Midnight

[imgleft] [/imgleft] NBC's late-nightmare is over. The network announced Thursday (Jan. 21) that Conan O'Brien will leave "The Tonight Show" and NBC. O'Brien is expected to tape his last "Tonight" on Friday (Jan. 22). NBC and O'Brien agreed to a $45 million deal wherein Conan receives $33 million under the condition that he not return to television for eight months. There is also no provision that says his $33 million will go down by the amount of his new television deal, as was previously speculated. The rest of the $45 million will go towards the severance package for his "Tonight Show" staff members. Jay Leno will return to hosting "The Tonight Show" after the Winter Olympics. The official deal comes after almost two weeks of sturm und drang about the future of O'Brien and Leno, and to at least some degree of the network as a whole. NBC said Sunday, Jan. 10 that the prime-time "Jay Leno Show," which had pulled weak ratings and damaged affiliates' local news numbers, would end, and network chairman Jeff Gaspin floated a plan to give Leno a half-hour show at 11:35 p.m., pushing "The Tonight Show" to just after midnight and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" to 1 a.m. Two days later, however, O'Brien released a statement saying he didn't want to move to midnight. "I sincerely believe that delaying 'The Tonight Show' into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting," he said. "'The Tonight Show' at 12:05 simply isn't 'The Tonight Show.'" That kicked off a round of sniping that played out in the two hosts' monologues -- as well as those of David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson -- intense negotiations and lots of reports about when O'Brien would be doing his last show. Negotiations dragged on as NBC and O'Brien's camp hammered out details, with reports of "it'll be done tomorrow" trickling out for almost a week. Now it's done and Conan O'Brien will receive $33 million for seven months' work. Not a bad deal, though we'd wager he still feels pretty raw about the whole thing. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related Conan O'Brien is Zap2it readers' favorite late night host 'Jay Leno Show' leaving primetime in February Photo credit: NBC

[imgleft] [/imgleft] The young lawyers of "The Deep End" are bright, ambitious, attractive, neurotic, scared, prone to sleeping with co-workers and in awe of/deeply afraid of their bosses. In other words, they're almost exactly like the doctors of "Grey's Anatomy" circa season one, but with suits instead of scrubs. And that's the chief issue with "The Deep End," which premieres at 8 p.m. ET Thursday (Jan. 21), just before "Grey's": Despite being populated with likable actors giving mostly solid performances, it's hard to escape the feeling that you've seen this before. I'm hopeful that will change in the future, that the show will find a more specific voice and set itself apart. Creator David Hemingson is an ex-lawyer, and he's said a good portion of the show is based on his own experience. But the premiere is all ABC gave us to go on, and that specificity isn't there yet. The series follows five young associates (played by Matt Long, Tina Majorino, Leah Pipes, Ben Lawson and Mehcad Brooks) at a prestigious L.A. firm. Dylan Hewitt (Long, "Jack & Bobby") arrives early for his first day at work -- only to find out he's actually 10 days late, thanks to a little trick the partners like to play to keep the first-years off balance. Fellow newbies Addy (Majorino, "Big Love" and "Veronica Mars"), Beth (Pipes, "Sorority Row") and Liam (Lawson) are similarly floundering, though Beth and Liam have already taken refuge in each other's beds. While the young associates are earnest (if caddish, in Liam's case) and eager to please, the firm's partners are meant to supply the edge -- but we have to take everyone's word for that, because their actions don't offer much proof. Cliff Huddle (Billy Zane, enjoying another bad-guy turn) is nicknamed the Prince of Darkness, but he's less pure evil than just kind of intimidatingly direct. He's married (but not especially solidly) to Susan (Nicole Ari Parker), the tough-but-encouraging head of litigation, and battling over the direction of the firm with senior partner Hart Sterling (Clancy Brown), who's returning to action with a different vision. Brooks ("True Blood") plays Malcolm, another new associate whom Hart brings in to join the other four over Cliff's strenuous objections. He gets the least screen time of the newbies in the pilot, and as such he's a little more intriguing -- Malcolm doesn't quite seem to know what to make of the situation, and thus we don't quite know what to make of him. That's less true of the other associates, who are prone to confessional gatherings where they all discuss how overwhelmed they are. In between there's a little bit of actual legal work, with Dylan taking on a pro bono custody work (in court in his first week? Really?) and Addy rushing to complete a motion and get it filed with the court in time. The closest thing they have to a mentor is Rowdy (Norbert Leo Butz, who steals a couple of scenes), the partner who recruited them and occasionally joins them for an after-work shot. But he flits in and out so quickly, it's hard to get a good read on him. The actors all do a good enough job with the material they're given; there are no real false notes that get played in the ensemble. But they also don't really elevate the material -- there's no performance, save possibly for a few brief moments from Butz, that demands your attention. So we're left with what's basically a pleasant-enough, mildly entertaining show that, it must be said, is at least a good match in tone for the rest of ABC's Thursday lineup, "Grey's" and "Private Practice." But it lacks the ability to command attention the way those other shows do, a problem that will need to get fixed if "The Deep End" is to stay afloat. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Photo credit: ABC

