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Reality TV | Homepage

ABC's Wipeout Renewed for Fourth Season

ABC TV Wipeout

ABC's ridiculous Wipeout show is going to return for a fourth season. Hollywood Reporter says the new season will include two new obstacle courses, which will include obstacles such as the Lawn Mower and the Sky Scraper Slide.

The show's creator and executive producer Matt Kunitz said, "I'm excited that a fourth season will give our team the opportunity to create bigger and funnier ways to wipe out contestants and thrill families across America."

A contestant on Wipeout died in an incident last year, CNN reports.

Posted on August 16, 2010
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Contestants Answer Trivia Questions on Skyscraper in ABC's Downfall

The Live Feed reports that ABC has ordered a crazy reality show called "Downfall," where people are asked trivia questions on the top of a skyscraper. The players compete for $1 million in cash and prizes. If they miss a question then apparently their money is tossed off the side of the skyscraper. The show is produced by Freemantle Media.

Downfall executive producer Scott St. John says the show "is a new, hybrid, high-stakes field game show where fearless contestants have to fight and focus hard to keep their winnings from falling off the side of a building."

It sounds ridiculous but people will probably tune it. Will there be people waiting at the bottom of the skyscraper for the money tossed over the side?

Posted on April 8, 2010
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Fox Reality Channel to be Shuttered

News Corp has decided to shut down the Fox Reality Channel. The channel will go dark in March, 2010. There is no word yet what will replace the channel, but News Corp denied that it was being replaced by a comedy channel. Variety reports:

News Corp. is mum on what will replace the channel, now available in almost 50 million households, after that. According to the Wrap, which first wrote about the shutdown, a complete channel rebranding is in the works and may include a new partner outside of the Fox Cable Networks group.

*****

Fox Cable Networks released a brief statement on the shutdown: "With the changing cable landscape we've made a strategic decision to shift some resources and refocus on emerging channels. However, Fox Reality Channel will remain on our lineup for at least the next several months."

Fox Reality Channel aired such original shows as American Idol Extra, Gimmie My Reality Show! and Reality Remix, along with repeats of popular reality shows.

Posted on October 14, 2009
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Padma Lakshmi Talks Top Chef, Emmy Nomination

Padma Lakshmi appeared on The Today Show to talk about the new season of Top Chef which premiered last Wednesday. If you missed it, it's being repeated a few times on Bravo. Season six is in Las Vegas and it looks like the skill level of the chefs is high. Padma has been nominated for an Emmy for her hosting duties. She cooks one of her favorite easy recipes from her cookbook for Matt Lauer. Take a look:

Posted on August 22, 2009
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Jessica Simpson Gets New Reality TV Show

Jessica Simpson is returning to television in a new reality show.

VH1 has picked up docu-series "The Price of Beauty," from producer RDF USA. Show will follow Simpson as she travels around the world to see how ordinary women as well as celebs attempt to achieve their own notions of beauty. According to VH1 and RDF, Simpson will "study the local fashions, dietary fads and beauty regimes and even participate in some of the extreme practices she discovers."

It's a reunion of sorts between Simpson and VH1 parent MTV Networks; Simpson is still well known for starring in the MTV reality series "Newlyweds" earlier this decade. Series is targeted to run some time in 2010. "I am really looking forward to discovering how beauty is perceived in different cultures and participating in some of the crazy things people do to feel beautiful," she said. "I know we will all learn a lot on this journey."

Jessica is executive producing, along with her dad Joe Simpson, Claire O'Donohoe and Greg Goldman from RDF. Let's hope they all get along.

Posted on June 22, 2009
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Dancing With the Stars Ratings Hold Steady

Dancing With the Stars was a ratings hit for ABC last night.

One week after the rejuvenated "The Bachelor" franchise wrapped its highest-rated season in years, the net's "Dancing With the Stars" -- with an assist from "The Bachelor" -- opened surprisingly well.

Now in its eighth edition and lacking any real big-name stars this time around, "Dancing" nonetheless bowed with its second best premiere demo rating to date (6.1 rating/15 share in 18-49) while drawing its largest overall aud for a premiere (22.83 million), according to Nielsen.

Though Fox's "American Idol" draws stronger demo ratings than "Dancing," the hoofing hit's overall premiere aud wasn't too far behind what "Idol" averaged last week. And excluding the Oscars, it's the Alphabet's most-watched telecast in 16 months.

Interest in "Dancing" may have been heightened due to late cast changes, as auds were curious to see who would replace Jewel and Nancy O'Dell, both of whom were sidelined with dancing-prep injuries. In a bit of casting genius, "Dancing" was able to recruit recently jilted "Bachelor" contestant Melissa Rycroft as a substitute.

Reality TV continues to be a money maker for ABC.

Posted on March 10, 2009
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American Idol Ratings Down 15%

Fox's American Idol debuted its eighth season last night: ratings were down by 15%. But ratings are down for network television across the board. Idol still brought in 30.1 million viewers.

While it was down about 10% in total audience vs. last year's premiere (30.1 million vs. 33.4 million), it fell off by 16% in adults 18-49 (11.6/28 vs. 13.8/22) and by an even steeper 25% in adults 18-34 (9.7/26 vs. 12.9/33). This is not unexpected for an eight-year series, as audiences age alongside their favorite shows, which increasingly find it difficult to add new, younger viewers along the way.

The "Idol" producers have made some tweaks to the format this season in an attempt to stave off more audience erosion. Among the changes was the addition of a fourth judge, Grammy-nominated songwriter Kara DioGuardi, who bowed last night.

"Idol" will air another two-hour audition episode tonight before eventually settling into its familiar pattern of a one-hour performance episode on Tuesdays and a one-hour results show on Wednesdays.

Paula Abdul has been singing the praises of the show lately, saying how lucky she is to be there. That's a smart move: no one's indispensable.

