CBS responds to criticism over blurring of Adam Lambert's kiss on 'The Early Show'

Does Adam Lambert have it right?

This morning, during his appearance on "The Early Show," Lambert said he believed the furor over his sexually charged American Music Awards performance on Sunday was due to the fact that he's a gay male. He pointed out that Janet Jackson, for example, who opened the telecast, grabbed the crotch of a male dancer and no one had even mentioned that.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton expressed his disgust over the "double standard" in a post this morning and asked why CBS' "The Early Show" blurred the image of Lambert kissing one of his band members but showed Madonna's famous 2007 kiss with Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards.

We thought it was a valid question, and we took it to CBS.

A CBS representative responded: "We gave this some real thought.  The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times, including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated and, for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences."

What do you think?

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo: Adam Lambert's AMA kiss. Credit: Dick Clark Productions

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Adam Lambert answers his critics

Adam Lambert asks and answers 'Whataya Want From Me' on 'The Early Show'

Adam Lambert didn't think he needed to redeem himself today on CBS' "The Early Show." But he may have done just that and a little bit more.

At the same time he was reminding his "American Idol" fans what they loved about him in the first place, Lambert probably managed to instill some regret over at ABC headquarters over Tuesday's decision to disinvite him to perform on "Good Morning America" after his controversial, highly sexual appearance at the American Music Awards on Sunday night.

This morning, Lambert was relaxed and articulate as he answered questions about his decisions on Sunday night to improvise kissing a man on stage and simulating oral sex with another. Later, he took questions from fans who attended his live performance and capped the morning with two strong vocal performances of his new songs, "Whataya Want From Me" and "Music Again."

In his interview, Lambert admitted that performing in front of many of his favorite pop artists "got the best of me" and that the controversial parts of his Sunday night performance were not rehearsed. Having a background in theater, he said, doesn't automatically make him think of the audience at home when he is on stage, he said.

"Honestly, it didn't even cross my mind — children," he said. "It was almost 11 o'clock. I was there in the audience full of mostly adults. Sometimes I forget, oh, there's a camera on. I come from the theater and I'm programmed to look at who's in the live audience, and that's kind of where I come from, and so I was looking out into the crowd and saw some of my favorite pop stars and thought I want to let loose. It just kind of got the best of me. I had a really great time. Unfortunately, there are people that are really upset, but there are also people that enjoyed it. So, like "Idol," I guess I have a tendency to divide people. Apples and oranges. You either like it or you don't."

Later he added: "It got the best of me. I'm obviously learning. This is my first performance post-"Idol" on television. The song lyrically is sexual, and I was just performing the lyrics of my song. I think in the future I will probably make a little bit more of an effort to stay consistent with what I do during rehearsal to what I do during the show. That's something I'm learning now, and that way if anyone has a problem with what I'm doing, it can be explored during rehearsal."

Fox announces its midseason lineup

Fox announced its midseason lineup today and it contains a couple of surprises. Dr. House and Jack Bauer will team up on Monday nights, "Fringe" will remain in its challenging Thursday night time slot, and "Glee" will be off the air until April 13, when it returns on a new night following "American Idol" but up against the last episodes of ABC's "Lost."

"American Idol" returns on Jan. 12 and will help launch "Our Little Genius," a new game show by Mark Burnett ("Survivor" and "The Apprentice") the following night. "Our Little Genius" then will shift to Tuesdays paired with "Idol" until April 13, when "Glee" returns for its remaining nine episodes at 9 p.m.

The new drama "Human Target," starring Mark Valley, premieres on Jan. 20 after "Idol."

As previously announced, "24" returns with a two-night premiere on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 and then settles into its regular Monday 9 p.m. slot after "House" on Jan. 25.

"Fringe," which has taken a ratings hit on its new night, will remain on Thursdays but will take a break beginning Feb. 11, when Fox launches the new drama "Past Life."  "Fringe" returns to the schedule on April 1.

As previously announced, "Dollhouse" will end on Jan. 22. "Kitchen Nightmares" will take over its Friday time slot the following week.

The new comedy "Sons of Tuscon," starring Tyler Labine, will premiere March 14 at 8:30 p.m. when "The Cleveland Show" moves to 9:30 p.m. and "American Dad" is off the schedule.

Fox also ordered a complete second season of "Lie To Me."

--Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo: Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on "24" / Credit: Fox

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Morning round-up: Rating tonight's 'V' fall finale, 'Twilight' movies head to FX, Adam Lambert's AMA performance comes under fire

Reviewing tonight's "V" fall finale (with no spoilers attached): "V" Show Tracker Jace Lacob has seen tonight's goods and he says this episode is the one to watch. Or as he puts it: "If you've been on the fence at all about ABC's reimagining of "V," this is the episode to watch. Unfolding at a breakneck speed, there's a slew of neck-snapping plot twists, defining character moments and some enticing reveals designed to sate our appetite until "V" returns in the spring."

USA renews "Psych": Season 5 coming your way next summer, says Variety. The second half of the current fourth season begins in January.