[imgleft] [/imgleft]NBC is patching the Jay Leno-shaped hole in its prime-time schedule by adding to the orders of several of its series. Both "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU," which will move back to 10 p.m. in March, have been extended. So have "Trauma," the once-believed-dead show that will return to Mondays since "Parenthood" is moving to 10 p.m. Tuesdays, and comedies "Community" and "Parks and Recreation." "L&O" classic will get three extra episodes this season, pushing its total to 22, while "SVU" is doing two more hours for a total of 25, the Live Feed reports. "Trauma" will get four more shows, going from 16 to 20 and taking the show into early May. "Community" gets three more episodes and "Parks and Rec" two. NBC is trying to populate the schedule with as many original episodes as it can after the Olympics. The additional episodes will allow most of its series to stay in originals from March until the end of the season. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: NBC sets post-Leno prime-time schedule Photo credits: NBC

[imgleft] [/imgleft] The last-minute shelving of FOX's game show "Our Little Genius" and next week's State of the Union address could end up being a good thing for "Human Target." The president's annual address to Congress and the country will air at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 27. All of the big four broadcast networks (along with PBS and the cable news channels) will air it live, resulting in the usual schedule tweaking on the nets' part. FOX had scheduled "Human Target" for 8 o'clock on the 27th, followed by an "American Idol's" Los Angeles auditions episode. Instead, though, both shows will move to Tuesday, Jan. 26, with "Idol" at 8 leading into "Human Target" at 9. ("Idol's" Dallas auditions will air at 8 p.m. on the 27th.) That's good news for the "Human Target," which will get one more airing with an "Idol" lead-in feeing it viewers. The show premiered Sunday to a decent-sized audience of just over 10 million people. A repeat of the pilot on Tuesday night post-"Idol" did almost as well in viewers (9.2 million) and actually improved on the premiere's adults 18-49 rating. The Tuesday "Human Target" replaces the season premiere of "Kitchen Nightmares," which will move to Friday, Jan. 29. That was scheduled to be the show's home all along -- it moved to Tuesday to replace "Our Little Genius," the game show FOX pulled at the last minute over concerns about potential improper communications with contestants. The other networks' plans for Jan. 27 are as follows: ABC: "Modern Family" and "The Middle" reruns at 8, State of the Union at 9, "Cougar Town" rerun at 10:30. CBS: "Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" reruns at 8, State of the Union 9, "Two and a Half Men" rerun at 10:30. NBC: "Mercy" rerun at 8, State of the Union coverage from 9 to 11. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Photo credit: FOX

[imgleft] [/imgleft] FOX is in the process of developing a U.S. version of the British sci-fi hit "Torchwood." And while that sentence might normally strike fear into our hearts, the apprehension level is somewhat lower in this case. That's because in addition to securing the remake rights from the BBC, FOX is also hiring "Torchwood" creator Russell T. Davies to write a pilot script, according to The Hollywood Reporter. There's even a chance that some of the current show's cast would cross over to the new series; the HR mentions John Barrowman by name. Two seasons of "Torchwood" -- an offshoot of "Doctor Who" about a government agency that tracks and captures aliens -- and the miniseries "Children of Earth" have aired in this country on BBC America. "Children of Earth," which aired last summer, set ratings records for the channel, and the show has been a big success in its home country as well. Davies' producing partner, Julie Gardner, will be an executive producer on the FOX project, as will former BBC executive Jane Tranter. The U.S. version of "Torchwood" is still in its infancy; FOX hasn't yet decided whether to order a pilot episode. Davies is also gearing up for a fourth season of "Torchwood" on the BBC. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: John Barrowman does 'Single Ladies' 'Torchwood' and 'Being Human' at Comic-Con Photo credit: BBC America

