also had cameras backstage.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff spent their time backstage telling OK! and People that they're not a dating each other.

People has a load of other DwtS articles, including a blog post by Louie Vito, interviews with Maksim Chmerkovskiy and MJH & Mark Ballas, and a What You Didn't See report from the set of last night's episode.

DwtS 9 is the lowest-rated season of the show since Season 1. The numbers are especially bad among viewers aged 18-49, where they've dropped about 25% from last season.

In related news, former DwtS champ Julianne Hough will play a dancer in the upcoming Christina Aguilera-Cher film Burlesque.

DVR numbers were just released for the first week of the fall TV season, September 21-27. The numbers were especially good for The CW, where several shows get almost a third of their viewers from DVR playback.

I was sad to see Zev & Justin eliminated from The Amazing Race on Sunday after Zev's passport went missing. Justin explained in this Elimination Station video that the passport fell out of his pocket when they got lost during the monkey challenge, a scene which didn't make it to air.

Zev & Justin gave interviews to People and TV Guide, where they were asked what prize they won for reaching the mat first (they didn't get to keep the prize, obviously). When they initially checked in, Phil Keoghan announced that they'd won a pair of motorcycles, prompting Zev to exclaim, "Motorcycle? I can barely drive a car!"

The recently canceled NBC cop drama Southland may get a second chance on TNT.

Disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich will participate in the upcoming season of The Celebrity Apprentice. Networks, will you please stop casting indicted former politicians and their wives in your reality shows? It's embarrassing.

Ox Notes: October 8, 2009

Thursday, October 08, 2009

To get you psyched for tonight's new episode of Survivor: Samoa, I direct you to an EW video interview with Ben, the contestant most recently voted off the island. Survivor vet Eliza Orlins joins EW staffers Dalton Ross and Josh Wolk for an interview that is both appalling and hilarious.

Ben is a racist but spends the interview protesting that he's not, in the process providing more evidence that he is definitely a racist. Eliza's reaction shots to Ben's comments are priceless. Believe me, it's worth watching.

In other Survivor news, Jeff Probst blogged about the local laborers the show employed while filming in Samoa. The resort that served as Ponderosa was destroyed in last month's tsunami.

People magazine is a goldmine of Dancing with the Stars news. The online version has an interview with Tom DeLay, a What You Didn't See report from Tuesday night's Results Show and a report that Maksim Chmerkovskiy feels "betrayed" by Karina Smirnoff's attentions toward Aaron Carter.

The magazine also has an interview with Amazing Racers Marcy & Ron.

In other DwtS news, remember that chimp Tom Bergeron mentioned on Monday night's show? PETA convinced producer Conrad Green to cut him out of Tuesday night's comedy segment.

Pure DwtS found a great rant on the ABC message board in which the writer begs Samantha Harris to take hosting lessons. Funny stuff.

Just what you've been waiting for: a Corky Ballas update.

Tuesday's DwtS Results Show had twice the total viewers of the latest episode of So You Think You Can Dance but the same number of viewers in the coveted 18-49 demographic.

Do you have any interest in watching SYTYCD choreographer Dan Karaty compete for his own fashion line on Bravo?

I recently upgraded my cable box and discovered that I have the G4 network. It's led me to discover the wonder that is Ninja Warrior. I no longer need any other television shows.

Ox Notes: October 7, 2009

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

So long, Debi & Maks and Tom & Cheryl. Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and The Insider interviewed the departing stars, who also spoke with Us and People on the way out of the Dancing with the Stars ballroom.

EW recapped last night's DwtS Results Show, and People filed a What You Didn't See report from Monday night's Performance Show.

ESPN's 30 for 30 film series debuted last night, with new documentaries premiering every Tuesday. Last night's opening doc -- about Wayne Gretzky's move to the Kings, directed by Peter Berg -- reairs tonight on ESPN at 10 ET.

Bravo has ordered a seventh season of Top Chef, which returns with a new episode tonight.

Mark your calendars for November 20. That's the day that James Franco begins his two-month story arc on General Hospital.

Project Runway's Tim Gunn has a guest spot on the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother.

The October 16 episode of Law & Order is inspired by Jon & Kate Gosselin. In related news, TV Tango compiled a list of 20 L&O episodes featuring stars before they were famous.

TV Guide interviewed The Amazing Race's Marcy & Ron, who seem much happier about their free vacation at a Vietnamese resort than previously ousted couple Garrett & Jessica are in this Elimination Station video.

