Nicolas Winding Refn recently gave fans an update on his proposed Barbarella TV series.

The Drive director has a lot of stuff on his plate at the moment. In addition to that long-delayed Logan’s Run reboot that may or may not happen, the filmmaker is planning to helm a comedy with frequent collaborator Ryan Gosling.

Somewhere in-between all of his other projects, Nicolas Winding Refn is also putting together a Barbarella television series. According to the director, the show will demand most of his attention throughout 2014.

While details about the project are few and far between, the director recently dropped a few hints during his chat with the folks over at Vulture.

“We are just writing it still. I kind of went back to the original comic, and really began to close my eyes and fantasize about women in outer space and it looked pretty good,” Refn explained.

If you’re looking for clues as to who will portray the title character, then you’re out of luck. The filmmaker revealed that he hasn’t made any casting choices just yet. With production looming on the horizon, this will likely change in the coming months.

According to SuperHeroHype, Martha De Laurentiis will produce the TV series through Gaumont International Television. Skyfall writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade will put together the script. Refn will step behind the camera in an effort to bring the whole thing to life.

Unfortunately, it’s currently unknown when the Barbarella series will find its way to the small screen. Here’s hoping the production fares a little better than the ill-fated Wonder Woman project that currently getting kicking around over at the CW.

As for Logan’s Run, it would seem the project is currently on hold for the time being. While it appeared that Refn would move forward with the flick after Gosling dropped out. Now it’s unclear when or if the movie will ever make it into theaters.

Are you looking forward to Nicolas Winding Refn’s Barbarella TV series?

[Image via Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com]

Nicolas Winding Refn Gives An Update On His ‘Barbarella’ TV Series is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Disney Channel has decided to pull an episode of Jessie after fans and parents were upset about gluten-free diet jokes that were made during the show. Viewers were able to access the episode before it aired on TV through Video-on-Demand and they obviously weren’t too fond of the gluten-intolerance humor.

The Walt Disney Company released a statement in response to the backlash, noting that the specific episode, which was called “Quitting Cold Koala,” will not air during it’s regular programming.

“To our viewers, we received your feedback about tonight’s “Jessie” episode…We are removing this particular episode from our regular programming schedule and will re-evaluate its references to gluten restrictions in the character’s diet,” the company said about the episode. “Please accept our apologies for the upset this episode caused you and your family.”

In the specific Jessie installment on the Disney Channel, the character Stuart needs a gluten-free diet, and he takes a lot of heat for his food allergies from other characters as they sit around the dinner table.

Amy Raslevich, one of many mother’s who’s seen the episode already, was very upset and even went on to start a petition on Change.org.

“(Disney) characters made it okay to characterize a real illness as an annoyance that is justification for the ‘cool kids’ to make fun of the ‘others,’“ Raslevich wrote in her petition against the show. “This isn’t acceptable for anyone. It is the definition of bullying.”

She also wrote about her two children, whom both have Celiac Disease, which requires a strict non-gluten diet. Raslevich went on to explain that the episode was “very upsetting” for both of her kids.

The petition must of worked, as the Disney Channel won’t be airing the episode during it’s regular time-slot and instead will review the insensitive jokes, though it’s unknown if anything more will come of it.

Here’s video of a few of the gluten-free jokes from the Disney Channel’s show.

[Image via Mingle Media TV]

Disney Channel Pulls Episode Of ‘Jessie’ After Gluten-Free Diet Jokes Upset Parents [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The season finale of Criminal Minds revealed the identity of the Replicator, the sinister serial killer that plagued the BAU team for most of Season 8.

But his identity reveal also came at a cost, as the BAU lost one of their own in the process. So, who was the Replicator? Mark Hamill, or Agent John Curtis, as he is known on the show.

While Hamill may be known for his work in Star Wars as Luke Skywalker, in the season finale of Criminal Minds he plays an FBI agent who worked in the Department of Justice.

He targeted the BAU because Strauss (Jayne Atkinson) may have screwed him over 12 years before. While the pair took the fall for the Amerithrax case 12 years ago, Strauss still managed to work her way up the ladder to the head of the BAU. Meanwhile, Curtis was demoted.

And unfortunately, it was the BAU’s head who fell victim to the Replicator. He broke into her hotel room and forced the recovering alcoholic to drink. Finally, he drugged her with “Doctor Death.” The meth/ecstasy mix was the weapon at the center of the BAU case the team solved in the previous episode.

Curtis let Strauss go wander the streets of New York. The section chief then passed away on a bench in the arms of Agent Hotchner (Thomas Gibson). The Replicator killed Strauss in the Criminal Minds season finale after realizing she was onto him. She was investigating him and told the team in the 16th episode that the case was dormant. She then doctored the team’s case report from the previous episode to list a fake M.O. That M.O was used on her.

As for Agent Curtis, the BAU team realized who was behind the Replicator persona. He was apparently done in by his own booby-trapped explosive chair. Mark Hamill live-tweeted the whole episode. Along with the final scene of the episode and his tweets, Criminal Minds fans are likely wishing Season 9 started next week.

Hamill wrote at the end, “I’m unconvinced! Where’s the body? You got it see you next season!!” So, Criminal Minds fans, do you think the Replicator is gone for good? Or did he somehow manage to escape death in the Season 8 finale?

‘Criminal Minds’ Finale Reveals The Replicator [Spoiler] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Did you vote for President Obama? You should probably get punched in the face. That was the message that Fox News host Andrea Tantaros had for her audience today.

Tantaros, who hosts the show The Five, was speaking on her radio shows on Thursday when she told her listeners to go out and punch Obama voters in the face.

The Obama administration has received a lot of criticism recently for monitoring one of Fox News’ reporters. Tantaros was rightfully angry with the administration but she probably crossed a line when she urged her listeners to go out and harm Obama voters.

Tantaros said: “This is what is happening to our press! This is Obama’s America! It’s like the Soviet Union … He said he would change the country. He said it. And a lot of people voted for him. And if you see any of those people today, do me a favor, punch them in the face.”

Obama later tried to backpedal and assured her listeners that she was not threatening the president. Tantaros made it clear that she only wanted to punch Obama voters, and not Obama himself, in the face.

Tantaros said: “To be clear, I didn’t say punch Obama in the face … You’re going to get me arrested with this type of government. If someone voted for him! If anyone that you know who voted for President Obama, smack ‘em down.”

Go Punch Obama Voters In The Face, Urges Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros is a post from: The Inquisitr

This weekend, Arrested Development fans will get to see new episodes of the show for the first time in seven years. And according to Jason Bateman, they’ll see a few more episodes in the near future.

Bateman, who stars as the straight man Michael Bluth on the cult hit, said that the cast wasn’t stepping away from the Bluth’s just yet. Bateman said that he isn’t sure if it will be another movie or more Netflix episodes but told fans that the story of the Bluth family would definitely continue.

Bateman said that creator Michael Hurwitz wants to wrap up the story of the Bluth family once and for all.

Bateman said: “[Creator] Mitch Hurwitz’s intention always was to do a movie and when he started to write the movie script, the story that he wanted to tell was too long and too big to fit in a standard movie script. So he decided to take the first act of that movie and put it in these episodes. Acts two or three will either be in a movie or a longer form on Netflix. Watching these [Netflix] episodes will be fully satisfying, and it all comes to a conclusion, but there are plenty of questions that are left unanswered…which we will finish at some other time.”

David Cross, who plays analrapist Tobias Funke on the show, didn’t confirm the news but he did say that he’d be on board to step into his jean shorts a few more times.

Cross said: “Things are naturally heading in that direction … I can’t say this about anything else I’ve been a part of. I would work with these people and do this role for the rest of my life.”

You can see some interviews with the Arrested Development cast at E! Online. All of the new episodes will be available on Netflix starting on Memorial Day. If you were planning on binge watching the new season, Hurwitz would like to have a word with you.

More ‘Arrested Development’ On The Way, Says Jason Bateman is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kelly Clarkson isn’t coming full-circle in her career by signing for a judge role on American Idol, the show that made her famous.

Though half of the Idol judge’s dais on the outs (with rumors that Mariah Carey is on the fence), producers are looking to fill those seats with popular, respected folk in the music industry, partly in an effort to revive the show’s lagging ratings.

Clarkson, who competed and won during the show’s first season, has been a potential candidate for a judge’s seat, but we can now confirm that the singer has passed on the offer.

Her rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Clarkson is not signing up for American Idol Season 13, despite rumors suggesting that she was interested in accepting a spot on the judge’s panel.

Other front-runners include Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Adam Lambert, but no word from their camps so far. E! News reports that Hudson has already signed on, though no official statement has been made.

If Hudson does join as a judge it would make her the very first American Idol contestant to return in a judge’s capacity.

Clarkson’s announcement leaves FOX network bosses without what is arguably their best chance at reviving the show after the Season 12 finale saw a 33 percent drop in viewers compared to last year. The show has mostly struggled with anemic ratings in the low 3 million-ballpark.

That’s still a lot of viewers, but it’s nowhere near the 20 million the show commanded in its heyday.

Who do you think would be a good judge on American Idol?

[Image via: s_bukley / Shutterstock]

Kelly Clarkson Passes On ‘American Idol’ Judging Gig is a post from: The Inquisitr

Remember when American Idol’s David Archuleta was announced as the runner up and the video that followed of heartbroken tweens crying over his loss? Whether you remember or not, it’s safe to say that people are amazingly still very passionate about American Idol and its contestants.

The latest people to overreact to the news of an American Idol contestant win is a Pennsylvania couple. Instead of rooting for the same contestant, the two got into a heated argument over Candice Glover’s win, resulting in a knife fight that ended in a blood bath.

Both now behind bars, Karen Elaine Harrelson, 48, and Gregory Stambaugh, 57, stabbed each other during their heated argument while watching the American Idol season finale in their basement. It is believed that the two were also drinking beers, but it isn’t said whether or not they were completely obliterated when they decided to resort to violence.

According to Stambaugh, Harrelson grabbed the knife first and stabbed his left forearm. He also claims that she was accidentally wounded after he had to struggle for the weapon. Of course there’s three sides to every story, and the second side is Harrelson’s story. In her statement Harrelson said that she wanted to use the knife to cut a piece of cake, when her boyfriend confronted her with a second knife, cutting her wrist. She claims when she stabbed Stambaugh that it was out of self defense.

Regardless of whose fault the Idol stabbing was, both Harrelson and Stambaugh were booked and charged with aggravated and simple assault.

It’s unclear what kind of knife was used, and which contestant on American Idol each was rooting for. The season finale showed Candice Glover battling it out with Kree Harrison, with Glover taking the Idol throne, leaving Harrison as this season’s runner up.

