No insta-classic holiday episodes this year. Sigh.

Image Credit: Justin Lubin/NBCWere there any “classic” Thanksgiving episodes this year? I’m at a loss. My favorite turkey-centric episode this season was, by far, this week’s Parenthood, which was one of the show’s strongest episodes ever, and was the right combo of funny and sort of poignant and still vaguely realistic. But I’m having a hard time comparing it to any of the Friends Thankgivings, or “Slapsgiving,” or “The Indians in the Lobby.” Was there a Woody Woodpecker moment this year? I did not see one.

I’m a sucker for a good holiday episode (show me a drunk Sookie from Gilmore Girls any day of the week and twice on Tuesdays), so I was looking forward to some new ones to file in my holiday treasure vault of joy. How I Met Your Mother was fun I guess, but a far cry from being worthy of multiple re-watchings. Raising Hope, maybe? I adore that show, but “Meet the Grandparents” was a little on the sad side for me. Does it really hold its own against, say, WKRP Cincinnati‘s famous Thanksgiving episode? Alas, it does not.

Did you see any instant classics that I missed, PopWatchers?

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‘The Big Bang Theory’ salary renegotiations: Do they all deserve the same pay?

CBS

One of the more fascinating salary negotiations in TV history involved the Friends cast, when Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc chose to negotiate their salaries together, having decided that no one actor on the cast was worth more than the other. That pleased Warner Bros. TV to no end, of course, because it meant they could say, “Pay everyone LeBlanc money, not Cox money!” Even today, former execs from that era brag about how the actors left money on the table at the expense of keeping things harmonious on the set. (That might be true, but the cast’s friendships sure remained intact.)

Cut to 2010, when another salary renegotiation is winding its way through the halls of Warner Bros. TV. It just so happens to involve a comedy that’s pretty much replaced Friends in terms of popularity, critical praise, and its ability to generate millions in revenue: The Big Bang Theory. As is customary for any successful show approaching its fifth and sixth years (Bang is currently in its fourth season), the core ensemble of five have jockeyed for more money. Interestingly, three of those castmembers — Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki — initially decided to follow in the footsteps of the Friends actors by negotiating as one but, as first reported by Deadline, the Emmy-winning Parsons made the decision to break away and negotiate on his own. Lucky for Cuoco and Galecki, his strategy didn’t work, and now all three are earning roughly $200,000 per episode this season — up from $60k last year — and will see $50,000 bumps each year over the next three years, as well as a piece of the comedy’s rich syndication profits.

That left Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, who negotiated separately. Though it can be argued that Parsons, Cuoco and Galecki are lead material, both Helberg and Nayyar are certainly integral to the show’s success. Indeed, some of the comedy’s best moments are when Parsons, Galecki, Helberg and Nuyyar are together. But clearly, the studio wasn’t looking to follow a favored nations strategy because Helberg, who plays Howard Wolowitz, just closed a deal to earn north of $100,000 per episode, EW has confirmed. That’s up from around $40,000, but nowhere near what Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco are making.

Though Nayyar (Raj) has yet to sign a new pact of his own, it doesn’t appear that he was offered the same amount as Helberg or else he would have signed by now. Reportedly, Nayyar is expected to close a deal shortly; if not, the negotiations could be postponed to season’s end and he’ll have to continue earning around $25k per episode under his current, six-year contract. But it would be wrong to assume this was a contentious negotiation, said one interested party. “Granted, no one was skipping to the mailbox and cashing a check — there was some teeth pulling — but in the end, everybody is going to make a ton of money,” the source said.

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Reality TV: 10 worst shows ever

10. SKATING WITH CELEBRITIES (Fox, 2006)
Exemplifying the TV industry's regrettable tendency toward ''me too'' reality knockoffs, Skating was Dancing With the Stars plus ice — and minus any entertainment value. And now there really is a Skating With the Stars, which turns out to not be so bad.

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Black Eyed Peas go from 'END' to 'The Beginning' - Los Angeles Times

Singers Fergie, Will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas perform onstage during the 2010 American Music Awards. (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

Will.i.am didn't want to get inside the box.

The 35-year-old mastermind of the Black Eyed Peas was at a late-night rehearsal last week for the American Music Awards, where the group was to perform its new single, "The Time (Dirty Bit)." During the song's chorus, Will.i.am and his band mate Fergie were supposed to enter a pair of glass-walled elevators, but an important call had reached his cellphone, and you know what reception is like in an elevator.

At the same time, Fergie was experiencing some trouble with an especially sticky door, raising the troubling possibility that come showtime the singer might find herself locked inside her elevator, staring out helplessly at a live Nokia Theatre crowd studded with stars and a television audience numbering well into the millions.

After a run-through, Fergie sought help from, well, from anyone capable of providing it. "Who am I talking to on this?" she asked into her microphone. (She had a right to be nervous, it turns out. During the live performance, she very nearly suffered a Spinal Tap moment when the door did momentarily stick.)

The Black Eyed Peas have never been big into boxes — of either the literal or the metaphorical variety. (By the way, if you saw that analogy coming from a mile away, you now know what it's like to experience a Black Eyed Peas song.) Rounded out by Taboo and Apl.de.ap, the pseudonym-brandishing L.A. group emerged over a decade ago as part of the touchy-feely conscious-rap scene that also produced Ozomatli and Jurassic 5. Fergie's addition on 2003's "Elephunk" led the foursome toward pop, yielding a series of joyously on-the-nose radio hits such as "Let's Get It Started," "Where Is the Love?" and "My Humps."

Last year the Peas changed direction yet again with "The E.N.D.," a largely electronic affair influenced by Will.i.am's giddy immersion into international club culture. The result was the outfit's biggest success yet, with three Grammy wins, worldwide sales of more than 11 million albums and three No. 1 singles, including the seemingly deathless "I Gotta Feeling." In February the Black Eyed Peas will headline the Super Bowl halftime show, a high-profile appearance awarded in recent years to Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.

"With 'The Time' we took one listen and said, 'How quick can we get this on?'" said John Ivey, program director of L.A. pop radio station KIIS-FM. "We started out playing it at the top of every hour on that first day because we figured everyone would want to hear it."

On Tuesday the band is set to release "The Beginning," a sequel of sorts to "The E.N.D." that finds the Peas moving further into the synth-driven dance-music realm. Gathered in a suite at the JW Marriott downtown shortly before their AMAs rehearsal, the musicians described the album as a product of having been on the road for the last 14 months.

"Will and Apl have their recording studios set up in their hotel rooms," Fergie said, "so you can just walk in, and if you hear something you're inspired by, you can just say, 'Hey, put me on mike.'"

Nearly every night, Will.i.am and Apl.de.ap would head to a nightclub after the group's concert in a given city to spin records, including fresh Black Eyed Peas material. "It's almost like testing out the music," said DJ Ammo, who toured with the group and co-produced several tracks on "The Beginning." "You're seeing what people react to so you can choose which songs should go on the album."

