Oprah's Inauguration Special

How will the "Oprah Winfrey Show" celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration?

Oprah is taking her show to Washington D.C. for a two-day special event. First, on Monday, Jan. 19, the show will broadcast from the world-famous Kennedy Center Opera House. Oprah's special guests include Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, plus a group musical performance by Bono, Will.i.am, Faith Hill, Seal, David Foster and Mary J. Blige, who will sing a brand new-song marking the historic occasion.

Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 21 -- the day after the inauguration -- "Oprah" will air live from chef Art Smith's "Art and Soul" D.C. restaurant, where Lady O will be joined by Forest Whitaker, Jon Bon Jovi and Gayle King.
source

'The Biggest Loser' Packs on Another Season

"The Biggest Loser" will continue to help Americans shed unwanted pounds -- at least for one more year -- as NBC today announced that the show has been given a pickup through the 2009-2010 season.

"I love that show. I inherited it," Paul Telegdy, executive vice president, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios says. "I love it when you get a toy that you like. I love it when I talk to people who aren't in the business about that show. It is incredibly inspiring. Every year people make resolutions to be healthier and that show is the No. 1 tool kit available to people to be inspired."

As for the fate of Shannon, this season's "The Biggest Loser" contestant who was charged with domestic violence after an incident in suburban Detroit last month, a spokesperson for the show says that at this time the matter won't effect her participation in the series.

As for the themes for next season, Telegdy adds, "The challenge is to keep the cast and the stories amazing. Some of the transformations we saw in the last season where Michelle [Aguilar] lost 110 pounds was just extraordinary. We have to be careful we don't compromise health. I love the family stuff and the stakes between two competitors."

Telegdy also says that host Alison Sweeney will not miss many episodes following the birth of her daughter Megan Hope Sanov on Monday, January 12. He jokes, "Ali was our biggest loser that day: 6 pounds 7 ounces."

"The Biggest Loser" airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC.
source

Ellen Finally Gets Her Man: George Clooney

All season long, since moving into new headquarters on the Warner Bros. lot, Ellen DeGeneres has had one goal in mind: get George Clooney on the show. She even enlisted the aid of Brad Pitt – which didn't help much.

Finally, with her New Year's motto "George is Mine in '09," the talk-show host got what she was after, with Clooney's appearance set to air Monday.

"Have people been informing you every step of the way of what we've done [to get you here]?" the ever-demure DeGeneres asks Clooney.

"Informing me is not really what I would call what my office has been doing. Ah, complaining," he replies. "They were a little concerned when that marching band came in. … The trombone player hurt someone, as always."

Apparently what did do the trick in leading Clooney to the studio door was DeGeneres's decision to follow the advice of the leading man's former ER costar Noah Wyle – who advised her to also invite former Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, on the show.

Though that, possibly, wasn't the only reason.

Says Clooney: "People do come up to me all the time and say, 'What's wrong with you, man? Why don't you go on Ellen's show?' [And] I say I haven't been in town, which I haven't been in town for a long time. I haven't really …"
source

J.Lo Explains Wedding Rings Don't Go With Trashy Dresses

Jennifer Lopez says she didn't wear her wedding ring to the Golden Globes because her look had already reached the appropriate amount of “You want a piece of this?” desperation and any further sign of her being married would have clashed.

source

Patrick Swayze in The Beast?

It's his way or the highway. Still.

Patrick Swayze, despite his recent health problems, comes on strong with The Beast, the actor's new A&E show about a shady undercover FBI agent schooling a callow recruit played by Travis Fimmel.

Swayze's character plays by his own rules, which are similar to the rules of other badass TV lawmen: manhandling suspects, browbeating his dopey new partner, shooting off rocket launchers. You know, that kind of thing.
source

The Office And 30 Rock Are Renewed For Another Year

It doesn't take a rocket scientist or Dwight Schrute to figure out which two NBC comedies must stick around to keep the network alive and kicking: The Office and 30 Rock.

And so today, to the surprse of no one, NBC has made an early announcement to pick up The Office and 30 Rock for the 2009-2010 season.

"These renewals represent our faith in The Office and 30 Rock as they continue to represent the gold standard in acclaimed and award-winning series," says NBC President Angela Bromstad.
NBC also picked up The Biggest Loser for another year.

But wait a minute. What about those other NBC fan favorites, like Heroes, Chuck, Lipstick Jungle, Friday Night Lights and Life? Will they survive? Well...

"Heroes is very secure," Bromstad tells reporters. "We have a great relationship with [executive producer] Tim Kring. I think what's important is we never lose sight of being responsible in production, and we want to make sure that show is on track."

"Tim and I have talked about it," Bromstad says. "I think what Tim is interested in doing is getting back to the core of the show. Ordinary people with extraordinary powers and they may have taken on too many characters and storylines."

As for fan-favorite Chuck starring Zachary Levi, Bromstad says no decisions have been made yet. "I love Chuck," she says. "I think it’s a really fun show. I think it’s a lot of fun paired with Heroes. It’s going to face tough competition, but it is a show we’ll be looking at when we make our decisions in the spring."

So what about that show that everyone keeps insisting is not canceled?
"We officially have not canceled Lipstick Jungle," Bromstead adds. "I think that there are alternatives that we may look into for Lipstick Jungle; it's all conversation for fall. We have to see what our pilots are."

And now the money quote that all you fans should be praying every night that Bromstad truly follows through with: "We feel very strongly about Life, Friday Night Lights and Lipstick Jungle," she says. "We won't replace shows that are loved by fans just for the sake of putting another show on."
source