Check out these kids reacting to the 2008 American Idol winner David Cook or as referred to by the kids as, “that loser that doesn’t shave.”:

Lovers Stab Each Other Over ‘American Idol’ Winner is a post from: The Inquisitr

Were you prepared to watch all 7.5 hours of the new Arrested Development binge-style this coming Sunday? Don’t, says series creator Mitch Hurwitz. In fact, he’s begging you not to.

Though we’re sure Mr. Hurwitz understands that many of us have been waiting nearly a decade for the new Arrested Development episodes, which will air exclusively on Netflix starting at 12:01am PST this Sunday, he says you will have made a huge mistake if you binge-watch them all in one sitting.

“You’ll get tired!” Hurwitz tells Vulture. He then recounts a time he showed one of the producers seven new episodes in one sitting. After the Arrested Development binge, he admitted “I’m just getting a little tired. I love it, it’s great, but you can’t really laugh the whole time. You have to take a break. There’s so much material.”

“You can’t take it all in at once,” Hurwitz adds. “Don’t feel obligated to watch it all at once. It’s a comedy! It’s not like Lord of the Rings. Comedy takes a lot out of you.”

He has a solid point, but that’s certainly not going to stop many Arrested Development fans from attempting to take it in all at once. We’re predicting server issues.

In any case, this isn’t the first time Hurwitz has tried to tell his audience how to enjoy Arrested Development. Back when the new season was announced, he said that the new episodes would be in a choose-your-own-adventure format, and you could jump in and out at any point, any episode.

Then last week he threw that all out the window and told us to watch sequentially.

More mixed signals from Arrested Development include whether or not this season is indeed the swan song of the beloved cult series, or if more seasons (possibly a movie) will be borne out of the revival.

We get it, Mr. Hurwitz. You want us to enjoy the new season and get as much out of it as we possibly can. That’s why there’s something called “repeat viewings.” Most of your dedicated fanbase still watch old Arrested Development episodes religiously. We know what we’re doing!

Are you planning on an Arrested Development binge two days from now?

‘Arrested Development’ Binge Discouraged By Series Creator [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jennifer Hudson could be the next judge on American Idol, according to a Thursday report from Vulture. The former contestant has been one of the show’s most successful alumni since losing out in the finals of the third season.

Hudson has reached the pinnacle of both the acting and music professions, capturing a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the 2006 film Dreamgirls and a Grammy for her self-titled 2009 R&B album.

An inside source revealed that Hudson has entered the negotiation phase, which could take as long as six months amid big changes planned for season 13 of the once popular singing competition that has taken a hard fall as of late.

At the height of its success, American Idol drew 37 million viewers. That number had taken a tumble in season 11 with the finale bringing in just 21.5 million viewers. But those numbers were welcome in comparison to this month’s season 12 finale.

Only 14.3 million viewers tuned in to watch Candice Glover take home the crown. Compared to its glory days, that number represented a drop of more than 61 percent. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. In March, it hit a ratings low of just 12 million viewers.

In a separate report from The Wrap, an insider source told the website that the show’s producers are well aware of the mistakes they’ve made to reach this point.

“The show’s producers feel they’ve lost their core audience,” the source said. “And they want to bring back former contestants in order to tell their core audience, ‘We love you.’ They know they’ve made some major mistakes over the past few seasons and they want to make it right with their fans.”

Two of the planned changes: shifting back to the original three-judge panel and reaching out to Hudson as well as (rumored) Kelly Clarkson. The “Stronger” songstress, who also had a brief turn on the reality singing competition Duets (as judge) could join Hudson, though this report, too, is not confirmed and said to be “in negotiations.”

Do you think Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson would be good additions to the American Idol judging panel?

[Image via Anton Oparin / Shutterstock.com]

Jennifer Hudson Next ‘American Idol’ Judge? Singer In Talks is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ricky Naputi was one of the world’s fattest men, and a documentary surrounding his pursuit to slim down from his 900lbs frame aired on TLC.

The 39-year-old was looking to lose weight and live a normal life, as he had been stuck in bed in his home, just off the Pacific Island of Guam for around five years.

The show follows Naputi and his wife Cheryl over three years as they received guidance from an obesity expert, Angie Flores. One of their main problems is moving Naputi to the U.S. mainland where he can receive the weight-loss surgery that he needs to survive.

When Naputi meets with Dr. Vong he learns that he weighs just under 700lbs, and he is desperate to lose this weight. Naputi used to consume up to 10,000 calories a day.

“The last time I got out and enjoyed myself must have been years,” stated Naputi. “I miss feeling the sun on my face. Miss showering, feeling the water run down my body.”

His wife, Cheryl, who has been married to him for ten years needs to assist him in every manner. She cooks for him, gives him sponge baths, and even helps to get him off the toilet.

Cheryl admits, “It’s like taking care of an overgrown baby.” Ricky was already overweight when they met , and they had been speaking over the phone but was eager to meet the man she had been talking to for weeks.

“When I went to Ricky’s apartment he only cracked [the door] open an inch or so. I pushed the door in … three-and-a-half weeks later I moved in,” stated Cheryl.

Naputi was unable to lose the weight that would have saved his life and ultimately died on November 10, 2012 at the age of 39.

Did you watch TLC’s, 900 Pound Man, Race Against Time?

New TLC Show Follows 900lbs Morbidly Obese Man is a post from: The Inquisitr

An unnamed Game of Thrones actress has refused to do anymore nude scenes for the show, after she became tired of baring her body to audiences.

According to Oona Chaplin, who stars as Talisa Maegyr on the HBO series, one of the leading actresses has told producers that she won’t do partake in anymore topless moments for the series.

Chaplin, who is the granddaughter of screen legend, Charlie Chaplin, told The Telegraph, “One of the girls in the show who got her kit off the most in the first couple of seasons now doesn’t at all because she said, ‘I want to be known for my acting not for my breasts.’”

Chaplin went on to state that she has no problems with the show’s controversial nude scenes, declaring, “I’m quite controversial when it comes to that because I adore women’s bodies. If it’s done in a beautiful way, in a way that honours the female form, then I’m always happy to see it.”

She then added, “The objectification lies in the eye of the beholder, just like beauty. I’m really comfortable getting my kit off, so, if they want to, I’m like, ‘yeah, bring it, I’m naked, no problem.’”

The 26-year-old refused to name the actress but it is thought that Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targeryen in the show, is the woman in question.

Nude scenes featuring Clarke have been featured in Game Of Thrones a lot since its conception, but the British born actress has recently looked to legitimise her career with stints in theatre.

She starred as Holly Golightly in Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s on Broadway, but her performance only received mixed reviews from critics.

Game of Thrones continues to be one of the most successful TV shows currently being broadcast, and it has been pirated more than any other programme on the internet.

Who do you think doesn’t want to do anymore nude scenes on Game Of Thrones anymore?

‘Game Of Thrones’ Actress Refuses To Do Anymore Nude Scenes is a post from: The Inquisitr

A&E has canceled Intervention after 13 seasons.

The final five episodes of the award-winning series will begin airing Thursday, June 13 at 9 pm. The docuseries took home the Emmy for outstanding reality series in 2009.

“As Intervention comes to an end, we’re proud to have paved the way for such an original and groundbreaking series,” said David McKillop, executive vice president of programming at A&E Network. “We’re honored to have been a part of the 243 interventions since its premiere in March of 2005, leading to the 156 individuals that are currently sober to this day.”

A&E is calling the final five episodes the most “intense” and “gripping” stories yet. The premiere episode will focus on Jessica, a 29-year-old squatter who is addicted to heroin. Subsequent episodes will introduce Dana, a mother addicted to painkillers and crack cocaine, 34-year-old Gina, a heroin addict, and Kalia, a young woman suffering from a fatal eating disorder.

Intervention has not been without its criticism. When the show premiered in 2005, The Boston Globe writer Matthew Gilbert called it “an exercise in fraud, as it fools its addicts into participating.” Gilbert slammed the series for using false pretenses to encourage addicts to “expose their darkest behaviors to the cameras” and said, “The addicts are not aware they’re about to have a very extreme makeover forced upon them.”

Similarly, Salon questioned if the series was “the most exploitative reality show ever, or a necessarily brutal snapshot of the perils of addiction,” and cited examples of addiction memoirs such as James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces (which we now know to be fabricated) and Caroline Knapp’s Drinking: A Love Story. 

“Twelve-step programs are often focused on the lowest moments in an addict’s experience, in fact, and those in recovery tend to recount these moments freely if they think it can help someone else,” Heather Havrilesky wrote. “… That doesn’t mean that, on the whole, Intervention doesn’t serve some greater good.”

Are you disappointed that Intervention has been canceled? Do you think the show has done more good than harm?

A&E Cancels ‘Intervention’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Karl Stefanovic and Ben Fordham like to pull pranks together on the Australian Today Show. This week, Fordham got the last laugh when he tricked Stefanovic into eating the world’s hottest pie.

The two reporters were supposed to have a world’s hottest pie eating contest using Run Bruns’ Flaming Ron chilli pie but Fordham had his pie switched for a normal meat pie.

Stefanovic, none the wiser, dove into his pie confident that he could conquer the Flaming Ron.

But then thing’s got ugly. And funny.

You can actually pinpoint the exact moment that Stefanovic realizes that he is in over his head. It’s a look of pure terror.

According to Adelaide Now, the prank actually got a little worse for Stefanovic. He had to walk off camera and the crew later found him vomiting in the bathroom.

Stefanovic said: “This is not cool. It’s cramping my style. I’ve got housework to do and eating a meat pic is not going to cut it with my missus as an excuse.”

There’s been a bit of a prank work on Today and Stefanovic will probably find some sort of way to retaliate. But I doubt he’ll be able to top this reaction gif with his next prank.

Here’s a video of the world’s hottest pie prank.

World’s Hottest Pie Prank Makes For Great Television [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Noted character actor Steve Forrest, whose leading role as Lt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson in ABC-TV’s S.W.A.T. made him a household name in the 1970’s, died “peacefully” surrounded by family Saturday in Thousand Oaks, California.

He was 87 and no cause of death was announced.

Born William Forrest Andrews in Huntsville, Texas, Forrest was the youngest of 13 children. At age 18 he enlisted in the military and served with the Army attaining the rank of Sergeant during World War II, where he fought in the historic Battle of the Bulge.

Following his service with the Army, Forrest moved to California where he began attending classes at UCLA. He went on to graduate from the school with honors and got his first shot in the entertainment business when he cast in the summer stock production of “Goodbye Again” by Hollywood legend Gregory Peck.

Peck later arranged for Forrest’s first screen test with MGM, where he was placed under contract.

In a career spanning more the 60 years, Forrest frequently was cast as a leading man.

