'DWTS': Monkey business!

Image Credit: ABCBristol Palin is fast becoming Dancing with the Star’s most surreal performance artist. Last night she stumbled around in a yeti-shaped monkey costume before tearing it off so she could stumble around in a pink cocktail dress. Dance pro Mark Ballas toted her around as gamely as he could, but she still looked like she’d been drugged, outfitted and dragged onstage. This comes on the heels of the pantsless suit and the bedazzled Sarah. What can it all mean? Are the show’s costumers trying to gently push her off the edge? (Read more about the episode in Annie Barrett’s recap; Yes, one write-up is not enough to outline the ridiculousness of the evening.)

The ultimate question: Is Bristol the Lady Gaga of teen activists?

Read more:
‘Dancing With the Stars’ recap: Title sequins

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‘The Talk’ debut lures more gals to CBS daytime

Image Credit: James White/CBSThe premiere of The Talk may have only featured lots of enthusiastic chatter about starting a new show, but it definitely piqued the interest of female viewers: CBS says the new series featuring Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Winokur boosted key female demographics in the time period versus the same time a year ago.

According to preliminary ratings provided by CBS, The Talk averaged 2.2 million viewers and a 1.1 rating among women 25-54. It posted a 0.9 rating among women ages 18-49 and and a 0.5 rating with women ages 18-34. Compared to how As the World Turns performed in the time period a year ago, The Talk was up 22% in women 25-54, up 29% among women 18-49 and up 67% in women 18-34.

Jennifer Lopez is expected to appear on the show today.

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O.C. Housewife Vicki Gunvalson Files for Divorce - People Magazine

Vicki Gunvalson

Mitchell Haaseth/Bravo

There are going to be a lot of single ladies when the Real Housewives of Orange County returns to Bravo.

First, Tamra Barney split from her husband – and on Monday, her costar Vicki Gunvalson has filed for divorce, PEOPLE confirms.

According to documents filed in Orange County Superior Court, Gunvalson filed for dissolution of marriage from her husband Donn Gunvalson. The two have been married for 16 years and renewed their vows in front of the cameras in 2009.

Donn is the insurance agent's second husband.

Vicki, 48, has two children, Michael and Briana, from a previous marriage, according to her bio on Bravo's Web site.

The couple's marital problems have been a recurring storyline on the Bravo show, with Gunvalson at one point telling her husband Donn that her "love tank is empty." And last spring, she slammed reports of an extramarital smooch with a college student, denying it was anything more than an innocent peck.

On last season's reunion show, she confessed that with a lot going on in her life and on the show, saying, "I just don't feel real happy right now."

TMZ first reported the news of Gunvalson's split. Neither Bravo nor Gunvalson immediately responded to requests for comment.

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‘Glee’ goes provocative for ‘GQ,’ and we ask: Ugh, why?

Image Credit: GQGlee is officially overexposed, and we’re not talking about our exhaustive coverage of the passion-provoking Fox music-com. We’re talking about the photo shoot cast members Lea Michele, Dianna Agron, and Cory Monteith did for this month’s GQ. While there’s no doubt the portfolio is provocative, it provokes me in all the wrong ways. This is hardly some little show dying for publicity (which would make this shoot at least an understandable, if not ideal, course of action) — and yet we have the leading ladies treating us to crotch shots and an explosion of cliched fetishism not seen outside the cheap Halloween costume aisles. Knee socks! Lollipops! Pink high heels! Schoolgirl minis! We get it! It’s a high school show! And high school girls are hot! Because they’re young! And they, um, go to the library in their underwear!?! If only Miley Cyrus had been able to cite this shoot in comparison to her hotly contested Vanity Fair shoulder-exposing debacle two years ago, no one would’ve questioned her point that her photos were the subtlest of serious art. Hell, these photos even make the Britney Spears episode of Glee seem as understated as a PBS special.

