At 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. Eastern, Lisa Vanderpump of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" will be here live on latimes.com, taking your questions and ready to talk about the first part of the dramatic reunion, which aired Thursday night. Just in case, go ahead and type in your e-mail address below for a reminder. Want to know about Jiggy the Pom? Cedric the Not-So-Permanent Houseguest? Her take on Camille v. Kyle? Here's what might be your only chance to ask.
— Rick Rojas
Charlie Sheen was released from the hospital Thursday night and will be returning to the set of “Two and a Half Men” next week, his publicist confirmed.
Sheen is at home resting from a hernia condition that landed him in the hospital Thursday morning.
Stan Rosenfield, Sheen’s publicist, said the star would report to the set of his hit CBS comedy on Tuesday, when the show returns from its scheduled hiatus.
--Yvonne Villarreal and Scott Collins
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Perhaps you have heard of the Kardashians. They are just your average all-American clan of talented, unassuming and privacy-loving Southern Californians. Like the rest of us working stiffs, the Kardashians were just trying to keep their modest little ladies’ boutique afloat when, via an “accidentally” leaked sex tape, some peripheral connections to actual celebrities and several thousand public appearances and tabloid cover stories, they were thrust against their will into the national spotlight.
Or so they would have you believe. Two of the ubiquitous sisters stopped by “Piers Morgan” Thursday night to promote themselves, or, technically speaking, their latest reality television venture, “Kourtney and Kim Take Manhattan.”
Morgan asked the sisters whether they worry about overexposure, which is a little like asking Conan O’Brien if he worries about being tall. Kim insisted that she and her sisters are just misunderstood workaholics. They like to work; can they help it that “work,” for them, consists of club appearances, photo shoots, and regular trips to Miami?
Kim claimed that the family is careful not to commit to too many projects (read: endorse too many things). “We only take on projects that we love and are passionate about,” she insisted. (A partial list of things the Kardashians are, apparently, passionate about: vanilla cupcake mix; laxative-laden weight-loss pills; dubious debit cards; butt-shaping sneakers by both Reebok and Skechers; overpriced perfume.)
In another segment, the totally-not-overexposed sisters stood next to cardboard cutouts of themselves and pointed out which parts of their anatomy are real, and which ones aren’t. Kourtney expressed embarrassment at her uneven bustline. “This boob is bulging against and this one isn't,” she said in her distinctively slow, Valley-Girl up-speak.
Morgan also asked the sisters the million-dollar question. “If you were to come on [“America’s Got Talent”] and I was to ask you, honestly, what is your talent, what would you say?”
Alpha-sister Kim enumerated the many gifts she and her sisters share. “Marketing is a skill and I think that ... you know, fashion as well, each sister has been a stylist at some point.”
Morgan pushed for more specificity. “What do you put on your passport?”
Kim replied, “Sometimes I just write [something] really random and say 'teacher.'”
Teaching? Like, how random!
-- Meredith Blake
"I think we found The One today," Steven Tyler said, moments from the end of “American Idol” Thursday night, as he left day two of Season 10’s Nashville auditions. “We found her. Oh, yeah, we did."
He didn’t mention a name, but we can probably safely assume that Tyler was talking about Lauren Alaina, the night’s final contestant, with the moving backstory that comes with that slot. And though, of course, with more auditions in more cities, Hollywood and lots more singing to go, one can never know for sure, the judges (and the producers’) current anointed choice does seem worthy.
To quote Tyler again, “She is beyondo cute.”
She is …
Adorable: Tumbling blondish-brownish curls; a glowing, cheekbone-enhanced smile; lilting Georgia accent; expertly done makeup; flip-flops.
Totally charming: When Jennifer Lopez said she was moved to tears by her singing, Alaina said, “Don’t cry, you’re too pretty. You’ll mess up your makeup.” And having run outside to bring in her parents (“I’m last,” she notes, considerately), she revealed that their favorite song was one of Tyler’s (Aerosmith’s "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing"), and not only confidently performed it, but also generously looped him into a duet.
On Friday, CNN announced that NBC News' Washington bureau chief Mark Whitaker will join CNN Worldwide as executive vice president and managing editor. Starting February 14, he will lead editorial coverage across CNN’s domestic and international networks and digital platform, directing the overall approach and tone of the network's reporting.
