Supernatural: Is Wincest Dead?

Changes are afoot in Supernatural's eighth season. Led by new showrunner Jeremy Carver and airing on a new night, this season has also ushered in a new era of The CW series — one in which vampires can be trusted and demons could potentially be wiped out for good. But let's not kid ourselves — what we care about the most is how these changes affect the Winchester brothers.

Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean's (Jensen Ackles) relationship has always comprised the real heart of Supernatural, even spawning a rabid subset of fandom known as Wincest (a combination of "Winchester" and "incest"). But the new season finds the boys' polarized from one another, and while this isn't the first time the Winchesters have had to rebuild their relationship, have they changed too much to make the repairs?

"I think Dad wants us to pick up where he left off.  Saving people.  Hunting things.  The family business." Those were the fateful words that started it all when Dean came bursting back into Sam's life so many seasons ago. In a nostalgic turn of events, Season 8 began much in the same way, with Dean once again guilting Sammy into abandoning his normal life to follow in their father's footsteps.

But after being separated for a year, both brothers have returned changed men. And while Dean didn't seem to mind Purgatory — he even praised its purity — he could never leave Sammy behind, fighting tooth and dagger to return to his baby bro. Sadly, Dean was quick to learn his brother didn't share the same devotion. Instead of looking for Dean, Sam chose to hang up his hunting boots, get a dog, a girl and move on with his life. "I'm still the same guy, Dean," Sam pleaded to his disgruntled brother. "Well good for you. I'm not," Dean snapped.

Supernatural: Sam and Dean reunited and it feels so ... odd and secretive?

And boy, he wasn't kidding! Brooding, binge drinking and casual sex are no longer Dean's darkest vices. Purgatory hardened him, re-exposing the darkness within that he discovered during his stint in Hell. And though he seems to be keeping it together for the most part, there are times when Dean acts eerily similar to Soulless Sam from Season 6 (a very troubling fact since there may be a spell to restore a soul, but I doubt there's one to mend one so damaged). But while Dean did everything he could in Season 6 to save Sam's humanity, it's unclear how much Sammy's willing to fight for his brother at the moment or if Dean can even still be reached.

Rediscovering the brothers' relationship has become a hobby for fans of Supernatural, which loves to dabble in role play. (No, not that kind of role play.) The series constantly shifts the dynamic between Sam and Dean, changing the way they relate to each other nearly every season. And while it was fun to see Dean take the moral high road for a few seasons (settling down with Lisa and Ben, preaching the importance of humanity to Sam), it's both refreshing and comforting to see the brothers switch roles yet again. I only wish their new roles included a little more brotherly love and a lot less secrets.

Thankfully, Season 8 isn't completely devoid of the bromance we've all come to count on. There's still the same delightful banter and hugs — oh, the hugs! — that made Supernatural a cult hit. And as always, a good cheeseburger will still return Dean to his cheery self (just as quickly as Sam's disrespect of Baby will still set off a temper tantrum). But despite the playful back-and-forths, the Winchesters' relationship remains very fragile. The dam of routine that currently keeps the tension at bay could burst at any second — and it's pretty clear what that catalyst will be.

A few seasons ago, Sam's relationship with the demon Ruby nearly split the duo apart. So how's Sam going to react when he discovers Dean has cozied up with his Purgatory pal — and vampire — Benny? Others have come between the brothers before (Dean's bromance with Cas trails behind Wincest by only a hair), but there's no way in Heaven, Hell or Purgatory that Sammy would let this betrayal slide. In fact, his new friendship with Benny might be the most ominous sign of the changes in Dean, who only last season refused to overlook his duties as a hunter in order to spare one of Sam's childhood friends. Has Dean gone so far into the darkside that he can no longer see the line between good and evil? And even if his heart is still in the right place, is his relationship with Sam strong enough to withstand another evil third-wheel?

The scary thing is, probably not. But thankfully, these aren't just any brothers — this is the Winchester boys we're talking about! They've been to Hell and back for each other and no matter what, they're family. So while Dean might call the vampire "brother," at the end of the day, blood is blood. Benny might drink it, but he and Dean don't share it.

I can only hope that Carver shares this same philosophy, because while viewers might tune in for the gory mythology, we stay for the brotherly love. So get well soon, Wincest! We miss you already. (Oh, and while we're making suggestions: Cut your hair, Sammy. No one likes a moose with a Farrah flip.)

American Horror Story's Second Season Asks: What Is Sanity?

If you thought American Horror Story's Murder House was spooky, just wait until you experience Briarcliff Manor, the insane asylum at the center of the FX drama's second season, aptly subtitled Asylum. But while there are plenty of tangible scares — a vicious serial killer named Bloody Face, a Nazi doctor whose failed experiments roam the woods just beyond the Manor's boundaries and... aliens — it's the psychological terror co-creator Ryan Murphy has added that will send you running for the hills.

While Season 1 was about adultery, Season 2 is certainly about sanity. And before you assume those in charge of the asylum are sane and the inmates aren't... well, don't. The whole premise of the season is to flip that idea on its head. "The scariest thing is knowing that those who are incarcerated may be more sane than the people running it," new cast member Joseph Fiennes tells TVGuide.com. Adds fellow Season 2 addition Lizzie Brocheré: "What's sane? What's not sane? It's the question of the whole season."

This season is set in the 1960s and Briarcliff Manor is home to inmates who are actually insane, who are wrongly accused or who are deemed crazy based on "ailments" such as sexuality. Heading up the asylum are Fiennes' Monsignor Timothy Howard, who Fiennes describes as "a lovely Catholic priest that just wants to help lost souls," and Sister Jude (returning star Jessica Lange), whose battle for control of the asylum takes center stage this year.

While Lange's Season 1 character Constance was dastardly and in control, Jude struggles in an era during which it wasn't easy for women to gain power. "Because of where it's set, because of the time, because of the different characters, I think it's more psychologically intricate," Lange says. "I think it's a much fuller story than last year."