[imgleft] [/imgleft] NBC still hasn't officially said anything about the resolution to its late-night situation, but the man who's in all likelihood headed back to "The Tonight Show" has decided to speak up. On "The Jay Leno Show" Monday night (Jan. 18), Leno went beyond cracking jokes about the network's late-night mess -- though he did some of those too -- to give his assessment of the situation. He devoted much of the show's second segment to it. Here's what he said: "Let's start in 2004 -- 2004 I'm sitting in my office, an NBC executive comes in and says to me, listen, Conan O'Brien has gotten offers from other networks. We don't want him to go, so we're going to give him 'The Tonight Show.' I said, 'Well, I've been number one for 12 years.' They said, 'We know that, but we don't think you can sustain that.' I said, 'Okay. How about until I fall to number two, then you fire me?' 'No, we made this decision.' I said, 'That's fine.' Don't blame Conan O'Brien. Nice guy, good family guy, great guy. He and I have talked and not a problem since then. That's what managers and people do, they try to get something for their clients. I said, 'I'll retire just to avoid what happened the last time.' Okay. "So time goes by and we stay number one up until the day we leave. ... Okay, but I'm leaving before my contract is out. About six to eight months early. So before I could go anywhere else, I would be at least a year or 18 months before I could go and do a show somewhere else. I said to NBC, 'Would you release me from my contract?' They said, 'We want to keep you here.' Okay. What are your ideas? They said, 'How about primetime?' I said, 'That will never work.' 'No, no, we want to put you on at 10:00. We have done focus groups. People will love you at 10:00. Look at these studies showing Jay's chin at 10:00. People will go crazy.' Didn't seem like a good idea at the time. I said, 'All right, can I keep my staff?' There are 175 people that work here. I said, 'Can I keep my staff?' Yes, you can. Let's try it. We guarantee you two years on the air, guaranteed. Now for the first four or five months against original shows like 'CSI' you'll get killed, but in the spring and summer when the reruns come, that's when you'll pick up. Okay, great. I agree to that. "Four months go by, we don't make it. Meanwhile, Conan's show during the summer, we're not on, was not doing well. The great hope was that we would help him. Well, we didn't help him any, okay. They come and go, 'This show isn't working. We want to let you go.' Can you let me out of my contract? No, you're still a valuable asset to this company. How valuable can I be? You fired me twice. How valuable can I be? Okay. So then, the affiliates are not happy. The affiliates are the ones that own the TV stations. They're the ones that sort of makes the decisions, they're not happy with your performance and Conan is not doing well at 11:30. I said, 'What's your idea?' They said, 'Well, look, how about you do a half-hour show at 11:30?' Now, where I come from, when your boss gives you a job and you don't do it well -- I think we did a good job here, but we didn't get the ratings -- so you get humbled. I said, 'Okay, I'm not crazy about doing a half-hour, but okay. What do you want to do with Conan?' We'll put him on at midnight, or 12:05, keeps 'The Tonight Show,' does all that, he gets the whole hour. I said, okay. You think Conan will go for that? Yes, yes. [laughter] Almost guarantee you. I said okay. Shake hands, that's it. I don't have a manager, I don't have an agent, that's my handshake deal. "Next thing I see Conan has a story in the paper saying he doesn't want to do that. They come back to me and they say if he decides to walk and doesn't want to do it, do you want the show back? I go, 'Yeah, I'll take the show back. If that's what he wants to do. This way, we keep our people working, fine.' So that's pretty much where we are. It looks like we might be back at 11:30, I'm not sure. I don't know. [applause] I don't know. But through all of this -- through all of this, Conan O'Brien has been a gentleman. He's a good guy. I have no animosity toward him. This is all business. If you don't get the ratings, they take you off the air. I think, you know this town, you can do almost anything. You get ratings, they keep you. I don't get ratings. ... That was NBC's solution. It didn't work, so we might have an answer for you tomorrow. So, we'll see. That's basically where it is." What do you think? Stand-up move by Leno or damage control? Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: NBC reportedly paying Conan O'Brien $30 million Late-night wars: Jay-vs-Conan jokes Conan gets 'Sons of Anarchy' job offer Photo credit: NBC