Whitaker joined NBC News in 2007, and suceeded the late Tim Russert a year later as senior vice president and Washington bureau chief for NBC News. Before that, he was editor of Newsweek from 1998-2006 and also worked as vice president and editor-in-chief of new ventures in the digital division of The Washington Post Company.
“Our aim is to position a strong managing editor, working closely with the head of each CNN network and Web site, to generate reporting and analysis that consistently stands out, sparks conversation and captures the true meaning and relevance of the events in the news,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide, in a statement. “Mark is a distinguished journalist and news executive who is experienced in leading large enterprises, and I am pleased that he will help direct our long-term editorial approach and strategy.”
“CNN plays an invaluable role in television and digital journalism as a source of non-partisan reporting and analysis, global perspective and groundbreaking documentaries,” said Whitaker in a statement. “I am excited to be joining Jim and his team in advancing that proud legacy.”
Just minutes after CNN reported its news, NBC announced that NBC News' Deputy Washington Bureau chief Antoine Sanfuentes will replace Whitaker. His responsibilities will include bureau management, administration and editorial affairs, and maintaining executive oversight of “Meet the Press.”
"Antoine's inclusive management style combined with his expert knowledge and experience make him the ideal leader to guide the Washington Bureau into the next phase," said NBC News President Steve Capus in a statement. "He is a true news producer through and through, with an outstanding dedication to integrity and professionalism in the field. He started his career in our DC newsroom and knows both the team and the political beat better than anyone."
--Melissa Maerz
Photo: Mark Whitaker. Credit: Associated Press.
Giant bees, drug references and Chevy Chase -– it’s like the ’70s all over again. All we need is the rest of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players and we’d have the makings of a classic “Saturday Night Live” skit, although not nearly as funny in this case. Maybe you had to be there.
Anyway, Annie (Alison Brie) gathers the Greendale gang for an anti-drug play. The dress rehearsal buzz starts with the suitably striped Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi) trading dialogue. Enter Pierce (Chase), dressed as a giant marijuana leaf, demanding lines, any lines. You see, in the ’50s, he was “the Gerber baby of moist towelettes” and he wants his part here beefed up. Into the midst of this “Community” chaos bursts Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) in his own bee costume. Does he want to join the Greendale Anti-Drug Players? Not at all -- he’s headed for the airport Ramada. Why? One can only imagine.
Chang (Ken Jeong) wanders through with a mixtape for Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) -- “I hope you like Johnny Gill” -- after all, he may or may not be the father of her unborn child. Shirley wants to forget that their Halloween hookup ever happened and pretends he’s invisible. And not because he’s Chinese, but because he’s crazy. Good call there, Shirley.
Britta (Gillian Jacobs), meanwhile, has been getting text messages from a guy, but she is so 20th century and not into the whole flirting-by-text scene. She unwisely leaves her cellphone within easy reach of her favorite verbal sparring partner, Jeff (Joel McHale), who pretends he’s Britta and starts replying to a guy named Marcus. It being Jeff, the messages are on the risqué side. As are Marcus’ replies. Uh, oh.
Pierce catches Annie digging soda cans out of the Greendale trash, follows her to the recycler and then to her tiny apartment, a “monument to self-reliance” that is located above a “marital aids store.” Turns out her mom cut her off when she went through rehab and she’s short on rent money. The well-heeled Pierce whips out his checkbook and Annie accepts. Bad move, Annie. Pierce is soon rewriting the whole play, and what can Annie do but let him?
And then we’re on to the main event, with the Greendale Ready for Prime Time Players spreading their drug-free message to a bunch of bored middle-schoolers armed with baseballs and hopped up on Charleston Chews from the college candy machines. Among them is Britta’s young nephew Marcus. Oops! Cool Cat Jeff tries to fix things with Marcus, even texting him as he’s lying “dead” in a coffin, as Abed and Troy buzz "Taps." By the way, the best line of the night goes to Dean Pelton: “Well, that answers my question. Jeff Winger is sexy, even in a coffin.”
Could things get any wackier? Let’s ask Pierce, who’s added sparklers and a rainbow wig to his marijuana get-up and taken over the show, much to the delight of the kids, who are soon yelling, “I love you, Drugs!” and “We want Drugs!” Backstage, the gang discovers that Pierce bought his way in and that Annie sold out her message. So Annie fires Pierce and the gang fires Annie.