"Twilight" heads to FX: The cable network, home to such gritty male-skewing dramas as "Sons of Anarchy" and "Rescue Me," has just bought the rights to the four "Twilight" movies (including the unreleased sequels "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn.") Also included in the deal with "Twilight" producer Summit Entertainment are the movies "The Hurt Locker," "Knowing," and "Push." THR reports that the first of the vampire romance films will debut on the channel in 2011.

Susan Boyle gets profiled: TV Guide Network announced it would air "I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story," on Dec. 13.

Adam Lambert draws record audiences: The singer's controversial performance helped boost ratings for Sunday's "American Music Awards." More than 14.2 million viewers watched his racy moves (and J.Lo fall on her butt). That's the show's biggest draw since 2002.

...he also drew complaints: Some 1,500 of them. No word on whether or not the Federal Communications Commission will take any action.

First 'Cougar Town,' now 'FlashForward': ABC has temporarily shut down production on the freshman sci-fi drama. Sources tell EW.com that the break was accounted for in production schedules. "FlashForward" has already been picked up for a full season. Elsewhere, People.com reports that "Cougar Town" goes back into production Nov. 30, at which point star Courteney Cox's "family matter" will have been resolved.

-- Denise Martin

Morning round-up: Oprah gets into bed with HBO, 'Cougar Town' shuts down, and 'Fringe' producers talk ... Season 6?

Oprah goes risque at HBO: While industry observers ponder the syndication biz without its queen, Oprah is focused on other projects. The latest (outside of the yet-to-launch OWN)? Her production banner Harpo Films has set up an hourlong series pilot at HBO about a woman who leaves her seemingly perfect family to indulge in "her secret fantasies and desires" in the underbelly of L.A. The project is being written by Erin Cressida Wilson, who wrote 2002's kinky love story "Secretary."

Speaking of Oprah... The talk show host's former personal chef Art Smith (more recently of "Top Chef Masters") has signed a deal to star in his own show on TLC. The series, according to the Hollywood Reporter, "Craving Comfort," will follow Smith as he travels the country exploring different takes on classic dishes, such as fried chicken and apple pie. Variety reports that TLC also has ordered the reality series "Mall Cops: Mall of America" (thanks to the many of you who made "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" a hit) and "Ghost Intervention."

"Cougar Town" shuts down: A rep for ABC told US Weekly, "We can confirm production of 'Cougar Town' has been temporarily shut down in order for [star Courteney Cox] to deal with a private family matter." No word on when production is expected to resume.

David Tennant's end draws near: BBC America has announced the actor's final two "Doctor Who" specials: "Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part 1" and "Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part 2." The first will air Dec. 26 at 9 p.m. Break out the Kleenex!

"Fringe" executive producers plan for ... Season 6? According to Digital Spy, during a conference call with reporters, executive producer Jeff Pinker said, "If we're lucky enough, we have six seasons that we're really excited about." Might have to get those ratings up first, no?

Tune-in reminder: "Battlestar Galactica" fans! Katee Sackhoff guest stars in tonight's "Big Bang Theory" on CBS.

-- Denise Martin

A reporter puts on her dancing shoes to perform on 'Dancing With The Stars'

 

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to be a "Dancing With The Stars" contestant? You know, beyond the beautifully packaged clips of rehearsals the talented producers of the ABC hit show us every week? What does it really take?

Well, Los Angeles Times entertainment reporter Dawn Chmielewski couldn't turn her back on an ABC executive's dare and recently agreed to put herself through the rigors of learning a salsa routine with professional partner Jonathan Roberts.

Chmielewski did everything the contestants do each week -- rehearsals, spray tan, hair extensions, and a live performance filmed in front of the studio audience assembled for a recent taping of the actual show. She was even judged by Bruno, Len and Carrie Ann, and teased by host Tom Bergeron.

You won't see Dawn's salsa on TV, but that's what the Internet is for. Watch her perform in our video and read her personal account here.

What score would you give her? 

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Related: 

Dawn's rehearsal video

In pictures: Dawn prepares for her performance

Oprah tells viewers she is signing off in 2011

Oprah Winfrey didn't mention her new gig on her talk show today when she told viewers that she is indeed ending her unprecedented run as talk show queen on Sept. 9, 2011.

But her new basic cable network, OWN, (Oprah Winfrey Network) released a statement this morning announcing that her legacy will live on in her 24-hour Discovery Communications venture, which premieres in Jan. 2011 and is based in Burbank. OWN will debut on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.

"Oprah has been nourishing people through her television show for nearly 25 years, a legacy that has touched millions the world over,” said Christina Norman, CEO of OWN, in a statement.  “She is the life force behind OWN and will be guiding the effort for this completely new 24-hour television experience premiering in January 2011."

Discovery Communications President and CEO David Zaslav also piped in today with a statement: "There is no bigger brand in media than Oprah Winfrey. She has changed the broadcast landscape and how people consume television. Along the way, she impacted our culture and touched us all. We congratulate her and our friends at Harpo for their many achievements, and their years of creating truly ground-breaking television."