Ammo remembers the evening Will.i.am decided to sample "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," the "Dirty Dancing" hit that provides the foundation for the Peas' "The Time (Dirty Bit)." "Will had a DJ gig at Pacha," he said, referring to the venue in the Spanish club capital of Ibiza, "and he played that as the second song in his set. The crowd just erupted and started singing along."

Ever since "My Humps" — in which Fergie memorably celebrated her "lovely lady lumps" — the Black Eyed Peas have been widely reviled for their lyrical content, which Rolling Stone called "a dizzying barrage of doggerel" in an assessment of "Boom Boom Pow," the lead single from "The E.N.D."

That opinion isn't apt to change with "The Beginning." "I like to go out every night!" Will.i.am announces in "Fashion Beats," and that's about as deep as he digs here.

Yet the frontman insists the Peas' music isn't about lyrics. "It's about the beat," he explained. "If you've been stressed out because your boss has been yelling at you all week, you don't want someone else telling you all this other stuff. Don't tell me to throw my hands in the air — I'll throw them when I feel like it!" He laughs. "It's about escape, about just wanting to zombie out to some music."

That's a core dance-scene value, one that links the Black Eyed Peas — despite their corporate partnerships and their zillion-selling albums — to a sprawling body-music demimonde. "I really respect the Peas," said David Guetta, the veteran French DJ who co-produced "I Gotta Feeling" and the new album's "The Best One Yet (The Boy)." "They didn't just jump on dance music because it was becoming trendy. They embraced the culture for real. It's very genuine."

Even so, Fergie is quick to point out that the essence of the Peas is transformation — and that party-starting club tracks simply reflect one mood among many. So far the group's creative phases have played out over two-album chunks, which means next time we may get, as Will.i.am warns, a "polka-country" record.

"We're not gonna be in the same place forever," Fergie said. "People ask us, 'Is this gonna be your style now?' And the answer is, 'We have no idea.' We might go back to underground hip-hop on the next record or go completely rock. You don't know what you're going to be inspired by until it happens."

calendar@latimes.com

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Struggling TV shows you love(d)?

Image Credit: Brian Bowen Smith/FoxIt’s been a week since the news broke, and I’m still devastated that Fox won’t be ordering more episodes of Running Wilde. The show wasn’t perfect by a long shot, and it definitely felt quite a bit like the creators were trying to fit the comedy of Arrested Development into a more conventional sitcom. But the show was improving week-by-week, thanks a zippy co-lead performance by Keri Russell. Plus, the supporting cast was incredible (especially Peter Serafinowicz’s Fa’ad, a character who came thiseclose to offensive but instead became a walking joke of excessive decadence.) No one will believe me, but I thought Running Wilde was the funniest new show this season (besides Hawaii Five-0, of course.) PopWatchers, do you know my pain? Have you ever experienced the pain of loving a show that everyone else despised?

For some reason, when I was a kid, I mostly kept the TV set turned to the channels that played Simpsons reruns, which meant that during my early formative years I almost exclusively watched two networks: UPN and The WB. So I’m not joking when I say that, for a brief and terrible moment, my favorites shows on TV were Star Trek: Voyager, Unhappily Ever After, and Homeboys In Outer Space. I can blame those loves on youthful indiscretion (although I still adore the Bobcat Goldthwait rabbit from Unhappily Ever After).

Less easy to explain is my fervent adoration — addiction, really — to HBO’s unfondly remembered surf-noir/religious-parable John From Cincinnati. The show, which had the misfortune to debut immediately after the series finale of The Sopranos, has practically become a shorthand for travesty TV. But I came to the series a year after its ignoble cancellation… and I was instantly hooked. I devoured all ten episodes in under one week.

The thing is, I can’t quite explain why I enjoy the show. It’s slow, ponderous, and apparently nonsensical. One of the characters, a teenager, seems to age five years in one season (which is especially noticeable, since the whole season covers just a week and a half of real time.) Bruce Greenwood, nominally the main character, disappears for most of the season. I practically cried during the final episode, but I had no clue what was going on. (It either had something to do with the Iraq war, or with the corruption of the surfing industry.) It’s a bit like Lost In Translation: Everything the haters say is totally true, but I could still watch it forever.

PopWatchers, are there shows you love that everyone else can’t stand? Is it because they’re all stupid, or are you just way cooler than them? Any other John From Cincinnati lovers want to help explain why the show is so much better than its reputation?

Read more:
‘Running Wilde’: Fox not running back nine episodes
Fox benches ‘Running Wilde’ for November sweeps
‘Running Wilde’: Did you watch it? Are you sad it’s not ‘Arrested Development’?
In defense of ‘John From Cincinnati’

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‘Dancing With the Stars’ finale helps ABC to take Tuesday (like there was any question?)

Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABCMore than 24.1 million people tuned in to Dancing With the Stars to see if Bristol Palin would win (she didn’t), which helped ABC achieve its most-watched Tuesday in three years. The two-hour finale won its time period in viewers and adults 18-49 (5.3 rating/15 share) and finished as the night’s No. 1 show by wide margins over CBS’ NCIS and Fox’s Glee, according to preliminary results.

The show even gained viewers and young adults throughout the broadcast: In the final half hour, the show lured 26.4 million viewers and posted a 6.0/17 in 18-49. (Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.3 million.) The results show brought another 4.8 million viewers to ABC compared to last year and posted a 23 percent gain in the key demo. That was also the finale’s biggest audience in six seasons and its best demo rating in five seasons.

Too bad No Ordinary Family ran before the finale and not after: It only earned a 1.8/5 in the demo and 6.9 million. Still, ABC easily won the night in 18-49 (4.1/12) and viewers (18.4 million).

OK, enough about the world of the mirror ball and Michael Chiklis. Glee was on, too, and earned bragging rights of its own. It was the highest-rated program of the night among adults 18-34 and teens, but the episode was down 20 percent in the 18-49 demo (to a 4.0/12) versus last week’s highly-rated Gwyneth Paltrow episode. Last night’s episode averaged 10.3 million. Raising Hope delivered a 2.4/7 among adults 18-49 and averaged 5.6 million viewers. It was followed by a Hope repeat. As a result, Fox had to settle for third place in the demo (3.0/9) and viewers (7.6 million).

CBS was second in 18-49 (3.1/9) and viewers (14.5), with NCIS earning a 3.9/11 and 18.7 million viewers, followed by NCIS: Los Angeles (3.2/9, 14.8 million) and The Good Wife (2.1/6, 9.4 million). NBC was fourth in the demo (2.2/6) and viewers (6.0 million), with The Biggest Loser earning a 2.4/7 and 6.7 million and Parenthood scoring a 1.9/5 and 4.4 million.

You, too, can score high ratings if you follow me on Twitter @EWLynette

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Kim Kardashian is Dead Image - Right TV

Have you seen the viral image of Kim K in a coffin? It’s captioned “Kim Kardashian is Dead”, and it’s kind of creepy if you ask me. Get the scoop below.

