All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- Simon Cowell thinks Lee DeWyze will emerge as the American Idol season nine winner. I don’t think he should (especially after last night’s final performances, which Crystal Bowersox handily dominated), but I agree that he probably will. Meanwhile, for me, the biggest event on tonight’s Idol season finale isn’t the revelation of the winner, but the fact that it’s Simon’s final night on the show. Shark jumped.

- PS: Check out this cool new (and free) American Idol PC game, which lets you record your own vocals on hit songs and then make a video of it, starring an avatar version of you. Warning: It’s fun and addictive.

- I’m not ashamed to ‘fess up: The 24 series finale made me weepy. Just can’t believe Jack Bauer is not going to be on my TV on Monday nights anymore. Sigh. And, I know, there’s iTunes and Amazon.com downloads, but Fox isn’t releasing the final season on DVD until December 7. Odd to wait that long …

- If you missed the Jesse James interview on Nightline last night, US Weekly has a recap, including details about what he says was a very abusive childhood at the hands of his father.

- Lost fans are still looking everywhere for answers the many questions the series finale left hanging, but those images of the Oceanic 815 wreckage that popped up at the end of the finale? Nothing significant about them, ABC confirms. They’re just photos.

- Follow up: That video clip you’ll see in the link above, a video filled with almost 100 unanswered Lost questions, prompted Movieline to try to answer some lingering Lost mysteries.

- This is one of the wackier concerns for next fall’s new TV season: CBS has decided to call the new Twitter-inspired William Shatner sitcom $#*! My Dad Says instead of $#!+ My Dad Says, because the network thinks the second one looks too much like the actual word the symbols are replacing. Wouldn’t that be a good thing, though? Anyhoo, the symbols, when spoken about, will translate to the word “Bleep.” This promises to be the most ridiculous pop culture name since Prince wanted to be known as that funky symbol.

- Good news: Psych’s fifth season premiere has been moved up ever so slightly, from July 21 to July 14.

- Congrats to Tina Fey, the very deserving winner of this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. By the way, I came across a really cool Tina Fey fan Website today: TinaFeyFan.com. Definitely worth checking out for all things Tina.

- It’s not a surprise, but still pretty cool: Turns out the ratings for the Betty White-hosted Saturday Night Live episode were even higher when DVR numbers were added in. Yes, Everybody Loves Betty.

- Another TV classic enjoying a ratings boost: Sesame Street.

- One of my newest reality TV show crushes is Food Network’s Chopped, where chefs are given mystery baskets of ingredients and challenged to make appetizers, entrees and desserts from them. It’s a fast-paced, tension-filled competition, and it’s truly amazing what some of the talented culinary whizzes come up with … making a dessert out of gummi bears, a main entree out of cola and a string cheese app? Really fun stuff. And if you have aspirations of being on the show, or know someone who could cook up something special, Chopped producers are looking for new contestants. Check out the series’ casting Website for more deets.

- Leave it to Family Guy to create a clever Emmy pitch that will, no doubt, be offensive to some of the more uptight Hollywood-ites: It’s Peter Griffin’s take on Precious.

- Perez Hilton has his own record label, so why shouldn’t Ellen DeGeneres. I guess. Anyhoo, she does/will, and her first signee to the label will be Greyson Chance, that kid whose Lady Gaga Paparazzi cover you’ve no doubt seen on YouTube.

- Speaking of Gaga, this promises to be one of the funniest/most awkward/just plain weird interviews ever: Loopy coot Larry King says, via Twitter, that he’ll be hosting the pop star on his CNN talk show next week.

- And here’s a fun TV tie-in: To celebrate its 20th anniversary, E! has teamed up with Cold Stone Creamery to create E! Entertain-mint, mint ice cream with brownies and fudge.

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• Filed in 24, American Idol, Fall 2010-11 TV season, TV News
• Tags: 24 DVD, American Idol finale, Lost series finale

24Spoilers.com has a link to video interviews from the 24 series finale wrap party, in which Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Annie Wersching and Leslie Hope dish about their Jack Bauer universe characters. It’s a fun clip, though also a sad reminder that the May 24 series ender is coming up way too quickly. Sigh.

