Ox Notes: June 30, 2008

The Screen Actors Guild's contract expires at midnight, and it doesn't look like a deal will be made by day's end. There's no official word yet on whether a strike is imminent.

Looks like casting for Dancing with the Stars 7 is underway. Recently retired NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp -- who once lost his job to a man named Booger -- says he has been asked to appear on DwtS, and he will likely accept.

Congratulations to Chris Kattan, who married a model in Yosemite this weekend. Somehow, the celebrity supercouple was able to keep the paparazzi at bay. For all you lonely lads out there, this has been a very inspirational week in celebrity news. In a world where Mini-Me can have a sex tape and Mango can marry a beautiful model, anything is possible.

Buffy/Angel/Firefly/Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon's online musical, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, has set a debut date for its first episode: July 15. The show -- which stars Neil Patrick Harris, Felicia Day, and Nathon Fillion -- has a teaser trailer online at its official site.

The first season of Mad Men arrives on DVD tomorrow. I've never seen the show, but I've heard so many good things about it that I've already got the set pre-ordered at Amazon.

Finally, Bob Saget will become Comedy Central's latest celebrity roast victim, when he gets flambéd on August 17. In a way, it's a weird choice, because Saget is the former Full House cast member whose real life least lends itself to ridicule. But I'm excited, if only to hear Saget's rebuttal at the end of the show; he's actually a great comedian. Here's a long clip of Saget in action, from the movie The Aristocrats, the tale of the world's dirtiest joke. (Fair warning: this clip is about the filthiest thing I've ever heard. Seriously. Avoid it if you're capable of being offended by, well, anything.)

Ox Notes: June 27, 2008

CBS announced its fall premiere dates. The season kicks off on September 18 with the debut of Survivor: Gabon.

The Emmys announced the top ten finalists being considered for nomination in the categories of TV drama and comedy.

Jeff Goldblum will replace Chris Noth on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Because nothing brightens your day like a Bateman, here's a link to video of an interview Jason Bateman did with Entertainment Tonight, as well as video of his recent appearance on Countdown, where he was joined by fellow Arrested Development cast member, David Cross.

Transitioning from Bateman to Batman, here's an interview with Adam West.

Video game maker Activision is working on Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On! for the Wii and Nintendo DS. I played Activision's first DwtS game on the Playstation 2, and it was one of the worst, most hastily assembled games I've ever played. I'm not sure why it merited a sequel.

ET has a short interview with DwtS alum Marissa Jaret Winokur, as well as a home video shot by Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke when they reunited to teach a dance class. Even after several weeks apart, Cristian & Cheryl still seem like good buddies.

Zap2It has a recap of last night's So You Think You Can Dance results show. Did the right dancers go home?

Ox Notes: June 26, 2008

It's a big day for televised sports here at MOIB HQ. The NBA Draft starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, and Spain takes on Russia in the Euro 2008 semi-finals at 2:30 ET this afternoon, also on ESPN.

Hopefully, today's soccer broadcast won't be interrupted like yesterday's match was. Lightning knocked out power to the international broadcast center, depriving me of seeing the last 14 minutes of the game in which my pick to win, Turkey, lost to Germany.

Wipeout put up good ratings for ABC on Tuesday.

Swingtown's Grant Show gave TV Guide an interview about his mustache.

EW posted the complete list of its 100 New TV Classics.

USA Today has a list of 12 shows to watch on the Web. Twin Peaks might not be as scary on a small computer monitor.

So You Think You Can Dance judges Mary Murphy and Dan Karaty gave their thoughts on last night's performances to Us Magazine.

Here are links to videos of all of last night's SYTYCD performances: Courtney & Gev, Katee & Joshua, Chelsea & Thayne, Kourtni & Matt, Jessica & Will, Comfort & Chris, Kherington & Twitch, and Chelsie & Mark.

Ox Notes: June 25, 2008

Last night's premieres of Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show fulfilled every hope I had for them (links lead to full episodes, available for viewing at ABC's website). Wipeout is like American Gladiators with a sense of humor and less testosterone, and Japanese Game Show has nice a cultural "fish out of water" element akin to The Amazing Race.

