SPOTLIGHT


While the vast majority of television offerings come after the spring finales, which determine what shows will be back in the fall, there are


already some series-in-the-works that seem to be, ahem, right up our proverbial alleys. One of them is a spin-off, a fan favorite undergoing more plastic surgery than the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, revisiting some old Friends, and others have that certain gay Wessonality about them. First up, prepare to say “hey” to another Kardashian spin-off. Seriously, do you ever notice that whenever any member of TV’s guilty pleasure family enters a room, they always greet each other with a “hey?” Anyhey, or anyhoo, Kourtney and Kim Take New York this


month, after Kourtney and Khloe already took Miami for the past two summers. I hope they remember to give the cities back, and don’t try to purchase them on their now-defunct Kardashian prepaid Master Card!


It should prove to be an interesting year for American Idol, what with them getting rid of their best judge, Kara DioGuardi. (Do I really


need to put I’m kidding here?) The now-Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres-less version of the Fox show is set to debut on January 19, with old dawg Randy Jackson and new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. But those aren’t the only changes in store for the show, which was limp in the ratings last year. Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe believes he has the answer, sort of like a Viagra solution, to make Idol big and strong. There’s no Top 24, finalists will compete to see who can make the best music video, and the Top 12 may reside in a house together, among other changes. Why, that’ so crazy…it just could work? We shall see!


In September, get ready to utter “he’s baaack,” as Cowell brings the American version of his Brit hit The X-Factor to Fox. Hmm, what does the X


stand for in the title? Xactly like Idol? Well there are variations on the singing competition formula, such as there being no age limit for hopefuls, and that’s about it. Another Idol veteran, Paula Abdul, will Live To Dance over on CBS in January. Actually, she’s just hosting and the contestants will compete for a $500,000 Grand Prize. No, Paula…you are not eligible for the cash prize, now go hawk something on QVC! Speaking of QVC, one of its top-sellers, Joan Rivers, will now be seen on a new reality show Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? The premise of the WE TV show is that Joanie (we’re tight, but not like her face is tight) moves in with Missy and hilarity ensues, beginning on January 25.


41-year-old ex-Friends star Matthew Perry will experience a mid-life crisis as 40-year-old Mr. Sunshine on ABC, which is waaay more believ- able than him switching bodies with Zac Efron in 17 Again. While another one of his TV chums, Matt LeBlanc, will star as himself on Showtime’s Episodes – wow, Joey really messed up his career! On the subject of Showtime, the network is hoping that The Borgias, with Jeremy Irons, will serve up the same historical escapades (sex, violence and costumes – oh my!) that The Tudors did; which is what Starz is looking to do in January with its prequel Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Mmm…gladiators.


LOGO pinklit a second season of Be Good Johnny Weir slated for late 2011, the airing in February plastic surgery reality show Pretty Hurts


(sure does), and the dating show Setup Squad. Of course, it’s sad that The Oprah Winfrey Show is having its farewell season, but she has her Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which will debut this month.


Oh, The Practice’s creator, David E. Kelley, is said to be bringing Wonder Woman back to the small screen, while a trio of female crime fighters, also known as Charlie’s Angels, are rumored to be making a return as well. Stay tuned, as there has been no casting!


by tim parks


JANUARY 2011 | RAGE monthly 29


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