Posted on January 14, 2009
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American Idol to Return With Some Changes

American Idol Logo

The extremely popular American Idol reality-tv show will return with a few changes next year. The details were leaked here on a blog called MJ's Big Blog (via MSNBC) that covers the reality show. Some of the noteworthy changes include a semifinal round that will include 36 contestants instead of 24 and no Idol Gives Back. There will also be less focus on the bad singers this season.

It was also reported in August that Kara DioGuardi has joined American Idol as a fourth judge for this season. The premiere of the eight season of American Idol is January 13th. The offical site is located here.

Posted on December 16, 2008
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Kathy Griffin Inks New Deal With Bravo

Bravo is very happy with Kathy Griffin. The comedienne just inked a new deal with the network for a fifth season of her reality show and some hosting duties, as well.

Deal calls for Griffin to return as host of Bravo's "A-List Awards," a kudocast honoring those who've impacted beauty, food, fashion, design and pop culture. Also in 2009, Griffin will shoot two hourlong standup specs for the cabler.

In January, she'll start production on season five of "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List." Skein has won the reality series Emmy the last two years.

Any deal that leads to situations where Kathy and Tim Gunn share a stage sounds good to us.

Posted on November 20, 2008
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Fox Announces Mid-Season Lineup

Fox has announced its midseason schedule and Joss Whedon fans aren't going to be happy. Dollhouse was supposed to premiere on Mondays with 24. It's been moved to low-ratings Fridays, where it will be paired with Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Friday is not a place you put shows you want to do really well. The premiere date is Friday, February 13, 2009, which is just about as stupid as it gets. The producers noted that was the day that Angel was canceled in 2004.

-- "Idol" will premiere Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. and will include the usual two-hour, two-part rollout. "Idol" and "Fringe" will still partner on Tuesdays as planned.

-- Wednesday was originally going to have "House" leading into the "American Idol" results show. Now "Idol" has been shifted to 8 p.m. and will instead give TV's biggest lead-in to new drama "Lie to Me," which stars Tim Roth as a "human lie detector." Fox is very excited about this show, though it will likely to draw comparisons to CBS' freshman breakout title "The Mentalist."

-- Instead of reality block of "Hell's Kitchen" and "Secret Millionaire" on Thursdays, Fox will partner "Hell's" with a lead-in from "Bones." This is a promotion for the crime drama, which has performed strong this season. Fox had originally intended to shift "Bones" to Fridays in midseason. "Millionaire" will air in December.

-- "Hole in the Wall," despite many assuming the game show was a goner, is returning midseason to help launch Fox's Sunday animated block in the 7 p.m. hour.

Absent from the current schedule: Live-action comedy or new reality shows. No dates yet for Fox's new animated shows such "The Cleveland Show" either.

"Fringe" and "Dollhouse" are part of Fox's Remote-Free TV plan, where advertisers pay a premium to sponsor a show in exchange for Fox running about half as many ads per hour. In the case of "Fringe," the move has been successful, say media buyers who have studied the results. Fox says that even though "Dollhouse" changed time periods to Fridays, it will still be Remote-Free TV.

Well, it's good that there won't be as many commercials during Dollhouse. As for Fringe, the show is totally weird and we quite enjoy it.

Posted on November 6, 2008
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New Fox Show: Hole in the Wall

Here's a very odd looking show. It's from Fox and it's called Hole in the Wall. It looks like people have to wear sleek futuristic outfits and then try and fit through holes in this wall that is coming towards them. Variety says it is based on a Japanese game show which is based on the Tetris video game. TVSquad reports that Brooke Burns is one the show's hosts.

Posted on September 3, 2008
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Heidi Klum to Co-Host Emmys

The hosts for this year's Emmy Awards will mostly be pulled from reality television.

Tom Bergeron ("Dancing with the Stars" ), Heidi Klum ("Project Runway"), Howie Mandel ("Deal or No Deal"), Jeff Probst ("Survivor") and Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol") have all been tapped to emcee the 60th Annual Primetime Emmys, set to air Sept. 21 on ABC.

Bergeron, Klum, Mandel, Probst and Seacrest are all up for the first-ever outstanding reality host Emmy - repping the first time that an entire category of competitiors have hosted the show at the same time. It's the second consecutive year for Seacrest, who hosted the Primetime Emmys solo last year on Fox.

Emmy producer Ken Ehrlich said he'd been kicking around the idea of inviting the category nominees to host the kudofest for months - but wanted to take a look at who wound up getting nominated before committing to the idea. "When those five names were read, all of a sudden it was absolutely perfect," Ehrlich said. "The four networks are represented, as well as cable. In that sense it was great. And in the sense that each one of those individuals does something a little different than the other, we have five distinct personalities. Plus, they all like each other."

Nets usually avoid showcasing rival network talent as hosts, but Ehrlich said ABC Entertainment prexy Steve McPherson approved of the idea. "This is what these guys do," Ehrlich said of the hosts. "They're all very good at it in their individual ways."

Heidi Klum gets to co-host the Emmys? Oh, please let her tell the losers that "You're Out!!"

Posted on July 26, 2008
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Jen is Booted From Hell's Kitchen

Photo of Jen from Hell's Kitchen

Hell's Kitchen is finally down to its last three contestants, after the incredibly annoying Jen was deservedly booted by Chef Ramsay. Goodbye, Jen! Jen was just so immature -- she's young and too cocky. She was also quite inconsistent and not a team player. It seemed like her food was good, but she needs to mature a bit. We were convinced that Christina was going to get the boot after burning Chef Ramsey's hand not once but twice in one dinner service. Her food must have tasted fabulous.

We were starting to think that Corey was nuts with all the side bar comments, but tonight she put herself up for elimination. Maybe she's just focused. Messy Petroza really was the last man standing. Next week, there are only three chefs left. We think Petroza is going home next.

