Like many American Idol hopefuls, Top 4 finalist Hollie Cavanagh says she “had a gut feeling” her journey would end on Thursday night. In fact, Hollie spent much of the day looking for signs, surveying various crew members’ expressions to see if they were looking at her differently, she tells The Hollywood Reporter in a post-show interview.

‘American Idol’ Elimination Night: Who Made the Final 3?‘American Idol’s’ David Cook and RCA Records Part Ways ‘American Idol’: Jennifer Lopez Wishes She Could Mentor More (Video)

VIDEO: ‘American Idol’ Vs. ‘The Voice’: Contestants Take On Josh Groban, James Brown

Indeed, it was a rough Top 4 for the Liverpool-by-way-of-Texas 18-year-old who got a particularly harsh assessment of her performances from Interscope Records chief Jimmy Iovine that she likened to “a punch in the face.”

STORY: ’American Idol’ Burning Questions: Who Said Phillip Phillips’ Performance Was ‘Rough?’ What Does Joshua Ledet Think of ‘The Voice?’ 

Hear more about Hollie’s last night on the Idol stage in the video above and her thoughts on the remaining three — Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez — below.  

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/p0kH2sM6kBw/american-idol-hollie-cavanagh-eliminated-jimmy-iovine-323203

The Vampire Diaries closed out the season of the Originals with several shocking twists — including one very big game-changer that may give Mystic Falls a run for its money.

‘Vampire Diaries’ Gilbert House Up for Sale‘Vampire Diaries’: Ian Somerhalder Talks Season 3 Finale Scenes (Video)CW Renews ‘Supernatural,’ ‘Vampire Diaries’ and ’90210′‘Vampire Diaries’: Mystic Falls Says Goodbye to a Beloved Character (Almost)‘Vampire Diaries’: Ian Somerhalder Weighs in on Damon and Elena’s Future (Video)

[Warning: Do not proceed if you did not watch the season finale. Major spoilers ahead.]

1. Which Salvatore brother did Elena choose? The choice was revealed when Matt posed the ultimatum to the indecisive Gilbert, who up to that point, was weighing the pros and cons of both being with Stefan (the “good” brother) and Damon (the “dangerous” one). With news that the all-powerful Alaric had staked Klaus, that meant time was of the essence for the vampires because of their supposed bond to Klaus. In the phone conversation with Damon, Elena broke the news that she was heading “home” (aka Mystic Falls) to go to Stefan while Damon was 100 miles away. “I care about you Damon, which is why I have to let you go,” Elena says on the phone. It references a similar conversation shared in flashback, but Elena was referring to then-boyfriend Matt. (The Stefan choice was foreshadowed by a dramatic — and some would say, long-awaited — Stelena kiss minutes prior, though it took place under less certain circumstances.)

2. Is Klaus really [spoiler]? We knew there was no way Klaus could actually be dead. Even if Klaus as we knew him was, there was no way the character would be killed off without major consequences or an unexpected twist. Sure enough, both happened in the finale. Though the Klaus we’ve known (in the form of Joseph Morgan) is dead, it was revealed — and quite nicely in what truly was a “WTF?!” moment – that Klaus is now in the form of Tyler. And Bonnie was in on it all along. What does this mean for everyone involved? And who will be the first to find out Klaus’ new “identity”?

3. Elena didn’t meet Stefan first. During the phone conversation Elena had with Damon, when she broke the news that she wasn’t going to him, there were hints to the past that Elena might not have been aware of. As executive producer Julie Plec teased to reporters, there was an event that took place (not Earth-shattering or game-changing, perhaps) that could potentially shift things for the three mains: Damon, Elena and Stefan. It was actually Damon who Elena met after her phone call with her mother and Aunt Jenna, only there was no way she could ever remember thanks to Damon’s decision to compel her to forget. “What is it that I want?” Elena asks Damon. “You want a love that consumes you. You want passion and adventure and even a little danger,” Damon replies. Knowing now that Damon was the first Salvatore brother she met (“can’t let people know I’m in town yet,” Damon says after compelling her), does it matter at this point? Will she even find out?

