Just because your favorite dramas and comedies are back on the air after the writers strike doesn’t mean you’re necessarily watching them. A preliminary look at ratings of returning programs on the big broadcast networks reveals that the “majority of original programming has failed to return to its pre-strike levels among key demos,” according to Havas media-buying shop MPG. The firm found that audiences are “coming back to some of the shows, but not most of them,” said Nina Kanter, VP-director of communications analysis at MPG.
[...]
There are legitimate reasons for the ratings declines. Some shows have seen their competition alter as networks rearrange their schedules. CBS’s “NCIS” and “Criminal Minds” now face Fox’s “American Idol,” for instance. Because most networks put the bulk of their marketing spending into promos that run on their own air, it’s quite possible that TV audiences, turned off by repeats and strike-replacement programming, didn’t get those messages, according to MPG’s analysis.
Some returning shows are doing well. NBC’s “The Office” and “Scrubs” have demonstrated improved post-strike ratings, MPG said, though both have aired without regular competitor “Grey’s Anatomy” on the air. CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother” also posted ratings gains compared to its pre-strike performance, but the sitcom may also have benefited from a guest appearance by singer Britney Spears.
It may just be that the traditional model has been overtaken by events, with the strike-forced hiatus helping push trends along.
With the exception of sporting events, I seldom watch television shows “live” anymore, instead watching the handful of shows that we TiVo. And, increasingly, my wife and I are mega-time shifting our viewing, simply waiting until the shows are available on DVD. The ability to watch the entire run of a series at one’s own pace and without commercial interruption makes it very difficult to go back to episodic viewing.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are reportedly sick of each other, divorcing and fighting over custody of Suri.
According to In Touch, “three years into their relationship, Katie Holmes has realized that she wants more than her husband, Tom Cruise, can give her”.
Huh? I thought they were “oh so happy”, when did all of this happen?
Crushed by the weight of her marriage to Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes is striking out on her own — and she’s determined to take their daughter, Suri, with her to New York City. But insiders say that Tom’s having none of it.
According to our sources, Katie, who was offered a role on Broadway, is trying to break away from her controlled life under the watchful eyes of her husband and move to Manhattan in what will be a sort of trial separation.
“She desperately needs to be on her own for a while, but there’s no way Tom is going to let her take Suri away,” an insider tells Star. “There’s no way he’ll allow it. He just doesn’t want Katie — or Suri — out of his sight for long. He told her that if she goes to New York, fine, but he goes with her.”
Further, the couple’s tug of war over their daughter has intensified as of late.
“Tom wants to call all the shots when it comes to Suri,” says an insider. “He has a lot of rules, and there’s conflict.”
With all this drama going on with her parents, adorable little Suri — who turns 2 on April 18 — seems to be getting lost in the shuffle and spends much of her time with nannies instead of her parents.
“She gets a lot of attention,” notes another source. “But every child wants to be with their parents — there is no substitute.”
TomKat is no more?! I’m going to toss and turn all night. In all honesty, I couldn’t be more pleased. Never once did I feel that Katie Holmes made the right decision marrying Tom. The dude is whacko!
Photographed outside the Chart House Restaurant in Malibu, Calif., on April 12, where sources tell OK! that Ashlee did her best to power through a bout of morning sickness, the 23-year-old appears to already be showing the first signs of a baby bump!
And with insiders saying that the first Wentz-Simpson offspring is due in October, that would mean the singer is nearing the end of her first trimester.
Of course, the baby news is not sitting well with her sister Jessica, sources said:
“Jessica never imagined that her tom-boy younger sister would have a baby first –It would be very hard for her not to be jealous.”
Simpson, 23, is engaged to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, 28, who initially blasted pregnancy rumors as a “witch hunt.”
But on Tuesday, Simpson, sidestepped the rumors during an interview with MTV after taping TRL in New York, saying simply, “Some things you want to keep personal.”
And now the source tells PEOPLE that not only is Simpson pregnant, but that she’s planning to have her wedding in May at a friend’s house in La Jolla, Calif., north of San Diego.
