'The Voice' Semifinals: P.S. Christina Aguilera Did It First

NBC

The top eight singers took the stage on Monday's live semifinals performance episode of NBCs The Voice. Not only were they singing for Americas votes, but the coaches were also voting for their favorites. Tuesdays results will take both of those into account.

During the show, Blake Shelton performed his newest single, "Over," for the first time on television. Also, Adam Levine and Cee Lo Greens teams came together to sing The Killers All These Things Ive Done, while Shelton and Christina Aguileras teams joined together on Lady Gagas The Edge of Glory.

PHOTOS: 'The Voice' Teams -- All of Season 2's Performers

Tony Lucca opens the show following his well-received performance of Britney Spears Baby, One More Time last week with The Heavys How Do You Like Me Now? Tony delivers a slick and soulful performance that definitely gives viewers yet another side of him. As he finished, the cameras settled on Adam, who was all smiles. Blake says that he didnt know that song, but that would be the version hed like most. Christina cant help but express her superiority once again by pointing out that she had that song cleared for her quickly eliminated MC, Moses Stone. Good song choice, she says which comes off like patting herself on the back rather than giving Tony and Adam an actual compliment. That wont be the first time she throws some shade Tonys way on Tuesdays show.

Erin Willett takes the stage next with Usher and David Guetta's hit collaboration, Without You." Blake makes it clear that hes looking for a breakout moment for her. Erin attacks every song shes given and this one asks her to use some varying degrees of vulnerability. She definitely does that and finishes the song in tears. Christina says she was proud of her for making the song unique and Cee Lo says those kind of artistic moments have to happen more on the show. Blake simply says hes proud of her for having the strength to give it like she did on stage.

Chris Mann returns to his classically trained roots on Ave Maria. Was that a good choice for him? Of course, hed hit it out of the park and no one can deny his talent. But, what music-buying audience is he going for with that performance? It just doesn't position him as contemporary. Cee Lo calls Chris incomparable and his voice is the epitome of the show. Adam tells him that he gives the show credibility. Christina says his performance humbled her and that there are very few people in this competition that can hit those notes.

PHOTOS: 'The Voice' Contestants Volunteer at L.A. Food Bank

Cee Lo wants to show a softer side of Jamar Rogers and picks If You Dont Know Me By Now, which Patti Labelle and Simply Red have recorded. Jamar insists on singing it in a modern way and he definitely brings the classic song into this decade. He chooses very unique phrasing and takes the finish down into his low register. Its a feat that really shows that he put thought into the delivery. And for that and singing the hell out of that song, viewers should throw their votes his way. Adam tells him that he is purely a fan.

Next up, Blake hopes to shine the spotlight on Jermaine Pauls technical abilities with Journeys Open Arms. It isnt a particularly unique version of the song. But as far as Blakes goal to show his singers abilities, then check. Christina and Cee Lo give their thumbs up and Adam tells him that hes certainly proven hes no longer a backup singer. Backup singers of the world, please send your angry letters to Adam care of The Voice.

Katrina Parker takes on the Fugees version of Killing Me Softly. This is crazy to say, but she sounds very similar to Lauryn Hill. And while thats an accomplishment in itself, it would have been nice to see her play with the song more and give it her own flavor. Christina said as much before she tarnished the moment by using it to lobby Adam against Tony in favor of Katrina. Blake tells Katrina that he cant believe she has been sitting in an office cubicle for so long as he calls her voice seasoned as if shes been performing on stage like a professional.

PHOTOS: 'The Voice' Season 2 First Look -- Notable Quotables From the Show's Coaches

Lindsey Pavao takes on Bon Ivers Skinny Love. During rehearsals, Christina tells her that she needs to sing very close to microphone. That was good advice, but even still the backup singers and instrumentals made it really difficult to hear Lindseys voice. Maybe, the backup singers needed to sing farther from the microphone?

Juliet Simms closes the episode, which is called the pimp slot for a reason. The production trusts she will shut it down appropriately. And if anyone wanted to make a sure bet, their money would be safe with this girl. She may not have the ability to perform badly. She sings Its A Mans World by James Brown and she really owns it. Adam calls it something special before saying that she makes him proud of the diverse styles on the show. Christina says Juliets performance made her feisty and follows that up with comparing the feelings she felt when she performed the same song back in the day just in case the show started becoming about Juliet.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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'Desperate Housewives' Kevin Rahm Marries Fiancé in 'Country Chic' Style

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"Desperate Housewives" Star Kevin Rahm and new wife, Amy Lonkar.

While Kevin Rahm said goodbye to Desperate Housewives at Sundays wrap party in Los Angeles, he and his fianc, Amy Lonkar, were just one day into their new marriage.

The couple wed on Saturday and celebrated with 200 friends and family at a soundstage in Burbank. Our theme was country chic, Rahm, 41, tells The Hollywood Reporter at the ABC party held at Hollywoods The W Hotel.

We had linens on the table, carnival lights, a bluegrass band, and an ice cream truck, Rahm adds about the full-on hootenanny as he describes it. And we had barbecue and we had karaoke.

It was a blast, Amy, a cardio-thoracic surgeon at the University of Southern California, adds. It was wonderful. It could not have been better. It was excellent. We sang karaoke, we danced all night. It was perfect.

The couple had been dating for more than five years and plan to start their honeymoon on Monday.

Rahm has played gay neighbor Lee McDermott on Desperate Housewives since 2007. This season, he also appeared as Jack on Foxs new comedy, I Hate My Teenage Daughter. The series was pulled from the schedule in late-March with a summer return planned. Hes also well known for the role of Kyle on CBS Judging Amy.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Appear on 'Good Morning America'

ABC

Robin Roberts and Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be making a rare TV appearance on Good Morning America Tuesday to unveil a new feature that the show says could save lives.

The social media innovator invites GMA news anchor Robin Roberts for an exclusive behind the scenes look of the Facebook headquarters for the segment.

PHOTOS: How Facebook and Twitter Impact the Entertainment Industry

The teaser states that Zuckerberg doesnt do much TV, and continues by asking, What does he want to share that could save lives?

This is not Facebooks first foray into offering tools for social good. In December, the social networking giant unveiled program called Lifeline that lets users report when their friends post comments related to suicidal thoughts. Upon the alert, Facebook sends an email to the comments author directing them to a telephone hotline or a link they can click to start a confidential chat.

The company also created a set of tools in March to protect users from cyber-bullying that can be customized in platforms Safety Center.

Exclusive interviews like this could help propell GMA for a two week winning streak for highest morning talk show ratings.

STORY: Mark Zuckerberg Kept Facebook Board Out of the Loop on Instagram Buy

Last week, GMA beat NBC'sToday Show in the ratings for the second time in 16 years.

The ABC morning show averaged 5.29 million viewers for the week ending April 27, compared to NBCs 5.13 million, a difference of 166,000 viewers.

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Dan Rather Stands By Bush Air National Guard Story, Slams CBS

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Nearly eight years and two national election cycles later, Dan Rather is sticking to the story that cost him his job and left a permanent mark on his storied career in journalism.

Touring to promote his new memoir, Rather Outspoken: My Life in the News, the former CBS Evening News anchor is telling interviewers that he still believes in his 2004 report that former President George W. Bush, thanks to his family's high-level connections, was given preferable treatment in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War and then ditched his duties entirely.