Drama or no drama, the show must go on -– and it’s Chang to the rescue with an over-the-top anti-drug message. But the kids aren’t buying it and quickly turn on him. Somehow, Dean Pelton puts a good spin on all this anarchy, congratulating Annie on her chemical-dependency program. Oh, and is there any way he can have the bee costumes? Then it’s apologies all around and Jeff buys Marcus’ silence. By the way, has anybody seen Britta’s bra?
Extra credit: It’s 2 a.m. and Annie’s trying to get some shut-eye. But that’s impossible when you live above Dildopolis and the night-owl deals are being broadcast on a loudspeaker. Cinnamon biscotti, anyone?
As episodes go, this one was so-so. It was a nice nod to Chase’s past on “SNL” and it had some good bits, but overall it left me flat. Maybe if I were more of a fan of Chase -– he was my least favorite in his era on “SNL” and he's my least favorite on “Community” -- I’d feel different. What do you think?
-- Alison Dingeldein
Photo: Donald Glover, left, Chevy Chase and Danny Pudi on "Community." Credit: Chris Haston / NBC
After months of anticipation, Kabletown finally assumed control of NBC on Thursday night's "30 Rock." It was a bittersweet moment for Jack, who stood on the sidewalk outside Rockefeller Center and watched as the neon sign atop the "giant robot penis" of a building switched from the iconic GE to the strange new Kabletown logo. (Was it a Circle K reference? Or just an accident?) Somewhere in the distance -- or maybe just at St. Patrick's Cathedral across the street -- mournful bells chimed the hour. Jack was in a reflective mood, looking back on his 30 years of service and comparing himself to "stout Cortez," a character from a Keats poem (as one does).
But Jack quickly shakes off his melancholy mood and switches to attack mode. He's going to score a ratings coup for the network, just to stick it to his new Kabletown bosses. Despite Liz's assertion that "we are in a new golden age of scripted television," Jack knows the real truth: that reality TV is king. People really want to watch "a woman with hundruplets, a live execution, 'The Real Transvestite Hoarders of Orange County Penitentiary.'" The highest-rated events of the last five years have been disaster telethons, but they're usually a ratings wash for the networks, which air them simultaneously. Jack's idea? Pre-tape a telethon, one that anticipates every conceivable natural disaster -- and a few inconceivable ones too -- get some A-list celebrities to agree to appear in it, and air it as quickly as possible.
Naturally, Jenna is happy to sing the telethon's generic anthem, which urges listeners to "help the people the thing that happened happened to." He even gets a genuine superstar, Robert DeNiro, to pre-tape dozens of messages of support for the future victims of a slew of potential calamities, by threatening to expose the fact that DeNiro is actually from England, not New York.
So when a typhoon hits a tiny South Pacific island of Mago, Jack is thrilled, and orders the telethon to air immediately. The plan goes awry when it turns out the island in question is owned by Mel Gibson, and so the proceeds from the telethon will go toward rebuilding the luxurious estate where he and his house guest, Jon Gosselin, are staying. The joke, of course, is that there couldn't be two less sympathetic people on Earth; this is not the rustic island populated with brave, shorts-wearing policemen that Jack had envisioned. The telethon debacle was a very funny riff on the media's disaster fetishism, a jaundiced take on the emptiness of so much celebrity activism. Haiti, Katrina, super-intelligent sharks--who cares? Just put me on the TV.
This episode of "30 Rock" was an especially meta one, all about reality television, showbiz dealings and our weird celebrity culture. Tracy is being followed by the production crew on his wife's reality show, but this puts him in an awkward position. He's also campaigning for an Oscar -- and, most important, the private island he'll be able to buy once he wins the award -- so he has to remain likable at all times. The problem? Good behavior does not make for entertaining "celebreality." Tracy's also fighting with Liz, who's sick of her star (literally) phoning in his performances. How will they hash out their disagreement with the cameras rolling? By fighting to the tune of popular songs that the producers cannot afford to buy. Even for "30 Rock," this was a spectacularly convoluted and self-referential chain of events. This storyline teetered on the brink of "just too much," but was saved by this exchange:
Tracy: I have no reason to hug her other than my love of having boobs pressed against me
Liz: If I hugged you, I would angle it so you would get no boob.