Jude will go head-to-head with James Cromwell's Arthur Arden, the doctor who uses the inmates in his medical experiments. The cruel treatment of patients may drive audiences to the brink of insanity themselves, but Cromwell insist the show is being true to history. "Most of these things that you see in the show actually happened in the '60s," he says. "We didn't see the horror of psychiatry and lobotomies and Thorozine. They had any number of procedures that they prescribed for people, which they now know were really torturous. But they believed what they were doing was right because they had blinders and don't see the bigger picture."

Among the inmates who will feel Arden's wrath are Brocheré's Grace, who seems to actually be the most sane person at Briarcliff. Grace introduces the audience to the other side of the asylum, as she befriends new inmates Kit Walker (Evan Peters) and Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) — whose incarcerations are questionable at best. While Kit is possibly wrongly accused of being a serial killer, Lana is an investigative journalist who is locked up for digging into what actually goes down in the asylum.

Paulson says her Season 2 character has different motivations than those of psychic Billie Dean in Season 1. "Billie Dean was a person who was really mostly interested in her own self-advancement," Paulson says. "Lana is interested in that as well, but [it has] less to do with being recognized and celebrated, and more to do with being taken seriously." (In that regard, Lana and Jude have something in common.)

Being taken seriously is also a challenge for young Dr. Oliver Thredson (Zachary Quinto), a forward-thinking psychiatrist who's committed to the truth and the well-being of his patients. The debate between spiritual and physical will be the cause of much strife between Thredson and Sister Jude. "I don't think he's buying what she's selling," Quinto says.

But the premiere does offer some semblance of hope. Running concurrently to the main storyline is a tale of two newlyweds (Adam Levine and Jenna Dewan-Tatum), who in present day venture on their honeymoon to the condemned asylum. So, are the horrors of Briarcliff only temporary? "Rather like Murder House in Season 1, it's a character within itself, so those we step across the threshold may implode, but the institute itself remains," Fiennes says. "Its source of energy, however dark, remains intact."

Celebrity Big Brother to return in January 2013!

Celebrity Big Brother will be bursting back onto our screens in just a few months, it has been confirmed.

Host Brian Dowling revealed another series of the Channel 5 show would be on air in January, following last night’s Series 10 final.

It’ll be the third series to air in a year, following the two runs of the show in the past nine months.

Channel 5 previously renewed its deal with Big Brother makers Endemol to keep the show on air for a further two years until 2014.

Big Brother stared on UK telly back in 2000, and has seen an impressive 20 different series – including a Teen and Celebrity Hijack special – and well over 100 housemates and celebrities enter its doors over the past decade.

In a statement released earlier this year, Channel 5 revealed that the show had become “the most popular commissioned show in the channel’s 15-year history”.

Jeff Ford, Director of Programmes, Channel 5 said: “We’re hugely excited to have secured the return of Big Brother for Channel 5 which will continue to form a key part our programming schedule. The show so far has captivated the energy and vibrancy of the channel and we are looking forward to continuing this successful relationship.”

Bryan Cranston interview: Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan, Walter White and modern TV drama

With the first half of Breaking Bad's peerless fifth season coming to Netflix, Paul sat down with Bryan Cranston to talk Walter White...

On hearing he was in the UK to promote the upcoming release of season five of the unutterably fantastic drama Breaking Bad on streaming service Netflix, we jumped at the opportunity to sit down for a few minutes with none other than Mr Walter White himself, aka Heisenberg, aka actor Bryan Cranston.

In a roundtable conversation with a handful of other journalists, we spoke to Bryan about losing out at the Emmys, the changing landscape of television, getting lucky with Vince Gilligan, and how all Breaking Bad viewers are going to hell…

Walt has changed a great deal over the course of the show, with the transition from Mr Chips to Scarface almost complete. Are you enjoying playing the new, more openly amoral Walt, or do you miss playing the put-upon milquetoast science teacher?

This is the role of my life – I won’t have a better role for the rest of my career. Ever. But instead of lamenting that or feeling that, I’m embracing it, I’m enjoying the ride. Especially at my age now – I’m 56 now, I was 50 when we shot the pilot, and to have that come into my life at that age, it’s unbelievable.

I knew where it was going, and as an actor you hope to be able to have a career that sort of that mirror your own life – you want a well-rounded experience. You don’t always want to be serious, you don’t always want to be silly, you want to be able to experience a bunch of different things. But to be able to do that in one role? It’s ridiculous. It’s an amazing gift.

What kind of impact has the success of Breaking Bad had on you professionally? We’re seeing you in a lot more movies now…

It’s created a level of opportunity professionally that I’ve never experienced before. When actors first start out, you’re auditioning for everything, you’re talking to your friends, saying “What else is out there? What are you up for?” You’re trying to sniff it out like a pig after a truffle. You would do anything, and if your agent calls you and says “They’d like to hire you for…” you say “Yes” before the phone call has finished, because you need the job! You need to pay your rent.  So it’s nice to get out of that mindset, where you’re just saying “YES!”, and what I felt I’ve become pretty good at, is being able to identify well-written material. That’s the cornerstone. Everything that you do as an actor – if something is well-written, it has a chance to be good. If it is not well–written, it will not be good. It can even become popular but it won’t be good.

So if you just attach yourself to really good writing, it will save your ass almost all the time. And there are so many things that can go wrong in the execution of a project of a television show, or movie – any number of things. They could market it poorly, nobody finds it - then down it goes. But if it starts with the foundation of good writing, you’re in the best shape you can be.

Do you think shows the rise of original drama on cable networks such as AMC and HBO has allowed more interesting opportunities for established character actors such as yourself, Damien Lewis, Kyle Chandler, and so on?