We reported a true story, Rather said on Good Morning America on Monday (via Mediate). I am not at CBS now because I and my team reported a true story. It was a tough story, a story a lot of people didnt want to believe and it was subjected to a terrific propaganda barrage to discredit it."

PHOTOS: THR's 35 Most Powerful People in Media

Critics said that many of the documents that the storied relied on were most likely fake, and CBS commissioned an inquiry led by former President George H.W. Bush's attorney general, Richard Thornburgh, which ultimately led to the network finding fault with the report and firing producers involved.

Rather, however, is unbowed, and blamed much of CBS' reaction on its corporate parent, Viacom.

"We reported the truth and that is that President Bushlater President Bush when he was in National Guard service, he was at least AWOL and we had a top general in the Army saying on the record he was a deserter," Rather told GMA. "Now everybody makes mistakes. I made some, President Bush obviously made some. But because we reported that story, they put heavy pressure on the corporate entity and the corporate entity voted."

In an interview with The Daily Beast, Rather defended the documents.

I believe them to be genuine, he said. "I did at the time, I did in the immediate aftermath of it, and yes, I do now ... And I think the longer we go, nobody has ever proven that the documents were not what they purported to be, and after this length of time and given the controversy and high profile of it, my view is that if they were not genuine, by this time somebody wouldve come forward and said heres the proof that theyre not. Nobody has done that."

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'The Good Wife' Finale: The Future Remains Up in the Air

Justin Stephens/CBS

"The Good Wife"

With another season in the books, The Good Wife left many doors wide open.

The season three finale, featuring return appearances by Michael J. Fox, Tim Guinee and Martha Plimpton, was best summed up by Lockhart Gardner's suspended lawyer Will (Josh Charles) when he and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) had what was supposed to be a goodbye.

"It feels like things are falling apart," a dejected Will says. "You build them up again, that's what you do," Kalinda retorts.

Later, while Alicia (Julianna Margulies) is back in her old house (that Peter says he'll live in "temporarily"), she observes that everything "is in flux." That's pretty much where The Good Wife ends as the long wait for season four begins.

With Lockhart/Gardner at the brink of losing it all -- thanks in part to the creative thinking of opposing attorneys Louis Canning (Fox) and Patti Nyholm (Plimpton) in poaching the firm's top client -- and Kalinda's "dangerous" husband back in the fray, how things end up remains to be seen.

And while last season's finale ended with an Alicia-Will romp, such wasn't the case here with Will asking Alicia in the elevator if she regretted their brief affair. At least she said "no."

Who was the person knocking at Kalinda's door: her husband or someone else? Will Lockhart Gardner gain back their top client? Did Alicia go back inside her old house to enjoy pizza night? How do you see season four unfolding?

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'True Blood' Teaser: Eric Questions Pam's Loyalty (Video)

HBO

Alexander Skarsgard as Eric on HBO's "True Blood."

It looks as if things havent gotten better between Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and his progeny, Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten), when HBOs True Blood returns for its fifth season.

PHOTOS: 'True Blood's' Dark, Sexy New Style

At the end of the last season, their relationship was strained by Erics spell-induced amnesia and his growing fondness for Sookie (Anna Paquin). Pam would really do anything to get Eric back on her side, but would she release Russell Edgington (Dennis OHare) from his cement grave? There could be several reasons she would be capable of such a thing and Eric knows it.

VIDEO: 'True Blood' Teaser: Sam and Luna Have an Unexpected Visitor

In the latest Waiting Sucks preview from the set of season five, Eric presses Pam for the truth. Watch the video below.

Do you think Pam had something to do with Russells release?

True Bloodreturns Sunday, June 10, at 9 p.m. on HBO.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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HBO's 'The Newsroom': Second Trailer Previews Cable News 2.0

Will Ragozzino/Getty Images

Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels' The Newsroom news anchor is switching teams.

In the second trailer for HBO's upcoming Aaron Sorkin cable news drama, Daniels' Will makes the bold statement to change his approach in front of the camera.

The hourlong drama stars Daniels as Will, the Keith Olbermann of news anchors, and follows him as he becomes unraveled and does what ever he can to hold on to his audience.

VIDEO: First Trailer for HBO's Aaron Sorkin Drama 'The Newsroom' Released

"The reason we failed isn't a mystery: We took a dive for the ratings," he tells viewers in the new promo, which premiered Sunday night ahead of Game of Thrones.

"Im quitting the circus, switching teams -- I'm going with the guys who are getting creamed," he says. Meet Newsnight 2.0, the fictional cable news series at the center of the drama in which Will and his fellow staffers including Sam Waterston, Emily Mortimer, Alison Pill, Olivia Munn and Dev Patel clash withJane Fonda, who recurs as the CEO of the cable news network's parent company.

Sorkin, who won an Academy Award for penning the screenplay forThe Social Network, will executive produce and write after spending time with high-profile cable news personalities like Olbermann and Chris Matthews to understand the world he planned to re-create.

STORY: HBO Gives Series Order to Aaron Sorkin Project

Scott Rudin (The Social Network) and Alan Poul (Six Feet Under, The Big C) serve as executive producers, with Greg Mottola directing the pilot.

Newsroom becomes the latest in Sorkin's behind-the-scenes TV takes, following his exploration of a sports talk show in SportsNight and focus on sketch comedy in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Check out the promo below. The Newsroom premieres Sunday, June 24 on HBO.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

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'My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding' EP Says Gaining the Group's Trust Was 'Incredibly Difficult'

TLC

"My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding" on TLC.

With the hit UK series, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, under their belt, Firecracker Films set out to make an American spinoff for TLC. One would think that the process of finding and filming the highly insular American Gypsies would come easier for the team, but that wasnt the case.

Ive been producing TV my entire career, London-based Firecracker Films' executive producer, David Herman, tells The Hollywood Reporter. And usually you do four weeks of pre-production and two weeks of shooting and then you make a program. This was the most extensive pre-production and production period Ive been on. It was over a year in the making. And it was fantastic everyone who worked there loved it.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: 'My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding' Preview: What a Girl Wants

There are about one million Gypsies in the United States whose descendants come from all parts of Europe, including the UK, Romania, Serbia and Russia. The team spent eight months in pre-production and then shot for another five months with primarily the Romnichels, American Gypsies whose roots lie with English Gypsies.

THR spoke with Herman about the process of shooting the new series and what sets them apart from their UK counterparts.

The Hollywood Reporter: What was the process of earning the Gypsies trust like?
David Herman: It was incredibly difficult. It took eight months. In the end, the key was the dressmaker, Sondra Chelli. Before that, it was hard to meet people. They just didnt trust us. They didnt know who we were. And they werent living in New York or Miami and big cities. They were living in small towns across America. So, Sondra, she introduced us to people and through her we met almost everyone in the series.

THR: And how did you come across Sondra?
Herman: We were in Virginia and we met a woman who was basically an agent for Sondra. And she introduces us to her and she was a Gypsy herself. She was selling Sondras dressmaking services. And after that, things became a lot easier. Sondra not only introduced us, but more importantly, she vouched for us.

VIDEO: TLC Reveals First Look at 'My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding'

THR: How connected are these groups with their overseas counterparts?
Herman: They know very little about English Gypsies. Over the last hundred years or so, theyve become American Gypsies. From the people weve met and the people weve come across, I would say theyre genuinely American Gypsies.