I don’t know why celebrities try to hide their pregnancies, except for the fear of an early miscarriage. If anything, fans are usually supportive and happy for them.
What others said:
Girls Talkin Smack says, “Something tells me getting married is a waste of time for these two; I can’t imagine them lasting very long.”
Seriously? OMG! WTF? says, “I think it is just the way her shirt is hitting the top of her jeans.”
Dlisted says, “I just think it’s all the air in her vagina escaping.”
Michael Lohan in a desperate attempt to stay in the news, has decided to reopen his divorce case against Dina Lohan.
Michael stated that he gave Dina EVERYTHING, yet she still has made it hard for him to see his kids. He even claims that Dina STOLE his idea for a reality show, even the title “Living Lohan“.
Lindsay Lohan hasn’t bothered to see her grandmother since she was in a serious car accident last month, her father claims.
Michael Lohan reveals that’s one of the reasons he’s reopening his divorce case with ex-wife Dina.
“I gave her the family house, all the furniture and the $200,000 she owed me just so that I could see my kids and have a relationship with them,” Lohan told The News.
“But after I gave her everything she wanted, she made it hard as hell for me to see my children.
“Even though my father is dying and my mother was in a car accident on Easter, my parents still haven’t seen my children.
“[Dina] told me, ‘It’s up to the kids if they want to see their grandparents.’ But she’s made no effort to put them in touch or make this happen. That is the bottom line. My mother, Marilyn Lohan, was medevacked by helicopter to the hospital on Easter Sunday after hitting a telephone poll and tree. Thank God, she’s okay, but the car was totaled. Every window blew out.
“My father went into heart failure again yesterday – and yet not one of the kids has seen him.”
Michael says he’s also suing his ex over her upcoming reality show, “Living Lohan,” slotted to air this summer on the E! channel. “It’s the exact same show I pitched. She even used my title.”
The born-again Christian, who works as a rehab counselor on Long Island, concludes:”I would never get back together with her. She’s bent on an evil path.”
Too many actresses are believing the line that you can’t be too thin. Please, ladies, eat a sandwich or something at the craft services cart. Here are a special shout-out to ten skinny-ass celebs that used to really turn heads
Thandie Newton
Most recently seen in: Run Fat Boy Run
Last time she was hot: Mission: Impossible II
There was a time that Thandie Newton was the next Hollywood hottie. Then someone must have suggested that she had some jelly rolls, because she lost more weight than a cancer patient on Atkins. Now she looks more like a zero-body-fat lizard than a celebrity beauty.
Victoria Beckham
Most recently seen in: Ugly Betty
Last time she was hot: when the Spice Girls were
Not that I was a fan of the Spice Girls, but I will admit that they covered all the bases in terms of fantasy girls. But the former Posh Spice has lost so much weight that her once sultry figure makes her look like a lollipop – a wobbly head on a stick. I’m afraid her neck is going to snap and her hubby will kick her head around their flat like a soccer ball.
Jennifer Connelly
Most recently seen in: Reservation Road
Last time she was hot: Requiem for a Dream
Can you believe this was the girl from The Rocketeer? Or Dark City? This buxom brunette starts getting some Hollywood credibility and drops down to a size zero. There’s nothing wrong with losing a little pudge, but when you look like one of the starving children from Sierra Leone in Blood Diamond, something’s wrong.
Rachel Taylor
Most recently seen in: Shutter
Last time she was hot: Transformers
Okay, I really loved her debut in Transformers. Very few ladies in Hollywood could give Megan Fox a run for the money, especially in a two-hour Michael Bay beer commercial. But in Shutter, this girl looked like she hadn’t eaten since working with Bay. She could make it as an up-and-coming hottie, if she actually ate a sandwich.
Kate Bosworth
Most recently seen in: 21
Last time she was hot: Blue Crush
She just beat the house last weekend in 21, and she banged Superman without being mortally wounded, but I just can’t get over the fact she looks like a 12-year-old boy. It wasn’t hard to hide her nipples in the 21 sex scene, considering she’s about as anorexically flat-chested as Jim Sturgess was.
