The writer’s strike – which shows no end in sight – has led to another round of mass firings, this time by NBC. According to the New York Post, nearly the entire staff of Saturday Night Live has been fired by NBC, including longtime employees. The show immediately ceased production when the strike began – most of its actors started as writers on the show and are members of the Writer’s Guild of America. SNL has had a spotty history in terms of ratings, and hasn’t been doing phenomenally in the last few years. Though they’re certainly not doing their worst, either.

The writers and actors of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock (a lot of whom are SNL alums) got together this weekend and performed their shows live at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Manhattan. Tickets quickly sold out last week, and all the proceeds went to the Writers Guild’s strike fund.

In its first dramatic move since the beginning of the Writers Guild strike, NBC has fired “nearly the entire production staff” of its struggling, late-night staple, “Saturday Night Live,” sources told Page Six. One tipster told us, ” ‘SNL’ laid off all their staff until further notice. Their production staff, even long-term employees, were let go.” Another source confirmed that “90 percent of the ‘SNL’ staff was fired.”

And while The Washington Post reported yesterday that NBC might lay staff off at Jay Leno’s “Tonight” show, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and “Last Call With Carson Daly” - all of which immediately went into rerun mode on Nov. 5 - those staffers would at least get paid for two more weeks. But an insider confirmed to us that “SNL” staffers got no severance.

Although no official announcement had been made as of last night about firings at any of NBC’s late-night shows, multiple sources confirmed to us that “SNL” staffers learned of their axing yesterday morning. Reps for NBC declined comment.

[From the New York Post]

I wonder what kind of trickle-down effect the strike could have on other industries. Arnold Schwarzenegger is supposedly working quietly on negotiations and has said that the strike could really impact California’s economy. It seems like most of the talent has squarely lined up behind the writers. A lot of the producers have too – even though the writers are striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers – because a lot of them used to be writers too. According to what’s been reported so far, negotiations this weekend failed to produce any result.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Thanks to the NY Times for these pictures of Saturday Night Live performed this weekend live on stage in Chelsea.

Jennifer Aniston is going to make a second guest appearance on Courteney Cox’s aptly-named FX series, Dirt. Aniston shared a disappointing girl kiss with Cox on the season finale of the show in March. She played the lesbian editor of a tabloid that competes with Dirt, the gossip rag that Courteney Cox’s character runs. The kiss wasn’t all that hot and was more of a friendly goodbye kiss that was turned into something more by the imagination of one of Courteney’s male co-workers.

Now they’re bringing Aniston back for more, and she will have another ratings-raising guest appearance. I bet that there won’t be much action between Aniston and Cox’s characters, but that the show will play up the sexual tension as much as possible:

Jennifer Aniston will reprise her role as Tina Harrod, a tabloid-magazine editor, in her second guest spot on Courteney Cox’s FX show, Dirt, says a friend of Jen’s. No word yet on whether there’ll be an encore of the BFF’s much-fussed-about kissing scene (Jen’s character is gay), but the upcoming episode will include a bigger role for Jen, 38, and more scenes opposite Courteney, 43. “Jen’s blocked off time in December to be available when they need her,” says the friend.

[From Life and Style, print edition, November 19, 2007]

We’ll have to see if Aniston’s scheduled appearance survives the writer’s strike, and it doesn’t sound like that episode has been written yet. The strike is not expected to end by December, but maybe the parties will work it out by then and Aniston will be able to help save her friend’s show for yet another season.

In other Jennifer Aniston news, she is said to be dating Sex and The City hottie Jason Lewis, who dated Rosario Dawson for years and has been linked with Jennifer Esposito and Laura Prepon. She is said to have had a couple of “secret” dates out with Lewis in NY City, and to have a lot in common with him. He is a pretty boy type, just like her ex husband.

They look cute together and it would be nice to see Aniston in a new relationship with someone who wants to commit long term. Lewis seems like the type of guy who is able to go the distance and doesn’t try to act single when he’s in a relationship. He was never afraid to be photographed out with Dawson and seems like the loyal, super-hot boyfriend type who will also go shopping with you and help with the dishes. Pretty much an excellent catch.

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox are shown in the header image at the premiere of The Tripper on 4/11/07. Jason Lewis is shown below at the Angel Ball on 10/29/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

This week’s National Enquirer came out before the news that Jay Leno refused to cross picket lines and that all of his non-writing staff were threatened with layoffs at the end of this week. It looks like the writers’ strike isn’t going to end any time soon, but if The Tonight Show can manage to find guests hosts they might be able to come out of reruns and save staff jobs. It’s going to be a tricky situation because it could be hard to find stars who are also willing to cross picket lines by appearing on the show during the strike.