THR: Youve said that the American Gypsies have very similar moral beliefs as the ones weve seen on the original series. Whats the biggest difference or the most American thing about them?
Herman: The thing that that is most American about them is they love and want to be Americans and they want to be seen as Americans. Theyre incredibly proud to be American Gypsies. Everyone we met, theyd say, We are Americans. We are American Gypsies. In England, they dont say that. They say, We are Gypsies. They dont say theyre English whereas this group refers to themselves as American Gypsies. They recognize the great melting pot that is America. They want to be welcomed and they want to be accepted by Americans.

THR: Have they seen the episodes and do you keep in touch with them still?
Herman: They phone us all the time and we talk to them. They havent seen the episodes, but they have seen the fighting clip. Mellie, who is the girl who was fighting with Diamond, she phoned up and said, I saw the clip. Im so upset. It looked like Im losing. It looked like I lost the fight. I said, "Mellie, believe me, you won the fight." And she was very happy.

Watch the big Gypsy girl fight that has been generating headlines recently below.

My Big Fat American Gypsy Weddingpremieres Sunday at 10 p.m. on TLC.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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'GCB' Guest Star Grant Bowler Says His Character Gets Cricket's 'Motor Running'

Eric McCandless/ABC

Grant Bowler and Miriam Shor on ABC's "GCB."

True Blood and Ugly Betty alum Grant Bowler makes his return to ABC in a recurring guest role on GCBsfinal two episodes. And it sounds like his character, businessman Mason Massey, finds some cracks in Cricket (Miriam Shor) and her gay husband Blakes (Mark Deklin) white marriage.

Cricket definitely winds up being the cat on a hot tin roof, Bowler tells The Hollywood Reporter. Shes got this character Im playing chasing her around pretty hard. The white marriage thing is all very well and good, but it makes it a lot easier for that third party to come in and upset the applecart.

VIDEO: 'GCB's' Mark Deklin, Miriam Shor on Their 'White Marriage,' Babies and Whether Blake Will Ever Come Out

THR spoke with Bowler about how his character poses some problems for Cricket, his time on-set and a coincidental True Blood reunion.

The Hollywood Reporter: How difficult was it to work around all the lovely ladies of GCB?
Grant Bowler: Its a very attractive cast both male and female. I think everyone at GCB were certainly threatening in their goodlooking-ness.

THR: What was it like taking part in the shows over-the-top style?
Bowler: Like with Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty, GCB puts it all out there. I was lucky enough to have [director] Victor Nelli, Jr helming while I was there. Victor and I did a lot of Ugly Betty together and hes not shy putting it on-screen. And GCB definitely has that wonderful kind of all upfront, all out there over the top kind of flavor that makes it so much fun, you know? Theyve got some incredible actors on there and its a lot of fun. Its hard to call it work. And I just love that sort of romantic comedy romantic love triangle thing. Its so much fun to play and Miriam? Shes fantastic.

THR: Whats the draw of your character for Cricket?
Bowler: Miriams character is very used to running the show and getting things her own way and kind of being the power broker in business situations. So, of course, hes a match. Hes a guy whos self-made and very down to earth and a lot less refined than a lot of the guys shes accustomed to. And, he kinds of gets her motor running a little more.

VIDEO: 'GCB's' Leslie Bibb on Playing a Reformed Mean Girl: 'There's Still a Little GCB Up in Her

THR: Did you share any scenes with Mark Deklin? If so, what was that like?
Bowler: The measure up scene in which the two guys meet was bound to happen, when you get a second to really get a look at each other. Of course, when my character turns up, he doesnt know where the ground lies. So, thats unfolding too and a process to figure out whats going on. As far as my character saw it, she seems altogether too available to be someone in a marriage and I think hes kind of curious about that and trying to tease it out for himself.

THR: It just so happens that you appear in the same episode as another True Blood alum, Kevin Alejandro. What was that like?
Bowler: We keep doing it. I keep bumping in to my True Blood alumni. We seem to be spiraling right out across everything. Its always good to catch up. I think HBO shows in general, you work such long hours and you shoot so intensely that you really become like a family. It was incredible to see Kevin. It was fantastic to turn up and there he was. Hes another one that isnt hard on the eye and he probably has the coolest name of anyone in the industry. I want to be renamed Kevin Alejandro.

Watch Bowler's character, Mason, test the waters with Cricket in the preview below.

GCB airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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Adam Lambert Performs on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' (Photos)

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

With just over three weeks to go, the countdown to Adam Lambert's new albumTrespassing is on, and so is the promo blitz.A highlight so far? Lambert'sfive-song set on ABC'sJimmy Kimmel Live!April 26.

VIDEO: Jimmy Kimmel Plays It Safe With White House Correspondents' Dinner Speech

Only two songs made it to air -- new single "Never Close Our Eyes" and title track "Trespassing," but the American Idol season 8 runner-up spent a good 15 more minutes onstage, entertaining the 1,000 glamberts lucky enough to score entry to the outdoor mini-concert. His set included three more songs from his forthcoming album (due out May 15), "Naked Love," "Broken English" and "Cuckoo."

STORY: Adam Lambert Performing Four Shows With Queen This Summer

Lots of video can be found on YoutubeandTHR has an exclusive clip for "Naked Love" (watch it here) as well asa few photos from the performance courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Check them out below:

Lambert announced that the Bruno Mars-penned "Never Close Our Eyes" would his second single via Twitter on April 11.

After the performance, Lambert ran over to a crowd of autograph seekers in the alley behind Hollywood's El Capitan theater.

Twitter: @THRMusic

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'American Idol': Jennifer Lopez Wishes She Could Mentor More (Video)

Minutes after Elise Testone was eliminated on Thursday's American Idol, season 11 judge Jennifer Lopez lamented the fact that she and her table-mates can't mentor the finalists one-on-one.

VIDEO: 'American Idol': Eliminated Contestant Elise Testone On Talking Back to the Judges, Tour, Regrets

"We try to get as much in there as we can," Lopez toldThe Hollywood Reporter'sspecial correspondent (and season 9 Idol alum)Didi Benami, even if that means occassionally being "harsh." Unlike seasons past, when "funny" was the order of the day, she continued. Today, it's all about truth.

STORY:'American Idol' Burning Questions: Were the Top 6 Worried Ryan Seacrest Wouldn't Show? Why Did Phillip Phillips Choose Obscure DMB?

Also, when it comes to music business veterans like herself and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, there is so much wisdom to impart and such little time. Watch the video above for J Lo's take on why heeding the judges' advice can be a big advantage.

Twitter: @THRMusic

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Chelsea Handler's 'After Lately' Renewed for Third Season on E!

Brandon Hickman/E!

E! wants to see more of Chelsea Handler.

The Chelsea Lately host, who signed a deal in November to remain with the series through 2014, is finalizing a renewal to keep scripted spinoff After Lately on the network for a third season, an E! rep confirms to The Hollywood Reporter.

The move comes as the NBCUniversal-owned network continues to grow its relationship with the 37-year-old comedian, who's developing and producing series for E! through her Borderline Amazing Productions shingle.

After Lately, which follows the fictional and largely improvised work lives of Chelsea Lately's cast, crew and writers, premiered on the network in March 2011. It has steadily built its ratings with help from such high-profile guests as Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Justin Bieber. The January season 2 finale brought in a record 1.7 million viewers, with an exceptionally high showing among women 18-34 (2.3 rating). The second season averaged 1.1 million viewers over the course of eight episodes.