It’s more opportunities for any actor. What’s happened is that the business model of television has changed. When I was a kid there were a very select few channels, and they were all governed by the same broadcast networks with the same business model, and it had to be more of a large appeal to people, and it just didn’t offer very much. So why were we attracted to independent film? Because it was risky. Because it told stories that would make us uncomfortable or go into different areas, and not necessarily end up with things tied up in a neat little bow, and “Oh, isn’t that pleasant.” That’s why were drawn to it. Now you have a situation where television has expanded, with hundreds of channels, and networks need to be able to have their own identity. So in the States, AMC has this credo that if it can be shown on a broadcast network, they don’t even want to hear it. They say: “We want the thing you thought could never be done.” That is like catnip to a writer. It’s like: “You mean the one that I wrote…? “Yes, that’s the one.” “But he’s a horrible person!” “That’s the guy.”

It’s empowering those writers to do exactly what they want. It’s the same with Vince Gilligan: he never thought this would be able to fly. He wrote this on his on spec, on his own, because it was in him, thinking: “No-one’s going to do this.” He still didn’t believe it when we were going into production.  He said: “You know where I’m going with this? I’m going to make a good person into a bad person.” “Yeah. Good.” “OK…”

Because of the nature of the show and the storytelling, it’s not ever going to be a show that million and millions of people go to. It’s too different, it’s too pungent for the tastes of most people. And that’s OK with us. I think if you try to appeal to the masses, you have to end up watering it down, and I think it’s better to be specific, and be bold in your points of view and your risk-taking.

Many fans argue over when their personal tipping point was for losing sympathy with Walt. Have you had that moment yet? Have you lost sympathy for him?

I don’t judge him. Because I’m too subjective, I shouldn’t judge him. It’s just a guy trying to get along and trying do the right thing. We’ve all done that, even as children: remember when you told a lie to your parents, and then you realize (shudders) you have to back up that lie, and now you’re in deeper? That’s what Walter White’s life is now.

But interestingly enough, is that that’s what historically television watchers have been told: we need to like and root for the lead character. It’s embedded in our psyche. And now… now it’s different. All the rules are different. But I’ll even have older journalists – not you – will say to me, almost aggressively and anxiously, “How are we supposed to like him?” And I say, “Are you supposed to? Where’s the rule that says you’re supposed to follow some edict?” All the rules are broken, you can go anywhere.

But still, structurally Vince Gilligan knew that he had to plant the hook – if we didn’t plant the hook and initially sympathise with Walter White, the viewer would never feel this anxiety. So if someone tunes in at season two or three, they won’t have the same sympathies as someone who started with the show, and they’re easy to dismiss it: “Ah, he’s a bad guy, I don’t like him.” But if you started with it, you know that hook was in deep, then we let the line go, let the line go, and then: BAP! And we start reeling you in, and the viewers are following even if they don’t want to. They know Breaking Bad is going to swirl down into a morass of ugliness. We’re not going to take nice little note upwards: it’s Breaking Bad. It’s going to be bad. Even though – and you might know this – I don’t ask what’s happening, I don’t know how it’s going to end, we have eight more episodes to shoot before we’re done, and I have no idea how it’s going to go.

Do you have any personal opinion on how the show should end?

I don’t. Again, I don’t try to be objective to it. I honestly feel – and I swear to you this is not a cop-out answer – I want it to end exactly how Vince Gilligan wants it to end.  He’s the captain, he’s guided the story from the beginning, and I empower that. I’m his mouthpiece, basically. Some people ask me, “You’ve got eight episodes, is there pressure on you to finish it?” and I say, not at all. It’s not on me. It’s on Vince.

Vince Gilligan was hugely respected for his work on X-Files, but is now mentioned in the same breath as David Milch, David Chase and David Simon at the forefront of a new wave of respected TV auteurs. As a producer as well as star of the show, what’s your relationship with him been like during the course of making the show?

It’s been beautiful. I’ve been very fortunate, and I don’t hesitate to mention how this all came about. In fact I think it’s my duty as an older guy to reach down and mentor the young actor and tell them with all absoluteness that there are components that are necessary to be there to have a successful career in the arts. There’s talent: if you don’t feel you have talent, stop now, go back home, and get into the family business. But if you have talent, and perseverance and patience, there’s still one more component left that without it you won’t be successful: luck. You have to have luck. And I had luck.

I was doing a movie I wrote and directed, and just took a flier. I put all my money in it, and I went out with my wife and we made this little movie, and we postponed it three, four times. I came back [to LA] to finish it, was in town for three days, and my agent called me. “There’s a role on X-Files. Would you be interested?” “Well, yeah, I’m broke, I need the money.” And I got it. It was written by Vince Gilligan. That’s where I met him. Had I not been available, I wouldn’t be sat in this chair right now. I know that. It’s good, because it frees me up to realize there’s no point in worrying about things: you’re going to get to the place you’re supposed to go to. Vince was my champion to get this role: I will forever be grateful to him.

The relationship between Walt and Jesse has gone from teacher and pupil, to a kind of heavily dysfunctional father and son relationship. Now Walt’s ego is rampaging out of control in the early stages of season five, do you think he still feels the same kind of duty of care towards Jesse, or now sees him more as a disposable asset?

No, I think it’s kind of both. I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. You know it used to be, we were talking about the condition of the television watcher, people would watch [whoever the character was] because they knew they would stay the same. Whether it’s Archie Bunker or Thomas Magnum, or whatever, you’d watch it because you know, there he is, I’m comfortable, same guy.

[Breaking Bad] has been a series of changes and adjustments, and what I’ve learned through that is that human beings are capable of a much wider spectrum of emotions. That’s the real honesty of it. That given the right set of circumstances anyone of us could become dangerous. And it’s not mutually exclusive to have a person who is angry and goes and kills somebody, because that’s this part of them as a human being compartmentalized. Then go home and can pick up their little baby daughter and be honestly and earnestly nurturing and loving and tender. In a way it’s very chilling, but I believe human beings are capable of that, it’s within that realm.