Now, I’m all for being sexy. I love a sexy star, and I don’t oppose sexy stars being in various states of undress on camera. But does everything have to be sexed up? Glee isn’t exactly a wholesome family show as it is, what with its “Push It” covers and premature ejaculation storylines — it has no reason to get defensive like, say, a High School Musical star or former Mouseketeer who wants to show folks he or she has grown up. So why Glee‘s strain to prove to GQ‘s target demo of straight white men that it’s sexy? So sexy, apparently, it could become soft porn (or at least a hair metal video) at any second. Conveniently, of course, the only thing standing between this shoot and soft porn is the heavily layered clothing of the one male featured, Monteith, who seems more covered up here, swaddled in various cardigans, than he even is on the show. (All the better for GQ readers to identify with the center of the threesome, I suppose.) Even more convenient is the choice of three stars to feature in the menage: Apparently, when Glee goes “sexy,” the whitest and shiniest stars come to the front out of a huge cast remarkable for its diversity.

I happily tolerate Glee‘s over-the-top antics when I watch the show because of the kick-ass musical numbers and the great messages (even when they get a little heavy-handed). There’s just no reason, however, for it to go this far.

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Will 'Glee' Creator Ryan Murphy Remake 'Rocky Horror' For The Big Screen? - MTV.com

Ryan Murphy is already doing the Time Warp for next week's episode of "Glee." Now comes word that the "Glee" creator might remake the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" for the big screen.

Deadline reports that Murphy is in talks with Fox 2000 about a remake of the beloved 1975 musical, which starred Meat Loaf, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Tim Curry.

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, focuses on a newly engaged couple who end up at the castle of the striking Dr. Frank-N-Furter. From there, sexy, creepy musical hijinks ensue.

Midnight screenings of "Rocky Horror" still take place at movie theaters around the country, and the film will be released on Blu-ray Tuesday (October 19). In addition, Fox Movie Channel is airing back-to-back showings of the film for 24 hours on Halloween.

Next week's "Glee" is also themed around "Rocky Horror," and it could provide something of a preview of a "Rocky" remake by Murphy. People reports that Lea Michele (Rachel) is set to tackle Sarandon's Janet Weiss, Corey Monteith's Finn will play Brad Majors (Bostwick), Chord Overstreet (Sam) will play the gold-lamé-shorts wearing Rocky Horror and Chris Colfer (Kurt) will tackle Riff Raff.

The episode, titled "Time Warp," finds the New Directions kids tackling the movie's songs just in time for Halloween. Meanwhile, all gym teacher Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) wants is for everyone to remember what Halloween is really all about: fear.

In a clip posted on Yahoo, the cast is seen singing the movie's most well-known track, "Time Warp."

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City Room: JetBlue Flight Attendant Accepts Plea Deal - New York Times

Seth Wenig/Associated Press Steven Slater, the former JetBlue flight attendant, leaves the courthouse in Queens with his lawyer, Daniel J. Horwitz.

The former JetBlue flight attendant who famously slid down an emergency chute after broadcasting his frustrations over the public address system managed to sidestep jail time on Tuesday, agreeing to a plea deal that calls for him to attend counseling sessions regularly for at least a year.

The former flight attendant, Steven Slater, appeared in Queens Mental Health Court, a pilot program for certain criminal defendants with mental health issues. Judge Marcia P. Hirsch accepted his guilty plea to two charges of attempted criminal mischief, one a felony, one a misdemeanor.

After the hearing on Tuesday, he seemed contrite. “At the end of the day, I’m a grown-up and I must take responsibility for my actions,” he said outside the court.

Under the plea deal, Mr. Slater agreed to enroll in an alternative sentencing program that requires him to undergo mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment for the next year. He must also keep regular appointments with the court to report on his progress.

Mr. Slater acknowledged that he opened the emergency chute on a JetBlue flight from Pittsburgh on Aug. 9, grabbing a beer and sliding to the tarmac after what the authorities said was an encounter with a passenger who stood up before the seat-belt light had been turned off. To those who rallied around him on Facebook — or through a “Steven Slater defense fund” and “free Steven Slater” T-shirts — he became something of a folk hero.

Mr. Slater can remain free as long as he complies with the terms of the plea deal. If he completes the program to Judge Hirsch’s satisfaction, the felony charge will be dropped, and he will be sentenced to a year’s probation on the misdemeanor. The plea deal also calls for him to pay JetBlue $10,000, which was described as the cost of replacing the emergency chute.

