'Eureka,' Warehouse 13' and 'Haven' bring the holidays to Syfy

'Eureka,' Warehouse 13' and 'Haven' bring the holidays to Syfy

Syfy is presenting their holiday specials for "Eureka," "Warehouse 13" and "Haven." We've had a chance to watch and they're full of awesome geekery!

On "Eureka," Jack (Colin Ferguson) and Jo (Erica Cera) find themselves lost on their way to the photon generator and appear to run into the nature-loving Taggart (Matt Frewer), who has transformed into a polar bear living in an ice cave. Everyone ends up in various states of animation. You'll see your favorite show represented. Kind of amazing. We're so sad to see this show go!

On "Warehouse 13," Pete (Eddie McClintock) is seen reaching high on the shelves to put back Rudolph's nose, when suddenly he falls on the slippery snow on the ground, taking down several other pieces with him. He returns these items back onto the shelf and heads back inside. Upon entering he notices two investigators and quickly asks Pete to show his hands. Pete tells him to come out but instead we see MacPherson (Roger Rees) appear and claim he hasn't worked there for years.

On "Haven," Audrey (Emily Rose) is wondering why everyone seems to think it's Christmas Eve and is confused by the Santa locked up in the cell block. Santa asks Audrey if she'd like to sit on his lap, which sparks a nerve and Audrey goes after him but soon realizes that its Duke (Eric Balfour) under the costume. It appears that Nathan (Lucas Bryant) and team were helping to get Audrey into the Holiday spirit though she's still unsure as to why now, considering its July!

Check out all three episodes on Tuesday, December 6th on Syfy.

'America's Next Top Model': Tyson Beckford comes to 'Modelland'

'America's Next Top Model': Tyson Beckford comes to 'Modelland'

"America's Next Top Model" all stars keeps getting weirder and weirder, as Tyra busts out her book, "Modelland," and makes the girls film a motion editorial for it.

The Challenge

The girls have to write a blog post for the editor of Vogue Italia, which is one of the prizes if they win this cycle. This is their audition blog post and it has to talk about the scene and the fashion of Crete. They get an outfit, they chose a location, have to take photos and then they write their blog. They have three hours for all of it. The best one wins a trip back to Crete for two for seven. Nice.

Lisa focuses on hot spots, while Angelea goes more real and gritty. Allison and Laura both go to the same spot on the water. We revisit the blog thing later and find out that Angelea wins the challenge. She is totally pumped, as one would be.

The Motion Editorial

Tyra has come down off the mountain to director the girls in a fashion video for her book "Modelland." They start off with a bunch of running scenes, then they get some more serious scenes. Lisa plays a deranged mom who is obsessed with her baby, which is hilariously scary. Laura has to dig through garbage for a lost button, then she has to spray whipped cream in her mouth. EwwwwwUH.

Then there are weapons and water and the hot sun making Allison blind. She seems to really struggle with the acting thing. Allison's private scene is her and a kitten, awww. Then she gets to rock a blood orange scene, which hopefully makes up for her earlier weapon scene.

Angelea gets an emotional scene where she is supposed to feel unloved and unwanted by her dad. It's hard for Angelea, because that's where she's been in her life, but she uses her emotions and cries. You can tell it's good because Tyra uses her hushed voice.

Day 2 of the shoot has Tyson Beckford on hand to act with the girls and they all pretty much lose their minds. I would too, he is just ... wow. Ridiculous. Like, so beautiful it hurts to look at him. Tyra, of course, steps into the motion editorial as the main girl. Heh.

Judges Panel

We watch part I of the motion editorial and, um, it's different. There are parts that are really cool, but mostly it's just weird, in that way that you know Tyra thinks is really arty but it's actually just pretty silly.

At Angelea's judging, Tyra says Angelea had an "emotional breakthrough" with Tyra. *sigh* Anyway, I think she's safe and I think Allison is safe. I think the person being eliminated will be either Laura or Lisa and I'm leaning towards Laura, though it's not her fault because she got that stupid whipped cream scene.

Elimination Station

Best "picture" goes to Lisa, who I think did strong stuff that we didn't get to see as much as the judges. Next is Angelea. So Allison and Laura re Bottom 2, but thankfully Allison stays. No offense, I love Laura. But I really love Allison.

BBC Issues Apology Over Jeremy Clarkson's Controversial Strike Comments

BBC Issues Apology Over Jeremy Clarkson's Controversial Strike Comments

The outspoken "Top Gear" host told viewers that the workers "should be shot" during an appearance on the network's "The One Show."

The BBC has been forced to apologize on-air for comments made by its bad-boy-in-residence Jeremy Clarkson, after he called for striking public sector workers to be shot.

Speaking on The One Show, the Top Gear host said that workers protesting against changes to their pension plans should be “executed in front of their families.”

The millionaire presenter drew audible gasps for his rant about the inconvenience of a day of strike action in Britain that has seen schools, hospitals, the police force and airports affected.

“I’d have them all shot. I’d have them all executed in front of their families. I mean, how dare they go on strike when they have these gilt-edged pensions that are guaranteed while the rest of us have to work for a living.”