But enough about the future. Today, Winfrey focused on the last 20-plus years in remarks she made at the end of today's shows, according to the Chicago Tribune.

After much prayer, and months of careful thought, I've decided that next season -- Season 25 -- will be the last season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show. And over the next couple of days, you may hear a lot of speculation in the press about why I am making this decision now, and that will mostly be conjecture. So I wanted you to hear this directly from me.

Twenty-four years ago, on Sept. 8, 1986, I went live from Chicago to launch the first national "Oprah Winfrey Show." I was beyond excited and as you all might expect, a little nervous. I knew then what a miraculous opportunity I had been given, but I certainly never could have imagined the yellow brick road of blessings that have led me to this moment with you. [Her voice grows thick with emotion] These years with you, our viewers, have enriched my life beyond all measure, and you all have graciously invited me into your living rooms, into your kitchens and into your lives.

And for some of you longtime Oprah viewers, you have literally grown up with me. We've grown together. You've had your families and you've raised your children and you left a spot for me in your morning or your afternoon, depending on when the Oprah show airs in your town. So I just wanted to say that whether you've been here with me from the beginning or you came on board last week, I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one that I hold very dear, and your trust in me -- the sharing of your precious time with me every day -- has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known.

So here we are, halfway through Season 24 and it still means as much to me to spend an hour with you as it did back in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last? Here is the real reason. I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it's time to say goodbye. Twenty-five years feels right in my bones and feels right in my spirit. It's the perfect number. The exact right time....

So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me, right through to the final show.

In Los Angeles, you can watch Winfrey tell the audience at 3 p.m. on KABC.

--Maria Elena Fernandez

Photo: Winfrey announces she's leaving her talk show after 25 years Friday. Credit: Harpo Productions

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The Oprah Effect: Winners and Losers

Oprah to end her show

'Lost' final season to premiere Feb. 2

One "Lost" mystery down: 1 million to go.

The final season of ABC's "Lost" -- boo hoo, did we really say final? -- will premiere Tuesday, Feb. 2, with a two-hour event at 9 p.m., ABC announced today. (Yes, that's a new night for the island mystery).

That means we are 75 days away from learning if the hydrogen bomb Juliet (Elizabeth Mitchell) hit with a rock before she presumably died in the fifth season finale erases the past and changes the future, like Jack (Matthew Fox) wanted?

We don't know how we feel about this. If the past is erased, does that mean all of the hours we've logged with the castaways didn't happen either? What have we been doing all these years?

Answers, soon, Losties. Answers, in our destiny, soon. In the meantime, watch the promotional video and see if you can help getting a little choked up.

--Maria Elena Fernandez

Video: ABC

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No dancing or surviving for Levi Johnston

By now it's been established: Levi Johnston likes to talk.

Who is Levi Johnston? If you don't know, you have permission to stop reading because this is not information that will improve or enhance your life in any way.

If you do know who the latest Playgirl model is, we'd like to officially refute some claims Johnston made to our sister site, Zap2it, Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont.

The setting was GQ's Man of the Year bash at the Chateau Marmont. And Johnston was accompanied by his manager, who happens also to be his bodyguard -- no, we are not making this up -- Tank Jones.  (Name also is real.)

Johnston, the former fiance of Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol and father of her baby, and Jones claimed that he's been invited to compete on both ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" and CBS' "Survivor."

We made a few calls and learned that Johnston was not telling the truth. We know this is hard to believe, but our sources are reliable. This is what they said: "Officially, we never comment about casting," said an ABC representative.

Unofficially,  we say, ''Ha! Ha! Ha!'"

A CBS spokeswoman did her own checking and replied, "This is completely false. Completely."

What will Levi & Tank do next?

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Video: CBS

Related:

Who can resist Levi Johnston?

Making bureaucracy work: How NBC's 'Parks and Recreation' overcame bad buzz

And they thought it wouldn't last: In the face of bad buzz and with a little perseverance, "Parks and Recreation" executive producers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur have changed minds about their Amy Poehler comedy, once seen as a knock-off of "The Office." Now, critics are raving. Below is a longer version of the feature running in Thursday's Calendar section.

In the NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation,” Amy Poehler plays Leslie Knope, an upbeat, low-level bureaucrat determined to make the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind., a better place.

Leslie’s cheerful, tireless ambition in the face of cynics is echoed by series creators Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who previously gave us "The Office." And who can blame them? Few industry observers thought “Parks,” which launched as a midseason replacement last spring, would survive even this long.

First, there were production delays to accommodate Poehler’s pregnancy. Then there were the early test screenings and poor scores that landed on the desk of influential Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke, who practically declared the show DOA before its premiere. Many critics said the show was needlessly similar to “The Office” -- both in its mock documentary format and naive lead. With all the bad vibes, it was no wonder that ratings slid throughout its six-episode first season.

“My sense is that if we had built ‘Parks and Recreation’ around a 90-year-old Maasai warrior people would still have said, ‘He reminds me of [“The Office’s”] Michael Scott,’ ” Schur said. “There was just no way to escape it. “

Until Daniels and Schur did.