In addition to her work on E!, Handler recently served as a writer, executive producer and guest star on NBC's Are You There, Chelsea? The sitcom ended its freshman run in March with a 1.2 rating among adults 18-49 and 3.1 million viewers.

After Lately also stars notable Handler staffers Chuy Bravo, Brad Wollack, Chris Franjola, Heather McDonald and Sarah Colonna.

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'Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding' Premiere Engages More Than 1.5 Million Viewers

Bravo

Dont Be Tardy for the Wedding star Kim Zolciak is proving she can go it alone with her new spinoff, garnering an average 1.55 million viewers for its one-hour premiere on Thursday.

PHOTOS: The 'Ex-Real Housewives' Club

Bravo debuted the series with back-to-back episodes. 1.4 million people tuned into the 9 p.m. airing with 691,000 in the ad-coveted 18-49 audience. Its second half-hour episode improved on its lead-in with 1.7 million total viewers and 865,000 in the ad demo. Combined, thats an average 1.55 million viewers for the hour.

This news follows the success ofNew Jerseys fifth season premiere last Sunday, which is the networks most watched season debut ever. Its also another good sign that interest in the networks Real Housewives franchise is still strong as Bravo plans spinoffs with Beverly Hills Lisa Vanderpump and Atlantas Kandi Burruss.

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes of the 'Real Housewives' THR Cover Shoot

Don't Be Tardy for the Wedding follows Zolciak as she plans her multi-million dollar wedding to Kroy Biermann in less than a couple months. Next Thursday, the series airs in its regular time slot Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on Bravo.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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‘Breakout Kings’ Creator Nick Santora Touts New Novel, Teases Season Finale (Q&A)

Nick Santora, the creator of A&E's Breakout Kings and a former writer on The Sopranos, Law & Order and Prison Break, just had his second novel, Fifteen Digits, arrive in stores.

It's the story of five men, who work as printers at a posh corporate law firm handling its sensitiveand possibly lucrativelegal secrets, that get caught up in an insider trading scam hatched by a scheming young attorney.

They set up a secret offshore account to deposit their ill-gotten gains. To protect the money, each man knows just three digits of the fifteen-digit account number. Things seem fine until the authorities start to suspect something is wrong and mobsters want a share of the money.

Fifteen Digits is a propulsive thriller that hurtles along to a brutal and--trust me--very unexpected conclusion. Santora has a TV writer's sense of pacing, but he also has an eye for character that keeps a reader emotionally engaged in the story. People looking for a Grisham-esque thriller with dash of The Sopranos will find the novel a great summer beach read.

Santora talked with The Hollywood Reporter about the book, the contest hes throwing to promote it, how he's trying to jump start a movie version and what we can expect on the April 29 season finale of Breakout Kings.

The Hollywood Reporter: Where did you get the idea for 15 Digits?

Nick Santora: I was a corporate lawyer right out of law school and I noticed a big logic bump in how things were done. Lawyers had to go through tons of training to make sure they did not violate confidentiality issues or insider trading and then we would take these incredibly sensitive documents to people who barely graduated high school, who would copy and collate them. They would have access to every secret that would be next in week's Wall Street Journal and there were no checks on these guys. What amazed me was how no one discussed or even cared about it. No one thought much about the people in the printers' office in the basement. So I started thinking what if those guys in the basement, figured out they had millions of dollars passing through their Xerox machine every minute.

THR: It reminds me of dark version of the movie Office Space.

NS: Yes! I love that movie. You don't think enough of the people below you to think the can screw you over and they do. Its an underdog story.

THR: How much is drawn from your own experiences?

NS: I've never really felt like I fit anywhere comfortably and I think that bleeds into my writing. The only place I've ever felt where I reasonably belonged is with my family. These guys in the book dont fit in. They become a makeshift family for themselves. People think at first it was done for money, but it was done for love. These are guys are looking for familytheir own version of a family. It's why anyone does anything.

THR: Talk about the contest youre running to promote the book

NS: I recently just set up a broad comedy feature with Adam Carolla, who I think is a comedy genius. So I have a contest set up and its important I say for legal reasons there's no purchase necessary. You can go to a library or you can borrow the book from a friend. I strongly prefer you buy the book [laughter]. Take the five main characters, rank them from most desirable to least desirable you wanted to go on a road trip with and then explain why. Make it as funny as possible and post it on my website by May 15th. Its a play on the hypothetical road trip bit Carolla does on his show. When this movie gets made, I will fly the winner out to the set for the day to watch the filming and hang out with me and Adam. It'll be a good time. [Information on the contest can be found here].

THR: Youve already filmed a scene from the book, right?

NS: I want to convince studios that my book would make a great movie. I also want to convince them that maybe I could direct it ,so I decided to shoot a pivotal scene from the book. I asked Malcolm Goodwin, an actor on Breakout Kings to produce it for me. We got Jimmi Simpson, who was in Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia and is on Breakout Kings, and Gino Pecsi, who was in Battle Los Angeles, to star in it. We rented out Michael's Bar and Grill in Burbank on a Sunday morning and in five hours for about a $500 budget I shot a demo of what this movie would look like, the tone of it, the feel of it, the humor, the grittiness. It looks amazing. [The video can be found here].

THR: Your first job was writing an episode of The Sopranos after winning a screenwriting award at the New York International Film Festival. What was that experience like?

NS: I only did one episode because it was a freelance job but the one thing I learned from that experience was: Don't be intimidated. While I was walking into that meeting, I remember having the distinct thought the next hour is going to determine the course of your life -- either you're going to kill this meeting and make David Chase trust you with his show or be prepared to chase ambulances. I thought I have to show him I'm a writer even though I've never had anything produced before and this is the first screenplay I've ever written. If you think about it, Chase was insane for giving me that opportunity, but he did. To this day I don't know why. There must have been some divine intervention. That changed my life. He's like a magic fairy that floated down the sky, tapped me on the head, and flew away. I'm eternally grateful for it.

TRH: The season Finale of Breakout Kings is coming up this Sunday.

NS: I have a role in it. I appear in two scenes. I get to call Dominick Lombardozzis character a dick.

THR: Why did you cast yourself?

NS: This is the first time I've acted since college. I'm not even sure you can call what I did acting. The truth is this business is fickle. You never know if you're going to get another season of any show, even though Breakout Kings has really strong numbers. It was the last episode of the season and I can say without exaggeration that I love our cast. I just wanted to have fun with them and I figured what's one more fat bald guy on TV.

THR: Speaking as a member of the club, there's not enough fat bald guys on TV.

NS: [laughs]

THR: On a more serious vein, you started this season with a death and a serial killer, who has been taunting the team all season. Are we going to get any sense of justice in the finale?

NS: Without giving away how it ends, I can say the breakout kings will run into the serial killer Damian and it will be messy and vengeance will play into that, but I can't say more than that. Its a really cool ending.

THR: Will we see a third season?

NS: We haven't heard yet. Our DVR+7 day numbers are really strong. A lot of people are watching the show; a lot of them just don't watch it on the night it premieres. That's what happens on Sundays now.

The interview has been edited and condensed for publication.

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'Fringe': John Noble Previews 'Massive' Two-Part Season Finale (Video)

Now that Fringe will return for a fifth and final round, what better way to celebrate than with a preview of this year's big season closer.