Clarkson, who is thought to be paid over a million pounds a year by the publicly-owned BBC, is no stranger to controversy for his frequent on-screen polemics. Last year his on-air rant about Mexico and Mexican car-design prompted an diplomatic complaint that resulted in the BBC issuing a formal apology from director general Mark Thompson to the Mexican High Commissoner in London.

But some feel the star – who is one of the BBC’s most enduring and popular presenters – may have gone too far with his attack on British state workers who earn a mere fraction of his own wealth.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of public sector worker’s union Unison – which has over a million members - branded the comments “totally outrageous” and said Clarkson should be fired.

“We are calling on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson immediately. Such disgusting statements have no place on our TV screens.”

“We are seeking urgent legal advice about what further action we can take against him and the BBC and whether or not his comments should be referred to the police.”

Even Prime Minister David Cameron has weighed in on the matter, calling the comments “silly.”

Speaking on ITV’s This Morning Cameron – a friend of Clarkson – sought to play down the matter.

“It was obviously a silly thing to say and I am sure he didn’t mean that.”

The BBC is understood to be looking into the matter internally and sources said that the appearance had been intended to be “lighthearted.”

The pubcaster issued an on air apology after the show to viewers who “may have been offended by Jeremy Clarkson.”

Seth MacFarlane Receives Two Grammy Nominations

Seth MacFarlane Receives Two Grammy Nominations

The showrunner, who is behind Fox's multi-billion dollar animated empire, is now a two-time Grammy nominee.

MacFarlane, who only recently began trying his hand at writing music, was nominated in the Best Song Written For Visual Media category, with "Christmastime is Killing Us," which he co-wrote with Ron Jones and Danny Smith.

In an even bigger coup, the producer, who is currently overseeing American Dad!, The Cleveland Show, an update of the classic animated series The Flintstones, a revamp of the 1980s PBS series Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey, an untitled animated series he's preparing to pitch, a feature film due out next summer called Ted, a recurring gig as Comedy Central's celebrity roast master (most recent victim: Charlie Sheen) and the series that made them all possible, Family Guy, was also nominated for his big band album Music Is Better Than Words.

The debut album is nominated alongside musical heavyweights Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Harry Connick Jr. and Susan Boyle in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.

The Hollywood Reporter's Oct. 21 cover story reported that when he set out to make the record with American Dad! composer Joel McNeely, he had one goal in mind: to introduce others to the kind of music -- including many obscure songs from the 1940s, '50s and '60s -- he has been listening to and loving since he was a boy. In a nod to his idol, he recorded the vocals with the actual microphone Frank Sinatra used on many of his classic albums. (According to McNeely, there's already talk of a brief East Coast tour this year and a desire to make a follow-up album.)

"Seth is probably more knowledgeable about this music than anybody I've ever known," says McNeely, who has spent his career ensconced in that world. "If you name a song off of a particular album from that era, he'll be able to tell you not just who arranged it, but what studio it was recorded at, probably the year that it was recorded and who some of the players were. It's a little freaky."

Sara Gilbert Tells 'The Talk' She's Dating Linda Perry

Sara Gilbert Tells 'The Talk' She's Dating Linda Perry

'The Talk' co-host Sara Gilbert confirmed on-air tabloid speculation that she's in a relationship with former 4 Non Blondes frontwoman Linda Perry. Rumors had been swirling since the pair were photographed by paparazzi Sunday morning as they left a grocery store.

The subject came up on 'The Talk' Wednesday as Gilbert's co-hosts were discussing whether celebrities have a right to a private life. Aisha Tyler mentioned the paparazzi shots, telling Gilbert that "I know they were really upsetting to you."

Saying she'd struggled with the decision to go ahead and make her life more public by co-hosting 'The Talk,' Gilbert said "The other day I was just out and paparazzi were there. It was Sunday morning and I wasn't really prepared. There's all these articles out that I'm in a new relationship."

To applause from the audience, Gilbert added: "It's weird. ... I go online and it's on like CNN, and I'm flattered and I can't believe that anyone cares."

She joked, "I do want to share stuff with you guys but kind of would rather do it on my terms, I guess, in full hair and makeup."

'The Talk' airs Weekdays on CBS, check local listings for times.

Was the Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey 'All I Want for Christmas' Video Too Risque for NBC Tree Lighting?

Was the Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey 'All I Want for Christmas' Video Too Risque for NBC Tree Lighting?

Justin Bieber and Mariah Carey debuted their video for the remake of 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' during NBC's Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday night, a move that's already drawing the ire of viewers who tuned into the festivities hoping for family-friendly programming.

The video features Carey singing in a skimpy Santa costume and getting close with Bieber, who's showcasing his new, lower-singing voice. Although there's nothing any more objectionable in the video than standard MTV fare, the somewhat awkward spectacle made some NBC viewers uncomfortable. Whether it was because of the age difference between the 41-year-old Carey and the 17-year-old Bieber, or because of Bieber's paternity controversy with another Mariah, it appears the Peacock network may have ruffled some feathers.

