Samuel L. Jackson to Host the BET Awards

Somebody better bring the bleep button into the shop for a tune-up: Samuel L. Jackson is hosting this year's BET Awards.

The "Snakes on a Plane" star's hosting gig was revealed Tuesday by the network, along with nominees for this year's event.

Past hosts for the ceremony, which was launched in 2001, include Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Damon Wayans and Jamie Foxx. Last year's event was hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Hart. 

On the nominee front, the Video of the Year award will be vied for by Beyonce's "Love on Top" and "Countdown," Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Otis" and "N----- in Paris" and Usher's "Climax."

Denzel Washington, Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, Common and Idris Elba will battle it out for the best actor award, while Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Regina King and Zoe Saldana are competing for best actress honors.

Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj will be this year's performers for the event, which takes place July 1.

Jo Brand to host TV Choice Awards 2012

Jo Brand will be the host of this year's TV Choice Awards, taking place on Monday, September 10 at The Dorchester.

Voting has opened for the 16th year of the awards show, which celebrates the most popular TV stars and shows.

2011 winners included David Tennant, Doctor Who's Karen Gillan, Ant & Dec and Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon.

The longlist is now available for fans to vote on at tvchoicemagazine.co.uk. Longlist voting ends on June 15.

For the first time, BBC One's The Voice will battle it out with Simon Cowell's reality shows for a gong, while Call The Midwife and Homeland will be hoping to make an impact in the 'Drama' category.

"The calibre of stars who walk the red carpet into our awards every year shows that it's an event the TV industry loves and respects, knowing that it's the viewers who pick the winners.

"We are delighted to be gearing up for our 16th year of prize-giving and another truly memorable night," said TV Choice editor-in-chief Jon Peake.

TV Remote Control Inventor Eugene Polley Dies at 96

Eugene Polley, who invented the first wireless remote control for television, died of natural causes Sunday at a Chicago hospital, the Associated Press reports. He was 96.

A former engineer for Zenith, Polley created the Flash-Matic tuning system -- a ray gun-shaped device that shot a beam of light at photo cells at the corners of television screens, allowing viewers to change channels and turn the picture and sound on and off -- in 1955. Advertising for the device noted that it was "[a]bsolutely harmless to humans!"

Polley, a native of Chicago, received an Emmy, along with fellow Zenith engineer Robert Adler, in 1997 for his work in developing television remotes. He was also given the Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award from the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers in 2009.

An engineer for 47 years, Polley rose through the ranks from the stockroom at Zenith, and worked for the U.S. Department of Defense during World War II, focusing on advances for radar. In all he amassed 18 U.S. patents, helping to create such groundbreaking products as the push-button radio for cars and the video disk, which preceded the DVD.

Zenith spokesman John Taylor told the AP that Polley remained proud of his invention well into his sunset years, showing it off to visitors at his home: "He always kept his original remote control with him."

Rita Ora, Avril Lavigne on Cowell's 'X Factor' UK judge shortlist

Rita Ora and Avril Lavigne are the latest musicians tipped to take on a judging role in this year's The X Factor UK.

Following Kelly Rowland's exit from the ITV1 show and Dannii Minogue's snubbing of a return to the panel, there is still a vacant spot on the ITV1 reality series.

Geri Halliwell, Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart are reportedly among the guests who will fill in during the audition rounds across the summer, but a full-time judge will be needed by the time Judges' Houses is filmed later in the year.

According to the Daily Star, Ora and Lavigne have joined Alicia Keys as possible full-time judges.

Ora has been No.1 in the UK charts for two weeks, while Lavigne was linked to a spot on the US X Factor panel.

The X Factor's first filmed auditions start in Liverpool tomorrow. Halliwell is the first guest judge, who will join Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh on the UK tour.

The Voice UK: BBC boss Danny Cohen wants all four coaches back in 2013

BBC One controller Danny Cohen has said that he hopes all four Voice UK coaches return next year.

There has been mounting speculation in recent weeks on whether Jessie J will quit the singing contest, which also features will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and The Script's Danny O'Donoghue on the panel.