After nabbing a number of roles on classic early television series including Playhouse 90, Lux Video Theater and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Steve went on to appear in shows such as Gunsmoke, Dallas, and Murder, She Wrote.

He is most famous, however, for playing Hondo, the tough-talking, no-nonsense leader of the Special Weapons and Assault Team (shortened to S.W.A.T.) in the 1975 to 1976 series written by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg.

Check out the opening from S.W.A.T. below:

In addition to his numerous television series roles, Forrest appeared in multiple movies.

His most notable films include So Big, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor, The Longest Day, North Dallas Forty, and Mommie Dearest.

He also had cameo roles in Spies Like Us, Amazon Women on the Moon, and the movie version of S.W.A.T.

Forrest is survived by his wife Christine, sons Michael, Forrest and wife Lori Andrews of Los Angeles, Stephen and wife Sally Andrews of Napa Valley and his grandchildren Samantha, Emily, Aubrey and Alex Andrews.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a service will be held for Steve Forrest at 10 am May 30 at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Griffin Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California.

‘S.W.A.T.’ Star Dies: Steve Forrest Passes Away At 87 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Jenni Rivera has earned her best ratings to date with the final season of her reality series I Love Jenni. According to a recent press release, the late singer’s third run of shows premiered April 14, and has since reached more than 2.3 million total viewers.

Furthermore, it has managed to beat out popular English-language cable networks, such as Comedy Central, FX, TBS, A&E, Lifetime, and AMC, for the top two demographics among the Hispanic community (18-34, 18-39).

During her career, Jenni Rivera was nominated for multiple Grammy awards, and won multiple Billboard Music and Premios de la Musica awards, selling more than 22 million records worldwide with five certified Double Platinum, 15 Platinum, and 15 Gold by the RIAA.

Her most recent award win came from Billboard, according to a report from The Huffington Post earlier this week. The wins were for Latin Artist of the Year and Latin Album of the Year (for La Misma Gran Senora).

Rivera died in a plane crash in December 2012 shortly before she was to star on an ABC sitcom and launch both fashion and cosmetic lines.

Liane Su, I Love Jenni executive producer, has teamed up with AlphaDogs Post Production to finish a tribute and the last few episodes. The death of Jenni Rivera was detailed in the two-part episode “Mariposa” in which the singer played her final concert in Monterrey, Mexico, the night of the crash.

The second part of the episode aired May 19 and featured news of the crash as well as the family fallout. There are three episodes remaining with the finale planned for June 9 on its home network of mun2.

AlphaDogs president Terence Curren does color grading on the series. His company has been tasked with putting together the final episodes minus the lead star.

“After working on an entire season of I Love Jenni, I felt like I knew her intimately,” Curren said. “Her untimely passing … came as quite a shock. While working on the memorial special, and now on the new season, it feels like we are keeping her with us in some way. Each new episode opens up a whole world of emotions in everyone here at AlphaDogs.”

Rivera’s plane went missing on the night of December 9. Reports that Jenni Rivera had died were confirmed the next day. Here’s the artist at her best:

Have you caught any of the Jenni Rivera series’ third season? Which of the final I Love Jenni episodes have you found the most moving?

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

Jenni Rivera Reality Series Nears End, Late Singer Posts Best Ratings To Date is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nashville has been picked up for a second season, and is the only freshman ABC drama to do so. Even though that’s a big win for the series, execs are making a few changes for the next season. Like firing everyone.

According to Deadline, line producer Loucas George and production supervisor Don Bensko, as well as their Nashville-based teams, didn’t get their contracts renewed for a second season. Adding insult to injury, the studio didn’t even notify them.

Bensko’s wife Micaela then penned a stern letter to the entertainment industry as a whole to protest the decision and its execution, arguing that the team was fired because of behind-the scenes friction between Los Angeles-based executives and the Nashville-based creative team.

“You know you’ve made it in Hollywood, when a studio replaces your team, and doesn’t even bother to call …

Nashville was a town unrigged for the immediacy of needs by a television series. Lionsgate had never done a network series. It had a star who worried, and a creator who cared so much it broke his heart, a community that was filled with pride, a small cafe with bluebirds that became famous overnight, and in the midst of it all, a life on the crew was almost lost; It happened during a string of endless and exhausting shoot days. This is not new to production, but a string of delayed scripts and tripping storylines kept everyone on edge. Then one of our crew lost his footing while rigging for a huge arena shoot at The Bridgestone Arena. He fell twenty feet and could have died. So he could make a living …

The studios will argue they must shoot long hours because of their budget, the deadlines, the people that call them at midnight. The reality is, nothing is important when the humanity in the process is lost. When the writers’ hands are tied. And when the very people who broke their backs to create something special were never even told they were being replaced. Like my husband and Loucas George. Not a phone call or a thank you for all they had done. I am so tired of seeing the emotional toll the industry takes on so many in production and on the crew who work so hard all for a paycheck and a wrap party they are too exhausted to attend.”

She did note that creator Callie Khouri reached out to them after hearing of their treatment, and told Bensko that he made a difference and mattered to the show.

The Deadline report also alleges that there are tensions between ABC Studios and Lionsgate, as well as a rumor that series star Connie Britton wasn’t too pleased with her experience on the first season.

Production will remain in Nashville, for now. It all depends on tax incentives and such.

But if you’re a fan of Nashville, don’t you worry. The backstage drama of the show probably won’t be very visible in Season 2, as most of the creative and writing team are still intact.

The show debuted to modest ratings.

Are you a fan of Nashville?

‘Nashville’ In For Big Season 2 Changes is a post from: The Inquisitr

How many seasons can AMC get out of The Walking Dead? While a working number hasn’t been put on the series just yet, network boss Josh Sapan said that he plans on keeping the show around for as long as possible.

AMC’s original drama pool is drying up quickly with Breaking Bad and even network tentpole Mad Men ending their runs soon, which may have fans wondering about the future of the acclaimed zombie drama.

As long as The Walking Dead keeps bringing massive numbers (12.4 million viewers for the Season 3 finale), AMC’s CEO Josh Sapan says the show will be around indefinitely.

Like, we could literally watch Carl grow up.

“We hope that zombies live forever and we’ve just begun to find out what the post-apocalyptic world is like, so that we’ll be sitting here at the Barclays conference in 2022 discussing the fact that Walking Dead is not over,” Sapan said at the Barclays Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference on Wednesday.

Is that really realistic, though? Can they pull it off? Well, sure. The comic book series has been going strong since 2003, and they’re only 100-some issues into a 250-300 issue epic.

Additionally, anyone familiar with the comic book knows that aside from Rick, Carl, Michonne and a few others, The Walking Dead has constant cast turnover, with new characters being introduced and killed off regularly.

So yeah, they could keep The Walking Dead going for another ten years. Maybe more.

Sapan also talked a bit about his feelings regarding the end of Breaking Bad and Mad Men.

“We’ll all suffer from some minor heartbreak when these shows come to a natural close … Like some of the best shows in history, there will be a mantle that exists sort of virtually in people’s minds, and in the world maybe they’ll actually put a statue somewhere. We will bring them to a close with the people who created them at the right time.”

Are you a fan of The Walking Dead? How long do you think they can keep the show going? How long do you want them to keep the show going?

‘Walking Dead’ Will Still Be On In 2022, Says AMC Boss is a post from: The Inquisitr

Bad Teacher is headed to CBS.

The show, based on the sleeper 2011 comedy of the same name, has been in development for some time. There was some recent doubt over whether it would be picked up by a network after it was ignored at the upfront presentations last week.

However, CBS announced one week later that it would be picking up Bad Teacher for a 13-episode order.

Adapted from the film by Community‘s Hilary Winston, the TV series Bad Teacher stars funnygal Ari Graynor in the Cameron Diaz role.

CBS describes Graynor’s character as an ”inappropriate, fearless and unapologetic former trophy wife who masquerades as a teacher in order to find a new man after her wealthy husband leaves her penniless.”

Ryan Hansen, David Alan Grier, Sarah Gilbert and Kristin Davis will round out the cast.

The Hollywood Reporter calls her character “a sexy, foul-mouthed divorcee who becomes a teacher in order to find her next husband.”

Though there are still some doubts as to whether Bad Teacher will find success, CBS is bulking up its comedy block, possibly looking for a How I Met Your Mother, which will likely wrap after next season.

Along with Bad Teacher, CBS is testing five new comedies: The Crazy Ones, The Millers, We Are Men, Mom, and Friends With Better Lives which is also benched for midseason.

If there’s one persuasive argument for the show’s success, it’s Ari Graynor. A criminally-underrated comic actress, she has made regular and memorable appearances in various films and TV shows.

Most recently, she starred in For A Good Time Call … after writer and co-star Lauren Miller sent her a letter calling her “one of the only people out there who could be both sexy and vulnerable and funny all at the same time.”

Are you a fan of Ari Graynor? Do you think that Bad Teacher will be a success for CBS? Sound off!

[Image via: Sam Aronov / Shutterstock]

‘Bad Teacher’ To CBS: Ari Graynor Comedy Gets Midseason Order is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new installment of Teen Mom will be premiering on MTV this August.

The stars of Teen Mom 3 arrived in New York City Monday, May 20, to do promotional work for the series. The new cast was reportedly filming after-show segments with Maci Bookout, who was on all four seasons of the original Teen Mom. Incidentally, the name “Maci,” as well as the name of her son, Bentley, showed the greatest increase in frequency from 2010 to 2011, according to the Social Security Administration.

MTV hasn’t set an official premiere date just yet, but a recent report claims that it will after shortly after Teen Mom 2 ends.

Teen Mom 3 will follow four of the teenage mothers from the fourth season of 16 and Pregnant: 19-year-olds Alexandria Sekella, Briana DeJesus, and Katie Yeager, and 18-year-old Mackenzie Douthit. Teen Mom Confidential reports that the show will premiere toward the end of August and will take over Teen Mom 2‘s 10 pm Monday time slot.

Each episode of 16 and Pregnant followed a different girl, who was usually 4 and a half to 8 months into her pregnancy. The episode typically ended a few months after the baby was born.

Douthit was featured in the first episode — she was a cheerleader from Miami, Oklahoma, who gave birth to a baby boy by C-section. Yeager, who is from Rocky Springs, Wyoming, and gave birth a to daughter with her live-in boyfriend.

DeJesus was from Orlando, and her ex-boyfriend was disitnerested in her pregnancy. She gave birth a to a baby girl. Sekella was an aspiring dancer from Allentown, Pennyslyvania, whose mother wanted her to give the baby up for adoption or else she wouldn’t have a place to live. Her episode ran 90 minutes and ended with her having financial and housing problems because of her decision to keep the baby, a daughter.

Will you be watching Teen Mom 3?

