Ne-Yo

When we last discussed Ms. Chelsea Handler, we mentioned that she was newly single -- and that she might be interested in dating hip-hop or R&B performers. Well, R&B singer Ne-Yo appeared on the new 'Chelsea Lately' (weeknights, 11PM ET on E!), but ... bad luck -- he was on the talk show to discuss the fact that he's having a baby. Oh well.

While she was talking to Ne-Yo, Chelsea did some passive-aggressive flirting, sort of. "You're not ... my favorite kind of body type. I usually like my R&B artists ... big, bulky, just all jacked up. OHHH!" she said. The "OHHH!" was for the moment when Chelsea grew a bit too animated in her discussion with Ne-Yo, and knocked over a bunch of stuff that was on the table next to her. So maybe Chelsea was a little flustered -- or a little enraptured with her guest.

How do you pump up the viewership for a music award show on a network that used to be all about music but lately has been all about reality TV and nasty scandals? Well, apparently MTV has decided to go retro and keep it funny. To promote the upcoming 2009 Video Awards, MTV has created a West Side Story parody, not too different from the brilliant solo turn by Neil Patrick Harris at last June's Tony Awards.

The commercial is a mixed bag. Taylor Swift proves that she has the real goods as a singer, doing the toughest part of the "Tonight" quintet. Ne-Yo's dance turn is more of a salute to Michael Jackson than an homage to composers Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. And Katy Perry's rooftop bit reinforces the fact that she's funny and playful.

Once upon a time the airwaves were filled with TV variety shows. There were stars like Sonny and Cher and Donny and Marie, and further back, The Ed Sullivan Show and The Carol Burnett Show.

Well, Rosie O'Donnell remembers that kind of TV entertainment, and she thinks it's what America wants now. As Bob reported not long ago, NBC is giving her an hour to see if anyone agrees, the night before Thanksgiving, November 26, from 9-10 p.m. ET, Rosie Live will air live from the Shubert Theater in New York.

The news today is that Rosie has booked Ne-Yo and Alanis Morissette to provide the musical portion of the program. The plans for the rest of the hour include a topical monologue, which Rosie should have no problem pulling off because she did one every day on her daytime talk show.