The on-again, off-again love affair between ABC and American Idol star Adam Lambert is making my head spin. In the past week or so, still stinging over Lambert's over the top performance at the American Music Awards, ABC dropped Adam Lambert appearances on Good Morning American, Jimmy Kimmel Live and New Year's Rockin' Eve.
Adam absolved ABC of responsibility for the cancellations. He Tweeted that it was pressure from the FCC. Then the folks at GLAAD weighed in, coming to Adam's defense. That was followed by the announcement that Adam is now set to appear on ABC's The View on Thursday, December 10. He'll also be on Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People special on December 9.
I often find Barbara Walters to ramble a little too much on The View, but she was absolutely right in what she said to Whoopi Goldberg the other day. Whoopi faked walking off the show because the panel was talking about the Tiger Woods controversy, saying she was "bored" with it (followed of course by clapping from the audience) and that what happened with Woods "doesn't put food on my table." Walters had an answer for that.
I'm sure I'm simplifying what he's writing about because I'm not savvy about the form, but in his own words, he wrote, "I took the plunge and experimented with the form myself when I signed on to appear on 20 episodes of General Hospital as the bad-boy artist."
He hasn't take the job yet, but if he does he will replace Diane Sawyer, who we told you was going to take over for Charles Gibson when he vacates the anchor chair on World News. Gibson's last day will be Friday, December 18 and Sawyer's first day will be on Monday, December 21.
Part of the negotiations between Stephanopolous and the network revolve around the Sunday morning show he does now, This Week. He wants to keep that gig too while he works Monday through Friday on GMA. If he decides not to take the job for some reason, then current host Chris Cuomo could get the job (it must be odd to be the second choice even though you've done the exact job for a while). Whoever gets the spot will be co-host along with Robin Roberts.
If you're like me, when you hear the name Martha Stewart you think of football. Now those two things are coming together in a new contest.
Martha and NBC have teamed up for Martha's Sunday Night Football Sweepstakes, a contest where, if you win the grand prize, you get a trip to New York City, a stay in a hotel, $100 in spending money, and you get to attend a live taping of Martha Stewart or Football Night in America. Runner up prizes include Martha's new book Dinner at Home and autographed footballs.
Where has the time gone? Is it really 20 years that Peter Bergman's played Jack Abbott on The Young and the Restless? Amazing, but true. Not only has Bergman been tearing it up as Jack for two decades, he's pretty much eradicated the memory of his tenure on All My Children where he was nice guy, Dr. Cliff Warner. Say what you will about Jack, he's not a nice guy. He can have his good moments, but this character is too complicated, too selfish, too diabolical ever to be confused with a noble man like Cliff.
Which is what has made Peter Bergman's time on Y&R so remarkable! The character had been so sharply defined by Terry Lester that it was going to be tough for any actor to take over the part.
I've been watching Judge Judy again. I used to watch it years ago, but then I went through a long period (years) when I thought she was too mean, too full of herself, too impatient with the litigants. Sometimes it seems that she's already sick of them before she even sits down.
But I started watching it again a few months ago and I love it again. I agree with her attitude now. Most of the people who go in front of her (both plaintiffs and defendants) usually get themselves into situations they shouldn't be in and they have no sense. And you wonder why they even want to be on TV in the first place, airing their dirty laundry.
But if you do find yourself on the show, here are five tips to make it a better experience.
1. Speak up. If you mumble she'll think you're dumb and/or hiding something. And she's probably right.
We all know that Adam Lambert's Good Morning America performance was canceled because of his controversial appearance at The American Music Awards. But The Early Show snatched him up for a performance this morning and he also talked about the AMAs and why he thinks there was nothing wrong with it.
If you need more proof that the economic collapse is the real thing -- you know, other than your shrinking salary, skyrocketing medical insurance premiums, inability to pay off your credit cards -- here's a major sign. Oprah Winfrey's decided not to do her annual Favorite Things show for the holiday season. That's right, after seven years of largesse, The Oprah Winfrey Show has canceled the funfest of goodies.