"It's massive," John Noble told The Hollywood Reporter at the THR Cover Lounge. "It deals with the great question that has been postured over four years: Are we capable or do we have a moral right to behave like gods? Do we have a right then to discard all the mistakes that have been made and recreate another universe?"

PHOTOS: Broadcast TV's Returning Shows for 2012-13 Season

The cult show has been dealing with philosophical issues all series long and even hinted at the potential death of series heroine Olivia. "Olivia, it's been said for weeks -- or months, frankly -- that Olivia is going to die," Noble says, "and it's sitting over us like a cloud and we have to deal with that. It has to be resolved and it is resolved."

Though he wouldn't go into detail, Noble did acknowledge that when the two-part finale airs (May 4 and 11), the six principal characters -- Peter, Olivia, Walter, Astrid, Nina and Broyles -- will come together in some form.

"They've been disparate all this season and now they're brought back into some form you can either stop at or go ahead from," he teased.

Fringe airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on Fox.

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Jimmy Fallon's 1998 'SNL' Audition Surfaces Online (Video)

Have you ever wondered what it takes to win a spot on Saturday Night Live? Consider this newly surfaced video of Jimmy Fallon auditioning for the legendary sketch comedy show in 1998 a master class on the subject.

Cramming over 20 characters into 8 minutes that would change his life forever, Fallon cycled through every celebrity impression in his repertoire -- everyone from from Jerry Seinfeld to Chris Rock to Robert Smith of The Cure.

VIDEO: President Obama on 'Jimmy Fallon': Slow Jammin' the News, Talking College and Energy

But as Fallon recalled in a 2010 Sirius XM interview, it was his impression of Adam Sandler that finally cracked Lorne Michaels' stony veneer. "It was like a Wonder Years moment," Fallon said, of seeing the SNL creator laughing at his material.

Watch the videos below.

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The Wanted Trashes 'The Voice's' Christina Aguilera (Video)

NBC

Does The Voice coach Christina Aguilera need an attitude adjustment? After UK boy band The Wanted appeared on the NBC competition recently, they didnt have very good things to say about the pop star.

PHOTOS: The Beatles to The Wanted -- The Evolution of Boy Bands

She was a bit scary to be honest, band member Max George says during an interview with New Yorks 92.3 FM.

She was a total bitch! Tom Parker then blurts out, adding, She might not be a bitch in real life, but to us she was a bitch to us. She just sat there and didnt speak to us.

She was quite rude, Siva Kaneswaran then says, confirming his bandmates accounts.

PHOTOS: 'The Voice' Teams -- All of Season 2's Performers

The guys may have been comparing Aguilera to the more welcoming reception they got from Jennifer Lopez when they appeared on Foxs American Idol. Apparently, the Idol judge got the their thumbs up. Yeah, well JLos hot, Christinas nothing special, Max explains.

This is just the latest incident of Aguilera rubbing other artists the wrong way. Recently, she called out fellow ex-Mouseketeer, Justin Timberlake, for possibly making the show a popularity contest instead of a talent competition with his support of Tony Lucca.She was also accused of giving Justin Bieber a death stare, but she has since said that isn't true.

Watch The Wanted trash Aguilera in the video below.

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'Idol Hangover': Season 10's Haley Reinhart Talks Taking Risks on 'American Idol,' Feeling Sexy on New Album (Video)

Season 10's Haley Reinhart stopped by The Hollywood Reporter's cover lounge on Friday, joining music editor Shirley Halperin for the latest Idol Hangover interview.

And to quote Randy Jackson -- THR had a hot one! Noting the "steamy" vibe of Reinhart's forthcoming debut album Listen Up! (due out May 22), and especially opening track "Oh My," the talk was all about feeling sexy and bringing that essence to her record, which is stellar.

VIDEO: 'American Idol': Jennifer Lopez Wishes She Could Mentor More

Also on tap for this week's discussion: Haley's thoughts on why Elise Testone was eliminated, her season 11 favorites, what it was like to go back to the Idol studio and sit in the audience. Plus: Haley answers fans' Twitter questions.

That's all in part 2 of the episode (watch above); In part 1, special correspondent and Idol season 9 finalistDidi Benami helps run down the week's most talked about moments (see that below).

VIDEO:'American Idol': Eliminated Contestant Elise Testone On Talking Back to the Judges, Tour, Regrets

Join Idol Hangover next week when guests include alums Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo and longtimeIdol musical director-turned-Tonight Show bandleader Rickey Minor.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

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'My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding' Preview: What a Girl Wants (Exclusive Video)

It took several months for the production team behind TLCs new series, My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding, to find the American versions of its British subjects. But once they did, they discovered that they werent all that different from their UK counterparts -- particularly when it came to their sexual lives.

VIDEO: TLC Reveals First Look at 'My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding'

The biggest similarity between the gypsies in England and America is the morality, particularly with the girls, executive producer David Hermanof Firecracker Films tells The Hollywood Reporter. They are always separate from the boys. Theyre always chaperoned. And thats part of why they get married with the big dresses and everything as soon as they can at 16 or 17, I think.

Its a common thing for closed, protected communities, he later adds. In the first episode, the mother says, I wont tell my daughter about sex. She needs to learn the hard way like I did. Its amazing.

Watch THRs preview above for some insights into what both the gypsy girls and boys want.

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding premieres Sunday at 10 p.m. on TLC.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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NBC Pulls 'Best Friends Forever' From Schedule

NBC

"Best Friends Forever"

NBC has pulled the plug on midseason comedy Best Friends Forever, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Created by Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, who also star, the half-hour series bowed in early April to 4 million viewers and a 1.2 rating in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demo before dipping in the ratings.

"BFF Fans: Wanted to let you know that our show is being taken off the air until the summer. Hoping to post ep 5 & 6 online asap. We love u," Parham wrote Friday afternoon on Twitter. She followed up by thanking the viewers: "I CANNOT thank you enough for the love and support of our little show. You guys are truly the best."

Next week, an original episode of hidden-camera series Betty White's Off Their Rockers will air in its Wednesday 9:30 p.m. slot.

No airdates have been set for the two remaining episodes of Best Friends Forever.

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'American Idol' Castoff Elise Testone Talks Elimination, Summer Tour

Michael Becker / FOX.

Fans of American Idol's Elise Testone, take heart: the freshly booted finalist promises to rock you all summer on the just-announced season-11 tour.

The South Carolina soul sister told reporters Friday that she's looking forward to fully rocking out on stage, with whole songs, and not just an edited version of the song. I shine best when its real and I have time to get into it.

Testone, who finished sixth place after performing Jimi Hendrixs Bold As Love and Queens I Want It All, has some big plans for the tour -- and they include Phillip Phillips.

Im closest with Phillip, she said, adding that she would love a repeat of her duets with the Georgia cutie. I still havent seen that song list but I am going to put in a strong request for it.

Talking via phone conference, Testone, 29 said she was a little surprised by her elimination on Thursday, but had a feeling the end was near following what mentor Jimmy Iovine described as a permanent vacation home in the bottom three stools of doom for weeks.

VIDEO: Elise Testone On Talking Back to the Judges, Regrets

It wasnt a total shock, she said. When you are in the bottom three that many times, it is inevitable that it would happen some time, but I guess I just felt like a fighter and I was going to push through.

When asked if song choice did her in, Testone was clear in her convictions.