Ashlee Simpson
Most recently seen in: 2008 Kids Choice Awards
Last time she was hot: 2008 Kids Choice Awards, but still doesn’t look healthy
She was the less-cute sister of Jessica Simpsons, but thanks to silicone, collagen, rhinoplasty and crash diets, she now looks like a supermodel. But that’s not a good thing. It might work for a bulimic supermodel, but for a girl who could have been America’s sweetheart, she looks less like her former self than Michael Jackson does.
Angelina Jolie
Most recently seen in: Beowulf
Last time she was hot: Beowulf (hell, they can do a lot with CGI)
Not too long ago, I saw a tabloid compare photos of Jolie’s scrawny, veiny arm to that of geriatric Clint Eastwood. And you know what? Sometimes tabloids are right. This once hot chick has gotten way too thin. Have you seen the trailers for Wanted? Give me back the Gia days, baby!
Lindsay Lohan
Most recently seen in: I Know Who Killed Me
Last time she was hot: Herbie Fully Loaded
Granted, she’s up and down more often than Oprah lately, but let’s blame this on her lack of focus. I saw her nudie shots from New York Magazine. And while I’m impressed with her huge (but obviously fake) knockers, I just can’t get excited about the freckly femme’s whisper-thin frame. She was chubby-cheerleader cute for a while, but just a year or so ago, her weight plummeted, making her scary-thin for a while.
Saffron Burrows
Most recently seen in: The Bank Job
Last time she was hot: Deep Blue Sea
It’s arguable that former model Saffron Burrows ever really looked healthy. But watching this scrawny, lanky lady tower over Jason Statham in The Bank Job was enough to get her on this list. She made his evil co-star from Transporter 2 look fat. Still, that underwear shot in Deep Blue Sea was pretty nice.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Most recently seen in: The Good Night
Last time she was hot: Se7en
Anyone who is familiar with me as a film critic knows that I have been highly critical of Paltrow for years. But aside from her inability to act (and so many people’s inability to see that she can’t act), I detest how she is physically wasting away as she gets older. She’s one of those girls that went overboard to lose the baby weight. Now, as she enters her late 30s, that too-thin look is not working for her.
Rob Lowe wrote in a blog on The Huffington Post, about a former employee, who is demanding Rob and his wife Sheryl pay her $1.5 million by the end of the week.
If they don’t pay up? She exposes a long list of dirty laundry.
Rob Lowe writes,
It is an attempt to damage and humiliate not only my wife and me, but our two young sons as well. My family is devastated at this betrayal; this woman worked in our home and traveled with us off and on for seven years, without complaint. In fact, she left other jobs to return to work for us three different times. Several weeks ago she quit abruptly, leaving us without a replacement. Within days we received these texts from her explaining her sudden departure:
—— SMS Text ——
From: (phone number redacted)
Sent: Feb 25, 2008 9:47 AM
Subject: Sheryl, I am really sorry.
Sheryl, I am really sorry. I have nothing bad 2 say about your family and really am thankful for what you guys have done for me over the years. I hope we can handle this as friends. I did not leave out of spite or anger, it was just time for my heart to let go. I am embarassed that I just up and left like this but I could not see another way. It was time for me to move on. I’m sure you and rob feel the same. My heart has not been in the job and that is not fair to you or the boys. I have nothing but love and respect for your family and would love to maintain a caring relationship with you guys. You have been a huge part of my life for so many years it will be hard to let go of those boys. I am really sorry Sheryl! Jess Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Does that sound like someone who has been treated badly? Nothing about abuse in the workplace or inappropriate conduct; nothing about discrepancies with monies owed, no explanation as to why she would return numerous times to a job she considered so abusive. Just a correct assessment of her relationship with our family. But clearly, if you are going to demand a million-five for supposed “anguish” suffered in our home, you’d better change your tune fast; so she did.
During her time in our home my wife tried to mentor this young woman. She took her into her confidence. We took her into our hearts. Having 18 years of sobriety, both my wife and I tried to be supportive as she struggled with personal issues. But we never saw this coming. Apparently, she wanted more. Recently, a colleague of hers has come forward to reveal that this young woman had “a crush” on me and told her on many occasions, “I wish he would get a divorce.”
