Reality TV fans, this is your dream come true: There are plans afoot to create an all-reality, all the time cable channel, Reality Central, sometime in 2004. The developers, Larry Namer, co-founder of E! Entertainment Television, and Blake Mycoskie, a former reality show contestant, seem perfect for the job. And good old Richard Hatch of "Survivor" fame has signed on to promote the idea -- which is to rerun shows already broadcast. This could be the beginning of the end of the world, but don't say we didn't warn you. (CBS News)
In an example of life imitating sitcom, the actress who plays Karen's wisecracking klepto maid, Rosario, on "Will and Grace" (Shelley Morrison) was arrested on suspicion of felony shoplifting from a Los Angeles department store last week. Morrison was booked under the name Rachel Dominguez, but we think she's channeling someone named Winona Ryder. (S.F. Gate)
Newswoman Ashleigh Banfield caused quite a ruckus last week when she criticized American TV networks, including her own (NBC), for glorifying war coverage. She told an audience at Kansas State University that the networks showed a bloodless, "glorious wonderful picture," but "it wasn't journalism." She also criticized NBC for hiring Michael Savage, who called her a "slut" for doing reports covering the radical Arab point of view. On Friday NBC said it was "deeply disappointed and troubled" by her remarks. Unfortunately, it didn't say anything about the slut stuff. (Yahoo)
We were sick of the Dixie Chicks story until the Boss spoke up. Bruce Springsteen made a statement on his Web site in support of the Chicks' right to free speech: "For them to be banished wholesale from radio stations, and even entire radio networks, for speaking out is un-American." Now this will be interesting -- will the same backlash happen to Bruce that the Chicks suffered? Will radio stations stop playing his music, will "fans" destroy old copies of "Born to Run"? Will Bruce be called a traitor? We think not. (BBC)
It's now official, J.K. Rowling is richer than the queen of England! In a recent London Times "Rich List," the author of the Harry Potter books was said to be worth $446 million; Elizabeth is worth only $398 million. Maybe that's why her purse is so small. (N.Y. Post)
Speaking of cash for books, the $8 million book from Hillary Clinton is due out June 9 and will have a first printing run of 1 million copies. The 576-page memoir of her time in the White House, called "Living History," will sell for a list price of $28. You do the math. (Washington Post)
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