The Mole will air one more new episode this coming Monday before taking a break on July 7, returning with a special recap episode on July 14. New episodes presumably return the following week.

Drew Lachey has started a Broadway run as part of the cast of the musical Spamalot.

Dancing with the Stars alums Jerry Springer and Mel B will host the Miss Universe Pageant, which airs on NBC on July 13.

Variety's Brian Lowry writes about the growing sentiment in Hollywood that SAG should stop hoping that they can negotiate a better contract with the studios than AFTRA did, and avoid another lengthy strike.

Entertainment Weekly posted shows #75-51 on its list of 100 New TV Classics. Has anyone younger than 25 even heard of Wiseguy, which EW ranks at #74?

MSN has a list of '80s personalities worthy of their own reality shows, including inspired choices like Yahoo Serious and William Zabka, a.k.a. Johnny from The Karate Kid. He'll decide when you've had enough.

Ox Notes: June 24, 2008

The night I've been looking forward to for weeks is finally here: Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show premiere tonight! The hour-long shows start at 8 ET on ABC. In their honor, MSN compiled a list of the most accident-prone TV shows ever.

Also premiering tonight is NBC's Celebrity Family Feud, which Variety's Brian Lowry describes as "harmless but tepid at-best." Lowry says that there is only one memorable moment from the debut episode, and People conveniently posted a video clip of the moment at their website, so now you don't even have to watch the show.

OK! Magazine reports that Cameron Mathison's TLC game show, Your Place or Mine, is in danger of being canceled.

Speaking of canceled shows, The Hollywood Report blog Live Feed reports that there is absolutely no chance that CBS's Moonlight will be resurrected by another network.

The Futon Critic has a development update with news about several shows, including Big Love and Dexter.

Entertainment Weekly compiled a list of its "New TV Classics": 100 shows made since 1983 that they think will stand the test of time. The magazine posted numbers 100-76 online, and considering that Saved By the Bell and The Arsenio Hall Show made the cut, they probably should've gone with a shorter list.

CBS Paramount recently released the second season of The Fugitive on DVD, but with an entirely new background score. This Variety article on the angry backlash from fans of the classic series provides an excellent tutorial on the tricky issue of securing music rights for digital releases -- the main reason why Dancing with the Stars will likely never come out on DVD.

Ox Notes: June 23, 2008

It's a slow news day in TV-land. The big industry news of the day is that Mark Burnett Productions is for sale for a mere $400 million.

Supernatural creator Eric Kripke signed a two-year development deal with Warner Brothers, which may include a Supernatural spin-off series set in the Old West. Perhaps audiences will get to see exactly how and why "The Colt" was created.

ESPN announced the anchor lineup for its new, all-day version of SportsCenter, which premieres on August 11. Too bad one of my favorite anchors, Linda Cohn, is scheduled to host while I'm still asleep, from 6-9 a.m. ET.

So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy talked about her infamous laugh with Chelsea Handler.

Entertainment Weekly's SYTYCD recapper wasn't happy about Marquis' elimination last Thursday.

Adam Carolla stopped by The Soup on Friday to promote -- what else? -- the DVD release of his movie, The Hammer.

Ox Notes: June 20, 2008

Studios are preparing one final offer to present to SAG before ending negotiations with the actors union. SAG is reluctant to make any moves before AFTRA announces on July 8 whether its members have approved their new contract.

Jim Carrey is producing a new show for HBO starring one of my favorite comics, Lisa Lampanelli.

Several other noteworthy comedians have signed on for TBS's revival of Match Game, including Sarah Silverman, Norm MacDonald, and Super Dave Osborne.

Reality show has-beens are getting a few more fleeting minutes of fame courtesy of two new shows in the works. Fox Reality Channel is producing Gimme My Reality Show!, in which contestants the likes of Project Runway's Santino Rice will compete in challenges. And VH1 is bringing back losers from the shows Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, and I Love New York to compete for cash on a show called I Love Money.