4. Did Elena just [spoiler]? What a way to cap off a season. Not only did Elena force Stefan to save her friend Matt, but Dr. Meredith Fell does something that ultimately saves her life — even if it has unknown repercussions. In an Avatar-like moment, Elena comes back to life after seemingly being dead. Did she just turn into a vampire — or something supernatural-y?!

5. Alaric dies, for real this time. After almost dying in last week’s episode, this time around, Alaric’s death sticks. Though in Mystic Falls, anything (and everything) can happen. What are your thoughts on saying goodbye to the former history teacher?

The episode, “The Departed,” also featured some rather funny quips. Here are some of the most entertaining Damon moments from the episode:

- “Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you not being the dumbest brother on Earth?” — Damon

- “Our life is one big proverbial coin toss.” — Damon

- The funniest scene had Damon chiming in via iPhone while Elijah persuaded Elena, Matt and Stefan to bring Klaus’ body back to him. At one point during the discussion, Damon jumps in to shoot down Elijah’s plan: “No, no, no, no, no! Did I mention, no!”

What did you think of the season three finale? Was it all you hoped for and more? What are you hoping will be addressed in season four?

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/o1xJBGx2QTY/vampire-diaries-season-3-finale-elena-damon-stefan-323204

Abbe Raven, president and CEO of A+E Television Networks, lobbed multiple pointed jabs at the ad-supported cable competition in her remarks during the company’s upfront presentation Wednesday evening in New York.

AE TV Networks Chief Abbe Raven: Why Consumers Crave Original Programming (QA)History Channel Orders First Scripted SeriesLifetime Renews ‘The Client List’AE Sets Summer Premiere Dates for ‘The Glades,’ ‘Longmire’ •Upfronts 2012

Noting that AETN’s core channels — which include AE, History and Lifetime — are “100 percent original programming in primetime,” Raven said: “We are not following the Big Bang strategy where 75 percent of the schedule is off-broadcast programming.”

PHOTOS: THR Celebrates the 35 Most Powerful People in Media at New York City Party

It was a zinger aimed squarely at Turner, where the CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory airs on TBS — at  a cost to Turner of $1.5 million an episode. Of course, multiple cable networks rely on off-network shows to fill their primetime schedule. USA airs reruns of broadcast procedurals Law Order: SVU and NCIS. Oxygen paid $500,000 an episode for reruns of Fox’s Glee. FX has CBS comedies How I Met Your Mother and Two and a Half Men.

“We have 19 of the top 50 shows in cable,” said Raven. “That’s 40 percent of the top shows. Each of our networks has their own unique voice that viewers have come to watch and follow on multiple platforms. There is a History voice, a Lifetime voice and an AE voice. We have three of the most powerful brands on the media landscape that speak to men, women and adults.”

But competing unscripted-based networks including TLC and TruTV were on the receiving end of the sharpest criticism. Noting the derivative nature of the reality milieu that has spawned multiple copycats of History’s Pawn Stars and AE’s Storage Wars, Raven asserted that AETN creates genres instead of “following them.”

“Our integrity and respect for the creative community does not allow us to even think of copying other networks’ shows,” she said. “We have too much reverence for our brands to become a clone of other networks. We do not want the 25th generation of the pawn and storage shows like TLC, Tru or Discovery. We want to stick to what we do best: creating the original.”

PHOTOS: THR’s 2011 Women in Entertainment Power 100

AE and History are top 10 cable networks, and the network group is coming off its most-watched year ever in 2011. Pawn Stars is History’s top-rated show averaging 5.7 million viewers this season, and Storage Wars is AE’s most-watched unscripted series with 4.6 million viewers an episode. Both series have spawned spinoffs on their respective networks. 

