'Biggest Loser': Amy is singing the blues

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Amy found that out the hard way -- although it seemed pretty obvious to everyone else -- that Vicky was hell-bent on payback. Last week, Amy saved Vicky from elimination. This week, Vicky returned the favor by kicking Amy out, repayment for a strategic maneuver that came earlier in the season when Amy effectively eliminated Vicky's husband, Brady, from the game.

I still have no clue what Amy was thinking when she kept Vicky around. Amy was sitting pretty! She was a dark horse to win the game -- she leaves the Biggest Loser ranch as the person who has lost the most weight on campus so far this season. Why she decided to save Vicky's hide last week is beyond me. Could she really be that naive? Maybe. She seemed pretty sincere when she looked into the camera during the football challenge and said: "There aren't any alliances on blue team that I know of ... "

Um, well, what about the Vicky-led alliance trying to eliminate you?

The game is about to get real interesting, real fast, with mother-and-daughter Renee and Michelle on one side, and Heba, her husband Ed, and Vicky on the other.

Who do you think will be the last one standing, and why? Who do you think will win the at-home version of the game?

-- Rene Lynch

(Photo courtesy NBC)

Best and worst: 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 7

As co-host Tom Bergeron’s booming voice will undoubtedly tell us when the results show opens at 8/7 Central, it all comes down to tonight on “Dancing With the Stars.”  We will at last crown the winner of Season 7, by which I mean that someone will take home the mirror-ball trophy.  I always imagine -– no matter who wins it -– that the trophy will someday undergo an adventure like the crystal egg in “Risky Business.”  Maybe looking into the fate of the various trophies can be part of a future series on VH1: "After the Sequins."   

So let’s look back at the extremes of Season 7.  I’m doing this by memory and by looking at my old Show Tracker posts, so I’m hoping that you will all weigh in with your own categories, reminiscences and winners.

CBS makes crime pay with 8th straight ratings win

With another set of strong performances from its crime procedurals — including the season’s top new hit, “The Mentalist” — CBS won its eighth straight week based on total viewers. Meanwhile, Sunday’s special American Music Awards helped ABC to a win in the ad-friendly demographic of adults ages 18 to 49.

CBS' scripted dramas showed strength across the board, lifting the network to a win every weeknight except Monday for the period ending Nov. 23, according to figures published Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. Leading the way were "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (18.4 million) and "NCIS" (18 million), with "The Mentalist" not too far behind (15.8 million).

ABC's Monday-night show "Dancing With the Stars" was the week's most-watched program (19.6 million), and numbers were surprisingly strong for the three-hour American Music Awards (5.1 rating/12 share in 18-49; 12.2 million total viewers). Saturday's Texas Tech-Oklahoma football game (10.7 million viewers) helped too.

Fox's made-for-TV movie "24: Redemption" — the strike-delayed Season 7 of the spy thriller starts in January — was solid but not dominating on Sunday (12.1 million), finishing third behind the music awards and NBC's NFL game (15.2 million). Beyond football, fourth-place NBC plumped its results a bit with Tuesday's "Biggest Loser" (3.2 rating/8 share; 7.8 million viewers overall).

Overall, CBS won the week with an average of 12 million viewers, trailed by ABC (10.1 million), Fox (8.4 million) and NBC (7.1 million).

Basic cable had a relatively quiet week, with the No. 1 program ESPN's Monday match-up between the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns (11.6 million).

--Scott Collins

(Photo courtesy CBS)

Ted Koppel leaves Discovery Channel before his contract is up

Veteran newsman Ted Koppel is leaving his perch at the Discovery Channel six months before his contract is due to expire in May, the network announced today. Discovery called his departure “amicable.”

Koppel, who joined the channel in 2006 to produce long-form news programs, said that new senior management at Discovery had less interest in the kinds of projects he was brought aboard to do.

“Producing our kind of news-related programs is an expensive proposition,” he said in a statement. “It has long been clear that neither of us is interested in an extension of the current contract. Discovery and I worked on terminating the contract a few months early under terms that both sides found acceptable. We leave with gratitude for the professional opportunities we've been given and for the generosity with which we've been treated."

Koppel did not immediately announce his future plans. While at Discovery, the longtime ABC anchor produced 15 hours of programming on a range of topics, including a four-hour series on China and a documentary and town hall meeting called “Living With Cancer,” inspired by his former executive producer Leroy Sievers, who died this summer after a three-year battle with cancer.   

“Ted and his dedicated team have delivered remarkable, in-depth and unflinching portraits of issues affecting our lives and our planet -- and for that we are proud and grateful," John Ford, president of Discovery Channel, said in a statement. "Ted and his colleagues are gifted storytellers who raise the journalistic bar for our entire industry. They will be missed at Discovery and we wish them the best in the future."

-- Matea Gold

(Photo by Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)

'The Hills': Did Lauren Conrad hook up with Justin Bobby?

The time, the tabloids really did spoil tonight's otherwise juicy storyline on "The Hills." (Not to mention the big news of a certain surprise wedding.)