Whatever happens with The Tonight Show, Jay Leno was slated to be replaced in 2009 with Conan O’Brien. Jay was hoping to continue hosting the show well into his old age and is pissed that NBC is replacing him. So he’s planning to move to Fox and get another talk show that will air at the same time as The Tonight Show and directly compete with Conan when he takes over hosting duties. He also plans to take all his staff with him, and considering how shitty NBC is treating them, they’re likely to come:

[Jay Leno] is planning to get the last laugh - by jumping to Fox TV, say sources. Jay wants to go head-to-head against Conan with pretty much the same show he’s doing now - and the comic wants to take all his NBC staffers with him, according to insiders.

He even wants to continue to tape at the same Burbank studio where he’s made a fortune for NBC.

“Jay is a creature of habit, and he’d like to stay right where he is,” revealed a source close to Leno. “He’s only 57 - and he feels as if he could do this for another 15 years.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, November 19, 2007]

Of course who knows what the future of television will be if the writers’ strike goes on for months as predicted. The networks seem to be playing hardball, and they may ultimately be the ones to lose if people become accustomed to getting their entertainment elsewhere. Familiar personalities like Leno could be off the air until spring. Although it seems like the nightly interview shows will always be a television staple, you never know how this will play out. Leno’s show has suffered the most in the ratings, experiencing a drop of over 750,000 homes. Whether people will come back for a guest host, or even when Jay finally returns, remains to be seen.

Header image from tv.yahoo.com.

Many actors are joining the striking writers on the picket lines. At first it seemed to be filled with writers/actors like Tina Fey and several cast members of “The Office” who are also writers. Jon Stewart has said that his production company will continue to pay the salaries of the striking writers on “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report.” Production has ceased on “The Office” after Steve Carell refused to cross the picket line. Now several actors are joining the writers and picketing alongside them, including the cast of “Grey’s Anatomy.” I think all their “Mc” cuteness is really annoying, but I would love to see McSteamy all fired up and holding angry picket signs.

The cast of the top-rated medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” joined striking Hollywood writers on a picket line Wednesday and said they were shooting scenes for their last scripted episode. Stars Patrick Dempsey, Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight, who plays Dr. George O’Malley, spent their lunch breaks outside the Prospect Studios, where “Grey’s” is filmed. “We’re supposed to be going until the end of May and right now our last shooting day will be Tuesday or Wednesday,” Knight said. “As actors, we’re paid a different way than the writers, but there’s also the crew to keep in mind. They are out of work as of next Wednesday.”

Said Oh, who plays Dr. Christina Yang: “This matter is way too important not only for our writers, but ultimately everyone who makes movies, everyone who makes entertainment here in this town and again for the rest of the world.” Other cast members included Justin Chambers, James Pickens Jr., Sara Ramirez, Eric Dane and Katherine Heigl, who portrays Dr. “Izzie” Stevens. “You’ve got to have a story,” Heigl said. “You’ve got to have a story in order to perform anything, to have any ideas on where to go and what to do, and where the character, story lines, arcs, everything. They’re everything. We can’t do it without them.”

“It’s really a big tragedy to be out here striking at all,” said Dempsey, who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd. “I think there are going to be a lot of people affected by this, that have families, that live paycheck to paycheck, that upsets me profoundly. But at the same time, I do feel that the writers deserve a better break on the deals they have been getting.”

[From the Associated Press]

The Writers Guild of America strike began Monday when negotiations fell through with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The main sticking point is over how much writers are paid when shows are available on the Internet. Considering how hard they work and how integral they are to the very foundation and success of a show, most writers deserve a lot more than they’re getting. Equally important, though far less principled, (okay so not so equally important) is what happens when writers strike: more reality shows. Remember when all that crap started? You know why? Writer’s strike. You don’t need writers to make someone eat a bunch of bugs while balancing on a bar 300 feet off the ground over a pool of snapping sea turtles. Or whatever it is they do on reality TV. So let’s hope the producers give in soon, for the sake of the writers, the rest of the production staff who aren’t getting paid, and the rest of us who might have to watch incredibly crappy TV. Or we could just read. You would think the writers would like that, too.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Sandra Oh and Katherine Heigl joining the picket lines during their lunch. Header image of Ellen Pompeo.