The Queens district attorney, Richard A. Brown, said he agreed to the alternative sentencing after he became convinced that Mr. Slater had accepted responsibility for his meltdown. “While many had depicted the defendant as a somewhat folk hero,” Mr. Brown said, “I had expressed the view that the defendant’s action’s were not a laughing matter.”

Mr. Brown said that prosecutors had investigated the case and had spoken to a number of the passengers, and that “intoxication had something to do that day with what transpired.”

He gave a rundown of the moments leading up to when Mr. Slater set off the emergency chute. “My own view of the situation was that Mr. Slater was humiliated by what he perceived as degrading working conditions,” Mr. Brown said, “and he had a level of rage at that time that was exacerbated perhaps by alcohol consumption and maybe by other contributing stress factors.”

“He clearly has a mental health-alcohol abuse problem,” Mr. Brown said. “While his condition does not in my mind justify or excuse his actions, it does to some respect explain them. I think it’s also fair to say Mr. Slater has recognized the seriousness of his actions.”

Mick Meenan contributed reporting.

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‘Jackass 3D’ scores $20 million haul on Friday; ‘Red’ earns $7 million

Image Credit: Sean CliverWow, looks like stupidity is even better in 3-D. At least that’s what Johnny Knoxville and his crew of American idiots proved yesterday, pulling in an astounding $20 million on Friday for a weekend that’s bound to hit $40 million even if moviegoers drop off after Jackass 3D‘s opening night. The Bruce Willis-Helen Mirren-starrer Red also had a solid beginning, earning approximately $7 million on Friday for a three-day that could reach $20 million.

The Social Network looks like it will hold strong in its third weekend in theaters. The Oscar front-runner grossed another $3 million on Friday for what could be an impressive under-30-percent drop for the weekend, a number that will help the film reach its $100 million goal (the film’s domestic gross topped $52 million as of Thursday).

Last weekend’s two new wide releases also seem to be holding in well. The Katherine Heigl-Josh Duhamel romantic comedy Life As We Know It could drop a scant 40 percent for the weekend, earning around $3 million on Friday. And Secretariat, which opened weakly last frame, seems to be losing only 30 percent this weekend, also grossing around $3 million on Friday. Check back tomorrow for complete results.

Box Office Preview: ‘Jackass 3D’ and ‘Red’ compete for top slot this weekend

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‘Jackass 3D’ sacrifices life and limb for $50 million; ‘Red’ lures in $22 million

Stupid scored big with an estimated $50 million opening weekend for Jackass 3D, Johnny Knoxville’s third foray into theaters. The film, which lured in 15 percent more women than Jackass 2, may break the record for highest-grossing October opening of all time, if projections hold. The R-rated laugh fest will surpass Scary Movie 3, which earned $48 million back in 2003, and a single-day opening record of $21.8 million for its opening day Friday. The film scored well with audiences, mostly young males, earning a B+ from exit pollster CinemaScore.

The weekend was also successful for Red, Summit Entertainment’s adaptation of Warren Ellis’ cult graphic novel. The movie, which earned an A- from audiences, grossed $22.5 million this weekend for a second place finish. Starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and a slew of other pedigreed actors, Red drew in a primarily over-35 crowd, but that could expand with positive word-of-mouth.

Third place belonged to The Social Network, which continued to hold well in theaters its third weekend out. The David Fincher-directed flick fell only 29 percent for an additional $11 million and a three-week cume of $63.1 million. Fourth place went to Secretariat, which earned $9.5 million its sophomore session. The Diane Lane-starrer fell only 25 percent its second weekend–the best week 2 hold of any film in 2010–to put its total take of $27.5 million. And spot 5 went to the Katherine Heigl-Josh Duhamel dramedy Life As We Know It, which earned $9.2 million and a total gross of close to $29 million.

The rest of the top 5 belonged to holdovers with Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole earning another $4.2 million and a total gross of $46 million. The Town continues to hold in well, grossing another $4 million to put its five-week cume at $80.6 million. Wes Craven’s My Soul to Take lost 40 percent of its opening frame value for a weekend gross of $3.1 million and a total cume of $11.9 million. Spot 9 went to the Emma Stone-starrer Easy A, which grossed another $2.6 million for a total cume of $52.3 million. Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps rounded out the top 10, grossing $2.3 million for a total of $47.8 million.