And the way it’s been depicted before is a hitman, like: “Oh, he’s a bad guy. He hates children.” That’s not real. As we explore real human emotions, we all have the capability of those wide ranges, of hating someone, and loving someone else. So why not show that in our programmes? And it adds confusion, it adds discomfort, an anxiety within the viewer. That’s what Breaking Bad and Vince Gilligan have done so beautifully. To add not only the drama and anxiety within the characters, but also in the viewing audience.

They’re saying things like “[stammering]I..I just…I don’t like Walter White…” And the way they’re saying it to me! [babbles incoherently] They’re upset that they were drawn into this.  They hate the fact that they’re watching, and we’re dragging them down to hell, and they can’t help it. And they’re going to hell. “I know you’re going to take me to this place, but I don’t want to go…” [calmly] “But you’re going.” [excitedly] “I’M GOING!” [wails]

That’s great when you can drive them in with you. That’s beautiful, crafted structure. You give them a taste of what they’re familiar with: a taste of sympathy, of familiarity: “I feel for this guy, he has bad health, and a son with special needs.” You see him in class, and can see that little spark of energy he has in his chemistry, and then there’s just a sea of apathetic faces, like, “Whatever.” You feel for him - and now I’ve got you, and I’m going to take you along with me, and you can scream and fight and rebel against it, but we’re taking you down to hell…

How did you respond to being beaten to the Best Actor award for the first time by Damien Lewis (Homeland) at this year’s Emmy awards?

I don’t think too much of it. I never dreamt about winning awards, that has to remain a surprise to you. The fact that you’re in that conversation, that people are responding to your work is in and of itself a remarkable thing.

Here’s something I found upsetting: people have a tendency to pit [actors] against each other as if it’s a competition, and I see why they think that but I truly don’t see it that way. People would come up to me after Damien Lewis won the Emmy and said: “Ah, I’m sorry, you got robbed. Man, you got robbed. You were robbed.” And every time someone would say that, it would feel like someone was accidentally stepping on my toe each time.  Because I know it’s not true, number one. And number two, I understand the sentiment, that they’re trying to say “I’m sorry you didn’t win,” but they feel like that’s not enough. It’s not enough to say “I’m sorry you didn’t win”, [they] have to put down the other guy. That kind of competition was uncomfortable to me. I know Damien, and he’s so terrific, and he certainly deserves that kind of accolade and attention. It was his year, so no, I’m not upset. He’s terrific. But by saying I got robbed, that’s saying he didn’t deserve it, which is a little annoying to me.

The opening of season five demonstrates perhaps a bit more humour than people may have been expecting. Do you think it’s important to balance out the bleak subject matter of Breaking Bad with these regular doses of  dark comedy?

Again, it’s the captain of our ship that guides that. You know what’s really good is to keep people honest, to keep people off-kilter. So at the beginning of season four you saw a very surprising, violent opening. At the beginning of season five, I think maybe the audience is like “Ohhh, what’s gonna happen, it’s going to be bad…” And then it’s not violent. Still honest – it didn’t break from who we are, but it kept people off-guard, and that’s the best thing you can do.

That’s the brilliance of the writing. It’s sometimes, I feel like I get to be the lead singer, but the true talent is the one writing the songs, and he’s in the background.

Do you have any idea why Breaking Bad hasn’t found a home on television in the UK, finding its audience instead through online streaming services, DVD sales, and downloads?

I don’t know. It’s an underground show. In fact, it’s kind of cool that it is. It’s kind of cool that a lot people still don’t know about it. It’s almost like a private little club. And that’s alright, because as I say it’s a very pungent show. If you like vanilla, you’re not going to like Breaking Bad. You need to like a specific flavour that is unusual, that is different, that takes risks.  And most television shows don’t do that.

Lauren Conrad: 'The Hills scenes were re-enacted'

Lauren Conrad has admitted that while most of the storylines on The Hills were real, the way it was filmed wasn't.

The 26-year-old starred in the MTV reality show between 2006 and 2009 following her breakout stint on Laguna Beach.

Lauren Conrad Third Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic - arrivals at Will Rogers State Historic Park Pacific Palisades, California - 06.10.12 Mandatory Credit:Daniel Tanner/ WENN.com

"I think the story they told wasn't a dishonest one, [but] the way they did it sometimes was," Conrad told Allure magazine.

"They aren't going to be there for everything. Sometimes two of their main characters will get into a fight, and that's important to the story line. The [producers] need that re-enacted."

Giving an example, she explained: "Brody [Jenner] and I did date. It was pretty brief. There was definitely editing to drag it out."

Speaking of finding fame on reality TV, she added: "I think anyone in the public eye is going to be hated, and a lesson that I needed to learn quickly is that it is impossible to please everybody. One person will call you classy, and another will call you boring.

"People felt that a lot of the things I had were undeserved, maybe because I didn't have a specific talent. I was more of a regular girl and maybe didn't deserve the attention."

Conrad previously admitted that she "didn't love" being in reality TV as it made her feel "uncomfortable".

One Direction: 'X Factor's Union J, District3 are talented'

One Direction have given their backing to "great and talented" X Factor boybands Union J and District3.

The 'Live While We're Young' group, who were themselves formed on the ITV reality show in 2010, revealed that they are fans of Louis Walsh's acts.

Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles of One Direction BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards 2012 held at Wembley Arena - Arrivals London, England - 07.10.12 Mandatory Credit: Daniel Deme/WENN.com

"The boybands are really good," One Direction's Harry Styles told Heatworld. "I think its good that there are two boybands because a lot of the time I don't really think they want to put two of them through.

"I think they are both really great and talented and they showed that [on The X Factor]."

Styles's bandmate Louis Tomlinson agreed, describing Union J and District3 as "such nice guys as well".

It has been reported that Styles recently gave Union J member George Shelley tips on how to be "a hit with the ladies".