Huffington Post has learned exclusively that Favorite Things was scrapped. It used to be a Thanksgiving week staple. The reasons are unclear, but it would seem incongruous to celebrate expensive robes, top of the line chocolates, camcorders and the like when so many people are out of work and in financial straits.
Adam Lambert has been on a lot of shows with "America" in the title, including American Idoland The American Music Awards. He won't be appearing on another show with that word in it though.
ABC has confirmed that Lambert's appearance on Good Morning America on Wednesday has been canceled. And yes, we can all assume that it's because of Lambert's ridiculous performance on the AMAs over the weekend, where he made out with a guy, dragged another guy along on a leash, and also simulated oral sex with a dancer who was down on this knees. You know, because Lambert wanted to be so EDGY. (Update: Lambert will appear on CBS' The Early Show instead, and Dick Clark Productions has released a statement about the performance.)
Chuck Pratt was hired with some fanfare in June 2008. He was a big hire because his resume is filled with flashy successes, including Desperate Housewives, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Ugly Betty, Santa Barbara and General Hospital, among others. Pratt was supposed to revive All My Children to its former luster, but -- alas -- it hasn't happened.
So Oprah is ending her talk show in September 2011. The news first came out yesterday, but when she announced it on today's live show, there were still a few surprised moans in the audience. What, they didn't know about it already? Weird. Anyway, here's the clip with her announcement.
I hope she can still collect unemployment when the show ends, but I don't think you can if you quit your job.
It's taken a while, but The Young and the Restless has finally filled a role that's been vacant for too long. No, David Hasselhoff is not coming back as Snapper Foster. The role of Malcolm Winters is returning and Darius McCrary's got the Y&R role. Malcolm, the dynamic younger brother of Neil Winters, has been missing in action for a while because the previous actor in the part, Shemar Moore, has become a star in primetime.
The Winters family is an important element in the Y&R canvas and they've missed Malcolm. Shemar was asked to come back, but with his success on Criminal Minds, there simply wasn't time in his schedule for both shows. Truth be told, there probably wasn't enough money to compel him to work that hard. So,while the fans might have liked Shemar back, they'll have to get used to a new face instead.
Not coincidentally, that date is the day after the 25th anniversary of her first nationally-syndicated episode, and she'll mark the anniversary on her last show. Bennett told WCCO that this decision was under discussion for months, but the decision ultimately came down to the big O herself.
I watched The Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday to see the one on one between two of the most powerful and influential women in America. Whether you're a fan of Oprah Winfrey or Sarah Palin, there was no doubt that they command a large chunk of public opinion. How could I not see what they would be like in an interview setting?
My impression was that they both were completely civil and reserved. I didn't pick up the makings of a great friendship, not that that was likely considering Oprah's support for President Obama.
Still, what I found interesting was that if you read the body language experts, they're reporting that Sarah was not nervous. They're coming to that conclusion based on her ability to control her blinking. Over-blinking mean you're agitated and a normal blink per minute rate -- 30-40 blinks -- is normal. Sarah was blinking normally.
The on-again, off-again love affair between ABC and American Idol star Adam Lambert is making my head spin. In the past week or so, still stinging over Lambert's over the top performance at the American Music Awards, ABC dropped Adam Lambert appearances on Good Morning American, Jimmy Kimmel Live and New Year's Rockin' Eve. 
If you had any doubt before, 
The Washington Post is reporting that 
If you're like me, when you hear the name Martha Stewart you think of football. Now those two things are coming together in a new contest.
Where has the time gone? Is it really
I've been watching Judge Judy again. I used to watch it years ago, but then I went through a long period (years) when I thought she was too mean, too full of herself, too impatient with the litigants. Sometimes it seems that she's already sick of them before she even sits down. 
If you need more proof that the economic collapse is the real thing -- you know, other than your shrinking salary, skyrocketing medical insurance premiums, inability to pay off your credit cards -- here's a major sign. 
Adam Lambert has been on a lot of shows with "America" in the title, including 
Within a few weeks, 
It's taken a while, but 
There had been lots of 
I watched 
Have any questions for Rich Sommer of Mad Men? Ask them here!
Syfy's Alice -- An early look
The TV Squad Podcast: Surprising shows, decade-end lists, and the Commenter of the Week!
