Hey, I’ve been gone for a minute, but now I’m back at the jump-off. Here are the essential bits of television news that hit the biz this week.
So the big news of the week, for sure: Steven Tyler is leaving American Idol. The Aerosmith frontman, who joined the judging panel of Idol two seasons ago, has decided to pack up his Coca-Cola cup and head back on tour with his band. “I strayed away from my first love, [Aerosmith],” he said in Fox’s press release, “and I’m back – but instead of begging on my hands and knees, I’ve got two fists in the air and I’m kicking the door open with my band.” I have no concept what the hell that means, but there you go.
Jennifer Lopez is right behind him. Promoting Ice Age: Tokyo Drift Continental Drift on The Today Show this morning, J Lo pretty much gave in her notice – though wrapped it up in a “I’m still undecided” package. “I know everybody wants that definite ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and… all I can let you in on is my own thought process with it, because that’s where I truly am,” she said. “And the truth is, I love everybody. I love the guys on the show. I love the family that’s there. Like I said, I’ve just enjoyed it so much. But I am thinking that maybe it’s time for me to go and do other things that I really love to do.” You know, like fuck her 20-year-old boyfriend.
Randy Jackson is staying put forever. Dude’s going to ride this train as long as he can.
Rumors for Tyler and Lopez’s replacements have already started. Mariah Carey’s name is being thrown around (like it was a few months back for X Factor and a few years back for Idol). People have also been speculating former Idol runner-up Adam Lambert has been approached. What a mess.
I stopped watching Idol when Ellen joined the panel a few seasons back, so I’m not really sure how much of a loss this will be for the show. But I will say this: if Jennifer Lopez is smart, she’ll use Tyler’s departure as an opportunity to negotiate for a shit ton of money. I can guarantee you producers don’t want to add two new judges again.
UPDATE: Jennifer Lopez announced this morning she is leaving American Idol.
REMINDER: THE NEW SEASON OF BREAKING BAD PREMIERES SUNDAY NIGHT ON AMC. AHHHHH!
What do we think about this SYTYCD two winners thing? America’s favorite girl and America’s favorite guy? It just seems a little… meh. I’d personally just have one winner. And it would probably be that hot Australian dancer, Daniel. Not because he’s particularly good, but just because he’s super fucking handsome. I just wish he wasn’t paired with that awful Alexia. She needs to go, no?
The folks behind HBO’s dark comedy Hung are taking a stab at Showtime’s supernatural thriller Sleep No More – which sadly has nothing to do with the fantastic Off-Broadway show of the same name. Instead, it’s about a town filled with people who keep returning to life after they’ve been killed. Haven’t we seen that before?
Do you remember the movie The Joneses? It came out in 2009, and starred Demi Moore and David Duchovny? Yeah, I didn’t see it either. But apparently, it was about a group of people who pretend to be a family and move into an upscale suburban area to do some stealth product marketing about their neighbors. Sounds like a snoozefest. But oooh Bravo is developing it as a scripted series. NOW I’m interested. Especially if it stars NeNe Leakes, who begins each episode with “I don’t keep up with the Joneses… I AM the Joneses.”
Casting Notice Time! Here are a few of the latest castings that are giving me a major TV boner.
- The Good Wife has cast Amanda Peet as a military lawyer who hires Alicia to help her sue a contract worked for attempted sexual assault. Peet’s character will appear on a multiple episode arc, which is great news because I loved the crap out of her on Studio 60 and I basically want more of her all the time. It should be noticed that Peet’s casting is a cherry on top of a delicious sundae of other Season 4 Good Wife castings, including Maura Tierney, Nathan Lane, Marc Warren, and Kristin Chenoweth (who was recently injured on set, but is expected to make a full recovery and continue with her role).
- The Mindy Project, one of the most anticipated new comedies of the season, has picked up two new full-time cast members, Stephen Tobolwsky (Glee), Amanda Setton (Gossip Girl) will get permanent residence at Mindy’s workplace – Tobolowsky as Dr. Marc Shulman, the head of Mindy’s practice, and Setton as Shauna Dicanio, the office manager at Mindy’s practice. Meanwhile, Ike Barinholtz (MADtv) will guest as a male nurse from time to time.
- Todd Williams (Chicago Code) is joining The Vampire Diaries. He’ll play a vampire hunter who’s not at all as cool as Blade.
- Revenge, my favorite new show last season, certainly knows how to keep you interested. They’ve hired British hottie Barry Sloane in a recurring role. He’ll play someone mysterious who will probably cause a shit ton of problems. And take his shirt off all the time.
- Up All Night has given Christina Applegate’s character a brother: Best Friends Forever star Luka Jones. Someone must have an NBC development deal…
- Carly Rae Jepsen will guest star on 90210. There’s a “Call Me Maybe” joke here, but I’m too tired to figure it out. Meanwhile, True Blood’s Luke McDonald and All My Chilren’s Trai Byers are also joining the show. They’ll star as hot guys who make out with girls way below their league. I mean… I’m guessing…
- Gossip Girl may or may not have won the award for best casting of the week, though. 7th Heaven’s Barry Watson will join the show’s final season as an entrepreneur Steve Spence, a potential love interested for Serena van der Woodsen. Welcome back to TV, Watson. I watched What About Brian. I’m happy you’re back.
MTV’s Teen Wolf and TNT’s Falling Skies have both been renewed for third seasons. Boring and boring!
Finally, the big TV news will all come out of Comic-Con this weekend. Beauty and the Beast, Dexter, Nikita, Psych, Teen Wolf, Wilfed, Arrow, The Big Bang Theory, Bob’s Burgers, Bones, Children’s Hospital, Game of Thrones, 666 Park Avenue, Family Guy, The Following, Futurama, Glee, Grimm, Revolution, The Simpsons, True Blood, Fringe, Songs of Anarchy, and Supernatural will all have panels – among other things. I’m not going to Comic-Con because I like the daytime and I know how to talk to girls. But I’ll keep my eye on the news and report everything back next week.