Jimmy Savile manipulated us all, says 'Jim'll Fix It' producer

A Jim'll Fix It producer has insisted that he was unaware of Sir Jimmy Savile's alleged sexual abuse of underage girls, revealing that the late presenter used to stay in a bedroom next to his teenage daughter.

Roger Ordish explained that while he was aware of Savile's "predilection for younger females", he believed there had been "nothing obscene" about the DJ's behaviour.

He told ITV"s This Morning today (October 16): "I didn't see anything and nothing was reported to me.

"He slept in a bedroom next to my 14-year-old daughter and I hope that is some indication that we had no suspicions of anything of this nature at all."

Asked by presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby why he was not concerned by reports of Savile's behaviour at the time, Ordish replied: "You hear rumours about everybody famous, there must be rumours that go around about you two."

He continued: "There's such overwhelming evidence that these things happened, that they can not all have been fabricated.

"But Jimmy Savile was a very clever man and he seems to have succeeded in hoodwinking a prime minister, the Vatican, the civil police forces, the NHS hospitals up and down the country and some members of the BBC staff, including me. I'd say he was a manipulative man."

Ordish's comments come amid reports from The Sun that four people who worked with Savile on Top of the Pops were allegedly involved in "horrific and inappropriate" acts against young girls.

Jon Bird, acting operations manager of The National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said that none of the accused were famous faces or presenters on the BBC show.

Savile is alleged to have committed acts of sexual abuse towards an estimated 60 victims across six decades.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller has confirmed that there will be no government inquiry into the BBC's handling of the allegations against Savile alongside those announced by the corporation itself.

Khloe Kardashian, Mario Lopez Officially on as 'X Factor' Hosts

Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez have signed on as hosts for Fox's singing competition "The X Factor," Fox said Tuesday.

Kardashian and Lopez will begin their hosting duties in November.

"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star Kardashian and "Extra" host Lopez had long been reported as contenders for the gig, a fact that "X Factor" executive producer and judge Simon Cowell acknowledged in the announcement.

“The worst kept secret in Hollywood is out,” Cowell cracked. “Mario and Khloé are our hosts. They will debut on our first live show in November and I couldn’t be happier.”

“I’m so thrilled to become a part of 'The X Factor' family,” Kardashian said. “I’ve been a big fan of the show and look forward to working with Simon and all of the judges. It’s going to be so much fun!”

Lopez added, "I’ve been a big fan of Simon Cowell and the judges for a long time. Khloé and I have been friends for years and I know we’ll be a great team and have a blast.”

Steve Jones, the host on the first season of "The X Factor," was let go earlier this year during a bloodbath that also saw the ouster of Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger.

Abdul and Scherzinger were replaced by Britney Spears and Demi Lovato for the current second season.

'X Factor' Rylan Clark, Lucy Spraggan kicked out of hotel?

X Factor contestants Rylan Clark and Lucy Spraggan have reportedly been kicked out of the Corinthia Hotel following their drunken antics last night.

The pair were photographed stumbling along a pavement at around 4am on their way home from a night out in London.

They apparently stopped a bus and attempted to rip off its windscreen wipers before X Factor staff caught them and "dragged them back to the hotel".

Lucy Spraggan ‏has since tweeted: "Me and @RylanClark are partaking in a small vacation from the hotel for a few days. Our most sincere apologies for our #beerfear behaviour."

Clark added: "As me and @lspraggan are literally on the move, can't twitcam tonight but we will BOTH do it tomorrow night x."

The X Factor contestants moved into £500-a-night rooms at the 5-star Corinthia Hotel earlier this month ahead of the live shows.

Show creator Simon Cowell had reportedly wanted the acts to show their "wild side" and be like "rock stars" to boost ratings.

Bette Midler to appear on 'Glee'?

Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy has hinted that Bette Midler may appear on the show.

Murphy confirmed on Twitter that he had invited the Grammy-winning star to appear on his Fox musical drama at Monday night's (October 15) God's Love We Deliver Golden Heart Awards.

"I just asked the incredible Bette Midler to be on Glee in front of 1,000 people," he wrote. "I hope she says yes!"

The showrunner later added: "Bette said yes! Amazing. I am plotting... who should she play?"

Murphy also confirmed news that American Idol's Jessica Sanchez had been cast on Glee and teased another possible themed episode of the show.

"With voices like Jessica, Lea [Michele], Naya [Rivera], Melissa [Benoist], Amber [Riley], and Jenna [Ushkowitz]... [Barbra] Streisand episode?" he posted.

'Veronica Mars' Creator Developing 'Metropolis' Adaptation for the CW

Rob Thomas, the man who brought the world "Veronica Mars," is once again teaming with the CW.

Thomas is working with the network to adapt the British series "Metropolis," about a bunch of friends trying to come to grips with the fact that their adult lives don't match up to the expectations they had as college kids.

Thomas will write and executive-produce the one-hour drama, which is being produced by the Littlefield Company, Rob Thomas Productions and ITV in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Warren Littlefield is also executive-producing, along with ITV's Paul Buccieri.

TV Tonight 17th of October 2012

The daily list in alphabetical order, of all the new episodes airing.