Weekend dance party Soul Train is getting new owners who hope to expand the brand and reach a younger audience.

Next season, Smallville will introduce the villain Doomsday as a "charismatic paramedic," according to TV Guide.

E! explains why stars insist on driving themselves and treating their vehicles like Bumper Cars, instead of just hiring a driver.

Jason Taylor will guest star on Sesame Street when its new season kicks off on August 11.

Mario Lopez's Broadway run in A Chorus Line has been cut short because a bigger star -- Katie Holmes -- needs the theater. According to the MSNBC report, Mario is pissed: "Let's face it, he doesn't have much going on right now."

Mario's ex, Karina Smirnoff, is accepting resumes from "single, good guys" who would like to be her boyfriend, she told Us magazine.

Ox Notes: June 19, 2008

It's Half-Naked Guy Day at My Ox Is Broken!

I didn't intend for today's Ox Notes to have a theme. While thinking of a ways to encourage MOIB readers to watch the Euro 2008 soccer tournament (tomorrow's match between Turkey & Croatia should be great), I figured I'd write something like, "If you thought Jason Taylor was hot on Dancing with the Stars, check out Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal."

I noticed that all of the gossip mags are covering the release of the new Georgia Armani underwear ads featuring David Beckham. That fits in with the football theme, so nothing wrong with linking to pics of Becks in his skivvies.

And then, ExtraTV.com posted a photo of Mario Lopez's centerfold spread for People magazine's Hottest Bachelors issue. Mario's completely naked, with only his hand covering Little Mario. It's way more Slater than I ever wanted to see. Straight guys should not click on the link unless "Gouge Own Eyes Out" was already on today's To Do list.

With all of the attention he's getting these days, you'd think someone would tell Mario Lopez to stop talking so much. He told The Insider that he wishes he would have dated Eva Longoria Parker before she got married.

Madchen Amick has been cast as the older woman interested in Nate on season two of Gossip Girl.

A new t-shirt featuring Andrew's famous phrase, "I have a culinary boner," was revealed on last night's Top Chef: Chicago Reunion. The shirt is available for purchase here.

Variety has an article about L.A. fashion designers featured on past seasons of Project Runway.

Last night's episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann featured a helpful explanation of why gas prices are so high. It all has to do with something known as the "Enron loophole," which is obviously bad since it has the name Enron in it.

Finally, here are links to videos of performances on last night's episode of So You Think You Can Dance: Comfort & Chris, Kherington & Twitch, Kourtni & Matt, Jessica & Will, Chelsie & Mark, Katee & Joshua, and Courtney & Gev. I'll post links to the performances by Susie & Marquis and Chelsea & Thayne as soon as I find videos of better quality than those currently available on YouTube.

Ox Notes: June 18, 2008

Mario Lopez -- who spent the last year cheating on Karina Smirnoff with a Hooters waitress who's a member of the cast of I Survived a Japanese Game Show -- is People's Hottest Bachelor of 2008. The cad told People that he's looking for a girl from a "modest sort of upbringing." I'm sure he'll be ready to settle down as soon as he finds her.

The Top Chef: Chicago Reunion airs on Bravo tonight at 10 ET. After Elton has an interview with Lisa Fernandes, who sounds far less villainous than she appeared on the show.

TV Guide writer Carita Rizzo tried her hand at the stunts seen on Celebrity Circus.

Yahoo! has a list of musicians whose careers were resurrected by reality TV.

A Variety article explains the technicalities of what will happen after SAG's contract with the studios expires on June 30.

The A.V. Club has a fascinating interview with Robert Smigel -- who's probably best known as the voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog -- about the process of writing a comedy film.

This may only be of interest to my husband, brother, and brother-in-law, but the blog The House Next Door has an in-depth discussion of the movie Krull. And, yes, that really is Liam Neeson riding a fire mare in this scene from the movie.

If you'd like to completely ruin your productivity for the rest of the day, watch this webcam of a lioness and her cubs in their den at a zoo in Norway. "Adorable" doesn't do these kitties justice.