‘Teen Mom 3′ To Premiere In August [Report] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lifetime’s Anna Nicole Smith biopic is scheduled to air on the network this summer.

Private Practice alum Agnes Bruckner will tackle the lead role in the flick, which chronicles the late Playboy model’s tragic life. Also starring in the movie are Cary Elwes, Martin Landau, Virginia Madsen, and Adam Goldberg.

In order to bring the project to life, Sony Pictures Television tapped American Psycho director Mary Harron to spearhead the project. The talented filmmaker worked from a script penned by John Rice and Joe Batteer.

Anna Nicole will trace the model’s career from her early days as a topless dancer to her tragic death in February of 2007. Smith’s marriage to J. Howard Marshall, her photo shoot for Playboy, and her reality television show are reportedly covered in the biopic.

Virginia Madsen will tackle the role of Smith’s mother, while Landau will portray her very wealthy husband. Adam Goldberg will portray her lawyer.

With this much talent in front and behind the camera, Anna Nicole should at least be an entertaining watch. Lifetime’s movies are usually hit and miss, but this one seems to have more promise than most.

However, this isn’t the first time someone has made a movie centered around Smith’s life. Director Keoni Waxman and the folks at Nasser Entertainment Group released The Anna Nicole Smith story back in 2009. Singer and actress Willa Ford tackled the lead role in the movie.

Although the flick received a fair amount of coverage back in 2007, interest in the movie didn’t last very long. Two years after production wrapped, the movie was quietly released straight-to-DVD. The biopic currently sports a 4.1 rating on Internet Movie Database.

Lifetime will premiere Anna Nicole on Saturday, June 29 at 8 pm. The flick will likely find its way onto home video before the end of the year.

Do you plan to catch the Anna Nicole Smith biopic when it airs on the network this summer?

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Anna Nicole Smith Biopic Will Air This Summer is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s official, we’re getting a taste of what Bad Teacher looks like in television form. CBS has finally ordered the show based on the film that resurrected Cameron Diaz as a comedic heavyweight.

The single-camera comedy, also titled Bad Teacher is officially ordered for the 2013-2014 season on CBS. The fact that Bad Teacher even landed on CBS in the first place is a big accomplishment. CBS has been the coveted place to see great comedies after performing strongly with seasoned shows Two And A Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and How I Met Your Mother.

This time Bad Teacher will see For a Good Time Call’s Ari Graynor in the lead role of Meredith Davis, an unapologetic, inappropriate, horrible teacher and former trophy wife who is in search for a love life and someone to support her after she was left without money in her last marriage.

Graynor proved to be a worthy leading lady as she exercised her comedy chops alongside Lauren Miller in the raunchy comedy For a Good Time, Call…

Besides casting its lead, Bad Teacher has positive influence in its creative team as well. Community’s Hilary Weston adapted the show and wrote the pilot as well as executive produces the show. In addition, The Office’s Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky will also produce, which is a smart move considering the two penned the screenplay for the film version.

For CBS Bad Teacher is its fifth new comedy series ordered for the 2013-2014 broadcast season. This isn’t so surprising seeing as CBS is looking to replace big time performer How I Met Your Mother when it takes its final bow at the end of season nine next year. For that reason, CBS is expanding their comedy block with Greg Garcia’s The Millers and David E. Kelley’s Robin Williams comedy airing back to back after The Big Bang Theory.

Bad Teacher will also star Ryan Hensen, David Alan Grieg, Sara Gilbert, and Kristin Davis.

‘Bad Teacher’ Starring Ari Graynor Lands Home At CBS is a post from: The Inquisitr

Arrested Development for its rabid fans was the epitome of gone but not forgotten.

The show picked up a small but devoted cult following during its three-year run on Fox, ending in 2006 with little fanfare. But rather than saying goodbye, the fans grew more devoted to the unconventional comedy and its fan base grew thanks to Netflix, Hulu, and DVD sales.

Fans petitioned Fox to bring the show back, reporters asked members of the ensemble cast about the possibility of a reunion, and rumors flew about a comeback.

Now the persevere has paid off. A new season of the show is debuting in Netflix this month, and a movie is on the way.

Dave Nemetz, content producer for Yahoo! TV said it was really due to the fan outcry that Arrested Development made its return.

“On one hand, it is surprising, because Arrested Development was never a huge hit,” he said. “But its fans are fanatically devoted to the show, and that means a lot these days. In today’s TV landscape, with so much audience fragmentation and the power of social media, a passionate fan base is more important than ever. That passion is what got ‘Arrested Development’ back on the air,” he said. “The show is brilliantly funny; it still stands as one of the best TV comedies of the last twenty years. But it also rewards repeat viewings with lots of inside jokes and callbacks to previous episodes. So the more you watch; the more little nods you pick up on.”

Even Portia de Rossi, who played ditzy Lindsay Bluth on the show, says she’s become a hardcore Arrested Development fan.

“I find it really frustrating to have to wait a week to watch a show, and I’m just so used to seeing things back to back when I want to see them,” she said. “I think what Mitch has done with Arrested for Netflix is even more brilliant because he’s used that format and created something brand new within it.”

Arrested Development debuts on Netflix May 26.

‘Arrested Development’ Fans Get Credit For Reviving Series is a post from: The Inquisitr

A report on Yahoo! News cited Ang Lee’s need for some rest and relaxation as his reason for bowing out of the TV pilot.

Lee signed up to take control of Tyrant in March, the series under his control was set to debut on the FX Network.

In a statement regarding his decision Ang Lee writes:

“It is one of the most brilliant ideas for a series that I’ve seen and one about which I was very excited. However, after spending over four years making and promoting ‘Life of Pi,’ I have recently realized that I need some rest.”

Had he moved forward with Tyrant it would have marked Ang Lee’s first attempt at bringing his vision to TV.

Tyrant is being produced by Homeland producers Howard Gordon and Giden Raff. The show surrounds an ”American family that is pulled into the workings of a restive Eastern nation.”

Lee would have brought a mix of action and emotion to the show that only he can capture. Among his hit movies are Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

With Ang Lee originally expected to begin work on Tyrant this summer it is now uncertain how and if the show will move forward without him.

The team at FX have not yet responded to requests about the shows future. FX is a subsidiary of Fox TV which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.

Will you be tuning in to watch Tyrant regardless of Ang Lee’s lack of involvement in the project?

Ang Lee Bows Out Of ‘Tyrant’ TV Pilot is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nicki Minaj gained a reputation as bit of a diva vying for attention with Mariah Carey over the course of the past season of American Idol.

Backstage it wasn’t really like that at all, said Idol runner-up Kree Harrison. Though contestants on American Idol didn’t get too many opportunities to see and interact with the judges during the hectic taping of the show, Harrison said she never caught wind of any drama backstage.

“First of all, there’s so much going on, the drama of whatever happens on or off camera, there’s literally, it’s chaos during the live show,” Harrison told MTV News on Monday. “So you don’t pay any attention to anything but where you’re supposed to be. I mean, I love Nicki; I love Mariah. We would get a kick out of [the fact that] they would talk to each other at all. So whether it was good or bad, we liked it. I’m a big fan of all of them.”

Harrison added that Nicki Minaj and the other judges were nothing but helpful for the Idol contestants.

“They’re not any different than they are on camera, off camera. I would honestly say that the good part about it was that they were all so different. So they brought such a cool thing to us and I like each one of them. There was never any drama, we feel, like that we saw. We lived in a bubble for a while.”

Nicki Minaj came off a bit different for viewers at home. They saw the judge who showed up late to a live taping and seemed locked in a season-long power struggle with Mariah Carey..

On an American Idol broadcast, Mariah was giving a critique to contestant Angie Miller when Minaj cut her off to disagree. This caused Carey to point a finger in Nicki’s direction and criticize the rapper for never having a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

In response, Minaj tweeted:

All dem #1s but JLo phone ringin? Lol. I guess having a personality, being a secure woman, and giving genuine critique still trumps that.

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 2, 2013

This prompted a backlash on Twitter, but Nicki Minaj responded by attacking Mariah Carey even more.

What u SHOULD be doing (wit your messy ass) is asking why a woman SO successful at her age, is still so INSECURE, and bitter @perezhilton

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 2, 2013

The drama will be over next season. Nicki Minaj and the other judges reportedly won’t be back to American Idol.

Nicki Minaj Wasn’t Dramatic Backstage, Idol Runner-Up Says is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Steven Spielberg Halo series announced on Tuesday could be the most exciting news item to come out of today’s hubbub involving the next generation of Microsoft-owned consoles.

While there has been much discussion (and criticism) of the new video game unit, this is one development capable of bringing in a wider audience.

Frankly, stacking it up against other announcements — particularly the one that Xbox One will not be backwards compatible — it could be the only reason to even make a purchase as Xbox steals a page from the Netflix and Amazon books of diversifying its initial appeal through original programming.

The Steven Spielberg Halo series will be live-action and will be executive-produced by the Indiana Jones director, according to The Wrap. It will include exclusive interactive content as well.

In comments reported by NBC News, Spielberg had this to say: “For me, the Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet.”

(Man of few words.)

Stars, director, and writer, were all left out of the release information from Xbox on Tuesday, so we’ll have to update more on that later, but Spielberg isn’t exactly a hack, so there shouldn’t be any issue attracting top talent in front of and behind the camera. Even if he only takes a consulting role in the series development, which we’re expecting, he’s likely not going to let anyone mar his name by turning in an inferior product.

Couple that with the fact Spielberg has been wanting to do a film version of the popular video game franchise since at least 2010, and we have every reason to believe this will rock.

As far as what we can expect on the content side, the previous report from The Inquisitr pointed out that Spielberg had an interest in basing any films he might have done on the Halo novels. Not a great sign, but again, this is Spielberg. We’re sure he’d run it through his Jaws/Saving Private Ryan filter before unleashing it on the public.

How excited are you for a Steven Spielberg Halo live-action series? Sound off below.

[Image via cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com]

Steven Spielberg ‘Halo’ Series Coming To Xbox One is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Ricky Gervais Netflix series has been announced for this September, but before North American subscribers start feeling all special about it, it’s worth noting that this isn’t exactly new ground for those familiar with the show in the U.K., where it airs on Channel 4 and will soon premiere its second season.

Netflix will release all seven episodes in the first series at the same time following the format they’ve used for Hemlock Grove and House of Cards, according to The Wrap.

Called simply Derek, the show will focus on the titular character (Gervais), who is described as a “sweet, selfless but meek man” working in a retirement home with his friends Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and Hannah (Kerry Godliman).

Unlike bawdy, in-your-face Gervais, whom you may remember from when he hosted the Golden Globes, this project drops the shock value in favor of laughs and poignancy.

Gervais is also known as the creator and star of the British version of The Office, which inspired the highly successful American release that ran for nine seasons. To a lesser degree, you may also remember his work on Extras.