The comment section of the video's post on NBC.com was filled with negative feedback from outraged viewers who found the video objectionable. One comment, from a user named Whitewolf80, read: "The All I Want For Christmas video was EXTREMELY inappropriate and quite gross;and I mean gross on every level you can imagine! This is a FAMILY show and you have 41-year old cougar Carey in a sexy Santa suit coming on to a 17-year old Bieber. She even caressed her breast!Would you show a shirtless Steven Tyler singing and grabbing his crotch in front of Selena Gomez?! You'd all be in jail. Typical entertainment lack of standards and double standards. Unbelievable!"

HGTV Handyman Mike Holmes Splits Co-CEOs at Production Shingle

HGTV Handyman Mike Holmes Splits Co-CEOs at Production Shingle

The top management revamp leaves Michael Quast as the sole CEO of The Holmes Group, while Pete Kettlewell launches Point Load Pictures, a joint venture with the TV home repair pro.

How many CEOs does HGTV home repair host Mike Holmes need?

Turns out one’s enough, so Holmes has restructured his production shingle by splitting up its co-CEOs.

The Canadian TV handyman, who’s usually gutting suburban homes on HGTV Canada and HGTV to replace shoddy construction or renovations, has named Michael Quast as the sole CEO of The Holmes Group.

The new leadership structure also leaves former CEO Pete Kettlewell to launch Point Load Pictures, a joint venture with Holmes that will produce TV series outside of The Holmes Group brand.

Holmes and Kettlewell have been behind popular HGTV series like Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection that bowed in Canada before airing stateside.

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Could Bring Peace to the Middle East

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Could Bring Peace to the Middle East

Larry David has never been accused of being a diplomat: 'social assassin' is a far more appropriate way of describing the 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' creator's people skills. But now, at least if constitutional lawyer Alan Dershowitz has anything to say about, an episode of 'Curb' might help bring peace to the Middle East.

Dershowitz recently told The Columbia Current that he sent a copy of 'Curb''s 'Palestinian Chicken' episode to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and suggested that he watch it with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. "Maybe if they both get a good laugh, they can begin a negotiating process," Dershowitz told the Current.

In the episode, Larry and Jeff become infatuated with a Palestinian chicken restaurant (and Larry starts sleeping with its manager Shara) but when the restaurant launches plans to open a new location next to a Jewish deli, their friends become outraged and protest against the expansion. In this clip, Larry and Jeff come to get some delicious chicken, but instead find a heated, two-sided protest, and they're absurdly forced to choose between their heritage and hunger.

Marcia Gay Harden to Guest-Star on Bent

Marcia Gay Harden to Guest-Star on Bent

Marcia Gay Harden has landed a guest spot on the midseason NBC comedy Bent, TVLine.com reports.

Harden will star as the ex-wife of Jeffrey Tambor's character. Her return to town will reignite a flame between the former couple.

Exclusive: Bent adds Brother & Sisters, Curb Your Enthusiasm alums

The sitcom, which has yet to receive a premiere date, follows Alex (Amanda Peet), a high-strung single mother who hires a laid-back womanizing construction worker, Pete (David Walton), to remodel her home. The romantic comedy comes from Scrubs writer Tad Quill.

Recent TV credits for the 52-year-old Harden, who won a Supporting Actress Oscar for 2000's Pollack,  include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Royal Pains.

BBC America to Air 'Graham Norton Show' the Day After U.K. Broadcasts

BBC America to Air 'Graham Norton Show' the Day After U.K. Broadcasts

Similar to the network's scheduling of "Doctor Who," episodes of the British talk show will now air stateside within 24 hours of their original premiere across the pond.

A week after the Dec. 3 premiere his new series, Would You Rather...? with Graham Norton, a network rep confirms to THR that his long-running talk show will no longer air on a week delay in America.

The Graham Norton Show will screen in the U.S. within 24 hours of its British premiere, starting Dec. 10. Previously, episodes of the Irish comedian's series would air Friday nights in the U.K. and then debut eight days later on the following Saturday in the US.

BBC America had similar news earlier in 2011 when it announced Doctor Who would have same-day premieres in both markets throughout the veteran sci-fi series' sixth season.

Produced SO Television and airing on BBC One in the U.K., The Graham Norton Show entered its tenth season in October. Kate Winslet, Johnny Depp and Ricky Gervais are among the recent guests.

BBC America negotiated the move, in part, to promote Norton's new companion series. Would You Rather...? is a comedy panel series, filmed in New York, that finds the host asking a panel of comedians and celebrities to discuss absurd predicaments and moral quandaries. It's part of the network's new slate of original series produced for American audiences.

Would You Rather...? will air Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. ET, following The Graham Norton Show at 10:00 p.m., as a part of the network's Ministry of Laughs comedy block.

Guests lined up for the Dec. 10 episode of The Graham Norton Show are Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Jimmy Carr and Coldplay.

