TVSquad

Want to get your hands on TiVo's top notch PVR software, but don't want to give up video on demand and other services provided by your local cable company? So far your only choice is to move to the Boston area and sign up for Comcast with TiVo service. That's the only market where Comcast or any other cable company is currently offering a set top box with TiVo software.

But word on the street is that Comcast will be expanding its TiVo offering soon. EngadgetHD reports that a Portland, Oregon Comcast customer says two different Comcast cable installers told him that TiVo service would be an option soon, as in this summer.

Keep in mind, you don't get a TiVo box, just TiVo software on your regular Comcast box if you sign up for this service. And you get the privilege of paying $3 extra per month for that software. But if you're tired of staring at Comcast's generic program guide and menu system, $3 might seem like a small price to pay.

There have been a lot of Muppet projects in and out of development over the last couple years or so. Some came to fruition, some never quite made it, and others still remain in limbo.

There has been talk for awhile now about the possibility of a brand new, primetime Muppet series, a rumor TV Guide recently perpetuated, although Jim Henson Studios denies such a project exists. Citing an inside source, TV Guide writes that the new series would use modern technology to allow the Muppets to actually get up and walk around.

So Gizmodo's fanning the flames of the rumor mill by reporting that TiVo's could be prepping a $300 high definition personal video recorder. Sure, the Series3 HD TiVo launched at $800, but now TiVo's offered it at promotional prices as low as $499. Is it too much of a stretch to think the company can offer a stripped down model for $300?

Maybe. Here's the thing. While TiVo CEO Tom Rogers did say back in March that the company is looking into a lower-cost PVR, I'm just not sure we can expect them to release a device anytime soon that's going to dramatically undercut the sales of the their existing box. Because if you could pay $300 or $800 for boxes that do almost the same thing, which would you choose?

If you don't like spoilers, or even possible spoilers, just stop reading now. Seriously. If I see one comment about how I ruined the season finale of CSI for you... well, the other readers will ridicule you.

Everybody on board? Good.

TV Guide's "Scoopermodel" Ausiello is doing the math and he's estimating that the series is going to kill off Jorja Fox's character, Sara Sidle. There are three reasons: 1) Fox's contract is up next month and she hasn't signed a new one, 2) "Sources" say she's bored after seven years on the series and is ready for something new, and 3) Sara Sidle disappears in the season finale (also, her relationship with Grissom becomes public and the miniature killer returns).

Personally, I'd like to see a beloved character get killed off, but this will do. Someone definitely needs to go from that show, and when Jonathan and I suggested killing off Nick Stokes last season, a lot of TV Squad readers said they'd rather bid farewell to Sidle. It'll make an interesting 8th season for Grissom if she's dead. The season finale airs May 17th.

That's the rumor, anyway.

While no official announcement has been made, Web scuttlebutt has it that a new Simpsons movie ride will be added to Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. The ride will be similar to the Back to the Future ride in that folks will sit in a stationary car while a film is projected before them to give the illusion that they're traveling through the town of Springfield. Some reports even say that the ride will replace the Back to the Future ride, which closed down last March. The new ride has allegedly been given the cumbersome name of "Travel with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie." Rumor has it the ride will open in the summer of 2008. In the meantime, you can do what I do and just run in place in front of your TV while playing The Simpsons Road Rage video game. It's not quite the same, but it is a great way to burn calories.

The Daily Mirror newspaper in the UK is claiming that Scottish actor David Tennant has signed a £1million deal to continue playing the lead role in Doctor Who for a fourth season.

Given that the fourth season was only confirmed in the last few days by the show's executive producer, Russell T. Davies, it doesn't seem unlikely that news of Tennant's committment (or abandonment) would soon follow (especially since it helps keep The Doctor in the headlines in the run up to the new series starting on 31 March).

That's what Starpulse is reporting, anyway, citing "a source" that claims studios are "falling over themselves" to create a biopic about the late actress, model and reality TV star. I don't pretend to understand how this crazy machine called Hollywood operates, but are studios really in a mad dash to make this supposed biopic? If one is being planned, I would assume it would be some kind of made-for-TV affair, and that Theron is far too popular right now to even consider such a thing.

Let's play casting director: who do you guys think should play Anna Nicole Smith? I keep thinking Dolly Parton for two obvious reasons, but Parton's just too classy in my mind. They could always create a CGI Anna, too. If no one takes this alleged role they might have to resort to that.

Gizmodo's reporting that TiVo could be planning a major price drop for the Series3 recorder, currently priced at $800.

Of course, you have to take their source with a grain silo's worth of salt: a customer service rep mentioned this to a Gizmodo reader. Because the customer service reps always know what they're talking about. And in fact, even if the service rep knew that a price decrease was on its way, why would that person tell a potential customer who could be ready to buy a TiVo today?

Now, don't get me wrong, I want to see TiVo Series3 units sold for under $400 as much as the next guy (sure, I know that's an unrealistic figure, but seeing as we're fueling the rumor mill, I figured why stop at the more likely $600). But come on Gizmodo. If you're going to call something a rumor, at least find a more credible source than a guy who heard from a guy, even if the email did come from someone's "work email of a well known mega corp."