Tracy: And I would anticipate your angling and I would get there ... I would get there!
The third storyline in this episode was easily the weakest. The TGS writing staff decided to come up with their own plan in case of apocalypse. It turns out that Lutz is the only one with a car -- or so he says -- and they all shower him with gifts so that he'll give them a lift out of Manhattan once the rapture comes. As much as I love "30 Rock," the show's glaring weakness has always been the (fictional) writing room; I feel myself getting a little impatient every time Liz, Jack or even Kenneth enters it. It's just full of too many unformed, one-note characters, like Twofer and Lutz. I guess not even "30 Rock" can always be perfect.
After last year's werewolf heavy mid-season finale, my attention was on Tyler (Michael Trevino) and his growing relationship with Caroline (Candice Accola). But I think “The Descent” really belonged to Rose (Lauren Cohan) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) as each struggled with and confronted their humanity. Rose's descent into madness, in particular, gave way to an almost philosophical like exploration into humanity. Fittingly, Rose is one of the most human vampires I think we've seen on the show so far. She embraces and longs for that part of her past. She doesn't like to take human lives. And she connects with Damon on a human level, not a vampire level, which made their scenes in this episode so fantastic. Even though they've slept together, there's not so much a sexual or even romantic chemistry between the characters. They connect on a much deeper level as friends. She sees the real Damon, the nice guy, even when he insists he likes being mean. If she had lived, I imagine Rose and Damon would have come to have the kind of bond that she and Trevor (Trent Ford) did.
When Rose's escalating insanity from the wolf bite wasn't tricking her into thinking Elena was Katherine (Nina Dobrev) and trying to kill her, her insight also got to Elena, who represents a beacon of humanity, “a do-gooder” as Damon puts it. “You really are determined to die, aren't you? At least I ran. You're not even trying,” Rose said. Is Elena giving up too easily? Should she be trying harder to find a way out instead of making a deal with Elijah (Daniel Gillies)? It's hard to imagine being able to outrun Klaus. In the end, he either kills you or you die trying to outrun him as Rose and Trevor did. But then Rose basically admits that she wishes she hadn't run away from life. “So much time wasted. I wish I hadn't been so afraid,” she said. Hmm, could she also be talking about Elena's feelings for Damon?
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Jan. 23 - 29 in PDF format
TV listings for the week of Jan. 23 - 29 in PDF format (alternate link)
Weekly TV Listings can also be found at: www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv
The Early Show (N) 7 a.m. KCBS
Today (N) 7 a.m. KNBC
Good Morning America (N) 7 a.m. KABC
Regis & Kelly Brooke Shields; Bryan Adams. (N) 9 a.m. KABC
The View Lorraine Bracco; Robert Verdi. (N) 10 a.m. KABC
The Doctors Diet challenge. (N) 11 a.m. KCAL
The Talk Jennifer Love Hewitt; chef Guy Fieri. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS
Oprah Winfrey Fran Drescher and her ex. (N) 3 p.m. KABC
Dr. Phil Dr. Philip Zimbardo. (N) 4 p.m. KCBS
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Shemar Moore; Alex Pettyfer; Amos Lee performs. (N) 4 p.m. KNBC
The Dr. Oz Show Holistic health; numbness. (N) 5 p.m. KTTV
Washington Week John Dickerson; Jackie Calmes; Naftali Bendavid; Susan Davis. (N) 8 p.m. KOCE
Real Time Will Cain; former Canadian prime minister Kim Campbell; Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). 10 and 11 p.m. HBO
Tavis Smiley Director Tom Hooper. 11 p.m. KOCE
Charlie Rose Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner. (N) 11 p.m. KVCR and midnight KOCE
Late Show Kelsey Grammer. 11:35 p.m. KCBS
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Justin Bieber; Jay Mohr; the Band Perry performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KNBC
Jimmy Kimmel Live Sandra Oh. 12:06 a.m. KABC
The Late Late Show Helena Bonham Carter; Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Jan. 23 - 29 in PDF format
TV listings for the week of Jan. 23 - 29 in PDF format (alternate link)
Weekly TV Listings can also be found at: www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv
SERIES
Smallville: Clark, Lois, Oliver and Dinah (Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Justin Hartley, Alaina Huffman) all have flashbacks of Chloe (Allison Mack) after being released by the VRA, and Clark and Dinah suspect that Chloe is a traitor in this new episode (8 p.m. KTLA).