Posted on June 17, 2008
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Stephanie Wins Top Chef

Stephanie just won Top Chef and she really deserved to win. She is the first female winner of the competition. Funniest part: her telling Eric Ripert to please re-fllet the fish to her specifications. Having Eric Ripert as a sous-chef is like having Hemingway changing your paper in your printer as you write your novel. Here's Stephanie talking about her exciting win:

Lindsay Lohan will not be appearing on Living Lohan, a new reality tv show about the Lohan family that debuts on E! on May 26th. The show will focus on manager-mom Dina Lohan and her teenaged daughter Ali.

Dina, 45, will front the upcoming eight-episode series "Living Lohan," which will follow the manager-mom as she navigates the careers of her two younger children, Ali, 14, and Cody, 11.

But fans of her most famous daughter needn't tune in, hoping to catch a glimpse of the "Mean Girls" star: Lindsay won't be appearing.

Dina says, "I told Lindsay I don't want her on the show right now. Doing reality TV would almost be taking a step backward as far as her career."

Lindsay's father, Michael Lohan, has previously warned the Lindsay to stay away from her mother's reality show, fearing Dina would use the 21-year-old to further her own career in the entertainment industry.

Will people tune in to watch even though there is no Lindsay? Probably. The reality shows's cast page also shows Nana as one of the stars. Nana is Dina's mom and the kids' grandmother. Her bio says she's the "the voice of reason in the household." That's good because this is a household that needs a voice of reason.

Posted on May 21, 2008
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NBC Announces Fall Lineup

NBC has announced its programming for the next year, which features a new flexible schedule for year-round programming. Some highlights: there will be new webisodes online for Heroes, Chuck and The Office starting in July; the new Heroes spinoff has been canceled before it even got started and a new digital show will launch called Fears, Secrets, & Desires. Here's the rest of the (lengthy) press release that explains everything that's coming up:

New chapters of webisodes for "Heroes," "Chuck" and "The Office" will debut on NBC.com beginning in July. Additional chapters of webisodes for each show will roll out throughout the season. Each chapter of webisodes will continue to weave online with on-air creative to give fans a deeper entertainment experience.

"30 Rock" joins "The Office," "Heroes" and "Lipstick Jungle," and goes "360" next season. Fans of the Emmy-winning comedy can learn from the best through Jack Donaghy's Online Business Courses (or "Jack U"), have access to Jack's blog and offer their own business advice by uploading videos. Other challenges for users will include submitting skits for "TGS," enacting provided skits from "TGC," user response to "Ask Tina" and guided tours of their workplaces (in response to Kenneth the Page's tours).

NBC.com will also debut its second season of original productions with "Fears, Secrets & Desires." This series, detailed below, will be available exclusively on NBC.com.

A comprehensive list of digital features, by show, follows.

Original Digital Production:

"Fears, Secrets, & Desires"

In this unique online experience users help create an original online series by sharing their deepest, darkest secrets, their unimaginable fears and their scandalous desires. Two hosts will entice and inspire users by sharing their own stories, as well as providing discussion topics each week via vlogs. Users will submit stories in one of three areas on the site: Fears, Secrets or Desires. Starting in October 2008, selected posts will be adapted for an online NBC Anthology series that brings the posts to life with creative interpretation meant to tease, tantalize or terrify. Segments will be produced both in-house at NBC.com, and by Hollywood talent normally associated with the big or small screens, not necessarily the computer screen.

Returning Shows:

"American Gladiators" - The site explodes with a User Generated Photo Gallery - "Be A Gladiator," Gladiator personality quiz, and Ultimate Gladiator Workout and advice from the Gladiators.

"Biggest Loser" - Users will be able to see more confessional videos, extended "Where Are They Now?" segments, bonus scenes and customized features which will include recipe sharing and contests and fitness tips, widgets and games.

"Chuck" - In addition to the new webisodes, fans of the show will be able to join Buy More and take Big Mike's Management Lessons and see inside the Nerd Herd "Help Desk" as well as get a look at the villains photo gallery and check out the Buy More Music Section (featuring music from the show).

"Deal or No Deal" - New content includes video profiles of the models, a quarterly tournament with an online game and a highly anticipated new PSMS game.

"ER" - New features include weekly preview scenes.

"Heroes" - Season 3 of "Heroes 360" expands the "Heroes" universe further with webisodes, online manhunts for the villains, the addition of more micro sites that allow the users to uncover more of the "Heroes" universe, wireless iTV interactivity and the ability to view the graphic novel on mobile platforms.

"Last Comic Standing" - Users can see extended audition footage, a User Generated "You're Funny" showcase and weekly international commentary from former finalist Deb DiGiovanni.

"Late Night with Conan O'Brien" - If They Mated; Actual Items; Celebrity Survey; Travels with Conan (customization available); Late Night Underground hosted by Late Night Insider; REWIND; Pale Force New Season

"Law & Order: SVU" - Popular weekly previews give fans a sneak peek into what's ahead.

"Life" - New content features include an interactive prison timeline giving the fans a chance to see what happened while Charlie Crews was incarcerated, a User Generated conspiracy wall and a "Life" Wiki.

"Lipstick Jungle" - In addition to popular existing features such as "Get The Look" Online Store, fans will find a mobile shopping guide and new additions to the online Bonfire Magazine.

"Medium" - Users can recreate their favorite "Allison Waking Up In Bed After a Nightmare" scene, upload it and share.

"Nashville Star" - New content features include original behind-the-scenes segments with online correspondent Wix Wichman, extended audition clips, weekly highlights, behind-the-scenes photos, quizzes, games and featured music.

"The Office" - In addition to new webisodes, this mega micro-site has it all for fans of "The Office." Returning features include deleted scenes, Dwight's blog, User Generated office galleries, Adventures with Dwight bobblehead gallery, Office quote game, Office personality quiz, Adventures with Angela page, an interactive photo set tour and season two of Dunder Mifflin Infinity, the on line community where fans get a chance to run the branches.

