Former Survivor Contestant Joins Rachael Ray Show
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Reality, Talk Shows, Syndication, Survivor,
Following in the footsteps of Survivor contestant Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who co-hosts on The View, Survivor castaway Colby Donaldson will be joining Rachael Ray. Perhaps an effort to appeal to the male demographic, or just another personality to cut Ray’s over-the-top persona? His job is “content buddy”—he’ll give viewers more of a male perspective and conduct interviews. Donaldson told Us magazine that he is “thrilled to now be with Rachael Ray enjoying this daytime adventure with real people. I love hanging out with Rachael and the food perks are pretty great too! It’s good to know my days of eating bugs are over!” Ray’s show has done very well in the ratings and earned a renewal, so seems Donaldson will be sitting pretty on the daytime talk show. You may remember him from his runner-up status on the Australian edition of Survivor, or from the all-stars edition, where he was the seventh to be booted. You could have seen him on Curb Your Enthusiasm, or maybe you know him from the razor ads. At any rate, he will be a handsome addition to the show.
Read More 
| Reality TV World
Gallery: Former Survivor Contestant Joins Rachael Ray Show
Advertisement
Soap Star Takes Over Hosting Duties on Biggest Loser
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, NBC,
The Biggest Loser is about to get a new host. Caroline Rhea, who has hosted the show for three seasons, will be passing the torch to soap star Alison Sweeney. Sweeney, who has played Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives since 1993, will begin hosting The Biggest Loser next season, airing in the fall. NBC said the reason for the replacement is that Rhea is going to work on other projects. “Alison is an incredible talent and will bring not only a great fresh face to the show but a huge, loyal fan base,” executive producer Ben Silverman says. Sweeney has appeared on Las Vegas and Friends,as well as a contestant on Fear Factor. Sweeney, who is just 30, has chronicled her struggles with weight in her 2004 memoir All the Days of My Life (So Far). Seems strange that she should have a memoir, but she apparently has a large fan base, as soap stars generally do. NBC is certainly banking on the fact that her appeal will bring in more ratings.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Soap Star Takes Over Hosting Duties on Biggest Loser
Entertainment News Overtaken by Britney’s Bald Head
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Reality, Gossip, News, Rumors,
In my quest to find worthy TV news fit for blogging today, it seems that Britney Spears’ shaving her head is top news. There’s no room for anything else interesting in the entertainment world. Between her and the circus that’s unfolding following Anna Nicole Smith’s death, there’s not much left for us to talk about. Anna Nicole, I can understand. There are so many unanswered questions, including the custody of her baby, that I see why the entertainment media has a lot of ground to cover. A pop star shaving her head and getting a tattoo? I don’t get it. It’s strange, yes. But, is it so newsworthy that the media has to keep covering the story? I would prefer seeing less of her shaved head until they actually have some news about why she did it. Perhaps we’ll never know. Here’s the thing—it will grow back. And when it does, that will be the top entertainment story of the day!
Read More | MSNBC
Gallery: Entertainment News Overtaken by Britney’s Bald Head
Switcheroo for ‘Deal’ and ‘Crossing Jordan’
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Drama, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, NBC, American Idol, Apprentice, The - Donald, Medium, Ratings,
Here’s one of those things that totally confuses viewers—moving a show to another day and time. The latest is the switch in days between Deal or No Deal and Crossing Jordan. So, the Wednesday night edition of Deal will move to Sundays, and Crossing Jordan will get the bump to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. The change will make Sundays a bit different, with Grease: You’re the One That I Want at 8:00, Deal or No Deal at 9:00, and The Apprentice at 10:00. Whether or not the move will increase ratings, we’ll just have to see. Jordan will now be in good company with the other Wednesday dramas: Friday Night Lights and Medium. Of course, that also puts Jordan in competition with American Idol, which is currently the ratings king.
Read More | Zap2it
Gallery: Switcheroo for ‘Deal’ and ‘Crossing Jordan’
Amazing Race All Stars Premieres Sunday
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, CBS, Amazing Race, The, Internet,
And I call myself an Amazing Race fan? I have been anticipating the all-star installment of the popular reality show (in my book, the best reality show around) and yet, had no idea it would be premiering this Sunday. That’s right, prepare yourself for the return of some of your favorites and not-so-favorites when the all-stars start globetrotting on February 18th. One thing’s for certain—the all-star concept is likely to do better than their family edition. OK, to refresh you on the contestants again:
- Dustin Seltzer and Kandice Pelletier (“the beauty queens”), Season 10
- Joe Baldassare and Bill Bartek (“Team Guido”), Season 1
- Kevin O’Connor and Drew Feinberg, Season 1
- Ozwald Mendez and Danilo Jimenez, Season 2
- John Vito Pietanza and Jill Aquilino, Season 3
- Uchenna Agu and Joyce Agu, the winners of Season 7
- David Conley, Jr. and Mary Conley (“team Kentucky”), Season 10
- Charla Baklayan Faddoul and Mirna Hindoyan, Season 5
- Rob Mariano and Amber Mariano, Season 7
- Teri Pollack and Ian Pollack, Season 3
- Eric Sanchez and Danielle Turner, Season 9
Who knows what twists host Phil Keoghan will have in store for these stars? Tune in to find out. And visit the new “Elimination Station” on CBS.com/innertube. This gives a look at what happens when contestants get eliminated from The Amazing Race and have to live in the sequester house. The webisodes will appear following each episode of the all-stars season, beginning on February 18th. Find out what happens when The Amazing Race all-stars stop being polite, and start getting real.
