The Happy Endings secret to a great Christmas: Not celebrating Christmas.
News
Lifetime's 15-car pileup of beefcake, The Client List just recruited Trevor Donovan's hot bod to Jennifer Love Hewitt's massage parlor of ill repute, Zap2It reports. Donovan will play a pro football player with a "wacky fetish." I'm hoping that it turns out he needs to have access to his favorite gay pop culture blog to... er, enjoy himself.
I'm pretty sure this is a first — there are Game of Thrones-branded craft beers coming. (Has there been another TV show with a craft beer tie-in?) The first release will be an "Iron Throne Blonde Ale" which will be available for the series' March 31 season premiere. My inner beer snob keeps screaming that it will still be too cool to be drinking blonde ales on March 31.
Is Rosie O'Donnell taking Sharon Osbourne's seat on the judges' table at America's Got Talent? The Huffington Post says that O'Donnell is Howard Stern's pick and that she'd be interested in the job. Osbourne mixed crude and blunt with an occasional nurturing side, O'Donnell could match that dynamic in her own unique style.
Ming-Na has booked a role on an ABC show before she films the S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot, she's going to appear on Nashvilleas a Los Angeles record exec.
Hitfix has conducted a survey asking TV critics their top ten shows of the year and compiling the results. In total, the critics named Breaking Bad their favorite show of 2012 with Homeland coming in second.
AC Nielsen announced that it's working with Twitter to develop a TV ratings system that tracks the social media chatter a TV show gets. The goal is to create a standard measurement that makes it easier to create apples to apples comparisons, though it's probably still the case that popularity on social media can't save a show with few viewers.
There still may be a chance for One Life to Live and All My Children, according to Deadline. The two soaps hoped for a second life online thanks to Prospect Park, but that plan fell apart due to the expenses of producing an hour long soap opera. However, another attempt may be coming together
Thursday's Daily Show may have started with a strong segment on gay civil rights, but for Wyatt Cenac's final segment as a correspondent he profiled Super Xclusivo, a Puerto Rican show that's has been criticized for homophobic comments and faces a boycotts. Cenac's segment didn't address the accusations of homophobia and racism, but focused on how the show is co-hosted by a puppet.
Variety reports that USA is developing a series updating the legend of Zorro titled Z. This version would follow an orphaned teen in modern-day Los Angeles.
After a long delay, China Beach is finally getting a DVD release. Even better, the music will reportedly survive the transfer. (I can't imagine the show without Diana Ross's vocals.)
Josh Gad says he passed on a role in Modern Family. I don't want to imagine Modern Family with any of the cast members replaced by Gad.
Sure, Bette Midler is waiting for Ryan Murphy to get back to her about that Glee guest-role, but TV Guide reminds us the Divine Miss M isn't the only A-lister waiting on their script, naming five other stars who we expected to see as a Glee guest star but haven't yet. All those Les Miz ads have left me wondering when we were going to meet Anne Hathaway as Kurt's aunt.
Look, world, my tear ducts are already dried out. Don't do this.
Bad news Haven fans. You're going to have to wait a little while to see the episode that was scheduled to air last Friday. It was pulled in response to the Newtown incident. The episode won't air until mid-January, and I'm guessing the season finale will similarly be held back.
Listings
Anderson Live (syndicated) Check local listings
The great Judy Gold is joining Anderson for a "Full 60" that will include a discussion on the Newtown tragedy.
The Rachael Ray Show (syndicated) Check local listings
That's right we're getting two days in a row with Nate Berkus as he repurposes old objects into holiday centerpieces. I think I'll skip this one. I really don't need more inspiration to keep me from throwing out junk because there's something really cool I might do with it someday.
The Wendy William Show (syndicated) Check local listings
Okay, I'll admit it. As much as I adore Alan Cumming, I'm starting to wish for a few appearances by his Any Day Now co-star Garret Dillahunt, who becomes even more crushworthy every time I see him in clips from this movie. Still, seeing Cumming chat with Wendy should be pretty amazing.
The Jeff Probst Show (syndicated) Check local listings
The cast of The Shahs of Sunset are set to talk with Jeff today about what its like to be on a reality show while navigating the pressure of representing Persian-Americans.
Happy Endings (ABC) 9:00 PM ET
Apparently being born on Christmas day isn't just a catchy song, it's a reason for Jane to lie about her birthday because she's tired of it being overshadowed by TV specials, songs about snow and, you know, Jesus. Thankfully, when the gang realizes Jane's been lying to them for all these years, they plan a big Christmas-free birthday bash.
Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (ABC) 9:30 PM ET
To take care of everyone's bad mood, Chloe declares it's time for a trip to the Hamptons, which makes me realize how perfect it would have been if ABC had arranged for a Revenge crossover. Chloe could make the Greysons even more miserable.
Chopped (Food Network) 10:00 PM ET
Tonight's episode may be titled "trout bout" but only the appetizer round forces the cheftestants to use trout. That's not much of a trout bout.
Leverage (TNT) 10:00 PM ET
For the season's (and after last week's episode, I don't think I'll be upset if its the series') penultimate episode, the team takes on a toy company CEO who plans on overlooking that some of his toys are dangerous. Looking at the episode's promotional photos, I'm going to use this one as a proxy for my desire to see Hollis have his meeting with karma on Scandal.
Zombie Apocalypse (Discovery) 10:00 PM ET
Is Discover turning into TLC? That might explain this special about people who think there's a zombie apocalypse coming. Is this like when Animal Planet aired that documentary claiming mermaids exist?
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS) 12;35 AM ET
What has Brad Goreski been up to? Find out when he talks with Craig tonight.
What will you be watching tonight? Please share in the comments!
Tomorrow's Preview
Anderson Live (syndicated) Check local listings
San Diego news anchor Barbara-Lee Edwards joins Anderson for another Full 60.
The Talk (CBS) Check local listings
Tomorrow's show has Cyndi Lauper and Valerie Bertinelli.
The Wendy Williams Show (syndicated Check local listings
Wendy's bringing Isaac Mizrahi to talk about Project Runway All Stars.
The Ricki Late Show (syndicated) Check local listings
Ricki's looking at what its like to be a reality TV star and discussing the topic with... er, Perez Hilton.