Apparently this isn’t the only complaint, TMZ also reports issues with their chef sleeping in the Lowe’s bed:
In complaints filed yesterday, Rob and wife Sheryl claim their former chef liked to get freaky on the Lowe’s bed “with third parties” when the family wasn’t home. The Lowes also allege he broke security cameras and pilfered prescriptions from their medicine cabinet and gave the drugs to others. In the ultimate insult, the Lowes say the chef gossiped about Sheryl, saying she was heartless, cold and “unclean.” The nerve!
What others said:
Dlisted says, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world! Is it just me or does Sheryl sort of look like Gwyneth Paltrow in a fat suit.”
The Superficial says, “”Heartless, cold and unclean?” Really? You can sue someone for saying that? Let’s say someone calls you “Small, tiny and I’d get more pleasure from a Tic-Tac,” how much do you think someone who’s not me could get?”
Lindsay Lohan has signed on to star as Nancy Pitman, once a loyal member of Charles Manson‘s not-so-merry band, in the movie Manson Girls.
The film’s producer, Brad Wyman of Junction Films, confirmed the casting — “Yes, I am doing it with Lindsay.”
E! News Online reports,
A source familiar with the deal says that despite the fact that Lohan has had some recent brushes with the law and just completed rehab, “the production company is insuring her for the film.”
Shooting Manson Girls Lohan will shoot the offbeat comedy Ye Olde Times with Jack Black and David Arquette this spring. That film is due out in 2009.
Pitman grew up in wealthy household in Malibu, and at 16 she was introduced to Manson by a friend, according to published reports. She fell under his spell, moving in with him and becoming one of his most ardent followers. She was home with Manson on the night he dispatched members of his “Family” to the former home of ex-business associate Terry Melcher, where they ended up brutally killing actress Sharon Tate and four others.
Pitman, aka Brenda McCann, later became involved with the Aryan Brotherhood and served 18 months in prison after being convicted of being an accessory after the fact to murder. She later married one of her coconspirators, divorced and moved to Oregon with her two children.
When will Lindsay get it in her head — she’s not an actress. It’s beyond creepy she even wants to do this film. Charles Manson is just not right, not right at all.
What others said:
Defamer says, “So invested is the actress in getting the details just right, expect to see her on red carpets and at area hot spots in the coming weeks sporting styles from the period, with the word “PIG” smeared across her forehead in what we hope will only be pig’s blood.
Christopher Clanton, who plays the role of Savino Bratton in “The Wire,” a police drama set in Baltimore, has been stabbed in that city. (Actually, he was stabbed in the butt — but the incident took place in Baltimore.)
Thankfully, he’s fine.
An actor on the Baltimore-based HBO series “The Wire” was stabbed in the chest and buttocks during a melee early yesterday at a social hall in Overlea.
About 2 a.m., Baltimore County police rushed to Overlea Event Center in the 6800 block of Belair Road, and used pepper spray to disperse a crowd of about 30 people, several of whom were fighting, a police spokesman said.
After the fight was over, police officers discovered that Christopher J. Clanton, 22, had been stabbed. Clanton, who played a recurring character on “The Wire,” was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center by ambulance, authorities said.
Reached by telephone this morning, Clanton, 22, said he was in good condition and expected to be released later today or tomorrow. “Mayhem broke out,” Clanton recounted. He said he was trying to push past a fight between two other men when someone started fighting with him, and others assaulted him. “I was trying to get out of the way. I wanted to get past one of the guys that was involved,” Clanton said. “It escalated from there.”
I hate it when that happens.
Jeff Quinton of Inside Charm City observes that, “Life imitated art this weekend for Christopher Clanton.”
Source: “‘Wire’ actor stabbed at Overlea party” [Baltimore Sun]
The film’s title is an obvious reference to the ocean, into which Alba and on-screen beau Paul Walker dive in search of sunken treasure. But in our humble opinion, it is Jessica’s sexy blue bikini that gives new meaning to the term “treasure chest.”