    112 - på liv och död S06E27: "Del 27 av 36"
    20.00 med Raske Menn S01E08: "Season 1, Episode 8"
    A Football Life S02E06: "Steve McNair"
    Add a Friend S01E06: "Mallorca Geld"
    American Horror Story S02E01: "Welcome To Briarcliff"
    American Restoration S02E33: "TBA"
    Anderson Live S02E28: "Co-Host Rachel Dratch | Julie Andrews"
    Animal Practice S01E05: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Coleman?"
    Antiques Road Trip S05E13: "Series 5, Episode 13"
    Are We There Yet? S03E23: "The Career Day Episode"
    Arrow S01E02: "Honor Thy Father"
    Be Your Own Boss S01E06: "Episode 6"
    Big Brother (AU) S09E57: "Daily Show 37"
    Cajun Pawn Stars S02E23: "Seat of Horns"
    Chelsea Lately S06E164
    Chicago Fire S01E02: "Mon Amour"
    Conan S02E154: "Alex Wagner, Ellie Goulding"
    Couples Therapy S02E03: "Communication Issues"
    Criminal Minds S08E03: "Through the Looking Glass"
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation S13E03: "Wild Flowers"
    Daybreak S03E33: "October 17, 2012"
    Days of our Lives S47E231: "Ep. #11941"
    DCI Banks S03E02: "Strange Affair (2)"
    De slimste mens ter wereld S10E19: "Season 10, Episode 19"
    Deal Or No Deal (UK) S08E57: "Episode 2050"
    Devil You Know S02E02: "Unfriendly Fire"
    Devil You Know S02E01: "Evil in First Class"
    Doctors S14E112: "An Appropriate Adult"
    Dokter Tinus S01E08: "Season 1, Episode 8"
    Dora the Explorer S07E16: "TBA"
    Dragons: Riders of Berk S01E09: "Dragon Flower"
    Duck Dynasty S02E03: "Truck Commander"
    Emergency Bikers S04E14: "Series 4, Episode 14"
    Emmerdale S41E245: "October 17, 2012"
    Exposure (UK) S02E04: "Driven From Home"
    Farmen S08E05: "Season 8, Episode 5"
    Figure It Out S05E03: "Season 5, Episode 3"
    Food Paradise S03E07: "BBQ Paradise 2 - Another Rack"
    General Hospital (US) S50E140: "#12668"
    Getting On S03E01: "Series 3, Episode 1"
    Ghost Hunters S08E19: "Curtain Call"
    Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden S23E33: "Season 23, Episode 33"
    Gran Hotel S02E03: "TBA"
    Grand Designs S12E05: "100-Foot-High Water Tower, London"
    Great British Food Revival S03E02: "Raspberries and Rabbit"
    Guys With Kids S01E05: "Gary's Day Off"
    Halv åtta hos mig S09E35: "Motala - Johanna"
    Helicopter Heroes S06E13: "Series 6, Episode 13"
    Highway Patrol (AU) S04E03: "Asserting My Rights"
    Hollyoaks S18E208: "October 17, 2012"
    Home and Away (AU) S25E193: "Episode 5628"
    Hotel cæsar S29E67: "Season 29, Episode 67"
    House Hunters S50E83
    House Hunters International S34E79: "Living La Vida Bocas"
    I Kveld Med Ylvis S02E11: "Season 2, Episode 11"
    Ink Master Sverige S01E02: "Season 1, Episode 2"
    Inside the NFL S36E06: "Week 6"
    Jimmy Kimmel Live S09E321: "Joel McHale, Joe Walsh"
    Jormungand S02E02: "Dance with Undershaft (Phase 1)"
    Judge Judy S17E38: "Pit Bull Mauls Yorkie
    Key & Peele S02E04: "Season 2, Episode 4"
    La Voz S01E05: "Gala 5"
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit S14E04: "Acceptable Loss"
    LEGO NinjaGo: Masters of Spinjitzu S02E22: "The Last Voyage"
    Life After Top Chef S01E03: "Duck Hearts and French Baguettes"
    Live with Kelly and Michael S30E28: "Kaley Cuoco, Jason Aldean"
    Loose Women S17E33: "Series 17, Show 33"
    Made S12E21: "Actresses"
    Mash Up S01E02: "Chris Hardwick and Deon Cole"
    Modern Family S04E04: "The Butler's Escape"
    Mount Pleasant S02E09: "Series 2, Episode 9"
    Nashville (2012) S01E02: "I Can't Help It
    Neighbours S28E203: "Episode 6513"
    NFL Turning Point S02E06: "Week 6"
    Not My Mama's Meals S02E10: "Say Cheese"
    NOVA S40E02: "Forensics on Trial"
    NOVA scienceNOW S06E02: "Can Science Stop Crime?"
    Oh Oh Europa S01E38: "Season 1, Episode 38"
    Operation Repo S10E18: "Little Froy's Big Mistake"
    Paranormal Witness S02E11
    Pointless S07E36: "Series 7, Episode 36"
    R.I.S. - Delitti Imperfetti S08E06: "Un pesce di nome Palla"
    R.I.S. - Delitti Imperfetti S08E05: "Il caso Sasso"
    Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja S01E13: "30 Seconds to Math"
    Restaurant Stakeout S02E07: "That Money's Out the Door"
    Restaurant: Impossible S04E13: "Oleander Bar and Grill"
    Salatut elämät S15E33: "Helena säästelee vitsaa"
    Shameless S10E07: "Series 10, Episode 7"
    SlugTerra S01E03: "The Trade"
    Sons of Guns S03E15: "Nine Guns and a Shootout"
    South Beach Tow S02E05: "Ruthless"
    South Park S16E11: "Going Native"
    Storage Wars: Texas S02E21: "Piñatas and Ta-tas"
    Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two S09E08: "Series 9, Episode 8"
    Suburgatory S02E01: "Homecoming"
    Supernatural S08E03: "Heartache"
    Survivor S25E05: "Got My Swag Back"
    The Bachelor Canada S01E03: "Episode 3"
    The Bold and the Beautiful S26E146: "Ep. #6430"
    The Chew S02E28: "Episode 266"
    The Colbert Report S08E130: "Tyler Perry"
    The Culture Show S17E15: "Series 17, Episode 15"
    The Daily Show S17E168: "Nate Silver"
    The Dr. Phil Show S11E32: "Tense Reunions"
    The Ellen DeGeneres Show S10E28: "Matthew Fox, Ellie Goulding"
    The Food Hospital S02E05: "Series 2, Episode 5"
    The Hamster Wheel S02E04: "Season 2, Episode 4"
    The Jeff Probst Show S01E28: "Living Your Truth"
    The Jeremy Kyle Show S08E33: "October 17, 2012"
    The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson S08E158
    The Middle S04E05: "The Hose"
    The Neighbors (2012) S01E04: "Bathroom Etiquette"
    The Only Way Is Essex S07E06: "Series 7, Episode 6"
    The Project S04E248: "Season 4, Episode 248"
    The Real World/Road Rules Challenge S23E05: "TBA"
    The Soup S09E42: "October 17"
    The View S16E32: "Valerie Bertinelli, Jeremy Sisto"
    The X Factor (US) S02E11: "Judges' Homes #2"
    The Young and the Restless S40E145: "Ep. #10014"
    Thuis S18E38: "Season 18, Episode 38"
    Unzipped (2012) S02E03: "Series 2, Episode 3"
    Vermist (2008) S04E05: "Thomas"
    Watch What Happens: Live S08E29: "Gina Gershon"
    Watchdog S31E06: "Series 31, Episode 6"
    Welcome to India S01E03: "Episode 3"
    Wereld draait door, De S08E33: "Season 8, Episode 33"
    Who Do You Think You Are? (UK) S09E09: "John Barnes"
    Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry? S03E17: "Field of Schemes"
    World Without End S01E08: "Part 1: Medieval Life and Death"
    WWE Main Event S01E03: "Season 1, Episode 3"
    Интерны S07E11: "Интерны Купитмана"