In early October, most loyal viewers of "The Hills" read that Audrina and Lauren were at odds because Audrina suspected Lauren and Justin Bobby had hooked up behind her back.

I conducted my own investigation, in which I talked to Audrina, Spencer and Heidi. (I reached out to Lauren and Justin Bobby too, but no dice). And, well, I still don't know what to believe. Though it is difficult to imagine a situation involving Lauren, Justin Bobby and any kind of romance, E! Online reported that sparks did indeed fly between the two at a Fourth of July party last summer.

What suspense there would have been watching detective Audrina confront her best friend and her boyfriend over the alleged cheating. Watching Lauren flip out over the accusations, watching Justin Bobby walk about on them, it would have made for such good reality TV. 

If only the drama had not already played in the media almost a month ago. Once again, we know how this story's going to end. (Warning: The following is a spoiler for next week's episode if you don't read regularly about "The Hills." Audrina told Ryan Seacrest during his morning radio show on Oct. 21 that she was over the gossip after having talked to Lauren and Justin Bobby. "I don't believe it at this point," she said. Click here and then scroll down to listen to her entire interview.)

Whew! Friendship intact. But maybe my investigation raised a bigger question: Do you still watch "The Hills"? Do you feel it's necessary when you can read about Lauren and the gang on the blogs or in the tabloids -- in real time? Vote now:

Also, what do you believe? Did Lauren and Justin Bobby hook up? Is Audrina being naive? Or has Lauren just been stabbed in the back one too many times?

-- Denise Martin

Photo: Lauren Conrad. Credit: MTV

'American Idol' Daily: Idols give Thanksgiving

Entering a slow news week on the "Idol" front. But if you love a parade,you're likely to find an "American Idol" alum marching right down your Main Street.

For starters (and thanks to MJsBigBlog for the tips), the biggest parade of them all,  Macy's Thanksgiving Day spectacular, will see "Idol's" golden child David Archuleta himself riding through Manhattan.  David will be joined in the parade by non-"Idol" talents Miley Cyrus, Kristin Chenoweth, James Taylor and Kermit the Frog.

In Philadelphia's Ikea Thanksgiving Parade, Season 7's Syesha Mercado — about whom not much has been heard since tour's end — will be riding a float, singing her Andrew Lloyd Webber week hit, "One Rock and Roll Too Many."  Season 1 runner-up Justin Guarini also joins the parade.

Meanwhile, in his hometown of Kansas City, Mo., David Cook will officiate at the igniting of Christmas lights at Country Club Plaza during the city's Thanksgiving ceremony.  In an interview with their local Fox affiliate, David's elegant and extremely classy mother, Beth Foraker, told of her son's Thanksgiving habits, revealing that although the "Idol" champion may help set the table, he's not much of a man in the kitchen on the holiday,  She also revealed that David's reported significant other, Season 2's Kimberly Caldwell, will not be joining the family this year, saying, according to the report, that it will be close family only.

Meanwhile, in a decidely non-Thanksgiving-esque appearance, the Berdoo Bikes and Blue Rendezvous announced that Season 7's rock 'n roll nurse, Amanda Overmyer, will be appearing next May to sing the national anthem at the biker conclave's opening ceremonies.  Since leaving the show, Overmyer has carved out one of the more unique paths of any former contestant, appearing at biker events around the country.  Wayne Austin, president and CEO of the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau, said of her appropriateness for this event: “Her sound is very unique, a combination of blues and rock, a style that has been compared to Janis Joplin. She loves to ride her Harley Davidson, and she’s a nurse.”

The news may be light, but check back as I'll be filing from the field with a report from the rehearsals of the American Stars in Concert for the Holidays show, featuring Kimberly Locke, David Hernandez, Diana DeGarmo and Chikezie.

And just 52 days to go until Season 8!

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo credit: Fox

'Heroes': Tim Kring, an eclipse and Claire's death?

In "Heroes," it's hard to tell whether it's a good or bad thing when you don't know what is going on at times.  For those of us who have followed the show throughout, throwing in a twist or two or three to make it less predictable could be exactly what's needed to keep interest.  On the other hand, knowing the behind-the-scenes turmoil in terms of personnel shifts and storytelling woes, you hope as a fan that things become a bit more limpid.  Clarity will come, but will anyone be around to see it?

We'll do this first.  A lot is being made of Tim Kring's remarks at Creative Screenwriting magazine's 2008 Screenwriting Expo last week.  He insulted (to some) traditional show watchers (non-DVR users like me that he called "saps") and downed his own show's format in saying that serialized storytelling may not work. He later apologized for it.  With the precarious positon of the show, he obviously didn't mean to tick off fans, I was never offended in the first place (were you?) and don't think it's a big deal.  Moving on ...