Nancy Dubuc, who heads up both History and Lifetime, is broadening History to include scripted programming with the Memorial Day premiere of the Kevin Costner Western The Hatfields McCoys. Meanwhile, Lifetime continues to adhere to a three-pronged programming strategy of original scripted series, made-for-TV movies and unscripted. With Dance Moms, the network now has its first bona fide unscripted hit since Project Runway came to Lifetime from Bravo.

Separately, AE announced Wednesday that is has picked up the South Boston-set Southie Rules from Powderhouse Productions and Magilla Entertainment. Production on the reality series is set to start immediately.

The working-class Boston enclave is about to get a bit crowded. Earlier this year, TLC announced that it has picked up Southie Pride, which follows a group of South Boston women. The unscripted series is from Jersey Shore executive producer SallyAnn Salsano. 

Email: Marisa.Guthrie@thr.com

Twitter: @MarisaGuthrie

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/QsiVCaOoetw/upfronts-2012-a-and-e-discovery-turner-322591

Kristian Alfonso is staying put in Salem.

Daytime Emmys Announce 2012 Nominations, Broadcast Partner Still Up in the AirCharles Shaughnessy Returning to ‘Days of Our Lives’ (Exclusive)It’s Official: Lisa Rinna Returning to ‘Days of Our Lives’ (Exclusive)

The actress has inked a new deal to remain with NBC’s Days of Our Lives, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively, putting to rest speculation that the fan favorite would depart the series.

From Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television, Alfonso has portrayed Hope Williams (later Hope Williams Brady) since 1984, playing a wife, mother and detective and has picked up Daytime Emmy nominations for her role.

“I love my Days family, I love my job and I love our fans,” Alfonso said.    

STORY: Daytime Emmys Announce 2012 Nominations, Broadcast Partner Still Up in the Air

Alfonso’s new deal comes the same day that the long-running NBC soap opera received a series best 15 Daytime Emmy nominations, including for outstanding drama series and for lead actress Crystal Chappell.

“We are grateful to have the hard work and efforts of so many of our team acknowledged; it’s a testament to those who put their heart and soul into Days of Our Lives every day,” co-executive producer Greg Meng said.

Days marked its 46th year on the air in November. Alfonso’s decision to remain with the series comes as Days has welcomed back stars yesteryear, with Charles Shaughnessy and Lisa Rinna returning to the series this year.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/eOZt8elpp54/kristian-alfonso-days-of-our-lives-322612

‘Glee’ Recap: Whose Future(s) Are in Jeopardy?Sony Takes ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ ‘Jeopardy!’ to Middle East‘Jeopardy!’ host Trebek has heart attack

After 28 years as the host of Jeopardy, Alex Trebek is contemplating a question whose answer he doesn’t know – for sure, anyway.

PHOTOS: 10 Broadcast and Cable TV Show Most Watched By Men

Speaking to Fox News host Chris Wallace Sunday evening, Trebek couldn’t answer definitively whether or not he would be retiring before he reaches a 30-year milestone as host of the popular game show. “Yes, I have been thinking about retiring,” the 71-year-old said in an interview. “I’m torn because I enjoy doing the show so much.”

Trebek revealed to Wallace that confidantes and friends have suggested he stick it out two more years, when he’ll have spent 30 years hosting the show. “A lot of people have been telling me, Alex, you’ve got to go for at least 30,” he said. “At least do two more. So that has a nice ring to it. Put in your 30 and go help people.”

Despite the effortlessness with which he still dispenses answers to the show’s questions, Trebek insisted that he’s not as sharp as he used to be. “A good 30-year-old would clean my clock,” he said.

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/LNLDtF5ncWk/jeopardy-host-alex-trebek-mulling-retirement-fox-news-321358

The top four took to NBC’s The Voice stage on Monday for one last chance to win America’s votes. They each sang three songs: a solo choice, a duet with their coach and a surprise performance of one of their coach’s songs.