'Glee' Eyes Gloria Estefan to Play Santana's Mother

'Glee' Eyes Gloria Estefan to Play Santana's Mother

The singer would join Ricky Martin in the January episode of the Fox hit.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that chart topper Gloria Estefan is in talks to play the newly outed lesbian Cheerio's mother on the Fox hit, as first reported by EW.

Estefan would play Santana's (Naya Rivera) mother and become the latest member of the Glee parental family to join the cast, appearing in a January episode in which fellow chart-topper Ricky Martin will guest star as McKinley High's Spanish teacher.

The January episode would also likely feature some of Estefan's music.

On Tuesday's "I Kissed a Girl" episode of Glee, Santana came out to her unseen parents, telling her classmates that they were "OK with" her sexual orientation. Her grandmother, however, didn't share the same feeling and disowned the cheerleader who was pushed out of the "flannel closet."

Estefan would join Tamlyn Tomita and Keong Sim, Don Most and Valerie Mahaffey as well as John Schneider and Tanya Clarke as the parents featured so far in Season 3.

Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy told THR in July that he and Brad Falchuk ask Glee fans what they wanted to see on the Fox series and that meeting the characters’ parents continues to be high on their list of demands.

“Across the board, a huge amount of fans want to see parents,” he said. “That’s not to say we’re going to heavily feature them, but I think it’s interesting to see some of them – not all of them.”

TV Tonight 1st of December 2011: Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.

TV Tonight 1st of December 2011: Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.

    Anderson S01E57: "Hoarders; How to Clutter-Free Your Life"
    Argumental S04E05: "Stephen K Amos, Jo Brand"
    Baker Boys S02E02: "Series 2, Episode 2"
    Beavis and Butt-Head S08E06: "The Rat/Spill"
    Beavis and Butt-Head S08E07: "Doomsday/Dumb Design"
    Best Dish - The Chefs S01E24: "Episode 24"
    Böda Camping S02E05: "TBA"
    Bones S07E04: "The Male in the Mail"
    Braxton Family Values S02E03: "A Snooping Dog"
    Burn Notice S05E16: "Depth Perception"
    Chef Hunter S01E04: "Merriman's"
    Chelsea Lately S05E181: "Scott Porter, Jeff Wild, Loni Love, Matt Braunger"
    Come Dine With Me S17E82: "Series 17, Episode 69"
    Community S03E09: "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism"
    Conan S02E12: "Zooey Deschanel, Laurie Kilmartin"
    Coronation Street S52E243: "Thur 1 Dec, 2011"
    Countdown with Keith Olbermann S09E119: "Season 9, Episode 119"
    Crownies S01E22: "Season 1, Episode 22"
    Dave's Old Porn S01E07: "Margaret Cho, Paul Thomas"
    Days of our Lives S47E16: "Ep. #11726"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S07E82: "Episode 1762"
    Dickinson's Real Deal S08E09: "Series 8, Episode 9"
    Doctors S13E156: "Striking Out"
    Drop Down Menu S01E19: "Episode 19"
    EastEnders S27E191: "December 1, 2011"
    Emmerdale S40E282: "December 1, 2011"
    Expeditie Robinson S13E14: "Finale"
    Fairground Attractions S01E03: "Series 1, Episode 3"
    Four In A Bed S03E29: "Series 3, Episode 29"
    Frank Skinner's Opinionated S03E04: "Chris Addison, Katy Brand"
    General Hospital (US) S49E170: "#12444"
    Gigolos S02E07: "Season 2, Episode 7"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S22E64: "Season 22, Episode 64"
    Good Vibes S01E05: "The Grass Is Always Greener"
    Good Vibes S01E06: "Breast Friends"
    Halv åtta hos mig S07E56: "Stockholm - Thomas"
    Hoe heurt het eigenlijk? S01E08: "Season 1, Episode 8"
    Hollyoaks S17E239: "December 1, 2011"
    Hotel cæsar S28E117: "Season 28, Episode 117"
    I Almost Got Away with It S04E09: "Got to Steal A Rich Woman's Jewelry"
    I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (UK) S11E17: "Series 11, Episode 17"
    Impact Wrestling S08E61: "Season 8, Episode 61"
    It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S07E11: "Thunder Gun Express"
    Jeopardy! S28E54: "Show #6259"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E169: "Terry Bradshaw, Maggie Q, the Civil Wars"
    Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness S01E16: "Ladies of the Shade"
    Late Night with Jimmy Fallon S02E184
    Life's Too Short S01E04: "Episode 4"
    Lingo (NL) S23E24: "Season 23, Episode 24"
    Living with the Amish S01E02: "Episode 2"
    Masterchef - The Professionals S04E16: "Series 4, Episode 16"
    Mijn Restaurant S04E28: "Season 4, Episode 28"
    Naruto: Shippuuden S10E42: "Sai's Rest"
    Neighbours S27E234: "Episode 6304"
    NFL Thursday Night Football S06E04: "Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks"
    One Life to Live S44E97: "Ep. #11076"
    Parks and Recreation S04E09: "The Trial Of Leslie Knope"
    Pauw & Witteman S06E59: "Season 6, Episode 59"
    Pelgrimscode, De S02E04: "Season 2, Episode 4"
    PhoneShop S02E04: "Whatheather"
    Pointless S05E69: "Series 5, Episode 69"
    Prime Suspect (2011) S01E09: "Gone to Pieces"
    Project Accessory S01E05: "Beach Blanket Blingo"
    Prosto w serce S02E64: "Season 2, Episode 182"
    Question Time S32E13: "December 1, 2011"
    Rail Away S17E13: "Duitsland: Berlijn"
    Rang 1 S01E06: "Season 1, Episode 6"
    Rev S02E04: "Series 2, Episode 4"
    RTL Boulevard S12E64: "Season 12, Episode 64"
    Russell Howard's Good News S05E06: "Series 5, Episode 6"
    Selling New York S04E07: "Lucky Dogs and New York Newbies"
    Sket Dance S01E35: "Episode 35"
    SpangaS S05E64: "Season 5, Episode 64"
    Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two S08E44: "Series 8, Episode 44"
    The 7pm Project S03E239: "Season 3, Episode 239"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S25E178: "Ep. #6207"
    The Colbert Report S07E152: "Richard Branson"
    The Daily Show S16E152: "Bob Costas"
    The Dr. Phil Show S10E58: "Anger Intervention"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S09E58
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S07E60: "December 1, 2011"
    The Joy of Teen Sex S02E05: "Series 2, Episode 5"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S07E204
    The League S03E09: "The Out of Towner"
    The Manor Reborn S01E02: "Episode 2"
    The Office (US) S08E09: "Mrs. California"
    The Tonight Show with Jay Leno S19E200
    The View S15E62: "Emily Watson, the Broadway cast of "Godspell""
    The World's Strictest Parents S04E05: "North Carolina, USA"
    The X Factor (US) S01E20: "LIVE Results Show #5 - 1 of 8 Voted Off"
    The Young and the Restless S39E175: "Ep. #9790"
    This Week (2003) S10E11: "December 1, 2011"
    Thuis S17E69: "Season 17, Episode 69"
    Top 20 Most Shocking S04E21: "Summer Blowouts 3"
    Top Secret Recipe S01E08: "PF Chang's"
    truTV Presents: World's Dumbest... S12E05: "World's Dumbest Brawlers 9"
    Vermist (2008) S03E05: "Dina"
    Weed Wars S01E01: "World's Largest Medical Marijuana Dispensary"
    Wereld draait door, De S07E74: "Season 7, Episode 74"
    Whitney S01E09: "Up All Night"
    Winx Club S05E13: "Breaking the Mask"

