One of the fun games to play when it comes to TV shows is "What If." What if Mickey Rooney had been cast as Archie Bunker on All in the Family? What would have happened to the show (and to Rooney)? That's one of interesting revelations (though that one has been known for quite some time) in the new book Mickey Rooney as Archie Bunker and Other TV Almosts by Eila Mell. It lists a bunch of actors and actresses who almost got roles we know and love. For example, Jenna Fischer (The Office) tried out for the role of Sydney Bristow on Alias, but was deemed not sexy enough for the part (as we told you about before). Whitney Houston didn't want the role of Bill Cosby's daughter on The Cosby Show so the role went to Lisa Bonet. And Leonardo DiCaprio almost played David Hasselhoff's son on Baywatch (the role went to Brandon Call and later Jeremy Jackson). That one isn't surprising at all, considering DiCaprio did work on Growing Pains and other shows.
Okay, I admit it. I like reality TV. Or maybe I should say unscripted TV. These days the parsing of the term "reality" has become as much a discussion as the genre itself. And don't kill me for calling it a genre. It is. It's here to stay. As long as producers can come up with ideas that make money and networks give them air time, reality/non-fiction/unscripted television is going to continue to proliferate the tube. 
Contrary to many, many reports that have been circulating this past week (including one from TV Guide's Michael Ausiello 
Just in time for Mother's Day, Buzz Sugar lists some memorable 
Shocker! Whitney Houston, who provided the world with wonderful catchphrases such as "Hell to the no!" and "Crack is wack", has filed for legal separation from Bobby Brown. The couple, whose tumultuous marriage was showcased on Bravo's Being Bobby Brown, has been married for 14 years. If you've ever seen their show, you probably question the validity of the separation because Whitney tends to whine and pout and go off the deep end when she's mad at Bobby or doesn't get her way. So, a legal separation might just be a tactic... or the first step towards divorce. The court papers show Whitney and the couple's 13-year old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, moved out of their Georgia home and to Laguna Hills, CA.
There were lots of pretty obnoxious and tacky couples in the
"news" this year. Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Tom Cruise and Katie
Holmes. Paris Hilton and whatever Greek guy she's engaged to this week. But, as far as Star magazine is concerned,
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown out-tacky all of them. They selected the stars of 
Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season
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