‘The Voice’ Coach Christina Aguilera Slams Tony Lucca’s Song Choice (Video)‘The Voice’s’ Cee Lo Green, Purrfect The Cat Release Meow Mix Remix for Purina (Audio)JC Chasez on ‘Idol’, ‘The Voice’ and Starting Out‘The Voice’s’ Tony Lucca Reflects on Feud With Christina Aguilera: ‘It’s Weird’

And while they worked the cameras, The Hollywood Reporter was there live to bring back the behind-the-scenes details. Here are 10 things you didn’t see on TV.

PHOTOS: ‘The Voice’ Contestants Volunteer at L.A. Food Bank

1. Some father-son bonding. Host Carson Daly was spotted hanging out with his son before the show. With his girlfriend almost six months pregnant with their second child, the three-year-old will soon be sharing dad with a new brother or sister. Cherish this time, young man.

2. Christina Aguilera depended on the kindness of a stranger. Usually someone from the crew is there to help the only female coach step on to the stage in her typically very high-heeled shoes. This time, she got a welcome hand from an audience member in the pit. Then, fellow coach Blake Shelton helped her down the step to her red chair.

3. Anything for a free shirt. Let’s face it, everyone loves a free gift. One of the warm-up guy’s favorite ways to pump up the crowd is to make them cheer for t-shirts. This particular night, you’d think they were spun from gold. One audience member leaped so high up he almost flipped over into the row behind him. You better believe that he kept a tight grip on that shirt the entire time.

PHOTOS: ‘The Voice’ Teams: Season 2′s Performers

4. Air kisses know no gender. While the male coaches do a round of high fives and fist pumps, Aguilera throws air kisses as she’s being introduced to the crowd. Then, the warm-up guy announces Daly who took a page out of Aguilera’s book. He blew kisses at the coaching panel. Isn’t that sweet?

5. No more “I love you’s.” One thing that didn’t happen during season one and has now become quite a frequent and annoying aspect this season are the groups of fans who scream “I Love you, [insert coach’s name here]!” – usually while the object of their affection is trying to speak. Well, the warm-up guy finally told the audience that those had to stop. Sure, it’s the penultimate episode of the season, but better late than never.

6. Cee Lo Green makes a run for it. After performing “Born To Be Wild” with finalist Juliet Simms, Cee Lo was mobbed by wardrobe people trying to peel off his leather jacket. With mischief in his eyes, he startled them by running offstage.

‘The Voice’ Season 2 First Look: Notable Quotable From the Show’s Coaches

7. Time to burn. The show ended about a minute early. That may not sound like a long time, but when you’re on the spot like Daly was it can feel like forever. An old pro at live TV from his TRL days, he kept on stretching while the coaches and finalists hugged it out behind him.

8. Not a “B” word to speak of, though there could’ve been. Tony Lucca, whose performance of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” came under fire from Aguilera for being offensive to women, says there was a point in which they were going to keep the song’s “bitch” word in the performance. “It was in the cards,” Lucca tells THR after the show. “Then last minute, it wasn’t in the cards.” That was probably best for everyone involved.

9. Who needs rehearsal? Not Juliet. Simms had been sick the week before the performance and couldn’t sing. So, the performances you saw on TV were her very first times actually singing the songs. “I must have sang them a billion times in my head,” Juliet tells THR. “I literally would fall asleep at night with all the songs on repeat. I’m not kidding. I’d fall asleep to them, wake up to them, when I was in the shower, I never stopped listening to these songs. And, I’ve been on The Voice stage so many times now that I feel really comfortable. I feel like I could rehearse in front of these people and the coaches and that audience and I just went in there with that attitude.”

VIDEO: JC Chasez Weighs in on ‘The Voice’s’ Tony Lucca, Britney Spears on ‘X Factor’

10. Manly tears. As you saw on-screen, Jermaine Paul did a pretty good job of holding his tears back after performing “I Believe I Can Fly” and during his backstage interview with social media correspondent Christina Milian. But, once the cameras were off of him, he says he let the tears flow. “When my mother walked in, oh my gosh, I thought I was 17 again saying, “Mom, I’m not going to college. I’m not going to play basketball. I’m going to be a singer.’ And she was right there saying, ‘You did it.’ Aw, you can imagine the feelings,” he tells THR. 