"Saturday Night Live" - Users will get a VIP tour backstage with weekly production blogs and video tours.

"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" - Jay's Garage enters its third season and opens it up to the users to create their own Garage pages. An historical "Tonight Show" timeline will also be introduced this season. New Shows:

"America's Toughest Jobs" - Features will include in-depth contestant profiles, challenge analysis and an online survival game.

"Celebrity Family Feud" - Fans will find celebrity family bios, interviews, photos and profiles.

"Chopping Block" - Digital features will include featured recipes delivered via web, mobile and SMS and a New York City restaurant guide.

"Kath & Kim" - NBC.com will have full episode streaming accompanied by weekly "wine time" segments - featuring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair as their characters discuss the week in pop-culture, fashion and neighborhood gossip, beauty Q & A and Kim dating profiles powered by myNBC.

"Kings" - Digital features will include city sites for Shiloh, Gilboah and Gath, creating a deeper experience for the user. Additionally, viewers will find videos about the King's ascension to power, a family history expose and full streaming episodes.

"Knight Rider" - Fans of the show will find a "KITT" My Ride feature, weekly KITT voicemails to mobile subscribers, talking KITT e-cards and streaming full episodes.

"The Last Templar" -- Digital features will include a Guide to the Templars, Making Of video pieces, interactive decoder games and full streaming episodes.

"Merlin" - Digital features will include Merlin's diary and Spells for Everyday Life.

"My Own Worst Enemy" - New content features will include an alter ego game, dossiers on supporting characters, an archive of Edward and Henry video messages to each other and a split site (suburbs v. international intrigue).

"The Philanthropist" - In addition to full streaming episodes, users will find Giving Back tips, Teddy's Lifestyle game and money tracker files.

"Crusoe" - Digital features will include extended flashback scenes, an interactive adventure game, Crusoe's diary and full episode streaming.

"Shark Taggers" - Fans will be able to meet the taggers through video profiles, interact with a Tag the Shark game and watch deleted scenes.

"XIII" - Digital features will include interactive mobile events synched to the live broadcast and full episode streaming.

There is a lot of SF programming in the bunch: mostly, we're just happy that Chuck and Heroes are returning. Medium was on the chopping block, but got a reprieve. The Knight Rider premiere was ok, but it didn't really get good until Hasselhoff showed up at the very end. More of the Hoff! There is no Knight Rider without the Hoff! Although, we do love Val Kilmer as KITT. He steals every scene he's in -- and you only hear his voice.

Posted on April 3, 2008
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The Donald Wants to Make Spitzer Hooker a Star

Photo of Ashley Dupre

Donald Trump wants to make Ashley Dupree a star. The prostitute that brought down the New York Governor would be perfect for his new reality tv show, he says.

An insider at Donald Trump's newly announced My Fair Lady-style MTV reality show tells PEOPLE that infamous call girl Ashley Alexander Dupre has been asked to join the cast.

The still-untitled show, produced by Donald Trump Productions (and referred to in some press reports as "Lady or a Tramp") was picked up by MTV for eight hour-long episodes. Based on a British show called Ladette to Lady, the show will take a group of 15 hard-partying young women and send them off to a boarding school environment where they�ll learn to become more ladylike.

"She's the perfect candidate," the show insider says of Dupre, the 22-year-old at the center of the Gov. Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal. The show has not yet heard back from Dupre with any reaction to the offer.

Well, she's got the tramp part down pat. Could she be turned into a lady? Not even Donald Trump has enough money to make that happen.

Posted on March 29, 2008
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Idol Contestant Has Nude Dancing Past

Here's some fun American Idol news: contestant David Hernandez was a gay stripper for three years. The 24-year-old worked at Dick's Cabaret in Glendale, Arizona. David's specialty was nude dancing and giving lap dances to "a mostly male clientele." Ooops! But American Idol producer Ken Warwick tells TV Guide that it won't get him kicked off the show.

TVGuide.com: Will the revelations about David's stripper past have any impact on whether he stays on the show?

Ken Warwick: No, it won't make any difference. The truth is, we're never judgmental about what people do to earn a living. They've got to put food in people's mouths. We've had strippers on the show before. Nikki McKibbon was one in [Season] 1. We're never judgmental about people who do things like that. If it were some sort of heavy porn, then maybe we'd have to take action. But certainly not on this.

TVGuide.com: Were you aware of his past before it was reported?

Warwick: No, I wasn't. [Laughs] But the truth of the matter is, it wouldn't have made any difference. There are a lot of people I know who'd love to have the opportunity just to make a better living by taking their clothes off.

David will continue to sing and compete. Apparently nude lap dancing just doesn't carry the stigma it once did.

Posted on March 4, 2008
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Dancing With the Stars Contestants Announced

The new contestants for Dancing With the Stars was just announced and the list overall is kind of blah. Adam Corolla and Steve Guttenberg? Penn Jillette? Really? Here they are in alphabetical order with brief bios. We're rooting for Kristi Yamaguchi.

ADAM CAROLLA - Television and Radio personality Adam Carolla is the host of the Los Angeles based and nationally syndicated morning radio program, The Adam Carolla Show. The actor/comedian has his first starring film role soon to be released in The Hammer (in theaters March 21st), which he co-wrote and co-produced. Carolla was also one of the creators and hosts of Comedy Central's The Man Show (alongside Jimmy Kimmel) and the MTV and long-running syndicated radio program, Loveline, with Dr. Drew Pinsky.

CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE - Having started his acting career in his native Chile, the international film and television star's Spanish language projects include: Univision's mini series, Como ama una mujer and Sony television's Reyes y Rey which aired on Telemundo. He gained recognition in the States as a series regular on Family Law and CSI: Miami. Recent TV guest roles include: Ugly Betty and Psych. He stars in the upcoming USA Network series, In Plain Sight. Film work includes Driven and Basic. Cristian is a First Lieutenant in the Chilean Air Force Reserve and a member of Halcones, the High Aerobatics team. People Magazine named him one of their "50 Most Beautiful." He was the first man ever to grace the cover of Cosmopolitan en Espanol.

