time magazine

You can always count on Bill Maher to cut to the very heart of the matter. He's interviewed at Time.com about his new Amazon.com show, his politics, where he gets his daily news, and about whether or not Katie Couric will do a good job as the new anchor over at CBS (side note: someone should tell the folks over at Time's site that there is a "bold" function in most web programs):

Will you watch Katie Couric?

I think she'll probably read the teleprompter the same way the others did.

Ha!

[via TV Newser]

Kelly Clarkson just solidified her standing as my favorite American Idol (sorry Bo, you're #2). She has managed to escape from the strangle-hold that American Idol has on most of its contestants' careers. In an article that comes out in today's Time magazine, Kelly says she didn't want to make From Justin to Kelly with runner-up Justin Guarini but she was contractually obligated. I never saw it, because it looked like some terrible version of Beach Blanket Bingo and it only got 8% on Rotten Tomatoes. She said, "I knew when I read the script it was going to be real, real bad...I could not get out of it." Kelly eventually did get out of her contract with 19 Entertainment, the studio that manages all the American Idol winners, when folks in charge wouldn't allow her to write any songs for her new album, Breakaway. She ended up writing or co-writing six of twelve tracks and now is managed by a new company. Just call her Miss Independent.

By the way, Kelly is scheduled to perform on the Grammy Awards this Wednesday. She is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album. Knowing that her personal stamp is on that album, I'm definitely rooting for her!

Yes, that is a wiseass headline. I mean, is there anyone out there who really thinks that what they are seeing on all these network reality shows are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, exactly how it happens?

James Poniewozik over at Time investigates some of the behind the scenes goings on at some reality shows, including Laguna Beach, where they allegedly made up a love triangle that didn't even exist; The Dating Experiment (an ABC show in the works) that took out the name of a celeb in a girl's quote to make it seem like she liked a male contestant, who she really hated; and Paris Line being told what to say on The Simple Life. This comes on the heels of Richard Hatch telling the judge at his trial last week that people cheated on Survivor and producers covered it up. Plus let's not forget the controversies from Joe Millionaire (editing that made it seem that Ethan and one of the girls were doing something in the woods), Blind Date, and other shows. 

I, for one, am SHOCKED. Shocked I tell you!

[via TV Tattle]