Quizzed by the Radio Times on whether he wants to reinstate the same coaches next year, he said: "I hope so. God, yeah. I'd love all our judges to come back. I love them in multiple ways."

Cohen challenged the view that the judges are too friendly, insisting: "It's one of the great aspects of the show, that tonal quality, which we are very keen to maintain.

"I think the emphasis on constructive criticism is one of the fresh and exciting things about it."

Meanwhile, responding to Simon Cowell's claims that The Voice is similar to X Factor and other talent shows, Cohen hit back: "They made their decision about who they believed in with their backs turned.

"The key thing is that the selection of the teams by the judges is blind."

The 38-year-old boss also suggested that he will not use NBC's revamp as a precedent to shake up the reality show's format in the UK.

"We'll look at the end of the series but I think we're in a good place and I don't imagine mega-changes," he added.

Reports earlier this month indicated that producers would make immediate changes to the BBC programme because of falling viewing figures.

Ratings for The Voice have tailed off from a peak of 10.7m in April to under 6m in the last fortnight.

Olly Murs, Caroline Flack return to host 'Xtra Factor'

Olly Murs and Caroline Flack have been confirmed to return as hosts of The Xtra Factor.

The pair will present the ITV2 spinoff for a second year, though Flack will cover the auditions, Boot Camp and Judges' Houses alone while the 'Dance With Me Tonight' is on tour with One Direction in the US.

Murs will be "recording special items" for the series in his absence, before rejoining his colleague at the live shows.

Flack said: "I had a fantastic time on The Xtra Factor last year with my TV husband Olly, so I can't wait to get started on the show again.

"Even though Olly and I won't be reunited in person until the live shows we will be together all the way in spirit; he's bound to be calling me mid-interview to check what has been happening on the judges' tour to ensure he doesn't miss out on any crucial gossip."

Murs added: "I can't wait to get back to The Xtra Factor this year, especially now my partner in crime Caroline is confirmed to be joining me. I know it's going to be a great year and we'll be grilling the judges and contestants more than ever before."

Flack had personally confirmed her return to The Xtra Factor back in March, while Murs said on Daybreak this morning that he had "officially signed on the dotted line".

The pair were frequently romantically linked throughout last year's series, but always denied the rumours.

Elsewhere on The X Factor, Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow have been confirmed for the judging panel, with Tulisa Contostavlos expected to return.

Dermot O'Leary will host the ITV series for a sixth year, while guest judges will fill in for departed panelist Kelly Rowland.

Geri Halliwell is tipped to both guest at auditions in Liverpool tomorrow (May 23) and take a permanent judging role later in the contest.

Giuliana Rancic Re-Ups With E! News

E! News Anchor and Managing Editor Giuliana Rancic has extended her overall agreement with the cable network through April 2015, E! announced Tuesday.

Rancic will anchor and serve as managing editor of E! News for the next three years, and host red carpet events. She will also continue to co-host "Fashion Police," and E! will have the first-look rights to her ideas for series, specials and other broadcast projects, both scripted and non-scripted.

Rancic shares the managing editor title with Ryan Seacrest, who re-upped with E! last month. She also stars on Style's "Giuliana & BIll," which chronicles her life with "Apprentice" winner Bill Rancic.

The couple recently announced that they were expecting their first child after the Style series followed their struggles to conceive. Rancic learned she had breast cancer last year while she was preparing to undergo fertility treatments. But they said on "Today" last month that they are having the child with the help of a gestational carrier.

"Our viewers feel a special connection to Giuliana since in many ways she’s grown up on our air over the past decade," said E! President Suzanne Kolb. "Giuliana's on-air charm, charismatic personality and outstanding professionalism have made her one of TV's most recognized hosts, and her work has helped propel E! News to new heights. She possesses a deep passion about pop culture that keeps her constantly in the know and up to date on the same topics that fascinate our viewers."

Giuliana joined E! in 2002 as a correspondent for E! News, and she has been anchor and managing editor for the show since January 2005.