Christopher Meloni Being Pursued by True Blood

Christopher Meloni Being Pursued by True Blood

Christopher Meloni may join the cast in the upcoming season of True Blood, an HBO rep told TVGuide.com.

If the show succeeds in wooing him, he'd play a "major role," according to TVLine.com, which first reported the news. The network rep declined to offer further details.

Christopher Meloni exits Law & Order: SVU

Meloni, 50, starred as Detective Elliot Stabler on Law & Order: SVU for 12 seasons before making his exit last spring. Since then, he's been noticeably absent from the screen, though he'll be starring as a general in the feature Man of Steel, due out in 2013.

The Guide to Wednesday TV: Two New Comedies to Hate, the Whitechapel Finale

The Guide to Wednesday TV: Two New Comedies to Hate, the Whitechapel Finale

Comedy is very hot this TV season — thank ABC's best-of-class Wednesday comedies (all in repeats tonight), CBS' Monday blockbusters, NBC's cult faves and Fox's giddy New Girl — but two lousy new sitcom arrivals buck the trend, leaving a sour aftertaste.

Normally I'd celebrate at any circumstance that shrinks The X Factor to 90 minutes, but in this case, it opens the door for Fox's unpleasant I Hate My Teenage Daughter (9:30/8:30c), which traps two gifted comedians — My Name Is Earl's Emmy-winning spitfire Jaime Pressly and two-time Tony-winning scene-stealer Katie Finneran — in no-win roles as shrill moms who used to be ugly ducklings and are now cowed by their bratty offspring (forgettably rendered by Aisha Dee and Kristi Lauren), who are turning out to be the sort of spoiled mean girls who tormented the moms back when they were in high school.

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"Why are they so mean to us?" whines one of the insecure moms, who are mocked for their fashion sense — Pressly's character was raised by strict religious zealots who saw the Gap as the devil's playground — or for their eating habits. "I did not eat my cat!" shrieks the compulsively hysterical Finneran with a mouth full of chocolate. Later, when she's seen neurotically stuffing her face with pie, using her hands — "C'mon, Nikki, use a fork! You're not a bear!" — I found myself hating what Hate was doing to these talented stars.

Even worse, the show is ultimately toothless, because as snotty as the daughters are, they actually love their moms, and vice versa. Awwww... phooey. The writing is so trite that when the teens balk in an upcoming episode at the idea of a Family Night (to which the ever-present ex-husbands are invited), we share their despair. "This is how horror movies start," snaps one of the girls. Horror movies are usually funnier.