Check out the creepy picture by clicking here.

Before you start holding candlelight vigils for Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga I can assure you they are both alive and well. So, what is this whole pretending to be dead in a coffin business all about then? It’s actually an unprecedented way to raise money for charity, and although they are still alive, Kardashin and Gaga along with other celebs such as Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest, Elijah Wood, and many others are committing digital suicide.

What does this mean? It means that all of them have vowed not to use any of their social networking accounts – Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, etc. – on World Aids Day (Dec 1, 2010) until 1 million dollars has been raised for the Keep A Child Alive charity.

This is the pledge – none of them will reactivate their account until the 1 million dollar figure is raised in full… I say a better pledge would have been if they raise $2,000,000 all of them quite twitter for good. Heck, I would donate it all myself if I could. Who wants to live their life vicariously through celebrity tweets anyway? Oh, just found out that Lady Gaga has around 7 million followers. In that case, I guess at least 7 million people do… In all seriousness though, this is a heck of a cause, so if you have the extra money please donate it.

Hmmm I wonder why Kanye West isn’t participating? Probably because he is a Twitter addict, and they have yet to develop a patch for addiction to tweeting.

Visit Hollyscoop and New York Daily News for more related content.

What do you think of the Kim Kardashian pic? Is it a little too much, or a good marketing strategy? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

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NBC schedules six comedies on Thursdays; debuts 'The Cape' and 'Harry's Law', and brings back 'Parks & Recreation'

Image Credit: NBCNBC, as first reported by EW, announced today that it will air six comedies on Thursdays beginning Jan. 20. The network will also debut new dramas like The Cape and Harry’s Law during the same month while making time period changes for Law & Order: Los Angeles, Chase, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Parenthood.

In other moves, NBC also announced the return of Parks and Recreation, The Biggest Loser: Couples, Who Do You Think You Are?, Minute to Win It, The Marriage Ref and The Celebrity Apprentice to the schedule. “The goal for our midseason schedule was to keep us in original programming throughout the season and launch several promising new shows,” said Mitch Metcalf, NBC’s head of program planning and scheduling, in a statement. ”We were looking to add more comedy to our schedule, and we believe the best way to do so is to expand our already successful Thursday night.”

This wouldn’t be the first time that NBC ran six comedies. During the 1990-91 season, then-NBC topper Brandon Tartikoff scheduled Parenthood, Working it Out, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Carol & Company and American Dreamer on Saturday nights.

The one show missing from NBC’s midseason lineup is Love Bites, the Cindy Chupack-penned anthology that’s similar to the old Love, American Style. An insider told EW that the network remains high on the dramedy, which could bow in the spring. Here’s the midseason schedule:

Mondays
8-9 p.m. Chuck
9-10 p.m.  The Cape (premiere with a two-hour episode on Sunday, Jan. 9 and new episodes start in its regular time period on Jan. 17)
10-11 p.m. Harry’s Law (Jan. 17)
9-10 p.m. The Event (returns on Feb. 28, 9-11 p.m.; resumes in its regular time slot March 7)
10-11 p.m. Parenthood (debuts in this slot March 7)

Tuesdays
8-10 p.m. The Biggest Loser: Couples (Jan. 4)
10-11 p.m. Parenthood (Jan. 4 for four episodes)
10-11 p.m. Law & Order: Los Angeles (Feb. 8 )

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. Minute to Win It (Jan. 5)
9-10 p.m. Chase (Jan. 12)
10-11 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Jan. 5)
9-10 p.m. America’s Next Great Restaurant (March 16)

Thursdays (Jan. 20)
8-8:30 p.m. Community
8:30-9 p.m. Perfect Couples
9-9:30 p.m. The Office
9:30-10 p.m. Parks and Recreation
10-10:30 p.m. 30 Rock
10:30-11 p.m. Outsourced

Fridays
8-9 p.m. Who Do You Think You Are? (Jan. 21)
9-11 p.m. Dateline NBC (Jan. 7)

Sundays
7-8 p.m. Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. The Marriage Ref (March 6)
9-11 p.m. The Celebrity Apprentice (March 6)

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Christina Aguilera, Alan Menken get their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - Los Angeles Times (blog)

Christina Aguilera, Alan Menken get their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | Ministry of Gossip | Los Angeles Times LAT Home   | Entertainment HOME NEWS & BLOGS Awards Tracker Ministry of Gossip Pop & Hiss 24 Frames Buzzmeter AWARDS SHOWS Oscars Golden Globes Grammys Emmys SAG Awards Independent Spirit Awards Guild Awards Critics Awards Tonys FACTS & DATES Award Show Dates Screenings Links Past Winners Database GALLERIES Video Red Carpet Photos FORUMS Oscars Music Awards Emmys Polls Ministry of Gossip

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Christina Aguilera, Alan Menken get their stars on the Hollywood Walk of FameNovember 16, 2010 |  6:31pm

Singer and newly minted leading lady Christina Aguilera got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, just hours before hitting the premiere of her first film, "Burlesque," at Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Star No. 2,423 — in the recording category and in front of the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard — belongs to the five-time Grammy winner, who has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and has four No. 1 songs to her name. Mom Shelley Kearns and brother Michael Kearns were there for the ceremony and posed for pics.

Composer Alan Menken picked up star No. 2,422 last week in the company of Mandy Moore and characters from the upcoming flick "Tangled," which he scored. His resume includes the scores for "Beauty and the Beast," "The Little Mermaid" and "Pocahantas" for Disney, plus eight Oscars and 10 Grammys.

Also, catching up a bit, a time capsule was buried at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in late October, ahead of the Walk of Fame's 50th anniversary.

Among the items included: Oscar telecasts from 1960 and 2010 on DVDs; a 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards program, invite, Governors Ball ticket and menu; a replica of the Capitol Records tower; a flash drive with radio programs including one from Jim Ladd of KLOS 95.5 FM; "Wicked" and "The Lion King" Playbills from the Pantages; a "Casablanca" script; and an autographed picture of Joanne Woodward, the first person to get a star; and from sponsor L'Oreal, lipstick in the commemorative shade "Walk of Fame Pink #50."

One item that could be a lot of fun to see in 50 years? A list of 2010 Emmy Foundation interns — some of whom had better wind up industry players by then.

