All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- He’s contractually obligated to not appear on TV until after May 1, so Conan O’Brien won’t talk about the Tonight Show saga … until May 2, on 60 Minutes, in an interview with Steve Kroft.

- There’s certainly no lack of famous types in need of rehab after public meltdowns, and TMZ.com says that means the producers of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew are going after big names like Heather Locklear, Charlie Sheen and wife Brooke Mueller and the trainwreck that is Lindsay Lohan to join the cast for next season.

- West Wing star Allison Janney will guest star in the May 11 episode of Lost, but the bigger news is that that episode will finally, supposedly, answer all our questions about the Locke-ness monster.

- If you’re a 30 Rock fan and you’re in New York, here’s a great way to spend a few hours: Time Out New York magazine’s 30 Rock Walk.

- Adam Lambert has been the best guest mentor on American Idol this season, and I think he’s the best candidate so far to replace Simon Cowell at the judges’ table next season, but alas, he’s not interested.

- Add another TV name to the upcoming Smurfs big-screen movie: Paul “Pee-wee Herman” Reubens.

- True Blood fans, no need to wait ’till June 13 for new episodes. There’s a new minisode at HBO.com right now.

- James Franco did it, Julianne Moore did it for a day and David Hasselhoff is going to do it; now add Sean Young to the list of big-screen stars who’ve gone to daytime, as Young will be joining the cast of The Young and the Restless in June.

- Buzz is that Desperate Housewives may be renewed for two more seasons on ABC, after which it would ride off into that big TV graveyard in the sky. Anyone else think it’s sort of played out already? How many big mysteries can one little neighborhood have? Really, Marc Cherry.

- Glee fans are lovin’ the show’s music, and Billboard mag points out that there have been plenty of other TV series that have used music as part of their success stories.

- Is America’s Got Talent judge and Celebrity Apprentice alum Piers Morgan the next Babs Walters?

- Former NBC and now TNT cop drama Southland will live on for a third season.

- He’ll be a part of the Parks and Recreation cast next season, and Brothers and Sisters star Rob Lowe is making a guest stop in Californication first. Lowe will play an actor who’s a leading candidate to play Hank Moody (David Duchovny) in the movie version of Hank’s book.

- If all the foodie programming on Food Network and TLC still aren’t satiating your appetite, get ready for the Cooking Channel, which launches on May 31.

- And fantastic news: Mrs. Dexter, a.k.a. Jennifer Carpenter, says her hubby, her Dexter co-star Michael C. Hall, is fully recovered from his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

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• Filed in 30 Rock, Boob Tube to Big Screen, Daytime TV, Glee, Lost, TV News
• Tags: Adam Lambert American Idol judge, Conan O'Brien 60 Minutes, Lost Allison Janney, Michael C. Hall recovered, Paul Reubens Smurfs movie, Sean Young Young and the Restless, Southland season 3, The Cooking Channel, True Blood minisodes

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- Crystal Bowersox on last night’s American Idol? Wow.

- Not only is Betty White hosting Saturday Night Live on May 8, but her musical guest will be Jay-Z. Be prepared to fall in love with Betty White, hip hop fans.

- The Daily Beast interviews Al Pacino about his HBO movie You Don’t Know Jack, which premieres Saturday night (8PM ET). Pacino plays “suicide doc” Jack Kevorkian, and it truly is his best performance in years and another great made-for-TV flick from HBO.

- If you’re planning on throwing a Lost finale party on May 23, make sure you have plenty of snacks and libations on hand: ABC is planning five hours of Lost-themed programming that night, including a two-hour recap special, the two-hour finale and Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost, an hour-long special that will feature Lost showrunners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lidelof, as well as several cast members.

- Kelsey Grammer is among the backers of a new right-wing TV network, which will feature shows like a conservative comedy series and Running, a reality show that will follow six people running for political office for the first time.

- Glee fans, cancel all plans for May 18. That’s when the Joss Whedon-directed episode of the show airs. The episode also includes Neil Patrick Harris guest starring as Will Shuester’s high school rival, as well as guest turns by Molly Shannon and Idina Menzel.