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/M6mpHJgEz24/the-voice-nbc-finals-tony-lucca-jermaine-paul-321359

Known for a slew of famous roles in her four-decade career, it’s still almost impossible to bring up Jane Seymour without also thinking of her breakout role as Solitaire in 1972′s Live and Let Die.

The James Bond franchise, recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, is now barely visible in the actress’ rear view mirror, but the ways it informed her career are something she still feels today.

“It was a great experience, but after that I just realized I wanted to go back into the theater,” Seymour, who stars in the new Hallmark Movie Channel film Lake Effects, tells The Hollywood Reporter. “I didn’t really want to run three paces behind a man with a gun.”

That decision — which led to roles Hamlet, Macbeth and Amadeus, among others — is something Seymour says a lot of people still question. “I think a lot of people thought that I failed by doing that, but I was looking at the big picture,” she says. “It was just ridiculously exciting at the time. I was just 20 years old.”

Most recently, Seymour tackles a widow in Hallmark’s Lake Effects — a film that came together under distinctly non-Hollywood circumstances.

“When I got there I realized it was funded by local people,” she says of the Virginia shoot. “We were all given people’s homes to stay in, and local retirees would drive us to and from set and local restaurants donated their food and on it went. There was a wonderful sense of camaraderie about it.”

Seymour will next be seen in Austenland, a romantic comedy about a woman (Keri Russell) who travels to an English amusement park for women obsessed with Jane Austen.

“I play the awful woman who runs the place,” she says, “and I’m completely wrong about everything… this absurd concept, this whole thing, It’s quite funny.”

Austenland, which marks Twilight author Stephenie Meyer‘s producing debut of non-authored material, will likely enter festival circuit later this year.

“She’s unbelievable,” Seymour says of Meyer. “She was very hands on. In fact, so were all of the women in that movie. Shannon Hale wrote it. Jerusha Hess directed. It was actually nothing but women.”

Lake Effects airs Sunday, at 8 p.m. ET, on Hallmark Movie Channel.

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/hxL6n5ZkZRs/jane-seymour-lake-effects-james-bond-320738

GCB fans have been hearing about Carlene’s (Kristin Chenoweth) “Condos for Christian Living” project all season. On Sunday’s season finale, it’s time to finally break ground in unincorporated Juarez but guest star Sandra Bernhard throws a wrench in the works.

‘GCB’ Guest Star Grant Bowler Says His Character Gets Cricket’s ‘Motor Running’‘GCB’s’ Mark Deklin, Miriam Shor on Their ‘White Marriage,’ Babies and Whether Blake Will Ever Come Out (Video)‘GCB’ Star Kristin Chenoweth Talks Carlene: ‘The Bullied Become the Bully’‘GCB’ Star Jennifer Aspen: How a Size 4 Becomes TV’s ‘Chubby Girl’

The actress and comedian plays Debby Horowitz, a Jewish-slash-something tribal activist who takes extreme measures to stop the project.

VIDEO: ‘GCB’s’ Mark Deklin, Miriam Shor on Their ‘White Marriage,’ Babies and Whether Blake Will Ever Come Out

“She’s down in Mexico trying to protect the land against these land grabbing, money making, fast scheme types of people,” Bernhard tells The Hollywood Reporter. “She just steps in and crushes the plot and holds the girls hostage until they give up and leave. She’s funny. She’s crazy. She considers herself to be one-fourth Mahwah, like one of those ancient tribes, Mexican, Incas or something. She’s funny, off the wall, a revolutionary, and just the right character to shake up the bowels.”

Series creator Robert Harling approached Bernhard with the part, though he wasn’t sure she’d want to do it. “I was like, of course I want to do it,” Bernhard says.