— Christie D'Zurilla

RELATED:

'Tangled' premiere: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi get animated

Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Bruce Dern get stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Christina Aguilera, Cher premiere 'Burlesque'; Ronni Chasen tragedy looms

Top photo: Singer and actress Christina Aguilera poses after she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on  Nov. 15, 2010. Credit: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

Right photo: Mandy Moore and characters from Disney's "Tangled" with honoree Alan Menken at his  Walk of Fame star ceremony on Nov. 10, 2010, in Hollywood. Credit: Valerie Macon / Getty Images

Twitter: @LATcelebsFacebook: ministryofgossipMore in: Awards, Christie D'Zurilla, Christina Aguilera, Walk of FameRead LaterComments (0)Post a commentIf you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate.
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ABC Family exclusive: ‘Supergirl’ Helen Slater cast in ‘The Lying Game’ pilot

Image Credit: Albert L. Ortega/PR PhotosSupergirl‘s Helen Slater (more recently seen in guest stints on the likes of Smallville, Greek, and Grey’s Anatomy) has been cast as an upper-crust mom in ABC Family’s pilot The Lying Game, EW has learned exclusively. She’ll play Kristen Mercer, the wealthy adopted mother of a teen girl named Sutton. Based on the book by Pretty Little Liars author Sara Shepard, the series revolves around Sutton and her long-lost twin, Emma, reuniting to find their birth mother — until Sutton goes mysteriously missing.

Read more:
‘Smallville’ recap: ‘Abandoned’: Teri Hatcher, as Lois’ mom, upstaged by Julian Sands, Helen Slater, and Lindsay Hartley

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Colin Firth on Playing King George VI - CBS News

(CBS)  When asked by "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric if he knew much about King George VI before taking on the role of the British monarch in "The King's Speech," actor Colin Firth demurred.

"I think most of my generation are not particularly focused on the royal family unless a big moment comes along," he said.

For George VI - Prince Albert or "Bertie" to his family - that big moment came in 1936. His brother, King Edward VIII stepped down from the throne to marry a twice-divorced woman, Wallace Simpson.

As Great Britain prepared for war, Albert prepared to reign - while fighting a more personal battle: Trying to overcome a debilitating stammer.

"You see him running into this problem - it's absolutely heart breaking," said Firth. "I choked up watching him. It's very moving because it's not just the struggle. It's the courage with which he deals with the struggle. He just does it. He gets on with it. He grows through the silence, which probably seems like an eternity.

"And then something in your heart swells when you see him get beyond it, and get another three or four words out, before he hits another one."

The king's wife sought the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue, played in the film by Geoffrey Rush ("Shine").

"You look at Geoffrey Rush's character and you think, 'That's the guy we wish we all had in our lives to turn to. He won't give up,'" said Firth. "If he reaches a barrier, he will find a stealthy way around it to open this man up."

But through his work with Lionel, the king slowly finds his inner strength at a time when his nation needed him the most.

"Bertie is fascinated, maybe a bit envious of Hitler's uncanny ability to communicate," said Couric, of a scene in which the king watches newsreel footage of the German Fuhrer.

"You know, I think it's significant that he doesn't understand what Hitler is saying," said Firth. "He's aware of the menace, but he's tuning in to the brilliance of delivery, [whereas] Here I am, I can't even get two words out in front of a microphone.

"And here's this man who is using it to the most devastating effect on Earth, on a global level."

Firth described George's inner thoughts as: "How do I stand a chance? What would it be like to have that ability?"

What helped him through was an unlikely friendship that taught King George how to be heard.

"This is about two very brave men: One who has no idea that he's brave, and the therapist who decides he's going to find every means possible to reach that damaged place," said Firth.

"People knew this man was facing his demons just by speaking to them. I think there was a sense that it cost him something. They found it valiant."

For more info:
"The King's Speech" (Official Website)

? MMX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Bono and The Edge: The Making of "Spider-Man" - CBS News

It's not often that legendary musicians and artists allow cameras into their studios to document the creative process in real time. But U2's Bono and The Edge surprised us when they agreed to let "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl and her producer Andrew Metz observe a music workshop during their preparation for opening night of the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark."

Tell us what you think. Are Bono and The Edge the new Lerner and Loewe?

Watch another behind-the-scenes first for "60 Minutes:" Bono's signature rock-star massage for Lesley Stahl.

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‘Glee’ countdown: Under Gwyneth’s umbrella ella ella

Raise your hand if you were unsure as to how to react to the news that Gwyneth Paltrow was interested in joining the fun of Glee? Just me? Of course, the casting news should have been met with open arms — she’s an Academy Award-winning actress after all — yet I’ll admit I was a wee bit skeptical of how her musical experience (or what I knew her musical experience to be, namely that scene in Duets) would translate to the campy, quirky, high school show. But now that she’s impressed many with her performance at the CMA Awards — and her fun take on Cee-Lo’s “Forget You” — I think we, like the kids of New Directions, are in extremely capable hands. Excuse me while I got buy my ticket to Country Strong.

Paltrow plays Holly Holliday, a substitute for the ailing Mr. Schuester while he’s being nursed back to “health” by ex-wife Terri (please be a dream sequence, please be a dream sequence). Given Ex-Mrs. Schuester’s knack for the crazy (hello, fake pregnancy!) this seems like it could easily turn into a present-day Misery all too quickly. We gave you a preview of Paltrow tackling “Forget You” but there’s still a lot more music to look out for, including Rihanna’s “Umbrella” (with rain! Where does that fit into McKinley’s budget?)-meets-”Singin’ in the Rain.”

Ideally, “The Substitute” will continue moving forward with some of the major plot points revealed in last week’s episode. (I’ll be mindful of the spoiler-phobes, but hurry and catch up, please! It’s worth it.) We were also introduced to the Dalton Academy Warblers and their infinitely adorable star Blaine (Darren Criss), who may or may not become Kurt’s boyfriend. Would it be too soon for Kurt to tell Blaine how he’s feeling (that portrait in his locker should do the trick) or should he be content being just friends with the newbie?

What are you hoping to see tonight, Gleeks? As much Gwyneth as possible, more from Blaine, or simply, more of Mike Chang’s abs? After you watch “The Substitute,” head back here and let us know what you think. Tim Stack will have the full run down after midnight.

Read more:
Mini-’Glee’: 12 Cast Faves…as Kids!
‘Glee’: Gwyneth Paltrow sings ‘Forget You’ (Exclusive Video)
Latest Glee recap: Then He Kissed Him
Darren Criss becoming a series regular on Glee will make all of our teenage dreams come true

View the original article here

‘The Simpsons’: Get an exclusive first look at Martha Stewart in the Dec. 5 Christmas episode

Image Credit: FoxMartha Stewart is going Homer for the holidays: The home décor queen/media magnate plays herself on a Christmas-themed episode of The Simpsons, as you see in this exclusive first look at her animated guest spot. According to Simpsons exec producer Al Jean, Stewart appears in Marge’s dream with a special delivery of holiday cheer. “Marge is upset that the rest of the family has no Christmas spirit, so Martha comes in and, with military efficiency, completely changes things around,” he tells EW.com. “She tapes up Bart’s and Millhouse’s mouths, sticks ping-pong paddles on their backs, and makes them into wooden soldiers. She spray-paints stars on the window using Maggie as a stencil.”