In a press release, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos had this to say about the Ricky Gervais Netflix pairing. “Ricky Gervais is one of the most distinctive comedy voices of his generation … With Derek, Ricky takes on new territory and mixes comedy with drama that is sometimes touching and sometimes heartbreaking.”

While it may seem odd for Gervais to tackle this type of material, we still remember him from Ghost Town, which hit all those buttons (successfully) several years ago. In the film, Gervais was a finicky dentist, who found himself with the ability to communicate with the spirit world. The gift pushed his character beyond his comfort zone and resulted in some moments that were both funny and touching.

Hopefully, Derek will hit the right emotional buttons as well. What do you think about the Ricky Gervais Netflix pairing — perfect for each other or a mismatch?

Ricky Gervais Netflix Series On The Way This September is a post from: The Inquisitr

You remember that Kitchen Nightmares couple, Samy and Amy Bouzaglo of Amy’s Baking Company? Of course you do. It was the story all week. You couldn’t get away from it if you wanted to.

They’ve decided to cancel their planned press conference during which they pledged to tell their side of the story.

The fallout from their appearance on Kitchen Nightmares was somehow worse than their portrayal on the show, which famously saw Chef Gordon Ramsay walk out for the first time … well … ever.

After the bizarre Amy’s Baking Company episode, the owners seemingly had a complete meltdown on their Facebook page.

They spewed vitriol in every direction, angry over their portrayal on the popular program and the new wave of criticism they had received (oh yes, they’ve been in the press for the wrong reasons before).

Then suddenly, on May 15, their Facebook page showed a fairly concise statement declaring that Amy’s Baking Company would re-open for a special event on May 21 (today) which would include a press conference.

There, Samy and Amy Bouzaglo would tell their side of the story and answer questions about their unflattering portrayal on Kitchen Nightmares.

They would also explain how their Facebook and other social media handles were compromised, hence the strange online meltdown following the episode.

But now none of that is happening.

Why?

Interestingly, Amy’s Baking Company hired a PR firm to help them sort out their public image problem. You can see their influence in that well-tailored May 15 post on their Facebook page – any inquiries about the grand re-opening as well as reservations were to be sent to sjones@rosemoserallynpr.com.

That long domain belongs to Rose+Moser+Allyn Public & Online Relations. They no longer represent the couple.

Details are still sketchy, and indeed, we may never know the full truth. But Samy and Amy Bouzaglo were reportedly threatened by Kitchen Nightmares lawyers not to bad-mouth Gordon Ramsay’s show … or else.

Is this intimidation? Does this mean that Amy’s Baking Company’s unflattering portrayal isn’t entirely their fault, but also a product of manipulative editing and/or production?

Possibly, but probably not. You see, they signed a very strict disparagement clause before the cameras ever started rolling. Basically, if the Bouzaglos say anything bad about the show, they could be fined $100,000 each.

I’d say that it does indeed smell fishy, because what does Kitchen Nightmares really have to fear from Amy’s Baking Company? But their PR firm left them too, just like Ramsay. Did they come to similar conclusions about the Bouzaglos? Can these people just not be helped?

It sure seems that way.

Sound off! Did you see the Amy’s Baking Company episode of Kitchen Nightmares? Are you surprised that they have cancelled their press conference?

Kitchen Nightmares Couple Press Conference Cancelled: Amy’s Baking Company Silent … For Once is a post from: The Inquisitr

Disabled actors have spoken out in protest against Ironside, the police procedural about a paraplegic detective in New York. The Wrap first reported on the outrage late Monday.

The reason: Blair Underwood, an able-bodied actor, is playing the role.

“This would be like being in the ’50s and having a white guy do blackface, at this point,” said Sons of Anarchy star Kurt Yaeger, who is also a pro BMX rider, whose left leg was severed following a motorcycle accident. “You need to start having disabled people playing disabled characters. Period.”

Auti Angel of the reality series Push Girls agreed. “What are they afraid of? There are so many extremely talented individuals who are performing artists with a different ability.”

Yaeger and Angel definitely have a point, which was echoed by disabled actors Robert Romani and Larry Sapp. Look at the major disabled characters on TV — Kevin McHale on Glee; Terry O’Quinn from Lost; D.J. Qualls on Legit — and you won’t find a disabled actor in the bunch.

The Wrap approached NBC, home of Ironside, for comment, but the network declined.

Further solidifying the case, the website presented 20 able-bodied actors, who are or have played disabled characters. One of the actors: Raymond Burr, who starred in the original Ironside series, one of his few post-Perry Mason successes.

NBC ordered the Ironside remake with Underwood in the starring role earlier this month. At the time, it seemed like a great move for the network, which has been struggling in ratings as of late. Having disabled actors protest Ironside could mar some of that momentum.

In case you’re not turned off by the blind eye to disabled actors, this incarnation of Ironside will follow the titular detective as he pushes his hand-picked team of cops to solve the most challenging cases in the city.

Do you think NBC should have hired a paraplegic for the role, and do you believe the disabled actors protest of Ironside is accurate in stating that Blair Underwood is like having a “white guy do blackface”?

Disabled Actors Protest ‘Ironside’: ‘Like Having A White Guy Do Blackface’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Simon Cowell has found his new judges. Fox announced today that Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio would be The X Factor for the show’s third season..

Rowland, a former member of the group Destiny’s Child, and Rowland, a Latin pop singer, will join Cowell and Demi Lovato on the judge’s panel when the third season airs next fall.

Cowell said in a statement: “Paulina and Kelly both have great taste and massive experience in the music industry and together with Demi, this is going to be a fun panel. It just feels like the time to do something different.”

The X Factor has gone through several judges since its inception. Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger were fired after season one and L.A. Reid and Britney Spears left after season two. Lovato agreed to return for a third season, but Cowell had to rush to find two new judges.

Do you think Rowland and Rubio will be good judges for The X Factor? Rowland already has some reality show experience as she was part of the UK version of The X Factor.

Rowland said in a statement: “I am very excited to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and The X Factor family. It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the states!”

The X Factor isn’t the only show that is going through some changes at the moment. American Idol recently lost Randy Jackson, and there are rumors that Fox will replace all of its judges before next season.

Kelly Rowland And Paulina Rubio Join ‘The X Factor’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

If you’re a fan of Mike & Molly and were looking forward to tonight’s season finale, you’re going to be waiting a little while to see it, thanks to the devastating severe weather that plagued the Midwest over the weekend and on Monday afternoon.

The episode, which was set to air Monday at 9:30pm, has been pulled by CBS in light of the devastating Oklahoma tornado this afternoon.

“Due to the tragic events this afternoon in Oklahoma, we are pre-empting tonight’s season finale of Mike & Molly, which has a related storyline,” a spokesperson told The Wrap. ”A repeat broadcast of Mike & Molly will run in the time period. The season finale will be broadcast at an appropriate date.”

As you can tell from the statement, tonight’s episode was to feature a tornado storyline. The synopsis for the episode, titled “Windy City,” is as follows:

“Mike and Carl get stuck working at the Renaissance Faire after their boss, Patrick, gets dumped by Mike’s mother. Later, as a tornado descends on Chicago, Mike and Molly each confess important news to each other, on the third season finale of MIKE & MOLLY, Monday, May 20 (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.”

After a weekend of severe weather battering the Midwest, Monday afternoon saw a devastating tornado tear through Oklahoma for 40 minutes. The 2-mile wide tornado left homes, businesses and at least two elementary schools damaged or destroyed completely.

Tornado warnings are currently in effect for Texas and Kansas.

Monday’s Oklahoma tornado has killed 37 people as of the most recent reports, though as it is a developing story, the number could still go up.

Do you think that CBS made the right decision by pulling the Mike & Molly season finale?

‘Mike & Molly’ Season Finale Pulled By CBS After Tornadoes is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ang Lee has pulled out of Tyrant at FX, according to a Monday report from The Wrap.

The Life of Pi helmsman came aboard the project in March, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It would have been his first foray into the world of television after capturing the Best Director Oscar twice for Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi.

His Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon also won for Best Foreign-Language Film.

At the time of the announcement, FX Networks president John Landgraf and Bert Salke, president of Fox 21 (producers) were elated.

“Ang Lee has demonstrated time and again an ability to present characters with such depth and specificity that they reveal the universal human condition,” the pair said in a release. “No one could be a more perfect filmmaker to bring … Tyrant to life.”

Now that Lee has left the project, Landgraf and Salke will need to find a new perfect fit. Lee’s camp did not release a reason for the director’s change of heart.

The pilot, produced by Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff (Homeland) and Craig Wright (Six Feet Under), follows an American family caught in the web of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation.

No actors have been cast on the project at this time, and with Lee’s departure it could make the quest a bit more challenging. The project was supposed to release this year, but with June quickly approaching, it will have to develop quickly.

Lee is also looking at an Old Testament Moses project that Steven Spielberg previously passed on. It’s a huge film in the making, based on a script written by Michael Green and Stuart Hazeldine. However, it’s still too early to say when that project might come to fruition or if it had anything to do with today’s decision.

Were you looking forward to seeing Ang Lee direct his first TV project in Tyrant? Who do you think should replace him?

[Image via cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com]

Ang Lee Pulls Out Of ‘Tyrant’ At FX is a post from: The Inquisitr

There’s a bit of a cast crisis over at SNL. The show is saying goodbye to several of its veteran members and will almost have to start from scratch next year.

Kristin Wiig left the show last year and Bill Hader made his exit last Saturday. The show will also soon see the departure of Seth Meyers, who will be taking over Jimmy Fallon’s seat at Late Night, Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen.

Sudeikis and Armisen haven’t officially left the show but there are several reports circulating that the two veterans will not return next year.

That’s a lot of gaps to fill for when the show resumes next year.

But the SNL cast crisis may not be as dire as it seems. Variety notes that SNL has dealt with major cast turnovers before and they always seem to come out of it unscathed. The massive turnover could actually turn out to be a good thing.

Variety writes: “The prospect of losing at least four prominent cast members before 2013-14 might seem dire, but students of SNL history will note that past mass cast defections tend to be like forest fires: While the damage done is seemingly devastating, it actually has a counter intuitively restorative effect, clearing the way for future growth. And what’s more, the seeds for the next generation of SNL already seem to be sprouting in the current cast.”

SNL will be losing some of its most recognizable faces soon but the cast still has some bright spots. Jay Pharoah has already taken over the Obama character from Fred Armisen and Kate McKinnon and Bobby Moynihan have already found great characters with an Ellen Degeneres impersonation and Weekend Update’s drunk uncle.

Here’s a video of Bill Hader’s exit from the show.

Do you think SNL will survive it’s current cast crisis?