I dont agree because those were the best choices for me, and I felt that and I believed in it, she said, revealing her now-thwarted plan to peform Jessie J's "Who You Are" and Joe Cocker's version of "A Little Help From My Friends," for next week's British theme.

When asked if age was a factor in not connecting with the public (Erika Van Pelt had joked with Testone that they were the old girls in the race), Testone demurred.

"A huge majority of voting comes from Middle America so if I cant win them over, its not going to happen," she said. "I felt like I was honest and sang with my heart and passion and thats the best I can do."

As for the show's younger viewers, Testone said: I feel like I still connect with them, as a teacher I had a lot of students and I felt probably closer to them than people my own age, but I dont know if they saw that."

STORY:Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez Set for 'Idol' Results Shows

Testone also revealed that she'd auditioned for the show once in the past.

That didnt work out, she said. I always thought that I wouldnt be ready for the responsibility of the fame until I was older and learned those life lessons, you know, just knew who I was before throwing myself into the hands of others."

She added that she thought judges' critiques werent always spot on, and was frustrated about their comments tainting public perception.

People are getting to know me, and this is their first impression of me, and I felt like sometimes criticism didnt line up or it was discrediting to the things I had achieved or worked hard to achieve, she said. I believe in certain things and I dont want to keep my mouth shut and smile.

When Randy Jackson lambasted Testones phrasing of Hendrixs Bold As Love as boxing with the song, Testone was frustrated.

Randy kind of bothered me .. I didnt feel like I was boxing with the song, she said. The song flew out of me naturally and I was painting the picture and feeling the lyrics.

She is less annoyed with Jennifer Lopez, who she said was "fighting for me," As for Steven Tyler, who she said she would love to have as a duet partner on her debut CD (other artists on her wish list: Stevie Nicks, who already put it out there that she would want to work with Testone, and Queen guitarist Brian May).

After the summer, "top 10" tour, Testone is focused on recording an album (dream duet parters: Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks) and utilizing her bandmates, along with some shows and a return to teaching voice lessons -- either with her own studio or one-on-one.

"Ive been waiting my whole life to release an album so its not going to be a rush ... Im going to take my time and experience it, she added.

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A&E Sets Summer Premiere Dates for 'The Glades,' 'Longmire'

A&E

"The Glades"

A&E has announced the return of The Glades and the debut of new series Longmire.

The Glades will launch its third season on Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. Immediately following the veteran series, the Katee Sackhoff-led Longmire will premiere at 10 p.m.

Described as a contemporary crime thriller, the 10-episode Longmire is based on the Walt Longmire mystery novels by Craig Johnson. Sackhoff is joined by Robert Taylor, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bailey Chase, Cassidy Freeman and Adam Bartley.

Hunt Baldwin, Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin and Christopher Chulack serve as executive producers.

The Glades stars Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez, Taylor Cole and Carlos Gomez. Executive producers include creator Clifton Campbell and Gary Randall.

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'American Idol' British Week to Feature Performances by Coldplay and Carrie Underwood

Five American Idolcontestants remain, and next week they will get to test their talents on some British tunes. British-themed week will fittingly feature a performance by Colplday during Thursdays results show, which will also see country star Carrie Underwood grace the Idol stage.

VIDEO: THR's Idol Hangover: Episode 8 with Casey Abrams

Its worth noting there is a Brit among the five finalists. Hollie Cavanagh spent her early years in the U.K. and has been living in the United States since 2002.

Will her British roots give her an advantage over her Idol competitors? Tune in Wednesday to see how Cavanagh, Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips andJessica Sanchez do.

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'30 Rock' Live Show: Weighing the Differences Between the East and West Coast Broadcasts

NBC

Not since the darkest days of '90s rap has the tension between the east and west coasts been quite this high.

30 Rock tackled its second live show on Thursday night, offering two separate broadcasts for each time zone -- just as the series did back in 2010. And just like then, there were several key differences that ultimately gave one outing a slight advantage.

Both episodes, it should be noted, were a huge success. 30 Rock improved on the last live show by adopting a story and format that better lent itself to actual live television. Under the fitting threat of turning TGS into a prerecorded show, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) locked most of the cast into Tracy's (Tracy Morgan) office where he told the story of famous (and fabricated) NBC live broadcasts. Flashbacks ensued, recalling skits similar to Studio 8's own Saturday Night Live, making it easy for the obligatory cameos -- Jon Hamm, Donald Glover, Paul McCartney, Kim Kardashian, Jimmy Fallon, Fred Armisen and Brian Williams among them.

PHOTOS: Behind the Scenes of '30 Rock'

But which episode did it best? Of the many variations between broadcasts, here are six major differences that determined which coast deserves to boast:

The Big Cameo
30 Rock ripped the band-aid in the opening scene when Liz (Tina Fey) acknowledged that anything could happen on live television. For the East Coast that meant Paul McCartney dropping by Jack's (Alec Baldwin) office to use his private bathroom. For the west coast? Kim Kardashian. Advantage: East Coast.

Opening Titles
Duplicating the previous live episode's intro, the musical number was performed by Jane Krakowski, with returning guest Cheyenne Jackson singing in her place, three hours later. Jackson's appearance was welcome after such a long absence from the series, but it's nearly impossible to top Krakowski breaking out into earnest song. Advantage: East Coast.

Dr. Spaceman
Choosing between Chris Parnell and Chris Parnell is a real Sophie's Choice, but the Nazi jokes from the first broadcast got a little old during the Chatterton Cigarettes commercials -- especially when the West Coast enjoyed the revelation that Leo Spaceman's father was gay. Advantage: West Coast.

Apollo 13 Newscast
Thankfully, both coasts got a dose of Jon Hamm during racist 1950s show Alfie and Abner -- so he didn't really need to reappear as a sexist newscaster, as he did in the first broadcast. The West Coast was treated to Brian Williams, uttering the same misogynist banter. Advantage: West Coast.

Telethon
Yes, both coasts caught Jimmy Fallon and Amy Poehler as younger Jack and Liz, but Fred Armisen's hilarious cameo as a nosy woman in the phone bank seemed to be cut short in the second outing. Advantage East Coast.

Closer
Though Kim Kardashian gets points for making a joke about breaking a toilet, the reappearance of Paul McCartney was still the tops. And only the East Coast was treated to the surreal sight of Jack and and Pete (Scott Adsit) making out as the curtain closed. Advantage: East Coast.

The Verdict
East Coast, hands down. Brian Williams was a huge boon to the latter broadcast, but there's no arguing with the superiority of McCartney over Kardashian. And, chronologically speaking, you've always got to tip your hat to the original.

Well done, 30 Rock. Here's to a another next season.

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VIDEO: The Funniest Performances at White House Correspondents' Dinners

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This Saturday evening, all eyes will be trained on the mustard-hued interior of an unremarkable D.C. Hilton ballroom, where the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner -- a rare convocation of politicians, entertainers and journalists (plus a smattering of tabloid freaks toted along as conversation-starters) -- will be held. The pressure is on for emcee Jimmy Kimmel to be brutally funny.

Here's who he's going up against -- THR's choices for the funniest, smartest (and, yes, meanest) performances at White House Correspondents' Association dinners.

1997: NORM MACDONALD

The scene: President Bill Clinton was using a pair of crutches at the 1997 dinner, having undergone surgery the month before to reconnect a torn tendon in his right knee. Norm MacDonald, a detached, sardonic wit with a psychotic twinkle in his eye, wasSaturday Night Lives Weekend Update anchor. His performance started bumpily, but he eventually won the crowd over, and acknowledged as much as it started to happen.

