August 2007 News Archive

Tim Gunn has a new reality show coming out, aptly named Tim Gunn's Guide to Style.

The fashion maven talked about it with Us Weekly...

Usmagazine.com: With so many makeover shows for viewers to choose from, what makes Guide to Style unique?
Tim Gunn: For one, our show is not an intervention. These women have self-declared their need for help - they share being in a fashion rut. We're not telling [participants] what to wear. It's really an education about who they are, with whom they interact and how they want the world to perceive them. It's the semiology of dressing. It's all about the message that our clothes send and how the world perceives that.

Us: What wardrobe pieces are essential to complete the perfect fall look?
TG: If you don't have a basic black dress, you'd better get one. And you can certainly do that for $200 or under.

Us: Which Project Runway designer could most benefit from your fashion know-how?
TG: That's a great question. God, I don't know - maybe Diana Eng from season two. She's our little math and science nerd and she kept saying that her own personal style wasn't a priority for her, but if you're going to be in fashion and especially if you're going to be a designer, you'd better send a message about what you can do for your customer.

Us: Do you keep in touch with any of the Runway designers?
TG: Austin Scarlett and I spoke recently, Daniel V's doing really well. Robert Plotkin is working for Laundry. I'm in touch with a lot of them â€" those who want to stay in touch. We have our own Alumni Association now!

Us: Lastly, what can we expect from season four's crop of designers?
TG: I love the fact that people will be surprised this season, and what I'll tell you about this season is that there were 120 semi-finalists, and any one of the 120 could have won the whole season. I don't think anyone in the audience is really going to know - challenge to challenge - who's going to win and who's going to be out.

As far as reality TV shows go, this one actually isn't a terrible idea:

Tonight at 10 on MTV is the premiere of Celebrity Rap Superstar, a "talent" competition that will pit supposed celebrities against each other in a battle of rhyming skills.

The cast includes:

• Laguna Beach alum Jason Wahler
• Former NFL player Jamal Anderson
• Celebrity gossip loser Perez Hilton
• Mother of two of K-Fed's kids Shar Jackson
• Playboy Playmate Kendra Wilkinson
• Rocker Sebastian Bach
• Napoleon Dynamite actor Efren Ramirez

Looks like we jumped the reality TV gun a bit earlier this week when we posted the cast for next season's Dancing with the Stars.

After Carrie Anna Inaba and Apolo Anton Ohno announced the line-up this morning, we present to you the official list of celebrity names for the new season, along with their professional dancing partners:

• Melanie "Mel B" Brown, 32, Spice Girls singer (pro partner: Maksim Chmerkovskiy);
• Sabrina Bryan, 22, actress/singer (pro partner: Mark Ballas);
• Helio Castroneves, 32, racecar driver (pro partner: Julianne Hough);
• Mark Cuban, 48, businessman (pro partner: Kym Johnson);
• Jennie Garth, 35, actress (pro partner: Derek Hough, older brother of Julianne Hough);
• Josie Maran, 29, supermodel (pro partner Alec Mazo);
• Cameron Mathison, 38, actor, pictured, on All My Children (pro partner: Edyta Sliwinska);
• Floyd Mayweather, Jr., 30, boxer (pro partner: Karina Smirnoff);
• Wayne Newton, 65, singer (pro partner: Cheryl Burke);
• Marie Osmond, 47, singer/doll designer (pro partner: Jonathan Roberts);
• Albert Reed, 22, supermodel (pro partner: Anna Trebunskaya); and
• Jane Seymour, 56, actress (pro partner: Tony Dovolani).

Apolo Anton Ohno and Carrie Ann Inaba will announce the official results Wednesday morning - but TMZ.com has uncovered the following scoop on which celebrities are hitting the floor this fall on Dancing with the Stars...

• Tori Spelling - Former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress
• Jennie Garth - Another former Beverly Hills, 90210 star
• Wayne Newton - Las Vegas singer
• Aaron Carter - Former boy band member
• Mark Cuban - Owner of the Dallas Mavericks
• Jane Seymour - Former star of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman
• Floyd Mayweather, Jr - Champion boxer
• Lou Ferrigno - The Hulk on old TV series
• Nia Peeples (pictured) - Star of The Young and the Restless
• Richard Quest - CNN news reporter
• Gisele Bundchen - Extremely hot model
• Helio Castroneves - Drives race cars for a living
• Sabrina Bryan - Member of former girl group, The Cheetah Girls

Move over Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest.