[imgleft] [/imgleft] Fast National ratings for Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 The premiere of "Life Unexpected" pulled in a decent-sized audience by The CW's standards Monday, building on its lead-in and scoring the most viewers at 9 p.m. on a Monday in a year. At the top of the ratings, the story was much the same as usual. CBS led the night with 12.9 million viewers and a 7.7 rating/12 share in households. FOX (11 million, 6.4/9) came in second, a little bit ahead of ABC (10.2 million, 6.5/10), while NBC (5.1 million, 3.1/5) finished fourth. The CW trailed with 2.5 million viewers and a 1.6/2. CBS also led among adults 18-49 with a 4.2 rating. CBS, 3.5, finished second in the demographic, just ahead of FOX's 3.4. NBC averaged 1.9 and The CW 1.1. Monday's hourly numbers: 8 p.m. FOX: "24" (10.6 million viewers, 6.1/9 households) ABC: "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love" (10.1 million, 6.4/10) CBS: "How I Met Your Mother" (10.5 million, 6.2/9)/"Accidentally on Purpose" (9.6 million, 5.7/8) NBC: "Chuck" (6.7 million, 3.9/6) The CW: "One Tree Hill" (2.2 million, 1.4/2) 18-49 leader: "How I Met Your Mother" (4.0) 9 p.m. CBS: "Two and a Half Men" (16.2 million, 9.5/14)/"The Big Bang Theory" (15 million, 8.7/13) FOX: "24" (11.45 million, 6.6/10) ABC: "The Bachelor" (11.1 million, 7.0/10) NBC: "Heroes" (3.9 million, 2.4/4) The CW: "Life Unexpected" series premiere (2.7 million, 1.7/3) 18-49 leader: "Two and a Half Men" (5.3) 10 p.m. CBS: "CSI: Miami" (13.2 million, 8.2/14) ABC: "Castle" (9.4 million, 6.0/10) NBC: "The Jay Leno Show" (4.6 million, 3.0/5) 18-49 leader: "CSI: Miami" (3.6) Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company. More ratings at Zap2it: Daily, weekly and cable Photo credit: The CW

[imgleft] [/imgleft] "American Idol" auditions head to the Windy City, and let's hope the singers do our president and Oprah proud. The city's musical heritage includes blues, soul, jazz and gospel, and more recently has been the scene for house music, hip-hop, indie and alternative rock. You may recognize some of these Chi-Town musicians and bands: Earth Wind and Fire, The Smashing Pumpkins, Lou Rawls, Liz Phair, Rise Against, Common, Da Brat, Fall Out Boy, the Plain White T's and oh, an Oscar winner named Jennifer Hudson. Check out this great video from the Chicago Tribune, previewing the talent that's auditioning in Chicago. What do you think? Will Chicago be your kind of town? Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: 'American Idol' Adam Lambert on 'Oprah': 'Wow, universe came through!' 'American Idol': Can Atlanta outshine Boston? Zap2it's 'American Idol' coverage Photo credit: Chicago Tribune

[imgleft] [/imgleft] Conan O'Brien has pimped himself out. The late-night host turned to Craigslist to advertise his availability ... in the notorious "Casual Encounters" section. Just like the time he had put "The Tonight Show" up for sale on the online community site, Craigslist pulled the ad, but not before screen shots could be made. Behold, O'Brien's Craigslist ad: [imgleft] [/imgleft] In case you have a problem with the print size, the ad reads: TALL, SLENDER REDHEAD AVAILABLE FOR NIGHTTIME RECREATION 6'4", completely ripped, VERY Caucasian.Drapes match the carpet.Currently homeless, must meet at your place.Can go a whole hour (with scheduled breaks every 7-10 minutes).Fatties welcomeNot afraid to take two people at once, and then a musical guest.NOTE: If you want me to perform after midnight, it'll cost you! Would you respond? We can't wait to see if he puts some items up in the "Free" stuff section. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: 'Tonight Show' for sale. At least on Craigslist. Jay Leno: 'Don't blame Conan O'Brien' Photo credit: NBC

[imgleft] [/imgleft] Did you know today's election for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's vacant Massachusetts seat has an "American Idol" connection? The Republican nominee for the Mass. U.S. Senate seat, Scott Brown, is the dad of season five semi-finalist Ayla Brown. Ayla famously always wore some killer heels with her 6'0 frame and made Ryan Seacrest look like the Keebler elf that he is. Below are two of her Top 24 performances. The first one is "Unwritten," which was not our favorite Ayla offering but in the video montage before the song she and her dad toss around the football as she talks about thinking her dad was Elvis when she was little. "Unwritten" is the song that got her eliminated, but she had something to fall back on -- playing forward for the Boston College women's basketball team. http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded The second one is a much better Ayla performance -- it's "Reflection" from Mulan. We liked her and thought that year that Ayla Brown and Will Makar could've replaced Melissa McGhee and Kevin Covais in the Top 12 (sorry, Chicken Little). http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded We just always really liked Ayla's poise and work ethic and ability to see criticism for the helpful tool that it is, rather than act all petulant like some contestants. The Massachusetts U.S. Senate race is a dead-heat between Democrat Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and Republican state Senator Scott Brown going into election day. What do you think? Will Ayla's dad Scott Brown be the first Republican U.S. Senator elected from Massachusetts in 37 years? Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest movies, TV and celeb news Related 'American Idol' Top 24 leaked (spoilers) Katie Stevens is 'At Last' in Boston Ashley Rodriguez has 'it,' according to Simon Cowell Photo credit: FOX