'Dancing With the Stars': The finalists perform

Tonight, our “Dancing With the Stars” finalists -– Lance Bass, Brooke Burke and Warren Sapp –- participated in a “samba smackdown,” and we also got to see the much-anticipated freestyle round. We also got some early bonus filler, but don’t worry -– we’ll still have nearly two hours’ worth on Tuesday.  Based on the judges’ scores tonight, Brooke regained her position in the lead, with Lance and Warren tied for second.  But now’s the time when the votes really count, fans, so Brooke is hardly guaranteed to capture the “most reflective trophy in television,” as co-host Tom Bergeron described it. As an important aside, I should note that after recovering last week, whoever is styling co-host Samantha Harris’s hair went off his/her medication this week.  Or perhaps he/she time-traveled back to the 1980s in New Jersey and couldn’t shake the experience when returning to the present. 

Let’s start with the filler, which was actually somewhat illuminating. To remind us why we love them -– and should therefore vote on their behalf –- each couple got to talk about their best ballroom and Latin dances. First we heard from Brooke and Derek, who thought their best ballroom dance of the season was the quickstep, which they performed early on. Watching it, I realized that Brooke, who was already in good shape, has slimmed down even more over the course of the season. I guess dancing eight hours a day will make anyone more lithe. And they thought the paso doble was their best Latin dance of the season. I will agree that it was very intense, aided in part by the diamond-commercial music that accompanied it. Derek pointed out that Brooke has been the most consistent performer all season, with an average score of more than 26/30. 

Lance and Lacey were up next, and they thought their best ballroom dance was their goth tango, which they felt was the first dance in which their risk-taking really paid off. It was definitely one of my favorite dances all season. For the Latin dance, they thought their mambo from last week was tops.  You’ll remember this one by the zany tail on Lacey’s dress. Seeing Lance and Lacey right after Brooke and Derek, it struck me that Lacey’s choreography is generally more engaging than Derek’s. Lacey lobbied for votes for Lance because he’s the most improved.  His average score this season was a little over 24/30.

Warren and Kym cited their Viennese waltz as their best ballroom performance, when Warren showed he could slow it down and glide. And their best Latin dance was the paso doble, which they performed in futuristic pleather garb. It did work for them. Also, Warren appeared to be wearing eyeliner. And why should Warren win?  Kym said he captures the essence of what the show is, that he lights up the dance floor and rivets the audience. His average score was 24/30. After watching them right after Lance and Lacey and Brooke and Derek, I would say that Warren is, from a technical perspective, clearly in third place. But since audience reaction is a component of this competition, it depends on how much weight you give it. Maybe this is a philosophical issue to be addressed tomorrow, since it always comes up in the comments. What matters most? Technical skill? Improvement? Degree of difficulty? Engaging the crowd? Do you have a scoring algorithm that perfectly encapsulates the goals of “DWTS”? If so, discuss.

After 12 years, Alan Colmes ends the Hannity-Colmes 'marriage'

Alan Colmes, who served as Sean Hannity’s liberal counterweight on their long-running Fox News program, announced today that he’s leaving at the end of the year.

The co-host of “Hannity and Colmes” said that after 12 years he’s ready for a new challenge. He will continue to serve as a commentator on Fox News and is developing a weekend program for the network.

“Although it’s bittersweet to leave one of the longest marriages on cable news, I’m proud that both Sean and I remained unharmed after sitting side by side, night after night for so many years,” Colmes said.

Hannity called Colmes “a remarkable co-host” and “a great friend,” adding: “I’ll genuinely miss sparring with such a skillful debate partner.”

Executives have not yet decided how to replace him on the program. “Hannity & Colmes” is the second most-watched cable news show after “The O’Reilly Factor” and has been a fixture on the network since it launched in 1996.

“Alan is one of the key reasons why Fox News has been such a remarkable success,” said Chief Executive Roger Ailes. “We’re sad to see him leave the program, but we look forward to his ongoing contributions to the network.”

—Matea Gold

'The View': Rosie O'Donnell's (sort of) mea culpa to Barbara Walters

Rosie O'Donnell was on NBC's "Today" show this morning to promote "Rosie Live," her new variety show on the network. And what began as a straightforward interview between the comedian and "Today" co-host Meredith Vieira ended up adding another twist in the seemingly endless saga between O'Donnell and her former friend/mentor/"View" boss Barbara Walters.

To recap last week's events: During a conference call with reporters Wednesday, O'Donnell said that Walters wants to pretend that all of the "View" ladies get along. O'Donnell's remarks -- in part, she said  "there was not a lot of camaraderie off camera" -- prompted an on-air response from Walters the next day. While Walters did not specify O'Donnell by name during the show's Hot Topics segment, she called out "some people who have done this show and then for years feel like they have to dump on it maybe for their own publicity." She then addressed that person as a "lady," saying that it "hurts" her and she "resents it." Later that day, O'Donnell created a video post on her blog entitled "Lady," which showed her watching Walters' indictment of her.

Got that?

Which brings us to today on "Today." Vieira replayed the Walters segment. "Oh no, we have to watch it?" O'Donnell said. She then said the words "publicity" and "lady" along with Walters on the tape.