Monday, February 15, 2010

Amorphous Androgyny

The creator of House has promised that House and Cuddy will start a relationship in future episodes. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, David Shore admitted that he is a fan of the couple, played by Hugh Laurie and Lisa Edelstein. 'Eventually, it's going to happen,' he said. 'This is the thing we've been dancing around - even before we knew we were dancing around it. They're two very flawed people, but they're two people that are very attracted to each other.' He added: 'I'm a Huddy fan [too]. Just keep watching the show. It will happen eventually.' I guess that it's true what they all say. We really are all 'shippers at heart!

24 has been forced to halt filming after Kiefer Sutherland suffered a ruptured cyst. Ooh. Nasty. The cyst - near Sutherland's kidney - reportedly ruptured earlier this week, but production continued until Friday without him. The actor, who plays Big Hard Mental Jack Bauer in the action drama, is now preparing to have minor surgery. However, filming on the show is expected to resume again within a week. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Sutherland's publicist said: 'While Kiefer is frustrated to miss even one day of work, he and FOX decided together that it would be best to complete this minor elective procedure now as a precaution as opposed to six weeks from now when production wraps. He looks forward to returning to work next week.' Meanwhile, in a statement FOX said that they support Sutherland's decision to take a break. 'We are temporarily suspending production of 24 while our friend and colleague Kiefer Sutherland undergoes a medical procedure,' the network said. 'We hope to resume production shortly and do not anticipate any disruption in the broadcast of this season's episodes.' Of course, Sutherland's alter-ego is so hard he would've simply taken out the offending cyst with a blunt penknife, stitched up the wound with a knitting needle and then got on with being a one man armour-plated killing machine.

NBC are still expected to lose a huge amount of money on their coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, according to a report. Despite broadcasting the most-watched opening ceremony ever, TVbythenumbers suggests that the network paid far too much for the screening rights, but perhaps should not take the entire entire blame. Journalist Robert Seidam wrote: 'For the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and 2012 summer Olympics in London NBC bid a total of two billion dollars for the rights - $1.18 billion for the London games and eight hundred and twenty million dollars for the Vancouver games.' NBC previously outbid FOX by a reported seven hundred million dollars, but speculation was temporarily put to bed after thirty three million viewers tuned in to Friday's first screening. In NBC's defence, Seidam added: 'No doubt NBC didn't work a major recession into its prediction when it made the two billion dollar bid in 2003.'

Emily Atack has been working with the stars of Cirque de Soleil to help her on Dancing On Ice. The Inbetweeners star met the acrobats to improve her flexibility, the News of the World reports. 'It was an amazing experience,' Atack said. 'The cast members taught me some incredible moves.' She added: 'They put my body in positions I wouldn't have thought possible. I am really excited about putting these into practice in our routine.'

So You Think You Can Dance host Cat Deeley has signed up to front a new treasure hunt entertainment format, where people race around UK cities to win a big cash prize. Cat Deeley's Treasure Tag (working title) has been pitched to Channel 4 by Ingenious Media independent Whizz Kid Entertainment and a 'mini-pilot' of about twenty minutes is set to be filmed at The Hospital in Covent Garden next week. The prime time format sees a pair of treasure hunters let loose to find clues strategically placed around a city in the UK, banking as much cash as they can along the way. When the contestants get back to the studio they have to complete a final challenge to win the money they have collected. A source close to the project said: 'Cat is a fantastic host, and so high-profile these days it is quite a coup to get her name attached to the project. The format has been in development for quite a long time, and the team have high hopes that they have got it right.' Whizz Kid chief executive, Malcolm Gerrie, confirmed that the pilot was in development but declined to comment further. Ah, Malcolm. Did you ever imagine when you were making a show and groundbreaking, influential and timeless as The Tube that times would get so tough it'd come to this?

Nina Wadia is reported to have landed a role playing an evil psychiatric medic on Doctor Who. The EastEnders and Goodness Gracious Me actress was given time away from Albert Square to film the episode, which will broadcast in the spring. According to the Sun, Wadia, who plays postmistress Zainab Masood in the BBC soap, described working with Matt Smith as a 'great experience.' She added: 'I play a bit of a baddie. Like my EastEnders character she's not a very pleasant woman - but at least I'm human and not some kind of strange alien life-form.'