And what does Martha with—or to—Homer? “He’s just sleeping on the couch with a copy of Modern Fart Denier magazine on his stomach, so she puts a cute Christmas display with a little train over him,” says Jean. “He starts to wake up, so she just chloroforms him and gives Marge the recipe for the chloroform, and Marge goes, ‘That’s a keeper!’”

Stewart had a “terrific sense of humor about herself” while recording her part, praises Jean, who quips: “She’s the fifth-richest person we’ve had on The Simpsons and the sixth-funniest.” The episode, which airs Dec. 5 on Fox, also features a live-action segment in which Katy Perry sings with puppet versions of Simpsons characters.

(Twitter : @dansnierson)

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‘Dancing With the Stars’: Should Jamie Lee Curtis return to Planet Mirrorballus for season 12?

Over the course of season 11, Jamie Lee Curtis, dubbed Enthusiastic Activia Lady by EW.com reader Hez on Week 8, gradually blossomed into my favorite studio audience member ever. She was so reliably benign, always gazing up at Tom Bergeron in admiration (of their shared haircut) with her noggin cocked 55 degrees to the right. EAL was there every week this fall to support her BFF Jennifer Grey. Let her NOT SO HIDDEN gem of a homemade bracelet — comprised of multicolored entrance wristbands from the entire season — tell you. You don’t even need to talk to her! Enthusiastic Activia Lady will just hold that pom pon of experience up in your face. I don’t know how this turned all sassy all of a sudden. I must just be hurting right now. Congratulations to Jennifer and all, but I’m really going to miss Jamie Lee Curtis on Dancing With the Stars.

The point is, despite having turned down DWTS in the past, JLC/EAL is practically begging for coach to put her in the game already. She’s become a ballroom staple! Do you want to see her as a contestant in season 12? After the jump, I’ve compiled all of EAL’s best season 11 moments for your consideration. This non-contestant has had quite a journey!

BEST JLC/EAL GEMS OF SEASON 11

Week 1:

“Jamie Lee Curtis looking at Tom ever-so-admirably while he introduced Jennifer’s package. Plus they have the same haircut!” –kt, endorsed by gigi, orville, and Pumpkin Pies
“Like she’s thinking maybe he’ll be introducing me up there someday…” –JH
“She was always in good lighting compared to the rest of the audience, like an angel — a stalker, angel-y twin of Tom Bergeron.” –Manda

Week 7:

Front-row staple Jamie Lee Curtis was absent at one point (perhaps off to reap the benefits of having taken the Activia challenge), but then during Brandy and Maks’ dance, she had to recoil when they got too close to the edge. –CoolWhipLite, Aggie, Anna Banana, Julia, Lisa Simpson, Lorie, avab, Justin K, jamie0415, LDS

Week 8:

“I think Jamie Lee Curtis has surpassed ECL (Enthusiastic Chimes Lady) as the most enthusiastic on DWTS. EAL! (Enthusiastic Activia Lady)” –Hez, endorsed by duranmom, jasmine, Verity, avab, Julia, LAG Award Winner, Manda, SueB, Zach

The Semifinals:

“Enthusiastic Activia Lady gave Monica a b**** glare with just the slightest hint of a forced smile.” –Stephanie, endorsed by Anonymous

“For the second week in a row, Jennifer Grey’s husband, Clark Gregg, did not applaud after Bristol’s dance. This week he stood clasping his hands, next to Jamie Lee Curtis who WAS clapping for Bristol & Mark’s waltz.” –Mgssoprano, endorsed by DWTS’ BIGGEST FAN

“When Jamie Lee Curtis had her hands over her mouth, it looked like she either saw Michael Myers in the audience or that she had eaten too much Activia!” –Baby’s Corner, endorsed by Patrycja

The finals:

“Enthusiastic Activia Lady throwing gang/surfer(?) signs after Jennifer’s paso.” –kt
“According to an email from my mom, ‘Melanie Griffith’s mouth looks like it’s in a different spot on her face.” –EW.com’s Fringe Fairy

“Jamie Lee Curtis looking like she was about to bite her fingers off to keep from having an Activia moment after Jennifer’s dance.” –GS, endorsed by Carmella, kahuna, duranmom, Manda

“HG (my first): what about EAL and Melanie Griffith pushing Jennifer away when she came to give them a hug after her dance? AWKWARD!!” –chicachico

Best EAL Gem of the Season!

“EAL was wearing all of her wristbands from the season! On the same wrist!” –A, endorsed by Enthusiastic Comment Lady, Marc, and EW.com’s Activia Fairy

Want to see Enthusiastic Activia Lady as a contestant on season 12, or do you just wish she would stay in the audience, charming us with her yogurt and benign ways, until the end of time?

Read more:
Annie’s finale recap: Mirror, Mirror, on the Ball
Annie’s performance finale recap: Land of the Freestyle
“This is bulls—.” Maks calls in to the EW TV Insiders podcast!
Derek Hough mines for hidden gems in the ‘DWTS’ Hair Dept.!
All Hidden Gems of the Week
EW.com’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Central

Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett

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‘Glee’: Darren Criss and the Warblers sing Train’s ‘Hey Soul Sister’ (Exclusive Video)

It’s the holiday season, Gleeks, and here at EW, we’re feeling pretty darn thankful and giving. To prove it, we’ve decided to gift you with a special pre-Thanksgiving treat: EW.com has the exclusive premiere of new Glee fan fave Darren Criss and the Dalton Academy Warblers’ (plus Chris Colfer’s Kurt who transferred schools at the end of last night’s episode) cover of Train’s ginormous hit, “Hey Soul Sister” from next week’s episode. Watch the video below…. (And you’re welcome.)

More ‘Glee’:
Jane Lynch and Carol Burnett sing ‘Ohio’: Why, oh why doesn’t Sue sing more?
‘Glee’ exclusive: The cast will perform Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ for the Super Bowl episode — and that’s not all
‘Glee’: Gwyneth Paltrow sings Cee-Lo’s ‘Forget You’

View the original article here

'Gossip Girl' style: 15 hits/misses

Whilst in Paris nursing the wounds left by their disastrous love lives, Blair and Serena killed their time by café and bed hopping, respectively. But whether they were hungry for French delicacies or French dudes, a steady diet of the finest fashions kept them — and us — very satisfied.

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‘Castle’ scoop: Will Castle seal deal with Beckett?

Image Credit: Michael Desmond/ABCNow this is one mother-of-a-teaser for you Castle fans who’ve been aching for Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) to seal the deal. Talking exclusively to EW, Katic teased that all their sexual tension may finally lead to something on Jan. 10. “They are going to get super close in episode 13. Closer than they’ve ever gotten before,” the actress said while walking the red carpet of the American Music Awards on Sunday. “I’ll leave you with that.”

Katic keeps saying to anyone who will listen that these two belong together. “They are meant to be. I think they can be a couple and still be spicy and funny. Everyone else is like, ‘Oh no we can’t do that. That will ruin it. That will kill the show.’ [A Moonlighting] curse has come up. But no way, man. Don’t believe in it at all.”