SHANNON ELIZABETH - Actress/model Shannon Elizabeth starred in the box office hits, American Pie and Scary Movie. Some of her other credits include Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Love Actually, Cuts and That 70s Show. Shannon is also an accomplished poker player taking third out of sixty-four invited professionals at the 2007 National Heads-Up Poker Championship.

STEVE GUTTENBERG - Actor Steve Guttenberg has starred in blockbusters such as Police Academy, Three Men And A Baby, Short Circuit and Cocoon, as well as such acclaimed dramatic hits as Diner and The Boys From Brazil. Guttenberg has starred in a dozen films, each of which earned in excess of $100,000,000 at the American box office. His television credits include one of the highest-rated telefilms of all time, The Day After. Guttenberg runs The Guttenhouse Project, which houses selected children who are phased out of foster care programs.

MARIO - Twenty-one year-old, multi-platinum selling R&B/Pop singer and actor, Mario, is known for such hit singles as "Just a Friend (2002)" and "Let Me Love You." He was the recipient of Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year in 2005 for "Let Me Love You" and was nominated for a Grammy, BET Award, Vibe Award, MOBO Award and Soul Train Music Award. His latest album Go is in stores now. Mario has also appeared in the feature films Step Up and Freedom Writers.

MARLEE MATLIN - Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Children of a Lesser God, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. At 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and only one of four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut. In addition to the Oscar, Marlee received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. She has since appeared on a number of hit television programs including The West Wing, The L-Word, Nip/Tuck, and Desperate Housewives. In Spring 2008, she will star opposite Jeff Daniels in the telefilm, Sweet Nothing In My Ear.

PENN JILLETTE - Penn Jillette is one-half of the famous illusionist team Penn & Teller. Penn & Teller have been performing together for thirty years and are currently headlining in their own theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. They've received eleven Emmy nominations for their television series, Penn & Teller: Bulls**t and created several TV projects together. The duo has also written three best-selling books. In 2005, Penn produced and co-created the critically acclaimed documentary, The Aristocrats.

PRISCILLA PRESLEY - Actress, producer and entrepreneur Priscilla Presley starred in the Naked Gun films and the internationally popular television series Dallas, as well as guest-starred on TV's Touched by an Angel, Spin City and Melrose Place. Founder of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Priscilla has also served as executive producer on the feature film Finding Graceland and the television version of her autobiography, Elvis and Me. Presley was married to music icon, Elvis Presley.

MONICA SELES - Tennis champ, Monica Seles, is the holder of nine grand slam singles titles and was the top-ranked player in the world. She turned pro in 1988 at the age of fourteen and won her first grand slam championship, the French Open, just two years later. After a two-year absence from the tour in 1993 and 1994, Seles rose above adversity and returned to capture her final grand slam crown in 1996 winning the Australian Open. She holds an outstanding career win loss singles record of 595-122 and was ranked the13th greatest player of all time by Tennis Magazine. Her accomplishments also extend beyond the tennis court as Goodwill Ambassador for the Laures Sports Foundation and the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Microalgae Spirulina Against Malnutrition (IIMSAM).

JASON TAYLOR - This year's NFL Man of the Year Award Winner and last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor has played defensive end for the Miami Dolphins for over a decade. The six-time All Pro formed the Jason Taylor Foundation in 2004 and continues to be heavily involved throughout the South Florida community. Taylor holds the NFL record for touchdowns by a defensive lineman (7) and is the Dolphins all-time leader in quarterback sacks (117) and consecutive games played (130). Jason is married to Katina, and the couple reside in Weston, Fla., with their two sons, Isaiah Paul and Mason Paul, and daughter, Zoe Grace.

MARISSA JARET WINOKUR - Marissa Jaret Winokur is best known for creating the role of "Tracy Turnblad" in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, a performance for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress. Winokur has since been seen in the Farrelly Brothers film Fever Pitch and the television series Stacked. She just finished filming the series lead in a new pilot called Fugly, for 20th Century Fox and CBS and is currently working as one of the leads in the Lifetime movie Betrayals.

KRISTI YAMAGUCHI - An Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion, Kristi Yamaguchi is one of the most popular and successful figure skaters of our time. Since winning the 1992 Winter Olympics, Yamaguchi retired from competitive skating, performing in numerous television specials and traveling the globe on Stars on Ice tour. Along with her many awards and accomplishments, she is a member of the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and the US Olympic Hall of Fame. In 1996, she founded the Always Dream Foundation dedicated to fundraising and supporting children's charities. Yamaguchi is married to Stanley Cup Champion and Carolina Hurricanes star, Bret Hedican. Together, they have two young daughters.

Posted on February 18, 2008
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Oprah Gets Her Own TV Network

Oprah Winfrey now has her own network, to be called OWN.

OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network will bow in the second half of 2009. OWN will take over the Discovery Health Channel distribution platform, which guarantees it a strong subscriber base of 67.7 million cable and satellite homes, according to Nielsen. Winfrey will be chair of the network.

Deal between Winfrey and Discovery was described as a "cashless transaction" for a 50-50 joint venture that will be considered an entity independent of other Discovery channel holdings. Winfrey will have full editorial control of OWN and oversee its programming, branding and creative thrust.

OWN will dive deeper into the lifestyle, self-help, entertainment and spiritual themes Winfrey mines on her daily show, which has been daytime's top syndicated yakker for 20 years, and in her successful monthly magazine O: the Oprah Magazine, a joint venture with Hearst Magazines.

"We'll deal with topics such as money, health and relationships. I want to create a niche, a place where people can go to feel better about their lives," Winfrey said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. She said it's too early in the process for her to discuss specific shows or programming ideas.