You have to feel sorry for most Bond girls (except one … see next slide). After Honey Rider arose onto the shore (collecting seashells, naturally), in the first 007 adventure, her successors didn’t stand a chance. That’s a big pair of shoes — er, perfect-fitting swimsuit — to fill.
Sorry, Ursula. We know Halle’s emergence from the ocean in a bright orange bikini (accessorized with a very handy Bowie knife) is an obvious nod to your ‘Dr. No’ intro, but while we appreciate your hotness, Berry may just be the fairest Bond girl of them all.
In her star-making turn as a Hawaii surf bum, Bosworth proves a hot bikini isn’t just for soaking up sun. The Boz runs, surfs and jet-skis in it, and even wears it as underwear beneath her maid uniform (um, hot). Honestly, why does she even own other clothes?
“The topless scene in ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ was funny, which made it easy,” Cates has been quoted as saying about her iconic poolside scene. She’s right. In fact, it’s so hilarious we can’t stop watching it. Over and over and over again.
Dudley Moore knows the score. Sure, he had Julie Andrews at his side (a solid 6 … maybe even a 7 in ‘Sound of Music’) in this Blake Edwards comedy, but what can you say? The man’s a perfectionist. His dream girl Derek is a bona fide 11.
Cam may go all gaga over the sight of fallen Angel Demi Moore in a bikini, but it’s a safe bet Demi was impressed with what she saw, too. Diaz plus a hot little white bikini equals pure heaven.
Not long after a shagadelic outing in ‘Austin Powers,’ Hurley tortured Brendan Fraser’s hapless stiff as the Devil. But really, who could resist a demon so delectable? Consider our soul sold. (Why doesn’t Hurley make movies anymore again?)
With a body like Jolie’s, you’d think she’d wear a swimsuit more often in movies. Sadly (NOT!), she’s frequently gone topless instead. Still, Mrs. Brangelina did throw men a bone by donning this hot little number in ‘Tomb Raider,’ all in the name of butt-kicking action, of course.
The Matt Damon-Greg Kinnear comedy about conjoined twins offered up about as many laughs as a separation surgery, but we’re not sure anyone noticed. Many viewers were too consumed with the red-hot Mendes — and an entirely different set of twins.
It was a mad scene outside of Intermix yesterday, where the paps butted heads with Britney’s security team as the popwreck left the Robertson Store.
After she celebrated her daddy’s extended conservatorship with a shopping spree, Brit and her new beret tried to make it to her waiting SUV — but couldn’t get to it without her bodyguard strong-arming a few photogs to clear a path. TMZ tried to ask a few questions, but due the insane camera crush, she didn’t hear anything.
This woman makes me want to put the fork down. Damn her stunning boots and thighs that could crush walnuts!
Rihanna adds some S&M to her Dublin performance. We Irish cats are real sex pots, so this is probably pretty mundane in Ireland. She has really grown up. Take a peek at the video of her singing “Hero†at a high school talent show. I am not sure how old the video is, but if she would have sang anything else I would have let it slide. But Mariah Carey and I are old nemeses.
As do many fellow inhabitants of earth. Leonardo passed on tapping Lindsay Lohan after she threw herself at him on Tuesday night. While she was enjoying an onslaught of champagne and vodka at a West Hollywood Club she up to her old style of turning tricks. Her original target was California’s answer to Paris Hilton’s male counterpart, Adrian Grenier. Lindsay engaged in a mini strip show for Adrian by taking off her red leather jacket and trying to tease him while on the dance floor.
After several failed attempts to bag Grenier she noticed some A-list tail. Leonardo DiCaprio was hitting the club scene with a small entourage. Two members of the DiCaprio party where Kevin Connolly and Lukas Haas. Leo barely acknowledge her existence. After seeing him turn Lindsay down, Kevin tried to score on Leonardo’s rejects. Being that Lohan has a thing against Irish midgets, she declined. I guess everyone has their standards.