Gillian Taylforth has revealed that the original EastEnders cast didn't expect the soap to last. The actress, who appeared in the show's first episode in 1985, told the Sunday Mirror that producers initially wrote six-month contracts as expectations were low. This Friday, the soap will celebrate its Twenty Fifth anniversary with a live broadcast during which Archie Mitchell's killer will be unmasked. Taylforth said: 'I remember sitting in the green room chatting to Letitia Dean and Anita Dobson about what we would do once it was over. Letitia said she was going back to dancing and Anita said she'd go back to theatre. I'd been working as a secretary and I was a bit annoyed that I'd find it difficult to get back into it because I'd lost my ninety word-per-minute typing speed!' Taylforth was twenty seven and still training part-time as an actress at the Anna Scher school in Islington, North London, when she landed the role of Kathy Beale. 'When I got the part I phoned my mum and dad and said, "I've got some great news." I turned up with a bottle of champagne and said, "I'm going to be in this new show called EastEnders." My mum and dad's faces dropped. My mum said, "Oh we thought you had some good news. That you were engaged or something,"' she said. After twelve years, two husbands and countless heartbreaks Kathy left Walford in 1998. 'When I left I took one of her aprons and the wedding ring Phil Mitchell had given her. I've still got them at home,' she said.

EastEnders' executive producer, Diederick Santer, has promised that viewers can expect a 'satisfying' conclusion to the Who Killed Archie? mystery. Walford's secret killer will finally be revealed to viewers and cast members alike during the show's live episode this Friday. The much-anticipated reveal follow weeks of secrecy and suspicion which began when Archie, played by Larry Lamb, was murdered in the Queen Vic on Christmas Day. Discussing the storyline, Santer told the drama's official website: 'I've said before that the outcome is surprising and yet, like all good surprises, will be in retrospect inevitable. I think it's a good outcome, I think it makes sense - I know it makes sense. I don't think it will be one of those ones where the audience go, "Huh?" I think it will be satisfying, most importantly. I hope so - it's for the audience to tell me.' Meanwhile, offering advice on how viewers can crack the case themselves, Santer revealed: 'What I can tell you is that there are three big clues - one in the Christmas Day episode, one more recently than Christmas and there's another one that, if I were to tell you where it was, would perhaps give it away too easily.'

James Thornton was being treated in hospital over the weekend after being hit by a car. The Emmerdale actor was treated for injuries to his legs and knees, as well as shock, following the incident, which took place in front of his wife Joanna Page. Thornton, who plays farmer John Barton on the soap, said that he was lucky to be alive. An Emmerdale source told the Daily Star the entire cast was shocked. 'He was having a few days off in London with Jo and they'd been out for dinner when he was hit by the car. Joanna was in a right state and James was in absolute agony. He knows he was lucky. We have no idea when he's going to be back.' The incident has led to show bosses being forced to rewrite a number of scenes involving Thornton's character.

David Mitchell has admitted that sex is important to him. However, the Peep Show star told the Observer that he would 'hesitate' to say that sex is more important to him than the average person. Well, that's a relief to all us average people out here in Averageland, I can tell you. Mitchell said: 'People say men think about sex every six seconds; I can't believe that - it takes longer than six seconds to think about it properly once.' On the subject of drugs, he added: 'When I was at university I would occasionally have some cannabis, but I don't think I ever determined what being stoned felt like, because I never had any when I was sober. Your dedicated pothead wouldn't sully his palate with lager.' Last year, Mitchell revealed that he hated having one night stands but added that he found dating to be 'incredibly awkward.' You're a smart man, Davey, just dive in the deep end, mate. You'll find it's just like riding a bike. Actually, no, come to think of it, it's nothing like a riding a bike. Except, when you slam on the brakes, of course.

BBC1 has axed The Omid Djalili Show after a run of two-years. Ah, pity - I quite enjoyed that. The British-born Iranian initially did well with his eponymous show in 2007 and 2008 but audience figures have fallen ever since. Once peaking with over three million viewers, the show's audience fell to two million after it was moved from a - frankly baffling placement mid-Saturday evening - to a midweek late night slot. Djalili will, however, continue to work on other BBC projects, such as the forthcoming scripted comedy In My Country.