Ox Notes: June 17, 2008

Production of TV pilots and shows scheduled to return in the fall is slowing down as it looks increasingly likely that actors will go on strike in the next few weeks.

MSNBC has a list of five celebrities who should consider retiring from reality TV.

Top Chef is going on tour.

In other Bravo show news, Heidi Klum makes nearly $1.6 million each year for her work on Project Runway.

Adam Carolla, late of Dancing with the Stars, will host NBC's Americanized version of the U.K. hit Top Gear.

DwtS pro Karina Smirnoff teared up as she told E!'s Chelsea Handler about recently finding out that Mario Lopez spent the last year cheating on her with a Hooters waitress.

Julianne Hough spoke with Entertainment Tonight about life as a touring country musician.

MOIB reader Deb found a video of Julianne's bro, Derek, performing with Mark Ballas at "Dancing with Desire" on Thursday (here's a video of Elena Grinenko & Tony Dovolani dancing at the same event). Fellow DwtS pro Fabian Sanchez sang lead vocals as Derek and Mark played "La Bamba," with accompaniment by Tony, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Jesse DeSoto. Enjoy!

Ox Notes: June 16, 2008

Top Chef: Chicago winner Stephanie Izard has been besieged by interviewers since her victory. MSN, People, and the Chicago Tribune all interviewed the chef. The Trib also posted video of an online chat they did with Stephanie, who told the A.V. Club that contestants kill time in the "stew room" while the judges deliberate by "playing with the Gladware."

Fox has signed Jason Bateman to a one-year TV development deal.

Gossip Girl's Jenny Humphrey character may get her own spin-off series.

Mel B's skimpy outfits on Dancing with the Stars no doubt prepared her for her new career as an underwear model.

NBC has moved up the premiere of its poorly cast Celebrity Family Feud to June 24 at 9 ET, putting it up against the debut of one of my most highly anticipated summer series, I Survived a Japanese Game Show. Raven-Symone versus Wayne Newton, or a game called "Chicken Butt Scramble" -- the choice is obvious.

I Survived a Japanese Game Show should benefit from a lead in by another new game show premiering that night called Wipeout. If you've watched anything on ABC in the last month, you've probably seen the promos with contestants jumping onto giant red balls and falling helplessly into the mud. I am not exaggerating when I say that I laugh out loud every time I see one of the commercials.

Just in case you're not familiar with the show, here's a preview of ABC's Wipeout:

Ox Notes: June 12, 2008

I confess: I was planning on skipping this season of So You Think You Can Dance. I'm still a little burnt out from the unbearably long episodes of Dancing with the Stars 6, and I thought summer would be a nice time to do some reading. But I flipped through the channels last night and fell victim to SYTYCD's secret weapon: Mary Murphy. I'd forgotten how hilarious she is, and now I'm doomed.

In case you missed the show, here are links to videos of the performances: Susie & Marquis, Kourtni & Matt, Comfort & Chris, Chelsea & Thayne, Chelsie & Mark, Rayven & Jamie, Katee & Joshua, Jessica & Will, Courtney & Gev, and Kherington & Twitch.

I'm very happy with the results of the Top Chef: Chicago finale. BravoTV.com has a blog post about the finale by judge Ted Allen, as well as an interview with the winner.

Don't forget, you can chat with Stephanie today at 1 p.m. CT, courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.

Even though he didn't make it to the finale, Top Chef: Chicago's Spike is still a winner. His restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery, is scheduled to open in Washington D.C. by June 24.

Hoping to capitalize on the success of Top Chef, Bravo has two new food shows in the works, including Top Chef Junior and an untitled project starring celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The matchups for NBC's Celebrity Family Feud have been announced, eliminating any desire I had to watch the show. Kathie Lee Gifford and family vs. Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman and family? That's the best you could do, NBC?

Marlee Matlin is writing a book, set to be released some time in 2009.

The A.V. Club has an interview with the always hilarious host of The Soup, Joel McHale.

SAG president Alan Rosenberg told Variety that he doesn't think the union will have a new contract in place before the current one expires on June 30.

