Today At Ten: O'Grady Girl Power, Sheen's lost his shine, X Factorless, Big Brother's Big Bother
Its the second of our twice weekly round up of news and views from the world of showbiz and entertainment. In this issue Janet Street Porter’s great Spice Girls story, on-demand deals for 4 and 5 with You Tube, a host of further SKY TV programming, the Conor controversy continues with Big Brother, has The X Factor still got er, the X Factor and Charlie Sheen’s lost his wit? – plus lots more.Woman Power, not Girl Power for O’Grady
In our Monday issue we reported how Twiglet Spice, sorry Victoria Beckham , was flying in for a Spice Girls ‘reunion’. The good news is that the coming together took place and none of them attempted to sing. The bad news is there is to be a Spice Girls musical following in the footsteps of fellow chart toppers such as Queen, Dusty Springfield and the Four Seasons who have all seen stage shows containing their music. It could have a saving grace – the production has been penned by the comic genius of Jennifer Saunders.
News of the stage show spread to Loose Women where Janet Street Porter revealed comedian Paul O’Grady wasn’t a fan of girl power. She said:“What I find fascinating about the Spice Girls, is because I’m so old, I remember when they won their Brit Award for best girl group. I went along to the party, with Paul O’Grady, and Geri Halliwel came up to me and went ‘oh you’re my inspiration’ which was touching that Geri was inspired by me… she added ‘I really worship you Janet, you’re really inspirational’. And then she started this ‘girl power twaddle’ and Paul O’Grady, quick as a flash, went ‘Janet’s got real power not some second division’.
Showbiz Highlights
Comedy’s lost it’s Sheen.
Charlie Sheen’s latest comedy offering aired in America last night and the FX channel sitcom, Anger Management, has been slated by the critics. Sheen best known these days for his real-life antics rather than acting ablity returned to television screens after a turbulent year.
The former Two and a Half Men star may have hoped his talent would oversee the hype surrounding him, but according to The Philadelphia Daily News it appears not so. The paper suggests the new comedy is “predictable”, while The Huffington Post said the programme was full of “toxic narcissism”.
It has to surely be worrying when people laugh more at your off-screen goings on than in a TV sitcom.
Katie’s Got Bottle
Katie Price decided, in her own unique way, to inform the world she shoved a Vodka bottle up former hubby Alex Reid’s backside as part of sexual entertainment.
While many people may think its a far from classy revelation, nor very ladylike to discuss it in public, we think it proves Katie Price is missing her vocation in life. With antics like that she’d surely make a great candidate as a Tory MP.
Made for Spencer.The new star of The Bachelor, Spencer Matthews, has said that “honesty” is one of the most important things the women who attempt to woo him in the programme should have. We wonder if that’s wise. The made-famous via reality drama Made In Chelsea he may not really want to know what people think of him surely. And don’t flaunt yourself too much Spencer or you may have Katie Price chasing you with a vodka bottle.
“It’s important to have chemistry and get on well with someone. My brother and I have both dated a wide range of girls and not all of them have been posh.” He told the Daily Star. Katie, Kerry Katona and the cast of TOWIE all stand a chance then.
Rob Brydon Revisiting Gavin and Stacey.
Funnyman Brydon is reported as telling the Evening Standard that he’d be up for a return to the popular sitcom. “My thoughts are that if Ruth and James wanted to continue I wouldn’t stand in their way. I would come back.”
Previously creators and writers Ruth Jones and James Cordon had spoken of reviving the BBC Three comedy. Sadly Margaret John who played randy pensioner Doris in the series died last February.
Who’s That?Matt Smith has been spotted recording scenes of Doctor Who in Cardiff. This shouldn’t be a surprise to who fans as the series is, er, made in Cardiff. Last month the actor carried the Olympic Torch through the city.
Tom, there’s no place at Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are to divorce after five years.
Their marriage had been described as one which never quite convinced the Hollywood sceptics. Rather like some of the acting in Corrie really…
Tully’s Troubles
Poor Sean Tully in Corrie has been cheated on by his partner. The rotter has been caught kissing ‘another man’. As one person commented however ‘well its the first time Marcus [Sean’s lover] has kissed a real man in years’You have to give it to Antony Cotton who plays Sean, his portrayal of the stereotypical, camp, unfunny, gay that most ‘real gay men’ would want to slap, been so good acting wise that you cheer on Marcus and hope he runs off and leaves the knickers stitcher on his own with just a cushion and pout for company.