She has her own talk show, her own magazine, her own girls' school in South Africa and she campaigns for Barack Obama. When is she going to find the time to run a television network? She's cloned herself using secret technology. That must be the answer.

Posted on January 15, 2008
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Hot Premieres This Week

The biggest fall premiere week is finally here and there are some great shows premiering. Tonight we'll be tuning into Chuck, Heroes, and Journeyman. We'll be Tivoing Dancing with the Stars, because we do have a strange compulsion to watch Mark Cuban cutting a rug. But not on Heroes night.

Monday, 9/24/07

The Bachelor, ABC
The Big Bang Theory, CBS
Chuck, NBC
CSI: Miami, CBS
Dancing with the Stars, ABC
Heroes, NBC
How I Met Your Mother, CBS
Journeyman, NBC
K-Ville, Fox.
Rules of Engagement, CBS
Two and a Half Men, CBS

Tuesday, 9/25/07

Bones, Fox
Boston Legal, ABC
Cane, CBS
House, Fox
Law & Order: SVU, NBC
NCIS, CBS
Reaper, the CW
The Unit, CBS

Wednesday, 9/26/07

Bionic Woman, NBC
Criminal Minds, CBS
CSI: NY, CBS
Deal or No Deal, NBC
Dirty Sexy Money, ABC
Life, NBC
Private Practice, ABC

Thursday, 9/27/07

Big Shots, ABC
CSI, CBS
ER, NBC
Grey's Anatomy, ABC
My Name Is Earl, NBC
The Office, NBC
Smallville, the CW
Ugly Betty, ABC
Without a Trace, CBS

Friday, 9/28/07

Ghost Whisperer, CBS
Las Vegas, NBC
Moonlight, CBS
Numb3rs, CBS
Stargate: Atlantis, Sci-Fi

Posted on September 24, 2007
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Charisma Carpenter Wants to Be The Apprentice

Photo of Charisma Carpenter

It's official. Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and on Angel is joining the celebrity version of Donald Trump's The Apprentice.

Donald Trump's The Apprentice just may become must-see TV for fans of the Buffyverse's Cordelia and, well, warm-blooded men in general. Reliable sources tell TVGuide.com that one of my CWPFs, Charisma Carpenter, will be one of the "job applicants" for the upcoming star-studded edition. While some have scoffed at the celebrity twist being applied to the waning reality show, Carpenter very well could give it the zing it needs. "Charisma is ready to make like Alexis Carrington and bring out the claws if need be," an insider tells me. "It should be very interesting."

Rumors say that Carmen Electra will also be joining the cast. But it's Charisma that we'll be tuning in to see!

Posted on September 12, 2007
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Sunset Tan Returns

Photo from Sunset Tan

At last, our long national nightmare is over. Sunset Tan returns to the airwaves tonight for the first of six brand new episodes. Tonight on E! we see the first new episode entitled "Sunset Tan: New Kid on the Block."

Nick's girlfriend, Ania, has joined the staff of Sunset Tan. The Olly girls decide to take tanning seriously and study for the Smart Tan Certification.

Rating: TV-14

Scheduled to Air:
Friday, Aug 31, 6:00 p
Monday, Sep 3, 10:30 a

Nick's girlfriend? Wasn't she always on the phone complaining to Nick night and day in Season 1? Now she works at Sunset Tan? We predict a major breakup. And the Olly Girls are studying for their Smart Tan Certification? Brilliant! Will they pass? We suppose it depends what the test is like...if they're any writing involved, probably not. If they just show up and get painted from head to toe in fake swimsuits (like they did for a party at the Playboy Mansion awhile back), they'll pass with flying colors.

Posted on August 31, 2007
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The Food Network's Next Stars?

Photo of Paul and Jag at Fort Dix

In between firing up the grill, entertaining relatives and getting ready for fireworks festivities, we kept sneaking peeks at a reality show that we've become quite addicted to: The Next Food Network Star, where people compete to get their own show on The Food Network. Yes, this is the third year it's been on, but we've been a bit late to the party on this one.

They've been doing a marathon of shows for season three all day and we're up to Episode 5 now, with Episode 6 happening on Sunday. Our favorite episode so far is when the contestants went to Fort Dix to cook for the soldiers. First, they had to make MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) palatable, which sounded like an impossible job to us. Then they had to cook for 75 soldiers. Pictured are Paul McCullough, who is a caterer and is openly gay, and JAG (Joshua Adam Garcia), who is straight, never had a gay friend, and who is a former Marine. What a great episode! Those two are hilarious together -- and Paul's hardcore pushups really got the troops' appreciation, as did their fried meatloaf (the oven broke and JAG nearly lost it, before coming up with deep fat frying as a creative alternative). Paula Dean and Giada De Laurentiis helped judge. Giada (another one of our favorite Food Network stars) is apparently is mean when she's not on her show and we nearly bust a gut laughing as she skewered each contestant. We love Giada even more now that we know she's not so sugar sweet as she appears.

We demand that Paul and Jag get their own show -- together. It will be great, like the Odd Couple of Cooking. If you want to catch up on this addictive series, check out the website for the show.

Posted on July 4, 2007
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The Search for the New Elvira

Photo of Elvira

A "casket call" has just gone out to find the next Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. From the official release:

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is searching for an evil handmaiden to assist with her Halloween hosting duties on the Fox Reality Original "The Search for the Next Elvira," which debuts on Fox Reality, the only all-reality, all-the-time cable and satellite network, on Saturday, October 13 at 9:00 PM PT / 12:00 AM ET. Natural 9 Entertainment ("Reality Remix," "Fox Reality Really Awards") is producing the series exclusively for Fox Reality.

On Friday, July 13, Fox Reality will host an open "Casket Call" at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA for their original series "The Search for the Next Elvira." From the hundreds of horrific hopefuls, Elvira will cut the group down to the unlucky thirteen participants, while the others will be told to "Rest in Peace." Later that evening, Elvira will be crowned with her new title "Queen of Halloween." Instructions for entering the Fox Reality Original "The Search for the Next Elvira" through the open "Casket Call" are posted on www.foxreality.com.

