ne-yo-related stories
Posted Aug 29th 2009 11:35AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Video, Music and Variety, Celebrities, Awards, Reality-Free

How do you pump up the viewership for a music award show on a network that used to be all about music but lately has been all about reality TV and nasty scandals? Well, apparently MTV has decided to go retro and keep it funny. To promote the upcoming
2009 Video Awards, MTV has created a West Side Story parody, not too different from the brilliant solo turn by
Neil Patrick Harris at last June's Tony Awards.
The commercial is a mixed bag. Taylor Swift proves that she has the real goods as a singer, doing the toughest part of the "Tonight" quintet. Ne-Yo's dance turn is more of a salute to Michael Jackson than an homage to composers Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. And Katy Perry's rooftop bit reinforces the fact that she's funny and playful.
Continue reading MTV's star-studded West Side Story parody
Posted Nov 13th 2008 1:00AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, Music and Variety, Reality-Free

Once upon a time the airwaves were filled with TV variety shows. There were stars like Sonny and Cher and Donny and Marie, and further back,
The Ed Sullivan Show and
The Carol Burnett Show.
Well, Rosie O'Donnell remembers that kind of TV entertainment, and she thinks it's what America wants now.
As Bob reported not long ago, NBC is giving her an hour to see if anyone agrees, the night before Thanksgiving,
November 26, from 9-10 p.m. ET, Rosie Live will air live from the Shubert Theater in New York.
The news today is that Rosie has booked
Ne-Yo and
Alanis Morissette to provide the musical portion of the program. The plans for the rest of the hour include a topical monologue, which Rosie should have no problem pulling off because she did one every day on her daytime talk show.
Continue reading Rosie Live...or how NBC is trying to revive TV variety shows
Posted Jul 4th 2007 5:59PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, TV Royalty, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show
Charlie Rose: a tribute to Beverly Sills, who died earlier this week
- The Late Show With David Letterman: Rosie Perez and Dr. Dog (repeat)
- Jay Leno: Thomas Haden Church and Ne-Yo (repeat)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Bernie Mac, Bob Odenkirk, and Fiction Plane (repeat)
- Tavis Smiley: Chevy Chase (repeat)
- Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Robin Williams and Gilde Ensemble (repeat)
- The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Wanda Sykes, Tina Brown, and Bobby Valentino (repeat)
- Last Call With Carson Daly: Henry Rollins and The Bird and the Bee (repeat)
Posted May 11th 2007 6:04PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Late Night, TV Royalty, Programming, Celebrities, Talk Show
Charlie Rose: Michael Beschloss
- The Late Show With David Letterman: Charles Grodin and Jake Johannsen
- Jay Leno: Governor Bill Richardson, Julie Scardina, and Miranda Lambert
- Jimmy Kimmel Live: Matthew Fox and Kelly Clarkson
- Tavis Smiley: Peter Eisner and Ian Somerhalder
- Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Antonio Banderas, Sarah Chalke, and The Avett Brothers
- The Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Larry The Cable Guy, Maureen McCormick, and Montgomery Gentry
- Last Call With Carson Daly: David Allen Grier and Ne-Yo