Working Class: This new comedy premieres with back-to-back episodes (8 and 8:30 p.m. CMT).
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: Batiatus (John Hannah) enlists the aid of Lucretia and Gaia (Lucy Lawless, Jaime Murray) and a group of gladiator recruits to put into action a devious plan he has concocted, in this new episode (10 p.m. Starz).
Portlandia: Kyle MacLachlan guest stars in this new episode (10:30 p.m. IFC).
MOVIES
Adventureland: An amusement park is the main backdrop for this 2009 coming-of-age story from director Greg Mottola. Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Ryan Reynolds star as workers with lowly jobs at an amusement park (4 p.m. Showtime).
The Dark Knight: The untimely death of costar Heath Ledger amplified the buzz about this Batman chapter long before the 2008 film opened. Christian Bale reprises his role as the Caped Crusader from “Batman Begins.” Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal also star (8 p.m. TNT).
SPORTS
Winter X Games: (9 a.m. ESPN2 and 4 p.m. ESPN).
Pro basketball: The Sacramento Kings visit the Lakers (7:30 p.m. FSN).
Tennis: Australian Open, Women's Final (Midnight ESPN2).
He’s climbed to the top of the advertising industry, and made a name for himself, again, on the raucous world of cable news. Now, Donny Deutsch is apparently ready to take on the problems in your love life.
“It’s really just helping women understand guys,” Deutsch said of his live call-in special, “Love Calling,” which airs at 11 p.m. on Bravo. "It's going to be really helpful, fun, and start some dialog between couples."
He said it’s a new take on an old format: whether it’s a phone call, a tweet, or on Skype, Deutsch cast himself as the lucky oracle who has managed to figure out both men and women think, ready to answer viewer's questions . He’s a guy’s guy, he said, but he’s also worked with many women in his career and has daughters. “Frankly,” Deutsch said, “I’ve been doing this my whole life.”
Although “Love Calling” is only slated as of now as a one-time special, Deutsch said he sees potentia l for the show to develop into something more. Deutsch made a name for himself as an advertising executive and has run his own successful ad agency; in recent years, he’s also popped up as a television personality. He had a nightly talk show on CNBC, “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch,” that was canceled in December 2008, and has appeared as a commentator on the “Today Show,” CNN HLN and MSNBC.
Considering his show premieres after the first part of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” reunion, Show Tracker asked Deutsch to give a preview of “Love Calling” by offering advice for the two single housewives.
Camille Grammer, who has recently split from her newly engaged husband, Kelsey, should keep her children in mind, Deutsch said. When she’s ready to go back into the dating field -- and she’s hinted to being back in the fold in a recent “Watch What Happens Live” appearance -- Deutsch she ought to consider, “How does this man come into my kids’ life?”
If she wants to chase after the bad-boy type, or someone not ready to handle family life with children, “you have to change your behavior,” he said.
But Kim Richards has more freedom, since her children are older. “I think all bets are off,” Deutsch said. An older man, a younger man, differences in background or religion -- in her case, she can overlook differences if it’s the right fit. “It’s time to throw caution to the wind.”
-- Rick Rojas
No, your TV isn't catching some errant signal from 1989: Colin Quinn and Jerry Seinfeld are really coming back to the small screen together. On Thursday, HBO announced that it will shoot “Colin Quinn Long Story Short,” a Broadway show directed by Seinfeld, for a special that will air on the network in April. The one-man show finds Quinn condensing world history into a 75-minute performance that includes his takes on Caesar (the original Italian mobster!) and Antigone (who apparently paved the way for Snooki). Yes, the same guy who once gave us singing lessons on MTV is now teaching us about ancient Greece on HBO. Awesome. Quinn's fellow "Remote Control" alums Adam Sandler and Denis Leary have already gotten their second acts — now maybe he'll get his.
— Melissa Maerz
Photo: Colin Quinn. Credit: Charles Sykes / Associated Press.
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