"We are thrilled to hold the 'Casket Call' on Friday the 13th at the Queen Mary a notoriously haunted LA landmark. All walks of life are welcome to see if they have what it takes to become the Next Elvira," said Carol Sherman, Executive Producer, Natural 9 Entertainment.

"The Search for the Next Elvira" is a reality series consisting of three, hour-long episodes during which contestants will compete to see if they can look the part, and present the same wit, poise and courage as the real Elvira in hopes of becoming one of Halloween's most sinful icons. Following the second episode on October 20, audience members can vote for their favorite aspiring Elvira who will be crowned as the next "Mistress of the Dark" during the LIVE finale on Halloween.

"There are simply too many ghastly engagements for one 'Mistress of the Dark' to entertain," said Elvira. "I am searching for someone to share my tricks with someone to help spread the Halloween spirit."

We're not sure how many Elviras we can stand. One seems like more than enough. Although, don't get us wrong. Her film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark really is a camp classic. And can anyone fill her costume quite like the original? We didn't think so.

Posted on June 15, 2007
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Victoria Beckham Causes Ruckus on TV Show

Reports say that Victoria Beckham is really mean and that no one likes her on her reality show. Also, the show is boring.

The former Spice Girl has reportedly infuriated staff working on the NBC programme - which follows Victoria and husband David's summer US move as David joins the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team - with her rude attitude and arrogant behaviour.

A show insider told Britain's Star magazine: 'We think she's full of herself and not very nice. She's very picky, demanding and rude. And she was mean to the assistants, too. 'She waltzes around with her icy attitude. People will walk up to her and say, 'Welcome to America', or, 'Good luck with the move', and she doesn't even stop to talk to them.

'The show is designed to make her a star in the States, but she's dreaming if she thinks that's going to happen. She's coming off as a grade-A bitch!' It is also alleged the show's nervous producers are worried the series will be boring and a major flop. The source added: 'No one knows what to do with her to make the show interesting - she's so boring! Every suggestion the producers make, she rejects.'

Hmmmm....we've seen candid videos of Victoria in which she's down to earth and really quite funny. Is it sour grapes? Or is someone trying to drum up publicity for the show? Calling Victoria a bitch is going to get viewers. But calling her boring will not. We'll just have to tune in ourselves to see.

Posted on April 24, 2007
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Paulina is the First Casualty of Dancing With the Stars

Photo of Paulina Porizkova

Alas, lovely supermodel Paulina Porizkova was the first contestant to be booted off this season's Dancing With the Stars.

The former supermodel showed off an elegant foxtrot with partner Alec Mazo on the March 19 debut of the ballroom dance competition ("You look like you have breakfast, lunch and dinner at Tiffanys," gushed judge Bruno Tonioli). But her moves during the traditionally sensual mambo Monday night were "stiff and starchy," according to judge Len Goodman.

Despite harsh critiques from the judges' table, "it's been a great experience," Porizkova, 41, told PEOPLE after Tuesday's show. "I made tons of new friends! We've had so much fun, just laughing endlessly."

*****

After her first performance, "my husband [rocker Ric Ocasek] was like 'You're going to win!' I was like, 'No honey, I'm not.' So I proved him wrong!" she said with a satisfied laugh.

She is still married to Ric Ocasek from The Cars? That's the most amazing thing we've heard all day.

Posted on March 28, 2007
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Heather Mills Stuns Dance Judges With Backflip

Dancing With the Stars continues to entertain. Watch Heather Mills -- who has only one leg -- do the mamba and a back walkover. She certainly impressed the judges. We were astounded, we must admit. Her performance netted her a score of 24 out of 30, putting her into 5th place.

Judge Bruno Tonioli said: "Beyond any expectation! You were on warp drive tonight. Red-hot Heather - I can't believe what you did."

Posted on March 27, 2007
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Heather Mills is Dancing With the Stars

Heather Mills, the soon to be ex-wife of Sir Paul McCartney has signed on to be a contestant in Dancing With the Stars. In an interview with Extra, Mills says that she hopes her prosthetic leg doesn't fall off.

Some might see Heather Mills' artificial leg as a drawback for "Dancing with the Stars," but Mills plans on using it as a weapon! In an interview with "EXTRA" correspondent Terri Seymour, Mills says, "Hopefully my leg will stay on ... it's very unlikely [it will come off] though it'd be funny to knock one of the judges out!"

Heather, who lost her left leg in 1993 after an accident involving a police motorcycle, seems an odd choice for a dancing competition, but she's not worried, "I have no fear, I'm quite happy to be thrown around." Between dance classes, Mills also is battling estranged hubby Paul McCartney in divorce court, with preliminary hearings starting today in London's High Court.

We don't even know where to start with this one. First off, we can't stand Heather Mills: she's a gold-digging bimbo who has nearly destroyed Paul McCartney's and his childrens' lives with her ghastly behavior during the divorce. She's coming to the U.S. because they can't stand her in Britain -- remember, Britain is where this show began. Of course, Sir Paul was an idiot for not making her sign a pre-nup. Our sympathies are with the long-suffering children, not the horrid stepmother.

Posted on March 1, 2007
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Cube Fabulous: Improving Cubes and Changing Lives

In Cube Fabulous, on online reality tv show, upbeat and intentionally cheesy cube fabricators Jeff and Megan travel to people's offices to help them improves their dull cubes. They claim that they are changing lives "one cubicle at a time." ClickZ reports that the online cube makeover show is hit.

As its second season comes to a close, online reality show Cube Fabulous is claiming success, having grown its audience to 4.5 million unique visitors and signed several big name sponsors.

The show consists of seven-minute episodes, broadcast exclusively online, where disgruntled cube dwellers have their desks upgraded by a team of designers. Cubes have been endowed with themes like punk rock and ski chalet; one was even transformed into a human-sized acquarium.