Yahoo! has a well-considered Summer Viewing List of TV shows on DVD, including suggestions for further viewing: "If you like Arrested Development, also check out Curb Your Enthusiasm." The list is full of great shows, although I recommend skipping Wonderfalls, one of the "also check out" suggestions under the entry for the excellent Freaks & Geeks.

This isn't TV news, but People has a video featuring the new lead singer of Journey -- a guy from the Philippines that the band found on YouTube. The singer, Arnel Pineda, sounds exactly like Steve Perry.

I'm taking tomorrow off. Have a great weekend!

Ox Notes: June 11, 2008

The Top Chef: Chicago finale airs tonight at 10 ET on Bravo. I'm rooting for Stephanie to win, and so is the rest of Chicago. She recently did an interview with the Chicago Tribune, and she will be video chatting with fans of the show at the newspaper's website on Thursday at 1 p.m. CT. You can submit questions for the chef here.

Stephanie's fellow Top Chef: Chicago contestant, Antonia, spoke with People about getting cut just shy of the finale.

The hosts of Top Chef are getting nearly as much press as the contestants. Salon has an interview with Tom Colicchio, and the Los Angeles Times interviewed Padma Lakshmi.

Frequent Top Chef guest judge Ted Allen will host Food Detectives on the Food Network. The new show -- which sounds like a culinary version of Mythbusters -- premieres on July 29 at 9 p.m. ET.

Foodies out there might be interested in this MSNBC article about up-and-coming Chicago chef Grant Achatz and his battle with tongue cancer.

Also on the tube tonight, the Top Twenty dancers of So You Think You Can Dance 4 take the stage. OK! Magazine interviewed judge/producer Nigel Lythgoe, who says the breakers are the dancers to watch this season. Leave a comment below if you'd like me to open up the MOIB Chat Room during tonight's show.

It's a slow day for news about that other dance show, Dancing with the Stars. Mario Lopez was recently seen driving the Oscar Meyer wiener mobile, and Marissa Jaret Winokur still isn't ready for the birth of her first child.

MSN had a neat article about TV's Hall of Shame -- shows that aired two episodes or less before getting canned. I wonder if The Mole will be added to that list; it's second episode lost 16% of its viewers, giving it an audience of 3.97 million.

Ox Notes: June 10, 2008

Members of the Writers Guild joined SAG members at a solidarity rally yesterday, where speakers urged SAG members with dual membership in AFTRA to delay voting on AFTRA's new contract with the studios. However, SAG's own leadership is split over the new anti-AFTRA strategy.

I'm waiting to see if The Mole's ratings improved on last week's dismal numbers. After watching last night's new episode, I realized that part of the problem inherent in the format is that viewers have no way to predict who will be eliminated, nor any idea why the eliminated player was sent home. Reality Blurred suspects that unlikeable players like Paul might also keep viewers from investing in the show.

Reality Blurred also has a list of the reported cast members of Celebrity Rehab 2, which inexplicably includes police brutality victim Rodney King.

Brody Jenner of The Hills is looking to add a member to his entourage via an MTV "dating" show titled Bromance.

Speaking of MTV shows, Shane Sparks says his duties on America's Best Dance Crew won't keep him from participating in So You Think You Can Dance. Sparks is choreographing a group hip-hop number for the June 17th episode of SYTYCD.

The second season of America's Best Dance Crew premiered on Saturday, featuring the Xtreme Dance Force -- a group of guys who honed their craft on the mean streets of north Naperville (assuming that a street with a Gap Baby store on it can also be mean). Vote for the boyz from my 'hood here.

Another SYTYCD choreographer, Tyce Diorio (whose real name is Keith), made his debut as a judge on last night's premiere of TLC's Master of Dance. The show, hosted by Dancing with the Stars vet Joey Lawrence, got a negative review from the Boston Herald. The first two half-hour episodes will rerun on Sunday night at 9 ET.

DwtS vet Stacy Keibler has joined the cast of ABC Family's Samurai Girl. And DwtS pro Cheryl Burke is looking forward to taking her first vacation in three years.