Lindsay Lohan is negotiating a role on Ugly Betty that would have her befriending America Ferrera’s character. Lohan starts out working as an assistant manager at the fast food restaurant where Betty’s father is employed, and America tries to get her a job at Mode, the fashion magazine where she works.

“Everyone’s very excited,” the source said. “Of course it brings a lot of attention to the show, and it’s a great part for Lindsay.”

The role is apparently part of a three-episode arc during which Betty befriends Ms. Lohan’s character, who has fallen on tough times since high school. The ravishing redhead has had a difficult year herself, recently completing her latest stint in rehab at Utah’s Cirque Lodge after racking up two consecutive DUI’s this summer.

“It sounds really cute,” our spy burbled of the new opportunity, which of course might be jeopardized by the ongoing Writers Guild strike. “Betty tries to help Lindsay’s character by getting her a job at Mode, the fashion magazine where she works on the show.”

[From NYObserver.com]

There was a lot of hype over another celebrity’s scheduled appearance on the award-winning ABC comedy. Victoria Beckham has an upcoming cameo on Ugly Betty as herself. The episode will air tonight in the US.

Along with this possible role on Ugly Betty, Lohan has two movies coming up that you’ve already heard of. She’s working on Dare to Love Me now, and is set to film Poor Things. The film is in pre-production and is likely to be delayed by the writer’s strike.

Lindsay Lohan new boyfriend, Riley Giles, is being labeled a money-grubbing K-Fed type. A story came out earlier in the week that he posted an arrogant message on his myspace saying that Lohan’s mom had approached them to appear on her new reality show for the E! Network and that they wouldn’t consider it. Giles denies writing that blog post, and says he doesn’t even have a myspace:

It read, “ADVICE OF THE WEEK: if your (sic) a mom, with four kids, the best thing u can do for them right now is have a reality show. WE. DO. NOT. WANT. She had the nerve to ask us to be on. No thanks!”

But snowboarder Giles tells In Touch Weekly magazine, “I don’t even have MySpace. Someone is obviously pretending they are me.”

[From SFGate.com]

Myspace is such a pain in the ass, I barely check mine anymore. Facebook is the way to go and has no spam that I’ve experienced. I don’t blame the guy for not having a myspace.

Here’s Lohan out shopping yesterday looking particularly orange. Thanks to WENN for these photos.

Rosie O’Donnell’s last gig at “The View” didn’t exactly last a long time – nine months was about all she could take. Though as many who worked with her reported, it was about all anyone else could take of her, too. The opinionated comedian/actress/TV host clashed both on and off screen with many people she worked with – and supposedly not just over her political opinions. She was generally considered to be a bit of a self-righteous diva, and clashed with Barbara Walters over her behavior on several occasions. Current rumblings have O’Donnell considering signing a deal with prestigious MSNBC for her own show, which would go head to head with CNN’s “Larry King Live” and Fox’s “Hannity & Colmes.” That’s some pretty serious competition.

Even though much is being made of MSNBC’s ”left-leaning” slant in its nighttime programming, thanks to the constant President Bush-bashing from Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Dan Abrams, a few network insiders say the expected signing of Rosie O’Donnell by the cable network has even some staunch liberals at MSNBC a bit worried.

O’Donnell’s ”loose cannon” reputation, reinforced during her nine-month stint on ”The View,” apparently is a key stumbling block as the comedian-turned-TV talker negotiates with the network. Showcasing alternative political viewpoints to the conservative opinions espoused by Fox News has helped boost MSNBC’s recent ratings, ”but we still get nervous when we think about Rosie,” an MSNBC source told me Tuesday.

Yet, given the big ratings boost O’Donnell gave to ”The View” during her tenure there, MSNBC is definitely interested in snaring her, the source said, ”as long as we have certain controls in place.” As for O’Donnell, a source close to her says the outspoken personality thinks it’s all pretty moot. ”Everyone in America knows where I stand as a liberal Democrat who can’t stand the fact George Bush is president,” the O’Donnell friend quotes her as saying about the MSNBC gig.

