NY TIMES: GAY TV CHARACTERS NO LONGER CONTROVERSIAL

Producers of scripted television shows featuring gay characters have told the New York Times that they have been surprised by how little criticism has emerged as a result. In reporting their views, the newspaper commented, “The cultural battlefield of television has changed markedly since the 1990s, when conservative groups and religious figures objected to Ellen […]

DEGENERES THANKS BILL O’REILLY FOR SUPPORT

Ellen DeGeneres has thanked conservative Fox News host Bill O’Reilly for standing up for her and against the so-called family group One Million Moms, which has urged a boycott of J.C. Penney for its decision to hire the openly lesbian performer as its spokesperson. After playing a clip of O’Reilly commenting, “This J.C. Penney thing […]

REPORT: BRIAN GRAZER TO REPLACE BRET RATNER AS OSCAR CO-PRODUCER

Just one day after Brett Ratner resigned under pressure as co-producer of next year’s Oscar telecast, the motion picture academy has struck a deal with Brian Grazer — himself an Oscar winner for 2001’s A Beautiful Mind — to replace him, TheWrap.com reported today (Wednesday). An official announcement is expected to be made on Thursday, […]

IDOL UNTARNISHED BY LOSS OF COWELL

Ratings for Fox’s American Idol continued to hold up well in its third week Wednesday night. They were virtually flat against last week and also against the third week of last season, when the first show of the week aired on Tuesdays. All of which seemed to confirm that the loss of Simon Cowell and […]

AFTER GAY PROTEST, UNIVERSAL YANKS THE DILEMMA TRAILER

Universal has quickly yanked the trailer for its comedy The Dilemma after protests by the gay activist group GLAAD over a scene in which star Vince Vaughn says, “Ladies and gentlemen, electric cars… are gay. I mean, not ‘homosexual’ gay, but, you know, ‘my parents are chaperoning the dance’ gay.” The line was also denounced […]

NO SURPRISES AT IDOL JUDGES ANNOUNCEMENT

In an announcement that was considerably less unexpected than LeBron James’s revelation that he was forsaking the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, the producers of American Idol said today that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler will replace Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres as judges on American Idol. The webcast of the decision, presented by […]

NEW IDOL JUDGES TO BE ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY

In what some writers have suggested will be as forced, awkward and anticlimactic as one of those American Idol finales in which a seeming also-ran is crowned the winner, Fox TV is set to announce the names of the judging panel for next season on Wednesday. For weeks writers have indicated that it is all […]

WILL KARA RETURN TO IDOL? EVEN SHE DOESN’T KNOW

Not only have the producers of American Idol not signed deals with anyone yet to replace Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres, but they have not yet informed Kara DioGuardi whether she’ll return next season, according to her father, Joe DioGuardi, the former New York Republican congressman now running for the U.S. Senate. Appearing on the […]

A “NO” VOTE FOR LOPEZ ON AMERICAN IDOL?

Gamblers long ago learned not to place bets on those regarded as sure winners on American Idol. Now, it appears that the same approach should be adopted for potential judges on the show. While only a week ago it was assumed that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler would be replacing Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres […]

NEW JUDGES NOT YET SIGNED FOR IDOL

Fox had reportedly hoped to announce the names of its new American Idol judges at its turn at bat at the Television Critics Association “tour” in Beverly Hills today (Monday). But published reports indicated that contract negotiations have not yet been completed with actress Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steve Tyler, the two most likely […]

Next Page »