SNL Faces Cast Crisis As Hader, Meyers Head For The Exits is a post from: The Inquisitr

Disney has some big plans for Star Wars. In addition to the company’s ambitious plan of releasing a new movie every year for the foreseeable future, Disney will also be releasing a new cartoon.

Star Wars Rebels will be an animated series that will take place between Episode III and Episode IV. Production has begun on the series which will make its debut in the fall of 2014.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said:

“The entire team at Lucasfilm has provided extraordinary creativity and innovation for over three decades, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the expansive and imaginative world of Star Wars to Disney XD’s viewers.”

The new Star Wars show will premiere with a one-hour telecast on the Disney Channel. After that, the series will move to Disney XD.

Kathleen Kennedy, president of LucasFilm, said:

“I couldn’t be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe … I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars.”

The new series is being developed by Simon Kinberg, the screenwriter behind X-Men: First Class, and Dave Filoni, the supervising director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Production has begun on Star Wars Rebels, an all-new animated series set between the events of Episode III and IV. bit.ly/16EjuQE

— Star Wars (@starwars) May 20, 2013

Star Wars Rebellion will focus on a period of about two decades between Episodes III and IV. The Empire is taking control of the galaxy and is working to hunt down the remaining Jedi Knights.

Here’s a video about the new series.

‘Star Wars’ Cartoon Heading To Disney Channel is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Brady Bunch reunion took place at an Ohio amusement park over the weekend.

It’s hard to believe that the famous Kings Island episode of the classic television sitcom is 40 years old. In order to mark the anniversary of their original trip to the park, several Brady Bunch cast members celebrated the occasion with a reunion in Ohio.

Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, and Susan Olsen — also known as Greg, Peter, and Cindy Brady — were in attendance at the Ohio-based amusement park on Sunday to partake in the festivities. The “Cincinnati Kids” episode of the sitcom originally hit the airwaves in 1973.

In addition to putting on a show for King’s Island guests, the Brady Bunch reunion also involved the actors meeting fans and signing autographs.

While Susan Olsen and Christopher Knight were quick to share anecdotes about being a Brady kid and living their life in the spotlight, it was Barry Williams who ultimately stole the show. You can find his strangely watchable parody of “The Real Slim Shady” embedded below.

Kim Williamson told the folks at the Cincinnati Enquirer that she traveled three hours from her home in West Virginia to meet Williams, Knight, and Olsen during the King’s Island Brady Bunch reunion. She even forked over $20 to pose for a photo with the stars.

The Kings Island episode of The Brady Bunch found the entire family taking a trip to the iconic park so Mike could present architectural plans for a new addition. The gang spends a fair amount of time running around and riding a few of the park’s attractions. You can refresh your memory with the clip below.

‘Brady Bunch’ Reunion Takes Place At Kings Island [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Ben Affleck’s SNL episode last night was both the season finale and the fifth time the Argo director has hosted the comedy sketch show. So did he get the same Five-Timer’s fanfare as Justin Timberlake?

Hardly. But despite the minimal reception waiting for him, Affleck is now a full-member of the Five Timer’s club alongside luminaries like Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin and Christopher Walken (fun fact: Alec Baldwin has hosted SNL 16 times).

But the real show-stealer during Ben Affleck’s SNL opening monologue was his own wife, Jennifer Garner. Affleck brought Jen on to explain to her his Oscar speech, delivered after accepting the Best Picture award for Argo.

A quick recap: Despite the fact that Ben and Jen 2.0 are among everyone’s favorite Hollywood couples, Affleck received some criticism online for referring to his marriage as “work” during his acceptance speech.

Jen may have cried those great, big happy tears, fully understanding that her husband was only trying to tell her that she was worth whatever challenges they’d face together, but more than a few folks cried foul.

“You may remember that in my speech, I thanked my wife, while also saying that the essence of marriage is work,” he said, denying that he meant that his marriage was “manual labor.”

“That’s not it,” Affleck said. “You define what’s important to you by what you dedicate your time to.”

He invited his wife onto the stage with him, and asked her what she would have preferred him to say.

“Gift! I would have said, ‘Thank you to my wife, our marriage is a gift!’” she said.

In short, it was incredibly cute. You can watch a clip of Ben Affleck’s SNL open with wife, Jennifer Garner, below:

Ben Affleck’s SNL Monologue Pokes Fun At Oscar Speech [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The ACLU has demanded Modern Family have a big gay wedding, according to a new campaign launched by the American Civil Liberties Union last week.

The movement — which now has its own website — calls for two of the series leads to make their civil partnership official in an effort to draw more interest to the side of marriage equality.

In a blog post on May 16, ACLU blogger Alicia Gay wrote, “The most remarkable aspect of Mitch and Cam [Modern Family characters] being in a same-sex relationship is that the there IS no remarkable aspect of their being in a same-sex relationship. They experience the same ups and downs as any other couple. Arguably, their most controversial family moment was when flower girl Lily said the f-word last year.”

Gay continued: “But there’s one important thing that Cam and Mitch haven’t done yet. They haven’t gotten married. So we’re asking ABC to let Mitch and Cam tie the knot, and we’re asking for your help.”

The organization has begun an all-out social media blitz asking supporters to RSVP through the website.

“Having two main characters in a wildly popular show get married would put the issue of marriage equality in living rooms across the country and generate conversations about the importance of allowing same-sex couples to marry — the kinds of conversations that we know change hearts and minds,” the post read.

The ACLU certainly has a sympathetic ear in show co-creator Steve Levitan. In 2012, Levitan responded to Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, when she said Modern Family was her favorite show with this:

“Thrilled Ann Romney says ModFam is her favorite show … We’ll offer her the role of officiant at Mitch & Cam’s wedding. As soon as it’s legal.”

Do you think the ACLU is right — that it’s time for Modern Family to give Mitch and Cam their wedding? Will you be watching?

ACLU Demands ‘Modern Family’ Hold Big Gay Wedding is a post from: The Inquisitr

The SyFy series Warehouse 13 is coming to an end after the fifth season.

The network recently announced that it was bringing the show back for another go-around. Unfortunately for fans of the program, the upcoming season will be the last.

Production on the final season of Warehouse 13 is expected to begin in Toronto this summer. The final six episodes should air on SyFy at some point during 2014.

“‘Warehouse 13′ has been an incredible signature series for us. We are grateful to the loyal and passionate fan base and know that Jack Kenny, his gifted creative team, and outstanding ensemble cast will give them an amazing finale season,” SyFy’s Mark Stern said in a recent statement.

The network is currently in the middle of airing the fourth season of Warehouse 13 right now. The finale is slated to air on SyFy later this summer.

Saul Rubinek, Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Allison Scagliotti, and Aaron Ashmore star in the popular drama. The series follows a group of agents who work at a top-secret warehouse in South Dakota that houses a host of strange, unusual, and supernatural relics. The heroes are charged with recovering lost items and retrieving new ones.

Since Warehouse 13 has a very loyal and dedicated following, a lot of fans are understandably disappointed that the series is getting canceled after next season. Many viewers shared their sadness with other fans on Twitter. A handful of their reactions have been included below.

I think it may be time for a serious “Save Warehouse 13!” campaign.

— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) May 19, 2013

I am seriously so mad at @syfy right now for canceling Warehouse 13. You need more Sci Fi on your channel!!!!

— TeenLibrarianToolbox (@TLT16) May 19, 2013

@syfy consistently cancels it’s best shows! insidetv.ew.com/2013/05/17/syf…

— Jeff Madlock (@jmadlock) May 19, 2013

Are you disappointed that Warehouse 13 is getting canceled after the fifth season?

‘Warehouse 13′ Ending After Fifth Season is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kelly Rowland is apparently very close to signing a deal with X Factor.

Rumors have been circulating that the singer and Destiny’s Child member was being courted for the singing competition. Although nothing official has been announced, the folks at Entertainment Weekly are reporting that Rowland’s involvement is pretty much a done deal.

The search for a pair of new judges began after both Britney Spears and L.A. Reid decided to bid farewell to The X Factor last season. Demi Lovato and Simon Cowell are both expected to return for another go-around.

As Kelly Rowland works out the finer details of her deal with folks at FOX, producers continue to search for someone to fill the other vacancy. Rumors suggest that singer and actress Paulina Rubio is being considered as a judge. Again, nothing about these reports has been confirmed or denied by FOX or producers as of this writing.

Last month, internet rumors suggested that Client List star Jennifer Love Hewitt was up for one of the positions on The X Factor. According to Us Weekly, Simon Cowell was reportedly interested in getting her to sign on for the show. Reba McEntire was also said to be in the running.

Cowell almost had to fill three vacancies on the competition after last season. Demi Lovato revealed earlier this month that she considered parting ways with the program since it was causing her a fair amount of stress.

“I didn’t want to lose because I’m that girl that’s so competitive with people, and I didn’t want to lose to Simon especially it being my first year on the ‘X Factor.’ Of course, I was out right away. I want to see new talent and I want to be a part of that journey again,” she explained.

Are you a fan of Kelly Rowland? What do you think about the singer’s involvement with The X Factor?

[Image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com]

Kelly Rowland Close To Signing Deal With ‘X Factor’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

The “Eurovision 2013″ finale was held Saturday night in Malmö, Sweden for an audience of around 125 million viewers. It’s the song contest that everybody loves to hate. Just in case you weren’t one of the snickering millions, I’ve put together a quickie roundup of the ridiculous show for your viewing entertainment.

I don’t want to single out The Netherland’s Anouk for a particularly weak performance, but one of her countrymen was moved to tweet a picture of the lovely young lady with the unimpressive voice covered in bird droppings.

UK’s Telegraph poked fun at their entry, 61-year-old Bonnie Tyler, best known to Americans as the 1983 one-hit wonder “Total Eclipse of the Heart” songbird.

Tyler came in 19th. “Maybe next year we should send a pop singer not as close to retirement age,” was the Telegraph’s catty assessment. They also reserved a sideswipe for Ireland’s last-place finish which they described as “a gay Riverdance.”

Even the winner, Denmark’s 20-year-old Emmelie de Forest, stood out for her sheer cornball. Hey, I hate her performance just for the penny whistle, but don’t let me tell you what to think. I’ve posted a video of the beautiful singer’s “Only Teardrops” down below.

I strongly suggest you give it a listen with your sound turned off.

Earlier in the year, Israel’s contestant Moran Mazor generated some noise by saying that convicted anti-Semite John Galliano would be designing her dress for Eurovision 2013. Israeli television authorities said that she could not appear for Israel wearing any dress designed by the controversial Briton.

Galliano, who was found guilty of racist rants in France while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, is now recovering from his substance abuse issues. His team said that they had never agreed to make the dress in the first place.