Meanwhile, check out 24Spoilers.com for some other great videos (including a preview of Monday night’s episode that finds Jack at his Jack best in a scene with Jack-wannabe Cole) and some great photos from the aforementioned wrap party in Los Angeles.

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• Filed in 24
• Tags: 24, 24 series finale, Kiefer Sutherland

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- Last night’s 24? Crushing. And, producer Howard Gordon confirms it’s a heartbreak that Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) simply won’t bounce back from, especially since there are only seven hours left before the series finale on May 24. Wow, just typing that last part makes me really sad.

- Glee returns tonight (9:28PM, Fox), and in honor of the string of new episodes – including next week’s Madonna-themed installment – Billboard.com has compiled a list of the 10 best musical performances (with videos!) from the show so far.

- HBO’s latest Sunday night drama, Treme, has gotten such a great response from fans and critics that the network has renewed it for a second season after just one airing.

- William Shatner, who I still think is not a good choice to star in CBS’ Twitter-inspired sitcom Shit My Dad Says, is hosting a new reality show for the Discovery Channel. Weird or What will boldly go behind the scenes of strange, unsolved mysteries.

- I thought this was a late April Fool’s gag, but apparently, there really is a Magic Wand that will replace your universal TV remote control.

- Thanks, The Situation. Now there’s going to be a Boston version of Jersey Shore, called Wicked Summer. I’m imagining it as sort of a reality version of those great Sully and Denise (”Zassou!”) skits Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch used to do on Saturday Night Live.

- This also is not a joke: Law & Order: Los Angeles. It’s happening.

- Sounds awesome: Ricky/Rick Schroder is producing and starring in LAPD Hollywood, an A&E pilot in which he’ll be the oldest rookie in the LAPD.

- And another one’s gone from American Idol: Bandleader Ricky Minor is leaving AI to become the new bandleader on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show.

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• Filed in 24, American Idol, TV News
• Tags: 24 Jack Bauer Renee, Boston Jersey Shore, Glee Madonna, Rick Schroder, Treme renewed, wand TV remote control

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- It’ll be a Precious episode of Saturday Night Live, as Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe is set to host an upcoming show (no date has been set yet).

- I thought this was an April Fool’s story, but it’s not: WE is debuting a reality series called Sunset Daze, a sort of geriatric version of Jersey Shore, featuring one mature lady who likes to talk about “Bob,” which is her name for her um, personal pleasure accoutrement. OK, sex toy. Read if you dare.

- Two more shows on the WE horizon for later this year: Mother Knows Best? (the question mark is part of the title, not any sort of commentary), a reality series in which Joan Rivers moves to Los Angeles and into the home of her daughter Melissa; Wayne’s World, a reality show that will revolve around Vegas legend Wayne Newton and his life on and off the stage; and Staten Island Cakes, about a 19-year-old named Vinny, who runs an Italian bakery with his family (and yes, this is obviously WE’s answer to Cake Boss).

- Next week’s Masters might be the highest-rated golf event ever, not just because of the 3D broadcast, but also, of course, because it marks TigerWoods‘ first event since The Scandal.

- Band of Brothers and Desperate Housewives star Neal McDonough has reportedly lost his role in an ABC series because he refuses to do sex scenes, in deference to his family man status and religious beliefs. If it’s true, you have to admire the commitment, especially with the Tiger, Jesse James, etc. scandals …

- Glee, Modern Family and the perpetually underrated Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson are among this year’s winners of the prestigious Peabody Awards.

- Speaking of Glee, if you’re between the ages of 16 and 26 and have dreams of being on the show, they’re looking for fresh talent.

- Oh, and the Glee gang is on the cover of the new Rolling Stone.