Even with such a strong showing from the two new releases and the holdovers, the weekend was still off around 5 percent from last year at this time. Come back next weekend when Paranormal Activity 2 opens and Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter goes wide.

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Vatican reveal Homer and Bart Simpson are Catholic and get Pope's blessing - Daily Mail

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 8:56 PM on 19th October 2010

It might be one of the most controversial cartoon shows currently on television, but The Simpsons  has always attracted an army of devout fans.

And now programme makers can boast  that the antics of Homer, Bart and the rest of the dysfunctional family are watched religiously - after receiving the blessing of the Vatican.

The official Vatican newspaper has declared that the programme's central characters - beer-swilling, doughnut-loving Homer Simpson and son Bart - are Catholics who raise questions concerning the Christian faith.

The article in Sunday's Osservatore Romano even encourages parents to let their children watch 'the adventures of the little guys in yellow'.  

Role models? The Simpsons television programme has always managed to divide opinion

'Few people know it, and he does everything to hide it. But it's true: Homer J. Simpson is Catholic', the article declares.

The newspaper cited a recent study by a Jesuit priest of a 2005 episode of the show called The Father, the Son and the Holy Guest Star. That study concludes that The Simpsons is 'among the few TV programmes for kids in which Christian faith, religion and questions about God are recurrent themes'.

'The family recites prayers together before meals and, in its own way, believes in heaven,' the newspaper quoted the Jesuit study as saying.

The programme has courted controversy since it first aired in the U.S. in 1989, with conservative groups claiming its characters are poor role models for children.

Backing: Pope Benedict XVI has encouraged parents to let their children watch the programme

During his 1990 re-election campaign, former U.S Presidednt George Bush said: 'We are going to keep on trying to strengthen the American family, to make American families a lot more like The Waltons and a lot less like The Simpsons.'

His wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush also condemned the cartoon, describing it as'the dumbest thing' she had ever seen.

But last year the Vatican described the show as "tender and irreverent, scandalous and ironic, boisterous and profound, philosophical and sometimes even theological, nutty synthesis of pop culture and of the lukewarm and nihilistic American middle class'.

Yesterday the programme's executive producer denied that its characters were Catholic, saying he was baffled by the endorsement.

'We've pretty clearly shown that Homer is not Catholic,' Al Jean said.

'I really don't think he could go without eating meat on Fridays - for even an hour.' 

Mr Jean pointed out that the Simpson family attends the First Church of Springfield 'which is decidedly Presbylutheran'.

'My first reaction is shock and awe, and I guess it makes up for me not going to church for 20 years,' Mr Jean said.

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Tom Bosley dies at 83

It’s not easy to play warm-and-cuddly and smart-and-funny, but Tom Bosley, who has died at age 83, managed to do it. As Howard Cunningham in Happy Days, Bosley was a model TV parent: patient, occasionally wise, sometimes exasperated, yet blissfully ordinary. It’s not easy making “ordinary” interesting, but Bosley managed to do that, too.

Bosley died of lung cancer in his home in Palm Springs, Calif.

The most modest and charming of actors, Bosley was happy on Happy Days to be part of the ensemble, working with crack timing alongside costars Marion Ross, Ron Howard, and Henry Winkler. But Bosley had a varied career. He won a Tony for his portrayal of the flamboyant New York City mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1959's Fiorello! He appeared in small roles in many ’50s and ’60s TV shows and movies before finding permanent pop culture resonance as Mr. C on Happy Days (1974-84).

This interview with Bosley gives you some idea of the care the actor took in building his most famous character.

Bosley also used his warm voice in numerous commercials and cartoons such as the Rankin-Bass Christmas special The Stingiest Man in Town. He was Sheriff Amos Tupper in Murder, She Wrote, and played the title role on The Father Dowling Mysteries.

The key to Bosley’s endurance could be seen on his face. With his wide smile and crinkly eyes, he managed to come across as a decent man, never a rube or a sucker. He had the sort of sincerity that never goes out of style even as it became increasingly rare. When you compare him to Winkler’s Fonzie — a breakout character designed to be larger-than-life — Howard Cunningham was a model of small-scale realism, a pure and subtle television creation.

