This year”s summer TV: Lots of big names, lots of mediocrity
As David Zurawik notes, “Big names alone do not make for golden TV. In fact, sometimes the big names are only using TV to pass off inferior work that couldn”t get big-screen funding. Some actors and actresses choose to do TV because it fits their lifestyle at the moment – keeping them near home and on a fixed schedule rather than on a far-flung location making a film, for example.”
See Jerry Seinfeld”s Yelp page: He downgraded a diner after its owner pleaded guilty to a murder-for-hire scheme
Seinfeld initially praised the Tick Tock Diner after eating their with Jon Stewart for this week's “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”
Kevin Williamson gets in a Twitter fight with a TV critic, calls him a “loser” and “idiot”
The “Dawson”s Creek,” “Vampire Diaries” and “The Following” honcho wasn”t happy with the criticism he received promoting his new CBS show “Stalker” at TCA on Thursday.
“The View”s” Sherri Shepherd: Maybe I could become the “Chocolate” Ellen
“I love doing talk shows,” she says. “Maybe they need a chocolate version of Ellen. I don't know.”
John Cho calls his “Selfie” role as the romantic lead “revolutionary”
“I would call this revolutionary. It”s certainly a personal revolution for me,” he says, noting that Asians usually aren't playing the romantic lead.
Showtime won”t say Cameron Crowe”s “Roadies” is “Almost Famous,” but there are “real similarities between the two”
“I think there”ll be a lot of 'Almost Famous' in it,” says Showtime president David Nevins. “Nothing would make me happier.
Watch Zac Efron jump off a cliff with Bear Grylls
Here”s a preview of NBC”s “Running Wild with Bear Grylls,” debuting Monday.
Kristin Bauer explains the difference between her and “True Blood”s” Pam
“My family would say there are similarities between Pam & myself,” she says in a Reddit AMA. “One being my sarcasm, and two my blunt nature. But where Pam is mainly blunt and a tiny bit vulnerable, I'm probably mainly vulnerable and less blunt. Just because I'm human and have to not offend people constantly.”
Wentworth Miller talks coming out, and walking away from acting after “Prison Break”
Miller says, “I was fried after four years on an intense network drama.”
Watch the trailer for Aaron McGruder”s “Black Jesus”
The Adult Swim series about a modern-day Jesus living in Compton premieres Aug. 7.
“Ray Donovan” creator: We're not doing an “homage” to “The Sopranos”
In fact, Ann Biderman plans to take Ray out of therapy. “No one's in therapy for too terribly long in this show,” she says. “I don't think it's a trope that we're using in the same way, but it does kind of ignite a theme.”
Kobe Bryant talks about his Showtime “Muse”
The L.A. Lakers star visited with TV critics to talk about the film documenting his recovery from a devastating Achilles injury.
A sitcom warm-up comedian tells all
How do you keep an audience laughing take after take?
Martin Lawrence: “It”s not as easy to get on TV” nowadays
The star of FX”s “Partners” with Kelsey Grammer says the demands of TV are greater now than when he was on “Martin.” “Just to get ratings,” he says, “it”s very hard. The paychecks are not the same anymore.”
Explaining the Barefoot Contessa
How nuclear budget analyst Ina Garten became a Food Network hit.
New York Public Library to celebrate “Sesame Street”
An exhibition, “‘Somebody Come and Play”: 45 Years of Learning on ‘Sesame Street,”” opens Sept. 18.
Which of his “Cosby Show” sisters did Malcolm Jamal-Warner have a crush on?
“Early on, it was Lisa (Bonet),” he admits.
Amid controversy, The Situation is opening another tanning salon
TV Guide Network cameras will be on hand, and so will the local mayor, for Saturday”s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Boca Tanning Club in Manalapan, New Jersey.
American Heroes Channel's “Gunslingers” features “heroes” Billy the Kid and Jesse James
The six-part series, debuting Sunday, also includes Wyatt Earp.
Check out a “Breaking Bad” birthday cake of Walter White sitting on his cash
“Happy Birthday Bitch.”
“The Lottery,” Lifetime”s 1st sci-fi show, is quite ridiculous
Premiering Sunday, “The Lottery” “makes baby-mania the stuff of dystopian sci-fi,” says James Poniewozik. “Unfortunately, this baby was full of possibility in its conception, but it”s not hitting its developmental milestones.” PLUS: “The Lottery” could be something great, but it needs to be smarter.