[From the Chicago Sun Times]

There’s no official word on what kind of show O’Donnell would have; mostly news, interview, celebrity, political, etc. I’d think a mix, though much is being made of her celebrity connections. Certainly she could beat Larry King, who’s been out of the game for years. His show is generally good for humor’s sake, though that’s not what he presumably intended. O’Donnell would likely be good for ratings, and she’s certainly been known to stir up a controversy or two. I would hope that she’d be able to rise above some of the petty squabbles of the past if she wants to be taken seriously and have a show that will make a real impact.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Rosie at the 207 Book Expo in New York City. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Extreme mullet-wearing Dog The Bounty Hunter Chapman went on Hannity and Colmes on the Fox Channel last night to beg in his idiotic drug-addled logic for forgiveness for his racist tirade over the phone. It sounds like he saysh e was using the “n” word as “a brother to brother” despite the fact that he was using it to tell his son not to date a black woman.

This tearful confession made me lol several times, particularly when Chapman said that he thought he was able to “refer to them truly as a brother from a different mother”

I thought that I was cool enough in the black world to be able to use that word, as a brother to a brother. I’m not… I never realized that that’s like stabbing a black person in the heart. I would never do that to any kind of person. I’ve always taken pride to be the white guy that can talk to the black people, that can refer to them truly as a brother from a different mother (voice breaks)…

and I used to say ‘I’m Black Too,” my whole life I’ve been called a half breed, a convict, king of the trailer trash, this and that, I take that stand so when I stood there and said, ‘I kind of know what you feel like, cause I’ve been there too, that I felt like that I could embrace and as brothers, even as black women say the word…”

This is one of the hardest lessons ever I’ve learned in my life, even facing death. If I could kill myself and people would forgive me, I would do that. There’s no excuse. I’m guilty and I will take my punishment, but the end of what I said is that I will do everything that is in my power to make sure people have forgiven me.

Hannity: How old is this conversation?

This conversation was done in March, so eight months old.

Hannity: And how much did they pay your son for this

Well, I think they gave him $15,000 that the alleged rumor.

[Transcribed from the highlight video available on TMZ of Chapman’s appearance on Hannity and Combs last night on Fox]

While it’s not funny that the guy says he would kill himself for forgiveness, you can tell by the way he’s wording his statements that he’s not going to shed his coat of slimy racism unless he undergoes serious therapy. He said “I would never do that to any kind of person” and he calls black people “them.” He also seems to gloss over the pain he caused others and to focus on how he’s feeling and how he wants forgiveness.

Here’s the video, thanks to TMZ:

And in case there was even a glimmer of hope for Dog’s career as a reality show star, The Enquirer has a story with quotes from many of his friends, family and past wives attesting to what a racist bastard he is. Plus there could be an upcoming story in the November 20th issue of the Enquirer stating that Dog is a current crack addict who is spending 2k a month on drugs. A commentor on TMZ posted the story, so I can’t yet verify it, but they supposedly interviewed his former dealer, who passed a lie detector test. I will have to verify if the story exists and update this post once more is known. The comment also contains a link to a site declaring Andrew Luster, the guy Chapman was arrested for capturing in Mexico, innocent, so it’s up to question, although the wording does sound exactly like The Enquirer.

Before this scandal came to light we posted a story from the Enquirer about Dog’s stepdaughter claiming that she used to get cocaine and hookers for him and that he pimped her out to pay a drug debt in the 90s. It could be true that someone is claiming he’s still doing crack, and it certainly seems plausible.

Thanks to reader Shawn for the tip.

Update: The story about Dog the Bounty Hunter currently being addicted to crack did not appear in the National Enquirer, and was a fabrication.

I live in Europe, so I don’t watch American television yet, (although I’m trying to get JayBird to install one of those Slingbox devices so I can.) Right now I’m on “vacation” in the states, though, and my mother loves Dancing with the Stars and we watched a couple of episodes, fast forwarding through the results episode because they just drag that shit out as long as possible.

The show is quite entertaining, and it’s easy to see how people get hooked. When excellent dancer and Cheetah Girl Sabrina Bryan was eliminated in an upset last week, I suspected that she was involved with her partner, because of the way he was clinging to her and she called him “baby” all romantic-like. Sabrina and her partner, Mark Ballas, are indeed dating, with Sabrina confirming their romance to TVGuide, saying that “I always call him ‘Baby Marky.’ I absolutely love and adore him.” She also said they were going out on a date the next day. Sabrina and Mark were spotted out at Hollywood hotspot Hyde, and TMZ has video of a photographer asking them when they’re getting married, with Sabrina answering “August of 08.”

