Author: Deb Medsker (Page 9 of 70)

“Sopranos” A&E debut whacks the competition

The premiere episode of “The Sopranos,” which aired on A&E last week in a heavily publicized launch, drew a record-setting 4.27 million viewers — the highest debut ever for an off-network program on cable.

As a result, A&E management should be able to breathe a little more easily over the (also record-setting) $2.5 million per episode licensing fee they paid for the rights to air the show, assuming those numbers hold reasonably well . . . and assuming viewers are not turned off by the absence of f-bombs and the presence of clothing on the ladies at the Bada Bing.

Piven claims high ground, throws Cusack under bus


Piven: “I hate that he’s taller than me, too…”

They were the best of friends…until one of them got too famous for the other one’s liking. Given that the individuals in question are Jeremy Piven and John Cusack, you’d think it would be Piven who’s being accused of letting petty jealousy get in the way of a decades-long friendship…but you’d be wrong.

According to an upcoming interview with “Best Life” magazine:

“No comment. I mean, you could fill in the blank, I bet,” the 41-year-old actor says when asked how Cusack has handled Piven’s recent success. […]

“… I was always proud of him, and I was always in his corner,” Piven says of the 40-year-old Cusack. “Always.”

[…]It just says so much about a person if he has space for other people’s success,” he says.

“I have always been so proud of my friends’ success. I own that proudly because I come by it naturally. I was raised on that spirit of collaboration. … You start getting into trouble in life when you start comparing and contrasting your life to anyone else’s. You don’t win when you do that.”

Of course, you also don’t win when you flaunt your superior moral fiber in the media (and in Best Life magazine, of all places: not exactly a Vanity Fair cover story…), accusing a longtime pal of behavior that’s not altogether different from, say, your recent snubbing of Jack Black because of his breakout success in your buddy’s pet project SIX YEARS AGO.

We’re just sayin’.

“What? Us, worst-dressed? Surely you jest!”


“Wait, what does jest mean again?”

Fashion maven Mr. Blackwell has released his annual list of best- and worst-dressed celebrities, and a certain Gruesome Twosome of the party circuit has topped the latter for 2006.

Yes, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are undoubtedly shocked and appalled to be publicly ridiculed for their many fashion transgressions (including, but not limited to, the avoidance of certain silky undergarments). However, the “honor” is clearly well deserved by Britney in particular. Lest we need any further reminders, here’s a flashback of her appearance on Dateline–which was in itself enough to seal the “worst-dressed” deal for the fallen pop star:

But hey: Any publicity is good publicity…right, ladies?

Is Jann Wenner the new Donald Trump?

With interest in “The Apprentice” waning rapidly, and Trump making more and more of a nuisance of himself by the day, his reality-TV-host crown is ripe for the taking.

Starting this Sunday night on MTV, Jann Wenner will take a swipe at that crown with his own business-based reality show set in the offices of Rolling Stone magazine.

Cocky twentysomethings too big for their britches? Check. Glamorous, camera-friendly setting? Check. Opportunity for cameo appearances by people substantially more interesting than, say, the now-standard Donnie Deutsch appearance on “The Apprentice”? Check and mate.

And on top of all that, Jann has significantly better hair than The Donald, too. Just one more reason I feel compelled to check this thing out. It might still be another reality-TV train wreck…but I’m betting it will at least be an entertaining train wreck — with a damn good soundtrack, to boot.

“I’m From Rolling Stone” will debut on MTV at 10pm Eastern Sunday, January 7.

“Say goodbye to the OC, bitch!”


We’ll miss you, Sidelooker.

After an abbreviated four-season run, and on the heels of what many critics have dubbed a creative revival following the death of Marissa Cooper (played by Mischa “Deer in Headlights” Barton), the Fox network has cancelled teen drama “The O.C.”

Though many were hooked on the show from its first episode, in which over-privileged stud Luke (Chris Carmack) uttered the memorable words “Welcome to the O.C., bitch!” to wrong-side-of-the-tracks newcomer Ryan Atwood (Benjamin “Sidelooker” McKenzie) after engaging in the obligatory Karate-Kid-style beat-down, the drama has continued to lose viewers during each successive season. Its final episode will air February 22.

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