Will Grey's Anatomy soon be George-less? MSNBC.com's The Scoop reports that a source says T.R. Knight is upset by how the network/show handled the aftermath of co-star Isaiah Washington's uses of a homophobic slur.

According to the source, Knight was asked to keep quiet about the initial incident, which happened on set. But then, Washington caused a furor by using the word again at the Golden Globes while trying to deny he'd ever used it in the first place.

Rumor has it that Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly mastermind Joss Whedon will be directing an episode of The Office. Considering that Scranton is situated right over a Hellmouth, it makes perfect sense. The rumor first surfaced on both Televisionary and FilmIck, but has been confirmed by Joss himself over on Whedonesque. (Scroll way down to see his two cents.)

As connoisseurs of the Whedon oeuvre may remember, Joss got his start writing for the sitcom Rosanne. He earned his television directing chops care of Buffy, Angel and Firefly. What should we expect from this most inspired of pairings - long master shots through the entire office, sequences done entirely in silence and lots of Pam's feet? Probably not, but I bet we're in for at least one guaranteed heartbreaker of a moment between Pam and Jim. Whedon's awfully good at bringing the funny and the waterworks, but so long as he's not actually writing the episode, I feel relatively safe. I wouldn't want anyone to die on us. It's not that kind of show so don't get any ideas, Whedon.

Thanks to reader Brendon Connelly for the tip.

You won't believe what I overheard in the bathroom at Hyde the other night. I was mixing my Strawberry Quik together with a half ounce of the white stuff - pure as the driven snow - when The Animal comes in and announces that she's making another TV show. Alright, that's how I imagine rumors get started in LA. The way they actually get started is some production company (or prankster) posts a Craigslist ad, and it gets picked up by Perez Hilton. That's how word got out that Britney may be looking to film a reality show for MTV. I personally don't believe a word of it, but you can read the ad for yourself at the Gossip Gangsta's site.

Reality Blurred is reporting that ads for production assistants have popped in Australia for a possible Real World production down under. While the ads aren't always the best indication that The Real World will be taking up residence in your town, they do come courtesy of the show's production company Bunim-Murray.

The Real World hasn't been abroad since their lackluster London and Paris seasons, but seeing how dramatically the show has changed since the seminal Las Vegas season of debauchery, a trip to Sydney is bound to play like an over-privileged college kid's junior year abroad. They'll be lucky if the brain trust they send down there does anything but marvel at the lower drinking age and the availability of beer other than Foster's.

The ongoing saga of the Sex and the City film reminds me of the Carrie and Mr. Big relationship. Yes. No. Yes. No. Just make a decision already. Last June, Kat reported that it just wasn't happening. But wait, things change. The latest up in the roller coaster production ride comes from a rumor over at OK magazine. They have a story up that says, "...substantial negotiations have opened with each of the star's teams..."

That's a long way from actually making the movie, but a step in the right direction. The thing I don't get... is there really a market out there for the Sex and the City movie? I quit watching around the time that Miranda got pregnant because I just lost interest. Unless the story for the movie is going to be that Carrie and Charlotte have given up on men and now spend their days frolicking naked in Charlotte's apartment, I can think of dozens of TV shows I would rather see jump to the big screen. Is it just me? Would you go see the Sex and the City movie?

[ via digital spy ]

Just got a tip into TV Squad HQ; there is scuttlebutt that NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly is going to be fired sometime later this afternoon. Apparently, Reilly's failure to create a hit for NBC during his tenure is going to cost him his job.

If you recall, Reilly programmed a number of expensive, lavishly-done pilots for this fall season, like Kidnapped, Friday Night Lights, and Studio 60, all of which are tanking in the ratings. That along with a history of tentative decision-making was his undoing. The announcement will be made this afternoon; expect to see it in the trades tomorrow.

(Update 11:49 ET: No announcement tonight, as our tipster told us would happen. We contacted NBC for a response to this rumor and they didn't confirm or deny it. Guess we'll just keep waiting.)

(Update 10/19 8:23 PM: Well, folks, looks like the rumor -- as with all the past rumors of Reilly's firing -- didn't pan out, since he spoke at a panel of network heads earlier today. Our tipster has been thrown into TVS HQ's moat. Let's hope said tipster can avoid the crocs and piranha...)

Despite so-called rumors, singer Diana Ross will not be doing a cameo role on ABC's Desperate Housewives, nor was she ever approached by anyone involved with the show about doing such a cameo. I've done some exhaustive research to find out just why the creators of Desperate Housewives never approached Ross about appearing on the series, and after speaking with experts, going over large amounts of data, and meditating naked inside a cave, I came to the conclusion that no one cares about Diana Ross anymore. Although, if she wanted to keep at least one toe in the spotlight she should just make up rumors about being on other shows, too. Next she could try denying she was ever asked to appear on Meet the Press to discuss exit strategies in Iraq. If she were on Meet the Press I'm sure advice to president Bush would be to stop the conflict (in the name of love). Lame joke, I know, but it's not like I had much to work with.