Until then, obstacles continue to arise. Just this week, the ABC drama began production on the Jan. 3 episode that stars Laura Prepon as Natalie Gray, the actress who’s been cast as Nikki Heat in the movie version of Castle’s book Heat Wave. As fans know, the author based Nikki on his beloved Beckett. So will sparks fly when Natalie shadows Beckett as she investigates a millionaire matchmaker death with Castle? “She comes in to trail Beckett and study her, learn about her,” says Fillion, who also walked the red carpet Sunday. “Castle is really cheesed because she has never read the books. She’s only read the screenplay and she’s just into the character and not the words or the man who created Nikki Heat. At first he was like, ‘I can’t believe they picked her,’ and now he’s all, ‘I can’t believe she isn’t paying attention to me.’ It causes some friction at the workplace to say the least. He likes to be the center of attention.”

“Beckett is okay with it at first,” adds Katic. “Beckett’s the one who invites her in and figures it will be no different than Castle following her, but then it starts to get a little too Single White Female.” – With reporting from Carrie Bell

View the original article here

Exclusive: Andie MacDowell cast in ABC Family’s ‘What Would Jane Do’ pilot

Image Credit: Christopher Smith/PR PhotosEW has exclusively learned that Groundhog Day star Andie MacDowell has been cast as the character Grey in ABC Family’s drama pilot What Would Jane Do. The one-hour scripted drama follows Jane (to be played by The Lake‘s Erica Dasher), a 16-year-old who goes to work for a cutting edge fashion company after the people there mistake her for an adult. MacDowell’s Grey is described as “the hard-nosed, tough-as-nails boss that Jane goes to work for.”

In a release, ABC Family described the show as such: “Jane soon finds herself juggling life as a regular teenager in high school and as an assistant to a high-powered executive in the cutthroat world of fashion … all while trying to keep her true identity a secret.” Should like a cross between Disney’s Hannah Montana and Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP — now, with a diva-licious Andie MacDowell at the helm.

Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky

More from EW.com:
ABC Family developing series that sounds vaguely like ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead’!

View the original article here

Which pop culture dinner most resembles your family’s Thanksgiving feast?

It’s 4 p.m., PopWatchers. At this point, you’re doing one of the following: 1) Furiously attempting to get all the lumps out of the mashed potatoes while your little 6-year-old cousin clings to your leg, begging you to go hoop-rolling — or whatever it is kids enjoy these days; 2) Watching football from your couch while your mom furiously attempts to get all the lumps out of the mashed potatoes (moms are the best); or 3) Reading PopWatch. Okay, clearly the answer is No. 3, unless you’ve figured out a way to Doug Kinney yourself, but chances are you’ll find yourself participating in either No. 1 or No. 2 later in the day. Because, as we know, today is Thanksgiving — and that means you can prepare yourself for plenty of dysfunctional dynamic family dinner conversation!

But because we know you’d prefer not to talk about your single status, your new boyfriend/girlfriend, or your recent divorce at dinner, here’s something you all can discuss: Which pop culture dinner scene most resembles your family’s Thanksgiving feast? For my family, I’m going to go with Hook. Not because we don’t eat anything — my waistline will more than let me know that we do come Nov. 26 — but because we never do a traditional Thanksgiving, opting for colorful foods (Tex-Mex with plenty of guacamole, scallops with peach salsa, etc.) over the holiday’s customary beige-colored eats. (Also, as in the Robin Williams-Peter Pan flick, we have been known to get into a cream pie fight or two after dinner.)

But now it’s your turn, PopWatchers! Which iconic dinner scene most resembles your own? Are you forced to endure your family’s gluttony and — ahem — bathroom habits like Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor? Do you play with your food like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind — or Weird Al Yankovic in UHF? Do you find yourself explaining very grown-up topics to a very young child, like the Hoover family did in Little Miss Sunshine? Or are you all just secretly judging each other à la Dinner for Schmucks? Let us know — and Happy Thanksgiving!

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Under-appreciated Entertainer of the Year: Thomas Gibson or Katey Sagal? Robyn? Cat? Mondo?

We’re down to the elite eight in our quest to salute the Under-appreciated Entertainer of the Year. And things are really starting to heat up.

Image Credit: Michael Yarish/CBS; Prashant Gupta/FX; Frank Masi; Industrial Light & Magic/Marvel

In the scripted TV bracket, we have two actors who have shed their sitcom personas and embraced more strictly dramatic roles: Thomas Gibson on Criminal Minds and Katey Sagal on Sons of Anarchy. (Though she still makes me laugh as the voice of Leela on Futurama.) On the reality side, it’s hostess with the mostess Cat Deeley taking on everyone’s favorite Runway runner-up Mondo Guerra. If they tie, can Mondo design Cat something awesome to wear on So You Think You Can Dance? Here’s hoping.Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Fox; Lifetime; Rankin; LeAnn Mueller

Over in the film bracket, it’s the battle of the snarly dudes: Sam Rockwell and Karl Urban. The both made their marks in comic book adaptations this year — Rockwell in Iron Man 2, and Urban in Red — but who was more beloved by fans? Finally, the music faceoff is down to a chanteuse-off. Will Idol alum Allison Iraheta topple top-seed Robyn? It’s up to you, PopWatchers. Click here to see the whole bracket, and then vote vote vote!

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‘Dancing with the Stars’ victor: ‘We never thought of winning… only about creating memorable dances’

Image Credit: Adam Larkey/ABCThough many thought (or worried) that rumors of a voting conspiracy would prove true and viewers would vote for Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol, talent ultimately triumphed and Jennifer Grey became the season 11 winner of Dancing with the Stars. Speaking with the press after the two-hour finale with a cold compress tied to her back, Grey talked about how she and partner Derek Hough “never thought of winning” and tried instead to focus on creating memorable dances.

“We collaborated so much and I think that this guy is so talented in terms of concept and execution and attention to detail,” Grey said. “He wants to make memorable dances, which is what he told me when I met him. That’s why I was so completely thrilled and blessed to get him as a partner. He’s the real deal. He gets the big picture.”

At the start of the show, Grey told host Tom Bergeron that she ruptured a disc during Monday’s performances but – as has been the case throughout the season - she was able to continue because doctors “put me back together.”  ”I think it might have been one of those flips or kicks [that caused the rupture],” Grey said. “When you dance with a 25 year old, it’s a risk you take.”

But it was a risk worth taking because Grey ended up dancing with the winningest professional on the show. Tuesday’s win with Grey meant that Hough would take home his third mirror ball trophy! (Another record was broken on Tuesday: Bergeron said the show received an unprecedented number of votes from the viewing public). But Hough didn’t do much talking after the show because Grey was too busy recapping all that Stars had given her. ”The absolute destination for me was the journey in the true sense of the word,” said the 50-year-old actress. “This journey was the gift. Saying yes was the gift. Getting Derek as a partner was a huge gift.”

