THE ONE WHERE HE GETS HIS OWN SHOW
It's official: NBC is expected to announce at today's Television Critics Assoc. press tour in Hollywood that it has signed a deal with Matt LeBlanc to headline a Friends spinoff, to debut in September 2004. It's believed that Joey will take over the Thursday/8 pm timeslot soon to be vacated by Friends. |
WINGING IT
Steven Eckholdt, who most recently starred opposite Nia Vardalos in CBS's My Big Fat Greek Life, has landed a much steadier gig: The actor is joining the cast of NBC's The West Wing as the husband of President Jed Bartlet's eldest daughter (played by X-Files alum Annabeth Gish). |
HARLEMM RHAPSODY
On last night's Fame finale, viewers officially forgave pint-sized pop-star wannabe Harlemm Lee for fibbing about his age and named him the winner of the talent contest. Runner-up Shannon Bex scored, too; after predicting that the Britney look-alike would emerge victorious, judge Johnny Wright offered her the same record deal that he owed Lee. Meanwhile, we continued sulking because our fave — Alex Boyd, the mod Sinatra — was sent packing weeks ago. |
CANDIE'S GIRL
Following in the footsteps of Destiny's Child, Ashanti and Kelly Osbourne, American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson has signed on as the new spokeswoman for Candie's footwear. |
CHICKEN CRUSADE
Paul McCartney has taken out a full-page ad in today's Louisville Courier-Journal urging KFC to improve the treatment of the 750 million chickens it raises (and kills) annually in "factory farms." Says the former Beatle: "These remarkable animals are deserving of at least a little kindness." KFC's response to Sir Paul? "Let It Be." |
SERENA DOES TIME
Tennis great Serena Williams is causing a racket on the small screen. Williams will play a reformed gang member on parole in an Oct. 1 episode of the Showtime drama Street Time. The show's producers created the role specifically for her, so she better not screw it up. |
NAME TERMINATED
Producers of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines changed the name of a character in the film from Scott Peterson to Scott Mason as a result of the high-profile Laci Peterson case. Scott Peterson stands accused of murdering his wife and their unborn child. In the film, Scott Mason is engaged to a woman who is kidnapped. |
SHORT CUTS
Oscar-winner and former NRA head Charlton Heston, who currently suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was awarded the Medal of Freedom on Wednesday by President Bush... The Bad Boys II soundtrack entered Billboard's album chart at No. 1 with sales of 324,000 copies. |