FOX has released the following judges and host for its American Idol follow-up, The Next Great American Band.

Judges:

• Singer/songwriter John Rzeznik (pictured, the Goo Goo Dolls)
• Legendary percussionist and performer Sheila E. (The Glamorous Life, A Love Bizarre)
• Australian TV personality Ian Dickson (Australian Idol)

Host:

• Dominic Bowden (New Zealand Idol)

The show premieres on Friday, October 19. The network's press release read:
"From the auditions, the judges will narrow down the hopefuls to 10 semifinalist bands who will perform weekly in front of a live studio audience. The judges will have their say after each performance, but viewers will vote for their favorite bands to determine who stays in the competition. Voting begins immediately after each show, and the results will be announced at the beginning of the following episode.

"Each week, the bands will perform either original music or covers of varied styles. The season finale brings the ultimate battle of the bands, with the last three groups competing to secure a contract with 19 recordings and the title of Next Great American Band."

Thanks to Reality TV World for the following preview of this year's new and/or returning fall shows...

The Contender (premieres Tuesday, September 4 at 10PM ET/PT on ESPN)
In this corner, 16 super middleweights will duke it out on the third edition of this boxing competition series, which will also aim to appease critics by broadcasting every bout in its entirety on ESPN2.

The Biggest Loser (premieres Tuesday, September 11 at 8PM ET/PT on NBC)
A new host, the return of trainer Jillian Michaels and the absence of a ranch are all changes that will be featured in the fourth edition of this weight-loss reality competition series. However the contestants will still compete in challenges in an attempt to shed pounds, survive enough eliminations and claim the show's $250,000 grand prize, allowing them to purchase as many of those relentlessly-promoted The Biggest Loser Club memberships as they want.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team (premieres Friday, September 14 at 8PM ET/PT on CMT)
If you thought cheerleading was only for popular high-schoolers or peppy college kids, think again, as the second season of this docu-reality series will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at cheerleading tryouts for America's Team.

Nashville (premieres Friday, September 14 at 9PM ET/PT on Fox)
Laguna Beach down on the farm, this docu-reality series will follow a group of young country crooners trying to make their mark in Music City, USA. The kids better hope their ascent to the top is entertaining, as the show is airing on Friday nights, which have traditionally proven to be a ratings graveyard for younger-skewing programming like reality shows.

Beauty and the Geek (premieres Tuesday, September 18 at 8PM ET/PT on The CW)
The partnership of looks and smarts was never so entertaining, and the fourth season of this reality show will also feature a new twist -- the inclusion of one hunky guy and one nerdy girl. Ashton Kutcher, you've done it again!

Kid Nation (premieres Wednesday, September 19 at 8PM ET/PT on CBS)
Forty pint-sized pioneers descend upon the ghost town of Bonanza City, NM in this new reality series, which will follow the youth as they work together to create and sustain a fully-functioning community sans parental supervision. Each episode will conclude with a Town Hall-style meeting where they'll discuss important issues before calling it a night, heading to the saloon, and downing some root beers while listening to old 19th century Spongebob Squarepants radio broadcasts.

America's Next Top Model (premieres Wednesday, September 19 at 8PM ET/PT on The CW)
Tyra Banks is back and despite her previous promise that the ninth cycle of this reality competition series would be a "whole rebirth" of the show's format, it won't be. But a few things are for certain, such as a new cast of catty catwalkers; photo shoots with inane themes; and Banks showcasing her talents with the hope of someday replacing Oprah.

Kitchen Nightmares (premieres Wednesday, September 19 at 9PM ET/PT on Fox)
What better way to give a struggling eating establishment a kick in the pants than be sending in foul-mouthed culinary king Gordon Ramsay? This American adaptation of the U.K.'s Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares reality series finds a home in the States and follows the Hell's Kitchen star as he travels across the country and helps restaurants in crisis. Restaurant owners will presumably be pleased by his visit, but employees, not so much.