[imgleft] [/imgleft] It looks like current "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell will be influencing the entertainment world for quite some time. Simon Cowell and Sony Corp's Sony Music Entertainment have signed on for a long-term venture to produce TV, music and film, starting with the U.S. version of "The X Factor." According to the Financial Times (via Reuters), it is a five-year deal wherein Sony relinquishes 100% ownership of Simon Cowell's record label, Syco Records, in exchange for a 50% ownership in this new venture. Cowell said in a statement, "I have had a fantastic relationship with Sony for many years and I'm delighted we are launching this venture together." Meanwhile, the Other Simon (Simon Fuller) recently announced plans for a new entertainment company as well. So everybody should be happy, right? Except Fuller told the London Times over the weekend that "X Factor" is the TV equivalent of wrestling, incomparable to the "boxing"-type purity of "American Idol." "I want "Idol" to be purely about talent. We're not going to be led into the mud, we're going to stay on our hill." Hmmm. We aren't entirely sure what makes "American Idol" so high and mighty over "X Factor," particularly with "Idol's" history of giving some people better edits than others, playing up sob stories for some contestants but not others and putting cannon fodder in the Top 24 so the "right" people make the Top 12. What do you guys think? All we can say is we hope Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker play Fuller and Cowell in the movie. Follow Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest movies, TV and celeb news Related Simon Cowell tops Forbes' list of Top Male Earners in Primetime Simon Fuller moves on Simon Fuller, Perez Hilton to form boy band? Photo credit: FOX

[imgleft] [/imgleft] "Rescue Me" will return to FX in the early summer, but it might not stick around for much longer after that. The cable channel has 19 more episodes of the show on tap, FX president and general manager John Landgraf said Sunday (Jan. 17) at the TV Critics Association press tour -- but beyond that, he's not certain of its future. "We've ordered 19 seasons -- 19 episodes -- that was a little bit of a Freudian slip, wishful thinking. We've ordered 19 episodes," Landgraf said. "... I think there's a good chance that these 19 will be the final 19 episodes of 'Rescue Me,' but we haven't decided yet." The episodes that are left will be broken into two seasons. The first 10 will air this summer, with the next nine likely following in 2011. - It's been a long time since FX tried a late-night franchise (anyone remember "The X Show"?), but now that a certain late-night host is about to enter the job market ... "I think we'd love to have a daily show -- if it's as good as Conan or 'The Daily Show' or Colbert," Landgraf said. He doubts landing Conan O'Brien is something FX could afford at the moment, but he does call the soon-to-be-former "Tonight Show" host "one of the great media talents of our time." "If he ever became available to basic cable, we'd go after him in a heartbeat," Landgraf said. "I kind of doubt that will happen, but you never know." - Don't get too excited, but Landgraf is meeting with Joss Whedon soon. For lunch. "Actually, is representatives called and set up a lunch with Joss in the next two or three weeks," Landgraf said in response to a question about whether he'd consider working with the "Dollhouse" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator. "I have enormous respect for him," Landgraf said of Whedon. "... I don't really know Joss well, but I'm really looking forward to meeting him. I love his stuff." As we say, don't overheat yet. Despite "Dollhouse" being born over lunch, most meetings don't go that way. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: 'Rescue Me' takes its last call in 2011 Conan O'Brien deal: NBC reportedly paying $30 million 'Dollhouse': Why we're happy it was canceled Photo credit: FX http://www.hulu.com/...HlPR_PfQm_xymyA http://media1.break.com/static/app/v1/global/swf/player10.swf?sVidLoc=http%3a%2f%2fvideo1.break.com%2fdnet%2fmedia%2f2010%2f1%2fresident-evil-5-gold-edition-trailer2_1.flv&sThumbLoc=http%3a%2f%2fmedia1.break.com%2fdnet%2fmedia%2f2010%2f1%2fresident-evil-5-gold-edition-trailer-thumb2.jpg&contentURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.break.com%2fgame-trailers%2fgame%2fresident-evil-5%2fresident-evil-5-gold-edition-trailer.html&sShareURL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.break.com%2fgame-trailers%2fgame%2fresident-evil-5%2fresident-evil-5-gold-edition-trailer.html%23TellAFriendhttp%3a%2f%2fstats.break.com%2finvoke.txt&iContentID=1650774&autoplay=0&embed=2&contentidencoded=1650774&categoryid=11&userid=2211157&mode=embed&linktitle=Funny+Videos&sVidTitle=EMBED-Resident+Evil+5+Gold+Edition+Trailer