Sharon Osbourne has reportedly signed on for the next edition of the U.K.'s Strictly Come Dancing.

Bill Moyers, host of the best news program on television, will appear on tonight's episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann (MSNBC, 8 ET) to talk about being ambushed recently by a producer for Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor. Several news outlets were on hand to record the naive producer get politely, but decisively, owned by Moyers. It's worth watching the below video just to see the producer slink off after having his ass handed to him in front of about a dozen reporters.

Ox Notes: June 9, 2008

MOIB reader Amy alerted me to a news release from IMDb in which Cybill Shepherd is quoted as saying, "I love ballroom dancing. I've been offered Dancing With the Stars and I'd love to do it. I'm sure I could do it." Shepherd's publicist has since told the New York Post, "She's not going to do it."

DwtS 6 contestant Mario told BuddyTV that he wishes would've gotten more constructive criticism from Len Goodman, instead of comments designed "to get the crowd to laugh."

Even with the boost Dancing with the Stars has given to ballroom dancing's popularity, it would still take at least 12 years before ballroom dancing could become an Olympic sport.

The Chinese government is backtracking on promises it made to the International Olympic Committee, leading to headaches for the international networks and news outlets planning to broadcast from Beijing. The government has imposed strict new security measures, delaying shipments of camera equipment and adding mountains of paperwork just weeks before TV crews need to be in place for the August Games.

People.com posted a list of the So You Think You Can Dance 4 Top Twenty, along with a few of the more colorful dancers who didn't make the cut.

Patrick Swayze will continue with his cancer treatment as he films the new series The Beast for A&E.

Rather than focus on fighting with the studios during contract negotiations, SAG picked a fight with AFTRA, urging the 40,000 actors with dual membership to delay approval of AFTRA's contract with the studios.

The winner of the third season of The Next Food Network Star, Amy Finley, opted not to renew her contract with the Food Network after only six episodes, in part because bloggers were mean to her. Amy, I'm sure those bloggers will have a whole new respect for you now that you've decided to quit, effectively undermining the whole premise of the show right as a new season begins.

Ox Notes: June 6, 2008

According to Jeff Probst, there have already been a number of problems on the set of Survivor: Gabon. A shipping container filled with $100,000 worth of food went missing, and the crew may have set up camp in a hippo's territory.

The Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan interviewed Tim Gunn about the two upcoming seasons of Project Runway.

Writer Joel Stein spent a day running errands with Jason Bateman for a cover story for Best Life Magazine. The piece is hilarious, and a must-read for Arrested Development fans.

I don't know why I find this so amusing, but Jackie Chan owns a Segway dealership in Hong Kong.

Dancing with the Stars 6 contestants Marlee Matlin & Fabian Sanchez stopped by the International Center on Deafness and the Arts to teach some dance moves to students. Matlin made her stage debut in the 1980s as Dorothy in the center's production of The Wizard of Oz.

Fellow DwtSers Cristian de la Fuente & Cheryl Burke stopped by Disneyland to pose for publicity photos while wearing Indiana Jones hats.

Karina Smirnoff told OK! Magazine that she and Mario Lopez have officially broken up.

A couple of weeks after being eliminated from DwtS 6, Shannon Elizabeth & Derek Hough filmed a spoof-version of a Fox Trot, pretending as though they didn't realize they'd been voted off of the show. It's an amusing way to kick off the weekend. Enjoy!

Ox Notes: June 5, 2008

Dancing with the Stars pro Edyta Sliwinska told the Palm Beach Post that her Season 6 partner, Jason Taylor, was never distracted during rehearsal by his strained relationship with the Miami Dolphins.

Another DwtS pro, Karina Smirnoff, will model an outfit designed by Project Runway 3 finalist Michael Knight for a charity fashion show to benefit UNICEF, as part of Bravo's A-List Awards. The awards show airs next Thursday.

DwtS fans in Ohio can head to the Fred Astaire Studio in Canton on Saturday to take part in a pair of dance workshops taught by Tony Dovolani.