MacDonald used the presidents hobbled state to great comic effect, commenting, You are handicapped and the President of the United States. You must have an unbelievable parking spot! and encouraging Clinton to inhale medical marijuana: Its the only way youre going to get better! Other highlights: When he announced that guest Martha Stewart was going to show us how to take those discarded fish bones and make a beautiful bird house, and explained that no-show Al Gore had broke down and they had to leave him in the shop.

2006: STEPHEN COLBERT

There will never be another dinner like the one Colbert hosted, in which the brilliant satirist delivered a withering condemnation of the Bush regime -- directly to President George W. Bushs face. The mood in the ballroom at the time was less than hospitable; in fact, many of the jokes (if you could even call them jokes) were met with dead silence, and several Bush sympathizers walked out. Still, it didnt take long before the performance went viral online, and its lasting place in U.S. political history -- Frank Rich called it the defining moment of the midterm elections in The New York Times -- was secured.

There are far too many quotable moments in it (heres a complete transcript), but the most frequently cited is this Molotov cocktail, which, notably, implicates the media, too:

I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always reboundwith the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.

The following year, Rich Little would be invited to host for an evening of unobjectionable entertainment. The impressionist had last appeared in 1985, doing his Ronald Reagan alongside the real thing. It would take Obama's election for things to get funny again.

2011: SETH MEYERS

The SNL head writers performance last year drew rave reviews, and somehow pushing, but never overstepping, the edginess line the occasion had grown to demand. (The year prior, Wanda Sykes proved far less successful, in a bit in which she called Rush Limbaugh the 20th hijacker. He was so strung out on Oxycontin, he missed his flight. 9-11 jokes, particularly those spoken a few yards from a sitting president, are never a good idea. The routine gave Fox News fodder for weeks.)

Meyers clearly had the full force of the SNL writing staff behind him for his speech -- so much so that his Weekend Update material seems to pale in comparison. From his routine about Anderson Coopers wardrobe (You can always tell how much danger Anderson Cooper is in by how tight his clothing is.) to his observation about celebrities in attendance (Jon Hamm is here. Yeah. Jon Hamm looks the way every Republican thinks they look. Zach Galifianakis is also here. Zach Galifianakis looks the way Republicans think every Democrat looks...) Meyers gave the audience precisely what they showed up for: an irresistible skewering of politics, media and Hollywood, served up on a plate like a three-layer dessert.

2011: BARACK OBAMA

Kimmel's most formidable competition might actually come from Obama himself: Harangued for weeks by Donald Trump to produce a long-form birth certificate -- which Obama had released three days earlier -- the president used the opportunity to get a series of pointed jabs back at the famously coiffed reality TV star, who sat in attendance.

"We all know about your credentials and breadth of experience," Obama told Trump, as the room erupted in laughter. "For example...just recently, in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice,at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team cooking did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn't blame Lil' Jon or Meatloaf. You fired Gary Busey. And these are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night."

Trump had endured far sharper knives at the Comedy Central Roast held in his honor just a month before, but something about having the President of the United States swat him away like a hairy, orange gnat in front of the entire world got him where he lived. Any threats of a Trump presidential run ended that night.

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Kelly Ripa Transforms Into Lucille Ball, 'Glee's' Sue Sylvester and 'New Girl's' Jess (Video)

Daytime star and morning talk show host Kelly Ripa is hosting the 10th Annual TV Land Awards airing Sunday at 9 p.m. And clearly shes hoping to make a grand entrance.

PHOTOS: THR's 35 Most Powerful People in Media

In a new sketch teasing the awards, Ripa gets some help from style guru Carson Kressley in picking an iconic character's look from TVs past and present to kick off the awards. They range from funny gals Lucille Ball, Glees Sue Sylvester and New Girls Jess to heroines like Wonder Woman and Catwoman.

Watch the video above to find out which character she ultimately lands on.

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes on THR's Photo Shoot with Kelly Ripa

This years TV Land Awards honorees include Aretha Franklin and TV shows In Living Color, Laverne & Shirley, One Day at a Time and Pee-wees Playhouse.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter:@TheRealJethro

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'30 Rock': Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer on Crazy Reality Stars, Mickey Rourke and Kenneth's Family (Q&A)

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When 30 Rock broadcasts live on Thursday night, anything could happen. Few of the variables traditionally associated with live television, however, come close to matching the insanity of the scripted lives of Jenna Maroney and Kenneth Parcell.

Played by Jane Krakowski and Jack McBrayer, respectively, the two characters have backstories that not even the actors can keep straight. Jenna is a raving narcissist Hollywood actress who will do anything for any sort of fame; Kenneth is from a backwater family of inbreeders and religious fanatics. And they're two of the series' funniest characters.

Krakowski and McBrayer spoke with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week at NBC Studio 8H, where the episodes will take place, about Jenna's breakdowns and many sexual partners, and Kenneth's bizarre background.

THR: With Jenna, she's always been a send-up of reality stars, but you've really come close to the ground this year, with the "exhaustion" and rehab and things. Do you pay attention to those type of headlines?

Krakowski: I think she's become a collage of many people and all the exaggerated things that happen to people in the headlines and in the business, especially this season, I think we've created out of the real stories that are going on.

McBrayer: Very thinly veiled.

Krakowski: But I love it. I really feel like they have opened both of our characters a lot this season, and we've gotten to play so many more things than I'd expected and got some delicious story lines this year... That episode that we just did where we did a montage of Jenna gong crazy, it was kind of fun because every reference is on YouTube, every person that we were sending up, it was all available on YouTube. People's arrest tapes, mugshots, everything is online.

McBrayer: Crotch shots.

Krakowski: Yeah, I had a crotch remodeled based on the celebrity it was based on.

THR: Anything for art.

McBrayer: Oh, we love money.

Krakowski: Custom merkins. They're coming back, you know.

STORY: Tina Fey on 30 Rock Live, Liz Lemon's Romantic Fate and Julianne Moore's Sarah Palin

THR: I really hope so. Do you ever hear from any of the reality stars or actresses you're sending up?

McBrayer: They don't watch 30 Rock. No one watches 30 Rock.

Krakowski: We're just doing it for us and our families [laughing].

THR: I've seen at least a couple episodes.

McBrayer: You were watching Modern Family and you know it.

THR: There are so many insane character flashbacks for each of you, do you ever sit down to chart the crazy backstories of your characters?

Krakowski: It's crazy. Our script supervisor, Claire, has a bible of everything, and sometimes she'll remind us of things. Especially with relationships, because I've mentioned in passing, like in the middle of another sentence, someone that I've had some dalliance with -- she's been with so many people, and a great variety of types -- it's kind of amazing if you ever look back.

McBrayer: It is funny because sometimes she'll have it on set and you'll flip through and be like, I don't know what year I was born in, I don't know all my family members, apparently technically my parents were brothers. There are so many weird things that our writers give us in every single episode that it's incredibly hard to keep track.

Krakowski: The great thing about the way the show is written is that so many facts about our characters' lives come out in passing and you have to kind of really pay attention to get them sometimes.

THR: I've been very curious about Jenna's relationship with Mickey Rourke.