‘Birds’. #Anouk #ESF #Eurovision twitter.com/WiIIemAlexande…

— ZM Willem-Alexander (@WiIIemAlexander) May 19, 2013

Here’s Emmelie de Forest performing “Only Teardrops” in her semi-finale performance for Denmark:

Here’s the one tweet summary of Eurovision:

EUROVISION: Next year’s song to be ‘Everybody Hates Us And We Don’t Care’ sung by Millwall Fans

— The DM Reporter(@DMReporter) May 19, 2013

Here’s a Twitter user who captures a lot of my feelings about Eurovision:

Eurovision drinking game: Every time the UK doesn’t receive points from a country, you drink. #timetogetsloshed

— Prince Charles (@Charles_HRH) May 18, 2013

Seriously considering a referendum to get the UK out of Eurovision.

— Prince Charles (@Charles_HRH) May 18, 2013

So, Europe likes the UK enough to sing their songs in our language, but not enough to give us some sodding points? #eurovision

— Prince Charles (@Charles_HRH) May 18, 2013

Heh. I’m sure you realize that this dude isn’t the real Prince Charles.

What’s your take on Eurovision? Did you join the 125 million who watched, or did you hide under your bed and pray for Eurovision to go away?

[Bonnie Tyler, UK's Eurovision rep, photo by S. Kuelcue / Shutterstock.com]

‘Eurovision’ Grabs 125 Million Viewers With Popular Song Contest Everybody Hates [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Gun control supporter Bill Maher admitted he owns guns for personal protection even though he thinks the Second Amendment is “bullsh*t.”

On the HBO Real Time episode on Friday (see embed below), Maher criticized the failed Manchin-Toomey expanded background checks bill because it prohibited a national gun registry.  “ … Of course we need a gun registry,” Maher said. “The Second Amendment is bullsh*t.”

Much of the opposition to the Senate bill centered on concerns, despite denials from Manchin-Toomey supporters, that a federal gun registry would be the next step.

Later in the show, Maher offered this interesting revelation: “As long as we live in the gun country, I ain’t giving up my gun … there have been 12 home invasions in my neighborhood in the last year … I have two guns, one upstairs and one down.” Maher presumably lives in an upscale Beverly Hills enclave.

Law Professor and gun law expert David Kopel has previously asserted that the national gun registry ban in Manchin-Toomey only applied to the Attorney General and not to other government agencies, however.

Separately, “Morning Joe” Scarborough, who claimed that the GOP would become extinct for opposing the Machin-Toomey bill, apparently has had a change of heart because of the IRS scandal.

As he explained on MSNBC, “My argument has been, don’t worry, background checks aren’t going to lead to a national registry. The government is never going to create a national registry. Right? And there is even something there that says its a felony. I don’t even have to complete my sentence, do I? My argument is less persuasive today because of these scandals. Because people will say, hey, if they do that with the IRS asking people what books you read then how can I trust them with information about my Second Amendment rights? This is devastating. This IRS scandal is devastating. All across the board as Chuck said. Immigration reform, background checks, you name it, it’s a devastating scandal.”

CNN’s Piers Morgan who also jumped on the gun control bandwagon after the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., similarly admitted the other night on his show that gun rights supporters and “pro-gun lobbyists” who oppose additional firearms regulations may have a point given the “vaguely tyrannical behavior” by the federal government in the IRS and AP scandals.

Watch Bill Maher talk about how he personally owns guns despite slamming the Second Amendment:

Bill Maher: ‘I Ain’t Giving Up My Gun’ [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

How big a fan of The Office are you? What would you have done for a role in the finale? Jennie Tan, Office superfan, managed to snag herself a speaking role on the series finale. All she did was ask nicely.

Tan runs OfficeTally, a huge fan site for The Office, and explained her story in her latest post. Understanding that the popular television show would soon be over, Tan proactively emailed Greg Daniels, the developer of the U.S. version of the comedy.

All she did was humbly ask if there was any way she could take part in the series finale. Daniels immediately responded, and told her that he’d write her in.

Stunned, she was asked for a headshot and a resume, and was told she would actually be paid as a day actor, and that her name would appear in the end credits.

We don’t want to spoil the show’s finale for you, so if you haven’t yet seen it, you best turn away here.

But if you have seen it, you know that a chunk of the episode was dedicated to a Q&A session between the in-show cast of characters and audience members.

In case you forgot, or simply never realized it, The Office was always presented as a “mockumentary,” meaning that while all of the cast members are real-life actors, their characters in the show’s universe were ordinary volunteers in a nine-year documentary project.

So the scene was actually pretty cool, as fictional fans of The Office participated in a staged talk-back with the characters of the show. It was used to mostly wrap up loose ends and answer questions that were left unresolved throughout the show’s run.

Anyway, Jennie Tan, Office superfan, was in that Q&A scene basically playing herself and asking direct questions to Jim and Pam (she was the “like Harry Potter?” woman).

She has a ton of images and a detailed explanation of the events that led to her role over at her site, so go check it out.

What do you think of Jennie Tan, Office superfan? Are you jealous she got a role in the series finale by just asking?

[Image via: OfficeTally]

Jennie Tan, ‘Office’ Superfan, Got Speaking Role In Finale is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nicki Minaj was mysteriously absent from the American Idol stage during the Season 12 finale, and though we know that she apparently wasn’t allowed to perform, Minaj played it off as a contract thing in a recent interview.

Speaking to On The Red Carpet, Minaj said:

“I had already committed to Billboard Awards to perform my single so I wasn’t allowed to perform it on Idol and perform it on Billboard.”

The song she is referring to is her new single “High School,” which she’ll perform at Sunday’s 2013 Billboard Music Awards.

Minaj also added that she wasn’t allowed to debut the music video on Idol even though former judges have done so on the competition show. The video was deemed “too risque” by show producers, according to Minaj.

During the Season 12 finale, all of the American Idol judges took to the stage except for Minaj. Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and even Jennifer Lopez performed, with Minaj strangely absent.

The finale slight caused some in the media to speculate that Minaj was being pushed out of American Idol a bit early, and that the decision to block her from performing or debuting music seemingly confirmed insider reports that she is, in fact, not returning for Season 13.

Judge Randy Jackson is also leaving the show after 12 years, leaving new judges Mariah Carey and Keith Urban, for now.

Minaj also said that she thinks America made the right choice with Candice Glover, but insisted that all of the top five were very talented.

“To be completely honest, I think all five of our girls in the Top 5, I think that they all are going to have big careers if they want it. But Candice deserved to win,” she said.

Do you think Nicki Minaj should return to American Idol next season?

[Image via: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock]

Nicki Minaj Wasn’t Allowed To Perform On ‘Idol’ Finale [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

American Idol winner Candice Glover is on the offensive to keep the momentum going from her Season 12 victory which featured her spectacular performance of “I Am Beautiful.” I’ve posted the official video down below so you can see for yourself why one New York Times reviewer said that the 23-year-old R&B singer’s voice hit “with the force and nuance of a cement truck.”

Heh. Glover’s unsubtle gift may pound you over the head like a baseball bat, but you can’t claim that she’s holding anything back.

Even the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, was so bowled over by Candice Glover’s powerhouse voice that she seemed to blab a possible spoiler that the South Carolina native was the winner.

As the first female American Idol winner since Jordin Sparks, in the first all-female finale since the third season, Candice Glover has a lot to prove. Once a reality TV giant, the Fox program has undergone an embarrassing ratings collapse in recent years.

Even the ongoing feud between outspoken Nicki Minaj and rival Mariah Carey couldn’t spark renewed interest in actually sitting down to watch the program.

So how can Candice Glover both grab and keep the spotlight? The South Carolina native’s first album is being rushed to the shelves, with a planned release date of July 16 — faster than previous American Idol winners.

She wants to get it out there “while I’m still fresh in people’s minds,” Glover told reports. She’s also eager to get started on the American Idol tour, which hits the road June 29.

Her single, “I Am Beautiful,” is already available on iTunes.

Here’s the official video of Candice Glover performing “I Am Beautiful” at the American Idol finale:

What do you think the future holds for American Idol winner Candice Glover?

[Candice Glover at 'American Idol' finale party photo by Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com]

‘American Idol’ Winner Candice Glover Eager To Get The Music Out There [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rob Kardashian’s weight loss struggle has been a very public failure so far. As The Inquisitr has previously reported, his ballooning figure is such a touchy subject for the Keeping Up With the Kardashians sibling that he even got into fisticuffs with a female photographer who snapped his unflattering form as he emerged from a Los Angeles gym.

Social media is having a field with day with the increasingly plump Kardashians. Hugely pregnant Kim may look like a couch, and her feet may be the size of a Cadillac Escalade, but hey. The lady’s having a baby.

What’s Rob Kardashian’s excuse for not shedding the weight?

For the time being, he may be avoiding the gym. He recently pled not guilty to attacking photographer Andra Viak. Now, according to multiple reports, Kardashian has been spotted hiking in the Culver City area.

Will it work? So far, the numbers on the scale don’t seem to be moving in the right direction. As TMZ rather cruelly titled one of their videos: “Rob Kardashian is not a loser after all.”

And they didn’t mean he had a beautiful personality. “Can a Kardashian actually stop eating?” they asked in the clip that featured workout photos of Kardashian’s chunky shape in his workout gear.

So what is he doing wrong? “It’s booze,” someone told TMZ. Another voice echoed that: “Yeah, it could be booze.”

It could be an ineffective workout too. Sure, I’ve lost weight by hiking — but only when something has gone terribly wrong and I’ve been separated from food, sports drinks, and beer for a significant amount of time.

I don’t stroll around some hills in Los Angeles and call it a workout. That’s for seniors with bad knees, not a weight loss program.

Back in February, Rob Kardashian shared some weight loss tips that he planned to use to lose 50 pounds.   Well, did he actually implement the plan, or did it just not work?

Fit Perez Hilton saluted Kardashian for trying, saying, “He’s doing something about it, which is hugely commendable in and of itself…[W]e say we’re proud of him for even making the effort!”

OK, fine, but are we in kindergarten? Are you a good role model if you’re the living proof that trying just doesn’t work?

And, of course, Twitter has to weigh in on Rob Kardashian’s failed fitness plan:

IT’S KINDA SAD THAT ROB KARDASHIAN IS LITERAL ACTUAL NOT JOKING AS FAT AS KIM KARDASHIAN PREGNANT

— BOYTWEETSWORLD (@BOYTWEETSWORLDX) May 18, 2013

>So i was just told that i look like rob kardashian? Wtf my mom must be smoking my weed

— IG : itsmigz (@itsMiggy) May 18, 2013

So far, the peanut gallery is vastly unimpressed with Rob Kardashian’s weight loss try.