More purposefully retro, TV Land conjures up The Exes (10:30/9:30c), which feels like a stale Frankenstein sitcom cobbled together with spare parts — by which we mean veteran actors — who made their names on better shows. Thus we have 3rd Rock From the Sun's Kristen Johnston as a brash divorce lawyer playing landlord/mama bear to three clients who live in one of her apartments across the hall. Look, there's Scrubs' Donald Faison playing to type as a sports-agent womanizer. And hello, Newman! It's Seinfeld's Wayne Knight as a coach potato who does little but shop online. The third wheel is David Alan Basche, a familiar TV face still waiting for a hit, as the newbie roomie, weepy and needy and described by Faison as being "like my ex-wife but without the expensive breasts." It's The Odd Couple plus one — except it's not. It's all just kind of sad. The guys like to think of their bachelor pad as a "sharing-free zone," but I just wish TV Land hadn't felt compelled to share this one with us.

By comparison, the network's cheesy Hot in Cleveland (10/9c) is a modern classic. As it begins its third season, we pick up in the aftermath of Elka's (Betty White) aborted marriage, as she now has to decide whether to go with her fiancé Fred (Buck Henry), her returned-from-the-presumed-dead hubby Bobby (Don Rickles) or her longtime squire Max (Carl Reiner). Why doesn't she just keep all three and form their own version of the Friars Club? That's a heckuva lot of legendary talent in her corner. Meanwhile, Victoria (Wendie Malick) and Joy (Jane Leeves) find there are unexpected consequences to having tied their own knot.

Shifting gears to crime drama, BBC America's twisted Whitechapel (10/9c) reaches the end of its macabre six-episode run, with the police under siege from the "federation of crime" led by the creepy twins who appear to be the reincarnation of the infamous Kray brothers of the '60s. But are they? The pressure in getting to the truth behind the Kray legend really gets to beleaguered DI Chandler (Rupert Penry-Jones), who tries to temper his OCD demons with liquor: "I'm self-medicating," he tells a concerned colleague. But is he drunk, or crazy like a fox, when he challenges one of the Krays to a boxing match? Chandler's fussy, fragile integrity makes him one of the more endearing crime-fighters you'll meet this season.

He's much better company than Duncan "Hatch" Hatcher, the glum, humorless Savannah detective played by a miscast John Corbett in TNT's insipid mystery movie based on Sandra Brown's Ricochet (9/8c). Trying for hard-boiled, Corbett can only achieve half-baked in this flimsy twist on a femme fatale caper, where the worst crime is the damage perpetrated on the Southern accent. The belle of this deflated ball is Dexter's Julie Benz as Elise, the seductive wife of a possibly corrupt judge (Gary Cole as the improbably named Cato Laird). She falls into Hatch's lap, literally, as he and his sarcastic partner Deedee (the monotonal Kelly Overton) investigate Elise's shooting of an intruder in her house. He can't trust Elise (especially when more dead bodies pile up at her feet), but he also can't resist her. The plot manages to be somehow both complicated and simplistic, yet is rarely credible or compelling.

A double treat for the Star Trek fandom tonight: On USA Network's Psych (10/9c), William Shatner guests as Juliet's con-man dad, torn between making things right with his law-abiding daughter and pursuing yet one more dream scam. ... We are all part of Trek Nation, or so the Science channel suggests in a two-hour special (8/7c) marking the landmark space opera's 45th anniversary. Series creator Gene Roddenberry's son Rod leads this tribute, revealing rare home movies from the family archive (including the first Trek fan convention) and interviewing famous fans including George Lucas, J.J. Abrams and Seth MacFarlane as he gets to the roots of this global phenom.

Looking for live music? NBC's annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center special (8/9c; some NBC affiliates will begin airing the festivities at 7/6c) features the legendary likes of Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, Carole King and the Radio City Rockettes gathering for the lighting of the 74-foot Norway Spruce tree. Contemporary acts include The Voice winner Javier Colon and judge Cee Lo Green, upcoming Smash star Katharine McPhee, crooner Michael Bublé and the inevitable Justin Bieber, showing off his music video with Mariah Carey on "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Another all-star gathering on the opposite coast takes place at L.A.'s Nokia Theatre, the staging ground for CBS' The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night (10/9c), during which key nominations for the Feb. 12 awards show are announced in between musical performances from Lady Gaga, Usher, Rihanna, Ludacris, Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and others. A centerpiece of the special is a rap superstar collaboration on Grammy Hall of Fame-honored rap recording "The Message," featuring the show's host LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, Lupe Fiasco, Melle Mel, Rick Ross and Scorpio. Take that, The X Factor's Astro.

HBO Pacts With 'Luck's' David Milch for William Faulkner Adaptations

HBO Pacts With 'Luck's' David Milch for William Faulkner Adaptations

Under a multiyear exclusive deal, the prolific producer will develop projects based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning author's works.

Ahead of its Dec. 11 sneak preview, HBO has doubled down on Luck's David Milch.

