YEP, SHE'S THE CENTER SQUARE
Future talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will succeed Whoopi Goldberg as Hollywood Squares' center square — albeit temporarily. According to The Hollywood Reporter, as part of the producers new strategy of rotating center square occupants, DeGeneres will take over the main slot for the first few weeks of the show's fifth season (premiering Sept. 16). Alec Baldwin is next in line, although the dates of his stint are still being worked out. |
WAS THIS A $10 BET?
Ed star Josh Randall was arrested in Brooklyn Wednesday night after an undercover narcotics cop caught him allegedly smoking crack with a homeless man. The 30-year-old actor — who plays Tom Cavanagh's best friend Dr. Mike Burton in the NBC dramedy — was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and is being held pending arraignment. |
CARREY'S NEW GAL
Jennifer Aniston's movie career just got a major boost: The Friends Emmy nominee has been cast opposite Jim Carrey in the spiritual comedy Bruce Almighty. She'll play the girlfriend of Carrey's character, who is given the opportunity to run the universe for a day. Morgan Freeman is in final talks to play God. |
IDOL SURPRISE
Sexy disco diva Ryan Starr was the latest contestant booted from Fox's American Idol last night. But the real shocker was frontrunner Justin Guarini landing in the bottom two! Talk about an ego bruiser! Meanwhile, Tuesday night's talent show portion of Idol attracted a series-high 12 million viewers and delivered the best young demos of any show this summer. |
FREAKY CAREER MOVE
Hollywood seems hell-bent on making Kelly Osbourne a star. Ozzy's wacky offspring — whose cover of Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" was a surprise success (commercially speaking) — is in talks to play the musically inclined best friend in Disney's upcoming remake of the 1976 comedy Freaky Friday. According to Variety, Kelly is also expected to contribute a song to the film's soundtrack. The Parent Trap's Lindsay Lohan will play the teen at the center of Freaky Friday, and Annette Bening stars as the mom. |
DONE DEAL
Harry Connick Jr. has officially signed on to play Debra Messing's love interest on Will & Grace this season. Connick has committed to do 12 episodes, beginning with the Sept. 26 season premiere. Meanwhile, Kevin Bacon will appear in the show's second episode playing himself. |
SPOT REMOVER
Fox and sister cabler Fox News Channel will not accept advertising for their Sept. 11 anniversary coverage, a decision that will cost the two networks $5 million. The other major networks, however, are not expected to follow suit. |
FAMILY MATTERS
PBS's Latino drama American Family and CBS's freshman hit The Guardian were the big winners at Wednesday's fourth annual Family Television Awards. Family was named best special series and Guardian was honored as best new series. Other winners include: Guardian's Simon Baker, Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel, ABC's My Wife and Kids and the WB's 7th Heaven. |
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME NEW MUSIC?
Monday Night Football will get a new theme song every week this season, courtesy of franchise mainstay Hank Williams Jr. Each game will get its very own lyrics, set to Williams' 1984 hit "All My Rowdy Friends are Coming Over Tonight." Here's a sampling from the Sept. 16 opener between Washington and Philadelphia: "The 'Skins' new coach looks to make an impression/Philly wants to teach him an NFL lesson." |
IS HE STILL ANGRY?
Country crooner Toby Keith's new album Unleashed, featuring the controversial post-Sept. 11 song "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American)," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, selling more than 338,000 copies. Entering the chart at No. 2 was Volume 10 of the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series, which sold a disappointing 288,000 copies. Now that's what I call a flop. |
CRIME CARTOON
CBS has signed a deal with IDW Publishing for a five-issue comic book miniseries based on the network's hit serial thriller CSI. IDW will publish one issue per month starting in December. |
STAR TREATMENT
Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones will be released on DVD and VHS on Nov. 12. Expect lots of extras, but the same old boring film. |