What Others Had to Say:
Evil Beet Gossip- “Champagne and vodka? That’s a surefire formula for a headache. And that’s what that little hooker deserves for trying to steal away my precious, precious Adrian.â€
Hollywood Grind- Lindsay then went after Leonardo DiCaprio, who appears to be more interested in avoiding shots of penicillin these days. Leonardo ignored Lindsay.
O.J. Simpson‘s girlfriend, Christine Prody, is in the hospital after she claims she fell down while drunk. Christie suffered major bruising all over her body. Sources also claim she had internal bleeding from her brain.
O.J. Simpson’s long-time girlfriend Christie Prody has been hospitalized, the apparent victim of a brutal beating, Miami police are investigating.
Prody suffered a severe head injury and massive bruises all over her body, sources told The ENQUIRER.
While O.J. says that Prody’s injuries are self-inflicted and explained that the 32-year-old woman went on a drunken binge and fell down, cops aren’t convinced, insiders say.
Investigators said from the damage to Prody’s body, they believe she was beaten. One detective said he has never seen such severe bruises on a woman before.
Police detectives are questioning Simpson at his home today, and are conducting an ongoing investigation into what happened to Prody.
Prody, 32, was rushed to a Baptist Memorial Hospital in Miami Feb 11 after she collapsed at a local gas station.
Police were alerted by hospital authorities after doctors found she was bleeding from her brain — and also had numerous large bruises and abrasions on her face, arms, legs and buttocks.
Prody had spent ten days with O.J.’s friends in San Antonio until she returned to Miami on Feb. 11. Simpson was with her until Feb. 4 when he returned to his Kendall home.
Simpson told police Prody’s wounds were self inflicted and that she had been on a drinking binge.
When Prody was brought into the hospital, there was no trace of alcohol in her blood.
TMZ reports that O.J. is not a suspect and her bruises are consistent with her fall at a gas station.
Maybe he should be?
source: ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: COPS QUESTION O.J. AFTER HIS BATTERED GIRLFRIEND IS HOSPITALIZED [national enquirer]
The twosome are cutesy-ing up a new romantic comedy in “Fools Gold.†Kate and Matt shared the screen before in “How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days.†Their chemistry was natural and not far from the truth. During an interview for the new film they are hocking, McConaughey admitted he had warm squishy feelings for Kate.
Hudson, who was married to Jesus Christ Superstar (Chris Robinson), asked point blank if would have “gone in for the kill†and tried to bed her with his naked bongo serenade. The two are just friendly now as Matt is also a victim of the Hollywood condom shortage and is expecting a baby with his Brazilian baby momma.
Kate on the other hand begged her hunky costar to wear some deodorant. After being offended by his stanky anti-cologne, B.O. funk she brought him some rock salt to use. Hudson’s attempt at deodorizing him was futile. He refused to wear anything and says that a good diet and regular showers are good enough.
NO! God no! I don’t care if your diet consists of roses and Glade Plug Ins. Always say yes to some good old fashioned Speed Stick.
Source: Kate Hudson Begged Matthew to Wear Deodorant [Starpulse]
Crushed by the weight of her marriage to Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes is striking out on her own — and she’s determined to take their daughter, Suri, with her to New York City. But insiders say that Tom’s having none of it.
Lindsay Lohan hasn’t bothered to see her grandmother since she was in a serious car accident last month, her father claims.
It is an attempt to damage and humiliate not only my wife and me, but our two young sons as well. My family is devastated at this betrayal; this woman worked in our home and traveled with us off and on for seven years, without complaint. In fact, she left other jobs to return to work for us three different times. Several weeks ago she quit abruptly, leaving us without a replacement. Within days we received these texts from her explaining her sudden departure: 
A source familiar with the deal says that despite the fact that Lohan has had some recent brushes with the law and just completed rehab, “the production company is insuring her for the film.”
It was a mad scene outside of Intermix yesterday, where the paps butted heads with Britney’s security team as the popwreck left the Robertson Store.
O.J. Simpson’s long-time girlfriend Christie Prody has been hospitalized, the apparent victim of a brutal beating, Miami police are investigating.