The premium cable network on Tuesday inked Milch's Redboard Productions into an exclusive multiyear television deal to develop TV series and films based on selections from William Faulkner. The pact will also cover any further services on his upcoming horseracing drama Luck, which will begin its run in January.

Redboard, through an agreement with the William Faulkner Literary Estate, will produce films and TV series based on the works of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The deal covers all of his 19 authors and 125 short stories, and gives  HBO the exclusive first opportunity to finance, produce and distribute the projects.

Under the terms of the agreement, Milch will partner with Lee Caplin, the executor of the William Faulkner Literary Estate and chief executive of Picture Entertainment Corp., to choose which works to develop, package and produce.  Both Milch and Caplin will act as executive producers on the projects, with Milch serving as the executive writer in charge of adapting the works. Olivia Milch will serve as a coordinating producer on the projects.

“We are especially pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with one of the industry’s most talented contemporary writers,” says HBO programming president Michael Lombardo.  “We know that whatever David brings to the HBO table will be exciting and innovative.”

Adds Milch: “I’m delighted to expand my longstanding relationship with HBO to encompass the adaptation of some of the most important literary works by any American writer into television films and series. As we embark on this ambitious project, our first commitment is to serve the material, and we look forward to identifying and collaborating with the best screenwriters and filmmakers to help each of the pieces find its ideal form onscreen.”

Milch is producing Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman, alongside Michael Mann. He also is reteaming with his NYPD Blue co-creator Steven Bochco for a legal drama set up at NBC.

Luck premieres Sunday, Jan. 29 on HBO. Milch is repped by ICM, who brokered the deal with Redboard and the William Faulkner Literary Estate.

Jon Stewart Pranks Jon Huntsman, Brings 'Mad Men' Into Town Hall Discourse

Jon Stewart Pranks Jon Huntsman, Brings 'Mad Men' Into Town Hall Discourse

The "Daily Show" host urged the AMC drama's Twitter fans to send questions to Jon Hamm at #Q4Jon shortly before presidential candidate Huntsman opened a "Town Hall" Q&A session with the same hashtag.

Like everyone else, politicians are still learning the lessons of social media, and one of the most fundamental is that, no matter how high-minded your purpose, you’re always vulnerable to the class clown.

When it comes to politics that spot belongs to Jon Stewart, the sharp-witted and sharp-tongued host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. As struggling Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman discovered Tuesday, the reach of Stewart’s pranks is long.

Huntsman, the wealthy one-time governor of Utah and former U.S. ambassador to China, is battling to win a hearing for his moderate social views in a GOP field dominated by hard line conservative rhetoric. Tuesday, he attempted an end run around the conventional debate process with a “Twitter Town Hall” during which he took and answered questions from the public in real time.

Unfortunately for Huntsman, the event attracted Stewart’s satiric eye and, several hours before the questioning was to begin, he tweeted this on the Daily Show’s Twitter account: "@MadMen_AMC fans: tweet Jon Hamm your questions by 4:15 Eastern? Hashtag #Q4Jon"

Along with the normal questions from voters, Huntsman suddenly found himself fielding detailed queries from Daily Show fans -- who are famously loath to distinguish between political news and political satire -- thinking they were addressing the star of the wildly popular television series.

For his part, Huntsman seemed to take the fallout from Stewart’s prank not just in stride, but also in good humor, bantering with some of the Hamm fans. If nothing else, potential Republican voters learned that there’s at least one candidate in their field with a touch of genuine wit.

Some of the tweets:

"In ten years do you see yourself following George Clooney's or Tom Selleck's career path?"

(Huntsman responded: "I definitely want Clooney's career path. But I think that Q was for Jon Hamm. Funny prank @TheDailyShow! #Q4Jon")

"Jon who makes all of your suits? They have a great retro look."

"Do you thin you'll be able to snag the Emmy this year - even with Brian Cranston's brilliant performance in S4?"

"What's new on Mad Men this season? I'm a HUGE fan!"

"How many of the Mad Men actresses have you slept with?"

"Are there characteristics of Don Draper that you relate to?"

"Mr. Hamm, how do you feel about Jon Huntsman trying to hijack your hashtag? #lol"

"Do you feel those who spell John w/ H are wasteful liberals using consonants wantonly & w/o discretion?" (Huntsman responded: "Yes!")

A short time later, Huntsman sent out a sign-off tweet:  "Thanks everybody. That was fun. Off to an event in Concord this evening. Will do it again soon!"

'Chuck' Star Zachary Levi to Host Spike TV's Video Game Awards

'Chuck' Star Zachary Levi to Host Spike TV's Video Game Awards

The frequent video game voice actor will host the Dec. 10 show live from Los Angeles.

Chuck star Zachary Levi is getting into the game in a big way.

The video game enthusiast and fan favorite has been tapped to host Spike TV's Video Game Awards, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

Levi, who in addition to his duties on NBC's Chuck also serves as a voice actor for games Fallout: New Vegas and Halo: Reach, will host the awards that will air live from Los Angeles on Spike TV, MTV2 and Spike.com on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m.