As one door closes, another one slam in your face. The BBC have, in the same breath, recommissioned a second series of Reggie Perrin for this autumn, after reviving the 1970s sitcom last year. Martin Clunes will return as the eponymous everyman and both Simon Nye and original creator David Nobbs will again join forces to pen the new episodes. Objective Productions will make the second series, which was ordered by BBC1 controller Jay Hunt and BBC comedy commissioning controller Cheryl Taylor and which will, hopefully, be a damned sight funnier than the first which, for all of the talent involved in it, was lacklustre to say the least. Taylor said: 'The studio sitcom is a genre we are committed to developing and I'm delighted that we have inspirational writers such as Simon Nye and David Nobbs to help promote the cause.' The show received mixed reviews on its first run.

BBC America has acquired two new seasons of Being Human, it has been announced. The show's second season is due to premiere in late summer, with the third season arriving shortly afterwards. The first run aired last year on the cable network. Last year, Syfy announced plans to produce a US version of the show, which gathered interest among American fans following a panel at 2009's Comic-Con festival.

Paul O'Grady has revealed that he is too busy to appear on Strictly Come Dancing. The chat show host explained that he is a fan of the show but doesn't have time for all the rehearsals. 'I do like Strictly,' he told Now. 'They ask me every year to go on, but it's eight hours of rehearsals a day and there's no way I could do it on top of work, writing my book and my farm in Kent. If I didn't have all that, I'd go on it.' O'Grady added that he has also been asked to appear on Piers Morgan's Life Stories. He explained: 'Piers Morgan keeps trying to get me to go on his show. But I've told him no way.' Good lad! Would that the Prime Minister of this country had your strength of character. Not to mention, you know, taste.

Terry Wogan has revealed that he is thinking about returning to television. The broadcaster, who decided to leave his Radio 2 breakfast show last year, explained that he has already been asked to join several projects. Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, he said: 'I'm well stricken in years, Andrew. It will happen to you as well. The thing is I have had various offers and I'm thinking about it but I'm seventy one years of age, I'd like to take it a bit more easily. But I'm still open to doing interesting things.'

The BBC has been forced to apologise after a fan dropped his kilt during coverage of the rugby. The Daily Telegraph reports that the man exposed himself on Friday's edition of BBC Wales Today, during a live preview of the Scotland vs Wales international. The programme's editor Gail Morris Jones said: 'BBC Wales Today is a live programme and unfortunately one rugby fan got carried away with the moment. We always strive to ensure that our contributors act appropriately and we know that many people will have been offended. We sincerely apologise for any offence caused.' South Wales Police also revealed that they are looking into the incident. 'We have had calls and are investigating at the moment,' Inspector Tony McAlinden said. 'We are clearing up after a heavy night in South Wales. It was one of those rugby nights.' The video became an overnight hit on YouTube and was viewed more than forty thousand times, but now appears to have been removed otherwise I'd provide you all with a link, dear blog reader. Though, to be honest, from what I saw it was very little to get worked up about. I'm surprised anybody could see anything. Well, it was a cold day. In this particular chap's case if anyone had posed the age-old question 'is anything worn under the kilt?' the answer would have been 'oh, dear me, yes I'm afraid so...'

Heather Mills has claimed that she has already spent her divorce settlement. The former model was awarded over twenty four million pounds in 2008 after divorcing Sir Paul McCartney. However, speaking on Shrink Rap, Mills told Pamela Connolly that she has given most of the money away. 'Most of it's been given to charity, gone into ethical businesses or paid for a couple of properties for my daughter's future security,' she said. 'I could never sit with millions of pounds in the bank that could make matters change.' Meanwhile, Mills also said that she knew she had to leave McCartney in 2006. 'It was one of the best ten years of my life and one of the worst,' she explained. 'I didn't have any control. It took me years to realise that. In the end I had to walk away.'

Fiona Phillips has said that she will never return to GMTV as she is enjoying having some normality in her life. It's probably just as well, Fiona love, if reports are true they haven't got a pot to piss in at the moment so they probably couldn't afford you, anyway. The presenter, who left the breakfast show in December 2008, told Now that she never goes back on decisions. 'I loved it, but I don't miss those 4am starts,' the forty nine-year-old said of the show. 'I'm enjoying having my life back and believe that once you've made a decision, you shouldn't go back.' Well, it's to be hoped that she's got something more important to be doing at home.