Joey Fatone and Mel B. are bringing a vocal competition show called The Singing Office to TLC on June 29.

Brigitte Nielsen is filming a show for German television in which she'll undergo a series of cosmetic surgeries because, "the secretiveness in Hollywood is annoying."

Nielsen's show actually fits in nicely with what Variety describes as the growing television trend of portraying mothers more realistically.

Jimmy Kimmel brings the first in a series of primetime specials to ABC tonight at 8 ET/CT.

Swingtown also makes its debut tonight on CBS at 10 ET. The show is set in a ficticious Chicago suburb based on the actual suburb of Winnetka, and the Chicago Tribune has a map of Winnetka locales referenced in the show. Chicago musician Liz Phair wrote Swingtown's score.

Ox Notes: June 4, 2008

Apparently, I was part of a small group when I watched the season premiere of The Mole on Monday night. The show debuted to an audience of only 4.73 million people.

Ahead of tonight's new episode of Top Chef: Chicago, People has an interview with Spike, who incidentally shares his name with a cockatiel my friend, Kelly, owned in fifth grade. Restaurateur Rick Tramanto gave the Chicago Tribune the scoop on the frozen scallops in his cooler which ultimately doomed Spike.

Original Survivor winner Richard Hatch is appealing his tax evasion conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Speaking of stars in money trouble, Ed McMahon's $6.25 million Beverly Hills home is facing foreclosure.

At George Takei's upcoming wedding to Brad Altman, Chekov will serve as best man and Uhura will be matron of honor.

OK! Magazine has Dancing with the Stars pro Karina Smirnoff's makeup removal secrets.

Variety posted an article on why TV writers don't pen shows with main characters who are writers.

Don't read this article about cheesy '80s TV theme songs unless you want to have the Silver Spoons theme stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You have been warned.

Ox Notes: June 3, 2008

As shows vie for Emmy nominations, Variety listed some possible contenders in the reality TV categories. Just don't expect to see many nominations for celebreality shows. Another Variety article proposes that the proliferation of reality shows has made viewers more discriminating about what they watch.

I -- a discriminating viewer, in my own right --was impressed by the season premiere of The Mole last night. I especially enjoyed when the contestants voted on who amongst them was the biggest whiner, only to have the whiner put in charge of all of the decision making for the day. Zap2It has a recap of the episode.

Harold Perrineau spoke with EW.com to clarify some of his public comments about the Lost season finale. I hope that the show's writers are taking his comments seriously, because he's got some good ideas.

Billy Zane has been cast as a lawyer on the poorly-titled new ABC show Finnegan.

The Futon Critic has a list of celebrities scheduled to appear on CBS's Password, including Dancing with the Stars veterans Shanna Moakler, Sara Evans, and Monique Coleman.

Frequent Daily Show guest and Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria debuted an international news show on CNN this weekend, aptly titled Fareed Zakaria -- GPS. He spoke with TV Guide about his new program, which won't preclude him from future appearances on The Daily Show. Here's his most recent appearance, from January 14, 2008:

Ox Notes: June 2, 2008

MOIB reader Deb noticed that Dancing with the Stars pros Tony Dovolani, Elena Grinenko, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Fabian Sanchez are scheduled to perform on June 12 at Dancing with Desire 2008, a competition held by Fred Astaire Studios Florida.

DwtS 6 runner-up Jason Taylor said in a press conference yesterday that he plans to play football for one more season.

As the winter TV season comes to an end and series go dark for the summer, MSN has an article on the worst series finales ever.

The Mole returns to ABC tonight at 10 ET, with a slightly revamped format that the network hopes will make the show more interactive.

The summer TV season is off to a rocky start for reality shows, most of which are earning lower ratings than last year.

Networks took another hit last week when U.K. TV buyers looked at the few completed pilots out there and opted not to pick up any new shows planned for fall. Typically, networks film pilots and use the money made from sales to foreign markets to finance filming subsequent episodes.

NBC is already worrying that Jay Leno won't go quietly when his contract expires in 2009. And why would he, when he consistently beats David Letterman in the ratings?