Oh and on the note that Sean lost Betty’s hotpot recipe, it seems someone forgot that Kerian copied it a few years ago for a rival restaurant.. so not to worry.
Big Bother
Big Brother has seen complaints about the show peak at well over 1000 after two incidents on the show. Last week viewers saw one of the housemates – Conor – unleash a tirade of abuse concerning fellow contestant Deana.
The outburst followed t he latter failing to carry out a required task as part of the programme. The comments included Conor suggesting that Deana should stick her epilator up her m**ge. I wonder if Katie Price tried that on Alex Reid’s backside as well…
The producers have defended keeping Conor in the house after he later apologised for his rant. The Channel 5 production state he has been dealt with in an appropriate way according to their guidelines. It was also noted the outburst was ‘out of character’ and he had previously been as boring as most of the other contestants this year.
The complaints to Ofcom grew however after the second incident when in an allegedly racist outburst black contestant Adam was called ‘a gorilla’ by troublemaker and gossip Caroline.
Withering Factor
Is the mammoth Saturday night talent search about to fall off its perch as supreme ITV entertainment show? That is the question apparently some ITV bosses have been pondering of late.The show, which follows in the footsteps of previous long running talent series such as New Faces and Opportunity Knocks, maybe in line for the axe factor.
The Daily Star reports ‘an insider’ as saying “Every television network is always looking for the next big thing. They’d be crazy not to. X Factor has had a brilliant run, but no show lasts forever.“Over the past few years Simon Cowell has been the main source for many of our top hits but some feel that we’ve got too many eggs in one basket and we’ve become too reliant on one man.”
ITV however have suggested they have yet to find ‘the next big show’ stating it would need the production values of the X Factor and I’m A Celebrity. Well they could always bring back Nigel and his Pop Idol…
Going Down the Tubes
Channel 4 and Channel 5 have reportedly began talks with video content host You Tube over continuing their ‘on-demand’ catch-up and clip services.
Three years ago the broadcasters signed a deal to provide Demand 5 and 4oD services on the website. However neither have, as yet, apparently re-signed up to continue the services.
An insider from You Tube is reported as telling Broadcast that, “YouTube is unlikely to be prepared to pay such big upfront licences again and, as the number of views has been quite low, there isn’t much money for C4 after it shares ad revenue.”
SKY’s The Limit
Sky has been unleashing plenty of programming news of late and this week has been no exception. Here’s the latest highlights:
Teen Wolf Series Two will air on Sky Living from Thursday July 12th.
“Going through adolescence isn’t easy, but when you’re also contending with being a werewolf, andling hormones and high school dramas can be all the harder to handle.” Sky press say.
Based on the 1985 cult classic and developed by Jeff Davis, the whizz behind Criminal Minds, Teen Wolf centres on Scott (Tyler Posey), whose humdrum life underwent a mythological metamorphosis following an attack from an unnatural beast. Through fellow werewolf Derek (Tyler Hoechlin), Scott became brutally introduced to the dark underbelly of his unassuming hometown.
While Sky Atlantic is to air a fourteen part entertainment series , Set List. They describe it as a fully improvised stand-up show in front of a live audience which takes the cream of the comedy circuit and presents them with the ultimate challenge: come up with a brand new comedy routine on the spot based on topics presented to them right there and then while on stage.
“With names from the world of comedy, including: Robin Williams, Ross Noble, Russell Kane, Tim Minchin, Drew Carey, Frank Skinner and Dara O’Briain , Set List challenges some of the biggest names in comedy to a gig like no other, full of weird concepts and challenging juxtapositions.” The Sky press office say.
And Sky 1 welcomes back hapless Jimmy Chance as the second series of Raising Hope for twenty-two half hour episodes from July 15th
“This season Jimmy continues his expedition into the unpredictable world of parenting. Fatherhood sprang suddenly on Jimmy when his one night stand with Lucy a wanted serial killer, resulted in a bundle of joy, the boldly named Princess Beyonce – that soon changed to Hope. Helping/hindering him along the way were Jimmy’s clueless parents Virginia and Burt and crackers Grandma, Maw Maw.” Sky state.
Today’s Joke
Why do the cast of The Only Way Is Essex always smile during lightning storms?
….They think their picture is being taken.
Today At Ten on ATV Today, every Monday and Friday at 10pm
Something worth hearing has been said on LOOSE WOMEN! Goodness! LOL Paul O’Grady always says it how it is. Good for him! LOL Girl Power… pull the plug out!