Read More | Comingsoon.net
Gallery: Amazing Race All Stars Premieres Sunday
New Celebrity Impersonator Show Holds Auditions
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, ABC,
Here’s another new entry into the talent contest genre—The Next Best Thing, looking for the “greatest celebrity impersonator.” I must admit, I’m intrigued by celebrity impersonators, but not so sure an entire show devoted to finding the best one is going to hold my interest. The Next Best Thing has announced auditions, so get out your Cher wig or Elvis jumpsuit and try out beginning on March 5 in Los Angeles, followed by other dates in Las Vegas (naturally), New York City and Orlando. This show originally was conceived as The Imposter, and I’m having a déjà vu moment because I think I may have written about it before. The call backs are eventually whittled down to 10 finalists, competing when the show premieres this summer. Michele Merkin, model and host of Style Network’s Foody Call, will be on hand to host. And, of course, there will be three judges to oversee the whole shebang. The first judge that has been announced is actress and comedian Lisa Ann Walter. The other two judges have yet to be named. You know, it could be a nice cure for the summertime television blahs. Just as long as they don’t make a whole American Idol bad audition thing out of it.
Read More | Reality TV World
Gallery: New Celebrity Impersonator Show Holds Auditions
Dancing With the Stars: Cheryl Burke’s New Romance
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Dancing With The Stars, Gossip, Rumors,
Cheryl Burke, who is a two-time winner on the hit Dancing With the Stars, has found a romantic partner in Matthew Lawrence. Lawrence is the brother of Joey Lawrence, who appeared on the third season of the dance competition. People magazine is reporting the love connection, with a pal of Burke’s saying, “They are definitely together. Cheryl is very happy.” The super talented 22-year-old and Lawrence were together at the Dancing With the Stars wrap party on Monday night, dancing in the VIP area. An insider also reported that she had a birthday cake for Matt, who turned 27 on February 11th, delivered to her suite at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, where the wrap party was held. Lawrence’s rep had no comment on the pairing—hey, wouldn’t it be cute if he showed up on an upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars? And when did this kid turn 27? Man, I feel old.
Read More | People
Gallery: Dancing With the Stars: Cheryl Burke’s New Romance
American Idol Suffers Hit to Ratings
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Ratings,
Well, okay, so American Idol didn’t take a huge ratings hit, but it did suffer a dip nonetheless. The show titled “Best of the Rest” earned them the lowest ratings of the season. Of course, the dip was just a drop in the bucket. The talent show still grabbed 27.9 million viewers, and that’s for their lowest rated episode. Still not too shabby. The show is certain to rebound nicely, as we are now moving beyond those dreadful first-round auditions and focusing on the Hollywood “boot camp.” This is the point where I can start watching the series. I just can’t bear to sit through the horrible singing, for just a glimpse of the people who actually have some talent. They say it makes good TV, I just think it’s tedious to sit through. I like American Idol, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t have the patience for those early shows. Once the finalists are selected, I’m in in for the long haul.
(You can find all the American Idol 6 posts here.)
Read More | E! Online
Gallery: American Idol Suffers Hit to Ratings
And then there were six. Six crazy dudes vying for the attention of Tiffany “New York” Pollard. This time, she had the men fight it out in basketball and boxing before making another cut. The latest victim was Rico, who never even got to have a date with Tiffany. She matched each suitor up for a one-on-one game against WNBA player Tamara Moore. If they could score before her, they took a place in the “winners circle”. Only two guys scored on Moore, resulting in a duel for a date with New York. White Boy won the coveted prize, with Rico ending up the loser. In the end, Rico was cut loose, with New York saying he was a “young boy.” He got the last word when he said her choice was “crap.” Ahhh, love. VH1 celebreality style.
Read More | Reality TV World
Gallery: ‘I Love New York’ Down to Six Finalists
Kellie Pickler’s Dad Arrested
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Rumors,
Remember cutie American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler? Seems her dad is the one making headlines now, given his latest arrest. Clyde Raymond Pickler Jr. was arrested on February 7 for assault. The arrest occurred in Albemarle, North Carolina, and he allegedly assaulted someone with a steak knife. He had several misdemeanor charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a female, and communicating threats. During her time on Idol, Kellie recounted how her dad had done jail time, including a stint for stabbing his neighbor in 2003. Seems his days of crime are not behind him. Kellie is doing well, despite the family trouble. Her debut album, Small Town Girl, sold 500,000 copies. She is also scheduled to appear in a sitcom pilot in the fall.
Read More | Showbuzz
Gallery: Kellie Pickler’s Dad Arrested
Advertisement
© Gear Live Media, LLC. 2007 – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.