[photo of Cheryl Burke and a slimmer Rob Kardashian by Amy Nichole Harris / Shutterstock.com]

Rob Kardashian Weight Loss Fight A Fat Failure As His Belly Gets Bigger Than Kim’s [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Dexter final season trailer has been released from Showtime, and it does not look good for the Morgans.

If you’re like me and didn’t attack the seventh season until last week, then you may want to bow out now — there be spoilers ahead!

Anyone left at this point, you’ve either seen how last season ended, or you don’t mind that we blow it for you. Either way, let’s begin.

Dexter left off a few months ago following the jaw-dropping decision to kill off Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Velez). Okay, with the spot Dex (Michael C. Hall) was in, LaGuerta’s death wasn’t that surprising considering that we knew at the time the eight season would probably be the final run of episodes.

Still, choosing Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) as her killer was a shock. We figured Dexter would have done the deed himself, but his loyal sister didn’t give him the chance.

Picking up a few months after the shooting, the Dexter final season trailer shows that Deb is not okay with her decision, and she hates her brother for it.

In the three minutes presented here, Dexter’s murderous identity appears safe with LaGuerta gone, but as Deb’s brother, he looks a little desperate to help his sister overcome the events in the storage container.

Deb is working undercover, hooked on prescription meds, and getting into car accidents while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

That’s when Miami’s favorite blood spatter analyst falls under the watchful eye of neuropsychiatrist Dr. Evelyn Vogel (screen veteran Charlotte Rampling). She appears to see through Dexter’s facade to the heart of the killer underneath.

(ENSTARZ has a little more on the Vogel character for those interested.)

How this will end up is anyone’s guess, but we’re thinking from the tone and feel — and the fact that a Deb Morgan spinoff is in talks — that Dexter doesn’t get out alive, and whatever sacrifice he makes will probably be for the good of his sister.

Are we crazy or what?

What did you think of the Dexter final season trailer — certain doom, a new beginning, or a little bit of both?

‘Dexter’ Final Season Trailer Unleashed, Things Look Bad For The Morgans is a post from: The Inquisitr

Now that the mother of all mothers has been revealed on How I Met Your Mother, we’ll be seeing a lot more of her. Milioti was unmasked quite ceremoniously on the season finale last Monday, so in the wake of her reveal the actress just scored a pretty sweet gig as a series regular for its ninth and final season of the Carter Bays co-created sitcom.

For eight years fans of the How I Met Your Mother show have been anticipating the reveal of the mother, and now that we have her it’s not going to be a barely there glimpse before the show ends. Bays revealed that not only will we see more of Milioti as the mother, but we’ll be able to find out more about her before Ted (her future husband) will. For season nine Bays revealed that the whole season will focus on the weekend of the wedding between Barney and Robin, and if you’ve been paying attention then you know that Ted meets her at the wedding. However, the remaining season will focus on how each character comes to know Ted’s wife and the mother of his children before he does, which positions a very clever story-telling dynamic for the writers.

Throughout the years Ted has been giving his children and essentially the audience, little clues about the mother from her yellow umbrella that he had unknowingly picked up and returned, to the fact that she plays bass for a band. Now it’s believed that we all will finally get to know the mother on a deeper level, so when Ted finally meets her the star-crossed lover look on his face will be completely appropriate in the minds of the viewer. Does that sound like too much pressure on one character? Well, Milioti would agree, kind of. Bays said of the actress’ arrival: “I kind of felt bad for Cristin because it was really like Jesus has risen when she showed up on the set — the whole crew was like ‘Here she is, the women we’ve been waiting for for 10 years!’ And she’s like, ‘I’m just an actor.’”

For those naysayers out there, Bays has all the faith in the world that Cristin Milioti is the girl to root for, saying:

“It was a pretty big umbrella to fill and yet Cristin is, against all odds, exactly what we were looking for. She made us laugh on 30 Rock, she made us swoon in Once, and her ukulele skills are no joke.”

Are you looking forward to seeing a lot more of the mother? Are you happy that the frame work of the season will exist around one event?

‘How I Met Your Mother’s’ ‘Mom’ Cristin Milioti Is Promoted To Series Regular is a post from: The Inquisitr

American Idol finale ratings suffered the most humiliating decline to date in a season that has been fraught with viewer indifference.

According to a Friday report from The Wrap, the show’s big night collapsed into a 3.6 rating (around 14.3 million viewers), which is not even half the draw that it reached during its more successful years.

To put it in a more recent context, compared to last season’s finale, the show was down 44 percent in its key demographic. (Last season it pulled in 21.5 million viewers.)

While in the past even contestants that didn’t win became household names — Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry — it wasn’t unusual Friday morning to tell your friends and neighbors that — SPOILER ALERT — Candice Glover had won, and receive a courtesy shrug and blank look in response.

Of course, the low American Idol finale ratings were hardly unexpected. The show has struggled all season. In March, the reality singing competition was averaging around 18 million viewers compared to an all-time high of close to 37 million.

Those numbers were disappointing at the time, so the fact the episode that should have had the highest amount of viewer interest came in under that, only makes matters worse.

A huge part of the problem has been Fox’s inability to put together a panel of judges to hold viewer interest. Recently, Randy Jackson, the last remaining original, stepped down ahead of a probable termination.

Nicki Minaj also got out ahead of the pink slip with a report earlier this month stating that Fox was on the verge of putting the ax to all four of its panel members:

While Keith Urban has expressed an interest in returning, it’s unlikely at this point that he or Mariah Carey will get the call. And Carey certainly didn’t help her stock with a fan-angering lip-synch performance on a recent broadcast.

What do you think? Are the American Idol finale ratings the final nail in the coffin for this panel of judges? And should they be?

[Image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]

‘American Idol’ Finale Ratings At Humiliating Low is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kanye West went on an SNL rant during a gig this week, saying he’s not a celebrity and won’t be “doing no mother—-ing ‘SNL’ skits.”

The remarks, which came during an appearance for the Adult Swim upfronts, are now building anticipation for this week’s season finale of Saturday Night Live, which has Kanye signed on as the performer.

Known for his brash style and lack of a filter, Kanye West went on a wide-ranging rant that touched on SNL. After ranting about papparazzi, Kanye responded to a friend who asked if he might do an SNL skit about the annoying photographers, one that could humanize the rapper a bit.

Kanye responded:

“I ain’t here to apologize to no mother****ers, man. It ain’t about me humanizing myself. At what point did I become un-human where I had to turn myself back? Or maybe I was demonized. Or maybe I was treated inhumane and not human in that kind of situation.”

Kanye would seem to have good reason to be tired of paparazzi. Since he has started dating reality star Kim Kardashian, he has become a popular target for photographers. In his rant, Kanye was quick to point out that he’s just a performer trying to make good music.

“I ain’t no mother****—ing celebrity. I ain’t running for office. I ain’t kissing nobody’s mother****ing babies. I drop your baby and you sue me and sh**. I’m trying to make some music that inspires people to be the best they can be. I don’t want nobody to ask nothing else of me. Don’t ask nothing else of me.”

The Kanye West rant makes SNL a must-see this week. The already peeved performer is all the more likely to use his stage to air his personal views, something he’s become famous for in his stage-crashing style. And adding to the drama is a report from Perez Hilton claimed that West threatened not to perform if Kim Kardashian was mocked.

Kanye West SNL Rant Builds Anticipation For Saturday’s Season Finale is a post from: The Inquisitr

CW has targeted Apple TV for its next app launch, and as with Xbox 360 and Windows 8, no cable subscription will be necessary, according to a recent report from Deadline.

“This year we’re reaching more viewers on more platforms,” said CW President Mark Pedowitz during a Thursday upfront with potential advertisers.

Pedowitz noted that more than 20 percent of the network’s audience comes from digital, adding that CW “will continue to make it easy for you [to advertise] on every platform we’re on now and in the future.”

Elaborating on the app in a statement to MacRumors, the network said, “It’s a dedicated CW app that will work like our Xbox and mobile and tablet apps — no cable authentication required, full episodes of our shows available next day after air, ad-supported.”

While CW on Apple TV is great news for viewers, it’s bad news for cable companies; but then, there’s been a lot of that going around lately.

In March, rumors began to circulate that HBO could be the next to fly the cable coop, making its subscription service available digitally without the cable/satellite requirement.

If that does happen, you can bet that Showtime and some of the other premium services would follow suit.

Still, it’s not all doom and gloom (yet) for companies like Time Warner Cable, which continue to reap better-than-expected profits. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll see most of TWC’s increase comes from Internet subscriptions that subscribers use for — you guessed it — streaming.

The question most providers have yet to answer is, what happens when services like FreedomPop and Google Fiber continue to expand their high-speed reach?

Cable television ad revenues have been in a tumble for years now, and that’s not likely to recede with major players entering the market.

What do you think the future holds for cable TV providers, and do you think the CW move to Apple TV will have a significant impact on influencing other channels to follow by year’s end?

CW To Apple TV, No Cable Subscription Needed is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Zombieland series has failed to get a pickup from Amazon after launching last month on the Amazon Originals brand. The company placed the fate of its 14 pilots in the hands of viewers, and reaction to the pilot episode, based on the 2009 film, didn’t get the job done.

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the writing team behind the film, were shaken up about it on Friday — at least Reese was. In a series of tweets, Reese blamed film fans, stating they “hated it out of existence.”

Of course, we watched it and let’s just say it’s hard to blame Amazon, or fans, for not digging the pilot episode. The cast had a tall order in trying to replace Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone. The laughs were conspicuously absent as well.

Still, Reese said he could “never understand the vehement hate the pilot received from die-hard Zombieland fans.”

(And that’s where he dropped his “hated it out of existence” line.)

In Reese’s defense, he was probably just blowing off steam. He followed up with a couple more gracious tweets, and he spent most of Friday morning personally thanking supporters for their well wishes.

Our Zombieland series will not be moving forward on Amazon.Sad for everyone involved.

— Rhett Reese (@RhettReese) May 17, 2013

I’ll never understand the vehement hate the pilot received from die-hard Zombieland fans.You guys successfully hated it out of existence.

— Rhett Reese (@RhettReese) May 17, 2013

Anyway, we did our best, and we’re very proud of our team.

— Rhett Reese (@RhettReese) May 17, 2013

On a positive note for Reese and Wernick, ComingSoon.net reported that they will be allowed to find a new home for their Zombieland series, but considering it wasn’t good enough for Amazon’s rather sparse slate of original programming, it’s hard to imagine they would have luck at a cable channel.

(There’s always Netflix.)

Unfortunately, our chances of seeing the original cast in a sequel to the hit comedy aren’t likely.

What did you think of the pilot for the now defunct Zombieland series — did Amazon make the right call?

‘Zombieland’ Series Gets A Pass At Amazon is a post from: The Inquisitr