TVSquad

Brad told you recently about the video that ABC late show host Jimmy Kimmel has prepared to answer girlfriend Sarah Silverman's "I'm F**king Matt Damon" song that she unveiled on his show a few weeks ago. Now comes word that the answer video might debut on Kimmel's post-Oscars telecast this Sunday night.

Don't worry, all you fans out there who throw Oscar night parties and love the 8 hour long red carpet specials: the show is a go.

For a while there, it looked like the Oscars might be in danger of going the route of the Golden Globes (ugh), especially since the Writers Guild of America wasn't going to give the show a waiver during the strike, but they've come up with a plan. Two plans, actually. One idea is to just do the show as usual (with some changes, of course), and another idea would be "industry heavyweights writing their own speeches and presenting the awards." Though I wonder if those same heavyweights wouldn't want to do that since they support the writers. Also, how will the red carpet look if several stars boycott or go in the back door?

I also wonder how this will affect Jon Stewart. He's already irritated some by doing The Daily Show during the strike, and now he's going to host the Oscars too?

The Golden Globes (airing January 13) and Oscars (February 24) sought waivers to allow union writers to help put together their awards shows, but Reuters tells us that the WGA says it will deny those waivers. Show organizers say they will go on regardless. As for what to do for scribes, Leslie Unger, spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said "There are any number of possible options we might explore" regarding what the Oscars intend.

One possibility is to hire non-union writers. How pissed would the WGA be if the reviews were great, the jokes actually funny and the telecast considered to be the best Academy Awards show ever! Another possibility, and I have no idea why this hasn't been explored seriously already, is the Family Guy manatee writers. South Park showed how prolific they were, and there are simply tons of lame award show jokes that could be written on balls and thrown in the tank. Or do you think they're members of the union, too?

Apparently, holding the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera isn't enough. The AP is now reporting that 76-year old Regis Philbin has been signed to host the red carpet show for the upcoming Oscars. Dennis Doty, producer of the show, says he's a great host because "he knows everyone, and everyone loves Regis." The arrivals show for the 80th Annual Academy Awards airs at 5/4c February 24, 2008 on ABC.

I bet Ryan Seacrest is pissed. How dare a hosting gig come up and not be his. How do they expect him to become the new king of all media? But Philbin is one of the most beloved people. I mean seriously, does anyone not like the man? How do you achieve that level of likeability, anyway? I can tell you from personal experience it's not achieved by offering free back massages to everyone you meet. And I thought everyone liked massages, but no! Apparently, they like restraining orders more.

[via Yahoo! ]

Interesting post by Tom O'Neil over at his LA Times blog. O'Neil is the guy you see on many of the awards shows, especially the Emmys, giving his analysis and predictions. He worked with Joan and Melissa quite a bit, and knows why they were let go by the TV Guide Channel. And it didn't have anything to do with money.

The reason? Entourage (and not the HBO show). I guess the two women have too many people around them and it got to be more of a hassle than it was worth to the network.

O'Neil also says that Joan and Melissa are a lot nicer and more generous than they've been made out to be. He also reveals that several producers at the TV Guide Channel wish they had been kept on (the same with E! execs, because Star Jones drove them nuts on the red carpet). I'm sure we'll be seeing the two women again with another deal soon.

First they were kicked to the curb by E! Entertainment Television, and now the same thing has happened with the TV Guide Channel: Joan and Melissa Rivers have been let go by the network and replaced by Lisa Rinna, star of Dancing with the Stars and various soaps.

Joan has a lot to say about what happened, but is keeping quiet until a new deal is finalized, says her spokesperson.

I love the press release from TV Guide Channel President Ryan O'Hara. Let me translate his remarks:

Veteran comic/director/writer David Steinberg has a lot of stuff going on.

The second season of his TV Land talk show, Sit Down Comedy, began a couple of weeks ago with an interview with Jerry Seinfeld. This Wednesday, Steinberg sits down with Daily Show host Jon Stewart. The show airs at 10pm. The following weeks, Steinberg will interview Garry Shandling and then Ray Romano.

But that's not all: Steinberg also has a book coming out in June, The Book of David. And he's a busy guy in his life as a director too. He's directing his seventh season at Curb Your Enthusiasm, episodes of Campus Ladies, and a pilot for Dane Cook.

There might be a lot of people who aren't familiar with Steinberg since a lot of his work has been behind the camera for a while, but he has quite a resume.

The weekly Nielsen ratings, by number of viewers.

1. The Oscars (ABC)
2. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
3. American Idol - Tues (FOX)
4. Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
5. Road to the Oscars (ABC)
6. American Idol - Thurs (FOX)
7. CSI (CBS)
8. CSI: Miami (CBS)
9. Deal Or No Deal (NBC)
10. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
11. Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special (ABC)
12. NCIS (CBS)
13. Barbara Walters Oscar Special (ABC)
14. Shark (CBS)
15. Heroes (NBC)
16. Rules of Engagement (CBS)
17. Criminal Minds (CBS)
18. CSI: NY (CBS)
19. Survivor (CBS)
20. 24 (FOX)

• The Oscars went overtime this year, despite those thank-you cams that were supposed to shorten acceptance speeches.
  
• Rumor has it that Jennifer Aniston is dating a camera man she met while filming her guest role on Dirt.
  
• One group is insisting that Heather Mills is not disabled even though she only has one leg. Their reasoning? She's competing on Dancing with the Stars.

• At 6, both E! and TV Guide Channel have red carpet coverage at the Academy Awards.
• At 7, CBS has a new 60 Minutes, followed by a new Amazing Race: All-Stars.
• ABC has the Barbara Walters Oscar Special at 7, followed by The 79th Annual Academy Awards.
• NBC has a new Dateline at 7.
• At 8, Food Network has a new Emeril ("Far East Hot & Spicy"), then new episodes of Iron Chef America and Challenge.
• TCM has the original A Star Is Born at 8, then Here Comes Mr. Jordan.
• Also at 8: Sundance has a new Slings & Arrows.
• At 9, Sci-Fi has a new Dresden Files, followed by a new Battlestar Galactica.
• At 10, NBC has a new Crossing Jordan.
• HGTV has a new Dream House at 10.
• Toon Disney has a new Xyber 9 at 10.
• Showtime has a new ep of The L Word at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.