- Oscar nominee Julianne Moore makes her special As the World Turns guest appearance on Monday, April 5. Moore will reprise her early-career role of Frannie Hughes, as she helps celebrate Bob and Kim’s big anniversary and vows renewal. Especially with the classic soap in its last months before the series finale in September, big points to Moore for remembering her soap roots and agreeing to the guest spot.

- RIP journalist, TV writer and, apparently, George Clinton expert, David Mills, who died on the set of his upcoming HBO series Treme earlier this week. EW.com writer Ken Tucker (one the best TV writers/critics ever, IMHO) wrote a sweet tribute to Mills, putting a personal and more informative touch on the rote obit.

- Last year’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia live performance of “The Nightman Cometh,” the upcoming Conan O’Brien comedy tour, the upcoming Glee concerts … I love this trend of our favorite shows hitting the road. The latest: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live!

- Matt Damon on 30 Rock …. it’s happening.

- 24 producer Howard Gordon says fans should be patient with the Dana Walsh character, who most fans have been hating on this season. I’d argue, though, that it’s not just that the character is annoying. So is Katee Sackhoff’s wooden acting in portraying her.

- Law & Order is in danger of not making it to a record-setting 21st season. Will fans start a “save our show” campaign?

- And no, you were not the only one ticked off about that annoying V countdown clock ABC ran during this week’s Lost episode.

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• Filed in 24, 30 Rock, Daytime TV, Glee, TV News
• Tags: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live, Gabourey Sidibe Saturday Night Live, Glee auditions, Glee Rolling Stone, Julianne Moore As the World Turns, Matt Damon 30 Rock, Neal McDonough sex scenes, Sunset Daze

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- Maybe something good will come out of the cheesy Marriage Ref after all: After appearing as judges together on an episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s NBC reality show, Larry David wants Ricky Gervais to guest star on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

- Can’t wait ’til April 11 to see the final season premiere of The Tudors? Showtime has posted an edited version of the episode at YouTube.com.

- ABC’s asking for Oscar-type money for ads during the May 23 Lost series finale: $900,000 for a 30-second spot.

- Thanks to a new app from Idol Fanatic, you can vote for your favorite American Idol contender via Facebook. No confirmation yet that Fox and the show’s producers will give their official stamp of approval to the process, though.

- According to the New York Post, Bachelor Jake Pavelka is trying to cook up an acting career.

- Sounds like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.com: Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher is partnering with Disney for a “chick’s guide to life” Website called – yes – GetHatched.com.

- Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, whose career breakout was the sketch comedy series In Living Color, is producing a new sketch comedy series pilot for Fox.

- Watch David Letterman try to explain to British chef Jamie Oliver why his food makeover series Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution isn’t going to be successful in changing Americans’ eating habits. It’s a funny exchange, and Letterman makes some good points, but you still have to admire Oliver’s efforts on his new ABC series.

- Hallmark and Martha Stewart are in talks to launch a new lifestyle cable channel.

- The “spring premiere” of new Glee episodes is set for April 13 on Fox, but at a wacky time: 9:28 PM ET.

- The NBC Website doesn’t reflect the change yet, but the network has rescheduled the season premiere of Friday Night Lights – the season that already aired on DirecTV – for May 7.

- Weekend at Bernie’s star Jonathan Silverman and former Smallville star Michael Rosenbaum are starring in Saved by Zeroes, a SyFy comedy pilot that sounds fun: The two will play friends and actors who starred together in a cult-fave sci-fi TV show, but who have since seen their popularity wane. Rosenbaum also created the series.

- Funny guy Martin Short (a.k.a. Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimley), most recently seen on Damages, will star in the Fox comedy pilot Tax Man, where he’ll play the boss of an IRS office in Fresno. Numb3rs‘ David Krumholtz co-stars.

- And though it’s still a huge bummer that 24 won’t make it to a ninth season, the final episodes will include two great guest stars: Michael Madsen and Eriq La Salle.

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• Filed in 24, American Idol, Glee, Lost, TV News
• Tags: American Idol Facebook voting, Friday Night Lights season premiere, Glee spring premiere, Lost series finale, Ricky Gervais Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Tudors season premiere