"There's a real opportunity in this industry to create something that never existed before," said Matt Wasserlauf, CEO of Broadband Enterprises, which produces Cube Fabulous. "We're going to drive time spent metrics while people are watching video; we are going to allow them to watch unique programming."

Originally targeted to the 18- to 24-year-old market, Cube Fbulous is now attempting to reach an older audience with new episodes. Broadband Enterprises said the show has logged 100 million streams, with 75 to 100 million ad impressions from 4.5 million unique viewers. Total ad billings are $2.1 million.

There are about a dozen episodes of Cube Fabulous online and new episodes will appear in February. You can submit your own cube profile here if you want a shot at appearing on an episode of the show and a shot at having the cube fabricators come to your office and pimp your cube.

Posted on January 6, 2007
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Emmitt Smith Wins Dancing With the Stars

Photo of Emmit Smith dancing

He has three Superbowl rings. And now he has the Dancing With the Stars trophy: it was a good night for former Dallas Cowboy Emmitt Smith.

Finding out Emmitt Smith can dance the samba is not unlike finding out Fred Astaire could have done a respectable turn at cornerback in "Cover Two." I mean, who knew? These days, there are no shortage of wannabe dancers in the NFL. Guys fresh off the practice squad catch a break, wind up in the end zone and next thing you know, they're auditioning for the Rockettes. Smith, on the other hand, scored 165 touchdowns in 15 pro seasons, the second-best total in NFL history, and did exactly zero dances afterward.

Turns out he was just saving himself for when it mattered. "You don't get into a competition," Smith said, "unless you think you can win." Smith and his pro partner, Cheryl Burke, made it official with Wednesday night's announcement that the voting public broke a tie among deadlocked judges on "Dancing with the Stars" and awarded the couple the mirrored ball.

Smith, so used to praising the Cowboys offensive lineman who opened holes in defenses ahead of him season after season, couldn't say enough about his partner. Smart move, and a deserving one, too, since Burke also maneuvered Drew Lachey into the winner's circle when they were partnered last year. But the last thing Smith should do is sell himself short. The celebrity half of the couple he beat, former "Saved by the Bell" star Mario Lopez, grumbled afterward, "Apparently, world-class dancing wasn't enough," implying that Smith's popularity - and not his turn of foot - is what decided the competition.

But as they say in the dance world: au contraire. "Actually, I thought America would be swayed to vote for 'dimple boy,'" dance expert Pierre Dulaine said in a telephone interview from New York, where the American Ballroom Theater Company founder was conducting classes for public-school students. "I believe Mario was better from a technical aspect, and very, very determined. But Emmitt has nothing to apologize for. From the very start of the competition, I could see Emmitt was a natural mover and he had that infectious smile, always. "And," Dulaine added, "he had already learned something I'm always trying to teach my kids. He shook what his momma gave him very well."

After the Evander Holyfield dancing disaster (we were rooting for the big guy, but he looked like a dancing bear), we were worried about Emmitt. But he pulled off his win with style. So who's going to be the next dancing machine? Not Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens who told the Associated Press: "I don't think you'll see me any time soon on Dancing on the Stars. But you may see me dancing on the star." T.O., never say never. And Mario, don't be sad: technically, you really were the better dancer. But Emmitt had the heart of a champion and really know how to shake his groove thing when it mattered most.

Posted on November 16, 2006
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Dancing With the Stars Goes on Tour

Photo of Lisa Rinna

The hit tv show Dancing With the Stars is going on the road. Variety reports:

"Dancing With the Stars" will go on tour to 38 cities with teams of stars and professional dancers from the first three seasons of the ABC hit. Tour, produced by BBC Worldwide, AEG and Front Line Management Group, will mambo its way from San Diego on Dec. 19 to Atlantic City, N.J., on Feb. 11.

Featured performers will be season two winners Drew Lachey & Cheryl Burke, Joey McIntyre with Kym Johnson, Lisa Rinna & Louis Van Amstel, Joey Lawrence & Edyta Sliwinska, Willa Ford & Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Harry Hamlin pairing with Karina Smirnoff. Show, which will feature a large re-creation of the TV show's nightclub-style table seating on the floor, has been booked into arenas such as Staples Center, where it plays Dec. 28, and Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. (Feb. 1).

Carrie Ann Inaba, one of the show's judges, will be the show's creative director. Louis Van Amstel, who is partnered with Monique Coleman on this season's edition of the show, will choreograph.

Over 21 million people watch the show every week and producers are hoping the live show is as big a hit as the American Idol tours have been.

Posted on October 26, 2006
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Trump Creating Reality TV Show Based on Monopoly

Donal Trump and Monopoly Reality TV Show

Donal Trump and Monopoly Reality TV Show

Variety recently reported that Donald Trump and R.J. Cutler are developing a reality tv show based on the popular Monopoly board game.

While details of the Monopoly reality show are being kept under wraps, it seems logical that the skein will involve a game element in which contestants try to gather and improve properties in order to increase their ultimate net worth. Trump's numerous real estate holdings would provide plenty of potential platforms for the show.

Indeed, Trump owns properties in numerous cities -- including Atlantic City, original locale of the Monopoly game.

Trump and Cutler will serve as exec producers of the project via their respective Trump LLC and Actual Reality shingles. Not yet clear is the extent of Trump's onscreen role in the show.

How much Trump appears on-camera will depend on where the show ends up and whether "The Apprentice" is in production when Monopoly bows. Not appearing onscreen hasn't hurt "American Idol" judge Simon CowellSimon Cowell's ability to sell projects to multiple networks.

You would need Trump involved to get good ratings for the Monopoly show. The concept is a good fit with Trump's image as high roller in real estate. Meanwhile, Trump's Apprentice realty tv show continues in 2007 with Season 6 even though ratings are down from the show's early years.

Posted on September 10, 2006
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