“Zac Levi is an avid gamer who is truly a part of gaming culture and understands the fans,” said Casey Patterson, executive producer and executive vp event production, talent and studio relations for Viacom Entertainment Group. “He has great ideas about this year’s show. Zac is all about honoring the year in gaming and ushering in the future by showcasing massive world premieres at this year’s event. We're excited to be working with Zac. “

The awards show, which is being executive produced by Mark Burnett, will feature the Black Keys performing their video game hit "Lonely Boy," with Grammy nominee deadmau5 transforming the show with a visual representation of sound into a real-life video game experience.

Presenters include Family Guy's Seth Green, who voices the Joker in the "Mass Effect" game series, LL Cool J, American Reunion stars Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott and former San Francisco 49ers and NFL Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Jerry Rice.

The show will also honor the three founders of Blizzard Entertainment -- Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce -- with the Gamer God Award for their efforts in creating games including World of Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo.

Valve's "Portal 2" leads the pack for the 2011 VGAs with 12 nominations, with Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham City close behind with 10 noms.

Burnett, Casey Patterson and Carol Donovan will exec produce.

Currently in its final season, Chuck airs Fridays at 8 p.m. A special two-hour series finale is set for Jan. 27.

Ann Coulter Says She Was Censored for Saying 'Dickweed' on MSNBC

Ann Coulter Says She Was Censored for Saying 'Dickweed' on MSNBC

Ann Coulter made an appearance on Joy Behar's HLN show hours following the mishap that occurred during her appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe on Tuesday.

From Coulter's appearance on the Joe Scarborough-led show, it was unclear what words were actually said, with it seeming like she had called Sen. John McCain a "douchebag." On The Joy Behar Show that night, Coulter revealed that it was another D-word that got her into a bit of trouble.

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"I don't want to be bleeped again but I said d--kweed. I thought you could say that," Coulter said. "They were talking about the lack of consistency. ... I was making the point, I don't think consistency is the most important value."

She continued: "And you know, look at John McCain, he was consistently a d--kweed."

Behar pointed out that Mark Halperin, who has appeared on Morning Joe as a panelist, was suspended from the cable news network after calling President Obama a "d--k." Coulter then responded by saying that if they will censor that, "they will not be able to use the 2012 Republican campaign slogan, which is going to be 'Obama: He's Kind of a D--k.' "

With Behar's show nearing an end, the conservative-minded Coulter admitted that it was the only show she could watch to avoid the Casey Anthony trial, who she called "white trash bimbo."

After Coulter's remarks on Morning Joe, Scarborough took to Twitter to apologize to McCain.

"John McCain is a great American hero," he wrote. "All of us on Morning Joe thank him for his service to America. He is a great man.”

Teletoon Retro to air Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" In 2012

Teletoon Retro to air Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" In 2012

Teletoon Retro have issued a press release announcing they will be airing "new" episodes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2012, beginning Friday March 9th at 10PM EST. With Nick owning the rights to the 2003-2009 TMNT series as well as their own upcoming CGI TMNT series in 2012, it is rumored that these "new episodes" will indeed be reruns of the original 1980s TMNT series

'I Hate My Teenage Daughter': Wasted opportunities with new FOX comedy

'I Hate My Teenage Daughter': Wasted opportunities with new FOX comedy

The biggest shame of the new FOX comedy "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" is the amount of talent the show wastes.

The series follows two divorced women and their struggles as they raise their troublesome teenage daughters (thus, the title). Katie Finneran, a Tony Award winner, plays Nikki Miller, a former high school loser who is borderline obsessed about her daughter Mackenzie (Aisha Dee) achieving popularity. Emmy winner Jaime Pressly plays Nikki's best friend Annie Watson, a woman from a super conservative upbringing who can barely control her daughter Sophie (Kristi Lauren).

In the pilot, Sophie and Mackenzie are gearing up for their first high school dance, and their moms couldn't be more excited. But things go afoul when, just days before the dance, the daughters decide to lock up a male, handicapped classmate in the women's bathroom.

As expected, the mothers are called to principal's office and are horrified at the news. The women decide to punish their girls by not letting them go to the dance. But given how eager the daughters are to go and how excited the mothers are to see their girls experience the popularity they never had, Nikki and Annie cave fairly quickly (aided by sizable lie from the girls). When the mothers find out the whole thing is a scam, they decide to awkwardly exact their revenge.

In theory, the show is a comedy about the challenges single mothers face with only moderate involvement from their ex-husbands. The problem is the show never delves that deep. Rather it quickly devolves into borderline slapstick comedy that was old when the Three Stooges were doing it.

Were it 1987, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter" might give a show like "My Two Dads" a run for its money. But we're not. The family comedy has evolved over the last 25 years. They now offering smarter writing and better characters as we've seen in shows like "Modern Family" and "The Middle."

It's not the fault of Finneran or Pressly that this show is DOA. They know what to do with good material. Now if they could only get some to work with.

The series debuts on Wednesday (Nov. 30) at 9:30 p.m. ET.