[imgleft] [/imgleft] We know what you're thinking. Matt just left for Botswana and Betty is already hopping into someone else's arms? We have to admit, Betty has been known to be that girl. ABC confirms to Zap2it that 'Mad Men's' resident pushover will be appearing on "Ugly Betty" this season. In contrast to Matt, Sommer will play a working class fireman who hopes to extinguish the flame Matt left behind. The role may be recurring if the chemistry is right, since he'll be taking Betty on a disastrous first date. Before you judge Betty too harshly, it's not like she kissed Matt goodbye and then immediately hitched a ride on a fire engine. Sommer's episode is set to air in March. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for all your movies, TV and celebrity news. Related: 'Ugly Betty': Will Wednesdays be its high or where it'll die? 'Ugly Betty' exclusive: Ana Ortiz and Tony Plana on a new start, new love and a musical episode 'Ugly Betty' exclusive: EP Silvio Horta on the show's missteps, the media and surviving Fridays' All 'Ugly Betty' show recaps Photo credit: WireImage

[imgleft] [/imgleft] "Saturday Night Live" unsurprisingly had a few things to say about the madness afflicting the rest of NBC's late-night lineup. Saturday's opening sketch had a Jay Leno (Darrell Hammond)-Conan O'Brien (Bill Hader) summit on "Larry King Live," with Fred Armisen playing the role of King (and doing so quite well). Host Sigourney Weaver, whose father was president of NBC in the 1950s, mentioned it in her monologue. The best dissection of the situation, though, came from "Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers. He did a two-minute rant about how NBC got itself into this situation by comparing it to an off-the-rails marriage. See for yourself. Pretty spot on, isn't he? http://www.hulu.com/...54SmA/1832/1965 Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: 'Saturday Night Live': Sigourney Weaver gets freaky 'SNL': Sigourney Weaver meets Grady Wilson and Seth Meyers explains it all Photo credit: NBC

[imgleft] [/imgleft] There are no huge mysteries at the core of "Human Target," no deep back story that's going to require a whole lot of pondering and unpacking after every episode. And that's more than all right. What "Human Target" does have a whole lot of is fun. It's a somewhat old-fashioned and pretty kick-ass hour of TV, with great action sequences in the first two episodes and, probably more important, well-turned performances by its three regulars: Mark Valley, Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley. The show is based on the DC/Vertigo comic of the same name and stars Valley as Christopher Chance, a hyper-competent private security expert who's called in to protect clients when regular protective measures won't cut it. Unlike the comics, where Chance actually becomes the people he protects through elaborate disguises, the show's Chance is basically the world's best bodyguard, skilled at all manner of combat, incredibly observant and a little bit nuts. The decision not to turn Chance into his protectees is a good one; Valley can be a charismatic actor (and, as an Army veteran, he's convincing when it comes to the physical demands of the part), and it just makes more sense to have the star of the show, and not a different guest star each week, be at the center of the action. I say that Valley "can be" charismatic because at times in his career it's felt like his employers didn't really know how to use him. That's not an issue in "Human Target" -- Valley shifts easily between action, drama and scenes that are played with a little bit of a smirk. As I watched the first two episodes, I kept thinking of "Keen Eddie," the poorly treated but highly watchable FOX series from a few years back that starred Valley and used him terrifically. The same is true here. As Chance's partner Vincent, McBride gets to show off some of his considerable comic chops as well, particularly in scenes where Haley's Guerrero -- a shady hacker who helps out when he's needed -- is involved. The show also operates at a pretty high level when it comes to the frequent action sequences. Sunday's (Jan. 17) premiere takes place mostly aboard a high-speed train and features a couple of well-choreographed large stunts as well as a fantastic (and lengthy) fight scene in a cargo car. The second episode, which will air Wednesday (Jan. 20), the show's regular night, has a couple other good fights (one of which involves McBride) in close quarters on a plane. That second episode does feel somewhat more constrained than the pilot, but the show doesn't suffer for it. There are fewer slam-bang stunts than in the pilot -- as tends to be the case on any show once the week-to-week rigors of production kick in -- but the pacing and performances are such that there doesn't need to be an explosion in every act. "Human Target" also has one of the cooler opening-credit sequences on television today, and the score -- by "Battlestar Galactica" composer Bear McCreary -- is excellent. Take a look at the credits: http://video.hollywo...tid=61807076001 Circling back to the point I made at the top of this post, it sometimes feels like there's a belief among TV fans that a drama has to be complex for it to be good. I love getting sucked into the rich tapestries of "Lost" and "Mad Men" and "The Wire," but I also really like watching the off-center heroes of "Burn Notice" and "Castle" wrap up a case a week. And like those shows, there are hints in the early going of "Human Target" that there's more to unpack in their lead characters than what's on the surface. That mix of close-ended stories and longer-arc character development has undergone a renaissance in the past few seasons with shows like "House," "Bones," "Chuck" and the aforementioned "Burn Notice" and "Castle." "Human Target" is a worthy addition to that class. ---- "Human Target" premieres at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 17 on FOX and moves to Wednesdays starting Jan. 20. Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news. Related: NFL deprives 'Human Target,' '24' of a big lead-in 'American Idol,' 'Human Target' swap timeslots Photo credit: FOX