Ox Notes: October 1, 2009

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Dancing with the Stars 9's Tuesday night Results Show was watched by 12.5 million people. That's roughly the same number of viewers as watched DwtS 8's Week 2 Results Show in March, though it was up against American Idol.

ET and Access Hollywood had cameras backstage on Tuesday night following Kathy Ireland's ouster. Ireland spoke to Us, and People posted a What You Didn't See report.

The few crew members remaining in the region where Survivor: Samoa was filmed are reportedly fine after a deadly tsunami destroyed much of the island on Tuesday. I assume tonight's episode will feature information about where viewers can contribute to disaster relief efforts, and Jeff Probst will surely address the tsunami in his EW blog post tomorrow.

Michael Kors returns in tonight's new episode of Project Runway.

Project Runway champ Christian Siriano, Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani and Real Housewives of New York's Bethenny Frankel are all getting their own shows on Bravo.

Jon Gosselin, apparently upset about being cut out of his former show's title, is denying TLC permission to film his kids. His motives may be suspect, but it's probably best for the kids.

AMC's remake of The Prisoner premieres on November 15. You can watch all 17 episodes of the original 1960s series for free at AMC's website.

Yo Gabba Gabba! The Tour is coming to an arena near you next month.

Sesame Street's 40th season debuts on public television November 10, featuring an appearance by First Lady Michelle Obama. Other noteworthy events for the upcoming season include a Sesame Street version of Mad Men and an appearance by Ricky Gervais.

Until the new season premieres, content yourself with this hilarious AP interview in which Gervais asks Elmo if he knows what necrophilia is:

Ox Notes: September 29, 2009

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Ox Notes is back from hiatus, so it's straight on to Dancing with the Stars 9 news. TV Guide recapped last night's Performance Show. Access Hollywood interviewed the contestants backstage and People filed a What You Didn't See report.

Lacey Schwimmer will continue to dance while undergoing treatment for injured hip flexor muscles. And Louie Vito vowed to TV Guide and in his People blog that he won't cut his hair to please Len Goodman.

The Amazing Race premiered on Sunday night. Both of the eliminated teams -- Eric & Lisa and Garrett & Jessica -- spoke with TV Guide.

If you wondered why Eric & Lisa aren't featured in the first Elimination Station video with Garrett & Jessica, it's because the yoga instructors skipped out on the show and went to India. Normally, I'd say I don't blame them, since they were eliminated before the race even began. But they were so grating during their brief time on the show that I decided I do blame them for bailing.

There's no more "Jon and" in Jon and Kate Plus 8. TLC is renaming its former ratings juggernaut Kate Plus 8. The latest episode was watched by only 1.7 million people.

The CW pulled the plug on The Beautiful Life after two episodes, making it Fall 2009's first canceled show.

Heidi Montag, Lo Bosworth and Audrina Patridge make $100,000 per episode of The Hills. Seriously. That's the going rate for doing a bad job of acting like you're not acting.

A Note Regarding DwtS 9

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dear MOIBsters,

I have a confession to make. For the past few seasons my interest in Dancing with the Stars has been waning. Last season, I think I only made it through thanks to those of you who have made our chatroom so entertaining.

So, I've decided I won't be recapping the show this season. I probably won't even be watching much of it. I will still be posting plenty of DwtS news in Ox Notes (which will return next week). I just won't be giving the actual episodes much attention.

Happily, for those of you who still love the show, "Pure Dancing with the Stars" (http://www.puredwts.com/) has been doing a great job of covering this preseason. I'm sure they'll do an equally fine job when the season begins.

Thanks so much to all of you for reading and participating through the years. Though I don't find the show so exciting anymore, I can't tell you just how much I've enjoyed writing about it and interacting with many of you in our chats and via email.

If you'd still like to chat during the show, I'll keep the chatroom open (http://www.myoxisbroken.com/oxchat.aspx) this season. I just won't be moderating it, so you'll have to police yourselves.

Thanks again!

Kathy

Ox Notes: September 17, 2009

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Dancing with the Stars 9 has its first injuries to report. Kathy Ireland needed stitches after a surfing accident, and Tom DeLay has a pre-stress fracture in his foot that is limiting his rehearsal time.

ABC posted videos of the couples in rehearsal. The video titled "Don't Let Go!" showcases Mark Dacascos nearly launching Lacey Schwimmer during a move.