Since it was Grey and not Palin who ended up winning, the other dancers weren’t in much of a mood to discuss the accusations of voter tampering that plagued the latter half of the show. “This show has everything under control and I think it was just people’s rumors that were sparking,” says pro Lacey Schwimmer, who together with Kyle Massey, finished the season in second place. ”We got here, Bristol got here, and Jennifer got here all on fair terms. People just need to realize that.”

Executive producer Conrad Green certainly thought the best person won. “I think Jennifer was the judges favorite throughout, and she’s probably been the viewers’ favorite throughout. She is a brilliant champion,” he told EW. “I’m so proud of Bristol for getting where she did. I think she really proved her point and I’m really happy with how things turned out. I think it feels right.

“This was definitely our most surprising season,” he continued. “There were so many twists and turns. It was definitely unpredictable, and the audience got so into it. But if you look at the spirit of the final three couples, they were really thrilled for each other.”

Indeed. Schwimmer and Massey weren’t cheering about how they beat Palin, nor were they licking their wounds for trailing Grey and Hough. “We all made it to the finals, which is somethig to be celebrated, not to feel bad about or to feel angry about,” Schwimmer told reporters. “It’s such a cool thing to make it to this point of the competition.” And Massey’s response? “I’m just so hungry.”

As for Palin, who used the season finale to talk about how her win would give a “big middle finger to all the people out there who hate my mom and hate me,” the teen activist said she “decided there’s nothing I’m going to regret if  I just go out there and do my best.” When asked if it was her intention to come out strong in the finale and talk about flipping America the bird, Palin only said, “my plan was to go out there and have fun and that’s what I did.”

Palin did admit the fascination over her survival on the show has boosted ratings, but she and partner Mark Ballas were in no mood to talk about her notoriety. “I don’t know why we are still talking about controversy and negativity,” he said. “Jennifer and Derek won tonight, it’s to be celebrated. Let’s live in the now, not with things that are going to give us a heart attack.”

Basking in her win, Grey said it was great to be in a movie like Dirty Dancing that brought so many people joy – only to follow that up with being part of a TV show “that means so much to people.” She can’t say what she’ll do next but she does know where’s she storing the mirror ball trophy.

“The kid’s room!” she exclaimed.

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Harry Potter still No. 1: $50.3M

Image Credit: Jaap BuitendijkAlthough the “chosen one” was nearly defeated by a long-haired princess, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 managed to keep its grip on first place by grossing $50.3 million over the three-day weekend, according to studio estimates. Add in Wednesday and Thursday, and Deathly Hallows collected $76.3 million during the five-day Thanksgiving weekend — the fourth best Thanksgiving weekend ever. The PG-13 fantasy film has now earned $220.4 million in 10 days, which is the tenth-best 10-day tally on record. However, Deathly Hallows is slipping a bit quicker than some of its predecessors. For instance, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the last Potter film to be released a week before Thanksgiving, earned $81.3 million over this five-day holiday weekend. But if it’s any consolation to Potter fans, Deathly Hallows did garner better Thanksgiving numbers than The Twilight Saga: New Moon, which drained $66.3 million during the same five-day frame last year.

The weekend’s real box-office story, however, was Disney’s Tangled, which surpassed the studio’s wildest fairy-tale expectations by grossing $49.1 million during the three-day weekend, and $69 million for the five-day period. Those numbers gave Tangled the second largest Thanksgiving weekend opening ever, behind only Disney’s Toy Story 2. In fact, Disney essentially has a monopoly on the harvest festival — the studio is responsible for nine out of the top 11 Thanksgiving weekend debuts. Tangled earned 56 percent of its gross from 3-D showings, even though the PG movie had to share its 3-D screens with Megamind. And word-of-mouth couldn’t be more favorable, as CinemaScore audiences handed the animated retelling of Rapunzel the first “A+” grade of the year.

Third place went to Megamind, which dropped only 20 percent for $12.9 million. The animated superhero comedy has tallied $130.5 million in four weeks. In fourth place was the new musical Burlesque, which shimmied to $11.8 million (and $17.2 million for the five-day frame). The PG-13 movie, starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, attracted an audience that was 69 percent female and received an “A-” from CinemaScore graders. Within a tiptoe of Burlesque was the Denzel Washington action thriller Unstoppable, which declined only 10 percent for $11.75 million. The week’s other two new releases, Love and Other Drugs and Faster, claimed sixth and seventh place with $9.9 million and $8.7 million, respectively.

In limited release, The King’s Speech debuted in four theaters and summoned an outstanding $350,000. The R-rated drama, an Oscar frontrunner that stars Colin Firth as the stuttering King George VI, earned $87,500 per location — the largest per-theater average so far this year. The Nutcracker in 3D, however, barely made a sound. The $90 million adaptation of the Tchaikovsky ballet grossed just $68,000 from 42 theaters. Check back next weekend as one new wide release, the long-delayed action film The Warrior’s Way, joins what is sure to be another fierce battle between Deathly Hallows and Tangled.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 — $50.3 mil
2. Tangled — $49.1 mil
3. Megamind — $12.9 mil
4. Burlesque — $11.8 mil
5. Unstoppable — $11.75 mil
6. Love and Other Drugs — $9.9 mil
7. Faster — $8.7 mil

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‘The X Factor’ exclusive: First look at Fox’s promo!

In the words of the immortal Pointer Sisters, “I’m so excited/ And I just can’t hide it/ I’m about to lose control and I think I like it.” Yes, reality TV fans, Fox has just unleashed the first promo spot for the fall 2011 premiere of the U.S. version of The X Factor, and after the jump, EW has your exclusive first look! It’s short, it’s simple, it’s got a slight Battlestar Galactica vibe, and it answers the question that’s been floating in my head for the last year or so: Can I be equally excited for the return of American Idol and the much-buzzed-about American incarnation of Simon Cowell’s popular British singing competition? Long answer: Can I be equally excited for tomorrow’s stuffing and mashed potatoes? Short answer: Oh hell yeah! Check out the promo for yourself, and then head to the comments to tell us what you think: Who’s stoked for The X Factor? Does this promo get you a’tinglin’? All must be revealed! (And for all my Idol- and X Factor-related scoop, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.)

More:
Simon Cowell’s rep on ‘X-Factor’ judges: ‘No decisions made’
Simon Cowell confirms his departure from ‘American Idol’ this season
‘American Idol’: New promo accurately reflects my anticipation for Season 10 premiere!
‘American Idol’: New night, music videos, no semifinals, one-hour results shows. Which changes will do us good?

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20 event movies for gays/gals

Burlesque (2010)
This small-town-girl-makes-good-in-the-big-city tale features Christina Aguilera's acting debut — can she or can't she? — plus bombastic production numbers, the always fabulous Stanley Tucci, and a shirtless Cam Gigandet. But really, as with most important things in life, the appeal of this film can be boiled down to one word: Cher.