“I want to be back on TV constantly, especially with people I have so much respect for,” she continues. “The scripts are all great. It’s totally right up my alley. It’s irreverent and just biting and funny, and just old school hysterical.”

VIDEO: ‘GCB’s’ Leslie Bibb on Playing a Reformed Mean Girl: ‘There’s Still a Little GCB Up in Her

Although she doesn’t get to sing on the episode, Bernhard says she walked away from the experience with a new musical idea for her one-woman show, Sandrology, which she’s performing at L.A.’s REDCAT starting May 30.

“The fun thing was that Kristin and I actually sang during the breaks and stuff,” she says. “And I was telling her how my original idea was to become a musical Broadway star and she loves my voice. So, we did kind of sing together and have fun. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams. So, now I’m doing a piece for my show that’s sort of based on that conversation and I sing a song from Hello Dolly and it was all inspired by Kristin.”

Watch Bernhard and Chenoweth spar against one another on the season finale in the preview clip below.

The GCB season finale airs Sunday at 10 p.m. on ABC.

Email: Jethro.Nededog@thr.com; Twitter: @TheRealJethro

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/1VeJY7qMzhc/gcb-season-finale-abc-sandra-bernhard-preview-320736

CBS doesn’t intend on saying goodbye to Leslie Moonves anytime soon.

CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves’ 2011 Compensation Jumps 21 Percent to $69.9 MillionLes Moonves Says CBS Doing ‘Extremely Well’ – But Will Unions Benefit?

In an SEC filing Friday, the company confirmed it has secured his services as president and CEO until Feb. 22, 2015, and revealed that it will provide him incentives to enter into a production agreement and provide other services until early 2019.

PHOTOS: 9 Highest Paid CEOs in Entertainment

The agreement, which is contingent on several unknown conditions, stipulates that CBS will invest as much as $3 million per year in a Moonves-run company that would produce TV, film and digital content.

The deal also provides a $1.5 million fixed fee for Moonves each year as an executive producer of TV shows, though the fee would be reduced by fees he would earn from shows accepted by CBS.

Moonves has agreed to submit a minimum number of projects each season, and CBS is required to order three series over the four-year term of the agreement.

Under the terms of the deal, CBS also gets a “first look at all properties owned and controlled by Mr. Moonves and intended to be produced as a theatrical motion picture.”

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/DrvUaAjkY14/leslie-moonves-cbs-contract-320473

In what was a surprising, if not entirely shocking, Thursday elimination, country hopeful Skylar Laine got the proverbial boot, leaving four finalists vying to be the next American Idol.

‘Idol Hangover’: Season 10′s Haley Reinhart Talks Taking Risks on ‘American Idol,’ Feeling Sexy on New Album (Video)‘American Idol’ Burning Questions: Why Did Joshua Ledet Brush Off His Duet Partner? Has Phillip Phillips Ever Gone Phishing? ‘American Idol’ Castoff Skylar Laine: ‘I Wanted to Go Out With a Bang’

The 18-year-old Mississippi spitfire tops the 5 most talked about moments on Idol Hangover, the weekly webshow where THR music editor Shirley Halperin and season 9 finalist Didi Benami run down all the action from 60s-meets-Brit Pop week.

VIDEO: ‘American Idol’: Jennifer Lopez Wishes She Could Mentor More

Also causing a stir: Jessica Sanchez, who was criticized for wearing a too-skimpy dress and Joshua Ledet, whose odd on-air gesture with Phillip Phillips brought up all kinds of questions. 

Who will be standing on that finale stage when all is said and sung? Idol Hangover hashes it out. 

VIDEO: ’Idol Hangover’: Power Couple Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo on Finding Love After ‘American Idol’

Check out the episode above and listen for a special announcement about next week’s guest. Watch last week’s Hangover with Haley Reinhart here. 

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/television/~3/6tVn_k2UGbk/american-idol-jessica-sanchez-joshua-ledet-320488