Telepictures Prods. Taps Stuart Krasnow as EVP, Creative Affairs

Stuart Krasnow has signed on with Telepictures Productions as its executive vice president, creative affairs, the company said Tuesday.

In his new position with Telepictures -- home of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "TMZ," "Anderson Live" and others -- Krasnow will oversee the creative efforts for new program and content development, and hold responsibility for the creation of new programming.

Krasnow, whose credits include Ricki Lake's '90s talk show, "The Weakest Link," "The View," "Today" and "Late Night With David Letterman," will oversee Telepictures' creative development team, including programming and development senior vice president Sheila Bouttier and director of development Tomii Crump.

Krasnow most recently headed his own production company, Krasnow Productions, under which he had an overall production deal with Fox 21.

"Entertainment has become a business where content is king and Telepictures is an industry leader in the diversity and quality of content that it provides to the marketplace every single day," Krasnow said of his new position. "I don't think there is a better place to be for someone who loves to create, develop and nurture content and talent, than to be part of a company that can react daily to the constant challenges in what we watch and how we view it."

Krasnow is replacing Lisa Hackner, who left Telepictures after 22 years to develop and produce her own projects.

'Gavin & Stacey' US version ordered by Fox

Fox has ordered a script for a US remake of Gavin & Stacey.

Creators and stars James Corden and Ruth Jones will serve as executive producers on the American project, as will I Just Want My Pants Back writer David Rosen, who will work on the script.

Fox's version of the BBC comedy will focus on the key life moments of the title characters as they try to maintain their relationship while combining their families' lives, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Corden and Jones, who starred in the UK series as Smithy and Nessa, will not have on-screen roles in the Fox project.

BBC Worldwide Productions and Sony Pictures TV are producing the show with the company behind the UK series, Baby Cow Productions. Henry Normal, executive producer of the UK version, will fulfil the same role on the US remake.

ABC previously attempted to adapt the series in 2009 with Stacy Traub and Hayes Jackson as writers.

Gavin & Stacey, which aired on BBC America in the States, ran for three series and a Christmas special. Both Jones and Corden have ruled out making more UK episodes in the near future.

'Great British Bake Off' winner crowned

John Whaite has been crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off.

The law graduate impressed judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood to take the title ahead of James Morton and Brendan Lynch.

Challenges on tonight's show included making a Pithivier or puff-pastry pie, a fondant fancy challenge and a showstopper with chiffon sponge.

"His thought processes, his design and his baking, for the first time, have just joined up," Hollywood said of Whaite. "I'm very proud of him. He did exceptionally well."

"I feel faint," Whaite said after he was announced the winner. "I feel really queasy about it. It's not sinking in. I cannot believe it, I'm so happy."

Digital Spy readers had backed Morton, with over 58% predicting that he would win The Great British Bake Off.

Lynch got 25.3% of the vote, while Whaite trailed in third with 16.5% of readers predicting he would win.

Whaite is now saving up to go to Paris and train as a pâtissier.

'X Factor' Tulisa: 'Caroline Flack is not a creepy cougar'

X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has defended Caroline Flack's relationship with Harry Styles.

The former couple, who split in January, hit the headlines back in October 2011 due to their 14-year age gap.

However, Tulisa has insisted that the Xtra Factor host and One Direction singer were a suitable match, brushing off suggestions that Flack is "cougar-ish and creepy".

"I've had them in my house at the same time and I've spent time apart with them as well. Harry is a very mature, charming young man, and he has enough intelligence to maintain a relationship with a slightly older woman," she told We Love Pop magazine.

"Caroline is a very sensitive, fun, young-at-heart person. The combination of the two made complete sense to me.

"People are so judgemental. She's one of the loveliest people I know. It's not cougar-ish and creepy."

Speaking of the judges' feuds on last year's X Factor, she added: "You don't need to bring it backstage. Obviously with me and Kelly, there were times when it went backstage, and we wouldn't talk, which was unfortunate. It didn't bother me though."

Flack received death threats from One Direction fans when the romance became public. She has since revealed that she had to move house due to the paparazzi interest it created.

Beyonce Knowles Officially Performing at Super Bowl Halftime Show

It's official -- Beyonce Knowles will be the halftime performer at the next Super Bowl.

Knowles' performance was announced by the NFL and CBS Tuesday, after reports surfaced earlier in the day.

The Super Bowl will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 3, 2013.

Knowles, whose catalog includes hits such as "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Crazy in Love," will follow in the footsteps of Madonna, who served as last year's halftime entertainment, an anonymous source told the AP.