- Don’t hassle The Hoff: David Hasselhoff’s doing a good thing by making a return appearance on The Young and the Restless, the CBS daytime soap that gave him his big break.

- Tori Spelling, the next big talk show host? Could be.

- Meanwhile, CBS is reportedly planning a talk show to rival The View, with Big Brother host (and wife of CBS honcho Les Moonves) Julie Chen, Roseanne and The Big Bang Theory star Sara Gilbert, Lisa Rinna and Real Housewives of New York City’s Bethenny Frankel as panelists/hosts.

- Add I Dream of Jeannie to the list of TV shows being developed as big-screen movies.

- More series renewals: Burn Notice has been renewed for a fifth and sixth season, even though the USA show’s fourth season doesn’t premiere until this summer; NBC has ordered a second season of Parenthood; and Fox has given the thumbs up to a 23rd season of Cops, the network’s second longest-running series.

- TV show premiere dates: Rescue Me’s sixth and final season debuts on FX on June 29, while Mad Men’s fourth season will debut on AMC on July 25.

- VH1 has a whopping 44 original series on tap for the rest of this year, including a new installment of Divas, more reality programming with Dr. Drew (how does this guy have time to live his own life when he’s so all up in the Kool-Aid of others’?), documentaries on 50 Cent and Rush, more installments of Behind the Music, and a reality show about Eva Longoria-Parker’s L.A. restaurant Beso.

- According to a Lady Gaga Tweet, she’ll be performing on American Idol on May 5.

- And NBC reportedly wanted the Website AshleyMadison.com – the Website that encourages infidelity – to advertise during Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref. It might sound outrageous initially, but this is a show where the likes of Madonna is giving marital advice, so … maybe kinda fitting.

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• Filed in American Idol, Betty White, Boob Tube to Big Screen, Daytime TV, Glee, Lost, Real Housewives, Saturday Night Live, TV News
• Tags: Betty White Jay-Z Saturday Night Live, Crystal Bowersox, Lost series finale, Mad Men season 4, Tori Spelling talk show

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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• 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 …

- Drama series haven’t fared well for him, but maybe Christian Slater will have better luck with his big-screen-to-TV ambitions as the star of Fox’s untitled fall comedy pilot about a team of security-cracking twentysomethings.

- Fox invited Conan O’Brien to take part in the Idol Gives Back charity special that airs April 21 on Fox, but NBC refused to give O’Brien a pass to make the non-NBC appearance. Lame. Still, the invitation suggests Fox is trying to build a relationship with the star of its potential new late-night franchise.

- BTW, for a shot at winning tix to one of O’Brien’s sold out comedy tour shows, hit Twitter.

- Great idea: Comedian and Parks and Recreation co-star Aziz Ansari will host the MTV Movie Awards on June 6.

- No need to wait for the next Curb Your Enthusiasm DVD release to get bonus features: Larry David is producing a series of featurettes that will include guest stars and pundits dissecting the moral implications of each episode of Curb when the show begins airing on the TV Guide Network this summer (June 2, to be exact).

- EW.com has details on a casting notice that makes it seem like this will be the final season of 24.

- Yay: Days of Our Lives has been renewed through the 2010-11 season. But the bad news: rumor has it that long-time DOOL star, and half of the Bo and Hope supercouple, Peter Reckell, has been let go from the soap.

- Starz, led by former HBO honcho Chris Albrecht, is forging ahead with plans to become a real destination for original programming with the development of a new drama that will put a modern spin on the story of Camelot (the Arthurian legend, not the JFK one).

- If your NCAA hoops bracket isn’t going so well, check out The Late Show’s Stupid Pet Tricks bracket/competition (and enter for a chance to win a trip to New York City and see David Letterman’s show live).

- Rosie O’Donnell is planning to launch a new daytime TV talk show in 2011, just as Oprah’s daily show ends. Rosie’s gotten wackier and wackier since her days on The View, and her old daily talk show, so it’ll be interesting to see if she can still draw a big audience to TV every day.

- Glee, on Broadway? Makes perfect sense to me.

