Must Read TV

In a Q&A with Warren Sapp, the recently retired NFL player, the St. Petersburg Times stumbles into some reality TV news: Sapp has been asked to appear on Dancing with The Stars 7. In the interview, he said, “I might do that Dancing With the Stars. … it’s something that sort of came out of nowhere. But I enjoy the idea of training for something else. My whole life has been football. I could hang out in L.A. for a few weeks. My daughter would love it. There’s nothing wrong with my smile. I don’t think I speak Ebonics. I…

Just as soon as it disappears, American Idol lumbers its gigantic ass back into our lives, starting auditions for the show’s eighth season next month. The eight cities–one more than the seven cities it visited last year–include San Juan, the show’s first visit to a non-U.S. state location, and its first non-continental U.S. visit since season three. In addition, the auditions will take place slightly earlier. Last year, they occurred between July 30 and August 27; this year, they go from July 17 to August 19. Here’s the audition schedule: San Francisco, The Cow Palace [Thursday, July 17]Louisville, Freedom Hall…

Bunim-Murray Productions, the production company best known for The Real World, may replace Magical Elves, the producers of Project Runway, for the fashion design show’s sixth season. Magical Elves’ Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz quit the show in early May in advance of its move to Lifetime, although they’re currently producing the fifth and final Bravo season. Bunim-Murray, led by Jonathan Murray, “has been in talks with the Weinstein Co. for weeks,” Variety reports. And while their report says the company “is close to signing on as the new producer,” the article later refers to Lifetime and the Weinstein Company…

Bunim-Murray Productions, the production company best known for The Real World, may replace Magical Elves, the producers of Project Runway, for the fashion design show’s sixth season. Magical Elves’ Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz quit the show in early May in advance of its move to Lifetime, although they’re currently producing the fifth and final Bravo season. Bunim-Murray, led by Jonathan Murray, “has been in talks with the Weinstein Co. for weeks,” Variety reports. And while their report says the company “is close to signing on as the new producer,” the article later refers to Lifetime and the Weinstein Company…

As promised, Bravo is adding yet another edition of its Real Housewives franchise, one that will be set in Atlanta. That’s in addition to one that will be set in New Jersey. Seven episodes will “[follow] five glamorous southern belles,” according to Bravo. They are DeShawn Snow, Kim Zolciak, Lisa Wu Hartwell, NeNe Leakes, and Sheree Whitfield. While the new show doesn’t yet have a debut date, “a 30-minute preview special of the series” will air July 30 at midnight, following the repeat of Project Runway’s latest episode. Meanwhile, all of the New York housewives will be back for a…

Notorious stage dad and American Idol 7 villain Jeff Archuleta was neither of those things, according to the show’s winner, David Cook. “I’ve never seen Jeff be anything but a caring, loving father, so for me it’s much ado about nothing,” he told People. When the two finalists appeared on The View last Tuesday, Jeff was in the audience, and had a few seconds to defend himself. In response to a question from Elisabeth “Is now more famous for being The View’s token dolt than for appearing on Survivor” Hasselbeck, Jeff acknowledged being protective. But he said that, on the…

Mark Burnett Productions–the company responsible for Survivor, The Apprentice, The Contender, and My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad, among other shows–may soon be sold to talent agency IMG for $250-$500 million. Nikki Finke first reported that “Burnett is ‘in very serious conversation’ with IMG chairman Teddy Forstmann,” and that the “deal may be as rich as $500 million — $250M upfront, the rest earned out.” The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the story, noting that Burnett “has been looking to sell his company for some time and last year retained Bear Stearns to shepherd the process,” and that “at least half…

American Idol 6 runner-up Blake Lewis has joined the increasing roster of former contestants dropped from their record labels, but he says he’s still working on a second album that he might release himself. His first album, Audio Day Dream, was released seven months ago, which “makes his the shortest of all the relationships forged between former ‘Idol’ contenders and their various record labels,” MTV News reports. “My contract with Arista is up, and they didn’t option me, so I’m with 19 Recordings and we’re working on booking a tour. Arista went through a lot of changes. The person who…

Gossip Gal: Entertainment News

The Biggest Loser: Couples, Exclusive Interview: Curtis and Mallory Bray