[imgleft] [/imgleft] Antonio "Skii Bo Ski" Wheeler is the first "American Idol" this season to have a less-than-stellar past. According to this FOX News report Skii Bo Ski, who auditioned in Atlanta with "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," has several arrests in his past for such crimes as cocaine possession, marijuana possession with intent to distribute and resisting arrest. http://www.redlasso....8b-b08d480e61fa Skii Bo Ski was last released from jail on Jan. 1, 2010. Hey, that's just in time to show up for "American Idol" Hollywood Week! Well done, "Idol" researchers. Related 'American Idol' recaps 'American Idol': Adam Lambert trashes a hotel room for Vevo Jimmy Fallon does 'Pants on the Ground' as Neil Young Photo credit: FOX

[imgleft] [/imgleft] The Conan O'Brien problem at NBC is reportedly over. The Wrap is reporting that NBC has worked out a deal with Conan O'Brien wherein he vacates the 11:35 pm "Tonight Show" in exchange for a $30 million payday. The deal has yet to be officially signed but is most likely going to be announced late Friday (Jan. 15). Meanwhile, Deadline is reporting that the deal is closer to $40 million and that Conan is insistent NBC take care of those close to him. Rumors have been swirling all day that Conan O'Brien would be taking a buyout in exchange for NBC not enforcing the non-compete clause in his contract -- which would have kept Conan off the air until 2013. Is it a fair deal? Conan gets dumped by NBC for $30-40 million? And where will Conan land? FOX? A spot on "Sons of Anarchy?" We're sure the offers will come pouring in. Related Late-night wars: Jay-vs-Conan jokes Conan gets 'Sons of Anarchy' job offer Conan O'Brien is Zap2it readers' favorite late night host Photo credit: NBC

[imgleft] [/imgleft]Jimmy Kimmel really took Jay Leno to task on Thursday's 10 @ 10 segment on "The Jay Leno Show". After confessing that at night he only watches "Oprah," Jimmy Kimmel finds any way he can to take a jab at Jay Leno and the NBC late night mess. Regarding his Leno impression: "I hate to give away my secrets, but it's part Sylvester the Cat it's part Curly from the "Three Stooges" and part Scrappy Doo ... silly putty to make yourself a nice Dudley Do-Right chin." His ideal interview: I'd like to do 12 @ 12 with you tomorrow night because I have lots of questions. Best prank Jimmy Kimmel ever pulled: "I told a guy that five years from now I'm gonna give you my show and then when five years came, I gave it to him and then I took it back almost instantly. It was hilarious. I think he works at FOX or something now." http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded Wow. Our opinion of Jimmy Kimmel just skyrocketed. What do you guys think? Was he too harsh? Funny? Both? Related Jimmy Kimmel spoofs Jay Leno, Chevy Chase does Conan Late night wars: Jay-vs-Conan jokes Conan O'Brien is Zap2it readers' favorite late night host

[imgleft] [/imgleft]Having "30 Rock's" Kenneth the Page (Jack McBrayer) give a tour of the soon-to-be-vacated "Tonight Show" set, it's not surprising that Conan O'Brien has "jokingly" put the show itself for sale on Craigslist. But it's still funny. Posted Wednesday (Jan. 13) afternoon under the "collectibles" category, the listing begins: "4 SALE: BARELY-USED LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW - MAKE ME AN OFFER!!! (Universal Studios)." Accompanied by a couple of sad photos of the empty set, the rest of the specs are pretty straightforward: This is a chance of a lifetime to own your very own late night talk show--guaranteed to last for up to seven months!! Really must see to appreciate. Information for potential buyers: - Measures 100' x 100' x 32' - plenty of room for a futon! - Designed for 11:35 but can be easily moved - Band can be sold separately - Buyer must honor Barry Manilow booking next Thursday MAKE ME YOUR BEST OFFER!!!!! (Also willing to trade for Coldplay tickets.) Not a bad deal. Unless, of course, you're NBC.