For more:
Tom Bosley, ‘Happy Days’ actor, dies
Tom Bosley: Friends mourn the late actor on Twitter

Follow: @kentucker

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‘Harry Potter’: New TV spots are dark (unless pale Radcliffe is in a bra)

New TV spots for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I continue to make some fans want to pee themselves out of fear and/or anticipation. A few things are becoming clear (besides how good the special effects are looking): For starters, the filmmakers will rely on the multiple-Harrys Polyjuice Potion scene to lighten the mood. “Look away. I’m hideous,” says Hermione-Harry when her body takes the shape of his (pictured). They want you to know that romance is still a part of the story, even if it won’t be as prominent as it was in The Half-Blood Prince (Harry and Ginny’s kiss is interrupted by a Weasley twin, Ron doesn’t want Harry to tell Hermione that he said they wouldn’t make it two days without her). Lastly, Ralph Fiennes will be giving some children nightmares. Watch the eight spots below. 

The almost light-ish ones:

The dark ones:

More Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
New ‘Harry Potter’ posters: Okay, who wanted Harry and Hermione together?
New Harry Potter posters let you look the main characters in the eyes
New Harry Potter posters aren’t playing around
The new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer: So much to see! So little time!
Latest stills from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter trio talks ‘war film’ final installment. WARNING: You might cry.
Nine more shots from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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TV you give a Season Pity Pass?

Image Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABCWhy am I still DVRing Brothers & Sisters? No, really. Why? One excruciatingly depressing clip was enough to turn me off of watching the season premiere. I switched off the second episode at the point where the kids thought Nora was a lesbian. Last night, well, I made it through the hour (read Annie Barrett’s recap), but only because I wanted to see if HIV-positive Saul (Ron Rifkin) would be starting a relationship with Charlie (guest star Stephen Collins) — apparently not, because then I would’ve actually liked the direction of one arc on this show now. Instead, I’m just left wondering if fifth graders like Sarah’s son, Cooper, really perform productions of Romeo and Juliet so their uncle and aunt can compare themselves to the star-crossed lovers and their mother’s boyfriend can tell them that people kiss with their hearts, not their lips. Isn’t Cooper a little too young to sell the “O, happy dagger!” line?

I understand that the accident in last season’s finale did a number on everyone, and a year later, they’re not the same people they were. But I miss those people. Even Robert. I’m sorry I wanted your character gone, Rob Lowe, and I’m not even enjoying Kitty’s new love interest (despite the fact that he spent most of last night in a wifebeater). But you got out just in time. Look what’s happening to Holly. Amnesia should be a juicy storyline, but I can’t understand why she wouldn’t want to try to get to know her daughter, who’s being open and honest. Oh, right, because Emily VanCamp is leaving the show. I’d like to think I’m holding on because I truly believe that the writers will give me back my Walkers once they’re done cleaning up the mess of the time jump and exits, but my faith isn’t what it used to be either. I’ll keep recording Brothers & Sisters — at least Sarah’s hair has improved since the season premiere — but only because I used to be invested, I like watching people drink, and there’s no current scheduling conflict.

Your turn. What show currently has your Season Pity Pass, and why do you keep holding on? (Maybe another reader can get you to cut the cord.)

Read more:
Recap: “I’m not a lesbian. I’m a florist.”
Brothers & Sisters time warp details

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‘Glee’ crafts: For the Gleek who wants a Brittany rag doll

Glee is a rerun tonight, so rather than perform my typical pre-show ablutions, I instead turned my attention to the wondrous powers of the Internet. And behold, the Internet smiled upon me. Check out all these fun Glee crafts! I’m particularly taken with this Brittany doll. If only you could pull a string and hear one of her amazing one-liners. I couldn’t find a Rachel doll, but I did find this American Girl doll outfit, so…yeah.

On the more grown-up side of things, this Gleek necklace is a mere $15, and understated enough that you could probably wear it in normal life and not feel like a total choochbag.

Finally, if you’re more into the decor side of things, this meticulously cross-stitched “Who is Josh Groban? Kill yourself!” sampler is the bee’s knees.

Admit, Gleeks: You have some Glee stuff. Right?

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