With all the attention and fame that comes with competing on the dance show, many c and d-listers are vying for a place. Tori Spelling is said to be anxious to appear next season, and to follow her 90210 cast mates, Jennie Garth and Ian Ziering’s, lead. The thing is, she’s also gunning for her husband, Dean McDermott, to be on the show, and since he’s only known as Mr. Tori Spelling, producers don’t want to take him on:

[Tori Spelling] is campaigning to be on next season’s Dancing with the Stars after seeing how it helped Beverly Hills 90210 pals Jennie Garth and Ian Ziering. “She is hoping it will open doors,” says an insider. “At the very least, she can earn some money from touring with the dancers after the show. She’s the breadwinner in her family and needs to keep her career alive.” There’s just one hitch - Tori has hinted that she wants her husband, Dean McDermott, on the show. The show’s producers “don’t want Dean at all,” adds the source.

[From Star Magazine, print edition, November 12, 2007]

I can see Tori appearing on the show, but she seems so gawky to me that you wouldn’t expect her to get the hang of it. Maybe it’s just her um, features, that give you that impression and she could be a surprisingly good dancer.

Jane Seymour and her partner were eliminated from last night’s Dancing with The Stars, with Jennie Garth also in the bottom two. Four couples remain on the show, Melanie B and Makshim, Helio Castroneves and Julianne, Jennie Garth and Derek, Marie Osmond and Jonathan, and Cameron Mathison and Edyta. Marie Osmond was absent from last night’s results show due to the death of her father. Jane Seymour also missed a results show in week two due to her mother’s death that day.

Nearly 50 million people watched the premiere of Dancing With The Stars this season, so you can see how the show appeals to minor celebrities like Tori.

Tori and Dean are shown on 9/28/07 in Vegas before Tori’s appearance with The Pussycat Dolls.

You are either a Leno fan or a Letterman fan, but everyone seems to love Conan. (At least in the land of Cara anyway.) Jay was rumored to be hesitant to hand over the reigns to a successor. However, NBC has made a statement regarding the host status of “The Tonight Show.”

“Conan O’Brien will take over `The Tonight Show’ in 2009,” NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker said Monday in New York at an event arranged by Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Zucker said he’d like Leno to remain with the company and that “we are in those conversations now. I’m hopeful that Jay will be with us.”

[Associated Press]

Jay has been sitting in the host chair for 15 years. Conan O’Brien was set over 3 years ago to take over for Leno. He has also stated that he is perfectly ok with leaving, but as the clock ticks his attachment to the show keeps him wanting more. Johnny Carson was 74 when he stepped down and Leno will be 59 in his 2009 departure. The air of Jay being pushed out rather than bowing out was addressed in the LA Times and through other various media outlets.

“Apparently because O’Brien, 44, has a younger audience than Leno, 57. Younger is always better in television, although CBS is evidently not as concerned about the age of its late-night host. David Letterman, 60, has a deal with that network through 2010. Maybe the Peacock Network just wants someone with a longer-term future, so this is where you get off, Jay.”

Then the CNN rumor reared its head in the debate. Word on the street is that the news based network wants Leno to replace Larry King. Contractually speaking, Leno is to remain off the air for at least six months.

It’s all very reminiscent of the Johnny Carson replacement issues NBC had last time over the show. Either way, I wish the best for Jay. But I can’t wait for Conan to get his red head on “The Tonight Show.” That man is over 6 ’4” of walking funny in a suit.

Hold on to you hairpieces kids! More of “The Donald” is set to hit a television set near you. Families and couples will be set up with Trump in meetings that discuss finances and relationships. The plan is for the advice and Trump antics to be aired in 2008.

“Property tycoon Donald Trump can add another high-profile role to his résumé–as a TV counselor and legal advisor. The billionaire, 71, is in talks to offer advice to members of the public engaged in financial disputes as part of a hybrid show described as “Dr. Phil meets Judge Judy.”

[Hollywood]

Donald has had some practice when it comes to dolling out his views on money related subjects. He made an appearance on “Oprah” to face off with former “Apprentice” hopefuls and throw out a few freebies on making finances grow. Such gems included:

“Surround yourself with people that are full of ideas, and people that are not going to be “yes-men.” Surround yourself with smart, truthful, honest people. Only invest in what you know, or invest with people who are really good and have a great financial track record. Do a little research. Look at the paper and look at the rate of returns. Put your money in one of those funds.”

I am cringing at the thought of all this. Why would Trump be ideal for advising others on relationships and money? How many times has he been married? How many times has been bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy? It is like asking Lindsay Lohan for advice on remaining sober.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Donald Trump is shown at the launch of his “Trump Home Luxury Lifestyle Collection” (I wish I were making that up) at Macy’s on 7/19/07.