- Betty White is coming back to primetime full-time, and, more good news, about another classic TV star: Tom Selleck is in final negotiations to lead CBS’ fall cop drama pilot, in which he would star as the chief of the NYPD, and Donnie Wahlberg would play his son, an NYPD detective. Awesome.

- And My Name Is Earl dad Beau Bridges will be Jim Rockford’s (Dermot Mulroney) dad on CBS’ Rockford Files remake.

- Among the stars of Bravo’s upcoming The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spin-off: Kelsey Grammer’s wife Camille and two of Paris Hilton’s aunts, including Escape to Witch Mountain star (and guest star of a memorable Little House on the Prairie episode) Kim Richards.

- The last time Oprah went on trial, the end result was that Dr. Phil was unleashed on the world. Let’s hope things turn out better this time.

- Among the new shows SyFy announced at the network’s upfront presentation last week: a cooking show, a magic show and a reality series about special effects make-up artists.

- What every Jersey Shore fan needs on his or her desk: A talking bobblehead version of Snooki, The Situation or DJ Pauly D.

- Paula Abdul has officially turned down the offer to host an ABC revamp of Star Search, making it seem even more likely that she’s holding out for a spot on Simon Cowell’s U.S. version of X Factory.

- And, at last, someone else who feels the way I do about The Middle. I like Modern Family a lot, but I love The Middle.

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• Filed in 24, Daytime TV, Real Housewives, TV News, TV Toys
• Tags: Aziz Ansari MTV Movie Awards, Christian Slater Fox comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Days of Our Lives renewed, Jersey Shore bobblehead, Peter Reckell, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Tom Selleck

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

- Howard Stern as Simon Cowell’s replacement on American Idol? It’s such an out-of-left field idea, but potentially interesting enough that I’d definitely watch. You?

- More Idol buzz: Fox released a snippet of footage of Ellen DeGeneres in action as the newest judge. Her official AI debut is Feb. 9 (8PM ET).

- It’s about time: The always awesome Gary Cole is getting his own series again. He’ll play a Philly homicide detective who partners with his rookie nephew in the TBS comedy Uncle Nigel.

- Who will fill James Arness‘ boots in the big-screen movie version of Gunsmoke? Brad Pitt and Ryan Reynolds are reportedly the top contenders.

- HBO is developing a comedy about a female Hollywood blogger.

- Start planning your send-off party now: The Lost series finale will air on May 23.

- Wish as we might, the Simpson family (not Homer and company) isn’t going away anytime soon: Papa Joe Simpson is developing an autobiographical comedy for Nickelodeon, while Jessica Simpson’s VH1 reality series The Price of Beauty debuts on March 15.

- Charlie Sheen’s legal woes continue, as TMZ reports that he’ll be charged with felony menacing re: that Christmas Day incident with his wife.

- The cast of Jersey Shore will guest on The View on Feb. 23.

- R.I.P. Days of Our Lives star Frances Reid, a.k.a. Grandma Alice Horton, who died on Wednesday at age 95. Reid’s last appearance on DOOL was in 2007, but her character will always be remembered for keeping her family together (she was always a key supporter of supercouple Bo and Hope) and for her homemade doughnuts.

- Rumor has it that Tiger Woods may return to golf later this month, in an Arizona tournament that will be broadcast by NBC. Who would have imagined the PGA tour turning into an US Weekly hotspot?

- It’s a bummer that Bryan Batt won’t be back on Mad Men as Sal next season, but the actor/interior designer is keeping busy: He just designed “The Hef,” a loveseat to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Playboy Clubs.

- Though its fourth season has some iffy storylines unfolding – really, you didn’t think anyone would find out about that whole polygamy thing until after the election, polygamist/state Senate candidate Bill?!? – Big Love has gotten a thumbs up for a fifth season at HBO.

- The next cast of Dancing With the Stars will be revealed during the March 1 season finale of The Bachelor, but rumor has it that Pam Anderson will be one of the D-list top tappers when the new season of DWTS premieres on March 22.

- And Jonas brother Joe is going to be a flashback guest on Brothers & Sisters, playing the younger version of Balthazar Getty’s Tommy Walker.

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• Filed in American Idol, Boob Tube to Big Screen, Daytime TV, Lost, TV News