All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

– American Idol producers say there was no funny business with those AT&T text-messaging services that gave Kris Allen fans the chance to throw extra votes his way. You buying it? Well, then, read this story, in which one fan says the AT&T set-up helped her cast more than 10,000 votes for Allen. Whuuut?!

– John Lithgow as a serial killer on the new season of Dexter? Brilliant.

– Another surprising bit of casting: Freddie Prinze Jr. will play Davis Cole, the new CTU Field Ops head who wants to be just like Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) on season eight of 24. Not a name that would have popped into my head to play mini-Jack, but 24‘s castings have always been flawless, so I’ll trust that this one will be no exception.

– Clearly, I’m not the only one who finds Wipeout charming. And you have to love any show that puts John “Skunk Boy” Henson back on the tube every week.

– With the Gosselins‘ problems still major tabloid fodder, USA Today has a rundown of some other famous reality TV families, and the one thing that’s true about all of them: Being on TV only seemed to make their problems worse.

– Cindy Brady’s (Susan Olsen) writing a book about the bizarre bit of TV history that was The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.

– Now that the networks’ fall skeds are set, they’ve begun recasting some of their pilots. Sorry to see 24‘s Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth) out of a job.

– More 24 news: Jack Bauer and Captain Kirk will be presenting an award at Sunday’s live MTV Movie Awards.

– And, this Real Housewives business may quickly spiral out of control. Reportedly also on the list of upcoming spin-offs: Real Housewives of Chicago. Not that there’s anything wrong with that … just that there’s not gonna be much non-Housewives room left on the Bravo schedule soon if they roll out all these rumored spin-offs.

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• Filed in 24, American Idol, Celebreality, Comedy, Drama, TV News
• Tags: 24, American Idol voting scandal, American Idol. Kris Allen, AT&T, Brady Bunch, Bravo, Captain Kirk, Cindy Brady, Dexter, Freddie Prinze Jr., Gosselin, Jack Bauer, John Henson, John Lithgow, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Jon Gosselin, kate Gosselin, Kiefer Sutherland, pilots, Real Housewives, Real Housewives of Chicago, Reality TV families, recasting, Reiko Aylesworth, Susan Olsen, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, voting, Wipeout

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

– “Jon Gosselin, American Hero”? Bleccch. If there was any lesson to be learned from last night’s Jon & Kate Plus 8 season premiere, it’s that both Gosselins are big ol’ messes and that neither of them is truly better off with the money, fame (infamy?) or freebies their reality show has brought them. But, for all the nasty behavior we see on-screen from the brittle Kate, let’s be honest: Mr. Gosselin doesn’t appear to be much of a prize, either. So, “American hero”?! Again, bleccch. That word is tossed around all too lightly, particularly given that we just celebrated Memorial Day.

– Remember when Friday night used to be one of the best TV-watching nights of the week, back when J.R. was getting shot by Kris-ten (as Sue Ellen called her sister) on Dallas and Don Johnson was rocking his white suits, pastel tees and mandals on Miami Vice? USA Today points out that, with 10 scripted series on the Friday night schedule next fall, it may no longer be one of the most skippable viewing nights.

– Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter is sizing up next fall’s biggest timeslot battles, including the Friday night, 9PM race, which pits Southland vs. Medium vs. Dollhouse vs. Ugly Betty, or, as THR writer James Hibberd calls it, “The Island of Broken Toys.” Funny. Though I’d argue that Southland shouldn’t be lumped in with the other, has-been, series.

– The New York Times says, if their TV show ratings are a reliable indicator, the Jonas Brothers may be headed the way of ‘N Sync, 98 Degrees and LFO.

– Twitter may become a TV show, though the specifics of how are still sketchy.

– We’ve got the Real Housewives of the O.C., Atlanta, New York City and New Jersey, and while there are already rumors of a Beverly Hills version in the works, Bravo is also reportedly looking to find the Real Housewives of D.C., too.

– And Clay Aiken‘s recent anti-Adam Lambert statements, followed by his sarcastic follow-up/pseudo-backtracking make one thing clear: He’s kinda a big tool.

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• Filed in American Idol, Comedy, Drama, Reality, TV News
• Tags: 'N Sync, 98 Degrees, Adam Lambert, American Idol, Clay Aiken, D.C., Dallas, Dollhouse, Fall schedule, Fall TV schedule, Friday night, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Jon Gosselin, Jonas, Jonas Bros., Jonas Brothers, kate Gosselin, LFO, Medium, Miami Vice, Real Housewives, Real Housewives of Washington, Reality, Southland, The Gosselins, timeslot battle, Twitter, Twitter TV, Ugly Betty

All the tube news that’s fit to surf …

– Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Tonys. Might have to actually watch them this year.

– I still think giving Jay Leno a nightly 10PM timeslot is one of the worst decisions in the history of TV, but it is nice that he’s hosting new Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien on his own final Tonight Show episode.

– Janeane Garofalo won’t return to 24 next season. Oh no. That’s … so sad?

– In addition to Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter‘s July series Michael & Michael Have Issues, Comedy Central’s line-up of upcoming series includes animated shows with Jamie Foxx and Judah Friedlander, a sketch comedy series with Andy Dick and a comedy that will be penned by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, the first time the duo has co-written a script since Friday.

– Let the spoilers begin to trickle out: Even though the Nip/Tuck series finale won’t air until sometime in 2010, it will be filmed next month in Los Angeles.

– The Daytime Emmy nominations were announced, and Cash Cab, one of the coolest shows on the tube, and host Ben Bailey received nods.

– Marie Osmond will definitely be back on the tube next fall, hosting her own talk show. Hopefully not wearing that creepy babydoll costume she sported on Dancing With the Stars.

– Laguna Beach star Kristin Cavallari has apparently given up on a real acting career: she’s headed to The Hills to replace Lauren Conrad, her former love rival on Laguna.

– And Kate Gosselin‘s brother has joined the crowd of people calling the Jon & Kate Plus 8 couple a sham. With family like this, who needs tabloid reporters?

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• Filed in TV News
• Tags: 24, Andy Dick, Ben Bailey, Cash Cab, Comedy Central, Conan O'Brien, Dancing With the Stars, Daytime Emmy, Ice Cube, Jamie Foxx, Janeane Garofalo, Jay Leno, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Judah Friedlander, kate Gosselin, Kristin Cavallari, Laguna Beach, Lauren Conrad, Marie Osmond, Michael & Michael Have Issues, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Neil Patrick Harris, Nip/Tuck, NPH, talk show, The Hills, Tonight Show, Tonys