Krakowski: Yes! It sounds intriguing, right. [laughing] I've thought about it a lot, and I'm quite disturbed. I don't know we suddenly pick people. Like the other day there was a whole Dean Cain reference. Like, how random, why Dean Cain? What have we done to Dean Cain, what's happened?... There's been a long period I had with Mickey Rourke, then I just had--

McBrayer: David Blaine.

Krakowski: There was David Blaine but if you go back I had a threesome with Tom and Roseanne Arnold.

McBrayer: Oh you're right!

Krakowski: Dog the Bounty Hunter is the second grossest guy I've slept with, next to Judah [Friedlander].

McBrayer: Oh you're going to get some maaaa-il.

Krakowski: Who else?

MacBrayer: Your gym teacher?

Krakowski: No, he's become the new Mickey Rourke.

McBrayer: I don't remember. I only read my lines.

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Lawrence O'Donnell Slams Conservative Pundits, Presents Presidential Talk Show Montage (Video)

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

President Obama's slow-jamming of the news with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night earned him a lot of headlines, internet video plays -- and criticism from conservative commentators.

Voices from Fox News hosts to Rush Limbaugh said that the president did not belong on comedy shows (Limbaugh criticized the comedy's substance, too, saying that it would require controlled substances to find funny), with commentators saying that Obama's appearance "lowered the stature of his office" and that "you can't swing a cat without finding President Obama on a comedy show."

In response, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell put together a montage of past presidents appearing on late night comedy shows.

The clips included Ronald Reaganspeaking at a Dean Martin Roast, George W. Bush (then a candidate in 2000) on the Late Show with David Letterman, and Richard Nixon (as a candidate in 1968) on Laugh-In.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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'American Idol' Season 4 Runner-Up Bo Bice Has a Baby Girl

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Former AmericanIdol finalist Bo Bice, 36, and his wife of seven years, Caroline Bice, are the proud parents of a healthy baby girl, Merrin Elizabeth Joy Bice, who was born on April 23.

The Idol alum met his wife in 2005 and they were married shortly after Bice placed second on season four to future country star Carrie Underwood. Bice and Caroline also have three sons, Merrin's big brothers: Adain, 7; Caleb, 3; and Ean, 2.

VIDEO: 'American Idol's' Colton Dixon: Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' 'Turned Off My Audience'

With three albums under his belt, the Alabama natives debut offering, The Real Thing, was certified gold with more than half a million copies sold since its release in December of 2005.

The rock and country musician will try his hand at something new on his next album, Christian music. He plans to release the new EP on his own record label.

STORY: 'American Idol's' Kris Allen Visits L.A. Area Middle School to Promote Music Education

"I'm really trying to bring that Black Crowes/Lenny Kravitz feel to Contemporary Christian, and I'm not trying to thump people with the Bible," Bice told Billboard. "I'm just trying to spread the word about what has helped me through life."

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'American Idol' Celebrates Queen, A Sick Ryan Seacrest Rallies: What You Didn't See on TV

Michael Becker / FOX

Wednesday nights American Idol brought the drama alright, but much of it came before the show even started. Thats when rumors began flying (thanks to the insatiable TMZ) that host Ryan Seacrest was MIA with only minutes left to shows start. In truth, he did miss dress rehearsal, and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe had to step in for the contestant banter.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Honors Ryan Seacrest at LA's Promise Gala

Stage manager Debbie Williams told the half-filled audience that Ryan was feeling under the weather, but as sure as the sun rises every day, so does Seacrest when its a show day. Still, he did look a little green at the start of performance night and he was walking with less of a skip in his Seacrest step. THR kept an eye on the situation, and everything else you didnt see on TV. Read on

1. Ryan Seacrests first order of business upon hitting the Idol stage: a bottle of water, delivered promptly by stylist Miles Siggins. For the first half of the show, Ryan did look a little peaked and moved a little slower, with stage manager Debbie taking him by the hand from mark to mark. Lots of hugs, even an ice pack made its way over to the host during the shows early minutes. But as Queen (and Skylar Laine) declared in song: the show must go on. And so it did.

2. In fact, it didnt take long for Ryans energy to return by the end of the opening number, he along with judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler were singing along to We Are the Champions with enthusiasm and hands in the air. As if theres any other way.

3. Randy grabbed warm-up guy Jays microphone during the first break to introduce rock royalty in the house Little Steven of the E Street Band! In town for Bruce Springsteens run of shows at Staples Center, he was sitting in what can only be described as the power rows to Stevens right alongside Jimmy Iovine and Ryans girlfriend Julianne Hough.

4. As Ryan prepared to introduce Skylars performance, he had to take a moment to clear his throat. Ryan later tweeted, Feeling better now. Thanks throat coat.

5. During the three-minute break before Joshua Ledets performance of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, the soul man practiced the chorus to get it just right. As the video segment showed, he really does sing all the time no wonder hes that good.

6. The power seats were totally feeling Joshua, as a row of bobbing heads peeked out among the crowd.

7. Everyday Im shuffling. The line from LMFAOs party rock is an apt description for Phillip Phillips in the seconds preceding his take on Fat Bottom Girls. Shuffling his feet and pacing in place, you could say he was -- gasp! -- nervous.

8. Randy got big boos for his less-than-enthusiastic assessment of Phillips performance. Even Ryan got in on the action, flailing his hands in a classic gesture of Gettouttahere!

9. Hollie Cavanagh needed a little cleanup before taking on the power ballad Save Me in the form of hand sanitizer.

10. Ryan and Phillip werent the only ones feeling sick on Queen night. During Hollies performance, a show medic had to tend to an audience member who was looking like she might faint. No wonder, with the unusual humidity (for LA), the studio felt more like a boiler room. Even Steven had to fan himself constantly.

11. Indeed, even as Jessica Sanchez went for her second turn onstage, Ryan still had to take a deep breaths before delivering his introduction perfectly, mind you.

12. The video segments where contestants poked fun at each other got hearty laughs from the audience and the finalists. Skylar, especially, big bones comments and all.

13. Joshua has had 12 standing ovations, by Skylars count, and Wednesday made 13 only this one was extra long.

14. Curiously, Randy looked like he was totally feeling Elise Testone during her rendition of Jimi Hendrixs Bold As Love, but his comments didnt show that same enthusiasm. It seemed the audience was confused as well only half stood up for the rocker (yours truly was among them).

15. In a rare moment of verbal PDA, Ryan gave a shout-out to his girlfriend Julianne Hough who, like countless others, seems to have a bit of a crush on Phillip Phillips. The dancer laughed it off from her studio seat then went up to the judges table for a quick hello.

16. Hollie Cavanagh seemed so jazzed after her second performance of Miley Cyrus The Climb, that she was literally jumping in place. For this British import by way of Texas, its all in Americas hands now

17. Katy Perry pretaped her Thursday night performance of "Part of Me" with full military regalia. Perhaps taking her battalion shtick a bit too far, the 500-plus audience members let out a collective gasp when one of her dancers, who was rappelling from up above, hit her head on the descent. Ouch.

Dress rehearsal bonus: We have to hand it to Nigel Lythgoe who expertly played understudy to Ryan Seacrest during the afternoon dress rehearsal. The saucy Brit had several noteworthy moments, like when he took a jab at a certain NBC singing show, explaining to the audience that Idol was looking for the complete package not just the voice. Later, he complimented Jessica Sanchez by observing her sincerity on the stage. Said Nigel: If you can fake that, youve got it made, darling. Aint that the truth, Idol Worshipers.

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