As you might expect, most of the questions for Fox entertainment president Kevin Reilly and chairman Peter Rice this morning were Idol -centric. Here are the salient points:
According to Rice, Paula Abdul was the only member of Idol whose contract was up. They were talking to her about it for months, and they very much wanted her to return. In past few weeks, "negotiations came to conclusion, as Rice put it. "We made a fair offer with a substantial raise. Paula decided not to return. It was not our choice. We wanted her to return to the show."
They are most likely looking to keep the number of judges at four, but Rice feels they have between now and January's live shows to find a judge. "We're looking to bring different element and energy to the season." There will be guest judges during the audition process, including Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry. Rice and Reilly wouldn't announce who else, but they said that these would be mostly female singers, artists, and performers.
You know that movie, When Worlds Collide? Okay, maybe it won't be like that, but still. Project Runway season 4 winner Christian Siriano is doing a guest spot on ABC's Ugly Betty, according to TV Guide. As anyone knows who watched this past season -- which was fabulous! -- Christian was one of the most funny and articulate designers in quite a while on the show. And his designs weren't bad either! He's already become famous for his use of the word "fierce." Kinda like Rachael Ray has made EVOO her own trademark term. You watch, someday soon Christian Siriano will name his label Fierce Fashions. (Do I get a piece of the action for that idea?)
Victoria Beckham, a.k.a. Posh Spice, would have to go a long way to be compared to the foul-mouthed, in-your-face TV chef Gordon Ramsay, but that's what Fox TV is hoping for if they want her proposed new show, Fashion Nightmares, to ape Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. The net is talking with the former Spice Girl and fashion "scion" with her dvb Style denim brand to do a show in the style of Kitchen Nightmares. In that US version of the BBC hit, the chef goes to troubled restaurants and diagnoses what's wrong and how they must fix it. Ramsay's way includes many expletives deleted and mucho histronics. Like the UK version, Fox's US variation has been a hit.
(S04E14) Folks, we have finally reached the end of the line and, to be perfectly honest, I think I'm okay with that. This season, I haven't felt the same sense of anticipation from week to week. "Isn't there something I'm supposed to do on Wednesdays? Oh. Right.Project Runway." This near-apathy is a far cry from the screaming that had ensued in my house when Wendy Pepper moved into the final three of Season One or when Daniel Vosovic presented in Fashion Week for Season Two. That said, I was pretty satisfied with the top three because they really were the best of the bunch, even though that bunch wasn't so great to begin with.
I really didn't want to like Victoria Beckham. In photos, she never smiles. She is always impeccably dressed and frighteningly skinny. She was Posh Spice, but she's more famous for marrying David Beckham. She always seemed like a bitch, quite frankly. But, I am embarrassed to say that I found her adorable after watching last night's special, Victoria Beckham: Coming to America.
As if to completely distance themselves from their former "Music First" ideology and forget about music-related programming forever, VH1 has another reality show in the works. It is called America The Ugly, inspired by ABC's Ugly Betty, and will attempt to find out what happens when real unattractive, unstylish women try to make it in the fashion and modeling world. As if that experience alone wouldn't be soul-crushing enough, VH1 has thrown in a real-life Wilhelmina, The Agency's Becky Southwick, to guarantee maximum bitchiness.
The creators of Lost are thankful for that black-screen Sopranos finale.
Maybe Victoria Beckham isn't so mysterious after all. The reality show that was supposed to let us get to know the "real her" just was shortened from six episodes to one.
Victoria Beckham is funny? This London newspaper is confirming rumors that Victoria (perhaps better known to Americans as Posh Spice) has signed a deal to star in her own reality show for NBC. It'll be all about her move from Europe to the United States, as her husband, soccer star David Beckham, starts up with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Her manager, Simon Fuller, tells the press that it's a tongue-in-cheek show because, hey, "She's a funny lady".
Now, I don't know if you look at People magazine's Star Tracks every day like I do, but "fun" would probably be the last word I would use to describe Victoria Beckham. First of all, she never smiles. She also appears extremely uptight and full of herself (more than your typical celebrity). Maybe the ice-cold stares are a mask for a woman with a very dry wit. Her manager says it's a great opportunity for people to discover her personality. I have to admit that I am intrigued because I was pretty positive she was a robot.