[imgleft] [/imgleft]Conan O'Brien is done! (Or not.) Jay Leno's definitely going back to "The Tonight Show"! (Not yet, at least.) That's about the size of Thursday's (Jan. 14) news in the NBC late-night saga. There were reports and counter-reports and denials, and it all ended up in about the same place we were the day before. To sum up: TMZ reported Thursday afternoon -- not long after NBC released its post-Olympics, Jay Leno-free prime-time schedule -- that NBC and Leno had struck a deal with NBC to return as host of "The Tonight Show." NBC quickly denied it. Soon after that, People said that O'Brien's last day as "Tonight Show" host would be Jan. 22 (echoing an earlier tweet by ESPN.com columnist and former "Jimmy Kimmel Live" writer Bill Simmons). Then People rival Us Weekly replied that wasn't the case -- "Not true," an O'Brien rep tells the magazine. "The Tonight Show" is scheduled to be in reruns the week of Jan. 25, but that was scheduled before the current situation exploded. The time when NBC has to say something is drawing near, for sure. But until that happens, we can expect more days like this one.

[imgleft] [/imgleft]Two of the men who helped make "American Idol" the biggest show on television are in the news for other reasons. Simon Fuller, who created the "Idol" format, is leaving 19 Entertainment (which produces the series) to start his own company. Former "Idol" executive producer and current "So You Think You Can Dance" judge/producer Nigel Lythgoe has been named chairman of BAFTA's L.A. branch. Fuller had mounted an effort to buy 19's parent company, CKX, but instead opted to break off. He'll still consult with CKX, which has an option to invest in the new venture. "As an entrepreneur I feel I am about to enter my prime years, and starting a new entertainment company at this moment fills me with great excitement," Fuller says in a statement. Lythgoe, meanwhile, has been elected as chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts/Los Angeles. The academy's L.A. branch aims to serve as a bridge between the British and American entertainment communities through film screenings and other events and outreach efforts.

I don't have it..so feel free to archive the file

[imgleft]http://ewausiello.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/chuck-levi-scott_240.jpg?w=240&h=320[/imgleft] Okay, this is Chucking awesome. Scott Bakula has signed on to reprise his role as Chuck’s spy daddy, Steve, for multiple episodes. Pops was last seen in the season 2 finale fleeing daughter Ellie’s wedding reception for parts unknown. Chuck exec producer Josh Schwartz calls Bakula’s comeback arc — which would fall at the end of the spy comedy’s third season (premiering this Sunday!) — “the biggest thing we’ve ever done on the show.” Bakula is currently starring in TNT’s Men of A Certain Age. With production wrapped on that show’s first season, Bakula was free to return to Chuck. Source: EW.COM

[imgleft]http://ewausiello.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/the-oc_l.jpg?w=300&h=400[/imgleft] Julie Cooper’s comin’ to Mystic Falls! Sources confirm to me exclusively that Vampire Diaries has tapped the inimitable Melinda Clarke (The O.C., CSI) to play Kelly Donovan, Matt’s irresponsible, hard-drinking absentee mother. How rotten is this woman? She didn’t even bother to show up to her own daughter’s funeral. (In other words, my kind of gal!) I’m told Clark’s scenery-chewing boozehound will blow into town in March and stick around for at least three episodes. Memo to Kevin Williamson: Let’s get that series regular paperwork started now! Source: EW.COM

[imgleft]http://rtv6blogs.com/rtv6_gm/files/2008/05/abc_logo_hi-res.thumbnail.jpg[/imgleft]ABC is pushing the return of "FlashForward." The Thursday drama will return March 18th instead of the previously announced March 4. The series will air straight through to its finale on May 27. The show will have a two-hour premiere and a two-hour finale -- very "Lost"-esque. The move gets "FlashForward" out of the way of "American Idol" on March 4 and 11th. Source: http://series.nu/top...urn-march-18th/