Stars Ashley Hamilton, Louie Vito and Melissa Joan Hart blogged about their progress so far.

DwtS will pay tribute to Patrick Swayze during the September 23 Results Show.

In DwtS-related news, married pros Alec Mazo & Edyta Sliwinska will take part in GSN's revival of The Newlywed Game. And the big dance number on Sunday night's Emmy Awards -- featuring Maksim Chmerkovskiy & Karina Smirnoff -- will be choreographed by So You Think You Can Dance's Tabitha & Napoleon.

SYTYCD promoted Adam Shankman to permanent judge.

Survivor: Samoa premieres tonight on CBS at 8 ET. Reality Blurred has pre-season interviews with all of the contestants, and People hired Survivor: Tocantins runner-up Stephen Fishbach to blog about the new season.

EW posted a gallery to help you remember where you've seen the actors of The CW's Vampire Diaries before. Everyone knows that the actor who plays evil brother Damon was Boone on Lost, but did you know that BFF Bonnie was one of the Fantanas?

The Watcher has a spoiler-filled interview with Supernatural creator Eric Kripke and actor Jim Beaver.

Tim Gunn told People about the gross way Ra'mon dyed his challenge-winning neoprene dress (hint: producers showed him dyeing it in the sink, but that wasn't the first vessel he used). Yuck!

I'm sad that my favorite contestant got booted from Top Chef Las Vegas last night, while he's most upset about being separated from his beloved Padma. Gail Simmons blogged about the challenge, and Tom Colicchio wrote a great explanation of the judging criteria.

If you've got a few minutes to kill, try this Reality TV Trivia game at MSN. Just be sure to turn down the volume on your speakers if you're at work.

I'll be on a road trip next week, so Ox Notes will return on Tuesday, October 6.

Ox Notes: September 15, 2009

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Creative Arts Emmys were awarded over the weekend. A&E's Intervention won Outstanding Reality Show, while So You Think You Can Dance's Tyce Diorio picked up the award for Outstanding Choreography.

The first group of presenters announced for the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on Sunday, September 20 includes Gossip Girl stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.

If you watched the Gossip Girl season premiere last night, you probably noticed the Target commercials featuring a line of clothing inspired by the show, designed by Anna Sui. As of this morning, many of the items in the line have already sold out.

On the topic of TV-related clothing lines, have you seen the shoes Project Runway winner Christian Siriano designed for Payless? The designer told Us that Kate Gosselin is copying his hairstyle.

Vampire Diaries actress Kayla Ewell told EW that she and her co-stars weren't flashing motorists when they were arrested in Georgia last month.

In Dancing with the Stars news, TV Guide has an interview with Cheryl Burke, while People interviewed Mark Ballas.

The ACLU is trying to free Survivor winner Richard Hatch from jail.

ABC says that while Defying Gravity isn't canceled, the network isn't sure when the final five episodes of the season will air.

Variety's Brian Lowry writes that even though most tributes to Patrick Swayze will focus on his roles in Dirty Dancing and Ghost, the actor's real legacy is Road House.

Ox Notes: September 10, 2009

Thursday, September 10, 2009

The big TV news of the moment is that Ellen DeGeneres is the new permanent judge on American Idol. I think Paula Abdul's decision to leave the show can now be officially classified as a bad career move.

In Dancing with the Stars news, pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy & Karina Smirnoff have called off their engagement. Given how producers hyped the couples' relationship leading up to last season, I wonder if they'll use the breakup as a plotline this season or just gloss over it. I'm hoping the latter.

DwtS 9 contestant Ashley Hamilton is writing a blog for People, in which he compares DwtS rehearsals to his high school prom: "I sit against the wall and hope that no one will ask me to dance."

Fox is turning the website Texts From Last Night into a TV show. Huh?

Big Brother has been picked up for a 12th season. I've yet to meet one of the 8.1 million people who watch the show.

Big Brother's Tuesday night ratings far outshone those for the debut of The CW's revamped Melrose Place, which was only watched by 2.3 million people. That doesn't bode well for the show given that the other networks haven't even rolled out their fall shows yet.

The CW should expect better ratings for tonight's Vampire Diaries series premiere, as well as the return of Supernatural.

CBS announced the teams competing on The Amazing Race 15, which will bring back challenges from past seasons.

Last night's episode of Top Chef Las Vegas was devastating for the two eliminated chefs. One thinks that appearing on the show could be a career killer, while the other is considering giving up cooking for a living.

Judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons blogged about the French-themed episode, as did several past competitors.

Ox Notes: September 8, 2009

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

The Fall 2009 season informally kicks off tonight with the premieres of 90210 and Melrose Place on The CW. TV Guide wrote about the cast of Melrose 2.0, which The Watcher describes as "empty calories."

Another new fall show debuting this week is Season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance. FOX is going ahead with the premiere on Wednesday, while the other networks broadcast President Obama's address to Congress on health insurance reform.

The SYTYCD 6 Top 20 dancers won't be revealed until October 21.

Due to the President's speech, ABC is moving Wipeout back to 9 ET, bumping Crash Course for the night.

Brian Lowry writes that Jay Leno's new primetime show has inadvertently made the comic an enemy of TV screenwriters.

In Dancing with the Stars news, Maksim Chmerkovskiy is having a great time with celebrity partner Debi Mazar, and Louie Vito is blogging about training with Chelsie Hightower for People.

Ox Notes: September 3, 2009

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Access Hollywood did a series of interviews with Dancing with the Stars 9 contestant Kelly Osbourne and, based on this one, I'm rooting for her to win.

ET has a photo gallery of the couples in rehearsal and an interview with Donny Osmond.

E! caught up with Derek Hough, who thinks 62-year-old Tom DeLay is this season's dark horse.

Pure DwtS is following the Season 9 cast on Twitter and posted collections of recent tweets and pics.

After last night's new episode of Top Chef Las Vegas, Bravo's website posted blog posts by Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and several former contestants.

Variety's Brian Lowry writes about the notion of "reality stars," about whom one former network exec quipped: "Just like all porn performers are 'porn stars'."

Speaking of dubious reality "stars," Project Runway's Tim Gunn bagged on Jon Gosselin for his ridiculous, oversized Ed Hardy shirts, describing them as emblematic of "the slobification of America."

No plans for Labor Day weekend? Plunk yourself in front of the TV for one of the many marathons available on cable. Thank goodness I don't get the channel ActionMax, or I'd be glued to their Saturday Jaws marathon.

Ox Notes: September 1, 2009

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Dancing with the Stars 9 contestant Michael Irvin's dance rehearsal schedule will have to accommodate his new duties as an NFL Network analyst.

Other DwtS 9 cast members in the news include Chuck Liddell, Mark Ballas and Tom DeLay. ET posted the official photos of the couples, and Macy Gray could not look more uncomfortable.

Normally, People waits to interview Project Runway contestants until after they've been kicked off the show, but Mitchell Hall is off to such a bad start that People's editors must have thought, Why wait?

Thursday's and Friday's respective reruns of Fringe and Glee on FOX will feature live, onscreen Twitter commentary by each show's cast and crew.

Variety writes about what happens to completed shows when they're pulled from the air due to tragic circumstances, as with VH1's Megan Wants a Millionaire. The fate of MTV's Gone Too Far, which starred DJ AM, remains undecided.

Reality Blurred is posting preseason interviews with all of the Survivor: Samoa castaways.

The same website also has a list of fall reality show premiere dates. TV Guide posted its recommendations for eight new scripted shows to watch this fall.

I'm not usually interested in medical dramas, but I might have to NBC's Mercy a shot now that Kate Mulgrew has joined the cast. She was Captain Janeway, for crying out loud:

Ox Notes: August 27, 2009

Thursday, August 27, 2009

CBS revealed the identities of the twenty cast members of Survivor: Samoa today. The network has started running promos for the new season as well.

Meanwhile, Survivor's original champ, Richard Hatch, is still locked up in jail after violating the terms of his house arrest.

Bravo has blog posts from Top Chef Las Vegas judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons about last night's new episode.

EW recently posted a Where Are They Now? gallery of past Top Chef contestants.

MTV plans to devote more of its airtime to original movies, including gems like My Super Psycho Sweet 16.

The Watcher interviewed Supernatural creator Eric Kripke about the show's fifth season.

TV Guide interviewed Dancing with the Stars 9 contestant Joanna Krupa, while USA Weekend chatted with Melissa Joan Hart.

The best DwtS 9 preview I've seen comes courtesy of the humor site Cracked. The post rechristens the show "Dancing with Some People" and says contestant Michael Irvin is "[c]ontinuing the effort to turn the NFL Hall of Fame into the Embarrassing Dance School for Victims of Multiple Concussions."