Continue Reading...

TV loves an odd couple.

So here's the rumored new one: Patric "Tango" Hunter - who won Tiffany Pollard's heart and then dissed her big time on I Love New York - revealed that he and Mr. Boston are planning to star in their own reality series.

"Our project is going to focus on our relationship; me being more urban and I guess a lot of people say a cooler type of person and you have the total opposite in him,"  Tango said.  "It's not going to focus on the black and white but more on the personality conflicts we have."

Although no fresh details about the new show have emerged, Mr. Boston said in a more recent interview with Black Press Radio that he has received an offer to do his own spin-off television series, but didn't elaborate or mention whether or not the show would involve Tango.

In the same interview, Mr. Boston also lashed out at New York, saying he's "pissed that she didn't pick me.  She didn't get to experience the Boston Charm."  And even though Tango did supposedly love her at one point, he shares this sentiment for Pollard.

"She was dissing me harder than the dudes was," Tango said during the reunion.  "I have absolutely no love for New York."

Despite how things worked out between himself and Tiffany Pollard, Tango said I Love New York has helped his music career, especially when it comes to gaining contacts in the industry.

"That's probably the most amazing part of it. Coming off a show like this, you can easily get absolutely no respect.  I was Tango before the show.  I had a great career before the show writing and ghostwriting for other artists.  And now, I have been embraced by a lot of industry artists," he said.  "Bone Thugs, we have a great relationship â€" along with their DJ, DJ Ice. Carl Thomas I have a great relationship with.  The list goes on and on."

Terry Fator, a 42-year-old singing ventriloquist from Dallas conquered all on the second season of America's Got Talent. He was named the winner of the show during last night's live finale broadcast.

"Thank you America, thank you so much America," Fator said after a final celebratory performance that followed host Jerry Springer's announcement that home viewers had voted Fator the show's second-season winner.

As this season's victor, Fator - who defeated Cas Haley, a 26-year-old reggae singer to win the competition - received a $1,000,000 prize and the show's "Best New Act In America" title.

Unfortunately for Fator, however, unlike the winners of most other reality shows, he won't actually be receiving the full cash prize any time soon.

Instead, Fator's $1,000,000 prize will be paid over via a lottery prize-like 40-year period. Fator can (and probably will) opt to pass on the $25,0000 annual payments and instead receive a lump sum; should he do so, though, the present cash value of the prize will be no more than several hundred thousand dollars.

After revealing Fator's victory, Springer also revealed that Fator would also be receiving one more prize.

"We've got one more surprise for you," Springer said. "We know your dream is to play Las Vegas, [so] we're going to make that dream come true. You're going to be playing the Jubilee Theater at Bally's Resort."

Congrats to him!

Though ABC hasn't officially announced the roster, Entertainment Weekly has learned that Wayne Newton will follow in the tanned footsteps of George Hamilton and John O'Hurley when he joins Dancing with the Stars this fall.

At 65, Newton still tours with the USO and makes regular appearances in his hometown of Vegas.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Season 4 winner Apolo Ohno will announce the next lineup August 29 on Good Morning America.

Joey Fatone has signed on for red-carpet duty. He'll serve co-host - alongside Lisa Rinna - of TV Guide Network's red-carpet coverage of major awards shows.

Their first gig together: the Emmy Awards on Sept. 16.

"Joey is a top-notch professional with a natural likeability and great sense of humor, all of which are essential attributes of a red-carpet host," said TV Guide Network President Ryan O'Hara in a statement Tuesday.

"He will be a terrific complement to [former Days of Our Lives star, Lisa], who is also incredibly charismatic and brings a wealth of fashion savvy and insight," O'Hara said.

In a statement, The Singing Bee host said he plans to make "the red carpet experience entertaining, spontaneous and most of all fun _ not only for those walking the red carpet, but also for the fans watching at home."

He will co-host TV Guide's red-carpet coverage through 2008, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globe awards, Grammy Awards and Screen Actors Guild awards.