TVSquad

Man, I've finally sorted through all of my confusion (how embarrassing ... ) about how Lily and Marshall on How I Met Your Mother actually aren't pregnant at all; rather, actress Alyson Hannigan is expecting in real life with her husband, Alexis Denisof of Buffy and Angel fame.

And now, this news comes across my screen? How am I to believe that the writers of How I Met Your Mother actually thought it was a good idea for Lily and Robin to be pregnant at the same time? Nevertheless, it's true, because People Magazine is reporting that Robin is pregnant.

So what's the deal? Is it Barney's baby? Now there's a real twist, and it was all foreshadowed in "Not a Father's Day" with Robin and Barney being so sweet on the sock.... What's that, you say? Robin isn't pregnant? You say Cobie Smulders, the actress who plays Robin, is expecting? I'm sure I can figure this out ...

As Bob wrote the other day, AMC has given the Emmy-award winning drama series Mad Men a pick up for a third season. No shock, but that future will be greatly dependent on re-signing Matthew Weiner to continue as the show's creator. Imagining Mad Men without Weiner at the helm is like Sterling Cooper without Don Draper as creative director!

However, while we're waiting to hear that Weiner's signed on the dotted line, the news today has me even more nervous. Jon Hamm and John Slattery have yet to renegotiate their contracts, which means the stars of Mad Men could be done with next week's season finale.

I don't believe that's going to happen, but Roger Friedman floated the possibility out there. He even suggests that Jon Hamm's star has risen so high, so fast that he could be the next George Clooney. Clooney, you'll remember, parlayed a few seasons of ER into a movie career (although there was more to it than that).

A CBS press release landed in my inbox today with this earth-shattering news: CBS's fall programming ads (20 total) will be featured exclusively in People's Sept. 22 issue.

From the release: "In a special arrangement with the magazine, CBS will be the exclusive broadcast advertiser in the issue, on stands Sept. 12." Of course, that's right before the launch of CBS's new fall lineup.

And it sounds like this might be a first. George Schweitzer, president of CBS Marketing Group says, "CBS has long valued its relationship with People, and we're elated that they worked with us to pull off this first-time strategy to be the sole broadcast advertiser in this well-timed issue." You know, whatever. Blah, blah, blah.

So why should we care? Honestly, I really don't. I just keep thinking, People? What, they couldn't come up with anything snappier? Like, I dunno ... maybe Entertainment Weekly? Vanity Fair? I guess with 43 million readers, they'll reach a lot of people in People.

In a media crossover, People magazine is coming to TV screens. ABC has scheduled an hour-long special called Half Their Size: The People Magazine Weight Loss Challenge for Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.

The franchise began in People in 2002, and focuses on folks who need to shed more than a few pounds -- preferably, half their size. Obviously, the magazine stories have been a big hit, since anything about losing weight is always a big hit.

The show will focus on eight residents of Mississippi -- the nation's "heaviest" state -- for a nine-month period to see how their lives change through diet and exercise.

Rock of Love's Bret Michaels was named one of the hottest bachelors of 2008 by People magazine. But skanks like Daisy de la Hoya, Heather Chadwell, and Ambre Lake knew that already. Bret is joined by fellow television stars Mario Lopez, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford, and Brody Jenner.

He credits his awesome weave, always protected by a bandana or cowboy hat, as the major part of his sex appeal: "It creates this Tarzanesque, likable bad-boy image. It says, 'I am a wild child. I will take you on a Harley ride, then make passionate love to you. And should you be attacked by a lion or an idiot at a bar, I will protect you. "To put it simply, long hair works for me. It rocks." No, Bret. You rock.

So what do you think? Does big man Bret deserve a spot on this list? You can view the whole list here.

[via VH1]

Gossip Girl is getting a lot of exposure these days. A week after the OMFG scandal, the cast of Gossip Girl has made People magazine's list of the most beautiful people of 2008. No argument here. Eye candy is one of the main reasons why I love the show. My only complaint is that Matthew Settle and Kelly Rutherford were left out. Rufus Humphrey and Lily van der Woodsen are currently two of the hottest parents on TV.

Other familiar TV faces made the list, including: Desperate Housewives' Eva Longoria Parker and Marcia Cross, Sarah Silverman, Ugly Betty executive producer Salma Hayek, Kristen Bell, Christina Applegate, Dancing With The Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba and Jason Taylor, Vanessa Hudgens, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks, and Minka Kelly from Friday Night Lights.