Knowles all but confirmed the performance on her Tumblr page Tuesday, posting a photo of herself with the date "Feb. 3, 2013" -- the date of the Super Bowl -- painted under her eyes.

The singer belted out the National Anthem at the 2004 Super Bowl in her native Houston, prior to the New England Patriots/Carolina Panthers faceoff.

Not that Knowles needs it, but the Super Bowl will provide her tremendous exposure. Last year's game was the most-watched U.S. show ever with 111.3 million viewers.

Can You Take the Porn Out of a Porn Star?

PORN!

Say it out loud, I dare you. I don’t care if you’re in a coffee shop, at home alone, or in the library -- say it.

Yeah, that's what I thought. You didn't say it.

Now imagine this: One day you come face-to-face with your favorite porn star, just outside of church, or perhaps when you’re closing on your new house. You have a moment when you realize that you’ve been watching your realtor get serviced since the ‘90s. Would you have the cojones to say anything out loud then?

My directorial debut, “After Porn Ends,” began with a much more innocuous question. I was on set doing voice over/motion capture and some guys were watching "vegetable porn." For those who are unfamiliar, it's exactly what you think it is.  One of them remarked "How in the f--- do you do anything in your life after doing that?

Within seconds, I found myself asking something else: what is life after porn ends? At this point, I was a green East Carolina University grad and the only thing I knew about porn stars was that they loved to be on Howard Stern and Jerry Springer and that Jenna Jameson was a correspondent for E! at Cannes.

I remembered seeing a gal named Bianca Trump on Jerry Springer. She had this matter-of-fact attitude and she seemed confident. She had to be livin' high on the hog, right? Enter Luke Ford. Luke Ford was to porn blogs as Perez Hilton is to entertainment blogs -- bombastic, relentless, and oftentimes spot-on. His site featured her story. She was involved with prostitution, attempted murder, meth distribution, the Aryan Nation, and kidnapping. The denouement took place in a Washington state prison.

Now my question screamed at me: What had happened to these people? People on whose backs companies made billions of dollars. Were they all like Bianca, or was there a happy medium to be found?

Crissy Moran, an ex-pornstar you might see outside religious services, talks in the film about how she found God and assists in outreach to sex workers. Raylene, the real estate agent, is just trying to run her own business. Some performers make a good living from their porn history (Seka), some have lost their fortunes and spouses (Asia Carerra), and one was diagnosed with cancer after losing her job because of her porn past (Houston).

Ultimately, what really shaped my movie were the stories of the performers who “got away,” beginning with Celeste, who lives in a private community in Middle America. Her husband knows about her past, but her children and neighbors do not. She runs a business from home and couldn't be happier with her life. We established a great rapport, and when I asked to interview her, she agreed but stipulated that there would be no mention of her family or even exactly what she's doing today.

Strike one.

Next, I went after Jeff Stryker, dubbed the "Cary Grant" of gay porn by director John Waters. He'd recently starred in a one-man show written by Oscar telecast scribe Bruce Vilanch. He is living his wife and kids and is involved in his local municipality. His response after being contacted was this:

Thank you for the consideration but we already have works in progress and a documentary would conflict I am afraid. Jeff rarely if ever does documentaries where he is grouped with other adult industry performers. Jeff Stryker is a State and Federally registered trademark with the name image and likeness of Jeff Stryker used in product licensing contracts we have had for decades.

So, yeah. A rejection letter written in the third person from someone I thought would give me a balanced look at the business. Jeff's federally trademarked status prevented him from slumming it with a nobody director, aka Bryce Wagoner. Strik(er) two.

Luckily, during this time I also got in contact with my original MacGuffin, Bianca Trump. She was getting her unconditional release from prison and had plans to open an exotic reptile/tattoo shop. We were headed up to film it all and blow everybody away with her epic tale of redemption … until I got the following correspondence:

Bryce, thank you for thinking about me for your movie. But the more I think about it, the more I don't want my family to have to go through the embarrassment that they've had to deal with over the past several years. A lot of people hated me, and they had a right too. But no one recognizes me anymore and that's OK with me.  I'm ready to move on. Sorry- BT

Strike three.

With no cast and the fear of having my funding pulled, I decided to have a cocktail at the Skybar. On a cloudless night in Los Angeles, lighting struck. Mary Carey (pictured) walked in, and I approached her. She loved the project idea. Fast forward: I got to film her story about running for governor and becoming a reality TV star. All this happened while she financially took care of her mentally disabled parents. 

Base hit to right -- the rally was on.

Since the film's release, one person got engaged, one has died, and four have gone back into "the industry." There is no definitive answer to the question, “What is life after porn ends?” To some, their time in porn has had little effect on their current life. A few are wholly defined by it.  Others’ porn pasts are a dark secret full of shame and regret. And for a few sad others, frankly, there is no life after porn ends.

And you still won’t even say the word out loud.

Felix Baumgartner's Space Jump Draws 52 Million YouTube Views, Sets Discovery Channel Record

The phrase "take a flying leap" is generally used dismissively, but in Felix Baumgartner's case, people definitely showed interest. A lot of interest.

Austrian daredevil Baumgartner's record-breaking Oct. 14 freefall jump from 24 miles above the earth delivered online and television views nearly as lofty as the leap itself, amassing more than 50 million YouTube views and setting a record for the Discovery Channel, which aired the jump.

According to Red Bull -- the jump was part of the Red Bull Stratos Mission, which was created by Baumgartner and the energy drink giant -- Baumgartner's jump received 52 million YouTube views through the course of the event, with 8 million concurrent visitors checking it out at its peak.

Baumgartner's act of derring-do also provided a big boost to Discovery Channel, which drew 7.6 million total viewers throughout its airing of the event. Discovery's presentation of the jump averaged 4.21 million total viewers. In all, Baumgartner's jump became the highest-rated non-primetime program in Discovery's history.

Baumgartner, 43, broke world records for highest freefall and highest manned balloon flight with his jump.