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CBS has eyes for neo-Western lawmen and female prosecutor pilots

CBS, home of the procedural, is getting creative with two pilots in development. According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s Live Feed, the network is working with CSI creator Anthony Zuiker on Desperado, “about a band of lawmen who enact cowboy-style justice on modern-day criminals in San Antonio.” As the trade points out, that’s got a definite Justified vibe, which the Eye clearly likes: It’s also developing a legal drama called Knife Fight that has Justified vets Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly exec producing with Michael Cuesta (Dexter). Based on a short story by crime novelist Joel Goldman, it revolves around “a female public defender who ‘becomes a prosecutor in order to pursue the truth.’” Vague, but on the network that has given us The Good Wife, promising. (Plus, “Knife Fight” would look great in TV listings.)

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Disney Spins 'Tangled' Hair Into Box-Office Gold - New York Times

Four wide-release movies arrived at already crowded multiplexes over the Thanksgiving holiday, and three of them — “Burlesque,” “Love & Other Drugs” and “Faster” — appeared to be in tryptophan torpors. But Rapunzel, above, came to the rescue at the weekend box office: “Tangled,” an updated take on the long-haired princess, performed sharply better than expected. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (Warner Brothers) was No. 1 at the North American box office for a second week, selling about $76 million in tickets over the five-day holiday period for a new domestic total of $220 million. “Tangled” (Walt Disney Studios) sold about $69 million, validating Disney’s controversial decision to play down this film’s musical and princess elements in marketing materials; strong reviews and premium-priced 3-D screenings also helped. DreamWorks Animation’s “Megamind” (distributed by Paramount) was third with $17.6 million for a new total of $130.5 million, according to Hollywood.com, which compiles box-office statistics. “Burlesque,” a musical starring Cher and Christina Aguilera that Sony Pictures Entertainment backed with a hefty marketing campaign, was fourth with about $17 million. Denzel Washington’s runaway-train thriller, “Unstoppable” (20th Century Fox), took fifth place in its third week with about $16 million for a total of over $60 million. Opening out of the Top 5 were “Love & Other Drugs,” a romantic comedy from 20th Century Fox starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway that took in $14 million, and “Faster,” a thriller from CBS Films and Sony that had about $12 million in sales. “The King’s Speech,” a drama from the Weinstein Company that is considered an Oscar contender, opened in four theaters to $349,791, a total that is considered quite strong for such a limited release.

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James Franco — A Hot 'Actors Studio' Commodity! - Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Between his likely Oscar nomination-earning acting ability and his good looks, James Franco is sending fans into a tizzy, including the usually subdued crowd at Bravo’s “Inside the Actors Studio.”

According to TMZ, tickets to view host James Lipton’s interview with the “127 Hours” star were in such high demand, the show’s staff was forced to reject a record number of people.

The site claims that hundreds of industry professionals attempted to nab free tickets to the show, and the crew was forced to deny more than 250 requests.

The tickets available for purchase also reportedly sold out.

As for the interview, the handsome 32-year-old didn’t disappoint. After taping the show (set to air next month), a source for the site claimed, “James stayed another hour-and-a-half after the taping and talked to every single student and fan who wanted to talk.

“No one has done that since Paul Newman… the very first guest that ever appeared on the show,” the source reportedly added.

In addition to thrilling the industry crowd, female fans of the former “Eat Pray Love” actor were so taken with the star, that their screams and cat-calls reportedly caused the famously stoic James Lipton to halt the interview and scold the ladies, saying, “17 years filming this show and I’ve never heard a sound like that before.”

James — whose incredible portrayal of real-life adventure Aron Ralston in Danny Boyles “127 Hours” is already generating awards buzz — can next be seen in the upcoming comedy, “Your Highness,” alongside Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel and “Eastbound & Down’s” Danny McBride.

Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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'Black Swan' shows eerie side of ballet - msnbc.com

Movies
"Black Swan" is already being discussed when the Oscars are mentioned, and it sounds delightfully eerie. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis are competing ballerinas in "Swan Lake," with Portman playing the innocent White Swan and Kunis the sensual Black Swan. When Portman finds herself changing, things really start to get interesting. (Opens Dec. 3.)

True-crime buffs will remember the name Robert Durst, son of a real-estate mogul who was questioned in both the disappearance of his wife and the murder of a friend. He wasn't charged in either case, but later ended up being acquitted of the murder of a neighbor whom he admitted to dismembering (he pled self-defense). The new film "All Good Things" uses Durst as a model, with Ryan Gosling playing the main character and Kirsten Dunst as his vanished wife. A fascinating look at a true-life story that still remains unexplained. (Opens Dec. 3.)

Best bets: 'Black Swan' an eerie ballet Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis play competing ballerinas in the new movie. Plus: "Top Chef All-Stars" brings back 18 cheftestants; "Eclipse" comes to DVD.

'Harry Potter' leads holiday box office 'Ugly Betty' actor: I 'killed demon' inside mom Darth Vader costume fails to find new owner Choosy Cher returns to screen in 'Burlesque'

The Black Panthers are hardly talked about any more, but once they made headlines across the nation. In "Night Catches Us," Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington play Panthers who must deal with divisions within his troubled Philadelphia neighborhood after he apparently snitched on a friend. Times change, but not that much. (Opens Dec. 3.)

TV
Other shows bring back fan favorites and villains all the time — "Survivor" most notably — so why not "Top Chef All-Stars"? Eighteen former cheftestants sharpen their knives again, including Richard Blais, Tiffany Derry, Spike Mendelsohn and Fabio Viviani. (Dec. 1, 10 p.m., Bravo.)

North, to Alaska! We're goin' North, the rush is on. Yes, another reality show set on The Last Frontier, but this one has no Palins in sight. "Gold Rush: Alaska" follows six men who try gold mining out of economic desperation. Someone check the calendar, is it 1849 or 2010? (Premieres Dec. 3, 10 p.m., Discovery Channel.)

DVD
Entertainment Weekly called "Eclipse" the best "Twilight" movie so far. Although most new DVDs are released on Tuesdays, this latest Bella-Edward-Jacob vamprance is coming out on a Saturday so fans can celebrate at Saturday midnight release parties. Get those Team Jacob and Team Edward shirts out again! (Out on DVD Dec. 4.)

Disney fans who are itching to see behind the magical Mouse curtain will want to mark their calendars now. Three Disney documentaries — "Waking Sleeping Beauty," "The Boys," and "Walt & El Groupo" are coming out on the same day. "Beauty" looks at the studio's rich animation history, "El Groupo" examines a little-known goodwill tour Walt Disney made in South America, and "The Boys" focuses on the Sherman brothers, who wrote some of the most popular Disney songs of all time. "Chim-Chim-Che-ree," anyone?" (Out on DVD Nov. 30.)

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is TODAYshow.com's movies editor.

© 2010 MSNBC Interactive.  Reprints

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