Dr. Phil McGraw has lost all credibility in my eyes. Not that he had a lot of credibility in my eyes to begin with, mind you -- I have never been a fan of his down-home, pop psychology. However, his latest statements really put the capper on the fact that he doesn't seem to know what he's talking about.

During a holiday party in Beverly Hills this past weekend, Dr. Phil told People magazine that Lynne Spears, mother to Britney and recently pregnant, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn, is a "great and dedicated mother". He admits that things aren't looking up for her right now (ya think?), but McGraw adds that the Spears matriarch has her feet firmly on the ground and that she is turning to her faith for strength in this situation. In fact, Lynne told her friend Dr. Phil that they are turning to prayer to get past this all. No offense, but she must be praying nearly 24 hours a day.

Simon Cowell has never hidden his dislike for Taylor Hicks. And last week he was at it again. He spoke out at this year's 24th Annual Paley Festival at the Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, saying, "They (Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson) loved him. I couldn't stand him. I didn't get it."

Simon added, "at the end of the day you have to find a bona fide recording artist. Just because you win the show doesn't mean you will sell a lot of records. Chris (Daughtry) is the one who sold the albums, not Taylor." Hicks still hasn't sold one million albums, and many critics doubt he will.

Carlo Rota, the 61-year-old who plays Morris "Drill Bit" O'Brian on 24, recently told the dead-tree version of People Magazine that when he arrived on the CTU set he spoke really fast.

Until an executive producer told him to stop. "It's a fast show, but you still speak like you would normally," Joel Surnow reportedly told Rota.

Rota also told the magazine that he's an enthusiastic chef and that Mary Lynn Rajskub, who portrays his snippy ex-wife Chloe O'Brian, keeps him guessing with her various facial expressions. "You don't know whether she's appreciative of you being there or if she's judging you," Rota told People.

Some mobsters turn the other direction when they know they are going to get whacked.

Vincent Pastore, the actor who played "Big Pussy" on The Sopranos, is adding some credibility to his character's name after announcing today that he is dropping out of the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.

According to the actor, "Unable to put forth my best effort, I felt it appropriate to step aside and give someone else the opportunity."

My first question for you sir is ... AGAIN?!

Does anyone remember...

There's an update to Akron Watson's dismissal story. He's come forward to say that the Idol producers KNEW about his arrest for misdemeanor possession of marijuana prior to the audition. Watson told People, "I was completely open about my background, any trouble I had been in, my medical history – everything!"

Watson earned a trip to Hollywood and he still wants it. In fact, he's created a MySpace page called "BringAKBack". And he's looking for people to leave a comment and show support so he can get back on the show.

When the hell did these two start going out? I knew she wasn't going out with Bobcat Goldthwait any longer (they were engaged several years back - yes, that Bobcat Goldthwait), but I didn't know that she and Mohr were an item (God, if I ever type the phrase "an item" when referring to a couple again...ugh. What, am I part of US Weekly or something?).

Another magazine, People, is reporting that Mohr and Cox were married in Los Angeles on Friday night. No official word yet from either camp.

Mohr was the former host of NBC's Last Comic Standing and a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, not to mention the star of the criminally short-lived sitcom Action. A couple of years ago he wrote the book Gasping For Airtime. Nikki Cox is currently on Las Vegas and costarred in the underrated sitcom Unhappily Ever After.

People online has a nifty little photo-story updating us on some of our favorite American Idol contestants who didn't win the title. Here are a few:

• Diana DeGarmo: after spending the holidays entertaining the troops abroad, she's joining the cast of Hairspray on Broadway on February 7.
• Frenchie Davis: proving that racy photos on the internet aren't the end of all things, she's a cast member of Rent on Broadway, where she's been since she was prematurely booted off the show in 2003.
  
• William Hung: thinking he's entitled to more than 15 minutes of fame, he's still performing crap from his three, yes three, albums.
• Tamyra Gray: the one who should've gone against Kelly Clarkson in the finale, Tamyra is working on her second album and persuing more acting roles.
• Josh Gracin: lookin' a little thick around the middle, Josh just kicked off a tour where he is opening for Trace Adkins. He and his wife, Ann Marie, now have two children.
• Corey Clark: ah, who the hell cares?

The story also includes new photos and updates on Ruben Studdard, Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London, and Justin Guarini.